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Careers
In October, I attended a future teachers' conference
at Buckfast Abbey. The afternoon was extremely
insightful into the world of teaching, and helpful
in providing us with information regarding paths
we could take into the teaching profession. We
had a number of talks; the most memorable from
a primary school teacher who was interactive,
interesting and definitely an engaging teacher. He talked about the rewards of being a teacher and about the reality of
how hard teaching is at times.
Another of the activities we did involved hot-seating teachers; both trainee and fully qualified. They were able to answer
some of the enquiries we had about the teaching industry and to advise us on the best way to gain the experience and the
qualifications to become a teacher. There were also organisations such as Plymouth University and South West Teacher
Training present, who we were able to talk to about how you can get into teaching and what qualifications are needed.
Overall, I thought it was an interesting and valuable experience which really helped me to consider my future career as a
teacher.
Millie Allen Year 13
Future Teachers' Conference
Buckfast Abbey
The second tranche of students supported by the Mary Lidstone Trust have now all
started their degree studies, helped by receiving the first instalment of their grant
award towards the cost. We are delighted to be able to support the following new
students this year:
Herbie Barnett, studying a BSc honours degree in Computer Games
Design and Programming at Staffordshire University
Georgia Borne, studying a BA honours degree in Acting at Plymouth
University and Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Fiona Hollingsworth, studying a BA in History at Goldsmiths,
University of London
Katie Phillips, studying a BA in English at the University of Exeter
Kirsty Race, studying a BA honours degree in Textile Design at the
University of Falmouth
Tonia Studley, studying a Criminology and Law degree at the
University of Cumbria
Each student will be providing information back to the Trustees about their
progress and we very much hope that they are each enjoying the start of their
higher education studies.
Expressions of interest for the new round of grant applications (for support from
September 2016 onwards) have now been received and applications invited.
Trustees will consider applications ahead of the Christmas break and interviews
will take place in the new year.
Teresa Lakeman, Business Director
Mary Lidstone Trust
Roy and Mary Lidstone
The year 10 Challenge
Pathways Psychology
group
worked
hard
recently to put on a careers fair for Year 12 and Year 13
students. As part of their GCSE course, students are expected
to have an awareness of the roles, skills and qualities of
Psychologists in the real world. As part of the afternoon,
KEVICC Governor Roger Foord-Evans generously gave his time
to speak to the students about his varied and very interesting
career in academic and therapeutic Psychology.
The afternoon proved to be very informative for the Sixth
Formers, who were able to understand both the qualifications
they need and pathways into Psychology. A huge thank you
from them to all the year 10s for their careers expertise!
Year 10 Careers Fair
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Dart Valley Learning Trust
The scheme is expected to generate 1,200,000 KWh of clean energy per
year; enough to power around 280 homes. It is expected that around two
thirds of the electricity generated will be used to power KEVICC and Atmos
Totnes, once that development proceeds.
There are also considerable environmental benefits. The scheme involves
building a new fish ladder up the weir for salmon and trout which spawn
in the upper reaches of the Dart —and installing underwater cameras and
fish counters to monitor the fish population. This will replace a current
fish ladder which is too long and too difficult for smaller fish, leaving them
easy prey for seals which swim up river to take advantage of salmon and
trout trapped in the weir pool.
Plans also include removal of the diagonal concrete ledge across the weir
built as another aid for fish. That will stop the force of the water being
directed to one side of the river, which has eroded the bank by around
5 metres in the past fifteen years. Changes will allow water to pour over
the weir in a more direct route and eventually wash away the mud island
downstream at low tide. Over time, it is expected that these measures will
increase the population of salmon and sea trout in the River Dart.
Dan Hird, Head of Triodos Bank Corporate Finance, the financial institution
backing the development, said:
The Totnes weir hydro power scheme is
a fantastic example of a genuine community renewable energy project
which has clear benefits to the local community and the environment.
As part of their partnershipwith the College, Dart Renewables have donated
a sum of £2,000 to KEVICC to support use of the river – and this will be
used in co-operation with Dart Canoe Club to buy additional equipment
for use both by the Club and the College. This new partnership means
the Club are offering specialist training for any KEVICC staff supporting
KEVICC students using this extra-curricular activity.
Teresa Lakeman, Business Director
Totnes Weir project
A £1 million green scheme to turn Totnes Weir into a mini power
station is now almost complete. The scheme will see electricity
generated for the National Grid from January 2016 but it is
hoped it will also generate much of the electricity needed for the
College. The project has involved installing a 4 metre diameter
Archimedean screw turbine into the 20 metre long sluice at one
end of the historic Totnes town weir.
There are already a number of similar water-powered turbines
operating in the UK, and another 130 across Europe, but the Totnes
turbine's size, and its 200 kilowatt output, may make it one of
the biggest in Europe. The turbine will harness the power of 13
tonnes a second of water that pours over the weir, which will now
be used to provide electricity for the classrooms of students here
at KEVICC. A similar, but slightly smaller, Archimedean screw was
installed at the River Dart Country Park by the same company and
has been powering the park successfully for the past eight years.
A consortium of local investors, called the Dart Renewables
Partnership, bought the weir from one-time Autotrader boss
Malcolm Barrett a number of years ago for a reported £75,000.
Following local investment to turn the project into a reality, the
scheme managers are keen to ensure local benefits are a core
product of the scheme – with cut-price electricity made available
to the College, but also to the proposed Atmos development. Both
organisations will benefit from electricity at a price consistently
lower than the prevailing market rate. For KEVICC, these benefits
have been secured for the next forty years.
Background: Sea Mural by year 8 and 9 students
