Category Archives: Courses

What is the single most important attribute that every 21st century citizen needs?

Of course it is hard to give an absolute answer to such a question, but if one were to search for the key attribute that every citizen of the 21st century needs, I think there would be a strong case for “imagination” to be nominated for the “most important attribute” award.

For, without imagination, how could our society survive?  Change happens ever more quickly bringing with it both opportunities and problems, and only those with a really strong ability to imagine possible solutions will be able to adapt and make the most of their lives.

Therefore the use of the imagination is at the heart of almost everything we teach at primary level.  A love of reading, for example, both fosters and is fostered by the imagination.

History relies on imagining the narratives of the past. Science requires imagining outcomes, and how to test for them. PSE is related to empathy, which is imagining yourself in another’s shoes – and so on.  Imagination is within everything.

The development of the imagination is closely tied to humanity’s development of storytelling. It was by sharing tales of their experiences that early human beings grew the abilities to plan and adapt – abilities which helped them survive changing climates.

But how can one enhance the imagination of young people?

A clue comes from a study by UCL’s Institute of Education, which found that children with a love of reading outperformed their peers in all subjects.

And this is why Snail Tales exists: to help schools like yours nurture a love of storytelling among the children you teach, developing their imaginations and thus making them more rounded human beings, which increases attainment in literacy, numeracy, and enhances a huge range of key skills.

To this end we run a series of training courses in schools, ranging from after school sessions to INSET days on storytelling in the classroom and work with individual year groups.  For more details please see our website, call 0203 287 6245 or visit our Contact Us page

Debate Chamber Summer Schools for students aged 11-14

These Debate Chamber Summer Schools are for intellectually ambitious 11-14-year-old students who want to push back the boundaries of their knowledge, or who are curious about the ways in which their knowledge can be applied to the real world to help shape the future. Our hope is that students will leave our Summer Schools feeling inspired to pursue their passions, empowered to make well-informed career decisions, and optimistic about the meaningful contribution they can make to this world.

Led by a team of expert tutors, our courses focus on developing intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and the desire to explore academic material in a more sophisticated way than is often available at school. Classes will be discussion-based, creating a comfortable environment for students to share ideas amongst their peers and to progress from their existing knowledge toward more challenging material. Working in small groups over several days means there is plenty of space for each voice to be heard, as well as the opportunity for students to get to know their tutor and benefit from their specialist knowledge.

Young Doctors

The Young Doctors Summer School offers a fun and interactive insight into the world of medicine, allowing students the opportunity to explore some of the theoretical and applied skills required to be a doctor. Over the course of two days, an expert team of medical tutors will teach students how to identify a patient’s primary symptoms, order appropriate tests, draw conclusions and present their findings. The Summer School is split into two parts, each covering a different area of medical practice – students can attend whichever part best suits their interests.

‘Really enjoyable! The tutors were really insightful and great at helping and answering questions. The practical activities were really good fun and allowed you to trial some of the techniques you had learnt. I would strongly recommend the course.’

Young Lawyers

The Young Lawyers Summer School offers an exciting and challenging introduction to the legal profession and is aimed at students who wish to take their first steps towards a legal career. Over the course of four days, students will work alongside a team of expert tutors who will facilitate the debate of numerous case studies from criminal, family, contract and human rights law. On the final day, dressed in wigs and gown, students will participate in a lively mock crown court trial in which they will question their witnesses to build a case in front of the jury.

 ‘The Young Lawyers course was amazing! I made friends very quickly and enjoyed learning about law. I learnt loads and have now learnt different types of law in detail I didn’t know. I enjoyed it very much.’

Young Thinkers

The two-day Young Thinkers Summer School offers bright students the opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills and participate in lively debates covering a range of philosophical questions: What is truth? How do we gain knowledge of the world? Are we free? What is right and wrong? The seminar style of this Summer School ensures a collaborative and inclusive academic environment.

‘This course, while mind-bending in the extreme, was very enjoyable and in fact one of the most enjoyable things I’ve done all holiday.’

Young Writers

The Young Writers Summer School is aimed at students who enjoy the creative challenge of writing stories and wish to share their passion and enthusiasm with like-minded peers.  Over the course of four days, students will explore a range of prose, poetry and reportage through games, activities and structured exercises. Our team of expert tutors are keen to share their enthusiasm and expertise for story-telling and provide students with a range of creative skills for future projects.

‘If you want a chance to learn more writing techniques and get inspiration for your stories, you will love this fun, friendly Summer School.’

Bursaries

Debate Chamber is committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent any student from attending our events. Students are able to apply for bursaries covering up to 100% of the course fee through our website.

How can my students attend?

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2017. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/. There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Summer Schools 2017

The Debate Chamber Summer Schools offer students age 11-18 the opportunity to find out more about some fascinating subjects, prepare for university applications, meet like-minded peers and get to grips with some tough intellectual challenges.

The material will be challenging (for the older age-group, about the level of difficulty one might expect in the first year at university), but the atmosphere will be relaxed, with plenty of discussion, debate, and opportunities for students to shape the direction of classes. It is an environment conducive to getting to grips with new ideas.

Working in small groups (usually around 14 students per group) over several days offers participants a real chance to get to know tutors and fellow students and to explore the topics or questions that particularly interest them.

Highlights of Summer 2017:

The five-day Computer Science Summer School, new for 2017, will explore modern developments in the field and provide students aged 15-18 with a practical programming tool-kit for use in future projects.

The Law Summer School for 15-18s, in three distinct five-day Parts to allow time for more cases, more analysis and more debate on some of the most intriguing legal questions. Students can choose to focus on Criminal Law, Civil Law or International Law.

The Philosophy and Critical & Cultural Theory Summer Schools will look at some of the biggest questions in metaphysics, ethics and political theory, giving an opportunity to engage with the work of some fascinating thinkers, and also to develop students’ own skills of reasoning and argumentation.

For students interested in the Social Sciences or Humanities, we have Summer Schools in Economics, International Relations, Politics and History, while Arts enthusiasts should take a look at the English Literature, Classical Civilisations or Art History Summer Schools (all for students aged 15-18).

For aspiring scientists and mathematicians we also have the Physics, Mathematics and Medicine Summer Schools.

Last but not least, we also have a smaller number of courses available for younger students (ages 11-14) in Law, Medicine, Creative Writing, Critical Thinking and Science subjects.

Practical Details:

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2017. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/.

There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Academic Summer Schools 2016 – Additional Places Now Available

The Debate Chamber Summer Schools offer students age 11-18 the opportunity to find out more about some fascinating subjects, prepare for university applications, meet like-minded peers and get to grips with some tough intellectual challenges.

The material will be challenging (for the older age-group, about the level of difficulty one might expect in the first year at university), but the atmosphere will be relaxed, with plenty of discussion, debate, and opportunities for students to shape the direction of classes. It is an environment conducive to getting to grips with new ideas.

Working in small groups (usually around 14 students per group) over several days offers participants a real chance to get to know tutors and fellow students and to explore the topics or questions that particularly interest them.

We now have additional dates and/or places for the following events:

The English Literature Summer School for 15-18s, now in three 5-day blocks to allow time for greater discussion of contemporary literature, and a more in-depth look at various literary critical perspectives. Students can come to Part 1 for literature up to 1790, including Chaucer, Shakespeare and Milton, to Part 2 for literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, or to the brand new Part 3 which covers contemporary poetry, prose and drama. Additional places now available for Part 3 (Contemporary Literature) on the 22nd-26th August.

The Physics Summer School, for students who have completed AS Maths at the time of the course, covers a range of topics including thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, astrophysics and relativity. This course offers a chance to explore some challenging undergraduate level material selected to engage and inspire bright students keen to push themselves beyond the school curriculum. Additional places now available for this course on the 18th-22nd July.

The History Summer School, for students aged 15-18, is an intensive five-day course which looks at historiographical questions and historical methods, using seminars, lectures, activities and informal discussions. Topics are selected to challenge and broaden the historical outlook of participants, and give a taste of what the subject is like at undergraduate level. Additional places now available for this course on the 1st-5th August and 22nd-26th August.

There is also some limited availability remaining on other courses, including the Civil and International Law Summer Schools, the Philosophy Summer School, and the Young Doctors Summer School (for students aged 11-14).

Practical Details:

All the Summer School events will be held at University of London venues in Bloomsbury, Central London, and will take place in July and August 2016. Please note that these courses are not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required.

You can find full details of schedules, dates, costs, student reviews and tutors at http://www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/.

There is a limited amount of bursary funding available for students who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see our website for details.

To book a place please visit www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/, call us on 0845 519 4827, or email info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis

Young Lawyers Summer School – additional dates now available

The Young Lawyers Summer School is an opportunity for students aged 11-14 who are keen to learn more about the legal world, and to have a go at arguing a legal case for themselves.

The four-day course will include games, and workshops, on diverse areas of law, from family to contract law, as well as lively debates and a full mock crown court trial.

This course will develop several important cross-curricular skills. The Mock Trial element of the Summer School, for example, develops vital skills of analysis, teamwork, public speaking and confidence (as well as teaching students about criminal law and the courts).

Highlights will include:

  • Criminal justice – from the moment a crime is committed to the point at which the offender is   sentenced
  • Debates and discussions on current legal issues
  • Advocacy skills – how to make speeches in court, question witnesses and build your case
  • Contract law – drafting a legal agreement and what to do in case of disputes
  • Human rights – balancing conflicting rights and defending your rights
  • Family law – how the law regulates marriage, adoption and divorce
  • Full Mock Crown Court criminal trial

You can view a full schedule for the course, details of tutors and lots more feedback from last year on our website – www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/young-lawyers-summer-school/.

Feedback from previous Young Lawyers:

Had a great time, learnt so much and met some GREAT people.

The Young Lawyers school is very interesting and effectively teaches students about the law in a fun and friendly way. The tutors are very nice and good at explaining the intricacies of the law.

I really enjoyed this course. Apart from helping me learn loads more about law I had loads of fun participating into the mock trial and the debates.

A really fun way to find out about law and life as a lawyer. I was surrounded by lovely people and have had a chance to express my views and listen to others. I now have a clear perspective on law and can see which parts I would enjoy and which parts I would like to work in in the future.

It’s a really good course for learning new things and building confidence. It is also very good for making new friends and learning to work in a team with people you don’t know. And all the teachers were really good and friendly.

I went from knowing very little about Law and the different types such as Family Law to feeling like I knew quite a lot! The teachers were very friendly and informative, and most importantly, made learning fun! I will definitely be coming back to more Debate Chamber courses! Thank-you!

Practical Details

This event will take place on 1st-4th August (and repeated 15th-19th August and 22nd-25th August).

The cost of the four-day course is £345 and will be held at the University of London in Bloomsbury (please note that this course is not residential, and accommodation must be arranged independently if required).

There will be a limited number of bursary spaces available for those who would otherwise have financial difficulty in attending – please see www.debatechamber.com for details.

Students can book a place by completing the online form on www.debatechamber.com/summerschools/young-lawyers-summer-school/, or by calling us on 0845 519 4827, or by emailing info@debatechamber.com. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Training lifesavers and inspiring future doctors

A major part of medicine involves learning and applying knowledge, in order to save lives. An increasing amount of medical school applicants are choosing to learn first aid, which comes as no surprise, given their desire to save lives. Completing a first aid course can also help demonstrate enthusiasm and dedication for a career in medicine.

The MEDICS (Medical Emergencies, Defibrillation and Introduction to Clinical Skills) Simulation course has been specifically designed as a first aid course, for those hoping to study medicine or considering medicine as a potential career, by Saltworth Health.

Saltworth Health is a niche purpose-driven training organization – founded by doctors – which delivers a range of unique first aid courses. Saltworth Health brings a breath of fresh air to first aid training, revolutionising the way courses are delivered. We have thought up innovative and different ways to incorporate the hobbies and interests of students into our courses – as a result, our courses are more tailored towards students and therefore more engaging, making the information learnt memorable and easier to recall in a real emergency.

The MEDICS Simulation course is a one-day course delivered on a simulated ward (SaIL Centre) at Guy’s Hospital, London on Saturday 4th of June, 2016 and due to the size of the simulated ward, numbers are restricted to a maximum of 20 students.

The morning session covers first aid training and basic life support for medical emergencies such as asthma attack, choking, anaphylaxis and cardiac arrest, including defibrillation.

The afternoon session introduces students to relevant clinical skills used in resuscitation by paramedics, nurses or doctors such as cannulation (accessing blood vessels), venipuncture (taking bloods), injections, using an inhaler or epipen etc.

The MEDICS Sim course is stimulating, engaging and practical for all future medics. It is taught by doctors and delivered with a young audience in mind, ideal for students applying to medical schools by October 2016 (current Year 12 students). Further information can be found on our downloadable flyer (please feel free to circulate).

Fundamentally, students will learn important lifesaving skills but also get firsthand experience of being a ‘hospital medic’, as they are tested with real-time, high-pressure simulated scenarios, in a safe and supportive environment, offering a fantastic insight into medicine as a career.

Participants will be awarded an Emergency Life Support (ELS) certificate based on the Resuscitation Council UK guidelines.

Our courses are not simply a tick box exercise to support a student’s university application; they are designed to teach students how to respond correctly in emergencies.

If you would like a copy of our courses e-brochure or would like to be informed of future courses, visit the contact us page on our website and select the ‘Early bird notification’ option.

You can also write to us at Saltworth Health, 71 – 75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ or give us a call on 02080048060.

Dr Dami Oyedele MBChB (Warwick) BSc (Hons) Cardiovascular Sciences

Medical Director