Dentistry Career Day - 7 & 9 November 

On the 9th November, students from Year 12 had the opportunity to participate in a Careers Dentistry Day at Wexham Park Hospital.  It was an amazing opportunity to work alongside and listen to the various experiences of trained professionals in the dentistry industry. 

We met the regional dental advisor, Shakir Shivji, and his colleagues who work with him at Wexham Park.  Each of them explained their own experiences within dentistry, and demonstrated how there are so many more opportunities and careers within this field that we had not previously known about. We were given a deep insight into the various roles of each person in a practice, and we learnt about the importance of teamwork and collaboration in this field. It was also helpful to see the process of applying for dentistry courses at university, and we were given advice on interviews and writing personal statements. 

Throughout the session, we were given the opportunity to create composite fillings, with the equipment used in actual dental practice. They first demonstrated how to use the composite, and built up the filling bit-by-bit, to ensure that it had been set the whole way through. After applying each bit of composite, they used a curing light (UV light) in order to cure the composite. We were then sent off to work on our own fillings in partners (with one person acting as the dental nurse, and one as the dentist). This was an incredible insight into the actual hands-on job that a dentist would experience on a daily basis. 

It was incredibly inspiring to see how passionate they are about their jobs, not only about the art of dentistry, but their drive to help others.

Students from Year 10 also had the same opportunity to participate in the Dentistry day on Tuesday 7 November where they listened to guest speaker, the Deputy Chief Dental Officer of England and also had the chance to have a go at doing a filling. 
Ellie Pash, Year 10,  explained  “Overall, I definitely feel like I have learnt a lot about Oral Health and I am very grateful I was able to get a chance to go on the Course and achieve doing a filling”. 

Francesca Wells, Year 12

 

 

 

 

Pinewood Studios, Friday 24 November 

On Friday 24th November, we took a 45 minute coach ride to Pinewood Studios and on arrival, went straight to watch a video about the Creative Media Skills Institute (CMS). The organisation is run by Ailey Smith who is an Old Borlasian and it was so exciting to see her journey into film and the organisation she has made where experienced individuals actively working in the industry come and teach a class of 15 students twice a week. This opportunity is available for anyone who is looking to go into film and free for those under 18! 

We got to meet multiple individuals who are working on movies and got told about the making of props as well as the classes they offer. There was also a chance to feel a cast of a nose made of silicon which was eerily similar to human skin.

After the video and introduction, we got taken around Pinewood into different buildings that specialised in a specific area of film. First, there were multiple stalls and lighting companies that we got to talk to- as well as Deadpool and a couple of stormtroopers. There were lots of opportunities, such as WFTV, a chance to be an extra in a film, BFI and multiple props organisations, even lightsabers, camera dollies and jibs. Afterwards, we went to another building which contained lots of cameras and props. There we got to engage with individual’s and ask about their career and their journey into film. There were so many stalls with different organisations and careers, such as colour grading, camera work, live streaming- which included a green screen where we could go stand in front of and look like we were in a spaceship.

Throughout this trip, everyone’s passion for film was evident and we really enjoyed the tremendous level of experience and skill we got to meet and a huge thank you to Ms Chislett and Mrs Wingrove for organising this trip to Pinewood.

Niyati Aulakh, Year 12