"The preparation I received at CHS was invaluable and the opportunities far beyond any experience my current peers had."
Name: Jayne Booth
Studied at CHS: 2008 - 2015
Current role: Manufacturing Technologies Assembly Processes Intern, Airbus UK/ Mechanical Engineering Student, Liverpool University
Route after leaving CHS:
Since leaving CHS I've been studying Mechanical Engineering at The University of Liverpool and completed the second year of my four year course in June 2017. For the next year I am undertaking a paid, twelve month placement with Airbus UK at Broughton working as a Manufacturing Technologies Assembly Processes Intern.
The placement is aimed at giving undergraduate students workplace experience to develop their critical thinking and application of the theory they are taught in university lectures. The aim of this is to increase employability after graduating by preventing the vicious circle of 'I can't get a job because I don't have the experience because I can't get a job.' It is also a great opportunity for students like me to find out which areas of engineering I want/ don't want to pursue!
Following the placement, I have two more years at university and these will be the first time I have had the opportunity to choose my modules and specialise within my degree. Hopefully my year at Airbus will help to guide me into the area of engineering in which I should specialise.
How does your present role compare with what you thought you'd be doing?
I decided when I was 10 years old that I wanted to be an engineer. I was always aiming towards studying engineering throughout my high school education. In Year 11 I secured an Arkwright Scholarship (helped by Mrs Bartley), which was for Years 12 and 13 to provide support for those planning to study engineering.
I followed up this scholarship with an Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE) scholarship through AMEC Foster Wheeler Clean Energy Group, which is for the duration of my degree. I was one of only twenty successful applications for scholarships out of 100. In addition to having to achieve the stipulated grades and complete an application form, I also had to take part in a challenge to improve or redesign something found in a student’s room. My tangle-free headphone design helped secure the funding that will help support me through my degree.
What are your memories of Congleton High School?
I studied for both high school and sixth format Congleton High. I studied Maths, Further Maths and Physics to A2 and did German and Chemistry AS but dropped Chemistry at Christmas of my AS year.
I have very fond memories of the teachers and students. The maths department were absolutely amazing! I obviously spent a lot of time over my A Levels in the maths department but they always made room for us to study up there with teachers present to help us with any queries. I remember very well my GCSE Maths classes with Mr Warren and graph aerobics.
I performed in the school band for all of the musicals put on across my time in CHS and have loads of memories of time preparing and performing with the music department, especially growing in confidence in playing instruments and performing.
I spent some time in my AS year helping in lower school lessons, I helped in a German class and in two English classes, one during a library lesson and the other in a classroom. In year 13, I was a homework mentor and for three days a week after school helped struggling students or students on C4 with homework and coursework.
I also took part in many co-curricular projects: First Lego league competition (Miss Kenny), Commenius Project (Mrs Dearnley, Mr Newstead and Mrs Hilditch), EES (Mr Newstead). I also took part in the school's German exchange and I think I still hold the longest partnership with my German exchange (I went every year for 5 years) and I really loved those experiences in Germany and staying with a German family. Those trips made learning a language come to life and proved it was worth all the hard work!
In my final year at Congleton High, I was invited to apply for an Alumni Scholarship, a small financial award towards covering some of the costs of my future studies. Along with five other applicants that year, including my twin sister, Ellen, I was lucky enough to be awarded the scholarship. In return, we support to the school with activities aimed at encouraging and inspiring younger students planning similar educational and career paths to their older counterparts. Undergraduates previously awarded the scholarships have returned to the school to take part in assemblies and lunch time meetings, sharing their own experiences of school and university. Students are also able to contact us by email with questions about particular universities, courses or even career paths.