Enrich for Success Alumni

Penelope Spencer-Simpson

Year 13 Leaver: 2024

Subjects: English Literature, History, Politics, Sociology

Career Focus: Member of Parliament / Political Journalist / Civil Servant

Super and extra-curricular enrichment activities:

• Member of the Senior Student Team
• Head Student
• Member of/ran the Debate Team
• PERSIL Dirt Is Good Programme
• Member of Oldham Youth Council (Free School Meals, Votes at 16)
• Vice-chair / Chair of Oldham Youth Council
• Debbie Abraham’s MP Summer School
• UNIQ University of Oxford Enrichment Program
• Robson History Prize University of Cambridge Essay Competition 
• Greater Manchester Environmental Working Group
• Independent Advisory Group
• Children’s Commissioner for England Ambassador
• Founder & Editor-in-chief of "NC News" (Student Newspaper)
• MOOCs
• Journalism Online Work Experience
• Listen to the Earth Programme (Holocaust Memorial Day)
• Jim McMahon MP Work Experience
• National Campaigner for recognising Care-Experience as a Protected Characteristic 
• Politics & History Podcasts (Rest is Politics, NewsAgents, In Our Time: History)

How has enrichment helped me develop personally and academically?

Enrichment activities enabled me to find my passions academically and as a person. The opportunities to help young people within my school and my borough allowed me to develop perceptive, empathetic and intellectual skills about the society around me, especially in the thoughts of how and why our society has constructed this way due to the events of the past. Thus, this encouraged my further reading around History beyond my A-levels to showcase my enthusiasm and passion to be a contributor of positive change to the society around me. Akin to the inspiring individuals in my studies, I believe I’ve developed the confidence to learn about the past to conduct a better future. 

Penelope Spencer-Simpson is currently studying History at Kings College London

Tom Garforth

Year 13 Leaver: 2024

Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Geography, EPQ

Career Focus: Physiotherapy

Super and extra-curricular enrichment activities:

• Head Student
• ‘Persil: Dirt is Good Project’ Leader
• Lead Dissection Club
• Chemistry Olympiad – Bronze Award
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Online Kinesiology Taping course
• Athletics club at Regional Athletics Centre
• In discussion with local MP about ‘Food for Learning’ campaign

How has enrichment helped me develop personally and academically?

Enrichment activities not only shaped my time in North Chadderton, but they also helped shape my future as well. They enabled me to improve on so many skills to really help me succeed and take me out of my comfort zone. I was able to gain confidence alongside key skills of leadership, communication, teamwork, and initiative, all of which are necessary for a prosperous future in the workplace or further education – and personally they have proved invaluable in my physiotherapy interviews and at university. They allowed me to meet with new people and learn from the people I met. Furthermore, enrichment opportunities can really help improve knowledge of your own subjects within Sixth Form as for me, dissection club and the Chemistry Olympiad helped consolidate the A-Level knowledge in biology and chemistry. The new experiences also help you realise what you really enjoy which dramatically shapes what you want to pursue in the future. For me personally, the combination of athletics, kinesiology taping, and dissection club made me want to become a Sports Physiotherapist one day.

Tom Garforth is currently studying Physiotherapy at Hull University

Ivani Kaushal

Year 13 Leaver: 2024

Subjects: Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics

Career Focus: Dentistry

Super and extra-curricular enrichment activities:

• Volunteered at Royal Oldham Hospital as a dining companion for 6 months
• Member of the charity and fundraising committee at Sixth Form
• Part of the Senior Student Team
• Authored a research article about the connection between diabetes and oral health
• School newspaper writer – NC News
• Attended KCL online dental lecture series
• Supported with running dissection club
• Girl Guide for 7 years
• Shadowed dentists in both private and NHS clinics

How has enrichment helped me develop personally and academically?

Engaging in a variety of enrichment activities has greatly contributed to my personal and academic development in pursuing a career in dentistry. Volunteering at a hospital enhanced my empathy and communication skills, while my involvement in fundraising and leadership roles deepened my teamwork and responsibility. Additionally, shadowing dentists and attending dental lectures provided essential insights into the profession. These experiences not only deepened my understanding of dentistry but also instilled in me a commitment to community service and lifelong learning.

Ivani Kaushal is currently studying dentistry at the University of Glasgow