Gap Year Opportunities

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In the UK, we start school at age 5 and complete the upper 6th at age 18. 13 years in education without a break. No wonder so many Stoics decide to take a gap year. Students take gap years for various reasons, but most have the common themes based around independence, experience new things and the chance to get to know yourself away from teachers and the rigid schedule of school.

Although gap years are perceived to be a year abroad, working, playing and experiencing life while taking a break from education, the gap year experience will vary depending on your aims, resources and how adventurous you want to be. Modern gap year vary in length and can simply be a break for a year before starting university.

For example, you could jet off to South America and work on a marine biology project which is directly linked to your future degree, become a qualified ski instructor, or you could apply to work as a gap year student in Swanbourne House School as an intern teaching assistant (even if you don’t want to be a teacher in the long term).

Watch the videos below on two very different gap year experiences.

Some useful links to Prospects

According the the OECD, graduate employers are looking for a range of transferable skills when selecting new employees. These include Cognitive, Socio-emotional and Technical transferable skills. 

Example: Transferable cognitive skills gained from working as a teaching assistant at Swanbourne House School

Critical thinking
  • Critical thinking
  • Analytical skills
  • Writing Research
  • Online research

Communication
  • Communication skills
  • Written communication
  • Verbal/oral communication
  • Oral communication
  • Presentation skills

Decision-making
  • Decision-making
  • Strategic thinking
  • Strategic planning
  • Strategic development
  • Thought leadership

Problem-solving
  • Problem-solving
  • Creative problem-solving

Numeracy/Quantitative reasoning
  • Statistical reporting
  • Calculation
  • Statistics
  • Statistical analysis

Meta-cognition and ability to learn
  • Quick learner

Example: Transferable socio-emotional skills gained from working as a teaching assistant at Swanbourne House School

Conscientiousness/Task performance
  • Initiative
  • Self-starter
  • Detail-oriented
  • Organisational skills
  • Time management
  • Prioritising tasks

Emotional regulation
  • Positive disposition
  • Conflict management

Collaboration/Engagement with others
  • Teamwork/collaboration
  • Persuasion
  • Public speaking
  • Building effective relationships

Open-mindedness
  • Creativity

Example: Transferable technical transferable skills gained from working as a teaching assistant at Swanbourne House School

Management skills
  • Project management
  • Budget management
  • Performance management
  • Business acumen
  • Team management

Generic ICT skills
  • Microsoft Office
  • Spreadsheets
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Computer literacy
  • Microsoft Word

Other technical transferable skills
  • English Budgeting
  • Typing
  • On-boarding
  • Cost estimation
  • Event planning