Pathfinder Debrief thoughts - 2025 by

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:00:18 UTC

'...seeing the rooms, and living spaces, I believe its invaluable experience to have and introduce to an audience as young as they are.'

Aaliyah

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:01:12 UTC

'...surprised at the removal of the points/scoreboard element as I thought this was always a nice edition in bringing the competition element to the day, thus building excitement with the students.'

Aaliyah

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:02:29 UTC

Martyn from Barnwell expressed a desire for some form of extrinsic motivation. Even if not a whole team win, perhaps an individual MVP

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:04:19 UTC

Despite concerns about the costs being a barrier/stressor for students the activity 'highlights the realities of what it’s like to be a student as well as giving them skills with budgeting etc'

Aaliyah

Breaks

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:07:06 UTC

Have received some comments about the breaks not being long enough, as movement to get food shortens it to be below half an hour. I would argue it is their responsbility to be out of room as soon as we announce to the students and to strongly encourage packed lunches

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:08:38 UTC

We ask a lot more of our ambassadors than in previous years. I see this is a pro, but perhaps it could be argued this impacted their enthusiasm etc

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:15:10 UTC

The activity feels a little flat to me. I would say some need reworking to have less of a strong maths focus.

I also wonder if we should have more to make it feel like more of a challenge. If the tasks are split between the groups, a good team could conceivably be finished within ten minutes.

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:15:47 UTC

Achieved our goal in having the work be student/ambassadors led rather than front-led information

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:17:23 UTC

In comparison to GOSL, timings are more flexible, meaning we do not have to rush through a lot of content and hold the other teams outside the room, as was the case in previous years

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:17:58 UTC

Do we feel we have settled into the best rhythm in using ambassadors for setting up and packing down?

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:19:20 UTC

Scoreboard could be burdensome, especially towards the end of the day. We would lose teams who knew they weren't going to win

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:20:32 UTC

After a difficult first day in accommodation, many ambassadors have expressed gratitude for the creation of Nick and Jackie's explainer video

Is it better to have one group leader or two?

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:23:26 UTC

I'm sure the opinion varies between individuals. There may have been instances later on in the series where a newer ambassador no longer felt they needed 'chaperoning'. In our defence, we allocate out in advance, and cannot confidently predict their growth in that time

Lots of applicants

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:25:08 UTC

This may be down to higher numbers, and also partially to myself accidentally publishing the advert later than expected. Reflection for us.

Waiting list

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:25:38 UTC

First time using this- does there need to be more clarity about what this is and why they are on it?

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:26:16 UTC

In previous years we had ambassadors doing 'behind the scenes' social media and a few more presenting than this year.

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:37:36 UTC

Two schools pulled out - one ahead of time due to staff capacity, one on the week of due to not organising the trip

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:38:22 UTC

Series was condensed to two months, leaving space in July for planning and other end of year tasks

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:39:07 UTC

Series being condensed to two months meant it was a very intensive period*, especially once additional staff absences were accounted for.

* for ambassadors as well as staff

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:41:28 UTC

Certainly felt like there was a difference in maturity levels of students in comparison to previous years

alaing10 — 2025-07-03 09:42:37 UTC

From June onwards, did not appear to encounter much pushback from Teachers for no longer receiving lunches. A useful development to help manage students whilst Ambassadors are on break

2025-07-03 10:37:52 UTC

It would be good to have a place we can keep all the accommodation resources safe. Also, having a good system for carrying items around. Tote bags were ok, but could be improved

2025-07-03 10:38:51 UTC

If we could get ambassadors to try the room with an officer/manger leading prior to next use, they can facilitate better.

2025-07-03 10:39:19 UTC

A detailed map of where everything is hidden would help prevent lost items.

2025-07-03 10:41:22 UTC

This could be more dynamic by choosing a few key skills that could be worked on in situ. It doesn't have to be bound to the room. Could it be the tour itself?

2025-07-03 10:42:17 UTC

The students didn't seem too bothered not to have a score or a winner. They were motivated by the badges.

2025-07-03 10:43:39 UTC

A keepsake prize might a nice middle ground. You get something for being there. Maybe something as a team photo or certificate of achievement.

2025-07-03 10:44:46 UTC

It was more ambassador led!

2025-07-03 10:49:04 UTC

Need to consider that schools may bring a bare minimum of staff. Do they add value on tour/in accommodation? Are they aware that it's not an opportunity for them to be on their phone or marking work?

Amazing

2025-07-07 08:12:52 UTC

Love this activity and just a massive well done!

Ambassador led

2025-07-07 08:14:11 UTC

I like the way this was ambassador led. Feel they may need a little more direction though.

New activities

2025-07-07 08:18:01 UTC

Just think we need a few new activities for this one, maybe we could pay ambassadors to create some? I think that'd be amazing.

Positive

2025-07-07 08:29:42 UTC

I think removing the scoreboard was a positive change. I think where in previous years it had sparked enthusiasm and was exciting, it's grown to have a more negative than positive effect on the students. I feel it's removal has made little difference. I don't necessarily believe the badges cause excitement but I don't think that's a problem, they have a clear purpose of representing skills.

Idea

2025-07-07 08:30:26 UTC

Raffle tickets, similar to PET-XI, happy to explain ☺️

Dynamic

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:14:57 UTC

I think this fun and memorable activity is the kind of direction the day needed to take, and whilst we may seek to streamline and refine the activity, the format of it allows for the immersive kind of discovery learning we want to achieve.

2025-07-07 09:17:19 UTC

Could we consider changing the activity to mean it doesn't require setting up? eg It is always set up and ready to go. So instead of puzzle pieces could it be posters, pictures, books on a shelf? This way students could go around the rooms and collect the information without disturbing the rooms. There is also the potential that we could get other teams involved in using this activity.

Co-creation

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:18:14 UTC

I think this activity would benefit from an ambassador group reflecting on what worked well, and what was challenging. Helping to guide any changes for the next series.

2025-07-07 09:19:02 UTC

Feedback from Ambassadors: The lack of competition meant some students weren't motivated. The badges didn't seem to work to motivate the students as there was no benefit to getting them.

2025-07-07 09:20:40 UTC

Rooming restrictions. Blue sky thinking! Could a Pathfinder work without a 'base' room? So straight into smaller breakout rooms on rotation.

Briefing

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:20:42 UTC

I think it would be good to consider the best way to convey activities like this to ambassadors for the next run. The video recorded reacted well to the need. Do we think a video would serve the ambassadors well in the future? I would vote in favour for specific Pathfinder training events, part of which would cover this activity in detail, and role play it.

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:22:37 UTC

I think it had some value and was a move in the right direction. Some challenges worked well and learners appeared to enjoy participating in them. i.e. student society creative task.

Refine and take on the 'Road'

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:25:24 UTC

I agree with comments above about creating a select few new activities and have these integrated into the campus tour. I don't think there is enough time to have the tour and the student skills in the same rotation without those 2 activities being pressurised into constraints that impact their effectiveness.

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:26:57 UTC

The principle of the activities I think stands us well. but more thought and care was required for their integration into the day.

Briefing

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:31:28 UTC

I think the ambassadors broadly performed well, but as we are shifting to asking more of them in their roles (a positive) I think we need to consider are we doing enough through briefing / pre event training to help equip them with the knowledge and skills they will need.

Positive Feedback

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:32:23 UTC

I encountered a lot of positivity around the format of the day and the student's responses to the activities.

Accountability

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:35:33 UTC

I think we need to find methods and processes to help ensure the right learners are present on the day, the right number of learners for the capacity etc.

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:37:16 UTC

The sign-ups from schools, staffing and involvement of ambassadors across the series were broadly positive. Very few issues with rooming or coaches.

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:41:12 UTC

It seemed like preparation time ahead of the event wasn't allowed for to the degree that staff, ambassadors or resources were in a position that we could start the series on a strong footing.

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:42:38 UTC

The series was under an evolution, both beforehand and during it's course and I think the staff and ambassadors navigated that well

Big Picture

jsage13 — 2025-07-07 09:47:54 UTC

This series facilitated close to 1000 young people from within selected schools, for which the experience this day offers would be most valuable to our WP work. It's a big undertaking and has potential for huge and long standing impact. It's a massive achievement to have run the series. The fact that it's scope is so great, and that it's potential for impact is so high, is why it drives us to try and make it the best possible day we can offer, and that we would continue to strive for that.

2025-07-07 10:52:14 UTC

Could we involve Year 12 students in Pathfinder?? No idea if this would work...