This has been a great week for results! Huge congratulations to our Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) students, 82% of whom recently achieved A or A* in their final assessment. The EPQ helps students develop and demonstrate their project management skills and provides opportunities for extended writing, both of which are highly valued for progression to higher education and employment. Students can tailor their project to fit their individual needs, choices and aspirations and the outcome of the project can be a design, performance, report, dissertation or artefact.
We have also seen some excellent CTEC unit results this week with the majority of students gaining Distinctions or Merits. An amazing effort from our Sport, Applied Science and Health and Social Care students! Well done everyone for all your hard work and thank you to our teaching staff for supporting our students and ensuring our students can be the best versions of themselves they can be!
We have been celebrating British Science Week with animals in the foyer and brains in the dance studio. This is very possibly my favourite part of the academic year! On Monday Ian Tite from Crazy Creatures visited to share a selection of incredible creatures with us. Everyone had the opportunity to hold a Royal Python, Orchid Praying Mantis, African Fat Tail Gecko and Madagascan Giant Hissing Cockroach. Less popular choices included the African Land Snail (too slimy) and the Leopard Tortoise (too heavy) and the Brazilian White Knee Tarantula which was strictly for looking at because it was a bit grumpy and didn’t want to be picked up.
Then on Tuesday, Dr Guy Sutton gave students what is a truly compelling introduction to Neuroscience. His enthusiasm is utterly infectious and what he doesn’t know about this subject just isn’t worth knowing. You can see from the images that this is somebody who absolutely loves their job! I really hope that our visitors this week have helped to inspire our students and introduce them to the myriad careers in the field of science that are available to young people.
Easter Revision Sessions
We are opening the college for a few revision sessions during the Easter break. The staff members who will be running these sessions are noted below. We would highly recommend students attend these sessions to get the most out of their time with us and help to prepare for their exams in the summer, which are fast approaching.
Tuesday 02 April
9.00am-12.00pm
Viv White, Kirsty White, Steve Price, Sally Tye, Lainey Hughes
1.00pm-4.00pm
Kirsty White, Sally Tye, Lainey Hughes, Steve Barrington
Thursday 04 April
9.00am-12.00pm
Viv White, Nigel Roper, Ben Hillier, Nicky Miller
1.00pm-4.00pm
Nigel Roper, Ben Hillier, Steve Barrington, Jon Usherwood
Our teaching staff have drawn together this revision support document which is an excellent resource: S6C Revision Support
Laurence Rushby – Teacher of Fine Art and Photography
Two weeks ago I gave a very successful research presentation at the SCEP (Southampton Cultural Education Partnership). It was a great networking event with cultural organisations and educators discussing how to create a program to manage work experience for students within cultural industries in the Southampton area. We have a similar scheme for Wiltshire, and I am investigating so that we can create stronger links. I am currently supporting two art students in year 12 to do work experience at Wiltshire Creatives to create an archive of Youth Theatre and I am really looking forward to updating you with their progress. I am also delighted to announce that Ash Capon, former S6C student, has just been offered a place at the University of Oxford. Ash will start at Ruskin School of Art, the Department of Fine Art at Oxford, this September, and we couldn’t be more proud!
Rebecca Anderson – Pastoral Lead
University and Apprenticeships
– Any student needing to do an interview for apprenticeship, employment or university can come and see Rebecca to arrange some guidance and practice;
– Any student needing advice on volunteering, work experience, or wider engagement, to prepare for strong applications, should talk to their teachers, tutor or Rebecca as soon as they know what area they may be interested in;
– We offer a full support service for those applying for apprenticeships, but it has to be responsive to the job market, so there are no set dates for the different stages. This means that students need to show a high level of initiative and independence, but we are here to help and we expect to be involved – we can help search, check applications, and prepare for interviews.
Careers
Polly Wiggins is our external careers advisor and students wanting to book an appointment should message Rachel Cooke.
Work Experience
There is a support session on Tuesday 19 March at 10.45am in the study centre. We can help students find a placement, access UniFrog and provide more information on length of placement and deadlines.
Funding
– You have just under a month to get your Wiltshire Community Foundation grant applications in! £1600 a year for every year of university. Let Rebecca know if you need help completing the form.
– There is also a one off grant of £1000 to help you with the costs of starting an apprenticeship.
– You are likely to qualify if you are on our college bursary scheme – but if you feel you need the support, then please do take a close look and contact them to ask.
– If your home circumstances have changed and you think you might need a bursary, then it is never too late to apply: S6C Bursary Support
S6C Rugby Academy
Dorset and South Wiltshire State Schools and Colleges U18s 7s Tournament
Today was another good challenge and one we rose to and passed with flying colours. After a slight hiccup against QE (catching restarts need fine tuning), we responded in the best possible way by playing our style and bringing both the energy and physicality in D. A reality check that perhaps we needed.
Convincing wins against Poole High, Gillingham and BWS set up a mouthwatering clash with Poole Grammar, which essentially was a final.
PG were unbeaten so we needed to beat them to win the tournament. They came out of the traps and in fairness played some good stuff and we were 10-0 down in no time. Our reaction was class, we didn’t panic; kept our heads and were inspired by a colossal individual display by Sam, we found a way to win 25-5. Alex scored a class hat-trick. Was awesome to see our fight for each other and our defence and desire to win!
A special win and awesome to be the first winners of the tournament – making history! Let’s defend it next year!
Well done to all the lads, real squad effort. Need to take that last performance into Friday when we take on much stronger opposition! Now we turn our attention to 15s and need good numbers at training on Friday ahead of another challenge in the form of Peter Symonds.
S6C Football Academy
Community and Education Football Alliance League
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Monday 18 March
Year 12 DC4 Assessment Week
Wednesday 20 March
Year 13 Parents Evening
S6C Football Academy v. Bristol Rovers (home @ Ringwood Football Club)
Thursday 21 March
Year 13 Parents Evening
Wednesday 27 March
Interview Evening
S6C Football Academy v. Bristol Rovers (away)
S6C Rugby Academy – rematch 15s v BWS 1s
Thursday 28 March
Terms Ends
Friday 29 March
Easter Break
Monday 15 April
Term Begins
Year 13 DC9 Assessment Week
Thursday 18 April
Year 12 UCAS Discovery Fair Winchester
Monday 22 April
Summer Exam Season Begins
Wednesday 24 April
S6C Football Academy v. Plymouth Argyle (home @ Ringwood Football Club
Monday 06 May
Bank Holiday
Monday 27 May
Half Term
Monday 03 June
Term Begins
Friday 07 June
MLP Pupil Parliament Meeting
Monday 10 June
Year 12 DC7 Assessment Week
Tuesday 25 June
UCAS and Apprenticeships Information Evening
Friday 28 June
Year 13 Prom
Tuesday 02 July
Psychology Trip to Marwell Zoo
Year 5 Primary School Careers Fair at S6C
Wednesday 03 July
Pembroke Park Science Day at S6C
SEND Open Afternoon 3pm to 5pm
