20 December 2024
As we come to the end of the 2024 Autumn term I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. This half term has certainly been busy, with lots of amazing extra activities taking place. At this time of year we always have a high number of staff and student absence due to winter illnesses, we have worked hard to minimise this impact and will continue to put further support in place in the new year. The college is a wonderful place to both work and study and I am hugely impressed by our students and incredibly proud that they have chosen to study with us.
Our Year 13 students have now all completed their mock exams and I would like to say well done to everyone for working so hard and behaving so responsibly in as near to proper exam conditions as possible. Thank you to S6C staff for the tremendous team effort to organise.
The college will be closing for the Christmas break today. Students will be expected to attend lessons in the morning then at 10.45am there will be a whole college Christmas quiz and celebration in the lecture theatre.
We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for many different reasons. Below we have provided some links which we hope will be useful. I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas break and I look forward to seeing all of our students when term begins again on Tuesday 07 January.
Ben Hillier
Head of College
Elf Day
Over £200 was raised for Alzheimer’s Research UK, with activities taking place throughout the day which included a cake sale, hot chocolate station, tombola, raffle, pick-a-duck, Father Christmas in his grotto, face painting/glitter tattoos, sending cards to the elderly, decorate your own Christmas decoration and teeny tiny snowman hunt around the college. Thank you to Emma McAndrew for organising the day, ably supported by our Student Union and of course thank you to Father Christmas for taking time out of his busy schedule to spend some time at S6C!
S6C Christmas Community Project
Thank you to everyone who donated items for the Alabare collection. Alabare runs a series of support services in local towns and villages providing support and accommodation for people who are homeless, armed forces veterans in need, adults with significant special needs and vulnerable mothers with babies. If you and your family are struggling then please speak to us so we can signpost support over Christmas. We all need to look after each other.
Support contacts over the Christmas period
If you feel you need any support to be put in place at the beginning of term in January, please email the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Craig Chambers at cchambers@@s6c.mlp.college or the Deputy DSL (DDSL) Rebecca Anderson at randerson@s6c.mlp.college.
Childline advisors are available throughout Christmas and New Year, including on Christmas day if your young person needs to speak to a counsellor or talk to other young people on the message boards.
Wiltshire Children and Young People Emotional Wellbeing Service a local service that young people or their parents can use for mental health advice or to arrange support.
The Trussell Trust for anyone experiencing long or short term food poverty.
Salisbury Pantry for anyone experiencing long or short term food poverty.
Talk to Frank honest information about drugs.
https://www.themix.org.uk/ essential support for under 25s.
For more support please go to the following S6C page: Mental Health Support
UCAS
Well done to everyone who has already submitted their applications but if you haven’t, there is still time! If Year 13s are wanting to apply to university by the January 29th deadline then they really need to get their applications ready asap so we have time to process them, which typically takes up to two working weeks. They should keep their tutors well informed about their intentions and progress. As ever, we are all here to help.
Vanner Gallery Visit
And here is the resultant collage of sketches by the students:
Factorum Visit
The small but incredibly enthusiastic Warhammer group had a great afternoon/evening at Factorum near Warminster. We were able to play full length games using all the 40K terrain and game mats!
Appren-T-Fest Salisbury – Wednesday 22 January 2025, hosted by S6C
All parents and carers (from all Salisbury schools/colleges) are invited to find out more about local apprenticeship options. You can book to attend 16:00-17:00 or 17:30-18:30. There will be a short talk about apprenticeships and an exhibition of local employers to speak to about their opportunities. You can find out more about the event, download the preview directory and book to attend using this link: https://apprenticeshipsinsalisbury.co.uk/2025-directory-and-fair/
Tickets are free of charge but you must book tickets in order to attend.
The exhibition will be open to our students to explore during the college day.
A final edition of the directory will be published, printed and distributed at the event. If you work for an organisation that has opportunities for school leavers, and would like to advertise in the directory, please get in touch with the organisers: info@apprenticeshipsinsalisbury.co.uk
Year 12 Fine Art
The year 12 art students have hung their collective artworks in the atrium. They have worked on themes of Social Connection, Relationship and Entanglements to produce a mixed media piece inspired by contemporary artists.
Articulation Internal Event
Our Articulation Internal Event on Public Speaking about Art took place on 16 December.
During the event one student, Ash Natelson-Carter, was selected to become an ambassador for the Regional Competition held at Roche Court in February 2025, which may lead to selection for the national event at the National Gallery in April. In March 2022, one of our students won second prize nationally and was thereafter paid to do a talk at the National Gallery over the summer.
Our selection panel included David Christie, owner of the Vanner Gallery, Salisbury and we hugely enjoyed supporting the students in this great challenge.
Brain Day
This week the hugely knowledgeable and entertaining neuroscientist Dr Stutton joined us to give an insightful talk to our Psychology students.
Students looked at the effects of addiction on the brain and also factors that play a role in schizophrenia. The most notable part of the day was the sheep brain dissection (not for the faint-hearted) where they were able to handle parts of the brain and look at the similarities in the structure to a human brain.
Thank you to Psychology teacher, Kirsty White, for arranging this fascinating day for the students.
Benchball Competition
This was one of the craziest competitions to have taken place at S6C! Nobody was sure of the rules and there was some flagrant cheating but in the end, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and nobody was injured (which is very surprising!) Congratulations to the winners, your brownie prize was well deserved…we think!
We Are Hiring
We are looking for a Catering Assistant to work in the S6C Cafe, helping to prepare hot and cold snacks for our students. Please click on the link for further information and how to apply: Catering Assistant Vacancy
Match Report
Bristol City vs S6C Bournemouth Academy
Today the boys are coming off the back of a good run of form and momentum was high coming in. On a cold day, we started off on the front foot; in the first 15 minutes we dominated the game, going 1-0 up through Aaron’s rebound finish. We let our standards drop but regained control by the end of the first half with 2 quick fire goals by Travis’s rebound finish and Max’s goal from a wide angle.
Second half was a mixed bag, with some good combinations and solid defensive displays, Travis adding another goal to make it 4-0, but the game did fizzle out and a consolation goal was scored by them with 10 minutes to go.
Overall, a great game from the lads and much to celebrate for Ben Cooper’s final game.
Bristol City 1-4 Bournemouth S6C
1-0 Aaron (assist Josh Brown)
2-0 Travis (assist Max)
3-0 Max (assist Travis)
4-0 Travis
Man of the match: Taylor Denton
5 wins in a row! Lads on a brilliant run!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Monday 23 December 2024 – Friday 03 January 2025
Christmas Break
Monday 06 January
Staff Training Day
Tuesday 07 January
Term Begins
Wednesday 08 January
Vocational Exams
AFC Bournemouth S6C v Bristol Rovers B
Thursday 09 January
Vocational Exams
Year 13 Parents Evening
Year 13 DC7 Reports published on Parent Portal
Friday 10 January
Vocational Exams
Monday 13 January
Vocational Exams
Tuesday 14 January
Vocational Exams
Interview Evening
Wednesday 15 January
Vocational Exams
Thursday 16 January
Vocational Exams
Friday 17 January
Vocational Exams
Tuesday 21 January
Year 13 Trip to Salisbury Law Courts
Wednesday 22 January
Apprenticeships Fair hosted by S6C
AFC Bournemouth S6C v Exeter City D
Monday 27 January
Year 12 Assessment Week
Wednesday 29 January
AFC Bournemouth S6C v Plymouth Argyle PD
Friday 31 January
Applications Close
Tuesday 04 February
Year 12 and 13 Eng Lang/Art/Photography Trip to London
Thursday 06 February
Interview Evening
Friday 07 February
Year 12 H&SC Trip to Old Sarum
Wednesday 12 February
RS Debate Day
AFC Bournemouth S6C v Plymouth Argyle B
Thursday 13 February
Year 12 DC3 Reports published on Parent Portal
Monday 17 February – Friday 21 February
Half Term
Monday 24 February
Term Begins
Wednesday 05 March
World Book Day
Wednesday 12 April
AFC Bournemouth S6C v Exeter City C
Interview Evening
Wednesday 19 March
AFC Bournemouth S6C v Plymouth Argyle – Newton Abbott B
Thursday 27 March
DC8 Reports published on Parent Portal
Tuesday 01 April
Interview Evening
Wednesday 02 April
AFC Bournemouth S6C v Bristol Rovers B
Wednesday 02 – Sunday 06 April
Football Trip to Inter Milan
Thursday 03 April
DC4 Reports published on Parent Portal
Friday 04 April
Term Ends
Monday 07 April – Monday 21 April
Easter Break
Tuesday 22 April
Term Begins
Wednesday 30 April
Interview Afternoon
Monday 05 May
Bank Holiday
Monday 26 May – Friday 30 May
Half Term
Monday 02 June
Term Begins
Wednesday 25 June
Freshers Day
Thursday 26 June
Freshers Day
Monday 30 June
Staff Training Day
Thursday 03 July
DC5 Reports published on Parent Portal
Monday 07 July
MLP Careers Fair at S6C
Tuesday 08 July
Year 12 Destinations Development Day
Wednesday 16 July
Term Ends
Thursday 17 July – Friday 29 August
Summer Break
