Friday 18th June 2021
We have had a really productive week with our Character Curriculum this week, which includes Life Skills, Enrichment as well as the Speakers and Careers Programme. Enabling students to have a rounded curriculum is essential in developing the tools they need to help build them into confident and capable young adults.
This week we have also seen a busy week at the college welcoming more prospective students through the doors, as we finish off the College Tours. We have welcomed small family groups of over 135 prospective new students from a variety of local secondary schools, including, Wyvern St Eds, Trafalgar, St Jospehs, Stonehenge and Shaftesbury. This has given students and their families an opportunity to look around the college and ask any questions they may have.
Below is a review of some of this week’s stories.
Have a lovely weekend.
Louise
Head of College
Student Life Skills Programme
Equality and Diversity in Life Skills – Rebecca Anderson, Pastoral Lead
Year 12 met together for a Pride Month themed Life Skills education session this week, as part of our celebrations of equality and diversity. The importance of our national values of freedom of speech and expression, the protection ensured by the rule of law, and the impact of tolerance (as a bare minimum expectation that widens to kindness, acceptance and solidarity) were also highlighted. We expect S6C students to challenge all and any prejudice – and to commit themselves to always being willing to listen, learn and show kindness. An excellent opportunity to remind our students to value themselves and those around them highly. It was an absolute pleasure to be able to address such an attentive, engaged and open audience, in person, and I was, as ever, impressed and moved by their maturity, kindness and respect.
Pupil Emotional and Wellbeing Support – Rebecca Anderson, Pastoral Lead
Students have been offered drop in lunchtime support this week for anxiety about exams and tips for managing revision and stress. A little bit of pressure can boost progress but this needs to be carefully managed to protect our wellbeing. Students can contact tutors or the pastoral lead any time for more help or look at the Wellbeing resources on the Information Classroom.
Local Community Links and Support – Rebecca Anderson, Pastoral Lead
S6C leaders also met with our local community police liaison officer this week to talk about issues that sometimes affect our students, whether this be experiences of harassment at work or in public, knowledge of employment law, fraud, issues surrounding sexting, and the rise of local county lines activity which aims to draw young people into criminal or sexual exploitation, often in ways which mean that young people are not even aware. We cover all these areas of personal safety and wellbeing in our Life Skills programme but in the coming year we are going to extend this by inviting the police education outreach team to share their direct experience of these issues with our S6C students.
Students, parents/carers and members of our local community are reminded that all harassment and abuse and exploitation and fraud , whether in person or online, should be reported – young people should never feel that they have to put up with these things; we can work together to raise awareness and encourage action by getting in touch with the police on 101, or 999 if there is an immediate threat.
If students have been affected by any of these issues then pastoral support is available via tutors or the pastoral lead, our safeguarding team (safeguarding@salisbury6c.ac.uk), and our college counsellors, or via The Mix or Childline online, or through external referrals which we can arrange.
Student Enrichment Programme
STEM Club – Chris Papp, Teacher of Chemistry and STEM Club Lead & Lisa Rodway, Science Technician and STEM Club support.
The Stem Club have recently been growing their own crystal gardens. The Gardens are created by using coloured silicates which begin to form overnight and grow into gardens in a week.
DodgeBall Tournament – Luke Muchmore Teacher of Sport – and Enrichment Lead
On Wednesday afternoon, Double Sport Students Harvey Roberts, Amy Webb, Ed Price and Ryan Fernando hosted a dodgeball tournament outside on the MUGA as part of their Organising a Sports Event unit. Overall it was very successful with over 30 students competing. Congratulations to the winning team: George, Finn, Ben, Louis & Jess. A great effort from all involved, next up we have a 5 a side football tournament hosted and organised by students on July 7th!
Baking Club – Dr Sally Tye, Faculty Lead for Humanities – and Baking Club Lead
Baking club this week made millionaires shortbread – the perfect treat to make revision more productive
Yoga Enrichment Club – Hanna Boddy, PA to the Head of College and Yoga Teacher
Staff and student Yoga continued in person at S6C this week, with practices centered around exploring ‘Alignment’. Not just the alignment of the body in postures, but also alignment of the mind and breath, in order to support both physical and mental wellbeing, specifically in times of stress.
Curriculum News
BTEC Business Finance Workshops with Bournemouth University (BU) – Steve Price, Teacher of Business
A UCAS report from 2018, quoted in What Uni noted nationally just 10% of students studying just a BTEC qualification will attend university. This year our Year 13 cohort are on target for over 85% to take up a place.
As part of the BTEC Business teams programme we were joined this week by the BU Business School delivering a workshop on Personal Finance. Delivering at Undergraduate Level, not only does it ‘raise the bar’ in terms of the challenge our students need, it gives them a chance to work with specialists in the industry.
The programme of workshops has covered the use of Artificial Intelligence, Developing a Marketing Plan and Driving Innovation. The intention for the BTEC Business Team is to develop this relationship, with a programme of visits to BU next academic year, COVID dependent, allowing our students to have the full university experience.
The programme over the last 18 months has been important in supporting our students to make the right decision regarding the University pathway. Even though much of the work we have done has been online, students have seen the reality of University life and its potential as a pathway Post 18.
History and Philosophy – Dr Sally Tye, Faculty Lead for Humanities
History and Philosophy students are taking part in their first oral history session this week. Discussing childhood memories with older members of the community. Salisbury Museum arranged with Wiltshire Council to bring the older members of the local community onsite to meet with students.
Psychology Investigations – Kirsty White, Faculty Lead for STEM
Before half-term, Year 13 Psychology students took part in an interactive crime scene investigation. Using content they had been learning about in earlier lessons on Forensic Psychology, students had to critically analyse a crime scene and profiles of suspects. Working in small groups, they had to decide on who they thought committed the murder, using their psychological understanding, as well as excluding the other suspects. Students were incredible at verbalising their thoughts and presenting to quite a large group of people as the class groups were combined. It was a great session and such a lovely way to end their time with us at S6C (after such an odd experience due to Covid)! Polly and Kirsty are really going to miss them and wish them all the best for the future!
