Friday 9th September 2022
What an unusual week it has been, and one that will go down in history after yesterday’s sad news. Today, as in many colleges and schools around the country, we held a minute’s silence to commemorate. People’s reactions to the news will undoubtedly be very different, and if you feel your young person is struggling at any time, myself and all staff at S6C are here to help students who may find things particularly difficult over the coming weeks.
On Monday we welcomed our new year 12’s for their first day, and on Tuesday our year 13’s started back after their summer break. It is lovely to see and feel the buzz of excitement and anticipation around the college for their new academic year.
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Regards
Ben
Careers Programme Launch
Rosie Roberts – Careers and School Liaison Officer
Careers Programme Launch
On Wednesday, 7th September, the Careers Lead, Rosie Roberts, met with all Year 12s to explain how careers education is delivered at S6C and to give them some key dates for careers events coming up this year.
This information will be shared with parents by email in the coming weeks so that they can continue to support their young person when researching and making decisions about future career options.
Pastoral Care
Rebecca Anderson, Pastoral Lead
Our new Year 12s and returning Year 13s are part of a college community where our vision is to see them all becoming the best version of themselves. We will offer a supportive, nurturing, and challenging environment, to help these amazing young people grow during their time with us. Students have been warmly welcomed and reminded of some key pastoral messages. Take care of yourselves and each other, show mutual respect, communicate with us (we can’t help if we don’t know), and have a low threshold for asking for early help for any concern, whether to do with physical or mental health or personal circumstance or studies. We are here for them all. Please do take a look at the Safe@S6C and Who Can Help Me at S6C posters for details of Pastoral, Mental Health, Personal Wellbeing, Safeguarding, and Study support – with support available in college and through external agencies. There is always someone there.
Finally, we have a zero tolerance approach to any forms of harassment, discrimination or prejudice, including misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia and ablism, and students are encouraged to let us know if they hear anything inappropriate. This is not ‘telling’ but being part of a mutually supportive community here in college and in the wider world. We are here to educate and encourage empathy and we aim to handle issues with respect and sensitivity. We are really looking forward to working with our current students and the Student Union to ensure that S6C is a safe space where everyone can thrive.
This is Online Safety
In their first tutor sessions students were reminded of the importance of using our safe, secure and accessible college system and Google educational apps. Social media apps are not suitable for use in lessons. Our ICT policy (attached) sets out various important safety and well-being issues – such as not photographing students or staff without authorisation. Please do take a look at the CEOP website, where any online abuse can be reported and their ThinkUKnow pages which is full of genuinely useful and well presented information on online issues. We want our students to be safe and well – and even their high level of online expertise can be extended.
Bursary
Kathryn Clarkson, Business Manager
The College can award a bursary to help cover the costs associated with books, equipment, transport, meals, trips and visits where a student is identified as needing additional financial support (where household income is below £30,000.) In order to apply for a bursary please visit our website to access the bursary application system https://www.salisbury6c.ac.uk/study-with-us/bursary/
