Term 1 ends - celebrations all round

Celebration Assembly

We ended our first term of sixth form with a prize giving assembly for students this morning. Heads of Department nominated students who have particularly impressed staff with their commitment, dedication and outstanding efforts with their studies. This was a very positive occasion for all concerned with staff and students celebrating academic success. Mr Baxter was also able to join us and this further created a sense of occasion.

Hannah Cherry and Shaun Bailey both received 4 nominations each and rightly deserved special commendations for this outstanding effort.

Halloween party for KS3

More examples of excellent work by the students is evidenced by the Young Enterprise group 'Spectrum' who have been organising a Halloween celebration for KS3 students. This is to be held this evening in the Performance Hall. My office is currently full of refreshments and various (interesting) decorations and fancy dress costumes. It is clearly going to be a well attended and memorable event. It is a delight to see Year 12 students working for the younger students in the school. The photographs will be on the website after half term.

Special thanks also go to Helen Oldham for her fund raising efforts and also to all the students who were involved in the fashion show with Morleys and raised over £200 for charity. These efforts are impressive and these students are a credit to this school.

...& thoughts of Christmas??

I would also like to say that this has been a really fantastic term with our Year 12 students. It has been a joy to have the building alive with the sound of noisy / laughing students who are clearly enjoying their studies. The hard work and demands of KS5 study are also apparent but so is the way that our students are now rising to these challenges.

I would like to wish all current (& indeed future) sixth formers a happy, restful and informative half-term. I genuinely look forward to next term.

I think we need Christmas decorations and a tree in the centre. I am therefore formally requesting volunteers to help me organise these for our next celebration!!

Year 12 charity work

I am delighted to be able to report that the Year 12 students have once again impressed me with their proactive approach and commitment.

This week they have been involved in raising money for charity and showing their skills of ingenuity and community spirit once again.

CANCER RESEARCH

Students have decided to show their support for family and friends by raising funds to support this cause.

CAKE SALE

Samantha Barker, Christina Namooa-Foster and Hollie Roberts persuaded the big Tesco in Bicester to donate all the ingredients for a massive cake scale. They covered the work surfaces in the post 16 cafeteria with all the home made cakes and raised a massive £127.

All the proceeds from their efforts will go directly to cancer research as the girls said they wanted to do something positive to help.

SPONSORED WALK

Tasmin Dickinson, Ellie Vickers, Charlotte Elgar, Megan Mackay, Keri Allen and Abbie Lloyd were all involved in a sponsored 5 mile walk around Bicester. They wanted to raise funds for Sobell house hospice. As Kerri said, she wanted to raise money in memory of her 'second mum' who spent some time there.

GUEST SPEAKER

To further raise awareness of the work of cancer research and to highlight key health messages, the Year 12 students will be having a talk on Friday 21st October.

Trips & visits

The staff are currently organising a range of extra-curricular activities for the Year 12 students to ensure that their learning experience at KS5 is as fulfilling and enriching as possible. The following is a sample of what is being currently offered to the students:

For Art / English students - a trip to Venice in February 2012

For Art students - visits to the 'Artist in Residence' at a local secondary school as well as a visit from an established artist, Ian Murphy who will give talks and workshops

For History Students - In 2012 a trip to Krakow, Poland to explore the concentration camps as well as plans for a day trip to London to see The Imperial War Museum

For Physics students - A Physics master class at Oxford University planned for November 2011

For Chemistry Students - In November, a day with Oxford University / UK Energy research centre as part of 'The Festival of Science'

For Maths students - a national Maths conference to be hosted by this school

For Drama students - theatre visits planned in Oxford, London and Stratford starting next week to see a performance of the national tour of 'An inspector Calls'

For Performing Arts students - a trip to London is in the pipeline to see 'Wicked'

...and that is just for starters!

Year 12 Enrichment

REASONS FOR ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Our post 16 students have all been advised that it is in their best interests for all future applications that they are involved in enrichment activities. Mr Mike Nicholls, Oxford University Admissions tutor, informed them that competition for Higher Education Courses means that places are usually offered to students who have taken part in a range of opportunities which are in addition to their academic achievements.

THE RESPONSE OF OUR STUDENTS

Consequently, our students are now finalising their plans and arrangements for their individual enrichment programme. The enthusiasm and commitment of the students has impressed me. Students are considering their future aims and aspirations and attempting to secure opportunities that will complement and enhance their studies.

OPTIONS CHOSEN

Impressively, out of 104 students, we have enrolled 43 students on the Duke of Edinburgh Gold award scheme. Our advisers, Sam Sykes & Jo Russell, have been astounded by this number.

In addition, we have 18 students enrolled on the Young Enterprise programme. These students are now beginning to establish their business ideas with their 3 advisers from BicesterVision. Budding entrepreneurs all!

The remaining students are involved in a range of leadership activities which include: working in local primary schools, being attached to lower school students / classes, helping to run sporting clubs, or becoming Sports Leaders on the CSLA programme.

Student quotations

I would like to thank Year 12 students for their impeccable and responsible attitude during our school Open evening last night. They were a credit to the school and genuine role models for younger students.

The Year 12 students have been interviewed on their views / experiences of life in the Sixth Form:

Andre Garrick: "I am learning lots of new things to help with my future career."

Helen Oldham: "It's been amazing. The free lessons mean you can study in your own time."

Chris England: "It's been fun and a new experience."

Ellen Giles: "It's very different to the lower school - there's more freedom and you take responsibility for yourself."

Luke Dickety: "It's a big step from GCSE but it's really enjoyable."

Samanda King: "It's extremely different to all other years of learning because it's more independent and more fun."

Dan Pearson: "I love it!"

Kayleigh Harding: "The atmosphere is really good and everyone gets on really well."

Stephen Rust: "It's a lot of hard work but fun and enjoyable."

Emily Spittle: "It's hard work but I don't mind doing the extra work because it's really interesting."

Week 2 ....

As we complete the 2nd week of term the students are clearly settling into their courses and beginning to shape ideas for the future. The positive approach is still very much in evidence and staff have stopped me frequently to inform me how much they are enjoying teaching the KS5 students.

KS5 evening - Thursday 15th September

This was a very well attended evening and I would like to thank parents and students for their support. It gave the school an opportunity to explain the aims of KS5 studies and begin to outline how students can make the very best of their time here. We were also able to clarify our expectations of students both in / out of lessons. In addition, we clarified the range of enrichment activities open for students as well as involvement in community service.

It also gave the Post 16 tutors a chance to meet the parents and begin to establish a partnership of school - student - parent so that we can all work together to support and encourage the on-going progress and development of the students.

We have definitely had a fantastic start to our new sixth form and long may this continue! Enquiries are already coming in from parents / students about the application process for next year.....

The 1st week of the 1st term with our 1st Year 12

The Post 16 centre

The Post 16 centre has come alive with the sound of Year 12 students in the cafeteria and the classrooms upstairs housing the first ever AS level lessons. The building is as it should be - full of students, noise with movement to and fro. The students are making themselves at home using the kitchen facilities and the vending machines need frequent refills. It has been a good start to the sixth form. Students have commented to me that they have found the lessons thoroughly enjoyable and interesting. I know staff have also enjoyed the academic challenges of delivering A levels. It has also been very interesting to see the lower school students watching the sixth formers with respect and clearly wanting to visit the facilities and enquire about Post 16 courses.

External Speaker

As part of the students' enrichment programme, I have organised a range of speakers to come and talk to the students. Today we welcomed Mr Mike Nicholson who is the Director of Admissions at Oxford University. He spoke about the great advantages of Higher Education and gave some important advice about choosing courses and institutions. This was an entertaining and informative talk and provided a good start to the programme.

Enrichment

I am encouraging all students to partake in an enrichment activity / community service. Many students have requested to support lower school pupils and this will provide a great support to students. I have been particularly impressed with the positive approach of the sixth formers.

It has been a really good week and a delight to have the Year 12 AT LAST in the school!