Newsletter Summer 2019
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Newsletter Summer 2019 Letter from Dan Dean 2 New Student Union Voted In Higher Education Day 3 A Blast from the Past! 4 Introducing the nine new members of our Student Union team for 2019/20 after a very successful and tightly run election. Meet the Nurse 5 Mental Health Week Round Up 6 The election process was a lively affair Wellbeing Executive). and demonstrated the enthusiasm and Alexandra and Kai have already got their Don’t Mention the B Word 7 involvement of our student community. work cut out as they prepare for their Students in the running put together first event, the Summer Festival held Open Mic Session 8 impressive campaigns with colourful on the College playing fields in July. Celebrating the Life of Alan Bolt 9 portal banners and PowerPoint While Amira says, “My plans as Equality slides expressing why they should and Diversity Exec include working Physics Round Up 10 be considered, including some witty to promote more activities, clubs and slogans. Students applying for the role tutor sessions around “protected Author Visit Michael Donkor 11 of President also filmed speeches, characteristics” in tandem with the which were shown alongside the Feminist Society, Christian Union, GSA History Trip 12 campaign slides for all other roles in and Islamic Society to promote their tutorial sessions. Voting took place on work and encourage new members Fashion and Textiles Trip 12 7 May. to join.” New York, New York 13 Congratulations go to Florence Kilby, The goals of the Student Union include Fashion Photography In Vogue 14 elected as President, and Harry Hayley, raising funds for the Esher College elected as Vice. Florence, a 6.1 French, Africa Trust (ECAT), which helps AIDS ECAT 15 Politics and Economics student, said, orphans and encouraging awareness “Hopefully over the next year we can about green issues around College life. Adult Education Evening Courses 15 bring about a positive impact not just for the College but for future students too.” Overall the election process has been Dates for your Diary 16 very positive. As we say goodbye to our Florence and Harry will be supported previous Student Union, we would like to by Kinga Kowalkowska (Eco Executive), thank all who applied and congratulate Amira Chaoui (Equality and Diversity our newest members. We look forward Executive), Kai Allen and Alexandra to the year ahead. Pitt (Charities and Events Executives), Sam Lefebvre (Finance Executive), Natasha Mirghani - Student Union Sophia Pascoe (Marketing Executive) Co-ordinator and Madeleine Pattison (Health and & much more! Letter from Dan Dean Dear Parents, Students and Friends the mission of the College remains unchanged. In fact, students and parents When you receive this summer term will not see any change in our approach, newsletter, our students will be in the with one small exception. We have taken middle of examinations. First year A the opportunity to tweak our name to Level students will have sat Progression Esher Sixth Form College from 1st Exams, formal internal exams which act September to sharpen our identity and as an important marker of progress at make our purpose clear. the end of year one and help determine predicted grades. Second years will, I mentioned in the last newsletter that of course, be in the middle of the real ALPS, an external and independent thing. This year, A Level examinations assessor of performance, had placed us have started earlier than ever (partly a in the top 10 per cent nationally for consequence of A Level reform). This is value-added performance in 2018. In a a source of some frustration as it further further development, last term we were Lanzarote (PE and Sport) as well as reduces the time to deliver a more awarded a Certificate of Outstanding the Volunteering Abroad experience challenging curriculum. For students on Progress for value-added performance in Nepal. These visits aim to enhance BTEC courses assessment is obviously over the last three years – a real accolade their experiences and develop skills ongoing. We wish all our students the for our students and their teachers. in teamwork, independence and very best with their exams and we hope communication. that August brings the results that our For our first year students, we have been second years deserve. helping them plan their progression paths Finally, I would like to remind first year for life ‘After Esher’ with Higher Education students and their parents/carers that It is good to see that education funding Day and Employment Seekers Evening the start of the new 6.2 Year is Monday (or lack of it) has received some coverage (see page opposite). With a growing range 2nd September. For new students joining in the media recently. For all of us, of options on offer for our students when us, enrolment starts on Tuesday 27th schools and colleges alike, much hangs they complete their studies, it is important August. While applications for 2020 entry, on the outcome of the spending review to ensure that they consider all their open on Tuesday 2nd July. scheduled for later this year. However, we options carefully. The next stage in the are concerned that this may be delayed process is After Esher Day on Thursday Wishing you all an enjoyable summer. until Brexit is resolved (as I write these 4th July where students will be able to notes, we are no closer to a conclusion of choose a higher education or employment/ this long-running saga). Uncertainty over apprenticeship pathway. Wider Skills funding is one reason why the College Week promises, as always, to bring the has decided to change its status to a year to a memorable close. First years will 16-19 academy. The ability to reclaim take part in a wide range VAT, as schools are able to, will provide of activities from kayaking and horse- Dan Dean some respite in what continues to be riding to the more exotic highlights Principal a challenging financial environment. including curriculum-linked trips to As I mentioned in the last newsletter, Iceland (Geography), Berlin (Politics), Green Week Esher College celebrated Green saved all their plastic bottles for one week will help our future. Week in March with lots of events and created a dandelion, named Fake happening around College. Plastic Tree after the Radiohead song. Sheila MacDonald - Head of Fashion and Environmental Champion The aim of Green Week is to raise Becky, Divisional Director of Creative Arts, awareness of environmental issues, said, “It was amazing just how much waste including single use plastic, a Say No To is produced by a few students in just one Plastic Straws campaign and reducing the week. This plastic will never go away. It amount of plastic used on a daily basis. will outlast everyone’s time in College and for endless years to come. Everybody The Music Department performed an needs to reduce the amount of plastic un-plugged gig, the Fashion and Textiles we use.” Department displayed a recycled / reuse fashion project and the Student Second place went to Sally Langmead’s Union raised awareness with daily tutor group, who created an eye-catching Tweets #greenweek19 and a flyer. The poster. second year tutor groups took part in an awareness competition with some A truly thought-provoking week, which interesting and original ideas. The winning we hope will lead many more of us to be team was Becky Voller’s tutor group, who environmentally aware. Every little change 3 Higher Education Day at Esher College More than 90 universities from Strathclyde to Southampton attended Esher College’s Higher Education At Esher College, students progress beyond Day in March. expectation with up to 90 per cent going on to higher education. Where do they go? Esher College students as well as pupils from Hinchley Wood School, were invited to take part in a full programme of seminars Here’s our latest top 10 university destinations for and talks, led by visiting academics. Some of the topics discussed Esher College students included the new degree level apprenticeships from Kingston University and a talk from the University of Cumbria about the first 1) University of Leeds ever Policing degree. 2) Sussex University In the afternoon, students visited the convention to meet 3) Bournemouth University representatives from all 90 universities, collecting prospectuses 4) University of Bristol and finding out more about student life and the courses they have 5) Portsmouth University to offer. 6) University for the Creative Arts 7) University of Manchester Nicola Wilberforce, Director of Progression Guidance at Esher College, said, “HE Day is unique to Esher College and we believe 8) Nottingham Trent University that no other school or college in the country offers such a 9) University of Nottingham programme, inhouse, to its students and the wider sixth form 10) Brighton University community. There was a lot of advice on hand for students to think about what higher education (university) can offer, the application process and how best to prepare for their next adventure.” A Blast from the Past! Charlie Parker left Esher College in 2013 after studying Philosophy, English and History. He went on to study Politics & Philosophy at the London School of Economics and is now working as a journalist at The Times. He has since covered everything from viral cat videos to North Korean nuclear threats. But it is his love of Philosophy and learning to think critically and logically that has helped him the most. We caught up with him to find out more…. What was your experience at Esher like? For me, Esher College was the perfect stepping-stone from secondary school to university. The close-quarter teaching environment allowed me to build good relationships with teachers and classmates, while the great College facilities meant the campus became a home away from home.