Newsletter Autumn 2019 Celebrating Success at Esher Sixth Form College Outstanding results open doors for our A Level and BTEC students Letter from Dan Dean 2 Esher Sixth Form College is pleased to Science, Technology, Engineering and report a 99.3 per cent pass rate at A Level Maths (STEM). Summer Festival 3 for our 2019 alumni with 80.9 per cent achieving A* - C grades. Students studying Esme Amos, formerly from Howard of A Blast from the Past! 4 BTEC courses also achieved excellent Effingham School, gained a Di* in BTEC results. Applied Science and two B grades in Physical Education and Psychology and is Ben Jureidini, who gained four A* grades in off to Sheffield Hallam University to study Munich and Berlin Trips 5 English Literature, Biology, Psychology and Physiotherapy. She says, “My BTEC Science Classical Civilisation says, “I’m thrilled with teachers really encouraged me to apply for Wider Skills Week Round Up 6 my results! Not only do I have my teachers to my course as I didn’t know that I could apply thank for my grades but also for motivating with a BTEC. I’m really pleased.” me to apply to Oxford in the first place.” Introduction Evening 8 We are also proud of our three vets-in-the- Ben is one of seven students to accept a making, Marcus Hoban, Julia Tait and Holly place at Oxbridge this year. Ben, formerly Roberts who all took up their places at Bristol Meet your new Student Union 9 from the Hall School and our former Student and Nottingham to study Veterinary Science. Union President, is off to St John’s College, Oxford, to study English. He is joined by Dan Dean, the College Principal, says, “It’s Meet the Teacher 10 Freya Thomson, formerly from Teddington immensely rewarding to see all the hard School, who will be studying Law; Paula work of both students and teachers pay off. Esher goes to The Oscars 11 McGechan, from Three Rivers Academy, who Achievement at this level opens doors for the will be studying Psychology and Linguistics future and we look forward to hearing about the wide range of pathways our students and Luke Geoghegan, formerly from Scuba Diving Success 12 Sunbury Manor, who is studying History. will now follow. Well done to the 2019 Esher Students accepting their offers to Cambridge Sixth Form College cohort!” are Maddie Lynes, formerly from Teddington Nepal and Lanzarote Trips 13 Students in the above photo School, to study English; Sam Whelan, from (from left to right) Three Rivers Academy to study Engineering James Jacques – achieved three A grades Brexit Candidate Axel Thill 14 and Lois Whitelegg, from Ricards Lodge, to Olivia Hancock – achieved three A grades. study Medicine. Freya Thomson – achieved three A* grades. Princess Alice Hospice Summer School 15 Lois, who gained three A* grades in Esme Amos – achieved a Di* award and Chemistry, Biology and Maths says, “It was two B grades. only when my Biology teacher put me Lois Whitelegg – achieved three A* grades. Dates for your Diary 16 forward for the Satro Scheme and I was Zahra Hutton – achieved two A* grades given a placement at St George’s Hospital, and an A grade. that I realised that I wanted to study Michael Cottom – achieved three A* grades medicine. I can’t believe I have got my place and a Di* award. at Cambridge – I am so excited!” Ben Jureidini – achieved four A* grades. Daniel Abraham – achieved four A* grades. The Satro Scheme is a long-established Paula McGechan – achieved two A* grades, educational charity working across the an A grade and a Di* award. & much more! South East to inspire young people into Honey Postle – achieved three Di* awards. Letter from Dan Dean Dear Parents, Students and Friends in January and the formal, end of year assessment (Progression Exams) in May. We have had a great start to the 2019/20 For BTEC students, assessment is academic year. Strong exam results have continuous, so they will have a clear sense been followed by a healthy enrolment, of the progress they are making. with lots of new students from a wide variety of schools. The progress our We were very grateful for the support departing students made in the second many of you have given to the Raise the year of their programmes is encouraging Rate campaign, aimed at finally securing and it was good to see A Level results an increase in the unacceptably low level continue to exceed national benchmarks. of funding for 16-18-year-old education Students on BTEC courses (which come (there has been no increase in the funding in many forms as we are in the middle rate since 2013). We were pleased to hear On administrative matters, if you have of a reform process) have also surpassed the chancellor acknowledge that the 16-18 recently had a change of address, telephone themselves. We wish all our leavers the phase is underfunded and to announce number or email could you please ask your best for the future and, for those heading an increase of £188 per student for daughter/son to check their student records to university, we are confident that 2020/21. This is some way short of the £760 on the portal, as a matter of urgency, and to they will live up to the achievements of necessary to ensure schools and colleges use the link to email our MIS Helpdesk with 2017/18 ex-Esher graduates. The latest can sustain effective sixth form education in any amendments, so that we know where data from the Higher Education Statistics the medium term, but it is, at least, a start. to contact you if necessary. Agency shows that the proportion of our former students achieving a first or There are some exciting developments in I must make my regular mention of the upper second is well above the average the pipeline for this academic year. Over Esher College Africa Trust, the official Esher for state school sixth forms (by 10.2%) the summer we gave our rather tired College charity, and our adult education and the independent sector (by 1.2%). tennis/netball courts a makeover and we portfolio. Any support you are able to give This is important both for our students, are delighted with the result. The facility to the former would be much appreciated as it enhances life opportunities, and has been transformed! As significantly, and please do pick up a prospectus for for the College, as it confirms that the we were the only sixth form college in the the latter. We are constantly adding to our nature of the learning experience here country to successfully bid to the Condition evening courses and there may well be an is excellent preparation for higher Improvement Fund and, as a result, we will opportunity you find hard to resist! level study. be starting a building project at October half term to expand the College Café and I would like to finish by wishing all our I really enjoyed meeting and welcoming our add three classrooms on the first floor students an enjoyable and successful year. new students at enrolment and induction. above it. This will represent a significant I look forward to meeting many of you at With teaching now well underway, I am enhancement to the estate and we expect the various College events over the course encouraged by the way in which the 6.1s the project to be completed for the start of of the academic year. have settled into a new environment and the next academic year. Finally, you may by the positive comments made by their have noticed that Esher College has become teachers. The first year of their study Esher Sixth Form College. On 1st September programmes will fly by and I urged them we became a 16-19 Academy and we have to hit the ground running and to make taken advantage of the change in legal productive use of the study periods on status to clarify our core purpose and to their timetables. For A Level students, update our logo. Dan Dean sights should be set on initial examinations Principal New Netball Courts The start of the new academic year saw develop the technical and tactical aspects the unveiling of our newly refurbished of the sport. Last year we came second Netball and Tennis courts, part funded in the league and progressed through a by the College General Fund. few rounds of the National Cup, which we hope to improve on this year. We are The courts are used by our two Netball also able to offer a complementary study teams, who finished second in the Surrey in racket sports which provides a great Sixth Form League, beating college rivals alternative opportunity for many students. Godalming College. With Netball squads Additionally, the courts will be used to now selected – we are raring to go for support lessons in BTEC Sport, A Level PE another great season. and Sports Leadership.” Alan Reed, Head of PE and Sports, says, The courts are also now available “The new courts are a great addition for lettings. For more information to the department. We have two high please email Derek Hempston at quality Netball teams and the new facility [email protected] or provides an excellent provision from call 07833 526986 which our experienced coaches can 3 Whole College enjoys the fun of the fair The hotly anticipated Esher Sixth Form College Summer inflatable assault course and last man standing games brought Festival took place following the fantastic After Esher Day, out the competitive side in everyone –even the Student Union, on Thursday 4 July.