Autumn 2016

St David’s Catholic Sixth Form College Coleg Catholig Chweched Dosbarth Dewi Sant

St David’s Student, Mphatso Simbao has beaten global finalists to be awarded the National Geographic Explorer Award at this year’s Science Fair.

Turn to page 2 to read all about STUDENTSTUDENT his achievement. WINSWINS NATIONALNATIONAL GEOGRAPHICGEOGRAPHIC EXPLOREREXPLORER AWARDAWARD ATAT GOOGLEGOOGLE SCIENCESCIENCE FAIRFAIR

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

STEM LIVE!, ENTERPRISE SUCCESS, LEAVERS’ CEREMONY 2016, ST DAVID’S FIRST AMBASSADOR, NUFFIELD PLACEMENTS, AND MUCH MORE! This publication is also available in Welsh She concluded her speech by saying: “On behalf of the AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS students who are leaving College this year, I would like to thank everyone at St David’s who has guided and supported & CELEBRATIONS us; helping us to become mature and independent, so that we are ready to begin the next chapter in our lives with On Thursday 8th September, approximately 300 students, confidence and optimism.” (You can read Bethan’s full staff and family members filled St David’s Metropolitan speech on our website.) Cathedral for St David’s Catholic College’s fourth annual Leavers’ Ceremony. The Leavers’ Ceremony was an evening of great joy as the students celebrated their time at the College, but it was The evening was a resounding success and highlighted the also an opportunity to reflect and think of those who are achievements of the College’s 600 leavers during the 2015- no longer with us. The College commemorated the lives 16 academic year. St David’s takes great pride in the role it of Alesha O’Connor and Ishaq Ahmed, who both tragically plays in developing and supporting its students. The strong passed away in 2015, by introducing and presenting two community feel which envelops the College was perhaps new scholarships in their memory. best summed up by leaver Bethan Lenz’s Valedictory address at the Leavers’ Ceremony. The College gives scholarships each year to a selection STUDENT WINS NATIONAL of new students based on their academic achievement or “I believe that St David’s College should be proud of its their contribution to their community. These students were GEOGRAPHIC AWARD AT caring and nurturing ethos,” she said, adding: “From my invited to the Leavers’ Ceremony where they were awarded first visit to the College I felt welcomed and was made to their scholarships (pictured below). Awards were also given GOOGLE SCIENCE FAIR feel at home by all of the staff I spoke to and met. Even to leavers who demonstrated particularly outstanding though St David’s is a large, international sixth form college, studentship in individual subjects and to those who made it manages to achieve a sense of community where students a significant contribution to College life during the 2015-16 have a sense of belonging and .” academic year. St David’s Student, Mphatso Simbao (pictured above, To help local farmers find low-cost, affordable solutions for right) has beaten global finalists to be awarded the pesticides and fertilizers, Mphatso investigated alternative COLLEGE AWARDS Health & Social Care: Frankie Hartland Sport (BTEC Dip): Joshua Slack ways of generating the supplies farmers need. He created National Geographic Explorer Award at this year’s History: Dan O’Driscoll; Kelly Whitehorn Sport (BTEC Extend): James Minto a simple, portable production station that requires basic Google Science Fair. Dom Bryan: Lauren Edwards IT: Alex Martin Welsh: Elinor Power cooking materials like charcoal and local plant leaves. Ieuan Wynne Jones: Samantha de Guia Law: Molly Whitehead Launched in 2011, the Google Science Fair is an online Based on his methods, Mphatso believes farmers can cut Chris Whelan: Brooke Martinson Law (BTEC Cert): Tejan Sesay SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS science competition which is open to students aged 13 costs by 50% on fertilizers and 80% on pesticides to help Stratford Caldecott: Gethin Jones Law (BTEC Subsid): Amy Tugwell to 18 from around the world. The competition challenges them produce better, more abundant crops. Georges LeMaitre: Jomcy John Maths: Jomcy John ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT students to use science and technology to solve some of Dante Alighieri: Zainab Hussain Further Maths: Luqi Lin; Ethan Hogg Mahjabin Chowdhury the world’s biggest issues. Mphatso conducted all of the research and experimental St Thomas More: Chloe Rice Media: Joe Oaten; Esther Munro Cerith Freeman work for this project in his own time and was justly rewarded St John Paul II: Shu Ying Gan Music: Kate Parry Ellie Jones In September, 16 finalists were invited to the Google when he was selected as the winner of the National PE: Jordan Taylor Ieaun Reed headquarters in California to present their projects to the Geographic Explorer Award. This is an amazing achievement SUBJECT AWARDS Performing Arts: Bethan Lenz Harry Robson judges and compete for one of five awards: the Grand and we are all delighted by Mphatso’s success. Philosophy: Jodie Voss; Alex Parsons Emily Stradling Prize, the Scientific American Innovator Award, the National Biology: Sophie Wilcock Photography: Sione James Bethan Williams Geographic Explorer Award, the Lego Education Builder Mphatso’s hard work and determination was reflected in Biology (BTEC): Preeti Gurung Physics: Gethin Jones Laura Wright Award, and the Virgin Galactic Pioneer Award. his A Level results this summer when he achieved A*’s in Business: Patrick Uriot Politics: Jonathan Leighfield Coco Zhang Chemistry, Mathematics and Further Mathematics. Chemistry: Paul Murphy Psychology: Agata Jakubiak The National Geographic Explorer Award honours an Economics: Anthony Hau Physics (BTEC): Elise Curtis CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY outstanding project with an experimental approach to As a winner of the National Geographic Award, Mphatso English Literature: Joanne Fabian Religious Studies: Sophie Riella Angelica Alviar answering some of the greatest questions in our natural will receive an educational scholarship, which he will put English Lit & Lang: Sophia Hathaway Science (BTEC): Shanice Desmond Eleanor Houlston Clark world. towards completing his Mathematics degree at Nottingham Drama: Becky Ford Sociology: Lizzie Lewis Bethan Linbourn University. Film: Chloe Falcon Spanish: Angharad Evans Daniel Rogers “Can a closed system that uses better use of non-renewable French: Dan O’Driscoll Sport (BTEC Subsid): Alex Martin fuels centred around on-site production, storage and usage As well as the scholarship, Mphatso will enjoy a year-long of ammonia gas using plant protein in 3 steps be used to mentorship, and a 10-day National Geographic Expedition provide nitrogen fertilizers and a green pesticide to a low to the Galápagos Archipelago. Known as “Darwin’s living income family in rural Zambia that has no electricity?” laboratory”, it is home to an abundance of wildlife. Mphatso will have exciting, up-close encounters with species such This was the question posed – and successfully answered as domed giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and flightless - by Mphatso when he submitted a research project to the cormorants. He will explore with a diverse team of experts— 2016 Google Science Fair. from naturalists to regional specialists—who will share their knowledge and insights on the wildlife, landscapes, and Mphatso, originally from Zambia, was keen to examine local culture. ways of reducing poverty in his community. Southern Africa is currently struggling to recover from its worst This will be a richly deserved break for Mphatso, who should drought in decades. As a result, farmers are seeing their be exceptionally proud of all that he has achieved this year. crops destroyed, leading to famine for millions and a huge We wish him the best of luck in all of his future endeavours reduction in income for the farmers. and look forward to hearing about what he gets up to next!

2 ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER 3 MILLENNIUM VOLUNTEERS

A big congratulations to Natasha Axford-Dando, Sam De-Guia, Lauren Edwards, Reeta James, Jomcy John, Layla Rogers, Amy Tugwell and Natalie Vejayakumar who all achieved 50 hours of volunteering with Millennium Volunteers this year.

Their volunteering took the form of peer mentoring, where the students worked with their Health and Social Care peers to support them in their studies. They also worked to build the confidence and self-esteem of their mentees, to improve their literacy and numeracy, and to help them develop their organisational skills.

All students who were mentored by the Millennium NUFFIELD PLACEMENTS Volunteers passed their qualification, with some achieving MICRO-TYCO double Distinction*. ENTERPRISE SUCCESS This summer, Tanya Chiganze completed a very successful This year, to develop talent, Deloitte has partnered Nuffield placement working with Michael Scott-Evans of Volunteering is a great way to gain new skills, meet new with WildHearts on ‘Micro-Tyco’, a unique experiential University’s School of Psychology. Nuffield Research people, give something back to your community and have FRESHERS’ FAIR programme that challenges pupils to take a £1 micro- Placements are available each year, and provide students fun in the process. The Millennium Volunteer programme loan and turn it into as much money as possible in just with the opportunity to work alongside professional is open to anyone aged 14-25 who currently volunteers or Once again we had a very successful fresher’s fayre (pictured 30 days. Micro-Tyco helps participants to develop their scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. would like to start and wants to have their commitment, above) with the former alumni and business owner Sam entrepreneurial talents, a “consulting” mind-set, and Placements are available across the UK, in universities, skills and experience recognised. Cockrell coming in to talk to the students about becoming transferable skills that will become life-long assets and commercial companies, voluntary organisations and involved in enterprise. Rhys Payne, who is currently starting resources. research institutions. As part of the programme, our students have received up his own small business with the help of Big Ideas certificates backed by St David’s College and the also supported the event by speaking to the students about This year, Enterprise launched Micro-Tyco with nine teams Tanya presented her work, entitled, ‘An Investigation of Department of Education, which means will be an excellent his involvement with Enterprise and how he is currently in who had their first workshop with Alex Davies from Deloitte. the Relationship Between Train Crew Drivers’ Fatigue addition to their UCAS applications and CV. the throes of developing an app which he hopes to take The teams have a month to get organized until trading Index Score and Risk of Accident’ at a celebration evening to market. Debby Oliver and a small team from Visual begins on November 1st. at Techniquest on 3rd October. Tanya is pictured above Contours came in to support Enterprise at fresher’s by with Sir Martin Evans, Nobel Prize winner and President of promoting local small businesses and business set up. At the end of the four weeks all the money raised by the Techniquest. students is invested by WildHearts in microfinance in the ST DAVID’S GETS ITS VENTUREFEST developing world, helping thousands of people to set up Also selected for a Nuffield Placement at small businesses to work their way out poverty. Participants was Gethin Jones. He achieved exceptional results in his A FIRST S4C AMBASSADOR A group of budding entrepreneurs attended Venturefest become ‘Entrepreneurs to fund Entrepreneurs’. Levels in August, and has gone on to study Natural Sciences Wales (pictured below). The students were able to see at Cambridge. Here is his account of his experience: Following the success of the Ambassador Project in first-hand a variety of businesses, as well as having access Watch this space to see how much money is made by the secondary schools over the last two years, S4C have to an inspirational line-up of entrepreneurs and investors teams... let the competition begin! “Last summer I completed a Nuffield Research Project at extended the project to include the FE Colleges in Wales. who were able to discuss directly with them how they could Cardiff University, where I helped to investigate proteins in The purpose of the project is to create a network of S4C break through barriers for business growth. ENTERPRISE SPONSORSHIP mice that are involved in inflammation. The possible long- representatives in all schools and colleges in Wales. term benefits of this research would be to develop a drug Venturefest draws local innovation which strengthens We would like to thank Peter Dutton of the Three Arches that prevents chronic inflammation in humans, and alleviate The Ambassador’s tasks will vary throughout the year connectivity between innovators, investors and Garages for his kind sponsorship of £500 for the Enterprise some of the symptoms of diseases such as diabetes and and will include things like; sharing promotional material, entrepreneurs which allows the students to network with real Skills Day leading to Trading Places in December. This Alzheimer’s. I grew batches of human embryonic kidney sharing content and information about S4C, contribute business people as well as giving them access to a number money allows us to provide more places for our students cells in tissue culture and compared them to see which was articles and reviews on websites and many more. of workshops which can help them to build confidence to take part in this fantastic day working with University of the most effective at expressing the required protein. I also when starting their own business. South Wales, Nat West Bank and EE. modified a sample of E. Coli bacteria to see if they were We are pleased to announce that our S4C Ambassador capable of expressing fragments of the required protein in for this year is Shay Purser. Shay is an Upper Sixth student large quantities. studying Law, Media, and Film studies at A Level, and hopes to pursue a career in the Film/Media Industry. After I had completed the project I presented my findings at the Nuffield Awards in Techniquest and got the opportunity The first task that Shay will complete on behalf of S4C will to discuss my work with Sir Martin Evans, who won the Nobel be to arrange an exclusive screening of the first episode of Prize for Medicine in 2007. I really enjoyed all the practical the new series of BAFTA winning series Y Gwyll (Hinterland), work in the laboratories and would definitely encourage ahead of its official television release. Details about this any sciences student to apply this year. I am very grateful to exclusive screening, and about other projects that Shay is Mark Young and Fiona Wyllie at Cardiff University School of working on, will be available soon! Biosciences for giving me this opportunity.”

4 ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER 5 ST DAVID’S Hi there! Hi there, TŶ HAFAN TAFF CYCLE My name is Tom Knight and I studied English and Drama ALUMNI PAGE I studied at St David’s from A levels under Jan Free at St CHALLENGE 2013-2015. The subject that David’s I left in 1992. I went on LAUNCH I was interested in the most to study drama at uni and have was Music. I was very nervous enjoyed a career in television, 10 On Sunday 4th of September, 12 students volunteered to all the students who volunteered to take part and who We are very pleased to announce the about starting the AS level years at the BBC directing and help during the Taff Cycle Challenge. They were stationed contributed to the success of the day. launch of the St David’s College Alumni music course because I was producing documentaries and at the finish line in Blackweir Fields and were helping Facebook page! We have created the under the impression it would now I’m a freelance TV producer to give out water and refreshments to participants, to The money raised by the Cycle Challenged went to the Tŷ page in order to stay better connected be ridiculously hard. But when I working on a documentary about award the cyclist with certificates and medals, and to take Hafan charity, which is one of the UK’s leading paediatric with the students who have left us. We arrived and met Miss York, the mountains ranges across the registers of the participants at some of the check points palliative care charities and offers care to children and are always very keen to hear what ex- head of Music, I was immediately world, I will shortly be travelling along the route. support for their families, throughout Wales. students have gone on to do, and this put at ease. The course is to Nepal. has proved an excellent platform with challenging but Miss York made The manager of the Blackweir Fields group said that Pictured are some of the lovely letters of thanks that the which to do that. it interesting and fun for all of us I didn’t really know what I all of our students were “amazing, well behaved and students received after the event. and gave us incredible amounts wanted to do when I was at absolute credit to the College”. We are very proud of Since launching the page, we have of help throughout the two sixth form! I loved drama though been overwhelmed by the years. and really enjoyed it the course. that we have been sent by previous Hoping my son will be coming students expressing their positive Thanks to Miss York and the staff to St David’s he has just started memories of the College. Below is just at St David’s I am now leaving to year 7 at Corpus! a small selection for you to enjoy. studying at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on Sophie Fairs If you would like to see the messages the BMus Popular Music course for yourself, or if you would like to with my principal instrument as Electric Guitar. I cannot wait to Ben Jones Loved my time at St join the page, please visit the website David’s. Since finishing, I’ve completed below. start and to further my music career. It is a dream come true. a Mathematics degree, achieving a first, at Cardiff University and am now Hi, Thank you Miss York. Thank you starting a doctorate. St David’s. I did Performing Arts at St David’s Daniel Walford Computing & Games from 2009-2011. Tom Knight development degree at university of Plymouth. Now game developer in Since leaving, I went to uni and . did a BA in Acting, graduating in 2014 from Bath Spa with a 2:1. I have just started my first year Ellis Eaves Just finished a degree at Cardiff University studying in biomedical science at Cardiff I’ve since been acting in short Applied Software Engineering- Metropolitan University. Now working films around Cardiff as well as an completed a third year at St for the Welsh Blood Service. advert for EE. I’ve also performed David’s in order to improve my news recently, as the Rumney Library purchase has gone in several murder mysteries, grades. Bryony Haynes Loved the freedom of through: the keys have been handed over and the cooking one was a big live performance college and feel like the mathematics BRITAIN HAS SPIRIT equipment and furniture donated by their partners has in Margam castle called The [Miss Lawrence, Mrs Beynon, Mr department deserve a lot of praise! begun to arrive. Mystery of Anne Marie. Davies, and Mr Morris] Thank Just graduated from the university of AWARD NOMINEE you for spending your valuable East Anglia in July with a degree in The hard work doesn’t stop there! Rhys and his team are I’ve also presented 2 music time teaching me. You always try Meteorology Oceanography. Hoping to In February 2016, we wrote about busy planning lots of activities in the run up to Christmas, programmes for Made in Cardiff and motivate and inspire every build a career in climate change and the charity work being done by AS the first of which is a pub quiz on the 9th November. They TV: ‘Live at the Vaults’ and ‘Exit student like me, never giving up, sustainability. Level student Rhys Payne: he raised are also organising a Light Party (a non-Halloween party) at 7’ and I’m now a presenter and in many cases because of £400 when he cycled 500 miles in Rumney Chapel on 31st October. working for Made In Cardiff TV. your perseverance you succeed. 24 hours for the RYC South Africa In a few weeks I’ll be taking Project, and was working hard to Rhys himself is planning further ahead and says that after over ‘Cardiff Lifestyle Show’ on a Without you, I would not be in raise money to turn the old Rumney he has finished his studies at St David’s next summer, he Monday evening and you’ll find my position today! I will never Library building into a community has decided to spend a month in Hungary. He plans to me on ‘The Lowdown’ at 6:30pm ever forget all that you have space called Rumney Forum. spend two weeks helping in a youth centre, and two weeks most nights. I’m also taking over done and I will never forget your teaching English in summer camps - which is what he would the weather as of next week. So presence and your existence. Now an A Level student, Rhys and the Rumney Forum like to go on to do as a career. it’s all go for me! charity have continued to work hard and they have since Thank you for everything, been shortlisted for a Britain Has Spirit award. Rhys said We wish Rhys the best of luck with all his endeavours and Sian King May Sanejo the nomination was a “great honour”. This is an amazing look forward to hearing all about what he gets up to next. achievement, and the College is extremely proud. If you would like to find out more about the Rumney Forum, www.facebook.com/stdavidsalumni Rhys and his Rumney Forum charity have had further good please visit rumneyforum.org or email hello@rumneyforum.

ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER 7 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY SPORTS DAY SUCCESS REPRESENTING WALES ST DAVID’S COLLEGE OCTOBER 2016 th th 24 - 28 Half term Each year, St David’s College works to support the Welsh LANCE STEPHENS - TRAMPOLINE WORKS TO REVERSE THE National Catholic Primary Schools’ Sports Day at the NOVEMBER 2016 Athletics Stadium in Leckwith. The event takes place at the Lance Stephens has been selected to represent Wales in DECLINE OF LANGUAGES 16th Open evening 5pm - 8pm end of June and brings together junior school pupils from the Alpencup International Trampoline event in Austria 23rd Open evening 5pm - 8pm all over Wales to compete in track and field events. It is a in October. On 6th and community event, and works as a link to raise awareness 30th Upper sixth parents evening 7th July, and help focus students from an early age on their right to a THOMAS HEAL - POOL approximately continuing Catholic education. St David’s staff and students 400 year 8 and DECEMBER 2016 contribute hugely to the successful running of the event, Thomas Heal has been selected to play for the under 18s year 10 pupils 16th working as timekeepers, judges and stewards. Many of Term ends for the Christmas holiday Welsh team at the World Pool Championship in Killarney, from Corpus the students volunteer as part of their commitment to the Ireland. Christi, St Religion and Life Programme. As a gesture of thanks from JANUARY 2017 Richard Gwyn, rd the organising committee, this year the College was able to 3 Spring term begins We wish both Lance and Thomas the very best of luck in Willows and run a bucket collection on the day, with the money raised 11th their events, and look forward to reading all about it in Lower sixth parents evening going towards the costs of students undertaking charitable St Teilo’s th th the February newsletter! 16 - 20 Mock exams (AS Level) activities. This year we raised a fantastic £2000 from the High Schools rd th 23 - 27 Mock exams (A Level) bucket collection and ticket sales. attended a Language Summer School organised and hosted by St David’s College. The trip was an unparalleled experience for the students, REPRESENTING THE as they were able to study Biology in an environment The summer school was also attended by Megan Boot, a BIOLOGY FURTHER unavailable to them in day-to-day classroom-based study. reporter from ITV, who has been investigating the decline of The area is unique in terms of biodiversity, and students UNITED KINGDOM language learning across Wales. You can read her article and AFIELD had the opportunity to learn about the work of scientists undertaken to protect the habitat and the plants and CIARAN LEWIS - MOUNTAIN RUNNING watch her video here: www..com/news/wales/2016-08-23/ In July 2016, 16 AS Biology students and their teachers animals that live there. welsh-economy-losing-millions-of-pounds-because-of-poor- set off on a 24-hour coach and ferry trip to build on their After claiming a silver medal at the European Mountain language-skills Biology knowledge in an exciting new environment. The trip Students also examined sand dune succession on the Championships Trials, Cardiff Amateur Athletics Club took place over six days at The Eagle’s Nest in Cévennes Mediterranean coast; a day trip which was topped off with (AAC) runner, and former St David’s student, Ciaran Lewis Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Italian, Spanish, national park in the South of France. visit the town of Aigues Mortes for some excellent ice was selected to represent Great Britain at the European Portuguese and Russian are just some of the languages that creams and a paddle in the Med. The trip also included a Mountain Running Championships on 2nd July in Arco, pupils experienced during their time at the Language Summer During the week the students undertook many practical visit to the small town of Sainte-Enimie, which is situated Italy. We are very pleased to announce that Ciaran School. This was the fourth summer school organised by the activities including ‘stream energetics’ in River Souteyran within the national park. Current AS Biology students will finished in 13th place, and was the first British athlete College and it continues to be very successful. which encouraged them to look at food chains, and tropic have the opportunity to take part in the same field trip in across the finish line. levels, and the impact of skiing which involved sampling July 2017. This two-day event was aimed at encouraging young learners techniques, succession and human impact. Ciaran was then selected to represent Great Britain in to continue to study a language at GCSE and beyond. It the World Mountain Running Championships in Sapareva expanded upon the languages that they are already studying, Banya, Bulgaria in early September where he came 36th as well as introducing them to a range of new languages, out of 65 junior men from around the world. and showing them why languages are important in the world of work. Year 10 pupils focused on the business environment The race finished just in time to see Ciaran return to in order to show them the relevance of languages outside of Wales to start his Accounting and Finance degree at school or college. Cardiff Metropolitan University. We wish him the best of luck with his mountain running, and his further education! The event was organised in partnership with Cardiff University, The Confucius Centre, our feeder schools and a range of employers, all of whom generously gave up their time to support the promotion and encouragement of languages. Businesses included: Schools into Europe, Capital Law, and Signature Leather.

The College and our feeder schools have been working closely in partnership with Cardiff University and employers over the last four years and are very grateful for the support we have received. A range of other activities have and are being developed with our partners.

8 ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER 9 COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF ALESHA sort of additional needs – or even those just wishing to sit O’CONNOR under the trees for a while, would be a most suitable way of STEM LIVE! 2016 AT commemorating her. On Saturday, 27 August, the family of Alesha O’Connor CARDIFF UNIVERSITY visited St David’s to officially unveil the marble bench they Commissioned especially by the family, the bench is an had ordered in her honour, and to have it blessed. example of beautiful craftsmanship, and will stand for many The third annual STEM Live! event (formerly the STEM years to come to as a testament to the love of many people Conference) took place on Monday 27th June and was Alesha was a student at St David’s when she tragically lost for Alesha, and the memory that tells us she remains alive another huge success. The event was hosted by Cardiff STUDENTS INTERVIEW her life in a car accident in 2015, and her family, friends, in Christ. University and took place in the Main Building and the and the St David’s community were determined that she Sir Martin Evans Building of the University. The event was should never be forgotten. As a young woman with a kind The College has also named a scholarship in Alesha’s NURSES FOR THE UNI OF open to all lower sixth students who follow two STEM and caring disposition, it was felt by her family that a bench honour, which will be awarded annually to a student who (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects at placed near the front of the College, where it could be has made a contribution to their school and the wider SOUTH WALES College. used by people waiting for lifts – especially those with any community. Although Science, Technology, Engineering and St David’s students were given an exciting opportunity Mathematics are usually taught as discrete subjects, STEM earlier in the summer, when they were invited by the aims to help young people to recognise that these subjects University of South Wales to help with their interviews for COLLEGE FOOTBALL are often used together in the outside world, and can often student nurses. lead to rich and varied career pathways. By teachers and TEAM OFF TO A lecturers collaborating across subjects and by making links The scheme sees applicants for places on nursing degree with the world of work, students are better able to relate course face interviews with local sixth form students posing STEM subjects with their real-world experience. as ‘service users’. Students from Bryntirion Comprehensive STRONG START School in Bridgend and Treorchy Comprehensive were also The College football team have picked up where they Once again, the conference was a tremendous experience invited along, as well as teachers and lecturers. left off last season with two strong results in their opening for the students and they left the event buzzing with games of the season. After an impressive performance in excitement and enthusiasm. They had been clearly The scheme works as an excellent opportunity for those our first match of the season against Coleg Y Cymoedd motivated by the total experience of being involved in who are interested in a career in nursing as it enables them (Ystrad) we were left disappointed after the match ended in a variety of workshops, lectures and practical sessions to experience what the interview process might be like, a 3-3 draw, with Jack Yebdri picking up ‘man of the match’ OUTDOOR AND but also by being able to have conversations with prior to going to the interviews themselves. on his debut. However, we managed to put things right the postgraduates and lecturers who are experts in their field following week with an excellent 3-0 win against local rivals ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES and who are carrying out cutting edge research. This was an excellent opportunity for our students and who Cardiff and the Vale college, where a man of the match now have a much better understanding of the process they performance from Chiernoh Jalloh ensured us all three The workshops available included Oscillations and Waves, will have to go through should they decide to pursue a points. “ FOR BTEC SPORT 3D Chemistry, Skydome Artificial Sky, Design of Structures career in nursing. The BTEC upper sixth Extended Diploma in Sport students for Earthquake Resistance, Game Theory, Finding recently went canoeing and kayaking at Cosmeston. This Antibiotics in Honey, Chemiluminescence, and much more. is part of their unit of work on Outdoor and Adventurous Activities. Students learned skills such as paddling, turning, Our partnership with Cardiff University is extremely steering, and stopping as well as developing their teamwork important to the College and grows from strength to and communication skills. In the spring term students will strength. We are very grateful for their support and look also participate in rock climbing to complete their practical forward to working together on many more projects in the logbooks. future.

10 ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER ST DAVID’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE AUTUMN 2016 NEWSLETTER 11 We are always keen to hear what students get up to after they leave us, and recently we A SEIZED OPPORTUNITY received some exciting updates from former students Michael Dupree and Meg Harrington. THAT LEAD TO OXFORD At St David’s we understand that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ path that students take after they leave us. We are simply here to support Meg was a Mathematics, History, French and English and facilitate students as they work out which Literature student at St David’s from 2012-2015. Meg took path is best for them. advantage of our ‘RASMA’ programme, which enables a handful of deserving learners to retake their final year of sixth form in order to achieve better results and to open AN APPRENTICESHIP doors which may not have been open to them previously. Meg is a fantastic example of how seizing this opportunity SUCCESS STORY and working hard to improve her results, led to her changing her path in life, and it seems she couldn’t be happier...

Michael was a student at St David’s from 2013-2014 I didn’t get it right first time round. The range who went on to do an apprenticeship. He has been and magnitude of the choice to go to university, extremely successful and is an excellent ambassador for where to go and what to do overwhelmed me, the apprenticeship programme. University is not right for and frankly I wasn’t ready. After discussing it everyone, and Michael explains what opportunities can be with my personal tutor, I decided to withdraw open to you, should you choose the apprenticeship path from UCAS. Far from making me feel like a failure, it was instead. one of the most liberating choices I’ve ever made, precisely because I knew St David’s would make sure I didn’t fall I am very pleased to state that after studying “through the cracks. I was allowed onto the third-year AS Physics, Chemistry and Maths at St David’s, programme, RASMA; after receiving my A-Level grades, I I went on to apply for an apprenticeship in the decided I needed to re-sit a few modules if I was to get engineering sector. I now have an apprenticeship the best chance at university, and the teaching staff could with Dow Corning as an Analyser Technician and I am not have been more wonderful. In each of my A-Level currently in my 3rd year of studies. subjects, I was allowed to join classes as I needed, and was given boundless support by the teachers who cared I completed a level 3 BTEC qualification in Electrical and so much about my progress and wellbeing. Perhaps most “Electronic Engineering and I am currently studying my level importantly, I was allowed to take other subjects, to keep 4 HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I love my following new interests and benefit from the philosophy of job and I enjoy working in the industry. St David’s that all learning is beneficial, even if it doesn’t necessarily seem to tick a requirement or an objective. While completing my apprenticeship I have gained an enhanced knowledge of process operations, electrical I’d given up the idea of applying to the highly competitive work and chemical compositions and how they behave in unis, but in response to the encouragement from my third- curtain reactions. I work on mass spectrometers and gas year tutor, the chaplain, the UCAS officer – pretty much the chromatographers on a daily bases and I am able to totally whole staff – I changed one of my options to the University strip and reassemble highly complex pipe work systems of Oxford. Throughout the application, I never felt a lack of within these machines. support or faith in me. I was able to work on my own terms,

being given advice when I asked for it but always focusing

My time in St David’s College prepared me for this on being myself. St David’s had allowed me to wait until I apprenticeship and without it I do not think I would be in was ready to move on to the next stage of my life – ready the position I’m in now. Lots of my friends have since gone to make those terrifying decisions, and accept whatever the uni and have racked up large debts. In a year’s time I will be outcome was. fully qualified as a Analyser Technician and will be making “ a very good wage due to my skills. I also earn while I learn I gained a place, and have now started my second year so I think this was the best possible option for me. I would“ studying English at Oxford. I definitely wouldn’t be here - also advise far more people who are thinking of university and definitely wouldn’t be enjoying it so much - if I hadn’t to have a look at what apprenticeships are offered in their gone to St David’s. And I couldn’t say how grateful I am areas. Just because you do not go uni does not mean you without rambling on for years. The college lets you be a cannot gain a degree - I will be starting my Open University human being and an individual, and I believe it’s degree as soon as I finish my apprenticeship in August 2018, that, along with all the academic achievements, and look to move on up the ladder as a Chemical Engineer. that makes it a place where true ‘potential’ is reached. I hope more young people can see what I’ve done and follow in my footsteps. COME TO OUR OPEN EVENINGS If you are interested in finding out more about 16th & 23rd November, 5pm - 8pm apprenticeships, please speak to St David’s College’s Careers Wales representative Peter Fryer or browse the St David’s College, Ty Gwyn Road, opportunities available on UniFrog. CF23 5QD (use CF23 5JB in your satnav) 12