Issue 3 January 2014 www.grobycoll.com GROBY COMMUNITY COLLEGE NEWSLETTER Achieving Excellence Together David Wilson opens the new Construction Centre David Wilson (3rd in from the right) pictured with staff and students involved in the new Construction Centre On 28 January 2014 a new Construction Centre funded by the David Wilson Foundation opened at Groby Community College. The new centre is designed to help students develop basic construction skills in partnership with Leicester College where expert teaching and progression routes at post 16 will help support those students wishing to access construction apprenticeships. The practical skills developed at the centre are further enhanced by high quality teaching in literacy and mathematics which will prepare students well for future qualifications and life long learning. The new construction centre has been made possible by an £80,000 donation from the David Wilson Foundation. Teaching in the centre commenced at the start of January 2014 where students are developing skills in the three main trades – bricklaying, plumbing and carpentry – in a realistic working environment with all of the tools and equipment linked to each trade available to them. From September 2014 the centre will provide access for up to 50 students each year. Vocationally based courses delivered by the centre include BTEC Construction courses, with students taught by staff from Leicester College. It is expected that the centre will be used by students across the campus at both KS3, 4 and 5. Endorsing the new centre, David Wilson said: “A key aim of the David Wilson Foundation is to help young people acquire construction skills for their future. This new Construction Centre is the perfect example of that aspiration in action, giving young people an ideal introduction into the construction industry and the skills needed to succeed.” Commenting on the future success of the centre, Ms Varnam, Groby Community College’s Curriculum Leader for Flexible Learning said: “The grant from the David Wilson Foundation has given the students who need it most on our campus an exciting opportunity to follow a programme in construction, which will play a part in significantly engaging those students who find it hardest to secure proper progression routes at college and long term employment.” Not only will students develop knowledge and understanding as they work towards their qualifications, but they will also gain skills that will prove invaluable in their future careers. We are so very grateful to The David Wilson Foundation in helping to make this Construction Centre a reality. This opportunity will help students to gain a real insight into the world of work and will help to provide them with relevant skills which will support them in securing long term jobs and a prosperous future. David Wilson, CBE, DL established The David Wilson Foundation to support young people through education. Specifically the Foundation helps young people overcome barriers to succeed, develop skills in the construction industry and achieve their potential for a successful working life. (More pictures on page 3) Mr Coles, Principal www.grobycoll.com MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Champions are made not born master a skill or a subject quickly. What we do is make sure that Thank you to all of our year 11 and 12 students who have certain students can access the higher-level concepts and ideas approached the recent mock exams with such maturity. Our at a faster pace than those who need more time to practice the mock exam results day for year 11 will take place on 5 February basics. The challenge for us as a college comes in making sure in order to give the students a true understanding of how it will that all students put in the necessary effort, hard work and feel in August when they receive their envelope. We will be practise at the right time. We can only achieve this goal if the following up closely with some students who need to push mindset is right. In other words every student must believe they themselves harder and will be inviting some parents/carers into can succeed if they work hard enough. college to discuss how their child can maximise progress. To support the idea that effort can beat talent, we have further Effort was the theme of our assemblies at the start of the Spring extended the support we give to students. The extended Term. I challenged all of our students to think along the lines of support programme is now open to year 10 and 11 students. the former Table Tennis gold medalist Matt Syed who believes Most subject areas have an extended programme running that ‘champions are made not born.’ He states that to label beyond 3.10pm which is published on the website. In order to someone as gifted or a prodigy means that it underestimates the support our students in their efforts, the college now runs late sheer amount of hard work that goes into being successful. buses leaving at 4.15pm on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. I encourage all students to make use of this extra provision in At Groby we believe in ‘achieving excellence’ and we have set order to master their subjects and I request that our parents/ out clearly in our vision statement that all young people, carers challenge their children to make use of the extra provision through the right level of challenge and support, can achieve available. their potential. I believe that if everyone puts in the maximum amount of effort and purposeful practice then they can achieve Good luck to all of our students sitting exams this year; the hard whatever they set their mind to. work starts now! This does not mean that we don’t have challenge those who Mr Coles, Principal SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS Our college feels it is of the utmost importance to have good systems for protecting children and safeguarding their welfare throughout all the activities which the college undertakes. This means that staff and volunteers must be alert to possible concerns about every student, and to report these in a proper fashion. The college has a safeguarding and child protection policy; parents may request a copy of this. INSIDE THIS ISSUE It is important for parents to be aware that: Safeguarding 2 Staff and volunteers in the college have a duty to report concerns about a child, whether this means the child may be in need of additional support or help of some kind Exam key dates 4 or whether it is thought that a child may have been abused or be at risk of abuse. Fitness Marathon 4 There are four categories of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, neglect. Global Enterprise 5 In some cases the college is obliged to refer children to children’s social care staff, for Outstanding Students 7 children to be assessed for their needs or if an investigation into possible child abuse is required. In many cases there will already have been discussions between college staff Number Day 8 - 9 and the parents of the child, and the situation and concerns will not be a surprise to the Lucy Whitfield 9 parents. However, parents may not be told that the college has referred their child to children’s social care if it is thought that this might put the child at risk. New Recording Studio 10 Children’s social care tries to carry out its enquiries in a sensitive fashion. It has to Cinderella 11 gather information and generally it can be open with parents about the steps being Spanish Enterprise Day 12 taken. Fashion Show 13 If you think your child may have been abused you should contact the children’s social care office. If you think the abuse may have happened in college, contact the Literacy page 14 Principal or the Designated Senior Person for Child Protection, who is Mrs Evans, Martin Johnson 15 Assistant Principal. If you think your child has been hurt, arrange to visit your doctor. Comfort and reassure your child. Parents/Carers’ Forum 17 If college staff need to express concerns about a child or refer a child to children’s social Sports news 18 care, it is understood that this can cause distress or anger for the child’s parents. German Bake Off 19 Key diary dates 20 For parents’ enquiries please contact: Mrs Viv Evans, Assistant Principal PAGE 2 MORE PHOTOS FROM THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION CENTRE: 28 JANUARY 2014 GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET Monday 16 December a group of 40 German Language students were able to travel to the famous Frankfurt Christmas Market, which takes place every year in Birmingham. The stalls are set up in the traditional style to replicate a market setting in Germany and many of the stall holders still hail from there. The students had the chance to use a bit of their German skills in buying gifts and local German food specialities. They were able to explore the various stalls and experience a small part of the German Christmas tradition. Students were most excited by the different food on offer, most notably the “Super-Dickmanns” a special type of marshmallow and chocolate biscuit! Miss Hammond, German Teacher PAGE 3 www.grobycoll.com EXAM & KEY ASSESSMENT CALENDAR 2013 - 14 The main exam period is mid May to the end of June 2014 but other exams in Maths and Science take place at other times of the college year as well. The timetable will change to accommodate preparation, revision and exam warm-up sessions. We have revision tips and sample revision timetables on our college website. All the key assessments and exam dates can be found on the college website: www.grobycoll.com EXAM KEY DATES Summer external exams start 12 May 2014 and finish on 23 June 2014 during this period NO holidays should be taken unless during the half term break.