BAND NIGHT 2017
WINTER ISSUE 3 2018
ANGELA RAYNOR
AT AQUINAS
CHRISTMAS AT
AQUINAS REVIEWS
NEW WAVE HIP-HOP
AN INTERVIEW
YOUR
NEW PRESIDENT
CAREERS
DAY
MUCH MORE
CONTENTS 24 04 OFSTED OUTCOME
28 MANCHESTER AIRPORT
06 LIVERPOOL TRIP
30 PUBLIC SPEAKING
07 CATHOLIC CHARITY
32 LGBT STOCKPORT
08 DECLAN MCKENNA
34 CHRISTMAS AT AQUINAS
10 TRACKS OF MY TEARS
36 HIP HOP WAVES
12 THE DESCENDANTS 2!
38 HAWK DANCE THEATRE
14 BAND NIGHT 2017
39 CHESTER ZOO 2017
16 CAREERS DAY 2017
40 OPEN DAYS 2017
18 DISNEY SHOWCASE 2017
42 AFTAS 2017
20 ANGELA RAYNOR
44 A TRIP TO BERLIN
Lucy sits down with Danny to discuss the visit. A trip to the Culture Hub in Liverpool.
CAFOD discuss their recent humanitarian work.
Yasmin reviews the new artist’s concert. A poem by Amos Murphy.
Michael’s back to review the follow up!
The Music dept. host their annual band night. Aquinas continues to raise employability skills.
Your kingdom awaits!
The Shadow Education Secretary pays a visit.
PRESIDENT
The new Student President has their say!
Business students investigate!
Beth & Shaun represent Aquinas.
Michael gives an update on ‘Wednesdays’.
All the festive activities at Aquinas College.
Amos discusses a new wave of the genre. The dance company come to Aquinas.
The recent Business trip to Chester Zoo. Welcoming our new potential students!
Some shots from this year’s awards.
Amos reviews one of Europe’s biggest cities.
22 TAKE ME OUT
Andy Bailey presents the annual dating event.
26 POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
Amos discusses politics - Premier Leauge style.
EDITORIAL As we dive headlong into the new year, time seems to have flown by since September and we are now on our 3rd issue of the popular AQ Magazine. We are extremely proud of what our students are producing, from the amazing writing being created by the journalists, the eye-popping content curated by our graphic designers and the enhancing images provided by our photographers. We hope you love this edition! Since we published the last issue of AQ Mag, there is still a constant stream of change in culture and society. Our job here at AQ Mag is to ensure that you have the latest events from Aquinas and the latest creative work from our talented students, both new and existing contributors!
So, with that in mind, I am proud to present you with a magazine filled with copious amounts of encouraging fundraising initiatives, exciting trips, a professional collection of creative writing and thought provoking topical pieces. As always, we are on the hunt for new contributors, so please get in touch with one of the AQ Mag team, if you wish to get involved! Furthermore, we wish all the very best to our students heading towards the February mock exams & assessments – it is an incredibly important period in your time at Aquinas College. That said, take time to enjoy the the new term, embrace all that you love, all that is new and say a prayer for those who need one. Thank-you. Jack Tomlinson, Samantha Quinn and Jim Temple (AQ Magazine Staff Co-ordinators) Issues 1 & 2 are available around college and on our website!
GRAPHIC
DESIGNERS Jack Tomlinson Charlie Ainsworth Heidi Dixon Jonathon Fosbrook
WELCOME BACK to all our readers &
contributors!
Thank you.
#BeMore
The third edition of AQ Magazine once again captures the climate and culture that we have at Aquinas College. I would like to thank all those involved in the production of the magazine. It has a wonderful mix of discussion, debate, culture and college news making me very proud of the effort and commitment shown by our students and staff. The third issue is a great achievement, and a completely college based production. Thank you all involved and well done. On behalf of all the staff and Governors at the College can I wish our students the best of luck in their forthcoming February mock exams. Look after yourselves, prepare well and you will achieve the best in everything you do over the next couple of months. With warmest best wishes Danny Pearson, Principal
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The Outcome of Ofsted An Interview with the Principal - Lucy Payne
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fter a whirlwind term, the introduction to a new term also brought Ofsted, who came and visited Aquinas College on the 10th and 11th January 2017. I had the privilege to sit down with the Principal – Danny Pearson, to discuss what occurred and what has happened since. How do you feel now Ofsted’s visit is over? It’s always a relief but I was confident in the work we have done since the last inspection (3 years ago) and I am always confident about the staff and students. During the visit, how did you feel? It was strange, I felt upbeat and positive and obviously keen for things to go well. The preparation leading up to the inspection was good but you’re always concerned that something may unexpectedly go wrong, but I was certain we would do well. How did the college do in the recent inspection? Well-we maintained our “Good” judgement with the inspectors being very impressed with lots of areas. Particularly they were impressed with our care for students and safeguarding arrangements. What did Ofsted come and do over the period of time they visited? Ofsted looked particularly at teaching and learning, leadership and management and governance and safeguarding. The inspectors completed 30 walkthroughs whilst they were here, which is about 20 minutes in each of the 30 classrooms.
When did Ofsted come and visit Aquinas and how long did the visit last for? Ofsted came the first week of term after the Christmas break for a 2 day inspection on Tuesday 10th January until Wednesday 11th January. How many inspectors came? Three inspectors visited, and one of them was one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors. Has the Ofsted report been published? Yes, it was published last month and there is a link on our website if anybody wants to view it. Are there any actions that you are going to take after the inspection? We create a Post-Inspection Action Plan with the Governors, of what we need to do before the next inspection. Also, some minor things have been done already. Finally, what are you most proud of that Ofsted has reported on at Aquinas? I am very proud of the staff and students. Ofsted has recognized that we provide excellent care, support and guidance that learners value and that students progress well with us. Ofsted also picked up on our ethos and that the College’s atmosphere was “inclusive and welcoming”.
On Tuesday 3 rd November both Upper and Lower Sixth Art & Design students; a very popular subject which encompasses many aspects of Art & Design including textiles and photography; took a trip to the culture hub of Liverpool on the banks of the River Mersey.
Departing from Aquinas, students were then able to sample some of the excellent sources of artistic magnificence housed in some of Britain’s most significant art galleries, most notably Tate Liverpool and The Walker Art Gallery, only being 34 miles west of Manchester. Liverpool, a city which had unmatched importance during the Industrial Revolution, due to its geographical location, has now more recently been hailed as the 2008 European Capital of Culture. This was a title founded in 1985 to promote and celebrate the richness and diversity of some of Europe’s best towns and cities. Along with the North West city, Florence, Paris, Helsinki and Brussels to name a few, have all had the privilege of being heralded a ‘City of Culture’ since its creation 32 years ago.
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Creativity, music and innovation woven into the sheer fabric of Liverpool, being the birthplace of an illustrious group of individuals such as John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Cilla Black. Students gained inspiration in abundance to then integrate into their own coursework for their respective art related subjects back at Aquinas. This trip also acted as an important visit for the Art students because admission tutors are now looking for cultural visits outside of the Manchester area, when students are in the process of app applying for higher education courses.
CAFOD Talk By Sadiqah Sultana L6 Global Justice and Peace Student
On the 12th of October a refugee programme manager called Alan came to Aquinas College to talk about various topics on humanitarian work. I attended the talk and Alan informed us about the ongoing complex issues in Syria and how CAFOD provided short term aid for those suffering in the war torn country. Furthermore, he gave us his insight on his shaky journey on becoming a humanitarian worker and the difďŹ culties in getting a career in international development. Overall, I enjoyed the talk as it educated me on topics I didn’t understand before and taught me where generous donations to CAFOD go to.
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Declan McKenna is an 18-year-old indie rock musician from Hertfordshire, England, who is currently touring his debut album "What do you think about the car?" I was lucky enough to attend his concert at the O2 Ritz in Manchester on Monday the 23rd of October. At a mere ÂŁ13.50 per ticket, this star on the rise puts on one hell of a show, worth every penny and more.
DECLAN MCKENNA
FROM THE MOSH PIT - YASMIN SPRAY
F
or those who don't know, Declan McKenna is an 18-year-old indie rock musician from Hertfordshire, England. He is currently touring his debut album "What do you think about the car?" and I was lucky enough to attend his concert at the O2 Ritz in Manchester on Monday the 23rd of October. At a mere £13.50 per ticket, this star on the rise puts on one hell of a show, worth every penny and more.
Although the set-list wasn’t particularly long, McKenna’s effervescent energy made up for it. From jumping around the stage to surfing on the crowd, he gave the crowd all they paid for and more. The intimate venue ensured McKenna could connect with the audience, creating an atmosphere unlike any other. An audience member described the concert: “It was like really lively, but everyone felt the exact same, so the atmosphere was amazing” – Charlotte Benton.
Starting the concert on time, the crowd was instantly wild; a crushing mosh pit of energetic fans eager to get as close to McKenna as possible. His catchy songs and thoughtful lyrics got the whole building jumping and the ground shaking from the get go, as the crowd continuously chanted the lyrics in deafening unison (even the spoken part in the song "Listen to Your Friends"). The energy created by one teenager was astonishing; all it took was one familiar guitar riff and the vivacious vibes were instantly evident.
McKenna revealed that the O2 Ritz was his largest venue to date, proving that this talented teen still has a long way to go, but is definitely worth seeing. Declan McKenna is one to watch.
THE ONE TO
WATCH
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Descendants 2 Film Review By Michael Burton
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n 2015 the “rotten” children of our favourite Disney villains were brought to life in one of Disney channel’s best films yet… Descendants! We followed Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay as they faced a new life amongst their parent’s enemies in the United States of
Auradon, their personalities were tested and they eventually chose to see the light and foil their parents plan for revenge!... Two years later in 2017 director Kenny Ortega (Hocus Pocus and High School Musical) told the next chapter in the story of the villain kids in Disney Descendants 2! Its bigger and better than the prior film by a long shot…
As the film begins with the opening musical number, “Ways to be Wicked”, we see that even though Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay are on the side of good, they still cannot resist the temptation of their evil roots and continue to be wicked by the book! The song ends and it is revealed to be a flashback in Mals memory. It soon becomes clear that after the events of the first film, choosing good and becoming the girlfriend of King Ben (son of Belle and Beast), have taken their toll and Mal is being pressured by the need for her to be royally perfect. Despite her tough as nails attitude, it becomes too much for Maleficents daughter and she abandons her life in Auradon as Lady of the court and returns to her home on the neighbouring island, the isle of the lost. Evie, Carlos and Jay soon become aware of this and take King Ben to the isle to retrieve Mal and hopefully save the relationship the two of them worked so hard for. With all the villains residing on the isle, the last person the villains will want to see is the leader of their sworn enemies so Evie is forced to teach Ben how to be like them or as she puts it, “how to be chillin’ like a villain”. Evie’s efforts (as accurate as they are) don’t help and King Ben is captured by the new self-proclaimed rulers of the isle, Gil, son of Gaston, Harry, son of Captain Hook and worst of all, Uma, daughter of Ursula. They refuse to hand Ben over until Mal gives Uma the fairy godmother’s magic wand so that the villains can have their revenge once and for all against all those who imprisoned the villains on the isle! Does Mal sacrifice the fairy godmother’s magic wand and safety of the people of Auradon by rescuing King Ben or does the plot take another twist? Well, as much as I want to tell you, you’ll just have to watch the movie for yourself and find out how it ends. The film was released on July 21st 2017 and in my opinion was considerably better than the first. Descendants 2 had a simultaneous premiere on Disney Channel, Disney XD, ABC, Freeform, Lifetime and Lifetime Movies. The film seems to combine all aspects of a Disney film that fans seem to love, for example costumes, music, stars, characters, sets and a lovable plot written by the talented Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon who were responsible for Desperate Housewives, Chicken Little and of course Descendants 1. With the exception of Sarah Jeffery who plays Audrey, all the original cast from the first movie reprise their roles, including Sofia Carson as Evie, Mitchell
Hope as Ben, Booboo Stewart as Jay, Cameron Boyce as Carlos and leading lady, Dove Cameron as Mal! We already know that the cast have their fair share of experience, for example Sofia’s chart topping music career and roles in films like ‘Adventures in Babysitting’, ‘A Cinderella Story’ and ‘Doves’ show Liv and Maddie, which ran impressively for four seasons, or her roles in ‘Cloud 9’ and ‘Barely Lethal’! But what do we need to know about the new additions to the cast? Gil is the son of Gaston from Beauty and The Beast and he is being portrayed by newcomer, Dylan Playfair. Dylan’s diverse body of work includes the critically acclaimed comedy series ‘Letterkenny’, Netflix’s ‘Haters Back Off’ and ‘Travelers.’ Harry, is the son of Captain Hook who needs no introduction. Harry is played by ‘The Lodge’ star, Thomas Doherty. Doherty is a Scottish actor, best known for his role as Sean in the British musical drama sitcom, The Lodge. In 2017, it was announced that Doherty would play the role of Zander in Michael Damian's film, High Strung: Free Dance. He has personally said in an interview that his career has been helped along by his involvement in Descendants 2. Last but not least is Uma! Uma is the daughter of the untrustworthy sea witch, Ursula from the Little Mermaid. “The casting for Uma was a tricky decision” says director Kenny Ortega. But the role was given to young woman whose name isn’t unfamiliar to Disney. China Anne McClain. China Anne McClain comes from an artistic family. Her father, Michael McClain, is a music produce vocalist, writer and sound engineer. China's producer, mother, Shontell, is also a vocalist and songwriter and it doesn’t stop there! China’s 1st sister Sierra was the actress who played Nessa in Empire. And her 2nd sister Lauryn is the star of Superstition: The Rule of 3's. China however made herself a star on Disney’s ‘ANT Farm’. McClain has also been involved with other TV shows and movies like ‘House of Payne’, ‘Grown Ups’ 1 and 2 and ‘Black Lightning’. China, Thomas and Dylan have all had a lot of experience and truly bring a new evil edge to their characters in Descendants 2. So you know what I think but what do the cast themselves have to say about the sequel? “I think that we’re going to have the ability to reach a far greater audience, a more dynamic range of audience. We really have a movie that is family entertainment, focused on our core audience but we’ve been now living with this. It evolves, it develops, and now looking at it, I am so entertained by it.”- Kenny Ortega. Descendants 2 includes 6 fantastic songs! ‘Ways to be Wicked’, ‘What’s my Name‘, ‘Chillin like a Villain’, ‘Space Between’, ‘It’s goin’ Down’ and ‘You and Me!’ Each one adds a different aspect to the film. Each song helps the audience to see the film in a different way but undoubtedly, all the songs are brilliant! Audiences of all ages will love Descendants 2! It receives a 5/5 from me. Descendants 2 is very clearly a must see!
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Careers Day
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quinas College Careers Day has run successfully for the last five years! and has been a success in helping students to discover different careers and pathways after Aquinas. On Careers Day students are off timetable to listen to a huge range of speakers and experts from a experts from a variety of career sectors. This is an opportunity for students to explore a significant number of roles and entry requirements, both in terms of qualifications as well as skills and experience. This year it ran on Thursday 29th June 2017 from 9am-4pm. Speakers included experts from sectors including: Engineering, law enforcement and armed services and a range of experts from the world of business, sport and media. Highlights this year were Pie Radio Station who provided entertainment over the lunch hour, there were also great talks from Olympic athlete Maria Bertelli, a children’s entertainer and many more. We spoke to a range of students and speakers who seem to have had a fantastic time. Aquinas students, Olivia and Sam, attended the talk from KPMG. Olivia said her favourite speaker has been KPMG because she has learnt more about the career that she was interested in. Sam commented, “I have learnt about the different career paths and job opportunities that people can take.”
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Another Aquinas student called Rachel attended a public health talk and commented, “My favourite talk has been on the job opportunities in Public Health. I have a better understanding of different jobs and what could be available for me.” Beth and Holly both enjoyed the Army talk, and Beth commented- “I have been learning about different types of jobs in the Army that people can do as a career. I now have got a better knowledge about the options to take after I leave college.” Holly agreed with Beth as she now understands how to get into management positions in the Army. Guest Speakers Katie Muscat from the University of Manchester. This day has been beneficial! As well as career professionals, students also have the opportunity to speak to someone from university and to gather information. Lucia Davis, who works in Stockport as a children entertainer and is going to move onto writing for children. This day has been beneficial for students and myself because they get to meet somebody in a working role and who have life experience. Naomi and Dan from NCS Challenge. Yes this day has been beneficial because there is something on offer for everyone. This day has given students lots of opportunities to join NCS and find more about their interests.
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This year’s Disney Showcase was another huge success! The students performed a variety of songs their favourite musicals to a jam-packed audience in Aquinas’ theatre. Show leader Carly Horan incredibly proud of every them! They have worked deserved the standing received.”
stated: “I am single one of so hard and ovation they
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TIME for CHANGE Angela Rayner’s visit to Aquinas by Jordyn Baguley
On the 17th of November, Aquinas welcomed MP Angela Rayner into College to talk about not only her role within the Labour party and her constituency of Ashton-Under-Lyne, but her upbringing and how it has impacted on her polices and beliefs. But who is Angela Rayner? And how has she gone from being a mother at 16 with no qualifications to arguably being one of the most important women in UK politics today?
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t’s nice to be home, isn’t it?” Shadow Education Minister Angela Rayner begins, grinning at everyone. In return the lecture theatre is silent, waiting to hear how Rayner has managed to climb the ladder of politics and stand where she is today - beating the odds to sit on Labour’s front bench in the Houses of Parliament.
Angela was brought up on a council estate in Stockport by her grandmother along with her siblings due to her mother suffering with mental health issues from an early age. With her grandmother working 3 jobs to support and care for them, Angela described her childhood as ‘not the easiest’, with some nights having to ask friends for food to not go hungry. The tough upbringing, she believes, has shaped who she is and what she believes; that no matter who you are, you deserve the same care as everybody else. After leaving high school with no qualifications, Angela became pregnant and left home, being told by her father that ‘if you’re old enough to get pregnant, you’re old enough to look after it’. To support her son, she became a care worker for Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. However, upon seeing the conditions that the elderly were forced to live in and the plan to outsource jobs, she became a Union Representative, eventually serving as a Convenor of Unison North West. This then led to her eventual run in 2015 to become Ashton-Under-Lyne’s MP.
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Having explained her troubling upbringing, she went on to explain her current role of Shadow Education Minister and what comes with it.
“It’s basically two jobs” she tells everyone, her down-to-earth personality and Mancunian accent creating a calm atmosphere amongst the students, “I have the job where I’m in an office and working with Ashton and helping people there and the job where I’m the opposition of her majesty’s government as Shadow Education Minister” After Jeremy Corbyn’s cabinet reshuffle caused by several resignations amongst his ministers, Angela was promoted from Shadow Women and Equality Minister to Shadow Education Minister. “It’s because nobody else wanted it!” she laughs, but what she has achieved is no laughing matter. Being thrown in at the deep end has made her thrive, taking command and proving that a working class teenage mother really can achieve anything, much to some politicians’ disbelief. Regardless of being mocked because of her Mancunian accent, class and gender, Angela has demonstrated repeatedly the need for change, and how a change in government can achieve this. But closer to home, her work for Ashton-Under-Lyne has impacted the local community greatly. The list of her achievements includes forcing ALDI to install child restraints within its trolleys, campaigning to save the local Royal Mail branch and the local swimming pool, backing small businesses and the enforcing the National Living Wage. With only two and half years under her belt, for work that Angela’s clear it’s lives people’s more Ashton-Under-Lyne will help and help develop work in a community to be proud of. When asked what Angela believes her greatest achievement in politics is, her reply is simple. “I couldn’t pick one. Every achievement is a big achievement for me, as long as its helping people!”
But with such achievements, could Angela ever become leader? “If I ever become Prime Minister, you’re all invited to number 10 for a party!” She tells the audience. With her charisma and strong personality, would it be a big stretch to believe that one day she could in fact lead the Labour Party? With the major turns in recent politics leaving the government unstable and Labour slowly but surely becoming the majority vote- especially amongst young voters, it may be not too far in the future that Rayner’s place and input in the Labour Party rises along with her rank as a politician. However, Angela’s adult life and career as a politician have been far from smooth sailing. From being beaten at the Wythenshawe elections to giving birth prematurely at 23 weeks, she’s managed to use the disadvantages and the hurdles to make herself stronger, showing those who doubt her that she is becoming an unstoppable force within the Houses of Parliament. “Do I have bad days? Sure! But then I think about all that I’ve managed to achieve, and all that I plan to achieve for the people who rely on me, and I just pick myself up”. Having started life being written off as a ‘scrubber’ who would amount to nothing, Angela Rayner has steadily risen within the ranks of the Labour Party in an inspiringly short amount of time, proving to the typically higher-class politicians that, although a rigged system makes it hard for individuals like Angela to break through the barriers, it isn’t impossible. And now that Rayner’s paved the way, what’s stopping you? Angela during her talk
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onday 27th March saw the return of the much-awaited Aquinas Take Me Out with Andy Bailey as the host, a huge team behind him, and 4 guys and 12 girls waiting to find love. The audience were soon enticed with the promise of “Love at First Light”, a heart-warming success story and even compatibility games, sure to test the fledgling couples. The success story of previous contestants Erica and Callum, led many of the contestants to be inspired to find love. Their 8 month relationship is still going strong after getting together at Deansgate Locks and heading on holiday together this summer. Erika advised the girls to stay stood up during the game, to increase their chances of a match. Meanwhile, Callum passed on his experienced knowledge to help the guys with their participation in the show.
Compatibility games included “couple charades”, where one half acted out what was shown on the board and the other half of the couple had to guess the answer. “Finish each other’s sentences” tested whether the girls knew what the guys were thinking. Also, to finish up there were the interesting facts about the girls but no names were revealed to keep the guys wondering who said what! The good news was that all couples succeeded in their games, a good sign of what’s to come in their relationships. With all guys managing to bag a girl, here’s what you’ve all been waiting for- the matches! The first contestant, Ollie Chesworth, presented the girls a video called “reasons not to date me” but he still managed to bag Hannah, who was his love at first light! Success in the recent Student President election didn’t stop there with Czarek getting paired up with Hanna, impressing her with his baking skills. Meanwhile, Jack Hamnett’s impressive music skills meant that Cesca couldn’t resist Jack, who even had a 20% discount at Debenhams! Finally, Evandro Lucas-Rafael raised the roof with his new love Charlotte and got the audience dancing away to their rap duet, to finish the night off. A huge well done must be given to everyone who helped make the night a success and if you’re looking to find love, maybe you should take a tip from the guys who had pretty impressive chat up lines: “I’ve got a compass tattooed on my back to navigate me the way to your heart” “Hey is your name Google? Because you’re everything I’m looking for” 23 “What’s your name? Or can I call you mine?”
In the autumn term of 2017, Aquinas held its annual Student Council Elections, with students being able to put themselves forward to stand for Student President for the year ahead. As part of the election each candidate had to create a campaign on why they would be the ideal President for Aquinas, with polices that each would implement if the title were to be handed to them. The elections took place In December 2017, and after a very close result it was announced that the students chose Melissa Jarvis as their new Student President. With promising policies and a strong backing from the students, Melissa will be inaugurated in March 2018. But who is Melissa Jarvis? Apart from her love of the environment and her drive for change, Aquinas has not been properly introduced to the new President, so we met with Melissa to ask her more.
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What made you run for President, and why do you think that you won? I think I ran for President because I love to help people, and want to make sure that people have their voices heard. I’m not really sure why I won! I think the video made a big impact, and having a brilliant campaign team behind me helped. What do you think made you stand out from other candidates? I think I was more relatable, like people can talk to me. And because I know a lot of people already, I think that they trusted me because they know who I am and what I stand for. What was the hardest part of the campaign process? Probably making the campaign video, I couldn’t stop laughing through it all! What changes are you planning to make to Aquinas, and why? Well, I’m going to try to get my 5 main policies in place, which were more seating around college, hot water dispensers for student use, more vegetarian and vegan options in the canteen, saving the bees, and a greater student voice. This is just to make Aquinas even better for the students. What are you most looking forward to when you enter your role as Student President? Probably saving the bees, because that’s something that I’m really passionate about and want to implement. I think I’ll enjoy seeing changes happen in college and people being grateful for it. I also want to make a lasting impact. How do you plan on saving the bees? I’ve already asked finance to purchase seeds in order to plant in the gardens as well as sugar solutions in order to attract them, and then promoting awareness around college. How do you plan on involving the student’s in college? For major decisions, things like surveys would be a great help in knowing what everybody wants. We’re planning on doing that for seating, anyway. I also want to make the Student Union a place where people actually want to go and remove the stigma around it.
What do you plan on doing after Aquinas? I definitely want to go to university, and do something worthwhile that makes a difference. What challenges are you looking forward to as AQ President? The debate style of it probably. Making sure that everybody’s heard in executive committee meetings, and being able to put my view across too while listening to other people’s opinions. You always find better solutions by working as a team and listening to other people. Do you have any personal experiences that you believe will help you to succeed while President? Being a corporal in the air cadets will help me massively, I think, because I’m so used to dealing with other people and being a leader. My extra-curricular activities have helped me too, because I’ve always been a part of clubs and things. I’m always getting involved! What are you driven by? Happiness. It sounds strange, but I think that happiness is a major factor in everything. I only do things that will make me and the people around me happy. So, apart from Air Cadets, what else to do you do extra-curricular wise? I do the mock trials, debating club, Pathways to Law with The Manchester University, as well as the India Project. Oh, and I work at Currys PC World! How do you think that you could help the community, rather than just Aquinas? Well I’m planning to make sure that saving the bees is a community issue. I’m also trying to get recycling bins within college which would obviously benefit the community and Aquinas. Who do you most admire, and why? That’s That a hard one! Probably Emma Watson, because of her work for charity and her feminist beliefs. I love how she fights for equality for everybody. I want to do the same here, make sure that everybody’s heard and valued in college. Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you Melissa! I look forward to seeing you as AQ President! Thank you, I can’t wait!
It is clear from her successful campaign that Melissa is a driven and outspoken individual. There’s no doubt that our next President will make Aquinas an even better environment for not only learning, but becoming the best versions of ourselves. With her inauguration in March, make sure to keep an eye out for policies being implemented this year - it’s sure to make an impact.
EXCLUSIVE
AN INTERVIEW
YOUR
NEW PRESIDENT
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Political Leadership; Premier League Style By Amos Murphy
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party leader resigning after a general election has become the conventional norm; anything but a Blair style, 100+ seat majority and those at the helm for the smaller parties are having their heads called for – voting is now well and truly a rational exercise, as is the leadership within a political party. Since the 2015 general election, there have been six resignations of party leaders from the ‘big hitters’ in British politics: Clegg, Milliband, Farage (more than once), Cameron, Nuttall and most recently, Farron. Whilst situations and the context differs completely from leader to leader (particularly for the larger parties), the amount of time one has to exert their influence, and achieve significant change in the name of their party is extremely slim – there is an increasing blame culture being adopted within British politics, with those at the top having the finger pointed at them the most. This conveyor belt style of replacing party leaders draws stark comparisons to the treatment of modern day managers at football clubs; the world is expected of those with very little resources in a very little time, examples being Farron and Nuttall, When they inevitably don’t deliver, instead of strategically and tactically coming up with a stra separate solution, building on the foundations they’ve began to make and adopting a different approach, the first port of call is to give them the sack. Political credentials are all but obsolete in an age of 24/7 rolling news and ‘memes’ scrutinising every detail of a leaders’ charisma, social life and persona. The digital revolution has had an unprecedented affect on longevity and loyalty within politics, whether that’s a failed attempt at eating a harmless sandwich, or a pathetic out of time go at the Mexican wave, the keyboard warriors will annihilate anybody making a gaffe of anything. There’s no margin for error anymore for politicians as they must act as party delegates and showbiz celebrities - be careful though, they’ll soon start claiming expenses for that. But, where is the fine line drawn between success and failure for a party leader? Tim Farron managed to make dents into the damaging stigma left behind by the legacy of Cameron and Clegg’s coalition, where Clegg was mercilessly exploited and evidently came out worse.
In two years of leadership to make gains from such a destructive previous election, showed great grit and determination and presented a small but modest victory for Farron. Yet five days later the momentum gained by a rather popular and likeable leader had been lost. Whilst stagnation must be avoided to make any credible gains, and leadership change still brings the right benefits in most situations. Again the football esque feeling of ‘mutual consent’ when a party parts with its leader, suggests that no matter how many ‘personal reasons’ for leaving are embedded into a resignation speech, there is always an in overriding sense that there has been pressure on one to resign, before they’re ultimately sacked. This leaves the real question to be, how can anybody expect change to be brought about if every time they get into third gear, somebody else slams on the handbrake and rips the key out of the ignition? In this completely unpredictable political climate which has descended onto us, it would be credible to suggest the continuing evolvement of a multi-party system in the UK would create power vacuums for those smaller parties looking to assert an influence through a crack left open by the ‘big two’; However the return to an adversarial two party politics system in the 2017 election, with 83% of the electorate favouring either Labour or the Conservatives, will make many assume that the age where the likes of UKIP had realistic chances of asserting themselves, becoming a permanent fixture within British politics, is burning out into hopeless embers. With the gap widening again between the major two parties, those looking from beneath for a way in find themselves up against an elitist world. A world where ‘career politicians’ as rife as ever. Those looking for the opportunities to stick “leader of []” onto their CVs in an attempt to check as many man boxes off on their political bucket list as possible, will only become more and more prominent as time passes. Politics is no longer about genuine credibility, or chances to bring about change. The demos, the soundbites, career opportunities and constant publicity is a much bigger lure, whilst at the same time selling your soul to be controlled like a puppet by those above.
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very year we take a group of Level 2 Business students to Manchester Airport to investigate Customer Service. The students always say ........................ “can’t we go to Alton Towers instead?” but during and after the visit they are always very vocal about how good the trip is and how ‘awesome and fantastic’ Concorde is. We have a tour of the Visitor Centre and a talk which is most educational and is used for a whole module of their course. It is a great day and a great experience for our students…and staff!
The Catenian Association is a Roman Catholic lay society, founded in Manchester in 1908, through the initiative of Bishop Louis Charles Casartelli, Bishop of Salford, to encourage Catholic professional and business men to associate for mutual self-help, and to develop social and family bonds. Now with its headquarters in Coventry the Association supports charitable and other good works in a number of different ways. Aquinas was represented on the day by two lower sixth students, Beth Chadwick, (a former St. James’s Catholic High School student now studying History, RS, English Lang/Lit) and Shaun Vickers, (a former Marple Hall High School student now studying Maths, German, Govt & Politics and Computer Science). Both students are involved with the College’s Stretch & Challenge programme, offering them a diverse range of experiences and skills to add to their academic studies. On the day Beth’s talk inspired so many. It was a personal and moving talk on ‘small and beautiful’. Shaun likewise was at his subtle and brilliant best as he spoke on ‘all truths start out as blasphemies’. These public speaking competitions are organised in all areas of the UK by local Catenians to actively encourage young leaders in public speaking. As part of the competition the students were assessed on timing, relevance, content, application and appearance. Comments from Parents included:
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“My first time attending and I have been blown away with the standard and quality of the young people.” “Fantastic performances of a very high standard Great opportunity for the youngsters. “ “Great opportunity for young Catholics to get great experience”. “Fantastic to see young people shine. Great opportunity for Catholic youths to get together.”
“Superb opportunity contestants.”
and
challenge
for
the
The day was very well organised and all students involved in the event found it to be a great experience commenting on the kindness and great welcome they had received. The feedback from adjudicators was very helpful, encouraging but also honest and clear. One person commented: “Thank you for the opportunities you provide for so many students. It's amazing how many go on to excellent careers. Partly because they develop the confidence and skills that come from public speaking. May you continue such excellent work!” Aquinas College hope to be represented again next year.
Wednesdays is simply an LGBT youth group within Stockport. We are a group for young lesbian, gay bisexual, trans people or those questioning their gender or sexuality aged 13-19 in Stockport. Here at Wednesdays we recognize that young LGBT people from Stockport might find it difficult to be themselves because of fear of coming out or because they may feel pressurized. Wednesdays is a safe environment to come and be able to be yourself regardless of what pronouns you may refer to yourself with or what gender you identify as.
We meet every Wednesday 5:30-7:30pm at a venue in the Stockport town centre offering a safe space to explore a wide range of activities including arts and crafts, cooking, games and organising our own events to promote Wednesdays. The group also has close links with other youth services in Stockport including a sex and relationship drop in on the first Wednesday of the month provided by a youth worker from Central Youth. As a regular attendee of this particular group, I can say that Wednesdays has shaped me into a new person. I feel more confident in who I want to be and that’s just from being a part of this group. Every week, I enjoy whatever activity we get stuck into, even if it’s really bad cooking. I have been a part of this group for just over a year now and cannot imagine where I would be without it, it’s almost as if I have become part of a new family. The young people all understand each other and the youth workers never fail to help solve a problem. Wednesdays Stockport is a part of the Proud Trust which is a charity for LGBT youth. The Proud Trust is an organisation that helps young people empower themselves to make a positive change for themselves and their communities.
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During my time at Wednesdays Stockport, we have been involved in some brilliant opportunities. My favourite being the annual pinkbox competition where all LGBT youth groups within the proud trust compete for a £100 cash prize. In the most recent pinkbox competition, we at Wednesdays Stockport created t-shirts to challenge gender neutral uniforms, we also accidently created a mascot, the gender neutral gender newt! Wednesdays unfortunately didn’t win this year however we did win the year before, using our cash prize to take a trip to ‘Awesome Walls’ rock climbing centre! We always love to see new faces at Wednesdays and try to do our best to make everyone feel welcome! We always have a conversation on the go and never do anything boring. So if you’re looking for a place to go to and feel safe to express who you really are then come and join us at Wednesdays Stockport! To get in touch, email me at: AQ161347@aquinas.ac.uk Or email Myrtle at: myrtle.finley@theproudtrust.org
The Proud Trust’s Website
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or years rap and hip hop music has been tarnished by backwards thinking individuals; misogynistic lyrics and racial prejudices have dominated inated its scene for decades – up steps Loyle Carner, a London born artist who is at the forefront in modernising the hip hop genre, whilst creating some stunning music on the way. Having released his first EP in 2014, Loyle has been gathering steam ever since, eventually releasing his debut album, Yesterday’s Gone, in 2017 – a record which was nominated for the Mercury Prize, only just narrowly missing out to eventual winner and fellow South Londoner, Sampha. Having been widely received as a critically acclaimed piece of work, Loyle Carner completed the UK leg of his tour in mid-October, finishing it in the home of music, Manchester. A packed 02 Ritz all gathered to experience this up and coming prodigy take to the stage and perform with such raw emotion and awe inspiring vitality – the energy was palpable. Performing at a pace which left the audience struggling to keep up, those who had come to see the twenty-three year old rapper were treated to a festival of the arts; anecdotes from Loyle’s childhood and some explaining the reasoning behind certain song lyrics, poems written by Loyle’s mum, a figure heavily featured in the rapper’s work, and of course beautifully crafted music derived straight from the heart and soul. It’s easy to forget the power music can have in such a polarised modern-day industry, in particular the power which music lyrics can carry – just one listen to the words in Loyle Carner’s songs will remind you exactly what effect they can have – a truly visceral experience.
Asides from taking the entire hip hop world by storm, Loyle has been gathering mass media attention off the stage too; his incredibly likeable and down to earth persona, coupled with his cheeky charisma makes Loyle a great and entertaining interviewee – a recent sit down with Benjamin Zephaniah for the Independent, being amongst one of the most insightful and captivating interviews I’ve ever seen. And it’s not just on the lyric sheet where Loyle Carner shows great ingenuity. Having been a long-time admirer of vintage football shirts (and actually performing all of his shows with a backdrop of a huge football shirt sporting his name and the number 7), he offered fans the chance to swap their best looking old school style footy shirts for tickets to his shows – a level of engagement which is rarely seen in such a commercialised music world.
But it was at a recent show in Norwich where Loyle gained massive amounts of praise, after he ejected a male audience member who was explicitly sexist towards a female support act. He stated that “it will not be tolerated” and the culprit in question had to “learn a lesson” by being removed from the crowd – a decision which undoubtedly took massive amounts of courage, but luckily it was met with the plaudits it deserved. Loyle Carner is leading the way for a new generation of hip-hop, an era which is breaking away from a stigma of outdated objectifying misogyny; Yesterday’s Gone and tomorrow is Loyle Carner’s for the taking.
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HAWK DANCE THEATRE AND BIGGSY PRODUCES PRESENTS… HANDS ON DANCE PROJECT. Kelley Dawson
Aquinas College was lucky enough to hold a performance by collaborating artists Antony Briggs and Josh Hawkins. This wasn’t your usual sit back and relax performance, it was an immersive, site specific piece; the intended performance space being the outdoor area by the canteen, but due to the rain this was moved indoors to the theatre! The audience were asked to write down a worry or something that was on their mind on a piece of paper, fold it and hand it to the dancers before entering the performance space. The audience then had to wear wireless headsets and stand in the centre of the room. Everyone nervously entered the space and stood in a circle. Not knowing whether the performance had started or not, dancers shuffled around the space, weaving in and out of the anxious audience. Random noises by the dancers were spoken and even shouted into the microphones and it was clear that the audience felt very uncomfortable at this point. As the piece went on a narrative of the struggles and worries of one dancer were expressed to the audience through the headsets. He narrated a scenario about being laughed at by others; a memory from his childhood. As the narration went on the faces and body language of the audience then changed. It was clear to see that people related to the fears and worries that were being expressed by the dancers.
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During the middle of the piece, the dancers spoke out words that had been previously written down by audience members. This expressed the idea, that problems can be shared and one person’s problems may be the same as someone else’s. At the end of the performance the dancers led each audience member from the circle inwards towards the centre of the space, to all join closer together. It was then clear that by this point everyone had relaxed and an unspoken bond could be felt with everyone in the room. The students then took part in a creative session with the dancers, looking at the theme of anxiety and worries in society. The students created some fantastic work and thoroughly enjoyed the whole process.
Applied business students recently visited Chester Zoo. They had a tailor made 50 minute talk on Business Dynamics, for their ďŹ rst module. Then the students enjoyed exploring the park to make observations and do research.
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OPEN EVENTS 2017
In the Autumn we held our annual open events, The purpose is for new and prospective students and their parents to find out more information from the various courses and fantastic facilities that we have here at Aquinas College. The entire College was very busy with students and parents being able to see for themselves what a fantastic range of options there are at Aquinas.
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Our thanks to the Aquinas team for making these wonderful events happen each year.
Helping our students to
#Be More.
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ON JUNE 29TH, THE 2ND ANNUAL AFTAS TOOK PLACE. ... WE CELEBRATED THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT WAS PRODUCED BY OUR MEDIA, FILM & COMMUNICATION & CULTURE STUDENTS. ... THE DEPARTMENT WAS JOINED FOR A SECOND TIME BY OVER 200 STUDENTS WHO CAME TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS. ... WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO TOOK PART AND MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE. KEEP YOUR EYE AT THE BACK OF THE AQ MAG TO SEE A SNEEK PEEK OF THE AFTAS 2018. ...
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BERLIN Divided by politics; united through beauty – no city provides a binary opposite of culture, architecture and lifestyle like Berlin.
No matter how beautifully breath taking the buildings which line Berlin’s skyline are, there will only ever be one winner – der Fernsehturum.
Dissimilar to the majority of Europe’s major cities, Berlin isn’t a concrete jungle of mammoth skyscrapers shadowing the streets below – quite the opposite. Der Tiergarten – Berlin’s gigantic 5.2 km squared park, is the beating heart of this metropolis. Its vast openness provides an abnormally verdant landscape to the German capital, providing the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
This East German television tower was constructed between 1965 and 1996, with it being erected as an attempt to show the strength of communism and a symbol of Berlin by the government in the East at the time. Whilst the latter is its truest purpose today, the irony isn’t lost however, as just below the 368m tower in the Alexanderplatz, you’ll find a plethora of selfie-stick tourists milling around the square – more like a symbol of Berlin and Germany’s transformation into a powerhouse of capitalism.
Originally used for hunting due to its array of wild animals, hence the name which literally translates to ‘animal garden’, this 520 acre playground to arts and culture epitomises the unification of Germany. With its development stagnating until after the fall of the wall, the Tiergarten has been transformed from its gloomy past self, into a hub for picnics and barbecues, it is the home to the Berlin Zoo, and contains some of the city’s best and most prestigious monuments – most notably the Victory Column slap bang in its middle. However, if the sound of boring strolls through parks don’t inspire you and you want to see innovative architecture which will encapsulate your imagination, the Tiergarten is still the place for you to be (I know, it really does have everything). Just south of the park you will find Berlin’s embassy district; a city amongst a city. Home to one hundred and fifty embassies and consulates from around the world, some of the world’s best architects have been commissioned to transform the monotonous homes of diplomats from around the globe, into a spectacle of modern architecture. Mexico’s embassy which provides a mystifying optical illusion is amongst my personal favourites. But, Berlin hasn’t forgotten its roots, and whilst it may be the most cosmopolitan German city, it still possesses some beautiful buildings quintessential to German culture. Whether it’s 15th century relics, like the prestigious and extravagant Berlin Cathedral, or the slightly more mundane but still fascinating architecture in the East of the city, a real symbol of its Socialist past, Berlin isn’t limited when it comes to the buildings which line its street – it really does make every corner turned a new surprise 44 when you look up.
Despite this, the tower is a spectacle for the eyes and if it’s aesthetics aren’t enough from the outside, its revolving viewing platform 650ft in the air will certainly leave your jaw dropped and your eyes gaping. Offering some of the most stunning panoramic views in the world, it even offers a fine dining experience, leaving you spinning in the sky whilst enjoying a delicious meal. Just to warn you though, happy hour is rather early on at 2pm; probably intentional to allow enough time for visitors to descend the whopping 1000 step staircase, but if you feel you couldn’t manage that after a drink (or two, or three), there are lifts so don’t worry. Whatever you plan on doing next after your feet are back on the ground, the likelihood is that you’ll need to use public transport to reach your destination. One of the great things about Berlin is that there are so many different things to do and places to visit; the downside being that the city is huge and very few places are within walking distance. History is something which you will well and truly find in abundance in Berlin: Checkpoint Charlie, East Side Gallery, Karl-Marx Allee, the Berlin Synagogue, Brandenburg Gates and even the more modern Holocaust Memorial are all sites dripping with historical significance, but all for differing reasons, really showing just how varied and dynamic this city is. If you’re interested in learning as much about the aforementioned attractions, then there are plenty of great museums – the DDR museum (DDR meaning
East German Democratic Republic), is perfect for getting an insight into how life was for those living in the East of Germany during its separated period. Whether you want to use it as a form of nostalgia and relive life in the 1980s, or you’re interested in learning about a time before capitalism ruled the majority of the earth, it is a great hands on experience for everybody – just be prepared for plenty of reading! However, if aimlessly trudging around museums doesn’t take your fancy and you just want to see as much of the city as possible, then a sightseeing bus is perfect for you. Don’t be put off by its tourist connotations, because not only is it a great source of transportation across Berlin (as aforementioned it is quite large), but the multi-lingual guided tour offers some really interesting facts for you to take home. Just be sure to check which time the last bus departs from each stop, so you don’t end up getting stranded miles away from your accommodation (yes I have done that before if you were wondering)! Berlin is really an incredible city, one which anybody of any age will thoroughly enjoy, be prepared for plenty of walking, but plenty more spectacular views and magnificent memories. One last thing, whether or not you use the Hauptbahnhof (central train station), make sure you have a look; its myriad of platforms and stunning configuration of symmetrical glass panelled roofing is yet another piece of incredible architecture. German public transport lives up to the country’s stereotype: it’s extremely efficient. The trains on the German U-Bahn (underground rail) are regularly on time and relatively clean, but most importantly they’ll take you wherever you need to go, with stations at all your potential ports of call. Be sure to have plenty of coins however, buying tickets in U-Bahn stations can be stressful if you don’t have the correct change as many foreign chip and pin cards won’t work in the automat machines.
One must see part of Berlin, where using public transport will definitely be necessary, is the majestic cathedral of sport, the Olympia-Stadion. Located in the suburban area of West Berlin, the stadium originally built for the infamous 1936 Olympic Games, the historical temple of sport is located a good twenty-five minutes U-Bahn trip from the centre of Berlin, the stadium itself having its own designated station. Even if you yourself aren’t an avid sports fan, a visit to Central Europe’s answer to Italy’s coliseum, is one of the few remaining visible symbols of the Nazi’s reign over Germany. Commissioned for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, held during the fledgling years of Hitler’s rule, were meant to be a show of strength and power for Germany after the embarrassing defeat during World War 1 and the humiliation suffered from sanctions placed on their military forces; what actually happened still remains one of sport’s biggest ever shocks. Jesse Owens, an African-American track and field athlete from the USA spoilt the party for Hitler and the Nazi’s, who were hoping for a show of dominance from Aryan competitors, as Owens took home four gold medals – a record for a track and field athlete at the time. The Olympia-Stadion, which still possesses a lot of the original stone interior and designs, really conveys a feeling of historical, political and sporting importance, should you experience the arena from the inside. Berlin is really an incredible city, one which anybody of any age will thoroughly enjoy. Be prepared for plenty of walking, but also plenty more spectacular views and magnificent memories. One last thing, whether or not you use the Hauptbahnhof (central train station), make sure you have a look; its a myriad of platforms and stunning configuration of symmetrical glass panelled roofing is yet another piece of incredible architecture.
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celebrating the very best media / film / 2018
tv advertising / best film / editing / photography / creativity / directing /
the aftas
Disclaimer: The materials, views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the creators and do not always necessarily reflect the policy or position of college.