6 News May 2016

Welcome to the May edition of 6News, the exclusive staff magazine, featuring...

New Starters We would like to wish all of our new starters a very warm welcome to Blackpool Sixth. We hope that you are enjoying your first term with us and are settling in well.

Dainius Kacinskas - Performing Arts, Music and Media Luke Wilks - Additional Support Andrew Tobin - Estates

We would like to wish our existing staff who have recently moved into new posts, the best of luck within their new roles.

Lindsay Gates - Finance Manager Michael Waterhouse - Leader of Gifted and Talented Mel Henry - SEND Transition and EHCP Administrator Lorraine Linnett - Curriculum Leader in Science Nicola Kelly - Marketing Officer

Deaf Awareness What is deaf awareness?

It’s about promoting the positive aspects of deafness, to promote social inclusion and raise awareness to all organisations. Most importantly it’s about helping people that are deaf.

Deafness - facts • 1 in 6 people in the UK are affected by hearing loss • 6.5 million of these are aged 60 and over • 3.7 million are of working age • Around 2 million people in the UK have hearing aids • About 800,000 are severely or profoundly deaf • Adults and children who are deaf or hard of hearing face communication barriers which can cause: lack of confidence, isolation, exclusion from society, unemployment, depression.

• Technology and the way we communicate is helping to change this.

Things to remember!

If you meet a deaf person, remember to: • Face the person while you are speaking, do not turn away • Speak clearly without shouting • Repeat yourself if necessary • Never say “it doesn’t matter” • If the person doesn’t understand you, don’t give up!

• Write it down, or draw a picture

Trinity Hospice Blackpool Sixth recently sponsored Trinity Hospice. As a thank you, Trinity sent us their recipe book celebrating 30 years of care within the community. Here is one of those recipes.

Guilt Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Method 1. Grease and line two baking sheets.

2. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees.

Ingredients 3. Mix the vanilla, egg, sugar and oil.

4 tbsp dark brown soft sugar 4. Stir in the flour, soda, cinnamon and ½ cup melted coconut oil salt.

1 ½ cups of oat flour 5. Add the chocolate chips. ½ cup of chocolate chips 6. Chill the cookie dough for 60 minutes. (dark, milk or white) 7. Roll the dough into a 5cm diameter 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda tube.

1 tsp cinnamon 8. Cut off in 1cm slices and arrange on 1 large egg trays.

2 tsp vanilla extract 9. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool Pinch of salt before serving.

Sport Relief Charity Cycle Ride

David Williams & David Pimblett

Carmen Matadigo

Anthony Clark

On the 18th March 2016, the challenge for staff was to cycle 217km (135 miles) between the hours of 8am and 4pm to raise money for Sport Relief. 135 miles is the distance between Blackpool (west coast) and Scarborough (east coast).

This was done in 20 minute slots, and staff were encouraged to choose a slot to suit them. 18 brave athletes put their names forward for what was sure to be a gruelling challenge! Anthony Clark was first on the pedal at 8am and put in a healthy 12.5km within his 20 minute time slot. Throughout the day our amazing team averaged around 11km each, with notable performances from Gary Warner with 17.2km, and a very, very competitive Dave Williams with over 19km.

Staff from many departments contributed during the event and a big thank you goes out to all staff and students who helped raise ÂŁ104.67 on the day.

By the way...Team Blackpool Sixth smashed their target with a massive 267.2km in the 8 hour period. That is the distance from Blackpool to Abingdon in Oxfordshire!

The Punchbowl The Punchbowl Country Pub & Restaurant, have kindly given the college a number of vouchers for use within their restaurant.

The voucher enables you to gain ÂŁ10 off your total food bill, when two people within your party order a starter and a main course.

The Punchbowl, based in Churchtown, Preston, source their ingredients from high quality local producers, every meal is cooked fresh to order and they have won the Highest Quality Accreditation from Taste Lancashire for 5 years running.

To collect a voucher, please visit the HR office (W117).

Staff Consultative Association The college places great importance on staff communications. It aims to keep you well informed and give you the opportunity to communicate your views to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) through various channels; the SCA (Staff Consultative Association) is one of the ways in which we do this. The SCA is representative of all occupational groups of staff employed by the college and matters discussed by the SCA include:

•

• Matters for Union consultation • Other relevant issues affecting staff and the college Employment, human resource policies and working practices • Health and safety matters • Staff reward & recognition programmes • Good practice • New ways of working and programmes of change • Matters relating to external benchmarks and awards • Business strategies Draft SCA Consultation arrangements • Strategic planning

Draft policy etc.

Circulate to SCA reps prior to meeting

SCA reps to consult with members

Place note in weekly with link to policy etc.

SCA reps review individually

Recirculate to SCA

Feedback given to HoD HR or SLT

Recirculate to SCA to agree amendments

Discuss at SCA & determine consultation route & timeframe

Make any amendments

Feedback discussed with SLT

Make any amendments

Publish

Any SCA member can raise matters with SLT and they will have the opportunity to canvass the views of other staff and feed this back before any final decisions are made.

Neil Webster - support staff representative Michael Waterhouse - teaching staff representative

The SCA meets on a half termly basis and the staff representatives will attend the meetings on behalf of the staff they represent. If you have anything that you would like to be discussed, your staff representatives are:

Matthew Jones - ATL Jackie Dunn - NUT Simon Thornhill - NASUWT Tim Bateson - Unison

The Union representatives are:

Show Your Pride Day 2016 “Show Your Pride” day returned to college for the second year on Thursday 21st April. This has become an annual fundraising event organised by the LGBT+ group and was a huge success last year. No pressure then for the current members of the group!

The aim of the day was to raise awareness of LGBT+ issues, celebrate diversity and pride, whilst selling merchandise and cakes to fundraise for a worthy cause.

This year we chose to raise money for The Albert Kennedy Trust who provide support for young LGBT+ people who are homeless or living in a hostile environment.

The Trust originated in 1989 and was named after 16 year old Albert Kennedy who fell to his death from the roof of a car park in Manchester. Albert was a runaway from a children's home and had experienced abuse and rejection from society.

The Trust was established to prevent the same happening to other young lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people. They now have branches in London, Manchester and Newcastle.

So how does the money raised help?

Every donation delivers help to where it's needed most. £15 can provide a young LGBT+ homeless person with a bed for the night. £50 covers the cost of an Emergency Support Pack which includes 3 nights accommodation, bedding, toiletries, food vouchers and travel allowance. £150 covers the cost of providing bedding and towels.

As is customary with fundraisers, the cake stall was an impressive display of a variety of goodies, including a donation of cupcakes from Taylor Shaw. Button badges, rainbow ribbon badges and #ShowYourPride wristbands were also on sale. The photo booth was just as popular, with students and staff quoting what they were proud of. A sexual health information table was provided by the WISH Team, Blackpool, and the event was attended by representatives from Lancashire LGBT, as well as Andrew Noble, a Fylde Community Volunteer. Also joining us this

year were 11 students from Hodgson Academy along with 2 members of staff. All this wrapped up in a party atmosphere!

We were delighted that £160 was raised on the day, plus a further £40 in online donations, giving us a grand total of £200. We thank everyone who helped, attended and donated.

Donations can still be made by going to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ShowYourPride Article by Julie Halliwell.

Success for future doctors and dentists A record number of our students have recently found out that they have been offered much sought-after university places to study medicine and dentistry.

This year eight students have made it through the extremely demanding selection processes used

by UK medical and dental schools. Typically, there are at least ten applicants for each place at these institutions and almost all applicants will be predicted top A level grades. Selection depends not only on the student’s academic profile but also on their success in mind-stretching special admissions tests such as UKCAT and BMAT and their performance in challenging interviews and practical tests.

James Bartholomew, 17, from Cleveleys has been offered a place to read dentistry at Leeds. The former Montgomery High School student commented, “We had to do ‘multi-mini’ interviews which involved nine separate tasks in a short space of time.”

Medical schools are also on the look-out for a track record of extensive volunteering work which will demonstrate applicants’ suitability for the all-important dedication, commitment and people skills needed from future doctors. Conor Jones, 18, from Poulton has an offer of a place to read medicine at Oxford University. Conor, a former Baines School student, worked in a local care home and Seyi Jesusanmi, 18, also from Poulton, who has an offer of a place to study medicine at Durham University (Newcastle Medical School), volunteered for the British Heart Foundation.

Most of the eight students have long held ambitions to enter the medical profession. Francesca Oram, 18, a former Montgomery High School student from North Shore, has the offer of a place at Liverpool Medical School. She has been building up her familiarity with the NHS over the past year through serving as a student governor on the Fylde and Wyre NHS Hospitals Trust board. She also spent part of her summer holiday getting to know a very different healthcare system as a volunteer in a hospital in Thailand. She commented, “Everything was very basic and crowded there. It made me appreciate how modern and well-equipped our hospitals are.”

Rory Pinkney, 17, from Poulton has been offered a place at the Plymouth Medical School. The former Baines School student only recently came to the idea of becoming a doctor. “It was really the inspiration of my A Level Biology teacher- Laura McGuirk. I have really enjoyed the subject especially the parts about human biology.”

Hollie Murray, 18, from Staining, a former Hodgson School student, has been offered a place by Bristol University’s Medical School. Hollie said, “There’s been an incredibly high level of support for us. Catherine, our biology teacher, has given us mock-interviews and helped us with our personal statements.” Fellow doctor-to-be, Rachel Allison, 18, from Carleton has an offer from Liverpool Medical School. The former Baines School student added, “I had lots of help with preparing for the UKCAT selection test and lots of practice interviews. It made a big difference.”

In addition to the seven current second year A level students holding offers of places, Katie Burrell who completed her courses last year and took a ‘gap year’ has now been offered places by all four medical schools she applied for. Katie, 19, from Carleton, a former St. Aidan’s Church of England High School student, reflected, “As someone who will be the first in the family to attend university, and when starting sixth form had no idea how to become a doctor, to have received four unconditional offers to study medicine is still somewhat unbelievable. It really goes to show how the staff went above and beyond, opening my eyes to careers that I had never thought I was capable of before, and then gave relentless support every step of the way.”

Catherine Vance, a curriculum leader in science, who has been teaching the students and helping them with their applications commented, “These successful offers reflect very extensive work by the students, both in terms of academic effort and in terms of community work. Many of them have taken on the role of being ‘health mentors’ at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. They have all juggled a hectic academic workload with work experience and other aspects of their lives.”

The students are aware of the current dispute involving junior doctors in the NHS but are undaunted by it and are hopeful that the present difficulties will be resolved well before they qualify. They are all looking forward to entering this demanding but immensely rewarding profession, helping to safeguard the health of countless future patients.

We have recently further increased our provision to support students seeking to enter the medical professions through the Medical Society which is run as part of the 6Advance gifted and talented programme. This society has been underway since October, working with a group of first year students. The hope is certainly an even greater number of our students will take their first steps towards a coveted career in medicine and dentistry.

DWP Inspiring Young People The DWP Inspiring Young People programme is run by Blackpool Sixth and provides our students with practical advice to help prepare them for the world of work. It provides these students with a link to a public sector employer to gain valuable experience and knowledge of the workplace prior to leaving college. A huge congratulations to the 12 students that successfully completed this programme and to the staff who arranged this, which culminated in a celebration event taking place on 27th April and was attended by various high profile guest speakers and our Principal Jill Gray.

Day in the life of... FYi Good morning The FYi day starts early: 8am. There is always a group of eager students waiting to come in! They are quick to get started, too: heads down, books out, iPads on: they hit the ground running.

First things first!

Shutters up Library system logged in 125 computers switched on Printers fully loaded and ready to go The FYi: a learning area for everyone An essential part of our role is ensuring that students treat the FYi as a learning area and stay focused and on task.

This makes for a calm environment and enables all to study whether it be in the computer or the silent study area. We build good relationships with the students and enjoy many an interesting and engaging conversation. It’s satisfying to see students develop personally throughout the year and come to us for support in all manner of things: Our tagline is ‘Just ask!’ Students will develop their ideas through learning conversations that then lead to identifying books or websites that will support and make sense of their ideas.

This year we are currently offering study skills workshops on various topics such as revision technique, time management, research and resources and stress busting. Several students have already benefitted from these.

In both areas of the FYi we keep up to date information on displays. Our latest one is ‘The Zen Zone’ which includes hints and tips for revision and stress relief, as well as colouring pages which are a proven stress buster. We have raised awareness on many Equality and Diversity matters, and hosted a quiz on National Literacy Day with Dave as our quizmaster.

Lots to do!

Throughout the day, we complete the usual library tasks of issuing and renewing books, shelving books and magazines, issuing laptops and logging and displaying the daily newspapers.

Knowing our students At key points of the academic year we undertake a headcount analysis of each of our learning zones which gives us important information on student engagement, noise levels and even the differences between male and female study patterns. We then use this data to make decisions that will improve the student experience in the FYi. One such decision has been in

Did you know?

For one year only, 1995, May Bank Holiday was moved to the second Monday in May – i.e. from 1 May to 8 May – to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VE Day.

extending the amount of space allocated to silent, individual study: extremely warmly welcomed by students. 90% of all students are engaged with learning. We guide and encourage students who are off-task to get right back on it again.

Help!

We are a one-stop shop for literacy and information literacy, helping students on a daily basis with technical issues, printing queries and advice on where to find the right resources for their subject. We also help with personal statements, student finance, CVs and cover letters, scholarship applications, coursework, EPQ, telephone skills...you name it, we’ll probably know about it.

Tweetastic We keep students informed via our Twitter account, which proved popular during our recent Easter Egg competition. Well, who wouldn't get involved for chocolate! Follow us at @FYiBlackpool6th Extra activities Additionally, several of the FYi staff are responsible for various extra activities including student librarians, LGBT+ group and book clubs. Joining the book club gives students an opportunity to enjoy their reading, maintain a regular reading habit, try new books, and set aside some me-time.

We host Reading for University, Big Read, Manga and Comic Book Clubs. The student librarians, recently rebranded as FYi Assistants, are a valuable extension to our team. As part of our work experience programme, they undergo comprehensive training designed to give them the skills, knowledge and customer focus to deliver outstanding service to their fellow students. They also get involved in individual and group projects which aim to give them additional, useful skills such as project management and communication skills, helping prepare them for university and employment.

The stationery shop at ReFill was an initiative suggested by one of our Student Librarians.The LGBT+ group started a couple of years ago and has gone from strength to strength, embedding a change in culture across the college and connecting with external groups and schools. The group has become part of the 6Xtra programme, and have successfully organised fundraising events for Stonewall and The Albert Kennedy Trust, as well as arranging for guest speakers to celebrate February LGBT History Month.

Standards We keep the FYi an attractive place to be by staying on top of paper stocks, printer maintenance, bin emptying and generally keeping the FYi tidy and litter-free. With over 1300 student visits on average during the week, this is no mean feat.

PS You’d be surprised what we find in the recycling bins, because we certainly are.

The infamous shoe rule We calculated one year how much the loss of ‘borrowed’ stationery cost. At £300 per year, the shoe rule became a thing.

Students often need to borrow stationery such as pens, scissors, and glue, which we are happy to loan, as long as they give us one of their shoes. Why a shoe? Why not a mobile phone or purse or anything else more valuable? A frequent question, to which we reply that no one will forget to return our stationery and walk out without a shoe!

Nighty-night The FYi stays open until 5.30pm, long after the last lesson of the day. This is a good time to work out who the most dedicated students are: if they’re in the FYi still working at this time, we know they’ll do well.

Whoever is on the late rota completes the close down procedure, making sure no students are locked in!

Congratulations & babies Congratulations to all of our new parents within the college.

Danny Dobranski and his partner Kate, welcomed their baby boy, Oliver Leigh. (left) Veronique Daniel and her partner Matthew, welcomed their baby girl, Eléonore. (middle) Stephanie Benson and her husband Phil, welcomed their baby boy, Noah James. (right)

Congratulations to Michael Waterhouse and his husband Jonathon, who got married on the 31st March at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas!

Democracy Award for college We have recently been recognised for the work we are doing to interest young people in politics. We have received a prestigious Discovering Democracy Award. The Discovering Democracy Award is an award for schools and colleges that “create a positive culture of citizenship and democracy, and help develop youth participation in society.” The award is funded by the Cabinet Office and supported by HM Government and celebrates “the success of schools that go further in equipping their students with the skills and knowledge to play a full and active part in society, through high quality teaching, student voice and

social action projects.” A panel of young people and sector experts decide who receives the awards.

Pastoral Lead, David Williams attended the awards ceremony held just before the Easter break at the Houses of Parliament. The presentations were made by John Penrose MP, Minister for Constitutional Reform. We, as a college, have done extensive work with students to promote their participation in democratic politics at all levels. In May last year, we held a large-scale student version of the General Election and a hustings event with candidates from all the major political parties represented. Current and former students often play prominent roles in local and national politics. Recently, former student, Will Burrell was elected as UK Youth Parliament representative for Wyre.

Thank you, and congratulations to all involved!

Forget-Me-Not Suite Blackpool Victoria Hospital held a special event on the 29th April to reveal the newly refurbished Forget-Me-Not Suite. The Forget-Me-Not suite in the hospital’s Delivery Suite of the Women and Children’s Unit has been redesigned in a bid to ease the trauma faced by the women, their partners and family members who need to use it. Women and their partners who have lost their baby after 16 weeks of pregnancy will be cared for in the new look suite. The suite has been able to be redesigned thanks to the fundraising of parents, staff and volunteers.

With the help of staff, students and local businesses in the community we have organised and hosted three Christmas Craft fair events. These events raised awareness of Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity (SANDs) and also raised over £2,500 for the charity to aid with the refurbishment of the Forget-Me-Not suite. The room has been designed to look like a home, with all medical equipment housed making the suite much more comfortable for grieving parents and family members.

Coral Hopkinson, a photography student at the college has also been approached to produce a set of artworks and photographs to be displayed in and outside of the room. Coral had been working closely with SANDs and staff at Blackpool Victoria Hospital for this live brief.

8 habits of successful people Ask yourself a question….

“How would you behave if you were the best in the world at what you do?”

Take action even though you are afraid.

Master fear and just go for it. Your future self will thank you for it.

To be your ‘Best Self” here are 8 essential habits.

Make self-discovery your hobby.

Try new things, be brave. Successful people are brave and take risks. The rewards will be worth it.

Be Aware.

Live in the moment, stay creative, practise mindfulness.

Make a joy plan not just a business plan.

Consider love, joy, freedom and happiness in your everyday life.

Prioritise your physical health.

Ignore this and you will regret it. Great things happen when you feel healthy and energised.

Align yourself with your dreams and desires.

Make a bucket list and actually do the things you have always wanted to do. Follow your dreams.

Grab your self-worth and share your gifts.

If you want to be successful you have to believe you are capable. Rediscover your worthiness.

Wake up and do it all again, no matter what.

Perseverance is the most important step. Do something everyday to take you closer to your goals.

Steve Legge is a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming and is the college Personal Effectiveness Champion. He runs CPD sessions for groups of staff alongside one to one coaching sessions. He is also delivering ‘Managing Stress sessions to classes of students in the run up to exams.

Strategies for a stress-free summer term Ice creams, flip-flops, BBQs and butterflies are some of the best bits this time of year has to offer. As summer approaches and teachers begin to dream of long holidays in the sun, far away destinations and lazy lie-ins, students begin to feel the pressure heating up!

How can we help students to minimise any anxiety and stress through this gruelling exam period?

Motivation is vital and we need to understand how motivation is achieved in our students, to help them achieve success and build resilience at this crucial time of year.

Students need to value the effects of achieving their desired goal and they need to believe they can get there! This is where we come in; building confidence and self-esteem is paramount and something we do daily through feedback and skills development. Helping young people remain focused on their next steps is often vital to prevent students from losing their motivation. Reminding them of the importance of career aspirations, UCAS points, CV profiles and references are some ways of keeping them focused. Those students with clear goals of progression after college will often exceed those with a less clear objective.

Once we have the drivers in place to motivate students, we can begin to look at strategies to minimise stress at this important time of year.

1.

Model excellent behaviour.

We all know a ‘Mood Hoover’ – modelling behaviour is so effective and can change the atmosphere in any staff room or classroom – so be a radiator, not a drain! If you appear stressed the students will emulate that stress and this is extremely counterproductive.

2.

Planning and preparation.

Teaching students how to use time effectively with revision plans and timetables works wonders to keep pressure at bay. When students can see what they have to do, when and where they are going to do it, they begin to realise that seemingly overwhelming tasks are manageable.

3. Ensure revision materials and resources are user friendly.

Check how your students use the materials you provide for them. How often do they access these valuable materials? Completing a student voice survey on how they use resources will give you an indication as to how useful they are. We all know how much time we spend preparing these resources but if they are not being used or you do not know how they are being used, then how can you justify the time spent creating them? Don’t presume because you put a resource in a Google file that they use it! Check, check, check – get feedback, evaluate and amend. Each cohort is different and may need slightly different revision approaches. Revision tools could be: revision booklets; PowerPoints; workshops; flashcards; posters; mobiles; notes; past paper booklets; marked essay feedback; exemplars; peer reflection; examiners reports; hard copies and electronic copies of resources to allow access from different student styles.

4. Check students’ files and notes are adequate.

Often this is where the most inconsistencies appear - particularly in AS/A2. Having regular checks on student files, with checklists, peer evaluations and sharing good practice, can ensure that before the study period students have the right resources they need in their own files. Don’t presume that students know how to take notes – this is a skill and we need to teach them how to do this effectively, with examples.

5.

Keep revision classes fun and engaging to maximise attendance and effectiveness.

There are lots of ways that you could invigorate revision sessions. Why not try:

• • • • •

Having fun activities such as a group quiz, to add an element of competition Switching teachers to bring a new dynamic Student-led revision sessions Moving rooms or location to keep things fresh ‘Themed’ revision

These strategies can work to increase productivity in revision sessions. Challenge poor attendance, even if they have 1 week before they finish college, let them know you care about them enough to chase them and that their success matters to you! Sometimes, this can be enough to keep a student motivated and feeling supported to achieve. Good luck!

"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary” Article by Lucinda Campbell

Through the keyhole This dwelling is a fine example of 18th Century architecture. Built in 1780 this is your typical 'chocolate box' cottage - a mix of rustic and modern design. The countryside, interior design and caring for animals are obviously very important to the person who lives here. A pair of rescued exbattery hens suggest this person is all about second chances and wanting the best for those around them. There is an interesting collection of books so whoever lives here is probably a keen reader and possibly into travelling. In addition there's plenty of room for family and friends and a footpath to the beach. So, who lives in a house like this?

10 accidentally vegan foods Want to try eating a plant-based diet? Here are my top ten products that will help you swap over. They’re not superhealthy, but then a few treats won’t do any harm. All of these products are available in supermarkets, which will make your shopping really easy.

Top ten products that shouldn’t be vegan, but are: 1. Bisto Gravy Granules Yep, not even a sniff of animal ingredients! I know, right? That roast dinner is still on the menu. This Pinterest page is full of delish ideas: https://uk.pinterest.com/saireybearey/veganroast-dinner/ 2. Oreos Yep, these are a thing. Not all varieties of Oreos are vegan, but these babies definitely are. There is a God. 3. HP Sauce Britain’s favourite, and also mine. Nobody believes me, but this is GREAT on baked beans. Linda McCartney veggie sausages cooked on a griddle pan (they taste barbecued when you cook them like this) make for a great weekend breakfast when accompanied by HP. 4. Walker’s Prawn Cocktail crisps Not a prawn in sight. A lot of crisp flavours, especially the meat ones, don’t contain any animal products at all. Cheesy flavours do mostly contain dairy, although these are vegan: You can find them in the ethnic food section in Tesco, and also in Poundland (2 bags for, obviously, a pound!)

5. Hartley’s Glitter Jelly This is all kinds of wrong, but still vegan. Most jellies are made with gelatine, but this show-stopper is great for kids who eat veggie or halal.

6. Red Thai Curry Paste I absolutely love Thai food, but many ingredients contain shrimp or fish sauce. This paste doesn’t - if you love cooking from scratch, this is excellent.

Did you know?

Prior to 1834, the Bank of England observed approximately 33 saint’s days or religious festivals and took them as holiday.

7. Betty Crocker cake mixes This is great if you’re in a hurry! The instructions require you to add eggs and oil to mix, but actually all you need is a can of fizzy pop. Yep just 330ml of soda water, lemonade (or Coke for dark cake mixes) will do the trick. Supermarket own-brands of cake mix are likely to be vegan, too - just check the ingredients for eggs, lactose, milk, or whey.

8. Tesco Free From Choc Sticks These should be called I-Can’t-Believe-They’reNot-Magnums. Say hello to your new best friend.

9. Beer You might be surprised to learn that not all alcoholic drinks are vegan, despite the fact they’re all made from plants. Many have been treated with gelatine or isinglass (made from the swim bladders of fish: whoever discovered this had WAY too much time on their hands) to remove brewing residues, making drinks unsuitable for vegetarians, let alone vegans. But take heart! Barnivore.com will help you choose your booze wisely - and Marks and Sparks and the Co-op label most of their drinks.

10. Goody Good Stuff This brand knocks Haribo out of the park. If you or your children love jelly sweets, this is the one to go for. There are lots of flavours available, but the cola bottles are awesome. The company is based in Morecambe, so buying these supports local business, as well as reducing your carbon footprint.

So there you have it. Moving to a plant-based diet is probably easier than you think: the Free From sections in supermarkets are well worth exploring for everyday items. For example, look out for egg-free mayo and salad cream, Alpro ready-made custard, and dairy-free Sacla Pesto - they are indistinguishable from the originals, so fussy eaters can be placated! Enjoy!

Did you know?

Although summer doesn’t officially begin until June, May Day really marks its beginning.

May Day celebrations have their origins in the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of fruit and flowers, which marked the beginning of summer. It was held annually from 28th April to 3rd May.

Health benefits to rock climbing What is rock climbing?

Rock climbing was originally used by experienced climbers to practise skills needed for scaling difficult sections of a mountain. By the 1980s it had evolved into a globally popular leisure pursuit in its own right, practised indoors and out with many variations.

Who can do rock climbing?

Almost anyone can rock climb. At beginner level, it caters for people of all ages, fitness levels and abilities, including mental and physical impairments. Despite its image as an athletic sport, you don’t need to be super-fit to rock climb. Good technique is more important than physical strength, although the more you climb the stronger and fitter you will become. Good footwork, body positioning and problem solving will get you up many more climbs than just brute strength.

What muscles are worked?

Climbing uses lots of muscle groups, both in the upper and lower body. Your back, abdominal and leg muscles all get exercised as well as your fingers, shoulders and arms. Regular climbing can improve stamina as well as muscle strength. In addition, all the reaching and stretching for holds improves flexibility and agility.

What skills are developed?

Each climbing route is like a puzzle, which requires patience, planning and analysis to complete. Over time, regular rock climbing can help develop concentration, determination and problem-solving skills.

The amount of goals you can set yourself is limitless; setting yourself goals and meeting them gives you a great sense of achievement, which in turn can help build everyday self-confidence.

Rock climbing has a very social component because you’re never alone. You’ll either be climbing with a group of friends, schoolmates, colleagues or family.

Rock climbing and mental health Evidence shows that physical activity of any kind can help people with depression. Some scientists think that being active can help improve well being because it brings about a sense of greater self-esteem, self-control and the ability to rise to a challenge.

Rock climbing reduces stress by increasing levels of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter in the body that aids in releasing stress. Climbers often become immersed in the flow of the activity enabling them to become consumed in the activity of reaching, climbing and leaping, creating a sense of ecstasy.

For a lot of people, climbing allows you to escape everyday worries and just focus on the climb. Sport England’s Active People Survey results show that most people say they participate for the social aspect.

You develop strong friendships with your climbing partners due to the level of trust involved and through sharing challenges and experiences.

Staff rock climbing sessions are held every Thursday at 5pm, in the Sports Hall.

Flexible working There are a number of staff across college that already benefit from flexible working. Flexible working can help support staff in maintaining good health and well-being and help maintain a healthy work/ life balance. Requests are made for many reasons such as pre-retirement, childcare and study commitments.

Flexible working requests aren’t just for reducing your hours, you can request changes to your work pattern and request increased hours as well. There are a number of other options that you could consider requesting.

A flexible working request form should be completed and as a guide, requests should be made at least 3 months before you would like the change to come into effect. You will then be invited to a meeting with your line manager, SLT link and a HR representative (you are entitled to bring representation too).

In this meeting you will be able to discuss your request and run through your thoughts on how the request would work and the impact it would have on the college, you would then get a decision in writing within 14 days.

The college considers each request on its own merits and the specific business needs in your area are taken into consideration. Where possible college will agree the request or offer an alternative. Where it is is not possible to approve a request the reasons will be explained.

For more details, or an initial chat about your options, please contact Curtis Jackson in HR.

Did you know?

In 1834 the number of bank holidays were reduced to four: 1st May (May Day), 1st November (All Saints’ Day), Good Friday and Christmas Day.

A fond farewell We would like to wish Amanda Pickup our Finance and HR Director a fond farewell as she moves on to pastures new. Specifically the very picturesque pastures of The Wordsworth Trust who Amanda will be joining as their Finance Director.

Amanda joined the college in 2005 as the Head of Finance and her skills were very quickly recognised as shortly after in 2007 she became a member of the Senior Leadership Team as the Director of Finance and more recently HR. Amanda has been described by many as calm, reassuring and knowledgeable. She has been at the helm of the financial ship steering college through choppy waters and has done so admirably. Thus she has ensured that the financial health of the college has been outstanding for many years and she leaves us in the best possible position for the coming years where the purse strings are becoming ever tighter!

Amanda has done this through her diligent approach and her very composed manner even when she has had to reign her colleagues in with regard to their spending habits!

Not only has Amanda been successful here at the college, she was also part of a team of college staff (Sixth Formation) who entered Eggheads and were featured on the show. Although the team were not overall winners, Amanda won her category - Geography.

We wish Amanda every success and happiness in her new role. She will be greatly missed at the college.

Physical Sciences Awards Resident scientist from BBC TV’s ‘The One Show’, Marty Jopson, was the guest of honour at Physical Sciences Awards on 12th April at the college.

The awards celebrated the achievements of young scientists from schools and colleges across the Fylde Coast. Over 50 separate awards were given out at the glittering event, with winners spanning an age range of nine to eighteen.

The event is part of the science department’s hugely successful partnerships with The Ogden Trust which promotes interest in physics amongst young people and with the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Following the handing out of the awards, Marty delivered a thrilling whistlestop tour through the history of electricity entitled “Snap, Crackle and Pop”. His enthralling talk, bursting with astonishing experiments, had the young people, parents and teachers gripped. Highlights included a giant static electricity generator spitting out metal cups and a million volt Tesla coil playing the Star Wars theme.

The awards evening was the culmination of another successful partnership that we have with local schools, supported by the Ogden Trust and the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Recently over one thousand Fylde Coast school children have participated in physics roadshows, facilitated by Mhairi Mitchison and assisted by A Level Physics students. Also in recent months, we have hosted a chemistry day for schools all over Lancashire organised by the college’s resident Royal Society of Chemistry education co-ordinator Charlotte Still and the organisation, STEM First.

Through the key hole - answer Did you guess right?

This beautiful home belongs to Emma Beesley of the English and Modern Foreign Languages Department.

Special Birthdays The following members of staff recently celebrated, or are due to celebrate a special birthday soon: Dave Pyatt Daniel Dobranski Chrissie Turkington Alexandra Taylor Sarah Swift Happy Birthday to you all!

Forthcoming events

Please come and support our staff and students at this year’s Summerevent.

Contact our friendly Event Co-ordinators, Nicola Kelly or Emma Lund for information and tickets on events@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk.

blackpoolsixth.ac.uk

01253 394911

enquiries@blackpoolsixth.ac.uk

Blackpool Sixth, Blackpool Old Road, Blackpool, FY3 7LR .