OFSTED OUTSTANDING SINCE 2008
Our top performing Year 13 students are: Did You Know?
Newsletter 02 - September 2013
facts, news, achievements
Thomas Willemsen (2 A* 3 B) who will be studying Physics at Warwick University Jack Bellerby (3A* 1A) who will be studying Medicine at UCL Lucy Skelt (3A 1B) who will be studying Biomedical Science at Cardiff Ben Hamer (1A* 2 A) who will be studying Biomedical Science at Cardiff
Focus on Year 7:
Focus on Art:
Welcome I would like to take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to both the students, parents and carers of year 7 to FCC. On the first day of school year 7 students arrived looking very smart, well done everyone for ensuring that everyone was well equipped and wearing the correct uniform. The students have had a very busy start to the school year last Tuesday when they had the school almost to themselves. They started with an assembly followed by form tutor photos, tours of the school, a fire drill and a mini project to make video diaries on our Bloggie Video cameras. After lunch they were all introduced to the senior management team who were also very impressed by both their behaviour and their enthusiasm. Year 7 have settled in very well this week quickly finding their way around and familiarising themselves with college routines. Both I and their tutors are very proud of the way they have taken the big step into Secondary school in a mature and independent manner.
Celebrating top achievers in Art GCSE and A level
Year 7 Enrichment Week 23rd-27th September We are now looking forward to Year 7 Enrichment Week starting on 23rd September when they will visit a Temple in Neasden, go on their first Geography field trip and have a residential at the Court Hill Centre. It will be fun for both their tutors and I to spend the week getting to know Year 7 in a more informal setting where we will be engaged in lots of team building activities.
The Art department would like to congratulate the 2013 GCSE and A level students for all of their hard work and commitment in this subject. The Art department are very proud to announce students at FCC gained 83% A –C at GCSE and 100% A –C at A2. We would like to dedicate this page to the top achievers in Art at Key stage 4 and 5. Top achieving students at GCSE
Georgia Stevens
Rachel Hopkins
Open Evening 3rd October Open Evening is when you will have the opportunity to come and have a look around the school and meet many of our staff. We will need a number of year 7 volunteers to show people round the college and tell them about their first few weeks here. If your child can come they need to get a letter containing a parental permission slip from their form tutor. Tutor Group Challenge This Monday saw the launch of the tutor Group challenge where year 7 tutor groups will compete against each other in a series of challenges in order to win a shield at the end of the year. The first challenge is about assembly routines; each tutor group will get points for punctuality, lining up in the correct place, good behaviour and tidy uniform. Good luck everyone.
Chloe Noke
Beth Clarke
After School Enrichment Clubs In the next couple of weeks your child should bring home a booklet containing all of the extra-curricular activities that the college offers. There is a huge variety of clubs on offer and hopefully there will be something of interest to each year 7 student. There will be late buses taking students home on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays so that students can stay and take advantage of this brilliant selection of opportunities. Look out for the booklet.
Lauren Scott
Once again well done year 7 for the fantastic start. John Paglinawan
Mrs Thomas and the Year 7 Tutor Team
continued ...
HOW TO CONTACT US AT FCC Telephone: 01367 240628/240375
Fax: 01367 242356
Email: office@fcc.oxon.sch.uk
Email: studentservices@fcc.oxon.sch.uk
Faringdon Academy of Schools, a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales. Company Number 7977368. Registered Office: Faringdon Academy of Schools, Fernham Road, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7LB
Focus on Art continued ... Year 12 and Year 13
Sophie Ridley
Madeleine Wellham
Photography A level Miss Thomas would like to congratulate Jonathan Smith for being the first student to achieve photography A level at FCC!
A huge well done to the following year 7 students for completing outstanding art work during the holiday: Jamie England 7 JAD, Lauren Froud 7SK, Kitty Marlow 7SFS, Leia Godfrey 7SFS and Isabel Dharmasiri 7AH.
Year 11 - A big thank you to all parents/guardians Thank you very much for the fantastic start we have had with our Year 11 students in terms of uniform and positive attitude to their studies. Your support is so important for success, and I hope they appreciate all you do for them. Once again, thank you. Mr Sanderson
College in Action Mornings Monday 7th – Friday 11th October 9.30-11am This is an opportunity to have a tour of the school during lesson times. If you are interested, please contact the main reception for further details.
OPEN EVENING Thursday October 3rd 5.30-8pm This is an open invitation for you to look around the college, see displays, examples of work and talk to staff or students. The college will close at 1.15pm to allow staff and students to set up displays and prepare presentations. Buses have been booked for 1.30pm, although students are welcome to stay for the afternoon session to assist staff.
Theme for the week commencing 16th September TARGETS & AMBITIONS
UNIFORM CONSULTATION Dear Parent/Guardian The governing body would like us to review the school uniform at Faringdon Community College. As part of the process we are having a consultation with all its stakeholders, and if there are any changes they will be implemented in September 2014. It is therefore important that we gather the views of all our parents, students and teachers, before we make any decisions. If you would like to share your views on the current uniform or would like to make suggestions for any changes, please use the following e-mail address. uniform@fcc.oxon.sch.uk Can I thank you in anticipation for your involvement in this process and I will keep you informed if there are any developments. Mr C Proffitt Deputy Headteacher
I hope you like the ‘new style’ newsletter. Our aim is to keep you much more informed about what the students are learning and, alongside this, be more up front in the celebration of individual student achievements. If you have any comments about the ‘new style’, please email them to the school. office@fcc.oxon.sch.uk
Year 7 – Local study of Faringdon
Annual Golf Challenge 2013 Wednesday 25th September Open to all students in Y8-Y13 (Maximum 30 students) Entry Fee £10 Members £3 Please get your entry form from Sharon Talbot in the Main Office.
Year 11 and 10 ICT Catch Up Sessions Those students who are missing coursework or controlled assessment tasks will be asked to attend sessions as outlined below. Now until October half term Week A
Week B
Monday Lunchtime IT2 Drop In session Mrs Sherriff
Tuesday Lunchtime IT2 Drop in session Mrs Sherriff
Tuesday After School IT2 Unit 21 / Unit 1 / Option Units (year 11) Mr Spoors / Mrs Sherriff
Wednesday After School IT1 R002 (year 10) Ms Williams
These are supported sessions offered by the IT Teaching Team and you need to take action now to catch up on missing work! Of course you can also complete work as homework and bring it in for assessment. Remember your ICT course counts as a GCSE graded A*-C and can make a real difference to your end of year 11 results and future prospects.
Dates: • Monday 23rd September – 7SFS • Tuesday 24th September – 7JN and 7AH • Thursday 26th September – 7JR and 7JAD • Friday 27th September – 7SK and 7AHO As part of the Enrichment Week all year 7 students will be taking part in a Geography fieldtrip in the local area. Students will be studying the local area and partaking in an orienteering activity at the Folly. A walking tour of Faringdon will give students a first-hand experience of the local environment and will provide them with an insight into geographical fieldwork techniques. The data collected on the tour will be used in the classroom for follow-up work. We intend that all students in Year 7 will take part on the tour. We will be out in the local environment all day from 9am to 3pm. Students will need to come to school suitably clothed, preferably in trousers with stout walking shoes or trainers, a waterproof coat and appropriate layers. School uniform will not be worn. Students should bring a suitable bag to carry their packed lunch, clipboard, pencil case and a plastic bag to sit on when eating their lunch. Students eligible for free school meals will need to speak to the school canteen to arrange a lunch prior to departure. If your child has an injury that prevents them from undertaking a long distance walk, or if you have any queries please contact me at the school. D Twycross dctwycross@fcc.oxon.sch.uk Head of Geography
The IT & Computing Teaching Team FARINGDON HEALTH CENTRE DISPENSARY APPRENTICESHIP The Doctors at Faringdon Health Centre are looking for a bright and enthusiastic young person to train both in Dispensary and in administration, learning how the practice works and spending time learning how to operate the telephone and computer systems and gaining confidence in dealing with patients. This is a great opportunity to gain dispensary qualifications which means that you could work in any dispensing doctors or any chemist or pharmacy countrywide. You could also further your education to a higher level once you have completed the NVQ Level 2. If you are interested and would like to find out more please contact the Practice Manager, Caroline Beaney, on 01367 245405 or email her on caroline.beaney@nhs.net. Tina Belcher, Careers Adviser
Please could all of last year’s Y11 Art GCSE and A Level students collect their work as soon as possible. Miss Robins
Equipment Checklist: • Sensible and comfortable clothing - students should not come in school uniform • Sensible footwear - we will be walking approximately four miles • Packed lunch with drink • Raincoat • Plastic bag to sit on • Pencil and a pen • Clipboard (if you have one - we will provide if not)
Iceland Trip Meeting Tuesday 17th September at 6pm We are hoping that parents of students on the Iceland trip in October will be able to attend our pre-trip meeting next Tuesday at 6pm in the main hall. Mr Twycross
PARKOUR/FREERUNNING LEADERSHIP COURSE Sunday 22nd SEPTEMBER 9am – 5pm VENUE: The Pump House Project, Swan Lane, Faringdon SN7 7Af COST: £5 payable to King Alfreds School Bring your own lunch There are limited places for this course – first come. First served; names and cheques to Mrs Kenyon AGE: 13 +
National
Cupcake week
16th – 22nd September
week commencing 16th September
Delicious Homemade Cupcakes to Tempt & Excite You! 60p each Monday Strawberry & Cream Dream Tuesday Salted Caramel Wednesday Chocolate & Mint Thursday Carrot & Orange Friday Apple Crumble 5p from each sale goes to MacMillan Cancer Support
SAVE THE DATE YEAR 11 BALL COTSWOLD WATER PARK, FOUR PILLARS HOTEL Friday 27th June 2014 (more information to follow)
Whats happening @ FCC September 19th Y7 Parents’ meeting, 5.30pm (Enrichment Week) 23rd Y7 trip to Neasden 23rd Y7 Geography fieldtrip 24th Y7 Geography fieldtrip 25th Y7 trip to Neasden 25th Golf challenge 26th Y7 Geography fieldtrip 27th Y7 Geography fieldtrip October 1st Citizenship Day 3rd Open Evening 7-11th College in Action sponsored by
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Car Comi Wash ng S oon
Car Wash in aid of the Fire Fighters Charity. Faringdon Fire Station. Saturday 21st September. 10am to 4pm. Drinks and cakes also available.
;gZZ 8Vg LVh]! kdajciVgn YdcVi^dch lZaXdbZ The Fire Fighters Charity Level 6 Belvedere Basing View Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 4HG
t: 01256 366 566 w: www.firefighterscharity.org.uk e: info@firefighterscharity.org.uk Royal Patron Her Majesty The Queen Charity Reg No. 1093387 Charity Registered in England & Wales (1093387) and Scotland (SC040096)
Royal Patron: Her Majesty the Queen