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Month: March 2023

Head of school’s Blog – 24 March 2023

Written by Lora Shephard on . Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

24 March 2023

Thank you to those of you who attended our Parent Voice meeting in school this week. It is always good to hear how the parent/carers of our students feel about Carisbrooke College, how their child is progressing, what we are doing well and any improvements that we could make.

Next Wednesday we have our Spring Concert. This is a free event and open to all. Please come along and enjoy performances from students of all years.

Next week is our last day of term before the Easter holidays. We will be having a mufti day on Friday 31 March. All proceeds will go towards a trip to South Korea which some of our students are attending as part of their Scout group.

Next week will be a normal working week in school, Monday to Thursday students are expected to be in full school uniform. School will finish at the normal time on Friday 31 March at 3.10 pm.

Have a lovely weekend

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Head of school’s Blog – 24 March 2023

Written by Lora Shephard on . Posted in HoS Blog - MC, Medina College.

24 March 2023

Thank you to all parents/carers who came to the Parent Voice meeting this week. It is great to have your thoughts as a parent body. One of the the topics this time was student reports and this is part of our review of our reporting system.

Next week we will be holding our celebration assemblies, which we all enjoy. Students are constantly working towards the various ASPIRE certificates and badges so it will be great to see the students being rewarded for their achievements. The six areas that are rewarded are Ambition, Success, Progress, Inspiration, Respect and Equality.

Next Wednesday we have our Federation Spring Concert. This is being held at Carisbrooke College in the Hall. Doors open at 6.30 pm, where refreshments will be available, ready for a 7.00 pm start.

I hope you have a good weekend

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Year 10 Basketball Winners

Written by Lora Shephard on . Posted in Medina College, News - MC.

Year 10 Basketball Winners

Year 10 have been very busy lately! Our Year 10 Basketball team played in a tournament on Tueesday. They played the first game against a well drilled CTK team and took an early 4 point lead however CTK grew into the game and scored some great baskets to win 7-4. 

Medina then played Cowes in the second game and created many opportunities but couldn’t capitalise. The scores were close and Caiden G hit an awesome 3 pointer to win the game for Medina 5-4. 

The third game was against a strong Bay team. Medina started the game excellently taking an early 7 point lead. The Bay struck back with a couple of baskets of their own but Medina held on to win 9-4. 

The final game was against Carisbrooke. Medina came out on top in a tight contest winning 6-4.  

With three teams winning three games and losing one a Penalty shootout competition was done to decide the final standings. Caiden G and George B scored theirs to win the competition for Medina. 
Well done!

Yr 10 Basketball team with their winners medals and trophy – Caiden, Jaymee, George H, Ryan, Keoni. Missing from pic – George B and Eesa.


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Athens Trip

Written by Lora Shephard on . Posted in News - VI, The Island VI Form.

Athens Trip

Island VI Form students have returned from an unforgettable Classical Civilisations trip to Greece – with an unexpected bonus extra day for extra measure!

Thirty A Level students travelled to Athens to support their studies in history, literature, tourism, art and politics, three years after the original trip had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. They enjoyed a guided tour of the Acropolis, including the world heritage sites of the Parthenon, Erechtheion and Ancient Agora on a beautifully sunny day. This was followed by a trip to the mountains to walk up through the sanctuary at Delphi, which was once the base for the oracle at the Temple of Apollo.

Listening to Mr Stott in the Tomb of Agamemnon

Due to unforeseen circumstances the group had to stay an extra day in Greece, and they took the opportunity for a rare visit to the Bronze Age citadel at Mycenae. Once home to Agamemnon before he set sail for the Trojan War, the students explored the 3,500 year old site, including the shaft graves and beehive tomb. During the week away, VI Form students also managed to visit the National Archaeological Museum, Corinth Canal, the towns of Arachova and Nafplio, and took the funicular up to enjoy the views of Athens at the top of Mount Lycabettus. They were accompanied by History and Classics teachers Miss Lowthion, Mr Stott and Mr Corner.

Miss Lowthion told us that “the trip was an incredible adventure for our young people, some of whom had never been abroad before. Our Classical Civilisation students have been studying these ancient sites for many months but to explore them first hand is invaluable for their learning. It was such a pleasure to spend a week with our students, and share this exciting cultural experience with them all.”

On their return the students commented that “the architecture was interesting… the sheer scale of the walk to the temple at Delphi was a favourite… and the trip was a great success!”

  • The Parthenon

  • Temple of Apollo at Delphi

  • The Lion Gate, Mycenae

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The Solomon Theatre Company

Written by Lora Shephard on . Posted in Carisbrooke College, News - CC.

The Solomon Theatre Company

Last week, Year 10 took part in a production and subsequent workshops from The Solomon Theatre Company, the production was entitled The Power of Love.

The play explored exploitation, abuse, cyber safety and the significance of healthy relationships, respect, equality, trust and goodwill. After the production, students were then given the opportunity to take part in a question and answer workshop, where the actors assumed their characters and were able to ask questions which questioned the behaviours which had been exhibited by the characters.

This was kindly funded by a legacy from the Isle of Wight Quakers.

Year 10 students said…

“The play was well done and although personally I could not relate to any of the issues, I could see how it might affect others. It made me feel a bit angry and also sad that people can treat others like this.”

“The play got to me personally especially when the actor playing the abuser hit the female actor which made me feel really sad and emotional, just because she was not doing what he wanted her to do.”


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The Solomon Theatre Company

Written by Lora Shephard on . Posted in Medina College, News - MC.

The Solomon Theatre Company

Last week, Year 10 took part in a production and subsequent workshops from The Solomon Theatre Company, the production was entitled The Power of Love.

The play explored exploitation, abuse, cyber safety and the significance of healthy relationships, respect, equality, trust and goodwill. After the production, students were then given the opportunity to take part in a question and answer workshop, where the actors assumed their characters and were able to ask questions which questioned the behaviours which had been exhibited by the characters.

This was kindly funded by a legacy from the Isle of Wight Quakers.

Year 10 students said…

“The play was well done and although personally I could not relate to any of the issues, I could see how it might affect others. It made me feel a bit angry and also sad that people can treat others like this.”

“The play got to me personally especially when the actor playing the abuser hit the female actor which made me feel really sad and emotional, just because she was not doing what he wanted her to do.”



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Head of School’s Blog – 17 March 2023

Written by Lora Shephard on . Posted in HoS Blog - VI, The Island VI Form.

17 March 2023

Dear Students, Parents & Carers

Our Library is going to be refurbished and upgraded, with work starting on Monday. We will be adding more computers in on the left hand side and making the right hand side more of a classroom / conference room. Building work has to start before the end of term, so that the spaces are ready for the exam season that is fast approaching. Sorry for any inconvenience caused in the short term, no teaching will be impacted.

We are holding a virtual Year 12 Parents’ evening on Thursday 30 March, all appointments are booked online and details will be shared on Monday. Please follow the instructions in the email. Some Year 13 parents will receive an invitation to book appointments if their child is studying a combination of Year 12 and Year 13 classes.

30 students and 3 members of staff have been away this week in Athens, I’m sure they have a wonderful trip and we will hear more about it once they return.

GKN Aerospace are giving a talk to interested Year 13 students on Tuesday 21 March about post A Level opportunities and apprenticeships that they have coming up, full details and the sign up form are on the Student Services Hub.

We will soon be advertising revision sessions that are running over the Easter break, remember revision resources (flash cards etc.) are available from reception and Student services. Staff are also running revision support after school and again details are on Student Services Hub. Statements of entry for the summer examinations are available from Student services, please check these carefully – the details must be correct.

Remember that we recommend that the creation of your revision materials should be completed by the end of the Easter break, so that you can repeatedly go over these resources and burn the knowledge into your long term memory, no one can do this for you.

Have a nice weekend.

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Head of School’s Blog – 17 March 2023

Written by Lora Shephard on . Posted in HoS Blog - MC, Medina College.

17 March 2023

A very creative based Head’s update from me this week.

Year 11 Food and Nutrition students have been creating culinary delights in their practical exam this week. The quality of their food has been truly outstanding.

Schools across the Island were invited to contribute to an upcoming exhibition, in collaboration with the Partnership for Education, Attainment & Children’s Health (PEACH). Year 8, 9 and 11 students from our schools have entered a number of exciting pieces, ranging from printmaking, wire work, mixed media and photography. This is being displayed in the Clayden Gallery at the Quay Arts, Newport. and will run from Saturday, 18 March to 8 April. Please do go and support our incredibly creative students!

Also celebrating creative activities, as a bit of advanced warning, we have our Federation Spring Concert being held at Carisbrooke College on Wednesday 29 March, 6.30 pm for 7.00 pm start. Please make a note of this in your diaries.

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Head of school’s Blog – 17 March 2023

Written by Lora Shephard on . Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

17 March 2023

It has been an unusual week in school with having two days of just our year 11 students in the building. They have been an absolute pleasure. Thank you to year 7-10 students who logged onto Google Classroom to access any lessons taking place on these days.

Next Tuesday at 6.00 pm we have our Parent Voice meeting in school. This is open to all parents and is our second one this year. All parents/carers of Carisbrooke students are welcome.

As you will see further in the newsletter, some of our students’ work is being exhibited at Quay Arts in Newport from Saturday 18 March to 8 April. Please go along and view this great work.

Have a lovely weekend

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