Month: February 2024

Annual Basketball Tournament

Written by Gemma Long on February 26, 2024. Posted in Carisbrooke College, News - CC.

Annual Basketball Tournament

On Tuesday 20 February, our year 11 boys basketball team took part in the annual basketball competition at Medina College. In their first game, they took on local rivals and home team Medina and in what was a very tight affair, Carisbrooke managed to sneak through winning the game by one point, thanks to a three pointer from Ashton.

In the second game, Carisbrooke carried on their positive start and beat The Bay (current defending champions) 8-2 thanks to some more impressive scoring from Ashton and solid defence from Harry, Alfie and Louis.

The third game saw a change of venue in the shape of a smaller court which would account for Alfies three point shot which went over the top of the backboard, but in the end Ryde Academy were stronger throughout and more consistent on the rebounding and scoring and eventually took a convincing 13-3 win.

Due to other results, Carisbrooke still had a chance to win the tournament if they beat Cowes in their final game. The game proved to be another close encounter with some excellent play from Matthew and Charlie and the rest of the team chipping in with good all round play. Unfortunately, the final score saw Cowes win 4-0 and, as a result, any chance of winning the tournament for Carisbrooke was gone.

Overall, the boys did very well and maybe surprised themselves with how close they came in the end. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the boys for taking part and to make a special mention to Charlie and Ashton for being a constant positive contribution to basketball at Carisbrooke over the last five years. I am sure they will make the Carisbrooke Hall of Fame someday.

Mr Peake.

Head of School’s Blog – 23 February 2024

Written by Gemma Long on February 23, 2024. Posted in HoS Blog - MC, Medina College.

Head of School’s Blog – 23 February 2024

I would like to start off by wishing you all a warm welcome back after half term, it has been lovely to have students back in school and completing excellent learning.

This week we had a very busy Year 9 Parents’ Evening on Tuesday and Year 11 have been completing two days of mock exams in English, maths and science. Next week we have Year 10 completing their first set of exams on the GCSE courses they have chosen to study.

Don’t forget that on Wednesday 6 March, 5-7pm we have the Pathway Evening for Year 9, an evening designed to assist them in choosing the right subjects for their GCSE courses.

This week I have been delivering assemblies on ambition and, now we are half way through the academic year, it is important that all students reflect upon their great ambition. What is it they want to achieve? What are the barriers that are getting in the way? How can school help them realise their ambitions? And finally, understanding that along the way we will all fail at things, but the lessons we learn at these points help us improve for the future. I know as a school our ambition for all students is to be the best version of themselves.

I would like to finish off by saying a special congratulations to Sophie for her impressive performance in Phantom of the Opera outside of school. I would also like to say well done to our Hot Chocolate Friday winners who gained a place for either 100% attendance in the last week or were top achievement points winners in their year group. This week we celebrated with Alfie, Dean, Naomi, Lily, Sammy, Rosie, Pip and Scott.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mr Pearce-Jones
Head of School – Medina College

Head of School’s Blog – 23 February 2024

Written by Gemma Long on February 23, 2024. Posted in HoS Blog - VI, The Island VI Form.

Head of School’s Blog – 23 February 2024

Dear Students, Parents & Carers

One week down already, five to go until Easter; or just 24 school days! Here are some reminders about revision:

– Revision sessions are on after school from various subjects, ask your teachers if you are unsure.
– Revision sessions will be offered over the Easter break.
– Revision materials: flashcards, highlighters, jotters etc. are available from Reception.
– Revision techniques support is also available from Student Services.

If you are struggling, please speak to us or someone from home.

World book day is on Thursday 7 March this year and we will again be distributing book tokens for students to use.

Finally, National Careers Week begins on Monday 4 March, and staff are being asked to display a ‘Career Pathway Door Plaque’ about their own career journeys and the skills they have developed through these roles.

My career choice and pathway was not one wonderful plan that all worked out as I thought. I left Liverpool University thinking a career in finance or business would be most likely. But I found myself doing bar work due to the recession in the early 1990’s. A teacher’s absence at the local High School created an opportunity for me to try teaching, which I enjoyed and then decided to qualify and return to University. I was unsuccessful at my first interview, but got offered a job on the IOW at my second interview. I thought I would be here for a couple of years, as I had no links to the Island; clearly I’m still here after 30 years!

Have a lovely weekend.

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

Head of School’s Blog – 23 February 2024

Written by Gemma Long on February 23, 2024. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

Head of School’s Blog – 23 February 2024

Welcome to the first blog for this half term.

This week I have enjoyed delivering assemblies linked to our Aprire and Achieve strap line and the word ASPIRE which focuses on our core values. The main theme this time was on inspiration. Other key messages were around our expectations in terms of attendance and attitude to learning.We held our Year 9 Parents’ Evening on Wednesday and it was a great success! Thank you to those parents who

came along. If you were unable to attend but would like an update from your child’s teachers, please email the school for this to be arranged.

There will be a Pathways Evening for Year 9 students, parents and carers on Thursday 7 March, please add this to your calendar.

Year 11 had their core subject trial exams Thursday and Friday this week. These exams are an excellent opportunity for the students to experience working in exam conditions and how the exam papers look. They were all extremely well behaved and respectful of each other.

Next Wednesday we have the School Immunisation Team coming in to administer the Teen Booser vaccinations to those students whose parents/carers have given consent. If you haven’t completed the consent form, you will have been sent an email with the details. If you require any assistance with this, please contact the school.

As You will have seen on our social media platforms and further in this blog, we are already looking to arrange our end of year reward trips: Year 7 – Friday 28 June – Splashdown in Poole, Year 8 – Wednesday 26 June – Paultons Park, Year 9/10 – Thursday 27 June – Thorpe Park. These are offered to the top 45 students in their year group with regards to the following:

Highest Achievement Points
No or few Behaviour Points
Good attendance (above 95% for the year unless appropriate evidence has been provided)
Overall, behaviour and attitude will also be taken into consideration.

Please do speak with your child about their achievements, attitude and attendance and stress to them that they have until the end of this term to gain as many positive achievement points as possible and to improve their attendance if needed.

Congratulations to our top achievement point winners this week. Year 7 – Riley, Year 8 – Jackson, Year 9 Taylan, Year 10 – Solomon and Year 11 Eleanor.

Have a lovely weekend.

Miss Begley

Head of School – Carisbrooke College

Reward Trips 2024

Indoor Football Tournaments

Written by Gemma Long on February 23, 2024. Posted in Medina College, News - MC.

Indoor Football Tournaments

Last half term, during lunchtimes, an indoor football tournament was contested between teams from Year 7 and Year 8. Some great games were played with many great goals scored and memories created. The support for the other teams was also great to see.

Third place were Year 7 team The X Men, Second place was Year 8 team Reeves Rovers and the Winners were Year 7 team ABC United (pictured).

The Year 9 boys are regulars to lunchtime indoor football so it was great to see them playing a competitive tournament. Third place was Chunky FC, Second place was Big Boys FC and the Winners were Dibbens Doughnuts (pictured).

Top goal scorer of the tournament was Harry and the player of the tournament was Billy. Well played everyone. Special thanks goes to Bailey and Max from Year 11 who refereed all the games.

Resilience Challenge Success

Written by Gemma Long on February 23, 2024. Posted in News - MC, News - VI, Uncategorized.

Resilience Challenge Success

A resilience challenge took place last half term for schools and colleges across the Island organised by Ed-Wise. Students were given a hypothetical emergency scenario and had to put relief plans in place and present them.

IWEF students performed fantastically in this challenge with The Island VI Form team being crowned the overall winners and Medina College students being presented with the award for the most innovative response.

Students showed great career capital skills including: public speaking; teamwork; creative thinking; leadership and creative problem solving.

“During the Digital Twin Resilience Challenge our team of six, along with many other Island schools, were given a fake scenario (in which an unexploded bomb was unearthed during construction near the car park adjacent to the Council building) and tasked with creating a presentation detailing our evacuation plan and response, focused on infrastructure. Our favourite plan we came up with was to suggest sending children to the local soft play center, JR Zone, providing a safe and engaging environment during the crisis. This imaginative strategy not only prioritised the safety of our youngest community members but also showcased our team’s ability to think creatively under pressure and in an ever changing situation. Despite technical difficulties we won ‘best overall course of action’, making the difficulties and hard work worth it. Overall, we most enjoyed working together as a team and completing the wide variety of different tasks and responses needed, allowing us to get to know each other and complete tasks most suited to our individual skills. We knew this hard work paid off when we managed to finish our presentation with just four seconds left of the 15 minute time limit! We have learnt many skills from this experience, such as working well under pressure and communicating effectively with one-another, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”
– Amelie and Rachel, The Island VI Form students

“The whole experience was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. We got to speak to people from many different jobs like the police and a water company, and we got to spend lots of time planning our own evacuation plan for a hypothetical situation. It made me think in a way I’ve never had to for any of my subjects and helped me understand just how much goes into planning evacuations in the real world; I found it a very interesting experience. The presentation at the end, I thought, would be scary to do, but because of how much work we’d all put into planning it, it was instead exciting as we got to share our ideas. I spoke to people from my year I hadn’t before and got to know other peers better. Also, the food was amazing! This has helped broaden my knowledge of future jobs and inspired me a lot. I would definitely recommend The Resilience Challenge happening again.”
– Imogen, Medina College

Dance Live! 2024

Written by Gemma Long on February 23, 2024. Posted in News - CC, News - MC, News - VI, Uncategorized.

Dance Live! 2024

Dance Live! is a competition for schools and colleges which sees students put together a choreographed performance to the backdrop of a giant digital screen. There is a focus on raising aspirations, strengthening health and wellbeing and developing skills for creative career choices.

Students from across the Federation have been working hard for the last six months to put together an amazing entry into this year’s competition. The piece focused on two young siblings placed into foster care and the impact this has on them. The theme was highly emotive and our students really brought it to life through their performance.

The team received some absolutely incredible feedback from the judges and received awards for their soundtrack and their technical skills – lighting, LED content and backstage efforts.

Throughout the development of this year’s entry, students have developed their leadership, creativity and teamworking skills. They have developed social bonds and have made memories that will stay with them forever. We are so proud of this year’s team and are very grateful to all of the staff involved. Thank you to Mr Williams, Miss Fairweather, Miss Stevens, Ms Ryan and Mrs O’Callaghan.

Head of School’s Blog – 9 February 2024

Written by Gemma Long on February 9, 2024. Posted in HoS Blog - VI, The Island VI Form.

Head of School’s Blog – 9 February 2024

Dear Students, Parents & Carers,

Students at the VI Form are currently applying to be considered for two new positions as Head Students. The successful candidates will represent the student body at events such as open evenings, activity days and to the Governors.

Working with them will be a group of student representatives for each faculty at VI Form. They will help to improve communication between faculties and the student body, sharing any areas of concern or needs which arise, and making sure students know about all the additional opportunities and support that our faculties are offering. Interviews for these posts will take place on the first Tuesday back after half term, with an announcement later that week.

Have a great break! Recharge your batteries, stick to your revision schedule and we will see you back in school on Monday 19 February. The run down to the exams will now fly by. Don’t forget that revision materials are available from reception and support sessions are being run after school and over half term. Make the most of all of the additional support that is available to you.

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

Head of School’s Blog – 9 February 2024

Written by Gemma Long on February 9, 2024. Posted in HoS Blog - MC, Medina College.

Head of School’s Blog – 9 February 2024

We have now reached half way through the academic year and it has absolutely flown by. Before we know it, Year 11 will have left us and we will be thinking about transition into the next academic year.

On Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of seeing our students perform in Dance Live! The theme they chose was so thought provoking. It was a student-led theme of students who find themselves in foster care and the challenges they face with fitting in and the desire to have a forever family. I was left reflecting upon the importance that the stability school can provide in a student’s life and the impact a strong link between home and school can have. Well done to all of those involved, a special hot chocolate event will follow after half term!

This week we also had people from the world of business come into our school and run mock interviews for our Year 11 students. It was a phenomenal opportunity for them to improve upon their life skills and place them in a stronger position when applying for jobs.

After the half term holiday, we have Year 9 Parents’ Evening on Tuesday 20 February and Year 11 mock exams in English, maths and science on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 February.

Congratulations to our Hot Chocolate Friday winners this week: Sapphire, Louie, Olivia, Jake, Adam, Kaydee, Samson, Alex and Grace.

Finally, I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable half term break and we will see you all for the start of term on Monday 19 February.

Mr Pearce-Jones

Head of School – Medina College

Head of School’s Blog – 9 February 2024

Written by Gemma Long on February 9, 2024. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

Head of School’s Blog – 9 February 2024

Welcome to the final newsletter for this half term.

Firstly, I would like to congratulate all the students involved in the Dance Live! competition. They have been rehearsing regularly and have worked so hard. I was a very proud Head on Wednesday evening at the Guildhall in Portsmouth, watching them perform. Thank you also to the staff involved who have given up so much of their own time. You were all an absolute credit to Carisbrooke College! We didn’t get placed but won the Technical award (for lighting, LED content and backstage efforts) and Soundtrack award, which is the next best thing.

I have thoroughly enjoyed attending our Celebration assemblies this week. Students were rewarded for their behaviour, engagement, progress, attitude and attendance throughout this half term with ASPIRE Awards (achievement points). It was a pleasure to read, sign and give out so many Headteacher Awards. A number of students received certificates for 100% attendance. Congratulations to all of the students who received a reward – keep up the good work!

Attendance is still an issue at the moment. We understand that students get ill and need to take time off school occasionally but it is really important that they return as soon as they are well enough and catch up with any work missed. This week letters were posted out to the parents/carers of those students whose attendance is below 95% so far this academic year. Please support the school in encouraging your child to attend school every day.

Expression of interest forms went out to our year 9 students last Friday and they have taken the first step to choosing which subjects they would like to study in Key Stage 4. Thank you to parents for supporting students with this. Year 9 Parents’ Evening is Wednesday 21 February. If you haven’t already booked your appointments, please do so using the Arbor App. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their individual teachers and any concerns around the Pathways process. The Pathways Evening for both parents/carers and students will take place in March and further details will be sent out after half term.

Congratulations to our top achievement point winners for last week. Year 7 Mario, Year 8 Olive, Year 9 Kyle, Year 10 Khalisha and Year 11 Luca.

Have a lovely half term break and we look forward to students returning to school on Monday 19 February at 8.45 am in full uniform and ready to learn.

Miss Begley

Head of School – Carisbrooke College