Skip to main content

24 June 2022

Wednesday night we held the Carisbrooke College awards evening at Medina Theatre for this academic year. It was so nice to once more be able to hold this very special event. This is one of the highlights of our calendared events as it is when we recognise individual students for their contributions to lessons and other wider curricular opportunities. There were over 70 deserving recipients across the year groups. We could have presented double, if not triple the number of awards – I know there have been numerous discussions in department areas on who the recipients should be. I would like to congratulate all our award winners – You should be very proud that you have been recognised by your teachers for your hard work and excellent attitude. Well done to all our students who participated in the musical performances during the evening. You were all amazing. I would also like to thank the fantastic staff that have helped develop these young people.

You may have noticed that we have a large stone just inside the gates. It will be turned into an incredible sculpture to form the legacy piece of our Biosphere Project. Both students and staff across the Federation will have the opportunity to make their mark on this sculpture, working closely with our Artist in Residence to capture elements of the beautiful biosphere reserve in which we all live.

Students from both Carisbrooke and Medina College are attending a floral workshop at the Independent Arts Hub where they will be making centrepieces for the tables at the Royal County Show. They will be using pressed flowers, foraged from our local Biosphere to tie in with our current project relating to the local environment.

Well done to all our students that performed at the festival last weekend. You are a very talented group of young people and I look forward to more of your performances.

Year 11 sat their final exam on Thursday this week. They should have received an invitation to the Year 11 into 12 Pre-Enrolment on Monday 27 June 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. We are very much looking forward to seeing them at their prom.

Year 10 start their mock exams next week. This is an opportunity for them to get a feel of how their GCSEs will run next summer. Morning exams start at 9.00 am. Students are expected to be in the student entrance by 8.45 am. Afternoon exams will start at 1.00 pm. They will have an early lunch on days when they have exams in the afternoon. Again they will be expected to be in the student entrance at 12.45 pm to make sure they are ready to enter the exam hall for a prompt start. They had an assembly yesterday setting out our expectations and we ask that you reinforce the importance of not having a phone or watch on them in an exam. Phones must be turned off, even if it is in their bags and all alarms disabled on both phones and watches.

Have a lovely weekend

Message from Matthew Parr-Burman, Executive Headteacher, Isle of Wight Education Federation

I delivered assemblies to all students this week about the consultation that we have open. They listened maturely and in some cases asked some very considered questions – I am very proud of them. Please remember, if you have a comment that you would like to contribute regarding the consultation , please do complete the form which can be found here. This can be a concern but can also be a message of positive support, both are important to know. If you have questions or would like to discuss your concerns then please email, anna.mursell@iwef.org.uk who can arrange a phone call with me. This may then help inform a representation you may wish to make.