Carisbrooke College students, staff and governors are celebrating today as year 11 collect their GCSE results. 

Students have worked incredibly hard over the past two years, starting their GCSE courses during the pandemic. They have shown determination, strength and resilience to arrive at their results this year. Their hard work has paid off, with students receiving impressive results which will set them up for ongoing future success. 

The Governors and staff are very proud that the majority of students are remaining within the Isle of Wight Education Federation community, by moving on to take A Level and vocational Level 3 courses at The Island VI Form. However, students are also progressing into a range of apprenticeships and other further education studies both on and off the Island. 

Head of School at Carisbrooke College, Karen Begley, said “I am incredibly proud of our year 11 students and their achievements this year. They remained motivated throughout the year and worked really hard to make sure that they achieved their best. 

I would like to thank our dedicated staff team and parent body who have guided and supported the students to ensure their success. I am excited to watch the students taking the next steps in their education and wish them all the best for the future.” 

If any year 11 students across the Island are undecided about their next step, it is not too late to join the Island VI Form. Students at The Island VI Form thrive in an environment that is solely focused on Post-16 teaching and learning, making it the perfect stepping stone between school and university, apprenticeship or the world of work. More information can be found at https://iwef.org.uk/the-island-vi-form/ or by emailing viform@iwef.org.uk.

Students at Carisbrooke have been working hard all year to earn a spot on the annual reward trips. This year students gained a place on the trip just like in the previous five years for receiving the highest achievement points, very few if any behaviour points and if they had a good attendance record. Whilst we would love for every child to experience these types of events, we also believe that these experiences are earned and not simply a privilege that is just given. Students are challenged to apply themselves all year in a way that would see them meet the schools key expectations linked to ASPIRE (Ambition, Success, Progress, Inspiration, Respect and Equality). As a result of all this hard work 49 students from year 7 went to Splashdown and 119 student’s across year 8, 9 and 10 went to Paultons Park earlier this week.

All the students involved had a great time and the staff were so impressed with how they conducted themselves throughout. All the feedback from the external providers including coach companies, ferry services and the two visited centres has been so pleasing to receive due to it only highlighting what we know our students are – kind, positive, helpful and a pleasure to have met.

Some of our year 9 students enjoyed the experience so much they wrote the following report:

On Tuesday a group of 119 year 8, 9 and 10s went to Paultons Park for their rewards trip. The day started relatively early as students had to get to school by 7.30am to get to the park promptly at 10am. It was an incredible day, with great experiences for the students. There was a wide range of rides that most students spent the day going on. There were smiles all round. The students went round the park in groups with their friends. This was an amazing day and we hope to have more fun days like this in the future. We really feel like we were being rewarded for our efforts in school this year.

Some of our year 7 students also wrote:

Splashdown is amazing. The slides are fast and exciting and when we are all there together along with our teachers it really felt like something special. We feel that we have earned this trip this year and really should feel proud of ourselves for achieving this experience. It was really fun seeing out teachers shoot down the slides and soak everyone at the bottom. I have not laughed this hard in so long and can’t wait to go again. Thank you to my teachers for organising.

On Wednesday 12th July, Carisbrooke College hosted our annual awards evening and for the first time we held the special occasion on our school grounds. As a result, a lot of time and effort late into many evenings was given by some key staff in order for the event to take place and be the amazing success that it was.

Thank you to Anna Mursell, and Donna Keogh along with their team for producing and collating all the information needed for the evening including checking all the citations. For also ironing over 40 table cloths, decorating the venue and making it look simply amazing. Thank you to Pete Ball and the premises team for all the hard work in moving over 400 chairs, laying the flooring and organising the tables whilst not disrupting the normal school days. Thank you to Beth Peckham and Richard Wiseman for setting up and leading our amazing music students during the evening. Thank you to Tina Lythgoe, Orla O’Callaghan, Nikki McDowall, Judy Smith and Julie King for being the amazing head of years that you are and ensuring the students were greeted and supported through the evening. Thank you to Hattie Buckett and Kirsty Jones for taking all the photos throughout the evening, they are amazing. Thank you to Dean Lyle and Beth Peckham for being the MC for the night and doing so in a way that only you can. Thank you to RIchard Bridgford (school governor) who kindly spent the whole evening shaking hands and giving out certificates. Thank you to the staff who wrote the citations and took hours discussing who should eventually win the awards as this is not easy in a school full of amazing and talented students. Finally, thank you to the students and their families for making the evening possible due to being who they are.

Throughout the evening, over 100 students received awards for their efforts this year which included individual subjects and year group awards, sports team of the year (Girl’s Cricket) and some whole school awards. Our talented music students performed a number of songs and it is always such a great sight to see our students and staff playing alongside each other.

For those students who received an award, there will be photos produced which we will be giving to you in September, or for year 11s on results day in August.

This leaves me with one final comment to make. Students you are the pride of Carisbrooke College, the Isle of Wight and the country. Now go show the world how truly great you are!

Have a safe and happy summer.
Mr Peake

On Wednesday 19 July, our u13 boys cricket team took on The Bay in the final of this year’s competition which was held at Arreton CC. 

Carisbrooke won the toss and elected to bowl.  Liam G opened for Carisbrooke and limited The Bay to only the odd single and eventually broke the deadlock in the 5th over by bowling their opener.  As the innings progressed, all of the boys took it in turn bowling and all performed well taking a further 6 wickets including two caught and bowled efforts from Daniel P.  The Bay posted a beatable target of 78 and, as Carisbrooke walked out with Jack E and Lincoln O, the team felt confident they could chase the runs down. However, with an early run out and then a couple of surprise early wickets which included Liam G and Daniel P, Carisbrooke fell to 8 runs for 3 wickets and looked like collapsing early on.  However, Charlie G and Wilfie T steadied the ship and got Carisbrooke up and running, putting together a partnership which took us past the 40 mark. 

With only 6 overs left, Charlie then got out to some good bowling from The Bay. However, with Harvey P who was stepping in and playing up a year due to some late withdrawals on the day from the regular squad, there was still hope.  Harvey played some nice shots before getting bowled but stayed out in the middle with Wilfie as the last batter.  Wilfie continued to swing at everything and at one point it felt like it was meant to be, but then with only just over two overs left, an unlucky shot which was played onto his own wickets finally allowed The Bay to take the win.  Final score: The Bay 78 Carisbrooke 55.  

Well done to all of the boys for their efforts and for taking part with such a good spirit and togetherness.  

Individual highlights:
– Liam was a great captain who never stopped talking when behind the wickets.  
– Daniel was outstanding with the ball in hand and really needs to come back to the game full time.  
– Wilfie demonstrated consistency with the ball and the grit he showed with the bat was truly inspirational.
– Jack bowled a lovely over and prevented numerous boundaries out in the deep.
– Lincoln also bowled a great over and put his body behind some well hit shots.
– Charlie with some excellent wicket to wicket bowling and Mr Calm and collective when batting.
– Harvey did a superb one-hand pick up in the field nearly resulting in a runout and, for a student younger than everyone else, showed exactly why he is never out of his depth in sport.  

On Tuesday 11 July, students from Carisbrooke College were treated to a day out at Newclose watching a ladies professional cricket game. 

The game was between Hampshire Vipers and Nottinghamshire Blaze.  During the day, the students got to see some real talent on show and the game lived up to expectations with Nottinghamshire winning with only two overs left to play. 

During the day, students also got to take part in activities for a bit of fun with one of our students Wilfie T winning the batting challenge.

Congratulations to all of our winners!

Year 11 students had an amazing evening on Friday 7 July at their glamorous James Bond themed Prom night at the Albert Cottage Hotel. Students made grand entrances, arriving in sports cars, classic cars, a tractor, on horseback and with the Hell Angels! They then took to the red carpet and walked through the historic corridors to the dining room where they were each given welcome (soft) drinks before being served a BBQ style buffet.

Awards were presented to students for a variety of fun categories, voted for by the students, before Fin Gilbert and Grace Argyle were crowned Prom King and Queen. Year 11 took to the dancefloor and lit up the room with their dance moves and singing!

The students all looked glamorous and it was a perfect evening, in a beautiful setting, for the most wonderful group of young people. We couldn’t be any more proud of them!

Huge thanks to Mrs King for her support and organisation of the event. 

Images courtesy of APV Services.