Sports Day 2023

Written by Gemma Long on July 7, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, News - CC.

Sports Day 2023

Last week, we saw a great level of competition down on the field as we embarked on our annual sports day. The year 8s kickstarted the day with a superb display of athleticism, enthusiasm and sportsmanship.

The track session began with the middle distance events, which were tightly contested between 8B and 8D, with 8D taking the overall lead on points. 8A made a comeback in the sprint events to take 59 points for their team, but out in the field, 8D were scoring highly in both the throwing and jumping events. Going into the relay there were just 4 points separating the top two finishers. 8D won both the girls and boys relay to take victory and bring home the trophy for Mr Gloyn and their tutor group.

Year 8 Results:
1st place – 8D (188 points)
2nd place – 8B (181 points)
3rd place – 8A (178 points)
4th place – 8C (130 points)

Well done to all of our students who demonstrated excellent sportsmanship and resilience, and a huge thank you to our fantastic year 11 students who came back to support the PE department run the events.

In the afternoon, sports day turned serious with the year 7 tutors arriving in their sports kit ready to battle. Rewards were on offer for any year 7 who broke Miss McArthur’s sports day record for the 1500m, but sadly the record still stands for another year. There were some excellent displays of pacing as the middle distance races got underway, with 7A maximising points early doors. 7A continued to dominate in the sprints, but out in the field 7D were vanquishing the field events, capitalising on the points for both throwing and jumping events. 7B came first in both relays but unfortunately it was not enough to knock 7A and Miss Peckham off the top of the podium.

Year 7 Results:
1st place – 7A (221 points)
2nd place – 7D (209 points)
3rd place – 7B (184 points)
4th place – 7C (166 points)

Head of School’s Blog – 30 June 2023

Written by Gemma Long on July 6, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

30 June 2023

Feedback about year 10s behaviour and attitude to their trial exams has been exceptional. I am so impressed with how they have behaved and taken onboard the exam condition expectations. The results of these will inform staff of the next steps required for each of them individually as they enter year 11. If you or they have any questions or issues regarding exams, please contact Mrs Smith, Head of Year or your child’s tutor. Exams will continue next week.

Thank you to all the staff and students involved in the sports day for year 7 and 8 this week. A great time was had by all and it was amazing to see the students all working together and supporting each other. It was a pleasure to award medals to the winners. Congratulations to you all!

Thank you to the parents/carers who attended our Parent Voice meeting on Tuesday – Your opinion really matters to us!

A reminder that this letter was emailed out earlier in the week with details of industrial action taking place in schools next week. Next Tuesday and Wednesday is work shadowing for year 10 – hopefully many students are making the most of this valuable opportunity.

Have a great weekend.

Goodbye Mr Zeng

Written by Gemma Long on June 28, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, News - CC.

Goodbye Mr Zeng!

Once again, another year has flown by and it is sadly time to say goodbye to Mr Zeng who has completed his time here at Carisbrooke and returns to China next week.

Mr Zeng has spent a lot of time working with all year groups, both in lessons and across the school, and has helped to facilitate a lot of genuinely meaningful speaking activities in China club – something the year 11s have benefited greatly from in the run up to their GCSE exams. Earlier in the year, Mr Zeng led an interesting assembly on the Chinese Spring Festival, accompanied an exciting trip to London to the BFI Mandarin study event and has remained a cheerful and encouraging presence around the school.

Just last week, Mr Zeng prepared and delivered a session that revisited colour vocabulary, introduced the basics of traditional Beijing Opera, and gave students a chance to make and paint their own Beijing Opera mask.

Mr Zeng said: “Our students always have great patience when learning Mandarin. As we all know, language is a bridge to communicate with the world and culture is a window for people to learn about a country. As Mandarin and Chinese culture are so closely connected, it is always necessary for students to learn more about it.”

We are all going to miss Mr Zeng and his contributions to our lessons, and anyone that is lucky enough to have had him cook for them will definitely miss his exceptional food!

All the best, Mr Zeng. Good luck for whatever comes next from everyone at Carisbrooke College, and have a safe journey back to China. 再见!

Head of School’s Blog – 23 June 2023

Written by Gemma Long on June 23, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

23 June 2023

It was a privilege to see our students perform at the Isle of Wight Festival. They did themselves and the Federation very proud. Well done to you all!

It was great to see so many parents at the ‘Help your child to revise’ evening on Wednesday. It was very well attended and feedback was that it was very positive and informative. We will hold another one next year prior to the trial exam in year 11.

Next week year 10 will sit their first set of trial exams. These will be in the hall and run under the same exam conditions as their GCSE exams next summer. The exams for year 10 may be ‘trial’ exams but they are evidence of what level your child is working at and help their teachers to determine the level of exam they should be sitting next year and/or where there are gaps in their knowledge that need to be addressed. Please encourage your child to revise and if you or they have any questions or issues regarding exams, please contact Mrs Smith, Head of Year or your child’s tutor. You can also find the revision booklet for Year 10 on our website here.

The Senior Leadership Team have commenced informal interviews with the year 10 students. These interviews proved extremely helpful with the year 11s and it is an opportunity for your child to raise any issues, concerns or ask for advice regarding school, career plans and other opportunities.

Next Wednesday the School Immunisation Team are in school delivering vaccinations to students who have missed any of the previous sessions in the year. Please see details further in the newsletter on how to book your child into this session.

Next Tuesday we have our Parent Voice meeting at 6.00 pm in school. All parents/carers are invited to attend.

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the sunshine safely.

National School Sports Week

Written by Gemma Long on June 23, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, News - CC.

National School Sports Week

Each morning our students started the day with a fun physical activity challenge in tutor time, which they and their tutors fully embraced. There were some exceptional performances in the Sally squat and cha cha slide plank challenge, and an incredible show of core control from Zach in the shoe challenge.

At lunch time our students enjoyed playing ultimate frisbee, 3 v 3 basketball, kwik cricket, rowing and skipping.

What a great week of physical activity we have seen at Carisbrooke College for National School Sports Week! We joined the pledge ‘to play for fun, play for 60’ in a bid to fulfil the government’s target of an hour of physical activity a day for young people.

Looking at the activity planners in tutor time it is clear to see that so many of our year 7 students achieved this.

I would just like to pass on a huge thank you to the year 10 Young Ambassadors for helping lead the tutor and lunchtime activities; the feedback has been really positive. Although it is the end of National School Sports Week, I challenge you to continue seeking ways to achieve 60 minutes of physical activity a day to experience the many physical, mental and social benefits which physical activity brings. Well done to everyone involved.

Mrs Peake

Head of School’s Blog – 16 June 2023

Written by Gemma Long on June 20, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

16 June 2023

Yesterday we held our leavers assembly for year 11. It was a celebration of their success and recognition of all they have achieved at Carisbrooke over the last five years. A huge thank you to Mrs King and their tutors for all the support they have given them during their time at Carisbrooke. There are two exams left after the weekend – Design Technology and Food and Nutrition. Breakfast will continue to be from 8.00 am for year 11 who have morning exams. I wish them all well in whatever they have opted to do once their final exams are over.

Year 10 parents/carers have been sent an invitation to ‘Help your child revise’ evening ahead of the trail exams that start later this month. This will be a useful evening for you, so please do try to attend if possible.

Next week, once again, blazers and ties are optional.

I urge year 11 festival goers to make sure that they get a good night’s sleep on Sunday and are properly prepared for their exam on Monday morning.

Carisbrooke College will be closed to all students on Monday 19 June unless they are sitting an exam. There may be some delays on the roads so please take this into account when planning your journey to school.

Have a lovely weekend and, if you are attending the festival, please have fun and stay safe.

Head of school’s Blog – 9 June 2023

Written by Lora Shephard on June 9, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

9 June 2023

It has been another busy start to the half term. I have enjoyed leading the assemblies this week on Inspiration. As you know, our core values are built around ASPIRE which are Ambition, Success, Progress, Inspiration, Respect and Equality. I continue to be impressed with the uniform, attitude and behaviour of all our students.

Year 11 students have had another busy week of exams. I am so proud of their attitude and behaviour in the exams and in their lessons. It does not seem possible that they only have four more official days in school. Their leavers assembly will be lesson 5 on Thursday. After this day they come in for their remaining exams only. Please continue to encourage your child to revise for their exams and if they have any concerns, to contact the year office. Breakfast will continue to be from 8.00 am for year 11 who have morning exams.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Year 7 parents’ evening on Wednesday. It was great to see so many parents in school and the teachers were very pleased to meet you.

Carisbrooke College will remain open on Festival Friday and students should attend as normal though there may be some delays on the roads so please take this into account when planning your journey to school.

Have a lovely weekend.

Student’s humanitarian trip to Moldova

Written by Donna Keogh on June 9, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, News - CC.

Students humanitarian trip to Moldova

Year 7 student Matthew C recently went on a humanitarian aid trip to Moldova with Island-based charity, MAD-Aid, which his parents work with.

Matthew told us this about his trip, “I liked helping to deliver food, medical aid, children’s clothes and even toys to people at some of the many projects that MAD-Aid supports.

We visited the Mother and Child Institute – a hospital in Chisinau – where MAD-Aid has pledged to raise money to renovate two neonatal wards which haven’t been upgraded since 1986 and are in a bad state. At the hospital, I met British ambassador for Moldova, Steven Fisher, as well as Gabriel Nebunu, a famous Moldovan pop star who was born at the hospital. My mum and dad were interviewed by a television crew too!

One of the things MAD-Aid does is collect medical equipment which is no longer needed from across the UK and deliver it to those in need in Moldova – this includes wheelchairs, mobility scooters and much more. We delivered a mobility scooter to a young man in a village who had never had one before – he was so excited, and it means he can leave his home and go to the local shop!

We also did two food shopping trips and delivered the food to families in need, as well as to a Ukrainian refugee centre in Mihaileni in northern Moldova. Here I met two Ukrainian children, and I offered them a choice of toys and other items. The little boy gave me the biggest smile as he ran off with a packet of sweets and the girl chose colouring pens – when we went to leave, she gave us each a drawing she had done.

I visited MAD-Aid’s Phoenix Centre in Riscani, which includes a day centre for children with special needs. I enjoyed a concert and a craft workshop with the children. I was also able to have a swimming lesson with some of the children who have disabilities.

The trip has made me appreciate how lucky I am and how different life is in Moldova, which is one of the poorest countries in Europe.”

Matthew did some sight-seeing too – he visited the National Theatre in Balti, as well as the monastery and caves of Orhei Vechi and several orthodox churches.

During the last school holiday, Matthew joined Ukrainian families on a visit to Cineworld in Newport, as part of MAD-Aid’s work to help Ukrainian refugees living on the Isle of Wight.

Well done Matthew! Hard work for a very worthy cause.

Head of School’s Blog – 26 May 2023

Written by Lora Shephard on May 26, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

26 May 2023

Year 11 students have continued to be amazing this week. Their attitude and behaviour in the exams and in lessons in between has been excellent. Please continue to encourage your child to revise for their exams and if they have any concerns, to contact the year office. The first week back after the half term break is another intensive one for them. Breakfast will continue to be from 8 am for year 11 who have morning exams. It does not seem possible that they only have two school weeks left in compulsory education!

As a reminder, our website has more information on exams and how you can support your child. Website links are here – these will be shared each week of the exam season – Exam logistics and Exams revision. If your child has any questions or concerns regarding the exams, please encourage them to talk to their tutor.

We will be holding revision sessions for year 11 students over the half term break. Please see the link to the revision sessions taking place.

As you are aware, we had our Ofsted Inspection in school Tuesday and Wednesday this week. I am immensely proud of our students and staff. As soon as we receive the report it will be shared with parents and carers. Thank you for all your support

Year 7 parents’ evening will be held in school on Wednesday 7 June. An email was sent to parents with a link to the system to book appointments. If you haven’t already booked your appointments, please do so as this is a great opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and how they have settled into their first year at secondary school, with their individual subject teachers.

Have a lovely half term and I look forward to welcoming students back into school on Monday 5 June at 8.45 am in full uniform and ready to learn.

Head of School’s Blog – 19 May 2023

Written by Lora Shephard on May 19, 2023. Posted in Carisbrooke College, HoS Blog - CC.

19 May 2023

The Year 11 exams have got off to a good start this week. The students have been extremely supportive of each other and followed procedures perfectly. Many of them are taking the opportunity to join their peers and subject teachers for breakfast in the mornings and there is a great vibe from the students. Next week is another full week of exams and breakfast will continue to be served with teachers available for help and support for the students.

Our website has more information on exams and how you can support your child. Website links are here – these will be shared each week of the exam season – Exam logistics and Exams revision. If your child has any questions or concerns regarding the exams, please encourage them to talk to their tutor.

I thoroughly enjoy the Royal Coronation Prom at Osborne House. It was lovely to see the students from both Medina and Carisbrooke College performing together. They produced an exceptional finale to the concert.

Year 7 parents’ evening will be held in school on Wednesday 7 June. An email has been sent to parents today with a link to the system to book appointments. Please do book in as this is an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and how they have settled into their first year at secondary school, with their individual subject teachers.

School will break up at 3.10 pm next Friday 26 May for the half term holiday. We will be holding revision sessions for year 11 students over the break. Please see the timetable below for the revision sessions taking place.

Have a lovely weekend.