One week down already! A Level arts based exams have started this week and continue into next week. The main bulk of exams then start from 20 May when study leave starts, although there are a few exams the week before. Year 12 exams start in early July.

We have distributed exam timetables this week in the assembly and these are also being emailed. Please make sure that you check them and raise any issues with the exams team next week. Do not leave it until the morning of the exam – that would be too late for any amendments to be made.

I also covered in the assembly the examinations rules for both year groups – make sure that you follow them at all times. We are aiming to have no accidental breaches of the rules this year (exam malpractice).

Year 12 had their first introduction to the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) this week, which offers UCAS points and the ability to demonstrate project management skills. We will be holding an EPQ only assembly next week for interested students.

Students from our VI Form have been part of an amazing business journey this year though participating in the Young Enterprise Programme.

Ed-WISE, a charitable benefit society based on the Island, delivers the Young Enterprise Company Programme on the Isle of Wight. The Young Enterprise Company Programme is a competition between student teams to create, launch and run a trading business for the academic year. There are milestone events such as Dragons Den (in November and February), where teams can earn investment for their business idea and several retail trading events, where teams sell to the public.

Ed-WISE is inviting members of the public to the Young Enterprise Company Programme Isle of Wight Grand Final event on Tuesday April 30 at 9am. This is the final event for 12 student business teams. The teams will explain how their business was set up and traded through the current academic year. The event takes place at Island Riding Centre in Newport. Ed-WISE is inviting as many people as possible to this free event, from across all sectors, so some people in business and some not. Ed-WISE is wanting the students to tell their story to as many people as possible. This experience will have a great positive impact on their development.

The event has 2 main elements to it – a trade stands section and a formal presentation section. The trade stalls element runs from 9am to 10am followed by the team presentations and awards. For those visitors who can only make the trade stands element, then those people are free to leave at 10am. People are invited to stay and hear the team presentations in full, if they are able to stay. The event ends at 12.30pm.

For those who would like to attend the event, to confirm attendance please click here.

Good luck to both of our teams:
IO Magazine – Ethan, Finley and Charlotte
The Little Wight Jewellery Box – Finn, Amelie, Ellie and Ruby

Have a great weekend.

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

Dear Students, Parents & Carers,

Have a great break. I’m calling it a break rather than holiday, as there is a clear expectation for both year groups that you should be doing revision for the upcoming exams.

Year 13 in particular should be finishing creating revision materials by the end of Easter to allow time to go over their notes multiple times to burn the knowledge into their long term memory.
Remember that there are a number of revision sessions on offer over the break (see timetable below).

Thank you to staff and students for a great term, the next one will fly by! Lessons re-start on Monday 15 April at 8.50 am.

Eat – Sleep – Revise – Repeat (plus look after yourself – exercise, relax etc…).

Happy Easter!

Dear students, Parents & Carers,

Just four school days until the Arts based exams start and 28 school days until study leave for the Year 13 students begins – 20 May. Some exams will be before that date and BTEC/Vocational students are in school and working until they have finished their unit work. Individual examination timetables will be shared when we return after the Easter break.

Thank you for your understanding during the finance talk that didn’t go to plan due to technical issues at Solent University. We are re-organising this and will record it if you are unable to attend.

Year 12 should be researching University courses and going on Open day visits. We will let you know when you can start to register with UCAS to start the formal application process.

Year 13 students should be firming up their offers from Universities. Make sure that you accept offers before the deadline. Deadlines will depend on the date of your offer. Student Services, mentors and your teachers are all available to give advice if needed. There is also a UCAS helpline for students should you need it:  03714 680468.

UCAS ‘Clearing’ will start to come online soon, where Universities advertise unfilled places for people who are unhappy with their offers or fail to get the grades required. We will be providing advice on this next term.

Hard work pays off – stick to your revision timetable and remember to take time out to relax as well. Have a good weekend.

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

Dear Students, Parents and Carers

We are now down to single figures for the number of school days until the creative exams start; 9 days, with the main exams starting in 29 school days. Students need to be working at peak capacity and have clear expectations about what to revise and when revision note creation should be completed, to allow for revising them over them again and again. If you are not sure, please ask for help from your teachers.

Revision sessions will be taking place during the Easter break and we advise that you take up these opportunities to further support your examination preparation. The timetable can be found below. 

Congratulations to all of the Year 13 EPQ students who presented their projects in the hall this week. It was great to see some amazing work and even better to listen to students explaining their work and findings. I now know more than I did at the beginning of the week, congratulations again. EPQ will be fully launched to Year 12 Students after Easter.

On Tuesday, we will be holding a virtual assembly for Year 13 Students who are planning to attend University in September. This will have a focus on Student Finance and will be delivered for us by Solent University. The session will be recorded and a link to view will be shared with parents directly. If you have any questions in advance for the presenter, please email to Student Services on: vi-student-services@iwef.org.uk.

Finally, just a quick reminder about the Year 12 Parents’ Evening on Thursday 21 March. This is a virtual event. If you are having any difficulties booking your appointments, please contact: viform@iwef.org.uk.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

Dear Students, Parents & Carers,

We are halfway through this half term already and we have 14 school days until the Arts based exams and 40 school days until the main exams start for Year 13. Year 12, you have 65 school days until your end of year exams start.

Therefore, I hope that all of you have revision plans in place? This means that resources are created with plenty of time in the coming weeks to go over them again and again, burning the knowledge into your long term memory. Hard work pays off.

We will be launching the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ – half an A level) to Year 12 over the coming weeks. There will be an extended assembly around Easter to provide full details. Part of this launch includes the current Year 13 EPQ students exhibiting their projects in the Hall on Tuesday 12 March, from 2.30pm. This is your chance to see what they have done and ask any questions about the qualification.

If you are currently studying two A Levels, you need to think about what you will be picking up to still be classed as a full time student, could it be the EPQ?

Hopefully we will all enjoy a sunny weekend.

Mr Mumford
Head of School – The Island VI Form

Dear Students, Parents & Carers, 

Two weeks down and four to go, or 19 school days until the Arts based exams start. Revision materials are available from reception and revision sessions are running after school and will also be offered over the Easter break; details of which we will share next week.

Congratulations to Oliver Kurt and Olivia Metcalf who have been appointed to the role of Head Students. I look forward to continuing to work with them and Student Voice over the coming year.

The Year 12 Parents’ Evening is on Thursday 21 March. This will be a virtual event and details of how to book appointments have been shared this week via email with parents and carers.

Have a great weekend. 

Mr Mumford
Head of School – The Island VI Form

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

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

Dear Students, Parents & Carers, 

We have had a number of applications to the role(s) of Head student and we will be in contact with those students about the next stage of the process soon. Interviews have been pencilled in for Tuesday 20 February.

Friday 2 February, tomorrow, is a Staff Development Day (the VI Form will be closed to students) and Half Term starts on Friday 9 February at 3.15 pm with lessons re-starting on Monday 19 February at 8.50 am.

I held assemblies this week encouraging students to create revision systems (timetables, flash cards, notes, mind maps, podcasts, videos etc.). Good systems beat good intentions every time. Be organised – you know that exams start after Easter for arts based subjects and around 20 May for most other subjects. Year 12 Trial Exams will start on Monday 1 July.

Create a manageable schedule / timetable and stick to it. This applies to Year 12 and Year 13.  If Year 12 students put the ground work in now, it will halve their workload in the build up to the real exams in Summer 2025.

Because it is important, I’ll say it again: good systems beat good intentions every time.

Enjoy your extended weekend,

Mr Mumford
Head of School – The Island VI Form

Dear Students, Parents & Carers

Safer internet day is Tuesday 6 February this year. I would like to think that VI Form students are fully aware of the following:

– Don’t share your password with anybody
– Have a strong password
– Don’t share private information e.g. mum’s maiden name, first pet name etc.
– Be aware that future employers may check your social media posts
– Don’t share personal photos that can be used to bully you later
– Be careful opening attachments in emails
– Don’t use links in emails, go to the company site directly
– Check the source / validity of internet information.  Is TikTok / Facebook / X a valid source?

Useful links for online safety advice: 

Childline: Staying Safe Online

NSPCC: Keeping Children Safe Online

Finally, on a much happier note, The Island VI Form team (D Maggs, O Metcalf, S Radham, A Rogers, R Shambrook & J Weyman) won the Resilience Challenge organised by EDWise this week. This is a competition where Island schools and colleges are challenged to respond to an emergency situation and put relief plans in place. Students showed great career capital skills including: public speaking; teamwork; creative thinking; leadership and creative problem solving. Congratulations to the Medina College and Carisbrooke College teams as they also worked on some great life skills and Medina students won the award for the most innovative response.

Have a safe weekend. 

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form