On Saturday 12th February, the Island VI Form entered two teams into the Ryde School 2022 Model United Nations General Assembly event. Our students represented the countries of Brazil and North Korea.

During the day, the delegates discussed a range of important global, social, political and economic issues, ranging from gun rights to the use of torture and the status of Northern Ireland. At the end of the day, all delegates had an opportunity to take part in the General Assembly crisis event simulating a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Finally, awards were given out in numerous categories. Joe and Isaac both received ‘Best Delegate’ awards for their particular contributions, whilst the VI Form team representing Brazil were awarded the prestigious Best Delegation Award.

Thank you to Ryde School for hosting a fun and informative event for all who took part. 

(L-R) Back: Dan, Harley, Isaac, Joe and Simon. Front: Freya and Rachael

Isaac with his ‘Best Delegate’ award.

Team Brazil with their ‘Best Delegation’ award. 

Thank you to Ian Harrison for visiting our English, law and media students this week. 

Ian Harrison is a lawyer for Reach PLC and works for the Daily Mirror.  He visited VI Form students to discuss the role of journalism in our democratic society and the balance between Press freedom and the Law. Ian drew on a range of books, historical development of journalism as we know it today and his own experiences to illustrate how important trusted news sources like Newspapers are for the effective functioning of our society.

Students engaged in the discussion and really enjoyed hearing first hand what life is like for a Lawyer working in the field of journalism and media. We are very grateful to Ian for giving up his time to come in and visit us.

Year 12 and 13 Island VI Form History students were fortunate this week to attend a Stuarts’ history lecture courtesy of the Robert Hooke Society, based in Freshwater on the Isle of Wight.

Stuart Orme, the curator of the Cromwell museum in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire was guest speaker at the Society’s AGM and delivered a fascinating talk on ‘The World Turned Upside Down – the experience of the British Civil War’. Thanks to the fast internet connection, the students were able to listen in via Zoom in the newly renovated science room and take notes as part of their A Level studies.

History teacher Vix Lowthion said “we are always looking for opportunities for our students to listen to experts as part of their preparation for exams and their further studies at university. The Civil Wars are a fascinating part of our nation’s history and have sparked many discussions in class. We are grateful to the Robert Hooke Society for being so welcoming at their meeting. Robert Hooke was an incredibly important scientist, surveyor and polymath and the students are often surprised that he grew up here on the Isle of Wight!”

Students can find out more about Robert Hooke at https://www.roberthooke.org/

The Island VI Form Mock Trial teams enjoyed both triumph and defeat in the revived Interschool Mock Trial competition, wonderfully hosted by Cowes Enterprise College this week and supported by experienced members of the legal profession.

After weeks of preparation and support from teachers, both schools fielded two teams of barristers, witnesses and courtroom staff and thoroughly rose to the occasion through the re-enactment of a court case concerned with a serious offence. The burden of proof is always with the prosecution teams, and consequently the Jury returned Not Guilty verdicts after weighing up the evidence put forward during both mock trials.

Island VI Form teachers Joe Cody and Vix Lowthion said “It was brilliant that both schools were able to provide this opportunity for our students. We thank Cowes staff for ably hosting the event this year and Tim O’Flynn and Nick Hayward for mentoring those who took part.  Our teams of VI Form students were self-assured, well prepared and ready to think on their feet, and certainly have the skills to enter the legal profession in the future.”

The High Sherriff of the Isle of Wight, James Attrill, was also in attendance. “It was a brilliant event and I was lucky to have the opportunity to see it first hand. The students had clearly done a huge amount of preparation and they all took part in a very professional and confident way. Young people have had a tough time over the last 2 years and all credit to them for taking part.”

The Island VI Form offers an A Level in Law and an Applied Diploma in Criminology alongside many other opportunities for anyone looking to a future in the legal professions.