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Isle of Wight County Press Co-Editor Inspires Media Students

Isle of Wight County Press Co-Editor Inspires Media Students

Lucy Morgan, Co-Editor of the Isle of Wight County Press, visited  aspiring Journalists at The Island VI Form today (19.01.2024) to share some insider info about how to get a good story. Huge thanks to Lucy for giving her time to our students. 

There are more opportunities than ever this year for students to get writing experience, including interviewing speakers at February’s Isle of Wight Story Festival and taking part in the Young Reporters scheme. Those who take part can see their stories in print and build a professional portfolio towards their future plans.

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Head of School’s Blog – 19 January 2024

Head of School’s Blog – 19 January 2024

Dear Students, Parents & Carers,

We are completing exam entries for Year 13 students this week: another sure sign that time is flying. This only leaves 9 school weeks for arts-based subjects and 15 school weeks for other subjects until the exams start. I know this will start to put pressure on students and I’m encouraging staff to ramp up their expectations over the coming weeks. I’m also challenging students by focusing attention on attendance. Unauthorised absence is unacceptable at The Island VI Form.

We are always here to help and support if you are struggling. Come in and talk to your Mentor, Teachers or Student Services.

Be prepared and make sure that revision resources are created well in advance. Make time for the hard work of burning those resources into your long term memory by going over them and over them. We recommend that this is done by the end of the Easter break. Materials to create your revision resources (flash cards/pens/highlighters etc) are available for all students from Main Reception.

Create a revision schedule: plans and systems always outperform good intentions. We are running sessions after school to help with this and we will also be running subject revision sessions over the Easter term break.

Students who receive Bursary will be given textbooks and resources over the coming week. Make sure that you are reading your emails and collect your books from Main Reception.

Finally, look after yourself with: regular breaks, hobbies, exercise and eating well.

Have a nice weekend – hopefully a little warmer in the coming days.

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

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Head of School’s Blog – 12 January 2024

Head of School’s Blog – 12 January 2024

Dear Students, Parents and Carers

I am writing with an update regarding student attendance and to thank you for the efforts you have made reporting illness and following-up on unauthorised absence. I will continue to let students know if they are classed as Persistently Absent (below 90%) and continue to challenge unauthorised absence as it is unacceptable at The Island VI Form.

The national evidence on the importance of attendance is clear. Students whose attendance falls below 95% have significantly poorer outcomes than other students. Those who attend above 95% attain two grades higher at A level than those of similar ability whose attendance is 85%. In terms of the options that students have when they finish their courses with us, this could potentially be a life-changing difference. 

Too many of you are in danger of under performing due to absence.

  • 95% attendance is the national target for all students.
  • 90% attendance equals a day off a fortnight.
  • 80% attendance equals a day off a week.

I hope I can count on your ongoing support in challenging any unauthorised absence going forward. Your support really does make a difference. 

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

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Head of School’s Blog – 5 January 2024

Head of School’s Blog – 5 January 2024

Welcome back and Happy New Year to you all.

This week we launched UCAS and work planning for our Year 12 Students. It may have only been two 1/2 terms since they joined us, but time goes very fast at VI Form and Year 12 should be starting to research their destinations post 18.

Building up Career Capital (leadership, teamwork, resilience, independence…) is needed for work or University. For University you use all of these skills in your personal statement and for work you use them for your covering letter and CV. Make sure you take up opportunities that will enable you to shine at an interview or in an application.

Year 13 UCAS internal deadline was the 1 December. If you missed that date, we will still support you, but the later you leave it, the greater the risk of not submitting the highest possible quality application. This is now an urgent job to prioritise.

As mentioned earlier, time flies at VI Form: 12 school weeks until Year 13 exams for Arts based subjects, 16 school weeks until the main written exams start. Are you on top of your revision? We are here to help and support if needed, you just need to ask.

Enjoy your weekend,

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

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Head of School’s Blog – 15 December 2023

Head of School’s Blog – 15 December 2023

Congratulations to the legal Mock Trial team who had a fantastic time at the Newport Crown Court last Saturday. They excelled at being organised, arguing their cases and public speaking. They won the whole competition held between all of the schools across the Island. Great work, we are very proud of you!

Have a great break, make sure that you get the balance right between relaxing and having fun, as well as making sure that you are fully prepared for the exams that will soon be upon us. If you strip out the holidays, the first exams are only 12 weeks away!

Good systems (revision schedule and planning) always out perform good intentions.

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year. See you on 2 January. 

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

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Mock Trial Champions!

Mock Trial Champions!

The Island VI Form were the winning team at this year’s High Sheriff Inter Schools Mock Trial competition, held at Newport Crown Court. A fantastic achievement!

The competition, now in its 11th year, sees all Isle of Wight schools preparing for many weeks for their roles as barristers, ushers, clerks and witnesses to compete against each other for the coveted High Sheriff trophy. The event enables young people to experience exactly how the legal process operates and gives them the opportunity to enhance their public speaking skills, self confidence and team work.

Our VI Form team – Olivia, Ethan, Lucas, Amelie, Elliott, Chloe, Sherine, Ellie, Willow and Rhianna – performed the best on the day (as judged by the legal experts) and scored the highest, with Christ the King College and The Priory School in second and third place.

Mr Cody and Miss Lowthion, lead teachers and supporters for the students, said “we are incredibly proud of our students for their win – an extraordinary achievement! The team have worked so hard, writing their speeches, researching and practising their lines, and thoroughly deserve this recognition. The Mock Trial competition is an exciting day for the students, to see them up their game in a professional environment. Congratulations to our team and all the other schools, and huge thanks to the legal professionals for giving up their time and sharing their expertise.”


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Head of School’s Blog – 8 December 2023

Head of School’s Blog – 8 December 2023

One more week to go. We have three trips out next week: Fashion students are visiting Independent Arts, Art students are off to the Tate Modern and Humanities students are spending the day at the Houses of Parliament. I’m sure they will all have a wonderful time. Also next week, Drama students are performing in their Christmas Cracker show. If you would like to attend this, it is taking place in the Drama Studio at Medina College at 5.30 pm on Monday. Lessons continue as normal up to Friday 15 December at 3.15 pm and we will return on Tuesday 2 January at 8.50 am. 

If you are able to contribute to the food bank donations that are under the tree in Reception, it would be lovely and very much appreciated. Our Student Voice are selling raffle tickets in aid of ‘Gift to Nature’ with the draw happening during our Christmas Lunch on Thursday 14. The top prize is a £30 Amazon voucher and there are lots of other fantastic prizes to choose from.

This week we sent out a letter and leaflet about the potential risks associated with the underage use of vapes (also known as e-cigarettes). In that letter, it outlined the actions the Council is taking to help tackle this issue, and the support we want to provide to parents and carers to help them talk with their children about this topic. I know that some of you aren’t underage but the message still applies: “Vapes should not be used by children or adults who do not currently smoke. People who currently smoke are encouraged to swap to vapes. Vapes are a quitting aid that reduces the harms of tobacco smoking.”

Have a peaceful weekend.

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form



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Fashion Illustration Workshop with Petra Lunenburg

Fashion Illustration Workshop with Petra Lunenburg

On Thursday 30 November, Fashion and Textiles students at The Island VI Form were extremely fortunate to be able to take part in an online workshop with renowned Fashion Illustrator, Petra Lunenburg. Petra is a Lecturer at the Academie Vogue in Amsterdam and is currently illustrating for the Dutch Elle magazine, teaching life drawing in her own studio as well as continually being involved in exhibitions and projects. She spoke to students about her education and early work experience, initially as a Graphic Designer, before moving into the world of fashion illustration. She spoke about the importance of developing relationships with clients and team working to ensure success, and also shared examples of her work and projects. Petra explained how the digital elements of her experience as a Graphic Designer combined beautifully with her physical drawing, enabling her to fulfil a wide range of briefs.

Petra has worked with many successful designers and institutions, such as Diana Von Furstenberg, Alexander McQueen, Viktor and Rolf, Elle Magazine, G-Star, Dutch Vogue Magazine and Amsterdam Fashion Week, to name just a few.

After a question and answer session, the workshop moved on to the practical element, where Petra shared her extraordinary talent at drawing and demonstrated her tips and techniques for fashion illustration. The students all took part and had a go at creating their own illustrations using pens, pencils, charcoal and ink, which were fabulous.

Fashion and Textiles Teacher, Abby Wilkinson, said “Making connections with professional Designers and Artists currently working, enriches the education experience to a level that cannot be underestimated. This was a truly wonderful experience for the students.”









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Head of School’s Blog – 1 December 2023

Head of School’s Blog – 1 December 2023

Thank you to staff and students for welcoming 270 Year 11 students from Carisbrooke College, Medina College, The Bay Secondary School and The Island Free School. Feedback has been very positive about how much they enjoyed the teaching, being treated like an adult and having a dedicated site to study at.

Year 13 exams have two more days to go and then we return to normal lessons until the end of term on Friday 15 December.

We are, once again, supporting the Food Bank in the run up to Christmas, so if you are able to bring in a tin, a packet or other non-perishable item and put it under the tree at reception, it would be much appreciated. We will be delivering to the food bank on Thursday 14 December.

Finally, we will be holding our Christmas dinner at lunchtime on Thursday 14 December. Tickets for this have to be bought in advance and will cost £3.00 – an absolute bargain price for the traditional or vegetarian full Christmas dinner, a pudding and a soft drink! The deadline to order is midday on Friday 8 December. Christmas jumpers are encouraged and a collection for The Wight Brainy Bunch will be held, so please bring a few coins if you would like to donate.

Have a lovely weekend – keep warm!

Mr Mumford

Head of School – The Island VI Form

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Psychology Talk from Solent University

Psychology Talk from Solent University

On Friday 24 November, key speakers Violet Gibson, Mei Mason Li and Craig Alison came to deliver a psychology talk from Solent University Southampton. Students were presented with an interactive presentation of how our cognitive perspective impacts individuals’ resilience and ability to overcome stress. Students were able to observe physiological changes in volunteers and given key techniques to help counter their stress response.

Students were very engaged asking questions about the body’s physiological response and were able to link their understanding to key areas already studied on the course, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and classical conditioning.

Students were able to gain further understanding of the role psychology has in numerous fields such as education, clinical and occupational psychology. The talk has inspired many to now consider a career in Psychology. Thank you to Solent University for this inspirational session.

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