December 2012 - Honiton Community College

Honiton Community College
AUTUMN TERM 2012 MAGAZINE
Let’s Celebrate!
The 2012 Year 13 cohort results are the best in recent years. Results reflect the
sustained rise in standards at Honiton Community College and our commitment to
producing excellence at Post-16.
Mr Smith
Celebration Awards
Exam results
Fundraising
Enrichment Programme
Sport News
Department News
1 THE PRINCIPAL WRITES
Season’s greetings to all staff, students and their families
Glad tidings to one and all! I hope you have had chance to take a peek at our new website that was
launched earlier this term. Vector 7, a local web designer company, based in Honiton, won the tender to
work with us to design and create a modern, fresh, informative and easy to use website. Feedback has
been excellent – I trust you would agree. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of
Mr Wright (Director of ICT), Mr Riggs (ICT Technician) and the staff of Vector 7, specifically with the
design and the population of the website. With more frequent uploading of information and news to the
website – often on a daily basis, together with the daily Twitter releases, I made the decision to release a
newsletter that celebrates student accomplishments termly. In conclusion, our social media provides
recent topical news, whilst the termly newsletter is a summary document.
Last summer’s GCSE results were record breaking for the third year running. The 2011-12 Year 11 cohort
achieved the highest ever 5+A*-C percentage; it being 80%! We also doubled our best ever percentage of
A*/A grades. At Post-16, we celebrated a further rise in points per entry and points per candidate (now a
three year positive trend). I am extremely proud of the achievements and performance of both GCSE and
Sixth Form students. We welcomed back high numbers of Year 11 as they embarked on their Key Stage 5
studies, and bid farewell to many Year 13 students now well in to their first year undergraduate degrees
at Universities across the country.
Year 7 have been with us a whole term now and I must congratulate them on a smooth transition; made
more successful due to the support and guidance of Mr Browne (Year 7 Head of Learning), Mrs Smith
(Year 7 Student Wellbeing Coordinator), Miss Adams (Assistant Principal – Student Wellbeing) and the
Additional Needs Department.
Last year, many, many students from Honiton Community College experienced an overseas trip – an
opportunity to develop social, moral and cultural knowledge and understanding of the wider world. My
staff and I encourage every student to make the most of the wonderful opportunities these voyages offer.
Last year, students journeyed as far away as India and the Himalayas, Poland, Germany, Spain, France,
and Austria. This year many of the excursions will be offered again. If you have not yet considered getting involved then please do – there are still places left on the French Exchange and also the Ski trip to
Austria.
Finally, I would like to welcome new staff: Mrs Sarah Dunn is our new receptionist (and replaces
Mrs Sally Boland who is now working in the Finance Office), Miss Kathryn Blaszkiw (Psychology),
Miss Pippa Wyatt (Sport and PE), Mr Tom Skelding (Sport and PE), Mrs Isobel Stacpoole who is covering
for Mrs Margo O’Keefe, Mrs Marian Littlejohn who is covering for Mrs Jenny Habbal, and
Mrs Rachel Smith (Maternity cover for Mrs Shelley Walker). I am extremely pleased with the calibre of
teacher we have appointed; indeed recruitment is a real joy for me as our reputation guarantees the best
candidates available are keen to join us!
Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year
Glenn Smith, Principal
STUDENT ATTENDANCE 2
Thank you all
Last year was a successful year for student attendance at Honiton Community College. Our whole school figure
rose from 92.88% to 94% meaning the ‘average student’ was in school for 179 of the 190 school days. The staff
would like to thank students and their parents and carers for their hard work and commitment in helping achieve
this.
For this year, we have all been set an even more challenging target of 95%. Below you will find details of our attendance procedures and how your child’s attainment will improve as their attendance increases.
Why is attendance important?
Attending school is a legal requirement. For every 17 days absence from school, a pupil can drop one GCSE grade.
Nationally, only 10% of pupils with poor attendance achieve 5 A* - C grade GCSE’s compared to 58% of pupils with
good attendance. 21% of pupils with very poor attendance leave school with no qualifications compared to 3% of
pupils who have regular attendance. Every half-term 100% attendance is rewarded with points added to the
inter-tutor group competition.
Holidays and absence requests
The school will not normally grant requests for absence in term time. Your child’s Learning Manager will consider
requests in exceptional circumstances if a child has greater than 95% attendance.
The school will not grant requests for:
1.
Any student below 95% attendance.
2.
Students in Years 10 or 11.
3.
Any exam week or in the week preceding exams.
4.
The first 2 weeks of any school year.
5.
The first week of any term.
Please tell us
To support your child in establishing good habits for their working life we have a clear pathway for monitoring and
supporting attendance (below). To help us work with you, please keep the school informed of any issues that may
affect your child’s attendance  01404 42283.
Miss Adams, Assistant Principal
Honiton’s attendance escalation pathway
1. FIRST DAY CALLING
All parents/carers receive a first day call after registers are confirmed.
Intervention led by Honiton
Community College staff
2. FIRST AND SECOND LETTERS
Student’s attendance slipping or showing a pattern that causes
concern. Meeting with Head of Learning if necessary.
3. MEDICAL LETTER
At this point, written medical evidence is required for medical
absence and illness. This can take the form of a letter, appointment slip
or photocopy of prescribed medical label.
Education Welfare
Service informed
4. ATTENDANCE CLINIC
Parent/carer is invited to attend a meeting with our College Attendance
Support Advisor, Mrs Rees.
5. FAST TRACK OR PENALTY NOTICE
At this meeting, a Penalty Notice may be requested from the
Education Welfare Service (EWS) or a Fast Track may be deemed
appropriate.
6. PROSECUTION THROUGH EWS
EWS advise and lead
when appropriate
3 ENRICHMENT
College Enrichment Programme
This term’s enrichment programme is up and running and
turn out so far has been excellent. There are 56 clubs and
activities running across a huge range of areas. The College
considers it vitally important for your son or daughter to take
part in enrichment activities outside of their regular lessons
and that enrichment should be at the heart of school life
helping him or her to become a well-rounded individual. We
very much hope you will support us in encouraging your son
or daughter to take part. Students, remember to talk to
Mr Hall if there is an enrichment activity you would like to see
but which we don’t already offer and we will see what we can
do!
Mr Hall
Aim Higher Geography, A-level Maths help sessions, Badminton,
Basketball, Boys’ Football, Boys’ Futsal, BTEC Coursework catch
up, Chess Club, Community Sports Leaders Award, Computer
Programming, Debating Matters, Drama Club, Fit 4 Teen Gym,
Further Maths (AS), Food Hygiene Course, GCSE French, GCSE
History, GCSE Music, GCSE Religious Studies, GCSE Textiles, HCC
TV, History Club, Homework Club, ICT catch up, Imagination
Station, International Society, Let’s Get Cooking, Maths
Challenge, Maths Class (A*), Modern Languages revision, Music
Technology Club, Netball, Photography, Positive Parenting,
Psychology Club revision, Reading Group, Rocket Club, Rugby,
Samba Band, Science Club, Spanish revision, Squash, Staff
Student Choir, Table Tennis, The Honiton Jazz Project, The Vocal
Group, Trampolining, Year 11 Homework Club.
FRENCH
EXCHANGE
cost now
£350 to
cut from
£199
Fly from Exeter (9 March 2013)
Return Paris (15 March 2013)
Further details from Mrs Theeten
St Kizito School, Uganda
Mrs Kyagamo is a primary school teacher
from Uganda. Her school is partnered with
Littletown Primary School and she was here
to share best practice regarding the English
education system.
As part of her week-long visit she spent the
day with us at Honiton Community College;
keen to look at our English, Mathematics
and our Special Educational Needs Department.
Mr Smith toured the College with his guest
and explained the rudimentaries of leadership and management of a secondary
school.
Mrs Kyagamo also sat in on a CET meeting
where she presented images of her school
and region along with pertinent facts and
figures. We were very interested to learn
about life in her school.
Mr Smith
EXAM RESULTS 4
Exam Results
GCSE RESULTS AUGUST 2012
53% of the year group achieved 5 or more A*-C
grades including English and Mathematics, 80%
achieved 5 or more, A*-C (up 15% on last year).
Students of note this year were:
Sam Johnson
8 A*, 2 A
Rory Norrington 3 A*, 4 A, 3 B
Max Mason
3 A*, 3 A, 3 B
Amy Hutchings
2 A*, 5 A, 5 B
Ione Pidgeon
2 A*, 6 A, B, C
Meg Falkner
1 A*, 6 A, 2 B, C
TEAM DYNAMICA
Designers of the future . . .
Team Dynamica, consisting of Cameron Boland,
team manager, Nick Long, design engineer,
Lloyd Batten, resources manager and
Ellis Kennedy-Holland, manufacturing engineer,
have continued to work hard this term. They will
be taking part in the regional finals of the F1 in
Schools Competition in February. The aim of the
competition is to design a car based on the
Bloodhound SSC. The car measures approximately
20cm in length and will be raced down a track
20m long. The boys meet regularly at lunchtime,
working on the development of their car and a
strategy to fundraise through sponsorship.
It was as a result of this that they were pleased to
welcome Martin Taylor of Goodridge Fluid
Transfer Systems Ltd to College lately. Following
a presentation explaining their work to date and
their future plans a deal was agreed whereby
Goodridge will help Team Dynamica with both
funding and with the development of the car.
YEAR 13 RESULTS AUGUST 2012
The 2012 Year 13 cohort results are the best in
recent years. Results reflect the sustained rise in
standards at Honiton Community College and our
commitment to producing excellence at Post-16.
Noteworthy statistics include:
Another 4% rise in A* - B grades (up a total
of 17% in two years)
Average points score per entry has risen
again (18 points in two years).
Significant individual performances include:
Tommy Shepherd (off to read Maths at
Nottingham)
Sam Loescher (off to read Electrical
Engineering at Bath)
Annabel Frost (off to read Adult Nursing at
Plymouth)
Jess Doe (off to read Medicine at
Southampton).
Mr Holt
Team Dynamica are currently sponsored by
Westward Paper Sales, The Consortium, Everys
Solicitors, TelesisEagle, Goodridge and ProServe.
They are still hoping to raise more money to
cover travel costs, manufacturing of the car and
materials to finish the car such as paint and decal
stickers to display sponsor details. They would be
pleased to hear from anyone who is able to help
in any way.
The team will also be assessed on their marketing
strategy and would like to ask as many to follow
them on Twitter as possible @Team Dynamica.
5 COLLEGE AWARDS
College Awards
Honiton Community College held its annual Celebration of Achievement evenings
in September and October to recognise students’ academic, sporting and
pastoral achievements from the past year. As well as recognising individuals,
the events were also an opportunity to celebrate the continuing success of the
College, including record breaking Year 11 and 12 exam results.
The guest speaker for the Upper College Awards’ Evening was Mary King,
equestrian and London 2012 Olympian. She gave an extremely inspirational talk
to the students and presented the awards.
Equally, impressive was
Cllr. David Foster, Honiton Mayor’s talk when he presented the awards to the
Lower College in October.
Awards were given to the most improved and highest performing student in
each subject and each year group.
Year 7 Winners
English - Joshua Buss, Katrina Nellist; Mathematics - Jack Haigh, Jacob Rabjohns;
Science - Michael Johnson, Michael Porton; Beliefs and Values - Jack Haigh,
Rhys Lane; History - Florence Parker-Gifford, Sam Ellett; Geography Michael Johnson, Imogen McFarlane; Modern Languages - India Tisbury,
Joe Gillard; Resistant Materials - Charley Horn, Kattre Voznjuk; Food Technology
- Joshua Bus, Jordana Mason; Textiles - Vanessa Jackskon, Giles Derryman; IT Erin Marshallsay, Daniel Sampson; Music - Olivia Miller-Ratcliffe, Jordana Mason;
Drama - Amelia Hibbert, Perry Foot; Art - Joe Gillard, Lucy Willis; Sport Kyle Newham, Zoe Kidson; Pastoral Award - Jack Haigh, Zara Sillitoe; Highest
Praise Points - Jacob Ambrose, Vanessa Jackson, Zara Sillitoe; Governors’ Award Jack Haigh.
Year 8 Winners
English - Ben Nursey, Sophie Land; Mathematics - Cameron Boland,
Anthony Wright; Science - Gabriel Parker-Gifford, Aleksandra Morawska;
Geography - Carys Lilley, Luke Heaven; History - Weasel Hooper, Abigail Blake;
Beliefs and Values - Lauren Davey, Hollie Johnson; Modern Languages Hannah Ferry, Blake Freemantle; IT - Gabriel Parker-Gifford, Snezhana Klimentinova; Music - Megan Dixon, James Craig; Art - Carys Lilley, Makindi Trim; Drama
- Matthew Ayres, James Loader; Sport - Blake Freemantle, Carys Lilley; Resistant
Materials - James Dunne, Chelsea Masters; Textiles - Sophie Land,
Matthew Ayres; Food Technology - Ben Nursey, Lucy Patch; Pastoral Award - Ashley
Munt, Megan Dixon; Highest Praise Points - Al Forsyth, Holly James;
Governors’ Award - Gabriel Parker-Gifford.
COLLEGE AWARDS 6
Year 9 Winners
English - Ben Williams, Emma Prettejohn; Mathematics - Zhengchao Lu, Matthew Jackson; Science - Sam Riley,
Louis Groves; Geography - Cerys Little, Ben Facey;
History - Kira Foster, Scott Kelly; Beliefs and Values Jessica Jacobs, Adam Fullick; Modern Languages - Jessica Jacobs, Brandon Knight; IT - Ella George, Matthew Jackson; Music - Ben Williams, Dean Guest; Art - Sirin Bozkurt, Jamie Johnson; Drama - Ben Mason, Josh Fuller; Sport Owen McCreadie-Taylor, Lauren Hunt; Resistant Materials - William Tyers, Zhengchao Lu; Textiles - Ben Williams,
Scott Kelly; Food Technology - Lauren Hunt, Joseph Turl; Pastoral Award - Ben Willis, Kira Foster; Highest Praise
Points - Joshua Goodier, Emma Prettejohn; Governors’ Award - Ben Williams.
Year 10 Winners
English - Megan Hawkins, Janie Wright; Mathematics - Hazel Tucker, Leah Chester; Biology - George Hack,
Tiffany Jefford; Chemistry - Megan Hawkins, Katie Durrant; Physics - Robert Bourne, Daniel Nellist; Core/Additional
Science - Ayse Huggett, Samuel White; Geography - Katy Burnell, William Lamb; History - Jordan Clements,
Janie Wright; Philosophy and Ethics - Megan Hawkins, Daniel Nellist; French - Megan Hawkins, Rebecca Stace;
Spanish - Ella
Symonds, Hazel Tucker; IT - William Lamb, Ruairi Edwards; Art - Brittany Lakin, Connie Smith;
Photography - Katie Durrant, Ollie Thomas; Music - Kieran Rew, Reuben Drake; Graphics - Tommy Gillard,
Erin Rhode; Food Technology - Clare Lemon, Ruairi Edwards; Textiles - Kristina Debenham, Jazmine Richards;
Business Studies - Ella Symonds, Rebecca Hooper; Sport - Billy Reed, George Hathaway; Pastoral Award Thomas Hembrow; Governors’ Award - Megan Hawkins.
Year 11 Winners
English - Samuel Johnson, Bud Harris; Mathematics - Samuel Johnson, Thomas Haigh, Ione Pidgeon, Caitlin Russell;
Statistics - Amy Hutchings, Jazmyn Horn; Biology - Amy Hutchings, Jazmyn Horn; Chemistry - Lewis Trim,
Amabel Jeffries; Physics - Samuel Johnson, Ione Pidgeon; Core/Additional Science - Emily Bramhall, Jack Dare;
BTEC Science - Matthew Cann, Sammy-Jo Sprague;
Geography - Samuel Johnson, Frederica Lemon; History Madison Rogers, Joshua Marshall; Philosophy and Ethics - Samuel Johnson, Zoe Dunn; French - Rory Norrington,
Alexander Stoykov; Spanish - Polly Bucknall, Frederica Lemon; IT - Andrew Adams, Sammy-Jo Sprague; Art Samuel Johnson, Beverley Long; Drama - Max Mason, Zoe Dunn; Photography - Meg Falkner, Rowanne Small;
Music - Darcey Williams-Alleway; Citizenship - Sophie Pugsley, Abigail Munt; Resistant Materials - Lewis Trim,
Edward Keywood; Food Technology - Daniel Churchill, Natalie Sampson; Graphics - Alessandra Cobban; Business
Studies - Katie Davey, Alexander Stoykov; Child Development - Pollyanna Briant, Sophie Pugsley; Sport Ashley Trudgeon, Ebony Lacey; Pastoral Award - Emma Galbraith; Governors’ Award - Samuel Johnson.
Sixth Form Winners
Work and study skills programme - Alex Trevisick; Level 2 - Jodie Blake, Jessica Smith; BTEC/Vocational Annabel Frost, Alexander Donne-Davis, Jemma Butt, Charlie Wright, Tara Drew, Lydia Hodson; AS exams Tamara Rutland, Lucy Meecham, Katherine Storey, Christopher Hack, Andrew Moth, Daniel Stevens; A2 exams Lauren Facey, Sam Loescher, Natasha Haward, Kayleigh Pearse, Patrick Feeney, Stuart Larcombe, Georgina Paul,
Natalie Turl; EPQ project - Sam Loescher, Alexander Hughes; Academy excellence essay awards - Claire Baily,
Bethany Hutchings; Positive attitude, work ethic and tenacity - Rob Kingdon, Emily Dunn, Zoe Inkpen, Laura Ma,
Charlie Pym, Oliver Loader; Contribution to Sixth Form - Claire Baily, Matthew Reed, Josie Denning, Alex Jackson,
Zoe Warner-Harris, Bethany Sillitoe; Lower Sixth Cup - Lewis Gillingham; Tirard Trophy - Jessica Doe; Upper Sixth
Cup - Thomas Shepherd.
7 SPORT REPORT
Sport Report
INTER-TUTOR COMPETITION
Year 7 Boys’ Cross Country
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Rowan Westall (JMR)
Oscar Walsh (KLA)
Aidan Harrison (VWR)
Oliver Chesterfield-Talbot (JMR)
Ashley Mitchell (RCO)
Jake Williams (KLA)
Year 7 Girls’ Cross Country
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Chloe Howard (RCO)
Charlotte Holdsworth (WCO)
Hannah Land (RCO)
Hannah Selway (VWR)
Charlotte Lynch (VWR)
Olivia Fenton (RCO)
Boys’ Basketball
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
8KTA
8BGU
8DDA
8SWA
8RWA
Girls’ Netball
9DKU
9KHE
9JPN
9MOK
9DCL
8RWA
8DDA
8BGU
8KTA
8SWA
9DKU
9DCL
9JPN
9MOK
9KHE
RUGBY TRIALS
Honiton Community College was well represented at the u.16
county trials which were held on 13 September. Finn Parratt,
Cody Northcott, Connor Long and Wes Keywood all went to the
trials, where they performed excellently. The format of the
trial consisted of four 20 minute games under the close scrutiny
of the county selectors. After a long day, Finn, Connor and Wes
were invited back to a training camp in Braunton on
SPORT REPORT 8
Year 8 Rugby
U.13 Netball
Year 11 Rugby
29 September, with Cody being first
reserve. The PE Department is very
proud of the achievements of the four
boys and hopes that the boys’ success
will inspire the other year groups to
follow in their footsteps.
Mr Skelding
Year 9 Rugby
YEAR 11 Rugby
9 YEAR GROUP NEWS
Sixth Form
Non-uniform Day
12 October
The grand total raised on this day
was £687.66. This will be equally
divided (£343.83) between Sixth
Form funds and the Red, White and
Blue Day charities which was run
jointly by ABF The Soldiers' Charity,
The RAF Benevolent Fund and The
Royal Navy.
Another £164 was raised for Jeans
for Genes from a cake sale.
Dr Bawn
Year 11
Year 11 Mock Interviews
Who knew this event would be such
a success? All Year 11 students
were invited to attend for interview. Local employers and College
ed at an ‘Apprentice’ style ceremony in the afternoon.
Turner, Stephanie Sparks, Harry Wright,
Brittany Lakin.
WINNERS: Katy Burnell, Jack O’Riordan,
Auriel McShaw, Tiffany Jefford, Rosie
Turner, Danielle Curley, Lucy PerryBaker, Jessica Hall, Harriet Wallis, Paul
Stapleton, Megan Denning, Hazel Canniford, Luke Harbor, Rebecca Hooper,
Connie Smith, Saphire Martin, Sam
White, Olivia Stephenson, Matthew
Hodge, George Hathaway, Chris Lynch,
Jimmy Smith.
Congratulations too, to the following students who produced outstanding work experience presentations which they delivered to local
business people at the “Work
Experience Celebration Breakfast”
recently. The content and quality
were particularly impressive along
with the students’ presentation
skills. Well done to: Cody Northcott,
Work Experience
Hazel Canniford, Zara Boots, Sam
White, Joanne Davey, Connor Long,
Auriel McShaw, Jordanna Broom and
Jazmine Richards together with
Cllr. Halse the Deputy Mayor (pictured
above).
In July 2012, Year 10 undertook
their week of work experience. The
whole year group attended placements, some within the Honiton
community and some much further
afield; two students were at placements in London, two in North
Somerset and one girl attended and
enjoyable week at Exmoor Zoo.
Seventeen of our students undertook two placements each; also attending Royal Marines and Army
courses, Devon and Cornwall Police
and hospital placements. These
placements were very sort after and
some of the students had to interview for these placements.
governors acted as the interviewers. Students were told to dress in
‘interview’ clothes and conduct
themselves as if this were a real
interview. The whole year group
threw themselves wholeheartedly
into the exercise. Students were
grouped by ability and each group
of students were competing for two
‘jobs’ and the winners were reward-
The following students were
nominated by their employers for
outstanding work during their
placements: Hollie Miller-Ratcliffe,
Lucy Baker, Zoe Beanlands, Molly
Meads, Grace Bucknall, Jordan RoeLavery, Andrew Olive, Laurisa Selway,
Oliver Lee, Rebecca Hooper, Sampson
Roberts, Kay McLachlan, Harriet Wallis,
Courtenay Appleby, Jessica Hall, Rosie
Mr Robson
Year 10
Work Experience
Now, preparations are underway
for the present Year 10 to find a
placement for their week of work
experience which will be 22-26 July
2013.
All of Year 10 parents should now
have received a letter outlining the
work experience programme for
next summer.
Students have
already started working towards
finding a placement and will have
received advice and information to
help them complete their application forms.
All placements need to have a
YEAR GROUP NEWS 10
health and safety check before
students can attend and this is
arranged through the Devon Education Business Partnership. Due to
the length of time it takes for all
placements to be checked the
completed yellow application forms
must be handed in to Mrs Andrews
before the Christmas break.
Students will not be allowed on
placements without the completed
paperwork and checks.
Competition for work placements is
always high, and as well as students
from Honiton there are students
from other Devon colleges and
schools competing for places at the
same time. We would, therefore,
appreciate your help in encouraging
your son or daughter to secure a
placement as soon as possible.
“What’s my line?”
As part of the Year 10 Impact Day,
students were invited to quiz a
group of visiting professionals on
their work and career paths.
Included in the line up was a police
officer working in the Criminal
Justice Department, a Head of HR, a
dispenser, a chartered accountant,
the managing director of a web
design company and a chartered
surveyor.
student had a hands-on tasters of
the courses on offer.
Duke of Edinburgh
We started doing our DofE bronze
award in October. There are four
sections: physical, skills, volunteering and an expedition. So far, for
our volunteering we have been
helping out at the homework club
every Thursday after school. At
homework club, we support and
help younger students and we have
to do this for three months. For our
physical we have both chosen to do
it for six months. We have to attend a physical activity which is
challenging and will help us improve
in our chosen sport. I am doing
basketball for Exeter Eagles
women’s team and Dan is doing
football for Honiton Town FC. For
our skills which we both have to do
for three months, we have to take
up a new skill, learn more and
improve on it. Every so often we
have to upload evidence to our
DofE profile, this can be in the form
of pictures, writing and videos. Last
of all, we are doing an expedition
next year which will be for two days
and one night.
Dan Hole and Ameerah Askew
Amateur finals in the 1.10m class.
This was run over three days with a
warm up class on the first day
which James won then on the
second day there as a warm up and
heat 1 and James won of these. On
the third day, there was another
warm up and heat 2 and James also
won both of these.
James was presented with a Wales
and West jacket, the gold medal,
sash and really big 1st Rosette and
also won £160. James’ other ponies
also did really well coming home
with a 1st, 2nd, two 4th, two 5th
and another £100 between them.
The next big competition for James
is the Welsh HPI in July next year.
Mr Williams
Year 9
Blue pathway students
Great Eight Grace
Congratulations to our students
who are following the Blue Pathway
and who are out on work experience on Thursdays. The reports
received from employers have, so
far, been excellent.
I have been riding quads since I was
4 years old I have been racing quads
since I was 8. My dad started racing
quad because he used to sell them
and he got into the racing. Now all
my family race. We all go as a big
team with others that my dad
sponsors. We race in the southwest and British Championships and
also in Europe.
Apprenticeship tasters
In early November, a group of
students visited Bicton College, to
find out about the range of Apprenticeship-based courses that are on
offer at Bicton, Petroc and Exeter
College for post-16 students. Each
Gold medal for James
James McLachlan won the gold
medal at the Wales and West Junior
This year my little sister and I rode
Great Eight which is an 8-hour
endurance race which you race with
a team mate. We were the 1st
11 YEAR GROUP NEWS
placed ladies team.
Grace Keitch
Food Technology
Two Year 9 groups have just
completed their course in Food
Technology and have been making
food and photographing it for a
magazine article.
(Honiton) Squadron Air Training
Corps? We are looking forward to
seeing a group photo from the year
8s in their ‘Blues’. Younger students in Year 8 who were disappointed as they were not quite old
enough to join are hoping to join in
the next intake.
Mr Phillips
Year 7
I have been impressed with the
cooking standard most students
have shown, in particular the boys!
Matthew Ayres made a delicious
looking cake, Jacob Chugg-White
cooked lamb shank and too many
more to mention by name.
Best in Show
Jacob Chugg-White showed his calf
in the Honiton Show and received
1st in Best Beef Calf. He also came
4th in the Young Handlers. He also
took part in the Grand Parade. Well
done Jacob!
First bronze award
James Craig has done really well,
yet again, being the first one back
with his Activity Passport, gaining
his bronze badge for the last halfterm. Well done James!
Miss Carnell
Year 8
Air cadets
How proud are Mr Phillips and
Miss Fawcett of the students in
Year 8 who have joined the Air Cadets after a presentation in assembly last half-term from 1064
Year 7 students have settled into
College life seamlessly and, I am
pleased to say, are gaining in
confidence and seem to be enjoying
their time with us. Lots of students
have joined in with our wide variety
of after College clubs and activities.
At the time of writing, Year 7 has
accrued over 1,500 praise points,
congratulations to them for this
achievement!
Residential visit to Brixham
We are all looking forward to our
residential to Brixham, given the
time of year, we just hope the
weather will be kind to us! Just a
reminder, the dates for the visits
are: Monday 10 December and
Tuesday 11 December (RCO and
WCO), Wednesday 12 December
and Thursday 13 December (VWR
and KLA), and Monday 17 December and Tuesday 18 December
(JMR).
Lepra Fundraising
We were delighted to welcome
Barbara Tinsley into our assembly
to introduce the charity, Lepra and
raise its awareness with Year 7
students. We had a fundraising
fortnight and the students raised an
impressive £795 by selling cakes,
washing cars, etc. Particular
mention must go to Corbin Beckett
(7RCO) who raised over £185 by
doing a sponsored silence for a
whole weekend!
College Executive Team
Congratulations to Max Neil and
Faith Foster who were voted by the
Year Group to represent them as
our Year 7 CET representatives after
some impressive speeches in
assembly. This is a very important
role and we know Faith and Max
will carry it out responsibly.
Zumba
As a ‘thank you’ for raising the
money for Lepra, we had a Zumba
session in an extended assembly
and Year 7 proved to be some pretty sharp movers!
Mr Browne
GOVERNOR INTERVIEW 12
Governor interviews
Immediately when
interviewing the new
College Governor,
Richmal Shorter,
it was obvious why
she had become a
school governor:
funny and passionate
about helping the
College, it’s clear she
will be a valuable
member of the
board.
Richmal works as a science technician in the College
and is now part of the staff governors after she volunteered at the start of the year to be on the
board. Having no previous experience in governing
she went on a course and enjoyed it as well as the
several meetings she’s been to since. Her term will be
for four years and she hopes to be able to support the
staff and students at Honiton College and help the
body continually improve the College.
great emphasis on
how she is “proud to
be a governor here”
because of all the
great things she hears
about the students at
Honiton.
Mrs Smith also
recently received
royal approval after
meeting the Duke and
Duchess of
Cambridge, she said
Prince William was “very nice- which was great”. She
met him after volunteering to help at the Olympics and
the main press centre nominated her. There were
70,000 volunteers and as Mrs Smith had a background
in marketing she worked at the main press centre and
had to help 6,000 photographers and journalists! She
said that the Olympics made her “proud to be British”.
Overall it seems that Honiton College is in very safe
and competent hands!
Beth Norris and Zoe Warner-Harris
Richmal mainly grew up locally and now that she has
her own family she feels passionate about helping the
College; especially with raising the profile of the Sixth
Form and ensuring every student performs well. She
says she is “passionate about young people’s opportunities, it’s not all about A*s, it’s about moulding young
people and ‘success for all’!”
Another governor we interviewed was
Kate Smith. Kate used to work for the MET Office
and when they moved to Devon she took up a place
on our governing body. She told us a bit about how
the governing body works, for example they
oversee any major decisions such as when the College
wanted to go to academy status and the board had to
look at the pros and cons and decide. Mrs Smith also
wants to support the drive to be Outstanding and the
“spread of scientific ideas”, as we are a science status
school.
Mrs Smith says she enjoys being a governor because
“there is a lot of variety” and as a member of the
Financial Committee she has a responsibility to
oversee how the College spends the money and
ensuring that it’s spent in the best way. She also puts
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Re
13 PARENTMAIL and PAYPOINT
Art
This term Mr Dormand's Year 8 Art group has been
working on Expressionist portraits.
These acrylic paintings by Shay Crewe, Ellie England,
Tirion Johns and Callum Abbott, clearly show some
accomplished paint handling.
Well done!
Mr Dormand
News from the Finance Office
Parentmail2
Here at Honiton Community College we are
improving our communications with parents and
carers. As many of you are aware, we have adopted
the use of Parentmail2 which will allow us to send
home information via email or text message rather
than via traditional paper letters which may only ever
see the inside of a student’s bag.
We are now on a final drive to sign up the last few
parents in order that we can start to use the system
during the next few weeks. If you have received a
letter recently please register now. Registration is
needed for each child although accounts can be
linked together.
This system will be invaluable in case of school
closures or other emergencies to allow us to keep
parents up to date. No one wants their child to be
the only one to arrive at College to find we are closed
due to snow! Ultimately we expect to use this system
to send home information such as trip letters,
newsletters and general updates.
Please direct any queries to the Finance Office.
Tutor winners
Congratulations to the following tutor groups
who were all rewarded with a non-uniform day
on 23 November for being the winners in their
year group: 7WCO, 8RWA, 9KHE, 10MTH and
11BWO.
CHRISTMAS
MENU
Tuesday, 11 December
Wednesday, 12 December
Thursday, 13 December
£3.00
Traditional roast turkey with all the
trimmings, served with a choice of trifle or
Christmas pudding. There will also be a
vegetarian choice on each day (also available for
students on free school meals).
Paypoint Cards
Paypoint cards are only valid for topping up your
child’s dinner money account. If you are unable to
make a payment for a trip online using Parentpay
please contact the Finance Office for a barcoded letter. A different letter is required for each trip/item to
be paid for.
Mr Wills
As it is now the winter term Innovate is providing
soup every day (£1) or together with a roll
(£1.25).
From the week commencing 3 December there
will be ‘Christmas Goodies’ on sale until the end
of term.
HCC TV 14
On Thursday, 15 November, the Mayor of
Honiton came to visit our ICT Studio. This was
in connection with the Year 7 version of HCCTV;
but this was called HCC Blast!
Over the past month, around twenty Year 7
students have been working on producing a
show in groups of five or six. One group of girls,
(including the Mayor’s daughter), decided he
was the person they wanted to interview along
with Diddy the Bear.
What a Blast!
The girls rehearsed it over and over again to
make it perfect and on the day they took control
of everything from operating the cameras to
helping arrange the set. They did fantastically and have set a great example of what can be achieved as a team. I
very much look forward to seeing what the girls can do as they improve their techniques over time. I would also
like to say a massive thanks to Mrs Creed who has helped run HCC Blast and did some fantastic work with the girls.
Mr Riggs
Introducing our new Prefects . . .
Ella Symonds
Jaydn Summa-Neal
Lucy Lear
Katy Burnell
Luke Harbor
These students were selected from a field of eleven Year 11 students. They survived a rigorous application
process to support students across the College and have specific areas of responsibility:
Ella Symonds (Academic Mentoring) - “I am passionate about my learning and really wanted to inspire others
to do the best they possibly can. By becoming a prefect I have the ability to do this”.
Jaydn Summa-Neal (Wellbeing Mentoring) - “Hi, I'm Jaydn and I wanted to be a prefect, not because I am
the perfect role model - believe me I have made mistakes, but because I feel I can help the younger children deal
with problems that they may be facing”.
Lucy Lear (Extra-Curricular Opportunities) - “I am very passionate about College work and achievements and
the effects this has on later life when applying for jobs or college etc. I work closely with the students in order to
ensure they reach their maximum potential and have good references and achievements to fill their CV's up with.
If they have any suggestions on inter-tutor events or extra curricular activities please feel free to share these with
me and I will do my best to help run them”.
Katy Burnell (Praise and Reward Opportunities) - “I am enthusiastic about encouraging students to do well and
to feel as though they have done well, this motivated to me to get involved with the praise and reward system”.
Luke Harbor (Praise and Reward Opportunities) - “As one of the reward and praise prefects, I aim to improve
and enhance the current status of the reward and praise system within the College”.
15 FUNDRAISING
Children in Need
raised £786 on 16 November 2012.
Fundraising for 2011-2012
Students and staff have raised substantial amounts of
money for charities:
Macmillan Cancer Support
Jeans for Genes
Breast Cancer Care (Pink Tuesday)
BBC Children in Need (2011)
Children’s Hospice South West
Sports Relief
Exeter Leukaemia Fund
RSPCA
Cancer Research
Wildcru (Kids 4 Cats)
Total
Year 7 raise money for LEPRA with Zumba!
10.00
125.14
613.91
797.13
330.58
1,888.73
71.75
41.36
50.41
1,059.01
£4,988.04
ENGLISH 16
In Year 8, we have written action-adventure stories,
using a photo as our starting point. Erin Marshallsay
chose this photo.
Dr Kirby
The Stranger on the
Mountain
I
I travelled on the rock hard surface. Grit flicked up
behind me, as I sprinted towards the sound. Faster
now, my legs were just a blur, the sun letting out hot
gas which beamed down on me. “STOP” a voice yelled.
Was that Ella?
I took a glance down. Ella sat trapped, squashed in a
cramped hollow in the rock. She was gripping her leg,
trembling and shivering. “I’m cold, Sophie,” Ella cried,
still clutching leg.
“I’ll get help,” I exclaimed, and scrambled back.
stepped towards the life-threatening edge. The
view was astonishing – just like a fairy tale.
Suddenly exhaustion travelled through me. The
vast moor spanned out to the horizon. It was all I could
see apart from the drop. The blackbirds were trilling
and chirping in the shrubbery below, the swallows darting and swooping across the clear blue sky. An arête
was just in my sight, and a rock-face overhung with ivy.
I breathed in appreciatively.
My hand tingled, sending shivers through me. I had to
help. My feet clashed on the ground, the sound sent
from rock to rock. I gazed around at the other hikers,
looking for Mum and Dad, but each and every person
looked the same. My eyes watered and it was all a blur.
Salty water trickled down my face.
“Hey, Ella, isn’t it beautiful?”. It bounced off the cliffs
towering around me. I turned, seeing thin air. Where
was Ella? I screamed and yelled – “ELLA!”. The other
hikers stared at me, but I ignored them. I scanned the
area looking for her. But she was nowhere to be seen.
It was a lady, hair tied back. I went tense. A soft chilly
hand touched me. What was I to do?
Erin Marshallsay, Year 8
I stepped back in horror.
Whooh! The cliff crumbled – a part of the cliff
tumbled down the rockface. My heart was thudding vigorously – I hope it
wasn’t as loud as I
thought! I could hear the
faint sound of footsteps
in the distance. Then a
glimpse of pink jacket as
it vanished down the
pebbly rocks.
Suddenly, I heard a
scream echo into a
silence. Now I felt panicky, my head rushing
with thoughts. That was
Ella! “Ella, I’m coming,” I
bellowed out. A weak cry
rang in my ear.
“MUM!” I yelled in shock, “HELP!”. I could now focus
on a figure coming towards me.
17 DEPARTMENT NEWS
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
MGB restoration update
Progress on restoring our MG has
been slow due to recent holidays
and timing issues but we are now
pleased to announce that starting
on 8 November we will be holding
monthly four-hour community
workshop sessions every second
Thursday of each month.
If you or your parents are interested
in old cars or can offer help with
mechanical or bodywork repairs
please come along anytime 3 to
7pm. to T14 on any second
Thursday and I will be pleased to
give you more information.
Mr Erskine
MUSIC
Career in the Royal Marines
On Thursday, 18 October, Colour
Sergeant Neville Dudnam led an
excellent interactive one-hour
workshop for ten KS4 students
considering following a career in
music in the Royal Marines. The
presentation was informative and
interesting, focussing on the training that all marines do as well as the
excellent opportunities to perform
music of different kinds all over the
world. All those who attended the
workshop enjoyed what they saw
and may well be thinking about it as
a potential career.
Mr Carter
LEARNING SUPPORT
Devon ability games
On 17 October, eight students ranging from Year 7 to 11 accompanied
Mr Lane, Mrs Price and Mrs Webb
to the Devon Ability Games at the
Tarka Tennis Centre in Barnstaple.
The day started off with a short
presentation featuring three of
Team GB’s paraolympian medal
winners.
The group then embarked on the
first of their three events, Table
Cricket. The entire group worked
well and thoroughly enjoyed the
game which was developed by the
English Cricket Board and used a
converted table tennis table. Next
we moved on to Boccia, a game in
which involved underarm throwing
adapted balls, aiming for targets
and accumulating points. Finally our
team participated in Frisbee Golf, a
game in which each person had to
throw Frisbee into cages.
Congratulations to the group which
completed all tasks and overcame
all obstacles in their path, doing so
with great zest and good teamwork,
with the final obstacle being the
fallen tree in our path on the way
home about 5 miles outside
Honiton.
Connor Barrett,
James Loader, Alistair Gibbings, James
Stanbury, Jimmy Smith, Liz Blackmore
and Leila Fawcett. A big thank you to
Dean Patch for helping on the day.
Mr Lane
Students who took part:
FOOD TECHNOLOGY
Chutney making
The College is holding a Christmas
party for senior citizens.
The
students in Year 10 have been hard
at work making chutney for the
visitors to take home with them.
Ingredients were donated by keen
garden growers amongst the staff.
Year 10 made the whole College
smell lovely!
Mrs Clegg
BIOLOGY
Pig dissection
A piglet dissection was carried out
in S24 by some of the students in
Year 10 and 11 that have a keen
passion for Veterinary Science.
Mr Hudson instructed and aided
them with the dissection. The piglet
was kindly donated by Mr Wills after it was unfortunately crushed by
its mother. All students that wanted
to take part in the actual dissection
had the opportunity to do so. Stu-
DEPARTMENT NEWS 18
dents put on aprons and gloves and
then followed the
instructions
from Mr Hudson. Some made incisions to peel back skin and muscles,
where as others removed different
organs. This allowed us to discuss
the structure and function of different organs and systems. This was a
thoroughly engaging session where
students asked questions and obtained answers through kinaesthetic learning. It was a fantastic experience and very rewarding for all
those students that took part in the
activity.
Mr Hudson
Behaviour Policy as well as introducing key members of staff such
as, ELT, Heads of Learning
and Heads of Departments. We had
fun making them and working
together to find out all about the
College.
Olivia Baber and Imogen Lyne
Visit to Barnfield Theatre
“When we got there we were introduced to the manger. At first she
told us about the history of the
theatre and that there were big
cogs under the floor that raised the
chairs up and down. The theatre
was built in 1890. When we finished
talking about the history we went
to the Green Room where the
actors go to chill out or to rehearse
their lines before they go on stage.
Working as a team
CREATIVE ARTS
Remember, remember . . .
Remember, Remember the Fifth of
November was the plan this year
for catering manger Sue Pym who
wanted to give College diners a dining experience they wouldn't forget.
Sue created a special Bonfire Night
themed menu which included
Monster Muffins, Toffee Apples and
a Firey Chilli Con Carne. Creative
Arts
and
Media
Technician
Denize Creed helped Sue with her
ideas by creating a piece of spooky
As a class, we came up with different solutions to the problem, made,
tried and tested each other’s games
which was fun. The winning teams
were “Teacher Tack” informing
students of the
Ps and Cs
system
and teachers strictness
based on Top Trumps. “Moving on”
and “Jumping 4 Joy” based on the
Olympic games. Each game
explored the College’s Code of
LEARNING SUPPORT
The WASSP Sixth Formers all went
to visit The Barnfield Theatre in
Exeter on 5 November as part of
their Performing Arts work.
LIFE SKILLS
Our learning objectives were to
learn how to work as a team and to
consider how we all learn in different ways and have different
learning styles. To understand the
importance of rules and to become
creative thinkers. We were given
the brief to design and make an
entertaining board game to be
aimed at Year 6 students moving up
to Honiton in Year 7.
living art; a headless Guy Fawkes
who came to life at lunchtime with
the kind help of six formers Lamara
Blackmore and Lisa Campbell.
Mrs Creed
Afterwards she showed us where
the actors go to get changed. They
have speakers above the doors in
the changing rooms so the person
in the wings can let the actors know
when it is their turn on stage, there
is also a running list on the wall in
the changing rooms so they know
when they have to get ready.
We were told what the superstitions are in the theatre and what
you shouldn’t do on stage when you
are performing”.
Laura Enticott
CONGRATULATIONS!
Innovate, our College
caterer, has been
awarded an Education
Excellence Award
2012 for Contract Caterer
of the Year, sponsored by
ParentPay.
Wanting to maintain or improve
your current fitness levels, or get
into shape for Christmas? Why
not come along to Honiton
Community College's Monday
evening Zumba Class with
Johanna and party yourself into
shape with this easy-to-follow, effective, Latin inspired
dance fitness party!
Everyone is welcome to come along and join in an hour of
pure fun at ONLY £4 per class - FIRST CLASS FREE!
The evening class is held in the Dining Hall to the left of
Reception: 6pm - 7pm.
Anyone wishing to attend the classes should wear something comfortable to exercise in, along with trainers. It is
advisable to bring along a bottle of water and a towel.
Dates
7 January
18 - 22 February
28 March
15 April
27 - 31 May
26 July
First day of Spring Term
Half-term
Spring Term ends
First day of Summer Term
Half-term
Summer term ends
Any questions, please contact Johanna directly on
 07739518587 or
[email protected]
CHRISTMAS
SWITCH OFF
FORTNIGHT
 Carol Service 
Starting on 19
November was
‘switch off fortnight’. This
means that
when a classroom was not in
use all extra
lighting, projectors etc. were to
be switched off.
Tuesday, 18 December
7.00 pm at St Paul’s Church
Some of the Science Club members went around
the College snooping to see what was left on. They
wore ‘green’ badges so that staff and students
knew what they were up to. When they found
something that was still switched on they left a
sticker on it to remind staff to turn it off. They also
kept marks for each department to see which was
the most energy efficient and kept a log of this. At
the end of the two weeks the students presented a
certificate to the head of a department that was
the most energy efficient.
Mr Hudson
ALL WELCOME
Free admission,
with a retiring collection for charity
Book Amnesty Week, 7 - 11 January 2013
Currently, there are 200 student
(and staff) overdue books from
the Library. For this week only,
there will be no charges, or letters home to parents, if books
are returned.
Mrs Tancock, Librarian