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News
Summer 2015
Class of 2015
Our Leavers’ Day Party saw the college bidding a fond
farewell to the Class of 2015, so we took some photos
just to capture the moment. We wish all our students
all the best for the future.
S ee more
lickr:
photos on F
xaveriansfc
Xaverian College wishes all our students the very best for the future, good luck!
Wordsmith Winners
This year’s Wordsmith Awards at Z-arts in Hulme saw
our Xaverian team showcase their poetic skills in slam
performance. Judged by writer Zahid Hussain (author
of The Curry Mile) and performance poet Chris Jam,
our students impressively took the title of Best Team,
in an exciting contest against schools and colleges
around Manchester.
Best Performance also went to our students Amy
Porter, Patricia Snake and Hannah Sypula, with
Eleanor Moss taking the title of Most Improved Poet
and Hannah being runner up for Best Lyric. Zahid
Hussain was very impressed with fellow Xaverian poet
and performer, Ryan Miles, and together as a team,
they delivered an incredible performance based on
themes of Protest and Feminism. Under the direction
of ex-Xaverian student Reece Williams (pictured third
from right) and staff member Marianne Daniels, our
students honed their skills on delivering poetry to
an audience.
encouraging self-expression through
artistic endeavour and discipline are
at the heart of the project.”
Wordsmith also partners
organisations such as Young Identity
which continues to showcase work from
many of our students past and present.
The competition involves poet coaches going
into schools and training up a team for a grand
showcase finale. Over the course of three months,
the lyrical and performance skills of our budding poets
have progressed exponentially, so watch this space!
History In Berlin
While Berlin is most commonly known for the fall of the Berlin Wall,
there are many other famous attractions there which still exist
today. Our Xaverian AS and A2 History students recently travelled
to the German capital to experience this extraordinary city. It is a
centre for tourism and was the home of many important historical
events. Here Ella Langley shares her experience of the trip:
“Berlin is a fascinating city filled with such recent historical
significance that it felt as though we were met with a landmark or
museum at every turn. This historical atmosphere was most likely
prompted by our itinerary as a group of modern history students;
but it was clear by the end of the week that the widely spread city
brimmed with memorials and reminders of its complex past.
“From the moment of our arrival at the hotel we were ushered back
out the door and onto a Mr Gibbons-led, whistle-stop tour which
provided our first glimpse of important landmarks. On our way to
the Brandenburg Gate we visited the sombre (in spite of a couple
of tourists with a selfie stick) Soviet War Memorial and The Carillon
Bell Tower which loomed over Tiergarten. After being impressed
by the Soviet bullet holes at the base of the Victory Column many
of us chose to ascend the tightly-wound stairs to its viewing
platform, exemplifying the effects of stopping compulsory exercise
at 16 in the process. Later in
the week a breath-taking tour
of the Reichstag’s glass dome
provided us with an outstanding
sight-seeing opportunity. The
audio-guide in our technologically
advanced ear-pieces informed
Wordsmith is a community based organisation
delivering performance poetry projects to schools,
youth providers and arts organisations and was set
up seven years ago by Xaverian’s very own English
teacher Mr Perry. He said, “As an organisation, we
have established relationships with many aspiring
Manchester secondary schools, academies and
colleges and in the process inspired over 1500
students. Our ethos is to help young people develop
their passion for writing, their performance and
to explore the possibility of the arts as a career.
Transformation, embedding self-confidence and
us that the clear glass dome with its open roof not only uses rainfall
as an energy source to heat the building, but is designed to represent
the transparent and open nature of Germany’s democracy. This
symbolism enabled us to enjoy stunning panoramic views across the
city at our leisure and was a high point of the trip for many.
“Our trip to Sachsenhausen concentration camp was another
contrasting yet equally important moment. After a highly informative
guided tour we were able to walk round the memorial, which many
chose to do alone in reflection. The atmosphere of the camp is hard
to describe, but the respectful mood of the group shows it is one
that left an impression on all of us. Other solemn moments in the trip
included visiting both the holocaust memorial and the memorial to
the victims of war and tyranny which both used light to create striking
and extraordinary spectacles. The Stasi Museum and the Topography
of Terrors focused on similarly sensitive topics as we were enlightened
to the reality of life in Germany by excellent tour guides.
“The interactive elements at the DDR museum certainly provided
an entertaining contrast to the others we visited. Select members
of the group seemed to be overwhelmed by the excitement of a
hands-on museum, judging the pieces of card located next to the
DDR passport stamp to be irrelevant and stamping their actual
passports. The teachers’ discovery and the following march to
the British Embassy to discuss the stamped passports became
somewhat hysterical. However Mr Gibbons’ punchline that if you
could read a G behind the stamp it stood for ‘Gullible’, provided the
perfect comic conclusion to a trip which combined having serious
and significant experiences whilst creating enjoyable memories.”
Whitworth Workshops
Three practising young artists from the Whitworth Art Gallery including ex-Xaverian student Jamil Keating - came in to deliver
three very unique workshops to our Art Foundation and L6 Textiles
students over the course of a week.
Bella Leonard started the week with a day of exploring and
manipulating textiles based materials, creating exciting and
experimental pieces.
Sophie Mahon followed this with a Resin Casting demonstration
which was a completely new process for the students to work with
as they mixed and poured the resin into silicon moulds and made
casts of personal objects collected.
To end the week, Performance Artist Jamil Keating led a stimulating
and thought provoking session challenging the students to think
creatively and laterally. Working in groups and pairs, students were
given a random selection of objects and words to create narratives using automatic processes to develop their ideas.
Shaun Steele, Head of Art said, “Our new building for the School of
Art, Media and Film offers a wonderful space for our students to
be creative and it is exciting to bring in talented people to see the
refurbishment and extension. The expertise from these creative
young artists provided our students with a rare opportunity to see
art from a different perspective - it certainly did showcase the
talent we have on offer.”
The range of student visual and verbal responses will be used
as part of a film being made for the Whitworth’s re-opening.
Founded in 1889 and now part of the University of Manchester,
the Gallery is just minutes from Xaverian College and has
recently undergone a huge one year, £15m redevelopment.
To celebrate the grand opening there will be a Valentine
weekend’s of art, music, talks, walks, performance, literature,
family fun and a fire and light show.
Maths At Manchester University
Xaverian AS Maths students were delighted to welcome Steven
Broom from Manchester University the Head of Admissions at the
School of Mathematics, to discuss the various mathematics courses
and potential careers available to them.
Steven works with schools and colleges to give them an insight into
life at the School of Mathematics and what a maths degree entails.
He organises visits and events to allow teachers and students to
visit the School and find out more about what the university does.
Some of our most popular events include A-level maths revision
days, Making Maths at Manchester, and the School Open Day.
field so having a guest lecturer was very beneficial for our students.
The lecture also put in to context how competitive studying at
Manchester University is –as a top fifty university in the world - our
students were reminded of the work they need to put in now to
progress to the next stage”.
Steven said, “Studying mathematics is a rewarding degree choice
with a multitude of career possibilities. I enjoyed coming in and
speaking to the A-Level Maths students, they asked some very
relevant and interesting questions and I hope it gave them a taste
of university life.”
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Alex Williams, Head of Maths at Xaverian College said, “We have
many talented mathematicians who want to pursue a career in the
3
A Taste of Paris
A group of Xaverian ALevel Language students recently embarked
on an inspiring trip to Paris to immerse themselves in French culture.
During the three days the students enjoyed a range of exciting
experiences.
Every year Catholic schools and colleges from all over the North West of England gather for
the Catenians’ Public Speaking competition. Contestants choose one topic for discussion prior
to the event; they prepare and rehearse their speech, then address the audience and judges
- without reading from a prepared text. Xaverian students have an incredible record in this
event, winning three times in the last four years, quite an achievement.
Whilst many people would dread the idea of speaking to an audience, Tahiya’s quiet
personality is transformed when she is up on stage speaking to an audience. She says,
“I was nervous at the beginning and it was a very different kind of experience for me, but
I am glad I gave it a go. I am surprised but delighted that I won.”
A guided tour of the Mosquée de Paris gave students the
opportunity to practise their language skills as well as to understand
the development of the City as a multi-cultural community.
A tour of the cerebral Rive Gauche and Quartier Latin was followed
by a visit to the Ile de la Cité , including the iconic monument Notre
Dame. In the evenings students relaxed in the Beaubourg district and
on the last evening enjoyed a tour of the Seine River by Batobus.
Congratulations to Lower Sixth student Tahiya Zaman for winning this year’s Catenians’ Public
Speaking Competition at the Manchester Conference Centre, seen here with the Winner’s shield.
Well done then to Tahiya Zaman who, against seventeen other speakers, and with a superbly
confident performance, persuaded a large audience to “Cheer up! The worst is yet to come!”
She has won the competition for Xaverian for the second year in succession, along with £100
and the opportunity to represent the region in the National finals in September. Another
Xaverian student Anna Markman also delivered an excellent speech and was perhaps unlucky
not to finish in the top three herself.
Days were filled with visits to iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel
Tower , with all students rising to the challenge of climbing the 704
steps to appreciate the stunning views of the French capital! Again
students climbed the steep and narrow streets of Montmatre, a
district known historically for its revolutionary and underground
culture, to visit the beautiful sight of the Sacré Coeur, as the sun was
setting on Paris.
Having climbed the Arc de Triomphe, they took a walk down the
Champs Elysées (accompanied by useful explanations by Mr
Coleman regarding the turbulent military and revolutionary history
of France) to visit the Louvre – the most famous art museum in
France, for a tour of the main masterpieces.
Xaverian Champions Again!
Musicians with a Future
as the opportunity to practise their language skills first hand. It was
If you’re a talented musician, not only do you want to study at
probably the best sixth form college for music in the North West,
but you also want to move on to the very best Music Colleges in the
Country to pursue your studies – and that’s what eleven Xaverian
Music A-level students look like doing this year.
certainly an event-packed trip, which left students feeling happy
Top row, from left:
that they had experienced something different and memorable.
• C
araHoughton(Flute)hasbeenawardedaplaceatLeeds
College of Music.
Students were able to gain invaluable experience to expand their
horizons by gaining a true understanding of French culture as well
• A
damAlbinson(Trumpet)hasbeenawardedaplaceatThe
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Xaverian Careers Fair
Xaverian College recently hosted its annual Mini Careers
Fair which was a huge success thanks to the range of
apprenticeship providers and employers that came in
to speak to our students. They were on hand to provide
advice about upcoming opportunities - ranging from
apprenticeships, to voluntary work, and work experience.
The event highlighted possible pathways for our students
to consider, and has encouraged students to focus
on their options for when they leave. Representatives
from local providers were invited into college alongside
firms offering apprenticeships in law, accountancy and
the digital sector to name but a few. This has come at
a great time for our Lower Sixth students, following on
from the highly valued careers talks the week before.
Plus, those Upper Sixth students who are considering an
apprenticeship this summer, gained expert advice and
guidance from a range of recruiters.
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Careers Adviser, Kenny Nolan said, “The Mini Careers Fair
brought together local providers who are looking for high
calibre college leavers. We have advertised a number of
apprenticeships to our students and we recognise the
value of an apprentice to an organisation. Our students
are very bright, tech-savvy and often have great ideas
which benefit many employers. We have also seen
many students willing to volunteer their time in return
for valuable experience, developing their personal skills
and helping others. The event really did provide lots of
things for lots of people. We look forward to seeing our
exhibitors again next year and we’d like to thank them for
their time and commitment to our students.”
• ConorPrescot(Flute)LeedsCollegeofMusic.
• S
imeonEvans(Saxophone)hasbeenawardedascholarshipto
the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and places at The
Royal Northern College of Music, and Trinity Laban Conservatoire
of Music & Dance.
• J
ackMarch(ElectricGuitar)hasbeenawardedaplaceatThe
Royal Northern College of Music.
Bottom row, from left:
• C
harlotteStevenson(Voice)hasbeenawardedascholarshipat
Leeds College of Music and a place at Goldsmiths.
• Robert Roberts (Composition) has been awarded a scholarship to
The Birmingham Conservatoire and a reserved place at the RNCM.
• E
llenLewis(Voice)hasbeenawardedaplaceatTheRoyal
Northern College of Music.
• M
eganGraham(Music&Business)hasbeenawardedaplaceat
Leeds College of Music.
Pictured above, from left:
• B
rookeHirst(Piano)hasbeenawardedaplaceatLeeds
College of Music.
• P
eterLeaver(Drums)hasbeenawardedareserveplaceatThe
Royal Northern College of Music.
Last year in fact, half of those taking music at Xaverian went on to
study music at University level, a fine testament to the quality of
the students who come to us, the strength of the entire Xaverian
music team and, of course, the commitment and enthusiasm of our
Director of Music, Andrew Levendis.
Andrew added, “It is an honour and a pleasure to teach music
at Xaverian College. The atmosphere around the department is
amazing; there is never a dull moment, a real buzz. We work with
the finest students, musicians, teachers and staff in the North West.
Our music students are integral members of the college and over
70% of music students will progress onto HE to study music this
year. Having 11 students get places at Music College is a record
number for the department - they are a credit to themselves and
their families. I am extremely proud of all of them and I would like
to congratulate all of those who have been awarded places at the
country’s leading conservatoires’.
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Scuttlers
Oliver’s Computing Career
Ex Xaverian student and now Software
Engineer Oliver Hemsted came in to
speak to our A2 Computing students
about his career and his journey since
leaving college.
Xaverian Drama and English students recently enjoyed a visit to
The Royal Exchange Theatre to watch the premiere of new play
Scuttlers. The visit was particularly special as it features two former
Xaverian students; Tachia Newall who left in 2008 (pictured left),
and Anna Krippa who finished at Xaverian in 2011 to go on to RADA.
Current A2 Drama student Ramial Aqueel also played an important
part in the ensemble cast.
Written by Scottish playwright Rona Munro, the play depicts the
streets of Manchester in 1885. It is crackling with energy, youth
and violence - as workers pour into Ancoats to power the Industrial
Revolution. As the mills rumble thunderously during the day and
night, fifty thousand people are crammed into one square mile.
The air is thick with smoke and life is lived large and lived on the
streets. This is the world’s very first industrial suburb and the young
mill workers who are the living cogs in its machines form the very
first urban gangs, fighting over their territory with belts, fists and
knives. These are the Scuttlers.
Inspired by the Manchester riots of 2011 and the stories of all the
Manchester gangs between the nineteenth century and today, Rona
Munro’s new play smashes the nineteenth century against a twenty
first century sensibility to bring the young Scuttlers back to vivid,
potent life.
Head of Drama Michael Mitchell said, “We are so proud to see
outstanding performances from former Xavs students in leading
roles for such a powerful play. It is vital that our students get to see
as much live theatre as possible, and to have the additional benefit
of witnessing ex-Xaverian students plying their trade in the world of
professional theatre was great. Our students found it inspirational
to be able to relate to Tachia and Anna. Hopefully they can aspire to
follow in their footstep with hard work, talent and determination.”
Xaverian’s Bike Club
Xaverian College has recently started its bike club by giving all our students the opportunity to
BMX at Platt Fields Park. The sessions take place during enrichment on Wednesday afternoons
and are completely free. Platt Fields and the National Cycling Centre boast bespoke race
tracks that are suitable for both novice and more advanced riders. Students are also able to
benefit from the use of bikes, equipment and specialist coaching.
The BMX sessions are the precursor to Xaverian’s bike club which will be starting in earnest in
the next academic year. Xaverian Bike Club will allow students to mountain bike as well as BMX
and will be offering students the chance to develop their mechanical and maintenance skills as
well as technical riding skills.
Cycling co-ordinators Martyn Bratt and Phil Anthony said, “We are incredibly excited to be able to offer this type of enrichment activity for
our students. Xaverian is in such a great location to develop cycling with it being so close to great facilities and with our strong links with
Transport for Greater Manchester and the National Cycling Centre. We want our students to feel safe and secure whilst cycling and we will
do everything we can to make that happen. Over the next few years we hope to become a centre of excellence for all things bike related.”
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Whilst at Xaverian, Oliver studied
Maths, Computing, Physics and
Accounting. He then went on to
Manchester Metropolitan University
to study Software Engineering for
three years where he graduated with
a 2.I degree. He took the skills he had
learned from computing and applied
for a role within a company and was
successfully recruited by Thales, based
in Cheadle. They are a multinational
company that designs and builds
electrical systems and provides
services for the aerospace, defence,
transportation and security markets.
The project he is currently working on is
for the NTIS (National Traffic Information
Service), which manages and updates
motorway signage. He remembers the
programming that he learned here as
part of his course in Pascal and Delphi,
which gave him a good understanding
of programming. He recommended his
choice of career and clearly loves his job,
about which he is passionate
He then spent time with the students
who were in the final stages of their
coursework. One of those students,
Perry Jones added, “I found the talk
really useful, as Software Engineering is
definitely a career which I will consider
further. It was particularly useful as
I hope to study Computing at MMU
and it was very useful to know about
the selection and range of different
modules in year one.”
German Trip 2015
Xaverian A2 and AS German students had a fantastic opportunity to
tour Hamburg and Lower Saxony as part of their course. They began
their journey with two days in Hamburg and spent their time touring
the old city, climbing the 500 stairs of St. Michael’s church for views
of the city and discovering the city’s many waterways. The boat trip
along the Elbe around the harbour was a highlight as the port housed
the second and third biggest container ships in the world, whilst trying
original hamburgers, which was a must for many in the group!
They then took the train south to Bad Pymont - a spa-town with
healing waters similar to those of our own Buxton Spring. It gained
its reputation as a fashionable place for princely vacations in the 17th
and 18th centuries. Students were well versed in local history at the
sites of ‘externsteine’ (medieval rock formations) and the monument
of Herman - a memorial to local efforts during the Franco- Prussian
War. They passed through some places of historical importance
such as Lüneberg – where field Marshall Bernard Montgomery from
the British Army, greeted the German delegation in a meeting of
surrender, bringing an end to the Second World War.
As well as swimming and relaxing in the pools of Bad Pyrmont, our
students also embarked on guided tours of the town conducted by
students of the local high school. Lessons were held in the morning,
before being shown hospitably around the sites, visiting the historic
castle and gardens. Both groups of students then spent the evening
bowling, eating and relaxing with their hosts in a local restaurant – a
fine time was had by all!
Alison Jacques, Curriculum leader for Modern Foreign Languages
said, “Our students returned home feeling tired but rejuvenated,
and with a much improved awareness of the area, the language
and history. They are now looking forward to catching up with their
new friends again in the summer when the students of Max-Borne
Schule in Germany return to Manchester to receive our Xaverian
warmth and hospitality.”
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Biologists Fly High!
Xaverian College welcomed University of Manchester Scientists to
research possible treatments for medical conditions using fruit flies.
Our students were able to carry out a series of experiments using
the flies - which can be used to investigate treatments for diseases
like Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Drosophila melanogaster - the fruit fly, is a model organism which
means it is one of the most well understood organisms on the
planet. Believe it or not - they can be used to understand humans
better as they are incredibly similar! The experiments involved
using different aged flies to investigate the decrease in mobility
with ageing and also genetically modified flies to understand the
proteins involved in epilepsy. The scientists looked at the nervous
system in detail and how changing the temperature of the flies can
lead to abnormally folded proteins that can have a major effect on
function, even causing disease symptoms. Students also looked at
how mutations in flies can make them walk backwards and respond
to light in an abnormal way.
At Xaverian College, Science has always been an area of
exceptional achievement, with consistently excellent high grades
across Biology, Chemistry and Physics A-Level. We are currently
celebrating our thirteenth year in partnership with the University of
Manchester where the college delivers the Foundation Year courses
in Medicine and Dentistry, Life Sciences and Pharmacy to their
students. These courses attract people from all parts of the globe
and it has grown to such an extent that we are delivering these
courses to over one hundred students from the university – taught
predominantly at Xaverian by our own staff.
Biology teacher, Kim Stafford said, “This was a great opportunity
for the students as it was the first time they had encountered
genetically modified animals, and for most, this talk will have
introduced them to a whole new avenue of biology. It was superb
hands on experience that will hopefully inspire the students to carry
on studying biology at university.”
Psychology Student Conference
A group of AS Psychology students and
staff recently attended the fantastic AQA
Psychology Student Conference held in
Manchester. The day was jam-packed with
lively presentations from some big names
within Psychology offering students a
unique insight on how to improve their AS
grades. These included Mike Cardwell, an
experienced Chief Examiner, lecturer and
author of popular Psychology textbooks, and
Jean-Marc Lawton (pictured right) a Senior
Examiner, author and experienced teacher.
The students discovered how to reach the
highest grades in all areas of the examination,
including essays, research methods and
how to maximise marks with tricky scenariobased questions. Sam Fyfe, AS Psychology
student commented, “The day was incredibly
useful, I’ve learnt a lot about how to improve
my grade and it’s helped me to understand
further what examiners are looking for.”
about this question and I felt it included some
of the extension ideas we have talked about
in class”.
Psychology teacher Miss Bradshaw added,
“The conference was an excellent opportunity
for our AS students to develop some
valuable skills and knowledge about their
exams. To receive advice first-hand from
senior examiners and authors has given
our students a real insight on how they can
maximise their marks and achieve the grades
they deserve. In addition, Farhan winning the
prize for the best question was the icing on
the cake of an already fantastic day!”
The last session involved final ‘top tips’ from
the experts who then answered questions
that had been previously submitted by the
students, with a prize awarded for the best
question. Xaverian student Farhan Rahman
had his question selected from the hundreds
submitted as the best question of the day. He
asked the experts, “Do you think Psychology
will remain scientific or will the field move
away from this perspective over the next
century?” Farhan’s efforts were rewarded
with iTunes vouchers and Farhan said, “I was
very pleased to be picked as I thought deeply
STEM Students At Oxford
Highflying Xaverian STEM (science, technology, engineering
and mathematics) students, currently studying A-Levels
in Maths, Physics, Biology or Chemistry were selected by
Oxford University to attend subject specific study days.
Our students experienced life in Oxford where they stayed
overnight in student accommodation at Corpus Christi
College and St Edmund’s College. They attended a study
day in a department of their choice, including Biochemistry,
Maths and Medicine. The sessions were intellectually
challenging and students were excited to experience
their chosen subject at university level. They also had the
opportunity to speak to current students and take a trip
around the historical city - so famous for producing some
wof the most influential thinkers of the world.
Orienteering at Lyme Park
Xaverian students were recently treated to some spectacular
sunshine at Lyme Park in Cheshire when they took part in a one day
orienteering trip as part of the BTEC Sport Unit. Our students set
off in groups with a map, compass, and a navigation sheet, tackling
the fifteen acres of this historic deer park.
Armed with the skills they had gained in the classroom, our
students put in to action what they had learned. They took bearings,
understood gradients and planned the quickest route around the
course. They all followed a compass accurately, and thanks to their
fitness and navigation skills, got back well before the designated
finish time.
Sports teacher and leader of the group, Phil Anthony said, “It was
fantastic to see how well our students completed the orienteering
challenge. Considering most of them have never done this before,
they really did cope well and I was impressed. The majority of our
students are city dwellers and I think they found the vast green
spaces intimidating at first, but they soon began to love the grounds
and the activity.
“Our students appreciated the nature and beauty surrounding them
with some of the most picturesque views and scenery in all of the area.
The hills, forest, wildlife or simply looking across at the hustle and bustle
of Manchester from a distance, there was something for everyone.”
Physics Teacher, Bridget Binks said, “Our students are spoilt
for choice when choosing their next step as there are many
local universities that are outstanding. Our partnership with
Manchester University enables them to benefit from the
cutting edge sessions in Science, very close to our college
campus. Taking them to Oxford allowed our students to
experience an academic environment and surroundings
that are less familiar to them; however once again, they
were a credit to themselves and the college through their
intellectual curiosity and professional behaviour.”
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9
London to
Phil On Film
See McQueen
Former Xaverian student and award winning television and film
director Phil Hawkins came to college to speak to our students about
the industry and his journey since leaving. He began his career very
early, at 13 in fact, when he directed his first short film. Since that time,
he has continued making a huge range of films, with Steven Spielberg
describing him as, “One of the best new and upcoming directors.”
It was through the experience of writing, directing and editing his
own films, that he has honed his skills as a filmmaker. His early
passion for the theatre provided an invaluable insight into writing,
working with and directing actors. Whilst at Xaverian he directed
the film - ‘The Women Of Troy’ – which went on to win Best Director
at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival in 2008 and
continues to be sold to schools, colleges and universities worldwide.
After writing and directing a short
film for the BBC, Phil fell into the
commercials industry. He worked
his way up the ladder from Runner
(he still makes a mean cup of tea)
to VT Op, Camera Assistant, 3rd
Assistant Director, 1st AD and then
Director. His first commercial won
a Roses Advertising Award and
his work has since won over ten
advertising awards. He works for
numerous advertising agencies
and production companies
across the world.
A group of Textiles students went to the Victoria and Albert
Museum in London to see the phenomenal work of fashion designer
Alexander McQueen. The sell-out event had a glitzy premier in
London and our students were some of the first to see the exhibition.
This was a rare opportunity to see the collections of a unique artist
who tragically died four years ago.
He spoke to our A2 Film and Media students - giving them a real
insight into making films and shared his experiences since leaving
Xaverian. Media teacher Allie Crewe, who taught him, said, “Phil was
a joy. He has always been incredibly focused on what he wanted to
do as a career – with the most extraordinary drive and vision. It was
wonderful to have him returning to college and giving our students
a real understanding of what is expected from them, and what the
industry has to offer.”
Our students really enjoyed his visit, adding, “We didn’t know how
much work and money actually goes in to making the shortest
of films. It was also surprising to hear the number of Hollywood
blockbusters that are made in the UK, including those that are right
on our doorstep in Manchester. He gave us a unique insight in to his
life, teaching us things about the industry we never knew about, and
even gave us some cool tips on making our films for our coursework!”
Chemistry at
Xaverian AS Chemistry students recently attended an Open Day
at the prestigious University of Oxford. They spent the day in the
Department of Materials discovering the latest developments in
solar panels and seeing the university itself.
The students discovered that the elastic properties of the polymers
changed with temperature, and a ball of material that had
previously bounced, became a brittle glass like substance below
a certain critical temperature, shattering on impact. During the
workshop sessions the students were able to discuss the latest
research with the postgraduate Oxford students.
After a buffet lunch, the students were treated to a tour of the
Department of Materials Science, a look around the new Science
Park and a visit to one of the Colleges, where they saw the students’
accommodation and where they have their academic tutorial
sessions. The day concluded with a talk from two students on why
they chose the Materials Science course, and a talk on the next steps
in the application process.
Head of Textiles, Emma King said, “Our students really benefitted
from seeing this exhibition - the level of work and creativity was out
of this world. I hope this has inspired our talented students to see
fashion design in a totally new light, and encourages them to explore
their own unique skills.”
Students Create A Youth Manifesto
Xaverian College were delighted to welcome Dr Andy Mycock – a
political participation expert from the University of Huddersfield.
Studies have found that 18-24 year olds have been disengaged
from formal political participation due to a range of reasons. He
spoke to our AS Government & Politics students about the youth vote
in elections and how to develop policy ideas that matter to young
people. Students discussed with Dr Mycock the issues of generations
of non-participation in electoral politics and the impact this can have
on future disenfranchisement within the political system.
The session allowed students to debate how important their age
group is to political parties. Students recognised that the main
parties do not see them as full members and that party manifestos
do not offer policies that target issues concerning the youth vote.
In association with pressure group Democratic Audit and industry
group Political Studies Association, students were invited to draft
policies that they would like to see political parties include in their
forthcoming election manifestos. The Manifesto for Youth project will
compile policy ideas from students across the country and will be
sent to parliamentarians and the media to highlight the issues that
this group believe are important.
Oxford University
The new generation of materials used to convert energy from
the sun into electrical power were described and shown to our
students. Operating on very low levels of sunlight the materials are
set to make every household in the UK self sufficient for energy by
2030! Our students then had the opportunity to research their own
materials in the laboratory workshop by constructing light sensitive
materials, by adding various thicknesses of metals to films and
investigating their electrical conductivity.
The son of a taxi-driver, he grew up in the city’s East End and
left school at 15 to become a tailor’s apprentice on Savile Row in
Mayfair. Already a highly proficient and inventive tailor, here he
learned how to be a fashion designer, drawing inspiration from
London’s history, its world-class museums and emerging ‘Brit
Art’ scene. Alexander McQueen consistently promoted freedom
of thought and expression and championed the authority of the
imagination. He was such an assured designer that his forms and
silhouettes were established from his earliest collections, and
remained relatively consistent throughout his career.
His work has had an unprecedented effect on the fashion world
and this exhibition was a recreation of the show at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York. The exhibition contained numerous works
from his MA show through to the last collection he designed in 2010.
It was creative, skillful, daring and at times very moving. The curators
incorporated themed rooms and music to evoke the right atmosphere
for each concept. All in all, it was a successful and inspiring trip.
Government & Politics Curriculum Leader Alison Hall states,
“Research strongly suggests that if voters do not participate in their
first election, they will never vote as it becomes habit forming. It is
ironic that a picture of youth political disengagement is portrayed
through the media when 18-24 year olds are very politically engaged,
perhaps not in formal ways but with new informal methods such as
pressure groups and social movements. Young adults at Xaverian
College have a very clear idea about today’s political, social and
economic issues and it is a shame that many politicians do not
routinely engage with them - they would learn a lot!”
AS students Roisin Finn and Chloe Mulholland enthused, “We found
it enlightening and felt that we now have a better understanding of
what youth participation is and how it can make a difference. One
of the most interesting points made was how the idea that votes
at 16 is not the only way young people can participate. We now
appreciate that lowering the vote has potential issues associated
with it. It was thought provoking to hear different perspectives on
how young people can get involved, and how we can help get more
people interested in politics.”
AS Chemistry student, Paul Axis said, “It was great to be able to
synthesise my own compounds and investigate their electrochemical
properties. The workshops gave me hands-on experience of the
latest research in materials science.” Fellow student Mollie Fordyce
felt it was a brilliant opportunity for her: “I am really glad I came on
the Open Day as it has given me experience of working on the latest
research in the labs, and a chance to look around the university to
see what it would be like to study here.”
Curriculum leader Dr Hyde added: “What a fantastic opportunity
for our students to get laboratory experience in the construction of
the newest photoactive and polymeric materials. To see what life
is like both as an undergraduate student and as a post graduate
researcher, especially at Oxford, was a real treat.”
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Classic & Historic Rome
For over a thousand years the city of Rome was considered the
centre of the known world and continues to be a setting for many
factual and fictional films, books and television programmes. Forty
of our AS and A2 students recently travelled to Italy to visit ancient
Rome before travelling to Sorrento and Naples to visit Pompeii and
Mount Vesuvius. Here Jacky Cao shares his experiences of the trip:
“Italy, the country of modern and ancient; it has endured through
the ages and will surely endure for centuries to come. As students of
Ancient History or Classical Civilisation, the opportunity to visit and
explore this incredible country was an experience that will certainly
be remembered.
“Our first day in Italy began at the port of Ostia; after a journey of
nearly twelve hours it was exciting to visit such an expansive site
for our first taste of Ancient Rome and to stretch our legs. With
high spirits and gorgeous weather we were all eager to go and do
some sightseeing - the beautifully crafted mosaics and the grand
amphitheatre, those were just the beginning. Over the next three
days we were guided through the winding streets of Rome and
had a chance to explore not just stunning architecture but also
the wonders of Italian food – pizza, pasta and the most important
food of them all - ice cream! The Rome Metro also allowed us a
fairly efficient way of touring the city. Travelling aboard we visited
the Vatican City, the most anticipated part of which was arguably
the time spent within the Sistine Chapel; under the watchful eye of
Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam”, we were all struck with awe and
reverence for the magnificent frescos which had captured the minds
of countless others before us.
“Yet we were not entirely without misfortunes for the five days as
for the latter part of the trip we were accompanied by torrential
rain. Not only were our clothes dampened, but our moods as well,
for our outside visit to the
Colosseum was cut short by
the quite sudden change of
weather. Visiting the Forum
too became a challenge since
the rain would not clear.
Still, we experienced what
it would have been like as
a Roman to walk down the
marketplace and imagine the
once gleaming marble temples and shop stalls back in their heyday
– selling various assortments of charms, vegetables, and weird
fermented fish sauce.
“On the four hour long coach journey to Sorrento we were treated
to the most wondrous sight: a golden sunset over the Bay of Napoli
with Mount Vesuvius looming in the distance – almost like something
out of Lord of the Rings, except with more ‘selfies’ and fewer hobbits.
Whilst in Sorrento we also visited the ancient ruins of Pompeii and
Herculaneum and amongst the ruins we saw the casts of the victims
from the eruption in 79BC; seeing them was sombre and harrowing
and exceptionally moving, especially the small children. However
the tour guide did liven up the mood with his fantastic explanations
of the inner and intricate workings of Pompeii, along with the weird
and wonderful origin theories of Vesuvius. Plus let’s not forget that
there was always time to visit cafes in Sorrento and Naples and
have great Italian coffee, so it was not totally doom and gloom!
“The entire week overall will again be certainly remembered, and
not just because of the immense fun that was had due to Mr Gee’s
late night quiz, but also due to the fact that we developed a greater
appreciation and understanding of the Ancient World which is truly
a brilliant experience.”
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News
Summer 2015
Xaverian College | Lower Park Road | Manchester, | M14 5RB
T: 0161 224 1781 | E: [email protected] | W: www.xaverian.ac.uk
@XaverianSFC