Dear parents and guardians

It is a very busy time of the Year at the College and as I was having lunch with some Year 12 students today we were discussing the difficulties of managing their time and trying to balance the IB, A Levels, homework and other commitments outside of College such as sport, service projects and sometimes part-time jobs.  As we know the ability to manage our time and prioritise is a vital life skill that the students need to learn but there are some ways in which we can offer support.

This week we hosted a parent seminar about study skills and time management at the College and  it was great to see many of you there. It offered some useful tips on how parents can support their children during this challenging time and I thought it would be useful to share some of them with you here. The 6th Form students have 5 study skills sessions over the two year period with an external training company called ‘Elevate’ and it is one of their trainers who ran the session.

With respect to technology and in particular the distraction of  phones and messaging services the presenter gave some good examples of apps that the students can use to prevent them from receiving messages or from accessing a particular website during a fixed period of time, these included ‘Self-Control’ and ‘Cold Turkey’.  He also mentioned apps such as ‘Moment’ and ‘Forest’ which act as a deterrent to using your phone and encouraged students to spend their time more productively.

The presenter explained the importance of reviewing class notes and making revision notes based on the work covered.  This should be done on a regular basis and not left until revision time, weekly review and note taking is important These notes then need to be fully understood and committed to memory where appropriate which can be done in a variety of ways such as practising past papers, and he recommended 3-4 weeks of simply practising past papers per subject, and using things such as mnemonics for memorising lists.  I found discussing the concepts with a study buddy and teaching them when required very helpful but this is only appropriate for students who are disciplined in their approach and won’t turn the session in to a social event!

Parents can sign-up for a free guidebook that gives information on how to support your child without becoming the enemy here: https://uk.elevateeducation.com/parents/download-guidebook

Kind regards

Naomi Atkins, Head of 6th Form and Vice Principal, 11-18

From the Head of HE Guidance

Guidance for our upper sixth students remains focused on university applications.  Of those who have already submitted their applications the majority have now received at least one offer and  many multiple offers in subjects ranging from classics to biochemical engineering. We also have our first unconditional offer of the year and we are sure there will be more to follow if the student makes that university their firm choice.

Our lower sixth students meanwhile have had a dedicated guidance assembly introducing them to the timeline of events over the next year leading to their UCAS application next October/November. In just over a week they will learn more about the destination program ‘Unifrog’ and start exploring its functionality. Providing much more than simply university destinations our sessions leading into December will help the students appreciate the vast range of new and exciting courses now available whilst beginning to consider some of the competencies they may wish to eventually demonstrate in their personal statement

SPF Christmas Cards for Sale!

Please support the 6th Form Charity Committee

Artwork by 6th Form student - Rebecca Sheng. All proceeds to benefit British Heart Foundation. Cards are £5 for a pack of 8, 14.8cm square high quality matt card. 

Cards are available for sale on WisePay. To buy in cash directly, please email rponek@gmail.com

Tickets for this term’s big musical extravaganza Bugsy Malone are now on sale!

It’s 1928 and Fat Sam’s Grand Slam Speakeasy is the place to be for those in the know. Fizzy dreams of a future in show business whilst Tallulah and the girls tap dance their way through life. Fat Sam Stacetto and his Hoods are rakin’ in a tidy profit, that is until arch rival Dandy Dan turns up the heat.

And Bugsy Malone? He’s just lookin’ for the next prize fighter, oh and hopin’ to impress a certain singer named Blousey Brown.

Our show is set in a 1920's style speakeasy bar - you can choose to be a regular audience member and sit on the raised seating or, for a more interactive experience, you can book a table in Fat Sam's Grand Slam Speakeasy for up to five people.

Tickets may be purchased using the links below.

Thursday 22 Nov - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/cambridge/senior-school-hall/bugsy-malone-thursday-evening/2018-11-22/19:30

Friday 23 Nov - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/cambridge/senior-school-hall/bugsy-malone-friday-evening/2018-11-23/19:30

Saturday 24 Nov - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/cambridge/senior-school-hall/bugsy-malone-saturday-matinee/2018-11-24/14:30