Sixth Form Student Bulletin Week beginning

Sixth Form Student Bulletin
Week beginning Monday 4th May 2015 (Week B)
Good luck to everyone with Art ,Photography or Textiles exams this week.
 Tuesday 5th May: Leavers’ Assembly
 Wednesday 6thMay :12.30pm in H8 a meeting for anyone interested in
applying for Oxford or Cambridge universities.
 Monday 11th May : Start of the summer exam timetable (for written
papers).
 Monday 8th June: A2 courses start for Year 12. Tutorial period and
Enrichment classes all start again in this week.
 Tuesday 16th June : Higher Education Evening for all Year 12 parents
6.00pm-7.30pm
 Friday 19th June : Higher Education Trip for all Year 12 students to
Sheffield - details to follow
 Wednesday 24th June: Year 13 Leavers’ BBQ
 Monday 29th June - Friday 3rd July: Year 12 Work Experience Week
Please note that the school will be open for revision on the following
Saturdays: 9th and 16th May. Please come in from 10.30am via the Science
gate.
The Common Room and the IT rooms will be available and if you need
a room to do some group revision in we can open one up.
Revision Tips
1. Avoid distractions: Mobile phones (or Gaming) and revision = lack of focus on the subject
matter = lack of success in the exam. So…..turn it off and put it away.
2. Time : 3 hours a day is generally the recommended amount for after school revision up to
the exams. At weekends 6 hours is the recommended amount. So create the time, in
particular it is essential that you book time off work.
3. Method: find a method that works - this takes time. Notes/mind maps/flash
cards/group revision/pair testing/past papers…..Ask for help if your way isn’t working.
4. Relaxation - if you are spending a large amount of the day revising your brain needs a
break so; exercise/see friends/watch your favourite TV programmes.
5. Ask for help - if you are getting worried - don’t suffer in silence.
Time off work
Please make school work your priority until after the exams and book time off work
Revise on the go!
AS Psychology Revision App by Cara Flanagan –Year 12 Psychology students, please have a look at
this.
The Common Room
The Library Quiet Room is open to work in until 4.00pm every day.
Remember the Common Room is open until 6.00pm every day for you to work in.
Revision Sessions this term
A-Level Geography Revision Session Timetable 2015 after Easter
Date
Wednesday 6th May
Wednesday 13th May
Topic
AS GEOG1 – Cold environments
AS GEOG2 – Skills and personal
investigation
Tuesday 2nd June
Wednesday 3rd June
Monday 8th June
A2 GEOG3 – World Cities
A2 GEOG3 – Tectonics
A2 GEOG3 – Development and
Globalisation
A2 GEOG3 – Weather
A2 GEOG4 – Skills and personal
investigation
Wednesday 10th June
Wednesday 17th June
Miss Walter is running ‘drop in’ sessions every Monday on Kindertransport for
Year 12 English Literature to offer extra support on areas you are unsure of and to
go through past papers.
Physics with Mr Henderson in S1 on Monday lunchtimes and with Mr Teal
after school on Tuesdays.
History are running revision sessions every Wednesday in H4 for The Condition
of England
Psychology and Sociology AS after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Sporting Activities
If you take part in sport, coach or officiate out of school could you please let
Mrs Booth have the details – thank you.
Year 13s – Locker Keys
Please remember to return these to Student Reception (to get your deposit
back), when you have finished using them.
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Careers Appointments
We have no more scheduled interview days but if you do need to speak to the
careers advisor please let Mrs Booth know and she will arrange an interview
for you. Our Careers advisor will also be around to speak to and offer advice
on Results Days
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Happy Birthday this week to:
Harry Whysall – 7th May
Year 12 Work Experience June 29th - July 3rd
Your tutor will have given you an Employer Agreement Form. This needs to
be completed as soon as possible please. You also need to get the Employer’s
Liability Insurance details by either visiting the business premises or
telephoning them for the information (please make a note of the person you
have spoken to and the date and time at the bottom of the page if you are
doing this over the telephone, otherwise the employer should sign and date
the agreement form). It is vitally important that you obtain this information as
soon as possible as until an up-to-date risk assessment has been approved
you will not be allowed to attend the work experience. Please see Mrs Booth
is you need another copy of the form or if you are unsure about what needs
doing.
If you have not already applied for a placement, please do this as soon as
possible. You will struggle to get a placement in the area of your choosing if
you leave it too late.
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The University of Nottingham is holding a Physics Taster Day on Tuesday 30th
June for all Year 12 students. This is a free event which consists of a mixture
of lectures, practical activities and liquid nitrogen demonstrations. Activities
will be held in the Physics Building on the University Park Campus. For more
information contact Chris Staddon at chris.staddon@nottingham.ac.uk
This is in Work Experience week so you would need to discuss with your
placement if you wanted to attend.
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Shadow Judging opportunity for the BBC National Short Story Award
This is available to all Year 12 and 13 students who are interested in shadow
judging the BBC National Short Story Award with Book Trust alongside Sarah
Hall, Ian Rankin, Allan Little, Tash Aw and Di Speirs
Register your interest before the 22nd May and check the website for more
details http://www.booktrust.org.uk/prizes/1
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Vacancy Bulletin
Deloitte Bright Start school leaver opportunities for Year 13 students:
Deloitte are offering students the opportunity to join them on their various school leaver
schemes, where they will be exposed to a range of business areas working alongside
leading professionals.
This is an excellent way for students to kick-start their career, build their professional
network, work towards professional qualifications and earn a competitive salary straight
after school or college. Throughout this five-year programme, Deloitte will organise social
activities especially for BrightStart students, as well as offering the chance to join
companywide clubs – making this a great alternative to university!
Visit their website for more details
http://www.purepotential.org/events/opportunities-with-deloitte/
Pure Potential
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British Gas Apprenticeships
British Gas are looking for individuals for Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Information System Apprentice
Apprentice Gas Installation Engineer
Trainee Smart Metering Expert
All information and links to apply for the above roles are on the
Apprenticeship Notice board just outside the Sixth Form office.
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Aldi Apprenticeship Programme: With the option of going into either stores
or Logistics. For more details visit www.peratraining.com/careers/aldiapprenticeships or email aldi.apprenticeships@first4skills.com
Childline
The Nottingham branch of Childline are looking for volunteers to train as
counsellors. They are running an information day on Monday 11th May at
6.00 pm in Old Basford, Nottingham. For more details contact
rosie.golton@nspcc.org.uk
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Year 12
University-planning ahead
We have arranged to take you all to a UCAS Higher Education Fair in
Sheffield after your exams. We have also arranged an evening event for
you and your parents where the process of applying and financing
university will be explained. A letter will be going home about both of
these events soon.
Year 13
 University offers and finance - What to do?
If you haven’t replied to your offers yet please see Mrs Livings
 Finance applications: you need to be getting on with these.
https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-register-log
 Apprenticeship help for Year 13
On Fridays after school Mrs Livings is available to help anyone applying
for apprenticeships or employment. Please come along or see her and, if
you can’t make Fridays, a different time for help can be set up.
Visit www.careermap.co.uk – the quick and easy way to search for
apprenticeships in your area
Mrs Booth has up to date information on apprenticeship opportunities across
the East Midlands please ask her for more information.
Apprenticeship opportunities are also available from the App Store for
iphone users and from Google Play for android phone users.
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Financial help in the Sixth Form
If your family circumstances change during your time in the 6th Form and this
leads to financial hardship please come to see us so that we can see if it is
possible for you to access the Bursary Fund.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------News item of the week: It is of course election week……….
Politics made clear
In the last general election in the UK only 44% of 18–24-year-olds voted. Are you interested in politics, or do you
change the TV channel when politicians appear on the screen?
Leaders and parties
The Prime Minister is the Head of Government in Britain and the Queen (or King) is the Head of State. British
people vote in elections for Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent them. Anybody entitled to vote can put
themselves forward as a candidate irrespective of whether they belong to a political party. There are many
political parties in the UK but the traditional big three are: the Labour party (the main left-wing party), the Liberal
Democrats (the main centre party) and the Conservatives (the main right-wing party). This election the media
has also given a high degree of coverage to other parties which may contest seats successfully – the Green
Party, UKIP and the nationalist parties of Scotland and Wales (SNP and Plaid Cmwry).
Voting
The UK voting system operates on a majority vote system on a constituency by constituency basis. In other
words the country is split up into districts (constituencies) and each of these elects an MP on a ‘first past the post’
basis. Normally the political party that wins a majority of seats (ie has the most MPs) wins the election and its
leader becomes Prime Minister. He or she then forms a government by appointing members of the party to be
Ministers – the most respected of these will be invited to work as leading committee known as the Cabinet. If on
the other hand, as seems likely this time no party has a majority of MPs there is what is known as a ‘hung
parliament’.
Coalition government
What often will happen in a ‘hung parliament’ is that the largest party will ’do a deal’ with another party to form a
coalition government. This is what happened after the last election when the Lib Dems joined with the
Conservative and Nick Clegg became David Cameron’s Deputy Prime Minister.
Young people and politics
All British citizens over 18 can vote in general elections. Some people think that young people in Britain are
apathetic and don't care about politics. About 37% of 18–24-year-olds voted in the 2005 general election. This %
is much lower than other age groups.
This is what some young people said about British politics.
‘I can’t relate to any of the politicians. They all seem fairly similar and rarely listen to young people. If politicians
really listened to the voters, I think more young people would vote.’ Fiona, 20 from London.
‘I didn’t vote in the last election but I do care about my country. Thousands of people protested on the streets
against the government's plans to cut financial help with university fees earlier this year. Only rich people will be
able to go to university if we have to pay thousands of pounds to study! I was at the protest and so were most of
my friends at uni. I’ll vote in the next election if things don’t change.’ Sean, 19, from Leeds.
‘Politicians need to start listening to us. We would get engaged in mainstream politics if we felt that our opinions
were respected.’ William, 24, from Sheffield.
‘Of course I voted in the last election. Everyone should vote! Young people need to start voting in general
elections. If we don’t vote, we won’t change anything.’ Pippa, 23, from Fleet.
General elections are held approximately every 5 years. Will more young people decide to vote in Thursday’s
election?
Source:The British Council
To find out what each party says go to:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2015/manifesto-guide and find out
where each party stands on; Education, Health, Economy, Law and Order,
Immigration, Welfare ,Transport, Housing, Pensions, Environment etc
Why should you exercise you right to vote?
We live in a democracy - We have the right to vote for whoever we want to in free and fair
elections. Some countries do not allow their citizens this right.
Voting gives the Government legitimacy - meaning they have the people's support to make
decisions.
The more young people vote the more likely politicians are to make policies that relate
to their wishes. - every vote is important so many politicians are inclined to try and
do as much as they can to help and win your votes.
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The Suffragettes spent years campaigning to give women the vote – many suffered
imprisonment and abuse and at least one gave her life. Many feel it is disrespectful to them to
waste your vote.
Voting gives you the power to choose how the UK is run - if you have a complaint about
the way the country is being run voting is a way can make a change. You can choose a
candidate to suit your views.
Your local MPs can help fight important issues for you such as planning - voting for
them can help them support positive work in your community.
Even if you live in a safe seat voting is important - living in a safe seat constituency doesn't
mean your vote won't make a difference. The constituency of Crewe & Nantwich was a safe
seat for over 25 years until 2008. If one just 'gives up' change will never happen. Broxtowe,
the constituency in which many of you live is regarded very much as a ‘marginal seat’ (one
which is very hard to predict the result of). This means that your vote could be decisive!
The more people vote the more representative Parliament will be of ordinary British
people - a representative Government is important in order to create laws that represent the
views of the people.
You can leave your ballot blank - if you don't agree with any of the parties you can leave
your ballot blank, it's a much more effective protest than not voting at all.
It only takes a few minutes and it's really easy! - You can register to vote from the age of
16, then when the general election arrives just follow the instructions on the polling card you
get in the post.
A very brief history of the right to vote:
Today, if there is one thing that all politicians from the major political parties agree upon it is that
democracy is the best form of government. The idea that every adult should have the right to vote
is taken for granted. In the mid-nineteenth century Britain was not a democracy and the majority
of politicians did not support democratic values.
Voting was not seen as a universal right but as a privilege for the wealthiest class of society.
Before 1832 the right to vote depended on three things:
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Gender. Only men over the age of 21 were allowed to vote.
Property. In order to vote, an individual had to own property over a certain value.
Location. Small rural boroughs were able to elect more MPs than much larger towns and
counties.
1918 Representation of the People Act
By 1918 there was a general feeling that the horrors of World War I had to be for something
positive. As a consequence, in the same year the war ended, the Representation of the People Act
gave the vote to all men over 21 and to all women over the age of 30 years.
1928 Representation of the People Act
In 1928 women were finally given the franchise on the same terms as men.
Results
Since 1969, both males and females who have reached the age of 18 years have the right to vote
and there is even some debate today about whether this age should be lowered to 16 years. Since
the essence of a democracy is that of a system of government which promotes and encourages
political change from its citizens, issues such as electoral reform, human rights and the promotion
of equality continue to be debated and acted upon today as part of our democratic political culture
in Britain.
Thoughts for the week
The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down
injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are
different from other men.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Young people need to vote. They need to get out there. Every vote counts. Educate
yourself too. Don't just vote. Know what you're voting for, and stand by that.
Nikki Read