The College’s Head Students have been selected for the 2017/18 academic year, with Caitlin Jones and Charlie Knowles being given the honours.

The pair beat extremely stiff competition from their peers, with scores of applicants being whittled down to the final 12 candidates who were interviewed by a special selection panel tasked with choosing the stand-out two.

Caitlin and Charlie will take over the reins from outgoing Head Students, Louis Earley and Emily Wagstaff, who both did a terrific job at representing the College at internal and public events, as well as helping their fellow students with whatever was asked of them.

Louis is hoping to study Psychology at Liverpool John Moores after A Level results day in August, while Emily is off to the University of Liverpool to read Medicine.

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Louis and Emily with Olympian and former Birkenhead Sixth Form College student, Beth Tweddle

Caitlin and Charlie now take up the hot seats, leading a team of 40 Student Ambassadors who represent the College’s student body at Open Evenings, fairs and VIP visits, to name just a few events.

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The new Student Ambassador team

Caitlin, 17, said: “I feel like I’ve developed and matured so much since being here and I’m really looking forward to helping people make the same transition that I did coming here from high school.

“I like the idea of seeing more of the College from a different perspective; meeting new people who aren’t part of my usual every day lessons and social groups. This is a forward-thinking College anyway, with things like the BePART programme and the Academic Mentors scheme, so I’m hoping to contribute my ideas and make a difference.”

Aiming for a place at King’s College London to take Religion, Politics and Society after her A Levels, Caitlin said that she took her friends’ advice for the interview – to be calm and be herself; have a sense of humour and not be overly serious – which she believes payed off in the end.

She also explained: “My family are really proud. I think my mum’s told every single person that she works with so it feels a bit like I’m a celebrity going in to her work with everyone congratulating me!”

After writing an application letter explaining why they would be suitable for the role of Head Student, the final candidates were handed the daunting task of being interviewed by five panel members, including Deputy Principal Mike Kilbride, tutors and outgoing Head Student, Emily. They then had to make a presentation and answer questions from their interviewers.

New Head Student, Charlie, took the formidable task in his stride, explaining that he drew on his experience in amateur dramatics and participation in the classroom to help him.

Charlie said: “I’m always warm and smiley with people anyway, and I like to think I’m approachable. I’m excited about working with Caitlin and the other Ambassadors, starting with the ‘Find Your Feet’ events for the new students in September. There’s going to be loads going on to help people feel comfortable and relaxed in their first few weeks at the College. Some of the ideas we’ve been talking about could be really good fun!”

Like Caitlin, Charlie is also eyeing a place at King’s College London in September 2018, with Geography being his choice of subject.

Having only moved to the area from Yorkshire right before the start of the last academic year, Charlie has been a welcome voice in the College’s Equality and Diversity meetings and says he was inspired to apply for the Head Student job as he wants to help others in the same position as him.

He said: “As a member of the LGBT community, I know that the College has great inclusiveness already, but I want to develop that even further so that everyone in the student body knows that there are other people here in their position that they can talk. If I can raise even more awareness then it can help more people. I hope that I can use my new position to make a real impact.”

Mike Kilbride is the new Principal of Birkenhead Sixth Form College, moving up from his role of Deputy Principal, as Kathryn Podmore departs the post after a hugely successful 11 year tenure in charge.

Mike steps into the job having served nine years as Deputy Principal since joining the College in 2008, and has played a crucial role alongside Kathryn in turning the institution into a superb, top tier provider of sixth form education with national recognition.

Kathryn leaves big shoes to fill, having overseen the College securing an Outstanding rating from Ofsted in all departments, along with A Level results placing in the top 10% nationally, and a host of national and local award wins, resulting in the College having an enviable reputation as the top sixth form in the area.

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Kathryn Podmore leaves after 11 years as Principal

New Principal at the College, Mike Kilbride, said of his credentials as Kathryn’s successor: “Having been here for nearly a decade, I believe that I played a key role in getting the College to where it is, so I understand what we’ve had to do to get here; I understand what it took to achieve this position.

“I take on this role extremely seriously, but I’ve got lots and lots of ideas and I really want to see this College maintain its achievements and build upon them. In two, three, four years’ time, I want the College to be seen not only as outstanding, but to be renowned for how we do it even more than what we do. If someone said to me that you can be the top college in the country but you have to sacrifice your values, or you can be in the top 20 and maintain your values, I know what I’d take. Our values aren’t for compromise.”

Mike continued: “What I would like to emphasise is that, while this is an evolution in some respects because I’ve been here for a number of years, this is also a time that we need to change and develop. There’s a completely new Senior Management Team in place with me, in Rob Myatt as Deputy Principal and Paula Blakemore as Assistant Principal, so working with them and other staff at the College, I know that we’re going to have a very, very strong future. That knowledge isn’t born out of arrogance or entitlement; it’s born out of the recognition of what it took to get where we are, and that informs my planning in moving forward.”

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New Principal Mike Kilbride alongside Deputy Principal Rob Myatt and Assistant Principal Paula Blakemore.

Mike explained that, although his responsibilities have shifted, he will still be very much involved in the day-to-day activities of the College, and he is more than aware of the challenge that lies ahead.

“When you take on the senior position, it’s quite humbling. Anybody who looks at these jobs and thinks that when you get them, you get filled with arrogance couldn’t be more wrong. Every time you walk down the corridor and you see the people, you see the students, you see the walls, the furniture – and you know you have the potential to make all of that go wrong. You have the potential to damage people’s futures and damage an organisation, so if that’s not humbling and doesn’t make you work through the weekends and holidays and be a 24/7 employee then nothing will.

“Fortunately, in Rob and Paula, I’ve got two people who are just amazing in their jobs. They can hoover up work like there’s no tomorrow, they make good decisions and they are extremely experienced. There’s a common mentality that resides in this Senior Management Team and that’s really important, because we’re all trying to achieve the same thing in the right way.”

As Kathryn Podmore leaves her proud legacy at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Mike wished her well in her new job as CEO of Wirral Academy Trust, and concluded: “She said to me ‘I know that you can do it’, which was a nice and comforting thing to hear.

“I’ve worked with Kathryn for nine years and in that time we’ve been supportive of each other. I like to think that I’ve been loyal, and in the hard times that maybe no one else saw, that we were able to share that, so when it came time for the change, I think we both knew it was the right decision for us to take up different roles. We’re not parting as we’re involved with Wirral Academy Trust, and I’ll be working with her on that, which I look forward to.”

Students at Birkenhead Sixth Form College are celebrating having achieved record A Level results.

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More than 50% were awarded the prestigious A* - B grades at A Level and Distinction* or Distinction at BTEC, while the pass rate also set a new record of 99.4%.

Nearly 500 students sat their final year exams at the College this summer, and now 88% are set to head to university with other landing highly –respected apprenticeships at barristers’ chambers, professional services and more.

Eighteen-year-old Sam Pelan earned three A*s and has landed a place at Oxford University to study Philosophy.

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Sam Pelan celebrates his three A*s

Sam said: “I’m so pleased. It’s been my ambition to go to Oxford for a long time and I put a lot of work into getting my results, but I still didn’t expect to do so well.”

Sam, who joined the College having previously been home-schooled, continued: “My parents were delighted. It’s been great to see so many of my friends doing so well too. I just can’t wait for September now!”

Fellow student, Emily Wagstaff, scored the highest number of UCAS points at the College having sat four A Levels rather than the standard three. Emily’s A*, two As and a B in Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics mean that she has confirmed her place at Liverpool University to study Medicine.

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Emily Wagstaff (Right) enjoys her results with fellow students, Holly Scales (Left) and Emily Balmer (Centre)

Emily said: “The changes in the exams this year have meant that however hard you worked, you still couldn’t be sure that you’d do that well. I didn’t get any sleep at all last night, like most of us I think, but getting the results this morning made it all worth it.”

Emily, who was also Head Student during her time at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, said: “My mum and dad are absolutely made up. My mum believed in me even more than I did! I’m really, really happy with how everything turned out.”

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Results Day is an emotional time for everyone!

Holly Scales joined the College from another sixth form having not settled in her first year, and is today celebrating two Distinction*s and a B at BTEC and A Level: a set of results that she did not expect having already experienced disappointment in her results at her previous sixth form.

Holly’s mum, Lesley-Ann, said: “We’ve been used to a few tears on results days but today there were tears for a whole different reason. Holly’s so happy that she’s still shaking with excitement. She’s into her first choice university of Liverpool John Moores to study forensic science and she’s aiming to join the police force. As a whole family, we couldn’t be more pleased for her, she’s done incredibly well.”

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Tears of joy for Holly

Other success stories at the College include an Everton Ladies footballer who earned a scholarship at Fordham University in New York with her straight As, and a student who impressed so much during her performance in the Citizenship Foundation’s Bar Mock Trials that she was offered an apprenticeship at Elysium Law Chambers.

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Millie Sherliker joined Sam Pelan with three A*s

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Birkenhead Sixth Form College’s record-breaking Class of 2017 celebrated all their hard work in style last night at a glittering graduation ceremony at New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion.

Wirral’s Olympic Gold Medallist and TV star, Sam Quek MBE, was the guest of honour at a night full of awards, as the students now head for university or employment having achieved best-ever A Level & BTEC results this summer.

Among those winning awards were the College’s two ‘Scholars of the Year’, Sam Pelan and Millie Sherlicker, who both attained three A* grades at A Level. The two prizes were sponsored by local solicitors’ firm, Carpenters, and national lawyers, Weightmans, while Wirral’s Elysium Chambers sponsored the ‘Team of the Year’ award. Scooping that honour were the cast of the play ‘Bored’, which was written by the students themselves in conjunction with Merseyside Police. The production was aimed at highlighting the consequences of antisocial behaviour to younger schoolchildren, and was watched by over 800 secondary school pupils across the region to great acclaim earlier this year.

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Scholar of the Year, Sam Pelan, and his proud parents

The Denise Roberts ‘Student of the Year’ Award was won by Sarah Watts, who has overcome a number of challenges to excel in her subjects, particularly foreign languages, and was praised for embodying the College’s core values of positivity, ambition, resilience and thoughtfulness. The award is named in memory of Wirral Councillor for Claughton and long-term Birkenhead Sixth Form College governor, Denise Roberts, who passed away in February this year at the age of 74.

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Student of the Year, Sarah Watts, receives her award from Sam Quek

Guest speaker, Sam Quek, gave a heartfelt and passionate talk, explaining her own hard-fought journey to her ‘champagne moment’ in Rio in 2016 with the GB Women’s Hockey team, who came through a nail-biting penalty shootout against the Netherlands in the Olympic Final to claim gold.

Having been part of the preliminary squads for the previous two Olympic Games and missed the final cut, including 2012 in London, the ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ star inspired the audience with her candid story of nearly giving up on her dream before finding the motivation to succeed in her ultimate goal.

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Sam Quek addresses the audience

After the show, the 28-year-old from Heswall handed around her precious gold medal for students to wear and said: “Huge congratulations to all the award winners. From what I’ve heard tonight, it seems like everyone here has had their own journey to this point, so I loved coming here tonight as a local girl to share my own.

“I didn’t realise I could be an Olympian until I was around the age of the students here tonight, and I’m sure some of the students out there won’t have realised or decided what they want to be just yet. It’s about not giving up, always believing in yourself and realising that you are going to come across obstacles in your way.

“Whichever way the wind blows, it’s how you react that matters most.”

Offering advice to the leaving students on their next step, Sam drew on her own extensive experience and said: “I always go back to a lesson that I learned: whatever I can control then I make sure I control it 100% by being totally prepared and knowing everything about it. Don’t let things that you can’t control take over your thoughts.

“Whether it’s academically or in a job or a sport, part of your head is always going to say that you can’t succeed, but you can train yourself and you can learn to be the best in that field. That’s what I did with hockey. As a defender, I was never going to take on ten players and score a goal but I swotted up on every team that we played; I made sure I was the fittest and the strongest. I played to my strengths and I controlled what I could control.”

More photos from the evening:

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The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, visited Birkenhead Sixth Form College on Thursday and sampled a taster of the College’s unique life-skills programme

The Archbishop’s visit was part of his ‘Believe in Birkenhead’ mission which encompasses three days of activities in the region that included an afternoon at the biggest sixth form in the area.

Along with a Q & A session with A Level sociology students and a tour of the facilities, the Archbishop took part in a session of the College’s mental health and wellbeing programme, ‘BePART’.

‘BePART’ stands for be positive, ambitious, resilient and thoughtful, and was specially devised by a team of psychology teachers at Birkenhead Sixth Form College to help teenagers deal with the demands of modern living. The programme uses proven methods and scientific research to help all new students with their mental wellbeing, through sessions focused on using gratitude to improve happiness, the importance of sleep and diet, and relaxation techniques.

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The Archbishop answers students' questions for Radio Merseyside. The interview will be broadcast at 8am this Sunday 10th September

The Archbishop of York, along with his fellow clergy visitors from local parishes, joined the sixth form students in a tutorial which looked at being thankful for what you have, which research shows can improve a person’s happiness by up to 20%.

After the session, the Archbishop said: “When we grow up as little children and our parents give us something, they teach us to say thank you. It is not just for the sake of saying the words but that it is important to be thankful. We are living in a time where people can just grasp things and take things all the time, so here we are actually reinforcing something that we learn as toddlers that we may have lost as we have grown up.”

On the College’s holistic approach to education through the ‘BePART’ scheme, he said: “For me, I believe that human beings are a spirit inhabiting a body, so you need to make sure that your body is sound, that your mind is clean and that your spirit is fed as well. Without the mind, body and soul in harmony, it will not work. This programme is suggesting that we pay attention to every part of what it is to be human. When we do that, we are more likely to be successful.

“If I take care of my body and do not feed my mind and my spirit, I am only fractionally happy. In this session we heard about sleep, diet, thought; I think it is trying to say to everybody that to be truly human, at the heart of it, is every part working together.”

Earlier in the day, the Archbishop was welcomed to The Birkenhead Park School to meet with students and staff, and will tomorrow be visiting Cammell Laird shipyard.

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The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, visited Birkenhead Sixth Form College on Thursday and sampled a taster of the College’s unique life-skills programme

The Archbishop’s visit was part of his ‘Believe in Birkenhead’ mission which encompasses three days of activities in the region that included an afternoon at the biggest sixth form in the area.

Along with a Q & A session with A Level sociology students and a tour of the facilities, the Archbishop took part in a session of the College’s mental health and wellbeing programme, ‘BePART’.

‘BePART’ stands for be positive, ambitious, resilient and thoughtful, and was specially devised by a team of psychology teachers at Birkenhead Sixth Form College to help teenagers deal with the demands of modern living. The programme uses proven methods and scientific research to help all new students with their mental wellbeing, through sessions focused on using gratitude to improve happiness, the importance of sleep and diet, and relaxation techniques.

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Clik here to view.

The Archbishop answers students' questions for Radio Merseyside. The interview will be broadcast at 8am this Sunday 10th September

The Archbishop of York, along with his fellow clergy visitors from local parishes, joined the sixth form students in a tutorial which looked at being thankful for what you have, which research shows can improve a person’s happiness by up to 20%.

After the session, the Archbishop said: “When we grow up as little children and our parents give us something, they teach us to say thank you. It is not just for the sake of saying the words but that it is important to be thankful. We are living in a time where people can just grasp things and take things all the time, so here we are actually reinforcing something that we learn as toddlers that we may have lost as we have grown up.”

On the College’s holistic approach to education through the ‘BePART’ scheme, he said: “For me, I believe that human beings are a spirit inhabiting a body, so you need to make sure that your body is sound, that your mind is clean and that your spirit is fed as well. Without the mind, body and soul in harmony, it will not work. This programme is suggesting that we pay attention to every part of what it is to be human. When we do that, we are more likely to be successful.

“If I take care of my body and do not feed my mind and my spirit, I am only fractionally happy. In this session we heard about sleep, diet, thought; I think it is trying to say to everybody that to be truly human, at the heart of it, is every part working together.”

Earlier in the day, the Archbishop was welcomed to The Birkenhead Park School to meet with students and staff, and will tomorrow be visiting Cammell Laird shipyard.

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Birkenhead Sixth Form College has been shortlisted for being the most inspirational place to study for 16 to 18-year-olds by one of the North West’s most prestigious awards organisations.

The Educate Awards was founded in 2010 to recognise excellence in the schools of Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire, and the 2017 nominations list sees the College in a shortlist of four institutions in the running for the ‘Most Inspirational 16-18 Education Provider’ prize.

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Select judges from a range of backgrounds have been whittling down the hundreds of schools and colleges competing in the 21 different award categories. This year, Radio City host, Leanne Campbell, joined other judges including the regional managing director of Trinity Mirror, the Chief Executive of Knowsley Chamber and other education specialists and champions of industry to decide on the shortlists.

A glittering ceremony will be held at the awe-inspiring Liverpool Cathedral on Friday 17^th November to announce the winners, with an array of nearly 20 highly-respected businesses and organisations sponsoring the event.

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Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards and executive editor of Educate Magazine, said: "2017 has seen an unprecedented number of entries and the quality across all categories has certainly impressed our judges, making it a very tough decision-making process. Judges this year commented that the standard of entries was so high, that in some categories, you could have made a very good case for shortlisting just about every applicant. Therefore it is already an outstanding achievement to have made the shortlist!"

Principal at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Mike Kilbride, said: “To make the shortlist for such an award is in itself a major honour and testament to the hard work that goes on in this College by both students and staff each and every day.

“The award is for being an ‘inspirational’ place for students to study so it’s fantastic to be recognised as such – it’s what we have always aimed for in everything we do. We truly believe that every student who comes to us has the potential to succeed and that doesn’t just mean academically, but developing as a well-rounded individual that has much to offer in any walk of life that they choose to enter after their studies with us.”

The Educate Award nomination comes near the end of a year full of accolades for Birkenhead Sixth Form College.

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2017 started with Ofsted rating the College as Outstanding in all areas in January, followed by making the shortlist of the national TES ‘Sixth Form College of the Year 2017’ Award in February.

The Wirral Globe and Liverpool Echo awarded the College prizes of ‘Class of the Year’ and the ‘Health Living Award’ respectively at their annual schools celebrations, while the Sixth Form College Association bestowed on the College the honour of their Curriculum Innovation Award.

More than 20 College students undertook the qualifying expedition for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at the end of September. Over the four-day expedition in the Snowdonia National Park area, all 22 candidates were assessed on their various purposes, camp craft, journeying, orientation and navigation skills by a National Assessor, who was extremely impressed with their skills and conduct throughout their qualifying expedition.

The candidates journeyed over 70km carrying all of their own kit and sufficient food to last the whole expedition in a challenge that truly stretches all that undertake their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, testing both mental and physical limits.

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The Snowdonia Mountain Railway runs through the picturesque but challenging hiking paths
 

College students have been embarking on their Gold Award and planning for their Gold Practice and Qualifying expeditions for the past 12 months, attending sessions each Thursday evening in their own time after the College day. The routes that they planned covered various terrains in the National Park area and each was demanding - as were the changing climate and weather conditions!

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Oliver Hilton gives the experience his seal of approval

The College’s D of E coordinator, Steve Hafford, said: “I’m extremely proud of the candidates achievements of successfully completing their qualifying expedition, and of the members of staff involved, without whom the candidates would not be able to undertake such adventures. Once the candidates’ aches, pains and blisters have subsided, they’ll be able to complete their other sections of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Gold Award which include Skill & Physical, Volunteering and Residential sections. You can keep up with the team’s new DofE blog or you can follow them on Twitter @BSFCDofE.”

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The first evening's campsite
 

The Duke of Edinburgh Award has been offered to students at Birkenhead Sixth Form College for over 20 years within the Clubs & Societies programme. It is run by experienced National Assessors and Expedition Leaders from the College’s teaching staff . The team guides candidates through the preparation and development of the necessary skills to complete both the practice and qualifying expeditions and give help and guidance for the other sections of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award.

Member of Parliament for Wallasey, Angela Eagle, visited the College for a probing Q&A session with A Level Politics students.

Labour MP, Ms Eagle, has represented the Wallasey constituency for over 25 years and even ran in a leadership race against sitting Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, in recent years.

Second year Politics students took the opportunity to grill the seasoned politician, asking highly considered questions about vital topics such as LGBT rights, Brexit and the internal goings-on within the Labour Party.

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The first openly gay female Minister in Parliament since coming out in 1998, Ms Eagle took time and consideration answering whether rules should be tightened in using offensive homophobic terminology. She outlined that all instances of bigotry, racism, sexism and homophobia are unacceptable but that perhaps the answer lay in educating young people rather than handing out stricter punishments.

The topic of questioning then led to reports of antisemitism within the Labour ranks, to which Ms Eagle replied: “I find it disgusting. There are now over 600,000 member of the Labour Party and that figure is growing by two thirds per year. There are some people on the outskirts of the Party who wish to condemn all Jewish people for actions of the Israeli government, which itself is antisemitism. It needs to be dealt with, and it is being dealt with.”

The MP, who originally hails from Liverpool where her twin sister, Maria, is also an MP for Garston and Halewood, brought questions about Brexit and the future of the Labour Party around to education, saying: “The funding cuts to education under the Tory government don’t affect those who have the ability to be educated outside of our system. I am, and I always have been, convinced that the only way that the majority of hard-working people in this country can get the best possible start in life and have the chance to further themselves is under a Labour government.”

Mental health in young people was also brought to the fore, with Ms Eagle singling out social media for playing a huge role in affecting young people's mental wellbeing, with online bullying being rife across the board. She explained that a change in her Facebook profile picture brought 49,000 invidual pieces of abuse directed at her, many of them about the way she looked. The MP recognised that, as a public figure, she is more open to such attacks but suggested that young people who are still growing up and may harbour insecurities about their appearance are at major risk from sources so easily accessed by the phone in their pockets.

The contentious topic of Theresa May’s continued tenure as Prime Minister was the final point to be addressed, after second year, Connor, asked how long Ms Eagle thought the Conservative leader had left in power.

The Wirral MP postured: “If she had an obvious successor then I think that she would be gone already. But they don’t … she may be there for longer than we think.”

Birkenhead Sixth Form College welcomed the highest ranking police officer in the region this week as the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police visited to talk to A Level Law students.

Chief Constable Andy Cooke, QPM (Queen’s Police Medal) gave his time to answer questions posed by the College’s up-and-coming legal brains, imparting his wisdom and experience having achieved a great deal in his 33-year police career.

One of just 43 Chief Constables in the Country, Merseyside Police boss, Mr Cooke, came away from Nottingham University with an honours degree in politics before joining the force. He then worked his way up through every Detective rank in the service to get to his current position, which he attained in July of 2016.

Answering students’ question, Chief Constable Cooke said: “I got where I am today through 33 years of hard work. I know it sounds a bit clichéd but it’s true. It also comes from being a good leader. The staff respect me, although they may not like me all the time! They have a lot of better ideas than me, and a huge part of my role, and the role of a leader, is to capture those ideas and make them happen.”

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Having grown up in what he called an ‘insular’ childhood in Belvale, the Chief Constable explained that he was glad to go to university to get to mix with different people, but said that he always had his sights on being a policeman after watching a classic police drama on TV when he was young.

“I always wanted to be in the police after watching 'The Sweeney' as a boy, and I’ve enjoyed every day since I did. Very few careers give you the opportunity to make such a difference to people’s lives on a daily basis. I’ve had a lot of horrible cases and seen things that you should never have to witness, but seeing justice being done and helping people puts it all into context.

“Cases can be rewarding however big or small. Murders are extremely difficult but seeing the family’s relief at the murderer being caught was the thing to strive for, though equally rewarding was seeing an ex-soldier get his stolen medals back because of how much they meant to him.”

Mr Cooke, whose Queen’s Police Medal was presented to him in 2014 by Her Majesty herself, went on to describe how much of his job is acting as a politician and how he misses being ‘on the ground’ but also that the role of the police is ever-changing.

“Disorganised criminals rather than organised criminals are now the main problem, and 30-40% of modern day policing involves mental health issues. Police staff now are just as much social workers as they are police officers.”

More than 20 German teachers visited the College to sample how a British approach to education compares to their experiences back home.

The party of 24 secondary school principals and teachers are exploring what Merseyside’s schools and colleges have to offer and spent a morning learning how our specialist Sixth Form College operates and how our A Level and BTEC students achieve their success.

They also took part in a special session of our award-winning BePART mental health and wellbeing programme and found the unique approach to students’ all-round education something of an eye-opener.

Teacher, Dörthe Rick, is a member of the travelling party and was enthused by her experience of BePART.

She said: “It was fantastic. I think that maybe this is the basis for successful learning and there are some parts that we could take over and apply in our schools. Often it’s a question of money but there are a lot of elements of the BePART programme that we could start applying anyway.”

Describing how she found her visit to Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Dörthe said: “I’m overwhelmed actually. It’s such an amazing College and you can be so proud of everything you do here. I’m lost for words to describe it really! I like the general attitude of the staff and students, the atmosphere in the building, and that every staff member is so positive. The positivity is not just in a slogan and your values: it’s actually the general life of the College.”

Dörthe went on to explain the reasons for the teachers’ trip to the area from Germany: “We’re here to broaden our horizons and learn something about English schools. We want to take some good examples and see how other schools work,  learning what we can do better, and what we do well too. Overall, it’s about what we can do to achieve better results.”

Principal at Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Mike Kilbride, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome our German counterparts to the College and all the staff here have really appreciated how well-received our approach to education has been by their fellow teachers.

“It’s fantastic to know that they’ve taken some inspiration from what they’ve seen, and from the BePART session that they all took part in with such enthusiasm.”

“Their genuine interest in the differences of approach between British and German schools and colleges just goes to show how passionate they are about their work, as we are here. We’ve greatly enjoyed their warm and friendly company and relished the opportunity to learn from them too. We'll certainly be looking to take them up on their invitation to have a reciprocal visit in the near future."

Psychology students enjoyed the subject’s annual ‘Brain Day’ as specialist, Dr Guy Sutton, visited the College to give an insight into the role that our grey matter plays.

Over a number of sessions, Dr Sutton helped students discover what each compartment of the brain is responsible for, but not before he’d performed his sheep’s brain dissection, which proves ever-popular amongst those with stronger stomachs.

The brain expert explained about the impact that brain damage can have in multiple forms, and expanded the students’ understanding of the relationship between brain functions and human behaviour.

Dr Sutton went on to give a special talk on the criminal brain, including notable controversial cases surrounding mental health such as Mark Chapman’s assassination of John Lennon and the chilling story of the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe.

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The visiting specialist went on to concentrate on schizophrenia, starting by dispelling the popular myth than schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder are one in the same thing.

A Level Psychology student, Ben Harding, took a lot away from Dr Sutton’s talk, saying: “The talk was extremely detailed and provided such a vast insight into the world of Schizophrenia and how it overlaps with most of society. Discussing the complexities of diagnosing a person with schizophrenia, and the cases of law and schizophrenia, is what made it such an intriguing talk!'

Inspiration for learning can come in many guises but, for musicians, perhaps the ultimate motivation to better yourself comes from playing with peers at the very top of their game, and seeing that you can do it too.

That’s precisely what two of The Sixth Form College’s top Music students have been doing with the National Youth Orchestra, whose programmes look to encourage and enthuse young musicians to reach their very real potential.

First years, Tom Swainston and Ed Carew, have hooked up with the NYO to further their already burgeoning talents in the brass section, with both students set to secure A grades in Music come August results.

Tom, who joined us from St Anselm’s College, applied for a programme called ‘NYO Inspire’, which aims to give breakthrough experiences of orchestral music to teenagers of all backgrounds through peer inspiration and leadership.

Music student Tom, who also studies Maths, Physics and Applied Science, said: “I filled in the form and answered questions along the lines of ‘why should we pick you’ and ‘how do you stand out’. I was lucky enough to be accepted with the answers I gave.”

Having attended the course in Nottingham, trumpeter and pianist Tom explained: “We played three pieces whilst I was there: Shostakovich’s Jazz Suites No1 & No2 and Anna Clyne’s Night Ferry. The day was split into four parts and we started with all the brass playing together, followed by just the trumpets. Then we moved to a full orchestra rehearsal before ending with a concert.”

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The NYO also say that they look at how their young musicians interpret the music and only select the most committed musicians for Inspire, which Tom clearly already demonstrates in his studies, but now has a definite understanding of how to progress in his field.

Naming some as his influences as all-time greats Harry James and Louis Armstrong, Tom said: “I can appreciate now that individual practice and hard work improves the bigger picture, and I can relate that to my college work by concentrating on smaller topics and features to raise the overall level, rather than thinking about whole sections of work at a time.

“I feel like this has given me a very real idea of what is expected of a professional musician, in the work ethic and attitudes as well as just the standard of playing.”

Fellow trumpeting first year, Ed Carew, who also joined the college from St Anselm’s last year, and was shortlisted for the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year Award, is currently still with the National Youth Orchestra on a two week residency course which focuses on teamwork and shared approaches to practice and playing.

As exam time approaches and stress levels can start to rise, The Sixth Form College is expanding its voluntary programme of Mindfulness to help students perform to their full potential.

The specialist support offered at The Sixth Form College comes in a variety of packages. Along with the academic and development support of the individually assigned Personal & Guidance Tutors, and the Enrichment opportunities available to further students’ extracurricular activities while enhancing the CV, there are other systems in place to support our students through their time studying A Levels.

Mindfulness may be an unfamiliar concept to some but it’s something that currently helps a number of students measurably improve their performance in class and beyond. While the students currently benefitting from the activity had the option directly suggested to them, the college is preparing to offer drop-in sessions for anyone who may feel increasing anxiety and tension around this crucial time of year.

A form of cognitive training aimed at enhancing academic achievement, the college’s Mindfulness programme is a voluntary option but one which several students can testify is helping them with their workload, plus their life outside college.

Born out of ancient Buddhist techniques but now recognised as definitively secular, trained Mindfulness instructor and Psychology teacher Roy Owen helps students focus on the current moment and reduce anxiety and stress, which can have detrimental effects on production and organisation of workloads.

At the end of 2015, the government backed a £1m national scheme to increase the number of teachers trained in instructing Mindfulness in order to make it common place in educational institutions, as it assists in academia as well as mental health and wellbeing in young people – an issue which has often been underestimated in the past.

One student, who has attended Mindfulness sessions twice a week for the last term, said: “When I first started, I wasn’t quite sure what it was, but you can feel the benefits as soon as you start. You can concentrate better on your work. Before Mindfulness, I was behind on a lot of my coursework but now I’m up to date with everything. It’s helped a lot.

“It’s particularly helpful to put your thoughts into perspective. It’s not a matter of those thoughts disappearing but more like putting them in order and not feeling overwhelmed.”

Another student, who has been practicing Mindfulness for around two months, said: “I might not have passed some tests, or even some subjects before, but now I can and I do. It’s helped me become more organised with my work and focus more, but be relaxed at the same time.”

“I actually appreciate my family a lot more now. I used to go home and just go to my room or be on my phone the whole time. I talk to my family a lot more and appreciate being around them and their company.”

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Instructor and Psychology teacher, Roy Owen, said: “There’s great quote from Abraham Lincoln that we use as an example for Mindfulness: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” That’s exactly how it works; we’re sharpening the axe.”

Roy continued: “A lot of students find it difficult to understand how something extra on your timetable, a 45 minute slot per week, could possibly give you more time to do work. What you find is, when you practice Mindfulness, you’re much more efficient in what you do. A piece of work that may take you two hours may only take an hour when your mind isn’t full and you’re more mindful.”

To any sceptics, Roy’s response was simple: “If someone told you a book was a load of rubbish but had never read the book themselves, you’d say to them to read the book. It’s the same with Mindfulness.”

A visit to the Birmingham NEC to see The Gadget Show Live exhibition might not seem like a day of study to most but, for our ICT and Computer Science students, that’s exactly what it was.

The popular Channel 5 show has been running for over a decade and their annual live exhibition is a chance for the general public to see first-hand some of the most innovative, cutting edge technology around – which is exactly where our students come in.

Head of Computing& ICT, Trish Lewis, explained that events like The Gadget Show Live are crucial for the development of the students, who are gearing up for a possible career in an field unlike any other:

“There’s a difference in ICT compared to other subjects as we can’t know exactly what the students will be using in their future careers because it hasn’t even been invented yet! We have to keep them looking forward to what’s around the corner, and what’s around the next one, so they can be as prepared as possible when they leave college.”

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Trish continued: “The students got to see the kind of software and gadgets that they’ll be working with in the future. It really prepares them for what’s out there, not just for now but in the future when it comes to university or apprenticeships and beyond.”

She also described how many lessons in college will begin with sessions called ‘What the Papers Say’, in which the latest technological advances can be highlighted and discussed so everyone is up to date, including the teachers.

Trish said: “Exhibitions and shows like the Gadget Show Live are also important for the staff because we change what we teach in accordance with what the emerging technology is, so we stay ahead of the curve. Our curriculum in the coming years will most likely have plenty of content about virtual reality and augmented reality, which are at the forefront of advances at the moment.”

IT student, Robyn Brooks, who joined us from Prenton High School, said: “Seeing the new technology, as well as being able to buy and test some, like Google Cardboard, was really enjoyable. It was inspiring to see what’s coming onto the market, where it came from and how they’re making steps in a new direction.”

Robyn continued: “There’s a lot more on offer than what you see in adverts, and at a really high quality. We have to be able to talk about up-and-coming technology in class so the trip to The Gadget Show will really have an impact on my work on the course.”

On future plans, Robyn said: “Whatever job I go into, I will need IT knowledge. The world is dependent on new technology and IT and my studies here have given me skills that plenty of employers will be after.”

Six students from The Sixth Form College arrived back to class this week having spent their Spring Break 6000 miles from home on the trip of a lifetime.

In the shadow of Table Mountain, our team of six intrepid travellers joined 11 other volunteers with HQ Coaching Centre in Cape Town, where they taught football to thousands of local children over the course of their ten day trip.

As part of our Enrichment Programme, students are encouraged to take up voluntary work, which can not only improve the CV before leaving college but also make a real difference in the community – any community – and, crucially, help personal and character development for their futures.

Having been introduced to HQ Coaching through our annual Enrichment Fair, the students put their names down for a whole new experience and started the process of raising the requisite £1500 by all means at their disposal. After countless jumble sales, raffles and donations, their places were secured and they boarded the plane to South Africa.

Using a local HQ Coaching partner sports college as their base, Ruby Keeler-Williams, Shannon Morgan, Sam Lloyd, Laura Bascombe, Ciaron Sudlow and Megan Condliffe coached in a new school in a new township every day, across a diverse range of socio-economic situations. They also had the chance to soak in what Cape Town, and South Africa, had to offer and took home some unforgettable moments.

First year, Ruby Keeler-Williams, who joined the college from Woodchurch High School, said: “We did some sightseeing and went up Table Mountain, and did shark cage diving which was amazing, but the highlight was the coaching; getting to go to all these different places and meet so many different people.”

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Ruby coaches special needs children at Liverpool FC every weekend and explained the differences between what she’s used to and teaching in South Africa: “Most of the kids spoke English so there wasn’t a massive language barrier, but then some didn’t speak particularly great English or any at all, so it was a matter of getting your point across non-verbally. There were all really passionate and extremely well behaved.”

Law, Science and Psychology student, Ruby, also spoke of future plans, saying: “I want to go into Law but the trip’s given me so much more confidence in my communication skills: learning to be concise and clear. I think the whole trip’s changed me as a person as well.”

Fellow first year, Sam Lloyd, previously of The Kingsway Academy, agreed with Ruby and said: “As far as ability, a lot of the kids loved doing the fancy skills that they’ve seen the famous players do but couldn’t really pass or do some of the basics. You could see the differences that our coaching was making with them. It just felt like you’ve done something good in life.”

Sam, who takes Business, Film Studies, ICT and Drama & Theatre Studies, said that their roles also came with unexpected notoriety!

“A lot of the kids brought their notebook along for our autographs, and one fell in love with Ciaron!”

Picking up from Sam, Megan Condliffe said: “And they all knew and performed Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration, which was really funny!

“As a hobby, I’d definitely like to get into coaching U10s and U12s. It’s something I’ve always had in the back of my head but now that I’ve done it for real, I know that I can do it again.”

HQ Coaching tweeted to say that all six students were ‘positive models to all children and the rest of the volunteers involved’.

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“This is a city that is one of the most remarkable in the world,” says Head of English, Jon Thorpe, who just returned from London with 18 A Level students.

The trip to the capital centred on complementing English Literature course studies, with visits to Shakespeare’s Globe and seeing Tate Britain’s magnificent William Blake collection, but extracurricular activities also played a role in understanding the London, and the Britain, that both visionaries struggled against.

Staying in the unusual setting of a converted courthouse, which saw the employment of Charles Dickens and, more recently, the trial of punk band The Clash, the students ventured to the South Bank, home of Shakespeare’s Globe. The Globe, as it stands, is a reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre which famously hosted so many of Shakespeare’s plays in London, and students were treated to an ‘authentic’ production of The Tempest.

Jon Thorpe explained: “There was no electricity and they had only candles as lighting, and we had to stand for it. They were seeing a play performed in the way that Shakespeare wrote for. It’s a primitive theatre experience but what they got was a unique opportunity to understand what his contemporary dramatic situation was.”

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English Literature student, Eleanor Regan, said: “It was really enjoyable but I think I’ve learnt a lot too.”

Eleanor, who joined the college from St Mary’s Catholic College in Wallasey, continued: “It was great to see how Shakespeare’s plays would be presented at the time, and how different characters would be represented depending on where about they enter the stage. Actually seeing a play at the Globe put everything into context too, and helped us engage with the Elizabethan language.”

The Tate Britain’s Blake Collection is also of direct relevance to the students and ideal preparation for the upcoming exams, despite it being a collection of his art.

Eleanor, who studies Biology and History along with English Literature, said: “It is Blake’s poetry that we’re studying, a collection called ‘Songs of Innocence & Experience’, but they are also illustrated. We can draw on the illustrations for our exams and seeing them in person, along with all of his other paintings, helped us understand Blake’s broader ideas and how they all relate to each other.”

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Head of English, Jon, added: “As well as housing the finest collection of (William) Blake paintings in the world, the Tate Britain visit was also important because it has the history of ideas in modern Europe represented there. It was a chance for the students to look around and see what we’ve been discussing in college.”

After scouring the books in the British Library, a boat trip, starting at Canary Wharf in Greenwich and ending at the South Bank in Southwark, was a chance for the students to not only see some of the capital’s most famous sites like Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, but to appreciate the extremes between the financial and creative districts of the sprawling city, the latter being something that both Blake and Shakespeare were part of instigating.

Jon said: “Some students had never been to London and the South Bank is really the cultural district, so they got a sense of the history of divisions of London and the religious tensions between Puritanism and Catholic. Just walking around the city gives you a history of Britain, in some ways.”

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The Sixth Form College’s Bar Mock Trial National Final competitors returned from the Old Bailey having done themselves proud and gained invaluable experience for their summer exams and their personal futures.

Although the team didn’t make the final two, each Law student made an incredible effort in London, which was the culmination of all their hard work since winning the regional competition in December.

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The Bar Mock Trial, which is run by the Citizenship Foundation, is celebrating its 25^th anniversary and has seen over 2,000 students, 300 barristers and 90 judges from all four home nations involved in the competition this year alone. In December, our team of ‘barristers’ beat opponents from selective and grammar schools across the region to win the Chester heat of the contest. They then joined 17 other regional victors at the Central Criminal Court of England, better known as the Old Bailey.

Head of Law, Paula Blakemore, said: “I couldn’t be more proud of my team, who were competing against the best in the UK.”

Former solicitor, Paula, added: “This is a superb addition to all the students’ CVs. It sets them apart from all other Law students and it’s a catalyst for a career at the Bar. If people want to become barristers these days, one of the first questions they’ll be asked is if they did the Bar Mock Trial. The whole experience stands them all in extremely good stead.”

Indeed, more students went on to study Law from The Sixth Form College than any other Wirral school last year, and it was the most popular choice of any degree course for our 2015 leavers.

A Level Law student and team member, Emma Donnelly, who joined the college from Woodchurch High School, described how she benefitted from the experience, and that their barrister mentor, Richard Gray of Elysium Law and Law Mentor of the Year, added to the solid legal foundations that the team have been taught in class.

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Emma said: “Even though we didn’t win, I don’t think any of us minded because we all loved it so much. Everything went to plan. All our teams came out smiling and feeling confident after their turns.

“We’ve all learned advocacy skills that just wouldn’t be possible in any other situation. Our mentor, Rick (Gray), has taught us so much about how to present evidence and the role of a barrister.”

The experience has also helped Emma, who studies Psychology and Sociology alongside Law, with an important career decision ahead of her impending A Level exams:

“Even though it was an amazing experience, it’s made my mind up that I’d rather be a solicitor than a barrister. I loved being in court but I don’t think I could handle that pressure or the uncertainty every day. I’ve applied to study Law at university and I’m looking at apprenticeships too but I’m definitely set on becoming a solicitor now.”

First year and fellow team member, Carl Kelly, has other plans, however.

Carl joined us from the Mosslands School, Wallasey, and said: “I was a bit torn between wanting to be a barrister or a solicitor and it’s definitely pushed me towards the Bar. I like standing up, speaking to people and presenting so I’d rather not be behind a desk. I love the pressure of it all.”

Law, Government & Politics, Business Studies and Economics student, Carl, continued: “It was horribly nerve-wracking but definitely worth it in the end. As much as there’s been a lot of time dedicated to doing it, what we’ve gained from learning to present and apply the law is absolutely paramount. The experience will definitely help with our exams.”

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If the prestige of getting to the final wasn’t enough, the setting for their barristerial turns was as awe-inspiring as it comes for budding lawyers.

Carl explained: “We had a tour of the Old Bailey to start and we ended up giving our case in the same court that Peter Sutcliffe was tried in. The building is enormous too, which you never really see on TV. When I stood outside and saw the Lady Justice statue on top of the dome, it seemed unreal”

The Dalraida School of Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland came out eventual winners of the competition.

A Year 0 student who studies at The Sixth Form College has been awarded the honour of a place in the Great Britain team for the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando.

Laura Knowles flies out to Florida in just over a week’s time to compete in the second Invictus Games, which are being staged at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort, after London hosted the inaugural event in 2014.

The Games were established under the leadership of Prince Harry in 2014 to support Service men and women who have suffered injuries both visible and invisible while serving their country, and ‘harness the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect for those whom serve their countries’.

Laura, who is on the Foundation to Health & Veterinary Studies (Year 0) pre-degree course leading directly to the University of Liverpool, joins a team of 110 Britons in the USA and will compete in the Powerlifting, Rowing, Archery and Field categories between 8^th and 12^th May.

Laura served in the Welsh Guards and is among the athletes whose injuries are less visible.

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She said: “A lot of the team have physical injuries which people can obviously see, but a huge part of the Games is about mental health. I’m doing a lot of work at the moment to try to raise awareness of the whole issue. Earning a place on the team isn’t just about your performance: it’s about how you get on with others and with the media, and how it would aid your recovery.”

Laura has been doing extensive work with the mental health charity Mind and was due to run in last Sunday’s London Marathon to raise yet more money - a plan which has been postponed until next year due to the Invictus Games selection.

A versatile athlete, 24-year-old Laura has high hopes to return home with medals around her neck in at least one event.

She said: “I don’t want to jinx it but I’m fairly confident about the rowing. The trials were about producing a one minute best effort, then a four minute best effort (as far as you can row in the set times) about 15 minutes after each other. That may not sound a lot but when you’re putting everything into it, it absolutely wipes you out. A girl who did it in the 2014 Invictus Games got a distance of 274m in the one minute trial. I managed to get 298m and she came up to me to tell me that she’d never seen anyone beat her time before, so that was pretty pleasing!”

While rowing may be her strongest asset, the Year 0 student is pragmatic about her chances in other areas: “Powerlifting is judged just on the bench press, as a lot of the competitors will be amputees. If I have a good day, I’d hope to win a medal, but I’m not going to win because there’s a girl that’s been paralysed from the waist down so set about training her upper body and she’s just incredible! She’s got to win it.”

“Archery is more of a hobby for me. I like to do it to chill out because, unlike the other activities, the more power you put in isn’t going to help you, so you have to stay calm!”

It was the subject chosen by more of our students than any other last year and figures so far for September 2016 show that the popularity of studying Psychology at The Sixth Form College is not for waning.

Only Law was more frequently chosen by our 2015 leavers for their degree course than Psychology: testament to the national climate which places Psychology as the second most popular of all undergraduate programmes after Nursing.

Trips to London conferences, brain dissections, creepy-crawly phobia days and talks on the criminal mind may have a bearing on choosing Psychology at the college, along with the commercial success of TV programmes like the ‘CSI’ series and ‘Silent Witness’, but in one of life’s convenient coincidences, a psychologist can best explain why the subject often sells itself.

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Head of Psychology at The Sixth Form College, Rob Myatt, believes that the challenge of a subject previously unstudied in secondary school can have enormous appeal, but also the decision lies in answering the question ‘why?’.

Rob said: “Students will look into what studying Psychology entails and find that we’re discussing experiences and behaviour that they can relate to. Take phobias, for example. Even if it’s not an extreme phobia, most people will have a genuine fear of something, so they can empathise and want to understand why they might have that particular fear. Another instance is how we behave in groups compared to individually – people can relate to behaviour being different when at a party rather than in smaller groups. That grabs their interest; they want to know why it happens.”

Trying to answer that all important question of ‘why?’ may be a harder task than it seems, however, but one which can aid students on their future paths in both study and career.

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Psychologist Rob explained that mathematical, scientific and literary abilities all help to make a successful student, and said: “It may be that we have to examine multiple pieces of research and weigh them against each other to draw conclusions, rather than having a definitive answer. That process can feel extremely rewarding, and is one which gives students the transferrable skills for studying any number of subjects in university outside of Psychology.”

On a national level, the growing emphasis on mental health means that there are major growth areas in careers for those with a psychological knowledge base, but that adds to a multitude of vocational job options that put Psychology students at a distinct advantage, as Rob describes:

“Take marketing, for example, where psychological and positive association techniques are used to sell your product; even the colours that are used in adverts and signage are chosen because of Psychology. Social services, police, human resources – all of these areas benefit from people with an understanding of the subject, and that’s not even mentioning the more traditional fields associated with Psychology, like education or research. It opens many doors for people.”