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Creative Careers Day

Careers within the Creative Arts were the focus of an event at Cambridge Junction this week - all eagerly sampled by a group of BVC students. A coach-load of our senior students attended the event which gave them an insight into such behind-the-scenes activities as stage lighting, sound engineering, song writing and improvisation. A question-and-answer session with staff from the Junction allowed students to gain further information about courses and apprenticeships available to them.

Thai trip of a lifetime

This summer saw a group of our students celebrate the end of their BVC journey – by making the trip of a lifetime to Thailand. For the 19 former Year 11 students, the World Challenge expedition was the culmination of two years of planning and fundraising. After flying into Bangkok, the students spent some time there experiencing the vibrant markets and Grand Palace before trekking in the Erawan National park which is home to the famous 7 tiered waterfalls and the infamous Hellfire pass, the name given to the largest of 1000m series of cuttings allied POWs were forced to work on during WW2. During their project phase students worked with a local organisation which has been supporting local communities in Singbun since 2008. Based close to the village of Tha Tham, the students worked on a local community construction project. Student Meg Hollidge summed up the trip in three words: “Sweat, tears and sunshine! “For me the highlights were seeing the King of Thailand, snorkelling, the food, the beaches and building a temple. It was really exciting learning a about a new culture and meeting different people.” Fellow traveller Ed Evans added:” What surprised me was that within a matter of days the entire team ceased being students, and became young, mature adults. We were no longer a group of teens, but a team of level headed explorers. “My personal highlight of the trip was swimming with in Erawan falls, a cool off in the pools was just what we all needed after a…

Art Exhibition

Work from our top young artists can be seen in a Cambridge art exhibition. Platform 19 is a collection of art by pupils from the four secondary schools and sixth form of Anglian Learning. Showcasing the artistic talent of our GCSE and A level pupils, the exhibition is being held in the Michaelhouse Centre, Trinity Street, Cambridge from 16 to 28 September 2019. Jonathan Culpin, CEO said: “We are proud of the artwork that our pupils have created to be on display at our ‘Platform 19’ exhibition at the Michaelhouse Centre.  The Arts are important to Anglian Learning, we actively seek to work with others, the Arts Council England, for example, to further enhance our Arts provision.”  

CALA Homes opens doors

A generous donation from local builders CALA Homes means we are now able to extend our provision for our construction students. Thanks to the bursary of  £1,500 from the award-winning housebuilder, we have been able to bring our construction department up to scratch thus allowing for a third cohort to start their practical studies. We know that not all students are alike and it is important to us to provide, in addition to a range of traditional academic subjects, additional vocational subjects to their students, from sports and health, to catering and construction. CALA Homes, which is currently building its Bassingbourn Reach development in the village, launched the CALA Community Bursary in Cambridgeshire in February and invited organisations, charities and groups in the area to apply for a share of £12,000 to help fund projects that make a difference in the community. Bassingbourn Village College was chosen as a recipient of the bursary, with the money being spent on a fire door for its construction building. This year, the CALA Group Community Bursary scheme has awarded a total of £109,000 to 117 good causes across the UK. A further 200 causes have previously benefitted from the scheme, with over £200,000 awarded to various initiatives since 2017. Vicky Poulter, Principal of Bassingbourn Village College, said: “We are delighted that CALA Homes chose us as a recipient of its Community Bursary scheme. "Following a recent fire safety inspection, we were told we had to change the fire door to our construction out-building, and have since been unable…

New Principal for BVC

We are pleased to welcome our new Principal, Ms Vickey Poulter. A Chemistry graduate from York University, Ms Poulter brings with her 25 years experience as a Science teacher. She joined the staff at BVC in 2006 and was appointed Vice Principal in 2014. Inspired by teachers in her life to make a difference to others, her aim is to ensure that all students at Bassingbourn have the inspiration and aspirations that she had to achieve their very best. Ms Poulter said: “I come from a family where I was the first person to go to university. I was extremely fortunate in having three very inspirational teachers as I was growing up – and it’s thanks to them that I have achieved my dream. “They taught me that there are no ceilings on achievement and that’s the message I want to pass onto the students and staff at Bassingbourn. I want them to be the very best they can possibly be. “I am thrilled to be the Principal of this amazing school. We have a very dedicated staff who work hard for our students. “We are revisiting the three Rs at Bassingbourn and with the new term we will be focussing on being responsible, respectful, resilient and healthy members of the local community.” Vickey takes over from Duncan Cooper who has been promoted to Deputy CEO and Director of Education (Secondary) for Anglian Learning multi academy trust.

Back to school arrangements

Arrangements for the first day of 2019/20 academic year: Wednesday 4th September 2019 (year 7 only) The school is open for Year 7s only. Students should go promptly to the Hall for assembly at the start of school at 8.55am. Much of the day will be taken up with admin tasks and students will follow a very basic timetable (PE kit will not be required). Thursday 5th September 2019 (years 8-11) Students should go promptly to their mentor base for the start of school at 8.55am. During Period 1a (8.55 - 9.45am) students will receive their timetables from their mentor (tutor), and year 11 students will receive their tie if one has been purchased through Wisepay. Students will then go to their teaching class for the remainder of period 1 (8.55 - 10.35) and then proceed to mentor time (10.35-10.55). Unfortunately there are still a few class clashes for some students that we are working on clearing therefore we have removed the facility for parents to view timetables and classes on Progresso for the time being to avoid any confusion. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know that we are currently migrating our email system to Office 365 and this migration should be complete by Monday 2nd September. The email addresses for staff @bassingbournvc.net will continue to receive emails, however you will see that all emails sent from Monday 2nd September will be from @bassingbournvc.org. Student emails will also change and these will be communicated with students on their return to…

GCSE celebrations

Our students are celebrating yet another successful haul of GCSE results. The sun shone as they collected their results, with lots of happy faces - and a few happy tears – as those all-important brown envelopes were opened. Vickey Poulter, Head of School, said: “We are delighted with this year’s results as staff and students worked exceptionally hard and many students achieved above expectations in all subject areas. “It is fantastic to see the success of such a dedicated and enthusiastic year group and I wish them every success in the future in their chosen courses/careers.” 73% of all pupils achieved a good pass level 4+ in English and Maths, with a quarter (24%) of all exam results at level 7-9 (A/A*). Over 80% of exams sat achieved level 4 and above. 10% of all exams were gained at the very highest level (8-9, formerly A*), with three pupils – Annie Baigent, Diaan Gill and Edward Evans - achieving Grade 9s in four of their subjects. The highest attainment score students Diaan Gill, Eve Morris, Annie Baigent, Alfie Duckett, Edward Evans, Becca Hannon, Noah Telford-Reed, Cassie Evans, Edward Weekes, Rebecca day, Annabel Sparrow, Katie Wilkins The highest progress score students Diaan Gill, Edward Evans, Eve Morris, Meg Hollidge, Emma Kitely, Katie Wilkins, Leila Joy, Amaya Cook, Rachel Mingay, Lucy Daws

Summer Heron

What a busy summer term it has been! For a round up of news and photographs from this term download the termly Heron magazine here.  

Reflective trip to Walsingham

Year 10 RE students have an annual visit to Walsingham in Norfolk. Jasmine Stacey describes the trip: Walsingham is notable for its religious shrines in honour of the Virgin Mary and attracts around 250,000 pilgrims each year, as individuals or as parish groups accompanied by their priest. It also contains the ruins of two medieval monastic houses. So, the trip was a great opportunity for students to enhance their knowledge of the Christian faith and experience first-hand the significance of the holy site that pilgrims have visited for centuries. On arriving at Walsingham, we were greeted and welcomed to the shrine by staff Pauline Lovelock and Geoff Arden. They both did an excellent job of guiding us around the historic sites and involving us in the various activities that pilgrims do when they come to Walsingham. As well as this we were greeted by Joe, who is a trainee priest doing a theology degree, which was really interesting as it gave us an insight as to how we can further our religious studies in the future. We walked through the outside area of the chapel of reconciliation (Roman Catholic). When the number of pilgrims exceeds the capacity of the Chapel, the panelling at the back of the sanctuary can be opened up and the altar becomes the focal point for pilgrims gathered in the Shrine grounds. Then we were lead into the Slipper Chapel (dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria) which served pilgrims on their way to England’s Nazareth. Saint Catherine was the patron saint…

Summer Showcase gallery

Bassingbourn Village College

South End, Bassingbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 5NJ

01763 242344

office@bassingbournvc.org
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