a level results day - esher college · a* grades in maths, further maths ... with my results and...

gained an A* in Economics and two A grades in both Philosophy and History, said, “I am really happy with my results as it means that two years of hard work have paid off! I’m so excited to be going to university”. Joanna is off to Leeds University to study PPE.

Toby Peterken, who gained three A* grades in Maths, Further Maths and Physics said, “I didn’t even think about applying to Oxbridge until I came to Esher. My teacher, Jonathan Poole, encouraged me to apply and now I’m off to Oxford University to study Physics!” Kate Merry, who achieved an A* grade in both English and Politics and an A grade in French, said, “I’m absolutely thrilled with my results and couldn’t have done it without the help and support of all of my teachers. It was the result of a lot of hard work.” Kate is off to Cambridge to study Law.

Dan Dean, the College Principal, said, “Our 2016 examination results are just superb! I am genuinely delighted for all our students and their teachers because outstanding A level and BTEC results mean that all the hard work has paid off and that progression to Higher Education and employment will be assured. The proportion of A level and BTEC students achieving the very highest grades is striking and this is a cause for particular celebration”

Esher College is pleased to report a 99.3% pass rate at A level (80.7% A* - C grades). The AS level pass rate is equally impressive at 95% (72.9% A - C grades). All of the College´s results were above national benchmarks. The proportion of students achieving the highest grades is particularly impressive. Students studying BTEC courses also achieved outstanding results.

An impressive 87 students achieved three or more A Levels at A* or A grade, including ten students who achieved 3 or 4 A* grades; a remarkable achievement. The College is also extremely proud to report that a total of 304 A* grades were awarded at A Level. A full breakdown of results is available on the Esher College website.

Lizzie Monaghan, who achieved two A* grades in English Literature and her Extended Project Qualification, and two A grades in Philosophy and History, said “I’ve been wanting to go to Oxford since I was 9 years old so finally getting to this stage, when it all becomes a reality, is unbelievable!” Lizzie is off to Oxford University to study English Language and Literature. Joanna Guildford, who

A Level results day

newsletter | autumn 2016

in this issueLetter from Dan Dean 2

Charlie O’Donoghue Award 3

Scuba Diving 4

Meet the Teacher 5

Learning Resource Centres 6

Volunteering in Iceland 7

Community Volunteers Scheme 8

Politics Trip to Berlin 10

Economics Wider Skills Week 11

End of Year Fashion Show 12

History Trip to National Archives 13

Student Union 14

Duke of Edinburgh Trip to Nepal 15

Dates for Your Diary 16

& much more

ESHERC O L L E G E

Pictured above, left to right: Ruth Chapman, Tiffany Duneau, Joanna Guildford, Toby Peterken, Rebecca Burrows, Angus Bamford, Nathalie Suffield, Alan Aram, Lizzie Monaghan, Lucie Iredale, Chris Heffernan, Kate Merry and Laila Hazara.

letterfromdan dean

Dear Parents, Students and FriendsThe 2016/17 academic year is under way and it has been a really positive start to term. Even by the high standards set by the College over the years, the 2016 examination results were exceptional, as the cover story explains. Many congratulations to our first and second year students on their outstanding achievements. This was followed by a highly successful enrolment, with record numbers of students through the door. I welcomed new 6.1 students during the induction week at the start of September and there is a real sense of purpose about the place now that teaching has started. In my talk I emphasised the importance of adopting good study habits from the off and the early signs are very encouraging. I hope that our new students enjoy the challenge of a higher level of academic study, as well as the opportunity to make new friends in a more adult environment. I am sure they will go on to some notable examination achievements of their own next summer.

On which note, if our new students are to match the exceptional AS and BTEC achievements of the 2016 cohort (outcomes which are all the more satisfying as the AS results include the first set of reformed subjects), I cannot stress strongly enough the importance of a committed approach both in and

out of the classroom. We work hard to ensure that students achieve their potential, but teachers can only develop the required skills for improvement if students have given an assignment their best shot. Success is a two-way process. In particular, I should emphasise the importance of the mock exams in January. These are both a trial run before students sit their summer exams and an important marker of progress. They will form the basis of our second progress review of the year, full details of which will be e-mailed to parents.

Strong examination results are obviously the first priority as they open doors for the future, but Esher College study programmes also aim to provide a range of opportunities for personal development. A number of these are highlighted elsewhere in this newsletter, including some of the fantastic trips and visits that make up Wider Skills Week at the end of the summer term.

On administrative matters, if you have recently had a change of address, telephone number or e-mail could you please ask your daughter/son to check their student records on the portal, as a matter of urgency, and to use the link to e-mail our MIS Manager with any amendments, so that we know where to contact you if necessary.

I must make my regular mention of ECAT, the official Esher College charity, and our adult education portfolio. Any support you are able to give to the former would be much appreciated and please do pick up a prospectus for the latter. We are constantly adding to our evening courses and there may well be an opportunity you find hard to resist!

Finally, I would like to wish all our students an enjoyable and successful year. I look forward to meeting many of you at the various College events over the course of the academic year.

Dan Dean, Principal

Chemistry Cambridge Challenge 2016Thirty students from Esher college entered this year’s Cambridge Chemistry challenge and we are very proud of our students’ achievements. Twenty-two students won the following awards:

Sophie Peggs - Gold award, Heather Alderson – Silver award, Alice Robinson – Silver award, Philippa Smith – Silver award , Ellie Baldwin – Copper award, Juliet Chan - Copper award, Annie Darlington - Copper award, Laura Davies - Copper award, Niall Donaldson- Copper award, Alex Gilbert – Copper award, Morwenna Hope – Copper award, Emma Kershaw – Copper award, Zach Leach – Copper award, Imogen Lindsley – Copper award, Will McCarthy Totton – Copper award, Cameron McClymont- Copper award, Poppy Miller - Copper award, Lawrence Oldham -

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Classics trip to GreeceDuring Wider Skills Week, the Classics Department undertook a 700km odyssey around the archaeological sites of central Greece and the Northern Peloponnese. Champions were crowned after the foot race at ancient Olympia, the navel of the universe was peered into on the visit to ancient Delphi, and a fine time was had by all.

Andy Marsh

The Charlie O’Donoghue Award This award is in memory of Charlie O’Donoghue, an Esher College student who tragically died in 2003, and is awarded annually for outstanding sporting achievements and behaviour. This year’s winner, Oliver Davis, has been a dedicated member and captain of the double winning Esher College 1st XI football team. Oliver has been a real role model, both on and off the pitch, during his two years at the College, as well as being a very gifted footballer. Oliver has just left Esher to study Sports Science at Loughborough University, after successfully completing his BTEC sports diploma with a distinction.

Copper award, Benjamin Oscroft – Copper award, Joss Patel – Copper award, Hannah Perks – Copper award and Sophie Russell – Copper award.

The Chemistry Cambridge challenge is an international competition which is set by an experienced team of teachers and university chemists. The exam aims to stretch and challenge students interested in chemistry and provides an excellent experience for anyone considering taking their studies further.

Congratulations to all our students who won and well done to everyone who took part in the challenge.

Pictured below: bottom left, from left to right, Laura Davies and Sophie Peggs and bottom right, from left to right, Imogen Lindsley, Niall Donaldson and Cameron McClymont.

Scuba DivingThe success of the Scuba group continues to grow and we are now in our sixth year. Nineteen students completed their certification and are now qualified Open Water Divers with a licence to dive anywhere in the world. Some have already begun to use this opportunity; Dilly Dunsfold has dived in Bali, Ella Blacksell has dived in Sicily, where amongst other things she encountered Moray Eels and Squid, and Issy Pullman described diving in Malta as, “It was insane, swimming through tunnels”. Summer Upton now has a Saturday job at the dive school so will hopefully find many more opportunities to use her skills.

The course is taught in conjunction with Aquanaut Scuba and Snorkelling Centre. It is a massive testament to the College that all their instructors wanted to teach our students – in fact, the instructors had to be selected by their names being drawn out of a hat, well actually, a scuba hood!

As one of the instructors said, “Congratulations to your students on completing their qualification dives this weekend. Such a nice bunch of youngsters, they are a credit to the college and themselves”.

We have 2 groups running this year and hope to be able to report close to 40 new ‘explorers of the deep’ next year.

Norman Glennard

Esher College Africa Trust (ECAT)The College continues to raise funds for the Esher College Africa Trust (ECAT), our registered charity 115651. The charity supports the Dope School, out in rural Zimbabwe, and raises money to help pay school fees for children who are AIDS orphans. Money also goes to help them buy necessities, such as pencils, and even shoes in some cases, as many of them walk miles to and from school every day.

School fees are $50 per child per term and we have recently had to scale down the number of pupils as our funding is not sufficient, even with the Student Union fundraising and help from the Trustees.

For further information, or to find out how you can help support the charity, please contact Vreni Oleram, a Trustee of ECAT, by e-mail [email protected]

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What inspired you to go into teaching?

I started my working life as a youth worker but soon realised I wasn’t cool enough to keep up with the youth culture. Teaching meant I could be part of young peoples lives and feel like I could help students achieve goals and ambitions. I remember bumping into one of my first students from my NQT year, years later, beaming with pride at telling me he had been to university to study law. I couldn’t believe he even remembered me!

Why have you chosen to work in a Sixth Form College?

I spent 10 years in schools working with a diverse age range of students teaching RE and Sociology but realised I loved teaching the older students and wanted to focus more on the Sociology. Sociology is a great subject to teach as it challenges students to think outside of their own viewpoints and experience and think critically about the world around them. Students in this Sixth Form College are great to work with as they really want to have some independence and a chance to take charge of their lives and they can start to do that in this supportive environment.

What is the best thing about your job?

When you work hard with students all year, and worry on results day about students grades, only to find those students who really struggled get the grade they hoped for – makes it all worthwhile.

What are you most proud of?

I don’t think I have any one thing that I am most proud of. It’s just the little things in life, those little achievements that give me a sense of pride like going out for a run when its pouring with rain, hearing my daughter sing ‘Let it go’ as loud as she can or when a student gets to grips with a really difficult concept I’ve taught them.

When you were younger, what teacher inspired you the most? How did they?

Mr Gilmore, my Maths teacher. He told me I would get a good grade in Maths GCSE and I didn’t believe him, having struggled in lessons, but he did believe in me and I did end up with a good grade. He made me believe that, as a teacher, if you believe students can do well it can have a positive impact.

What book has influenced you most?

‘The hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared’ by Jonas Jonasson. You are never too old to live life to the full and seek adventure. The man in this story was a hundred years old and still had adventures of a lifetime.

What words of wisdom would you pass onto your sixteen year old self?

When you are older you won’t remember who you were or were not friends with, you will remember all the things you did. Don‘t worry about what others think of you, go and find amazing things to do and don’t be too scared to do them!

meet the teacher

Name: Jennifer Kent

Position: Head of Sociology

Started teaching at Esher: September 2008

learning resource centres

The LRC’s Staff

Jo Canessa Librarian and LRC Manager

Sue Dixon Assistant Manager Library

Tony Simpson Assistant Manager Resources

LRC Assistants

Rita Cloherty, Fay Whittam, Mervyn Lionel and Carl Dixon.

We have two Learning Resource Centres at Esher; LRC 1, which is located on the ground floor in the red zone and LRC 2, which is located on the first floor of the green zone. Students usually spend most of their private study sessions in one of the Learning Resource Centres. The two centres offer distinct areas for independent or group study. There are 100s of study spaces and students can choose to work in small or larger groups, in silent areas, or in a more relaxed group environment where talking and discussion is encouraged. All areas are fully equipped and designed to meet all student preferences.

Resources

The main LRC (LRC 1) houses a comprehensive Library and has a huge range of resources which include:

• AnextensivecollectionofbookscoveringallALevelsubjects studied at College, as well as fiction and general interest titles.

• AccesstosubscriptionOn-lineResources

• Magazinesandjournalsforcurrent,uptotheminuteinformation, as well as a magazine/journal archive

• e-booksande-journals

• 120networkedcomputersforstudentuse

• Referencecopiesofallsubjecttextbooks

• Referencesection

• Silentstudyareas

• Accesstocolourprinters,copiersandscanners.

• Laminatingandbindingservice

• StationeryShop

• Equipmentloans–DigitalCameras,tripods,Dictaphonesand other equipment.

LRC 2 is the best place for larger group work and has:

• 23PCsforstudentuse

• Largertablesforgroupwork

• StudycarrelswithUSBandchargingports

• Sofasandsoftseatingforarelaxedreadingspace

• Referencecopiesoftextbooks.

How we can help

If you are struggling with research for any of your subjects or just need help to find some information, please call in to the main LRC and ask at the front desk.

The LRC Portal Pages, found under College Services, provide you with access to a wide range of resources, as well as guidance on copyright and other useful information.

Many students will be beginning their research for EPQ and it is often difficult to find the best quality and variety of resources needed to support your project. The front

desk staff are trained to help students find information as well as how to use our subscription resources. The Librarian is on hand to help with more specialised research whenever needed. If you can’t find what you need please ask a member of staff who will be happy to help you.

Don’t forget... Always bring your student ID card with you. It is also your Library card and you will need it to use the photocopying and scanning facilities.

Opening times for both LRCs:

Day Open Close

Monday 08:30 16:30

Tuesday 08:30 16:30

Wednesday 08:30 16:30

Thursday 08:30 16:30

Friday 08:30 16:15

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Iceland

Students travelled to the remote East of Iceland and volunteered in a beautiful village located in a fjord. The students worked extremely hard and undertook 5 days of environmental volunteer work. This included removing Alaskan lupins which are an invasive plant species, clearing up the local coastline and digging the foundations of a traditional Icelandic greenhouse.

The group also took in the amazing and beautiful sites that Iceland has to offer, visiting waterfalls, glaciers and geysers.

All of the students who took part in the trip were a credit to the College and should be really proud of what they achieved.

Michelle McGrath

volunteering in IcelandIn July, nineteen students and two members of staff, embarked on an amazing trip to Iceland as part of the Volunteer Abroad extension study. The trip was the culmination of 9 months of hard work, with students having to fundraise throughout the year to pay for the trip.

community volunteers scheme Congratulations to Katie Greensmith, Liddy Pickhaver, Jacob Ward, Samantha Barrie and Amelia Heminsley, who were all awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award in the Community Volunteers Scheme. The Esher College Community Volunteer Scheme offers 6.1 students the opportunity to volunteer in the local community as part of their complementary study course. Students spend six weeks preparing for their work placements at the start of the course before going to volunteer in local care homes, schools and charity shops.

Pictured (from left to right) Katie Greensmith (who volunteered at The Royal Cambridge Care Home), Liddy Pickhaver (who became a Buddy Scheme Volunteer) , Jacob Ward (who worked at a Cancer Research shop) and Samantha Barrie (who volunteered at St Nicholas School). Amelia Heminsley (not present in photo) volunteered at Stepping Stones Nursery.

Chemistry Wider Skills Week

The exam pressure was off and we were all ready to enjoy our chemistry adventures. The first day had an exciting murder mystery theme and was hosted by Kingston University. After initially being presented with a suspicious death scenario, we were then led to the crime scene where we collected our own evidence (nothing too gory). After that we went to the analytical labs to see how it was analysed. Visiting the pharmacy practice labs, we were all able to use our chemistry knowledge and discuss if an overdose played a role in the death. Finally, we all met to discuss what/who we thought had caused the death (some of us even correctly predicted the cause of death!).

Fullers Brewery gave us a great tour and we learnt about the history of Fullers, how the many types of beer/ale were traditionally made, as well as modern day methods. An explanation as to some of the chemistry used in the processes was provided. The teachers were offered a sample of the beer, sadly none for us! Next stop was the Beefeater Gin Distillery in London. The interactive tour about the history of gin was fascinating and we also learnt how important the

processes, ratios and sources of the ingredients were to give Beefeater Gin its distinctive taste. We were able to glimpse at the distillery above us as the guide talked up through the processes. The tour was finished with a refreshing iced tea, obviously we were all hoping for a refreshing gin and tonic!

Our last day started with a captivating talk by Dr Kathryn Harkup who provided us with information on the role of some of the important elements in the human body. We also learned about how Hennig Brand boiled urine in the hopes of getting gold but instead discovered the brightly glowing and highly flammable phosphorus! Then off to the Royal Institute to see their Summer Exhibition; there was something for everyone and this was definitely my highlight of the week. Speaking with the scientists was thoroughly engaging and we even got to participate in some of the activities. My favourite was the mosquito exhibition where I learnt about the use of infrared cameras to track their flight paths and I even earned some mosquito (fairy) wings.

Poppy Miller

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Former Esher student, Jonny Waller, came back to visit us and talk about what he has been up to since leaving College. Jonny left Esher in 2010 with an A* in Maths and Physics, an A in Chemistry and Further Maths and an A in AS Business Studies.

Which university did you go to and what did you study?

I went to Cambridge to study Mechanical Engineering.

What are your plans for the future?

I have started working at a product design company where we design a mixture of medical devices and consumer products. There’s a lot to learn so I plan to stay here and keep on playing with the 3D printers, laser cutters and other similar paraphernalia for quite a while yet! I hope I will be able to make a real positive impact on peoples lives through encouraging more environmentally friendly product designs (by using less plastic or making things easier to re-use and recycle), and making medical products more effective and easier to use. We often work with large companies on multi-million pound projects so there are lots of opportunities for really making a meaningful impact.

Knowing what you know now what advice would you give your 16 year old self or give our current Esher College students?

Really put an effort into finding things you’re passionate about and pursue them. Academic work is really important and will help you achieve the things you want. It can be too easy to fall into the trap of pursuing things purely because you have been told to by other people. I am lucky that I genuinely find the type of engineering I’m involved in interesting. I think it’s really important that people try out, or learn about, a big range of areas until they can find subjects or careers that really suit them. I didn’t really know what engineering even was until quite far into my A-Levels, and I still hadn’t figured out what type I wanted to work in until late in my final year, but I’m now glad I persevered in my hunt for a specialism that I have a genuine interest in.

Try and find some fun extra curricular activities and give them a go without getting too worried about ‘CV points’. University really showed me the value of breaking up lots of work (that seems like

a blast from the past!

you’ll never get on top of), with sport, trips away or just going to the pub! Getting a good work-life balance really helps you get on better when you are studying, have a ton more fun when you’re not and the fact it makes your CV look better is a happy side effect rather than another ‘to do’ to worry about.

Try to be as efficient as you can with work and revision, you can often avoid working ridiculous hours by carefully figuring out exactly what information you need to know and where to find it. You can do this by finding a really good revision guide, writing your own very condensed revision notes or scanning over a ton of past papers to find the most important topics early on, rather than just the week before exams.

How do you think Esher College prepared you for university?

The independence and more ‘grown up’ attitude at Esher really helped me prepare for University. Having more responsibility for my work and being treated like an adult definitely made adapting to things at the start of University much easier. I’m also really grateful for the support with personal statements and practice interviews I received when applying to Cambridge. Finally, I’m really grateful for the help I received from the Maths department, especially Susan who organized and encouraged me on the seemingly impossible task of doing a lot of extra Maths in my second year. I’m also really grateful to Ashley, whose teaching made understanding the deluge of maths that followed actually possible! Being able to say I was doing this to help prepare for studying engineering definitely made my application to Cambridge significantly stronger.

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politics trip to BerlinDespite assuming we’d get a few hours’ rest after landing, we set off straight away with a 3-hour walking tour of Berlin, getting a brief overview of the city’s history and its main attractions. Being caught in torrential rain did not stop us from getting ready for our first night out; however, leaving the hostel before noon, we didn’t expect to be returning at 1am only to be woken by 7am alarms. Lots of coffee was needed to recover from the night before, yet this did not slow Meir down from powering us through to the Bundestag, where we gained an insight into the workings of German politics. As if this tour and climbing the Siegessaule (Victory Column) wasn’t enough for one day, the rain caught us out once more during our 4-hour exploration cycle through Berlin. The nightlife, again, did not disappoint us as we were able to make good use of the city’s night-time public transport. On Thursday morning, the group split for an activity of their choice; the ‘Queer Berlin’ walk or seeing ‘Berlin from Below’. For lunch, many of us opted to try the traditional German Bratwurst to get us through the rest of Meir’s heavy itinerary. In the evening, the Germany vs France Euro semi-final game gave us a taste of the German national spirit as we gathered to watch the intense match on the big screen. We were encouraged to get involved with face paint and big flags; it was a shame we were rooting for the unsuccessful team. Friday’s visit to the Stasi prison captivated us all by showing us the experiences of those who fell victim to the regime. Nevertheless, the highlight of the day was the swim at Weisensee Lake as the weather held out to give us much-deserved sunshine. On our final day, the Topography of Terror museum was followed by an afternoon indulging in the scenic landscape of Potsdam. But a politics trip would not be complete without being immersed into a political riot, well-planned out by Meir. After 4 hours sleep and bags packed, everyone was feeling ready to go home after an unforgettable trip. Next stop: Brussels 2017.

Sandra Arezina and Louisa Graham-Taylor

Art & Design Wider Skills WeekA group of art and design students explored progression in this subject during Wider Skills Week by visiting sites across London. On the first day they explored a cross section of contemporary art by visiting Tate Modern, Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery and the Mennier Gallery (pictured). Day two featured visits to meet

two practicing artists; one at their studio in Stratford (pictured) and one at a one-man exhibition in Fitzrovia. On the final day the students visited the New Designers graduate fair at the Business Design Centre in Islington to view graphic and 3d design, illustration and multimedia work.

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Economics Wider Skills WeekOn the first day of wider skills week, we were split into groups and researched one of the institutions that we would visit during the week. Each group then presented their findings, giving us all some background knowledge of the places that we were going to. We then watched ‘The Big Short’ which gave us a better understanding of what led to the financial crisis of 2008, and also looked at those who predicted it and subsequently made money from it. The next day we went to Stamford Bridge and had a business tour where we learnt about the business aspects of Chelsea Football Club. After this, we went to the Bank of England museum where we were able to build on the knowledge that we had already gained in lessons from looking at its role in the economy. On the last day we had a walking tour of the city of London and then proceeded to the treasury. People who work there gave us talks on what they do and the different paths that could lead to a career there. We even got to try and organise a balanced budget sheet. These days had fun activities that allowed us to extend our understanding of the financial economy.

Isheanesu Kashora

history trip to MunichAt the beginning of July, 22 first year History students took an early flight to Munich to learn more about Nazi Germany in preparation for the upcoming coursework unit. As an introduction to the city and the historical period we started off taking a guided tour of Munich. Here we learnt about Hitler’s life and retraced his footsteps in some of the key Nazi sites.

The following day we then travelled to the German/Austrian border to visit the Berchtesgaden. The lower part of the mountain was where Hitler and other Nazi leaders lived and made key decisions during the 1930s. Beneath these homes was a huge network of bunkers which were created and well equipped in case of a bombing raid. At the top of the mountain was Hitler’s 50th birthday present. Known as the Eagle’s Nest, this was a retreat for Hitler, with a beautiful view of the Alps, where he could entertain his friends.

On our third day in Munich we visited Dachau concentration camp. Actually being there and hearing the horrific stories from when it was in use made it all feel very real and was definitely an emotional and worthwhile experience. For the rest of the afternoon we heard about the current Jewish community, as well as its practises in Munich, at the Jewish Museum. This was followed by spending time at the Tolwood Festival and then finishing off the day by watching a live screening of the Euro semi-final, Germany vs France, in the

Adult EducationOur new brochure was launched in May, and contains many of our most popular courses and a new range of Photography courses.

For those interested in IT, we offer two different MS Office courses in Word, and Excel & Presentation Graphics.

Our language courses in French, Italian and Spanish are available at Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced levels.

We have a diverse range of courses in Interior Design, Photography, Arts and Crafts, and Health, Fitness and Lifestyle, and a new selection of Saturday Workshops in Nutrition, Working with Crystals and Mindfulness.

We have extended our range of Counselling & Life Skills courses to include the Level 4 Diploma in Life Coaching Studies, and we continue to offer a Level 2 Award in Effective Listening Skills, Levels 2 and 3 Certificates in Counselling, and a Level 3 Certificate in Life Coaching Studies. These courses are validated by CPCAB and are useful qualifications for those working in Health, Social Care and Education.

Full details of all our courses can be found on the website www.esher.ac.uk/adulteducation. All courses can be booked by telephoning 020 8335 2544 or online through our website.


Olympic Stadium. All the Germans had come out to watch and the atmosphere was incredible!

On the final day of our trip we went to the documentation centre to collect information for our coursework, and to round off all the knowledge we had gained over the previous days. Overall it was a jam-packed trip which allowed us to enjoy the lovely city of Munich, speak the two words of German we knew and prepare us for the coursework this term.

Pauline Libosvar

adult education 2016/17

ESHERC O L L E G E

At the end of an extremely busy year for the Fashion and Textile students, it is always wonderful to see their work showcased in the end of year Fashion Show. The models from year 1 and 2 wore their own or other fellow students work. The eclectic collection ranged from day and evening wear, men’s wear, tailored garments and lingerie. The work gives a sample of the diverse and outstanding skills in design, embellishment, screen printing, laser cutting, pattern cutting and detailed construction.

Sheila MacDonald, Head of Fashion and Textiles, said “The volume and quality of the work produced by the students is outstanding. The garments are designed to be worn, so it is such a special occasion to see the garments on the catwalk. Many of these students are moving on to Art Foundations or Fashion degrees and will become our future designers and buyers. I am so proud of them and wish them well in the next exciting stage of their journey”.

Sheila MacDonald

end of year fashion show

Wider Skills Week Visit to SaxonyIn Wider Skills Week the History and Languages departments combined in a trip for German students and History ‘Power and Belief’ students to Saxony. We languished on the runway at Gatwick for two hours until, at last, at eight in the morning we took off arriving in Berlin 90 minutes later. We then took a bus down to Saxony where our first stop was Wittenberg, where Luther pinned his 95 theses on the door of Wittenberg Cathedral in 1517. The door has been replaced but the cathedral is still there and we followed in the footsteps of the great man himself before travelling to our hotel in Eisenach near the Wartburg Castle. Luther was hidden for a year in Eisenach and it is here that he translated the Bible into a German; this was to become the foundation of the modern language. The Wartburg is spectacular, we had an excellent guided tour and the language students chatted to German tourists. On the way back we enjoyed German engineering and efficiency, but then the bus broke down and we all helped push it. In the afternoon we had a tour around Eisenach town, including Luther’s house.

The last day we visited the ancestral home of the Dukes of Saxony in Torgau. The most popular attraction was the bears that live in the castle moat. We then returned to Berlin where we had a chance to stock up on fashion and wurst before catching the flight back to London.

Giles Roberts

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history trip to the national archives

Our visit to The National Archives in Kew was a fantastic opportunity to examine original historical documents. We were able to access a range of documents from many eras, from World War Two propaganda posters to treaties signed by Henry VIII. It was great to be able to view such interesting historical sources in their original form.

Samantha Eckford

On the 5th July, AS students visited The National Archives (as part of ‘Wider Skills week’) in order to carry out an archival enquiry using original source material. Once we had gained our visitor passes we were allowed to collect the artefacts we had pre-ordered at College. I examined a document that explained how the bones of the princes of the Tower were discovered in 1674. Luckily I was able to use Google translate so I could understand the Latin paragraphs that were written in the 17th century! Over the course of two days I explored maps from the Great Tower of London, Richmond Park in the 1700s and even the court rule book from

Hampton Court. Furthermore, I was lucky enough to be granted access to high security documents in the Invigilation Room. In this room, I saw a letter written to Henry VII about Perkin Warbeck and the official document ordering Anne Boleyn’s arrest, with the original seals. For two days we ordered and studied different documents on subjects relating to our history syllabus, personal interest and EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). On the third day, we created presentations on the research we had carried out. We then presented our slideshows and presentations sharing our knowledge and discussing our findings.

Overall, the visit to Kew Archives was fascinating. Not only did we get to handle original documents, but it also provided us with useful material to utilise in both our exams and EPQ. As a result of this trip I went on to organise a voluntary work experience placement there over the summer!

Chloe Morton

World Massed Choir for Peace One DayOn Wednesday 21st September, Esher College took part in the World Choir event for Peace One Day. Fourteen students and two members of staff took part and sang Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, I’ll Be There for You (theme song from Friends) and Somewhere from West Side Story. All these songs have a peace and support/loyalty theme. Claire Whittaker, Head of Music, said “ It was great to have the opportunity to come together as a college community and sing to support peace. We hope to be involved again next year!”

One Day One Choir is a global choral initiative, starting in 2014, which has been created to mobilise the inspiring and harmonious power of singing together to unite people globally to sing for peace on and around Peace Day, September 21st. Anyone, anywhere can join in either by dedicating something you are already singing on Peace Day or by creating a performance, however short or long, with an appropriate focus on peace - peace at home, at school, in our communities and work places, and around the world.

Claire Whittaker

student union

Freshers’ PartyThe Freshers’ event is coming up soon and once again it will be held at the Hippodrome in Kingston. We hope to involve the 6.1 students as much as possible in the planning of their

Freshers’ night, including the theme. Freshers’ is a great night for the 6.1’s to meet each other and get involved with Esher’s student life.

After being elected in May this year, our new Student Union talk to us about their first event, the summer festival, and their plans for the Freshers’ party.

Summer FestivalThe summer festival took place on 30th June and we are pleased to say it was a success. This free event took place to celebrate the end of exams. Due to the highly successful advertising campaign run by Haram Yu, the fairground rides, rodeo, sumo wrestling suits, last man standing, photo booth and DJ all had high uptake and proved very popular. The barbeque, run by the café catering staff, was enjoyed by all and went well with the Hawaiian theme, also organised by the Student Union. The Hawaiian leis and fruit drinks, together with the candy floss machine, were not only a good source of income but also added to the atmosphere. The event was successful, fun, and enabled us to raise money for ECAT, the Esher College charity.

The Student Union Pictured above, from left to right:

Isabelle Dodd (Health and Wellbeing Executive), Steph Wilson (Events and Charities Executive), Hannah Chin (Equality and Diversity Executive), Yaz Ozten (Finance Executive), Albert Berry (President), Oscar Perriman (Eco Executive), Emily Jeans (Vice President), Vaneet Sandhu (Events and Charities Executive) and Haram Yu (Marketing Executive)

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duke of edinburgh trip to NepalAt the end of their two years at Esher College working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, 33 students flew to Nepal to begin their Expedition. After arriving at our Kathmandu hotel (by the Boudhanath Stupa), the following day was spent at Pashupatinath Hindu Temple where several bodies were being prepared for cremation by the side of the Holy Bagmati river.

The next day was the most dangerous part of the trip, a day’s bus ride to the stunning city of Pokhara by the lake of Phewa where there are views of the Himalayan Annapurna range of mountains. Driving the next day into the foothills of Annapurna the trek began, immediately climbing the steep mountainsides. The weather was hot and humid which made the trekking all the more difficult. The monsoon rains were a welcome respite from the heat, but made the conditions under foot more troublesome. The following morning the beauty of the Himalayas was exposed as Annapurna South, Dhaulagiri and Machhapuchhre were in full view in the morning sunlight.

Six more days of challenging trekking followed, passing through rice fields, towns, rickety bridges and waterfalls, all in the huge Nepali landscape. There were the occasional moments when the walking was flat but mostly it was, as they say in Nepal, ‘a little bit up and a little bit down’, a typical Nepali understatement. A return to recover in Pokhara, a visit to the Japanese Stupa across the lake and shopping for presents completed the trip. The drive back to Kathmandu was a perfect opportunity to catch up with sleep and rest the weary body before the excitement of the flight back (but that story is for another day!)

The students loved the whole experience and thoroughly enjoyed mixing with the locals and the guides. They all saw that, despite the poverty, the Nepalese deserve the reputation as a happy people, many expressing their desire to return as soon as they can. They all passed the expedition too and without doubt were a credit to the college, D of E and their parents!

Mark Stevens

dates for your diaryAutumn Term 2016

Friday 21st October INSET

Monday 24th to Friday 28th October Half Term

Thursday 24th November Progress Review Evening (by invitation only)

Friday 16th December End of Term

Spring Term 2017

Tuesday 3rd January Start of Term

Monday 9th January ‘Catch Up Day’ - no lessons

Monday 13th to Friday 17th February Half Term

Thursday 23rd February Progress Review Evening (surnames A-F)

Thursday 2nd March Progress Review Evening (surnames G-N)

Monday 6th March Progress Review Evening (surnames O-Z)

Tuesday 14th & Wednesday 15th March Higher Education Evenings

Tuesday 21st March Higher Education Day & Evening Convention

Friday 31st March End of Term

Summer Term 2017

Tuesday 18th April Start of Term

Thursday 20th April Progress Review Evening (by invitation only)

Monday 1st May May Day holiday

Monday 15th May 6.1 exam leave

Wednesday 24th May 6.2 exam leave (pm)

Monday 29th May to Friday 2nd June Half term

Monday 12th June 6.1 students return to College

Thursday 29th June Summer Festival (pm)

Tuesday 4th July ‘After Esher Day’

Monday 10th to Friday 14th July Wider Skills Activities

Friday 14th July End of term

Dates for Prospective Students and Parents - Sept 2017 admissions (by invitation only)

Thursday 12th January Information Evening (parents)

Thursday 26th January Information Evening (parents)

Wednesday 28th June Introduction Evening (parents)

Friday 30th June Introduction Day (students)

Start of Year 2017/18

Tuesday 29th & Thursday 31st August Enrolment for new students

Monday 4th September 6.2 Re-enrolment Day

For entry to Esher College in Sept 2018

Monday 3rd July Open Evening

StaffingAt the end of last term we said a fond farewell to Emma Young (Deputy Principal), Karen Collingwood (Head of Art), Julie Quinnen (Learning Support Assistant), Cesar Gomez Gallego (Teacher of Spanish), Norman Glennard (Teacher of Biology), Kelly Adams (Adult Education Administrator), Michael Davies (Media and Film Technician), Abigail Chadd (Teacher of PE), Helen Hore (Teacher of Geology), Jessica Hope (PA to Deputy Principal) and Michael Dicken (Learning Support Assistant).

We have recently welcomed to the College Helen Odhams (Deputy Principal), Phil Tizard (Teacher of Maths), Jason Rynn (Teacher of Biology), Ailis Kane (Teacher of Biology), Daniel Jurado Escobar (Spanish Teacher), Sallie Doyle (Learning Support Assistant) and Dan Leach (Site Assistant).

Made with 50% recycled paper.

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