This Issue

Issue 4 • March 2011 on route

Welcome to another edition of On Route, Reigate Sixth Form College’s termly newsletter, for current and soon-to-be students and their families. Students often tell me how much they appreciate all the out-of-classroom activities we offer at College and so it’s good to see so many of them featured in this edition of On Route.

In the last few months, there’s been a whirlwind of activity in Performing Arts. The Winter Concert in December (see page 4) provided an excellent evening of musical entertainment, courtesy of some of the College’s finest musicians. Hot Feet, the College’s annual dance show (see page 6), was as outstanding as ever and the first cross-College production for some time, ‘Oh! What a Lovely War’ (see page 5), triumphantly set the standard for future shows.

By the time this newsletter goes to print, we’ll have had our annual Battle of the Bands and will be gearing up for our Spring Concert and the now legendary BTEC Bash (a charity concert for students on BTEC Music courses). We’ll also be looking forward to the first

of four Summer Exhibitions showcasing the work of our talented Art & Design students (see back cover).

Easter sees the end of this academic year’s weekly Activities Programme, which has included one of the biggest ranges of extra-curricular activities ever and we’re now in the midst of adding the final details to the College’s Activities Week which will take place between 14th and 17th June.

None of these out-of-classroom activities would be possible without the enthusiasm and hard work of our staff, so thank you, to all those involved in making them happen.

Best of luck to anyone who will be sitting exams in the coming weeks. Remember, Reigate College is ‘your route to success’, so make the most of your time with us.

Enjoy the Easter break. Have fun and study hard!

Dr Paul Rispoli, Principal

Page 4College band is tipped for the top

Page 6The hottest show in town

Page 10Meet Millie Moore, England Rugby player

Making the most of

Page 3Volunteering for ‘D of E’ Gold

Here to helpDon’t forget, Reigate College’s Careers Department is now situated in W101 on the first floor of the new West Wing.

Feel free to drop in anytime Monday to Friday, from 9.00am to 3.00pm or contact careers@reigate.ac.uk to arrange a careers interview.

A record eighteen Reigate College students have so far achieved their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award this year, with a further three students still waiting to find out if they’ve also made the grade. The College is fast becoming one of the leading centres for the ‘D of E’ Award in Surrey.

Paula Pullinger who co-ordinates the programme explained, ‘the Award is fantastic for developing our students’ confidence and broadening their life skills. When you mention ‘D of E’ to people, the first image that normally pops into their mind, is tired, muddy walkers trekking through the countryside! The Expedition section is however, only one part of the Award. Many of our students gain a huge amount from the Volunteering section, since it gives them the opportunity to gain experience and skills in a range of different areas, which I’m sure is a big pull for employers and universities.’

Ex-Dunnottar pupil Sophie Wright,

During the spring term, around fifty Applied Business students have been involved in a month long Marketing Competition with Canon in Reigate. Working in teams of four to five, students were asked to come up with a ‘real life’ promotional campaign for one of five different models of Canon cameras. The experience gives students a superb insight into the sort of tasks that might be expected of them, should they go on to work in a marketing capacity within a competitive commercial environment.

Following an initial briefing given by Canon’s Jonathan Higton and a team of Key Account Managers, at Canon’s prestigious headquarters on Cockshot Hill in Reigate, students were divided into teams and asked to come up with

a promotional campaign for a specific retail chain.

Alistair Macleod, Business Studies teacher at Reigate College, commented: ‘Having to work within the confines of an agreed budget and to tight deadlines are just some of the ‘real life’ considerations that students have had to get to grips with. It’s a great experience for them and we’re indebted to Jonathan and his team at Canon for supporting the College for this, the third year of the project.’

The final takes place at Canon’s Reigate offices on 25th March.

who is doing her D of E Gold Award and studying English, Geography and Sociology at the College commented: ‘I work as a volunteer at the Coffee Shop at East Surrey Hospital for four hours, one Saturday each month. It’s great because I get to meet other volunteers and people of all ages and backgrounds. As well as being something I enjoy doing, I think voluntary work and the D of E Award in general, are good things to have on your CV or UCAS application.’

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award requires students to complete five different sections: Volunteering, Skills, Physical Recreation, Expedition and Residential.

A welcome grant from the Surrey High Sheriff Youth Awards SchemeMany thanks to the Surrey High Sheriff Youth Awards Scheme for the generous grant of £1,000 which the

There’s been a great line up of trips and visits this term. German students enjoyed a week’s trip to Aachen on the annual German exchange and French and Spanish students spent a week at language schools in picturesque Normandy and Salamanca.

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College received back in December. The College has used the money to buy additional equipment for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.

On Saturday 5th February, the High Sheriff of Surrey presented College Governor Angela Fraser with a Certificate of Recognition, during a ceremony watched by the fifty or so students and staff attending an expedition training weekend.

Serving up a record

On the Canon

Aside from language trips, Travel & Tourism students basked in the cultural delights of Barcelona and our Geography students made off to Morocco. Forthcoming trips include a History visit to Washington DC and an Art trip to New York.

Sophie Wright volunteers at the Coffee Shop at East Surrey Hospital, as part of her D of E Gold Award

Travel & Tourism students in Barcelona

Out and about

Learn how to cookIf the thought of a diet of pot noodles and tinned soup when you leave home fills you with dread, then why not learn how to cook with the College’s Head Chef Gavin Chambers? Over the period of four hour-long sessions Gavin will teach you how to make some ‘student staples’ – including nutritious pasta, rice and potato dishes – that will be good for your waistline and your pocket!

The ‘Cooking on a Budget’ course starts on Thursday 5th of May, 4.20 to 5.20pm in the Refectory kitchen and continues for four weeks. Cost £20 (inclusive of ingredients). To sign up contact stephanie.whitelock@reigate.ac.uk

Congratulations to George Fisher, Emma Wanbon, Amy Gullet, Phoebe Skinner, Laura Bright and Adam Lahkari who were recently pipped at the post in the final of the national business competition ‘Young Start Up Talent’ with their judge-pleasing ‘personalised calendar for displaying favourite photos.’

Alex Paul, Adam Hatt and Soina Limbu, one of the teams involved in the Canon competition

In the picture for a bright future

Gold Awards

Four members of PixelClick. From left Amy, George, Emma and Adam

Angela Fraser with the High Sheriff of Surrey and students showing off their new kit

On Wednesday 15th December thirty-two performers took part in Reigate College’s annual Winter Concert. The event was the first official production to take place in the College’s sumptuous new auditorium-style, County Theatre which opened in the autumn term.

The concert saw the coming together of the College’s finest musical talent and included an exciting mix of music, from driving rock, through to expressive musical theatre and sublime French chamber music.

The evening kicked off with several solo performances from James Alderman and Joshua Harvey on piano, Hayley Mead (flute) and Joel Toms (violin). Unusually, three male soloists - Kieran Hill, Chistopher Payne and James Vickery concluded the first half, singing a diverse range of songs from I Have Twelve Oxen (Ireland), to Comin’ Home Baby (Dorough/Tucker). Christopher Payne stole the first half with his unique interpretations of A Spaceman Came Travelling (Chris de Burgh) and Eye of the Tiger (Sullivan/Nicholls/Peterik), which he sang and played on guitar.

In the second half, The Reigate Chamber Ensemble presented a seasonal suite by Ravel and then accompanied Joshua Webster, on clarinet, in an elegant English character piece. The ensemble went on to accompany Anna Stockdale, who sang Not while I’m Around by Sondheim and Guy Elliot, who performed The Call (Five Mystical Songs) by Vaughan Williams. Joe Martin mesmerised the crowd with an outstanding performance of Get to It (Weckl) on drums, before the band ‘What the Funk’, left the crowd wanting for more, with their superb performances of Superstition

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(Wonder) and Beat It (Jackson). The evening came to a close with a set given by Reigate College’s premier band ‘The Mowglis’. Kate Hutchinson, who watched the concert, remarked afterwards ‘The band was simply awesome and wouldn’t have looked out of place on stage at Glastonbury.’

Graham Jenkins, Head of Music at Reigate College, commented: ‘The Winter Concert 2010 was an unqualified success. Over thirty of our best musicians participated and the promise of an eclectic mix of music was fulfilled. Everyone, performers and audience alike, seemed to have a great time. All of those who took part should feel really proud of themselves.’

Ellie Skipper, Music Technician added: ‘The high level of talent and dedication was plain to see. It’s brilliant seeing students make the transition into mature, confident performers. Members of the band The Mowglis are all on BTEC Music courses. It’s hard to believe they have only been performing together for a few months.’

Inspiring performances at the

The Reigate Chamber Ensemble

A cross-CollegePerforming Arts students Rachel Ball (left) and Amy Mager hone their MC skills during one of the final rehearsals

On 9th, 10th and 11th March around sixty students were involved in the College’s first cross-College production in the new County Theatre, ‘Oh! What a Lovely War!’ This thought-provoking satire about the First World War was a real treat, combining up-beat well–known songs such as ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’ with sketches of a more unsettling and poignant nature.

Neil Hadley, Theatre Studies teacher and Project Co-ordinator, commentated: ‘Our cast was largely made up of Performing Arts, Dance and Drama students, but was open to students of all disciplines across both year groups. For the first time in a number of years we attempted to combine the skills of acting, singing and dancing in a non-curriculum show. Whilst this increased the complexity in producing the musical, it provided an opportunity for the students (and in some cases the staff)

to delve into previously unexplored territories of their psyche and talents, prompting laughter, shock and in some cases tears. The show was hard work, but given some of the comments made by students, staff and parents afterwards, it was well worth it!’

Performing Arts student Rachel Ball, one of the show’s two MCs, who provided the ‘link’ between scenes, commented: ‘I found the show quite challenging, because of the era in which it’s set. It’s a musical that brings the First World War back to life and so has huge historical value.’ Amy Mager, fellow MC added: ‘We started rehearsals during ‘Activity’ periods in the autumn, so even though the show has been lots of work, it didn’t take anything away from normal lessons until the last few rehearsals. The show’s been a great way of getting to know students in the Lower Sixth.

We’ve all got loads out of it. It’s really made me realise how pointless war is.’

Many thanks to the production team Neil Hadley, Zoe Dunkley, Natalie Kirby, Chris Fairall and Brian Mulligan, and to everyone else who supported the show in so many different ways.

A collection was made at each perfor-mance for the Royal British Legion.

Three members of The Mowglis rehearse before the Winter Concert

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A tough act to follow

In January, ex-Warwick school student Oscar Searle spent two weeks in Swynnerton doing his Phase 2 ‘Trade’ Training course, as part of his on-going training for the Territorial Army (TA). At the end of the course he was awarded the Top Field Student Award, having displayed ‘sound theoretical knowledge’ and also been among the best students to apply this knowledge in the field. Oscar is currently in the second year of BTEC Sport Studies and BTEC IT courses and is intending to start a degree in Sports Science at the University of Surrey this autumn. During an interview with him in February, he talked candidly about his involvement with the TA and how he manages to juggle College and TA commitments.

‘One of the skills the army teaches you is time management. So much is packed into training courses and TA weekends that you learn how to get the most out of your days. My first year at College was hard. College is a big step up from school and when you start, you know you’ve only got two years to prove yourself. Because

I’m committed to both my TA unit and doing well at College, I realised I had to be organised and keep on top of my course work. I remember taking my laptop with me on one of my TA training courses and staying up to finish work when everyone else had gone to bed. It wasn’t ideal, but I got my coursework done on time; I can’t remember what time I finally got to sleep!’

He went on, ‘The Phase 1, Basic Training fortnight in Pirbright in July last year was relentless. We had to get up at 5.30am each morning and then didn’t get to bed until about 11.30pm. We spent five nights out on manoeuvres and on those nights we were lucky to get 2 or 3 hours of sleep. When I came back I’d lost over a stone in weight and felt completely exhausted. It was definitely one of the hardest two weeks of my life! The army has a motto ‘Train hard. Fight easy.’ They deprive you of sleep, make you run until your legs feel as if they will fall off, and push you further than you’ve ever been pushed before. It’s tough, but I love it!’

On Thursday 17th February and Thursday 3rd March, Reigate College ran taster sessions for forty ‘gifted and talented’ Year 8 and 9 students, from the College’s partner schools – Reigate, Warwick, de Stafford and Oakwood.

Participating students had the chance to try out two of the College’s most popular courses: Business Law, run by Nick Clark and Chris Atkinson and Film/Media Studies organised by Jon O’Hara and Liz Davies.

During the Business Law session, students were asked to come up with a non-alcoholic drink for a chosen target market, paying particular attention to packaging claims. In Film/Media Studies, students had the opportunity to create teaser trailers for either a psychological thriller or a gangster/crime thriller.

Brandon and Tom, two students who attended from Reigate School, are already convinced they’d like to pursue a career in Graphics and Media so the Film/Media session provided a useful insight into the sort of thing they might cover on an A Level course.

Taster sessions for the Gifted and Talented

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Oscar Searle, winner of the TA’s Top Field Student Award

Left to right: George Dunstan, Brandon Jones and Tom Ryan from Reigate School photographed before the session on March 3rd.

On 21st March at 1.20pm Reigate College launched its very own radio station. ‘Reigate Radio’ is a station run for students by students. Students are responsible for putting all aspects of the programmes together, including researching the news items, putting

On Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th February over one hundred dancers took part in Hot Feet, Reigate College’s annual dance show, now in its eleventh year.

This year’s production included a dazzling assortment of dances, all imaginatively choreographed by the show’s performers, under the watchful eye of dance teachers Claire Taylor, Natalie Kirby and Sarah Holloway.

Claire Taylor, Head of Dance at the College, commented, ‘The show just seems to get better and better every year. Many of the performances were exceptional, but rather than singling anyone out, I’d like to say how proud I am of everyone who took part. Everyone rose to the occasion and conducted themselves in a very professional manner. All the hard work paid off and we can all be very pleased with what we’ve achieved.’

As in previous years, the show was

open to all students, not just those studying dance, but naturally provided a superb showcase for students on BTEC and A Level dance courses.

Students performed extracts from the Jersey Boys, Lion King, Hairspray and Oh! What a Lovely War and included Contemporary, Street and Hip Hop ensembles as well as Physical Theatre and Hot Gossip group pieces.

The hottest show of the year

hits the airwavesthe play lists together and broadcasting them via the internet around the College and into the hubbub of the Refectory. Tune in on site, from 21st March between 8.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, term time only.

Graceful Sarah Williams (left) and Bonnie Richardson

UnionGambian School AppealIn December 2010, Reigate College Community Tutor Paul Mendy made a return trip to the Wellinga Nursery School in the Gambia and presented a cheque for an amazing £1,800 to the school’s staff (pictured below).

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£3,951 raised so far this year!

It’s been a busy few months in the Students’ Union – from a ‘Christmas dinner eating competition’ in December, to dodging dodge balls for Comic Relief in March! Thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of our twenty elected Union Executives and two Community Tutors, coupled with the on-going support of students, the College has so far raised an impressive £3,951 for charity this year (at the time of going to print).

This money has been donated to the following charities: Crisis at Christmas, CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), Jeans for Genes, Adam’s Appeal and the Gambia Project.

Thursday 17th February. Valentine Charity Event in aid of the British Heart Foundation. Live music, sale of Valentine sweets and cakes and a ‘love wall’ for posting messages to that ‘someone special!’

Thursday 16th December. Christmas Charity Event. Live music provided by student and staff bands, dance performances and a ‘Christmas dinner eating competition’. Contestants munched their way through spouts, mince pies and custard - all in the name of charity! All proceeds went to Crisis at Christmas and CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

Thursday 17th March. Comic relief. Dress code pyjamas or “onesies” (that’s baby-grows just in case you wondered!). Lunchtime event in the Refectory involving red noses, live entertainment and competitions. Dodge Ball Competition in the Sports Hall.

Paul gives out bags of clothes in the villages of Brufut and Kerr Gorr

The £1,800 donation represented the profit raised from a range of SU social events and after consultation with the school, it was agreed to allocate the money as follows:

l £1,000 towards the training of teaching staff

l £500 on play equipment

l £300 on the refurbishment of the school, plus the building and painting of a new sheltered area

Paul was also able to give the school two ex-College computers and some clothing that had been collected through a College-wide appeal.

When quizzed about the reception he’d received he commented, ‘The school was bowled over by the amount students had raised. £1,800 goes a long way in the Gambia.’

During his visit, Paul also travelled to two remote villages – Brufut and Kerr Gorr – and gave out additional bags of clothes that had also been collected through the appeal.

Clockwise from top left: Paul Mendy with school staff Oumie, Sainey (Head Teacher), Yasin and Mamodou.

Cross-country success. Congra-tulations to Helen Wilson who’s been selected to represent South East Colleges at the British Colleges National finals at Bath University in April. Helen, who is studying Psychology, Sociology, BTEC Business and BTEC Sport has been a member of South London Harriers for nine years. She follows a gruelling weekly training schedule, involving gym and swimming sessions and long and short runs, on six out of seven days

of the week. Helen is hoping to train to become a nurse when she leaves College but she says, ‘I can’t imagine my life without running. I would have so much time to fill!’

Silverware in their sights. The Boys’ 1st Team Football squad is enjoying another season that promises the possibility of silverware. Having made an early exit from the ESFA Cup, losing to Worthing College Academy, the team has now reached the County Cup semi-finals where they face

Richmond College on the 23rd March. To date the boys have only lost one league fixture which means there is still a good possibility of winning either the Surrey Sixth Form League or the County U18 League.

Leading 1st Team goal-scorers so far this season are: Ryan Robinson (11), Tom Scott (6) and Cavin Kaseke (6).

Other news

The Boys’ Basketball Team has had an outstanding season, convincingly

On Route: Tell us a bit about yourself

Amelia Moore: I was at St. Bede’s School before I came to Reigate College. I’m in the Lower Sixth and am studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths. I’m hoping to studying medicine when I leave College, but I’m thinking about taking a year off first to

do some travelling.

OR: Why did you decide to come to Reigate College?

AM: Although I loved St. Bede’s, I was definitely ready for a change. I really appreciate the culture of mutual respect between teachers and students at Reigate.

OR: How did you get into rugby?

AM: My Dad was a good rugby player, playing for various premiership teams when he moved from Australia. My older two sisters and I used to go and watch him play at our local club in Dorking and loved the sense of community there. We all just gradually got more and more involved.

OR: How old were you when you first started playing?

AM: I started playing touch rugby at primary school and then like my sisters went on to play full contact when I was about eight or nine.

OR: What do you like about rugby?

AM: I love team games and also enjoy a good challenge! Rugby is a tough game, and although the contact side can put people off, it’s what makes the game what it is.

OR: Who do you currently play for?

AM: I played for Dorking for seven years and am now at London Irish amateur club. I captained Surrey this season and am in the London and South East Division team, as well as the U18 England Talent Development Group.

OR: Who has been your biggest influence to date?

AM: Maggie ‘The Machine’ Alphonsi, the England flanker who is known for her big tackles and dynamic approach to the game. She won the ‘2010 Sportswoman of the Year’ award, and is luckily also one of my coaches!

OR: What would you say to girls thinking about playing rugby for the first time?

AM: Think of it as a great way of getting fit and having fun and not as a game that should only be played by boys!

OR: Have you been involved with any other extra-curricular activities at College?

AM: I’m the SU Events Officer, which is hard work but lots of fun. I really love planning charity days and events with the other members of the SU.

OR: How do you find balancing College and SU work with your rugby commitments?

AM: At times I find it hard to juggle so many different things in one go. I like to be busy though and having a clear structure to my week and being positive really helps.

OR: What’s your greatest ambition or ambitions?

AM: My aim is to be selected for the U20s England squad this year and in the future I hope to become a doctor, marry the next Johnny Wilkinson and earn my very own England cap!

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Get ready for Activities Week: 14th to 17th June

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Between the 14th and 17th June, there’ll be a break from timetabled lessons and students in the Lower and Upper Sixths will be expected to sign up to at least two of the many Activities on offer during the week-long programme.

Jack Johnson and Matt Sumners enjoy some Watersports at Mercers Lake during Activities Week last year

beating all the other College teams in the County. Our thanks goes to the players who, week in, week out, show commitment, maturity and focus. Thanks too, to their coach Steve Crane.

The Mixed Hockey Team has also had some good wins this season and has reached the final of the South Area Mixed Colleges Cup. Well done to all those involved.

Activities will include trips to theatres and places of historic interest, Business Studies visits, Sports-related days out and some more serious sessions on topics such as Drugs Awareness and a Career Preparation course. More details will be available after Easter.

Weekly Activities Programme

Our thanks goes to Steph Whitelock, Chris Lowe, Ann Taylor, Jo Evans and all the other members of staff involved in creating this year’s weekly Activities Programme.

Students have been able to choose from one of the broadest and most exciting line-ups to date. Around forty activities as diverse as the College Magazine, Jewellery-Making and Yoga have been offered during both the Autumn and Spring Terms.

The College has also embraced the latest, ‘must-try’ dance craze Zumba and now offers weekly classes for both enthusiastic students and staff.

Helen Wilson, Cross-Country finalist

spotlightMeet England Rugby player Millie Moore

dates

Reigate Sixth Form CollegeCastlefield Road

ReigateSurrey RH2 0SD

Tel 01737 221118Fax 01737 222657

News news@reigate.ac.uk

www.reigate.ac.uk

What When Where

Battle of the Bands.

Around ten student bands go head-to-head and showcase the very best of the College’s musical talent.

Tickets available from Reception. Cost £4.

Tuesday 22nd March 6.00pm to 10.00pm

Refectory

BTEC Bash.

Charity concert by Lower Sixth BTEC Music (Performance) students in aid of CLIC Sargant (Caring for Children and Young People with Cancer) and Comic Relief.

Thursday 7th April Refectory

Outside Exhibition.

A great opportunity to see an eclectic mix of work by the College’s Art & Design Department, at the brand new Reigate Community Centre (at the back of M&S).

From 3rd May to end June

Reigate Community Centre

Spring Concert.

A variety of music from Rock and Pop to Classical and Musical Theatre.

Tickets are free and are available from Reception.

Wednesday 4th May 7.00pm to 9.00pm

County Theatre

Summer Exhibition.

AS and A2 Product Design

Thursday 5th May 7.30pm to 9.00pm

RO4 Rushworth Building

Health Awareness Fair.

Stands from various agencies will be set up in the New Refectory including: CRY, Self Defence, Relate, Catch 22 and the Surrey Chlamydia Screening Team.

Thursday 12th May 12.35pm to 2.35pm

New Refectory

Activities Week.

A break from lessons and a chance to get involved in a whole host of different activities including theatre trips, outdoor pursuits, work experience and interview practice.

Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th June

Cross College and external visits

Art & Design Summer Exhibition.

Year 2 BTEC Art & Design (Design and Fashion)

Thursday 23rd June 6.30pm to 8.00pm

New Refectory

Equality and Community Day.

A day designed for students to come together to learn more about a topical subject. Theme to be announced.

Thursday 30th June Cross College

Art & Design Summer Exhibition. A2 Art, Graphic Design and Photography

Thursday 30th June 6.30pm to 8.00pm

New Refectory

Leavers’ Party.

Details to be announced.

What’s on?

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Don’t forget to look out for your weekly ‘what’s on?’ email every Monday to keep abreast of all the latest events and activities happening around College.

From March 2011