The Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, Mrs Anne Milton, visited the College on January 31st. She met with the Principal, Andrew Parkin, took part in a tour of the College, sat in on a rehearsal for our production of Grease the Musical and finally had lunch with our Student Executive team.
The focus of her visit was to see the excellent work that takes place each day here at our College and to understand the financial challenges that we are facing going forward. In discussions with the Head Boy and Girl she asked how they were finding life as A level students and what they hoped to do once they had graduated from University. Mrs Milton was very impressed by everything she saw and particularly enjoyed the Grease rehearsal and talking to the student leadership team!
At the end of the visit she expressed her gratitude to all the staff at the College for everything they do for the students here.
Nicola Walsh - Vice Principal
On the 15th of January at 7.30am, 22 Government and Politics students plus Principal, Andrew Parkin, along with Kingsley Jolowicz and Melisa Tupou made the long journey down to Cardiff to the National Assembly for Wales (NAW). The trip was part of the student’s study of how Devolution operates throughout the United Kingdom. The Assembly is on the corner of Cardiff Bay in a beautiful spot next to the Wales Millennium Centre and the Pierhead Building once the home of the Bute Dock Company.
On arrival the students met by the team from the Education Centre and directed to a room where the students completed a series of activities looking at the workings of the NAW including who they would vote for First Minister using a profile of a well-known politician and a clever way of using hats to explain the powers of the NAW. Following these activities the students and staff were led into the old assembly building where a debate took place on whether 16 year olds should be able to vote. The students’ responses to the questions asked by the education officer were insightful and demonstrated excellent knowledge on what they had learned so far in A Level Government & Politics.
The day concluded with time in the visitor’s gallery observing First Minister’s questions. The students were keen to observe how polite the Assembly members were to the First Minister and to each other compared to the rough and tumble of Prime Minister’s Questions. Overall the staff and students thought it was an excellent trip and well worth repeating for the new Y1’s nest year. I would just like to thank the students for their exemplary behaviour throughout the day and to Andrew and Melisa for their support managing the students. The next visit by the department should be Edinburgh in June and Washington DC in October.
Kingsley R Jolowicz - Head of Government & Politics
We were very sorry to hear the news of Brian Frederick's death from his wife Heather last Thursday. It was sudden and unexpected. Brian retired as our Clerk to the Governors in July 2018 after 25 years loyal service. He had worked in education all his life as a teacher, school leader and latterly as an Ofsted inspector before taking over as a Clerk to a number of governing bodies in the mid-1990s. He served this College most effectively and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Sixth Form and FE sector. He was highly respected and universally popular and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Brian returned to College for the Carol Service just a few weeks ago and was looking forward to a period of travel at the start of 2019.
Mass will be offered for him on Friday January 18th at 12.05pm for anyone who is able to attend.
The Principal met with Tanya Sprunks this week, a parent of the College and our local Police Inspector prior to her setting off on an adventure of a life time later this month! The ‘Magnificent 7’ as they have named themselves, are heading to Scotland January 25th to tackle Ben Nevis, the highest mountain on the British Isles. All funds raised will be split 50/50 between Frontline Children, a UK registered charity raising funds to help children in conflict and war zones access education and St. Dominic’s Sixth Form College who are fundraising for new sports equipment to support students develop their health and fitness programs, which is believed to be an integral part of academic success.
Tanya is one of The Magnificent 7 who has a son in year 12. She is a senior police officer and fitness instructor and will be joined by Sky News presenter Kay Burley and Jordan Wylie, who is fresh from appearing on the TV show ‘Hunted’. The other participants include French diplomat Aurelie Bonal, Sky News’ deputy political editor Beth Rigby, and two others from the world of media and TV. They will make their attempt on Friday, January 25.
The ‘Magnificent 7’ hope to raise £5,000, which will be split equally between Frontline Children and St. Dominic’s.
Everyone at St. Dominic’s wishes them all the very best of luck and hope that lots of funds are raised for both causes. If you would like to donate funds please click the link below.
Andrew Parkin
Principal
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bennevis2019?utm_id=125
''The Magnificent 7''
