Dear Parents & Carers
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to take the opportunity to write to you with some useful information and updates on events which have taken place and those which are upcoming.
Report Cards and Progress Monitoring
The SummerReport Cardwill be published for Year 1 students onMonday 3 June onMyVarndean for students and throughour Varndean Parent Portal. If parents are yet to register for the parent portal then please do so via ourwebsite. The report card will include an"end of year grade" which for A level students will be the result of the Year 1 practice exam and for Vocational students will be the culmination of the external assessments that have taken place during the year.
All Year 1 students will then have a one to oneProgress Review Meeting with all their teachers which will take place in lessons during the week beginning10 June. Teachers will be discussing progress over the year and supporting students to make targets to complete in readiness for progression into Year 2.
Progression to Year 2
For the overwhelming majority we are expecting students to progress into Year 2 on their current programme of study. However, for some, the Summer Report card may highlight that their current programme is not meeting a student's needs and requires a review. These students will be invited to an additional review meeting with their Head of School on eitherMonday 1 July or Tuesday 2 July where they will explore what adjustments may be needed to ensure a successful Year 2. Students who need to attend an additional meeting with their Head of School will receive both an email and a text message with the date and location of the meeting. It should be noted that students who are invited to a review must attend before they are able to progress into Year 2.
Tutorial and Progression
Tutorial is a central part of our outstanding Personal Development programme for students at Varndean College. It is a platform for students to focus on academic support/development, to research and plan progression pathways, and to learn about PSHE topics, including Varndean Values, to ensure all students are prepared for life after college. We are committed to providing this high quality standard of advice and guidance, we timetable compulsory tutorial sessions to ensure students consistently access this.
It is vital Year 1 students attend tutorial sessions in the Summer term to ensure they understand the range of options available to them post-college. We are providing students with a platform for progression through our Tutorial programme and also encouraging that they independently access discussions with their subject teachers, Personal Tutor, College Careers Team, as well as yourself. Students are encouraged to make appointments with the Careers Team to get support with their future plans and can do this viaMy Varndean in the 'Careers' tab.
Tutorial sessions will cover:
- Higher education - UCAS application planning
- Registering on the UCAS hub
- Preparing personal statements
- Access to employment and apprenticeships
- Preparing CVs and letters of application
Progression Days
Friday 21 June - Bespoke Sussex University Taster Day
All Year 1 students will attend Sussex University for degree taster sessions. Brighton University will also be present for students wishing to study art subjects. Students will sign-up online.
Tuesday 25 June - Personal Statement Writing Day at Varndean College
Fifteen universities will be on hand to help students hone their statements. Students can drop in throughout the day, plus attend subject talks and application support
1 to 5 July - Work Experience Week
Students should now have identified work experience either in-person or online. If they are going out this week and not in the holidays they know to log it on Unifrog so the Careers Team can approve the placement.
Parents Consultation
Parents consultations for our Year 1 students take place onTuesday 18 Junefrom5.00pm-8.00pm.Appointment slots of 10 minutes are online via Google Meet. They will be available for all academic subjects. Appointments can be booked fromMonday 10 June and instructions on how to book can be foundhere. These consultations will be an opportunity to discuss the end of year grades, as well as discussing progression options.
I hope you will find the online Parents Consultation and the report cards useful, providing an opportunity to discuss academic progress as students look to enter their second year and start to focus more on their next steps. If you experience any technical issues then please contactour IT Support team hereand we will do our best to help.
Library access over Half Term
Our library is open during half term week from 10.30am to 4.30pm, Tuesday to Friday for all students to study in.
Student Union Elections
This term we welcomed our new Student Union with the largest ever number of students competing to be elected. Well done to all who took part in our two hustings events. Congratulations go to the union, made up of:
- Presidents:Folayemi Oyelola, Lysander Pierce,
- Communications Officers:Emine Arslan, Tessa Strosova
- Democracy Officer:Sienna Chan
- Wellbeing & Welfare Officer:Katie Harrison
- Events & Marketing Officer:Grace Savage
- EDI Officers:Aisha Zia, Georgia Grant
- Environmental Officer:Zoe Oliver
- Charity Officer:Ellen Benant
- Enrichment Officer:Maria Wakeham
Citizens UK
Our new Student Union officers took part in theCitizens UK Accountability Assembly to celebrate what has been achieved and agree on next steps. The plan going forward is to work together on local and national campaigns. We are also participating in the Voter Registration campaign and became the Voter Registration Champions encouraging our students to register to vote. We will continue to work in partnership with other colleges in Brighton and Hove.
Trips & Events
As always there have been a plethora of College trips and events this half term.
Thank you to all of you who came to watch our drama performanceEarthquakes in Londonand our annual Dance show, Breaking Boundariesat The Old Market, Hove.
Our Year 1 students attended a Drug Awareness Assembly by Bob Tait from Dred UK, as well as the UCAS Fair at the Brighton Centre.
The Student Union and Student Wellbeing Ambassadors celebrated Mental Health Awareness Weekwith a student and staff dance, Let's Move for Mental Health in our Quad. The rain did not put us off.
We are wishing our Gold DofE students good luck and good weather with their expedition to Dartmoor this half term.
This coming half term is looking to be just as energising with the followingupcoming eventsstarting with the Creative Arts Showcase Evening on 6 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm, all very warmly welcome. It really is a wonderful opportunity to see the talent and dedication of our creative students.
General Election Hustings
As part of the lead into the recently announced general election we will be organising a hustings for students, staff, parents and the wider community with local prospective candidates. More information to follow.
Alumni News
We received some lovely updates on some of our Varndean College alumni this week. James Phoon who left us in 2013 is currently performing in the "Underdog, the other Bronte", at the National Theatre. We will also see him on our screens as he is playing Harry Dankworth in the next season ofBridgerton. A more recent leaver from 2018, George Derbyshire is performing inLove Labours Lost at Bridewell Theatre, Fleet Street. We also hosted fifteen Old Varndeanians who left us in 1974 on 9 May for a trip down memory lane via a campus tour.
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and sunny bank holiday weekend.
Best wishes
Donna-Marie Janson
Principal
