Ms Marquet Georgiou and Ms Stewart This term for the first time in a number of years, two teams from Bideford College entered the Youth Speaks Rotary Competition, a public speaking contest for young people under seventeen years of age. College teams competed in two categories, Intermediate and Senior, in the first round against Kingsley School. The enthusiastic Senior team put in a sterling performance but lost out by the narrowest of margins – only one point separated the two teams! The lively Intermediate team, comprising Tillie Harris, Poppy Flaxman and Alicia Oke had a unique topic and an animated and bright speaking manner. This team deservedly won their head-to-head, and will be going forward to compete further against other local teams.
An outstanding result! We are delighted with the Intermediate’s success so far – watch this space for further news!

From Mr Patrick Neill, Head of Sixth Form

Sixth Form Information Evening
This important annual event took place on 27 January in the Theatre and Abbotsham building for all Year 11 students. The evening provided an excellent opportunity for students to find out the wide range of courses that are available and to have the chance to speak to subject teachers and current Sixth Form students. Individual interviews for students to join the Sixth Form have already started. If your son or daughter has not yet applied, they can still do so by obtaining an application pack from Student Reception.

Exams and Results Day
The majority of Sixth Form students were involved in important external exams in January. The results will be available on 11th March with written confirmation on 18th March - students will have very little time to decide if they wish to resit any of their exams following their results.

Year 12 Parents’ Evening
This will take place on Thursday 18th March in Stucley starting at 4.30pm. Your son or daughter will be given appointments sheets shortly after half term.

Update on University applications
The majority of Sixth Form students have received many offers from universities they have been applying to since last term. For some professions, such as teaching and nursing, students have to attend either group or individual interviews as part of the selection process. Meanwhile for those students who are planning to study Art, they are now busy completing their portfolios prior to interviews that take place shortly. This year we also have several students who are successfully applying for Year in Industry positions as part of their Gap Year.

Visit to Higher Education Convention Exeter
Year 12 students will be visiting the Higher Education Convention at Westpoint Arena on Tuesday 16 March. This will provide students with an invaluable opportunity to see what over 120 universities have to offer, and presents an ideal occasion for them to investigate possible course and institution options. In addition there are talks covering a wide range of topics – from medicine and dentistry to law and business.

Learn 2 Live Presentation
All Year 12 Sixth Form students will be attending a Devon County Council Road Safety Show at the Queens Theatre in Barnstaple on 23 February; this event is being shown to all Sixth Form students across the County. It is particularly hard hitting and will certainly make a huge impact on all who attend.

Student Finance Arrangements for University applicants
As you will be aware student finance arrangements in general have been in the media spotlight due to large numbers of students not receiving their loans in time for their September start dates. All student finance matters are no longer under the control of Local Authorities as this has been passed on to the Student Loans Company. All Year 13 students who are planning to go to university this September have been advised to start applying for their loans now in order to avoid any difficulties for September 2010! They can apply via www.ucas.com and click on the student finance link, via Track on the same website or by logging on to www.gov.uk/studentfinance. Alternatively, they can contact the Customer Support Office on 0845 300 5090 to obtain a paper form.

Careers Fair on Progress Day On Thursday 11 February
A a Careers Fair for all students will take place in the Sports Hall between 10am – 3pm. The aim of the event is to provide information about a range of local opportunities and this year we are delighted to have over 20 different businesses coming along ranging from estate agency, NHS, apprenticeships to engineering. This will provide all students and parents with an excellent opportunity to find out about a wide range of career paths.
If you require any further information, please contact Mr Neill or Mrs Pells in school.

EXHIBITORS
• Gap Year Fairs – Gap Year Opportunities - travel, planning, organisations, funding
• NHS – Health Service careers
• Connexions – Careers advice and guidance
• Torridge Training – Employability & Development Training, Princes Trust
• Bicton Agricultural College – Agricultural, farming, animal management
• Exeter University – Higher Education opportunities
• University of Plymouth – Higher Education opportunities
• Condy Mathias – Independent Financial Advisors
• Peter, Peter & Wright – Solicitors
• Thomas Westcott Accountants – Accountancy, book keeping
• V-Involved – National Youth Volunteering opportunities
• Petroc College – Apprenticeships
• Army Careers • Navy Careers • RAF Careers
• Year in Industry (YINI) – Work placements
• Torridge District Council – Tourism, council, schools, planning, plus lots more….
• Devon & Cornwall Constabulary - Police
• North Devon Journal – Journalism, publishing
• Tyco - Engineering
• Beran Instruments - Engineering
• Morgan Ashurst – Construction, trades (i.e. electrician)
• Brend Hotels – Hospitality & tourism
• Webbers Estate Agents – Sales & marketing
• Devon County Council Jobs & Careers – Recruitment services

Sixth Form News Blog

Don't forget you can keep up to date with all the news from across the sixth form via the blog:

Go there now

Dr Farmer – A6 Tuesdays 3.15 – 4.00 pm – Year 10s Thursdays 3.15 – 4.00pm Year 11s
Does the thought of Chemistry fill you with a sense of dread? Do symbols and equations give you nightmares? Do chemical reactions make you feel quite sick? Does Chemistry give you headaches and spots before your eyes?
Well, there is hope out there! All these symptoms can be treated with great success at The Chemistry Clinic.
No symptom is too small to treat and most students go on to make a full recovery!
The Chemistry Clinic is there for you to come along and unravel your chemistry concerns.
It is a workshop of different activities including:
E.R (Emergency Revision Sessions before exams)
Complicated Chemistry Clarified (a chance to go through class-work)
Horrible Homework Help (Applies to Chemistry HW only)
Don’t forget: Effective Revision Is The Key To Success!!
Exam revision is currently being dispensed at the Chemistry Clinic, don’t miss your chance!!

Get online at Home Information for parents
Home Access is a government drive which will help low-income families to get access to a computer and the internet to get online at home.
If you are a low income family in receipt of certain benefits you could qualify for a grant to buy a computer and/or a minimum of one years’ internet access. The programme is aimed at those that need it most and targets families that do not have access to a computer or the internet at home.
Depending on what you need, the grant allows eligible applicants to buy one of the following packages:

1. Full package (a computer, one year's internet access, service and support)
2. A computer with service and support only
3. One year's internet access only Are you eligible? Quick check
Have a look at the eligibility requirements below.
You may be able to qualify for a Home Access grant if you:
a) Answer yes to three questions in Section one AND
b) Answer yes to at least one question in Section two
Section One: Are you a parent or guardian responsible for and living with a child….. …who is in school years 3 to 9? …who attends a state-maintained school in England full time? …who has not already had a computer from a Home Access Grant or similar programme, such as Computers for Pupils?
Section Two: Do you receive at least one of the following?
• Free school meals for your child
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income support
• Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit and an income of less than £16,040
• Guaranteed Pension Credit (not Savings Credit)
• Income-based Employment Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

If you are a parent and think you are eligible for a Home Access grant simply call the Home Access Grant Helpline on 0333 200 1004 to get an application form.

By Head of Maths – Mr J Hensby

We would like to take this opportunity to remind students, parents and carers that the Mymaths website is available 24/7 to help students improve on their Maths work. There will be occasions that teachers will set homework tasks from the website and we expect students to make every effort to complete these. Anyone can use the website to revise for forthcoming examinations by accessing the booster packs at the appropriate level.
The login is bideford and the password is fraction.
Every student also has their own unique login and password known only to them.
The Maths department are running a Maths club every week on a Wednesday after college from 3:15 – 4:15pm. Every student is welcome to attend to get support with homework and revision or to do enrichment activities. For GCSE students we are offering the excellent Mathswatch CD for sale at a price of £3. This offers tutorial type support on any GCSE topic at any grade. We are also selling our revision guides for half price at only £1.50 each.
All year 11 students are invited to attend revision sessions with the Maths team on Tuesdays straight after college.
We expect students on the C/D grade borderline to attend as this will help them realise their full potential. We also expect students to come to their Maths lessons with all the correct equipment including a scientific calculator. If any student does not have one, then these can be purchased from the cash office for £3 each.
We want every student to be successful in Mathematics and to gain the best possible experience in this subject during their time at Bideford College.

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Read all the latest news in the article above. Don't forget you can keep up to date with many of our developments via the Web Dev blog.