From the Partnership

FROM THE ART DEPT

Congratulations to Remy Stannard who was recently selected as one of the finalists for the Burberry Foundation Creative Challenge. The aim of the competition was to design and create the fashion of the future and look at sustainable ways to promote and market the product.

Remy will now have the opportunity to meet with the Burberry team and other finalists and receive the Burberry prize.

Remy was also responsible for designing the two new logos to support  curriculum development at school.

It’s wonderful to have our own in-house graphic designer!

Our lovely Year 7s are fascinated by all things to do with bees and honey and I was wondering if there is someone who keeps bees and would be prepared to come in with a comb and any other interesting bits (outfit and smoker) to give a demonstration to them and answer their myriad of questions? We don't need the bees themselves just lots of knowledge, enthusiasm and some props and honey in a comb for them to taste.

If you can help, please contact Mrs Coates, Outdoor Learning Coordinator:

s.coates@holyportcollege.org.uk

FROM THE PARTNERSHIP

17th September 2021

Eton Connect Summer School – by Lara Down

I was one of four students from Holyport College Year 10, who were chosen to attend an Eton Connect Summer School Programme from the 26th to 30th July 2021, where we boarded at Eton School for a week, attending class sessions, sport activities and tours.

Upon arrival on Monday 26th July, we settled into our rooms, attended the welcome assembly, tour of the Eton School to get our belongings and had a course photograph taken with everyone. Our first lesson of the week involved introductions and introducing everyone to what we would be doing in their lessons through the course of the week. The day ended with dinner and a movie night in one of the Eton Halls.

Day Two, downstairs for breakfast at 7:40am, then to the classrooms for the first lesson at 9.00am. This lesson’s topic was having a ‘Growth Mindset’, where we learned about what it is to have a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. We were required to make vision boards about what we would like to do / study in the future and watched a TED talk, which explained the steps to achieving your goal. These steps were to: 1. Create a vision - make a vision board, with photographs of your dreams, attach emotion and place it somewhere you look regularly. Creating a vision helps you learn what you need to do to reach your goal. 2. Plan - a clear plan with clear steps and be prepared to ask for help. This helps, as the clear plan shows you how to achieve your goal. 3. Conquer your fears - have a mentor, step out of your comfort zone and ask professionals. 4. Go for it!

 Eton Fives Courts (where only the Holyportians knew what Fives was) After the morning break we had a session of sport activities, where we could choose between swimming, tennis or field sports. After lunch the lesson’s topic was ‘Resilience’, where we looked at people’s stressful scenarios and developed possible solutions to the problem. We learned about ‘the stress curve’, which shows how much stress is actually good for someone and how much stress is too much. The lesson ended with meditation to demonstrate the benefits of slowing down sometimes. After dinner we had the second sports session of the day and could choose between swimming or a rotation of sports (basketball, table tennis and Eton Fives).

FROM THE PARTNERSHIP

17th September 2021

The third day commenced with a ‘Pitching Yourself’ session, where we learnt what some of our strengths / skills are and what it means to pitch yourself. We learned that a personal pitch is a speech or evaluation to sell yourself to someone. At the end of the lesson our tutor had everyone create a short 60 second pitch to present to our table groups. Following morning break we had a careers lecture by George Fussey, Director of Career Education at Eton. He talked about work experience and how it does not have to necessarily be linked with what you want to do in the future. Later in the day we had another lesson, this time on ‘Effective Communication’, where we learned about conversation techniques, such as be present, don't waffle, go with the flow and to not pontificate.

After this lesson we had an Eton Mess Making Competition, where we split into groups and made our own Eton Mess’ and then had the pleasure of eating it. In order to walk off the Eton Mess, the tutors took us to the Eton Museums (Farrer Hall and Natural History). Wednesday evening’s activity was a talent show which consisted of course attendees playing the piano, singing, dancing, performing card magic tricks and drawing.

 Some girls and I at Dorney Lake Thursday started with a ‘Creativity’ session where we learnt what divergent and convergent thinking is. This lesson was followed by a morning break and a session of sport, where the choices were swimming, tennis, football or rounders, from which I chose rounders, but ended up playing football by the end of the session. After lunch, the lesson was a ‘Critical Thinking’ session, which was my favourite session, because we learned about different types of fallacy and bias. This session’s quote was ‘don’t raise your voice, improve your argument’. This was followed by some time in the boarding houses, to get ready for the short trip across Dorney Common to Dorney Lake.

Upon arrival we were treated to a barbecue dinner, with some prize presentations and thank yous. Everyone received a laminated course photograph, which had been taken on the first day, in which we had all the course attendees sign the back and actually took a while walking around. Soon after, the music started up and the disco began. By the end of the night everyone had danced and sung along together.

On the final day, we needed to finish packing and vacate our rooms, including stripping the bedding before breakfast. The first session of the day titled ‘Making an Impact’ we learnt the difference between being passive, aggressive and assertive: assertiveness is: enjoying your rights, expressing your feelings, asking for what you want and stating your views. During this lesson we watched a speech by Malala Yousafzai when she was just 17 and the quote that spoke out was ‘what you will allow, you will continue’.

FROM THE PARTNERSHIP

17th September 2021

Morning break was followed by the last lesson for the course, about ‘Presenting’. We watched a TED talk that spoke about body language and how it affects the audience. We learnt that when someone is speaking to you they look at your hands first and if they cannot see your hands, the person gets uncomfortable and anxious. At the end of the lesson everyone made a small speech about what we learnt throughout the week and what we want to do with it. A farewell lunch was held, with speeches of thanks were made, followed by everyone saying goodbye to each other.

My week at Eton was one of the best experiences I’ve had learning new things about myself, like my strengths, skills and how to prepare for the future. I also learnt how to improve my communication skills, such as eye contact and being focused on a conversation. I met many people from different backgrounds and areas of South East England. I would like to thank Holyport College for giving me this opportunity and would recommend it to any Holyportian: if given the chance, jump at it, it is great fun.

Lara Down

Ding Dong! Alfie is the first to ring the UCAS Bell!

Oliver Dunnett, a founding student of Holyport College, who left for Oxford University to study Economics and Management a year ago, donated us a bell which can be rung by each student the moment they send off their UCAS form.

There is special kudos for the first person to get their form off and this year that person is Alfie Franklin. He is applying for Law including at Brasenose College Oxford. Let’s hope that bell gets rung a few more times in the next few weeks.