DEC/JAN 2010 S I X T H F O R M U P D A T E

University fees: a student’s best friend. Now, unfortunately, there is no escape from the carnage that is to be left by a degree. I am angered to say the least but have become almost immune to the constant reminder from our ‘we have power, therefore we must inflict it’ Government. I am only begged to ask, what impact will the raise in fees have on the future of Britain?

I’m certainly no whizz at politics and let’s face it, not many of us are; and yet we charge around in what I call ‘ wine connoisseur’ mode, making far-fetched statements to sound a little educated when in reality, one does not know their Cabinet Minister from a Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.

However, what I do have is what many politicians lack: common sense. And surely by investing in the future of Britain, the government is ensuring a steady economy rather than massacring the education system to gain money in the short term.

By raising the university fees by x amount (why trust the statistics?) there will be a direct effect on the mind-set of Britain. The people who can afford to go to university will be educated and graduate with the advantage of a degree to acquire a higher paid job and Britain will retain, once again, the supposedly ‘diminished’ ever-growing gulf between the classes.

Anna Clarke

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University Fees

SIXTH VIEWThe Performance Showcase raised over

£800 for Charity!

Wallace and Gromit Day.

The Sixth Form Christmas Tree.

Our beloved Rachelle left for America.

What do you think is the biggest flaw you see in yourself?I have too many- I’m very critical of myself and that can lead you to worry unnecessarily sometimes. I’ve gotten better over the years but I would say I am much too critical.What do you think of the Sixth Form?I think it’s essential for a school; I’d never want to work in a school without a Sixth Form. I think it’s vital for everybody. From a teaching perspective, everybody wants to teach Sixth Form because it’s the ultimate; it’s like teaching the crème de la crème, the best of the subject. It adds so many other dimensions to the rest of the school; for students lower down, Sixth Formers become role models. It allows you to broaden your curriculum opportunities. So I think it’s a fantastic part of school life. I remember being a year 7 and seeing Sixth Formers and wanting to be one of them, so you should be proud to be a Sixth Former.Do you enjoy your new role?I love it! More than I thought I would, I wouldn’t want to go back. It was hard to make the choice though because I didn’t know whether it’d be right for me and how it’d impact my family life. There was a bit of self doubt but I did get amazing encouragement along the way and even though there may be up’s and down’s I feel I can cope with it. What’s the best part?Umm, looking at every aspect of the school. When I was deputy it was much more about teaching and learning and data, and this has made me much more aware of everything. And the worst?It has to be the paper work. It’s not as bad as I thought it’d be but I also have fears of what money we might lose in the current economic climate when they start cutting budgets, and what we will have to do to be creative and respond to that. But I’ll try not to dwell on that until it comes.

What are your favourite past-times?Well, I really like sport and keeping fit. I don’t do as much now being a mum and with the job but I still go swimming with Harry [son] and go to the gym but I’m much more of a spectator now, I love watching it. All sorts: Rugby, Football, Golf, Tennis, everything.

And some really important questions like…

Which shampoo do you use?Ooh gosh, I think it’s called Charles Worthington (unlike Chris’s favourite Pantene). Have you had any very embarrassing moments inside or outside school?Umm… yeah, being at a coffee shop with my little boy, he’s been to the toilet then I’m about to go and he opens the door (laughs).All sorts though really, that’s the one that springs to mind. None really in school, I’m the one with the cheeky personality I like a bit of fun but I wasn’t naughty just liked to play practical jokes.Have you played any practical jokes on teachers around here?Actually I really calmed down when I got here; I used to play them at my old school in Bristol. A teacher found a safe which was locked and belonged to a bank. He thought he could get a reward for it so the following day I put a note in his pigeon hole pretending to be the bank offering a reward and he came into the staff room really excited but of course it was all a hoax (laughs) just my sense of humour coming through there.What car do you drive?Ah, Audi A3. (laughs as Chris and Robin gush)Kind of irrelevant now but if you could upgrade your car what would you have?Right, umm… well I’m not as big a car person as Miss Ronxin but I’d like to have a nice reliable car, I’m really impressed with my Audi though. I’d get another one but a 5 door rather than 3 doors, like an A8. As a woman though I am attracted by big cars but environmentally I could never buy one, my husband would never let me buy one. I’m not that bothered though really. Who is your closest friend?Professionally I’m very close to Mrs Brown and Mrs Cowan, they’re great friends. Outside school I have a lot of friends and I love meeting up with them. My sister and my Mum are close friends as well.You said you have a lot of friends, were you ever the popular kid at school?Umm, I think you tend to go to friends with similar interests and because I played sport, I got to know a lot of people. I also have a twin brother so growing up there was a lot of friends around. I would never profess to be popular but I was lucky to have a lot of good, close friends.Which teacher frightens you the most?Ooh… (Chris says “It’s got to be Dudley.”) No not ‘Cuddly Dudley.’ I’m not frightened by any teacher but one teacher where I had to stand back and say wow to how they teach was Mr Munro. I just thought; I’d love to be like you, he’s fantastic. Describe your ideal date?This was actually mentioned at my wedding. It would be with ex 400m runner Roger Black. I’d go to dinner with him and a nice bottle of wine (laughs). There you go nice and simple.What is your favourite holiday destination?Cornwall, my whole family loves Cornwall. I do like to go somewhere hot as well. Next year we’re hoping to go somewhere where we can have a balance of action and rest because my husband loves to sail. What’s the pay-check like? Ah, it’s good. I’ve never been motivated by money but it is nice because it allows you to do things, like holidays, that you wouldn’t necessarily do. I get a lot less than Mrs Brown though!

In an Interview with Mrs Edwards Chris Moss and Robin Liquorice asked…

Interview Continued... And “Other Article”

Settling In!After a good few months of sixth form life, it’s safe to say that all the year 12s are fitting in well and have found their feet. Everybody has certainly found his or her place in the common room and is reaping the new found benefits! Around the school, there have been many events taking place in the first part of our school year. We have had a sixth form vs. staff netball match, with spectators of all years, we’ve had a hockey tournament, and what we have just passed was the “Wallace and Gromit day”…

Wallace and Gromit day was great fun for all and a good chance for all the sixth formers to do something together as everybody wore the “wrong trousers” inspired by Wallace himself! Some chose pyjama bottoms, whilst the students who visited Tanzania even wore their trousers that they had bought out there, bringing lots of colour and vibrancies with them! It was a perfectly valid excuse to feel very relaxed and at ease, including finding your inner child in the meantime! Cheese and crackers were eaten up, with some rather competitive teachers devouring as many as they could in a cracker eating competition, some falling down at the last hurdle… Overall, all involved had a good day, and lots of money was raised!

It is safe to say that everybody is looking forward to more antics to come in the New Year!

Hannah Muston☆

If you were locked in a room for 24 hours, which teacher would you bring with you?Oh, wow, I want to make sure I make the right choice. My initial reaction would be Mr Dudley. Probably because I think he’d be good in a crisis and he’d be calm (not just cuddly). So yeah, Mr Dudley or Mrs Cowan I guess. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you do?I always wanted to be a professional tennis player. That was just a childhood aspiration though. Other than that I’d probably go into retail or something, maybe work for John Lewis. It has always sounded quite glamorous to me but I imagine it’d be a lot of work still.

And to sum it up…

Now, importantly, how do you like your eggs?Boiled, mmm. Shoe size?6If you had one wish what would it be?That I live long enough to see Harry settle and be happy. (Aww, pull on the heart strings)In 5 words, what is the meaning of life?To be happy, generous, caring.

Chris Moss and Robin Liquorice☆

The Staff Vs Sixth Form Netball Match.

Christmas Lunch!Some Wrong Trousers!

The Performance Showcase 2010 highlighted some of the amazing talent on offer at Kingdown School. Over 200 guests were entertained with singing,

dancing and live music on the night which raised over £860 for Cancer Research. Well done to organiser Craig Barber & everyone

else involved! ☆