This week, much like every other week, I am brimming with pride at the diversity and quality of student activity inside and outside the classroom. On Monday our musicians and singers gave stunning performances at our annual evening concert, including stand out renditions of pieces on flute, piano, guitar, saxophone, voice and a variety of electric instruments too. 

Our Gambia adventurers met on Tuesday to discuss the itinerary and fundraising options for their exciting trip to work on art and sport based activities as well as other ideas to support the literacy and numeracy programmes there. On Wednesday our sports men and women were scattered on pitches and courts county wide, competing in fiercely contested fixtures. The Year 12 students enjoyed the Higher Education Exhibition at Brunel University on Thursday, speaking to admissions tutors about the grades needed for the courses they are interested in and armed with prospectuses and a record number of freebies returned with increased motivation to succeed in their studies. And to round the week off we invited Helen Cole, our Careers Consultant, to talk to  students about the alternatives to university which include a myriad of apprenticeships at all levels including degree courses. Our days are always full of interesting and useful opportunities which give the students every chance to develop their personal qualities, transferable skills and optimise their future options. 

The students who went on the Art and Psychology trip to Berlin were a credit to themselves and Claires Court. Here they are in front of the Brandenburg gate. The staff who led the trip commented on the engaging and interesting company the Year 12s and Year 13s proved to be and although the teachers (and probably students!) certainly needed to catch up on some sleep on their return they all thoroughly enjoyed the experience, including the East Side Gallery, an open-air gallery consisting of a series of murals painted directly on a 1316m long remnant of the Berlin Wall, located near the centre of Berlin. To the north of the city lies the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp where more than 100,000 Jews, communists, intellectuals, gypsies and homosexuals were killed by Nazis between 1936 and 1945. The students were able to witness the buildings which have been preserved in their original form and more importantly achieve a better understanding of social influence and conformity.

With mock exams now in sharp focus our students have been reminded of the importance of planning and executing their revision schedules. In Year 13 the students have tangible goals, and good results will increase not just the secure knowledge required to succeed but will also build their self-confidence, critical to making the exam experience positive and less stressful. It has been a real pleasure to spend time talking with individual students, encouraging them towards their dreams and aspirations, guiding them in their use of effective learning and revision strategies and motivating them to take a pride in every aspect of their studies and every aspect of their lives.

Despite the snow day on Wednesday our Sixth Form students retained their focus on their studies, checking in on Google Classroom and continuing working towards various deadlines. They also enjoyed the sudden and extreme weather conditions as the photographs shared demonstrated!

'If this was to be the best year of your life, what would have to happen?' I put this question to our students today with the intention of empowering them with the knowledge that they themselves can achieve their goals by thinking big, believing in their abilities and encouraging others as well as aiming to be their best selves in every aspect of their lives.

The Year 13 BTEC Sport students have been introduced to the world of work as they began their two week placements. They have been fortunate to have been able to experience many varied types of work within the sports sector. Students are working in many different sports related fields such as lifeguard shadowing, working in the spas and gyms of large hotels, in leisure centres and golf clubs, coaching tennis, judo and football and working in schools' PE departments.