Sixth Form Parliament Trip

60 Sixth Form students from Law, Politics and Economics had the opportunity to go to London for a tour of Parliament. The students began the tour in Westminster Hall where we met the Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle. Students were guided through both Houses of Parliament and learnt the intricate details of how Parliament operates. After the tour, students had the honour of debating in the Grand Committee Chamber in Westminster Hall. Students prepared and delivered outstanding speeches on a range of topics, including farming tax, winter fuel allowance and UK-US relations. Once we left Parliament, students were given free time to explore Westminster, getting into the festive spirit.

“Going to London was a really fun experience, because we were allowed to go inside of Parliament and see the House of Commons and the House of Lords. We got a guided tour, and we learned lots about the history of the buildings Parliament is in. The highlight of the trip for me was going to the House of Lords and seeing the grandeur of the chamber. We were fortunate enough to debate in the Grand Committee Chamber, which was a brilliant experience. We debated on issues ranging from private schools, farming and UK-US relations. After our tour we had two hours of free time. Myself and two others friends went to the Supreme Court to watch two hearings and others went shopping and walked around Westminster. I would highly recommend the trip for all future Law, Politics and Economics students.”

Dan Cornall

“The trip was a great experience for expanding my political and history knowledge about the Houses of Parliament. This trip has also greatly helped my ability to comprehend how the country is run. We had some informative debates and got to vote on the winning teams. A brilliant day for all of us involved. Division – clear the lobby!”

Fred Shelley

Winter Ball

The Sixth Form hosted its annual Winter Ball with over 400 students attending the festive celebration. The event is a hugely popular fixture in the Sixth Form social calendar and was a sell-out. The students transformed the hall into a spectacular array of balloons and fairy lights. The students dressed up for a fantastic evening with DJs Jude Hardy and Tom Williams and our headline student band, Revolver, with Alistair Hughes and Tom Grimbleby. A huge thank you to the Winter Ball Committee led by Milo Garrety, and to all the staff, particularly the Sixth Form Team who supported the event.

‘Spectroscopy in a Suitcase’

Year 13 Chemists were treated to a problem solving workshop run by Chemists from Southampton University. Our students had the opportunity to have a go at using an infra-red spectrometer that cost over £16,000. Alongside the results from this, students also completed a series of problem solving exercises to identify eight unknown chemicals. A real highlight of the afternoon was using the spectrometer to analyse a sample of aspirin that the Sixth Formers had made earlier in the term. Comparison with a sample of pure aspirin showed that the student sample was of high purity too.

BTEC Sport Bath University Trip

On Wednesday 16 October, the PE Department took 29 Year 12 A Level PE and BTEC Sport students to Bath University. The students got to see a top sporting university and experience a lecture on nutrition delivered by a Sport and Exercise scientist, a strength and conditioning session, a lab session where two lucky students in each group got to do the VO2 max test and the Wingate test. This was followed by lunch and a tour of the university. A huge well done to Charlie and Jacob who did the dreaded VO2 max test and absolutely smashed it with scores of 54 and 66 respectively. To put that into context, elite athletes such as long-distance runners score between 65-80 and professional footballers are around 57. Jez and Adam did brilliantly doing the Wingate test too. The trip was a great experience for all students and we look forward to going again next year!

 

Extended Project Qualification

Before half term we held our annual EPQ Showcase in the Hall. The Extended Project Qualification (commonly known as EPQ) is a Sixth Form Year 12 course. Students undertake independently led research in a topic of their own choosing, supported by a staff mentor and study skills workshops on topics such as research and time management.  It is a fantastic opportunity for students to acquire and practise the skills to undertake extensive independent work. The course is worth 50% of an A Level and represents a significant body of work.

Each year, the showcase is an opportunity for students to reflect on their experience, celebrate their achievement and share their project with our school community, which included the Sixth Form Team, tutors, teachers and Year 12. Visitors were treated to around 50 presentations on as diverse an array of topics as causes of criminality, the ethics of animal organ transplants and the search for extra-terrestrial on other planets and so much more!

Mr Owen, Co-Head of Sixth Form, says: “I am so proud of all the students who have successfully completed their EPQ. It really prepares students for what they will need to do when they go to University and builds those hugely transferable skills such as how to present effectively. I had a hugely enjoyable time, wandering around and learning more about some really interesting topics. The Hall had such a magnificent buzz, which was so enjoyable to be a part of”

British Library Trip

Our English Language A Level trip headed to the prestigious British Library in London with a group of 30 students, some already studying the subject in Year 12 and 13, others being given a preview of it in Year 11. Although the drive was long, it was worth it for the interesting lesson in the rich variety of dialects, local terminology and accents across the UK. We discovered, in particular, than Newbury is a traditional crossroads for different ways of pronouncing the “bath vowel”, though there evidently weren’t many old farmers in our party. After the library, the excursion continued to the former house and now museum of Dr Samuel Johnson, 18th century England’s “most distinguished man of letter”, for a special guided tour about his legacy in the study and standardisation of language through his famous dictionary. The museum was full of surprises, not least the vision of Mr Horn in the trappings of Georgian maid. He thought it suited him very well. Each to their own!

Shepton Mallet Prison Visit

At the start of the month, Y10-13 Social Science students had the opportunity to visit Shepton Mallet Prison. This was a great introduction to new subjects for many of them and included an educational workshop and a guided tour of the decommissioned prison. Aimee tells us more…

“Our school trip to Shepton Mallet Prison was a perfect blend of education and eerie excitement. As soon as we stepped inside, the imposing walls and dimly lit corridors set the tone for a day. The tour guides were fantastic, sharing captivating stories that brought the prison’s 400-year-old past to life. From tales of notorious criminals to the prison’s role in World War II, every corner of the prison seemed to hold a secret.

One of the highlights for the students was seeing the old cells. The sheer size of them, cold and bare, gave us all a real sense of how tough life must have been for prisoners. The execution room and the graffiti left by inmates made it even more impactful—there was an air of both fear and mystery that got everyone talking.

Overall, the trip to Shepton Mallet was a brilliant way to bring the history of crime to life outside the classroom. It offered a blend of fascinating facts, gripping stories, and a bit of an eerie thrill that left everyone buzzing with excitement on the ride home. Definitely a trip to remember!”

Aimee Walker (12P2)

St Bartholomew’s School, Andover Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 6JP

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