Thinking about the “Next Stage"

The Wyke journey started for many of you over 2 years ago, when you began the process of thinking about the “next stage".  A line from "The Clash" comes to mind,

                                "Should I stay or should I go…"

Perhaps one should also add, or “should I go elsewhere".

You then attended the Open Evenings, Open Saturdays and were interviewed at Wyke.  Do you remember who interviewed you?  You took your GCSEs and came to Wyke Start.  What do you remember about that?  Throughout your Year 11 career, if you were in an 11–18 school, you were probably bombarded with stories and anecdotes about Wyke.  Do you remember what these were and were they true?  Clearly, this didn't put you off and you walked through the main entrance on that first day in September.

Full of trepidation, angst and excitement, you plunged into the sea of experience, were whisked off to Fort Paull, returned and survived.  I hope that you did more than "survive".  I am confident that you have thrived, grown, matured, worked really hard, had fun and are fulfilling your potential.

I am so delighted by the many conversations that I have had with you and I am continually surprised by your enthusiasm, effervescence and humour.  Just today, I talked to a student, J.D., who said,

"It doesn't matter what your teacher is like but it is what you put in that counts…".

This young man has been a model student who "works hard and plays hard".  Long may that continue because top employers want people who communicate well, have lots of interests and are prepared to "have a go".

As I sit and write this, many of you are coming out of exams whilst others are working hard and preparing.  Remember what I said to you if you were in one of my talks, 'have no regrets' and do not leave our College wishing that you had done more.  Edith Piaf’s song comes to mind:

                                "Non, je ne regrette rien…”.

Life is short and you have to ensure that all that you do is with your full commitment.  Never do anything half-heartedly.  The world is full of people who either expect things to be done for them or accept that things will be done to them, and then moan.  The most successful people in life are the ones who take control.

When I think back to this year, I was thrilled to witness the wonderful talks that I heard at the hustings for the Student Executive.  I am full of admiration for those of you who stood up in front of your peers and had the courage to say what you believed in.  I was also very pleased to be in the audience and experience the attentive way in which you listened and encouraged your fellow students.

  

This year has been very successful and already the accolades are coming in: our 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd XI football teams are league champions: our 4^th team were second in the league to the 3^rd team; our 1^st team in netball are the league winners and County Champions for the third year; our basketball team are the league winners and County Champions; you have won countless awards in other sports, music, dance and drama.  So many of you have won medals in mathematics, science, poetry and the arts.  Many of you have had amazing offers from the most prestigious universities, on the most prestigious courses and won places on the aspirational summer schools through the Sutton Trust.  I am sure that you will have noticed the International Honours board as you come in to our College.

So very well done and our own Chris Robinson has said to his faculty, "We are in the final few minutes of the game and we must remain focused."  We all know that games can be won right at the end.  

I would like to finish with two messages:

·         Remember to enjoy and embrace life and be ‘crazy’.  The words from Paul Simon come to mind,

“I met my old lover (friends from Wyke)

on the streets last night,

She (they) seemed so glad to see me we just smiled;

We talked about the good times (at Wyke) and we drank ourselves some wine

Still crazy after all these years."

·         Enjoy the game this Saturday and let's hope that Hull City achieve success for all of you and the city.  (My beloved Leeds have not been in a Wembley final since the mid-90s).

The Final Leg of the Race

As I was driving home (after a really good day) last night, I listened to "Ballad of a Thin Man" by Bobby Dylan, and I began to reflect on events at our College.  A series of lines kept coming back to me:

"You've been with the professors

And they've all liked your looks

With great lawyers you have

Discussed lepers and crooks

You've been through all of

F.Scott Fitzgerald's books

You're very well read

It's well known

Because something is happening here (at Wyke)

But you don't know what it is

Do you, Mister Jones?"

What made the day so special yesterday were the beautiful conversations that I had with so many of you, hearing about the successes of the practical examinations, witnessing some excellent learning during my walks and teaching my AS group in the afternoon.

There is so much to celebrate here at our College and it makes me so proud.  Your achievements are astonishing and very well deserved.  To be fourth nationally for value-added out of all of the Sixth Form Colleges in the country is incredible.  It is not the statistics (which are important) but the atmosphere, culture, the way you all speak to each other, the way in which you welcome guests and fellow students who are different, is 'beautiful'.  Long may that continue. 

Another of Bobby D’s songs, "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry", comes to mind:

"Don't the moon look good, mamma,

Shinin’ through the trees?……

Don't the sun look good

Goin' down the sea?"

Work really hard, enjoy the break and above all, come back energised, and prepared for the 'final leg of the race'.  Have no regrets about wishing that you had done more.

Have a brilliant Easter.

Success and Achievement have to be Earned

Since I last wrote, a great deal has happened at our College.  We have had the results of our mock examinations, parents' evenings, the last of our Open Evenings and Open Saturday.  All of us are acutely aware of the importance of good organisation, hard work, focus and commitment in the remaining weeks.  I have emphasised to all of you, during the talks in February, that this is the time when you have to work harder than you have ever worked to make the necessary sacrifices in the short-term so that you can fulfil your ambitions.  We do not want any of you to leave our College with regrets about not working harder. 

You have everything that you need to help and guide you to success: tremendous teaching, support both in and out of lessons, the range of extra/extension work that is organised by each department and outstanding facilities.  I should also reiterate the importance of an attendance rate of over 95% (since January) in order to progress onto the next year.  Needless to say, our best students are always the ones with an attendance rate of 100%. 

In any walk of life, the outstanding performers are always the ones who show exceptional commitment.  Success and achievement have to be earned.  The performance of our College – top of the performance league tables in the region, in the top 10 nationally for Sixth Form Colleges for ‘A’ level and in the top 4 nationally for value-added – is exceptional, but success and achievement have to be earned through hard work.  Failure to do so or complacency means that there are plenty of others who will replace you at the top.  This is borne out by the apparent decline of a team in red and the dismal performance of my beloved Leeds.  Things will need to change radically for next season.  However, I am delighted about Hull City’s achievements this season, which are deserved and will be great for the city.

On a lighter note, I was very pleased with the success of "Little Shop of Horrors", and the way in which it ‘drew out’ the best qualities within our College community.  With so many students, the range of Departments involved and the 'buzz' that it created, I am confident that this will be highly beneficial for our College and our reputation in the community.  I even heard an elderly couple after the show say, "Wow!  That was brilliant.  How can anyone say that there is no culture in Hull?"

Our College continues to offer tremendous experiences for all of you.  Our Media students returned from a really enjoyable visit to New York about a month ago and this weekend, staff and students have returned from Naples (Geography Department) and Washington (Politics Department).  I know that everyone found the experience very worthwhile, enjoyable but exhausting.  Many thanks to all those who were involved, who organised the trips and were involved in the fundraising events.  The staff and students who are travelling to South Africa at Easter have also been working hard in raising over £4000.  Last week’s 'singing' competition was effective in raising nearly £200 but highly embarrassing for me and for the Senior Team.  I cannot help feeling that Postman Pat was ‘robbed’.  This weekend, our linguists will be travelling to Belgium for the return part of the exchange/ work experience.  I am sure that this will also be really enjoyable and a great preparation for the forthcoming examinations.

By now all of you must be aware of the results of the Student Executive elections for 2014–2015.  I must say that I was really, really pleased to hear such outstanding speeches.  The calibre of the presentations was brilliant and a testament to the changes that have been made by the existing Student Executive.  The fact that the Theatre was 'packed out' last week, the way in which all of you who attended, listened to the presentations in such a supportive way and the amazing turnout was incredible.  I felt really proud and would like to thank all of you who stood for the elections.  It takes courage and effort to do so and speak in front of all your peers.  It will definitely stand you in good stead in the future and is an excellent preparation for the successful careers that you will have.  It is so easy to just sit back and do nothing.  In life, the ‘shakers and movers’ are always the ones who are brave and willing to do something extra.  So regardless of the results, very well done and thank you.  You are instrumental in transforming the culture at our College.

“When the forms of an old culture are dying, the new culture is created by a few people who are not afraid to be insecure,"

Rudolf Bahro, member of the German Green Party.

Today is the start of Rag Week and already the excitement is mounting.  I have just realised how dangerous it is to be out in the public arena with my ‘purple peg’ for the Hunger Games.  My costume is 'organised' for Friday and I can guarantee that I will not be recognised.  Enjoy yourselves and let's raise plenty of money for the 'Make a Wish Foundation’.

Go the Extra Mile

Welcome back to the new term.  I hope that you have had a good break, that you were well prepared for the mock examinations and that your results reflect your level of work.

During the last week before Christmas, we had our Leavers' Awards evening for students who have left the College but were returning to collect their subject prizes.  Most notable amongst the returning students was Calum Barnett, who is at University College, London.  Calum's academic achievements are astounding and he deservedly won the prize for outstanding academic achievement (Chemistry A*, French A*, Maths (Further) A*, Maths (Mechanics) A*, Physics A, General Studies A*, EPQ A*).  The reason why I am telling you this is because Calum was unsuccessful (undeservedly) in receiving an offer from Oxford or Cambridge University.  I believe that, on this occasion, Oxford and Cambridge got it wrong.  My message to any of you who have either applied or are thinking of applying to Oxbridge, is remember that it can be a bit of a lottery and that they sometimes fail to necessarily get the best students.  However, I am also delighted that for the first time in our College history, all seven of our students who were interviewed have been successful in receiving offers.  So very well done and I would encourage all AS students who are likely to achieve very high grades to consider applying.

Christmas was a welcome blur.  We returned in the New Year to mock examinations, marking, assessments and our beautiful “new” building, Elm.  I am delighted with it, in particular, the Performance and Fitness Studio.  Elm feels like a natural extension of our campus and I would like to thank everyone for being so patient and considerate during the busy and crowded first term.  I am pleased that we have already started using the Performance and Fitness Studio for lessons, staff meetings and the official opening and celebration of our 25^th anniversary last Friday.  The 25^th anniversary celebration was an excellent way to formally 'open' Elm and to meet former staff, some ex-students and to talk and listen to the two previous Principals: Martin Ward from 1988 – 2002; Dick Smith from 2002 – 2011.  We were also able to celebrate the service of staff who have worked at the College since the time when it was first opened.  All colleges need a combination of experience and youth, some staff who have been at the College for a large number of years and some new 'blood'.  If there is an imbalance of either then it can be very difficult.

Yesterday the post-16 performance league tables were published and I am delighted that, once again, our College is the highest (non-selective) performer in Hull, East Riding and the region.  Indeed, we were the 12^th out of all the Sixth Form Colleges nationally and our value-added score puts us in 6^th/7^th position nationally.  So very well done and I feel really proud of all our achievements.  However, remember that this is hard earned and all of you must be clearly focused and committed to replicate this in the future.

This term promises to be equally exciting and busy.  We have a number of trips planned: the trip to Washington organised by our Politics Department; the New York visit organised by the Media Department and the South African trip in April.  In addition to this, our netballers travel to Harrogate as County Champions tonight to take part in the Regional finals.  Good luck to our team – I am sure that they will give a good account of themselves.

We now have approximately 10 weeks left of teaching before the external examinations.  It is critical that all of you ensure that you get the maximum benefit from the staff and make the relevant sacrifices.  I do not want anyone to think, "If only I had worked harder…"  Every single one of you should endeavour to 'go the extra mile' to ensure that you fulfil your potential and can be successful.  That is more than I can say for my beloved Leeds United.

An Amazing Year

Isn’t it funny how young people educate you.  Our ‘boys’, they are 22 and 20 respectively, have been doing so for a number of years.  A few years ago, they introduced me to ‘Vampire Weekend’ and I love their music.  Whilst travelling in to work today, I heard a track titled, “Unbelievers”.  Words from this song resonated about our college:

“I’m not excited, but should I be?

Is this the fate that half the world has planned for me?”

In the last five weeks, I have been to a number of meetings in Yorkshire, Birmingham and London.  During each of these meetings, a range of people have come over to me to congratulate us on our excellent Ofsted report and all have said that we were very ‘unlucky’ not to receive a ‘straight’ outstanding judgement.  The comment from Tiger Woods, (I believe Gary Player first said it), when asked if he had got ‘lucky again’, made me smile.  He said, “Isn’t it funny but the more I practise, the ‘luckier’ I get”.

Yes, we know that there are many things that we can do to make us even better but it has been an amazing year so far:

·         the best set of results achieved at Wyke and the resultant points scores which will be published in the performance league table in January;

·         an excellent enrolment;

·         a very, very good Ofsted inspection;

·         buoyant applications for 2014-2015;

·         a brand new building with a Performance and Fitness Studio which will be available for use on the 6^th January.

So we should be excited and the words of the Lead Inspector in October come back to me:

“Don’t be content with being in the top 10% of colleges nationally, Jay.  Wyke SFC could become one of the top colleges in the country.”

Clearly, the last week of term and the build-up to Christmas is always hectic.  I would like to thank you for the tremendous work that has been done this term and for being so understanding during the ‘new building’ process.

Next term promises to be equally exciting.  Have a brilliant Christmas and New Year, come back safely and be prepared for the critical Mock examinations in January.  It will be an excellent indication how you are likely to do in June 2014.

Best Wishes.

Jay

High Levels of Student Enjoyment, Participation and Intellectual Curiosity

"Come writers and critics

Who prophesize with your pen

And keep your eyes wide open………

For the times they are a-changin’”.

Bobby Dylan, “The Times They Are A-Changin'.”

As I sit and reflect on the term so far, it has been a real rollercoaster: with our outstanding results in August; a record enrolment, so that for the first time in our 25 year history, we were full; a really successful induction programme which was planned and delivered by our own staff, and the numerous accolades that we have received about our success as well as our new building beginning to take shape and be ready by the end of this term. 

Well, if this wasn’t enough, we were informed that we would be inspected during the first week in October and we had our first Awards and Open Evenings of the year. I guess the adage about waiting for buses comes to mind.

The Inspection has been completed and I am delighted to inform you that in all of the subject specialist areas that were selected by Ofsted for examination, we were judged to be Outstanding.

“Provision is outstanding in science and mathematics, languages and literature. These areas are characterised by high levels of student enjoyment, participation and intellectual curiosity”.

What is really interesting is that there are at least 18 subjects that the Inspectors looked at and were deemed to be outstanding. Wow!

The Inspectors were also highly positive about our students and the academic culture of success that exists at our College.

"The College provides a harmonious environment in which high aspirations, positive community values and the growth and care of the individual are nurtured and promoted. Intellectual and spiritual enquiry are encouraged and embraced by many. Inspectors were highly impressed with the students' maturity, personal development and high levels of confidence. Students have a very positive attitude to learning".

I believe that what was even more interesting were the "off-the-record" comments that were made to all of us in the Senior Team. Comments such as:

"… It is unusual for Inspectors to be "excited" about being here".

"You should not be content with being in the top 10% of all colleges; you could become one of the best in the country".

"We have never experienced a library where there is such a work ethic".

"The culture of success and achievement is incredible".

"Your students are amazing".

On that last note, I have to agree to feeling so proud of all of you, the way that you conduct yourself and your attitude to learning.

Clearly, as in any Inspection, there are some things that we need to do to become even better and we will be doing so with urgency because we owe it to you to become one of the best colleges in the country.

Our first Awards Evening of the year was extremely enjoyable and amusing, not least because Manjeet Kler (despite being reminded that the Principal’s trophy was made out of glass), proceeded to drop it in the ensuing excitement. Only Manjeet could have done this! It was amazing, however, to be a part of so much success and celebration. Our Guest of Honour, Neal Hodgkinson, the Editor of the Hull Daily Mail, was equally impressed and proceeded to give an amusing and inspiring speech on 'being young' and 'aspiring for greatness'. It was lovely to be a part of this and to have so many parents and students thanking me on behalf of our College. I likened it to 'being the best man at a wedding' when you are actually a 'part' player but everyone is on your side and willing you to do well.

Our Open Evening a week later was also incredible. If only I could measure the ’positivity’, it would be off the scale. The largest number of students and parents that we have ever had, our wonderful 'Student Crew' and student helpers and the general vibe as one walked into the building was amazing. It confirms that whilst our accommodation is really good, what happens inside is truly beautiful!

The second part of the Autumn Term is likely to be equally busy: on Thursday we have 16 visitors from Thailand (from the world of business and education); a planned visit by the Shadow Further Education Minister; next Tuesday evening we have our first ever poetry and piano recital, "Manifesto dream", which is a part of the Humbermouth Hull Literature Festival as well as our second Open Evening.

Life at our College continues to be busy and I am also aware of your successes in the National sports trials and championships: we had 7 of our netballers taking part in the England trials as well the successes for our footballers, badminton players, cross-country runners and for the first time (again), we have a member of the Great Britain Sailing Squad at our College. Auditions have also taken place for our first cross-College production of "Little Shop of Horrors", and I suspect that rehearsals have already started.

Of course, academic life and focus on academic work continues. I am pleased that we have had at least 10 students who have applied to Oxford or Cambridge University and a similar number for medical, veterinary or dentistry courses. I am delighted that many of you are already receiving offers and invitations for interviews. I must urge all second-year students to get their UCAS forms submitted and of course, all of you need to focus on the forthcoming mock examinations in January. These will certainly be as demanding as any module examination that you may have taken in the past.

My problem is that when I start, I cannot stop. I feel guilty that I have not referred to any of the national and international developments: the budgetary stalemate in America; the phone tapping of the French, German and our own, leaders; the price ‘hike’ by the energy companies; schools only being allowed to enter students once for their GCSEs and the (slow but sure) ascendancy of my beloved Leeds United.

Remember, work very hard, play hard and you are really amazing.

Do not be worried about "standing out"

“And what is good, Phaedrus,

            And what is not good _____

            Need we ask anyone to tell us these things”.

            Robert M Pirsig, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”.

Yesterday at around 4.00 p.m. (Monday), I found out that I had lost a very close friend of mine after a short but serious illness.  I felt very upset and numbed by the experience and I could not help reflecting on our friendship as I cycled home.  To compound my reflective state, I had a puncture (another) outside the same farm as the previous week.  I thought about our conversation, 10 days ago, when I visited him at his home in Stafford.  As he sat in a wheelchair, he quizzed me about our results, enrolment and successes in his beautiful Irish accent.  The two of us have worked together for almost 15 years and he has certainly been a source of inspiration to hundreds of students and myself.  I told him about our outstanding results at A2, AS and on our BTEC courses, the high increase in the number of top grades at A* and the success of our Oxbridge and medics.  As I informed him about the growth of our College, the new building that is being constructed and some of the superb staff that we have appointed, he smiled in that knowing way, which was his style.  It is interesting that our fortunes are followed in different parts of Yorkshire, the rest of the country and even in Europe and the States.
 

            John Maynard Keynes once said,

            "When I see objective data I change my views.  What do you do?" 

This is poignant because one of our "partner organisations" in Hull has been advertising in the local press and claims to be the best sixth form college in Hull.  Apart from the fact that it is not even a proper sixth form college but an 11-18 school, the data would not support the fact that it is anywhere near the best.  That combined with offering mini iPads to entice students in the sixth form would appear to be a little desperate.  But enough about that, what about us and what can we offer? 

            Just plain "outstanding teaching".

            Brilliant student outcomes:           

            Excellent results at A2 (99.6%); AS (94%); A* - B grades at 49%+;

            Superb support;

            An abundance of trips and visits;

            Exceptional facilities.

Questions about the outcomes of students are always poignant and worth seeking answers to through the plethora of (sometimes deceptive) marketing and publicity material.  So many new students - it is wonderful to see you all coming in in the morning, getting used to greeting me with a wonderful smile on your faces.  I have been particularly impressed by your willingness to come up with solutions at lunch and break times, finding nooks and crannies for shelter and comfort.  The new building will be ready later this term and should provide more space and additional facilities.  My advice is to be patient because the new provision will certainly be worth waiting for.

On Monday lunchtime, I went out to see the large number of students and staff participating in team trials: 60-70 boys and 50 girls playing football; 40+ girls playing netball; 40 boys playing rugby and over 30 students practising basketball.  What an amazing turnout – no wonder that PE is so successful at our College.  It got even better; as I went searching for one of our music staff, I found myself in the Theatre where nearly 30 students were rehearsing a song in preparation for their auditions for Little Shop of Horrors. 

This is only the first full week and I know that other enrichment sessions: choir; jazz band; debating; Law Society; medical careers; the Maths Olympiad, will begin later in the week.  I cannot help feeling that this reinforces our message about our College,

            "The more you put in the more that you will get out". 

I can only reinforce this message and urge all of you to get involved in things, be enthusiastic, do not be worried about "standing out" and continue to smile.

Seeing all of you and witnessing the efforts of our magnificent staff certainly makes me so happy and able to escape from the sadness of losing my wonderful friend.  I know that he would have been so proud of you.  This blog is dedicated to Sean Hayes - Rest in Peace dear friend.

            "It's not time to make a change….

            Just relax, take it easy.

            You're still young (but)

            I know (you) have to go away".

            Cat Stevens, "Father and Son".