Fourteen Yr11 students have expressed their interest in applying for the opportunity to attend Gresham’s VI Form, for two years.

All fourteen have been interviewed by Ms. Palmer & Miss Haddleton, in order to select eight to go through to the next round of the process.  The students in this initial group were:

• Luba Ndidi
• Abi Stringer
• Daniel Saka
• Luke Eke
• Leah Secretan
• Dan Woods
• Gracie Goktas
• Lucy Hitchin
• Emily Griffiths
• Abi Hall
• Jack Borthwick
• Sydney Purl
• Jisel Dagumboy
• Lawrence Murray

All are to be congratulated on taking this first, difficult, step.

In the ten minute interview they were asked to explain why they would like to attend Gresham’s School, in preference to local college provision; how they would be able to cope with the very different lifestyle in a public school – longer working days, boarding, Saturday school; how do they think being awarded the scholarship could have an effect on their lives.  They also had to persuade the interviewers that they were the best person to award the scholarship to!

All students spoke well but some were truly outstanding in the manner in which they expressed themselves and how they envisaged their futures.  The passion to achieve something worthwhile in their lives, giving back to society, was very moving, in some cases.  No-one let themselves down and the decisions that have had to be taken, to ‘cut’ the list to eight, has been more difficult than was initially thought.

The group will be called together on Friday 26th February, to receive their feed-back and to be told which eight students have made it through to the next round.

… watch this space ….

Here it is… the GCSE exam timetable.

Make sure you know exactly when your exams are by printing it out, highlighting your exams and keeping this with your study material.

The pdf is also accessible under the “Dates and Events” tab in the menu to the left.

Good luck and revise, revise, revise!

Examination Timetable 2010

I trust that by now all Oriel students have enjoyed a restful (and productive) half-term holiday after a busy January and February. We finished the half-term on a high note with news that thanks to a great deal of hard work on everyone’s part, attendance has risen by one percentage point since September. If you need to check the information available on attendance, check out the recent post giving information about PA and the importance of high attendance. Students who had reached 95% or above, were rewarded with a ‘freedom from uniform’ day on Friday and it was wonderful to see how many students managed to reach that target.

I’m sure that you’ve all read the local news and now know that the local consultation has begun regarding the proposal to make Oriel into an Academy. Every student, member of staff and governor was given a letter inviting opinions and thoughts to be offered on 8th March 2010. The information event will take place in Oriel’s library and runs from 3pm until 8.30 as a ‘drop in’. Ormiston (our proposed sponsors) will present at 7.30pm. Families with children who attend both Lynn Grove and Cliff Park will also be given the information.

Miss Haddleton provided you with an informative post (under this one) regarding the offer of a Gresham’s scholarship to an Oriel student and we’re pleased to say that 14 Year 11s have put their names forward – interviews and further information will follow during the first week back – it’s such an exciting opportunity and we are so grateful to Gresham’s for making such a generous offer.

Spring is on its way at last (I know this because the rabbits in my garden have resorted to eating the first shoots of bulbs – and anything else they can lay their paws on). With it comes a great deal of pressure on those sitting GCSEs, so lots of sleep and regular breaks and treats always help to motivate. A reminder to all families that a large range of revision materials are available via the school’s website including our own VLE and access to MyMaths. Final examinations are looming for many students so much revision should be taking place this week!

Mrs Smith is taking part in the Big Skill and her story has been on BBC Radio Norfolk.

Lisa lost her sight in her early 20’s while working as a driver.

The birth of her son and the need to earn money prompted her to take a BTEC course to become a teaching assistant.

She gained distinctions at each stage and is now working full-time to support students with learning difficulties at Oriel High School in Gorleston.

“I’ve had a great deal of support starting with having my guide dog, Vanity,” said Lisa.

“The tutors at the college were brilliant and I had a teaching assistant to help me. I did have to convince myself that I could do it but the rewards have been great.”

Her success has spurred her on to think about signing up for an Open University degree and she hopes her story can motivate those she now helps to teach.

“I now have the career I wanted and I try to show the students I work with that if you just get on with things then you can achieve results,” said Lisa.

Find out more about the Big Skill at the Career Advice Service website or call nextstep on 0800 100 900.

Oriel Students were introduced to the opportunity of a lifetime this week when ‘The Oriel VI Form Scholarship’ was launched. The scholarship will commence, for one lucky recipient, in September 2010.

Gresham’s School, in Holt, has been working with Oriel over a number of years, building two-way educational links.  These have grown annually and the exchange of students and pupils is an established part of the school year.

This year the joint work is expanding rapidly. Keep checking out the Gresham’s section on the Oriel website for all updated information.  You will find this under ‘Development and Innovation’, along with all other link work.  A part of this is ‘The Oriel VI Form Scholarship’

Gresham’s is offering an Oriel student a 100% scholarship for 2 years in their VI Form.  This will be an annual scholarship, available only to Oriel students.

It is a package worth in excess of £50,000 over the 2 years & covers all boarding accommodation, fees & ‘reasonable extras’ – everything necessary to be able to study at the school.  I’m sure you’ll agree that this is an incredibly generous package by the school, the Headteacher and their Governors.

It also offers the successful Oriel student access to all the ‘extras’ that Gresham’s extends to their pupils in terms of extra-curricular activities in a residential school environment; sport; drama; music; art; outdoor pursuits all aimed at increasing a young person’s character, confidence and self-esteem – there are also ‘home’ weekends during term time, when students can come back to family, as well as rather long holidays!

Any Year 11 student is eligible to apply, by giving their name to Miss Haddleton by end of school on Friday 12th February.  After that the list is closed.  The process continues after half -term, when all students on the list will have an informal interview with Ms. Palmer, Acting Headteacher, and Miss Haddleton.  Following the interviews, a ‘long list’ will be drawn up of students moving through to written applications and a more formal interview, at Oriel.  This will lead to a ‘short-list’ of students whose applications will go to Gresham’s.  These students will be taken for a visit to Gresham’s, a tour around the school and interviews with Gresham’s staff. From this visit the recipient of the Scholarship will be chosen.

The deadline dates are:

• 12th February: Expression of interest to Miss Haddleton by 2:45pm
• 22nd – 26th February: Informal interviews take place, Long-list drawn up
• 26th February: Long-list students informed & issued with application forms
• 1st – 4th  March: Application forms completed & submitted (with help if needed)
• 4th March: Deadline for application forms
• 5th March: Shortlisted students informed & issued with Gresham’s Prospectus
• Application Forms sent to Gresham’s