April 2015
DSFC BULLETIN 26
WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Awards Evening, Cornerstone Arts Centre 7 pm
Sixth Form Team
Awards Evening
Lessons during
the Exam
Season
UCAS Extra
On the evening of Wednesday 22nd April 2015, we are holding the Didcot Sixth Form College Awards
Ceremony at Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot from 7.00pm to 8.30pm.This is an opportunity to celebrate
those students in Years 12 and 13 who have achieved exceptional levels of attainment or progress in their
work during their time in Sixth Form. The evening will also recognise those students who have given their time
and energy to work to improve the lives of others both in our schools, and the wider community. Mr Tim
Gardam, Principal of St Anne’s College, Oxford, will be our speaker for the evening and has kindly agreed to
present the awards. Students are asked to dress smartly for the occasion. Doors open at 6.30 pm for a prompt
start at 7pm.
Please find attached to this email important information regarding attendance at lessons for Year 12 and Year
13 during the forthcoming exam season.
UCAS Extra is an opportunity to apply for another course if you’ve used all five choices and don’t hold any
offers. Extra is available until 2nd July to anyone who has used all five choices and not accepted a place.
Not all universities will have places in Extra, so you need to do some research into what’s available using the
UCAS search tool at www.search.ucas.com. If you select the option ‘Show courses in Extra’ from the filter, your
Sixth Form Team
Mr Black/Miss
Hanna
search results will show only courses with vacancies. Once you’ve found a course you like, you can add it in
Track by clicking on the ‘Add an Extra choice’ option on the ‘Your choices’ page.
Accepting UCAS
Offers
If you now have offers from all five of your chosen Universities you will need to make your decision about which
to accept by the 6th of May. If you are still; waiting on some Universities for their decision then you need to
decide by the dates given in the table below:
UCAS
Reply dates
Last decision received on or before...
Means your reply date is...
31 March 2015
6 May 2015
7 May 2015
4 June 2015
4 June 2015
25 June 2015
16 July 2015
23 July 2015
Ideally you should make Firm (1st choice) and an Insurance choice (with lower grade requirements).
Offer and reply combinations
Unconditional firm (UF)
You're in!
Conditional firm (CF)
You're in if you meet the conditions.
Conditional firm (CF) and
You've made a first and second choice – you'll be in at the first if you
conditional insurance (CI)
meet the conditions. If not, you might have met the conditions of the
second – if so you'll be on that course instead.
Conditional firm (CF) and
You've made a first and second choice – if you meet the conditions of the
unconditional insurance
first you'll be on that course. If not, you'll definitely be on the second.
(UI)
Mr Black/Miss
Hanna
Mock General
Election at DGS
On Thursday 7th May there will be a General Election, and so DGS has decided to hold its own version. Those
present for registration on Thursdays at DGS will all be given a ballot paper and will cast their vote. On
Wednesday 6th May there will be an assembly during registration time for both Year 12 and 13 to hear what
the different parties stand for to help you make your mind up! I look forward to seeing lots of you there.
Mr N Lawton
Careers Adviser
Drop In
Sessions
From the summer term Angela the Careers Adviser from Adviza will no longer be offering careers drop in
sessions in the 6th form study areas. She will continue to offer drop in sessions on Tuesday lunch times at SBS,
in the library and on Thursday lunch time at DGS, in the Croft and 6th formers are very welcome to use these.
Mrs A Walker
Oxford Brookes
Residential
Events 6th – 8th
July 2015 for
Year 12
Students
Oxford Brookes are holding two day residential events for current Year 12 students. During the day, students
will attend subject specific lectures and interactive workshops, experiencing real-applications of their subject.
In the evening, all students will come together for dinner and social activities. By staying in halls of residence,
students will be given a real taste of university life at Oxford Brookes.
“Scientia” is for students studying subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics and
includes sessions on discovering the mathematics behind magic tricks and test driving racing karts.
“Kick up the Arts” is for students studying subjects such as Fine Art, Film, Publishing or Music and includes
an illustrated talk on the representation of the human body in contemporary art and an introduction on how to
make your own film festival.
The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences in partnership with Abingdon and Witney College will also be running a
two day residential on these dates. Students and either choose to attend and “Equine” or “Animal” summer
school.
Further information and the booking form can be found on line:
Scientia: www.brookes.ac.uk/scientia
Kick up the Arts: www.brookes.ac.uk/kickarts
Animal: www.brookes.ac.uk/animal
Equine: www.brookes.ac.uk/equine
The closing dates for these residential registrations if Friday 29 th May 2015
1-10 May 2015
The biennial Dorchester-on-Thames Festival is one of Oxfordshire’s leading Festivals based in the stunning location of Dorchester Abbey. Since 2005 the
Festival has regularly attracted over 3,000 people each year, from serious followers of the arts to schools, families and children of all ages and has raised
significant profile and over £60,000 for Dorchester Abbey and local charities. For 2015 we are proud to support PACT (Parents and Children Together) who
are raising money for their post adoption support work.
Stuntmen and Clowns
Dean Forster is running a Stage Fight Workshop at Dorchester Festival on Sunday 3 May, 1.30-3.30pm. He ran a fantastic workshop in school when we
were rehearsing for ‘Guys & Dolls’ and the students really loved it. Dean is a fully qualified Stunt Coordinator and Stuntman for Television, Film and
Commercials, and has been working in the film and television industry for over 20 years. This fun workshop will show you how to choreograph an impressive
theatrical fight, including basic techniques and how to portray stage violence effectively with actions and reactions. Dean will also speak about his work from
Harry Potter to The Bourne Ultimatum, Mission: Impossible to Bond and Dr Who to Holby City.
The Hot Coals Ensemble are running a Clowning Workshop also on Sunday 3 May. They specialise in clowning and physical theatre and ‘A’ Level drama
students in particular may find this very teresting. Comic Art Masterclass – Saturday 9th May 1pm & 3.30pm by Kev F Sutherland who writes & draws the
Bash St Kids adventures in The Beano and his work has appeared everywhere from Star Trek to Viz, from Doctor Who Adventures to Match (and most points
in between). In these fantastic 2hr masterclasses with Kev F you will produce your very own comic strip and he will draw a caricature of you to take home.
Further information available at www. dorchesterfestival.com