Woodham Celebrates Record Examination Success

Woodham Community Technology College is celebrating its best set of GCSE results ever! Staff and students from the college were overjoyed when they opened the all important brown envelopes together last Thursday. The results showed improved examination performance for the fourth year running. 63% of students gained 5 or more GCSE grades at C or above (9% increase from last year) and, more importantly, 54% of students gained 5 or more GCSE grades at C or above including English and Maths (13% increase from last year and 6% above last year’s national average for all schools in England). These are wonderful achievements and show that students at the college receive a well rounded education, providing a stepping stone to either further education or opening doors to career opportunities.

Not only were the college headline figures impressive, there were also some remarkable individual successes to celebrate. Twelve students achieved eight or more A and A star grades, sparking hugs and tears of joy with their friends on results day! Success and jubilation were evident on faces everywhere with groups of students at all abilities performing fantastically well and receiving results to be extremely proud of. There were also notable successes in vocational subjects such as Hair & Beauty, Motor Vehicle Studies and Childcare.

Jon Tait, Director of Student Support at Woodham said “These are wonderful results for our students and it proves that all the hard work and hours or preparation that both our students and staff have put in has paid off. To have improved results for the fourth year running and attaining the best results that the school has ever had is a truly fantastic achievement. Everyone connected with Woodham is delighted for our students and wishes them all success in their future careers. With successful results behind them they can now move on to pursue their plans in further education, employment or training with a great deal of confidence. Well done everyone!”.

Woodham Community Technology College students are working with Sedgefield Engineering Forum in a challenge to design a transporter bridge and a remote controlled car. 

Benefiting from funding from Aimhigher County Durham, and guided by Mike Burnham of Sedgefield Engineering Forum, the aim of the challenge is to bring engineering into schools and promote business and enterprise.  Woodham is one of several secondary schools participating in the challenge this year.  The challenge will culminate in a competition between the schools when the car will be driven around a track and over the transporter bridge, which will be required to support the weight of the vehicle.

International Inspiration

Woodham links with Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khanapara (KVK) school in Assam, India as part of the 2012 London Olympics.

Organised by the British Council and Youth Sports Trust, the programme “International Inspiration” aims to deliver on the promise made by the London 2012 Olympic bid team in Singapore to inspire young people around the world through the power of sport. In February, the Principal and link teacher from KVK visited Woodham on a week long trip to look at our facilities and teaching methods. This was followed up by a return visit from the Head of Sport and Vice Principal of Woodham to Assam in April.

The links formed are centred around sport, but also include many other areas of the curriculum. Mr Oliver, Vice Principal of Woodham said “It is our intention to develop permanent links between our schools and explore the similarities and differences of our cultures through a variety of projects. We will now be training a number of students to become Young Leaders and they will deliver a sport based project that will have a significant educational impact in each other’s schools. Our ultimate aim is for students from both schools to visit on another’s countries.”

To view a video of the trip click the play button.

Boston trip students arrive safely in USA

Students from Woodham Community Technology College who are currently taking part in an educational trip to the USA have safely arrived in Boston (19th Nov. 2009).

Woodham Students Chosen to Coach in America

Eleven lucky students from Woodham Community Technology College are on cloud nine after the news that they have been selected to coach in America next summer on an American Summer Camp.  This is part of the COACH USA programme that the college and Active Inclusion have put together.

The lucky students who were chosen from a large field of applicants from the college were put through a rigorous interview process before being offered a place on the programme. As part of the programme, and in the run up to flying out to America, the eleven students will be given access to an individually tailored coach education plan involving national governing body awards, practical coaching assessments and in house training from Active Inclusion. The students will also be marketing and launching their very own multi skills sports sessions every week in college for younger students to take part in.

The eleven students selected this year are: Josh Stephenson, Beth Gibson, Sam Jarps, Lauren Craggs, Max Aldred, Rhianna Bonas, Paul Heilbron, Amy Cossins, Josh Watson, Rebecca Harris, and Niall Smith.

Congratulations to all of them.

This includes high standards of literacy, numeracy, Science and ICT combined with a broad general education and the opportunity to study a wide range of vocational subjects such as Engineering, Business and Health and Social Care.

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