CELEBRATING SUCCESS AT PASTON


RESULTS SPECIAL – SEPTEMBER 2011


National rail award


Paston has won a national award for our innovative partnership with National Express, making it possible for more students to travel to College by train.


The award was presented at the ACORP National Awards dinner held in Sheffield on 23 September. “We always saw the Bittern Line, with its regular hourly service, as a benefit to Students”, says Peter Mayne. “The trouble was that our timetables simply did not align at the start of the day. So in 2010 we put back the start time to 9:05, enabling students to use trains arriving at North Walsham at 8:50. It was a great success with some 80 students choosing to travel daily by train from Norwich, Cromer, Sheringham and Wroxham – and beyond.” The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACORP) award was in the prestigious “Passengers Matter” category.


Right Peter Mayne and NatEx area manager, James Steward, unveil the new station signs in March 2010 bearing the message North Walsham – the home of Paston Sixth Form College.


Golden Boy


Year 13 Sport student Callum Brown won a gold medal in the Youth Commonwealth Games held in the Isle of Man in September. His throw of 72.2 metres in the hammer brought him gold, which helped Team England top the medal table ahead of Australia and South Africa. Callum has had a great year: his first Great Britain vest and a UK U18 No 1 ranking.


Sir William Paston Scholars 2011


In 2006 the Trustees of the Paston Foundation created a scholarship scheme to mark Paston’s 400th birthday, bearing the name of our founder, Sir William Paston.


The scholarships, worth £500, are awarded to gifted and talented students who achieve a minimum of 2 A* and 6 A grades at GCSE, and who intend to come to Paston as a preliminary to going on to a top university. In 2011, 20 scholarships were awarded and the ‘scholars’ met the Trustees at a lunch in October. They are: Harriet Thomas-Bush, Gabriella George, Sophie Williamson and Danielle Grant from Acle High; Sarah Goodliffe, John Hewetson, Vicky Last, Katherine Palmer and Alexandra Witting from Aylsham High; Luke Bibby, Andrew Brierton and Thomas Bulley from Broadland High; Alec Stokes and John Williams from Flegg High; David Haliday from North Walsham High; Kimberley Davies, Isobelle Ford, Lauren Kemp and Ben Applegate from Sprowston High and Sula Marshall from The Minster School, Southwell (Notts).


Record numbers flock to Paston


Paston is bigger than ever before with enrolments breaking the through the 800 barrier for the first time.


Young people are choosing to study at Paston from an ever increasing area. 60% come from Paston’s traditional travel-to-learn area based around Aylsham, Cromer, North Walsham, Stalham and Wroxham, but the percentage coming from outside that, especially Norwich and around Acle and Martham, is growing. Peter Mayne said “We are delighted that so many students have chosen to study at Paston and benefit from the sixth form college experience. We have done much to improve bus and train links over the past two years to make this possible and clearly this is something which students and parents welcome.”


New challenge helps students to stand out


Paston students have the opportunity to take part in a new challenge, designed to give them an edge when applying for uni or jobs - to stand out from the crowd.


Through the Paston Plus Challenge they will take part in a range of experiences/activities outside their examination courses. To achieve the Paston Plus Award, they need to qualify in three elements: a) try a new experience eg. a new interest, hobby, sport or activity, visit a new country, represent the College in a competition or sport b) do some form of community service eg. volunteering, fund raising, mentoring or take a first aid course and c) prepare for the future eg. attend job talks given by visiting speakers in the career programme, visit a university and prepare an application, do work experience, apply for and attend an interview for a job which requires A levels or BTEC Nationals or complete a public speaking course.


More students, new teachers 2011


More students means more teachers and so this year we welcome Nicola Lovett (Sociology/History) from Thorpe St Andrew; Claire Foulkes (Geography) from Sprowston High, David Sparkhall (History/Politics) from East Norfolk SFC. Leigh Hunter (Psychology), Rebecca Seaward (Art/Photography), Naomi Thomson (English), Ian Simpson (Chemistry) and Sophie Walmsley (Business/Law).


Simon to direct Sheringham Panto


- oh yes he is! This years panto at the Sheringham Little Theatre will be directed by Paston Drama teacher Simon Thompson in an exciting and prestigious collaboration with the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. Simon worked in the professional theatre before coming into teaching.


Far East Theatre 2011/12 Season:


As you like it by William Shakespeare 7:30pm (Dec 6 - 9) in the Paston Theatre.


The Trial by Stephen Berkoff 7:30pm (Feb 7 - 10) in the Paston Theatre. Tickets available from 01692 402334


Contact Us: Paston Sixth Form College, Grammar School Road, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9JL


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findoutmore@paston.ac.uk | 01692 402334 | www.paston.ac.uk


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