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Sacrifice and Service were the themes of Father Rogers address in the final Sixth Form assembly of the year this morning. It was also the last occasion where the Sixth Form will be together as Year 12 and 13 until the final celebrations. As Eva Sharma, Head Girl reminded her peers, these are the last few weeks to enjoy each others company. Father Roger told of the lifelong friends he has some 50 years since forming those bonds whilst at school. No doubt in 50 years time there will be friendships still going strong formed whilst in the Bacons Sixth Form. Father Roger pointed out that life long friendship comes from the bonds formed by loving ones friends and the sacrifice one makes in order to care for them. Speaking as one who also very much values his life longs friends, the sacrifices I have made for my friends have been always rewarding, if sometimes difficult, but most certainly always worthwhile.
As for service, or ‘giving something back’ as Father Roger put it, I have always considered my job as a teacher one which proves amazing opportunities for public service and to contribute to developing the life chances and experience of both young people and colleagues. I am lucky to have a job which I find personally very rewarding and provides plenty of opportunities to ‘give back’, but of course having such a job is not a pre-requisite for service. There are many ways of giving back, thousands will be doing so this weekend by raising millions of pounds of charity whilst pounding 26 miles of the streets of central london (two members of our staff will be amongst them). Many more people work within their local communities in both formal and informal roles, an excellent example of which being our own Sixth Form Mediation Team who have worked with many students of all ages to solve problems and heal the pains of teenage angst and adversity. I think it would be worth mentioning those students who have worked so hard within their community in this way during this academic year: Maggie Shawl, Jamal Billings, Mesbah Ahmed, The My Dang, Remi Daniels and Catia Mughusu Eshimi. From those I have spoken to, the members of the Sixth Form Student Leadership Team appear to be both thoughtful, intelligent, sincere and hard working and from what Ms James has said about their achievements they have also been very effective in both their academic and wider leadership; as Mr Perry pointed out, the progress and improvement made in the Sixth Form this year has been outstanding and the Student Leaders have played an important part in bringing that achievement about. Well done and thank you to all the Student Leaders: Eva Sharma, Alex Surguladze, (HG & HB) Charlie Benson, Toni Ross, (DHB & G) Woody Pike, Mesbah Ahmed, Otto Umoh, Lauren Turner, Diana Makinka
You may not have had the opportunity to be part of the Mentor or Leadership Team or have yet found a way to make a significant contribution to your College or local community, but opportunities will arise for you to get involved in one way or another and I encourage you to seize the opportunities when they present themselves as you will find being of service both extremely rewarding and satisfying.
This time in Sixth Form life is undoubtedly a milestone for the Y13 students as they complete their A Levels and go to their next destination - a majority of which being university (a selection of this year’s Uni destinations below). The occasion was also marked by a moving speech from Ms James who articulated her deep gratitude to the Y13 Sixth Form students for being such a wonderful year groups from whom she had personally learned a great deal and who had given her considerable strength. Y13 also had an opportunity during the assembly to share their experience with Y12. Charlie Benson, Kai (Kieran) Bryans, Toni Ross, Ibukun Oganbase,
Alex Surguladze and Eva Sharma all gave some very well informed advice to Y12, particularly to get those Personal Statements written by September and not to even think about doing re-sits.
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The full list of the university destinations are impressive, more varied than last year and more students than ever are going onto university places. Congratulations and the best of luck to all of you who are venturing out into the exciting world of Higher Education, just remember that it does not have to be exactly like ‘Skins!’ - they never seem to do any work! Please do keep in touch with us and let us know of your experiences and successes.
Finally, I should just remind you that there are ’some exams’ about to start which may just be the single most important academic thing you have done so far in your life times - but I am sure you are well aware of that! You know your excellent staff are here to help and support you through the stressful examination period, please make good use of them. The key to successful examinations, like everything in life, is good preparation and now is the time to move your revision and preparation up a gear into frenetic mode. As the sun shines so the books must come out!
My very best wishes to you the Bacon’s Sixth Form, and for all of you who have examinations…. stay calm and do your amazing best.