FCC News and Events

Some key dates

2010-07-16T08:13:00.002+01:00

Key Dates for your Diary

Monday 19th July

Training day for staff
Please note that this is a staff training day and students should not be in school on this day.
Everyone should be in school again as normal on Tuesday 20th

Thursday 22nd July

Last day of term
Thursday 22nd July is the last day of term. School will end at 12.30 pm on that day.

Monday 6th September

First day of the new term
New Year 7 students start at 8.40 am. All other year groups will start after morning break at 11.10 am

Home Access Scheme

2010-06-08T10:30:00.002+01:00

Home Access is a government drive that helps low-income families who currently lack access to a computer and/or internet to get online at home.
The programme is aimed at those that need it most. If you are a low-income family in receipt of certain benefits you could qualify for a grant to buy a computer and/or a minimum of one years’ internet access.
http://www.homeaccess.org.uk/

Futures bury time capsule for future generations

2010-05-13T18:06:00.003+01:00

To celebrate one of the final construction stages of Futures’ new Upper College building along Southchurch Road, Southend, a time capsule was buried within the college grounds today.

More than 20 items have been put into the time capsule, including a school blazer, shirt, PE kit and bag. Over the past year students have created a DVD explaining school life in their own words, whilst a pen drive containing photographs of recent school trips, a college newsletter, school curriculum, lesson plans, and poems, essays and posters created by Futures’ students have all been put into the sealed container. To give a wider view of everyday life for whoever finds and opens the time capsule in the future, a recent newspaper, a copy of the Radio Times, a Harry Potter book, and mobile phone have also been included.

The time capsule was buried by interim principal, Simon Carpenter, assisted by head girl Florence Symes and head boy Lewis Bourne, both 16. The construction team from Rok, the building company constructing the new college were also on hand to assist with the burial.

A time capsule is an historic cache of goods and/or information, usually intended as a method of communication to help future archaeologists, anthropologists, and/or historians understand how people lived in previous years.

Futures’ new upper college and 6th form building offers students aged 16+ the opportunity to study both academic and vocational subjects. One and two year courses in Business Studies, ICT and the Construction Trades are the first to be available at the college, when it opens in September 2010.

Easter Coursework Catch-up

2010-04-05T20:35:00.000+01:00

The schedule for which subjects are support can be found here.

Buckingham Palace

2010-03-31T08:36:00.002+01:00

Just a quick report on the trip to Buckingham Palace today by the Duke of Edinburgh cohort.We had a truly FANTASTIC day .There were a handful of older Duke of Edinburgh participants but aside from that our students were the ONLY students at the event and had to 'network' around a room of about 150 senior countrywide officials from various Childrens services.We were absolutely awestruck by the surroundings and the occasion and Stuart Fowler from SUFC and I were so impressed with the students and the way they presented themselves and represented the college.They received a round of applause from the whole assembly and a private audience and photos taken with the Duke of Edinburgh.Even the 4 hour journey home failed to dampen spirits...lots of truly terrible singing all the way!!

Great experience for all.

Jenny Faulkner
Duke Of Edinburgh Co-ordinator

Easter Break

2010-03-30T08:11:00.003+01:00

The last day of the Spring Term is Thursday, 1st April.

There are revision and coursework catch-up sessions during the break for KS4 students.

The Summer Term starts on Monday, 19th April at the normal time.

Dr Bike Day for our Year 7 students

2010-02-26T14:31:00.000Z

Futures Community College will be holding a Dr Bike Day for the Year 7 students on Tuesday 2nd March.

Dr Bike will carry out safety checks and perform minor safety critical adjustments.

The students are to bring their bikes to the bike sheds before the start of school.

Futures' Upper College

2010-02-24T15:01:00.000Z

The 6th Form Open Evening will be held on Wednesday, 24th February 2010 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

We look forward to meeting Year 11 students and their parents/carers to discuss the opportunities available at Futures Community College.

February Half Term Activities

2010-02-09T10:08:00.003Z

Details of the Extended Services available to students and their families during the Half Term break can be found on this document.

docs/Feb_Half_Term.pdf

Safer Internet Day 2010

2010-02-09T09:03:00.005Z

Safer Internet Day takes place each year in February - and this year it is being held on February 9th. The main objective of Safer Internet Day is to bring together relevant public and private stakeholders, in as many countries as possible, to raise awareness about safe and responsible use of new technologies, especially among children and young people. The day operates through a series of 'country nodes' - in the UK the country node is Child Exploitation and Online Protection Agency - see more about the UK activity at CEOP's Thinkuknow site at http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/.

The theme for SID2010 is 'Think Before You Post' (or rather "Think B4 U post!"), and the hope is to make the whole week (from Monday 8th February - Friday 12th February 2010) a week of action in the UK.

Safer Internet week in the UK will see the launch of the new e-safety strategy, first announced in December 2009, which will target parents and children. Based on the green cross code (Stop, Look, Listen are the rules taught to children to make sure they cross the road safely), the new digital code ('Zip It, Block It, Flag it') to be taught at primary schools will follow a similar pattern.
This new online green cross code is one part of the government "Click Clever, Click Safe", strategy drawn up by the UK Council on Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS). This includes making it compulsory to teach online safety to children aged 5 and up in England from 2011.

The three parts of the green cross code are self explanatory:

* Zip It - Protect yourself. Don't share personal details with strangers online
* Block It - Stop unwanted emails coming to children and stop them accessing certain Internet sites
* Flag It - Flag up any suspicious people or websites to the relevant person, whether parent, teacher or the police.

Futures' Upper College

2010-01-22T15:12:00.007Z

The 6th Form Open Evening will be held on Wednesday, 24th February 2010 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

We are pleased to promote the new facilities and courses that will be available to our 6th Form students in our new Upper College opening in September 2010.

If you are interested in applying for a place at Futures Community College, please contact Mrs C Wicker on 01702 583324 or email cwicker@futurescommunitycollege.net.

You can download an Application Form from here Upper College application form.pdf

Basketball Fixtures

2010-01-15T08:04:00.002Z

Just an update of this weeks Basketball Fixtures:

Tuesday our year 7's played belfairs - we was winning until the last 3 seconds where they scored a lucky basket and took us into 18 -18 overtime. We played an extra 5 mintues and they just scored that extra one than we did.

Game lost 20 - 22

Wednesday our year 10/11 played St Thomas More - Very close game and I thought we were on for another just defeat. Outstanding basketball by Mat Santiago drove our team to our first victory of the season.

Game won - 50 - 48

Today our year 8's were up against Belfairs again - Sadly they had a 5' 8" year 8 standing up against Reece Rowland. Bless him, he tried hard but we just couldn't seem to get into the game, much like liverpool in the FA cup.

Game lost - 14 -28

Next Fixture is Tomorrow (friday) Vs Cecil Jones away.

Kind Regards

Mr J Plucknett

Our code of conduct: Be kind and courteous, smart and successful

Year 10 and 11 Parent's Evening

2010-01-12T09:53:00.000Z

The Appointment sheets for the Year 10 and 11 Parent's Evening on Thursday, 21st January 2010 at 4pm to 8pm have been sent home today. Please ensure you secure appointments with all the subject teachers. Thank you.

The college is OPEN on Friday

2010-01-08T07:28:00.001Z

Despite the very cold weather and the snow on the ground, the college will be OPEN as usual on Friday. We look forward to seeing you all there today.

The college is OPEN today

2010-01-07T06:48:00.002Z

Despite the very cold weather and the snow on the ground, the college will be OPEN as usual. We look forward to seeing you all there today.

Parent's Evening

2010-01-05T12:06:00.002Z

Parent's Evening will be held on Thursday, 21st January 2010. A letter with details will be sent home this week.

Futures’ students aim higher

2009-12-10T21:00:00.004Z

Six year 11 students at Futures Community College hosted a presentation evening for the Aimhigher initiative. The evening, held at the Southend college on Thursday 5th November 2009, was attended by Year 9 students and their parents, who learned how the programme benefits students with the most potential to go onto higher education. Twenty students from each year group are selected.

The year 9 students who have been selected for the programme, learned, along with their parents, how the government funded Aimhigher initiative provides students with a three year programme of activities designed to provide support and encouragement. Activities include summer schools that provide a taster of university life, master classes and one-to-one mentoring, whilst motivational activities such as trips to outward bound centres are also included. All these elements combine to inspire and motivate students through the various transition milestones between year 9 and year 11.

As Mr Hillier learning mentor, who is heavily involved in Aimhigher at Futures said “This is a fabulous programme that is of great value to the students who participate. As our year 11 students have demonstrated this evening, it is a very worthwhile programme which benefits each student in ways schooling alone cannot”.

Photo: Year 11 students present Aimhigher initiative
left to right: back row:
Mr Hillier (learning mentor), Scott Faulkener (deputy head boy),
Lewis Bourne (head boy)
front row: Jocelyn and Bridget Bentum, Rebecca Smart (deputy head girl) and Sacha Carrol"

Business studies can be fun

2009-12-10T21:00:00.002Z

Fifty five year 9 business studies students from Futures Community College took part in an educational programme at Surrey based Thorpe Park earlier this month to learn how the theme park is marketed.

The students are studying the OCR national business studies course where assessment is based entirely on course work. The Thorpe Park visit is an excellent case study as the base for this course, as it provides a good combination of fun with learning. Whilst students have the opportunity to enjoy the theme park, the day is packed with educational projects and a seminar by Thorpe Park’s marketing team, who explain the development of the theme park, over the last 30 years, into a leading enterprise in the leisure and tourism industry.

The Futures’ students explored the core marketing principles and research methods used by Thorpe Park and learned how visitors are attracted from across the UK. Additionally, the students discovered how different marketing techniques are used to identify the park’s customers and to make sure their needs and expectations are met, and the marketing and promotional incentives used.

As Mrs Winn, Futures’ vice principal explained “We take students to Thorpe Park every year because it provides an excellent model for the OCR national business studies course, and has just the right mix of education and fun to keep students engaged”."

Futures’ students receive free reading books

2009-12-10T20:59:00.002Z

For the third consecutive year, Futures Community College has given new entrants the opportunity to receive a free book. Every Year 7 student can choose one free book from a list of twelve specially selected titles and having read the book of their choice, pupils are encouraged to complete a review, which they can share with other readers on-line at www.bookheads.org.uk.

The initiative, which is run by Booktrust an independent charity dedicated to encourage engagement with books and the written word, and backed by the Department for children, schools and families (Dcsf), is designed to encourage and support Year 7 students to read books for pleasure.

This year’s titles include Glen Murphy’s ‘How Loud Can You Burp?’ a funny and fact filled book which helps take a fresh look at the world (and universe) we live in, ‘An Urgent Matter Of Wowness’ a novel by Karen McCombie dealing with the break-up of parents, and ‘Blood Hunter’ by Steven Voake which is a thriller about how an investigation into the world’s deepest underwater cave goes horribly wrong!"

Topping Out Ceremony marks milestone for our new upper college

2009-12-10T20:58:00.003Z

Head boy Lewis Bourne and Head Girl Florence Symes helped Futures’ principal Mrs Alder celebrate the ‘topping out’ for Future’s new Upper College. Due to open in September 2010, work on the stunning £ multi-million teaching centre at Futures’ took a big step forward on October 2nd when staff and local dignitaries gathered for the official ‘topping out’ ceremony.

Mr Clark, Chair of Governors at the College, slotted a final window panel into place at the striking new Upper College centre as part of the symbolic ceremony. More than 50 people have been employed at times on the project, which will provide a 7,000 sqm Upper College for students aged 14 to 19.

The two-storey centre has a beautifully designed curved end section and boasts an eye-catching multi-coloured glass panel exterior wall, made of special cladding and rain screens.

Two miles of underground piping have been installed as part of an eco-friendly heating system that draws heat from the ground and then pumps it round the building. The system is among several in place to make the centre as green and energy efficient as possible.

The new upper college building is equipped with the very latest specialist vocational training facilities. There is a fully operational hair and beauty salon which will be open to the public, a fashion and design area, a modern construction craft workshop covering the key trades of painting & decorating, carpentry, plumbing and bricklaying and an engineering design centre. Constructor, Rok has taken on a number of apprentices from the college to learn first hand about life on a building site."

Futures raise money for charity

2009-12-10T20:58:00.002Z

Students and staff at Futures Community College raised £385.62 when they ran a series of events for the annual Jeans for Genes Day on Friday 2nd October.

Many students and staff at the Southend-based school swopped their usual school attire for jeans, donating £1 for the privilege. A staff-v-student basketball match was played with the students winning 26-20, whilst a sponsored silence and cake sale were just some of the other activities which took place to raise cash for the charity, that helps children with genetic disorders.

Jeans for Genes aims to change the world for children living with genetic disorders. The money raised on Jeans for Genes Day funds care and support for children and families affected by genetic disorders, as well as research into the causes and cures of these conditions."

New entrants at Futures host a tea party

2009-12-10T20:54:00.002Z

Over one hundred Year 7 pupils at Futures Community College hosted a tea party for their primary school teachers on Thursday 30th September 2009. Nearly 40 teachers from nine schools around South East Essex attended the party, to be reunited with their ex-pupils and meet with the teaching team at Futures.

The tea party is an annual event held within the first few weeks of the start of the school year for Year 7 students, and is one of the many ways in which Futures make the introduction to secondary education more welcoming. Year 7 students write their own invitations to the primary school teachers, and serve them tea and cakes on the day, whilst Year 11 students from the college ‘meet and greet’ the primary school teachers.

Mrs S Overall, Lead LSA at Hamstel Junior School summed up the primary school teachers’ feelings by saying “It is lovely to receive an invitation to attend the tea party from the pupils themselves, and great to see how well they are doing at Futures. The school has really turned around, all students are very polite and well turned out,” Ms S O’Shea, Year 6 teacher from Thorpedene Primary School added “It is a really good idea to hold the tea party, and gives us an opportunity to see how the students’ are settling into secondary education”

133 students joined Futures at the start of the 2009 academic year. The college, which is undergoing extensive renovation and building works will continue to take new admissions throughout the renovation and works. Parents and students are invited to meet the staff and tour the facilities at the school’s Open Evening between 6 and 8pm on Thursday 8th October."

An Evening of Performance

2009-12-07T07:48:00.004Z

Twitter

2009-11-20T13:08:00.001Z

Yes, we have our very own Twitter account where you can keep up to date with what's on and what's happening in and around the college.

Just visit http://twitter.com/futurescollege

A Minute for Madeleine

2009-11-03T11:05:00.003Z