A reminder to all parents that Monday 20 February will be an INSET day and so students should not attend school on this day. 

1. Ralph Vaughan Williams Strings Ensemble, Saturday 25 March

Following the success of projects like our concert with the Harmony Men and the inter-school GCSE Music Conference, the Music Department of Victoria College is looking forward to hosting the ‘RVW Strings Project’ on the Saturday 25 March. This will be an exciting collaboration between various island schools, the Jersey Academy of Music and experienced musicians of the JSO, endorsed by the Creative Island Partnership & Jersey Music Association. Students of string instruments around the island will have the opportunity to rehearse the ‘Concerto Grosso’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams and perform it in the beautiful setting of our Great Hall.   

Ralph Vaughan Williams Strings Ensemble

Watch this space for more information.

2. Bandtastic, Wednesday 29 March

Come to hear the Victoria College Concert Band, La Ronde Concert Band and the JMS Concert Band playing a rich variety of pieces on their own and together, in a jamboree of music. Highlights will include music from film and stage: Mamma Mia, Star Wars, Dam Busters. Tickets available from Wednesday 8 March. Watch this space for more information.

Bandtastic

All the places for Air-Soft and Remote Control Car Club have now been taken. There are however some further spaces still available for the Board games club on Thursdays after school next term. If your son is interested please email Head of Clubs & Activities, James Townsend (j.townsend@vcj.sch.je) with your child's details (e.g. name, year and house group).

Victoria College will once again be taking part in the Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation February Challenge, which tasks people with walking, jogging and/or running the distance from Jersey to Southampton Hospital - 164 miles.

Students in Years 7-11 will be taking part in games lessons, covering the distance as a cohort and learning a little bit about what the Foundation does for local families. Many of our Sixth Form students are participating in teams of 2-6, and we also have staff who are taking part either in teams or individually.

The Foundation provides financial and emotional support to families with children receiving care abroad, for example by covering the costs of flights and accommodation for family members. To find out more about the Foundation, visit their website.

As part of the challenge we will be trying to raise money to support the Foundation further. If you would like to sponsor Victoria College's efforts, you can do so here.

Victoria College has recently launched ArtEquals, a new art initiative which will give our students the opportunity to create their own artwork & have it exhibited alongside local professional Jersey artists.

The resulting exhibition and auction in June, will kick-start the fundraising campaign for The Victoria College Wellbeing Garden and allow the students the opportunity to keep up to 50% of their sale proceeds.

If any parents would like to get involved, either donating artwork for the auction, creating your own artwork to exhibit, volunteering at the event or even helping secure corporate sponsorship, please reach out to Emily Sweeny (e.sweeny@vcj.sch.je)

Full details about how to get involved can be found on our dedicated webpage here: ArtEquals

We have an exciting design challenge taking place, in collaboration with our School charity, Durrell. If you are interested, please use the link to download the design template for the tortoise or see Assistant Head, Supercurriculum, Ms Kane in the library for a printed copy. Named entries must he handed to your Head of House by the 3rd of March for judging (please note this date has been moved forward). The winning design from each House will then be painted by the designer (alongside a supportive decorating team) onto a tortoise sculpture in April. The best finished tortoise design will then be judged across the five Houses. Each House tortoise will be featured in the 'shop window trail' organised by Durrell later this the year. For more info see your Head of House or Ms Kane.

Tortoise Takeover House Competition

A team of Ophthalmology professionals from Jersey are visiting Lahore, Pakistan in March 2023 to undertake visual screening in schools and orphanages. They are hoping to take as many pairs of children’s old glasses (or those belonging to small adults) with them, so they are asking parents to donate any old pairs that children do not need any more. If you have any to donate, please kindly put them in the box at Reception. 

Since the GCSE Information Evening in November, no doubt your son has been giving some thought to the subjects that he might wish to pursue in Y10 and Y11. The deadline for submitting these choices is Wednesday 1 March, before which you will have had the opportunity to meet your son’s subject teachers at Parents’ Evening. Please submit your son’s choices using this online link. For any questions, please contact Jacky Bryan, Head of Y9 (j.bryan@vcj.sch.je) or Karen Palfreyman, Assistant Head Curriculum, Teaching & Learning (k.palfreyman@vcj.sch.je).

These continue through to the end of term and their aim is to help your son improve and prepare for his final French and/or Spanish GCSE exams. However, spaces are limited.

If your son is interested in any of the following workshops, please email your son's name and choice of workshop(s) to Mrs Harris for French (s.harris@vcj.sch.je) and Ms Perestrelo for Spanish (m.perestrelo@vcj.sch.je). 

French workshops in Le Brocq building:

Monday 13.15 - 13.45, Foundation Speaking

Tuesday 13.15 - 13:45, Higher Speaking

Wednesday 13.15 - 13.45, Foundation Writing

Thursday 13.15 - 13:45, Higher Writing

Spanish workshops in Le Brocq building:

Monday 13:05-13:35, Foundation speaking and writing

Monday 13:35-14:00, Higher speaking and writing

With mock examinations completed, attention now turns to Sixth Form applications for our Year 11 students. In the coming weeks, each Year 11 student will receive a guidance interview with either a senior member of staff or with the Sixth Form team about their 16+ choices. This is not a formal interview, but will provide students with an opportunity to discuss their current thoughts and to receive guidance and support in making informed decisions.

Sixth Form applications are then due on Friday 10 February. The application form, and other relevant documentation such as the Sixth Form options guide and prospectus, can be found here. We have attached a paper copy of the form, which will allow students to draft their responses before completing the online application form.

Following the submission of applications, students and parents will then be invited to a formal Sixth Form interview with members of the school leadership group, after which offers of a place in the Sixth Form will be made.

Should you have any queries regarding the Sixth Form application process, please contact Mr Falle (a.falle@vcj.sch.je). 

Sixth Form Application Form

Last year, The Institute of Directors Jersey, in partnership with Skills Jersey and Jersey Business, and in collaboration with Haute Vallee School and Victoria College launched a new scheme called the IoD Accredited Internship.

This scheme seeks to encourage students from Years 11 to 13 to gain valuable work experience in Hospitality and Retail on a casual basis, primarily weekends and school holidays.  While undertaking this paid employment students will also work towards receiving a certificate accredited by the IoD. For more information about this and how to sign up please follow the link below:

IoD Accredited Internship Letter to Parents

Later this term we will launch the university application process with Year 12. As part of this process we would like to invite all Year 12 parents and students to attend an information evening, which will outline the support available and key information for parents and students. Further information is available in the attached letter, along with information about the Pre-Public Examinations that Year 12 sit in the summer term.

Higher Education Information Evening Letter

Please find below a letter explaining the Pre-Public Examination process and a timetable for the period during the examinations. If you have any further questions, please contact Examinations Officer, Liz Croft (l.croft@vcj.sch.je) or Head of Sixth Form, Alan Falle (a.falle@vcj.sch.je)

Y12 PPE Letter 2023

Y12 PPE Timetable - April 2023