Two Ron Dearing students have set their sights on sporting success after being selected to play at county level in their respective sports.

Hockey player, Isla Hartley and budding Rugby Union star Charlie Thackary have both taken a step closer to their dreams of playing sport professionally after securing sought after places on teams representing Yorkshire.

 

Year 10 student Isla has been selected to play for the Humber region’s Under 16 Hockey Team after coaches at her local team, Driffield Hockey Club, put her forward for county trials.

The 15-year-old right midfielder has been playing hockey since she was a young child after being inspired by her mum who has also played the sport.

Isla said: “When I found out I’d been chosen for the county team it felt really good. I’ve already met so many new people and the coaches are really experienced and push you to do your best.

“Coaches from England will come to our county games to look for players for the national team, so my dream is to keep learning and improving and one day be scouted to play for England.”

 

Year 11 student Charlie has secured a place in the Yorkshire Rugby Union Academy after standing out during the development trials.

The 15-year-old says he has been playing rugby for as long as he can remember and has played for Beverley Beavers RUFC throughout his teenager years.

Charlie, who plays in the position of scrum half, said: “Securing a place at the Academy is one of the first steps to playing in the premiership. It will give me opportunities to play against other premiership club’s academies and help me improve my skills.

“The next step for me is to secure a place to play rugby at university, then hopefully go onto play professionally.

“My teachers at Ron Dearing have been really supportive of me pursuing sport, changing my timetable to make sure I can attend training with the Academy and supporting me after I suffered an injury during a game.”

 

The duo joins a string of other students at Ron Dearing who’re excelling in sport, and shared their advice to others young people who want to excel in their chosen sport.

Isla said: “Have confidence in yourself and choose a sport that you really enjoy. Just keep putting in the work and training hard and you’ll see improvements.”

Charlie added: “Stay consistent and find a nice friendly team that you get on with. Being part of a good team will make you want to play more and do your best.”

Year 14 students at Ron Dearing UTC are showcasing their artistic talents at a special public exhibition in Hull.

Titled ‘Before the Breakthrough’, the exhibition marks the culmination of the students’ time at Ron Dearing UTC, celebrating their growth and development as emerging artists as they prepare to progress into university or employment.

Hosted at the Hull Artists Research Initiative (HARI) on Francis Street, Hull, the exhibition features an impressive breadth of work  – from concept art and street photography to ceramics and film. Each of the seven students has created a distinct installation, expressing their individual creative style and often exploring themes and issues that hold personal significance.

The exhibition also provides the students with valuable real‑world experience in curating, organising, and managing a public show. Their reflections on this process will form part of their assessment journals, contributing to their final grades and preparing them for future exhibitions in higher education and the creative industries.

Year 14 students, Tom Coldbeck, Matthew Bestley, Henry Garland Collins, Hayden Taylor, Jessie Duncan, Kitty Every and Kal Mears are exhibiting their work at Hull Artists Research Initiative. 

Find out more about the students and their installations below:

The Cycle – Kitty Every

Budding film-maker Kitty Every has taken her experience of living with insomnia to create a short film depicting internal and external conflicts caused by the sleep disorder.

The film takes inspiration from Avant-Garde Cinema and the artist Tracey Emin. Featuring small animations and quick montage scenes mixed with moments of stillness, Kitty hopes to convey themes of time, distortion and repetition.

Palimpsest – Jessie Duncan

Jessie Duncan will take visitors on a journey through time with her mixed-media exhibition inspired by her own family and the passing of time.

The installation will feature repurposed clothes and objects embroidered with conversations between Jessie, and her Great Great Grandmother, also named Jessie, to represent the past and the present colliding and evoke feelings of nostalgia.

The Mundane – Tom Coldbeck

Graphic designer and photographer, Tom Coldbeck aims to document the realities of today’s society through his exhibition of street photography captured in towns and cities across Europe and the UK.

The focus of Tom’s exhibit is The Mundane, with his photographs aiming to highlight seemingly ordinary moments and ‘everyday’ people. His work encourages viewers to look beyond the surface, prompting deeper thought about the stories behind each individual and the wider social issues shaping life in today’s society.

Encounter – Matthew Bestley

Ceramicist Matthew Bestley hopes to inspire people to consider how we interact with space and sculptures through his exhibit, with visitors encouraged to explore his installation whilst taking in the sculptures from different angles.

Crediting sculptor Barbara Hepworth as his main inspiration, Matthew says his exhibit is meant to feel almost human in the ways the sculptures interact with each other, and the space.

Gothic Impressions – Hayden Taylor

Budding interior designer Hayden Taylor aims to reimagine Gothic architecture with a modern twist, to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions people have about the Gothic style.

Hayden’s installation incorporates examples of Gothic architecture from around Hull and East Yorkshire with modern twists to create an atmospheric and immersive experience.

Amalgamation – Henry Garland-Collins

Inspired by the experiences of being a young person living through the Covid-19 pandemic, Henry uses mixed media to create a wearable art piece which aims to capture the feelings and emotions of a moment in time, turned into art.

The installation aims to convey feelings of claustrophobia, fear, being restricted and ‘holding on by a thread’, which Henry personally experienced during the lockdowns.

Science Fantasy – Kal Mears

Graphic illustrator Kal Mears exhibit showcases concept art and designs for a theoretical video game, depicting the artist’s process of gathering inspiration and developing detailed characters for films and video games.

Taking inspiration from sci-fi and fantasy films and video games, Kal hopes to transport visitors into another world with illustrations of the characters and their personal stories.

• ‘Before the Breakthrough’ will take place from June 6th-11th at HARI’s multidisciplinary arts venue at 25 Francis Street, HU2 8DT.
• The exhibition will be open daily from 11 am – 4 pm. No need to book, simply turn up!
• Please note the exhibition will take place on the first floor of HARI. Unfortunately, there is no lift available.

Ron Dearing UTC student Oliver Liddell is forging a blossoming career in sport after being selected to play for England’s under-16 Futsal team.

Year 11 student Oliver has earned his place as a goalkeeper in the national squad after progressing steadily through the sport since being introduced to futsal at a young age.

Often described as a faster, tighter version of football, futsal is played indoors with five players a side. The ball is smaller and has less bounce, which forces players to rely on close control, quick passing and sharp movement.

Oliver discovered futsal at just eight-years-old through his initial love of football, after a coach spotted him during a match and invited him to a futsal trial.

Since then, Oliver has continued to progress as a goalkeeper, playing for East Riding Futsal while also being involved with England at under-16 level. His call-up came after national trials, where he was competing against players several years older in an under-19s environment.

Oliver said: “I didn’t really expect to get picked because I was competing with players three years up, so I was quite shocked but also really happy!”

Oliver now attends England training camps every two to three weeks as part of a longer-term programme, with the team working towards future international competitions. He is hoping to be selected for the England team competing at the UEFA European Under-19 Futsal Championship in Kazakhstan in 2027.

Alongside futsal, Oliver is currently preparing for his GCSEs and is studying maths, English, science, engineering design and creative media. Juggling training with school means planning his time carefully, and he says staff at the college have been understanding and supportive, helping him stay on top of his work while competing at national level.

After finishing sixth form, Oliver is considering spending a year in Portugal, where futsal is well established and played at a high level. The move would give him the chance to challenge himself in a more competitive environment and to find out whether the sport could become a long-term career.

Asked what he would say to other young people thinking about trying futsal, Oliver said: “You’ve just got to stick with it. I wasn’t the player I am now when I first started.

“If you listen to your coaches and stay committed, it becomes easier over time. It also helps your football technique as well, so it’s worth giving it a proper go.”

A budding rugby player from Ron Dearing UTC has taken a significant step towards a professional career in the sport after being promoted to train and play with Hull FC’s first team.

Rio Kassim has secured the prestigious opportunity to join the first team’s pre-season preparations after impressing head coach John Cartwright in the club’s academy system.

The 18-year-old, who is in Year 13 at Ron Dearing, began playing rugby at the age of 10 after excelling in football and demonstrating skills which would be beneficial on the rugby pitch.

After quickly realising he enjoyed the physicality of rugby more than football, Rio joined Skirlaugh Bulls rugby league club before progressing onto Hull FC’s Scholarship programme and later the academy.

Rio, who plays as a forward, is one of just two young players selected to train with the first team during their 2026 pre-season training camp.

He said: “I changed position from second row to centre last year and everything just started to click. I started playing much better and impressing the coaches but I didn’t expect to get such a great opportunity so soon.

“I was really shocked when I found out I was going to be training with the first team. When I got a message saying the coach wanted me to train, it was a really proud moment.

“My family are all proud of my achievement. My Dad has always been a big football fan but since I started playing rugby, he’s got much more into it and has been really supportive.”

During pre-season, Rio also made his first-team debut in a friendly against Huddersfield Giants.

He added: “The experience has already been really good for me. Training and playing with so many experienced players is helping me to develop, not only as a player but as a person.

“My first game gave me a real feel for the level I want to be playing at. I wasn’t nervous until we got into the changing rooms, but overall, I really enjoyed it and it’s helped me to see areas I want to improve.”

Alongside his sporting commitments, Rio is studying A Levels in Maths, Chemistry and Engineering and is preparing to take his final exams in the summer. Since joining Ron Dearing in Year 10, he says staff have been supportive in helping him balance his academic studies with his rugby commitments.

He said “When I joined the Hull FC academy I sometimes had to train during school hours and the staff helped adjust my timetable straight away.

“When I was promoted to first-team pre-season training, they knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down, and helped me fit in my school work around training.

“I know several players who had to leave the academy system because their school or college wouldn’t support their training, so I’m really grateful to have teachers who want us to succeed both in and out of school.”

Looking ahead, Rio hopes to pursue a professional rugby league career after finishing his studies, with the long-term ambition of playing in Australia.

A Ron Dearing UTC student is living life in the fast lane, juggling school work whilst forging a burgeoning career in motorsport.

Year 11 student Harry Hadley is rapidly establishing a name for himself as an up-and-coming kart racing driver, now competing in national competitions.

The 15-year-old is balancing school work with his passion for racing, taking part in the highly competitive sport which demands time, focus and commitment both on and off the circuit.

Harry’s route into karting began in motocross, when he was just six-years-old, and after watching many of his friends move from riding motorcross bikes into driving karts, he decided to give it a try himself. Starting out in rental karts when he was 11, Harry gradually moved into owner karting and began competing at a higher level.

His first national race came relatively early in his karting career and placed him up against drivers with far more experience. Many of his competitors had been racing since early childhood, making the step up a challenging one.

Harry said: “Starting out in kart racing was definitely a big learning curve. Most of the people I race against started when they were five or six, so catching up on that experience has been the hardest part so far.”

Harry now trains regularly at his local circuit in Lincolnshire and competes at tracks across the country as part of national championships. Having recently moved into senior karting, he is preparing for his first full season at that level and plans to compete in the British Kart Championships from 2026.

Unlike many drivers at national level, Harry competes as a privateer, running his kart with support from his dad rather than as part of a professional racing team. With no motorsport background in the family, both have had to learn the technical and mechanical aspects of the sport along the way.

He explained: “We do it all ourselves. A lot of other drivers are in big teams with experienced coaches and mechanics. My dad had never raced a kart before, so we’ve had to learn everything as we go, but I think that’s made me more resilient and helped me mature.”

Competing at national level also relies on support away from the track. Harry is currently backed by several sponsors, including Kingstown Shipping, Prout Engineering, Paul Atkinson Ltd and Yorkshire Motorhomes, whose support helps cover the costs involved in testing, travel and race weekends.

Alongside racing, Harry is currently preparing to take his GCSEs and is studying engineering design and creative digital media, as well as maths, English and the sciences. Race weekends can mean missing school on Fridays, but he says the Ron Dearing team have been supportive, helping him manage missed work and balance his academic commitments with his passion for racing.

Looking ahead, Harry plans to continue progressing in karting and hopes to enter the Ginetta Junior Scholarship, which offers a pathway into car racing. Longer term, he is aiming for a career in motorsport, either as a driver or within motorsport engineering.

Sharing his advice to other young people looking to get into kart racing, Harry said: “Do as much rental karting as you can, get as much time in the seat as possible, and don’t rush it. It is harder in our area because we’re not close to many tracks, but if you’re committed and willing to travel, you can still make it work.”

Ron Dearing UTC’s newly appointed student board says it’s committed to prioritising the wellbeing of all students during the next school year.

The new 2025/26 student board, which is made up of 13 students from Years 10, 11 and 12, met for their inaugural meeting after being appointed by fellow students and teachers.

The board’s leadership team was appointed by teaching staff following an interview process and includes Year 12 students, Victoria Sibova, Chair, Evelyn Williams, Vice Chair and Zack O’Dell Johnson, Secretary.

Representatives for Years 10 and 11 were elected by their peers with Alfie Sewell, Eli Smit, Jaden Anekwe, Bea Holmes, Oli Greatbatch, Humza Abbasi, Omori Wilson and Lilah Pate, elected as the Year 10 reps, and Claudia Kruz Laya and Kristian Ivanov chosen to represent Year 11.

 

The board’s Chair, Victoria Sibova joined Ron Dearing UTC in Year 10, and served on the board last year as a Year 11 representative. Victoria is studying A-Levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Engineering, and has now stepped up to lead the board after impressing the interview panel.

She said: “I really enjoyed being part of the board last year and saw the positive changes we were able to make for the benefit of all students. I was really inspired by the students who lead the board last year so I knew I wanted to put myself forward to do even more this year.

“Our main priority is ensuring the wellbeing of all students and ensuring their voices are heard, but one of my personal goals this year is to push for more trips for subjects such as science and maths. Ron Dearing already offers lots of fantastic trips for the creative subjects so we’d love to see more in the STEM subjects too.”

Vice Chair Evelyn and Secretary Zack both joined Ron Dearing’s Sixth Form in September and decided to join the board to help support their fellow students.

Evelyn said: “I was a prefect at my secondary school and really enjoyed being able to help others and I especially enjoyed being there to support the younger students and answer any questions.

“When I joined Ron Dearing, I knew I wanted to get involved with something that would allow me to help other students in a similar way.”

Zack added: “I’ve never really been confident enough to do something like this before, but when I joined Ron Dearing, I decided I was going to push myself and put myself forward.

“The leadership team will take opinions and ideas from the year group representatives on the board, and we’ll also send out questionnaires to get feedback from other students and put forward suggestions to staff to make positive changes that students want to see.”

 

The board will host regular meetings to gather feedback on the topics that matter most to young people at the school and they will liaise with staff members to put forward ideas for changes and new initiatives.

The school’s Vice Principal Mark Ollerenshaw said: “We’ve got a brilliant group of young people on the student board and I have really high hopes for what they’re going to do this year.

“The fact they’ve put themselves forward to take on this role and are committed to making a positive difference for their peers is really commendable, and they’ve all had to go through a rigorous process to be appointed to the board, so they should all be proud of what they’ve already achieved.”

Budding creatives at Ron Dearing UTC have received a boost to help get their craft and art endeavours off the ground after securing Entrepreneur Bursaries.

Seven students in Years 11 to 14 successfully secured £50 seed funds to help them create arts and crafts products to sell at the school’s annual Christmas Arts Market.

As part of the bursary scheme, students were required to put together business plans which included calculating their material costs and expenses, expected income, and product details, to help them learn about finances, sales and business management.

Matthew Swain, Kaiden Ford, Oliwier Szulc, Isabelle Brown, Jayden Purnell, Jacob Kemp and Matthew Bestley were all successful in securing the bursary and are creating a wide range of products from ceramics, 3D printed lights, jewellery, posters and baked goods.

 

Talented Year 11 trio Matthew Swain, Kaiden Ford and Oliwier Szulc have joined forces to bring their vision to life.

The three friends who all enjoy experimenting with new 3D printing designs in their spare time have come together to produce a selection of 3D designs including Christmas decorations and gifts as well as non-seasonal items including quirky décor pieces.

 

Fellow Year 11 student Isabelle Brown is using her seed fund to help grow her blossoming jewellery business.

A budding jewellery maker, Isabelle has been creating unique jewellery pieces ranging from earrings and necklaces through to keyrings and hair clips for over 18 months but has struggled to find a platform to sell her items.

She explained: “Most commercial markets don’t allow under 16s to have stalls, so although I’ve been making jewellery for about a year and a half, I’ve not been able to sell my items and make the money back that I’ve spent on resources.

“The Ron Dearing Arts Market is great opportunity for young people to sell their products, and the bursary has helped me to buy more materials to continue creating new jewellery pieces.”

 

Year 12 student Jayden Purnell has been baking in his spare time for over a year.  He says the bursary has enabled him to turn his passion for baking into a commercial opportunity by allowing him to buy enough ingredients to bake on a larger scale, something he would not have been able to afford alone.

Meanwhile Year 13 student Jacob Kemp says the bursary has opened his eyes to new career possibilities which he’d not considered before, after enabling him to print his graphic designs as physical posters for the first time.

He explained: “I know I want to pursue a career involving graphic design and I thought the main career pathways would be to work for a company or be a freelance designer.

“Securing the bursary allowed me to actually print my designs as posters for the first time, which opened my eyes to the possibility of designing physical products which I can sell which is something I think I’d really enjoy.”

Arts market veteran, Matthew Bestley is hosting a stall at the market for the second year selling his unique ceramic goods.

The Year 14 student has a small business selling vases, bowls and sculptures which are decorated with expressive brush strokes.

He said: “Putting together the business plan for the bursary encouraged me to start seriously thinking about what goes into making a successful business, and having a stall at the market has also helped me connect with art lovers and start to build up some regular customers!”

 

The students will be selling their goods during the school’s third annual Christmas Market which will take place on Saturday, November 29, from 10am – 2pm in the Ron Catering UTC conference centre.

A variety of other local professional artists and crafters will also be attending the event to sell their unique, handmade products.  For younger visitors, there will also be face painting, a Santas’ letter writing activity and a Santa’s Grotto.

Ron Dearing UTC Principal, Sarah Pashley said: “We’re delighted to see so many of our talented students showcasing their work at this year’s Christmas Arts Market and it’s great that they’ll be showcasing their work alongside professional artists and craftspeople.

“The Entrepreneur Bursaries not only give our young people a helping hand financially to get their creative businesses off the ground, but they also encourage them to think more strategically about business management which will give them a solid foundation to build on as they take their business ideas forward.”

A former Ron Dearing UTC student is helping to shape the future of University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and inspire the next generation of students after being appointed to a national UTC Alumni Board.

Oliver Walkington has been appointed as the Vice Chair of the newly established UTC Alumni Board which has been launched by the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, a national charity which supports, advocates for and develops UTCs.

The Board is composed of nine alumni from UTCs across the country who have progressed to blossoming careers in a wide variety of sectors. Board members will guide strategic planning, build meaningful ties with employers and strengthen the bridge between education and industry, whilst also providing insight and guidance to current students.

Oliver, who is now a fully qualified Quantity Surveyor at one of Ron Dearing’s Founding Partners, Spencer Group, said he wanted to join the Board to share the knowledge and experience he has gained over the years with the next generation.

The 23-year-old said: “I’m really keen to give something back to the UTC students who are now in the position that I was six years ago.

“When you’re in school and starting to think about your future career, it can be overwhelming, so I want to help current students who may be a little bit lost and unsure what the future looks like for them by sharing my experiences and some of the things I’ve learnt along the way.

“One of our goals as the UTC Alumni Board is to engage with young people, provide more exposure to the variety of industries and career pathways, and empower them to make informed decisions about their future.”

The launch of the Board coincided with #thinkUTC Week, an annual initiative driven by Baker Dearing Education Trust to showcase the top-tier technical education provided by UTCs.

Oliver and fellow Board members visited UTCs during the week, to speak to students about their personal journeys and share details about the Board’s mission, with Oliver returning to his alma mater to speak to classes in Years 10 and 13.

During the sessions Oliver shared his journey from Ron Dearing student to qualified Quantity Surveyor and shared tips on what employers look for, how to prepare for the world of work and how to make the most of the unique opportunities a UTC offers.

He also hosted a Lunch and Learn session on Quantity Surveying for students in all year groups who wanted to learn more about what a career in the field looks like.

He said: “UTCs provide opportunities that students don’t get at any other school or college, they not only give students the technical knowledge and qualifications but crucially they help them become employable and develop the transferable skills employers want.

“The close relationship with employer partners also opens doors and helps put UTC students a step ahead of others. Building relationships with people who already work in the roles you aspire to, and getting an inside look at businesses through work placements and school activities is so beneficial.”

Oliver joined Ron Dearing UTC’s Sixth Form in 2018 and completed A-Levels in Maths, Further Maths and Physics, as well as a Cambridge Technical in Engineering.

Upon finishing Sixth Form he secured a Commercial Apprenticeship with Spencer Group, which included completing a Degree Apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying through Leeds Beckett University.

He is now also completing a Masters of Laws (LLM) in Construction Law to further his career and develop a solid understanding of methods which he can carry into real projects Spencer Group is working on.

A sixth form student from Ron Dearing UTC has taken a step closer to her dream career in sport after being selected to play for a national rugby team.

Grace Williamson was selected to play for England Community Lions Rugby League team after impressing the team’s coaches with her natural talent.

The 17-year-old has been playing for Hull FC in a variety of positions since 2022 and was selected to play during England Community Lions U21’s game against Australia Wanderers in second-row.

The England Community Lions are a representative group for players from community clubs across the country, which plays a key part of player development for the national teams.

Despite it being the first time the Community Lions U21 team had played together, they ran to victory, beating the Wanderers with a final score of 22:18.

Year 13 student, Grace said: “I was actually on holiday when I got the call to say I had been invited for a trial. I’ve never seen my parents so excited, they were jumping around our hotel room in Mexico! I got back from the holiday and three-days later went for the trial.

“I never expected to even be considered for the team, most people go through a Diploma in Sporting Excellence or the Yorkshire teams first, but I went straight to England!

“When I told my Mum that I’d actually been selected to play for the team she just started crying, all my family and friends were so shocked but really proud.

“The game went really well, we definitely didn’t expect to win! We were all so nervous going into it because we were playing against an experienced team which is used to touring, but we all supported each other and said that no matter what happens we all deserve to be on that pitch and will play with a smile on our faces.

“At the end of the game I immediately ran to my friend Lily who also plays for Hull FC and we were just hugging and crying, the emotions were definitely high.”

Growing up in a family of rugby fans, Grace got her first taste of the sport playing tag rugby in primary school, but her real passion developed in Year 9 when she had the opportunity to play in PE lessons.

She explained: “I was struggling at my old high school but rugby gave me a release and a way to switch off and relax. Something just clicked and I fell I love with the sport, it quickly became really addictive!

“My PE teacher at the time recommended I join a team to train with outside of school, so I contacted Hull FC. They invited me in for a few training sessions with the idea of seeing how I got on, and after the first training session they asked me to play in a game!”

Since joining Hull FC just three years ago, Grace has quickly demonstrated her talent for the sport, spending a season in the U14s team, two seasons in the U16 team, and now playing in the Women’s team.

After experiencing an injury on the pitch which left her hospitalised, Grace says she would love to pursue a career in the sport but is also focused on achieving well academically to ensure she has other career options.

Grace joined Ron Dearing UTC in Year 10 and completed GCSEs at the school before moving into the Sixth Form where she is currently studying A-Levels in Biology, Photography and English Literature and Language Combined.

She said: “One injury can put an end to your sporting career so I also want to make sure I do well in my exams and have other career options.

“I’m still focused on going as high as I can in rugby and my goal would be to get selected for any super league team, but I’m also hoping to secure a university place or apprenticeship to study paramedic science, I think it would be really rewarding to help people and bring a calmness to emergency situations.

“Everyone at Ron Dearing has really supported me both in terms of my school work and my rugby. They were flexible with my timetable, allowing me to travel to the England Community Lions game which I was really grateful for.

Ron Dearing UTC is expanding its creative subject offering with the launch of two new courses.

The UTC  has introduced GCSE Graphics Communication and A-level Film Studies to its ever-evolving curriculum, offering a wider variety of subjects to students looking to pursue subjects in the arts.

The new subjects complement existing courses offered by the school and provide students with more opportunities to explore different creative pathways.

 

GCSE Graphics Communication

The new GCSE Graphics Communication course provides students with exposure to a range of graphic design techniques and key software used in the industry.  As well as being a really exciting qualification, it is great preparation for the UTC’s A level Graphic Communication course.

Students have kicked off the new course with an introduction to the software Adobe Illustrator, focusing on the theme of Identity to produce work in the style of visual artist Julian Opie.

In the coming months they will also learn how to use drawing tablets alongside other processes, such as screen-printing and spray painting.

Following the Identity project, students will be given a range of themes to choose from to produce a personalised project in which their outcomes could vary from packaging, to posters or illustrations.

Assessed by the AQA exam board, the course will include course work and a 10-hour creative exam.

Course leader and Deputy Head of Creative and Graphics Lead, Gemma Elliot said: “Graphic communication and design infiltrate our whole society from the designs on billboards, to the packaging we encounter on a day-to-day basis.

“Teaching our students how to engage with and create products that we utilise prepares them for the future; whilst they are learning industry standard software.”

 

A-level Film Studies

Through the new A-level Film Studies course, students will explore the world of cinema diving into film making, script writing and photography, building upon the critical thinking skills developed in GCSE English Literature.

Students will study a wide scope of films ranging from Vertigo (Hitchcock, 1958) to Joker (Phillips, 2019) and many more to develop an understanding of how film often reflects society.

Students will also have the opportunity to develop their own creativity by putting what they have learnt about film language and meaning into practise through a project of their own during which they will come up with their own original story and develop it through a script and film/photography project.

Assessed by the EDUQAS exam board, the course will be assessed through two written exams as well as a piece of course work in which students will develop their own short film or a screenplay.

Course leader and English Teacher, Niamh O’Donnell said: “Students can explore the creative world of cinema in this A-Level course whilst exploring films from around the world and through the ages.

“They will develop their understanding of how directorial decisions help create both a visual spectacle as well as very clear meanings and responses in audiences.”