ARC London, South and East Regional Conference 

I am Destiny and this is my story!

Destiny, a student at CTK Emmanuel, recently completed her work experience placement at Addey and Stanhope as an integral part of her course. Throughout her time there, Destiny proved to be an outstanding addition to their team, showcasing unwavering dedication and enthusiasm that left a lasting impression on both staff and students alike. Her exceptional performance caught the attention of ARC (The Attachment Research Community), leading to her invitation to the London, South and East Regional Conference to discuss the topic of how a relational approach can benefit all young people, particularly those who are vulnerable. At the event, Destiny delivered an inspiring and heartfelt speech about her personal journey to an audience deeply moved by her words.

CTK Careers Conference 

Celebrating Success: Annual Careers Conference 2024

This year marked a remarkable milestone as we successfully organised both the Careers Conference and the Careers Fair on the same day for the first time since the onset of Covid-19. This unique opportunity allowed our students to fully capitalise on the diverse range of speakers and visitors available to them.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the dedicated members of the Careers Team who orchestrated such an exceptional experience for our students. We also extend our gratitude to all staff across teaching and professional services for their immense efforts behind the scenes.

The variety of talks offered, ranging from midwifery to finance, and from UCAS guidance to applying for degree apprenticeships, truly enriched the event and provided invaluable insights for our students. It was inspiring to welcome back former CTK students Daniel and Rianna, who returned with their degree apprenticeship employers, Bailey Garner and Bloomberg respectively. Their presence provided our current students with invaluable role models and tangible pathways to aspire to.

Thank you once again to everyone involved for contributing to the success of the Annual Careers Day.

Easter Appeal 2024

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Easter Egg Appeal this year!

We’re thrilled to announce that we surpassed our target, raising an incredible 655 eggs for Demelza Hospice and the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Your generosity has made a significant difference in our community

Demelza is a charity that assists families with young members suffering from terminal and very serious illnesses.

SVP is the Society of St Vincent de Paul who help anyone experiencing poverty. They are there for individuals and families, providing resources and opportunities for mutual support.

The appeal ran throughout Lent and encompassed a variety of social action initiated by our students, including donations of chocolate Easter eggs.

Cross-Site Easter Egg Competition: Congratulations to all participants in our Cross-Site Easter Egg Competition! Together, we raised 655 eggs, with St Mary’s contributing 405, Emmanuel 80, and Aquinas 170. Well done to all involved!

Rome

CTK students and staff will be embarking on an epic adventure to Rome!

Join us on this journey as we share the magic of Rome!

The CTK Rome trip has commenced! Look out for our Rome 2024 diaries to see what the group get up to each day!

Day 1

Autograph Gallery Art Trip

Level 3 students studying the UAL Applied General qualification in Art & Design course at CTK Emmanuel attended a workshop at the Autograph Gallery in East London.

The Level 3 students studying the UAL Applied General qualification in Art & Design course at CTK Emmanuel attended a workshop at the Autograph Gallery in East London to take part in a Workshop: Preserving the Archive.  Autograph is a place to see things differently. Since 1988, they have championed photography that explores issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others. 

Autograph gallery is an inclusive space where the myriad stories of marginalised people are valued and cared for, presented, published, discussed, shared and spread. Through an encounter with an Autograph project students discover: 

  • How photography can speak to many different experiences 
  • Learn about subjects and stories left out of historical and contemporary visual records. 
  • Recognise their own potential ‘agency’ in making and looking at images every day. 

New Cutting-Edge Engineering and Manufacturing Facilities at CTK Emmanuel

New facilities which include FESTO equipment and design, to benefit aspiring T Level Engineering students, was opened by Janet Daby MP at Christ the King Sixth Form Emmanuel.

Janet Daby, Labour MP for Lewisham East, and other VIP guests attended the opening of the new T Level Engineering and Manufacturing hub at CTK Emmanuel on Friday 12th January.
CTK Emmanuel were delighted to secure the funding from the Department of Education, to open this fantastic, state-of-the art vocational facility, which is used to train and support Engineering T Level students who are studying to enter the engineering industry.
These outstanding new facilities, crafted in collaboration with employers and universities, are purposefully designed to meet the exacting needs of industry. The new area will provide extensive training for aspiring engineers and manufacturing professionals, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges of the future. The hub features a range of equipment, such as Sorting Stations and the Smart Factory as part of the fundamental change industry is undergoing (Industry 4.0). Students will acquire the skills to understand and perform tasks related to sensor and pneumatic technology, compliance with standards, project management, data analysis and troubleshooting & maintenance.
These latest facilities mark the completion of the fourth project enhancing the academic landscape at CTK Emmanuel. Previous initiatives have delivered a modern business space and a fully operational mock hospital ward named St Teresa’s, contributing to the comprehensive educational environment for students at the institution.
As a specialised vocational Catholic Sixth Form, CTK Emmanuel prioritises robust employment connections. Students engage in weekly work placements, and the Sixth Form has cultivated strong partnerships with prominent engineering companies. The personnel from these esteemed employers, as well as contributors involved in the design of the new facility, were pleased to participate in the grand opening. Their presence allowed them to witness first-hand the exceptional facilities now available at CTK Emmanuel. The hub was also blessed by Deacon Javier, Chaplaincy Coordinator at CTK.
CTK Emmanuel, located on Belmont Hill, close to Lewisham and Blackheath, is a successful Sixth Form serving 16-19 learners from in and around Southeast London. The Sixth Form offers the widest range of vocational courses locally in a Catholic Sixth Form environment and has recently added T Levels to the curriculum offering.

Janet Daby, who opened the facilities, said;
“It was brilliant to attend and speak at the Grand Opening of Christ the King’s new manufacturing and engineering facilities. It’s great to see Lewisham schools leading the way and giving young people the widest possible choice for their futures.
Linking up education with businesses and government is vital to ensure our young people have the skills they need for the workplace and our communities have the skills they need to grow the economy. Facilities like those at CTK are an important step in that direction and help to put Lewisham on the map!”

Christ the King Sixth Forms Executive Principal Shireen Razey said;
We were delighted to receive funding from the Department of Education to develop these outstanding facilities, which will benefit our leaners for many years to come. Our T Level in Manufacturing and Engineering will ensure we are meeting local employers and skills needs and training the next generation of engineering professionals. We are immensely proud of the outstanding vocational curriculum we can offer to students taught within our Catholic Sixth Form. A huge thank you to FESTO for helping with the implementation and training of the new state of the art engineering equipment. We are delighted that Janet Daby has been able to join us today.”

Christ the King New Chair of Governors

Christ the King Sixth Forms are pleased to announce the appointment of Nana Reynier as their new Chair of Governors.

Nana Reynier takes over as Chair from Dr Rupert Evenett MBE, who has been a Foundation Governor at Christ the King Catholic Sixth Form, for over 17 years. CTK is a highly successful sixth form that has three sites in South East London and Kent. CTK Aquinas is a selective A Level centre for excellence, offering a wide range of A Level courses aimed at high-achieving students. CTK Emmanuel is a professional centre for excellence, offering Technical and Professional programmes equivalent to three A Levels and highly specialised routes to university. CTK St Mary’s is a sixth form centre for excellence offering a wide curriculum of A Level and Applied Technical qualifications.


Executive Principal of Christ the King Sixth Forms, Shireen Razey, says:
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Nana as Chair of Governors, following the outstanding tenure of Rupert. Nana has a wealth of experience and is dedicated to education and community wellbeing. We are thankful to Rupert for his commitment to our Christ the King Community.”


Nana brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, having been a Foundation Governor at Christ the King since 2019, she is currently Vice Chair. With a highly successful career in the Civil Service, where she held a senior position in education policy and conducted significant project reviews, Nana has demonstrated a deep understanding of the educational landscape. Nana is currently the Director of People Services and Products and was previously Director of People Experience at Citizens Advice and Head of Organisation and People Development at the University of Greenwich.
Dr Rupert Evenett MBE hands the baton to Nana at an exciting time, following the Sixth Forms 30th Anniversary celebrations and a highly successful Ofsted. The sixth form has an innovative curriculum which meets the needs of local students, including T Levels, BTEC and A Level qualifications.
Over £5 million has been invested in the property strategy over the past 3 years to ensure students have outstanding in class and social spaces. This has included university-grade science labs, state-of-the-art business conferencing rooms, industry-standard engineering facilities and equipment, along with the establishment of a hospital mock ward and child development facilities.

Nana commented:
“Supporting students to realise their ambitions and tapping into and utilising their true potential to the full is at the core of CTK. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to continue to support CTK in helping students make this a reality. I continue to be impressed by the outstanding students at CTK and the amazing staff that are working collaboratively to elevate the achievements of our students”.

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a Governor at CTK and playing a key role in transforming lives for the better please contact CTK’s Clerk to Governors, governance@ctksfc.ac.uk

Diwali

Diwali, a significant Hindu festival observed in the autumn, is commonly referred to as the “Festival of Lights.” This celebration represents the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. During Diwali, residences and establishments are adorned with petite oil lamps known as diyas. The radiance emitted by these diyas is believed to usher the goddess Lakshmi into households, signifying prosperity and joy for the upcoming year. Diwali is a period for families and friends to unite, share meals and sweets, and offer prayers for well-being, wisdom, and serenity.

At CTK, we organised our own Diwali event, providing an opportunity for staff and students to come together as a community and rejoice in the festivities.

Christmas Gift Appeal 2023

Husband and wife joint gift appeal runs for the fourth year! 

Christ the King Sixth Forms and East Kent Colleges Group are set to work on another Christmas campaign, this time seeking to raise more than ever before in donations and gifts. 

Now in its fourth year, the campaign run by husband-and-wife team Shireen Razey (Executive Principal of Christ the King Sixth Forms) and Graham Razey (Chief Executive at EKC Group) targets those in need, spreading festive cheer through the collaboration, with donations and gifts totalling over £20,000 so far. 

The Christmas Gift Appeal and charity art auction, organised by Christ the King Sixth Forms (CTK) and East Kent Colleges Group (EKC), aspire to continue this tradition. The gifts, donations and funds raised will go towards child hospice charity Demelza, Refuge, Lewisham Foodbank, homelessness charity The Manna Society and the St Vincent De Paul Society, which tackles poverty and disadvantage. 

Shireen Razey, Executive Principal of Christ the King Sixth Forms said:  

“We are delighted to be organising our annual Christmas Gift Appeal again this year. We know what a difference it makes to the local charities we support. Many families continue to face real hardship, and we hope our appeal makes a difference to those at Christmas time. CTK staff and students contribute hugely to social action work within the local community throughout the year, and we are always touched by your kind donations to our Christmas Appeal.” 

The art auction involves students and staff from both College groups donating artworks to be sold in support of charity. We are grateful to those who bid on the students’ artwork, helping us raise nearly £700.

Thank you to those who contributed towards the campaign via the colleges ‘GoFundMe’ link. An incredible sum was raised for the five charities we supported this year.

The charities we supported are:

St Vincent de Paul Society

Demelza Hospice Care for Children

The Manna Society

Lewisham Foodbank

Refuge

For further information please contact:

Christ the King Sixth Forms: Robyn Brown r.brown@ctksfc.ac.uk 

Christ the King Sixth Forms: Rhiana Octave r.octave@ctksfc.ac.uk

Click on the image below to find out more.



Open Day

CTK Emmanuel holds its October Open Day!

The third and final of the CTK Open Days ended with CTK Emmanuel. The event went ahead on Saturday 14th October, where we were joined by nearly 170 prospective students. 

The student ambassadors worked tirelessly and professionally to chauffeur individual groups of prospective students and their parents/carers around the building as they answered questions and showed our guests to the relevant subject areas. 

Staff also played a key role on the day, interacting with interested students and taking them through the subject course. Some subject ambassadors remained in their classrooms to support their teachers and give the prospective students a real feel of what it would be like to study a T Level, BTEC or A Level Professional Pathway at CTK Emmanuel by giving them an introduction to the classroom facilities as well as showcasing their fantastic work. 

Principal talks were conducted by site principal Mr. Simon Spearman and Executive Principal Shireen Razey. These sessions offered a comprehensive overview of the diverse subjects and opportunities available at CTK Emmanuel. The feedback from our visitors was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting their satisfaction with the event.

We extend our gratitude to the students and staff whose efforts contributed to the event’s success. A heartfelt thank you to the prospective students and parents/carers for their delightful presence and participation.

Results Day 2023

Almost 1000 students at Christ the King Sixth Forms (CTK) are celebrating excellent A Level and BTEC results.  Students have shown resilience and determination to land top grades which is a testimony to their hard work. Christ the King Sixth Form has three sites across Southeast London and Kent and yet again CTK students were able to achieve outstanding A Level and BTEC success and secure places at their chosen university destinations. 

Students at CTK Aquinas have achieved outstanding results, with a 98% A Level pass rate and 21 A Level subjects achieving a 100% pass rate. This is especially impressive being above the national UK pass rate of 97.3%.

Over 500 students at CTK studied BTEC extended qualifications (3 A Level equivalent) with a pass rate of 99, and 70% of those received Distinction or above gaining places at highly competitive universities.

It is remarkable that this is a group of young adults, who sat their first ever external examinations this year, having spent most of their Year 10 and 11 at secondary school being taught from home due to the pandemic and being unable to sit GCSE examinations in summer 2021.  This year group are also the first cohort since 2019 to have their grades adjusted in line with ‘pre-COVID’ grade profiles. These results demonstrate what resilience and determination this cohort of students have repeatedly shown. 

CTK Executive Principal, Shireen Razey said “I am immensely proud of what our students have achieved this year. Students at each of our specialist Sixth Forms have shown real resilience and determination to succeed in their studies, and I am delighted to be able to celebrate their outstanding results today. A big thank you to our students’ parents/carers for their invaluable support. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the committed staff at CTK whose dedication and care have played a key role in our students’ success. I wish each of our students every future success in their university, apprenticeship and employment destinations and look forward to hearing of their great achievements as CTK Alumni.”  

Some student thoughts about their experience of studying at CTK:

Daniel Dimitrovski

A Level Maths (A*), Further Maths (A*), Physics (A), Computer Science (A) and EPQ (A*)

University of Oxford

“I have always been greatly supported by everyone at CTK. One of the things I have enjoyed the most, is the engaging lectures from professional and outstanding teachers. My greatest achievements have been gaining a distinction in the Maths Olympiad and now getting into Oxford University to study Maths and Computer Science. My teachers really helped me prepare for my university interview and I am very grateful to everyone at CTK for the opportunities I have been given. I leave CTK with enhanced motivation to excel in my further studies and to build a strong career in Maths and Computer Science with a focus on Cryptography.”

Dami Adedoyin-Adeniyi

A Level History (A), Religious Studies (A), Sociology (A) and EPQ (A*)

University of Oxford

“CTK has been a very positive experience, mostly because the staff have offered such great support. The teachers are all very helpful and are specialists in their chosen subjects. I have been given extensive opportunities to enhance my progression prospects and the careers team were extremely knowledgeable.  When I opened my results envelope, I was overjoyed to see my hard work had paid off and I had achieved grades AAA and an A* in Extended Project Qualification. I had always felt very supported by my teachers from the beginning, and they were there with me when I received my results, everyone was so happy for me. I am now very excited to be going to Mansfield College, Oxford to read History. I want to say that I couldn’t have done it without the help of my teachers and everyone at Christ the King who supported me.”

Lani Iriajen

A Level Maths (A), Biology (A), Chemistry (A) and EPQ (A*)

Imperial University College London

“My first impression of CTK was that everyone in the community was friendly and approachable. This impression has remained, and I have made some good friends. I am grateful for all the support I have received from my teachers. The teachers are always willing to help and go that extra mile for you and are specialists in their subjects. I am looking forward to going to study Biochemistry at Imperial University College London and start my higher education journey.”

Kayla Worrell-Morrison

A Level Criminology (A), Psychology (A), Media (A) and EPQ (B)

University of Cardiff

“I chose CTK as it offers an excellent range of A Levels, with well-planned and resourced teaching and learning. At CTK I was supported every step of the way on my journey. From the very beginning to the very end, each member of staff was there for me; academically and as a whole person, they encouraged me to always strive to be the best I can be. I worked hard and with the support of the Christ the King community, I am happy to say I have achieved AAA and have a place to study Media and Communications at the University of Cardiff.”

Tia Richards

A Level Politics (A*), Geography (A*), Fine Art (B), EPQ (A)

University College London

“I have really enjoyed my time at Christ the King. It is a very community spirited sixth form where everyone has been so supportive and helpful. I have felt very cared for and nurtured throughout my time at CTK. In preparation for university, the Careers Team helped to guide me and provide advice on which pathway to choose. There were many opportunities available, including the Open City Accelerate Programme at University College London, which helped me understand the requirements of my chosen course. I am over the moon with my results of A*A*AB and am happy to be studying at University College London.’’

Nathaniel Gana

BTEC Media – D*D*D

University of Reading

“I wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for the support that CTK sixth form has provided me with during my time here. With dedication to academic excellence and inclusivity, I gained D*D*D in BTEC Media and have been able to achieve my dreams of attending the University of Reading to study Architecture. The personalised attention and encouragement from the teachers has, without doubt, contributed to my academic success. The various resources offered by the sixth form, such as the well-stocked library, extracurricular activities, and online tools have been outstanding.  I would highly recommend CTK, to anyone looking for a wonderful educational experience that goes beyond academic excellence.”

Christabel Efe

BTEC Applied Science – D*D*D*

University of Warwick

“I am thrilled to have achieved D*D*D* in BTEC Applied Science at Christ the King. I am going to study Neuroscience at University of Warwick, in the pursuit of becoming a Neurosurgeon. During my time at CTK, I enjoyed meeting new people, engaging in classroom work and coursework. Furthermore, my teachers have given me thorough support in my studies and have motivated me to work harder. The support systems put in place at CTK are very good and the Sixth Form always has the student’s best interest at heart.”

Angele Ijeh

BTEC Media – D*D*D*

Brunel University of London

“I am delighted with my results. Whilst at CTK, I enjoyed many of the modules that I studied as they were truly inspiring. We had to complete a media campaign for a music artist which I really enjoyed as this gave me an insight into how media integrates into the music industry. I am now going to study Music Production at Brunel University and am thankful to CTK and the support my teachers provided me.  I have truly enjoyed my time at CTK, and it has helped towards my aspiration of owning my own record label.”

Chisom Eduzor

BTEC Applied Science – D*D*D

Kingston University

“With the help of CTK I have been able to achieve D*D*D in BTEC Applied Science and now I am going to study Biomedical Science at Kingston University. Christ the King has a wide range of exceptional courses and the course I studied was just the right one for me. The teachers helped me to support and push me to achieve my final grade. The Careers team provide great advice for the future, and they helped me choose which path I wanted to go down.”

Klaudija Kazlauskaite 

BTEC Health and Social Care – D*DD

University of Greenwich

“I chose CTK because of its values and the support that is available to students. My experience has been great at CTK. Teachers here are very talented, and they helped me to achieve my best. Staff are always there to support you as a young individual in all possible areas. I recommend this sixth form because students always receive the support they need. There are many different activities and opportunities that students can get involved in and improve on a variety of skills. I am so happy with my results and that I have received my offer to study at University of Greenwich.”

Commitment to Quality in Careers Standard

We are pleased to let you know Christ the King Sixth Forms has decided to commit to achieving The Quality in Careers Standard. We are delighted to confirm the support of the Governors as well as the Senior Leadership Team in achieving this aim. At the last meeting of the governing body meeting, we discussed our application for accreditation and the Committee unreservedly approved and supported the application. We would like to gain this accreditation by February 2024. This award will cover each of the three CTK sites, Aquinas, Emmanuel and St Mary’s.

Our senior leader with overall responsibility for CEIAG in school/college is Holly Power and our nominated leader who is the contact for this award is Tumay Gunduz. Progress will be reviewed at leadership meetings and periodic reports made to the governing body.

Christ the King Sixth Forms strongly value the contribution of a high quality careers and progression programme and the impact that can have on student’s motivation and drive.

Evening of Celebration     

We were delighted to hold our Evening of Celebration on 20 June 2023 providing the opportunity to recognise and celebrate our wonderful students’ achievements this year. 

It was a fantastic evening with a welcome and introduction from Mr Spearman, CTK Emmanuel Principal, followed by a talk from one of our alumni, Maria Tulea,  who is now a junior digital designer at the Financial Times, and who spoke about how her time at CTK helped he achieve her current role. 

The Guest speaker was Duro Oye the founder and CEO of 2020 Change, a youth empowerment organisation renowned for helping young people realise their true potential and cultivate the right mindset to engage with today’s challenging society.  Duro talked about his experience of setting up the charity and its current work, after which he was kind enough to present the awards. 

As guests arrived they were welcomed by one of our talented students playing the piano which was a beautiful way to commence the celebrations.

After the awards had been presented and to close the formal proceedings guests were served refreshments and had the chance to meet speakers, staff and students.

It was a fantastic evening providing the opportunity to celebrate our wonderful students and their achievements.

Christ The King Sixth Forms students take part in Maritime Radio Broadcast      

On Wednesday 28 June, six students from Christ the King Sixth Forms were invited to take part in a broadcast by Maritime Radio.  They visited Maritime Radio at Shooters Hill and met presenters Gary Ziepe and Duncan Martin and had the chance to record their broadcasts.  One student Nyla even had chance to present live on-air answering questions from the presenters.  This provided a fantastic experience for the students to see how a radio station works and to be part of a programme, it was also a great opportunity for them to promote the social and community action that the College takes part in and the recent Acts of Charity Day.

We are very proud of the students who did a fantastic job.

Listen to a clip of the programme below

Christ The King Sixth Forms Foundation Governor awarded BEM

Christ The King Sixth Forms Foundation Governor Trevor Gomes awarded BEM in Kings Birthday Honours List 

Christ the King Sixth Forms’ Foundation Governor Trevor Gomes was awarded a prestigious Medal of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to education and the community. Trevor, who is a previous student of Christ the King Sixth Forms, was recommended for the honour by the Prime Minister for his work establishing a youth mentoring programme which equips young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the skills needed for the world of work and higher education. 

Trevor is the founder and director of youth mentoring programme ‘ELEVATE’, originally launched in 2019 to support 15 students at Christ the King Sixth Form College. Trevor rapidly expanded the programme during lockdown, which is now reaching over 10,000 students. The programme runs a series of different schemes, combining workshops with 1:1 mentoring, and a breakfast club offering weekly group mentoring, and covers a range of topics helping young people improve skills for presentations, interviews and networking, as well as providing guidance on careers and CVs, building an online presence and personal branding, and boosting wellbeing and resilience. 

Photo: © 2019 David Levenson mail@davidlevenson.com 07836358831

CTK students’ Artwork Exhibition

Creativity of the class of 2023

Our annual summer exhibition is happening again! This features the work of CTK Emmanuel students. The artwork exhibition will be open to the public Friday 23rd June and Saturday 24th June from 10am-4pm in Unit 2 East Mall of Lewisham Shopping Centre. 

This year’s Art, Design and Media exhibition showcases student experiments with a wide range of tools, materials and techniques demonstrating their practical skills.  Work includes fine art, 3D and textile design, graphics and photography.  During their course of study at CTK students develop knowledge and skills that are essential to the creative process within a broad range of art and design practices. In their second year they develop a portfolio of work that reflects your creative direction and personal identity within a specialist area of their choice, which they display here. 

Acts of Charity Day

Acts of Charity Day takes place annually. Our Act of Charity Day helps our students to establish and emphasise the values that are important to us at Christ the King Sixth Forms. Our students spend the day contributing in a positive way in their local communities.  The day provides the opportunity for students to take part in a group social action activity with their 10:10 tutor group. In previous years this has included as varied activities as litter picking to helping in local Churches, foodbanks and Primary schools. 

If you know of a local organisation or business who would like our students’ involvement with a charitable activity to support the local community then please contact enquiries@ctksfc.ac.uk

Below are photos of students from this years Acts of Charity Day 2023.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

Mental Health Awareness Week

This week students and staff have getting involved in a range of activities and information sessions with the aim of raising awareness and getting students talking about mental health. Every day the Wellbeing Team sent out information and strategies to promote good mental health including a leaflet on how to cope with Exam Stress and one on how to cope with Loneliness. During the week there were several activities and information session taking place on all our sites.   

Just some examples are:

At St Mary’s in the LRC there was a large display focussing on anxiety with tips and approaches on how to manage its effect and suggestions of actions that can be tried both personally and with friends and colleagues. The display also includes a library of self-help books and details of professional services that can be contacted. 

At Aquinas one of the activities for the week was getting out for a walk at lunchtime with students and staff getting out to take some time to enjoy the fresh air. 

At Emmanuel students and staff created a thought board on how to manage stress and anxiety.  The board was positioned in the reception area and students and staff were encouraged to  come along and post their ideas on the post-it notes available; every thought or idea was exchanged for a sweet. This will provide a great source of tips and hints on how to manage anxiety for students and staff.

CTK Careers Conference 2023

The Virtual Careers Conference at Christ the King Sixth Form has gone from strength to strength over recent years. Having started through necessity with the Covid19 pandemic it now gives students a chance not only to support their progression but to upskill themselves with remote learning.

The cross-site event comprises a variety of university and career-based talks that students join online via Microsoft Teams. The day provides a fantastic opportunity for our Level 3 students to start thinking about their future and to explore their progression options. As in previous years, a Level 1 & 2 Careers Conference was held which offered specific support to students studying a BTEC Level 1 or 2 course with their own progression.

Over 50 external organisations supported the Conference by providing speakers for the talks.  Many of the participants were returning, having attended the event in previous years.  The programme of talks included sessions on a wide range of careers from Medicine and the NHS to entrepreneurship, journalism, engineering, banking and many more.

Later in the academic year, on Friday 16th June 2023, we will also be holding an in-person Careers Fair/Exhibition. At this event students will be able to meet a range of universities, apprenticeship providers, employers, and other support organisations, face to face to support their progression. 

Caritas

On Saturday 18th March CTK Sixth Forms were invited, along with other charities and social action groups within the archdiocese,  to exhibit the charitable and social action work they are involved in.  The exhibition took place in the Amigo Hall after Mass in St Georges Cathedral Southwark.  This initiative was supported by the Archbishop who has a specific interest in schools showcasing their philanthropic activities.

Staff and students from CTK set up a stall in the hall, showcasing their work through banners, posters, and leaflets. This was an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the many social action projects, charity events and community action events that CTK Sixth Forms support, and the positive impact that schools are having in their communities, and to encourage others to get involved in charitable work.

Easter Appeal 2023

As in previous years we are running our Easter Egg /Chocolate Appeal for charity.  This year we are supporting Demelza Hospice which provides  end of life care for children and young people, and bereavement support for families, and SVP (Society of St Vincent De Paul) an international Christian voluntary organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage. We know that times are challenging right now but we would be really grateful for any donations of Easter Eggs and / or chocolate, no matter how small, to support these two great charities.  Please bring any donations to reception by Thursday 30th March 2023. 

Thank you for your support.

T Level Work Experience

Our Extended Diploma Health and Social Care and T-Level Health Science students have been out on work experience this month.

Some of the T Level Health students have been taking part in a work placement at Riverlee Nursing Home in Greenwich. They will have the opportunity to develop hands on experience and skills that will help them both in their studies and  in their future careers.  Whilst the T Level Engineering students are awaiting to go on placement later this month at ISG and Bluecoats. The feedback from our students has been fantastic and they are excited to complete their course and go on to work, complete an apprenticeship or university course .

.

The Opening of the T Level Hospital Ward at CTK Emmanuel

New facilities including a mock Hospital Ward to benefit T Level Nursing students was opened and blessed by The Archbishop.

His Excellency, The Most Revered Archbishop for Southwark and Metropolitan, John Wilson, and other VIP guests attended the opening of the new T Level hospital ward at CTK Emmanuel today.

CTK Emmanuel were delighted to secure the funding from the Department of Education, to open this fantastic, state-of-the art vocational facility, which is used to train and support Health T Level students who are studying to become Adult Health Nurses.  

The ward is named St Theresa’s in homage to the secondary school, which was originally at the CTK site, before it became a Sixth Form in 1993.

These outstanding new facilities have been designed by employers to ensure they are fit for purpose and meet the needs of employers to train up future nurses and medical professionals.  The ward features a range of equipment, such as, specialised prosthetic patients, across a range of ages and with a variety of illnesses, hospital beds and an observation room.  Students will be able to learn tasks such as taking swabs, blood pressure readings, vital statistics and temperatures, and to gain experience in treating patients and diagnosing symptoms across a range of illnesses from child to adult.

St Theresa’s Ward is the third project to be completed for students studying at CTK Emmanuel, with earlier projects creating a contemporary business space and revolutionising the engineering space into modern technology labs.

As a specialist vocational Catholic Sixth Form, CTK Emmanuel places great importance on employment links.  Students attend weekly work placements and the Sixth Form has forged relationships with local hospital trusts. Staff from Queen Elizabeth’s hospital in Woolwich were delighted to attend the grand opening and see for themselves the outstanding facilities on offer.

CTK Emmanuel, located on Belmont Hill, close to Lewisham and Blackheath, is a successful Sixth Form serving 16-19 learners from in and around Southeast London.   The Sixth Form offers the widest range of vocational courses locally in a Catholic Sixth Form environment and has recently added T Levels to the curriculum offering.

His Excellency, The Most Revered Archbishop for Southwark and Metropolitan, John Wilson, said;

“I was delighted and honoured by the invitation to visit CTK Emmanuel Sixth Form, and to open and bless the new T-Level Health and Science teaching and learning facilities, which included the aptly named, St Theresa’s Ward.  It was a joy to witness the tremendous work and dedication of the teachers, along with the remarkable enthusiasm of the students towards their studies.  The Lord Jesus teaches us to bring the Gospel message of His love into our daily lives, and into our world. It is my continued prayer that the CTK community will continue to flourish in this mission; and thus, I give thanks for their exceptional contribution to the Catholic Education of our young people in the Archdiocese of Southwark, and invoke God’s blessing upon all the staff, students”.

Christ the King Sixth Forms Executive Principal Shireen Razey said;

“We were delighted to receive this funding from the Department of Education to develop these outstanding facilities.  These new state-of-the-art facilities will benefit our leaners for many years to come and the T Level in Health will ensure we are meeting local employers and skills needs and training the next generation of medical professionals. We were honoured that The Archbishop could officially open and bless the new area for us.  The addition of this hospital ward to our other new facilities at CTK Emmanuel means we are able to offer learners the widest range of vocational courses in a Catholic Sixth Form environment”.

CTK Emmanuel Student Governor Portia gave a heart-warming speech. She thanked everyone for coming and talked about how impressive it is that students will be able to operate such great facilities with real-life scenarios.

In keeping with the Sixth Form’s Catholic mission, Archbishop John Wilson, blessed the opening of the new centre and the CTK Emmanuel gospel choir sang a beautiful rendition of ‘Let your presence fall’, ‘The goodness of God’ and ‘Hallelujah’ to the VIP guests and students. Staff, students and Christ the King Sixth Form Governors, were delighted to be able to celebrate together at this momentous occasion for the Sixth Form.

You can read more in the press here:

Archbishop Wilson opens new T-Level Hospital Ward at CTK Emmuanuel: Archdiocese of Southwark (rcaos.org.uk)

https://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/news-events/news/archbishop-wilson-opens-new-t-level-hospital-ward-at-ctk-emmuanuel/

Archbishop Wilson of Southwark opens new T-Level Hospital Ward at south London sixth form college – The Catholic Network

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Virtual Future – Deptford

Students visit the Vertical Future Farm
The students went on a trip to Deptford’s new Virtual Future Hydroponics Vertical Farm, they had a really good day and were able to observe how technology can be used to grow herb crops and other edible plants simply using different wavelengths of light and nutrient based water to spray the aerated exposed roots of the plants therefore no soil is used.

 The students were able to use the visit as an information gathering opportunity  as well as take pictures to complete an assignment  that was based on designing a greenhouse to grow a genetically modified crop.

The visit included interactive lectures of 2 different topics i.e photosynthesis and Genetic engineering as well as a demo of how  ICT systems. are used to  control the Green house environment for maximal growth yields. It was an excellent visit overall and highly  beneficial for the students to see the application of science in a vocational setting.

IKEA Let’s Go Zero

Christ the King Emmanuel one of only four winners nationally.

On Tuesday 1 November 2022 Christ the King, Emmanuel officially opened its new IKEA Eco Hub which was developed as a result of being one of only 4 winners in the IKEA Let’s Go Zero competition this Summer. Students and teachers submitted their creative ideas to help make their college more sustainable and tackle climate change and as a winner we received IKEA products, solutions and funds to help bring our project vision to life.     

IKEA has helped to transform one of the Sixth Form’s small buildings into a dedicated space for eco work, from hands-on learning and study to planning community activities. The unique space has been equipped with movable furniture that enables learning to take place both indoors and outdoors as needed.    

A big part of the Christ the King Emmanuel vision is involving the wider community in their environmental work including setting up a community garden to running an environmental community day. Their new IKEA eco-hub means they’ll not only be able to take the teaching of sustainability even further, but they can also create a wonderful working and engagement space for their local community and local schools.

Let’s Go Zero: helping schools tackle climate change – IKEA

Bethlem Museum of the Mind

T Level Health students explore the history of mental health care

The Bethlem Museum of the Mind records the lives and experience and celebrates the achievements of people with mental health problems. 

The students had a presentation on the hospital and the history of treatment and ethics in mental health care. They had a tour of the museum and visited sections on labelling and diagnosis, freedom and constraint, temperament, treatments and recovery. The students especially found the artwork in the gallery inspiring, that was themed: A way from home: Bethlem artists on longing and belonging thought provoking. 

Evening of Celebration

Staff, students and parents/guardians alike enjoyed a fantastic Evening of Celebration night recently, full of heartwarming speeches, jubilant celebration and overall cheer.

Our Evening of Celebration is a wonderful night where we celebrate and congratulate the learners leaving CTK that year. Certain learners, who have been nominated by our staff, are also selected to win awards which vary from department awards, all the way to Chaplaincy awards.

Below is a list of winners:

Art & Design

BTEC L2 Art & Design – Esraa

A delightful student to teach and a real asset to the college. Esraa has worked tirelessly throughout
the year to made exciting art work. With a drive and ambition to become an architect Esraa’s
commitment to her studies is example to us all.

BTEC L3 Art & Design – Harry

Harry has work hard to develop an art style that he can truly call his own. His work has matured into sophisticated illustrations that document his family history. A student that has progressed through level 1, 2 and now 3 make steady progress and improving all the time. A model student and an example to all what hard work can produce.

Community Engagement Award – Alicia

Always keen to help others, volunteer for all and every college event, opening or gathering.

Performing Arts

BTEC L3 Performing Arts – Morgan

Morgan is a hard worker, always so diligent and focused. She always wants to do her best and is an
active and engaged member of the class. She is polite, courteous and always says good morning. I
will miss her energy and enthusiasm for the performing arts and wish her all the best in the future.

Community Engagement Award – Faye

Faye has always assisted in open events. She never says no if I ask her to help out, be an
ambassador or promote the performing arts course. She has built her confidence in speaking in
front of others not just in performing but in life! Faye also assisted the #inspiringgirls project with a
voice over for their nomination for a charity award. I will miss our conversations and shared love of
books.

Creative Media

BTEC L3 Creative Media – Milan

Milan is an exemplary student and has worked consistently hard throughout his two years at
CTK producing very high standards of work. He has shown excellent maturity and commitment,
aiming for a Distinctions in all his exam and coursework. Milan’s work reflects how he has built
on theoretical, creative and technical knowledge and understanding to demonstrate breadth and
depth in his studies. He has also given production support and advice to his classmates.

Community Engagement Award – Nadean

Nadean has been a positive support to her peers this year, both academically and emotionally. She
energises her peers in group activities and further develops her own skills by helping to upskill
others and generously giving her time and assistance. She makes the most of community life at
college and has volunteered as a subject ambassador for college open days.

Business & ICT

BTEC L3 ICT – Samuel

Samuel Davis has shown consistency in his personal development. He aims to expand his
knowledge by attending after college sessions to better understand computer systems and creating hardware. Samuel puts in outstanding effort when completing his assignments for ICT and always aims to achieve a distinction in his work.

BTEC L3 Business Studies – Chizoba

Chizoba is a pleasure to teach. He has shown great maturity throughout his studies by applying
himself even during remote learning. He is a mature, outgoing and respectful individual, who,
during lessons, contributes positively to the learning environment. Chizoba is an able student who
generally has demonstrated excellent skill-sets very well on the BTEC Tech Advanced Diploma in
Business, and is working towards achieving above his target grade. He is a polite and respectful
student who is able to conduct himself in a mature manner. His confidence in his own ability has
grown steadily as the course progressed and he is more adept at seeking clarification in matters he
is unsure of.

BTEC L2 Business Studies – Tihomir

Tihomir is a hardworking and dedicated student who is very passionate about his
studies. He is very conscientious and produces work to the highest standards and hands it in on
time. Tihomir is a good-humoured student who is highly motivated and gets on well with his peers.
He is very ambitious and wants to do well in his business studies course. He is a pleasure to teach.

BTEC Foundation Business Studies – Giuliano

Giuliano is a committed student who has worked really hard and has really excelled in his
studies. His confidence and maturity have grown over the past few months and this is especially
shown in his written work and involvement in teamwork activities. He is the IT Guru of the group. He is a very helpful student who will not hesitate to help his peers when it comes to IT matters.

The Madeline Grainger Award – Christina

Christina shows great independence in how she approaches her studies. She is often in
college earlier that she is required to apply herself to the work. Christina has also engaged with
mentoring through Urban Synergy where she sought support with developing her confidence
and teamworking skills. This is something above and beyond her academic studies that she fully
engaged with to develop herself.

Engineering

BTEC L3 Engineering – Fejiro

An excellent attendance record Fejiro always tries his very best. Fejiro wants to do well, he always has his books at hand and always takes notes.

BTEC L2 Engineering – Timilehin

An excellent student who is committed to doing well in engineering. He is first to get involved in all
engineering activities and is a great team player.

Community Engagement Award – George

One of our most resilient Students with a high level of engagement in lessons throughout all Engineering Disciplines. George will deliver work to a high standard, to the deadlines set and is always willing to help his fellow students. George is showing a genuine interest in engineering and has a natural aptitude for the subject.

GCSE

GCSE English Award – Geoffrey

I would like to nominate Geoffrey Gyamfi for his consistent hard-work and persistence in GCSE English. He is a very pleasant and polite young man.

GCSE Maths – Princess

Princess demonstrates a very positive attitude to maths and has been a role model and mentor to
other students. Excellent work ethic. We wish Princess every success.

Health & Social Care

BTEC L3 Health & Social Care – Maisie

Maisie is a kind, lovely and pleasant student that is always happy to help other student and her
teachers. Maisie has great attendance, attitude to learning and is self-motived.

BTEC L2 Health & Social Care – Sinead

Sinead is a sensible, calm, pleasant and studious young woman who has excelled in behaviour and
academic work.

Community Engagement Award – Precious

Academic Peer Mentor, Precious work with groups of 2 to 5 students on Unit 3 anatomy and
physiology, which many of our students struggle with. Precious brought forward her own style
of teaching to the topic and taught students in a manner that she understood as a student that
engaged her mentee.

Pathways

Social Science Pathway Student of the Year Award – Kajiann

Kajiann is a self-driven, high motivated and respectful student, who approaches every situation with calmness, kindness, and maturity. Kajiann is the most level-headed student that I have every met who is intelligent and puts her all in everything that she does and is always happy to help those around her.

Business Studies Pathway Student of the Year Award – Zara

Zara has been a pleasure to teach and has worked very hard to ensure she does well in Business,
Law and ICT. In lessons she keeps her head down and works well with her peers and her teachers
for all 3 subjects.

Community Engagement Award – Sherelle

Sherelle has engaged well with extra-curricular through workshops, electives and attended sessions with external speakers to help support her career goals.

Applied Science

BTEC L3 Applied Science – Alexander

Alex has made outstanding progress on the programme due to his dedication, commitment and the independent study time invested in his work. We know he will be an exceptional forensic scientist.

Community Engagement Award – Vera

Vera is an inspirational young person. Vera is a conscientious learner and is always willing to support others and is a key member of the community at CTK. It was a pleasure to be a part of her
educational journey and we wish her all the best for the future.

Sport

BTEC L2 Sport – Connor

Connor has met all his deadlines and completed all coursework to his highest possible standard. Connor has provided help for the rest of the students in his class and has modelled outstanding behaviour in and outside of his lessons.

BTEC L3 Sport (The James Jackson Award) – Faisor

We would like to nominate Faisor Jimor for the same reasons as above and the commitment he has made from the transition from level 2 to level 3.

Community Engagement Award – Sahara

We would like to nominate Sahara Wilson, as she ran the Sports event for the chaplaincy and has
been at all the basketball games to volunteer as a table official. Sahara also volunteered to promote and work on the enrichment relaunch, which was a very successful event.

Hall Awards

Durham Hall Award – Alicia

Always keen to help others and happily volunteers for all and every college event, opening or
gathering.

Canterbury Hall Award – Sheniz

Sheniz is such a well-meaning, and thoughtful student. She has contributed so much to the life and
community of the College. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and she always wants to help.

York Hall Award – Amina

Amina has been an exceptional student. Her attendance is excellent, and she works so diligently
and with a focused determination.

Aylesford Hall Award – Shannon

Excellent Attendance and always contributing helping with evenings and events.

Sixth Form Awards

Peter Fagan award (Outstanding Contribution in the Community or to the Life of the Sixth Form – Laila & Amelia

Laila and Amelia have been exemplary students throughout their time at college. They have
assisted in numerous open events and been a shining light as Student Ambassadors. They come
as a pair and always have a smile and a hello for staff. Outstanding contribution to the life of the
College and we wish them all the best for their future.

The Eco Committee Award – Freda

Freda is a key member of the Eco Committee. Of special note is promoting Meat Free Mondays and the recycling of single use plastics and the Eyes of the World campaign for COP 26. Freda has helped build habitats for priority species including hedgehogs and frogs.

The Chaplaincy Award – Rachel

Rachel has been a proactive supporter of the Chaplaincy, regularly reading at the weekly Mass in
the Chapel, attending Chaplaincy trips to represent CTK at Diocesan events, and demonstrating her
faith by engaging in charity fundraising and especially by offering support to her peers.

Cathy Coshall Award – Sawmarr

Sawmarr started from level 1 and is now upper 6 leaving this year. He has become a mature and confident young man who has worked really hard throughout his 4 years in CTK. This year he has been very helpful with the level 1 students. For example, for one of their units on developing a progression plan he gave them a talk on how he progressed from L1 to L3 in CTK. He was also part of the group who organised a progression and skills conference for the level 1 students and worked really hard at this. Finally, he was one of the keynote speakers at the Level 2 Business Conference.

Congratulations to all the winners from tonight, and a huge thank you to everyone who attended!

Easter Appeal

In March we launched our second annual Easter Egg Appeal which saw students and staff across the sites purchasing chocolate Easter eggs, big and small, and handing them in to our onsite donation points. The appeal gained lots of attention from students as they continued to demonstrate a great attitude towards almsgiving and outdid themselves with donations!

Come Community Day, more than 300 eggs were rounded up and hand delivered to the Demelza Hospice in Eltham. We were greeted by the amazing nursing staff who gladly helped to unload the special delivery and reminded us of the immeasurable impact that such gifts would have on the children they care for. We would like to thank all who contributed to this virtuous cause and also to think of the families affected by children suffering serious illness and would like to thank organizations like the Demelza Hospice for all the work that they do. 

Sports Day

We were jubilant to finally have the ability to hold our cross-site Sports Day for our learners last week, which saw many of the sixth forms gifted athletes turn out to the sporting event, keen to claim the title of CTK Champions! 

Events began at each site at 1:45pm with Badminton, Football and Table tennis taking place over at St Mary’s, Netball at Aquinas and Basketball hosted by Emmanuel. Once the coaches of students arrived at the relevant sport-hosted site, students were informed of the round-robin style set of rules and eagerly took to their sporting locations. 

This was a wonderful opportunity for students from the pre-existing CTK Football, Basketball and Netball teams to come together and show off their skillsets.

The cross-site event also gave students the ability to converse and mingle with their fellow CTK learners. 

So, which CTK campus was crowned the victors? After hours of sporting amusement, the scores were as such: 

  St Mary’s Emmanuel Aquinas 
Basketball 15 10 
Table Tennis 10 15 
Football 10 15 10 
Badminton 15 10 
Netball 15 10 

This means, with a total of 65 points the CTK Sports Day 2022 Winners are ….

St Mary’s! 

We would like to say a huge congratulations to our fellow teammates at St Mary’s and a very well done to all for the skills, dedication and effort shown towards success! 

Easter Community Day

The last day of the Spring term saw countless activities taking place across the three sites and all in celebration of Easter Community Day! 

ECO: We were pleased to see students incorporating the sixth form’s Eco-friendly ideals into the Easter Community Day by involving themselves in various eco projects that day. One activity involved up-cycling used jam jars and other recyclable masonry to create tea-light lanterns. These were then hand painted, ready to be taken home and used as an eco-friendly alternative to an electric lamp. 

In another mini-Eco Project, students took to the outdoors to hang bird boxes around the sixth form in the hopes of encouraging more bird wildlife on site. The students showed much enthusiasm as they painted and decorated the boxes before picking the perfect locations to hang the new bird homes. 

Cultural: The Easter Community Day continued to be a success with plenty of cultural activities taking place across the sites. This included the likes

of henna hand painting and even live performances in the main hall with renditions of beautifully recited gospel songs. But it didn’t end there. The talent- showcasing continued in the LRC as tactical-minded students took on both peers and staff in a nail-biting chess tournament

Fundraising: The day saw multiple fundraising activities taking place and we couldn’t be more proud of our students for the initiative and generosity shown towards charity work. We were delighted to see students from the ALS department run a sweet stall that raised money for Demelza Hospice, a charity that we have worked with many times in the past supporting the work they do with the families of terminally ill children. 

Another group of students raised money by putting on sporting tournaments whereby entrants would pay a small fee to gain access to the Sports Hall and go head-to-head with an opponent in games such as table tennis and badminton.  

The list of activities was endless and both staff and students alike had great fun, raising over £500 for charity and fully immersing themselves in the spirit of the Easter Community Day! We would like to thank all staff and students for their commitment to making the day special and for all the hard work they have put in over the past term! 

Business Employability Conference

Level 3 Business students organise a student-led Business Conference

We were delighted to attend and observe a student-led Business Employability Engagement 

Conference last month. The conference was organised and run by Level 3 Business students, who wished to create an event that sought to engage their fellow Business students. The goal was to familiarise them with both course progression options as well as employability routes available to them once their course is complete. 

The event itself was organised in an ’open-plan’ format, which allowed the learners to visit each of the six stations at their leisure. Each station had a member of staff who would offer impartial advice and careers information on their specialist subject. The event was well attended and the learners who were present also benefitted from a session developing their CV’s and interview skills. 

Sawmarr, the student lead on the project, had this to say after the event, “We’ve just finished our ‘Employability Engagement Conference’, which covers Unit 4 of my Business Level 3 course. I am incredibly happy with how the event went and I hope the other learners found it to be useful and informative. Thank you very much CTK for letting me organise this event and for providing me with help and assistance!” 

We would like to say a massive well done and congratulations to all the BTEC Level 3 learners who worked so hard on this conference, and we look forward to assisting in more projects like this in future. 

Life Skills sessions for ALS students

Additional Learning Support students (ALS) undertake “Life Skills” sessions

The ALS team has recently launched their “Life Skills” sessions for our ALS learners, with the intention of teaching them practical and worth-while skills to assist them in the future. The first session is cooking and sees learners preparing palm-oil-free toast and ethically sourced coffee for the staff members that ordered it. 

Learners found the class fantastic and enjoyed it immensely, many of which are now thinking about what session they would like to be run next. Mr Willson, organiser of the event and ALS Coordinator for CTK Emmanuel, had this to say, “I could not be happier with how the event went. The learners found it extremely useful, and they enjoyed it as well. Best of all they more prepared for the future, and we have raised money for a good cause. I am so excited for the next session and hope that the learners find this one just as rewarding.” 

Staff were also impressed by how great the class was for their own wellbeing. Ms Jarman, a staff member at CTK Emmanuel, had this to say, “It has been amazing. It is nice to have a place where staff members can chat and eat with other staff who they may not see on a usual basis, has been a truly enriching experience and it is for a great cause!”  

The money raised from the session has been donated to Demelza, a charity of the learner’s own choosing. Demelza is a charity that assists families with young members suffering from terminal and very serious illnesses.  

The incentive is a fantastic way to teach our learners vital skills whilst also encouraging independent growth. We eagerly await the announcement of the next class and look forward the ALS department will organise next. 

LGBT+ History Month

CTK Celebrates a month looking at the History the LGBT+ Community

We welcomed the celebration of LGBT+ History Month here at Christ the King this February with a variety of activities and displays which sought to illuminate some of the amazing actions members of the LGBT+ community have performed throughout history. 

In the LRC (Learning Resource Centre) we have had wonderful displays installed detailing both prominent historical figures from the LGBT+ community as well as more recent individuals who have achieved something remarkable. Many people have found these displays incredibly interesting and thought provoking. An example of someone on the board was Nicola Adams, who was the first openly LGBT+ woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal in the boxing competition. 

The LGBT+ Society, a student-led group acting as a safe and secure environment to talk about issues relating to the LGBT+ community, has also been discussing LGBT+ history, as well as the positive changes to civil rights in recent history and the landmark events that led to where we are now, including the 1969 ‘Stonewall Riots’ and origins of the Pride in England to name a few. 

Our 10:10 reflection at the start of the month was also dedicated to LGBT+ history month, which emphasised the importance of respecting human identity, dignity and worth, and that whoever we are, our self-understanding can be affected by our past, present and future. 

CTK is an establishment that reveres acceptance and respect, and we are delighted to be able to be able to shine a light on the importance of the LGBT+ community and the positive impact they have made in making our world a better place. 

Social Action

A week of Social Action activities take place at CTK Emmanuel!

At Christ the King we are big proponents of social action in our communities and are regularly running events and activities for the benefit of charities in and around our local communities. Below are a few of the recent social action events that have been taking place across the CTK (Christ the King) sites. 

Recently learners and staff were encouraged to wear expressive clothing in aid of “Dress to Express Day”, a day that aims to raise both money and awareness for the charity Young Minds, a charity that seeks to ensure all young people and their families receive mental health support, if they need it. This day raised over £350 for the charity and cannot wait to see this money put to good use. 

In a similar vein, students also took part in “Onesie Day”, which saw learners attend their sixth form in all manner of humorous onesies. This event was run by the learners themselves and was in aid of Mindout, a charity focusing on improving the mental health of people in the LGBT+ community. 

Learners also ran a heart-shaped lollypop stand in the canteen, with the profits going towards the charity Tender, a charity whose mission is to help young people who are the victims of domestic abuse. This was another charity selected by the learners. The total sales managed to raise a fantastic amount of £70 for the charity. 

The grand total from these events was over £400, and we are so immensely proud of our learners for running events like these, whilst simultaneously committing to their studies. It demonstrates how deeply they care about social action and how much making a difference means to them. 

We eagerly await the opportunity to inform you of more acts of charity and social action occurring around the sixth forms in the future. 

Easter Appeal

CTK launches Easter Appeal fundraiser

Christ the King is proud to announce the launch of our Easter Appeal, a fundraiser seeking to raise both gifts and money towards two amazing charities, CAFOD and Demelza.  

CAFOD (Catholic Aid for Overseas Development) is a Catholic organisation that aims to assist anyone in the world who requires aid. Demelza is a charity that assists families with young members suffering from terminal and very serious illnesses. 

The appeal is set to run throughout lent and encompasses a variety of social action initiated by our learners, including a chocolate Easter egg appeal, a GoFundMe donation page and a milkshake stand amongst many more. We are honoured to be organising such an event and are excited to be able to update you once we have news on the status of the appeal. 

If you would like to donate items or funds to the appeal, you can do so in a variety of ways: 

  • If you would like to donate monetary funds, please follow the link which will take you to our GoFundMe page, where we are raising money for the two charities. 
  • If you would like to donate chocolate eggs to the appeal, please bring them to either the chaplaincy, or the reception where they will be collected by the team. 

We would like to take this moment to thank our fantastic chaplaincy team for organising the appeal and continuing to facilitate and run events throughout its course. 

Apprenticeship Week

Learning all about apprenticeships!

Learners at CTK Emmanuel were treated to our contributions towards the National Apprenticeship Week this week, including talks and presentations by speakers from a variety of different areas and professions. As a sixth form, it is our privilege to run events such as these that highlight other avenues learners can progress onto, as informing learners on the alternative choices they have after studying at CTK is important to nurturing their development. 

CTK Alumnus, Ms. Adomaityte, held a great talk entitled, ‘Her Journey as an Apprentice’ and was all about her journey from a CTK learner, to studying an apprenticeship and eventually culminating in her current position as a Data Analyst at HDR. The talk was inspiring to the learners and concentrated on the benefits of studying an apprenticeship.  

Another great talk was held remotely by Tom Culley (British Telecom & Co-Chair at London Apprenticeship Ambassador Network) who gave an educating presentation on what employers would look for in a prospective apprentice. This talk was invaluable as it allowed learners to gain a useful insight into what desirable characteristics potential employers would be looking for. 

The week has been full of amazing talks, like the two mentioned above, and we would like to take this moment to wholeheartedly thank all the speakers who generously donated their time to further educate us with their fascinating presentations. 

Business Learners Run Successful Events

Charitable acts by our Business learners

Business students at CTK Emmanuel successfully ran some amazing events for some fantastic charities recently. The events consisted of both a hot chocolate stand and a tuck shop, with the money being split between the two charities chosen by the learners: Child Bereavement UK (a charity around helping those dealing with the loss of a child) and the Rainbow Trust (a charity providing support to families dealing with terminally ill members). 

The events were a great success, with queues forming in the reception area to buy both the sweets and hot chocolate. Staff members also got involved in the purchasing, with one staff member stating, “It’s really nice to see that the learners care deeply about these issues. Just now I was speaking to the learners about these charities, and they are very knowledgeable on the subject, I can’t wait to see what Social Action they organise next!” 

Social Action is extremely important to us all within the CTK community, and we are looking forward to the future where we have many more events planned for great causes. An example of this is the upcoming Valentine’s Day Lolly Sale, where learners in the chaplaincy are selling lollies with the proceeds going towards the Young Minds charity, a charity which ensures people are receiving the correct mental health support that they require. 

Holocaust Memorial Day

CTK hosts talks from Holocaust survivors

Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) is marked each year on 27th January – the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. On this day, schools, communities and faith groups across the UK join together in national and local events to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and of even more recent genocides. 

Deacon Javier, our Lay Chaplin, lead a Holocaust Memorial service at each site which staff and students attended.  The service was extremely moving and highlighted the Nazi Persecution and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, in the hope that there may be One Day in the future with no genocide. 

We were privileged enough to host a talk with two holocaust survivors, Paul Sved and Ivan Shaw, who both have fascinating stories about their experiences as young children living in cities under Nazi control. Both speakers, now in their 80’s, gave up their time to speak to CTK lower sixth students as part of the Sixth Forms 10:10 programme. Their stories were extremely moving and highlighted the sadness in their childhood and their victimisation of Nazi persecution. The pair went on to give a recap of their oppression, the time spent away from their families as young children, the day they finally managed to escape Nazi occupation and how they remarkably went on to lead normal happy lives. 

Our students were fascinated by their stories and amazed by the bravery of the survivors. One student said “The testimonies gave me a very harsh yet interesting insight into life during the Holocaust. We’ve heard from historians but not often the survivors and it allowed me to understand the atrocities that were taken upon the people of that time and helped me understand the misfortune they went through. Even with all his discomfort he prevailed and taught a valuable lesson on how two very different views can affect the whole of human history.” – Kanye Cross-Gordon, CTK St Mary’s student. 

We would like to say a big thank you to the Holocaust Educational Trust for arranging this session with us and to the incredible guest speakers for sharing their memorable stories with us at this time.

Alternative Pathways Day

Unloc Organisation presents Alternative Pathways Day

We were delighted to host Unloc’s insightful Alternative Pathways Session which focused on understanding career options as well as apprenticeships and traineeships. Unloc are an educational organisation that aim to develop the potential of young people.  

The educational event spanned over two hours, beginning with an introduction of the facilitators and the objective for the event, which was to inform learners about the alternative avenues for them to progress after studying at CTK. Students were then encouraged to participate in a Q&A segment led by Colin Yaoshioka-Smith (Training Academy) which looked specifically at Apprenticeships and Traineeships. 

The session then moved on to a talk by Mo Hussain (Best Practice People) who explained the apprentice hiring process in certain sectors. This was then followed by Alan Hunte’s (Thoth London) segment on the future of employment. Finally, lead facilitator Stacey Bawden then finished the presentation by talking to the students about other, equally important factors in career exploration such as personal SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) analysis and goal setting. 

The learners found the Alternative Pathways Session highly informative and educational, and we are incredibly happy that we can continue to provide such fantastic sessions to our learners in order to further prepare them for the future. 

We would like to say a special thanks to Unloc and Stacey Bawden for facilitating the session and to our Careers department, for seeking out and working with these educational organisations to further enrich our students with quality careers information and advice.

Environmental and Green Group

CTK Eco Group Implements Exciting Ideas and Talks

The work of our CTK Eco Group continues to go from strength to strength. The Eco committee meet regularly to take forward the Sixth Form’s Green agenda. In a recent meeting they discussed changes they could make to reduce our impact on the environment. Recently, the group have been looking at the impact of meat farming and the damage that such heavily laboured factories can do to the environment. 

The outcome of these meetings has inspired students to consider eating alternative foods that have little-to-no impact on the environment, as it helps reduce the impact too much meat consumption has on both the human body and the environment. 

The reps launched a competition across the three CTK sites, which looked at identifying meat free dishes that each site wanted to take forward. Entrants had to plan a recipe for their tastiest meat-free dish which would be cooked in the canteen. We await to hear the outcome, but recipes included: vegetarian Pizza, meat free chilly, cauliflower curry along with Quorn based alternatives to traditional meat-based recipes. 

The sixth form also received a visit from the Education and Engagement Officer for the Big City Butterfly Project. This is an exciting new project that aims to inspire Londoners to discover butterflies and moths, and connect them with nature and their local green spaces. As well as offering habitat management advice, they have also offered to run a butterfly ID workshop for staff and students. This is an opportunity to gain skills and knowledge to help increase butterfly monitoring across the project area. 

Weeknight Wellbeing

Staff attend Theatre Production of Chicago!

As part of our Wellbeing initiative to promote a good work/life balance and healthy attitudes towards downtime, CTK staff have visited a Theatre production of Chicago at the Bromley Churchill Theatre.

The trip was organised by Tim Olademeji and Amanda Haylock, who together sought the tickets and extended the invitation to staff across the three CTK sites.

As you might know, the Chicago play is an American musical black comedy-drama crime film that started its run on Broadway in the year 1975. It explores the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Chicago during the Jazz Age. Chicago centres on two murderesses who find themselves in jail together awaiting trial in 1920s Chicago.

Here’s what some of the staff members had to say about their weeknight wellbeing outing:

Amanda Haylock – Head of Performing Arts said, “What a wonderful experience to get back into the theatre and see a show that I love with my colleagues. It was great to get new staff involved and introduce them to the community spirit that CTK staff are so well known for.”

Tim Olademeji – Wellbeing Coordinator said, “It was fantastic! I take great pleasure in these outings because I know how beneficial spending time with friends and taking time out can be for your wellbeing.”

Sporting Success

Emmanuel wins CTK Basketball Match Against Sister Sixth Form!

The CTK Vs. Basketball games have gotten off to a great start! The teams of CTK Emmanuel and CTK St Mary’s went head-to-head, making it the first of the CTK Vs. matches this year. The match took place at St Mary’s in the afternoon and was a nice opportunity for the students to visit another CTK campus whilst getting to know their opposition.

The players of both teams looked strong, playing an excellent game but it wasn’t before too long that team Emmanuel took the upper hand.

At the end of all 4 quarters and playing their hearts out for the win, it was the gentlemen on team Emmanuel that came out on top with a 40-27 point victory!

Very well done to the teams and we wish them good luck with their next matches. We look forward to reporting their next big wins!

Open Day

CTK Emmanuel holds its November Open Day!

The third and final of the November CTK open days ended with CTK Emmanuel. The event went ahead on Saturday 20th November where we were joined by a staggering amount of prospective students. 

The student ambassadors worked tirelessly and professionally to chauffeur individual groups of prospective students around the building as they answered questions and showed our guests to the relevant subject areas. 

Staff also played a key role on the day, interacting with interested students and taking them through the subject course. Some subject ambassadors remained in their classrooms to support their teachers and give the prospective students a real feel of what it would be like to study a BTEC or pathway at Emmanuel by giving them an introduction to the classroom facilities as well as showcasing their fantastic work. 

Each hour-long tour ended with a talk with the site principal Mr Simon Spearman as well as Executive Principal Shireen Razey. During these talks, both students and parents were given an in-depth presentation on the full range of subjects and opportunities that Emmanuel has to offer. 

We were overwhelmed by the wealth of complementary and positive feedback relayed by our visitors. We would like to say thank you to all the students and staff who contributed to the success of the event and again, thank you to the delightful prospective students and parents who attended. 

Lewisham Young Mayor

Student, Sheniz Elmaz-Golding runs for Lewisham Young Mayor

This year we are proud to have two candidates campaigning for Lewisham Young Mayor.  We caught up with Sheniz who is currently studying Art and Design and has high hopes for the changes she would like to see take place in the borough which she has lived in her whole life. We wanted to find out what inspired her to join the campaign, here’s what she had to say: 

“I’ve always wanted to inspire younger people. I want to show people that its ok to be you and you can do anything that you set out to do”. 

Interviewer: How does studying at CTK tie in with your campaign? 

Sheniz: “I feel like it’s good because I can get advice from my peers and teachers and even get my peers to promote me. 

Interviewer: “If you were to be successful, what do you hope to achieve by the end of your term as Young Mayor? 

Sheniz: “I’d like to create more opportunities for young people, especially minorities. Creating more events and workshops.  

A ‘Splendid’ Workshop

A visit from Splendid Productions

We were delighted to have Kerry Frampton Artistic Director of Splendid Productions lead a workshop with the BTEC Performing Arts students last week.

As part of their course the students need to explore the theories and practice of a variety of practitioners and Kerry introduced the students into the ways of working of Jerry Grotowski and Kneehigh Theatre.

We caught up with some of the students that participated, here’s what they had to say about the workshop:

Morgan said: ‘It was really interesting to work with Kerry and see how she creates imaginative ideas.’

Mamoud said: ‘I have learnt a lot about the practitioners, and I will now be able to use this in my own work when we are devising next half term.’

Grant awarded for T Levels

DFE grant awarded for the upcoming Health and Science T Level

We are proud to announce that we have been selected to receive a grant to fund the delivery of the upcoming T Levels in 2022.

T Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study.

We are elated to receive this honour, along with 44 other colleges, as it will assist us with the creation of the new Health and Science hub. This includes a mock hospital ward for our future T Level Health learners and a contemporary science hub for our T Level Science students.

Simon Spearman, Principal, said, “I’m delighted and excited that we are going to have a resource which will enable health and science students to live out their vocational subjects at the Emmanuel site and also develop their skills in readiness to practice in their work placements.

Currently, a large proportion of our Health and Science learners go in to healthcare careers, so this award allows us to provide these learners with the ability to gain real life experience that will undoubtedly help them prepare for jobs within the Healthcare and Science industry.”

Staff Conference- A Time to Change

The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all – Pope Francis (Laudato Si 2015). 

This year’s annual Staff Conference on environment and sustainability focused on how as a community, we can continue our journey from an “emerging “to “established” sixth form in promoting environmental sustainability, deepening our understanding of environmental issues and reducing our Carbon footprint.  

We were delighted that Steve Frampton, FE/HE Climate Commissioner launched our conference this academic year. The conference was opened with an overview and discussion of our role as a sixth form in tackling the climate crisis. 

The day was packed with guest speakers, experts in their fields on sustainability and environmental issues. 

Two speakers from C40 cities took part, Andrea Fernández and Aaron Kiely. Around the world, C40 cities are taking bold climate action, leading the way towards a healthier and more sustainable future. They drive the global climate action agenda by creating unique opportunities for cities to come together and showcase their achievements and underscore what needs to be done to secure a greener, healthier and more prosperous future for all citizens. 

Andrea Fernández introduced the science of climate change, its impact and the importance of the global climate conference in Glasgow in November. This followed a discussion on how to maximise the opportunity of COP26 for our sixth form. 

Aaron Kiely, Senior Campaigns Manager for Youth Initiative at C40 Cities, led a discussion on how youth around the world are engaged and what are the key issues for young people, followed by a discussion on how we could engage students on this topic. 

Our approach adopted to sustainability is based on engagement, education, communication and involvement and our second keynote speaker Charlotte Bonner, National Head of Education for Sustainable Development (ETF), discussed what is ESD, the current ESD landscape in FE and how we can embed sustainability in our learners’ experience and also within our community. 

Deacon Javier and Susan Kambalu from CAFOD  presented ‘Caring for our environment’. They explained the work of CAFOD and the call by Pope Francis inviting everyone to take seriously the need to care for creation. Susan explored why we are called by Pope Francis to care for our common home, through sharing the work of CAFOD and providing us with practical actions and resources to help us respond to “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (Laudato Si’ 49). 

Our Environmental Green Group have, this year focused on developing a 10-point Environment plan. We were excited to be able to launch this to our student and staff Community. All members of CTK are encouraged to contribute to the 10-point environment and sustainability endeavour, working collectively and individually to promote the common good and to model attitudes through the way we act. These breakout sessions will provide an opportunity to attend two workshops on how we can make a change by following our 10-point Environment plan. 

Our afternoon session heralded an opportunity to listen to our own researchers as they presented our sixth annual Teach Meet. We are always encouraged by their generosity in sharing their pedagogical reflections and research. 

Evening of Celebration

We held a remote evening of celebration at the end of the academic year to highlight the amazing hard work done by our students despite the tough year we have all had!

The cross site event highlighted the hard work and achievements at each and every site across the wide range of subjects we offer by both students and all staff.

Below is a selection of images and messages from staff and students at the end of year celebrations:

Subjects and Winners

-Applied Science- Sonia

-Art & Design- Photography- Jerome

         Graphic Design- Maya , Fine Art- Selina

-Business- Maya

-Health & Social Care- Renesha

-ICT- Simon

-Law- Tania

-Engineering- Alice

-English Language & Literature- Beverly

Spanish- Eliott

CTK students work in BSBH Exhibition

The BSBH Art For Poster-ity Exhibition organised by the Be Seen Be Heard youth forum, bringing together 50 black artists and creatives aged 16-25 from Lewisham & SE London finally took place after Covid meant it was postponed last year. It celebrates black lives as well as addressing disparity, marginalisation and the need for change.

We are proud to announce that two of our students; Kuba Mcnamara and Theo Aihie had their work displayed in the exhibition! You can see their amazing work below:

Theo Aihie – Mirror Mirror World III
Kuba McNamara – Help Me

CTK students’ artwork featured in SFCA National News Exhibition

The Sixth Form Association (SFCA) launched a national art exhibition this week, featuring work from CTK students. Entitled ‘Fake News’ the exhibition showcases students’ creative interpretation of the Fake News theme and their reflections on how hard it can be to distinguish fact from fiction.

More than 250 students from 58 colleges submitted their artwork for the exhibition, which runs from 1st to 22 July.  All pictures can be viewed at the SFCA gallery website here.

Art work from numerous Christ the King Sixth Form students has been included in the online exhibition;

‘Fake News’ by Jessica Benjamin, an A Level Photography student

‘Mid Cap Value Equity’ by Mya Scott, studying A Level Graphic Communication

‘Monitor’ by Amrit Khaira, an A Level Fine Art student

‘Schrödinger’s Cat’ by Rimmini Cameron who is studying BTEC  Extended Diploma Art & Design

‘Segregation’ by Destiny Kiberu, an A Level Graphic Communication student

‘Surveillance’ by Nathan Osei- Prempeh an A Level Graphic Communication student

‘Textn’ by Victoria Pansu who is studying A Level Graphic Communication

‘we’llwatchtheworldburn’ by Matilda Millbank, an A Level Graphic Communication student.        

 Bill Watkin, Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said:  “The Fake News exhibition is a celebration of the arts and a recognition of the excellence in sixth form colleges, which are a vital supply pipeline of talented artists. But it also highlights how young people feel about having to navigate the vast amount of news and information that is available in the modern world, and at the same time, to discern what is the truth. Art has always played an important role in social and political commentary, and the students featured in Fake News have shown they have the talent to communicate their feelings about this important subject in a powerful and effective way”.

More than 250 students from 58 colleges submitted their artwork for the exhibition, which runs from 1st to 22 July.  All pictures can be viewed at the SFCA gallery website here.

The SFCA will be promoting the exhibition online using the hashtag #6thFormArt2021

The benefits of vocational courses

When it comes to deciding what to study after your GCSEs, vocational courses can be a great option if you prefer a more hands-on approach and already know what university course or industry you want to move into.

At Christ the King Sixth Forms, we offer a huge range of high-level BTEC advanced vocational courses at our Sixth Form Centres in Sidcup (CTK St Mary’s) and Lewisham (CTK Emmanuel).

BTEC advanced subjects on offer are:

CTK Emmanuel                                            CTK St Mary’s

Art & Design                                                Business

Business                                                        Health & Social Care

Engineering                                                  Media

Health & Social Care                                  Science

ICT                                                                  Sport

Media

Applied Science

Forensic Science

Sport 

Plus   

Business, Law & ICT

Media, Art & Business

Criminology, Psychology & Health & Social Care

Psychology, Law & Health & Social Care

T Levels

From September 2022, CTK Emmanuel will be offering the new T Levels in Science & Health and Engineering & Manufacturing, in addition to the current wide range of advanced level courses already on offer. T Levels are two-year courses that are equivalent to three A Levels. The main difference is the industry placement and work experience you will gain within the practical side of the course.

Read on to find out some of the benefits of vocational courses and see if they could be right for you.

  1. Focus on a subject you love

Vocational courses combine practical learning with subject and theory content and are designed to meet the specific needs of employers and job sectors, so if you already have a specific career in mind, a vocational course could be better for your prospects than A Levels.

Vocational courses offer you the chance to specialise in a subject that you really enjoy, setting you up for future success. This is great news if you already have your heart set on a specific career or studying a particular degree at university. Whatever your passion – Drama, Media, Business, 3D Animation, Engineering, Forensic Science, Dance, Music, Sport – you can pursue it at CTK.

2. Progress to a top university

DID YOU KNOW… The top-grade D*D*D* for BTECs means triple distinction – and is equivalent to A*A*A* grades at A Level?

Our advanced BTEC programmes are a great route to university for ambitious students. BTECs are an increasingly popular alternative to A Levels, so it isn’t a surprise that universities are adjusting their acceptance requirements and promoting the same respect for BTECs as A Levels receive. According to an article by the Higher Education Liaison Officers Association, 95% of universities in the UK accept BTEC students, including universities from the prestigious Russell Group. Even elite universities like Oxford and Cambridge state that they accept BTECs.

Recently, almost half of CTK students who were accepted to university had studied BTECs. They went onto a range of prestigious university destinations, including Nursing at King’s College, Dental Therapy at Queen Mary’s, Law and Criminology at Sheffield, Mechanical Engineering at Nottingham and Biomedical Science at Warwick, among others.

3. Get a head start in your career

At CTK, if you are studying a BTEC Level 3 course, you’ll join our Professional Graduate Programme (PGP), designed to increase engagement with your academic studies, improve your confidence and give you the edge when applying for universities and jobs. The programme is tailored to meet the needs of your individual BTEC course; ensuring skills and opportunities are related to the area of work being studied.

 You will have the unique opportunity to gain additional professional qualifications and follow a bespoke progression and careers programme, which can help give you a competitive edge when making university or job applications. Read some of our vocational student testimonials.

4. Decide what job role is right for you

Studying for a vocational qualification can help you decide whether a particular job or job sector is right for you. The practical learning involved on a vocational course may also help you figure out what specific job you want to pursue in your chosen industry.

At CTK, you will be given the tools you need to start planning your future, thanks to our strong careers programme, links with businesses and our successful alumni community. Some of our successful former students sit on the Christ the King Partnership Board, providing valuable insight into a diverse range of industries

5. Gain real life experience

BTECs can provide you with real life experience in your industry, which is very appealing for potential universities or prospective employers. A Levels generally focus on the academia of a subject, whilst BTECs focus on real-life practical tasks and sometimes even provide work placements, helping you to develop useful hands-on skills such as time management, communication, problem solving and planning – skills which are highly regarded by universities and employers.

Students at CTK will visit a range of workplaces as part of their course and receive input from many prestigious business partners. Some courses also include an extended work placement, to help you gain a better insight into your chosen career sector and develop your knowledge, skills and understanding in real life situations.

6. Fewer final exams

While academic courses like A Levels are typically assessed through one set of final exams, vocational courses are assessed both internally and externally by set tasks and examinations. Rather than testing everything together at the end of the course, BTECs give you the opportunity to show what you’ve learned in each unit and build on your achievements as you progress through the course. This means there are plenty of chances to learn, improve and succeed, which can be a bonus if you tend to perform less well in exams. It does not, however, mean they are any less challenging. BTEC courses are demanding and rigorous qualifications that open many opportunities both in employment and Higher Education.

Your final qualification grade will be awarded on the Pass, Merit and Distinction scale, and your exact grades will vary depending on the course. BTEC results in our most recent cohort of students were, once again, exceptional and our BTEC Extended Diploma students achieved a 99.6% achievement rate, with almost 90% going on to university.

If you have any questions about applying for a vocational course or need further help and advice, please get in touch with our friendly Careers team.

Ready to apply? 

We are delighted that you are considering making an application to Christ the King Sixth Forms. We welcome students of all faiths, and of none, who would like to pursue their sixth form education in a faith context and who support the ethos of this Catholic College. We are currently taking applications to join CTK in September 2021.

If you, or someone you know, would like to apply, then you can do so online – just click the button below. Once we receive your application, we will contact you to arrange an interview. Good luck!

Partnership Links at Christ the King Sixth Forms

At Christ the King Sixth Forms, a group of Catholic Sixth Forms in SE London and Kent, we have always placed a strong emphasis on careers guidance and support. 

Our Careers Service specialises in the needs of 16-19 learners and has developed over the years to meet the challenges and the needs of both of our students and that of the local community.

We are well aware, with the impact of Covid19 on employment and on Higher Education, that outstanding careers guidance for young people has never been more important. We are proud at Christ the King Sixth Forms of the strong partnerships we have formed with employers and businesses to support our students in their holistic development, gaining the skill set needed to excel in their future ambitions.

We run an extensive range of strong partnerships with employers, universities and industry to benefit our students and worked quickly to maintain these partnerships remotely during Covid 19.

For example, the CTK Annual Fast Track programme supports students in taking advantage of employer led initiatives with high profile organisations such as Barclays, Capgemini, BT and others.  This training is supported by CTK alumni, Pavita Cooper (founder and Director of More Difference a talent and career insight business) and John Perry (former senior HSBC Group executive).  In a normal year, we would offer the FastTrack programme to 50 year 12 students, however, with the move to holding sessions remotely via MS Teams, up to 110 Year 12 students can now reap the benefits of taking part.

At Christ the King Sixth Forms, we recognise the importance of our alumni in acting as role models to our current students and to enable us to build strong bridges with industry links. We develop strong alumni links through our partnership with organisation Think Alumni.  Former CTK alumni Trevor Gomes has set up and runs our highly successful employer linked initiative BT Elevate.  Former CTK Student Trevor now works for BT as a Digital Analyst and has set up the prestigious, over subscribed  scheme with his colleagues. The programme equips students with the skills and experiences needed to excel in both the work place and in higher education.  The move to holding these sessions online during Covid19, too brings benefits, as Trevor and his team are now able to involve US colleagues in the initiative.

At CTK, we also partner closely with charities such as Urban Synergy, who have been able to support students with virtual mentoring at this time.  For example, as a result of taking part in the Urban Synergy scheme this year, CTK student Ava Tamabala was even selected by a panel of senior stakeholders at Refinitiv for a paid internship with them.  Ava’s mentor was the Global Head of Financial Crime & Industry Affairs at Refinitiv and as part of her internship she attended the virtual World Economic Forum at Davos and met with senior stakeholders. As a direct result of this, Ava has written a paper on green crime, which has been published by the Royal United Services Institute (the world’s oldest independent think tank on international defence and security).

CTK’s partnership with Metric Capital, results in three CTK students every year gaining a university scholarship worth £15,000 each.  This partnership is able to make a real difference to the lives of those students.

Nother highly successful partnership with industry is the CTK annual External Speaker Programme, which has an array of over 40 guest speakers taking part each year. Speakers have included Sir Ian Cheshire (Chairman of Barclays), David Thompson (film producer) and Gary Gibbon (Channel 4 News Political Editor).  An unexpected benefit of having moved to the virtual world is that many more high profile people have been able to donate their time.  It has also all allowed us to increase the diversity and range of speakers taking part, for example Judge Peter Herbert O.B.E. speaking to our students from Nigeria. We have strived to maintain diversity within our guest speaker programme, and this year our first guest speaker was Femi Bola (MBE), the first Black Scientist to work for the Medical Research Council in the United Kingdom.

This year, CTK are very proud to have partnered with Eton College, in an exciting project to develop academic resilience at our A Level Centre for Excellence, CTK Aquinas.  Year 12 students have a daily tutorial, currently taking place remotely, which helps to build resilience, this covers areas such as self -efficacy and emotional regulation. At Christ the King Sixth Forms, we believe in the development of the whole student, which is enshrined in our motto ‘ut viteam habent’. With the challenges presented to us all by Covid19 it’s more important than ever that our students are able to develop the skills they need to succeed. The strong partnerships and influential mentors we can introduce our students to at CTK, gives them unprecedented access to unlock the door to the skills, networking opportunities and the support needed to succeed in higher education or employment and to flourish in their chosen career.

Private firm’s £250k funding helps disadvantaged students go to university

Since Christ the King Sixth Forms teamed up with private investment firm Metric Capital to provide scholarships to students in need, 15 young people have realised their dream to go to university. David Pearson, Director of Wider Learning, Careers and Partnerships at CTK, writes about how the partnership, which is thought to be the first of its kind between a college and a business, works…

When I first met CTK student Trevor Gomes, he was an aspirational, high-performing sixth form pupil with a promising career ahead of him. But he faced some significant barriers. 

Trevor wanted to be the first person in his family to go to university but finances were a challenge for him. Like many young people, he worked part-time to help support his family and would need to increase his hours to fund his additional costs – fees, textbooks, a laptop or computer, and the daily cost of commuting to campus from his parent’s home in south London.  

At best his university experience would be a juggling act between studying and paying for it and he would still graduate massively in debt. At worst, the financial barriers would become so overwhelming that he might be forced to give up or not go at all.

University is meant to be an exciting, challenging, fun and rewarding experience. Yet figures released earlier this year found that two thirds of universities have seen a rise in student drop-out rates. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to give up their university courses within 12 months.

Christ the King is a group of three sixth forms in southeast London. The majority of our students are from the London borough of Lewisham which is the 31st most deprived Local Authority in England and among the worst four boroughs for educational outcomes. Around 68% of our students come from a deprived area.

Yet almost 90% of our level 3 students go on to university, including Russell Group institutions. A report by The Sutton Trust placed Christ the King sixth forms in the top 6% of schools and colleges nationally for university progression.

Academic achievement is important, but in addition to this we also aim to develop our students as a whole person – to increase their ambition, opportunities and employability so that they progress to university, graduate and enjoy a successful career.

To do this we have designed a range of aspiration-raising programmes. One of our most innovative and successful to date has been our partnership with Metric Capital.

Creating new firsts

We were introduced to Metric Capital, a private capital firm, through CTK student Seni Fawehinmi. Seni met the firm’s Managing Partner, John Sinik, through an American mentoring scheme called Big Brother, which briefly set up in the UK.

They stayed in touch and five years later Seni came to study at CTK before going to university and embarking on a successful career in finance. He told John about the challenges that many of his fellow students faced. Like him, they wanted to go to university but there were a lot of economic sacrifices that they, and their families, would have to make in order to do so. When he heard this, John wanted to help.

After meeting with our Executive Principal Shireen Razey to discuss ideas, they developed the Metric Capital Scholarship Programme, to provide financial aid for academically able students from deprived backgrounds with university aspirations. It is thought to be the first partnership of its kind between a college and a business.

Every year up to three students are chosen for the programme and given £15,000 each – £5,000 a year. Since the partnership was formed in 2014, 15 students have been awarded the scholarship, totalling more than £250k in funding from Metric Capital.

The aim of the scholarship is to cover living expenses, to enable students to focus on their studies and not have to work full time while trying to achieve academic excellence. It also helps to pay for expensive items like textbooks and laptops to facilitate learning.

There is no expectation for students to work at Metric Capital after graduating. However, the firm encourages them to keep in touch and hosts regular events where current and former scholarship students can get together to share their experiences and successes.

Putting partnership into practice

Rolling out the programme was fairly straightforward and communication between the college and Metric Capital has been key to ensuring a successful partnership.

John relies on us to select the right students for the scholarship and we do this based on academic achievement, aspirations and financial background. When we introduce our students to the Metric Capital team, they already know that each one is academically strong and in need. That means that the vast majority of the students they meet are awarded the scholarship, helping to reduce the disappointment of not being chosen.

At interview, John and his team are looking to understand each student’s motivation and to make sure they know that there’s an element of responsibility attached to the scholarship. Students must achieve a certain academic standing to continue to the next year and they are expected to provide a termly report to Metric Capital.

The main challenge for us has been selecting the students. There are many who need, and deserve, support, so it can be difficult for us to choose the candidates. Ultimately, we look for students who have experienced challenges – personally, financially or both – have improved academically and have shown dedication to their studies.

Seeing the results

So far all but one scholarship student has either graduated from university or is still studying. Not only has the funding enabled them to go to university, it has helped to enrich their experience, graduate with less debt and go on to thrive in their careers, in areas such as consulting, accountancy and computer science.

It has been incredibly rewarding for us to see the progression of the students who have successfully completed the programme. One of them is Trevor Gomes.

After being awarded the Metric Capital scholarship, Trevor went to the University of Westminster to study Business Management in 2015. He graduated with a first-class degree and was the highest achiever on his course out of 500 students. He then joined BT, where he now works as a Transformation Analyst in the Transformation Project Team. He is also a 5G Transformation Leader for EE.

Trevor, now 23, is a member of Christ the King’s Partnership Board, helping to steer our partnerships strategy. In October, he launched his own skills development programme, ELEVATE, with support from BT, which aims to equip our students with the skills, knowledge and experience required for the world of work and higher education. So far 14 of our students have benefitted from the face to face ELEVATE programme and its new virtual webinar series is aiming to reach more than 1,000 students. 

Trevor’s motivation is clear – he wants to help young people, just as he was helped. 

For other colleges or sixth forms considering a similar partnership, I would say that it has been a hugely successful and rewarding programme to be involved in. My advice would be to keep in close contact with the students during the course of their studies, and to make sure someone is there to offer further support if needed.

Keep in regular contact with your partner too and provide opportunities for them to be involved in the college. For example, John is a member of our Partnership Board and attends regular meetings. This enables him to see what’s happening at the sixth form and the current challenges that our students are facing. 

Stay in touch with your alumni, encourage them to remain involved in college life and to give something back by helping current students. Our alumni sit on our Partnership Board, visit the campus to give motivational talks, offer mentoring support and provide new links to employers and this works exceptionally well to raise aspirations.

Future plans

We are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership with John and Metric Capital in the future and having the opportunity to see even more of our students achieve great things as a result of this scholarship. 

Our Partnership Board, which is made up of successful alumni, business representatives and employer partners, meets regularly to explore other ways that we can use partnerships like this to benefit our students, whether that’s financially, through developing employability skills or by providing mentoring or other support.

For example, our Fast Track Programme provides a two-day employability coaching programme and the opportunity to gain experience of a corporate working environment and forge links with leading organisations such as Santander, Barclays and BT. We also work with local charity Urban Synergy to host inspirational mentoring events which bring together a wide range of professionals to offer support and guidance.

Our Barclays RISE programme provides skills development opportunities and insight into working in professional industries. And our External Speaker Programme brings together guest speakers who are experts in their field across a range of industries.  Engaging with businesses helps to provide a breadth of excellent opportunities for students. As we have found, there are many different and innovative ways that successful partnerships can enable students to realise their dreams.

Interview with CTK student Temi who achieved AAA* and is now studying at Cambridge University.

Temi says that her last-minute decision to join CTK has really paid off – after being inspired to apply to Cambridge University and being awarded a CTK £15,000 scholarship.

Temi had originally planned to join her school sixth form along with her friends. However, on GCSE results day she was told that her school was unable to offer her the A Level subject combination she wanted, due to timetabling issues.

She explains: “Although I had planned to stay on at school sixth form, I had done some research into other options and I liked the fact that Christ the King was an independent sixth form – that the whole college – all the teaching, resources and support, was focused on year 12s and 13s.”

Making friends easily

Temi enrolled at CTK to study A Levels in Media, Sociology and English Literature. She was a little nervous as she knew she wouldn’t know anyone there, and it also meant a one-hour journey to and from college from her home on the Greenwich/Plumstead border. However, she says the fact that no one knew each other helped her settle in and make new friendships easily.

She says: “I have made a lot of good friends. There were quite a lot of us who hadn’t joined the college in existing friendship groups – everyone went in feeling the same way. We were all in the same situation and so no one felt excluded. One of the best things has been being part of the Scholarship Graduate Programme (SGP) – which is for students with good GCSE results. It was a great way for me to meet other people who were also ambitious and motivated – we all wanted to stay working on our EPQ til 5pm! It was easy to bond with other people who were just as excited about their studies.

Inspiration to apply to Oxbridge

“When I started CTK, applying to Oxford or Cambridge was something that I had thought about but I just didn’t feel like it was within my reach. On enrolment day, I was told straight away that because of my GCSE results, applying to Oxbridge was something I could look at. I brushed it aside. It didn’t feel achievable.

The moment that changed everything was when I attended an alumni evening for SGP students. It gave me the amazing opportunity to speak to past CTK students who had progressed to Oxford and Cambridge. That was the moment I realised it was something I really wanted to do and something I could achieve if I wanted to. It changed my whole mindset.

From there I went on arranged college visits to both Oxford and Cambridge which inspired me further. On the coach back from Oxford, I got talking to one of my teachers, Miss Nadori about Anthropology. Having that conversation with her made me realise how much more there is to studying as opposed to just studying to get a job. I felt taken seriously as a peer as well as a pupil.

Another key point in my journey was a summer session with two Oxford and Cambridge students. They took me through the application process – how you choose your college and accommodation, and how to write an amazing personal statement. I took so much from that session and so much from the advice from those young ladies. If I hadn’t gone to that session I probably wouldn’t have applied. They both came from state schools – so hearing from them what you can do to stand out and how it feels going in as someone from a state school was just what I needed. It felt like I could identify with them and I felt reassured that I would fit in.

I also received an awful lot of support from Miss Brack, my English teacher and form tutor, Mr Peak, the careers advisor, Miss Nadori and Mr Pearson. One of the great things about CTK is that because it is a group of three sixth forms, I benefited from support from staff across all 3 sites.

I was also part of a booster programme led by Mr Pearson. It was one of the best programmes I have ever been part of and focused on writing my CV, job applications and making yourself as appealing as possible on paper. I used those lessons in my application to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Broadening my experience with enrichment activities

Obviously, my time at CTK was very busy because of my academic work, extension activities like the EPQ and I was so invested in the Cambridge application process. Even so, I did netball and boxing as extra-curricular activities when I was able to. Both were brilliant, I learned a lot about exercise from my boxing coach and met some great friends and competed in tournaments with the netball team.

Scholarship Success

Since I found out that I received an offer from Cambridge I had been looking for a scholarship because I don’t necessarily come from a family with a lot of money and didn’t want to put too much strain on my mum. Mr Pearson and Miss Crampton nominated me for CTK’s Metric Capital Scholarship scheme, which gives 3 students scholarships of £15,000 towards their cost of living while at university.

To apply, I had to write no more than 500 words on why I felt I deserved the scholarship and any obstacles that I overcame. This got me thinking about something that held me back for a very long time. I opened up more and really dug into all the health issues that I experienced growing up and how it made me really limit the way I saw myself. My health issues were what led to me discovering a love of reading, and also made me realise that I could write my own stories.

I was interviewed by the man who founded the scholarship scheme – John Sinik, together with the CTK student who he originally mentored and is now a very successful lawyer in the city. Together, they set up this scholarship scheme five years ago.

John is a great, kind man and it was an honour to be interviewed by someone so successful with a master’s from Harvard University, who came from a background that wasn’t affluent too. It was an enjoyable opportunity for me to really open up about what I had experienced and how it strengthened my view and understanding of education and what it is worth.

My love of books and my inspiration

When I was younger, I suffered from this thing called the Atopic Triangle, which is a rare combination of allergies – asthma, eczema, food allergies, and allergies to other things like dust and grass.

For many years I had felt controlled by my medications and not in control of my own body. Discovering drama, music and dance changed that. And then I read an online novel called ‘Becoming Beautiful’ written by a teenage girl. This book honestly changed my life. It made me realise how amazing a book can be.

Before then, I felt like I was drowning and there was no way out for me. When I read this book, I had never felt so understood. That’s why I’m so interested in all the words we use, especially what is going on right now – how damaging words can be – and how much of an impact words can have over others. It’s why I want to study English Literature at Cambridge!

I am also very grateful because I have an amazing mum and two older sisters who are inspirational to me. My mum pulled me up through every situation and continues to be the most inspirational figure in my life. She moved here from Nigeria with my dad to give me and my older sisters a better life.  No matter what happened to her – what she went through, she always faces things with a kind smile. I try to take on her approach as best I can and that has inspired me and kept me going.

My sisters learned from my mum how to face difficult situations – and seeing how hard working they are has motivated me and made me see that I can do everything I set my mind to. My ambition is to inspire other young women in the future. I want to become a writer of both fiction and non-fiction, inspiring other young people to love themselves and their culture. I would also like to start my own theatre company.”

Extra-curricular activities – why are they so important?

Extra-curricular activities are a great way to learn about yourself, build new skills and meet new people. Plus, when it comes to applying for the top universities or apprenticeships with the best employers, being able to talk about your interests and activities outside of your studies can help set you apart from the competition.

At Christ the King Sixth Forms, we are proud of the opportunities our students have to take part in extra-curricular activities and volunteering, develop in-demand skills and reach their academic and professional goals.

Read on to find out more about our broad range of extra-curricular activities and why they are so important.

1. Develop new interests

Life at Christ the King Sixth Forms is about more than just academic achievement. It’s also a time to discover or develop your interests, aptitudes and talents, make new friends and have fun. Whether you study at CTK Aquinas, CTK St Mary’s or CTK Emmanuel, we offer plenty of extra-curricular and enrichment opportunities which allow you to learn something outside your main academic course. From debating to dance, filmmaking to music, you’ll have many chances to get involved and develop new skills that will prove useful long after you have finished your education. Who knows, you could unlock passions you never knew you had!

2. Gain ‘real world’ skills

One of the greatest advantages extra-curricular activities give you are ‘real world’, or ‘soft skills’, including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Goal setting
  • Teamwork
  • Time management
  • Prioritisation
  • Problem solving
  • Analytical thinking
  • Leadership
  • Public speaking

All these are hugely valuable skills that you will be able to use for the rest of your life. For example, at CTK, you can hone your leadership and organisation skills by being elected on to the Student Council and helping to run events throughout the year, including the Leavers’ Prom, Talent Showcase and charity fundraising events. By playing team sport you can develop your teamwork and problem-solving abilities, and by taking part in the debate society you can practice skills in public speaking. What’s more, taking part in extra-curricular activities demonstrates that you can also manage your time effectively by balancing your interests alongside your studies. 

Impress universities

As well as looking at your grades, universities want to know an applicant as a person – what you’re interested in or passionate about. Joining clubs, volunteering, or having a part-time job shows your attachment to your community and desire to help others, as well as your sense of responsibility and time management. On top of the broad range of extra-curricular activities we mentioned above, CTK students also have the opportunity to take part in fantastic field trips and expeditions, which could include locations such as Kenya, Alaska and the Tien Shan Mountains, as well as retreats and pilgrimages. Here are just some of the activities that you can get involved in at CTK:

  • Community projects, such as helping in primary schools and hospitals
  • Residential visits and overseas trips
  • Work shadowing and volunteering experiences
  • Retreats and pilgrimages
  • Expeditions
  • Duke of Edinburgh Award

All of these opportunities provide great experiences to add to your personal statement for university and could help you stand out from other applicants, especially if you are applying to more competitive universities or subjects such as Medicine.

Give back to your community

At Christ the King Sixth Forms, we do a great deal to support charities and all our students take part in our volunteering programme to support our local communities in South East London and Kent. We run an annual charity day and provide many other ways for students to give back, for example by encouraging them to become mentors and ambassadors, supporting local community groups or volunteering their time to charity organisations. When you volunteer, you have the opportunity to meet lots of new people and improve your social skills, as well as making a real difference to others, so it’s win-win!

Improve your wellbeing

Perhaps most importantly, extra-curricular activities can improve your wellbeing by providing a chance to relax, unwind and relieve any study pressures by spending time doing something you enjoy. And if you’re concerned that taking part in extra-curricular activities will hurt your grades you needn’t worry. It’s widely researched and proven that participating in activities you enjoy can increase your brain function, help you concentrate and manage your time better, all of which contribute to higher grades. So, go on, take that much-needed break – you deserve it!

If you have any questions about our extra-curricular and enrichment activities, please get in touch with our friendly Careers team.

Ready to apply?  We are delighted that you are considering making an application to Christ the King Sixth Forms. We welcome students of all faiths, or none, who would like to pursue their sixth form education in a faith context and who support the ethos of this Catholic College. We are currently taking applications to join CTK in September 2021. If you, or someone you know, would like to apply, then you can do so online – just click the button below. Once we receive your application, we will contact you to arrange an interview. Good luck!

How to write a great personal statement for university

Are you thinking of applying to university? If so, you might have heard about the Personal Statement, which is an important part of the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) application process. Alongside your academic grades, the Personal Statement is used by universities to decide whether to offer you a place on your chosen course.

At Christ the King Sixth Forms, we are proud of our success in helping students from South East London and Kent achieve places at some of the top universities in the country. Currently, almost 90 per cent of CTK students go on to university, including “Oxbridge” (the universities of Oxford and Cambridge) and Russell Group institutions. Read on for our top six tips on writing a winning Personal Statement and give yourself the very best chance of achieving a place at your first-choice university.

1. Start with a plan

Writing your UCAS personal statement can seem like a daunting task, but if you prepare properly and plan out what you want to say before you get started, you’ll have it finished in no time. Before you start writing, it’s a good idea to briefly outline the points you want to make in your personal statement, and make sure you’re answering the questions; what, why and how

  • What do you want to study?
  • Why do you want to study it?
  • How do your skills and past experiences prove this?

The aim of a Personal Statement is to persuade your chosen university that you’re a suitable applicant for their course, so read the course description closely and identify the academic credentials, skills and experience it requires, which will help you to decide what to write about. It can help to write two lists: one detailing what you know about the course you would like to study and why you know it is the right degree choice for you, and the second focusing on why you are the ideal student for that course and university.

2. Do your research

Universities want to see from your Personal Statement that you have done a good amount of research, so make it clear that you have thoroughly researched the course (for example, we recommend attending Open Days, reviewing course literature and talking to current students) and explain why you have made the decision to study it at university. Highlight the subject knowledge you already have and emphasise why you are the kind of student the university is looking for.

At Christ the King Sixth Forms, our work starts to focus on university progression towards the end of Year 12 and our personal tutors and dedicated, in-house Careers team provide support on choosing a degree course and applying to university. Our highly experienced staff work with students on the particular challenges involved in making applications for Oxbridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, and other highly competitive Higher Education and employment opportunities.

3. Show how you are unique

The best thing about writing a Personal Statement is, it’s a chance to write about YOU! This is your opportunity to show off what’s great about you, your personality and the unique skills and experience you will bring to the course and the university. Go back to the course description and provide plenty of examples of how you fit what the university is looking for. University admissions tutors often read hundreds of Personal Statements every day so try and make yours stand out by providing a couple of anecdotes linked to your experience and interests. Make it personal and try to avoid any generic statements and cliches. If you were to anonymously give your Personal Statement to someone in your friendship group to look at, could they identify it as yours? If they couldn’t, you should take another look at how you could make it more personal.

4. Talk about your extracurricular activities

Whether you study at CTK Aquinas, CTK St. Mary’s or CTK Emmanuel, we offer lots of opportunities for you to build both your academic and extra-curricular credentials. While we put great emphasis on qualifications, hard work, effort, and academic success, we’re about far more than that. From debating to dance, filmmaking to music, you will have many chances to get involved. Our students also have the opportunity to take part in fantastic field trips and expeditions, which could include locations such as Kenya, Alaska and the Tien Shan Mountains, as well as retreats and pilgrimages. All of this can provide great experiences to add to your Personal Statement and help you stand out from other applicants, but remember to relate them back to the course – if they aren’t relevant, don’t include them. You can use the ABC test to see if you are making it relevant:

  • A = Activity: This might be captaining a sports team, or being part of a drama club
  • B = Benefit: This is the skill(s) you have gained from doing the activity
  • C = Course: How the skill will help you to complete the course successfully

5. Be concise and keep it relevant

According to UCAS, a Personal Statement should be no more than 4,000 characters with spaces and needs to fit into 47 lines on the application, so don’t waste space on details that have no relevance to your chosen course. Be specific about why you want to study this degree and how it will aid your future career plans. Show genuine enthusiasm for the subject you want to study. For example, if you are applying for Veterinary Medicine, your passion for animals should be obvious from the outset. Ask yourself the question ‘so what?’ If you can’t think about a reason to talk about a particular skill, the reader will wonder why you’ve mentioned it at all.

6. Check for errors  

Once you’ve drafted your Personal Statement, be sure to check it through carefully for mistakes, then send it to a friend or family member to read through. It’s extremely easy to miss spelling and grammatical errors in your own work, even using a spell-checker, which is why it’s vital to have someone else read through it before you send it off. Ask friends, family, or a teacher to read it and give their honest opinion and try to take their suggested changes on board. Try reading it aloud too – doing this will make it very clear if something isn’t quite right.

If you have any questions about applying to university or need a bit more help and advice, please get in touch with our friendly Careers team.

Ready to apply?  We are delighted that you are considering making an application to Christ the King Sixth Forms. We welcome students of all faiths and of none who would like to pursue their sixth form education in a faith context and who support the ethos of this Catholic College. We are currently taking applications to join CTK in September 2021. If you, or someone you know, would like to apply, then you can do so online – just click the button below. Once we receive your application, we will contact you to arrange an interview. Good luck!

How to shine through the CTK application process

Are you thinking of applying to Christ the King Sixth Forms? Whether you’re applying to CTK Aquinas, CTK St Mary’s or CTK Emmanuel, you might be feeling a little unsure about what you need to do in order to be offered a place on the course of your choice.

Read on for our top five tips to help you shine throughout and give yourself the very best chance of joining Christ the King Sixth Forms – one of the top sixth form colleges for university progression in South East London and Kent.

1. Choose the right course for you

Before you start your college application, do your research and speak to your teachers and the careers adviser in your school to discuss your options.

  • Which subjects are you doing well in at school and enjoy studying?
  • Are you suited to A levels or would you do better on a more vocational course?
  • What are your predicted GCSE grades in each subject?
  • Do you have a particular career in mind, and will any specific qualifications – such as A levels in Chemistry and Biology for Medicine – be needed?

Our Open Days are a great way to learn more about different subjects and the choice of courses on offer.  They will provide you with a chance to meet staff and students, who will be able to tell you more about what it is like to be a student at Christ the King Sixth Forms. Do discuss your application with your parents or carer. Once you’ve narrowed down your choice of subjects and chosen what you want to study, then it is time to make your application.

2. Complete the application form in full

It may sound obvious, but please make sure you complete the online application form in full and don’t miss any sections. The information you provide to us on the form is very important, so take the time to make sure you have entered the details in all the relevant sections and check the form through carefully for spelling errors, mistakes and typos before you submit it.

As a high-achieving Sixth Form, your academic grades are key to achieving a place at Christ the King Sixth Forms, so check that your application meets the admissions criteria for the course(s) you would like to study. Tell us your predicted grades, or the grades you are currently working at in your assessments. This will help us to decide whether CTK could be the right place for you to continue your studies.

A good attendance and behaviour record is also essential to become a part of our CTK community, so you will need to provide a positive reference from your school and explain any special circumstances or challenges you have faced if you have any issues with attendance.

3. Write a killer Supporting Statement

Our application form includes a Supporting Statement section, which is your opportunity to tell us more about you! This is your chance to tell us why you want to join CTK and what you might want to do in the future at university or in your future career.

We also want to learn about you as an individual: your ambitions, the subjects you love, what makes you tick. And don’t forget to tell us about activities or projects you have undertaken in school or outside that weren’t part of your schoolwork. Perhaps you have been involved in a community project, organised a sports club or are a member of a sports team, dance or music group?

Expect to spend some time on your Supporting Statement and ask someone you trust, like a teacher at school or a family member, to read through your draft to provide you with some feedback. Finally, don’t forget to use a spell checker and make sure you proofread your Statement before submitting.

4. Excel in the interview

Once you’ve completed your application form, you’ll be invited to attend an interview either in person or online. As with any interview, aim to be the very best version of yourself by dressing smartly (even if the interview is done via a phone or video call), using good manners and being friendly and polite.

Read the interview invitation carefully and make sure you bring anything you need with you, such as a recent school report or a portfolio of art work if you are applying for an art course. Also, be sure to plan how you will get to the interview if it is at college, and make sure you arrive on time.

You can improve your chances of success in the interview by preparing for it in advance and making notes to use as prompts if you need them. Remember: the interview is a two-way process and is as much a chance for you to find out about CTK as it is about us finding out about you. You might want jot down some questions to ask, which also shows us that you have done some research about Christ the King Sixth Forms and are well organised.

5. Keep up the good work at school

Following your application, we will contact your school for a reference. The reference is a really important part of our admissions process so it’s important that you continue studying hard. Make sure your attendance is good, you’re on time for all your lessons and you keep on top of your homework. All Christ the King Sixth Forms are underpinned by values of mutual respect and positive encouragement, so we will also want to know that you will be able to meet our high standards of behaviour.

If you have any questions about applying to Christ the King Sixth Forms or need a bit more help and advice, please get in touch with our friendly Careers team.

Ready to apply?  We are delighted that you are considering making an application to Christ the King Sixth Forms. We welcome students of all faiths and of none who would like to pursue their sixth form education in a faith context and who support the ethos of this Catholic College. We are currently taking applications to join CTK in September 2021. If you, or someone you know, would like to apply, then you can do so online – just click the button below. Once we receive your application, we will contact you to arrange an interview. Good luck!

Covid Update

Start of the new term

Start of Term January 2021 

On 31st December we emailed all students and parents/carers, please check you emails regarding returning to Christ The King in January. 

Please note all BTEC exams will take place as planned.

As you will have probably heard, the Government has recently announced that it is asking Schools/colleges to stagger the return of many students following the Christmas break. Monday 4th January is a staff INSET day with no lessons taking place.  Online teaching will take place for most students from Tuesday 5th January.   In practice this will mean that many students at CTK will take part in their lessons from home using Microsoft Teams and they should not attend Sixth Form. However, our Sixth Forms will remain open to students who: 

Do not have access to a computer or the internet at home 

Are the child of a key worker. 

Government guidance may change so it is important to check your emails and our website for any updates but we expect to restart face to face teaching on site as follows: 

Year 13 (Upper Sixth A Level and Upper Sixth BTEC) Monday 11th January, 

Year 12 students including Level 1 & Level 2 Monday 18th January 

Examinations 

If you are due to have any BTEC examinations in January these will carry on as planned. Please come into College for the times that have been communicated.

Students and parents/carers are asked to check their email accounts for more detailed information. 

Christmas Gift Appeal

Christ the King Sixth Forms has teamed up with the EKC Group in Kent to launch a Christmas Gift Appeal. 

We will be collecting donations of toys or Christmas presents, or donations  to ensure that those in need still get to experience the joy of receiving something special this Christmas.  

Shireen Razey, Principal of Christ the King Sixth Forms says; “Our students are keen to make a difference in the local communities where they live and work, many of which have been effected by the pandemic. Our Sixth Forms do a lot of work supporting charities, and we all wanted to make the festive period special for young people who have experienced such hardship this year”. 

If you would like to donate to the campaign you can donate presents off at CTK St Mary’s in Sidcup, CTK Emmanuel in Lewisham or CTK Aquinas in Brockley.   

Suitable Donations: 

The charities are only able to take new items, sealed in their packaging. The items they can accept are: 

  • Toys 
  • Puzzles 
  • Colouring Books or Puzzle Books 
  • Gift vouchers 
  • Toiletries 
  • Chocolates/biscuits or hot chocolate 

You can also donate money at the fundraising page EKC Group and Christ the King Sixth Forms have set up:  gf.me/u/y8iw73

Charities 

The charities we are collecting for are: 

Demelza Hospice Care for Children https://www.demelza.org.uk/ 

St Vincent de Paul Society https://www.svp.org.uk/node/606 

Refuge https://www.refuge.org.uk/  

our gift appeal in the press 

You can read the full article at https://www.fenews.co.uk/press-releases/58649-college-couple-team-up-to-make-christmas-special

TES Article

CTK have been featured in an article in TES magazine to showcase our partnership with Metric Capital.

Metric Capital have been providing support to CTK students with university scholarships, and boosting young peoples chances of employability and career progression.

Act of Charity Day

For Act of Charity Day, CTK students took part I writing thank you notes and pictures thanking the NHS, local Fire brigade, Kent Police, TFL, Key workers at Queen Mary’s hospital, local care homes, and local supermarkets.

Dear NHS workers, 
Thank you so much for your hard work during these tough times. The NHS is a unit full of amazing people. It really does take a

 group of truly special and selfless people to help the whole country and make a huge difference on a daily basis.

 The NHS has helped this country of millions and millions innumerable times. We are all in your debt for this amazing care 

that the whole organisation provides. 

The NHS has set a global example of what national healthcare should look like. It is undoubtedly the best in the world. 

Filled up to the brim by people willing to make sacrifices day in and day out. You have all put yourself and your family in

 a vulnerable position. However that hasn’t stopped any member from being brave and helping the global effort to tackle 

not just a virus, but provide the right of healthcare to everyone irrespective of their background. 

The determination required for this task is truly a feat in which everyone should aspire to reach in order to excel in anything

 they pursue. Pots and pans will never be enough to show how much we appreciate the greatness that comes from each individual 

working long hours to make sure that a whole nation is put to rest assured that they will be safe. 

Happiness, rainbows and pride fill the streets. The NHS has provided a light in the darkness that is the state the world is in at the

 moment. People are happier knowing that the NHS are forever fighting illness and are on our side. We, the nation, wholeheartedly 

support the NHS and is thankful for the heroes who make it what it is today. 

Metric Capital Scholarship

This week, three Christ the King sixth form students have been awarded a scholarship from Private capital fund management firm, Metric Capital worth £15,000 each.

Each successful student was carefully selected according to their academic performance and formal virtual interview process.  Christ the King students Temitope Idowui, who hopes to study English Literature at the University of Cambridge, Keona Burey who hopes to study Primary Teaching at the University of Chichester and Jon Hamilton who hopes to study Biomedical Sciences at the University of Southampton, all successfully received a scholarship worth £15,000 over the course of their University degree.

The Metric Capital scholarship programme with Christ the King is in its ninth year and to date has awarded almost £500,000 in scholarships to hardworking, ambitious Christ the King students.  Metric Capital, worked in conjunction with Our Turn Global, a charitable organisation that uses social media to raise awareness about initiatives that have a positive impact on society to award the scholarship.

The scheme is led by Metric Capital’s Managing Partner, John Sinik. John was first introduced to Christ the King by one of his mentees, and he was inspired to create the Metric Scholarship Programme after meeting high performing, aspirational students at Christ the King, who dreamt of going on to University, but faced financial challenges in doing so.

Metric Capital Managing Partner John Sinik says:  “Tuition fees are only a part of the expense of going to University. There are living expenses that can be overwhelming for people and ultimately drive their decision not to go.  The scholarship plays a key role in allowing the students to pursue their dream of obtaining a University degree”.

Collegiate Principal Shireen Razey says:   “We are delighted to continue working in partnership with Metric Capital with this fantastic venture. We are so proud of our hardworking students at Christ the King and it is a great opportunity to support them in their university aspirations.”

Temitope Idowui, who is currently studying A Levels in English Literature, Media Studies and Sociology at CTK said ‘I can’t tell you how happy I am right now. I can’t wait for my mum to get home from work so I can share the news with her. A scholarship like this will really help me financially in the year ahead and it will mean I do not need to find a part time job and can concentrate on my studies.’

Keona Burey, who is currently studying a BTEC in Health & Social Care at CTK said;  ‘I am so blessed to have met such amazing inspiring individuals this morning. I am delighted to have been awarded this scholarship and I know it will help me greatly at university.’

Jon Hamilton, who is currently studying A Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics at CTK said; ‘I am so happy to gain this scholarship. I had no idea my teachers thought so highly of me and it will be a great help in my ambition to become a doctor.”

CTK Emmanuel selected to offer T Levels from September 2022

Christ the King Sixth Forms are pleased to announce today that from September 2022, CTK Emmanuel will be able to offer the new T Levels in Business & Admin and Engineering & Manufacturing.   

T Levels are high-quality technical alternatives to A Levels, combining classroom theory, practical learning and a work placement.  These new qualifications have been designed with industry experts, to make sure that students have the skills they need to thrive in the workplace and give businesses the workforce they need to succeed.  

Executive Principal Shireen Razey says; “We are delighted to have been chosen to offer the new T Levels in Business and Engineering from September 2022.  Our students are already able to choose from a wide-range of high-quality vocational courses and we welcome the addition of T Levels as an exciting new programme of study to give our students even more choice” 

CTK Emmanuel is a professional centre for excellence, offering a wide range of vocational routes to university.  The Business and Engineering departments are already well established, with excellent outcomes, university progression and highly specialised Business and Engineering teaching staff.  Preparation for offering T Levels began last academic year, by introducing the 45 day work placement for Level 3 students, meaning that CTK Emmanuel has a head start on being able to offer the T Levels in 2022. 
 

CTK Emmanuel serves a wide range of students from the local community in South London and surrounding boroughs. The addition of T Levels gives local students even more choice in the post 16 progression options locally.  Students starting CTK Emmanuel in September 2022 will be able to choose to study T Levels in Engineering & Manufacturing or Business & Admin, in addition to the current wide range of A Level equivalent courses already on offer.  These courses are designed with university progression in mind and currently almost 90% of CTK students go on to university, with around half of these being Russell Group institutions.

Historic England Archive – ‘Picturing Lockdown’

CTK student Mya recently entered a photography competition for the opportunity to be showcased in the Historic England Archive. Out of over 1000 submissions only 100 photographs were picked for the archive, Mya was included in this chosen 100.

Polly Braden, an renowned artist and photographer who focusses on culture, the everyday and communications, selected Mya’s photo as her favourite out of all the photographs, and the BBC contacted her to write a story about her.

SFCA National Photography Exhibition 2020

Today sees the launch of At home, an online exhibition of photographs taken by sixth form college students during the Covid-19 lockdown. Over 140 students from 46 colleges submitted their photographs for the exhibition that runs from 4th to 19th June 2020. The exhibition is being co-ordinated by the Sixth Form Colleges Association and all photographs can be viewed on the SFCA gallery website here.

Launching today’s exhibition, Gillian Keegan, Apprenticeships and Skills Minister, said:

“This has been a difficult time for the entire country but this exhibition is a wonderful example of how creativity can flourish in the face of adversity. It’s great to see how these sixth form students have captured the experiences of lockdown from a young person’s perspective. A huge congratulations to all exhibitors and I wish them every success for the future”.

Bill Watkin, Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said:

“At home highlights the extraordinary artistic talent that exists in our sector. We are holding this exhibition to recognise and celebrate excellence in sixth form colleges, but also to stimulate our thinking about the world this summer. It is imperative that we keep the arts in education secure and flourishing. If young people are to make a valuable contribution to society – even if they are to be successful scientists, engineers, doctors and technicians – they need to develop their creative skills, their artistic sensitivities and their ability to interact with others. All of this will be more important than ever in the post-Covid world”.

‘At home’, the SFCA National Photography Exhibition 2020 can be viewed here: https://www.sixthformcolleges.org/411/at-home

Our CTK A Level Graphics students who have been entered:

Emilia – ‘The Search For Life’

Matilda – ‘Isolation

Victoria – ‘Through the Dark’

If you’re a Year 10 or 11 student interested in Photography and feel inspired be sure to enter our CTK Photography competition here –> https://www.ctk.ac.uk/year-11-virtual-school/ctk-photography-competition/

International Nurses Day

On International Nurses Day we at CTK want to thank all our nurses, like our former student Sarah, across the country for all that you are doing. These unprecedented times have made it most important to value and protect our NHS and so much of that weight falls on all our nurses all over the country, helping us win the battle against Coronavirus. From here at CTK: thank you Nurses!

Fundraising for the local Community

Our staff, students and wider CTK community are always keen to help support local charities, especially now during the Coronavirus pandemic.  The outbreak has had a major impact on all of our lives but particularly for vulnerable groups who need support now more than ever.

Volunteering and supporting others is at the heart of our Catholic Mission and we always strive to support our local community; now more than ever we need to come together to give back to those who are most vulnerable. 

We set up a Just Giving Page, aiming to raise £1000 to be shared between three local charities that we work closely with:

Greenwich Bexley Hospice need our support at this difficult time.  

The Athena service Lewisham/Greenwich, run by Refuge, offer support to young adults suffering gender based violence. With a 25% increase in domestic violence locally, any money raised will be a lifeline for this charity.  

Lastly, Lewisham Foodbank which CTK also supports regularly.  Food banks are experiencing shortages during the crises and every pound raised feeds a local vulnerable family in need.

We actually surpassed this, and our current total is at £1148! Thank you for all your donations, it is greatly appreciated to help these charities serving the local community in need at this time.

Uplifting art

We are so excited to see our CTK family helping to brighten up peoples daily walks and help us all through this difficult time by joining the many other houses painting rainbows and putting up supportive messages for our NHS.

Credit to Ms Johnson’s son James for his amazing window art.

Ms Power’s son Joe aged 4 for his brilliant rainbow.

Ms Schutze’s daughter Natalya aged 4 for her beautiful creation.

Sport Relief

This year for Sport Relief students and staff were invited to wear sports clothing for a £1 donation for those in need across the UK and the worlds poorest countries. A huge thank you to everyone who supported our charities and took part.

A great deal of students even took advantage of using the fitness suite and taking part in other sporting activities to get into the sporting spirit.

Easter at Christ the King

Easter is a very special time here at CTK and despite not being together at this time, this did not stop us celebrating together. We encourage students and parents to spend time with all the family they can, and although we cannot attend Church at this time, there are lots of resources that allow you to take part in mass and services from your own home. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxIsefyl9g9A5SGWA4FvGIA

Our choir director Ms Christian-John had some great words of wisdom this weekend:

“A MESSAGE TO MY CHOIRS: 1. Don’t stop singing 2. This virus won’t last forever 3. Please keep on singing at home 4. I miss you already 5. I look forward to seeing you all again soon 6. I’m praying for you and your families 7. Keep the faith and be encouraged I’mSoProudOfYou!”

Ms Christian-John also posted an amazing video on her YouTube channel dedicated to all the students and staff at CTK at this hard time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=210&v=vAqWaes0-oc&feature=emb_logo

Donations to Lewisham Hospital Staff

Here at CTK we value charity, community and supporting others wherever we can, and this has never been more important than now. Christ the King was happy to be able to help our NHS by donating 200 science goggles and 600 pairs of disposable gloves and an array of chocolate goodies to Lewisham hospital. We also donated milk and biscuits to St Vincent de Paul Society (England & Wales).

We also donated over 200 Easter eggs to local charities and our students will be writing messages of support to NHS start using https://www.thanksamillionnhs.co.uk/

Pray as you Stay

Upon the news that pubic gatherings, including mass and church ceremonies, have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, our Chaplaincy team have worked hard to ensure all staff and students have all the resources to keep the faith in the hardest times. Alongside conducting our daily College prayer online every day, our Chaplains have been providing prayers and videos for us all to follow and watch with family to help us all through difficult times. We encourage everyone to visit https://pray-as-you-go.org/retreat/pray-as-you-stay for a great Prayer series containing reflective music and words for each day as people are at home to encourage daily prayer.

God of Love,

As members of the Christ the King Sixth Forms family, we ask for your continued blessing upon our work and study. You are the source of all truth and wisdom.

May we experience in full the Life that you offer us each day, to become the best that we can be.

Let no distractions of fears prevent us from trusting in your endless care for us.

Shine your Light into our lives that we may become brighter beacons of faith, hope and love in our community.

We make this prayer through Christ the Lord. Amen.

Spiritual wellbeing has never been more important, visit https://www.alonetogether.org.uk for more ideas, help and resources for getting through this time of self isolation and distancing from those important to you and our ordinary lives.

Students working from home

We are thrilled to receive inspiring work from our students, showing how to be productive from home. This stunning postmodernist architectural design for Unit 7 BTEC Extended Diploma is by Tarique.

Thalia, one of our Graphics students for her component 2 exam produced this with the theme of social media and conformity.

CTK Alumni Trevor Gomez – BT Beyond Limits

Our CTK Alumni, Trevor Gomez, visited the BT Sport Studios for the new brand launch; and got the chance to talk on camera, touching on what it means to go ‘Beyond Limits’ with BT. Trevor talked to CEO Philip Jansen about his views of the exciting changes at BT, and an inspirational quote from Philip was ‘If we start with our people the possibilities for our customers are limitless’.

Trevor talked to Philip about ‘ELEVATE’; a skills development scheme for young adults, linked to his very own scheme he is running; the BT ‘Work Ready’ Programme. Trevor says he is looking forward to carrying the theme of ‘Beyond Limits’ when he presents to the Marketing Unit of BT about his role and work as a ‘5G Maker.

Trevor is an inspirational alumni to represent CTK; working with young adults and helping to revolutionise the world of technology.

Working from home

We are extremely proud to see many of our students embracing working from home and not letting it halt their enthusiasm or stop them from producing amazing pieces of work.

CTK A Level Photography student Tillie has taken this image this week entitled ‘isolation’.

Great progress from an A Level art student demonstrating how to be productive and work towards your goals from your home.

Spirituality Conference 2020 – The Power of the Word

Here at Christ the King, we recently hosted our second successful Spirituality Conference, welcome to all students across all sites, focusing on The Power of the Word.


The conference started with a welcome talk about what the days events and a song from the Gospel Choir. Throughout the day we were welcomed by many guest speakers, including Father Christopher of the St. Fidelis Friary, an Ash Wednesday lunch service, and a special performance from professional Gospel singer Natalie Christian John.

The day was a huge success and allowed a space for staff and students to network, but also reflect and learn about themselves and those around them.

Coronavirus – Latest Update

Update – 20th March

Following the announcement that education providers will close, apart from to the children of key workers and vulnerable students, the Government has now published its list of Key workers here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

If you fall into the key worker category, please email us to confirm at enquiries@ctksfc.ac.uk, that you would like your child to attend College.   All the parent’s whose children fall into the vulnerable category were contacted by email yesterday.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers

Update – 19th March

College Closure 

Christ The King Sixth Forms will be closed from Monday 23rd March to all students, until further notice (apart from key worker’s children and vulnerable students) following the Government’s announcement last night that all schools and colleges will close at this date, due to the Coronavirus outbreak. 

Home/Distance Learning 

  • Students should check their College emails, teachers will be setting and marking classwork. Students have been fully briefed on how to study from home using online systems, Microsoft Teams, Moodle and email. 

Exams 

  • The Government announced yesterday that examinations will not take place this Summer.  We do not yet know what the Government’s plans for awarding grades will be, students should be encouraged to keep completing work set and submitting all work, please continue to check your email for updates. 

Vulnerable students and Key worker’s children 

  • We aim to remain open in some capacity for Key Worker and vulnerable students. We will be writing to those students separately to inform them of this. 

Bursary Payments 

  • A full payment will be made to all students who receive bursary payments, in the next few days.  We will continue to pay your money directly into your bank accounts, with an additional payment of £4 a day to cover free school meals.  The FSM payment will be made until the Easter holidays in the first instance as we understand a national scheme will be set up and we will update students with the information as soon as we have it. 

Students who have been offered a place for study at Christ the King Sixth Forms in 2020  

  • Please rest assured that this will not affect your application.  Once we know what the Government’s plans for awarding grades, we will update you.  

Students who have applied for a place for study at Christ the King Sixth Forms in 2020  

  • We will continue to process your application as normal.  We are postponing interviews for the present time. As an oversubscribed sixth form, we don’t want you to be disadvantaged by this so we will be making offers based on application and school report/reference.   

Students who wish to apply for a place at Christ the King Sixth Forms in 2020  

  • Applications will remain open, you can apply online or download an application form.  We will be touch once we receive your application. 

Contacting the College 

If you need to contact us during this time, please contact staff on their usual email address. If you have not heard back within 24 hours or the matter is urgent please contact us via  enquiries@ctksfc.ac.uk  

We will continue to keep you updated via email and website announcements on our website, please also keep up to date with Government guidance which is updated daily on www.gov.uk/coronavirus

We keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. 

Update –  18th March 

PARTIAL CLOSURE OF SIXTH FORM for Lower Sixth BTEC Level 3 and Lower Sixth A Level Students 

Following the Government’s recent announcement regarding self-isolation measures, unfortunately staffing levels are at a point where we are unable to teach all students safely onsite.   The health and safety of our students and staff is our number one priority at all times, therefore we will be implementing the following measures: 

From tomorrow, Thursday 19th March, until after the Easter Holidays, Tuesday 21st April, only Year 13 (Upper Sixth students), BTEC Level 1 & 2 students and those sitting GCSE/Level 1 Maths and English should attend lessons onsite. 

All remaining students should stay at home and teachers will be setting and marking work online. It is important that students continue to work hard and keep up to date with their studies. In tutorial yesterday students were fully briefed on how to access their college work from home using Microsoft Teams, Moodle and email. 

The situation is changing daily, we anticipate there will be further developments, parents and staff will continue to be updated via email.  We will continue to post updates on our website.  For further information on Coronavirus, please visit the Government website, which is updated daily. 

Update – 17th March

As you are probably aware, the Government announced new guidance yesterday regarding coronavirus.  We will continue to keep parents/guardians updated via our website but please ensure you are following the Government guidance which is updated daily www.gov.uk/coronavirus

I want to reassure you that Christ the King Sixth Forms are taking all necessary steps to protect our community and are continuing to follow official guidance from the Government and the local authority. We have taken protective measures which includes, asking that external visitors do not visit our sixth forms, postponing work experience, extra curriculum events and all trip and visits.   

Our sixth forms remain open for all students – this is the current official Government guidance.  If your son/daughter is unwell or self-isolating, report this as you would normally by following the absence procedure and telephoning us.  

If your son/daughter has the symptoms below, please keep them away from college.  Latest Government advice on how long they should stay off for can be found by visiting  www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection 

  • A new persistent dry cough 
  • A temperature that is above 37.8 C 

Government guidance now also says that if anyone in your family has these symptoms, the whole family should isolate for 14 days.  

Today in your son/daughter’s tutorial we have outlined the above, as well as given them instructions on distance learning, so that they are able to access their emails and college work from home, should they need to at this present time or near future. 

Current Government advice is that anyone at risk of increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus, needs to follow social distancing measures.  All students with a pre-existing condition that this applied to will be written to today.  If you think this applies to your son/daughter and we aren’t aware of their medical condition, please contact m.nunes@ctksfc.ac.uk 

Update – 16th March

Ensuring the health and wellbeing of students, staff and our sixth form community is of the upmost importance to Christ the King Sixth Forms.  We have therefore decided to implement a range of measures aimed at attempting to protect our community from the transmission of coronavirus. 

We continue to closely follow the Government’s advice and our sixth forms will remain open at this present time. However, we will be taking a number of measures to mitigate against transmission of coronavirus. 

 These will include, but are not limited to: 

  1. We are asking that external visitors do not visit our sixth form.   
  2. Student interviews will be postponed, all students will be contacted with information regarding this. 
  3. We ask that parents do not visit our sixth form.  Any parental meetings will be conducted by telephone.   
  4. We will be cancelling any external activity for students, such as work experience, visits or trips, they might have been planning to take as part of their course.  

Any further updates will continue to be posted on our website.  If you have any questions about these measures, please get in touch, by emailing enquiries@ctksfc.ac.uk  

Further information about Coronavirus can be found by visiting https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response  

Update – 13th March

Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK government response – Updated 13 March 2020

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of:

New continuous cough and/or

High temperature

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild infection

Key messages

If you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started. (See ending isolation section below for more information).

Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water.

Stay away from vulnerable individuals such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions as much as possible

You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online. If you have No internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999

For more information on the above, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Update – 2nd March

Department for Education Coronavirus helpline

Today, the Dfe have launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:

Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)

We know that some of you may have concerns or questions about the current outbreak of Coronavirus – officially known as COVID-19.

We want to reassure you that we are working hard to minimise the risk to our students and staff and are following Government guidelines at all times.

For the latest information and guidance, please see the Government’s website.https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

Chaplaincy Day at Aylesford

In an event hosted by the Education Commission, our Chaplains from all Christ the King sites, took a trip to Aylesford for a Chaplaincy day.

Along with chaplains from all over our diocese, our chaplaincy team attended talks and activities, all guided by lead speaker Fr David O’Malley, a Silesian of Don Bosco, who guided and informed our team with his years of chaplaincy and classroom experience.

With over 20 years’ experience in chaplaincy and youth support, our chaplaincy team received invaluable first hand advice and information to bring back to Sixth Form and utilise in strengthening our community.

Valentines at CTK

This February our Chaplaincy really embraced the Valentines spirit with another charity event in aid of CAFOD. Our thoughtful Student executive council members helped to spread the love, selling Valentines lollipops and roses to everyone all over the school. There were even handmade cards, made by our lovely Student executive council secretary student Deborah Okegbile, which were sent out to many lucky students. Lots of mystery surrounded the day as an anonymous delivery service was set up for all those secret admirers, and everyone had lots of fun whilst raising £116.13 for CAFOD, helping to support those in need and to create supportive communities like we have here at CTK.

Trinity School Progression Event

Earlier this month we were delighted here at CTK Emmanuel to host a successful Progression Conference for the keen Year 11 students at Trinity School. The students were welcomed by talks by both the Vice Principal and the Head of Careers about Subject focus and Post 16 options, demonstrating the importance in choosing the right place to go for their higher education. Moreover, in the afternoon had the chance to get involved with many different subjects, some they are familiar with and some new, which they could study at Sixth Form.

The 80 students delved into subjects specific to our Emmanuel site, such as; Engineering, Business and Art and Design, and received invaluable talks by our subject teachers all about what it is like to take these subjects at Sixth Form level.

Currently 64 former Trinity students attend Christ the King Sixth Forms, and we hope to see this continue following the success of our Secondary School visits and events.

CTK Alumni Visit

We were delighted to welcome back to Sixth form yesterday evening, CTK alumni, who have studied Medicine or studied at Oxbridge to share their experiences with current Y12 students. The alumni represented a range of careers from junior doctors, to the media to politics.

Mrs Nadori, who organises the annual Alumni Evening, said: “ Our alumni offer great advice to students aspiring to study Medicine or applying to Oxbridge. It is always fascinating to hear how they have progressed in their respective careers.

The Panic Room Experience

Students from both CTK Emmanuel and CTK St Mary’s were taken to an escape room today to help them prepare for their BTEC Business “Developing a marketing campaign” exam.

The students were all expected to use their problem solving skills to break out of themed rooms and really enjoyed the experience. After this, the managing director of The Panic Room delivered a talk and Q&A on how they market their business which served as primary research for the students sitting the exam in January.

The trip was great fun and we wish the students all the best in their January exams!

Maggie Reid – External Speaker Talk

Students at St Mary’s and Emmanuel enjoyed an informative presentation by Maggie Reid, independent Human Resources (HR) contractor, about careers in HR. After graduating in Modern Languages, Maggie worked for charity organisations in Africa.

She has a wealth of experience in HR, having worked for the University of Greenwich implementing large-scale pay review projects and, more recently, as an independent contractor for the professional body, The Law Society.

Maggie spoke about there being many subjects at Sixth Form and degree level, which can open up a career in HR including English, History, Modern Languages and social sciences like Psychology, Sociology and Business. She emphasised that certain skills were important for the role. Practitioners need to be good communicators with strong interpersonal skills, willing to work in a team and be organised. HR professionals may find themselves in conflict resolution and advocacy roles, which requires confidence and attention to detail. Others may find themselves in a training role, both in-house or externally, or managing corporate change or transformation projects. In essence, there are many different aspects to HR so it is a career offering variety.

In terms of advice, Maggie urged students to take up as many opportunities as possible within and outside their current programme of study, to gain experience and develop transferable skills.

Maggie is also currently supporting the College in a voluntary role as a member of our Partnership Advisory Board.

Talk by Philippe Sands QC

CTK Emmanuel was delighted to recently host a talk by Philippe Sands QC which he gave to over one hundred of our students. 

Philippe spoke about his career as a professor of Law at University College of London as well as a barrister at Matrix Chambers. Philippe also explained how he became a regular commentator on the BBC and CNN and frequent writer  for leading newspapers. 

As a practicing barrister, Philippe was able to highlight his extensive experience in litigating cases before international courts. Leading cases in which he has been involved in include Pinochet and Guantanamo detainees. He is also author of ‘Lawless World’ on the illegality of the Iraq war, and ‘Torture Team’ on liability for torture.

Urban Synergy

Urban Synergy’s ‘Tips to the Top’ Role Model seminar is one of the highlights of the academic year at Christ the King Sixth Forms. The annual cross-site event, which features panel discussions and speed mentoring sessions, inspires confidence in our students and gives them an opportunity to interact with leading industry professionals.

Discussions of this kind not only broaden student horizons but also provide a valuable insight into the qualities of academic and professional success. The mentoring programmes and inspirational seminars organised by the charity provide support, guidance and encouragement for young people, and motivate them to achieve their best.

This year Christ the King Sixth Forms was fortunate enough to welcome the following guest speakers to the panel:

  • Colin Donaldon, Bristh Airways Pilot
  • Ade Adelekan, Chief Superintendent
  • Troy Von Scheibner – Magician & TV Personality (CTK alumnus)
  • Mahta Mehari, Senior Software Project Manager
  • Adrian Grant, Entertainment Producer

The evening opened with an introductory session, in which the panel discussed their personal journeys and outlined the steps they have taken to get to where they are today. This was followed by an insightful Q&A session, in which students addressed personal questions to members of the panel.

Students, as always, left the event feeling both inspired and motivated about their future potential!

Elevate Mentoring Programme

The Elevate Mentoring Programme was launched this week to CTK students by alumnus Trevor Gomes and his BT colleagues Tom Culley and Radostina Velinova.

The programme was created by Trevor to equip students with the skills and experiences required to enter the world of work and higher education.  Twenty students took part in the launch and the programme will cover topics including: Personal Branding, Networking, Interview skills, Resilience at Work, Mentoring and careers at BT and EE.

As part of the programme students will take part in a number of activities and external visit including a trip to Wembley Stadium and meeting businessman Levi Roots.

Nigel Hogg Visit

As part of the External Speaker Programme, on 17 October, students enjoyed an engaging presentation by Nigel Hogg, Apprenticeship Manager at the University of East London.  Nigel, who has worked for many companies throughout his career, notably London Underground and Ford Motor Company, is an engineer by profession and, more recently, has been involved in teaching and education.  He organises the University’s Degree Apprenticeship programmes and explained that this is a fast-growing sector with new programmes being introduced all the time.   Not all programmes are business-related; there are also opportunities in the healthcare industry, digital technologies and engineering to name but a few.  Nigel talked about the many companies offering apprenticeships and stressed the importance, particularly with the larger organisations like TfL and BT, of researching dates when they are accepting applications and the assessment process.

One of Nigel’s key messages about applying for apprenticeships was to give yourself a competitive edge by doing something different, outside of your studies.  Candidates who had volunteered or had a hobby or participated in schemes like the Duke of Edinburgh Award were the ones that stood out, he maintained.

For more information about the University of East London’s involvement in apprenticeships, please visit: https://www.uel.ac.uk/apprenticeships

Barclays Rise Programme

The Barclays RISE Programme (Revealing the Industry to Secondary Education) was launched this week to CTK students by Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy, Yaa Ofori-Ansah, Adetola Oshin and a number of their Barclays colleagues.

The programme has been running for a number of years and was originally created by former CTK student, Michael Lee, and his colleagues within the Barclays Graduate Scheme. They wanted to provide a platform where they could share their experiences whilst mentoring students who may have limited opportunities and insight into working in professional industries.  

Each student on the programme is assigned a mentor and works with them through a four session programme.  The weekly sessions are split into two parts with the first part being an interactive presentation on the development topic of the week.  The second part is an opportunity for each mentee to have the chance to speak to and work with their mentor individually.

Following the successful completion of the mentoring programme there is also the opportunity for students to gain work experience with Barclays.

CTK Fast Track Programme

Everyone needs to be aware of the career opportunities available to them in the future and how to best take advantage of them. To support this, the October half term saw the launch of the sixth annual CTK Fast Track Programme. As in previous years, the programme involved a large number of students from all three CTK sites coming together at CTK: Emmanuel for two days of training.

The morning session of the first day was led by CTK alumnus Seye Olokede who spoke about his own experiences and how students can “Develop a professional work ethic.” During the talk Seye covered topics including the importance of time keeping, personal presentation and the skills needed to work well and succeed in the modern workplace. During the second part of the first days training, we welcomed Trevor Gomes and Louis Howell who spoke to students about a wide range of opportunities they could become involved in. They also spoke about the use of social media in a professional environment and the benefits of networking through LinkedIn.

The first day concluded with Maria O’Regan along with her colleagues from Santander conducting two workshops “Building and presenting a compelling CV” and “Competency based Interviews”. Working in small groups, students had the opportunity to get advice and guidance on their CVs and how they could develop their interview techniques.

The second days training started with a presentation from Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy and Tola Oshin from Barclays regarding the RISE programme. The rest of the day was run by The Unloc Enterprise Academy and focused on alternative career routes for students; specifically on self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Feedback from students and guests was that the training was hugely beneficial and will have a positive impact on their career aspirations and goals.

Question Time Experience

Christ the King Sixth Forms organised a pre-election ‘Question Time’ experience for students across our three sites on Wednesday 45th December. Candidates from the local constituencies were in attendance to field questions from students ranging from how they are engaging young people in politics, tackling knife crime and mental health issues amongst young people, to housing and of course Brexit. The students asked searching and challenging questions of the party representatives.

The following candidates attended and fielded questions from our audience; CTK Emmanuel – Richard Galloway (Young people’s party), Janet Daby (Labour), Gavin Haran (Conservative), Ade Fatukasi (Lib Dem), Rosamund Addo-Kissi-Debrah (Greens) and Roger Deep (Independent), CTK St Marys – Simone Reynolds (Lib Dem) and David Tingle (Labour), CTK Aquinas – Andrea Carey (Greens), Bobby Dean (Lib Dem) and Adam Abdullah (Labour).  It was an excellent, thoughtful and informative experience for all concerned.

Duro Oye Visit

As part of the External Speaker Programme, Business students at CTK: Emmanuel and Health & Social Care students at St Mary’s enjoyed an engaging presentation by the founder of 2020 Change Foundation, Duro Oye.  2020 Change is a youth empowerment organisation, set up to build the next generation of community, business and political leaders.

Thanks to corporate sponsorship, from the likes of Converse and Nando’s, 2020 Change is able to offer a 6-week programme to young people looking to enhance their employability and transferable skills.  The commitment is 2 evening sessions a week for 6 weeks, after which students “graduate” and are offered ongoing mentoring and support with their next move.  Students who are interested in applying and finding out more can visit the website at: http://www.2020change.org/

Visit to the University and Apprenticeship fair at The Emirates Stadium

On 27 September, nearly 40 CTK students enjoyed a visit to the busy and bustling Apprenticeship Fair at the Emirates Stadium in North London.  The event gave students the opportunity to talk to employers and training providers about apprenticeships, as well as speaking to the many universities present about Degree Apprenticeships. 

One of the Upper Sixth students who attended and had found it worthwhile, said:

“I didn’t expect to find so many degree apprenticeship opportunities to get my qualifications for accounting and finance.”

If you are planning to look for an apprenticeship alongside or instead of applying to university, please book an appointment to discuss this with the Careers Team at your site or email: careers@ctksfc.ac.uk

Christ the King Sixth Forms announces launch of new sixth form centres

Press Release Thursday 26 September 2019

Christ the King Sixth Forms announced plans today to create the borough’s first Catholic selective sixth form centre.  CTK Aquinas will open its doors in 2020 to high performing A Level students and will be the area’s only sixth form centre of its kind.  In another first, Christ the King Sixth Forms will also be launching London’s only Catholic sixth form centre for vocational students, CTK Emmanuel.

Under the plans announced today by Joint Collegiate Principal Shireen Razey, new students joining Christ the King Sixth Forms in 2020 will choose from three distinct sixth form centres, based on their university ambitions, career aspirations and prior academic performance.

CTK St Mary’s will continue to provide an extensive range of both A Level and high level BTEC qualifications at its sixth form in Sidcup.

Joint Collegiate Principal Shireen Razey says: “Over the past 12 months, we have consulted extensively with staff, parents, alumni, universities, our employer advisory boards and Catholic partners.  As a result we have built a distinct picture of why students and parents choose each of our sixth forms as a place to study, what they value about their environment and teaching, and where there are additional opportunities to supply something unique which is not currently offered within the local community.”

From September 2020, CTK Aquinas will launch as a selective A Level centre for excellence.  The Christian values of the Catholic college, combined with a high quality curriculum, developed in partnership with independent schools and the scholarship graduate programme, will appeal to those with top GCSE grades.  Students will be taught in a purpose built sixth form, by specialist teachers with a focus on progressing to the UK’s top Universities.

Students will be offered a range of 23 subjects at A Level and will need to have achieved at least 48 points at GCSE in order to apply, with an average grade profile of 6. Those studying Science and Maths will require a GCSE grade 7 or above.  Students wishing to study for an A Level subject will need a grade 6 or above in that subject at GCSE.  Dress code will be formal, with students required to wear business-like suits, with tailored trousers and skirts.

Another first will be the launch of CTK Emmanuel as a centre for professional excellence.  From September 2020, CTK Emmanuel will provide high level technical and vocational qualifications, for students who aim to progress to university or into careers in engineering, science, media, business, law, health, education, sports and performing arts.   Currently, almost 90% of Christ the King’s BTEC students progress onto university, which is significantly higher than the national average.  In 2018, 50% of Christ the King students that secured a place at a Russell Group University, had studied a Level 3 BTEC Qualification.  CTK Emmanuel will offer the widest range of university focused vocational courses in the area and will be London’s only dedicated sixth form specialising in vocational courses.

In Sidcup, CTK St Mary’s will continue to provide a wide range of 30 A Level and BTEC courses and graduate programmes to suit a variety of abilities, including the highest performing GCSE students on the Advanced Graduate Programme. 

The three sixth forms will provide extensive choice for local students across London and Kent with a wide range of courses on offer to suit all abilities and aspirations, and a place for all hardworking, ambitious students.

Christ the King Chair of Governors Rupert Evenett says; “We believe that across each of Christ the King Sixth Forms, we are able to offer every young person with ambition, drive and aspiration the chance to study up to the highest level and gain entry to leading universities. Our Christian values are underpinned by our CTK graces, built on character education, which are; grit, respect, awareness, curiosity, endeavor and self-control. These values are key to the success of our students and key to our sixth form communities.”

Tilly Franklin Launches the Annual CTK Cross-Site External Speaker Programme

CTK was delighted to have Tilly Franklin, Director of Investments at Alta Advisers, launch the annual CTK cross-site External Speaker Programme.  

Over 70 students Business students had the opportunity to listen to Tilly’s inspirational talk about her life, career and what is involved in running a private equity fund.  Tilly explained to students how she came to work in private equity despite not initially studying Business or Finance.

Tilly spoke of her path in education: from attending her local school before going to the University of Cambridge, followed by London Business School and then Harvard University. She also explained about the variety of previous roles she has held at BBC Worldwide Ltd, Virgin Management Ltd. and McKinsey & Company.

David Pearson, Director of Wider Learning, Careers, & Partnerships at CTK, said: ‘Tilly Franklin has got our External Speaker Programme off to a fantastic start. She is one of many high-profile speakers who will be coming into our colleges over the next few months.  Our students gain a great deal from hearing these inspirational, high-achieving individuals speak about their own education and career paths.’

CTK students Design an App in a Day with BNYMellon

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) students from CTK were given the chance to spend an amazing day at the central offices in London of BNYMellon to learn how to Design an App in a Day.

The Design an App in a Day workshop took key elements from the Apps for Good course, guiding pupils through an interactive development model where they began with an idea and ended with a pitch, outlining their final prototype. Students had the opportunity to hear from BNY Mellon volunteers about a real-world challenge and then had the opportunity to come up with a tech solution. Students explored user needs and features, market research and user profiling before finally, creating drawn wireframes of their app ideas and pitching them back to the class and volunteers. Collaborative working, problem solving and communication skills were are all encouraged and developed during this innovative workshop.

Many students afterwards described the day as being the most productive workshop of their studies so far!

Corporate Mentoring with Capgemini and Urban Synergy 2019

Fourteen CTK students were delighted to recently take part in a corporate mentoring programme with Capgemini and Urban Synergy. Over a number of weeks the programme helped to develop their wider skills as well as offering them an opportunity to gain experience which could lead onto a Degree Apprenticeship.

Capgemini is a global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation and is at the forefront of innovation to take advantage of opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and platforms.

Urban Synergy is an award winning mentoring charity that has helped hundreds of young people between 11 and 18 years of age reach their full potential through outcome focused mentoring programmes and have supported many CTK students in the past. A highlight of the programme for students was meeting Christine Hodgson during the least session. Christine is the Chairwoman of Capgemini UK plc and the Careers & Enterprise Company. 

CTK Emmanuel
Belmont Grove
London SE13 5GE
020 8297 9433
emmanuel@ctksfc.ac.uk
Christ The King Sixth Forms