Norfolk Trip - Rooming information

Don't forget to read the previous post as it tells you about kit-lists and such like. This post is simply about the number of people per room. You should organise yourselves and speak to each other about who you wish to share with. You can share with people from other classes, but just make sure that when you hand me your list of names that (1) everyone on the list has agreed to be in your room (I don't want to have peoples names appearing on more than one list) and that (2) the list is not a list that will make me go "oh no, I don't think that would be a sensible combination of people" - use you judgement and common sense on this matter!

The Girls - one corridor in a building called "Bailey". Not the easiest or best of rooming for you, unfortunately:
Room 14 - 10 girls
Room 12 - 10 girls
Room 10 - 10 girls
Room 9 - 8 girls
Room 2 - 12 girls

The Boys - two different areas (one called "Irwin" and one called "Hope"). Much smaller rooms than the girls.
Irwin Room 2 - 6 boys
Irwin Room 3 - 8 boys
Irwin Room 4 - 4 boys
Irwin Room 5 - 6 boys
Irwin Room 6 - 4 boys
Irwin Room 7  - 4 boys
Irwin Room 8 - 6 boys
Irwin Room 9 - 8 boys
Hope Room 2 - 4 boys
Hope Room 3 - 6 boys
Hope Room 4 - 4 boys
Hope Room 5 - 4 boys
Hope Room 6 - 8 boys

Year 10 Fieldtrip - Norfolk (30th April to 2nd May 2012)

We are rapidly approaching the time for the Norfolk Fieldtrip. I will continue to post information up here about the trip as I receive it. At present I cannot tell you about the rooming allocation, but will do so soon. You can prepare by starting conversations with others about who you may wish to share rooms with.

All food is provided for you, though you will need to have money or a packed lunch for the journey down.

We are due to leave at 9.00am from Upper school on the Monday, so you should be in school at about 8.40am so we can get everything sorted before boarding the bus.

The sort of things you will need to bring are:

• Sensible clothing. Layers of clothing are better as they can be taken off or added depending on the weather. The coast can get windy and you should make sure you have enough warm clothing. If you have waterproof clothing that could be useful. Jeans tend not to be the best things to wear as if they get wet they will be uncomfortable.
• You will be walking about the coastline, so sensible foootwear is needed. If you have walking boots then bring them.
• You should bring toiletries (toothbrush/paste, deodorant, shower gel/soap etc).
• It would be useful if you could take photos, but the school will be providing photos when you return that you can use in your controlled assessment. 
• If you do take any valuable items then you should be aware that it is at your own risk. The last time we visited the centre there were no locks on dormitory doors.
• You should bring pens and pencils.

Remember, that it is vital that you know exactly what is going on during the trip and that you are part of all of the data collection process as you will be examined on these when we return and you will not be given much (if any) help. The 1200 words that you write will be marked and is worth 15% of your final grade.

Ask your teacher if you have any questions.

June GCSE SDME exam (re-take)

The date of the exam is Thursday 14th June (am)
The exam has this title: The old age saga - why does an older population pose challenges for us all?

There is pre-release booklet that you will be issued with and some practice questions and resources. Your job will be to work through this material, revise about ageing populations and make sure that you are happy with the different challenges ageing population presents and how it can be managed.

You should speak to your teacher if you are not provided with these materials asap.

Year 12 - Cornwall trip

The details for the trip are as follows:

You must be at school on Monday 19th March at 7.45am - yes, that's early but it is a long journey to Cornwall, as you will know, Cornwall suffers from it's isolation. Journey times are long!

You will be provided with dinner on each night whilst away and from Tuesday morning onwards you will also get breakfast. However, you will not be provided with lunch so need to bring enough money to buy something whilst we are out.

The sort of things you could bring are:
Waterproofs (if jeans get wet they are uncomfortable)
Walking boots and wellies may be useful for beaches
Layers of clothing (it is easier to take off layers of clothing if you get hot or add layers if you get cold) and things to keep you warm (the coast can get windy and cold)
Towel
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and so on)
Pens, pencils etc


Useful items could include a camera -but you must be aware that the school takes o responsibility for any items that you bring along.

I would hope that we will be back between4-5pm on the Friday, but this is subject to change and you will need to ring parents on the journey back to give them a clearer idea of arrival time.

If you have any questions about the trip you should ask your teacher or email Mr Bains on H.Bains@ksnadmin.ksn.org.uk

Earth Day - April 22nd 2012

Year 13 homework for Mr Bains (27th Jan 2012): ENERGY SECURITY - the Alberta Tar Sands

Year 13 - Energy security
Your homework is to carry on looking at the Alberta Tar Sands project. You must be confident in saying why some people are for it and why others are against it, looking at social, economic and environmental issues. The following articles and videos will help you do this. 


You should make notes on what you see (and/or add to the cost-benefit table we did in class).


A potential exam question is:
"Examine the costs and benefits of countries and TNCs exploiting energy resources in technically difficult and environmentally sensitive areas" 


National Geographic article on Canadian Tar Sands


Tar Sands Watch - a protest group website


Greenpeace campaign on the Tar Sands


Government of Alberta justify the exploitation of reserves


Nov 2011 article from The Guardian saying why the project is unwise

Two years since the Haiti earthquake

Two years have passed since a ferocious earthquake levelled much of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, and killed about 250,000 people. It was one of the worst natural disasters of recent times, striking one of the poorest nations. There is still lots of work to do in Haiti (60,000 people still live in tents) and it is worth reading some reports that show how difficult it is for poor countries to recover after such devastating disasters, even with the assistance of foreign help.


Click on the title to read one report about the earthquake


Click here to read a different article


Click here to read a blog from UNICEF about the earthquake

SDME exam: 60min podcast for students

As the Year 11s prepare for the SDME exam on the 24th Jan, some of you may find it useful to listen to this podcast, where Mark Howell, a teacher from a school in Northamptonshire, goes through the pre-release booklet and explains sources and gives advice on how to answer questions. Because it's a podcast, you can download it and listen to it whenever you get a spare moment, in small chunks. Click on the title and you'll be taken to the podcast on iTunes. If you do decide to listen to it or download it, leave a comment for the producer, maybe thanking him for the effort!