An Academic Transition Year

In St Columba's College we emphasise that TY is a strongly academic year, building on previous years' experience. Normal classroom work takes place alongside the hugely diverse activities recorded on this blog. As half-term and the parent-teacher meeting approach it is appropriate briefly to focus on this vital aspect of the college year.

Each TY pupil has so far received three sets of effort marks signalling their level of effort in their academic subjects. The Michaelmas examinations will take place at the end of November and TY will undertake these alongside all other forms. At the end of this term parents will receive a full report on their academic performance.

Here is just a short sample of some subject wok being undertaken by TY pupils this term:

Geography/European Studies have been engaged in powerpoint presentations on European countries and will visit the European Commission Offices later this term.

Music pupils have looked at the origins of music and are also singing in a harmony group - we anticipate a TY Music concert later in the year.

The History class are immersed in World War I.

The Physics class have looked at optics and have started on mechanics.

Art/Photography afficionados are putting together scrapbooks containing their work and thoughts on their chosen pieces.

English pupils are hard at work on their Extended Essays and are also well into Twelfth Night in class.

Les eleves Francais are working their way through verbs and tenses while also studying three French songs and the Spanish pupils are researching Spanish artists in advance of a visit to the National Gallery.

Finally, the Classical Studies group have meditated upon the thoughts of Marcus Aurelius, have endured Greek Tragedy, enjoyed poetry from the ancient world and are currently examining religion in Rome.   

Later in the year individual subjects will present themselves more fully on the blog.