BHASVIC

 Photo and text kindly provided by the NARU - National Ambulance Resilience Unit

David Bull, a former BHASVIC student has received the highly prestigious Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (one of only two to be awarded in England in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List) for services to national ambulance education.

Mr Bull has received his QAM for his, “tireless dedication to driving national ambulance education forward by demonstrating initiative, innovation, determination, confidence and leadership.”

The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal (QAM) honours a very small, select group of ambulance personnel who have shown exceptional devotion to duty, outstanding ability, merit and conduct in their roles within NHS Ambulance Services. It was introduced last year and was warmly welcomed by ambulance services because it finally ensures that the dedication of ambulance staff now has the same level of Royal recognition as other members of the emergency services.

Mr Bull, 44, lives in Sussex with his family and says: "I am delighted to have been awarded the Queen's Ambulance Service Medal and it is a real honour to be recognised for the significant advances that have been made in emergency services training. I would like to thank so many people for supporting me, all those involved in training across all three emergency services who I have worked with over the years, and particularly those whose jobs keep them behind the scenes in admin and logistics, but without whom my job would not be possible. Finally, the biggest thanks must go to my family and close friends for the love and support they have provided me with during my time in the ambulance service."

Mr Bull is now entitled to place the letters QAM after his name and in accordance with custom, his QAM will be formally presented at an investiture ceremony by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace later in summer. Keith Prior, the National Director of NARU, says: “This is an outstanding achievement for anybody in the ambulance service but to have one of my members of staff receive such a coveted award is fantastic. David has always been innovative and creative and he works extremely hard for NARU, doing a first-rate job leading our education provision which has developed an extremely strong reputation for excellence during his time in charge. Along with other NARU team members I am very proud of David’s achievement and see this in some small way as a success for the whole of NARU.”

Mr Bull started his career serving 14 years in the Army undertaking a number of operational tours. He joined the former Sussex Ambulance Service in 2000, worked as a Paramedic in Brighton and was then seconded to work on delivering national multi-agency command training for the former Ambulance Service Association (ASA). He was then asked to lead the development of training and education for the national Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) programme on behalf of the Department of Health.

Although Mr Bull was originally nominated for the QAM anonymously by a colleague, it was actually the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) that was responsible for nominating David as a recipient of the award in England, taking his citation into account against other nominees. The citation for Mr Bull included reference to the excellent relationships he has built up with colleagues in multiagency partners, Government Departments and in health and ambulance services abroad. In addition many letters of support were received in support of Mr Bull’s citation from a broad range of people with whom he has worked with over the years. The citation noted: “David has overcome many obstacles to develop high quality education, both personal and professional, going not just the extra mile but often far beyond, his tireless dedication to deliver exceptionally high standards has resulted in being away from home for significant periods, often spending four or five nights away each week for the past five years. Despite this, David has sustained the high tempo and has genuinely driven national ambulance education forward by demonstrating initiative, innovation, determination, confidence and leadership.”

'On the 24th and 25th June BHASVIC Chemistry students Robert Hyder-Wilson, Lara Busby and Daniel Tew will be representing the South East Region at the Royal Society of Chemistry Young Analysts Competition at the University of Sunderland.  This prestigious event will test the students skills in the laboratory including an experiment, data analysis and team work.  They will stay in halls of residence and have a chance to experience University life and a chemistry lecture during the competition.  The BHASVIC team qualified for the national final having won the South East heat in April which was hosted by Sussex University. We wish the team the best of luck in Sunderland!'

The New Driver Awareness workshop (NDA) is designed to increase new drivers’ skills on the road, through informal and interactive workshops delivered by Road Safety professionals, and is perfect for those who have recently passed their driving test.  To find out how to sign up for the free sessions please visit:

http://www.sussexsaferroads.gov.uk/safer-for-new-drivers/new-driver-awareness.html

This Saturday 15th June is “People’s Day” in Brighton. BHASVIC Media & Performing Arts Dept are part of the Media Zone, which is located in the Dome’s Pavilion Theatre (New Road). We will be showcasing the best student films produced this year in AS & A2 Media & Film Studies. The screenings will begin at approximately midday & 3pm. This will also be an opportunity for the local community to find out more about Media & Performing Arts courses at BHASVIC. Our student volunteers will be giving out leaflets and answering any questions people have about studying at BHASVIC.  As a thanks to our volunteer students we will make sure their Tutor includes details about their media zone help in references, as well as Personal Statements.

Right Here - Brighton and Hove's youth mental and emotional wellbeing project: www.right-here-brightonandhove.org.uk needs your help in researching a vital new guide for any parents and carers who are concerned about their child’s mental health, or supporting a child with a diagnosed mental health issue.

Amazingly, nothing like this currently exists in the city. The new guide will offer practical and emotional advice and will signpost to relevant support services.

1. FOCUS GROUPS: We are inviting all parents with experience to share to have their voices heard at focus groups. Find dates and locations, and book your place, at www.right-here-brightonandhove.org.uk/parents

2. ONLINE SURVEY:For parents who are unable to attend any of our focus group sessions, we invite you to make your impact by instead completing our online survey at http://surveymonkey.com/s/parentsguide

All participants at the groups and online will have the chance to win a £25 Marks and Spencer voucher!

Progress to date

By the end of Friday 7^th June, three of the new raised zebra crossings will be in place (Vernon Terrace, Goldsmid Road, Chatham Place), and around 50% of the paving and kerbing works will be completed. The overall works programme is running to the original schedule despite several changes to the first phases as a result of design amendments to accommodate the Elm Tree on Vernon Terrace.  The predicted completion date remains as early December. 

Next Construction Phases

As of Monday 10^th June, the project moves into the next phase which focuses on Dyke Road (north and south sections).

In order to facilitate these works, the following temporary traffic management measures will be in place from Monday 10^th June for approximately 8 weeks:

1. Dyke Road (north) will be closed to southbound traffic between Melville Road & the Seven Dials Roundabout. The diversion route for southbound traffic will be Old Shoreham Road, Montefiore Road & Davigdor / Goldsmid Road.  (Note – the current right turn ban into Old Shoreham Road for southbound Dyke Road traffic will be removed to facilitate this diversion).

 2. Dyke Road (south) will be closed to all traffic between Bath Street & the Seven Dials Roundabout. The diversion route will be via Compton Avenue and Buckingham Place.  

 3. A temporary two-way traffic system will be in operation in Buckingham Place between the Seven Dials Roundabout & Bath Street.

Once this phase is complete, we then move on to construction of the new roundabout itself which will be completed in two parts and will involve the introduction of 3-way temporary traffic lights to control traffic flows.  Further road closures and diversions will be in place and an update will be sent nearer the time confirming exact details.

We do apologise for any inconvenience the work is creating for local businesses and residents and assure you that every effort is being made to ensure any disruption is minimised.  Please email sevendials@brighton-hove.gov.uk with any queries regarding the above information.

Kind Regards

Robin Reed MSc, CMILT

Principal Transport Planner

Sustainable Transport, Hove Town Hall

Brighton & Hove City Council

Are you interested in becoming BHASVIC’s first Peer Supporter?

• Are you studying Psychology, Sociology or Health & Social Care, or are you interested in a career in teaching or public services, working with children, students and young adults?

• Have you got good interpersonal skills, empathy, with a sincere interest in helping your peers?

• Would you be willing to spend a day training to become a Peer Supporter at BHASVIC on Friday 28 June? (absences from lessons will be concessioned)

If you have answered ‘Yes’ to all of the questions above and would like to find out more,  please contact Netti Buswell, Guidance Coordinator, as soon as possible.

Telephone 01273 859828 or 01273 552200 extn 4560,

email: peersupport@smail.bhasvic.ac.uk

Room 137, College House

What is it?

• Heads-Up Lite Peer Support Training is four module peer education and support course that promotes partnership and resilience for young people aged 12–25.

• Peer Support is a new service to BHASVIC which will be offered to A1 students from Autumn 2013.

• We are offering the course to 12 students who are studying either Psychology, Sociology or Health & Social Care, or someone who is interested in a career in teaching or public services, working with children, students and young adults. It is an innovative course to help support our students to creatively develop a greater understanding of emotional health and wellbeing issues.

• The Programme is designed to complement existing pastoral support programmes, counselling provision and staff and student capacity building.

The student learning outcomes are:

• To achieve a broad awareness of the impact of positive mental wellbeing and factors that influence mental health.

• To develop a broad understanding of the causes, signs, symptoms and risks and support involved.

• To safely and appropriately react and respond to people who may be experiencing emotional problems.

• To know how to access support, use a response plan, self-help strategies and build networks for their own benefit and, where appropriate, to refer or to advise their peers.

Sports students enjoyed the annual Sports Presentation Evening in BHASVIC's Main Hall. Awards were presented to individuals and teams to celebrate sporting achievements. Pictured below the Netball team and Basketball team receiving their awards. 

 View images from the BHASVIC Sports Presentation Evening 2013

Joint Statement by BHASVIC, Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Stanford Junior and Infant Schools on the proposed siting of The King’s School Hove and a potential new primary school on BHASVIC field

The announcement from the Department for Education on 18^th April 2013 that they had identified the BHASVIC field as the “most suitable deliverable site” for the new 1000 student Kings Free school plus a 3 form entry primary school for a further 630 children,  came as a total shock to us all. We found it hard to understand how the feasibility of a proposal of this scale and significance could possibly have been properly evaluated without first having consulted with us and the other users of the field to establish the extent of current use of the playing fields.

During the school day the fields are in constant use by our institutions, in particular Cardinal Newman Catholic School, who rely on  substantial daily use of the playing fields for curriculum PE and after school sports activities. 

We fully understand the demographic pressures leading to the need for further secondary provision in the City.  We accept that more primary and secondary places are needed in Hove and Portslade, and that this is the rationale for the establishment of the Kings Free school.

But building over a school playing field is not the answer.  Not only would it severely impair our institutions' provision for sports. It would substantially extinguish a school playing field at a time when rightly the public health emphasis on sports and exercise points towards the need for more rather than fewer amenities of this kind.  It would permanently remove a vital green space in the heart of a densely populated city. It would also create great congestion around an area which already has over 4000 students coming and going each day. 

We urge the Department and the local authority to re-examine other viable options for locating the free school, not least the site in Portslade where the new free school will be temporarily sited. There must be a better solution than this, and we are very willing to work constructively with all who are concerned to find it. 

7^th May 2013

The exams team will be handing out exam timetables in the Sports Hall Café at the following times

Tuesday 7^th May 10am – 2pm

Wednesday 8^th May 10am - 2pm

Thursday 9^th May 10am - 2pm

It may well be very busy, particularly at break on Tuesday so if you can try and avoid coming at break where possible and come later in the day or on the Wednesday or Thursday we would really appreciate it, you must not miss lessons in order to remain in a queue after break time, please just come back after your lesson has finished.

These show that the performance by BHASVIC applicants, with a 1-in-2 success rate, was better than that of leading public schools such as Eton, St Pauls and Westminster and the best success rate for any non-selective state institution in the country. The nineteen places gained by BHASVIC students in 2011 places BHASVIC firmly in the top tier of ‘feeder’ schools to Cambridge University; only thirteen schools gained more places, ten of them being leading public schools.

Oxbridge students 2011

Andrea Chlebikova, a former BHASVIC student who is currently studying Chemistry at Cambridge praises the support she received saying: “The support system for Oxbridge applications at BHASVIC recognises that the universities are not looking for applicants who have been artificially trained for the application process. Instead, the focus is on identifying potential applicants early, and then providing them with plenty of opportunities to inform their decision (organising trips to, and inviting affiliates from both universities) as well as useful advice both before and throughout the application process."

Emma Dixon from BHASVIC is a member of the Sussex schools squad who competed at the English Schools Athletic Association cross country championships, Catton Hall, Derbyshire on 16 March.

More information: http://www.activesussex.org/news-and-events/latest-news/view/24461-treble-honours-for-sussex-at-english-schools-cross-country-finals

BTEC Diploma in Sport & Exercise Science (2 A Level equivalent) has provided excellent opportunities and results for students for several years and BHASVIC is pleased to be offering the Extended Diploma (3 A Level equivalent).

Within the diploma, students study a breadth of science and health based units, including nutrition, physiology, sport psychology and sports coaching. The course also provides an invaluable grounding into research methods and data analysis in anticipation of skills required for university study.

The Extended Diploma can add 6 additional units of study and could include biomechanics, work experience and applied physiology.

We have strong connections with Chichester & Bath University and study in their Sport Science laboratories for several units. We also are supported by local gyms, physiotherapists and nutritionists.

This course balances a range of unit topics with the depth required of level 3 study. Students will 2 level 4 units which require a higher level and quality of work.

Students complete the Community Sports Leaders Award in Yr 1 and have the option to complete the Higher Sports Leaders Award course in year 2. They also obtain a National Governing Body qualification and a First Aid qualification.

The course is exceptionally beneficial in terms of university applications and in terms of entering the workplace. Our students have taken places at universities such as Bath and Exeter University, which are considered leading in sport science.

We apologise for a delay in sending Subject Reviews home which has been caused by technical problems in processing reviews via the College’s Moodle-based VLE. College staff are doubling their efforts to enable you to receive these by the first week back in the new term, at the latest.

The College is also part-way through investigations into new methods for reviewing and reporting on students’ progress; in the future Subject Reviews will be available via a parent portal which will be environmentally and economically more efficient.