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Weekly Updates from Medina College - 15 May 2026

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15 May 2026

Weekly Updates from the Leadership Team

Welcome to the penultimate newsletter for this half-term. 

We have enjoyed supporting Mental Health Awareness week this week. We have had a variety of activities to raise awareness, including assemblies, a workshop and Wear it Green Mufti. As the Mental Health Foundation states, it is important to take action to support good mental health : for yourself, for someone else, for all of us.  While our individual actions matter, when we come together we are even more powerful.

We would like to acknowledge how well Year 11 have conducted themselves in their exams this week. The first GCSE English, Maths and Science exams are now complete, as well as many other subjects. The most important thing is to ensure students stay focused on making the most of every opportunity to potentially improve their grades. Lessons are continuing as normal so it is important that students continue to attend. We will be sharing the half-term revision programme with you early next week. 

Thank you to all of our Year 7 parents/carers who attended Parents' Evening on Wednesday evening. It was great for staff to be able to have so many useful and open conversations to be able to support working towards a successful end to this academic year. 

On Tuesday, our VI Form Young Enterprise team, Boundless Wight, made their way to London for the South East Regional Finals. They won the Best Company Award and the Marketing Award, as well as a place in the National Finals in Cardiff on 3rd June. We wish them all the very best with the final stage! 

We delivered a work experience assembly to the Year 10 students this week; work experience is coming up in the summer term for them.  Students have been asked to log in to UniFrog to ensure they have access to start and complete the placement form, and they all have a 'how to' guide for the use of Unifrog to support them at home.

We would just like to remind all parents/carers that laser pens are a banned item. They must not be brought into school. A laser pointer that’s used incorrectly, maliciously or carelessly can permanently damage eyesight. As per our behaviour policy, this is a level 6 behaviour which leads to the highest possible sanctions. 

We hope that you have a lovely weekend, and we look forward to welcoming the students back to school on Monday. Just a reminder that next Friday is a full day and school will finish as normal at 3.15pm. 

Mrs Paul, Mrs Mursell and Mrs Sandiford

Executive Headteacher and Co-Heads of School

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Medina College Students Premiere Powerful Youth-Led Film ‘Unheard’

Students from Medina College recently celebrated the premiere of their powerful original film Unheard, created as part of Artswork’s Young Cultural Changemakers programme.

The project began with one important question posed to students:
“If adults were listening, what would you tell them?”
Through honest discussion, reflection and creativity, students transformed their thoughts and experiences into a compelling script, supported by drama teacher Mrs Rogers. After interviewing potential directors, the students chose to work with acclaimed filmmaker Bruce Webb, who directed and edited the film.

The students were involved in every aspect of the production process. Alongside taking acting roles themselves, they also operated cameras, managed sound, worked on production roles and even composed the film’s original music. Professional actor Leah Barbara West joined the cast in the role of teacher Ms Grant.

The premiere evening, held at Medina College, welcomed a range of local stakeholders, including Nigel Hartley, the Isle of Wight High Sheriff. Following the screening, students took part in a Q&A session with Bruce Webb, impressing the audience with their professionalism, confidence and maturity.

Nigel Hartley described the evening as an “extraordinary experience” and said he was “so proud of our Isle of Wight young people”.

Opening the evening, Co-Head of School Anna Mursell reflected on Medina College’s vision for its young people: “Every student is valued and every voice matters.”
She praised the students for bringing our values to life through the project, adding that they had been “the driving force behind every single aspect of this filmmaking process”.

The project was supported throughout by Peta Rainford from Artswork and Mrs Palmer from Medina College.

Closing the evening, Anna Mursell congratulated the students on creating “a remarkably powerful piece of filmmaking” and thanked everyone involved in supporting the project. She concluded with a message directly to the young filmmakers:
“You asked us to listen, and tonight, you made absolutely sure that we heard you.”

Peta Rainford also praised the students publicly following the event, highlighting the honesty and openness of the conversations that inspired the film and gave it its “integrity and power”.

Unheard will now feature in Artswork’s LISTEN UP! youth-led film festival this October as part of Creative Island’s CAN YOU HEAR US? programme, funded by Arts Council England.

The entire Medina College community is incredibly proud of all the students involved for their courage, creativity and commitment in bringing such an important project to life.
 

 

Mental Health Awareness Fair

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, students at Medina College had the opportunity to meet with representatives from School Pastors, Kooth and the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) on Tuesday to talk about mental health and wellbeing.

At the Fair, students explored the support services available to them and discussed positive ways to look after their own mental health. Parents/Carers then had the opportunity to drop in to the fair after school so that they could also meet with professionals and find out more about local services. 

The event forms part of Medina’s ongoing work to raise awareness around mental health and wellbeing across the school community, while helping shape ideas for future events next year.

 

Walk the Wight

Huge congratulations to everyone in our community who took part in Walk the Wight last weekend.

We had students taking part in the Schools 4-mile walk, the first half, the second half, and even students who completed the full 26.5 miles! You are all inspirational and should be incredibly proud of your achievement.

Walk the Wight is a hugely important event here on the Isle of Wight, raising vital funds for Mountbatten, a charity that is close to all of our hearts.

We are so proud to celebrate everyone who took part and would like to say a huge thank you for all of your efforts. Well done to you all! 

 

 

 

Former Island VI Form student Josef Krista's work is performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra.

We are delighted to share the success of former Medina College and Island VI Form student Josef Krista, who recently heard his own composition performed by a full orchestra.

Josef, who was a student at Medina College from Year 7 to Year 11, studied GCSE Music before continuing his musical studies at The Island VI Form, where he took A Level Music. He is now studying B.Sc. (Hons) Music Composition and Sound for Film and Games at the University of Hertfordshire.  As part of his degree, he studied composition for a year in the United States, returning to the UK for his final year.

Last weekend his composition, The Last Day for a Flock of Birds (Movement I), was performed by the de Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra as part of a public concert presented by UH Arts + Culture.

The piece depicts the awakening of birds in a meadow at sunrise, with conversational birdsong brought to life through the orchestra, beginning with bassoon and piccolo before being joined by other wind instruments.

Josef’s success is a fantastic example of where studying music can lead, from GCSE and A Level study on the Isle of Wight through to specialist higher education and professional-level performance opportunities.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Josef’s achievements and wish him every success as he continues his career in composition and sound for film and games.

 

 

Dates for your diary

Half Term Break
All Day
from 25 May until 29 May
25
May
HPV Session 2 Year 8, 9, 10 and 11
All Day
02
June
Year 10 Geography Trip to Sandown
All Day
03
June
School Closed IW Festival
0:00am – 0:00am
19
June
School Closed IW Festival
0:00am – 0:00am
22
June

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If a student is unable to attend the school for any reason or has an appointment then you can register this using the Arbor App links below.  You are also able to contact the school using the Attendance line on 01983 538055

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