No Showers; just Glorious Bath

Saturday 12 February dawned misty and cool but the promise was of sunshine to come. The students and three staff assembled on time at the Swan building ready for trip to Bath. It was a good journey there and we arrived by 10.30. The city looked beautiful with the golden colour of the Cotswold stone buildings making a stunning contrast with the blue sky. A short walk took us to the centre of the town and a chance to explore the Roman Baths.

The Baths were built along with a temple to Sulis Minerva at the site of a Celtic sacred spring. This is a place where hot water rises from deep in the earth’s core and gushes out on the surface. The flow of water is enough to fill your bath in 8 seconds. We walked around the Baths and the Temple and were able to listen to a commentary in Chinese, Japanese, German, French and other languages as well as English. It was fascinating to walk around the areas that the Romans had walked around over two thousand years ago. The water was not clear but we could watch the steam rising from it as it bubbled up from the ground.


We then had a break for lunch where all could choose a restaurant. After lunch we reassembled and walked as a group up to the Circus and the Royal Crescent. There was much amusement as we walked past the street called Quiet Street — none of us were sure who could live there! We admired the beautiful houses in the Royal Crescent and dreamed of owning one. All were imagining what life would be like if they lived there in the past.

The group then divided with some wanting to enjoy more free time in the city whilst the remainder enjoyed a visit to the Assembly Rooms and the Museum of Fashion.

— Words by Ursula Boughton, Teacher of Maths

Interactive science at the Royal Institution in London

A trip was arranged by Dr Tuncel Tack, the chemistry teacher at the ISC to the Royal Institution in London. This included the opportunity to work in their laboratories for half a day and an exploration of the museum for the other half of the day.

The students assembled bright and early and following a coach journey through Henley to London we arrived on time at Albemarle Street. The 38 students from the ISC were then split in to two groups and given their tasks for the day.

The work in the laboratory fascinated all the students. They were able to extract strands of their own DNA. This involved chewing the inside of their cheeks to release some cells and then using the fluid from their mouth. They then had to use very carefully measured amounts of various chemicals to breakdown cells walls and then using heat they were able to finally using very cold water to isolate the tiny strands of DNA on the interface between the two fluids. It was amazing to see our own DNA without a microscope. The students were then able to take home a vial of fluid with their DNA strands. It was a memorable experiment.

Museum Tour


The museum at the Royal Institution has examples of the wok of many of the scientists attached to the Institute. We learned that 10 of the elements on the periodic table were discovered by scientists at the Institute. There was an interactive activity to find these based on the Elements song by Tom Lehrer which is a parody of the Major General's song from Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan. There was much to see at the museum and we had a questionnaire to help us to find out as much as we could.

It was a good day for staff and students alike and many thanks to Tuncel for organising it.

Pantomime!

Students at the International Study Centre are excitedly awaiting the release of their very own pantomime DVD which should be available from Friday 14th January. They are looking forward to seeing how their show looked on the night, having worked really hard in the build up, not just rehearsing, but also helping make the costumes and props and designing and painting parts of the set.


Their production of ‘Snow White and the Seven Deadly Sins’ – a unique twist on the story of Snow White - transported the tale to Transylvania and turned it into ‘horror panto’. As ever, the audience was wonderfully supportive and the performances completely hilarious.


The cast and crew were delighted to receive rave reviews from avid pantomime fans, including the College Bursar, Peter Talbot, who had this to say: “What a masterpiece of entertainment! It really was a fantastic start to Christmas and a real ‘tour de force’ from all your remarkable students. As always I find it thoroughly humbling to think they are learning all the words in a foreign language after only a few weeks of studying in the UK — and then making it humorous. Awesome!”


The cast wowed other audience members, too. “The kids all did brilliantly! Special big shouts out to Count Von Tusrey, the Dancing Girls, and Blumenthal, but they were all great!” wrote Rebecca Wood in an email to the students. “In my humble opinion, it was the best one yet.”

High praise indeed from someone who has helped produce all the previous ISC pantomimes — and was in the audience for the first time to enjoy it.

— By Helen Wood, Director

Watch a slideshow of photos from the show

Sweet-toothed fund-raising for Amnesty International

Once a year the International Study Centre hosts a fun-filled day of fundraising for a UK or international charity. The teachers and students work hard at preparing the event with the teachers and staff baking biscuits and cakes to sell to students and staff throughout the college with the aim of raising as much money as possible for a good cause. This year, Amnesty International was chosen as the charity that would benefit from all our baking skills at the ISC.


Students are the ISC are currently studying the topic of Human Rights and the role of charities in their citizenship subject, and planning their coursework around this sensitive and challenging topic.

Teachers and students alike feasted on biscuits and cakes in a party-like atmosphere at break times. The cakes and biscuits were delicious with the chocolate brownies and coffee cake in particular going down a storm with all staff and students.


Talal said, “It’s good to help people and see people doing something. Every little thing you do counts.”

Toby found the day’s event very enjoyable. “I liked being involved with a cause that affects society, either locally or globally.” It gave me a good opportunity to improve my English by focusing on wider issues in society that we don’t normally cover in class.

The amount of £71.83 was raised in total.


Everyone was particularly impressed by the tasty treats baked by the ISC staff. Rumour has it that the students will have the task of cooking biscuits and cakes for the next event, and we are sure they will be just as delicious as those eaten on our fund-raising day!

The ISC Pantomime 2009: Strictly Xinderella

For most staff and students, December means one thing: holidays. But not at the ISC. Here, December means it's time for the annual panto – this year, Strictly Xinderella.



The panto has become an important fixture in the College social calendar – and has even acquired a cult following among certain theatregoers.

'Oh, no it hasn't,' I can almost hear you say.

Oh, yes it has!

Is it the expertly prepared, professionally crafted sets that appeal most? Or the stunning colours and exquisitely cut costumes? No, let’s be honest, it’s probably just the sight of Chinese boys pretending to be British boys who are pretending to be girls that makes our panto the must-see event of the season!

The story begins in the X Factor studio, where the panel of Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Danii Minogue are portrayed as a group of stock characters trying to find a cast of talented pantomime players to appear in a new pantomime production.



You can guess who the villain is (and if you can’t, it’s Simon Cowell, or, as he’s known in the panto, Warlock Atrocidocious).

The action then shifts to the Strictly Come Dancing studio where a fantasy King and Queen are busy trying to arrange a glittering party where their son can find a wife from all the fair maidens in the land. After that, well, let’s just say it gets a bit complicated…

Always impressing is the fact that all the students, regardless of ability, play a role and are given the opportunity to improve their vocabulary and pronunciation. This year was probably the most ambitious production we’ve ever done, and the fact that it was produced a week early meant even less time to rehearse than usual. Combined with that was the fact that the cast had to contend with an epidemic of 'flu, colds and laryngitis, this was certainly a challenge. But the brave crew soldiered on and managed to give an exciting, memorable and entertaining performance.

A huge thanks is due not only to the students and staff of the ISC who worked so hard, but also to all the other staff and students of the Sixth form who helped with costumes, make up and set.

Photos from the performance (view on Flickr)



Photos from the dress rehearsal (view on Flickr)

Writeup by David Wareham