Sport

At Abbey College, all Key Stage Four students take part in at least two hours of high quality physical education and College sport, in line with the Physical Education and Sport Strategy for Young People.

The aim of the Physical Education department:

Develop students' physical, social and mental skills through a range of sports opportunities where all are included.

The college is committed to equipping each student with the competence and confidence to ensure that physical activity plays a part of their every-day life. Students are expected to lead warm-ups, take on the role of a coach or officiate during lessons, and also to provide feedback to help them to improve.

We also offer a very comprehensive and varied extra curricular programme,held at the National Indoor Arena, Community Sports Hall, which appeals to each and every student.

Activities include:

Football
Basketball
Cricket
Badminton
Netball
Table Tennis
Short Tennis
Trampolining
Circuit Training
Aerobics
Health and Fitness Gymnasium

Please note the above activities will run subject to demand

The college has links with a number schools and clubs across the city that we regularly compete against and also creates a pathway for students to play outside the college.

College Teams

Basketball
Five - A Side Football
Indoor Cricket
Badminton
Netball

1. Sports Newsletter - December 2011

1. Sports Newsletter - November 2011

Music

You can join the Music Society to demonstrate your existing musical talents or discover those that you never thought you had!  Everybody is welcome to participate and to try out musical instruments that may be entirely new to them.  The society members stage performances for fellow students during the course of the college year and a great time is had by all!

Volunteering & Work Experience

If you would like to give something back to the community, help a specific group such as the elderly or animals or develop your skills or a specific interest, Sarah Bloomer will be happy to help you arrange relevant voluntary work. Sarah will also work with you to develop relevant work experience opportunities to further your understanding of the career of your choice, as well as supporting your UCAS application.

College Council

The college council is your chance to have your say and provides opportunities for leadership and to do something worthwhile for the college and the student body. The student voice is highly valued at Abbey College Birmingham and the council meets with the staff to discuss college wide initiatives. In October 2011, the college council arranged a charity event to support breast cancer research and, following the success of the prom in July 2011, we are condidering a student prom again in 2012.  The council are also looking into the possibility of an end of year book for leavers to record the various classes, clubs and individual successes that have taken place.  Last year the council led our celebrations of Muslim, Hindi and Sikh festivals. The students organised presentations to share their beliefs and customs and we shared traditional foods, wore traditional clothes and participated in different cultural events. You don't have to become part of the council to contribute to the college; last year two of the upper sixth girls arranged a Christmas party, with a student and staff sing-a-long and a Secret-Santa gift sharing.

1. Festive Staff Bake Off - 12th December 2011

1. Charity Pink Pamper Evening - 22nd October 2011

Mentoring

The primary purpose of the mentoring scheme is to assist the student support network at the college. A mentor is someone who is there for their mentee who they can trust and confide in and someone who is there to support them in a range of issues and problems that can be emotional, academic or social. They draw from their own experiences and knowledge to help their mentees (under the guidance of the mentor training coordinator) with issues that are very relevant to teenagers today. Mentors are also trained to refer any concerns about students that reach the child protection criteria to the teacher representative. Mentors will feedback to the teacher coordinator after their meetings with the mentees to help monitor and guide the process most effectively.  Anybody can become a good mentor, you must want to help and be able to empathise with what someone is experiencing. You need to be committed to the role of the mentor and be prepared to complete the necessary.

What will the program involve?

You will attend training to help develop the skills necessary for you to support and mentor another person, for at least 6 weeks.

Then the college hopes to then allocate one or more mentees to you.

You will meet your mentee/s once a week and the mentor training coordinator once every 2 weeks.

Regular attendance will be required as you need to document your evidence and create a portfolio as a recognition for your efforts and skills gained.

How will the mentoring program benefit me?

The mentoring scheme should be beneficial to both the mentor and mentee; the benefits to the mentee include gaining practical advice, encouragement and support, learning from the life experiences of others, increasing social and academic confidence, becoming more autonomous and independent in making decisions, developing their communication, and study and personal skills.

You should develop strategies for dealing with personal and academic issues, be able to identify goals and a sense of direction and make new friends.

There are also several benefits for you in applying to become a student mentor such as improving communication and interpersonal skills, being able to reinforce your study skills and organisation, increasing your confidence and motivation and engaging in a volunteering opportunity that will be highly valued by university tutors as it shows real examples of your commitment and dedication and shows that you are a considerate and mature individual.

Depending on your commitment, you may achieve a recognised ASDAN award for taking part in the mentoring program.

Buddying

A supportive role that you might also want to consider is that of the 'Buddy'. This role is to support international students, who will need time to settle in and adapt to college life. This is not a role to be taken lightly and as such is only given to those students who have gone through rigorous training on mentoring and the delivery of English language skills. The buddies support the international students by inducting them into the college, showing them around Birmingham, helping them register at key institutions such as the doctors and providing continuing support through the year. The buddies help choose and arrange trips for students that all are welcome to attend. The buddies help choose and arrange trips for students that all are welcome to attend.

The best thing about Abbey College Birmingham is that nothing is closed off to you. If you have an idea and are willing to put in the effort and time to bring it to fruition, then the college is more than happy to support you.

1. Buddy Programme at Abbey College Birmingham 2011 - 2012

1. ACB Introduces its Buddies!