Post 16

Classes 1 and 4 have been demonstrating fantastic sportsmanship during their Sports lessons this term. They worked together to design a series of challenges that would build their strength and speed, as well as help to develop their fine and gross motor skills. Each week they have tried to complete the challenges, gaining points along the way. For example they tried to see how many times they could hit a shuttle cock into the air, without letting it hit the ground – whilst at another stand they tried to throw a ball through different ‘Quidditch Hoops’ gaining points for each successful goal. It has been fantastic to see how their points scores have increased – as well as their willingness to support each other and work as a team. 

Class 1 have also been developing their culinary skills this term. Each half term they choose a new recipe cook and eat for their midday meal. Working in a team, they have learnt to make a shopping list  and visit the supermarket and buy produce. They have then collaborated in teams of four, working on alternative weeks to follow a visual recipe and produce a meal ‘fit for any restaurant’. So far they have learnt to cook Spaghetti Bolognese; Pizzas (from scratch) and Sausages with seasonal vegetables and mashed potato. They are also learning kitchen skills and hygiene skills too! 

We wrote a song!

A piece by Performing Arts Students at Beaucroft College AKA BCDC (Beaucroft College Dynamite Crew!)

This is the first year that Beaucroft College have embarked on a Performing Arts Award journey. This journey is all about us, what we want to learn and how we want to share our skills, talents and interests. We discovered that as a group, we all loved music so we decided that we wanted to learn how to write and produce a song of our own using all our different skills. First we had a meeting to decide what we wanted get out of our sessions and we decided unanimously that we wanted to build our confidence, so we wrote a song about that! Through the project we have learnt how to write lyrics and how to understand rhythm by using our bodies through dance, body percussion and playing instruments. We have learnt how to use our voices, and how we can be heard in positive and creative ways. We composed our song and then took it to Matt Black at Hangover Hill Studios in Wimborne to record our work professionally. There we learnt all about mixing and record producing and working as a team. We have had the best fun and these are some of things we felt about our project – ‘magic happened’, ‘I was able to sing solo and in a group’, ‘Its all been amazing’, ‘I loved doing my solos and singing with my friends’, ‘Matt put an echo on my popcorn body percussion sound, it was great’.

Watch this space! Very soon our song, ‘CONFIDENCE’, will be released! First it will be played on several radio stations including Wimborne Radio station, Black on Track and Wired with Ben Bennett before being released on CD, and Bandcamp ( a streaming platform that will allow us to raise money from downloads). Next we are going to be working with a graphic designer to design our group logo and CD cover, and we will be releasing our song for sale later in the year, hoping to raise money for more exciting creative arts projects at Beaucroft.

Class 6 have been learning about different places in our community. We have learned more about places such as shopping centres, cafes, supermarkets, and hairdressers. We have even had a go at running our own Class 6 Cafe!

Wimborne Community Garden in Association with Beaucroft College have won two awards!!

Our post-16 students and some seniors are finally in our new college – here are some pictures from the journey getting us here!

A lovely day was had by all at the graduation for our leavers 2023!

Class 2 have been busy down at the community garden supporting the volunteers. We have been every Wednesday and Jane leaves us a list of jobs to do from planting tulips, to weeding, to moving the topsoil. This week, the community garden is preparing for their sensory garden and C2 have been moving the leftover turf to the pond area. They then made a mound from the ground to the pond to help the wildlife to access the water. It was a messy but fun job! We are looking forward to seeing all the pond life in the spring term.

The Rafa cafe is doing extremely well and is now open 3 days a week. The students are actively involved in the preparation work required for opening each day. They also bake cakes, prepare sandwich fillings and set up the cafe to be ready to receive customers. When the cafe is open, students have the opportunity to carry out various roles from taking orders, serving customers and clearing tables. Each week, 15 students receive invaluable work experience at the cafe as well as interacting with the public and playing an active part in the community. We have had some fantastic feedback from members of the public as well as other schools and colleges when they have been to visit. We are really looking forward to having our own cafe at the new Beaucroft College site and our intention is to open 5 days a week. You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook Post16attherafa where you can find out what cakes and specials are on offer. We look forward to seeing you all at the cafe very soon.

This year’s chosen charity for our Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering is Hamworthy Hedgehog Rescue. Karen and Neil visited with many pictures and fun videos for Class 4 to watch.
As part of their fundraising activities, Class 4 have been making hedgehog homes from recycled pallets and roof felt. This has been an incredibly popular activity and the orders have been flying in.