On Tuesday 1^st April, for the second year running, Felpham Community College held a Charity Talent Show, showcasing students from year 7 right the way through to year 13.

This year was bigger and better, with two shows taking place within the day/evening. Auditions for the show took place at the end of February, with all students across year groups being invited to audition. Successful acts then had just over a month to perfect their performances.

Talents ranged from solo singers, duets, solo musicians, a band, dancers and even some magicians!

Mr Harrington, Curriculum Leader for Music, commented:
“Students were fantastic! The talent on show was brilliant, it was really hard to choose winners as all acts deserved to win. The best part was seeing how they all progressed from the auditions through to the final live shows – proving that practice really does pay off!”

Imogen Orde, Student Leadership in charge of Charity, commented:
“Thank you to everyone who bought tickets for the show, both audiences were brilliant with supporting all the acts – the whole afternoon/evening had a great atmosphere. The students who performed did really well, everyone was really professional and the talent was awesome. Everyone who performed deserved a prize!”

Congratulations to the following for winning prizes:

Show 1 – 3.30pm start
Winner – Mylene Garrett, Year 12 – Singing ‘The ballard of Jane Doe’ from The Ride the Cyclone the Musical
Audience Choice – Callum Hennessy, Year 12 – Singing ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra
Runner Up – Cora Meeus, Year 10 – Singing ‘Ryder’ by Madison Bear
Governors Choice – Zlata Slobodeniuk, Year 9 – Singing ‘Lisova Pisnya – Mavka: The Forest Song’

Show 2 – 6.30pm start
Winner – Bella Cook, Year 9 – Singing ‘I see Red’ by Everybody Loves an Outlaw
Audience Choice – Dance House Crew 1 – Performing ‘Fools Rush In’
Runner Up – Elliott Ribbons, Year 9 – Singing and playing guitar – ‘Like a Stone’ by Audioslave
Governors Choice – Jackson Parker, Year 7 – Magic Show

On Wednesday 2^nd April, a group of the Felpham Community College Sixth Form ‘Make A Difference’ committee visited two local care homes to do Easter Arts and Crafts with residents.

Keen to show that charity and community is not just about raising money, and that time is also just as important, the sixth formers split between two local Care Homes – Oaklands Court in Felpham and Autumn Lodge in Bognor. As well as chatting to residents, students helped them make spring flowers from card, tied together in small bunches with colourful ribbon.

Holly Jones, Student Leadership at FCC, commented:
“We visited both Care Homes before Christmas and made Christmas Gonks with the residents, they really enjoyed it and asked us to come back. It’s nice to chat with them and they love hearing about what we are up to in school and out of school. The crafts are fun and the residents can keep them as a memory, and we always try and make them relevant to the season! This was some of the Committees last activity as we finish with the ‘Make A Difference’ Committee at the end of this term to concentrate on our final exams. We have supported lots of events and it has been a great opportunity to give something back at the end of our time at FCC.”

Bognor Regis Town Council ran their Community Awards evening for 2025 on Thursday 27^th March at the Civic Centre, Bognor.

At the award ceremony, year 11 student from Felpham Community College – Tali Swain – was presented with the Citizen’s Award for Young People 2025.

The award was presented by Ms Claire Needs, Mayor of Bognor. She presented the award with the following speech:
“The final award I will be presenting tonight is the ‘Citizens Award for Young People’. The recipient of this year’s award is an outstanding individual, who spends much of her time volunteering in the local community and at charity events, despite currently studying for her GCSE’s. As the Vice-Chair of the Arun Youth Council this person gives up much of her time attending meetings and organising local events and projects, that benefit local people. One of these was the regeneration of the garden at the Phoenix Centre, where she played an integral part of the youth team who brought this project to fruition, even giving a speech at the opening event, which I took pleasure in attending.

Described as a kind, caring and respectful person, with great empathy who always brings out the best in everyone, the recipient volunteered as Company Stage Manager for ‘Chichester and Arun Down Syndrome Group Dance Crew’ and ‘Raise The Roof’ for their rehearsals and performances at FestivALL at the Minerva theatre at the beginning of March.  FestivALL is an inclusive dance, drama and music festival for Neurodiverse performers and performers with disabilities. 

Through her many voluntary roles, including at the Chichester Festival Theatre, this young person is learning valuable team and leadership skills, and is poised to become an excellent project manager, who will no doubt continue to make valuable contributions to her local community.

Without further ado, I’m delighted to present this year’s ‘Citizens Award for Young People’ to Tali Swain”. 

Mr Summers, Assistant Headteacher at FCC, commented:
“Tali does so much for the FCC community and the local community. This award is thoroughly deserved and we are really proud of her. Well done Tali!”

On the 20^th March, our music department took 28 students to the Big Sing, held at the Arena, Bognor.

Our students ranged from years 7 through to 11 and performed 2 songs – ‘What is this Feeling?’ from Wicked, and ‘Lovely Day’ by Bill Withers.

FCC were one of 9 schools who performed at the event, with FCC and The Regis being the only secondary schools.

Mr Harrington, Curriculum Leader for Music, commented:
“Our students were fantastic, especially after performing till late the night before at our Spring Concert. They were fabulous role models to the younger students who attended the event and were a credit to FCC”

Please click the icon below to hear one of our performances from the day.

A group of Performing Arts students from Felpham Community College, ranging from years 9 through to 12, performed at Chichester Festival Theatre on Friday 14^th March, as part of the National Theatre Connections.

Connections is the National Theatre’s annual, nationwide youth theatre festival. This year, the FCC team chose a play titled YOU2.0 by Alys Metcalf. It looks at two young people who form an unlikely friendship through a video game, and the impact they have on each other’s lives.

Miss Coney, Curriculum Leader for Performing Arts, commented:
“We take part in this initiative every year. We are sent a number of scripts and we choose which one we would like to work on as a team. Students learn and practice it as part of an extra-curricular group, with us starting back in November. We performed at FCC on the 26^th February to students, their families, staff and a representative from both the National Theatre and Chichester Theatre. Both theatre representatives gave the group feedback, which they could then work on before their final performance in March.

The level of work our students have put in has been fantastic and their commitment has been inspiring. It has been great to see them grow in confidence over the last few months and see their skills, and team work, developing. A huge well done to everyone who has taken part.”

More information on National Theatre Connections and the piece FCC performed is available here
NT Connections | Chichester Festival Theatre
YOU 2.0 | York Theatre Royal

On Tuesday 11^th March, 24 year 10 students from Felpham Community College took part in a workshop led by ‘Speakers Trust’, held onsite at FCC.

‘Speakers Trust: Speak and Be Heard’ – is an organisation who aim to give young people across the UK the skills and confidence to make their voices heard.

Students volunteered to take part, and spent the day in the workshop developing their speech, confidence and communication skills.

Miss Stacey, Teacher of English, commented:
“Our students were a real credit and worked so hard. They started the day working on how to introduce themselves and having the confidence to stand up and speak to a group. We looked at quick fire questions and how to have a response ready, and telling stories – looking at structuring powerful beginnings and ends. We ended the day with students writing and delivering a speech on a subject of their choice to the group.

One of the focuses of the workshop was celebrating each other to build confidence and students took this on board from the beginning. They worked really hard. What was most impressive was seeing how their confidence grew in just a day, and how respectful they were of each other”

For more information on Speakers Trust, click here.

National Careers week took place across the UK from the 3^rd to the 8^th March, with Felpham Community College offering students a number of different ways they could get involved.

All form groups were encouraged to take part in Careers Bingo – with students having to work out what staff used to do what jobs. With staff having past jobs ranging from Royal Marine Commando to Police Officer to Cabin Crew, it was a great opportunity for students to discuss different careers with teachers. Easter Eggs were offered as prizes and well done to all who took part!

Staff also took part in a ‘What I did before Education’ competition, displaying random items in their offices from a past job, getting students to guess what job the item linked with.

There were a number of online workshops running throughout the week which students across year groups could sign up to. These included ‘Supercharge Your Future with a Career Building the Transport of Tomorrow’ , ‘Breaking into Acting – A Career Talk with Celebrity Actor Paterson Joseph’ and ‘Lights, Camera, Action – A Screen Industries Careen Panel with introduction to film’. In total there were 8 online workshops running from the 3^rd to the 7^th March.

Finally, students could sign up to some live speaker workshops. These included the World Wetlands Trust, Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, Southern Water, Royal Navy / Marines and the Southdowns National Park. These were well attended with students getting the opportunity to ask the speakers questions about the different jobs within that area.

Miss Ward, Careers Leader at FCC, commented:

“It was a busy week and great to get students engaging with staff about different job options available, not just well publicised career pathways. At FCC careers are embedded in the curriculum throughout the school year, not just within careers week. We have a number of trips which run, including trips for University taster days, army taster days, and visits to various local companies including Goodwood and Barfoots.  We ran Year 11 Mock Interview Day in November, quickly followed by a Careers Carousel for Year 9 in January. Students from Year 7 right the way through to Year 13 have career lessons within citizenship and assemblies”.

For more information on Careers Week please click here.

World Book Day took place on Thursday 6^th March, with Felpham Community College celebrating in a number of different ways.

On the day, the English department dressed up as their favourite book characters, getting students throughout the day to try and guess who they were.

There was a school ‘Shelfie’ competition, with students analysing bookshelf photos and matching the shelf to the member of staff. Well done to 10H and 10F for winning the competition!

There was also a ‘Reading a book in a Strange Place’ competition for staff – with Mr Bulpett winning for being on top of a roof!

Finally, on Friday 7^th March, FCC welcomed popular teen author Lou Abercrombie. Students attended workshops throughout the day, with Lou speaking about her career journey and her two popular books – ‘Fig Swims the World’ and ‘Coming up for Air’, with students also having the opportunity to ask Lou questions.

Miss Stacey, English teacher commented:
“It was great to use World Book Day to do something different with the students. Some of the questions our students asked Lou were excellent, and our students were brilliantly behaved and engaged throughout.”

On Thursday 6^th March, some of the Felpham Community College Student Council visited the Houses of Parliament and met with Ms Alison Griffiths, MP for Bognor and Littlehampton.

Students, from years 7-10 and also year 13, toured Parliament, including seeing live debates on International Women’s Day in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. They also took part in an interactive workshop looking at the skills needed for writing a petition. They finished the trip with a question and answer session with Ms Griffiths, who commented on what excellent questions FCC students had and their positive ideas for change in the local area.

Mr Summers, Assistant Headteacher at Felpham Community College commented:
“The tour was fantastic, even being in the buildings and feeling the history was inspiring. Students were really impressed they could actually watch what was being debated in both Houses, and to see the difference between the two. The tour guides were really informative and meeting Ms Griffiths at the end, and having time with her to learn about her career and our students voice their opinion on local issues, made it a brilliant day. FCC students were a credit to us with their ideas and also what they wanted to find out!”

Adam Francis, Head Student Ambassador and Year 13 student, commented:
“The tour was great and the whole infrastructure of the buildings and the history has us all interested throughout. We were not expecting to meet Ms Griffiths, it was a great surprise once we were there. She was really down to earth and made us realise that MPs are also normal people! She gave us some good advice about following our dreams even if they are not considered cool!”