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EDITOR ALICE CUNNINGHAM JOHNS CO-EDITORS LILY DOHERTY & FRANCESCA MORPHAKIS GRAPHICS/LAYOUT RORY NEWBERY

FRONT PAGE JAMES HERBERT WRITERS RORY NEWBERY. GEORGIA VILLER, KARL MALONE, CALUM BRENNAN, CHARLOTTE COLLINS, HANNAH WHALEY,, TASHA BAILEY, JULIET GOSS, ETHAN TAYLOR, SOPHIE GRANT-FOALE, ELLIE MULLAN, JOSH HEPBURN &

SOPHIE COURTIER, ISABELLA HARRIS FILM CORRESPONDENT OLIVER BOWEN ASHWIN EDITOR OF HARDYEAN JOURNAL RORY

NEWBERY HJ WRITERS CATHERINE FRAMPTON-HOBBS, EMILY PHILLIPS & ALEX LINES DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY TORI HICKS

PHOTOGRAPHERS JORDAN BOSHER, SAM MCINTYRE, LEANNE ATKIN, NICKY TRAVIS, HANNAH BARMES-HEALY, OLLIE SOHAWON,

AMBER HEINRICH, WIOLETA HARDEJ, AIDEN ROGERS, EMILY SMITH DIRECTOR OF ART JAMES HERBERT

We start our first issue of ‘Sixth’ as

we mean to go on, by bringing you a

diversity of opinion from some of our

very own Sixth Formers. We have a

great variety of articles, ranging from

advice on car insurance, how to

survive London a budget, a piece of

writing on school football and a

column on vintage fashion. As

Christmas is coming ever closer, the

majority of this issue is focused on

the festive season; with Christmas

present suggestions, a list of must-

see Christmas films, an article on

Christmas songs and an update on

what The Student Union are doing

this Christmas. For those who are

more interested in the arts, we have a

selection of photography and art from

our Sixth Form students and a

creative piece of writing. With such

diversity, there is sure to be at least

one article that interests you.

This is the Sixth Form magazine for

you and written by you. If you are

interested in writing or contributing

creative work, we would love to have

you involved in the magazine. Our

focus is variety and the more articles

we have the better.

I would like to thank all the

contributors, without your efforts the

magazine simply wouldn’t work.

Finally, as The Editor, I would like to

wish both contributors and readers

alike a Merry Christmas and a Happy

New Year.

Alice Cunningham JohnsEditor

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

STUDENT UNION WINTER REPORT

The Union was set up years ago to protect and promote the interests of the Sixth Formers within the centre, entire school and community; a purpose that I can proudly say still exists today. As one of the largest Sixth Forms in the country, its an onerous task but as luck would have it, we have the biggest Student Union team Hardye’s has seen to date. In June, we began with two President (Georgia & Myself) alongside eight Vice Presidents (Charlie, Lizzie, Aiden, Tom, Bronte, Martha, Rachael & Emily), since then we’ve appointed two more (Dominic & Jasmine) as part of our promise to make the Union more efficient and reflective of the Sixth Form population, whilst keeping true to the traditions of the Union. More so than ever before, each VP has their own responsibilities within the Union - a ministry that they oversee, and it’s my job to provide as much support as humanly possible - but this is becoming more rare as each VP has taken their ministry and done great things with them.

The Union has worked closely with the lower school’s Student Voice in our common aim to have a larger presence within the community. I’m immensely proud of all the Sixth Formers who volunteered their evenings for the Sixth Form Convention, and it is occasions like this that make me feel we can do good. The Sixth Form alone make up for 4% of the population of Dorchester. !hile most of us can not yet vote, this by no means makes us less influential in the community. The Union is focused on using our sense of community to the advantage of the community and the Sixth Form and we hope that you will support us as we find more ways of doing this.

Quite depressingly, one of our biggest operations now is the Leavers’ Book & Leavers’ Ball for those of us who are departing in the summer. This is one of the reasons why Dom & Jasmine are essential to the Union - ensuring that the interests of the Year 12 are still the focus of our meetings as we already start planning our last day. The Union have been franticly busy week trying to organise a great ‘Christmas !eek’ for you all. !e hope you will enjoy your last week before Christmas & take part in the events we’ve planned.

I’d like to use this as an opportunity to remind you that its not too late for you to get involved with the Union. If you have any ideas, thoughts or issues then we are interested to hear them from and there’ll definitely be someone in the Union who can help you.

Enjoy your break, and best of luck for those with exams in January. Merry Christmas!

Rory Newbery,Student Union President

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THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN THE STUDENT UNION CHARITY VOTE, THE THREE CHARITIES YOU CHOSE ARE

NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN’S FUND ❄ JULIA’S HOUSE ❄ FETUS (BOSNIA)

To tackle this first world problem, I’ve put forwards my suggestions to ensuring everybody is happy this Christmas. But remember! Safeguarding your bank account funds is a priority for many of us, as university is just around the corner and money will be a scarce resource if we go OTT this winter...

As we reach that age where Christmas is more than just being about seeing whats under the tree, we come to realise that there was so much fun to be had choosing presents. Most importantly - choosing the right presents. More than ever before, we appreciate the presents our friends and

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family give us whichmeans, we’ve alsoaccumulated the power to determine just how much thought was put into the presents we receive. It really is survival of the fittest if you want to go down as one of the greatest gift-givers in living memory. So its time to step up your game.

Googleplex

If you’re like me and have tried googling something along the lines of ‘Christmas presents for Dad’, you’ll have been inundated with the same old websites. The likes of Debenhams, Argos and Tesco make it sound like they know best when it comes to buying for your friends and family, but the

truth is that only you know best; so ditch the google searches and start really thinking about it. A well thought-out present will delight any giftee, albeit your your best friend or grandma, but where to start?

Sites like notonthehighstreet.com offer some great personalised and hand-crafted gifts from small businesses across Britain. Its worth filtering your results by price, as it can get a bit pricey!

We’ll take you through some top tips for every type of person you’ll be buying for and the idea is that you use this as your starting ground not as the resolution.

RORY NEWBERY

parentsThink about what it is that they do for you... is there anything that you could buy them to make it easier, fun or shows that you appreciate it? At this turning point in your parents’ age, steer clear of hampers and bath salts just yet and perhaps go for an option that they could show off to their friends; a tasteful accessory or piece of clothing perhaps?

friends & siblingsNaturally, you’re always going to want to beat everyone else at the present race. To ensure a clear defeat, get them something epic - perhaps club together with others to get them the one thing that’d make putting up with you worth it. Festival tickets are inherently a fastpass to their heart but even a staple-piece for their wardrobe could assure success.

older people

Whilst the aim of the game here is to gain yourself the title of ‘best grandson/daughter this year’ you need a show-stopper that will guarantee you wow them so much they forget to give you that sloppy kiss. Take them on a journey of nostalgia, find out their favourite childhood sweets or an item of clothing that was big then, but vintage now. This can be very cheap yet personal.

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BREAKFAST STATION(coming soon)

CUPCAKES IN A JAR(£8 FOR 2)

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CHRISTMPart of our culture or just plain irrit

As the nights draw shorter and the first few rumours of snow begin to drift around, hearing the faint jingle of one of Mariah Carey’s only too familiar Christmas songs would not seem at all out of place.

As festive paraphernalia begins to line the shelves of every shop increasingly earlier each year, it seems as though the Christmas cheer has been strung out over several months, and not just confined to December. That inevitably begs the question, ‘how early is too early?’ for all the Scrooges out there, just the sight of a knitted jumper in October is enough to make them run as far away as possible. Soon, the familiar yet somewhat comforting rasp of The Pogues –‘Fairytale of New York’ will grace the airwaves of The Scott Mills show on Radio 1. As odd as it sounds, Christmas songs are being woven into tradition. In much the same way as we expect to have not one but five condiments with our Christmas dinner, it somehow feels out of place if there isn’t an X Factor triumph reigning over the highly sought after Christmas number one spot in the charts. The battle of 2009, between Rage Against The Machine and X Factor ‘sweetheart’ Joe McElderry showed a monumental shift in the paradigm of festive tradition. A disgruntled group of music fans led a campaign, sparked by a Facebook group,

to overthrow the mainstream, the result being a monumental victory. As twelve-year-old girls cried themselves to sleep, true music fans all over the country felt a huge sense of pride as the system had been cheated.

Despite this, it is wrong to dictate that only twelve-year-old girls enjoy jingle bell, icing sugar sprinkled ballads. Though maybe subliminally or secretively, people do enjoy Christmas pop music, no matter what their age is or which genre they usually listen to. Over the years, various artists such as Coldplay and The Darkness have tried their dab hand at recording songs, which they hope will have the same appeal as classics such as ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham! or ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ by Paul McCartney, and become loved by the masses and repeated for years to come. However, the odds are not always in their favour. Apart from the anomalous ‘Do They Know Its Christmas?’ by Band Aid which features successful artists such as Bob Geldof, George Michael, David Bowie and many others, Christmas pop is a niche and is often classified as its own genre. Current artists such as Taylor Swift, Jason Mraz and Girls Aloud have tried to put their stamp on old classics or released twinkly ballads more sickly than a tin of Quality Streets in an attempt to jump on the bandwagon and have their names displayed in lights

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AS SONGSating? by Charlotte Collins, 12MT

alongside legends such as Frank Sinatra or Doris Day, both of whom, despite their Christmas songs being decades old, are still more favourable to any X Factor-esque replicas. songs being decades old, are still more favourable to any X Factor-esque replicas.

Many artists find success in their own right through singing Christmas one-hit wonders, such as ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’ by Wizzard. Despite their cheesiness, we can’t be too harsh on Christmas songs, they are the reoccurring soundtrack to the holiday season and albums along the lines of ‘Top 100 Christmas Songs Of All Time’ seem to top the charts as bestseller each year, which makes me wonder who the UK does not own one of these albums yet as a Christmas album has now become a household essential.

Music surrounds us at Christmas, whether it is in Church, the carol singers on your doorstep or as motivation blasting through department store speakers as you frantically buy those last minute presents. A song title of James Brown, ‘Let’s Unite The World At Christmas Time’, mimics how music binds us all together at that time of year. Anthems such as ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ by Frank Sinatra and ‘White Christmas’ by Bing Crosby evoke a sense of unity as people across the

country have a mutual word for word knowledge of the songs. They evoke a sense of tradition and comfort as they remind us of our favourite celebration of the year and bring back happy memories of the past. Christmas songs should not be taken for granted and we need to embrace them as part of tradition because Christmas would certainly be very dull without them.

Molly Sullivan’s Top 10 Christmas Tunes10)Mistletoe Justin Bieber9)Warm this Winter Gabriella Cilmi8)I wish it could be Christmas

everyday Wizzard7)The Christmas Song Michael

Buble6)Santa Baby Eartha Kitt5)Baby it’s Cold Outside Dean

Martin & Doris Day4)Last Christmas WHAM!3)It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like

Christmas Bing Crosby2)All I Want for Christmas is You

Mariah Carey1)Fairy Tale of New York The Pogues

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The Evolution of ManExample

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Take the CrownRobbie William

sainsburys.co.uk

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Live 2012Coldplay

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spotify, amazon mp3 and itunes giftcards are ideal for

law-abiding music lovers

SINGERS & MUSICIANS NEEDED!If you’re either (or both) then get in touch with Brontë to

have your name on the contact list for updates on the latest opportunities within the school and local area.

union@thomas-hardye.dorset.sch.uk

DO YOU WANT TO START A CLUB, PROJECT OR EVENT?

2012 HAS SEEN MORE STUDENT-LED INITIATIVES FORMED THAN EVER BEFORE

THE DRAMA SOCIETY Hardyeanthe

journal

FILM FESTIVALamnesty international

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READING GROUPfor sixth form

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IF YOU WANT TO START YOUR OWN, TALK TO

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SPANISH CLUB

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When the calendar hits the 26th of December and Christmas is another 365 days away, there is only one thing on everyone’s minds - the New Year. New Year to most people means the best parties of the year, with the regrets of the last year being officially consigned to history. Considering this is Britain and we are infamous for our awful weather, it is more than likely that the temperature will be freezing and the night will be rainy. However, I am sure such weather will dampen few people’s spirits and you like me will be out until the early hours of New Year’s Day. The partying is not all that people focus on with New Year drawing closer, around this time of year you are sure to be asked by a friend or maybe even your mum “What New Year resolutions will you be making this year?” And soon enough advertisements for yet another fitness DVD starring yet another reality TV star will be appearing on our screens, brainwashing us into thinking this is genuinely how celebrities stay thin.

We are all guilty of making New Year resolutions and sticking to them for the remainder of January then gradually as the months progress the good intentions slowly fade until they are nothing but the DVD case at the back of the cupboard collecting dust. But why is this? Why are we prone to giving up on our resolutions? A"er years and years of making them, you’d think that we could finally keep one up for longer than a couple of months. Perhaps the question is not why we give them up, but why we make them in the first place?

The most common resolutions made (and I am sure you’ve made one of them before – I know I have) are ones geared towards self-improvement: lose weight; drink less; stop smoking; get more organised; do homework ; spend less time in the Common Room or on the Internet blah blah blah. These all suggest a discontent with our lifestyle, which is hardly shocking considering the society in which we live and it’s unhealthy focus on nothing less than perfection. But this obsession on behaving how they tell us we should in the magazines or looking like the characters in 90210 is ridiculous because it encourages us to be unhappy with ourselves, because we will always feel the need to do better and will constantly compare ourselves with the unrealistic images that surround us. The fact of the matter is that you should make your New Year Resolutions as an individual. If you know that you never do your homework on time and you really do want to change this, then change it. If you want to look like Rihanna don’t start obsessively going to the gym twice a day because that won’t make you look any more like her (you’d need extreme plastic surgery for that), instead you will just end up dissatisfied and your self-esteem will be on the floor.

The importance of New Year resolutions is actually about reflecting on the old year and having good intentions for the one to come and what it is that you want to achieve. It should not be about what society pressures you to strive for but about self -improvement for you as an individual. So this year, stop thinking mass culture, start thinking about a resolution that’s personal to you and, stick to it!

The New Year resolutions we never keep.

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5CHRISTMAS COMEDIES

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)The list ends with a relatively unheard of Finnish movie, which is perhaps the weirdest take on the Santa Claus story to date. When archaeologists unearth Santa’s body, children begin to go missing, leading a group of hunters to attempt to recapture him. But things including Santa’s Elves make this job harder than they first thought.

4How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)Based on the much loved Dr Seuss books, the Grinch was outcast by the whole of

Whoville as a child, but when young Cindy Lou’s attempt to reconnect the freak with the town ends in his public humiliation, Jim Carrey’s green villain aims to ruin

the much loved Christmas holidays for everyone.

3Elf (2003)Jon Favreau directs Will Ferrell as an oversized elf, who is sent to America to discover his real identity. It’s the most quotable and ridiculous Christmas film of all time. And everyone knows Christmas is just around the corner when Channel 4 start showing it every other day.

2Probably the best film troubled child star Macaulay Culkin will ever star in, follows the hilarious consequences of what happens when Kevin is left ‘home alone’ to

fend against histories most unsuccessful burglars. Culkin’s Home Alone instalments are undoubtedly classics, just be sure to avoid the 3rd, 4th and 5th instalments.

Home Alone (1990)

1

The story of two conmen who pose as a drunken Santa and his Elf, but instead of spreading festive cheer the duo rob shopping centres on Christmas eve. In a black comedy that features over 300 swear words, it shows that with just a little bit of help from a fat kid and even the worse people can learn the true meaning of Christmas.

Bad Santa (2003)

by Oliver Bowen Ashwin

FILMS FOR REVISIONby Oliver Bowen Ashwin

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PSYCHOLOGY Watch Kiera Knightley get

spanked in a film that aims to tell the story of how Sigmund

Freud developed psychoanalysis and how he

used his abstract diagnosis and new treatment techniques to

try and help his clients.

‘A DANGEROUS METHOD’

ENGLISH LITNot a fan of reading but found yourself stuck taking English lit? Take the easiest of shortcuts

and watch one of many movie interpretations of Charlotte

Brontes ‘classic’ novel. Although suggested you

shouldn’t quote the films, you can wing doing your

coursework by watching.

‘JANE EYRE’

MEDIA STUDIES

ANY FILMAVAILABLE

HISTORY‘SCHINDLER’S

LIST’Although in black and white, this moving true story of how Oskar

Schindler, a narcissistic and greedy German businessman shows his kind side by turning

his factory into a refuge, resulting in the saving of over a thousand Jews from Auschwitz. Although sometimes a hard film to watch, it beats reading AQAs

soulless text books.

PE‘COACH CARTER’

Take a break from doing press ups and watch Samuel L. Jackson turn around the

fortunes of a failing college basket team. A true story that’s got no real link to your course apart from the fact they play sport, but it is bound to help

inspire you.

Swap revision for a dvd with this list of

educational movies, that will lessen the guilt of skipping

important work...

VAGUELY

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

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Story- How Bilbo Baggins of Hobbiton, acquired the ring that would one day nearly destroy Middle Earth and end up making studios very rich.

THE HOBBITAN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

{Release Date - December 13TH 2012}

After the final instalment of the

Lord of the Rings trilogy made over $1 billion dollars and won 11 Oscars including best film, it was obvious the studios would be returning to Middle Earth soon enough. The announcement that the Hobbit films were going to be made came in early 2008, pleasing but not surprising rings fans worldwide. But for a while it seemed like the Hobbit would never be made, a plagued production saw release dates pushed further and further back. With studio MGM reaching the brink of bankruptcy, the films funding falling away, on going major union disputes in shooting location New Zealand and a fire that destroyed a number of vital props, the production was falling further into dismay. Things then took a turn from bad to worse, as Pans Labyrinth and Hellboy creator Guillermo Del Toro left directing duties, due to the films continued lengthy delays. But this turned out to be the first bit of fortune handed to the project. Lord of the Rings writer and director Peter Jackson had originally stated he could not direct, due to other commitments with The Lovely Bones and King Kong, but because of the seemingly

cursed production, enough time had passed that he was once again available. In 2011 with Jackson fittingly back in the director’s chair and MGM in swift recovery, the movies began filming just three years behind schedule.

The Hobbit is a direct adaptation of perhaps Tolkien’s most loved book of the same title, and with the films now split into three due to there being “too much of a story to tell for just two films” and “too much money to miss out from”, there is even more Dwarf and Hobbit fun to look forward to. The prequels see a very English cast with ‘Sherlock’ and ‘Office’ star Martin Freeman taking the lead as Bilbo, ‘QIs’ Stephen Fry as the Mayor of Lake Town and ‘Merlins’ Richard Armitige as dwarf Thorin. LOTR favourites Ian Mackellen returns as Gandalf, and Orlando Bloom elfs up one last time. With the Hobbit looking likely to emulate the success of the Rings and dominate the Oscars for the next three years, we are just left waiting for what Tolkien tale will be dug up next, to help keep the Middle Earth money machine burning.

WATCH THE TRAILER THEHOBBIT.COMBOOK THE TICKETS PLAZADORCHESTER.COM OR ODEON.CO.UK

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5{The Classics}

5 FILMS TO WATCH BEFORE YOU LEAVE HARDYE’S IN YEAR 13(OR YEAR 14 IF THINGS DIDN’T GO TO PLAN...)

When Harry met Sally (1989)It felt fair I should include a chick flick in this list, as for every 20 crap Jennifer Aniston films to come out of Hollywood there is one gem hidden away, and this is one of them. The movie follows close friends Harry and Sally who are confronted with the problem: "Can a man and a woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?" funny and charming it makes for easy viewing.

4Goodfellas (1990)Martin Scorsese’s epic gangster flick, depicts the hay days of real-life criminal Henry Hill, and how he worked his way up the mob hierarchy and ended up running large robberies

and living a glamorous lifestyle normally only linked with celebrities.

3Trainspotting (1996)This film made by Olympic opening ceremony hero Danny Boyle, is about how Mark Renton attempts to climb back from his heroin addiction but finds the influence of his friends and the reaction of his family an on going struggle. Featuring powerful visuals and darkly humorous scenes, this is a must watch.

2Director Chris Nolan, the man behind the recent Batman films and Inception, tells the story of how the rivalry between two magicians is taken to the extreme after

one performs the ultimate illusion. With a great cast and an unexpected plot twist, this film is engaging from start to finish, but is in great danger of being a forgotten

great.

The Prestige (2006)

1

A little seen Irish musical, features the music and appearance of cult acoustic star Glen Hansard. A modern take on the genre makes you forget you are even watching a musical, and instead you remain gripped by a beautiful soundtrack within a simple story.

Once (2007)

by Oliver Bowen Ashwin

HARD WORK... HARDLY WORKING?

The  Odeon  cinema  is  the  /irst  to  be  opened  in  Brewery  Square  for  the  Wessex  Autistic  Society.  The  cinema  consists  of  three  screens  and  more  than  400  seats  (which  you  would  expect  for  a  £3m  building).  Dorchester  celebrated  the  opening  night  by  the  premier  of  ‘Skyfall’  the  new  released  James  Bond  /ilm  by  Lord  Julian  Fellowes.  However,  at  the  Plaza  cinema  their  bookings  for  the  opening  week  of  the  /ilm  were  nearly  at  full  capacity  with  just  the  occasional  seat  left.  It  seems  evident  that  there  is  no  competition  between  the  two  as  The  Odeon  can  be  found  to  have  many  a  seat  available.  

The  usual  cost  for  The  Plaza  Cinema  is  £2.50  on  weekdays  for  a  2D  /ilm  and  only  £3.50  at  weekends,  whereas  The  Odeon  is  an  extortionate  £7  (£5.50  with  a  Student  ID).  The  Plaza  prices  are  undoubtedly  reasonable  for  Dorchester  citizens  especially  since  the  target  audience  for  the  cinema  is  working  families  and  teenagers  who  supposedly  are  not  ‘made  of  money’.  

The  Odeon  is  a  multi-­‐million  pound  corporation  and  they  have  no  need  to  worry  if  sales  do  not  pick  up  for  years  as  they  can  still  operate  even  with  losses.  Lord  Fellowes  pointed  out  in  his  speech  ‘How  thrilling  it  is  now  to  have  two  cinemas  in  Dorchester’  and  added  that  he  ‘wished  both  success’.  However,  not  

everyone  in  Dorchester  shares  his  opinion  as  a  Facebook  group  has  emerged  entitled  ‘Boycott  Odeon  Dorchester’.  They  are  in  support  of  The  Plaza  in  Trinity  Street  and  have  over  1,000  people  showing  their  loyalty  to  the  local,  independent  cinema.  It  is  a  family  business  and  as  a  community  it  seems  right  that  we  should  support  what  is  left  of  our  town’s  independent  businesses.  Others  welcomed  The  Odeon  as  it  has  brought  new  jobs  and  tourists  into  Dorchester  to  spend  money  which  will  bene/it  the  community  as  a  whole.  There  is  a  comment  from  the  boycott  Facebook  page  saying  ‘I  will  not  boycott  The  Odeon-­‐  I  support  anything  that  brings  life  in  to  Dorchester-­‐  and  jobs.’

The  Odeon  will  bring  visitors  into  Dorchester  and  what’s  wrong  with  that?  It  is  a  bene/it  for  all  of  the  community,  visitors  will  be  spending  money  in  Dorchester’s  local  shops  and  it  could  lead  to  an  increase  in  activities  in  the  local  area.  Having  another  cinema  will  also  mean  that  if  The  Plaza’s  showing  of  a  particular  /ilm  is  sold  out,  or  they  aren’t  showing  the  /ilm  you  want  to  see,  instead  of  trekking  into  Weymouth,  you  can  now  easily  pop  into  town.  However,  the  majority  of  us  will  and  should  remain  loyal  to  The  Plaza,  it  is  one  of  the  only  independent  cinemas  left  –  and  would  you  really  spend  £7  to  see  a  /ilm  you  can  see  for  just  £2.50?  

ROOM FOR TWO?I S A B E L L A H A R R I S

HARD WORK... HARDLY WORKING?

UNIVERSITYDON’T GIVE UP ON IT JUST YET

It seems like as soon as you get into Sixth Form everything begins to revolve around university. You find yourself volunteering for anything and signing up to chess club - as long as you can put it on your UCAS form. Further education appears to be compulsory for A-Level students but with a change to the system in 2012 it looked like university was not the dream for everyone.

Certainly in 2012 the number of applicants to university decreased significantly. In 2012, Parliament voted to increase university tuition fees from £3000 a year to £9000. This had a negative effect on the majority of universities. The week after the 2012 results day a report revealed that the total applicants accepted had reduced by almost 30,000 compared to the previous year. The prospect of such a vast debt certainly deterred many from even applying. As the number of applicants reduced, so too did the offers made to students. The offers of AAB from many of the Russell Group universities dropped, in some cases, to DD in an attempt to attract more students. Although this is bad news for universities, this is good news for prospective undergraduates.

Yes, the fees are astronomical and the idea of committing to three more years of writing endless essays may not be appealing but the benefits are

enormous. Not only is it the freedom you have been wanting since you started to talk, but you also get the opportunity to live with a group of people from all over the UK (not just the tiny town you grew up in). You will also be drinking massive amounts, eating rubbish and going out all night! University expands your horizons and opens up opportunities to go anywhere in the world, specialising in a subject you enjoy.

Prospective students can get a student loan to cover their costs which does not have to be paid back until you are earning over £21,000. Even then it is only 9% of your income meaning it can be paid back manageably and without too much resentment to the bank for taking your wages. The average salary of a graduate in 2012 is £26,500 per year; a comfortable amount that is enough to keep you going and slowly start paying back that student loan. University should not be cut out of your future just because of the increase in fees!

The fact of the matter is that the majority of graduates earn more than people who do not go to university. Although it is not for everyone, if you are undecided because you have always thought you were not good enough to get in or the cost was too high, now is the time to apply as universities are actually offering lower, more realistic grades.

BY LILY DOHERTY

I’m a lesbian. What of it? As a generation, I think we don’t like to think of ourselves as homophobic- it’s not exactly an attractive attribute, but yet sometimes homophobia can sneak into our minds and slip out of our mouths without us even realising it. You only have to walk through a few corridors to hear someone complain, “that’s so gay”. One of the definitions for “gay” in the Urban Dictionary reads: “often used to describe something stupid or unfortunate, originating from homophobia.” “Gay”-it’s just a word, right? We don’t mean it as in “homosexual”, we mean it as in: lame, rubbish, stupid, annoying, weird etc… The problem is, “saxophone” is just a word. Yet, it still has a meaning- we all associate the word “saxophone” with the musical instrument, and gay is associated with being homosexual, but we allow it to be used in a negative way, frequently.Cutting out a useful word from your vocabulary is a hassle though… Enter thesaurus! Take, for example, the insult “Gaylord”. “Gaylord” was the insult of

Year 4. “Gaylord” is a great insult- but is there really any room for it in the 21st century? With a bit of thesaurus fun, you land with “lamelord”. Great insult- if you enjoy a bit of alliteration. Or, if applicable, just go for the classic “fun-sponge”.

“why should it make a difference whether they like girls or guys?”

Clare Balding, Nick Grimshaw and Scott Mills. All people I changed my views of when I found out they were gay, I’m not proud of it- why should it make a difference whether they like girls or guys? It doesn’t affect me or my life. It’s like we expect everyone who is homosexual to have certain characteristics, a particular style or voice- but that’s certainly not the case if you’re heterosexual, so where did this strange idea stem from? Wherever it came from, it needs to go back.

I’m not really a lesbian; I just wondered if I stated it, whether it would affect your view of me. The sad truth is, it probably did.

Stop being soyou gayboy...

homophobicby Juliet Goss

FELLA & ME

I wasn’t born blind. I had a brain tumour when I was five that caused me to lose my sight. Fortunately, after a few months some of my sight came back; not a lot, but enough. I was young and I didn’t completely understand my predicament, but everyone else did. I was taught Braille and touch typing in Year Two and we had a lady with a guide dog come in to talk to the class. Now I don’t remember what the lady’s or the dog’s name was, but I do remember the deep feeling of longing. I didn’t fully understand the concept of a guide dog, but I knew then that I wanted one.

For those of you who don’t know my name is Calum Brennan and I’m the guy walking around with a guide dog. This is apparently noticeable, so I thought I’d tell you the ins and outs of how I got him and what it is that he does. First off, his name is Fella and he is a pure, black Labrador. He was born on Christmas Eve of 2010 in a litter of five. He was the first of his litter to be sent off for training. When he was just four weeks old Fella was then sent up to

Scotland to live with his puppy dog walker. A puppy dog walker is someone who the dog lives with for a year to be introduced to different surroundings such as the beach, quiet country lanes or busy town centres.

After a year, the dog is taken away to be trained. In this case, Fella went back to Lemmington Spa where there is a guide dog base. As for where Fella was trained, I am not entirely sure, but I would assume it was Southampton as that is where he came from. He then had to be trained by two different people for three months each. It was only after all this that he and I met for the first time.

Unfortunately, you couldn’t have a guide dog then until you were sixteen (now it’s fourteen and they’re trying to get it down to eleven), but then I had to wait and I pushed the thought to the back of my mind. The thought only started coming back to the front of my mind in Year Nine, and then in Year Ten I gradually started talking to my parents, friends and teaching assistants about it.

B Y C A L L U M B R E N N A N

In the April of Year Eleven, my Dad and I went up to the guide dog centre in Southampton. There were a few other people around my age, who were also looking to get a guide dog. A couple of trainers talked to us about what the training involves, how much commitment it takes to look after a dog and all the things you have to do for it - there were far more than I had ever thought. After this we then had a practice walk with a guide dog from the centre. The dog I was paired with was a golden Labrador called Gregg, who was three years old. The walk was good and I was shown all the commands and Gregg was a lovely dog, and his pace was not that different from mine. A few weeks later, the guide dog centre called me up to check that I still wanted a guide dog, I said yes and I was finally put on the waiting list. Unfortunately, I was not matched up with any dog in the summer holidays, which I’d wanted because I would have had the dog in time for Sixth Form – new dog new school! It was in the Easter holidays the next year that my dad and I went up to the centre again because they wanted to test me with two new dogs. One called Tylor and the other Lenny. Both of them were eighteen months and black Labrador cross Retriever. I walked with them on the harness but neither was right. One was too fast and one was too slow.

It was then in June that they came down and met me after school and introduced me to Fella. I loved him straight away, but I do with every dog I meet! The question was would my pace match his? With him on harness we walked around Queens Avenue with his trainer who reminded me of the commands. When we got back to the car it seemed promising. They both

thought we looked good together and that he listened to me very well. A few weeks later the centre called me to say that they thought Fella and I made a good match and that they wanted to train me in the summer holidays! To get it done before the Olympics, I broke up on July the 12th and Fella arrived that Friday to start training and move in with me. The training was good (apart from getting up early) and we did it in 2 weeks. It was a few days before school that I was brought up to school to walk with Fella around the school to get him use to the routes and new environment without the traffic and now he knows most of the routes without me directing him.

It’s quite funny, but it was to be expected that people would talk to Fella before me and I’m invisible as the attention is on Fella, which I’m glad with. Now Fella is the schools own celebrity as a lot of people can’t get over the fact that a dog is allowed in school, but you need to remember that he isn’t an ordinary pet dog. He is at home and when I take him free running, but in school he’s basically my eyes and a much better pair than the cane was. As far as stroking goes, pretty much all of you know you shouldn’t, and that is right. You don’t touch him when he’s on harness. This is because he’s working. It would be like someone poking or talking to you whilst you’re trying to work. Would you like that? However, you can stroke him when he’s not got the harness on, just ask me first please. It was suggested to me not to allow people, but I decided to because everyone just wants to touch Fella!

ETHAN TAYLORThomas Sprat said in The History of the Royal Society: “that of all the Studies of men, nothing may be sooner obtain'd, than this vicious abundance of Phrase, this trick of Metaphors, this volubility of Tongue, which makes so great a noise in the World. But I spend words in vain; for the evil is now so inveterate, that it is hard to know whom to blame, or where to begin to reform.” This book was published in 1667.

Although it may seem that the deterioration of the English language is a contemporary problem surfacing with the rise of the internet, it is not. The corruption of the grammatical rules that are laid out in our fine language manifested as a fundamental component of the language itself. There was no set date when English began to diverge from its written laws – the variation from what we know as Standard English existed before Standard English was adopted as the basis of the language; it was only in the late 17th century that the codification of English into a dictionary system began to occur on a large scale. However, by the middle of the 15th century, the East Midland dialect became accepted as the written model for official documents, regardless of the native dialect of the scribe, which influenced the elitist attitude to Standard English reflected in the upper class of the following centuries. By the time of Shakespeare in the 16th century, non-standard use was already associated with simplicity or buffoonery. Characters speaking a non-standard variety would not be taken seriously. For example, in King Lear, the high-born Edgar disguises himself as a ‘base peasant’ and affects Kentish speech in order to create the illusion of idiocy. It is here that the idea of correct speech, in addition to written language, began to form.

But enough history, after all, the topic of this article is not “Was the English Language in Decline?” The English Language as it was is disappearing. It is rife with the inaccuracies of millions of seemingly harmless errors every day, by those who are not even aware of the linguistic genocide they are participating in. Double negation such as “we didn’t do nothing” which, mathematically, is entirely incomprehensible, actually reversing the intended effect; or other mistakes like ending sentences prepositionally, to which you might ask “what are you talking about?” These are minor fallacies which some might argue undermine the integrity of traditional English dialect. However, does double negation really impede upon clarity? Is the use of prepositions at the end of sentences truly more confusing?

The question to ask is; how useful is Standard English? Language is an evolutionary process which alters throughout the course of time to conform to the major ideologies of society and the technological progress of mankind; at no point has it ever been, nor will it ever be, ‘complete’. One might even go as far as to suggest that Standard English is a hindrance to the advancement of the English Language as a whole; a pretentiously archaic elitism used to criticise and suppress variety within the English community through pointless prescriptivism.

The answer, then, is a resounding no. The futile pursuit of perfect English is of no benefit to society. One should encourage diversity within language as progress in a perpetually evolving system.

is the english language in decline?

In the ever-evolving world of fashion, the

vintage chic sector has expanded greatly

within the last year. The trend is taking

over the fashion industry - in magazines,

on websites, photo shoots and blogs. It

seems common high-street brands are

taking inspiration from the popular vintage

style only to create mass-produced

replicas which then become unoriginal. It

is evident that the preconceptions of

second-hand clothes should change as

extortionate price tags are attached to

these items, despite having young cash-

strapped consumers as a target audience.

On canvassing opinion from Thomas

Hardye students, second-hand clothing is

often seen to be ‘dated’ and it’s ‘hard to

find anything worth buying’. However, the

rise in specific vintage shops targeted at

niche audiences could influence how we

see these clothes. For example, Shoreditch

in London is described as London’s ‘most

distinctive area for unique fashion’, while

the atmosphere and sense of individuality

within Brick Lane is very apparent. It is due

to a good supply of genuine, high quality

vintage clothing on sale and modelled in a

cutting edge setting. The numerous

exciting and creatively furnished stores

provide a memorable experience and

guarantee of finding an item that suits you

and your budget. It is therefore clear that

this unique selling tactic cultivates a better

perception of second hand clothes.

However, taking inspiration from these

high-end vintage clothing emporiums and

with maybe a little style magazine

research, students can go in search of

bargain pieces that are for sale in local

charity shops before they find their way to

the Brick Lane outlets. Doing this would

also prevent the need to pay the higher

prices for the professional vintage stylist

eye.

Going vintage helps fashion-savvy

shoppers keep up with the trends without

burning a hole in the tiny student pocket.

Whilst also promoting originality, it

provides teenagers with an opportunity to

express themselves with the vast array on

offer, knowing you’ll be the only one with

that item also makes it that bit more

special. The way we construct our image

says a lot about our personality, having a

carefully picked one-off to add to your

wardrobe shows the ability of teenagers to

reinvent the authentic look whilst your

individual character shows through. The

fact that recycling and contributing to

charity are often part of the process, the

vintage clothing industry is ethical

consumerism at its very best.

VINTAGE MISCONCEPTIONG E O R G I AV I L L E R

THE LIGHT AND THE DUSTCreative Writing by Hannah Whaley

The ferry port of San Giovanni is bathed in soft sunlight when we arrive. The rain that fell this morning is collected in small puddles here and there. I help Leandro navigate around

these, it wouldn’t be wise for him to dampen his feet. Tiny streams and rivulets trickle away from these pools, finding their paths in the stone cracks in the ground. Many seem intent on returning to the lake – their source – but most will be evaporated in the growing heat before

sufficient progress is made.

Cornflower blue. The exact shade of the sky as we stand at the port looking across the lake. Our eyes catching on the dark lake fish drifting in their nonchalant way and the ducks above them, who quack eagerly at Leandro and me. We have no scraps for them today and I gesture at them with my empty hands to demonstrate this. After sparing us indignant looks and a

flutter of tail feathers they move away across the sparkling water, without a backward glance.

The clouds are not in a position to cover the sun for a long while and I enjoy the gentle feel of warmth on my skin. A light breeze is blowing through the hairs around the sides of my head,

the ones I still possess, lifting and pushing them back. It is nearly all grey now. I do not know how age crept up on me so swiftly, although I am not yet as old as Leandro.

I cast a glance back at him to see him close his eyes and welcome the breeze. He told me not so long ago that he has come to savour every breath of wind that comes his way. I know

I’d feel the same if I’d spent as much time on oxygen tanks as he has. He is hooked up to one now. A clear plastic tube runs from his nostrils to the metal canister of oxygen. Leandro

carries it carefully, mindful not to drop it or allow his tube to become tangled.

I am thankful that it is only a short walk to the ferry port as Leandro insisted on this trip today. He is a stubborn old fool and still sees himself as a young man. He still retains the majority of his brilliant mind but his physical condition has … deteriorated. I look at him thoughtfully, feeling a deep respect as I take in his wise face, the flesh doughy and lined.

One might think a clumsy housewife took time away from shirts to iron these creases into his skin. I try not to spend my time on such fanciful thoughts. The world is what it is, do not waste your life gazing at it with a glamorous eye. Leandro says this to me often. He says many things in that vein. Although I am far into adulthood, I still learn much from him, the word’s

oldest student; listening with hairy ears and watching with tired eyes.

A teacher, a great friend, almost like a father sometimes. Not in the general physical sense, for I am the one who must care for him in that way. No, his paternal feelings for me are more

subtle and more spiritual. As though his soul is linked to mine.

“Were you not taught that it’s rude to stare?” Leandro asks, breaking me out of my reverie. I smile apologetically and transfer my gaze to the mountains and hills surrounding the lake.

The water’s edges are flecked with blocks of pale orange, yellow and pink. All different shades of buildings clustered tightly together to form the towns: Bellagio, Lenno, Menaggio and Verrena. Of course there are more, but it is not always necessary to state all things

present and in view. So at present the many remaining towns of Lake Como go unmentioned.

San Giovanni is not one of the biggest nor one of the most impressive, but I am thankful for this. It means we are left alone. The steep streets of Bellagio and the market in Lenno are always plagued with visitors from every corner of the world. The beauty of Lake Como does not go unobserved. However, San Giovanni lives in its own quiet way, empty of hotels and things to entertain those on holiday. The ferry stops by many times a day but few get on

and even fewer get off. They simply wait – drinking in the warm air and the modest buildings – until they are taken away again to their chosen destination.

Yet we are here today, Leandro and I, and we wait for the ferry to arrive.

“Nico”, he says, squinting across the lake, “tell me, is the ferry on its way? These old eyes are not what they used to be.”

“It’s coming from Bellagio now” I say. “It should be here in a few minutes.”

“That’s good” He closes his eyes and draws in a deep breath and I can hear it rattle in his chest. I watch him put a hand to his chest. He rubs slightly, his green woollen over vest

rasping against a crisp shirt.

“Are you feeling all right? Do you want to go back?” I ask quickly. Leandro waves his hand at me dismissively and says with great dignity:

“I am perfectly fine, stop fussing over me”. He has opened his eyes now but his hand returns to his chest. Feeling his heart. Counting the pulses. “It would be a waste of time to come

here for a purpose and then not stay to fulfil that purpose.”

“We’ll stay then, but let me hold that for you” I say, holding out my hand for his oxygen canister. He passes it to me without a word and I grasp it tightly; feeling the cold metal

against my fingers. Cradling what ties him to life.

The ferry is almost here. I can pick out individual faces peering over the sides and observing the diminished welcoming party. Hiding their eyes behind sunglasses and cameras. Leandro

makes a disgruntled noise.

“More people to stare at me”. He says. “Perhaps I should charge admission; ‘Roll up and see the dying man!’” He lets out a harsh laugh and then a series of harsher coughs. He manages to swallow these down but I see his chest shake with the effort of it. Trying to take his mind

off it I say,

“Here comes Raphael, tanned and trim as ever!” As I say this the ferry turns slightly to pull up at the port. A jovial looking man in a blue uniform stands at the edge with a loop of rope in

one hand. He throws it with the casual skill of one who has had long to practise his aim. The loop slips over a hook attached to the port and he slides a metal walkway across the gap.

Another blue suit holds the walkway in place whilst Raphael saunters over to us, wearing a big grin that displays his endless white teeth. As soon as he reaches us I am pulled into his strong embrace; firm, working hands patting my back. I pull back and we hold each other at

arms’ length with identical smiles.

“How are you, you old devil?” He asks, laughter in his voice.

“I am just fine thanks” I reply. “How is that lovely wife of yours?” Raphael’s smile broadens even further and blissful happiness emanates from him in waves.

“She’s great, getting bigger every day” he laughs. “Three months then I’ll be bringing a bouncing baby boy to balance on youreaky knees”.

“I look forward to that very much” I say truthfully. Raphael turns to Leandro and greets him just as warmly. However, he obviously notices Leandro’s fragility, for he simply holds him by his

shoulders whilst they exchange pleasantries. Leandro, in turn, grips the arms steadying him and I see all the things he tries to communicate in this. The unsaid things that are too hard to

voice.

Raphael tips him an understanding nod and lightly squeezes the shoulders in his hands.

“It’s good to see you” he says simply. Leandro nods back solemnly.

“It has been too long” he says. “Give my kindest regards to your wife … and your son”.

“I will.”

He shakes my hand in both of his and returns to the ferry, withdrawing the metal walkway. With a deft flick of his arm he unhooks the knotted rope. The ferry’s engine starts up sluggishly, churning the water behind it and marbling it with white froth. Raphael stands at the railing as

the boat chugs away, presumably to the Villa Carlotta in Cadenabbia.

His arm is raised and waving in farewell and I sense this is meant specifically for Leandro. Leandro returns the wave and I notice a nostalgic smile play about his lips. I fold my arms and

lean against the railing, watching the ferry head for its next destination.

We pause for a little while, until I feel Leandro’s desire to leave.

“Come on” I say quietly. “I’ll take you home.”

He leans against me heavily as we walk back and I am carrying his oxygen canister again. My arm is around his shoulders, feeling his struggle for breath, trying to hold the pieces of him

together. The only sound comes from our feet, treading a familiar path and the circulation of air in two respiratory systems, one considerably weaker than the other.

“Not long now” I say, hearing the double meaning behind my words. I know Leandro hears it too.

My arms are gentle around his frame and he fits easily into my embrace. Our shadows appear Siamese as they streak along behind us. They are hanging back, perhaps they are not quite

ready to leave the sunshine. Sometimes it is the hardest thing to leave behind, but we all have to give it up when our time comes.

Leandro is absorbing the air around him, the sounds, the smells. He gazes wistfully at our surroundings; the tall characteristic trees, the pastel colours of the house and even the dust kicked up by our shuffling feet. I try to view it all through his eyes and find I can’t. It is too

painful to imagine how he must feel having his last look, walking his last walk. The ghost of a smile I saw earlier is full and bright across his face, although his eyes appear to glisten with held

back tears.

The path disappears underneath our feet like the end of a dusty treadmill and we come to white paving slabs embedded in thick-bladed grass. We are home.

Leandro pats the old door frame when we reach the house and I let him open it with the key himself. He hangs back for a moment, but his face is set and I know that he is ready.

Without a word or a backwards glance he steps over the threshold and goes to his favourite seat. It is in front of a vast window that looks out onto the ferry port, the lake and the

mountains beyond. I open the smaller window panes on either side and run my fingers over the old wind chimes. They tinkle softly and the cracked crystals dangling from the chimes are given a new lease of life and cast small rainbows onto the floor and Leandro’s chair. He

puts his hand out and seems to hold one in his weathered palm.

“Nico” his voice is quiet.

“Yes”

“Sit with me old friend” he says, “and talk to me of something beautiful. I want to hear …. something …” His voice is almost inaudible so I nod and go to his side so that he might save

his breath.

“You remember the last time you and I went to the Villa Carlotta?” I ask. Leandro nods and closes his eyes

“There were so many flowers, every colour, every shade you could think of. There were swans shaped from small bushes and entire gardens filled with bamboo, cacti and other

exotic plants.” I kneel beside him and take his hand, the one holding the rainbow. The hand holds mine as best it can.

“There is a great fountain at the front of the Villa” I go on. “Filled with fish and purple pond lilies. And if you go inside you can look over the balcony and see almost everything. You

can even see this very house. There are so many trees of different origins: Japanese bonsai, American redwoods and great oaks. Just looking at them made me feel tiny and

insignificant, they were so powerful, yet so beautiful …” My stream of thought wavers.

His grip has gone slack in mine. I wait, and watch. I watch his chest to see if it will rise again. It doesn’t. Keeping my hand in his I remove the oxygen tube from his nose and turn

it off at the canister. With my other hand I smooth the white hair back and kiss his brow. Our hands part.

I almost close the curtains, but, I think he would prefer the sun to be illuminating his features for just a little longer.

I look at the peacefully dead man in the chair, coloured rays of light streaking his palm. The world does not turn upside down, there is nothing different.

There is only the light and the dust motes swirling in the air. A few spots of moisture falling to the carpet. An absence of breathing.

SOPHIE GRANT FOALEThere has always been injustice and inequality in society, but there are many ways in which we can help the community, both locally and worldwide. Extensive famine throughout developing countries, political and religious oppression, and many living without access to safe shelter are just some of the terrible conditions people are forced to endure. We can all use the excuse of being too busy, or not knowing how to get involved, but inevitably it is only a sense of collective responsibility and unity that will inspire us to help each other.

One way that we can have a positive impact is by volunteering. Whether it is in a charity shop, at a residential care home, mentoring someone or helping with the environment, everyone would be welcomed by organisations that run these projects. You can see the difference you are making and get an instant response making extremely important work rewarding. The effects are very broad, both for you and those you are helping, as it connects a wide range of people who may not usually come into contact. This can improve your communication, interpersonal and leadership skills whilst also making you more self-confident and fulfilled. Volunteering is also useful for awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh and AQA Baccalaureate, giving a good impression on a personal statement or CV, as it indicates a well rounded, compassionate person.

You can also get involved with events to raise money for charity. Buying the big issue or your Christmas cards from a local charity shop allows you to give money to a good cause. Donating unwanted items to charity or getting involved with sponsored events are also easy ways to benefit the community and those who are less fortunate than us. The Dorchester town “Champions of Discounts” affiliation card means you can get discounts from shops, restaurants and attractions whilst also supporting the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and local businesses.

An easy way to improve the environment and the welfare of animals is to buy free range, organic local produce which also reduces your carbon footprint. Fair trade products ensure that workers from around the world are given reasonable wages that will not fluctuate with the global market giving them a steady, reliable income. Another simple method is to recycle. Separate your rubbish so that it can be reused, saving resources and money, or upcycle old items to create something new.

Henry David Thoreau once wrote “One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something” and this philosophy can encourage us to develop parts of our own lives so that they focus on other people rather than ourselves. We all have the opportunity to help others in our everyday lives so we should aim to do something worthwhile and have a positive, significant impact.

WE ARE NOT BORN INTO THE WORLD TO DO EVERYTHING, BUT TO DO SOMETHING

WE ARE NOT BORN INTO THE WORLD TO DO EVERYTHING, BUT TO DO SOMETHING

HARD WORK... HARDLY WORKING?HARD WORK... HARDLY WORKING?Ellie Mullan & Josh Hepburn

Many people nowadays are balancing the challenge of a job with the pressure of Sixth Form, for some this is an easy task but for others it can be a daily struggle. Everyone, it seems, has some kind of part time work: from babysitting to waitressing, people are desperate for extra cash and seemingly willing to do whatever hours or rate of pay to get it. From people we have a talked to, the range of pay is huge – from the minimum of £3.68 to over £10.00 per hour. So, how much should we be doing, and how much should we be expected to be paid for it?

From our own experience, at this age it can be difficult to find a job at all, let alone one that matches your expectations. Many people have described their jobs as boring, repetitive and menial. Is the time spent in

boredom worth the amount you’re getting paid for it?

We believe that it’s more the idea of having a job than the job itself that attracts so many. It seems now, not having a job is odd – why don’t you? We think many feel the social pressure to have a job purely because everyone else has one; the expectation to conform is clearly evident.

For many people a job seems to be the main priority above school, spending more hours at work than studying. Despite this being understandable, the grades you receive during your time at Sixth Form will affect your future more than the money you receive from part time work. It is imperative you are able to find a balance between your job and coursework, as to not affect any forthcoming opportunities you may want to pursue.

ADVICE+ CHECK TO SEE HOW MANY HOURS YOU’RE EXPECTED TO DO PER WEEK+ ASK HOW FLEXIBLE HOURS CAN BE DURING EXAM PERIODS+ MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN JUGGLE YOUR TIME EFFICIENTLY+ DON’T STRESS YOURSELF AT WORK (AND SCHOOL)+ BE REALISTIC - NOT EVERYONE CAN JUGGLE SIXTH FORM & WORK STUDENT UNION

THE OPE(AND A FEW P

It’s such a big moment when you turn 17 – at last you can learn to drive! Freedom beckons…your own car means being able to go where you want, when you want, without having to beg lifts from parents and negotiate picking-up times (“Midnight? Don’t be ridiculous! That’s far too late, you’ve got school tomorrow….”)

So it might surprise you to learn that the number of 17 – 20 year olds with a full driving licence has fallen from 48% to 30% over the last 10 years. Why? What possible reason could there be for fewer young people enjoying the many benefits that being able to drive can bring?

Well, as so often in life, MONEY is probably the answer. The costs of learning to drive, taking the test, car tax and fuel have all risen greatly in recent years, putting many people off. And one of the biggest costs of all – bigger than actually buying a car, in many cases – is insurance.

You have to have valid insurance in order to drive; that’s the law. And it’s not just a legal formality – insurance is vital for young people because they are much more likely to have an accident than any other group of road users. The statistics are sobering.

Statistics are what make insurance so expensive, because insurance companies know they are more likely to have to pay out large sums of money to young drivers than older, more experienced ones. There has been one piece of good news though – it’s been statistically proved that girls are much less likely than boys to have an accident (come on, girls, we all already knew that girls are better drivers, didn’t we?) and insurance companies have recognised this by making motor insurance for girls quite a bit cheaper than for boys. Quite right too!

But this is all about to end; for an EU ruling which comes into force on 21 December means that insurance companies can no longer take gender into account when deciding insurance premiums. While theoretically the cost of insurance for boys should come down a little, it’s much more likely that the costs for girls will go sky high. The Association of British Insurers reckons that costs for boys might fall by up to 10%, but that costs for girls will rise by 25%! Since male drivers account for more than 92% of all driving convictions, and are involved in twice as

many accidents as females, this is one case where “gender equality” really doesn’t seem fair.

So, how can you make your insurance cheaper? One way a lot of people do it is by insuring a young person's car in their parent’s name, adding the child as a named driver. This way they get a much cheaper quote, because it’s based on the greater age and experience of the parent. Clever, huh? Well, no, not really. Though many people don’t realise it, this practice is actually illegal. It’s called ‘fronting’ and invalidates the policy: it could even lead to you appearing in court, being charged with driving without insurance, while your parent may be charged with fraud and could end up with a jail sentence.

If you are stopped by the police and found not to have valid insurance, the police can immediately impound your car; leaving you to walk home. They will charge you for transporting and storing the car, and if you can’t produce valid insurance with 14 days the car will be scrapped. This is in addition to a fine, possibly a ban, and 6-8 points on your licence. If you passed your test less than two years ago, 6 points

means you will lose your licence and have to take your test again. It will also put your future insurance costs through the roof. So you really, really, really don’t want this to happen!

So, when it comes to your turn to start driving, how can you keep car insurance costs as low as possible? Shop around, using internet comparison sites such as confused.com. Add one or both of your parents to your policy as named drivers; this is perfectly legal and can bring the cost down a surprising amount (as long as your parents have clean driving records, of course!) And there’s something called Telematics – fitting a box to your car that monitors the way you drive and reports back to your insurer. This often helps to make your policy cheaper, but only if you drive safely – otherwise it could end up putting your insurance costs up. It can restrict the number of miles you are allowed to drive, and prevent you driving at night. Also, it records exactly where you have been and when, and sometimes it can even report back to your parents!

Hmmmm….what was that about the freedom of the open road……..?!

N ROADOTHOLES...)

BY SOPHIE COURTIER

WILL CHINA RUN THE WORLD?by Catherine Frampton-Hobbs, Chief of Economics

Hardyean JournalECONOMICS

There has been much debate regarding China’s substantial investment into African -and many other- countries for over a decade. The question being, in the long run, “Is China friend or foe?”

China has previously been operating in its own sphere in both East and Central Asia for 300years without be ing aggress ive ly expansionist like the European or American powers. For the past 200years, China has been a fairly closed society, particularly under Mao Tse Don. China’s communism was seen by the Western world as a threat, similar to the Soviet bloc, when in fact it was nothing of the sort. China has a very large land mass, and 20% of the world’s population. In spite of this, it lacks agriculturally productive

land, and whilst rich in rare in earth minerals, also lacks the raw material required for heavy industry (such as steel and copper). This is why it is necessary for China to look overseas to source its vital raw materials, just as the ‘developed’ West has done for centuries.

Correspondingly, it is inevitable that big players in African countries would seek outside assistance to increase their economic trading, and Chinese firms have grasped this opportunity with both hands. It is conceivable that, despite the frequency of this occurring in economies, this could be a “win-win” situation. Not only has China accumulated vast quantities of raw materials from these countries, such as oil from Sudan (7% of China’s oil)

and copper from Zambia, but its investments are sure to reap colossal gains in years to come. China’s ‘exploitation’ of the mineral and agricultural wealth of other nations is no different to the behavior of the multinationals and countries of the West. However, China’s buying power, especially since the economic crash (of the West) has increased significantly. The trade volume between between Africa and China having risen 30% yoy through the first three quarters last year, the total for 2011 amounting to $166bn.

There is an issue over whether the people of the countries from which China is buying are benefiting, or whether they continue to live in poverty as their leaders reap the rewards of this trade - and this may

Hardyean Journalwell be the case. Again, we do not hold the moral high ground in this regard, but it is still a matter of concern.

We must not forget that Africa has gained too. China has not been stingy with its soft loans and has invested billions (USD) into African economies. It is speculated that China is looking to invest hundreds of billions (USD) . The transport in Africa is improving with roads, bridges, and rail links being funded by China, and yes, with the intention of being convenient for Chinese investors and trading, yet also it provides a much more advanced transport system for the natives. This enables trade amongst people in Africa to increase also, and improves the mobility of labour (although not in the most rural areas). This all seems to be, as said before, a “win-win” situation.

Nevertheless, this is still a very controversial topic, raising a fair amount of concern for African welfare. It is worrying that China has vast areas of land in Ethiopia for farming and food production, which all gets sent straight to China. If this escalates, China could have more power in a

country than those living there, and have control over so many natural resources that the African countries themselves are left to struggle, without.

Africa is not the sole target for China’s investments; Middle Eastern nations are also turning their trade from the Western world to China with alacrity. Furthermore, China is the fastest growing investor in Latin America since 2010, with 90% of this expenditure pursuing the extraction of natural resources. It seems that we’ve not fully registered China’s head first dive into the emerging economies, gaining the promise of unthinkable quantities of resources whilst the rest of us contemplate bail-outs and political scandals. China's own retail markets are becoming rapidly developed, in terms of the quality of goods sold, something that has happened faster than expected . Perhaps we have underestimated their potential, with Chinese brands becoming global competitors with retail giants, such as Li Ning with 'Nike' and 'Adidas'. China has a firm grip in its future, which is laudable. The concern is its grip on other coun t r i e s ’ f u tu r e s .

Countries whose diplomats and businessmen (and women) are so thirsty for investment, that they may be blind to the consequences which could later impede them. Sustainability is key and so important in emerging countries.

The West has to look past its fear of Communist China and see it for what it is - a country with slightly different value systems doing what the West does in a very similar way, and arguably doing it much better than we do. Certainly this is the case in this decade - and probably the next decade too. China’s monopoly of parts of Africa is of course matched by the many other monopolies existing that are owned by European and American organisations. Chinese power in any country outside China is purely economic. China has not invaded and imposed a failed democracy on any other country - something we cannot claim.

The important thing is to see China without our Western blinkers on. There is nothing China has done that we haven’t done more of and made a far worse situation of...

AMERICAN ELECTIONSby Alex Lines, Political Writer

Hardyean JournalPOLITICS

There was a time when the seemingly free, libertarian elections of the United States were the envy of the entire world. As France burned in the fire of revolution and the imperial powers of Europe ruled over their colonies with an iron fist, the American people where amongst a privileged few who had a real say in who could run their fledgling country. Although for the first couple of elections only white, male property owners could vote and women were denied that freedom entirely until 1920, America was still a long way ahead of most other nations in the world when it was but a young democracy. However, as the nation ages and its enormous influence over the rest of the world begins to fade, American elections have become unfair, antiquated, stagnated affairs. As you probably already know, Barack Obama has won the White House in one of the closest electoral races since their inception in 1788. However, there’s a fair chance that neither candidate deserves to be there at all.

# One of the primary reasons for this is the old fashioned electoral system that the United States uses, a method that hasn’t been changed since the elections began in the Eighteenth Century. America uses an Electoral College system in which the winners in each individual state are determined before giving each state a number of “points” based upon its population. The number of points each candidate has won is then tallied up from

across the nation, determining the winner of the election and the next President (and Vice-President) of the United States. The problem with this frankly archaic system is that it results in some peoples votes being worth more than others. For example, if you were a supporter of the Republican Party and lived in California – one of the most valuable states in the election, being worth fifty-five points – your vote would be almost entirely useless because the Democratic dominance of the western state (they’ve won it in every election since 1988) would mean that your vote had little-to-no chance of really effecting the result.

Furthermore, the state-by-state system creates a phenomenon known as “swing states.” Swing states are areas of the country that are evenly split between Democrat and Republican supporters and are worth a large amount of points in the election, examples being Ohio, Florida or Colorado. This means that votes cast in swing states are far more valuable than ones in safe states, like Texas for the Republicans or New York for the Democrats, meaning that people who live in areas with a low population or where one part dominates have no way of really having their say in who takes the greatest prize in American politics. This seems to go to show that the states are perhaps not so united after all. With this system, many times a candidate has won the election with a smaller proportion of the vote than his opponent, one example being in 2000

Hardyean Journalwhen George W. Bush won the election despite only having 48% of the vote, whilst his opponent, Al Gore, earned 48.3%. This is entirely wrong; more American citizens believed that Al Gore was the greater candidate, but he still lost because of a system that is unnecessarily complicated and archaic. The system was necessary in 1788 because it was impossible to tally up an entire nation’s ballots before the advent of mass transportation technology such as trains. However, with technological advances such as railway, automobiles, planes and even the internet, it would be perfectly feasible to gather the information of the whole country together without needing to tally the votes in the long-winded, state-by-state system currently employed.

# Another problem that the elections have is that it perpetuates the unfortunate American phenomenon of the two party state. The focus in US politics is almost entirely geared towards the Democrats and the Republicans, with other parties such as the Greens or the Libertarians getting almost no coverage and therefore having very little chance of seriously challenging for an election victory. This entirely restricts the choice of the voters; it is clear that many Americans agree with the policy of these so called “third parties” or are at least dissatisfied with both the main candidates, but these frustrated electors have no way of showing these feelings through the ballot box because they know that their preferred politicians have little chance of winning and are scared of “wasting” their vote on a candidate that would never take the White House. This focus on just two parties is glaringly obvious on the TV debates. There were 417 candidates running for Presidency in 2012 - although many of them were not serious attempts at winning the election - yet the TV debates that have such an impact on the way the public votes featured just 2

potential Presidents; Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The Green Party were, in fact, so enraged by this that on the 16th of October, the date of the second presidential debate, Jill Stein (Presidential candidate for the Greens) was arrested trying to join the debate in protest at her exclusion. This goes to show that the third parties of the American political system are totally ostracised from the election process, giving voters little choice between Democrats and Republicans; surely this is not the way things should be in the land of the free?

# It appears clear that the American system of electing their leaders is hopelessly broken. It renders a large amount of votes almost entirely useless, excludes presidential hopefuls who are not Republican or Democrat and places an undue emphasis on states that can swing the election. There are alternatives to the Electoral College that would rectify this problem; for example, America could use the Alternative Vote system, whereby the voters rank their candidates in order of preference. If there is no majority after the votes are counted, then least popular candidates are eliminated and the votes for the potential President that was eliminated then redistributed based on second choice. This solves both problems; every vote is of equal value, because it is not measured on a state-by-state basis, and it allows third parties to really have a say, because voters can list second choices, eliminating the fear of wasting their vote on hopeless candidates. Why, then, does America persist with their outdated system? It is clear that it is needlessly unfair and complicated and that it is certainly not in the best interests of the American populous. For the country that claims to be the birthplace of modern democracy, it seems that the United States has lost sight of the liberties upon which it was founded.

THE ARGENTINE COMPLEXby Rory Newbery, Hardyean Journal Editor

Hardyean JournalPOLITICS

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s government faces a 25% inflation rate. A failing privatisation spree, siege economy and a growing trend in offshore accounts - these have led to a clampdown on the people of Argentina. You can’t go on holiday without declaring your tax-identification number and notifying the tax agency (AFIP) exactly where it is you’re going. This is a president who is paranoid that her people are spending too much money on the other side of the borders.

However, despite a gloomy economy and allegations of corruption

and excessive spending, Ms. Fernández seems to have her eyes feasted on something much more ‘important’; the Falklands. If you went to any Latin-American country, they’d have you believe that the small islands of a little over 3,400 people were called Islas Malvinas. If you’d listen a little more to what our Latin-American friends were saying, you might soon be under the impression that Falkland Islanders are being enslaved by a colonial UK and detained against their will.

Argentina have tried everything whilst facing waning support from their neighbors including

addressing the UN to persuade the UK to open negotiation talks. But London’s move to hold a referendum in 2013 seems to have worked in silencing Buenos Aires.

Instead of Ms. Fernández telling the UK what The Falklands want, The Falklands can speak for themselves - like any other functioning democracy would. 1,600 are eligible to vote but a resounding ‘yes’ is most expected. Ms. Fernández won’t be happy, but we can count on democracy, then she can carry on sorting out what she’s got, a troubled economy.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

www.hardyeanjournal.co.ukfor more articles (updated frequently)

LONDON 2012: CHANGING CHANNELS

by Emily Phillips, Culture Editor

Hardyean JournalCULTURE

The London 2012 Olympic games proved to be truly inspiring , the screaming crowds , the never ending cheers of support for the British Olympians , we cannot help but realise how very patriotic we have all become. While we watch on BBC One the visual thrills of the explosive closing ceremony, we begin to feel a sense of content as we move towards the end of the games. However , this is not the end , as the Paralympics a re ne ver f a r beh ind . Unfortunately ,there is one unmistakable difference- they are not broadcast on BBC, one of the world's most t rea sured and respected broadcasters.

Instead, we switch over to Channel 4, where we begin to notice the annoying add breaks and the constant reminders o f o ther programs we apparently cannot afford to miss. Even the Daily Mail described the viewers as ‘furious’ when

the games were interrupted by adverts. The BBC has covered Paralympic sport since the 1980 Summer Paralympics, which took place in Arnheim, so why have the London organising committee (Locog ) suddenly decided to change the channels? Surely this implies the Paralympics are not as impressive as the Olympics , in a statement, the BBC said: "We are disappointed to have not been awarded the rights to the 2012 Paralympic Games. We' re proud o f our traditions and record in covering disability sport.” Does it not seem rather evident that the BBC were surpr i sed and indeed shocked by Locog’s decision to give broadcasting rights to Channel 4 . To a viewer at home this seems obvious in being somewhat hurtful to the Paralympic games. If anything, these games are equa l l y i f not more impressive and inspiring g iven the f ac t a l l the

Para l ympians ha ve a disability that they have cha l l enged themse lves against. No doubt , the Paralympics brought in figures such as 7.7 Million for the closing ceremony , although this was 3.5 million less than the opening one which could be due to the tedious add breaks. It was probably noticeable that Channe l 4 may o f not tota l l y l ived up to the s tandards of the BBC. Viewers said they would have preferred to have seen the act ion back on Olympics broadcaster the BBC, saying that Channel 4 coverage featured too much time in the studio talking and that par t s o f the presentation looked ‘dull’. Indeed , most people were alarmed by the channel change and i t i s not surprising to why less and less people , throughout the duration of the Paralympics, tuned out.

Conquering London on a ‘shoe-string’ budget has never been more difficult for us students, who carefully vale ever hard-earned pound, spending as little as possible is a major priority. Every time we visit London we are disillusioned by how much we are forced to spend just to ‘get by’. One begins to question the enjoyment of the whole experience when forced to pay 50p to simply use a blocked up metallic toilet. Think what that could have been spent on!

Despite our exasperation at these toilet taxes we were surprised how, by walking, using an overall day tube pass (£5..20 with a 16-25 railcard) and making the most of generous freebee’s you can actually manage so scrape by pretty cheaply. As long as you are well aware of the lack of compromise drivers have when it comes to zebra crossings, walking is a great way to get to grips with the inner circle of the ‘Big Smoke’. With regard to freebee’s the number of times we have strolled purposefully

around Camden Market eating sizzling Chinese and Moroccan ‘taster’s is staggering. By your fourth mini pot of ‘bang bang’ chicken you begin to feel this is advertising gone crazy. It nearly defeats the purpose of promotion itself when you’re so full on free food that you don’t even need the real thing.

Where to stay is admittedly a problem unless you are fortunate enough to have friends or relatives to stay with. Not many of us are lucky enough to ‘sofa-surf’ from borough to borough. But leave early and come back late and you should be able to squeeze the most out of a pricey day.

For keen shoppers with a bulging wallet then Oxford Street is the place for you. But if you are looking for a more ‘atmospheric experience’ then either head to Camden, Brick Lane or Portobello. Here, you are sure to find some electric markets, fresh street food, and meet some kindred spirits. But do not be fooled: these sellers know their target market

LONDON O

FEELING NERDY?

LONDON IS HOME TO SOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST UNIVERSITIES.NEARLY ALL OF THESE HAVE A SPEAKERS PROGRAM WHERE WELL-KNOWN ACADEMICS AND GUESTS TALK FOR FREE.

ATTENDANCE OF THESE EVENTS

WILL LOOK GREAT ON YOUR

UCAS FORM!CHECK ANY

UNIVERSITY’S EVENTS PAGE TO

GET FREE TICKETS.

by Tasha Bailey & Rory Newbery

N A BUDGET

well and you would be hard-pushed to find a bargain among the rails of leather jackets and worn in high tops. For want of some ‘cultural enlightenment’ then there are plenty of free exhibitions and museums. And be sure to use your last years of ‘childhood’ wisely (for those under eighteen) – remember ID’s and you will get it for half the price. If you want to meet your Q then head to the (free) National Gallery and admire a Turner. Or if not, then the Mall Galleries and National Portrait are also free. But if starring, wide-eyed into a sixteenth century landscape doesn’t tickle your fancy then there are plenty of free concerts and workshops at the royal Festival Hall, archive film showings at the BFI Mediatheque and skeletal remains at the Hunterian Museum.

We are well aware that we have yet to mention the biggest

question of all – what and where to eat. If freebees will not suffice, there are plenty of well-priced cafés offering lunch on the move. In the East End, around Shoreditch and Spitalfields there are numerous cafés serving hot, take-away food. Take the tube to Aldgate East or Liverpool Street and it is only a short walk away. On your way you can pick up a hot wrap or bowl of rice and curry and then hit the trendy market hotspot with a full stomach. There are some nice little cafés around Covent Garden, all the way up to Leicester Square, which are a bit more pricey, or head to the popular Hard Rock café on Hyde Park corner for a sit down burger. Small supermarkets surround the edges of the famous London parks so you can even buy yourself a meal deal for under a fiver and just watch the world go by. ENJOY!

TRAVELMEGATRAINS is a great site if you’re flexible with your timings and book in advance. Even if there isn’t the return journey you want then why not buy a single journey on here and your other single journey on SWT?

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is a hidden gem of London. It re-opens in Summer 2013 with the likes of Pride & Prejudice to The Sound of Musicopenairtheatre.org/

Karl Malone 13RJ

Will Dorchester Town’s historic FA

cup win over Plymouth Argyle

boost The Thomas Hardye Sixth

Form team to further their cup

success?

On a mystical Sunday evening in

November, with the rain pouring,

Dorchester Town football club

(below) made History. Battling to

the death, they overcame league

two side, Plymouth Argyle. Stated

as an “all-time great cup tie” by

one jubilant fan, the huge feat sparked wonderful scenes of

euphoria at the Avenue Stadium

with shouts of “we did it!” flowing

through the air. This win was so

impressive due to the

stubbornness of Dorchester’s

defence. When Dorchester took the

lead early in the second half, they

hung on for the remaining forty

one minutes despite the

continuous pressure they were

put under by Plymouth’s attack.

This determination to win is what

every football fan loves to see and

makes it that much more

rewarding if it results in success.

TOWN WIN TO BOOST FOOTBALL?The question is though; can this

determination to win latch on to

The Thomas Hardye football team

as they look to further their

success? The first team have

progressed with ease in both the

County Cup and National Cup,

bragging a one hundred per cent

record, home and away; not tasting

defeat yet. With the strong outfit

they possess, they do not lack in

skill to help them to continue their

prosperity. This has been in clear

view through the way they have strolled through the first rounds

of teams with ease. However, this

will certainly not be the case in

the future fixtures, with opposing

teams proposing a much stronger

challenge looming over them.

They have the talent but do they

have that desire?

They may have won every game,

but they are not a perfect outfit,

not by a long shot. They could

even be criticised for not

connecting well, as there seems to

be no togetherness about the side.

I believe that is the key to any

team’s success. It’s certainly what

anyone watching Dorchester would

have seen and felt, with the team

fighting as one unit to secure the

success not only for themselves

but for the team and the town.

This school team need to take on

this philosophy if they wish to

succeed. And believe me; I think

they have the ability to go far!

There is no reason why not. They

just need to become infected with

that same passion and turn up

with the right mentality and they

could beat anyone. Consistent performer Will Sonner believes

they are ready, ‘we are looking

strong, and we are looking forward

to the next game and believe we

can win’.

So, from the sound of it, the team

have taken a leaf out of Dorchester

Town’s book, and look forward with

confidence ready for a few tough

encounters. We will soon see. Let’s

support the team together as a

school and hope they can progress

to a higher height. Who knows

they could even win the County

Cup, hell, why not the National Cup

too!

SPORTS