One Sixth Form College welcomed new students with a Freshers’ Fair

On 9 September, One Sixth Form College kicked off the new academic year with their annual Freshers’ Fair.

The fair was organised by Connor Smith, Welfare Administrator, in tandem with West Suffolk College and was comprised of fifty stands held by students and staff from the college as well as local organisations.

Stands were set up by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service to warn students about dangers on the roads and in the water. They challenged students to perform simple tasks while wearing special goggles which simulated being under the influence of alcohol or cannabis or being sleep deprived to demonstrate the dangers of reckless driving.

They were also providing information about charging devices and fire safety. Kate Phillips, Specialist Prevention Practitioner at the service, said: “We tend to get into the same old routines without thinking about the worst-case scenario. It's best to educate people young so that if the worst were to happen, they're prepared and they know what to do in an emergency.”

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils also attended the event to assist students with voter registration, even running a sweet-incentivised poll on education to demonstrate the voting experience.

When asked about why it’s important to encourage voter registration in 16 to 18-year-olds, Patrick Richardson-Todd, Electoral Services Team Leader at the councils, said: “Voter registration is super important at the moment as we're in quite a fluid political environment where every vote really matters.”

Along with providing educational information, the Freshers’ Fair also had a large focus on creating a welcoming environment for new students, with students hosting stands for clubs such as chess club.

Various LGBTQ+ organisations also attended the event. Isiah Jordan, Senior Youth Worker at Outreach Youth, said: “Today is about coming in, being seen, and representation. The biggest thing the students can get from us being here today is knowing that there are other LGBT people around.”

The Freshers’ Fair also encouraged students to begin thinking about their next steps. University of Lincoln, University of East Anglia (UEA), and the college’s Futures team were all in attendance to discuss future pathways.

Billie Sutterby, Higher Education Advisor at UEA, was discussing UEA courses and the university experience with students. “I think the students getting ideas in very early is really good so that they can start planning ahead, especially in year 12 so it's not all

crammed into year 13. There’s always an option out there for them to progress to where they want to be and it’s about feeling as informed as possible” she said.

The Futures team from One Sixth Form College were also providing advice and guidance on next steps after college. Hollie Wimpress, Progression to Higher Education Advisor at the college, said: “My goal for the day is that the students have better knowledge of the support we can provide for them and that they understand that they don’t have to do it all alone.”

Amy, 16, from Ipswich, is entering her first year of studies at One Sixth Form College. She said: “I’ve been to a lot of the stands and I think this sort of event is very beneficial to young students. It gives you more of an idea of what you can do with your life.”

Eloise, 17, from Ipswich, also joined the college this year. She said: “I’ve met a lot of new people today at this Freshers’ Fair, it’s a good way to socialise with different people. It’s really nice here and the teachers have been lovely.”