Emma Humphries, a former A Level student who is now studying Liberal Arts in the USA, last week returned to Cronton Sixth Form to inspire current students on the college’s Prestigious Universities Programme and tell of her amazing journey so far.

The former Wade Deacon High School pupil applied to study at Smith College Massachusetts, after experiencing life as an American undergraduate over the summer of 2015 through the National Sutton Trust USA Programme. Emma, from Widnes, fought off tough competition from 3700 young people that applied to take part in the programme and spent a week at Yale University, an experience that influenced her to study abroad.

The 19 year old is now in her first year at Smith College and is loving life in the USA. Emma said, “Studying in the USA has been an amazing experience so far; the classes are really interesting and challenging. The flexible ‘open curriculum’ style of learning at Smith allows me to study new and different things; I’m even taking a neuroscience class next semester! There are lots of opportunities to take advantage of.

“I have made lots of new friends and the social life is amazing. I’m the only Brit in my class, but it has been a big positive; my American friends love having a British friend!”

Emma keeps in regular contact with staff at Cronton and is eager to help current students follow her path of studying abroad. She commented, “It’s great to meet students who are interested in studying abroad. I was able to talk to a class today about the USA experience and provide advice for applicants. Studying abroad is the best decision I have ever made; it’s really hard work but worth it.”

Emma will be returning to Cronton whenever she can to take part in more PUP events, including a talk at the ‘Gifted and Talented Day’ with local school pupils.

She said, “The Prestigious Universities Programme at Cronton opened my eyes to the Sutton Trust USA Programme and studying abroad. Through this programme, my dreams of studying abroad became a reality; I discovered the different paths available and learned of funding possibilities to make it possible.

“Even if you are slightly interested in studying abroad, I would say definitely apply for the Sutton Trust USA programme; it is an amazing opportunity. Studying at Cronton made me more ambitious, adventurous, and I finished feeling prepared for life through things like moving away from home. There are so many options when leaving college, I would say do what fits you, not what you think you have to do.”

Luke MacMahon, Head of the Prestigious Universities Programme, commented, “We are very proud of the success Emma has achieved in earning a place at Smith College. She has been a fantastic role model for our current students and is always eager to help when she can. The student feedback about Emma’s talk has been tremendous and we are excited to work with her on our future PUP activities.”

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Physics and Engineering students at Cronton Sixth Form College had a wonderful learning experience during a spectacular visit to CERN in Geneva, the biggest physics laboratory in the world.

CERN employs around 10,000 physicists, engineers and computer scientists. It is home to the Large Hadron Collider; the world’s largest and most powerful particle collider, most complex experimental facility ever built, and the largest single machine in the world.

36 students and accompanying staff travelled to Switzerland for the three day trip of education and cultural discovery.

At CERN, the group enjoyed fantastic exhibitions, which including a 360 degree multimedia experience tracing the history of the universe. A CERN research scientist delivered expert talks to the students and provided a tour of the computing cluster, which houses one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. The students also got to see the world famous Antiproton Decelerator, a unique machine which allows for studies of antimatter.

Importantly, the students also gained an understanding of possible career paths following their studies. They were able to ask about possible job and research roles, raising the possibility of CERN one day becoming a place of work for the future scientists and engineers.

The group also had the opportunity to take in the Swiss culture, enjoying an evening of Swiss music, yodelling and alpine horns, while dining on fondue. They also spent time enjoying fun bonding activities such as bowling, pizza and pool.

Cronton Science tutor David Petticrew said, “This was a fantastic opportunity for our students, they had the chance to observe this amazing research facility at the forefront of the field. Feedback from our students has been overwhelmingly positive and they have come back to college extremely motivated with lots of ideas for their college research projects. Hopefully, in the future some of our students will return to CERN to do their own research.”

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Adventurous students at Cronton Sixth Form had the exciting opportunity to travel to the French Alps for a magnificent skiing trip to Alpe D’Huez.

The college trip was open to students from A Level and Applied Science courses and took place over seven eventful days in the Alps. Students ranged from beginner to advanced level skiers and all received four hours of daily tuition from expert ski instructors at the resort.

The trip was highlighted by perfect weather throughout. This added to the breathtaking experience of ascending 11,500ft via cable car to the summit of Pic Blanc Mountain, where the group took in beautiful clear views of France. Some daring students then skied back down with instructors and staff on the Sarenne; the longest black run in the world at 16km in length.

Along with skiing, the students were able to bond in the evenings, taking part in fun activities including sledging, a game of laser tag set within an ice maze, movie nights and a quiz night.

Deputy Head of Cronton, Ben Barton said, “It was a fantastic experience for all of the students and one they will remember for years to come. The skiing, the culture and the location provided huge inspiration for all of our students and they all agreed that they would definitely be coming back!”

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The Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts at Cronton Sixth Form celebrated five years of outstanding dance performances last week, with a spectacular show at The Brindley Theatre in Runcorn.

Students from the college’s Professional Dance Programme (PDP) marked the anniversary with an outstanding performance titled Memories. The production recreated and showcased the most memorable dances and performances from the last five years of the PDP’s creations.

The sell out audience was dazzled by fantastic group and solo performances from the highly talented dance students. The dances were chosen from past performances including The Evil Queen, Coven, The Immortal Swan and The Daughter’s of Nyx, and featured a wide variety of styles and complexity.

Benjamin Musa, Artistic Director and Course leader for the Professional Dance Programme commented, “The show was an amazing trip down memory lane of all the performances from past and present students. It is a huge privilege to be part of the Performing Arts Centre of Excellence and to play a part in bringing these performances to the stage. It makes me immensely proud to witness the talent of our students and to help them develop, grow and succeed. Here’s to the next five years!”

Rave reviews followed the performance with one audience member commenting, “I could not believe this was a college performance. The dancers and variety of dances they performed were absolutely amazing. I can’t wait until the next dance production!”

At the end of the show, the students treated the audience to a sneak preview of their next big performance, ‘Red’ which will take place at the Brindley Theatre on the June 20th. The PDP will also be performing a choreography show on 13th March at The Brindley; follow Cronton Sixth Form on Facebook and Twitter for ticket details.

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Performing Arts students at Cronton Sixth Form College electrified a sold out audience at the Centre Stage Theatre with a special one night only performance of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Set in the Victorian-era, Sweeney Todd tells the tale of a barber who returns home to London after fifteen years of exile to take revenge on the corrupt judge who ruined his life. When revenge escapes him, Sweeney swears vengeance on the entire human race, murdering as many people as he can while his business associate Mrs. Lovett bakes the bodies into meat pies.

The talented Performing Arts students stepped into the roles for the special one night only performance which quickly sold out after high demand. In the lead roles were Marcus Cameron as Sweeney Todd, Ellie Greaves as Mrs Lovett, Emily Snooks as Johanna and George Rees as Judge Turpin.

Matt Plant, Head of the Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts, said “The performance of Sweeney Todd was a triumph; our students excelled themselves once again in this special one night only production. Thank you to our students for their extraordinary commitment.”

“We now begin the search for the lead role in our next production, Evita, which will be our final production here at Centre Stage before we take up residence in our new purpose built 300 seat theatre on our sixth form campus, aptly named the Cronton Playhouse.”

The Centre of Excellence will be performing their next production ‘Evita’ on 5th and 6th of July at 7.30pm in Riverside College’s Centre Stage Theatre. Tickets are £7.50 and can be purchased by calling the box office on 0151 257 2032.

ACTORS:
Mrs. Lovett – Ellie Greaves
Sweeney Todd – Marcus Cameron
Johanna – Emily Snooks
Pirelli – Cara Sullivan
Beggar Woman – Sineade Keenan
Anthony – Adam Manville
Tobias – Connor Evans
Judge Turpin – George Rees
Beadle – Daniel Hibbert
Bird Seller – Jess McCarthy
Jonas Fogg – Fay Walden
Lucy – Beth Lindop

ENSEMBLE:
Becky Leech
Caitlin McCann
Caitlin McDougall
Chris Grave
Codi Jaques
Connor Jones
Daisy Scotton
Elsie Gaia
Ethan Minghella
Freya Hill
Georgia Dunbebin
Hannah Bailey
Holly Hook
Isabelle Whitby
Josh Rogers
Katarina Botez
Kate Jary
Laura Wade
Mia Matthews
Olivia Timson
Rhiannon Ratcliffe

Thirteen Business and IT students from Cronton Sixth Form and Riverside College had the amazing opportunity to travel to the United States of America for an exciting five day residential experience in New York City.

As well as taking in the sites of one of the world’s most iconic cities, the trip was a great way to enhance the students’ knowledge of the global economy, how businesses trade on an international scale and an opportunity to immerse themselves in the world’s biggest economy.

Over five unforgettable days the students were mesmerised by iconic sights such as the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Central Park before starting the real ‘business’ of learning about stocks and shares with an interactive tour of Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange.

The students further enhanced their knowledge of the finance industry by visiting the home of the world famous banking dynasty; the Rockefellers, as well as having the opportunity to see some of the buildings owned by the multi-billionaire businessman and current US President Donald J Trump.

During the evenings the group enjoyed the diverse culture of the Big Apple by taking in a top theatre show on Broadway, being dazzled by the bright lights of Times Square and walking the haunted alleyways of Greenwich Village whilst listening to stories of the spooks and spectres that reside there.

Second year Level 3 Business student Caitlin Brown said, “It was a once in a lifetime trip where I learned so much about the history of one of the world’s most influential cities. The trip enhanced my understanding of the world of business in general which has motivated me to succeed on my course so that I can one day return to the city as an influential businesswoman myself!”

Business Lecturer and trip organiser Bryan Doyle said, “It was a real pleasure to spend this time with such a fantastic bunch of young people. Far too often some young people in our area don’t get the opportunity to expand their horizons and experience other cultures.

“This trip not only allowed our students to learn about a different culture but it also gave them a much broader understanding of the global economy and our place in it which has given them a much deeper insight into the topics they have been studying. The trip was a huge success and I can’t wait to start organising next year’s Business Studies residential.”

Students from Cronton Sixth Form College and Riverside College competed at the AoC Sport National Championships in Nottingham last weekend, coming home with a gold medal as they helped the North West to finish in third place.

Philippa Birchall, Savannah Sumner, Rachael Porter, KerriAnn Smith competing as part of the women’s rugby team, Robyn Cosgrove and Alex Bowman competing in table tennis, Amy Redman in tennis and Corey Lever as the goalkeeper in the hockey team all travelled to the University of Nottingham where they battled against athletes from colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland during the three-day event.

As well as individual glory, teams accumulated points for their region in order to win the prestigious Wilkinson Sword trophy.

Keith Barker, Head of the WellFit team at the college accompanied the students to the competition and said, “All the students competed to the best of their ability throughout the whole weekend, some even competing from Friday afternoon through to Sunday morning.

“Amy was part of the victorious North West Tennis team that won Gold, beating the London region in the final!”

The South East region retained the Wilkinson Sword trophy in a highly competitive weekend.

The region finished nine points clear of second-placed South West, while the North West finished in third place.

More than 1700 college students took part in the National Championships which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, at a variety of venues including the University of Nottingham’s David Ross Sports Village, Nottingham Wildcats Arena, Morley Hayes Golf Club, Nottingham Tennis Centre and Nottingham Hockey Centre.

The athletes competed across 13 different sports, including football, squash, hockey, basketball and cricket.

AoC Sport Managing Director Marcus Kingwell said: “What a fantastic weekend we’ve had at this year’s National Championships.

“Thanks to the hard work of the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Conferences, volunteers, AoC Sport staff and, of course, the competitors, coaches and college staff, the past three days have been a resounding success.

“Congratulations to all who took part, we’re already looking forward to seeing you all again next year.”

Creative Arts students at Cronton Sixth Form had the opportunity to soak in the rich history, arts and culture of Berlin during an exciting college trip to the German capital.

Over four eventful days, the students and teaching staff enjoyed visits to famous Berlin landmarks and cultural locations.

On the evening they arrived, the group visited the Holocaust Memorial and the famous Brandenburg Gate.

On the second day they visited Checkpoint Charlie and the Typography of Terror Museum. The day was highlighted with a visit to the Gianni Versace Retrospective which showcased the largest selection of the designer’s fashion ever exhibited. In the evening they also visited the Reichstag Dome, which gave a fantastic 360 degree view of the city.

On the third day they visited the world famous Hamburger Bahnhof Museum and the KW Institute for Contemporary Art, which challenged the students concept of what art can be. The day ended with an exploration of the East Side Gallery.

The fourth and final day included a visit to the Olympiastadion Berlin and some time to purchase souvenirs before departing back to college.

Daniel Crowe, Art Tutor at Cronton Sixth Form said, “Overall the trip was a huge success and gave the students’ knowledge and experience of Berlin’s history, art, architecture and culture.”

Riverside College and Cronton Sixth Form came together for the third year running to raise money for Cancer Research UK with a spectacular Race for Life event at Victoria Park in Widnes.

Hundreds of students and staff members took part in the event which was organised by college staff members Helen Maddison and Paula Mitchell and was sponsored by Young Addaction Halton. It was the third college Race for Life after two hugely successful events previously.

Prior to the race the participants wrote down the reasons why they are taking part, with reasons such as losing a loved one to cancer or personal battles with the condition. These were proudly displayed by the runners during the race and are now displayed on a wall in the college foyer.

Councillor Eddie Jones of Halton Borough Council, Widnes Vikings player Chris Houston, Assistant Coach Mick Cassidy and Head of Strength and Conditioning Tim Holmes signalled the start of the Race for Life.

After five kilometres around Victoria Park, the race was won for the second year in a row by Cronton student Nathan Jones, a former pupil at Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy who now studies Sport and Uniformed Services at the college. Kathryn Schofield, a former pupil at St Chad’s Catholic and Church of England High School and now studying Animal Management at Cronton, soon crossed the finish line as the fastest female runner.

Following the race, each participant headed to Riverside College’s Centre Stage Theatre for a celebration of their achievement. Widnes Vikings players Chris Dean, Gil Dudson and Stefan Marsh, Widnes Vikings Health and Physical Activity Co-Ordinator Becky Chambers and Everton FC legend Graham Stuart were special guests on the day to present the runners with medals.

A BBQ then took place to cap off the celebrations, which included food generously donated by Cronton Lane Bakery and bottled water which was donated by the Morrisons Widnes store.

Event organiser Helen Maddison said, “For the third year running our Race for Life has been a huge success; it was incredible to see so many people taking part in this special event and we have raised a fantastic amount of money for Cancer Research UK so far with lots of donations still coming in.

“I would like to say a big thank you to everybody who took part and made donations, to Morrisons and Cronton Lane Bakery for their donations and also to our special guests who presented the medals; everybody was very excited to meet them. Preparation is already underway for next year’s event which will be even bigger!”

If you would like to make a donation to the college JustGiving page for Cancer Research UK, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/riverside-cronton-race4life-2018

First year Biology students at Cronton Sixth Form College had the opportunity to demonstrate problem solving techniques outside of the classroom and enjoy outdoor activities during an exciting residential trip to the Conway Centre in Anglesey.

Over the three days the young scientists were able to carry out a wide range of research techniques on beaches, rivers and quarry areas which benefited the ecology and conservation modules of the A Level Biology course.

The students also took part in paddle boarding, canoeing down the Menai Strait, via ferrata climbing and spent time socialising around the campfire during the evenings which created an educational and fun experience overall.

Ruth Mills, Biology Tutor at Cronton Sixth Form said “The trip was a huge success and all the students thoroughly enjoyed it. The residential helped to enhance the delivery of the ecology and conservation aspect of the A Level course and gave the students the opportunity to carry out techniques and analytical work not normally available within the classroom environment.”

Join Cronton Sixth Form College as we celebrate creative student work at the annual end of year Vocational and A Level Art & Design Exhibition & Fashion Show.

The event takes place on Thursday 14th June, 5pm-8pm.

Cronton Sixth Form College, Cronton Lane, Widnes, WA8 5WA

Fashion | Textiles | Photography | Fine Art | Graphic Design | Animation

Cronton Sixth Form College and Riverside College came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of vocational students over the past 12 months at the annual ‘Vocational Student of the Year Awards’ ceremony.

Awards were presented on the night by senior college staff and guests who included Chair of Governors Wesley Rourke and Councillor Tony McDermott. The prestigious overall award winners were presented by Mayor of Halton Councillor John Bradshaw, Mayoress Councillor Marjorie Bradshaw and Mark Shotton who represented the Alan Carr Shotton Memorial Trust.

The awards celebrated the wonderful achievements of students from each curriculum area at both colleges. Special recognition went to two students who took home overall student of the year awards:

Level 3 Sport student Francesca Lee, previously from Penketh High School in Warrington, took home the ‘Centre of Excellence Sport’ and ‘Overall Cronton Vocational Student of the Year’ awards after excelling throughout her time at college. Francesca has consistently produced work of a high standard and has achieved distinctions in every unit. She dedicates her spare time to coaching gymnastics locally and is now preparing for university to achieve a career in sports rehabilitation.

Level 3 Game Design student Connor Thompson, previously from The Grange School in Runcorn, was awarded the ‘GCSE English’ and ‘Overall Riverside Vocational Student of the Year’ awards. Connor has worked his way up from Level 2 to now being set to study at university. He has shown particular prowess in robotics, game development and design concepts; producing work that has well surpassed required standards. Connor will now go on to study a degree in Computer Animation and Visual Effects at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Principal Mary Murphy said “This year’s awards ceremony has been a wonderful event; it is one of the key events in the college calendar where we can celebrate the incredible efforts of our vocational students during their time with us. We wish each of them every success as they now start new journeys to Higher Education and begin promising careers.”

Guests were entertained throughout the ceremony with musical performances by the talented students from the Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts. The students performed songs from their upcoming production Evita which takes place at Riverside College on Thursday 5th July and Friday 6th July.

Award Winners

Centre of Excellence for Hair & Media Make up: Rebecca Gallagher
Centre of Excellence for Beauty and Nail Services: Anna Hudson
Centre of Excellence Catering and Hospitality: Csilla Sipos
Functional Skills English: Sandor Gyenge
Functional Skills Maths: Thomas Pittam
Foundation Studies: Niall Williamson
Occupational Studies: James Corby
Construction (Built Environment): George Walters
Construction (Plumbing and Electrical): Caroline Murphy
Motor Vehicle & Motor Sport: Keatlea Wilkinson
Access: Kathy Rowlands
Engineering – Riverside: Beth Ashworth
Engineering – Cronton: Christopher Abbott
Business – Riverside: Natasha Jenkins
Business – Cronton: Ella Prince
IT – Riverside: Nathan Newsum
IT – Cronton: Sean Bedson
Early Years and Education – Riverside: Kaitlyn Hennie
Early Years and Education – Cronton: Alice Pickles
Health and Social Care – Riverside: Ellie Hughes
Health and Social Care – Cronton: Michael Lomax
GCSE English – Riverside: Connor Thompson
GSCE English – Cronton: Tim Jones
GCSE Maths – Riverside: Sean Kinsella
GCSE Maths – Cronton: Anna Marsh
Centre of Excellence Sport: Francesca Lee
Uniformed Services: Alex Kirkbride
Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts: Elsie Cornish
Creative Art & Design: Katerina Diakou
Performing Arts (Dance, Music and Drama): Chloe McDonald
Applied Science: Oliver Boulton
Animal Management: Sarah Capes

Alan Carr Shotton Memorial Trust overall awards:

Overall Vocational Cronton: Francesca Lee
Overall Vocational Riverside: Connor Thompson

Students studying sport at Cronton Sixth Form have had an unforgettable experience at the annual college trip to the famous Catalonian city of Barcelona.

The students spent four action packed days visiting iconic sites and landmarks including The Joan Antoni Samaranch Olympic and Sports Museum, the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, PortAventura World theme park, Las Ramblas, and also enjoyed time at the beautiful Barcelona Beach.

They also got to tour the world famous Camp Nou stadium including a magical view of the stadium at pitch level.

A Level PE student Sam Fellows said, “I had a fantastic time visiting Barcelona, not only did we visit iconic sporting venues, but we got to sample the history and experience the culture of the city.”

The keen students then put their coaching skills to use with a visit to St George’s International School where they set up a carousel of sporting activities for the pupils including, basketball, circuit training, and football with a tournament at the end of the day.

Fellow A Level PE student Tom Ley said, “I thoroughly enjoyed the Barcelona trip, especially coaching football, basketball and fitness sessions at the school. Having free time to explore Barcelona and visit the beach and Port Aventura Theme Park were definitely highlights for me.”

Iain Douglas, Head of Sport & Uniformed Services who accompanied the students on the trip said, “The students thoroughly enjoyed their time in Barcelona, it provided them with the opportunity to travel, experience different cultures, grow on a personal level and make lifelong friendships.”

School Leaver Enrolment Dates

In order to enrol at the college, you will need to bring with you the following information:

• Proof of ALL of your GCSEs (your result slip or certificates)
• Your parent/ guardian’s email address and telephone number

Failure to bring the above evidence will result in you not being able to enrol.

If you are not able to attend any of the enrolment dates, you must email courses@cronton.ac.uk or call 0151 257 2022 with the date that you can enrol. Your place will still be reserved for you.

ALL VOCATIONAL COURSES

Level 1 & 2 Courses
Monday 3rd September, 9am – Sports Hall

Level 3 Year 1 Courses
Wednesday 5th September, 10am – Sports Hall

Level 3 Year 2 Courses
Friday 7th September, 9am – Sports Hall

ALL A LEVEL COURSES

A Level Year 1
Monday 3rd September, 9am – Sports Hall

A Level Year 2
Wednesday 5th September, 9am – Sports Hall

Cronton Sixth Form Students achieve 100% A Level Pass Rate & 100% Vocational pass rate

• 100% A Level Pass Rate
• 86% A Level High Grades A* – C
• 61% A Level A* – B Grades
• 29% A Level A* – A Grades

• 100% Vocational Pass Rate
• 89% Vocational High Grades
• 73% Vocational Triple Distinction Grades
• 47% Vocational Triple Distinction* Grades (equivalent to 3 A* grades at A level)

The class of 2018 at Cronton Sixth Form College have achieved an outstanding 100% A Level pass rate with almost a third of grades at A* and A.

The college is delighted to be sending record numbers of students off to a wide range of prestigious universities including Oxford and Cambridge.

Equally impressive is the college’s vocational pass rate of 100% with 89% of students achieving high grades and, and 47% achieving triple distinction star grades (equivalent to 3 A* grades at A level).

Mary Murphy, College Principal said, “We are absolutely thrilled with the remarkable A Level and vocational results our students have achieved this year, a 100% pass rate is rare and it truly is a testament to the hard work of both our talented students and inspirational staff.

“It was wonderful to be able to celebrate today with staff and proud teachers who have all worked so hard to achieve these spectacular results. We wish all of our students the best of luck as they embark on their next steps.”

The Professional Dance Programme at Cronton Sixth Form delivered their most ambitious performance yet; The Tributes, to a sold out Brindley Theatre audience.

Audience members turned up in their numbers to watch the talented dancers put months of practice into play. Demonstrating dynamic dance routines, the performers entranced their audience with incredible solo sequences and moving group performances that were inspired by the popular book trilogy, The Hunger Games.

Course Leader of the Professional Dance Programme and head choreographer of the performance Benjamin Musa said, “The Tributes began as a very small idea about a year ago that developed into our most ambitious piece of theatre yet. As a huge fan of The Hunger Games book, I wanted to make sure that we did the story justice. Our idea was to have a completely new story, set years before the books and one that showcased our amazing dancers. It was definitely our most challenging task to date and we all worked tirelessly workshopping many story ideas and relationships to incorporate.

“The Tributes marks our 14th show and it has been my favourite by far. The dancers made the rehearsal period so exciting. Everyone was driven and excited the entire time. The feedback for our shows has always been very positive, but it was very overwhelming the amount of support we received this time. It will be a show that we will hold on a pedestal for a very long time.”

The PDP will return for a series of performances for the 2018-19 academic year. The dancers will be able to practice and develop their talents in the college’s brand new fully equipped 16 X 11.5m dance studio which contains a fully-sprung professional Harlequin floor, and professional sound & lighting facilities.

The Tributes Cast List:

• Primo – Ellie Mather
• Talon – Michaela Shannon
• Arlo – Helen Gallimore
• Una – Tiegan Shaw
• Iris – Jessica Gordon
• Delphi – Kelsey Hopley
• Frost – Jade Austen
• Flux – Megan Yates
• Roman – Nicole Kenyon
• Sage – Sophie Coombes
• Nova – Tia Condron
• Tetra – Hannah Taylor
• Ember – James Hackney
• Elven – Megan Hunt
• Griffin – Rebecca Beales
• Octavia – Nikk Akpan
• Autumn – Chloe McDonald
• Nona – Courtney Fong
• Decima – Emily Scott
• Ombre – Ava McEvoy
• Quartz – Charlotte Burke
• Quade – Olivia Flute
• Pelia – Melissa Lowe
• Onzo – Eva Kiernan

Cronton Sixth Form’s talented Performing Arts students put on an incredible performance at the Centre Stage Theatre with a spectacular rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical Evita.

Evita tells the powerful tale of Eva Peron; from her beginnings in the poverty stricken town of Los Toldos in rural Argentina, to her rise to become the First Lady of Argentina.

Our talented Performing Arts students took on iconic roles to play in front of a sold out crowd. In the lead roles were Elsie Gaia as Eva Peron, Marcus Cameron as Che and Connor Evans as Juan Peron. The students rose to the occasion and had the audience on their feet by the end of the performance.

Evita was a notable performance as it marked the final one at Riverside College’s Centre Stage Theatre. The grand opening of the new 320 seat Cronton Playhouse takes place in late 2018, and will be the new home for the Centre of Excellence.

Matt Plant, Head of the Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts, said, “The Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts has spent eight wonderful years at the Centre Stage Theatre and Evita was a perfect way to complete that time. Evita can be a hard musical to produce but as always the students were fantastic on stage and we were very proud to end our time at Centre Stage with this extraordinary show.

“All attention now goes to our forthcoming project of The Phantom of the Opera to officially open the new Cronton Playhouse.”

Tickets for the Phantom of the Opera are now available to purchase from the box office at Cronton by calling 0151 257 2032. The show takes place on the 13^th and the 14^th of December at the Cronton Playhouse, Cronton Sixth Form, Widnes, WA8 5WA.

Cast:

• Elsie Gaia as Eva Peron
• Marcus Cameron as Che
• Connor Evans as Juan Peron
• Beth Lindop as Mistress
• Josh Rogers as Magaldi
• Holly Hook as Child
• Daniel Hibbert as Officer

Ensemble:

• Amber Leadbitter
• Adam Manville
• Becky Leech
• Caitlin McDoughall
• Cara Sullivan
• Chloe Hodges
• Codi Jacques
• Daisy Scotten
• Daniel Hibbert
• Elise Edwards
• Ellie Greaves
• Emily Snooks
• Fay Walden
• Freya Hill
• George Rees
• Georgina Ellams
• Hannah Bailey
• Harrison Derbyshire
• Jess McCarthy
• Joe Keary
• Katerina Botez
• Kate Jary
• Laura Wade
• Mia Mathews
• Millie Critchley
• Molly Wright
• Penny Addison
• Rhiannon Ratcliffe

Dancers and Choreographers

• Laura Wade
• Hannah Bailey
• Holly Hook
• Mollie Smith
• Phoenix Oxford
• Gaby Cook
• Megan Southward
• Emma Nicholls

Newly starting Geography students at Cronton Sixth Form have made an exciting start to their A Level studies with an investigative trip to Formby Beach.

The geographers had the chance to explore the sand dune formations and investigate how the National Trust can manage the coastline from storms and erosion.

The trip allowed the new students to work together in teams and bond as a group at the start of their college experience.

Dan Adams, Head of Humanities at Cronton, said “The day was a windy but enjoyable trip for the students to see in practice how sand dunes form, change and are managed by the National Trust. The students had the opportunity to ask rangers about the coastal management strategies as well as collecting their own data on plant succession at Formby sand dunes.

“We truly believe that trips and visits like this help our Geography students gain a deeper understanding of the topics, which resulted in the students celebrating incredible results last year with a 100% pass rate, including 38% A*-A grades and 93% A*-B grades.”