Inside the Third Form Challenge 2025

The last week of term is always a time when students are encouraged to reflect on the year, cement friendships before the holidays, enjoy doing something outside the classroom and, to practice those all-essential transferable skills. This year, the Third Form enjoyed a full spectrum of opportunities in the days leading up to the end of term.

On Monday, the focus was on a broad range of activities to support the local community, this included litter picking and tidying community areas in Lancing, on the local beach and in the local Churchyard. Other groups were interacting with the elderly at Poets Care Home or with young children at Little Lancing Nursery and Forest School. 

On Tuesday, they put their filmmaking skills to the test with the One Day Film School. In the morning, they learned the essentials: 

• Film History: A study from the early days of film to the latest in special effects.

• Fight Choreography:  Analysing classic fight scenes then filming their own roundhouse punch!

• Camera: Learning to film like a pro, and tips and tricks to avoid common mistakes.

• Screenwriting: Learning the three things every good script needs, and how to create memorable characters (and make us care).

Then it was time for the 10 Shot Challenge. Pupils worked in groups to create silent (with music) films of up to two minutes based on a classic narrative (e.g. ’Someone is kidnapped – an attempted rescue’).

Lastly were the Oscars! The judges (Young Film Academy representatives) took their seats for the world premiere of pupils’ films, and to decide who would win Best Motion Picture, Best Performance and Best Technical Achievement. The winning films were:

• Best Motion Picture: ”The Code”

• Best Performance: Yuvi, “One Sided Love”

• Best Technical Achievement: ”Sweet, Sweet Revenge”

On Wednesday and Thursday, students had the opportunity to get physical in the beautiful sunny weather walking on the South Downs, getting involved in watersports and even camping out overnight.