focus group.

I asked three students with different interests, 'What are you're main interests within school and outside of it, and how would you want this reflected in a school magazine?' I thought it was important that I asked people with different interests, and different lifestyles to get a varied answer. One of the students I asked is from Seevic College, so her  opinions of school life may be very different to those who attend a Sixth Form. 

Josie 17, Sixth Form Student

I'm mostly in to fashion and socialising, so I think that this would be a main area that I'd be keen to read about. Also, as a textiles students, it would be nice if fashion and textiles could be incorporated into the magazine as one topic. Although the magazine is for school, I don't feel that it should be specifically based entirely around school, as I would be less likely to buy, or even read it. It would be nice to have help academically though, such as UCAS guidance and university application advice, these topics I feel would persuade me more to purchase the magazine as it would be benefiting me. If the magazine had lot's of different topics, I feel that it would seem more like a magazine and not just a sixth form magazine so it would be accepted better by students. Events would be nice to read about as well as I love going to gigs with friends, if the magazine had personal events that everyone can enjoy it's more likely tat the magazine will have a better reputation - not just be perceived as 'a school magazine'.

                                                                    Fola 16, Sixth Form Student

I would say that I am a very school orientated person, and my education is very important to me. Although it would be nice to read about topics besides school, I feel that it is more important as students, that we are given advice and help that will help us regarding our education. I think that it would be beneficial to students if we were given advice on studying for exams and university applications, as these are what are most important at the moment. I also feel that it is important to know about current events and global news as this gives us more of an insight into the world and society in which we live. As a student it is important that we gain a good balance of school, general knowledge and socialising, so it would also be favoured by many students if it were to include local events. Sixth Form creates a vast window for opportunity and it is important that as students we take advantage of the things that we are able to do, and this should be encouraged in the school magazine. 

Esme (Left) 16, College Student

I feel that at college we are given more independence as everyone in our working environment is new, having a college magazine means that we are given even more expression in college. At college, the main focus can sometimes be about socialising as you rarely know very many people, so having a magazine that had information about local events and gigs would be enjoyed by all students as many people are trying to become more independent, confident and outgoing in college. Although socialising is an important factor to have in the magazine, it is also important that college is dominant as the freedom that college allows students to have can undermine the academic aspect. To be given more knowledge of what to expect in college and also information that may further us as students into university life would be very useful. Although freedom is enjoyed during college, it is also important that we work hard and are disciplined, and if a magazine was able to satisfy and discipline students at the same time, it would be a very positive approach to learning.