Private School News
A national achievement for Bromsgrove School
It was an outstanding achievement for Bromsgrove School to be represented at no fewer than three of the four National Indoor Hockey Competitions this past weekend.
The U16 girls’ team did exceptionally well at Worcester, finishing as runners-up. After defeating Taunton 3-0, Millais 3-1 and Wakefield 2-1, the girls were delighted to not just beat the other pool winners Millfield 1-0 in the semi-final but also to prevent them from scoring a goal. In the final they faced Cooper Co and Coborn and lost 4-0 after a valiant attempt at the championship title. The U18s girls’ team, who loudly encouraged the younger girls from the sidelines, were also at Worcester to compete. They were unlucky to lose the first match 3-2 to South Dartmoor but then went down to Kingston 4-1 before beating Oakham 4-1. A defeat against Ipswich 3-1 made it impossible to go further but they are still counted as one of the top ten teams in the country.
Meanwhile down at Whitgift School in Croydon, the U18 boys team finished second in their Pool – beating Dean Close 3-0, Thomas Deacon 6-2 and Wakefield 6-4 and then losing a close match against Cranleigh 4-3. In the semi-final they lost 6-0 to the very talented host side. This is still a tremendous achievement for the boys who finished in the top four in the country.
Photo: (front row to back) U16 girls’ team, U18 girls’ team and U18 boys’ team.
A new head for Badminton School
Mrs Rebecca Tear is to be the new head of Badminton School. She will succeed Jan Scarrow, who is retiring next summer after 15 years. Mrs Tear is currently deputy head of Wycombe Abbey School, Bucks and prior to that held several academic and pastoral responsibilities at St. George's, Ascot.
She read Chemistry at Exeter University, before undertaking a PGCE at The Institute of Education, University of London, where she is now completing an MA in Educational Leadership.
Mrs Tear is passionate about helping girls to develop a broad and balanced set of skills and interests. She is equally supportive and understanding of boarding; not only has she run a Sixth Form Boarding House, she has boarded herself and her children currently board at their prep school.
She says: "The friendly atmosphere and my conversations with students, staff and Governors left me with a really positive impression of Badminton. The girls showed an enormous pride in their school, as well as the ability to be reflective and analytical in their thoughts. To lead such a strong and distinctive community is an exciting prospect and I am very much looking forward to taking up the post.”
Author takes his new hero to school
Children’s author Damian Dibben visited Bedford Modern Junior School to speak to pupils about his life as an author and his new book.
Dibben’s debut novel – The History Keepers: The Storm Begins – was launched in the UK in September 2011. Featuring Jake Djones, the unwitting young hero for a new generation, the book is the first in a series from screenwriter-turned-novelist Damian Dibben.
Aimed largely at 9 to 13 year olds, the book is being translated into 24 languages, everything from Finnish to Chinese. There is also a film deal with Working Title / Universal (Billy Elliott, Atonement, Nanny McPhee, Bridget Jones etc.).
The History Keepers sees Jake losing his parents in time – literally in another place in history. The only way to be reunited is to join the secret agents known as the history keeprs, who can travel back in history to stop the dark forces.
Born in London, Dibben has a passion for London’s history, people and architecture, which influences his writing and he has been a screenwriter for 10 years both in the UK and in Hollywood.
Chris Barrow, Bedford Modern Junior School Year 6 teacher who arranged the visit said: “Damian caught the children's imagination with his unique blend of adventure and history. The children were all eager to read The History Keepers and discover what challenges await the main character Jake Djones. It was also fantastic to hear about what it takes to be a published writer.”
All the help you need in choosing the right school for your children
Choosing the right school for your child can be one of the most important and complex decisions you need to make for your child’s future. The Independent School Show was launched five years ago to make life easier for busy parents faced with such decisions.
The 2012 show will gather more than 120 of the country's leading independent schools together with expert educationalists in the Battersea Evolution Centre, South West London, on November 10 and 11, 2012. Tickets registered in advance are free.
Parents will be able to consider the options including day, boarding, single-sex, co-educational and international schools, talking to the schools’ senior staff in a friendly and informal environment - private appointments available by request.
A programme of seminars and forums led by expert educationalists will provide practical advice on funding, bursaries, scholarships and awards.
Within the independent sector, diversity can be bewildering as can the language. What is Pre-U? What's the difference between IGCSE and GCSEs? What's the difference between a Scholarship and a Bursary? Why the difference in fee levels?
These and many other questions will be addressed in the Education Theatre headed by Tony Little, Headmaster of Eton. Specialists will lead the discussions but there will many opportunities for question and answer sessions in small groups.
Parents can bring their children to show: there is plenty for them to do and no need for them to become bored. The children's play is free, open during show opening hours and no pre-booking is necessary. Children between 3-6 years old are welcome. Spaces are available on a first come first served basis. Children will also be able to see the world’s smallest car and enjoy a variety of activities for children of all .ages. They will also be able to visit the Education Zone while their parents can take a break in the Organic Café and Champagne bar.
For further information, please visit www.schoolshow.com or call 020 7731 7479.
Gove scraps ICT curriculum
Education Secretary Michael Gove has scrapped the existing ICT curriculum. In its place, he will introduce new courses of study in Computer Science.
The move, which is being supported by industry experts including Ian Livingstone – co-founder of Games Workshop, would give schools the freedom to create their own ICT and Computer Science curricula that equip pupils with the skills employers want.
Other experts, including the British Computer Society and ICT professional association Naace, confirm the current National Curriculum Programme of Study is dull and unsatisfactory. Some respondents to a 2008 e-Skills study said that GCSE ICT was “so harmful, boring and/or irrelevant it should simply be scrapped”.
Companies such as Microsoft and Google and Cambridge University are already working with technology education organisations, such as the British Computer Society, to produce free materials for schools. More are expected to follow.
The Education Secretary also said he was keen for high-quality qualifications in Computer Science to be developed, and welcomed industry giant IBM’s involvement.
Millfield pupils eye history books at Winter Olympics
Three Millfield pupils will be representing Great Britain at the inaugural Youth Winter Olympics this month. Upper Sixth pupil Jazmin Sawyers will join former pupils Ollie Biddulph and James Lelliot in Innsbruck, Austria as part of the 23-strong team led by Sir Clive Woodward.
The Millfield trio comprise half of the British bobsleigh contingent, but were only introduced to the sport in September 2010, when British Bobsleigh asked the school to help them recruit for the games. The team have already travelled to Austria to train on the Ingles track outside Innsbruck on three occasions.
The Olympics present a unique opportunity for Jazmin, as they are the first games to allow athletes under 18 to compete in the bobsleigh, due to the dangers involved. Jazmin, brakeman for the GB team, is already an experienced international athlete and champion. She won gold for Great Britain in both the long jump and the 4x100 relay at the 2011 Commonwealth games, and came ninth in the Heptathlon at the IAAF World Youth Championships. The Youth Olympics, however, will be a different proposition.
“I’ve been told it’s like the Commonwealth Games but times a hundred. It’s a world away from anything else I’ve done” says Jazmin. “But I’m confident - with this sport you have to be. If there’s any doubt in the brakeman the driver will see it. You have to be so in-sync.” Her teammate in GB1, driver Mica McNeill, lives in Newcastle, but Jazmin was able to visit her over the Christmas break and the pair have been speaking every day ahead of the Games. “We talk all the time. It’s all about the mental preparation, as it is in most sport.”
Jazmin will have her concentration tested as she will busy reporting for Blue Peter whilst in Innsbruck, with head girl duties and a place at Oxford to study towards when she returns to Millfield. With the chance to make history a tantalising prospect however, Jazmin and the team will be fully focussed on their goals. “We could become the first-ever bobsleigh medallists at these games.”
Prince opens new sixth form centre
His Royal Highness, the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, was greeted by hundreds of cheering Brentwood School pupils at the formal opening ceremony of the school’s new Sixth Form Centre including the newly named Wessex Auditorium.
During his visit, Prince Edward enjoyed a tour of the new Sixth Form Centre and met Sixth Form students and staff. He stayed longer than anticipated, talking to pupils. He attended a psychology lesson in one classroom and showed a keen interest in a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award workshop, where he chatted to Sixth Form students working towards their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award.
Windlesham scoops music award
In July 2010 Windlesham House School, Washington West Sussex staged Odyssey the most advanced and ambitious music festival ever to be staged by a school in the UK. More than 1,500 children performed on a specially built rock concert stage in the school grounds.
One of the aims was to raise funds for Sparks (the children’s medical research charity) to raise awareness and funds. Sparks Royal Patron HRH Princess Michael of Kent opened the festival. The event won Windlesham House the Outstanding Community Initiative award at the Independent School Awards 2011. The judges described the school’s Odyssey weekend as “inspiring, amazing and spectacular”.
To support Sparks, email helen@sparks.org.uk, call 07535 975 568 or visit www.sparks.org.uk
A chance to support fruit farmers
This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight sees the Fairtrade Foundation launch its Take A Step campaign.
Calypso Soft Drinks will be continuing its campaign to encourage customers to upgrade from standard juices to Fairtrade juices. The purchase of Calypso Fairtrade juices enables the improvement of working and living conditions of producers in developing counties and encourages environmental protection.
The range includes Orange, Apple and Tropical varieties and supports small third-world growers by guaranteeing a fair price to the farmer. Available in three different formats – 200ml cartons, and both 250mland 500ml bottles., Calypso Fairtrade juices give one portion of the 5-a-day. The juices are 100% pure juice from concentrate.
For further details please call 01978 668 400 or visit: www.calypso.co.uk
30 years supplying and servicing the UK's schools minibuses
2012 will be a special year for Red Kite as we celebrate 30 years supplying and servicing the UK’s school minibuses. Today Red Kite are proud to be the UK’s leading supplier of school and specialist minibuses and the introduction in January 2012 of Renault into a core supply and service chain, which already includes Ford and Peugeot reinforces our continued commitment to provide the very best choice of transport options for our customers.
Don’t forget! From 3 January 2012 driving a non compliant minibus in the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) could prove expensive. If your minibus is over the weight limit and will be 10 years old then you’ll be hit with a charge up to £100 per minibus, per day for being in the zone. Details are available on the Transport for London website www.tfl.gov.uk
Further information can be found at redkite-minibuses.com alternative if you wish to discuss your requirements in greater detail or arrange a free demonstration please call the team on 01202 827678 and they will be happy to assist you.
Schoolstrader.com – trade with your local community
Trading between people in school communities is growing fast and www.schoolstrader.com the market leader, is the place to start. It’s free!
Trade with other parents and staff. Everything from sports kit, bikes, pets and holiday homes, to musical instruments, furniture and cars. Even houses.
Schoolstrader has featured across the media and as a Sunday Times Top 10 website.
Register now and start trading at www.schoolstrader.com
Ski Famille
Ski Famille have a range of offers for a fun family Christmas in the French Alps. Our resorts of Les Gets and Reberty Village are in two of the largest ski areas in Europe, and our dedicated childcare team will ensure that children get the very best out of their time in the mountains. All of our holidays include 5 days of professional in-chalet childcare for children aged 3 months to 12 years. Combine this with our comfortable chalets, great food and attentive staff and you have the recipe for a perfect family ski holiday.
Tel: 01252 519239, email: holidays@skifamille.co.uk Web: www.skifamille.co.uk
Education Show 2012
This year’s Education Show 2012 (15-17 March, Birmingham NEC) has been developed to offer practitioners at all levels the advice and guidance needed to manage the challenges that have arisen over the past year. Educators will also be able to compare and source products and services from 400 leading educational suppliers and benefit from exclusive special offers.
Continuing professional development is at the heart of the Education Show 2012, with over 70 seminars across all areas of education. The diverse Learn Live programme brings together practitioners and experts in their field to discuss the principal issues in education and share the latest teaching practices. Sessions are CPD-accredited and free to attend.
Collaboration is a watch word throughout education at the moment and the Leadership Lounge, sponsored by BESA, is designed to enable leaders to network, discuss current education policies and share ideas. Meanwhile the free leadership workshops focus on the most crucial issues affecting school leaders, to help them meet individual and collective challenges.
Coach subsidies worth up to £150 can be claimed if 10 or more colleagues from one school hire a coach/minibus to attend the show.
Register now for free fast-track entry at www.education-show.com/register. Please quote priority code epsr
