View Photo courtesy of www.peter‑newton.com
The Bristol Grammar School Newsletter Summer 2010 Issue 15
Wild and wonderful
our winning photography
Extended opportunities in our curriculum
New heights
for our climbing team
Happy Birthday Puffin
with Jeremy Strong
ArtMark • Masterchef • Record-breaking swim • Head to Head
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From the Head
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racious, what a fantastic year! We have seen such a rich, diverse and impressive range of activities undertaken by students. This issue of View is packed with individual and group achievements, the success of individuals like Edward and Sunoo – both being selected for British teams – and the good news that the whole of BGS Infants and Juniors has been recognised for its excellence in provision for the Arts. Yet it doesn’t stop here. Over the summer there are some significant team challenges taking place, not least our three Duke of Edinburgh teams going for Gold in Snowdonia while twenty-eight of our students will be kayaking and trekking across the glaciers of Northern Norway. We hope you all have wonderful experiences. The end of a school year sadly means some fond farewells. I’d like to say a special thank you to our Upper Sixth, a remarkable and delightful group of people many of whom have formidable Gap Years planned.
Whatever your next steps, we wish you well, as we do those few students from other year‑groups who will not be with us next year. It’s also time to say goodbye to those staff who are leaving us this year, some moving on, others retiring after years of exceptional service. Bristol Grammar School has been incredibly fortunate to have had committed and caring service for so many years from Gary Desmond, Giles Morris, Liz Thorne, Brenda Stacey, David Homer and Bill McCormack. Together they have notched up more than 160 invaluable years of teaching at our School. The whole community
and I wish to thank those leaving this year for their remarkable and unique contributions to the life of our School. I hope you all have a very fulfilling and relaxing summer. You can keep up with developments at the School while you are away, by logging on to our new website.
Roderick MacKinnon
News Prize performances This year’s prize‑giving ceremony took place in April, postponed from January thanks to the snow. Many of last year’s Sixth-form leavers were welcomed back to receive their ‘A’ level certificates and we celebrated the many academic, sporting, cultural and personal achievements of students in our School community. We were treated to a performance by winner of the Senior Solo music competition, Josie , who sang Song to the Seal by Granville Bantock.
Prizes were presented by Tanya Perera, whom many will know as choreographer of Strictly BGS and as a featured dancer in the Latin‑American dance show, Latin Fever. Tanya is also a graduate of Monash University, Australia where she gained a First Class Honours double degree in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and was rewarded with a ‘prize of excellence’ for her final year thesis.
Since then Tanya has worked as an Aerospace Stress Engineer at GKN Aerospace in Melbourne, and more recently for Airbus in Filton as part of the ‘wing design and analysis’ team on the new commercial aircraft, the A350, which will be one of the first to be made primarily from composite materials rather than traditional metallics.
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First collection for David Briggs Head of English David Briggs’s achievements in the poetry world were recognised in April with the launch at School of his dÉbut collection from Salt, the independent literary publisher specialising in major works by leading international poets.
Outright win for BGS election The mock election held at School in May proved an outright success, with Sixth‑form Liberal Democrat candidate, Louie , winning the poll despite the eleventh‑hour fall in popularity of the party in the national vote. Six candidates stood in the BGS election including a representative each for the Green Party, the Socialist Party and UKIP. Tom for Labour and Craig for Conservative stood head-to-head with Louie in a Prime Ministerial debate, bearing up well to the grilling on policies by students and teachers. All candidates had volunteer campaign groups to help them and, just as in the real election, they were working to strict electoral spending restraints, in this case, a photocopying budget. Says teacher Alexandra Humphrey, who oversaw the process, “It’s a good way to get young people voting and thinking about how they can influence politics.”
The Method Men is David’s first collection, following on from his early success in 2002 when he was selected for an Eric Gregory Award, a prize awarded by The Society of Authors to acknowledge the talents of young British poets. Since then he has received recognition and publication of his work in literary magazines and several anthologies, including the recent, generational anthology from Bloodaxe, Identity Parade: New British and Irish Poets.
Says David, “It’s always exciting to see something published, but nothing quite compares to realising my first collection. I’m especially pleased to be with Salt, as I think they’ve one of the most exciting lists at the moment, including people whose work I admire like Philip Gross, Luke Kennard and DS Marriott. They also make beautifully designed books. I only hope my students aren’t too severe in their critique of my work.”
David will be reading from The Method Men with Patrick Brandon and Ruth Fainlight at Bristol’s Poetry Festival in September.
Bloodhound SSC sets the pace with BGS STEM The BGS Stem group that promotes engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics put our School in pole position this May with a fast‑moving talk on Bloodhound SSC, the new supersonic car that designers hope will inspire young scientists and engineers by accelerating the Land Speed record to over 1,000 mph.
The talk by Bloodhound SSC’s Education Programme Director, David Rowley, revealed an exciting glimpse into the world of supersonic cars and the challenges faced. It was well attended by governors, staff, students and guests, including the team who designed the BGS Formula 24 low energy, electric car. Former land‑speed record‑holder Richard Noble is leading the team to build Bloodhound and drive it on the Hakskeen salt pan in South Africa in 2011. Bristol, which has long been associated with engineering excellence, will continue its connection with Bloodhound. The car will be assembled in Bristol docks, alongside the SS Great Britain, and will hope to set a new record, with ‘Bristol Grammar School’ printed on its tail.
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News Masters for Elizabeth Congratulations to Head of Learning Support, Liz Thorne, who has completed a Master’s Degree in Education with the Open University. Her original intention of taking only the module relating to literacy difficulties and dyslexia expanded into the full degree as her interest in behaviour management and the psychology of learning developed. Says Liz, “Studying at this level has provided a really wonderful opportunity to deepen my understanding and knowledge. I hope the School has benefited as well, both in terms of staff training and especially in the support we give to students and their parents.”
Experimental success A team of four Year 8 students took part in their own University Challenge this term, taking second prize in one of two chemistry competitions against fifteen other schools from across the South West. Hayley , Pippa , David and Joseph took part in the Salters’ Festival competition at the University of Bristol. They spent the morning completing the Salters’ Challenge, using their practical chemistry skills to solve the mystery of the murder of Captain Salter. The University Challenge consisted of a further two experiments in the afternoon.
Hayley was among the four who received an individual prize as well as winning Molymod kits for the School. Says Hayley, “The top three teams were judged not only on the quality of their answers but also on their teamwork and safety, so we were very pleased indeed to get second place.”
Darrell Maltby and Mike Drew Two much‑loved and long-serving members of staff passed away in April: Darrell Maltby, aged 85, after a battle with cancer and Mike (MHL) Drew, who died suddenly aged only 70. As Master in Charge of the Prep School from 1962–1967, Darrell was a major influence over the formative years of many OBs and will be remembered with great fondness. Mike, a member of staff from 1963–1990 was an inspirational teacher, a sympathetic friend, Year Head, Careers Advisor and Head of Maths as well as being involved in the production of many BGS plays. Both will be much missed.
Recognition for Rex Rex (Year 11) has won second prize in the Junior Section of the ARLT Latin Reading Competition. He prepared a passage of Virgil, describing Aeneas’s visit to the underworld, and made a recording of it. Rex was commended for his excellent understanding of Latin metre and his talent in conveying the emotion of the poetry.
A wheely good effort
Head of House Ben Scott joined forces with adventurer and explorer Dominic Gill in May to complete a sponsored three-day 290km tandem cycle dash from Manchester to Bristol.
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ith the help of BGS students who matched them mile for mile, taking it in turns keep the wheels turning on a static bike installed outside the Sports Hall, a total of £1,200 was raised. Their efforts will make a real difference to Marchant (Year 9), who has cerebral palsy. It will buy a set of extra wide, all-terrain, all-weather sports wheels for Marchant’s wheelchair, allowing him to head off on to a sports field or even into the snow. Marchant was one of a team of pupils waiting to welcome Ben and Dominic into School after their marathon cycle. He said, “Imagine going on to a beach for the first time. Freedom, that’s what this has given me and the coolest monster truck wheels ever. Thanks everyone, very much.” For Dominic Gill, the run down from Manchester was a snip compared to the almost 30,000 km and 26-month journey that he took from the tip of Alaska to the southernmost town in Argentina. The pair arrived back in Bristol in time for Dominic to share his tandem adventures at a talk about his new book, at an event organised at the School.
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News Angus heads for record-breaking swim Angus (Year 7) is getting ready for the swim of his life this summer. In August he’ll join five other 12 year-old children from Bristol to swim 21 miles of the busiest shipping lane in the world. He’ll battle cold waters, rough seas, darkness and fluthers of jellyfish, as part of the youngest‑ever team hoping to enter The Guinness Book of World Records with a successful swim across the English Channel.
Says Angus, “I’ve actually always liked cold water so I am looking forward to the swim. I am a little nervous about being right in the middle of the Channel though, and about swimming near large boats.”
More than forty children applied to become part of the BEST (Bristol English Channel Swim Team). After a rigorous, but enjoyable, selection process, Angus is nearing the end of an equally demanding training programme, boosting his stamina and performance in pools and lakes as well as in challenging conditions in the sea. In May Angus took to the comparatively calm waters of Henleaze Lake, where he trains regularly as a member of the swimming club, but this time completing a night swim, the first ever in the lake’s history.
When he sets out Angus will be thinking of his granny. She holds the record for swimming the Beauly Firth in Inverness four times, and was just 15 when she did it.
Mixing it up for Masterchef When it comes to culinary skills our BGS students have found the recipe for success, working against the clock to prepare some delicious two-course meals to compete for the title of Masterchef. More than 23 Year 8 students stepped up to the challenge, tasked to cook a two course meal in just ninety minutes, with a budget of only £7.00. Congratulations go to Chloë (scrummy chicken wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cream cheese), Will (mmm … chocolate mousse) and Fennar (king of the kitchen gadgets and a mean lemon tart).
Setting off in the early hours of 17 August from Shakespeare beach in Dover, Angus and his fellow team mates will swim in relays with two swims apiece and hope to complete the crossing within 10–12 hours. Very good luck, Angus.
They made it through to the final along with queen of the kitchen Lizzie who, having joined us only this term, is clearly ready steady cooking when it comes to getting involved in school life. At the final cook-off, judged by William Bennett Clark from City of Bristol College, it was Lizzie ’s Chicken and Toulouse sausage stew, followed by a trio of mini chocolate desserts, earned its maker the well‑deserved Masterchef title. Well done to teachers Janet Lewis and Jason Morris for whipping up this hugely successful event.
Curriculum Changes From September 2010, Activities in Years 7 to 9 will include a component of Textiles, Dance and Food Technology. In Year 9 all students will receive two lessons of Drama per fortnight, as they have previously enjoyed in Years 7 and 8. All Year 9 students will now be able to enjoy the Activities programme, which hasn’t always been the case for those making some Language options. In Science all Year 9 students will begin courses that work towards the Edexcel Science IGCSEs (Biology, Physics and Chemistry) with provision to study for Double Award IGCSE Science from Year 10. Biology and Physics in Years 10 and 11 will continue with the AQA GCSE, while Chemistry in Year 10 will change to the IGCSE. A few Year 11 students may also be offered this change. This transitional difference between the sciences is due to the different levels of compatibility between the IGCSE and GCSE specifications. Both Biology and Physics ‘A’ level will also be switching from the AQA exam board to the OCR exam board. Chemistry will not be changing and the Upper Sixth in all three sciences will continue with their existing courses. New GCSE subjects for September are Physical Education and Classical Civilisation. Year 10 students will begin the Edexcel English IGCSE in September 2010. Latin will change to the WJEC Board and will offer Latin Language and Latin Literature Level 2 Qualifications, equivalent to GCSEs. Heads of Department have researched these, and all the other changes, carefully and believe these will best meet the needs of all our students, and provide an excellent basis for those who choose ‘A’ Level study in these areas.
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Infants
New on the menu at BGS Infants… The infants came back from their Easter break raring to go! Welcome to Tom, Luke, Sam, Ed and Georgia, who have settled brilliantly into life in The Lodge. We’ve started having our lunches in the Great Hall. The children love eating in this historic and spacious room.
Fun in the forest
We’ve got talent
The sunshine has had everyone smiling on our weekly trips to Failand, especially the week we arrived dressed in camouflage gear and played games of ‘hunters and hiders’ in the forest. The children set the scene, marching into the forest with flags to mark the hide‑and‑seek boundaries, before hunting down the places where they could best be camouflaged. Great teamwork was shown by all, helping our friends out of the forest while they were still blindfolded.
Many of our infants took to the stage in our first‑ever talent competition this term. It was all good practice for our Infant concert, showcasing violins, dancing and songs from our choir, held in June.
We’re on the move From September we’ll be making a new home at 5 Elton Road, welcoming the first‑ever reception year into our School. We’re looking forward to stretching our wings, enjoying lots more space and playing in our very own garden.
See how they grow
We’ve been measuring how fast our sunflowers are growing, carefully monitoring their progress. They were planted by the children in our ‘Green Fingers’ club who are also cultivating nasturtiums, pansies and tomatoes in little pots, all ready to decorate our lovely new building.
Out of this world
Sport for all This term the children have been benefiting from specialist coaching at Failand. The girls have bullied off in hockey and the boys made their first runs in cricket, all learning new ball skills in rounders and tennis.
Our infants have been learning about planets and constellations after a trip to Cardiff’s Techniquest. The excitement around the hands-on science activities spilt over into our classrooms. The children have since created their own planets, found out facts about space for our timeline, searched the School for electrical appliances and made lists of things they would take to the moon.
Getting a kick out of Charity Week BGS Infants put their best foot forward for Charity Week, raising more than £40 for kick4life. As the rest of the School was looking ahead to the Football World Cup, they had their eyes on helping a football charity, one supported by Miss Moon, that improves the lives of the children of Lesotho.
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Juniors
Four go to Folly Farm Slugs, snails, beetles and a rich kaleidoscope of mini-beasts were the focus of our fantastically enjoyable Year 4 trip to Folly Farm. The children put into practice their study of different habitats and had a busy day hunting for mini-beasts. Pond dipping, they learnt first hand why the aggressive dragonfly nymphs are the top predator in the pond, and watched the whirly‑gig beetles twirling around on the surface. The mini-beast hunt in a shaded bluebell wood led them to a common toad, which no-one was expecting, especially not it, and the children happily picked up slugs, snails, worms and various beetles and millipedes! They were also shown how to identify invertebrates, reinforcing their experience of using and designing keys. Trying to keep “blood” warm appealed to the least squeamish of the children as they tried to insulate a small beaker with natural materials to see what it’s like to be a mammal. Although we swapped blood for blackcurrant juice, it was an important lesson in understanding how hard it can be for small mammals, such as shrews and voles, to survive.
Underground Year 5 discovered a little of what life would have been like in a Victorian mining town at the Rhondda Heritage Park this term, in a visit full of surprises. the plunge into a lift shaft which according to Emma “was only twenty metres, but felt like a long way.” The tour of the mine finished with an unexpected twist. Explains Rio , “At the end we all climbed in to a rollercoaster simulator.
Jamie (Year 4) presented a giant cheque for £400 to a Bristol children’s charity this term, money he raised first though his own pedal power and then with some help from his House‑mates at School. Jamie jumped on a bike for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), the Bristol charity providing care for children with life-limiting illnesses. He borrowed his sister’s bike and, with dad running alongside, cycled the thirteen miles from Bath to Bristol, collecting £200 in sponsorship along the way. “First I got some money from my grannies and great grannies and their friends,” said Jamie. “Then everyone at School rallied round when I pinned my sponsorship form on my chest.” As a result Jamie’s House‑mates in MacGregor’s got together to support him. As part of School Charity Week, they were three-legged for a day, completed a sponsored silence and held a green mufti day to add another £200 to the total. Community Fund Raiser at CHSW, Jane Powell, received the cheque from Jamie. She said, “This shows that it doesn’t matter what age you are, you can still make a real difference to families in your community. Well done and thank you to everyone at Bristol Grammar School!”
Going
Based at the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery, the Heritage Park brings history to life with tours presented by some of the former miners who used to work the pits. After a presentation about the mine as it would have been in Victorian times, the children took
Jamie pedals in with cheque for charity
It was a great touch!” As well as their experience underground, the children had an opportunity to check out Victorian fashion, Victorian transport, a blacksmith’s, and life-size models of Victorian shops.
Overall, BGS Infants and Juniors raised more than £500 for local charities, some by sacrificing school lunch for a simple (yet delicious) soup. Gough’s were rewarded with a visit from Alan Godard, who helps run Bristol’s Wild Goose Café. He described how the café provides not just food but support for the homeless, helping many young and old people find a new life off the streets.
In the swim
The U11 boys’ swimming team, led by Oscar , had a successful morning at the Bristol Schools’ Swimming finals in May. The freestyle team came third after a close final length and Oscar had successes in his Individual Medley and Breaststroke, coming third in both.
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Juniors
We’re marked for Art BGS Infants and Junior School has been awarded ArtsMark by Arts Council England, recognition of the School’s commitment to, and excellence in, arts education. The ArtsMark award follows an eighteen month programme of expansion and innovation that has seen the development of an arts policy, a review of the curriculum and the introduction of many new and exciting opportunities in music, art, drama, creative writing and dance, all of which have caught the imagination of all the children in our School. Says Headmistress, Dr Alison Primrose, “This has been an exciting project, bringing together a new programme of events and activities that together really enrich the life of our School. Part of the project has been to enhance our connections with the creative arts community. As a result we have generated some exciting partnerships, such as those with Aardman Animations, our Year 3 ceramics classes and the many authors and writers who visit our School.” In addition to curriculum development and cross‑curriculum links with the arts and other subjects, boys and girls at the School have been enthusiastic about the extra‑curricular developments that include Sketch Club, Orchestra and the introduction of classes in tap and ballet. Part of the ArtsMark assessment required that the School show how its arts policy supports the objectives of ‘Every Child Matters’. Here, the many opportunities provided for involvement and performance such as tea time concerts, MADD and our fashion shows have proved to be a real strength of the School.
Where the
WILD THINGS are Families, teachers and Year 3 students enjoyed a night under the stars in Failand in June. With tales of marshmallow memories, Ludo and James report.
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t was Friday 4.30 pm and some people were already playing football and rounders and that includes the dads! Others spent quite a long time putting up their tents. We had a scrummy barbecue, then wandered through the woods to the campfire for marshmallows. The fire was beautiful and we had to look away sometimes because it was so hot. We all had to find a long stick for marshmallow toasting. At 10.00pm some people were still at
the campfire listening to the music from the guitars and singing. Finally all the teachers and children went to bed. ‘I’m not tired,’ I said. Next morning we were packed up and heading for the Pavilion by 9.00am for an amazing cooked breakfast. We went home feeling happy and a little bit tired. Three of my favourite things were going to bed late, eating marshmallows and playing football.
Pole position B ringing alive his many experiences at both the North and South Poles, as well as at numerous other exotic locations, wildlife photographer and cameraman Doug Allan visited BGS Infants and Juniors this term, captivating the children with close‑up images of emperor penguins and his stories of working with polar bears. Doug shared some fascinating insights into a career that has included working on two of the most inspirational recent natural history television series, Planet Earth and Blue Planet.
His tips on photography were timely for the children who entered the School’s Wildlife Photography competition this year. Congratulations to Alessio , Year 1, who took the winning prize for the Infants with his photograph of ‘Scarlet Elf Cap Fungus’ and to Max (Year 5) winner for BGS Juniors with his photo of ‘Ivy’. The entries from both Infants and Juniors were fantastic this year, fourteen entries being highly commended. See page 11 for the photography winners.
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BGS Exploration
The Atlas and Asni... ...through the eyes and feet of Jack Asni, a little town in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, is where the first boarding house for girls is situated, one of three funded through the charity, Education for All. These boarding houses are what makes it possible for Moroccan girls from areas too remote to travel to and from school to finish their secondary education, providing safe and secure term‑time accommodation. Ten BGS students arrived in Asni at Easter, having hot-footed it from Marrakech. This was our opportunity to meet the girls whom, through Education for All, the School helps to fund, and also to embark on our own three day trek through the mountains, absorbing the culture, tastes and smells that make up rural Morocco. It was hot when we started the trek but the scenery at the top of the first peak soon distracted us: the hillsides dotted with shrubs, the goat-herders grazing their flocks. There were breathtaking views of the Azaden valley, our target for the night. The refuge when we arrived had a bare, half-finished look. The hot chocolate dug out by our guides was much appreciated; less so, the hole in the floor that doubled as a toilet. Day two, and we were in the Ait Mizan Valley, lined with trees, some with greyish white plumes
that looked like smoke from a distance: all with the same mesmerising beauty. Lunch by the river was time to enjoy some sun and rest. Our last day of trekking took us back to the Asaden Valley to the shadow of the Kasbah, a well-known hotel. After eating we went to the boarding house to meet the girls. We made friends, sharing a range of creative activities and having photos taken together. That evening we headed up to the Kasbah for a hammam (a sort of sauna with cold plunge pool), definitely a high point. Ahead of us still, Marrakech, with its colourful tanneries and street entertainment; behind us, a sense of satisfaction and a strengthening of the valued bond between the girls in Asni and the students in our School.
A classic trip to
Italy
The View from the fifth floor breakfast room set the scene for a spectacular trip to the Bay of Naples for our Years 7 and 8: a calm, sunlit sea towards Mount Vesuvius. Forty‑one students visited some of the region’s most notable heritage sites including the Roman town of Herculaneum, and amphitheatres at Paestum and Pozzuoli. The climax of the tour was a hike up Vesuvius to gaze into the crater of the volcano that caused such damage in AD79 and was ultimately the reason for our visit. Our explorers spent a glorious afternoon in Pompeii, visiting tombs lining the road outside the town, another amphitheatre, a laundry, the forum and the house that belonged to Caecilius, the hero of our Year 7 Latin course. Perhaps more impressive than any particular building was the scale of the ruins: everyone enjoyed walking along the streets, noticing water fountains, graffiti, stepping stones and cart ruts worn in the stone by the traffic of two thousand years ago.
Memories are made of this
This Easter sixty-four Year 9 students spent eight days on an unforgettable expedition in Morocco. They had spent two terms raising money, learning about the country, and training. In Morocco they trekked with mules in the remote regions south of the Atlas Mountains for four days, far from all civilisation, taking turns to lead their teams. They rode on camels, camped under the stars, ate candlelit dinners, taught in a local school and, courtesy of a rash purchase by Mr Knoop, cooked a goat, all topped off with some serious shopping in the souks of Marrakesh. Visit the BGS website to read more about the trip.
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Performing Arts
A Magical Medley 2010
has been a summer of magical music, dance and drama at BGS with children of all ages celebrating their talents in a wide range of activities, too many to cover on one page of ‘View’.
In the Infants School children shared their enthusiasm for performance at their Talent Show, before fine-tuning their skills to hold their first summer concert. Weeks of practice and rehearsal culminated in a thoroughly entertaining production of Hansel and Gretel by Year 6, beautifully supported with singing and dancing by children from across the Junior School.
Gunawardana’s House Concert This year has seen some excellent House music, and the show put on by Gunawardana’s for their House concert was no exception. Spectators enjoyed a liberal sprinkling of drama, dance and comedy as well as talented musical performances, an event enriched by contributions from students of all ages.
This Year’s Pop Medley was all about the sounds of the summer, with Year 5 and our Sixth Form showcasing all that is best by The Beatles. The School Concert, with our orchestras, choirs, particularly boys’ and girls’ choirs and other chamber items was its usual resounding success. James (Year 9) played a Rondino by Bennett on the trumpet with a maturity well beyond his years. With so much talent to showcase, below are a few of the unmissable events in the BGS summer season, along with some that didn’t quite make the deadline for our last issue of View, but that we simply have to celebrate…
Strictly essential Jordan (U6) compered the hugely popular dance spectacular that is Strictly BGS. Staff and students performed their Cuban breaks and reverse turns after weeks of excellent and patient coaching by our dance teacher Tanya Perera, who recently completed a successful UK tour of her own as a featured dancer in the Latin‑American Dance Show, Latin Fever. While the staff performance, to Abba’s Dancing Queen clearly had potential, overall winners were Issam and Beatrice who danced the Tango.
Another Edinburgh fairy tale…
Audiences at this summer’s Edinburgh Festival will be treated to a comic production by BGS Sixth‑formers who this year will be dramatising a selection of stories from the wickedly funny ASBO Fairy Tales. They’ll be performing every day during the Festival, 8–14 August. We wish them luck and another sell-out.
Guards, Guards The outdoor summer production in the amphitheatre was a highly entertaining adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s novel Discworld, performed by 24 students in Years 7, 8 and 9. Minimalist in style, it still had all the humour you would expect from this Pratchett fantasy plot. Alex (Year 9) played an excellent Commander Vines and Kate (Year 9) excelled in her rôle as the chief baddie. Congratulations to the stage crew for their excellent dragon.
St George’s Concert As always the annual BGS School Concert held at St George’s Brandon Hill proved to be an evening of inspirational music, featuring excellent ensemble performances and outstanding soloists. The Senior Orchestra’s performance of Rossini’s overture to The Italian Girl from Algiers and James ’s performance with Camerata of Summer from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi were real high points. However the highlight of the evening was without a doubt the world première of a song cycle by English teacher David Selwyn, specially written for Cantata. It left everyone speechless that the School has a staff member capable of writing such extraordinary work, and equally that we have a student choir sufficiently expert to perform it. Josie sang two solo arias, by Mozart and Grieg, followed, rather unusually for her, by Unusual Way from Nine – the Musical, all to great acclaim. For anyone who missed her, Josie will be giving a free lunchtime recital at Bristol Cathedral in August before taking up her place to study voice at London’s Royal College of Music.
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Wildlife Photography
Wild and wonderful The 2010 BGS Wildlife Photography Competition attracted a record number of entries from parents, teachers and children of every age throughout the School. An event that continues to go from strength to strength, it generated a spectacular array of imagery, presenting our judge, ecologist and natural history presenter Mike Dilger, with a real headache selecting this year’s six category winners. Alex
Year 9 (Winner Years 7–10 and Overall Winner) Tawny Owl
“What a joy, and what a fabulous selection of photos,” said Mike. “There were so many that were of a really high standard, worthy of BBC Wildlife Magazine in my opinion.”
Nick Year 11 (Winner Digital Evolution) Tree Branches
“Looking at the talent on display just confirms that you don’t have to go to the Masai Mara or the rainforest to get great wildlife photography. It’s all here at our fingertips in our local parks, countryside and back gardens.”
Alessio Year 1 (Winner Infants) Scarlet Elf Cap Fungus
Naomi (L6) (Winner Year 11–U6) Zebra
Max Year 5 (Winner Juniors) Ivy
“Selecting the winners was very difficult, despite being regularly fed with cake! I was looking for a quality photograph, for someone with a good eye, but also for something a bit different or quirky, and there was plenty to choose from.”
Jon Shaw, Parent (Winner Parents and Staff) Pelican Portrait
“This competition is a great way of encouraging children to step outside and get an appreciation of the natural world. I had my first pair of binoculars at the age of eight and I’ve never looked back. Looking at some of the inspirational images in this competition, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these young photographers get the same bug. Wildlife watching can become a passion for life.” Congratulations to everyone for so many excellent images. Well done to Alex , whoose Tawny Owl is a well-deserved overall winner.
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Sixth Form
Extended opportunities Many Lower Sixth students have opted to prepare for an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), introduced from this September. This is an additional and optional qualification requiring A2 knowledge and is equivalent to half an ‘A’ Level in terms of UCAS points. For those who choose to do it, it’s an excellent way to develop and showcase organisational, research, critical thinking, extended writing and presentation skills, and hugely valuable preparation for degree-level study. This year the School will also run a pilot to enable some students to gain the Arts Award Qualification which, at Gold Level, also carries UCAS points. Meanwhile our Activities Programme continues to provide a range of additional opportunities with some students using their time to study for Microsoft Office Qualifications. Looking ahead, Theatre Design will be offered as a new ‘A’ Level from September 2011.
Avast ye T
his year’s Dress-up Day saw the School overrun with pirates as our Sixth-form leavers celebrated with their usual ebullience on the last official day of School. Jolly Rogers were flown in some unexpected places but the rounds from the water pistols did little to dampen anyone’s spirits. It was an altogether appropriate theme for an excellent team ready for new horizons and new adventures.
Getting our heads together As student Esther prepares for pastures new we discover the secrets that have made her year as Head of School such a success, and welcome James who will be taking her place. Meeting up with Esther and James just days before study leave, it’s a surprise to find Esther complaining about having too much time on her hands. It seems that, after an actionpacked year, stepping down from her rôle as Head of School, her many musical commitments and her place in the First Netball team has left her wondering what else she could do. Says Esther, “I am one of those people who thrive under pressure. This last year has been genuinely fantastic. There have been so many opportunities and I’ve enjoyed them all, even writing the rotas. It’s been a pleasure to be involved in organising key events such as Open Evening and other responsibilities like presenting last year’s Inspection Report to the Governors from a student’s perspective. Add to these the high point of winning House Singing and this year has been all that I could have hoped for.” Although he won’t commit to having the same zest for rotas, new Head of School James does recognise the importance of tight administration in the running of the School. “I love the School and I want to represent it well so I know I need to try and be as organised as possible,” says James. Esther joined Bristol Grammar School in Year 7 when the top three prefects were all girls. She admits, ‘I used to idolise the Head of School,
,
Emily Taylor, and remembering this made me very aware of my own responsibilities this year. The possibility that I might be a rôle model for someone further down the School is very humbling.” Becoming Head of School Esther found that she was treated differently by members of the school community, something she overcame by making a clear distinction between ‘Esther the Head of School’ and ‘Esther the friend’. “I decided I wouldn’t talk about Prefect issues when I’m out socialising, to retain a degree of separation. I think everyone has respected that and they have also understood there’s a job I have to do.” After a year in the Sixth Form James is heading into his new rôle with confidence, especially the bits that require public speaking. “I remember standing up at a Junior School assembly, clutching my notes,” explains James. “It was my first speaker’s job and I quite enjoyed it, early experience that made me feel comfortable in front of crowds.” “Esther has coped amazingly with any extra pressure. She’s been a wonderful example to follow. I hope I can do as well. Looking ahead to a year as Head of School, I’m just very happy. It’s the start of another set of different relationships, with more responsibility and involvement at a senior level. I’m really looking forward to it.”
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World-class performer Sixth-form student Sunoo has won a prestigious place in the British Informatics Olympiad Team and will represent her country at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) in Waterloo, Ontario, in August this year. One of only four students from the UK selected for a place on the team, Sunoo will be competing in an event that recognises its winners as among the best young computer scientists in the world and brings together exceptionally talented students from various countries to share scientific and cultural experiences. Congratulations Sunoo.
On course for Morocco Congratulations to our Sixth‑form Morocco Education for All team and all the many individuals who have together raised a fantastic £4,030 to donate towards the construction of a third student boarding house. £400 were raised by Sixth‑formers who gave up eight hours of their bank holiday weekend to support this year’s very successful Redland Green Fair. They helped stall-holders to set up their stalls, cleared litter throughout the day and were still there helping with the tidy-up at 6.00pm. Along with a stewarding fee, they raised more than £250 from their own stall, a tombola, and spent time talking to visitors about the work of the charity. Praised by the event organisers, they were excellent ambassadors for the School.
Crusading talk leads to new history library
Living Latin
Opening our new History Library in the Sixth Form Centre, Jonathan Phillips (OB), Professor of Crusading History at Royal Holloway College, University of London made an inspirational presentation to our Sixth-form students, with his talk on ‘Interpretations of the Crusades’.
Matthew took second place in the Culture competition with his excellent answers to a range of questions on the theme, ‘Carthage, from Dido to Hannibal’; George and Naomi both received commendations for their work. Our Sixth formers were impressive in the way they then tackled the Latin translation, a fiendishly difficult passage of Petrarch, written in the fourteenth century, that challenged the teachers waiting outside. In the Upper Sixth category, George and Tom were highly commended. James took third place among the Lower Sixth entrants with Naomi again highly commended.
Jonathan is one of the country’s foremost experts on the Crusades and is currently filming a major new television series on the development of Christianity. Professor Phillips left BGS in 1983 but retains many happy memories, including jumping through the trapdoor in the Year 10 block, a feat that he doesn’t encourage any current students to repeat.
He says, “There may not have been the same focus on Health and Safety in those days but the teaching was equally rigorous and inspiring. Mr Yelland in the Lower School was a particularly influential teacher for me.”
Six BGS Sixth‑formers all performed excellently at the latest ‘Cicero’, an innovative international competition organised by teachers of Classics and held simultaneously in eight countries to foster links between nations with a common heritage. This year’s UK event was hosted by Cranleigh School.
This was a wonderful opportunity to meet Classicists from elsewhere in the country and to see, via video link, the candidates competing elsewhere in the world.
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Sixth Form
Sport Photo courtesy of www.peter‑newton.com
To be or not to be…
This and other bigger questions could well be on the agenda next term for students in our Sixth Form who will have the opportunity to be taught by a Philosophy teacher funded by the Royal Institute of Philosophy. Following an application to the Institute by Head of Religious Studies, Richard Smith, BGS is one of just twenty schools from across the UK to have been selected for the scheme, providing an opportunity for up to twenty students in the School to discover more about the subject for a double‑period session every week. The course is designed for students who have little or no experience in philosophy. It will tackle basic philosophical topics such as the nature of knowledge, ethics, the mind, free will and aesthetics.
Alistair is region’s top Gabbler Lower sixth student Alistair was awarded the prize for the region’s best after‑dinner speaker, winning the prestigious title of ‘Gabbler of the Year’ at the annual Gabblers’ Grand Final Banquet. Alistair entertained an audience of 200 dinner guests and dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor of Bristol and the Lady Mayoress, competing against students from sixteen other schools in the Bristol area. His three‑minute speech on ‘Great Minds Think Alike’ won over the judges, weaving though a range of topics as diverse as cheese grating and Jedward, Edison and the ash cloud. Now in its 24th year, The Gabblers Club was established by local hoteliers to give young people the skills and confidence to speak effectively in public. Previous BGS winners include comedian Mark Watson in 1997. Alistair’s success brings the BGS winners’ tally to seven, twice as many as the nearest rival school.
More new faces This year’s Sixth Form open day attracted twice the usual number of students, we look forward to welcoming around fifty enthusiastic and motivated young people into our community in September, all joining our Sixth Form from other schools. For Director of Sixth Form, Justin Harford, the increase in interest is a reflection of just how much is on offer to the young people studying at the School. Says Justin, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to welcome so many new faces, an increase of more than 60% on previous years. The increase in places will enhance the number of opportunities we can develop for all our students over their Sixth-form careers. It’s a very exciting development.”
Local Hero Edward (Year 10) has been selected as a Lloyds TSB Local Hero, an initiative that recognises some of Britain’s top young athletes and aims to encourage them with funding and support. Having raced competitively for only three years, Edward is already realising his early potential. Currently ranked as Number 1 in the National Topper Squad, he achieved a spectacular ninth place in the World Championships last year. Teacher Fran Ripley is currently supporting Edward as mentor through the Youth Sport Trust Mentoring team. She says, “Edward is doing exceptionally well and has some exciting years ahead. Although he is currently in the Junior squad, the hope is that he will move to the transitional squad by the end of the year and then eventually to the senior squad, when he may be on target for the 2016 Olympics.” Meanwhile, for Edward, maintaining his sailing ambitions requires real commitment and – since training events are held all over the country – a lot of time in the car. The Lloyds TSB sponsorship of £1,000 will help keep Edward on the road to success, which we hope will be repeated at the 2010 World Championships in Garda this August.
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Sport
BGS Biathlon Fifteen BGS pupils took part in the South West regional biathlon championships, held at Millfield in May. For many of the pupils it was their first time taking part in a biathlon. They all faced strong, experienced opponents. They all worked exceptionally hard and enjoyed the day.
Record Score for Andreas
BGS cricket continues to go from strength to strength with Andreas making 188 runs, the highest individual score ever by a batsman at BGS. His count took the First X1 to 338–7 against Taunton. In the U14 team Greg claimed a hat trick in a 103–run victory over Kingswood. In a tight thirteen run victory against Clifton, Josh scored 100 not out for the U13Bs.
South Africa
2011
Plans are being finalised for the 2011 BGS sports tour which next year will see 64 boys and girls heading for sunny South Africa. Two Rugby teams and a girls’ hockey and netball team will be heading first to Johannesburg training camp, before moving on to play against local competition. The itinerary includes two nights in a game lodge. Then it’s off to Cape Town for more school visits and sightseeing in and around the city, Cape Point and Robben Island. More information and a fundraising programme is imminent.
Congratulations to U12 Rishi (Gloucs), U13 Cameron (Somerset), U15 Gus (Gloucs) and U17s George (Gloucs) and Charlie (Somerset), who have all have achieved representative honours.
Individual success for BGS Orienteers Cleeve Hill in The Cotswolds is notoriously steep, and the heat on Sunday 23 May was very challenging for our runners tackling the incline in the final event of the 2009–2010 Orienteering league season. Undaunted, David (L6), Emily (Year 10), Anna (Year 9) and Eleanor (Year 8) all set the pace by winning their age class. (L6), Rachel (L6), and Congratulations also to John Celia (Year 9) who came second, and to James (Year 10), placed third. After seven events this year, the battle was on between Kingswood School Bath, Gordano School and BGS for the 2010 team league title. Although last year’s title‑holders, this year BGS couldn’t quite catch Kingswood (literally in some cases out on the course) so we ended the year in a very creditable second place.
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Sport
Onwards & upwards With a new climbing wall in Bristol, the new Climbing Academy and the appointment of our BGS climbing instructor Sam Mitchell as Schools’ Coordinator, the BGS climbing team knew something exciting might be on the cards. Finally, after years of success in the Bristol Schools’ Climbing Championships, BGS climbers have taken centre stage competing in a new climbing league for all South West Schools. Our climbers entered all four rounds and won in every age‑group. It was the last year that Xander could represent the School and he did not disappoint in a nail‑biting final round that saw him win the senior boys’ competition by just three points. William also leaves BGS this year, the first student to be awarded colours for climbing at BGS. William has developed a real passion for climbing. Before his 17th birthday, on ‘apprenticeship’ under the watchful eye of Bristol University Students, he climbed Motorway Madness (E4 6a), a particularly serious way to make
it from the Portway to the Downs via some very small ledges in the Avon Gorge. Says Will, “When you’re climbing, it’s one of the rare occasions when you can take situations into your own hands and make decisions that really count. It gives me a real sense of purpose.” Will is now heading for a gap year and some of the world’s best climbing spots in Southern Spain. Fortunately for the School there are some excellent rising stars stepping up to take Will and Xander’s places, including the unstoppable duo of Hamish (Year 8) and James (Year 8). Clare (Year 10) Lizzie (Year 11) and Rachel (Year 11) have been topping the league for the girls, literally. They took first, second and third places in this year’s South West Schools’ Bouldering League, Years 10–13 category.
Wimbledon winner
N
ovice tennis player Harry (Year 5) was one of just four young tennis players from the region selected to attend this summer’s Robinson’s Wimbledon two-day Training Camp, an opportunity to learn from top coaches and players including Annabel Croft and Tim Henman. Harry stood out from a crowd of several hundred tennis hopefuls, selected by the Wimbledon Head Coach, to share a really unique tennis opportunity with just 74 other young players from around the country. He played a blinder, wore a permanent grin and listened to instructions really well. It’s a fantastic achievement for someone who started tennis only last summer, especially when many of his opponents had been playing for years.
Our Juniors are
on the ball The BGS Juniors Football Team is this year’s Bristol Primary Schools’ League Champion. After a busy season playing each rival school in the league not once but twice, James , Tom , George , Jude , Elliot Nic , Jamie , Chris , Andrew , and from Year 4, Jasper were thoroughly victorious, taking the most points from the matches.
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Old Bristolians
Everything to gain
‘View’ talks to Chris Skidmore (OB 1999), Kingswood’s new Conservative MP
BGS was exactly the right school for me, academically rigorous yet at the same time a place where you feel looked after. I was enthused by almost every subject, though I took an early interest in history and the classics, which has stayed. I still found time for extra-curricular activities, running House Plays, music evenings and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which I followed all the way to Gold. I always had a strong interest in politics, cutting my teeth knocking on doors in the 1997 election in nearby Wansdyke, now part of my constituency! But it was BGS where I developed the confidence for public speaking, in House debating competitions and then competing for the School in the Observer Mace Debating Competition. Together with my friend Hayden Taylor, we reached the National Finals and won school colours, the first time ever for a non-sporting achievement.
Top commission Simon Peter Lowes (OB 1993–2004, Brown House) has recently completed Commissioning Course 092 at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in April this year. Simon was awarded the rank Junior Under Officer, reflecting his placing in the top of his platoon. He also received the awards for ‘Signals’ and ‘Communication and Behavioural Science’ for scoring top marks across the intake. With ambitions to join the army ever since his time as a student at BGS, Simon became a member of the Territorial Army in his third year at university. Having gained a first class degree in construction management, he completed the Commando course and served in Afghanistan with 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery last year. We wish him well in his future career.
In 1999 I went up to Oxford to study History. My teacher Elizabeth Thorne joked that if I wanted to understand how politics worked I should study Tudor history! A double first and a Gibbs Prize motivated me to carry on my academic studies, which I did, but then the course of life changed and I ended up writing a biography of Edward VI, the Tudor king. My latest book on Elizabeth I, Death and the Virgin, was published this year, but not before I had gone back into politics, joining the Conservative Research Department as Education Adviser. I worked on policies which now form part of the government’s programme, including the expansion of academy freedoms. My experiences at BGS certainly informed me how important it is to allow teachers to get on with the job they love – that is to teach, rather than allow bureaucrats to micromanage our schools. In 2008 I was selected for the seat of Kingswood, where I was born and still live. In a Labour seat with a seemingly unscalable majority, if I was going to win I would have to give up everything – my job, my life in London – and throw everything at it. I believe if you have nothing to lose, then all you have is everything to gain. It proved the case in one of the greatest election surprises of the night. As a new MP, I’m determined to earn the trust placed in me by the people of Kingswood. I know I’m fortunate to have the start in life I did at BGS and realise that, without it, I might not be where I am today. If I can achieve anything, I will be happy if I can make opportunity more open and give everyone an equally good start in life.
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Literary events
“He told us about his ways of getting an idea and evolving a story around it.”
Pick up a
Penguin
says Lucy Shepperd
Larger than life
Popular children’s author Jeremy Strong visited Bristol Grammar School for the whole day in June, running a special event for children in Years 2–5. Author of The 100 Mile an Hour Dog and many other children’s classics, Jeremy helped the children celebrate the 70th birthday of the world’s leading children’s publisher, Puffin Books.
“He described the work he did as a child, and there were quite a few spelling mistakes!”
10–14 May was Penguin Week at BGS and the entire School was immersed in Penguins. Why? Because Allen Lane, Penguin’s founder in 1935, was formerly a pupil at the School and we were asked to collaborate in celebrations for their 75th anniversary. We did so with gusto! On Monday Senior Penguin Editor Tony Lacey gave a fascinating lecture to the Upper Sixth about the changing nature of book-selling. Later that same day writer Joe Dunthorne discussed his poetry with the Sixth Form in their after‑school Literary Society. On Wednesday Classics Editor, Alexis Kirschbaum, was our guest at the Penguin Poetry Prize-giving Assembly where we heard the winners read their poems aloud. A real treat! Later an audience of more than 250 people enjoyed an evening with world-renowned authors Helen Dunmore and Penelope Lively.
“He works in a cosy little blue shed at the bottom of his garden, with a fridge full of chocolate (and uneaten fruit!)”
The end‑of‑the‑week Assembly will forever be remembered as we were enchanted by the winning entries in the BGS 75-word Penguin mini‑saga competition, read by their authors, including overall winner Max (Year 5) with his story, A Musical Mess Up through to Bill McCormack, winner of the Staff and Parents Category and his Anglo-Saxon story, Wuffwagger. Booklets of the winning entries in both the poetry and the mini-saga competitions have been compiled by David Briggs, who gave his unstinting support to this ambitious venture.
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Literary events A journey with
Dominic Gill Describing himself as a videographer, adventurer and explorer with a penchant for social interaction, Dominic Gill rode into the JCR on his tandem ready to show us how it’s possible to do all these things with just a bicycle made for two.
historical novel? Helen Dunmore and Penelope Lively in conversation with Peter Kemp, seen through the eyes of Kate Jones. What is a historical novel? Is it a novel set in a different period with a texture and detail that enables the reader to believe in that moment? Or is it about memory and the way in which it plays with all of us, and we play with it?
Pictures from Take a Seat published by Mainstream Publishing
In
front of a large and enthusiastic crowd, Dominic Gill inspired us with tales of his tandem-cycling adventures. His epic cycle ride from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Ushuaia, the Southernmost town in South America, took 26 months and is detailed in his new book, ‘Take a Seat’. It’s a journey that involved fifteen countries and 270 curious travelling companions who jumped on the back of his bike on the way. For someone with nothing more than a few supplies and a bicycle, Dominic’s story is one of human kindness, a journey made possible by well-wishers and the hundreds of passengers who rode with him, fed him and housed him. He talked about the people he met and their generosity in sharing their food and providing a bed, often in very simple surroundings. Only once did he feel threatened, albeit with a rusty machete, despite the 30,000km length of the trip. His is a real-life tale of a man who had a dream and followed it through, transformed by his encounters and the kindness of the people he met who, although they had nothing, gave him everything. It was truly inspiring. The evening was made all the more special by the tombola, the food and drinks stall in aid of Education for All, and the music provided by Jonny and Adam
What is a
These were the questions that the audience was made to grapple with during the conversation between Helen Dunmore and Penelope Lively. Peter Kemp, fiction editor of The Sunday Times, deftly wove the threads together for a stimulating evening. Helen Dunmore’s latest novel picks up life in Leningrad ten years after the 1941–42 siege where her previous The Siege is set. Penelope Lively’s latest book Family Album delves into family life, telling the same events from the differing viewpoints of the family members. I was fascinated by Dunmore’s description of the detail she needed to be able to write her novel. For her the texture of the book is created by an understanding of how the character would feel, what she would be thinking, what might be her worries as she inhabits the space of the book. As a reader, I had suddenly a deeper appreciation of the book and why I had enjoyed it so much. Peter Kemp led a conversation with these writers that enabled the audience to see into their minds. There were differences between them, but we were more aware of their similarities: their observation of detail, their need for a sense of place, their starting points as writers and their enjoyment of eavesdropping. As the audience arrived Sixth-formers Nancy and Rebecca set the mood for the evening with their soulful vocals and guitar. There were drinks and a chance to mingle in the Great Hall, and of course there were books to buy and have signed. What a treat on a Wednesday evening in May!
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Bristol Grammar School University Road Bristol BS8 1SR
Diary dates
Upper School 0117 973 6006 Junior School 0117 973 6109 www.bristolgrammarschool.co.uk
September
December
Thursday 2 September: New Students’ Induction Day
Thursday 2 December: School Concert, Great Hall 7.30 pm
Friday 3 September: Start for all other Pupils
Wednesday 8 – Friday 10 December: School Play, Mackay Theatre 7.30 pm
Thursday 9 September: 2010 Honours Students’ Investiture, Great Hall 4.15 pm Tuesday 14 September: Writer Frances Kay visits the English Department all morning Monday 20 September: Literary Society: Rod Nicholls, JCR 4.15 – 5.30 pm Wednesday 22 September: Solo Music Competition, Great Hall 7.30 pm Thursday 30 September: Keen’s House Concert, Mackay Theatre 7.30 pm
October Friday 1 October: Whole School Open Day, 4.00 – 8.00 pm Wednesday 6 October: Public Evening Event with Historian Michael Wood, Great Hall/JCR 7.00 for 7.30 pm Tuesday 19 – Wednesday 20 October: Edwards’s House Play, Owen Room 7.30 pm W/C Monday 25 October: Half term
November Monday 8 November: Literary Society: Father Paul Spilsbury: A theological view of Tolkein, J K Rowling, C S Lewis and Philip Pullman, JCR 4.15 − 5.30 pm Tuesday 9 November: External Sixth‑form Open Evening, Great Hall 5.00 – 8.00 pm
Tuesday 14 December: Carol Service, Great Hall 7.30 pm Wednesday 15 December: Term ends 12.00 noon
Forthcoming literary events Michael Morpurgo at the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature on Sunday 3 October, an event sponsored by BGS. Don’t miss this chance to hear the award-winning author and former Children’s Laureate talking about his work. Michael has written over 100 books including War Horse, Kensuke’s Kingdom and Private Peaceful. His latest novel, An Elephant in the Garden, set in Germany during the First World War, is about an elephant that is rescued from Dresden zoo. Simply unmissable. Twenty complimentary tickets. Contact Lucy Shepherd, first‑come first‑served. Historian and broadcaster Michael Wood returns to BGS to talk about his new book, The Story of England, which accompanies a TV series that starts in the Autumn. Promises to be a sell out evening. Wednesday 6 October. Tickets (£8/£6) including refreshments and live music. Children’s author Michelle Paver will be talking about her fabulous series of books, The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, a must for all Paver fans! Wednesday 17 November. Tickets (£6) including live music.
Wednesday 10 November: House Singing Competition, Great Hall 6.00 pm Wednesday 17 November: Evening event with Children’s Author Michelle Paver, 6.30 for 7.00 pm Tuesday 23 November: GCSE and ‘A’ Level concert, John James Room 7.30 pm Thursday 25 November: Instrumental Evening, Junior School Hall 7.30 pm Friday 26 November: Reception to Year 6 Infants and Juniors Assessment Editorial: Jo Foster, Wide Blue Yonder Design: adartdesign.co.uk Printed on 100% recycled stock using vegetable inks
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