Summer 2014

EXCELLENCE FOR ALL

KHS News Message from the Headteacher, Mr Leyland Welcome to our summer newsletter, I hope you enjoy reading about the fantastic achievements of our community this term. This is a really exciting time for KHS. During the summer we are improving our learning spaces

with a massive £650,000+ building programme. In September, we will have three new science labs, three separate state of the art technology spaces, and three new ICT areas. Look out for details and photos in our autumn newsletter.

London Trip As part of the school wide qualification ASDAN, 26 KHS pupils attended a fantastic two day trip to London from the 8th to the 9th of July. The entire trip was a huge success, and we would firstly like to thank all of the pupils for their behaviour, and the staff who gave up their time in order to raise funds and supervise during the trip. The first stop saw the pupils visiting the famous National History and Science museums. The next stop was at Buckingham Palace, (see picture) for a brilliant photo opportunity and a chance for the pupils to see some of the great heritage that London has to offer. Our next feature was a viewing of the marvelous Matilda at the Cambridge theatre. The staff and pupils were left in awe at the amazing talent and storytelling of the actors. After a restful night at the hotel, all pupils and staff were bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for their whistle stop tour of London city centre. The Tower of London, the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and even the headquarters of MI6 were some of the sights to be seen, and thanks to the brilliant tour guide, the pupils and staff were given a first class experience, and told information about the city that even most Londoners might not have known! Our final stop was the amazing Harry Potter studio tour crammed full of memorabilia and props from the hugely

Bracknell Avenue, Kirkby, Merseyside, L32 9PP. T: 0151 477 8710, F: 0151 477 8715 Email: [email protected] www.kirkbyhighschool.net

successful series of films. Needless to say, some of the staff were more excited than a few of the pupils! Arriving back at school all of the staff were happy to see twenty six tired but pleased faces getting off the coach and all were in agreement that it had been a brilliant trip. Again we would like to thank all of those involved in the trip and look forward to any similar trips in the future.

Kirkby High School is a member of the Rowan Learning Trust. Company No. 8010464, Reg. Office: Hawkley Hall High School, Carr Lane, Wigan.

Year 9 News Cameron Graham visits KHS Former pupil and British Karate Champion 2014, Cameron Graham visited Year 9 pupils as part of an assembly on role models. Miss Gill and Mrs Morris were Cameron’s former heads of year, and were delighted to ask Cameron to come back and work with their current year group. Cameron will be working with our pupils in the next academic year, to encourage them to focus on their own learning and futures.

Sea Cadets

Year 9 attended a session with the Sea Cadets in school and also attended a practical session at Crosby Marina. Pupils had a great time but also focused on team/ confidence building skills.

John Moore’s University Year 9 are working with JMU as part of our Thinking Futures Programme in a bid to raise aspirations. They have visited us at KHS and we will spend the day there on 17th July.

Knowsley Community College We visited Knowsley Community College as part of our Thinking Futures Programme. Pupils had a tour of the college and participated in a practical session. The Hair and Beauty KCC tutors commented upon the professionalism and creativity of Year 9 pupils.

Zoë's Place Year 8 and 9 have raised money for Zoë's Place over the past year. KHS pupils took money to Zoë's Place, where staff discussed how the money would be spent and how important fundraising is to keep Zoë's Place going. Mr Brophy even dressed up as the Zoë's Place bear. A great time was had raising money for a very worthwhile cause.

Year 10 visits the University of Liverpool

Year 7s ‘Changing Lives’

Following on from last year’s successful University of Liverpool Vet’s School visit, we again worked with the Red Brick University to secure two further trips. One of these was for pupils who are aiming to pursue a career in law and the other for those pupils considering a future in engineering. The visits gave pupils the opportunity to discover what it would be like to study these subjects at university level as well as being provided with general university information. The law pupils were given a law lecture which our pupils engaged in by debating and asking questions, whilst the engineering pupils took part in a practical building session within the School of Engineering’s workshops. These events have enabled our pupils to understand the qualifications required to pursue their chosen career paths in order to inspire them to achieve. We will continue to link up with the university to support our pupils in further subject specific events.

Some of our Year 7 girls have been working with the Changing Lives team and have recently completed a programme about Respectful Relationships. Merseyside Police Crime Commissioner, Jane Kennedy, funded the project and we were invited to speak with her about the course and how it has helped. Jane was extremely impressed with the work and how our pupils were so articulate and confident, so we wanted to share this good news story with you. If you see any of these pupils around, do congratulate them as they did us proud!

Bluebell Park Arts Festival & NEET TV The drama and music departments along with 30 pupils of Kirkby High School were invited to work with our neighbours at Bluebell Park School in June during their Arts Festival week. Kirkby High School pupils performed for around 200 Bluebell Park staff and pupils as part of the arts festival. Staff commented that the Kirkby pupils were every bit as entertaining as the professional artists involved in the arts festival. As part of the arts week, some of our pupils worked with NEET TV Production Company to write, film and edit a documentary about the arts week. Pupils experienced working with industry quality cameras, sound, lighting and editing equipment. They created a fantastic short film called “Same Difference”. The film will be premiered at the Showcase Cinema during the next academic year. Congratulations to all involved!

Bugsy Malone At the start of July, Kirkby High School pupils presented their production of Bugsy Malone to the public. With 6 sell out performances over four days, the productions were a huge success – with Mr Leyland declaring: “It was the best pound I’ve ever spent”! Everyone involved was really sad to see the end of the production, having worked so hard together for five months. Participants from Years 7-10 were exceptional in their professionalism and have made lots of new close friendships. We are incredibly proud of all of the pupils involved, and can’t wait to build on this year’s success next year. Look out West End – The Kirkby High School performers are coming your way soon!

Memories of Kirkby During our summer school the children will be creating a piece of artwork to go on the outside of the school, hopefully to last until our children are well into old age. The programme is the Heritage Lottery funded programme “Kirkby New Town”. It’s the second phase of the programme working with local primary schools and our school to develop a second major piece of artwork focusing on the exodus from Liverpool and other areas to Kirkby during the 1950’s and 60’s, highlighting people’s stories and experiences of that time, and the growth of the new town. We would like as many local residents as possible to bring along any photos to contribute to the artwork and to have the opportunity to share their experience Any families with old photographs can bring them along anytime during the first week of summer school. Photos will be scanned and returned to you. Your photo could become part of the art work displayed forever outside Kirkby High School.

Year 10 Work Experience Year 10 pupils recently completed their work experience placements. Before the week, they learned about how to prepare properly, health & safety and interview techniques in personal development and R. E. lessons. The week itself was really successful, with the highest completion and pass rate ever of 95.5% and involved placements in a variety of fields, from law courts to primary schools, across Merseyside and even as far afield as Stockport. This year’s cohort also received and gave some of the best feedback we have ever had. Some comments from employers included: “A lovely young man… I am sure he will be a great asset to any company when he joins the workplace” “A delightful young lady that would be an asset to any organisation” “Showed a mature attitude to the workplace” “A pleasant and well presented young woman. She has tackled all tasks in a positive way and was well liked by the team. She is a credit to herself, her family and school.” “He has demonstrated a high level of initiative, maturity and adaptation… I cannot speak highly enough of him and his ability.” Pupils said: “I built a friendly relationship with the employees” “I have learned skills I wouldn’t have experienced” “I learned how to socialise more with people” “I feel like I have gained confidence” “I loved it and would like to work there when older” “It was good to see what it’s like to work with others” Whilst on the placements, pupils also completed a booklet to document what they learned during their time in work. This year, the prizes for outstanding work were awarded to Lucy Yeung and Ben Pybus, whose folders were also perhaps the most thorough and detailed we have ever seen.

Kirkby and the national #LightsOut project – Monday 4th August As you know, this year marks the hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of war. The church leaders in Kirkby have been talking about marking this hugely significant moment appropriately this year, and over the next four years. The national commemoration on the outbreak of war will be focussed on a televised candle lit vigil at Westminster Abbey, taking the theme from the words of Sir Edward Grey on the eve of war, 'The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time'. This is tying in with 'LIGHTS OUT', a project that encourages everyone to turn out their lights apart from a single light for reflection from 10-11pm. For Kirkby, there will be a vigil at St. Chad's on Monday 4th August at 7.30pm. This will enable people to attend here, then return home and see the national event live.