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@archway_school Archway News Issue No 31 March 2019

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

As always I am pleased to send you articles showcasing some of the enrichment activities in which our students have been involved over the past term. Our students have continued, too, to raise money for worthy causes: since the start of the school year, we have been able to donate to a number of charities - International Citizens Service (Nepal) £247.33; BBC Children in Need £662.59; Learning Support Garden £247.33; Sunflower Suicide Support £189.08; Archway Anarchist Newspaper £189.08; Marah Trust £187.07 and Year 7 Sponsored Walk for Nepal £511.36 - thanks to their generosity.

Since writing to Year 11 parents last term, we are delighted that so many students have attended the revision sessions which we are running Monday to Thursday each week. There is always room for more to take up the offer, so please do encourage them to attend. As well as these sessions our dedicated Year 11 ICT zone is available for independent study before school, at break and lunchtime, and at the end of the school day. Thanks also to those Year 11 parents who were able to attend the Year 11 Revision Evening this week.

Many of Year 13 students already have a clear idea of what they intend to do next year and are working conscientiously to that end. For any students, in any year, who would like to discuss plans, or seek careers advice to help them make plans, they should contact Mrs Lesley Ryall, our Careers and Examinations Lead. Her office is next to reprographics in A Block, or you can email her at [email protected].

I have been contacted by parents following a couple of near misses and two actual hits recently, asking that all users of the site (staff, parents and members of the community) are reminded about the need to park safely on and around site—not on kerbs or obscuring the view of other users. We have also received some complaints from residents in Wheelers Walk about cars blocking their access. We will continue to remind students about leaving the site safely but at the end of the day when chatting with friends they can be oblivious to their surroundings.

As always we appreciate your support with the basics and are grateful to those who ensure students turn up each day punctually and in uniform. We will be taking a harder line again after Easter, as we did at the start of the year, with those who fail to comply. If you are unsure about any aspect of uniform, please check the details in your child’s planner.

Term will end for students at 3.15pm on Friday 5 April, and the new term will begin on Tuesday 23 April at 8.50am.

We look forward next term to end of year photos for Years 11 and 13 and planning is well underway for the end of year proms.

Yours faithfully

Colin Belford Headteacher Page 2 Archway News

Music Department News Mrs R Russell This term is another busy one for the music department. Following on from the outstanding Christmas performances, Choir, ukulele and boomwhacker clubs are now all working towards this year’s Spring Concert which promises to be another fantastic evening full of a variety of performances. This term in lessons, Year 7 students have been developing their skills with notation and keyboards, whilst Year 8 have been exploring music from other cultures and enjoying West African drumming. Year 11 have been rehearsing for their final ensemble performance recitals and Year 9 and 10 students have been experimenting with composition. There are quite a few students entered for individual instrumental exams this term and I would like to wish Tom, Isabelle, Megan and Josie luck in their upcoming piano and singing exams. We Will Rock You rehearsals are well underway and students are busy learning lyrics, routines and the scenes that make up this fantastic show. We are very lucky to have such a talented group of students working so hard. It promises to be a brilliant production, keep an eye out for ticket sales!

Walter Tull 100 Big Ideas Project Mr S Butler The Walter Tull 100 Big Ideas project has commemorated the life and times of a professional footballer who became the first officer of mixed heritage in the British Army in World War One. Twenty-nine special medals have been commissioned to commemorate each year of his short life (Killed in Action 25th March 1918) ready for March 25th 2019. These medals go to the organisations which have produced the most notable, original and impressive ways of commemorating Walter’s life, and the theme of ‘No Barriers’ to achievement. Archway School is proud to receive news that it will be receiving one of these coveted medals. The school’s project involved liaising with Forest Green Rovers and Swindon Town FC, as well as the writing of poems and prose on the theme of ‘No Barriers’ and Walter’s life and times. Commemorative walks followed to FGR, and a commemorative football at Archway between the Sixth Form and a KS4 side around Remembrance-tide, last November. Writing was shared with the national organisers as well as with Walter’s football clubs, Spurs and Northampton Town FC. There are displays of student work at the school as well, showcasing the sensitive and skilled writing of students, to ensure that the legacy of Walter is remembered at Archway. We know that the students’ efforts in class, on walks, and on the pitch have been recognised nationally: we are proud to receive this national recognition after a year of commemoration involving football clubs from the highest and mightiest in the land to the humblest, together with schools, community groups, and youth groups etc, throughout the whole of the United Kingdom. Page 3

Library News Mrs E Locke

th Thursday 7 March was World Book Day and this time we managed to celebrate it, after last year when the Beast from the East left me sadly wandering around the library alone, dressed as Professor McGonagall. This year, our handmade WBD crowns did not go unappreciated, and neither did the wealth of games we played over the Thursday and Friday, including: Guess the Title & Author, Title Quest and the World Book Day Library Trail. Many, many sweets were won (sorry dentists!). On the Friday we held a Book Chat at lunchtime and discussed our favourite books. If you haven’t read The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan I highly recommend it – a tense, claustrophobic tale of survival of the strongest. However, I could just as easily have held up The Twits by Roald Dahl, The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. This year’s WBD theme is ‘Reading is Power’ and it is true that reading enables growth, choice, power and knowledge. Books have been my life: I have worked as a bookseller, fifteen years in publishing, and now as a school librarian. Books bring me immense pleasure and pay my mortgage (!) and I will always strive to enthuse Archway students to read – whatever they want to read. To this end, I bought in Top Gear magazine this morning and – after warning students that I was issuing a free ban until Easter for anyone caught with their phone out – casually dropped it on the table. After fifteen minutes the table was surrounded as the articles were discussed. I ensure that we have a range of reading material in the library – How It Works, Match of the Day, BBC Wildlife and BBC Focus magazines, the weekly News & Journal, as well as a range of fresh-off-the-press fiction for all genres. A suggestion box ensures that all suggestions are heard. I urge you to go and wander around a library or bookshop this weekend – I promise you’ll be a happier person for it!

Year 9 Holocaust Day Ms J Coleman

On Tuesday 19th March, Year 9 students took part in a whole day learning about different aspects of the Holocaust. There were a huge variety of activities, ranging from film making, batik art work to studying the family history of a Holocaust survivor. Students learned new skills and worked collaboratively with their peers. One student said "I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be the only person left in your family." Page 4 Archway News

Trip to Poland Ms J Coleman On 25th February 23 students and staff set off on Archway’s annual trip to Krakow in Poland. There was plenty of walking to do and plenty of sights to see. Our first afternoon started the Oskar Schindler Museum where we saw pre war Jewish life in Krakow and how Krakow and life changed for people once the city was under German occupation. Another walk took us to Kazimierz, the Jewish quarter which is only just being renovated and repopulated. We were delighted to stop at the Plac Nowy for street food! Our second day took us to Auschwitz and Birkenau. This is always a sombre and thought provoking journey. We were fortunate enough to visit on one of the rare occasions when the guard tower was open. We were able to stand where guards stood surveying the enormous panorama of Birkenau below us. As we left many of us reflected on how lucky we were to visit and leave as and when we like without captivity. Tuesday afternoon gave us time to explore the medieval part of Krakow and eat more food! Miss Miles and Ms Coleman sampled goulash on potato rosti, as well as chocolate cake smothered ganache and cherries and a traditional hot chocolate. Finally, a visit to Wavell Castle and a chance to see the dragon breathing fire as he stands on the banks of the River Vistula. A quick packing of suitcases and journey to the airport brought us home and ready for school again the next day.

The Brilliant Club Mrs C Jowett

Mrs Stuart Brown and Mrs Jowett took 12 Year 8 students to the University of Southampton to begin their participation in the Brilliant Club programme which aims to encourage students from non-selective schools to apply to the Russell Group universities. We began the day in a lecture theatre with other schools from the south east and London area where they were introduced to the PhD student, Polly Payne, who will be giving our students university-style tutorials over the next coming weeks; the topic they will be studying is Biology: Disease Detectives. They will then submit an extended essay which will be graded with university –style grading of first, 2:1 or 2:2. We then had a tour of the university led by our lovely guide, Ali, who is a 5th year Electrical Engineering student studying for his Masters. The students were in awe of their surroundings and amazed at how large a campus Southampton is and that all the facilities of a small town are available. Lunch was provided in one of the many eateries on the campus. The students were then able to have a question and answer session with current students at Southampton before we began the long journey home. It was an aspirational and inspirational day for them all. Issue No 31 Page 5

Sixth Form News Mrs H Pomeroy Yoga for Sixth Form Students Project Trust Earlier this month the Sixth Form were visited by Project Have you heard of blissbyrobin.com? Robin is a yoga instructor who specialises in Trust who encourage our learners to step outside their comfort teenage yoga and runs several classes in zone and think about taking a gap year with meaning. Stroud. Working for a charitable cause is not only encouraged by us The Sixth Form welcomed Robin in one at Archway but is looked upon favourably by universities and Thursday morning, as the second set of mocks loomed over them, for an hour of her organisations who offer apprenticeships. Students have a world ‘bliss’. Robin worked with a group of 30 of opportunities at their feet if they know where to look and students on relaxation techniques and there are plenty of organisations too, seeking volunteers around movements to combat exam-induced stress the globe to make a difference to many, many lives. and indeed helped our students to deal with stress or anxiety in general with breathing We hope many of our students will take the chance of and focus on flow movements. volunteering or studying abroad in the future. Students felt refreshed, relaxed and ready for the next ‘mock’ step of their What if…? journey with us. The ‘What if…?’ Roadshow is an initiative created by Fire, Safety and Rescue service. For the last three years we have taken our Year 12 students to the presentation at the Royal Agricultural University. The ‘show’ is insightful, educational and emotional and reveals to our young learner drivers the devastation that can be caused by one, even innocent, wrong decision on the road. Real life stories are told by firefighters, rescue services, doctors and the police about situations they have encountered. Our students (and myself!) got caught up in a particularly harrowing story which threads the show together, which although heart breaking at times, demonstrates acutely how careful one has to be driving given the inexperience we have at 17/18 years old. I know that our young people took on board the profound message so skilfully created by the ‘What if…?’ Roadshow and hope that it has the impact on their driving that I know it has had on mine.

Enterprising students win a place in the final of the St James’s Place Enterprise Competition Mrs E Fowler A group of entrepreneurial Year 12 students qualified for a place in the final of the St James’s Place Enterprise Competition, which was hosted by Archway School on Monday 18th February. The competition is being run in conjunction with GFirst LEP, who work in partnership with businesses to develop employment opportunities for school leavers in Gloucestershire. Five teams of Archway Sixth Form students took part and they were given a brief to develop a new product or service to help endorse St James’s Place core values. The students needed to work effectively as a team to develop an enterprising business idea and then pitch it to the panel of judges. All the students impressed us with their energy and innovative ideas, although only one team could go through to the final. The winning team, pictured here, were chosen for their idea ‘SJP Fresh Start Initiative’ which is a six week employability programme designed to target unemployed young people in Gloucestershire. The final takes place on 17th May, when our Archway Team will be pitching against other finalists for a chance to win a two week paid internship during the summer holidays at the St James’s Place Head Office in Cirencester. Thank you to Katey Gaunt of St James’s Place, Duncan Willoughby of GFirst LEP and all the other mentors from local businesses who gave up their valuable time to help support the students and make it such an enjoyable event. We look forward to the final! Page 6 Archway News

Year 10 GCSE Science Trip to Governors’ News University of Bristol Miss N Austin Miss A Delrosa

20 Year 10 students, Mr Saunders, Miss Austin Governors in a secondary school are not often seen by and Mrs Hammond were invited to the University parents, so knowing who we are and what we do can be a bit of Bristol for a Science Taster Day. of mystery. They got a chance to explore the impressive lab Governors set the direction for the school, providing facilities of the Biology and Physics Department. strategic leadership and accountability. We make decisions The students dissected owl pellets to work out collectively on matters such as performance targets, the what the owls had been feeding on. In addition a school’s development plan and school policies, and play a key local bird handler brought in a kestrel and an owl role in raising school standards and monitoring performance. which gave the students a rare opportunity to see We hold the Headteacher and his senior team to account these birds up close and in flight. and make important decisions on issues such as the school Next the students spent the afternoon in the budget and the curriculum, as well as addressing the issues physics lab completing three different practicals raised in our last Ofsted inspection. linked to light, sound and waves. The day ended Our governing body is made up from several groups of people: staff, local authority appointed governors, co-opted with them experiencing a lecture about the origins governors who represent the community and bring certain and production of ice cream. Each student got to skills, and parents. sample freshly made ice cream made using liquid We are currently looking for members of the community nitrogen. who would like to become a governor at Archway School. If A fantastic day all you know someone who might be interested then please round and we look email me at: forward to being [email protected] invited back next We have also just started working on developing our year! three year plan and will be working with parents, students and staff in determining what that plan will look like. If you have any thoughts on the school and where we should be heading over the next three years please email me at: [email protected] or write to me at the school’s address: Archway School, Paganhill, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 4AX

Attendance Goodbye and Thank You! Mr J Young Mrs A Lamond, Clerk to Governors

Thank you to all our students, Earlier this month, the Governing Body said goodbye to its longest parents and staff for working so hard serving member, Mr Vic Lewis, who first became involved with the school by to maintain high levels of attendance joining Archway’s PTA more than three decades ago in 1985! so far this academic year. Increased levels of attendance Mr Lewis became a governor shortly after this and has seen the school go are directly linked to higher levels of through many changes over the achievement. Please continue to years. He was closely involved when encourage your son/daughter to the new school buildings were maintain high attendance levels. constructed and has been the Maintaining high levels of attendance at school remains one of Premises Link governor ever since. our key priorities. You will recall that Paying tribute to Mr Lewis’ students with a figure of 90% or outstanding service, Mr Belford below are now regarded as praised the energy, dedication and ‘Persistently Absent’ by the commitment he had brought to the Government. Please expect contact role and the tremendous support he from us if your child is in or nearing this category. has given to the staff, parents and It is also very important that your pupils of Archway School. child is in school on time in the A ‘Vic Lewis Cup’ in honour of his morning. Please ensure they arrive long service to the school is to be in school by 8.45am in correct awarded at future annual prize giving uniform ready for the day ahead. ceremonies. Page 7

Year 12 Food Science & Nutrition: Unit 1 Practical Exam Mrs S Bloodworth This term the Year 12 Food Science & Nutrition students have been challenged with the task of creating a three course meal catering for two covers based on food served at a Spa. Students needed to choose an appropriate client in order to meet their nutritional needs within healthy eating guidelines and the use of seasonal produce. The practical exam needed to showcase their advanced skills, techniques and presentation within the 3.5 hour time limit.

Students hard at work making, checking and Final offerings…..fit to be served on any Spa menu ! assembling dishes…

Year 7 Girls’ Football—Stroud Representatives for the County finals saw the best three schools from each district County Tournament Miss L Garner meet to decide the overall best team in the County; Stroud & the Cotswolds, Cheltenham, Gloucester & the Forest. Again, After only one training session, Archway Year 7 girls’ football team attended a tough group for the girls with Cleeve, Five Acres & KLB. the 7-a-side district football tournament hosted by . Straight The girls got off to a nervous start and lost their first game 1-0 away the girls drew a tough group with the likes of Thomas Keble and to an organised . They regained composure Katharine Lady Berkeley’s who are known for their footballing success. The and went onto beat a very physical Five Acres 2-1, and group stages saw a draw with KLB, a win against TK 3-0, and a win against drawing 1-1 with KLB which took the girls through to the semi- Kingshill 2-0. The girls went onto the semi-finals as the winners of their group. finals, knocking KLB out of the competition. The girls went on Here they met Stroud High to meet the overall winners The Crypt, where they battled School with a very strong hard and did well to come away with a 2-0 defeat due to the team. The game remained sheer skill and ability of this team. The final game of the 0-0 until a fumble by the tournament saw the girls play Cleeve again to decide 3rd & goalie saw Archway slot 4th position. The game was tense and remained 0-0, going to one in to make it to the a penalty shootout. Typical England style the nerves got the final. Here the girls met best of us, initially 5 misses and 5 saves took us to ‘sudden KLB again, to only lose 1- death’ where Cleeve coped with the pressure more to go on 0. Coming second saw the to win. girls alongside KLB and The whole day was a great experience for the girls and to Rednock make it to the finish 4th overall in the County out of 12 teams is a great county finals to represent achievement. The girls will be ready to take on the same the Stroud & Cotswold challenge next year. Well done! district. Page 8 www.archwayschool.net

Year 7 Boys’ Football Team Mr P Marsh The Year 7 boys’ football team won both their matches prior to their county tournament - scoring 9 goals and conceding 0 over the two matches, which was a great foundation for the season. The tournament consisted of Marling, Rednock, Katherine Lady Berkeley and Maidenhill teams. The boys lost their opening match against Marling 1-0, conceding a goal against the run of play but managed to keep their composure and passing style of play, going on to beat Katherine Lady Berkeley school 3-0 and Maidenhill 2-0 in their next two games. This meant a draw or win in their final game would see them progress into the semi finals. Despite a nail-biting finish the game ended goalless, seeing them progress into the semi finals.

Stroud District School Games Mr J Jeffery Archway School’s School Games Organiser James Jeffery has overseen a busy start to 2019 with great engagement in sport and physical activities. The new year’s programme kicked off with a Primary Gymnastics event, catering for the Key Steps Beginners ability and an intermediate event for children ranging from Y3-6. The two competitions saw over 120 gymnasts compete with Gastrells Primary and Rodborough Community Primary progressing through to the county L3 competition. Next up was the inclusive event of Secondary Boccia and Primary New Age Kurling which saw great performances from all schools. The 12 schools attending the New Age Kurling had a fantastic experience in this new event. We were appreciative of Allsorts who provided support in delivering a great Boccia event to the schools attending, with Archway, Thomas Keble and St Roses competing to reach the L3 County final. The programme continued to offer a range of events for all interests with the highest attended Primary Debating competition in the district’s history with 5 schools battling it out to convince each other and the audience that their nominee for the greatest coach ever fitted the title. The event was held at the lovely venue of the Pavilion at The Museum in the Park and saw Minchinhampton win and progress to L3. There are two more events that were included in this busy period. The Quick Sticks Hockey event saw an A and B team competition run simultaneously for the first time, the small sided game proved very popular with 29 teams competing to reach the county final. Special mention goes to Leonard Stanley Primary whose three teams across the two competitions all medalled, with current county champions Horsley Primary reaching the L3 final again with an unbeaten performance. Finally, the ever popular Primary Archery again attracted enough teams to fill three afternoons of competition. Callowell Primary’s investment in their archery set up proved worthy as they occupied three of the top four places, with Bisley Blue Coat breaking the domination with a bronze medal finish. Overall a great start to 2019 with more events to follow and more opportunities for children to engage in sport and physical activity.