Taking Stock
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Stockport Grammar TAKING School Newsletter Issue 75 STOCK Spring/Summer 2020 SCHOOL LIFE SCHOOL LIFE ENGLISH SKILLS SCHOOL LIFE MASTERCLASS Professional writer and speaker Paul Morris delivered an engaging Daniel Leech was dismissed in 1669, English Skills Workshop for some HEADMASTER’S after less than a year, for incompetence. of our Third Years. Equally, before I get too settled, it is Pupils were introduced to a MESSAGE worth noting that Rev Joseph Dale, who question type that features on became Headmaster in 1703, died in In difficult and unprecedented times, the IGCSE Edexcel English office in 1752 having led the school for a it often helps to take the long view. Language syllabus. mere forty-nine years. His successor, the Stockport Grammar School has been Rev William Jackson, managed a lesser, The output, which the group write in uninterrupted existence since it was though still undeniably impressive tenure using an image or statement as founded in 1487 through the will of of forty years. Whilst I very much enjoy the stimulus, will be entered into Edmund Shaa. SGS has survived wars, UNIVERSITY leading SGS, I will be a centenarian if I the Portico Sadie Massey Awards revolutions and economic upheavals stay as long as Rev Dale. competition. PREPARATIONS of all sorts and continues to flourish. The workshop is funded by I am completing my second year as After being founded in a church in the As the Upper Sixth celebrated receiving As a school community, we will always The Portico Library in Manchester. Headmaster of Stockport Grammar centre of Stockport, the school moved offers from prestigious institutions be forward looking, but it is sometimes School and I have already outlasted to Chestergate in 1607 and then to across the country, it was time for the wise to look backwards and celebrate fifteen of my predecessors who were Greek Street in 1832. The new school Lower Sixth to start their process of the heritage and values of the school, overtaken by a range of maladies, rooms allowed the Headmaster, application. Not to be thwarted by the sustained for more than 500 years. financial woes and political difficulties, Thomas Middleton, to teach 150 pupils national school closure, Head of Sixth Stockport Grammar School has always often fatal. Francis Lowe, Headmaster from 8am until 5pm with a two-hour Form Mr David Stone devised a virtual tried to educate the whole person from 1586 until 1587, died of the lunch break. The Head was assisted Higher Education Conference with a and prepare them for the rest of their plague. John Pollett, who became by an usher; the first usher William series of video presentations prepared lives. This is reflected in our three core Headmaster at the tender age of Bayles was described as ‘impatient when by SGS staff and a Google Meet for priorities: academic ambition; beyond nineteen in 1628, left Stockport a few overwrought’, a description that could each student with their UCAS Adviser. the classroom; care, community and months later leaving behind an alarming probably be applied to many people Further video presentations, including character. The pages of this magazine number of personal debts. Bradley when teaching a class of 150 for thirty advice from SGS alumni and university give numerous examples of these Hayhurst was an enthusiastic supporter five hours per week. representatives will follow as the Lower priorities in action, priorities that I hope of the Parliamentary cause and had to Sixth continue their application process. The school moved to its current site my predecessors as Headmaster would all PERFECT PRESENTATIONS BY PUBLIC step down in 1644 at the height of the in 1915 and continues to flourish; recognise if they were here today. Civil War when the Royalists captured SPEAKING TEAMS the ISI inspection earlier this academic Stockport. Dr Paul Owen Two teams spoke brilliantly at the Evelina Gwynne, Joseph Eaton and year gave SGS the highest possible Headmaster regional heats of the national ‘English Kate Horsley presented an amusing rating of ‘Excellent’. Speaking Union Churchill Public and engaging take on the need to Speaking’ competition. mask disgust in social situations. The Third Year team of Grace Ensor- The pupils were superb throughout the PLAY CAPTIVATES AUDIENCES Adams, Alex Bloor and Scarlett Sim event and the teachers commented fluently and convincingly presented that it was a pleasure to see their Audiences enjoyed four amazing Wilson were in charge of lighting and their argument that human rights speaking and thinking skills develop performances of ‘Bethides’, a new sound; Ella Cook and Mrs Zoe Vernon are illusory. The Fourth Year team of significantly over the last few weeks. version of William Shakespeare’s created the costumes; Caroline Jenks ‘Macbeth’ created by the Classics, and Mrs Helen Lawson looked after the English and Drama departments. make-up and the set was designed by Mr Dan Farrell. ‘Bethides’, the school’s fourteenth AN EVENING OF MUSICAL DELIGHT Classics Play, takes the dramatic intent Directors for the play were Mrs Esther Pupils from First Year to Sixth Form Another indication that Chamber Music The Guitar Group gave their first of Shakespeare’s play and incorporates Suttle and Mr Alastair Thorley and earned rapturous applause from their continues to thrive at SGS is the addition performance of the year with a rendition the power of the original into the they also adapted the script alongside Spring Term concert audience with of Cello Choir – a group of six cellos of ‘There She Goes’ by The La’s. performances that were full of joy ranging from First Year to Lower Sixth established structure of a Greek tragedy. student Zoe Shah. Now in their second year, The and talent. – and they made a fantastic sound The play saw Nikolai Krywonos take on Mr Thorley said: “Bethides was the Mayhemiolas comprising of Caitlin Cutts, performing arrangements of the the role of Bethides; Katie Collier was successful culmination of the efforts Junior Band opened the show with Sarah Callow and Zoe Shah continue to ‘First Movement of Bach’s 3rd Lady Bethides; Oliver Ensor-Adams of many staff and pupils. Dramatic ‘Dr Rock’. Whilst the newly formed perform in a range of styles. Brandenburg Concerto’. barbershop trio The Be Sharps – was Duncan; Banquo was played by costumes were created for the The evening was brought to a close Rowan Sutton and Callum Barton was Chorus in particular and the cast consisting of Nikolai Krywonos, Teddy This concert provided the ideal by Big Band, who were on fine the Messenger. were provided with a memorable Hotchkies and Matthew Howling opportunity for some of SGS’s younger form performing stylish versions of set and atmospheric lighting. performed ‘Baby on Board’ and a groups to perform and the newly Behind the scenes, students Chloe Dixieland favourite ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ fantastic arrangement of Beatles classics. combined Vox II performed popular Almond, Evelina Gwynne, Sophie Pickup, “All of this served to inspire and ‘Cool’ from West Side Story classics including ‘What About Us’. Eloise Scott, Oliver Thorley and Ben committed and engaged which showed off their rhythmic performances every night.” playing superbly. 2 www.stockportgrammar.co.uk Follow us on twitter @stockportgs 3 SCHOOL LIFE SCHOOL LIFE URBAN DESIGN WINS NATIONAL EXCITING THIRD YEARS THRILLED BY YOUNG PLANNER AWARD ENTERPRISE AUTHOR VISIT Fourth Year Bella Platt scooped up Speaking about her success, Bella said: Upcycled, SGS’s Young Enterprise team, Third Year imaginations were the Young Planner Award at the Royal “I was ecstatic when I found out had the opportunity to present their captured as they listened Institute of Town Planning’s Awards for that I had won. For the competition business idea to a panel of business intently to author M A Bennett Planning Excellence. I wrote an essay and drew up people at Price Waterhouse Coopers. some blueprints and sketches who delivered an engaging talk Bella won both the ‘Best Report/Concept’ so it covered a number of subjects. They impressed the judges with their in the Hallam Hall. and ‘Most Sustainable Project’ awards upcycled business which produces During her talk she announced for the 11-15 category of the nationwide “I created a project that I would decorative items made from disposed that her book S.T.A.G.S has competition. want to live in myself and was of CDs and DVDs in order to reduce keen to make it as eco-friendly been picked up by 21st Century The awards recognise best practice e-waste within the community. and sustainable as I could.” Fox to be adapted for the screen by highlighting exceptional examples Most recently, the team progressed and that The Hunger Games of planning and celebrating the Dr K Owen added: through to the Stockport and Tameside screenwriter Peter Craig was contribution that planners and planning “Bella produced a fantastic Showcase Event and on to the Greater on board. make to society. report for the competition. Manchester County Final for the fifth It outlined a forward- The Manchester-born novelist, The competition tasked entrants to plan year in a row. thinking sustainable whose books include The Island, the future sustainable development of concept that addressed The team’s world map CD mosaics engrossed the audience as she a local urban area and Bella based her issues such as community certainly won over the judges and, in talked about her school and project on an area of Salford. cohesion, sustainable doing so, the team also picked up the university life, her career to date Bella, who started the process of transport and food award for best customer service. and her books. planning and application in October, production.” PUPILS DELIVERwas coached PETITION by GeographyTO DOWNING teacher STREET The talk was the first author Dr Kirsten Owen.