The news magazine of Titus Salt School Pinch VOL 14 Summer 2015 of Salt

Focus on our high achievers together resilient ambitious caring Pinch The news magazine of Titus Salt School of Salt A*for attainment

Excellence in English Year 11 student David Dobson is an exemplary student who has gone out of his way to succeed in English. and values He approaches each piece of work with focus and commitment and has seen his grades improve as a Our vision result. He has demonstrated that he is a skilled reader, writer and orator, and he truly deserves great grades in A school that always the summer. puts students first Sasha Hill Mastery of Mathematics and so we planned a school training day to focus Jamie Dalby in Year 7 has an outstanding attitude Welcome to another packed edition of Pinch of Salt. on exactly that. to his Mathematical studies, and is always the first Once again our students continue to make Following a presentation by all members of the student to complete a task. He regularly does me proud and overwhelm me with their skills, senior leadership team, staff and members of the extension material during lesson time and shows a enthusiasm, drive and commitment – qualities that Governing Body were engaged in discussions about desire to deepen his knowledge. His recent work make our school a special place. My thanks also what they value. As a result, we felt the vision for on converting fractions, decimals and percentages go to our staff who share in the school’s vision and the school could be summed up as ‘We will be a showed a thorough understanding of how numbers ensure our values are at the forefront of what we learning community that always puts students at the behave and can be written in different forms. do every day. heart of everything we do’. This is based on what In the spring of 2014, I was approached by two Lynsey Jones have become our four key values: together, resilient, members of staff who wished to talk about the ambitious and caring. development of the school’s vision and values, This edition of Pinch of Salt (as with previous which had clearly undergone change since my editions) embodies each of our key values and shows appointment as Headteacher in September 2012. I that students are at the heart of everything we do. agreed that as a learning school it is important we Ian Morrel, Headteacher look carefully at ‘what we believe we stand for’,

Core values: Headteacher Ian Morrel with Joshuan Welch, Annalise Dobson, Putawan Palee and Shakira Najib, Year 7. NEET solution Our school continues to work closely with Progress Prospects careers service, universities, colleges and local employers to ensure every student who leaves at the end of their studies report progresses into Further Education or employment Charlotte Leadbeater is a model student who has an excellent attitude with training. In other towards her learning. She is a ray of sunshine when she enters the words, they are not a classroom and tries exceedingly hard during every English lesson. young person who is ‘Not in Through her hard work and dedication, Charlotte has progressed by nine Education, Employment or GCSE steps since starting in Year 7. Training’ (NEET). We are proud that, Maisie Bloor is a conscientious student, who never fails to bring a once again, every Year positive and highly motivated attitude to Mathematics lessons. She has worked consistently hard, taking every lesson seriously, and is 11 student has gone to Sixth Form, college or always happy to ask for help. Joe Canter-Myers is making outstanding progress in Science and work-based training. has made 12 GCSE steps since he joined TSS. Joe has increased in Simon Hawkins confidence and is often the only one able to answer more challenging questions. Joe has chosen Triple Science as one of his options next year, showing his enthusiasm and commitment to this subject. Well done to these students, who typify many across our school who are achieving. Georgina Vickery, Sara Anderson and Nicki Barrow Star students: Maisie Bloor, Year 10, Charlotte Leadbeater, Year 8, and Joe 2 Canter-Myers, Year 9. 3 Pinch The news magazine of Titus Salt School of Engineering the future Salt Emily said: “I entered the competition Year 11 student Emily Nar has as something fun to do! I honestly don’t won Talent 2030, a national know why more girls don’t get involved engineering competition for girls, Engineering at the University of Sheffield. with Engineering or Science: it’s such An elite education thanks to her innovative design for a More than one third of students in Year 13 are Leader of Post-16, Fiona Lockerbie, said: “All a fun way to make a really good living pop-up isolation unit which could be planning to study at the prestigious Russell of our students receive advice and support to and it’s the most important work going used in the fight against Ebola or Group universities. Among these are Safwaan help them take the next step in their education. on in the world right now!” other airborne diseases. Safwaan, Tom and Chris are exemplary students, Deputy Headteacher Simon Hawkins Bhaiyat, Tom Roper and Chris Unsworth, who all The competition brief was to develop achieved grade As in all of their AS subjects. achieving fantastic grades through their said: “Science, Technology, Engineering a model to help tackle a 21st-century The Russell Group universities have a shared hard work and effort both inside and outside and Maths (STEM) is strong at Titus issue, with entrants submitting designs focus on research and a reputation for academic of school. I look forward to following their Salt School, and we are delighted and for their respective age categories. progression in education and their careers in the proud of Emily’s achievements.” achievement. They are renowned for their Emily won £500 and a £500 outstanding teaching and learning experience years to come.” Emily has also been shortlisted contribution towards the school’s STEM and unrivalled links with businesses and the On A Level results day in 2014, 95% of from nearly 1,600 applicants for the facilities. She also won the opportunity public sector. students got into their first or second choice of prestigious Arkwright Engineering to be mentored by a professional Safwaan is on track to read Mathematics university. This year, we hope to achieve an even Scholarship. With some of the best engineer and a visit to the Rolls-Royce at St John’s, Durham University. Tom has the higher percentage. GCSE results and the highest rates of Fiona Lockerbie factory in Derby. She will also have the University of Nottingham in his sights, to read Post-16 uptake in STEM subjects, it’s no chance to showcase her invention at Mathematics, and Chris aims to read Mechanical wonder that students are continually The Big Bang, a national fair for young making the headlines. scientists and engineers in Birmingham. James Reid Top marksachievement for Titus Salt School is a dynamic and inclusive school, Our Pinch of Salt magazine showcases some yet among all of this diversity there are some typical examples of students excelling, making common themes: staff and students work hard and strong progress and developing their skills, collaboratively to achieve at the highest level. qualities and talents. Chemistry camp Four Year 10 GCSE Chemistry students Thomas flies high have beaten off stiff competition to Thomas Wilson left decisions that have a direct impact on take part in a prestigious, three-day TSS in 2009 with the profit of the company as well as the Chemistry placement at selected Russell A Levels in Maths, thousands of passengers who fly on these Group universities. Further Maths, aircraft every day. The Salter’s Institute camp programme Chemistry and “I had some fantastic teachers at TSS over will enable Olivia Ryan and Emily Brown Physics, and an AS the years, and Years 12 and 13 were two of to join the University of Cambridge, in History. He then the most enjoyable years of my life. If I could and Holly Buchan and Devon Rhodes went on to do an give one piece of advice to current students, to attend the University of Manchester, MSci Joint Honours it’s that extra-curricular activities build up for intensive tuition in a university degree in Chemistry and experiences, which help to make you stand Chemistry department. Physics at Durham University. out when you look for a job. The aim of the camps is to enable young Thomas is now a graduate Engineer at “There’s more to building a successful people to realise that Chemistry can Rolls-Royce plc, and is currently working career than just exam results. I took be fun, and to help motivate them into as a Service Engineer supporting the Trent up rowing while I was at TSS, and the developing a long-term interest in the 900 engine, which powers the Airbus A380 experience and structure it gave me have subject and its applications in modern life. jet airliner. Thomas explains: “My daily role contributed to my success both at school The Salter’s Institute is world-renowned involves working with a team of people all and in securing the job I am in now.” and as such, demand was high from over the world and making engineering schools nationwide to attend. Well done to Mariska Peers 4 our Year 10 chemists. 5 James Skidmore Pinch The news magazine of Titus Salt School of Salt Enhanced skills in English A novel approach to reading Iceland’s natural wonders A total of 43 GCSE and around the crater of a mini-volcano. World Book Day is always a high point and this year was no exception, with a A Level students went to Iceland They also took a dip in the whole week of events designed to engage students and staff in our reading in October. Students studied the famous Blue Lagoon, a vast, culture. country’s amazing natural wonders, naturally heated pool. For those Our new school Literacy Leaders helped to present World Book Day including The Great Geysir, which with any energy left, Mr Trusselle assemblies, with our Patron of Reading Emma Pass putting in a special spouts boiling hot water 20 metres indulged a hardy few with daily appearance. Emma went on to host (as the Empress Pass) a dystopian-world into the air every seven minutes. 7am, extra-curricular, sub-zero event, ‘Poetopia’ for Year 7 students. They also looked at the place temperature runs along the Three competitions were also launched during the week: match the teacher where two of the Earth’s tectonic seafront of Reykjavik! to their book ‘shelfie’, our annual writing competition and an opportunity for plates meet at the mid-Atlantic Alistair McDonald students to design a storyteller’s chair. ridge, a black sand beach, several In the spirit of the theme for the week, ‘Reading Together, Reading Aloud’, Going waterfalls, a glacier, and walked members of staff contributed excerpts from their favourite books, which were underground: uploaded to the LRC YouTube channel. Afrah Hussain. Book ‘shelfie’: Teachers dress to impress. Chrissie Hunter ‘Wicked’ performance Learning The Shakespeare Schools Festival is the UK’s biggest see ‘Something wicked this way comes’. youth drama event, offering students the opportunity to The students’ enjoyment and commitment to the outdoors perform Shakespeare on their local professional stage. project was outstanding, with the festival co-ordinator Thirty Titus Salt School students from Years 8 to praising them for their professionalism, unique staging Our new Outdoor Residential to Bewerley Park 11 rose to the challenge, researching the plot and ideas and excellent storytelling. was launched this year, with a great team of staff taking students from Years 8 and 9 in just two characters of Macbeth, interpreting and rehearsing Cheryl Gaukroger Shakespeare’s language, while promoting their months. abridged version of the play. A sell-out audience was The students had the opportunity to try a variety in attendance at The Alhambra Theatre in November to of new activities, such as caving, rock climbing, canoeing and gorge walking, allowing them to grow in confidence and develop their teamwork and leadership skills. Behind the scenes One-to-one support Fern Godfrey In support of their A Level English and GCSE Drama We are determined that all our students reach their full potential, and being studies, students visited the West Yorkshire Playhouse a confident reader is top of that list. to watch Arthur Miller’s timeless classic, The Crucible. Since September, Year 7 students who need support to improve their Prior to the performance, students took part in an reading skills have been reading one-to-one with a member of staff during Emotional journey interactive session with the actors. This gave them their literacy lessons. Among the volunteers is Headteacher Ian Morrel, who On a recent trip to Krakow in Poland, RE students from the opportunity to ask questions, discuss set design said: “The students have really benefitted, with most already improving their Key Stages 4 and 5 also paid an emotional visit to the and context with the director, and experiment with reading fluency. Thank you to all of the staff involved and well done to the directing a scene. former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The students who are working hard to improve their reading.” th “The performance inspired me to include a scene in 70 anniversary year of the camp’s liberation by Soviet Confident readers: Alistair Stewart with Anwen Rooks forces made the visit particularly poignant. my own practical Controlled Assessment,” said Arian student Liam Fawcett, Year 7. Bradley of Year 10. Students have also been invited to The students also toured the former Jewish see Miller’s A View from the Bridge to deepen their district of Kazimierz, which was featured in the film understanding of his work. Schindler’s List, the museum in Oskar Schindler’s former factory, and the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Cheryl Gaukroger Richard Roebuck Horror stories You could have been forgiven for looking over your Portfolio of work shoulder as you walked around the English faculty this During December, the Art department term. What was that shadow? Who was that mysterious took Year 10 GSCE Art students to The hooded figure. Has anyone seen our teacher? Hepworth Wakefield. It could only mean one thing… Year 7 students have The students completed research and been creating chilling horror stories, then, equipped drawings, which will form part of their GCSE with flip-cams, gothic costumes and ghoulish props portfolio, based on Barbara Hepworth’s work. they turned their tales of terror into fearsome films. In addition, they took part in a collagraphy The results are not for the faint-hearted, but they workshop with printmaker Laura Slater. showcase brilliantly the imaginative storytelling of our Jen Dewhirst Year 7s. Richard Scott 6 7 The news magazine of Titus Salt School Pinch of sport Salt Sports roundup

Handball’s big hitters Following the London Olympics in 2012, James Russell set up a handball club, which became an immediate hit with students. As a result, James Hallett in Year 10 and Josh Capper in Year 9 are now members of the Leeds Handball Club. Who knows? We might see them at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Howzat! Bronze Award: Charlotte with Commonwealth gold medallist Zoe Smith. Year 7 students Will Kelly and Matthew Swallow have been selected by Bradford Schools Cricket An enthusiastic participant! Association to represent Bradford Schools against Charlotte Gilligan in Year 10 collected her Bronze Award in the Sport England Satellite other cities in the north. Club Participant of the Year ceremony, held at the House of Commons. Sport England’s No 1 in the UK new initiative, Satellite Clubs, aims to get more young people active by 2017. Rhea Southcott is celebrating after taking Charlotte was nominated for her hard work and determination in girls’ rugby at gold at the England Athletics Championship

Baildon RUFC. There were 150,000 Satellite Clubs taking part this year, and for in March. She is now ranked the UK’s Charlotte to be awarded Bronze was an amazing achievement. No 1 U15 girls’ pentathlete. The 13-year-old also Mariska Peers succeeded in smashing some of the U15 records held by Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katarina Johnson- Thompson. Best in the county Marathon challenge The U16 netball squad are not only excellent players, they are also role models for our Teachers Rebecca Miller and Sally Crookes are running their first marathon, in London, younger students. this April. Rebecca is running for Vasculitis UK, in memory of a good friend who died This was highlighted by their success in the last year. Sally is running for Sports Aid, to celebrate being fit and healthy again. Both English Schools Netball tournament in December. are excited and nervous about the challenge ahead, and would appreciate your support. The girls made it through to the West Yorkshire Their donation sites are: round, where they played schools from across the www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Miller10/ county to come a respectable eighth. www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/baildonsal Mariska Peers

New pastures: Dan in Andalucia. Flying the flag for Yorkshire Year 10 student Dan Clarke-Coates discovered golf through his grandparents and started playing at the tender age of eight. Now 14, he was entered into the qualification round for the Andalucia Junior European Open in Spain by his home club, Otley. Dan qualified with flying colours and was among the largest ever entry for the Finals and Champions Week last December. The course was tough, and Dan came a respectable 50th out of 90 competitors. He remains Yorkshire’s number two player in his age category. Mariska Peers Rugby trials Year 9 students Oliver Murphy and Josh Brockhouse were nominated by Baildon Rugby Club for the England Regional Development Player Programme trials. These were held during February half-term to identify county players who would like to attend a skills/games-play development session, and who may be suitable to join England Rugby’s Developing Player Programme. The boys were joined by other promising U14s from across Yorkshire. Oliver said: “It would be great to get through to the next stage but, whatever the outcome, I really enjoyed the session and learnt loads.” Nathaniel Kerray Awaiting feedback: Josh Brockhouse and Oliver Murphy. Pinch of Salt is produced by Words&Pictures. Tel: 01943 854800 Tel: of Salt is produced by Words&Pictures. Pinch

Titus Salt School, Higher Coach Road, Baildon BD17 5RH. Tel: 01274 258969. Fax: 01274 258970. Email: [email protected] Website: www.titussaltschool.co.uk