WEATHER REPORT Weatherhead Alumni
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Weatherhead High School WEATHER REPORT A high performing academy providing excellence for all Spring 2013 Peter Pan Dazzles Audiences staggering £2,500 was raised from students and local families who came to the sell-out school performance of Peter Pan in support of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Peter Pan has special significance for Weatherhead. The play’s author, J.M. Barrie, was uncle to the school’s former Headteacher and his address to the school in 1924 mirrors the ethos within the school Ato this day “that every child should get an equal chance.” He also inspired the Alder Hey charity drive drawn from his legacy to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital through the sale of performance rights for Peter Pan. The show was a major success from every angle and we thank everyone who took part and supported us. For full details of the production and photo gallery turn to the back cover... Outstanding Times for Weatherhead “What you have is a school to be proud of,” said Peter Pan author, Sir James Barrie, in 1924 when he visited the school. Ofsted reiterated this in 2012 with the school’s ‘Outstanding in all Areas’ inspection report and recent Government figures also confirm that Weatherhead students of all abilities demonstrate progress levels significantly beyond national averages. Our GCSE success in English and Maths is amongst the highest in the country. Our high achieving students succeed at levels which are better than almost all schools locally and nationally, including selective schools. Our Sixth Form has been recognised in an analysis of 1,251 schools and colleges nationally which placed us in the top 20% for performance. So ‘excellence for all’ is a Weatherhead pledge we can all truly celebrate. Celebrating Success in School Headteacher’s Welcome “It has been an outstanding period for the school and one we are happy to share and celebrate with you in this Spring Edition of Weather Report. The Ofsted Report has been memorable but no more so than the regular achievements and commitment shown by our extremely talented and hardworking students and staff over this period and building towards this. It is important to acknowledge all we have achieved, but strive continually to build from here and progress even further to the benefit of the whole school. I hope Weather Report will provide an insight into what goes on at Weatherhead day to day, but I would always be happy to meet and share more information about the school to anyone who wishes to contact me.” Mr Dyment - Headteacher KEY STAGE Olympic Inspiration 3 iamh Kelly from Year 8 was awarded ‘Best in Grade’ in her class by her Taekwondo teacher. Niamh, who is a member of Wirral and Chester Taekwondo, is at junior level and has Nattained her white belt, yellow stripe, 9th kup. In order to progress from one belt to the next, students must demonstrate their learning, memorise techniques and answer questions. Niamh was also lucky enough to meet Olympian Jade Jones at the Wirral Taekwondo Academy in Bromborough last year and asked her to sign her belt! 19 year old Jade is the first British Taekwondo athlete to win Olympic Gold, which was made more memorable by winning at the London 2012 Olympics. Year 8 celebration assembly Celebration Assemblies All in a Florrie t the end of the Autumn term Year Leaders shared ear 8 dancers Charleigh Galer and Maddie Domigan were honoured successes and achievements with their year groups to perform in front of Prince Charles at the official opening of the in special celebration assemblies organised by Mrs restored Florence Institute (the Florrie) interactive learning and visitor AFraser. Students were awarded for 100% attendance, top IRIS Ycentre in Toxteth. The girls’ dance group, the Works Academy in Wallasey, rewards as well as Year Leader and Learning Mentor awards. were invited to dance for the opening ceremony in January and performed The girls were delighted with their gold certificates, high a mixture of street and ballet dance. Charleigh was dancing about a metre street vouchers and chocolate treats in recognition of their away from Prince Charles and said he looked happy and was enjoying achievements. Congratulations to all. Keep it up! the performance. The Prince’s visit (including the girls’ performance) was featured in the local news and on Granada Reports. ! Key Stage 3 Awards Evening will take place on Thursday 4th July 2 WEATHER REPORT Celebrating Success in School KEY STAGE A Seniors’ Moment to Remember 4 enior Awards Evening in October was a great evening of Student Senior Leadership Team at Senior Awards Evening celebration for students, parents and staff. The event recognised the achievements and talent of students in Years 10, 11 and 12 whoS have performed brilliantly inside and outside the classroom. Guest speaker, Mrs Carol Rogers, Executive Director for Education, Communities and Visitors at the National Museums, Liverpool, gave an inspirational and insightful talk about the benefits of working hard and aiming high. NVQ catering students provided refreshments and performances were given by the Jazz Band and Weatherhead Dance Company. Mrs Rogers was presented with a piece of A Level artwork as a gift and members of the Student Senior Leadership Team made speeches alongside Mr Dyment. Congratulations to all our prize winners! Staff and guests at Sports Awards Evening Music Students Make the Grade ead of Music, Mr Brown, is delighted that six of our musicians have achieved Music examination success. The girls’ dedicated Hattendance at weekly lessons, combined with hours of home practise and tutor support, ensured that the girls made the grade and were awarded their certificates by Trinity College, The London College of Music and The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Grace Blundell (Year 11) Grade 5 - Theory Emily Beresford (Year 11) Grade 1- Flute Sports Students Courtney Campbell (Year 11) Grade 3 - Voice Banusha Kugabalan (Year 10) Grade 2 - Violin Go the Distance Charley McGuiness (Year 9) Grade 2 - Voice Charlotte McCarthy (Year 9) Grade 3 - Clarinet ports Awards Evening took place in October and was an excellent opportunity to celebrate sporting success inside and outside of school. The evening kicked off with Sa bang - with a fantastic display from the Gymnastics Squad! Year 13 Sports Captains, Hannah Thurlow and Olivia Stowell-Smith, gave an interesting speech explaining their roles and how they Einsteins in the Making - support the PE department which was followed by a sporting achievement round up of 2012. Awards were presented to Who Would Have Figured? students by former Weatherhead student, Rebecca Blacklock, aths staff celebrated with twenty nine Year 10 who was our guest for the evening. Rebecca inspired us all to be students who sat their GCSE Maths a year early and the best we possibly can with an extremely motivating speech all achieved an A or A* grade. In recognition of their about her time as a Games Maker at the London 2012 Olympics. achievement, Mr Dyment and Miss Whelan arranged for them The gymnasts brought the evening to a close, impressing the M each to receive a chocolate treat. The girls worked extremely audience with their tumbling, somersaulting and acrobatics skills. hard to achieve their grades and now that they are in Year 11, The evening was a fantastic success - congratulations to all who are studying for their Level 2 in Further Maths which will help won an award! those who wish to go on to study A Level Maths. For all the latest news visit www.weatherhead.wirral.sch.uk 3 Celebrating Success in School KEY STAGE Students work with Coca Cola mentor 4 This Is It! ear 10 students Caitlin Ainscough, Natalie Bennett, Sophie Cameron, Charlie Hawksett, Toni Killen, Holly Lawton, Katie Marlow and Megan Shoeman entered the Real Business Challenge Y(RBC) under the watchful eye of Mr Phillips and made it through to the North West Final. The RBC is an exciting enterprise competition which challenges students to tackle a business task. This is an opportunity for students to develop enterprise skills that will give them a competitive edge in today’s job market. The competition was stiff and the girls deserve a huge amount of credit for qualifying. The Final, which took place in February at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, gave finalists the opportunity to work alongside Coca-Cola business mentors on a live project. The girls worked hard and produced costs, recorded a radio advert and presented their plans to raise awareness of the Special Olympics to a judging panel which included the Coca Cola UK Vice President and the Special Olympic UK Chief Executive. The girls did not go through to the finals in London but learnt a lot from the day working as a Marketing Team for Coca Cola. KEY STAGE Raising the Bar! 5 Young Physicist Award Winner ine Year 12 students were put through their paces in the regional heats of The Bar National Mock Trial Competition, which aims to offer young people an exciting and Ninnovative insight into the workings of the legal system. Now in its 22nd year it involves over 2,000 students, 300 barristers and ninety judges across the UK. Our students spent months preparing and were mentored by Gabrielle Wenham, a Barrister at Atlantic Chambers in Liverpool. Using carefully constructed witness statements they prepared the prosecution and defence of two criminal cases. The team put forward a competent case at the North West heats but on this occasion did not progress to the national final. The competition provided a Young Physicist of the fun and innovative way of exploring and understanding Year Award 2012 legal and human rights and ear 13 physicist, Lauren Arrowsmith, was nominated for enabled students to develop the Ogden Trust Young Physicist of the Year Award.