THE KINGS OF WESSEX SCHOOL A Church of England Foundation School

Specialist Technology College

Issue no. 76 You can also enjoy in colour on our website: The Kings’ Messenger www.kowessex.co.uk End of Autumn Half Term – December 2007

Dear Parents, I would invite parents to join us for a special charity concert to inaugurate our new grand piano with three

As the cold December weathers signals the approach of internationally-acclaimed musicians on Tuesday 8 Christmas, and the end of term, I am pleased to bring you January 2008. I thank our PTA who also support us at this Kings’ Messenger of the second half of the Autumn school events and provide extra funds for our subject Term and share with you some of the highlights here at teams.

The Kings of Wessex School. I very much enjoyed the Year 9 production of

As we remain focused on our students achieving their Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The best, I thank parents for attending this year’s annual students demonstrated a good understanding of the Target Setting Day on Tuesday 6 November 2007. I hope Bard’s dramatic personae in this modern interpretation. that parents found this invaluable dialogue to be equally At the time of writing, we are in the midst of our annual helpful in striving to keep students on track for the Charities Week, once again, plunging the school into fun remainder of the school year. and frivolity at break and lunchtimes. Every year I

marvel at our elected Senior Student Team who Following Year 11 Futures meetings between students successfully combine their organisation skills with a and my School Leadership Group earlier in October, on menu of decadent and daring activities – and allegedly Thursday 6 December 2007, those Year 11’s who have finding time for their studies as well! This year, we are applied to enter the Sixth Form next year enjoyed a raising money for the students’ three nominated special Taster Day when they wore non-uniform and charities: Make a Wish, Cancer Research and Community attended their chosen classes. This was a great success! Link Development. Well done to everyone for Some parents will be aware that Tom Midcalf in Year 11 participating in this unique aspect of our school and tragically and unexpectedly died in his sleep at the start thank you to parents for your support behind the scenes. of this half term. Tom’s loss has shocked us all within As we continue to improve our facilities at school, I am school. I was touched by the solidarity of Tom’s friends pleased to report that staff and students alike are who prepared a special tribute service held in St enjoying our newly refurbished Design and Technology Andrew’s Church, drawing on his favourite music and workrooms. Moreover, our new state-of-the-art Drama special readings. Tom will remain in our hearts: he was a Centre is also nearing completion ready for the January super student who excelled in all his subjects, but opening and we are greatly looking forward to this particularly in Art, Drama, Languages and sports. Our exciting addition to our school campus. thoughts are with Tom’s parents and sister this

Christmas. As in any organisation, the time must come to say

farewell to some staff; whilst at the same time we This half term has seen more trips - locally, nationally welcome new recruits. On this note, I would like to thank and internationally, all providing excellent educational Richard Walters, Subject Leader for Maths for nineteen opportunities for our students. After Wales, Prague, dedicated years at Kings. Normandy and Cologne, in January our Design and

Technology will be off to Disneyland Paris. We also say farewell to Preb. Victor Daley who retires as

Vicar of Cheddar after Christmas. Victor has served us In conjunction with the Citizenship Foundation, for the well as both Vicar and Governor at Kings and I would second year running at the end of November, Head of like to pay tribute to all the support he has given the Sixth Form Sally Bishop accompanied a group of students school and our young people over many years and to wish to Cardiff Crown Court to present both sides of their him a long and happy retirement. cases against other schools. In a real court, the students played the parts of prosecuting and defending barristers, It only remains for me to thank parents for all your support witnesses, court officials, which was overseen and judged this Autumn Term and to wish you and your by a judge. families a very Happy Christmas and every good wish for the New Year. Our community partners continue to work with us to the benefit of our young people. Mendip Rotary Club have Yours sincerely, been busy organising competitions and events, giving

freely of their expertise and time. This term, work is afoot for Young Enterprise, Youth Speaks, Young Musicians and our Year 10 chefs are cooking up the first round of CHRIS RICHARDSON the Rotary Young Chef competition. Headteacher

Our parent groups are also stalwarts. The MuKow’s I remind parents, school resumes for the Spring Term parents’ support group continues to lead fundraising to on Monday 7 January 2008 enhance our tradition for music-making here at Kings.

1 Autumn Term - Roll of Honour

Special Achievements:

Well done to the following students for gaining Special Achievements this term, we acknowledge their contribution to the life of our school in and beyond the classroom. Bronze (5 merits) Bethany Thorne 10KS Sinead Byrom 9FS Gold (25 merits) Dan Hutchison 9DR Hannah Thorne 10KS Emily Ingle 9FS Adam Green 9DR Chelsea Mortimer 9DR Thomas Broom 11FH Lewis Jones 9FS Joshua Highmore 9DR Abigail Renshaw 11FH Chris Kent 9FS Sharif Syed 9ER Ethan Taylor 9DR Samantha O’Neill 9FS Timothy Weeks 9ER Silver (15 merits) Joseph Rossiter 9FP Tom Ainsworth 9FP Matteo Veglia 9FS Bradley Hunt 9GC Giles Barrett 9DR Abigail Barrow 9GC Samuel Frankland 9FP James Bennett 9DR Samuel Poole 9GC Abigail Ham 9FP Lauren Hynds 9GC Scott Virgo 9GC Chloe Bunn 9DR Chloe Noon 9GC Harriet Lang 9FP Isobel Gardner 9DR Samuel Armstrong-Gambier Matthew Palmer 9GC 9SBA Melissa Balkham 9FS Lily Knowles 9DR Gavin Read 9GC Helen Bennett 9SBA Rebecca Day 9GC Troy Linklater 9DR Robert Brice 9SBA Milena Mottram 9SBA Jacob Douglas 9GC Kirsty McLaren 9DR Abbie Cattell 9SBA Mitchell Ware 9SBA Martha Emeney 9GC Robert Perry 9DR Emily Derrick 9SBA Nathan Worcester 9SBA Samuel Newton 9GC Jack Rowley-Nobel 9DR Victoria Hole 9SBA Freya Cumberlidge 9VP Alfie Palmer 9GC Jane Seymour 9DR Megan Jones 9SBA Liam Grant 9VP Jasmine Skyrme 9GC Tamsin Webb 9DR Sophie Langford 9SBA Jamie Long 9VP Sebastian Wildblood 9GC Benjamin Champion 9ER Abigail Marshall 9SBA Lauren Simon 9VP Michael Davis 9SBA Adam Clegg 9ER Jim Merryfield 9SBA Rebecca Bayliss 10JR Hannah Dunton 9SBA April Crowe 9ER Luke Hinson 9SBA Fern Mitton 9SBA Gregory Davies 9ER Stacie Potter 9SBA Haydon Poole 9SBA Amy Doyle 9ER *These names are correct at the Jessica Sims 9SBA Luke Redman 9SBA time of going to print Daniel Findlay 9ER Matthew Smith 9SBA Rochelle Kemp 9VP Kiri Fisher 9ER Catherine Attwood 10KS Sophie Woods 9SBA Thomas Gooding 9ER Jade-Louis Wright 9SBA Katie Attwood 10KS Joe Hodgetts 9ER Samuel Barnes 10KS Edward Ash 9VP Uraiwan Nanthachit 9ER Max Hope-Stone Bell 9VP Julia Burman 10KS George Penwarden 9ER Emilie Crossland 10KS Jenna-Marie Schroeder 9VP Adrianne Swingler 9ER Natalie Stevenson 9VP Mark Davies 10KS Charlotte Coggins 9FP Katie Hood 10KS Joshua Timmins 9VP Bradley Edrich 9FP Terry Wilcox 9VP George Kimmins 10KS Tom Fisher 9FP Lewis McConville 10KS Holly Burgess 10KS Elizabeth Nash 9FP William Morgan-Evans 10KS Alice Would 9FP

Enrichments Subjects: English Science Design Technology

Brent Stewart 10EHE Brad Edrich 9FP David Barrett 9FP Lizzie Leonard 9CRa Abigail Barrow 9GC Maths Dan Albone 10DP Helen Bennett 9SBA Methad Arshad 10DP James Soffe 10AD James Bennett 9DR Nick Bamber 10JR Brent Stewart 10EHE Amy Besley 9DR Alex Blake 10DP Eve Taschimowitz 10CED Katie Brock 9CRA Toby Brunsdon 10DP Maxwell Ash 12JWN Abigail Ham 9FP Hannah Close 10CED Katie Cooper 12SK Bradley Hunt 9GC Ollie Crandon 10EHE Thomas Day 12SP Chris Kent 9FS Jamie Fitzpatrick 10EHE Lucy Fenton 12IS Sam Kent 9FS Javier Gorodi 10CA Ruth Laing 12SR Samuel Newton 9GC James Hall 10AD Hannah Lucas 12IS Luke Palmer 9FP Eleanor Jones 10JR Steven Lukins 12SRH Jasmine Skyrme 9GC Chloe Kitching 10DP Elizabeth Rabbitts 12SRH Ethan Taylor 9DR Ben Lucas 10LD Gemma Rendall 12IS Scott Virgo 9GC Aisling O’Brien 10JR William Scott-Hartley 12SRH Ben Wall 9PT Chris Prouse 10CA Jonathan Talbot 12SK Mitchell Ware 9SBA Amy Richards 10EHE Brendon Ware 12SK David Frost 12SP Matt Salmon 10CA Yvette Taylor 12JWN James Soffe 10DP James Tyson 10EHE

School Colours are awarded at the end of each term for contribution to extra curricular activities:

Music Declan Stewart 12IS Hockey Equestrian Peter Stott 12JWN Lewis Aung 9FS Melissa Balkham 9FS Sinead Byrom 9FS Joanna Travis 12SR Zoe Aston 9JPF Jasmine Chadwick 9ER Ben Crompton 9DR Alex Babbington 13GR Megan N Jones 9TT Lauren Haines 9TT Ben DeIvey 9CRA Andrew Burland 13DDC Emma Reason 9VP Megan N Jones 9TT Isobel Gardner 9DR Eleanor Canham 13LT Olivia Yates 9PT Naomi Jones 9TT Lewis Jones 9FS Samuel Jones 13BR Rebecca Bayliss 10JR Sophie Luff 9FP Sophie Langford 9SBA Philip Lee 13BR Alex Armstrong 11AT Agatha Morris 9VP Kirsty McLaren 9DR Hannah McKenzie 13TR Beth Moxey 12SK Jenny Pearce 9JPF Amy Nicol 9PT Elizabeth Murray 13GR Maria Pinnington 12SK Emma Reason 9VP Alfie Palmer 9GC Stuart Ponsford 13TR Emma Weight 12SK Charlotte Scriven 9TT Robert Perry 9DR Clare Ratcliffe 13DDC Jennifer Scott 13GR Olivia Yates 9PT Mock Law Trial Daniel Albone 10DP Camilla Gibson 10CED Katie Attwood 10KS Ben Smithers 13TR Benita Boyce 12SP Emma Munt 10LD Rebecca Baker 10AD Luke Wilson 13BR Charlotte Chinn 13DDC Silas Wynne 13BR Gabriella Ash 11ALF Emma Barber 10JR Clowance Cotterill 12IS Nicola Atkin 11GL Tom Bridgwater 10SJ Liam Davies 12SP Katrina Douglas 11DPW Simone Bygrave 10LD Drama Jackson Gleeson 12SP Lorrie Hancock 11CBE Victoria Chir 10EHE Hannah Gooding 12SO Gemma Allwood 9SBA Alexis Kidby 11AT Nadine Close 10JR David Haining 13TR Jonathan Barrett 9CRA Madeleine Stewart 11SS Harriet Gittings 10SJ Pippa Hambling 12SR Jessica Benjamin 9TT Hannah Bates 12CWH Tom Haggerty 10LD Elizabeth Murray 13GR Rachel Bewick 9VP Holly Tyson 12CWH Emma Hanlon 10CA Darren Brooks 9JPF Maria Pinnington 12SK Rosie Hodgson 10KS Emma Butlin 9FS Rugby Thomas Puddy 13DDC Katie Hood 10KS Abbie Cattell 9SBA David Searle 12IS Marianne Johns 10DP Sophie Caunt 9FS Arthur Balson 9FS Edward Kimmins-Tonkin 10JR Benjamin Champion 9ER James Bennett 9DR School Librarian Philip Martin 10JR Adam Clegg 9ER Harry Evans 9VP Henry Farmer 9CRA Samuel Kent 9FS Joseph Perry 10KS Freya Cumberlidge 9VP Eleanor Rowntree 10EHE Ben De Ivey 9CRA Daniel Findlay 9ER Arne Scott 10AD Emily Derrick 9SBA Bradley Hunt 9GC Environmentalist Lewis Jones 9FS Hannah Shaw 10CA Russell Eccleston 9ER Robert Hann 9PT George Shelley 10SJ Kiri Fisher 9ER James Knight 9PT Jim Merryfield 9SBA Ben Wall 9PT James Soffe 10AD Mollie Hatton 9GC Alfie Palmer 9GC Anna Spanring 10AD Max Hope-Stone Bell 9VP Kings and Queens Brent Stewart 10EHE Emily Ingle 9FS Henry Paul 9FS Serena Syed 10CED Lewis Jones 9CRA Lewis Podpadec 9VP News Team

John Trower 10CED Ashley Kelsen 9TT Richard Priddice 9FP Daniel Robinson 9PT Paige Beesley 9PT James Tyson 10EHE Lily Knowles 9DR Andy Burland 13DDC Harley Williams 10JR Emily Kouidri 9JPF Lawrence Plumley 10SJ Alex Babbington 13GR Ollie Crandon 10CA Hannah Wilson 10TP Lucy Laken 9TT Laura Cussons 10CA Nicola Atkin 11GL John Male 9GC Harry Briffitt 13BR Oscar Sheridan 13LT Jo Frost 11ML: Ross Babbington 11ML Kirsty McLaren 9DR Danielle Lodge 9PT Calum Dickinson 11ALF Laurie Wallis 13LT Agatha Morris 9VP Alice Edwards 11ALF

Flora Emeney 11NR Elizabeth Nash 9FP Hannah Lane 11ML Bernard Francis 11FH Abbie Nicholson 9TT Sailing John Male 9GC Jacob Gaudoin 11NR Becky Penhall 9GC Thomas Bridgwater 10SJ William Morgan-Evans 10KS Rachel Harding 11DPW Emma Reason 9VP Philip Bristow 10AD Heather Paterson 13DDC Jack Humphrey 11NR Leonie Rickards 9TT Jamie Fitzpatrick 10EHE James Soffe 10AD Benjamin Jacobs 11DPW Jessica Searle 9TT Peter Hawkings 10CED Yvette Taylor 12JWN Hannah Lane 11ML Jasmine Skyrne 9GC Philip Martin 10JR Abigail Laurie 11AT Natalie Stevenson 9VP Matthew Martin 11AT Sophie Miell 11CBE Charlotte Taylor 9TT Alex Parnell 11DPW Clare Tidswell 9ER

Priyanka Singhal 11NR Bethan Wall 9CRA

Benjamin Virgo 11FH Tamsin Webb 9DR Congratulations to all Fraser Wall 11CBE Laura Wiegold 9GC Hannah Bates 12CWH Olivia Yates 9PT our students on their Liam Davies 12SP achievements!

Lucy Fenton 12IS

Eleanor Gall 12CWH Jackson Gleeson 12SP Elizabeth Rabbitts 12SRH William Scott-Hartley 12SRH

Subject Awards are awarded at the end of each term in recognition of students’ achievements in their academic subjects:

Subject Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 Year 13 English Emily Ingle James Soffe Aiden Hoyle Lily Fry (MS) Aimee Brogden (MS) Lang - Language Nicola Sentance (Lang) Rebecca Cooper (Lang) Lit – Literature Samantha Belch (Lit) Kimberley Broom (Lit) MS – Media Studies

Maths Emily Ingle James Soffe Hesham Afifi Ruth Laing Bethany Morgan Technology Isobel Gardner Bethany Bloodworth Emma Hann (CD) Lily Fry (F) Victoria Bradley (F) CD - Child Development (CD) Camilla Allen (F) Hannah Lucas (G) Sarah Ball (G) F – Food Hannah McGowan (F) Helen Cameron (G) Edward Robinson (RM) Michael Taylor (RM) G - Graphics Lucy Cornish (Product Design) Stuart Cooke (RM) RM – Resistant Materials

ICT Sam Kent Laura Nesbitt Michael Turner Gemma Rendall Robert Baker Biology Jack Rowley-Noble Daisy Robinson-Rattle Priyanka Singhal Helen Wanstall Heather Paterson

Chemistry George Penwarden Rosie Hodgson Priyanka Singhal Helen Wanstall Harry Briffitt

Physics Christie Zanelli James Soffe Benjamin Jacobs Ruth Laing Fraser McQueen

Psychology - - Elaine Biddle Emily Ralph Business Studies - Hannah McGowan Jordan Hatton Joshua Hole Hannah Gilling Geography Samara Masny Eleanor Rowntree Joshua Day Emma Kent Hannah Nicol History Adam Green Jamie Moore Alister Petheram Joshua Hole Lloyd Berry R.E. Laura Weigold Rhian Black Joshua Day Lucy Fenton Hannah Nicol

Languages Olivia Yates (F) Eve Taschimowitz (F) Joanne Howe (F) Nicola Sentance (F) Eleanor Canham (F) F - French Kirsty McLaren (G) James Soffe (G) Kathryn Willcox (G) Oliver Sheppard (G) Peter Coates (G) G – German Art Nathaniel Gall Claire Willcox William Barber Maxwell Ash Matthew Lewis Textiles Vanessa Kelk Candice Barrett Photography Daniel Hughes Matthew Warder Drama Natasha Flinders Carla Gordon Shaun Smith William Waelchli Matthew Scholes

Music Matthew Palmer Rosie Hodgson Rachel Harding Eleanor Gall Silas Wynne

P.E. Samara Masny Eve Taschimowitz Ross Babbington Hannah Bates Anna-Louise Rogers

PSHE Troy Linklater Mehtab Arshad Megan Ryan - -

Learning Support Jessica Ford Ashle Bennett Zach Stitch - -

MuKOW’s out to grass…? The Kings of Wessex

Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Over two years ago we formed “MuKow” - the parent support group for music with the aim of improving equipment and facilities for our students. About 50 The PTA has enjoyed a parents came along to those early meetings and a hard very good start to the core of parents have continued to work tirelessly to meet new school year. this aim by raising about £15,000, enabling us to buy a new grand piano and a host of other equipment including Our Annual General drum kits, amplifiers and recording equipment. Meeting in October This central team are coming to the end of their support was very well attended work as their sons and daughters prepare to leave the and we have had an Sixth Form. Last summer, I wrote to all parents of new excellent response to our Year 9 students who play a musical instrument or who request for enrichment fund contributions, sent sing, and all of the 90 or so students who have opted to out at the beginning of term. take GCSE music stressing to need for new blood in the team, but as yet, this has met with little response. Thank you very much for supporting us!

I am therefore appealing again to With an additional £350 reclaimed from tax paid on parents of those students for whom gift-aided donations we have been able to fund projects music is an important part of their totalling £1,350 for the English, Art and P.E. lives to join us for a celebration of Departments. This new equipment will soon be what MuKow has achieved so far and benefiting all our children. a consideration of whether the work can continue or whether we have If anyone hasn’t yet got round to making a contribution reached the end of the road. for this year it’s not too late!

All parents are invited to: Please send in a cheque, payable to The Kings of The Riverside Inn, Cheddar Gorge for Wessex PTA, to the Main School Office with the drinks followed by a meal (optional) on following form or with your child’s name and tutor Tuesday 22 January 2008 at 7.30pm group written on the back.

With thanks, Lucy Rowntree, Secretary, PTA.

If you are interested in joining us, do telephone the Main ………………………………………………………… School Office (phone: 01934 742608) and we will be in touch with you – thank you! To: The Kings of Wessex Parent Teacher Association

A Message from the School Council... I enclose a contribution of £10 per family towards the PTA Enrichment Fund As many of you are aware, in the Summer Term the

School Council was awarded £10,000 as part of the Name …………………………………..…………………………… Green Travel Plan Government initiative.

Address …………………………………..………………………… Part of our plan is to improve the cycle storage facilities in school – which we hope to, achieve by the Summer …………………………………..…………………………………… Term next year. We are also looking at improving the Telephone No ..…………………...... bus-park and one–way system to help ease congestion and improve safety at peak times. Name of Children ………………………………….………………………

The School Council are delighted that Sustrans Connect2 Year/Tutor group if known ……….……………………………………… have won the People’s 50 Million Lottery Giveaway to spend on a national network of walking and cycling Date ………………………………………………………………………….. routes. Thanks to all the students who voted – this was We can now claim back tax against donations, provided the School Council’s adopted choice to support in the you are a UK taxpayer. If you wish to Gift Aid your Lottery Giveaway as part of our Green Travel Plan. donation please complete details below ():

We are always happy to hear of I wish The Kings of Wessex School PTA to reclaim tax suggestions for improvements in and under the Gift Aid Scheme on all donations I make around school so let one of your student from the date shown below.

reps know! I am a UK taxpayer and note that I must have paid an amount of tax that at least equals the tax deducted Thanks! Mike Turner from this donation. 5

January 2008 AS and A2 Exam Leave Arrangements

Important! There will be no prolonged exam leave as granted for the Summer Exams. However, the following arrangements are acceptable:

(a) If you are sitting an AS unit in an afternoon session, you will be permitted to study at home during the morning to prepare for the exam. Please note this is only for the morning of the day of the exam. If your exam is in the morning you should attend afternoon lessons.

(b) If you are studying an A2 unit you will be allowed to have one school day at home in advance of the exam. However, this rule does not apply if your A2 unit is on a Monday.

In summary: A2 Unit Study Leave Day PA04 Physics No study leave BUS4 Business Studies No study leave 2547 Psychology Monday 21 January 6524 History Monday 21 January 2734 Media Studies Monday 21 January 2849 Chemistry Monday 21 January

CPT4 Computing Tuesday 22 January 2804 Biology Tuesday 29 January

We have decided not to extend exam leave beyond the above because the time available for teaching the A2 course is already tight. You will benefit therefore from attending the lessons that will take place during this time.

Exam leave is optional and does not have to be taken if you think it will be detrimental to miss lessons in other subjects, or if the lesson you have is one in which you are sitting a unit.

Please note that the exam timetable has been circulated to all staff so they will be aware of who will be permitted to take time off as indicated in (a) and (b) above.

You are RESPONSIBLE for:

(1) Informing TUTORS – when and if you are taking exam leave (2) Informing SUBJECT STAFF – which lessons you will be absent from (3) Catching up any missed work!

The exam timetable is located outside the Exams Office, on the Sixth Form Notice Board and also on the Kings Internet. We wish you all every success in the exams: GOOD LUCK!

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Othello Trip Watching this play would be a really good asset to our Shakespeare work, as we had only been reading out “Good Morning!” Beamed of the scripts so far with Othello, so seeing it as a Miss Cottell to her excited performance we knew was going to be good. To see it students, as everybody performed would bring much more to the lifeless skipped merrily onto the words in our scripts come the next English lesson, so bus. Can you guess what we packed up our things, and headed back eagerly to was causing such high spirits on a Thursday morning the theatre. without looking at the title...? Dim lights hummed, packaging rustling, people Of course, today was the long awaited Othello moaning about seats, and the general buzz of the Theatre Trip! (What else?). Today the top two English theatre hung heavily in the air. Suddenly, a beam of sets of Year 10, who were currently studying the light cuts through the stage, all noise comes to an Shakespearean play, Othello, would be visiting the attention grabbing halt, and yes, the show has begun! Salisbury Playhouse to see a dramatised version of the Students sat ears pricked, picking out recognisable play. quotes from the scripts, following cautiously what was going on, and the plot slowly unravelled... The bus journey was slightly tiresome; however, entertainment was created through song for the girls, During the play it came to my attention that various games consoles for the boys, and for one boy in audience members were dropping off to sleep, and particular, humming along to Rule Britannia on his sad to say I myself eventually dropped off. The long IPod! speeches of the dastardly villain Iago proved too much for some, especially those finding it hard to Once at the follow the plot. I awoke to the loud applause of the theatre, tickets audience. were distributed, seats were found, “Oh no” I thought, “I haven’t slept through the whole and enough ice play have I?” Lucky for me I hadn’t, it was the interval, cream was and Act 2 was shortly to follow... I had been looking consumed to give forward to this, the part of the play with many overly brain freeze to a dramatic deaths (whoopee!) and where the plot mammoth. became much more juicier. I had anticipated right, everybody seemed to enjoy the second act much However, the play more than the first, and the applause was loud and would not be shown for a further two hours, as we strong at the end of the performance. were about to witness an hour’s worth of workshop. A large door opened dramatically from the wall and We all left the theatre with a much stronger various actors and actresses from the play strolled understanding of the play, and seeing the production casually to their seats, confident grins embedded in certainly brings images to your mind when reading their faces. the script during lessons, helping to envision the play, and grasping a better understanding of the characters We were also lucky to be joined by the upbeat motives. Director, Raz Shaw, who explained a little about their interpretation of the play, whilst the actors delved “Goodbye!” Beamed deep into the behaviour and feelings of their Miss Cottell to her characters. I think most of us benefitted in one way or exhausted students another during the workshop, be it getting a deeper as they trudged insight into the play, exploring further into slowly off the bus. As Shakespeare’s characters, or catching up on a little tiring a day as it was, sleep... I sit here in the knowledge that I and The play was due to start soon and the actors needed many others will do their personal time to run over lines, touch up that much better in the Shakespeare GCSE section on makeup, and prepare themselves mentally for the Othello because of the production we saw at show ahead... during which we scoffed our faces by Salisbury Playhouse. the lakeside. The ducks at which feasted on more bread from unwanted sandwiches than any across the Reviewed by Laura Cussons 10CA county. They’ll sleep well tonight. (Kings and Queens News Team) 9

Crowds of enthralled people gaped at the ODEON organised a The History Department with way too many billboards. lecture day in Bristol on Tuesday 27 November 2007. 25 Year 12 students accompanied by Miss Hearn and The premiere of Stardust was moments away and Mr Targett heard four lectures on different themes we were only five metres from Michelle Pfeiffer. connected with Nazi Germany: Was Hitler a weak Cameras flashed, the crowd went wild, paparazzi dictator? Was the holocaust planned from the outset? cornered the stars…who we couldn‟t see because How important was propaganda in Nazi Germany? the lights and cameras were too bright and What groups resisted the Nazis and how successful hundreds of people surged forward like an were they? enormous naval ship at sea.

The day was extremely useful given that all of these Still open-mouthed and desperate to catch a topics are on the AS History syllabus. glimpse of someone famous, we reluctantly went on our way. As night fell we crossed Tower Bridge, brilliantly lit, and gazed at the Tower of London. It Kip on a Ship Trip was time to delve into the history of the late 19th

What do war cruisers, Jack the Ripper and Michelle century and Jack the Ripper. The night was clear and cold. Pfeiffer have in common? There‟s no punch line, but they all featured in Year 11‟s „Kip on a Ship Trip‟.

40 students travelled to London to spend the night as sailors on the “largest surviving example of Britain‟s twentieth century naval power”: the HMS Belfast which is now a museum. The ship is permanently moored on the Thames and is situated between Tower Bridge and London Bridge.

First, we took a look at the Imperial War Museum, which is associated with the HMS Belfast. The two museums have many similarities and are both full of fascinating exhibits and sources.

It was creepy walking down darkened alleyways and courtyards where victims‟ bodies had been found. We imagined him in every doorway and the guide gave us the goriest details of the bodies, something you didn‟t want to hear after dinner.

As we went down a dark street, a car came hurtling towards us and we leapt back. It screeched round a corner and the wit of the group said, “You sure get your money‟s worth on this tour.”

With a final chilling word, the guide disappeared into the night and we went back to the ship. It was then down to the sleeping quarters where I had Once on HMS Belfast, we were given a presentation nightmares of Jack the Ripper boarding the ship, in a room that was once sleeping quarters for fetchingly dressed in Michelle Pfeiffer‟s cat suit. sailors. Various victims from the group put on sailors uniforms and were photographed over and Report and over again. Most comments were: “do I look as cool photos as I feel?” by Alice Edwards The tour was astonishing as we explored the nine 11ALF decks, marvelling at realist mannequins of sailors, (The Kings and admirals, officers, cooks, cats in bunks… Queens News Team) We left the ship‟s atmosphere of a world at war and walked through the modern, glitzy Leicester Square. 10

Château de la Baudonniere - du 8 octobre au 12 octobre 2007

“Vive La Normandie”, “Vive le rugby”, “Vive le shopping”...just three of the refrains that punctuated a very successful first trip by Language students and teachers to a château in Normandy this October.

We were blessed with beautiful autumn weather, blue skies and sunshine which made all the activities especially enjoyable. Our trip on the last day to a market in Avranches in the morning and the celebrated Mont St Michel in the evening was even punctuated by a picnic lunch on the beach..!

All activities throughout the stay were conducted entirely in French and led by a team of very enthusiastic and professional French “animateurs et animatrices”. Not only were students expected to follow instructions to make bread or solve a murder mystery puzzle, but all requests at table or on the climbing wall had to be made in the French language!

Initially the students were completely out of their depth - but it was amazing to see just how quickly they adjusted to and engaged in this total immersion in the target language. On the third day when a student suffered a bump to her head one of her friends rushed off to the kitchen and returned with an ice pack without any language assistance from Mme Davies or Mme Donovan…! Zut alors!

The third member of staff accompanying the group was Monsieur Osgood who was not only very nifty on the advanced climbing wall but is also, it transpires, rather a good French speaker. The students were, without exception, a credit to themselves, their parents and the school. Brittany Ferries staff on both the outward and return journey commented specifically to us about their courtesy and exemplary behaviour. Felicitations nos élèves!

Et alors, over to the students themselves now for a few words……..

Les activites sportives et la mode - sporting activities and fashion

The sports were good fun and a lot of French was learnt in the process. The best bit was watching England beat France at Rugby on the Saturday evening on a giant screen in the games room of the château. The stylish hats and classy watches were great souvenirs from the trip. This was a really enjoyable experience and my French improved dramatically. Well worth it! Tom Derrick 11DE Les meilleurs moments - the best moments

I think the best parts of the trip were when we went out to the market and ate “crêpes au chocolat”. Also when Harlie, Laura and I got lost during the orienteering activity and were then soaked with water by one of the instructors. Katie Eccles 11NR 11

Les dortoirs – the dormitories

The experience of staying in a French château really came to life when we discovered that the heating did not work in our dormitories.

However, we soon forgot about this when we realised that there were four bunk beds with space for eight people! Since there were only four to five people per room this meant we were each able to have whole bunk bed! Priyanka Singhal 11NR

La nourriture - the food

The food was really nice and traditional. Towards the end of the stay many of us tried snails but I am afraid to admit that I opted out...Sam Puddy 11GL

Le Marche - the market

This was an enjoyable day out for us all. There were a variety of different stalls and shops selling jewellery, scarves and food. We had an opportunity to socialise with our friends and enjoy a little time to ourselves after two full days of activities at the château. Harlie Newsome 11EC

L’orientation…

On the third day we did orienteering. This was set in the castle grounds. Our task using French clues was to find various numbers which had different styled punches attached. This was not easy as they were well hidden in the woodland. Our group only managed three out of ten in over an hour! It was good fun but challenging. Rachel Harding 11DPW

We are planning to repeat the study trip next autumn with a party of forty students.

A full set of photographs are available on the school website and there is a display in the foyer of the Languages Department.

Philip Allan Updates - A2 French Study Day Birmingham Thursday 22 November 2007

Mme Davies and Mrs Thomas accompanied our A2 French students to this excellent study day in Birmingham. The day was conducted entirely in French by two native speakers Richard et Regis whose inimitable style wit and energy ensured that none of the large audience of students and their teachers had a chance to nod off!

Topics covered were as diverse as the recent presidential elections in France, the debate on genetically modified foodstuffs, obesity and the popularity of “BD” or cartoon strip books with the young people of France. A number of the students picked up some extremely valuable nuggets of information for inclusion in their A2 coursework.

The interactive elements of the day were stronger than ever with gap fill exercises and audience participation. We all learnt the words and tune of a recent French hit single ”Ulysse” by the celebrated singer and songwriter Ridan. 12

There were several amazing entries in our Kings’ Art Christmas Card Competition… Well done everyone!

The winning design is by Abi Nicholson 9TT (9Q1)

And here are the

Abbie Marshall 9SBA Eleanor Gall 12CWH runners up:

View students’ work on the Saatchi

Gallery Website: We are currently setting up a Kings’ Art Gallery on the Megan Smith 13DDC Saatchi Gallery website with examples of students work.

www.Saatchi-gallery.co.uk/portfolio/school info/the+Kings+of+Wessex+Community+School/5247 90.html Any old hairdryers or irons We are currently collecting Art Work for in working order!! “The National Students’ Exhibition”.

Maximum size 1m x 800cm.

Entries to Mrs Downer by 28 March 2008. Congratulations to the Finalists of

the Rally Car Competition: The following students were finalists in The Wales Rally GB Art Car Competition. Hundreds of entries were received from across the UK, all of which were of an exceptionally high standard. The objective was to design the livery for the Wales Rally GB Art Car. Well done to: Jessica Banwell, Nat Gall, Kate Woodman, Lucy Midcalf, Uraiwan Nanthachit, George Penwarden, Adrianne Swingler, Darren Brooks, Jenny Pearce, Naomi Jones, Joe Hodgetts, Duncan Hall, Kate Wood, Jessica Benjamin and Sophie Ralph

Recent Trips:

Year 10, 12 and 13 visited the The Tate Modern in London. This was a very successful trip even in the rain!

Year 11 GCSE Textiles and Sixth Form Textiles and Photography dressed up for The Clothes Show, NEC, Birmingham

By Amy Downer, Subject Leader for Art

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PSHE/Citizenship News Drama Review Teaching in PSHE and Citizenship lessons this It’s all go this term in the term has been enhanced by the involvement in Drama Department. With lessons of outside agencies with whom we have rehearsals for two school close links. productions and two theatre Our Youth Strategy Officer P.C Tracey Stiles has visits already booked, it’s set to been into each teaching group in Year 11 to give be busy all the way to Christmas! them an insight into a graduate or Post-18 entry into the Police Force. On Thursday 6 and Friday 7 December we enjoyed performances of this year’s production by Year 9. The lively production of Romeo and Juliet was a modern interpretation of one the greatest love stories ever written. Directed by Anna Friend, the play looked at issues of division within teenage society, the production used music from Justin Timberlake, Hard-Fi and Massive Attack.

For the rest of the school, Simon Shorrock is still in rehearsal with The Resistable This year’s PSHE/Citizenship Year 10 classes are benefiting from a visit to each teaching group by Rise of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht to our School Nurse, Mrs Sue Tanner. Both the be performed at the end of January in teaching staff and the students are immensely the brand new Drama Centre! fortunate to have this opportunity to ask questions directly to an experienced health professional within the context of a small group. This term we have had two theatre visits, one to the QEH in Bristol to watch Meanwhile Year 9 will enjoy a theatre production ‘Who’s life is it Anyway?’ This trip in the last week of term entitled “Last Orders”. involved students from Years 10-13. For The play aims to alert teenagers to the perils of our new AS students, we organised a trip binge drinking and sits well in the context of the lessons concerning drugs and alcohol which are to The National Theatre, to see two currently being delivered to Year 9. plays ‘Citizenship & Chatroom’ - a contemporary look at life for the The Fairtrade Cafe in L3 on a Wednesday has re- modern teenager, raising issues with opened and we have an enthusiastic and reliable internet safety and modern peer group of student volunteers from across both Years 9 and 10. pressure. The PSHE/Citizenship team at Kings continues As we move into the new year, all to be involved with the National Trust at Drama groups can look forward to Tyntesfield and Somerset Racial Equality Commission(SREC) and Somerset Racial being taught in the fantastic new Drama Inclusion Project (SRIP). There is a suggestion Centre, combining modern design and that the project will be profiled in a national technology within our inspirational publication as an example of the sort of active grounds here at Kings. citizenship project in which the Government would like all Secondary schools to be involved.

By Anna Friend, Teacher of Drama By Mme Davies 14

Christian Leader Reflections Learning Resource Centre

I write this having just returned from St Nestle Box Tops Andrew’s Church where we held our ‘Advent Hope’ communion service… During the service, I would like to thank everyone who has been students lit candles on an Advent wreath whilst giving us the box tops tokens. We are again saying prayers for love, joy, hope and peace. collecting tokens for books this year, so keep The them coming in... more tokens we There is something extremely powerful about candlelight (and Christmas decorations too!) collect, the more free books we collect! especially at the darkest times of the year, the glow can transform…and in our own lives, our darkest moments can be transformed by a loving British Land UK Chess word or action. Challenge Look out for the UK Land Chess To remain hopeful and to live in hope when Challenge competition, which will be running in school after things seem hopeless can be incredibly Christmas. You could win up to £2,000... challenging, but somehow that can happen, and You can sign-up in the LRC. the Christmas story calls us to reflect on that great truth once again. LRC Opening Times If you need a bit more time to finish off your work, or print it out, This will then the LRC is open from 8.15am Tuesday to Friday mornings be my last ‘bit’ for you to use the computers and printers – or read the papers for ‘the Kings’ or a book. Messenger’ as I am moving on to ‘I love my school library because…’ was a another post. So, in competition organised by Resources for Learning, and students a sense a round-up had to complete the question. and dates of future

events is a bit We entered three students, and here is what they said... harder to produce. Unfortunately, none of them won the first prize, but all received

a certificate for their effort. The parents and carers prayer group will still meet, as Scott Virgo 9GC said I love my school library because… I like will the staff prayer group. I’m sure the Christian the librarian ladies, they always have a smile and it is a very Union will still meet in some form and my other useful resource and you can do your homework. groups and clubs will continue. We’ll continue to have great assembly speakers (several are Robert Perry 9DR said I love my school library because… our already booked up for the next term!), and do let library contains a great range of genres and subjects, and it is us know if you want to get involved in the easy to find out what you want to know. assembly programme.

I’ve really enjoyed my time working at Kings. It Maddison Ventour-Page 11ALF said I love my school library has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with because… I can learn from the many books in this library. Also such dedicated staff and students. It’s been great the friendly librarians give help when asked and always have a to develop links with the wider community too – smile on their faces, and they make the library a happy something that I’m sure will continue in the environment for happy children. future. New Librarian Assistant Wishing you God’s blessing in your hearts and on We give a warm welcome to Mrs your homes this Christmas and in the time Sharkey who has just started at ahead, Kings. She has already had a

number of our regular students come In Christ, Joanna and introduce themselves to her.

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the X@kow Mrs Sharkey is also interested in motor sport, and has already web pages for updates, or contact Deputy Head found students who share her interest. Barbara Marshall at school in the interim! Thank you for making her feel so welcome! By Bridget Knutson, LRC Manager 15

Kings and Queens Sports Scores

Boys’ Sport 1st XV Rugby: finally got their season started with a hard fought win over Chew Valley School. Kings enjoyed a lot of possession in the first half, but a strong defensive effort from Chew Valley made scoring difficult. It remained close in the second half, however, Kings took their chances and went on to win the game comfortably.

The second game against Millfield School, saw them record an excellent victory against the famous rugby school of 22-8. Filton College was a new fixture for the 1st XV against one of the up and coming rugby colleges in the South West. A strongly contested game saw Kings lose narrowly 12 – 0, but Mr Clarke was extremely pleased with the commitment and effort shown by his team. Hopefully this game will stand the 1st XV in good stead for their cup match against Gordano later this term.

Year 9 Rugby has recorded good wins over Crispin, Chew Valley and Sidcot Schools, but unfortunately, lost 8-5 to Wells Blue School in the first round of the Somerset County Cup. They put up a spirited display against Millfield, who were an extremely well-drilled side. Since that defeat they have bounced back from with a 60 point win over Mark College.

Year 10 Rugby have lost by one score to Chew Valley and Mark College, but have played some excellent running rugby this season. By far, their best performance came against Millfield School, where according to their coach they provided them with the biggest challenge of the season. Hopefully, they can take this into the 2nd round of the Cup against Beecham Cliff.

Year 11 have recorded victories against Crispin School and King Arthurs in the first round of the Somerset Cup. The second round saw them draw against Priory School and produced the game of the season. A seesaw match saw the lead change hands a number of times and right at the death Kings scored to make the score 26 – 25. Unfortunately, the conversion from the touchline proved one step too far and the cup run is over for the boys this year!!!

Football - there have also been cup victories for the Year 9,10 and 11 football teams this term. Year 9 beat Priory 5-4, Year 10 defeated Preston 7-2 and Year 11 beat East Bridgewater 6 -2.

Subject Leader for P.E - Carl Bennett

U15 Hockey boys played in Taunton last week in the County Cup. They came runners up, losing a closely fought game to West Somerset College. However, they thumped King Arthurs 5-0.

Well done to all who played and for their efforts…A rosy picture hopefully for next year.

U16 Boys will be playing Sexeys Bruton next week to decide who wins the County Cup. They have already beaten two other schools and are confident of claiming the cup.

Teacher of P.E. - Simon Osgood

Girls’ Sport

U14 Hockey had an extremely successful season winning all but one of their games. The only game they lost all season was to a very strong Wells Cathedral team early in the season. All other games were won quite convincingly. The team were also in a good position to win a local tournament before it was rained off. The squad ended up with approximately sixteen or seventeen regular players who all trained every Thursday lunchtime. Well done to all who played and we will look forward to success next year.

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1st x1 had a mixed season and worked hard in the Tuesday practices to gel as a team. The practices were well attended despite having to play on grass when all matches were played on astro. Sadly, Kings lost in the County Cup to a very strong Bridgwater College, and again to Richard Hewish. The highlight of the season was in the last game against Wells Blue School where Kings worked well as a team and eventually held them to a draw.

Well done to everyone who played.

2nd XI have enjoyed a successful season winning the majority of their games. Training sessions have been well attended. The team had strong performances during the second half of this term against Wells Blue winning 3-1 and against Sidcot School, winning 5-0. Well done to all team players and particularly those who have represented the school for the first time this year.

Year 11 - This successful year group are looking to go one place better than last year in the County Cup and secure a place in the final. Pool games are currently being played before Christmas. We were successful against Sexey’s Bruton winning 3-1. Two games against Wadham School and Wells Blue will be played before the end of term.

Congratulations to the U. 16’s who were the winners of the Mendip tournament.

Year 10 - The team are enjoying another successful season, having lost two matches to strong opposition from Wells Cathedral and Millfield. Training sessions have been well attended with new players appearing each week. We have strong players filling key positions in the team in midfield and on the forward line. The ‘Teagle twin’ combination at the back is very strong and committed! We have been successful in all of our County Cup matches so far, beating Wells Blue 4-1 and Holyrood 7-0 and hope to progress to the knock out stage after Christmas. The pressure is on as they are the current holders of the County Cup.

The team were crowned Mendip Winners after a tournament held at Kings on 8 November. They were successful against Wells Blue, Whitstone and St Dunstan’s School.

Teachers of P.E. – Tracey Tibbs and Sue Roberts

Community Sports Leaders Award

Step into Sport Conference – Yeovil Town Football Club This year’s conference was held on the Friday 9 November 2007. Twelve students from Year 12 attended the conference as part of their Sports Leaders award.

Over 80 students from schools and colleges in Somerset took part in the day’s activities. The conference aims to give students experience and contacts in volunteering in sport in the community, taking part in various team-building and football activities, minor games and received information on how they can volunteer in their local clubs in the community.

A further conference will be held at Millfield School in February. Hannah Gooding and Sara Puddy have been selected to represent the school at this event.

A reminder to students in Year 12: The second group of CSLA students begin their course after Christmas

Mendip Cross-Country Championships This event will take place at Millfield on Wednesday 16 January 2008.

Congratulations to Craig Scriven 11ML who was selected for The Somerset Referees Academy in September – Craig was one of nineteen in the County! 17

House Sport – championed by Mr Clark

Congratulations to the new House Captains who will be responsible for overseeing each of their respective Houses and ensuring that teams are organised in readiness for the many competitions and tournaments that take place during the year ahead.

Avalon - Luke Wilson and Ebba Eriksson. Camelot - Natasha Gowan and Harry Briffitt Lyonesse - Mark Goddard and Naomi Taschimowitz Tintagel - Lizzie Tungate and Alex Babbington

Several events have now taken place either side of half term with the following results:

In the Senior Girl’s Basketball Lyonesse captained by Annie Teare were the champions beating Tintagel into second place.

The Rugby 7’s tournament was dominated by Tintagel with both the Senior and Junior teams victorious. In the Junior section Will Plummer led his side to a 40 – 28 over Lyonesee in the final whilst captain Olllie Sheppard helped guide his Senior Tintagel team to victory against Avalon in a bruising but highly entertaining encounter.

Senior Boy’s Hockey went to Tintagel as well and Captain John Edwards will be receiving the trophy at the end of term assembly. His team were 2-0 victors over Lyonesse in the final. Jake Hull’s Camelot broke the Tintagel monopoly this term by winning the junior Boy’s Hockey but it was Tintagel again who picked up the Senior girl’s Hockey award.

With the 15-a-side version of rugby still to be played at time of going to press there is still much to play for this term but obviously much of the plaudits and a lead in the overall House Championship is with Team Tintagel.

Year 11 Sixth Form Taster Day Thursday 6 December 2007

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we wish them a speedy recovery and all the Year 12 Drugs Conference best for the future. By Yvette Taylor 12IS

We were not really given any information Bar National Mock Trial Competition before the Drugs Conference other than date and time…so we did not really know what to At the end of November expect. When the day arrived we all met in twelve Sixth Kings the School Hall for a briefing from one of students attended the the staff at Broadway Lodge Treatment regional heats of the Centre. Bar National Mock They spoke to us about how taking drugs is a Trial Competition at choice, however, once we have made the Cardiff Crown Court. choice, roughly a third of us will not be The team defended or able to stop using. It is the belief of the prosecuted a case before a real judge, people at Broadway Lodge that people who are against another school in each round, addicted to drugs, alcohol or have an eating playing the parts of barristers, witnesses, disorder have an addictive personality. They court clerk, usher or jury members. believe addiction is almost a disease and that it needs to be treated - which is what Each team played three rounds, and were they offer. marked on their performances. The two highest scoring schools went through to the A group of patients from the Lodge came to final at the end of the day. the conference who were all in different stages of recovery. As the introduction In the first round our opposition had backed finished, in our tutor groups we all went to out before the competition began (clearly different rooms with two of the patients who they had heard they would be facing us). We shared their experiences with us and we got would win automatically, but as the scoring to ask them questions. In our tutor group we is based on points and not simply the number spoke to a man who had lost a lot through of wins and losses, we were determined to drink and a younger man who had been using play the round to increase our score. We heroin for a number of years. It is fair to managed to scavenge an opposition from say we were all fairly nervous as we were students not involved in other cases around left in the room but that was soon overcome the building and played out the case, but when we realised that the patients were unfortunately no judge attended and equally as nervous as us. therefore we were not marked. This is a shame, as our Barrister – particularly After this we had two workshops from the during the cross-examinations, with the staff and patients about the health opportunity to catch out the opposing consequences of using and the programme that witnesses – was on top form, and our is followed at Broadway Lodge. The day was witnesses stood their ground firmly. the most informative and useful piece of drug education I think any of us have The second round was challenging but our received - or ever will. Listening to the team fought skillfully to prove the guilt of stories that the people told us really the defendant. A few slip-ups occurred but showed us the big risks of experimentation overall the team for this case were with drugs. outstanding, especially our witnesses who would not budge an inch. One witness did a I think that we all found it a lot more real very convincing act as a shady character, to life than any previous lesson, making an act of redemption, described by particularly because the people who were the judge as “honestly dishonest”. telling us this had real life experience. Unfortunately, it was not quite enough to win the case on points, but it was close. The day was definitely a great success. It helped us a lot and it was good to hear that Round three was perhaps our greatest it also had helped the patients. challenge as our opponents – Ysgol Tre-Gib By Joe Taschimowitz 12SK School had a nasty habit of winning the regional heats. But we put up a good fight, Broadway Lodge is a non- profit making with professional barristers and witnesses organisation and registered charity, which who stood their ground. There was a slight operates treatment and counselling services hiccup in the closing speech and a small for alcohol, drug dependency, eating incident where one of our barristers disorders and co - dependency. Year 12 spent insulted a witness from the opposing team the morning with men and women undergoing (bad form in court), but it was clear that their second stage of rehabilitation. we gave them a run for their money losing by a single point. Something to be proud of, as All accounts we heard were shocking and true to form, Ysgol Tre-Gib won the final touching, as the patients were so honest round and are now going on to compete in the about their personal low points, which is national finals. quite amazing as they were telling strangers. Sadly, we did not get through to the final round, but everyone felt we had done well, We sincerely thank those who spoke to us and the day was enjoyed by all and worth the that day about their personal accounts and early start. By Lizzie Murray 13GR

Mathematics News Maths Clubs The UK Mathematics Challenge As a follow up to the challenges Mr Carey has started a lunchtime club called ‘Brainiacs’:

On Thursday 8 November 2007 60 The challenge is a competition which tests the students sat the UK Maths Challenge student’s mathematical problem solving exam at the senior tier. They were ability. We are looking to build on the success mainly from Year 12, but we also of previous years and give students the offered places to ten of the brightest opportunity to extend their mathematics and Years 10 and 11 students. The exam was very hard, but work on things beyond the standard syllabus. many students still came out smiling! Each week a set of problems or challenges is posted on the Enrichment Notice Board in the Mathematics Corridor We were delighted with the achievement of our best and on www.mathspage.com.. Mathematicians in Year 12 and younger who won medals. Steven Lukins was the best in the school, with a result that On Wednesdays at lunchtime in M2 we get together to was 1 mark short of a Gold. Elizabeth Rabbitts, Brent discuss the solutions and share ideas. So if you want a Stewart, Maxwell Ash, and William Scott-Hartley also won challenge and enjoy solving problems have a look at the Silver medals. Gemma Rendall, Jonathan Talbot, James problem and come along to the club. Soffe, Brendon Ware, Ruth Laing, Katy Cooper, Hannah Lucas, Thomas Day and Lucy Fenton won Bronze. Eve We have also restarted the popular Taschimowitz was a mere 2 marks short of a Bronze. Maths in Motion club for all years. This club uses a Formula One We are particularly proud of Brent Stewart, James Soffe racing simulation game, sponsored and Eve Taschimowitz because they are only in Year 10 by Jaguar, on the computers in the Mathematics and this senior tier exam is designed for Year 12 and 13. Department.

I have reproduced three of the problems below for you Everyone has to set up a car to suit a particular track (like to try at home: Monte Carlo or Hockenheim) and then develop a race Q1: The year 1789 (the year the French Revolution started) strategy. When we are ready, we race and see who wins. It is quite mathematical, but mainly good fun! has three, and no more than three, adjacent digits (7,8 and 9) which are consecutive integers in increasing order. How Year 11 many years between 1000 and 9999 have this property? Our Year 11 students had much less fun as they worked a) 130 b) 142 c) 151 d) 169 e) 180 hard for their GCSE Module 3 Exam. No sooner was this over than we started work on the final coursework task. Q2: A bracelet is to be made by threading four identical red beads and four identical yellow beads onto a hoop. How We have been running a Maths Clinic to provide extra help many different bracelets can be made? on Thursday lunchtimes since the start of term. This will run continuously on Thursdays until they leave in the a) 4 b) 8 c) 12 d) 18 e) 24 summer. Experience has shown that this club gets very popular as the final weeks approach. Coming early is a Q3: A paperweight is made from a glass cube of side 2 good way to get plenty of individual help. units by first shearing off the eight tetrahedral corners. Keep these corners and throw away the rest. Now stick the There is also a lot of help and explanation on corners onto a sphere so that the corners touch and are in www.mathspage.com. Students can use the site to catch the same position relative to each other as before. They up or do the extra work needed to get a top grade. result is a new cube with a sphere in the centre. What is the diameter of the sphere? After Christmas, Year 11 will a) ퟖ − ퟏ b) ퟖ + ퟏ c) start working towards the final ퟏ ퟒ (ퟔ + ퟑ) d) ퟑ e) ퟐ ퟑ Module 5 Exam. ퟑ ퟑ

Don’t forget that students can The answers will be published on www.mathspage.com. still buy revision guides from the on Wednesday 2 January 2008 so you can amuse school at a discounted price of yourselves over Christmas. In the New Year we will run the £3.00. These are essential for intermediate tier exam for 140 Year 10 and 11 students. getting the best grade possible.

By Tim Powell

Year 10 Sports Leaders – record numbers this year for Mrs Williams, School Sports Co-Ordinator!

For the first year of the project, there were 12 Sports Leaders, in the second 50 - and now there are a staggering 95!

Working in three groups

this year’s Sports

Leaders meet during their core P.E. lessons and on Monday lunchtimes

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Piano Trios: Haydn - Schumann – Shostakovich

Performed by Jack Liebeck, Richard Harwood and Gottlieb Wallisch

In the dark days of early January, do treat yourselves to a very special evening – here in Cheddar...

On Tuesday 8 January 2008 at 7.30pm in the School Hall

Last year, top musicians Jack Liebeck and Richard Harwood gave a breathtaking recital here at Kings to raise money towards the purchase of a new grand piano. Those who attended still talk of the magic that these young virtuosi created at that concert.

Jack and Richard have now persuaded their friend and colleague Gottlieb Wallisch to join us in celebrating the raising of over £13,000 by playing the new grand piano in a second charity concert in order to raise more funds for the benefit of our students.

Each of these three young professional have an international reputation and we are very fortunate to have them play here in Cheddar. Whether or not you are a regular concert-goer, we are sure that you will not regret attending this event.

To encourage you, we will offer £1 off the price of a ticket when you present this flyer!

Tickets are available from the Main School Office or at the door on the evening: Adults £8 and Students £5

We look forward to seeing you.

Paul Taylor, Subject Leader for Music “Behind Bars” Psychology Conference Drug Development Lecture By Jenny Baines, Margaret Marsland and Caroline Parsons The Year 13 Chemists On a dull and dreary November the Psychology were involved in a Department left Kings on our - now annual - trip to drug development meet prison officers and ex-criminals at the “Behind lecture - Jeff Bars” conference in Bristol. Richards from Astra Zeneca talked about The event started with students standing as the use of analytical “governors” and asked to share their views on techniques that are what constitutes a “good prison”. Amongst the used to develop governors were Tom Puddy and Gemma drugs.

Leaney (Year 13) who confidently aired their This was a very views with the other 500 candidates. What stars! informative talk which will help our Chemists with their January module, This was followed by a series of talks from covering the development and analysis of various individuals who have spent time in Pharmaceuticals. Even more exciting - there are prison. These included a gentleman convicted of two of our ex- Chemistry ‘A’ Level students working fraud, a “serial” burglar and a heroin addict, now with Mr Richards! clean. There was also a talk by a retired prison officer who has spent the last ten years working Science Revision Guides with “lifers” in an open prison. The students then had the opportunity to talk to the speakers in All Year 9, 10 and 11 students should now have small groups and ask a range of questions, all of been issued with Revision Guides. Year 9 and 11 which were answered with great honesty. students should also have Workbooks.

The afternoon sessions took the form of a mock A reminder that Separate Science students in Year trial in which various pieces of evidence were put 11 have three real GCSE written papers in January forward to the students to help them decide if an on Biology 2, Chemistry 2 and Physics 2. accused man was guilty of murder or Please revise hard over the holidays (sorry!). manslaughter. Again two of our students, Clowance Cotteril and Becky Maynard, Watch out for the Fire Safety talk to the Year 11 performed with confidence as defence lawyers Applied Science group in a couple of weeks. although they “lost” the case as the accused was By Fay Simpson, Science Enrichment Leader and sent down for manslaughter. Bethan Riddick, Subject Leader for Science

The conference organiser, smartly dressed in suit Of special and tie (and assumed by many of us to be another musical prison officer) then stepped forward and to the mention is surprise of the students revealed himself to be the accused. He went on to tell his story and how he Year 12 student had served 12 years in a variety of prisons for Will Scott- murder when he had in fact been acting in self Hartley... defence. Over the last two Once again this powerful years professional African Drummer Ben Baddoo conference has worked with our students and trained Will to opened the eyes of the standard of Master Drummer in authentic our students to the Ghanaian drumming.

realities of prison This is a remarkable achievement because back life and how in Ghana this process usually takes five years. nothing is ever as black and white as Will has been utterly reliable in attending we sometimes sessions, has shown a remarkable determination believe. to master the techniques and has been a shining example to others.

Well done! Paul Taylor, Subject Leader for Music

The Kings Calendar (for the first half of Spring Term 2008)

January 2008

Return to School Monday 7 January 2008 (WEEK B)

Piano Trios Concert to inaugurate the new grand piano Tuesday 8 January 2008 at 7:30pm, School Hall

(Jack Liebeck, Richard Harwood and Gottlieb Wallisch) Years 10, 11 12 & 13 Computing Trip to UWE Wednesday 9 January 2008 - All Day GCSE & AS/A2 Exams Commence (Years 12/13) Wednesday 9 January 2008 and conclude on Friday 1 February 2008 Year 11 GCSE Triple Science Students – Modular Biology Exam Tuesday 15 January 2008 PTA Meeting Tuesday 15 January 2008 at 7:30pm, Conference Room D&T Trip to Disneyland Paris Tuesday 15 January to Thursday 17 January 2008 Year 11 GCSE Triple Science Students – Modular Chemistry Exam Friday 18 January 2008 Year 11 GCSE Triple Science Students – Modular Physics Exam Monday 21 January 2008 Year 11 ‘Poetry Live’ English trip to Bath Friday 25 January 2008 - All Day A2 Business Studies Placements Monday 28 January to Thursday 30 January 2008 School Production: Wednesday 30, Thursday 31 January & Friday 1 February ‘The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’ by Bertolt Brecht 2008 at 7:30pm, new Drama Centre

Year 10 & 11 German Conference to Bristol Wednesday 30 January 2008 - All Day Sixth Form French Study Trip to Paris Thursday 31 January to Sunday 3 February 2008 Year 9 Physics ‘Weird Waves Show’ Thursday 31 January 2008 - All Day, School Hall February 2008 Year 9 visit of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ Wednesday 6 February 2008, throughout the day UK Maths Challenge – Intermediate Thursday 7 February 2008 Year 11 Physics Talk with Alan McKenzie Monday 11 February 200 at 2:00pm, School Hall Dance Workshops Wednesday 13 & Thursday 14 February - All Day, School Hall. Followed by an evening performance on Thursday 14 February 2008, 7:00pm, School Hall

HALF TERM HOLIDAY: Saturday 16 February to Sunday 24 February 2008

PARENTS’ EVENINGS will be held on the following dates between 5-8pm, in the School Hall:

Year 11 Parents’ Evening – Wednesday 13 February 2008

The Kings’ Messenger is due to be published on the following dates: Friday 15 February 2008 Friday 4 April 2008 Friday 23 May 2008 Wednesday 23 July 2008

Useful Information:

Contact Details: The Kings of Wessex School, Station Road, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3AQ

Main School Office Phone: 01934 742608 Fax: 01934 742757 email: [email protected] Website: www.kowessex.co.uk

Thank you for keeping us informed of any changes to your contact details.

Absence Phone: thank you for phoning before 10.00am with your child’s name and tutor group on 01934 745304 or email [email protected] on each day of absence explaining the reason for your child’s absence.

Year Leaders: Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Year Leader to arrange an appointment in advance if you have any concerns or wish to discuss their progress.

Year 9: Mr S Green Year 10: Mr T Clark Year 11: Mr E Holdsworth Sixth Form: Miss S Bishop