HERE’S WALLY - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - INTERNATIONAL PHYSICS OLYMPIAD - FIRST DATES - from LIVERPOOL to SHANGHAI - the SKY’S the LIMIT - IVY LEAGUE SUCCESS Inside
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OLD BLUES- AND THE OSCAR GOES TO... - FORGET WHERE’S WALLY - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - INTERNATIONAL PHYSICS OLYMPIAD - FIRST DATES - FROM LIVERPOOL TO SHANGHAI - THE SKY’S THE LIMIT - IVY LEAGUE SUCCESS Inside The annual review for Old Blues of The Blue Coat School 2016/17 Issue 3 Inside 4 SCHOOL NEWS 7 SPORTS REPORT A MESSAGE FROM The Headteacher Welcome again to our annual review for Old Blues of The Blue Coat School. It has been another great year in the THE APPRENTICE School’s long history with many exciting developments 8 to report and look forward to. Our history and our Old Blues tell a remarkable tale about the gift of education that The Blue Coat School has given to students who MR CAULKIN GOES TO were fortunate enough to attend. With a reputation for 9 THE PALACE academic challenge, personal development and a culture of support, The Blue Coat School sits proudly as a place that changes children’s lives. Our School has achieved this because it has always been forward thinking and has never stood still. This year has been no different. As we seek to offer a Blue Coat education to even more students this year welcomed 180 students into Year 7 in September 2017. With more Liverpool children enjoying the Blue Coat experience we can be proud of our efforts to change the lives of more children from many different backgrounds. As the number of students increases, so too will our estate. In January 2017 we brought the clock tower entrance and east wing back into day-to-day use, to support the School’s expansion, and next year we look forward to commencing redevelopment work to ensure that our students have the very best facilities throughout the School. AND THE OSCAR 10 GOES TO... I hope you too are excited by this important chapter in the Blue Coat story, which is only made possible by the terrific support given to us from all areas of our forward-thinking community. I share with you here my FREEDOM TREE thanks to the Foundation, the Old Blues and the Parents 10 Association, whose long history of supporting the School continues as strongly as ever. I hope this you enjoy our 2017 edition. BLUES IN BUSINESS: If you have any suggestions for features next year, 11 CHRIS DOTTIE please email the Development Team at [email protected]. BLUES IN BUSINESS: Mr Mike Pennington PAUL MCEVOY Headteacher, The Blue Coat School 12 2 | THE ANNUAL REVIEW FOR OLD BLUES OF THE BLUE COAT SCHOOL 2016/17 Inside FROM LIVERPOOL WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 12 TO SHANGHAI 19 NIKOLETTA MICHAEL, CLASS OF 2011 OLD BLUE HAICHO 13 JOSEPH LEE RETURNS 21 FIRST DATES 22 FORGET WHERE’S WALLY! FROM LIVERPOOL TO SHANGHAI 22 THE SKY’S THE LIMIT 14 CLASS NOTES ALZHEIMER’S THE SEARCH 23 FOR A CURE 2017/18 EVENTS Stay connected! New house? New email address? We’ve made it quick and easy to keep your details up to date, NHS DIGITAL ACADEMY just complete our online contact form and you will never miss 15 an event invitation or a Blue Coat e-newsletter or Old Blues magazine. GOOGLE’S DIGITAL Our online form can be found at www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk/old-blues/keep-touch/ 15 GARAGE Alternatively you can contact the Development Office directly on 0151 733 1407 ext 207 or at [email protected] WHERE ARE THEY NOW? LUCY MCKINSTRY, Don’t forget you can also keep in touch with the School using 16 CLASS OF 2012 our social media platforms: OUR TIME AS HEAD /bluecoatschoololdblues 18 GIRL & BOY @LiverpoolBCS THE SQUIRREL ARCHIVE 20 www.linkedin.com/groups/8153535 www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk | 3 SCHOOL NEWS Congratulations Class of 2017 Having completed the exhausting application process Across the Atlantic earlier this year, three members of the Class of 2017 received offers to study at America’s prestigious Ivy League institutions. This autumn Oscar will attend Ivy League Success Harvard University, where he will pursue his passion for art, Ben will embark on his studies at North Carolina’s Duke University and Lucy will continue her love of Physics at Yale University. “My experience at Blue Coat has inspired me to reach for and eventually achieve my goal of being able to travel to the US for university. With the help “of the staff and other students I have even surpassed my own expectations by getting a place at Yale. I’m looking forward to continuing my studies in physics “ and broadening my knowledge in other areas. I’m also hoping to start learning Russian, and of course, I’m excited for the adventure to come! I could not thank Blue Coat enough for helping me achieve my dream.” Lucy, Class of 2017 Ivy League Ben Keegan, Lucy McEwan and Oscar Hou 4 | THE ANNUAL REVIEW FOR OLD BLUES OF THE BLUE COAT SCHOOL 2016/17 This summer, our latest cohort of Old Blues achieved an outstanding set of A Level results, producing the best results the School has ever seen! Of all grades awarded: • 20.6% were A* • 57.1% were A*– A • 86% were A* – B Supported by inspirational and devoted teaching and support staff, the Class of 2017 displayed a fantastic level of commitment and enthusiasm towards their subjects. Their high standards and conscientious approach to their studies has enabled the Class of 2017 to secure places at universities here in the UK and also the United States, including Harvard and Yale. We would like to wish the Class of 2017 the very best of luck as they embark on the next new and exciting phase of their lives, and we look forward to sharing their many successes with you in the years to come. International Physics Olympiad For over fifteen years Blue Coat physics enthusiasts have taken part in the Physics Olympiad, a nationwide competition set by the University of Oxford. Earlier this year it was announced that following a rigorous selection process, Year 13 student Callum Brennan-Rich had secured a prestigious place on the British Physics Olympiad team, which would travel to the Indonesian city of Yogyakarta to compete in the 48th International Physics Olympiad. The competition involved a series of tests including a gruelling five-hour practical exam, which the team prepared for in the weeks and months leading up to the competition during special training camps held in Oxford and Cambridge. Callum pictured second from left with We are delighted to report that Callum’s hard work his British Physic Olympiad teammates and effort was rewarded with a bronze medal! www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk | 5 SCHOOL NEWS Duke of Edinburgh The Duke of Edinburgh scheme remains the most popular extra-curricular activity at The Blue Coat School, with over 300 students currently enrolled on the programme, making us one of the largest providers in the North West. From volunteering to physical activities, life skills to expeditions in North Wales, Yorkshire and the Lake District our students have pushed personal boundaries Photograph courtesy of Diane Aspinall to achieve their Bronze and Silver Awards, and for the first time in Blue Coat history Year 12 students set-off on their Gold Award expedition. Open Evening Over 1,000 prospective students and their families had the opportunity to sample Blue Coat School life during our annual summer Open Evening. From Art to Politics, prospective students were invited to participate in a number of activities designed to demonstrate what makes a Blue Coat education so special. Our Year 7 tour guides led visitors to departments, such as Design Technology, where they could learn about the inner workings of our new laser Year 12 students complete their Gold expedition cutter and get involved in a pop-up craft club. Small explosions greeted visitors to our science laboratories, as our enthusiastic young scientists brought science Tod House to life, with hair-raising experiments and dissections. In June new School House was officially unveiled. Named in recognition of the longstanding contribution of the Tod family, Tod House will sit alongside Blundell, Bingham, Graham, Shirley and Styth. A special event provided the School with an opportunity to not only thank the family but also to illustrate their impact. Sir Alan Tod, Honorary Treasurer from 1955 to 1968 and his nephew Ian Tod, who also held the position from 1976 to 1991, were extremely well liked and respected men. The contribution of the Tod family continues to this day through the Sir Alan Tod Travel Scholarship scheme. Introduced during the 1970s by Ian Tod, the scheme has HRH Prince Edward Edward become an integral part of Blue Coat School life. Thanks to the scheme hundreds of Blue Coat Sixth Form students have enjoyed educational visits to countries around the world. By Royal Appointment Throughout 2017 the Bluecoat arts centre has been celebrating the building’s landmark 300th anniversary, bringing the building’s history to life through a series of special events. As part of their celebratory programme, The Blue Coat School Jazz band were invited to the arts centre to welcome the Earl of Wessex. The band provided the prince and members of the public with a series of exuberant performances. Tod Family 6 | THE ANNUAL REVIEW FOR OLD BLUES OF THE BLUE COAT SCHOOL 2016/17 SCHOOL NEWS: SPORTS REPORT Netball Four Blue Coat netball teams were crowned Liverpool City Champions, making the 2016/17 netball season the most successful in Blue Coat history! The hard work and dedication demonstrated by members of our Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 teams during countless lunchtime and after-school training sessions lies at the heart of their success, and these results are an outstanding reflection of their talent and commitment to the sport.