19 er 20 Summ letter HEAD’S

exam season, culminating in an absolIuteNly TleadRershOip toD the MUoorCfield TLearIninOg N wonderful prom. We have also welcomed Centre. This is a fantastic opportunity to to our school our new cohort of Year 6 spread the brilliant work that has students through their transition day and developed over the years at our school in really look forward to thsem joining us in ensuring excellent personal development, September. behaviour and welfare for students. This wWe also give our best wishes to those also provides the opportunity for Mrs staff who will leave us at the end of this Magee and Mrs Turner to take on Senior e year. As ever, the end of an academic Pastoral Leader roles in school, with Mrs year brings staffing changes in a school Maden taking responsibility for further N and from our teaching team this summer developing teaching across our school as we will be saying farewell to Mr Sargent, Assistant Headteacher. Mr Barton, Mrs Campbell, Mr Gibson and I hope you enjoy reading our newsletter Mr Mullaney. We also offer our collective to find out more about the great things that best wishes to Mrs Clements and Mrs have been happening throughout our Curtis from our finance and payroll team school during this term. We are incredibly and Mrs Dale from reception, as they proud of the individual and collective move on to new opportunities. The CEO successes of our students and staff. As we of our Multi Academic Trust, Mr Wilkinson, move into the summer break, I would like to will also retire this summer after many take this opportunity to extend my thanks Welcome to our final newsletter of the years of service to education and our to parents and carers for your ongoing academic year. This has been a term filled schools across the Trust extend our support of the school and our students. with many highs and I hope you have sincerest thanks for all Steve has done. This support, combined with the tireless been able to keep up with them all There will also be some additional work of staff is what makes our school through our Facebook, Twitter and reports changes in our staffing team for such a great community to be a part of and in the local press. As ever, this has also September. Mr Adams will join our one that I am very proud to lead. been a term when we have bid a very fond teaching team as a member of the PE With my very best wishes, farewell to our Year 11 students after their department and for three days of the week fantastic efforts throughout their GCSE Mr Cubiss will be seconded to provide John Richardson

Our work on improving attendance has continued throughout tAhe yeart andt we heave snpent mdany haours nintervecninge with ourM studentsa tters to ensure they attend school as much as they possibly can. For the first time, we held a Coffee Morning to allow parents to meet some of the agencies available to assist parents and families to get the best attendance for their children. Raising awareness of the health problems some children face is very important. Mental Health issues are currently in vogue both nationally and locally and resources to help are scarce, so pointing parents in the right direction is essential if or when they need support for their children. Our work on good attendance will continue in September and please can parents avoid term time holidays wherever possible and remember that these cannot be authorised for any reason.

Mr D. Cubiss – Deputy Headteacher

May EBarly Maayn Dayk Ba nkH Holidoay lfoir 2d020a is yFrid a2y 8t0h M2ay t0 o coincide with VE day. Our school term dates have been updated Please note accordingly and are available to view on the school website. 2 | News Creative Writing

Our creative writing club, Five Minute Rydal Mount Wordsworth Poetry spend one lunchtime a week together to Writers, is now such a huge part of Competition and received recognition for discuss and experiment with our writing Walney School that our most recent their entries, including a Special skills during five minute tasks or entering competition entry to Young Writers has Commendation for Tyler Moore for his competitions to challenge ourselves. Five seen twenty-five students published! The poem inspired by his work with our very Minute Writers isn’t about how ‘good’ the students dedicated their poems to their own Mr Gilbert. students are (which they often worry love for their mum or mother figure. Their As always I have been trying to recruit about) but about if they enjoy the act of poetry was comedic, loving and heartfelt some of this amazing writing talent to the writing and want to share that with others. and clearly summed up the excellent lunchtime creative writing group with the The quality of writing on incredibly relationships that they have with the prospect of seeing their name in print varied subjects has been outstanding and female figures in their lives. Many of the once again. Our two most recently I am so proud to be working with such students were part of Mrs Grace's year published year nine students Lucy creative and enthusiastic individuals. I am seven English class using their new Hanrahan and Phoebe Lovidge are very much looking forward to welcoming learning to be creative at the conclusion regular attendees and this will be the our new year sevens in September and I of their poetry module - their dedication second time Phoebe has had her work am hoping that we have many more to their studies could be seen by how published this year! The Five Minute creative writers that will walk through our many students received 'Talent for Writers club was formed to develop the doors eager to put pen to paper! Writing' certification from Young Writers. love of creative writing that is in so many Three of our students also entered the of our students at Walney School. We Miss Jagger ATiC – County Lines Project Every single student from Year 9 that don’t know, County Lines is a huge spent the morning at Cooke’s Studios in concern nationally for our children and it Barrow being involved in a project led by is where criminal gangs from major Kendal Brewery Arts Centre to raise cities coerce young people to deal awareness of the dangers of County drugs for them. Young people are Lines. The students watched a hard promised money, free phones and other hitting play where four young people expensive items only to find they are were groomed by criminals from a city trapped in a world of violence and and were led into a life of drug dealing, threats against themselves and their crime and slavery. Suffice to say, the families. Social Media plays a large part play did not have a happy ending. The in the grooming process. play was unique in that, the students Year 9 enjoyed the performance and were part of a “party” where the learned a lot from it and now have a grooming took place and they became better idea of how to keep themselves part of the performance. safe from this type of threat Some of our students were selected If any parents would like to learn to be interviewed for Heart Radio and more then the Childrens Society website Smooth FM where they discussed their has more information. Their address is feelings on the messages in the show. www.childrenssociety.org.uk Mr Cubiss, who has the perfect face for radio, was also interviewed. For those Mr D. Cubiss – Deputy Headteacher News | 3 RHS YOUNG GARDENER OF THE YEAR 2019

couldn’t wait to get back to school to break the good news to Josh. He was so happy and excited to hear about it. We then had to make a 5 minute video, which you can view on the RHS website or on YouTube. Josh did a great job, helped by fellow students Jack and Tom. Next came the awards ceremony at RHS Wisley in Surrey. Josh, his Mum and Dad, and myself attended the ceremony where all the finalists were awarded with their trophies and certificates by Frances Tophill. Frances is a TV celebrity gardener who appears on Gardeners World, Love Your Garden and other gardening shows. It was lovely to meet other keen student gardeners from all around the UK. We were then treated to a tour of RHS Wisley lead by the horticultural apprentices who live and work there. What an interesting and stunning place! It gave me even more ideas for school gardening in the future. Finally, we enjoyed a delicious afternoon tea and shared ideas and tips with other finalists and their teachers and families. I was inspired by all the amazing young people who had been recognised The whole of our school community is flowers and plants, created bug hotels, for their efforts. The young man who won brimming with pride at the success of Josh helped plant our developing wildlife the overall prize had travelled from Clark in being one of only four school garden, participated in wildlife surveys, Edinburgh and was a worthy winner, as students in his age group for the whole of counted bird species for the RSPB and were all the finalists. Students were sent off the UK selected as a finalist for the Royal even held a plant sale to raise money for with bags filled with RHS goodies and their Horticultural Society’s Young Gardener of school gardening. own cactus plant, but also with amazing the Year. When I checked my emails at the end memories of a fantastic experience that will I nominated Josh due to his interest of a very busy Friday a few weeks later I last a lifetime. and enthusiasm in school gardening, was overjoyed to hear that the RHS had Well done Josh and all the students. I which he has done with Mrs Barrie, and loved reading about Josh and had loved being part of this celebration and will the work he has done in monitoring and selected him as a finalist. I love my job but also treasure the memories of Josh’s helping nature with myself and other the weekends still do go by too quickly for success. students. He has grown and cared for my liking. This particular weekend I Mrs Devonald 4 | News CJuHniRorIS MTaMthAs SChallenge

20 Walney School students took part Year 7, Best in school, Best one-hour multiple-choice paper, with 25 Jack Haney, in the Junior Mathematical Challenge in in Year, Gold award, qualified for follow on questions, which is sat in school. It is April 2019. The Junior Challenge is round: Junior Kangaroo. therefore similar to the Junior Challenge aimed at students in Year 8 or below , Year 7, Silver award question paper but more challenging! (England and Wales), S2 or below Lewis Kendall One of the Junior Kangaroo questions , Year 8, Best in Year (Scotland) and Year 9 or below (Northern Logan Johnson asked: "In four years Evie will be three Ireland). It is the UK's most popular times older than she was two years ago. Well done to all who took part. Year 7 mathematics competition with over How old will Evie be in one year?" Pupils pupil was our only qualifier for 300,000 students taking part each year. Jack Haney had to choose the correct age from the the follow-on round, the Junior Kangaroo, Students had 60 minutes to answer 25 possible solutions of two, three, four, six after achieving a qualifying score of 80/135. varied multiple choice mathematical and seven. Answer: Let Evie’s age in In June 2019, Jack sat the follow-on paper, problems. The Junior Mathematical years now be x. The information in the which is an invitation-only competition sat Challenge is one of a number of maths question tells us that x + 4 = 3(x − 2). by around 8,000 across the UK. He competitions run by the UK Mathematics Therefore, x + 4 = 3x − 6 and hence 2x = achieved a certificate of qualification with a Trust throughout the year. 10 and x = 5. Therefore, in one year’s score of 56/135. We at Walney School are time Evie will be 6. very proud of Jack’s efforts and The award winners were as follows: achievements. The Junior Kangaroo is a Mr Ingham

Walney School is thrilled to announce that we Science Gold Mark have successfully gained the Gold Science Mark. The Science Mark is a national quality standard which recognises and celebrates inspiring practice in secondary science departments. The assessor sent this message to our proud science team: “Your proud descriptions and evidence indicate a lively, hard-working and vibrant science department where the learning and engagement of your students are paramount, and where your team clearly have personal investment in how they thrive. The science team appears strong, and stable, and you ensure that students no matter what their starting point, are able to progress. You also show that you do not rest on this, and look to continually evaluate and improve what you do. The curriculum is varied, and differentiated, with input from a wide range of committed stakeholders”. News | 5

On Friday 14th June, five cast radio and talked about what we had performances we had done in the past, members of Schools Will Rock You from done in the past. along with what our roles are in the show Cando FM Alex Stephens Walney School were invited to Cando On a Friday afternoon, five of us went and how we think the rehearsals were FM. Here is what they said about this to cook studios as we were going to pre- going (we also managed to get a few brilliant experience:- record a segment on Russ Palmer’s shameless plugs in). When we were We went to Cook studios to go on Showstoppers. Cando FM was really there, we were lucky enough to also be Cando FM which was very chilled out chilled out and it was really fun learning allowed on the radio live. That was a and excellent. We chatted about our about how the radio works with Pete really cool experience and I am very glad roles in the show to Russ Palmer and it Murphy and Mai Harrison. We talked I had the opportunity. was a lot of fun. We also went on live about what shows and other Lucy Hanrahan

Lambing LWailnvey Sce hool students from year 9, 10 and 11 had a great experience visiting a traditional sheep farm managed by Newton Rigg College. The farm is situated near Keswick, surrounded by stunning scenery. The weather was glorious, which made our day even better. We started off our day up on the nursery fields where Ewes and their lambs graze born that morning. We were introduced to once they have been assessed as being the shepherd who told us all about lambing, healthy and having formed a secure bond. how they ensure the welfare and health of Our students helped to check that the lambs their sheep and lambs and explained how were with the correct ewes and one, and why lambs are fostered. Isaac tagged a Isabelle, rescued two adventurous lambs lamb’s ear with a chip that is used to help who had ventured into a neighbouring field monitor every aspect of the animal’s care. where they were separated from their mum. This is used to identify the lamb and links to She jumped the gate, picked them both up technology that records weight, feed, and placed them back in the field safely veterinary treatments and all other aspects of (whilst her friends were rushing around the animal’s welfare. They even had an shouting “get the man, quick!”). Some of our electronic feeding system for orphaned students showed an impressive knowledge lambs that identifies them from their chips of animal husbandry and they all developed and provides exactly the right amount of feed confidence in dealing with the animals. for their weight. We then had the opportunity Following this we went to see the hills to hold the orphaned lambs. Katy loved this where sheep go to graze once they are old part but did give the lamb back, reluctantly. If enough. This is where they spend most of only she had brought a bigger backpack! their time, returning to lower ground at We sat by the beck and enjoyed our and the knowledgeable and friendly people lambing time. lunch in the sunshine and then wound our we met. Our students were polite, Next was the best part, meeting the way back through the Lake District, taking in courteous, interested and happy to get lambs. We kept a close eye on the pregnant the amazing scenery that our county has to involved. They represented team Walney ewes but none birthed while we were there, offer. We all had thoroughly enjoyed our visit superbly and I was very proud of them all. however we did see lambs that had been and were impressed by the things we saw Lisa Devonald. 6 | News

Year 5 Taster Days baking, Geography and a trip to the beach – as well as French, Performing Arts, PE and ICT. The pupils especially loved…dinner time! Thanks very much to our Kitchen who put on their usual, tasty spread. Fortunately, the weather held well and we all enjoyed a lovely playtime on our field. Thank you to all of our Primary partners for visiting us. We had a wonderful time and look forward to seeing you again in September! their first real taste of a full day at ‘big For more information on Transition to school’. In June, we were delighted to Walney School, please contact Mrs Magee welcome Year 5 pupils from South Walney on WalneyTransition@walney..sch.u Junior School, North Walney Primary k or via our main reception 01229 471528. School, School, St James’ We also have a twitter feed, so you can see Primary School, Barrow Island Community what we’re up to @wstransition where we Primary School, St George’s Primary show our students in action. School and St Columba’s Primary School – Our next event will be our Open Evening who all had a fantastic time with us for a full in September. More information to follow via day experience. Pupils arrived for assembly, primaries, or check our website for more before departing for a day of lessons such Transition is a very important part of details. as; Science, with their amazing school life and for the Year 5 pupils, it is experiments, Technology and some brilliant Mrs Magee News | 7

Stargazers Perform for George Hastwell School On Wednesday the 19th of June the audience participation number, band ‘Shotgun’ by George Ezra, with ‘Stargazers’ gave an outstanding Queens’s ‘We Will Rock You,’ the Mark Kendall & Aidan Monaghan on performance to the staff and students audience loved it and joined in with foot lead vocals this time. Of course no at George Hastwell School. stomping and hand clapping. show is complete without an encore, so Transporting and setting up all the This seemed to settle the nerves of ‘We Will Rock You’ was performed equipment on a very warm day was the band, who then performed songs once more. exhausting work. However, that didn’t which they had written themselves, It was a fantastic afternoon, stop the boundless ball of energy; Josh including ‘Bystander’ and a stunning thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, and I Clark dancing along whilst taking lead performance of an instrumental piece am extremely proud of you all, well done! vocals, a total superstar. The band sang ‘Dragons of China’. Next was another a total of nine songs kicking off with an crowd pleaser and a favourite of the Ms Metcalfe 8 | News SCHOO LS WILL ROCK YOU News | 9

In January 2019 we started the surely paying off and we cannot wait to designed, created and accomplished process of auditioning and rehearsing share it with family, friends and the by our very own students who have for our annual summer show. After the community. Listening to the students worked tirelessly to help bring the success of the hit movie ‘Bohemian sing and enjoy Queen repertoire makes performance to life. Rhapsody’ released in 2018, it seemed me so proud and each time I hear We are a team at Walney and we are to fit perfectly and we were ready to them sing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ it very proud that we’ve worked together take on the challenge of ‘QUEEN’! It’s gives me goose-bumps (and not just to achieve such a challenge. It really is safe to say that it has absolutely been a because it took us hours to learn it). ‘a kind of magic’. challenge and we have no idea how It’s especially exciting because all of the they hit those notes! The hard work is set, props, costume and tech was Miss Eason 10 | News

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Forum 28 On the evening of Wednesday 15th May, a large group of Musical enthusiasts went to support the local Amateur Dramatics society, BODS, as they performed the classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was an outstandingly professional performance and we were in awe of the talented cast, but it was made even more special by the hilarious portrayal of ‘Baron’ by our very own ICT teacher, Mr Hastings! He was the highlight of our evening and he received a ‘woop’ and a cheer each time he came on stage. Overall, it was a fantastic performance and we had a brilliant time in the audience watching and singing along to it. We love supporting local talent, current and ex-pupils within the Arts and we are looking forward to seeing High School Musical, which features a number of our KS3 students, in the autumn term.

Miss Eason The Chief Executive Officer Writes

This is my final contribution to the ‘go the extra mile’ to prepare lessons, forward to more time with my lovely Newsletters of The Queen Katherine inspire young people, find time for their family, garden, fells and even more time in School, Walney School and George own professional development and my glider. Hastwell School after 19 years associated provide support and friendship for their with QKS. colleagues. I am full of admiration for Stephen Wilkinson, It has been a massive privilege to everyone who works in our three schools CEO of the QKS MAT have been given the opportunity not only and for The Multi Trust and to lead two of my own Secondary would like to thank them all for their hard Schools but then the Multi Academy work and dedication. Trust. Our own children had the benefit of Recently I have worked more closely being educated at The Queen Katherine with my own MAT Team and Local School over a period of 9 years when I Governing Bodies and the MAT Board was its Headteacher and all have moved and Members. That too has been a on to very different and exciting careers fantastic experience requiring a real moral paths. So, I know first-hand the purpose to support education across importance of everything our staff at the South Cumbria. This builds on the vision three schools do on a daily basis to of a Self-Improving System and required support children both in the classroom, the confidence and commitment of all on extracurricular activities and in their these people. emotional and cultural development. I will I am looking forward to not having the miss the involvement with young people responsibility for the Trust, its schools, and being able to share their successes staff, budgets, buildings and students and at our various Award Ceremonies and in will concentrate on my work for The passing conversations on the corridors. Association of School and College I have also enjoyed working with Leaders and as Senior Lead of the North hundreds of talented staff who regularly North West Maths Hub, and I look News | 11 The MAT Board Chair Writes

important for our future as having more best possible education and opportunities schools in the MAT would bring the for all our young people. benefits of better economies of scale, Steve is passionate about inclusive sharing best practice and offer the education and led the co-location of opportunity of creating stronger all- Sandgate School at Key Stage 4 and through education pathways. Sixth Form onto The Queen Katherine On behalf of the Board I would like to School campus. This provided better thank all staff in our three schools for your facilities for Sandgate and Queen dedicated hard work in achieving great Katherine students and valuable progress in raising standards and opportunities for Sandgate and QKS aspirations and providing the best students, staff and governors to work and opportunities for our young people. learn together. The QKS Teaching School Alliance was formed under Steve’s leadership. Farewell and Thanks to The Teaching School provided a high- quality pathway for training teachers, Steve Wilkinson Steve joined The Queen Katherine many of whom have stayed to teach in A great deal has happened since I last School as Headteacher in 2000. Under Cumbria. This was in addition to CPD wrote for our school newsletters in March. Steve’s leadership The Queen Katherine provision, school to school support and At the end of this term we will be saying School became more popular and well the designation and deployment of farewell to Steve Wilkinson our CEO. In regarded being judged Outstanding by Specialist Leaders in Education. preparation for Steve’s retirement MAT Ofsted to be in 2011. Steve became a These are just a few of Steve’s many Trustees conducted a very rigorous two- National Leader in Education and the achievements for education in Cumbria day selection process to appoint our new school a National Support School, in this and beyond. He has also served as the CEO, and were delighted to appoint Paul role he supported a number of schools Chair of Local Alliance of System Leaders Slater. Paul is currently working with us 1 across Cumbria to help them improve (LASL) in the south of Cumbria, on the day per week as Assistant CEO and will their OfSTED rating. Steve has delivered Board of the Cumbria Alliance of System take up the CEO role on 1 September for many successful initiatives for QKS and Leaders (CASL) and was, until recently, 2.5 days per week. Steve Wilkinson and with his keen understanding of the the independent Chair of the Cumbria Paul are doing a thorough handover and educational landscape and always on the Partnership for Emotional Resilience and Paul will hit the ground running in lookout for opportunities that would Mental Health. Currently he serves on the September! benefit education for all young people, he Board of the Pupil Referral Unit in Barrow During our regular meeting with the proposed that QKS become an Academy and the Virtual Headteacher Board for Regional Schools Commissioner she and then a Multi Academy Trust. In 2014 Looked after Children, he is a governor showed her continued confidence in the and 2015 Walney School and George for Whitehaven Academy’s Local Advisory QKS MAT by giving us the go-ahead to Hastwell School joined the QKS MAT and Board. explore bringing other Good Schools into we now work as a family of three schools our Trust. This is something very with the central purpose of providing the Beth Curl, Chair of QKS MAT Board

Alzheimer’s Society Cupcake Day

We were delighted to support this a fantastic array of cakes on offer! on behalf of Walney School. event in June, with the usual Thank you to all parents and students Thank you especially to the enthusiasm of our whole school who supported our event – we are Charities Committee for their fantastic community who turned out in their delighted to have been able to organisation. Mrs Magee droves to bake and buy. There was donate £250 to the Alzheimer’s Society 12 | Sport Year 7 Athletics competition at

The year 7 athletics competition at sprint over the line rather than jog. 3rd – Furness Academy – who did well on Furness Academy was a great experience. Everyone was helping each other out and most of the events; 2nd – Millom – who All the schools were well mannered and it was a real team effort. also did great all round; 1st – UVHS – who showed great sportsmanship. Personally, I At the end these were the rankings: smashed all of the events out of the park. did the long jump, 800m and 100m relay 6th – Walney – very well done to all the Overall the competition was great. which I really enjoyed. To me my result did boys and girls who competed in the team; Sadly, not many people got a place to not matter at all. I was struggling on the 5th – Dowdales – who did very well in the represent Furness from Walney but there 800m and my friends were so very track events; 4th – St Bernards – who did is always next time. supportive and give me the courage to well in the long distance running; Corey Brookshaw, Year 7 Barrow Raiders Coaching Year 8 and 9 Students

Every Monday afternoon for the last to warm up, use tactics and how to This is a fantastic opportunity and six weeks I have been lucky enough to play the game. we really enjoyed the sessions. be selected to train and be coached by Barrow Raiders are a semi- Everyone gave one hundred percent Barrow Raiders. The group of students professional rugby team and we are and made massive improvements in that were selected, both girls and boys very lucky that they have given up their their skills and fitness. are currently in Year 8 and 9. The time to coach us. I personally love sport and I’m glad training session lasted the full afternoon Following on from the last six of the chance to try new things. I’m and we had been given the opportunity weeks, which we have really enjoyed, hoping the speed I have from my to learn new skills and develop our we are going to play a tag rugby event. training with Barrow Raiders will help subject knowledge regarding rugby. We have also been invited to go to me in the game of tag rugby. We had 5 coaches, Jack, Shona, Barrow rugby ground to practice with Willy, Watz and Star who are from the team and perhaps join the Raiders if Poppy Glasgow, Year 9 Barrow Raiders and they taught us how we are good enough.