8 g 201 Sprin

tHeEADr’S at our school. This has been a term thaIt hNas TtheRir incOtredibDle harUd woCrk anTd coImOmitmNent seen so many new developments in our eto their studies. careers education, literacy and numerlacy As we approach the Easter break, it is teaching, student achievement across the also time to say goodbye to two members of curriculum and yet furthser growth of our our staff team. Mr Green has recently left the extra-curricular activities. I hope you enjoy school to pursue new opportunities with BAE wreading about the opportunities that make Systems. Mrs Hubbard will now lead the a fantastic place for your child Design Technology Department and we are e to learn and develop as part of a truly very excited to see her impact in her new inclusive and caring community. role. Mrs Huddart will also leave us at the N I write this piece as the clocks are going Easter Holiday to seek new challenges forward, the nights are getting lighter and, as supporting families as expertly as she has ever at this time of year, our Year 11 students done at Walney School in a new role with are preparing for their Easter break of Children’s Services. revision and preparation for their GCSE I hope you enjoy reading our newsletter. examinations. My thanks go to you as Please also, if you don’t already, follow parents for your support of our students at the school and its departments on Facebook this challenging time and to our staff for the and Twitter to ensure you stay up to time that they give both within school and in date with the fantastic achievement of our the holidays to provide the support that our students and our school on a daily basis. children deserve. This is looking like being a With very best wishes for an enjoyable Welcome to our Spring Term Newsletter. fantastic year of GCSE achievement for our Easter. I hope you enjoy reading through the articles students – one which they fully deserve given that provide an overview of a fantastic term John Richardson

Top of the Form This year’s team included myself, Ellie practical round we played Pictionary Roberts (Year 11), Veronica Wetherow and with a slight twist. The four of us had Aaron Roberts (both Year 10). On Tuesday to control a hydraulic arm to draw a 6th March, our team faced Ulverston picture that was somehow linked to Victoria High School. This year’s competition BAE Systems. Mr Tyson then had to consisted of six rounds; the opening quick guess the picture and we would be fire round, the University challenge, the awarded points for a correct answer, countdown and Bullseye rounds, the as well as technical accuracy and practical round and to close, on the buzzer. teamwork. Our team began to make After the first five rounds, our team was a comeback, however, it was not comfortably ahead. However, the Ulverston enough to catch up with Furness Victoria team was making a comeback in . Unfortunately, Mrs Booth’s the final round. Despite this, our team won team lost to but 208 (Walney) to 171 (UVHS) beating them we all enjoyed participating in the by 37 points and securing a place in the competition . semi finals. Top of the Form is a great In the semi finals, the team and round experience and opportunity so you structure was the same except we faced should definitely participate if you a different team and practical challenge. get the chance. This time we faced Furness Academy who secured a lead in the second round. In the Harry Smith, Head Boy 2 | News The Chair of The Multi Academy Trust Board writes

I have been chair of the MAT Board of has forged close links between the Trustees for several months now and schools and the governing bodies over during that time I am delighted to report the last few months and this can only that all the schools in the Trust have benefit us all. continued to get better and better. We have had two Away Days for Student Voice surveys show that the governors, school leaders, Trustees and pupils in the schools are happy, feel safe MAT Members since last October when and feel they are progressing well with we have looked at how we can create a their learning. It is only a few weeks until deeper sense of team working and how the external examinations at GCSE and we can increase the effectiveness of the A Level start and the pupils will have the role we play. We have completely opportunity to show just what they are reviewed and revised the MAT Corporate capable of. I and all the Trustees wish all Business Plan and also the MAT Scheme the students huge success in their of Delegation which details the different examinations, no matter what stage of roles, responsibilities and accountabilities their learning journey they are at. Our we all have. These are available to thanks go to the leaders and staff in the everyone on the website. We have schools who work tirelessly to make considered the Safeguarding so that our work continues to ensure all every lesson and every day count for the arrangements in all the schools and children in every school thrive, progress students, to the governors who ensure carried out reviews in each school. We and achieve as well as they can. the schools are on track to deliver the have learned about the new Ofsted I am pleased and privileged to be the best opportunities for all learners and to Inspection arrangements to ensure all chair of the MAT Board and it is a the parents for the support you give to schools are fully prepared for their next pleasure to work with such a wide team your children and the partnership you inspection and we have scrutinised data of dedicated professionals, all of whom show in working with the school. to ensure we know exactly what pupil make our MAT strong and successful for Whatever your role in the education of outcomes are expected at each school. all the schools in it. Thank you to you all a child it is not always easy but by us At our Away Day in May we will evaluate for the work you do. working together it provides the best how effective we have been over the last outcomes for everyone. I feel the Trust year and make any changes necessary Liz Moffatt The Chief Executive Officer of The Queen Katherine School Multi Academy Trust Board writes

I would like to add my thanks to all character and support them to those who support students across our reach their full potential. three schools and also thank Liz Moffatt • At George Hastwell School we value and her Board of Trustees for all that our young people as individuals and they do to support the Local Governing foster each student's personal Boards and our School Leaders. development to ensure maximum Members and Directors are very independence. keen to recruit new Trustees to the • The calm and purposeful learning Board, particularly if they have a environment, combined with a finance background. If readers know thriving extra-curricular programme of any suitable candidates please makes Walney School one that contact me directly on students, parents and staff are [email protected] proud to have at the heart of our I have asked each Headteacher Island community. to give me a sentence to sum up It is clear fom these quotes how their school:- similar the values and priorities of • QKS combines academic excellence our three otherwise quite diverse for all students with unparalleled schools are. extra-curricular opportunities to develop all aspects of our students’ Stephen Wilkinson News | 3 Create, Connect and Share Respect

A better internet startsthe sew raps iwetre hperfo rmyed oin a Yu ear 7 “rap battle” judged by the streetwise, Mrs Stockdale and Mr Cubiss. Congratulations go out to 7W who were the overall winners in a closely fought contest. The raps were very well performed and had a consistent message about internet safety.

Mr D Cubiss, Deputy Headteacher

Safer Internet Day 2018 was the word about how to protect yourself celebrated globally on Tuesday 6th online. Safer Internet was the theme for February with the slogan “Create, all assemblies throughout the week and Connect and Share Respect: A better all students in all year groups received internet starts with you”. advice on how to avoid danger on Social Walney School joined more than a Media. For example, the importance of thousand organisations across the UK restricting privacy settings and how to and got involved to help inspire a report abuse were two of the messages national conversation about using given. ICT lessons throughout the week technology responsibly, respectfully, had a Safer Internet theme and one of the critically and creatively. topics covered was how to avoid Year 7 led the way on Safer Internet becoming a victim of online fraud. Using Day, by promoting a better use of the ICT lessons allowed students to receive a internet by writing their top tips on signs more in depth knowledge of how to keep and posting them on the school themselves safe. Finally, Year 7 wrote Facebook and Twitter accounts to spread Raps to get the message out there and

have been happy to be able to put their and our Heads of Year will be leading this, sick buckets away and Walney School building on the success of our “Christmas have been pleased to see our classes cinema afternoon” in which, over three back up to full strength. Thanks go out to hundred students watched a movie with all parents for endeavouring to get their popcorn thrown in for good measure. children back into school as quickly as Parents need to be aware though, possible and this has helped minimise any term time holidays are to be avoided at all disruption to learning. With the difficult costs, not only because of the impact on times behind us and Summer on its way, their child’s education but that no holidays A sickness bug and the flu sweeping attendance should continue to improve. can be authorised. Also, Local across the Furness peninsula has made Congratulations go out to anyone that Authority now have a policy of this term difficult in terms of school has 100% attendance since September prosecuting for school absence due to attendance but after what seemed to be and this is an excellent achievement. taking term time holidays. a tricky couple of weeks attendance is Rewards afternoons will take place for now back on track and rising again. each year group in the last week of term Mr D Cubiss, Deputy Headteacher Parents of those children affected must 4 | News

BRATHAY OUTDOOR CENTRE

30 of our budding student leaders in becoming student leaders. This was and enjoy new experiences. Mrs Grace were given a fantastic opportunity when the start of a formal programme of commented that the students were they spent 2 full days and nights at training which will support them to absolutely brilliant and that they were very Brathay outdoor centre on a cold and become leaders in our school. brave and supportive of each other. wet, but fabulous weekend! Throughout the weekend students Everyone had a truly amazing time. Walney School has been working in were involved in a variety of activities, Most importantly, the team at Brathay partnership with Brathay to develop the such as ghyll scrambling, high rope said that our Walney students were leadership skills of our students through a walking and whaling boats, which aimed brilliant! Well done to everyone who variety of teambuilding experiences which to develop leadership and teambuilding took part. are highly valued by future employers. skills, self-confidence and self– We offered this latest opportunity to awareness, enable students to take Mrs A Redshaw, Deputy Headteacher students who had expressed an interest responsibility for themselves and others, News | 5

Walney SchoThe oWalnely ScRhool Reewawrds Scahemerdnumsber s tShat wcill beh preseentemd. Heade s of continues to go from strength to strength Year will be running their Reward with record numbers of rewards being Afternoons during the last week of term awarded to students for everything from and congratulations to any student that good work to performing in the school qualifies for these. show. Mrs Lourie has been ordering the The Rewards Shop continues to take hundreds of badges needed to distribute orders and our students seem intent on to students in reward themed assemblies spending their reward points as quickly as this week. There are bound to be some possible and the vast number of points Easter Eggs given out too. 100% awarded shows that this recent attendance certificates will be given out introduction to our school has been a but the sickness bug has reduced the resounding success.

We thank you wholeheartedly for your Congoinhg supaport rof oiur tchariitaeble s Headteacher fundraising, as it continues to go from strength to strength. This year to date, we have been fortunate to have been able to donate over £3000 to local and national charities, such as: MacMillan, Cancer Research UK, Children in Need, Boxes of Hope, Mind in Furness and Chris Walks the UK amongst many others, whilst also supporting events in our local community. Our recent bake sale in aid of ‘Mind in Furness’ was a great success and we are proud to have donated £200 to this important local charity, which supports local people with mental health concerns. Thank you to everyone who bought, baked and sold on the day – this was very much appreciated. Well done Walney School!

Mrs Magee, Charities Committee

Senior

SOtur Yuear 1d1 Seneior Sntudetnts cs ontinue to support the wider life of the school and support many different groups of younger students, whilst also developing their own leadership skills and experiences. In Departments, students have been working hard to develop support and extra-curricular activities for our Key Stage 3 students at lunchtimes and after partnerships, which are really fantastic to They really do go above and beyond! school. From Science club to Basketball, see in action Our Heads and Deputies are also the opportunities are amazing! You may have seen our students embarking upon a new project to develop Year 7 students are also supported welcoming you at Parent’s Evenings and the personalisation of the shared spaces brilliantly by our Mentors who spend time to our Open events – I am incredibly in our school, particularly in our new each week supporting with reading and proud of our Senior Students on the ‘front building. Do watch this space for news literacy, as well as numeracy. All students line’ who give up their time readily to as this progresses; it promises to be are benefitting from these great support us in our whole school events. very exciting! 6 | News

TA recehnt arteicle in TWhe Guardian lneidyentify inRg theire strenagthsd and airenas forg WCalnheya Falcltse: nge newspaper identified that ‘the big development in reading. challenge for teachers is not simply in addition to this, students are given getting students to read – it's getting 10 minutes reading time every afternoon them to enjoy it too.’ This is something during registration so, along with literacy 1,483 books So far this year, our Key Stage 3 we are sure many parents struggle with lessons, that equates to 1 hour and 50 students have read 1,483 books. as well, so we have been working hard to minutes reading time every school week. That equates to 28,208,718 words! achieve this at Walney School. We also know that a range of texts are read within lessons across the curriculum, So, what have we been doing? so reading permeates all aspects of of our students said they This year we introduced a 1 hour discrete school life here at Walney. carry on reading, even literacy lesson for all students in Key In English, all of our Schemes of 66% when they find it difficult. Stage 3. During these lessons, students Work at Key Stage 3 are underpinned by read books from the Accelerated Reading literature texts. In all years, students read Programme and then take online quizzes a range of novels, short stories, plays to test their understanding. This is a great and poems. Some of the department’s favourites are ‘Our Day Out’ by 26 .1% way for teachers to monitor students’ of our Key Stage 3 students said that Willy Russell, Shakespeare’s ‘The comprehension skills and all students they read every day outside class. Tempest’ and ‘Noughts and Crosses’ have received a diagnostic report, 39.7% said they read once or more by Malorie Blackman. times a week. World Book Day! This year’s WBD was celebrated on the 1st Year 11 Peer Mentors March. We marked the day in several ways, Many of our students are developing a including form time competitions, lunchtime life-long love of learning and they are activities in the library and literary quizzes in helping to pass that on to our younger English lessons. students. Every Wednesday, Year 11 All departments were keen to get involved and peer mentors read with students in publicise WBD, so all teachers read W. W. Years 7 and 8, discussing their books Jacobs’ ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ to students in 5 and helping students to develop instalments throughout the day. Some lucky analytical and interpretative skills. students even got to watch The Simpson’s Hallowe’en special in their last lesson of the day.

ccording to The Reading Agency, 's children have less positive Reading Facts: attitudes towards reading than in many Research shows that reading for other countries: only 26% of 10 year-olds pleasure can reduce the symptoms of Our Unsung Reading Heroes 'like reading' compared to 46% in depression, build empathy and help us Every break and lunchtime, Miss Preston build relationships with others. Portugal, 42% in Georgia, 35% in is supported in the library by a group of Romania, and 33% in Azerbaijan. hardworking, enthusiastic students However, in a recent Literacy Trust survey • Encourage your child to read librarians. Not only do they help students undertaken in school, 44.8% of Walney biographies about successful people. to choose books and help out with the students said they enjoy reading very • Be proud of your child’s success organising of events, but we can also rely much or quite a lot. in reading on them to be friendly faces for everyone • Encourage your child to be a regular who visits the library. Huge thanks to What you can do at home library user, at school and in the Jocelyn Martin, Ebony Chatburn, Alex Here are some tips for supporting your local library Stephens, Rachael Rogerson, Emily Hollywell and Caitlyn Taylor. child with their reading: • Give books for presents. • Make reading fun! Ensure that all their reading experiences are enjoyable A final thought… • Read anything and everything. Reading Getting praise is great but overhearing is about books and more: someone praising you feels even advertisements, newspapers, recipes etc better; let your child overhear you • Encourage your child to discuss books praising their reading skills. they have read and enjoyed News | 7

Competition

WFor Woirldn Bookn Day, ewe asrked random, but couldn’t be more students to tell us ‘who has been an deserving. Thank you Brooke-Leah inspirational and amazing woman in Grieve for telling us all about your life?’ We were overwhelmed with how inspirational your nanna is. heartfelt responses from students, We hope she gets better soon and telling us about their mums, grans, that she enjoys reading your copy sisters, cousins and best friends. of ‘The Anthology of Amazing Our winner was chosen at Women’ with you.

Recently we enjoyed welcoming Nathaniel Pattinson (World Champion) to Pdeliver aE wheelchair basketball workshop. The students thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Other sporting success includes the U16 boys making it to the Barrow Schools final, as well as the U15 girls reaching the County Cup final. Finally the Year 10 BTEC group were particularly fortunate as Furness College allowed them access to use the gym to complete their exercises programme. Here is what they had to say about the experience: ‘For part of our BTEC course, the Year 10 BTEC students took part in a 6 week programme that we had designed ourselves. On a Thursday afternoon we travelled to Furness College gym and spent our double period completing our circuits. Our aim was to improve the results we had obtained from the pre- tests the week before our programs began. At the end of the 6 weeks we took part in a variety of post-tests to see if we had improved.

We asked a few students that took I would happily do it again.” part in this programme what their Overall our gym experience was personal experience was like. Finlay challenging and hard work, however, Goodings stated “It was fun and I got to it was a good experience which we use machines I had never used before. all enjoyed.” This programme has helped me to Mr Baker, PE Department improve my muscular endurance and 8 | News

The Walney School Revision Clock exam questions and testing their At the end of a revision session Rsets out ethe mosat effectidve way tyo kfnowloedge. Wre enco uraRge studenets to vstudentis nesed to cihecok their an swers tackle revision, whether you have an make revision cards, mindmaps and to by using their notes or revision books hour or just 30 minutes. We hope that organise their notes in brief – but this and using purple pens to correct or this makes clear to students that they must be followed by testing as this add to their answers. need to spend at least half of their helps commit their knowledge to long revision time practising how to answer term memory. News | 9

E-mentoring PBrighotsideg trarineda a nmumberm of induestry for skYills re1quir0ed byb emoployyers s mentors who have been mentoring our • To increase students’ interest in and students over a 12 week period via an online awareness of their future options site. Our boys have engaged extremely well • To support students to overcome any with the programme and have been in barriers to achieving their next steps regular contact with their mentors. This has been an exciting opportunity The programme has the following objectives: which we believe will be of great benefits to We are delighted that 20 of our Y10 boys our boys, supporting them to reach their were selected to take part in an e-mentoring • To raise aspirations, motivation and full potential in their chosen future pathway. programme run by Brightside, in build students’ confidence collaboration with Hello Future. • To support students to develop key Mrs A Redshaw, Deputy Headteacher

linking to their future career options. need to develop in order to achieve their Hello FutuNicrola aesked theY studen9ts to t hinWk big doreamsr. Tkhese isncludhed coommunp ication, about their futures – What would you teamwork, physical skills, creativity, attempt if you knew you could not fail? Our organisation, technological skills, learning, students responded with some imaginative entrepreneurial and research skills. Nicola Speirs and Rachel Kipling from ideas about their future – they plan to be This was a great opportunity for our Hello Future worked with our Y9 students entrepreneurs, pilots, doctors, vets, Y9 students to think about what they on the day that they received their option engineers, chefs… We were very want to do in their career and to reflect forms, to help them focus on their future impressed with the range of career choices. on how to gain the skills they will need. careers. The workshop aimed to explore Nicola and Rachel then supported Many thanks to Hello Future for students’ interests, skills and talents students to think about the skills they will their support.

TOn the h8th of February, Stargazers the students at ease. Next it was The Stargazers were invited time for an official photograph with to the official opening of the Countess, which was later Annie Mawsons, Sunbeams, posted on the royal Twitter music therapy centre at account gaining over 4 million Penrith, to perform for her followers. After the performance, Royal Highness Sophie the group went into the main Wessex. We were delighted performing hall where there were to be joined by a former various children and adults who member of Walney school also performed for the Countess. staff, Mr Armstrong, who had A fantastic day was had by all, previously worked with I’m sure it’s an experience that The Stargazers. will never be forgotten. The Stargazers had written their own just a case of waiting patiently for the royal Well done to you all. song called ‘Bystander’ just a few weeks visitor to arrive. Although a little nervous The Stargazers are currently working beforehand. Bystander is a song about The Stargazers gave an absolutely flawless on a new song, so watch out for future bullying, it was written to highlight that it is performance of Bystander….stars in the performances. not alright to just stand by and watch making! I was very proud of each and The Stargazers are: Ben Cihlar, bullying no matter what form it is and that it every student with the way they conducted Sammy Howard, Jamie Harrison, Enzo is fine to be different as everyone is themselves for the whole day. Wilkinson, Mark Kendall, Sam Rowlands, individual. Once we had arrived at the Once the performance was over the Karrie Ann Stephenson & Euan Spooner. Sunbeams centre we set up the Countess took time to speak to each instruments and equipment, then it was student about their role in the band, putting Mrs D Metcalfe, Pupil Support Dept 10 | News CUPCAKE FEST

The move from Primary to Secondary Another successful transition event. Well School is a huge step for the young people done Year 5! Not only were we really in our community. Here at Walney School we impressed with your culinary skills but also are committed to ensuring the transition is as the way you worked together to clean and smooth as it possibly can be. Getting to put everything away in record time. The only know our future students is incredibly salted caramel and fudge aromas floating evidence that you were actually here were important to us. Our comprehensive down the school corridors were an absolute the hundreds and thousands and mini transition programme not only enables us to delight, tickling everyone’s taste buds! marshmallows that trailed down the corridor visit pupils in their own Primary Schools but Next, we hosted the Year 5 pupils from on your way out!! to invite pupils across to Walney School to Mrs Anderson’s South Walney class. Once The ‘Cupcake Fest’ continues over the take part in a variety of fun, enjoyable events. again, pupils were incredibly keen and next few weeks. We look forward to Following our enormously successful worked exceptionally well, both welcoming Barrow Island, North Walney, Great Walney Year 6 Bake Off last term, it is independently and as part of a team, to and St George’s Schools after now Year 5s turn to shine. produce first class products worthy of any Easter. Over the course of eight weeks, our supermarket shelf. Other events to look forward to in our local feeder schools were invited to The following week we welcomed thirty transition programme include a Year 5 participate in our Year 5 ‘Cupcake Fest’. Year 5 pupils from Mr Reid’s St James class. ‘Experience Day’, Year 5 ‘Taster Day’, a Pupils were tasked to design, bake and Pupils arrived full of excitement, ready for the World Cup 6 a-side Yr5/6 inter school decorate a cupcake that could be sold in a challenge ahead. It was a pleasure to see football tournament, Year 6 ‘Transition Days’, local bakery or supermarket. pupils who had never baked a cake before, invites to our school production of First up were Mrs McKintyre’s class from rustle up some impressive looking Mary Poppins and the annual Walney’s Got South Walney School, and they certainly did cupcakes. The immense pride they felt was Talent event. not disappoint. Before we knew it, sleeves evident by their huge chocolatey smiles as were rolled up, aprons were on, hands were they headed back to their primary school. Mrs K Stockdale, Head of Year 7 washed and they were whisking away! The News | 11

Way back before Christmas I was sat in the Library listening to two very Litter Pick enthusiastic Year 7 boys. They were discussing ways they could help the local environment after learning about waste and recycling in BPE with Miss Ward. I asked the boys if they would be interested in a community litter pick with the help of the Borough Council. The boys jumped at the offer and so began our litter pick journey. Last month we finally had our plan of action and a rare sunny February afternoon; a group of Year 7 students and Josh from Year 10 set off to the beach with litter grabbers and bin bags at the ready. A big thank you to Peter from the Council’s street care team who had provided us with the equipment, discussed recycling with the students and took away our bags of collected rubbish at the end of the session. The students were joined by Miss Ward, myself, local Borough Councillors and members of the Rotary Club. The visitors were impressed by our student’s enthusiasm to help clean our environment and promote the importance of keeping our beaches clean. Thank you to all for taking time out of their days to help out. Our students have a clear message- keep our beaches tidy, take your rubbish with you and bin your rubbish. We can all help to keep our environment tidy. In the summer we hope to repeat the litter pick as the students and helpers had a rewarding day. We hope we can help raise awareness about the importance of keeping our communities tidy and helping wage war on the increasing plastic problem plaguing our beaches.

Miss H Preston, Librarian 12

We have recently launched a ski trip for SKI TREastIer 2018P and places are still available. The total cost of the trip is £800 per student . This is a fantastic price as it includes: • Ski Tuition- 6 day (4 hours per day) by fully qualified English speaking instructors On the Saturday 16th December 2017 fantastic Interski instructors to begin their 32 students from Year 8 to 11 embarked 5 day ski course on the mountain. Our • Lift pass (6 days) on the long coach journey to Pila in the advanced skiers wasted no time in • Ski and boot hire Aosta valley in Italy. Less than 24 hours getting up to the top of the mountain and later we emerged from the Mt Blanc make their most of powder conditions. • Half-board accommodation at the Hotel tunnel to a winter wonderland scene that Meanwhile, our beginner groups became Le Clou (hot lunch at a mountain would not look out of place on a masters in how to fall over on the nursery restaurant each day) Christmas card. The first thing on our slopes. • Outward and inward bound breakfast menu was a stop off for lunch at a local Over the next 5 days the advanced pizza restaurant before everybody was skiers became more advanced and the • Executive coach travel fitted out with their ski boots, ski’s and ski beginners began to emerge further and • Travel insurance (comprehensive winter poles at Interski. further up the mountain. In-between all of sport insurance) The next morning we awoke to fresh this we managed to squeeze in a 10 pin snowfall, something our students had not bowling night, a disco in a local nightclub, • Apres ski activities (e.g. bowling, experienced for sometime. The first a trip to the Christmas market, an all you Pizza night, Disco, presentation evening, exciting experience was the Gondola ride can eat Italian meal and a ski presentation swimming) to Pila which gave fantastic panoramic evening. The highlight of the trip was the Please contact My Barton if you would views from Mt Blanc, Monta Rosa to final run of the week where all of our like further details. the Matterhorn. group skied from the top of the mountain Each group was greeted by our to the bottom as a group.