For show- stealing pictures Newsletter ...turn to pages 8 and 9 Summer 2018 No. 57 Pupils piece together birthday birdbath at Rose Court Rose Court pupils have marked GSAL’s 10th birthday by creating a beautiful and lasting memorial to a former pupil.

Taking daffodils as their theme - flowers often associated with 10th anniversary celebrations - the children created a mosaic birdbath. This will have a permanent home in a daffodil garden which was planted in the grounds of the school in 1994 in memory of Catherine Apps, a Y8 pupil at Girls’ High School. Her mother, June Apps, who taught Pupils (back) Athena Cooper and Yuvraj Thakker, both Reception, (front) Jennifer Rogerson and Shaheer Abdul-Halim, both Nursery, show the birdbath to June Apps (second right), chemistry at Leeds Girls’ High School with Bev Nicholaides (left) and Bernadette Butler (right) from 1992 to 2007, visited Rose Court to meet some of the children and to see the birdbath, in which each pupil had placed to the present in such a special year- Bev said: “We decided on the a piece of mosaic. evidence that GSAL both nurtures its birdbath to provide a colourful focal She said: “The birdbath is current pupils and still remembers and point for children to observe visiting beautiful - a combination of wonderful cares for its former ones.” birds. We hope the children will be able creativity by the children and touching The birdbath project was led by to stimulate their inquisitive minds and thoughtfulness of the staff. I am teaching assistants Bev Nicholaides and their love of nature.” delighted there is a link from the past Bernadette Butler.

Meet the new student leadership team The new student leadership The students, currently in Y12, head up a team has been announced sixth form team of school prefects, faith leaders, faculty leaders and house captains. with Toby Kunin, Josh As well as being important role models to Borlant, Niharika Manu and all students, their responsibilities include Nicole Smith stepping into representing the school at events and (L-R): Josh Borlant, Nicole Smith, Niharika Manu and Toby Kunin their roles this term. facilitating good communication between staff and students.

@TheGSAL GSAL life Summer 2018 Paralympian tells students of her race to sporting success

Paralympian and world record holder Hannah Cockcroft MBE gave an insight into the ups and downs of her sporting life on a visit to sixth form students.

On the upside, Hannah has enjoyed phenomenal success as a wheelchair racer, winning multiple world championship and Paralympic titles, but on the downside the pressure and public profile this brings can take its toll. Hannah Cockcroft is pictured with Y12 students (L-R) : Georgia Turton, Emma Hope, Sam Slater and Ishak Rouf Telling her story from playing wheelchair basketball and seated discus in her teens, to breaking five tribute to her family, the coaches and be happy being you world records as a wheelchair racer and many others who have helped her The talk, one of a series by combining her training with studying for along the way; take every opportunity - inspirational speakers, was part of a degree, Hannah left the audience with Hannah needed persuading to try a race ‘Aspire’ at GSAL, a programme designed three things to take from her life story: chair when she was invited to a talent to enhance the sixth form experience Build your team - Hannah paid ID day at Loughborough University; and beyond the curriculum.

Oxbridge on offer for GSAL students A lucky 13 students are celebrating In addition, a student who left last summer has secured a place at Cambridge, making a total of 14 destined for the conditional offers from Oxbridge ‘dreaming spires’ after GSAL. Of the seven students holding offers from Oxford, three colleges after successful interviews. will be reading history - David Alexander at Keble College, Matthew Andersen at Christ Church and Arthur Bainbridge at New College. Lucy Burgin has an offer for German at Worcester College, Harry Gearty for philosophy, politics and economics at Oriel College, Sanjana Gunasekaran for law with European law at Brasenose College and Lexy Shipley for medicine at Worcester College. Holding offers from Cambridge are: Samantha Creswick with a place at Downing College for English, Ciaran Duggan for mathematics at Girton, Nikhil Scott for history at Christ’s College and Bushra Tellisi for architecture at Emmanuel College. Two have offers from Gonville and Back (L-R): Thomas Morgan, Ciaran Duggan, Lucy Burgin, David Alexander, Caius College - Thomas Morgan for engineering and Betsy Sanjana Gunasekaran and Matthew Andersen; front (L-R): Lexy Shipley, Bushra Perry for law. Mohammed Gillani, who left GSAL last year, Tellisi, Betsy Perry, Harry Gearty, Samantha Creswick and Nikhil Scott has an offer for English at Trinity Hall.

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Message from the Principal NSPCC award

This latest edition of GSAL Life for GSAL’s junior comes after the sudden loss of Derek Fry, a much loved and respected teacher of physics and fundraisers astronomy at GSAL for over 30 years. Derek’s touch was truly The spectacular fundraising efforts inspirational and the students’ achievements were always of the of pupils in Junior School have utmost importance to him. In fact he dedicated his prestigious award been recognised at the NSPCC’s from the Royal Astronomical Childhood Champion Awards. Society to them last year.

Derek loved all aspects of school life, not just science, so this edition is dedicated to him. From news of challenges and competitions across all year groups and subjects, to the concerts and productions celebrated in these pages, he would have been so proud of all that the students have achieved. We scattered Derek’s ashes, as he wished, under a new beech tree overlooking the 1st XI cricket pitch. As it happens, that means he also looks over the campus as a Recipients of NSPCC Outstanding School of the Year awards, including head of GSAL Junior School Robert whole; like Ulysses in Tennyson’s poem, Lilley (back left) and Y6 pupils Chloe O’Brien and Oliver Lumb (front), pictured with NSPCC Chief Executive Derek will continue to be ‘a part of all that Peter Wanless (front) and NSPCC patron Sophie, Countess of Wessex (back right) he has met’. He will always be part of GSAL. One of his former students, now a retired doctor, passed on the most The NSPCC named GSAL one of their Oliver Lumb, received the award at a important advice that Derek ever gave him: ‘outstanding schools of the year’ ceremony in London, and received a ‘remember: only other people matter’. following the junior pupils’ sponsored certificate signed by the Countess of So in this edition, featuring service to spelling championship earlier this year, Wessex, the NSPCC’s patron. others and tremendous fundraising, not which raised £7,247.13 for the charity. Mr Lilley said: “Thank you for this least for the NSPCC in Junior School, I Pupils in Y3 to 6 took part, having award, which will mean so much to our hope that Derek would have been proud been inspired to fundraise for the pupils as recognition for their that the school he loved so much aims to NSPCC after volunteers from the magnificent fundraising effort. We do exactly that, year in, year out. charity delivered a Speak Out Stay Safe were very proud of their hard work assembly in school. practising their spellings and finding Sue Woodroofe Head of Junior School Robert Lilley sponsors, all motivated by their desire Principal and two Y6 pupils, Chloe O’Brien and to raise funds to help other children.”

3 GSAL life Summer 2018

also won awards for best company report, Mad Hatters get ahead in West best trade fair marketing and best company presentation. Their range of hats changed Yorkshire student enterprise scheme with the seasons – stylish woolly hats in winter and individually tie-dyed bucket hats as hopes grew of warmer weather. The students all took positions in the company such as managing director, marketing, finance or social media director. LEAP is the Leeds Enterprise Advisory Programme, a social enterprise which enables students to set up their own companies for a school year, raising their own share capital, choosing and sourcing a product, writing a business plan and marketing their product. Other GSAL companies also picked up awards, including: • Tekniik - Powerhouse Award for Best Company Website Designed by a LEAP Company and Miles Mount Award for Best Logo • Spectrum - Brown Butler Award for Best Mad Hatters LEAP company: back (L-R): Andrew Robinson, Robert Southby, Emma Johnson, Gabrielle Jackson Administered Company and Powerhouse and George Piper; front (L-R): Nathan Rockley, Tom White, Orla Hendron, Anna Tinsley and Manasvi Tyagi Award for Best use of Social Media • Sulaiman – LEAP Board Highly Members of student-run company Mad Yorkshire’s secondary school pupils. Commended Special Award (most Hatters showed they had heads for business Mad Hatters, run by 10 Y12 students, improved company over the year) by scooping four accolades at the 11th won LEAP’s top prize, the Westcom • Chameleon – individual award to annual LEAP awards, which recognise Networks Award: Best LEAP Enterprise Rohan Karthik (most outstanding budding entrepreneurship amongst West Company 2018, for their hat business. They company member in the LEAP process)

Who knew science (L-R): Bushra Tellisi, could be so cute? Aiman Zaidi, Adnan Akhtar, Husna Mahmood and Nema Saeed

Students pull together Akhtar, Aiman Zaidi and Bushra Tellisi. They were supported by Mrs to support the Nema Saeed, individual needs teaching Rohingya community assistant and Muslim faith coordinator, and a team of around 20 student Students in the Islamic Society have volunteers who stepped in to help. teamed up in a fundraising effort to The students received help and George Henderson with one of the chicks support Rohingyan people displaced donations from across the local from their homes in Myanmar. community, meaning that most of the All together now – awww! An evening of family fun held at ticket money could be donated directly to the school raised £3,085 for the charity the charity. My Lahore restaurant donated Y5 pupils took delivery of a batch of Penny Appeal, which will use these the food and Starbucks donated coffee, fertilised eggs as part of their science vital funds to provide food, clothes, while parents and others gave items for studies into life cycles and were excited to blankets, hygiene items, water and an auction and materials for games, watch the incubation and hatching process. shelter for Rohingyan refugees. crafts and other activities. Live musical After hatching, the chicks were given The event was organised by Y13 entertainment was provided by sixth warmth, light, food, water and plenty of students Husna Mahmood, Adnan form band The Aerials. attention from pupils and staff alike!

4 No. 57 GSAL life Medals and merits for young mathematicians The numbers have been crunched and the results are in for this year’s maths challenges! Tij Kapote Tij Kapote Y9 was the stand out young Intermediate Kangaroo, an honour limited mathematician at GSAL, achieving to the top 5,000 in each year group. distinction and a medal in the Three GSAL students were among Intermediate Olympiad and placing him the top 25 per cent to qualify for a merit in the top 100 Y9 students worldwide. certificate, Ted Borland Y11, and Y9 The Olympiad is one of a series of students Luke Rawsthorne and James Cai. challenges set by the United Kingdom Younger students also excelled in Mathematics Trust (UKMT). These start the Junior Maths Challenge, with eight with multiple choice papers for different gold certificates awarded. Katya Rawat year groups, from which the most Y8 and Yuan Xu Y7 topped their year successful candidates are invited to groups and earned invitations to the enter more challenging follow-on rounds. Junior Olympiad. Oli Whitaker Y8, Jess A further 11 students did well enough Townsend Y8 and Rohan Ratnalingam in the Individual Intermediate Maths scored highly enough to progress to the (L-R): Luke Rawsthorne, Ted Borland and James Cai Challenge to earn an invitation to sit the Junior Kangaroo.

GSAL Jazz Ensemble, directed by Adrian Knowles, was the A first for first ever winner of the new ‘Jazz combo’ class at Harrogate Competitive Festival of Music, Speech and Drama. GSAL jazz The eight players, from Y10 to Y13, performed two pieces, Splanky and The Chicken. Adjudicator Andrew Padmore commended the octet for their “vibrant sound with lots of variety and colour” and their “very good sense of ensemble” as well as individual commitment in the improvised solos. There were individual wins for GSAL pupils too, most notably for pianist Yuan Xu Y7 who was named Young Musician of the Festival for his performance of Prelude No 1 by Gershwin and Fantaisie Impromptu by Chopin. Pianist Emma Johnson Y12 won the Chopin class while GSAL guitarists enjoyed a string of successes, including Craig Bonnar Y11, winner of the classical guitar solo open class, and Tej Singh Y7 and Leo Mountain Y5 who won the solo classes for their age groups. The GSAL Jazz Ensemble are (LL-R): Mark Voice, Charlie Wu, Ciaran Duggan, Daniel Cockburn, Tom Morgan, Robert Southby, Harin Wijayathunga and Ben Wyard

Rose Court pupils study plants in stunning surroundings Y1 pupils spent a fantastic day at RHS cycle of a plant and were given their own Harlow Carr to support their science lettuce plant to take home. work on plants. There was also time to explore the The children had the chance to touch stunning gardens and produce an a range of seeds including the world’s observational drawing of a plant of Annabel Gee chose these colourful tulips to draw largest. They also found out about the their choice.

5 GSAL life Summer 2018 Y4 test their fieldwork Zak lands skills at Nell Bank coveted

Geography fieldwork skills were put the river speed and the underlying accountancy to the test when Y4 pupils visited Nell currents below the surface. Bank in Ilkley. They also learned how rivers behave apprenticeship The day included a walk through and saw the deposition of rocks on the bluebell woods to the River Wharfe, river’s meander, as well as using their map Zak Megson has come where the children enjoyed a game of work skills to help solve the orienteering through months of tests ‘Pooh sticks’ and saw for themselves challenge around the Nell Bank site. and interviews to land a sought-after school leavers apprenticeship with leading accountancy firm PwC.

The Y13 student was one of 126,000 hopefuls who applied for 126 places nationwide and is delighted with his success. He said: “After A-levels I wanted a hands-on experience rather than university and, as I want to go into finance and business, this seemed the fastest way to do it. What stood out for me about PwC is that they give all apprentices the same opportunities as they give graduates.”

A group of Y4 pupils at Nell Bank He admitted that the application process was tough with an online psychometric test, an assessment day including a group exercise, a written task and another psychometric test before a formal interview. Zak takes up his new role in Linguists go nuts for September and will study for an Association of Chartered Accountants Nutty Tilez challenge (ACA) qualification. The fast-paced online language entered the French and Spanish competition Nutty Tilez is enough to competitions respectively in the fun make many students crack under the 56-hour global challenge where they pressure but two GSAL students have had to recall and type words quickly finished in the top three in the world. to master each level before moving Siblings Ilana and Sam Pearce to the next. Over 8,500 students worldwide competed, and Ilana Y13 came 2nd in the French competition while Sam Y11 came 3rd in Spanish. Nutty Tilez is run twice a year by Thisislanguage.com, for students learning French, Spanish, German, Italian, English and Latin vocabulary. They play against their own classmates and students around the world, with real time

Sam and Ilana Pearce scores on the leaderboard driving Zak Megson the spirit of competition.

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The Y6 trip to France Y6 get a taste of French life A visit to France gave Junior During the trip to northern France, for museum of the Somme in Albert; the 44 Y6 pupils and six staff, they also took Lochnagar crater; and the Canadian School pupils the chance to part in outdoor pursuits in the grounds Memorial in Beaumont Hammel where put their French language of the 18th century chateau where they trenches have been preserved. skills into practice, ordering stayed, visited Amiens Cathedral and The pupils also laid a wreath at the saw working snail and goat farms. Thiepval Memorial, where they found drinks in a café and shopping A full day was dedicated to visiting the names of 14 Leeds for lunch in the local market. World War One sites, including the old boys who fell in the Great War.

Pupils put their shopping and cooking skills to the test Y1 pupils at Rose Court enjoyed a fun their change. Having written out their filled ‘food week’ which included recipes, they followed the instructions to shopping for ingredients, preparing food, prepare, peel and cut the food then cook cooking dishes and selling them to raise it, ready for the food sale. money for the charity, Felicia’s Courage. A highlight of the week was a visit The busy week started with a visit to from Francesco Mazella, chef and owner

Y1 cooks get ready for the kitchen Waitrose where they bought the necessary of restaurant Casa Mia, who helped the ingredients, paid with coins and checked children to make delicious bread.

A happy time for one and all at the ugly bug ball…

Nursery children celebrated their the bumble bees, spiders, ladybirds minibeast topic in style when they held and butterflies spent a fun day doing their very own ugly bug ball! minibeast themed activities. Dressed as their favourite insects,

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Oliver leaves audience wanting more!

Orphans and Mr Bumble, played by Nigel Day

Reviewer Lauren McGaun Y12 praised GSAL music and drama served up a superb the versatility of the cast, the musical production of Oliver! The Musical, with talent and the atmospheric scenes created by the tech team, and concluded: a talented cast of student actors and “Please, GSAL Arts, we want some more!” Read Lauren’s full review on the Mr Nigel Day ably supported by a full GSAL website https://bit.ly/2ILQAXk orchestra of students and music teachers, and visit @theGSAL on Facebook for a photo album. (Photos by and expert stage managers. Steve Bootle Photography)

Oliver and Artful Dodger – Tom Kelly Y9 and Rhys Gannon Y10

Nancy, Fagin and Sikes – Lucy-Anne Olutayo-Daniels Curtain call Y11, George Foster Y12 and Oliver Pickering Y12

8 No. 57 GSAL life GSAL’s artists and designers showcase their work

GSAL’s annual exhibition of art and design projects celebrated the creative talents of GCSE and A-level students. The exhibition opened with a viewing evening for family and friends, and remained on display in the following weeks for the enjoyment of fellow students, staff and visitors.

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Making music in Junior School The summer term has been incredibly busy in the Junior School music department with music-making days, performances and a whole- school competition.

Rose Court Y2 choir joined the Y5/6 performance choir, Y3/4 musical theatre Robert Tebb (front right) and competition winner Yuan Xu (2nd right), with the finalists group, Junior School boys choir and Junior in the 10th Tebb competition and first-ever winner David Franklin (back row, left) School wind band for a wonderful afternoon of music-making which included many uplifting songs from well-loved musicals. A small group of Y6 children from the Founder of ‘The performance choir sang at St Gemma’s Hospice accompanied by Mrs Pawley and Mrs Parkin. The audience were treated to songs from musicals including Mary Leeds’ shares ten Poppins, The Sound of Music, Joseph and Moana. There were also instrumental performances from Philippa Cross, years of the Tebb Anoushka Wilson, Gabby Winfield, Deeya Bhatacharjee, Rosie Rowlands, Eva Prenowitz, Emily Mayrick, Imaan Effendi and Aleeza Effendi. This year was a special birthday edition of the All children in Junior School have also taken part in the House music competition, Robert Tebb Piano Competition which was where everyone either sang or played a piece to their class. In the final they performed inaugurated during GSAL’s first academic year. in front of the whole school and each House also performed as a House choir. David Franklin, the first ever winner of This year’s adjudicator was concert the competition, came back to school pianist Cecilia Xi who said she to present the prize to the 10th winner thoroughly enjoyed listening to the 11 while the first adjudicator, Dame finalists playing a wide range of Fanny Waterman, spent the morning repertoire from jazz to classical. of her 98th birthday listening to this Yuan’s winning programme was the year’s talented young pianists. contrasting Mozart’s Sonata in Bb 1st David, who won the inaugural movement K333 and Gershwin’s competition as a Y12 student in 2009, Prelude for Piano no 1. presented this year’s prize to Y7 pupil He received £300 and a cup, thanks Yuan Xu, the youngest-ever winner. to the generosity of Robert Tebb, House music winners are (L-R): Jessica Joy, Charlotte Runner-up was also a Y7 pupil, Ben Kelly. alumnus of Leeds Grammar School. Williams, Tehan Devinuwera and Isobella Mediratta

Left: (L-R): Alana Patel, Royal wedding fever Lottie Gray, Lucia Peecock and Elsa Parker comes to Rose Court with the ‘Queen’! Reception and nursery pupils celebrated Harry Right: Liam Li and Meghan’s big day by staging their own Royal and Amelia Curle wedding at Rose Court. ‘exchange rings’ while bridesmaid Sophie After learning about the Royal family and McDermott looks on wedding traditions, the children dressed up and had plenty of fun re-enacting the special event.

10 No. 57 GSAL life Y3 plant birthday flower bed A striking floral figure 10 overlooking the cricket pitch has been planted by Y3 pupils in celebration of GSAL’s 10th birthday.

The pupils had the bright idea for the new landmark as they were enjoying studying plants in science. They even linked the project to their maths curriculum by measuring up the flower bed themselves. Grounds and gardens team leader Ian

Planting out are back Eliza Locke (left) and Emma Levelt; front Sebastian Hassan (left) and Aarav Verma Lead guided pupils through the planting process of the fragrant, lavender filled bed.

Royal celebration for seven Queen’s Scouts Seven Explorer Scouts have earned the highest award possible for a member of the Scout movement – the Queen’s Scout Award.

All seven of GSAL’s new Queen’s Scouts and the Chief Scout Bear Grylls, who both travelled to Windsor Castle for a special congratulated the scouts individually day of celebration and achievement for after the parade. The GSAL group even scouts and adult award holders nationwide. managed to grab a few photos with Bear! The event included a parade by the scouts Queen’s Scout Daniel Saveliev and a service in St George’s Chapel. expressed the group’s warm appreciation (L-R): Y13 students Alex Johnston, Daniel Saveliev, In attendance were Princess to GSAL Scout Leader Alan Naylor, who Eric Rodriguez Boidi, Kane Vyse-Peacock, Oliver Peden, Kaitlyn Miller and Sammy Chan Beatrice, representing the royal family, could not be there on the day.

Crack team of Y3 investigators solve the crime

Pupils in Y3 had all the skills needed to solve had been left behind and heard interviews the crime when they took part in a CSI-style with all of the suspects, including the Big investigation entitled Story Town – Once Upon Bad Wolf and a revolting witch. They then (L- R): Oli Yates, Sebastian Hassan, a Crime at The Rainbow Factory in Leeds. undertook finger printing, handwriting Katie Gray-Nicholson and Olive Gray After hearing the details of the crime, analysis and descriptive drawing to solve at The Rainbow Factory the children reviewed the evidence that the crime and reveal the true villain.

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GSAL life Summer 2018 SPORT

Basketball players bounce back as city champions In a first for the school, a basketball team has won a title in the sport.

The GSAL U16 team took on two other schools in the finals of the Leeds championships, hosted at Leeds Beckett Back (L-R): Adam Coukham Y11, Reeve Landau Y11, Toluwanise Olusoga Y11, Alex Evans Y11, Thomas Wighton Y10 and Yaseen Al-Hussein Y11; front (L-R): Elliot Dolan Y10, Louis Godinez Y11 and Hassan Tahir Y11 University. To reach the finals, GSAL had Team members not pictured are Petar Kocarev Y10, James Mulkern Y9 and Myles McKendrick Y9 come through the city’s northeast round, taking on six other schools from the area. In the city final, GSAL faced tough either way, however GSAL held on for There was an additional accolade matches against and the win and emerged with a first trophy for Thomas Wighton Y10, who was Corpus Christi Catholic College. The for GSAL basketball players – the Leeds named the ‘most valuable player’ in final was tight and could have gone U16 championship. the competition.

GSAL’s badminton teams court success through the season In a first for GSAL, the badminton teams have won every division in the Leeds Schools Badminton Leagues this year.

The six trophies were won by the U12 mixed team, the KS3 boys and girls, KS4 boys and girls and the senior boys (Y12 and Y13). The league titles follow on from a good run for the teams in the National Schools Championship run by Badminton England, in which three out of four teams reached the semi-finals. Congratulations to the players and thank you to their GSAL’s 2017/18 badminton players are pictured with coaches Faisal Motashar coaches Faisal Motashar, Geoff Thompson and Barry Courtman. (centre right) Geoff Thompson (back right) and Barry Courtman (back left)

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No. 57 GSAL life U13s make history in hockey

Front (L-R): Issy Moran, Rosie Robinson and Evie Webb; Henri Kumwenda centre (L-R): Hannah Guggenheim, Eliza Harker, Arabella Higgins Henri marches on and Siena Edhem; back (L–R): Izzy Aspland, with Leeds United Georgia Mayrick, Amy Burgin, Grace Bond and Jess London As Leeds United ended their (captain) Championship season with a 2-0 win over QPR at Elland Road, GSAL’s Henri Kumwenda took to the pitch for a victory parade with the U18s, having just won the northern league. The U13 girls’ hockey team made school history this year as the first GSAL The Y11 student has been training with the Leeds United team to reach the national Independent Academy throughout his time in Senior School and has now signed a two-year scholarship contract at the club, Schools Hockey Cup finals. to combine his football career with further studies after this summer’s GCSEs. On the day their impressive cup run ended with a fourth place Henri’s head of year James Veitch said: “I was thrilled to finish after the play-off match, nonetheless the girls have made be invited to see Henri and the U18s at the ground. We wish great progress this season. They also reached the northern finals Henri all the best with his future and look forward to seeing of the national England Hockey In2Hockey competition, an him play at Elland Road for the first team sometime soon!” experience to build on for senior competitions ahead.

Y9 athletes race to the top No false starts this season for the U14 boys’ athletics team who were on their marks with a major regional title just two weeks into the summer term.

The boys claimed first place at the northern HMC athletics finals held at Gateshead International Stadium. They competed in a full range of track and field events against 15 other top northern independent schools, to take Teddy Hope (centre with trophy) and (L-R): Connor Zyzak, Daniel Oyakhilomen, Dan Davy, Dan Jones, the title last won by GSAL in 2012. Sam Longfellow, Oliver Aston and Tom Flint (not pictured Charlie Wagman and Tom Grogan)

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GSAL life Summer 2018

U19 netball champions make it three in a row GSAL’s U19 netball players are national independent schools champions - for the third year running!

GSAL had their work cut out in their bid to make it three in a row, facing a tough final match against a highly competitive team from Millfield School. The team started well and stayed one step ahead for most of the match. However Millfield levelled the score twice, including in the critical closing stages forcing the game into extra time at 49 all. The competition was intense with GSAL clinching the title 59-55. GSAL’s netball players also reached the national finals of the England Netball National Schools Competition. GSAL was the only school which had a team through to the finals in all three age categories, GSAL ISNC U19 champions (L-R): Lexy Shipley, Abby Hudson, Ailsa Gorman, Sasha Bletcher, U19, U16 and U14, a feat the school has Molly Harris, Georgia Pexton, Jessie Ducker, Lindsay Fowler, Claudia Stead and Lucy Burgin achieved for the last three years. Gymnastics round-up The Junior School gymnastics club has once again enjoyed great success in this year’s competitions.

In the Key Steps events, Gabrielle Rich Three teams travelled to the HMC won a bronze medal in the Y5 and 6 Championships in Newcastle and won both competition, while in the Y3 and 4 the A and B team competitions, with the C competition the team won bronze and team winning silver. A special mention also Lulu Beaumont picked up a host of goes to Phoebe Owen for achieving the Oliver Thompson (left) and Theodore Rosenberg individual medals for her performances. individual bronze medal. Well done, girls! Success for Junior School in cross country championships

Junior School pupils had great success in this year’s finals of the Leeds School Games Cross Country competition. Six teams entered and all qualified for the finals. The Y6 boys’ and the Y4 girls’ came first in their category with fantastic performances from Jamie Youngs, Dexter Rosenberg, Jessica Baxter and Abigail Kingston. Oliver Thompson and Theodore Winning gymnasts (L-R): Lulu Beaumont, Abigail Rich, Phoebe Owen, Isabelle Scott and Gabrielle Rich Rosenberg Y6 went on to represent West Yorkshire in the National finals - a fantastic achievement.

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No. 57 GSAL life

The U11 football team reached the national finals of the Independent Schools Football Young Association (ISFA) seven-a-side tournament at footballers the FA National Football Centre, St Georges Park. Eighteen teams from across the stages on goal difference. country competed in three Their coach Mr Whish reach different leagues. GSAL won 2, said: “The standard of football lost 2 and drew 1 game to finish was extremely high and the third in Group A, but narrowly boys showed they were worthy ISFA finals missed out in the knockout of competing at such a level.”

The team at St George’s Park (L-R): Eniolorunda Rotimi, Jack Buck, Oliver Thompson, Theodore Rosenberg, Toby Mangan, Stanley Grewal, Sam Everitt, Joseph Maxwell, Adam Wadsworth, and Oliver Warren.

Winning performances at HMC swimming championships

Junior School swimmers put in some outstanding performances at the HMC swimming championships, with GSAL finishing second overall. Individual successes included Dexter Rosenberg Y4 winning in the U9 freestyle and Freddie Hopkins Y4 placing 3rd in the U9 breaststroke, Aaron Ratnalingham Y5 winning the U10 freestyle, Theodore Rosenberg Y6 winning the U11 butterfly, Oliver Cunnington Y6 winning the U11 freestyle and Joseph Levison Y6 winning the U11 breaststroke and setting a new record for the 25m breaststroke. The U9 boys won their breaststroke relay race and were overall HMC champions, while the U11 boys were also HMC

Junior School’s victorious HMC swimming team champions placing second in the freestyle medley and first in the individual medley relay.

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Caption: (L-R): Alfie Yates, Josephine Dobson, Theodore Rosenberg and Joseph Levison

Students highly commended at Leeds Sports Awards

Four GSAL pupils were Josephine Dobson Y13 was highly category. Alfie is the current holder of the commended in the Young Sportswoman Heathcoat Cup, a national competition highly commended in category. Josephine won the U20 title in for individuals run by Boccia England. the Young Achievers the women’s 63kg class at the 2017 Alfie attends training at his club and an British Weight Lifting (BWL) Junior England training academy. categories at the prestigious Championships, despite being aged only Y6 pupils Theodore Rosenberg and 2018 Leeds Sports Awards, 17 and fitting in her training around Joseph Levison are members of the City studying for her A-levels. of Leeds Swimming Club Junior League either as individuals or Alfie Yates Y7 is a national boccia Team, which was highly commended in part of a team. champion who was highly commended the Young Club/Team category. in the Young Disability Sportsperson

GSAL Life is edited and written by Alison Knight, [email protected] and Rachel Cockburn, [email protected], students and staff.