6 The Post & Weekly News, Thursday, December 31 2015 Initiative encouraging teamwork and

LeAUNCxESTONcCollegeehas seeln conltinueed succness with icts perfoermance acasdemiese. es continued success The initiative from the college is designed to encourage teamwork and excellence among its performers. Highlights of the year included the introduction of climbing club, a popular netball and ‘terrific’ attendance at the badminton performance academy, as well as overwhelming interest for the Ten Tors. The college has provided the Post with its round-up. Players full of ambition on and off field THE Year 8 rugby team has won the East followed by a slog up the hill Shilling, Tom Vickery, Ollie grown from strength to school’s rugby tournament at but the boys dug in and scored Rowland and Archie Dinnis. strength this term and have School. a last minute try to progress to The other players were Jake produced some good rugby Despite being a team for the final. Hayes, Leon Tinknell, Keiran throughout. only a few weeks the boys As Tretherras Sillifant, Nick Pooley and The term started with a trip supported each other overcame rivals Treviglas in Matt Heal. to Exeter University for a fantastically in both defence the other semi it was a replay The boys were also well taster session on what it is like and attack in order to get of the earlier group game in supported and coached by being a student but also through a difficult group stage the final. Year 10 Hepworth Sports playing for Exeter Chiefs. and then triumph against some Despite drawing 0-0 earlier Captain George Bearns. The boys loved every very good teams. the Launceston boys went for minute and went away full of Man of the match was Tom In the group stages the jugular and, with immense Vickery for some excellent ambition and motivation to do Launceston beat and skill and power, scored try well both on the field and off tackling throughout all the 20-0 before after try after try! Saving their games. it. overcoming 15-0. best performance for the final Every game played the This was followed by two Launceston ran out 35-0 The boys then went on to boys gave 100% and played hard-fought 0-0 draws against winners. This capped an play in the county with great enthusiasm in and Newquay excellent team performance final at Penrice School. sometimes tough weather Tretherras. that saw Launceston score a Archie Dinnis scored conditions. The best match Launceston finished 2nd in total of 19 tries and concede Launceston’s try in a close 2-1 being a 10-7 win over their group behind Newquay none. loss. Holsworthy in particularly wet Tretherras on tries scored so Try scorers were Cullan RIGHT: There has been conditions. had to face the other group Rogers (6), Joni Ward (3), success all round this year There was success for the winners, Penrice, in the semi- Harry Tomlin (2), Jack Statton for the college’s rugby boys in Year 7 recently as they final. An even first-half was (2), Jack Rocks (2), Tom teams. Primary pupils enjoy Players ‘natural’ THE KS4 basketball team has been excellent with its commitment and train every week. wealth of sport activities Josh Marcello is the captain and manages the LAUNCESTON In October Year 3 and Once all the points team with great maturity. College Cluster Primary 4 children attended the were added up, both The team has played two games. They Schools have attended badminton skills festival Lewannick and narrowly lost to Holsworthy by 4 points but several competitions and thoroughly enjoyed Trekenner tied for first convincingly beat 50-17 in the league. and festivals this term. the different activities place. The players are proud of their performances on offer. and are currently sitting top of the league. In September Year 6 A college The league goes towards the Cornwall school pupils from eleven Year 3 and 4 pupils spokesperson said: “All games and the team hopes to improve on losing different primary were also invited to these activities would out in the final last year. schools enjoyed dance workshops led by not be possible without The team is currently trying to get fixtures learning about and Faye Sleeman, one of the support of the against Saltash and Liskeard to finish the developing their skills in the 6th form students. college leaders, who league. hockey, volleyball and Twelve schools took give up their time to A spokesperson for the college said: “It has orienteering. part in the recent KS1 enable these events to been impressive to observe how much every Later in the term six multi-skills competition, be so successful.” single player has improved over the past schools competed in a where each team had to LEFT: Hockey is 12months. In particular I would like to mention Healthy Schools compete in twelve among many sports Kyle Tozer, Flynn Robbinson and Louis March dodgeball competition. different activities. popular at the college. — they are now natural basketball players!” Overwhelming interest in Ten Tors THERE was overwhelming began their training at the end six places on the 35 mile team. the skills to make them self- Healthy living in 2016! interest in the Ten Tors event of November on a bright and Students have a full training sufficient including emergency this year with more than 60 sunny Bodmin moor. programme planned over the procedures, basic first aid, bag students registering to take part. They have two teams in the winter where they will be out packing, route cards, tent They had to reduce the 2016 event, one 35 mile and on the moors learning vital erecting and camp food and numbers to 30 to make it one 45 mile team. navigation skills and improving cookery. manageable for staffing and They have seven of last their fitness carrying heavy A college spokesperson said: training logistics and the only year’s successful 35 mile teams bags up and down the tors, they “Candidates are looking strong way they could do this was to returning to train for the 45 also have a lot of classroom and we look forward on draw the names out of a hat. mile challenge and 23 year 10 based work to prepare them for training them through a The successful students students fighting for one of the a successful expedition learning successful season.” Getting to grips with golf THIS term students from year 7, 8 the first time out on a course. and 9 have been going to Trethorne Golf Club every Thursday and have The remainder of the sessions received coaching from Andrew were spent on the putting greens. Milton. Each week all of the students were set their own targets to work on Most of the sessions have been on depending on any areas for the driving range focusing on swing improvement in their swing. and technique. Students also had the A college spokesperson said: “All opportunity to spend time out on of them have come on leaps and the course, which enabled students bounds over this time and can now to get to grips with what the course swing and hold a golf club properly. is like, as for most of them it was Well done!” Training continues in new year DEVIZES to Westminster canoe race a lot of swimming whilst getting to training began in September with 21 grips with the craft! Year 11 to 13 students putting THIS year the netball performance academy has themselves forwards for this Evenings and weekends spent on been extremely popular with 70 players challenge. canal have improved their skills regularly attending from Years 7 to 10. The Back by popular demand The DW race takes place over the and now training has progressed onto academy has had numerous league and friendly Back by popular demand — the Launceston Easter weekend and involves students Exeter canal where students need to fixtures throughout the term and teams have Road Runners are offering another of their kayaking 125 miles in pairs over four paddle 10 miles — and try to stay demonstrated fantastic attitudes in their ‘Starter Groups’ in January. days. upright! commitment to training and performance in These groups proved hugely popular dur - This is one of the longest and The enormity of the task ahead is matches. The Year 10 team has been lucky to ing 2015, with many of the new runners al - toughest canoe races in the world and beginning to sink in and students are have a budding Year 11 student, Annabel Barnes ready now completing their first races — from requires a high level of both physical rising to the challenge. Training who has been instrumental in coaching and 10ks to half and full marathons! and mental strength to complete. continues in the new year and if it managing the team effectively. A college Running has never been a more accessi - Students initially had to learn to continues well the college hopes to spokesperson said: “All the players have made paddle a K2 racing kayak, which is a have the largest contingent so far terrific progress and have done themselves ble and cost-effective way to keep fit and proud.” healthy — all you need is a pair of running very unstable boat and initially led to representing it at the event at Easter. shoes! Of course, LRR welcome more experi - enced runners at any time — varying dis - New clubs — tance groups are out on a Tuesday night from 3 to 8 miles. climbing and food! What better way to start the New Year?! LAUNCESTON techniques needed to College Performance climb and belay another Academy Club’s new climber to keep them food club is offered to safe, they were set any student in Year 7 different tasks each and 8. week. By week six all Dining is brought to were competent the classroom where climbers and belayers. they sit down and eat once the food is cooked. A stand out climber is The emphasis is on Year 7 Florence trying new foods and Richards who has really flavours through progressed and is exploring different pushing her climbing recipes. grade demonstrating TWELVE students at some beautiful Year 7 and 8 students enjoyed experimenting with pizza at the new food climbing club have been technique and safe and club. introduced to basic reliable belaying. Strong badminton standards upheld Dedicated THIS term the badminton are hopeful in reaching the with several county players in, performers performance academy has had regional finals next term. losing 3-2. They played really THE Performance terrific attendance with 36 After demonstrating their well all day and represented Dance Academy has students signed up to the club strong badminton skills at the the College fantastically and numerous dedicated and regularly attending. East Cornwall final, the girls finished 2nd overall. performers who have The standard of badminton Launceston College KS4 boys The boys were dominant the opportunity to learn Don’t miss the latest news and sport across the college has and girls teams ventured to throughout the day and different dance styles traditionally been strong and on Friday, December 11, showed their fantastic skills and choreography this cohort of students have to compete in the Cornwall and quality against all of their techniques through the not disappointed. badminton finals. They were opponents. sessions. Launceston College had up against some tough They beat Mounts Bay 5-0, The hard working representatives in all age opposition throughout the day Roseland 5-0 and then had a group loves to express groups at the East Cornwall including , hard fought game against themselves through their badminton competition and all School, Mounts Truro School, coming out on love of dance. LiLkikeeoouur r Follow Bay and Roseland School. Facebookpage uson the students played to the best top with a 3-2 win. This term they have Facebookpage Follow of their ability. The girls team performed The boys’ dominance saw learnt the dance sesaeracrchhffor Twitter uson Both KS4 teams well throughout the day, them finish overall winners of ‘Thriller’, which they @ePostSTewriietts er demonstrated an excellent narrowly losing to Roseland the Cornwall badminton finals performed at ePePosottsSSeerrieess @ePostSreies standard of badminton beating School 3-2, the girls then beat and will now represent Launceston late night several schools to reach the Mounts Bay 4-1 and came up Cornwall at the regional finals shopping on December ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Cornwall finals this term and against a tough Camborne side in the New Year. 4. Launceston College comes out on top in Cornwall GCSE league table By CGMikeS | Posted: October 27, 2015

Comments (0) PUPILS and staff at Launceston College are celebrating after topping the GCSE league tables for state schools in Cornwall. The college was placed top of the table for the percentage of students achieving five A* to C grades at GCSE, including English and maths. In the provisional figures released this month by the Government, the school had 66 per cent of students reach that target, up 11 per cent on the previous year. As well as Launceston, eight schools in the Cornish Guardian circulation area saw their results improve: , , Treviglas Community College, Sir James Smith's Community School, Saltash.net Community School, Budehaven Community School and . Community College and remained steady, while , , Community College, Liskeard School and Community College, and saw their results drop.

Lynsey Slater, deputy principal of Launceston College, said: "Launceston College students and staff are extremely proud of their achievements. These are record-breaking results, with 66 per cent achieving five A* to C grades at GCSE, including English and maths, being 10 per cent above the national average. "The majority of our 2015 students have remained with us to study their A levels, applied and vocational qualifications, following our sustained achievement of outstanding results in our sixth form." The league tables also give the percentage of students achieving the English Baccalaureate. Launceston College also topped this table with a pass rate of 40 per cent, a figure which is the highest in Cornwall. The Roseland Community College was second in Cornwall with 29 per cent. Mrs Slater added: "This percentage of students achieving the coveted English Baccalaureate, which demonstrates achievement in a wide range of academic subjects, places the college in the highest levels of achievement across the whole country. It is 16 per cent higher than the national average, and an impressive 11 per cent higher than any other school in Cornwall." Treviglas Community College, Saltash.net Community School, Liskeard School and Community College, Brannel School and Bodmin College all saw rises in the number of students passing while all others had a drop compared to 2014.

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