Senior School
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Senior School Highlights2018-19 A level and GCSE pupils celebrate exam results Daisy wins prestigious young fashion designer award Pupils dazzle audiences with 2019 production of Sister Act Claremont Fan Court School Contents 3 Exam results 2019 4 Senior news 8 The arts 12 House competitions 14 2018-19 successes 16 Sport 18 Trips and visits 24 Event highlights 26 Future of Claremont WELCOME | WILLIAM BRIERLY It is my pleasure to introduce our first edition of ‘Highlights’. Claremont Fan Court School has a short and remarkable history - emerging as one of the country’s leading independent co-educational schools - with a reputation earned by demonstrating the value we place in treating everyone as individuals and in empowering and supporting success. I hope this booklet pays justice to the positive, varied and exciting year Claremont has enjoyed during the 2018-19 academic year. 2 EXAM RESULTS 2019 Our GCSE pupils celebrated strong results once again. This year over 45% of GCSEs were graded 9, 8 or 7 (A* or A). Our pupils have much to look forward to as they move to the sixth form at Claremont Fan Court. Not only has the new science and technology building opened, but they have also moved into a new, spacious and modern sixth form centre in the heart of the school. “Our pupils deserve many congratulations for their hard work over the GCSE course and for their successes on results day. They have demonstrated how well equipped they are for stepping into A levels.” William Brierly A levels Many congratulations to all our leavers on their fantastic exam successes. It has been a joy to see so many happy faces; a tribute to the hard work of our students and their teachers. We are delighted to see them moving on to such exciting university and career opportunities ranging from medicine to engineering, costume design to teaching. 34% achieved A*-A grades and 69% achieved A*-B grades. 3 SENIOR NEWS HEAD STUDENTS AND SCHOOL COUNCIL 2018-19 | ALL YEARS Our thanks to the 2018-19 head sixth form students who have represented the school admirably alongside prefects. They have been fantastic role models, mentors, fundraisers and public speakers. We also thank our school council who have worked together on a number of initiatives to improve fellow pupils’ experience in school. REMEMBRANCE SERVICE | ALL YEARS Pupils and students gathered together on Friday 9 November for the World War I centenary remembrance service, joined by the Mayor of Elmbridge, her Consort and Chair of Governors, Mr Gordon Hunt. Vocal performances and poetry readings, together with orchestral pieces, made for a moving and poignant service. To commemorate the centenary, the textiles department embellished a trench coat on display with individually handmade poppies. 4 AUTHOR VISIT | YEAR 7 & 8 To celebrate World Book Day, Year 7 and 8 were visited by author, Jonathan Stroud, whose Lockwood & Co books follow the adventures of Anthony Lockwood and his intrepid team of ghost hunters. Pupils were introduced to the ghoulish apparitions encountered by the characters and a willing volunteer tested out some helpful ghost- busting equipment including a handy survival belt. Following plenty of questions, pupils had the opportunity to meet Jonathan for a book signing. NATIONAL POETRY DAY | YEAR 8 Poet and rapper, Breis, visited Year 8 for a creative workshop in October. Using metaphors and similes combined with a rhythm, pupils created and performed their own raps around the theme of ‘change’. Breis inspired pupils by performing some of his own work, demonstrating the similarities between rap music and poetry. 5 DUKE OF EDINBURGH | YEARS 9-11 & SIXTH FORM It has been pleasing to see a record number of pupils take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s award programme this year. Fifty seven Year 10 pupils embarked upon their bronze, fifteen Year 11 pupils began working towards their silver and five sixth form students undertook the challenge of completing their gold awards. This year also saw the popular launch of the bronze award in Year 9. Overall, pupils have enjoyed expeditions in locations such as the Surrey Hills, New Forest and the Brecon Beacons. These expeditions are a fantastic opportunity to develop many important life skills which will serve pupils well in the future and their enthusiasm for the programme has been very positive at all levels. YOUNG ENTERPRISE | YEAR 10 Our Year 10 Young Enterprise team, Save Our Seas, have enjoyed much success this year. After winning the Surrey competition, the group attended the regional finals in June, showcasing their reusable sandwich wraps as a solution to reducing single use plastic. Pupils were interviewed at their trade stand by a panel of judges and presented confidently to an audience including the Mayor of Woking and senior business people. Sadly the team did not progress to the national final, but won the best video advert prize and received praise for innovation and use of digital media.A fantastic achievement considering the pupils were the youngest to reach this stage of the competition, facing teams from all over the South East. 6 STEM CLUB | YEAR 8 STEM club pupils have been studying a range of different topics this year. Highlights include food science, focusing on the chemistry behind producing sugary sweets such as sherbet, popping candy and crunchy honeycomb. Pupils also studied the world of forensics to become budding crime scene detectives, using a variety of scientific methods such as soil and fingerprint analysis to investigate a murder mystery. TRAVEL SHOW | YEAR 7 Year 7 geography pupils transported us to all corners of the globe showcasing their knowledge of the cuisine, cultures and climates of a host of nations in the annual travel show. Staff, pupils and parents were treated to a snapshot of what the world has to offer in terms of holiday destinations and it was certainly a treat for the senses with vibrant Peruvian headdresses, delicious Swiss chocolate fondue, the aroma of Moroccan spices and the sound of the South African vuvuzela to name but a few. 7 THE ARTS SISTER ACT: THE MUSICAL | ALL YEARS Senior pupils and students took to the stage in February for a dazzling performance of ‘Sister Act: The Musical’. The fast paced, all singing all dancing show set in Philadelphia in the 1970’s was performed to packed audiences. Fabulous costumes and make-up, complete with flares and flowing wigs, cassocks and nuns outfits added to the glamour and glitz of another rip-roaring drama production enjoyed by all. 8 MUSICAL TEAS | ALL YEARS Throughout the year, our young musicians are given the opportunity to perform in front of a small, sympathetic audience. These informal musical teas are a fantastic way to boost confidence when performing and celebrate all levels of musical ability. “Sister Act was a dazzling triumph. It was clear to see how hard the cast had worked to bring the musical to life.” William Brierly 9 STAR STRUCK CHORAL CONCERT | ALL YEARS A wealth of musical talent was on display during the Star Struck: Songs from Stage and Screen choral concert in the summer term. The evening explored a selection of choral music from a variety of musicals and pupils entertained an audience with well-known and well-loved songs by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Abba and from Les Miserables. 10 ART, PHOTOGRAPHY AND TEXTILES EXHIBITION | YEAR 11 & SIXTH FORM We were delighted to see so many pupils and students accompany their parents to the art, photography and textiles show in June. The standard of work on display was excellent and visitors commented on the breadth of ideas and materials used throughout. We are immensely proud of what our talented pupils have achieved this year. 11 HOUSE COMPETITIONS New challenges were introduced to the house competition schedule this year with creative writing, a general knowledge kahoot, science challenge and ingredient of the month. The ever popular competitions like ‘short and tweet’ stories and chess also remained firm favourites. High standards were achieved in the very loud house singing and emotive debating competitions. A hugely popular and competitive engineering competition was again run by sixth formers and each end of term house day brought with it great sportsmanship and teamwork. 12 HOUSE DAY | ALL YEARS There was a wonderful spirit amongst pupils at the highly anticipated summer house day at the end of term. Every pupil focused on doing their best and all year groups supported one another in mixed rounders, cricket, tug of war and track and field events. The day is a fantastic example of teamwork, inclusive of all abilities. 13 2018-19 SUCCESSES England regional academy Sports awards prize winners U13 & U15 ESFA semi finalists U13 Surrey table tennis champion Wales lacrosse dragon academy U12-U18 Heathfield lacrosse winners England U18 hockey Surrey hockey selection U18 division 1 U18 Surrey county championships Real tennis LTA tennis league regional qualifiers lacrosse nationals with HRH semi finalists Surrey storm netball U12-U15 Surrey festival U18 county schools’ ISFA Shrewsbury Gallini football world academy selection and county semi finalists club winners football festival cup winner 14 South East chess champions Regional translation bee Thames youth orchestra final winner (German) Media magazine film production competition shortlist Top 25% in junior kangaroo Rose Theatre production UK young fashion designer maths challenge casting in Hansel and Gretal awards winner (GCSE category) Yvette Baker shield national junior Young Enterprise Surrey final winners orienteering finalists 15 SPORT LACROSSE NATIONALS | YEAR 9, 10 & SIXTH FORM ETON NATIONAL TENNIS The National School’s Lacrosse Championships brought the finest CHAMPIONSHIPS | YEAR 7, 9 & lacrosse playing schools to the Aldershot sports complex. The event was SIXTH FORM a fantastic experience for our U18s, U15s and U14s who performed well As a whole, Claremont Fan Court School against tough opposition despite challenging weather conditions.