and 6TH FORM n Wisdom is strength n Summer newsletter 2019 Boxer Jibreel Cricketer Jamal is ring king of the capital among the best NORLINGTON extended its proud sporting record a little further when YEAR 10 Jamal Richards going to work hard on my student Jibreel Sheikh was crowned will take his place among the game and keep trying to get Schools Boxing Champion. country’s best young cricketers better. The talented Year 9 took the U14s when he represents London “Putting the hard work in flyweight crown after a first-round and the East of at the has got me this far so I am just stoppage at the championship held in prestigious Bunbury Cricket going to keep going.” West London in April. Festival. Jamal picked up his first His victory was made all the more Jamal, who will next year aged just two impressive given he only took up the join the CC , is after watching the game on sport a year ago after being trained by his among just 14 players selected television with his grandad, father. from across the region. Franklin Dickson, 65. Jibreel, who trains at the East London The yearly summer festival, Prospect: Mr Dickson said: “We are so Boxing Academy, has his sights set on which will take place this Jamal proud of him. He has wanted taking on the country’s elite young year at Radley College in this from a very young age and boxers at the National Championship Oxfordshire, is a showcase of he has put in the hard work and later this year. the country’s 56 most talented Allrounder Jamal said: “It got his reward. His success follows Year 11 student young players. is a big occasion but I am just “This is essential a trial for and national champ Zeeshan Ali, who Jamal is hoping to emulate going to go there and play my the England team so he is on dreams of competing for Team GB at the former Norlington student normal game. the ECB pathway towards Olympics. and England cricketing legend “I am trying to keep a level getting an England cap. It is an Jibreel said: “At the moment I am still Graham Gooch. head about it all. I am just incredible achievement.” really excited about my boxing and how it is going. I want to test myself against tougher opponents. “A lot of credit has to go to my dad, Industry chiefs’ praise who has been the one who trained me and motivated me to YEAR 10 students were given employability go into boxing. It is tips from top professionals from across a range all because of him.” of industries. He added: Chief technology officers, directors and law “Norlington has a partners were among attendees at the school’s reputation for being Aiming to Achieve Day, giving up their time to very academic and spend the day working with students. that is deserved They gave advice on career and employability but we are also very skills and led mock interviews to help give strong in sport as students a flavour of life in the working world. well. Digital technology, finance, banking and “We are taught public services were among the range of teamwork and their importance in furthering here that sport industries represented at the event in May. your career.” teaches you Peter Marsden, chief technology officer at Year 10 Gideon Joseph said: “This has been leadership fashion giant Net-A-Porter, said: “I talked a a really interesting day for me. It’s not every skills little bit about my role running the technology day you get the chance to sit down with such which for the brand but much of what we discussed inspiring people. are very was about what companies are looking for in “I feel like I have learned so much about the useful employees. I was hugely impressed by the focus skills it takes to be successful. Just being around for your of many of the students I worked with. You can these people has been inspiring.” life and tell they have the desire and the determination Head of Careers Mary McPortland, who future to be successful.” organised the day, said: “We are really career.” Gina Leong, director at Lloyd’s Bank, said: fortunate to have been able to attract some “I have been truly amazed at the students I have truly exceptional professionals to our Aiming worked with. They have really grasped some of to Achieve Day. As the students will testify, the key messages that I wanted to get across. having the chance to work with top names has We spoke a lot about interpersonal skills and been a real privilege.”

Norlington School newsletter n Summer 2019 Marat’s ready to make mark in science world TALENTED Marat Snetkev has “I would not call myself a young been named among the brightest Einstein but I guess we all have to young scientific minds in the start somewhere. Well done: Marat receives his award capital after winning Schools “If Einstein had been at school from Dr Archer Physicist of the Year. in London maybe he would have The young Einstein was chosen won this award. for the award for displaying “It was a really exciting academic excellence in class, experience to visit a top university a passion for the subject and like Queen Mary’s. As well as the knowledge outside of the awards ceremony, we also got to curriculum. look around and speak to proper He was presented with his award scientists.” by scientist Dr Martin Archer at a Science teacher Mr Bozdag said: ceremony held by sponsor Queen “Marat has displayed excellent Mary’s University in June. academic performance, and his Marat, who is among the keen interest in physics really youngest recipients of the award, shows. was nominated for the prize by “This was a fantastic opportunity Norlington’s science department. for Marat to be involved with a He said: “It is kind of scary to Russell Group University and we be named Schools Physicist of the look forward to seeing him work Year – scary but really, really good on research projects from Queen as it is a subject I absolutely love. Mary’s in the future.”

Leaders: The young cricket organisers

ECONOMICS students made a visit to the Seat motor manufacturing plant during their educational trip to Barcelona. A more detailed report will appear in our next issue. Students put cricket lessons into practice STUDENTS used their newly acquired and organise by top professionals. leadership skills to help run a cricket Year 9 Mohammad Noaman said: “It competition for primary schools. was really important for our development They were the umpires, organisers and as leaders that we were able to put what guides for a boys’ and girls’ tournament we had learned at Essex Cricket into featuring 14 primaries from across the practice. borough. “It has also helped us develop our own It follows an intensive leadership game because coaching and umpiring PRIMARY pupils joining us in September had course run by Essex Cricket, where the gives you a very different perspective on an action-packed day of sports, science and students were taught how to officiate the sport.” drama at our Transition Day in June.

Page 2 Norlington School newsletter n Summer 2019 THERE was a unique event in National Theatre Connections family. Many of the relationships Schools join National Theatre history when this Festival at the Bush Theatre in I have made with the Lammas year’s Connections play was co- West London. students I will keep forever.” forces for produced with – Student Saqib Bashir said: “I Fellow student Szymon but also co-directed by the teachers really enjoyed being Lucas in the Brodzinski added: “Being Dan in unique event from both schools for the first time. play. I got to meet new people ‘Variations’ helped my acting skills The play, ‘Variations’, was which I am grateful for. Despite and helped me build relationships. performed at both Norlington and being from two separate schools It was interesting to mix two in theatre Lammas, and then as part of the we bonded quickly and became a schools to make the play work.” Final spot for Big Idea students’ shops entry NORLINGTON 6th form students once again made a splash with their innovative technology project in the Big Idea Challenge. Their idea for an item finder to locate food in the supermarket was chosen for the nationwide final after impressing judges at a pitch in March. The five-strong team were back again in June to emulate the success of the 2017 team, who scored the most votes in the People’s Choice category. The winner would be given corporate backing with potential investors including NatWest and Microsoft. But despite a highly professional presentation, the team narrowly missed out on a top-three finish. As part of the competition, run by London Metropolitan University, pupils had mentoring session with industry experts. Year 12 Rayyan Abraham said: “We were really convinced our idea was very strong and I thought we presented it very well. We have come up short, which is disappointing. “We had made it to the final so there was always going to be lots of very strong competition, so it is no disaster that we did not win.”

Norlington students once famous Lindley Hall in central Eton and other top schools, you Regional again proved their school is the London, the boys came up will still win. team to beat when it comes to up against the country’s top “We are given that self-belief Maths after taking the United independent schools, including that it does not matter who you title for Kingdom Maths Trust (UKMT) Eton College. are up against, you are as good as regional title. Despite a valiant effort, they them and you can do it.” The team of four eased past finished just outside the top 10. Team member Abdul Maths the first round with victory over Year 8 student Ben Laking Ibrahim said: “This was our first 30 East London schools at the said: “We are disappointed. At ever tournament together. We competition held at Bow School. Norlington there is an expectation did very well and I am proud experts In the final, held at the world- that even if you are up against of us.”

Page 3 Norlington School newsletter n Summer 2019 Students get a taste of life as an architect BUDDING architects got the Students were selected for chance to build their own model the trip based on their academic insect hotels on a taster day at the abilities in specific subjects, such University of East London. as art and design technology. They also learned the basics of Year 8 Aravind Mahendran said: architectural styles and theory, “It was really interesting to see looked at the design of local how buildings are put together. buildings and got a sneak preview Architecture is not really a subject of undergraduate work during the you first think of as a career. visit in June. “Having spent time at the They also had the opportunity to university I now feel like it is find out about the courses offered, something that I would really like tour the university grounds and to do. It is artistic as well as being meet current students and lecturers. scientific.” Green-fingered pupils keeping busy in garden PUPILS have brought eating. They will get a new lease of life to a real-world insight the school garden by into social enterprise planting and growing by packing and selling their own vegetables. their vegetables at Produce now Walthamstow Market growing at Norlington later this year. as part of the Know The students also your Onions project cooked up the fresh includes potatoes, vegetables they had lettuces, beetroots and grown in a master- carrots. class with chef Ruth The programme Quinlan. is linked to our Year 7 Mohammad curriculum study of Rizwan said: “It is sustainability, food amazing to look at a production and carrot or a potato or environmental and something and say, I ecological issues. grew that, something During the weekly that people can eat. sessions, run in “We will be selling partnership with them at Walthamstow the Lea Valley-based Market so we will really food cooperative see our hard work OrganicLea, pupils are paid off when people also learning about buy the stuff we have leadership and healthy grown.” OUR Year 7 students enjoyed the sights and sounds of the capital during a cultural walk that ended in St James’s Park.

Page 4 Norlington School newsletter n Summer 2019 Speakers for Schools programme

Welcome: Speaker Jeremy Hillman meets Norlington students Banking executive’s tips for new job challenges WORLD Bank executive Jeremy Hillman told Mr Hillman, who was joined by his wife Zoe, pupils that education is the secret to success in Top Tweet visited the school as part of the Speakers for the modern business world. Schools programme. The director of corporate communications Mrs Hillman added: “Jeremy feels very also talked about what he had learned while strongly about the Speakers for Schools working with Microsoft boss Bill Gates. programme, as he knows the importance of He discussed the changing technological and offering students aspirational goals.” business environments as well as challenges Year 12 student Fakhar Hayat said: “Hearing faced by youngsters, including how competition a professional talk about climate change and for jobs has now become a global field. impressive. They are helping to prepare you sustainability, something all young people are “The world is changing, and your education not just for your exams but also to face the passionate about, really gave me the inspiration is providing you with the tools to change challenges in the modern world. to think that things really can change. with it. We now live in a global world where “I grew up in Wembley, which is not a million “It is really inspiring to know someone competition for jobs comes from across the miles from here and is a very similar sort of who came from a similar area to us has been world. place. You must have ambition and desire for so successful. It gives you belief that you can “What your school is doing is really success wherever you come from.” emulate that success.” Producer’s career tips Top Tweet FILM producer Jenny Waldman gave students an insight into a career in the creative industries during a talk in May. She talked about her role as creative producer of the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She encourages students to have a broad mind when picking a career during the talk, which was organised by Speakers for Schools.

Page 5 Norlington School newsletter n Summer 2019 NORLINGTON SPORTS NEWS

STUDENT Eesa poses with his bronze medal for the 200m in Waltham Forest athletic championships.

Borough champions: Norlington’s Year 8 football team show off their silverware Kasas clinches it TEACHER Mr Brinnand raised more than £1,000 for a Parkinson’s charity after running the London Marathon in a respectable 4hrs 36mins. with late winner A BRAVE decision from centre back Kasas Saiyed to go up for a corner saw Norlington Year 8 football team crowned borough champions with a last-minute winner. The youngster took a chance as the team pushed for a winner in the final against Rushcroft with the game deadlocked at 2-2. Kyle Finlayter-Lynch’s superb solo effort, reminiscent of Lionel Messi, had been a highlight earlier in the game. Just seconds before the whistle blew to take the teams into extra-time, Kasas rose above defenders to nod home the winner. It was the culmination of a hard-fought season that saw the team battle it out with schools from across the borough for the cup. Kasas said: “It was Mr Hobbs who encouraged me to go up for the corner and look for the winner. It was a good managerial decision in the end. “I guess you do have to give me some Champion cricketers have got it taped credit for that but like everything at OUR boys’ tape ball cricket team once again girls, to win the one-day tournament. Norlington, it was a team effort. It was great went unbeaten to retain the Waltham Forest They took on local school George Mitchell to win the borough cup.” championship. in the final, beating them by several runs to Teammate Ronan Edwards said: “We are The boys scored a series of victories on once again be crowned the borough’s finest. so proud of ourselves as a team. We really their way to the Essex Eagles Tape Ball Year 7 Muhammad Ali said: “It was really put a lot of effort into all the matches and in championship, held at Orient’s good to go through the entire tournament the end, it all paid off. ground in May. completely unbeaten. “I think you can say it was a very dramatic Last year they joined forces with “It proves we are the school to beat when way to win the cup. Kasas deserves credit Walthamstow Girls, with five boys and five it comes to cricket.” for being brave at a crucial time in the game.”

Page 6 Norlington School newsletter n Summer 2019 NORLINGTON SPORTS NEWS Howzat! Year 9 are borough champions OUR Year 9 cricket team have been crowned the borough’s finest after an unbeaten run saw them clinch the Waltham Forest Championship. Star batsmen Mohammed Kiani and Umar Malik scored a highly impressive 148 to clinch a semi-final victory to set them on the road to the title. The all-conquering team won four consecutive matches this year, including a stunning seven- victory in the final against Lammas. The victory in June was made all the sweeter as it was the first title for the Year 9 team, having narrowly missed out in the previous two STOP PRESS: seasons. The Year 7 and 8 cricket Year 9 Mohammed said: “This was a really team have emulated their brilliant season for the Norlington cricket Year 9 counterparts by team. We worked really hard on our game claiming the borough and it paid off. cricket championship. “Winning the borough championships Read more in our next without losing a game is a great achievement. newsletter. It could not have been done though without the help of our coach. “The best thing about winning was that we are all really good friends and winning it together Students given cycling masterclass was really special. We will be back next year to defend our title.” As the newsletter went to press, Norlington as part of a school-wide project had a team in every borough cricket final with the school hoping to make it a clean sweep of STUDENTS raced on part of the hugely titles. impressive cycle complex used for the Batsman Umar added: “It is without question 2012 London Olympics as they took part that when it comes to cricket in Waltham Forest, in a borough cycle race. Norlington are every much the team to beat. They cycled against local schools in the “We will celebrate our victory but we will Mini Tour De Waltham Forest in July. also be out to support the other year group Before the races, pupils got top tips on teams and cheer them on. Hopefully we can how to take corners and shift gears from make it a clean sweep for Norlington.” coaches at British Cycling. There was also a masterclass on bike maintenance and even the chance to use pedal power technology to make smoothies. The trip was part of a school- professionals and racing against other wide project to encourage cycling and schools. walking to school to cut pollution. “We are encouraged to think about Year 8 student Adam Mellagua said: ways to cut pollution and a big way is not “The best part was getting tips from the taking the bus but cycling to school.”

YEAR 8 Kyle Finlayter-Lynch skippered his Futsal team to a second-place finish at an international tournament.

Page 7 Norlington School newsletter n Summer 2019 Hard at work: Students investigating succession using a transect line by measuring humidity, wind speed, temperature and soil depth at Slapton Ley Field Centre in Devon. Ecology field trip ideal for budding biologists A-Level biology students got the chance to study plants and wildlife in their natural habitat during a trip to the idyllic Devon coastline. The 6th Form students spent three days conducting ecology studies, data collection and statistical tests in Slapton. They investigated organisms on two field trips at a forest and by the sea alongside scientists from the Slapton Centre. The research conducted compliments their classroom learning and will be helpful when it comes to exams next year. Year 12 student Moonis Altaf said: “The stuff we learned in three days investigating organisms, wildlife and plants would have taken months in a classroom. “There just isn’t that kind of abundance of subject matter to study around this area. You can go to a local park but it isn’t the same. “As a biologist it is a hugely interesting place to study. It also didn’t hurt that it is an absolutely beautiful location.” Science teacher Mr Syed said: “This was a fantastic opportunity and experience for students to learn about ecology through experimental fieldwork. “The Year 12 biologists have taken away many life skills from this trip and England cricket legend and former student Graham Gooch chatted to students and will truly remember it for the rest of their posed for pictures at the grand opening of the Leyton Cricket Centre. lives.”

Page 8 Norlington School newsletter n Summer 2019