Headmaster's Report
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Headmaster's Report I hope that you find this magazine a too that you will take away a sense powerful celebration of the flourish- that King’s is an institution that ing curricular and extra-curricular life remains as ambitious for its future as of King’s, and of the many and varied we are for the futures of our pupils. achievements of our pupils. The year Ambition is also much in evidence saw the development of new curricu- through the 2020 Vision, our aim to lums in each of our divisions, includ- ensure the continuing success of the ing an innovative approach to linear School by bringing together each of A Levels in the Sixth Form. Combined our four Divisions onto a single site with our new 6-period school day, we adjacent to the Derby Playing Fields. have completed a significant updating It is because we are ambitious, of our core educational offer. This in- that we are continuing to invest in cludes the Learning Challenge Curricu- the present as eagerly as we plan for lum in the Infant and Junior Division, the future. Last year saw the com- and the introduction of King’s Learn- pletion of our most recent Strategic ing Habits in the Seniors. Unsurpris- Education Plan. As I look back over ingly, our pupils have responded well the past few years, I cannot resist a and feedback from students and par- fleeting moment of pride in the scale ents has been incredibly positive, with of our achievements, but that is soon notably higher engagement by pupils overwhelmed by the sensation of in their own learning and the further gratitude to my colleagues who have development of truly independent made so much possible. Physical learning skills. changes often get disproportionate One of our school aims is to sup- attention in schools because they port parents in raising ambitious and are easy to observe and catalogue. well-rounded individuals. As you flick This summer, for example, we have through the following pages, you completed the Westminster Road will no doubt recognise many of our Pavilion, the final part of the upgrade The King’s School in Macclesfield pupils’ efforts and successes. I hope to sports facilities for the benefit of Contents Headmaster’s Report 1 A welcome and overview of the year Creative Work 4 Highlights of this year’s creative work at all ages Performing Arts 16 A selection of King’s music and drama events Academic Highlights 24 Spotlight on some academic departments and initiatives WW1 Remembered 34 Centenary commemoration events and projects Events & Activities 36 A selection of our many events and activities from the year Challenge & Enrichment 48 An overview of our Challenge & Enrichment programme Community Activities 52 Highlights of King's contributions to the wider community Sports 56 A comprehensive review of the year’s sporting successes Hail & Farewell 83 Staff who have joined or left King’s this academic year Awards & Prizes 88 Celebrating this year’s award and prize winners Front and back cover images from the Bolivia Expedition p46 1 Headmaster's Headmaster's Report Report all our Juniors and Seniors, and we results saw the third successive rise is a happy place to be. That happens Principal of the Girls’ Division. In King’s as a consultant, but was soon have also refurbished the boys’ and in our value added scores, which not by accident, but by design. The wishing them well, I would like to encouraged to join the Governing girls’ showers and changing facili- attempt to measure the students’ job the staff do is extraordinary: it record the School’s debt to Mrs Body as the Lord Lieutenant’s rep- ties, along with much else besides. results against baseline ability. Of is one reason why the Division has Ruth Roberts for her tireless four- resentative. Over the years, he has As important as these physical course, what matters most for the seen such an increase in demand year stewardship of the Sixth Form. given unrivalled service to King’s changes, is the progress we have Sixth Formers is admission to their for places. Educationalists have long Ruth is one of the finest colleagues as a former Chair and Vice Chair of been making in terms of the qual- preferred course at the university of known that investment in primary that it has been my privilege to work Governors. I owe Arthur a particu- ity of education we provide. I think their choosing. We were delighted education has a greater impact on with and I am delighted that she lar debt of gratitude as he not only this has been tangible. that all of our students holding of- the life-chances of children than will remain with us on a part-time appointed me in 2011, but it was his It is with considerable satisfac- fers for the most competitive cours- investment at any other stage. basis as Senior Teacher. New faces initial encouragement and enthu- tion therefore, that I am able to es achieved their grades, including Last year, saw the retirement on the Governing Body include siasm that saw the 2020 project record once again the excellent the fourteen individuals headed for of a number of long-serving col- Cllr Liz Durham, who succeeds Cllr launched in 2012. results achieved by our students careers in medicine, dentistry and leagues including Chris Maudsley Janet Jackson as Mayor of Maccles- At Prize Giving in September, I in this summer’s public examina- veterinary science. At GCSE level, and Phil Colville from the Maths field, Margaret Longden, who brings made reference to some of my holi- tions. To match last year’s school individual successes abounded and, Department, Anne Eardley from much business and commercial ex- day reading, including Theodore record for success at A*-B at A Level overall, students achieved 83% of all the Infant and Junior Division and perience alongside her role as a cur- Roosevelt’s History of the United was a special achievement. The grades at A*-B and 25% at A*. more recently Learning Support, rent parent, and Simon Barriskell, States. Roosevelt wrote: ‘The life Stephen Carpenter from Physics whose financial acumen will find a that is worth living, and the only and Dr Linda Craig from the History home on our Finance and General life that is worth living, is the life Department. Promotion beckoned Purposes Committee. of effort, the life of effort to attain Not to be outdone, our Year 6 for Hannah Barton and Catherine In December, three members of what is worth striving for.’ I hope pupils achieved very notable suc- Bailey, both of whom joined Stock- the Governing Body retire on the and trust that this mantra is being cess in their end of year exams. A port Grammar School. Paula Percival completion of their terms of of- instilled in our pupils, from the start remarkable third of the year group was appointed Registrar at Man- fice. Brigadier Kim Ross has been of their educational journey right achieved Level 6 in one or more are- chester High School for Girls, whilst a valued member of our Fundrais- through to when they leave King’s as of Reading, Writing and Maths. Of Jo Anderson left us to take up the ing and Bursary Committee as well for new lives beyond. We remain the 58 children, 19% achieved Level Headship of Bury Girls’ Grammar as a long-serving supporter of the committed to challenging every 6 in Maths, 17% Level 6 in Reading School. Full tributes to these and Friends of King’s. Alan McInnes also one of our pupils to aspire to great and 14% in Writing: these results other colleagues can be found in serves on the Fundraising and Bur- things, take risks, work hard and to should be compared with national Hail and Farewell. sary Committee, providing an es- seek to enjoy themselves along the averages of 1%. The success of the I would also like to welcome sential link with the Former Pupils’ way. Infant and Junior Division is not just formally, a number of new faces, Association, whilst also helping to Simon Hyde measured in levels, or even cups, including Dr Julie Cocker, who joins raise thousands of pounds through trophies and West End-style produc- us as Sixth Form Principal, and Mrs the annual Bursary Golf day. Arthur tions, but in its ethos. In a word, it Helen Broadley, who becomes our Dicken started his association with 2 3 Creative Work Creative Work Poppy Fletcher Year 2 Year 2 learned how to use silk paints and gutta to produce fabulous bright Creative pictures for their Indian topic. Work Jessica Cooke Pre-School Jessica painted this beautiful picture of her Grandma because she is a very special person. Connie Roden Year 3 Egyptian Cartouche Year 3 found out about Egyptian writing and made their own papyrus paper before writing their names in hieroglyphics enclosed in a cartou- che, which makes them as important as a Pharaoh. Olivia MacCormack Reception The reception children were very excited to show each other what they had done during their half term holiday. They painted pictures of themselves moke as purple as and wrote a sentence to tell everyone where they Sthe essence of death went. from the devil’s vile soul, teeth as razor sharp as glass. Poison dripping from the skin, claws like legendary dragon teeth. Ears that hear for miles. He moves One day in an Arfican jungle there wasa Hyena ho was called Harisar and she sluggishly, rarely he had a magnifisant harp. She was proud, boastful and mean.