www.gillingham--news.co.uk September 2018 15 NEWS FROM THE SCHOOLS ‘I want to help girls to find their spark’

HEN Maria in music - while at the girls working with Young took Simon Langton School those who are less fortu - the role of in Kent she was Lead nate than they are,’ she headmistress at St Advisory Teacher for says. ‘The school is also WMary’s School, Shaftes - Music for the whole of a Mary Ward School, bury, some questioned Kent LEA. part of a network of the wisdom of becoming The school already has Catholic schools which the head of a small a strong creative pro - can be found throughout Catholic all-girls school gramme, from music to Europe and South Amer - in , but for Mrs dance (it works with ica, and I want to build Young it was an easy Shaftesbury’s TLW international understand - choice. Dance) art, photography ing by partnering with To begin with, she is and cookery (there is a them too’. passionate about the ed - Leith Cookery School at With beautiful grounds ucation of girls and the the school). She is keen – the school is ap - value of an all-girls to continue this as well proached by a winding school. ‘Girls education as its robust sporting tra - tree-lined road and its 55 is what I’m about, help - dition, along with main - acres is made up of has ing girls to find their taining the school’s extensive lawns as well spark,’ says Mrs Young academic record which as playing fields and a who joined St Mary’s sees girls enthusiasti - swimming pool - Mrs this school year from cally take up science and Young is keen that the Worth School, a co-edu - technology subjects, school become a hub for cational Roman Catholic often an issue in co-ed local events. As part of school, in West Sussex schools. this, the RNLI Christmas where she was Deputy ‘These subjects do not Fair is returning to the Head Pastoral and Head need pushing in the same school after a 13 year ab - of Boarding. way in a girls’ school,’ sence. ‘I also believe that girls she says. ‘It is normal for As well, this summer Head Boy David Simkins and Head Girl Ella Stevens present a cheque can easily be themselves to fund a new oak sapling to Gillingham mayor Cllr Su Hunt girls to take these sub - the school hosted Gold in a girls’ school; it al - jects; everything is on Hill on Stage, its annual lows them to stay girls the table. Girls in girls’ musical theatre course for longer. It’s not the schools stop being the which saw teenagers right fix for every girl Students sell ice-creams to audience – they step up from Belgium-based but for many, it allows onto the stage and be - Roeland language school them to develop at their replace vandalised oak tree come the players.’ perform Shakespeare’s own pace, free of that Mary Young in her office at St Mary’s As well as focussing Midsummer’s Night added layer of pressure, on increasing leadership Dream. WHEN an oak tree, planted in ing and volunteering projects that the and that is a precious Neville-Rolfe, a former concerned with nurtur - opportunities for the ‘St Mary’s is a very Gillingham’s Upper Lodden area two school can help the council with, so thing. When I first vis - Minister in the Treasury ing the girls’ souls,’ she girls, she wants the kind and welcoming years ago as part of Gillingham we are going to begin working to - ited the school I was and in the Business and says. ‘The chapel is at school to foster partner - school,’ she says. ‘It’s a School’s 500th anniversary celebra - gether on some new projects,’ says struck by the fact that the Culture departments, has the heart of the school ships with the commu - rare gem - an all girls’ tions, was vandalised, the school’s David. girls were completely just over 200 students where the girls learn to Sixth Form Council decided to raise free of make-up, which nity beyond its gates. ‘I school, and proudly so,’ n and Mrs Young aims to value silence, to sit qui - would like to develop a says Mrs Young. funds to replace the tree. ’s Sixth was their choice. It was a grow the numbers - but etly and reflect. It’s a real l ‘We thought it was a great shame,‘ Form Council has expressed an inter - breath of fresh air. I also community outreach into St Mary’s next not by too many. ‘In a gift.’ Shaftesbury and the Open Morning is says Head Boy David Simkins. To est in joining the town’s Youth Coun - find the quality of friend - school of this size you Mrs Young, 54, who is wider community such 21 September; raise money, the committee sold ice- cil which will hopefully be made up ships in an all girls’ can really know each married with two adult as through volunteering, stmarys.eu creams at break times, hitting their of representatives from all the town’s schools is outstanding; child as an individual,’ sons, knows this area target of £88, and at recent a council schools. they often stay in touch she says. well. A graduate Durham meeting, a cheque was handed to ‘That is very encouraging,’ said for the rest of their lives.’ As for Catholicism, she University and Cam - Ofsted Reg: EY551649 Mayor Su Hunt. Councillor Barry Von Clemens. St Marys, a boarding believes it imbues stu - bridge, she began her The funds will buy a sapling which ‘Wyke Primary School and St Mary and day school for girls dents with a strong set of teaching career at the co- will be planted during National Tree the Virgin Primary School have both aged 9 - 18 years and values. ‘We welcome educational independent Planting week in November. ‘We held school council meetings in the whose alumni include other faiths or those with near were thrilled to reach our target and Town Hall and other primary schools the actress Anna Chan - no faith but we are Blandford Forum and this small fundraiser has also started are being encouraged to join the cellor and Baroness proudly Catholic and are has a strong background some ideas of other similar fundrais - Youth Council in September’. Term-time Childcare Shaftesbury School celebrates from 8.45am-3pm for aged 2; 8am-6pm for 3-11 year olds. its A Level and BTEC results Topsie Rabbit are looking forward SHAFTESBURY School said its extremely strong across all subject to starting back on achievement for this year’s A Level areas with many achieving high lev - Wednesday 5 September. and BTEC results is at a record level. els of A* and Distinction*, the high - A few spaces available due ‘We are extremely proud of the stu - est awards available. Overall, 19 dents and their achievements,’ said subjects achieved 100% pass rate to extending shortly. Principal Tim Farrer. ‘These results with a quarter of all students gaining Macmillan Co)ee Morning are testament to their hard work, the an A*-A. dedication of the teaching staff and of Those highlighted for their out - Friday 28 Sept 9am-12noon course the support and care given by standing results are: Zach Bevis A* their families. Students have done A A; Hong Yiu Chang A* A*; Harris www.topsierabbit.co.uk even better than before, particularly Rutter A* A A; Cameron Dukes 2 x Students performing A Midsummer’s Nights Dream as part of St Mary’s For more information in the top grades, and it is great to Distinction*; Maisie Grant 2 x Dis - ‘Gold Hill on Stage’ annual summer course which hopes to open up to call 01747 821565 know their efforts have paid off.’ tinction*; Sophie Mutton 2 x Distinc - more students next year, from the local area and nationally. For more or email [email protected] The school said that results were tion*. information contact communications@stma