ACTIVITIES EDITORIAL It was suggested to me once that everything one says the tapestry which is Sibford. Please note the reference to about God, even after revelation, is more untrue than our cover this year, once again a beautiful piece of pupil true. Mere words and human consciousness cannot tapestry work. encapsulate the Divine, even though they convey truth about it. Meanwhile, we journey on towards the beckoning The Magazine is the front of the tapestry, but behind it lie Mystery who alone answers so many of the questions in all the threads which went to make it up. My sincere our life. thanks to all our contributors and to you, our readers, a warm welcome to these pages, in which it is our hope that Much is the same with our Magazine. It speaks truly of all you glimpse something of the reality which is Sibford and that is Sibford, without even claiming to tell the whole detect something of the Quaker ethos which gives it truth (a difference with Religion, perhaps) about the living sustenance. For another year of achievement and service, set of relationships and evolving patterns which make up we offer grateful thanks. Sean Kenny FOREWORD FROM THE HEAD I am very pleased to write a few words in introduction to Support fo r the school from PSFA and SOSA is greatly the 1995 Sibford Magazine. valued, and the past year has seen a number of examples of fruitful co-operation which we look forward to seeing You will find in the pages that follow a glimpse of the continue in the future. remarkable range of activities and successes that have characterised the past year. It is certainly true that Sibford I hope that you will find time to read both this Magazine pupils have responded very well to the expanded range and the Sibford Annual Report, which together give a of opportunities available to them and that, at the same fa irly fu ll picture of a very busy year. Through it all, we time, significantly more GCSEs were taken last summer remain aware of the increasingly vital role represented by than ever before, and with great success, too. the school's Quaker values in the world today. It is a privilege for us all to be part of a community which is On the boarding side, the opening of Margaret Fell House helping to share those values not only with each other, represents a most important development in continuing but with that wider world too. the improvements of recent years in the quality of boarding life. Finally, my family and I would like to wish you all happiness and peace at Christmas and throughout the New Year. The new girls' boarding house inaugurates a major programme of upgrading in our boarding accommodation. John Dunston MAGAZINE PRODUCTION EDITORIAL TEAM: SCHOOL: Editor Sean Kenny P.S.F.A: Editor Jane Cleland Photography Penny Spring Art Work Mike Spring CO-ORDINATOR: Sean Kenny S.O.S.A: Editor Caroline Bond PRINTERS: H.E. Boddy and Co. Ltd ., Banbury Front cover artwork. GCSE Te xtiles Weaving - Shula Gran ville. Yr 11. 1 ONE VEAR ON THE SIBFORD SCHOOL CURRICULUM Within a few days of arriving pupils were saying, 'We" Having completed my first year as Deputy Head with Miss, do you like it here?' It was easy to say, 'yes' but after responsibility for the curriculum it seems appropriate to a very hurried year, perhaps you will allow me to reflect have been asked to review the past twelve months in the on what it is which makes Sibford so special to me. It light of what is taught in the school. certainly isn't the wi nd whistling round and through every corner of the Hi", nor is it those moments after the end of The most significant curriculum event of the year (indeed term when a" the lost property has to be tidied away. But possibly of the decade) was the publication of the details fortunately there are so many happy memories to blot of the new National Curriculum. This "slimmed" version those out. of the original curriculum has been welcomed in the school and will continue to form the basis of our own If you go into Gi"ett at about eight fifteen in the evening schemes of work. We will be continuing with our own you will see boys curled up on the sofas watching a long-standing policy of "shadowing" the National comedy on the television, but never too engrossed to say, Curriculum. We are promised, by the powers that be, a 'He"o, Miss' while another two will be playing snooker or five year period of stability in the organisation of teaching perhaps challenging Paul Ludlow to a game of table­ for pupils of compulsory school age (5-16). If this tennis; does he only lose while I am watching? undertaking is maintained it wi ll give a" of us, pupils and teachers alike, a period of welcome sta bility after seven Up the Hi" to Penn and there is rejoicing that, yet again, years of continuous change. they have won the Rugby. Into Lister where the most unusual cuisine is to be found; the worst I can recall was a Closer to home Sibford pupils have continued to enjoy toasted sandwich which consisted of two dry slices of the breadth and innovation which have become a hallmark bread around a huge quantity of Muesli, 'It's quite nice of our timetable. The PE GCSE course, started two years really, would you like some?' Fortunately some of the ago, produced its first set of, excellent, exam results. It is other boys had been busy decorating the phone and now an established part of the GCSE Options. Introduced laundry rooms so I make my excuses and go to watch the a year later, Media Studies GCSE has now completed its painting. And so I hurry on to Fielding where the real first year. Pupils wielding camcorders are a fa miliar sight cooking goes on. If I judge the time right the aroma will around the school. Is the next Quentin Tarrantino currently greet me as I round the corner from the science block and at Sibford? a wonderfu l concoction of noodles, sauce and different meats will be simmering away. Higher up the school the past year has seen equally important developments. Intermediate GNVQ has been This September my steps altered direction dramatically established in the area of Business Studies and further and it is across the field now to Margaret Fe" which strengthens the school's place as a leading centre of already has more posters, photos and ornaments than a" school-based vocational studies. Our ra nge of A level the other houses put together. As the year progresses the subjects has further widened over the past twelve months. sewing, art and hobbies will a" reappear, I know. The best Business Studies and Geography have been added to our for me is that although a" the houses strike one as being curriculum. Equa"y ground breaking for the school is the home they are a" so very individual and each is justly fact that we have, forthe first time, a number of sixth form proud of its distinctive features. students studying three A levels. Another aspect of the year which has given me great A busy year and one which shows achievement across pleasure has been to see so many trying out new skills for the board. With outstanding GCSE results in August we the first time. The first ever caving expeditions took place started the Autumn Term in good heart. Perhaps the best in the spring and, as I write some are going off to try out a summary of our curriculum was given by the headline, at climbing course in Gloucester. The roller skating weekends the end of August, in the Banbury Guardian-"Exce"ence allowed we" over a hundred pairs of feet to wizz round at Sibfo rd." the Ha" floor and Sibford pupils have bowled, swum, Simon Horsley skated, ridden and driven in five counties during the Deputy Head Saturday evening activity slot. The children bubble away with ideas and suggestions and we a" hope that each year we will see a few more put into practice. Caroline Homan Deputy Head 2 I have one daughter, named Lauran, who is now nine WELCOME years old and goes to Sibford Gower School where she was delighted to find some fu rry and feathery friends as DEBBY EVANS well as the human variety. She is currently writing a play for her and her friends (mainly the human ones) to perform Hi, I'm Debby. I am very for charity. much looking forward to working alongside many We are delighted to be living in Sibford and look forward of you providing to many years of pastoral bliss. classroom support to LS pupils . JOHN HOWARD I am not only new to Sibford but also to I was born in Yorkshire Oxfordshire having and sti ll have a strong moved here from affinity with the county, Yorkshire, where I worked often returning to view the in a 9-13 Middle School, most glamorous football in May this year. I was team in the world - born in London, married Sheffield Wednesday ! in Buckinghamshire, lived in Hertfordshire and After qualifying at Crewe Bedfordshire and, and Alsager as a P.E./ controversially perhaps, Maths teacher I was support Cambridge in the Boat Race. continually on the move experiencing Prep. I am married to Adrian (accountant) and have two children, Schools and their Aimee (15) and Ryan (13).