SWANLEA NEWS Issue 62 SWANLEA BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE COLLEGE Winter 2008 OFSTED SAY, SWANLEA IS

OUTSTANDING! LETTER FROM THE HEAD LETTER FROM THE HEAD Ms Austin BOYS & HEAD GIRLS I am delighted to be able to celebrate our recent Tahsan, Betlehem, Raihana & Jacob Ofsted success in this edition of Swanlea News. It is a wonderful recognition of what we all work so hard What a fantastic start to the new academic year to achieve here. My thanks go to students, parents, we have all had. We are so pleased that we now staff, Governors and friends of Swanlea for all their have the oficial conirmation - Swanlea is an hard work and commitment: I am truly grateful. OUTSTANDING school! The inspection process was nerve-wracking but worth all the worry. As the I take great pleasure in introducing our new Head report states “The school provides an outstanding Girls and Head Boys to you: Tahsan, Raihana, caring environment in which students can lourish as Jacob and Betlehem. I am sure they will be excellent individuals and as members of the community. This ambassadors for the school and take pride in their is a school where every child really does matter”. We role as student leaders. know irst-hand that to be true.

I must, of course, mention also this year’s new We are thrilled that the student community has been SPARCs (Swanlea Pupils Are Resolving Conlict) recognised in the report so positively and powerfully: who, under the careful guidance of Ms Johnson, “Students are friendly, courteous and energetic. ensure that our younger students have the They value education and want to succeed. They opportunity to turn someone closer to their own age are relective and thoughtful and are excellent to help resolve any of the smaller dificulties that ambassadors for multicultural Britain”. As Head Boys inevitably come along in life. Once selected, our and Head Girls, we hope to live up to that proud SPARCs are sent on a fully-funded residential trip statement. to receive training on conlict resolution techniques and leadership skills, and return to school clearly As the report says, “Swanlea is an outstanding school identiiable to others by their special tie. We are very where students of all abilities and backgrounds thrive, proud of the guidance and support they offer students both academically and personally”. Who could put it throughout the school. You may have also heard better than that? We hope you all ind the time to read of our Seniors - selected Year 10 students who are the report. It is available to download from Swanlea’s assigned to a particular Year 7 tutor group to help website, under the “Parents/Carers” section, or from ease the transition from primary to secondary level. the Ofsted website itself. There is far more later on in this edition of Swanlea News about all the extraordinary activities Year 7 Our thanks, students have been taking part in since September, so please do read on! Tahsan, Betlehem, With every best wish, Raihana & Jacob

Swanlea School Business & Enterprise College 31 Brady Street E1 5DJ

Tel: 020 7375 3267 Fax: 020 7375 3567 Email: [email protected] www.swanlea.towerhamlets.sch.uk Editor: Eimear Daly

2 IS PROUD TO PRESENT... THE HEAD GIRLS & HEAD BOYS FOR 2008

Betlehem Jacob Tahsan Raihana

Tahsan, Betlehem, Raihana and Jacob are here to help you, they are your representatives. If you want, you can ask them to bring something to the attention of the Leadership Team. e-mail them on: [email protected] [email protected] 3 YOUR SCHOOL, YOUR BUSINESS

In September, Young Enterprise came into school to do a programme called Your School, Your Business - a programme speciically designed to support students during their primary to secondary transition. It provides a hands on, practical introduction to the school as a learning and business organization and encourages students to appreciate their role in their secondary school, as well as the contribution that all members of staff, both teaching and non- teaching, make towards their education. By the end of the programme, students are able to understand that schools are multi-faceted businesses where different types of work take place and all decisions and choices have associated costs and impacts. The aims for students are: • to build self awareness and self conidence • to facilitate the development of enterprise capabilities derived from the Howard Davies Review IN BUSINESS WITH build in view of the tourism inlux. • to promote an understanding Overall, it was an enjoyable and of business THE GAMES beneicial day for the students and • to provide an opportunity the staff who participated in it. It to meet school staff and This October, Year 8 students will also all towards the NCFE in understand their work roles were all treated to a fantastic Enterprise – a wonderful bonus! workshop called ‘In Business with The students engaged in a host the Games’. This programme, Ms Pritchard of activities including; thinking organized by Young Enterprise, Business & Enterprise Coordinator about who they are now and was all about the Olympics and what their identity is, getting to the potential impact it would have know their classmates and who on students’ lives. They learnt certain members of the school about the whole spectrum of are, a questionnaire to see how agencies involved in the London enterprising they are, and taking Olympics, the potential career part in problem-solving activities. opportunities that might arise A video of this day can be found from the games, and the possible on the school’s J:Drive and will be economic impact it might cause. Students had the opportunity to shown to students during PSHE. come up with their own examples Ms Pritchard of what sort of hotels, transport, Business & Enterprise Coordinator stadiums and houses they could 4 Cambridge Heath Sixth Form RECEIVING APPLICATIONS

Ms Landers, NOW! Deputy Headteacher

A brand new and exciting Sixth Form has come to Tower Hamlets. The Cambridge Heath Sixth Form held its irst Open Evening on Tuesday 4th November (and again on 2nd December), and allowed students and their parents the opportunity to ind out more about the wide range of courses available, discuss their options with staff and collect the brand new prospectus.

Cambridge Heath Sixth Form has been formed in partnership of Morpeth, Oaklands and Swanlea Schools. It will make use of all the top-notch facilities available at all three schools, as well as the newly developed Wessex centre on Hadleigh Street.

Catering for around 175 students, Cambridge Heath Sixth Form will open for the irst time in September 2009.

If anyone would like to attend the next Open Evening, please contact Ms Fox in Room10 or Ms Carriere on 07508 064 011 or 020 7613 1014. Swanlea School Portman Place Old Road 31 Brady Street E2 0PX E2 6PR E1 5DJ for Creative & Media, Art, for Science, Maths, Psychology for Business, ICT, Economics Drama, English, Media Studies, and Society Health & and Sociology. Music and History. Development.

5 Celebrating

rd at Girls The evening of Thursday 23 magniicent dance performance October was a truly special by Suman Ahmed Trofder, 7C, one at Swanlea. Inspired Nadira Begum, 7W and Khadiza by Ms Williams, the girls of Begum, 7C. Year 7 helped put together a wonderful evening of Talks from Ms Austin, Nasima entertainment for staff and Begum, a former Swanlea parents, aided and abetted student, and Mr Hoque, school by the fantastic Ms Dolly, Ms governor and Ms Allen, City Sinha-Das, Ms Shahanara and Gateway coordinator, provided Ms Jannatul. much inspiration to all who attended. Parents and students The audience were treated were also given information to readings by Samina packs as to all the fantastic Begum, 7E, Farzana activities available to girls at Begum, 7E and Flora Swanlea. A wonderful event, McLaughlin, 7A, a stunning sure to become an annual powerpoint presentation by tradition! Ashley Stanford, 7S, and a Ms Daly, Media Oficer

Above: Flora McLaughlin, 7A, Samina Begum, 7E and Farzana Begum, 7E 6 Swanlea at School

Dancing stars: Suman Ahmed Trofder, 7C, Nadira Begum, 7W and Khadiza Begum, 7C 7 Swanlea celebrates European Languages

Day Mrs Compton, Senior Leader

Swanlea students celebrated of multi-culturalism, as well as European Languages day the role of languages in careers/ on 26th September with a the world of work. whole week of exciting events organised by the MFL faculty. Students were also given the chance to watch French ilms Eager not to miss a single during lunchtime, as well as opportunity, staff and students experience a delicious food- were treated to a compliation tasting event, organised by of music from across the Mrs Filby, which was most globe, played throughout the enthusiastically attended! Mall before school and during breaktimes. In Assembly, Over the course of the week students were shown a students learnt a great deal special episode of Swanlea about the importance and On Screen. The ilm, where potential beneits of speaking Swanlea staff and pupils another language. The week’s spoke about how speaking events was enormous fun as several languages is a real well as being informative: a asset in our global economy, fantastic success! highlighted important aspects

8 SCHOOL COMMUNITY LITERACY & ICT CLASSES

English Language Pre- entry course Open to parents/carers

of Swanlea School as Basic ICT skills up to well as local residents. Accredited Entry level course English language and ICT classes MONDAY: are available to anyone who might like to be involved. You don’t have Room 112 or 113 Please contact Swanlea to be a parent of a student at English Language class: School for details and ask Swanlea, these classes are open 2.30-3.20pm for Ms Sinha-Das to everyone. We have classes ICT class: 3.30-4.50pm (Leader of Learning with parents) running both during the day and WEDNESDAY Tel: 0207 375 3267 ext. after school so if you would like Room 114 314 to sign up, contact Ms Sinha-Das ICT class: 1.50-3.20 today! STUDENTS RAISE FUNDS WITH CHOCOLATE BUNS

Students from the Swanlea’s amazing strawberry gateaux as Cooking Club recently raised an the prize. Lucky Ms Begum had impressive £100 for this year’s the winning ticket! Children in Need appeal. The industrious chefs tempted staff and students with hand- made triple chocolate mufins, traditional Scottish shortbread and some delectable cupcakes. They also held a rafle with an

Ms Williams Deputy Team Leader for Year 7

Marwa Begum, 9C, Duha Alian, 9C, Rita Begum, 9C, with Ms Begum and Ms Williams 9 YEAR Year 7 are now coming “I’ve enjoyed taking to the end of their irst part in the football club term at Swanlea. What run by Swanlea Youth do they think about Project the most, it’s secondary school so really good fun” far? Hamse Husa, 7C

YEAR 7 PUPIL LEADERS

Nazrul Islam, 7N Miraj Abbas, 7N Niyaz Choudhury, 7N Well done! So far, Year 7 have.... “Enterprise week has • taken part in Slam Poetry • had a special “Settling in” been my favourite • had a whole Enterprise evening so far. I learnt lots of Week • taken part in Ocean Maths different skills and really • been to see Twelfth Night • made ilms for “Swanlea enjoyed it” • experienced the brilliant on Screen” Girls Celebration evening • been visited by Pete Ahmed Osman, 7C Johnson, author

“Technology is my favourite subject. We’re making bookends at the moment and I love using all the different tools” Flora McLaughlin, 7A

10 Didn’t get your Top Ten Tips? Contact Ms Dudhia for copy!

SPECIAL TOP 10 TIPS FOR YEAR 7 PARENTS THANKS TO HELP WHEN YOUR CHILD START SECONDARY SCHOOL

GO TO.. Help your child Display their school Travel to school organise their and homework with your child for school bag the timetables so they the irst few weeks night before so they and you know to familiarise them have the correct those who took part in what subjects or with the route or equipment for the activities they have ind a friend to next day. the special parents focus each day. travel with. group on 17th September 2008. Year 8 Parents participated in the event Ask your child simple questions about their homework or Take your child to Read with your held at Swanlea School and what they’ve done the Ideas Store or child for at least 20 at school that day. the local library on minutes every day. helped to develop the Top This will help them a regular basis. understand the work Ten Tips. Parents worked better. in groups to look at various potential scenarios families

experience in relation to Breakfast is an Give your child Find out who to important meal to rewards for contact at your school, and discussed possible start the day well. achievement at child’s secondary Ensure that your school, e.g. a trip school for different child also eats to the cinema, a circumstances, e.g. solutions. Their responses to each scenario were at lunchtime and set of new pens, the form tutor or the makes healthy food etc head of year. used to develop Top Ten Tips for new Year 7 parents choices. and provide them with useful advice from those who have recently experienced the transition process themselves. The Top Ten Tips were given to all Year Encourage your child to do about 1 and a half hour of homework every 7 parents at their irst parents evening. Ms Allen day in a quiet place, away from distractions like the TV or computers. Project Manager PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SUCCESSES 2008 INTER-TUTOR FOOTBALL NEWS…. spirit. Stephen Mbemba K’Poku (9E), Michael Adewale (9N) and TOURNAMENTS Year 9 Tower Hamlets Borough Azizor Rahman (9) all played Football Competition Thanks to the support from all PE exceptionally well throughout the staff, Swanlea students from Year Year 9 students inished as tournament. Thanks to Mr Grant 7-11 have had the opportunity to runners up in the Tower Hamlets & Mr Ellis for all their time and compete in Football & Basketball Plate Competition this year. After support. Inter-tutor tournaments every a slow start to the competition The Year 7 & 8 Girls Football week throughout the year. which included group defeats at team, coached by Ms Flowers The tournaments have been the hands of Raines Foundation are currently competing in enormously successful and (1-0), Stepney Green (2-1) and an ongoing local borough hugely popular. Well done to all Langdon Park (2-0), Swanlea tournament held at Mile End who took part. turned in a strong performance Stadium. Look out for more news to defeat Bow Boys (1-0) in the on their results in the next edition Plate semi-inal. of Swanlea News! Ms Foley, PE teacher All the boys played with good 11 SWANLEA SPORTS NEWS SWANLEA ASHRAFUL – BASKETBALL ‘REPRESENTS’ IN THE BANGLADESHI CRICKET TOWER HAMLETS CAPTAIN vISITS CROSS COUNTRY SWANLEA COMPETITION Thanks to the forward thinking and smooth talking from Mr Thomas On 13th November, Mr Grant and and Shahidur (Tower Hamlets Miss Foley escorted 54 students to Cricket Coach), all the boys in Victoria Park to represent Swanlea the cricket team were given the in the Tower Hamlets Cross opportunity to meet the current Country event. The number of The Year 7 & 8 Girls Swanlea Bangladeshi Cricket Captain Swanlea participants outweighed Basketball team had big shoes to –Mohammad Ashraful at Swanlea. that of any school in the borough. ill following the silver medal last Current Borough representatives, All year levels participated and year. In the irst match, Swanlea Soyfur Rahman (11) & Mitu Ahmed performed extremely well. The lost to Sir John Cass (8-2). In (9) assisted the younger team girls were triumphant this year with the second match, it seemed as members during the coaching Bethan Turner (7) coming though Bishop Challenor had clinic. Mohammad Ashraful second in her age group brought their Senior team by also provided valuable feedback and Rosie Agbotro (8) looking at the sheer size and on his journey to becoming the placed 11th her age strength of these ladies, even Bangladeshi Cricket Captain and group. Junaid Miss Foley was feeling slightly performance tips. Ahmed placed intimidated. Fariha Kamil and 3rd for Year 11 Sarah Farkuri played superb boys. Bethan & offense whilst Tasia Ajmin held Rosie have since represented her ground against the tough Tower Hamlets at the London opposition. In the irst half Cross Country Championships Swanlea girls were 2-0 up and on Wednesday 3rd playing out of their skins!! Rhianne December 2008. A Williams and Tahmina Chowdhury huge congratulations demonstrated their desire to to Bethan Turner win with fantastic chasing back for receiving a Swanlea is one of the leading and defence. Unfortunately the Bronze Medal. Cricket development schools in girls lost 4-2 to Bishop but were Tower Hamlets. Our results to satisied with really stepping to date include: the challenge. Swanlea regained conidence when they defeated ROWING • The Year 7 & 8 Girls Indoor George Green and Mulberry Cricket team placed 4th against Swanlea came Second Place in School. In the end, we received local borough schools. the Tower Hamlets Indoor Rowing bronze medals in the Tower • Under 13s Boys Cricket team Competition at Oaklands School. Hamlets Basketball were inalists in the London Shaykul Hoque (8) won his race Competition and a Indoor Cricket Competition held & Bodrul Islam (11) & Justine picture in the East End at Lord’s Cricket ground. The Gonzales (9) all placed second Life!! Congratulations boys were also the winners in their event. These to our top shooter in the Middlesex Indoor students were also chosen -Sarah Farkuri 8L. competition held also at Lords. to represent Tower Well Done. • Under 15s Boys reached the Hamlets in the London London Finals of the National 1. Tahmina Choudhury 8S Youth Games. On the ‘Times Newspaper’ Cricket 2. Tasia Ajmin 8S back of such success, tournament and were defeated 3. Sarah Farkuri 8L Swanlea entered by Dulwich College. 4. Salma Bibi 8L 30 students in the • Under 15s qualiied for 5. Fariha Kamil 7C National Youth Rowing the Indoor Cricket Tower 6. Tahrima Khanom 7C Championships held Hamlets Finals. They also 7. Rhianne Williams 8S in Battersea. Shaykul qualiied for the Tower Hamlets 8. Faima Begum 8S Hoque won a silver Outdoor Cricket Tournaments 9. Sabnam Fardous 8C medal. Congratualtions!!! to be played in the Summer. 12