The Grovian 2018 the Grovian 2018
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All Cinderella photos are courtesy of Gavin Priestley Photography The Grovian 2018 The Grovian 2018 woodhousegrove.co.uk The Grovian 2018 Contents Ocial Reports 3 - 14 Brontë House 15 - 31 Boarding 33 - 35 Out of the Classroom 37 - 41 Trips and Tours 42 - 55 Performing Arts 56 - 71 Sports Reports 72 - 104 House Reports 105 - 111 Official Reports In an academic year, the top 10 percent of teachers We live in a world that is intensely fluid and take their students through 18 months-worth of changing; as a result of technology, material, while the bottom 10 percent take them communications, travel, migration and other forms through only six months-worth. As Eric Hanushek, of globalization. However, looking ahead, one thing a researcher at Stamford University, told The never changes, and this should give is all colossal Economist: “No other attribute of schools comes hope. Adolescents are essentially optimistic. They close to having as much influence on student are full of talent and today’s young people are less achievement as teacher quality”. Academic prejudiced and more principled, with a healthy researchers have found something else too. Great respect for those of dierent backgrounds and teachers have a number of qualities; such as deep beliefs. Such a realisation should give us all infinite subject knowledge and high levels of emotional hope of a bright new dawn. intelligence, but one is more important than any other: they are, first and foremost, avid students When education is complete, the one thing that is themselves. They do not fall for what Elizabeth essential in schools is to build personality, develop Green, the author of Building a Better Teacher, calls character and confidence, train resilience and the “myth of the natural born teacher”. Instead, promote courage through the attitudes and values they are always looking to extend their knowledge inculcated. The youth of tomorrow know this and, of teaching to improve their skills and develop for the most part, are ready to contend with the fresh insights. complexities of an anguished world. An education which is not based upon principle, However, whilst considering what makes a great and a core set of values, is almost worthless. That teacher, we need to acknowledge that teaching is why at Woodhouse Grove we place so much has changed beyond recognition during my time in emphasis on our Grovian Values. It is who you are, the profession, and this change has brought with it not what you know, that carries you through life; additional pressures. In my early years of teaching, that is what determines whether or not you find I felt accountable more than anything else to the true happiness and self-fulfillment; and that is what pupils I taught, and the school that employed me defines what an education should really be about. to teach them. The pressures have since grown It is the set of our sails and not the wind and the Headmaster’s Report enormously. Some of this is externally imposed; for gales that determine where we go, and which example, a meddlesome, unnecessarily course we take in life. Nowhere else is this more bureaucratic and punitive Inspection regime leaves the case than in schools like Woodhouse Grove It is was a huge honour and privilege to welcome The sta here work tirelessly to shape your son or schools in fear, while examination performance where the next generation of movers and shakers, to Woodhouse Grove our Prize Day Guest of daughter’s future. My colleagues inspire in many tables – whether government or newspaper of leaders and decision makers, spend their most Honour, Kim Leadbeater. Kim is the sister of Jo ways and when the world appears not to care, they derived – hold schools to account in crude terms formative years. Cox, the Batley and Spen MP who was tragically do, they care about each and every student. It is a that often say more about the academic ability murdered on 16th June, 2016. Since her sister’s fact that, in time, every pupil will remember one or profile of a school than the quality of teaching and Whilst immensely important, examination results death, Kim has worked tirelessly to create a two teachers with deepest gratitude, for some care within it. say nothing about the quality of scholarship, the positive legacy for Jo, with a specific focus on spark of inspiration, which set their course. In the creativity, or the humanity of a school; and we all social cohesion and creating positive relationships. words of Old Grovian, Phillip Hall, “passable Notwithstanding all these challenges, our goal as know that you cannot equate examination results Under the ‘More In Common’ theme, taken from teachers are common; good ones much less so. To educators remains unwavering, namely, to equip with the financial results of companies, as the best Jo’s maiden speech in parliament, Kim has encounter a truly great teacher is a rare privilege young people with the necessary knowledge, skills, measure of success. That is why, at its heart, the organised various community-based initiatives; that many children never experience”. and resilience to enable them to thrive in the future business of Woodhouse Grove will always be focusing on the things we all share, which can and be happy, confident citizens of the world. rooted in the people that make up our community; bring people together. In my view, a truly great teacher is able to step Thanks to Government intervention, the curriculum the building of relationships between parents, sta beyond his or her own competence. This requires ebbs and flows. The timetable is so congested that and pupils; and the value placed on each Kim is also a lifelong educationalist; a lecturer in the individual to put themselves in the shoes of the there is little time to teach ethics and morals; and, individual. This is what makes the Grove such a higher and further education, and a personal student; breaking down the theory or concept into as parents and teachers, we are all alarmed by special place; as the poem goes, “We are all trainer, who, like Woodhouse Grove, has always learnable parts. This takes empathy, imagination, issues relating to the role social media plays in individuals, yet we are part of something adopted a holistic view of education and insight and other qualities we might bracket under young people’s lives. However, despite new social incredible”. well-being. As demonstrated by her powerful the term “teaching craft”. problems, schools and society must do their best words, following her sister’s tragic murder, Kim to maximize the benefits technology bestows. Finally, I should like to record my thanks and continues to approach life with a passion, empathy When John Hattie, a leading researcher, analysed Whether we like it or not, social media has gratitude to the team responsible for putting and positive attitude. Her address was truly educational performance around the world, he changed language and the way children see the together another excellent publication. inspirational and I for one cannot remember a Prize discovered that class size is not as significant as world. At times, when dealing with some of these Day Guest at any of the schools at which I have parents tend to think; neither is setting or issues in school, I often think that society as a been lucky enough to teach receive such a long streaming by ability. Indeed, he found that only one whole now requires a new code of conduct, so that and rousing ovation. factor made a major dierence, teacher quality. harmful misuse does not prevail. Page 4 I am Grovian In an academic year, the top 10 percent of teachers We live in a world that is intensely fluid and take their students through 18 months-worth of changing; as a result of technology, material, while the bottom 10 percent take them communications, travel, migration and other forms through only six months-worth. As Eric Hanushek, of globalization. However, looking ahead, one thing a researcher at Stamford University, told The never changes, and this should give is all colossal Economist: “No other attribute of schools comes hope. Adolescents are essentially optimistic. They close to having as much influence on student are full of talent and today’s young people are less achievement as teacher quality”. Academic prejudiced and more principled, with a healthy researchers have found something else too. Great respect for those of dierent backgrounds and teachers have a number of qualities; such as deep beliefs. Such a realisation should give us all infinite subject knowledge and high levels of emotional hope of a bright new dawn. intelligence, but one is more important than any other: they are, first and foremost, avid students When education is complete, the one thing that is themselves. They do not fall for what Elizabeth essential in schools is to build personality, develop Green, the author of Building a Better Teacher, calls character and confidence, train resilience and the “myth of the natural born teacher”. Instead, promote courage through the attitudes and values they are always looking to extend their knowledge inculcated. The youth of tomorrow know this and, of teaching to improve their skills and develop for the most part, are ready to contend with the fresh insights. complexities of an anguished world. An education which is not based upon principle, However, whilst considering what makes a great and a core set of values, is almost worthless. That teacher, we need to acknowledge that teaching is why at Woodhouse Grove we place so much has changed beyond recognition during my time in emphasis on our Grovian Values.