THE KINGS OF WESSEX SCHOOL A Church of England Foundation School Specialist Technology College
Issue no. 80 You can also enjoy in colour on our website: The Kings’ Messenger www.kowessex.co.uk End of Summer Term July 2008 Dear Parents murals in the Sixth Form Common Room painted by Gifted and Talented Artists. The English Department held As the school year 2007-8 rapidly draws to a close, and the a Spelling Bee and we will shortly be hosting the Raising summer holidays approach, I am pleased to report on a Voices concert involving our students from across the busy half Summer Half Term here at Kings! Cheddar Valley.
The exam season has Contents certainly dominated conference and Year 9 students enjoyed their Citizenship Head’s Introduction 1 this half term. Parents Conference. Honing their working world skills, Year 10 Roll of Honour 2-5 may have been aware students attended a Key Skills Conference in preparation School Council Update 5 of our revised exam for their work experience week. Meanwhile, Governors Year 11 Celebrations 6 leave arrangements, School Uniform Reminder 6 and the introduction of time in Subject Teams and also shadowing students. Spelling Bee 7 pre-exam briefings, Maths in the Summertime 7-8 both of which I know For the fourth consecutive year, we ran our Middle School A tête-à-tête wth Languages 8-9 students have found Master Classes for Gifted and Talented students in Maths, Time for Lunch 9 extremely helpful in Design Technology, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This Design Technology Success 10 keeping them was an enjoyable opportunity for our transferring students Design Technology Week 11-12 motivated and and staff as well! encouraged to do their Kip on a Ship 12 With little time to draw breath - athletes competed in our Science News 13 best. annual Sports Day, and swimming gala, breaking school Psychology Trip 14 Staff will be available records; whilst the tennis tournament is currently on the PSHE/Citizenship Conference 15-16 in school when the courts. You can read more about our Years 9 and 10 Work Experience Report 16 exams are published: Cricket teams making sporting history in the Somerset The Kings’ Art 17-18 County Cup. Thank you to Carl Bennett, Subject Leader Christian Leader 18 Levels) and Thursday 21 for P.E. and his team for all their motivation. A record LRC Issues 19 My number of Year 10 Sports Leaders have hosted Sports PTA Catch Up 19 thanks must go to our Festivals for our Cheddar Valley First and Middle Schools Sport Scores 20-23 Exams Team for led by our School Sports Co-Ordinator Karolie Williams. Galloping Success 23-24 ensuring the effective As the school year draws to a close, we say farewell to some +The Fairfield Archaeology Project exams administration, ably led by Assistant long-serving staff. I thank Assistant Headteacher Noreen + In the Mood for Food flyer Fogarty, and Teachers of Geography Richard Scourse and + Autumn First Half Term Calendar Headteacher Christian Hughes. Unfortunately Religious Education Rosemary Tullett for their huge commitment, loyalty, and experience - with over seventy be aware from the national press of the regrettable marking years combined experience. We look forward to welcoming delays at The National Assessment Agency. We will keep our new recruits in September. you informed when the results arrive. During the summer holidays our refurbishment and
Looking to next year there is good news for our current building programme continues. The Art/Photography Y as they all have secured their first choice GCSE classrooms will be refurbished, a second Food Technology options. Preparations have also been apace for the smooth Classroom built and a secure cycle storage shed installed transition of our new Year 9 students joining us in thanks to the School Council procuring a £10,000 Travel September, following a successful Transfer Day and parents Plan grant. Plans are also being finalised for the transfer of have attended information and tutors evenings. This was the Leisure Centre to the school, which I know is an important step for Kings and our community. followed by Sixth Form Induction Day. This year, a record number of students are due to join us in both Year 9 and the As I bring this to a close...(with an eye on Sixth Form. the weather ), we will be holding our whole school
Making time for celebrations not least as an antidote to the Presentation Assembly on the last day of term. Hopefully, this half term. outside at the front of school. I always enjoy this event, as You can read more about Year 11 celebrations, notably the we reward students for achievements both in and beyond the classroom. Assembly and Ball. I thank Year 11 Leader Eric Holdsworth and his team of Tutors and students for their organisation. It only remains for me to thank parents and friends for
Our , before your continued support to Kings, and to wish you all a very happy summer holiday. dancing the night away at Weston-super- Gardens, with the Sixth Form Band providing musical entertainment. On their own initiative, Clowance Cotterill Yours sincerely, and Hannah Lucas in Year 12 organised a Summer Dance here at Kings for our Year 8 Middle School students. Their enthusiasm, energy and excellent organisation skills were impressive. CHRIS RICHARDSON As per our Kings tradition, there has been time for a wealth Headteacher of extra curricular activities this half term...
We are relishing an events-packed Design and Technology week; Maths have visited the Eden Project, Biologists and Geography students conducted fieldtrips; and many students braved Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. Sixth Form Art students treated us to a Visual Arts Exhibition of Fashion, Art, and Photography and we unveiled two new Kings’ Roll of Honour – End of the Summer Half Term Special Achievements: rewarding students for services to school and good work
It must be dazzlingly clear that this year’s Special Achievements have been a runaway success. And some students have enjoyed even dizzier success… Congratulations to Jessica Ford 9PT for being the only student this year to gain her Second Platinum (Special Achievements Mathematics reveals that Jessica gained her first Platinum with 50 merits and then did exactly the same – gaining 50 more merits!).
Adam Green 9DR achieved his Second Gold and are closely followed by Rachael Bewick and Liam Grant 9VP who gained their Second Silver. Chloe Bunn 9DR, Kirsty McLaren 9DR, Tom Fisher, Sophie Luff, Joseph Rossiter 9FP, Helen Bennett, Sophie Langford, Milena Mottram, Luke Redman, Jade-Louise Wright 9SBA, Freya Cumberlidge and Jamie Long 9VP all gained their Second Bronze.
Bronze (5 merits) Gold (25 merits) Lewis Podpadec 9VP Bryony Conetta 9ER Thomas Childs 9CRA Natalie Stevenson 9VP Robert Sandilands 9FP Jasmine Crocker 9CRA Ollie Crandon 10CA Lydia Williams 9SBA Benjamin Davey 9CRA Emma Hanlon 10CA Jake Taylor 10CA Lauren Janaway 9CRA Bethany Robinson 10CA Victoria Chir 10EHE Elizabeth Leonard 9CRA Hannah Shaw 10CA Alexander Parsons 10EHE Bethan Wall 9CRA Jack Tonkin 10CA Sarah Kelly 10LD Alex Brandrick 9CRA Nick Bamber 10JR Hannah Brannigan 10TP Freya Cottrell 9CRA Joe Bright 10JR Saul Dawson 10TP Don Hamilton 9CRA Edward Kimmins-Tonkin 10JR Scott Harris 10TP Daniel Hutchison 9DR Harriet Thompson 10JR Marisha Huxtable 10TP Chelsea Mortimer 9DR Victoria Ferguson 10LD Jessica Pascoe 9DR Benjamin Davidson 10TP Alice Gilling 10TP Silver (15 merits) Chloe Bisdee 9ER Stephanie Craig 9ER Carla Gordon 10TP Henry Farmer 9CRA Jessica Harraway 10TP Samuel Shuff 9CRA Russell Eccleston 9ER Claire Tidswell 9ER Alex Hicks 10TP James Watson 9CRA Paul Jarvis 10TP Daniel Hutchison 9DR Emma Trolley 9ER Timothy Weeks 9ER Georgia Madsen 10TP Joshua Addis 9ER Ellis Mead 10TP Joshua Holgate 9ER Abigail Ham 9FP Harriet Lang 9FP Sophie Watkins 10TP Bethany Rowsell 9FP Michael Wilmot 10TP Marcus Tincknell 9FP Elizabeth Nash 9FP Freya Williams 9FP Richard Priddice 9FP Platinum (50 merits) Carrie Robinson 9JPF Sophie Caunt 9FS Toby Thorne 9CRA Sarah Coles 9PT Emily Ingle 9FS Ethan Taylor 9DR Corrie Painter 9PT Bethany Woodhall 9FS Jasmine Chadwick 9ER Sophie Stride 9PT Matthew Palmer 9GC Daniel Findlay 9ER Simon White 9PT Oscar Knight 9JPF George Penwarden 9ER Jesse Hartnup 9TT Emily Kouidri 9JPF Adrianne Swingler 9ER Naomi Jones 9TT Christopher Major 9JPF Charlotte Coggins 9FP Lucy Midcalf 9TT Andrew Pridgeon 9JPF Bradley Edrich 9FP Abigail Nicholson 9TT Robyn Cooke 9PT Daisy Graham 9FP Leonie Rickards 9TT Ashleigh Davies 9PT Sinead Byrom 9FS Thomas Roche 9TT Natasha Flinders 9PT James Knight 9PT Heather Matthews 10CA Kyle Homan 9PT Lawrence Shaban 9PT Kirsty-Marie Allen 10JR Daniel Robinson 9PT Amy Smale 9PT Daniel Hughes 10JR Jordan Scorse 9PT Alice Wright 9PT Ashley Parsons 10JR Michael Davis 9SBA Olivia Yates 9PT Rebecca Rogers 10JR Jessica Sims 9SBA Stephanie Rogers 9PT Mimi Bygrave 10LD Lauren Haines 9TT Harry Evans 9VP Sarah Greenwood 10TP Duncan Hall 9TT Agatha Morris 9VP Kelly Holford 10TP Megan Jones 9TT Lauren Simon 9VP Emily Taylor 10TP Callum Scott-Hartley 9TT Hannah Wood 9VP
Kianeau Whelan 10TP Charlotte Scriven 9TT Ayla Williams 9TT Well done everyone!
Iain Millar 9VP *Please note, our students’ names are correct
at the time of going to print
School Colours: celebrating students for contribution to extra curricular activities
Music Athletics Equestrian Freddie Mehlig 10CED Laurie Olive 10CA Samuel Armstrong-Gambier 9SBA Nathaniel Gall 9TT Harriet Gittings 10SJ Olivia Owen 10TP Gemma Allwood 9SBA Joseph Grant 9JPF Hannah Reason 10CED Adam Peters 10DP Giles Barrett 9DR Joshua Holgate 9ER Rosie Price 10EHE Jonathan Barrett 9CRA Lewis Jones 9FS Sailing Hannah Puddy 10TP
James Bennett 9DR Megan N Jones 9TT Hannah Reason 10CED Katie Brock 9CRA Naomi Jones 9TT Alexander Parsons 10EHE Robert Perry 9DR Randy Salway 10KS Darren Brooks 9JPF Sophie Luff 9FP Joe Sandford-Hughes 10CED Ben Champion 9ER Henry Paul 9FS Samuel Rasmussen 10DP Ollie Saunders 10SJ Sophie Caunt 9FS Daniel Robinson 9PT Lucy Stephens 10DP Oliver Childs 9ER Charlotte Scriven 9TT Sports Leaders Jo Teagle 10CA Adam Clegg 9ER Joshua Timmins 9VP Group 10P Charlotte Weight 10EHE Oliver Conroy 9GC Timothy Weeks 9ER Emma Barber 10JR Kianeau Whelan 10TP Ben Crompton 9DR Ashle Bennett 10EHE Adam Willis 10SJ Freya Cumberlidge 9VP Cricket Joseph Bright 10JR Hannah Wilson 10TP Seth Cunningham 9JPF Thomas Childs 9CRA Oli Caton 10CED Gregory Davies 9ER Jamie Chidzey 10KS Group 10Q Michael Davis 9SBA Thomas Gooding 9ER John Holle 9JPF Mark Davies 10KS Mehtab Arshad 10DP Charlie Dew 9DR Laura Dover 10SJ Andrew Austin 10CED Russell Eccleston 9ER Freddie Horwood 9FP Samuel Kent 9FS Vicky Ferguson 10LD Charlotte Barrett 10LD Reece Faulkner 9CRA James Ford 10AD Alex Blake 10DP Daniel Findlay 9ER Sophie Luff 9FP Jim Merryfield 9SBA Holly Freemantle 10SJ Hannah Bloor 10LD Kiri Fisher 9ER Milly Gibson 10CED Dan Burns 10DP Samuel Fozzard 9CRA Lewis Podpadec 9VP Samuel Poole 9GC James Hall 10AD Alice Cantwell 10CA Adam Green 9DR Katheryn Hansford 10SJ Lucy Cornish 10AD Lauren Haines 9TT Andrew Pridgeon 9JPF Callum Stewart 9PT Alex Hicks 10TP Javier Gorodi 10CA Don Hamilton 9DR Harry Hole 10CED Jasmine Hailes 10EHE Joshua Highmore 9DR Thomas Wootton 9VP Nicholas Bamber 10JR Sam Jones 10AD Lauren Hooper 10LD Kyle Homan 9PT Sarah Kelly 10LD George Kimmins 10KS Ella Hughes 9JPF Oliver Caton 10CED Benjamin Davidson 10TP Jorjia Leheup 10DP Chloe Kitching 10DP Sean Kelly 9JPF Georgia Madsen 10TP Tom Layton 10DP Ashley Kelson 9TT Thomas Howard 10AD George Kimmins 10KS Cori Martin 10AD Ja’Mahal McMurran 10DP Oscar Knight 9JPF Emma Munt 10LD Georgina O’Neill 10SJ Christopher Laband 9PT Jack Mason 10AD Freddie Mehlig 10CED Laura Nesbitt 10SJ Jon Pinsent 10KS Peter Lee 9JPF Lisa Nicholls 10EHE Bethany Robinson 10CA John McLaughlin 9PT Joseph Pinnington 10JR Edward Plaister 10AD Chloe Parrott 10CA Luke Sealey 10EHE Christopher Major 9JPF Ashley Parsons 10JR Jake Slade 10TP Jessica Pascoe 9DR William Plummer 10CED Thomas Stevens 10SJ Matthew Pinsent 10LD Sammi Stephenson 10DP Sophie Patten 9JPF Ed Plaister 10AD Tom Stevens 10SJ Harry Paul 9FS Adam Willis 10SJ Will Plummer 10CED Eve Taschimowitz 10CED
Gavin Read 9GC Stacey Pope 10CA Kat Wing 10LD Jack Rowley-Noble 9DR Rounders Chris Prowse 10CED Abbey Woolway 10LD Danielle Russell 9ER Melissa Balkham 9FS Lauren Shannon 10JR Callum Scott-Hartley 9TT Jessica Banwell 9JPF Rosie Shepherd 10TP Jessica Searle 9TT 100% Attendance Jasmine Chadwick 9ER Serena Syed 10CED Lawrence Shaban 9PT Marie Cornish 9FS Rebecca Teagle 10EHE Ben Champion 9ER Natalie Stevenson 9VP Megan N Jones 9TT Fraser Ward 10CED Oliver Conroy 9GC Adrianne Swingler 9ER Naomi Jones 9TT Group 10R Reece Faulkner 9CRA Sharif Syed 9ER Sophie Luff 9FP Nick Bamber 10JR Adam Green 9DR Alice Taylor 9JPF Agatha Morris 9VP Becky Bayliss 10JR Emily Jeffree 9CRA Zoe Taylor 9JPF Uraiwan Nanthachit 9ER Toby Brunsdon 10DP Samuel Kent 9FS Claire Tidswell 9ER Jennifer Pearce 9JPF Rachel Cherry 10EHE Alfie Palmer 9GC Thomas Wall 9FP Jenna Purves 9VP Ben Davidson 10TP Sophie Patten 9JPF Jack Ward 9CRA Charlotte Scriven 9TT Michelle Fieldhouse 10DP Kieran Tanner 9FS Terry Wilcox 9VP Bethan Wall 9CRA Harriet Gittings 10SJ Joseph Perry 10KS Ella Williamson 9JPF Olivia Yates 9PT Lindsay Jones 10EHE Arne Scott 10AD Sophie Woods 9SBA Joanna Teagle 10CA Michael Wilmot 10TP Robbie Marshall 10DP Christie Zanelli 9JPF Jack Mason 10AD
Heather Matthews 10CA Hannah McGowan 10CED
Subject Awards: celebrating students for their academic progress in their course subjects
Subject Awards Year 9 Year 10 Year 12 English Niamh Wrench 9TT Emma Hanlon 10CA Media Studies - Alex Holt 12SP Lang - Language Language - Harriet Watson 12SR Lit Literature Literature - Jack Hicks 12SO MS Media Studies
Maths Stacie Potter 9SBA Victoria Ferguson 10LD Josh Hole 12JWN
Technology Food Laura Weigold 9GC Child Development Kirsti Lukins 10AD Food Lily Fry 12SK CD - Child Development Product Design Sam Poole Food Maddie Rigby 10EHE Graphics Yvette Taylor 12JWN F Food G - Graphics 9GC Product Design Charlotte Hodges Resistant Materials David Frost 12SP PD Product Design RM Resistant Materials 10CED
ICT Jenna Emery 9PT James Soffe 10AD Gemma Rendall 12IS
Biology Christie Zanelli 9JPF James Soffe 10AD Nicola Sentance 12JWN
Chemistry Adam Clegg 9ER Brent Stewart 10EHE Emma Kent 12JWN
Physics Freya Cumberlidge 9VP Eve Taschimowitz 10CED Steven Lukins 12SRH
Psychology - - Sandy Shaban 12SO
Business Studies - Michelle Fieldhouse 10DP Joel Hemmings 12SR
Geography Adam Green 9DR Emilie Crossland 10KS Helen Taylor 12SRH
History Lewis Aung 9FS Will Morgan-Evans 10KS Lucy Fenton 12IS
R.E. Christie Zanelli 9JPF Sarah Greenwood 10TP Ellen Jenkins 12SRH
Languages French - Jessica Benjamin 9TT French - Charlotte Kidner 10EHE French - Nicola Sentance 12JWN (F French) German - Emma Reason 9VP German Tom Haggerty 10LD German - Clowance Cotterill 12IS (G German)
Art Nathan Brooks 9FS George Shelley 10SJ Art - Nathan Salmon 12JWN Textiles - Grace Barrett 12SP Photography - Liam Davies 12SP Drama Max Hope-Stone Bell 9VP Joe Perry 10KS Holly Crompton 12SR
Music Lewis Jones 9FS Tom Haggerty 10LD Will Scott-Hartley 12SRH
P.E. Kirsty McLaren Year 9DR Lucy Stevens Year 10 Rob Edwards Year12
PSHE Michael Davis 9SBA Josh Stanley 10SJ -
Learning Support Daisy Graham 9FP Ed Clist 10KS -
Enrichments Subjects: celebrating students for contribution to the enrichment subjects English James Elliott 12SR Design Technology David Ferguson 12SO Katie Brock 9CRA Philippa Hambling 12SR Lucas Palmer 9FP Chloe Bunn 9DR Ellen Laken 12SP Scott Virgo 9GC Thomas Childs 9CRA Rosemara Mather-Lupton 12CWH Brinna Barlow 10EHE Ben Crompton 9DR Bethany Moxey 12SK Toby Brunsden 10DP Thomas Davies 9CRA Miles Tincknell 12SRH Nadine Close 10JR Gregory Davies 9ER William Waelchli 12SK Lucy Cornish 10AD Christopher Day 9JPF Brendon Ware 12IS Laura Cussons 10CA Reece Faulkner 9CRA Megan Gardner 10KS Kiri Fisher 9ER Maths Javier Gorodi 10CA Liam Grant 9VP Peter Hawkings 10CED Adam Green 9DR Joshua Hole 12JWN Emma Munt 10LD Joshua Highmore 9DR Thomas Stanley 12SR Laura Nesbitt 10SJ Megan N Jones 9TT Declan Stewart 12AS Nathan Smith 10LD James Lukins 9TT James Soffe 10CA Milena Mottram 9SBA Science Harriet Thompson 10JR
Rebecca Penhall 9GC Andrew Edwards 9JPF Gemma Homes 12SR Chelsea Pitt 9GC Thomas Gooding 9ER Nathan Salmon 12JWN Luke Redman 9SBA Duncan Hall 9TT Sebastian Smith 12CWH Leonie Rickards 9TT Matthew Carney 10JR Joanna Travis 12SR Stephanie Rogers 9TT Martin Walker 10DP Jessica Searle 9TT Hannah Bates 12CWH James Watson 9CRA Emily Ferguson 12SO Terry Wilcox 9VP Samantha Foster 12SRH Niamh Wrench 9TT Hannah Gooding 12SO Nicola Sentance 12JWN
School Council Update… By Ollie Crandon – Year 10 School Council Member
This half term the Kings’ Student Council has been very busy. Early in June we held a meeting with our P.T.A., updating them about our work to improve the safety of our students, staff and the local community.
Eventually, we would like to expand our Main Entrance to the School on Station Road to allow one bus to enter and one bus to exit at the same time. In order to do this, the public conveniences on Station Road would need to be demolished. Their demolition would hopefully also cease the congregation of “undesirables” outside our school; many of whom are not Kings‟ students, but due to their location they can give school a negative image. We would also like restricted parking opposite the school, to ease congestion at peak times.
We are also looking at developing a „Park and Stride‟ system and a car-sharing website, where parents can arrange for those students who need to travel by car, to share lifts; reducing the amount of traffic and the strain on the environment.
Following on from the positive response we received from the P.T.A., we invited the Cheddar Parish Council to a meeting at school, to gain their support in helping us with our plans. As only three representatives from the Parish Council attended, we were told, “No decisions can be made today…We will simply report back to the full Council.” Despite this, we made a breakthrough when we were told that they would certainly put the parking restrictions in place.
Next term we are going to invite Cheddar Parish Council, Sedgemoor District Council and County Highways representatives to try and further our solutions.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! Enclosed with this Kings’ Messenger is a letter of support concerning the demolition of the Station Road toilets. We would like as many parents as possible to sign this letter, and add in your address details before posting to the Cheddar Parish Council. Thank you for helping us make a difference!
A downloadable copy of this letter is also available on our website www.kowessex.co.uk Year 11 Celebrations by Eric Holdsworth, Year 11 Leader
It was with some sadness that earlier this half term, the Year 11 Tutors and I said farewell to our Year 11 students- and after working with the year group for three years, we have inevitably become quite fond of them! Still, we look forward to seeing the majority of them back at the start of the new academic year in Year 12.
The year certainly ended on some truly positive notes…For a start, we recorded the best ever attendance figures for a Year 11 group!
With cause for celebration of their three Lower School years at Kings, the Celebration Assembly was a great success. After careful consideration of past years, this year, there was a different format and students presented a veritable showcase of many talents of the group. Students had a large input into the organisation and presentation of the assembly, with readings and musical items. It was wonderful to see their skills on display. There was also a touching presentation by Rachel Midcalf, to introduce the family’s award in memory of their son Tom who died at the end of October.
Another Year 11 innovation was our Year 11 Ball held at The Webbington Hotel to celebrate the end of the exams.
Once again, the students were greatly involved in providing all the sound/lighting equipment, music in the form of a band and DJ, as well as all the decorations. One parent even kindly provided a red carpet for a grand Hollywood style entrance!
All the students were impeccably dressed – you may have seen the photographs in the Cheddar Valley Gazette. There was a strict no alcohol policy and the evening was extremely enjoyable.
On behalf of the Year 11 tutor team, I wish all our former Year 11 students all the very best for the future and we look forward to their exam results in August.
School Uniform – a reminder from Barbara Marshall, Deputy Head As the academic year draws to an end and parents are purchasing new uniform, please can I ask you to be mindful of the following uniform items - contrary to what you child may tell you!
Footwear should be regular black shoes, and should not look like trainers. Girls blouses should be long enough to tuck into trousers and skirts. School trousers should not be hipsters or have fashion buckles or belts, and they should not scrape the floor.
Finally a reminder that we do not accept facial or tongue piercings and hair colours should be conventional (a full uniform list can be found in your copy of the Parents A-Z 2008-9 booklet). Thank you! Spelling Bee - Spelt out by Teacher of English, Sarah Rhodes
“Spelling?!” This was the question at the forefront of most of Year 9 students’ minds during the week beginning Monday 7 July 2008, as they spent a week learning spellings in preparation for a Spelling Bee.
Students were confronted with a tricky list of words to learn in preparation for a class heat of the Bee. They discussed spelling strategies and then got down to the complicated business of learning some lovely words, such as the ever treacherous ‚accommodation‛, the slightly misleading ‚miscellaneous‛, and so on. By the second lesson most were close to becoming professional spellers and most certainly ready to start the initial spelling test.
After answering 20 words, the top six spellers faced a series of five more complicated words in order to whittle the six down to the final two. In each strand there were eight competitors who took to the stage in front of their fellow spellers to face the challenge of the dreaded ‘Harder Word List’. First up were R finalists Rob Perry, Adam Green, Chloe Bunn, Becky Penhall, Ben Crompton, Josh Highmore and Chelsea Pitt. After some incredibly difficult words, Ben Crompton cruised to victory with confident and clear spelling.
Next up were P finalists James Watson, Milly Mottram, Tom Davies, Luke Redman, Tom Childs, Sophie Luff and Greg Smith. All students were clearly competent spellers and it was difficult to find words to catch students out! The final round was closely fought, but James Watson was a clear winner, who could spell his final four words correctly.
Lastly, were Q finalists Leonie Rickards, Steph Rogers, James Lukins, Niamh Wrench, Chris Day, Kiri Fisher, Megan Jones, Greg Davies and Jessica Searle. This was the most hotly contested with the most difficult words, where even Miss Roylance (the official spellchecker for the afternoon) had to check whether a contestant had spelt the word correctly. Niamh Wrench was the eventual winner – with a very well deserved win!
Congratulations to the three winners: James, Niamh and Ben, and all competitors who took part in the final – the English teachers agreed that even we would not like to have been up on the stage spelling some of those words!
Maths in the Summertime – by Tim Powell, Maths Enrichment Leader
UK Mathematics Challenge: we started this half term on a high when James Soffe 10 AD and Lucy Stephens 10DP won Certificates of Merit in the UK Maths Challenge Pink Kangaroo round, by coming in the top 25% of candidates. This was a follow on stage from the UK Maths Challenge papers that they had sat in the Spring Term.
The UK Maths Challenge is the first step on the path the International Mathematical Olympiad. The papers are very difficult and this is the first time Kings students have made it to the next round. Although they will not be going forward to another round they deserve praise for getting so far this time. They will however, get two more chances to get through in Year 11 and Year 12.
Enigma Day: We were delighted to welcome the Enigma Project, as part of the Millennium Mathematics Project, run from Cambridge University. Nadia Baker brought the real Second World War Enigma coding machine to the school. Our top set year 10 students then spent the day learning how it worked and doing fun coding exercises. In the evening we hosted an event for the community and interested parents and friends of the school came to get a closer look at the machine than anybody ever gets in a museum.
Further Maths Day: Our Year 12 Further Maths students sampled university life in a Maths Department at Bristol University working with other top Mathematicians from Somerset, on a day organised by the Somerset Further Mathematics Network to boost the skills of our top Mathematicians. They covered Maclaurin’s Theorem and complex numbers through lectures and seminars.
Eden Project: For several years now the Mathematics Department has organised a visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall for groups of talented Mathematicians. The Eden Project offers many opportunities for the application of Mathematics in real world contexts with an emphasis on the environment. Students undertake surveying tasks using trigonometry to calculate the sizes of the giant greenhouses that contain the Warm Humid and Warm Temperate biomes.
The students also undertake an exercise in work, energy and power. Strictly speaking this is ‘A’ Level work, but the brightest students enjoy the challenge! The students also undertake a statistical task studying the differing biodiversity in the three biomes (different climatic areas) at Eden. This task was led by teachers from the Science Department and was a successful mixture of Mathematics and Science, enhancing students’ understanding of the uses of Mathematics.
Au Revoir and Auf Wiedersehen! Eh bien...a tête-à-tête wth Languages...
Another eventful school year has passed by on the Language Department’s calendar with the most obvious highlights being the visits abroad to Paris, Normandy and Cologne for students studying GCSE/’A’ Level French and German. So popular were the visits that places for next year’s visits to the Château and Munich were filled - within a week of letters being sent home!
In February and March Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 students once again had the opportunity to hone their skills in the revision days, organised by Philip Allan Updates which were also followed up by Easter Revision Sessions led by Mme Davies and Frau Rebello.
Frau Donovan will be rejoining the team in September on a part-time basis following her maternity leave, and we thank Rob Weston for his contribution her absence. Having completed a third of his first year as a Newly Qualified Teacher at Kings, we wish him successful completion of his professional qualification. In September, we very much look forward to welcoming Madelmoiselle Anna Hinds who has been appointed as a full-time Teacher of French.
However, our greatest tribute must surely go to Mme Fogarty who has carved herself quite a reputation over her past 26 years here at Kings. Yes, students - and dare I say it, even teaching staff have sometimes quaked in their boots in her presence. She is acknowledged to be an excellent disciplinarian, although she always has students’ best interests at heart. In the words of some students she is always “firm but fair” or “yes, she is strict and you dare not mess around in her lessons, but we always work hard”. As Head of Languages, Mme Fogarty led by example and combined leadership, consistency and drive to make an effective team.
As Head of Languages, Mme Fogarty has always been immensely supportive and ready to share her wisdom and excellent organisation skills, meeting all deadlines. With her responsibilities on the School Leadership Group, she continued to contribute to the daily running of the Languages Department, and her enthusiasm for teaching languages has thrived.
Mme Fogarty will be greatly missed, and we know that her approach to life will not guarantee a restful retirement!! We all wish her every happiness, as she embarks on the next stage of her life!
Mme Fogarty!!! Lang lebe Frau Fogarty!!
A fond farewell from Miss Fogarty, a.k.a. Madame/Frau Fogarty!
I can scarcely believe that I have been at Kings for 26 years! Reminders, however, are all around me –“Miss Fogarty, you taught my Mum!”; “Miss Fogarty, my Dad remembers you when you were quite young! – I can’t imagine you EVER being young!” Just what you need for a new lease of life!
When I joined Kings in 1982 I was 31 years old and delighted to teach in a school with such a good reputation. I had spent two years in a charming Grammar School in the Cotswolds – my first job – with 250 students aged 11 to 18! It was idyllic! I then spent four years at my former school – a Catholic convent school in Bristol - another great experience. However, I decided I needed to join the “Comprehensive” system and was thrilled to be appointed Head of Modern Languages at a Boys Comprehensive in Bristol.
I have to confess that it was a terrible shock to the system and I think I learned more there than I taught! A baptism of fire and water! However, it equipped me well for the future experiences I was to have!
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Kings! I had intended staying only a couple of years but the place took me over and I stayed another year, then another …and the rest is history! The whole ethos of the school appealed to everything I had come to value in working with young people – from the students themselves to the amazing team of staff at the school, support staff and teaching staff working together to get the very best out of the students: still the mantra of the school today!
Ironically, the only real reason I considered moving on was the lack of facilities at Kings back in 1982: huts and more huts and nothing in the way of technology. And look at it now!! The Languages suite is the envy of the County – if not the whole of the South West – and our students love the state-of-the-art IT suite as well as our fantastically equipped Languages teaching rooms!
I was lucky to have opportunity to be involved in whole-school issues on being appointed Assistant Headteacher in 2003. I have really appreciated the challenge offered by this role. At the same time I was delighted to hand over the management of the Languages Department to Georgina Rebello, who had proved herself to be an excellent colleague over several years. She has done a brilliant job in leading the Faculty over the past six years and I have admired the cheerful efficiency of her leadership style.
The Languages Department has also been fortunate over the last 12 years to have “Madame Davies” enthusing students of all ages about France and all things French and I consider it a privilege to have worked with her too. I would also like to thank Ceri Donovan for being such a loyal and conscientious colleague over the past six years: she will very shortly be returning to school after maternity leave, the proud Mum of baby Caitlin!
I leave a Languages Department that is thriving and …what more could I ask for? I wish the staff and students in Languages all the very best for the future! I will miss you all – but I will keep in touch!
Avec mes meilleurs voeux and mit meinen besten Grüssen! Noreen Fogarty
Time for Lunch - a foodie innovation from September!
New for September 2008 – we are introducing a pre-pay system for lunchtimes.
For £2.00, the Lunch Book will entitle students to a main meal, dessert and a drink – representing excellent value for money! Or, if you prefer £2.00 towards the Self-Serve goods.
Furthermore, when you purchase a book of vouchers you will receive a meal on us – which must be an offer you can’t refuse! So, no more problems with lost dinner money and parents can feel safe in the knowledge that their child is receiving a good meal at lunchtime.
The cost of the lunch scheme is £28.00 for 15 school days (i..e. £2.00 per meal and one free meal). Further details - along with menus, will be available on the website from September.
Meal Deals from the Canteen
To help you beat the credit crunch!
When you purchase any savoury food item and a piece of cake from our home baked range you will receive a 10p discount on the total price.
And…commencing from September 2008, eat lunch for £2.00: Choose a sandwich from a selected range, with bottled water and a home baked cake or cookie
Returning for the second year running – with even more Technology activities! These are the plans for the week:
Monday 14 July 2008
Year 10 – Product Design Talk from Coventry University
Peter Barker from Coventry University will be demonstrating the excellent work that his students are currently working on. Coventry University is very well respected in the Design world and their vehicle design course won the best design show in Canada 2004.
Peter will also be helping to launch the Brit Insurance competition during the lunchtime.
Tuesday 15 July 2008
Years 11 and 12 – Eden Project Trip
The Eden Project is wholly owned by the Eden Trust, an educational charity. They use exhibits, events, workshops and educational programmes to remind people what nature gives to us and to help people to learn how to look after it in return.
Students will have the opportunity to explore the giant biomes and discuss points on architecture and sustainability. Wednesday 16 July 2008
BAE systems will be hosting an Engineering and Technology day for Year 9 students. Thirty carefully selected students will work in teams to solve a secret engineering challenge.
Students will also have the opportunity to ask questions about being a future engineer.
Thursday 17 July 2008
Year 10 – Alton Towers
Students will be attending a 45 minute workshop
about the structures in the park and also how the rides are designed. Then they will be free to explore explore the park – Air, Rita and Nemesis are a few of the most exciting rides.
However the meeting time of 6:30am will definitely be a shock to some students…!
Friday 18 July 2008
Year 12 – “Oakwood Media” Graphic Designer Talk
Oakwood have kindly agreed to come and show Technology students in Year 12 - what it is like to be a Graphic designer. From their UK Head Office on Park Street (Bristol), the agency works with BP, Comet, Mattel and Hyundai and has seen substantial revenue growth over the last 12 months. It was also named as one the UK’s most efficient agencies in a Design Week Survey and number 8 for print in the country.
Saturday 19 July 2008
Year 9 – Greenpower Car Challenge at Airbus, Filton
Kit Kar Kapers – Greenpower Teams from primary and secondary schools from across the region will be showcasing their cars to compete in a series of events. Come along and see our team (Cheese Cubed) race against other schools. 11 – 5pm see you there! Good luck Cheese Cubed!
Brit Insurance “designs of the year” is an ideas-driven competition that asks students to dream up innovative design concepts. Students can choose from the following themes: Architecture, Fashion, Furniture, Graphics, Interactive, Product, Transport, Design, and Museum.
Students are asked to produce a research board and design ideas along with an explanation about what they think about their idea.
The competition is aimed at Year 10 – 12 students and during DT week students will be working on the tasks at lunchtime in DT4 (to meet the submission date of 17/7/08).
The Design Museum and Specialist Schools & Academies Trust will choose 100 designs and showcase them on their website. This should be an excellent addition to any future CV!
Kip on a Ship - the History Trip (don’t miss the boat…!)
Dates for your diary:
Monday 21 July 2008: Final payments and medical forms due Thursday 18 September 2008: Departing school (final departure time tbc) Friday 19 September 2008: Returning to school (final arrival time tbc)
Kit List: You will need to bring the following things with you (bearing in mind storage space on a ship is minimal)
Comfortable shoes to walk in A waterproof jacket Sleeping bag and a pillow No more than one change of clothes Nightwear, toiletries and a towel Day pack; camera, clipboard, writing paper and writing materials Packed lunch for the outward journey.
Final instructions and itinerary will be issued at the start of the new school year.
Remember to advise staff if any medication is required and provide them with spares wherever possible. Science News from the Labs by Bethan Riddick and Fay Simpson
Science Revision Guides (Years 9 and 11): A reminder that Revision Guides should have been handed back in by the middle of June. There are however, still some missing, so please check under beds, in cupboards etc, to see if you can find any and then return to the Science Prep Room - at any time soon! We are also still awaiting some GCSE textbooks/CDs. Thank you for returning them urgently.
Teacher of Physics Oliver Davies will be leaving us at the end of this term and we are very grateful for his contribution to the Department for the last two terms. We look forward to welcoming Anna Stones who joins the Physics Department in September.
Master Classes: Years 7 and 8 students from both Fairlands and Hugh Sexey’s Middle Schools attended our Science Master Classes in June in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
The enthusiastic Scientists conducted a forensic science investigation, extracted DNA from kiwis, produced milk for cats, identified criminals, made DNA models and produced pretty colours using flame tests.
We all enjoyed working with our young Scientists – and we look forward to seeing them in September when we hope their enthusiasm for Science will continue.
Biology Fieldtrip: The Sixth Form Biologists recently visited Berrow sand dunes to look at succession. The students used a variety of sampling techniques to examine the changes in different species of plants that were found at different positions on the sand dunes. Some of the students were excellent at identifying species of plants – particularly Hannah Bates who was most helpful within her group.
The weather was pretty windy – but the rain held off (more or less!!), and a good day was had by all. Fieldwork is an essential part of the A2 course. Zoos aren’t just for kids!(it’s the Psychology trip…) The clues are in the pictures!
The weather on the morning of Thursday 19 June 2008 was bright and sunny… very much a good start to the Psychology students’ trip to Bristol Zoo. 63 students and three staff spent the day carrying out a number of activities organised by Zoo staff.
The students met the zoo’s , Ringo and Paul, (there were four originally!) and then learnt how to carry out a “time-sample” observation on a selected species including:
gorillas , meerkats ,prairie dogs and long-tailed macaques.
They were then let loose in the zoo for a couple of hours during which time they had to observe their animals, complete a time-sample graph and also carry out a way-finding exercise devised by the Psychology Department.
The students returned to the Education Department at the end of the day and reported back on their observations. They also had the opportunity to meet a , (two students left rapidly at this point)! All students had something to say about the animals they observed (see below for an idea). The way-finding activity was less successful however, with one student having to ring for directions back to the Education Centre!
The sun continued to shine all day and large amounts of ice cream were consumed. Feedback from the students showed that 100% of them enjoyed the day and they would all recommend the trip for Year 12 students. So, all in all a successful day…
And now, for some STUDENT COMMENTS:
“I had a great time at the zoo - best trip ever! I learnt a lot about animal observations, and it has made me really look forward to continuing the course next year" “Prairie dogs are mad” “Gorillas aren’t as interesting as you would think” “How do you spell anthropomorphism?” “Long tailed macaques are actually interesting” “Monkeys wee on Gorillas when they least expect it!” “Penguins smell of fish”
And finally… the Psychology Department would like to wish Subject Leader for Psychology Margaret Marsland a fond farewell when she retires from teaching this July. Margaret has been Head of Psychology for seven years and has built a large and very successful department during this time. She inspires students with her unique style and many former students still return to say “hi” after they have left Kings. Margaret has also contributed much to the life of the school from singing in the choir and supporting students’ musical achievements, to dancing away on stage during numerous “Rock and Roll” years. “Mrs M” will be missed by many students and staff and we wish her all the best in the future.
By Jenny Baines and Caroline Parsons Other speakers included the Liberal Democrat candidate Young Citizens at Kings for Wells Tessa Munt, Somerset Waste Action Project and John Oliver from Somerset Council, who answered
the student’s questions about youth employment On Friday 4 July 2008 for the fourth consecutive year, opportunities - and pitfalls! the Year 9 students enjoyed a day off timetable for their PSHE/Citizenship Conference. They sampled a variety of The day would not have been complete without the workshops and activities run by outside agencies, with presence of our Youth Strategy Officer, Tracey Stiles, the themes for the day: personal safety and personal who delivered an informative and lively session on the responsibility, and an emphasis on raising awareness of physical and mental dangers and legal implications of the consequences of our actions. The workshops drug use. P.C. Stiles’ links with and commitment to the reflected the topics visited in lessons during the past school are hugely effective in terms of supporting and academic year. educating our young people. She has contributed enormously to the teaching of PSHE/Citizenship this There were eleven different workshops and students year. visited six, and they each had the opportunity to learn how to perform using character masks. It was great fun I hope that these words will have given you an insight to see how quickly even the most timid were able to read into our informative and enjoyable day… Now I will a mask and get into character. They were also leave you with some snap-shot photographs to do the encouraged to assess the strengths and weaknesses of rest of the talking… each other’s performances and did so with a combination of enthusiasm - and brutal honesty! Katie Davies, Subject Leader for PSHE/Citizenship
In previous years a mobile prison cell has visited school for the day brought by the “Prison Me No Way Trust”. Sadly however, this was not possible this year due to a lack of funding reducing the Trust’s operations here in the South West. However, Prison Officer Sam Virgo from HM Prison Bristol still joined us for the day giving students the chance to dress for jail - with some hilarious and also sobering results. As always, the students hung on his every word and not surprisingly there were no discipline issues...!
One of the most thought-provoking and, at points harrowing workshops, was the Arson Task Force. This session vividly conveyed to the students the potentially fatal consequences of hoax 999 calls and fires in litterbins and on waste ground. The use of video footage and taped telephone calls to the emergency services and interviews with young burns victims was both moving and chilling.
The theme of bullying was explored in a workshop on text bullying delivered by a team from Orange. Since all young people today have access to a mobile phone and/or MSN computer messaging, not to mention social networking sites, such as Beebo, this proved highly relevant and demonstrated how text and internet messages can be traced both to pursue the bully and to protect the bullied. Regrettably, the use of new technology to scare or intimidate is now rearing its ugly head in schools, so this workshop was a particularly important element of the day.
Meanwhile in the perfect space provided by the modernised Corrick Room, nurses from Weston Health Trust explained basic life support skills and then gave students a chance to practise one or two simple techniques on dummies. This session was designed to build on and reinforce the students’ last unit of work where students have considered what steps they should take in a range of potential emergency situations, such as a choking episode or a serious cut. I can reassure parents that, having twice manufactured a potentially fatal accident involving a faulty electrical cable in my teaching room, the students took all the correct steps and I felt confident that had there been a real emergency I would have been in safe hands.
Year 10 Work Experience
A special report by Daniel Hughes 10JR
At the end of June, Year 10 set off for the world of work for a week’s Work Experience.
Earlier in the term they prepared by attending a
Key Skills Conference in school – as well as being supported by Work Experience Leader John Goodchild and all their teachers.
Daniel Hughes ventured beyond Somerset and now gives a special report on his experience – all the way from Liverpool!
My work experience was at Juice FM Liverpool, where my brother works as a DJ radio presenter. Carl used to attend Kings – albeit eight years ago.
Whilst I was at Juice FM I met the presenters and even spoke on air right across Liverpool to approximately 80,000 listeners.
My funniest moment was trying to sing in front of a camera with all the other presenters - that was broadcasting across the web at the time.
And, it is worth noting that trying to answer a request phone call to a Liverpudlian is not always advisable, because… we could not understand a word each other was trying to say!
It was a fantastic and worthwhile experience that I will never forget…Thank you Juice FM.
Well done to all our students for their excellent placements – feedback from the host employers has been very positive.
Visual Arts Summer Show 2008 Our stunning Art Exhibition started this event with over 150 visitors coming to see the display by AS and A2 Fine Art, Textiles and Photography students.
Candice Barrett Alex Conroy Matthew Lewis
This was followed by our Fashion Show of garments made and modelled by Year 12 and 13 Textiles students. An impressive collection of outstanding work celebrated the hard work and skill of our students and staff.
A A huge well done and farewell to our Teacher of Textiles Lucy Thorogood who is off on maternity leave this summer.
Wells Cathedral Workshops Each member of the Visual Arts Team led a one day workshop for over 100 Year 6 pupils from the Wells Diocese. These ranged from Glass Painting to Textiles Designing, providing an enjoyable taster for Secondary School Art life.
Sixth Form Mural Painting Gifted and Talented students from Years 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 joined forces to produce two large scale murals for the Sixth Form Common Room. Creating their own style the students painted panels to create two large collaborate pieces, one in the style of Keith Haring’s dancing men and the other an Abstract piece by Kandinsky.
Thank you to: Max Ash Rebecca Maynard Candice Barrett Floyd Parsons Emily Bradley Eleanor Rowntree Victoria Bradley Nathan Salmon Ellen Culliford George Shelley Flora Emery Abbie Sweeting Gemma Homes Helen Taylor Sara Marlow Jo Travis Eve Woolway
You can view students’ art work on the Saatchi Gallery Website: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/portfolio/?search_by=2&keyword=the+kings+of+wessex
Mirrors – face sized for life drawing!!!
Christian Leader Reflections Before officially receiving a cheque from the school, By Joanna Slade Lynda spoke movingly of the difference this gift will make before the students watched a short film that The former Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, provided a real insight into the typical life of a is famously quoted as saying that ‘A week is a long child in Lesotho – one of the countries where ‘Send time in politics’. What about six then…?! a Cow’ is actively involved.
As we prepare to break-up for the long summer A new project called ‘Liquid Faith’ funded by the holiday, I wonder, which of the stories that local churches and Sedgemoor District Council dominate the front pages at the moment will still visited the school’s Christian Union (now called be making the headlines in six weeks time? The ‘rooted’). Students sampled some great non- crisis in Zimbabwe, casualties in Afghanistan or the alcoholic cocktails, and were reminded that you political problems faced by our Prime Minister? can have fun without alcohol.
I wonder how each of us will use this holiday time?
Certainly to relax and spend time with the people we care about. But perhaps also to think about whether there are any changes we’d like to make in our lives. Maybe the headlines that tell the story of our life seem to have been all bad news stories.
Sometimes just stepping back from the situation can help us see the changes in our lives that we need to make. Or, if things have been going well, the holiday might be a chance to wonder if there’s something new to learn or a different direction to take that would make things even better.
I remember reading a motto in a Primary School I once visited ‘Each day different, every day The early morning prayer meeting has now met new.’ Whatever our age, I think it’s an excellent twice and will meet for the first time in the Autumn motto to live by. Term on Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 7.45am – hot drinks and cakes provided. As I write, we are There has, as ever, been a busy programme of also looking forward to holding a simple external speakers for our assemblies this term. A Communion service and shared lunch in the last particular highlight was a visit by Lynda Morris week of term. from the Bath-based charity ‘Send a Cow’ to a Year 9 assembly. The most recent non-uniform day I have been enjoying visiting some of the local raised over £450 for the charity and also for the churches for their Sunday services and letting Oasis Advice Centre. them share in the some of the things that are happening in school. All this and an Alpha Course planned for the new school year... These words come from Psalm 139 and promise us that wherever we travel or whatever we do, God will be with us:
‘If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.’
As we travel, or stay at home this summer, my prayer for us all is that we may all return safely in September, ready for everything that the new year holds.
If you’d like to find out more, please get in touch: [email protected].
It would be great to hear from you! Learning Resource Centre Issues this school year. They have been very enthusiastic and hardworking and we have enjoyed working with them. I
would also like to invite any new Year 9 students joining National Year of Reading Kings in September who would like to work as Student This year in the National Year of Librarians to talk to us about joining “the team”. Reading, and we will be running some competitions and games in the Scholastic Book Fair LRC to celebrate. Will be visiting us from 17-24 September 2008. There will be merits awarded for using the word of the Do come and have a browse and spend some money. week correctly – remember to look on the SIS boards and in Any monies raised go towards buying new books for the LRC for further information and to see what the word is! the LRC.
Opening Times Reading Group Don’t forget - if you need a bit more time to finish off We hold a reading group once a month for students of your work, or print, the LRC is open from 8.15am all years who enjoy reading. They choose the book they Tuesday to Friday mornings for you to use the would like to read as a group, and then meet up to computers and printers – or read the papers or a book. discuss it, telling us what they thought about it. Our current group is very enthusiastic with some very
decided views! Bath Festival of Children’s Literature Will be taking place between 19 -28 September 2008, and Welcoming our new Year 9s! we hopie to organise a trip to an author event in We look forward to seeing the Year 9s in the LRC. Come conjunction with the English Department. Look out for and see our wide range of reading material – if you can’t more details in September. If you want to know more find what you want, ask us, and we may order it for about the festival, then look at www.bathkidslitfest.co.uk stock. We also have board games, newspapers, puzzles, competitions and activities taking place at Break and Lunchtimes.
Bridget Knutson, LRC Manager
PTA Catch-Up
The PTA has had another very successful year supporting the school and raising funds for new equipment. Our purchases this year have ranged from DVD players for the History Department to a dinghy for the sailing club and first aid equipment for use on “Duke of Edinburgh Award” expeditions. We have also donated equipment to English, P.E., Science and Textiles Departments.
Although some of the money for this was raised Competitions through providing refreshments at school events, it We recently ran a quiz devised by Miles Tincknell 12SRh is largely thanks to donations from parents to our and Philippa Hambling 12SR. We had 23 entries – and Enrichment Fund. Thanks to your generosity there no-one got all the correct answers; but the winner was was a record level of contributions this year and Max Ash12JWN and Nicola Sentance 12JWN who both we have consequently been able to buy so much achieved eight out of 15…quite an achievement more equipment for our children to use both in considering the questions! lessons and in the school’s equally important extra-curricular activities. Reading Champions Are you a reading champion? Do you like reading? Early in the next school year, we will be sending Would you be willing to talk to other boys about the out forms inviting annual donations to the books you’ve read? If so, come and talk to us for more Enrichment Fund. We already have a long Wish List from various Departments! With your help we details. can make 2008 / 2009 another record-breaker…
Student Librarians With our thanks and best wishes for a relaxing and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our peaceful summer. current Student Librarians: Samuel Kent 9FS, John Male 9GC, Chris Kent 9FS, Robert Perry 9DR, Jamie Fenwick Lucy Rowntree, PTA Secretary 9FS and Katie Brock 9CRA for all their hard work over The Kings and Queens Sports Scores
Sports Day
Despite having to rearrange part of the two- day Athletics Competition because of poor July weather the athletes who took part provided a memorable couple of days.
There were some fine individual performances on both the track and in the field events, as well as some exciting team efforts during the relay races.
The following athletes were congratulated for their efforts and individual trophies and medals were presented:
800m Shield – Laurie Olive Field Events Cup – Jo Grant 1500m Cup – Liam Furneaux/Dan Burns Middle Distance Cup – Emily Derrick (School Record in 1500m) Mike Wride 400m Cup – Lewis Jones Final Results Table: Year 9 Champions – Naomi Jones and Dan Robinson 1st Tintagel 313 points Year 10 Champions – Bethany Thorne and Fraser Ward 2nd Camelot 307 points 3rd Lyonesse 303 points All athletes gained points for their Houses towards the overall Sports Day 4th Avalon 276 points Trophy.
House Swimming Gala More than 70 students from Years 9 and 10 competed in this year’s annual swimming gala. A really good atmosphere was created by all the swimmers, with some fine individual performances, as well as some very impressive team relay races.
Avalon House were crowned as overall Champions, with Camelot House finishing as runners-up.
Individual medal winners were as follows:
Year 9 Girls Champion: Alice Wright Year 9 Boys Champion: Troy Linklater Year 10 Girls Champion: Holly Freemantle Year 10 Boys Champions: Nick Bamber, Joe Bright and Ben Garrett (joint) Open girls Champion: Amy Richards Open Boys Champion : Dan Albone
All trophy and medal winners were presented with their awards by Guest of Honour Noreen Fogarty (soon to retire Assistant Headteacher).
Rumours abound that Miss Fogarty will be spending much of her retirement time in preparation for competing in the pool at the 2012 London Olympics!!
Boys Sport
Cricket: The Year 9 cricket team have had an extremely successful season and shown in all their matches that they are one of the most talented sides in the area. Highlights include wins over Wells Blue, Priory and Wyvern. They also played Millfield School and in poor conditions played some very good cricket, losing narrowly to a very talented Millfield bowling attack. The team reached the quarter finals of the Somerset Cup, but unfortunately lost that fixture to Kingsmead School.
The team has been well lead by Captain Sophie Luff this season and, Sophie along with the rest of the team will be confident that they can build on this for next year. The U15 cricket team made sporting history, winning the State Schools County Cup Final following their defeat of Backwell, Wells Blue and Haygrove Schools in the previous rounds.
Somerset Schools U15 Cricket – County Cup Final The Kings of Wessex School were 117 for 8 against Castle School: 57 All Out by 60 runs
In past years, Kings’ teams have reached the final on several occasions, although the ultimate prize has eluded them. This year, it was time to put things right. The team arrived in confident, but cautious mood, aware that their opponents Castle School had won the trophy for the three previous years.
Kings were first to bat and despite a patient 26 from Captain Will Plummer they collapsed in rather dramatic fashion to 55 for 7. However, an eighth wicket partnership of 38 between George Kimmins (18) and Tom Stevens (34 - not out) helped stage a remarkable recovery that saw the Cheddar-based side reach 117 for 8 at the end of their 20 overs. In particular Stevens batted with great maturity and combined careful defence and some superb attacking stroke play. His innings included five boundaries and one towering six.
Kings now had a meaningful total to defend. They got off to the perfect start when Castle came out to bat as Kimmins (2 – 22) claimed an LBW with only the second ball of the innings. Castle never really recovered from this early setback and wickets fell at regular intervals to the accurate bowling of Adam Willis (1 -16), and first change pair of Tom Howard (4 – 11) and Ben Davidson (3 – 7). Wicket Keeper Plummer led from the front with a fine leg side stumping and smart catch whilst standing up to the stumps. The Kings’ ground fielding was also a major feature of a great all round team effort.
The winners’ medals were presented and the Under 15 trophy was brought home to Kings - for the first time. Tom Stevens received the Player of the Match Award for what turned out to be his match winning innings.
This was a well-deserved win in a testing match and the team can all be very proud of their performance. By Terry Clark, Coach and Teacher of P.E.
Congratulations to the team - Will Plummer (Captain), Oli Caton, Ben Davidson, Tom Howard, George Kimmins, Jack Mason, Freddie Mehlig, Joe Pinnington, Ed Plaister, Tom Stevens and Adam Willis Girls’ Sport
Rounders: U14 rounders team have had a very successful season. After a slightly slow start against a strong team from St Dunstan’s School, the team have gone from strength to strength. In all, the team have played eight matches plus a tournament. After an early defeat they have won the majority of their matches and came 3rd in the tournament. Practices have been well attended with approximately 15 regular players most weeks.
Year 10 rounders players have successfully fielded two teams during this Summer Term. Players have rotated between the two teams and have been successful in all of their friendly matches. We have enjoyed victories against Sidcot, St. Dunstan’s, Wells Blue, Churchill, Chew Valley, Crispin and Whitstone Schools. Unfortunately, matches against Wells Cathedral and Chilton Trinity were cancelled due to the weather.
Kings hosted the Mendip tournament in June and played four matches against different opposition. It was a close contest, and Kings won three out of the four matches to tie with Whitstone School who had also won three games. The rules of the competition left the team scoring the highest number of rounders as the winners. Kings scored 28 rounders compared to Whitstone’s 31…so unfortunately we lost! Congratulations to all players on a successful two years of competition at Kings!
Athletics: Congratulations to Dan Layton and Naomi Taschimowitz who have both been selected to represent Somerset. They competed at the South West Championships when Dan ran the Senior Boys 3,000m in 9m 09secs. Naomi was 3rd in the Senior Girls 1500m
Seven students were selected to represent Mendip at the County Schools Athletics: Emily Derrick – 1500m, Jo Grant – Long Jump, Dan Robinson - 100m, Lewis Jones - 800m, Josh Holgate- Discus Dan Layton - 1500m, Pat Day- 800m, Naomi Taschimowitz- 1500m .
Mendip Schools Athletics Competition: The Kings of Wessex students participated in the Mendip Area Athletic Competition at Millfield on Thursday 3 July 2008. Our Year 9 students competed in all events, many of whom came 1st or 2nd - with some setting personal bests.
Highlights of the day were in the girls’ events, with Sophie Luff winning the 200m by a large margin. Charlotte Scrivens threw the javelin 23.7 metres – to come 1st! Emily Derick ran the 1500m in another personal best of 5mins 25secs.
The boys also performed really well. The highlights being 1st and 2nd in the 100m sprint and 4th by 100m relay. Personal bests and winning scores were achieved by Joe Grant in the long jump at 5m 22cms and Henry Farmer throwing the javelin 31.52m
The Kings of Wessex School came 1st overall in Years and 10 combined and 1st place for both the boys and girls as individual teams.
Senior Sports Leaders Hannah Bates, Holly Tyson and Rob Edwards helped officiate - many thanks to you all.
Congratulations to: Olivia Owen recently competed in the Welsh Open Aerobics Gymnastics Competition in Cardiff. Olivia performs as part of a trio and finished 3rd. In October Olivia will be travelling to Austria to compete in an International event.
Good Luck to: Carrie Robinson who will be competing in the National Trampoling Championships Double Mini Trampoline section - in Birmingham. Carrie performs with Cheddar High Flyers and has been competing since the age of ten. She will be defending her title in this competition and we wish her the best of luck!
Carrie was placed 4th in her semi-final which took her into the final and she finished 7th in her age group. This is a fantastic achievement for Carrie who is now ranked in a National competition. Chelsea Pitt who has been selected to represent Somerset at Football in the U.15 age group. Good Luck in your matches!
Community Sports Leaders – Level 2 Award: Students from Year 12 have recently completed their Level 2 Award in Sports Leadership. They have undertaken placements at Fairlands and Hugh Sexey Middle Schools, Cheddar First School and with Year 9 students in the P.E. Department here at Kings.
Students have led warm-ups, coached in practice situations, taken a First Aid Award and helped organise Middle School competitions. Their final event was officiating at this term’s Sports Day.
Successful students to complete the award to date are:
Alex Babbington Hannah Gooding Seb Smith Hannah Bates Dan Hughes Harriet Stevens Ben Cousins Vanessa Kelk Pete Stott Rob Edwards Christopher Knight Jonathan Talbot Emily Ferguson Jenny Knowles Holly Tyson Samantha Foster Sara Puddy Emma Weight Emily Ralph
Junior Athlete Education (JAE) Programme Launch:
This term, five lucky Year 10 Kings of Wessex sports stars met British sprint athlete Jason Gardener at the Junior Athlete Education (JAE) Programme launch, organised by the Sedgemoor and Mendip School Sports Alliance.
The Junior Athlete Education programme is for students who compete at a high level in their sport and recognises the importance of helping young people balance the rigours of training and competitions in their sport, alongside the demands of schoolwork.
Kings’ P.E. Department will be working in partnership with Sedgemoor and Mendip Secondary Schools to deliver workshops in Lifestyle Management, Performance Profiling, Lifestyle Planning and Performance Parents.
Each school will be assigned a JAE Mentor who will be available for the students to discuss different issues as and when they arise. There is no cost to the school involved in the programme.
PHOTO: Rebecca Bayliss, Olivia Owen, Jason Gardener, Nick Bamber, Sophie Luff and Carrie Robinson
Galloping Success at Gillingham: On Sunday 22 June 2008, five of our equestrians participated in another JAS series qualifier competition, run by Gillingham School. The JAS series is run by British Eventing and consists of a course of Show Jumps and Simulated Cross-Country jumps. The rider gets marked on style and the cross-country part is timed.
In class 1, Harriet Gittings had a brilliant round, beautifully ridden, on Coco, finally coming 2nd, and missing 1st place by one second only!!
Holly Barber on Sundance Spirit Harriet Gittings on Coco, 2nd place (and see below)
Beth Moxey on Westmount Chardonnay It was also Anna Tulley’s first ever competition, which was very brave as she and her pony In Class 4, the qualifier, Hannah Reason had a Sevilliana have only just started jumping! brilliantly ridden round on Mr RF. She went clear with nine penalty marks for style - which was very good.
Beth Moxey on Westmount Chardonnay also had nine penalty marks for style; but unfortunately got a little lost on the course, so accumulated a fair few time penalties and Holly Barber missed the course walk, so wasn’t quite prepared and lost marks on style.
Holly Barber had a terrific success at an inter schools show jumping competition run by King Alfreds School, where she won the 3 ft 6 class against some tough competitors.
Reported by Christina White
Hannah Reason on Mr RF
The Kings Calendar (for Autumn Term 2008)
September 2008 Return to School - First Day: Years 9, 10 & 12 Thursday 4 September 2008 (Week A) Return to School - First Day: Years 11 & 13 Friday 5 September 2008 (Week A) All Music Tuition & Music Ensembles commence Monday 8 September 2008 Annual Awards Evening Tuesday 9 September 2008 at 7:00pm, Leisure Centre Monday 15 September 2008 Tuesday 16 September 2008 GCSE & A Level Art Trip to Tate Modern Tuesday 16 September 2008 PTA Meeting Tuesday 16 September 2008 at 7:30pm, Conference Room Wednesday 17 September 2008 Wednesday 17 September 2008 at 7:00pm, School Hall Thursday 18 & Friday 19 September 2008 AS English Language Trip to Perth-y-Pia Monday 22 Wednesday 24 September 2008 AS English Literature Trip to Perth-y-Pia Wednesday 24 Friday 26 September 2008 Year 11 Geography Fieldtrips to Mendips Wednesday 24 & Thursday 25 September 2008, AM Only Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Assessed Expedition (I) Monday 29 & Tuesday 30 September 2008 Year 10 Geography Fieldtrips to Brean Down Monday 29 & Tuesday 30 September 2008, AM Only Tuesday 30 September 2008 at 2:00pm October 2008 Year 12 Geography Horner Water Fieldtrip Wednesday 1 October 2008, All Day Year 9 Atkins Bridge Building Exercise Wednesday 1 October 2008, AM Only Wednesday 1 October 2008 at 7:00pm, School Hall Wednesday 1 October 2008 at 7:00pm, LRC Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Assessed Expedition (II) Thursday 2 & Friday 3 October 2008 Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Assessed Expedition (III) Monday 6 & Tuesday 7 October 2008 PTA AGM Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 7:30pm, LRC Year 11 French Study Trip Wednesday 8 to Sunday 12 October 2008 GCSE & A Level Textiles trip to Knitting & Stitching Show Thursday 9 October 2008 Duke of Edinburgh Silver Assessed Monday 13 to Thursday 16 October 2008 Expedition (I) Year 12/13 Drama Workshops Tuesday 14 & Wednesday 15 October 2008, All Day Wednesday 15 October 2008, AM Only Year 9 Sports Taster Days Thursday 16 & Friday 17 October 2008 STAFF TRAINING DAY School Closed to Students Monday 20 October 2008 Duke of Edinburgh Silver Assessed Expedition (II) Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 October 2008 A2 Unit 4 Theatre Studies Performances commence Week beginning Tuesday 21 October 2008 Sixth Form Open Evening Wednesday 22 October 2008 at 7:00pm, School Hall HALF TERM HOLIDAY: Saturday 25 October to Monday 3 November 2008 inclusive
Useful Information:
Contact Details: The Kings of Wessex School, Station Road, Cheddar, Somerset BS27 3AQ
Main School Office Phone: 01934 742608 Fax: 01934 742757 email: [email protected] Website: www.kowessex.co.uk
Thank you for keeping us informed of any changes to your contact details.
Absence Phone: thank you for phoning before 10.00am on 01934 745304 or email [email protected] on each day of absence explaining the reason .
Year Leaders: Please do not hesitate to contact your c to arrange an appointment in advance if you have any concerns or wish to discuss their progress.
Year 9: Mr E Holdsworth Year 10: Mr S Green Year 11: Mr T Clark Sixth Form: Miss S Bishop