WITHINGTON GIRLS’ SCHOOL 2020 NEWSLETTER wgs.org CONTENTS Headmistress’s Report 4 ICT & Computer Science 41 Gambia Trip 2019 73 Head Girl’s Report 8 Mathematics 42 Heidelberg Visit 74 Music 43 Geography Fieldtrip 75 PTA 9 Physical Education 44 Spanish Exchange 2019 75 Projects & Partnerships Physics 45 Uganda Trip 2019 76 Manchester Sings 10 Politics 46 Clubs & Societies 78 Partnerships in Numbers 12 Psychology 47 Engineering Club 78 Chemistry Communicators 12 Religious Studies 48 Arts Award 78 SHiNE Educational Programme 13 Spanish 49 Model United Nations 79 Classics Programme 13 Careers 50 3D Modelling 79 Senior Citizens’ Christmas Concert 14 Library 51 Eco Society 80 Faraday Challenge 14 Oxbridge Preparation 52 Junior Scientific Society 81 Sustaining NHS Critical Care Staff 14 Archive 53 Pets Club 81 Community Service by Head Girl 14 PSHCE 53 Yoga Club 81 Home_Pal Instagram Learning Platform 15 Junior School Chess Club 82 DofE Volunteering Hours 15 Senior Debating 82 Head of Juniors Report 54 Uganda 15 Trampolining 82 Junior Sport 57 Fallowfield & Withington Foodbank 16 Art Exhibition 2020 84 WithGambia International Partnership 16 Events & Activities Creative Writing 88 Future projects 16 Key Working Alumnae Portrait Project 58 Charity Fundraising 17 Ruth Bayley Illustration Competition 60 Drama News & Events 94 Manchester Sings Creative Writing 18 An Unexpected Career 60 Music News & Events 98 Wellbeing Initiatives Meeting an Astronaut 60 Senior Sport 102 Arkwright Scholarships 61 Feel Fab Feb 22 Badminton 102 EPQ and HPQ Presentation Evening 61 Anti-Bullying Week 22 Senior Hockey 102 GCSE Science Live 61 Digital Wellbeing 23 Lacrosse 103 Pathways to Success 61 Return to School, June 2020 23 Key Stage 3 Netball 104 Lego League 62 Forging and Renewing Friendships 24 Key Stage 4 Netball 105 CyberFirst Girls’ Competition 62 House Reports Sport Colours & Awards 105 An Independent Candidate 62 Gym & Dance Display 107 Junior Houses 26 Mock Trial 2019 63 Science Awards 108 Senior Houses 27 Spotcast On 63 Departmental Reports Online Careers Sessions 64 Mathematics Challenges 109 Art 28 Lit and Phil Society 65 Development & Alumnae News Biology 29 Spectroscopy in a Suitcase 65 Thank you from the Development Team 110 Chemistry 30 Big Ideas! 66 Ad Lucem Awards 110 Classics 31 Politics Blog Success 66 Bursary Appeal 2020 111 Design Technology 32 Go4Set Engineering Challenge 67 Online Reunions 111 Mayor’s Youth Panel 67 Drama & Theatre Studies 33 Staff Farewells 112 Economics 34 Young Enterprise 68 Destination of Leavers 116 English 35 International Women’s Day 69 A Level Results 2020 118 Food & Nutrition 36 Duke of Edinburgh’s Award 70 French 37 Trips & Visits 72 Governors & Staff 120 Geography 38 Visit to Cambridge University 72 Sixth Form Responsibilities 121 German 39 MOSI Trip 72 History 40 Ski Trip to Italy 72 NEWSLETTER 2020 CONTENTS 3 HEADMISTRESS’S REPORT MRS SARAH HASLAM Headmistress A very warm welcome to all our Newsletter readers. We hope that you enjoy our annual record of life at Withington Girls’ School at the end of 2020, an exceptional year for the School and for us all. We know that those whole school highly in The Telegraph’s survey of value occasions which bring us together have for money in independent education; more than a touch of magic about them was re-awarded the Green Flag for the at Withington – Founders’ Days, Open School’s Eco work and enjoyed a series Days, Christmas concerts, House events, of fantastic high quality and often fun- Sports Days, Drama Productions, School filled events at the end of term, a fitting assemblies. But when we are faced with conclusion to a term in which, like all at not being able to share these occasions Withington, pupils and staff worked with in person, we realise more profoundly great dedication and much progress was than ever just how strong the Withington made. ties, the Withington relationships and the sense of shared purpose are. As we compile this Newsletter in Autumn 2020, we look back with such great fondness and appreciation at the You join us at the end of a year none end of term traditions we enjoyed in of us could have anticipated back at December 2019, many of them in a full Founders’ Day in October 2019. Our Arts Centre, we look forward with great theme for that uplifting occasion when anticipation to when we will all gather pupils, parents and staff past and together in person once again, and in present, alumnae and friends of the the meantime, take satisfaction from school came together in the splendour how we have created innovative, often of The Bridgewater Hall was ‘Sustaining virtual, alternatives which have reflected People and Places’. Little did we and sustained the Withington spirit and Withington community at its very best know then just how apt that choice of As the new decade began, 2020 marked – purposeful, compassionate, creative, theme would become. 2020 has been the 130th anniversary of Withington’s resourceful and determined. a year unlike anything any of us have foundation in 1890 and, although January experienced before but one in which our brought with it a vague and growing focus on what is always our key purpose sense of unease, none of us imagined – the pupils in our care – has enabled us that it would not be possible to hold to hold fast and weather the storm. The Founders’ Day in October. As January pandemic has challenged us all and will became February and February became continue to do so for some time to come March however, special events such but at Withington we can take pride in as the wonderfully creative Drama how we as a whole school community production of Beasts and Beauties, have pulled together, sustained one another, met the many challenges WITHINGTON GIRLS’ SCHOOL PROUDLY PRESENT presented, and ensured that our school and its people continue to thrive. I am immensely grateful to everyone who has helped to make this happen and been part of this inspiring story. Autumn Term 2019 drew to a close with a series of outstanding achievements for the School. The Sunday Times named Withington the North West Independent Secondary School of the Year 2020 and our inaugural Manchester Sings project brought our pupils and primary school children from across Greater Manchester together to sing in the Cathedral – nearly 250 children and young people, led by our Director of Music, Mrs Gilly Sargent, created an utterly joy-filled occasion ADAPTED BY CAROL ANN DUFFY AND DRAMATISED BY MELLY STILL & TIM SUPPLE. which more than lived up to the event’s BY ARRANGEMENT WITH KNIGHT HALL AGENCY LTD theme: ‘Everyone has a voice, every voice a song’. Withington ranked very 4 HEADMISTRESS’S REPORT WITHINGTON GIRLS’ SCHOOL HEADMISTRESS’S REPORT MRS SARAH HASLAM Headmistress featuring nearly seventy Withington pupils, our International Women’s Day celebrations when twenty five speakers generously gave of their time to lead workshops for our pupils, and the Emily Simon Legacy Lunch in this the 100th anniversary of the death of WGS Founder, Emily Simon, who bequeathed the School its playing fields, all took on a growing significance as the prospect of what would come to be called ‘lockdown’ grew. At the Emily Simon Lunch on 11 March we were privileged to host four former Withington Headmistresses, including Miss Hulme whose tenure began in 1961. This moment felt like a gift and the sense Nonetheless, those final days before the were in school. Bridging courses for our of continuity, of strong foundations and closure of schools at the end of Friday Upper Fifth and Upper Sixth pupils whose Withington family would encourage us all 20 March, were busy and intense as public examinations were cancelled soon during the months to come. everyone pulled together to ensure that began to take shape, teachers and pupils plans for teaching and learning remotely embarked on the challenges of teaching were in place, our Upper Fifth and Upper and learning at home and a loyal band Sixth pupils had ‘last days’ to remember of colleagues travelled on eerily quiet with fondness and our provision for roads to School each day to care for the Key Worker School was thoroughly children of Key Workers, a service we risk assessed and staffed. This would are proud to have continued throughout be the first time since 1939 when the the Easter and May school holidays. Our school community was evacuated to teachers approached the process of Staffordshire for a year that the school Centre Assessed Grades, the alternative had had to leave the school site for to public examinations devised by central any length of time. We left the building government, with great care and integrity, that day on Friday 20 March with some just as they then coped stoically with trepidation and no indication of when the changes to how the GCSE and A Level the whole community might return. grades would be determined during Our keynote speaker on International August. It was a source of sadness for Women’s Day in March, WGS alumna, us all that we could not share the usual Joëlle Warren, encouraged the girls and ‘last day’ and very special Leavers’ Dinner us all to ‘Remember Your True North’ and with the wonderful Class of 2020 and this theme inspired us all as we entered their parents to mark together all of their the previously inconceivable reality of achievements and contributions, but we school closures, remote learning and hope that the special films made went national lockdown. Our School’s digital some way towards marking this rite of strategy which had involved a growth passage and we continue to look forward in digital working for all Senior School very much to the day we can hold an in pupils and staff where it was beneficial person reunion for this very special Year to learning, meant that we were well group.