Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk
Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Headteacher’s Letter
As the 2014/2015 academic year draws you to Mrs Smith and Mrs Coulson for to a close, I am delighted to have this organizing these two splendid events and we opportunity to reflect on another exceptional take this opportunity to wish all our Year 11 term at Woking High School. students good luck and every success in their future lives. Our Year 11 students are looking forward to receiving some excellent examination I would also like to take this opportunity results in August. They certainly deserve to to thank the 2014/2015 Headboy/girl team do so given the diligence and commitment – Headboy - Jonathan Bell, Headgirl - they have shown to their studies over the Elizabeth Kozlowska, Assistant Headboys years. Particularly this year they have - Aidan Gale, Rob Green, Alex McLean, benefitted from a specifically designed David Sugden, Assistant Headgirls, Atifah immersion timetable, revision at half Abdullahi, Sally Hitchings,Vivienne Mathews term and Maths Saturdays. The GCSE and Sophie Russell, for their fantastic examination results will be available service, commitment and support during the for collection in the main school hall on past year. They have conducted their roles Thursday 20th August from 10-11 a.m. for in a mature, responsible and highly effective Year 11 students (and 10.45-11.30 a.m. for manner, have been an absolute credit to all other years). themselves and wonderful ambassadors for Woking High School. As one year group Saying goodbye to a year group is an moves on, opportunities open up for others occasion tinged with sadness, but is also in the school. We extend a warm welcome one of joyful reflection on their past five to our new Headboy/girl team – Headboy years. On an academic note, we celebrated - Matthew Hill, Headgirl - Kirsten Young, the successes of our Year 11 students Assistant Headboys - Ross Davidson, on 24th June when 73 students received George Loxton, Hussain Mughal, Richard prizes for academic progress, attainment Sugden, Assistant Headgirls - Izzy Bostock, and achievement. Additionally, special Sana Fatima, Shannen Griffiths and Elena awards were presented, amongst which, Newton. We congratulate them and are were services to music and dramatic looking forward to working with them now performance, public speaking, community they have taken up their new posts. work and the prestigious Governors’ Award for the highest academic performance of We are very pleased to be welcoming our any student in the year group. new Year 7s who will be the Class of 2020. They attended induction days on the 7th The following evening was a far more and 8th July and we were able to meet with social occasion celebrating the wonderful their parents on 14th July. Transition from friendships which have developed whilst primary to secondary is a very exciting time at secondary school. Our Leavers Ball was and it presents a great opportunity to share once again held in the beautiful setting of our values and expectations with all our new Chobham Golf Club and this year we were students and their parents. We are looking blessed with superb weather. A huge thank forward to them joining us in September. Summer 2015 Newsletter
Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above. Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Headteacher’sWeb: www Letter.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk
Headteacher: Jane Abbott
‘Character education’ is at the forefront of discussion in From September, Woking High School will be educational circles at present. At Woking High School, forming a new partnership with Gordon’s School and character building has always been a vital and integral part working on a number of specific educational initiatives of our secondary school provision not least, as it develops around staff training, interschool student competition, essential values and life skills for our young people. academic monitoring and action research projects. Our Respect, responsibility, courtesy, integrity, resilience and collaboration will operate under the name the ‘Arete enthusiasm are some of the many characteristics which we Partnership’ – arete being Greek for excellence in all encourage and develop throughout the school curriculum, things. both in school and beyond the classroom. Our students During the summer break we will see a number of have had great opportunities to show these character traits refurbishments and projects being completed ready for in many activities this term. These have included Duke the new academic year. The highlight will be the laying of Edinburgh expeditions, the Year 8 Newquay challenge, of our all weather 3G Astroturf pitch. This is an eagerly Year 7 camp, Maths and Science competitions, charity anticipated and much planned for improvement and will fund raising activities in House and Year team groups and be installed ready for the students’ use in September. participating in a variety of sporting and musical events, Please see details of ways in which you can help support all of which you can read about in more detail in this our fundraising for this facility in the Friends of Woking newsletter. High School section of this newsletter. This summer term has seen the commemoration of several It is traditional at this time of year to say farewell to historical anniversaries. In early June, only a few miles colleagues who are leaving the school. I would like to away from Woking in Runnymede, the nation marked thank them all for their commitment to the school and the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. wish them well for the future. Especially, I would like Later last month, on the 18 June, the 200th anniversary to mark the retirement of Mrs Kathy Collins, Director of the Battle of Waterloo occurred. As you can read in Mr of Finance & Resources. Mrs Collins has prudently Jones’ History report, Woking High School students have managed the school budget for the last 7 years and despite been closely involved in marking this anniversary. They ever increasing financial demands and ever decreasing were delighted to attend the service of commemoration at financial resources, has enabled the school to provide St. Paul’s Cathedral and very excited to meet TV Historian the very best resources and provisions for our students. Dan Snow who is ambassador for the Waterloo project. Additionally, she steered the school on its journey to an Additionally our commemorations of the centenary of Academy in 2013 and has kept it on course in the two World War One have continued with a second battlefields years that have followed our conversion. We wish her a visit for Year 9 students. happy, healthy, long and fulfilling retirement. In the Spring newsletter, I mentioned that senior staff The Autumn term begins with two staff training days and governors at the school have been working on a 2020 on Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September 2015. Vision for Woking High School. I am delighted to report School starts for students on Friday 4th September, with a that our vision is now published and you can read details staggered return, Years 7 & 10 at 8.55 a.m. and Years 8, 9 of our aspirational plans for the school over the next few & 11 at 10 a.m. years either on the website or in the document that is attached to this newsletter. As part of that vision, we are My thanks to our students, staff, parents and governors, developing a partnership strategy to benefit both students for their continued support. It has been a wonderful year and staff by sharing learning from our own school and and we have many exciting new developments to look gaining from excellent practice in other institutions. We forward to on our return. With very best wishes to all are delighted to announce that we will be extending our members of the Woking High School community, for a already strong links with Horsell CofE Junior School and relaxing and happy summer holiday. Goldsworth Primary School, in the coming academic year. Jane Abbott, Headteacher
Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
2 NRA 2015
NRA 2015
The Year 11 National Record of Achievement Awards careers. took place on the 24 June. It was a wonderful ceremony The event showcased the excellent achievements made by showcasing student achievement, attainment and progress Year 11 students throughout the last five years and it was a in subjects along with celebrating special achievements of lovely way for students to celebrate their final assembly at individual students. Guest speaker, Mr Simon Jarvis, Head of Farnborough Sixth Form delivered an inspiring speech Woking High School. to Year 11 students helping them to focus on their future
Special prize winners: Senior Team Service Awards Jonathan Bell SPECIAL AWARDS STUDENT NAMES Elizabeth Kozlowska Literacy Award Mohammed Elidrissi Sophie Russell Numeracy Award Saibah Khan Vivienne Mathews Contribution to School David Sugden Atifah Abdullahi Robert Green Performances Alex McLean Excellence in Performing Eleanor Gravette David Sugden Art Aidan Gale Public Speaking Awar Isabel Aughterson Sally Hitchings PE Award Joshua Bowler Govenors’ Award Atifah Abdullahi PE Trophy Rebecca Davies Awards from the Senior Student Team Services to Musical Sophie Russell Humanitarian Award Dominic Tweed Performance Affability Award Umar Afzal Police Shield Marcus Afonso-Martin Perseverance Award Rebecca Davies Diligence Award Erika Da Costa Student’s Student Award Sally Holcombe
C Smith, Head of Year 11
3 Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk
Goodbye Year 11 Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Goodbye Year 11
This year the Leaver’s Ball was better than ever before with students arriving in an array of different vehicles ranging from high end sports cars to vintage buses. The venue was the beautiful Chobham Golf Club, with its wonderful balcony space outside and large open plan layout making it a great place to celebrate.
Students had a surprise ‘Willy Wonka’ theme this year and were even greeted by a real life Oompa Loompa! Inside the venue Year 11 students enjoyed recording the event using two photo booths and loved the chocolate fountain, popcorn, ice cream stand and a top class DJ. A wonderful atmosphere pervaded the whole evening with many students wanting to show off their dance moves and consume as many sweets, chocolate and ice cream as they could!
Awards were presented at the end of the evening and the winners were:
Best entrance - Jason Dwumfuo
Most outrageous - Daniel Harwood
Best dressed male - Jack Oswin
Best dressed female - Fleur Wregglesworth
Best dancer female - Olivia Woodham
Best dancer male - Dominic Tweed
Best couple - Tom Dalziel and Jessica Truman
Prom Queen - Georgia Buddin
Prom King - Mohammed Elidrissi
Well done to all Year 11 students who attended you were excellent and it was lovely to see you dressed up for the occasion and really showing off what a brilliant year group you have been. We wish you the very best of luck in the future. C Smith, Head of Year 11
Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
4 Waterloo 200
Waterloo 200
In February 2015, Historian Dan Snow officially launched project, Dan Snow chose to visit Woking High School Waterloo 200, to commemorate the bicentenary of the on Wednesday 10 June. He was joined by a group of Battle of Waterloo. Two hundred schools across the VIPs and members of the media, including the CEO of country were invited to take part in the project. Each the Waterloo 200 team. Dan was extremely impressed school was asked to investigate a local soldier who fought with the research presented to him and carried out by at Waterloo, with just his name, year of birth and regiment the students. Dan and Mrs Abbott were interviewed by as reference. All of this information would then be added BBC Radio Surrey with Dan praising students for their to an eBook that students across the country can access outstanding contributions. Students loved the opportunity when studying the Battle in the future. to speak to a historian, with several now keen to follow in his footsteps as a TV Historian. Hannah Crook and Sam Webb, members of the History Department Council have produced a great deal of The schools eBook was officially launched at St Paul’s information about our soldier, Private John Bailey who Cathedral, on the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, was born in Itchingham, Surrey in 1794. Students located in front of Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales his discharge papers, which suggested he fought in the and The Duchess of Cornwall, His Royal Highness 1st Foot Guards. Their research unearthed the following the Earl of Wessex, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, information about Private Bailey: the Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP and the 9th Duke of Wellington. Hannah, Sam, Lucy Danton and Mr • He was probably illiterate as he did not sign Jones were invited to attend the commemoration. The documents, he simply left his mark (x) eBook is now available for the public to view online: • The 1st Foot Guards were involved in the most heated www.theonlinebookcompany.com/OnlineBooks/ fighting at Waterloo against Napoleon’s elite Imperial SchoolsWaterloo/Toc/Index Guard • He was 5’ 10” tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a What next? sallow complexion Having already created a quiz about the battle and • When he left the army in 1826, his conduct was listed presentation related to Private Bailey, Hannah and Sam as ‘good’ will be sharing their findings through assemblies during the coming weeks. As Hannah and Sam’s work has clearly impressed the M Jones, Head of History Waterloo 200 team, out of all 200 schools involved in the
5 New HeadWoking High School,Girl Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 NewEmail: Head [email protected] Boy Team.sch.uk Web: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk
Welcome Year 6 Headteacher: Jane Abbott
New Head Girl / Boy Team
This year a record number of students applied for the Headboy / Headgirl role at Woking High School. 26 were selected to present in assembly to their year group and staff. The Year 10 students were able to vote for one Headboy and one Headgirl. Voting was also open to all staff. The successful candidates were interviewed by the current Year 11 Headboy/girl team, as well as senior staff at the school.
After much deliberation, ten students were selected to be part of the senior team and to represent Woking High School. Kirsten Young is our new Headgirl, Matthew Hill is our new Headboy and they will be supported by school life.” said Isobelle Bostock on behalf of the assistant Headboy /girl team of: Shannen Griffiths, Sana Headboy / girl team. Fatima, Isobelle Bostock, Elena Newton, Richard Sugden, Hussain Mughal, George Loxton and Ross Davidson. The With the current Year 11s completing their exams, the Headboy /girl team are supported by twenty seven senior Year 10s have now begun their duties and have become prefects. All senior students were presented with their new the most senior students within the school, setting an badges and ties in our recent assembly by Mrs Abbott. example for the younger years. The recent interviews have demonstrated the outstanding attitudes and commitment “It is such an honour to be chosen as a member of the that students have towards the school, as they make their Headboy/girl Team. This year there were so many strong way to become young leaders and strong role models candidates who are now part of our senior team and we around the school. Well done to all who applied for the are really looking forward to working with them in our position. I very much look forward to working with the last year at Woking High School. We have leapt straight new Headboy / girl and senior teams. into our new duties and are anticipating an exciting couple of weeks as we settle our new Year 7s into secondary E Alighieri, Head of Year 10
Welcome Year 6
Mrs Doe and I are delighted to welcome Year 6s, soon a number of students asked if they could start secondary to be Year 7, to Woking High School. Year 6 have school immediately! already started their transition to secondary school Once Year 6s are officially Year 7s in September, having attended Year 6 Induction Days and the Year students will be eased into secondary school life, getting 6 Induction Evening. The Induction Days were a a ‘head start’ in the restaurant at break and lunch. Year tremendous success, and Year 6s went home buzzing 7 tutors have been specifically chosen to work with our with exciting stories of taster lessons, meeting new new students, and many have been Year 7 tutors for a teachers, and the delicious food available from the number of years, so they are experts at dealing with restaurant! primary to secondary transition. During the Induction Days, Year 6s’ had the opportunity We very much look forward to Year 7 starting in to sample a range of lessons. The learning, which September, and wish students a happy holiday. included singing pop songs, creating explosions and J Sleap, Head of Year 7 designing Wokingsoundtracks, High School is an was exempt a charity real and hit company with limited students, by guarantee. andRegistered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
6 CURRICULUM English Maths
CURRICULUM English Creative Writing Club The creative writing club was started in October 2014. Ms Mitchell and Mr Houghton wanted to create an environment in which students could share their work and receive constructive criticism, and discover work from many genres including fantasy, horror and memoir. As aspirant writers, the group learned the value of peer review which is also an invaluable life skill. We will be publishing an anthology of the club’s best work in the autumn term. Below is an example to whet your appetite: constantly told, she could not change the past, only look “It was perfect until two years ago. She had everything to the future. That was what she had been trying to do she wanted until two years ago. She had a family two when finally someone had come to adopt her. Everything years ago. All she wanted now was her family back. had been going so well until the last minute when, for All she wanted was to wake up with her parents, rather some reason, it had not worked out. It was hard to stay than waking up to fifteen other children screaming and positive when everything was going wrong. Just when shouting. Two years ago she had lived in a normal house her fairy tale seemed to be coming true it was ruined, and in a normal city with normal things. Then her parents she was left with only a blurred vision of what could have had been taken away. Their plane had gone missing on its been. She wanted to curl into a ball so tight that when she way back from Switzerland, but she had been staying at a unfurled everything would be different.” friend’s house, and so was unaware until the next morning N Houghton, English when they did not come to pick her up. But, as she was
Maths
Further Maths Support Programme – Year 10 Enrichment Day At the end of the Spring term Mrs Brandon and 15 Year 10 students attended a Maths Enrichment Day at the University of Surrey. The day consisted of several workshops and a lecture by mathematician and author,
Rob Eastaway. Here is an account of the day written by one of the students, Alishba Zaman: ‘During my day at Surrey University I took part in different workshops. Each workshop linked topics to Maths. The workshops were engaging and interesting. The balancing body’s workshop was my favourite because one of the students, Matthew Hill, was balanced on a board using his centre of mass. My favourite part of the day, however, was the lecture because it gave an insight into how Maths is used in games and everyday activities.’
7 Year 1 MathsWoking High School, Mortonactivity Road, Horsell, Woking, afternoon Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] UK JuniorWeb: www Maths.wokinghigh.surrey Challenge.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Year 1 Maths activity afternoon at Horsell Village School
Day 11 in June various different houses that added up to 6. We liked was particularly working with the children; they were extremely good at busy for maths and were ready to learn.’ the Maths department. One ‘The aim of our group was to make a chair, the same as ones of the activities we had made earlier. With our help all of them managed to was an afternoon achieve this. I enjoyed the experience thoroughly and found working with Year it lovely working with all the children and helping them; it 1 students from was also lovely to see their faces when they got it right.’ three different ‘In the final group, we were helping a group of Year 1s to schools. The event was organised and hosted by Horsell add, subtract and multiply, using a tarsia puzzle (similar to a Village School and thirteen of our Year 8 students went jigsaw that uses smaller triangles to make a bigger triangle along to run the four activities. Here are several paragraphs with equations). We were surprised at the intellect of the from the students themselves: Year 1s as they ‘We were on the ‘time’ table and helped the Year 1s how were really to read the time and add and subtract various periods of fast. It was a time. The activity was based on a school day (6 hours) in pleasure to which they planned a whole day of activities of specific time help with the duration. This encouraged them to think about telling the activities.’ time and the importance of time management.’
‘In our group we created streets out of six houses: detached, semi-detached and terraced. We used combinations of
UK Junior Maths Challenge
On the 30 April 27 Year 8 students and 49 Year 7 students Silver Certificate:Amy Szarvas, Seth Gale, Jaymie took part in the UK Junior Maths Challenge. It is aimed Robinson, Dylan McConnachie and Sam Orpin at able mathematicians and consists of 25 multiple choice Bronze Certificate: Alex Scott, Jude Silverton, Isabel questions which test the students’ problem solving skills. Metcalfe, Zahir Abid, Abigail Hodkinson, Andries Approximately 200,000 students across the country take Verhaeghe, Ella Boyes, Hollie Doyle and Kiera Purchase part and the top 40% of students receive a certificate (6% Gold, 13% Silver and 21% Bronze). Congratulations to the A special mention should go to Ram Marwaha Year 7, who following students who received certificates as listed: not only got the Best in School certificate but he also got through to the next round, the Junior Kangaroo. Year 8 Here is an example of one of the questions from the 2015 Gold Certificate:Nathan Holmes Junior challenge: Silver Certificate: Finlay Williams, Disha Yadagiri, Stephen Moore, Javeria Ahmed, Sam Wildfire, 24. A palindromic number is a number that reads the same Andrew Muir and William Griffiths when the order of its digits is reversed. What is the difference between the largest and smallest five-digit palindromic Bronze Certificate:Eerik Cockin, Faiyaz Moolji, numbers that are both multiples of 45? Freddy Wooster, Yuta Osawa, Lucy Taylor, Abubakar Imran, James Mandy, Tom Ivory-Bray and Mia Lansdell A 9180 B 9090 C 9000 D 8910 E 8190 Year 7 The questions and answers can be found on the UK Maths Challenge website. http://www.ukmt.org.uk/individual- Gold Certificate: Ram Marwaha and Dominic Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in Englandcompetitions/junior-challenge/ with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above. Ariyo-Francis P Dixon, Maths
8 Woking College Maths Department Visit Science
Woking College Maths Department Visit
On Day 11, three staff and four students visited from ‘goods’. They had to pay tax, decide how much to trade Woking College and led two different sessions with top and how much insurance protection to purchase. The set Year 10. These sessions allowed students to experience session ended with the students’ countries ‘worth’ being what Maths and Economics are like at A level. The first determined by what they had accumulated at the end of session required students to discover and investigate a the trading. The trading became so passionate at one stage mathematical proof that Leonhard Euler had discovered it looked like World War Three could be starting soon! in 1735. They learnt all about mathematical networks and The students thoroughly enjoyed these well organised traversability, whilst fiercely competing for chocolates. sessions, with many students considering taking these The knowledge and insight displayed by the Year 10 subjects at college. students was impressive. The second session saw students A Randell, Maths forming their own countries and learning key economic principles as they manufactured, imported and exported
Science
Annual Science University’s Chemistry laboratories Lecture to complete two challenges. They The title of the talk this year worked extremely well as a team was ‘Local Plant Breeding and used analytical skills such for the Global Marketplace’. as chromatography and chemical Jamie Claxton delivered our ion tests to successfully solve the Annual Lecture in the Main challenge. The day finished with a Hall. Jamie is the Director of series of whizzes and bangs during Plant Breeding at Tozer Seeds a demonstration of the magic of in Cobham. Chemistry. H Gallagher, Head of Science This talk gave a fun and informative insight into how innovative new varieties of all different types of fresh produce are developed. Tozer Seeds work closely with Science Club supermarkets and other retailers, international growers, Science Club have been having fun Michelin-starred restaurants and the media at all stages this term with static electricity, testing of the development and promotion of their cutting-edge paper airplanes and exploding coke new products. For students, this talk helped to underpin and Mentos. The static electricity their knowledge of Biology and Botany and show how was truly hair raising and whilst our scientific knowledge learned in the classroom can be excitement was bubbling over in applied to building a rewarding career in a creative and anticipation of our Mentos fountain, exciting environment. the fountain itself was slightly less effusive! J Brooke, Science We have said farewell to our Salters Chemistry Challenge excellent Year 11 helpers, Dominic Tweed and James Underwood, and In April our Year 8 team of Sam Webb, Samyuktha are looking for new volunteers for Ramesh, Faiyaz Moolji and Fern Dalziel beat twelve other next year. schools to win the Salters’ Chemistry Challenge at the University of Surrey. The team had a great day using the E Robertson, Science
9 Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] LanguagesWeb: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk
Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Languages
Ciao Italia! They were also able to spend time on the beach, to enjoy traditional pizza at a wonderful pizzeria half way up Mount Students studying Vesuvius, and to browse around some of the stalls that sell Latin in Years 9 and gifts and mementos to tourists. We were lucky enough to 10 visited the Bay of have Miss Piazza with us, but the students didn’t seem to Naples at the end of need much help when it came to doing some haggling! April to learn more about Roman life and The visit was hugely enjoyable, and has offered the students the dreadful natural a real insight into the wonderful sites that this extraordinary disaster that sealed the area has to offer. towns of Pompeii and E Williams, Head of Latin Herculaneum like a time capsule. Hola Madrid!
The vast majority of On Thursday 21 May, 23 students and four staff set off what we know about for a five day tour of Madrid. From visiting cultural sites Roman life comes to taking in the atmosphere, the students were about to from these sites, which encounter the very best of survive like ghostly Madrid. relics of the past. Students planned their own routes round the towns and visited the areas that interested them most. Students were encouraged They saw shops, houses rich and poor, bakeries, fulleries, to speak Spanish when temples, law courts … everything that the towns had to buying lunch, refreshments offer. Many of the students enjoyed their time in Pompeii and souvenirs. In fact, the in full Roman dress, which has become something of a hotel receptionist refused to tradition on the Latin trip – I have yet to be shown the communicate in English to resulting film! give students the chance to speak in Spanish each day. As well as visiting the Roman sites, the students climbed Mount Vesuvius and visited a beautiful mozarella farm Day 1 – After an early start, we arrived at Hotel to see the cheesesWoking High Schoolbeing is an made exempt charity in the and companytraditional limited by way. guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above. Mediodía located in the
10 Ciao Italia! Hola Madrid!
heart of the city, next door to the Reina Sofia Museum. We took the Metro to the Teleférico cable cars to enjoy the breathtaking views on offer. Our evening meal was in an authentic tapas restaurant where we had traditional paella.
Day 2 – We spent the day at Faunia Nature Park. Students watched various animal shows and had time to stroll around the park, needing to read the signs in Spanish to get to where their favourite animals were. Later that evening, we enjoyed our dessert at the San Miguel market, one of the oldest food markets in Madrid. Students and staff particularly enjoyed the churros – a traditional fried dough pastry dessert that you dip into a thick, rich chocolate sauce. We then wondered down to Puerta del Sol and were entertained by various street performers and dancers as the sun set on the city.
Day 3 – The students were all very excited to visit the Bernabeu Stadium and were allowed down onto the side of the pitch to sit in the seats of Real Madrid’s football heroes. Later that day we visited the Reina Sofia Museum to view traditional ‘English tea’. the array of art work by Picasso. During their stay, they spent a morning at Woking High Day 4 – We visited the Palacio Real De Madrid and El School in lessons with their exchange partners, where Rastro, the largest market in Madrid. Many students students noticed the importance attached to learning foreign purchased iconic Spanish items such as fans and castanets. language. Some of the French students helped our Year 10s That evening we had the pleasure of watching a traditional speaking in French, all good practice for their assessments flamenco show while enjoying a full spread of tapas. in July! The French students also appreciated the fantastic facilities we have here at WHS! Day 5 – After check out, the group took a tour of the city on an open top bus. Everyone sat quietly, listening to the On the Wednesday afternoon the English exchange students information about the city through their headphones. After took their partners into Woking to go bowling. It was the bus tour it was time for an ice cream in the Retiro Park difficult to say who were the most competitive, the students before we had to head home. or their teachers!
The students were inspired by the tour and returned home The following days the French students took the with a greater desire to improve their knowledge of the opportunity to visit some of the cultural sites of London Spanish language. This is evident in the fantastic efforts including visits to Big Ben, the Tate Museum and the made in the workbooks they had to complete. famous Hamley’s Toy Store, after shopping on Oxford R Piazza, Acting Head of Modern Foreign Languages Street. They also had a day trip to Windsor castle and its parks.
French Exchange 2015 Students spent the weekend ‘en famille’ with their English We are delighted to have developed our partnership with hosts, experiencing British tradition and culture and in a school ‘Collège Jacques Decour’ in Paris. On 19 May a some cases sealing their friendships after almost two weeks group of 13 French students and two staff came to spend a together. week visiting us, following a successful visit to Paris by our It was a tearful farewell for some and we very much look students in March. forward to working with our exchange partners from Having travelled to London by Eurostar, the party reached ‘Collège Jacques Decour’ next year after reflecting on a Woking High School at 4pm and our students and staff thoroughly successfully experience in 2015! greeted them with a warm welcome to England and a C Atkinson, Modern Foreign Languages
11 GermanWoking High School, Exchange Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, 2015 Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] GeographyWeb: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
German Exchange 2015
We are delighted to have established a new partnership with a school located in the music city of Leipzig called The Immanuel-Kant-Gymnasium, and on 25 June a group of eight students and eight staff arrived to spend six days with their exchange partners.
The German students flew from Berlin to London Gatwick and were greeted at school by their partners and parents. The exchange had a very international feel as our own hosting students came from Spanish, Italian, Asian and Romanian backgrounds.
The students came to school with their partners on Friday On Monday the German students went to London where morning, accompanying them to lessons and in the they visited many key attractions and they particularly afternoon they went to Woking with their partners and enjoyed their time spent at the Science Museum. spend an enjoyable time bowling at The Big Apple. On Tuesday the students went to Brighton, taking full The German students spent the weekend with their host advantage of the fantastic weather. families and were able to visit some attractions in London Sadly, we had to say Auf Wiedersehen on Wednesday and Guildford, visit the McLaren Technology Centre, morning but we very much look forward to seeing paddle in the sea in Bournemouth and play French Cricket. our exchange partners again when we visit Leipzig in Thanks to one of the parents we all spent a lovely evening at their house where we sampled some delicious cooking November. and wonderful hospitality. B Weston, Modern Foreign Languages
Geography
Geography Coast Day
On Thursday 30 April the Year 10 Geographers travelled to Hurst Castle Spit on the south coast to complete their Controlled Assessment fieldwork. Armed with an assortment of ranging poles, clinometers, quadrats and tape measures they made their way to various sites along the Spit, ready to investigate whether sediment is being deposited on the beach. The weather remained good for most of the day, although the final group was caught briefly in a shower as they ran back to the coach. The students have since been working on presenting the data they gathered, interpreting it and coming to conclusions. The students worked well throughout the day and gained some valuable experience in the field. L Dixon, Lead Teacher of Geography
Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
12 WW1 Battlefields History
History WW1 Battlefields The 18th Woking High School battlefields tour started with a visit to Vimy Ridge in France, scene of a ferocious battle in which four Canadian Divisions fought alongside each other for the very first time in order to capture Hill 145 on the morning of April 9 1917. Students were able to explore reconstructed trench systems, mine craters from the battlefield and best of all, speak to some Canadian soldiers who were visiting the Vimy site.
The group then travelled into Belgium which was to form the base for the remainder of our tour. At the Bayernwald complex, students were stunned to learn that they were standing in the trenches where a young Lance-Corporal named Adolf Hitler served as a runner in 1916. As a gesture schoolchildren in all my life, they are clearly learning from of peace and reconciliation Jack Gale pinned a cross of this visit.” remembrance to a German bunker. This reinforced one of the key messages of the visit which was that we were honouring Students were able to explore a variety of cemeteries, both men from all nationalities and cultures who fought in the Commonwealth and German. At Hooge Crater Cemetery Great War. we experienced a special moment when Max Petters was able to visit the grave of his Grandfather’s Uncle. Students On Friday morning we explored the Ypres Salient, a discovering the graves of their relatives always provide battlefield area that was ravaged by the conflict to the extent memorable moments in our battlefield tours and this that barely anything was left standing with all trees, farms occasion was enhanced further as we listened to a poem and villages completely reduced to rubble. At Essex Farm, entitled ‘For the Fallen, the Remembered and the Gone’. This Theo Devenish read the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ next to the poem was written by Yasmin Dowling and visibly moved very spot where it was written in 1915 by John McCrae. At students and staff through the way it captured the tragic sense Sanctuary Wood, students were able to descend into genuine of sadness that comes with visiting the cemeteries of the First World War trenches and tunnels in order to appreciate Great War. what conditions must have been like for the soldiers of 1914- 18. We were delighted when a visitor from Ireland told us On Friday evening we attended the Last Post ceremony at that “I have never seen such a polite and courteous group of the Menin Gate. The simple bugle call has been sounded by members of the local fire brigade at 8pm every evening since 1929. Taking place under a colossal arch inscribed with the 55,000 names of men who have no known grave and whose bodies are missing somewhere in the fields of Flanders. Representing Woking High School at the Last Post were Max, Theo, Yasmin and Clayton Mawson who were selected by their peers to lay a wreath in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the First World War.
Students’ log books demonstrate a high level of knowledge and understanding that was deepened by this visit to the battlefields. Above all, however, it was the students’ability to reflect on what they had seen and experienced that most impressed the teachers along with the sensitivity and courtesy they showed to one another and to other members of the public. S Sharples, Deputy Headteacher
13 Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] MusicWeb: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Music
Examination success Vocal – Zara Dieck Brass (trombone) – Alex McLean The following students (placed in alphabetical order), have all recently been successful in examinations for Woodwind (clarinet) – Sophie Kozlowska the Associated Board of The Royal School of Music or Pianoforte – Linus Fuge Trinity College. Graded examinations range from 1 – 8. Percussion – Sam Fox Congratulations to all students for achieving such excellent Small Ensemble (brass) – Alex McLean, Andrew Lumb, passes and many thanks to the instrumental peripatetic and Adam Best, Matthew Hill and Chris Pearce private music teachers for successfully preparing them for public examinations: String (guitar) – Rhian Harrison Most Promising – Members of the Small Ensemble Rachel Abraham – Year 8 – Piano – Grade 3 - Merit Phoebe Dunham – Year 10 – Modern Dance - Grade 5 – Merit Max Pemberton the 2014 winner treated the audience to Phoebe Dunham – Year 10 – Tap Dance - Grade 4 – Merit a wonderful piano performance of Prelude in G minor, Op.23, No.5 by Rachmaninoff, whilst the judges made their George Edwards – Year 8 – Guitar – Grade 6 final deliberations. Finally, their decision was made and George Edwards – Year 8 – Music Theory – Grade 5 - Pass the Lorna Paterson Special Award for Music was presented Stephen Moore – Year 8 – Piano – Grade 3 – Pass to Linus Fuge, Year 11, for his masterful execution of the Stephen Moore – Theory of Music – Grade 1 – Merit incredibly challenging piece III Precipitato Piano Sonata No. 7 Op. 83 – Prokofiev. Emily Russell – Year 8 – Musical Theatre – Merit Ella Shankla - Grade 6 - Musical Theatre – Merit The other competitors were as follows: Ella Shankla – Piano – Grade 5 – Merit Gemma Lees – vocal Phoebe Stirk – Year 8 – Guitar – Grade 2 - Distinction Ella Shankla – vocal Sam Webb – Year 8 – Piano – Grade 4 – Merit. Sophie Russell – vocal Jake Webb – Year 9 – Guitar – Grade 5 – Distinction Madeleine McClements – vocal Emily Russell – vocal Ensemble, Instrumental and Vocal Gabriella Ferlita – vocal competition 2015 Jack Gale – vocal We were delighted to welcome parents, governors, George Edwards – vocal families, friends and neighbours, to the 7th annual Vocal Srinivasa Vedantham – vocal and Instrumental competition. This competition is held in memory of Lorna Paterson, one of our most able Congratulations to all students who participated in the musicians who sadly died from Cystic Fibrosis in 2008. competition. I am sure that they will have gained some Twenty-one students completed in seven categories. The valuable tips to further improve their performance and standard of music was exceptionally high and it was very communication skills. Thanks to the judges for their words difficult for the judges – Anna Power (Head of Music at of wisdom and encouragement throughout the competition Woking College), Professor Clive Williamson (Director of and also to Miss Godden, for the equally important task Performance at the University of Surrey) and Captain Paul of providing piano accompaniment for many of the items. Goodwin MBE (former Director of Music, Corps of Army The school is grateful to Seymours of Horsell for providing Music) to reach their decisions. After much deliberation generous sponsorship of the event and to Mrs Paterson and and some excellent feedback, the following students were Alex, Lorna’s brother, for their inspiration in holding the awarded winners in each category. competition.
Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
14 Wind Band and Choir Tour to Italy Woking High School CD Computing
Wind Band and Choir Tour to Italy Woking High School CD 17 – 24 July 2015 On the 23 June, St. Mary’s Church Horsell, was transformed Preparations and rehearsals are coming to a head now as we into a recording studio for over 75 students to create a CD approach our much anticipated music tour to Ameglia, Italy compiling some of the musical talent from WHS. The with 57 students supervised by six staff members. motivation behind this effort was to showcase the talent of the musical students in a variety of ensembles, providing The aim of our tour is to provide the opportunity for our a legacy of sound for the students, families and supporters talented students to perform for a live audience in an of the school to enjoy now and in the years to come. The unfamiliar setting; the culmination of a years’ hard work in CD will also be available for sale on the Italy band and rehearsal. We have three scheduled evening concerts which choir tour, with the profit supplementing income generated will last for 90 minutes and showcase students from all year through school performances. This will go towards music, groups through a variety of solo and ensemble pieces. The instruments, repairs and also to subside the cost of future Windband, Choir, Chamber Choir, Brass Ensemble and tours. Big Band will all appear and help to promote our newly recorded CD, made earlier in June at St Mary’s Church, The whole band and choir worked so hard, with some Horsell. The music will be varied, including the famous of fantastic vocals and brass in ‘In Flanders Field’, ‘Lord of Italian aria Nessun Dorma, and another Italian classic, Con the Dance’ gained so much momentum that there was steam te Partiro, commonly known as `Time to Say Goodbye’. coming off Ellen Steinbach’s flute and Sara Hill and Sophie Russell were reunited for ‘Time to Say Goodbye’. The day It won’t all be work though. During the day we have couldn’t have taken place without the hard work of members time scheduled for rehearsals; relaxing by the hotel pool; of staff, but in particular Mr Goodwin and our producer for excursions to the city of Pisa and a two-hour boat trip to the day, Neal Leggett who works for MiaCon Recording admire the panoramic views and in particular look at the studio, runs Pop Rox Woking at WaterRat music studios and Cinque Terre (photo of Vernazza). The Lonelyplanet website is a graduate from the ACM (Academy of Contemporary describes it as `five crazily constructed fishing villages, Music). The students were in their element with their set amid some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the friends, music and instruments which brought such fun and planet’. A Unesco World Heritage site, these villages date joy to the recording, which will, I’m sure, come across on from the early medieval period, and we will have lunch in the CD…start saving your pennies now! onterosso, founded in AD 643. A full report will be written Rev Chrissie Lacey on our return, but for now, `ciao’. S Goodwin, Director of Music Performance
Computing
The “Coding Hub” is a joint project with the University of Surrey and Woking High School, in which several keen students have the opportunity to learn how to programme and solve problems using logical thinking skills. This group, which meets once a fortnight, is hosted by Woking High School and funded by the University. Students are privileged to have William Scott-Jackson MEng(Hons), a Post Graduate Researcher, on hand to show them tips and tricks in using of their outreach grants. The use of these boards is now Python as a programming language as they learn to develop being integrated into the Coding Hub programme, with solutions and programmes. They have been using Raspberry expertis from the University. The Coding Hub project will Pis as well as the Python Desktop Shell to code. continue next year and it is hoped it will be expanded to Part of the time has also been spent looking at Intel Galileo include more of our students as interest in coding grows boards. As a result of an application from Mr Afana to and develops within the school. Intel, we were awarded ten Galileo boards as part of one A Afana, Computing
15 Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Media Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Web: wwwDrama.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Media
Media Studies – End-of-Year Wrap! conventions of children’s comics, the marketing of video games and also basic film studies. They were also Today the world is saturated by powerful mass media. To privileged to visit Harry Potter World at Warner Bros. study the media is to understand the world in which we live. Media Studies is one of the most culturally relevant, Year 10s have broadened their theoretical knowledge of socially enriching modern subjects available to our students Media and developed practical skills completing two today. So it is exciting to see a growing number of students of three Controlled Assessment assignments. The first electing to study Media, whether as one of their arts assignment was analysing and creating a print text, and the subjects in Year 9 or as a GCSE option in Years 10 and 11. second was a cross-media assignment on the promotion and marketing of popular music. These assignments, including Year 9s have now completed a foundational course in a third big project in Year 11, involve research, planning, Media Studies and as such have explored codes and construction, presentation and evaluation and constitute 60% of the exam. The group also had a wonderful day visiting the BBC studios and participating in a filming workshop at Woking College.
Year 11s completed their Practical Production (creating a short film or a new magazine targeting a specific audience). They also undertook an in-depth study of this year’s exam topic “Television News Broadcasting”; highly informative, highly relevant. This group participated in a very interesting workshop run by AQA to prepare them for the exam.
So much of our time is exposed to the media in one form or another; Media Studies helps us to examine the impact media has on our lives and develops critical thinking, analytical skills and creativity.
We study media because the media studies us! J Tuson, Head of Media
Drama Production News from the Drama Department
Hot on the heels of the success of this year’s Calamity any old uniform we would be most grateful for it. We will Jane the Drama department are already in full swing for also be looking for long skirts and bustiers. Again, any the 2016 performance of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! Students donations are always gratefully received. and staff are already in pre-production and have begun rehearsals. The production will require a large cast so everyone is more than welcome. Those who wish to assist with stage The costume department, as always headed up by Rev. management and costume should again see Mrs Selmes as Chrissie Lacey, will be looking for a variety of items for soon as possible. adaptation. Specifically, we will need school trousers and N Selmes, Head of Drama shirts to be made into orphan costumes. Should you have
Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
16 Religious Education School Life
Religious Education Canterbury Visit
A group of Year 8s took the opportunity to join our between the Church and the State. Students were biannual pilgrimage to Canterbury, a city that showcases also able to explore the world of Geoffrey Chaucer’s the very best of British Values. The visit promotes students’ medieval pilgrims through a visit to the Canterbury Tales understanding and appreciation of British culture, religion, Experience. Audio and Visual presentations brought to life history, politics and literature. Through visiting Canterbury some of the most famous characters in British Literature Cathedral students were able to explore the Mother Church and provided an excellent complement to the time spent of the worldwide Anglican Communion and seat of the exploring the Cathedral. The Year 8 students returned to Archbishop of Canterbury. The murder of Thomas Becket Woking having reflected on a range of spiritual, social, was one of the most significant events in British History moral and cultural issues and having refreshed their and visiting the exact spot where it happened prompted knowledge and appreciation of British Heritage. students to consider questions such as the relationship S Sharples, Deputy Headteacher
School Life
Day 11 looking at fitness and health and the other completing a The penultimate Day 11 of the year was as busy as always trading game based on global development. with two off site visits, four visiting groups and four Year 10s had a very full timetable with a hundred of the different GCSE immersion sessions for Year 10 and 11. students working in computing to complete their controlled The Year 7s who were not on camp, developed their assessments. The GCSE Statistics group welcomed orienteering and problem solving skills by finding the immersion time for their GCSE exam the following day. answers to Maths questions around the school site. Peer Productions, the Knaphill production company, delivered a performance looking at teenage mental health, Year 8s had an exciting carousel developing a range of with follow up work with the Pastoral Support and English skills across the day from fitness, language, art and African teams. drumming. There were also several Year 11s completing immersion for Year 9 Peer Mentors received their initial training ready to their last few exams in Latin, Graphic Products and Product take on their new roles in September. The remaining Year Design. 9s divided their time between two activities, one in Science M Abbs-Rowe, Director of Technology – Leadership Team 17 Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ CitizenshipTel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Off SiteWeb: www Visits.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Citizenship Election Fever It was the morning of Friday May 8 2015 and staff and In the days prior to students were on tenterhooks to hear the election results. the election, students Not the results of the National Election, of course, but of heard hustings by our internal Mock Election here at Woking High School! Year 10 students, each representing one of Voting began before school on the previous day and the the seven main parties. first keen voters were already lining up as our volunteers They presented in set up the polling booths at 7.45am. Voting continued brief their reasons throughout the day at break and lunch times, as well as why students should for an hour after school. Turnout was excellent: some vote for them and faced challenging questions from Mr Year 9s who were on the Battlefields trip had even Scott, students and staff. Overall, the event represented arranged a proxy vote! a significant challenge for the Y10s involved, who had to research their party and present their arguments; it also raised awareness across the whole school that voting is an important and valuable right here in Britain. Staff were delighted at the turnout and the excitement that some students expressed when it came to participating.
In the end, our result reflected what happened nationally, with the Conservatives winning by a very narrow majority. EWilliams, Co-ordinator of Citizenship
Off Site Visits Newquay Adventure Tour Over half term 74 Year 8 students along with six members sun go down at Tolcarne and on Tuesday had a wonderful of staff went on the Newquay Adventure Tour where barbeque on the beach. Wednesday saw them at the they had the opportunity to try a huge range of activities. adventure pool zooming down slides at Oasis Leisure Newquay, one of the most surf rich spots on the Cornish Park and Thursday was the Last Chance Disco where they cost as well as home to the famous Fistral Beach, has were all treated to great music and dancing. been the venue for this visit for many years. Hosted by Over and above enjoying themselves, the students also Elemental UK, three major venues allowed students to demonstrated some of the qualities that epitomise Woking take part in a fun packed week of sun, surf and sand. High School students. They were resilient, independent The students enjoyed learning to surf, paddle boat, and thoughtful. They considered others as well as canoe, kayak, climb, abseil, and coaster in lovely weather themselves. On activities they all joined in and showed and beautiful surroundings. They visited Tolcarne and exceptional team spirit. Swanpool beaches on the North and South coasts and We were told by the hotel, the instructors and members of enjoyed an adventure day in the quarry at Bishop’s Forum. the public that the students were a credit to us as teachers and to their school. Their eveningsWoking High were School spent is an exempt enjoying charity and companythemselves limited by guarantee. also. OnRegistered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above. Monday they took a walk along the cliff tops to see the N Selmes, Head of Drama
18 Year 7 Curriculum Challenge VI Envision Visit
Year 7 Curriculum Challenge 136 students took part in the Year 7 Curriculum Challenge the country; it was not hard to see why the New Forest has in Brockenhurst, situated in the New Forest. The purpose been granted National Park status. of the camp was to challenge the students physically All the staff involved agreed that it was a pleasure and mentally through completing a number of problem- to take such an enthusiastic and committed group of solving and team building activities, for which points students. The students developed many character traits were awarded. All of the students rose to the challenges over the three days including resilience, perseverance, offered and didn’t seem to mind the early morning independence and teamwork. Congratulations to Mr starts, washing up or getting wet and muddy!! They also Stokes and Mrs Doe as their patrol groups won the team experienced the forest at night, where wide games and challenge securing most points over the three days. night hikes were combined with the teachers’ favourite ghost stories! The weather was excellent and it allowed P Costard, Head of PE the students to experience camping in a beautiful part of
VI Envision Visit to ‘The Railway Children’
On Thursday 18 June, a group of students and staff from Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and are the Visual Impairment Unit went to London to see a already looking forward to next year’s outing! production of ‘The Railway Children’. The day started Zaynab Rehman (Year 9) said: “I can’t decide which was with a drama workshop, which gave students a better the best part of the day, I think it was all fantastic!” understanding to the background of the story and the period in which it was set. C Greatorex, Visual Impairment Unit
We then made our way to the theatre, which has been built on a disused siding at Kings Cross Station. After lunch came the ‘Touch Tour’ and students were able to explore various props on stage, including getting on the actual train used in the play. They were then able to meet actors from the play who answered our questions.
The play itself was fantastic, the scenery and set changes were very cleverly done, the floor vibrated each time the train came into the station. Students could have an auditory guide throughout the play, so it was easy for them to follow.
19 StudentWoking Voice High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] House WeNewsb: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
House News
This has been a very busy and exciting term for the House System with lots of competitions and events taking place. We had three fantastic ‘Woking High Bake Offs’ on three separate afternoons in June. The standard was extremely high and a real show case for all our many extremely talented young bakers! The winners were: Year 7 – Brunel, Year 8 - Stephenson and Year 9 - Curie. All students who took part did a fantastic job and gained lots of house points The current scores are as follows: for their wonderful bakes. A big thank you to Miss Fear for her help in running three superb events! Curie 13732 We have also recently held the annual Woking High School Brunel 13182 House Fun Run to raise money for charity. This year our Faraday 12267 chosen charity was Woking Hospice. The race took place Stephenson 12210 on the field where participants took part in a three-legged fancy dress obstacle course around the school field! 122 Sports Day is the final and biggest House event of the year students took part in this wacky but wonderful event! and it is on this day that the overall House winners are Some of the fancy dress costumes were really great and it announced. There is much for the taking on Sports Day as was so lovely to see the huge effort all the students put in. Houses can gain LOTS of house points - a minimum of 800 There were prizes for best fancy dress, race winners and and a maximum of 3200 house points are up for grabs on the House raising the most money for charity. A Brunel this day alone! Although Curie seem to be cruising ahead at duet were first to cross the line and Brunel also won best the moment it’s not over yet! Good luck to all four Houses! dressed. Over £1500 was raised in total with Curie single- May the best House win! handily raising almost £500! C Rouse, Head of House System
Student Voice
This term students have been very busy; Good Citizens The training on Day 11 has helped us to ensure we are have continued with their patrol around the school site, prepared to deal with a variety of situations that we might new Peer Mentors have been trained and numerous be presented with. We have learned how to show that we students have attended School Council meetings. Two are listening actively to our mentees and learned how to of the new Peer Mentors, Stella Eyers and Kirsten Scott question, not interrogate! We have also worked on how to give their views on the Peer Mentoring programme react in a helpful and productive way so that our mentees below. can make progress.
“We applied for the Peer Mentoring scheme because we Together, we have considered how our own character wanted everyone to have a positive experience at Woking traits may be helpful to others and what character traits High School. Some of us benefited from an older sibling we may ourselves gain in this process. Hopefully, peer when we arrived here but not everyone does. We would mentoring is something that can help us develop as more like to be the helpful older person to younger students empathetic and conscientious individuals too. We can’t who may not have someone to guide them already. We wait to meet our mentees!” can act as a person they can come to. Some peer mentors V Lacey, Peer Mentoring Co-ordinator may also have experienced challenges themselves when they were lower down the school and therefore can understand and empathise.
Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
20 Young Enterprise
Young Enterprise
The Year 10 Young Enterprise (YE) companies have now balanced their accounts, paid off their outstanding taxes and shareholders as well as divided their profits accordingly. Led by a team of business advisors from the Young Enterprise programme (Robin Smith and David Rates) the students of Woking High School have had a very successful year.
In September 2014, Teams ‘Illuminate’ and ‘NuZulu’ were created by two groups of ambitious and driven Year 10 Team NuZulu were able to gain a sound understanding students to take part in the YE programme. of profit, loss and break even through running their own Team Illuminate focused on creating a clothing brand events and found it an extremely rewarding experience to featuring hoodies and t-shirts, which they showcased at provide a service to generate a profit. the annual YE Dragon’s Den and Y Factor competitions. Both teams have developed their interpersonal skills and It was a great opportunity for Team Illuminate to have gained valuable experiences to prepare them for the demonstrate their creativity and marketing strategies to world of business and work in the future. Numerous Year their competitors as well as impress many business people 9 students applied to be part of the 2015-16 programme; from the area. the successful candidates have begun planning for Team NuZulu ran two projects over the year making an their company to begin in September. As the school impressive profit of £234.11! The first project involved coordinator, I am confident that we will see many great organising a Year 7 disco providing music, lighting, food things from these eager students with the first competition and drinks, with the second project selling doughnuts to being held in November. We wish them luck! students and staff over one afternoon. All members of J Fear, Young Enterprise Centre Lead
21 Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Duke of Edinburgh’sWeb: www.wokinghigh.surrey Award.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
I am thrilled to report that both the practice and the final expedition for the Bronze Level Award have been successfully completed this term.
In March we took the students out for a Day 11 activity at Newlands Corner, this gave them their first taste of cooking with a camping stove (Trangia) and an introduction to navigating using a map and a compass.
In May, we supervised 64 students on the North Downs in Surrey on their practice expedition. We were lucky to have good weather throughout with the students able to cook their evening meal and their breakfast in sunshine. With an overnight camp in Shere, the two days were a success and a good grounding for the final expedition, particularly for those who needed to polish up their navigation skills!
For the final expedition the participants started off just outside Salisbury, walked approx. 15 kms and camped overnight in the picturesque village of Sixpenny Handley. On the second day they walked to the top of Cranbourne Chase, finishing just outside Shaftesbury. The groups worked very well together and managed to put into practice six months of training on navigation, camp craft, country code and teamwork. We were all concerned about the heat as the final expedition followed the hottest day of the year; however, the rain on Thursday cooled the temperatures and provided far better walking conditions. the students, especially those who overcame adversity and The sun came out as we pitched our tents and we had a pushed themselves to achieve. glorious evening enjoying far reaching views over the Dorset countryside, followed by a full moon and clear The next task is for all participants to complete their views of Venus and Jupiter. All of the groups completed Bronze Award by finishing the volunteering, skill and the expedition successfully and I am very proud of all of physical sections, so that we can have a great celebration at the Award Presentation at the HG Wells suite in March next year.
I am lucky to have so many members of staff who help with expedition training and of course give up their free time to help with expeditions. Without their help this award would not run in school and I thank you all very much. I would also like to extend my thanks to those parents (and grandparents) who have helped with transporting students to and from expeditions, as well as cleaning equipment. E King, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Co-
Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in Englandordinator. with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
22 Sport
SPORT Athletics Our athletes have been extremely busy this summer and have been in excellent form.
At the District Athletic Championships we were extremely successful winning 3 out of the 8 competitions and finishing second in two others. The top three team results are below :
Year 10/11 Girls Year 10/11 Boys Year 8 Girls Year 8 Boys 1st Woking High 112 1st Gordon’s 110 1st Woking High 96 1st Tomlinscote 111.5 2nd Gordon’s 109 2nd Woking High 104 2nd Gordon’s 95 2nd Woking High 99 3rd Winston Churchill 99 3rd SJB 103 3rd Winston Churchill 94 3rd Gordon’s 95
Year 9 Girls Year 9 Boys Year 7 Girls Year 7 Boys 1st Gordon’s 94 1st Woking High 125 1st Gordon’s 113.5 1st Tomlinscote 96 2nd Tomlinscote 93.5 2nd Winston 2nd SJB 97 2nd Fullbrook 92 Churchill 110 3rd SWP’s 88 3rd Collingwood 72 3rd Fullbrook 87 3rd Fullbrook 82 7th Woking High 63 4th Woking High 70 6th Woking High 79
Selected Individual Results from both Key Stage 3 and 4 Championships
Year Gold Silver Bronze
7 Dominic Ariyo-Francis 200m Abiel Natnael Hurdles Abiel Natnael Long Jump Jaymie Robinson Shot Putt 8 Sameer Dhamial 200m Adriana Khan Hurdles Mia Crees 200m Mia Crees 100m Sameer Dhamial 100m Olivia Wood 800m Aleena Sahi High Jump Sam Webb Hurdles Max Chitty 800m Joe Ryan Javelin 9 Amba Hill Shot Putt Matthew Tweed Javelin Georgina Wicks 100m Ryan Lees 200m Jake Webb Shot Putt Hasna Ould-Dada High Jump Ryan Lees Long Jump Jake Webb Hurdles Ryan Lees High Jump Callum West 300m Jamie Ballard Triple Jump Joseph Jakubait 1500m Jake Webb Discus Boys 4x100m Relay 10/11 Beckie Davies 100m Hannah Pucci 200m Kirsten Young 800m Beckie Davies Long Jump Sally Hitchings 1500m Girls 4x100m Relay Ellen Steinbach High Jump Anya Vlassak Discus Ben Clark Long Jump Josh Bowler Hurdles Jason Dwumfuo 100m Craig Osborne Javelin Adam Tolefree 1500m Jay Baker 200m Connor Richardson Discus Jamie Culmer Shot Putt Jonathan Mackenzie High Jump Boys 4x100m Relay Josh Bowler Triple Jump
23 Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] WeSportb: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
British Schools Biathlon Finals The British Schools Biathlon Championships took place at the Olympic Park over the Easter holidays in treacherous conditions but despite this our students produced some outstanding results :
Team Results: Under 15 Boys Runners Up Under 13 Boys Fourth
Selected Individual Results: Under 15 Boys Joseph Jakubait 2nd Surrey Athletic Championships: Under 16 Boys Alex Zalaf 4th 16 of our students represented North West Surrey at the Under 16 Boys Fraser Tattersdill 5th County Championships. Under 15 Boys Ewan Smith 8th Under 13 Boys Oliver Zalaf 10th 9 of our students finished in top 7 in their events. Medals were won by : Under 16 Girls Kirsten Young 11th
Ryan Lees Junior Boys Long Jump Silver Recently we learnt news that Ewan Smith came third in the Under 14 Boys UIPM World Schools Biathlon Adam Tolefree Intermediate Boys 3000m Silver Championship, this competition uses virtual scores from Ryan and Adam went on to represent Surrey in the South all National Competitions in 2014. In the Under 16 age East Inter Counties Match in Kent. Ryan finished 2nd in group Alex Zalaf was 10th and Fraser Tattersdill 17th. In the Junior Boys Long Jump. the Under 12 competition Oliver Zalaf was 32nd and Max Chitty 42nd. New School Athletic Records Broken this so far :
Under 17 Triple Jump Josh Bowler 11.97m Girls Football Year 9 Boys 4x100m Relay 48.47 In April our Year 9 Girls 6 a-side football team took part in the Surrey School Games Finals at Surrey Sports Park. Year 9 Boys 300m Callum West 40.03 They were invited to take part as they had become District Year 9 Boys Discus Jake Webb 33.40m Champions earlier in the year. The girls played three games in a round robin style tournament. They won 1 - 0 v Bishop Year 9 Boys Long Jump Ryan Lees 5.73m Wand, Drew 0 - 0 v Christ’s and won 1 - 0 v De Stafford. Year 9 Boys High Jump Ryan Lees 1.73m Having two victories and a draw saw them crown County champions. Stand out players on the day were Jasmine Year 8 Boys 200m Sameer Dhamial 25.13 Paterson, Naomi Jaenicke, Georgina Wicks and Louise Year 7 Boys 200m Dominic Curr in goal (who did not concede a single goal). Ariyo-Francis 26.19 Year 7 Girls Javellin Isobel Danton 18.06m
Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
24 Young Carers Sport
Rounders Tennis Two tournaments in May and June saw some very The Year 8 Boys Tennis Team has had a successful competitive rounders from the Year 8 and 9 teams. Playing year representing the school in the LTA Surrey Tennis Winston, SJB and Gordon’s the final results saw both Championships. The boys were victorious in the rubbers teams in overall 2nd position, which gained them a place against Broadwater, Fullbrook, George Abbot and Royal in the District Finals. A special mention must go to the Grammar School, Guildford. As a result of this, the boys Year 9s who won the second tournament, with only 8 went through to the quarter finals where they played players. The Finals are to be held in early July. Trinity School from Croydon. The rubber was a very even contest between the two teams, however on this Swimming occasion the boys were unsuccessful and lost. The boys involved were Michael Hitchings, Faiyaz Moolji, Fergus Year 10/ 11 students Alex Zalaf, Ewan Smith, Richard Russell and Ryan Drinkwater. A special mention to Ryan Sugden and Fraser Tattersdill will be competing in the Drinkwater who remained undefeated in all the rubbers he National Swimming Championships this summer. Fraser played in. Well done! had a very successful Scottish Nationals where he won Silver in the 50m Backstroke in a fantastic time that ranks Well done to all students who have represented the School him very highly in Britain. this year at sport your effort, enthusiasm and achievement have been outstanding. J Justice, Director of Sport
Young Carers
Mayor’s Civic Award to Woking High Student The Young People’s Civic Award Scheme was established in 1996 by Woking Borough Council in conjunction with Headteachers and students from Woking’s secondary schools. The scheme is open to all children and young people up to the age of 18, who live or attend school or college in the Borough. Nominations are judged by a panel which includes the Local Education Authority, Police, Voluntary Sector, Sport Woking, Woking Borough Council and Woking Youth Council.
This year we had the pleasure of nominating one of our students, Marcus Afonso Martin for ‘Outstanding Contribution to the Community’. We nominated him for his tireless support of other young people in the local community. He is a member of the Woking Task Group who Young Carers at Woking High School and is a role model collectively organise youth work in Woking and Surrey. to our other Young Carers and can always be relied upon for Also, he is a member of the Steering Group at Lakers which help and guiding of others. involves the day to day running of the Youth Centre at Goldsworth Park, attending regular meetings, supervising the We are sure you will agree with us that Marcus was a youth centre and running activities, as well as being a peer deserving winner of the nomination for this award which was mentor. presented to him by the Mayor, Councillor Tony Branagan, at his Civic Reception on Friday, 24 April 2015. At school Marcus is a diligent young man, working to the best of his ability in all areas. He is a Woking High C Wilkinson, Student Support Officer and L Coulson School Good Citizen, where he supports other younger, Pastoral Co-ordinator for Year 11 and sometimes vulnerable students. Marcus is a member of 25 BikeathonWoking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Harry PotterWeb: www.wokinghigh.surrey World.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Bikeathon
In the last newsletter we announced that the Woking Smith and Colin Kite from the Rotary Club and we are Bikeathon had selected the Mayor’s charities as one of very excited to announce that we will also be promoting their recipients this year. The Young Carers at Woking the Swimathon which takes place in October. The event High School will be fortunate to benefit from some of the takes place on Sunday 11 October and we will be looking proceeds from this event. Thank you for your support of for teams of six to enter this fun sponsored event to raise the Bikeathon, a number of our students entered the event money for worthwhile charities in the Local Community. and helped to raise money. We recently met with Terry
Harry Potter World at Warner Brothers Studios
We would like to thank the Rotary Club for their very created by numerous specialist craftsmen – it was all generous donation which was put towards funding a very impressive! Highlights included the newly opened visit to the Warner Brothers Studios. A group of Young Hogwarts Express on Platform 9 and 3/4 and a trip down Carers and members of the Visual Impairment Unit set Diagon Alley - it was a very special day indeed. A number out on 30 April for Leavesden near Watford where we of prizes were awarded including Joshua Wilson and experienced the Magical World of Harry Potter. Without Genifer Brownsea for having the most knowledge about exception everyone was enthralled with this very special Harry Potter! day out. We visited the actual film sets where the filming C Wilkinson and H Addison, Student Support
took placeWoking and Highwe School were is an able exempt tocharity explore and company the limited exhibits by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
26 University Links
University Links
From 20 to 24 April, 15 Year 8 students were given the opportunity to become university students for the week. The annual Year 8 Exploring Higher Education Week was an enormous success with over 150 students from eleven Surrey secondary schools attending. Our students participated in a wide range of activities and worked with both university students and industry professionals including Drama and Creative Writing run by Guildford School of Acting, Construction and Engineering run by BAM Construction, Sport at the Surrey Sports Park, Law and Chemistry. The week culminated with a graduation ceremony to which over 170 family and friends attended This academic year over a hundred and sixty of our and the students were presented with certificates from students have been able to attend events at the University Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Andrea Dlaska. of Surrey. Thank you to the University for all the fantastic opportunities they continue to offer our students, and On 20 May we were able to take a further twenty Year 8 we look forward to even more opportunities in the next students to the University of Surrey for the day. During academic year. the day students found out what university life was like, H Addison, Careers and Post 16 Liaison Co-ordinator took part in a campus tour and looked more in depth at extra-curricular activities that the University offers students in the form of clubs and societies.
27 St John AmbulanceWoking High School, Morton Schools Road, Horsell, Woking, Mark Surrey, GU21 Award 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Peer EducatorsWeb: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
St John Ambulance Schools Mark Award
In March this year, High School, are trying to equip our students to be the I was lucky enough difference between a life saved and a life lost. to be able to offer a two hour emergency Woking High School has always believed that having readily First Aid course to accessible First Aiders is essential to ensure the safety of Year 8. This means we our students and all new members of staff are offered a now have roughly 240 students trained in some of the key certificated emergency First Aid course, taught in-house by emergency lifesaving skills such as CPR, putting someone an experienced St John Ambulance trainer. in the recovery position and how to help someone who is M Griffiths, Maths choking. This, along with numerous stringent Health and Safety criteria, has meant we have now been awarded the prestigious St John Ambulance Schools Mark Award.
Every year, up to 140,000 people die in situations where first aid could have given them a chance to live. Even basic first aid knowledge can save a life. The St John Ambulance Schools Mark is awarded to schools in England that show a significant commitment to the safety and health of their students, workforce and community.
As the St John Ambulance tag line highlights, we at Woking
Peer Educators from Lakers Youth Club
We have had a number of visits from a group of talented Peer term to empower parents to feel confident in understanding Educators from Lakers Youth Club to deliver workshops to signs of exploitation and helping to tackle conversations with our Year 8 students this term. Gina-Marie Munday, Megan their sons and daughters. Rogers and Katrina Georghiou (ex-students at Woking High School) came with Zachary Ward and were fully supervised If you have any questions about the sessions or with child and supported by their Youth Workers, Sandie Bolger, Senior sexual exploitation in general, please contact Mr Crowley or Practitioner for the Woking area of Surrey Community Youth Mrs Wilkinson at the school. For wider advice and guidance Work Service and Sarah Bannister, Worker in Charge at on the impact of CSE please visit Lakers Youth Centre. www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk.
They delivered eight sessions offering advice and guidance http://www.surrey.police.uk/News/News-Stories/Full-news- about what a healthy relationship is and highlighting the story/Article/11273/Police-and-partner-agencies-across- warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. The sessions Surrey-working-together-to-tackle-Child-Sexu were interesting, lively and necessary to help raise student http://www. awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) and how to barnardos.org. notice and avoid the dangers it presents. CSE is a form of uk/get_involved/ abuse which involves children (male and female, of different campaign/cse/ ethnic origins and of different ages) receiving something in spotthesigns. exchange for sexual activity. Sexual exploitation can happen htm in all parts of the country and is not restricted to particular C Wilkinson, ethnic groups. Student Support Officer We will also be running another information evening for Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above. parents with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation before the end of
28 Friends of Woking High School
Friends of Woking High School
This term, the Friends of Woking High School met Prize Club to begin fundraising for the eagerly anticipated new Every term, the FOWHS hold a Prize Club draw and the AstroTurf. winners receive a lovely surprise cheque in the post. We AstroTurf Fundraising Would you are always looking for new members of the Prize Club so if you want to get involved, here are the details of how to like to Buy-a-Square? join: The FOWHS have made the first donation to the Astroturf Fill in the Application Form for the Prize Club (see our of £10,000 and we also have a very generous donation webpage or email us) of £150 from parents. We would like to sell ‘squares’ of the AstroTurf as a way of raising funds and have started Subscriptions are £20 per term by standing order looking for corporate sponsorship and parental support. There are just over 3000 squares available and every And that’s all you need to do - we do the rest. sponsor who buys a square will be able to have their contribution immortalized on our sponsors’ board. Do Give as you Live you know of any businesses that would like to support Another way to support the school is by using our Give as the school by buying the Goal, Penalty or even a Corner you Live page when you shop online! Summer holidays, area of the pitch, in exchange for their name or logo on food shopping, even car insurance (and all your favourite our sponsors’ board? Please ask them to get in touch via high street retailers) will donate a percentage of what [email protected]. you spend to the school, at no extra cost to you! Every We would love it if you would buy a square of the little we raise brings us a step closer to funding items AstroTurf and support the school’s sporting activities. such as the AstroTurf, last term’s new outdoor canopy or Squares will be available to buy via Scopay very soon. supporting Young Carer activities. Each square will cost £20 or £5 per quarter. Look out for It only takes a few minutes to sign up, and when you more information on our website and social media and let download the toolbar or app, Give as you Live will do the us know if you’d like to contribute. rest. The link to our page can be found here: https://www. giveasyoulive.com/join/fowhs. Save those green tokens! Our next meeting is the Annual General Meeting on 17th Each month every Waitrose branch donates £1,000 September at 7pm. The FOWHS are always delighted between three local good causes as part of their to welcome new members – if you’re unable to attend Community Matters programme. We are delighted that the meetings but would like to help support our fundraising Woking High School AstroTurf has been chosen as one activities, or if you’d like to find out more information of the beneficiaries by Waitrose Goldsworth Park and so about the Prize Club, Give as you Live or Buy-a-Square from 1st July, every time you shop at Waitrose please help scheme, please contact us at [email protected]. us by giving us your green token! sch.uk or see our webpage on the school website: http:// www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk/Friends-of-Woking-High- Raffle School In September, the FOWHS will be holding a raffle to help T Millar, Treasurer FOWHS with our continuing fundraising. We already have some generous offers of great prizes but if you know anyone who has something a little different to donate to the cause, then please let us know.
29 CharitiesWoking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] CompetitionsWeb: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk Headteacher: Jane Abbott
Charities Three Peaks Challenge
At the end of May, a group of staff, their partners, a parent Mr Jacques who drove the bus between the mountains and and an ex-student took part in the Three Peaks Challenge allowed the walkers some much needed time to rest and to raise vital funds for our Zambia project. Whilst this refuel. Many thanks to everyone who has sponsored the challenge is meant to be completed in 24 hours, due to team; the total so far is £2,315.41 which means that a bore snow on top of Ben Nevis, a wet and windy decent in hole can be installed in the local community in Zambia the dark from Scarfell Pike and 40 mph winds on top of allowing clean water to be accessed. If you wish to help Snowdon, the group completed in 26 hours. Despite the increase that total, please visit www.justgiving.com/ weather conditions and lack of sleep, everyone agreed that whsinzambia2016 it was an amazing experience. Special thanks must go to P Costard, Head of PE
Competitions
Earlier this year, and as part of E-safety campaign in school and the national Safer Internet Day on 10 February, a number of our students participated in a competition to create an original short video (1 minute) promoting how to stay safe online. Abigail Hodkinson and Alia-Lloyd Zidi; both from Year 7; came third in the UK, winning £75 between them. Their video can be seen on this link (https://youtu.be/7_dBRXPAkxo) and here is a link to the website: http://www.outofyourhands.com/competition- winners/
A Afana, Computing Woking High School is an exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above.
30 Community Student Leadership
Student Leadership
The Learning Partners have been involved in a number of applied for and these will stand them in good stead when exciting projects this year and they have become a very applying for colleges or other educational opportunities in valuable part of Woking High School’s Student Voice the future. activities. They have recently been involved in panels with The students are currently working together with outside visitors, speaking about their experiences at the the Senior Leadership of the school to explore the school and sharing their views on a range of educational effectiveness of displays in classrooms, as well as issues; the visitors have been very impressed with our supporting the English Department by reviewing the students’ knowledge and commitment to the school. In plans for the new KS3 curriculum to be introduced addition, they have visited Citizenship lessons to identify in September. They are also involved in recruiting outstanding learners and shared the achievements of those new members for the Learning Partners by presenting students in assemblies, awarding them with House Points. in assemblies, reading applications, partaking in the Due to the leadership qualities demonstrated by the interviews and providing the training for those students Learning Partners, we applied for Student Leadership who will join the scheme in the new academic year. Accreditation from the SSAT, a national organisation, It has been a successful year and we hope to continue the earlier this year. The process required the students to important work next year, giving even more students the consider how they demonstrate leadership skills in opportunity to help shape Woking High School in the everyday situations and to create a portfolio of evidence future. independently, which was then moderated by their peers and sent off for verification. All of the students were M Walter, Assistant Headteacher successful in achieving the silver and gold awards they
Community The Sensory Garden The year started well for the garden as we were fortunate enough to have new, wider borders for the raised vegetable beds. Thank you to Mr Turner and his team for installing these – they have made a significant difference, not only making the beds much smarter, but also making it easier for our students working in the garden.
The Morrisons vouchers we collected were sent off and exchanged for equipment, seeds and plants, including a ‘Ursula’s Red’. new bay tree. (We will be collecting the vouchers again in the Autumn) Everything was looking lovely – just in time for the Garden Safari on Saturday 13 June. The day started off We have had several students working in the garden rather cloudy and grey, but the rain kept away. There were this year, they have been working hard planting a wide lots of visitors to the garden, including a very friendly variety of vegetables grown from seed, and after a slightly tabby cat called George who stayed for the duration! slow start due to inclement weather (and some pesky squirrels!), the vegetables are now doing really well. We would just like to add thanks to Layton Landscapes, who very kindly donated some lovely pots to replace In May our Finance Assistant, Ursula Harman, retired some of the older ones. after 25 years loyal service to Woking High School. To C Greatorex / D Bostock, Visual Impairment Unit mark the occasion we planted three ferns, fittingly called
31 Woking High School, Morton Road, Horsell, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4TJ Noticeboard Tel: 01483 888447 Fax: 01483 888448 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wokinghigh.surrey.sch.uk
Headteacher: Jane Abbott
NOTICES
Achieving Excellent Attendance Every year the Government raises expectations for attendance in schools and next year any student who is absent for more than At Woking High School we aim for 100% attendance for all and 10% of the time will be classed as a ‘persistent absentee’ therefore would like to thank all families for your help in supporting this we will be changing the boundaries of our RAG system in aim. To date our overall school attendance is better than ever at September 2015with our expectations even higher as follows: 95.76%. Excellent - (100%) The top tutor groups in the school (so far this year) are: Good - Green (95% and over) 1st 7W with 97.6% Room to improve - Amber (90-94.9%) 2nd 7R with 97.36% Cause for concern - Red (less than 90%) 3rd 10R with 97.33% It is essential that you call school each day if your child is unable 4th 8I with 97.06% to attend school. If we do not receive information providing 5th 7D with 96.91% a reason for absence, then the absence will be marked as unauthorised and you could be liable to a Fixed Penalty Notice We closely monitor and track all of our students using a variety of from the Local Authority. Please ensure that school is advised of measures, including the RAG (Red, Amber, Green) system; each any change of contact numbers, so we can contact you in case of half term students will be informed by their Form Tutor if they emergency. Families who take unauthorised leave of absence are are Red (currently any student attending less than 85%), Amber likely to be fined by the Local Authority. (between 85% and 95%) or Green (95% or over). So far this year over 70% of our students have achieved our minimum target of There is a proven, undeniable link between student attendance 95% and of these 136 students have achieved 100% attendance and student attainment as research consistently shows. Attendance since September. We celebrate this by displaying the names on our also has a major impact student’s future employment and plays a attendance notice board. key part in safeguarding the lives of our young people. Regular attendance enhances both academic learning and students For those students with lower attendance, we can offer a range of personal, moral and social development. Please do continue to support depending on individual circumstances. We try, with the support the school in encouraging your child to achieve excellent information we have, to target support appropriately, so if there attendance. are circumstances that are impacting on your son or daughter’s C Wilkinson, Student Support Officer attendance then please do contact a member of staff (Form Tutor or Pastoral Coordinator) to discuss the situation as early as possible.
Term Dates Exam results Term From To Collection of Summer exam results (from the main hall): Autumn 2 September 2015 18 December 2015 Thursday 20 August 2015:- Students return on 4 September Year 11 – between 10.00 and 11.00 a.m. Years 7 and 10 at 8.55am, Year 8, 9 and 11 at 10am Years 9 and 10 – between 10.45 and 11.30 a.m. Half Term 26 October 2015 30 October 2015
Spring 5 January 2016 24 March 2016 Half Term 15 February 2016 19 February 2016 Parking
Summer 11 April 2016 22 July 2016 Please could we remind you all to park safely in and around Half Term 30 May 2016 3 June 2016 the school, by respecting the parking signs and restrictions, and not parking on the yellow zig-zag lines on Morton Inset Days 2 & 3 September 2015, Road. Please can we also request that you are courteous to 16 November 2015, local residents and avoid parking over driveway entrances. Woking22 High January School is an 2016 exempt charity and company limited by guarantee. Registered in England with Company Number 8586085 and has a registered office as above. 24 June 2016
32