The Accolade September 2012 The Monthly Celebratory Newsletter from County Upper School
Dear parents, students, staff and governors, studies and engaging with our phenomenal enrich- ment programme in huge numbers. The theme of We returned to the new academic year boosted by the summer was surely 'inspiring a generation' the outstanding examination results at all levels and and, as this edition shows, we do this at every our vastly enhanced sporting facilities, as well as opportunity both in and out of the classroom. other refurbished areas for which we thank our I have no doubt that as we move into autumn, premises team. August was certainly not all holiday our students' achievements will continue to inspire as our staff gave up their time to run six trips and to us and, month by month, 'The Accolade' will support individuals engaged in activities across the reflect that. subject areas. The new academic year has begun very well with students quickly settling into their Mrs V Neale
3 5 2 6 ….Inspirational Teaching Inspirational Trips.... We congratulate our English and History departments who have both Changing lives in Madagascar been awarded the Prince's Institute We congratulate fourteen of our 'A' Charter Mark for 2012. Above all, level Biologists who spent a fort- the award recognises the quality of night in Madagascar surveying teaching, focusing on the creativity forests and coral reefs for a variety of and originality shown to inspire a animals and birds. Whilst on their love of the subject amongst young trip of a lifetime the group discovered people. a rare leopard gecko, encountered an aye-aye lemur and swam with We were delighted to feature in large sea turtles, barracuda and lion the Department for Education’s first fish. They hunted for spiders at night ever list of schools’ success at get- with head torches and gained their ting students into Higher Education. PADI open water diving qualification. As the only Suffolk school featured, The students also met the local we were particularly pleased to be Malagasy people and learned about joint second in the country for all-abil- their culture. The staff had ity schools with the highest propor- nothing but praise for the way the tion going to Oxford or Cambridge. students met the physical and emotional challenges presented and for the % scientific skills they displayed. We congratulate: Kate Albon, Laura Dame Alice Owen’s School, Herts 10 Bramwell, Tom Chadwick, Katie Cross, Chris Dickinson, Jessica Gaskell, Loreto College, Herts 6 Elizabeth George, Sam Harrison, Annabel Holmes, Harriet Johnson, Silverdale School, Sheffield 6 Maisie Kilner, Annie Lane, Fiona Points and Rebecca Swan. We also Parmiter’s School, Herts 6 Fulford School, York 6 thank Miss Hamlett and Mrs Payne for all their work to organise the trip and All Hallows Catholic College, Surrey 6 for giving up part of their summer holiday to accompany it. Bury St Edmunds County Upper, Suffolk 6 St Philip Howard Catholic High, W Sussex 5 The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial, Ken & Chel 5 Watford Grammar School for Girls, Herts 5 Lady Margaret School, Hammersmith & Ful 5 Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge 5 Bridgewater High School, Salford 5 Wood Green School, Oxon 5 The St Marylebone CofE, Westminster 5 Durham Johnston Comprehensive, Durham 5 High Storrs School, Sheffield 5 The Ashcombe School, Surrey 5 St Laurence School, Wilts 5 St Mary’s Catholic Comp, Leeds 5 The Olympic Experiences linguistic and physical challenge as part of their summer Year nine students enjoyed a day's visit to Coventry to holiday. They were all congratulated on being excellent see the British Women's football team in action while hosts and ambassadors. Well done to: William Burns, a further thirty-six students from years ten and Patrick Doherty, Toby French, Jennifer Gurney, Digby eleven were inspired by a residential trip to see events Hayden, James Horner, Bethany Knight, Roderick in the Olympic Park including basketball involving the Mansel and Siobhan McKenna. USA, now home to some of our former Academy players. We thank Mr Bishop, Mr Fisher, Mr Golding, Later in the holiday, our students accompanied their Mr Hamill, Miss Lacey and Mrs Walters who gave up Japanese guests from Keio to Edale where they partici- part of their holiday for these trips and especially pated in a range of active challenges and practised their Mr Marshall who organised and led both trips. We hosting and linguistic skills. We thank Mrs Kennedy for congratulate all the students who made the very most accompanying them and congratulate the students of these fantastic experiences and were described involved: Marcus Breeze, Will Burns, Jessica Carnegie, as 'a pleasure to be with'. Rajan Chohan Jones, Patrick Doherty, James Homer, Tom Hubbard, Melissa Kennedy, Molly Lloyd, Roderick Mansel, Siobahn McKenna, Ella Price, Matt Wilcock and Cara Wilcock.
Bethany Knight wrote: “I really enjoyed going on the Chuutoubu camp because it was a very educational trip. All our Japanese partners were extremely polite and considerate and they helped out a lot when it came to writing our diaries. The Japanese students were really cooperative and brilliant at The Japanese summer camps English. I made friends with a lot of them and I am still in Once again our students were fortunate to be offered touch with a majority of these Keio students. the chance to participate in the Chuutoubu Summer The activities were fun and proved a great way for the English Camp at Avon Tyrell with their Japanese guests. students to bond with the Keio students and to work together. The instructors for the activities were kind and friendly as they made sure that everyone understood what they were doing and were safe while enjoying themselves. The excursions gave the Keio students a chance to see some of the impressive sights of England and have a memorable time in Britain. Overall, I had a brilliant time and I am looking forward to going back next year.”
During the camp, students were able to try activities like kayaking and rafting as well as visiting Corfe Castle, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Stonehenge and Salisbury. Both sets of students prepared acts for a joint talent show on the last evening and, thanks to Mrs Browning and Mr Rande, our students enjoyed a cultural, The UK-Japanese Young Scientists Workshop This prestigious scheme runs annually, alternating between a British and a Japanese university. It enables thirty young scientists from each country to work together on current scientific research with the science staff from the host univer- sity. This year's workshop was held at Cambridge University and, once again, we were invited to take part. We were delighted to be given four places and congratulate Neal Dodge, Billy Ford, Harry Jones and Rosie Waters on their selection. All four represented their school and the United Kingdom admirably. We thank Mrs Browning, Mrs Rossi and Mrs Tunstill for making our sixth holiday residential activity possible. More inspirational science activities