Autumn Term TheThe SwanSwan 2015 The Magazine of Christleton High School · Hello Year 7 · Poland Trip · Luke Wright’s Poetry Party · Lest we forget · Musical Madness! · Art Alfresco · Media City · Careers Information Evening Introducing the 2015-2016 House Captains Year 7 Year 11 Zoe Finnagen Joe Baldacchino Jessica Trevor Bryn Heard Poppy Lewis Cerys Wojtan Sam Richards Rebecca Duffy Charlotte Hampton Fleur Mercer Saul Duxbury Lola Latifa Mark Goldthorpe Freya Doyle Jayda Jones Sarah Walters Alexander Cotton Jasmine Prince Amelia Williams Lucy Joyce Sarah Hooper Jess Dunning Lucy Proctor Grace Rose Elle Roberts Thomas Stubbert Isabella Cornwell Victoria Taylor Graeme Mochrie Olivia Russell Sophie Runciman Molly Bowes Jack Knight Emily Moore Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Eliza Rose Harry Corley Nung Sirisot Daniel Richards Tess Bowman Laura Roberts Eleanor Moulson Edward Dunford Taryn-Olivia Walker John Gornall Paige Pedlow Hannah Piercy Alicia Griffiths Lizzie Glading Jude Jones Arin Theard Sam James Gemma Hemens Ewan Bradley Maddie Clerkin Daisy Woolgar-Bebb Jennifer Thompson Curie-Beth Woodard Lord James Ellison Ophelia Catherall-Davis Nathan Adams Josh Didsbury Megan Jones Grace Lindsay-Austin Archie Taylor Xsara Challinor James Richards Ella Wood Brad Coppard Erin Williams Sophie Lee Ben Lyon Fin Doyle Daniel Skinner Will Goodwin Jess Twigg Hannah Thorley Arran Brearey Maisie Lawson Isabella Ford Charlie Heard Maggie Corr Oliver Hynds Maddie MacDonald Caitlin Senior 2 The Swan - The Magazine from Christleton High School TheThe SwanSwan The Magazine of Christleton High School Introducing House Captains 2 Talk About a Revolution 22 Students Explore Wales 43 Headteacher’s Report 4 Who Is It? 23 Textiles Club 43 Media City 6 Sixth Form Leadership Teams 23 Work Placement Success! 44 Sixth Form Careers Conference 7 Art Hot Scholars Video Tutorials 23 News from Sylvia Wood 48 A Successful Operation! 8 Dove Self-Esteem Workshop 24 Studying Geography 49 Rethink Your Drink 9 We Went to The Zoo 25 Careers Information Evening 50 Teenage Cancer Trust 9 Wednesdays are Movie Days 25 Urban Land Institute 51 Who Is It? 10 Poland Visit 26 World Food Day Bake-Off! 53 Electronic Products 10 Unifrog 28 Cook Cup 2015 55 On Yer Bike! 11 Is Photography Art? 28 Sixth Form Transition 56 ChloBo 12 Trash Trek Challenge 29 Luke Wright’s Poetry Party! 58 Sixth Form Fun Day 12 Onward Christleton Soldiers 29 Creative Conway 60 MFL Debating Competition 13 Nesscliffe 2015 30 Fun in the Sun… 62 Flying High 13 Honouring Our Fallen Heroes 30 Art Alfresco 64 Teacher’s Pet 13 Lest We Forget 31 Start Your Engines 65 Politics & Law Visit 14 Barn Owl 32 School Rugby Review 66 Schoolcomms 15 Physics News 33 Cross Country County Success 67 GCHQ Visit Christleton 15 Who Is It? 33 Cheshire Phoenix Coaching 67 DoE Diary Dates 15 Musical Madness! 34 Congratulations Year 9 Girls! 67 Hello Year 7 16 GCSE Art Review 37 ESAA Schools Cross Country 68 Lloyds Bank Work Experience 17 Remembering The Fallen 38 Girls Badminton 69 Year 7 Summer School 2015 18 Class of 2015 39 Table Tennis Coaching 69 Sixth Form Careers Conference 19 Picturesque Chester 39 Football 70 Hot Scholars French School Visit 19 CCF Updates 40 Basketball 72 FABLAB 20 Adventure Training 40 Condover Hall 74 Oliver’s Marvellous Machine 20 Cheshire School Book Awards 41 Teachers Pet & Who Were They? 75 Places of Worship 21 Studio School Update 42 Chester Gang Show 76 Keep in touch with Christleton High School via Twitter @ChristletonHS Autumn Term 2015 3 Headteacher’s The EBacc subjects are English on various trips and events and I would Language, Maths, Science,eport Geography like to thank you for your support at or HistoryR and a Modern Foreign these meetings. One such event was Language. All our students currently our very successful Open Evening, held study English, Maths and Science on 30th September, for parents and but with Geography or History and a their children, who are wishing to apply Modern Foreign Language becoming for a place in Year 7 at the school next compulsory, this will have an impact year. on the offer of options at KS4. The curriculum will therefore need to his autumn term has been a very change and we have already begun to The Chester Chronicle named busy one in all areas of school implement this move. Christleton High School as “the most life. Students and staff returned popular state school in Cheshire”. The T total number of applications received fresh from the summer vacation, eager to begin the new term. We will also see a change in the for September 2016 was 679, of which curriculum for students in 270 were first preference. This figure is Year 10 with the grading higher than in previous years. This summer’s at GCSE English exam results and Mathematics were impressive being awarded in The school was fortunate to receive and we were numbers rather around £2.5m to upgrade its exterior, delighted that than in letters. which has continued through this term. so many of This will be The first phase to replace windows our students phased in with and cladding around the back of the progressed to other subjects school was completed last term. Work university, whilst as the syllabuses has continued on the next phases, in others moved into change. Significant upgrading windows and walls around our Sixth Form. You changes will also the front of the school with a striking may be aware of our affect AS and A2 studies copper finish. concern regarding the marking for our Year 12 students. of our GCSE English papers. These were returned to the examination board In addition to this, insulation on and as a result, 57 papers Last year, the Governors the roof has been upgraded. The had marks upgraded. carried out a parental improvements will make the school questionnaire and fed much more thermally efficient and a back the outcomes nicer environment in which to work for We welcomed in the Spring students and staff. Despite some major our new Year 7 2014 edition of disruption, the school has continued to students into the The Swan. The operate very efficiently and I commend school. They Governors wish to our students and staff on their flexibility seem to have thank all parents in working around the team of builders. settled well who responded The work should be complete by the and have taken and wanted to time you receive this newsletter. the transition in let you know they their stride. The expect to carry out Government has another questionnaire I do hope that parents and guardians published a statement of in 18 months’ time. are using our SIMS Learning Gateway intent that all students in this (SLG) and are able to track their Year group will be expected to follow children’s homework and effort made. EBacc subjects at GCSE. The school has recently held a number I endeavour to incorporate technology of parents’ meetings giving information to help our communication with you. 4 The Swan - The Magazine from Christleton High School Currently, will take well during this leave of absence. To we are place in cover the absence, we are fortunate piloting a June 2016, to have appointed Dr. Chadwick, an school app the title of experienced teacher of Biology. We which should which will also look forward to welcoming Mrs. be launched be announced Harding when she returns in January next term. shortly. from maternity leave. Our thanks go to Mr. Barton for his work with former Year 11 and current Year 8, during this time. A good number of trips and visits have taken place this term, many The Chester Chronicle of which you can read about in this named Christleton High Term finishes for students at 12:40 on edition. I am particularly pleased to Thursday 17th December, following the see membership of our Combined School as “the most Celebration Assembly. Cadet Force (Royal Air Force Section) popular state school increase to 44 enrolled Cadets. My thanks go to Mr Hudson, Mrs Stott in Cheshire”. I wish you and your families a very (Flying Officers) and Mr Hollywood happy Christmas and New Year. (Flight Lieutenant) Our staffing position has been relatively stable this term. We congratulated Dr. The Musical ‘Our House’ was Dowsett, Mrs. Lawson, Mrs. Stewart and performed by more than 60 Upper Mr. Llewellyn on becoming parents for School students as cast and crew. the second time over the summer and Following on from the very successful into the start of term. I am delighted A D Stenhouse ‘Lion King’ production involving 110 to report that Ms. Heaver has recently students, the Lower School production adopted two little girls and we wish her Acting Headteacher Autumn Term 2015 5 MediaCity Year 12 Media Studies Trip to the BBC Media City in Manchester In early October 2015, Year 12 Media students travelled to Manchester to visit the BBC studios and undertake a tour. Students observed many of the actual studios where popular programmes such as Blue Peter, A Question of Sport and BBC Breakfast are made as well as having an insight into BBC radio production. They were also able to make a news and weather bulletin in their interactive studio. Although, slightly disappointed at not meeting anyone famous apart from Mr Gannon, Year 12 Media students really enjoyed their day and it gave them a better understanding of the work of the BBC and the potential work opportunities at the location. 6 The Swan - The Magazine from Christleton High School “Thinking Hard About The Future...?” MediaCity Sixth Form Careers Conference 11th -12th June 2015 Our new Year 13 began the process of making decisions about careers when they attended a two day careers conference.