OBMAGAZINE 2020 INSIDE... PARLOPHONE RECORDS' NICK BURGESS SARAH CREED ART CURATOR OF ONE OF LONDON’S MOST TALKED ABOUT MUSEUMS Playwright, author and television scriptwriter JONATHAN HARVEY Blue Coat Eco-Committee drives NEW GREEN AGENDA CHESS CLUB’S THE WOMBATS' RESURGENCE DANIEL HAGGIS NICK COWAN ON PERFORMING WITH PUTTING THE BLAZE THE ROLLING STONES INTO BLAZER CONTENTS CONTENTS KEEP IN TOUCH! We require your consent to communicate with you. 12 To view our Privacy Notice and communications consent form head over to our website. Once complete you will never miss an event invitation, e-newsletter or Old Blues magazine. www.bluecoatschoolliverpool. 38 HITTING36 THE RIGHT org.uk/old-blues/keep-touch 4 16 NOTE You can contact the Development 4 SCHOOL NEWS 22 AND THE AWARD 39 TECH STARTUP ZYNG Team directly at development-team @bluecoatschool.org.uk or on 7 SPORT REPORT GOES TO… 40 CALL THE BLUE COAT 0151 733 1407 ext. 207 9 CATCHING UP WITH… 23 ROBERT SKYNER MIDWIFE Don’t forget you can also keep in touch THE CLASS OF 2019 RAISES THE BAR 41 FLYING DOCTOR MATT with Blue Coat using our social media platforms: 10 TAKING TO THE STAGE 24 WOMEN IN STEAM IS READY FOR TAKE 12 INTERVIEW WITH… 26 INTRODUCING NICK OFF - AGAIN! /bluecoatschoololdblues JONATHAN HARVEY BURGESS, CO-PRESIDENT 42 5 MINUTES WITH… 14 IN BRIEF... OF PARLOPHONE RICHARD DOWNEY @LiverpoolBCS 16 EMPOWERING ART 28 NICK COWAN, PUTTING 43 REDMEN OF LIVERPOOL 18 POPPING IN TO SAY THE BLAZE INTO BLAZER www.linkedin.com/ 44 OLD BLUES AROUND groups/8153535 HELLO 30 OLD BLUES INSPIRING THE WORLD 19 5 MINUTES WITH… THE NEXT GENERATION 46 BE MINDFUL ABOUT Cover photo: Old Blue Daniel Haggis, GRAHAM JONES 32 PASS IT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH from the Class of 2002, and his band The Wombats perform at the 2019 19 DELVE INTO THE ARCHIVE 36 CLASS OF 1991: OUR 47 5 MINUTES WITH… Leeds Festival. 20 HELP IS AT HAND FOR PIONEERING FEMALES Jonathan Harvey photo GRAHAM O’CONNELL Photo credit: Harry Holm HUNGRY DINERS RETURN 48 BLUE COAT FOR ALL 02 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 03 SCHOOL NEWS Parent Power Schools SCHOOL NEWS Guide 2019 ranks Blue Coat 28th nationally and 3rd in North West In November 2019 The Sunday Times published its prestigious Parent Power Schools Guide 2019, ranking The Blue Coat School 28th nationally amongst state schools and 3rd in the North West. Reporting on the committee’s progress to date, founding members Hillary The list identifies the highest performing and Lucy from Year 11: schools in the UK, ranked by recent examination results. Our 2019 exam “In order to use our grant wisely, 420 trees were ordered and planted on the season culminated with an exceptional set of results, with both A Level and GCSE schools Playing Fields, with representatives from Years 11 and 13 helping to students having their hard work plant them. rewarded. We are also planning to spend some of our funds on a sensory garden that • At A Level of all grades 61% were A*–A will benefit the biodiversity surrounding our School. Everyone will be able and 82% were A*–B, with students achieving the highest number of A*–A to take part in planting, growing and maintaining this important space. grades ever achieved at Blue Coat. Students will soon be able to access leaflets and information relating to • Our Year 11 students celebrated some Climate Change, what an Eco-School is and how we can have a healthy of the best GCSE results ever recorded and environmentally friendly lifestyle in and out of school. Muddy Good Fun! at the School and of all grades 54% were ‘9-8’ and 78% were ‘9-7’. Students celebrating their results on A Level Results Day 2019 Launched in July 2019, with financial (Photo credit: John K Roberts Photography). But perhaps the biggest piece of news is that we are officially applying support from the MBNA Foundation and Our national and regional ranking reflects for the Eco-Schools Bronze Award, bringing us one step closer to the coveted the Development Fund, our new the enormous amount of focus and Green Flag award – something only presented to the most sustainable Eco-Committee has wasted no time in energy shown by our students and staff, schools. None of this could be possible without the amazing support of our driving forward their green agenda. and firmly cements Blue Coat’s position as one of the UK’s leading state schools. Development Fund supporters, staff, parents and Old Blues. Without your Our 2019/20 Head Boy and Head Girl At the top of their list is seeking Eco-School help, we truly do not know where we would be and the Eco-Committee is status, an international programme which forever grateful for your continued support.” After a competitive application process Alexander Campbell and Katy aims to help schools make sustainability an McEwan were appointed to the prestigious positions of Head Boy integral part of school life. and Head Girl. While managing their studies, university applications and extra-curricular activities, Alexander and Katy are responsible for overseeing a Senior Prefect Team of 38, as well as representing the School and delivering speeches at events throughout the year. Huge generosity shown during ‘12 Days of “We feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to Christmas’ foodbank represent Blue Coat. Creating new relationships with staff and campaign students as well as giving back to the School that has provided us with so much lies at the heart of our work. Over the course of 12 days in early December 2019 a team of Year 13 students, under the watchful eye of We are thoroughly enjoying being able to play a more active role Blue Coat teachers Mrs Driffill and within the School, by attending events throughout the year and Mr Pearson, Old Blue from the Class supporting the wider school community. Meeting and working of 2001 (pictured), coordinated a with people who share our passion for Blue Coat and who have tremendous campaign for the North generously done so much for the School and its students, is Liverpool Foodbank. something we continue to be very proud of. Thanks to the generosity of our students, parents and the wider School We hope we have helped our youngest students feel welcome community, a total of 3,745 items and that we have played a role in creating a positive and exciting were donated during our ‘12 Days of environment for all current and prospective Blue Coat students!” Christmas’ campaign, bringing festive joy to families across North Liverpool. 04 | THE OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 05 SCHOOL NEWS Chess Club’s next move Chess Club coordinator and Old Blue Jenny Long from the Class of 2009 is the driving force behind the Club’s incredible resurgence over Lego Robotics the past four years. This year Jenny is aiming high and our Chess enthusiasts are set for a busy year! Seven Year 8 students travelled to the University of Central Lancashire in January to take part in the First Lego League To help stretch and challenge our players, plans are being put in place competition. This is the first time Blue Coat has entered this to enter four teams into the Merseyside Chess Association Junior popular competition, in which students had to design, build League. So far this year our teams have performed strongly in the and program a Lego robot to complete a series of missions. English Chess Federation National Schools Championship, held at Judged on Core Values, Innovation, and Robot Design our Bolton Grammar School. team of avid computer coders emerged third overall and were awarded first place in the Core Values section thanks to their Students will also have the chance to participate in the world’s largest excellent teamwork. children’s chess tournament, the prestigious Delancey School’s competition. International Master Malcolm Pein will be dropping in to deliver a series of highly anticipated workshops and students will be able to join in with our very own Blue Coat league. In September 2019 four new team captains were appointed and a new online captain, to help support the Club’s online international ventures. With the skill level of our members going from strength to strength we are delighted that a number of students have been invited to play for the County. SPORT In January Chess Club played host to students from King David High School, The Academy of St Nicholas, St Margaret’s Academy REPORT and St Francis Xavier’s College, for our first blitz tournament of 2020. Not for the faint-hearted, competitors had just 5 minutes to play their entire game! Several matches drew in a number of Netball spectators as games came down to the crucial final seconds. Among those supporting the event Maths teacher and Chess Club Our Year 10 and 11 Netball teams coordinator at The Academy of St Nicholas, Old Blue Michael Sweeney In all 125 games were played during the tournament, with some enjoyed a successful start to the from the Class of 2008. students maintaining an impressive unbeaten streak. 2019/20 season with victories against local rivals St Hildas, Bellerive and Liverpool College. So too for our new Year 7 team who have shown no signs of nerves, having progressed to the semi-finals of the Liverpool Netball League alongside their Year 8 and Year 9 peers. Settling into their new roles representing Blue Coat on court, Ciara Football and Millie, who reflect on an excellent Love Chess? start to their first season.