Our students celebrating our recent Ofsted outcome with Mrs Godden and Miss Thomas. Oldbury Wells Journal SummerTitle 2018 elcome to our Summer Journal. This at GCSE level over the past few years.” positive validation of our work. Wterm our students have been involved Oldbury Wells has firmly established itself Summer Transition Programme in a wealth of activities which I hope you will amongst the very highest performing Year 5 pupils from primary schools in the enjoy reading about in this edition and as schools in Shropshire over recent years at Bridgnorth area visited Oldbury Wells in you know, Ofsted came! GCSE level. Further to this, in Sixth Form June for a week of taster days. This year’s High Praise from Ofsted league tables publishedS earlier this year, we transition programme is based on a secret Oldbury Wells received a glowing report also enjoyed second place in the A Level agent theme and children were busy in class from Ofsted this term, with the school progress tables for all state Sixth Forms activities such as a ‘Whodunnit’ challenge praised for “ensuring all pupils receive a and Colleges. In fact, Sixth Form progress in Science that involved finger printing high-quality education.” The school was scores at A Level outperformed all of its analysis. inspected on 1st May 2018 as a Section 8 local competitors. Amongst the many Before visiting us the pupils were invited inspection, which is a one day inspection other areas praised in the report was the to enter a competition to create a fictional to revalidate a school which has previously “excellent range of academic and vocational detective. The pupils submitted a wide been judged as ‘Good’ and where Ofsted courses.” Inspectors say that, “As a result, range of clever and imaginative ideas for doesn’t have any new concerns. We have the overwhelming majority of pupils leave a new supersleuth. A winner from each a long-standing reputation for providing a Oldbury Wells very well prepared for their primary school was selected and presented great education, with previous successful next steps.” with children’s mystery novels and Ofsted inspections grading the school Mr Crawford-Thomas, Chair of Governors educational puzzle book prizes. The overall as ‘Good’. The Ofsted inspection team at Oldbury Wells said, “We see our role, as winning creation, to be announced on our recognised the school has “continued to a secondary school, to prepare our young Open Evening on Monday 17th September, improve since the last inspection.” Several people for life after school through an will be turned into a book jacket by Marvel improvements get a special mention, excellent education. It is brilliant to hear artist Mike Fyles. Also on the evening one including the recognition of the continued that inspectors think we are doing so well. family will be the lucky winner of a family steadfast rise in attainment over the past I’d like to thank staff for their hard work and ticket to Bletchley Park. Turn to the back few years. commitment to our young people and for page for more information about our Open Miss Thomas, Deputy Headteacher the positive difference that they make to Evening. You can also find more information explained, “We have worked in a dedicated them for life beyond school.” on our website: www.oldburywells.com and consistent way to make further The lead Ofsted inspector focused part of We hope the pupils enjoyed the workshops improvements at our school. As a result we this report on the school ethos. He wrote, and lessons during their taster days with have very firm foundations now for pupils to “You have placed the needs of pupils at us. For more information, please see our be highly successful. We judge our teaching the centre of the school’s work. As a result Primary Connections magazine on our to be outstanding/good across the school you have created an inclusive, caring and website. and have seen improvements in the league friendly community.” table measures at both Sixth Form and also We are delighted with the report; it’s a very Mrs Godden, Headteacher 1 PRIMARY NEWS Music Department Success Oldbury Wells Remembers ldbury Wells Music department is celebrating a fabulous year (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Classical Vocal Oof instrumental examination success with students winning Menin Gate Competition medals at Arts Festivals and musicians succeeding in auditions Sally Barras: Saxophone Tutor (also teaches Clarinet and Piano) o support this term’s centenary study visit to Ypres, Arras and the for various Shropshire Youth Music ensembles. The students who • George Pommells, Year 10: Grade 1 Saxophone Distinction TSomme, students in Year 8 have been designing the centrepiece of the are all listed, many of whom are in the photograph below, are all Oldbury Wells poppy wreath as part of their History studies on the ‘War taught at Oldbury Wells by visiting instrumental and vocal tutors Stella Disney: Brass Tutor to end all wars’. Students, staff and parents were asked to vote for their and this is a great opportunity to say thank you to those teachers • Darcey Hartland, Year 7: Grade 3 Pass, Cornet favourite design. This was laid by our Year 8 students during the Last Post for their expertise and commitment to our students, ensuring their ceremony on Saturday 7th July at the Menin Gate in Ypres. Esme Turner’s wonderful success. Congratulations everyone and we look forward Andrew Jones: Guitar Tutor school logo entwined with poppies won the artist prize, while Gareth to another great year ahead. • Millie Burt, Year 7: Grade 2 Guitar Distinction Saunders’s thoughtful consideration of what the war meant to him was Bev Wightman: Vocal Tutor • Immie Preston, Year 7: Grade 2 Guitar Merit chosen as a fitting label. Nathaniel Hook was also highly commended for • Maisie Freeman, Year 7: Grade 6 Distinction and Grade 8 his personal poetry choice. Distinction Pop Vocal Dave Odart: Drum Tutor The quality of entries was extremely high and we have been very • Alice Haden, Year 7: Grade 4 Distinction and Grade 1 Piano • Darcey Hartland, Year 7: Grade 1 Drumkit Distinction pleased with how far World War I is still an inspiration for students today. Distinction • Chris Peters, Year 8: Grade 1 Drumkit Distinction Congratulations to Esme, Gareth and Nathaniel for your winning and • Thomas Wellings, Year 8: Grade 3 Distinction inspirational work and well done to everyone who entered the competition. • Toby Large, Year 9: Grade 5 Distinction Jane Magee: Cello Tutor World War I Battlefield Visit • Lydia Howarth, Year 9: Grade 5 Distinction • Mia Clement, Year 11: Grade 4 Cello Merit 57 students enjoyed a four-day study visit to Ypres, Arras and the Somme • Maddie Orton, Year 9: Grade 4 Distinction in July. The group visited a range of battlefield sites, trench networks and • Scarlet Barras, Year 10: Grade 6 Distinction and Grade 4 ABRSM war cemeteries. For a full account of the weekend activities, please visit our website: www.oldburywells.com. Special mention must be made of Daniel Billingham, Year 10 and Megan Dempsey, Year 9, who represented the school beautifully at the Menin Gate. Additional images of the visit will be featured in the Autumn newsletter to mark Remembrance Day 2018. Ensemble Success Mr Grainger, Head of Humanities ongratulations to Year 9 students Huw Morgan, George Frith and CJude Watters who have all passed their auditions and are now playing with the Shropshire Training Youth Orchestra on clarinet, kit and trombone respectively. Jude has also passed an audition to play with the Shropshire Youth Big Band and Huw is playing with ‘Sunflower Saxes’, a local ensemble directed by Sally Barras. Oldbury Wells Orchestra, vocal group ‘Encore’ and our student bands, ‘River Water’ and ‘All Red’ all performed at the Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury on 4th July as part of the Shropshire Music Celebrating their achievements are from left are Alice Haden, Year 7, Chris Peters, Service Gala Week. Well done to all members of our school-based Year 8, Thomas Wellings, Year 8, Maisie Freeman, Year 8, Amy Gilmour, Year 7, Lydia Howarth, Year 9, Immie Preston, Year 7, Toby Large, Year 9, Darcey Hartland, Year 7, ensembles who meet each week during the school year, rehearsing George Frith, Year 9, Millie Burt, Year 7, Huw Morgan, Year 9, Maddie Orton, Year 9, repertoire and developing ensemble skill. I am very proud of you all Scarlet Barras, Year 10 and Jude Watters, Year 9. and thank you for your commitment to and enthusiasm for Music. Music Theatre Duet (Years 7-9) – Maisie Freeman and Amy Gilmour, Year 7: Gold Much Wenlock Live Arts Music Theatre Duet (Years 10-13) – Scarlet Barras, Year 10 and any of our students were entered into vocal performance Maddie Orton, Year 9: Silver Mcategories by Bev Wightman our Vocal Tutor and there were Solo Music Theatre (Years 7-9) – Maisie Freeman, Year 7: Gold, many medals won. Congratulations to everyone! Lydia Howarth, Year 9: Silver and Toby Large, Year 9: Bronze. Vocal Solo (Classical, Years 7-9) – Amy Gilmour, Year 7: Gold and Miss Dangerfield, Head of Music Maisie Freeman, Year 7: Silver Vocal Solo (Classical, Years 10-13) – Scarlet Barras, Year 10: Silver Vocal Duet (Classical, Years 7-9) – Maisie Freeman and Amy Gilmour, Year 7: Gold 2 NEWS Oldbury Wells Remembers (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Classical Vocal Menin Gate Competition Sally Barras: Saxophone Tutor (also teaches Clarinet and Piano) o support this term’s centenary study visit to Ypres, Arras and the • George Pommells, Year 10: Grade 1 Saxophone Distinction TSomme, students in Year 8 have been designing the centrepiece of the Oldbury Wells poppy wreath as part of their History studies on the ‘War Stella Disney: Brass Tutor to end all wars’.