Stockport Grammar TAKING School Newsletter Issue 53 Winter 2012/13 STOCK MUSICIANS ENTERTAIN HELPING OTHERS OUTWARD BOUND TV CHEF’S CHALLENGE A term of concerts Juniors do their First Years head Pupils cook up and recitals bit for charity to Derbyshire a storm Page 5 Page 6 Page 9 Page 12 TALK TALK IT’S GOOD TO TALK Pupils at SGS have been fortunate to enjoy visits from speakers as well as opportunities to practise their own speaking skills. SCIENCE IN THE LIBRARY POETIC LICENCE The library’s Café Sci sessions, delivered by Sixth Form pupils Acclaimed poet Mike Garry broke off and leading academics were from his national tour performing in a great success during the front of thousands with punk poet Autumn Term. ON THE RADIO John Cooper Clarke to talk to pupils A group of Upper Sixth Form pupils the audience were MPs Michael Accompanied by Mr Davies, Head in the school library just before the Dr Tim Burnett from Manchester were alongside senior Labour figures Meacher, Shadow Justice Secretary of Art, SGS Sixth Formers have half-term break. Mike, who’s a regular University’s Material Science in the invited audience of a Radio Sadiq Khan, former Cabinet member become regular attendees at the visitor to the school, spoke to Fourth department led a talk about cork 5 Live debate hosted by Victoria John Denham, Shadow Welsh often-heated debates when the Year classes as well as a mixed group and other interesting everyday Derbyshire during the Labour Party’s Secretary Owen Smith and former party holds its conferences of pupils about his background and materials. Pupil Alice Carr annual conference in Manchester. Secretary of State for Culture, Media in Manchester. sources of inspiration, and entertained explained: Among the political luminaries in and Sport Ben Bradshaw, alongside his audience by reciting some of his “With involvement from attendance to answer questions from a number of union leaders. poems – including works commissioned the group, Dr Burnett took by Manchester United. the audience on a journey through cork’s history and The importance of reading and writing what makes it a unique for pleasure was another theme of natural material. We would his visit, and he left children and like to thank him for kindly UNITED NATIONS staff feeling inspired, motivated and giving up his time and AT LUNCH entertained by his words. contributing to Café Pupils lower down the school Sci’s success.” had the chance to get their teeth into a ‘world crisis’ at the Sixth Form pupil Quintus lunchtime mini Model United Carr reported on the Physics Nations General Assembly, department’s trip to CERN, and aimed at those new to debating. discussed the impact their work Pupils arrived at the General IT’S ALL FOREIGN... has had on our lives. Quintus talked to the pupils about the Assembly to be told that an In November, SGS took part in the William spoke of how much work he discovery of the Higgs-Boson, outbreak of a mutated strain sixth Northern Schools Modern Foreign did with the teachers in preparation for an often confusing subject which of a rare zoonotic virus, that Languages Debating Competition, debating in a foreign language: he managed to explain clearly, could cause death in humans, fielding teams in French, German “We practised our debating skills before outlining future research had been discovered in bats in and Spanish. Upper Sixth Formers a lot, but I didn’t expect to win as areas for CERN. northern Africa. Kayleigh Hart, Toby Jones, William the standard of the competition WEEKEND DEBATE Byrne, Kris Fisher, Annabel Gowrie Fellow Sixth Form pupil Fiona Those participating were was very high!” Over 250 students from around the Over the course of the weekend, every and Hester Martin gave outstanding Hollin led a talk on a high charged with each representing North West spent a weekend at SGS delegate represented a UN country performances, debating convincingly performance material, silicon a UN country and forming for the school’s 6th Model United and debated international issues which in their respective languages. Both the carbide, explaining how the alliances with like-minded states Nations Conference, where delegates they had researched in advance. On French and Spanish teams performed material is made, its properties in order to draw up a resolution debated topics ranging from workers’ the Sunday, delegates were thrown very well, winning a number of their and its uses. The boys and girls to the problem. debates. also had the chance to take a rights in Africa, biochemical warfare into an emergency crisis session on and the independence of central banks trade sanctions in Iran, which they close look at some used car The conclusions were then to the rights of indigenous people. debated sensitively and thoughtfully. The German team, consisting of brake pads and learn more discussed the following week in The scenario was made even more real William Byrne and Kris Fisher, won about how they work. The a joint debate with the seasoned term’s events were rounded The event involved many hours of by the showing of a very professional their group and went through to the Sixth Form MUN members. off with an enlightening talk careful planning and was organised video made by Upper Sixth Former final, where they succeeded in This was a great opportunity by Alastair Paterson about by a small team of Sixth Form students Alex Longson. Miss Spence said: arguing their motion persuasively for the younger children to gain astronomy and a second with help from English teacher Miss and articulately and brought home “ The weekend was a tremendous debating experience. interesting talk by Fiona Hollin Spence and Psychology teacher the German trophy. success and thoroughly enjoyed about the Northern Lights. Mr Browne. by everyone involved.” 2 www.stockportgrammar.co.uk Follow us on twitter @stockportgs 3 TALK MUSIC VISIT FROM A GOLDSMITH ORCHESTRAL The Goldsmiths’ Company Director facilities, workshops, exhibition of Technology and Training, Peter space and a café. SGS hope to Taylor, visited school for a tour of make a return visit in the near the Art and Technology facilities future to help give pupils an insight MANOEUVRES where he offered practical advice to into the work of the livery company. the children and was impressed by Music continues to play a vital part in the life of the school... THE BASS LINE displays of the Second Year pupils’ The school has retained close Following a rigorous audition jewellery projects. relations with the Goldsmiths since process, Third Year pupil Alex its foundation in 1487 under the Jones has been chosen to play Mr Smith has most recently led the terms of the will of Sir Edmund MUSICAL INTERLUDE double bass for the National development of the Goldsmiths’ Shaa, Mayor of London and Prime Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. At just 13 years old, Centre, a brand new space in Warden of the Goldsmiths. Musicians in the Senior School have to see their children performing and Alex is one of the orchestra’s central London for jewellers and performed a number of lunchtime fellow pupils were able to see what youngest members, with the craftspeople which includes training recitals for parents and their fellow their friends get up to in their lessons. majority of the participants pupils this term. These allow them Saxophonists, pianists and trumpeters being aged 17 and 18. to showcase what they have been all had the opportunity to showcase learning, with those who are just their talents over the following weeks, Alex will perform with the beginners playing alongside the more with guest appearances from two orchestra for the first time in accomplished, giving everyone the Junior School pupils, including Sam January and, among many opportunity to gain performance Curwen who played Rudolph the Red other exciting appearances, HOLDING COURT experience in a relaxed setting. Nosed Reindeer on his trumpet. will play in a prom at the Royal Albert Hall next August. The first recital of the Autumn Term Alex is thrilled: Aspiring lawyers had an enjoyable Sadly SGS were edged out of the saw guitarists open and close their “ No-one normally gets in to yet nerve-wracking experience at the group winners slot on points but session with ensemble pieces involving the orchestra at my age. Sir Rhys Davies Schools Mock Trial History teacher Mr Moore commented, the whole group. Individual musical It’s an honour to have been Competition at Manchester Crown choices ranged from traditional Spanish “ I was delighted by how well the picked, especially as I was Court. The group took on the roles guitar to more contemporary Oasis team acquitted themselves in up against lots of others of barristers (complete with wigs and tunes and a duet of Leonard Cohen’s a high-pressure environment. at the auditions! I’m really robes) and witnesses, as they battled Hallelujah, arranged by Fifth Year pupil looking forward to the They prepared carefully and other schools in front of professional Francesca Henderson who performed courses and concerts that have learnt a lot about what judges in actual court rooms. the piece with Fourth Year Arjun Takiar. I’ll now be taking part in it takes to reach the top of Parents thoroughly enjoyed the chance across the country.” the legal profession.” Being scored on the quality of their As well as the double bass, advocacy and the believability of Alex plays piano and bass guitar their testimony, SGS won two out of and performs in the Hallé and three trials. Bury Boys were defeated Stockport Youth orchestras – by a high-quality performance from EVENING ENTERTAINMENT being a co-principal and the barristers Peter Smith and Joanna youngest member of the former.