Weatherhead High School WEATHER REPORT A high performing academy providing excellence for all Autumn 2014 A Level Success e celebrated another successful year of A Level results with an impressive 100% pass rate grades Wat A*-E. Over 72% of students achieved grades of A*-C, of which over 40% achieved top A*-B grades. Weatherhead’s results, as the second biggest Sixth Form in the county, reflect its status as an Ofsted graded ‘outstanding’ school. We were delighted that over 120 students secured places at the universities of their choice, including the following high achievers: Hannah Perry A* A* A Newcastle University - English Literature Other notable successes include university entrants to study Philosophy, Katie Usher A* A* B Liverpool Community College - Art Foundation International Business, Computer Natasha Jones A* A B King’s College, University of London - Mathematics Science, Law and Criminology, Olivia McLaughlin A* A B Edge Hill University - Psychology Aerospace Engineering, Construction Management, Biomedical Engineering, Emily Sharp A* A C Sheffield University - History and Politics Nursing, Media, Dance and Sports Emily Xu A A A Edinburgh University - Chemistry related courses. Erin Courtney A A B C Bristol University - Modern Foreign Languages Catherine Bunting A A B Manchester University - Geography Mr Dyment commented, “It is a very rewarding day to see so many of our Charlotte Burgess A A B Sheffield University - Psychology young people achieve their ambition Anna Capon A A B Aberdeen University - History after so much commitment and hard Sarah Hanna A A B Huddersfield University - Textiles work. With 100% pass rate and most students securing grades for their first Esther Richardson A A C Sheffield University - History & Politics choice places at top universities, I am Rebecca Edwards A A B Liverpool University - Chemistry delighted.” GCSE Joy Some of this year’s top performers: Danielle Hesketh 6 A*, 7 A, 1 B tudents rejoiced with another excellent year for GCSE results, with 78% of students Lauren Pringle 6 A*, 5 A, 3 B achieving the critical five A*-C grades including English and Maths. This year’s results Ellen Goulding 5 A*, 8 A were outstanding in all areas, with 85% of students achieving A*-C grades in both Maths Sand English. The new more challenging GCSEs and changes to the way papers are marked have Ellen Brown 4 A*, 7 A, 3 B not impacted on our students and the results far exceed national performance projections. Isobel Wilton 3 A*, 8 A, 2 B Emily Cook 3 A*, 6 A, 2 B Annie Taylor 3 A*, 5 A, 3 B, 2 C Bria Bain 2 A*, 10 A, 1 B Alexandra Jones 2 A*, 9 A, 2 B Mr Dyment celebrates Lauren Francom 2 A*, 9 A, 1 B with students Beth Raynor 2 A*, 8 A, 3 B, 1C Melissa Saunders 2A*, 8 A, 3 B Student Achievements Headteacher’s Welcome I am very proud of the excellent results achieved across A level and GCSE this summer which all come down to the hard work and commitment put in by all staff and students at Weatherhead. This Autumn edition of Weather Report is a great celebration of the wealth of talent and opportunity that exists in the school. I am grateful to everyone who contributes to making the activities and initiatives possible, including parents for all the support and encouragement they give to students. I am pleased to welcome our new Year 7 students and their families to Weatherhead and hope that Weather Report will give them a positive introduction to the school. Girls Reach New Search for a Hero e were delighted Heights that two of our students aredevil sister act Wwere nominated and Emma and Charlotte shortlisted for a Wirral Cotgrove, from Years Youth Heroes Award. The D8 and 10, raised an impressive Awards recognise young £2,000 for St. John’s Hospice people who have made an when they abseiled down outstanding contribution to local landmark Leasowe their community and are Lighthouse. Supported by an inspiration to others. their friends, family and staff Emma Segar (Year 11) from Weatherhead the girls was nominated in the bravely climbed the 130 steps to the top of the Lighthouse to Enterprise/Fundraising abseil 33 metres - an amazing achievement! category by Year Leader, Miss Smith. Emma has raised almost £1,500 for Hitting the local mental health charity MIND and volunteered at the Hard Day’s Night Hotel in Liverpool. Beth Newcombe (Year 12) was nominated by Head of Dance, High Notes Miss Chappell, for contribution to the arts. Beth was nominated for e are delighted her continued support to the Weatherhead Dance department, that Year 10 performing in school events and shows, and helping with Junior student Frances Dance clubs. Beth is also an active member of local dance company, WJory has passed her Grade 8 Anamal, and hopes Associated Board of the Royal to follow a career in Schools of Music (ABRSM) Dance. A presentation on Tenor Horn. A very proud ceremony took place Head of Music, Mr Brown, at the Floral Pavilion said, “This is an excellent ERHGIVXM½GEXIW[IVI achievement for a Year 10 presented by the student, and being the highest Mayor of Wirral. grade expected by Music Colleges, sets Frances well on the way Both our girls were to pursuing a successful career in music.” Frances performs in delighted to be the Orchestra and Brass Ensemble and is one of many talented shortlisted in the students emerging in the Music Department, where this year there top three within have been a record number of students entering and passing their category and Music exams. Weatherhead’s Hitting the High Notes students enjoyed attending Paige Beckett, Jasmine Bungay, Julie Gallagher, Ayva Gilmour, Emma the evening with Hesketh, Jenna Sanders and Erin Thomson (Year 7) and Sophie their families. Sutcliffe and Megan Warren (Year 9) have all passed their Grade 1 Music Theory. 2 WEATHER REPORT Student Achievements Working 9 to 5… SSLT with speaker Gavin Davies What a Way to Make a Living ear 10 students spent the last week of June out of school on work experience. Amber Blair-Keyes and Rebecca Head spent an amazing week in the kitchens at Hickory’s, West Kirby, experiencing how a busy restaurant runs. As winner and runner-up earlier this year in the Hickory’s Y YearYYear 8 cecelebrationlebration lunchlunch Junior Masterchef 2014 competition, the girls were also treated to a day out with Company Directors. Both girls mastered basic health and safety, food hygiene, and by the end of the week were competent in preparing restaurant quality salads and starters and smoking meat. Four students took the opportunity to join Merseyside Police and were involved in a wide VERKISJSJ½GMEPTSPMGIHYXMIWJVSQVSEHWEJIX]XSHVYKERHHVMROEFYWI management. They were shown how an evidence search is carried out, how bomb search is co-ordinated and even spent time in a court room! Staff commented on the levels of competence and maturity shown during the Work Hard, week - well done Year 10. Aim High ur end of term Key Stage 3 Awards Evening celebrated the achievements, hard work and efforts of over one hundred students in Years 7, 8 and 9. A number Oof students also received special Year Leader Awards for outstanding contribution to their year group or for personal achievement. The evening was an opportunity to showcase the fantastic talents of our Performing Arts students. The Year 7 Dance group kicked off proceedings with an energetic routine to Pharrell William’s Happy, followed Hickory’s work experience by Year 8 who danced to Weapon of Choice by Fat Boy Slim. The audience also enjoyed performances from the Orchestra, with Rebecca Barrow on cornet and a vocal solo by Georgia Foundation with Rebecca Smith on guitar. Our Celebrate Good Times guest speaker, Mr Gavin Davies, from Tremendous Training, gave an insightful talk about his career as a business coach, ear 10 students experienced a mock GCSE Results Day to sharing his career experiences and encouraging students to prepare them for a positive GCSE year ahead. During their work hard and aim high! ½REPEWWIQFP]1VW,ITOIERHXLI=IEVXIEQGIPIFVEXIH YEWYGGIWWJYP]IEVERHWXYHIRXW[IVITVIWIRXIH[MXLGIVXM½GEXIWJSV excellent attendance and various awards from their Form Tutor, Year Leader and Learning Mentor. Star Talent alented Year 9 vocalist, Jess Year 10 celebrations Henry, was successful in VIEGLMRKXLIVIKMSREP½REPW Tof TeenStarE½VWXSJMXWOMRHREXMSREP WMRKMRKGSQTIXMXMSRWTIGM½GEPP]JSVXEPIRXIHXIIREKIVWMR the UK. The competition attracts over 8,000 acts as judges from the record industry and world of music travel across the country in the search of the UK’s best teen talent. .IWW´GSR½HIRXTIVJSVQERGISJ)QIPMI7ERHI´WRead All About It ensured that she was amongst the winners in the 1ERGLIWXIVVIKMSREP½REPWIEVPMIVXLMW]IEV8LIGSQTIXMXMSR was stiff and Jess narrowly missed out on a place in the REXMSREP½REPWHIWTMXIERSXLIVWXVSRKTIVJSVQERGIMRJVSRX of a packed audience. Jess’ audition performance can be viewed online at www.teenstarcompetition.co.uk. For all the latest news visit www.weatherheadhigh.co.uk 3 Student Achievements End of an Era ear 11 attended a special leavers’ assembly and were treated to a buffet in the Sixth Form Common Room as a reward for their hard work and commitment towards their GCSEs. Miss Smith and the Year 11 team said their farewells but were delighted Ythat most of the girls returned to school in September to join the Sixth Form after a hard earned rest over the summer. Over 50 awards (nominated by staff) were presented to students for Most Improved Student, Most Unique Student, Most Hardworking Student and Form Tutor Award. Ellen Gill and Lucy Rylott delivered inspirational and emotional speeches with rapturous applause for Leah Sage collecting the Year Leader’s Award and Shauna Crook collecting the Learning Mentor Award.