Review of the Year 2016 of the Year Review - 2017 AN ACADEMY FOR 12-18 YEAR OLDS Guest of Honour Mrs Lucy Alexander On April 27th 2016, my beautiful 17-year-old son Felix took his own life after years of bullying. Since losing him I have felt compelled to give him the voice he did not feel he had in life to try to make things better for other young people like him. I wrote an open letter to my local paper in October last year appealing for kindness amongst our young people and this seems to have struck a chord with so many others who have been, or are at present struggling. In February this year alongside BBC Hereford and Worcester and Pershore High School we launched Felix’s Campaign of Kindness, which I have taken to schools in Worcestershire. I am talking to young people about what they can do to combat unkind behaviour and teachers to urge them to make the mental health of students a priority. I am also an ambassador for the children's mental health charity Place2Be that supports children, their families and teachers in schools, and through early intervention helps prevent future problems. Pershore High has been of enormous support to my family and me during what has been the most difficult of years and I know that enduring friendships have been formed from the saddest of circumstances. Message from the Headteacher I must confess that the closing weeks of this academic year will be an emotional time for me. They will mark the end of a fantastic 21 years for me personally, during which I hope to have made a difference to our young people and the local community of Pershore. My time here has seen very few lows and oh so many highs. In the reported last words of John Le Mesurier, ‘It really has all been rather lovely’. I know that I am handing over to a great new headteacher, Phil Hanson, backed by a fantastic team. He will lead Pershore High School on to an exciting new period in its history. My final words are for our young people - advice given by my dad to his children and grandchildren: ‘Life is one long and enjoyable voyage of learning. If it is not then we waste our lives. Be like sponges, my children. Absorb anything and everything that comes your way, then go out looking for more’. Clive Corbett Headteacher Chairman of Governors The past year has been one of turbulence and change around the world and indeed closer to home. The challenges presented by these changes will clearly reverberate among our young people who are the future of this country. This evening demonstrates the capacity of our students to rise to such challenges and their potential to deal with the future in a positive and creative manner. You will witness a sample of their achievements in all areas of comprehensive educational endeavour including: academic, artistic, cultural, sporting, community and international links. This year at PHS is also one that heralds change, insofar as Clive Corbett is stepping down as head teacher after fifteen years leading the school from strength to strength. Clive`s outstanding leadership has created a foundation for the future of PHS as it moves into a new era of development. Needless to say, Clive`s achievements would have been impossible without recognising the dedication and professional skills of the staff who enable our young people to develop their potential. I would like to wish Clive a long and active retirement and PHS continued growth and success. Please enjoy this evening and take this opportunity to show your appreciation of our students’ considerable talents. Rob Philips Chairman of Governors Opening of the Humanities Building On Thursday 29th September, Pershore High School’s new Humanities Building was formally opened by David Hughlock, in memory of his wife, Bronwen. Hereford and Worcester Chamber of Commerce Awards We have been nominated as one of three finalists in the Education Business Partnership category. International School Award At a ceremony in London in November, Pershore High School was acknowledged as a national leader in the field of international activities for its students and gained re-accreditation for the period 2016-2019. The school has been a recipient of the ISA for an unbroken period of 18 years now, dating back to the Award’s introduction in 1999. Virtual reality from Google Expeditions The Geography department teamed up with Google Expeditions, a team piloting the use of virtual reality in education. All Year 9 students were able to experience walking around volcanoes, going underwater to look at coral and looking at the earth from space. Two Year 11 Geography classes were also able to enhance their learning of the Living World topic, visiting Borneo and seeing rainforest destruction up close. They were able to see the reasons why deforestations is occurring and its effect. Carol Smith Carol Smith, former librarian at the school, died on Saturday 29th October. Bronwen Mary Hughlock Bronwen Hughlock died on 26th August 2016. In addition to many other areas, she was a prime mover in support of Interact and Youth Council, not to mention her work as an associate governor. A service of remembrance and celebration of her life took place at Pershore Abbey on 26th September. James Edward Taylor Jim Taylor, who died on 22nd July, was a Technology Technician at PHS from1983 to 2001. Rosemary and Dennis Askew On Monday 12th September a tree planting ceremony to mark the contribution to Pershore High School of two members of staff. Rosemary Askew, who died in January, was Head of Religious Education at the school, introducing A level in the subject. She was at Pershore between 1975 and 1993. Her husband, Dennis, who passed away in May 2009, was Head of Environmental Studies from 1974 to 1991. Scuba-diving students gain Ocean Diver Certification Jordan Davis, Ethan Harris, Harry Metcalfe and Alison Sprague qualified as ocean divers with the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC). The group began by learning snorkelling skills in Pershore pool. They progressed to using scuba equipment, and had to study for an examination related to diving safety and technical questions relating to diving depths and pressures. Charity Skydive Former Pershore Sixth Form student, Nathan Branchett, completed a tandem skydive for charity on 2nd October. It was in memory of his friend, Felix Alexander. Around £2,300 has been raised for the Charity Place2Be. Students perform river rescue In July, Tom Banks, Callum Stickland and Charlotte Whitehead rescued a man who had fallen into the river whilst trying to rescue his dog. Through their quick thinking, calmness and teamwork they were able to get both the man and the dog into a boat and take them to safety. The students were honoured at a special reception at the Guildhall, Worcester by Councillor Paul Denham, Mayor of Worcester. The Lifesaving Society UK also awarded them with certificates in honour of their selfless actions. Poetry Slam Day Performance poet, Spoz, worked with some of our Year 9 stu- dents he interacted with them, making the students laugh, and giv- ing help and inspiration, and letting them write freely. Jodie Young - Runner up in Worcestershire’s Young Poet Laureate Competition Jodie Young was runner up in this year’s Worcestershire’s Young Poet Laureate. She penned a poem entitled ‘Graffiti and a Dance with Death’ which encompassed the theme of messages. This is a great achievement for Jodie, who is in Year 10, as the category is open to those who are up to 19 years of age. Duke of Edinburgh recipients Bronze Award: Tom Banks, Lucy Barker, Jordan Barnfield, Katherine Baston, Alice Arthur, Lucy Attwood, Matthew Bessant, Jack Betteridge, Kacper Boniecki, Stuart Boocock, Kasper Boniecki, Matthew Boulton , James Bower, George Brooks, Will Bugg, Lucie Cartwright, Patrick Chapman, Tim Coleman, Juliette Colvin, Jaime Cook, Lawrence Cox-Grewal, Oliver Cross, Cameron Davidson, Edmund Daniels, James Davidson, Allysa Dudley, James Elwell, Ellie Gilkes, Abigail Gooderham, Ben Graves, Thomas Gregory Alexandra Haffner, Elliot Heeks, Rachel Hitchings, Rebecca Hitchings, Emily Hodgkins, Tom Kelsall, Holly Lawley, Annie Lealan, Harry Longdon, Ben Lonnen, Charlotte MacDonald, Naomi Meek, Harry Metcalff, Oliver Morgan, Brandon Morris, Dylan Mulholland, Emily Noon, Zachary Norton, William Parry, Tieren Price, Tess Reay, Isabel Schindler, David Shephard, Alison Sprague, Rebecca Stothard, Callum Strickland, Tom Wallbank, Isabel Wood. Gold Award: Isla Gow, Thomas Perks, Nicholas Rawlings, Martha Sadler, Danielle Stephens, Holly May Lawley, Martha Browne School Production of Billy Elliott After six months and quite a lot of blood, sweat and tears, the school production of Billy Elliot was ready. The magnificent production was a huge success. Over 600 tickets were sold for the three nights as Pershore High School was transformed into the world of the Easington Miners. Pupils had worked tirelessly at mastering the complexity of the Geordie accent, learning songs and lines, choreography, preparing costumes and the numerous other aspects of putting on a major production. These events are always a special part of the school calendar and with over 80 pupils involved in the cast, band and technical teams. It really was a coming together of the school community. Prince’s Trust Success A group of Year 10 students successfully completed a Prince’s Trust Level 1 Award in a collaboration between the school and Pershore Riverside Youth Centre. They undertook training in Interpersonal and Self-Management Skills and Preparing for a Healthy Active Lifestyle. STEM Club Awards During National Science Week, in March, a group of keen Year 8 scientists at Pershore High School were awarded Bronze STEM certificates to mark their efforts in Science Mathematics Engineering and Technology this year.