Private School News

More news from Casterton

Casterton in Sunday Times Top 100

The Sunday Times has produced a list of Top 100 Independent Schools in the United Kingdom, based on the combined A Level and GCSE results. Casterton is the only boarding school, single sex or co-educational in the north of England on the list.

Music success

Congratulations to all girls who sat the Associated Board Examinations. Particular success goes to Jennifer C who passed singing Grade 6 with a distinction Kanice K who passed with a Merit, Bhavika P who passed Grade 7 piano and Christie Y who passed Grade 8 piano.

Casterton dazzles in League tables 09

Casterton is ranks number 4 in the Daily Telgraph showing of the government league tables at A level.Casterton is the only boarding school in the north of England in the top 50 schools in this league table.
According to the Independent newspaper Casterton is number 19 in the top 50 independent schools in the UK and the only boarding school in the north of England.

Budding Athletes win Medals at Championships

The South of England Athletics Association Championships took place on Saturday 17th January at Lee Valley Athletics Centre, the largest state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor athletics centre serving London and the South of England. This indoor track and field championship is a prestigious event in the athletics calendar and pupils from the Royal Hospital School were competing against other top athletes from the south of England – an area covering from Cornwall to Norfolk.

Charlotte Shelley, 14, competed in the High Jump and managed a remarkable 1.60 metres. Paul Hardman, Director of Sport, said “this was just under Charlotte’s personal best, and being the determined and self-disciplined athlete she is, she was a little disappointed. It was however, a fantastic jump and good enough to take first place. Taking the gold in this championship is impressive and even more impressive is the fact that this is the second year running that she has taken the medal. In 2008 she jumped 1.55 metres to win the title”.

Year 11 pupil, Jonathan Ilori, competed in the triple jump gaining a bronze medal after jumping 13.93 metres and achieving a new personal best.Paul Hardman went on to say, “not only has Jonathan come away with a medal and he should be very proud indeed but I am told that he has also been targeted as a UK 2012 hopeful”.

MALVERN SCHOOL GIRL GOES GLOBAL!

Alice Wright, former Head Girl returned to School this month to present her experiences as one of only 100 students in the UK to gain a place on the Prime Minister’s Global Fellowship.

The scheme was launched by the government in 2008 to give one hundred outstanding 18 and 19 year olds the opportunity to experience first-hand the drive, energy and competitiveness of the major countries of the new global economy. The final selection for applications was made by the Prime Minister’s office and the Secretary of State at the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

This first group of young people selected for the Global Fellowship visited Downing Street and enjoyed the opportunity to discuss their experiences with the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the DCSF.

Commenting on the Global Fellowship, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “Now, more than ever we recognise how important it is for Britain’s young people to understand how the world is changing and how the new global economy will affect their future. In the years ahead this country will need people with the enterprising spirit and international outlook the Fellows have acquired through this scheme. I congratulate the outstanding young people from all over the country who have taken part; their experience will help shape their lives and benefit Britain too.”

Alice, who spent six weeks in China as part of the Global Fellowship programme, said ‘The life long friendships I have made, the numerous things I have learnt, the inspiring debates we have shared made the Prime Minister’s Global Fellowship unique. It is a trip like none other’.

Mrs Hayes said, ‘Alice demonstrated drive, energy and excellent interpersonal skills as Head Girl and I am not surprised that she was selected to take part. We shall encourage more of our students to apply in the future for this exciting new scheme.”

RGSAO pupil Peter Bullock in a county league of his own

RGS Worcester & The Alice Ottley School pupil Peter Bullock has carried on his success from the UK Maths Challenge, by making his way on to the second round of the British Mathematics Olympiad and cementing himself as the top mathematics student in Worcestershire.

The top 1000 candidates of the 70,000 that entered the UK Senior Mathematical Challenge sat the first round of the British Maths Olympiad.

Peter excelled again in the first round and was placed in the top 100 students, seeing him awarded a bronze medal and qualification through to the second round of the British Mathematics Olympiad. The RGSAO pupil was also the only pupil in Worcestershire to win a medal.

The 20 best performing candidates in round two – taking place 29th January 2009 – will form the squad from which the British team for the International Mathematical Olympiad is chosen.

Bedford High School for Girls – County Badminton Champions

‘Play it, Love it, Live it’…..the motto of Badminton England.

Since September, the Year 8 team have done just that every Wednesday night under the guidance of Colin Pearson, the County Badminton Coach.

This was our first visit to the County Finals and the girls got off to a flying start with a Bedford High 5-0 win against Ashton School. Stopsley School provided a sterner test and Alice Devaney showed the value of a well-executed drop shot during her doubles matches.

Hana Staddon used her tennis experience to great effect in her singles to move her opponent around the court and secure a 21-10 victory as the team took the match by 4 games to 1 and move into the semi-finals!

Harry Elston played a real cliffhanger and narrowly lost 20-21 but she rallied in her doubles match with Lucy Page and the girls eased their way through to the final! Application, perspiration and inspiration were the ingredients of a nail-biting 3-2 victory.

Georgina Hind, Alice Devaney, Lucy Page, Harry Elston and Hana Staddon had played it, loved it, lived it and WON IT!

Bedford High School for Girls are the 2009 County Badminton Champions. Congratulations to all the girls and a very special thanks to Colin Pearson for his coaching expertise.

Oxbridge success at The Royal Hospital School

Congratulations to Alexandra Hayes (Head Girl) and Lawrence Bowles for successfully gaining Oxbridge places this year.

Alexandra will read Classics at Kings College, Cambridge and Lawrence will read Natural Sciences at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge.

Band play at Oak House

The Royal Hospital School Community Action Team has a close relationship with Oak House, a local sheltered housing community in Stutton. Residents regularly come to school events such as concerts, chapel services and musical performances while pupils visit Oak House to talk to residents, arrange social occasions and provide welcome company and entertainment.

Roger Jones, Band Master at the Royal Hospital School, took 10 members of the School band to Oak House on 9th December to provide some “Christmas cheer”, accompanying the residents as they sang their favourite Carols.

The whole band will be playing at a Charity Gala Concert on 7th February which will also feature the Chapel Choir, Orchestra and Instrumental Soloists; all in aid of Ipswich Mencap, Help for Heroes and The Woolverstone Project. Tickets are being sold so that you can choose which charity your money goes to. For more information please call 01473 326222 or email music@royalhospitalschool.org

Howell’s School, Llandaff Inspection Report – January 2009

The official Inspection Report following the visit of the Estyn inspectors from 10th-14th November has been published.

We are delighted to be able to record that the school received the highest grade (1) for each one of the seven key questions, namely:
How well do learners achieve?
How effective are teaching, training and assessment?
How well do the learning experiences meet the needs and interests of learners and the wider community?
How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?
How effective are leadership and strategic management?
How well do leaders and managers evaluate and improve quality and standards?
How efficient are leaders and managers in using resources?

Mrs Davis, our Principal, commented, “I am thrilled with this outstanding report which awards us a Grade One in each of the seven key areas. We are one of the last schools to be inspected under the current ESTYN inspection process. No other independent school in Wales has previously achieved this accolade. This is a great achievement which I feel accurately reflects the very high standard of education at Howell’s. The teaching and support staff are extremely talented and hard-working and everyone gives 110% for the school.”

Here are some quotations from the report:
“Throughout the school, pupils display outstanding features in their work including:
• extensive understanding, recall and application of techniques and skills in the subjects they study;
• ability to take the knowledge and skills they have learned in one topic and apply it in new contexts, for example to solve problems; and
• high levels of informed and perceptive questioning to develop their understanding further.”
“In all key stages, the personal, social and learning skills of most pupils are particularly well-developed. Pupils of all ages are highly motivated, apply themselves conscientiously to their work and work together effectively.”
“Working relationships between staff and pupils are outstanding and provide a vibrant climate for effective learning.”
“Other outstanding features in teaching include:
• very effective questioning that encourages pupils to think carefully and deeply about their work;
• a wide range of teaching methods that match pupils’ individual needs very well and set high expectations and challenging, yet achievable, targets;
• encouraging active involvement and participation in discussion and practical work with excellent use of information and communications technology to support and develop learning; and
• excellent knowledge, understanding and application of course and examination requirements.”
“The school provides outstanding opportunities to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and also their personal and social development through assemblies, well-planned lessons and charity events.”
“The provision of information and events to inform pupils about higher education opportunities and careers are outstanding.”
“There are many outstanding features in the quality of care, guidance and support for pupils. Among these are the systems for academic and pastoral support for pupils of all abilities across the school.”
“Induction and transition procedures in the primary and senior sections of the school and in the college are outstanding. Pupils of all ages confirm that they are made to feel a valued part of the school community very quickly, regardless of when they join the school.”
“There are many outstanding features in the quality of the provision for pupils with special educational needs. “These pupils have full access to the curriculum and support for them is effective and appropriately managed.”
The quality of the provision for equal opportunities has outstanding features. The school has very high expectations for pupils of all abilities and everyone is encouraged to become fully integrated into the life of the school.”
“The school is very successful in promoting tolerance, mutual respect and understanding between pupils from diverse backgrounds.”
“The school has very clear aims and objectives that are well understood and shared by everyone. The principal and her deputy provide outstanding leadership. They work well together and give the school a strong sense of purpose and direction. They are highly respected by the school community.”
“The school has extensive resources and facilities of high quality.”
“Overall the school offers a rich and broadly balanced curriculum.”
“The curriculum contributes very effectively to the achievement of the school’s aims and prepares pupils well for the next stages of their education and the world of work. The school works hard to ensure that all its pupils have equal access to all aspects of the curriculum.”
“The school provides an outstanding programme of extra-curricular clubs and activities that significantly enhances learning opportunities and experiences for all pupils. Provision covers a wide range of sporting, academic and musical activities.”
“There is mutual respect between teachers, pupils and students. Subject teachers are very supportive and approachable.”

For the full report

http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/howells_school_llandaff_november_2008.pdf

VOICE OF AN ANGEL

Farnborough Hill is delighted to announce that Year 11 student Jessica Mabin, from Fleet, has been selected to join the National Youth Training Choir. This is part of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain (NYCGB) which is the finest youth choir in the country. Candidates are selected by audition throughout the UK.

Covering the age group 13 – 18, the National Youth Training Choirs achieve extremely high standards of musicianship and excellence in performance. For some young singers membership of one of the Training Choirs is a stepping stone into the National Youth Choir and even a singing career, for others it is a wonderful experience of the enjoyment and satisfaction of singing while still at school. Jessica will have singing lessons and attend training courses, the first of which takes place in Banbury in April.

In the meantime, Jessica will be performing with the South Hill Park Opera Company in ‘The Magic Flute’ by Mozart. She and her sisters are the three geniis. Jessica will also be singing in the Farnborough Hill Choral Concert on Saturday 9 May and going on tour with Farnborough Hill Senior Choir to Tuscany in July.

“Outstanding” Royal Alexandra and Albert School celebrates a huge increase in GCSE results.

In the last 4 years the number of pupils achieving 5 GCSEs (A*-C) including English and Maths at the School has increased by nearly 60%.

Headmaster Paul Spencer Ellis comments “58% of pupils achieve 5 GCSEs (A*-C) including English and Maths, and a remarkable 77% achieved 5 GCSEs at C and above. This is impressive given that the nature of boarding can mean that before coming to us pupils may have been to a number of schools and we are often filling gaps in their education, which can particularly affect English and Maths.”

The overall figures mask some exceptional results last year including 100% pass rate for Physics. And for the fourth year running the school is in the top 5% in England for Contextual Value Added.

SCHOOL GETS TOP MARKS

Sibford School near Banbury has received an excellent report following an inspection by CReSTeD, the Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils.

One third of the pupils attending the Quaker school are dyslexic but follow the main school timetable thanks to specialist support. This can include additional tuition in small groups; use of a speech recognition program; and help with study skills and examination techniques.

CReSTed praised the school for ‘developing the whole child’ and offering ‘the best opportunity’. It also congratulated Sibford for providing ‘high quality education’ and for enabling dyslexic pupils to ‘reach their full potential and to integrate seamlessly into the mainstream.’

Sibford head Michael Goodwin said: “We are proud of our reputation as a dyslexia friendly school and are delighted that CReSTed has recognised the effort put in by our staff to ensure that all our pupils have the opportunity to grow in confidence and competence and to make the most of their talents. Being dyslexic does not prevent access to top sets, even in English, as our results testify.”

· It is estimated that at least 1 in 10 people in the UK are dyslexic. Established in 1989, CReSTeD is a registered charity that provides guidance and assurance to parents looking for schools offering provision for dyslexic pupils. Schools on the CReSTeD register are inspected every three years.

Pictured: Formula One legend and dyslexia sufferer, Sir Jackie Stewart, is pictured during an earlier visit to Sibford School’s Dyslexia Department. Sir Jackie left school at the age of 15 slated by teachers for being ‘stupid, dumb and thick’. It was only when he reached the age of 41 that his condition was finally diagnosed. Other high-profile dyslexics include Olympic gold medallist, Sir Steve Redgrave, entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson and chef Jamie Oliver.

Audience of a thousand enjoys Christmas music

The National Trust Christmas Concert in Exeter Cathedral last Friday evening got the festive season off to a flying start.

A packed cathedral heard performances by the Symphony Orchestra (Vaughan Williams’ Seventeen Come Sunday) and Chamber Orchestra (a duet from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio) the Middle School, Chamber and Senior Choirs, the Brass Ensemble and several solos, including a Bach ‘cello piece by Michael Dawson, an excerpt from Don Giovanni, played by the Chamber Orchestra and sung by Noah Mosley with Ben Lee on mandolin, and a trio of Partridge sisters sang Rutter’s Christmas Lullaby.

The various ensembles were directed by Liz Williams, Brian Moore, Julian Sutton and Simon Foxall, and the organist and accompanist was Andrew Daldorph.

The concert was enormously enjoyed by over 1000 people, who joined with choirs and orchestras to sing three carols.

Outstanding Music Practical Results

The school’s Director of Music, Dr Simon Foxall, described the results from December 2008 as being amongst the best the school has had. 62 pupils took an exam and all passed, 23 of them with distinction. All eleven pupils taking Trinity/Guildhall exams obtained a distinction.

Notable results include Bethany Partridge’s Grade 8 distinction on ‘cello to follow a similar result in singing Grade 8 last term. Artemis Crowley, Brittany Harris and former pupil Richard Robbins all achieved Grade 8 distinction in singing, a tribute to the school’s outstanding vocal teaching staff.

The school is also well-known for the standard of its string players, and brother and sister Fionn and Hannah Connolly both achieved Grade 7 distinction in violin, while Tom Tresidder obtained the same result on the ‘cello. Outstanding piano results included Hugh Collins’ distinction at Grade 7 and Katie Clark’s Grade 8 pass.

Most of these musicians are still in their GCSE year or are even younger. Chris Furby, taking GCSE music this year, achieved Grade 8 distinction on the drum kit.

BISHOP’S STORTFORD COLLEGE JUNIOR SCHOOL PUPILS ACHIEVE BRONZE ART AWARDS

The high achieving Art Department at Bishop’s Stortford College Junior School is celebrating after six pupils aged twelve and thirteen successfully passed Bronze level of the Arts Award.

Portland Samek-Richardson, Phoebe Poulter, James Scott-Flanagan, Stephanie Malyon, Emily Neill, and Amy Roberts had to prepare a portfolio based on four parts including taking part in an arts activity, going to arts events, researching an arts hero or heroine and sharing their skills with others.

Arts Award is a national qualification that recognises how young people develop as artists, arts practitioners and arts leaders. Young people aged between 11-25 can achieve Arts Awards at three levels bronze, silver (equivalent to GCSE) and gold (equivalent to A level) on the national qualifications framework. Introduced in 2005, Arts Award is run by Arts Council England and Trinity Guildhall, two organisations with a high profile and considerable reputation in the arts sector.

Bishop’s Stortford College Junior School is one of the very few schools in the country to be an accredited Arts Award centre. Centres are organisations with at least one trained Arts Award adviser, and support young people to develop their arts activities, including arts centres, theatres, schools, colleges, youth projects, and voluntary clubs or community groups.

Achieving an Arts Award says a lot about a person. It shows a commitment to the arts, interest in developing skills and understanding, communication, planning and evaluation skills. It demonstrates skills in leadership as well as personal arts practice. These skills are what colleges, universities and employers are looking for and many recognise the Arts Award as an additional qualification.

“The pupils have worked extremely hard to gain the Award,” said Head of Art Emma Neville. “I’m very proud of them.”

NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNORS

Paul Balen has become the new chairman of governors at Nottingham High School, taking over from Nigel Tamplin who held the role for over 5 years.

Paul, who is a partner with well known law firm Freeth Cartwright LLP, has been a governor at the school for 6 years and over this period has been actively involved in the school serving on the committee which is responsible for its academic affairs.

As a former pupil of the school himself before going on to study law at Peterhouse Cambridge, Paul clearly has a long association with Nottingham High School. He also had a son at the school.

“I am looking forward to helping guide this great independent school through to its 500th anniversary celebrations in 2013,” said Paul. “Nottingham High School continues to offer an outstanding education at all ages and with the recent opening of Lovell House – our infant school, and the building of our new sixth form centre and dining hall well under way, we face the future with great optimism. With the amazing caliber of the pupils and staff I believe we are entering an exciting phase in our history.”

Kevin Fear, headmaster at Nottingham High School said: “While serving as a governor at the school, Paul has shown that he has what it takes to be a successful chairman of our governing body and I have every confidence in his leadership abilities. Paul is ideally placed to represent the school and the fact that he is an ‘old boy’ himself, makes it particularly personal to him. We are delighted that he has taken on the role.”

Mathematicians make it count in UK Maths Challenge

125 out of 125 for Peter Bullock

It was a great day for RGS Worcester & The Alice Ottley School as results of the UK Senior Mathematics Challenge arrived.

The UK Mathematical Challenge is one of the most prestigious subject based competitions in the country, with the 25 question multiple-choice paper being sat by over 70,000 candidates nationally. Of these, the top 7% are awarded gold certificates, the next 13% silver certificates and the next 20% receive bronze.

The outstanding RGSAO students were awarded a magnificent 12 gold, 23 silver and 16 bronze.

Top marks went to RGSAO pupil Peter Bullock of Leigh Sinton, who attained an unbelievable 125 out of 125. Peter’s amazing performance means that he will qualify for the first round of the British Mathematical Olympiad – the first stage in the process to select a team to represent the UK in the International Mathematical Olympiad, which is held every year. Fellow pupil Simon Harris of Droitwich has also qualified for the event.

“It was an amazing performance by the RGSAO maths team, especially Peter and Simon. I am glad to see all the pupils’ hard work has been rewarded,” commented Andy Rattue, Headmaster of RGS Worcester & The Alice Ottley School.

Sporting Success, January 2009

The School’s sports players are having a good month, with the U16 and U18 boys’ outdoor hockey teams reaching the semi-finals of their respective Devon Cup competitions.

The U14 XI is to face South Dartmoor CC in its Devon Cup final on Thursday 29 January.

This weekend, three girls, Izzy Smith, Emmie Giles and Amelia Sydenham, are representing Devon with Isca Dragons HC in the national U18 hockey finals at Nottingham.

The senior rugby squad won the Plate Competition at this week’s Kelly College 10-a-side competition. Next week, the U15 rugby team is to contest the U15 Devon Cup final vs Ivybridge CC.

Dreaming Spires

Congratulations to the school’s seven successful Oxbridge candidates from Exeter School, who have recently received the following offers:

Cambridge

Josh Johnson
Gonville & Caius
Natural Sciences

Andrew Melzer
Sidney Sussex
Engineering

Hannah Partridge *
Fitzwilliam
Natural Sciences

Oxford

Claire Harrill
LMH
English

Rachel Holden
Christ Church
Experimental Psychology

Charlie Palmer
Keble
PPE

Max Taylor
Exeter
Modern Languages

* Hannah Partridge, who starred as The Queen of the Night in last year’s acclaimed school production of The Magic Flute, has also been awarded a Choral Scholarship by Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Selection of news from Casterton School

Top 10 results nationally in Drama

Phoebe S and Lavinia E have achieved top 10 results for their GCSE drama in 2008 out of 60878 candidates. The EDXCEL spokesman said ‘ This is a tremendous achievement and testament to the hard work students put into preparing for their exams. We send our congratulations to Phoebe and Lavinia’.

Visit from British Antarctic

Nick Cox MBE gave a fascinating talk to parents, staff and girls about life at the North Pole on Friday before half term.

Nick Gillingham MBE has returned

Olympic swimmer returns to Casterton for coaching
Nick Gillingham MBE has returned to Casterton to coach girls across the age range as well as visting prep and primary pupils. Such as the success of his previous coaching day he has returned to further hone the school’s swimming skills.

“LEAGUE TABLE CULTURE DAMAGING FOR CHILDREN…”

Former national boarding schools’ chief attacks League tables…

One headmaster, outspoken on the subject of league tables is former Boarding Schools’ Association Chairman, Dr Stephen Winkley, now head of Lancashire’s Rossall School, near Fleetwood. On the eve of publication of the 2008 GCSE and A-level tables he has slammed the whole culture of league tables, which he claims is damaging education provision in Britain.

Dr Winkley said: “There are three enormous problems about League tables and the League table culture. First, they neglect the quality of candidates on entry to the school. So, if a school, for whatever reason, only accepts children with an IQ of say 130, one would expect them to do outstandingly well. Yet, some schools, despite their high entry qualifications, may be performing poorly compared with what they ought to be achieving. However, the real test is surely not the raw outcome but the added value. There are some “non-academic” schools that do add rather a lot, while some ”academic” schools add very little to the lives of their children.”

Dr Winkley also believes that in the pursuit of League table position schools could lose focus of what education is all about. He added: “The second problem is that doing well in the League tables becomes an objective for a school when it should be thinking of doing well for the pupils. Indeed, at some schools, children are often barred from exams or subjects, or even forced out if they are likely to lower the school’s position; which is clearly shameful.

“In my opinion, to value the League table is to dance to somebody else’s tune, something no proper Head would want to do. This brings me to the final problem, which is that the League tables create the sense that what matters is only what can be measured, even by the flawed criteria, yet every human being knows this is patently ridiculous.

“The things that really matter are the things which can’t be measured. A school which aspires to do well at League tables…an “academic hothouse” if you like… will almost certainly be a less nurturing, encouraging, inspiring, kind, sympathetic or responsive environment than a school which values human qualities. And, let’s face it, looking around today it’s evident that the world needs these human qualities far more than it needs blinkered competitiveness.

“I hope no one out there is foolish enough to believe there is any connection between high position in the League tables and the excellence of a school, because my experience of education nationally has shown me that there isn’t.”

A career educationalist of forty years experience, Dr Winkley has called upon the Government to reassess its priorities in education and to stop promoting a competitive culture in which he claims the only losers are the nation’s children.