Private School News

Rydal Penrhos Prep girl Ellie is set on Tennis Success

Ellie Scarff, a local girl from Colwyn Bay has hit the big time with a personal invitation from the Lawn Tennis Association to join their training camp this week and potentially start a future as a serious British contender in tennis. Nick Lawrence, a North Wales Performance Manager for the Welsh National Tennis Centre recently described her as “one of the emerging young talents in North Wales”. Her coach for three years Martyn Lewis , who is an LTA professional says of Ellie “She is No 1 ranked player in Under 12 in North Wales and is very likely to be a Welsh Finalist this year”.

From joining Rydal Penrhos Prep school from the age of three Ellie has been a keen tennis player and swimmer. At four she added ballet and tap to her portfolio and then at six progressed to hockey and netball. At present Ellie puts around 16 hours a week into training, which is supported in school and through outside organisations.

Ellie has been with the junior academy of the Colwyn Bay Hockey club for three years and regularly plays for the girls u11 team and the boys u11 team (as they are allowed two girls to play). Indeed last year she was voted best u10 girl for the season by her coaches.

It was in 2007 when at the age of just seven the Rydal Penrhos Prep girl started to take tennis to a new level when she was asked to play both singles and doubles for the U10 North Wales girls team. She started to win and got a taste for competitive sport. By 2008 Ellie played for the county again and started to play for the Rydal Penrhos Senior girls tennis team despite the fact she was only eight. By 2009 Ellie was ranked no 1 player for North Wales County team 10U.

Ellie says “My sports are a huge part of my everyday life, and I am at my happiest when I am out on court or on the sports field.” Ellie’s mum goes on to say “She is a lovely bubbly girl who tries hard at everything she sets out to do. She balances her sport with academic studies and I am delighted to say she had straight A’s across all subjects in her last school report.”

Ellie who is the head girl at the Rydal Penrhos Prep school at present has just won a sports scholarship to Rydal Penrhos senior school and sets her ambitions high. This year she would like to move up the GB and Welsh rankings at 12U level and feels with the continued support of both the school and the LTA coaches Martyn Lewis and Nick Lawrence with whom she is working very closely that she can continue to improve and develop as a player.

A truly ‘International’ Baccalaureate flourishes at RYDAL PENRHOS SCHOOL

Rydal Penrhos school based in Colwyn Bay continues to move forward with an education that fits the modern world. This was part of the reason that they started running the International Baccalaureate for sixth formers back in 2004 alongside it’s existing A level programme. The IB has since this time established as a very successful, and truly ‘International’ course with students studying it who have English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish as their first language.

When students enter the sixth form in Rydal Penrhos School they have the unique option of studying for A levels or of studying for the IB diploma and the split is about half and half. This choice means that students can tailor their academic education to fit their university and career choices for the future.

Students studying the IB Diploma must take six subjects (3 at Higher and 3 at Standard Level) plus they write a 4,000 word extended essay, complete a course in theory of knowledge, and complete a number of creativity, action and service projects. The six subjects must include a study of their own language, a foreign language, mathematics, a science, a humanity and their sixth subject can be another language, science, humanity or it can be art, music or drama. In this way students study a balanced curriculum but have the opportunity to specialize.

Chris Jelfs, from the Anglesey area and who is in upper sixth at present says “ My sister had done IB, and had successfully achieved a very high score and continued on to do Languages at Durham, this influenced me when I came to decide between A levels and IB.” Chris who is a talented musician was able to keep doing his music as one of his six subjects at a higher level, which was important to him also.

Jenny Southern, from Ellesmere who is also in upper sixth, and who has been offered a place to read medicine at Brasenose College, Oxford goes on to say “I think the IB really prepares you for university life as it demands that you learn to manage your time well. It involves you in lots of differing activities and requires organization and dedication.”
The IB is a not-for-profit organization which operates in 138 countries with 738,000 students worldwide and 55,000 graduates each year.The IB Diploma has an outstanding reputation for academic rigour and high-quality education which it has sustained for over 40 years, and it is growing fast in the UK. The number of UK schools offering the IB Diploma has doubled over the last few years and on current projections this expansion will quicken over the next two years. This rapid expansion has increased awareness of the IB at UK universities and this is what Durham University recently said about the IB diploma: “Our academic departments have noted the excellent preparation that the IB Diploma provides for university study, and we value the depth and breadth of study that it offers.” In fact its excellent international reputation means that students have access to the top universities worldwide.
Tom Carr, a pupil from Colwyn Bay sites his reasons for picking the IB as “wanting to keep my options open for as long as possible, as I am still undecided in the career that I wish to pursue”. Tom is thinking about medicine or law and is one of the school’s great debating team.
Emily Wynn, from Colwyn Bay and Sarah White from Tremerchion are both lower sixth girls and have been studying the IB since September. Emily achieved 8 A*, 1A and 1B for GCSE and is loving the IB course, she is also interested in doing medicine and wanted to keep her skill level as wide as possible to compete for places when it comes to university entry. Sarah also wanted to keep her options open, but says “One of the best aspects of the IB for me is meeting lots of new friends from all different cultures. I have lots of international friends now and feel well equipped to go out and work in the world. With an interest in studying Management and Finance at the London school of Economics this really would be advantageous.
The IB encourages a positive attitude to learning by encouraging students to ask challenging questions, to critically reflect, to develop research skills, and to learn how to learn. An element of community service is encouraged because the IB recognizes that there is more to learning than academic studies alone. Lauretta Leung, from Anglesey said “I love the community work, it makes me feel part of a bigger world and one in which we contribute”. This ethos fits well within the Rydal Penrhos School community and extends across the whole sixth form.

RYDAL PENRHOS SCHOOL SUCCESS AT THE CHESTER DRAMA FESTIVAL

27 Speech and Drama students from Rydal Penrhos School went recently to perform at Chester Drama Festival, which was held at Queen’s Park High School, Chester.

The standard was exceptionally high with schools from around the region battling for places. Rydal Penrhos pupils had to compete with schools including: Moreton Hall, Howell’s, Wrekin, Queen’s and The King’s School.

The pupils all performed exceptionally well, had great fun and showed a strong team spirit. They almost without exception were commended or received merits or 1st prizes. Mention should be given to Will Lunt who won first prize in both the solo drama and the solo Shakespeare categories, both very competitive and hard fought for sections.

“We have such a rich history of drama in the school starting in 1887 right through to the present day and we teach it as a subject in the school at GCSE level and A Level.” Says Director of Drama Mr Dennis Lavin.

Indeed Rydal Penrhos has had pupils who go onto perform everywhere from the West End to the Festival fringes and from the Royal Court to the Rovers Return, William Roache is just one of the old boys who has made a career in acting. Pupils such as Matt Gosart, Laurie Brumitt, Andrew McDonald, Alex Bickerton, Lucy Xie, Alannah Jack and Imogen Long who all went on at the Drama festival to win First prize for their devised drama are part of this history.

Two key members of the drama department at Rydal Penrhos, Christina Bloomfield and Gemma Campbell who both have a wealth of experience and knowledge of the acting world accompanied all the pupils to Chester where they were adjudicated by either examiners from leading Drama schools or recognisable faces from screen or stage and they gave very constructive criticism and advice on how to improve pieces for the LAMDA examinations in June. Younger pupils were also involved from years 7 and 8 and 1st prizes won by John Marston for poetry recital, Scarlett Salisbury and Anjalina Mitra for improvisation.

“We teach acting and stage management, set building and sound, lighting and costumes, everything in fact needed for a great performance. Not every student wants to be in the spotlight but their contribution is equally as important,” Leah Cunnah, English and drama teacher at the school goes on to say.

All the pupils did extremely well and enjoyed their chance in the spotlight and now look forward to the visit of one of the schools famous dramatic former pupils Duncan Kenworthy, OBE who following Christ College Cambridge, where he achieved a first class degree in English went on to become a producer starting on programmes such as Sesame street and Fraggle Rock in America. Following this he moved on to work on three of the most successful British films ever ‘Four weddings and a Funeral’, ‘Love Actually’ and ‘Notting Hill’.” Duncan is returning to the school on May 29th for the Anniversary Celebration week, when the school is celebrating its founding 130 years ago in 1880 to be the guest speaker at the School Speech Day and Prize Giving.

British Inter-Schools Skiing Championships – success for RYDAL PENRHOS SCHOOL pupil

Up and coming ski talent Ella Ward capped a fantastic team performance by Rydal Penrhos School with a third place at the British Inter-Schools Skiing Championships in France last week.

Ella, 11 was joined on the prize-winners’ podium by younger sister Olivia, 9, who came home in fifth place, while the Rydal Penrhos team as a whole finished a hugely impressive eighth out of the 140 schools taking part.

The annual championships, which take place in Les Houches near Chamonix, feature more than 350 of the best young British skiers from across the UK, France and Switzerland.

Rydal Penrhos team coach Craig Bonnington, who has raced internationally for the RAF, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for Ella, Olivia and the whole team. The competition is incredibly tough because a lot of skiers at the top end of the field are based permanently in the Alps for the ski season.

“Meantime Rydal Penrhos manages one training session a week on the John Nike Leisuresport artificial slope in Llandudno. It’s a great facility to have on the doorstep and the instructors there are very supportive of the team, but it’s not quite the same as race training day in day out on the real stuff all winter.

“Ella’s third place, Olivia’s fifth and the team’s eighth places are a tribute to a lot of hard work and no little talent.”

The team immediately dedicated their result to Rydal Penrhos teacher Ken Jones, who organised the trip. Mr Jones broke his leg in an accident at the end of the first day’s racing and is still in hospital in France recovering.

Mr Bonnington added: “It’s such a shame for him. He’s been organising the team all year and getting ready for this competition. We’re all thinking of him and looking forward to seeing back home soon.”

RYDAL PENRHOS PREP SCHOOL in the British UK Chess Challenge – Mega Final

Twenty children from Rydal Penrhos Preparatory School travelled to Warrington to play in the Mega-Final, which is the Quarter-Final Stage of this national competition. Each child had to play six matches and win 4 points out of 6 to qualify for the next stage. The most Rydal Penrhos have ever had do this in the past is six. This year we have smashed that record. With Savanna Dickens winning first place in the Under 7 Girls tournament and Ziraili Ulfin claiming second. Hannah Mew-McAdam won second place in the Under 8 Girls Tournament and Imogen Turvery-Cross won joint first place in the Under 9 Girls tournament. All four girls have qualified for the next stage called the Giga-Final and will be joined by eight other children including Adam Lee-Browne, Ethan Hill, Rafeez Mortuza, Rohan Ingley, Ben Subkovas, William Sissons, Solomon Dickens, Jack Sissons.
The Prep School Chess Club is going from strength to strength with pupils winning championships from county to British level, and new players being welcomed and encouraged to play, irrespective of age or experience.
Teacher and keen chess player, Andy Camp, took over the chess club two years ago and has introduced new, fun initiatives including a ‘Learn to play’ session and a knockout tournament to encourage new players, and to give them experience of playing competitively.
This year has witnessed a fantastic increase in club members, both in numbers and in ability. Thirteen pre-prep pupils (aged 6) have now started playing regularly and have the enthusiasm to challenge the older girls and boys to pick up new skills and confidence.
Chess offers many benefits to the pupils, and has even helped their academic studies, with some parents noting a marked improvement in their children’s concentration and in their work. However, some of the fathers who could once beat their children at chess now jokingly plead for Mr Camp to stop teaching them new skills!
The club meets twice a week with each session featuring an interactive whiteboard to examine particular openings or try to solve a chess-related puzzle. The children then flock to the boards to try out the ideas on each other. It certainly seems to be working.

Comic Relief at Lyndon Prep

On Comic Relief Day pupils were invited to bring a joke and wear a funny hat to school. Our morning assembly was a very happy and colourful occasion, with children wearing red noses and brightly coloured fancy hats. It was a time during which we had fun, raised a considerable amount of money and remembered those less fortunate than ourselves – especially the boys and girls living in Uganda.

Meeting Prince Charles

Welsh teacher, Miss Wynne-Jones and Tomas Lee, a Sixth Form pupil at Rydal Penrhos presented a bibliography to Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall during their visit to the ‘Welsh Historic Gardens Trust’ (W.H.G.T.) at Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire. Mark Baker, a pupil from Rydal School is connected with the W.H.G.T. and, prompted the idea that Miss Wynne-Jones and Rydal Penrhos work on a project of developing a bibliography for Prince Charles’s home in South Wales, the Llwynywermod Estate.

At last the day arrived, a perfect summer’s day, not a cloud in the sky, and all hands in a last minute preparation of the visit. Tomas Lee did Rydal Penrhos proud in his presentation of the bibliography, and many said what a delightfully polite young man he was. The highlight of the day for Miss Wynne-Jones was to meet Prince Charles, discuss the project with him and thank him most earnestly in allowing Rydal Penrhos to carry out the project.

At the end of the day, sitting on the terrace surveying the pond, in discursive reflection with Mark Baker, the project had been well received and, it is with thanks to Mark that we owe the opportunity of participating and completing a privileged piece of work.