Private School News

Young Enterprise winners

This year’s Young Enterprise Company ‘Green Feet’ attended a successful trade fair on Saturday 6th December at Dunmail Park, Workington. They sold over £400 worth of their products on the day and they won prizes for the ‘Best Overall Company’ and the ‘Company with the Highest Audit Score’.

As their name suggests they have an environmental theme and they are selling a range of products made from sustainable materials. These include, wheat bag hand warmers, traditional salt dough Christmas decorations, recycled glass containers and bowls made from old vinyl records. They have also produced a calendar with local views.

All products can be purchased from the Company by placing an order with the School Reception.

St Bees School – Sports Round-up

Rugby:
The 1st XV finished with P14-W7-L7, giving a 50/50 record. One of the highlights of the term was actually the final match 27-0 win over QEGS Hexham. The flair, pace, self-discipline and teamwork were very impressive, despite the challenging part-frozen, part-mud Crease. The Under 14 XV are in the quarter finals of the County Cup to be played next term. They clinched the place with an emphatic 43-12 win over Nelson Thomlinson, Wigton.

Cross Country:
The District Championships were held at St. Bees for the first time in recent years. The muddy and hilly course seemed to suit the St. Bees teams, however, as they won four of the six age groups – including all the girls’ races. A record number of St. Bees runners have won places in the District team to go to the County Championships in January.

Hockey:
This term the School welcomed Renee Dickson, an Australian hockey specialist, and Sally Stiles who have helped the girls produce some excellent hockey. There has been a significant increase in the attendance of St. Bees girls at U12, U13 and U14 County training and the addition of the Junior Department girls in games sessions has been very interesting with the youngest player now being age 8! Sadly, at senior level, there have been more matches cancelled or postponed than usual due to flooding in September and October and then frozen pitches in November.
Even the bi-annual Apis cup match against Fettes College was called off due to an outbreak of the novovirus at the college. The 1st XI and U15 teams both won their County tournament with the U15 team getting through to the North County finals against Windermere St. Annes and Keswick. There was also wins against Giggleswick, Lime House and Nelson Thomlinson.

The Junior Department

On Thursday September 4th the Junior Department of St. Bees School opened
its doors for the first time to a class of ten pupils aged between 8 and 11 (there are now twelve pupils on the roll). Miss Bird, the newly appointed class teacher, was there to welcome the youngest new members of the School.

Very soon the School community became used to seeing the crocodile line of small children moving between their classroom and the Dining Room or the Sports Hall. Specialist senior staff introduced their subjects to the class – History, Information Technology, Science, Spanish, and Games to name just a few that became a regular part of the Junior Department’s curriculum.
Others helped to provide an after school activity programme that included
such offerings as Choir, Art Club and Fly Fishing!

Several members of the class also took part in this term’s junior play – Arabian Nights. One of the highlights of the term was undoubtedly the afternoon the class spent with Mr. Richard Butler, the Senior School’s Adventure Activities instructor, on the local fells.

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.

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.