Private School News

Mount St Mary’s College, Derbyshire – Record breaking A-level results

There is so much that is being celebrated at Mount St Mary’s College after the Derbyshire school achieved record-breaking A-level results for the third year running.

A and B grades are up again to 51%, with 35% securing A* and A grades.

Leading the way were Head Boy and Head Girl James Proudfoot and Victoria Coe with 1 A* and 2 As and 3As respectively. James, 18, has already secured his place at Durham to read law and Victoria, 18, is about to embark on a gap year and confirm her intention to perhaps read medicine.

Eighteen-year-old Naseem Sharif, Deputy Head Boy at Mount St Mary’s, said: “I got two As in Maths and Biology and two A* grades in Physics and Chemistry and now I’ll be off to study medicine at the University of Manchester.”

Deputy Head Boy, Richard Duggan, 18, achieved an A* grade in Religious Studies, an A in English and B in History. He said: “I’m really pleased and I want to say thank you to the school because it has been a great pleasure to come here and they have really helped me to achieve my grades. I am going to go off to Newcastle to do law and hopefully go on to be a barrister.”

With three As in Biology, Chemistry and Maths, Deputy Head Girl Frances Oliver, 18, said: “I am hoping to take a gap year and then study veterinary medicine in 2011. I have loved being at Mount St Mary’s, the teachers are brilliant and I have had the best seven years of my life so far.”

Laurence McKell, Headmaster at Mount St Mary’s, said: “Congratulations to all our pupils on a truly outstanding set of A-level results. We are incredibly proud of all our pupils for the hard work they have put in and the excellent attitude they have shown to study and learning.

“Credit must also go to our talented staff team for the support they have shown preparing and guiding students over the last two years. Although we are a non-selective school, these results demonstrate how we continue to achieve high standards and help pupils to fulfil their potential.

“At Mount St Mary’s, our ethos is focused on developing well rounded young men and women, and these results reflect our commitment to ensuring they leave school ready to face whatever challenges and opportunities lie ahead.”

Photo: (L-R) Mount St Mary’s A-levels pupils Frances Oliver, Naseem Shariff and Victoria Coe celebrate their results.

Mount St Mary’s College, Derbyshire – Students host charity holiday week

Sixth-form pupils from a Derbyshire school have launched a new charitable venture, for children with disabilities and special learning needs.

Mount St Mary’s College, invited local children from Chesterfield charity Home-Based and support group Fairplay, also based in Chesterfield, to come and use the facilities on offer at the College, and enjoy a stay at the Mount’s boarding accommodation.

During the new Children’s Holiday Week, the children had the opportunity to go swimming in the school pool, decorate biscuits in the refectory, take part in a treasure hunt and enjoy an Olympic Games event on the school’s Olympic standard athletics track.
They also participated in a celebration Mass in the school chapel.
Helen McKell, the teacher in charge of the event, said: “This was a really worthwhile experience for all our sixth-formers. They impressed the visiting staff with their enthusiasm, their willingness to get involved, and the work they had put into preparing a range of exciting activities and experiences for the children who participated.”

The Children’s Holiday Week is a new venture for Mount St Mary’s, created to help give sixth formers the opportunity to be of service to others.
The holiday week will now become an annual event, taking place in the last week of the summer term.

Photo: Emma Taylor, head girl of Year 7 at Mount St Mary’s College with Elliot Gaskin, from Home-Based charity

MOUNT ST MARY’S COLLEGE, DERBYSHIRE – School celebrates 70th Anniversary in style

Derbyshire school celebrates 70th anniversary in style
A historic Derbyshire school has celebrated seventy years of education by inviting past and present pupils and staff to a garden party in its grounds.

Originally built by Sir Francis Rodes in the 16th Century, Barlborough Hall became a school in 1940.

The party provided an opportunity to commemorate the seven decades with guests enjoying some of the 320-acre estate of protected countryside Barlborough Hall School is situated in.

Current and former pupils, staff and friends came together to enjoy the occasion – which featured a jazz band and hog roast lunch.

Guests were also invited to walk around the school building to relive school-day memories. Pictures spanning the seven decades and diaries of former headmasters were displayed to illustrate how the school has changed throughout its fascinating history.

The day finished with a friendly cricket match between the ‘Parents’ and the ‘Old Boys’, and experience showed as the Parents won a closely-fought match.

Pupils at Barlborough Hall School, a Jesuit preparatory school, still have lessons in the Hall’s original rooms and use the library, top parlour and chapel.

Wanda Parkinson, headteacher at Barlborough Hall School for 12 years, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who attended for making this very special celebration an event that will live long in the memory.

“We appreciate how fortunate we are to have a school with such a rich history, and everyone is looking forward to writing the next chapter in the Barlborough Hall story.”

Barlborough hall is the preparatory school for Mount St Mary’s College and today close links are established between the two schools, providing a shared vision of education for children from the age of 3 – 18.

Photo: 70th Anniversary garden party at Barlborough Hall School

Russian journalists visit MOUNT ST MARY’S COLLEGE for boarding best practice

A delegation of Russian journalists has visited a Derbyshire school to develop a greater understanding of the UK boarding school experience.The group, which included three prominent general interest and business journalists and a representative from British Council Russia, visited Mount St Mary’s College and it’s sister school Barlborough Hall – two of the country’s leading independent schools.

As well as being given tours of each school and the Mount St Mary’s boarding houses, the journalists met with boarding students and the Mount head boy and girl.

The fact finding visit was designed to promote awareness and develop a greater understanding of the UK boarding schools experience among potential Russian students and their parents.

The published journalists’ work will be included as part of the Education UK Exhibition promotion campaign in Russia.

Wessel DuRandt, head of boarding at Mount St Mary’s, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome our Russian friends to the Mount and hopefully it will encourage pupils from other countries to consider boarding school options in the UK.

“We pride ourselves on offering one of the best boarding experiences in the country and we are always looking for more pupils to sample this experience.”

Mount St Mary’s recently invested £500,000 in its boarding facilities. Hopkins House, for girls and Loyola House, for boys, provide shared and single rooms with en suite facilities, desk, study space, wi-fi, common room and kitchen area.

British athlete has MOUNT ST MARY’S COLLEGE pupils jumping for joy

One of Britain’s best long-jumpers has put a spring in the steps of pupils at a Derbyshire school after teaching them the tricks of his trade.

Nathan Morgan, 31, who won the long jump gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, is holding regular workshops with lucky pupils at Mount St Mary’s College.

The first two hour workshop was a practical session focusing on strength and conditioning exercises that Nathan uses everyday as part of his own training regime.

Nathan, a former British record holder and third on the all time long jump list, also stressed the importance of getting this conditioning right before starting any sporting activity.

Nathan will be visiting the school once a month to continue the sessions, which take place on Mondays in the pavilion.

Paul Scott, director of Sport at Mount St Mary’s, said: “The whole workshop was of great benefit to both athletes and coaches and stressed the need for basic strength and conditioning to safeguard the development of young athletes.

“Unsurprisingly the session was extremely well-attended and I’m sure this trend will continue for the upcoming workshops.

“Everyone is very grateful to Nathan for giving up his time and it is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to learn from one of the best long-jumpers this country has ever seen.”

Derbyshire pupils vote for their own election at MOUNT ST MARY’S COLLEGE

A general election involving all the main political parties at a Derbyshire school has produced a clear winner – unlike the real thing!

Mount St Mary’s College pupils engaged in some last minute electioneering as representatives from the Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrat and UKIP parties attempted to get ‘elected.’

As part of the mock election, each candidate made an impassioned three-minute speech to put across their party’s main policies.

After the speeches, the candidates then had the opportunity to reply to any points and encourage the electorate to vote for them in a one minute summary.

Pupils were finally able to vote for their chosen candidate and the surprise winner was UKIP, represented by George Freeman, with 111 votes followed by the Conservatives with 65 and the Green Party with 30.

Helen McKell, head of the senior debating society at Mount St Mary’s, said: “Our pupils enjoy debating a wide variety of topics and have a real interest in current affairs, so we couldn’t resist an election of our own to see how it compared with the real thing.

“It was a brilliant way for pupils to practise valuable skills like public speaking and forming convincing arguments as well as an opportunity to recognise the role they play in the democratic process.

“I’m pleased to say that, however controversial the issue, all the pupils conducted themselves in a professional and courteous manner!”

Photo: Richard Duggan who represented the Conservatives and George Freeman who represented UKIP

MOUNT ST MARY’S COLLEGE choir on song at national competition

Students from a Derbyshire school were on song at the UK’s biggest amateur choral competition.

The Combined Choir at Mount St Mary’s College performed in the first round of the BBC Choir of the Year event at The Anvil concert hall, in Basingstoke.

Pupils aged between seven and 13 years old sang ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat’, from Guys and Dolls, which featured a solo from student Alex Allt.

Lucy Kitchener, director of music at Mount St Mary’s, said: “The bi-annual BBC Choir of the Year is one of the most prestigious national choral competitions so we were thrilled to represent the school and test ourselves against some of the best choirs in the country. We sang very well and had excellent feedback from the judges.”

Mount St Mary’s College Choir was featured on Songs of Praise last year after impressing the judges with its entry for the BBC TV show’s Choir of the Year contest.

Its Junior Choir was also awarded the Voices Foundation Junior Choirs Award for Excellence at the National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham in 2009.

Lucy added: “The choir continues to go from strength to strength and, as the standard improves, we’re keen to take part in more national festivals.”

The competition followed a performance by Mount St Mary’s jazz band at the prestigious black tie snooker event, the Sheffield Cue Ball.

Talented musicians got their big break playing to a high profile crowd which included John Parrott and Dennis Taylor in the city’s Winter Gardens for the charity event, which marked the beginning of the World Snooker Championship.

Derbyshire pupil’s sword skills secure prestigious shield

A Derbyshire pupil is following in the footsteps of some of the most renowned fencers from the past 20 years after winning a prestigious regional prize.

James Proudfoot, head boy at Mount St Mary’s College, fought off stiff competition to take home the winner’s shield in the Lancashire Schools Boys’ Under 20 Foil.

James, who won gold in the Senior Students Fencing competition at Stonyhurst school in Lancashire last term, adds his name to a list of illustrious previous winners of the shield who have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the sport.

Fellow pupil Thomas Cotterill, winner of the Mount St Mary’s Senior Fencing Trophy for 2009, secured silver and Thomas Voice won bronze in the same event, while Benedikt Gers reached the quarter finals of the boys under 17 category.

There was success too for the girls, with Phoebe Lui winning a bronze medal in the under 20 class.

Pupils at Mount St Mary’s have enthusiastically embraced fencing, and the performances in Lancashire are the latest in a series of impressive displays from school representatives.

Nina Zimmerman produced a spirited display against high calibre opposition including several national fencers in the Girls’ Under 16 Foil at the recent British Youth Fencing Championships.

Nina, a year 10 pupil at the Mount, qualified for the competition after fighting her way to a bronze in the Girls Under 16 Foil at the Yorkshire Youth Championships in March.
Mount St Mary’s coach Adam Blight, who has experience of coaching nine British fencing champions, said: “Congratulations to James for an excellent display of fencing. Many esteemed fencers have won the shield in the past, and hopefully James can use this success as a springboard to take his fencing to the next level.

“Our pupils have secured some outstanding results recently. They have all displayed an exemplary coolness and professionalism in competition which will continue to serve them well in the future.”

Photo: Lancashire Schools Boys’ Under 20 Foil winner James Proudfoot

Open evening at Derbyshire school

Outstanding educational facilities at a Derbyshire school will be on show to prospective pupils and their parents at an open evening this month.

Mount St Mary’s College will open its doors to families for the event on Tuesday May, 18 from 7pm until 9pm.

It will provide visitors with the chance to enjoy an informal look around the classrooms and boarding accommodation, find out more about the school’s academic programmes and meet pupils, staff and the head teacher Mr Laurence McKell.

The co-educational, boarding and day school, is set in beautiful surroundings at Spinkhill, near Sheffield.

Mount St Mary’s College is the senior school to Barlborough Hall School, which also caters for boys and girls. Both are Catholic schools but welcome students from other traditions. They combine to offer the highest quality educational provision for three to 18 year olds in an environment that ensures the perfect start in life.

To book your place, or for additional information, please contact Lucy Stirling or Mrs Sarah Birks in the Admissions Office on 01246 439317 or email lstirling@msmcollege.com.

Mount St Mary’s pupil ‘on guard’ for national championship

A Derbyshire/Spinkhill pupil will compete alongside some of the finest young fencers in the country at a prestigious national championship this weekend.

Nina Zimmerman, a year 10 boarding student at Mount St Mary’s College, will represent her school at the British Youth Fencing Championships to be held at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield.

The event, which takes place from May 1-3, will showcase the very best young swordsmen and women in Great Britain, with national and county fencers among those taking part.

Nina qualified for the competition after fighting her way to a bronze in the Girls Under 16 Foil at the Yorkshire Youth Championships in March.

Mount St Mary’s coach Adam Blight, who has experience of coaching nine British fencing champions, said: “To qualify for such a prominent competition is a fantastic achievement for Nina and I’m sure she will relish testing herself against some very strong fencers.

“Nina has a lot of talent and this experience will be another big step in her development. We all wish her the very best of luck in the championships.”
Fencers at the Mount are beginning to make their mark at regional and national level, and a strong performance at the Lancashire Schools Foil saw the school pick up four medals in its first ever regional competition.

Photo: Nina with her bronze medal after the Yorkshire Youth Championships

Derbyshire pupils debate the politics of the election

A Derbyshire school will be transformed into a miniature House of Commons when its pupils meet for a Westminster-style debate about the upcoming general election.

The senior debating society at Mount St Mary’s College, in Derbyshire, will meet on Friday 30 April to discuss one of the most prominent issues surrounding this election – the leader’s televised debates.

Pupils have chosen to debate the motion “This house believes that the smoke and mirrors of TV debating is good for modern politics.”

They will discuss the effect the TV debates have had on this election and the role they play in deciding the identity of the next man in ten Downing Street.

Helen McKell, head of the senior debating society at Mount St Mary’s, said: “Our pupils enjoy debating a wide variety of topics and have a real interest in current affairs, so we couldn’t resist a feisty political discussion with the election just around the corner.

“The debates are great fun and a brilliant way for pupils to practise valuable skills like public speaking and forming convincing arguments.

“I’m pleased to say that, however controversial the issue, all the pupils always conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner – in fact some MPs could probably learn a thing or two from them!”

HMS Pinafore sails into Barlborough

It was all aboard HMS Pinafore for youngsters at Barlborough Hall School!

Year five and six pupils put on a hugely successful production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s hit comic opera at the school theatre.

HMS Pinafore is the tale of two lovers, divided by their social class.

Admiral Sir Joseph was played by William Hall, Amelia Massarella took the role of Captain Corcoran, Jasmine Wallis-Leach was Josephine, the Captain’s daughter, while Jack Wilkins played the love-lorn sailor.

Yvonne Salome-Keetley, from Barlborough Hall School, said: “Barlborough Hall School musicals have a reputation for being fantastic and this year was no exception. All the performances were excellent, belying the ages of the cast.

“Thanks must go to all staff and pupils involved in this production and for the support of the parents on the night. It was also lovely to see many former pupils at the production.”

Photo: Barlborough Hall School pupils at the performance of HMS Pinafore.

Centenarian makes nostalgic return to Derbyshire school

A 100-year-old lady has made a nostalgic return to the stately home where she lived and worked 85 years ago.

Avis Wilks, who celebrated her 100th birthday in August last year, returned to Barlborough Hall School, in Derbyshire.

Avis worked on the staff at Barlborough Hall for ten years from the age of 16 before leaving for London with the Locker-Lampson family in 1935. Barlborough Hall became a school five years later.

Two close relatives of Avis, who were both called Samuel Wells, also worked at the Hall for many years as gardeners.

Avis, who now lives in a care home in Dinnington, Sheffield, was presented with a canvas-framed picture of Barlborough Hall during her visit – as a reminder of the time she spent there.

A small group of children from the school also met Avis for tea and biscuits and a chat about Barlborough life.

Pupils at the school, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, still have lessons in the Hall’s original rooms and use the library, top parlour and chapel.

Wanda Parkinson, Barlborough Hall headteacher, said: “Avis’ return was a wonderful occasion for her and the school, and we were thrilled to welcome her back.

“She has clearly led a fascinating life and her experience gives us an interesting insight into the history of the Hall.

“To reach 100 years old is an incredible milestone for Avis. Everyone was delighted to meet her and share in some of the fascinating memories she has of Barlborough Hall.”

Photo: Tony Bak, heritage project manager at the Barlborough Resource Centre, with Avis

Medal success for Mount St Mary’s fencer

A pupil at Mount St Mary’s College has qualified for The British Youth Fencing Championships after claiming a bronze medal at a key regional tournament.

Nina Zimmerman, a year 10 boarding student at the Derbyshire school, fought her way to the third place in the Girls Under 16 Foil event at the Yorkshire Youth Fencing Championships.

The British Youth Championships 2010 will be held from 1 – 3 May at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield.

Nina will be the first Mount St Mary’s student to represent the college at this prestigious event.

Mr Adam Blight, Mount St Mary’s Coach, said: “It is a fantastic achievement for Nina to win a bronze medal and qualify for the British Youth Championships, particularly as there were many Team GB and county fencers amongst the competitors.

“It was a great day of fencing and we wish Nina the best of luck for the British Youth Championships in May.”

Mount St Mary’s was also represented at the Yorkshire Youth Fencing Championships by Tom Cotterill, who fenced foil, epee and sabre, and Benedikt Gers in the foil.

Pupils Rosalind Formin and Eloise Brooks competed in the junior event.

Mr Adam Blight added: “Fencers at the Mount are really beginning to make their mark on a regional and national level and these strong performances follow the school’s success at the Lancashire Schools Foil where we won four medals in what was our first ever regional competition.”

Photo: Mount St Mary’s boarding pupil Nina Zimmerman.

Derbyshire pupils’ fresh take on 400-year-old play

Pupils at a Derbyshire school ensured a memorable night of theatre by putting their own innovative spin on a 400-year-old classic.

A range of pupils aged between 12 and 18 at Mount St Mary’s College produced and performed the Shakespearean favourite ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with an inventive punk rock inspired twist.

The play, a comedy which portrays the adventures of different characters in a fairy-inhabited moonlit forest, is one of Shakespeare’s best-loved productions and combines romantic trysts with occasional high-jinks.

But the adaptation used cultural aspects from the 1980s to turn the fairies into punks, the Athenians into New Romantics and the mechanicals as part of the Northern Soul scene, giving watching parents a walk down memory lane.

Thirty pupils took responsibility for all aspects of the performance, including production, costumes and make-up, lighting and sound, and of course acting, provided by members of the Senior Drama Society.

Pupil Richard Duggan played Bottom – his final role after seven years of impressive performances at the Mount.

Jack Murphy, head of English and Drama at Mount St Mary’s College, said: “This was an ambitious project in a busy term but the pupils have exceeded expectations. Everyone has put a lot of work into this adaptation and they produced a wonderful performance in front of a packed audience.

“Of course the play was not just about our superb thespians, the costumes, make-up and lighting gave the production a distinct visual style and created a fantastic atmosphere.

“It’s always great when pupils are given the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and it is very rewarding to see the combined efforts of pupils from across the school culminate in such a fantastic show.”

Photo: Tatania falling in love with Bottom

Derbyshire school hosts orchestral extravaganza

Some of the finest school musicians in the country created a symphony of sound during a musical weekend at Mount St Mary’s College.

Musicians from four schools combined their talents to perform as an orchestra and also enjoyed a choral workshop culminating in a rousing rendition of Mozart’s ‘Ave Verum’.

As well as pupils from Mount St Mary’s, in Derbyshire, pupils from Stonyhurst in Lancashire and St Ignatius and Wimbledon College in London took part in the weekend.

A total of 23 pupils were involved in the orchestra, with several, including ten from Mount St Mary’s, being selected for the Joint Jesuit Schools’ Concert in London on March 12.

But the weekend was not just about musical performances – there was time for a bowling trip, formal dinner and, for those not used to it, a chance to sample the Mount St Mary’s boarding experience.

Mrs Lucy Kitchener, Mount St Mary’s director of music, said: “The weekend was a wonderful opportunity for the top musicians from several Jesuit schools to come together and share their talents.

“All the pupils worked wonderfully well together and their performances were a pleasure to listen to.

“We were delighted to welcome pupils from other schools to what was an exciting venture and one we hope to repeat in the future.”

March sports spectacular at Mount St Mary’s

Hundreds of sporting competitors from across the country will be in action at Mount St Mary’s College this month.

Over the next four weeks, the Derbyshire school will play host to five regional and national sports events.

Kicking off the action-packed March sports events programme is the Mount 7s Hockey and Netball Tournament this weekend (Saturday, March 6.)

It will be followed by the BUCS Championships, which will see 6,000 elite student athletes compete in 26 sports at a number of venues across the region over four days from 10 – 14 March.

Mount St Mary’s first-class sporting facilities will stage the BUCS Lacrosse event on March 11 and the BUCS Ultimate Frisbee on March 13 and 14.

Both events will form part of a highlights programme, which will be broadcast by Sky Sports.

Scottish Rugby training event will take place from March 27-28 before the British Milers Club event over the Easter Holidays, April 16-18.

Paul Scott, director of sport at Mount St Mary’s, said: “The College has a proud sporting reputation and is highly regarded throughout the Midlands and the North of England for our first class facilities.

“The next few weeks are set to be a fantastic spectacle of sport and we look forward to welcoming all the competitors to Mount St Mary’s.”

Sports facilities at Mount St Mary’s include eight rugby pitches, three cricket squares, two football pitches and Astroturf pitch, two grass hockey pitches, six tennis courts, five netball courts, a swimming pool and Grade 1 athletics track.

Mount St Mary’s on its marks for 2012 Olympics

State-of-the-art facilities at Mount St Mary’s College are playing a key role in attracting prestigious sporting events and national teams to Derbyshire ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

Mount St Mary’s, based at Spinkhill, features in the London Organising Committee Pre-Games Training Camp Guide, which is designed to give teams and individual athletes a great selection of venues from which they can choose to prepare for the Games.

The College has first hand experience of hosting scores of international events and elite sport training camps including the GB Orienteering squad training camp, the Annual Academy for Great Britain Rugby Football League and the UK Athletics endurance squad training camp.

It is also the home base for the German Exiles Rugby League team, the Scottish Exiles RFU Academy and the North East Derbyshire Chargers RFL team.

Mount St Mary’s is a day and boarding school set in its own extensive grounds. Its Grade 1 Athletics Centre boasts an all-weather, six lane floodlit track and separate floodlit throws and jumps area, changing rooms, a physio/medical room and conference facilities.

Overnight accommodation for up to 178 people is available during the college term and in the holidays, with the majority of rooms having en-suite, tea and coffee making facilities and a TV.

Paul Scott, director of sport at Mount St Mary’s College, said: “Mount St Mary’s has a proud sporting heritage and following considerable investment, we have become a venue of excellence with exceptional athletics facilities and first class hotel style accommodation.

“The opportunity to train and live in one location makes Mount St Mary’s College very attractive to a variety of elite Olympic sports, particularly track and field athletics, and the popularity of the venue as a base for training camps is increasing every year.”

Advised by former British Olympic Association and current Rugby Football League nutritionist Jane Griffin, the catering department at Mount St Mary’s strives to ensure that meals provided to the athletes contain the correct nutritional value.

Jane said: “Having personally experienced the meals at Mount St Mary’s College for a week on separate occasions, the food is of a good quality prepared and cooked to a high standard. Choices and quantities at meal-times have been more than adequate for our elite young Rugby players.”

Photo: Students compete at Mount St Mary’s Grade 1 Athletics Centre.

Young equestrian earns national call-up

A Derbyshire school’s equestrian sensation is cantering on to the national stage after being invited to train with the prestigious Great Britain Pony Squad.

Erin Williams, 12, who attends Mount St Mary’s College, was rewarded with the call-up to the squad’s dressage team on pony Danny Boy B after a series of impressive performances in nationwide competitions.

Just ten riders currently make up the GB squad, which acts as a progress group for riders under 16 with the potential to compete at the highest level.

Squad members are invited to compete abroad for GB throughout the season to gain international experience.

Erin, who trains most mornings before school at 6.30am, could practically ride before walking – first getting into the saddle as a toddler. She now rides dressage, one of the only sports where men, women and children all compete on an equal footing.

As well as representing England at Under 25 level, Erin has competed in numerous national events, often finishing above far more experienced riders. If Erin continues this impressive form she is hoping to be invited to represent Great Britain in international competition.

The ultimate aim of the squad is to select the best four members for a place on the GB team at the FEI European Championships in July. This year the championships take place in Hull.

Erin, from Barlow, said: “I’m thrilled to be invited to train with the GB Pony Squad. It means I’ll be training alongside superb riders and takes me one step closer to achieving my goal of representing Great Britain.

“Mount St Mary’s has always been supportive of my riding commitments. I’m very grateful to them for their encouragement and for allowing me to balance riding with my studies.”

Mount St Mary’s headteacher, Laurence McKell, said: “To be recognised nationally is a fantastic achievement, but the fact that Erin is still only 12 makes it all the more remarkable.

“She is clearly a magnificent horse rider and it is brilliant that her talent has been recognised by such an esteemed organisation.

“Everyone at Mount St Mary’s is very proud of Erin. She is an exceptionally talented girl and a superb ambassador for the school.”

Photo: Erin on her pony, Dublin.(By Paul Sands at Photo-kinesis)

Educational experience enhanced by IGCSEs

International GCSEs (IGCSEs) are playing a key role in preparing pupils for higher education, according to teachers at a leading independent school.

IGCSEs were introduced for six subjects at Mount St Mary’s College in September 2009 to replace the traditional GCSE.

The Derbyshire school offers IGSCEs for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, , French and Spanish and teaching staff are already seeing the benefits, which comes after a major report was released this week on how Maths and Science are taught in schools.

Issued by an expert group set up by the Government, the report demands tougher exams and warns of widespread concern over the content of both the GCSE and A-level syllabus.

It argues there is not enough chance for students to display their depth of knowledge of the subject – in particular in A-level physics and chemistry exams.

Ben Naughton, head of science at Mount St Mary’s, said: “We are moving away from the traditional GCSE to IGCSEs for this very reason. The IGCSE offers more breadth, more synoptic questioning and tests a wider range of mathematical skills. It is also more discerning by being examined terminally. We believe pupils are short changed by the low sub-standard GCSE course, and are poorly prepared for A level.

“Since introducing IGCSEs we have seen increased enjoyment of the course by pupils, and they are stepping up to, and are energised by the higher standard. By starting IGCSE biology in Rudiments, making the course in effect a three year process, we are able to diversify, try different practicals and spend more time on individual topics of interest. At A-level, we are stretching the best pupil through OU YASS degree levels courses which extend their synoptic understanding even further.”

The school is now considering introducing IGCSEs for other subjects next year.

Maxine Smith, director of studies at Mount St Mary’s said: “IGCSEs are about doing the very best we can to prepare pupils for the step up to A-Levels and indeed university or higher education

“The pattern and variety of assessment carried out with IGCSEs means that pupils are able to demonstrate a broad and sophisticated range of skills including knowledge retention, analysis and application of information which are vital for future higher levels of qualification.”