News Warlingham School
ISSUE 3 2014-2015 FEBRUARY 2015
In this edition From the headteacher
2-3
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
4-5
PATHWAYS TO LAW
6-7
Maths Masterclass
8-9
SATRO Annual Problem Solving Challenge
10-11
Exploring enigma
12-15
Physics Trip to CERN
16-19
Rugby Report
20-21
Warlingham school’s Sports Facilities
Pathways to Law
Maths Masterclass
21
The Geography Pages
22-23
Aquaskills
24-25
Music Department Report
26-27
Remembering Robert Adams
28-29
Year 9 Visit to All Saints’ church
30-31
Year 7 Maths Club
32-33
Promoting Literacy
34-35
In the Hot Seat
36-37
Dates for your Diary
38-39
Widening Horizons Raising Aspirations
Exploring Enigma
Physics trip to CERN
Year 9 Visit to All Saints’ Church
From the Headteacher... Dear Parents
and Maths), Average point score per student and 5 A*-G achievement. The At the end of last term all schools received their RAISEonline 2014 report Value Added score for the school this year was 1014.5 (a score of 1000 from Ofsted and the Department indicates that students have reached for Education. This is a lengthy document providing a detailed analysis their expected attainment based on their attainment on entry to the of each school’s GCSE results for school). We are rightly very proud last year. It is the main data source of this achievement as it places the used by Ofsted when assessing a school in the top 30% of all schools school’s achievement, attendance in England (an improvement from the and behaviour. It is also extremely 55th percentile rank last year) and is a useful for schools in helping them with their self-evaluation and planning testament to the hard work put in by the Year 11 students and all the staff to raise standards. Not only does at the school. It also shows that the it show three-year trends in the key school is improving the performance of performance measures but also all students whatever their ability. analyses the progress of students from different starting points enabling This is the time of year when our new schools to show how much ‘value they Year 11 are making their final push have added’ to the achievement of towards their GCSE exams. On their students. In effect, this shows if January 16th they all received their students are achieving above or below mock exam results which will have their expected level based on their indicated to students what they need prior attainment on entry to the school. to focus on over the next few months. The RAISEonline document also After school revision sessions are now provides comparison of the school’s in full swing. performance against national data. You may remember that at this time We are delighted to report that the RAISEonline document shows some outstanding achievements for the school last year. Warlingham students achieved significantly above national figures for 5 A*-C (including English Page 2
last year I reported that we had bid for funding to replace the SRW huts with a new permanent building. As you will know our bid was unsuccessful but undeterred, we have resubmitted another bid this year which we believe
to be much stronger. So we are keeping our fingers crossed that we are successful this time – we should find out at the end of April. Over the last year, Mr Kinder (Deputy Head) has been working closely with a number of local primary schools, such as Hamsey Green, Atwood and Warlingham Village. The projects have aimed to improve outcomes for students and support the transition process between primary and secondary phases. We’ve also been working together with other schools on initiatives to share best practice and provide improved professional development opportunities for staff across the different schools. Having a better understanding of teaching and learning in Key Stages 1 and 2 can only help our teachers to ensure excellent outcomes for our students at secondary level. We look forward to
further developing these links with our local primary partners over the coming months. I am also pleased to report that the popularity of the school in the local community continues to grow as we have received 313 first choice admission preferences for our 240 places for Year 7 in September and a total of 759 preferences for a place at the school next year. This is a significant increase on last year and reflects the hard work and high standards set by all our students and staff. It is also a testament to the good behaviour, presentation and reputation of our students in the local community. I hope you all enjoy the half term break.
Mr N Bradwell Headteacher Page 3
Important Information for Parents Reminder: New procedures for trips In the past, whenever a student went on a school trip, a parent / guardian was asked to complete two copies of a paper form, with emergency contact details and medical and dietary requirements.
from home and will save the necessity to re-submit information which has not changed. Staff that are organising a trip will be responsible for asking parents / guardians to check that the information we hold is up-to-date. We decided to review the way in which Parents and guardians will then be able to login, view and update the we collect this information so that information if applicable. parents / guardians do not have to complete the same details over and It will remain the responsibility of over, each time a student goes on a parents / guardians to check that the trip. information is correct. The lead parent / guardian (whose email address we As a result of the review, we have have on file) will be sent an individual launched an online version. This can email containing their new username be accessed by parents / guardians
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and password. Once they have this they can enter / check the required information. As a security measure, before any information updated by parents is stored on the system, administration staff will cross-check it against any information we already hold and if necessary, raise a query with the parent. Parents and guardians of students in Years 7 – 10 will have been emailed their log in and password. If you have not received this information, it is most likely due to us not having an up-to-date / correct email contact. Please contact Yvonne Street by email (y.street@warlinghamschool. co.uk) or by phone 01883 624067 ext. 2015, in order to provide us with this information.
News Warlingham School
Reminder: Newsletter Arrangements Parents for whom we have an email address should have received an email notification that the newsletter is available online, together with a link. If you did not receive an email notification that the newsletter has been published online, then it is most likely because we do not have your correct email address. Please contact Yvonne Street by email (y.street@warlinghamschool. co.uk) or by phone 01883 624067 ext. 2015, in order to provide us with this information. Alternatively, if you would prefer a paper copy, please let Yvonne Street know by email (y.street@ warlinghamschool.co.uk) or by phone 01883 624067 ext. 2015. She will need to know your name, your child’s name and tutor group. The paper copy of the newsletter will be delivered in the usual way by ‘Student Post’ so please make your child aware that he or she will be expected to deliver it to you at home. Page 5
Pathways to Law Having enjoyed my first few months studying law at A-level and having a particular desire to pursue a law-related career, I was keen to find out more about law at University and a legal career, although this proved difficult having only limited contacts in the legal sector. After receiving an email from Ms Benjamin to apply to the Sutton Trust programme, ‘Pathways to Law’, I decided to pursue the opportunity, as it would improve my personal statement for university and it would be a valuable experience. The academic sessions for the programme run once a month and allow you to shadow a current Law student at the university where your programme is based; for me this was the London School of Economics and Political Science. The programme also includes trips to the Inner Temple (barrister’s chambers) which taught me a very valuable lesson; you don’t have to be born rich to make it in the law profession. This was very reassuring! Also as part of the programme, I will get a work placement at one of the world’s largest law firms, Allen and Overy. Competition for placements with this company is fierce and it would have been virtually impossible for me, without the Pathways to Law programme. Page 6
There are lot of workshops to aid you with choosing the right pathway for your future and they also offer a four-day residential stay at Warwick University to experience a national conference. This again will allow me to explore my options and gain an insight into university life and what it would be like to study law at university. Lastly, the programme also provides you with a student mentor who attends the university and is studying law. You can talk to the mentor about any queries you have about university or sixth form or get help with writing a CV and/or personal statements etc. This is a real benefit, as it’s always helpful hearing from someone who has experienced what you’re going to have to in the future. Being involved with Pathways to Law has given me a great insight into studying law at University, and has opened up doors I didn’t even know were available to me. I would strongly recommend if you’re going into Year 12 and have an interest in law then applying to be on the programme is definitely worthwhile. It has provided me with valuable information on the law field and has also helped me to acquire skills I can use in the future; all of which I wouldn’t have known where to start with, without the pathways’ guidance.
For dates and entry requirements visit the pathways website at www. suttontrust.com/programmes/ pathways-to-law.
Sommer Parkins (12R) Pathways to Law The Pathways to Law programme was set up in 2006 by The Sutton Trust and The Legal Education Foundation, with support from major law firms, to inspire and support academically-able students in year 12 and 13 from nonprivileged backgrounds interested in a career in law.
Allen & Overy is a multinational law firm with its headquarters in London. A member of the UK’s Magic Circle of leading law firms, Allen & Overy is widely considered to be one of the world’s most elite and prestigious law firms, advising national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments.
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Maths Masterclass On Monday 26th January 2015, four girls from Year 10, Set 1 - Tamzin William, Isabel Scullane, Abbie Rawat and Sonya Gholami - attended a mathematics masterclass at Croydon High School after school. This maths masterclass was being run for girls who are considering taking A Level Maths. The evening began with refreshments of squash and biscuits before we split up into groups to start the class. During the class, we had to meet and interact with Year 10 girls from other schools in the borough. The topic of the lesson was rational and irrational numbers, also known as surds and complex numbers. We had touched on this briefly in school before but not in a lot of detail so it was helpful for us to learn it again. After looking at surds, we moved on to a fun activity which involved making a spiral shape out of right-angled triangles; this was almost like a ‘break’ before we moved onto a topic that we had never heard of before – imaginary numbers. Although it was rather complex, it gave us a taste of what to expect if we decide to do Maths as an A Level. We all really enjoyed this experience because we learnt about new Page 8
mathematical skills and got some ideas as to what we would wish to do in the future.
At the end of the masterclass, we were given the opportunity to apply for future classes being run at Croydon High School. We would certainly consider going to some of these and we would strongly recommend any
others who get the opportunity to give them a try too. You will definitely learn something new!
Tamzin William & Sonya Gholami (10A) Page 9
Annual Problem Solving Challenge On Monday 26th January, after school, we went to St Bede’s school to participate in the SATRO Annual Problem Solving Challenge. Although we didn’t win it was fun and interesting as we had to make a device that would spin Polo’s around, driven by gravitational potential energy. We had to design and make our device out of BluTac, card, paper, string, straws and cocktail sticks. Unfortunately, our model didn’t work quite as we expected! Nevertheless,
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we all enjoyed it and had a lot of fun. We don’t usually do that sort of thing so it was something new and different. I liked the SATRO Annual Problem Solving Challenge because I got a chance to talk more than I usually do and also I got to improve my teamworking skills. A good time was had by all, and it was a great learning experience.
Ellie Moore (9N)
About the SATRO Annual Problem Solving Challenge The well-established, Surrey Schools Problem Solving Challenge is a competition for teams of six students in Key Stage groups 3-5 (years 7-13) and is open to all secondary schools in Surrey and the surrounding area. The teams are set a problem to solve, using only the materials provided, in one and a half hours. The winning teams are those in each key stage group who have been judged to have best met the criteria set out in the problem. Representing Warlingham School, were: Year 9 - Rhianna Patel, Oliver McCourty, Ellie Moore, Harun Ghani, Daisy Millington & Nick Jones Year 10 - Georgia Jones, Jamie Corvaglia & Robert Hardy Year 12 - Lewis Sullivan, Megan Hayes, Ellie Bean, Ben Fell & Ted Robinson
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Exploring Enigma
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On Thursday 27th November, some students from Years 7 -10 were given the opportunity to attend a presentation by Tom Briggs, Education Officer at Bletchley Park. His focus was to introduce them to the importance of maths during the Second World War and the use of coding systems today.
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Exploring Enigma (CONTINUED)
made up of dots and dashes which can be shown in a number of ways, such as knocking on a wall, turning a light on and off, noise and even blinking in accordance to the dots and dashes of the letter in Morse.
Caitlin and Rhianna describe their experience: Recently we had a presentation about code breaking and Bletchley Park where the British decoded messages sent between the Germans, in order to work out their plans during the Second World War. Bletchley Park was out of the way from London and many codes and ciphers were broken there. The Germans would use Cipher, a disguised way of writing. For example, they would shift the alphabet along three letters so that A=C, B=D and so on. The receiver would then have the code to work it out. However this wasn’t very effective as the message could be worked out easily by the British so they began to use other methods, specifically an Enigma machine. Another code which is well known is Morse code. This is a code Page 14
After we were introduced to the world of ciphers, we got to explore a real enigma machine. This particular machine was found on the grounds of Bletchley Park and is one of only a very few which survived the destroying of all equipment after the war. The machine was initially invented in Germany for the use of banking but was used during the war by the British to code break. The Enigma machine basically consists of three or more rotors that has contacts on both sides. The rotors are set to the encryption or decryption “key” then a button is pushed which goes through the wiring in the rotors, then lights up a lamp corresponding to the encrypted output (there’s a lamp for every letter in the alphabet). To decrypt, you simply start with the same key that was used to encrypt the data and type in the ciphered text. One thing significant about the Enigma machine is that the rotors rotate as each key is pressed, so the encryption key essentially changes with each character.
There are 159 Quintillion possible combinations for the enigma code which made it almost impossible to crack (it would roughly around double the time from now to the beginning of the world for one person to figure all possible combinations – which is extremely long)! We witnessed, first hand, the machine that was used; only a very limited number of people have had that opportunity. In fact, the Enigma
machine we got to see was the actual machine used in the new movie, ‘The Imitation Game’, and it has been touched by Kiera Knightly and Benedict Cumberbatch themselves! Overall, it was an extremely interesting lesson, even for anyone who isn’t an expert in History or Maths. Also, as it was an experience not many get to have, we were very privileged.
Caitlin Gallacher & Rhianna Patel (9M ) Page 15
Physics trip to CERN From Monday 2nd February to Wednesday 4th February, Year 12 and Year 13 Physics students travelled to Switzerland to see the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.
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The trip began with an early meet at Gatwick Airport and after delays due to snow and a strike at Geneva Airport, we finally reached Geneva Hostel, where we would be staying during our time in Switzerland.
On the first day, we were booked on a boat trip. This took us around Lake Geneva. Despite the sub-zero temperatures, everyone had a great time and enjoyed the views.
riding through Geneva until the final stop. As we passed through the town and to the outskirts the snowladen countryside and mountains became clearly visible. Arriving outside the Globe of Science Innovation Lie-ins were no option on the second day, as an early start was necessary to overlooking the main CERN building, make it to CERN on time, but despite spirits could not have been higher. fatigued sixth formers, everyone was Our tour started with a physicist talking buzzing with the thought of visiting about the facility, the experiments the largest scientific experiment in performed there and a bit of theory the world. We began our (chilly) on particle physics. We then got journey on the local tram system, separated into two groups, one to
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Physics trip to CERN (CONTINUED)
visit the control centre first and the other to visit the LHC-b detector, the experiment that was looking into the Bottom quark and its properties. Hard hats were donned as we entered the building, where we went through a James Bond style eye detector to let us through to the elevators. After a short trip in a cramped lift we stepped out into the noisy environment of the detector, all around us huge machines covered all walls. The employee we were with then began to explain how the detector worked, and why it contributed to society. After we saw the main detector we went to a display of an old detector that was
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previously used but was now used as a museum artefact. After the tour underground, we went back to the surface and then got on a coach to go to the control room, the hub where all the experiments are controlled from. The main room was an impressive array of computer screens decorated with information about all the different accelerators around the site, the control centre tour was also accompanied by a short video which explained in detail how the proton beams were prepared to be put into the LHC. Shortly after the conclusion of the video, we turned our attention to the globe, where various
scientific displays such as models of the LHC, papers that were published proposing the Higgs particle and the world’s first web server created by Tim Berners-Lee (inventor of the WWW) were on display. The inside was dark, with animations of particle collisions from the LHC displayed on a central podium. A group photo was taken after we exited, and we then went to the IT discovery centre. This was a museum that showcased how modern IT has developed throughout time, and how our overall technology evolved. We had a talk from one of the curators about how information flows, and why it is important to adopt worldwide standards. We then had free time to
roam the museum, experimenting with many of the exhibits. In the evening we went bowling and the night concluded with us returning to the hostel and getting a wellearned rest. Overall, the day was very enjoyable and we gained a lot of valuable insight into the world of particle physics. On our last day in Switzerland, we were allowed a lie-in, which we all needed. We also had free time in Geneva, to walk around the old villages and to window-shop in the designer shops.
Lewis Sullivan (12W) & Anton Nikitin (13G)
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Rugby has changed this year with the merging of the Year 8 and Year 9 teams to create a super team and the 10’s and 11’s teams to facilitate the emerging stars we have in those year groups. However, with the influx of new talent in the new cohort, we have stuck with a full Year 7 team. The Year 7s have played some excellent rugby this season, winning all but one of their games. They have been committed to training, their matches and their tackles which makes a huge difference when trying to put a team together! We hope their form will continue next year and in future Games lessons. Page 20
The Year 8/9 team has missed a few games this year due to students having other interests, so getting a team together has been difficult, but there has been a solid foundation of eight boys who would play rugby everyday if they could. They will continue to push this team forward. Special mention needs to go to Ciaran Norman and Andrew Deardan for rousing the boys every time and for putting in a lot of effort to encourage the boys to play. The Year 10/11 team has performed better with each game. After a poor start with a lot of missed tackles and a disorganised structure, they have played well, including the best
rugby I have seen from them against Carshalton, on a cold and wet night. The commitment has been good from the boys and it has showed in their progressive performances. A special thank you must be given to
Dan Roberts and Josh Newman (both in Year 12), who have been officiating our home games to help with their official’s qualification.
Mr Ashdown Head of PE
Warlingham School’s Sports Facilities We’d like to remind you that Warlingham School’s Sports Facilities are available for hire throughout the year. The sports hall is available for sports such as badminton, football, indoor cricket, netball and basketball and can also be hired for children’s parties. The swimming pool plays host to a number of local swimming clubs who teach all abilities from beginners to club swimming and is available for galas with lifeguards supplied. Three hockey clubs train and play fixtures on Saturdays and host junior section training on Sunday mornings on our flood-lit AstroTurf pitch. Warlingham School has been designated a Development Centre by Surrey Hockey who use our facilities for county practice and matches. Local football clubs also use the AstroTurf pitch, for mid-week training for boys and girls from Under 8s to Adult sides. Football: Pitches for Senior, Intermediate, 9v9 and Mini-sided are all available to hire Rugby & Cricket: The Rugby pitch and cricket nets (indoor and outdoor) are available for hire for club or personal use. The gymnasium is available for gymnastics, dance, yoga, fitness classes and our refurbished floodlit all-weather courts hold county and club tournaments and fixtures. These are available for hire for tennis, football and netball. Our modern fitness suite is available for club hire and One2One fitness sessions. Instructors for fitness are available upon request. Fully qualified coaches are available for mainline sports, please contact us for further details. To make a booking or request further details please contact the sports facilities team on 01883 621905 or email g.brown@warlinghamschool.co.uk (click here). Page 21
The Geography Pages Coasts and Rebranding Places – a unit which will culminate in a trip to Now that the shock to the system Nettlecombe Court in Somerset (3rd that is a January return to school has to 6th March 2015) to apply their passed, all Geographers – both staff knowledge to real life places, such and students – are focussing on the as Minehead (tourism and coastal job at hand: progress in both levels management), Braunton Burrows and grades to ensure a satisfying (an important sand dune system result for all once their end of year assessments come around – whether which is threatened by tourism) and Taunton (an urban area undergoing a they be a Year 9 topic exam, or a set rebranding process). Year 10, although of GCSEs, AS Levels and A Levels. still steaming through the content for It’s been very pleasing to hear our the Unit 1 exam, are also off to more current Year 13 students talking about “exotic” climes (?!) in March, when they having received offers from University will visit the Norfolk Coastline to study over the last few weeks. Myself and Coastal Management and conflict at Mr Fraser have every confidence that sites such as the rapidly-eroding cliffs the offers received are more than of Happisburgh, the wide beach of achievable and, although it is always Sea Palling and the tourist town of a wrench saying goodbye to students Cromer. This trip will run from the 16th as they move on to the big wide world, to the 18th March, and will be centred there is an equal swell of pride when around the study centre at Overstrand we send them off to do Geography at Hall. Letters will be sent out soon for an even higher level. both trips, outlining final details and Lower down the school, our Key highlighting details of the Parents’ Stage 3 students are currently working Information evenings for those parents hard, either as explorers (Year 7), that would like to know more. investigating the Global Superpowers Finally, I’ll leave you with an update (Year 8) or the many faces of Brazil from a member of our Geography (Year 9). Club; this has been running for the Already February?!
Elsewhere in Geography, we are now entering “trip season”; our Year 12 AS Level students are just beginning to look at Fieldwork into Crowded Page 22
last two years now and I’m very proud of both the students that come along and make it so much fun and the staff – Miss Eveleigh and Mr Fraser – who
generously give their time after school (among marking books, planning innovative lessons and following my tyrannical demands!) to make it all possible. Well done to all involved and enjoy your well-deserved half term break.
bring everyone together and building bonds. ‘I, personally, look forward to my Geography lessons even more now that I’ve gotten to know Miss Eveleigh even better. ‘Geography club is an enjoyable time: we listen, we learn, we have fun!”
Tyrell Read (8W)
Mr Gardner Head of Geography
KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Geography Club Update
1. Year 12 AS fieldtrip (Nettlecombe Court, Somerset) – Tuesday 3rd to Friday 6th March
As mentioned in the last edition, our Geography Club is back in full swing with the Year 7/8 pupils working on some interesting projects under the guidance of Ms Eveleigh. Tyrell Read, a student in 8W, very kindly agreed to write a quick report about his experience so far: “Miss Eveleigh’s Geography Club is an educational and eventful place! So far, it has included a range of exciting activities, such as watching the film ‘The Impossible’ (an emotional film based on a true story, where a family on holiday are scattered after a devastating tsunami), using the Geography iPads to research current events and playing Geography games and having hunts around the school site, using a list of clues and our map skills!
2. Year 10 GCSE Field Trip (Overstrand Hall, Norfolk) – Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th March 3. Exams: a. First AS/A2 exam – Tuesday 12th May (Unit 1) b. First GCSE exam – Tuesday 19th May (Unit 1) 4. Iceland Trip (years 12 and 13) – still planned to take place during the Easter Break in 2016 – start saving your pennies!!!
The club brings a new excitement to our learning in Geography, as well as Page 23
Aquaskills is a small, family-run Swim School with a wealth of experience ranging from the non-swimmer through to ‘Ready for Competition’. It offers small group classes from 3.5 years up to adults. This enables them to give each person some individual attention. Their teachers are present
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in the pool with non-swimmers and early beginners as this tends to boost confidence and accelerate the learning process. The teaching programme is structured in accordance with the current ASA National Plan for Teaching Swimming.
Each term, participants work towards an award level, but the main priority is very much on Good Stroke Development. The school is also an Affiliated ASA Swim School Member which means that the staff are kept abreast of the latest developments in teaching swimming. Aquaskills lets Warlingham School’s
swimming pool on Thursday evenings between 17:45 - 19:15, during which it offers private swimming lessons for people of all ages. Aquaskills is offering a special incentive of a free swimming hat to any Warlingham School students, parents or staff, who book and pay for lessons for the next half term.
For more information, or to book, please contact Aquaskills in one of the following ways: Telephone: 0208 651 2140 Mobile: 07752688497 Email: steve@aqua-skills.co.uk Website: http://www.aqua-skills.co.uk
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Music Department The Music Department has started the New Year with a new Head of Music – Mr Duff. Having worked in Surrey schools for many years as well as Inner London schools, Mr Duff has quickly settled into the Warlingham way of life and has already started to make an immediate impact with the curriculum being redesigned and brought to life. The department is working exceptionally hard in the classroom. Year 7 students have been performing the music of Indonesia. They have performed as a Gamelan, playing various melodic roles based around the use of the Slendro 7 note scale. Their performances have involved sitting crossed legged on the floor with no shoes on, trying to capture the cultural and spiritual aspects of a traditional Indonesian ensemble. Notable performance include 7M and 7A! Year 8 students have been learning chords from the classical repertoire – using Pachelbel’s Canon as a starting point. Students have performed on keyboards and xylophone, performing extracts of the famous piece of music. Next term will see the use of chords extended into popular music, students will be given the choice of popular pieces from which they can create Page 26
their own performances. They will be invited to perform in a concert later in the year. 8W and 8N have produced some amazing performances. Year 9 students have been broadening their horizons by composing and performing in the style of Rap and HipHop (see picture on the right). They have used the www.soundation.com website to create a backing track using samples, then writing their own lyrics based upon an issue. The results have been truly fantastic! Year 10 GCSE students have embarked upon their first formal composition for assessment. Their Theme and Variations compositions have been highly successful, and likewise, they are loving the opportunity to perform as a soloist and in an ensemble. Keziah Hardy (10G) is a phenomenal clarinettist and has the potential to be outstanding in the future! Year 10 BTEC class have been researching the Music Industry, looking at employment opportunities and the roles that are available within the industry. They have composed using Cubase music for adverts – the Audi advert of 2014 and the Maybelline advert have proved to be a popular choice!
Year 13 are in exam mode already! Writing Bach Chorales and String Quartets is an epic task, but the challenges are being faced head on and with determination! Flute performances of Rutters ‘Suite’ demonstrated the solid commitment by these talented musicians.
Year 11 GCSE Music students have busied themselves finishing their pop songs as well as making their final choices for examination of their solo and ensemble performances. Notable performances include Imogen Ardley (11L) who has a fantastic voice; her rendition of ‘Voi Che Sapet’ brought a tear to Miss Frayne’s eye! Year 12 BTEC Music has proved popular this term. Already the students have performed a repertoire of solo performances and ensemble performances. Their faithful rendition of ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ by the Arctic Monkeys, as well as their twist of ‘When We Were Young’ by the Killers demonstrates their excellent musicianship.
The Music Department actively encourages all students to get involved in its wider life. Miss Frayne is running an orchestra – it is expected all students at Warlingham School who play a musical instrument will be involved in this. There are also burgeoning Keyboard clubs, Steel Pans orchestra and two rapidly growing choirs. Meanwhile, the ‘Young Voices’ and ‘Pops Choir’ are preparing a wealth of material. The department will shortly be promoting a wider range of instrumental lessons – focussing primarily on guitars, drums, bass and vocals, as well as a wider range of orchestral instruments. Students who currently receive free school meals are entitled to free instrumental lessons as well as free instrument hire! The department actively encourages all students to learn a musical instrument. Check out the school website for further details to follow. Please support your child’s Music education by encouraging him or her to get involved! Page 27
Remembering Robert Adams Robert passed away last year and left a donation to help improve the school’s facilities. The Educational Trust also wanted to mark his contribution to the school and as Robert had a passion for clocks, it was felt this would be a fitting tribute. Robert’s wife, Pauline, daughter, Carolyn, and niece Tabitha came to school to help plant the cherry tree in memory of Robert. Carolyn is a former Warlingham Student and now works for the school in our Learning Development Department.
You may have noticed the new clock on the outside of the building above the entrance to Reception, and a new tree (a white, flowering cherry tree) on the front lawn. Both are to commemorate the work of Robert (Bob) Adams - a school governor for over 30 years, and one of the founder members of the Warlingham School Educational Trust, which has raised over £250,000 for school equipment and resources. Page 28
Robert had been married for 55 years to Pauline. He was devoted to her and was also a proud father and grandfather. He loved to be surrounded by his family and friends, enjoying good food, wine, laughter and lively conversation. His hobbies inculded photography, cars and listening and dancing to dance orchestra. Robert would always try to help people. This is evident in his work as a Governor for so many years and in being instrumental in the setting
up of the Educational Trust; he was very proud of his association with the school. Robert had an amazing depth and breadth of knowledge and was always interested to listen and learn. He had a real zest for life and lived life to the full. Robert will be sorely missed by all who knew him. There is no doubt that he has left the world in a better place through his contributions to his work and in his personal life. Page 29
Year 9 visit to All Saints’ Church Last week we went to All Saints Church in Warlingham. It was quite an engaging trip; it was also an educational trip.
I think the visit to the church last week was amazing. I love visiting different churches and seeing how they are different from my own.
When we went into the graveyard some gravestones didn’t even having writing on, which showed just how old some gravestones are. I learnt facts such as in the graveyard there is a tree which is the fifth oldest tree in Surrey. It was over 2000 years old! When we looked at the graves it was kind of horrible to see how many people had died. It was also interesting to see the messages and memorials people had written on the graves for their friends and family. We had to think about what kind of thing we would want written on our grave. Some deaths weren’t written in the register but the people at the church were trying to find out about them.
I think the moment of silence was amazing, it made me feel like God was coming into my heart.
Inside the church it was really pretty but absolutely freezing. It was cold because the walls are so thick and the building is so big that it’s hard to keep warm. At the very front was a table with candles and on the Sunday service people take communion there. There were stained glass windows; the churchgoers thought that all the years of prayers were kept in the windows.
Lauren Carter (9N) Page 30
I liked the fact that I could answer questions that people asked and even some that my teacher, Mr Toop, asked as well. I think some of the others didn’t enjoy looking round the church as much as I did; personally, I thought that the church was amazing and I enjoyed going out rather than staying in the class room. I was interested in the different views from the others. Before I arrived, I thought the visit wouldn’t be that good and it would be really boring but once I got in I realised it was interesting to hear about the church and stained glass was amazing.
Harmony Cordier (9N) The church is a very nice place to go. It is peaceful and quiet and helps people to think about their religion. Anyone is welcome to pray and come in. The building itself is 760 years old. The graveyard is peaceful, also there is a section for all the World War II soldiers in Warlingham.
The church is well-built and has lovely stained glass windows; the walls are nicely made. The ceiling is in the shape of a boat because of the many Bible stories. When I walked in, it felt very calm and relaxed. Everyone was happy. Also whilst I was in the church no one behaved badly to ruin the peace. There used to be a bell on top of the church in olden times, when no one had watches or clocks. They rang the bell to say that there is fifteen minutes until a service. Joseph Swan was buried there; he made the first electronic light bulb.
Bill Spall (9N)
All Saint’s Church, Warlingham, has a large churchyard to maintain. A volunteer working party meets on the third Saturday of each month at the church, from 10:00am until 1:00pm. The group is very friendly and there are suitable jobs for everyone. The church needs extra volunteers and welcomes new members, including children (who must be accompanied by a responsible adult). The next two meeting dates are 21st March and 18th April. If you are interested you can just turn up at the church, or for further information, please ring Marion Havard on 01883 622279. Page 31
Year 7 Maths Club The Maths Department ran a club after school on Tuesdays for several gifted and talented students. Each week the theme was different and the students worked in teams on different activities and competed against each other. The themes varied from code breaking to pub quizzes. The winners each week were rewarded with merits and there was a prize for the overall winner at the end. We’ve included some accounts of the students that attended; briefly explaining what they did and what they thought of the sessions. Our first day at Maths Club, with Mr Jennings, was such fun! We worked in teams to complete tasks and it worked really well! We did a very fun pub quiz! We got into groups of two, three, four or five and we were against each other. Some of it was mental maths and some of it was completely different. On the board we had some pictures and we had to guess which word, Page 32
phrase or number they were related to. In addition we had a page of flags and we had to guess what country the flag belonged to and how many lines of symmetry it had. As we were against each other we got one point for the right flag and one point for the correct amount of lines of symmetry. Maths club is so fun and I can’t wait to go again!
Katie Merritt (7R)
At Maths club we cracked codes; one of the codes we cracked was Morse Code. We were given a piece of paper with dots and dashes and we had to work out what the message said. We were also listening to Morse Code and had to find out what that message said.
In Maths Club this week we looked at adding letters together. This is called a Cryptarithm where the digits in the sum are replaced by letters. For example if you had ab+ca=ac, a would equal 6, b would equal 3 and c would equal 9. In a Cryptarithm, each letter stands for a different digit and no letter It was such fun! Everyone enjoyed that can equal 0. We had to answer 23 questions like this in groups of 2-4. week at Maths Club.
Isabelle Edwards (7R)
Tom Hawkins (7M) Page 33
Promoting Literacy Winning Students
Congratulations to the following students, who have all won a book of their choice from the Reading List: Izzy Bates in 10R who has chosen a book from the ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians’ series by Rick Riordan. Tom Easton in 10R who has also chosen a book from the ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians’ series. Sam Coole in 8A who has chosen a book from the ‘Lord of the Rings’ series. Jess Dartnell in 8G who has chosen a book from the ‘Artemis Fowl’ series. These students were chosen from all the students who wrote articles in the previous newsletter. Well done!
Mr Seward Assistant Headteacher
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Year 9 Short Story Competition The English Department is running a Year Nine Short Story Competition next half term for all students. There will be winners chosen from each set and an overall winner from the whole year group. The competition will be run during English lessons next half term and students will be expected to write a short Gothic horror story (500-800 words). Each class teacher will pick a winner
from the class, who will get a small prize. A panel of English teachers will then pick an overall winner from all the class winners and a runner-up from each house. This overall winner and four runners-up will receive books from the school’s Book Review List. In addition, the overall winner will also receive an Amazon voucher and will have their story published in the Newsletter.
Miss Dewey English Teacher
Book Review Competition We’d like to remind all students about the Book Review Competition. Having read one of the books on the reading list, students should write a short book review. Each half term, the writer of the best review receives a £5 voucher and house points, as well as being published in the next newsletter. All book reviews will be displayed on the reading list noticeboard. We hope that all parents will encourage their children to get involved; it’s a brilliant way to improve their literacy skills which will help them in their Academic studies as well as in later life. Page 35
Mr Mutti - Site Manager & Mr Brown - Sports Facilities Manager I am delighted to have joined Warlingham School as Site Manager. My last job was in a school; prior to that I worked in various facilities services roles in private sector companies. At Warlingham School, my responsibilities are to ensure the infrastructure of the school runs smoothly - including all the things you see and many you can’t see! Heating, lighting, cleaning, etc. are all essential to ensure that students, staff and visitors have a safe and comfortable environment. I have a great team working with me and I am looking forward to working in such a successful and dynamic school with all its excellent facilities.
It’s been a joy to come and work at Warlingham School and I’m looking forward to a bright future here. The staff and students have been very welcoming and have helped me settle in to my new role. It’s great to see a school which uses its extensive sports facilities not only for the students’ education but also to encourage the local community to stay fit and healthy.
Previously, I worked at a school in Harpenden as the School Sports Centre Manager which was very similar to the job role here where I’m responsible for the maintenance and management of the sports facilities. I’ve been here a few months now and I’ve got to know all the lunchtime dishes very well, I feel confident that I enjoy decorating at home, although over time, I will develop a relationship my wife says I take far too long in the planning! I love to cook and will spend with the catering staff whereby I get time at weekends preparing our meals, extra portions! between spending free time acting as I’m currently nursing an injured lower chauffeur for my son’s activities – he is back from throwing a jumping back a keen footballer so there are no lie-ins kick whilst sparring at my local Tae on a Sunday morning! Kwon Do club. It’s been a passion of mine since my father took me at 7. Mr Mutti Since then, I passed my black belt at Site Manager Page 36
Mr Brown, Sports Facilities Manager (L) and Mr Mutti, Site Manager (R) 12 and have represented England at international competitions at the World Championships in Seoul Korea and Buenos Aires Argentina, winning two silvers and a bronze medal. Outside of Tae Kwon Do, I like to cook and spend time with my girlfriend trying to be cool in Shoreditch when in reality we secretly get on a train back to Croydon because we can’t afford to live there. Another pastime is trying to learn French, mainly to listen in on
my girlfriend’s conversations but also because I’m running out of excuses when I visit her parents in Lille. I have just applied for my visa to India to visit the Taj Mahal and see my friends get married in Delhi. I have already been warned by the staff here that Delhi belly is unforgiving so I will be on my guard.
Mr Brown Sports Facilities Manager Page 37
Dates for your diary
Monday 23rd February 2015 Year 8 Tracking home
Monday 23rd - Friday 27th February 2015 Year 8 Progress Review Week Year 12/13 PPE Week + Study Leave
Wednesday 25th February 2015 Year 8 Parents’ Evening
Monday 2nd - Friday 6th March 2015 Year 7 Progress Review Week Year 12/13 Interims
Thursday 12th March 2015 Parents’ Forum
Friday 13th March 2015 Year 10 Reports home
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Monday 16th - Friday 20th March 2015 Year 10 Progress Review Week
Monday 18th March 2015 Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Friday 20th March 2015 Year 12/13 Reports home
Wednesday 25th March 2015 Year 12/13 Parents’ Evening Friday 27th March 2015 Last Day of Spring Term
Please note that our website includes a Calendar: http://www.warlinghamschool.co.uk/92/calendar
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Widening Horizons Raising Aspirations
Warlingham School Address: Tithepit Shaw Lane, Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9YB Telephone: 01883 624067 Fax: 01883 624026 Email: info@warlinghamschool.co.uk Website: www.warlinghamschool.co.uk