Newsletter Summer 2019
Young Rio a little hero by walking for charity
Mum so proud of son’s effort
NURSERY pupil Rio completed a hugely impressive five-kilometre fundraising walk in aid of a charity that supports his mother. His mum Katie suffers from a condition that affects the colon and has had to spend time in hospital. The plucky pre-schooler wanted to show his gratitude for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation by taking part in their charity Walk It event. And with help from his sister Nevoeh and her friend Esa, both in Year 5 at Buxton, the four-year-old managed to complete the Central London walk. Rio said: “I was happy to do it because I wanted to help out my mum. It was very tiring but we all did it together so it made it fun.” Mum Katie has described Rio as “her little hero”. She said: “He was very tired towards the end but he wanted to do it for me and the charity. “He is my little hero. He has made me so proud. It makes me quite emotional that my children wanted to do this for the charity and for me. “I have just spent some time in hospital but this has really cheered me up and it is all thanks to them.
Pupils see grades go up using revision app A YEAR 8 student says he has seen a massive improvement in his grades since he started using the GCSEPod. The app covers more than 20 subjects across the curriculum, all carefully mapped to the main exam specifications. It also provides ready-made revision playlists for upcoming
exams, all available after downloading the app. Students from Buxton recently reached 10,000 downloads for the application’s revision and homework tips. And it’s not just for our Year 11 students studying for their final GCSEs who are getting good use out of the app.
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Year 8 Akdas Alam, who uses the app for around 45 minutes a day and often longer at weekends, says he has seen a marked improvement in grades. He said: “It had helped me a huge amount. My grades have gone up in every subject. “It is good because there are lots of different topics in each
subject category. It has allowed me to expand my knowledge hugely but also allowed me to try more advanced work and get ahead of my studies. “Also, if there is an area in a subject where my knowledge is not as strong, I can go back over the lesson and learn it more confidently.”
Campaigner’s tale of violence was moving quite traumatised. It is such a hard story to listen to. “It really felt empowering because she told us that our generation have the power to make a difference and to stop things like this happening.” Fellow Year 9 Kiaya added: “It was really moving because her story is so powerful. “It’s not just that she survived the ordeal but how she is fighting it and taking back the power for herself. “She is a completely inspirational person. She has really made me think about how I can make a difference and speak out about injustices.”
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Another memorable year
It has been another amazing year of learning at Buxton School and we are extremely proud of all that we have achieved on behalf of our pupils. Our priority has been to live out our vision and value statement: We have done all that we can to remain resilient, kind, ambitious and hardworking. I hope that you have seen these attributes being further developed in your child. There have been many stand-out moments this year, and I am grateful for your support and commitment. We finish this academic year 2018-2019 in a positive position going forward. We are excited about what is to come and we look forward to working with you next year. I
Acting executive headteacher Jackie Bowers-Broadbent reflects on another successful term at Buxton... would like to thank all of the staff at Buxton School, to those who are staying with us and those who will be moving on to other positions – we are indebted to you for your desire to see all pupils at Buxton School exceed their potential. Good luck to all our Year 6 and Year 11 pupils. We have witnessed just how much you have grown in both maturity and responsibility and I am confident that you will continue to develop into socially conscious individuals. I wish you all a wonderful summer break.
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STUDENTS say they were “deeply moved” by the story of female genital mutilation (FGM) campaigner Hibo Wardere. The campaigner led an interactive question-and-answer workshop at the school, talking about her experiences. She told them how at the age of six she was made to undergo genital cutting in her homeland of Somalia. She discussed her life and her move to London, where she realised the procedure was not normal in the west. Year 9 Denzel said: “I had no ideas about FGM before Hibo’s talk. It left me really shocked and
Bike sessions help safety first on road PRIMARY students learned how to be safe while cycling thanks to a weeklong programme. They learned road safety and the basics of how to look after a bike at the Bikeability sessions held in June. Bikeability training is delivered at three levels, starting in traffic-free environments before progressing to cycling on busy roads and across junctions. The scheme was launched in 2007, and is funded by the government. It replaces the old cycling proficiency test which used to be carried out in primary schools and was introduced in 1947. Research found schools that provide cycle training see a significant boost to the numbers of children who cycle. Year 6 Niam said: “Thanks to this course I now feel a lot more comfortable cycling on roads. We learned a lot about how to stay safe while cycling. “We also learned about the rules of the road and what roads signs mean, which was really useful and also quite interesting.” Students Layla said: “It really makes me feel happy to cycle now because I am much more confident on the road.”
Debaters shine in national cup OUR brilliant debating team put their skills to the test on the big stage at a national competition. The Buxton debaters, consisting of two teams of pupils, impressed at the Debate Mate Cup held at the London Metropolitan University. Both teams won a highly commendable two out of their three matches, beating schools from around the UK. And the team did not leave empty-handed after earning a certificate for the best attendance at any debate club throughout the country. The debate team, who met every Wednesday after school, took part in a warm-up competition with local schools at nearby Bobby Moore Academy. Year 9 student Ashish Parmar said: “To win four of the rounds in the debate against pupils from Wales and Scotland and places like that was really amazing. “Just to get the opportunity to be involved in a national competition really helped us to up our game in the debating stakes.” Fellow student Saif Ashraf said: “Debating has helped me in all areas of my education but mostly it has helped me with my confidence. “Being able to get up and talk in front of different people really helps you with
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presentation skills. It has made a major difference to my education.” Student Nelijah Ivanova said: “Before Debate Mate, I was not really comfortable with public speaking, including in class. “Now after taking part in matches and regularly attending Debate Club, I have a new confidence to speak up. “I am contributing more in class, which is having a positive impact on my grades because I am more engaged in the subject.” Mr Blagden, who runs Debate Club, said: “It was noticeable how the students’ comfort at speaking in public increased dramatically throughout this project. “As a school, we are extremely proud of the mindset displayed by the pupils when debating. They developed skills and characteristics such as responsibility and tenacity.”
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Stadium atmosphere thrill for school choir Singers perform Wembley show BUXTON students joined others from all over the country for the annual Voice in a Million event to perform popular songs at Wembley. In its tenth year, the event helps Adoption UK, a charity that supports and advocates for adoptive parents. It was set up to raise awareness of the plight of children in care and brings together school children from across the country. The school’s choir, Buxton Singers, performed an array of hits such as ‘This Is Me’ from The Greatest Showman and Stormzy’s ‘Blinded By Your Grace’. The concerts in March, which raised funds for Adoption UK, attracted around 20,000 people each night. Student Kevin Coman said: “It was extremely nerve-wracking because when you see how many people are in the audience it really can be a bit scary. “Once you get started though you feel the noise and the force of the singers and you really forget your nerves and start to enjoy it. “When you think about all the top singers and musicians who have performed at Wembley and that you are now one of them. That is really amazing. “Getting to do it with our school choir, the Buxton Singers, was incredible. It was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience I will never, ever forget.” Community leader Ms Moloney said: “For many of our pupils, this will have been the very first time they have performed live. What better way to start than by performing in the same arena as some of music’s biggest stars. “It was hard not to get a little emotional when watching students perform in front of a full arena packed with friends and family. This is the sort of occasion our students will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Pupils forge new friendships on camp trip SCHOOL bonding was the watchword for primary pupils as they spent three funpacked days at an activity centre. There was boating, climbing, paddle boarding and lots more besides during the trip to the Stubbers in Upminster this term. The camping trip helped to develop leadership, teamwork, communication and independence amongst the pupils from Years 3, 4 and 5. Year 4 Ola said: “My
favourite part of the trip was all the activities we got to take part in. The one I enjoyed the most was the paddle boarding. “I made lots of new friends and talked more to my teachers than I normally would. All in all it was a very fun trip. Year 4 Laylarni said: “We really developed our independence because we were given a lot of freedom and responsibility. It was also fun sitting by the camp fire.”
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Ms Monahan said: “It was a trip full of adventure, comradeship and fun-packed activities. “It was also a wonderful opportunity for students to forge new friendships across year groups and get to know their teachers. “We are also extremely proud of the comments about our students from staff at Stubbers. There were a lot of lovely remarks about their politeness and behaviour.”
Empathy Week helps pupils think of others
PRIMARY students were encouraged to think of others during a special school project to celebrate Empathy Week. Activities included random acts of kindness, a happiness jar and creating artwork across each year group in the primary school. Year 2 Tisha assisted someone with Arabic
translation at her mosque, helped someone with homework and cheered up a friend. She said: “I just want to make the world a better place with kindness towards other people. It makes me feel happy and it makes them feel happy.” Fellow student Olivia said: “It was a fun week because
we got to make things in class and we all thought about how we could be kind to someone.” Rayyan said: “If anyone was sad you could help them by cheering them up. That is an act of kindness. “It made us think a bit more about things like kindness and how important it is.”
Students stepped out and felt the benefits PRIMARY pupils put their best foot forward when they took to the streets for this year’s Walk to School Week. The campaign, which took place in June, saw Buxton pupils join in with the national festival of walking. Walk to School Week is organised by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, as part of their National Walking Month campaign.
The national initiative, now in its 20th year, aims to encourage children to be active and to reduce air pollution caused by cars on the school run. Year 4 student Allas said: “I really enjoyed walking to school every day because it is good to start the day by getting some exercise. “As all the school was taking part, there were lots more people walking and it was fun to walk with them.”
Student Maviyd said: “It is better to walk to school and not take the car because it is better for the environment. “We have been learning a lot about the impact cars have on the air and so it was good to do something about it. I’m proud of myself.” Student Nana said: “It made me feel good because I was helping the environment and also getting good exercise at the same time.”
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Sprint champ Akwasi’s eyes on Olympics SPEEDY student Akwasi Banahen left the competition in his wake as he became the English schools 100m sprint champion. The Year 11 athlete smashed his personal best with a staggering time of 10.83sec to take gold at the race in June. The youngster has blown away the competition at every level, winning for Buxton at the borough games and for Waltham Forest in Essex and London competitions. Last year, he broke a 32-yearold borough record not once but twice, first in his heat ands then the final at Waltham Forest Athletics Championships. But it was his step up to the national stage that has caught the attention with a victory that puts him among the best young sprinters in the country.
He said: “I’m not sure I am anywhere near the top athletes just yet but I am certainly getting closer. I will keep trying. “I just have to keep improving my technique and practising. I would love to one day run for Team GB in the Olympics Games.” PE teacher Ms Farraway said: “Akwasi has been working exceptional hard to improve his race time over the last 16 months. “He has progressed through the different stages of competition, winning gold every time he has run. “The Buxton PE department and Buxton community are proud of his amazing focus and ambition. “We are sure to see him in the future, potentially competing for Team GB.”
Time to turn off ignition FAMILIES have been urged to switch off their car engines when picking up and dropping off their children. Staff, local councillors and volunteers patrolled the area outside the school in a bid to cut pollution in June. The event was to raise awareness after Waltham Forest Council adopted antiidling legislation, allowing enforcement officers to issue a fine to drivers who don’t switch off their engines. Pupils are also being encouraged to use the journey to school as a chance to exercise by either walking or cycling.
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National champion: Akwasi claimed the English Schools title
Musicians show their talents in band battle STUDENTS pitted their musical talents against local schools in a hugely competitive Battle of the Bands competition. Schoolchildren from all over the borough took part in the competition held at Leyton Sixth Form in June. The Buxton pupils narrowly missed out on top spot, finishing second despite a stunning performance of the Bruno Mars song Count on Me. Ukulele player Tashawn MacDonald said: “It was a really fantastic experience performing in front of an audience. “It was particularly special because I got to do it with my school friends. The competition was a great way to showcase the
hard work and talent everyone at this school has. Even though we didn’t win, it was a great evening and really enjoyable.” Piano player Darcy McMahon said: “It was a good mix of people who had performed quite a bit and those who didn’t have as much experience. “I have been playing the piano from a very young age so it was great to take all I have learned and put it into a competition. I really thought we represented our school in a very impressive way.” The band consisted of Kevin Cosman, Iraida, Tashawn McDonald, Mehkai Patterson, Jeremiah Matundo, Rihanna, Darcy McMahon, Meribel and Ru’niece Roberts.
Looking forward to the big step up... PRIMARY pupils got a taste of life at secondary school on a fun packed day of science, sports and drama plus much more on Buxton’s transition day in July. Here three Buxton primary pupils tells us about their experiences and their thoughts on joining the secondary phase.
Nathan said: “I loved it, it made me feel really grown up. I can’t wait to join the secondary school next year. “The best bit was playing football on the sports pitches. I always wanted to stay at Buxton. It is the best.”
Aamina said: “I have made lots of new friends from other schools which really helps. “I also know the building already so it makes it much easier to feel settled.”
Anzoom said: “I had never been taught French before so I really enjoyed that part of it. “Now I can say a few words and can’t wait to get started in September. Buxton is the only place for me. “
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School’s gold bonanza in borough Olympics IT was record-breaking year for Buxton’s athletes as the school scored a remarkable 30 medals at the borough Olympics. Students struck gold 14 times, with victories across the disciplines including sprint races, shot put and long jump, among others. There were also ten silver medals and six bronze, making this year’s championships the most successful in the school’s history. The sprint relay team made up of students Kye, Cameron, Michael and Amari (right) were just too quick for the competition as they won the Year 10 4x100m event. There was a double win for Tu-Wayne, who took top spot for Buxton in both the 200m and the shot put. PE teacher Miss Farraway said: “Buxton athletes put in top performances, winning a remarkable haul of medals. “That doesn’t tell the whole story because so many more students missed out on a medal by an inch or a fraction of a second. “Our athletes and helpers represented the school with maturity and we are extremely proud of the way they conducted themselves – and of their success.
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Athletes showing real promise Sports report by Miss Farraway footsteps of their older role models and join a local club and compete at regular intervals. Kye Lionel and Faith Ezelue are both Year 10 pupils who have consistently performed exceptionally well. Kye who is a 400m runner and Faith, a 100m runner, train at a local athletics club. They performed impressively when competing for the borough at Essex Championships. They continue to inspire a younger generation of athletes at this school.
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Our talented roster of athletes have performed to such a high level that they have been invited to compete at a borough and county level. In Year 7, Tu-Wayne and Jeremiah were selected to represent their borough at the Essex County championships after achieving gold and silver medals in their events. Year 8 sprinter Wassila has been asked to represent her borough, for the second year in a row, at the London Youth Games in the 100m and relay. We hope that these young athletes follow the