Ackworth Today - Autumn 2024

ACKWORTH TODAY

A New Year Begins!

A very warm welcome to our new and returning Ackworth family members

Pupil Voice

Drama, School Trips, Junior Yearly Meeting, Charity Week and Catwalks! Pupils talk about their experiences

Easter Gathering 2025

Booking form included inside to book your place now!

Head’s Address

Martyn Beer

The Ackworth Community is truly a special place, a fact that is repeatedly reaffirmed to me through the course of each term. A recent event during Black History Month exemplified this, highlighting the depth of our community’s commitment to equality and inclusivity. This event featured the visit of Abigail Marshall-Katung, Lord Mayor of Leeds, an invitation extended by two of our very own students, Vivi and Joel.

Vivi and Joel felt that our commemoration of Black History Month should extend beyond remembering the lives of prominent Black Americans such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., and instead focus on the contemporary experiences of Black Britons. Abigail Marshall-Katung responded to their personal invitation and graced us with her presence, sharing her life story as an immigrant from Nigeria and the experiences of her twin boys growing up in sometimes hostile and racist environments.

The event was designed to challenge the conscious and unconscious prejudices we all hold, prompting us to reflect on our responses to racism and to commit to our school values of equality and truthfulness. Abigail’s presentation was followed by a period of Quaker silence, allowing us to reflect on the power of her words and her family’s experiences. When the floor was opened for questions, the engagement was overwhelming, with students from all year groups participating enthusiastically.

The session had to be concluded with questions still pouring in, as the Lord Mayor had other commitments to attend to. She was visibly moved by the spirit of the questions and the participation of our diverse student body, hailing as it does from 27 different nations across the globe. At one point, she paused and looked around the assembly, commenting on the wonderful diversity and exclaimed, “I feel so at home here!”

This moment was a source of immense pride for our entire school community. Our school purpose is to provide an exceptional, holistic, and inclusive Quaker education, nurturing young people to flourish and play their part in creating a better world. This event was a shining example of this purpose in action. It was student-led, staffsupported, and beautifully founded on our school values.

In a letter from prison, George Fox encouraged early Quakers to “be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone.” This spirit was captured during this event, reinforced by our invited guest, and thoughtfully absorbed by all present.

Mistakes will undoubtedly occur in the future, and we must continue to refer back to the key messages from this event to ensure that lessons are learned and relearned. However, this does not diminish the joy of the moment and the ongoing wonder that the Ackworth community can bring in its best moments.

This event has shown that, at our best, Ackworth School is a place where diversity is celebrated, where young people are empowered to lead, and where the values of equality and truthfulness are lived out daily. Let us continue to strive towards these ideals, making our community a beacon of hope and inclusivity for all.

SUMMER TERM Charity Concert

While most departments are winding down somewhat after the exam season, the opposite can be said for the music department. In the first week back after the final half term break, the department hosted its 3rd annual Charity Concert, in which some of the local primaries were cordially invited to Ackworth to perform as individual choirs. This year, we raised funds to go towards “War Child”, a charity that supports children and families in war-torn areas of the world, including Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon.

We welcomed back pupils from Bell Lane and Mill Dam schools, as well as our own Coram House, and they wowed us with performances from their own choirs. As well as performances from our Senior Choir, we also heard solos from some of our Senior Students, namely Vinnie (on saxophone) and Shanae (singing). Hearing these older students perform, I hope, will have inspired some of these younger musicians – they certainly inspire me!

As the event, coincidentally, was held on 6th June (which also happened to be the 80th anniversary of the D Day Landings), the staff of the music

department also took part in the concert, performing a version of the Vera Lynn classic “We’ll Meet Again”, which the audience joined in with most rapturously!

Finally, as has become tradition with the Charity Concerts, all schools sang together for the final number, which this year was the anthem “This is Me”, from The Greatest Showman. This tearjerker brought the audience to a standstill, all performers were rewarded with an abundance of applause. It reminds us of the power that music can have, especially when we all sing together, both literally and figuratively.

Oliver McCarthy-Bell, Director of Music

Party on the Green

July 2024

At a time when the music department gets crazily busy, one thing that is on everyone’s minds is… will the weather hold out for Party on the Green? Unfortunately, we weren’t blessed with completely dry weather, but even a bit of drizzle (the fine kind that gets you wet through) didn’t dampen everyone’s spirits that evening.

One of the highlights of the musical calendar, it is a true showcase of the amazing talent that we have in the music department, with musical offerings from both Coram House and Senior School.

Numbers included the aptly named “Summer” from Coram Choir (who seemed to magic away the rain as they sang), a throwback to the 80s, with a mash up of “Twist of Fate” and “Xanadu” from Senior Choir, a lovely selection of film themes by John Williams from Senior Orchestra, and even some Beyoncé and Michael Bublé from our two newest ensembles, Flute Choir, and Jazz Band. One highlight of the evening was a performance of the famous “Czardas” (a Hungarian folk dance, by Italian composer Monti) by one of our short-stay students, Axxon. What a way to welcome in the summer holidays in style!

Oliver McCarthy-Bell, Director of Music

SUMMER TERM Leadership Day

Ackworth hosted the ‘Living Our Beliefs’ student leader training day. This was attended by our School Officers and House Captains, alongside 17 students from Bootham School and 9 from The Mount School. The day was led by Jo Baynham, the Yorkshire Youth Development Officer for Quakers in Britain. There were workshops on Quaker history and testimonies, as well as the opportunity to learn more about Quaker worship and meetings for business. The day was a real success with students engaging enthusiastically in the sessions alongside the opportunity to meet and form friendships with other young people.

Equality Champions

Our Peer Mentors continued their training during the summer term, with Steph from Spectrum delivering a session on how to be a supportive friend to LGBTQIA+ peers.

This was followed by a 2-hour workshop for 5 students who have chosen to be “Equality Champions”. It was moving to hear how compassionate and well informed our students are, and the ideas they have to further improve equality within school...with one of their first steps to create this amazing badge incorporating the school motto.

Ros Noble, Quaker Lead

Celebration Day

The last day of the summer term and the final day of the school year was a day of celebrations, showcasing the amazing talent of our pupils and students. It was also a time to honour the dedication of our staff and the unwavering support of our families as the school year ended.

Despite the unpredictable weather, the Terrace and Green were vibrant with colour and echoing with laughter. Our school caterers, Thomas Franks, excelled once more with a variety of street food that celebrated our international community and a vast array of desserts, including homemade waffles.

Colonel Edward Montagu’s Regiment of Foote/ Edward Montagu’s C17th Living Historians were delighted to be asked to be a part of Celebration Day this year. As a 17th Century reenactment group, we were able to provide an insight into civilian life in the mid 1600’s to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of George Fox, founder of the Quakers.

Our display included net making, braiding and tassel making, spinning, quill and glass pen writing and Napier’s bones, used for Mathematical calculations.

Pupils, parents, staff and visitors alike came to see us, and we enjoyed meeting the school community and sharing our skills and knowledge.

Jill Wright, Receptionist

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Cawood Slot

During my final term at Ackworth I was given the chance to perform one last time on the stage, on Celebration day, in the Cawood slot. I was really looking forward to doing this performance, but at the same time I was incredibly nervous. It was the first time I was to perform on stage, by myself, in front of an audience. I didn’t have any other actors to rely on if I forgot my lines or missed my mark. Even though I was nervous I loved it. I would do it

Old Scholar Cup

Huge congratulations to Freya Marshall who was awarded the Ackworth Old Scholar Cup 2024 by the AOSA President, Jeffrey Swales. The cup is awarded to a scholar who has shown the best qualities of initiative, innovation, enterprise, and service which is of benefit to the community – either within school or locally.

again if I got the chance. The Cawood slot was an amazing experience and helped boost my confidence even more, just in time for me to take my next steps as I moved onto University.

Freya

“Just because we don’t know now, doesn’t mean we won’t know. We just don’t know yet.” When I started Seawall I certainly didn’t know if I was capable of doing a good job of it and perhaps still don’t know now. But if you’ve watched or read it, I think that’s part of the beauty.

I watched Seawall for the first time in 4th Form. I loved it, but looking back now I didn’t quite get it. I know I loved the way Andrew Scott performed, I know I loved the words, and I know I loved the way it made me feel. But I also know that I didn’t know why.

Understanding why was one of the most important things in doing this play: why I want to perform it? Why is it so moving? Why is it a story I want to share? Answering these questions was really, really difficult. For a start, as a 17 year old boy what could I possibly relate to with Alex. I have no understanding of parenthood, of being a husband, nor of the unimaginable pain of losing a child. I had to find where I connected with Alex, where I could make his story tellable by me.

Seawall is a deeply human play. It portrays our most fundamental emotions: love, pain and all that lies between. This is presented to us in-and-by Alex. A gentle, chatty and thoughtful person who is at his core broken. He demonstrates the insecurities, fears and guilt which that we all endure throughout life as a result of love. Alex wanted to be heard, to share his love and to share his grief. Because above all, that is the most comforting thing a

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person can have - a voice. A voice that is listened to and a voice that is truly heard. In this beautiful yet devastating monologue he uses his voice to share the life of his daughter and all the laughter, joy and innocence of her life.

Doing this play, wrestling with my own fears of performing to the level it deserves and telling the story that I felt needed to be shared, was one of my favourite experiences in life. I learnt so much as an actor, but more significantly as a person. It pushed me to levels on stage I didn’t know I could reach and to places in myself I didn’t think I could access. I am immensely proud to say that I performed this play and forever grateful for what the experience gave me.

Adam, Upper 6th Form

This is Adam’s third Cawood Production, though his first solo piece; for Freya, leaving this year, her Cawood debut is also the final time she performs on the stage of the Fothergill Theatre. Both deserve such respect and plaudits for their immense efforts in learning lines, rehearsing and performing in such a crazily short period of time. Both came at the issue of text choice from entirely opposite perspectives: Freya only settled on her text two weeks ago and has been frenziedly learning lines while juggling shifts at work; Adam, in contrast, has been quietly circling Seawall for over a year now, puzzling how to bring his version of Alex out of the genius of Andrew Scott’s shadow.

Both students have shown unbelievable commitment and skill in honing their pieces to the standard that we all work to at Ackworth: their performances are outstanding; I am sure you will agree. Every year I say it, because every year it is true: what a privilege it is working with such passionate, driven students who love the theatre; what a privilege it is for us all to see the work they do. Thank you so much to Freya and Adam, for your performances today and for your service to Drama at Ackworth School over these years.

Dennis Kelly’s Girls and Boys and Simon Stephens’ Seawall were the two beautiful solo pieces that completed Ackworth’s 2023-24 Drama Programme. They were also about as much of a contrast as you can get to the vertiginously busy Coram Boy and the populous mayhem of A Christmas Carol, the Senior and Junior productions respectively.

These Cawood Slot productions are eponymously named after Old Scholar Ben, who decided that hours spent rehearsing in the darkness of the Fothergill Theatre were a far better way of spending his post-public exam relaxation time than, say, sleeping or sunbathing. It is a source of huge pleasure that something driven from student-passion has now become a permanent fixture on the Drama Calendar at Ackworth School. Thank you, Ben! This is the 5th year of the Cawood Slot - long may they continue.

And most of all, thank you to you, all those reading this in the Fothergill, our audience: thank you for your ongoing support of Drama at Ackworth. Viola Spolin reminds us that ‘the audience is the most revered member of the theatre. Without an audience, there is no theatre. Everything done is ultimately for the enjoyment of the audience. They are our guests, fellow players, and the last spoke in the wheel which can then begin to roll. They make the performance meaningful.” For your support in watching our productions, and if you are a parent of an actor, for all of your support helping your children learn lines, calming down their worries, bringing them to weekend rehearsals, patiently waiting in the car park as another rehearsal runs over... thank you. We are a small school, but when it comes to Performing Arts, we dream big and aim big. You are an integral part of our success, and I am grateful for all of your support.

Ali Boucher, Head of Drama

Ali Boucher, Head of Drama, awards the annual Richard Vergette Ackworth School Drama Trophy in Summer 2024.

This is the sixth year that we have been able to present the Richard Vergette Ackworth School Drama Trophy, in recognition of a student’s contributions to Drama through their time at Ackworth. The recipient of this year’s award is Freya Marshall.

For those of year who were not there this morning, you will know that Freya has also won this year’s Old Scholars Cup. So many of the traits that she was being recognised forcompassion, innovation, service, selflessness - I have seen in Freya here in the Fothergill Theatre. I have not just seen Freya rehearse, and perform, and think wonderfully on stage, but I have also seen her prepare, cajole, order, care for, look after, listen, nurture, inspire, other students - often much younger than she - backstage

Freya has been a permanent fixture in every school production since I have been Head of Drama. You need a female to play a male role, Freya was your man, or woman. The life of a character actor is something that she bore with tolerance and good grace (mostly), no matter how convincing my arguments were to the otherwise that she was better served by playing characters who were interesting, rather than the orthodox gender. That doesn’t take away the fact that Freya finally got her pay off year, thoroughly enjoying playing these two completely different women, Mrs Lynch in Coram Boy and this unnamed, harried mother in Girls and Boys

When Freya performed her final Senior Production in January, I held Freya up as an example to all younger

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actors of what you can achieve through commitment and hard work. Freya’s dance background may have made her feel at ease performing in public, but performing in different ways - through acting, through singing - are skills that initially, she was much more uncomfortable with and had to commit to the craft with discipline to learn. In my first play, Freya was a star - literally, in the background in a classroom nativity scene. She ends her time at Ackworth having been a principal in the senior play, with a LAMDA Grade 8 solo acting distinction under her belt, and having completed a Cawood production, alone on stage, exposed and vulnerable, and stepping up to that challenge magnificently. She is an inspiration to every younger actor wondering if they will one day lead a production - with commitment, energy, hard work, and a genuine determination to improve herself, she has shown that you can, because she has.

One of the reasons that she has been able to achieve such success is Freya’s drive and determination. Many people, when they find out that they are in the sole student in a class, may well want to withdraw and seek comfort in crowds; Freya, true to her stubborn, obstinate, contrary character, was the most wonderful solo student for Oliver McCarthy-Bell and myself as she tackled the CTEC in Performance, a more practical version of the Theatre Studies A Level. She did her work, she navigated deadlines, she conversed and pushed and challenged in class, she performed and explored and whenever she needed more people to act against, she simply went off and found them. She is aiming for a Distinction in the CTEC and that would be such a just reward for her brave, determined, and purposeful approach to learning.

Freya’s greatest attribute and contribution to Ackworth School Drama? Commitment - she is always there. On stage whenever possible, and whenever she can’t be on stage, she finds a way to insert herself into the creative or production processes, and over the last two years particularly has been incomparable. Whether that is managing makeup, being the person who has to close the wardrobe as it flaps about in the wind in Great Garden, or - as she did just last week - marshalling our

Freya Marshall responds:

Doing drama at Ackworth was one of the best experiences I had at school. It helped build my confidence on stage and in myself. I got the chance to do multiple wonderful plays and musicals. I took part in every production I could. If I couldn’t act in it, I would help direct and sort out costumes and makeup. Mr Boucher also gave me the opportunity to choreograph and teach the dances to the cast. This also gave me opportunities to dance in those musicals and go on stage. I developed a nickname whilst teaching choreography rehearsals, I was known as “The Drill Sergeant.” I’d run dances with the cast as many times as possible to ensure everyone would be able to perform to the best of their abilities. I even gave up time during break and lunch to help anyone who needed a little extra help.

I did all the productions I could since 2nd Form. I have done: Whistle Down the Wind, The Light Burns Blue, Blue Stockings, The Theory of Relativity, Nell Gwynn, Legally Blonde and Coram Boy. I remember all of them and had so much fun, even though I was often cast as a male

younger students in relation to costume for A Christmas Carol, Freya has been unwavering her in her commitment to Drama at Ackworth by ensuring she is there to play whatever role is needed. Most importantly, she has been the student choreographer of our last two musicals, and while we gently mock Freya for her militaristic approach to training and support, I genuinely mean it when I share with you my feeling that it is in leading choreography and in teaching students that Freya has found herself. The increasing gentleness, compassion and empathy she has found and applied over the last couple of years has been breathtaking to watch - I have literally seen her grow and progress and mature before my eyes.

I don’t know what we will do without her next year, but I do know that whatever we do, it will be better because she will have influenced all of us in some way. Thank you so much for all you have done for Drama at Ackworth, Freya. We are so grateful for, and appreciative of, you.

character. I enjoyed every second of it. I have to admit I was so excited when I was cast as Mrs Lynch in Coram boy. She was one of my favourite characters to play. Mrs Lynch was an interesting character as she had moments where her actions were good but at the same time bad.

For A-Levels, I was able to do the Performing Arts CTEC which introduced me to new ways of performing. This helped broaden my own ability to perform on stage and forced me to think outside the box for many of my assessments. I was lucky to learn how to dance in the style of Fosse and how to write and perform Spoken Word poetry. I even got to go and see a Punchdrunk performance in London as I was studying this style of theatre. The performance was amazing because you weren’t glued to a seat. You were able to walk around the performance space. It had different floors to explore and if you were lucky an actor could choose you to follow them and almost perform with them. Mr Boucher and Mr McCarthy-Bell made Performing Arts a really fun subject to do and I am so grateful for all the work they put in to it. I managed to get a Distinction thanks to their engaging lessons.

SUMMER TERM

A Christmas Carol

This summer’s junior production felt significant in many ways, not least in that it was an entirely anachronistic summer performance of a classically wintry play!

David Edgar’s theatrical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” stays faithful to the original story while bringing a fresh theatrical perspective. The play follows the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man, who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. These supernatural visits reveal to Scrooge the impact of his actions on others, leading him to change his ways and embrace the spirit of Christmas. Edgar’s adaptation emphasises themes of redemption, generosity, and the importance of compassion, while maintaining the Victorian setting and rich characterisations that make Dickens’s tale such a classic.

Pupil Voice

A Christmas Carol is one of the best plays I’ve ever done! It certainly has stood the test of time and has provided me with so much joy and fulfilment. The irony of the play is just hilarious. Performing this in summer and having to wear 4 layers was one of the biggest challenges by far! Very pleased the radiators were not on! Another reason why I felt so proud to be in this production was that it was a junior play and really homed in on the younger students. It gave some younger faces a chance to shine, and it meant Mr Boucher could take risks with it. This leads me to my next point. No-one was left out. ‘There are no small roles, only small actors.’ I feel like this was truly achieved with the production because everyone put in dedication, and it gave back 110% in return. I cannot thank everyone enough for all the hard work they put into the critical success that the play turned out to be.

This year’s production very much felt like a turning point in a natural cycle of drama students at Ackworth, too. With the departure of a number of very strong 5th and 6th form actors at the end of the 2024 academic year, it felt that this production allowed us to start the cycle again with a new generation of young actors, with 1st form students forming the bulk of this sprawling cast. This has made for a very emotional rehearsal period of this beautiful but complex play, ranging from excitement to terror, from curiosity to panic! The Junior Production, like all productions at Ackworth, are wholly inclusive: students who want to take part will be given a role, and in the months of rehearsal and preparation, they come to understand the challenges, responsibilities, difficulties and joys of putting on a production for a public. Making up our cast were young actors of huge talent, potential and experience, as well as young actors who were using this production to consider whether acting and performance is something they might like to do more of in the future. For all, at their young ages, they have learned the massive responsibility and levels of preparation demanded for public performance, and all - regardless of where they’re on that spectrum, from experienced to novice - deserve huge credit. Full of effort and ambition, over 30 young people worked tremendously hard and given of their best to stage - in a unique, traverse format in the Westwood Building - this beautiful and complex play, which was wonderful to see.

Ali Boucher, Head of Drama

Vinnie, 2nd Form

It was a very fun experience. The props were incredible, and I enjoyed the overall vibe. It was very unique setting to perform in, but everyone adapted really well

Benji, 2nd Form

I really enjoyed the junior production as it is a great way to meet new friends and is the start of acting in a bigger role as someone a bit younger as it focuses on 1st to 3rd Form, meaning you can make new friends with others older than you and start acting in bigger roles with more lines.

Herbie, 1st Form

At the end of the year last year, we performed a Christmas Carol as the junior play. It was definitely an amazing experience, that gave me a brilliant introduction to the junior plays at Ackworth. The costumes were amazing, everybody worked so hard on the sets, and all the actors were brilliant. Overall, it was a great adaption of the classic book, and everybody worked really hard.

Vida, 1st Form

I enjoyed the play very much. It was stressful to begin with, however when it came to performance I loved it. We all got along very well! The props were incredible and how they pieced together was amazing. Playing the main character, I was extremely impressed with how well everyone worked, and I am extremely impressed how it turned out. I only came to Ackworth last year, but the play was by far my favourite part.

Aimee, 2nd Form

SUMMER TERM

A-Level Results

AUTUMN TERM

First Day of Term

Garden Villa Health & Well-being Centre

In September we opened the doors to the newly refurbished Garden Villa Health & Wellbeing Centre. The centre is home to the School Nurse, Wellbeing Support Worker, School Counsellor and safeguarding support, easily accessible in one centralised location. We have designated an area where our staff can take some personal time, and perhaps a quick coffee, as we aim to create a safe and welcoming space for the whole school.

Hannah Ellis, Designated Safeguarding Lead

AUTUMN TERM

Black History Month

We were very lucky to welcome the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Abigail Marshall Katung to speak with our pupils in October. This process was driven by two of our pupils, Vivi and Joel, who as part of Black History Month were keen for our school community to hear not just about key figures in history such as Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, but about the achievements of black people who are local, current and relevant.

We were inspired by Abigail’s story and journey which helped all of us in our school community further understand some of the challenges that can be faced by people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, especially around microaggression and the unintended

We are grateful to Abigail for generously giving up her time to speak today and delighted that she professed herself so at home in such a diverse school. The Quaker maxim: Let your lives speak rang out clear and loud through our time together and the fantastic questions offered by our students!

Restart a Heart

Restart a Heart day was on 16th October, and we were honoured to welcome in a team from Yorkshire Ambulance Service to talk to our students about the importance of CPR. With practical demonstrations and the opportunity to practice what they had been taught; our students enjoyed a very engaging session whilst learning an important life skill.

Thank you also to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for popping into the session and speaking with the students.

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Year 7 pupils were awarded the Picture News bronze impact award for their business enterprise work and business fair which raised £490 for Cancer research in June when they were in Year 6 in Coram.

“We reached this decision as we felt that your Year 6 pupils have made a real difference to Cancer research with their first business fair. We loved the different ideas the children came up with to raise money, and what a fantastic amount was raised! Well done for the impact you have made; you should feel very proud!”

Lisa and Jo, Picture News Education Consultants

Badsworth and Hessle Run

Founders’ Day

Students in 1st Form enjoyed their Founder’s Day activities. Our walk to Nostell Priory involved muddy paths, horses and cows, fun in the garden playground and a wellreceived visit to the cafe.

On our return we were grateful for our bangers and mash to refuel before our Restart a Heart session with NHS paramedics. Our visitors commented on the engagement and excellent questions asked by our 1st Form.

What a great day!

Leah Huddlestone - 1st Form Pastoral and Academic Lead and Head of Girls PE

CORAM HOUSE Head’s Address

Dear friends,

As Christmas approaches (is it me or does it come round quick each year?) it gives us a chance to reflect on what has been, and is always, an actionpacked Autumn Term.

Founders’ Day is always such a special day in the school calendar for me. When I first came to Ackworth school, every single pupil and teacher went out on a coach to a far location for a long walk. I was certainly tested at this point, as my idea of a walk was far less rigorous than what I faced. “Live adventurously.” is how Quaker advices and queries tells us to live. These are certainly my first memories. Nowadays we have opted for a more sustainable route and all walks set off on foot from school, just as they did over 200 years ago. It is a day steeped in history- full of fun and tradition mixed with the Ackworth school community spirit. Quite unique but so memorable!

more so in autumn – chilly mornings gradually warm as the Sun rises and the school grounds are with fallen leaves and shades of gold, red and orange. Halloween and harvest begin the year’s celebrations bringing our school community together. New beginnings blend with the excitement of the study work of learning and growing.

Winter and Christmas are exciting times in a junior school. As the glitter becomes more obvious (bless our cleaners who put up with so much) so does the excitement and the constant singing of the nativity and Carol concert songs can be heard from all areas of school.

A warm Christmas message to all of our Ackworth school community. Enjoy the season, however you celebrate!

The autumn term in school is marked by the transition from summer warmth to the crispness of Winter. It is an exciting time to be in school for many reasons. The grounds of our school change spectacularly but so much

Yours in friendship,

Sally Slater

CORAM HOUSE

After school clubs

Yoga

The Pre-Prep yoga club has been running successfully in school this term and the children have thoroughly enjoyed every session. The children have participated in fun yoga games that keep them engaged while learning the fundamentals of yoga. Throughout the weeks, they have been introduced to various breathing techniques and have mastered several yoga poses with the Tree, Downward Dog, Cat/Cow and Cobra emerging as their absolute favourites. The sessions always end with a calming meditation and relaxation time, which the children look forward to, as it allows them to unwind and feel a sense of peace and tranquillity.

Karen Withington, HLTA

Choir

The Years 1 and 2

Coram Choir started working on an Autumn song in the first half of this term. They enjoyed singing ‘Orange and Yellow and Brown’ and did a brilliant job of performing this confidently all the way through. The choir have also learnt some Christmas tunes in preparation for the performance at the end of term. It is lovely to have some dedicated members of the choir who attend each week and really make a difference to the ensemble.

Arts and crafts

We use lots of recycled materials and enjoy seeing how many different things we can create from something as simple as an egg box, wooden peg or toilet roll tube. The children use their imaginations freely and each project allows them to express their individuality and own unique ideas. The children are encouraged to add their own stamp on their projects and love to see what their friends do too. The chatter around the table is full of excitement.

Jayne Petersen, TA

Tennis

Eleanor Younger, Singing teacher

Our tennis club is run by Ackworth Tennis coach Sara Robson. While the weather is dry, and it is relatively warm, we are out on the MUGA. However, when the clocks go back and evenings get colder and wetter, we will use one of the squash courts. The aim of the club is firstly to give the children a fun time, while introducing them to the world of tennis. We encourage the children to develop their multi sports skills of sending and receiving balls and foot work movement through individual and paired challenges. Their racket skills are honed through working with the coach and their peers. The session is topped up with a fun game to test their skill development and encourage health competition. As their skills increase, we will introduce low key match type activities. Some of the children who attend our after school club are now attending the coaching sessions run by Ackworth Tennis club, on site on a Saturday morning or on a Monday and Thursday at Aspire in the Park. If you would like more details about this, please contact Alice Robson (Ackworth Tennis Club Head Coach).

Sara Robson, Coach

CORAM HOUSE International Day of Peace

What does peace mean to us ?

Peace means to be happy, kind and grateful. I also think peace is a time to have your own personal space. (Arlo)

Peace is when love can be combined. (Freddie)

I think peace means for no war and to be friends. (Georgia)

Peace means to be kind and help people. (James)

For me, peace means calmness and friends plus Coram. (Honey)

I think peace means calm because it relaxes people down. (Sasha)

I think peace is when you are calm and you don’t copy what other people. (Izzy)

Peace means to stay calm and have no war. It also means to treat people how you want to be treated. (Sabine)

Peace means to be happy and to be kind. I also think that everyone has peace inside them. (Max)

I think peace means for people to be kind and loved and for children to be quiet. (Penelope)

For me peace means to stop war and be calm. (Rhys)

I think peace is where we should stop war, be kind and fix problems. (Joel)

I think it means kind, calm and thankful. (Matthew)

Year 6

Year 3

CORAM HOUSE

West Yorkshire Poetry Week

I registered for this in the summer holidays in the hope that our school would be selected to be awarded a poet visit.

‘We are super excited to announce your school has been selected for a Professional Poet Visit as part of our very exciting West Yorkshire Poet Laureate programme. As part of the incredible invitation for a professional poet to visit your school,

Global Committee

Last year’s Global Committee were awarded the Picture News bronze impact award for their fashion sale of preloved clothes donated by our pupils and their families. They raised £100 in aid of WWF. We are very pleased to have received our ‘adopt an animal’ packs for tigers, snow leopards and turtles. Thank you to all who supported the fashion sale last summer.

we hope to inspire the next generation of young poets across West Yorkshire, where your students in Year 4 or Year 9 will have the opportunity to submit their poems to the West Yorkshire Young Poet Laureate competition with the chance to become our next Young Poet Laureates across West Yorkshire.’

to Coram

Mohamed Saloo came

House. After listening to Mohammed Saloo’s journey, our Years 4 to 6 pupils were introduced to ‘rhyme tennis’ and wrote a poem collectively.

Sophie Schoukron, Deputy Head Coram House

CORAM HOUSE

Year 6 Production

Wind in the Willows was the production for Year 6 this year and what a great job they did of delivering this classic.

Congratulations to all who took part in such an amazing performance and thank you to all involved, including our Music department, Coram House staff and Noah, Lower

Aloha Ball

Despite the non-tropical weather, the PSA’s first-ever Aloha Ball for Coram House pupils was a hit! Bright outfits and tropical-themed decorations brought the sunshine indoors. Fruit-flavoured drinks, a delicious BBQ, and Hawaiian pizza kept the energy levels up for the limbo on the green. A special shout out to our talented Lower Sixth Former, Noah, for his fantastic musical performance that had everyone singing along!

Thank you to the PSA for organising such a fantastic event and to Thomas Franks for the delicious refreshments!

CORAM HOUSE Harvest Festival

The music centre and Coram House were alive with the sounds of preparations for our Harvest Festival, which took place midway through the autumn term.

This year we were privileged to perform two songs that were composed especially for Coram House by composer and music teacher Vivienne Couch. I met Vivienne on a summer conducting course in 2023, whilst discussing recommendations for children’s songs with colleagues. Vivienne offered to compose a Harvest song for us. She has since written two of the songs that we sang at our Harvest Festival this year. Prep choir opened the service with Nzambe Azali Malamu (Thank you, God, for the Harvest), and the whole school sang Vivienne’s Harvest Song

It was exciting to hear the music come to life as the children practised the songs. Early on in the learning process, Enid and Pippa in Year 2 told me that the Harvest Song was stuck in their heads, which is a sign of a great song!

After studying piano and singing at the Royal College of Music, (under the director at the time, Sir Keith Falkner) and training as a teacher at Newton College Bath, Vivienne became head of music at a middle school in Burwell, Cambridgeshire. Since then, she has taught in Powys, and Carmarthenshire where she was a tutor at Trinity College Carmarthen and Llandovery College.

Vivienne has always loved composing, writing songs for her school choirs, and winning competitions with the Whirligig Theatre and HTV.

She has run numerous singing workshops locally, at Marlborough College Summer School and in Morocco, and composes for her community choir which she runs in Llandeilo.

Vivienne says: ‘I believe that singing creates a sense of well-being and should be a curriculum priority in our schools. It is an instrument we all have.’

Alison Wise, Music Teacher, Coram House

Year 6 Puff

mummies

PSA Spook Fest

SENIOR SCHOOL

Food Preparation and Nutrition

The clatter of pots and pans has returned to the Food Room this Autumn half term. As have the smiles, excitement, and anticipation.

During this term, the Year 6 students are getting to grips with all the different equipment in the Food Room. They come with the biggest smiles, lots of enthusiasm, and eagerness to produce some lovely dishes. So far, they have practiced their knife skills using the correct knife grips, claw and bridge grip. Whilst perfecting these skills they have made cous-cous salad, fruit salad, fruit smoothie and croque monsieur. All their dishes have been colourful and aesthetically pleasing with the choice of fruit or vegetables they have chosen to use. They have certainly enjoyed eating what they have made.

The 1st Form have been ensuring they are safe to cook in the food lessons and can clean, and tidy up after the practical session, as well as knowing how to store food safely in a fridge to prevent cross contamination. During their practical lessons they have been working independently and to a time limit. This has meant that they are organised and work effectively to produce a product in the time given. They have made flapjack, fruit crumble and layered pasta salad. Presentation of their product is important, and something we will be looking at over the next half term.

2nd Form are now a master at the routines that need to be followed in food practical sessions. As part of these sessions, they are making family friendly favourites. There is a clear focus on producing good quality products and how they present their dishes. They have made Spaghetti Bolognese, peri-peri chicken & rice, and KFC Chicken and wedges this half term. During theory lessons we have been focusing on the 4 C’s – cleaning, cross contamination, cooking, and chilling.

3rd Form are looking at street food this term and have started to make a variety of different foods which could be served at a market or festival. There is a focus on factors affecting food choice, sustainability and reducing food waste. So far, they have made chocolate brownies, burritos, and calzone. During the theory lessons they have been identifying hazards that can occur in a food business and explaining how to reduce/ minimise the risk of this occurring.

4th Form have this half term been looking at skilled techniques such as bread making, shaping the bread rolls, binding, and shaping meatballs, basic Ragu sauce, pizza swirls/pizza or calzone. There has been a clear focus on technique and presentation as this is a big part of one of their examined pieces of work. During the theory lessons they have been looking at food contamination, food safety and HACCP (Hazard, Analysis, Critical, Control, Point).

Autism Resource have enjoyed making several dishes which include pizza, apple crumble, brownies, peri-peri chicken and rice.

Sarah Wilkinson, Head of Food and Nutrition

SENIOR SCHOOL Music A Gathered Stillness

This year marks the 400th Anniversary of George Fox, the founder of the Quaker faith. To mark this occasion, the Wooldale Quaker Meeting procured funding for a compositional project and the services of Dr. Alan Williams, a member of the Meeting itself, to compose a piece of music to commemorate this important occasion.

Dr. Alan Williams is Professor of Collaborative Composition at Salford University; he works with a wide range of compositional techniques, instruments, and media, and has developed a method of collaborative composition called ‘The Listening Composer’ in order to produce some unique contemporary compositions.

As stated in the event’s programme notes: The idea of the Listening Composer is that the group creates a piece which starts with the stories of the individual participants. These individual narratives go together to form a collective story about who the participants are, and what their lived experience has been. The composition created therefore not only commemorates the past, but also explores the Quaker present and future at Wooldale.

Alan interviewed 16 members, attenders and Friends of Wooldale Meeting, transcribed the interviews, and then held 6 group sessions from March to August 2024 in the Meeting House. Participants collectively created the form of the piece, and through drawing and writing, shaped its content. Alan and musician friends improvised ideas and harmonies and textures under the guidance of participants and Alan transcribed and developed some of these ideas.

The group also collectively composed a central theme, which could be heard throughout the piece. Woven in through the piece are sounds and voices taken from the original interviews. At the heart of the piece is an actual silence. The material written for the musicians and singers at Ackworth was developed from the main theme, composed by the group; this non-hierarchical, open approach of the project resonates with the Quaker experience.

As a part of this project the composer Dr. Alan Williams needed a choir, and The Ackworth School Chamber choir were asked if they would lend their voices to this

auspicious project. The choir found themselves tasked with an extraordinary feat of learning such a complex piece of music in three weeks of rehearsals, and as it was a world premiere, there were no recording to be listened to, to give us an idea of the musical intent; merely rehearsals comprised of sightsinging and repetition!

The choir spent a full Saturday (giving up their own time) of rehearsing in the Wooldale Meeting House, firstly as choir and piano (with Oliver McCarthy-Bell, our Director of Music, attempting some sight reading of the piano part!). After a quick spot of lunch, there followed some time with the three professional musicians (all part of Manchester Camarata), on harp, oboe/cor anglais and cello. We then had some time to ourselves to relax and prepare.

When performance time came it was our first chance to experience the piece as a whole, and our excitement was tinged with a modicum of nervousness. The surround sound and seating within the square enhanced the piece, as footsteps could be heard circling the attenders and recorded voices came from all four corners of the meeting house. Alan himself explained before the performance began that the wooden wall partition in the Meeting House had been removed to allow the music to envelop the whole meeting.

The project certainly met it goals; more than just a musical score, it combined the views and words of the Wooldale Meeting congregation and sound effects which imitated parts of the story. It was a truly multimedia composition, giving the whole audience and future listeners, a deeper understanding of the Quaker faith and how it impacts on the lives of others.

The musical composition was a testimony to the life and works of George Fox and the Quaker Meeting for Worship.

Emma Sissons, Autism Resource Specialist Teacher

SENIOR SCHOOL Drama Pupil Voice

Vida, 2nd Form - 8-14 Summer School, RSC

Over the summer, I did a summer school at the RSC over in Stratford. It lasted five days, and over those five days, we performed As You Like It, one of Shakespeare’s many plays. We all had a part to play, and over the five days, we worked on little bits of the play, so eventually it all came together. In the end, it was a lovely experience that influenced my interest in Shakespeare, and definitely taught me a lot.

Seth, 4th Form - Leeds Playhouse Young Techies Course

The first thing that I had to do before starting the course was to apply by writing a letter stating why I wanted to take part. After a few weeks I was accepted onto the course which I was really excited about. I had to take a few things with me every day like a pencil case, notebook and my lunch. It was an excellent week, and I learnt loads.

Monday

This was my first day and the morning was very focused on everybody getting to know one another, we played a couple of games and then the second half of the morning before lunch was planning a small play based on Paranormal, a play which had been showing at the playhouse the previous week. We were split into groups of 4, our brief was a supernatural play, and we were told after lunch we would be making a model box for our set. Our play was set in the future about a man called John coping with the death of his friend and how it spired out of control and ends up with John being killed on a battlefield. After lunch we were given a talk by the designer of all the models for the sets in the plays and how they have to go through multiple stages of talking to the director and making their vision a reality. After this talk, we were free to design our model boxes. My groups was a small space with a spinning background to show the different locations of the play.

Tuesday

This day was all about lighting and sound in the morning we went to a small stage called the rock void. Two groups were doing lights in the morning and the other doing sound, then would swap after lunch. I was doing lights in the morning and our larger group was given a talk by the lighting technician who showed us how scenes can be completely different to a scene without lights. After the talk we were able to have a go with lights and then we split back into the groups of four. My group lit a small area that represented the small apartment - we also had the lights flicker. After lunch we were doing sound. At the start we had a talk by the sound technician and then we listened to some of the sounds from the most recent play paranormal activity. We also read a script that went with the sounds we listened to and afterwards we compiled some samples to use in our play.

Wednesday

This day was very exciting for me as we were doing props. At the start of the day there was a large box of props, and

we were instructed to pick out enough props to fill our table and that would also fit the theme of our play that my team has been constructing. We picked out some sunglasses, a fake knife with a retractable blade for stab scenes, some police tape and a couple other items. After getting our items we had to explain how they would tie into our performance and after this we were given a bit more time to add to our models and start writing a small draft. After lunch we were given a talk by the props department and they showed us some props, most notably Toto from The Wizard of Oz and after the talk we were able to cast some resin into small cogs that were used by the Oompa Loompas in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Thursday

This day was my favourite of the whole week as we were doing costume design; I love design and want to become a designer. In the morning, we had to go to the costume department which was over the road from the actual playhouse. Once we got to the costume workshop there were two levels, the first was where all the costumes were made using lots of different techniques, materials and tools to achieve the right look. Then we were given a small talk on how the costumes were made and how if there’s multiples of the same costume the ways of making mass production easier. Then we were taken upstairs where all the costumes were stored, and we got two manakins for each group and we could use anything we could find. My group made our main character and the ghost.

Friday

This was the last day, and we met up with the younger group “Play in a Week.” In the morning, we watched the play performed by Play in a Week and afterwards we were given a talk by a director who got everyone to form groups for sound, lighting, stage, props and costumes, but stage and costumes were marked into design. I was in the design group, and we planned out how the play would work on a large stage. After lunch we were given a full tour of the playhouse before watching the plays that the groups had made the rest of the week. Sadly, my group didn’t win but we came a close second. And that was the end of my young techies course at Leeds playhouse. I had a blast and have a lot of fun memories meeting new people.

SENIOR SCHOOL

Millie, 4th Form - Across the Line, His Majesty’s Theatre, London

On Sunday the 7th of July I went to the West End to perform in His Majesty’s Theatre in London. Over the last 6 months l have been rehearsing at the Pauline Quirk Academy which is a performing arts academy in Wakefield to perform in London. The show we performed in was a musical called “Across the Line” about an underground civilisation that needs to go to different worlds in order to save their home. A lot of my friends including myself got large roles which played a big part in the story and show. We only performed the one night with other academies from Barnsley and Windsor. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I would do anything to do it again because of just how exhilarating the feeling of performing on a professional stage and making a West End debut was.

Erin, Lower 6th Form - National Youth Theatre, London

Over the summer I spent two weeks at the National Youth Theatre doing my intake course and I can say it was one of the best experiences I have had so far. Throughout the two weeks I gained lots of new skills from vocal workshops, singing, to physical theatre and lots of devising work! The people I met are definitely people I would now consider friends for life. Everyone that attended the course were so welcoming and I believed there was no judgement in the National Youth Theatre building, the one thing I loved most about the course was how everything was so open to interpretation and there was no wrong answers so everything was playful and very casual and I never once felt uncomfortable within the space. I also gained so much experience from working in big groups and listening to everyone’s ideas, which helped with communication skills overall. A massive highlight for me was definitely the end performance seeing everyone come together to perform a piece of work we had created, and all worked hard on and enjoyed doing was almost surreal. We also had the opportunity to perform in front of our family and friends. Overall, I am so grateful to have been able to have this experience and enjoy doing what I love at somewhat a higher level.

Adam, Upper 6th Form - National Youth Theatre, Manchester

So... NYT breakdown. An absolutely incredible 2 weeks with the most amazing people, creating some of the most amazing moments. Three big things / takeaways are: joy, clarity and belief! Improvising, writing, performing, devising, moving, stretching, vocalising and much more everyday has been so enjoyable. Every morning, I would wake up itching to get in and, in the evenings, I would just be waiting for the next day. I loved our director and assistant. They were both so skilled, insightful, and really engaged with us as people who they were collaborating with and not just young kids. The whole group’s dynamic was so epic. And the thing that I enjoyed the most was the friendships I have made, genuinely with everyone. Talking to guys my age,

who I genuinely liked, about theatre and drama and practitioners and performing and actors the same way that I would talk about football to a school mate was something I have never had before, and it is so beautiful. I am so grateful to have met them and everyone else I met at NYT. I love drama. I love theatre. I love performing. It brings me so much joy and I feel the greatest sense of purpose when I am on the stage, telling a story more than anything else. I feel that I will never forgive myself if I don’t properly give myself a shot at it.

I love drama at Ackworth so much and I have gained humongous amounts from it as an actor and a person, however, one thing that I couldn’t get at Ackworth was a gage of my abilities. Working at NYT has allowed me to see how I fair in ensemble theatre, see my level against other actors my age and see how I interact and collaborate with the directors, creative directors, and company coordinators. It’s instilled a lot of hunger and confidence in me to take this volatile industry on. All feedback and partnerships I formed with the NYT employees were overwhelmingly positive and I feel that it’s a company that, hopefully, I can do lots with. I am so grateful to have experienced it. Such a huge privilege.

Noah, Upper 6th Form - Disney Aladdin Music Day, Bradford Alhambra

The Disney Aladdin Music Day at the Bradford Alhambra was something I found out about through the Leeds Conservatoire Saturday Music School newsletter, and I knew I couldn’t waste that good of an opportunity! It was the perfect work experience for someone like myself, who wants to go into the music industry as a touring musician in the West End, Broadway and National Tour theatre shows! I played a mix of drum kit and percussion, overseen by Drummer Scott Chapman and the famous percussionist Dave Gonella (who casually threw in that he plays last minute for Wicked in the West End a lot!).

I learnt so much - such as where the musicians are (Scott on drums has a separate room from the orchestra pit for how loud he is!), where they stay when doing national tours, and taking notes from the conductor effectively. We spent a lot of the day separate in the percussion bubble, rehearsing hits from the musical such as “Friend Like Me,” “A Whole New World” and “Arabian Nights.” I played everything from drum kit, to timpani, bongos and congas, xylophone, and glockenspiel throughout the set, sometimes even at the same time!

At the end of the day, we presented to close family and friends on the Alhambra stage. The best part was the first rehearsal as a full orchestra, the power was incredible and getting our notes from the conductor made it feel like we already had the job! It was an incredible experience, I made so many new friends who were young musicians just like me, and I learned so much from the best of the best in the industry. I think the musicals of the future are in safe hands!

Drama

The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)

Pupil Voice

Jonas, Upper 6th Form, reflects on the last year of doing the EPQ, an extended project qualification that enables students to pursue independent passion projects on any topic they want. Jonas’ extended essay was “A Comparative Analysis of the AFD and NSDAP, their Ideologies, historical background and Implications for the Future”.

But completing the EPQ proves that the language barriers, while challenging, weren’t enough to hold me back. That said, I did struggle with repeating sentence structures and using a limited range of vocabulary in my first draft. Through multiple revisions (five drafts in total), I improved the flow and clarity of my writing, and it became much more readable.

There were certainly points where I mismanaged my time. From March to July, I wasted valuable months by not engaging in any serious work, mostly because I didn’t know how to start. If I could do it again, I’d definitely focus on defining my goals and content early on. I didn’t establish my title or topic clearly at the beginning, thinking I could figure it out as I went along. This led me to read random articles and books that didn’t end up being useful for my final essay.

In terms of organisation, I wish I had been more meticulous with my sources. For some reason, I left the reference list and bibliography for last, which ended up costing me a lot of time. I had to go back and find the exact page numbers, which became frustrating and timeconsuming.

The EPQ is coming to an end, and this will be my final entry for my project. Looking back over the past year, I realise just how much I’ve grown throughout this journey. I wonder if everyone had as many moments of realisation and skillbuilding as I did, or if it was particularly impactful for me, given my limited experience writing essays of this length.

In the process of submitting all my work I had to look through all of my journal entries, including the first ones. This just made me aware of how far this journey has gotten me. I went from not knowing what to do the EPQ on or what to reflect on. And now I’m at a point where every entry is about 1,000 words each and every piece of work taught me a lesson and transferable skills.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was tackling such an extensive research project. My A-Level subjects didn’t require essays close to 5,000 words or this level of research. The lessons we had on primary and secondary data, and how to find reliable sources, were invaluable. Understanding where to locate trustworthy information was key, especially since I chose a politically sensitive topic. The pressure to ensure my research was 100% accurate pushed me to meticulously record nearly all of my sources—though I’ll admit, this realisation only struck me halfway through writing! Still, making that effort at the time saved me a lot of hassle later on.

Learning through mistakes is such a crucial part of the EPQ process. This was the first time we’d undertaken a research project of this scale, and while I made plenty of mistakes, each one felt like a lifelong lesson in hindsight.

To my surprise, I genuinely enjoyed the writing process. It felt purposeful, like I was crafting something meaningful. I was especially pleased with the structural planning I put in place—it was incredibly satisfying to focus on one section at a time, tackling the research and quotes related to just that subtopic. Since English isn’t my first language, I did worry that writing such a long essay might be too difficult.

However, not everything went poorly when it came to organisation. My time management improved significantly later on. In our lessons, we learned some useful tools, like the Eisenhower matrix, which I used to plan my time more effectively. I created a comprehensive plan for the summer holidays and stuck to it, putting in a lot of effort and even completing some tasks ahead of schedule. This allowed me to finish on time and submit my work with confidence.

I would call my EPQ a significant success, regardless of the grade I receive. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, I ventured into an area that is definitely not my specialty, and I am proud of how well it turned out. Secondly, I followed my passion for politics and educated myself on a topic with which I was not necessarily familiar, including the historical background of the NSDAP. Finally, this topic is very close to my heart; it genuinely concerns me, and I want to use this essay to raise awareness and inform others about what is happening. This is the purpose of my EPQ, and I believe I accomplished it.

SENIOR SCHOOL

Geography

5th Form

Hornsea trip

Pupil Voice

2nd Form East Coast

We went to Flamborough, cliffs all steep, But the sea is at work, digging deep. Erosion slowly wearing it down, Turning rock into sand all around.

Hydraulic action, smashing strong, Forcing cracks that won’t last long. The waves crash hard, the cliffs break away, Bit by bit, they’re gone each day.

At Hornsea beach, the story’s the same, Erosion playing its endless game.

The sea pulls sand, reshaping the shore, Changing the coast forevermore.

Imogen, 2nd Form

SENIOR SCHOOL

Design Technology

1st Form

1st Form have made a great start with their dog lamp. They have been using a variety of tools to measure, mark, cut and sand the body pieces.

Debate Society

Debate Society is a lively, mainly pupil-led group who meet on a Friday lunchtime at 1:20pm in Andrews Wing, Room 6. Mrs Hulse and Mrs Jackson facilitate the sessions, guided by pupil suggestions of debate topics so they are relevant and engaging for young people.

Currently pupils from Second, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Form attend, and new members are always welcome! So far pupils have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of having a school uniform and are in the process of preparing for a debate on whether mobile phones should be banned for under 16s. Whether you’re interested in sport, ICT and technological advancements, Law, government and politics, human rights or something else – please do sign up and voice your opinions. We’d love for you to join us!

Mrs Hulse

Debating is a great way of building confidence for speaking in class and beyond. It helps you to see both/many sides of an argument and builds understanding, respect and tolerance of others’ points of view. It can be fun or serious and always enlightening. It is good to see our Debate Society pupils of all ages develop and excel in their public speaking.

Mrs Jackson

Pupil Voice

I enjoy debate club because it teaches me how to use lots of skills that I will need when I’m older, in an inclusive and open environment. I feel like I can say what I think and have healthy conversations with others.

Vivi, 2nd Form

Debating is a crucial skill that can help many people further on in life. It helps us learn to express ourselves and grow confidence in public speaking. Being able to listen to and consider other people’s views is an equally important skill. Personally, the debate society has already offered me the opportunity to consider arguments for and against certain topics and subjects which has been fun and engaging.

William, 4th Form

Debate Society is a great opportunity for young people to express their opinions on topics they want to talk about. In my opinion, debating is important because you need to listen to others, understand other people’s viewpoint and quickly think of a clear, logical response. It can be difficult to accept the views of peers, but Debate Society gives you a chance to listen carefully and make up your own mind.

Yeva, Lower 6th Form

SENIOR SCHOOL

Art

It’s been a busy start to the year in Art with students embarking on new projects to showcase their ideas, imaginations, skills and so much more. Examination students have been working hard on their coursework submissions covering a wide range of topics and personal journeys which will culminate in a final piece. 4th Form art students have been exploring new media and processes, including how to ‘paint’ with melted plastics! At KS3 students have been learning about Perspective Drawing, Portraiture and the large-scale murals of Michael CraigMartin. We are also busy creating artwork for the Voices of Tomorrow initiative run by Curriculum For Life, who are encouraging young people worldwide to share their vision of the future through creative expression, to drive positive change. 40% of the world’s population is under 25, but their voices are often unheard. Creative expression, a universal language, can amplify youth voices globally. We are all excited to see our students’ artwork on the global online platform later this year.

Sarah Rose, Head of Art, Head of Faculty (Food & Nutrition, Design Technology & Art)

Cross Country

Massive congratulations to the Ackworth School cross country running club team which comprises of Coram House Year 6 pupils and 1st Form students. They have represented the school at the Wakefield Schools Cross Country Championships at Silcoates on Tuesday 8th Oct, and QEGS on Thursday 17th Oct.

Results at Silcoates

Girls

Alannah, 1st Form - 12th

Maya, 1st Form- 27th

Aoife, 1st Form - 29th

Darcey, Year 6 - 34th

Anna, Year 6 - 43rd

Boys

Beau, 1st Form - 11th

Harrison, Year 6 - 14th

Harvey, 1st Form - 17th

Ray, 1st Form - 21st

Will, Year 6 - 24th

Seb, Year 6 - 28th

Tom, 1st Form - 39th

Xavi, Year 6 - 46th

Lawrence, 1st Form - 47th

Reuben, 1st Form - 50th

James Mangelloes, Mathematics Teacher and Cross County Club Lead

Results at QEGS

Girls

Alannah, 1st Form - 7th

Darley, Year 6 - 31st

Boys

Harrison, Year 6 - 11th

Sebastian, Year 6 - 20th

Harvey, 1st Form - 24th

Will, Year 6 - 27th

Xavi, Year 6 - 34th

Lawrence, 1st Form- 39th

SENIOR SCHOOL

DOE Silver, Nidderdale

BOARDING Northern Lights over School

Taken by Boarding Houseparent Katy

Sushi

This term Boarders celebrated the arrival of Rintaro, our new student from Japan who, with the help of some other students, kindly made sushi for all to enjoy!

Black History Month

In October Boarders at Ackworth School got together to celebrate Black History Month. Saturday night saw everyone enjoying Nigerian puff-puff which was handmade by Becky & Paula. This was accompanied by Ethiopian snacks and washed down with African supermalt (a non-alcoholic, caffeine-free malt drink) and Caribbean ginger beer! Students danced and celebrated into the night. A timeline of Black History was explored by Boarders who added their own contribution to a wall of thoughts as they contemplated subjects raised within. On Sunday, an African feast was created by Becky, Kosi, Paula, Jordan & Ithael. Students from all around the world were invited to sample the delicious cuisine to round off a wonderful weekend of recognition and celebration.

SCHOOL TRIPS

Music Residential to Normandy

During the first week of the school summer holidays as most of the school were starting to relax, the Music Department went on tour to Normandy in France with the Senior Choir, Chamber Choir and String Orchestra and selected soloists. We stayed in a small village in the middle of the countryside and went out each day to explore the area and to give concerts.

Our visits included a day in Paris, a trip to the seaside at Deauville and two visits to D Day landings museums complete with very interesting and moving films.

Our first concert was at a Chateau, and we were all very pleased with the way that everyone performed. Our second concert was at the Juno Beach Centre and once again our students showed that they are both highly talented and hardworking and performed superbly.

Highlights of our concerts include George and Noah’s performance of “Agony” and the Choir’s rendition of “Rise Like a Phoenix” which has become something of an anthem for us!

Altogether a very successful tour and another example of our department representing our school to great advantage overseas!

Rae Strong, Head of Strings

Pupil Voice

Oh my days! Normandy was absolutely brilliant. You name one thing you want for an amazing school trip or even a holiday and that had it. I love France anyway but seeing awesome cathedrals and even the Olympic stadiums being built in Paris, was just fab. I would rank it in my top 10 holidays and was so glad to do it with so many brilliant people. I wish I could do it all again! Thank you to all the amazing teachers that went as well (especially Mr McCarthy-Bell who pretty much made the whole thing happen). This experience will live long in my memory and in so many others.

Vinnie, 2nd Form

Kingswood Residential Trip 1st – 3rd Form

Pupil Voice

We did crate stack, buggy building, fire lighting, orienteering and climbing. It was all really fun and I enjoyed it lots. My favourite activity was the leap of faith.

Henry, 1st Form

SCHOOL TRIPS

Pupil Voice

My group of the three did problem solving, leap of faith, orienteering, crate stack, buggy building, fire building and, best of all. indoor rock climbing. We had wonderful dorms and were served nice food.

Jacob, 1st Form

I loved the food, crate stack and the rock climbing indoor even though I was a little scared. I also loved the fire building and the food.

3rd Form

Teodora,

Table Tennis Academy SPORTS ACADEMIES

The Table Tennis Academy has had some changes recently with the sessions now being overseen and delivered by Chris Parker. The players train regularly three to four times per week, with the opportunity for individual practice sessions too. New this year includes players being set individualised strength and conditioning programmes being coordinated by Ciaran, our S&C expert, to support their development and enhance their physical conditioning which will enhance their table tennis performance. Additionally, there has been an increased focus on getting the students to attend more competitions, both locally and nationally, which with further improve their game, challenging some of the best players in England.

Autumn half term has focussed on preparing for major national and international competitions. The first weekend of the Youth British Clubs League will take place in Derby where Hiko, Alex and Will will compete in the Premier division against teams from London, Grantham, Draycott

and Plymouth. Hiko and Alex are also preparing to attend the ISF World Schools Gymnasiade in Bahrain where they will compete against over 20 other national teams.

Chris said “Training has been going well, with everyone working hard towards their goals. I am interested to see how the players will compete on a local, national, and international stage over the coming weeks. Following these events, we will reflect upon performances and continue to work with each player specifically on what they need to further develop.”

Jaron said “It is good in the table tennis academy. Everyone is training well; it is a positive environment for people to improve.”

International School Sport Federation (ISF) Bahrain Gymnasiade 2024

The ISF World Schools Gymnasiade in Bahrain had over 5,500 participants from 60 countries competing in 29 sports and 2 of our students, Alex and Hiko, were part of the 6 strong team representing England in Table Tennis.

The event consisted of an opening ceremony where all participants were paraded in front of a crowd and a cultural day where they visited a port, museum and a souq (a market). It was followed by the nations evening where they participated in a dance in front of others and had a chance to visit the stalls of the other countries where they swapped local gifts. After the event, there was a closing ceremony, which was attended by the king.

In the team event group stage, Alex, Hiko (and a 3rd team member) representing England 1 team had a great run, beating Bahrain 3, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain 2 and North Macedonia to reach the quarter-finals where they played and won against the England 2 team.

In the semi-finals they played Chinese Taipei, losing their match 4:1 and then played China for the bronze medal. They lost to China 4:0 to finish 4th out of 22 Countries.

In the singles, Alex and Hiko both won their group. In the last 32, Alex had a tough draw against number 2 seed and European champion, Iulian Chrita and lost 3:0. Hiko beat Arif Moaid of Saudi Arabia 3:1. In the last 16, Hiko beat Luca Oprea of Romania 3:1 (top 100 in Europe). In the quarterfinal, he lost to Shih-ming Lui of Chinese Taipei 3:1.

Huge congratulations to both Alex and Hiko for these fantastic results.

Chris Parker, Table Tennis Academy Lead

OUT OF SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS

Imogen, 2nd Form

In the summer Imogen played successfully for Wakefield District Netball, achieving player of the match during the tournament and she won Shooter of the Tournament at the West Yorkshire netball summer tournament with Wakefield Wildcats. This is an amazing achievement. The team were placed 4th out of 9 West Yorkshire teams and Imogen, along with fellow 2nd Form students, Vivi and Darcie, gave it their all.

Imogen, Darcie and Vivi have all successfully got into the Yorkshire County U13 netball development programmeImogen and Darcie for West Yorkshire, Vivi for South Yorkshire - both England

Jasmine, 5th Form

Jasmine was awarded netball player of the season whilst playing for West Yorkshire and was presented with her award at the awards evening in Bradford during the summer. Jasmine has proved time and time again that she is an awesome team player and is appreciated by all that play with her.

Pupil Voice

I am so thankful that I can have a chance to represent England to join the world school table tennis championship in Bahrain. It is a very good experience for me to play and learn from others. We got 4th place in the team match, lost to Chinese Taipei in the semifinals and China in the bronze medal match and I lost in the quarterfinals in man’s singles. Both are just so close to the medal. I hope I can do it better next time. We also had a cultural day where we could try different special local product form other countries. We also made some new friends and have exchanged some pins and clothes with other them. It is an unforgettable experience in my life, and I am looking forward to joining the world school table tennis championship again.

Hiko, Lower 6th Form

Jasmine had another successful evening at the Wakefield Wildcats awards at the end of June where she won the following awards:

• Regional Player of the Season

• County Player of the Season

• Captain’s Player of the Season

Well done Jasmine, you have played exceptionally well.

AUTISM RESOURCE

On 1st October, Logan attended a careers event at Wakefield Trinity Stadium. Logan is in 5th Form and is starting to work with our Autism Resource Careers Guides to plan the next stages of his education. He picked up lots of leaflets, met professionals and picked up a few free pens!

Huge congratulations to Charlotte and Logan for working so hard and passing their AQA Functional skills in English.

PUPIL VOICE

Junior Yearly Meeting 2024 Report

This year I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) from the 26th to 30th of July at Friends House, London. I had heard about JYM from friends who had gone previously. I also knew roughly what would be going on due to young Quaker events I had already attended, but nothing could have prepared me for the unique experience that was JYM...

Day 1

The first day consisted of an introduction into the theme: “How can we nurture love in our actions?” as well as getting to know people and gathering in base groups.

Having base groups was such a useful thing during the week. It gave everyone a chance to dissect all the information we were given and our thought processes.

The first night, along with all the others, ended with Epilogue. The focus of Epilogue is to have time to reflect and Worship at the end of the day and hold the stillness together.

Having arrived on my own, I spent the majority of the day stuck to the few people I already knew. I left the event with many new deep connections along with memories and lessons that will last a lifetime.

Day 2

The second day started with the walk from our accommodation to Friends House followed by queuing up for some much-needed coffee.

We then gathered for our Prologue – which was a refreshing way to begin each day. In theory, Prologue is similar to the Meeting for Worship we have at school on Thursdays.

Our Prologue allowed each of us to Worship in our own way, respecting the communal silence. We then split into chat rooms held by adult volunteers to explore how they nurture love in their actions through their jobs.

The evening was filled with the Swarthmore lecture, by Ben Jarmin.

It was such an eye-opening experience listening and learning about the lives of some convicted felons, Jarmin explored the myth and reality of how society reacts to serious crimes. You could feel everyone in the room listening with such intensity and interest. The lecture itself was presented in such a captivating way.

Day 3

In the morning, we had a talk given to us by Dave Wiles, he took us through his spiritual journey and what it meant to him.

The evening was spent with Britain Yearly Meeting and celebrating the 400th Birthday of George Fox. During this we learned group dances from around the world and connected through laughter.

Day 4

This day was slightly different from the previous days, although the main activities remained. We had our own Business Meeting where the theme “How can we nurture love in our actions” was the prompt. This led to a comprehensive minute which showed Friend’s views and feelings.

Day 5

The final day was mostly spent summarising the event and gathering contact details of newfound friends.

The JYM 2024 Epistle was shared during Meeting for Worship for Business with Britain Yearly Meeting – which was gladly received.

I entered JYM full of nerves and left with new friends, new outlooks on love and life and incredibly lucky to have experienced the community created at this event.

Throughout the event there was an immense sense of belonging, community, raw emotion and vulnerability.

I can wholeheartedly recommend to any students interested in Quaker events and learning more about their own spiritually to attend such events in the future.

Elly, Lower 6th Form

We would also like to offer our congratulations to Elly who has been elected to the Junior Yearly Meeting Arrangements Committee as one of six young people to plan and facilitate the event, with involvement in the strategic planning and daily engagement with participants. Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) is a residential event and in 2025, will be part of the Britain Yearly Meeting where JYM attendees will participate in some Yearly Meeting sessions and activities at Friends House in London as well as with their own age group. This is a great honour for Elly and a huge responsibility which we

Ambassadors, Charity and Fashion – The Trinity That Was September

It’s been far from a dull, mundane September! Since returning to school into 6th Form the fashionista in me has enjoyed the freedom that being able to wear business wear rather than uniform has brought.

My mind has been split in focus between A level studies and the events I have the opportunity to take part. On the second week of September London Fashion Week beckoned! I was fortunate to be invited to walk the catwalk at an International Couture event at Covent Garden showcasing a number of collections by international designers who create bespoke and couture garments. On the run up to this I had training, choreography sessions and clothes fittings. It has been a thrilling experience. For myself I love the whole atmosphere that surrounds the fashion and modelling world. Fashion Week also supports charities and competitions, one of which is the Top Model London competition supporting children’s charity The Sophie Foundation. I was a finalist in Top Model London, I do enjoy taking part in these types of competitions, without realising it you practice your catwalk unconsciously in your daily life, pay more attention to how you would personally style garments and your overall appearance including the way you look after yourself in terms of the food you eat and the exercise you take. I’ve also found that I actively seek out extra modelling work to build up my portfolio so I can share this with people in the fashion and modelling industry; for myself competing has made me raise my game.

During Fashion week I won the Top Model London Natural Curves Award, which reflects the shape of the traditional hourglass model rather than the waif that became popular some years ago.

At the end of September, I found myself in the centre of Paris Fashion Week. I was selected to model at a private fashion show commissioned by the Pakistani Embassy in Paris on behalf of its Ambassador, diplomats and their families. The Embassy is beautifully designed, giving an elegant backdrop to the clothing exhibited. This was a melting pot of international designs where East meets

West, carefully exhibited to address religious and cultural sensitivities so all could enjoy the event. We were made to feel very welcome at the Embassy, in attendance was also the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Paris and an audience that reflected representatives from every corner of the globe. It may have been a very short trip but we crammed in a little bit of shopping, some sightseeing and photo opportunities - on a trip like this you have to slot in what you can where you can!

I do feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities that have opened to me not least that in the middle of my fashion adventures was yet another trip to London, this time the Royal Lancaster Hotel for the Third Sector Charity Awards where I was shortlisted as a Rising Star for my dyslexia campaign.

I have some other very special news about my dyslexia campaign but you’ll have to wait for the next edition of Ackworth Today to hear about that.

The moral of this story is I have a campaign that is there to help and support others whilst also teaching me about my own dyslexia. It has taken me to Mayfair, the Houses

PUPIL VOICE

of Parliament, awards ceremonies and introduced me to some extraordinary people along the way. My modelling has taken me to competitions and events that support charities in their own ways. Not everything has to be about ourselves and it needn’t be all about someone else, there can be so many cross overs in the way we do things.

Less than a year ago I had done nothing much different to my peers; we can all do something extraordinary if we set our minds to it, the things we do can improve others’ lives in the process or simply sharing our stories can motivate others to be the change they want to see or do something different for themselves. The greatest limits to not achieving what you want to do is the boundaries of your mind, where there is a will there is a way. Above all share your stories, encourage and support others to be their best selves because you might be the only motivation that your neighbour needs. Be mindful that as Ackworth Scholars we can all find some aspect of our lives to live it ‘Non Sibi Sed Omnibus’!

Alexandria, Lower 6th Form

OLD SCHOLARS

Ackworth East Coast Guild Founders Day Celebrations

Ackworth old scholars and friends once again gathered at Worfolk Cottage, Staintondale on 19th October 2024, to celebrate the Ackworth School Founders Day.

18 friends joined together to enjoy the traditional sausage and mash lunch followed by the delights of the sweet trolley.

Our Guild President Richard Waldmeyer was delighted to welcome our National President Jeffrey Swales, his wife Susan, and son David to join us for the weekend.

The weather was very mixed with a lovely moon and star lit night on the Friday evening, then a wet start to Saturday when some friends had a short local walk before lunch was served at 1pm. We were lucky though

because during the afternoon the weather cleared up and we were able to have our photograph taken outside again this year.

Annabel McRobert AOS 1967-1974

Ackworth Old Scholars at Glenthorne, 1-3 November 2024

Forty Old Scholars (and friends), spanning almost eight decades in age, gathered for a weekend of fellowship and food at Glenthorne, the Quaker Guest House on the outskirts of Grasmere in the Lake District. We are very grateful for the efforts of Mike and Annabel McRobert in organising the whole weekend and making everyone feel so welcome.

The Friday evening quiz, created by Anne Telford-Kenyon, was tightly contested, but David (the youngest Old Scholar present) snatched victory for his team by solving the anagram to find the “magic word” of GLENTHORNE!

In mild but more or less dry weather, over half of the party embarked on two walks on the Saturday – one group of 7 ascending the local Helm Crag into mist (alas!) at a comfortably relaxed pace, and a larger group of 18 achieving horizontal distance circumnavigating Rydal Water before 10 of the group walked up to Alcock Tarn for lovely views over the local area. Meanwhile the rest enjoyed more sedate pursuits locally or by car.

Invited as wife of this year’s Old Scholars’ President, Jeffrey Swales, I already recognised most of the attendees, having seen them multiple times at Easter Gatherings during our time at Ackworth. It was lovely to spend time on such a relaxed level, sharing meals with a different selection of people each time, chatting in the lounge, hearing anecdotes about their time at School and discovering why Ackworth means so much to them and their families.

On Saturday evening we were entertained by Rachel Mortimer – sister, daughter and grand-daughter of Old Scholars – who shared photos, thoughts and emotions about her epic walk earlier this year when, not content with tackling John O’Groats to Land’s End (JOGLE) on her own, she merged it with the South West Coast Path, and so finished in Poole. [Come to Easter next year to hear from her again!]

This weekend demonstrated again to me the strength of ties made through Ackworth School – some met their spouses there, some only attended for a year (before being encouraged to leave!) and others are not themselves Old Scholars, but have come into the Ackworth Family in various ways. All of them celebrate the influence Ackworth has had in their lives.

Every Easter we all have the opportunity to renew Ackworth connections and make new friends at Ackworth Old Scholars’ Easter Gathering - four days of fellowship, food and activity at School. Easter weekend is 18-22 April 2025 next year. I hope you will consider coming with your friends and family – residential places are available, and day visitors are welcome too. Get your booking in before the end of 2024 to benefit from Early Bird prices!

Susan Swales (resident staff 2006-2023)

OLD SCHOLARS

Easter Gathering 2025 is a special one for the following Old Scholar year groups who are celebrating milestone anniversaries, plus one that missed out due to Covid and also an egg- stra one for all those who are celebrating their 70th birthdays next year! So please do get in touch if you were at school in any of the following year groups - or if you worked at Ackworth School during those years - and would like to attend one of the reunions:

5 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 2020 (at school 2015 -2022)

1 0 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 2015 (at school 2010-2017)

15 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 2010 (at school 2005-2012)

20 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 2005 (at school 2000-2007)

25 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 2000 (at school 1995-200 2) org anised by Jenny Martin

30 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 1995 (at school 1990-1997)

32 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 1993 (at school 1988-1995) organised by Sal Wright

35 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 1990 (at school 1985-1992)

4 0 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 1985 (at school 1980-1987)

45 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 1980 (at school 1975-1982)

50 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 1975 (at school 1970-1977)

o rganised by Andrew Ford

55 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 1970 (at school 1965-1972)

60 Years On - end of 5th Year Summer 1965 (at school 1960-1967)

o rganised by Mary Dower

70th Birthday Reunion - for everyone turning 70 in 2025

o rganised by Janet Blann

I would also be very grateful to hear from anyone in groups which don’t yet have a named organiser - especially if you might be interested in helping to contact your contemporaries.

We look forward to welcoming you all back to school to meet up with friends & reminisce, visit familiar haunts, see what has changed /what is still the same in and around Ackworth, and c atch up and celebrate Easter in the beautiful school buildings and grounds in Spring 2025. Hope to see you all there in (at the time of writing ) just 189 sleeps! If anyone is interested in giving a talk or running an activity on the 2025 Easter programme, please let me know as soon as possible. The deadline for all bookings is 31.03.25 so please make sure we have received your booking form and payment by then.

Best wishes - Sal (Sal Wright - AOS Easter Secretary ���� )

CONTACT DETAILS FOR PERSON MAKING THE BOOKING: Please complete all your details; they will be kept confidentially but may be used if we need to contact you prior to the weekend.

FULL NAME:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE / MOBILE: EMAIL ADDRESS:

NAME AND CONTACT NUMBER OF SOMEONE WE COULD CONTACT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY:

FURTHER REQUESTS: Please use this box to detail any special requests regarding your visit, including any allergies, food requirements, and if you would like to share a room with specific people. We will do our best to accommodate your wishes. Please continue on a separate sheet if nec essary.

OLD SCHOLARS

OLD SCHOLARS

50th Reunion AOS

1967-1974

Ackworth Old Scholars from 1967 to 1974 came together for their 50th reunion at Celebration Day in July. For some, it was their first time returning to school since they had left. A great day of chatting, reminiscing and

Obituaries

Jill Smith (nee Davy) (AOS 1951-1956)

Jill went to Ackworth in 1951 and, in her own words “spent the first year in almost permanent tears”, begging her parents, by letter to “come and get me and take me home”.

Later Jill very much enjoyed her time at Ackworth, made many friends and did well academically. She was disappointed that she had to leave at the end of 5th form.

“I wish I could have stayed on into Sixth form” she told some of us fortunate enough to do so on one of her visits back to school. We met up again over the years at Old Scholars’ Reunions.

Jill trained as a Speech Therapist in London. She worked first in Yorkshire, then, after marrying Martin in 1962, in Wrexham and Oldham, where as well as being an N.H.S Speech Therapist she was also very much involved with Martin’s work with Oldham’s Society for the Deaf.

We are very grateful to Tim Nuthall (AOS 19891994) and Ian Ramshaw (1987-1994) for their very generous donation of a bench to sit around the tree near Fothergill. The tree and previous bench were donated a few years ago by Old Scholars in memory of Boys’ School Matron, Pat Meesham, who worked at Ackworth from 1975 to 1995. Unfortunately, though, the bench had decayed over time and was removed last year for safety.

Jill and Martin had 2 children, Dan and Helen, before returning to Leeds in 1966.

Jill died on 16th July 2024. She leaves her husband, children and grandchildren and several life-long friends of whom I’m proud to be one.

Jill and I have been great friends for over 70 years. After Ackworth and London we kept in touch by letters and by my very enjoyable visits to her family home. Over the years these became phone calls, texts and later visits to Jill and Martin’s home in Leeds and their visits to us in our homes in Stafford and here in Derbyshire. This is not so much an obituary as a paean of thankfulness and gratitude that I have been so fortunate in having such a good and loving friend in Jill for a long and happy lifetime.

Ruth Hunter (nee Bailey) (AOS 1954-1958)

Mike Waddington (AOS 1944-1948)

Michael Thomas Coward (Mike) Waddington was a pupil at Ackworth between 1944 and 1948: Sadly, he passed away recently, a few days after his 92nd birthday. Mike’s main distinction at school centred around his love for, and skill at, cricket. He made it into the first eleven a year earlier than usual for those times.

OLD SCHOLARS

In later life he became a photographer’s assistant, but the chemicals involved caused him to give that up and join his father’s construction company where, from apprentice carpenter (no favours for the boss’s son!) he went on to be a director for many years before leasing and running Mallory Park motor racing circuit. His wife, Jean, died in 2017 but he is survived by daughter Sue and grandsons Stuart and Simon.

David Allen Harrison (AOS 1940-1942)

David Allen Harrison was a boarder at Ackworth from 1940 to 1942. He died at his home on Monday 27th May 2024 aged 97 years.

Post graduation, David served with the Royal Engineers in Libya and Egypt carrying out post war reconstruction work. In civilian life, he worked as a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers not only in many regions of England, but also on the Sierra Leone Government Railway (during which time he was awarded an MBE) and also at the Edinburgh Observatory, at the Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire Geneva site and The Royal Greenwich Observatory on the island of La Palma. He retired as Principal Professional Technical Officer for the Science Research Council (based at the Rutherford and Appleton Laboratory Chilton) in January 1982.

He was actively involved in community responsibilities and was also a keen gardener. He is survived by his 4 children, 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Michael James Walker MBE (AOS 1946-1952)

We were sorry to hear of the passing of Michael James Walker MBE (AOS 1946-1952) in October at the age of 89 years.

Our thoughts are with all the families and friends of those

Karen Thriscutt nee Martin (AOS 1976-1981)

It is with a very heavy heart that I notify you of the sudden death of Karen Thriscutt nee Martin, aged 60 originally of Godalming, Surrey, on Tuesday, 12 November 2024 at 4.00am. She died at home in New Zealand, where she lived with her husband, Peter, to whom she was married for 23 years.

Karen was an Ackworth Old Scholar (1976-1981) and leaves her husband, Peter, and her two dogs, Moo and Bee, in New Zealand where she lived since their wedding in 2001.

Karen is survived by her husband, Peter, her sister, Lynne Purnell nee Martin (AOS 1974-1979), her brother Paul Robert Martin (AOS 1972-1977) her mother Ruth Christine Martin nee Johnson (AOS 1947), her niece Natasha, nephew Matthew and great niece Maggie.

Upon leaving Ackworth, Karen studied and passed her HND in Graphic Design at Epsom Art College but didn’t use her qualification professionally. However, her artistic design was demonstrated in the decoration of her home, her sense of style and in any communication sent which was often dotted with amusing little illustrations.

Karen was a devout Christian and she strived to live according to God’s word. She was a kind, generous and loving person and gathered friends wherever she went. Karen had a quirky sense of humour and was often exuberant and extrovert and enjoyed making people laugh. A fun-loving confidante who will be much missed and leaves a void in many people’s lives. Gone way too soon. Sleep well Karen, may you rest in peace.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God believe also in me.

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

John 14:1-4

John 14: 6

Lynne Purnell nee Martin (AOS 1974 – 1979)

ACKWORTH ARCHIVES

Did you know that Ackworth School once had its own Fire Brigade?

On November 20th, 1912, the School Committee authorised the purchase of …”5 dozen fire buckets, 300 feet of hose, 2 branch pipes, breeching piece, 2 hose bands, 2 axes and a hose winder at an estimated cost of £40.”

The boys and masters who belonged to the Brigade wore uniforms and received regular training. Their great moment came in 1938 when fire broke out in one of the barns. They prevented the fire from spreading, thus earning the warm congratulations of the Captain of the Pontefract Fire Brigade.

At this time of year, we remember the Friends’ Ambulance Unit, especially those members who lost their lives in the two World Wars.

The FAU was set up in 1914 by Ackworth Old Scholar Philip Noel Baker. 192 Old Scholars served in the FAU or in the Friends’ War Victims Relief Committee in the First World War.

Frederic Garratt Taylor, (top left of photo) was killed by shellfire in September 1915 while evacuating the wounded from an advanced post. Walter Messer was killed in November 1915 when his ambulance was hit by a bomb. Both were Ackworth scholars and are buried close together in Malo-les-Bains cemetery.

The FAU China Convoy was created in 1941 during the SinoJapanese War. It provided medical relief to civilian and military hospitals inside Western China for the duration of the war, and the years after.

AOS Douglas Hardy died of disease on the convoy in June 1943. His friend, AOS Peter Leyland wrote in his diary: “Doug died on Thursday. It seems he developed typhus and with the dysentery just hadn’t the resistance. Poor Doug - I suppose he is the last of us I should have wished to go, having known him since school and being such great

friends during our time together in this convoy. I am gathering Doug’s things together.”

‘Non sibi sed omnibus’

SCHOOL PROJECTS

Raising funds to restore the West Wing Cupola

Since our first pupils crossed the threshold into the school grounds on 18th October 1779, the Cupola’s have been a significant part of life at Ackworth School, watching over The Green and witnessing countless memories and milestones.

As many of you will be aware, we had to remove our West Wing Cupola last academic year due to safety reasons as it requires urgent repairs. The cost to repair and reinstate this integral piece of our school’s history is £15,000 and we need your help to make this happen.

We are reaching out to our extended Ackworth School community - past pupils, current parents, staff, and friends - to come together and support this vital restoration project. Every donation, no matter the size, will bring us one step closer to seeing the West Wing Cupola back where it belongs, overlooking our beautiful 50acre campus and continuing to inspire future generations of Ackworth students.

Let us ensure that the West Wing Cupola, an integral part of our school’s life and history, stands tall for our 250th celebrations in 2029. Thank you for your generosity and continued support. Together, we can make this happen!

To make a donation please scan the QR code or visit our Crowdfunder page at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ ackworth-school-cupola where payment can be made by credit or debit card, bank transfer or apple/google pay. Thank you to those of you who have donated so far and thank you in advance for any donation you feel able to give!

Cupola Fundraising

Items for Sale

Ackworth School by Elfrida Vipont

Printed in 1991, this hard-backed book details the history of life at Ackworth School from the founding in 1779 through to 1946 and features an additional chapter by Betty Limb and Walter Fearnley covering the years 1959 to 1989.

Main entrance and Friend’s Meeting House print – A beautiful, unframed, print of a pencil drawing by G C Ashworth, dated 1969, of the main entrance to Ackworth School and Friend’s Meeting House.

Girls School House Stairs Pencil Illustration – A beautiful, unframed, print of a pencil drawing by G C Ashworth, dated 1969, of the Girls School House staircase.

Andrews Wing

SCHOOL PROJECTS

2nd and 3rd Form

Common Area

COMMUNITY

Our Language Ambassadors hosted a second-hand book sale on European Day of Language. We have over 27 nationalities in our boarding house which allows our students to experience and understand the diversity of languages on a daily basis.

With a wide selection of books, including books on travel and languages, all priced at £1, there was plenty of choice. All monies raised were donated to support Ackworth Community Library, a fantastic charity library in the village that relies on fundraising like this to stay open.

A huge well done to our Language Ambassadors for organising this initiative and supporting an important local facility.

Pupil Voice

Charity Week

£1654 raised

Charity Week has been a blast this year! We decided this year to focus our efforts on the two charities, “Andy’s Man Club” and “Homeless Hampers”. As a school that has fantastic setups in place for pastoral care from such an early age, it is important we support a charity that carries on that support when it becomes less accessible in adult life. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, and it is imperative we support a charity that combats the stigma of male mental health. Similarly, we are in such a privileged position at Ackworth to have three choices, pasta every day, a salad bar and an array of desserts on offer in the dining hall, along with systems in place to acquire uniforms and accessories, so supporting Homeless Hampers is absolutely vital to our Quaker testimony of equality, that everyone deserves the same opportunities.

With that in mind, there has been many an opportunity this Charity Week for sixth formers and

COMMUNITY

staff to have a laugh (admittedly at some of our expenses…) and the rest of the school community to participate in games and traditions such as the Stocks (which is a lot colder than it looks!), the auction, and the legendary Staff and Sixth Form Entertainment. It has been so pleasing to see our whole community give so generously, and the money keeps coming in! The bake sale was a success, with an array of staff and student bakes, including a free-from section for those of us who have allergies! Other opportunities to donate such as own clothes day, and the doughnut and hot dog sale have seen even more money coming in for these great charities. My personal highlight this year has been Staff and Sixth Form Entertainment, with my favourite acts being the Boys Dance to NYSNC’S “Bye Bye Bye” - with all the sixth form boys dressed as Deadpool and Wolverine, the Sandersons’ amazing ballroom dancing skills and Mr Roots and Joel’s… interesting duet!

I want to heartfully congratulate and thank my fellow sixth form students (with a particular shoutout to Mr Theo Stokes for his work on SFE) as a representative of the Charity Committee 2024 for their commitment, dedication and attitude towards each other, the rest of the school and for helping everyone to get involved. This was a true team effort, and we have achieved something extraordinary that I’m sure we will certainly remember forever!

Noah, Upper 6th Form

PSA NEWS

Located in the old Nursery building across the road from the main school, the PSA uniform shop has a new opening day. It is now open every Thursday between 8 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. during term time and payments for purchases can be made in cash or via bank transfer.

It’s a great place to find all your school uniform needs whilst saving money, supporting the PSA, and reducing the impact of garment production on the environment. Donations of good quality, pre-loved school uniform are always welcome and can be dropped off at the uniform shop on Thursdays or in the baskets in the vestibule.

STAFF NEWS

HYROX World Championships 2024

On Saturday June 8th, 2024. James Bower, Head of PE & Performance Faculty represented England in the HYROX world fitness games held in Nice, France. James speaks about his experience below.

“It was an amazing experience to compete against some of the fittest and fastest people in world. I didn’t anticipate competing at this level again at 35, so the opportunity to give it one last go was something I will never forget. In a field of 185, I finished 101. The target was always to try and finish in the top 100 but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be.”

“Lastly, I would like to thank two companies (Fernco & FP McCann) for their generous sponsorship in the 2023/24 season and everyone in the Ackworth community who has given me support throughout my time training and competing.”

James Mangeolles

Ackworth School Mathematics teacher, James Mangeolles has qualified for the 10km Oceanman Openwater Swimming World Championships 2024 in December in Dubai!

In June 2024, James competed at the Oceanman Crete 10km openwater swimming world championships qualifier. To qualify James had to be in the top 10 for his age group and he placed 6th thus qualifying for Dubai.

HYROX have approached James to be the Head Judge in the UK championships 2024/25 after Ackworth School provided James with a Level 3 Personal Training Qualification. This will essentially enforce better standards and levels of competition across the games.

James has previously qualified twice for the oceanman 10km openwater swimming world championships. The first time being in Tabarca in 2018 where he qualified 7th in his age group (top 10 qualified) and was then 7th (1st Brit) in his age group at the oceanman world championships 2018 in Dubai. The second time, James qualified in Lausanne, swimming in lake Geneva, where James was 4th in his age group (top 7 qualified) and was then 8th (1st Brit) in his age group at the oceanman world championships in Cancun in 2019. James is looking for a sponsor, if you are able to help, please email him at James.mangeolles@ackworthschool.com

In addition to oceanman, James has had successes racing in the Lake District. James has swum lake Windermere end to end 10.5 miles (17km) in 4hrs 57mins. Has achieved the following results:

• 5 x Coniston 5.25 miles end to end including age group champion

• 3 x Ullswater 7.5 miles end to end including age group champion

• 10km Salford quays champion 2018

• 10km amphibian champion - blue lagoon 2023

Additionally James has completed 13 triathlons - sprint to half Ironman distance and competed in several swim runs including placing 11th at Breca Buttermere (35km run, 6km swim) and 8th (2nd mixed pair) at Loch Gu loch - in and around Loch Ness (47km run, 8km swim).

James also takes the running club at Ackworth where there have been a number of cross country running successes recently.

James was running club champion for his running club in 2016 and has competed at the British Fell relays twice before in Snowdon - 2017 and Tebay - 2021 and will do so again on 19th Oct 24 at the British fell relays in Appletree wick - due to be doing leg 3 as a pair - the navigation leg, being given a map of the leg for the 1st time on the start line and navigating via checkpoints to the finish.

STAFF NEWS

New Starters

We would like to give a very warm welcome to the Ackworth family for all our New Starters!

Aden Ball

Congratulations to Aden Ball, Coram House teacher who has celebrated his 25th anniversary teaching in October.

Staff Leavers

Sadly, we said goodbye to…

Christine Wrigglesworth, Domestic Supervisor

Marjorie Wright, Domestic Assistant

Matthew Knight Teacher of Mathematics

Oluwakayode-esan Emmanuel Head of Computer Science

Sarah Perry Job change to EYFS Lead Teacher (Coram House)

Leah Huddlestone Additional responsibility as Year 7 PAL

Des Purchon School Porter

James Mangeolles Teacher of Mathematics

Claire Creswell Receptionist/PA (Coram House)

Tom Reed Head of RE/PSHE with History

Natasha Lennox Specialist Learning Mentor (AR)

Georgina Crowther Job change to Head of MFL

Caroline Lindsay Job change to Domestic Supervisor

Jane Rowell Teacher of EAL, with French

Daisy Sanson-Harris Coram House Teacher