ACKWORTH
TODAY
PEACE FOR UKRAINE Our community comes together to support humanitarian relief efforts
Land of Fire and Ice Pupils share their highlights from Iceland
In the limelight
Dramatic productions are back in the Fothergill Theatre
Fun in boarding
From Christmas celebrations to Circus Skills!
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HEAD’S ADDRESS ANTON MAREE
Striving for Peace Just as we were beginning to emerge from the pandemic into a world that felt more familiar than the past two years, a fresh conflict in Europe has brought uncertainty, sadness and helplessness back into our lives.
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h is is truer for our Ukrainian pupils than anyone else. They have become refugees in our boarding houses overnight. Some of their parents brought them back to school after half term and are also now unable to return home. They may never be able to return home. In the midst of all this tragedy and devastation, there are glimmers of hope. Our pupils and staff have quickly and decisively condemned the aggression of Russia, and of war generally, and have been moved to action. They have raised significant sums of money in a short period of time and are moving ahead with other initiatives to support the humanitarian relief effort. Together with our parents and members of the wider community we have all have responded in the best way possible and the school has been inundated with essential supplies to send to Poland for the Ukrainian refugees many of who have left their homes and businesses and lost all of their possessions. The Peace Circle formed by junior and senior pupils, together with staff and members of committee was a lovely moment to participate in. It gave all of us the opportunity to demonstrate our support for peace as the only viable outcome for Russia’s war on Ukraine. These efforts were highlighted by the BBC, too. BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Look North interviewed pupils and staff about our initiatives and broadcast them to the wider Yorkshire region. This Spring Term we returned to our normal routines. Of significance has been the return to Morning Meetings in the Meeting House, including the silent Meeting for Worship on Thursdays. For many of our First and Second form pupils, this is the first time
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they have experienced a whole-school gathering and the moment of Quaker stillness that forms a part of the meeting. Though we have been well-served by technology in bringing us together as a virtual school, we cannot underestimate the importance of meeting face to face, as one school, and the sense of unity it brings. So many of us have had Covid. It is not a pleasant experience but once one member of a family has it, it is inevitable that all will succumb. I had to endure isolation in Cape Town, a very warm and beautiful part of South Africa at that time of year and then a delayed return at the start of term. A first for me but I am sure I am not alone. Our pupils are once again enjoying the privileges of travel. Iceland and Belgium are two of our most recent international trips, with more in the calendar. Domestic travel has resumed too, with trips to premier league football matches, plays, musicals and other events. These activities are so important to add depth to pupils’ learning throughout the year, but also to have a bit of fun and enjoy a well earned reprieve from the rigours of academic study. Now that gatherings are freely allowed, we are resuming our annual Old Scholar calendar of events. We started with our international alumni late last year in Dubai and have been connecting with Old Scholars in London this year, with more events planned. All Old Scholars are invited to come and reconnect with the school. As the sun once again begins to warm our famous sandstone buildings and the daffodils emerge from their slumber, we continue to work towards our goals, individual and shared.
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“ The Peace Circle formed by junior and senior pupils, together with staff and members of committee was a lovely moment to participate in.”
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FUND RAISING
‘Stand with Ukraine’ For most of us the half term break in February was a chance to rest, recuperate and spend quality time with families and friends. Having had the limitations of the pandemic for so long this was a treasured time – a step towards normality. Few of us would have expected to see the news from Ukraine unfolding day by day as it did.
Images which bring the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine into stark focus probably more than we have ever seen before, flashed across our screens through social media and many other communication streams. These images continue daily; for pupils in our school these are images of home, they are not just’ news ‘, they are a lived reality. Our pupils from both Ukraine and Russia have come together to support each other, recognising the shared reality of what their families are facing. Their compassion for each other in the face of such adversity is a strength we are all very proud of.
and pupils) with our Committee to form a Peace Circle on the Green, joining together with yellow and blue ribbons. Everyone had a ribbon in their right hand. A Grand March involving people walking in pairs and joining to another pair to create fours all linked with ribbons, then joining into a circle, with Coram staff and pupils in a smaller inner circle was a wonderful sight. Everyone then stood in silence to ‘Stand with Ukraine’. We were able to film this with a drone creating a lasting memory. Following this a bucket donation collected more much needed funds. So far we have raised close to £3000 – thank you.
What could we do as a community – how could we make a difference? We had to do something. We spoke in the Meeting House and pupils were given a presentation in form time to help raise awareness. The response has been amazing. Pupils were asked to consider what they could do in simple terms. To start the process, we had a nonuniform day – on such days we usually raise about £400500. We raised just over £2000 – how amazing – thank you. We said this would be just the start and it is. Pupils were asked to think about what they could do without to raise donations – their response has been wonderful. We also know parents will have donated directly to the Go Fund Me link – thank you.
The ribbons form the Peace Circle have now been formed into a chain which hangs in the Meeting House, a chain of Peace, Hope and Unity. This links to John Fothergill one of our Founders from which the phrase ‘Keep Bright the Chain’ comes – keep communication going between us all. A strong message to keep the need for support alive and at the forefront of our thinking.
A group of 6th formers have taken the yellow and blue ribbon twists made in school, for which we asked for small donations raising about £400. It is wonderful to see so many pupils and staff wearing these on their lapels. A simple but significant show of support. On Friday 11th March we came together as a community from Year 3 4 5 6 in Coram and all of Senior School (staff 4 | SPRING 2022, ISSUE 14
Ribbons with messages and symbols of hope and peace will now be hung outside school, the final venue for this is to be decided by the pupils. We hope our community will once again come together to support our efforts and to raise awareness when they see the ribbons and the messages they carry. BBC Look North and BBC Radio Leeds came into school to record interviews and see what school was doing to raise awareness. Our young people who were involved in this were a credit to their families, themselves, and school. Their voices were heard. Pupils, parents, and members of the community have also donated many items which will be transported to Ukraine
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in the next week or so. The generosity of everyone is incredible – thank you. Pupils have suggested many ideas which we are now looking at to put together a schedule of events over the next three weeks. We will be asking for further donations in support of these events and thank our wonderful community for all that has been done so far. At the heart of all this we need to remind ourselves that members of our community have families who are affected directly by this humanitarian crisis. Our thoughts and prayers are with each, and everyone affected. Lynda Barker
Bursary Appeal Ackworth School has always been a place where helping hands have been within reach. A place where children can have a step up into life surrounded by people who care and believe in them. So, why should this change now? In a time during conflict help is needed now more than ever. Our Ackworth School community has achieved so much, could we go even Scan Me! further? A gift towards our Opportunities Fund might secure a place for a Ukrainian child seeking refuge in our country. www.ackworthschool.com | 5
AUTUMN Remembrance Day At 11 am on November 11th, the school came together to remember those who fell during the World Wars. Displays around the school paid respect for the fallen Old Scholars who gave their lives during these times. As a Quaker founded school, we also show the White Poppies as a symbol for peace, remembering ALL victims, and to challenge the glorification of war.
Friends Ambulance On 11th November 1918, the war now known as World War I was to end. Four years prior, in September 1914, an Old Scholar by the name of Philip Noel-Baker was to start the Friends Ambulance Unit (FAU). It began not knowing where it was going or what were to be its duties but finished having been responsible for a comprehensive organisation of ambulance and hospital services in many fields. 192 Ackworth Old Scholars joined and served in the FAU and today we remember their names and dedications to help those affected by the war.
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Visiting Friend On 4th November 2021 Visiting Friend, Verity, came and spoke to pupils about wearing a White Poppy, as well as the Red, for Remembrance Day. There has been a rise of different coloured poppies including white, black, and purple. Each of the four colours have a different meaning. For example, the Purple Poppy is a tribute to the service and sacrifices of all animals whilst the Black Poppy is a tribute to contribution from black, African and Caribbean communities. The White Poppy pays tribute to those who died in conflict but emphasises an ultimate commitment to achieving peace and challenging the way we look at war.
World Kindness Day World Kindness Day 2021. This day is global and promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself and the world. The purpose of the day, celebrated on 13 November each year, is to help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together. This understanding has the power to bridge the gap between individuals and nations. It has never been more important.
Anti-Bullying week For Anti-Bullying Week this year the theme was “One Kind Word”. Kindness is more important now than ever. Having lived through a period of isolation during the pandemic, your words have so much impact on an individual which is why it is essential to make those words kind and with good intentions. We encouraged the children to show a little more kindness throughout Anti-Bullying Week and One Kind Word started a ripple of kindness through a school. www.ackworthschool.com | 7
SPRING Children’s Mental Health Week Reception embraced the start of Children’s Mental Health Week 2022 by setting up a relaxing spa in the classroom. All child-initiated and all led by their own ideas!
School Production
Nell Gwynn London, 1660. King Charles II has exploded onto the scene with a love of all things loud, extravagant and sexy. And at Drury Lane, a young Nell Gwynn is causing stirrings amongst the theatregoers.
Nell Gwynn charts the rise of an unlikely heroine, from her roots in Coal Yard Alley to her success as Britain’s most celebrated actress, and her hard-won place in the heart of the King. But at a time when women are second-class citizens, can her charm and spirit protect her from the dangers of the Court? It is very hard to believe that as you read this, six months of work on Nell Gwynn have come to an end. I cannot underestimate to you what a journey this glorious, sprawling production has been. Our cast, spanning 1st form students right through to Upper Sixth, have had to weather so many storms: the challenges of dual casting, the sudden realisation that this was much more musical than initially anticipated (!), covid withdrawals, postponement and the gearing back up to a second performance, the inevitable grind of 5 (and sometimes more) rehearsals a week. Three members of our cast and crew, self-isolating with Covid, only just managed to return to the group in the week of (on the day of) performance. It has been so difficult - yet the cast has stood up to every challenge and grown so much over this period. No matter how tiring or frustrating the day has been, the abiding feeling in this play has been love: it really felt that our students took ownership of this production and made it their own. I couldn’t be prouder of our brilliant, wonderful students. Being in this play, in the words of the writer Michael Rosen, “mattered then, mattered again and again, and still matter.” Here is to the incredible effort they put in, the unforgettable production they staged, and the friendships and memories they have forged in its making. (Ali Boucher, Director) I thoroughly enjoyed performing in Nell Gwynn. Every time we rehearsed it, I discovered a new aspect to it that I hadn’t noticed before. In fact, this play is probably one of the most memorable and captivating plays that I have ever performed in. I could perform in Nell Gwynn day after day and would never get bored of it. It is filled with hilarious jokes and no character is even remotely similar to any other. We had all waited a very long time to perform this play; however, the longer we waited, the stronger we grew as a team. We carried on improving our skills as performers, until we made the play absolutely incredible. I will always remember Nell Gwynn and the memories that came with it. (Charlotte Atkinson, “John Dryden”) Backstage goes quiet, the lights go down, the curtain opens and away we go...
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The nerves kick in, but they are soon forgotten. Nothing quite prepares you for that moment, yet in true contradiction
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with the action. So that’s why Nell was singing in French! It was exhausting but rewarding to be involved in this extended project, and thrilling to witness how well it came together by the end. (Susan Swales, Musical Director) I remember being poised over Teams one September afternoon, scanning through the message that I had been waiting for since the second week of school. “Have you heard? It’s a comedy,” someone mentioned. you are fully prepared. You know your lines and stage directions (still have to check though sorry Boucher!). You can only gain more confidence from taking part in each play and performance because the experience is never the same twice (each performance tells a different story as the cast members are different). Rehearsals throw up their own hurdles as, yet again, we were plagued by covid isolations. The postponement from December to February brought its own demands of more rehearsals, but as a cast we pulled together to make ‘Nelly’ come to life. We cried, screamed and laughed together throughout, our shared experiences turning into new friendships and bonds. The power of the theatre is not just felt in the performance that the audience sees: it’s in the awakening of the hearts and minds of the performers who develop the feeling for their character; it’s in the technical support by the way the set is lit, and props designed. Each and every participant is absorbed in their individual craft ensuring it complements the next. As an individual you grow in knowledge, character and self-worth; as a group you bloom through encouragement, support and shared experience. By the last performance there are mixed emotions: relief, for the opportunity of sleep without your dreams being filled with reruns of rehearsals; tears, for the loss of that feeling one can only experience by being part of such an amazing team who have spent months together with one sole objective that has now been achieved. We formed a Nell Gwynn family and to be able to say that I am a part of that family makes me very proud. (Alexandria Crystal, “John Killigrew”) Well… it’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed being a part of Nell Gwynn. Being in Upper 6th and the pressures that in itself brings, plus testing positive for Covid during mock A levels week, I did wonder what on earth I was doing - not only being part of a play but playing the part of King Charles! One minute my adrenaline was running high on stage; the next realising this was my last ever play at Ackworth… A supportive cast and Mr. Boucher’s relentless enthusiasm made it an experience I that I will remember for years to come. (Nathan Charlesworth, “Charles II”) It is probably wise to read through a play before getting too involved, if you want to have any idea of what is going on. l learned the songs, I taught the songs, and late in the day I discovered how they fitted
“Are you gonna audition?” I said I didn’t know. But a few weeks later, I found myself in our first rehearsal. I loved rehearsing with the cast that had been built. Tears were wiped away quickly and replaced with laughter that bounced off of every corner of the theatre. One of the best parts of the school play is finding a brother or sister in someone who you would’ve never thought to speak to in any other circumstances. We probably appeared crazy shouting out random lines when passing each other in the corridor or speaking to each other in code (“2:8 tonight, do your oaken barrel speech, skip the triplet dance the dandle!”). I know that Christine (Arlington) and I definitely looked crazy performing ‘A Brimmer to the King’ in Leeds train station, barefoot. But the songs and lines stuck with us, and our characters became extensions of ourselves. We negotiated so much to finally get to performance week in February. Hours of sweat and tears, line learning and dance learning, costumes tried over and over, hats and crowns and Jim Hooper’s breeches (!!!) all coming into these 4 nights. Performance nights are indescribable; being onstage is indescribable. Often, I didn’t realise what I was actually doing until I exited to ask Miss Noble what scene was next: I would panic whether I was on or off, or supposed to be in another costume, or supposed to have stayed onstage! Time passes so quickly onstage: there never seems to be time for any realisation. But, on the closing night, I had a moment of selfactualisation: I felt myself onstage. I felt the costume I was wearing for the last time. I felt the presence of the audience. I felt what a great privilege it is to be able to feel that. I love being able to play pretend and tell stories like I did in the playground when I was 8. The experience of being able to tell the story of Nell Gwynn (sometimes through tit jokes and naughty songs) has been so special. And, therefore, I didn’t feel sad when I said my last line. I felt so fulfilled, happy that people finally got to see the effort that all of us had put in just to stand there. I remember lying down on the stage with an inappropriately huge smile for someone who was pretending to die. If you came to watch, thank you. Thank you to the wonderful people who made this possible; thank you to the hugely talented cast, who have all taught me so much; and thank you Nell, for allowing me, as a woman, to tell your story onstage. (Grace Dibb, “Nell Gwynn”) www.ackworthschool.com | 9
NURSERY
Nursery in photos! A collection of activities including celebrating Chinese New Year where children made a dragon and enjoyed dancing with the dragon. We tried noodles using chop sticks and made Chinese lanterns. Plus, music, French, & tennis lessons, World Book Day, digging for worms and bark rubbing at Forest School, and finally focussing on ‘Life cycles’, ‘Baby animals’ and ‘Easter’.
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CORAM HOUSE Head’s Address I am so pleased to see that we are returning to ‘normal’ and that the bubbles and divisions have gone. Long may it continue! Staff and pupils are now struggling to remember how it was before and how we used to do things. Routines have changed so much, and I think that we have all changed too. There are some “covid keeps” but certainly sitting back together in the dining rooms, assemblies and celebrations as one are making a real difference. Sport events and school trips have also resumed. We are so proud of our very talented pupils and want to show them off. They are a credit to you and a credit to the school. Some pupils went on their very first school trip last half term. The excitement could be felt around school and both teachers and pupils returned after a day that will probably be remembered for a long time to come. The Global Council has been so active around school and never cease to amaze me with their enthusiastic attitude. We have liaised with our catering company and are soon to be proud owners of a polytunnel and greenhouse. We
Global Committee Global Committee representatives met in the Autumn with our visiting friend Zephryine and Mr Maree to present the winners of our air pollution poster competition. It was decided to combine some of the posters to create a school banner. Well done to all those that entered the competition. It certainly was a difficult decision. On February 4th Coram House’s Global Committee unveiled the new car park banners to help protect our environment and encourage drivers to switch their engines off. Congratulations to India, Freya and Annie, who can now see their winning posters on display!
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intend to work together to decrease food miles and grow our own food. We are returning to Ackworth School as it was - history is repeating itself. Spring is in the air. We are looking forward and planning for a future that is less restricted and more about challenge and change. We are all ready to embrace this and are grateful for our school. “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie, author. Sally Slater, Head of Coram House
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Year 3 Year 3 have been presenting their dinosaur projects. What confident, fun presentations with imaginative ideas more brilliant projects to come too! And down in forest school made their own Iron Man - a warm hot chocolate was a welcome treat too.
Science The children in Year 3 were so excited about science week and wanted to continue with the investigative side of science once the week had finished. We set up a ‘Science Bag’ (white coat, goggles and scientific investigation book). The children get selected weekly to take the bag home and carry out an investigation of their choice. Great fun too! In Year 6 they have been creating play doh circulatory systems. They will show the veins and arteries clearly using blue and then red.
Holocaust Remembrance Day On 27th January, the children worked on their silence and reflection as they learnt about Holocaust Remembrance Day. They took the time to stop, learn about and remember the millions who were killed and those who had their lives changed as a result of genocide.
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CORAM HOUSE Out of School Activities In December Gabriella took part in her Christmas Ice Skating shows. All four shows went brilliant, and she enjoyed every second of it. She even managed to take some of her classmates along to watch, who all enjoyed it too.
Outdoor Learning During outdoor learning the children had to race boats. The boats had to carry 400g to qualify. The final was between ‘TINTANIC’ and ‘THE HIGH WALL BOTTOM’ with ‘TINTANIC’ winning.
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Year 6 First Aid We sang ‘Nelly the elephant’ while practising our chest compressions.
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The Woodhead Society The Ackworth School production which took place in Autumn Term 2019 was Blue Stockings, by Jessica Swale. It is set in 1896 and follows the lives of the students at Girton College, Cambridge, the first college in Britain to admit women. Girton College is now a full college of the University of Cambridge (open to all students having begun to admit men in 1977) but started life on 16 October 1869, as the ‘College for Women’ and was based in Hitchin, 30 miles south of Cambridge. This was a small-scale start but the goal was to create a permanent institution and in time to secure full membership of the University of Cambridge for the College and its students. This creation would shake the foundations of British higher education and have an impact across the world. One of the images used to promote Blue Stockings shows “The College Five”. These were the first five students admitted to the College of Women in October 1869. Three of the five Rachel Cook, Louisa Lumsden and Sarah Woodhead - were nicknamed “The Girton Pioneers”, and were the first female students to take and pass undergraduate examinations at the University of Cambridge. Though these women had met the same standards as male students, they were not allowed to graduate from the University and gain a degree. It took until December 1947 for Cambridge University to finally, and unanimously, vote to grant degrees to women. Although Girton’s foundation had helped to stimulate the national campaign for full equality of access to higher education, Cambridge was the last British University to grant them degrees. Sarah Woodhead was the first of the Girton Pioneers and therefore the first woman ever - to take and pass Cambridge examinations. Unbeknownst to any of us when the choice to perform Blue Stockings was made, she is an Ackworth Old Scholar. There are even some claims that she was an apprentice teacher at Ackworth prior to entering the College of Women, though that is harder to verify.
Mathematics, and was known for providing help to those students who struggled more with this subject. Though she was often thought not to have the same ambition as the other Girton Pioneers, who are more well-known for their involvement in setting up schools and colleges for women, Sarah was a sought-after teacher and became employed at the newly opened High School for Girls in Manchester after passing her Cambridge examinations in 1872. She was, for a time, Headmistress of the Bolton High School for Girls, where girls began to win places at Cambridge. Having moved back to Manchester, the only information we have on Sarah’s career is that she was a “Private Schools Examiner” – likely to have meant she was employable as an expert in aspects of education. Sarah died in 1908, and in 1961 her son set up the Sarah Woodhead Fellowship at Girton College, reminding Girtonians of their debt to all the Girton Pioneers. Over the past two years, we have developed a more structured programme (the aptly named Oxbridge Pathways Programme) in order to support Sixth Form students who are looking to apply to Oxford and Cambridge, or to highly competitive courses such as Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science. This includes visits to universities, talks from admissions staff and Old Scholars, and guidance on super-curricular activities. In recognition of Sarah Woodhead’s achievements, and the inspiration she can provide to present and future generations of Ackworth students, we have chosen to rename this programme The Woodhead Society.
In the Archives (next to the Meeting House) are volumes containing the names of Ackworth Old Scholars, showing their date of entry and age on admission alongside information about their family and the Quaker meeting they belonged to. Sarah’s entry dates from 1859 – she was 8 years old. According to her obituary, she rapidly rose through the classes. We were able to find photographs of Sarah (circled) with her class in 1861, and then again in 1865. Sarah’s father Godfrey was a Manchester grocer and as the family had long belonged to the Society of Friends, Sarah was able to attend our school, which even then accepted daughters of Friends as well as their sons. Sarah Woodhead entered the College for Women on a three-year scholarship, offered by the College’s founders to the girl who gained the highest marks in England in an open examination. She studied
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SENIOR SCHOOL Drama In mid-February, four of our U6 students delivered their EPQ presentations to an audience that ranged from 4th form students to our Chair of Committee. The EPQ is taken on by Sixth Form students entirely voluntarily: students commit to the study of an additional qualification, worth half an A level, that is designed to provide them with both an opportunity of doing extended work on a subject of their own choosing, as well as learning the skills that will be critical to the higher-level learning that they will encounter at university. The students presented on their journey through the EPQ, as well giving an insight into their extended projects themselves, which are: Nathan: Investigating the Insanity Plea as a loophole for murder suspects in America in the 20th Century Emily: How can the study of monozygotic twins inform the gene-environment interaction, in particular the emergence of epigenetics and identification of biomarkers and their potential to assist in the future prevention of disease? Harriet: What are the neurological causes and consequences of meltdowns and shutdowns in autism? Abrielle: To What Extent does the Impact of Today’s Interactive Technology Replace Human Face to Face Interaction in Therapy? These students not only faced the challenge of condensing ten months of study and 5000 word project into a ten minute presentation, but they also had to respond to the audience’s questions, which required sharp thinking, reflectiveness and precision. They acquitted themselves tremendously, and left the audience both impressed at their learning as well as hungry for more! In the words of one attendee, “I am often as interested in their journey as the subject, and love that the pupils are able to use the EPQ to learn those life lessons about time management, resilience, planning etc. well before they have to apply them at University and in life generally.” Many congratulations to Nathan, Emily, Harriet and Abrielle!
Food 4th Years this week have made meringues to work on presentation. The GCSE students have also worked on piping skills of chocolate to produce their own design and decorating their meringues, so that they are aesthetically pleasing. 16 | SPRING 2022, ISSUE 14
SENIOR SCHOOL Maths 20 of our Sixth Form mathematicians were brave enough to take on the Senior Maths Challenge back in November 2021! Special congratulations to Ethan and Leo who gained entry to the follow-on Kangaroo Challenge.
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Out of School Achievements Jack has now competed in the Northern Indoor Championships at Sheffield Institute of Sport. He took the gold medal in the high jump. Having just moved into the new under 17 age group this is a massive achievement. He performed well and achieved a clearance of 1.88, receiving the bronze medal. Excellent achievement in his first year of the age group. Well done, Jack! “On Saturday 25th September 2021, my mum and I travelled to Birmingham where I did 2 hours of training ready for my black belt grading the next day. I could feel the nerves kicking in. I felt as if I had to prove myself to everyone as I had done karate since I was about 2 years old.
Cross Country The wind, rain and cold didn’t dampen spirits on Saturday as 7 of our students were selected to represent the Wakefield CrossCountry Team. Isla B qualified to compete in the English School’s Cross-Country in Kent. Well done all!
History Sixth Form historians work on an actual physical timeline of the build-up to the First Civil War and the events that followed. What this doesn’t capture is the amount of giggling that occurred getting everything in place.
Then, on Sunday 26th September 2021, I got my suit and bag ready to set off. Today was the day I either pass, or fail. We lined up in a specific order ready to bow in. With set tradition moves called out randomly from the syllabus (white - black belt), the panel then called out different katas to perform (set routines). Pad work and sparing (fighting without contact), were the final stages of the grading. We then lined up in the same order as we did before. For the coloured belts, you could pass with either class A, B or C. Whereas for black, you either pass or fail. They got to me and said that I had a good grading, and my standards are very high. They then proceeded to say that I had passed. This was a day I would never forget” Demi
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SENIOR SCHOOL English In the Autumn Term, Second and Third Year students are set a range of performance-based projects linked to the topics they are studying.
Second Years spend some time analysing the persuasive techniques used in Christmas adverts, and are then tasked with creating their own advert for a company or product (see above).
Art
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Scan the QR code to catch all the latest news from the Art Department in the magazine, “Blank Canvas”.
Both Second and Third Year students study Shakespearean texts in the Autumn Term. Third Years have to perform two scenes from Macbeth: the dagger scene and the banquet scene in which Banquo’s ghost appears (above).
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Second Year students study A Midsummer Night’s Dream and perform the final ‘play within a play’, when the Mechanicals put on a disastrous version of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’. Students often redraft this into modern English and find innovative ways to bring out the comedic aspects of the scene (above).
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Music The music department is in full throttle now, thanks to the relaxation of Covid restrictions, and we can finally start looking forward to more events and concerts. Along with our music tour to Jersey in July, we have a number of events coming up with our choir, including performances at the Rothwell Music Festival in March, and at Wakefield Cathedral in May, as part of the Cathedral’s lunchtime recital programme. The choir are already working hard and preparing for the Festival – fingers crossed we will return home with a win! In other news, we have resumed our Senior Orchestra rehearsals, who are getting “ship-shape” with the theme to Pirates of the Caribbean, and the orchestra look forward to being able to perform at the events at the end of the school year.
ABRSM Exams A number of students have taken part in music exams in the last few months, and we would like to say a big congratulations to Freddie B, who passed his Grade 5 Theory with Merit, Eleanor S-M, who passed her Grade 1 Theory with Merit, and Vivi G, who passed her Grade 1 Theory with Distinction.
Curriculum News First and Second Form students have been developing their group performance skills this half term, by working in a bandtype set up whilst studying two very different styles of music. First Form students have been studying folk music and sea shanties this past half term, and have been working on a group performance of “The Wellerman”, a New Zealand sea shanty that took social media by storm at the beginning of 2021. Second Form, meanwhile, have been looking at Reggae music and music from the Caribbean, with a group performance of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”.
layering”, then “commissioned” the students to write a piece of music to accompany some gameplay from a real video game, using vertical layering. As part of the GCSE course, Fourth Form students have been engaging in a project on rock music, researching various sub-genres of rock, including Glam Rock, Prog Rock, and Heavy metal. While the majority of students submitted their projects as written work, one student, Noah C, went above and beyond and delivered a lecture style presentation on Folk Rock, including a short performance!
Duke of Edinburgh Here are some pictures of the girls doing first aid training today for DOE.
Third form students have been studying video gaming music, and have had the opportunity to take part in a number of workshops led by a professional from the video gaming industry. Jay Waters is an Audio Director from Sumo Digital, and has worked on games such as Sackboy: An Adventure, LittleBigPlanet, and Disney Infinity. He delivered introductory workshops to third form students on music in the video game industry, including the concept of “vertical
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SENIOR SCHOOL Geography
Ackworth School in Iceland: Through the eyes of our pupils Going to Iceland was an amazing experience of constant excitement and experiences. We saw waterfalls, glaciers, lava flow, volcanoes, a lagoon, a black sand beach and so much more, learning about different land formations and their causes through the Iceland lava centre and the use of the geothermal energy in Iceland to power and heat homes at the ON Hellisheiði geothermal power plant. The trip was the perfect balance between learning and fun. Overall, Iceland was a fantastic trip, a once in a lifetime opportunity. I enjoyed every day but my favourite was the second day. This is because we went on a Glacier walk which was very fun and being able to use the ice axe too. After the glacier walk we went to see lava heated in a furnace resulting in the temperature being around 1100 degrees. Then when we got back to the hotel we went to the local outdoor geothermal swimming pool which was very exciting and relaxing.
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I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. What was just 5 days, turned out to be one of the best trips of my life. The country is beautiful, with icy waterfalls, caves, volcanoes, and glaciers. Although this is probably the coldest place I’ve ever been to, it was definitely worth the occasional shivers. My favourite thing about Iceland was the glacier walk as it was really fun and in amazing scenery. The ice cave that we went through was awesome! The instructor that was leading us was really nice too; I loved it! Even though terrible weather meant we were delayed, coming home a day late – this resulted in us seeing the Northern Lights from the plane! Contributors: Joel, Amelia, Annabel, Sohni, Abigail and Hannah
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SPORTS ACADEMIES
Table Tennis Blog (January & February) Our academy players have been flourishing. Felix has gone from strength to strength beating some of England best senior players and qualified into the senior national championships. This event hosts only 32 of England’s best players. Felix has competed in the Swedish league winning most of his matches to date. He has also been selected for various England camps and international competitions (next is Portugal) commencing next week. A last mention, Felix competed at the highest senior British national league (premier division). His debut was the weekend just gone where he managed to win his doubles match and one out of two singles. His singles win gave the team an overall match win and their first of the season. Rebecca has shot up the senior England ranking list. When she joined Ackworth her ranking was around 65 and today she is inside top 30. She has also qualified into the senior national championships. Rebecca is representing her county this weekend.
Last at Junior British League, Rebecca played in the premier division for the first time and best a few top England girls, ranked no.5&6 respectively. Plus, she took and end, nearly two off Euro’s No.1 ranked player Anna Hursey. Lastly Will, is the youngest out of the trio. He has been focusing on personal developments, as a person (dealing with life away from home) and his table tennis fundamentals. This has been a challenging but seemingly worthwhile venture. Will competed in his first event last week since joining Ackworth in September and his results were great. Will found good from in a category above his age group (U16’s) where he finished in fourth place out of 18 entries. We also had a visit from Austrian No.5 U12’s Thao. He loved his experience and said he is looking to come back in 2023 as a full-time student. Now we are waiting for the two Ghanaian players to arrive, plus we may have a small squad from India, with world No.5 girls U19’s visiting our academy… As always hurdles are only there to test us and the aim is to learn, grow and develop!
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Easter Football Training Camp During the Easter break we plan to run a residential football camp. Coaches working in Professional Football will be invited to take sessions throughout the week to maximise the experience for all students taking part (subject to school safeguarding and risk assessment).
Football Academy September - February. In 14 weeks of contact time, we have had/done:
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Coaching Sessions
12
Competitive Games
1
Triangular Mini Tournament
1
Pro Trial Game v Chesterfield FC
Social events • Football Quiz Night with Prizes for Everyone • Games Night Including Football Darts & Football Snooker • Fantasy Football League All coaching sessions take place at our football centre - A new FIFA Quality approved 3G which is undoubtedly one of the best facilities in the country. Another addition this year is the introduction of Catapult GPS system - a provision used by the top professional academies in the Premier League. Coming up in the 12 weeks of contact time, we have with the Football Academy students we already have key events in the diary... with more to follow.
April
May Career in football workshop - Analysis “What is the role of an Analyst in Professional footballwhat skill set required to become an Analyst” delivered by ex-Nottingham Forest Analyst. (Now Director of Football at Sollihull Moors).
Just Football UK professional football trials Football academy students will be invited to the Ackworth Academy event at our Football Centre, to take part in 11 v 11 games throughout the day with Professional football scouts in attendance. Already signed up to attend are clubs from the English Premier league, Championship, League 1, League 2 and the national League.
June Just Football Pro Tournament On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of June, Ackworth Football Academy will take part in the first Just Football pro tournament with every other team being a professional football club - creating opportunity and exposure to the professional clubs for all Academy members.
Career in football workshop Academy students will choose a profession within the football industry that they, as a group, would like to find out more about.
FA Talent Id level 1 Career in football workshop – Scouting “What does watching football for a living involve- how can I achieve this” delivered by a senior recruitment officer of Brighton & Hove Albion.
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BOARDING A boarding Christmas During one weekend in the Winter, the boarding house was full of festivities!! Stocking decorating took pace in Centre Library, whilst some managed to enjoy the snow fall! Finally, the time came for exchanging of gifts, a festive formal dinner, and an evening of entertainment for the boarders to enjoy!
News from the boarding house The beginning of the second half of the Spring Term has marked the easing of many Covid restrictions. Our boarders showed such resilience throughout the toughest periods. Daily testing and robust isolation systems helped to keep Covid at bay within boarding. We are fortunate to have a weekly visiting GP who works alongside our full time school nurse. Between them and the boarding staff we are quickly able to identify and treat illness, ensuring the best levels of care. As one door closes, another one opens. As I write this entry, it is Friday 4th March. Russia has invaded Ukraine. Today is a day that I will remember fondly. A simple moment occurred in the Dining Hall at breakfast. One of our Ukrainian pupils noticed that our only Russian pupil was sitting alone. He took him by the hand and guided him to the seat next to him. They embraced. Without saying anything, they spoke a thousand words. Unification in the eyes of babes. The moment continued when our youngest boarder, who happens to be from Ukraine joined the same table, followed closely by one of our Polish pupils. A silent but sombre encounter which offered them all the comfort they all so desperately need. Our boarding house so passionately thrives on inclusivity, tolerance and kindness. It is our job to guide the youngsters through what ever it is they might be faced with and the last two years have certainly thrown their fair share of hurdles in the way of our young people and the opportunities they have. We are very much looking forward to restabilising a full weekend programme of activities for our boarders and we recently held a Circus Skills Workshop. It was very well received and who knew we had such talents! 24 | SPRING 2022, ISSUE 14
I recently listened to a podcast which inspired me to join the ‘5am Club’ – a recent addition to my day. I wake up at 5am and walk my working cocker spaniel, Otto. We stroll through the countryside at a time when it feels like the rest of the world is still asleep. I highly recommend it! The mornings are brighter and the evenings are longer, we will encourage the boarders to make the most of this and what our beautiful campus, their term time home, has to offer. Nicola Gilbert, Head of Boarding
AUTISM RESOURCE
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Fraser’s Story continues… We spoke to Marlene – Fraser’s Grandma.
Theatre Trip
Two of our students from our resource recently went on a theatre trip as part of their COPE and AQA photography short courses. Both students were a credit to the school and the Musical Director approached us at the end of the show to comment on how he had been observing Alex and was impressed by Alex’s musicality and rhythm and said that he was very talented young man and should be playing drums! Alex said he enjoyed the Pantomime and liked the songs. He also liked the pizza he had for lunch. He took several photos for part of his AQA photography work. Hannah’s organisational skills are exceptional, and she organised the trip for us all, arranging the train times, directions, where to eat. She compiled the itinerary for the whole day.
During the last weekend in November Marlene, Fraser’s Grandmother, received a call at 5 am Friday morning. It was the Transplant Coordinator; they had found Fraser a kidney! Blue lighted up from London, Marlene was told to get Fraser to the hospital within the hour. The kidney had come from an organ donor, who had also donated to 9 other people. Fraser has now healed from his operation and is making great progress. He was home within 8 days but had to continue with postsurgery appointments. At the moment Fraser continues to shield, but he is looking forward to enjoying the foods he hasn’t been able to eat and taking part in sports like swimming! Fraser also can’t wait to see his friends. We are so delighted for Fraser and look forward to welcoming him back to school in the summer! Thank you to Fraser and Marlene for agreeing for us to share his story. It continues to raise awareness for the community. If you would like more information on organ donation within Leeds contact leedskidneyappeal@NHS. net one donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and potentially save up to 100 lives through the lifesaving and healing gift of tissue donation.
ARCHIVES NEWS The past of Glass Projects In January, Jonathan Bracken contacted the school’s archives for information on Edward Dell Brown. Edward’s photograph, in uniform, from 1915 had been found among a collection of over 10,000 glass plate negatives in the cellar of a photographic studio in Sutton, London. Jonathan had linked Edward’s name on the photograph to the 1911 census which recorded him as a scholar at Ackworth. 2nd Lt. Edward Dell Brown, (AOS 1908 – 1913) was killed in action on 16th August 1917, in the attack on Langemark (part of the
Passchendaele campaign) which serving in the King’s Royal Rifles. He is commemorated on the memorial to the Missing at Tyne Cot. www.ackworthschool.com | 25
OLD SCHOLARS
Reconnecting with Ackworth
Balpriya (AOS 10-15) During February the school had a visit from Old Scholar Balpriya Kaur. Priya (23) met her partner, Lakh, at university in Manchester. Now engaged to marry, Priya got back in touch with Ackworth. She couldn’t think of a better place to have their pre-wedding photo shoot. Priya left Ackworth School Sixth Form in 2015, where she studied Law LLB (Hons) and LPC LLM masters. She is now a Legal Solutions Specialist. We asked Priya how her time at Ackworth School had moulded her enthusiasm for success. “My experience at Ackworth shaped me into a responsible and driven individual. After I left Ackworth I had a drive to succeed in the field of law. I carry values of care, respect, and value for people of all backgrounds and cultures. Ackworth demonstrated to me the value of peace. I learnt the value of silence and how this allows us to reflect and align our thoughts.” Priya continues to work hard and intends to study further to become a fully qualified lawyer. We would like to wish Priya and Lakh all the happiness for their wedding in May. We wish them well for the start of their lives together. 26 | SPRING 2022, ISSUE 14
ACKWORTH TODAY
AOS Reunions in Dubai Back in November 2021, Ackworth Old Scholars came together for the first Old Scholar Reunion in the Middle East. There had been plans in place for this to happen sooner, however the pandemic have prevented the opportunity to connect face to face. Old Scholars Saad Ansari and Julie Lewis attended the event. They were met by Ackworth School representative, Tom Shennan-Barker (Director of Marketing and Admissions) Julie remembered her time at Ackworth School, “41 years ago, I graduated from Ackworth School and I was very proud to be Head Girl in my final year 1979 – 1980. I am absolutely delighted to be here in Dubai at the Ackworth Old Scholars reunion reminiscing of the joys and the pleasures, sometimes the challenges and the pain of being at a boarding school from 11 years young to 18 years old. I am super excited to go back in July 2022 for the Open Day”.
Remembering Old Scholars ckworth School was sad to learn of the death of A Helen Smith, who taught Modern Foreign Languages, and was Head of German, from 1994 until 2013. Ackworth Old Scholar, Jean-Gaye Hewitson, sadly passed away in January 2022. We were sad to hear of the passing of Tim Gray, June 4th 1946 - July 19th 2021. Tim was at Ackworth School in 1961 – 64 when his father, Ivan Gray, was appointed headmaster. In 1964 he went to study law at Manchester University and worked as a local government lawyer, firstly in Stoke on Trent and then in Stafford until his retirement.
John Burgess, AOS 1956-63 26 January 1945 – 20 September 2021 John Burgess, who died in September 2021, was the youngest of the three Burgess brothers at Ackworth. All three brothers were affectionately known as ‘Worcester’ – after their home city, where John was born in 1945. He became a pupil at Ackworth in 1956, following elder brothers Donald and Peter, and preceding their sister Mary. He was perhaps one of the few pupils to be taught by a sibling; Donald had returned to Ackworth to take up his first teaching post. Their parents thought this ideal, providing additional supervision – though John didn’t necessarily share their view! He was quick to form life-long friendships within his peer group, without any supervision at all.
The Ackworth Old Scholar event in Dubai has been a great experience for OS to reconnect with the school, sharing fond memories. These AOS events are also an opportunity to forge new connections overseas. Both Julie and Saad recounted their unique experiences of boarding life and how they differed, being over 20 years apart in their time at the school. Tom Shennan-Barker said, “It was wonderful to connect with our Old Scholars in Dubai and enable them to connect with each other. We know that there are Old Scholars all around the world who are eager to rekindle connections with old classmates and forge new ones with other former pupils. These events are a great way to do just that.”
On leaving Ackworth, John gained extra qualifications in Birmingham, where the family then lived, before studying business at Portsmouth College of Technology. Starting in sales, this led to a long and enjoyable career in marketing, international brand management and charity fundraising. His charm and amiable nature were key to his success, as was his ready wit: while at Wilkinson Sword he liked to say that he was employed by an armaments manufacturer; when working for ILFORD Film he might tell the curious that he “worked in the film industry”! In 1991 he left the commercial world for the increasingly professional charity fundraising sector, working for RUKBA (now Independent Age). His role included setting up numerous social events, something at which he excelled. A meticulous organiser, he always liked to ensure that everything was in place for a truly memorable occasion. For his own entertainment, his interests included early music, opera, theatre and good food. His love of cricket, kindled at Ackworth, led to many happy days spent at Lords and other Test Match venues - always accompanied by friends, family and a picnic hamper. John was immensely proud of his two children, Richard and Louise, and, in his later years, delighted in the sporting prowess of his grandsons Edward and Freddie. At retirement John moved from London to York with his partner Val and took on a part-time role, leading the York branch of Mind. This was followed by several years as volunteer chair of the co-ordinating committee for mental health charities in the city. This continued until the onset of ill-health in 2015, which slowed the pace of life but gave him time to read The Guardian from cover to cover on most days. He remained engaged and interested in the world around him almost to the end of his life. He died peacefully after a short spell in hospital – thankfully at a time when Covid restrictions were being lifted. This enabled John to spend his last days with some of those to whom his life had given so much happiness.
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COMMUNITY Thomas Franks On 25 October 2021 Ackworth School’s Thomas Franks foundation had aimed to prepare over 100,000 meals to go towards food charities for the vulnerable, including 10,000 peach crumbles, amazing work for an amazing cause!
Pontefract Foodbank During the winter, Alex and Hannah helped take 76 wrapped toys to Pontefract Food Bank in aid of supporting lowincome families this Christmas. “I am writing on behalf of Pontefract Foodbank to express our gratitude for the fabulous collection of wrapped gifts for those in need in our area. This was a fantastic project that will make a lot of difference to many families hereabout.” - Pontefract Food Bank
Santa Dash Shoe Box Just in time for Christmas! Four 6th Formers helped deliver 90 shoeboxes to Morrisons as part of the Shoe Box Appeal for Christmas. This was just brilliant, as we almost doubled the number of boxes Morrisons had received. A big thank you to Grace, Felix, Christine, and Darcey who assisted the trip.
Senior Citizens Christmas Dinner
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On Thursday 9th December, we held a Santa Dash supported by the PSA. Collectively, over £5,000 was raised and will be donated to the Rob Burrow Centre for MND (Motor Neurone Disease) and the PSA for the benefit of our school community.
The pupils of Ackworth School were shown presentations relating to MND and the amazing fund-raising which has been done by Kevin Sinfield in support of his former teammate, Rob Burrow, who spent 16 years playing scrum half and hooker for Leeds Rhinos rugby league team in the Super League. Rob was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in December 2019. He is now confined to a wheelchair, able to communicate only via an eye-driven communication device and cared for by his wife, Lindsey. Rob coached Ackworth Jaguars between 2004 and 2010 and had also volunteered to coach the side again in one of their fund-raising events for MND in early 2020. Unfortunately, this was postponed due to the first lockdown. As a School we had also organised an MND fundraising event involving a run around our school grounds; this too had to be cancelled as a result of the pandemic. Rob Burrow is aiming to raise £5M to build a specialist MND care centre in Leeds.
PSA NEWS
Sensory Room – A Special Thank You We would like to say a personal thank you to the PSA committee, on behalf of the Autism Resource, for the money which was donated to purchase items for the Sensory Room. The space is used throughout the day, every day, so much so that we have now needed to put a booking system in place. Thank you for your support and for the good work that you do to support clubs and activities in and around school.
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Uniform Shop Our Uniform Shop is open every Wednesday from 8.30am! It is now located across the road near the playing fields in what used to be the Nursery! Come and see the PSA team for all your uniform needs. We are still taking donations for uniform and second-hand items for the shop. Elise.Ager@ackworthschool.com
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STAFF NEWS Ben Barker will be leaving Coram House after six years. Ben came to us as a Year 4 teacher with a wealth of skills including Japanese, which he has taught in Coram. Ben moved to the Reception class five years ago and became Head of Early Years. He is a passionate practitioner who is popular with all year groups. Ben is moving to Switzerland with his husband and son (as well as two dogs!). We wish him all the very best and thank him for all of his hard work and dedication to both Coram House and the Senior School. We are losing our very own Peter Pan and will miss him very much. Lynda Barker joined Ackworth School as a Physical Education teacher in a temporary position having been enticed out of retirement after many years as a teacher and leader in the state sector. Lynda is an extremely effective teacher and sets very high standards, challenging pupils to raise their academic sights whilst encouraging participation in sport. We were so impressed that we asked Lynda to come back for a term when Guy Emmett left for Scarborough College and she has remained at the school as our Deputy Head ever since. I set her the challenge of uniting the academic and pastoral roles, a difficult task at a school where traditionally they are divided. Lynda threw herself wholeheartedly into the role and took the school with her. Her knowledge of education and safeguarding and what works best in the school environment placed her in the best possible position to make changes and they have made a sizeable difference to our contextual knowledge of each and every pupil and included an intervention process that has improved results and our value added score. Throughout it all she has maintained the respect and admiration that all of her colleagues have for her. Lynda is happiest when she has a great deal to do and she never leaves the school until her day is done. Always prepared to throw herself into the busiest parts of school life she has set an excellent example to all and has been trusted by the School Committee with some of the most challenging and arduous responsibilities at the school. We can consider ourselves fortunate to have had Lynda at Ackworth, she has left her mark on the school and has played a significant part in overcoming the issues we faced during the pandemic. Lynda will be missed by all of us and we wish her all the very best as she retires to lead a slightly quieter but probably very active life. Delia Coburn joined Ackworth in July 2007 and over the past 15 years has provided outstanding service to the school as the Personal Assistant to three headteachers. Delia arrived with a wealth of experience gained from working in a variety of roles. Always immaculate presented, she added a touch of class to the office which was always an oasis of calm, thanks to Delia’s conviction that nothing in education is really life threatening. Her great strength lies in her caring, understanding and very professional manner which enabled her to get the most out of the situation and the people she met and worked with. Always able to defuse a ‘crisis’, she was at her best when confronted with a real challenge. Nothing however was too great a challenge. Her contributions and confidentiality have been appreciated by the many who
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come to her for advice. She is always willing to help and is careful and considerate. Over the years she has built up an extensive knowledge of the school whilst extending her influence. Staff trust and admire her and she has mastered the difficulties of balancing the administrative needs of the Head’s office with the necessity to keep the Head in touch with the world beyond the school. Sometimes this included the weekends cricket football, or rugby scores if England were ascendant! Despite her youthful demeanour, Delia has decided to retire and will be greatly missed by all. We wish her well and hope that she will remain in contact with us over the coming years. Christine Readman retired from Ackworth in January 2022 after 35 years at the school, working as a Science Technician. During her time at Ackworth, Chris spent time in a number of roles including finance and administration. Christine has been a great laboratory assistant primarily supporting the Chemistry and Biology departments. She has worked meticulously preparing resources for practical lessons, she has shown excellent negotiating skills when purchasing materials and she has fully supported the Quaker ethos in her words and actions. We have truly appreciated her wisdom both professionally and personally. We will miss Christine and we wish her the very best for the future. Tom Shennan-Barker joined Ackworth as Director of Marketing, Admissions and Communications in June 2019. In his time at the school, he has refreshed and reinvigorated our marketing department, improving our communications and admissions experience for our prospective families. There is no doubt that Tom’s professionalism has helped us to attract more pupils to the school. From the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Tom played a critical role in communicating the school’s response and helping us navigate through previously unchartered waters. Tom is leaving Ackworth for a role in a school in Switzerland, together with his husband Ben who is a teacher in Coram House. We wish him all the best for his new adventures abroad. Nicola Tod joined Ackworth as Head of Business Studies and Economics in 2008 when her and her husband Jonathan moved from London. Already an experienced teacher Nicola has taught exclusively Sixth Form and led her department to excellence. She has unlocked a passion for learning with her students over the years and inspired many to pursue careers areas of her expertise. As a Head of Fifth Form and a Sixth Form tutor, Nicola has been known to be firm but fair and her contribution to the extra-curricular provision has been invaluable with Duke of Edinburgh Award, super-curricular competitions and Dungeons and Dragons to name a few. Nicola has managed during her time at Ackworth to bag every single Munro in Scotland, climbing Everest base camp and Mt Kilimanjaro and still play team hockey throughout. Her lust for life has illuminated the classroom and she will be sorely missed. www.ackworthschool.com | 31
Pontefract Road, Ackworth, Pontefract, Wakefield, WF7 7LT Tel: +44 (0)1977 233600 Email: admissions@ackworthschool.com
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