Bablake Lion Spring 2024 - Issue 91

the

Issue 91 | Spring 20 24

News from Bablake

BABLAKE’S BILLY ELLIOT SOARS Our talented pupils delivered an unforgettable performance.

Pages 14-15

ALSO IN THIS EDITION Our Junior School pupils have had a busy term packed full of activities, inside and outside the classroom.

Pages 18-25

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@bablakeschool @bablakejunior

News

Welcome to the Spring edition of the Lion Magazine.

We are committed to providing opportunities in which pupils can achieve more than they imagined possible, with the aspiration that our young people emerge from Bablake as talented, well-rounded and generous young adults.

Our weather station has recorded that this has been the wettest winter on record with 342mm of rain; the previous record wet winter was 1976-77 with 327mm. Our records go back to 1886!

However, the wet weather has not dampened the Spirit of Opportunity and our uniqueness as a school is underlined by the hundreds of activities available to pupils, many of which you will read

about in this newsletter. When I walk around school, when I talk to pupils and staff or observe lessons or activities, I am endlessly reminded of how fortunate we are at Bablake: we work with amazing young people who achieve incredible things inside and outside the classroom.

I am very proud of them!

Mr Andrew Wright, Headmaster

Congratulations to our

Fabulous Four We are proud to announce that four students have been offered conditional Oxbridge offers: Beth for Law at St Catherine’s College, Oxford; Nomeda for Law at St Hilda’s College, Oxford; Bez for Economics and Management at Keble College, Oxford; and Ollie for Veterinary Medicine at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Helen Billings, Head of Sixth Form was delighted: “This is an incredible achievement as only one in six students who apply to Oxford or Cambridge get an offer. These students have worked tirelessly with great determination and focus.”

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House News Our house system fosters friendly competition across all year groups.

Pupils can actively contribute by participating in team and individual events, earning valuable house points along the way.

Our House badges: BAYLEY

CROW

FAIRFAX

WHEATLEY

Every house event that a pupil enters earns them a house point and each event earns points towards the House Cup which is awarded at the end of the academic year after our final house event: Sports Day.

House Events House Darts

House Sports

Higher and Lower

An annual event for Lower Sixth students is the House Darts competition. Each house has one darts player who chooses a stage name and stage persona including elaborate outfits. They take to the floor making a grand entrance along the central aisle to music of their choice, accompanied by their entourage.

Within the games lessons pupils have been taking part in different house events.

Based on the game show Play Your Cards Right this event takes place in assembly for some year groups. A very entertaining event involving lots of audience participation. Much fun is had while pairs guess the answer to numerical questions in order to take control of the cards. The teams then guess higher or lower of the value of the next card in the rack. The winners of the recent Year 11 event were Crow.

The winner was Tom from Wheatley playing as Wheatley Warriors. Year 11 pupils can start preparing their darts skills for next year.

Our house winners are: Netball Year 8 - Crow Netball Year 9 - Crow Hockey Shells - Fairfax Hockey Year 8 - Bayley Hockey Year 10 - Crow Swimming Shells - Crow Swimming Year 8 - Bayley Swimming Year 9 - Crow House Table Tennis has been taking place at lunchtimes. For Shells Crow won, Year 8 Bayley and Year 10 Fairfax.

In House Badminton Year 8 Fairfax won, Inters (Years 9 and 10) won by Wheatley and for Seniors (Year 11 and Sixth Form) Crow won.

Announcing the return of…

House Drama Talented Lower Sixth Drama enthusiasts have chosen a script and are working with Shell, Year 8 and Year 9 pupils to prepare a collaborative pupil-led performance. We hope to see lots of pupils taking part in this event supported by many friends and family in the audience. Performances will be in May so keep an eye on the Headmaster’s Bulletin for more information.

BABLAKE

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Trips

Hitting the slopes in Austria There was great excitement as we set off on our ski adventure to Flachau, Austria. Despite encountering some wet weather upon arrival, our enthusiasm remained undampened as we eagerly anticipated hitting the slopes.

Pupils received five hours of tuition a day and it was incredibly rewarding to see the swift progress of our beginners as they graduated from the gentle nursery slopes to more challenging terrain. The weather improved as the week progressed, treating us to breathtaking scenery with clear blue skies, especially on the panoramic cable car spanning the resort’s two valleys.

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Our advanced skiers wasted no time tackling the red runs, pushing themselves on difficult blacks and attempting some off-piste skiing.

Après ski activities included swimming, bowling and the traditional Bablake Ski Trip Quiz. We also went to a local ski show. It was a real highlight watching synchronised skiing, torch parades and an impressive drone display.

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Music

Sharing the Joy of Music Since the beginning of term pupils have been enhancing our whole school assemblies with musical performances.

Led by our music scholars, it’s been wonderful to see the pupils showcase their musical ability each week. The performances kicked off with Alfie in Year 9 who performed one of his own compositions on guitar. Performances so far have included piano solos, cello duets and viola to name a few.

Showcasing Musical Ability Our music scholars play a pivotal role in the success of the Music Department at the Senior School. Our Scholars’ Concert gives pupils the chance to showcase their musical ability in our community. This term’s concert took place in the beautiful surroundings of St John the Baptist Church, the Bablake church, providing a wonderful afternoon of music. Congratulations to all pupils involved and thank you to those who came to support.

Bablake Junior Music A Celebration of Music at Rush Hour A highlight of the musical calendar is our termly Rush Hour Concerts.

These events showcase the wide range of musical talents that we have in the Junior School. On Thursday 29 February pupils took part in our biggest Rush Hour Concert to date.

The children treated the audience to the debut performance of the Junior School samba band and other ensembles. Performances ranged from beginners to accomplished performers and a wonderful time was had by all.

Embracing Music This term the musical life at Bablake Junior School has developed with some exciting new ensembles.

Pupils can take part in a wide range of musical activities ranging from boom whackers to recorders, samba to choir, glockenspiel ensemble to brass.

Ada said: “I enjoy attending music ensembles because you get to learn whilst having fun and you always get to perform.”

Seren commented: “I enjoy learning new notes and particularly enjoy playing Hot Cross Buns on my cornet.”

Cora said: “I enjoy singing Shake It Off with the choir and expressing myself.”

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Sport

Basketball Our basketball teams have been in fine form this term.

The U12 boys have won their Coventry Schools’ final against KHVIII (30-0) after dominating all their group stage matches. Meanwhile, our U14 boys, U16 boys and U16 girls are preparing for their upcoming semi-finals.

In the Junior NBA competition, our U13 Golden State Warriors continue to shine, maintaining an undefeated record and look set for the play-offs.

Not to be outdone, our U12 Warriors have encountered only two setbacks but are ready to secure their spot in the next stage.

Cricket Our winter cricket training has been in full flow with four sessions running during the week, before and after school.

It has been great to welcome the return of Nick James for another season as our professional cricket coach. Nick is looking forward to working with our boys and girls this season.

After the wettest winter on record, we hope that the summer will provide some fine, dry weather. We have over 180 fixtures scheduled for next term, so it promises to be a busy and enjoyable season ahead.

Our girls’ cricket programme continues to expand, and it has been brilliant to see their enthusiasm and excitement for the season ahead. We are pleased to now offer five teams at both U12 and U13 level. All girls have the opportunity to represent the School!

Photo caption: James, 1st XI Captain

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Hockey Boys’ Hockey It has been another busy term with our 14 hockey teams training hard and playing in a competitive programme of fixtures.

The 1st XI enjoyed success at the England Hockey U18 Tier 4 County Championships, qualifying for the Regional Finals where they competed against some of the best teams in the area. They performed superbly, winning three games during the day, losing two and finishing 5th overall out of ten teams. Another highlight this term was an excellent 3-2 win over KHVIII in a keenly fought and competitive local derby.

The Junior hockey teams have shown excellent dedication and commitment to training, working with our two professional coaches, Richard Major and Nisar Chaudhry: • U15s continue to impress with victories against LSS, KES Aston and KHVIII. • U14s have also enjoyed success and their work ethic on the pitch has been a real highlight, optimised in their 8-0 win over KHVIII. • U13s have shown real promise and they are starting to show huge potential, recording wins this term against KHVIII and KES Birmingham.

• U12s did brilliantly in the County Cup, narrowly losing in the semi-final in a sudden-death shootout - it was a fantastic game of hockey.

Girls’ Hockey On a wet and windy Thursday evening, the U13s competed in the In2hockey 7 a side tournament hosted at King’s High. The girls got off to a great start beating EHS 4-0. In the second group game they continued to move the ball well and at pace but came up just short

BABLAKE

against a strong Solihull side. Playing King’s High in the semi-final, they stood up to the task well but with the opposition filled with club players, they were unable to get the result their effort deserved. The 3rd place play-off was a tight game and the team just edged it 2-1, scoring the decisive goal with only two minutes to play.

The girls have worked extremely hard on structure and shape all year and team spirit has been apparent throughout.

This was epitomised by captain Scarlet whose work rate and tenacious tackling was exceptional in all four matches.

Special mention to Lucie who donned the face mask for the first time and was a revelation in goal. Congratulations to Scarlet, Lucie, Darcey, Emma, Jess, Phoebe and Nina.

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Sport

Netball Senior Netball Congratulations to the 1st and 2nd netball teams who have achieved some excellent results this term and have only lost 2 out of 18 games between them. The 1st team took on a tough Princethorpe winning 33-26 which took them through to the quarter finals of the Sisters n Sports National plate. They faced an even tougher Dean Close, but the girls were resilient despite the games physicality and won 35-33. We wish them the best of luck in the semi-final.

The 2nd team have beaten KES (43-12) and King’s High (30-8) with the score lines reflecting our talented shooters.

The team, comprising of our U16s, also competed in the England Netball Regional Finals in January. It was always going to be a tough day, but the girls excelled and played some of their best netball. They beat Bromsgrove in their first game which gave them confidence for the rest of the group games, beating Shrewsbury, Arthur Terry, Hereford Cathedral, NUL and Wolverhampton High. They met a very tough King’s Worcester in the semi-finals, but the girls had the edge and with some excellent turn over balls from our defensive end, we won by one goal. We wish the girls the best of luck at the National Finals in March.

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Junior Netball The U15s have made really good progress this season, training with the seniors proved really positive. Both the A and B teams competed in the Coventry tournaments on 5 February. The As finished overall winners with the Bs finishing overall 3rd. A huge well done to both teams.

The U14s second half of the season has also been really positive, with wins against WGS (18-15) and The King’s School Worcester (19-14). The girls were really unlucky to lose 10-9 in a really competitive fixture vs Princethorpe. We look forward to seeing how the rest of the season progresses.

The U12s and U13s season has been mixed with cancelled games due to the poor weather. The U13s have had some very close games which has been hard to swallow at times. The U12s have had some exceptional wins scoring 40+ goals in one game but have also found it tough against some opposition. Despite some losses, we are really excited for the future of netball at Bablake, with some really talented individuals already standing out in these age groups. Both the U13s and U12s have their Coventry tournaments in the coming weeks, we wish them the best of luck and hope to bring home the silverware!

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Football Congratulations to the U14 girls’ football squad for their outstanding performance in the Sisters n Sport National Cup this season.

In a competitive match against Shrewsbury School, their 9-2 win reflected their skill and attitude on the pitch, fuelled by Lara’s impressive hat-trick and Emma’s two-goal contribution. Now, they’re set to face Spalding School in the final 16. Best of luck to the entire team!

Rugby As another rugby season draws to a close, we reflect on the remarkable achievements and dedication from our teams across all year groups.

The U18s secured a resounding 40-12 victory against KE Camp Hill and showed promise in a narrow defeat to KES Stratford. The highlight of their season was against Sedbergh U17s in the annual Peter Bush memorial game. Despite falling to Sedbergh’s dominance, our players displayed grit and talent.

The 2nd XV/U16s maintained an impressive form, winning four out of five matches post-Christmas. Wins against KE Aston, KE Camp Hill, Lutterworth RFC and a last-minute thriller against Warwick U16B capped off a fine end to the year.

The U15s remained unbeaten throughout the term, securing wins against Lutterworth High School and KE Camp Hill. They emerged victorious in the Coventry Schools’ Cup 10s Festival, defeating local rivals to claim the title of the city’s best.

Despite facing setbacks in their last two games, the U13s have displayed an impressive attitude throughout the season. With their eyes set on the Coventry Schools’ Festival, they aim to finish on a positive note, showcasing the spirit of Bablake rugby.

Our U14s also concluded the season on a high note, defeating Bishop Vesey in a fiercely competitive away fixture. With their sights set on regional cup runs and upcoming 7s competitions, they remain poised for future success.

Undoubtedly, the most remarkable success belongs to the U12s. With an unbeaten streak spanning all 11 fixtures, they have showcased exceptional talent and teamwork. With their fantastic attitude and commitment to training, they prepare for the Bishop Vesey 7s and Coventry Schools’ Festival.

Every team has demonstrated resilience, skill and sportsmanship, enriching our community with their commitment to the game.

We must also celebrate the contributions of the B, C and D teams in Shells and Year 8. Their participation and enthusiasm reflect the inclusive spirit of Bablake, where every pupil has the opportunity to shine and represent the School with pride.

BABLAKE

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Sixth Form

God and the Good Lower Sixth Religion, Philosophy and Ethics students attended a national conference at Coventry Cathedral run by the eminent philosopher and author Peter Vardy. Topics under discussion included ‘What is good?’, Religious Language and the Problem of Evil, which supported the students’ A Level syllabus.

The setting of Coventry Cathedral gave everyone the opportunity to join in with the daily noon prayers for peace and reconciliation. An informative, thoughtprovoking and memorable day.

Artistic Inspiration While many were beginning their half term break, the Lower Sixth Form Art students embarked on an educational trip to Oxford. Exploring the cultural tapestry of the city, they visited the collections of the Ashmolean Museum, the Natural History Museum and the fascinating ethnographic displays at the Pitt Rivers Museum. This excursion promises to serve as an inspiring visual foundation for their upcoming project.

Historical Debate Rhea, Upper Sixth, recently represented Bablake at the national semi-finals for the Historical Association’s Great Debate. She delivered her argument on why Maganbhai Patel deserves greater historical recognition assertively and with great confidence.

Rhea responded thoughtfully to the judges’ questions and she was selected as one of the winners and now goes through to the final being held at Windsor Castle.

Congratulations Rhea and good luck for the final.

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Enrichment As part of the Lower Sixth Enrichment Lecture Programme, we have been fortunate to welcome a whole host of guest speakers to share their career paths and words of wisdom. Engineer, Dr Pete James recently delivered a session on how to set up your own company and former student Matt Lang shared his experience as a Drone Officer with West Midlands Police.

Josh from the University of Warwick’s Ambassador Programme recently visited Bablake to deliver an informative session raising awareness of testicular cancer on behalf of The Oddballs Foundation.

North Pole Expeditions Renowned Polar Explorer, Alex Hibbert joined our Upper Sixth students for a fascinating talk on his North Pole expeditions. During the Enrichment session, Alex gave first hand insights into the challenges and triumphs of exploring such extreme conditions. Students also had the opportunity to try on his specialised clothing designed for the icy landscapes of the Arctic.

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Sixth Form

Exploring Different Career Paths

Prefects Foster

Leadership

We have enjoyed a variety of talks and activities around qualification pathways and sectors of work for our students, across different year groups.

There are many ways to develop leadership skills in the Sixth Form.

The Senior Prefect team have been working with the lower years as well as Ambassadors in the Junior School on leadership skills.

Millie, another former student, shared her journey to becoming a quantity surveyor through the degree apprenticeship scheme with Severn Trent Water. Millie’s first-hand experiences as an apprentice provided Year 10 and 11 pupils with a realistic perspective about the apprenticeship journey and what they can be doing now to get ahead.

Josh, a former Sixth Form student, returned to Bablake to talk to our Lower Sixth students, providing valuable insights into his experience in securing a product design degree apprenticeship with JLR.

During Green Careers Week we welcomed students from the University of Warwick who led insightful talks about their experiences of studying different degree subjects, combined with sustainability modules. The students shared their personal journeys and the remarkable sustainability initiatives they are involved in at the University.

With the help of the Lower Sixth Form Prefects, the Senior Prefects recently took over a Life Choices lesson. School Captains, Libby and Ollie planned a session on the topic of mental health which the Form Prefects then helped to deliver.

The session was a great way to get conversations started and for the older students to share their experiences and strategies.

Every Choice Counts As part of the Life Choices Programme, all our Sixth Form took part in the Every Choice Counts workshop run by West Midlands Fire Service. Students learnt about the fatal five, as well as how to deal with peer pressure when driving in an interactive session led by Arron.

1.

Dont drink or drug drive

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2.

Kill your speed

3.

Don’t get careless

4.

Always belt up

5.

Switch it off

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Mock Interviews and Assessments Upper Sixth students recently had the opportunity to further develop their communication skills in a mock interview session in Life Choices.

Twenty employers gave up their time to support the event from diverse fields such as engineering, computer science, performing arts, business, medicine, law and finance. A realistic interview scenario was created to help students increase their confidence and showcase their employability.

In addition, students considering the Degree Apprenticeship route took part in a mock assessment centre workshop, facilitated by ASK Apprenticeships. They engaged in hands-on group tasks and received advice from the Apprenticeship team about effective teamwork and communication. The workshop was a really positive experience, helping our students discover their strengths as well as providing them with the opportunity to explore different routes.

Biology Olympiad During mock exam week our A Level biologists sat the Biology Olympiad, an annual event organised by UK Biology Competitions.

With over 15,000 candidates representing 1,000 participating schools from around the world, we are extremely proud to report that six of our students received medals, a brilliant set of results!

School Captain Ollie did superbly well to receive a Gold Award, placing him in the top 5% of all participants - a tremendous achievement. Silver medals were awarded to Dylan and Avneet, whilst Ed, Darcey and Manjote were all awarded Bronze medals.

Young Enterprise Success Our Lower Sixth Young Enterprise teams, The Beez Kneez and EcoFriendz recently showcased their products at the Spring Trade Fair in Leamington Spa. The Beez Kneez focuses on helping bees, selling fun, eco-friendly products that directly support local pollinators and the environment. Their products include handmade beeswax wraps, wildflower seed bags and plant pots that can be drawn on with chalk. The wildflower seed bags were especially well received.

The Beez Kneez earned Young Enterprise certificates for their sustainable and imaginative products.

Meanwhile, EcoFriendz secured recognition as the most resilient team.

Overall the Spring Trade Fair proved to be a very successful day for both teams. Well done!

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Bablake’s Billy Elliot Soars

This year’s production showcased Billy Elliott across three sold-out nights, where our talented pupils delivered an unforgettable performance.

The production featured brilliantly designed sets complemented by the fabulous musical performance from the band.

“Our annual musical is an exciting feature of our school calendar, as one of the few opportunities for members of every year group to collaborate together.

The demands of a production are high, with a commitment of several months. To work in this environment, with our incredible talent at Bablake is an absolute privilege.

We witness the growth and emergence of performance skills, pupil ownership of the portrayal of their character, as well as self-discipline and organisation in our crew.”

VICKI BRADLEY, MUSICAL DIRECTOR

“A standout moment for me was at the end of the show when the cast bowed while we performed the play and the audience erupted in cheers. It was profoundly special for me because it encapsulated the dedication everyone had put into weeks of rehearsals and symbolised the collective effort of the entire production cast.”

“At the dress rehearsals and on show nights, it’s amazing to watch the show truly come together and to show everyone what we have been doing.

I definitely found it nerve-wracking both times, but it’s more exciting than anything else I’ve experienced.”

ELLIOT, YEAR 10 ACTOR (BOXING COACH)

MAYA, YEAR 11 BAND MEMBER

“The feeling you get from performing is amazing and unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. After the show you feel a huge sense of fulfilment and happiness.

The community of people around you is so incredible to have.”

LUCA, YEAR 10 ACTOR (DAD)

“It’s a way in which you can express yourself, have fun and be free within a group of such welcoming people which begin to feel like your family after a while.”

“Playing live develops your multitasking skills - watching the Musical Director, turning the pages and being aware of what’s going on around you. I would encourage everyone to get involved.

Even if acting and singing isn’t your thing, there are many roles in babtech, choreographing or helping with costumes and props.”

BETH, YEAR 13 BAND MEMBER

NANCY, YEAR 10 ACTOR (GRANDMA)

“The feeling before you go on stage in front of a whole crowd of people is something you could never imagine. The excitement and nervousness is what makes it fun when you step out onto the stage.”

SCARLET, YEAR 8 ACTOR (BALLET GIRL)

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Engineering hub

Innovation and Inspiration in our New Engineering Hub The Design Technology Department was delighted to open the new Engineering Hub last October.

A room fully equipped with ten computers, CAD software, CNC Milling Machine and three 3D printers, it is a creative design space for many of our DT and Engineering pupils, especially the F1 in Schools teams.

The Hub also contains an official 30m F1 in Schools race track, which we will be putting to good use to inspire the future generation of engineers. The Hub has opened up a world of opportunities and we are looking forward to hosting future events.

Flux Capacitor your Way into the Future!

Our Engineering Hub isn’t just about cutting-edge technology, it is also home to the DeLorean Time Machine which is nearing completion. This has been an incredible experience for all involved. The car will shortly be returned to its owner to be put on show in a museum and then will remain part of the Dream Drives fleet of movie cars.

But don’t worry, there are whispers of another DeLorean arriving later this year for a Back to the Future Part 1 conversion. Watch this space…

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From Design to Track:

With the F1 in Schools UK National Finals entry of Racing Lions fresh in their minds, four teams involving 20 pupils from Years 8 to 11, have been working hard throughout the year preparing their cars and portfolios for the F1 in Schools West Midlands Regional Finals held at Aston University in February.

Racing Lions and Mantis (Professional Class) and The Lionesses and Golden Lions (Development Class) designed, manufactured and prepared model cars and portfolios for their entries, working to industry standards with Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM).

The West Midlands is a fiercely competitive region with 40 teams entered across the two classes. Mantis won Best Engineered Car in Professional Class and Racing Lions won Best Team Identity across all classes. It was a tremendous day and all teams are already back in the Engineering Hub scrutinising their performance and planning for next season, aiming to make it to the National Finals.

“A huge thank you to all their sponsors (HPL, Clayton Classics, ATD Coventry and Exxon Mobil) for supporting the teams through their journey this year. Our teams are seeking further sponsorship to help them with entry fees, manufacturing costs, producing their pit display, as well as provide them with the branded clothing. If you or your company, would like to support these energetic students to achieve their goal of reaching the World Finals please get in touch.”

MR NICHOLSON

What is F1 in Schools?

F1 in Schools is a multi-disciplinary engineering STEM challenge in which teams of students aged 9 to 19 deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test and then race miniature compressed air powered cars made from F1 model block. www.f1inschools.co.uk

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Junior School News

Welcome to Simba.

One of the privileges of this job is spending time with our fantastic pupils especially as they take part in the hundreds of activities inside and outside the classroom.

It is a pleasure to introduce the Simba content for this edition. As you can see, there has been a huge sense of busyness in the weeks since the last copy; children and staff have been throwing themselves headlong into all manner of activities.

When considering the nature of a Bablake Junior School pupil, a lion cub is a useful model. Playful and energetic;

inquisitive and eager to test things; able to be brave, standing proud and alone, whilst also keen to be a part of the pride. We are incredibly proud of them all, and everyone that shapes this remarkable community. Enjoy reading a sample of the adventures we have enjoyed this term.

Mr Warren Honey, Headmaster

Forest School

Shelters, Skill-Building and Squirrels The winter season at Forest School has been brimming with excitement and has included skillbuilding, exploration and connection with nature.

YEAR 3 • Understanding the diverse creatures inhabiting the Spinney.

• Bird watching and a thrilling mini-beast hunt.

Find out what our pupils have been up to…

• Constructing mini-beast hotels and bird feeders to nurture wildlife in our own gardens.

YEAR 4 • Embracing the challenge of building obstacle courses whilst managing risk.

• From fun courses for those cheeky squirrels that live in the Spinney to daring courses for our friends.

YEAR 5 • Becoming master shelter builders.

• Using what the woodland has to offer to create fantastic hideaways.

YEAR 6 • Mastering skills in woodwork and learning the art of creating fires.

• With safety in mind, developing a vital life skill with the reward of enjoying treats over the flames.

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Year 3

Exploring the Wonders of Science Year 3 blasted off on an explosive journey into the world of Science by visiting the Senior School laboratories.

The adventure began with the everimportant safety protocols, learning the importance of caution and responsibility in the lab. Through hands-on exploration of chromatography, the children discovered the mysteries of different inks and were delighted with the effects of adding bicarbonate of soda to vinegar.

Many thanks to Mr Kalsi and Dr Casey in the Senior School. The children look forward to more scientific adventures in the future.

Year 3

Trebuchets and Towers Year 3 recently embarked on a trip to Warwick Castle, immersing themselves in the medieval world of castle defence and history.

The day started with a workshop learning about how to defend a motte and bailey castle using siege weapons like battering rams and trebuchets.

Climbing the tower’s spiral staircase and ascending the motte provided a great experience, offering panoramic views of the castle grounds. The falconry display was a highlight, shedding light on the historical use of birds for hunting. An expert bowman shared the art of archery and a tour of the Great Hall showcased a variety of intimidating weapons used for both attack and defence, bringing history to life for our young historians.

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Junior School News Year 4

Stepping through the Wardrobe into Narnia Year 4 embarked on an enchanting journey whilst reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Immersed in C.S. Lewis’s magical world, the children compared the book to its cinematic adaptation through comprehension exercises and created their own magical scrapbook. Narnia Day really brought the tale to life as the children talked of friendship, bravery and the allure of fantasy.

Year 4

Mathematical Rockstars

Congratulations to the winners from each Maths set from our two most recent competitions.

Our Battle of The Bands Winners Over the Christmas Break Mr Holder’s Maths Set

Year 4 have been busy on the recall of key multiplication facts up to 12x12, using Times Tables Rockstars and Big Maths to improve speed of recall.

The children have discovered that just three minutes a day has a real impact on their Soundcheck and Multiplication Tables Challenge results. They’ve been setting ourselves goals and looking at AI generated heatmaps to target what they need to learn.

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Miss Love’s Maths Set

1st most valuable player

Reyaansh

1st most valuable player

Enoch

2nd most valuable player

Agnes

2nd most valuable player

Rhys

3rd most valuable player

Arya

3rd most valuable player

Mabel

NSPCC Rocks event on 2 February Mr Holder’s Maths Set

Miss Love’s Maths Set

1st most valuable player

Arya

1st most valuable player

Rhys

2nd most valuable player

Reyaansh

2nd most valuable player

Ruby

3rd most valuable player

Ben

3rd most valuable player

Harriet

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Year 5

A Victorian Christmas Cracker Year 5’s Victorian Experience Day transported pupils back in time to a Victorian Christmas, offering an unforgettable journey into the past.

Dressed in splendid Victorian attire, the children looked fabulous, fully embodying the spirit of the era.

The children experienced the strict discipline, rules and routines of Victorian life, embodying the adages, “cleanliness is next to godliness” and “children should be seen and not heard.” The day was filled with traditional parlour games and crafting of Victorian Christmas cards providing the children with some fun and an understanding of Victorian values and creativity.

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Junior School News

Year 6

Moving Up Morning Last half term, we spent a morning exploring lessons up at the Senior School.

The lessons included Physics, Food Tech, Spanish, D.T. and Latin. In Physics, we learnt what allows airplanes to fly before having some hair-raising fun with a Van de Graaf machine. Food Tech was a mouthwatering adventure with scrumptious brownies to celebrate at the end. Spanish and Latin were a wonderful way to learn about other cultures and languages while D.T. brought out our creativity. Living the life of a Shells student was informative and enjoyable for us all.

By Jessica and Meera

Year 6

Back in Time as WWII Evacuees Last term, we had a wonderful day dressing and acting as an evacuee in World War Two. Firstly, we enjoyed a baking session where we made delicious carrot cookies. Then, we made propaganda posters and British flags for the VE Day party. Next, we had a Bletchley Park code breaking session where we cracked and solved different codes. To finish off our brilliant day, we celebrated a VE Day party eating our scrumptious carrot cookies and listening to Winston Churchill’s speech, which announced the victory of England!

By Ayla and Pyaari

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Junior School Sport We have recently participated in various events organised by the Coventry School Sport Partnership.

From dodgeball to sports hall athletics, our pupils showed dedication and passion for Sport.

Dodgeball

Sports Hall Athletics

Year 5 pupils showcased their agility and teamwork in some fast-paced action.

Pupils from Years 5 and 6 demonstrated their versatility in sprints, long jumps, relays and javelin.

Boys’ Sport Rugby

Hockey

In an action-packed rugby season, a total of 71 games were played across 11 teams. Every child had the opportunity to proudly represent the School, showcasing their talent and dedication on the field.

The U11 boys took part in the prestigious IAPS Hockey Tournament at Repton eager to display their skills and resilience on pitch.

The day began well with a draw against Maidwell Hall, showcasing teamwork and a notable goal by Rayhan. Despite facing strong opponents like Repton and The Elms, they displayed determination throughout. In the Plate competition, they fought valiantly against The Blue Coat School, even going to penalties, but ultimately fell short. Though the tournament results were mixed, the boys left with valuable experience and a strengthened resolve.

The U8s teams secured victories in every game played. The U9 A Team dominated most games scoring 52 tries and the B Team fought some tough challenges. The U10s won the majority of their matches demonstrating remarkable teamwork and determination.

The U11 season was characterised by tough competition and close matches.

The A team delivered a resounding victory against KHVIII with a score of 55-5. This was a fitting conclusion to their time as Bablake Junior rugby players, highlighting their growth and development over the years.

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Junior School Sport All our girls have had the opportunity to represent the School in both hockey and netball and thoroughly deserve all the success they have achieved.

Girls’ Sport Netball

The U11 A and B tournament at Warwick was an amazing day.

A great start with the As battling hard and the B team winning against Warwick. Next, we played Blue Coat and again played with determination to draw and win our matches. Last we played The Croft and again battled hard with our depleted squads.

The U10 A team played brilliantly against Crackley Hall (7-2) and Bilton Grange (19-9), displaying impressive teamwork and shooting. The U10Bs also secured a win against Crackley Hall (50) and KHVIII (5-2), with a draw against The Croft (3-3).

The U9 netball teams showcased impressive marking skills and fast-paced play against Warwick, fought valiantly against Solihull (As 3-4, Bs 2-3) despite unfamiliar conditions, and dominated Highclare (As 5-0, Bs 3-1) and The Croft (As 4-2, Bs 1-2), demonstrating continuous improvement throughout the season.

The U8s played a closely fought battle against Solihull narrowly missing scoring opportunities. The end result was 2-0 to Solihull but we were really proud of the girls who played so well and kept trying right up until the final whistle.

Hockey

The U11 girls represented the School brilliantly at the regional finals in the IAPS Tournament playing supportively as a team, encouraging each other and improving their tactical play.

First we lost to Greshams Prep 4-0 then to Wellingborough in a really close match 1-0. Next we held Leicester Grammar 0-0 till the very last minute finally losing 1-0 but a brilliant effort by all. Finally we drew against Kimbolton 1-1.

The U10 team displayed impressive skills, with the A team drawing against Crackley Hall and Warwick, and the B team drawing with Warwick and winning against Crackley Hall.

Girls’ Football Our Year 3 and 4 girls are making waves with their spirited performances in the football leagues. Wins, draws, losses.

They have seen it all with their unwavering sportsmanship.

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The U9s travelled to Solihull and played so well in mixed teams to win 2-1 and 1-0. Lots of shots and some great hit outs.

Hockey continued strongly with U8s vs KHVIII with everyone in Year 3 playing some super quick hockey. The U8s played with great enthusiasm and worked hard to earn a win and a draw against The Croft.

Due to icy weather the U8 hockey tournament was moved to the sports hall. It was fast and furious and so much fun! The girls were amazing beating Kingsley 4-1, Blue Coat School 3-1 and Carrdus School 1-0. They drew against Arnold Lodge 3-3 and lost to Warwick 3-2. There were some great hockey skills on display and the girls managed well with the increased speed of indoor hockey. I was particularly impressed by how the girls worked brilliantly as a team.

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Junior School Art Exhibition The Art Exhibition was a resounding success with artwork displayed from all year groups: YEAR 3: Spirals, Landscapes and Bablake ink paintings.

YEAR 4: Jabberwocky books, natural form designs and mushrooms YEAR 5: Antarctica maps, dragons and Batik YEAR 6: Henry Moore figures and Darwin birds

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Other News

Head Start on Happiness Last month we supported Children’s Mental Health Week with a series of events.

Mrs. Press, Deputy Head and Head of Pastoral, set the tone with an inspiring assembly where she spoke about the importance of healthy relationships, managing emotions and safeguarding our mental wellbeing.

Embracing the theme of ‘Express Yourself,’ our pupils enjoyed a lunchtime Danceathon, from disco divas to hula hoopers and even football enthusiasts doing keepy-ups. With our in-house DJ Jacob and MC Rio on the decks, the danceathon was a huge hit with our younger years.

In Art, Year 8 pupils created happiness collages. Each piece of artwork was a personal testament to ‘what makes me happy’ and the results were brilliant.

Chess Champions The Coventry Schools’ Chess Cup, a knockout tournament featuring eight teams from five schools (Coventry School Foundation, Warwick School, Warwick Junior School, King Edward VI Stratford and Campion), took place last month.

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The competition involves three rounds, showcasing the skill of each team’s six players.

In the first round, our team demonstrated remarkable skill, securing a 6-0 victory over Warwick Junior School. We then faced Warwick B in the second round with a 4-2 win. The final was played against the reigning champions from last year, Warwick Senior A, who are a very strong team but we emerged victorious with another 4-2 win!

Well done to Keatan, Dylan, Vincent, Aarav, Harvey and Sukhmani who have done incredibly well.

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Heading to Mexico We are very excited to announce that two of our pupils are heading to Mexico to represent Team Coventry at the International Children’s Games (ICG) this July.

Founded in 1968, these games have grown into a global phenomenon, bridging cultures and promoting understanding among children from more than 600 cities and over 100 countries. Through both Summer and Winter Games, the ICG fosters a spirit of competition and camaraderie that resonates with young athletes and spectators alike, continuing a legacy of connection and celebration.

Following hard work throughout the cross country season and trials in February, Sebastian in Year 10 has been selected to compete in Mexico in the 1,500m race.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to compete in this prestigious event and to travel to Mexico. I am looking forward to training, team bonding and fundraising before the trip.”

Lara in Year 9 has accepted a place on the football team representing Team Coventry this summer.

She said: “When I was 9 years old, I was told by my PE teacher that both girls and boys would be playing football. The first time I played football I think I was terrible but that didn’t matter as I enjoyed it so much. I now play for Coventry City, West Midlands County and recently I was invited to play for Team Coventry in the 2024 International Children’s Games being held this summer in Leon, Mexico. I have no idea what future football will hold for me but it will always be part of my life and I am so excited to be playing in Mexico.”

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Artwork by Sohan 3E

Junior and Senior Schools

Open Evening

Open Morning

Friday 21 June, 5pm – 8pm

Saturday 28 September, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Bablake School Coundon Road, Coventry CV1 4AU 024 7627 1200

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info.bablake@csfoundation.org.uk | bablakeadmissions@csfoundation.org.uk

@bablakeschool @bablakejunior

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