The Lion - Issue 67

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News and views from Bablake School

Here’s looking at you, kid ....

Issue 67 | Summer 2015

The Engineering Education Scheme “Following six months’ hard work, the Engineering Education Scheme came to a successful conclusion when the Bablake team exhibited its work.

Supported by Josh Palmer and Adam Harding, two engineers from our sponsor company Arup, the team designed a metro system station for the forthcoming football World Cup to be held in Doha, Qatar in 2022.

However, the highlight of the day had to be a ‘selfie’ with guest speaker Lord Digby Jones, who enthusiastically supported the boys’ request. It is not only a great photo, but also a worthy winner of the EDT Selfie Challenge competition!

We are delighted to report that the boys have all since been awarded a Gold Crest Award and we warmly congratulate them on this impressive achievement.”

Chris Blackett, Edward Collier, Tom Betts and James Horton with Lord Digby Jones

Mr Chris West

In this issue: Om mani padme hum 2 Election fever! 3 Zigger Zagger 4 Events focus 5 Prop it up! 6 Impressions of Auschwitz 7 Musical notes 8 Into the wild ... 10 RS in London 11 Worldwise Challenge 12 Celebrating diversity 13 Sport 14

Bablake News

Unaccustomed as I am ...

Members of the Fourth Year with the Venerable Dawa

Om mani padme hum Back in March, the Venerable Lobsang Dawa visited Bablake to talk to Fourth Year GCSE Religious Studies pupils about Buddhism and life as a monk.

Venerable Dawa was born and bred in Coventry, and took ordination into the Tibetan Buddhist tradition ten years ago. He teaches meditation and Buddhism every Thursday evening at the Friends’ Meeting House in Coventry. He answered pupils’ questions on everything from what he misses from his old life before he was a monk to how to reach Enlightenment! He also led the pupils in a ten minute session of meditation. We are very grateful to him for giving up his time to visit us.

Musical reflections A reunion organised for Old Wheatleyans by Alumni Relations Officer, Mrs Sylvia O’Sullivan, had an extra musical touch this year. An impromptu Bablake Male Voice Choir was formed to perform the old School Song for those who attended, and we heard the first official performance in many years. Written in the 1930s, with lyrics by then Headmaster Mr E A Seabourne with music by Mr A Wilson, a member of the teaching staff, it reflected the life and times of the (boys’) school in that era.

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The Lion Summer 2015

Every year Bablake pupils enjoy a cultural festival/ competition, in which they represent their House. This year was the year of Public Speaking and Houses were allocated a political party (Bayley – Green Party, Crow – Liberal Democrats, Fairfax – Conservative and Wheatley – Labour). Judging was by staff, with Mr Park (English) chairing all the sessions.

Our Shells/Seconds, Thirds/Fourths and Fifths/ Sixth Form each debated an aspect of the parties’ manifestos: Education, Health and Welfare, and EU and Immigration respectively. Bayley won the Shells/Seconds competition, Crow won the Thirds/ Fourths and Wheatley won the seniors. It was Fairfax, however, which won the overall crown with consistent performances (taking four second places).

Joe Innes of Wheatley

The panel at Bablake’s political debate

At the hustings Just nine days before the 2015 General Election, Bablake held its own political debate. Four candidates keen to convince the audience of their party’s merits discussed a variety of topics concerning the economy, education, the NHS, immigration and the legal aid system.

The only current incumbent was Geoffrey Robinson (Labour Coventry North West) and it was great to see someone who has represented this area since 1976 at Bablake.

His Conservative opponent, Pavesh Akhtar, shared the platform alongside Ade Adeyemo (Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Meriden) and Richard Wright of UKIP. Keeping order was former Chairman of the Coventry School Foundation, Richard Atkins QC. By the time you read this, their immediate political futures will have been decided and if any are successful, we hope that the detailed and probing questions and comments offered by the audience will stand them in good stead in the cauldron of the House of Commons.

Bablake News

Election fever!

Beckie Carter Conservative

Pamilla Kang Green

The recently-held Bablake Election gave our pupils the chance to be involved in the polls.

The four members of the Sixth Form Politics Group who volunteered to be our candidates were Beckie Carter, Keisha Simms, Amy Kuner and Pamilla Kang who represented Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party respectively. In the week prior to the General Election the candidates wrote and presented their “mini manifestos” to all pupils during a series of assemblies.

Pamilla Kang (Green) started off and promised attention to food banks, flooding risks and the effects of climate change, while assuring that voters who pledged allegiance to her party that they would benefit from a new form of government and not be stuck with the limitations of the outdated format offered by the major traditional parties.

Amy Kuner (Liberal Democrat) followed and argued her party's MPs would continue to stabilise radical change, adding a heart to

Tory decisions and a brain to Labour policy. She countered criticism that the Liberal Democrats went back on manifesto promises, claiming there had had to be compromise in the coalition and 80% of the original promises had been kept.

She promised £8 billion for the NHS, predicted a fairer and happier society, and would implement policies that were both green and practical. The best of the EU and foreign contracts would also strengthen the UK. Beckie Carter (Conservative) then promised the national deficit

Keisha Simms Labour

Amy Kuner Liberal Democrat

to £50,000. She questioned how Labour's tuition fee reduction would not lead to extortionate repayments, gave hope for the NHS and promised more houses would be built. A vote for her party would be simply a vote for stability, not the chaos seen before David Cameron's coalition.

Finally Keisha Simms (Labour) assured voters that their concerns were hers too. She wanted young people to be earning a living wage.

The minimum wage would be at least £8 an hour, independence would come via fixed employment and promises like this as well as care of the NHS would all be funded by a mansion tax on properties worth over £2 million. It would be easier to step onto the property ladder,

considered a constituency and the candidate who gained the most votes in a tutor group was declared the winner for that constituency. The Returning Officers, otherwise known as Form Tutors, started declaring the winning candidates on Tuesday morning with the last constituency declaring at 4pm on Wednesday.

There won’t be any need for a coalition or a re-election at Bablake as the overall result, announced in House Assemblies on the morning of the General Election, was a victory for Beckie Carter (Conservative) winning 24 seats. Pamilla Kang (Green) gained 9 seats, Keisha Simms (Labour) gained 6 seats and Amy Kuner (Liberal Democrat) won one seat. Many thanks to our candidates who played such convincing politicians!

Most of our current pupils will be of voting age by the time the next General Election takes place.

Ideally this experience has raised their awareness of politics and will encourage them to engage in more informed political debate and discussion in the future.

“Most of our current pupils will be of voting age by the time the next General Election takes place.” in the economy would be further reduced by the end of the next fiveyear term, taxes would not be raised for 'working people' and the higher rate of taxation would be raised

apprenticeships would be increased and university fees reduced.

For the purposes of voting, using the first past the post system, each of over 40 tutor groups was

Bablake School

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Bablake News

Zigger

Zagger

Mrs Carrie Martlew writes about Bablake’s production of Zigger Zagger, a play that depicts with enormous vigour the story of Harry, a football hooligan, and his progress forwards from the end of his schooldays.

I first thought about Zigger Zagger as a Lower School Production when I started teaching the choral odes in Antigone last year. The main functions of the Greek Chorus are to comment on the action of the play, give back story, and to connect the play to other myths. Sophocles also uses the Chorus to expound upon the play's central themes. This is also true of Peter Terson’s Zigger Zagger and I hoped I could exploit this in an exciting production for Bablake pupils.

In early March, I decided to launch the idea of the production to our Third Year in an assembly. I think they were excited but also a little puzzled that I had chosen a play about football when I detest the ‘beautiful game’! I am not a football fan but I have always been fascinated by the passion that is shown on the terraces and it is this that drew me to Terson’s portrayal of a charismatic football hooligan.

Auditions began and the search was on for a dynamic cast that could cope with a play that was first performed in 1967 by the National Youth Theatre. For Harry, I needed a young male actor who could convey a peculiar mixture of innocence and dumb insolence and I found it in Liam Duggan.

I also needed a female actor who could convincingly play Harry’s mum and, when I watched Shannon Maguire’s audition, I knew I had found my female lead. I wanted Les and Edna to be an endearing couple and I found the perfect combination in Charlotte Park and Rob Tyas. Oliver Brindley stepped forward for the title role and immediately understood the undercurrent of violence and magnetism that this character required.

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The Lion Summer 2015

Rehearsals for Zigger Zagger

Other parts needed careful consideration.

Only one boy came forward for the role of Vincent but I quickly realised that Lewis Carroll had the football expertise and the confidence to play the role. The standard of girls auditioning was extremely high so the competition for the part of Sandra, the love interest in the play, and her mouthy best mate Glenice was fierce. After much deliberation, Ayesha Riaz and Sathvika Krishnan were cast. The shortage of boys auditioning meant that some male actors would need to multi-role. Alex Cox had impressed me immensely throughout the first term in Actio, so I knew he had the acting ability to multi-role. John Warren was disappointed with his first audition, so returned to audition again and blew everyone away with his ability to manipulate accent to create character. He found himself cast as all three boyfriends in the play.

Once the cast list went up, it was a lovely feeling issuing scripts and looking forward to the first read through on 27th March. I looked around at my cast and I knew there would

be much fun and hilarity to be had with this talented group of performers.

As the first rehearsal loomed I went in search of a calm, intelligent stage management crew and found just what I was looking for in our Fourth Year. Julian and Luke took command of Lighting and Sound while Ellie and Remy got excited about my 1980s vibe for makeup and costume. This left CJ, Sophie, Stephen and Baht-Ammi to manage the stress of props, blocking, prompting and ensuring the director had a cup of tea in hand throughout all rehearsals! The talented Mr Wyatt joined forces with Beth to create an adaptable set design that could accommodate a boisterous chorus and stage the bleakness of the terraces and Harry’s home.

As half term loomed we were close to blocking all of the first act. Pupils from Shells and Second Year were then sought for the chorus. Rehearsals have continued as we look forward to opening night. All that we now need is an audience to fill our theatre for performances on 25th, 26th and 27th June.

Please contact the school on 024 7627 1200 if you would like to purchase tickets for this production.

Bablake News

Events focus

Power Readers

Ready Steady Cook The annual Ready Steady Cook competition got off to a flying start this year, with the Shells creating some delicious dishes.

Here, Jonathan Knibbs of Shell N tells us about his experience.

“When we were asked to make a salad for the Ready Steady Cook competition, I contemplated making a duck salad that I had eaten at home and really enjoyed. I wrote down the recipe and took it in to school to submit it as an entry for Fairfax House. I was then told to bring in the ingredients, as my recipe had been chosen. I thought that with this recipe, we had a fighting chance of winning!

Making the salad on the day was nerveracking, as Dominic and I wanted to do our best and make as good a salad as we could. I thought that the salad was really great and so did the judges! We were very pleased to come joint first with Bayley House. At the end of the competition, everyone dived in to help us eat our huge, tasty bowl of salad. Everyone did really well; Dominic and I were up against tough competition.”

Joint first place was given to Jonathan Knibbs and Dominic Reeves of Fairfax and to Ben Sawyer and John Joseph O’Meara of Bayley. Well done to all those who participated!

The Power Readers scheme continues to go from strength to strength. In the previous edition of The Lion we reported on how the new Shell pupils had embraced the programme and it appears that this enthusiasm has blossomed across all of the Lower School.

The latest number of pupils receiving the various awards is as follows: Bronze Level 1: 15 Bronze Level 2: 35 Silver: 11 Gold: 4 Platinum: 7 Keep Reading: 2 With another ceremony lined up for June, we look forward to adding to this number and celebrating the breadth of reading undertaken by our pupils.

in our theatre and with our Art, Music, Theatre and Dance teachers.

We have also arranged several trips to Coventry University, for those in our own lower school who have an interest in and aptitude for STEM subjects, as part of our ‘Phoenix Partnership’ with the university. Mr Hyde accompanied two different groups to engineering events, one aimed especially at encouraging girls into engineering, and Mr Woodward accompanied a group to an Automotive Engineering day.

If you know a local school which may be interested in finding out more about our Outreach teaching and activities, please contact Mrs ScottBurt (csb@bablake.coventry.sch.uk).

Leavers – The Class of 2008 As they went on exam leave, our Class of 2008 celebrated with their very own ‘B-Fest’! It was a highly colourful event with everyone decked out in festival gear and with a live music set to round off the morning. We bid them all a fond farewell and wish them every success in their A level examinations.

Outreach activities Outreach activities for our Primary Schools have been plentiful this term, and we have many more planned! Mr Andrew Phillips provided, with the support of the U15 teams, an exciting afternoon of hockey for around 40 Year 5 children from local schools. Some tried hockey for the first time; others honed their skills with our teams. The sun shone and the newly-refurbished Astroturf pitches looked beautiful! Congratulations to our teams who took part in the event, as they made the younger children feel very welcome. In June we welcome around 240 local primary school children to two days of Music Theatre in the EDM; this was hugely successful last year, so we have extended the opportunity to many more to work Bablake School

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Bablake News

Some recent coursework from our talented Design Technology pupils ...

Prop it up!

Earlier this year, two of our Third Year pupils, George Evans and Harry Loud, with the help of Mr Trevor Hyde (Head of Physics) and the Design Technology department, embarked upon a project to make a wooden propeller for a full size replica 1917 Sopwith Pup biplane using recycled science benches.

We are delighted to report that this huge task has now been completed, with Harry reporting that he and George had really enjoyed the whole project and were raring to move on to the next element of the challenge.

Mr Hyde commented: “The boys had to use the same type of tools and techniques that would have been available during the First World War – this involved a lot of elbow grease and sweat! Both George and Harry are now hoping to continue their involvement with the project and are considering whether to attempt the engine or the machine gun!”

Tom Betts

George and Harry hard at work

Qinrui Zhang

DT’s coffee break Alex Heron The Upper Sixth enjoy a day at Fracino

The Upper Sixth Design Technology group took a well-earned coffee break from their revision at world renowned cappuccino and espresso coffee machine makers, Fracino. Mr Adrian Maxwell, Managing Director, kindly gave up his morning to give the group a first-hand tour of their headquarters and design and manufacturing facility in Birmingham. Naturally, the visit started with a cappuccino produced by one of their machines and the group told Mr Maxwell about their coursework projects. He was then able to link their achievements to the processes used

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The Lion Summer 2015

throughout his factory. There then followed an extremely interesting tour, showing some of the latest manufacturing technology and the flexibility of machinery used to produce a worldbeating espresso machine. The knowledge gained during the visit will stand the group in good stead for their forthcoming theory examination. Thanks must also go to Mr Maxwell for giving one of the group, Blake Hatfield, the opportunity to undertake invaluable work experience during the school holidays.

Peter Cusack

Bablake News

“Thou shalt not be a victim. thou shalt not be a perpetrator, but, above all, thou shalt not be a bystander.”

Yehuda bauer

Impressions of Auschwitz Bablake pupils Alice Hayes and Matthew Rowlands provide an insight into their recent visit to Auschwitz.

Before our trip to Poland, we had the opportunity to hear the testimony of Holocaust survivor Susan Pollack in our orientation seminar. Susan was a Hungarian Jew who spent time imprisoned in Auschwitz during the Second World War. When Susan was just a young girl, her father was taken away and killed. Subsequently, Susan and her remaining family were transported to a Nazi concentration camp and became separated from her brother, with whom she was finally reunited after the war.

Susan spoke of her terrible experience at Auschwitz and the miraculous work of the liberators, who sent her to recover in Sweden. Susan’s incredible story of her survival and current work with the Holocaust Education Trust was extremely moving and excellent preparation for the trip.

A week later, we met at Birmingham Airport to set off for our one day visit to Poland. Once in Poland, our first stop was the site of the former Great Synagogue of Oświęcim for us to see the impact of the Nazis on pre-war Jewish life. The Jewish community made up 58% of the town’s population in 1939, but not a single Jew lives in the town today. The day then consisted of a visit to Auschwitz One and to Auschwitz-Birkenau, ending with a memorial service led by Rabbi Marcus, giving each of us an opportunity to reflect upon what we had witnessed as well as time to give thought to those who suffered. The day focused on the themes of bearing witness to the events that had taken place, the re-humanisation of not only the victims but also the perpetrators, as well as the role of the bystander.

As a pair, we are looking forward to sharing the knowledge that we have learned throughout this process with the rest of the school as Ambassadors for the Holocaust Education Trust.

Bablake School

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Bablake Arts

“Pieces performed were largely from the BBC ‘10 Pieces’ project, a movement instigated by the BBC to engage young people with more classical music ...”

Musical notes Alex Laing conducts at the Orchestral Workshop Day

Lots has been happening on the music front at Bablake during a busy Spring Term ...

Orchestra da Camera Orchestral Workshop Day On Sunday 8th March, we were pleased to host our first big orchestral day with pupils from Bablake, as well as some from King Henry’s along with members of the Coventry Youth Orchestras, the Warwickshire Senior Strings and pupils from other local schools. All in all, we had 85 young musicians performing in what was the largest symphony orchestra that most of them had ever played in.

The day was conducted by Alex Laing, Head of Strings at Uppingham School and the conductor of the National Children’s Orchestra ‘Easterlies’.

Sectional rehearsals were coached by members of Bablake Music Department’s partner, the Orchestra da Camera, and a short concert was given for parents and supporters at the end of the day.

Pieces performed were largely from the BBC ‘10 Pieces’ project, a movement instigated by the BBC to engage young people with more classical music, and included Grieg’s Hall of the Mountain King, Holst’s Mars and John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine. Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt, who organised the day, said “it was a real pleasure to welcome so many young musicians from Coventry and Warwickshire to Bablake for the day to take part in this amazing experience. Definitely a project to try and repeat in the future!”

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The Lion Summer 2015

Mr Trevor Tipple. Image: William Jupe

Exciting Times for Organists!

The Music Department is thrilled to announce that we have received a grant from the estate of the late John Phipps in order to restore the organ in the Main School Hall, as well as to build a practice instrument in the Rehearsal Room. John Phipps was a former Headmaster of Coventry Preparatory School and a great supporter of Church music, organ playing and choral singing during his lifetime; he instigated the construction of a new organ for a church near his home and left a legacy to promote organ playing for a younger generation, part of which is providing instruments and scholarships for young people to be able to learn. The restoration of our fine Compton organ in the Main Hall, originally given by the Old Wheatleyans, will be undertaken by Mr Trevor Tipple, an organ builder of some note. Work will begin during the summer holidays, so we are hoping to have the Compton restored to its former glory for the Autumn Term. We are planning to hold a concert to mark the return of the organ at the beginning of October with music for strings, brass and organ, and we will be building on the splendid joint CSF schools orchestral day by inviting senior

string and brass players from KHVIII to take part in this inaugural concert for the restored organ.

Trevor will also be constructing a new practice instrument in the EDM Rehearsal Room, an organ with two manuals and pedals in an oak case.

We are very much looking forward to recruiting some organ pupils next year in order to play this wonderful new instrument. Dr Nick Scott-Burt, who will be teaching our organ pupils, said “I am really pleased that the Compton organ is being restored, as it is a fine instrument that has been under-used in the last few years due to its state of repair. It will be very exciting to have a teaching and practice instrument in the EDM as well.”

Easter Concert The Easter concert was especially enjoyable this year, with all the main ensembles performing, as well as a live performance of some A2 composition coursework. The orchestra played the first movement of Beethoven’s 1st Symphony, and it was wonderful to hear such a staple of the orchestral repertoire live in the school hall. A highlight was a performance of Jiwanjot Sahota’s A2 composition, Sita’s Return – a piece of programme music that tells the story of the return of Rama from battle and his marriage to Sita.

Scored for instrumental ensemble and tabla, the piece was a wonderful fusion of Western and Indian musical traditions. Easter eggs were presented to our Upper Sixth leavers Helena Worthington, Fran Bellingeri, Jiwanjot Sahota and Aron Sood, with a big ‘thank you’ from everyone in the Music Department for all their work and contributions to

Bablake Arts

Pupils perform at the Easter Concert

concerts over the years. Mr Cooper’s swing band entertained with its performances, particularly the final piece Eye of the Tiger, suitably enhanced by some enthusiastic (and mostly rhythmic?) audience participation, ably led by the Headmaster on djembe!

National Festival The Music Department enjoyed another wonderful day at the Regional Festival organised by Music for Youth. The Junior Choir and Wind Band both gave excellent performances on stage at Birmingham Conservatoire's Adrian Boult Hall and, despite the early start on a Sunday morning, a wonderful time was had by all. A special mention should go to Aron Sood for accompanying the Junior Choir and to Anna White and Harry Scott-Burt for lovely cello obligatos. The adjudicator was impressed by the Wind Band's phrasing and bright sound. The Junior Choir drew favourable comments for their diction, tuning and dynamic range and there was much admiration for our trio (Georgie Patterson, Charlotte Bull and Ellie Aitchison) at the start of The Lord is my Shepherd. Mrs Scott-Burt said, “It was wonderful to see the dedication involved in the day’s performances; despite road closures for the half marathon, we had a great group of pupils at school by 8:30am on a Sunday morning, all keen to give their best performances. I was very proud of the choir as the programme was delivered very effectively and all from memory, with great support from Aron, Anna and Harry accompanying them.”

Arts Award

Spring Concert at St. John’s Church

The Arts Award continues to be very successful at Bablake, with some super Bronze workshops taking place at the end of the Spring Term. Second Year pupils Sathvika Krishnan and Miles Scott-Burt, together with Shell Music Scholar Harry White, led three excellent practical music workshops for our Year 4 pupils. SAMYO member Sathvika's Carnatic singing session was very professionally presented and her knowledge of Indian music traditions was evident. Miles has only been playing percussion for about a year but his enthusiasm and versatility were very clear to see as he demonstrated how to play the xylophone and snare drum and to play and tune the timpani before allowing our Junior School pupils the chance to make their own (very loud) sound! Harry White gave a super rendition of Stranger on the Shore on his clarinet before explaining how the instrument was put together and almost everyone from the three groups that were playing the clarinet for the first time elicited a sound. No mean achievement!

Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt (Head of Enrichment and Outreach Coordinator), who organised the session, said: “Our three young ‘music teachers’ really enjoyed the afternoon and all our Junior School visitors went back with new knowledge, hopefully inspired to think about some instrumental lessons themselves. The Arts Award programme is shortly to expand into the Junior School, where Mrs Marion Mason (Head of Music at Bablake Junior School), is set to introduce the Discover and Explore levels of the Award. I’m sure that there will be some exciting artistic collaborations ahead between our schools and pupils.”

We have also had two older pupils working towards their Silver Award this year; Lydia Bruton has used Music Theatre for her work, supporting the ‘Actio’ drama club as well as researching career paths in theatre work, whilst Ben Powell has furthered his musical studies by coaching the BJS String Quartet.

Back in March, some of our senior ensembles presented the latest of our lunchtime concert series at St John’s Church. The senior strings performed Purcell’s Chaconny as well as movements from Peter Warlock’s Capriol Suite to great effect in the beautiful acoustic of the church. Senior brass players rose to the challenge of Gabrieli’s First Canzona, a demanding but lovely piece of Renaissance sacred music. The larger Brass Ensemble played a varied and entertaining programme, including an arrangement of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody!

Concert at St John’s

Regional Festival in Birmingham Bablake School

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Out and About

“ ...despite sore feet, a couple of stubborn camping stoves and an unfortunate encounter for some with a large muddy puddle, it is safe to say that great fun was had by all.”

Into the wild ...

Some comments on recent the achievements of our adventurous Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards participants from Mrs Lizzie Hollick (bronze) and Mr Peter Nicholson.

The Peak of success “Towards the end of March, 94 Fourth Year pupils, accompanied by several very enthusiastic and hardy members of staff and Sixth Formers, took part in the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award practice expedition. The aim was to prepare pupils for the assessed expedition which would take place near the Staffordshire/Peak District border.

The groups spent Saturday and Sunday navigating their way around the Berkswell and Meriden countryside, camping overnight at Rough Close Scout Campsite. This was a really valuable opportunity to develop the practical skills that are the key to success on a D of E expedition, as well as strengthen friendships and raise self-confidence. I was extremely impressed with the determination shown by so many to achieve their goal, and am grateful to the staff and Sixth Formers for giving their time and expertise so generously. Overall, despite sore feet, a couple of stubborn camping stoves and an unfortunate encounter for some with a large muddy puddle, it is safe to say that great fun was had by all.”

Mrs Lizzie Hollick

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Into the wilds of Derbyshire “An enthusiastic group of Fifth Year pupils gathered with great excitement during the Easter Holidays to head off into the wilds of Derbyshire for their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Practice expedition. The weather was looking promising and spirits were high.

This year, more so than most, saw a high level of competition and questions of “Who was first through the checkpoint?” and “Where are the others?” Most groups proved themselves capable of the challenge of navigation, although some still need to learn their left from their right!

The weather was once again on their side and the groups were able to enjoy the views and peaks in all their glory. The pupils behaved impeccably throughout the three days and, apart from the odd navigational hiccup, impressed the staff with the skills they developed.

Arriving back at Hathersage, pupils waited for the coach to arrive, bathing in sunshine and enjoying the chance to relax and look forward to the joys of the assessed expedition in July.”

Mr Peter Nicholson

Out and About

Lower Sixth RS in London

RS in London “Last term, the Lower Sixth Religious Studies group, accompanied by Dr. Smith and Mrs. Tumber, travelled to London for a revision conference led by Edexcel’s chief examiner, Gordon Reid. After an eventful train journey of Philosophy-inspired games, we arrived at the conference. We found it highly beneficial, as it offered us a brief summary of each of the topics we have studied this year as well helpful exam tips and a useful revision booklet. After the conference, we still had enough time to explore London before taking the train home.

Our first stop was at the British Museum, home to a wide variety of art and artefacts from around the world. We then made our way to the Jeremy Bentham Pub! This was of interest as Jeremy Bentham was a Utilitarian philosopher we have studied as part of the AS course, and his body is displayed inside University College London. After a nonalcoholic drink, we made our way back to the train station to head home. An extremely valuable and enjoyable day was had by all.”

by Matthew Rowlands

Bablake skiers enjoying the snow

On the slippery slope at Sunday River, USA ...

Bablake School returned state-side for the 2015 ski trip which incorporated two days’ sightseeing in Boston. Pupils had the opportunity to view this incredible city on land and water, boarding the famous Boston Duck Tour. In the evening we were treated to a traditional American dining experience at the Hard Rock Café which boasted music memorabilia from artists from all over the world. The following day was spent in the glorious sunshine shopping and enjoying the multicultural food on offer at Faneuil Food Hall. We then transferred to Sunday River Ski resort where we were based at the 4* Jordan Grand Hotel.

We had five fantastic days of skiing in the

resort with excellent instructors. During our stay, we were treated to ten inches of snowfall which made for some enjoyable days skiing in fresh powder! Each evening we returned to the fabulous hotel to relax in the outdoor heated swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Après-ski activities also included zip lining, DVD nights, toasting marshmallows on the open fire and the traditional ski trip quiz hosted by Miss Simmons. A brilliant trip was made even more enjoyable by the praise we received from the ski instructors and the hotel staff on the politeness and behaviour of our students. @bablakeski #BablakeSkiTrip15

Snowdonia pilgrimage In March, 23 intrepid geographers along with Mr Enstone, Mrs MacGibbon, and Mr Chahal headed for their annual pilgrimage to North Wales. For a change in this part of the world, the weather was fair and, unusually, there was not a sign of rain during a three-day stay. Pupils began by studying flooding in a local town, observing downstream changes of a mountain stream, and the highlight of the trip as always was a day spent in the stunning glaciated terrain in the shadow of Mount Snowdon. We were even treated to an air display from a pair of tornadoes flying down the Nant Ffrancon Valley. As always, pupils were a credit to the school and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the topics they had studied in the classroom brought to life in the field.

Hard at work in Snowdonia Bablake School

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Bablake News

Literally great fun!

To celebrate World Book Day, our Third Year pupils, with guidance from Mr Matthew Rushton, set up a Literary Characters Treasure Hunt for our eager Shell pupils.

Max Harrison (second left) collects his Fieldwork Award

Worldwise Challenge After coming second in the ‘Worldwise’ local quiz earlier this year, our team of three was selected to take part in the ‘Worldwise Challenge’ Weekend (organised by the Geographical Association) in the Yorkshire Dales, writes George Parker.

Matt, Max and I had previously in the term worked on presentations about the area surrounding the Field Studies Centre where we would be staying, so we were excited to experience the location first-hand.

When we arrived at the centre, we were astounded by the breath-taking scenery that surrounded us. We were briefed on what the weekend would entail, and began by splitting into fieldwork groups to collect data and information which we could use for our school’s presentation on Sunday. So, along with the nine other schools, we headed to a beauty spot that overlooked the beautiful Malham Tarn, a lake formed by a glacier.

We were organised into groups of three and were equipped with sheets to complete and an iPad to collect information that would aid us on Sunday. With drizzle in the air, we set off. Throughout the day, we visited three geographical wonders and the small village of Malham. The first feature was Gordale Scar, followed by a long walk which led to the limestone pavement where we stopped for lunch. There we watched climbers embark upon a mission to climb the extraordinary Malham Cove, home to peregrine falcons. By now the drizzle had turned into rather heavy rain, so the picturesque village of Malham didn’t look quite as idyllic. Our last stop of the day was Janet’s Foss, an area surrounded by

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wild garlic which made for quite a smell! Back at the centre, we were told that we would need to create a presentation, without any help from the teachers, explaining why we thought Malham was a special place.

Sunday arrived and Max, Matt and I set to work. We came up with the idea of demonstrating why the people of Malham thought it was such a special place. Matt’s interviewing skills, which he had used so effectively on the Saturday, helped us greatly.

He had collected as much information as possible from the locals to help with our presentation. After three hours, our script was ready and the PowerPoint finished. We then had to present to two separate panels of judges. They asked some tricky questions but as a team we managed to answer confidently and we were pleased with an overall second place finish for Bablake, which was excellent, considering two of our team were the youngest to compete. Max was also awarded the Fieldwork Award for his efforts on the Saturday.

It was a really enjoyable weekend and I hope that we qualify next year so that we can bring home the winning trophy for Bablake!

I would like to thank Miss Priest and Mr Enstone for all their hard work and encouragement which helped us to get to the finals in the first place. It was a great experience!

Cruella De Vil, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Katniss Everdeen, Hermione Granger, Tommo Peaceful, Harry Potter, Thomas from The Maze Runner, the Woman in Black and the Worst Witch were hidden around the Bablake campus, each with a clue for Shell formers to find which led the eager literary spotters to the next character.

Once the Shell pupils returned to our Main Library with all their clues, they were given one final clue which led to a Golden Ticket. There were prizes for the winning team (Charlotte Bull, Georgia Gamble, Gracie Morris, Olivia O'Hara and Giselle Pinto) and the runners up (Grace Fisher, Lauren Gillan, Jasmine Harrison, Ellena McDevitt, Crystal Ng, Georgie Paterson and Zara Richards.)

Mr Rushton (dressed as Mr Plod from Noddy!) said: “I was delighted with the enthusiasm of the Shell pupils who took part in the Treasure Hunt, but the event would not have been as successful without the excellent preparation of the Third Year pupils who helped plan the event and dressed up as the characters: Akshayah Balamurali, Emma Blackett, Enya Bowe, Oliver Brindley, Mehreen Kazmi, Svetlana Kim, Tess Lillicrapp, Josh Lowe, Shannon Maguire and Ashleigh Stonier.”

Treasure Hunt fun!

Bablake News

Celebrating diversity

On Saturday 28th March, the cultural diversity of the school community was celebrated with a concert, followed by ‘Food from around the World’, writes Mrs Helen Billings.

Pupils across all year groups were involved, including some from the Year 4 Junior School Bollywood Group, who were keen to show off their dancing skills. Throughout the evening, the audience was entertained with dancing, music and singing; from the bagpipes to the Tabla, from Carnatic singing to the Chinese Hulusi, to name but a few.

Thank you to all parents, staff and pupils who kindly contributed food to tickle the taste buds.

We were treated to a whole range of cuisines from North and South Africa, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Zimbabwe, India, China, Wales, Scotland and England. We would also like to extend our thanks to the Bengal Delight for their generous contribution.

Special thanks go to Matthew Hayhurst, Aimee Piercy and Aron Sood for hosting the evening and to the Parents’ Association for all their support.

The event raised just under £800 and the money will be used to provide equipment and to offer new opportunities for pupils at our partner school, Harrismith, in South Africa.

Bablake School

13

Bablake Sport

Boys’ sport

Girls’ sport

Cricket

Badminton

Warwickshire Representatives We are delighted that several of our cricket scholars, Ross Parnell (U17), Daniel Smith (U15) and Daniel Mousley, have once again been selected for Warwickshire. Daniel Mousley has made both the U14 & U15 squads, which is a fantastic achievement! Daniel’s brothers in the Junior School, Alex (U11) and Tom (U10), have also been selected for their county age groups. We wish them all the very best of luck for their forthcoming fixtures.

On Saturday 2nd May, Daniel Mousley, aged 13, made his debut for the 1st XI against Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School. He scored 80 off 73 balls, including 13 x fours and 2 x sixes. This is a remarkable achievement from a Third Year pupil and Dan thoroughly deserved the award of Man of the Match. @bablakecricket

Having won the U16 & U14 Coventry Schools tournaments, the girls went through to the Warwickshire round. Play was of a very good standard and the girls enjoyed participating in a sport that is different to those in which they usually compete, seizing the opportunity to learn more about tactical and consistent play. Jasmine Hundal played for Bablake U16 squad; she was a county badminton player at U15 and finished runner up in the U17 Warwickshire Restricted Doubles Championships this February.

The legendary Mousley brothers

Hockey

‘The Spirit of Bablake’

Rugby

Cameron Park scoring a quick-fire 50

A successful end to the rugby season The rugby season drew to an exciting end with Bablake teams enjoying great success in the Coventry Cups. The U13s put in a brave performance versus King Henry’s in a final that could have gone either way. It was finally settled with a penalty kick – the last kick of the game – to take the score 15-12 to Henry’s. However, later the same evening, Bablake U16s took their revenge and defeated the same opposition in an equally tense match 24-22 to become Coventry Champions. The U15s also won their competition with a convincing 27-12 victory over Coundon Court the previous evening.

Congratulations go to Alex Hamilton and Sophie Hollinrake on their selection for the U15 Warwickshire hockey squad and to Emma Allroggen on playing hockey for the U13 Warwickshire team.

In the Coventry Schools trophy hockey matches for U14 & U15 girls, the U15 team won convincingly 5-0. The U14 team made hard work of it and after 0-0 at full time, the game went to strokes. Enya Bowe made a couple of great saves and Bablake won 2-1.

The U13 hockey players had two county tournaments in March. In the 7 a side tournament, the girls went out on penalty strokes to Bilton Grange in the semi-finals. They took this experience with them into the 11 a side tournament in which six schools played a round robin competition. Bablake finished runners up, winning 4 games but losing 0-1 to a strong King’s High team.

The U12 team went one better and won the U12 Warwickshire tournament, going on to the Midlands finals held at Cannock hockey club in April. Here, the U12 hockey team played some excellent hockey against some strong opposition.

Bablake won 3 games, drew 2 and lost one to finish 3rd in their section, just missing out on the semi-finals. The only team the girls lost to, King’s Worcester, went on to win the tournament.

Netball

The U13s in action

14

The Lion Summer 2015

The U19 netball team went to the West Midlands finals at Bromsgrove School on Sunday 1st March and unfortunately, playing conditions were awful.

Bablake finished third in their section after beating Hereford Cathedral 12-5, losing to Bromsgrove 9-10, beating Wrekin College 11-10 and Bishop Vesey 9-7, but then losing to Wolverhampton

Bablake Sport

Grammar 8-9. It was a close group and Bablake missed out on the semi-finals by 0.03 on goal average; just one more goal would have secured a place in the semi-finals, but that is sport! We would like to thank all the parents, friends and present and former teachers that came along to support.

At the West Midlands South tournament, the 1st VII won five games and drew one, scoring 88 goals and conceding only 26 to finish runners up by 0.8 of a goal difference. The 2nd VII took four victories and one defeat, but on goal difference finished winners of the tournament. In the league, the 1st VII were undefeated and took the trophy.

At the Dominique Matthews memorial tournament held at Coundon Court, Bablake entered a team from the Upper Sixth and a team from the Lower Sixth, with the Lower Sixth team finishing fourth and the Upper Sixth winning the tournament.

The U14 & U15 netball teams were invited to the Bromsgrove and Uppingham netball tournaments respectively and both teams gained much from their experience.

The U13A netball team has had an exceptional season. Its target was to improve on results from last year and to win the Coventry Schools Tournament after being defeated in the final last year. The girls were outstanding during this tournament, undefeated in six games and beat King Henry VIII in the final to take the trophy.

The U13B, U12A & U12B teams played well in their respective tournaments and all finished runners up.

Alex Hamilton and Sophie Hollinrake

Astro-nomical!

U12 hockey

The official opening of the new astro facility took place on Monday 30th March. Current first XI teams played teams of former pupils from the past few years. The pitches certainly proved to be all-weather because playing conditions of wind, rain and hail were horrendous. Despite the bad weather, matches were played in good spirits and we would like to thank the friends, families and governors of Bablake that came out to support the evening. Bablake is continuing to improve its sports facilities and the next project is the development of the netball/tennis courts at school.

Chess

1st Vll Netball

Swimming For the second time, Bablake went to the Bath Cup freestyle and Otter medley relays at the London Olympic pool, Stratford. This year Jade Aston, sports scholar in the Upper Sixth, led a team of three younger girls who regularly attend swimming training: Georgia Ementon (Third Year), Jasmine Marajh and Georgia White (both Second Year). The girls competed against schools from all over the country and performed very well, finishing third in the freestyle heat and sixth in the B final. Georgia White said that it was an inspiring experience and it has motivated her to train even harder.

Congratulations go to Georgia Ementon, as her breast stroke personal best earned her qualification for the Regional Championships.

At the Coventry Schools swimming gala, teams from Shells, Second and Third Year competed and the Bablake team of swimmers finished first overall. The Second Year girls won their age group and went on to represent Coventry in the Warwickshire finals. Sophie Arora, Jasmine Marajh, Hattie Morris and Georgia White swam extremely well to finish runners up at the Warwickshire swimming gala.

The new astro is officially opened

Bablake swimmers at the London Olympic pool

Karate

The Bablake chess teams have had another successful season. The B team easily retained the Division Two title, winning every game. Jakevir Shoker and Ciara Wyman each won 6 matches followed by Jimhill Xu (5), Amrit Gill (5), Harry Bowser (5), Vinnie Bandhal (4) and Dominic Reeves (4).

The A team came second in Division One and just one more point would have won them the title.

Nevertheless, they won 5, drew 2 and lost only 1.

Rajen Parekh won 9 games, followed by Monty Dosanj (7), Arun Nahar (7), Dhru Bodalia (6.5) (Dhru also won 3 games for the B team and was the highest points scorer), George Esworthy (6), Matt Rowlands (2.5), Alex Hyde (2) and Jakevir Shoker (1).

The A team retained the Coventry Schools Cup, beating King Henry VIII 4.5 – 1.5 in the final.

George Esworthy won the Coventry Schools Lightning Cup at his 7th (and final) attempt, scoring 5 out 5. He has represented the School for 7 years and this was a fitting tribute to his dedication to Bablake Chess.

Rajen Parekh won the Rowlands Cup, beating George Esworthy in the final, whilst Dhru Bodalia and Jakevir Shoker were the losing semi-finalists.

Lower Sixth pupil Clare Jackson has been selected to represent England at the Karate World Cup in July and is to be congratulated on her outstanding achievement. We wish her the best of luck.

Rounders On the first Saturday of the Summer Term, seven rounders teams from Shells to Fourth Year set off for Stafford Grammar to start the season. The U12s showed their talent with the A team winning 15-9.5 and the B team winning 20.5-10. The senior teams followed suit later in the week, winning 3 of their 4 matches against King Henry VIII.

George Esworthy with Mr Andrew Chowne Bablake School

15

Bablake Update

Headmaster’s notes

Diary dates Tuesday 23 June Summer Music Concert, EDM, 7.00pm Thursday 25 & Friday 26 June Lower School Drama Production Zigger Zagger, Theatre, 7.00pm Thursday 25 June Leavers’ Ball, Nailcote Hall, 7.30pm Saturday 27 June Lower School Drama Production Zigger Zagger, Theatre, 3.00pm Sunday 28 June Brass Festival, EDM, 8.00am - 4.30pm Wednesday 8 July Summer Term ends, 12 noon Thursday 13 August A level Results Day Sunday 16 – 23 August Bablake at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Thursday 20 August GCSE Results Day Monday 7 September Autumn Term begins

“... we thank them for the ways in which they work with others in our ‘garden’ to make it even better.”

As I write we are about to bid a fond farewell to the class of 2008. Each of them takes their own inimitable place in the history of Bablake School – a journey which began in 1344 – and we hope that their sense of belonging to this centuries-old community will serve them well in life. We know not what great things they will achieve, although they will all leave their own unique mark on society. We hope that their futures will be bright and exciting, and we look forward to hearing their news.

I recently watched the film The Imitation Game. Its real-life hero, Alan Turing, did not enjoy his time at school and was shunned by others as eccentric and relatively insignificant. At one point in the film he utters the line: “Sometimes it's the very people no-one imagines anything of who do the things no-one can imagine.” He went on to break the Germans’ Enigma code and is credited with shortening the Second World War by between two and four years, allegedly saving between 14 and 21 million lives. It’s a great quotation which reminds us of the enormous potential of every young life, whether or not we can predict how our students will shape the future. Unlike for Turing, we hope that our students leave us with the feeling that they are each valued for who they are, and with the self-belief to ‘make a difference’.

16

The Lion Summer 2015

I heard another headmaster define his view of marketing last week. He compared his school to a garden, saying that the job of all who enjoyed the garden was to improve it and make it more and more attractive – so that those looking in from the outside would find it irresistible and want to come in. Our students are our finest asset and our greatest ambassadors, and we thank them for the ways in which they work with others in our ‘garden’ to make it even better. May they leave us with the conviction: ‘Great results, great opportunities, great friends!’

Staff news We bid farewell at the end of this term to: Miss Becky Priest, Teacher of Geography (one-year maternity cover); Miss Victoria Barfield, Teacher of Art since 2013; Mrs Ruth Selby, Chemistry Technician since 1999; Mr Neil Kimber, Clerk of Works since 1994; Mr Roy Goodwin, Head Groundsman since 1975 – an exceptional 40 years’ service to the school.

We are very grateful to all these colleagues for their dedication to Bablake and wish them happiness and good health for the future. Ampler eulogies will be given at the end of term and in The Wheatleyan.

In the Summer, we shall be pleased to welcome Mr Ray Carvell as the new Facilities Manager and Mr Anthony Kilroy as the new Head Groundsman.

Saturday 12 September Shell Olympics Morning, 9.30am – 12 noon Thursday 17 September Prize Giving at Coventry Central Hall 7.00pm Saturday 3 October Open Morning, 9.30am – 12.30pm Saturday 10 October First Girls’ Reunion, Main School & Dining Hall, 10.30am

Bablake School, Coundon Road Coventry CV1 4AU t 024 7627 1200 f 024 7627 1290 e info@bablake.coventry.sch.uk w www.bablake.com f www.facebook.com/bablakeschool t www.twitter.com/bablakeschool

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