The Lion - Issue 44

news & views from bablake school issue 44 autumn 2007

Bablake Diary Thursday 22 November Stop Domestic Violence Amnesty Concert, EDM 7pm Saturday 1 December PA Christmas Fayre Wednesday 12 – Saturday 15 December School Play – Great Expectations Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 December Senior School Carol Service Wednesday 19 December Bablake 1st XV v King Henry VIII 1st XV, The Butts Arena 7pm Tuesday 8 January 2008 10+ 11+ 12+ & 13+ Entrance Examinations Wednesday 9 January Spring Term Begins Thursday 31 January Careers Convention 6pm – 9pm

In this issue Bablake Travel Bablake Events Bablake News Bablake Creative Bablake Action Bablake Community Bablake Sport Bablake Update

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BABLAKE SCHOOL’S WEATHER STATION CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF READINGS

Keeping a close eye on the weather We celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Bablake Weather Station on Wednesday 19th September and no-one can deny its very humble beginnings. A Fairy Liquid bottle as a rain gauge and a few other basic tools were all the station had to its name 30 years ago. Back in 1977, wind speed and direction were based on human observation, the first records were scribbled in a small exercise book by the eager students and the station ran on a mix of enthusiasm and generosity; even the school’s Vice-Principal chipped in to buy a £5 barometer.

By 1979, the local paper, The Coventry Evening Telegraph, was using our weather data and by January 1984, after advisory visits from weatherman Ian McCaskill, the Met Office officially registered the station. Until 1998, the statistics had to be recorded in person 365 days a year, in all weathers. The dedication of the many student teams and the enthusiasm of the station’s founder,

geography teacher Steve Jackson, have been immense.

With a website, chatroom for enquiries, 24/7 webcam and state of the art equipment to capture the information, our Weather Station already provides forecasts and Met Office approved data for the local region and handles individual enquiries by phone and e-mail.

The BWS is already the most established and longest-running Met Office registered school weather service, but its future is even more exciting. Next year the Met Office will be upgrading the equipment and taking on maintenance of the station, while allowing the

school and its students to continue recording the data and handling enquiries. 30 years on, the weather station is still under the expert guidance of its founder, and we have no doubt that Mr Jackson was the proudest man in Bablake on the official birthday.

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Bablake School

Bablaketravel Vive la France!

Friday: Leave school midnight; Arrive in France; Breakfast in Etaples; French Market; Aqualud Water Park; Lunch; British War Graves Cemetery; Bowling; Evening meal; Games; Unpack; Bed, perchance to dream!

Saturday: Breakfast; Nausicaa Sea Life Centre; Boulogne Old Town and ramparts; Chocolate factory; Hypermarket (essential provisions of sweets etc.); Evening meal; Games in the gym; Bed, perchance to dream (please)!

Sunday: Breakfast; Load the bus; All day at Bagatelle Theme Park (with lunch, ice cream and lashings of fun); Back to Eurotunnel; Evening meal in the terminal; Arrive in England; Back to school; Collapse exhausted! Another successful and enjoyable Shell French Trip.

A knight for a day at Warwick Castle Tuesday 16 October saw the annual Shells’ visit to Warwick Castle

This impressive fortification has withstood the trials and tribulations of nearly 940 years, but could it withstand the attack of 120 excitable Shell Formers?

In the event, the sophisticated defensive features of the Castle remained unscathed, as Bablake pupils scaled its heights and plummeted into its depths. Wonderful views across Warwickshire were available from the top of Guy’s tower. Grisly sights awaited in the dungeon: ankle chains, an oubliette, and human cages. There were chance encounters with a ‘Ghostbusters’ team, a demonic monk, a bowman and a trebuchet operator. One brave pupil volunteered to provide target practice for the bowman. Students had the opportunity to don helmets, wield swords, climb ramparts and even make educational notes.

Many thanks to all teachers who accompanied the group and particular thanks to Mrs Rees who organised the visit.

touring stratford This year our Fifth Year geographers invaded Stratford upon Avon not just once, but on two occasions. Both times, a coach load of students travelled to Stratford clutching survey sheets, questionnaires and cameras ready to investigate ‘the impact of tourism on Stratford CBD’. They collected plenty of data to take back to school to collate, present and analyse. The town was heaving with people, many of them from outside the UK. However, we wonder how many of our alert geographers caught a news item on the Midlands Today television programme very recently, expressing the concern of many town councillors in Stratford that tourism has declined in the past few years? What will be the findings of the Bablake geographers? All will be revealed at Christmas when their course work is handed in.

The Lion | Autumn 2007

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snap happy in France All Second Forms spent a week at ‘le logis de Fousseau’, the school’s manor house in Normandy. A great time was had by all!

Remembering heroes Visiting WW1 historical sites in France and Belgium At 5.30am on Saturday 1 September we assembled inside the School gates expectantly. We were not confused about when the new term would commence; we had forsaken the final few days of the summer to experience some additional learning.

The aim of our three day excursion was to familiarise ourselves with the conditions of life on the western front during the First World War. Our guides, Mike Salt and Murray McVey, would help to recreate the scene, entertaining us with tales of heroism but also bringing home to us the harsh

realities of war. Some of the staff had made the trip before, but old and new alike were eager to get underway.

Having arrived at Calais we quickly overran the meagre resistance offered by the local authorities and continued our progress towards the Allied lines.

Over the next three days we explored trenches, the last remnants of a system of fortifications that stretched from the North Sea to Switzerland, we examined artefacts and we visited museums and cemeteries.

Visit to Chedworth Nearly 150 Second Year Classics scholars descended on Chedworth – the site of a large Roman villa, situated near Cirencester and Cheltenham. On site the students were able to wander around and look at the well-preserved and maintained ruins, and see up-close the under floor workings of a Roman bath-house heating system (a hypocaust).

The National Trust also provided educational sessions on ‘hands-on’ archaeology, and a session on the history and importance of the site.

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Bablake School

Bablakeevents ‘Great Expectations’ for our Christmas play Rehearsals are well under way for this term’s Christmas Play. This version of ‘Great Expectations’ is the script prepared for the RSC and presented by them only a few years ago. After a particularly long and arduous audition process, a very strong cast has been assembled. It is anticipated that this will be a popular and well attended play and we suggest that you book your tickets early. The performance dates are from Wednesday 12 December – Saturday 15 December, and tickets will go on sale at the end of November.

‘What larks!’

a prize presenter 205 prize winners, their parents, staff and invited guests attended the Bablake Annual Prize Giving Ceremony, held at the Coventry Methodist Central Hall in September

The Guest of Honour was former pupil Courtenay Griffiths QC, who is currently Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.

After distributing the prizes, Mr Griffiths gave a fascinating and inspiring speech on the exciting challenges ahead for Bablake students as they compete in an increasingly international market.

The vote of thanks was given by this year’s school captains, Laura Dean and Jamie Stefaniak, pictured above.

Law Workshop Most eminent QC, Courtenay Griffiths, led a Law workshop (pictured left) with a mix of senior and middle school students before attending our Prize Giving as our guest of honour. Interestingly, he advised prospective Law students to consider the advantages of a different first degree discipline, while appreciating the extra cost of the consequent conversion course. His colourful anecdotes and direct advice were excellent stimuli for all present.

public speaking and debating The debating ‘season’ has started successfully both in and out of school. The lunchtime debating competition is already half way through its first round, with pupils from the Shells right up to the Upper Sixth competing with confidence and skill. Four pupils represented the school in the Taylor Trophy debating competition at Solihull School: Chris Starkey and Abhi Bose made their respective debuts and were unlucky to be eliminated; however, Chris Lamb and Pam Uppal advance to the second round, which will be contested in the second half of term.

Meeting the challenge face-to-face at the Mock Interview Morning Once again, our U6th met the challenge of facing professional interviewers with eagerness and skill. This time, the Careers Department arranged the event entirely online and by email, pleasing the school bursar with a zero postal rating and impressing the governors with a reduction in the event’s carbon footprint!

The enthusiasm of our U6th to gain the written feedback and verbal debrief after the event was the most impressive yet. Our students now go onto the very real challenge of competing for places at the best universities for their intended degree discipline, confident in the knowledge that their applications have been very effectively fine-tuned by participation in this important event.

Much has been written in the press about professional companies offering interview advice at a high cost… at Bablake, it is available to all our U6th students as part of their curriculum. Thanks go to the high calibre band of interviewers who once again gave their time so willingly. Meeting deadlines and more convincing CVs were particular aspects the interviewers identified as needing strengthening to ensure invitation to interview.

The best individual performance came from Emily Wildbore.

The Lion | Autumn 2007

Learning Key Skills for workplace success

For the fourth year running a Key Skills programme was held for the 4th years, where pupils learnt about those attributes needed for success in the workplace.

This complemented the careers advice being given in their PSHE lessons. All the seminar leaders were delighted to be involved with our pupils, commenting that they were well behaved, polite and enthusiastic: a real credit to the school. The pupils were equally enthusiastic in their response, with almost all pupils judging the programme good or very good. Examples of comments given were: ‘I think they taught us some very useful skills that will help a lot later in life.’

‘I thought the programme gave me a real insight into the world of business.’

‘I enjoyed the activities and working with different people. It improved my teamwork skills.’

It certainly made the pupils think, react quickly and use their creativity. One pupil summed it up very neatly: ‘Keep it up. Great programme. Had loads of fun!’

‘Keep it up.

Great programme.

Had loads of fun!’

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Bablake School

Bablakenews A fascinating insight into Irish rural life A little bit of rural Ireland came to Bablake on Tuesday, 16 October, when local author Derek Leinster spoke for over an hour to the entire Second Year.

Mr Leinster has had a fascinating life: born to a mixed-religion couple in the south of Ireland in the thirties, he was initially placed in an orphanage before being fostered by a family living in extreme poverty. In later life he became a boxer.

The Second Year listened intently and Mr Leinster was delighted with the number of questions and the understanding of his situation that pupils showed. It is our hope to welcome Mr Leinster back in a couple of years, when he has completed the next volume of his autobiography.

Available from www.amazon.co.uk price £6.99

Energy watch Energy Watch has been in action for just over 9 months at Bablake; in this time, both staff and pupils have rallied to the ‘save energy policy’ on our site in a bid to cut down greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy bills.

We are happy to report some success!

In the first 8 months of 2007, we reduced our gas consumption by 7% and our electricity by 5%.

(Average temperatures in this period were: 2006 = 11.1c, and 2007 = 11.5c, so perhaps some of this saving is down to the weather) There is now a green energy group in school who have called themselves ‘Green Feet’ – it is being led by some Lower Sixth Formers, who are developing a website and suggesting energy saving and recycling ideas.

The Lion | Autumn 2007

Bablake Christmas Fayre Saturday 1 December 10:00am – 2:00pm Raffle tombola games special vip visit! quality craft stalls Christmas gifts home made cakes dvds & videos and much more!

Parliamentary liaisons Over the summer, Will Chamberlain and Laura Dean travelled to the House of Commons with Mr Woodward to meet Deputy Political Editor of the Sunday Telegraph and former student, Melissa Kite. Melissa gave them a fascinating insight into her routine and kindly set up an interview with MP and Minister, Phil Woolas. After our pupils had rigorously quizzed Mr Woolas on ‘green’ issues, Melissa showed the Bablake party around her offices and the Commons.

After sitting in on a debate in the House of Lords, there was a taxi dash across London to ITN where another former student, Emma Walden, was waiting. Emma, who reports for London Tonight, gave a masterclass in film editing and arranged gallery seats for that evening’s programme.

It was a fascinating and exhausting day which will be reported in fuller detail in the forthcoming issue of the Wheatleyan, published later this term.

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in brief Former students in the media » Chris Parker and Mark Goodwin have been spotted storming through the early rounds of University Challenge for the Universities of Exeter and Birmingham respectively. » John Marquez is starring as PC Penhale in Doc Martin on ITV. » Ben Duffy’s photo of Tiger Woods appeared on the cover of Sport magazine in September. » Alex Smith’s illustrations will be seen in Anne Cottringer’s book Eliot Jones, Midnight Superhero. » James Gunn is providing the technical know-how for www. mummyimbored.com, a site offering inspiration for parents and students coping with long school vacations.

Let us know if you spot current or former students in the papers or on TV. Email mgaw@bablake. coventry.sch.uk all plain sailing Former pupil Phillip Walker gained 4th position at the Nationals in Llandudno with ex Olympic 470 sailor, Steve Irish. Steve had only had two hours training in a 29er before the event as he was called away to coach the current Olympic 470 squad in Holland. They were pleased with the overall result considering they had so little time to train.

The RYA has included Phillip in the 'Olympic Pathway' which gives training to talented sailors hoping to gain a place in the Olympic Development Squad. He will be taking part in training and a series of ladder events and would hope to be selected in the summer of 2008.

Engineering Education Scheme After a lengthy interview process involving a record number of applicants, the 2007 team of Sunera Nawab, Puja Bhardwaj, Lauren Carpenter and Simon Archer has been selected to link up with our sponsor company, Arup.

The team recently attended its scheme induction day at the Think Tank in Birmingham where it participated in team building exercises and planning.

With advice from link engineers, Chris Jackson and Alex Bryson, a comprehensive task has been assigned to the team involving the planning and redevelopment of a section of Coventry around the station and ring road.

Between now and Christmas they will look at a variety of solutions before attending a four day residential workshop at Birmingham University.

I Could website The school is working with Emma Day from CRAC on a pilot website which should be launched next year.

The site will offer students looking at GCSE and A Levels options inspirational career stories to help smooth decisions.

Later in the term, our 5th Year will be testing out the site and taking part in vital focus groups. The stories online will be varied and interesting – already on board are Louis Theroux, Darth Vader and the chairman of Arsenal FC!

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Bablake School

Bablakecreative

stretch goes green

Creative notes it’s in the jeans...

You may remember that last year Lee Cooper, the well known jeans manufacturer, ran a competition for our GCSE Textiles groups. The prize was to have the pupils’ own original design made up for them in their size. The winner was Laura Fellows in 5B. She is now the proud owner of a denim dress, photographed below. There was great excitement when Laura’s dress arrived and it was presented to her in a school assembly by the Headmaster. We hope to have a similar competition later this year, so watch this space.

Jess Phillips and her team have produced a ‘Green Issue’ of Stretch which has once again been compared favourably with professional magazines As well as proposing a Green agenda for Bablake, the magazine, produced during Work Experience week in July, featured the problems in Burma and a meeting with MP and Minister Phil Woolas at the House of Commons.

The Stretch team interviewed Karen Carney, the England international footballer, illustrator Alex T Smith, Languages undergraduate Jemma Handley, Coventry band The Ripps and local music authority Pete Chambers.

A motley band of teachers was turned into Top Trumps cards, an Agony Aunt settled some teenage dilemmas and the team reported on a Sound Engineering course that L6th students attended at the Herbert Gallery.

Once again Etc magazine and its editor, Russ Thorne, gave the team some pertinent advice and encouragement for the issue and the design was expertly handled by Paul Dibbens of Mustard. Original Source also kindly donated free bottles of their fragrant gels to give away with the magazine.

Fourth year pupils on an Art excursion to Kew Gardens

ICT work designed and produced by Bablake pupils

‘original resourceful’ students It has been impossible to avoid Original Source shower gels and body scrubs this term. Auctions, cake and ‘gel-ly’[ (sic) sales, tropical beaches, treasure hunts and travel miles calculations have been almost a daily feature as the Stretch team has promoted its magazine and raised an impressive sum of money for the Meningitis Trust along the way. The challenge for each form was ‘how to make their mark with a single bottle of shower gel’ and the students have been impressively enterprising, original and resourceful! Well done!

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The Lion | Autumn 2007

The Threepenny Opera at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2007 This was to be the 21st anniversary production presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by groups from Bablake. Twenty one years!!! No other school in the country has had so many consecutive years performing at the world’s most prestigious drama festival. We had to do well this year of all years.

The following is an edited version of the fuller story which will be published in The Wheatleyan at the end of term.

Things didn’t start well as within half an hour one of our buses was looking as if it was terminally ill at Hilton Park Services. All power to the RAC who re-jigged and re-fitted an aberrant fuel pump in twenty minutes. Several hours later we were at our venue, ‘Diverse Attractions’, on the High Street in Edinburgh, rehearsing for the next day’s performance. We already knew that advance sales were very healthy, so some pressure was off, but the cast still had to get up early and go out onto the streets to drum up an audience for The Threepenny Opera. Luckily Brecht is very popular with Edinburgh theatregoers, so we soon reached our targets… full houses. The typical day soon emerged...

Oh Vienna

» At some stage get up (actually about 8am) » Breakfast » Building up the day’s audience by talking to ticket buyers and presenting songs on the streets » Getting into costume and ready for the show » Performing The Threepenny Opera » Shopping for and cooking the evening meal » Going out to shows and stand up comedians » At some stage go to bed The week in Edinburgh is exhausting, nerve wracking and immense fun. We sold all but one of the tickets available at our venue, and had our best year ever in terms of numbers. The revues were ‘mixed’ certainly, but Ben Cave, Rob Taylor, Richard Perry and Beth Mills all had very positive things said about them, and bizarrely Mr Prescott was called by one reviewer ‘enthusiastic’ (actually it was ‘over-enthusiastic’). It was most definitely a brilliant week, and there are already plans in hand for 2008. The bad news is that the theatre in Edinburgh, Diverse Attractions, is being sold by the council and we have to find another venue. But the 22nd year at the Festival will definitely happen.

Musical moments Early this term, Kirstie Logan supported hotly tipped band Area 15 and Americana artist Ben Arthur. All three were warmly appreciated by the intimate audience.

On November 22 we welcome Lucky Soul, Jon Allen and Marie Batchelder to Bablake for the first time. Lucky Soul released a critically acclaimed album earlier this year while Jon Allen is managed

by KT Tunstall’s team. Marie Batchelder has a tremendous following in China where she has performed on national TV. Disco Biz Kid also returns that night to put the funk back into Bablake and once again, our Class Act winner, Jess Blake, will perform.

Tickets are £5 from the Careers Dept: mgaw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk

Kirstie Logan

Fringe benefits

Bablake enjoyed a very successful tour of Vienna, performing in two of the great churches as well as a retirement home. We were privileged to have a tour of the Schloss in Eisenstadt, a town outside Vienna, where Haydn was employed by the Esterhazy family. While we were there we were allowed to sing in the Haydnsaal, the lovely concert hall in the palace. We also visited the birthplace of Schubert, the house in Heiligstadt where Beethoven stayed, and we had a tour of the famous Vienna Opera House, as well as enjoying the delights of perhaps the first Theme Park, the Prater.

The picture left shows Bablake choir singing in St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, the place where Haydn and Schubert were choir boys and Mozart's funeral was held.

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Bablake School

Bablakeaction

CCF

For the 5th annual CCF summer camp 38 cadets and 5 staff travelled to Wathgill Training Camp in North Yorkshire DAY ONE Cadets took part in the leadership and signals package. The morning command tasks were run by university members of the Officers’ Training Corps. Cadets were given a series of scenarios to work out as a team before completing the individual tasks. The cadets had loads of enthusiasm and worked well together to cross shark infested custard, collect supplies hidden across a mine field and also get a casualty and the rest of the team safely across the finish point without touching the ground. The girls in particular found one task, which had to be completed in total silence, very difficult.

Cadets spent the rest of the afternoon using two radios, the 351 and 349, which are used by the army. Bablake cadets did exceptionally well and managed to complete the task in one of the quickest times of the day. The day finished with the assault course.

DAY TWO This was dedicated to adventure training, which was run near the picturesque Allerton Lake. Cadets all took part in raft-building, canoeing, climbing, abseiling and rowing the inflatable dinghies, as well as completing a variety of command tasks and a game of volleyball. The evening was spent completing a two hour orienteering competition across the training area.

DAY THREE Military based day with a tactical package.

DAY FOUR Contingent day out which was spent at Eden Camp. Although originally a prisoner of war camp in the 1940s, this is now a museum highlighting different aspects of both the First and Second World Wars, including the rise of the Nazi Party, Hitler and the outbreak of both wars. As pupils followed the stories, they learnt what life was like during rationing and evacuation, and what it was like to work as part of the Land Army, The Auxiliary Fire Service, The Red Cross and in the munitions factory.

DAY FIVE Cadets were taught the basic principles of different types of patrolling and the use of field signals before putting into practice these newly found skills. The evening was spent on the DCCT (dismounted close combat trainer) range, where pupils had the opportunity to practise their marksmanship principles.

DAY SIX Pupils enjoyed a day on the ranges, where they spent the morning perfecting their aim and shot. They also had the experience of working in the butts, as they pulled up and dropped down the targets in the timed event and other contingents fired at them. The afternoon was spent taking part in a March and Shoot competition.

On the final morning, after handing back the accommodation, cadets were soon fast asleep on the coach as it made its way down the M1 back to Coventry.

The aim for next year is to increase the amount of adventure training CCF RAF Section This has been our first year and we set out with the aim of getting all cadets flying. We have succeeded in this with some cadets getting airborne four times.

Cadets have also been on several weekend exercises with the army section and many attended the summer camp in July at Wathgill. William Chamberlain and James Vickery were given places on a week long residential gliding course in the summer holidays and Martyn Dawes attended a leadership course at RAF Cranwell. The aims for next year are to increase the amount of adventure training such as canoeing, raft-building, climbing, self-defence etc. and to improve the activities on the Monday parades. We welcome Mr C Mohamed, who has joined the school to teach Biology and has twenty years’ experience with the RAF. going solo William Chamberlain goes it alone.

William spent time at RAF Abingdon over the summer on a Gliding Scholarship organised through the school CCF at the end of which he was able to take his first solo flight.

The Lion | Autumn 2007

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As we headed away from a rainy and overcast Coventry, the three hour journey by minibus soon had us at a very sunny and cloud free campsite in the Brecon Beacons.

D of E’s Brecon adventure 24 L6th pupils were ending their summer holidays by beginning their practice D of E expedition, covering a distance of 80km over a period of four days.

On day one, pupils carried out a 20km circular walk around Brecon. The route was mined with barbed wire fences, hidden styles, overgrown footpaths and tricky river crossings to tackle; however, this did not deter the groups as they battled through these hazards with grit and determination. Soon all groups were back at the campsite, and after a shower and hot meal, they were all basking in the sun, catching the last of the sun’s rays as it then disappeared behind the mountains in the distance.

...could this be true – a D of E expedition with no rain?!

Pupils were relieved to find that day two would mean carrying just day sacks, however the distance of 25km was slightly longer and the terrain slightly steeper than the day before. The day began with a long slog up the Beacon Way towards Pen Y Fan, then across to Fan Y Big. Both mountains are some of the highest in South Wales so groups had a well earned lunch when they arrived at the summit.

All the uphill work in the morning meant that the afternoon was mostly downhill to the delight of most of the pupils. All groups navigated well, but the hot weather meant that groups had to walk more slowly in order to conserve energy and water.

Pupils woke up on the third day to MORE glorious sunshine – could this be true – a D of E expedition with no rain?! Pupils walked another long route, carefully navigating their way across the Beacon Way, ending up at the local Shire Horse Centre, where they all enjoyed a well deserved ice cream and cold drink!

The final day – and yes even more sun! Pupils had a mere 4km to walk, with their destination being the tea room in Trecastle. This was also the finish point for the two U6th D of E groups who were carrying out their assessed expedition in the same area. They had been walking their own 80km

planned route, carrying all their kit and food and moving from campsite to campsite each night. As everyone completed their expedition, spirits were high as we headed back to Coventry.

A big well done to the eight U6th pupils who completed and passed their assessed expedition, and also to the 24 L6th pupils, who can now look forward to planning their own assessed expedition which will occur in August 2008 around the North Yorkshire Moors.

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Bablake School

Bablakecommunity

Working for a better community

Charity event

Stop Domestic Violence Amnesty Concert Thursday 22 November 2007 Bablake Senior School £5 per head EDM 7pm Support: Jon Allen Disco BizKid Marie Batchelder Jess Blake mgaw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk

The new school year has got off to a flying start – literally – because we raised £700 for the County Air Ambulance. This is a valuable local service which relies mainly upon voluntary contributions.

We then took part in the Macmillan largest coffee morning appeal when staff and 6th form rallied round making gorgeous cakes and biscuits and brewing up pots of fresh coffee on the day. This, along with the school collection, meant we were able to send a total of £650.

Tutor groups have been involved in many activities: 3P sent £74 to the NSPCC from the sale of their healthy fruit cocktails and U6LJN organised a ‘Bring Your Teddy to School’ day and made £42.

Lower School pupils put together harvest baskets which they then delivered (along with a chat) to the elderly in our local community.

Mr Woodward has sent everyone into a fund raising frenzy with his Original Source idea where each tutor group had to base its fund raising activities on a tube of shower gel!!!!

Charity has definitely gone recycling mad this term too. Shells and 2nds took part in the Marie Curie Jewellery collection and Katie Bottomley (2J) won an MP3 player in the draw. This was donated by Marie Curie.

We are now collecting silver, gold and costume jewellery, old keys, medals or awards, and currency (either old or foreign), which will be sent to local charity Cord who are involved with the poor and oppressed from Vietnam through to Chad.

Cord helps people to live as they are meant to live – in peace.

Pudsey Bear has a collection box for old mobile phones. The phones will be sent to Children in Need and they receive £5 for each phone we send.

So, please parents, encourage your children to join in these recycling activities.

At the end of term we will have a non-uniform day to support Myton Hospice. They have asked us to help support their efforts to furnish and equip the new Coventry Myton Hospice based at Walsgrave Hospital and due to open in 2009.

National ‘Bring a Teddy Bear to School’ Event The school has raised £42.20 for the Breast Cancer Campaign through U6LJN’s National ‘Bring a Teddy Bear to School/Work’ event.

Our congratulations go to the winners: Oliver Comyn, Lucy Smith, Stephanie Mundy, James Krestovnikoff and Lucy Wilson.

The Lion | Autumn 2007

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Bablakesport Bablake Cricket The 1st XI should be congratulated for finishing runners up in the Warwickshire U19 cup which was carried over into this term. In a close final, Bablake lost out to an impressive Solihull 6th Form.

Individually, Paul Best should be congratulated for representing the Midlands U17 team and also for being selected for an ECB U17 XI. Brother Mark has also been in fine form scoring two centuries for Warwickshire U12s.

A number of boys and girls are now training and running for club sides and have achieved honours with them

Bablake Hockey During the summer holidays at the MJ International coaching camp, 42 pupils aged 11 and under took part in a hockey coaching camp at Bablake School. Over a three day period, the pupils had the chance to be coached by current international hockey players and improve their skills. It was a huge success and will be run again next year. Contact Mr Johnson for details of next year’s camps.

Cross country This has been another pleasing year with over 25 pupils involved in representing the school and 10 qualifying to represent Coventry. The cross-country club was well supported with a good number of second year pupils, especially from 2A. A number of boys and girls are now training and running for club sides and have achieved honours with them.

In the Coventry Schools League competition Jamie Cozens from the second year finished 3rd, winning a bronze medal in the U14 competition, and the U14 boys retained the team first place.

Team: Cameron Lindsay, Aaren Healy, Samuel Lewis, Dominic Carroll, Thomas Dwyer, William Kenney-Herbert, Jamie Cozens, Sam Stern Coventry City Championships Kayleigh Herschell and Isobel Lindsay finished 8th and 9th in the U12.

Chloe Arji finished 9th in the U14.

Aaren Healy finished 6th in the U15.

Sam Stern and Jamie Cozens finished 4th and 5th.

The U13 boys came 2nd in the team event, winning silver medals.

Team: Jamie Cozens, Sam Stern, William Kenney-Herbert, Oliver Comyn, Jack Orford, Ben Wormleighton, Sam Paplauskas.

Spotlight on Bablake Runners Sam Stern and Jamie Cozens have represented the West Midlands Schools with Jamie narrowly missing on selection for the all England Schools Championship.

Sam runs for Leamington C&A.C. and has finished 5th in the Warwickshire Championships and was selected to run at the UK Inter-counties

Championships which was live on Sky. With his club team he has won Silver in the Gloucester league, 6th in the national championships and gold in the Midland Championships.

Surprise Win of the Season While competing for their clubs several Bablake athletes teamed up one Sunday and won the Northbrook County Schools Cup – congratulations to: Jamie Cozens, Aaren Healy, Harriet Simmonds, Jeremy Hobday.

Cross Country Update After three league races, nine Bablake students have qualified to run for the Coventry team in the County trials.

The Shell boys’ team has won the minor league (team of four) competition and narrowly missed out on the major league (team of six) competition to Woodlands.

The performance of the term has been Richard Price who has won all three races and is, of course, the individual champion at U12 level.

The best finishes for all those who qualified to run for the city are as follows: Shells Richard Price Charles Taylor Lewis Marshall James Faulkner Thomas Hingston 2nd and 3rd years Jamie Cozens William Kenney-Herbert Chloe Arji Harriet Simmonds

Bablake Rugby The U15 rugby team has again begun the year in impressive form, winning all its games this half term.

They have also progressed to the third round of the Daily Mail cup with excellent wins against Lawrence Sheriff and King Edward’s School, Aston. From this team, Kilian Kleine, Adam King, William Thornhill, Daniel Jack, Chukka Ogbuneke and Alex Popplewell have all been selected for Coventry district.

The U14 team has also been outstanding, losing just one match this term so far. A number of close victories has indicated a determination and coolness under pressure. Ben Cooper’s last minute touchline conversion to win against Wellingborough showed Wilkinson-like skill.

Bablake U14 Rugby

1st 4th 5th 10th 13th 5th 10th 10th 13th

Bablake U15 Rugby

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Bablake School

Bablakesport

out of africa

Hockey & Netball Tour to South Africa 2007 We thought we would share a few facts with you from our four game drives whilst staying at the luxurious Mabula Game Reserve. » The names white and black rhino are nothing to do with colour but with mouth shape. A wide mouth indicates a white rhino, which eats grass. The black rhino has a triangular shaped mouth and eats leaves. » Male rhinos squash their poo to leave a trail and mark their territory. » An African elephant has a prehensile trunk end to pick things up. An Indian elephant curls its trunk around an object to pick it up.

» Elephants are tusk dominant, the shorter tusk indicates its dominant side. » Elephants walk with their back to the sun. » A duiker is the only antelope to eat meat for nutrients. » An ostrich’s legs and beak go pink when it enters the mating season. » The male weaver bird builds the nest and the female checks it. If the nest is not satisfactory she destroys it and he has to start again. » San tribe bush men chase an antelope until it can’t run any more then they kill it. » A zebra’s stripes prevent a lion focussing on it. » A zebra’s marks are like a fingerprint, unique. A mother walks around her baby for the first five minutes of its life so it can recognise her. » Artebeast are not very clever as they stop in a chase to look back to see if the lion is still there! » An oryx is a desert roaming animal that doesn’t need water.

» Wart hogs run with their tails up so they can follow each other in the long grass. » Wart hogs reverse into anthills so they can come out charging and tusks first if approached.

Visits included the Apartheid Museum, Langa township, Gold Reef City, Union Buildings, Voortrekker Monument, Lesedi Cultural Village, Cape Peninsula Tour, Duiker Island and Hout Bay. The hockey and netball matches were against some of the top schools and were very close encounters. Bablake played 15 matches, won 6, drew 2 and lost 7. It was an enjoyable tour and the girls were a pleasure to take away.

Millfield hockey trip For several years now we have enjoyed an Under 14 hockey and netball fixture against Millfield School in Somerset. This fixture is traditionally the first weekend of the Autumn Term. The format was the same this year, with twenty one 3rd year girls and four staff setting off for Somerset on Saturday 8th September. Having coped with the traffic on the M5, the girls prepared to play netball against Millfield on the Saturday afternoon.

Both teams performed admirably with the A team narrowly losing by 17 goals to 19 and the B team winning, 24 goals to 9. After a wander around the fantastic Millfield school facilities and then tea, the girls were ready to check out their accommodation for the night. This was to be a Travelodge Hotel at Podimore where the girls quickly settled in and changed into their civvies in preparation for the evening entertainment. A meal at Pizza Hut, no expense spared, followed by ten pin bowling and back to the Travelodge for an early night in preparation for the match the next morning.

On Sunday morning the girls faced Millfield on the hockey pitch. Despite putting on a brave performance, Bablake lost the match 4-1. Before returning to Coventry our hosts treated us to a delicious brunch in their school dining room. The dining room is more like a hotel and has walls covered with names of famous pupils who have gained international status in sport. We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to visit such a prestigious school and our girls were most appreciative.

Bablake U14 Hockey

The Lion | Autumn 2007

Focus on girls’ sport

Girls Sports Success

Bablake’s sporting girls have enjoyed a successful summer in a variety of sports competitions...

Rounders

Netball

All four teams reached their respective Coventry Schools finals. The U12s, U13s and U14s finished runners up, whilst the U15s went one better to take the title, making them undefeated last summer.

At the Loughborough Festival, the U12 team made a good start to their netball at Bablake, coming 5th out of 17 teams and the U13 team continued its success from the previous season to win the Festival.

Two Coventry Schools netball tournaments took place before half term and Bablake took both titles. Congratulations to the U16 team for scoring 58 goals and conceding only 7 in their tournament and to the U19 1st VII for beating King Henry VIII in the final.

Tennis The Second Year and Shell girls were very committed and filled the courts at their practices.

The U13 team was undefeated in the Nestle competition and in the Coventry Schools singles tournament two Bablake girls made the final. Katie Wainhouse took the title after beating Jonine Bains in a close set 6-4. Bablake had much success in the U14 and U15 Coventry Schools doubles, taking 3 of the 4 trophies. U15A pair, Beth Hushon and Jessica Elliott, U15B pair, Alice O’Connor and Pam Uppal and U14B pair, Olivia Battle-Welch and Georgia Horn all took gold medals. The U14A pair, Rebecca Wells and Roseanne Elkington gained silver medals.

Athletics In the Coventry Schools Championships the girls were runners up in the Intermediate age group and Year 8 group and were champions in the Juniors and Year 7 team competitions. The Year 7 team scored 118 points, winning the competition by a staggering 48 points.

Individual champions were: Letitia Russell, Aisling Flanagan, Beth Evans, Emily McNeice, Lucy Smith, Beth Jepson and Victoria Aldridge

Congratulations to: Lucy Horn and Holly Payne on being part of the U16 England hockey team that won the Home Nations in Cardiff over the summer.

our U17 County hockey players Lauren Boon, Lucy Horn, Lijana Kaziow, Jodie Neale, Holly Payne and Rebecca Sewell.

our U14 & U15 County hockey players Bethany Evans, Georgia Horn, Jessica Horn and Louise Poole.

our Midlands hockey players Georgia Horn, Lucy Horn, Jessica Horn and Holly Payne.

our U16 County netball players Emily Burns, Amy Harwood, Georgia Horn, Beth Hushon, Emily Mason, Alice O’Connor and Beth Sargent.

Bablake U18 Hockey Team

Hockey In a space of 8 days in October, three Warwickshire hockey tournaments were held and Bablake competed with commitment and determination.

The U16 team reached the semi-final, which was its target, but a 1-0 defeat to King’s High prevented them progressing to the final. The U14 and U18 teams both reached the final. The U14s were runners up to King’s High and the U18 team beat Rugby in the final after sudden death penalty strokes. The U18s now go through to the Midlands round of this National competition.

our U14 County netball players Victoria Aldridge, Rebecca Appleton, Eva Ball, Ashni Desai, Ashleigh Green, Beth Jepson and Jennifer Reay.

our U14 County satellite netball players Aiza Asghar, Mia Davies, Claire Greevy, Jodie Harvey, Erin Hushon and Lucy Smith.

Georgia Horn and Beth Hushon who attended the England Talent training/ trials camp for NETBALL in October.

Lucy Smith (2H) for winning a triple A Grade One certificate at Shot Putt and gaining 1st place at the International Counties Championships. Lucy also won best Field performance for Warwickshire U13 level and has been selected to train at the Alexandra Stadium with the England high performance team.

Bablake Junior Girls Athletics Team

Bablake U19 Hockey Team

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Bablake School

Bablakeupdate academic success

The sky’s the limit

Pupils again achieved outstanding academic success, with results in public examinations placing Bablake amongst the highest performing co-educational schools nationally.

A record 81.2% of A level grades were at A or B; star performer was Marco Orsini-Jones, who achieved 6 As at A level and 1 A at AS level. Record results were also forthcoming at GCSE, with a third of the year group achieving at least 9 A* or A grades, and all 156 pupils gaining at least 5 passes at A* – C, including Maths, English and a Science. James Ross and Thomas Hine each amassed 12 A* grades, with Katherine Hull hot on their heels with 11 A*s. 69.3% of all grades were at A* or A. At a time when employers and universities are lamenting a national decline in numeracy, it is particularly noteworthy that no pupil scored lower than a B in Mathematics.

headmaster’s notes Bablake is often described as a “happy and friendly” school, and little is more important to us as parents than our children’s happiness. We have laudably high expectations of them, and, every August, it is a joy to see such exhilaration when pupils receive their examination results; they do outstandingly well, and the vast majority proceed confidently to their first choice of university. However, academic success is certainly no measure or guarantee of happiness, and adolescence is often fraught with self-doubt, heartbreak and crises, both large and small. Some of our pupils grow up very fast!

Our greatest aspiration as educators (both teachers and parents) should be to enable every individual to flourish – intellectually, physically and spiritually – and to grow in selfesteem. Each of our pupils is unique and special, and The Lion is one way in which we value and celebrate so many diverse talents. Each of our pupils, both through learning and through a multitude of other experiences, has the opportunity to explore and develop his or her place in life. That place is only meaningful in relationship to others, within a mutually supportive community.

There is in fact no magic recipe for a happy school, although the many smiles, the shared laughter, the daily triumphs and small acts of consideration certainly enrich us all. Difficulties and unhappiness there will certainly be, but the way in which we respond to such situations, both individually and together, is what breeds maturity and resilience. At Bablake, we believe in young people and in their immense potential, and we shall continue to review and improve what we do, so as to give our pupils the very best and most positive start in life.

John Watson Headmaster

Bablake School, Coundon Road, Coventry CV1 4AU t +44 (0)24 7627 1200 f +44 (0)24 7627 1290 e info@bablake.coventry.sch.uk w www.bablake.com Designed & produced by Mustard 01608 662262