Inside Bredon: Issue 7, December 2021

InsideBredon ISSUE SEVEN | December 2021

FEATURED INSIDE:

P.07

Combined Cadet Force Field Day

P.10

Sports Roundup

P.15

Farm News

P.18

New LAMDA Providion

P.19

Restoration of Pull Court Gardens

A Festive Welcome from the Headmaster We have had an exceptional second half of the Michaelmas term and I am constantly impressed with the enthusiasm our pupils have for their learning both inside and outside of the classroom - it is very much this can-do attitude that prevails at Bredon.

As we end 2021 and look to the new year, we say goodbye and also welcome, a number of new staff. Miss Lea, Director of Sport; Mrs Richardson, Teacher of English; and Mr Barnicoat, Assistant Houseparent and Outdoor Education Teacher, are all leaving us for pastures new and I would like to thank them for their excellent work during their time at Bredon. We wish them the very best of luck for the future.

In January we are looking forward to welcoming Mr Hughes who will join us as our new Director of Sport. There’s an interview with him on page 9 so I hope you will enjoy reading more about his vision for the future of sport at Bredon. We will also welcome Mrs Goni who is joining us as Teacher of English from January.

I am delighted to tell you that Mrs Beswick and Mrs Dickson will both be returning to Bredon in January following their periods of maternity leave. I also have the happy news to share that Miss Lamb gave birth to a little boy called George in October and mother and baby are both doing well - I imagine he’s already had his first tractor ride by now!

I would like to use this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of the staff throughout Bredon who have been incredible since the start of the pandemic. They have guided , supported, nurtured and cared for all of our pupils superbly this term and I am sure you will join me in wishing them a well deserved Christmas holiday. To parents and guardians, I’d like to thank you for your continued support and wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas. We look forward to seeing returning pupils, together with a number of new faces in January but until then, Merry Christmas to you all.

Mr Nick Oldham

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I have enjoyed seeing my Jarrett pupils in the pastoral hub, outside practicing their basketball skills, socialising in the quad or in the Dining Room, and my Thursday lunches with the Jarrett Prefects are always a highlight of the week for me. It has also been a delight to meet Jarrett parents in informal settings such as at House Coffee Mornings, at sports fixtures or the Exeat coffee afternoon; I look forward to getting to know pupils and parents more in the coming months.

JARRETT HOUSE We have used two poems to define life for Jarrett House pupils this term: The Guy in the Gas (Anon) 2. I’m fine, it’s OK by Vicky Haines, our Year 10 Tutor. These poems sum up how Jarrett pupils should strive to be, by looking at how they act and work, to take responsibility and to be the best that they can be whilst being mature enough to use the support that is available to them here.

With so many impressive trees in our lovely grounds and mountains of ripe conkers as a result, the first inter-house conkers competition allowed some of our younger members to have a go in their first controlled competition. A Pheasant Plucking competition saw Jarrett take a victory after some coaching from an expert and a veteran in the team - well done Jack G! The final two house activities of the year were welly wanging and a public speaking event which enabled us to see some stars shine in a different environment. All of these activities come with House Points, which can also be gained for endeavour in academic lessons, and I would like to encourage everybody to work their hardest to gain as many of those as possible.

We use a favourite saying from General The Lord Richard Dannatt to sum all of this up for us as Jarrett house: Aim high, be YOUR best, and remember courage is the key.

Our regular House meetings are important and give us a sense of togetherness. In forging this new house spirit we must thank our Head of House and Prefect team - Sky R, Rab B, Eloise B and Mitchell B-S - who have helped enormously with house time, sports events and other house activities so that each pupil has the opportunity to be their best. Our Prefects are also showing the rest of the House to always aim high. I am very proud to see the growth in their leadership skills over this short period of time this term. However, Jarrett is not just about the leadership positions, it is about every member of the House and what they want Jarrett to be. We will be working on this even more after the Christmas break.

JARRETT HOUSE

Jarrett pupils have immersed themselves fully in school life and this has been an exceptionally busy Michaelmas term, with school sport fixtures in full flow, Year 11 and Sixth Form working towards mock exams, and a host of new house activities too. The Steeplechase event was amazing and I was so proud of the sheer number of Jarrett pupils who took part and supported each other all the way through. I was delighted that Noah H won the senior category - keep this going, Noah! Next year I want Jarrett House pupils to focus on challenging themselves to be the best at everything they do.

Rest well, be courageous and try something new during the Christmas holidays. I hope you enjoy spending some quality time with your family and come back refreshed and ready for the new term.

Mr Cradock Housemaster of Jarrett House

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SHARP HOUSE The Michaelmas Term 2021 will go down in history as the grand re-emergence of Sharp House at Bredon school. It did not take long for me to gauge the ethos of the House based upon its members and I am pleased to say that this is one of friendship, tolerance and overall kindness. At the start of this term we quickly began to explore how we wanted our House community to present itself to the wider school. Within this process we held a competition to form our House motto. James H was particularly helpful during this process, eventually working closely with myself to establish our House motto: ‘restat amet destinatum’, which loosely translates to the famous words of Bredon’s Founder, Lt Col Sharp’s belief that ‘the journey is as important as the destination’.

SHARP HOUSE

This motto has been evident throughout the term, particularly within the various House competitions we have competed in. Some highlights for me include the House Steeplechase, House Conkers, Pheasant Plucking (a particular favourite of mine), Public Speaking and House Welly Wanging. It is worth noting the hard work of three pupils; Mima M, Luke R and Miriam M, all of whom put their names forward for House public speaking and put a lot of effort into the process - certainly living out our House motto in the truest sense. I would like to extend a huge well done to all pupils involved in House competitions this term and good luck to all those who will represent Sharp House next term.

At this time of year it is important to recognise the hard work pupils are putting into their next steps programmes.

It has been a busy term for our Year 11 and Sixth Form in particular, many of whom have had mock examinations and are busy completing applications for various college, degree and vocational courses starting next year. I wish them all the best with this process and I look forward to seeing them make the House proud beyond the gates of Bredon.

Inevitably there are many aspects of the House which I have not been able to include in this brief report. I am also acutely aware that I may not do justice to the busy and exciting nature of Sharp House - I hope these photographs will add some colour to this term’s antics.

All that is left is for me to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mr Phillips Housemaster of Sharp House

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THOMAS HOUSE

This term has been exceptionally busy and full of life. Pupils have had a host of academic, sport, co-curricular and drama activities to be involved with. Not to mention the rather quirky challenges you could only see at Bredon, such as inter-house competitions such as Conkers, Welly Wanging and Pheasant Plucking! I have also been pleased with the re-introduction of house assembly time. This allows us to gather and form our identity within the school and how to move forward as Thomas House. I aim to challenge the pupils in all forms of education, to move outside of their comfort zone; ensuring they are ready for the real world.

Failure is often something that is ridiculed but I want Thomas House pupils to embrace it and learn from having a go. Bredon certainly provides this form of education.

As Thomas House we have performed well and started to see togetherness growing. Pupils have had the opportunity to select their own Thomas House motto and this will form the style of a Thomas House pupil for years to come: ‘Sine timore nulla virtus esse potest’ which means, without fear there can be no courage.

The House points competition is in full flow and I’m pleased to announce that Thomas House is in a strong position but we shouldn’t rest. The inaugural Bredon School Steeplechase was a great spectacle and I was so proud that overall Thomas House pupils were declared the winners.

What is pleasing about the result is that everyone counted and it allowed us to bond and share a common ground.

As Christmas approaches it’s important to remember the next steps in the lives of our Year 11 and Upper Sixth pupils and where they go next. Pupils should now be looking forward to UCAS applications, employment or apprenticeships. For those of you in the Lower School, it should be a time of reflection and looking to improve in the coming term.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Mr Richardson Housemaster of Thomas House

THOMAS HOUSE

Being new to Bredon I can see that there are tonnes of opportunities for pupils to get their teeth into. There is a menu which suggests ‘holistic education’. My ethos is one of challenge, innovation and inclusivity and we aim to achieve excellent value-added results. However, at Bredon we pride ourselves on giving pupils a breadth and depth of understanding beyond the confines of their classroom learning.

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What a term, what a team, what an amazing group of pupils!

BOARDING ROUNDUP

BOARDING HOUSES ROUNDUP

The determination and willingness to ‘have a go’ from both Tyndale House and Stable House pupils always astonishes me. The family vibe and pupils looking after one another really shines through on a daily basis in the boarding set up we have. Of course there are fallouts and struggles but what continually strikes me is the way in which our pupils overcome these and move forward. Talking to each other and being kind is very much at the top of our agenda within boarding and I truly believe the work around this is clearly evident. Our boarders are happy, self-assured young people and are always receptive to new experiences.

There have been occasions during the Michaelmas Term when Covid-19 has, on occasions, scuppered our activity plans but we have adapted and boarders have taken it all in their stride. The evening activities have been fantastic this term and I am hoping we will be able to start adding off-site activities to our activities list again next term - we currently have 43 of our boarders who want to take up our horse riding activity! We have continued to welcome external coaches to Bredon and they have all done a fantastic job this term. Jess and Grace are loved by the boarders and currently run three basketball sessions. Johan is our football coach and Nicki has really been getting our boarders thinking about themselves, their fitness and leading a healthy lifestyle. When we have managed to get out and about, the behaviour, timekeeping and maturity shown on these trips by our boarders has been exemplary and makes all the work that goes into organising trips and visits, so worth it.

My boarding team’s passion for the job never fails to impress me and I hope they will have a well-earned rest during the Christmas holidays. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas break and I am looking forward to seeing our boarders again in January.

Merry Christmas.

Mr Starr Director of Boarding

Photo: Boarding pupils have been enjoying cycling around our 84 acre estate in the evenings with Mr Starr.

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JUNIOR SCHOOL

JUNIOR SCHOOL ROUNDUP

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We have now completed the Michaelmas Term and it has been wonderful to have a full term in class. This has provided staff and pupils the opportunity to use the beautiful grounds of the school and it has been wonderful to be able to support the children both inside and outside of the classroom; the work that has been produced and the progress that has been made is testament to this.

The term has seen some fantastic firsts in the Junior School, with all children now being offered horse riding each week. This provision will resume in the Lent Term and run for the remainder of the academic year and our pupils have been thoroughly enjoying their sessions. We continue to look at ways in which our curriculum can be enhanced and I am delighted to announce that from January all Junior School pupils will have the opportunity to take part in performing arts lessons under the guidance of our LAMDA (the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) instructors. The children are very excited about this and all of us in the Junior School are looking forward to these lessons starting.

We are pleased to welcome back Mrs Dickson from her maternity leave in January. Mrs Dickson brings with her a wealth of teaching experience and pastoral skills and will act as co-tutor to the Year 4 class. Miss Sinderberry, will be staying for the remainder of the school year and will continue her excellent work as tutor to the Year 4 class and as a teacher of Music, Science and Sport across the Junior School.

Best wishes Mr Stafford, Head of Junior School

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COMBINED CADET FORCE FIELD DAY

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The CCF helps the pupils to build confidence, courage, resilience, teamwork and problem solving skills to name but a few; all transferable within school and the workplace.

- Miss Eaton, Head of Uniform Services

Last week (3rd December) we hosted our first Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Field Day event under our new Bredon School CCF Cap Badge the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) - RMONRE(M). We were honoured to invite visitors and dignitaries onto campus to watch our CCF pupils parade in Pull Court.

The ceremony began with a motivational address by Sqn Ldr Les Tanner (CEP). The Contingent exchanged their berets on Parade in Pull Court accompanied by Aatif Hassan the Founder and Chairman of Cavendish Education, who presented new berets to our CCF pupils accompanied by Capt A Leslie RMONRE(M). The Head of Corps was promoted to S/Sgt along with two Sgt promotions.

Photos: We hosted our first Combined Cadet Force Field Day event under our new Bredon School CCF Cap Badge the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia).

After the parade the Cadets deployed onto four activities for the remainder of the day all hosted within our 84 acre campus including; Clay Pigeon and Air Rifle Shooting, Laser Tag in the forest, a STEM (MTA) task and Close Quarter Battle Drills (CQB). We would like to extend our appreciation to Bredon School CCF Leaders SSM Brian Lloyd (QDG) and Cpl Charmain Eaton Royal Engineers, for making the day such a huge success for everyone involved.

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BREDON REMEMBERS In a reading by Mr Chance, pupils learned about the significance of the poppy and as ‘The Last Post’ was played, pupils and staff alike bowed their heads in quiet contemplation as a single shot was fired by Head Girl, Eloise to mark the end of our one minute silence.

The whole school joined together to sing a rousing rendition of the National Anthem, led by Mr Stafford Head of the Junior School, Junior School pupils and Ivan B in Year 11.

The whole Bredon School community came together to pay their respects at our annual Remembrance Day Service, held in the main garden of Pull Court. All pupils and members of staff stood outside the front of the school building to be a part of the moving and poignant Service.

Our CCF Cadets were immaculately dressed in their military uniforms, led by CCF School Staff Instructor WO2 (SSM) Mr Lloyd, Head of Uniformed Services Miss Eaton, and Head of Jarrett House Mr Cradock. With our CCF on full parade, and as a school with strong military roots, it was heart-warming to see every pupil and member of staff proudly wearing their poppy.

Lest we forget.

The Bredon School Combined Cadet Force (CCF) stood in formation around the perimeter of the fountain, which provided a beautiful focal point for a wreath to be placed in memory of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in war. Tributes were paid to the nine men from Bushley village who lost their lives in the First World War: Private – Harry Bottrell Lance Corporal – J.O. Griffin Rifleman – Sidney Sage Private – Arthur Nicholls Private – Robert Tomlinson Private – A Matty Second Lieutenant – D P Morgan Private – Harry Starling

Photos: Cadets, pupils and staff gather in pull court garden to pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION CLIMBING COMPETITION

Photos: Over 119 pupil participants from 19 national schools took part in the competition.

Senior schools throughout the country came together to participate in the National Bredon School Annual Climbing Competition, held on Friday 26th November.

On the day there were 119 pupil competitors from 19 schools including Clifton College, Bristol Grammar school, Cheltenham Ladies College, Bolton School, Solihull School and Barnard Castle School. This annual competition sees pupils taking part in a range of climbing challenges and culminates in a prize-giving ceremony at the end of the day.

Bredon’s inaugural Inter-School Climbing Competition took place in 2018 and was the first of its kind in the UK. Pupils choose to enter the intermediate or advanced category to compete in. The Intermediate competition involves Top Rope climbs and Bouldering problems to score from. The Advanced competition involves Lead climbs and Bouldering problems.

Within the Bredon School event, the Independent Schools Association (ISA) held its National School Climbing Competition event which saw fantastic success for Bredon School with Ethan M (Upper Sixth) taking 1st place and Noah W (Lower Sixth) taking 3rd position.

It was fantastic to see pupils back together competing in a sport that is growing in popularity and recognition. For many pupils this was their first opportunity to represent their school in a sports competition. Congratulations to all pupils who took part.

Indoor Climbing is now recognised as an Olympic Sport following its inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It is an individual sport that not only requires strength, endurance, balance and flexibility but also trust, confidence, problem solving and resilience. Climbing has been a cornerstone of our sports offer at Bredon for the last six years and we felt it was time to give the pupils who have been training in this sport the opportunity to experience a competitive environment and show everyone how capable they are. We first hosted a climbing competition in 2018 and from there, the event has grown and become a much anticipated addition to the calendar in the Midlands area.

Every year, the quality of the climbing gets better and I am always impressed by how these young people conduct themselves on the day. It has been a pleasure to host the event and I look forward to hearing about its development in the future.

- Miss Lea, Director of Sport

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RUGBY REPORT

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The second half opened with Wycliffe scoring. Which put them in the lead by 2 tries. Freddie gave some amazing runs which ended up with him scoring and another amazing run and try from Ezra - 25:25. Callum attempted a good tackle but it ended up in a high five but we will not hold that against him too much. Alex made a tackle with no back up and somehow managed to get the ball. Alex and Ezra worked with each other to get to the try line to make it 30 all with 8 minutes to go. Ezra did another good tackle followed by a try. But with 3 minutes to go they scored and we thought it would end in a draw until Matthew got the ball and scored a very good try in the last minute and we won by 1 try.

Elliott and Mr Keyte decided on a joint man of the match: Ezra and Hugo. Well done everyone.

- Written by Elliot G (YEAR 9)

U12: Our U12 boys rugby team has had a fantastic half term. They took on Bowbrook House School and after two draws this term, we knew this game was going to be a nail biter. And it did not disappoint! With the final score of Bowbrook 30 - 35 Bredon, the boys were exzuberent in their victory and cheered and sang all the way home, testing the eardrums of Mr Keyte.

The last outing for the boys this term was against Kingham Hill School on home soil. The game started slowly for Bredon but the boys rallied and put forth their style of game. Only one team could go on and win but the excitement and game management perhaps let Bredon down this time. Looking for the equaliser the boys overstretched themselves and let Kingham in for a final score.

The team has shown great tenacity and a willingness to learn - two draws, a narrow defeat and a win is an excellent return against some strong opposition. Next year will see Year 7 combined with Year 8 and we look forward to what is to come.

U16: We started the year with a tri-tournament against Malvern College and Bowbrook House School which saw a close game to Malvern and the team beat Bowbrook.

We also ran a 3 game for the less experienced players where we beat Malvern 15-0. The team developed exceptionally well as the term has gone on, with our Year 10s really stepping up to take control of the U16 games and Noah H being a stand out for the team. Further games were played against St Edwards, with unfortunate cancellations of further games bringing a halt to the team’s season.

U18: The team headed to its ‘home from home’ at Uptonon-Severn RFC’s ground for its final fixture of the season against Bedstone College. This week’s match saw players learning that we have some powerful runners around the ruck. Although the opposition scored more points this time, the match showed how far the team has come and also how much more there can be next year. What an end to the season!

U14: Pupil match report: Under 14 Bredon vs Wycliffe Within the first three minutes Ezra scored the opening try. Alex and Hugo gave a couple of good runs down the wing. It was Toby’s first match but that didn't stop him, he made some great runs which gained us lots of distance.

10 minutes in and drawing 5:5 Ezra got the ball and ran in a way that Mr Keyte hadn't seen him run like before and scored our second try to put in the lead by 5:10. But not for long as Wycliffe ran around Hugo and scored their second try which evened out the score.

A couple of minutes later Alex and Sam missed a tackle which led to Wycliffe scoring a try. Wycliffe kicked the ball and Alex caught it before offloading it to Ezra, which he then sprinted down the pitch running through everything in his way to put the ball down over the try line. Which made the score even 15:15. Soon after Wycliffe scored which led to the first half score of 20:15 to them.

RUGBY

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HOCKEY REPORT U14 Hockey V Wycliffe College (02/12/21) The U14 girls hockey team headed to Wycliffe College for the final fixture of the season and as soon as the ball was pushed back, it was clear the teams would be well matched.

The team ensured they set a tight formation and with a solid back line, absorbed a lot of pressure. Whilst they struggled at times to play the ball through the midfield, when they did stretch the play high up the pitch, Wycliffe were scrambling and often looked shaky in defence. The match ended in a win for Wyclilffe but this certainly did not dampen the girls’ spirits. Their progress this term has been excellent and it is encouraging to know these girls will continue to be together next season as an U15 squad.

First XI Girls Hockey V Rendcomb (13/11/21) The First XI girls were proud to represent Bredon in their first weekend fixture against Rendcomb College. The girls wore Bredon school kit with pride, on the day. The first half was a well-balanced affair, with Bredon never able to take a break from the constant pressure from Rendcomb. In an improvement from recent weeks, the marking was solid and the movement and cover between players who had tracked away from their positions was impressive, so there were never any gaps in Bredon's defence.

Rendcomb would attack down their left wing, showing great stick skills and speed, but each time they were shepherded by a Bredon player, and if they did get past, another player was there to apply yet more pressure, all the way down the side-line before forcing the Rendcomb player to do something – which often would end in a loose pass and a turnover which Bredon were immediately turning into their next attack.

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attack at pace, and showed some of their best hockey of the season and gained another score. The final result was 2-2 with Olivia K (Y13) awarded player of the match.

First XI Girls Hockey v Malvern College (17/11/21) Off the back of some excellent play on Saturday the First XI girls stepped up to their next challenge. Nervously anticipating the pressure of a strong Malvern team, the warm up gave focus and the match was soon under way.

There were fantastic tackles in the midfield made by Erin M (Y13) and Rhiannon K (Y11) that were capitalised on as Emily K (Y13)and Isabella T (Y13) made the attacking runs to play the ball around the Malvern defence. Malvern settled into their stride and put the pressure on, Bredon battled every attack and once again the defence stayed solid. Another attacking move from Bredon resulted in their keeper making a save, the counter attack was fast and a determined Malvern team finally managed to find the back of the Bredon goal. The half time score was 1-0 to Malvern.

With some changes in strategy at half time, Bredon returned to the pitch with their heads up. Further tackles and smart link ups along with a show of individual skill from Rhiannon and Erin kept up the hope of an equaliser. Malvern did not falter and headed to the Bredon goal winning a series of short corners. Well-practised defensive short corner routines and tackles at the top of the circle by Rhiannon disrupted the Malvern flow. Malvern were patient and finally found an opportunity to switch their attacking line and score their second goal.

With tiredness setting in from the relentless play, Bredon made a few more breaks which were counter-attacked, causing more spectacular saves from Eloise in goal. The final score was 2-0 to Malvern College. The player of the match was Eloise for her amazing saves!

Those attacks down Bredon's right wing were becoming effective, despite some excellent defending and tackling by the experienced Rendcomb back line, and resulted in the ball being hit in from the right corner of the pitch, where Isabella T (Y13) was waiting to pounce with a deft glancing shot to put the ball in the goal and give Bredon the lead.

At half time the score stood 1-1. The score did not discourage Bredon, who came back twice as strongly after half time. With some incredible breakthroughs from Lauren B (Y10) at right wing, Bredon won a short corner.

Rendcombe responded with further pressure and gave Eloise B (Y13) in goal a few tests; some fantastic saves kept Rendcomb from scoring until a well worked short corner got through the wall. By the end of the game, Bredon had taken control of the play and were able to defend well and

HOCKEY

Photos: The under 14 girls team play Wycliffe College.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

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INTER-SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY This term we hosted two local schools - Rendcomb College and Sibford School - to our 84 acre grounds for our Inter-School Cross Country Event.

Huge congratulations to all of the winners and to Noah H in Year 10 for bringing home his second long distance running medal for Bredon, following his recent win of the Bredon Steeplechase Senior Event.

CYCLING

EQUESTRIAN SUCCESS

Taking advantage of the dry conditions that have prevailed this Autumn, the Wednesday Sport Cyclists have spent the last few weeks focusing on off-road cycling skills. Using the tracks in the school woods they have been learning to negotiate steep slopes, tight corners and small drop offs. They have also had the chance to put these skills into practice on some of our local bridleways and byways.

We have had some brilliant equestrian results this half term as Izzy W continues to have success on her horse Irish Paddy’s Star. She has competed in the British Showjumping Junior Qualifiers at Leyland Court in Bristol where she won both her classes. On 4th December she headed to Gracelands Equestrian Centre where she qualified for the British Showjumping second rounds!

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STAFF SPOTLIGHT

13 access to such varied Outdoor Education opportunities on site, alongside the space for more traditional team sports gives me confidence that we’ll be able to achieve a level of provision that presents all students with the opportunity to flourish.

What is your vision for sport at Bredon?

I am looking forward to building on the excellent work already established at Bredon in terms of the range of opportunities presented to pupils. I aim to further shape sport in the school in a way that focuses on three key areas; participation, progression and performance. I see the newly revitalised House system as a fantastic opportunity to foster healthy competition within the school and to provide pupils with a sense of belonging; so I will be looking to increase the volume and status of inter house events.

Finally, I want to build on the increased momentum of Bredon’s external fixture list with a view to growing our reputation both locally and across the region.

Mr David Hughes will join Bredon as the new Director of Sport from January 2022.

David has taught Physical Education since 2010 in a range of different settings and he has previous experience as a Head of PE and Games.

With his father being a former PE teacher, his love of sport stems from an upbringing that provided him the opportunity to enjoy a range of different activities. He cites his time as a pupil in the Sixth Form at Bromsgrove School as being pivotal in the development of his sporting confidence. His experiences within this setting led to opportunities to play full time rugby with Worcester Warriors Academy upon leaving school, as well as inspiring his career aspirations to lead sport within the independent sector.

He went on to study Sport Science with Management at Loughborough University and during his time there he continued to pursue his rugby ambitions alongside his academics. Upon graduating, he spent a year working as a Graduate Sports Coach within the games department at Ampleforth College before moving to St Mary’s University College Twickenham to complete his PGCE in Secondary Physical Education.

His first appointment was at Haybridge High School as a teacher of boys PE. From there he moved to the Middle East to teach at Sherborne Qatar, first as Head of House and then as Head of PE and Games.

With the imminent arrival of his second child, David and his family returned to the UK where he took up a position at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire, where he was responsible for its A Level PE provision.

We are looking forward to welcoming David to Bredon at the start of the Lent Term.

What attracted you to the role at Bredon School?

I was keen to return to working in the independent school sector after time working in Further Education. This role represents the realisation of a long-term career aspiration for me to be Director of Sport in a UK independent school. I am excited by the opportunity to have a positive impact on the sporting experiences of all students at Bredon.

Why did you want to work at Bredon School?

Working in a smaller school with the full range of pupil ages, offers an amazing opportunity to have a genuine impact on all pupils over the course of their studies - it doesn’t get better than that for me in terms of job satisfaction. The leadership of the school are clearly aspirational about the role that sport and physical activity can play in the development of their pupils and I am looking forward to working to achieve this goal alongside a group of such high quality and experienced teachers. Finally, the school setting is remarkable. The

What changes do you plan to implement?

Decision making regarding changes is going to be based around the impact we can have on increasing participation levels across the school in meaningful physical activity, how we can support the progression individuals make to achieve their goals and how we can maximise performance standards in our performance sports. In doing this I want to ensure equality and inclusivity is at the heart of all we do and will be working to promote girls sport just as much as boys sport. I want to ensure every pupil has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and enjoys the experience of learning. Continuing to grow Saturday morning sport will play an important role in this.

What do you feel are your greatest strengths?

I feel I am able to develop good relationships with pupils and staff very quickly and teamwork is really important to me. I feel successes I have had in my career to date can be attributed to my desire to place the positive experiences of pupils at the heart of my actions and I’ll continue to strive to ensure that this remains the number one priority.

Why is sport such an important subject for schools?

Although I am really passionate about the value of achieving high standards of performance, it is actually the impact that participation in sport can have on character development that I hold in the highest regard. We will be constantly looking to seek out opportunities to develop individuals holistically through their sport in the way that they understand the values of teamwork, honesty, resilience, pride, humility and leadership.

What sports teams do you support?

I don’t actually! I love watching a range of sports but I never got hooked on one particular team growing up. As I have moved further away from Birmingham I have increasingly started to follow Aston Villa.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

I am married with two young children so my family keeps me very busy and we love spending time together out in the countryside.

I stopped playing rugby about five years ago and have since enjoyed trying my hand at a range of sports. Recently I have developed a passion for golf and I have started having lessons in an attempt to lower my handicap.

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STAFF SPOTLIGHT

You have recently nominated a school in Uganda as an organisation for Bredon School to support.

Tell us more about this.

I am originally from Uganda and still have close family there. The school I have nominated is the school my Mother and sisters attended. Gayaza High School is a high achieving girls boarding school and is the oldest all-girls secondary school in Uganda.

Mr Mutumba has over 30 years of experience in teaching both business studies and IT. He started his career at a Castleview Enterprise Academy in Sunderland and then moved to London where he has spent the majority of his career teaching in schools in the capital city. After spending the last four years teaching abroad in Dubai at the Al Mizhar Educational Complex (Ministry of Education), Mr Mutumba was keen to return to the UK education system and take up his position at Bredon School.

What attracted you to working at Bredon School?

I saw the role advertised on the TES website and knew straight away that I had to apply. I love this area of the country and so as soon as I saw it, I submitted my application. After four years of teaching in Dubai, away from my wife and two children, I wanted to move back to the country to continue my career. My family is based in Surrey but we love this area and will be relocating here. I particularly love the cathedrals of Gloucester and Worcester.

GAYAZA HIGH SCHOOL

In September we were delighted to welcome Mr Mutumba to Bredon as our new Teacher of Business Studies.

I am visiting the school this Christmas so I will be seeing what opportunities there are for Bredon to support Gayaza and how best we could do this. I have lots of ideas in terms of donating IT equipment and/ or books, and hope that in the long term it may be possible for student exchanges to take place between the two schools too. Teacher exchanges are also a possibility and I believe such opportunities would provide excellent experiences for everyone involved.

Obviously we have expertise in dyslexia at Bredon and in Uganda schools struggle with SEN and knowing how best to teach children with SEN. to be able to share this expertise at Bredon would be amazing and would be of real benefit.

Gayaza High School is Church-founded, governmentaided and accredited by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports, located approximately 12 miles northeast of Kampala, Uganda’s capital city.

Further details about Gayaza can be found here: www.gayazahs.sc.ug

Why is it so important for schools in the UK to support schools in Africa?

Because we have to learn from each other and there is so much we can learn. The curriculum in Africa is similar to that of the UK and there is certainly best practice to share in this area.

Due to having a personal attachment to Gayaza, I feel that if I can connect the two schools, this would be the most brilliant thing to do.

What is your favourite part of your job?

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

Being in the classroom! Being able to teach future generations is a privilege and the classroom certainly feels like home for me. At Bredon the teaching is an absolute joy due to the very small class sizes at Bredon.

In many other schools I have taught in, I have had classes of over 30 pupils and within the class there have been many challenging pupils. So to be here and have happy, focused children, is fantastic. It also means I am able to get through the work with my pupils very well and have more time to devote to helping them with their studies. I am also really enjoying working with my colleagues here.

I love to go to the gym and I also enjoy spending time walking and hiking in Worcester, which is where I live currently and I am looking forward to my family

Photos:

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DOWN ON THE FARM It’s been a busy half term on the farm. The weather on the whole has been kind and has allowed the cattle, sheep and pigs to stay out in the fields very happily and doing well with plenty of late season grass.

The classroom sessions have centred around numerous topics including Health & Safety in agriculture, as well as a hands on session with numerous crop samples where pupils discussed what they are grown for and the end uses for each.

Pupils have helped with the resurfacing of the cattle shed floor as an assessed part of their ‘Estate Skills’ module, ready for the calves to be weaned from the cows and for them to be housed only recently when conditions under foot deteriorated.

We are thankful to have passed our annual TB test only last week and means we continue to be TB free here on the farm. This also allows for some of the offspring to be moved to another home for the next chapter of their lives.

Opportunities were taken to see crops being established on the land bordering the school campus, in ideal conditions. Pupil groups were able to see top of the range modern tractors and machinery preparing the ground and planting the organic wheat crop, with the help of satellite guided steering. We will be seeing this crop through its growth stages and this gives pupils lots to see and learn.

Another fantastic term on the farm.

Photo: Our team of pupil helpers have been doing routine winter livestock jobs. The cows are now housed in their winter accommodation.

NEW AGRICULTURAL BUILDING FOR FARM Our new agricultural construction project is well underway on the school arm. Our new large farm building, located adjacent to our farm teaching classroom, will provide much needed additional storage for our working farm's livestock and agricultural equipment. Local construction company Kinahan Contracting is working hard to progress the project, which is due for completion in the new year. Locally sourced materials, recycled stone and British steel are providing the foundations for what is set to be a large shelter from the elements for our animals.

Photo: The new barn under construction earlier this term.

FARM

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INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SHOW In November our Admissions Team headed to London to take part in this year’s Independent Schools Show. This annual show brings together the leading independent schools, the brightest thinkers and the most respected heads to help visitors make the right education decisions for their child.

Over the course of the two day even in Battersea, the team spoke to a number of London based families, all looking for a rural, supportive school experience for their children.

They enjoyed being able to talk about what we offer, our dyslexia-friendly teaching and amazing outdoor and extra-curricular opportunities at Bredon. And the Bredon branded pig was able to make an appearance too, much to the delight of the children who visited the stand!

THEATRE PERFORMANCE On Tuesday 30th November we welcomed Quantum Theatre to Bredon for a performance of A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens. Held in the Library in Pull Court, just three actors played all the different roles and enthralled our pupils with their performances. Director Michael Whitmore's faithful new adaptation was taken exclusively from the original text, capturing the spirit and style of this Dickens classic whilst reinforcing the key quotations from the book. The actors said that they liked our 'audience' as they were engaged and enthusiastic throughout. A wonderful treat from our English Department for pupils before Christmas.

FIREWORKS NIGHT Pupils, parents, staff and members of the local Bushley community came together in November for our annual fireworks evening. Our outstanding catering team served locally produced sausage hot dogs and a delicious pumpkin soup to all that attended. The evening was a truly stunning display that wowed all watching it.

Photos: Fireworks light up the sky in the school grounds.

SCHOOL EVENTS

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MOCK RESULTS MORNING Many of our Year 11 and 13 pupils this half term have been completing mock examinations. The pupils have impressed in their approach to these examinations, demonstrating focus, self-motivation and a determination to succeed. This mock is the first assessment of at least two more assessments that will take place in each remaining term this academic year. Teachers have been busy marking each mock paper and have been undertaking moderation activities within their department.

The pupils will receive their mock exam results on the morning of 12th January 2022. This will replicate a ‘results day’ in which each pupil will receive an envelope containing a letter with all results detailed.

A copy of this letter will also be sent home on this day.

MOTTE & BAILEY CASTLES Year 7 students have been getting creative in their History lessons this term, by building their own Motte and Bailey Castles. Based on the 1066 Normandy Conquest topic they have been studying with Mr Poole.

Henry CW created a particularly spectacular model made from 2kg of soil from his own back garden, moss and slate, depicting his castle which featured stables, fire and an apple store.

Marvin B, Alistair V, Maddison H and Henry CW all made exceptional Motte and Bailey castle models, with Indie F and Albert T working hard in their History lessons too.

Photo: World War I poem by H.E. Welch.

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PRIMARY SOURCES IN HISTORY The trenches of World War I were brought to life in a Year 9 history lesson this term using primary sources.

Miss Weaver was able to show the pupils poems and a drawing written by one of her relatives H. E. Welche at the end of the war. The pupils interpreted the poem to discover what life was like for the soldiers in the trenches. This was a rare chance for them to see a primary source directly linked to a member of staff and the whole class was enthralled.

Learning at its best!

Sing me to sleep, where the bullets fall, let me forget the world and all, damp is my dug-out and cold are my feet, nothing but bully and biscuits to eat.

Far, far from Ypres, I long to be, where the German sniper can’t pot at me.

I think of going where the worms creep, waiting for the sergeant to sing me to sleep.

Sing me to sleep and let me rest, where are the boys that did their best.

In sunny France there is a nest where they laid down their lives to do their best.

Sing me to sleep in some shed, a dozen rat holes around my bed, stretched out under my waterproof. dodging the raindrops from my roof.

H. E. Welch

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We are delighted to now be offering pupils the opportunity to gain London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) qualifications. All pupils at Bredon are able to take part in LAMDA within the activity periods on Monday and Wednesday. These exams are about achievement and empowerment and the aim of LAMDA is to provide all pupils with the opportunity to improve self-expression, selfassurance and, most importantly, have fun.

Acting Pupils develop their vocal, physical and interpretive skills while they delve into characters and explore the background of dramatic texts. Alongside producing authentic performances of their chosen scenes, they also gain an understanding of the context and characters within them.

Working through the grades takes our learners through the development of clear speaking and character portrayal to an understanding of a playwright’s style, the influence of theatre practitioners such as Stanislavski and a sensitive appreciation of subtext.

Musical Theatre Pupils develop their acting skills through song. They use vocal techniques to convey the right mood, and engage with the material to form a thoughtful interpretation of the song. As they progress through the grades, learners explore characterisation through monologues or duologues, which are performed in character and act as an introduction to their songs. They’ll also deepen their understanding of the history of musical theatre by performing songs from a range of eras, and by researching the work and influence of one of its composers or lyricists.

Bredon’s LAMDA offering is provided by Elizabeth Winter who is the Company Director for the Translucent Dance Company. This is a contemporary dance company based in Worcestershire and its repertoire is dedicated entirely to current positive global movements and aims to promote equality and support for individuals from all walks of life in a radically changing world.

Over 100,000 people take LAMDA exams every year. What unites them is their enthusiasm for the English language and a desire to develop the skills they need to be a success. If a child wants to become a professional performer, a skilled speaker, or build up their self-confidence, LAMDA can support them to develop the life-long skills they need to pursue their dreams.

CREATIVITY

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CREATIVITY WITHIN THE ART DEPARTMENT It’s been all go in the Art Department this term! From sculpture to stop motion animation, fashion design to mixed media painting, pupils have been working hard to make their creative ideas come to life. Year 9’s topic has been ‘Cinderella’s Revenge’, Year 8’s ‘Fantastic Fish’ and the Year 7’s and Junior School pupils have created ‘Contemporary Self Portraits’.

With artwork due to be displayed in the department and around the school, here is a sneak preview of just some of the amazing artwork that is being created by our pupils…

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RESTORATION OF THE PULL COURT GARDENS Work has started to restore the Pull Court gardens back to their former glory and the appointment of Jamie Allen as Bredon’s full-time gardener sees the realisation of a 10 year restoration project.

2022!) will provide support and vital information in our efforts to recuperate our unfortunate tree losses over recent years.

This will also be in conjunction with the government’s recent initiatives to plant 90,000 hectares of trees across the nation by 2024.

Spring Bulbs! At the end of last year Narcissi and Tulip bulbs were ordered ‘en masse’ and equated to 74Kg of bulbs being ordered. After many hours of planting, the results did not disappoint. It was amazing to see the famous yellow (and other coloured) heads breaking the canopy of an-otherwise green blanket.

Jamie reports: Work has already started in some areas and in my first year I believe we have already seen improvements in the following areas: South of Pull Court formal gardens Rebalanced Cottage Garden flowerbeds Simplified Magnolia Walk for extensive planting regime Proposed formal hedging to framework Magnolia Walk Populated raised planters that offer colour and scent interest.

Key priorities for 2022 include planting more of a variety of fruit trees (including Discovery Apple, Beurre Hardy Pear and Stella Cherry) in and around the orchard, as well as the expansion of our soft fruit options (many ‘ants and ‘errys!) in the allotments. These enhancements will ensure a plentiful supply to the catering/educational kitchens and to add to the supply for the local brewery, Bulmers.

Other goals include working alongside Mr Stafford in the Junior Forest School to explore basic woodland management to inspire the next generation on the critical needs of conservation and biodiversity through healthy specimens, selective pruning and forest floor/ understory regeneration. The Forest School is rumoured to have a Seasonal Pond, by the old treehouse, that needs a good dredging and re-edging to provide our young budding biologists with the culture pools they need to explore the micro and macro-worlds we dearly needed.

An extensive, long-term, arboriculture-based project is on the agenda also, to encourage and promote a strong understanding for our crucial bio spheric silentfriends. Connections with the Woodland Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (don’t forget the Big Garden Birdwatch from 28th - 30th January

Wildflower meadows will be grown on otherwise bland grassed areas to create a lively feeding and nesting ground for insects, birds and small animals, and showcase majestic flowers and grasses that erupt with colours and fragrance. Our countryside was once full of meadows bursting with a gorgeous variety of flowering plants, supporting butterflies, bees, insects, farmland birds and other wildlife, but since the 1930s, we have lost over 99% of what are called 'unimproved grasslands', and those that are left are fragmented. It is my ambition to create these meadow areas in chosen locations around the fringes of Bredon School to provide havens for our diminishing critters.

Jamie Allen Head Gardener

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BREDON FUNDRAISING ROUNDUP CHILDREN IN NEED We are delighted to announce that we have raised £505.73 for Children in Need this term. On Friday 19th November fundraising initiatives at school included a themed lunch made by our catering department and a Pudsey Raffle. We can confirm that the Pudsey cakes were absolutely delicious!

Photos: Delicious Pudsey cakes from our catering team on Children in Need.

12 DAYS OF GIVING In what is becoming an annual tradition for Bredon School, Friday 26th November marked the start of our ‘12 Days of Giving’ campaign. The concept of the initiative involved us asking pupils and staff to bring in one item of food or a toiletry product for 12 consecutive days, from 26th November until 7th December. Mrs Morris coordinated the initiative, ably assisted

by ASDAN course pupils who worked as a team to compile the donations that have gone to help families who are in crisis this Christmas. This week pupils visited Tewkesbury Food Bank to drop off the Bredon School donations. A big thank you to everyone who generously donated to this initiative.

REMEMBRANCE DAY POPPY APPEAL Thank you to everyone who bought a poppy at Bredon - we raised a total of £320.90 for the Royal British Legion as a result.

CHARITY

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PUSHING LIMITS FOR CHARITY Hal B in Year 11 has raised an amazing £825 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, this term. Hal set himself the challenge of doing 3000 push ups throughout the month of November - an impressive 100 a day. He did these at home, in school corridors and classrooms and smashed his challenge and his fundraising goal for this fantastic charity too! Mr Crwys-Williams will be donating the profits from one of his kitchen window bake sales in support of Hall too - will he be able to top £1000 as a result?

Hal’s fundraising page can be found here: https://bit. ly/3Eyjcgl

MALALA FUND CAKE SALE Malala and Ziauddin Yousafzai founded the Malala Fund in 2013 to champion every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. The Fund champions the notion of creating a more equal world by making sure all girls can go to school, even within deprived communities where most girls miss out on secondary education. Pupils in Year 8 were so moved by Malala’s story that they wanted to do something to help. They ran a school cake sale on Monday 1st November to raise funds for the charity and raised £59.90.

Photos: Year 8 Pupils sold cakes to raise money for the Malala fund.

THE OCEAN CLEANUP The Junior School raised a whopping £150 for their charity of choice 'Clean the Ocean' by selling a variety of Christmas crafts that the pupils had made to sell at their CinderQueen production. Items included handmade baubles and hot chocolate reindeers.

The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organisation developing and scaling technologies to rid the oceans of plastic.

To find out more please visit their website: https://theoceancleanup.com/

Photos: Junior pupils created hot chocolate reindeer to sell at the CinderQueen production, to raise money for The Ocean Cleanup.

FUNDRAISING

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CO-CURRICULAR DAY To start the last week of term we hosted this term’s Co-curricular day on Monday 6th December. Our co-curricular days, held throughout the academic year, see all pupils off timetable and instead taking part in a series of challenging, informative and fun activities and trips.

In the Junior School our pupils made Christmas themed treats to sell at their Christmas production of CinderQueen to parents and guardians. Treats included handmade Christmas cards, hot chocolate reindeer pouches, glitter slime, decoupage baubles and reindeer Christmas decorations made from foliage sourced from the Junior Forest School.

Year 7 pupils spent the day taking part in the ‘Great Bredon Doodle Day’ organised by the Art Department. The children spent the day immersed in their large-scale doodles, letting their imagination take over, with the only stipulation being that their doodles had to incorporate their names. They worked collaboratively in small groups and they certainly produced some impressive results!

Our Year 8 pupils took part in a STEM day focusing on the heart.

The children learned all about the heart itself, were taught about cardiac arrests and how to spot them, life saving techniques using a Resusci Anne, the importance of exercise for a healthy heart, as well as suturing and mending the heart through heart surgery.

The Humanities department ran a successful visit to Worcester for Year 9 pupils. Mr Pool led everyone on a walk along the River Severn to Diglis Docks where he explained about flooding, canals and how industries have changed over time. Pupils also visited Worcester Cathedral where inside they learned about the religious and historical significance of this important local building. They also saw a collection of decorated Christmas Trees as part of the Cathedral’s Christmas Tree Festival 2021 and this helped to get everyone in a festive mood!

Year 10 pupils were able to practice key outdoor education skills which are vital to initiatives such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. Using both the indoor and outdoor spaces available, pupils learned to efficiently put up and take down tents, wayfinding exercises and learned what to pack on camping expeditions and how to use a camp stove to cook.

After working so hard for their mock examinations, our Year 11’s headed to Cheltenham to go Ice Skating. The rink is located in the Imperial Gardens, in the heart of Regency Cheltenham reflecting the town’s historic Winter Gardens and ice rink that once occupied a site in the gardens. They also had time for a spot of shopping or eating!

The Sixth Form took part in a careers and ‘next steps’ day organised

by Mrs Morris. This saw them learning all about apprenticeships, how to create the perfect CV, preparing and delivering a presentation, as well as hearing a talk from a successful apprentice.

All fantastic skills to hone for life beyond Bredon.

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CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY This week we hosted a Christmas Jumper Day here at Bredon School. It was wonderful to see so many pupils and staff, from both our Senior and Junior Schools getting into the Christmas spirit, including our Deputy Head Mr Butt and our three Housemasters Mr Cradock, Mr Phillips and Mr Richardson - don't they all look marvellous! And a fantastic amount of money raised for Save the Children UK too.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH CHRISTMAS WREATHS Our Junior School have been extremely busy over the last fortnight in their Forest School lessons. They have been making Christmas Wreaths from green foliage sourced within our forest including; willow, branches of conifer, holly and pine cones, to adorn the interior of their homes this Christmas. We really are so lucky to have all of this on our doorstep within our 84 acres of school grounds. Well done Junior pupils, excellent work!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

On Wednesday the Dining Room was filled with the sound of festive cheer as the whole school enjoyed a delicious traditional Christmas lunch with all of the trimming, cooked and served by our amazing Catering Team.

In year groups, pupils and staff tucked in to roast turkey with all the trimmings, pulled crackers and popped party poppers. What a perfect pre-Christmas treat and one the children (and staff!) thoroughly enjoyed!

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CINDERQUEEN Last night saw the Junior School take to the stage to perform CinderQueen in front of an audience of parents and staff at Bushley Village Hall. The play was written especially for the occasion by Mrs Dickson and Miss Sinderberry, combining the classic tale of Cinderella with musical numbers from Queen's greatest hits. Alicia played Cinderella, with Christiaan as Prince Charming and the whole of the Junior School as part of the professional cast. After weeks of rehearsing, the performance was nothing short of exceptional and enjoyed by everyone who went to watch - congratulations to all of our Junior School on a fantastic production.

JUNIOR PRODUCTION

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ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE Carols at Tewkesbury Abbey On the last day of term, pupils, families, staff and invited guests joined together in the magnificent setting of Tewkesbury Abbey for our annual Carol Service.

Led by Reverend Chris Moss, the whole congregation sang a selection of rousing traditional carols resonating beautifully through the impressive mediaeval building. The readings by our Head Boy and Girl were excellent and the whole congregation certainly left Tewkesbury Abbey with a warm, festive glow.

It was wonderful to be able to welcome everyone back to Pull Court for mulled wine and mince pies following the Service and to see such happy faces at the end of a fantastic term at Bredon.

SEASONS GREETINGS

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Bredon School Pull Court, Bushley Tewkesbury Gloucestershire GL20 6AH T: 01684 293156 www.bredonschool.org Part of the Cavendish Education Group

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