Cherwell School Summer Newsletter 2021

SUMMER 2021

CHERWELL SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page

Dear Parents and Carers Looking back at my introduction to the Summer Newsletter at this point last year reminded me of the journey we have travelled over the past 18 months. In Summer 2020 we had just been given the green light to open to small numbers of students in Year 10 and Year 12. Everything was still happening remotely and as a result our celebration events were much muted.

This year I am able to write to you the morning after the Year 11 Reward Evening. It was wonderful to see so many of our young people enjoying themselves in formal surroundings. The head of the venue told me that we were the first group to have the opportunity to have an event such as this since the restrictions ended and commented on how great the students had been. I am so grateful to the staff who were tenacious in their determination to give the students this experience. Similarly we were also able yesterday to hold our Sport’s Day – it was somehow refreshing to note that the biggest issue we faced in holding the event was the heat! It was also great to see some outstanding athletic performances. Pride of place goes to the Year 10 Boys relay team who came within a whisker of breaking the long-standing school record, pretty remarkable given everything.

As you will see within the pages of the newsletter we have been working incredibly hard to bring back opportunities and introduce new ones. It has been wonderful to see, for instance, the return of the expedition element of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme with huge numbers of students across year groups completing their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards – the weather hasn’t always been kind to them but I know a great deal comes from these experiences.

Equally we have been very excited by the opportunities coming out of being a European Parliament Ambassador School –a new initiative which we are one of only 5 UK schools invited to pilot. As I know you will be aware experiences such as these are only possible through the skill and dedication of our staff team and I thank all of them for their continued contributions every year. Supporting our young people with their personal growth is a key school priority in our development planning moving forward. We define personal growth as being a continual process of development leading to greater success, maturity and happiness. As such, we see personal growth as being directly linked to wellbeing.

Alongside this however we have remained very aware of the issues surrounding the pandemic. We have worked hard to try to ensure that staff and students have remained safe and I do want to pay tribute to our premises team who have worked tirelessly to maintain our safety measures. As a school we take satisfaction from the fact that the vast majority of our young people have got through the year without being asked to self-isolate and therefore miss school. This has not been possible in all cases however and we remain very alert to the impact that missing school can have. We are determined to utilise all the options available for us to respond to this. The first one immediately on the horizon is a two week Summer School programme for students currently in Year 6 and Year 7 running across the first two weeks of the school holiday. We have well over 200 students attending and I am unaware of anything happening on a similar scale elsewhere. The programme designed by our Summer School staff team looks amazing and I am confident that some of our youngest children will gain both socially and academically from the experience.

As always the end of the year is tinged with sadness with some students and staff leaving us for the last time. Our Year 11 and 13 students have been remarkable in their determination and adaptability especially in the face of public examinations being cancelled this Summer. We wish them good fortune in their next steps and will be here to support them during the results period this Summer.

Continued…/

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Inside this issue:-

Welcome Page:Pages 2 & 3

Message From Chair of Governors:Page 4 & 5 Duke of Edinburgh:Pages 6, 7 & 8

Friends of Cherwell:Page 9 School Counsellor:Pages 10 & 11 Oxford Teacher Training School Centred Initial Teacher Training:Pages 12 & 13 Cherwell Sustainability News & Cherwell Creative Writing Club :Pages 14 & 15 The Cherwell School Letting Department - Build A Business;Pages 16, 17 & 18 Maths News:Page 19 Science Enrichment News:Pages 20, 21 & 22 CIRB News;Page 23 Year 9 Design Tech Textiles work:Pages 24 & 25 Cherwell Enrichment European Parliament Ambassador School:Pages 26 - 33 Cherwell Enrichment Medieval Manuscript Project:Pages 34 - 39 Cherwell Enrichment Wytham Woods Trip:Pages 40 - 42 Cherwell Enrichment Frankenstein Project:Pages 43 - 45 Cherwell Enrichment Cherwell Journal:Pages 46 - 53 Cherwell Enrichment Year 12 - Beyond Cherwell:Pages 54 - 63 Year Team News:Pages 64 - 68 Ring the Bells Again:Page 69 PE News:Pages 70 - 71

SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence

We are fortunate that only a small number of our staff are moving on to new things and we do wish them well. I did want to mention Jan Avery Harris who has been a passionate and inspirational teacher of Drama and Dance. Jan is retiring at the end of term and she will be fondly remembered by generations of students.

I will also be losing two members of my Senior Leadership Team. Dr Martha Hawes has been appointed to the role of Deputy Headteacher at Didcot Girls School and Lyndsey Caldwell to the role of Headteacher at St Gregory the Great School in Oxford. The fact that both of these members of staff have been promoted to such senior positions within the county speaks volumes for their achievements and influence in our school. They will both be sorely missed but we are delighted that they will remain close by and having impact on children in our local region. We will be joined at a Senior Leadership level by Kate Larminie who will become our Assistant Headteacher for Inclusion while Tom Hilton has been promoted to the role of Deputy Headteacher. I would also like to mention our wonderful Chair of Governors, Nicola Small, who is stepping down from the role at the end of the academic year. Nicola has been a highly effective Chair of Governors and has provided great support for me personally for which I am sincerely very grateful.

I would like to thank all of the staff who have given so much in very different circumstances throughout the period of the pandemic. We have asked them to work in very different ways but they have remained so positive and have responded to every challenge. I know they are so appreciative of the kind words, email and cards they receive from parents and carers. We are very fortunate as a school to have such a supportive parent/carer body and I would thank you all for work you do to help us to keep the school moving forward.

As always the last word does need to go to our students. As mentioned at the start, it has been wonderful over the past few weeks to see so many of them enjoying the wider aspects that always come with school. They have been so appreciative of their opportunities. It makes us optimistic about what September will bring and we look forward to starting afresh with them at that point.

Best Wishes

Chris Price Headteacher July 2021

Art by Jessica Crosskey - Year 7

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 3

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF GOVERNORS As this academic year draws to a close, I wanted to take the chance to reflect back on what the Governors have been looking at over the last year. And what a year!

Our role as Governors is eyes on, hands off. We’re here to work with the school to ensure clarity of vision and ethos, to hold the Headteacher to account and to oversee financial performance. We do this through constantly asking ‘so what’? So what difference is a policy, or procedure, or area of focus, having on improving outcomes for students in our school? Usually we do this by coming in to school, meeting staff and students, and ensuring that we see things on the ground. This year of course has been quite different, most of our interactions have been remote, and we have largely focussed on supporting the school to respond to the situation in the moment.

This year has been extraordinary: staff, students and parents have had to make the most enormous adjustments and put such incredible effort into making this year as successful for all as it possibly could be. The Governors have been so impressed, and really very proud, of how every element of our community has pulled together and worked so hard. Teachers have had to learn new tech skills as well as tactics to make online learning as effective and engaging as possible. But they have also, behind the scenes, had to put a phenomenal effort into the GSCE and ALevel assessment process in this year: so much additional work in creating exam style questions to use in assessments, running the assessment process, and working really hard on quality assurance so that we can be confident that the end results are rigorously fair.

The school produces a School Development and Improvement Plan (SDIP) to set goals and priorities, this breaks down into specific actions proposed by the school to achieve those priorities, and under normal circumstances the Governors focus their attention on those priorities. In this last year the SDIP has had to be very responsive to short term adjustments and so the Governing Body has adapted with the school to keep an eye on matters that really have been the highest priority over the year, while still keeping an eye to the big picture.

With COVID dominating all aspects of school and home life our Student Impact Committee has focussed particularly on 3 areas: firstly the development of online delivery of the curriculum, the IT access issues, the challenges of so much on screen time, technical issues and workload for both staff and students; secondly, we were alert to student mental health particularly as it related to the impact on different students, some for whom working remotely was positive, and some for whom it was negative, we will continue to review student wellbeing and work with the school to take forward what we have learnt COVID adjustments over the last few months; and thirdly, we have focussed on parental engagement, how to communicate most effectively with parents, including the use of online parents evenings and information videos – we will use feedback from surveys to feed into future plans.

The Resources Committee has a focus on the budget, premises and school improvement. We continue to make improvements to the environment, much of these in this year have been focused around COVID and making the environment as risk free as possible. We’ll be looking forward next year to keeping the positive elements of those changes. Other plans may have slowed, but they haven’t stopped and, happily, we continue to press ahead with construction of a 3G pitch which will improve facilities both for the school and for local football clubs.

We really value the amazing staff at Cherwell, both teaching and support staff, and staff wellbeing is a constant focus of the Resources Committee. This has been a year of extreme challenges and we know that not only have the staff worked extremely hard over this last year, they have done so with a real sense of openness to change and an ability to swing changes into action with remarkable speed.

Continued…/

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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence

The Governing Body has remained constant this year. I’m really pleased to let you know that Martin Thornley will take up the role of Chair of Governors in September and I will continue to take on a safeguarding and student wellbeing brief for another year. We welcome Tony Brett as a co-opted governor with a specialism in IT to support improvements in the school’s IT infrastructure. We will look to elect a new parent governor in the autumn so do watch out for that next term.

I hope everyone has a relaxing summer and I wish all our leavers, staff and students, the very best in the next chapter of their lives.

Nicola Small Head of Administration & Finance

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DUKE OF EDINBURGH NEWS 2020/21 Where to even start! We were thrown with all the challenges and highs and lows we could possibly face, however we built some strong resilience, patience and understanding over the last 18 months. DofE has not quite been the same this year,

Bronze got hit the hardest, no camping, no big bags, no planning. We had a wonderful time

though, activities on the field, putting tents up, cooking and some map skills. They also got to explore more of the Oxford countryside that we have right on our doorstep and navigate their way to Wytham woods and around Port Meadow.

Silver, what a joy to work with! We had a great time venturing off from Hill End for their practice,

so many good laughs and memories created on that trip. They had an interesting start to their Qualifying Expedition, setting off from school in the pouring rain! Another fantastic trip. I am so proud of the skill and maturity they showed in completing their awards.

Gold has been amazing, we are so grateful we got a proper expedition with them, we set off for

Wales for the practice expedition where the students and teachers learnt many new skills. Then just a week later they headed off to complete their award.

I am so proud of all the students who have completed their awards, especially in this very unique year we have had! Congratulations everyone.

Miss Overbeck - Duke of Edinburgh

Year 9 DofE Bronze Award (2020/21)

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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence

Year 10 DofE Bronze Award (2020/21)

Year 11 DofE Silver Award (2020/21)

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Year 12 DofE Gold Award (2020/21)

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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence

Friends of Cherwell For me it speaks of joy, of new life, of a love of reading, and it says thank you.

It’s a photo of a gift from Sameen, Year 9 student, made for the refurbished South Site Library. It was posted on Instagram this week by Cherwell's School Librarian Caterina Bonsaver.

Above all it says thank you to you, and to all those in the school community who made it possible for the school to enjoy the gift of over £70,000 from the Friends this year to spend on making life better for Cherwell's children.

Throughout the year the school team has been steadily spending all the funds we've raised on a number of projects to benefit the education and wellbeing of the students, including:

   

providing every child in need with a Chromebook refurbishing the South Site Library creating a new North Site Library adding extra outdoor seating and recreation areas

Chromebooks, libraries, outdoor furniture and equipment. Not everything is finished yet, so some of the work will be carrying on during the summer break. Covid has caused unavoidable delays.

Check out our website which has updates with all the details. That’s also the place to go to find out what’s in store for the next school year. There's also an important message from Headteacher Chris Price ,plus an update from PTA Chair Alex Thomas on the £750,000 new 3G sports pitch that will start to happen during the summer break.

Thank you Friends for your fantastic commitment and support. And thank you Sameen.

Enjoy the summer.

John Chair, Friends of Cherwell

https:// friendsofcherwell.org/donate/ With sincere thanks for your continued support. Your generous giving is making a huge difference. © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 9

Parental Presence Is Needed Now More than Ever ‘I’m here! I am your parent and will remain your parent!’

(Haim Omer)

Flat-pack furniture, although difficult to fathom at times, does come with instructions. Your dinner can now be delivered as ingredients with step-by-step instructions on how to cook it like a pro. As a parent, you will remember that you were not handed an instruction manual by the midwife when your baby was delivered, and the role of parenting can’t be ordered on an app (now there’s an idea for Super Nanny US). This leaves many parents with their only instruction manual which is their experiences as a child of being parented. This can mean picking and choosing, quite rightly, to take what was good and ditch what was bad. In some cases, this can mean reacting to an overly disciplined upbringing, where you might avoid at all costs, imposing boundaries for fear you might sound just like your mum or dad! I highly recommend reading The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) by Philippa Perry if this is you.

I’m sure every generation says this, but the world that children live in today is vastly different from the one that you or I were raised in. Haim Omar, the creator of Non-Violent Resistance parenting, explains the current situation well that young people ‘‘...are flooded with a tsunami of seductions and stimulations resulting from an affluent family, harmful trends, and addictive substances.’

This shift has not been helped by the pandemic. The lockdowns have furthered young people’s reliance upon the ‘wisdom’ of the Internet, rather than the adults in their life who are struggling to keep up with the barrage of messages being communicated through the likes of TikTok and Instagram. At the same time, this shift has also coincided with parental authority being stripped away in a background of a positive move away from corporal punishment, in sighting fear and shame in an attempt to make young people obedient to the demands of adults. It’s a progressive move forward, but it has left a vacuum for parents. To make matters worse, increasingly young people have witnessed those in authority not adequately address issues of discrimination, environmental concerns or prioritising their needs in the pandemic.

Parental presence is a way of creating a secure base and being an anchor for them, in what has increasingly become a fast paced changing world. If you think of yourself as the anchor of a ship that prevents a boat from becoming shipwrecked in choppy or stormy weather, you’ll get my drift!

So, parental presence is about both being with your child, and enjoying quality time together where you might listen to them, watch a movie together and continue some of the things you did as a family during the lockdown. This is what I was referring to as the silver lining of the pandemic in a previous article. In addition you might also want to reflect on:     

Ensuring as parents you are on the same page about parenting.

How you work together with the school.

Preventing your own guilt for past events to influence how you parent now.

Avoid the cycle of holding firm, then giving in, holding firm, giving in.

Finding that very difficult position of not being too ‘super-strict’ or too ‘anything goes’.

Parental presence is also about a symbolic presence and developing an internal representation of you as their parent. So that when they feel challenged, anxious, unsafe, they can bring you in their mind, and help guide them, without you even being physically present.

Continued…./

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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence

Perhaps this seems like common sense or feels like parenting when your child was younger. After all, the aim of adolescence is to individuate from the family and ideally reach a state of interdependence. However, this process has been derailed slightly for many, as they have experienced the trauma of the pandemic. Amongst young people, I have noticed a kind of regression to a younger state of mind, especially socially. And yet at the same time they are often troubled by adult concerns, by grappling with complex issues, like sexuality, gender and politics. There is also an increase in self-reliance, a greater dependency on friends and the Internet as I said earlier. In some ways this is good, but in other ways it’s incredibly harmful if their coping mechanisms are unhealthy.

The need for seeking safety and certainty is needed now more than ever and through parental presence we can support young people to develop their own instruction manual for navigating life.

By Matt Barnard, Lead School Counsellor

Open link https://saturday-club.org/join-a-club/

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 11

“I have worked at Cherwell for 2.5 years now and one of the many things I love about teaching here is the sheer richness of professional pedagogical discussion to be had amongst colleagues both experienced and new to the career. This ongoing developmental dialogue is no doubt in huge part thanks to our incredibly strong links with the Oxfordshire Teacher Training Programme.

Over the last year I have had the privilege of being a 'Visiting Tutor' for the Initial Teacher Training Programme. Associate Teachers on the programme have hands on experience in school placements and are responsible for the teaching and learning of assigned classes, developing their craft through rigorous research, collaboration with colleagues and completion of school based projects. As a visiting tutor it is my responsibility to review their ongoing portfolio at various assessment points in the year and visit them in their placement in order to observe their teaching and discuss their progress.

It gives me a great pleasure to see new colleagues joining the profession with energy, enthusiasm and developing skills in self-reflection. Personally I see my role as an excellent twoway opportunity to share good practice amongst colleagues and schools. It also gives me the chance to reflect on my own teaching and it's always nice of course if I get to 'borrow' an idea from a new teacher.”

Kev Slater SCITT Visiting Tutor & Maths Teacher, Cherwell School

“Lots of Cherwell staff have been involved in delivering the Subject Specialism strand of the SCITT teacher training course. Alongside the demands of this unique year, our Subject Specialists have had to brush up on their ICT skills in order to deliver training on new, online platforms. In English Subject Specialism, for example, it has been a pleasure to be involved in: a creative writing workshop delivered by Clare Cory from the Ashmolean Museum, an introduction to dual coding by one of our very own Associate Teachers, and a seminar on postcolonial theory in literature. In short, the year has been as varied and interesting as ever in our Subject Specialism groups, and the collective 'can-do' spirit has ensured that next year’s NQTs are moving on with confidence in their subject areas and perhaps EVEN more resilience than usual!”

Neil Sadler & Britt Strickland SCITT Subject Specialists & English Teachers, Cherwell School

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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence

Chloe Styles – SCITT Alumni & Geography Teacher, Cherwell

“Looking back on a crazy year to train to teach, I couldn't have asked for a better school to start that process. Through teaching in bubbles, to teaching remotely, the support that I received from the whole team at The Cherwell School was invaluable.

As the SCITT is based at Cherwell and it been rated OFSTED outstanding, I always had confidence that the teaching I was observing was of the highest quality and would give me the best start to my career.

My mentor and the rest of the science faculty were always around to give me advice and support when needed. They were able to show me the things I could do well, even when I couldn’t see that myself.

Although I was really sad saying goodbye to my pupils I had been teaching since September, it was nice to know I would be coming back next year, qualified and ready for hopefully a more normal year! I am so excited to see what the next few years bring.”

Danielle Baker-Smith Biology Associate Teacher, Cherwell School

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 13

CHERWELL SUSTAINABILITY NEWS - By Mr S Cappleman

Click DONATE NOW

https://friendsofcherwell.org/donate/

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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence

CHERWELL CREATIVE WRITING CLUB - By Mr Strickland The Creative Writing Club Thrives In A Difficult Year - It has been a remarkable year for the Creative Writing Club. Despite the unusual challenges the pandemic has caused, the joy of extra-curricular fiction writing has remained a vital part of the lives of Cherwell students. Beginning our academic year with face-to-face CW Club groups, it was necessary to move to online sessions each week for safety reasons and to allow students of different age groups to create together. They have continued to encourage, share and advise each other.

Highlights of the year include the release of Ekphrasis, a collection of remarkable poetry largely written by Cherwell Creative Writing Club students and published by Little Ox Press (copies are available at North and South Site libraries). Our authors also had chances to share their work in national publications such as the Young Writers’ Unsolved, a collection of mystery short fiction creations. They also enjoyed some special visitors, including an inspirational session by Clare Corey of the Ashmolean museum (pictured) with an art and artifact inspired workshop whereby students learned how to use unique historical objects to inspire their work.

The good news is, all this is still going on now. All year groups are welcome; all writing styles, forms and genres are welcome. Contact Mr Strickland if you have any questions.

You can find us each Thursday from 3:15 - 4:15 at the following link:https://meet.google.com/wzj-nato-hav? © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 15

The Cherwell School Lettings Department: Building a Business In February 2020, the Lettings Department at The Cherwell School was thriving; regular customers were increasing their hours with us, new customers were starting all the time, and the future was looking bright for the development of our lettings business. Yet as with everything, March 2020 arrived and all of our bookings came to a halt.

The return to school in September 2020 brought new challenges. Cleaning schedules, risk assessments, zoning, sanitiser and hand washing stations were installed all over...these things were just the start to get our students back into their classrooms, but our customers were desperate to return as well. Many of our regular bookings were able to start again, including the Cherwell Gymnastics Club, Mini Professionals Dance Academy, Little Kickers, Oxford Youth Choirs, Flintlock Theatre, Russian Gymnasium, and Oxfordshire Adult Learning.

Then more lockdowns were enforced and we had to cancel everything again. As our customers turned to digital platforms in order to reach their members while locked down, the premises team worked hard to decorate and enhance several facilities at the school, including the Art Building on the North Site and the new and improved Cherwell Clubhouse.

It has been a tough year, but upon our return to school after Easter, more and more customers were able to come back on site. The lettings business is now building up again, and we would like to share with you some of the cool bookings we have had at the school this Summer Term!

The Cherwell School Vaccination Clinics Luckily, there was one hire that we were able to keep on site during the lockdowns at the start of 2021. Our North Site gym became a Vaccination Centre, where Dr John Monach from the Summertown Health Centre, together with several Beaumont Street surgeries, were able to administer Covid vaccinations to thousands of Oxford residents, including many Cherwell staff members and parents! We are all very proud to have been a part of such a massive effort to get Oxford vaccinated!

Left: Dr John Monach and Dr Jayne Haynes, who led the clinics, discuss how organised everything is!

Above: Proud Year 7 parent, Conall Mac Niocaill, shows off his vaccination card after receiving his second jab at The Cherwell School.

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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence

The Cherwell Clubhouse

Previously known as ‘the rugby club,’ the new and improved Cherwell Clubhouse is a prime location for all types of lettings. So far we have used the Clubhouse in school for staff First Aid Training, Year 8/9 HPV vaccinations and some interviews, but this wonderful new hall has also housed children’s birthday parties (complete with bouncy castle!), dance classes, as well as a half term acting course with APA Talent.

Cherwell Staff attend First Aid training with Mike BadhamThornhill

Outdoor Spaces

With restrictions remaining in place, many businesses have had to change the way they operate.

Little Kickers football has been getting their small people ready for a life of football in the real world: on a rainy field! They moved their booking out of the gym and onto the field to allow the parents to participate and distance appropriately.

One of our new customers is parent Bryony Leighton, who runs Zumba with Bry on Saturday mornings on the front playground.

And while weather sometimes forces him to cancel, new customer Karim Zid with Vortex Drone Company has made good use of our large open fields to run his drone flying courses.

A view from the sky!

Photo Credit: Karim Zid, April 2021 © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 17

Quiet on the Set! During May half term, the school hosted Digeo Productions, a digital video production company working with Oxford University Press. Several of our Year 12 students were lucky enough to work as extras on the set, gaining invaluable experience and creating memories to last a lifetime. Emilia Forster described her week with Digeo: “I really enjoyed working with Digeo; I got to see what a professional set looked like and meet new people that love acting as much as I do. My activities included many things, I would pretend to be studying or pretend to be queueing up at the canteen. Overall it was a fun experience.”

Left: Emilia Forster, on set

Supporting Local Businesses

Last weekend the North Site hall and gym were buzzing with stalls offering everything from jewellery and clothing to cupcakes and other tasty treats at a small business market. Former Cherwell student Claire Wiseman used lockdown in 2020 to create Oxfordshire’s Small Businesses, an online community where small, independent and local business owners can work together to promote their products.

The hot, sunny weather was not the ideal forecast for indoor shopping, but the stall holders all made sales and contacts for future markets.

Cherwell alumnus and Oxfordshire's Small Businesses founder, Claire Wiseman, at her market stall on Sunday.

Looking Ahead

We hire our school facilities to businesses, community organisations and private individuals, so if you are looking for a location for your next event, please get in touch with our school Lettings Manager, Jennifer Ingham or email lettings@cherwell.oxon.sch.uk

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MATHS DEPARTMENT NEWSBy Mr Jamieson & Mr Dyer

In May, KS3 students took part in NSPCC Numbers Day. Throughout the week, Year 7 students participated in a treasure number hunt, with various questions hidden in different outdoor spaces. Years 7 and 8 did a number quiz in form time, and lots of fun maths activities took place in lessons. There was a maths joke competition – some of the best are shown below. Students also made a donation to ’dress up for digits’ and overall we raised £203 for the NSPCC. Thank you and well done to everyone who took part.

How do you keep warm in a cold room?

Go to the corner, it is always 90 degrees.

So I went to a hotel and I asked for a room for X and Y. The manager said “Perfect, that’ll be along the corridor and up the stairs.”

I have 25 bananas in one hand and 7 oranges in the other, what do I have?

Really massive hands!

This year’s UK Junior Maths Challenge was sat on 24th April by 183 Cherwell students across Years 7 and 8. There were many excellent scores including 18 Gold, 27 Silver and 41 Bronze awards. The highest scorers in Year 8: Flora Akerman, Adam Meredith and Rebecca Watkinson, and the highest scorer in Year 7: Carys Pooley, were joined by the rest of the Gold Award winners in the second round of the competition on June 15th.

Congratulations to Rebekah Smith in 7MD who was the best in school in the second round, getting 22 questions correct out of 25!! A fantastic performance and extremely unusual for a Year 7 student to beat all the Year 8s. Well done Rebekah.

Here’s a question from the second round for you to have a go at

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SCIENCE ENRICHMENT Since being back at school, we have had a variety of opportunities for more hands-on Science enrichment, highlights of which are detailed below.

YEAR 7 CHEMISTRY STATES OF MATTER SHOW - JUNE

In June, we were so pleased to be able finally to offer all our Year 7 students an opportunity to attend an interactive practical Chemistry demo exploring the three states of matter. Our pupils were able to model the behaviour of solids, liquids and gases and witness some truly magical science - so much excitement and fun to be had, including freezing roses and bananas, whilst consolidating key science knowledge.

KS3 SCIENCE ENRICHMENT PRACTICAL DEMOS - JULY During July, we have had an opportunity to conduct some additional practical demonstrations for our KS3 students to complement their taught science lessons and address common misconceptions - this has included teachers delivering bespoke demos of investigations into: Hooke’s Law, the strengths of electromagnets, separation techniques and cell microscopy. Although, due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, our original plan had to be cut short, we know that many students benefitted from these sessions.

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YEAR 10 TRIPLE BIOLOGY ‘MEAT THE FUTURE’ TRIP - JUNE We were pleased to be able to offer our Year 10 Triple Biologists a chance to spend a day at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Botanic Gardens to explore issues around sustainable food production. This day full of activities gave our students a chance to debate and consider the future of food, and the implications of the current choices we make for the health of our planet. There was even a bag of crunchy crickets thrown in for the truly adventurous!

KS5 BRITISH OLYMPIAD - RESULTS We are delighted to report an impressive set of results from the March BBO; it is great to have seen so many of our students receiving commendations and awards, and if you didn’t this year, very well done for participating and remember there is always next year for our current Year 12s to do even better!

Year 12 Awards

Year 12 Awards

Year 12 Awards

Commended:

Highly Commended:

Silver:

Alisia Roberta Lorelai Maciu

Mwezi Pinne

Katrina Kirby

Beatrice Vincent-Ratti

Maia Hudson

Raphaela Goeldner-Thompson

Edie Rousou

Halyna Mykula

Gwen Jones Emily Meredith Bethan Earl

Year 13 Awards Commended: - Isra Osman & Annushya Jeshtadi Gold - Carys-Anne Earl & Ahmed Hussain © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 21

KS5 CAMBRIDGE CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE - JUNE 2021 This competition aims to stretch and challenge students interested in chemistry - Well done to all the following students who all took part in this year’s Cambridge Chemistry Challenge

Olivia Scarborough

Jose Villarroel

Luke Wright

Victor Coldea

Will Robertson

Beatrice Vincent-Ratti

Maia Hudson

Raphaela Goeldner–

Ella Myers

Thompson

Lisa Milne

Jeslyn Jaic

Emily Meredith

Halyna Mykula

Katrina Kirby

Alexey Savelyev

Gwen Jones

Harry Lawal

Helen Geno

Rand Almuqham

Aleena Joshy

Joe Ponsford

ROEN TG ENI UM AWAR D - CAMBRI DGE CHEMI ST RY CH AL LENGE Additionally we are thrilled to report that Katrina Kirby won a Roentgenium Award this year! This places Katrina in the top 54 students from more than 7000 who sat the paper this year, and is a remarkable achievement of which we are all very proud. She will now be invited to attend a residential camp at the University of Cambridge at the end of August.

Additional awards: Gold – Luke Wright

Copper - Lisa Milne, Victor Coldea, Halyna Mykula, Will Robertson, Olivia Scarborough, Gwen Jones, Joe Ponsford, Mia Hudson and Beatrice Vincent-Ratti From Ms Ghaffar, Science Enrichment Coordinator; follow us on twitter: Cherwell School Science @Cherwell_Sci

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CIRB NEWS NORTH SITE

By Ms wilks, Lead Teacher CIRB North Base

Congratulations Year 10 CIRB Students, George, Maia and Jason For completing

Year 1 in Animal care @ Abingdon and Witney college summer 2021.

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 23

YEAR 9 DESIGN TECHNOLOGY - TEXTILES

By Ms S Taken Year 9 have produced some fantastic drawstring bags in their DT Textiles rotation! It's been great to be back in the workshops.

Weijean

Alexia & Francesca Page 24

Bruno

Berry & Ahmed

SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence

Sameen

Cherwell boys

Bethany

Billy Tonka

Josiah, Jakob & Thomas

Jonas, James, Darren & Amaani

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European Parliament Ambassador School Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

We are thrilled to become one of the very first schools in the UK to earn official accreditation as a European Parliament Ambassador School.

What does being a European Parliament Ambassador School (EPAS) mean?

The EPAS programme connects 1500 schools across Europe into a collaborative international network of young people, challenging them to run activities promoting discussion, debate and activism about issues that affect young people across Europe. As an European Parliament Ambassador School, we can connect students with global leaders across Europe, experts in a range of fields and insights into careers beyond the UK. What was the brief?

We were successful in our application to be one five UK pilot schools for the EPAS programme. Our brief was to gather a group of students to become ‘junior ambassadors’: representatives for the school to the European Parliament and for the European Parliament to our school community. We were asked to set up an EU InfoPoint in school, to run a cultural event, to organise a debate and to communicate about the EPAS work with the public.

What did we do to earn accreditation?

An EU Cherwell logo

We opened out the opportunity to become an EPAS Junior Ambassador to Year 11 students, inviting them to take part in a month-long programme after competing their GCSE course. 50 students signed up, with 42 students successfully completing the programme to earn their accreditation.

Throughout the month, they impressed visitors with their engagement, thoughtfulness and intelligent approach and we are proud to celebrate their achievements—all the more so because it has been completed during their holidays!

EPAS Day 1: Europe and Shared Values We began the programme with an introduction to the European Union with Asher Jacobsberg, the UK coordinator of the EPAS network. Through an online seminar and quiz, he introduced the core values and structures unifying Europe and some areas of debate and controversy within the EU. We then reflected on our own values, using a ‘knockout tournament’ form to stimulate debate.

Students selected a country to represent, researching it for our EU InfoPoint. We finished with a series of small debates about moving from values to policy and Britain’s future role in a European political dialogue.

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European Parliament Ambassador Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

EPAS Day 2: Leadership and Collaboration Students began the second day by dividing into project groups and taking on a specialist role within their team, such as communications officers, project managers, creative directors and researchers. We linked up with Toby Wardman, Head of Communications at SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy

by European Academies), about how science advice works, the challenges and opportunities presented by Covid, the role of scientists in leading the EU Green Deal and the potential of leadership through collaboration and innovation. Toby shared his experiences as a Brit living in Brussels and personal observations about Britain’s changing relationship with the EU over the past ten years. Students then completed a leadership survey to reflect on their own style and preferences, using these to help form effective teams of their own. We finished the day with an inspiring, animated and wide-ranging talk and Q&A with Judith Bunting, a former MEP for the South East, who shared anecdotes about her own experiences of campaigning, leadership and committee work. She recommended walking towards trouble, seeking opportunities, pushing (and pushing again) and achieving more with others than alone.

Judith Bunting, former MEP

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European Parliament Ambassador School Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) EPAS Day 3: Arts, Culture and Language

The third day explored how arts and culture can become a shared reference point and a way to connect and celebrate what unites us. Students began with a quiz, learned about translation and multilingualism in a talk from Mark Smith, Head of English Translation for the European Parliament, spoke to former student Emily about studying new languages at university, shared food from different European countries and planned their project to a soundtrack of European music. In the afternoon, students combined legal thoughts with creative ones in a ‘poetic justice’ workshop, reading EU legislation and turning it back into an expression of fundamental values through the form of blackout poetry.

EPAS Day 4: The Future of the EU In our final day, we drew together our work across the whole EPAS programme to consider what ‘global Britain’ really means, the UK’s future role in Europe and how young people can shape the political narrative. We began with a thought-provoking talk and discussion with Professor Michael Shackleton with his reflections on his 30 years working in the European Parliament, the challenges of finding a 'halfway house' Brexit and the questions this generation will be left to determine.

Professor Michael Shackleton, University of Maastricht Page 28

Professor Shackleton stayed to watch two debates on two central themes emerging from our project work around diversity and collaboration: 'This House believes Europe should have a common Covid strategy' (Noah, Lou, Rowan and Eilidh) and 'This House believes Europe is "united in diversity" (Georgina, Ava, Rayan and Francisco).

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) We finished by expressing our voice through lobbying postcards and our own 'manifestos for a global Britain'. At the end of the day, we celebrated students’ achievements, awarding them with their Junior Ambassador accreditation, certificates and European Parliament branded goods (from thermos flasks to frisbees, pencil cases to bags)!

Debate teams in action—with special awards presented by Professor Shackleton

Lobbying postcards and manifestos © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 29

European Parliament Ambassador School Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Students were also acknowledged in a special video message of congratulations from Oxford East MP, Anneliese Dodds (https://twitter.com/ CherwellEnrich/status/1415987455568879617) Our takeaway message: Whatever your views, get informed, get involved and get political.

Read diversely, work with people who share your values and seek out influence.

EPAS Takeovers For our public communication, students decided to run what we called ‘EPAS Takeovers’ - running a lesson for Year 7 or Year 8 on a topic emerging from their EPAS project work.

7JTy’s Social Wellbeing lesson was taken over by Alice, Aisling, Molly, Safya and Eilidh, who drew on their research to discuss how we measure and improve quality of life across Europe through an interactive 'game of life'.

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European Parliament Ambassador School Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Ariane, Anoushka, Ava, Georgina, Rayan and Weiyen’s EPAS Takeover for 7DN focused on the impact of climate change on migration in Europe. They reimagined their research on the EU Green Deal through an interactive workshop fun, educational and inspirational in one!

Torrential rain didn't dampen Year 8s enthusiasm for their PE Takeover lesson. Hashem, Mazin, Charlie, Jibreel, Henry and Beanie taught the value of integration and competition through a Euros football tournament.

Rowan, Lou and Noah introduced 7CO to the oceans, climate change and why debates on fishing in the EU are so important.

Francisco took over 7NS's tutor time for an EU quiz and seminar on the environment, the economy and social values.

Daniel and Caitlin discussed migration and asylum with 8RHk - using maps © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 31

European Parliament Ambassador School Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

and data as a springboard to thinking about the reasons for migration, our ethical responsibilities and the supportive work of European agencies and charities.

EPAS Specialisms Our junior ambassadors also wrote up articles on a specialist area of their choice, with topics including the environment, discrimination, human rights law, UK-EU trade, the political situation in Poland, asylum and Covid vaccine policies. We have been able to share their work with relevant people within the European Parliament—with SAPEA congratulating Irakli on his astute evaluation of the EU’s Green Deal and the European Parliament UK office responding to Rowan’s assessment of the pitfalls of commercial fishing policies.

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European Parliament Ambassador School Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

What next?!

We look forward to continuing as an European Parliament Ambassador School next year. With opportunities to visit Strasbourg and Brussels, in addition to continued remote links and in-school visits, we hope that more students will join us to become Junior Ambassadors and find an avenue to develop and advocate for their own beliefs, values and political voice as global citizens and future leaders.

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 33

Medieval Manuscript Project Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

As part of our summer academic enrichment programme, and in collaboration with the New Chaucer Society, the Bodleian Libraries and the University of Oxford’s English Faculty, we invited Year 11 students to take part in a medieval manuscript project—seven weekly sessions on Monday afternoons, with a range of talks, visits and group workshops.

25 Year 11 students who intend to study English Literature at A Level were joined by five Year 13 students going on to study English at university to collaborate on the project, working towards a final celebratory exhibition to showcase their ideas and their work to parents, siblings, teachers and guests from the University.

Project Planning Year 11 began their medieval manuscript project debating what it means to read and what makes a book 'a book', before an introduction to 1300s England and deciding their specialist topic: we have astrology, medicine, recipes, the Book of Hours, the Harley lyrics and bestiaries!

Illuminations

The second Year 11 medieval manuscript project session explored marginalia and illuminations, thinking about how we 'read' text and image, our responses as readers, competing functions of different types of text and the tension between seriousness and play. Alice,

Redesigning the Cherwell swan—Alice, Ava and Eben Page 34

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) Ava, Rayan and Eben even created our very own medieval manuscript project logo designs - Cherwell swans inspired by the style of bestiary illuminations! The challenge was even attempted by University of Oxford lecturer, Dr Nick Perkins, who wrote a letter to the students to support the project and tell them more about swan anecdotes featuring his College’s founder, St Hugh. Dr Perkins will join the students for their final project session and exhibition.

We added to our medieval library with books on medieval monsters, cats in the margins and (less bizarrely) Professor Turner's biography 'Chaucer: A European Life' - complete with our very own marginalia and

Behind the scenes at the Bodleian © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 35

Medieval Manuscript Project Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

the past in their exploration of the weird and wonderful world in the margins of the medieval page through a series of Cherwell Journal articles: https://thekeystage4review.wordpress.com/medievalilluminations-and-marginalia/ It was a particular privilege to be invited to go behind the scenes at the Weston Library to see real manuscripts up close with Dr Cosima Gillhammer and curator Matthew Holford as our guides. It was an inspirational and unforgettable start to our medieval journeys and archival adventures!

International links with Professor Mueller

The project continued with a workshop with PhD researcher, John Colley, guiding us on a journey through the stories of the material text via some unusual medieval medicinal recipes—and inspiring some on their own medieval baking experiments!

We took the opportunity to connect our former students and our current ones. Emily and Molly were keen to explore a feminist reading of the Harley lyrics and so former student Eleanor, now in her second year at Cambridge, offered a special virtual supervision to guide Page 36

As the project developed, we turned international, linking up remotely for an inspirational talk and Q&A with Professor Alex Mueller of the University of Massachusetts, Boston on uninhibited thinking, curating exhibitions and the power of collaborating to discover and interrogate the stories behind texts. In addition to sharing his own experiences and anecdotes from his trips across the globe through medieval conferences and research projects, he talked about why—as an American—he was fascinated by English medieval literature and the power of imagining ‘elsewhere’ through fiction, both geographically and historically.

Eve’s illuminations

Medieval recipes and Rayan’s bread

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) them through some ideas.

Virtual supervisions

Others turned their focus to Oxford's medieval history with ‘Uncomfortable Oxford’ through a 90 minute walking tour and discussion about some surprising, hidden aspects of medieval history, complicating our certainties on the 'medieval view' and its impact on culture and even politics today.

Uncomfortable Oxford tour

Students were also given an ‘AshPass’ as part of their participation, giving them free entry to the Ashmolean’s exhibitions.

Some have already taken a ‘pilgrimage’ to the museum, exploring the many and varied medieval objects within the collections to think about material culture and how it can shape our understanding of the readers of the texts we study.

In the final session, students were joined by Dr Nick Perkins, University of Oxford, who talked about what is gained from studying material culture rather than just the words of a text and continued our swan theme with a guided reading of an old English poem from the Exeter riddles collection. He spent time working with groups on their final preparations and hearing some of their project ideas.

The project culminated with an exhibition event, hosted in the fittingly medieval setting of Brasenose College, Oxford. After some introductory reflections from Rayan and Freddie, students displayed their project work and specialisms to families and guests, speaking intelligently and enthusiastically about some of the ideas they explored— including religious texts, recipes, bestiaries, medicines, astrology, legal treaties and music. At the end of the evening, Ms Parish was delighted to present students © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 37

Medieval Manuscript Project Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) We will end by presenting our work to the New Chaucer Society’s international expo as part of their celebration of medieval scholarship and teaching Chaucer in the modern classroom.

Year 12 lecture and Q&A

Year 12 Chaucer Enrichment Year 12 English students also enjoyed the chance to go beyond the curriculum in their medieval studies through a live virtual bespoke Q&A session with Professor Marion Turner and Dr Nick Perkins. Professor Turner discussed her award-winning biography of Chaucer (signed for our library) and both responded thoughtfully, generously and enthusiastically to the range of questions our students posed.

Brasenose College

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Medieval Manuscript Project Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

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A Night In Wytham Woods Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

A Night In Wytham Woods…

A group of twelve students in Year 11 and twelve students in Year 12 spent a night camping in the woods in Wytham, a chance to unwind from a challenging year in a relaxed environment, reconnect with nature and explore with a new group of people.

Dr Kim Polgreen, Youth Educator in Residence (and Cherwell parent!) invited us to spend 24 hours in the solitude of the woods. We began with a talk from Nigel Fisher, Conservator of Wytham, about the history of the woods and the challenges of conserving them for the future. We then took a leisurely walk with cameras, notebooks and pens, recording observations, sketching and slowing down to notice the vibrancy and life around us. After regrouping over tea and cake, we prepared our tents,

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A Night In Wytham Woods Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) explored a little and heard from researchers about their tree survey. We enjoyed a BBQ dinner (complete with Year 12 culinary adaptions and experiments) before setting up a campfire and toasting marshmallows into the evening.

Ms Caldwell tackles the woods in a suit!

The Year 11 trip coincided with the England semi-final, so some students crouched over Mr Mulvany’s phone to stream it live, whilst others spent the night badger watching. A silent vigil over their sett was rewarded with some close encounters!). We added to an impressive wildlife tally by listening to bat chatter with radar sensors.

Before turning in for the night, we set up moth traps and we were lucky to be taught about the moths we gathered by researchers in the morning. The Year 12 trip benefited from an impromptu talk and live display on ticks—after one embedded itself rather firmly in Miss Richer’s arm...

After breakfast, we took a final walk through the private research meadows before returning to school—rejuvenated, inspired and motivated to get out again in the summer!

Thanks to Dr Polgreen for arranging such a magical, unique and unforgettable opportunity, to Mr Mulvany and Mr Ingram for camping alongside us and to Ms Caldwell for driving us!

Some reflections: "She returned this morning having had a fantastic time! She loved the interesting talks, walks and especially raved about the BBQ! What’s more, she said the trip has really helped to inspire her further with her art through the nature photos she was able to take. It’s so lovely to see her happy and filled with positivity."

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A Night In Wytham Woods Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Reviewing the moth traps

Marshmallows and BBQs

Impromptu interactive tick workshop...

Close badger encounters!

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Frankenstein across the curriculum Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) One of our GCSE texts in English Literature is Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, Frankenstein. As a seminal novel that explores so many big themes, it provide the perfect springboard for a series of enrichment projects this term across the curriculum, combining science, history, ethics, philosophy, drama, music and environmentalism.

Frankenstein: Museum of the History of Science seminar Year 11 met with Christopher Parkin at the Museum of the History Science for a seminar and question and answer session via Google Classroom. We learned about some of the scientific inspirations behind the novel, the feasibility of Victor’s experiments in real life and the novel’s legacy in how we think about and report popular science today.

Some students then used the seminar as inspiration for their English GCSE speeches, delivered with real engagement, thought and clarity to their classes. For an example of the varied ways students reflected on the novel, take a look at a sample ‘conversation of ideas’, compiled by a group of students for the Cherwell Journal: https://thekeystage4review.wordpress.com/frankenstein-aconversation-of-ideas/

Virtual Seminar and Live Q&A

Cherwell Journal: A Conversation Of Ideas

Speeches to the class

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Frankenstein across the curriculum Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Frankenstein, Science and Ethics: Year 10 Research Project We were excited to be selected for a new, innovative collaborative research project with the Ethox Centre, Wellcome Trust and Creation Theatre. With funds from the University of Oxford’s Public Engagement Fund, we were lucky to benefit from a bespoke programme, designed collaboratively, to use Frankenstein as a springboard for thinking creatively and ambitiously about ideas across the curriculum.

Students met on Friday evenings from 4pm-6pm over eight weeks to hear from University researchers about their work, discuss some of the debate points arising from the research and then creating something new under the expert guidance of directors and actors from Creation Theatre.

Sessions took place through Google Classroom with students coming up with imaginative ways to put together shared work, making use of objects they could find around them and overcoming the challenges of intermittent technology!

Sessions included:  Duty, rights and responsibilities  Neuro-advancement  The ‘value of being human’ and gene editing  Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ethics - natural or unnatural  Responsibility in medicine and healthcare  Dead or alive or ‘in between’?  Psychiatry, technology and mental health

In their creative responses, students composed soundscapes, created concepts for staging, wrote monologues and scripts and even performed their own work.

Performances

To read more of their ideas, keep an eye on the Cherwell Journal: https://thekeystage4review.wordpress.com/

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Frankenstein across the curricuAcademic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Creation Theatre warm up games

Odile’s script, performed by a professional actor

Ethics debate and poll

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The Cherwell Journal Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

The Cherwell Journal is a digital journal where students go beyond the curriculum and write about topics that interest them - from niche interests to big social problems, historical records to future speculations, detailed reviews to summary overviews.

Read the Cherwell Journal online: The Key Stage 3 Review (Years 7, 8 and 9): https://thekeystage3review.wordpress.com/

We know that Cherwell students think creative- The Key Stage 4 Review (Years 10 and ly and purposefully about the world around 11): them The idea of the Cherwell Journal is to https:// capture some of those thoughts: a space to think deeply, to read curiously and to share and celebrate ideas.

Beginning in January, we are delighted that this term the Journal reached its first major milestones: 100 articles and 100 contributors.

Congratulations to everyone who has been involved, whether through researching, illustrating, writing, editing or sharing articles. We look forward to the next 100 articles and 100 contributors—and invite everyone to be part of it!

Inviting submissions: Do you have an idea, ‘big question’, topic or problem you want to research, share or think about more? Have you read, seen or listened to something you would like to review? Is there a social issue you see in the world around you that you want to understand more or you think more people should be talking about? Do you have a specialist interest you’d like to share? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

To write for the Journal, simply get in touch to discuss your ideas, get templates and resources to help you get started or to submit a finish piece. Contact Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) to find out more.

BBC My World and Young Reporter Panels As part of our development of the Cherwell Journal, we’ve linked up with the BBC Young Reporter initiative and we look forward to leading on new reporting and journalism initiatives next year. This term, BBC My World invited a group of Year 10 students to form a panel to review material, offer feedback and give opinions on shortlisted new reporters. In addition, they answered questions on careers in journalism and the future challenges and opportunities in the newsroom and international broadcasting.

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The Cherwell Journal Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Easter Term Competition Winners:

We ran two Easter term competitions across the school:  Biography  Words, idioms and etymology The submissions were varied, thoughtful and brilliantly executed and Ms King, Ms Bristow, Mr Hopkins, Ms Kelbrick, Mr Madden, Ms Rapson and Ms Fowler were delighted to be able to award so many R4s!

Congratulations to the winners!

Biography:

Years 7 and 8 winner: Iris Pittard: Amanda Gorman Runners up: Bethan Robson: Judith Kerr Arfah Ovais: My Mum Years 9 and 10 winner: Iris Coleman: Taylor Swift Runner up: Noel Siju: Stephen Curry

Years 11, 12 and 13 winner: Gwen Jones: Henrietta Lacks Runner up: Maia Hudson: Nana Yaa Asantewaa Words, idioms and etymology: Years 7 and 8 winner: Tiago Ramos-Dias: Brass monkeys Runner up: Ali Ait-Tahar: Culture

Years 9 and 10 winner: Sophie Meredith: First encounters with the snake’s head fritillary Runner up: Will Cannon: Collective unconsciousness Years 11, 12 and 13 winner: Emily Meredith: Marmalade Runners up: Thomas Deakin: Sinkholes © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 47

The Cherwell Journal Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Enter the Summer Term Competition!

The Challenge: Write a 300-1000 word article or personal response to the term’s challenge themes:

 Music  Objects

Deadline: Monday 6th September (email or share with Miss Richer - cricher@cherwellschool.org or give a paper copy to your form tutor).

Prizes:  R5s and book prizes for the category winners (Year 7-8; Year 9-10; Year 11-13)  R4s for every submission  Publication in the ‘Cherwell Journal’ For a task sheet, thinking points, suggested questions and an example, cricher@cherwellschool.org or pick up a copy from your Year Office.

Write On...

Music: (e.g. song analysis; album review; guide to a style; essay) Music is surprisingly hard to define. What makes it more than just sound or ambient noise? Is what I consider ‘music’ the same as you? What is it about the arrangement of sounds that ‘speaks’ to us so powerfully? Music is so powerful that it is practically universal as a means of expression and art, moving even grown adults to tears, starting riots and leading social change. So what is it about music that really takes a hold on us? What can music tell us about other cultures, times and, indeed, ourselves?

And how will technology change music of the future?

Objects: (e.g. history of an object; scientific description; how it is made; essay) We are uniquely material beings: objects - their use, their design, their stories - shape our daily lives and our interactions with each other. Objects are how we connect with the past and with the present; they drive future innovation and progress. Whether it is the personal collections we form (our bedroom shelves, our school bag, our fashion choices) or the societal collections we authorise (museums, statues, public displays), objects show something about our values, our identity and our culture. So what stories can they tell? And what can a close look at an object change about the way we understand the world?

Example articles: Roan (Year 12) Art

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Sam (Year 11) Technology

Written by Mate (Year 8) History Illustrated by Linnea (Year 12)

Freya (Year 12) History

Amy (Year 12) Language

Congratulations to Freya who submitted her article on whether we should study ordinary or extraordinary women to the Newnham College Woolf Essay Competition. Freya came second in this prestigious award—receiving £200 in addition to personal feedback on her ideas! © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 49

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Maxwell (Year 8) History

Nathaniel (Year 9) Music

Lucy (Year 12) History

Rosh (Year 8) Politics

Sameen (Year 8) Politics

Lev (Year 9) Technology Page 50

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Mohammad (Year 7)

Year 11 Team

Language

Literature

Irakli (Year 11) Science

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Rowan (Year 11)

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Ella (Year 12)

Alex (Year 10)

Art

Language

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Emily (Year 12)

Isobelle (Year 12)

Social Sciences

History

Jaya (Year 12) History and Anthropology

Francisco, Rosie, Sikander and Josh (Year 11) Politics

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 53

Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

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Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

The Beyond Cherwell programme and award is a new initiative for the sixth form, working with students from January in Year 12 to January in Year 13 as they begin to consider next steps beyond Cherwell. It is optional academic enrichment, designed to sit alongside our curriculum, tutorial work and careers guidance.

It involves:  Information, advice and guidance on next steps (university, apprenticeships, careers)  Cross-curricular enrichment ideas, guided tasks, challenges and competitions.  Mentoring, external speakers and small-group projects.  Support developing study skills and research skills.  Creation of a portfolio of evidence to enable competitive applications beyond school.  A certificated award to recognise their efforts and achievements.

Through Beyond Cherwell, students have access to: A Google Classroom Hub: Through this, students can access all information and updates, including guides, templates and resources (and their award points tracker).

Google Classroom hub Year 12 code: no3btll

Weekly Bulletin: There is a weekly bulletin updates, notices, opportunities (lectures, events, competitions) and a special feature (interviews with former students, employers and tips on study skills, positive wellbeing and approaching key moments in the year).

Updates, notices, reminders and congratulations Page 54

Recommended lectures and competitions

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Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

University tasters and work experience placements

Weekly feature: interview and tips

Weekly Challenge: There is an optional weekly challenge where students do some semi-structured but independent (or group) thinking around a shared idea that goes across lots of different subject areas.

Students are encouraged to listen to, watch or read one thing (links given), then pick a set of thinking points to consider. Students can spend as long or as little on it as they like and there is no set format. There is no deadline for these, so they can choose to 'store up' any themes they would like to consider if they don't have time in that given week.

Cross-curricular weekly challenge © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 55

Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) Monday Seminars: The optional Monday seminars run every Monday during term time from 3.15pm-4.15pm. Some involve small group work; some are led by teachers; some involve external speakers, mentors and researchers from a range of careers and fields.

This term, seminars have included:  Dr Padraig Dixon: The Price of Life (Economics, medicine and ethics)  Dr Nicola Wiffen: Medical Sciences (Science, ethics and philosophy)  Dr Sharon Dircxx: The Soul and the Brain (Religion and science)  Clare Cory: The Stories of Objects (History and social sciences)  The Time Capsule Challenge  The Chocolate Challenge  Modern Art, Oxford: Careers in Creative Arts (art, theatre, music)  Catherine Aldridge: A Deep Sea Dive: Marine Archaeology (History and science)  Professor Charlotte Scott: Reading (English and university transition)  Professor Mike Parker: SAGE, Covid, science and ethics (Science, philosophy and politics)  Nuffield Research Centre: Researching the Sciences  The UK-US Fulbright Commission: Studying in the US In addition, we were delighted to host a ‘Beyond Cherwell’ week thinking about university. We welcomed back 25 ex-students now studying at university to talk with students informally about their experiences, to offer advice and a sounding board on everything from course choice, study skills, student life, living away from home, student finance and gap years.

As part of the week, Year 12s have also been given a ‘Thinking About University’ workbook. We have specially designed this workbook to guide students through the summer and to help them to think deliberately, purposefully and carefully about what motivates and excites them, so that they can make the right decisions for them. We encourage students to refer back to this book.

Students have also been invited to enter the Year 12 Summer Challenge: The Challenge: Explore, research and present a topic or question of your choice beyond or outside your curriculum (not a topic you have directly studied in your A Levels or EPQ).

The format: 5 minute challenge: record a video or audio file no longer than five minutes.

500 word challenge: write a 500 word essay, report or creative or practical piece and commentary.

Deadline: Monday 6th September (email or share with Miss Richer - cricher@cherwellschool.org).

Why? Prepare for life after school. Test out your interests, find new ones, think deeply and prove your independence and motivation beyond the curriculum – key skills you will need to evidence in applications for universities (through creating a narrative in your personal statement), apprenticeships and careers.

Prizes:  R5s and book prizes for the category winners, with runners up and spot prizes.  R4s and 20 points for ‘excellence’ module for every submission Not sure where to get started? Pick one of the ‘Beyond Cherwell’ weekly challenges or speak to your subject teachers or Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) to talk through ideas.

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Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Monday seminars

Professor Mike Parker (Oxford, Ethox and SAGE)

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 57

Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

The Chocolate Challenge: team winners!

Ex-Student Q&A: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Page 58

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Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Ex-student Q&A: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Q&A Panel: Researching the Sciences © The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 59

Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

Year 12 Peer Mentors The Beyond Cherwell programme and award is divided into three modules: opportunity, responsibility, excellence. As part of the responsibility module, we encourage students to volunteer their time to support the school community.

We are delighted that over 60 students have signed up to be Year 12 peer mentors!

The students will be on hand to offer advice and support to other students throughout the academic year.

The main way students can use the peer mentors is through our new ‘Ask A Student’ scheme: The Idea: As students ourselves, we know that school can be challenging sometimes and that it’s not always easy to know what to do when things aren’t going so smoothly. Whether it’s feeling overwhelmed by homework, falling out with your friends, feeling panicked about answering questions in class, not knowing what choices to make next, we know that the little worries can get us down and build into something bigger if we don’t get a chance to work them through. So we’re on hand to help! Whether it’s a specific question, a general worry or you just want to chat to someone different, we’d love to hear from you.

How It Works: Ask your question or get in touch and we’ll either email an answer or meet you in school. There are two ways you can get in touch:  By email (from your school email address): askastudent@cherwellschool.org  Through your form tutor or Year Team All you need to do is say who you are and how we can help: you can ask a specific question or you can just introduce yourself.

We can help with little things but if you have a big concern - or we think we’re not the right people to help - you should speak to an adult you trust or the school counselling service (you can contact them through the Intranet). Remember to look at the Cherwell Wellbeing Wall and self-care tips, too.

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Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org)

The Beyond Cherwell Award Congratulations to….

Beyond Cherwell Award: Aisha Akram Amy Oliver Camila Paredes Cian Huckins, Emily Haines-Gray Jaya Leahy Kara Molloy Lucy Marshall, Maia Hudson Rand Almuqham Gold Award: Alisia Maciu Ella Myers Emily Meredith Mae Cook, Noelle Jaho Thomas Deakin Aisha Akram: In addition to regular Monday seminars and challenges, Aisha has completed work experience placements in law, joined university outreach programmes, attended virtual lectures around Islam, created number challenges for KS3 students and written on the Indian farmers’ protest for the Cherwell Journal.

Amy Oliver: Amy splits her efforts between her two academic interests: history and medicine!

From Journal articles on ‘Bloody Mary’ and the origins of writing to volunteering at the JR and medical work experience placements, Amy has an impressively wide-ranging portfolio of thoughts outside the curriculum, sharing them generously through her role as an editor of the Cherwell Journal.

Camila Paredes: Camila has shown impressive commitment to self-development through her reflections, study skills courses and external talks and outreach programmes. She has used weekly challenges as the springboard for competition entries and Cherwell Journal articles, as well as designing resources for KS3 students.

Cian Huckins: Cian has had exemplary engagement with the Monday seminars, contributing helpfully. He is actively involved in creative writing, sharing his work to support younger students with autism. He has shown extensive commitment to extension reading and work in English.

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 61

Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) Emily Haines-Gray: Emily has reflected thoughtfully and consistently on her learning, including excellent work on study skills. She has written several journal articles on ethics, media and social problems, in addition to entering university philosophy competitions.

Jaya Leahy: Jaya has written for the Cherwell Journal on body neutrality and entered university competitions for essays and creative writing. She has taken part in virtual work experience placements and study skill courses, as well as in-school clubs.

Kara Molloy: Kara has completed an impressive range of legal experiences, placements and competitions, including the national ‘Big Voice London’, writing up her reflections for the Cherwell Journal. She has explored French flash fiction, media, literature and love through her regular and thoughtful weekly challenge responses.

Lucy Marshall: Lucy has regularly attended Monday’s seminars, in addition to a wide range of extra history reading and virtual talks. She has completed two virtual work experience placements and has written a Cherwell Journal article on museums and objects, based on a weekly challenge and seminar.

Maia Hudson: Maya’s enthusiasm and commitment to Monday seminars is exemplary, including providing valuable feedback in a University of Oxford focus group and being an active member of the medicine society. She regularly redrafts her class work and reflects on her study routines.

Rand Almuqham: Rand’s weekly challenge submissions have been varied and creative, with a superb range of drawings and reflections, which she has generously allowed us to use as lesson Page 62

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Year 12 ‘Beyond Cherwell’ Academic Enrichment

@CherwellEnrich

Contact: Miss Richer (cricher@cherwellschool.org) resources in Social Wellbeing and as part of a pastoral programme. She volunteers as a mentor and supports her younger brothers. Rand has written on Tituba and the Salem Witch trials for the Journal and has signed up to represent the school in team competition challenges.

GOLD: Alisia Maciu: Alisia regularly attends the weekly seminars and has joined many virtual lectures in psychology and sciences, including the Biology Olympiad and being selected for an In2Science placement. She is committed to redrafting work and developing study skills, including creating knowledge and vocabulary organiser resources for younger students.

Ella Myers: Ella is a Cherwell Journal editor, leading the launch and design of a book club for each key stage and reading lists and guides. In addition to her own extensive research around art history, she has designed a superb research task to help people write on art, including her own Journal article and illustration. She represents the school on the Ashmolean’s ‘Our Museum Our Voices’ project.

Emily Meredith: In addition to the weekly seminars, weekly challenges, self-reflections and research into career areas, Emily has written an impressive range of Journal articles, on topics as varied as the science of singing, stress, women in STEM and the origins of the word ‘marmalade’!

Noelle Jaho: Noelle has single-handedly created a brand for Beyond Cherwell with a series of logos, modular logos, Cherwell Journal bookmarks, posters and badges. At the same time, Noelle has developed her interests in Law and History through competitions and competitive work experience placements.

Mae Cook: Mae created the website for the Cherwell Journal and helped to kickstart the project on the Editorial Team. She has written for the Journal with biographies and reflections on the French language. She has taken part in various lectures, university and careers research seminars and extension reading, including her own creative writing responses and adapting ideas for younger students.

Thomas Deakin: Thomas attends weekly seminars and applies his geographical interests to each week’s theme with impressive creativity and rigour. His extensive reading and career research around geology is exemplary and he has used this as the basis for Journal articles on sinkholes and volcanoes, as well as careful learning resources for younger students.

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 63

YEAR 7 NEWS

By Ms King and Mr Ormrod

Year 7 have had a momentous first year at Cherwell – they settled in really well to the way we do things here and have gone from strength to strength. Since our last newsletter, the past two terms have seen the school being able to open up a little more, with science enrichment lessons, more extra-curricular activities, timetable changes so that specialist lessons can be held in specialist rooms again and ‘proper’ bike sheds being used for the first time! A few classes also enjoyed a ‘Year 11 takeover’ - a Social Wellbeing lesson about climate change taken by some Year 11s who have been working on their EPAS course (photos below).

So many things have changed, and we could not be more proud of our Year 7s, who have seen more change at Cherwell in one year than most students see in their whole time here. They have learnt to be adaptable, focussed and kind to each other. We are hopeful to be able to hold a Sports Day this year, all safely within their Year 7 zones but able to watch other year groups - something they have missed out on this year. They are a distinctly active year group, with many sports and activities being self-organised at break and lunch time, with various bits of equipment brought in to assist their games, so enjoying a Sports Day will be particularly pleasing for them!

As we think ahead to the glorious summer holidays, we want to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful Year 7 tutors, teachers and all staff who work so closely with our Year 7s to help them make progress in their lessons and give support where needed. We also wish you, parents and carers, a fantastic summer.

YEAR 8 NEWS

By Miss Bristow, Mrs Kidd & Ms Wiggins Year 8 have grabbed the challenge of the summer term with both hands. The focus of this term has been, to get ready for Year 9; being the oldest on South Site.

Mega Merits Over the term, they have been engaged in the Mega Merit competition. As a team, they have been working to earn points on routine, engagement in learning and effort and contribution to the lesson. Each lesson they have been marked out of 5, depending on the percentage of the tutor group who have demonstrated excellence in these areas. I am blown away by the effort made by the tutor groups and so far we have had the following winners: 8JM, 8LK, 8CSe and 8TT - congratulations to all of those on this excellent achievement. Each class of winners have received an R3 each and a treat.

Extra Curricular Clubs In addition to this, we have seen the return of Extra Curricular clubs in school and it has been great to see Year 8 attending a high number of these, including football, touch rugby and cricket. It has been great to see students take these opportunities to develop new skills and make new friends across the year group.

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Quizzes Tutor groups have taken it in turns to create a quiz for other tutor groups to take part in, the scores counted and the winners will be announced in the celebration assembly at the end of the year.

Looking ahead Next year, Year 8 will be the oldest on South Site. They will start thinking about their GCSE options and as a team, we look forward to helping students make these decisions and having valuable conversations about the future.

Our year groups’ determination, teamwork and resilience never ceases to amaze us. Keep up the AMAZING work and we wish you all a very happy summer.

YEAR 9 NEWS

By Mr Hopkins & Ms Wells

Year 9 have successfully completed their final term on South Site and they have now transitioned over to North Site to start their move into GCSE. I am overwhelmed with the resilience and tenacity the students have shown.

North Site Year 9 have been settling into their new environment, new classrooms for their lessons and meeting new members of staff. They have demonstrated that they are willing to take the challenge with both hands and use this move to re-focus and re-engage in their learning, ready for GCSE courses that will start in September.

The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards This term we have also seen a number of students signing up to take part in their first Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and decide on their skill, physical and service that is required to achieve such a prestigious award. Some students are volunteering in charity shops, helping at sporting events and clubs. Many students have decided to explore new skills and learn to cook, bake, paint and garden - an exciting part of the award that usually opens up new talents. Finally, students used already committed and loyal training at football clubs, rugby clubs and cricket for their physical section, while others took up a new sport like running, swimming or attending an exercise class with a friend. Not only do these sections work towards this final award but it allows students to be open to new opportunities and skills that will add to their personal development in the future.

Extra Curricular Clubs In addition to this, we have seen the return of Extra Curricular clubs in school and it has been great to see Year 9 attending a high number of these, including football and rounders. It has been great to see students take these opportunities to develop new skills and make new friends across the year group.

Looking ahead In September, we will see the start of their GCSE course and it is vital that Year 9 continue to demonstrate the maturity, resourcefulness and resilience that they have shown in the past few transition weeks. I have no doubt that students will show everyone that they are ready for the challenge.

Our Year group’s determination, energy and enthusiasm makes me proud to be their Year Leader. I wish you all a happy summer.

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 65

YEAR 10 NEWS

By Ms Kelbrick & Mrs Knight

After such a long time with no extracurricular activities, it’s been brilliant to see so many Year 10s get stuck in to new challenges or join their favourite clubs again.

This term we’ve had a successful Duke of Edinburgh excursion in the searing heat of the beginning of June and a really interesting Science trip in the drizzle of late June where we visited the Natural History Museum and the Botanical Gardens to learn about sustainable living.

Samir’s Natural History

Museum drawing The Year 10 research project ‘Frankenstein, Medicine and Ethics’ was also a great success this term. This was an exciting, interdisciplinary enrichment project where students worked as part of a special team of researchers, academics and actors with the Wellcome Trust, The University of Oxford and Creation Theatre. Our Year 10 students worked collaboratively and independently to research and create a response around the theme of ‘Frankenstein, Medicine and Ethics’ and produced a short article on an area of their choice from one of the sessions. This will be published in our Cherwell Journal, another great opportunity I’d encourage all Year 10s to get involved in.

I’m pleased to say that Year 10s approached their Summer Assessments with the same maturity and motivation they are known for. This is great preparation for Year 11 and the GCSE exam programme, starting with the first mocks on November.

So, a huge well done to our Year 10 students who have made it through a really tough year. I hope you and your families have the break you deserve over the summer.

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YEAR 11 NEWS

By Mr Madden & Mrs Goble

Although the past two years been a challenge for everyone we can honestly say how impressed we have been by the Year 11 students resilience and positivity throughout this time. They have shown a great sense of maturity and willingness to adapt to the necessary changes school has had to make to continue with their GCSE studies and have engaged extremely well with the online live learning programme.

Following their return to school in March and the cancellation of the formal GCSE exams students threw themselves into their subject assessments and worked extremely hard to achieve the best grades possible for their GCSEs. It was great to see so many students attend the Year 11 Leavers’ assembly at the end of June and we look forward to seeing them again at our Reward Evening in July.

It has been a pleasure and honour to have been part of such a wonderful year group and we wish them every success for the future.

YEAR 12 NEWS

By Ms Rapson & Mrs Fisher

We have yet again been thoroughly impressed with how well Year 12 have managed this year.

It has been really difficult to offer them any opportunities beyond the curriculum, however they have found and accessed these when they could. Some have accessed online work experience, been accepted on superb programmes such as NDORMS and a large group have completed their Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition.

I really wanted to end a difficult year with some positives. This term (with very little notice, and huge thanks to the PE department) we were able to offer Year 12 a 'PE' lesson. We have encouraged all year the benefits of exercise and being outside to support wellbeing and were keen to put words into action. Many students finish their studies on a Wednesday at 12:25 and so we had no real idea of how many would stay until 2pm to join in with rounders or football.

We were absolutely delighted to have so many turn up and even more delighted by the superb atmosphere. Myself and Mr Wallington watched as around 40 students of all abilities played rounders; always encouraging each other, supporting team mates, cheering on success and being a supportive friend when the odd catch was missed! On a different half of the field another group of students played some fairly intensive football (Score 5-4).

It has been a lovely way to spend Wednesday afternoons and hopefully gives us (and them!) the incentive to do more next year.

© The Cherwell School , Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021 Page 67

YEAR 13 NEWS

By Ms Fowler & Miss Howse

We were delighted to welcome Year 13 back into school for a Leaver’s Breakfast and Assembly on Thursday 24th June. Whilst this wasn't the send-off we were hoping for, it did seem somewhat fitting that their unique experience of sixth form drew to a close in a unique way!

During their studies, Year 13 responded to significant change with maturity and resilience, very quickly adapting to remote learning only a few months into their A Level courses. Whilst they were able to return to school for the final few weeks of Year 12 they had to complete their end of year assessments remotely. Returning to school in September there was a sense of normality with Year 13’s returning to face to face lessons, completing combine tests and celebrating the Dan Hemingway Award. Unfortunately, after Christmas, another lockdown meant they again had to adapt to a new way of working with lessons taught via Google Meet. The announcement at this time that exams were cancelled added to anxieties but again they responded with maturity, optimism and strength of character. These qualities enabled them to successfully participate in a period of assessment in Term 5 to complete their A Level studies.

Whilst Year 13 would never have chosen this experience I hope that now they are out the other side that they will look back on their time in the Cherwell sixth form fondly. They have developed skills, resilience and friendships that will serve them well in the future and as their Head of Year I couldn’t have asked for a better year group!

I wish them the best of luck with all of their future exploits!

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By Mr Wallington, Head of PE

What a strange, challenging, and unpredictable year for Cherwell School and all of us.

I have decided to document the year in PE for this newsletter.

SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER – WE ARE BACK!!!!!

In September the restrictions upon us meant that we needed to use minimal equipment and keep to activities which kept students distanced. This meant we got to run our usual summer timetable of activities in September! Amazing! The students got to do Athletics, Softball and Rounders in September. This was a brilliant way to start the school year and gave us the opportunity to provide activities missed in Lockdown 1.

OCTOBER – DECEMBER Restrictions tightened, and in PE this meant we had to use even less equipment and have stringent cleaning policies. The positive outlook on this was that it gave us the unprecedented opportunity to focus on ensuring that all pupils were physically active for sustained periods of time. This is a huge part of our intent at Cherwell PE and found this part of the experience hugely positive. Students learnt through activity and experience and were able to be consistently playing. We have learnt from this experience and the department practice has been permanently changed through the positive aspects found during this time.

JANUARY – MARCH – REMOTE LEARNING!!!

As the country shut down again, we faced another challenge. Turning our brilliant practical practice into something that could translate through a laptop screen to our pupils at home.

The PE team, two members of staff down on paternity leave, were led brilliantly by Mrs Green to devise an outstanding programme of practical lessons delivered remotely.

The students reacted brilliantly and seeing Year 7 in particular running up and down stairs (often in the PJ’s!) was a highlight for many and we received so many emails of support and thanks from parents. All of our remote learning lessons are available for all to use via the PE Department Website via this link – https://sites.google.com/view/cherwellpe/home Page 70

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MARCH – We are back!

We returned to masks and tighter restrictions but more importantly than that, we returned to students and staff delighted to be in school. We returned to an environment we all loved and we returned to nothing but activity in PE. Active, active, active, was the only call and the students responded brilliantly.

We even managed a couple of fixtures this summer term!

Our incredible GCSE and A-LEVEL students absolutely shone during the TAG (Teacher Assessed Grades) process. Their hard work, engagement and enthusiasm, as well as their diligence to coursework and classwork through the January – March period meant that when the government decided to let schools control the grading process, we were in an exceptionally informed place to do so in a fair way that ensures that the hard work paid off for our students.

This year showed the best of Cherwell. Staff and students. We showed that a strong community can accomplish anything and in PE we felt the challenge but always the support of the community. Thank you so much for all of your support through the year.

Please read on to see the exciting updates for Cherwell PE next year and beyond……

Mr Wallington, Head of Faculty – Physical Education

Coming next year to Cherwell PE…….

FIXTURES - Back to action in

FOOTBALL, NETBALL, BASKETBALL, TENNIS, CRICKET +many more at local, regional and national levels of competition.

CLUBS - More clubs

than EVER before! Football, basketball, rugby, netball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, rounders, and many more.

If you would like to suggest a club to run at Cherwell please get in touch because we have the capacity and funding to do this next year thanks to the brilliant Friends of Cherwell.

We would love to hear your ideas.

OPPORTUNITIES -

Thanks to our partnership with Oxford University and Oxford Brookes we have the exciting opportunities for our Sports Science students, A-level students, and Year 9 students to visit the sports labs and have some of their lessons delivered by lecturers and specialists in Sports Medicine, physiotherapy and movement analysis.

And maybe….. just maybe……with all our fingers and toes crossed……..this will be up and running on North Site.

(Picture – design plan)

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Some amazing Artwork produced , Year 7

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SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2021© The Cherwell School, Opportunity, Responsibility, Excellence