News@Com Winter 2007

The News Magazine of Comberton Village College

A Leading Edge Partnership School

POINTING THE WAY FORWARD

ISSUE 19, WINTEr 2007

No resting on laurels after outstanding Ofsted report

The highest possible Ofsted inspection outcome for the college was both a great encouragement and a key pointer for the future.

On 9 October, the school received a so-called ‘Reduced Tariff Inspection’ (RTI). It was the lightest touch inspection that exists, deemed appropriate given the school’s track record.

Two inspectors inspected the school for one day and gave feedback at the end of the day. It marks a significant shift in the inspection system that places the onus on schools to have full and rigorous self-review procedures.

The purpose of the inspection is to test the school’s own judgement and to seek confirmation of the basis of the judgements.

The only disagreement that the inspectors had with the school was to insist that the two areas where the school graded itself as ‘good’ should properly be graded as ‘outstanding’. hence all 26 areas that are graded in an inspection were deemed to be ‘outstanding’: a very unusual and extremely encouraging result.

Clearly, everyone at the college was delighted with the outcome and the kind words written, such as the quoted parent who stated that Comberton Village College ‘… is what one would like all state schools to be’. however, it was also helpful in identifying how the school can and should move forward from here. everyone at the school is keen to engage with this agenda.

We have no intention of resting on our laurels, but are keen to think how we can improve the educational provision for all students. The action point suggested gave a clear guide for this: ‘Continue to develop new courses and

options, including vocational provision and personalised learning programmes, that meet the individual learning needs, aptitudes and aspirations of all students.’

Through full engagement with this agenda, we can look forward to trying to do better for all our students. That will always be our aim.

Stephen Munday, Principal

20-page Ofsted Special Edition

CAVING AND MATHS REVISION: A weekend away for a group of Year 11 boys was one of the enrichment opportunities highly praised

by Ofsted inspectors. l Full story — Page 3

2

Performing abroad

TWeNTY- TWO pupils and three members of staff spent five days in Germany last month as part of Comberton’s first music exchange with Modellschule, from Bad hersfeld near Frankfurt.

One of the 14 international trips available to Comberton pupils this academic year, those involved stayed with families and spent time sight-seeing, experiencing life in a German school and preparing for a joint concert with their hosts. earlier in the year the 60-plus strong German choir spent five days with Comberton pupils, that visit culminating in an unforgettable concert in the Performance hall.

Comberton pupils put in plenty of practice before flying out to Germany, knowing they have a lot to live up to.

Comberton pupils performed a variety of solo and ensemble pieces with groups, including a jazz band, small string and wind ensembles and a vocal group.

New travel plan . . .

MUSIC EXCHANGE: Pupils and staff before the trip to Germany last month.

A NeW scheme to enable all Comberton pupils to experience an international trip during their time at the college has been launched.

Funded from a variety of sources, a Bursary Account has been established to enable pupils who would not otherwise be able to go to apply for financial assistance.

Parents will be asked about their financial status, and the responses pupils give as to why they should go on a particular trip will affect whether they are given a bursary.

Director of Sport, Nigel Carrick, who is overseeing the scheme, said it is important that every pupil has the opportunity to access an international trip during their time at Comberton.

But he stressed that the £10,000 a year account will be used to thoughtfully.

“We are looking for pupils to tell us how

they have made a positive contribution to the school in any sort of way,” he said.

“The amount we can award is not fixed – a group of staff will meet to discuss each application – but we want pupils to realise that they are expected to give something back to Comberton. This could be in the form of form, year or school council reps, by speaking in assemblies about their experience or writing articles for this magazine or the website.

“They will also be expected to outline how they can help meet the cost of the trip they want to go on; for example by saving some of their paper round money each week.

“Our international trips are a highlight for many of the pupils who go on them and we are keen that these opportunities are open to as many of our students as possible.”

‘It (the college) is constantly seeking ways to increase its effectiveness’ — Ofsted

Taking the plunge

IN THE SWIM: Two pupils did a sponsored swim to help fund their trip.

WE are very excited about going to the Beijing Olympics next year, and in order to raise some money for our trip we decided to do a sponsored swim.

We went to Parkside swimming pool on a teacher training day and the swimming pool was relatively quiet — we ended up having a swimming lane to ourselves. We both managed to do 50 lengths of the pool with our friends (Katy Elliot, Ellie King, Samantha Barham and Rebecca West) cheering us on. Together we have raised around £200.

Natalie Beer (9O) and Georgia Hennessy Jackson (9I)

INSIDE THIS SPECIAL ISSUE

l Outdoor Education — 3 l Pupils Influence how they Learn — 3 l Pushing the Boundaries — 4 & 5 l Leading by Example — 4 & 5 l Benefits for everyone — 6 l Sharing Expertise — 6 l Life in the AST Fast Lane — 7 l Teachers make the Grade — 7 l Pupils get to the Heart of Matters — 8 l New Council starts Work — 8

l Let’s make ithis Personal — 9 l Focus on Vocational Studies — 10 & 11 l The Smoothest of Moves — 12 l Fuelling thought and Friendship — 12 l Nurturing Special Talents — 13 l Official Ceremony opens Cabin — 13 l Good Helping of Health — 14 l Many Ways to Help — 15 l Pupils Flock to DoE — 15 l From Writer to Judge — 16

l CVC Team conquers Concorde — 16 l How I became a Space Pirate — 17 l Cooking up a Storm — 16 l Fieldwork brings GCSE subjects to life — 18 l Countdown to World Premiere — 19 l Ski Record — 19 l Champions at the Double — 20 l Sporting Pupils Impress — 20 l On the March — 20

Outdoor education . . .

3

SeVeN Year 11 boys travelled to the wilds of the Peak District for a weekend of serious outdoor pursuits last month.

TEAMWORK: A skill shown by the Year 11 boys in the Peak District.

techniques – how to move safely on rock in preparation for more climbing techniques to follow in the spring. Then the boys set off on an 11km hike which they led themselves..

It was an exhausting, but incredibly memoBoth staff and pupils were delighted on arrivrable trip, and more than anything, the boys’ ing to discover that we had been upgraded ability to work together as a group and support from the basic campeach other, was really ‘The college successfully identiing barn we had impressive! Well fies the needs of the wide range booked (no beds, no done lads! of students and is quick to identiheating, no electriciOne of the boys said: fy initiatives that will strengthen ty, one room) to a “The best bit of the much better barn weekend was the cavits provision and better meet with lights and heating. It was different these needs’ — Ofsted ing! and something I however, we barely got to look at it before we would not have ever done if I hadn’t gone were out on a night navigation activity. The away on the weekend. I also learnt some boys successfully camouflaged themselves maths and did my first ever revision out of from us for 20 minutes, although we were school!” slightly suspicious of the huge number of owls The aim of this project, which has also seen there seemed to be out in the woods that night! the group go hiking in Snowdownia, is for Saturday was packed: we squeezed ourselves pupils to develop self-esteem, improve motivathrough tiny caving challenges with helpful tion and commitment, encourage teamwork, names like the mouse hole! Then we were off build relationships with their peers and staff, weasling – which involved squeezing ourdevelop new skills, and make them feel a part selves through loads more tiny holes – this of the school, and proud of their contribution time above ground. Abseiling, team chalto it. lenges, and more night navigation followed.

Lorna Bateson, On Sunday, we looked at some scrambling Head of Student Leadership

Pupils influence how they learn ‘The elected college council and Pupil Learning Group take their responsibilities seriously and are able to influence the work of the school’ — Ofsted

The Pupil Learning Group was set up in the autumn term of 2006. Its aim is to encourage pupils to think about learning and to allow pupils to have some influence on how they learn at CVC. This is different from the activities of the School Council, where pupils concentrate on issues at Comberton that affect them outside of the classroom.

The group consists of boys and girls from all year groups; they were initially chosen by random selection, but other interested volunteers now attend meetings as well. The group has elected its own chairman and officers. It meets once per half term in lesson time and sometimes during registrations as well.

The Pupil Learning Group looks at some of the ideas studied by the staff’s own Teaching and Learning Group.

This term, both groups are looking at assessment, and the PLG is doing a survey on what sorts of marking and feedback pupils like on their

MEETING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Students on the Pupil Learning Group hold regular meetings. work and find most useful.

Last year, the group worked on a number of areas: it carried out a survey into why some pupils don’t like putting their hands up in the classroom and made proposals to staff on how this might be addressed.

The pupils took part in a trial of new homework resources for the county library service and reported on this to all year groups in assembly.

They are currently helping in a review of the school website.

We have a noticeboard opposite the Common Room. Anyone interested in joining the group should speak to a group member or to Mrs Coates.

Pushing the boundaries

4

The regular timetable was suspended for two days earlier this term as pupils were given the opportunity to expand their knowledge in various subjects in a different way.

A range of exciting and unusual activities were on offer to the different year groups, providing the kind of enrichment opportunities that so impressed Ofsted inspectors.

Year 7 spent one day working in groups on one of three science projects.

They were given a problem to solve, designed experiments, collected data, analysed it and produced a poster report of their findings. A group from 7M won the overall poster competition.

On the other day, Year 7 focussed on sport with kabaddi, trampolining, golf, dance, cricket or judo and table tennis on the programme.

Year 8 took part in Tai Chi, Capoeira, hockey (in Spanish), Spanish ICT and watched the Lion King on DVD in Spanish to enhance their language learning within the curriculum. Then on the other day they went with the geography department to Walton-on-the-Naze.

Year 9’s range of DT activities included Ready Steady Cook! where groups

worked to design a dish to be sold as a cooked-chill product from a range of ingredients. They also used CAD to design the packaging. In addition they designed wind-powered vehicles, with a competition to see which went furthest, and paper rockets, which were launched on the back field.

Then in maths they looked at two of the four activities, which were Win Nim involving aspects of mathematics known as Game Theory; Springfield Maths where Pupils explored how Bart's maths book, homer's dartboard etc might look if the digits 8 and 9 did not exist; Golf Ball Packaging: A supermarket has asked for help in creating the perfect Christmas Present for golfers. Pupils needed to design and make packaging for 4 golf balls. As well as maths there was scope for creativity and Geometrical Art: During the afternoon the pupils transferred their own design to big boards, several of which now adorn the walls of the maths corridor.

Pupils in KS4 also took part in activities to extend their learning, while keeping their GCSes firmly in mind.

Their activities included the Arts, Science and english doing tasks that give them coursework marks.

‘An exceptional range of enrichment opportunities means that students are able to thrive socially as well as academically’ — Ofsted

Leading by example

SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Tai Chi at Comberton.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLE: For Hannah Powell.

‘Students are given many opportunities to assume responsibility and to develop their leadership skills within and beyond the college community’ — Ofsted

IT hAS been a busy term for the Student Leaders at Comberton Village College, as they fully take on the roles they gained in the Spring.

Prefects have helped organise Race Nights, the sale of poppies round school, run form rep meetings, and interviewed potential staff.

Student Leaders have been working on the school production, Academy of Death, developing our environmental work, and supporting the new Year 7.

There have been two big developments this term: one is our new cohort of Cabin Student Leaders, who are working to support the pupils with Asperger’s who are members of the Cabin; and the second is that Ms Powell has come on board to support Miss Bateson with the development of student leadership at Comberton.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: A wind-powered vehicle.

Miss Bateson said: “hopefully, under her hugely expert guidance, the students will go from strength to strength!”

Ms Powell added: “I have recently been asked to work with Miss Bateson to develop CVC's opportunities for Student Leadership even further and I am very excited about this new challenge.

“We were delighted by the positive response from Year 11 on hearing of the opportunity to work as Cabin Leaders and by the excellent standard of the application letters.

“Looking to the future, we are already finalising the process for appointing next year's Student Leaders as well as the Prefect team. More details will be given to Year 10 soon, so look out for this!”

Walton trip ‘a great day out’

YeAR 8 went to Walton-on-the-Naze as part of their programme for Curriculum extension Days, with half the year going one day and the other half the next.

We started off going to the tower and then set off to walk along the coast to the Naze.

Along the way we did many activities such as beach material surveys, field sketches and a groyne height survey before stopping for a wellearned lunch in the Naze, which lived up to its LEAN ON ME: Pupils at work on Walton beach. reputation of being beautiful and a great habitat

Thumbs up for the Humanities option

WE did some really awesome activities during Humanities Week, when we went to a site near Oxford for part of the time and also had day trips to Cambridge.

This was part of Activities Week for Years 8 and 9 and it was fantastic.

The activities included Jacob’s Ladder, high wire course and the 3G force giant swing, which was the best there.

Miss Hutchinson went on it with a boy called Will and when the swing dropped Miss Hutchinson screamed so loudly she nearly deafened him.

One other really cool activity was the giant zip wire, which was excellent.

With all the activity, we had to cool off so we also went to an outdoor pool before coming home.

The next day we went into Cambridge and to the Buddhist centre, learning facts about Buddhism and we also tried to meditate.

We went back into Cambridge again the following day and went punting on the River Cam, which was really good. We were also allowed to go shopping.

Altogether we had an excellent week and we would definitely recommend this choice for Activities Week.

Charlie McLaughlin and Parisa Parmar (9C)

CENTRE ROLE: The Year 11 pupils who help in The Centre

5

for wildlife.

We discussed what this land was used for and who would come here before setting off back to the Tower, where we did our final activity – estimating erosion dates.

We evaluated our findings and checked out the shop before heading home. This trip was a great day out and a great educational experience.

Jack Gale, Teddy Elbourn, ruby Breward and Freddie Hedges (8M) ROPED AND

READY: Pupils

wait for their

turn on the high wire course.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN: Pupils tackle Jacob’s Ladder during Activities Week.

Key skills to help WHEN we were chosen as Year 7 Centre Leaders we spent a whole day in The Centre on a training course learning how to help and support the new year 7s. This included counselling skills and other important skills.

We have got to know our forms, learning the pupils’ names and their personalities.

This also involved us coming into school while we were on our summer holidays.

Now we go and see our forms every Wednesday and help

them with any problems that they have and to get to know them better.

What have we learnt by being Year 7 Centre Leaders?

"I've learnt that I need to be more responsible, and more caring."

"I've learnt how to be more caring to others and helpful."

"I've learnt to be more responsible."

Leanne Gillett (11O), Lucy Dean (11C) and Siobhan Nair (11O)

Benefits for everyone 6

COMBeRTON’S Training School work continues to make a major contribution to school life in a number of different ways.

There are a significant number of projects currently under way which aim to share good practice and encourage staff development.

There is a flourishing Teaching and Learning Research Network with Chesterton School, Saffron Walden County high School and King edward’s School, Chelmsford.

Staff share their reflections on good practice and other research and the group is holding their third bi-annual conference in Chelmsford next month.

Work with Cambridge University is currently focussing on Dialogic Teaching (questioning in the classroom) and we are exploring ways of encouraging more Masters level work in schools using the Questioning project as a pilot.

With the Teaching Development Agency, work is on-going to look at ways to develop more effective Assessment for Learning, while Comberton is involved with the Cambridge Consortium in a Sharing Good Practice project. eventually there will be five separate projects on the go, three of which will involve Masterclasses, Coaching and Peer Observation and School Research using a new research-dedicated website.

Finally, in another collaboration with Saffron Walden, those on our Graduate Training Programme are being encouraged to undertake research while training to develop their own professional learning.

‘Strong partnerships at local, county, national and even international levels make a very positive contribution to the college’s development and the outcomes for students’ — Ofsted

Sharing expertise

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP: CVC Head of Drama Mike Sharpe with Harbour pupils.

SPeCIALIST teachers in a range of subjects are working in partnership with The harbour School at Wilburton.

As part of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Leading edge partnership work, which was praised in the recent Ofsted report, pupils at the harbour, a 914 all boys school, are taught by Comberton teachers in Pe, DT, Drama, MFL and english.

Comberton Deputy Principal and AST, Mary Martin, who is overseeing the project, said: “It’s very different who know they want to take up athletics.

THE Cambourne Community Athletics Club has over there to life here at Comberton gone from strength to strength.

Comberton-based Femi Akinsanya, who runs the and we are trying to adjust while A six-week pilot was so successful the club has club, said: “The great thing about athletics is that it using and sharing our good practice in become permanent. helps children develop skills that are required in all another context.”

The club is a partnership between the South Cambs sports — agility, balance and co-ordination. These She is teaching english and this term School Sports Partnership, which includes are key elements to all activities and are part of the has worked on a joint project between Comberton and its feeder primary schools, South KS3 pupils at the harbour and PE national curriculum.”

Cambs District Council and Cambridge and Comberton to produce a film on In the winter the club meets at Monkfield Park Coleridge Athletics Club.

Peace in time for Christmas.

Primary School on Mondays from 4.00-5.00pm.

The club aims to introduce children from aged seven For more information, contact Femi on 07801 978484 In MFL, another AST, Director of to athletics and then offer them progression to C&C Languages College Rachel hawkes, or South Cambs Partnership Development Manager when they are 11. has been using CVC resources to However, anybody is welcome to join, not just those Claire McDonnell at CVC. teach Spanish, while in Drama, Mike Sharpe, also an AST, has a number of projects on the go. his work has included basic drama A JOINT initiative between Comberton, CABMAG and South skills with Year 6, Macbeth with Year Cambridgeshire District Council has been so successful that it is 9 and some classes in anger managebeing rolled out in two other secondary schools. ment.

Mums’ and Daughters’ Personal Safety and Self Defence sessions Sean Pollock, a Pe AST, works with will be held at Melbourn and Bassingbourn village colleges after the virtually every pupil at the school, inaugural session was set up by healthy Lifestyles Mentor Amy while Mike Bull uses his engineering Connell, who is employed to work at Comberton and its feeder pribackground to teach a variety of skills for KS3 DT project work. mary schools by CABMAG (the Comberton, Bassingbourn, “An example project this term was the Melbourn and Gamlingay extended Schools locality partnership), Steady hand Game, which some Ten pairs of mums and daughters attended the course at Comberton, pupils may remember from a few which proved an excellent fun learning environment. years back,” he said. “Although they The sessions, funded by South Cambs District Council, included theare somewhat lively, they enjoy pracory and practical work on personal safety, attack situations, identify- LEARNING TOGETHER: At the mums’ tical work and most pupils took home ing risks of attack and physical defence situations. and daughters’ self-defence sessions. a completed game.”

Athletics club becomes permanent

Class is a big success

Life in the AST fast lane 7

‘The staff, 13 of whom are advanced skills teachers, are the college’s greatest resource; they provide outstanding teaching; excellent care, guidance and support for students; and are outwardlooking in seeking improvement and in the wider contribution that they make through the college’s many different partnerships’ — Ofsted

Becoming an AST (AST) is frenetic, thought-provoking LIFe as an Advanced Skills Teacher

is why I also get involved in some health-promoting work here at Comberton.

Finally, in addition to all this I teach here at I AM the latest teacher at CVC to qualify as an and extremely rewarding.

Comberton. This year I am teaching an amazing Advanced Skills Teacher, bringing the grand My AST status is linked to Comberton’s sports group of sports leaders in Year 11 who, next total to 13. To achieve the status you have to go specialism so I spend quite a lot term, will go out into the local prithrough a rigorous assessment. of time working in our primary mary schools to deliver Pe lessons This involves an assessor observing lessons, inter- schools delivering Pe lessons themselves. viewing pupil, parent and colleague panels, and alongside primary teachers.

As one of the team of ASTs who scrutinising the I also organise the Year 6 athlethave the privilege of working documentary ics festival, Year 5 swimming closely with our primary schools, evidence you gala, annual dance share and lots it is great to see our KS4 pupils provide to supof other events where children going back to their primaries and port excellence from our primary schools come helping the children there. in six categories: to the college to get a flavour of As you can see from all this, life results; subject sport and Pe here. is never dull! knowledge; I also work with our Partnership For example, on a Week A planning; teachDevelopment Manager, Claire Monday I taught a year 7 Pe ing & managMcDonnell, supporting Pe across group (very talented bunch), my ing; assessment NEWEST AST: MFL teacher the wider school sports partnerYear 11 sports leaders and a Year Leigh McClelland. & evaluation; ship. This means that I go even 1 gymnastics lesson at Bourn advice & support. further afield to schools across Primary School. I also coach the Being an AST means that you have designated VARIED ROLE: For AST the South Cambs area, supporting year 7 hockey team. time on a weekly basis to support other teachers the delivery of Pe and sport.

Ally Brennan.

Sometimes I do forget where I am both in your own and in other schools by deliver- In addition, I manage the CABgoing and meet myself coming back, and for ing training, facilitating collaboration and shar- MAG extended schools project, working with the some reason I have developed the nickname ing good practice. healthy Lifestyle Mentors to develop extended ‘Dizzy’ in the Pe department, but I blame the It’s wonderful to share with and learn from every provision in Comberton, Bassingbourn, Melbourn job! And, honestly, I wouldn’t change it for the teacher and school I have the opportunity to and Gamlingay. world. work with.

Leigh McClelland This project has a healthy lifestyles focus, which Ally Brennan

Teachers make the grade

CVC ARe proud to announce recent research awards — all from Cambridge University.

We try to encourage staff in general to reflect on their practice in order to improve Teaching & Learning in the classroom; this reflection can occur in informal ways involving dialogue about understanding with pupils in the lessons or more formally using questionnaires, pupil interviews, observations, focus groups, etc. Staff who engage in formal research take this reflection some steps further and make it systematic and examine their findings against known literature and practice.

This encourages a theoretically grounded but dynamic and critical approach to "what works" in Teaching & Learning and allows staff to articulate this knowledge internally and beyond our shores through professional networks. We have a new current "crop" of seven staff pursuing further

degrees and hope to have more in the future. english teacher Georgie horrell is now Dr horrell after completing her PhD, researching Southern African literature.

The other four all have Med degrees after work in a variety of areas.

Another english teacher, Claire Salmon, made 'A critical study of top-set Year 10 boys: teaching and learning about Original Writing in the context of a single-sex class' to understand how the boys' learned, worked and responded to various teaching styles and each other in the classroom. head of Geography, Lorna holmes, investigated the possible transfer of thinking skills across three subject areas - Geography, Pe and Spanish.

"I wanted to see if students found it possible to transfer skills, what the barriers were, what could facilitate transfer and finally if it helped enhance

geographic understanding," she said.

Re teacher Louisa hutchinson's thesis was entitled 'Understanding the pupil- teacher relationship in a year 10 Philosophy and ethics class: the moral dimension of teaching and learning'.

The focus of the study was care and empathy and the appropriateness of caring for one's pupils and the different role of the teacher.

Rebecca Gale, who teaches science, looked at the Attitudes and Practices of Cigarette Smoking Among Students in one Secondary School.'

"Based on findings from this research and the literature review of the field of adolescent smoking I put forward a list of recommendations to the SLG of possible strategies that could be used with the aim of reducing the level of adolescent smoking among our students,” she explained.

Third Annual Principal’’s Ball

Saturday, March 1, 2008, The Performance Hall, Comberton Leisure Dancing to the fabulous Breeze Band Tickets on sale from January 2008 raising money for a specially-adapted minibus

Pupils get to the heart of matters 8

CITIzeNShIP is delivered across the curriculum at Comberton, but every year there are five Personal Development Conference Days.

‘(Students’) Personal development, including social, moral, spiritual and cultural development, is outstanding’ — Ofsted

issues around self-esteem and the importance of maintaining positive relationships with others.

An episode of The Simpsons formed an important stimulus for discussion along with popular psychological theories about the needs of human beings.

Year 9 used an exciting new resource, L8R, to reflect on the nature of healthy relationships and how they can look after themselves, emotionally and physically, as their personal relationships change in the future.

It was certainly a busy and interesting day, not to mention the excitement which was generated by the School Council elections. Congratulations to those who were elected and well done to all the candidates. Many thanks, also, to previous members of the Council; they can be very proud of their achievements.

Becky Lewis, Personal Development Co-Ordinator

These days provide us with an opportunity to examine an issue in depth and to work with many members of the community.

The second PD day of the academic year was held last month.

The focus for Year 10 was government and democracy. In the morning pupils took part in a series of workshops, which encouraged them to examine the reasons for using their vote in the future and to identify the key views of the main political parties.

Pupils examined Jamie Oliver’s ‘Feed Me Better’ campaign as an example of how people can influence public opinion and challenge the status quo.

In the afternoon pupils were given the opportunity to ask their own questions and express their own views in our annual Question Time event.

We were very fortunate to be joined by Mr Andrew Lansley MP (Conservative), Mr David howarth MP (Liberal Democrat) and Daniel zeichner, the Cambridgeshire Parliamentary Spokesperson for the Labour Party.

The panel received some challenging questions from the year group; hot topics included climate change, the voting age and questions about the services for young people in the local area.

Year 8 followed a similar topic as they participated in parliamentary style debates, made their own decisions on public spending and thought about their views on the monarchy.

Year 11 continued to prepare for life beyond CVC as they identified top tips for interview situations and practised their own presentation skills. They also received key information about financial services and developed key skills, such as reading bank statements and writing cheques.

The BBC Spendaholics programme was used as a stimulus for discussion about attitudes towards money and spending.

THE POLITICS GAME: Year 10 pupils meet (from left) David Howarth MP, Years 7 and 9 followed personal and social aspects of the proAndrew Lansley MP and Daniel Zeichner. gramme. Now in their second half -term, Year 7 thought about

New council start work COMBERTON’S new School Council are hard at work following elections during last month’s PD Day. Led by the Head Boy and Head Girl, the council comprises two representatives of each year group, a boy and a girl.

As members of the School Council, these pupils will be involved in a variety of activities.

They will be consulted on issues which arise throughout the year, such as new developments and systems within the school.

‘COMMIT TO GET FIT’

GETTING TOGETHER: Comberton’s new school council.

We can help you!

2008 is YOUR year!

Achieve the results YOU want!

Please call us on (01223) 264444, visit www.combertonleisure.com or call in at Comberton Leisure, West St, Comberton

They will also meet weekly to discuss current issues and the whole school discussion topic.

During this half-term all year groups have been looking at the issue of healthy lifestyles.

Each Year Council is making a series of recommendations on such issues as healthy eating, physical activity and sources of information and support. The School Council will collate these ideas and take a set of proposals to Senior Management in the new year.

To help you get started, we’ve cut the price of our joining fee - it’s FREE. Offer starts on January 2nd 2008.

See you soon!

‘What the school should do to improve further . . . continue to develop new courses and options, including vocational provision and personalised learning programmes, that meet the individual learning needs, aptitudes and aspirations of all students’ — Ofsted

Let’s make this personal 9

'PeRSONALISeD Learning' has been a buzz phrase in education for a number of years now.

Doing what’s best for each pupil INDIVIDUAL NEEDS: A pupil follows the Entry Level Science qualification in the Centre.

At CVC, we've always been committed to offering the best possible curriculum to every child and this means offering as many opportunities for choice as possible.

One of the most important ways we do this is through our options process in Year 9.

Unlike most secondary schools, we do not insist that pupils select one subject each from a set of option 'blocks'.

Instead, we invite students to choose from the fullest range of subjects we can provide, and Deputy Principal Peter Law has the unenviable task of trying to sort these into a viable timetable.

We're currently investigating how to further broaden this range of choice by including more vocational courses and we're collaborating with nearby schools and colleges in order to be able to offer the widest possible range of courses when the government's new Diplomas come on line.

Further to this choice for everyone at the end of Key Stage 3, the college also tries hard to meet the needs of particular stuCENTRE OF ATTENTION: The Centre runs 10 different groups to help meet the individual literacy needs of pupils.

WHEN some pupils reach Year 10 and 11, the traditional GCSE model is not suitable for them and does not meet their learning needs.

To cater for these pupils, the Centre may be involved in running an individual programme for the pupil, often delivered by a highly qualified Teaching Assistant.

For example, in Year 10 at the moment, a pupil is studying for his Entry Level Science qualification in the Centre, rather than attending science lessons.

This is delivered by TAs, who have attended the exam board training for the course. It involves them in working individually with the pupil, doing practical and theory tasks that are very much related to real-life situations.

Another pupil in Year 11 has already achieved her Bronze and Silver entry level science qualifications and is working towards her Gold award.

The TAs report that working in this way allows the pupil to work at a suitable speed and on appropriate tasks, leading to a sense of achievement, the development of independent learning skills and much greater retention of information over a period of time.

The pupils themselves report that they enjoy the work, especially the experiments and really feel that they are learning well in this way.

We can also make great use of different learning environments, such as the school fields, and engage in long-term projects such as growing plants.

A classroom isn’t the best learning environment for everyone!

Irayna Owen

dents in very many ways.

We are an Ambassador School for Gifted and Talented pupils and offer a range of AS level courses to extend very able pupils.

Our Specialisms in Sport and Languages offer a host of opportunities for pupils to extend their skills and knowledge outside of the classroom.

Other students find the boundaries of school constricting by the time they reach Year 10 and appreciate the opportunity to go out on extended work experience; some may begin an apprenticeship early.

Study support groups operate in Years 9, 10 and 11, where pupils can be offered individualised guidance with their studies.

A very exciting current development in some departments is the whole realm of on-line study where pupils can complete units of work at their own rate. These developing technologies are perhaps the mechanism that will enable us to personalise the curriculum most radically for everyone in the future.

Claire Coates, Deputy Principal

Meeting individual needs

IN order to cope successfully with the demands of the secondary curriculum some pupils need a more personalised approach to literacy development. early in Year 7 all pupils are assessed in reading, spelling and writing and information from primary school is also used to build up a profile of pupil needs.

Some pupils are then individually interviewed by the teaching staff in the Centre, and an individual support programme offered where needed.

This may be inclusion in a spelling club, or extra support with reading, the support of a mentor once a week to help solve issues and improve organisation or a weekly lesson with a Learning Support Teacher in a small group.

Currently we have around 10 such groups running in the Centre meeting the individual needs of Year 7 and 8 pupils. each pupil has their own learning plan and works towards their own objectives, designed to improve their reading, spelling and writing skills and to raise their confidence in tackling work in all subjects.

10

VOCATIONAL STUDIES

Full steam ahead for BTECs

‘The Key Stage 4 curriculum provides suitable options for students of all abilities, including work-related learning and voacational courses. Nonetheless, the college recognises the need to develop a wider range of courses and options to better meet the individual needs of students’ — Ofsted

FOLLOWING a BTeC programme is an exciting way to study.

It gives pupils the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding that they will need in the world of work.

BTeC courses are very different to traditional GCSes as they put the pupil in charge of their own learning; they are practical in nature and there are no exams!

At Comberton this year we are offering three BTeC First Diploma courses, which are Level 2 qualifications, equivalent to four GCSe grades A*-C. All of them consist of six units of study, each of which is assessed through one or more assignments that pupils complete as the course progresses. For example, in Business pupils have already successfully completed the four assignments in Unit 1, and will by now know what they achieved for it. Three units are core knowledge needed for that work context, the other three are

All fired up for fitness . . .

STUDeNTS have approached the new BTeC Sport (exercise and Fitness) course with a new lease of energy.

They are excited about being the first cohort to go through the course. The enthusiasm ensures all lessons have a buzz of excitement to them, as pupils are keen to develop their knowledge of different sports.

This term they have been preparing for primary visits as sports leaders and will also look at obtaining various refereeing and sporting qualifications.

The lessons will take on a more practical nature next term and in the terms that follow.

Timetable planning allows pupils on the BTeC exercise and Fitness course to have one Pe lesson every day of the week.

more specialist units which staff have selected to best suit their pupils.

As the course is based on continual, individual assignments, pupils need to become more independent learners. We don’t stand over the pupils all the time, checking what they are doing; we support pupils to become more mature and independent, more self-reliant and organised. Some find this easier than others, but hopefully everyone will feel the benefit – all the feedback from future employers is that these are key attributes that they are looking for when recruiting staff.

The final aspect of the course is getting people in from work places to talk to pupils, and getting pupils out into the work environment to conduct interviews, take tours and learn about their subject in the work context. Pupils’ work experience at the end of Year 10 will also be focused this year on the vocational subjects they are taking,

and places are already being sought by staff and pupils as I write!

We have already started to build up links with local (and some national) companies, but we are very keen to build up more. If you work for, or indeed run, a local business that would be keen to build a relationship with us and our pupils – at whatever level – please do not hesitate to get in touch with me through the college. Whether it is in the area of business, sport, design or catering, we are keen to hear from you, and to explore how our pupils can learn from your expertise, and how our motivated, keen pupils can contribute to your business.

Lorna Bateson Director of Vocational Studies

PUT IT ON A POSTER: Business pupils present some of their findings.

The basics of business

THERE are 33 pupils studying BTEC Business this year, and you couldn’t ask for a more committed, interested group of pupils.

Our first core unit has involved looking at the basics of business, and pupils have been keen to share stories of their parents’, uncles’, aunts’ or friends’ businesses – everything from plumbing to consultants.

There has been regular e-mail contact between pupils and Dr Bateson, Ms Bateson’s dad, who runs a big international company, and visitors to our lessons to share their experiences have included: Ms Julie on how the administration area supports the school; Ms Powell on the role of the HR team; Mr Cray talking about his experience working as CFO of a big multinational, and Mr Munday on how to write objectives and targets, and how to then staff a large school most effectively to meet those targets.

Pupils have then taken all this knowledge and written learning resources, posters, and presentations, all of the highest quality. In the New Year the groups will look in greater detail at the financial principles of business.

Phillip Evans, the Deputy Principal in charge of the 14-19 Curriculum and a BTEC Business teacher, said: “I’m really pleased to be involved in the teaching of BTEC Business and am hugely impressed with the commitment and enthusiasm of the students in both Year 10 groups.

“We’ve all enjoyed the emphasis on the practical learning styles that reflect business practice – so plenty of presentations, teamwork, and research alongside the acquisition of knowledge.

“So, if you’ve ever wondered how a franchise like Burger King operates, or what the difference is between a ‘plc’ and a ‘Ltd’ company – just ask a BTEC Business student!”

BTEC BUSINESS BTEC ArT & DESIGN BTEC SPOrT

A Specialism of C om be rt on Vi l l a g e College

11

Art in the real world

BTeC Art and Design is an exciting course for lovers of painting, drawing and making.

Look out for future projects around school such as a “live” architecture project and a Fashion Show at the end of the year.

The two groups lost no time in becoming acquainted with the expectations of the new course – they started by getting plastered and then spent several lessons getting to grips with a load of rubbish!

BTeC is about vocational education. That means that learning is very much linked to the real world of jobs and skills.

Projects are based, wherever possible, on live briefs. In this case, students grappled with the 3D ideas of form and structure in order to design an entry for Star Radio’s Re-cycled Sculpture Challenge.

This has meant working with clay, plaster and wire; learning how to carve stone and thinking up innovative ways of combining “rubbish” to create art.

For one double lesson a week pupils have been looking at Urban Art as a theme for their work.

We have looked at the artist Jamie hewlett, who draws and animates the visuals for the band Gorillaz.

Pupils have learnt his techniques and succeeded in achieving some great work in their sketchbooks.

We then moved on to spray can art and explored the techniques of this for a few weeks.

Nicola Powys & Greg Dean, course tutors

URBAN GORILLAZ: Pupils’ work (right and below) and (above, left), the work that inspired it.

RECYCLING: Pupils create sculptures from ‘rubbish’ as part of their coursework and for a competition.

Artist’s life is hard work

TWENTY BTEC Art and Design students visited Andy Tanser’s studio at Wysing Arts, Bourn, to find out about stone carving as part of their Sculpture Assignment.

Although very cold, the sun shone and the students were treated to a slice of an artist’s life, which, most agreed, was much harder work than they thought!

Wrapped up in assorted old clothes, the students chipped away at lumps of sandstone with huge mallets. They learned that Andy trained with Rattee and Kett – but had to make coffee for two years before they would allow him to hold a chisel!

He progressed, however, and is now a Master Carver with commissions ranging from Westminster Abbey to portrait work in New York.

All in all, a valuable experience for our budding artists and designers – and despite numb fingers, several clamoured to “come back next week” as they loaded their fledgling sculptures into the minibus.

The smoothest of moves for pupils 12

ALMOST every student at CVC – and certainly those who came up from one of the Comberton feeder primary schools – will understand why the inspectors thought transition arrangements are so good.

Over the past years, the number of events, visits and learning activities that take place between primary schools and the college has grown into an enormous programme.

As soon as one Year 11 cohort has left in May, the relevant head of Year directs all her time and energies towards making sure that the new Year 7 has a smooth induction.

Key events like the Athletics Festival and Science Challenge, as well as the all-important New Intake Day and information evening, help to give the new pupils a taste of college life before they arrive in September.

Throughout the year many of our Advanced Skills Teachers visit the primary schools, teaching classes to Year 6 in a range of subjects and working with the primary staff to ensure that the pupils’ learning between Years 6 and 7 dovetails neatly.

Transfer between primary and secondary school can be an anxious time but CVC tries very hard to make this as smooth as possible for new students. One parent wrote last year, ‘I have been very impressed by the amount of thought and effort that is put into the transfer process. You have set a very BREAKING THE ICE: The annual Primary high standard to live up to.’ We’re glad the Inspector thought so too!

Claire Coates, Deputy Principal Schools’ Athletics Festival is about much more than a day of sport.

‘Excellent transition arrangements ensure that pupils make a seamless transfer from primary schools and are able to settle quickly’ — Ofsted

MONEY MATTERS: Pupils hard at work at the Year 6 maths club.

Fuelling thought and friendship

FOR a number of years students identified as gifted and talented in mathematics from many local primary schools have been invited to join our Year 6 maths club.

About 35 students attend sessions at Comberton after school one night a week during the autumn and spring terms where they undertake a range of mathematical activities ranging from developing winning strategies for some number games, to looking at the mathematics behind bungee jumping; from investigating the Konisberg Bridge problem to looking at the mathematics

CVC COMMUNITY EDUCATION

behind the design of flags.

Through the sessions, led by staff from the maths department at Comberton, students are encouraged to articulate their mathematical thoughts both with students from their own primary school and with students from others.

Feedback from students and parents has shown that the students arrive at Comberton excited about the mathematics that lies before them and excited about renewing friendships that started at the club.

Helping hands to step up

BRENDA Taylor and Pat Gifford are the brains and brawn behind much of the hard work that goes into organising the transfer process between Comberton Village College and the sixth form institutions (Hills Road, Long Road and Cambridge Regional College).

The recent 16+ evening (which was so well attended by year 11s and their parents/carers) was organised by Mrs Taylor and Mrs Gifford.

Both ladies co-ordinate all the application forms and entry paperwork required by the sixth form colleges and help ensure that things run smoothly.

Mrs Taylor also helps organise the careers input on the PD days and Mrs Gifford organises all the connexions appointments. So if you're in Year 11 make sure that next time you see either of these ladies you say an emormous thank you.

ACTIVITIES FOr YOUNG PEOPLE January 2008

YOUTH CLUBS Comberton Youth Club Mon 7.30 – 9.30 pm Cambourne Café Tues 3.30 – 6.00 pm Cambourne Senior Youth Club Thurs 7.00 – 9.00 pm

Tel: 01223 264721 Email: commed@comberton.cambs.sch.uk, www.commed.combertonvc.org

AFTEr SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Art Club Mon 3.00 – 4.00 pm Cooking Up a Storm Mon 3.15 – 4.45 pm Fencing Tues 3.00 – 4.15 pm First Aid Tues 3.00 – 5.00 pm Pottery Weds 3.00 – 4.30 pm Red X Babysitting Tues 3.00 – 4.30 pm Yogavate Mon 3.00 – 4.00 pm

Nurturing special talents

13

‘The college’s strongly inclusive approach ensures that students of all abilities, including those with special educational needs, make outstanding progress’ — Ofsted

COMBeRTON has been working consistently at the leading edge of Gifted and Talented education for several years now.

The school has a proud tradition of ensuring that provision for every student in its care offers challenges designed to meet their needs, including, at the very highest levels, the Gifted and Talented individual.

This commitment has been reflected, of course, in some impressive exam results, with an exceptional number of passes at the top grades of A* and A. Work begins well before students arrive at CVC, however, with staff working closely with primary school colleagues to identify students with exceptional ability – and potential – in particular areas.

At the earliest opportunity students are also given the chance to enrol with the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY), enabling them to access a number of online and out-of-school opportunities.

Staff then continue to use a variety of evidence sources to review progress at CVC and seek routinely to ensure that students are catered for

LEADING LIGHTS: Hannah Dickens (left) and Anna Fitzmaurice with Principal Stephen Munday.

Top marks for star duo

appropriately in their daily lessons. For our gifted and talented students this often means TWO students, Hannah Dickens and Anna promoting a particular spirit of enquiry Fitzmaurice, achieved a remarkable treble this through higher order thinking tasks and summer. skills-based activities.

Both girls were entered for the three separate AS In terms of the curriculum it means offering level 3 courses that are available at the school: AS opportunities for students to work beyond their phase: through the Free Standing Maths Critical Thinking, AS Economics and the Free Standing Maths Qualification.

Qualification, for example, or AS Level Just attempting all three qualifications in addition courses in economics and Critical Thinking, to their GCSEs was no mean feat. The fact that or even through accelerated studies in some subjects. At other times it can mean respond- both girls then achieved A grades in all three ing flexibly to a student’s needs by providing courses was nothing short of remarkable. Many congratulations to both students for such an outan individualised timetable to help nurture a standing achievement. particular talent.

The school also takes seriously its commitevents and one-off competitions. ment to the pastoral care of such students, recogPerhaps unsurprisingly then, CVC has found nising the particular pressures that they may face itself held up as a model for excellent practice in and providing individual mentors for talented stuthis field, fulfilling roles in recent years for the dents to help them balance their commitments.

National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth extra-curricular enrichment opportunities are (as an Ambassador School) and the Specialist plentiful: the number of residential trips offered Schools’ Trust (as a Mentor School) and even in the last academic year totalled 35; and this is neglecting the countless non-residential opportuattracting interest from visiting colleagues from nities provided in the shape of lunchtime and New zealand, Australia and South Korea. after-school clubs, visiting speakers, annual Stephen Leggott, G&T Co-Ordinator

Official ceremony opens Cabin

COMBeRTON’S specialist centre for pupils with Asperger's Syndrome was officially opened this term.

Professor Simon Baron Cohen, the Cambridge A-GRADE: University guru on autism In art for a and Asperger's, performed visuallythe opening ceremony. impaired he welcomed the recognition, through the work of pupil. the centre, of the difficulties children with Asperger's face at school.

FRAN Dignan, a former pupil with a visual impairment, Six students currently PARTY: Stephen Munday and a pupil at the Cabin Opening. achieved an A grade in her GCSe Art examination last attend the Asperger’s summer. Fran’s performance is truly outstanding. Like as part of Local Authority's inclusion initiaCentre, known as The Cabin. It has a maximany students at Comberton who have received support mum capacity of eight pupils. tive. They are head of Centre Peter Allcock throughout their five years, Fran has exceeded all expectaFour members of staff are currently supportand Communication Support Assistants Jo tions. She has gone on to further study at a residential ing the students within the mainstream school RNIB college in Worcester. heesom, Jane Kilby and Gillian hefferland.

No barriers to success

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

l SPORTS FACILITIES l GYM l FITNESS CLASSES l

CONFERENCE ROOMS l EVENTS & FUNCTIONS l CRECHE l CHILDREN’S PARTIES

Please call us on (01223) 264444, visit www.combertonleisure.com or call in at Comberton Leisure, West St, Comberton

Good helping of health 14

‘Students understand the importance of a healthy diet and respond positively to the college’s promotion of healthy lifestyles’ — Ofsted

OUT IN THE

OPEN: Fresh air and exer-

cise for fami-

lies on the

Fun Walks around

Out and about

Cambourne.

NeWCOMeR Amy Connell has a key role in the promotion of healthy lifestyles at Comberton.

She is the healthy Lifestyles Mentor for the Comberton family of schools and works with all the schools and a number of partners to help set up initiatives which can then be sustained within the schools.

A recent initiative was Family Learning Week, which was celebrated by Cambourne schools, The Vine and Monkfield Park, in partnership with the Wildlife Trust and Parent Support Advisor helen Ashcroft, who are both based in the new village.

Two Fun Family Walks around Cambourne were held with Jenny Mackay, from the Wildlife Trust, providing detailed information about the wildlife in the local area. highlights included seeing a green woodpecker, which made a loud laughing call known as a 'yaffle'.

The lakes around Cambourne, countryside views, haws (on the hawthorn bushes), rose hips, crab apples and bryony berries were all spotted, providing evidence of a good year for fruits and berries, which is excellent news for lots of wildlife!

Refreshments were provided afterwards as well as during the walk with blackberries and sloe berries both being tasted from the bushes!

Feedback from the parents included ''good walk, pleasant company and interesting information about the route'' while another parent said that the walk had been a positive experience for their family because ''it is good exercise for me and the kids''.

A PROJeCT to encourage children to develop a healthy lifestyle is about to welcome its fourth intake.

The TeAM (To energise And Motivate) project is run by South Cambridgeshire District Council and the Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust, with support from the Comberton, Bassingbourn, Melbourn and Gamlingay extended Schools Locality (CABMAG).

The 10-week course, which starts next month, is aimed at pupils in Years 3-6 who are concerned about being overweight.

Youngsters take part in confidence-building, nutrition and exercise sessions at Comberton Leisure led by professionals from the child and family nursing team, the community pediatric team and qualified sports coaches.

Parents are given access to the fitness suite at Cb3 while their children are exercising, to enourage all members of the family to become more active and eat healthier food.

Lynne Potter, health and exercise Specialist, said: “We have now run three TeAM courses, involving more than 36 families determined to develop a healthy lifestyle together. The 2007 course was particularly well attended and for the first time we included an orienteering session at Milton Country Park and a martial arts (Tae Kwan Do) session.

“The end of course assessments confirmed that all of the children had improved stamina, increased activity levels and cut down on the time spent watching TV or playing computer games.

“This resulted in a reduced BMI and waist measurements — by up to 5cms.”

SO Following the course the participants TASTY: have gone on to join regular clubs.

Former “The healthy Lifestyle Mentors help pupils join within school to reinforce the healthy Principal lifestyle changes after the course.”

Stephen Participants receive a follow-up Munday assessment after six months and for lunch Lynne was delighted with those in the dinresults. ing hall.

“I found that most families were managing to keep on track demonstrated by futher improvements in stamina and reduced BMI and waist COMBERTON’S lunches are so delicious they are worth measurements,” she said. “One child coming back to school for. started with a waist of 75cms (>98th That was the opinion of a group of teenagers who left centile) reduced to 72cms after 10 Comberton last summer. weeks (>91st centile) then further They took advantage of a training day at Hills Road Sixth reduced at six months to 68cms (>75th centile).

Form College to accept an invitation to lunch with “This is a very significant change as Principal Stephen Munday and Pastoral Secretary waist measurement is a good predicBrenda Taylor. tor of future health and the likelihood Meanwhile Catering Manager Debbie Rogers reported that pupils have adapted well to the Government-ordered of developing heart disease or diabetes. changes in what’s available, particularly at break.

“More importantly the children were Sales of pitta bread have increased signficantly, with enjoying their new activities and if hummous the most popular accompaniment, although they find something they enjoy they many pupils buy them on their own. will stick at it and become healthy Jacket potatoes sales are up to more than 70 per day folactive adults.” lowing the introduction of the jacket potato bar at the Anybody interested in joining the start of term. next TeAM project should contact Baguettes sales are now running at around 120 a day — Lynne Potter on (01954) 212042 for double what were sold this time last year, while pupils are more information. also buying around 120 reduced fat pizzas each day.

In for lunch . . .

CVC Community Education Adult Activities 2008

Please see the website or contact us for a full list of activities in 2008.

Classes include: Sculptural Ceramics (Mon Eve), Sculpting Heads (Weds eve), Computers for Beginners (Mon am or Mon eve), Dreamweaver (Weds Eve), Webpage Design Part 2 (Mon eve), Word Processing & Desktop Publishing (Mon am or Mon eve), Men’s Cookery (Mon eve), Traditional Indian Cookery (Wed eve. 4 wks), Reflexology (Mon eve), Tai-Chi (Mon eve), Yoga (Mon eve), Salsa Beginners and Salsa Intermediate (Wed eve).

Tel: 01223 264721. Email: commed@comberton.cambs.sch.uk www.commed.combertonvc.org

Pupils flock to DoE

IN September, Comberton’s biggest ever Bronze group descended en masse on the Chiltern Hills to do their assessment weekend.

The group was so large that it had to be split in half, with each group in a different campsite on the first night but all 100 pupils and 20 staff and volunteers meeting at one campsite on the second night, before setting off in opposite directions again for the last day. Everyone passed.

We also held our inaugural Presentation Evening last month when all the projects produced by Bronze and Silver participants were on display alongside presentations from all levels of the award, including the Gold group that went to Switzerland in the summer.

Recruitment for the 2008 participants is now under way. Will the next cohort be even bigger?

Leigh Bellis

15

Cash for cancer care

MACMILLAN runs a huge coffee morning each year which is one of the biggest fundraisers in the UK for their Cancer Care fund.

This year’s event took place on Friday September 28 and there were more than 42,000 nationwide. here at Comberton we had a coffee morning too. Year 9 brought in cakes and we sold these as well as some kindly donated by the Wicked Cake Company.

We set up in the dining hall at break and then took the remainder around at lunchtime.

Overall we made about £175 which BEST FOOT FORWARD: Pupils on the we sent off to Macmillan.

DoE bronze assess- I’m sure everyone had a great time. roseanna McMahon (9r) ment weekend

Many ways to help The school has a very strong pastoral system which involves most members of staff in some way.

All students in Years 8-11 receive ILP (Individual Learning Plan) sessions with their tutor at least once a term. This is an opportunity for pupils to discuss their learning, choices and identify any barriers to success.

Lots of students will require some form of extra support while at CVC — exam stress, arguments with friends or troubles at home might mean that they need a little extra help to stay happy and confident at school.

Additionally, specialist counselling, family therapy and one-to-one support with specially trained staff are among the services offered through The Centre, led by Lil Davies Other students might require a different type of support: maybe they are having trouble settling into school, thinking about their choices when they leave Comberton, struggling to organise themselves properly or just need an extra adult to help keep them focussed. In these cases, students might be offered a mentor.

A number of mentoring schemes run successfully at CVC. In Year 11 about 20% of students will be offered a mentor to ensure they reach their true potential and feel supported through what can be a

‘Many (students) are acutely aware of their role as global citizens’ — Ofsted

demanding year.

To help students make crucial choices about what to do after CVC, they are supported by Connexions staff, business mentors, other specialist staff and the school librarian.

All Year 11 students are invited to the 16+ evening to hear about their choices at 16 and to meet members of staff from colleges they may wish to attend.

In March we hold the Apprenticeships and JobSeekers Convention.

This is when students in Years 10 and 11, who are interested in applying for an apprenticeship or job when they leave school, are invited to hear a talk about the process and meet key apprenticeship and job providers from the local labour market.

Two key members of staff who organise these events are Mrs Brenda Taylor and Mrs Pat Gifford. Not only do they help with the arrangements and planning of these two major events, but they also ensure that the enormous amount of paperwork Year 11s generate in applying for courses at 16 is organised and sent to the right place at the right time.

Year 11 have a lot to thank these two members of staff for!

‘The college provides a safe and supportive environment and is attentive to all aspects of students’ health and well-being’ — Ofsted

Year 10 Peer Mentors are students who work with identified Year 7s, who might have found the transition to secondary school stressful — the Year 10s receive a series of four carefully planned sessions to equip them with the skills they need to talk to younger pupils.

There are also other opportunities throughout the school for students to be paired with a mentor and we are really excited that all members of the school community can be involved in mentoring.

Teaching Assistants and support staff have volunteered to work as mentors (after training) to support students of all ages.

The school can feel rightly proud when Ofsted say that we provide an outstanding level of information, advice, guidance or a little extra support when needed.

Antoinette Lyons, Head of Student Guidance THANK YOU VERY MUCH: Brenda Taylor receives a bouquet for all her hard work on the Post-16 Evening.

From writer to judge 16

IN May last year, some pupils from all years were encouraged to enter a national competition for budding young authors.

‘The students’ achievement and their personal development are outstanding’ — Ofsted

NATIONAL JUDGE: Matthew Sawyer’s short story won him a place on a panel to choose the winner of a national fiction prize.

The task was to write a short story, not exceeding 500 words, about time travel. The prize was to be part of the judging panel for the 2007 Booktrust Teenage Prize – an award designed to recognise and celebrate the best contemporary fiction written for teenagers.

With people entering from all over the country and only five places on the panel, the chances of winning were slim. however, I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the five young judges. not the only one to receive a prize.

An unexpected phone call nearing the end of the summer holidays informed The other young judges and I also got awards, namely a silver, star-shaped me that the six shortlisted books were on their way, and I had a little over a paperweight each, as a thank you. Afterwards, we all went around and got month and a half to read them and decide which ones I felt worthy of winour books signed by the authors — I was surprised that Meg Rosoff, author ning the Booktrust Teenage Prize. of ‘Just In Case’, told me to watch out for falling bricks! It made me laugh I was thrilled to be on the panel, even though it was hard work reading all though. the books as well as keeping up with schoolwork.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience which I will never forget. I also hope I managed though, and just before the October half term I took my first of to return next year as part of the judging panel, so fingers crossed! two trips to London to meet up with the other judges and decide on a winYou can read my story, as well as those of the other young judges, at ner. www.bookheads.org On the way there I was very nervous and wondered what the other judges Matthew Sawyer (11r) would be like but, when I arrived, I got on really well with the other four short story winners.

Also there was Angela Wilkinson, a librarian (Chair), Tom Gatti, a jourDuxFORD’S Imperial nalist who writes for The Times, Anthony McGowan, last year’s win- War Museum, home to one of the prototypes of the ning author, and Isabelle ellisCockcroft, a school student and one supersonic airliner Concorde, was the venue of last year’s young judges. for a winning flight by a We took a long time to come to a model of Concorde flown decision — we all had our favourites which we stood by — but by a team of CVC students. in the end, we came out with a win- Douglas Buisson, Chris ner. This was only to be announced Hughes, Michael Longson and Tim Shaw, now in at the award ceremony two weeks Year 10, won the 'Senior' later, so I was sworn to secrecy category of the BMFA/BAe about the whole thing.

Systems Flight Challenge.

The award ceremony was my second trip to London. The building in They had to fly three model aircraft that they question was very grand, with a gold plaque and a security guard at had built — two British Model Flying Association the gate, and I was at first unsure whether we were at the right place. designs and one of their WINNERS: Comberton’s magnificent men and their flying machines.

We went up to the 10th floor, where own design.

Flight time and model score were added together and there was an amazing view over the This third one had to be a scale model of a British the CVC team had a winning total of 1,410 points.

Aerospace aircraft and they chose to build a model of Thames, and we were served All flying took place in the new Airspace building at canapés before the ceremony start- Concorde.

The models were flown in sequence as many times as ed.

Duxford and the team took the opportunity to look Marcus Sedgwick was the winning possible over a 30-minute period to accumulate the inside the full size Concorde that is housed there. longest total flight time. author with his book ‘My The Flight Challenge trophy that they won is now in Swordhand Is Singing’, but he was The appearance of the scale model was also judged. the cabinet in the school reception.

CVC team conquer concorde

I started attending the “Young Actors Company” in midAugust last year.

‘How I became a Space Pirate’

It’s a drama club with an agency attached.

One afternoon in February, we got a phone call to say that, if we wished, I would be put forward for an audition for a part in an exciting new CBeebies music series called Space Pirates. There were two child lead parts, one for a boy and one for a girl.

The series started last month.

So one Thursday, I went to the audition at BBC TV Centre in London. I was one of the first to arrive. As more and more children came in I started to get nervous. Finally there were about 60 boys and girls and we walked over to another building for the audition.

Unfortunately I had to go first. I performed my poem, told a joke and did “my party piece” which was to sing a song called “Fly me to the Moon”.

As I walked out of the door a tall lady gave me a script. She took me back to Mum and asked if we could stay till 6.00. Then she asked me to learn my script. They put us in partners to perform the script and told us they would phone us if they wanted us to return for another audition.

I did get a call to go back and this time TV STAR: Kirsty Rider (right) in there were six girls and six boys. We Space Pirates on CBeebies. had to perform a script in pairs again.

We did this a few times with different partners and then I was asked to come back for yet another audition the next day. This time there were three girls and three boys and six men. who were auditioning for the lead male part.

Again we performed a script in different combinations and after a long day we went home.

A few days later my Dad told me that I had got the part and I was absolutely shocked because I wasn’t expecting it. After the auditions came four costume and wig fittings. I had a costume which looks like it’s made from

Cooking up a storm

THIS term 10 Comberton students have been ‘Cooking up a Storm’ in the new after-school class at 3.00pm on Mondays.

Among the items they have cooked — all using fresh ingredients and avoiding processed foods — are meat balls in tomato sauce, stuffed chicken breasts wrapped in bacon and gingerbread.

The class restarts after Christmas for another six weeks and is open to all years.

Adults have also been busy cooking too as part of the evening class provision, which has included 10 weeks of Men in the Kitchen with top Cambridge chef Hilary Cacchio on Monday evenings and Traditional Indian Cookery with Rama Ram on Wednesday evenings.

Both these classes will also be available again in January, with new recipes.

Please contact the Community Education department for further details of these or other courses on (01223) 264721, e-mail to commed@comberton.cambs.sch.uk or check the website.

17

space parts, a pair of very large space Ugg boots, a red wig and a very interesting hat, complete with a motorised bird on top.

Soon I met the boy I would be working with, a nine-year-old called Connor. We spent almost every moment of the day together. each morning, we would meet at breakfast then spend all day at the studios together until dinner at the hotel, after which we would spend the evening memorising words for the next day. Next day, we’d begin the whole cycle again.

The rehearsals started at the beginning of the summer term and there were two weeks of rehearsals where we’d run through two or three scripts each day.

Then we’d have a block of three weeks of filming where we’d do roughly one script per day.

Then back to rehearsals and then the second block of filming. I prefer filming because you get to do everything for real, using the props on the set and in costume, although it does take a long time to have make-up and hair done.

My hair was pinned up in funny little curls and the make-up lady would put a sock thing over my hair before she put the wig on and stuck it down.

Then she’d put black on my face to make it look dirty!

My studio was two minutes away from the Big Brother house. I never got to go inside, but I did get to see it being built and I met some of the guards.

Altogether, I missed 10 weeks of school and I know you are probably thinking how lucky I was, but I still had to have three hours of tutoring each day and we had to work through half-term and on Bank holidays. Missing school isn’t all fun. Unfortunately, I missed out on art, drama, music and Pe which I enjoy. It also meant I missed all my after school clubs. Most of all I missed my friends, but I tried to see them at weekends as much as possible.

The last day of filming was, of course, the worst day, but it was also the best day and it was great to say that it was finally finished.

On the last day, Connor and I both got to film a small shot and sit in the van (where the director sits and shouts at the stage director to tell us to do stuff).

We got to count down, say “cut” and do other things directors do. It was really fun.

Since the show is a music series, there were lots of guests including some quite well known artists, Jamelia, the Cheeky Girls and McFly. A few months after filming finished, I was called back to do a voice over.

This is where you record some speech that would be used over something like a video or credits playing. It was so cool — just like a radio station with the microphone, the headphones, the TVand the green light that turned on when you had to speak. And then it was time for the show, which has been on at the weekends. It’s been pretty strange seeing myself on television.

Kirsty rider (8C)

‘The students’ achievement and their personal development are outstanding’ — Ofsted

18 ‘The curriculum is broad and balanced and provides a good range of opportunities for students’ — Ofsted

Speakers are up to scratch

COMBeRTON preserved its recent proud record in public speaking and debating with another superb performance in the South Cambridgeshire Under-14 competition.

The Year 8 team of hattie Algar, Peter Sayer and David Snelling secured an excellent third place finish as they argued for the motion ‘Young people should be encouraged to take risks, both in and out of school’.

The competition, organised by the Rotary Club and held this year at St Mary’s School, attracted 11 other teams from schools across Cambridgeshire who discussed a range of topics over the course of the evening.

Despite a very high standard of competition, the CVC team earned a top-three finish and received special praise from the judging panel for their strong ideas and effective use of humour.

This is the sixth consecutive year that a team from CVC has finished in the top three of the competition, which is a fantastic record.

While the Rotary event involves limited entries, CVC students interested in public speaking can now at least look forward to an internal individual competition which will be open to all in the new year.

Fieldwork brings GCSE subjects to life YeAR 11 geographers went to Dorset to conduct fieldwork and collect data.

then boarded a boat which showed us Old harry’s rocks and took us to Poole harbour.

In the evenings we had our write up sessions at the youth hostel and then we could play It was an early start for the three-and-a-half games such as Twister, watch the TV, chat or hour trip to the Isle of Purbeck. sleep.

After arriving in Corfe we walked around the Obviously very few people slept throughout FLANDERS EXPERIENCE: Year 11 historians in village, some people visited the historical the trip for various reasons (like alarm clocks Belgium.

Corfe Castle and witnessed cannons being going off in the early hours of the morning), fired during a demonstration. which resulted in the journey home being After doing our work we headed down the very quiet with the exceptions of the few road to Swanage. snores and the odd scream at the film that we EARLIER this term 70 members of Year 11 and several We went off in our groups to get a taste of were watching. members of staff left Comberton for Belgium on the the area by filling in our coursework and colAll in all the entire trip was very successful GCSE history trip to see the World War One battlefields lecting information from fellow tourists (very and a good laugh, so we would like to thank of Ypres and the Somme. politely!). the staff for taking us and for helping us The Somme was the site of one of the biggest British When we were there the annual folk festival throughout the time we were there. offensives, from July-November 1916. was in full swing and we were treated to the Sam Hack (11B) The first day of the Battle of the Somme saw 60,000 casusight of Morris dancers in alties (around 20,000 deaths) which remains one of the the street with some of worst days in the British Army’s history. the boys trying to join in After a long coach journey, we finally arrived in with the routines (I’ll Belgium, at around mid-afternoon (continental time) and leave it to you to figure went to a museum and the first of many key sites, which out whom). included the Lochnagar crater, made by one of two huge We also visited the mines set off on the morning of the Battle of the Somme. famous Lulworth Cove We also attended the extremely moving “Last Post”, and the surrounding landplayed on the Bugel, at the Menin Gate. marks as we carried on The thing that struck most people was seeing a cemetery with our visitor surveys every five minutes as we drove though Belgium and and sampled the various France, emphasising the number of men that died for delicacies such as local their country. ice creams and homemade fudge.

This was a unique school trip as it was entirely dedicated On our last day we finto remembrance and everyone who went thought it was ished off our work in thoroughly worthwhile. Thank you to the staff who Swanage and had the organised and accompanied the visit. chance to relax (a bit!).

James Davenport (11T) The majority of the group ON THE BEACH: Year 11 geographers at Durdle Door. and Stephen Clarkson (11E)

The reality of WW1

Countdown to Academy of Death world premiere

19

The world premiere of a new musical will take place in Comberton next month.

Academy of Death, written by music teacher Geoff Page, will be performed by a cast of 70 in the auditorium at Comberton Leisure.

Academy of Death is a macabre tale of murder, blackmail, misery, madness and romance, based on the historical events surrounding the notorious Doctor Knox, the edinburgh-based surgeon who was prepared to go to any lengths to source the cadavers he needed to further knowledge of the human anatomy.

Dr Knox's assistant Alfred Fettes (Aaron CohenGold) has fallen in love with the beautiful Isabella (Jenny Bane). he thinks that he can win her love by giving her a dazzling diamond ring; but is the price too high, and what — or rather who — will he have to sacrifice in order to afford it? head of Music Ben Parker said: "This is probably the most inspiring project any school could ever take on. Geoff has presented the College with a brand new show of exceptional quality."

Work on the production, which is led by Mr Page (composer and musical director) and a dedicated team of staff from the school, including Jane Menczer (director) and Claire Salmon (co-director), began in June.

Rehearsals are well under way; the cast are bubbling with enthusiasm, and Academy of Death promises to be a highly entertaining and memorable experience.

One pupil, Verity Algar, of Year 10, said: "It is so fun being part of a new

Record numbers to ski

LIMBERING UP: Cast members from Academy of Death. venture, and the fact that it has never been performed before adds a whole new exciting element. Anyone that sees us, prepare to be freaked out!"

Jo Instone-Brewer, of Year 9, added: "Mr Page's music is very inspiring and very different from many musical styles. I love this musical, it has a brilliant plot."

Academy of Death will run for five performances (Tuesday 29 January — Saturday 2 February 2008) and tickets cost £6-7 (full price), £4-5 (concessions).

To find out more about the show, including audio clips of some of the music, visit the website: www.academyofdeath.com For details of the performances, please email theprincipal@academyofdeath.com or ring (01223) 262503.

The ski and snowboarding season is here again and we are looking forward to going back to St Johann in Italy, with the Development course next month and the Foundation Course in February.

This year the Development Course is a smaller group of advanced skiers, plus Mrs hall and Mr Rigg, and for the first time we are flying to Verona and then transferring to a new hotel, the zum Schachen — both exciting developments.

The Foundation Course is the biggest in Comberton's history with 145 pupils, parents and staff travelling on three coaches at the start of half- term.

The programme of skiing and snowboarding will again culminate in the exciting final-day slalom races while the evenings' entertainments wouldn't be the same without our fancy dress disco, concert and trip to the pizzeria! Many have skied with us before, but we are thrilled to welcome lots of 'first-timers' from Year 8 and 9 into FUN FOR ALL: On Comberton’s our seven beginner ski groups and two snowboarding groups. ski trips to the Italian Alps.

CVC edged out

COMBERTON narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals of the under-16 National Schools Netball Championships County Tournament at Peterborough.

Victory in three of their five games was not quite enough to see them into the last four of the event in Peterborough as they went out on goal difference.

Comberton beat Abbey 7-4, Peterborough High 10-7 and Soham 4-3, but lost to Cambridge rivals Perse 10-3 and Netherhall 9-4.

Charlotte Blows was voted CVC’s player of the tournament.

Comberton: Juliet Gillam, Sinead Thomas, Charlotte Blows, Rebecca Robinson, Jessica Moore, Ayesha Greed, Lydia Foster, Harriet Sewell.

‘An outstanding range of events, trips and extra-curricular activities, including an impressive number of

sporting, musical and drama clubs, complements the curriculum and broadens students’ experiences’ — Ofsted

Champions at the double 20

‘Participation rates in the vast range of extra-curricular activities are impressive, with three-quarters of students attending out-of-school sports clubs’ — Ofsted

COMBeRTON are the county as well as the district schools Year 9 rugby champions.

After their victory in the Cambridge and District Schools Tournament, they followed up by sharing the Cambridgeshire title with Sawtry Village College – for the second year running.

Comberton fielded a strong team in the 10-a-side tournament at hinchingbrooke School, huntingdon, last month and cruised through the pool stage with victories over St Peter’s, huntingdon (35-0), the hosts (255) and Longsands, St Neots (40-0).

The try by hinchingbrooke was the first Comberton had conceded this season and when the teams met again in the semi-final the Cambridge school were again pushed all the way.

It was all square at 15-15 before late tries by harry Mills and Jack Murphy, who also scored the winning try in the District final, took Comberton into the final showdown.

George haworth put Comberton 5-0 up in the final before a lapse of concentration allowed the Sawtry winger to run the length of the pitch to tie the scores at 5-5 – the same as the previous year.

In late October, the District tournament at Shelford, organised by Comberton Director of Pe and Sport Nigel Carrick, attracted 14 teams.

On their way to a 5-0 final win over Bottisham, Comberton won their group stage without their opponents’ scoring, then saw off Cottenham in the semi-finals.

Mr Carrick said: “The rugby was played in a fantastic spirit of fair play and UNBEATEN CHAMPIONS: The Comberton Year 9 squad (above) and sportsmanship. A total of more than 250 pupils were involved. It was a tight competition, which could have been won by any one of eight teams.” (top) preparing to scrum. l Comberton was the only school to field three teams at the Year 7 district tournament and performed impressively. The A team were fifth, the B side won their half of the competition with the C side finishing fifth in the same half. head of Pe Sean Sycamore said: “Overall the results are very good and it was great to see so many COMBERTON are through to the second students representing Comberton in such a competition. We were the only school to travel with three round of the under-15 boys National Schools teams which gave more students an opportunity to experience District tournaments; a trend which I Squash Championship. hope will continue.”

A comprehensive 5-0 win in their second group game ensured the team, which includes one 14-year-old, two 13-year-olds and a 12year-old, are still in the competition. the 750 or so students have given to one another. eARLIeR this term the Pe department ran interThe victory over King Edward VI Grammar I have also been particularly impressed with the form competitions within Year 7, 8 and 9 core School, Chelmsford, followed a walkover effort and commitment displayed by all students lessons. The three year groups played invasion against St Peter’s, Huntingdon. involved. The level of sportsmanship has also games and competed for their forms within their The two-highest scoring teams progress and been outstanding with students clapping one half year group. In addition, the students all comvictories for county under-15 champion Tom another at the ends of each game and throughout pleted a fitness run from Toft church to Symmons, Peter Tasker, Will Harris, Tom all the runs on the finish line.

Comberton church. The idea of both activities is Blair and Will Collett meant Comberton were I would like to take this opportunity to thank all for students to work together as a team to support one of them, regardless of their result against staff who supported the Pe department for all one another in achieving a collective success, Tendring Technical College, Frinton-on-Sea, their hard work across the very busy two weeks, while maintaining a high standard of sportsmanEssex. Comberton’s two reserve players, Alan and to congratulate all students who took part in ship.

Leung and Jack Murphy also won their the competitions. Well done!

As a new head of Department, I have been overSean Sycamore matches 3-0. whelmed by the support and encouragement that

On the march

Sporting pupils impress new PE

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