News@Com Spring 2008

The News Magazine of Comberton Village College

STATUS SECURE A Leading Edge Partnership School

COMBERTON'S recent outstanding Ofsted inspection has had a major impact on its specialist work.

From September 2007, the system for re-designating for specialist school status changed. No longer did it require a new plan to be submitted for approval after a fixed period of time. Rather, it became entirely dependent upon the outcome of the next Ofsted inspection. A successful inspection (at least highly satisfactory or better) gives the virtual automatic right to continue with the first specialism. For Comberton, this implied that we could move on to the next phase of our Sports College specialism (our first specialism).

However, for Comberton, at least as great in significance is the criterion that allows a school to continue into its next phase of all its other specialisms and designations. To be permitted to do

ISSUE 20, SPRING 2008

this, a school has to be designated as a 'High Performing Specialist School'. To achieve this description, a school must be judged as either 'outstanding' or a very strong 'good' in its Ofsted inspection.

Given this, Comberton is clearly judged as passing the necessary criterion. This means that we can also move into the next phase of all of our other designations: l Language College l Vocational College l Training School l Leading Edge For Comberton, this is very significant. We are one of only seven schools in the country to have five separate designations (no school has more than this). No schools now are permitted to have more than three designations unless they already had more than that number by summer 2006.

Leading lights

SIX Comberton sports leaders are set to spend a week in China later this year – free of charge.

Director of Sport Nigel Carrick has been at the heart of a plan which will see the half dozen Comberton pupils, probably in the current Year 10, head for Beijing to put their leadership skills into practice.

The trip is a spin-off from the Towards the Olympics project, which enabled a group to visit China last year for a sporting and cultural festival and will see another party go to events at this summer’s Games.

Mr Carrick has worked closely with Ken Walsh, of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, which is behind Towards the Olympics.

Together they have secured the funding which will allow the six Comberton pupils and two staff, as well as the same number from Kirkley High School in Lowestoft, to make the trip.

The Youth Sports Trust have pledged £5,000 and a further £10,000 will come from Li Nim, China’s largest clothing company run by the former Games gold medal-winning gymnast of the same name.

“This is a fantastic opportunity,” said Mr Carrick. “I am really excited about the potential benefits for the students involved.” n Turn to Page 3

Such a range of designations has become one of our distinguishing features in recent years. All of these designations bring excellent opportunities to all students at the college and often benefit the wider community. They also enable us to engage in powerful partnership work with other schools to help us all improve together. Each of them also brings in significant additional financial resources that make a real difference.

The next phase of all these designations is now guaranteed, under current regulations, until the next Ofsted inspection. This was anticipated to be in about three years in the usual phase of inspections. However, the Chief Inspector has recently suggested that for schools judged as 'outstanding' there might not be a need to re-inspect until a further six years. We shall see!

Stephen Munday

CVC pupils hit the slopes

WE’RE SOARING, FLYING . . .

More than 150 pupils in Years 8-10 took part in two ski courses in Italy this term. n Reports & pictures — Page 10

New space for learning

2

AN area of the school has been transformed from a storage area into an exciting new learning space.

The area is in the English department. It has been carpeted and equipped with new tables and chairs, designed to facilitate small group work, and a set of laptop computers which pupils can use to complete research or written tasks.

One of the best things about the new space though, is the amazing art work which makes it almost as good as being in a gallery.

This is a series of mosaics which were created by last year’s Year 7 pupils during activities week, under the guidance of Greg

Having a ball . . .

THE ARTISTS: Pupils with the mosiacs they made for the new learning area.

NEARLY 200 people danced the night away at the third annual Principal’s Ball this term — and helped give the Comberton minibus appeal a massive boost.

The Ball was organised by the CVC Trust Fund and Comberton Leisure and all profits from the black tie event and raffle will go towards the current fund-raising initiative to buy a minibus with disabled access.

Comberton catering laid on a magnificent buffet and music was again provided by the fabulous Breeze Band, who have played at the Ball since its inception.

Principal Stephen Munday said: “Once again, this proved to be a really enjoyable evening for everyone who attended. Very many thanks are due to all those who worked hard to ensure that it was such a success. All funds generated

will be put towards our new minibus with disabled access so it was more than just good fun: it will help to improve educational opportunities for all young people at the school.”

Meanwhile, the existing minibuses have been helping pupils get home from participating in after-school clubs after the scheme was launched earlier this term.

The minibus is initially running on Wednesdays, leaving at 4.15pm, but it is hoped this will increase to twice a week after Easter.

There are 16 places available on the bus, which stops only at Hardwick Primary School, Monkfield Park Primary School and Bourn War Memorial. Four of these are available free of charge to pupils who can demonstrate a financial need, while the other 12 places are available on a first-come, first-served booking basis and cost £1 per trip.

INSIDE THIS l Arts officer plan — 4 ISSUE

l The Principal job — 3

l New link is big news — 4 l A global experience — 4 l More activities — 4

Dean, the Head of Art and Design.

They were inspired by a poem which is studied by all pupils in Year 11, so as well as looking amazing, they will help pupils preparing for their GCSE exams.

So far the new area has been used by small groups from classes working nearby, for pupils working one to one with teaching assistants, for teachers and pupils talking during ILP sessions, and for a new Year 7 reading club.

Future uses could include pupils running their own reading groups at lunchtimes, and booster classes in the run up to SATs and GCSE exams. Watch this space!

Eleanor Norman, Head of English

Silence is money!

STAYING QUIET: Year 9 pupils during The Big Hush.

YeAr 9 took part in the Big Hush, an annual sponsored silence held

by Macmillan Cancer Support.

We had to keep quiet for 15 minutes in registration – a rare feat, and much to the delight of our form tutors! – and it was a great experience for us too.

All the money raised will go directly to providing cancer victims with practical, medical, financial and emotional support, that will make a real difference to their lives.

Anne Jones, Head of Year 9, said: “I’d like to say a huge thanks to l Much ado over Mr Bean— 6 l Candlelit dinner — 7 l Vocational Update — 6 & 7 l Catering — 7 l Helping their peers — 8

everyone who took part in The Big Hush and made this event such a success. The children did well to keep quiet for such a long time and they should be very proud of themselves for raising about £150 that will help people affected by cancer.”

This was the second year that our year group has taken part in the sponsored silence. It is a great opportunity to raise money for people in need and the main thing was that we enjoyed it too!

Alyssa Ralph (9M) l New cohort flock to DoE — 10 l No cause for alarm — 9 l Girls in the spotlight — 9 l I’d love Mr Bellis if . . . — 9 l Sport — 11 &12

Editor: Judy Czylok. e-mail:publicity@comberton.cambs.sch.uk This publication is also available on-line at www.publications.combertonvc.org

The Principal job . . .

3

HAVING joined Comberton Village in January 2001, it is interesting to reflect on how my role has developed in that time.

the Prime Minister on what education policies might be needed in order to ensure that we have a world-class education system. I have been asked specifically to look at how state and independent schools might work together more effectively to achieve this.

It has been suggested that letting people know quite what it now involves l Joining the 'National Headteachers' Reference Group'. This is a group of might be of interest. I hope that that judgement is correct. Please stop read30 headteachers who are invited to meet representatives of the Department ing if not! for Children, Schools and Families on a reasonably regular basis in order to There has, of course, been a very great deal of interest and positive developadvise on education policy and to give feedback about the state of play in ment at the college that has taken up much of the focus of my time. I have the education system. felt privileged to have had the opportunity to work in my role at Comberton l Contributing to the ministerial task force on Gifted and Talented provision at this exciting time; to work with so many in schools. This group is chaired by Lord outstanding colleagues, to see so many Andrew Adonis and is considering how excellent students achieve so very much we can try best to provide for Gifted and and to know the support of so many helpTalented young people both in school and ful parents. These developments continue out of school. and it remains a privilege to be involved in l Acting as a 'Consultant Head' for a this way. small number of other schools on the Being Principal of Comberton remains, of national 'Raising Achievement' project. course, the mainstay of my role. However, This involves occasional meetings with the I have gradually found myself involved in headteachers of those schools to discuss a range of other roles outside the college. ways of raising student achievement in This has been possible fundamentally due their schools. to the great strength of leadership at all As you can guess, this gives a varied and levels throughout CVC that mean that the very full working life. Again, it has been a strong, effective running of the school does privilege, as well as being extremely internot rely on my constant presence. esting, to have been able to become The senior leadership team is an especially involved in these projects.

PRINCIPAL ROLE: Working at Comberton is the mainstay of strong one and Comberton is very fortuI believe that it is directly to the benefit of Stephen Munday’s job, nate to have a remarkably able and comthe college for me to be involved in this mitted team of middle leaders. In this conwork. I would not do it if that were not the case. The school is fully compentext, taking on work outside of Comberton has appeared a perfectly reasonsated financially for my time spent on these extra roles. Perhaps even more able thing to do. significantly, it means that we have a direct involvement with, and even The most significant role that I have is to be employed by the Specialist influence on, key national educational projects and new educational policy.

Schools and Academies Trust to help to oversee the national Leading Edge It is fair to say that this does us no harm!

Programme (that Comberton is in). This involves helping to set the strategic One final point to make about the developments is that they are all only posdirection of the programme, visiting schools on the programme, overseeing sible because of the great success of Comberton Village College. Much as it national conferences and helping to co-ordinate projects on Maths (with might be me who happens to be involved in this way, but it is due to the Comberton AST Mark Dawes) and Gifted and Talented provision. overall outstanding work of everyone at the college that means it is seen so Further more recent roles have involved the following: favourably in the eyes of Government and other circles. This has led to the l Being a member of the so-called 'National Council for Educational invitations. Of course, very many other staff are involved in other local and Excellence'. This was formed by Gordon Brown the moment that he became national major projects due to this also. All of this work continues to allow Prime Minister. It is representatives from education, business and various us to develop and move forward with new ideas as we continually learn interest groups who are asked to advise the Secretary of State, Ed Balls, and from others.

Stephen Munday

Leading lights from CVC

n From Page 1 “The plans have not been formalised yet, but the way I understand it is that one member of staff from each school will fly to Beijing and work for a week in one of the Teacher Training universities with students and tutors on the principles of sports leadership.

“The other member of staff and the pupils will then fly out and the Chinese tutors and students as well as the english pupils will then work for a week with pupils at primary schools in a district bordering Beijing.

“We will work on applying the skills of sports leadership and the week will possibly culminate in some sort of sports festival.”

Arts officer plan for Comberton

COMBERTON could soon have an Arts Development Officer.

It is hoped that the post, which will be funded initially for a year by South Cambridgeshire District Council, will help maximise the use of the facilities at Comberton Leisure for the Arts.

South Cambs will continue to subsidise the post, but the appointed officer would also need to generate enough income to help pay their salary.

Nigel Carrick, who has recently taken over the management of Comberton Leisure, said: “It would be great to have a development officer working out of Comberton, boosting the arts-

based usage of Comberton Leisure as well as developing arts provision in the local community.

“Members of staff like Ben Parker (Head of Music) and Mike Sharpe (Head of Drama) have long said there should be more arts-based usage of the facility and the appointment of an Arts Development Officer would help achieve this.

“I see the post operating in a similar way to the sports coaches we already employ, working within Comberton, the feeder primaries and the wider community.”

New link is big news 4

SCHOOLS can wait years and undergo many unsuccessful attempts to establish a fruitful and lasting partnership with a school in a different country.

Perhaps this is one reason why we are so excited and enthusiastic about our partnership with the Modellschule in Bad Hersfeld, Hessen in Germany.

Music and learning German have been the cornerstone of this partnership and last year in July the excellent school choir of more than 60 members visited us for a five-day exchange that included a joint concert in our Performance Hall. This initial stay laid the foundation for many friendships between German and English students and staff. Our return visit in November was equally successful as were the joint concerts.

Most recently we received a five-person delegation from Germany including two headteachers, as well as two of the music teachers and choir director already known to us. The main focus of their visit was to

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Wet Week in Peterborough (above) and Grafitti Art are among the activities available to Year 8 and 9 pupils.

see the last night of Geoff Page's Academy of Death as it has, since last year, been the wish of Ben Parker, the CVC Head of Music, Geoff and myself, to mount a joint production of the Academy of Death with our German partner school. The magnificent setting we have in mind is a ruined monastery in Bad Hersfeld that is transformed each summer into a 1400-seater venue for a two-month cultural festival.

The reaction from our German visitors to the production was incredibly positive and negotiations with the Mayor of Bad Herseld are now under way to see if we can proceed with our plans. This would obviously be a highly ambitious but nevertheless hugely rewarding and exciting project and we look forward to bringing you more news about this soon.

The recent visit was such a success that its write up has already appeared in the regional newspaper in Germany, increasing our hopes that we will soon be making plans for travel and rehearsals!

Rachel Hawkes, Director of Language College

A global experience

AT the beginning of this term a small number of keen Year 10 geographers formed a group to participate in a students’ on-line conference.

The group is part of the 'Whose World is it Anyway?' on-line conference, which is a discussion forum between groups of students from all over the world.

The four topics to be covered this year are all based on global issues. The first topic was 'New Technologies: A threat or a promise?' and the group worked well as a team to produce a PowerPoint presentation to enter into the discussion which opened during the final week of February.

Students worldwide will be able to comment on the presentation and our group can look at other contributions and comment on their presentations.

It is exciting to be part of a global experience!

Siân Goss (10M), Geography Leader

More activities on offer Arts on

AN Arts Evening to showcase FIVe new choices have been added to the wide range of options available for some of the work that goes on Year 8 and 9 pupils during this summer's Activities at Comberton takes place next Week. term.

Pupils have been able to select from an incredible 20 different opportunities, ranging from sport, art and crafts A selection of dance, drama and music work will be perto podcasts, science and Shakespeare.

This year the new activities are a joint MFL and Art trip formed on April 22 in the to Spain, a walking and climbing expedition to the Lake auditorium at Comberton District, Creativity Cambridge, an art, history and cre- Leisure.

All years will be represented ative writing opportunity, Mountain Bike Week and as the audience are given an Winter Week, which will involve snow sports at Milton Keynes. opportunity to see what goes "I am delighted with the range of activities we have been on in lessons, while pupils get able to offer," said Director of Sport Nigel Carrick, who the chance to perform in pubis co-ordinating Activities Week. "Pupils can choose to lic. try something new or focus on something they enjoy."

The event follows the success Year 7 pupils will celebrate the 10th anniversary of of a similar one last year.

Comberton's link with Beaumanor Hall while spending Tickets will be available activities week there, while Year 10 will be on work shortly from the Finance experience. Activities Week takes place from July 14-18.

Office.

Much ado over Mr Bean

YEAR 9 experienced an English day focussed on Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado about Nothing.’ last month.

Six actors from the group ‘Shakespeare in Schools’, who are currently touring the country, came to Comberton and worked with us to help us understand the plot and characters and also to help with our Key Stage 3 SATs in May. We started the day with a hilarious introduction to the play and the actors. They involved us by gathering our contributions with regards to who, from popular culture, we would cast in the play.

Comedy ensued as the exchange between Beatrice and Benedick was acted out in the style of Posh and Becks and Leonato appeared as Mr

Dining by candlelight

5

Bean. The actors had everyone in hysterics.

The second instalment came in the form of workshops with the actors. By gaining this ‘hands-on’ experience, we took away a better understanding of individual characters’ emotions and motivations at each key point of the play.

After lunch, everything culminated in a production of the whole play, which was well-paced and entertaining. It was also useful to see the set scenes in context and to appreciate a different interpretation from that which we have explored in some of our lessons.

Adam Winch-Furness (9C) SHAKESPEARE WORKSHOPS: Year 9 pupils and Dominic Cozzi (9M) see The Bard’s work in a whole new way.

LAST month 130 Year 8 pupils joined 12 staff in a 3 course meal and a disco to celebrate a belated Valentine's Day. Everyone dressed up for the occasion and it was lovely to see the effort made by the girls and the boys, who all had to wear ties for the occasion.

DISCOVERING The evening started with a delicious meal served by DARWIN: Pupils Year 11 prefects and Year 10 students, assisted by involved with the Mrs Burgess and Mrs Cullingford.

Darwin’s Discovery After the meal the raffle was drawn and Valentine project. cards were distributed by the Year 11 prefects.

These, and roses, were bought by pupils for their 'dates' earlier in the evening and some pupils proved very popular, receiving three or four cards each!

A GrOUP of Comberton pupils are working on a project After all this, the disco was a great success although called Darwin’s Discovery. many pairs of high heels were abandoned as the run by the Community education Dept, which has been dancing got more energetic. granted a Heritage Lottery (Young roots) Award for the The evening was great fun and there was even some project, it is open to students in Years 9 and 10. slow dancing to add to the romantic evening.

We would like to thank the staff who helped organ- The group are working with the Zoology and the Sedgwick museums in Cambridge to explore the life and ise the evening and the Year 10 and 11 pupils who made such a fantastic job of serving us.

Year 8 work of Charles Darwin through a number of weekly workshops in different areas: Art - to culminate in an exhibition; Drama- to write and perform a play; Loan Boxes – to produce materials for loan boxes for schools and Creative Writing – poems, stories, diaries –to publish a collection.

Other activities will include visits to the Zoology and Sedgwick museums for behind-the-scenes explorations of items from the Beagle voyage, a trip to Down House (Darwin’s home and work place for many years), a visit to the Natural History Museum in London and more.

Further details and dates from Ms Cook (01223) 264721 DINING OUT: Year 8 pupils or commed@comberton.cambs.sch.uk

Group focus on Darwin

Team tackle eco issues

AROUND 30 pupils from Years 7- 10 have joined forces to create CVC's eco schools action team.

The reason this group has been set up is to try and raise awareness about climate change within the school and to allow people who are interested in helping the environment to get together and be able to take some action.

The main aim for this group will be to try and gain eco schools status for Comberton and to generally make our school more environmentally friendly.

Some of the ideas so far include improving the recycling facilities, maintaining the conservation area, raising awareness about global warming and looking into things like grants for solar panels and wind turbines.

If we are successful we will hopefully have gained bronze status by the end of the year and from there on it goes onwards and upwards.

If you are interested in getting involved then come along on Friday lunchtime to GE3 or talk to your geography teacher.

We look forward to seeing some new faces!

Sam Hack (11E), Year 11 geography student leader

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BTEC CONSTRUCTION BTEC TRAVEL & TOURISM BTEC HAIRDRESSING

VOCAT STUD

Now even more choic

FROM September, Comberton will be offering its Year 10 pupils the widest selection of courses ever.

After months of discussions, planning, and consultations, we were delighted to announce to the current Year 9 earlier this term that there would be a choice of six BTEC vocational courses on offer to them.

In addition to the BTEC courses in Business, Sport and Art and Design, which Year 10 pupils are studying this year, we have managed to make available to next year’s cohort: BTEC Construction, BTEC Hairdressing and BTEC Travel and Tourism.

The Construction course is designed for pupils who wish to work in the building trade, whether that is as a bricklayer, carpenter, surveyor or architect!

Pupils will study three practical modules: Painting and Decorating, Bricklaying and Carpentry and Joinery, as well covering important theoretical aspects, such as Health and Safety and Maths and Science for Construction.

Head of Design Technology Nick Evans is delighted to be running the course, and hopes it will offer a fabulous stepping stone into Level 2 and 3 construction courses at Cambridge Regional College and apprenticeship places.

Constructive challenge

A GrOUP of Year 9 pupils recently had the opportunity to participate in a BTeC Construction taster day at Swavesey Village College.

Pupils carried out a range of tasks similar to those which they might experience while completing the new BTeC in construction.

The first challenge was to assemble a traditional roof structure.

Working in teams of four, pupils had to decipher complex plans and get all the pre-cut pieces in the correct place and the right way round.

BTEC Hairdressing is a very exci Comberton, and will be run in par Village College.

Swavesey have a brand new, purp complete with reception area, mirr also have an ex-hairdresser trained our pupils will visit once a week t ing customers to putting rollers in The Geography department are ex BTEC in Travel and Tourism at C current Applied GCSE in Leisure

THE trip to and interest As well as place.

As we walk take our tim customer se It asked us skills does Although s were comp n't long bef our case.

Cadbury's u chocolate, s and making aisle in the THE vocational aspect of the BTEC Art and Design were not ne course means that students have more than their share planned to of trips to find out about Art and Design in the real There were world. including th The latest venture was to Cambridge when 22 students create our o were taken on a tour of the Gallery at Kettles Yard watch a ski However, w where they saw an exhibition of animated films.

They also discovered the work of Ronald Searle at the from that a had been g Ruskin Gallery and spent time sketching and photographing a coffee bar in town in order to redesign the The highlig interior in the style of William Morris or Andy Warhol walked into full of melt – work that they are completing at the moment.

The trip was a success and we hope to run another one a selection made us wa next term.

The Busine We also hope to have one of our designs taken up by Bateson an the coffee bar – as some include fish tanks, glass ceilCadbury's W ings and grunge foil décor. Having a coffee in Cambridge could become a little more interesting!

Next on to bricklaying! Not nearly as easy as it looks, but nonetheless some respectable walls grew from their foundations.

And finally, town planning! A giant board game with a vast range of issues to consider before the builders could move in.

Our thanks to Swavesey for hosting the day. We now look forward to developing our construction skills when the course starts in September.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Pupils assemble a traditional Nick Evans, Head of DT roof structure.

Art and Design students make mark in real world

THERE’S no stopping this year’s BTEC Art and Design students!

At the end of last term, they won a prestigious Sculpture competition in Cambridge.

The idea was to design a sculpture out of recycled materials which would be voted on by the listeners of Star Radio and, if selected, would be made into a permanent sculpture to be displayed at the Donarbon Waste Centre in Waterbeach.

Abbey Stevenson won with her maquette of a hand holding the world.

Abbey and eight other students spent a day receiving the cheque for £1,000 at The Smart Life Centre in Cambridge and being interviewed by the radio station.

WINNING DESIGN: The maquette made out It was a proud moment for Abbey and a great of recycled materials and (inset) designer boost to the BTEC Art and Design Programme. Abbey Stevenson.

Rea

TIONAL DIES

BTEC BUSINESS BTEC ART & DESIGN BTEC SPORT

ce for pupils

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

7

They believe the BTEC course offers pupils a much more interesting and varied course, and more accessible assessment methods. Plans are already being hatched for exciting trips that will form part of the course! pose-built hair dressing salon, One of our core aims at Comberton, remains: “Standards of rors, sinks and models! They achievement in all areas by all students that are the highest of d to deliver the course, who which they are capable”. to learn everything from greetLEADERS: Year 10 BTEC Sport students ran a primary From this September, we feel we will really be starting to offer n. schools football tournament. all pupils courses in the areas of their interest, which will allow xcited about developing the them to fully achieve their potential at Comberton.

Comberton, which replaces the and Tourism.

Lorna Bateson, Head of Vocational Studies A GROUP of pupils studying for the BTEC sport had their first chance to put some of the theory into practice last month.

Under the supervision of Head of PE Sean Sycamore, this group organised and ran a seven-a-side football tournament for Year 5 boys o Cadbury's World was very successful from the feeder primary schools. ting.

The Year 10 pupils worked with the teams, refereed matches, recordeating lots of chocolate, learning took ed the scores and worked out the order of play through the round robin and knockout stages to a final, which was won by Hardwick A. ked round Cadbury's World, we had to Mr Sycamore said: “The event was created, organised and executed me and fill in a complex booklet on the by the new BTEC Sport group as part of one of their units of work on ervice. the course. questions such as:’What qualities and “The 13 students also had responsibility for contacting the local pria tour guide have to have?’ mary schools, as well as preparing the tournament play sheets and ome of us forgot about the booklet and score sheets and refereeing on the day. letely engrossed in the chocolate, it was“The whole event was a great success with 80 students attending fore Ms Bateson and Mr Evans were on from six different schools on what was a cold and damp afternoon.

CHOCOLATE HEAVEN: The Cadbury’s head“I was very pleased with the way the BTEC students worked and I quarters. use many devices to try to make us buy think an enjoyable afternoon was had by all.” such as wafting smells around the factory g us exit by weaving round almost every world's largest Cadbury's shop. These ecessary as most of use had already YEAR 10 pupil Annie Gregory buy chocolate even before we arrived. competed in the regional semiYeAr 11 pupils underwent their final practical e many great fun areas in the museum, final of the Rotary Young Chef assignment for their GCSe catering course last he demonstration area where we got to of the Year earlier this month. month — and the external moderator was delighted own phrases from melted chocolate and The results were not known at with what she saw. illed workman create chocolate shapes. the time of going to press but the we were not allowed to try any chocolate Margaret Lidington, from the Welsh Joint education budding chef had already come rea, although we weren't hungry as we Committee, went home well fed, extremely happy and through two testing rounds, one iven lots of free bars beforehand. was very complimentary about the seven students she of which was at Comberton. ght of the trip had to be the tasting. We Annie cooked Butternut Squash saw, their work all earning top grades. o this room where we were given a cup Soup, Leek & Parmesan tart, The other 30 students completed their practicals, ted chocolate buttons with a choice from topped with smoked paprika and of sweets. The taste was sensational and worth 25 per cent of the final mark, under less presserved with a potato and vegant more and more. sure on three other days the same week. etable dish followed by a Warm ess Studies groups would like to thank Ms “Some of the results were stunning and could quite chocolate pudding with orange d Mr Evans for the wonderful day at GOOD COOK: Annie easily have been served at a top-class restaurant,” and mint creme fraiche, in just World.

Gregory two hours.

Josh Eaton (10T) said Head of Food Technology, Anne Jones.

ting development at rtnership with Swavesey

Sporting pupils take lead

ally yummy trip

FOCUS ON CATERING

Top marks for chefs

Annie’s dishes of delight

8

New cohort flock to join DoE Award THIS term we have launched the next cohort of students on to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, and yet again we have been amazed at the response.

The Scheme is a programme of personal development, devised to develop key attributes and skills in young people: self reliance, independence, team working skills, commitment, determination and self knowledge, to name but a few. Employers recognised DoE in a survey in 2006 as the most important thing they look for a CV when they are looking at what people did at school, because they recognise how much it develops people, and the quality of the person who has managed to complete an Award.

We again offered the opportunity to complete the Bronze Award at Comberton to Year 9 pupils and at the parental meeting in February, all 110 sheets we had photocopied were handed out, and people were asking us for more! It looks as though we’ll top last year’s 100 participants.

Everyone is busy starting work on their three sections: the skill, the physi-

cal recreation and the service, and looking forward to starting our training for the expedition straight after Easter.

The silver students had their first training day in March in the hills round Saffron Walden and we're all looking forward to our Practice Venture in the Dark Peak near Edale in late April.

If there are any parents who would be interested in volunteering on the expeditions this summer, please contact us at the college. With five expeditions and HIKING: A big part of DoE. over 150 pupils going out this year, we need all the help we can get!!

Lorna Bateson and Leigh Bellis

Helping their peers A NUMBER of Year 10 students have volunteered to be peer mentors.

The selected few have been chosen to help carefully picked Year 7 and 8 pupils.

After handing in their application form, some students were asked for an interview with the Head of Year, Ms Phull, and the Head of the Peer Mentor Scheme, Ms Lyons.

Students got a letter telling them they had got a place as a peer mentor or if they were better suited to another opportunity availCHOSEN FEW: Some of the pupils selected as Peer Mentors able to them later in the year.

The Year 10 pupils chosen are all confidence through your body language, by Mr very eager and excited to be able to help younger Watts, one of the counsellors at CVC. students; many of them have said it is a privilege This really benefitted the pupils as they became to be able to connect with Year 7 and 8 pupils on aware of some tricks to look confident in awka personal level. ward situations and deal with a range of different The peer mentoring team has been on several training sessions, one of which was to do with issues.

Pupils prove worldwise!

COMBerTON finished third in the annual county Worldwise Quiz.

The A were edged out in a tough geography competition at Coleridge Community College, which saw The Leys and Perse Boys claim the top two spots.

Comberton eased through the first round with 80 points, seven points ahead, but that didn’t count for anything and with each team member subjected to a timed oral round, the pressure was really on.

Comberton’s B team also competed strongly, finishing sixth with 69.5 points, which was only three behind the second-placed team.

Comberton’s teams comprised Ali Chilvers, Anna Carter and Sam Prime (A) and Kenny Durrant, Jonny Cronk and Jeff Wilksinson (B).

Both teams would like to thank Miss Carr and Miss Holmes for training them and supporting them at the competition.

Anna Carter (10N) and Ali Chilvers (10E)

Mr Watts also showed the mentors how to show that you are interested in what some-one is saying without being patronising or sarcastic, by the way you are sitting.

The mentors have practised how to be a good listener and how to give good advice, which comes across in the right way, to the younger students.

In other sessions the mentors have been taught about different issues they may be faced with and how they can handle the situation appropriately.

Many of the skills the students are learning now will help them be a better person to talk to for the rest of their lives.

One Year 10 will be paired with an appropriate Year 7 or 8; the pair will meet up once a week. Over time the pair will hopefully form a bond and be able to trust and help one another.

We are all very excited about the future of the peer mentoring scheme and hope good progress

Not just a vast, empty land

ANTARCTICA – Year 7 have learned that there is so much more to this vast, empty land than you would think.

This term we have been finding out about Antarctica’s harsh climate and delicate food chain. We’ve studied why it is so vulnerable to global warming and found out what we can do to avoid the problems getting any worse.

We listened to a talk by a retired Antarctic scientist, Dr Paren, who spoke in assembly and gave evidence that global warming really is affecting Antarctica.

Global warming was a big part of the topic but we also learned about the wildlife and how the animals adapt so that they can survive in Antarctica. We discovered why Antarctica has 24 hours of darkness in some parts of winter and we learned about the countries which have made claims on Antarctica.

One of the main things this topic has taught us is that global warming is a world problem and we can’t just ignore it.

Iris Breward (7N)

No cause for alarm!

Girls in the spotlight

9

I KNOW we set off the fire alarms!

It was the steam from cleaning the hot pans, not the burning bacon, as the Year 7 Adventure Club continued to work on the skills they will need for camping later in the year.

On a cold day a little fire warms you up, but there was a lot of respect for the gas and the lighters. Co-ordinating both made some very nervous but as we were also handling knives, saws and axes it was good to have a nervous respect.

At camp everyone will have to use knives for cooking and making camp instruments. The axes and saws will help provide fuel for the camp fires and the fires will provide the heat for cooking – all our cooking! Water will be available for drinks but all other foods will have to be cooked on an open fire!

Using the axes and splitting wood into kindling was a new skill for most. In the end everyone had some pride in their achievement. The only problem was that they wanted to take their marshmallow stick and sawn log home on the buses. Wish us luck at camp in April as no skills equals no food!

Ian Rigg, Adventure Club Co-ordinator MAKING THE CUT: A Year 7 pupil practises sawing wood ahead of the Adventure Club camping trip.

Get your skates on

GUIDING LIGHTS: Two Comberton pupils are in the Guides’ spotlight.

YeAr 9 students went to Peterborough Ice Skating rink after school.

We got to the rink and after the long queue to collect our skates, we hit the ice.

At first, the majority of students slid around and a few bruised bottoms smacked to the floor.

A few professional students buzzed around helping out the wobbling ones, but after 20 minutes, everyone was enjoying it and letting go of the sides.

The girls were posing for the cameras and we all had a laugh.

By the time we were back on the coach, the year group was laughing about the pains in our shins and we were al exhausted. Overall, it was a great trip and the happy faces showed the joy.

Thank you to the Year 9 tutors who gave up their time to come skating with us.

Autumn Elbourn (9V) THAT’S ICE: Year 9 pupils enjoy ice skating.

TWO Comberton pupils have been selected for special awards by the Guiding Association.

Year 9 pupil Ellie Humphries became one of only a handful nationwide each year to receive the Star of Merit.

And Vicky Unsworth, like Ellie a member of the Hardwick group, is one of five girls selected to represent Cambridgeshire at the Icelandic National Jamboree in July.

Ellie (9O) was awarded the Star of Merit in December in recognition of 'guiding with fortitude in difficult circumstances'.

Ellie has Craniosynostosis, a rare condition where the bones of the head are fused together at birth, and she also has scoliosis, which is an uncomfortable curvature of the spine. She has had several major operations already and is due two more this year.

She has recently been accepted on to the Children's and Young Peoples Advisory Board for the new children's hospital in Cambridge.

There are only 20 youngsters on this board, selected from the whole of East Anglia. Ellie sees it as an opportunity to advise those planning the new hospital on what young people feel is important in hospital care for children in the future.

She has also embarked on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, takes part in netball and basketball after school and is an enthusiastic kayaker and skier. Ellie is an experienced camper with the Guides and Scouts and has been on several walking weekends where she has carried her own rucksack even when it was obviously uncomfortable.

Vicky (9E) faces the daunting prospect of raising £1,350 for her 10-day trip of a lifetime.

"It's really exciting and I'm really looking forward to it, but it's going to be hard work raising the money," said Vicky.

Pupils get to grips with poetry

FIFTY Year 11 pupils went to a day-long conference at the Corn Exchange recently, to hear world-famous poets reading their work.

The day was designed to help pupils to excel in the poetry sections of their English Language and Literature exams, and featured poets Gillian Clark, Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage and John Agard reading their poetry, answering pupils' questions, and explaining the ideas and inspiration behind their work.

The chief examiner also spoke to pupils, giving them really useful exam tips, and showing them how to write a good answer.

It was a great opportunity for the pupils to see the real people behind some of the texts that they study for English, and appreciate the reallife issues and ideas behind their poems.

I’d love Mr Bellis if . . .

10

The DAYS started cold, -10C and then got hotter.

‘Schachen’. Both looked after us well and the coaches moved everyone between the hotels for concerts, with dodgy half rehearsed sketches, and discos, with extravagant costumes that were lovingly carried to Italy.

No-one will ever forget the ‘Ninja Turtle’ or his sidekick ‘Scooby Doo’. On other nights, after our evening meal, we went to the ‘Almdiele’ pizzeria for yet more food and also to create our own ‘Celebrity Come Dancing’.

The social highlight had to be ’Valentine’s Day’. The messages posted on paper hearts spelt it all out. ‘I would love Mr Bellis if he woke me up later!’

We also did some skiing and snowboarding! Some were learning for the first time and others progressing to carving. It is always amazing the progress people make in only a few days but it is not always easy.

After a few days most people are progressing down a run, using the chair lifts, stopping and steering. Others move quickly on to ‘toe edges’, ‘off piste’, ‘single ski skiing’ and ‘getting some air’.

The intermediate skiers went to another ski area, Speikboden’, where we play in the edges of the piste, in ‘rabbit runs’ and ‘the bumps’. The snowboarders kept appearing from strange places SLALOM CHALLENGE: Everybody has a go and under the chair lifts, finding some ‘deep there are triphies for the fastest. powder’.

The big challenge of the week is the ‘Slalom’ on the last morning. Everyone has a go, even if they have to be supeVerYONe needs a battlecry when tackling a The rest of our time was spent exploring the three ported down the course, and get a time steep slope or the start of a race to boost your ambiresorts nearby and refining our navigation skills. in their group with the winners getting tion and the chosen words for the Development There are several ways to get from A to B in a gold, silver and bronze medals.

Camp were “We are fabulous!” resort and we found them all, including the chilThere were others but they were bordering on the dren’s magic carpet in a tunnel, which Tabitha fell The overall winners of the snowboarders and the skiers, both boys and girls, are incomprehensible unless you were part of our skiing off! The half-pipe in Bruneck was great fun unless awarded trophies as ‘Kings and Queens family for a week in the Ahrntal valley.

Jonny was heading straight down the camera lens. of the Mountain’.

We all enjoyed the Hotel Schachen with it’s ‘quaint’ The off-piste was challenging and we all tried to Among the snowboarders Bertie Horne pool which, although the size of a big bath, was the have ‘flexion’ with arms ‘forward’. Our aim was to was the fastest boy snowboarder and highlight of our après-ski. stop looking like upright english skiers and we Katie Sims was the fastest girl.

Our ambitions were to take several steps above managed it. All the Instructors said what a good Tom Wilmott, in only his second year of being recreational skiers and to be challenged in a group of skiers we had brought. skiing, moved up to Group 1 and was mountain environment.

Sarah Hall & Ian Rigg the fastest boy, but he was beaten into racing techniques were second place by Anya Hall, who was taught by roman, an ex-FIS two seconds faster, and who has now Italian racer. He is slight won the race twice, like her brother, with a wispy goatee beard maintaining the Halls’ five-year dominabut once on skis he was tion of the event. transformed. He was just as We are so welcomed in the Klausberg capable on one ski turning in by the hotels and the ski school that we either direction as we all will be returning next year but to the were on two. two ‘old’ hotels. Anyone at Comberton Luke White won the boys is welcome to come skiing and we had slalom and managed to get several families join us this year. Further within three seconds of information is always available from roman. The closest race was Mrs Hall on in the girls’ group where shall@comberton.cambs.sch.uk Sophia Berry beat Izzy Ian Rigg GOOD GROUP: CVC’s development skiiers impressed instructors.

Thomson by 0.03 sec.

Consulting the weather forecast didn’t help – ‘Das wetter heute’. The problem was, with the clear nights, millions of stars and clear blue skies, we needed to be well protected in the mornings but cool enough over lunch. Not a bad problem to have! The previous week had been stormy with poor visibility but that meant loads of snow for us.

This year our party of 144 were in the ‘Stegerhaus’ and a ‘new’ hotel, the

‘Fabulous’ 13 accept mountain challenge

11

Race on for Sevens glory

COMBERTON Leisure's latest Super Sevens League is well under way.

Six teams are currently battling it out on a Monday night over 10 weeks.

The reigning champions, The Flowerpot Men, previously known as The Dream Team, are Comberton village's home-grown lads.

Hoping to beat them to victory this time round are 'Delboys', 'AFC Spinney', 'The Yellows', 'AFC Antarctica' and 'The Lamb Hunter'.

The winning team will be presented with individual trophies during April although they may not have long to hold on to the title as another Super Sevens league is planned for June!

The league also gives two up-and-coming footballers, Liam Molloy and Scott Gibson, from local team Hardwick FC, the chance to referee the matches, with Super Sevens regular Dave Horton who oversees proceedings as well as refereeing himself.

Comberton Leisure's Sports Development Manager, Ally Stewart, brought the concept of the Super Sevens League to the astroturf in 2004 and is handing over the reins for 2008 to Craig Rydeheard, who has recently joined the college as a Games Coach.

TITLE BATTLE: All to play for in the Super Sevens League.

Craig is currently spending some of his time with the team at Comberton Leisure to develop holiday sports courses for children with a particular focus on football coaching for all abilities.

It's not all about the lads in Super Sevens, however! For the third year in a row, a women's league will be starting in June, running on the same basis as the men's competition.

Please see Cb3 noticeboards and reception nearer the time for more information.

Cup runs over for CVC COUNTY champions Comberton found their way through the regional rounds of the Minute Maid Cup blocked by a team from St Albans.

EDGED OUT: CVC’s under-15 team.

COMBerTON’S tilt at the National Schools under-15 squash title was ended in the last 16 for the second year running.

They were beaten by Lancing College, a top independent school which specialises in squash, and its team were very strong all the way down.

The CVC squad of Tom Symmons, Peter Tasker, Tom Blair, Will Collett and Marcus Connolly all fought well and did Comberton proud.

So congratulations to the five players mentioned above, plus Will Harris, our regular No 3 who was unavailable for the final match, and to Sam Bithell, Alan Leung and Jack Murphy, who played as our reserves in various fixtures.

Ray Scrivens, Team Manager

push harder and the girls began to link passes and move freely, but unfortunately they could not finish the opportunities they created.

Midway through the second half, Beaumont had a corner where their striker hit the ball very well and slotted it in the On a bitterly cold day and on top of the goal! a sloping pitch at Beaumont Comberton kept their heads School, the Comberton underup and tried everything but 13 girls were beaten 1-0 in the couldn’t get that crucial first regional round of the equaliser!

National Schools Competition.

The girls were extremely disBeaumont fielded some very appointed and didn’t play tall players and some quick ones, especially the defenders IN ACTION: Members of the girls’ under- nearly as well as in previous rounds but the who proved an impossible line 13 team.

Cambridgeshire champions to break. should not be down hearted about going out in such a Comberton attempted their usual free-flowing game tough tournament. but could not find a way through a goalless first half.

Nathan Rogers With light fading Comberton realised they needed to

But Year 11 boys still dream of last hurrah

A 3-2 VICTORY over Chesterton kept alive Comberton’s hopes of glory in the Year 11 District Cup. The team hope to make a grand exit from CVC by bringing back the cup before they leave and took a major step in the right direction when they saw off last year’s winners to reach the quarter-finals.

But they had to do it the hard way, twice coming from behind against a team which included two boys who will join professional clubs next year.

And to make matters worse, they conceded the first after only 30 seconds. But that shock got Comberton going and they dominated for long periods. Chris Roberts equalised after some fine work on the left flank from Tim Heynes.

Chesterton took the lead from a set-piece, so with

15 minutes left, the boys had it all to do. Heynes, despite receiving a nasty hand injury equalised, and minutes later the team were in dreamland as Josh Iggulden scored what proved to be the winner although only a wonder save from Steve Sexton kept CVC in front.

“It was a great all-round performance, but special mentions for team captain Alex Barratt and players of the match Dan Berryman and Ross Thompson,” said Mark Goldring, the teacher in charge.

Comberton: Chris Roberts, Liam Healy, Josh Iggulden, Harry Rason, Seth Rutterford, Ross Thompson, Charlie Bowling, Dan Berryman, Alex Barratt, Jordan DavisDoige, Steve Sexton, Greg Baillie, Tim Heynes, Joey Tranham.

Come dancing!

12

THE performance hall at Comberton Leisure became a riot of colour and movement as pupils from the college and the feeder primary schools enjoyed the third biannual danceshare.

Year 3 and 4 from Coton danced to an Egyptian theme.

Monkfield Park’s Caribbean dance by Year 5 pupils brought a summer feel before a group of Year 5 and 6 pupils from Hardwick Eight of the feeder schools sent showed the street groups of pupils to show some dance they have been of the work they have been working on as part of doing as part of the curriculum their choice for this term, with Foundation Stage ‘Golden Mornings’. children from Bourn opening the Mr Goldring’s Year 7 group’s dance was on the theme share with their interpretation of of ‘The Blitz’ while Mr Rogers’ Year 8s showed their Sun, Sea and Sand. work based on ‘Stomp.’

The Vine’s Year 1 pupils have The Year 9 girls in Miss Moore’s group have been been working with Comberton working on ideas from musicals, including Billy Elliot, Head of Dance Zoe McKeown Mary Poppins, Chicago and Dirty Dancing. and performed Dot, Wiggle and The danceshare was rounded off by Mrs Edwards’ Dash.

Year 10 and 11 GCSE dancers, who did some street They were followed by Meridian dance as well as the set study and performance piece a and Caldecote’s Year 2 groups, day before the Year 11 exam moderations. who showed their work on Mrs McKeown said: “It was another successful Weather and Seasons and Danceshare. The standard of work from all schools is Colours and Moods respectively. getting higher each time. It was fantastic for the stuA Year 3 group from dents to experience the excitement and nerves of perHaslingfield have been working forming to a large audience.” on the theme of Witches, while ON STAGE: Youngsters of all ages at the Danceshare.

Hardwick take title

HArDWICK are the Year 5 Primary Schools football champions.

They conceded only one goal all afternoon as they saw off seven other teams to win the rosswell electrical-sponsored trophy.

The Hardwick squad sailed through their group games, which included wins over Monkfield Park, the team they were to meet again in the final, Meridian A and Haslingfield.

After a semi-final victory over Meridian B, they faced the Cambourne school again and took the trophy with a 2-0 victory.

The tournament was organised and refereed by Year 10 Comberton students on the BTeC sports course, under the supervision of Head of Pe Sean Sycamore, who was delighted with the way the event went.

"The students all played fantastically and it was great to see such high levels of sportsmanship and fair play at such a young age," he said. "I was also very pleased with my BTeC sport students.

"I would like to thank rosswell electricals for their generosity in sponsoring the event."

A similar tournament for Year 5 girls was scheduled to take place this week.

Put a little bounce into your Easter holidays

WINNERS: Hardwick and (right) tournament action.

COMBERTON Tiggers are offering trampolining courses to members and non-members during the Easter holidays.

Priority is being given to youngsters aged from five upwards who book for the four-day course, but any spare spaces will be allocated to bouncers who only want to bounce in selected sessions.

Designed by Judy Czylok, CVC

The course takes place from Tuesday March 25Friday March 28 in the afternoon.

Anybody can apply for the 1.30-3.00 slot, the 3.00-4.30 class is for non-members only and the 4.30-6.30 session is only for Tiggers. All classes will be limited to 10 children.

The first two courses cost £26 and the last class

Produced by Schools Publishing Ltd Tel: 01491 411848

£34. If spaces are available, individual sessions can be booked on a daily basis, the cost will be pro-rata at £6.50 and £8.50.

For further information and to book contact Tiggers by e-mail on combertontiggers@hotmail.co.uk

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