DESBOROUGH COLLEGE DESBOROUGH COLLEGE
Dear Parents/Guardians SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
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Geography Field Trip
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Year 12 Visit to Royal Holloway University of London
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Six-weekly data collections and tracking of academic progress of dents Robust intervention strategies to support underachieving students Six-weekly reporting to parents on progress A new Behaviour for Learning Policy Academy conversion Improvements to staffing Robust strategies to improve teaching and learning. A unique Year 7 base
all stu-
Champions League
Farewell to Year 13
Ofsted when they arrive, probably in the Autumn term, will want to know what has been the impact of these changes and I shall make reference amongst other things to the examination results that will have been achieved by this Year 11 cohort.
Year 11 Drama Per-
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Reading for Pleasure
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Parents/Guardians Information
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From my own perspective I can reflect on the 12 months that I have been working at Desborough. I honestly don’t know where the time has gone but as they say, time flies when you are enjoying yourself. And I certainly have enjoyed my time as Principal at Desborough College. There have been significant changes in the last 12 months, including the following:-
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formance
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Welcome to this, the fifth Newsletter of the academic year. As always, there are plenty of very positive things to report.
3 Peaks Challenge
So far, with early examination entries, 78% of our Year 11 cohort have achieved A* to C grades in Maths. This will rise, I believe, to 86% following the summer exams. Provided that Ofqual do not change the grade boundaries again for English then we confidently expect 85% of our Year 11 boys to achieve A* to C grades. In terms of headline figures the percentage of our Year 11 boys achieving 5 A*-C grades will exceed 70%, by far the best examination results in Desborough’s history. This is only the beginning and I am determined that we will achieve year-on-year improvements from now on. Yours sincerely
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Musician of the Month
Paul Frazer Principal •
Rowing
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Sports Day in July
PS many thanks to those parents who have completed Ofsted’s on-line Parental survey called Parentview. If you haven’t yet done so, it can be done through the following link http://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/
GCSE Geography Field Trip to Cornwall At the end of April, GCSE students went to Cornwall for some real Geography in the field. We first studied the changes in the River Fowey as it moves downstream from Bodmin Moor and also learnt about slate mining around the Granite batholith at Carnglaze Caverns.
“Desborough Students taking river measurements in the river
The next day saw us back on Bodmin Moor examining the Tors before visiting the Eden project and learning about how an old China Clay Pit has been turned into a tourist attraction. We also visited an active China Clay Pit and learnt about the history of China Clay in Cornwall.
Fowey”
Another aspect of our trip was to study the impact of tourism on the towns of Newquay and Fowey. We explored the Ria of the River Fowey and conducted surveys of the visitors. Our thanks must go to Mr Bowles for organizing yet another excellent field trip. Mr Aston—Geography Teacher
Students studying granite tors”
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Year 12 Visit to Royal Holloway, University of London On Wednesday 17 of April, all of the Year 12 students studying Biology set off to Royal Holloway, for a day of lectures concerning the controversial subject of gene therapy and stem cells. The idea was for us to learn more about the science behind these medical treatments, and to experience university style teaching first hand. When we arrived at the campus we were immediately confronted with the very impressive main building (almost as impressive as Desborough), and made our way to the state-of -the-art science facilities along with the other schools attending the event. After a brief introduction and welcome, the lectures started with a vengeance, discussing topics as diverse as the treatment of blindness with gene therapy, haemophilia, and the intriguing last lecture about the warrior gene. It was fascinating to watch footage of a blind man navigating a maze before and after gene therapy, because 6 months after the treatment, he had regained much of his vision. We learned about stem cell transplants from bone marrow, by a doctor who was keen to tell us that she had done one, only last week! During lunch we participated in activities themed around genes, and spent considerable time trying to fold some coloured paper into a double helix, with little success! The day ended with a panel discussion with the audience invited to ask questions, each question usually initiated a heated debate with the lecturers, as we learnt that scientists don’t really like to agree. The last question ‘how does religion affect your work?’ drew polar opinions, and we left the university with more questions than answers, and an intriguing insight into science at university level. Matt Davis – Year 12
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Year 11 Drama Performance Day by Ross Macrae Year 11 Drama Performance Exam Day – by Ross Macrae It’s 8.15am on Thursday 2 May, the day of Year 11’s Performance Exam and all 32 students have arrived – except the other four members of my group! After a wait which was more nerve-wracking than it should have been, bedecked in various costumes and with my bleary-eyed group now thankfully all present, we were all called together for a briefing, an energetic and loud warm-up and a good luck message from Mrs Turner. The time waiting for the examiner to arrive was nail-bitingly tense as these performances would be the culmination of three months’ work, but we soon relaxed into the rhythm of the day and, dare I say, quite enjoyed ourselves! “Cornelius”, a realistic and hard hitting play set in the trenches of WWI started the performances with a bang, literally, as the main character is put to a firing squad! A special well done has to be said to this group as they were the first to be examined - an honour that no one wanted! Next was “Over the Wall”, a flexible, expressionistic play which focuses on an island surrounded by an impregnable wall. The brilliant character performances of this group had everybody, including the examiner, in stitches – so congratulations to James Arthur, James Tejeda and Henry Wright. Mrs Turner said that at last their thunderous voices, which she had endured for a number of years, had been put to good use! After watching these two impressive performances, my heart was racingGmy group, “Accidental Death of an Anarchist”, was next! Would I remember my lines? Would I catch my cues? The tension was huge until I got on stage and the familiar routine took over and everything was fine. Huge relief came after our performance was over; we’d done it, there was nothing more we could do! “Bouncers”, a play following the gritty life of the nightclub Oceana and its inhabitants came after us. Crude jokes and lively physicality and dance music made this a strong favourite with audiences of all ages. After “Bouncers” came the lunch break and the swap-over between Mrs Turner’s and Mr. Bromley’s class. Tips and advice were exchanged and the tension rose once again. The afternoon session kicked off with “Up ‘n’ Under” a rugby themed play based in Yorkshire. Its cast ‘oohed’ and ‘aarred’ through the performance and sustained some difficult choreography without dropping the ball once – very impressive! Next was another performance of “Over the Wall” and it was extremely interesting to see the two radically different creative interpretations. A second performance of “Accidental Death of an Anarchist” finished off the day and kept people on the edge of their seats throughout with its satirical humour and utter madness from Harry McDonald as the Maniac! There was a real sense of camaraderie and team spirit throughout the day with groups helping each other with nerves, worries and set changes. No-one put in a bad performance and all the plays were thoroughly enjoyed. The evening performance to friends and parents allowed everyone’s work to be showcased in a more relaxed and friendly environment which was good fun. A special thanks to Mrs Turner and Mr Bromley for their sustained hard work and to Mrs. Holyoake-Lloyd for her help on the day. Ross Macrae—Year 11
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Year 11 Drama Photographs
“Desborough Students showing off their talents”
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Champions All The Way Champions all the way Desborough College received a real treat on Friday 10 May when the official UEFA Champions League trophy visited the school. Boys had their photograph taken with the trophy, with many choosing to wear their club's shirt.
The Radley Connection
This weekend also sees Desborough's U16 futsal team compete in the FA Regional Youth Futsal tournament, hoping to repeat their national glory of last season when they won the U14 National Championships. Let's hope they are inspired by the UEFA Champions League trophy.
Farewell On Friday 10 May we were pleased to welcome Mr Colin Cutler to the 6th form Common Room to present leavers ties to Year 13. This recognises their membership of The Old Maidonians Association.
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Reading for Pleasure: Shadowing the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 With this in mind and my determination to keep Year 9 engaged with reading for pleasure not just for study, I decided to join the Carnegie Shadowing Scheme. This is an effective planned strategy to keep young people excited about reading. This scheme supports young people in shadowing the judging of its annual prestigious book award, the Carnegie Medal for outstanding writing for children. Eight books were chosen for the shortlist and a class of year 9s and a group of year 8 boys have been reading their way through the selection, writing reviews and having group discussions, so that we can vote for our favourite book and compare our findings with the official judges, who decide their winner in June.
Reading for pleasure: Shadowing the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 There have been concerns recently in the news that there is a decline in young people’s desire to read, particularly boys. Research shows that if we read a book for pleasure we are more likely to succeed in life, (OECD, 2002; 3) and being a frequent reader is more of an advantage than having well educated parents. It suggests that teenagers who read for joy are showing an intrinsic desire to engage with their imagination, information and learning which supports lifelong learning and ultimately social mobility. Ofsted (2012) is also encouraging schools to profile reading for pleasure. In my experience, boys in years 7 and 8 love to read for enjoyment but once they start studying for exams at GCSE level this starts to slow down. Boys need books that reflect their interests and explore the teenage identity.
The benefits of the shadowing scheme and encouraging boys to read for pleasure is that there is no pressure. The selection of books; the supportive atmosphere; the absence of assessment and the feeling that all views are valid and relevant has made this an extremely positive experience and one I definitely would like to repeat next year. The boys have read books they would never have thought of choosing, giving them a wider historical and cultural awareness. Below is an example of a book review by Abdurrahman Choudry, on Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgewick. This is a story that spans one hundred years, with seven interweaving stories; a careful structure; incorporating myth, folklore with sinister undertones of horror and the strength of love.
“This unique style of writing is a real challenge, and only a writer as gifted as Mr. Sedg-
Book Review Abdurrahman Choudry Yr 8 Midwinterblood
wick could have achieved this successfully. We are sometimes several pages into the book before we realise who Eric and Merle (the main characters) are. Furthermore, this book doesn’t shy away from gruesome deaths. As the reader moves back in time, he or she learns more about the purpose, about the tragedy which started the cycle of incarnation, understanding of a love so intense, so deep that death cannot defeat it. This is a powerful book, filled with emotions and lots of skill, and without a doubt many people will read it and re-read it in order to enjoy more fully the unique ideas that the book contains.” Part of my job as School Librarian is keeping up to date with books that are published, and trends. (Dystopian novels are the fashion at the moment.) It enables me to select the stock to cater for the needs and desires of the boys and also to match that stock more accurately with individual readers. I can use my knowledge to entice a reluctant reader, know what to suggest next for a Wimpy Kid fan and how to challenge a moreable reader. Shadowing the Carnegie Medal has motivated the boys and introduced them to a wider selection of genres and themes. Ultimately I hope it keeps them engaged with reading for fun throughout their studies and their future. For more information on the Carnegie shadowing scheme; details of all the books and authors and Desborough College’s own page, please visit the website. http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/ Mrs A. Hallissey
School Librarian
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Parents/Guardians Information
Public Health Services for Berkshire, Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Time Square, Market Street Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1JD T: 01344 355206 Dated May 2013
Dear Parent or Guardian
Re: Ensuring that your child is protected against measles You may be aware that there has been an increase in the number of measles cases in England with some local outbreaks. Measles can cause complications like ear infections, diarrhoea, pneumonia and convulsions, and can rarely be fatal. Measles spreads very easily. It can spread to an unprotected person if they spend 15 minutes with someone who has the disease. So a national catch-up programme has been launched to ensure that 10 – 16 year old children receive two doses of MMR vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine offer the best and safest way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella. There is more information on measles on the NHS Choices website. In light of the continuing measles activity across the country, please check that your child had received two doses of MMR vaccines in the past. If not or if in doubt, we strongly recommend that you take your child to your GP surgery to have the first dose of MMR vaccine now and the second dose one month later. We hope that you will take this opportunity to ensure your child is fully protected.
Yours sincerely
Dr Kakoli Choudhury Acting Consultant, Public Health
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The 3 Peaks Challenge: Michael Bell, Year 7 The 3 Peak Challenge is an annual event which challenges the candidates to climb Snowdon, Scarfell Pike and Ben Nevis within 24 hours. Michael Bell will be joining a group of 35 who are hoping to raise money for the First Hand Foundation. This is a US based organisation that assists individual children and communities with unmet health-related needs when all financial resources have been exhausted. In the UK, this includes providing support for children who may be in care, handicapped or hospital in the form of seasonal gifts, “Buddy Bags” and financial support to organisations that support these children.
From a personal perspective, Michael will use this challenge as an opportunity to improve his fitness. He has set targets over the next 2 months designed to gradually prepare him for the challenge, which he will monitor and record.
Musician of the Month Each month our Head of Music, Miss Smith-Phelps picks one Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 pupil who deserves the title ‘Musician of the Month’. The lucky winners have either shown a big improvement in music or have put that extra special effort into lessons or extra curricular activities. The winners are as follows:March - Thomas Judd in Year 10 and Gursangat Pattar in Year 7. April Richard Russell in Year 10 and Justin Bowry in Year 8. Well done to all of these pupils for your additional effort and creative skills demonstrated in music over the past few months. Our next musical event for your calendar will be the infamous ‘Star Factor’ taking place on 18 July.
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Rowing: Another Win for Sam Hoxley On Saturday, Sam represented the Thames Upper region in the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta in Nottingham. Sam and his partner won the Gold medal in the J15 Double. Their heat and final were both very exciting to watch where the competition for 1st and 2nd places was very tight with Thames Central (represented by Westminster School). Sam and his partner won the final by 400th of a second!! The Junior Inter-Regional Regatta comprised of 12 regions from Great Britain and the Thames Upper region won the overall event. The Thames Upper region was made up from crews selected from Henley, Marlow, Maidenhead and Eton Excelsior rowing clubs. Maidenhead were represented by J15 Single, J15 Double, J16 Single and WJ16 Quad and all came home with medals 3 Gold and a bronze. This success was a good warm up for the National Schools Regatta at the end of May when Sam will be competing in a Double and Quad.
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Sports Day: Desborough College We welcome you to our annual Sports Day which is taking place on the 13 July from 11 am to 2 pm. Students in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 shall be taking part in this year’s Sports Day and shall compete against each other in their own houses, namely Elgar, Brunel, Dickins and Constable. Events shall include:100, 200, 400 metres - sprints 800 and 1500 metres - middle distance running High jump, long jump and triple jump Javelin and shotput The winners will receive the Sports Day trophy
Could I remind parents and guardians that I post a regular blog on the school website that provides additional information about our school. Recent blogs have provided feedback on parental surveys, examinations, revision sessions, trips which have taken place for students and new teachers we have appointed for September. Parents wishing to have a private conversation with me about any issues relating to school are invited to attend my Principal’s surgery. The next one will be held on the 19 July 2013. I intend holding a Parents Forum on 16 July from 6.30 to 8.00 pm in the LRC and welcome suggestions for the Agenda. Finally, could I wish you all a great half term break and remind you of our forthcoming INSET Day on 21 June. Desborough College Shoppenhangers Road Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 2QB
Paul Frazer Tel: 01628 634505 Fax: 01628 639263 E-Mail: info@desborough-college.net 12