LEWESTONLIFE
LEWESTON LIFE REFLECTS THE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS OF LEWESTON PUPILS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS
WELCOME FROM THE HEAD
The Autumn Term this year has been truly unforgettable, filled with numerous achievements, milestones and remarkable experiences.
Our pupils have participated in inspiring Art and Design trips, enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime field trip to Iceland to enhance their Geography studies, and represented the school at the T1 Rugby Series in Twickenham, along with many other social events and activities.
The term also marked the start of our new Year 7 and 8 curriculum carousel, which offers a variety of activities ranging from Music Tech to Forest School At the other end of the school, we welcomed our first cohort of Sixth Form students enrolled on the Equine Management BTEC qualification.
We were delighted to welcome Olympic Silver Medallist Chris Burton to formally open our equestrian centre, The Leweston Chedington Riding Academy, which will provide pupils with a wide range of curricular and extracurricular opportunities The first horses have arrived and settled in well.
I hope you will enjoy this edition of Leweston Life, as it shares all this news and more from across the Departments John Paget-Tomlinson
Lewestonshinesat30th AnniversarySavethe ChildrenConcert
On 13 September, Schola Cantorum took the stage at Cheap Street Church in Sherborne to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Save the Children UK. They were joined by the renowned vocal group from St John’s College, Cambridge, ‘The Gents of St John's.’
Leweston has proudly participated in this concert for several years, and it is always a brilliant experience for our choir The Gents of St John’s never fail to inspire, both during their afternoon workshop and the evening performance. This particular evening was even more memorable with Her Royal Highness Princess Anne in the audience, attending as Patron of Save the Children. Adding to the excitement, Leweston Prep pupil, Lily M, had the honour of presenting a gift to the Princess. It was an unforgettable experience for everyone who was there.
MUSIC AND CREATIVE ARTS
Concerts and Festive Singing
This term saw plenty of musical performance, for family, friends and the wider community Included in the line up of music events was the KS3 Concert, the exam candidates concert, and the Jazz Band, Cantemus, and Choral Society singing at Sherborne's Festive Shopping Day
Young Talent Shines: Leweston Pupils Join National Choir
Lily M and Felicity P-R have both earned places in the prestigious National Children's Choir of Great Britain. Lily, Prep 6, has been singing with them since Easter, after auditioning last year Her incredible experience and the outstanding concert quality inspired Dr Milestone, our Director of Music, to share this year's audition details with the Senior Music Scholars. Felicity, Year 12, took the leap and auditioned. It is an amazing achievement for both to have been selected out of the hundreds of talented young people across the UK who auditioned
Felicity said "I was honestly so surprised and excited to hear I actually got in! I owe it all to Schola and singing at Leweston of course!
The National Children’s Choir host holiday courses in the Easter and Summer Break and sing a huge range of different genres; gospel, pop, choral, you name it! It’s going to be wonderful!"
MUSIC AND CREATIVE ARTS
Art and Design Trips
Sixth Form students studying Photography, Fine Art, Textiles, and 3D Design travelled to London to visit a range of top museums, including the Design Museum, Tate Modern, and V&A. The students were exploring exhibitions of iconic art and design. This experience has inspired their final projects.
Year 12 Fine Art and 3D Design students also went to the Phyllida Barlow exhibition at Hauser and Wirth in Bruton. Elio M, one of the students on the trip, said "it was an inspirational trip that gave us whole new perspectives for our Art A Levels. It was a very enlightening trip that definitely will be useful for all of us; changing the way we think during our creative processes and giving us new ideas for our own projects."
Year 7 Art lesson at The Belvedere
Cross Country!
This term included some fantastic cross country events. In September, Leweston hosted our annual Senior Inter-House Cross Country competition, where pupils from Years 7 to 13 represented their Houses Fisher, Mayne, More, and Campion racing a 2.5km course through the Leweston grounds. Congratulations to Campion for ishing as the winning House!
hough the Dave Barlow Cross Country ent (renamed in honour of our long-time orts and cross country teacher) was ayed due to snow, it successfully took ce at the end of November. We lcomed 10 schools, with over 300 runners rticipating. Our athletes performed ceptionally well, securing 5 team victories oss the 8 categories!
Leweston Triumphs in T1 Rugby Series at Twickenham
In November, students from Years 10 and 13 journeyed to Twickenham to represent Leweston at the Allianz Stadium during the T1 Rugby Takeover event, previously known as Touch 2 Twickenham. The series is a mixed-gender, inclusive, noncontact event designed to encourage participation among students new to rugby. Mr Cannon and Mr Wilford were immensely proud of our players' conduct both on and off the field, as well as the significant improvement in rugby skills throughout the day. Our Year 10 students performed exceptionally well, embodying rugby values in every game whilst our Year 13 Young Leaders refereed games for the entire day.
HSPORT AND PENTATHLON
It has been a great term for hockey:
Our U12A Girls team excelled, winning every game t achieving victory at the U12A In2Hockey County Tou three decisive wins.
The competitive spirit of our U13A players shone bri the ISA National Tournament in London. They had a playoff round and displayed remarkable resilience a gaining invaluable experience whilst facing tough co
We hosted a Charity Hockey Festival, organised by Y Prefect, Will T, to celebrate the opening of the school s newly refurbished astro. This event united staff, students, and parents in a delightful, if rather wet, afternoon of hockey, while supporting Julia’s House and raising over £1,000.
We also saw our A Teams’ new sponsored kit this term. With a shared vision of nurturing both athletic and personal development through sport, we are thrilled to celebrate Sepio's generous sponsorship of th Leweston Girls' Hockey U12 to U18 A Team kit A heartfelt thank you Sepio, we are truly grateful for their support.
Swimming Success
Our students competed in the North Dorset Schools Swimming competition at Bryanston, achieving some brilliant results; U18 Girls 1st
U18 Boys 1st
U16 Girls 2nd
U16 Boys 2nd 1st team overall and winners of the 8x50 cannon relay.
7 of our swimmers travelled to represent the South West at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the ISA School Sport National Swimming Finals. Everyone excelled themselves, achieving 6 Gold medals and three silver!
SPORT AND PENTATHLON
A round of applause!
Congratulations to Ellie B, Year 10, who was selected for the prestigious Team Bath Netball U17 Athlete Development programme! Ellie was invited to join the ADC following a number of rigorous trials and assessment sessions.
Our U14 Netball squad progressed through to the Dorset County Netball Finals, after qualifying from the North Dorset Area event. The girls performed very well, with four strong wins across the afternoon Isaac W, Year 8, was once again successful in securing a place with Somerset County Cricket Club's U13 Squad for the 2024/25 Winter and Summer Programmes.
Y 8 E i S h l Fl C had a hugely successful trip to the pionships, where she represented bringing back a silver medal ff their journey in the Independent Cup with a thrilling 3-2 victory. dating the Yeovil Olympiads name next to the U17 Girls' One Mile
Pentathlon
The pentathlon programme at Leweston continues to thrive, with many of our athletes excelling in the various disciplines. Congratulations to the four pentathletes who represented Team GB at the Olympic Hopes Pentathlon event in Poland; it was an incredible experience for each of them.
Once again, we hosted the South West Schools Air Pistol Shooting Competition, which attracted 140 shooters from the region, including 36 students from Leweston. We are delighted to announce that we finished as the top team in the region, with first place for the senior team, second place for the intermediate team, and a bronze medal for the junior team The Senior Team and Katrina S have both qualified for the national finals!
EQUESTRIAN
Follow our page on Facebook for the latest Equestrian news.@LewestonEquestrian
Introduction of the Equine Management BTEC
This term has seen the introduction of the Equine Management BTEC for Sixth Form students. The qualification offers an engaging programme to those who want a career in the equine sector or to join one of a range of higher education courses in equine management. Some highlights from the first term have included:
A range of off-site visits, from local livery to Olympic Eventing yards, giving students an insight into how they operate and the key skills needed to run a yard successfully.
Meeting and working with a variety of professionals in the industry
Investigating equine anatomy up close at the South West Equine Treadmill, and observing Gibbs Marsh vets delivering intra-articular injections.
A bitting Clinic with Charlotte Warman and observing saddle fitting by Maxine Sayers
Gaining an in-depth knowledge of equine anatomy including the function of the skin, bone structure and sliding filament theory.
A visit from an equine nutritionist.
Leweston Riders Shine in JWS Championships
Congratulations to Leweston's Senior and Prep riders who excelled at Addington, securing multiple podium finishes, and showing great team spirit in various Jumping with Style and Show Jumping events at the NSEA National Championships. Our riders secured second place in both individual and team categories for the 75 and 85 JWS Championships, and two out of three of our teams advanced to the finale of the show jumping
Follow our page on Facebook for the latest Equestrian news.@LewestonEquestrian
Grand Opening of the Leweston Chedington Equestrian Centre
We were delighted to formally open the Leweston Chedington Riding Academy on Friday 29 November 2024 This fantastic equestrian facility will provide a wide range of opportunities for pupils both within the curriculum and as an extra-curricular activity It will also provide a home for our nationally successful Leweston Equestrian team who have topped the SW Regional NSEA Points League for seven consecutive years.
The Academy will have close ties to Chedington Equestrian, a world-renowned training centre for senior competitive riders, including Olympic competitors. This partnership provides pupils with access to world-class expertise and resources, further solidifying Leweston School's commitment to excellence in both academics and extracurricular activities
The Centre was formally opened by Chris Burton, Australian equestrian and Olympic Silver medallist in individual eventing at Paris 2024 It included tours of the facility, and an opportunity to meet the team behind this exceptional initiative
The School would like to express its deepest thanks to Dr and Mrs Guy, owners of Chedington Equestrian, for their support both in developing and building the project and for the ongoing opportunities that this link will provide.
Leweston Chedington Riding Academy Opening
BOARDING AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Throughout the Autumn Term, boarders at Leweston have participated in a variety of activities and excursions, creating cherished memories!
They have enjoyed baking club, mug painting, scavenger hunts, bracelet making, a trip to Thorpe Park, shopping trips, the cinema, and ice skating, to name just a few!
As the term came to a close, we said farewell to Mr Cannon, whose contributions to our Boarding and Sports Departments has been truly invaluable. Mr Cannon goes with our warmest wishes for success in his next adventure
Follow Lewestonboarding on Instagram for the latest news and updates
International students welcome local schools for
a social
Towards the end of term, we had the pleasure of hosting an International mixer, welcoming students from Sherborne Girls and Sherborne School. Our International Prefect, Bevan L, invited students from Years 11 to 13 to come and share some Christmas traditions from around the world. The evening was filled with laughter, new friendships, and spirited Christmas-themed games, all enjoyed over a spread of snacks and fizzy drinks We look forward to welcoming our neighbouring schools back next term for our International Public Speaking competition.
BOARDING AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The Benefits of Boarding
Many parents hesitate to consider boarding school due to concerns about their child's academic progress, friendships, and daily experiences. However, there are some significant advantages for those who board, as highlighted by Mrs Simkins-Smith:
24/7 learning environment: An immersive experience focused on academic and personal growth with a rich curriculum and varied activities.
More time: Extended hours for studies and activities. Independence and Responsibility: Living away from home learning to manage yourself.
Social skills: Development of essential interpersonal abilities. Lifelong friendships: Opportunities to form lasting connections.
Boarders go festive shopping!
IN THE LAB
The sciences are popular choices at GCSE and A Level, with many of our pupils eagerly exploring the realms of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. These subjects not only ignite curiosity but also equip students with critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the natural world.
This term we celebrated World Science Day which saw some fascinating experiments in the lab.
Year 12 Physics
Year 12 Physics students dove into the concept of terminal velocity by experimenting with how wallpaper paste resists a marble's descent whilst measuring the speed it reaches as it travels through the liquid. They also got handson with building a bridge crane to understand the principle of leverage.
Myth Busting
On his relentless quest to debunk flawed internet science, Mr Nejako, our Physics teacher, pulled off an amazing feat. He managed to balance a bottle on just three toothpicks and nothing more, and it hung there perfectly still for over an hour!
Biology Fieldtrip
Year 13 Biology students embarked on an educational field trip where they explored the benefits of crop rotation in enhancing soil fertility. Additionally, the students teamed up with staff and volunteers from the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and the Dorset Wildlife Trust who were conducting an electro-fishing survey. The students watched as trout were carefully weighed, measured, and tagged A small fin sample was taken for analysis before the fish were safely returned to the river. This survey aids conservation groups in monitoring fish populations and advising landowners on strategies to sustain and improve future fish stocks.
ACADEMIC
Year 7 Poetry Slam
Congratulations to our Year 7 students who performed at this year's Poetry Slam to celebrate National Poetry Day. The theme of 'Standing on the Shoulders of Giants' inspired a range of interesting creative writing and some fabulous choices of published verse. A big well done to prize winners; 1st Dexter S-S, 2nd Matthew B, 3rd Izzy K and James B. Thank you to Year 12 students, Dominiqe P and Felicity P-R, literature enthusiasts themselves, who judged the competition and were instrumental in organising the event
Curriculum Carousel
In the Autumn Term, we introduced our exciting Year 7 and 8 curriculum carousel. Every Tuesday afternoon, students participate in a rotation of activities, including Music Tech, Equestrian Studies, Cookery, Forest School, and Careers, spending 5 weeks immersed in each. This innovative carousel offers a fantastic opportunity for students to discover new interests and subjects. We look forward to rotating the groups again after Christmas
Head’s Essay Society
This term, the Society looked into the ethics of a moral dilemma, exploring diverse viewpoints on intervention and self-sacrifice, leading to some spirited discussions. Visit our blog entry by Dominiqe P, Year 12, where she shares insights from the latest meeting and how the debate inspired everyone to consider new ideas and perspectives
Geography Map Knowledge
Year 7 had a very productive lesson planning a route from Lillington Church to Leweston Chapel, visiting five other sites of interest. They had to use the mapping skills they have developed this term to give six grid references, direction and calculate distance along their route. Additionally, the activity tested them on their OS map symbol knowledge.
Read the full Blog post on our website.
Computer Science Education Week
9 December saw the beginning of Computer Science Education Week, an annual event dedicated to inspire children to learn computer science whilst promoting fairness in computer science education and celebrating the contributions and achievements of students, teachers, and practitioners.
Mr Stephens, our Computer Science teacher, has written a blog 'The Importance of Computer Science Education in School: Empowering Boys and Girls for the Future', which explores why computer science education is crucial for preparing boys and girls for a techdriven future, fostering essential skills, and promoting gender diversity in STEM. The full entry can be read on our website.
Some of Mr Stephens’ top reasons that Computer Science education is important include: FUTUREWORKFORCE
CAREERS
OA visit to discuss university and career path options to students
Many thanks to OA, Archie C, for spending time with two Year 11 students, sharing his experience of applying for an American Sports Scholarship
We would also like to congratulate Archie on gaining a place on the recruited student athlete programme at Georgetown University where Archie will be an economics undergraduate in the College of Arts and Sciences
The next step
Good luck to Will T and Jessica C who have both secured interviews to study medicine
Many thanks to Sherborne Girls who hosted an MMI evening, giving Will and Jess the opportunity to practice the type of selection process they are likely to face and a big thank you to Dr and Dr Broadley for coming into school and completing a mock interview with both students.
Penny F has received a brilliant offer to study for a Plant Science degree at the worldrenowned Eden Project in Cornwall.
The range of resources include Eden's own plant collections, growing environments, nursery and dedicated teaching facilities, coupled with the nationally renowned micropropagation research facility.
Penny will be integrated into the Eden Project, participating in activities in the tropical and Mediterranean biomes, the outdoor garden and the crop production facility, working alongside horticulturalists and attending taught modules onsite from specialist lecturers
Lowri Jenkins from the Cardiff University Schools Liaison team joined us to talk to Year 12 and their parents this term.
Lowri spoke about the UCAS application process, student finance, accommodation, open days and student support, amongst other topics. As one parent said after the talk 'It was extremely helpful and useful to get all the dates in mind and get an overview of the whole process.'
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
Leweston Lecture with Forensic Psychologists
Billy Moussalli and Chiara Picchi gave this term’s Leweston Lecture with a fascinating talk on the role of the Forensic Psychologist in the prison service. Parents, students and teachers enjoyed taking part in a case formulation and it was extremely valuable to get their advice on different routes into this career
Ten Tors Training
Retreat Days
Each year, students come together in their age group for a retreat day. Centred around a unique theme, the day is packed with fun group activities that encourage reflection and teamwork.
So far this academic year, Year 8, 7 and 10 pupils have taken part in their own enriching events.
Our third Ten Tors team went on their first training taster, trekking 14km in and around Dorchester. They will continue to increase their training efforts in the lead up to the Summer Term when they will face the challenge of conquering the 45 mile route across Dartmoor.
In September, Year 8's focus was ‘International Day of Peace’. The purpose of the day was to explore peace as a fundamental human right and its place within Catholic Social Teaching Students had time to reflect on their beliefs about peace, what it is and how we can achieve it in our own lives and the lives of others. The day provided opportunities for creativity and fun, including group activities such as; a ‘Prayer Run’, an art project creating ‘Peace flags’, and planting in our Leweston gardens
Year 7's Retreat centred around the theme ‘In solidarity for a green world’, aligning with the focus at the Climate Change Conference COP 29 The day aimed to delve into collaborative efforts for a more sustainable future, standing together with our global community
In December, Year 10 looked at the themes of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The day began with activities in the Sports Hall and a reflective 'Stations of the Crib' walk followed by creating an Advent playlist, crafting wreaths and designing Christmas cards
EXTRA-CURRICULAR
Geography Students' Inspiring Icelandic Adventure
In recent years, Leweston's Sixth Form
Geography students have been privileged to embark on an annual field trip to Iceland, immersing themselves in the awe-inspiring geographical marvels of this unique region. Over the October half term, this year's Sixth Formers had the experience of witnessing live volcanoes, majestic waterfalls, a geothermal power station, and intriguing fumaroles up close.
Day 1:
Explored the bridge between continents (Eurasian and North American plates)
Discovered fumaroles, bubbling mud puddles, and hot springs
Enjoyed coastal views and the 4D
Flyover Iceland experience
Witnessed the northern lights from the accommodation, whilst sat in hot tubs!
Day 2:
Visited the Secret Lagoon, Iceland's oldest geothermal pool
Saw the Gullfoss waterfall covered in snow
Experienced the Strokkur geyser erupting 11 times
Stopped at an ice cream farm and Thingvellir National Park, home to the world's oldest parliament
Ended the day with relaxation and a quiz competition
Days 3 & 4:
Visited the Lava Centre museum, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and a hidden waterfall
Explored Reynishverfi beach and Solheimajokull glacier, with breathtaking views!
Saw Skogafoss waterfall and enjoyed another display of northern lights
Explored Kerid Crater, Hveradalir
Geothermal area, and Hellisheidi
geothermal power station
Had free time in Reykjavik and fun at the city's open-air swimming pool
On Day 5, we returned home to share our adventures!
SIXTH FORM
Psychology Talk: Stroke Recovery Insights
Our Psychology department welcomed Nurse Consultant Caroline Smith and stroke survivor Stephen. They inspired our students with their insights on stroke recovery and the impact of modern treatments, highlighting the power of resilience and innovation. Their presentation was a perfect complement to our students' studies on brain structure, research methods, and the brain's remarkable ability to heal and adapt after injury.
Ceilidh
Honor, Year 13 Deputy Head Prefect and Prefect for Charities, organised a lively Ceilidh for students, staff, family, and friends. Together with a dedicated team of Year 13 students, Honor brought the event to life to support Julia's House. Honor said "Having booked the band in July, organising began to get off the ground in the Autumn Term, with catering, decorations and ticket sales. Thank you to everyone who came and supported us, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did."
Anchor and Buzzard
Sixth Formers at Leweston enjoy a host of privileges including casual Fridays and daytime visits to the School Café as well as the freedom to move freely across the campus and venture off-site when they are free of commitments Their calendar also sees regular Anchor and Buzzard social evenings. These gatherings are the perfect opportunity to relax together and have some fun. Just before the halfterm break, they celebrated a Halloween-themed social in the Drawing Room, where students showcased some impressive spooky costumes and enjoyed a cider tasting.
Food Bank Boxes
The Sixth Form dedicated time to wrapping festive boxes for the Sherborne Food Bank in preparation for Christmas. These boxes are filled with Christmas dinner items and delivered on Christmas Eve to those benefiting from the Food Bank's support.
END OF TERM FESTIVITIES
Christmas Lunch, Jumpers and Inter-House Competitions
At the end of term the school enjoyed a flurry of activities from rocking Christmas jumpers and enjoying a delicious festive lunch, to inter-house rugby, hockey and singing competitions. These activities are a fantastic chance for students from different year groups to come together and shine as a team. It was an impressive display of teamwork, not just in the matches, but also in pulling off two performances in less than two hours a remarkable achievement!
Christmas Market
We sincerely appreciate everyone who joined us for our Christmas Market again this year Our Events department organised another fantastic array of delightful stalls ranging from jewellery and art to soaps and candles.
Carol Service
It was a delight to come together with family and friends at Sherborne Abbey for our end-of-term Carol Service. Our readers and choirs delivered spectacular performances, providing a fantastic conclusion to the Autumn Term!
Snow
The first snow of the season fell in late November, creating smiles on faces, festive cheer, and a beautiful backdrop to our already picturesque landscape!
Mr B-B Bids Farewell
October saw Mr Burton-Brown's last lesson as he embarked on his retirement after 23 remarkable years at Leweston and 68 years teaching. We would like to share our heartfelt gratitude to Mr B-B who's dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to his Latin students has been truly inspiring. His presence will be missed in the classroom, and around the lunch table, we know that he leaves behind an incredible legacy and we wish him relaxation and happiness in his retirement.
Movember
Our amazing staff and students proudly championed Movember, shining a light on men's health and raising vital funds. A special thank you goes to Mr Cannon, who has been the driving force behind our Movember fundraising at Leweston for the past five years From hosting charity quizzes to organising the Mo' run and the Mo' Move Movember, he's helped raise over £3000 for this incredible cause!
Remembrance
On 11 November, the whole school gathered in the Chapel to take a moment to reflect, remember, and pay tribute to those who have bravely served and sacrificed for our freedom. A heartfelt thank you to our students, staff and Governo Lieutenant-General Sir James Dutton, who shared poems and readings, and to some of the Leweston parents currently servin in our Armed Forces who joined us for the meaningful service Thank you to Oliver M, from Year 8, who beautifully played 'The Last Post' a we stood together in silence for tw minutes.
LEWESTON SPOTLIGHTS
Themed Cuisine
Leweston’s Catering team, Chartwells, treat the school to delicious and varied meals throughout the year, and this term was no exception. We saw themed meals including ‘German Christmas Market’, ‘Fireworks feas ‘Christmas Cupcake Day’, along with flavourful Indian and Italian cuisine.
Leweston through the seasons
Across the term, members of staff having been taking some spectacular images of our school grounds in all kinds of weather, highlighting the beauty of our surroundings!
New Podcast Episode with Mr Enticknap
Mr Paget-Tomlinson sat down with Mr Enticknap, Head of Houses and Charities, to chat about the House system at Leweston and how it plays an integral role in creating community spirit throughout the age groups. Mr Enticknap also discussed his plans for the inter-house activities and charity fundraising across the year
To hear the full 'Leweston Voices' podcast episode, head to our website.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
LewestonLecturewithRebeccaHaskell:Tuesday4February,16:45
(BookingwillopenclosertothetimeontheSchoolPortal,oremail admin@lewestondorsetschuk)
PALSBurnsNight:Saturday1February
SchoolConcert:Thursday13February,17:00
SeniorPlay:19-21March
ChoralSocietyandCommunityOrchestraConcert:Friday28March
EasterPentathlonTrainingCamp:7-12April(tobook,email flahertym@leweston.dorset.sch.uk)
Pleaseemailadmin@leweston.dorset.sch.ukforanyeventenquiries.
LEWESTONSENIORSCHOOLANDSIXTHFORMVISITWEEKS: 10-14March2025
28April-2May2025
Afantasticopportunityforprospectivestudents andtheirfamiliestoreceiveapersonalisedtourof theschoolandmeetcurrentstaffandstudents,as wellastheHeadmaster
(Bookingonourwebsite‘SeniorAdmissions’orscantheQRcode)
