Leweston Life | Spring Term 2024

SPRINGTERM|2024

LEWESTONLIFE

LEWESTON LIFE REFLECTS THE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS OF LEWESTON PUPILS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS

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WELCOME FROM THE HEAD

I am delighted to be writing the introduction to another edition of our ‘Leweston Life’ newsletter. Not only because I get to congratulate the Leweston pupils, staff and community for yet another remarkable term, but also because it provides an opportunity to reflect on the successes of recent months

In the recent Parent Survey, parents described Leweston as a place that ‘creates well-rounded, content and confident children’ and this newsletter exemplifies that Pupils have excelled on the catwalk, in the swimming pool, on the sports pitches and in the classroom demonstrating that they have no shortage of confidence and can-do attitude.

I hope you enjoy reading the newsletter as much as I did.

John Paget-Tomlinson

MUSIC & CREATIVE ARTS

Students leave audiences mesmerised by their production of Les Misérables

Leweston students delivered a mesmerising performance of Les Misérables, leaving audiences in awe of their dramatic and musical talent

‘Magnificent…’ ‘Phenomenal…’

‘Amazing ’ ‘Completely mesmerizing ´’Unbelievably emotional ’ ‘For a minute we thought we had walked in to a West-End production’ are only some of the comments received.

Visit the school News page to read more about the production and view the gallery.

The quality of the musical was truly phenomenal I had to keep reminding myself that the performers were students

I felt swept up in the drama and quite tearful in the second part

Words cannot describe how wonderful and professional the show was

MUSIC & CREATIVE ARTS

Schola Cantorum perform alongside professionals musicians

Members of Schola Cantorum performed in Destination Opera’s production of Mozart’s ‘Idomeneo’ in Sherborne Abbey. Kiran and Yvonne played in the orchestra alongside professional musicians. Ollie, Dominique, Jasmine, Serena, and Hazel performed as soloists alongside professional opera singers. The rest of Schola Cantorum sang as part of the chorus with students from other local schools It was a fantastic experience for them all

Photo credit: Josie Sturgess Commercial Photography.

Leweston Choral Society perform Matthew Coleridge’s ‘Requiem’ with the composer himself

Members of Leweston Choral Society, Schola Cantorum, and guests joined a workshop on Matthew Coleridge's ‘Requiem’, led by the composer himself. The participants of the workshop were taken through the work by Matthew, who discussed his inspiration for each movement and his compositional process. It was a great insight into the 'Requiem', which they went on to perform in full, with Matthew conducting

A week later Matthew's 'Requiem' was placed 47th in the Classic FM Hall of Fame

Students take ABRSM Diplomas

Congratulations to Lio and Hazel who performed beautifully during their recitals in preparation for taking their ABRSM Diplomas at the end of the term.

Lio also performed brilliantly to reach the Independent Schools Association Young Musician Final earlier in the year

MUSIC & CREATIVE ARTS

Leweston Fashion Show

Our 2024 Fashion Show was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our pupils' creativity. They modelled a range of hats and garments that they have worked on during their Art, Design and Textiles lessons. The Show included work from Year 7 all the way through to A Level students, highlighting the diverse range of disciplines available in our Art and Design department and the impressive work they produce. From whimsical hats to eco-friendly designs and stunning A Level creations, scan the QR code to view the gallery, video and full story on our website.

Thought-Piece | The importance of sewing as a skill

At Leweston, Art and Design is a popular subject, with many pupils studying some form of creative discipline at GCSE and A Level. Our Art and Design department offers the opportunity for pupils to explore textiles, fashion, photography, graphic and fine art, ceramics and 3D Design. Ms Jemma Lacey, Head of Art and Design, recently explored the importance of sewing and stitching and the reason why everyone should learn on our school Blog. Read her piece and discover the numerous benefits of learning this valuable skill From personal satisfaction to practical applications, explore why sewing is worth mastering.

SPORT AN

The determination and resilience of our athletes at Leweston never fails to inspire, and this Spring Term has been remarkable. Just a small selection of the excellent sport we have seen can be seen below.

This term saw another excellent day for the annual Studland Stampede, superbly hosted by Canford School. Well done to Charlie for taking 1st place in the Inter Boys, Alice and Ellie who claimed 2nd place in the Senior and Junior Girls respectively, and Grace who was 3rd in the Junior Girls.

In another National event, our U13 Boys’ competed at the ISA U13 Hockey Championships. They performed well, playing their final in the London 2012 Olympics Hockey Stadium and finishing as ISA National U13 Boys Hockey Bowl Silver Medalists.

Katrina qualified for the Dorset County Championships and swam a phenomenal 100m Freestyle in 1:14:36, knocking a huge 4 55 seconds off her PB!

Leweston U15 Girls’ Netball team placed 3rd in the North Dorset Schools’ Netball Tournament. In doing so, the team qualified for the Dorset County Tournament

Follow Lewestonsport on Instagram for the latest news and updates.

SPORT AND PENTATHLON

Leweston’s Intermediate Team were crowned National Champions at the National Schools’ Shooting Championships, for the third year in a row, with Henrietta, Evanna, and Lucy finishing with Gold.

Leweston students had some impressive results at the South West BYC Epee Fencing Championships at Millfield As a result of their efforts, six of our students qualified for the regional team for the National Epee Championships in Sheffield.

The Leweston School Biathlon team achieved remarkable success at the National Schools Biathlon held at the University of Bath With a staggering 1600 competitors participating across different age groups over the span of two days, Leweston had 27 talented individuals showcasing their skills and achieving outstanding results securing multiple Gold medals and three team championships.

During the Spring Term, Leweston made history hosting the UK's first Pentathlon with innovative Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) format, showcasing exceptional performances with Leweston students achieving multiple Gold medals and securing 11 spots on the GB Laser Run team!

Leweston hosted the annual Easter Pentathlon Camp during the holidays, welcoming 90 athletes from grassroots to experienced pentathletes The camp gave the attendees the opportunity to train in multiple disciplines with brilliant coaches, and take places in a Triathlon at the end of the week. We look forward to welcoming more pentathletes to our Summer Training Camp in August

Follow Leweston Pentathlon on Instagram for the latest news and updates.

Boys’ Hockey Match

EQUESTRIAN

Intermediate Team Win at Royal Windsor Horse Show!

Congratulations to Leweston team Cobalt who took the win and the Royal Windsor Horse Show qualifying place at West Wilts EC at the end of February.

Leweston's riders will be returning to Windsor for the Intermediate Finals in May

Individual and Team County Show Jumping Champions

Leweston’s show jumping team swept the board, winning all the individual and team titles at the Dorset County Show Jumping Championships Stay tuned for their upcoming Nationals journey next term.

Two Teams to Represent Dorset at National County Dressage Championships

Leweston riders went to the Moreton EC NSEA Dressage County Qualifiers for Dorset and Hampshire in February, also taking part in the Eventers Challenge Qualifier happening in the adjacent arena. They were delighted to have two teams heading to Hickstead to represent Dorset at the prestigious National County Dressage Championships as a result!

Follow our page on Facebook for the latest Equestrian news@LewestonEquestrian

Antony House.

Scan the QR code to check out all of the news and updates in our Boarding Life newsletter for Spring Term 2024 on our website.

A few highlights from the term are included here.

Staff News

Congratulations to Mr Cannon and his fiancé on the arrival of their gorgeous addition to our boarding family, baby Amelia!

At the end of the Spring Term we said farewell to Mrs Ovey. She will be greatly missed but we wish her the best of luck in her new position as of Head of Boarding at Perrott Hill Miss Robinson will be taking over as Houseparent to Martha and Cecilia House. We welcome her into her new position and we look forward to her leadership in Martha and Cecilia.

We are delighted to announce that Miss Bailey will be joining the boarding team in April as our new Assistant Housemistress.

Follow Lewestonboarding on Instagram for the latest news and updates

Mrs Ovey Miss Robinson Miss Bailey

Follow Lewestonboarding on Instagram for the latest news and updates

IN THE LAB

British Science Week

Leweston pupils across the year groups explored the exciting world of science during British Science Week.

Year 7 participated in a bubble experiment, exploring how different variables could affect outcomes, whilst Year 8 created their own 'tumblewings' - made from two pieces of paper connected and dropped to create a spinning motion, highlighting how air can also be a force.

Year 7, 8 and 9 took part in a science assembly led by the Science Department. The assembly promoted accessible science for students with each teacher demonstrating a different, exciting, experiment!

STEM Army Day

We were delighted to welcome the Army STEM team back to Leweston, for a third year running, to host two interactive workshops. Year 9 students impressed by designing, building, and presenting rocket cars in the morning. They worked together seamlessly, considering all the elements needed for a successful design. In the afternoon, Year 7 students tackled a disaster relief scenario, drawing on their teamwork, problem-solving, construction and programming skills with b

Academic Enrichment

Throughout the Spring Term, Leweston's academic enrichment groups have continued to flourish The Rhetoric, Scholars' Society, and Head's Essay Society have all been pushing the boundaries of their research, engaging in stimulating debates, and delivering impactful presentations.

Rhetoric pupils in Years 7 to 9 had an informative session with Mr Hudson, Head of Science, on misleading graphs and data Scholars' Society saw two Year 11 groups presenting on controversial topics including veganism and the ways that humans can manipulate and influence the brain. The Head's Essay Society focused on the relationship between economic growth and environmentalism.

Eco House Competition

GCSE Science Live!

GCSE pupils visited Science Live! in Bath where they had the opportunity to listen to talks from Professor Robert Winston (a medical doctor specialising in human fertility), the Chief GCSE Examiner Stewart Chenery, Professor Dave Cliff (Research Scientist in computing), Dr Jess Wade (a Physicist from Imperial College London), Professor Alice Roberts (a Clinical Anatomist of Public Engagement in Science), and Professor Andrea Sella (Chemistry in the Faculty of Maths and Physical Science at UCL).

Elizabeth (Year 10) said the day was ‘both fascinating and stimulating’.

Year 7 Geography students were tasked with creating an Eco House. Alma has written about the lesson below:

The aim was to create a luxurious, eco-friendly house, that looks similar to any other house. Enhancing nature as much as possible was also part of the brief, therefore we had plants everywhere and a large rooftop garden We also wanted the house to promote activity rather than spending time on screens; we did this by limiting charging sockets, incorporating lots of bookshelves and large open spaces. When it came to the name of the house, we wanted to tie it in with our idea of nature. So, we came up with the name "arboretum" meaning; a botanical garden devoted to trees

The house also needed to be family friendly and fun so we put a natural outdoor swimming pool/ pond that promoted wildlife into our designs Inside, there was also a sauna (powered by solar panels) and a natural indoor swimming pool (doesn't that just sound like the perfect afternoon!) Also, the whole house was powered by solar panels and wind turbines (placed in the garden, hidden by trees). Overall, I was very happy with our house. I think we had some cool ideas (for example, showers that stop after 5 minutes) that might not have been seen before! This project also helped me think about what I can do at home to be more ecofriendly, so I really enjoyed it!

CAREERS

Year 8 Create Social Media Posts

In their Careers studies, Year 8 pupils created their own social media post for the School channels promoting an area of their choosing or highlighting their experience at school. They had the freedom to write about anything they wanted. Below are some examples;

“On a Tuesday night, Year 7 and 8’s are encouraged to come along to Sketchbook Club. During the hour, students are allowed total creative freedom to create anything they can imagine. This could be paintings, dresses, sketches, or they can even catch up on past art works. It is an hour to relax and do what you enjoy!

This club is run by Mrs Chillingworth every Tuesday night from 4.30 to 5.30.” - Lola

"Last September I was really excited to join Leweston after my brother really enjoyed his experience here. Initially I planned to stay for one term, but when I realised the many opportunities Leweston provides, I decided to stay One of the many reasons was because of the opportunities Leweston has given me, the responsibility and the way teachers trust you to make yourself better, which makes it special. Not only is Leweston good at academic results, it also has an amazing sport offering For example, I have never played netball in Spain, but at Leweston the netball coaches have helped me to learn from my mistakes and make improvements, and now I am in the first team thanks to them " - Ines

Marketing Talk from CIM

Maureen Wincott from The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) spoke to a selection of students from Year 11 to 13 who are interested in a career in marketing Maureen discussed university options and also Digital Marketing Degree Apprenticeships.

She had a range of advice about practical steps the students should take to increase their employability in a competitive job market. She was really impressed with the students who attended, some of whom are already involved in social media marketing campaigns.

International Speaking Competition

Three of our international students; Ines (Year 8), Dasha (Year 11), and Hazel (Year 13), competed in a public speaking competition against Sherborne School, Sherborne Girls and Sherborne Preparatory School. Our students were supported by Mr PagetTomlinson, Mr McManus and Mrs Quick They all spoke brilliantly, leaving their audience entertained and inspired on a variety of topics.

Ski Trip

Everyone had a fantastic time on the school Ski Trip to Austria. During their time there, the advanced group went on a tour of the mountain range, enhancing their skills in varying conditions and covering a whopping 26km in one day. The whole group enjoyed a variety of evening quizzes and games and were able to improve

their skills and showcase their bravery. The last day saw a fantastic time on the slopes with some fresh snow. Everyone participated in the finale showcasing the skills they acquired over the week. All groups were skiing red runs by the end of the week, ski jumps and slalom racing!

Ten Tors Training Walks

Our Ten Tors students have completed various training walks across the term, including a hike across the beautiful Dorset Coastal Path. They are looking forward to completing the Challenge in May.

Leweston Lecture

This term’s Lecture was given by Lord Mark Sedwill

Lord Sedwill provided a fascinating insight into his roles as Senior Diplomat, Cabinet Secretary and Security Adviser, before answering a range of questions posed by students and parents, including whether Boris Johnson or Theresa May had been easier to advise Lord Sedwill encouraged students to decide on their own career path and to do what they enjoy.

Leweston Ski Trip

Cedars Café

At Leweston, our Sixth Form students have the chance to take on leadership roles and enjoy special privileges They love dressing down on Fridays and can relax in the school Café during their free periods and breaks. It was lovely to see Year 13 students often mingling with parents in the Spring sunshine.

What does a Busines assignment look like

This term on the Blog Molly her BTEC assignment: to inv contribution of innovation a success of a chosen busines

Read Molly's write up and d studying BTEC Business; fro practical and vocational app allowing students to explore different areas of business a discover their areas of inter

Gold Duke of Edinburgh

Congratulations to Ellen, Tully, and Chloe who have completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards and will be attending Buckingham Palace celebrations in May

Upper Sixth Raise Over £6,000 for Charity

A massive congratulations to our Upper Sixth students who raised £6,398 for the Rainbow Children's Trust. The spent the term holding small fundraisers, such as bake sales, and larger events from the 24 Hour Sportathlon to their Family Race Night.

The students should feel a gr pride in their hard work and amount they raised, one of th totals achieved by an Upper S many years Their dedication unnoticed. Just Giving told th fundraising page ranked in t that month.

Scan the QR code to read mo and view the gallery on our b it

Honor Reflects on the Nepal Trip on Leweston Voices Podcast

In the Spring term episode of the Leweston Voices Podcast, Mr. Paget-Tomlinson had a conversation with Honor (Year 12) about her trip to our sister school in Nepal, Jana Jyoti. They also talked about the fundraising initiatives our students have been

Fundraising for Nepal

Pupils continued their efforts to raise funds for our sister school in Nepal this term. Well done to Year 9, who organised a boys vs girls hockey match as a fundraiser Pupils put on various fundraising events throughout the year at Leweston, in order to raise vital funds for Jana Jyoti school, who we have had a partnership with for over thirty years

Community Tea Party

Catholic Social Teaching highlights the importance of family and community, and we welcome all opportunities to strengthen our links with the Parish and wider community.

Sixth Form students invited members of the Parish to an afternoon tea held in the Manor House preparing the venue, baking cakes, making sandwiches and providing musical entertainment The Sixth Form were delighted to chat to their guests over cup of tea, many whom knew members of staff or had past links with the school.

Retreat

The School Retreat was an opportunity, during the season of Lent, to pause, a time to reflect, and a time to act

The day began with the celebration of Mass, followed by the ‘Big Lent Walk’ for CAFOD The theme for the day was Catholic Social Teaching and, in Houses, pupils and staff engaged in a range of activities. It was wonderful to see all ages working enthusiastically together, whilst reviewing the the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Finally, the whole school met in the Chapel to reflect on the day through prayer and music.

Lent Walk

By participating in the Lent Walk as a collective, we foster a sense of solidarity and shared purpose within the Leweston community.

After Mass and Liturgy, pupils from the Prep, Senior, and Sixth Form, as well as staff, embarked on a Lent Walk to champion CAFOD's mission, raise awareness about pressing issues, and gather funds. At the core of the Lent Walk initiative is the promotion of unity, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and beliefs to rally behind a shared goalextending a helping hand to CAFOD and those in need

LEWESTON SPOTLIGHTS

Ralph goes orienteering

Congratulations to Ralph (Year 7) who completed an incredible challenge with the Scouts, taking part in an overnight orienteering competition, which involved a 7-mile hike in the dark from Badbury Rings.

Life After Leweston

Leweston.co.uk relaunches

The new Leweston website officially launched this term Showcasing our vibrant community in an interactive format, it's the perfect way to discover what a Leweston education is all about and features our new school videos Explore the new site by scanning the QR code.

Many of our Year 13 students have been receiving fantastic offers for their next steps after Leweston Congratulations to all of Year 13, with special mention to; Charlie - who has received an offer from The London School of Economics and Political Science.

Ollie - who gained not one, but five offers from Music Conservatoires. Ollie has accepted a place with the Royal Academy of Music, after being offered a 75% scholarship!

Weronika - who gained an unconditional place at Minerva University With an acceptance rate of 1-2% this is a real achievement. Weronika said 'I absolutely cannot believe it and I am feeling so grateful for the opportunity that is being at Leweston School If I was not studying in England, it would have never happened '

Bella - who successfully gained an Audit Apprentice position with Mazars Accountants in Poole. Bella will be earning a competitive salary whilst taking part in a four year training pathway which will result in a full ACA qualification, providing excellent career prospects going forward

LEWESTON SPOTLIGHTS

Best in Ballroom

Samantha (Year 11) and Oliver (Year 8) were both featured in The Sherborne Times for their incredible achievements in ballroom dance. Samantha has achieved fantastic results in the Junior U16 category, being crowned Champion in Latin at the ISTD Grand Finals in Blackpool, securing 1st and 2nd Ballroom at Champions of Tomorrow Blackpool and placing 1st Ballroom South of England Championships. Last April, Oliver came 5th in the IDTA National Ballroom Final in the Winter Gardens and won the National Juvenile League, with Yeovil Dancentre’s U12 top team, against 26 other teams.

Access Project Award

We were delighted to be shortlisted for the ‘Best Use of Audio’ category in the School Stories Awards 2024 for the Leweston Voices Podcast and even more thrilled to win the Access Project Award for our Peer Mentoring ‘Buddy’ System

Therapy Dog

Orla the Golden Retriever, who belongs to our School Counsellor Karen Megahey, has completed her training to become a certified therapy dog Karen puts Orla to work exclusively at Leweston.

A great deal of emphasis is placed on pastoral care at Leweston. We are entirely committed to providing an environment that inspires warmth, confidence, creativity and personal development in all our pupils, and Orla has been a fantastic new addition to the support we have on offer.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Leweston Lecture: Thursday 25 April, 16:45 (Book on School Portal)

PALS Whole School Summer Fayre: Friday 3 May

Abbey Festival Ensembles Concert: Monday 6 May

Abbey Festival Choir Concert: Wednesday 8 May

Year 5 Activity Day: Friday 14 June (Book on our website ‘Events’)

Senior Sports Day: Thursday 20 June

PALS Summer Ball: Saturday 22 June

Speech Day and End of Term: Friday 28 June