View from the Abbey | 17 November 2022

VIEW FROM THE ABBEY Thursday 17 November 2022

Despite it only being eleven days since we returned from the half-term break, we’ve had a very busy time at school.

The Fifth Form and Middle Sixth Form have tackled their mock exams with an overwhelmingly organised and mature approach, and we’ll be sharing their results soon.

The Remembrance Sunday Service was well-attended by families and school alumni, with our CCF Cadets leading a poignant service. Special mention must also go to Tregonwell House who contributed to an impressive art project in Weymouth, creating poppies from plastic bottles.

This week has had a pastoral focus, with students working in each house to support Anti-Bullying Week. I’ve been so impressed with how our Sixth Form has led this project: leading their younger housemates in constructive discussions, identifying new ways to support one another, and creating impressive anti-bullying prompts, such as Hambro’s mugs and Hughies’ odd socks bunting banner.

MA Family Fortunes | 2

Sports successes | 3

Chris Barnes | Deputy Head (Pastoral)

Creative Showcase | 4

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Middle Sixth BTEC Film & TV students put into practice many of the skills needed to produce a TV game show.

They started by creating the set - considering lighting and camera angles - then rigged it for picture and sound. Everything was fed into a mixing desk, allowing ‘as live’ multi-camera editing.

With thanks from volunteer contestants, they recorded two episodes of MA Family Fortunes. Our version of the famous quiz format included questions such as “What items do you need to take on a DofE camping expedition?” (‘a tent’ was the top answer’) and “What are students’ favourite hymns to sing in Chapel?” (‘Jerusalem’ came top).

Third Form Digital Day Inspiring industry professionals from Salo Creative led the Third Form through a digital design challenge as MA joined schools across the country for the British Interactive Media Association (BIMA) Digital Day, where the students were challenged to meet briefs set by Royal Mail and Primark.

The pupils were split into four teams to take on the challenge.

The professionals were immediately impressed by their engagement, teamwork and ideas. One pupil even started coding a new app within the first 30 minutes! The day culminated in Dragon’s Den style pitches, where the designers heard about ideas including Royal Mail ‘Doorstep Drones’ and an online trading platform for unwanted Primark clothes to earn and spend ‘Green Points’.

As well as building skills in creativity, teamwork and communication; the day gave pupils an insight into digital design and to think about

Catch up on our Parent Webinars We’ve held two more parent events in the last week, which you can watch by clicking the two images here.

Laura Kleiser, Head of Learning Development and Lead SENDCo, hosted a session on the topic of “Autism and ADHD: Parenting skills and techniques”. This webinar was a real eye-opener, combining practical skills and professional insight with pragmatism and positivity about everything neurodiverse children can achieve.

Head of Sixth Form, Dr Josh Bradbury, also held a session for Fifth Form parents, explaining how we help pupils move into the Sixth Form and starting the conversation about subject choices and planning for leaving school. For anyone who’s interested in the UCAS application process or how BTEC results equate to A Levels in terms of university entry, it’s an essential watch.

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SPORTING NEWS A tremendous term of rugby This term has seen sensational development of the school’s rugby teams, with the Senior Boys achieving an excellent second place finish (out of eight schools) in the Jonny Wilkinson Cup, an historic girls’ match on the MA Main Pitch and the Junior Boys going from strength to strength.

The Boys’ 1st XV travelled to Rendcomb College for the annual Jonny Wilkinson Cup. MA won every game of their pool stage, setting them up for a final against Ewell Castle. We had opportunities to close out the game, as did the opposition, but through some incredible defence both teams managed to keep a zero scoreline. In extra time, we gave away a penalty and the game ended 3-0 to Ewell. We had a brilliant day and did not concede a try the whole tournament.

This week, our Main Pitch held the school’s first even girls’ contact rugby matches. The MA team and guests from Bishop Wordsworth School couldn’t have been more up for the fixture, playing two Sevens matches and a 13-a-side game.

There was some exceptional skill and passion on display, with MA students watching from the sidelines despite the heavy rain. The games finished with Wordsworth taking the win in the Sevens and MA narrowly clinching the 13-a-side match.

Driven Gilles’ podium finishes Lower Sixth student Gilles C achieved two podium finishes in the Walter Hayes competition at Silverstone at the start of the month.

Gilles competed in the Monoposto category, his first time driving a Formula 3 car competitively after successful races in other formats.

In his first race of the weekend, he qualified at P2 on the grid - only 0.08 seconds behind pole position - and finished in third place. In the second race of the weekend he also qualified at P2, but after posting the fastest lap time of the weekend (despite heavy rain), he finished in first place.

Everyone at MA is incredibly proud and we will be watching his racing career with excitement.

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CREATIVE SHOWCASE

VIEW FROM THE ABBEY

Sixth Form Art and Fashion Design students joined together to take part in a ‘life sculpting’ class, as part of the Wednesday afternoon co-curricular programme, creating these impressive depictions of the model. It was a valuable experience for the artists who have been studying sculpture and the human form this term, and for the fashion students to consider how to design well-fitted pieces for different types of people.

A Level Photography Student Maddie B has been experimenting with transferring photographs onto fabric, creating some fantastic and delicate outcomes.

To achieve this result Maddie has used a lightweight fabric soaked in cyanotype chemicals, which she has then exposed to UV Light with a photographic negative on top of the fabric.

A really creative and beautiful result!

Return dates Boarders: Sunday 20 November from 17:00 to 21:00 (supper 18:00-19:00) Day pupils: Monday 21 November before 08:35 for tutor groups Follow us:

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