CONNECT Friends of NGHS Magazine Issue 7 January 2015
Welcome Welcome to the seventh edition of Connect, our Friends of NGHS magazine. As we enter 2015 it is a great time to be able to reflect on another busy and exciting year at NGHS. The summer saw our girls yet again receive an outstanding set of GCSE and A Level results, showing that single sex education consistently produces high achievers! We then said a fond farewell to our Class of 2014, who we welcome to our alumnae community and who we wish well with their future endeavours. We had a busy start to the new academic year. Our annual Prizegiving ceremony at the Albert Hall was a great celebration of our exam results, and we welcomed Miranda Krestovnikoff, TV presenter and zoologist, as our guest speaker to help us celebrate. We had our annual Open Morning in October, for which we had a record number of visitors, and already this year, our girls have taken part in various sporting fixtures, concerts, enrichment clubs, and trips to destinations including Italy and Berlin.
Keeping in touch There are many ways in which you can keep in touch with us. Email: development@not.gdst.net Tel: 0115 941 7663 See the website at www.nottinghamgirlshigh. gdst.net for our up to date news, full events calendar and much more.
Join our online groups on Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/FriendsofNGHS https://twitter.com/NottmGirlsHigh www.facebook.com/FriendsofNGHS
In early November, it was a pleasure to welcome back over 80 alumnae to our ‘Reunion Across the Decades’ event here at the school. For those of you who were unable to attend, we will be holding another reunion in April, so we hope to see you back at NGHS then. I do hope that you enjoy reading this issue of Connect. If you think you could contribute to a future edition, please get in touch with us as we’d love to hear from you. Yours sincerely
Susan M Gorham Head
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School News
WHOLE SCHOOL SPORTS DAY On a very hot day in July, we held our first whole school Sports Day at the University of Nottingham Highfields Playing Fields. The sun shone all day, and the girls and staff pulled out all of the stops to make it a spectacular occasion. The House parade was a sight to behold, with over 800 girls in red, blue, yellow and green holding their House banners with pride as they paraded in front of parents, grandparents and friends. From Reception
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to the Sixth Form, there was something for everyone - space hopper races, bean bag relays, discus, javelin, hurdles and a charity fun run. All agreed it had been a great success and well done to the winning Houses of Sherwood (KS1), Rufford (KS2) and Hastings (Senior School).
GERMAN CHOIR TOUR In July, 42 girls and 4 staff travelled to the Black Forest in Germany for their second Music tour. The girls were members of the School Choir, Flute Choir and String Quartet and they performed three concerts in three days – quite a tall order that required a lot of organisation and travelling! Based in Pforzheim, the tour party travelled to Heidelberg, Lake Titisee and the waterfalls at Triberg. They performed at a beautiful church in Bad Herrenalb (where they received a standing ovation!); by the lake at Titisee; and in the concert pavilion at Bad Krozingen where everyone enjoyed a very healthy slice of Black Forest gateau! Girls from all year groups were involved in the tour and it was great to have some of the Year 11 and 13 girls there performing with the groups for the last time before they leave NGHS. The tour was a great success - many thanks to all involved!
A LEVEL RESULTS During the summer we once again celebrated brilliant A Level results, showing that single sex education consistently produces high achievers. We celebrated a 100% A Level pass rate, with 85% of girls gaining at least one A or A* grade. 97% of all our girls earned grades C or above with 88% gaining a B, A or A*. These outstanding results look set to confirm us as one of the country’s top independent schools for girls, confirming that in an all-girls environment anything is possible!
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“Spectacular results cannot be achieved without expert teaching”, Sue confirmed. “We are justifiably proud of the excellent relationship between staff and girls and we congratulate each and every one.”
GCSE RESULTS We also celebrated some outstanding GCSE results, with 99.5% of all passes at A* to C, and 75.5% of all results being awarded A* or A. A total of 40 girls have achieved A* and A grades in all ten GCSE subjects taken, demonstrating the breadth of their ability across a wide range of disciplines. The school, now the only single-sex private school in the city, continues to prove that an all-girls environment demonstrates some real clout when it comes to key exam results, despite the talk and debate about uncertain grade boundaries this year. The standard stereotyping that can prevail and provide a barrier to some in co-ed schools, is simply removed and the result is 100% pass rate A* to B in a range of subjects from RS to Drama and Geography to Spanish.
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Sue Gorham, Head, has also remained steadfastly committed to the view that good exam performance is a by-product of a wider educational experience: “We are inevitably measured by our exam success and we are certainly proud of these excellent results which show yet again our consistently high performance across all subject areas. But a truly great school should also be measured on its ability to educate the individual as a whole, developing confidence, courage, curiosity, critical thinking and independence. That is the education that we are committed to delivering to all our students.” playing environment, it was a big ask. The girls excelled on court, digging deep to achieve an undefeated record. Off court, the girls were a credit to the school, enjoying a catamaran cruise, snorkelling with turtles, water sports and a Caribbean beach party, amongst other exciting activities.
NETBALL TRIP TO BARBADOS by Mrs Jephson, Head of Netball The summer term ended with our netballers embarking on the first ever international school netball tour. 16 players jetted off with Mrs Skinner, Mrs Hall and myself to the Caribbean island of Barbados. As anticipated, the matches were tough and physical, and combined with the heat and humidity of the
It was a fantastic experience and opportunity for our senior netballers, and just the start of NGHS’s international netball future. The girls loved it as you can tell from these comments: “The whole experience of the netball tour to Barbados was the highlight of our netball lives at NGHS and the most rewarding and enjoyable way to end our time at school. It was amazing to experience netball in another country and we were able to learn new skills and develop as a team in the presence of such talented players. The amazing activities such as the catamaran cruise and water sports that we enjoyed as a team were really enjoyable and the whole tour was one of the best experiences of my life.” Lauren McAnallen - Senior Netball Captain
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“Barbados was the perfect ending to NGHS netball; it was great to meet new people and play fun but challenging games against them. Spending time on the beach and doing water sports with everyone on tour was also a highlight. I hope the next tour is just as successful!”
“I thoroughly enjoyed the netball tour to Barbados. It really was the highlight of my time at NGHS. I enjoyed the challenge of playing netball in the heat and against such a different style of opposition. Doing watersports and a catamaran cruise with all my friends was so much fun and I'm sure the future tours will be just as enjoyable!”
Georgie Banks
Charlotte Ashley
“The netball tour to Barbados was an amazing experience. It was nice meeting new people and playing matches in a new environment. We were all pushed to our limits yet I enjoyed every minute of the tour. It was a lovely way to end my time at NGHS and to say goodbye to the netball team!” Rebecca James
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ARKWRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP Congratulations to Olivia Dadge, who beat over 1000 other candidates to win a coveted Arkwright Engineering Scholarship. The Scholarship provides students with a £600 financial award to enhance their A Level studies and a range of activities to develop their understanding and experience of engineering. Olivia had to successfully complete a rigorous selection process consisting of a detailed application form, a two-hour aptitude exam and an interview hosted at a top engineering university. Sue Gorham, Head of Nottingham Girls’ High School, commented: “What Olivia’s achievement showcases is not only her outstanding ability but her potential to continue to excel in the field. Better still, she sets a precedent for talented female engineers in what has long been a male-dominated industry.”
applications for the scholarship, and Hayley had to attend a day at the Institute in London where she was interviewed by three companies as well as a panel from ICE. Many congratulations to her for this fantastic achievement - we wish her all the best as she embarks on a career in engineering.
TAEKWONDO Hope Kightley, Year 12, won a silver medal when she represented Great Britain at the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships held in Edinburgh during November. Many congratulations.
Olivia was equally delighted: “I’m so pleased that I had enough confidence in my abilities to just go for it. It was a really tough selection process, so I’m happy that they saw something in me which impressed them! Engineering is something that I feel passionate about, and the Scholarship will really help me to pursue it.”
SWIMMING
HAYLEY JACKSON Huge congratulations to Hayley Jackson, Class of 2014, who has been awarded a full QUEST Scholarship with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). Hayley will be sponsored by VINCI-Taylor Woodrow and will receive £2,500 per year towards her degree, with an 8 week paid placement each summer and a graduate job at the end. There were hundreds of
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Rosie Rudin, Year 12, has been awarded the Nottingham City Junior Sports Person of the Year, Nottinghamshire ASA Swimmer of the Year and the Nottinghamshire Aquatic Sports Person of the Year; an amazing achievement, well done Rosie.
BNF DRUMMOND AWARD Amelia Bowling, Year 12 has been awarded the BNF Drummond Education award for GCSE Design and Technology, Food Technology, for the OCR exam group. Amelia was presented with her certificate by HRH The Princess Royal at an awards ceremony held at the Royal College of Physicians, Regents Park, London.
YOUR SCHOOL NEEDS
We are conscious that there are many alumnae with whom we have lost touch. We are keen to re-engage, involve and communicate with as many alumnae as possible and would urge you to let your networks know about us. If you know of friends and contacts who do not hear from us, please encourage them to get in touch and leave us their details in order for us to update the database. WE NEED YOUR HELP
We have lots of exciting plans for Connect and want it to be a vibrant magazine, reflecting all of the amazing things that our alumnae are involved in - but we cannot do this without you! Please visit our Facebook page and get involved. www.facebook.com/FriendsofNGHS
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Alumnae Events 80TH BIRTHDAY GET TOGETHER We were recently contacted by Brenda Mordecai (neé Davis) who sent us a lovely letter and this picture of her and some of her NGHS peers, who had a recent reunion to celebrate their 80th birthday year! Most of the ladies pictured started at NGHS in 1944, finishing in 1950-51, and it’s great to hear that they had a lovely time catching up and reminiscing.
SPRING LUNCH On Saturday 26 April, we were delighted to welcome back alumnae and former staff to the school for the Spring Lunch reunion. Having left in a range of years from 1954 to 2004, and with some visiting us for the first time since leaving, it was great to be able to show the former students around the school again!
Back row: Gillian Slight, Muriel Rysdale, Brenda Davis, Olga Hursthouse, Glennis Winfield, Barbara Atkins, Jennifer Smith, Jean Cherry, Brenda Davidson Front row: Dorothy Bancroft, Monica De Mynn, Shirley Cottam, Pat Smith, Janine Baker, Phyllis Harris, Joan Pinder, Sheila Ballard
REUNION ACROSS THE DECADES SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2014 It may have been a dull and drizzly afternoon in November, but that didn’t dampen the spirits here at NGHS as we welcomed back over 75 alumnae and former staff. There was the chance to catch up and reminisce with friends over a tasty lunch, which was followed by the opportunity to have a tour of the school, guided by members of the Sixth Form prefect team. These tours are always a big hit with alumnae and it was great to see so many people treading the corridors, venturing into “the dungeons”, and daring to peek inside the
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Head’s office (although from lots of stories that we heard, this was not the first time for some of our more mischievous alumnae!) We welcomed back 30 leavers from the Class of 1994 who came along to celebrate their 20th anniversary of leaving school.
Left-right: Sonia Woolley, Maureen Paxton (nee Sainsbury), Pamela Haddon (nee Mitchell), Pat Constable (nee Disney), and Violet Ashford (nee Rushworth).
We also had a party of 1989 leavers who were marking their 25th anniversary.
SAVE THE DATE - SPRING LUNCH, SATURDAY 25 APRIL 2015 If you couldn't make it to the reunion in November, don’t worry - the next date for your diaries is Saturday 25 April 2015. An invitation is enclosed so book your place and spread the word!
CLASS OF 1995 Come along and celebrate your 20 year anniversary of leaving school with us! Lizzie Huckle has been in touch and wants to get lots of 1995 leavers together - if you’re interested in joining the party, contact her at: Elizabeth.Huckle.1@city.ac.uk
CLASS OF 1967
With alumnae ranging from the 1950s, all the way up to 2009, it really was a 'Reunion Across the Decades'! It was wonderful to hear so many stories about the school, and also views on how it has changed over the years. Thank you to everyone who came, we hope you enjoyed it! www.facebook.com/FriendsofNGHS
Anne Maclachlan (neé Matthews) and Rosemary Ingram (neé Holliday) are very keen to make contact with their fellow 1967 leavers, and would love to get as many people as possible together for the Spring Lunch. If you are interested in joining them, please contact either Anne: annemaclachlan@hotmail.com or Rosemary: rosie.ingram@btinternet.com as they would be delighted to hear from you.
REUNIONS If your year group is looking to organise a reunion please contact us and we will be happy to discuss this with you.
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2014 Leavers
The girls’ last day at school is always memorable, lots of fun, and traditionally involves water which this year was entirely appropriate as Year 13 chose the theme of ‘Under the Sea’.
you could catch assorted fish, crustaceans, flotsam and jetsam, and various sea-faring folk. Brandishing giant water pistols the girls ensured that passing motorists and pedestrians were able to share in the seaside experience by providing their very own ocean spray. Much fun was had by all and congratulations must be given to those girls who managed to run up and down the street in flippers without falling over an amazing ‘feet’!
Braving the rather chilly May weather, the girls took to the street in an array of colourful marine based outfits. Bobbing along Arboretum Street
The school of fish then washed ashore to dry off and enjoy a warm breakfast in the dining hall before attending the bittersweet final assembly, where memories and music mingled with tears and laughter.
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From 2000 to 2014, how our Reception girls have grown!
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Performing Arts
CABARET In March our School Hall was transformed into 1931 Berlin as we hosted a production of the classic musical, ‘Cabaret’. With its gritty and emotional storyline, this was an ambitious undertaking and thoroughly tested both the acting and musical abilities of the cast. All students involved performed wonderfully though, and it was an incredible run of performances. Well done to all involved.
a slick manner, with many of the cast having to multi role. They captured the comical element superbly though, and worked very hard to put on a great production - well done everyone!
THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE Located on the site of the Old Dining Hall, this state-of-the art centre will provide both Junior and Senior girls with the space to be able to rehearse and deliver outstanding performances of music, theatre and dance. We have also made strong links with other arts organisations in the City who are keen to work with us. Together we will be able to offer the latest resources, equipment and know-how, for the girls to have the opportunity to learn the skills of professional theatre technicians such as lighting, sound recording, box office and back stage. Across all year groups, performing arts are embedded in school life and our talented, creative pupils love the opportunity to shine.
ERNIE’S INCREDIBLE ILLUCINATIONS ‘Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations’, a play by Alan Ayckbourn, was our Key Stage 3 Drama production in July. A hilarious play about the power of the imagination, this was performed on two nights. The cast were naturals and performed with energy and enthusiasm, making each ‘illucination’ come alive! It was a fast paced performance which was executed in
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The GDST have pledged their support for this multi-million pound project on the proviso that as a school we fundraise £1.5 million towards the cost. We are delighted to say that we’re nearly there with over £1.2million raised. It’s impressive but there is still some way to go!
displayed on the donor tree in perpetuity - a lasting testament to the generosity of all our supporters. The donor tree will take pride of place in the new Performing Arts Centre when it has been completed.
RAISE THE CURTAIN BALL On Saturday 17 May, the marquees were set up, the bars were fully stocked, the band was tuned, and the red carpet was rolled out as NGHS was transformed into a glittering venue for our 'Raise the Curtain' ball! In aid of our fundraising campaign for our new Performing Arts Centre, we hosted a fun filled evening of glamour, great food, music and company. It was a fabulous evening, and through ticket sales, sponsorship, the auction and raffle, we raised an incredible £20,000 towards our fund. A huge thank you to everyone who came along or supported us in any way - we couldn’t have done it without you and your support towards our campaign is greatly appreciated!
If you would like to support the donor tree, there are 3 different leaves to choose from: Leaf type
Bronze
£150
Silver
£300
Gold
£450
Gold Super-leaf £10,000 Add an extra 25% to your gift, at no extra cost to you!
A whole host of fundraising initiatives have been introduced by parents and the girls, including art workshops, printed tea towels, personalised Christmas cards and pantomime tickets. Individual pupils have also been busy raising money through cake sales, car washing and even running a half marathon to support the fundraising campaign! Alumnae have been very keen to get involved too - buying a leaf on our beautiful donor tree. The leaves celebrate their time at NGHS, or are donated in the memory of a loved one. We also have groups of former classmates getting together, such as the ‘O Level Group of 1986’ who now have a lovely inscribed silver leaf on the tree. The leaves are all engraved and www.facebook.com/FriendsofNGHS
How do I buy a leaf on the tree?
Decide on the colour of your leaf, then click on the Performing Arts tab on our website www. nottinghamgirlshigh.gdst.net and follow the link to the Donor Tree and complete the online form - don’t forget to tick the Gift Aid box to maximize your donation! Once you have made your donation, we will contact you to discuss what you would like engraved on your leaf. Thank you for your support.
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The Road to Wonder Womanhood: my journey so far. Megan Holmes (2008) “If you’re a man, and you still think a woman can’t compete with you, she’s about to blind side you, pal.” Well said, George Lois! I am passionate about young women emerging from a multitude of backgrounds and making it to the top in any industry, in particular, business, which is traditionally a male dominated arena. Before the Women’s Liberation Movement, men ruled many industries - but the girls have come a long way. It all starts with education. Education is the key to a prosperous future. It presents you with options and opens your eyes to a world of possibilities. As Aristotle famously said: "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet." Some say your school days are the best time of your life, which is for the most part true. As years pass by, the challenging times become a distant memory and the good remain prominent. I reflect fondly on my NGHS days.
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My memories include: • Boiling in the summers because I would rather wear a woollen jumper than be seen with a tucked-in shirt • End of year exams, parents' evening and school report dread • Fire drills always occurred in extreme weather conditions • Avoiding ‘undesirables’ in the Arboretum • Getting told off for ‘snowballing’ on the tennis courts and being late for registration • Meeting boys on the bus lane despite being herded into a double decker by Mrs Higgins • Having a huge sense of importance because I got to sit on a chair in assembly • Exploring the dungeons due to peer pressure and still being terrified to this day • Glow sticks at the carol service. Was it a rave or Christmas?
However, the Class of 2008 also experienced tough life lessons due to the loss of good friends. The transition from Junior to Senior School saw the tragic loss of our friend Laura Morgan making it a difficult start to Year 7 for many pupils. More recently, the sad loss of Alexis Peadon reminds all of us to attack every day with a great sense of humour and to cherish the friends you make at whatever stage in life. After school and Sixth Form, I went on to study Advertising and Brand Management at Manchester Metropolitan University for four years, with a year studying International Business at the Fachhochschule Frankfurt am Main, Germany - es war sehr gut! I made friends from all over the world, partied my dancing shoes off and will miss the countless opportunities to experience new things. Though the late nights in the library and endless assignments will not be missed - it was all worth it in the end. Whilst studying in my final year at university I managed to secure a career in Leeds as a Marketing Executive at Science Warehouse, one of the fastest growing companies in the UK e-business sector. I work alongside a dynamic sales and marketing team developing business across the public and private sectors. The core of my role is enhancing marketing communications with a focus on brand building and lead generation. I feel privileged to be part of a friendly team that supports my creativity and ideas. I also value the freedom I have been given to try new marketing techniques; something difficult to come across in companies as a graduate. As the Class of 2008 become young adults, set up home and watch the washing pile climb high - always remember the rude Biology
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lessons, trips to London, sleeping in bunk beds and the biggest night of your life . . . the Prom! I now live with my prom date, Dan, in Leeds. We wear his and hers Doc Martens and love nothing more than doing a big food shop and talking about our busy days whilst listening to the Carpenters on our record player called Kilroy (he is smooth as Silk). Sixteen year old Megan did not see that coming! I am also a self-confessed strong, independent woman - a title preached to me by a long line of strong, independent women in my family. Inspired by my mother and sister, at the fiercely empowered NGHS and in the industry - I strive to be part of a legacy of inspirational women who motivate others in business and throughout their personal life. In these bad times of mounting unemployment, I realise how lucky I am to have a career I enjoy. When I was 13 years old, my biggest cheerleader and step-father Steve got me a job in a local farm shop. I knew every type of apple, potato and cabbage, learned the valuable life lesson of how to work with questionable characters, and ways to stay warm by stuffing my coat with newspaper and standing on old banana boxes. It wasn’t the best way to start a weekend as a teenager! Despite the freezerlike conditions, I recognised the importance of hard work, earning my own money and the satisfaction and independence a job can bring. I urge past and present NGHS girls to jump out of bed each day thrilled about the prospect of learning something you didn’t even know you didn’t know. Finally, when you have achieved what you set out to and your loved ones proudly reflect on your success, remember your heroes and mentors. There have been many superb mentors in my life, some stand by me every step of the way and others enter my mind from time to time. Always speak passionately about your mentors, you are blessed to have known them. These days, if you are female with talent, the opportunities in any industry are more abundant than ever. Go out there, achieve and inspire. Now fist pump the air in the name of Girl Power!
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Spotlight on STEM Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are traditionally male dominated. However, we are proud that an increasing number of our students go on to have very successful careers in these areas, and we are keen to promote STEM subjects to our current pupils. To help show them the wide variety of professions that are available within these industries, we recently put out a plea on our Facebook page for alumnae to contact us with their career profiles. We had an overwhelming response, so a huge thank you to everyone who got in touch with us! Here are just a few examples of the fantastic profiles we received.
Susie Webber (2000) I left the school in 2000 and went on to study Marine Sports Technology (BSc) at the University of Plymouth. I then went on to study Maritime Engineering Sciences (MSc) at the University of Southampton. I am a Naval Architect and I have worked in companies such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Sunseeker International, DSTL (part of the UK MoD) and now I work for an oil and gas consultancy specialising in floating offshore production facilities. I gained my chartered engineer status in March this year and I am proud to have got this far to date in an extremely male dominated industry.
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I suppose I got into engineering due to my dyslexia - words were never my strong point but numbers seemed to make sense and, as I am a keen sailor, boat design seemed like a perfect option! Whilst I’ve never been lucky enough to design any sailing boats, I have been involved in the structural design and manufacture of lifeboats, luxury yachts, small high speed military craft and FPSO’s. People always say you should never mix work and play but doing something I’m passionate about helps motivate me and keep me interested. I think women have an excellent place in engineering and I do hope more NGHS students look to this avenue for a career.
Susie Allen-Sierpinski (2000) It was my dream from a very early age to be an astronaut and work on the Space Shuttle. At four years old, my family and I visited the Kennedy Space Center where we went on the tour, and I was hooked. NGHS allowed me time during the school year to attend space camp, and on my 13th birthday I took my first flying lesson. I did work experience with Rolls Royce and the RAF Aircraft Engineering squadron. I left NGHS in 2000 and moved to Florida’s Space Coast, to attend university and pursue my passion for space.
I have BS in Aerospace Engineering and an MS in Applied Aviation Safety from the Florida Institute of Technology, and an MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Florida. I received my private pilot’s license in 2000 shortly after my 17th birthday. While at university, I did an internship with The Boeing Company working on the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. I also joined a number of professional organizations, and am still an active member today, including the Society of Women Engineers, Women in Aerospace, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
responsible for the safety of the other team members. Other than the closeout crew and the astronauts, the Final Inspection Team members are among the few who'll ever get close to a ready-to-fly shuttle. As the shuttle program came to a close, I transitioned to the Constellation/Orion program as the Human Engineering lead for the ground support equipment and tooling, and took on additional roles as the lead safety engineer, contract proposal manager and quality engineer. In 2012, I moved to the Washington DC area taking a position as a contractor for the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation in the Regulations and Analysis division, assessing commercial operator’s launch and re-entry applications for compliance with system safety and human factors regulations. Currently, I work for the United States Navy as the lead Human Engineer on the EA-18G Growler/Next Generation Jammer program. Human Engineers coordinate the design of devices, systems, and physical working conditions with the capacities and requirements of the human operator, such as a pilot, ensuring that the human can use new systems.
After graduating, I worked for United Space Alliance as a safety and human factors engineer in the Safety and Mission Assurance directorate at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where I was involved in safety operations in all processing areas, mishap investigations and human factors development/ continuous improvement efforts for the Space Shuttle program. I was a member of the Final Inspection Team, spending more than two hours completely inspecting a fully fuelled space shuttle as it stands ready for launch, www.facebook.com/FriendsofNGHS
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After I qualified I stayed at PwC for another 18 months, during which I took a secondment into the Business Recovery department which dealt with insolvencies. I enjoyed the work, but had started to feel I wanted to be more directly involved with the decision making process, so I moved companies and joined an international manufacturing company as an in-house accountant. This role was more compliance focused, and involved reviewing the rules and regulations set down for the finance department internally and externally in the US and the UK and then coming up with, and rolling out the appropriate solutions for the company. As the business was part of a large group, I had the opportunity to travel internationally and worked in the Netherlands and Florida as part of my job, as well as in Aberdeen. However, I missed meeting new people and clients which had been a significant part of my old role, so after nearly two years I chose to move back to a practice of accountants.
niCCi Cole (2003 ) At school I enjoyed Science and Maths subjects as I liked the analytical nature of the work. After school I studied Psychology at the University of York. My course was scientifically based and the assessments were a mix of critical essay writing and experimental write ups which included an element of statistics work. I really enjoyed my time at York and the course that I studied, but I decided that a career in Psychology wasn’t for me. I knew I wanted a job that would give me structure and progression as well as play to my strengths with my Science and Maths background. The accountancy profession seemed to fit the bill, and I would be studying towards a post-graduate qualification as a Chartered Accountant, which also appealed. I was accepted into the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) graduate scheme in the East Midlands. This gave me the opportunity to start working life on a three-year training scheme along with twenty other new starters who would form my peer group and support network for the next few years. PwC gave me some great opportunities, and as part of the audit team, I used the analytical skills from my A Level subjects and degree to review the client’s numbers and form a conclusion on the quality of the content.
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The firm I chose to enter back into practice with was PKF Cooper Parry. They are an East Midlands based firm who focus on owner managed businesses, which really appealed to me as I enjoy using my accountancy skills and knowledge to offer help on how people can improve their businesses. In the past year, we’ve also joined an international network of firms which offers me the opportunity to work internationally again if I choose to. While I’ve been at PKF Cooper Parry I have worked in both the audit and transaction services departments, and the latter is where my role currently sits. I work with companies that are looking to buy other businesses, as well as performing bespoke reviews that people ask for. It’s a great role that’s really varied, and the company is enthusiastic about everything we do. Accountancy has worked really well for me and my career path as it allows me to work to the strengths I developed through my Science and Maths background at school and university, and to continue learning and developing as I progress. My career route has already been incredibly varied, and there are many opportunities other accountants have taken which I haven’t (yet!). I use maths and analytics every day, but also get the chance to work with different people and communicate my ideas in a variety of ways. It’s a great way to get the best of both worlds, and open up a range of opportunities with a professional qualification.
National Council of Young Women Seminar Report by Chloe Shipway and Hannah Fielding, Year 12 during the 20th century. She demonstrated that myriad progressions in women's rights had already taken place, and highlighted the importance of today's inspirational role models such as Hilary Clinton, Malala and Emma Watson. This enabled the group to recognise that to be a girl in our generation is much better than to have been brought up a girl in previous generations, and living in a British society is also a great advantage compared to some of the less developed countries where women are still not being educated, or represented in the same way as men. On Tuesday 18 November a group of NGHS girls attended the Nottingham Intergenerational Seminar for the National Council of Young Women. The seminar was initiated by the main speaker - Monica Tolman, vice president of NCW who outlined the advantages of being a girl in today's society on an international and worldwide stage, making specific reference to the changes in women's rights which occurred
However, what Monica also made clear was that there is still a lot to be done. Through this, it was quickly established that there are also myriad disadvantages to girls internationally. These were discussed, opinions compiled and presented to the other groups during the seminar. Hannah Fielding and Chloe Shipway gave a talk after lunch on the topic of 'being a girl in the UK' which was very well received and prompted much discussion. The entire trip was a truly eye-opening experience to the, still existent, inequalities of being a girl and the importance of educating and exposing men in our society to feminism. Monica was a true inspiration and really enthused some strong arguments. The girls really gained a lot from their trip and hope to attend again in the future and remain involved in the NCYW.
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Challenge Norway by
Rose Mason, Year 13
I’m not sure if the feeling was mutual throughout the whole group but on build up day in July 2014 I was extremely nervous about the trip ahead. It was scary to leave behind everything which seems so normal to us like our phones and internet and of course our parents, to embark on this adventure which for most of us would be the longest we had ever been away from home. Flying over Norway was extremely exciting. I couldn’t look away from the windows on the plane as from this high above I could already tell how beautiful the country was, and how different it would be to England. There was so much water everywhere, and so few built up areas. Then on the coach journey from the airport all we could see were fir trees and lakes and hardly anything was unnatural or manmade, and we barely came across any other cars.
The mountain bikes had pedal brakes and were hardy to help us tackle the terrain which was at times very rocky and difficult to manoeuvre. We carried our gear in panniers on the bikes for the entire distance of the 80km Rallarvegen cycle route from Haugastøl to the campsite. The views were amazing with the weather being so nice; the sky was so blue and clear. We saw lakes, rapids, mountains, some of which were topped with snow, and so much more. The first and one of my personal favourite campsites was Finse - it had everything we needed, and even a large rock for Jess to stand on and sing 80s music! Because of the hot weather and the presence of so much water, Finse camp was the site of a mass mosquito attack. Some of us got away with no mozzy bites at all but Lydia was slightly less fortunate, and woke up on ice cap day with 87.
We stayed for a few nights in Haugastøl Hotel which acted as our preparation base for the trip ahead. On one of our planning days we spent some time walking round a lake; this was on a day when the weather was good and we went swimming in this lake too. Unfortunately, Emma Hinchley tripped and sprained her ankle on the walk, but luckily she was able to re-join the team for most of the activities. The first chunk of Challenge Norway was mountain biking. This took place over two days, with one day in the middle for the Ice Cap Trek. In between the two biking days we trekked up onto the famous Hardangerjøkulen ice cap. We wore harnesses with a rope thread through so we were all attached together, and used crampons on our boots to allow us to be secure in the hard ice. We looked down looming crevasses and into blue water holes, and these crevasses looked so deep and endless that jumping over them was scary. After this we mountain biked ‘all downhill’ for a day. The descent to Flam was scary because
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had to remove some serious rocks and boulders from the ground before we could put up the tents, but it ended up being another truly beautiful campsite, with more beautiful views. From here on we were going to be walking in our group of seven without immediate guidance. However Miss Lynn would of course be watching us while hiding in the hills. Mr Evans came to wish us luck before we left and he gave us some advice which sounded so stupid at the time that we just laughed. He said, “If you’re lost and fed up girls, don’t worry, just put up a tent”. there were huge angular stones which would jerk your tyres about and send you flinging around in random directions, and there were plenty of falls. We biked 50k in that day, and we were rewarded with a REAL CAMPSITE with REAL TOILETS!
Crossing rivers and snowfields was a nightmare, and at times really scary. Everyone’s feet got wet and cold but there was no alternative route. It was true wilderness and there was no sign of this trail being a real path except for red painted Ts on every other boulder.
The first day of kayaking ended as soon as it began due to torrential rain, but after that, kayaking through the Fjords was a wonderful way to experience such interesting landscapes. Our guides were so friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the fjord and it was so nice to get to know such passionate people who loved the country so much. The second campsite on the fjord had the best views and a waterfall that stretched up to the top of the fjord under which some of us showered.
On the third day we ended up in Gudvangen where we had a lot to do in preparation for the Duke of Edinburgh section of our trip. We said goodbye to our guides to get on a public bus and then embark on a steep uphill trek in the rain to find a suitable campsite for the night. The campsite on that day was so far from looking like a campsite when we found it. We
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The DofE trek was four days long and on the second day the weather turned. We had headed into the mountains and remained high. It completely clouded over and got to the point where we couldn’t see the next red T in front of us. It was freezing and slippery underfoot. We were getting tired and confused about where the path was taking us, the more we climbed the colder and cloudier it was getting and we had no idea where the summit was. To our pleasant surprise, the leaders appeared behind us and caught up to give us a much needed pep talk. We were over the moon that we’d found them, but we had no clue where the other group was. We walked on into the icy cloud trusting the path shown to us, and sure enough as we walked further, we heard a faint whistle. As we got closer, we couldn’t believe what we saw. The group had become so lost that they had actually stopped and put up a tent!
Miss Lynn said she would be happy to sign off our Gold DofE awards right there because of what we had achieved, but we needed to get off the mountain. We spent a cold night camped up there before we could descend back onto the good old Rallarvegen cycle path. The others managed to walk 30k in that day all the way back to the end point at Finse, and we returned a day later, and it was the happiest feeling of achievement. As soon as we stopped, tiredness hit us like the electric storm had in Flam. All we wanted to do was get back to the hotel, get clean, and eat the beautiful Haugastøl pizza again. Luckily we did just that the following day, and it was so worth the wait.
can speak for all 14 of us when I say that the skills and experiences we have learned and shared will continue to inspire us to do many similar things, and Norway is the beginning of many more adventures to come.
D OF E Many congratulations to all of the girls who recently attended the Duke of Edinburgh awards evening. With a total of 55 girls receiving bronze, silver and gold awards this made NGHS the largest group representing one school. Norway wasn’t just a 17 day expedition it was much more than that. We had been training throughout Year 12 and during this time we had really bonded as a group and had learned so many things. Challenge Norway was one of the biggest opportunities that have ever come my way and I don’t regret taking it for a second. One question we were asked after the trip was “what’s next?”, and for me the answer would be to take part in more adventures and explore more beautiful places like Norway. I’m sure I www.facebook.com/FriendsofNGHS
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First year of Cambridge Holly Hemming (2012) As I’m getting ready to go back to Cambridge in a few weeks time, I’m able to look back at my first year at university. This time last year, having had a gap year and travelling for over five months, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to settle into university. Actually, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Settling into Cambridge was very easy, mostly because of the college system. I go to Downing College, which is middle size with around 400 undergraduates. I live about a ten-minute walk from King’s College and the River Cam. Having a small year group (around 130) created a community-like atmosphere and unlike some other universities there was never the feeling that you could get lost among huge crowds of people. All first years lived in college in five different buildings that were all in the same area. Because of this, you could socialize with people who study your subject and people from different subjects too. Through college I’ve been able to meet a lot of people, from Freshers to PhD students, as it’s less focused on remaining within your year group. I’ve found that meeting students from other year groups has been helpful and I have
gained advice from their varied experiences in Cambridge. The Downing Bar amplifies the college atmosphere. The majority of college members spent time there in the day and the evenings; it’s the social centre of the college. The bar is entirely student run - I’m currently one of the Vice Presidents. This has been a great way of socializing within college as you get to see everyone. I found that the best way to enjoy university was through time management; managing to get through a huge workload and still go out enough times a week. Because we have short terms (around 8 weeks) people work very hard but also really want to go out. University bars, drinking societies and a lot of balls more than make up for what Cambridge lacks in terms of conventional nightlife and big clubs.
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Next summer after finishing second year, I’ll hopefully begin either a vacation scheme - a type of work experience at a law firm or a mini pupillage at a Barristers’ Chambers. Given the variety of careers available through studying law, my aim is to stay within law when I graduate. I’d like to be barrister, ideally in international or human rights based law. It’s a long way off but I’ve already begun to take modules at university to head toward this sector.
STUDYING LAW On our first day of term last year the Senior Tutor of the college told us that the reason the university doesn’t allow the students to have jobs, is because studying here is a full time job; he wasn’t that far off. First year was really challenging but rewarding. Our degrees are called a 'Tripos' because at the end of each year you receive a class (from 1st- 3rd) and you display each year when you graduate. Because of this, first year counts as much as any other year. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t extremely difficult, but I doubt I would have enjoyed it as much if it was easy.
Having finished my first year I can say that Cambridge was an ideal fit and I couldn’t be more settled at university. I work very hard but I also have a great social life. It also helps that where we live is a very beautiful city. Researching any university you’re applying for is the best chance you have of finding the right kind of environment for you. For anyone applying - teaching methods, location, nightlife or college system are some really vital factors for finding the right place to study. Right now I’m looking forward to going back at the end of September and looking forward to enjoying my second year at Cambridge!
Law is certainly hard at any university, and each one has its own methods of teaching. We’re taught through lectures given at the Law Faculty (around 12 per week) and supervisions given by our Professors, usually Fellows at our colleges. We have four supervisions over a fortnight and each requires around 10 hours preparation. A big change through studying at university is the difference in teaching methods, especially Arts subjects with less contact hours; commitment to independent study is the only way to achieve. Professors guide you through material but they’re not teachers to structure the degree for you.
FUTURE PLANS The College and the Law Faculty are very generous with careers. I’ve been able to attend talks given by partners of London firms and visit firms for careers events. Last year one of the best things I went to was a private dinner in the great hall of Lincoln’s Inn Barristers' Chambers in London, for current students and alumni of our college. www.facebook.com/FriendsofNGHS
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In Memoriam MRS ANGELA FAITH RODDA (HOPKINSON) 24 JUNE 1944 - 25 FEBRUARY 2014 Angela was a pupil at NGHS from 1955 to 1963. She went on to study for a BA in History at Reading University. Her passion for the subject led her to study for an MPhil (1971) on the 'Causes of High Mortality before the Black Death', and later for an MA in 2006. Angela had a fulfilling career teaching history at Beaconsfield High School, where she was also Head of Year and Head of Department. Her enthusiasm and erudition inspired generations of pupils. From early in her career she was involved in Examination Board work. In spite of working full time, Angela was very much a family person. She and husband Jim brought up three children and relished the time they spent with their many grandchildren. Somehow she also found time for many other interests. She sang with the Amersham Choir and was involved with her local church. She was also a dedicated quilter, making more than 200 over the years. Some were for family and friends, and some for children’s hospitals.
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Each one was special to the recipient, and made to be used, as 'a cuddle from Angela'. When organising a regional quilting exhibition, she was inspired to hold it at Bletchley Park; quilters (and husbands) flocked in. It was moving to see so many of her quilts draped over the pews at her Memorial service. In recent years Angela and I lived at opposite ends of the country and only met every five years at our year group reunions at school. It was always a delight to see her and to enjoy once again her jollity and her gentle caring concern for her friends. by Rosemary Gaches (neĂŠ Ward), Class of 1963)
MRS MARY TALBOT (HUCKNALL) Mary Talbot, nee Hucknall, sadly passed away on 30 June 2014. She attended Nottingham Girls' High School between 1952 and 1959. She then went on to train to be a teacher. She lived and worked for most of her life in Gosport, on the South Coast. She leaves behind her husband, Mike, her son John and daughter Helen, and four beautiful grandsons.
YVONNE PILKINGTON (DICKENS) 29 MAY 1924 TO 11 JULY 2014 Yvonne was born on 29 May 1924 here in Nottingham. Her mother was warm and generous, her father gentle and studious. Yvonne inherited her generosity of spirit from her mother and her academic ability and artistic skills from her father. After Elementary School in 1935 she won a scholarship to the Nottingham Girls' High School. Life was safe, loving and comfortable and spent between school, the cinema, cycle rides with her father and the epicentre of her social life - the tennis club. Here she made friends who were to last a lifetime . . . literally. Among the friends she made at the tennis club was the tall, slim, piano playing Clifford (known to her as Bertie) Pilkington, who will reappear later in her story. So all was set for Yvonne to gain her general certificates, pass her matriculation, enter university and have a glittering career. But with the outbreak of war Yvonne had to leave Nottingham and move to Carlisle where her father was appointed regional transport manager. She was enrolled in Greggs Secretarial College where she learned shorthand, typing and other administrative skills. Her full time education had come to an abrupt end. In 1942 she volunteered for the Women's Royal Naval Services, the highly exalted 'Wrens'. On 9 May 1945 she had the honour of sending the first Morse signal that announced the liberation of the Channel Islands. At the end of the war she met and married Ken Morse and followed him to Bermuda for two years. The marriage sadly ended in mutual unhappiness and she was left with two children, a crippling mortgage and limited career prospects. Life wasn’t easy or fair for a single mother in those unenlightened days. She spent 30 years as school secretary at Heymann, Lutterell and finally Rushcliffe school, accumulating much praise for her efficiency and industry and many friends through her kindness, wit and personality. The films Yvonne loved so much in her youth always had a happy ending, and so did her story. Over a quarter of a century ago she met up again with Bert Pilkington from the tennis www.facebook.com/FriendsofNGHS
club. They married when she was 64 and enjoyed over 25 years of happily married life. In her last days Yvonne was not well and there were many acts of kindness and care shown to her for which we are very thankful. So Mum, thanks for fighting for us, for laughing with us, for all you have taught us and most of all, for loving us. by Nick Morse (Yvonne's son)
MRS MARY HELEN BELL (COLGRAVE) A former NGHS pupil during the 1950s, Mary returned to the school to teach Domestic Science, and was Head of Department during the early 1970s. She sadly passed away on Friday 6 June 2014.
DR EMILY HASTINGS (1996) Born on 20 March 1978, Emily attended NGHS from 1989-1996. She passed away on Thursday 15 May 2014 at the age of 36, from the long term effects of severe asthma.
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The Archives Our archives are full of wonderful pictures of NGHS through the ages. These three are from 1935, but we’re sure that many of you will recognise the areas - in fact, they still look almost exactly the same today! A Block / Clarence Lodge from the Arboretum
A Block / Clarence Lodge entrance
B Block classroom, now Radnor House R2
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Designed and produced by Sian Crisp and Sarah White. Printed by iprint, Leicester www.iprintb1.co.uk
Friends of NGHS ...stay in touch, be involved Friends of NGHS brings together alumnae, parents and other friends of the school. Whether you join to make new contacts, build on existing relationships or reconnect with old friends, we hope that Friends of NGHS will help you to stay involved in the life of the school. • Stay connected • Maintain close ties with the school • Participate in school activities and keep in touch • Become well informed ambassadors for the school • Enjoy business networking opportunities • Socialise and have fun
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Nottingham Girls’ High School 9 Arboretum Street, Nottingham NG1 4JB t: 0115 941 7663 development@not.gdst.net nottinghamgirlshigh.gdst.net FriendsofNGHS @NottmGirlsHigh