Section Name
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Introduction
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WELCOME Welcome to the Year book for the academic year 2022-23. The School has published such a book for many, many years now and it forms an important part of the history of the School that is passed down through the generations. The year began in sadness when, in October 2022, we lost Hector from Year 13. The call I took telling me of his passing was the worst experience I have ever had as a Head and yet in the weeks that followed I was so moved by the strength that the School community showed. The heroic work done by the Sixth Form team, headed by Mr Gillett and his Senior Tutors, despite their own grief, lay at the heart of this but it was the simple kindnesses shown on a daily basis, the way that people were there for each other, the way that students supported their own peers, the fundraising done by members in Hector’s year group in his memory more recently which has raised around £3200, the hugs at the funeral and so much else besides that showed what a great School community we have. I am as proud of all this as I have ever been about any of the School’s achievements over the past 17 years as this really mattered at the time and it showed also the strength of the relationships that lay at the heart of our School. There was though also much to celebrate in the past year. Our strength as a School saw national recognition when we were named as the Co-Educational Independent School of the Year in the Independent Schools of the Year Awards. For us to have achieved this just 7 years after first going co-educational was really pleasing and that came alongside another Sunday Times award as the best school in our own region. You can read about the many activities of the past year in the pages that follow. There is so very much that goes on every single day in our remarkable School community and this publication captures much of this.
I want to conclude by using the words I spoke at Speech Day: There is something special behind us. This is togetherness. So I want to thank you - all of you. Thank you to all our teachers, who face every year with passion and determination. When I watch our staff work every single day, I can feel how much they want to deliver for this School. Thank you to everyone working alongside them. All together, doing what they believe is right. And thank you to all our students. Without you, it doesn’t make any sense what we do. You are our energy, you are living the year with us. You always have been in our attitude, in our self-belief. In the demands that push each other to seek excellence. So that’s what we all must do. Demand more from each other. Support each other. Be kind in every action. Be leaders. Now we focus on what’s in front, and if we keep moving forwards, we can achieve anything. Because we know what’s behind this School, behind this feeling.
This is our Nottingham High School.
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Introduction
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Head Girl
Martha C
Deputy Head Girl
Isobel S
Head Boy
Taona M
Deputy Head Girl
Holly H
Deputy Head Boy
Deputy Head Boy
Deputy Head Girl
Deputy Head Boy
Coy Z
Hannah B
Ethan H
Sam T
WELCOME TO OUR NEW YEAR 7S
AND ALL OUR NEW STAFF Head of Design and Technology
Mr Richard Burgess
I joined Nottingham High School at the start of the summer term 2023, so by now feel like part of the furniture. It was an honour to be asked to lead the Design and Technology department during an exciting time of technological advancements in both Design and Technology education and the world we live. Being able to share my passion for the subject with students has always been the driving force behind why I get up in the morning, and each day I am astounded by the forward thinking and curiosity of the students within the subject. I am originally from the small town of Whittlesey near Peterborough (famous for the Strawbear). I moved to Loughborough University where I studied Industrial Design and Technology followed by a PGCE year. From there I stayed in Loughborough and started teaching at a local school before moving on to Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College to head up the Technology department. Whilst at Welbeck I headed up the RAF contingent and became passionate about teaching field craft and skill at arms, after recommissioning I am keen to continue that at NHS.
Away from school I like to keep myself busy, or should I say, kept busy, with my partner, 2 children, Labrador and slightly crazy cat! I like to keep fit and have been studying Karate for around 15 years, I also enjoy endurance running and have competed at the Para 10 event several times. When I get the chance, I enjoying watching the mighty Peterborough United climb their way up the football leagues and heading off on long bike rides on my motorcycle. I am excited to develop the Design and Technology department over the coming years, would look forward to welcoming you into the subject.
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Introduction
Library Assistant & Receptionist
Mrs Amanda Allcock
I joined Nottingham High school in September 2022, as a part time receptionist within the senior school. I have over 25 years office administration/Managerial experience working in the Pharmaceutical and finance industry. In Feb 2023 I was asked to support both the junior and senior school libraries on a temporary basis, I was overjoyed when this role was made permanent. I can still be found on the senior school reception four afternoons a week. Outside of work I enjoy spending quality time with my four grandchildren and getting as many country walks in with my over excited Labrador.
Senior Finance Assistant
Mrs Sally Hindson In my new role as a Senior Finance Assistant, I am tasked with providing support for parents, students, teachers, and colleagues in handling any finance– related queries, particularly focusing on the fees aspect. Since joining Nottingham High School in January as part of a dynamic new team, it has been a whirlwind experience, and my feet have barely touched the ground. I find immense satisfaction in the fast-paced environment of the school, where each day presents unique challenges, from non-uniform days to hockey tournaments, trips abroad and swimming lessons finance plays a pivotal role in all of these diverse activities, ensuring that every day is fulfilled with activity. Drawing from my previous experiences with notable companies such as the Co-operative Bank, Forte Group, Toyota, Capital One, and several small familyrun businesses, my professional background is deeply
rooted in accounting. I thrive on the precision of balancing accounts, a skill I perfected during my time with the Civil Service. Beyond the realm of finance, I am an avid supporter of the Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey Club and spend most weekends in the winter following them home and away. I am also a passionate reader, with Stephen King being my favourite author. Outside of work, I also enjoy leisurely walks with my two dogs and spending quality time with my friends and family. Looking ahead, I am eagerly anticipating the future at Nottingham High School. The support team within the school is amazing and I take great pride in being a member of it.
Physics Teacher
Dr Lydia Jowsey I have enjoyed my first year of teaching at Nottingham High School in the brilliant Physics Department. I am relatively new to teaching having changed careers 7 years ago after my daughter was born. I trained and worked at Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet, the top boys grammar school in the country, teaching KS3 Science, KS4/5 Physics as well as being a VEX Robotics Coach. Originally, my background is in engineering having studied Automotive Engineering followed by a PhD in Racecar Aerodynamics (researching underbody aerodynamics of F1 cars) at Loughborough University. Whilst studying for my PhD I was lucky to be involved in several commercial projects including aerodynamic design development of Adidas World and European footballs and working on streamlining “blues and twos” lights on emergency vehicles to reduce drag. After completing my PhD, I worked designing and
developing hydrogen fuel cells for multiple industries; from powering drones, to back-up power generators right up to a full range of vehicle applications, working with top automotive manufacturers like Suzuki, Toyota and BMW. I believe that my diverse industrial and educational background gives me a unique insight into the skillset required for the engineers of the future, and I look forward to trying to help NHS students to achieve their engineering aspirations.
Introduction
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Teacher of Maths
Miss Aabha Khetarpal It’s been a very exciting year settling into the High School, having wanted to return to this city since I graduated from University of Nottingham. I favoured the Applied Mathematics route, taking modules such as Advanced Differential Equations and Complex Analysis in my Master’s year. The road to pursuing my Mathematics degree was not as straightforward as one might assume. Despite countless hours of reaching for maths challenge problems on top of taking Further Mathematics, my love for the subject added up to three lines out of a personal statement aimed at Medicine instead. Aspiring medics will appreciate how putting Maths as my fifth choice was particularly bold at the time, so I can empathise with other students in a similarly confused position! On reflection, I desired a career helping others and I realised that teaching could combine this with Mathematics. I moved back home back to start my teaching career in Ipswich, as well as coaching for my old artistic roller-skating club; skating was my longest standing passion from the age of five and the club saw me
through becoming a British champion and being selected to represent Great Britain internationally twice. The High School’s emphasis on co-curricular truly resonated with me, as the lessons I learnt from doing competitive sport and music grades have defined how I approach challenges in my life. Whilst finding a suitable floor for my wheels here remains on my to-do list, I have enjoyed volunteering for the Scouts and camping with them in Ennerdale and Snowdonia this year, as well as climbing Snowdon with Gold DofE. I have also been floored by the few concerts/productions I have seen; the breadth of talents here is unmatched and it’s an absolute pleasure witnessing students pursue the passions that will change their lives.
Head of Finance
Mr Mike Peach My Career started in Aerospace engineering with ambitions of becoming a pilot, I decided this was far too exciting so I pursued a career in Finance instead, over 15 years I’ve worked for mostly blue-chip companies in the Construction (Bowmer & Kirkland)/ Retail (Thorntons)/manufacturing (Games Workshop)/ Fintech sectors (Blenheim Chalcott) I joined Nottingham high school in Jan of 2023, having worked in the Financial Technology sector for the past 7 years. I saw a great opportunity to bring my experience over the last 15 years to a new and very different sector. Such an established
institution provides lots of opportunities to put my skills to work to improve the experience for Parents and teachers alike and thus allow for the best possible education for the students. Outside of work I’m married with 2 lovely children and enjoy writing and performing music with my daughter and competing in strongman.
IT & Reprographics Technician
Miss Ellen Young
EA to the Director of Finance and Operations and Deputy Head (International and Strategic Projects)
Mrs Sinead McDonnell
Student Services Officer
Mrs Susan Partolan
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Section Name
TRIPS, VISITS & ACTIVITIES
Trips, Visits and Activities
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From the Archives
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OF CRICKET AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
Nottingham has had a cricket club since 1771 and the Trent Bridge Ground was opened in 1838, so the likelihood of High School pupils playing cricket in the city from the early days of the game is pretty high. Nottingham High School started to become a local sports fixture just after it moved to this site in 1868. For the first time, pupils had access to a rough and ready schoolyard and the Forest Recreational Ground across the road which had been used for Nottingham Cricket since the Eighteenth century. Research also indicates that Nottingham High School boys “playing in a field off Gedling Grove” led to the formation of the Nottingham Forest Amateur Cricket Club in 1875. However, the first mention of cricket teams in the School Archives is in the 1871 school magazine, which details the High School XI game against Trent College at the Trent College Ground. There were also First, Second, and Third Form matches and the “Star Club” in the Lower School who played against their classmates on the Forest Ground or on the Meadows throughout June that year. At Trent, our First XI was allowed to field 4 Old Boys with 7 pupil players because the Trent First XI was “too strong” for the school team alone. The write-up in the magazine prepares us for disappointment by first bewailing about our lack of a proper cricket ground and our inability to find one to practice on. The match appears to have been drawn. At this time team members of many of our early games against outside teams such as The King’s School, Grantham and Trent College included Masters and Old Boys, as did those of our opponents. Presumably, there were few students of the right age with ability or kit. Over the subsequent twenty-five years, our games were mainly played on the Forest with a few in the
Meadows, at that time a marshy area by the river near the New Trent Bridge ground. There was however the occasional First XI competition actually at Trent Bridge and two fine sportsmen attending the school at that time went on to play for England. Those of you who have been to Trent Bridge, one of the most famous cricket grounds in the world, will have passed through the JA Dixon Gates. Dixon came to Nottingham High School from 1874 to 1876 and went on to play cricket for Nottingham, becoming Captain for 10 years between 1889 and 1899. The second man was the poetically named Tinsley Lindley who studied at the school from 1877-83. Lindley’s father was the Mayor of Nottingham and a wealthy Lace Manufacturer. Lindley played Cricket for both Cambridge University and Nottingham playing in the 1888 team that beat the Australian Team by ten wickets. Back at school, however, using the Forest Ground for games was fraught with problems as it was a public shared space. The ground was rough and unsuitable for quality training or matches. In 1885 the Headmaster tried to lease a piece of the Forest Ground for our exclusive use but the city council refused and we could only use it informally under their rules. The council allowed no play after 6 pm in the evening, none at all on Thursdays and Saturdays, and as the Headmaster pointed out “When we do play, we are instantly surrounded by a crowd of unemployed persons who sometimes steal our clothes and always use the vilest language”. In 1896 the Governors leased a piece of open land in Mapperley Park, just off the Mansfield Road at Carrington. Dr Gow, the Headmaster, asked the school community for donations to build a Pavilion and other
1920s long Photo of Mapperley Ground
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Trips, Visits and Activities
necessary equipment such as a roller and a mowing machine. A bill from a hardware shop shows what we paid for some copper wire, a Bass broom, and two “daisy-grubbers”. To prepare the cricket ground and create a winning team, the Governors employed Mr Albert Onions as our first Professional and Groundsman. He stands in almost all of the First Team photographs for the next 35 years The first Cricket match on our new sports ground took place in June 1897. Sadly, for us, the school was decisively beaten 29-90 by Newark Grammar School, although in our defence it was pointed out that Newark had three Masters on the Team and they took all the High School wickets! However, the following year was very successful and in the school magazine thanks were given by the whole team to “Onions, our professional, for it is to his coaching and perseverance that the success of the team was largely due”. This is the successful 1898 team under Capt. Norman Frost. Norman was the son of a gentleman’s outfitter who went on to Cambridge and became a vicar. He served as an army Chaplain in Bagdad in the WW1. Seated on the ground right-hand side is Fred Chapman, son of a local silk buyer. An outstanding sportsman, Fred played first-team football at age 14 and went on to play football for England on no fewer than 20 occasions. He took part in the 1908 Olympics becoming the only Old Nottinghamian so far to win an Olympic Gold medal. Standing on the left, with a very fine moustache, is Mr Albert Onions. In the summer term of 1902, it was decided that drastic measures should be taken to bring our cricket standards up. Cricket was made compulsory and it was arranged that on certain afternoons, if the weather was fine, boys with their parent's approval might be coached at the Mapperley Park ground instead of attending afternoon school. A brilliant and very popular arrangement with nearly every boy attending. Despite the wet summer weather School Cricket did improve and much-valued medals were awarded for Bowling, Batting, and Fielding. In 1904, the lease on the Mapperley Park ground was running out and our playing field was in danger of being built on. Urgent steps were taken to raise the £5,800 needed to buy the two acres and the school gained ownership. However, the ground was small and used mainly for only First XI matches while most Form and House games still had to be played on the Forest. In 1928, one of our Governors, Mr JD Player, who was a wealthy cigarette manufacturer in Nottingham, an Old Nottinghamian, and a generous benefactor of the school, offered to provide the money to purchase a new and much larger playing field. The Headmaster, aided by former cricketer and now England selector JA Dixon, found 18 acres of land off the Hucknall Road which could be acquired for £300 per acre. The housing estates around the City Hospital had not yet been built and the Valley Road itself had only been built 6 years previously.
The expense of levelling, draining, re-turfing, and building a Pavilion trebled the costs to £19,000, and although selling the Mapperley Park Ground (to the Police cricket club) and John Player’s generous gift paid for the original purchase, the extra costs again were met by the school community. The money was raised by parents and ONs and the School became the owner of one of the finest playing fields in the Midlands opening in 1931. (ON 1897-1935)
Mr Onions
Albert Onions was the school’s first groundsman. Employed for nearly 39 years, he was highly valuable to the school, both as a coach and in preparing excellent wickets for the team. He also umpired every 1st XI Home match for 25 years. When he died at the Valley Road Ground in 1937 his loss made a deep impression on the school and the Headmaster Mr Reynolds paid tribute. “It would be hard to exaggerate the value of his services. For more than 20 years he took the sole responsibility for coaching the 1st XI. He worked hard at it and was rewarded by seeing the cricket reach a standard which was the envy of rival schools and his old pupils taking their places at the best of local clubs”.
1898 Te a P h ot o g m raph
Invoice for the wire and broom
Trips, Visits and Activities
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In June, the School community celebrated 150 Years of Cricket at Nottingham High School with an event at Valley Road. There was various matches taking place, refreshments served and an opportunity to take a look at an exhibition, featuring some interesting material from the Archive.
SCAN to hear more about this anniversary
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Trips, Visits and Activities
2022/2023
CHARITY WORK TOTALS
NOTTS LGBT+ NETWORK
FIRST STEPS ED
BASE 51
£2,345.00
£2,900.51
£2,900.51
Year 9 Geography
DOCKLANDS
Year 9 had an exciting day in London, investigating the regeneration of the Docklands and evaluating the effectiveness of the urban planning that has been ongoing there since the 1980s. The area of fieldwork stretches from St Katherine’s Docks by Tower Bridge all the way downstream to the largest of the Docks – the Royal Docks, so a lot of walking was involved and great contrasts could be seen over the day. The day aimed to assess the impact of the changes environmentally, socially, and economically and to consider carefully how different groups of people were taken into account in the initial planning as well as the longer-term impact of the changes on these communities. Two highlights of the day were seeing the incredibly awe-inspiring CBD of the Docklands, the area around Canary Wharf, where time was spent reflecting on how it might be to work in this part of London and the advantages of the area over the old City of London. Towards the end of the day, students enjoyed a boat trip from Greenwich back up to Tower Bridge from which vantage point much of the development and contrast within it could be seen and enjoyed. The follow-up work done by students back in school reflected what they had learned during the day and we were very impressed with the quality of this.
Trips, Visits and Activities
Geography
SOUTH DEVON
The Geography trip this year was superb from start to finish. We had great weather with cloudless skies and plenty of autumn sunshine that kept the spirits high. Whilst the journey from Nottingham to Devon is always long it was all worthwhile with a visit to the beach to catch the last of the afternoon sunshine before we were well fed and started our work – looking at the area as a whole and understanding some of the tasks ahead of us. The dry summer and autumn meant that finding the source of the River Harborne was one of the hardest tasks of the day resulting in much squelching through marsh and bog before we located some flowing water. Luckily all wellies and gear were recovered by those that had a rather soft landing in the bog. The data was collected from various sites and through much analysis and a few statistical tests we managed to state with a great deal of accuracy that the river does follow Bradshaw’s model, much to the relief of our instructors. The second day was spent hiking along the South Devon coastline taking in some spectacular views, understanding how sea level change results in many different features, and also seeing how the management techniques vary across Start Bay. The final day was spent on the Tors of Dartmoor getting to grips with the weathering processes which have shaped this landscape. We had a great time developing lasting friendships, learning so much about the area, and having an unforgettable time.
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Trips, Visits and Activities
Year 10 and 11 MFL
ANDALUSIA
In the first week of October half term, the Spanish department took 40 students from Years 10 and 11 to Andalusia. We stayed in the coastal resort of Benalmádena and used this as our base to explore the area. Many destinations were visited: Mijas, a typical Andalusian whitewashed pueblo; Ronda, famous for its plaza de toros and the Puente Nuevo in the Tajo gorge; Puerto Banus, with its glitzy shops and glamorous lifestyle; Granada and the Alhambra, one of the best-preserved palaces of the Islamic speaking world; Córdoba and its Mezquita-Catedral, another UNESCO World heritage site and finally, Málaga, birthplace of Picasso and Antonio Banderas. We arrived back to a very rainy England, all having left a piece of our hearts in Spain. It was a wonderful trip, thoroughly enjoyed by students and staff and it was a reminder of what an important part school trips play in our enjoyment of learning and how indispensable they are to Modern Foreign Languages.
I really enjoyed the trip as there was a wide variety of activities that we took part in. A highlight for me was visiting the monuments and historical sights. I particularly enjoyed visiting The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba as it was very educational to learn about the two religions and how they overlapped so much. Also, being with my friends made the trip so much more enjoyable as I got to share the amazing experiences with them!
The trip to Andalusia was unforgettable! We travelled all around Southern Spain, visiting the oldest bullring in the world in Ronda; the historic city of Granada with the Alhambra; and, so much more. A highlight for me was the free time we had exploring the mountain village of Mijas. To add to this, our hotel was next to the beach, so we were able to play volleyball and football in the evenings. Thanks so much to all the teachers who were involved and who came with us to Andalusia.
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BIOLOGY WEEK
SPANISH CIVIL WAR SPEAKER On Thursday 13th October, both students and teachers were incredibly fortunate to receive a lecture on The Spanish Civil War and its Legacy in Contemporary Spain: The Case of Federico García Lorca delivered by Professor Stephen Roberts of the University of Nottingham. Specialising in Spanish literature and intellectual history, Professor Roberts sought not only to give a talk on Lorca’s plays but also to delve into the figure of Lorca himself, interesting history, literature, and language students alike. He began by discussing Lorca’s hometown of Granada, going on to explain the influence this had on his later works, especially ‘La Casa de Bernada Alba’. Naturally, the talk extended to the Spanish Civil War and the Francoist Regime - factors responsible for Lorca’s eventual murder but also elements that play a hand in shaping his legacy. Contemporary debates, we were told, still continue today regarding the controversial issue of historical memory and the search for the remains of the victims of the Francoist regime, of which Lorca was unfortunately a part.
The 3rd -7th of October in school was the annual Biology Week! We again celebrated the wonderful world of living organisms with a variety of activities, including a seminar on bat echolocation and a poll across the tutor groups to discover our favourite UK insect. The winner was the mighty Emperor Dragonfly! This graceful beauty won 19% of the vote, so not quite match the share achieved by the run-away victors of some of our past polls. The adorable Buff-tailed Bumblebee came a fairly close second with 16% of the vote, with the Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly just breaking free of the skirmish in the rest of the pack to take third (12%). Students also had the opportunity to be involved in real scientific research, helping to identify organisms captured on camera in a range of online citizen science projects. There was a real treat later in the week with the return of the ever-popular edible insects, our younger students, in particular, enjoyed giving these delicious snacks a try. A Biology Club dissection special* and our regular Beast Club rounded out the week’s events. Don’t worry, none of Mr Mantell’s creatures were eaten or dissected, we’re not monsters!
Mr Duckett *(a fish, frog, pigeon and rat, if you’re wondering)
One part of the talk which particularly stuck with me was Professor Robert’s final slide, where he displayed a picture depicting the Viznar Ravine Monument in Granada, built to honor the victims of Franco’s dictatorship - upon the monolith was inscribed the words ‘LORCA ERAN TODOS’, meaning ‘all of them were Lorca’. We were left with the striking reflection that whilst the quest to find the grave of Federico Garcia Lorca has attracted the investment and interest of archaeologists worldwide, it is important to remember the thousands of undiscovered victims alongside Lorca - thousands of families who still suffer due to the loss of their loved ones to such a senseless cause. I would like to take this final opportunity to thank, on behalf of all students and staff, Professor Roberts for his fantastic talk - he really did completely change our outlook on the Spanish Civil War and give us a real insight into Lorca and the circumstances surrounding him.
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2022
Trips, Visits and Activities
BIOLOGY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
In the Nottingham High School Biology Photography Competition 2022, which started in Biology Week in October and ran until December, the students (and staff) were challenged to submit an image that celebrated the biological world. There were several entrants this year who managed to get up close to animals, with some stunning and surprising portraits being produced as a result. The winners are listed below, well done to all of our photographers:
SCAN to see all of the winning photos from our photography competitions over the last five years
THE AWARDS Years 7-10 WINNER
William F - Year 8 ‘reaching out’ SECOND
Emma T - Year 9 ‘bristling cool’ THIRD
Abigail J - Year 7 ‘power of attraction’ Years 11-13 WINNER
Dan C-S - Year 13 ‘startled feathers’ RUNNER-UP
Alex T - Year 12 ‘Copper Delight’ Staff WINNER
Mrs. Sprawka-Ciuraj ‘comforting wisdom’
Trips, Visits and Activities
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Year 7
BLACK HISTORY MONTH JIGSAW
October in Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics brought Black History Month and a chance for the department to continue with its diversity drive. As part of a Year 7 Taster Day, each pupil was given a jigsaw piece after exploring the background of the significance of this month and researching prominent figures. The individual pieces came together to make one jigsaw that is permanently displayed in our corridor to promote discussion and curiosity.
Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics
AMSTERDAM
We were thrilled to be able to develop our Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics provision of curriculum trips this Academic year, with a residential 5-day trip to Amsterdam in October. This was thought-provoking and gave our pupils the chance to explore themes of evil and suffering, war, heroism, and survival against adversity. In Amsterdam, pupils had the chance to take part in daily competitions including creating a video montage of their first day, and also a 5-word 5 picture task after visiting Kamp Vught. Other highlights from Amsterdam were a visit to the Corrie ten Boom house, and some downtime with a canal ride to see some of the sights, learning how to make clogs and cheese, and the ever-popular evening at the bowling alley!
Computer Science
BEBRAS AND OUCC
We had a record number of students achieving highly in the international BEBRAS competition which took place in November. We entered almost 400 students at the Senior school, into the prestigious problem-solving competition organised by the University of Oxford. Nearly 40,000 participants across the UK took part last year. Students with a score in the top 10% of their relative age group are invited to sit in the next stage which is named the OUCC (Oxford University Computing Challenge). Around 100 students from the High school were invited to take part. The students who came top in their age categories for the OUCC are picturedcongratulations to Freddie, Zoran, Ben, Arran, and Dylan for their excellent performance! A special congratulations must go to William H who once again demonstrated a real talent and aptitude for complex problem-solving and computer programming. Will scored full marks in the OUCC competition and got through the final which took place in March. He was one of only 27 students across the whole of the UK to make it to the final round, and the only student in the whole of Nottinghamshire! He ended up coming 9th overall in the country. What an amazing achievement!
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Trips, Visits and Activities
Chemistry
UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM VISIT
In November Mr Heath, Mr Adshead and Dr Linton accompanied our Year 13 A Level Chemists to the Chemistry Department at the University of Nottingham. The visit itself provided the students with experience of organic analytical Chemistry in a university environment and also tutorials in the use of mass spectrometers, infra-red spectrometers and NMR, techniques which are on their A Level syllabus but not available to us in School. Staff at the University were fantastic and very welcoming. Our students
prepared and analysed organic compounds in the state-of the art university undergraduate laboratories, were able to look closely at the eye-wateringly expensive Nuclear Magnetic Resonance equipment and experienced presentations in the large lecture room facility normally used by the university students. It was a valuable experience for our chemistry students and we were really pleased to continue our long-standing partnership work with the University of Nottingham.
Year 10 Food
BBC GOOD FOOD SHOW
As part of our GCSE Food course, we travelled to Birmingham to visit the BBC Good Food Show. When we arrived, we were met with hundreds of different Foodie stalls each one having its own unique food showcased. After setting up base camp in a cafe we began to explore. As we weaved our way around, we saw and tried many new, unusual, and very different foods. You could take part in cookery lessons and it was great to see such a wide range of Artisan bread, cakes, and focaccias and also taste some delicious meats and cheeses from our local farms and producers. International street foods and plantbased alternatives were in abundance to tempt both
vegetarians and non-vegetarians. There were many cakes, bakes, chocolates, oils, breads, and honey to try, and we were all pushed out of our comfort zone by trying new foods. There was even the occasional Artisan brownie or cookie to try! Toward the end of the day, we went to see a live masterclass in cooking by James Martin. The show was extremely entertaining, and we were able to learn a lot by watching a professional chef cook. Overall, the Good Food Show was an amazing experience for anyone with a passion for food I would recommend it to anyone.
Madeleine R
Section Name
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Food
CHRISTMAS BAKEOFF
At Christmas time we held our annual Nottingham High School Bake Off and yet again had some really impressive entries. Our judges this year were Mr Fear, Mrs Turnbull, Mrs Manders, and Mrs Marshall and they found the job very challenging and were totally impressed by the standard and quality of all the entries this year. This year’s competition had the following 3 categories: • The best overall traditional-themed Christmas Cake demonstrating creativity and good technical skill. • The most original cake with a multicultural or world cuisine theme. • The most original cake decorated with an important message about climate change, protecting our environment, or endangered species. Thank you to everyone who took the time to take part and after much deliberation our special congratulations go to the winners below. Overall Winner and Nottingham High School Star Baker
Sam and Isak B
for her spectacular Christmas tree.
Environmental Theme
Maddie R
for their delicious 12 days of Christmas Chocolate Cannoli.
Kameron G
Runner Up
Ashana de S
for her impressive Ginger Bread High School and Gardens. Traditional Theme
Jake R
Multicultural Theme
for his traditional father Christmas cake.
for his beautifully decorated Save the Iceberg Cake Mr Fear’s Highly Commended Awards also went to :
• Oliver H • Daniel E • Versha J • Lara S
SCAN to check out our Flickr album of all the cakes and congratulations and well done to everybody who took part
Mrs Stafford, Mrs Turnbull, and Mrs Marshall
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Trips, Visits and Activities
Year 8 Charity Appeal
CHRISTMAS IS CHARITY
One of the hallmarks of Christmas is charity: we have been simply overawed by the positive reaction of Year 8 to the Year 8 Christmas Charity Appeal. Year 8 donated over 60 boxes of goodies to a local Nottingham-based charity – Sewa Day Nottingham - for the homeless. We were thrilled by the uptake of the challenge and to be able to work with those at Sewa Day. This project linked so well into the Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics academic work we set our pupils and to many different topics we cover, but they were also able to share with others at a time of year, that for many is one of celebration and presents, but for others a time of loneliness and going without.
Computer Science National Competitions
BRITISH ALGORITHMIC OLYMPIAD We took part in this for the first time, based on a combination of Maths and Computer Science principles. Freddie M got through to the final round, achieving a gold award for his efforts.
Physics
MIDLANDS AND NORTH OF ENGLAND
STEM CHALLENGE WINNERS
Annika K, Josh Z, and Matthew M went to Huddersfield University to take part in the Midlands and North of England STEM Challenge final. They won the overall challenge (planning, coding, and presenting to judges and members of the Computing and Engineering Department at the university) against ten other teams who had also won their regional competition (in June 2022 twelve of our students went to Mansfield where we won the Nottinghamshire competition that qualified us for the Midlands and North of England Final).
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SPORTS NUTRITION SESSION The Food & Nutrition department joined up with the senior netballers in January using part of the training session to explore good food to help improve sports performance. Team members made a ‘Fruity Yoghurt Bar’ which is a very healthy version of flap jack, rich in carbohydrates, fibre, protein & calcium. Pupils examined the nutritional content and discussed the benefits of being well-fuelled and hydrated before matches for optimum performance. Pupils calculated how many calories are generally burned during a match and what type of food is good to eat pre and post-match.
Mrs Turnbull, Miss Bray & Miss Small
Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics
HOLOCAUST CENTRE
In January, Year 9 continued to work on Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics themes with a return to the Holocaust Centre in Newark and listening to a Holocaust Memorial Day assembly by Miss Davis. So, as you can imagine, the corridor was full once more of creations including letters pupils wrote to the survivor we met; Simon Winston, as well as their reflections and pledges on luggage labels. The symbol of luggage labels is a poignant one, synonymous with victims being asked to pack a bag with possessions to go to a concentration camp. This display sparked a lot of interest from staff and pupils and served as a poignant reminder of the horrors of the past we should not forget about. As part of our commemorations, we welcomed BBC Radio Nottingham to the department. They discussed with some of our students how we can all learn from personal stories and devastating facts, to make a difference today.
MFL
LINGUISTICS OLYMPIAD
At the beginning of February, twenty students from Years 10 – 13 participated in the UK Linguistics Olympiad, in which they had one morning to solve a fiendish set of language-based puzzles. This year’s test has been noted by the Chairman of the UKLO as being the most challenging on record! However, Mimi B (Y11), Sangita M (Y11), Josh Z (Y10), and Em A (Y11) all achieved a Bronze certificate, and Susie W (Y13) achieved a Silver certificate. We are very proud of them all, and of all those who participated. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
Miss S J McCabe
Geography
ICELAND
A large storm over Iceland was an ominous start to 5 days in Iceland. Late-night phone calls, fake news, and decisions being reversed several times meant there was an early start and a very late finish to the first day of the trip. We finally reached our hotel at 4 am but we had missed the storm and had managed to while away the hours at Stansted in typical High School spirit buoyed by a real sense of adventure. 3 hours after getting to our room we were up and in breakfast meeting our guide and driver who would be with us for the rest of our stay. The first day involved travelling to the South Coast town of Vik. On the way we stopped at a Geothermal power plant, witnessed the cold and shear force of some spectacular waterfalls, travelled around the area affected by the Eyjafjallajokull eruption, as well spending time on the basaltic columns and black beaches of Reynisfjara. We collapsed into our hotel and headed for an early night as there was little chance of seeing the Northern Lights. The second day was equally enthralling, the interactive displays of differing volcanic eruptions contrasting with our time swimming in the geothermally heated pools of the Secret Lagoon. The afternoon was spent visiting the Thingellir National Park – the site of the first parliament in Europe as well as seeing the plate boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. We also squeezed in a visit to the mud pools and geyser at Geysir and the golden waterfall of Gulfoss. The day was spectacular we had experienced so much of what Mother Nature creates and had a much better understanding of our Physical Geography. We were treated to some super food, served by other teachers, and a night of games, films, and fun, but unfortunately no Northern Lights. The next day we travelled further north through places of beauty and solitude; the Grabrok crater was superb, even if the steps were somewhat icy and tricky to negotiate. The cave at Vidgelmir was created by lava and it was fascinating to listen to our guide as he explained how it had all been formed, when we returned to the surface there was just time for a bit of snowballing as a prelude to later in the day. As we returned to Reykjavik we visited the Fly Over Iceland, which had been postponed from the first day – this gave us some spectacular views of some of the places visited and whetted our appetite for the many other places Iceland has to offer. Our final night was a wonderful time of reflection on all we had seen and done, we also celebrated Jack’s birthday and had a big snowball fight on our way back to the hotel – it was late and in 3 hours we would be up again to get an early morning flight back to the UK. It was a wonderful and spectacular trip that was just over far too quickly, but I’m sure many of us will return at some point if only to see the Northern Lights. Huge thanks to all the staff.
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BRITISH PHYSICS OLYMPIAD The BPhO challenges a range of student knowledge, preparation, and ability, whilst also aiming at stretching and challenging the top young physicists in the country in a national competition. Every question requires a different perspective to get the measure of it. This fluency in recognising topics and linking ideas is, in part, what develops the physicist's confidence and mastery. The challenge also stretches thinking into applications and ideas rather than keeping to the relatively narrow content of the syllabus. This is an excellent tool for preparing students for further work or university interviews. This year we had eight students take part and, whilst all should be praised, notable performers were Coy Z, Freddie M, Ryder G, and Susie W. It was also pleasing to see two Year 12 Students, Anna B and Jane A, take part.
Computer science
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF COMPUTING
In February we took our Year 12 Computer Scientists to the National Museum of Computing for a KS5 activity day. Students had the chance to go back to the 80s and write some programmes using BBC Basic. They also explored the history of computers with a demonstration of a working reconstruction of one of the most famous wartime machines, Colossus, which is widely regarded as having shortened the war, saving countless lives. They took part in a workshop on the use of chatbots and Artificial intelligence, discussing some of the wider ethical issues and limitations of its use.
Outreach
X10 CHALLENGE
Huge congratulations to Team TMLS (Treya, Mariam, Leela, Sanvi) for winning the national award for Best Business for Good in this year’s 10x Challenge. The competition runs for one month and, in that time, teams have to turn £10 into as much as they can. TMLS decided to raise funds for earthquake victims in Turkey, selling jewellery in their lunchtimes to raise money, with over £120 being sent to support those in need. Two other teams of Year 10 students also entered the competition – one created personalised scented stickers and the other ran a sports tournament, with these teams raising around £50 each. Congratulations to all the students who took part in the competition and can now understand the challenges involved in running your own business!
Trips, Visits and Activities
Computer science
PARIS
The computer science department recently ran a four-day study trip to Paris, for Years 9 and 10 during the February half term. Students were offered a series of seminars and a team-building workshop to give pupils further insight into the subject. We spent a day walking in Paris, visiting well-known sites, and taking in a river boat ride along the Seine. The seminars were held at a lecture theatre in Disneyland Paris and included a park ticket for students on that day. Topics covered were: creative problem-solving in design, the use of specific design software, and the use of proximity sensors. Included in our talk were aspects of digital design: tech integration, computer projection systems, projection mapping, and 3D graphics. Students enjoyed hearing about aspects of communication networks, social media, web design, and e-commerce. They also thoroughly enjoyed planning a new roller coaster, showing how computer science concepts can be used in design, operation, and maintenance.
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Trips, Visits and Activities
LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH LGBTQ+ History Month at Nottingham High School was a resounding success, hosting a variety of events, it was truly an excellent opportunity to bring together the entire Senior School from Year 7 all the way to Year 13. The festivities began in January with the colouring of the front steps, when a large number of Year 7 students collected chalk and worked together to create a masterpiece on the front steps! Despite students going home with a little more colour to their uniform, it was delightful to see the front of the school bare the colours of the LGBTQ+ pride flag, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to ensuring every child at the school feels included and valued. During LGBTQ+ History Month, students across all year groups received an inspiring assembly from Mr Beattie, Mr Alexander, or Mr Schofield which focused on key figures in the LGBTQ+ community of the past
Light Night
Printing Work
shop
century, as well as key dates relating to the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights in the United Kingdom. This provided an excellent opportunity for students to reflect on how far LGBTQ+ rights have evolved since 1967 but also to consider the importance of continuing to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month and the work that is still to be done. As well as focusing on the past, however, we also discussed what students can do, personally to be a good LGBTQ+ ally. We continued the theme in the Lower School tutor set by opening up discussions on how to be a good ally and discussed potential situations students could face and what they could do to support their LGBTQ+ friends.
Steel Band
Steps
Bake Sale
Printing Workshop
Trips, Visits and Activities
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Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics
CURIOSITY CORRIDOR
The Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics Department was delighted to begin the year with a brand new religious and secular questionnaire that was sent out to both staff and students. This is part of a wider drive to explore and celebrate the diversity in our school community and for us to highlight festivals and celebrations in particular, including those followed by believers from the Six World Faiths alongside spiritual, pagan, and secular traditions. Following on from this, the department, with the help of students from across the Key Stages has developed what is now fondly known as the “Curiosity Corridor” where some key festivals have been made visible. Diwali was a huge hit, with pupils making clay diva lamps to be lit up in the newly darkened corridor along with an abundance of fairy lights, and making sweets with the Food Department. We were able to incorporate Thank you for doing this, arts and crafts I have loved walking into the tasks from the Diwali Zone this week and have Spring Activities Day and explore purposely found lots of reasons Orthodox Easter to need to visit staff at the end traditions with a display of of the corridor so I could keep pysanky eggs in March. These walking through it! were handblown by Mrs Andrews and then painted by Year 7 pupils. Eid-al-Fitr was a collaborative success and again, the pictures of the windows were stunning with hand-made decorations pupils made in the DT workshops. In March, we welcomed Mr Landa from Nottingham Sikhs to talk to Year 7 and 8 pupils. He explained the concepts of langar, the Khalsa, Vaisakhi, and what it means to be a Sikh. It was fascinating to find out about different types of turban and we found out about the significance of knife carrying for Sikhs. We loved being able to work with other departments on these initiatives and bring together skills from different groups of pupils across the school.
Chemistry
SYGNATURE DISCOVERY WORK EXPERIENCE
During the February half-term, Sienna BL (Y11) and I had the opportunity to do a two-day work experience at Sygnature Discovery. I had a great opportunity to gain an insight into the fundamental processes which underpin the drug discovery process. Over the two days, we learned about the creation of new drugs and the different departments involved in the process. This included spending time in the Chemistry Department, where compounds are produced, the NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) department, where drug molecules are quality checked, and the DMPK (Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics) department, where drugs are tested on animals before they can progress to human trials. Through this experience, we also had the opportunity to work with field professionals and learn the importance of delegation of tasks to the appropriate professionals, and the essence of teamwork to develop a drug effectively and efficiently. Furthermore, this experience also helped us appreciate the importance of critical thinking and the perseverance required to overcome setbacks during this lengthy process. Overall, it was an amazing experience which taught me so much more about the longevity of drug discovery and the experimental, analytical perspective of sciences in a work environment in a fun and engaging way.
Nihita P (Y11)
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Section Name
DofE
DUKE OF EDINBURGH VISIT
Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Edward is the new Duke of Edinburgh. It was also announced that HRH The Duke of Edinburgh is the new Patron of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The Duke has been a passionate and active supporter of the DofE Award charity for many years, having achieved his own Gold Award in 1986 and becoming a Trustee in 1988. On Monday to mark the announcement, and as his first official engagement in his new role, The Duke met young people in Derby and Nottingham, who are making a difference in their communities, workplaces, and futures through their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. 5 of our students were invited, along with Mr Fear and Mrs Holloway as guests to meet him on his walkabout at Stonebridge City Farm. Y13 Darcie J– Raised around £6000, volunteering at Stonebridge city farm during her Silver and Gold Volunteering. Y12 Marcus S - DofE Young leader at School Y12 Vuyo M - DofE Young leader at School Y11 Phoebe F - Crocheted a huge number of beautiful baby hats for neo-natal babies at City Hospital. Y10 Angel Bl - Won an award for her Knife crime poem from Stephen Lawrence Foundation, as part of volunteering activities with the police cadets. The Duke didn’t let the weather stop him, he planted the commemorative tree with Darcie and Marcus in sideways hail stones and took the time afterward to speak with each of them despite the inclement weather. The Duke also met and spoke to each of the students invited from local Nottingham Schools
during his visit. He was very friendly and approachable with all the young people he met, and put everyone at ease, just as his father used to. All of our invited High School students enjoyed a conversation with him during the visit. BBC East Midlands Today interviewed Darcie and Marcus after they planted the commemorative tree with the Duke in the gardens. Their interviews made the BBC 6.30pm local news programme, and all of our students were featured in the report footage aired. The Duke said: “Some say The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is in my DNA; it’s certainly been a major part of my life for a very long time. Being asked to take on the role of Patron after my father is a particular honour and quite a responsibility. Sustaining and enhancing what is arguably his greatest legacy around the world matters a great deal to me, as does pursuing the Award’s long-term ambition of universal access so that every eligible young person has the opportunity to participate. Above all, I hope to ensure the Award to which my father gave his title, those that achieve it, and those who deliver it continue to enjoy the recognition they so richly deserve.”
Mrs Holloway
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Biology
SCIENTIST INSPIRATION DIVERSITY CHALLENGE
In March, students were invited to create something to celebrate a scientist of any discipline, past or present, who had inspired them by overcoming prejudice. The format was up to the students to decide, we were looking for a passionate response about how this Scientist showed resilience, determination, and passion in order to be successful in the face of adversity. Dan C-S produced a fascinating set of posters about the transgender neuroscientist, Ben Barres. Ben Barres’ pioneering research into glial cells in the brain shaped our understanding of synapse formation. He also campaigned tirelessly against gender bias in science, achieving longterm changes in recruitment policies and the representation of women and minorities in science. After transitioning to male, Ben Barres became the first openly transgender scientist in the US National Academy of Sciences. Ben Barres is a truly inspirational figure and we are grateful to Dan for bringing him into the spotlight.
Biology
RSB BRITISH BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD
The Royal Society of Biology’s annual Biology Olympiad competition consists of two challenging online papers, which test content from both years of A Level study and beyond, across all exam boards. Students had the opportunity to take part in seminar presentations in preparation, leading in-depth discussions on biological topics, issues, and discoveries. Well done to all those who took part and received awards. Our students achieved the following awards: 3 Gold, 1 Bronze, and 1 Highly Commended. As well as this, thirty-one Year 12 students gained awards in the Royal Society of Biology Intermediate Olympiad, a one-hour paper intended as a warm-up to the main Olympiad (17 Gold-to-Bronze as well as 4 Highly Commended and 10 Commended). This is a fantastic achievement. These students will be able to take part in seminars in the autumn term and compete in the main Olympiad in January.
Mr Duckett
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Section Name
Year 7 MFL
FRANCE AND GERMANY
Dear Diary, Day 1: The first two days of the trip were the most exciting part; it was the journey to Strasburg which is situated in the East of France. The journey was 17 hours long, including a 2-hour ferry crossing. We set off from school just before 11 pm and arrived in Dover the following morning in time for our morning ferry crossing to France!
Day 2: We arrived in Dover at 04:15 in the morning. We caught a ferry and sailed from Dover to Calais. The ferry crossing was a little choppy, but we still had fun! On route to Strasburg, we stopped at a scenic city called Laon which is where we stopped off for lunch. My friends and I enjoyed a plate of sushi before continuing our journey further east! Finally, we arrived at our hostel in Strasburg called Ciarus. This is where we were introduced to our rooms and unpacked our things. The final event of the day was the evening meal. We were served a local delicacy!
Day 3: We woke up early and refreshed after a good night’s sleep and had a nice French breakfast at the hostel. My favourite part was the croissants! We set off for a tour of the city of Strasburg. Now that we were more familiar with the surroundings, my friends and I grouped together and set off by ourselves to find some lunch. After this we had some more time to explore the wonder of Strasbourg and to buy souvenirs. In the afternoon we went on a river cruise, visited a cathedral, and took a closer look at the intricate architecture. Then it was time for more free time in the city. The area that stood out most to me was 'Petite France’ as the scenery by the river was fantastic! Finally, to end our day we were lucky enough to go to a traditional restaurant called Flans, where we tried a French version of a pizza ’tarte flambé’.
Section Name
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Day 4:
Day 6:
As before, we woke up early and were provided a nice breakfast in the hostel. As soon as possible we departed and arrived at La Montagne des Singes which is French for Monkey Mountain. We took a nice walk in the forest and took in the beautiful sites and looked at monkeys chasing each other in the trees. Once it was lunch there was a nearby cafe which served some local delicacies, including pretzels. During the second part of the day, we went to La Volerie des Aigles which is French for Eagle Park. The staff created an amazing show allowing the eagles to fly from one person to another. There were so many different breeds of eagles with different coloured feathers. Finally, we were taken to another restaurant called Brasserie de la Bourse. Here we ate a traditional scrumptious 3 - course meal. We were given carrot soup, chicken with buttered pasta, and chocolate pudding. Miam miam!
As in previous days, we woke up and were given breakfast at the hostel. We arrived at the City of Triberg and looked at the waterfalls whilst going on a rural walk. After taking in the sights of the waterfall from the steep slopes we drove to the city centre. Then we had the opportunity to explore the place. After another fantastic day it was time to return to Strasbourg and have our dinner in the hostel.
Day 5: We woke up and ate breakfast at the hostel. We left the hostel and set off for Freiburg which is in Germany. Once we arrived, we were given a tour of the city and then free time to find some lunch. Freiburg was a fantastic place, there were many dogs walking in the streets and the smell of German foods in the hazy air. I saw the most unusual thing in the city, there was a stream flowing across the streets. After our free time we departed Freiburg’s City centre and arrived at Schauinslandbahn which is a cable car with incredible views of the Black Forest. After the marvellous day, we left Freiburg and returned to Strasburg with an evening meal at the hotel. To make the evening interesting there was a quiz night hosted by the teachers. There were prizes for first, second and third place. Luckily, my team managed to win Lindor Squares for 3rd Place!
Day 7: The routine for breakfast at the hostel continued. We departed the hostel and as soon as possible arrived at Europa Park which was the largest and certainly most exhilarating theme park in Germany. The teachers allowed us to have free time in the park to ride some of the amazing rollercoasters built. During this free time, we grabbed some lunch from one of the stalls set up in the theme park. After that, we met up at a meeting point to check if we were having a fun timewhich we certainly were! As before we had some more free time in the afternoon. Finally, after this day full of adrenaline, we said auf wiedersehen to Germany as we returned for our evening meal at the hostel and then packed to go home the next day.
Day 8: Unfortunately, it was the end to our fantastic trip and was time to go back to Nottingham. As in the first journey we drove to Calais and caught a ferry to Dover and then drove back to Nottingham High School. After 8 days away from our parents, we met up with them again as the trip was at its end. If I had to sum up the trip in one word, it would certainly be: exhilarating!
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Trips, Visits and Activities
MFL
ANTHEA BELL TRANSLATION EXCHANGE
THE QUEEN’S COLLEGE, OXFORD Physics
ISAAC PHYSICS
SENIOR PHYSICS CHALLENGE SAPPHIRE AWARD
From December to the end of April, Deborah C-R in Year 12 solved a variety of physics and maths problems on the ‘Isaac Physics’ website coming within the top 100 students nationally. She was given a Sapphire Award for her efforts.
Chemistry
CHEMISTRY OUTREACH DAY
In April, the Modern Foreign Languages department submitted many entries translated from French, German, Spanish, and Italian, to the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators, run by The Queen’s College, Oxford. In June, we were delighted to learn that the following entrants had been successful in the area judging round.
Regional winner Italian Level 4: Jack D (Year 12)
Regional winner, Italian Level 3: Chloe J (Year 10)
Commendation, German Level 1: Lana P & Betty C (Year 7)
Jack D won the UK-wide competition which is outstanding. Massive congratulations to him! These achievements are particularly impressive when we consider that over 15,000 students nationally participated in the prize in 2023. A team of undergraduates and professional translators from The Queen’s College judged entries, which were submitted anonymously, to the competition and all commented on the excellent standard. We hope that all our linguists enjoyed this process and will be keen to participate again next year.
On Wednesday 17th May, we invited many primary schools from around Nottingham to participate in a Chemistry outreach day in our Science Department. The day involved a range of forensic science-based tasks wherein the students were trying to figure out who the criminal was from the murder scene details given to them. Each school had a team of four students who each performed multiple test tube reactions and chromatography practicals throughout the morning. The students had to ensure they recorded all observations carefully and measured the many quantities accurately to ensure they solved the mystery correctly. The second half of the day involved the students writing up a full report of their results which were then judged by the Science Department to find the winning team. The day was full of excitement and it was pleasing to see all students engaging in the exercises and working together as a team.
Soph W Y13
Trips, Visits and Activities
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Chemistry
TOP OF THE BENCH
Chemistry Outreach
MURDER MYSTERY On Wednesday 17th May, we invited many primary schools from around Nottingham to participate in a Chemistry outreach day in our Science Department. The day involved a range of forensic science-based tasks wherein the students were trying to figure out who the criminal was from the murder scene details given to them. Each school had a team of four students who each performed multiple test tube reactions and chromatography practicals throughout the morning. The students had to ensure they recorded all observations carefully and measured the many quantities accurately to ensure they solved the mystery correctly. The second half of the day involved the students writing up a full report of their results which were then judged by the Science Department to find the winning team. The day was full of excitement and it was pleasing to see all students engaging in the exercises and working together as a team.
I signed up to Top of the Bench not thinking much of it, sitting the preliminary round on a Tuesday lunchtime, answering broadly conceptual Chemistry questions. The highest scoring Year 9 pair and the highest scoring Year 10/ Year 11 pair combined to form one team. Ultimately, the team was Imogen B, Freddie A, Rahul J and me. It came to pass that we were the highest scoring team in Nottinghamshire in the preliminary round. And so, we were invited to the regional round at Derby University on Saturday 28th January. As we walked in, Mr Adshead told us about Chirag Goyal and his team who won the regional competition many years ago. The day began with a written exam, which was answered mostly by me, given I was the oldest and time was tight. We were then bestowed stylish lab coats and we donned them with pride during the next stage – the practical – which was based upon the iodine clock reaction. We had to adjust the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide solution, sodium thiosulphate solution, and water, so that it took exactly one minute for the mixture to go opaque. After numerous trials, we were timed by an adjudicator. Our time – one minute exactly! - something which we had not achieved in our practice runs. When the results were read out, the suspense grew as each school was announced, until finally, just one school remained…Next stop – the National Final! The National Final was held at the University of East London on Saturday 25th March, and it was an early start for Mr Adshead and the four of us. Upon arrival, we were bestowed matching T-shirts, though somehow the one-size-fits-all attire was neither flattering nor inspiring. Nonetheless, unified and high-spirited (thanks to Freddie’s quips and bizarre conversational topics) we were ready to face the competition, which was in the region of 30 other schools from all over the UK. Firstly, we had to answer a paper, though this time, Freddie and Rahul were sundered to sit their own paper, whilst Imogen and I tackled a slightly harder paper, something which we had prepared for with numerous lunchtime sessions involving a crash course in many GCSE topics and general Chemistry knowledge. This time, the practical was on calorimetry, where we had to calculate the energy density of multiple fuels and evaluate how environmentally friendly they were. Alas, when the results were announced, the medallists’ names came and went, and our name wasn’t heard.
Overall, it was a brilliant experience, and I would certainly recommend anybody to have a go in future years.
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Trips, Visits and Activities
Year 10 Geography
HOLDERNESS
In May the Year 10 Geographers made the journey to the world-famous Holderness coastline. Our first stop was at Flamborough Head where students sketched the chalk headland observing the features found there even getting to walk out on a wave cut platform and investigate the creatures in the rockpools too. After Flamborough, the data collection element of the day started. Students split into teams to record the beach profile and analyse sediment at 5 locations along Sewerby Beach spurred along by the promise of lunch. This data is collated and when back at school it is graphed and analysed so that students are able to utilise this to ascertain if longshore drift is impacting the beach. The final stop of the day is Hornsea where substantial coastal management techniques are in place to protect this tourist town. Here students needed to consider the views of different stakeholders on the management taking into account economic, social, and environmental aspects in their decision making and judgements.
Trips, Visits and Activities
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Year 10 Biology
PERLETHORPE
In May we took the year 10 biologists to the Perlethorpe Environmental Education Centre to develop their ecology skills and complete some required practical work for their GCSE course. The students investigated: the different plant species present in two areas (grassland and woodland); the effect of trampling and mowing on species distribution in a meadow; and the effect of pollution on aquatic invertebrates. The students particularly enjoyed this last activity, which involved entering a stream either upstream or downstream of a bridge, clad in their wellies, and then kicking up the sediment so they could use their nets to catch a sample of the species living there. The students also became proficient in using quadrats to sample plant species in various areas, comparing their findings as part of their study of the diversity of species living in different parts of the site. Gaining experience in gathering and analysing ecological data is invaluable in aiding student progress through this part of the course. This cohort was the most focused group we have ever taken to Perlethorpe, completing their work diligently and efficiently, and their exemplary conduct on the field trip was noted by the Centre staff.
Mr Duckett
Year 8 and 9 Physics
STEM CHALLENGE
The following students attended the Leicestershire Science and Technology Challenge Day at Gateway College, Leicester on the 29th of June. They were selected due to their engagement with Physics and interest in engineering. They performed exceptionally well and came runner-up in two of the four challenges.
Year 8
Year 9
Oskar A
Shaza A
Emma G
Daniel B
Khushi G
Will H
Marcus J-K
David P
Xavier L
Sienna W
Jessico L Eva M
RSB BIOLOGY CHALLENGE The Biology Challenge is an equivalent of the Olympiad for year 10 students. The aim of the competition is to challenge and stimulate students with an interest in Biology to expand and extend their talents. It enables students to demonstrate their knowledge and to be suitably rewarded and publicly recognised by the award of Gold, Silver, and Bronze certificates. The students sat two online papers, which covered a wide variety of topics studied at GCSE and additional wider knowledge of the biological world. Our students did extraordinarily well, achieving 16 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, and 2 Highly Commended awards on this year’s papers. It is hoped that competing in the Biology Challenge will encourage students to continue to study this valuable, wide-ranging, and rewarding subject beyond the GCSE level.
Mr Duckett
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Trips, Visits and Activities
Year 8 Biology
BURBAGE BROOK The year 8 trip to Burbage Brook took place towards the end of the summer term last year. We were lucky with the weather across the three days we took different forms. Students took part in data collection in the small river near Hathersage in the Peak District. Year 8 were looking at the width, depth, and velocity and how the bedload changes between the different sites. The river valley is a beautiful spot in the summer and students enjoyed getting in the river and looking at the valley sides to decide whether or not different elements would change between the sites. Using dog biscuits to measure velocity is always a firm favourite and trying to catch them after they have travelled the full ten metres is a bit of an art form. The trip allows year 8 Geographers to really develop their fieldwork techniques and we are then able to follow this up in the classroom with some evaluation and discussion of the results.
Physics
INTERNATIONAL PHYSICS OLYMPIAD TEAM SELECTION
The culmination of the British Physics Olympiad year is the International Physics Olympiad. Over 80 countries are represented at the IPhO, established in 1967. Each country is invited to send a team of up to five school students and two teachers. As in the sporting Olympics, the International Physics Olympiad offers students both the opportunity to test themselves at the highest level and a unique cultural and social opportunity. Despite the two challenging five-hour exams (one theoretical, one experimental), a festival atmosphere persists and the programme of excursions and social activities gives students the chance to learn about the host culture and make friends from across the globe. On Thursday 27th June Coy Z attended the British Physics Olympiad Awards at The Royal Society in London to collect The National Physical Laboratory Theoretical Physics Prize for Outstanding Performance. Coy was also selected to compete for Great Britain at the 53rd International Physics Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan in July 2023. He qualified for this by first completing the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) Round 1, finishing with a ‘top gold’ and placing him in the top 10% of the 2300 students that sat the test. He then took part in Round 2 of the BPhO and also the British Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition (BAAO). He performed exceptionally well and was rewarded with a place in a training camp at Oxford University with other
students in which the teams for the International Olympiads were selected. He had to complete numerous training exercises alongside preparing for his external exams. In the last twenty years we have had very few who have reached this stage, it is a rare occurrence and is a huge honour for both Coy and the Physics Department. In Tokyo, he completed both an experimental and theoretical exam and was awarded a silver medal. Coy also mentioned that the experience is one he will never forget and that he met many people from many countries, notably the USA and China teams.
Trips, Visits and Activities
Year 12 Biology
CRANEDALE Over the weekend of the 23rd-25th of June, the Biology Department took our year 12s on their residential field trip to the Cranedale Environmental Studies Centre near Malton, North Yorkshire. On the way, we stopped off at the wonderful RSPB reserve at Bempton Cliffs to study the conservation of marine birds, as well as conduct an investigation into zonation on the rocky shore at Filey – as our resident expert on identifying the organisms, Mr Mantell spent the afternoon hopping around the shore so he could help every group. Once we arrived at Cranedale, the students were guided through several ecological activities in support of both the required practical section of the course and the associated ecology topic areas. The activities included: setting small mammal traps (we caught five mice this time!); using ‘mark-release-recapture’ to estimate snail population size; sampling different stages of succession in a disused quarry; and planning and carrying out an investigation on the effect of an invasive crayfish species on freshwater biodiversity. There was also an evening bat walk which resulted in the students being treated to a dazzling aerial display by a group of Pipistrelles! Altogether, the weekend was a valuable opportunity for the students to study nature and enhance their understanding of the A-level content.
Mr Duckett
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Trips, Visits and Activities
Food
CREATIVE DAY
To celebrate the end of exam week we were treated to a fun-filled Year 8 Creative Day in the Food and Nutrition Department. The day was action-packed and consisted of making Artisan malted loaves, Chelsea buns, focaccia bread, and even some delicious salted caramel truffles. Amelia Wells was our amazing Artisan Baker for the day and she graduated from the Artisan School of Food and now owns her own bakery in Southwell. Amelia did a wonderful bread-making masterclass in the morning followed by a chocolate session in the afternoon. It was amazing- she helped us whenever we got stuck because making artisan bread was not as easy as it seemed! It was interesting how even different types of bread were made so differently with completely different ingredients. We also had a chocolatetasting session, which was of course delicious - it
was really interesting to see how 100 percent cocoa bean chocolate differs from normal Cadburys, which is 50%. The caramel truffles were scrumptious and filled with handmade salted caramel. The opportunities were endless - it was amazing to be able to make bread using actual Artisan recipes from a real bakery. These recipes were clearly tested several times, as they were from a traditional baker, and they worked the first time, and it was incredible! The day was a really great experience, and it would be fabulous to do this again. We would highly recommend this opportunity for the new Y8s and many thanks to Mrs Stafford, Mrs Turnbull, Mrs Marshall, and The Artisan School of Food for providing us with the ingredients for the day.
Khushi, Mahi and Kate
Trips, Visits and Activities
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Chemistry
ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN THE C3L6 CAMBRIDGE CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE AND THE RSC CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD COMPETITIONS The C3L6 Cambridge Chemistry Challenge aims to stretch and challenge students interested in chemistry and provides an excellent experience for anyone considering taking their studies further. It is designed to be accessible to Year 12 students but takes them significantly beyond the syllabus and encourages them to think about science in the way they would at university. The paper is a genuine stretch and challenge exercise, aimed at the brightest Lower Sixth Chemists in the UK. It is a huge credit to the students within the Chemistry Department that they were able to attain such impressive results, with 5 Gold (Isaac B, Adam C, Vimu H, Hannah P, Lucy I), 7 Silver (Arnav S, Hannah F, Ewan H, Tom H, Shu P, Soph W, Anna B) and 15 Copper certificates achieved. One of our students (Zayan B) attained an incredible mark which placed him comfortably inside the top 60 of the competition, earning him the top Roentgenium Award and a place on a residential study experience at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Many of the Year 12 students who took the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge also took part in the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad 2023, along with a good number of our top Year 13 Chemists. The Chemistry Olympiad paper was sat
Chemistry
RSC YOUNG ANALYST COMPETITION
in January, a two-hour paper of really challenging chemistry which is written to stretch the best A Level Chemists across the country. The preparation and performance of High School chemists were very impressive, with 4 students attaining the prestigious Gold Awards (Coy Z, Al Qavi H, Zayan B, Chidi A), whilst 6 attained Silver Awards and a further 10 attained Bronze. Particular congratulations to Coy Z who attained one of the highest marks in the country and was invited to take part in the selection process for the UK Chemistry Olympiad team - his performance in this year’s Chemistry Olympiad was absolutely outstanding. We really do have some very talented Chemists at the High School.
Mr K Heath
In this unique baking competition, three distinct phases redefined the traditional contest. First, identifying mystery dry ingredients through precise chemical tests set the tone. Then, determining bicarbonate of soda concentrations in cake mixtures demanded scientific accuracy via titration. Yet, it was the unexpected final phase that intrigued us the most. A recipe theft mystery unfolded, with ink analysis using thin-layer chromatography revealing the culprit. This fusion of baking and forensic science showcased the fusion of culinary skill with scientific investigation. The competition wasn't just about baking—it blended scientific methodology with culinary creativity. It challenged us to explore diverse disciplines, emphasising how innovation and analytical thinking intersect in unexpected arenas.
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Trips, Visits and Activities
Year 7 Geography
ATTENBOROUGH
In July Year 7 students spent a day at the Attenborough Nature Reserve where they were able to examine real-life examples of the flood management techniques they had been studying in class. Practicing fieldwork techniques such as sketches and note taking the Year Seven gathered information on the type of management and the facilities in each Barton and Attenborough. Once we had gathered sufficient information in the field students were able to combine this with data collected in class to explain why some areas were managed with more expensive and extensive methods than others. We also spent time honing our biological skills by testing the pollution levels within the lake and the impacts of trampling in the forest. A fantastic chance for year 7 to put their theoretical skills to the test in real-life scenarios.
MFL
TRANSLATION TALK I recently attended a talk by David French who is a translator from Polish to English he mainly works on translating books and TV series. David is an ON who studied psychology at university. When he finished university, he decided to pursue another career and did an A Level in Polish. This was driven by his desire to reconnect with his Polish roots and to be able to communicate with his aunt who spoke no English. This included spending five years living in Poland where he became fluent. Following this, he has achieved a lot of success as a translator including translating the text of the Witcher from Polish into English. This book was subsequently turned into a series by Netflix. Staying in the world of television and entertainment David has recently undertaken a screenwriter's course so maybe we will hear his name in that context soon.
I found his talk particularly interesting because I had never thought that translation was a creative career. David told us how as a translator his role was sometimes to reinterpret the words of the original author to fit with the language that it was being translated into. He also told us that we might not necessarily find a career that we love whilst at school or at university and we should stay open to finding opportunities and careers later in life. I found the whole talk very interesting as it showed me a career that I had never considered and made me think about my own career choices and staying open to different possibilities as well as doing what it is that I love.
Holly P Y10
SENIOR PHYSICS CHALLENGE The online Senior Physics Challenge consists of two half-hour sets of multiple-choice questions which are largely about physics ideas, but also encourage some wider reading and interest in the subject. It is an opportunity for students to take part in a national physics competition and to develop their confidence in the subject. This year we had eighteen students take part, seventeen from Year 12 and one from Year 11. They can all be very proud of their achievements but specific mention should be made to Vimu H, Orlando B, Arnav S, Ansh D, Tom H, and William H (Year 11) who achieved gold awards.
YOUNG ENTERPRISE This year, over 65 Year 12 students have taken part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme. Every Tuesday, after school the students run their company board meetings and this year, we have seen some truly entrepreneurial spirit. Initial enterprises started in October with the specific aim of generating capital to fire up their main enterprise activities. Team Quizpots organised a cake sale at a parent evening in school, Team Silverwear hosted a World Cup event in the Founder Hall and Team Opal ran a quiz after school for the year 7’s. It was Team Illuminate however that raced ahead of the game producing upcycled, decorative lights out of old bottles. With their very effective marketing on Instagram and great team spirit, they sold at a variety of preChristmas events. Market Day was held at West Bridgford market this year and the teams threw themselves into selling to the general public. We witnessed some hugely persuasive selling techniques as well as some innovative ways of marketing. Team Remix really found their stride with their decorative bowls and artwork made out of upcycled vinyl records, and Team Bromley’s Wood targeted the Nottingham market with handmade wooden decorations depicting Robin Hood and the Caste of Nottingham. All teams made a profit and went on to the awards ceremony at Confetti at the end of March. Congratulations go to Team Bromley’s Wood who picked up the award for Best Teamwork. All the teams however have given 110% this year not just to running their enterprise, but to the competition elements, market day, the presentations the interviews, and the awards event at Confetti. A big well done to all.
Mrs Wicks and Mrs Wheeler
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Section Name
OPTIONS
Options
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Contingent Commander’s Report
COMBINED CADET FORCE
The Combined Cadet Force continues to provide outstanding Co-Curricular opportunities for the students of the school through military sponsored training, which at its core, holds high personal standards, cadet leadership and active participation as paramount. The number of cadets joining the CCF, across all three sections has increased over the past three years and it is pleasing to see additional girls join the CCF from years 9 to 13. The Cadet-led Contingent, which has become the hallmark of the CCF in recent years, continued to provide excellent opportunities for our Year 12 and 13s to impact the training of the younger cadets. An excellent NCO team, led by Regimental Sergeant Major Sebastian Lees, provided engaging activities and showed themselves to be excellent role models for all 130 cadets in the Contingent. A large number of cadets this year have attended CCF courses to enhance their skills, many signing up for Junior and Senior leadership courses but some also pursuing courses to enhance their portfolios, sailing, shooting and life saving to name but a few. Section staff and their NCO teams have continued to lead a wide variety of training for the junior members. Cadets participated in leadership, first aid, drill, field craft, fitness, music and water based activities and a whole host of other practical training during their Monday evening sessions. Cadets have also completed various elements of the CCF national syllabus, which covers many other aspects of military training across all three sections. Section Activities Days have also given the cadets experience of MOD establishments and training areas. In June, the cadets experienced a number of practical activities whilst visiting various establishments. The Navy section enjoyed a trip to Portsmouth and sailed to Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the cadets took turns on the helm and learnt skills such as tacking and rope work. The Army and RAF enjoyed various command tasks and AT activities as part of their visits. Beyond the Monday sessions, the Cadets participated in a wide range of public duties, including the Nottingham Club’s Armistice Dinner, the Nottingham City Remembrance Parade and the Nottinghamshire Parade at the embankment. All of these events put our cadets on public view and they, in the best traditions of Nottingham High School, conducted themselves superbly. The Annual Inspection day, which is a review of the Contingent and has become a key feature in the school calendar, took place in the sunshine in March.
Captain Warren Brown, inspected the Cadets. He was treated to a fantastic display of Cadet training activities, including raft building, and was thrilled to see the RAF section win the Nottingham Club Trophy as part of the inter - service challenge. The Cadets and staff of the CCF continue to impress me with their dedication and high standards and it is down to the efforts of the staff and cadet leadership of the Contingent that the CCF has grown over recent years. My sincere thanks go to the departing cadet leadership team, Sebastian L (RSM) and the Heads of Section: Jessica H (Navy) Thomas C V (Army) and Archie G (RAF). I have thoroughly enjoyed my sixth year as Contingent Commander and I look forward to seeing the CCF grow from strength to strength in future years.
Lt Cdr Allison - Contingent Commander
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Section Name
DUKE OF EDINBURGH DofE has been another successful year with over 200 students involved through all three levels of the award. There has been 4498 hours of voluntary work done by all the students during the last 12 months, which equates to £21,633.00 of work to help community organisations and charities throughout the local area. Students have increased their levels of physical activity, trying new and different sports and developing ones they already do. They have learnt new skills, such as cooking and a wide variety of dishes have been prepared and cooked by the students. The expeditions were well attended with everyone undergoing the training and practice expeditions before engaging with the qualifying expeditions during the summer. At Bronze the final expedition was in the wonderful White Area having a great weekend away with good weather. The Silver expedition was located in the Lake District starting in Coniston and then a threeday trek north to finish in Keswick. The Gold walking expedition was located in the beautiful Snowdonia National Park with the highlight being the walk over the summit of Snowdon. The Gold Canoe group spent three days on the River Wye starting in Whitney on Wye and finishing in Monmouth. I would like to give a huge thank you to all the staff who have made the DofE award so easily accessible to all our students this year and I hope I can count on your assistance in the coming months to ensure yet another successful year.
John Butcher
Section Name
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Options
COMMUNITY ACTION Charity Work to Support The Guru Nanak Mission The Food and Nutrition Department continue to support the amazing work of The Guru Nanak Mission working collaboratively with our Community Action Group in School. This year we have been in action 4 times and cooked and served up over 500 meals in total throughout the year for distribution in the evenings on the streets of Nottingham. Our ongoing work with the Guru Nanak Mission in Nottingham continues to be an important part of our school life and here’s what our students Matthew M and Feni I had to say about their voluntary work for The Guru Nanak Mission this year.
Y12 Christmas Toiletries Campaign for Guru Nanak Mission As well as providing nutritious hot meals to the homeless, The Guru Nanak also provide free personal hygiene gift packs and toiletries to the homeless of Nottingham. In December, this year, a group of Year 12 Sixth Form students volunteered to help promote, collect and pack toiletries for the Guru Nanak Mission; to support to the homeless. We believe that it is our responsibility as a school to help those in need. We used various ways to reach out to as many as possible, such as creating posters and promoting GNM in our assemblies. We raised over 100 donations collectively which we gift wrapped beautifully to give out on the night alongside our delicious and nutritious meal. We thoroughly appreciated our time spent in support of this deserving cause, which highlighted the value of giving back to our community. We are appreciative of the Food Department for giving us this chance, and we look forward to supporting this noble cause again next year.
Feni I Y12
Y10 charity cook to support Guru Nanak Mission and feed the homeless. On a very cold and wet December morning, our class was challenged to cook up over 75 portions of spaghetti bolognaise for the Guru Nanak Mission in order to help feed the homeless on the streets of Nottingham. The meals that were made were meat free, to allow vegetarians to eat them and were packed full of all nutrients needed, to help keep people healthy and full of energy throughout the day. Overall, everyone really enjoyed this experience as it allowed us to share our cooking skills that we have learnt over the years at school with those in need and help to make a difference through our community. We hope that we put a smile on someone's face and made a difference and all look forward to helping charities like this again throughout the year. Mrs Stafford and Mrs Marshall kindly delivered the hot meals, alongside the 6th Form toiletries gift packs, to the Lenton Lane Gurdwara and then helped serve the meals at Albert Street outside Marks and Spencer’s with The Guru Nanak Mission. If you are interested in getting involved in supporting us with this great local charity, please see Mrs Stafford for further details.
Matthew M Y10
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CHILDREN IN NEED We raised over £350 through a series of events including: a Pudsey merchandise sale (ears, rubix cubes, pins and wristbands as well as Pudsey Bears), a cake sale (this was certainly the most popular events and we had practically sold out by break time) as well as a Pudsey Bear Pong game that proved popular among students!
Foodbank On the 5th of December, Community Action visited the Bulwell and Bestwood foodbank to provide voluntary support. We weighed crates of food that had been collected from shoppers who had donated items to the food bank. Then, we sorted the items into different categories so they could be easily made into food parcels. For example, soups, fish, cereal, and pasta each had a separate container to be sorted in to. It is very eye-opening to visit the foodbank and realise the hardships experienced by others who are less fortunate than us, especially with the cost of living being so high at the moment. However, it is always rewarding to know you are helping the wider community in Nottingham and making a positive difference.
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Section Name
SCOUTS The year 2022-23 was an action packed one for the 34th Nottingham Scouts. The troop enjoyed the usual Friday night shenanigans, with woggle races in the pool, table tennis and games including the all-time favourite: ‘man hunt’. Special Friday night sessions included a trip to Warhammer World which everyone enjoyed, a superb leadership training session run by Seth for the Year 9 Scouts and the familiar chaos of Pancake Olympics. Activity Days included fun caving in Matlock and Indoor Skiing. Declan Stock also organised another fantastic session at Hoveringham Watersport Centre for the Scouts and Explorers and Sarah Freeston ran a fantastic series of sessions where the Scouts learnt to make their own woggles. A personal Friday highlight for David Le Blancq was the Night Hike as the recently fallen snow, clear sky and pitch black conditions made the orienteering feel especially adventurous! The parents Exec did a fantastic job with the Bonfire Party and the End of Year BBQ, special thanks to Sarah Freeston and Sheraz Afzal for this. The Easter
Camp organised by Briony Vincent in Ennerdale was another great success with high adrenaline Via Ferrata included alongside hikes and mountain biking. The year concluded with a fantastic Summer Camp in Snowdonia. Highlights of the Summer Camp included Hiking up the welsh mountain Tryfan and rock climbing at the Snowdonia Adventure Park... lowlights included re-erecting the Marquee tent after it had been battered by wind and rain… for the third time! As is always the case, the adventurous programme that the 34th runs would not be possible for the army of volunteers who make running the group possible, including many of the unseen heroes who work behind the scenes to make everything possible. Massive thanks to Graham Lewin the Scouts Group Treasurer, Tony Stock who bravely took on the position of Group Scout Leader, all the Parents Exec and all the Friday night volunteers.
Section Name
CLUBS AND SOCIETIES
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Clubs and Societies
MFL
INTERNATIONAL BOOK CLUB
Of course, the idea to run an international book club at my school came from attending those run by Queen’s College Translation Exchange. So much did I enjoy the opportunity to have my own space to discuss foreign novels with like-minded, literature-loving peers, I simply could not wait to open up this opportunity to students in my own school. The cross-cultural exchange and linguistic creativity that the book club engenders as a result of this fantastic initiative, meant I could promote it with full confidence. Through this activity, students will be provided with the development they need to think critically, and articulate their thoughts in an eloquent manner. Our first session focused on The Island, written by Ana María Matute and translated by Laura Lonsdale. The book focuses around the central character of the rebellious teenager Matia, who, after her mother dies and her father abandons her, is sent to live with her domineering grandmother on the scorching island of Mallorca. Shaped by the circumstances of the Spanish Civil War, The Island is a moving coming-of-age novel, where communities tear themselves apart, and Matia learns about the adult world in ways that she could not previously have foreseen. The session was an absolute success, with students from across years 10 to 12 attending; our next novel will be the French novel Under the Tripoli Sky written by Kamal Ben Hameda.
Muskan G
Biology
BEAST CLUB
After the previous difficulties of lockdowns and the problems of looking after the animals in those circumstances, it has been great to have a full uninterrupted year of Beast Club. We have several new members, as well as our dedicated team of Sixth form boys and Year 9 girls in particular. After the sad death of our Musk Turtle named ‘Mini Egg’, the main highlight has been the introduction of our new Ouachita Map Turtle. Purchased at a very young age, we spent many weeks studying how to sex map turtles and collecting suggestions for names. Eventually when big enough to sex, we discovered that our new turtle is male and named him ‘Trevor’.
In other news, Lexi the Leopard Gecko, famed for escaping a few years ago and living in a cupboard for three months, is still going strong. We also have a very large breeding population of black beauty stick insects – so if anyone wants a new pet please contact Mr Mantell. Our other creatures, including the Giant African Land Snails, Giant Millipede, White’s Tree Frog and vast Dubia Cockroach crew are also doing well. Special thanks go to Isaac B for continuing to lead the group and Kate R who volunteered to help the lab technicians each week with further animal care, as part of her DofE award.
Clubs and Societies
BIOLOGY CLUB I have been attending Biology Club since September and thoroughly recommend it to future Year 7s. In my opinion, it is a great way to extend your learning outside of the classroom and have fun at the same time. We have done many dissections, microscope practice, and researching activities that have all been both educational and hands-on. At Biology club one week, we learnt all about the human brain and then drew the different parts and functions onto a swimming cap on a friend's head. This was both hilarious (my friend looked ridiculous) and educational as we learnt all the functions of parts of the brain such as the frontal lobe, pituitary gland and cerebellum. Without going to Biology club, Year 7s would not know things such as the pituitary gland secretes hormones and maintains balance and growth! Similarly, we have dissected many organs and organisms such as eyeballs, insects and brains. Over the school year, we have built up our dissecting skills and I found it incredibly fun to dissect insects and look at their different parts under the microscope.
Hattie J
In the last half term, we grew our own butterflies and studied them throughout. They started as fourteen small caterpillars (larvae) in little jars surrounded by food, silk and shedded skin. Soon they became chrysalids and hung on the lids of their jars. However, in one jar every single caterpillar had died. Then, the chrysalids were moved into the butterfly netted enclosure where they became butterflies. Around the butterfly's small home, there was red stuff that looked like blood. However, it was the dye that coloured the beautiful red ladies’ wings called meconium. Two weeks before the end of term, we went outside and each took a butterfly out by letting it rest on our fingers. Some opened their wings and relaxed on fingers for about a minute while some flew away the minute they got the chance. It was great fun and I really enjoyed it, as I did every other biology club and I’m grateful I got the opportunity to go to biology club and experience everything I have done.
Hattie S
Thank you especially to Mrs Vincent for running the biology club this year for all the Year 7s to enjoy.
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Clubs and Societies
FOOD AND NUTRITION CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES Our 7 and 8 Food clubs continue to prove very popular again this year and have been a great opportunity to embrace cultural diversity in school with so many different celebrations throughout the year. Students have enjoyed masterclasses in samosas and chapattis led by Mango Ginger Cookery School to celebrate Diwali and Eid and also made some lovely Hanukah bread rolls, sushi, hot cross buns, pancakes, challah bread and Gulab jamun. Mrs Pigeon has continued with her conversational French and Spanish café style cooking club to inspire students with a wider interest in food to further develop their practical skills whilst talking in a different language. This year, Food Club also taken the opportunity to support the Rosie May Charity by baking cakes for Coopers House and helping to preparing hot meals for the homeless whilst supporting the amazing work of The Guru Nanak Charity in Nottingham. We continue to promote the use of fresh ingredients from our school garden and making homemade elderflower cordial with foraged elderflower. Here’s what George and Ashana have got to say about this year’s Food clubs….
Year 7 Food Club My absolute favourite club this year has definitely got to be Food Club as it's a great way to make new friends with similar interests as you, especially those in different forms. At Food club, we make lots of delicious treats such as sushi, samosas, savoury cheese twists, artisan chocolates and amazing American style pancakes, all whilst having fun with friends! Throughout the year there are also competitions like the Christmas bake-off, these are judged by our head teacher, Mr Fear, and are one of the best events to try. Overall, Food in year seven has been a great and fun experience, and I would absolutely recommend anyone getting involved in the extracurricular opportunities in Food and Nutrition!
Ashana D S
Clubs and Societies
Year 8 Food Club
Year 13 Ready Steady University
For me, Food Club is a great way to spend a Wednesday lunch time. It begins at the start of lunch for you to come along and make a simple dish that will often not take more than 30 minutes. We have made many simple dishes such as Chinese and Indian street food, pan con tomate, crepes and different food from cultures from around the world for example: Chinese street food. The first session I went to Food Club, we made Chinese street food (Fried vegetables and meat with egg fried rice) to celebrate the Chinese new year. That was my favourite session as we made a full meal that was not only nutritious, but also tasty. I would highly recommend coming along to Food Club and have a go at making something delicious to eat there for lunch or to take home.
This year Y13 Students continued to to develop their practical skills and Impress new friends at University with their amazing new cooking abilities. Over the course, they learnt how to cook up some simple student staples and treats that were tasty, nutritional, affordable and very impressive! The project also involved them creating their very own favourite Fakeaway Menus in an attempt to recreate their favourite takeaways in school. We wish all our outgoing Year 13 students all the best and hope they are able to use the new skills they have developed in future life whatever their chosen path.
George M
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Section Name
CREATIVE ARTS
Section Name
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Music
AUTUMN CONCERT
In the closing chapter of the first term, Nottingham High school concluded with the vibrant annual Autumn Concert, where an array of musical talents took centre stage. From the dynamic beats of the Big Band to the enchanting melodies of the Senior Orchestra, the evening was a celebration of diversity in musical genres and a testament to the depth of talent within the school. The concert opened with the Big Band's energetic performance of 'Flight of the Foo Birds,' setting a lively tone for the evening. The Lower School Choir followed suit with a powerful rendition of 'Believer,' showcasing the vocal prowess of our budding musicians. The Autumn Concert continued to unfold with each ensemble taking center stage. The Sinfonia, led by the enchanting 'Harry Lime Theme,' transported the audience to cinematic landscapes. The Upper School Choir captivated hearts with 'Some Nights,' while the Senior Percussion Ensemble added a rhythmic flair with 'Megalovania.' The Lower School Big Band brought a soulful touch with 'Green Onions,' paving the way for the Senior Orchestra's masterful rendition of 'The Great Escape' and the dramatic 'March to the Scaffold.' From the powerful notes of the Lower Brass Ensemble's 'Game of Thrones' to the Wind Band's rendition of 'Highlights from The Phantom of the Opera,' the evening was a kaleidoscope of musical genres and emotions. As the Concert Band closed the evening with a delightful ‘Disney Medley’ and the heartfelt ‘Ballad for Benny’, the auditorium resonated with collective appreciation, leaving the audience with a sense of musical delight
Thank you to the performers, teachers, and school community for making the Autumn Concert a resounding success; the echoes of each note and the memories created continue to remind us of the power of music to unite and inspire.
Muskan G
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Creative Arts
Music
SCHOLAR CONCERT
Music
NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS SERVICE
This year, we celebrated the festivities of Christmas and the New Year with our Nine Lessons and Carols Service at the beautiful setting of St Mary’s Church. There were lots of interesting readings from members of the school community, including teachers, students and old Nottinghamians. This was interspersed with a variety of music performed by lots of different choirs, as well as the congregational carols with the audience and the accompanying brass and organ. This included many traditional hymns, such as “O Holy Night” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful”, as well as some of the more modern ones like “Torches” and a jazz version of “We Three Kings”. I was amazed by the standard of the soloists throughout the service this year – well done to all of them! One of the things I really enjoyed was singing
“The Holly and the Ivy” with the Community Choir. This is a new choir starting this year, made up of parents and other members of the school community. After the service, the congregation was invited to have mince pies, what a lovely way to start the festive season!
Hannah P
Creative Arts
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Year 7
BEATBOXING WORKSHOP
Music
SPRING CONCERT
WITH MC ZANI
During the course of the school year, Year 7 had a workshop with MC Zani in the recital hall. To start off, he impressed us with his amazing beatboxing skills and gave us a brief introduction about himself. MC Zani is a beatboxer who won the UK beatboxing championships in 2008. He has also performed on some of the world’s most distinguished stages including Madison Square Gardens and Glastonbury. MC Zani then gave us a demonstration by showing us how to do some simple beatboxing. We practised saying certain words and removing the vowels; we then further developed the phrasing until we realised we were beatboxing! After that, he taught us how to use the microphone properly and many of us had a go at creating our own unique sounds. After every activity, MC Zani did a countdown from ten with his voice that sounded like a robotic gameshow voice! It was a super fun and exciting part of the music curriculum and I would recommend the experience to other students.
Alice D
Music
YOUNG COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
The Spring Concert at the Albert Hall provides a showcase for the new Year 7s, as well as a swansong to our Year 13s. The Y7s performed ‘True Colours’ and ‘Can’t Stop this Feeling’, from the movie Trolls, with great enthusiasm and energy. There were so many polished performances from our ensembles, and it was certainly a platform for some outstanding soloists, including Josie S performing the slow movement of the Rodrigo Guitar Concerto arranged for Trumpet solo and Orchestra, and the Big Band performing an arrangement of the Phil Collins hit ‘Against All Odds’, featuring Coy Z as the saxophone soloist. The Finale of the evening was a massed performance of ‘Back to My Roots’. Every student took part, and there was a definite groove going on in the Hall!
This year’s composition brief was to compose a piece on the theme of celebration. Our adjudicator was a former student, Peter Moorhouse. Peter studied at the High School between 1974 and 1981. During his school years, he was actively involved in the Music Department. On leaving the High School Peter studied law, joined the City and worked in investment banking for Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. The overall winner was Chris M in Year 11, who wrote a brilliant piece celebrating the end of exams. The KS3 winner was Emma G and the student to win the KS5 category was Anthony C.
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Creative Arts
Year 8
BRIDGE CUP
Year 8
DRUMMING WORKSHOP
Y8 students recently had the opportunity to choose an activity during Y8 Creative Day. I, enjoy drums and the thought of an afternoon playing them, chose the African drumming workshop organised by a company called Unbeatable Energy. The workshop was led by a very enthusiastic instructor named Steve. Throughout the workshop, Steve focused on teaching us the art of playing the djembe (and later, the dundun), some traditional African drums. We started off by doing a lot of clapping and I found out that I have been clapping incorrectly for the 13 years that I have been alive! Then, we started playing the djembe. We started off with some relatively simple rhythms and then slowly developed them into a multitude of rhythms. In this part, Steve taught us “The most important rhythm that you will ever learn” (his words not mine). Steve showed his real passion for drumming when he showed us some of his YouTube videos, including one where he tried to drum with cereal boxes. We eventually created a piece which was filmed and showcased to the year at the end of the day. Overall, I really enjoyed this workshop and would recommend it to people next year.
Finlay B
From reciting poetry to violin concertos, the Bridge Cup was a highlight of the year to many. The beginning of this year saw Maples win the verse speaking choir competition with our enthusiastic performance of “The Stick Man” by Julia Donaldson. After countless rehearsals which became particularly stressful as the performance drew closer, we managed to pull it off and earn first place. Santa even featured in our performance causing a few laughs amongst the audience! The next event was individual music, gaining a total of 350 entries across the school. The music department were particularly impressed with the standard of entries and the prizewinners concert featured a variety of pieces including the Sound of Music and Count On Me. In a beautiful display of community and togetherness, we saw the house choirs unite this year, performing a wonderful rendition of Good Vibrations. Overall, the Bridge Cup was a fantastic event showcasing the talent of many pupils from across the school. I, for one, loved the opportunity to represent Maples as part of the verse speaking choir and can’t wait to take part again next year.
Anya B
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Music
NATIONAL CONCERT BAND FESTIVAL
The Concert Band achieved national success this year in the National Concert Band Festival and performed at Northampton School for Boys in the January heats. They all played superbly, performing Ballad for Benny, Disney Movie Magic and La Caracola, and were delighted to receive a Gold Award. The Band were then invited to perform at the Royal Northern College of Music in April. Congratulations to all the students involved and also to Sean Pepper for directing the group.
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PRO CORDA NATIONAL FESTIVAL, CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL & ART EXHIBITION
Chamber music really came alive last year. The newly formed ‘Jet Quintet’ (Evan AY, Jasper D, Tegan D, George W, Kushi G) took part in the national Pro Corda chamber music competition. We worked up the Mozart Minuet and Trio and the Haydn Divertimento in D and after submitting a video audition were told that, excitingly, we were through into the semi-finals. The Y9 Saxophone Quartet (Alex H, Nathan C, Charlie M, James G) were also successful and they performed with real energy and commitment. This time we had to play live in front of an adjudicator who critiqued our performance. Although we did not make it into the final, we were all proud of how we had played, and we had plenty of fun too. In March we were pleased to join other chamber groups for the Chamber Music festival. This special event was a collaboration with the Art Department and there was a KS3 art exhibition,
with stunning work on display, in the music school alongside performances by chamber groups. We heard a variety of groups, from the flute choir, clarinet trio and saxophone quartet, to a range of string quintets and trios, as well as the excellent percussion ensemble. It was a really special experience and the audience seemed to enjoy it too.
Evan A-Y
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Music
CHORAL FESTIVAL
On Thursday, 2nd March 2023, the Nottingham High School Music Department hosted its annual Choral Festival. The air was thick with anticipation as parents and teachers eagerly waited for the evening to commence. Kicking off the festivities was the Lower School Choir, who serenaded the audience with their rendition of "Three Little Birds”, which had all the audience’s heads bobbing! Next up, the Year 10 Barbershop graced the stage, dazzling the crowd with "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Never Gonna Give You Up”, the latter of which being extremely popular with the audience! After this was Year 9 Barbershop. Their crooning renditions of "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and "Come Fly with Me" transported the audience back to an era of swing and jazz. Next in line was the Sixth Form Barbershop group, whose soulful performance of "Kiss from a Rose." was extremely impressive. Ensuing this was Year 11 Barbershop. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and
everyone was tapping their feet to their performance of 'Lullaby of Birdland'. Finally, the Chamber Choir closed the evening with their mesmerising rendition of "Circle of Life." This was an amazing end to an extremely pleasant and enjoyable evening. Thank you to the Music Department for orchestrating and organising such a wonderful event!
Charles D
Music
JAZZ & MEXICAN EVENING
On Friday 3rd February, sombreros were at the ready for our annual jazz evening – this year with a Mexican twist! The evening commenced with a warmup from the Sixth Form Rock Band, before the packed dining hall was transported on a jazz journey through the years. After a bit of jostling to fit our large hats on stage, the Big Bands started with the classics before moving onto some contemporary numbers and quickly had the enthusiastic crowd clapping and singing along. Smooth harmonies were the order of the day for the various Barbershop groups, whilst the talented solo vocalists provided some outstanding performances. The audience enjoyed a fiesta of Mexican food and the cocktails were definitely flowing. It was great to see our teachers come together on the night in the Staff Band to show us how it’s done. A highlight of the evening was performing one of our Big Band favourites, ‘Tequila’, there was some fantastic audience participation - in fact we played it twice! A big thank you to Mr Toon for putting the event together and we look forward to next year’s Jazz & Italian Evening.
Charlie M
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Music
CONDUCTING MASTERCLASS
At the beginning of the spring term, Nottingham High School welcomed professional musician Mark Biggins to lead a conducting workshop for an eager group of students. Mark studied at Cambridge and Yale universities and has a wealth of experience conducting orchestras and choirs across America and Europe. The masterclass consisted of three main elements, each one important in expanding students’ understanding of effective conducting. It began with a simple introduction of keeping in time. This ensures that the group you are leading can all maintain the appropriate tempo without anyone wavering, in order to produce a coherent performance. Students then proceeded to learn how to demonstrate interpretation of the score to an orchestra, enabling players to convey atmosphere and emotion to the audience. Finally, students applied their new-found skills by conducting rehearsals for ensembles in which they usually participate as players - a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the skills they had acquired. Mark was an inspirational and engaging educator and I’m sure all participants gained much from the event.
Music
NTU & NHS BIG BAND SHOWCASE
In the first week of December, NHS Big Band took part in a showcase concert, which soon became one of the highlights of our year. This was a battle between us, (NHS Big Band) and the Nottingham Trent University Big Band. We did not only perform pieces to showcase all our abilities to intimidate the other band, but we also did a couple of collaborations as well. The collaborations included one of our statement pieces - Birdland – the volume of noise created was immense, even Mr Toon complained about his ears ringing till 3am in the morning (he was not the only one).
Eloise C
Toby B
Music
PEGGY’S SKYLIGHT BIG BAND GIG The NHS Big Band’s first ever jazz club gig was held at Peggy’s Skylight Jazz Club in early December. This was such an amazing and different experience. We were able to perform our music in relaxed setting: relatives, strangers and teachers all got to enjoy some food, have a little jiggle (yes, we all saw you) and listen to our music. This was one of the best programmes we have ever done, we had 6 vocal pieces amongst a plethora of other music. It was an insane night and we really hope we can do it again!
Eloise C
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Music
SUMMER FESTIVAL
To conclude a brilliant year, the High School celebrated with a concert. Yet, in pure Notts High style it was much more than just that. With over 200 pupils enjoying the musical ensembles they have participated in throughout the year, this outdoor performance was incredible. Including both an exceptional BBQ and a chance to listen to all the bands, orchestras and chamber music groups, the evening was loved by both the audience and participants. From choirs to rock bands, and orchestras to jazz, there was something out there for everyone. With the weather on our side, everyone was able to perform well on the two outdoor stages. A few of my highlights were the wind band’s performance of Avengers, as well as an incredible performance of the Greatest Showman from the lower school Pop Choir. However, this was not all. To end it all with a bang, all participants - including pupils from across the senior and junior school - collaborated to showcase their musical talents in a finale of Treat People With Kindness by Harry Styles. It was a great ending to the school year.
Hattie J
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The Mousetrap On Wednesday 28th September the Year 9, 10, 12 and 13 Drama students went to see The Mousetrap, the timeless whodunit play by Agatha Christie, at Nottingham Theatre Royal. As an ardent fan of Christie's mysteries, I eagerly attended the production and found myself immersed in a suspenseful afternoon of twists, turns, and unexpected revelations. The Nottingham Theatre Royal provided the perfect setting for this classic murder mystery. The grandeur of the venue, with its elegant architecture and plush seating, heightened the sense of anticipation among the audience. The stage design was meticulously crafted, depicting the interior of a snowbound manor. The attention to detail was commendable, from the periodappropriate furniture to the atmospheric lighting, which created an eerie and claustrophobic ambiance. The set effectively transported the audience to the secluded estate, setting the stage for the unfolding drama. The costumes and props also transported the audience back to the era of the play, ensuring an immersive experience. The cast of The Mousetrap delivered stellar performances, bringing Christie's characters to life with finesse. Each actor embodied their role convincingly, exhibiting the subtle nuances and complex emotions required for a compelling
murder mystery. The chemistry between the characters was palpable, and their interactions were laced with suspicion and tension, leaving the audience guessing at every turn. One standout performance was delivered by the lead actress, who portrayed the cunning and enigmatic character at the heart of the story. Her portrayal was captivating, effortlessly balancing charm and menace, keeping the audience enthralled throughout the performance. Supporting actors also excelled in their roles, expertly weaving together a web of suspicion and intrigue, leaving the audience questioning the motives and identities of each character. The direction of the play was commendable, building suspense and maintaining the pacing throughout. The tension escalated with each passing scene, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. The carefully timed reveals were met with gasps and audible whispers, as the intricate plot unravelled, exposing the truth behind the heinous crime. The overall production value was top-notch, enhancing the authenticity and allure of this classic thriller.
Sophie F (9C, SJA)
CASTAWAY The company Highly Sprung came to our Nottingham High school on Wednesday 14th June to perform their show, CastAway. As I sat down to watch the performance, I was intrigued about what was happening. There were two women in big coats walking around and throwing things on the floor. I watched in awe at the huge metal gyroscopic machine behind them. A man who played as a cleaner was handling the machine, and even though he was not really in the show, he played a big part which was interesting to see as he was sometimes seen and then not. After five minutes or so, I realised the show was about pollution. Two women polluting the earth and one of them drowning in the garbage. It was shown in such a creative way. The lack of speech made it more mysterious and made me and everyone else eager to watch. The music, costumes and the way it was presented, had me in absolute shock. It was beautiful! The music added a lovely effect to the
atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed the Keeper of the Waterways. She flew and swam through the air and it blew me away! When Highly Sprung came to perform, I also noticed that at the start, the Keeper of the Waterways was not seen straight away, to then be revealed hiding underneath a heap of garbage. Then, she rose into the air with a huge dress, about 6 or 7ft tall! It was enormous. It was made out of plastic bags, rubbish and old heaps of unwanted things. It was astonishing and made me question how long it took to create it! I really really enjoyed and loved this show so much because of the amount of skill and directing there was. The show ended in the creative way of the Keeper of the Waterways positioned at the top of the gyroscopic machine. Out of all the movies and shows I have seen, Castaway was definitely the most incredible and outstanding one I have seen!
Sabeen K (7C,CMG)
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Section Name
Nottingham High School’s production of One Man Two Guvnors was a delightful and entertaining evening of live theatre. Superbly directed by Dr Askew and performed by a cast of enthusiastic young actors, the show brought the classic British comedy to life with great energy and comedic timing. Ethan H led the cast as Francis, the hapless and bumbling protagonist caught in the middle of a hilarious web of mistaken identities and chaotic situations. Ethan’s physicality and comedic prowess were a highlight of the performance, as he expertly executed the play's slapstick humour and brought the audience to fits of laughter with his impeccable timing. The supporting cast was equally impressive, with notable performances from Ollie H as Stanley, William M as Charlie, and Eleanor H as Dolly. Ollie captured Stanley's lovable dim wittedness with charm and wit, while Will delivered Charlie's cunning and conniving nature with finesse. Eleanor brought a
delightful sassiness to her portrayal of Dolly, leaving the audience in stitches with her sharp one-liners. The ensemble work was also commendable, with each member of the cast fully committed to their roles and adding to the overall comedic atmosphere of the production. Vuyo M as Lloyd, Lucy B as Pauline, and Ariella S as Rachel showcased their acting talents and kept the audience engaged throughout the show. Orlando B portrayal of Alan was also a standout performance. His impeccable comic timing and physicality brought the character to life, and his scenes with Ethan were particularly hilarious. A special mention must go to Tregi Worsley and the Production Team, as the performance was enhanced by its technical elements, including the effective set design that seamlessly transitioned between various locations, and lighting and sound cues that enhanced the comedic moments. The amazing live music provided by Ria J as the Skiffle Singer added a vibrant and lively atmosphere to the show. The professionalism and talent of the cast was firstclass and the production was a testament to the hard work and dedication to all those involved. The cast delivered a top-notch performance, bringing the wit and charm of the script to life with great gusto. With their impeccable comedic timing and infectious energy, they left the audience in stitches and provided a truly memorable theatrical experience.
Fraser D (6F1, RJN)
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THE CHANGING ROOM On Wednesday 1st February and Thursday 2nd February, a cast consisting of students in Year 9 and Year 10 (Scarlett B, Zak B, Zara C, Maxwell C, Chloe F, Sophie F, Chloe J, Edward M, Charles M, Lucy M, EmJ M, Jasmiya S, Maya S, Leo S and George T) performed The Changing Room by Chris Bush under the direction of Mrs Robertson and three Year 12 A-level Drama and Theatre students (Fraser D, Freddie L and Christopher M). Set in and around a swimming pool, The Changing Room follows a group of teenagers full of excitement, impatience and uncertainty, each with their own secret worries and desires for what comes next while highlighting the idea of growing up as they know that change is coming but not what that change will look like. The show started with an energetic opening number and monologue that helped set the tone for the rest of the performance, displaying the cast’s acting, singing and dancing skills. Performing to an audience full of students and parents, this story certainly touched everyone at points with its relatable characters and storylines. A huge well done to Tregi Worsley and Mrs Robertson, without whom the show would not have been as amazing as it was. The wonderful cast should be incredibly proud of themselves for all their hard work in this production!
Christopher M (6F1, TAS)
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Section Name
LONDON TRIP On Friday 17th March, we boarded the train to London to see Moulin Rouge at The Piccadilly Theatre. It was an electrifying and visually stunning theatrical experience that transported the audience into the glamorous and bohemian world of turnof-the-century Paris. From the moment the curtain rose, the production captivated with its dazzling set design, breath-taking costumes, and show-stopping musical numbers. The cast delivered powerhouse performances, showcasing their exceptional talents. Each character was brought to life with depth and charisma, and the chemistry between the leads was palpable throughout. The lead actors' voices soared effortlessly through the iconic soundtrack, delivering emotional renditions of beloved songs that tugged at the heartstrings. The choreography was a spectacle in itself, seamlessly blending traditional dance styles with contemporary flair. The ensemble numbers were energetic and exuberant, filling the stage with a whirlwind of colour and movement that left the audience in awe. The production's attention to detail was evident in every aspect, from the intricately designed costumes to the innovative use of lighting and projection. The set changes were seamless
and added to the overall enchantment of the show, effortlessly transporting the audience from the bustling streets of Paris to the iconic Moulin Rouge itself. Moulin Rouge was a theatrical triumph, a feast for the senses that left the audience exhilarated and spellbound. It was a must-see for theatre lovers and anyone seeking a truly immersive and unforgettable experience. On Saturday morning, after we set off for our backstage tour at The National Theatre, which was an absolute must for us as theatre enthusiast. In just a couple of hours, this captivating tour offered us a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of one of the world's most renowned theatres. Led by knowledgeable guides, I was taken through the various departments, including costume, set design, lighting, and prop-making. It was a behind-thescenes experience that immersed us in the creative process and showcased the incredible craftsmanship that went into every production. From the vast stage to the hidden corners, the tour unveiled the magic that brought the performances to life, leaving me with a newfound appreciation for the theatrical arts. Following the tour, we then made our way to the Gielgud Theatre to see To Kill a Mockingbird. As the
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lights dimmed and the curtain rose, we embarked on a powerful journey that would leave an indelible mark on my heart. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee's literary masterpiece, took centre stage in a remarkable adaptation that captured the essence of the novel's timeless themes and moral dilemmas. The production beautifully depicted the story of Atticus Finch, a courageous lawyer defending a black man unjustly accused of a crime in 1930s Alabama. The set design seamlessly transported us to the small town of Maycomb, while the performances breathed life into Lee's iconic characters. Rhys Ifans delivered a captivating portrayal of Atticus Finch, exuding both strength and vulnerability. His commanding presence was matched by the exceptional performances of the supporting cast, who portrayed the intricate dynamics of a society grappling with racial prejudice. Director, Bartlett Sher, skilfully balanced the play's poignant moments with lighter touches of humour, resulting in a production that resonated deeply with
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the audience. The adaptation stayed true to the spirit of the original novel, masterfully tackling issues of injustice, empathy, and the importance of standing up for what is right. The production's technical aspects were equally impressive, with a captivating lighting design that heightened the atmosphere and a moving musical score that underscored the emotional weight of the narrative.
Beatrice H (11B), Zoe F (11D) and Ben B (11D)
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Creative Arts
HOLES Nottingham High School's Lower School recently presented their production of Holes, featuring a talented cast of students in Year 7 to 10. Directed by Mrs. Robertson, with Tregi Worsley as the theatre technician and the Art Department handling scenic design, the production brought to life Louis Sachar's beloved novel in an impressive and engaging manner. The young actors showcased their abilities and commitment to their roles, delivering a commendable performance overall. George Turton, in the lead role of Stanley Yelnats (IV), portrayed the character with conviction and brought out his transformation throughout the story. His portrayal was both relatable and endearing, capturing the audience's attention from start to finish. Daisy Hillery portrayed the enigmatic Warden with a commanding presence, exuding an air of mystery and authority. Zak Brooks captured the essence of the intimidating Mr Sir, while Maxwell Cooper portrayed the sympathetic Mr Pendanski with skill and nuance. The camaraderie among the boys of Camp Green Lake was believable, with notable performances from Charlie Merritt as X-Ray, Daisy Parkinson as Armpit, and Lucy Minto as Magnet. Leo Szostak delivered an energetic and unpredictable portrayal of ZigZag, while Jasmiya Sandhu brought a quirky and lively presence to the character of Twitch. Scarlett Bateman as Squid and Maya Srinivasan as Stench also showcased their talent, adding depth to their respective roles. Tanish Paul gave a commendable performance as Zero, Stanley's enigmatic companion, effectively conveying the character's vulnerability and growth. The supporting cast delivered strong performances as well, with notable portrayals from Beate Rauch as Kate Barlow, Nevaan Prasad as Sam, and George Avison as Trout Walker. Each actor added depth and authenticity to their characters, enhancing the overall storytelling experience. The technical aspects of the production were also praiseworthy. Tregi Worsley's work as the theatre technician ensured smooth transitions and well-executed cues throughout the show. The Art
Department's scenic design created an immersive and visually appealing setting, effectively capturing the atmosphere of Camp Green Lake and other key locations. The production also benefited from the contributions of the ensemble cast, including standout performances from Ferdaws Sarwari and Rishi Mokashi as the Police Officers, Alisha Khatwani as Stanley's Mother, and Vismay Gowda as Stanley's Father. Each actor added depth to their respective roles, contributing to the overall authenticity of the production. Special mention should be given to the puppeteers, Phoebe J, Mia T, Kate T, and Sophie B, who skilfully brought life to the lizards used in the production, adding an extra layer of charm and creativity. Overall, Nottingham High School's Lower School production of 'Holes' was a resounding success. The talented cast, under the guidance of Mrs Robertson, delivered a captivating performance that brought the beloved story to life. With strong acting, impressive technical elements, and a commitment to storytelling, the production showcased the immense talent and dedication of the students involved. Congratulations to all those involved in this memorable production.
Christopher M (6F1, TAS)
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Art
SUMMER EXHIBITION & LIFE DRAWING
The Art Department invited students, friends and family to see the Summer Art Exhibition 2023. Art exams were reintroduced this year which meant the department walls were full of GCSE and A Level work. This year's most popular subjects included ‘Flight’, ‘Our World’ and ‘Layers’. As ever students interpreted the themes in a variety of ways, their responses were lively and varied. The exhibitions were well attended, visitors thoroughly enjoyed exploring the exhibition. Miss Kirbyshire ran after school life drawing sessions throughout the year. Students produced sketches working from live models. The sessions were very successful and the work produced forms a large part of the exhibition this year.
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Section Name
Year 7 Art
MURAL
We are unsure who contacted Hollywood but Year 7 managed to finish their Egyptian mural just in time for the release of the latest Indiana Jones film. Indiana stands in the entrance to the Egyptian tomb filled with curiosities and artefacts. Students learnt about the colour wheel and painted artefacts from ancient Egypt. They learned how to create lino prints, producing metallic prints of scarab beetles and constructed ceramic canopic jar heads. The overall mural is bursting with interesting objects and continues to be enjoyed by everyone.
Year 7 Art
LGBTQ+ WORKSHOP
In February, Year 7 students worked with Nottinghamshire based printing company Dizzy Ink and members of the LGBTQ+ community. They worked collaboratively to build a book celebrating diversity. They painted patterned backgrounds, wrote inspirational stories and quotes, created monoprints and used found imagery and patterned papers to create individual pages. Once the workshop finished, Dizzy Ink collated the work into a published book. The company uses a process called Risograph, they scanned multiple pages and layered the images over each other. The book is a celebration of the diversity in our society today. The work was displayed as part of the LGBTQ+ history event at the end of February. It was shared on social media and received a whole host of positive comments.
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Year 9 Art
ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP
Year 9 took a crash course in architectural drawing with Jeanette Barnes from We explore drawing. Jeanette had students creating quick expressive drawings, exploring mark-making with charcoal. They were encouraged to work dynamically, building their cityscapes layer by layer. Students chose buildings with a variety of architectural styles, they had to decide how to place these within their composition. The students then moved on to creating foam board sculptures. Jeanette challenged the students to build tall structures that created interesting shapes and silhouettes. They then combined their structures to build abstract landscapes. The students enjoyed the workshop, as they gained confidence their foam board structures continued to grow.
Year 9 Art
WHITE POST FARM AND ANGELA HALL
In September, Year 10 began their GCSE coursework inspired by the starting point, Garden Shed. They started the year exploring the theme and improving their observational drawing skills. Students were introduced to a variety of new materials and were given the opportunity to experiment and improve. In January printmaker Angela Hall came in to work with the students. She brought her sketchbooks and a selection of work with her. Her sketchbooks were fantastic, brimming with lively drawings and ideas. She taught the students how to screen print hand drawn images and cut stencils. Students produced a great selection of work that has now been added to their portfolios. To extend their projects further Year 10 visited White Post Farm park. Students used Angela Hall’s sketchbooks as inspiration to create their own handmade sketchbooks working directly from the animals. They took part in an animal handling workshop and learnt facts and information about the animals. Later in the year students created larger pieces of artwork in response to their visit. Their finished pieces will be on display during next year’s Summer Exhibition in June. We hope to see you there!
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A selection of artwork from our talented students
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Vermin
Finley R won the English department co-ordinated Year 9 D H Lawrence Prize Expertly crafted, this piece works well not only as Lawrence pastiche, but as a story on its own—with some moments of wry humour to leaven the misery.
A mile or two eastward from Moorgreen Colliery, the old, tall miner took in a deep breath of the frosted winter air. He spluttered, his fingers fumbling into the pockets of his uniform. His quivering hands were covered in grime and grease, deep dark clumps embedded underneath his fingernails. Slowly, he withdrew a single cigarette, slightly crumpled and sodden with streaks of black soot and coal. He caressed it gently, allowing the paper to rest between his fingers; then, like a moth to a burst of flame, he eagerly grasped it and put it to his lips. He took another raspy breath, reaching back into the pocket of his overalls for matches. Nothing was there. A deep and sincere frown grew on the miner’s face, but his eyes were already so pale and dim, his posture so downtrodden, it would have been difficult to notice his newly-found dejectedness. “B- beg pardon, sir-,” A thick, nasally but low voice came to the miner from behind. For a moment, he clenched his left hand into a fist, then slowly relaxed and turned around. He was greeted by a short figure with energetic and eager turquoise eyes. Short, black hair adorned by a leather fedora sat scruffily on top of his head, accompanied by a black unkept beard, greying hairs poking out of it like blades of grass on an industrial plot. His arms were covered by a dark fabric overcoat that stretched all the way down to his boots. Quietly, the short man took out a box of matches, a rusted metallic shade, and lit a match. The miner’s eyes were lit up by the luminescent spark. With an unspoken mutual understanding, the miner took the man’s match and placed it to his cigarette, slowly lighting it up, then shook it out. He gave the short man a nod as he inhaled, taking another long look at him.
“Cheers mate,” the miner spoke gruffly between puffs. The short man droned for a moment, then responded, with an intimate and quaint smile as he reached up on his tip-toes to pat the miner on the shoulder. “Say nothing, my friend, say nothing of it,” he paused for a moment, then stammered on eagerly. “But do tell me, ah, what is your name, my friend?” The miner stared down at the short man for some time, before staring off into the distance as he puffed again. He watched his fumes slowly float away against the backdrop of the frozen grass fields and barren bushes, then vanish as it all approached the pit. “Me name’s John. John Smith. ‘Ow ‘bout thee then, mate? Wha’s’ your name?” He enquired carefully. “Mikhail. My name is Mikhail.” He explained, then explained some more. “I am new here. I- I came here, from London. I am a Jew.” John nodded without making eye contact with him. Then, slightly hesitantly, he spoke up. “Well then, Mikhail, mate, allow me ta be a good Samari’an. Repay ye for the light and all. Why don’t ye come for a drink over at me ‘ouse? Don’ be a stranger. Nothin’ sinister, I promise.” Mikhail looked at the miner with a nuanced expression, a mixture of surprise and the slightest hint of scrutiny. Slowly, he put away his matchbox, neatly tucking it away in his pocket. “I would like that very much, John.” Without hesitation, John began walking away from the colliery, his hands in his pockets and
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his head held high. Mikhail limped behind him, closely and carefully taking in the environment as they moved closer to the square and the pit houses. They were stacked next to each other, one after the other, layers of dirty red brick totally indiscernible from their neighbours were piled and heaved into shoddily constructed dens. The only thing separating the houses on the left from the right were a series of wilting, lifeless trees planted lazily in small concrete squares. At this time, all the blinds on the street had been drawn; it was impossible to get a look into another house. As the pair of men approached John’s house, he reached out his firm, steady hand and gripped the door handle. The door itself was wooden, a plain, cream white, not painted recently. It was just like every other door on the street. John quickly ushered the man inside, walking him past the ashen fireplace in the kitchen and into the parlour as the pair of them tracked in mud, laying filth over the wooden floor. From there, John waited for a second, pursing his lips, then reached into a cupboard and carefully brought out a bottle of wine, cherishing it in his hands like an infant. “We only bring this out when t’ vicar comes over, or summ’t’ like that, so consider you’self lucky.” John mused with a touch of sincerity as he brought out two small glasses and began to fill them, the red liquid only slightly splashing against the sides. “Thank you, John. I am.. honoured.” Mikhail spoke slowly, staring at the floor. After a short moment, he cleared his throat and spoke up again. “John? Have you seen this?” John turned his head to find his short friend pointing down at a rat on the carpet. It was lying on its side, twitching, its rose-pink paws suspended in the air. It had long, rounded ears,
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and the rat’s black eyes seemed to stare up at the ceiling. John let out a small sigh as the smell of urine travelled up his nose. “Filthy, disgustin’ creatures, the lot of ‘em. I’ll deal wiv it, mate, don’t you worry.” He muttered to Mikhail, scooping the rat up with caution. Trying not to gag, he carried it back out of the back door and into the garden. He observed the rat for another moment. It was almost immobile. It was completely defenceless. There was no chance it could survive on its own. ‘Best to put the damned thing out of its misery’, John thought to himself. With all the strength he had left after a hard day’s work, John lifted the rodent and threw it over his neighbour’s fence. He went back into the parlour without looking back, and once he got inside, he took sips of wine in between speaking. “Sorry ‘bout all that. Sorted now.” he remarked, stifling a small frown. Mikhail looked at him knowingly. He stared up at the miner and his grotty hair, his rough, bandaged and bruised hands, and his dirty, filthy work clothes. He raised his glass of wine to John, then slowly drank, letting the warm, familiar shiraz flavours flow down his throat. For the rest of the night, neither the miner nor the short man uttered a single word to each other.
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Section Name
HOUSE NEWS
House News
MAPLES’
What an incredible year it has been for Maples' House, once again emerging as the victors of the prestigious Wheeler Cup for an astonishing 8th consecutive year! I couldn't be more thrilled with the unwavering dedication and remarkable achievements showcased by our students across various events and charitable endeavours. There have been countless highlights throughout the year, including the fiercely competitive House Rowing competition, gripping Drama performances, intellectually stimulating General Knowledge quiz, and the highly anticipated Sports Day. The Bridge Cup saw record numbers of individual entries from our House and a fantastic verse speaking choir performance – both of which helped to retain the cup. This year, we have supported Refugee Roots and were delighted to invite Adam to an assembly where he told us more about their work and how we could make a difference. It was wonderful to see this resonate with our students who fully engaged in
the festive fundraiser, bake sale but also their own individual events. All of this combined raised over £2000 for Refugee roots – thank you all for your support with this! I would like to once again thank the dedicated tutors in Maples' House for their support, particularly in inspiring and motivating their tutees to involve themselves in a variety of events. I would also like to express my gratitude to the outgoing House Captains for their organisation and leadership, and wish the incoming Hannah P and Tom T the very best as they embark on their new roles. As I reflect upon this year, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the exceptional achievements and camaraderie displayed by the students of Maples' House. Together, we have built upon the success of last year, and I eagerly anticipate the opportunities that next year will bring.
Mr Wantling
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House News
House News
MELLERS
It has been another busy Year for Mellers’ House, with a constant stream of House activities, and I have been very grateful for the support of many members of the House in organising others to take part, many of whom have helped over many years in the House, and in particular thank Ethan and Jenna as House Captains. Almost every member of the House has taken part in at least one Wheeler Cup event this year, and preparations are already underway for the singing and verse-speaking choir competitions next term. I would like to wish all the leavers the very best of luck for their future endeavours and thank them for their help and support during their time in the House. We have continued to support Operation Orphan as our House charity, and I have been really thrilled to see students engage with the charity’s aims and principles. Students have organised some great
fund-raising for them this year: Will raised £1290 by running the Great Manchester Half Marathon; and Ujesh and Orlando organised a Swimathon which raised £2137.24. This was also my last year in charge of the Purple team, but I know it is in good hands with Mr Le Blancq taking the reins, and that he will be well supported by Ujesh and Millie as House Captains next year.
Mr Smith
House News
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House News
WHITE’S
It is with great sadness that I write my final White’s House News after 10 years at the helm but it is made so much easier by the enthusiasm and enjoyment shown by so many members of the House throughout the year. Looking back to the start of the year, I must mention the very sad news that we received about the passing of Hector, one of our own and a student who would always be happy to get involved in all manner of activities from Rugby to Verse Speaking; he has been in our thoughts throughout the year. Overall we have achieved a second place in the Wheeler Cup and there have been some real highlights all year. The juniors appear to be very sporting with success in many events including Cross Country, Hockey, Netball and Badminton. The seniors have continued their excellent run in Rugby and Netball and I must also mention the amazing performance of all our athletes at Sports Day, winning the event for the first time in a long time and collecting a few records along the way. The General Knowledge Quiz team were again victorious showing off impressive knowledge of a variety of topics such as astronomy and F1 cars. House Drama also saw us give a very polished and enjoyable performance with a cast drawn for all year groups.
We have once again supported Aid2Gambia this year and I was especially pleased to see one of our senior students, Rohan, take responsibility for running a charity football tournament to raise funds. Again I would strongly urge everyone to consider what they can do to help the charity that does such good work in making a difference to the lives of those in need. Our house captains, Andrew and Nnenna have shown great loyalty to the cause all year and they now hand over the reins to Saahat and Sarah and I look forward to seeing how the house continues to go from strength to strength. It is also time for me to pass on the baton to Miss Davis who will continue to guide the house forwards and who knows, may be we can go one better next year.
Mr Barr-Smith
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House News
House News
COOPER’S
It has been another really enjoyable year as Head of Cooper’s house. The involvement from students in so many aspects of house events has been great to see and as ever seeing students get stuck in to so many different things has been really encouraging that the house spirit is very much alive. The start of the year saw a strong effort from Louis A guiding the verse speaking choir through a brilliant and quite tricky poem by Dr Seuss. It seems like poems from children’s literature are certainly here to stay. They do make for some brilliant and entertaining performances. The house choir events can only happen with the strong support from all the year groups and the commitment to get to rehearsals was great to see. A big thank you has to go to the two house captains last year Zamel and Evie. They were doing lots of things before they even started year 13 for the house and I have been really grateful for their help and support in organising various teams and helping to run events at lunchtime. No matter what the job they have been really hands on. From holding student’s feet down whilst on the rowing machines at house rowing or helping sell lots of cakes at the Cooper’s bake sale they have been really helpful. This year we see Max B and Jane A take on the role. Both have already been fully involved before the holidays with sport’s day, bake sale and house badminton.
In terms of fundraising, the house has continued to support the brilliant work of the Rosie May foundation this year. Two big events have really helped us raise lots of money in this regard. One of which was the Cooper’s house year 7 charity football match. This was very well attended and at times extremely loud as both the semi finals and final matches came down to a long drawn out penalty shoot out. The other big event was the Cooper’s bake sale which also had ice lollies and candy floss being sold during lunchtime. The latter proving to be very popular as students were given the opportunity to make it themselves. In terms of specific achievements there have been many and house involvement from most has been strong. In some cases students have been involved in more than 6 events this year which is great. I look forward to seeing students get involved in the wide range of opportunities that are now available through house competitions. There really is something for everyone.
Mr Kelsey
Section Name
SPORT
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Sport
SPORT HIGHLIGHTS An incredibly productive year of school sport, which saw an impressive level of participation across the school. Figures below; Year 7
102/118
86.4%
Year 8
107/120
89.2%
Year 9
98/109
89.9%
Year 10
91/118
77.1%
Year 11
82/117
70.1%
Year 12
87/131
66.4%
Year 13
86/129
66.7%
The school played 207 fixtures in Hockey, 147 fixtures in Netball, 95 Rugby matches, and over 99 Cricket fixtures. Training and conditioning sessions were well attended, and results are up on last year. In a year that saw the School celebrate 150 year of cricket, it was apt that over 150 boys and girls represented the school playing the game. The enthusiasm and excitement from the students was great to see throughout the term. Girls’ cricket went from strength to strength, with some students playing their first ever matches and others now regularly playing hard ball matches. Results here have been very good with girls’ cricket enjoying a healthy 67% win ratio. Some Year 7 and 8 players pushed themselves to join the boys in hard ball practices, which was amazing. We hosted the NHS Girls’ Cricket Soft Ball Festival, which was a huge success and one of the highlights of the term. The development of the Netball programme has been another highlight. Under Miss Bray’s leadership, the quality of fixtures we play has improved; we played more fixtures than ever, and
overall performance improved by 14.7% over last season. Numerous players have gone forward on the Lightning pathway too. The Rugby season was very productive with the 1st XV achieving their best season in five years. Players here achieved higher honours too, with 3 players representing NLD at U18, Oliver Mc M representing the National Lambs XV and Tom T receiving the ultimate call up to represent England at U18 level. Hockey continues to develop, and there were some fantastic performances throughout the season. The Year 8 hockey squads demonstrate real depth of talent, with the boys C team beating all-comers this year! Tom F deserves special mention having played at U13,14 and 15 level this year, and on his selection for the UK Lions hockey squad programme. Other sport has flourished too, the U13 boys’ Swimming team qualified for the National Finals, just missing the podium in the Medley Relay finishing 4th in the country. The 1st XI football team had their first 100% winning season for many years, and played some great football throughout. In Athletics, both Y8 and Y10 boys’ teams excelled, winning City championships and Regional finals. Special mention must go to Gabriel O, who broke the City 200m record (which had stood since 1978), not once, but twice in the same day, breaking the record in his heat, then beating his own record in the final!
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RUGBY Seniors In 2022, the XV team faced a formidable challenge, coming off a successful season the previous year. We had to navigate the departure of several key players and grapple with a string of injuries, putting our resilience to the test. The season kicked off shortly after our return from the summer holidays, with three training sessions in the week to whip us into shape after a brief preseason, including a friendly fixture against Lords Wandsworth. Despite facing a challenging set of fixtures and significant schedule disruptions due to other schools' fixture cancellations, nearly every member of the squad was capable of earning the coveted "Reds." of the 1st XV. Despite the loss of key personnel from the previous year, as the season progressed, we managed to deliver strong performances across the senior squad. U16 Sam M made the number 9 shirt his own, and with players like Tom T, Noah B, and Edward stepping up, we found new strengths. Despite encountering some inconsistencies in our results, we experienced moments of high-quality rugby. Notably, we faced Trent College, a team that had consistently challenged us over the years, and secured a significant victory against them, marking a sweet moment for our team. However, the season also delivered heartbreak, with a devastating loss to Loughborough Grammar School, a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports. One of the season's most memorable moments was the last-minute kick by Oli M, securing a thrilling
victory against Kings Grantham. Oli's precision kick not only secured the win but also left a lasting mark on our season. Our forward line-ups, led by players like Illyas, Varcoe, Manas, Adshayan, dominated in rucks, scrums, and line-outs. In the backs, Sam, Harrison and Archie delivered powerful tackles, initiated attacks with driving runs, and Tom T, controlled the game from fly-half with pinpoint passing and kicking. Our swift wingers, Hou and Josh, consistently outpaced the opposition. Additionally, we took pride in witnessing some of our players excel in representative rugby. Oli M represented the National XV Lambs, showcasing exceptional skills and dedication, while Tom T played for the Leicester Tigers Academy and earned caps for the U18 England Teams, reflecting his commitment and talent. Our heartfelt gratitude extends to Mr Hamilton, Mr Rudkin and Mr Drummond for their invaluable support throughout our time at the school. The enthusiasm and dedication to raising training standards every week, along with their constant reminders about the importance of development, greatly contributed to our progress. We also wish to acknowledge Mr Jones and all the groundsmen at Valley Road for their hard work in preparing a top-notch pitch every Saturday, even in challenging weather conditions. Our loyal supporters, who faithfully turned up every week to cheer on the XV, played a crucial role in motivating us.
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Sport
U15 The journey of our U15 rugby team in 2022 was nothing short of remarkable. As we embarked on this season, we began with a bit of a stumble, finding ourselves facing a lack of enthusiasm. However, under the guidance of our dedicated coach, Mr Weller, we quickly saw a transformation. His unwavering commitment to creating a positive and nurturing environment for all to succeed set the tone for a season full of growth and achievements. One of the standout characteristics of our team this year was the willingness of our players to step up and embrace new challenges. Arun, moving into second row. Saketh and James being formidable wingers. And Azaria, leading the line with Fletcher at centre. Many of our boys found themselves in positions they had never played before, showcasing their adaptability and determination. This adaptability was a testament to their commitment to the team's success. While the season began slowly, it wasn't long before we started to hit our stride. There were numerous highlights throughout the season that showcased our resilience and teamwork. One of the most memorable moments was when we reached the Bowl Area final, a testament to the hard work and dedication put in by each player. Notably, we experienced a significant increase in the number of boys attending training sessions. This demonstrated a growing passion for the sport and a commitment to improving their skills. The expanded numbers added depth to our team and contributed to our overall development. What truly sets this season apart is the remarkable growth and development of our players. Both individually and as a team, we have progressed in leaps and bounds. We have honed our skills, improved our understanding of the game, and built strong camaraderie along the way. As we look back on the season, we can't help but feel a sense of pride in how far we've come. In short our U15 rugby team started with a lack of enthusiasm but transformed into a force to be reckoned with, all thanks to the unwavering commitment of Mr Weller and Mr Hamilton, the willingness of our players to adapt, and the determination to succeed. We're excited about the future and the continued growth of our team. With such a strong foundation, the sky's the limit for our U15 rugby team.
U14 Throughout the rugby season, our team faced its fair share of challenges, with more losses than wins. As the captain, I witnessed a remarkable transformation and an increasing sense of enjoyment among our players as we navigated this journey. In the course of the season, we witnessed some outstanding plays that highlighted the growth and improvement of our team. Edward M consistently broke through the opposition's defenses, Nihal S made dazzling runs, and Daniel W pulled off a memorable tackle against a much taller opponent, leaving him face-planted on the ground. Isaac P’s exceptional performance against Worksop was a standout moment, as were the contributions of Jay G and James S, both of whom later moved up to the A team. Benedict H also delivered critical tries when they were needed the most. What made this season truly special was not just the individual brilliance but the collective teamwork displayed by our players. A crowning achievement was our victory against Worksop, a team that had defeated us the previous year. This win was particularly sweet, and it showcased the remarkable talents within our team, including David P, Kieran B, and Adi J, who made opponents think twice with their formidable presence. We also had exceptional runners like Jay G, Roman E, and King Z. Charlie M’s impeccable tackling skills were invaluable, and his consistent ability to not miss a single tackle became a cornerstone of our defence. This season taught us valuable lessons, emphasising that size isn't everything in rugby. We learned that tackling is the essence of the game, providing an opportunity to unleash our intensity and take down opponents with a fierce tackle. As we set our sights on the next season, our goal is to dominate the competition and establish ourselves as the premier rugby players in the region. Nottingham, here we come! A heartfelt thanks goes out to the parents who cheered us on during the games and all the supporters who followed us on our journey throughout the season. A huge mention must go to our dedicated coaches, especially Mr Dickinson and Mr Hamilton, for their invaluable guidance and support.
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U13
U12
This year, the Under-13 teams had enjoyable yet challenging season. This didn't stop us from developing our skills throughout the term, as many players moved up from the B team and showed a willingness to improve their technique and tactical awareness. This created a competitive atmosphere within the team, further enhancing its strength. Highlights from the season include a victory against Mount St. Mary’s where we didn't concede any points due to our strong defensive line. The entire team, especially Antoine, Kit, Tom C, and Rhys, tackled with determination and spirit. In a preseason practice game against Trent College, Gautham and Gabriel ran hard and with pace, proving difficult for the Trent Defense. Another exciting moment was our emphatic 50-0 win over Loughborough Grammar School, with strong running from Eddie, Will, and Chris. However, we can't win all our games, as we suffered a dramatic loss against a powerful and organized Solihull team. Nonetheless, we saw promising performances from Jaikar and Alex during this game. The team played better in the second half, making a strong comeback, but unfortunately, the game ended in a 35-20 loss. We grew throughout the season and ended it with an exciting win over Bishop Vesey’s. Some B team players stepped up and performed with great confidence and skill in this game, which bodes well for 15-a-side matches next season. James A attended all our home games, despite suffering an injury before the season. The entire team appreciated his support and dedication. I'm confident that everyone who participated in any fixture thoroughly enjoyed the season. Everyone performed at a high level in both training and fixtures. I enjoyed captaining the team and facing the obstacles and triumphs together. We all displayed solid sportsmanship, with notable examples from Roland, Kit, and Gautham. On behalf of the whole squads, I would like to express our gratitude to Mr Oldroyd, Mr Andrew and Mr Hamilton, as well as all the groundsmen for making our rugby games possible. Our coaches made our training sessions enjoyable while still focusing on our long-term skill development. We look forward to transitioning to 15-a-side rugby next year and continuing our development as a team.
I am truly amazed by the excitement and dynamism that characterized the under-12 teams' season. The enthusiasm, skill, determination, and discipline displayed by all squad members in every game were truly commendable. The standout moment of the entire season, in my opinion, was the U12 C's victory against Solihull School. Despite being at a 4-2 disadvantage in the first half, the team executed an exceptional comeback, ultimately winning the game 5-4. This match, filled with intense moments, featured the season's first scrum and showcased brilliant passing and footwork. Another memorable game was our first encounter with Stamford, where despite a 1-6 loss, all team members exhibited excellent sportsmanship by congratulating and offering advice to the opposing team after the match. Our team boasted outstanding players who showcased pure talent in various games. Speedy players like Don W, Alex A, and Harwin D dominated the wings, while Dylan L and Mahd J excelled in charging into the opposition and tackling. Combined with the remarkable efforts of Austin E, Daniel E, Daniel G, Aryian G, Aryan M, Sam P, Sohaib S-Q, Isa S, Jai S, Koji W, and myself, we formed an impressive squad for the season. The progress made by the U12 team throughout the season was remarkable. Comparing the first and last games, it's evident that attitudes and performance skyrocketed. We honed our skills in tackling, passing, and ball handling, learned effective strategies and positioning in the game, and grasped critical concepts in contact rugby, including scrumming and drop kicking. While it's disappointing that the season had to conclude at the Christmas break, it was a fantastic experience for everyone involved, leaving us eager for more. I can hardly wait to return to the rugby pitch next season. Lastly, I want to express gratitude to all the staff members who dedicated their time and effort to support the team throughout the season: Mr Hamilton, Mr Heath, and Mrs. Neale, our coaches; any parents who contributed to our support, and all those who provided post-game meals. Your contributions were invaluable to our success.
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Sport
Rugby Tour Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to take you on a journey through the unforgettable Rugby Tour 2023. Picture this: July, Canada, and 70 boys from different school years (10, 11, 12, and 13), coming together for a rugby adventure of a lifetime. Our escapade began with what could only be described as a comedy of travel errors. We're talking about delayed flights, marathon tarmac sessions at Gatwick due to a stubborn plane slide, a pilot racing against the clock, and luggage that seemed to take a vacation of its own. By the time we reached our university digs, we were a solid 8 hours behind schedule. But fear not, our trusty Mr Hamilton swooped in as the pizza saviour, and we hit the sack. Only to be jolted awake by a fire alarm at 3 am – talk about a wake-up call! Undeterred by our nocturnal adventure, we awoke with bleary eyes but content hearts. The following morning, we set sail to Centre Island on a ferry, Toronto's skyline as our backdrop. Despite the sweltering Canadian heat, we geared up for rugby training, playing warmup games before the big match. And of course, there should be photos to commemorate this epic day. After a satisfying BBQ lunch, we had a leisurely mall visit, which, considering our day's activities, was essentially a feeding frenzy. Day three greeted us with a trip to the CN Tower's dizzying heights, offering breath-taking views of Toronto. We also engaged in some friendly shenanigans, with a few 100kg boys testing the glass floor's limits. After that, it was game time – our 2nd team had a tough break against Hereford 1sts, but
our 1st and 3rd teams triumphed over Balmy Beach Rugby Club. Despite our on-field rivalries, we all came together for dinner, exchanging stories and cultures. Day four, arguably the highlight of the trip for many, brought us jet boating – fast, furious, and soaking wet. From there, we ventured to Niagara Falls, a town reminiscent of Blackpool but with an added twist. We hopped on a boat that took us right to the face of those majestic waterfalls – an experience that surely deserves a spot in our photo albums. Day five was a well-deserved rest day. We visited Canada Wonderland, a local theme park that sent our teachers sprinting toward the thrill rides. Mr Rudkin, in particular, looked a bit worse for wear after the rollercoaster escapades. The next day, we hit the beach, courtesy of Mr Hamilton and the staff, who arranged a grand picnic. After some beach frolicking and a spontaneous game of Beach American football, we geared up for three more rugby matches. Before each game, we proudly "sang" our national anthem, with some room for improvement, I must say. Our 1st and 3rd teams emerged victorious against Belleville Rugby Club, while the 2nd team secured a fiery win against Kingston Panthers. Post-match, we dined and swapped tales with our Canadian counterparts. Mr Hamilton, our ever-enthusiastic mentor, reminded us, "This is what rugby is about." We then embarked on a late-night journey to our next destination in Ottawa. Day seven was an adrenaline-pumping white-water rafting adventure. All six staff members found
Sport
themselves in the same raft, showcasing their quick reflexes, power, and coordination – at least for the first 10 minutes. What truly lingers in my memory, besides the food, was the daring 10-meter jump into the water. Everyone took the plunge, resulting in a hilarious spectacle of crocs, shoes, and hats floating downstream, casualties of a lack of prejump security measures. Following our aquatic escapades, we savoured more delicious food on a barge before returning to base. The evening led us to Ottawa, reminiscent of London, where we witnessed a mesmerizing light show on a government building. The day following was our grand finale, game day. Before that, we had some free time for souvenirs and snacks, followed by a round of mini-golf that had our staff inexplicably excited. Mr Allison emerged victorious, much to our amusement. Then came our final tour fixture, a hot, humid affair with a fervent crowd. Three back-to-back games ensued, and they were nothing short of intense. Our 3rd team fought valiantly but fell short against Barrhaven Scottish. Chino's three-time Man of the Match title practically turned him into a Canadian legend. The 2nd team, comprised of our remaining Year 13s, secured a hard-fought win against Bytown Blues. And finally, our 1st team, a mix of Year 11 and 12 students, took to the field with thunderous applause. Despite fiery opposition, we maintained our composure and played with precision, showcasing the hours of practice. From the stands, every tackle was cheered, every try applauded, and we ultimately triumphed over Barrhaven Ottawa’s 1sts to claim our final tour victory.
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Day nine marked our farewell, as we visited Rogers Stadium, home of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball team. The game may have felt like a marathon, especially if five days of test cricket are your definition of excitement. Nevertheless, the passionate 49,000 American and Canadian fans celebrated as the Blue Jays clinched victory in the final innings, creating an atmosphere that will linger in our memories for years to come. Now, as we reflect on this unforgettable tour, we recognize that it did more than just enhance our rugby skills. It united us as a rugby family, transcending year groups and forging bonds that will last a lifetime. The activities, the laughter, the games with three teams – they all played a role in making us feel like a closeknit family by the end of this incredible journey. This newfound camaraderie will undoubtedly strengthen us as we embark on the upcoming rugby season. If the standard of rugby remains as high as it was on tour, I can confidently say that we are poised for countless stellar performances in the season ahead. In conclusion, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the staff who orchestrated and accompanied us on this life-changing journey. And to the younger boys in our school, I implore you to seize the opportunity when it arises to embark on your very own Rugby Tour. It's more than just a trip; it's a life-altering experience you won't want to miss. Thank you, and may the spirit of rugby continue to unite us!
Joe G
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Section Name
HOCKEY It was a successful year for the boy's hockey programme with U12, U13, U14 & U18 Boys all reaching the Midlands Finals. The U18 Boys also qualified for the Indoor Midlands Finals for the first time. After School training has been well attended with over 40 year 7 boys turning up to after school training each week. Year 8 has seen over 30 boys turning up to after school training each week. these numbers were consistent with last year. A number of boys across the lower year groups played up age groups in order to represent the U14 team in the National Cup competition. We have seen an increase in the number of students now representing club teams outside of School. Away from School, we have had 4 NHS players selected for the Beeston U14 Tier 1 team who competed in the National final. With the girl's programme still growing, there have been good numbers at after School training for U12
& U13 as well as roughly 30 attending after School training for U14 and 20 students for U15. This number will only increase over the years with the increase of girls attending Nottingham High School. We entered the National Schools Competition for both the U16 and U18 teams. This exposed the girls to a different variety of Hockey and helped to broaden our fixture list over the year. As well as the National Schools competition, we also entered three teams across three age groups (U13, U15, U19) into ISHC (Independent Schools Hockey Cup) with the aim of expanding our fixture list beyond the Midlands. This was a brilliant opportunity for the girls and one we will look to continue over the years to come. The U16 Girls qualified for and competed at the Indoor Midlands Finals and performed extremely well considering it was their first year of being introduced to Indoor hockey. We also had five girls from year 10 gain 1st team experience over the season.
Section Name
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Holland Tour 2022 The U13 boys’ and girls’ hockey teams travelled out to Holland for 5 days over the October halfterm break to develop their hockey skills and put themselves to the test against some strong Dutch opposition. With a mixture of students ranging from A to C teams across the 3 teams, it would be their first experience as a team at 11 a-side hockey and playing on a full-sized pitch. They started the tour with an early start in Nottingham setting off at 5 am for Dover. after an 8-hour bus ride and a 2-hour ferry, we arrived. After a full day of travel, it was food followed by lights out on arrival. Day 2 started with our first set of games in which both the boys’ teams and girls’ team would get their first taste of Dutch hockey. All 3 teams faced tough Dutch opposition but thrived when given the opportunity to play their first-ever 11-a-side matches. The teams would then have 2 more scheduled fixtures each over the course of the Tour. Overall, the teams performed brilliantly and can be proud of their efforts in all of the fixtures. A special mention must go to the Boys B Team who put in the best performance of the Tour in their final game. It was fantastic to see them develop in every game and put in a brilliant performance on the penultimate day. Hockey wasn’t the only thing on the menu whilst in Rotterdam. The students had a number of excursions during their time abroad including an all-you-can-eat pancake cruise. As well as the cruise, the students also spent some time exploring the city of Rotterdam on the final day. One of our favourite trips was to the local bowling alley where the students and staff could show off their bowling skills. The students were also incredibly fortunate to have been able to train twice at HC Rotterdam where some of the greatest hockey players of all time once battled, with some still currently playing and training their daily. As well as training at a top facility, the students had the opportunity to go to another Premier League Stadium and watch two of the best teams in the world compete in the Hoofdklasse. it was a fantastic experience to watch Rotterdam take on Kampong in the league and is a memory the students will cherish. Overall, it was a brilliant trip and one I hope the students will remember for the remainder of their school journey and beyond. A huge thank you must go to Miss Bray, Miss Hird, Mr Weller, and Mr Schofield for accompanying me and the students on the trip.
Jake
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Sport
CROSS COUNTRY Jake G captained the Boys Cross Country season this year and the girls captain was Martha C. The school entered Junior Girls teams in the County League races, the English Schools Cup and the City Championships. Both Martha and Jake rounded off a superb season with selection to the English Schools, National Championships in Nottingham. This was their fourth National XC Championships. Seventy students have competed for the Cross Country teams this year in over twenty fixtures. The Year 7 Girls team and the Year 8/9 Girls team won the City Championships in January at Wollaton Park, which was a huge success. Seven girls qualified to represent the City in the County Schools XC in February. The Intermediate Girls team had further success in the English Schools Cup Competition, they qualified for the East Midlands round in November. The Senior teams competed in the Birmingham League and various fixtures on home soil. This has been a very competitive year for the senior team with some good individual and team performances. In the Pairs Relay at Sutton Park, we finished first senior team with Jake running the second fastest time ever. The Senior boys team qualified for the National Finals of the English Schools Cup, the first time for over ten years. In the Spring Term, the senior team won the County Schools race at Wollaton Park. The senior team also performed well in the ON’s Cross Country in December at Wollaton Park, Jake G won the race in a new course record which had stood since 1991 and the school won the team trophy. The Intermediate and Junior teams have competed in the County Schools League, the Nottinghamshire County Schools Championships and fixtures against other independent schools, both home and away. Both age groups also competed in the English Schools Cross Country Cup Competition and made the regional finals in Leeds. The highlights of the season were the year 8/9 boys team winning the County Schools League at Berry Hill. Sofia C had fine runs in all three races and finished runner up overall, she also represented Nottinghamshire in the Inter Counties. Katie G had a superb individual season, she represented Nottinghamshire in a number of championship races again. All age groups, boys and girls, won the City Championships at Wollaton Park in early January and 16 pupils represented the City in the County Schools Championships in February, at Berry Hill Park. This year, we had five students who represented Nottinghamshire at the National English Schools Cross Country Championships. Congratulations to Martha C, Krystal M, Thomas B and Sofia C. Congratulations also to Katie G who was awarded the ‘Baker Trophy’ for her superb season. The award is presented to the most consistent athlete over the year.
House Cross Country The house cross-country in October at Wollaton Park was a superb spectacle of running with most year groups fielding a full complement of pupils. Congratulations to the individual winners and house teams (see below) Individual
Team
Year 7 Boys
Oliver B
White’s
Year 7 Girls
Helena C
Cooper’s
Year 8 Boys
Tarun B
Maples’
Year 8 Girls
Sofia C
Mellers’
Year 9 Boys
Nabil N
Cooper’s
Year 9 Girls
Francesca A
Mellers’
Year 10 Boys
Armaan B
White’s
Year 10 Girls
Laura M
Mellers’
Year 11 Boys
Charles P
Maples’
Year 11 Girls
Katie G
White’s
Senior Boys
Jake G
Maples’
Senior Girls
Krystal M
Maples’
P. Allison MSc Director of Cross Country
Sophia - County Schools Cross Country champion
Jake - County Schools Cross Country champion
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FITNESS SUITE AND ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT With over 5,580 visits across the year outside of lesson time, the Fitness Suite was more often than not, full to capacity with students training to better themselves both physically and mentally. We had students completing training that would support their development in their chosen sport(s), individuals working towards completion of DofE physical sections and many turning up week in, week out simply because they enjoyed working out! All those who have stepped foot in the Fitness Suite have done their part in creating and maintaining a fantastic training environment and culture.
Testing and Physical Health Profiles
Individual success
During the first half-term, Year 7-9 students completed a range of fitness tests in PE. Baseline data for aerobic fitness, speed, agility, and power was gathered via a 5-minute timed run for distance, a 10 and 20-meter sprint, an ‘Arrowhead’ agility test, and a standing broad jump. A gymbased triathlon was also completed, with pupils cycling, rowing, and skiing (on a ski-ergometer) for 1 minute on each piece of equipment. This test – which was exclusively designed for Nottingham High School in 2018 when the fitness suite first opened – was unique in that it looked at anaerobic fitness and repeat performance under fatigued conditions. The results of this test were particularly useful for students who would go on to play team sports, as there is often a requirement to complete sporting actions under fatigue i.e. towards the end of a match. With the data recorded, we were able to create average scores for each test for each individual PE group, and then for all the PE groups in a particular year combined. The next step was to create individual Physical Health Profiles for every student and display their scores alongside the year group averages (see example image below). There was positive feedback from many students who appreciated being able to have some baseline data to analyse in order to set future targets.
As highlighted in the Athletics report, there were some fantastic results for our school teams at athletics fixtures and on top of this, some outstanding individual achievements across multiple events. Many of our studentathletes completed regular strength and conditioning sessions not only throughout the summer term - which helped keep them physically prepared for athletics fixtures - but also consistently turned up for sessions throughout the first two terms. These regular ‘gym-goers’ had short-term goals of being prepared physically for school team sports in terms one and two (Hockey, Rugby, and Netball), but also had long-term goals of success in athletics. Congratulations to Erica H-I, Gabriel O, and Rhys N who achieved school records as Year 8s and were shining examples of students who trained hard both in the gym and outside of it. This hard work and consistent effort would have most certainly helped with their success towards the end of the school year! A special mention must go out to Tom T (Yr12) who made his England U18 Rugby debut in the year. Tom has committed so much of his free time to his athletic development since he first stepped into the Fitness Suite as a Year 8. His strength standards for his age group are fantastic and his technical ability across a range of complex exercises is superb. It has been a pleasure to work with such a talented young athlete and he has certainly inspired a lot of our other regular trainers in the Fitness Suite.
Mr Drummond Athletic Development Lead
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Sport
ATHLETICS The athletics season proved to be the most successful for many years, with a large number of fixtures attended by both the boys and girls teams and regional and national titles being won. Sports day was again staged at Harvey Hadden Athletics Stadium. The weather, the large number of spectators and a number of new records made the event a memorable occasion; over 600 students took part and over twenty records were broken. The most notable record to fall was the Year 8 200m record which had stood since 1978. Gabriel O broke this record and in recognition for his superb season, Gabriel was awarded the ‘Turner Trophy’ which is awarded to the athlete of the season. Erika H–I was awarded the ‘Geri Thomas Sports Day Shield’ for her excellent performances. Erica won four gold medals and broke two-sports day records. The shield is awarded to the athlete of the day. It was very pleasing again this year to see both the Senior Boys and Senior Girls teams compete in a number of local fixtures. The senior Boys, captained by Jake G, enjoyed success over Worksop College and KES Birmingham. The Senior Girls, captained by Martha C, enjoyed a competitive season against local opposition. The annual Decathlon and Heptathlon Shields for year 12 students were keenly contested at Valley Road over a number of sessions, congratulations to Olivia W – Reily (Heptathlon) and Oliver B (Decathlon) Other notable trophy winners included: Olivia G (Alan Redgate - Javelin) Lulu I (Hardwick Trophy – Discus) The usual mix of inter – school, city and county schools competitions followed with a great deal of success. In the City Championships, we were again successful. Winning the years 8, 9 and 10 boy’s competitions. Both the Junior Boys and Inter Girls teams qualified for the regional finals of the ESAA schools cup, and the year 10 boys team won the Regional B Final in Grantham. A large number of students competed well in the Nottinghamshire County Championships; a number of students went on to represent Nottinghamshire in the Inter Counties fixture in Birmingham. County medal winners included, Katie G - Gold 1500m S/C, Roman E - Gold 80m Hurdles, Saketh C - Gold Triple Jump, Luq H I - Gold High J, Sofia C - Silver 800m, Lu Lu I - Silver Discus, Olivia G - Bronze Javelin, Charles P Bronze 400m. The pinnacle for any school athlete is to qualify for the English Schools National Championships and this year was one of the schools most successful years. In total, two athletes made the qualifying standards in their event and travelled to Alexander Stadium, Birmingham in July with the Nottinghamshire team. Katie G competed in the Inter Girls Steeple Chase and Sofia C in the Junior Girls 800m, both gained valuable experience by competing at the highest level. This year we also had representation in the Independent Schools U13 National Finals in Nuneaton. Sofia C, Gautham L, Tarun B, Antione B, Gabriel O and Reece
N, all qualified for this prestigious annual event. Gabriel added to his already impressive season by winning the Under 13 200m title, the first national title for the school in athletics since 2006. School records and sports day records were broken this year, which highlighted the quality of athletics at Nottingham High School.
P A Allison
Sport
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CRICKET Boys Seniors
U14
The Seniors overall had a positive season, winning 7 out of the 13 fixtures played, led by Mr Weller. It has been great to see players in Year 9 and Year 10 being given the opportunity to play within the 1st XI or 2nd XI, making great contributions. Special mentions go to Adit G for his knock v Trent College, and Kieran B for his contribution with the bat on debut v MCC. However, throughout the season we tended to struggle getting runs on the board meaning our bowlers had to plug away to keep us in the game. Special mentions to Josh G, Milo W, Dillan G and Alex EK on taking important wickets during crucial moments of the game. The commitment from the Seniors from winter nets to summer fixtures was fantastic due to their positive attitudes, creating a warm but humorous environment. Alex EK, the captain, managed to create a thriving environment where every player was given the opportunity to succeed.
The U14s this year were led by Mr Schofield and Mr Oldroyd. Both the As and Bs worked hard during the spring in the lead up to summer where it was evident all of the hours of hard work were beginning to pay off. Both sides had convincing wins throughout the season, with on the odd occasion winning by 10 wickets or 100+ runs. The As were unlucky in their County Cup final narrowly losing out to Worksop by 20 runs. However, a hugely beneficial learning experience for all players, particularly when looking at chasing down a below-par score, on a tired wicket. Special mentions in this year group must go to Jay G for his captaincy, and consistent run scoring. Also, Arush D and Kieran B for making their 1st XI debuts – I am sure in years to come even more of the As and Bs will go on to represent the school at 1st or 2nd team level.
U15 The U15s had a hugely successful season, led by Mr Read and Mr Rudkin, being crowned County Champions, and only managing to lose 4 out of their 12 fixtures, with all players contributing with bat and ball. The U15s had the opportunity to play in a cricket festival hosted by Nottingham High School, playing Glenalmond College (Perth, Scotland), Merchiston Castle School (Edinburgh, Scotland) and Bryanston School (Dorest, England). The students enjoyed playing against different schools from various locations, and were able to make new friends throughout this festival. Finally, this successful season should lead well with the U15s progressing into Senior cricket next season. It stands them all in good stead to either represent the 1st or 2nd XI cricket teams in the 2024 season.
U13 The U13s led by Mr Mohammed and Mr Glarvey across the board had a tough season, giving them invaluable learning experiences which they can use in their U14 season. James A and Tom F made a couple of valuable contributions with the bat and ball throughout the season, and Alex B produced a fantastic innings during the sides tour in the North of England. The As were made it to the County Cup semi-final, however, this fixture was unable to be played due to the delays throughout the season with weather, meaning the whole tournament was cancelled. So, I am sure they will look to become county champions again as U14s in the 2024 season.
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Section Name
U12 The U12A team was looking strong at the start of the year as I had witnessed them all playing pre-season cricket in the nets. As I looked at each individual player, I could see that each one of them had something of value to bring to the team. This was reflected at the end of the season with 10 wins and 2 losses, which were very tight. We were eventually able to play our County Cup final in September and our success in that really capped off an extremely successful season. We started off the season confidently with an easy win over Worksop as we bowled them all out for 62. Our first loss of the season came a week later when we played Loughborough. Myself and Sridhar were playing for the U13’s yet our team only lost by 13 runs. The County Cup fixtures finally arrived, and we had beat all 3 teams in our group stage by more than 100 runs. Safe to say that the team was cruising. We then continued to play our style and continued to pick up victories with a narrow loss to Trent College. Some highlights of the season were me picking up 35 against Worksop, Vikram picking up 3 wickets in an over along with Sadev’s wicket maiden + 25 against Bablake. Sahil and Sadev put on a masterpiece against Birkdale, Sahil taking 4 wickets and 33 runs,
Sadev getting 3 wickets whilst I managed to take 4 stumpings in the game. Sannibh was magnificent against Loughborough scoring a whopping 43 to help us cruise to victory. Special mentions go to Sridhar for taking several wickets this season and helping with the bat, Sam P and Sam H despite not getting to bat often, their true talent was displayed in some excellent bowling. Vusi, Sannibh and Vijay, I can’t even begin to explain how you manage to swing the ball so much and manage to bamboozle the batsman every time. Dan B was excellent with the ball and when needed with the bat, he was there. And of course, Khyaal, what a performance he has put on this season from his ridiculous pace to his cool, calm and collected batting. Safe to say everyone had an amazing season and to finish it as County Cup Winners following a tough, close final against a strong West Bridgford team felt like a fantastic achievement. Thanks to Mr Mohammed for his coaching sessions and particularly to Mr Heath for his coaching and management of the team over the year.
Jai S
Section Sport Name
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Girls U15
U13
The U15s were led by Miss Hird in what was a frustrating season with lots of postponements and cancellations. However, in the two fixtures played the girls managed to demonstrate their high level of skill, being victorious in both. The side was led well by Alice H, whilst being supported well by Priya M and Nicole B. Special mention to Nicole B for volunteering her time to come and help the younger age groups during their training nights, I am sure this inspired some of our younger students. It was great to see throughout Games lessons, and after-school training the girls being introduced to hardball cricket, and having the confidence to all take part in hardball training sessions.
The U13s led by Miss Cummings and Mr Drummond where across the As and Bs they competed in 10 softball matches, coming out victorious in 6 of these. They got to experience a tour to the North West of the country playing against different schools from Chester, and also took part in our ‘150 Years of Cricket’ celebrations at Valley Road. It was great to see the progression across this year groups due to their dedication to after school training, and participation in Saturday fixtures. Well done girls!
U14 The U14s led by Mr Hamilton also experienced a frustrating season due to the weather and postponed fixtures. However, the girls started the season in a tough defeat against Worksop College, although this proved to be a vital learning experience for the girls, who managed two convincing wins v Princethorpe College and Stamford. Miss Bray introduced the U14s to hardball after school net sessions where the numbers increased each week, and weekend training was highly attended. It will be great for these girls to transfer the skills learnt in U14s, to have a successful season at U15 level where we hope they can experience more hardball matches against local schools.
U12 Our U12s were led by Miss Bray and Miss Small, across both As and Bs they enjoyed successful cricket seasons in their first year at Nottingham High School. They had lots of opportunities to challenge themselves against various schools in the area, and were also involved in our softball tournament we hosted alongside five other schools. Our 12As were victorious in this tournament as they showed great skill to get across the line in the final. Regularly at each after school practice their would be 30 plus girls attending training, with many having never played cricket before – it was great to see the culture that has built within the Year 7 cricket team and I hope this continues in years to come.
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Sport
NETBALL Barbados Trip 2023 The Corals had done hard and intense training prior to Barbados to make sure we were in form and this was evident in our 4/4 match win success. Our first match was disrupted within the first two minutes when the unpredictable Barbados showers arrived and stopped in the blink of an eye! Despite being our first match in Barbados and battling the 30 degrees heat, we managed to pull through a convincing win against a tough side with an animated crowd. Our second match was played in the sweltering heat against a respected team. The Corals were forced to adapt due to demands of the weather and as a team we came together to win an intense match by one goal. Our third match, fair to say our most exciting match, was played against a very strong side at the University. With strong and physical players, the orals had to raise their game. At half time, it was level pegging but the Corals remained calm and played their game which allowed us to take the lead, winning the match by a convincing 10 goals. The Corals were incredibly pumped for the last match, with team morale high in the bus until we found out it was cancelled due to the unpredictable Barbadian showers so we played a local community team instead. A different type of netball, the Corals relished the opportunity to play in a local community atmosphere which we all found very interesting. With a large win against this up and coming team, the Corals remained unbeaten for the whole tour. Best moments included our jeep safari tour where as a team we sat in our jeeps to keep our team morale strong. Not knowing what to expect, the Corals had the best time experiencing lots of bumps, laughter and screams to the extent we were all holding hands for dear life. Not only were we treated with a large buffet at the half way point offering fresh fish, chicken and meat but we were also very excited when we learned we would be visiting Rihanna’s house! The boat trip was a great way to finish our trip of, snorkelling with turtles and stingrays was a fantastic way to end our Barbados trip in style.
Izzi C A note from Miss Bray.. It was an absolute pleasure to lead to the first ever Senior Girls Sports Tour. All of the players showed great dedication to the training in the run up to this tour and put great effort into the matches out in Barbados, adapting to a weather and a different sort of playing style from the Bajan teams. The varied excursion around the Netball, gave a Girls are real flavour of the Island of Barbados. I was most proud of how the all the girls from four different year groups gelled, which I believe underpinned the success it was!
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Condover Hall Trip 2023 Miss Bray, Miss Hird, Miss Small and Miss Cummings had the pleasure of taking the year 7 and some year 6 netballers on a residential trip to Condover Hall. The trip consisted of a netball tournament across two days, giving the teams the chance to win the plate or the cup. Three teams were taken to Condover and played against other schools and clubs across England. All three teams played extremely well and improved so much across the weekend. The A team made it all the way to the semifinals of the cup. When they were not playing, they were able to explore Condover Hall and have enjoy all the activities they had on site. This included the teams rock climbing, going on the high ropes and even jumping off the leap of faith. All the girls showed so much bravery across the activities and lots of support to each other when the activities were challenging. In the evenings, they had the chance to enjoy a silent disco with their friends and the other teams. The trip gave the students lots of independence which they all loved and have learnt a lot from. At the end of the weekend, lots of awards were given out including an award for sportsmanship, kindness and most improved players. The final awards were for the Players of the tournament and were awarded to Cora, Inaya and Layla. All the staff were incredibly proud of the girls across the weekend and hope they had the most amazing experience.
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Sport
1st Team - Holly POS - Nnenna MI - Olivia This netball season has been an exciting one for the 1st team, with a memorable series of matches that showcased our impressive skill and teamwork. This year, we had a strong team that was determined to win, and this showed in our results where we managed to achieve victory in 10 out of 14 matches. One of the highlights of the season was undoubtedly our match against Denstone College. It was a tense and exciting game, with both teams competing on a goal-for-goal basis until the last quarter. However, thanks to our determination and teamwork, we managed to pull away and clinch a 26-20 victory. This was a truly unforgettable moment, and it demonstrated the level of talent and commitment that our team possesses. Looking forward, we are all excited about the upcoming netball tour to Barbados in summer, where we can’t wait to compete against other talented teams and explore a new country. Of course, we couldn't have achieved our success without the effort of every single member of the team. Everyone played a vital role in our victories, and this was reflected in the awards that were handed out at the end of the season. The player of the season
was Nnenna I, who consistently demonstrated her incredible talent in defence and communication with others on court. Meanwhile, the most improved player was Olivia W-R, who made incredible progress throughout the season thanks to her hard work and determination. I would also like to extend a huge thank you to our amazing coach, Miss Bray, and to Mr Drummond for the S&C sessions that helped us prepare for the challenging matches. Without their guidance, we would not have been able to achieve the level of success that we did. Finally, as the team captain, I would like to say how much I have loved leading this incredible group of people. On and off the court, we are all amazing friends, and this friendship and support is what makes us such a strong team. I am honoured to have been a part of this group and I know the team will continue to shine in the next season, and I wish them the best of luck. Played
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2nd Team - Nitha POS - Georgie MI - Nitha The whole team showed enthusiasm and talent throughout the tough but rewarding season. We experienced some challenging matches against excellent schools but also, we came out with welldeserved wins. From the beginning, it was evident that each player was determined to give their best. We faced a range of different schools each week. Despite having a tough start and losing our first match against Trent College, the team showed perseverance as we battled it out finishing 13-15. Nevertheless, our resilience led to a brilliant 21-1 win against Worksop College where we played with smiles all round. One of the most memorable matches was against Denstone College. Although we were down in the first half of this arduous match; a quick inspirational talk from Miss Small at half time pushed us to the last minute bringing it to a 17-17 draw. Unforgettably, we played some matches in unfavourable weather but regardless we kept going.
During the season we discovered some real talent from everyone. It can’t go unnoticed that Hannah and Georgie displayed incredible shooting skills as they worked together in the circle. Another highlight was Bea and Angel’s fantastic intercepts for the team to work the ball down the court. The team worked hard, and we made commendable progress in ability and skill by showcasing applaudable play. It has been a great season and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I am proud to be captain and to see the significant progress the team has made. Finally, a massive thank you to Miss Small and Miss Bray who have been valuable coaches, guiding us through each match providing us with motivation and advice throughout the season. Played
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3rd Team POS - Megan MI - Emily For the first time we have rolled a 3rd team into out Netball season, the 3rd team have been well established and committed. We have been able to add fixtures into games sessions and Saturdays putting skills we have developed into match play. The highlight was working towards our Barbados trip!
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U15a Team - Gracey POS - Gracey MI - Nicole The U15a’s netball season started off very strong, winning our first game of the season 19-13 against Trent. We really showed how well we can band together and play competitive netball. Through the season our discipline has really improved a lot with less penalty errors against us. Improving the fluidity of our game and also helping us focus on developing tactics and set plays. The highlight of the season was winning the DRET tournament. It was a physically demanding day as we had an entire afternoon of netball against competitive teams. Going into the tournament we were limited to the number of year
10’s however four year 9’s (Olivia, Niamh, Evelyn and Agatha) stepped up and really showed their skill and quality throughout the day. We battled all the teams in a round robin until we got to the final and won 11-7. Despite going down at half time we picked ourselves up and showed our determination. I think we can all be proud of all the hard work we put into matches. This is evident in our 10 match wins across the season. Played
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U15b Team - Sanvi POS - Sanvi MI - Ravmeet This year's netball season had a slow start. At first, the return to school after the Christmas holidays was a challenge but we overcame it as a team and began training for our upcoming matches. Our first match of the season against Trent College came around fast. The outcome of this match was not too bad for our first of the season, an 8-15 loss. In training, we highlighted our strengths and weaknesses from this match and focused on centre passes and backline passes, which were very helpful for the remainder of our matches and the team’s dedication to netball only increased from here. The improvement started to show in the games we played, and our next few matches were very close. Our first and biggest win of
the season came against Hill House, where we used all the skills, we had learned in training to make the ending score 24-3. This well-deserved win gave the team the confidence boost needed to continue. The final match of the netball season was against Worksop College and resulted in a 6-1 win. What an Incredible ending to the season! Our dedication and overall enjoyment of the sport improved a lot and we're very proud of our accomplishments and performances in matches. Played
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U14a Team - Evelyn POS - Evelyn MI - Agatha This year the Under 14as played very well, and developed as a team over the season. There were many wins, and after a loss we bounced back and worked hard to improve and succeed. After a few close losses at the start of the season, with only one or two goals difference, we recovered and applied skills that we gained as we played more and more. Our first win of the season was 6-3 and this was a great moment for us as a team as we found that our hard work and resilience paid off, which we saw in the gameplay. This was followed by two more wins, one of which being 10-0. This was a great boost of confidence for the team, and as the season progressed we established new techniques as we became more familiar with the regular gameplay. Although we experienced some losses, we did not give up during the matches, and this allowed us to achieve many goals with hardwork and communication, and dedication to practise
by the shooters. After a tough match of 14-29, we took everything we experienced in the game, and ran through it in training with our great coach. This brought us great results, and the next match was a great win with a score of 26-6. This was followed by another great win of 31-12. We can see this pattern of learning from our mistakes, and changing the way we play, and then coming back to the next match with a win throughout the whole season. This demonstration of resilience and team work is really important, showing how we grew as a team and individually as players. Overall it was a really successful season with some memorable moments, and everyone involved should be very pleased with how they played and coached. Played
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U14b Team - Kate R POS - Emily MI - Kate I think that throughout the season our team really improved in our skills and combining them together as a team. We had many close matches and we progressed throughout in our defence, getting into space and working together to move quickly and efficiently across the pitch with a particular proud
moment for the team being the match against Worksop College which was won 6-1. Played
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U13a Team - Pavisha POS - Maisie MI - Myah This Netball season the U13A team have grown & developed our team spirit through hard work and dedication. We have improved since last year: we improved by driving in for the ball and not asking for it behind the defender. During training sessions, we focused on different ways to start a centre pass and back line passes. I think it created options and alternative ways to get the ball down the court. Our first win of the season was against King Henry VIII School where we won 13-9. Our favourite highlight of the season was when we came 3rd in the DRET tournament. The best match we played was against
Nottingham Girls’ High School where even though we lost 14-9, the team played its best efforts and we all communicated well with each other. The most important thing is that we had fun and worked well together as a team. Our team would like to thank Miss Bray and Miss Hird for coaching and leading us during this season. Played
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U13b Team - Kate H POS - Jessica MI - Eva The U13B team have had a great netball season this year despite the varied results of our games. This was because through our dedication during the season, every match pushed us to work harder from the experience we gained from each. The team showed plenty of resilience and versatility throughout the season by playing different positions when needed. All members of the team regularly participated in training sessions and this especially helped us work effectively together and to better understand our positions. Our toughest match was against Mount Saint Mary’s College. Despite the game being early on in the season, our hard work during games lessons could
be seen as the previous session we were focusing on shooting and backline passes. We benefited lots from the extra work on these skills and the game ended with a 5-5 draw. On behalf of the team, I would like to thank all of the PE staff, especially Miss Hird and Miss Bray, for all the time and effort they put into our games sessions and after school training. Furthermore, the team would like to especially thank Mrs Lemon, for always supporting and encouraging us during our Saturday fixtures. Played
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U13c Team -Tia POS - Xue MI - Zoe Tia C team Journey… In this netball season, I played goal shooter but sometimes I played goal attack or goalkeeper if I had to. I wasn’t that excited to play netball matches against other schools at first but as soon as I got in the groove of playing fixtures, I started getting more and more excited to play netball fixtures. My favourite match was the match against Denstone college where we won 7-2 and my proudest moment of that match was when my friend Zoe, who was playing was quite far away from the goal post and I said to her that I would catch it if she threw it, she threw it and I caught
it. Since I was at a good distance from the goal post, I was able to make the goal. Overall, this netball session has been really good, and I have noticed that I have really enjoyed and improved this season, and I am excited to play netball in Year 9! The C team always trained and we learned specifically about our positions which we applied in match play. Played
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U12a Team - Helena POS - Hattie MI - Hannah The netball season of 2022/23 has been incredible. The Under 12A team kicked off the season with a fantastic win of 24 - 3 against Loughborough High School. It was the best match and a great start to the season. Sophie B captained us to victory on that cold and windy fixture day and she did a great job at it, supporting the team and encouraging us. Everybody in our team came into the season with differing levels of experience with an attitude and willingness to work hard that has helped the team come together, with everyone settling into their preferred positions. On the 17th of March we played Stonyhurst school who were on a tour around England. Unfortunately, we lost 15-17 but one positive outcome of that match was that it strengthened our resilience. This was the toughest match we played and to come out of it by a 2-goal gap was amazing, so well done team!
For a year 7 residential, we went to Condover Hall, an iconic netball tournament. A great opportunity to get better as a team and to make new friends from different schools. We played plenty of netball and did extremely well in the competition with the A team coming third overall. According to Miss Bray, “This is the best that any team has ever come at Condover”, so it was a great achievement. We managed to get into the semi-finals of the cup but sadly we lost against Yarm’s best team 4-13. The Year 7 A team has improved significantly since the start of the season, whether it’s about footwork, obstruction, contact or working well as a team and keeping the spirit up. This team looks promising for year 8 - an exciting year ahead. Played
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Sport
U12b Team - Layla POS - Abbie MI - Layla This year playing netball for the under 12B team has been an amazing experience which has allowed us as a team to develop our skills. For many of us this was a completely different experience, as a lot of us had never played netball before (including me!). I am very proud of us as we have come so far together, and we have really bonded as a team. Towards the beginning, I lacked confidence as so many girls already knew how to play and had many years of experience, however; with the help of after school training on Mondays and the help of teachers and fellow companions I soon found myself really enjoying netball. A huge thank you to Mrs Neale, Mr Hamilton and Miss Bray who helped many students overcome their fears and have put in a huge amount of effort and given us so much support throughout the term for us as a team. During this term, there have been many victories but also many tough challenges. Our most successful match was when we were playing against Loughborough where we won 13-0. This was a huge achievement as it was the first win that we had as a team and really proved to us we could do it! Really well done to Abbie’s great defending that got the balls straight up down to the attackers and Chloe, Sienna and Saanvi’s great use of the central
court. However, we did face some tough opponents for instance when we were up against Denstone College we were neck and neck throughout the whole match but managed to steal a victory right at the end. Even though we have not always got the score we have wanted, we have learnt from our experience and thought about how we can improve. For example, we have learnt to work together as a team and now we appreciate the different skills each member brings to the team. I was proud to be awarded the Most Improved Player award in U12B, it was a real honour and just shows you don't need any past experience to achieve. We also had the opportunity to play tournaments at Condover Hall for an away weekend. This was so much fun, and we learnt new strategies to play against different teams. Everyone who has participated in the U12B should be very proud of how far we have come and I can’t wait for the other many years of playing this very much loved sport. Played
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U12c Netball - Alice This season was very good for the U12C because this was the first time many of us had ever played netball before, including me. Even for those who had played before this was the first time for us to be in a team together and as we only played 3 matches we all had to collaborate very quickly to allow us to be able to win a game. Sadly two of the games that we were supposed to play as a team got cancelled but that didn’t stop us from playing the three other matches with a positive attitude. Our first match was against our U12B which we drew 0-0 and our second match which was also against the U12B we lost 1-10 despite our hard work. This was by far our hardest match but this only helped us to improve in our next match, which we went to undeterred by our past two defeats. Our 3rd and final game however was against Denstone College and we played the best we had ever played; we communicated brilliantly and we worked together as a
strong team, leaving us with the score 9-2 to us. This match was our best match and it felt great to end the season with a win. This victory I think has encouraged me and the rest of the U12C to look forward to the next season of netball where I am sure we will win many more matches. Many of the U12C team also attended the Condover Hall residential where we had a chance to improve our netball skills even more. Throughout the netball season our team has improved massively. We all now understand the rules of the game and we are great at communicating with each other during matches. Played
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Section Name
SPORTS DAY
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Farewell
GOODBYE TO ALL OUR STAFF LEAVING Teacher of Drama
Dr Jane Askew Dr Askew joined the High School in October 2020 as Teacher of Drama, providing maternity cover for both Mrs Govinden and Mrs Robertson. Dr Askew also provided cover as Head of Drama for a short time. Dr Askew began teaching English and Drama in Leicestershire, where she also co-directed the South West Leicestershire Youth Theatre. Whilst completing her PhD. at Warwick, she undertook a research project for West Midlands Arts into schools’ provision for boys’ dance. And later, for De Montfort University, she participated in research on Women’s literature in the 1930s. She then moved to West Sussex as Head of Drama, and latterly Sixth Form Girls’ House Mistress, in a ‘lively’ boarding school. During her time with us, Dr Askew has directed the Junior School production of The Jungle Book; Honk! (Lower School); ‘Teechers’ (Studio Production) and most recently One Man Two Guvnors (Senior). She accompanied the Drama Department residential trip to London, where they saw the musical Back To The Future; The National Theatre production of Small
Island; and enjoyed a backstage tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, which she felt was a particular highlight. Dr Askew has commented that Nottingham High School will always have a special place in her heart, and she will always be grateful for the support of her colleagues and the joy, enthusiasm and talent of the students. Dr Askew will be embarking on another maternity cover post, teaching English and Drama at Cheadle Hulme School in Cheshire. She also hopes to complete her training as a counsellor in due course, and will continue to enjoy walks with her dog Hettie in the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District.
Teacher of Design and Technology
Mrs Kym Hanson
Mrs Hanson joined the School in September 2019 as Teacher of Design and Technology. Mrs Hanson studied Creative Imaging at Huddersfield University and joined us from Birkdale Senior School. Mrs Hanson leaves us to take up a role in an academy trust in Derbyshire where she will still be teaching Design and Technology but will also be leading on Engineering. We wish her all the best in her new role.
Teacher of Maths
Mrs Rachel Adams Mrs Adams joined the High School in September 2011 as Teacher of Maths and also held the roles of Assistant Tutor and Form Teacher as well as personal IT consultant to Mrs Northedge! Mrs Adams studied Music at Nottingham University on a course which also allowed her to take additional modules in Maths and Russian. She then worked for 3 years teaching in Keyworth before joining us here at the High School. Mrs Adams has made such a positive contribution to our DofE programme over the years. Her highlights include roasting in the Welsh sunshine on the Gold qualifying trip earlier this year, and freezing in the Welsh snow in March on a staff training expedition.
She has also played violin with the School Orchestra and sung in the Choir for Founders Day. She always liked volunteering for the Spring Lakes trips as she says that the inflatable course is irresistible. Scout walks on activities days provided an excellent opportunity to get out of the classroom for a day and to see students thrive in a different environment. She particularly enjoyed winning the staff howler throwing competition at sports day, apparently largely thanks to her sporting partner, Mr Morgan. Mrs Adams leaves us to work with children in the outdoors, including in Forest School, and is looking forward to never needing to wear smart shoes again. We wish Mrs Adams all the best.
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Farewell
Teacher of History
Teacher of Psychology
Head of Design and Technology
Mr Connor Matkin
Grace Bashforth
Ed Charlwood
Mr Matkin joined the School in October of last year as a Teacher of History, covering maternity leave for Mrs Daly. Whilst he has only been with us for a short time, he says that he is extremely proud of guiding Year 13 through the end of their A Level studies, leaving the students in the best position possible to become great historians. He has thoroughly enjoyed his time working here and in particular wanted to thank the students in his Tutor set and wishes them great success in the future. Mr Matkin is setting off for his next international adventure in Poland and hopes that his future includes plenty of travel, teaching students from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Mr Matkin has expressed how proud he will always be to have worked at Nottingham High School. We wish him all the very best for the future.
Grace has only been with us for a short time, joining in September as a part-time Teacher of Psychology. She has been a Form Tutor to Year 13 and has been involved with Scouts, apparently getting a bit lost on several trips.
Ed joined us from Latymer Upper School in September 2019 as Head of Design and Technology. Since joining, Ed has been a tutor in Maples house and has run a number of lower school rugby teams. He introduced robotics, Design Engineering, CAD and 3D printing to DT. He played a pivotal role in the training of staff on Google Classroom before the outbreak of the pandemic. Once the pandemic hit he continued to support many staff as we developed in this area as a School. I would like to thank you, Ed, for all that you have done in your time here and wish you all the very best for the future.
Teacher of Geography
Miss Bethany Botham Prior to Miss Botham joining us as a Teacher of Geography in August 2021, she completed an undergraduate degree in Geography with Economics at the University of Nottingham before travelling to China to teach English as a foreign language. She then returned to Nottingham for her PGCE. Since joining us, Miss Botham has been a Year 9 Form Teacher and Year 7-10 Tutor and has led on Year 7 Geography schemes of work and organising the Attenborough trip. She has been involved with our co-curricular activities including coaching and umpiring netball fixtures throughout the spring term. She has also been on many School trips, the Iceland trip and Year 12 residential to Slapton are the most memorable.
Miss Botham has also invested lots of time into building great relationships with her students. Miss Botham leaves us to move back to her home city of London to explore a corporate career in the City. We wish her all the best for her future and thank her for all that she has contributed over the past two years.
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Teacher of Girls’ PE and Games
Miss Georgia Hird
Miss Hird joined the School as a Teacher of Girls’ PE and Games in August 2021, having previously completed her PGCE whilst at Pocklington School in Yorkshire. It was at Pocklington School where Miss Hird was the lead strength and conditioning coach for the Yorkshire Diamonds cricket team. Miss Hird has been a Tutor, Form Tutor and taken the lead in a variety of sports teams as part of the Games program. She has participated in numerous School trips including Condover Hall, the Hockey Trip to Rotterdam, Year 7 Residentials, the Year 8 and Year 10 Cricket trips to Edinburgh, and the Silver DofE expeditions. During her time with us, Miss Hird has completed her ECT and has enjoyed gaining valuable experience in a variety of sports. She has particularly enjoyed working with Miss Bray, providing support in the Girls’ Games department and watching girls’ games grow here at the High School. Miss Hird wants to thank everyone who has supported her through her time with us, she
says that she has had a great time and learnt a lot from you all. In terms of future plans, Miss Hird will be moving back to Yorkshire to take up the role of Deputy House Mistress at a boarding school, where she will be able to take on more classroom teaching with academic PE at A level, GCSE and BTEC, as well as enhancing her pastoral opportunities. We wish Miss Hird all the best in her future teaching career and thank her warmly for all that she has done in her time here at the High School.
Teacher of Religious Studies
Mrs Esther Russell
Mrs Russell joined the High School in September 2019 as a Teacher of Religious Studies. Mrs Russell tells me that she actually became a teacher by accident! She had wanted to travel and taught English as an additional language, giving her a steady income as she travelled and explored. She taught in Turkey, Austria and Poland. After realising that teaching was a career she wanted to pursue, Mrs Russell completed her PGCE and worked for four years in a local state school before joining Nottingham High School. Mrs Russell runs Craft Club, which is a space for students to a new activity such as origami or glass painting, or to bring along a craft project they have at home. This club is a phone-free space and Mrs Russell has expressed how great it has been to see students off their phones and teaching each other new skills. Mrs Russell has enjoyed working very hard with Miss Davis and Mr Shabir to re-invigorate the
Philosophy, Religion and Ethics department, which has involved delivering whole school assemblies, creating the curiosity corridor, a school trip to Beth Shalom, developing new intervention plans and overhauling the whole curriculum. Mrs Russell has expressed how much she has enjoyed working here at the High School and how much she will miss the students and staff. Mrs Russell and her family will be moving to Bristol over the summer. In September, she will take on the role of Head of Department at Collegiate School. We wish Mrs Russell and her family all the best with their move and their new lives in Bristol.
Farewell
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Head of Economics and Politics
Mr Peter Cramp
Mr Cramp has worked at the High School for 29 years, joining us in 1994 in the Economics department. For the first three years this involved teaching alongside his brother who was then a member of the Maths department. Before joining us, he had worked for one year on Natwest’s Management Development Programme straight after A Levels but quickly decided that banking wasn’t for him and so studied at university with a view to becoming a teacher. Since joining, Mr Cramp has held the role of Head of Economics and Politics for 15 years, as well as being an Assistant Tutor and then Tutor in Cooper’s House. Mr Cramp’s contributions to the wider life the School have been exceptional. He ran the Year 8 and Year 9 cricket teams before being in charge of football. He says that his best moments were a 2-0 victory for the 2nd XI at Welbeck College when we “parked the bus”, and is fairly sure we only got out of our own half twice in 90 minutes. Mr Cramp ran the Politics Society, which later became PPE Society with Junior PPE club, for over 20 years. This sometimes involved hosting talks by extremely high-profile figures in Politics and the media, including a deputy prime minister and the speaker of the House of Commons. He ran the Target 2.0 Economics Competition from 2007 to 2016. He also led the Politics and History trips to Washington and New York; other trips included the Year 7 French trip and History battlefields trip. Mr Cramp was also in charge of Prizes for over 15 years. Mr Cramp was an outstanding Head of Economics and Politics, consistently delivering the strongest of results to large numbers of students, with a peak of 92.5% A/A* from a single cohort of 40 A Level Economics students. He coached a team of four Economics students who were national runners up in Target 2.0, winning £5000 for the School, and helped the Economics department to achieve a (probably national) reputation for excellence. He also taught
at least five students who have gone on to become Economics teachers themselves – there’s no higher calling, he says! Mr Cramp wanted me to mention that he feels that teaching has been all about helping others, the students especially. The rewards from this have been huge and he is so pleased when he gets messages on LinkedIn from former students who want to keep in touch and let him know how they’re getting on. He commented that one student calculated that they had been taught 400 lessons by Mr Cramp in Economics and Politics in the space of 18 months. Tutoring has also been especially important to him and he has expressed what a privilege it has been to work with many students from Year 7 through to Year 13. He hopes all those he has tutored remember the catch phrase “I never really stop being your tutor” and that they know he will always be happy to support them in the future, for example by writing references. Mr Cramp mentions that he has worked with many outstanding colleagues over the years and counts many of them as friends, some of them as close friends. He suggests that one or two of them may receive the occasional photo of his lunch and a drink just as they’re about to head into Period 4! Mr Cramp leaves us to work full-time on his business writing and publishing Economics resources, so he will still very much be involved in education. He will also enjoy the opportunity to take holidays in term time and will probably add a few mid-week trips to Cambridge United matches into the mix. I want to thank him for all that he has done in his career here at the High School. He has led his department with great distinction and few departments over the years have gained so many top grades. We wish him all the best in his new ventures and hope that he knows he will always be welcome to visit us here at the High School at any time.
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TO ALL OUR Y13 LEAVERS
FAREWELL AND GOOD LUCK
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