FURNESS ACADEMY NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2013
A New ERA
BEGINS
A Positive Start to the New School Year I thought I would write to you in the July newsletter to update you. Mr. Blackledge remains suspended and there is an ongoing process to reach a resolution. As you know, sponsors and governors have engaged the services of highly experienced Headteacher, Mr Des Herlihy, as the Interim Executive Headteacher through Northern Education Associates. His appointment remains in place until a resolution is achieved. Mr. Herlihy is working closely with us to ensure that Furness Academy operates effectively. We are looking forward to moving to the new building in September. Our Leadership Team, which comprises of sponsors, governors and staff is working together to ensure that we have a successful opening and a positive start to the new school year.
We are also working with Northern Education Associates to make certain that the rapid and sustainable improvements required are implemented and we are able to provide a good standard of education for the children at the Academy. I would like to thank you all for supporting Furness Academy. Mr E Creighton Chair of Governors
In this issue Prom Night 2013 HOUSES
OZ
History
Prom Night 2013 Glitz and Glamour at The Abbey House Hotel 1
FURNESS ACADEMY SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2013
The 2013 Furness Academy Leavers Ball took place on 27th June at the Abbey House Hotel, Barrow-in-Furness. The students ensured that this end of year event had all the glamour and style of previous years. The girls looked stunning in their ball gowns and the boys certainly didn’t disappoint in suits or dinner jackets. Even parents went that extra yard ferrying their sons and daughters to the venue in style, with everything from stretch limousines, prestige cars, jeeps and even a vintage bus turning up at the venue.
A great night was had by all!
FURNESS ACADEMY
presents Prom Night 2013
FURNESS ACADEMY SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2013
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Latest News
Year 7 Predator Experience ‘The theme for National Science and Engineering Week this year was Discovery and Invention. From this we decided on ‘flight and adaptation’ as the Academy’s theme.
a massive 6 foot wingspan! Dee passed on a wealth of knowledge to the students and staff, who were a very enthusiastic audience.’
Money was allocated from the Barrow Engineering Project and this allowed us to enlist the services of ‘Predator Experience’ from Ayside near Cartmel. Dee Ashman from Predator Experience came to the Academy to work with Year 7s to show them different birds and animals, and to explain how they adapt to live in their environment. The students had an amazing time getting up close to a peregrine falcon called Sam, Jareth the harris hawk, Sonic the polecat, a hedgehog called Tiggy, Sydney and Chester the pythons and not forgetting Charlotte the blind tarantula. North site were also treated to Saphira the white tailed sea eagle with
CoPe Group & John Muir Award
Time Capsule A Time capsule will be buried outside the student entrance in the new build at 10 am on Tuesday 16th July 2013. The burial will be facilitated by Chris Ryder of Kier Construction, with a team of 10 Time Capsule Team students who will be in attendance with senior leadership and a collection of other staff and students. The Time Capsule will contain a number of items voted for by the students of Furness Academy, it will be left with instructions to be opened 2038, a quarter of a century from now. The ceremony will be filmed live. Students and teachers that were not lucky enough to win a place, will be able to watch via email link later that day.It will also be available on the Furness Academy Website.
The level 2 CoPe group completing their John Muir conservation award with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, at Barkbooth lot.
Wardstone Chronicles author visits Furness Academy Furness Academy were privileged to host a visit by the internationally famous author, Joseph Delaney, writer of the popular Spook’s fantasy series.Over 70 students attended the presentations held on both north and south site libraries. A good time was had by all and Joseph left the Academy with many new fans of his books. Pat Canning Librarian
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FURNESS ACADEMY SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2013
Feature
2013
Marks the end of an era in secondary education in Barrow With the creation of the new Academy Building, which opens to students in September 2013, an era of secondary education in Barrow-in-Furness comes to an end. Here we look at how secondary education has developed since the 19th Century on the three sites that combined in 2009 to form the Furness Academy.
The Early Years In the late 1890s Barrow-in-Furness had one school for higher grade education, the building was located in Duke Street on the site that would later become The Alfred Barrow school. The school was designed by JY McIntosh in Renaissance style and the foundation stone was laid by Lady Cavendish on 11.8.1888. It was a Higher Grade School that provided higher education for up to 1,200 pupils from the town. At that time pupils attended Elementary schools and generally left education aged 14 which was the school leaving age. In 1903 the Barrow Technical School was opened too and boasted labs for chemistry and metallurgy, which allowed for the assaying of ores and the refining of metals in a set of furnaces, skills which were paramount to the success of the ship building trade in the town.
Academy North & South sites will combine in a new build from September 2013 Grammar School In 1930 the Grammar School for Boys opened on the ‘Academy South site/ Parkview School’ and in 1932 the girls of the town also got their own Grammar School education, these were located near the Risedale Secondary Modern School which provided secondary education alongside the Grammar schools. In tandem with the opening of the new Grammar school, the Higher Grade School was renamed Alfred Barrow School in 1930 and was also split into separate girls and boys education. The Technical School remained and the town now boasted a secondary school system which lasted almost 50 years.
From the 1970s to the birth of the Furness Academy The introduction of the Comprehensive system in 1979, created 4 comprehensive schools in the town. The Grammar Schools and Risedale Secondary Modern, combined to become Parkview School, the Technical School became Thorncliffe School, St.Aloysius became St Bernard’s School, and Alfred Barrow School on the site of the original Higher Grade School retained its name.
History
Timeline Barrow Higher Grade School (1880 - 1930)
Alfred Barrow Boys School (1930 – 1979) Alfred Barrow Girls School (1930 – 1979) Barrow Boys Grammar School (1930 – 1979) Barrow Girls Grammar School (1932 – 1979)
Alfred Barrow School (1979 - 2009)
Parkview Community College of Technology (1979 - 2009) Furness Academy (2009 - Present)
Risedale Secondary Modern School (1898 - 1979) Thorncliffe School (1970 - 2009) Barrow Technical School (1903 - 1970)
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Feature The image shows Parkview, (Academy South), and Thorncliffe, (Academy North), in the distance. With the opening of the new build in September 2013 at Academy South Site, these two buildings will become redundant after spending over 120 years (combined), educating young people in Barrow-in-Furness.
When 2 became 1
Barrow Grammar School 1940’s Alfred Barrow School 1950’s Thorncliffe School 1970’s
History 5
FURNESS ACADEMY SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2013
Feature
Mrs. Sharon Rushton is retiring at the end of term and has been one of the longest serving teachers at firstly Parkview, then Furness Academy. She started in 1979 as a textile teacher and then moved to “Home Economics� as Food Technology was then called. She has seen many changes over the last 34 years. The introduction of ICT as a subject, and its use across the whole curriculum, the changes from GCEs and CSE examinations to GCSEs and the introduction of the National Curriculum. Home Economics was a practical based course, and over the years the emphasis shifted to a more experimental way of learning , now we are coming full circle and the future courses will be more practical based. With the move to the new buildings in September, Food Technology will take another step forward, and she wishes all the staff and students the very best for the future.
100 PLUS YEARS OF EDUCATION
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Feature
“A chance to be together.”
“Better quality of education with more technology.” Student Y10
What will the new build mean to Furness Academy students “Transformation learning for all students.”
“A building fit for purpose and 21st teaching.”
“New build, New era, New tools and technology.”
Modern building materials & techniques were used “High tech equipment and nicer facilities.” Student Y10
“Inspiration, opportunity and higher aspirations.“ 7
“Ask not what the new build means to your future education, but what your future education means to you.”
FURNESS ACADEMY SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2013
“Bright new building supporting bright young minds.”
Wizard of OZ
Students at Furness Academy set off on a journey down the Yellow Brick road as they presented this year’s Academy production of “The Wizard of Oz”. Filled with music, songs, dance and drama the show ran from Wednesday 10th July to Friday 12th July in Auld Hall South site, Furness Academy Dorothy played by Lily Mills ,Lewis Devitt as the Lion, Josh Singleton as the Scarecrow with Ellis Dunn as the Tin man
“The Wonderful Wizard of OZ”
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Latest News
Annual Fishing Competition Tuesday 2nd July saw 17 Furness Academy students venture to High Pond near Roanhead to compete for the interhouse fishing competition. Despite an unfavourable weather forecast we were lucky enough to dodge the rain clouds and managed to keep dry until the last hour. After drawing the pegs with the Furness Fishing Association match secretary the students then went in pursuit of ‘the whopper’!
iClick Photography Club
Fishing can be a tricky business at times on this water and techniques were varied but on this occasion those with the more delicate approach started catching. Blain Marwood and Katie Gower (our very first female competitor in 5 years) were both using pole tactics and were first to catch moving into an early lead.
The iClick photography club has provided enrichment opportunities for students to photograph and digitally edit their work using iPads. Students have worked on various themes including viewpoints, the natural world and structure.
At 2o’clock a whistle signalled the end of the contest and the FFA officials began the weigh in. Joe Phizacklea (Armstrong) and Katie Gower (Kennedy) came joint second and received a £15 Angling and Hiking voucher, but the overall winner was Blain Marwood (Kennedy) with a very credible 11 fish catch of mainly roach. He received a £30 Angling and Hiking voucher and was a very worthy winner.
We are delighted to announce that the group has had success through Brandon Wilson’s winning entry to the Young Rotary Photography Competition. He now goes on to be considered for the regional heats later in the month. Above are examples of his work:
Charity Bag Pack For a second year running Student Voice have given up their free time to assist people in packing their shopping at Morrisons supermarket in Barrow. The students were fabulous and managed to raise an impressive £420 for our school charity Build Africa, where the money will go directly to our chosen school, “Miti Mingi” primary school to help fund a brand new classroom, new toilets and other facilities. The bag pack took place over two evenings after school and the students were, Hannah Bethell, Cai Williams, Meg Norris, Emily McGrady, Rhiannon Petcher, Charlotte Bethell, Emma Griffiths, Lucy Pye, Abigail Mackin and Ethan Woods, from Year 7, who attended both nights and raised an impressive £76 all by himself. Miss K Smith
Mr Park
Callum Baynes Nice Catch Runners up were Lois Graham and Courtney Duncanson both in 9NK1 and both studying GCSE Fine Art. Both students have been inspired by nature for their photographs and used various lighting effects to emphasise mood. Previous achievements for club members Brandon Wilson and Caitlin Anderson include first and second place awards for Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Spring Watch competition. An art exhibition of iClick photography work is currently on display at Furness General Hospital. This is a culmination of work produced by Furness Academy students over the last year. Clare Silver and Vic Code iClick Photography Club
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First Aid Training Year 7 students are being trained in basic CPR and educated in the use of AED machines. The devices will be installed, one on North Site and one on South Site, they will be relocated to the new buildings in September. Training sessions were held last week with more planned for the end of June. We will be the first secondary school in the area to install defibrillators. Gill Newby, Health and Safety Officer
FURNESS ACADEMY SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2013
Tomlinson House
What a fantastic year Armstrong House have had, we have increased our participation rate from 45% last year to a magnificent 85% this year. This is down to the determined effort of you the students, making us the best House in Furness Academy. We have won 13 House events this year including Rounder’s, Year 9 Volleyball, KS3 Wii sports, Year 10 football, Year 10/11 Badminton to name but a few .
What a fantastic year Tomlinson students have, had we are continuing to grow as a House with our participation rate increasing by 15% this year to 71%. We have won and excelled in many events this year including Year 9 Football, Year 7 Spelling Bee, Bake a Cake and the Pi Challenge.
Special mention goes to the Year 7 cricket team who showed true determination to win every match, well done to Ebony Garnett, Hannah Jones, Corey Stevens, Tyler Wood and Declan Byrne. Well done to Matthew Moore, Liam Casson, Corey Stevens, Declan Byrne, Joel Buchanan who were the outstanding students this year for Armstrong who have gone above and beyond what was expected of them . On behalf of Armstrong House I would like to take this opportunity to thank our House Leaders and Deputies for all their effort this year in supporting the House. Well done to our Leaders Ellie Morrison, Joe Phizacklea , Jodie Crawford and Liam Casson and there Deputies Natasha Wilson , Dylan Struckman , Tara Edwards Doughty ,Callum Westwood , Stacey White , Catherine GorryEdwards , Josh Matthews and Anna Hedley . Thank you for all for a successful year Mrs Currie, Armstrong House Manager
With special mention going to our KS3 girls Football Team that won all their matches to without conceding a goal to win the tournament. Well done to Emily Doran, Jessica Wilson, Emilie Cooper, Keira Falloon and Charlie Johnson. Our Year 10/11 Go Karting team speeded to a resounding victory in the house competition leaving the other houses in their tracks, well done to Ryan Edgley, Matthew Jackson, Brandon Bateman and Reece Brown. Within Tomlinson House this year we have had many students that have gone above and beyond what was expected from them making them our Outstanding Students. Well done to Hannah Bethell, Demi Woods, Jessica Wilson, Jordan Butler, Trent Sandifer and Tia Bower. A big Tomlinson thank you goes to Harrison O’Brien , Megan Hutton , Bethany Beswick , Lewis Devitt , Brogen Gleaves , Cai Williams , Matthew Boyd , Hannah Macdonald , Aidan Kirk , Lucy Brumbley and Emilie Cooper who are our House Leaders and Deputies for all their hard work in driving the House forward this year . Once again this year, you have made me proud to be Tomlinson House Manager and I am really looking forward to working with you all again in September, united on one site. Mr Leece, Tomlinson House Manager
Ramsden House Another FANTASTIC year for RAMSDEN HOUSE. We have maintained a very high standard throughout the year and deserve to be the Champions’ again. 19 first places – ABSOLUTELY AMAZING – we raised the bar this year and we will raise it even higher next year.
House Winners!
4th KENNEDY with 89 points 3rd TOMLINSON with 94 points 2nd ARMSTRONG with 117 points 1st RAMSDEN with 130 points – absolutely amazing Congratulations to all of you who have taken part in an inter-house activity, you have all contributed
Kennedy House
House News
Armstrong House
Kennedy House has had a wonderful year. Overall we were placed 4th in The House Championship. Out of 41 Events Kennedy obtained; 7 1st places, 8 2nd places, 10 3rd places, 16 4th places. Special mention has to go our Year 7 and 8 swimmers who won the Swimming Gala early on in this academic year. Kennedy House were excellent. We successfully won 6 others events in Year 8 Netball, Year 11 Football, Year 9 Netball, Year 8 basketball, Year 7/8 Handball and the Annual Fishing Competition which was organised by Mr Park and Mr Ross. Kennedy House would like to congratulate the following pupils for their outstanding levels of participation; Katie Gower 14 Events, Chelsea Clarke 11 events, Caitlin Bilton 11 Events, Josh Zaccarini 6 Events, Liam Riley 5 Events and Josh Ayling 4 Events I would also like to thank our House Leaders and Deputies on both sites who did an outstanding job helping me run Kennedy House. In September we will be in the New Buildings, and with all Kennedy House students together on one site I believe we will get stronger and win the House Championship. Have a wonderful but safe Summer Holiday. Mr Carton, Kennedy House Manager
The Winners are... Ramsden House to this WIN. WELL DONE – Rebecca Hawkrigg and Bonham Peacock on your ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’, you have both been fab and deserve recognition for all your dedication and hard work. Our new Year 7 students coming in September participated in a competition during the transition days and I am pleased to let you know they came 1st. 4 points on the board already for the start of the next school year. KEEP SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT SUMMER AND I WILL SEE YOU ALL IN SEPTEMBER Mrs Cook, Ramsden House Manager
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A new beginning for Furness Academy,
see you in September