Friends of BRGS Edition 39 Spring 2019

Bacup & Rawtenstall

Issue 39

Grammar School

Spring 2019

Friends of BRGS A newsletter produced by BRGS for former students, parents & the community

Reunion Date: Saturday 12th October 2019 On Saturday 12th October 2019 BRGS is hosting a reunion providing an opportunity for all former students of any age to return to BRGS whilst getting together with friends from your year group. We would like to contact as many former students as possible so please share widely using #brgsreunion.

Further details will be posted on the BRGS website at https://www.brgs.org.uk/events/2019-10-12-brgsreunion and on the BRGS Official Facebook site with the reunion taking place in the afternoon (start time to be confirmed).

We look forward to welcoming you back!

Hogwarts comes to BRGS Life in the school’s Learning Resource Centre has been busy over the Spring Term with our inaugural Harry Potter night, author visits and a ‘Whose Shelfie?’ competition for World Book Day featuring photos of book shelves of a huge array of staff.

Harry Potter night tickets were sold rapidly with students enjoying a themed night of wizardry in the Great Hall. The Sorting Hat made a star appearance and students competed in a number of challenges testing their Potter expertise.

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Welcome!

After a gap in editions of Friends of BRGS to ensure that we are adhering to all your communication preferences in our post-GDPR world, we are now in a position to restart our termly newsletter. If you know of former students who have not received a copy of this newsletter via email or post (£10 subscription required on an annual basis for postal copies) then please do encourage them to update their communication preferences with a form available on our website at https://www.brgs.org.uk/development-and-alumni.

An essential date for your diaries is Saturday 12th October 2019 for our reunion. Do come along for the opportunity to meet with school friends and to see some of the changes which have happened physically to the school over recent years. Further details on building developments which are improving the learning and social environment at BRGS are detailed in this newsletter.

Emma Emma Gauntlett Development Director ecg@brgs.org.uk Tel: 01706 234500/01706 234502 (direct) www.brgs.org.uk

Literary achievements Former student Stacey Halls née Bartlett has released her first novel, The Familiars, based on the Pendle witch story. She is Deputy Chief Sub Editor at Fabulous magazine and the novel is officially the biggest-selling debut of the year to date.

Lee Phethean, another alumnus, has released a children’s book called The Koala That Couldn’t Sleep.

Daisy Oldfield has qualified to compete in the British Ice Dance Championships 2019 at Junior Level (under 19 category) after being placed second in the Bradford Ice Dance Competition on the 19th March. She will also be representing Great Britain at the Copenhagen Dance Cup in April and is on the GB Development Squad for Ice Dance. We wish her continued success!

BRGS students Ella Tomlinson and Tiegan Alexander have been selected to represent Great Britain in the Ladies U19 category in the underwater hockey World Championships in August.

Ella is Vice Captain of the Lancashire Ladies Team which came top of their league in the Ladies' Nationals in Leeds at the end of February. Both Ella and Tiegan have been selected to represent Great Britain when the championship takes place in Sheffield later in the year. Their team will be competing against the likes of teams from New Zealand, France, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey and Canada, to name just a few.

Our annual German exchange took place in the February sunshine with 24 BRGS students spending a week in German families and experiencing school life at our partner school the Kaiserin Friedrich Gymnasium in Bad Homburg near Frankfurt.

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Duke of Edinburgh Award At the end of March over 130 of our Year 10 students, an all-time record number, were out on the hills around Rossendale completing their Bronze Award practice expedition – thankfully, the weather was reasonably kind to us! They will soon begin their preparations for the qualifying expedition, in the Peak District, in July.

More recently it has been the turn of our 43 Gold Award participants, who are completing a four day walking and canoeing expedition in the wilds of Snowdonia. BRGS now has one of the largest Duke of Edinburgh schemes in the whole of the north-west.

Below is a photo of our Bronze Award students and Headteacher Alan Porteous meeting the Earl of Wessex in recognition of the popularity and achievements of our students in undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Award at BRGS.

BRGS’s Spring Music Concert was a celebration of musicals with a Broadway-themed event. A host of student soloists joined a live band and a 50-strong school and community choir to bring us well-known songs from a range of musicals including Cabaret, Les Misérables and Oliver.

International Women’s Day 2019 Former student Katie Mason is now an Air Traffic Controller at RAF Wittering and Executive Secretary of the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers. Interviewed for International Women’s Day, Katie reflected on her ambition at the age of 15 when she first considered becoming an air traffic controller commenting: “It’s hard to say why I chose air traffic control, it just appealed to me the most. It looked like a very punchy job that was really rewarding.”

Sixteen years later as Flight Sergeant Mason she is working at one of the busiest flying stations in the RAF ensuring aircraft can fly with maximum safety in a demanding role that takes years of training and requires focus and concentration.

Katie was elected as the first ever military person to be co-opted onto an International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association board (IFATCA) representing over 55,000 controllers worldwide.

In Katie’s full interview (available at https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-wittering/news/aninterview-with-flight-sergeant-katie-mason-for-international-womens-day-2019/), she reflects on how “being a woman and a mum is absolutely no barrier to having a successful career in the Royal Air Force” and how she would like to progress to become a Warrant Officer and executive roles in the RAF.

Managing a demanding career, an important role with GATCO (Guild of Air Traffic Controller Officers) and her role as a mother requires excellent organisational skills with Katie stating: “literally, there is a folder for everything in our house. It’s infectious, our son even likes organising his toys!” We wish her every success as her career develops.

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Creative Arts Extension Over February half term we completed a much-needed significant extension to our creative arts facilities.

We have built on top of our existing Art block, alongside refurbishing our existing Art rooms and completely re-structuring our Music facilities. This has provided a brand new Art room, with floor to ceiling windows to provide the best light possible, better facilities for our instrumental music teaching as well as an increased number of practice rooms for groups of students during practical music lessons, an extended music computer room and a new corridor connection from the main entrance directly through to the top floor of the Newchurch Wing, which has eased congestion considerably on the corridors.

Art Classrooms in the existing ground floor and in the top near window.

Floor to ceiling windows enable the room to have plenty of natural light.

Music Classroom on the top floor with and music practice rooms as well as compact sound-proofed music recording room.

Music Technology Room to aid composition work.

Art classroom – prior to any art work being displayed!

Dining Room and Sixth Form Centre Extension As the Creative Arts extension was completed, work was starting on another extension which will significantly increase the size of both our sixth form centre and the main dining room. This will also allow us to restructure serving facilities to further improve the dining experience on offer to both the lower school and sixth form students. Funding was secured through a bid to the Department for Education.

The governors are also continuing their investment in the on-going refurbishment of the school buildings, with plans for a complete makeover of the sixth form centre over the summer holidays ready for the new term in September. This should all be achievable without significant disruption during term time.

There will soon be scaffolding on the front of the building as well, as we have also been successful in our application for a grant to repair the roof of the main building. We have suffered from some time from leaks through the roof leading to water damage in the Science department, and we are looking forward to having a watertight building! Once this work is completed, we will be able to develop plans for the refurbishment and further improvement of our Science facilities.

Area which will provide the extension to the sixth form centre (ground floor) and to the dining room facilities (first floor)

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National Apprenticeship Week National Apprenticeship Week was promoted to Years 7-11 with assemblies led by our Careers Coordinator, Laura Grenaghan. Students watched a clip featuring former BRGS student Amy who progressed to a degree apprenticeship at Deloitte. To watch the clip, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7 T6MIGCLgs Charity Challenge Year 9 Philanthropy Challenge: after some moving and powerful presentations by Year 9 students, judges were left with a difficult decision as to which charity would be selected the winner in the Year 9 Philanthropy Charity Competition.

The team representing Rossendale Rays won the first prize of ÂŁ1500 towards their charity and a second prize of ÂŁ500 was awarded to the East Lancashire Down's Syndrome Support Group.

Rossendale Rays is a special needs swimming and sports organisation and the East Lancashire Down's Syndrome Support Group provides support to new parents and gives them opportunity to meet other families living with Down's Syndrome.

Congratulations to Conner, Christopher, Honey and Tahmina, the BRGS students who represented Rossendale Rays in their presentation and also to the second placed team of Lily, Sam, Dan and Megan who spoke about the East Lancashire Down's Syndrome Support Group.

Thank you also to the Mayor of Rossendale for supporting the event and the many charity representatives who so kindly spared their time.

Effective learning habits

Effective learners of all ages regularly review their learning to ensure that key knowledge and skills are firmly embedded and easily accessible from long-term memory.

At BRGS we have had a particular emphasis on supporting students in building their long-term memory for a couple of years. The revised Ofsted framework which is due to be released later this year has been heavily informed by educational research and states that learning only takes place if long-term memory is altered (Sweller et al., 2011). As well as revisiting and rehearsing learning (spaced or distributed practice) in the classroom, students are focusing on retrieval practice whereby they recall something they have learned in the past which strengthens the neural pathways.

Students have had study skills sessions on effective learning strategies to apply as part of their weekly routine and parents have been provided with tips on how to support their child in becoming an effective learner by:     

Tip 1: Ensure students review their notes using active rather than passive study techniques e.g. writing flashcards, making mindmaps etc.

Tip 2: Ensure students are testing themselves regularly.

Tip 3: After testing themselves, ensure students check their notes for accuracy.

Tip 4: Space out learning over time – do not cram!

Tip 5: Help your son/daughter to stay healthy and happy.

If you are interested to find out more on effective learning, visit the school’s website at https://www.brgs.org.uk/parents-and-students/effective-learning-habits

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Ypres 2019 Year 9 students attended a church service at St George's in Ypres and dedicated a plaque to the fallen from BRGS. On the last day of the trip, students visited Tyne Cot Cemetery where Ian played The Last Post on his cornet and one student, Jessica, found her great, great-uncle Thomas Miller on the memorial wall.

Professor Peter Ormerod: leading TB expert died at the age of 68.

Former student Professor Peter Ormerod BSc (Hons) MBChB (Hons) MD DScMeD FRCP (Edin) FRCP (Glas) died on the 29th January 2019. Professor Ormerod attended Tunstead Primary School and then progressed on to BRGS. Professor Ormerod was East Lancashire’s first Medical Professor. At the age of seven he suffered from tuberculosis and decided at that early age that he wanted to pursue a career in the medical profession.

He said: “I remember vividly the painful injections I had to have for three months, accompanied by unpleasant tablets for a year. I would hide behind the curtain when the nurse came to give my daily injections.”

Progressing on to study and graduate from Manchester University in 1974 and after training in Manchester and Birmingham, he was appointed Chest Consultant at Blackburn Royal Infirmary in 1980 at the age of 29.

At the time, Blackburn had the fourth highest incidence of TB in the UK and Professor Ormerod was tasked with reducing this. Due to measures instigated by Professor Ormerod, he brought about a rapid reduction in adult and particularly childhood TB. New drugs reduced the treatment period considerably, adult rates were halved and childhood TB was tackled through skin tests and preventative medication. Consequently he was appointed to the National TB Committee in 1987 and served on this for 30 years, acting as Chairman for eight of those years.

In his role as the Consultant Advisor on TB to the Department of Health and Clinical Advisor to the 1996 NICE Guidelines, many of the recommendations which he introduced for TB are now national standards and good practice.

Awarded the first ever degree of Doctor of Medical Science by Manchester University, Professor Ormerod was also recognised by the Royal College of Physicians, being presented with the Weber-Parkes Prize. He was a Professor of Medicine at UCLan and Manchester University.

Professor Ormerod’s contribution to his specialist field was extensive and significant. He penned over 100 scientific papers, 17 book chapters and a text book abut TB. His immense impact led to him being awarded the British Thoracic Society Medal in 2017 for his lifetime contribution to Respiratory Medicine.

In addition to his career, he enjoyed cricket and military history as well as playing in Rossendale Valley Sounds concert band. Married to Pauline for 48 years, the two met whilst at BRGS and have maintained strong links with the school.

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Sports Reports For all the latest BRGS Sports News then do follow BRGS PE Department on Twitter @BRGS_PE

Golfing Success BRGS student, Thomas, represented England and his home team of Rossendale Golf Club in the prestigious Home Nations Golf International Final at Mogardo, Portugal competing against teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Thomas has recently been selected to play with Lancashire U14s - a fantastic achievement.

Athletics Achievements Years 7 & 8 win Rossendale Indoor Athletics Competition & Year 7 Boys’ win Rossendale 7-a-side football. Y7 Girls’ Athletics Team went on to come 3rd in Lancashire.

Badminton U16 Boys’ Badminton team runners-up in Lancashire/Manchester round of Badminton England national event.

Trampolining Plenty of trampolining success stories to share with Hannah and Abigail coming 2nd and 3rd respectively in the silver category and Isabella, Mia and Sophie coming 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively in the bronze category.

Sports Reports continued‌ Basketball Year 8 Rossendale Basketball Champions and Girls’ U16 Lancashire Basketball Champions.

Cross-Country Champions Congratulation to Emily on becoming the Lancashire Cross-Country Champion for the second year in a row! Max came 3rd in his category and Isabelle was 4th.

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Message Board  Congratulations to former student Jenny Amatt on her marriage in 2018. Former student and multiaward winning photographer, Stuart Bebb captured the special day.  Alumnus Tom Hyatt reached the 2018 final of the Fender ‘Undiscovered Artist of the Year’.  Congratulations to Nathan Mattock on achieving a First from Somerville College, Oxford and being awarded a Mary Somerville Prize for his achievements in Chemistry.  Do get in touch with BRGS with any news regarding university graduations or career news.

Follow us: Do follow us on twitter @BRGS_1701 and on our Facebook site which is BRGS (Official Facebook).

Bronze Champion Status BRGS has received Bronze Champion Status after 20% of our Year 11 students participated in the National Citizen Service which focuses on developing skills and demonstrating social action.

Obituaries Jeannie Rawlinson née Hollingdrake died on the 1st April 2018 aged 98 years old. She was the widow of Rowland Rawlinson of Moreton on the Wirral. Both were from Rossendale and were pupils together at BRGS in the 1930s. Jeannie leaves behind son Christopher, daughter Patricia, two granddaughters and one great-grandson.

Brenda Laight née Watson sadly passed away in hospital in Hertfordshire on the 24th November 2018. After leaving BRGS Brenda had a successful career in the police. She leaves her husband, Peter and two children.

Jessie Irene Watkins née Davies died at the age of 94. Attending Goldsmiths in London for teaching training she was evacuated to Kent to finish college and then went to Liverpool to teach.

She worked in several schools and undertook a year teaching in Long Island, New York (an exchange teaching programme in 1951 where she was introduced to President Truman in the White House Gardens). On her return she became Headteacher of Prince Edwin School in Everton, Liverpool. Later in her career she taught in a school for visually impaired children before concluding her career as a Senior Lecturer at the Ethel Wormald College of Education in Liverpool.

Her interest in children and education followed her throughout her life: a full cycle whereby she ended by training other to become good teachers.

View of BRGS from Thornfield Avenue

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Be part of our next reunion: Saturday 12th October 2019!

Glen Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 7BJ

T: 01706 234500 E: enquiries@brgs.org.uk W: www.brgs.org.uk

Sixth Form: T: 01706 233400 E: sixthform@brgs.org.uk