Waseley News Summer 2023

NEWS Latest & Greatest!

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this first edition of our new look Waseley News. It has been so pleasing to be able to celebrate the many curricular and extracurricular opportunities our young people have taken part in, as well as the awards they have won. I have been so impressed with how all members of the Waseley community have responded to our expectations in the last term. We will be looking to expand Waseley News to showcase all of the amazing work of students and staff and publish this on a half-termly basis.

In September, I am really looking forward to the additional enrichment and curricular opportunities our students will be provided with. We will be concentrating on being safe as a community, great lessons, fantastic books, excellent attendance, the highest standards of uniform and lots of curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for our students in order to help them be the best version of themselves.

We also have the start of our incredibly exciting new build project starting in October which will, on completion, mark Waseley out as one of the most cutting edge, purpose built schools in the country.

I wish everyone in the Waseley community a healthy and happy summer break and I look forward to welcoming students back in September.

Ian Mellor, Executive Principal

Action from Y9 in Arete

SIGNIFICANT FUNDING BOOST FOR SCHOOLS ACROSS THE TRUST

We are thrilled to announce a substantial achievement that impacts 3 secondary schools within the Trust. Arrow Vale High School, Waseley Hills High School, and Gospel Oak School have successfully secured funding with the support from P&E Sports from the 'Schools Opening Facilities Funding' program. This achievement shows our commitment to building active, inclusive communities and promoting increased participation in sports and healthy lifestyles

Both Arrow Vale and Waseley Hills High Schools have been awarded £20,000 over a two-year term, while Gospel Oak has received £13,000 for the initial year, with a second year of funding currently under application. This funding is designed to enrich the lives and well-being of our students while broadening our community's engagement with our schools. It will not only enhance the infrastructure and resources within our schools but also create additional opportunities for the wider community to engage in sport and physical activity.

At Arrow Vale, significant funding has been directed towards upgrading their basketball hoops, benefiting their PE classes, extra-curricular clubs, and the Redditch basketball club, who uses the facilities weekly. Arrow Vale has also invested in a new storage container and a range of sports equipment. The funding also allows the school to launch a community program, offering FREE activities during extra-curricular clubs, evenings, weekends, and school holidays.

Waseley Hills has used their share of the funding to significantly improve their sports equipment, catering to a wide range of interests, from gymnastics to glow sports to boxing. This new equipment will be used for their community program, offering FREE activities and making sport more accessible for all during evenings, weekends and school holidays.

Gospel Oak has allocated a significant proportion of their funding to refurbishing their sports hall flooring. This project, set to begin this summer, promises to vastly improve the sporting facilities for the students and the wider community. Additionally, Gospel Oak has purchased new sports equipment.

These funding allocations represent a significant opportunity for both our schools and our communities. By improving facilities and offering free community programs, we aim to dismantle barriers to sport participation, inspire more people to be active, and provide a sense of community engagement. We eagerly anticipate the lasting, positive impact these investments will have on our students and the wider community.

For their community sports, both Arrow Vale and Waseley have teamed up with P&E Sports to offer a FREE community program. This joint venture aims to contribute positively to our community. You can find more details about these clubs and the program they're offering on P&E Sports' website, www.pandesports.com. Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to be a part of this initiative!

In further exciting news, we've also been successful in applying for Youth funding to develop a new youth club at Waseley Hills High School. This promising initiative will bring our young people together in a safe, engaging environment, offering further avenues for personal development and community engagement. More details about this will be announced in September. Additionally, Arrow Vale will continue to offer its popular youth club, thanks to the same pot of funding from the district council's youth fund.

Round up from Year 7

We are so pleased with how well our Year 7s have settled in at WHHS. They have shown exceptional resilience during lessons and through their numerous enrichment activity presence, participating in the Student Council to voice the team’s opinions, working on the Diana Anti bullying Award, alongside working in teams and participating in our Morgan Stanley competition, STEM Computing and Science interventions.

Our Year 7s have assisted our admin staff through student receptionist duties and they all behaved very professionally. We are also proud of our students who take part in a range of clubs outside of school; Gymnastics, Dancing, Boxing, Basket Ball team, Choir, Football teams and it us on how their teams played. We look forward to seeing the same maturity and efforts in Year 8.

In Spring, students from Year 7 completed a Microbit robotics workshop. They built and coded a moisture sensor then worked in teams to design a flood-proof house. Team Bob were the winners.

Morgan Stanley Dragons Den

Year 7s worked incredibly hard to plan and implement their business ideas. They used their creative skills to design a professional logo and slogan and demonstrated excellent entrepreneurial and ICT skills to research facts about their business idea and how it impacts the environment. They had to work in teams to plan the delivery of their presentation which they pitched to the Morgan Stanley Dragons on the 30th June.

We are so proud of these Year 7s who performed exceptionally well in front of all the Central Region Schools Trust staff at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham. The occasion was the celebration of the Trust’s 10th anniversary. Our students demonstrated excellent communication, teamwork and musical skills.

Mrs. Joshi, Head of Year 7

Year 7 STEM winners - Team Bob

Year 6 Transition Days

We were delighted to see so many of our Year 6 into Year 7 students during our transition days.

Students were able to meet their new teachers and form tutors and they enjoyed various activities including baking, drawing and table tennis. We have received so much positive feedback from parents/carers and the children themselves.

HTML Competition

Some of our students have demonstrated exceptional programming skills and were entered for an HTML competition to design and create a fit-for-purpose website. The winners of the HTML competition were: Isabella, Year 7 and Tanya, Year 8. Our runners up were: Cole, Year 7 and Cody, Year 7.

Computing Club

Our Year 7s have thoroughly enjoyed the computing club which takes place every Tuesday after school. Students have developed their HTML skills and Python, both delivered by Year 8 student Tanya and Year 11 student Luke.

Star Readers Year 7

Verity, Evie, Seb, Patryk, Kasie, Erin, Emily, Jacob, Poppy, Martha, Sienna, Joe, Olivia MC, Olivia G and Euan

Update from Year 8

We are delighted to share some exciting news with you regarding our wonderful Year 8 group. Over the course of this academic year, we have witnessed a remarkable transformation in their behaviour, as they have consistently demonstrated growth and improvement, gradually getting it right. It is with great pride that we commend our students for their tremendous efforts.

One of the highlights of this year has been the active participation of our Year 8 students in various competitions and trips. They have eagerly taken part in inter-school events, showcasing their talents and skills in academic, artistic and sporting disciplines. Whether it was the Big Bang science trip, the Easter competition, the football club, the table tennis tournament, or serving our hardworking students in the reward shop, our students have consistently represented our school with dedication and enthusiasm. Their commitment and determination have not gone unnoticed, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the participants for their exceptional efforts.

We would also like to acknowledge and celebrate the students who have achieved a remarkable feat this year: 100% attendance. We understand that maintaining perfect attendance is no easy task, and it requires dedication, discipline, and a genuine commitment to learning. These students have consistently shown up to school, ready to engage and absorb knowledge, despite the various challenges that life may present. Your commitment to your education is commendable and we applaud your extraordinary achievement.

As we approach the end of the academic year, we want to express our gratitude to the Year 8 students for their hard work, growth and positive development. We are immensely proud of their progress and excited for the future ahead. We also extend our gratitude to the parents and carers for their unwavering support, which has played a crucial role in shaping the success of our students.

Let us continue to foster an environment where each student can thrive, develop their talents and reach their full potential. I’m looking forward to Year 9 as our students continue their journey of growth and excellence.

Mr. Chisholm, Head of Year 8

This term, three very talented Year 8 and a Year 7 student headed to Braga in Portugal to represent England at the finals of the 2023 Dance World Cup as part of the Rubery-based Grazia Academy of Dance and Acrobatics Arts dance school.

Evie, Kayde, Ella and Evie-Rose helped to raise money for travel and costumes and Waseley Hills contributed part of the proceeds of a non-uniform day to support the dance school and our students’ efforts.

They all did extremely well, coming in the top ten in all their dances against stiff international opposition.

Congratulations girls!

Star Readers Year 8

Maisie, Oliver, Tanja, Olivia, Louis, Michael, Katie and Fabian

A spokesperson for Grazia said: “The support from the community has been amazing, and we want to thank everyone who donated any money to us to get these young talented dancers to Portugal.”

Step into the NHS

The Step into the NHS secondary schools' teaching resources and competition is designed to raise students' aspirations and open their eyes and minds to a wide range of career opportunities in the NHS. The competition also offers students in years 7, 8 and 9 the chance to have their entry displayed in public and win a £25 or £50 Amazon voucher, an exciting goody bag and a prize for their class!

Our very own Tanya submitted what was deemed an outstanding entry and was one of the national winners. Well done, Tanya!

Our girls with the Grazia dance troupe in Portugal

All the Action from Year 9

Throughout the year, Year 9 students have had the opportunity to complete various activities and challenges. The students in sets 1 and 2 participated in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). This is an international study that takes place every four years and gathers data from over 60 countries. TIMSS looks at how well pupils in Year 9 can apply knowledge and skills in mathematics and science. The results are used by our government and governments around the world to improve their education systems, so it was great for our students to be part of such an influential study. As usual the students completed the tasks with a great attitude and dedication. In addition to this, Year 9 had a visit from a STEM charity called Small Piece Trust. They came and spoke to the students about ethical hacking and decoding. The students had multiple tasks to decode using various techniques to gain numbers which corresponded to a safe code. The students thoroughly relished the competition and fully engaged in what seemed to be a very enjoyable and challenging task.

It was also great to help guide and support year 9 students in making their choices for the next stage of their educational journey. Students spent time researching the different options available to them and it was great to feel the buzz when students were informed which subjects they will be studying at GCSE level next year. We are sure that students will meet the challenges that GCSEs bring and will thrive when beginning these courses next academic year.

We would also like to acknowledge and celebrate the students who have achieved a remarkable feat this year: 100% attendance. We understand that maintaining perfect attendance is no easy task and it requires dedication, discipline and a genuine commitment to learning. These students have consistently shown up to school, ready to engage and absorb knowledge, despite the various challenges that life may present. Your commitment to your education is commendable, and we applaud your extraordinary achievement.

Can I finally take this opportunity to thank all parents and carers for the support they have given to our students and myself this year. I hope you have a great Summer break and I look forward to continuing working with you all next year.

Mr. Blount, Head of Year 9

In July, a cohort of year 9 students attended Arete, which is an outdoor adventure centre based in Llanrug in North Wales.

Whilst on the weeklong residential, students completed a variety of activities including rock climbing, abseiling, co-steering, mining, paddle boarding and canoeing. All students were tested beyond their comfort zone and rose to these challenges with a smile. It really was great to see the determination shown to overcome their fears, and then the satisfaction on their faces when students had tackled tasks that they never thought they could achieve.

In addition to the activities, students also completed duties which ranged from making their own packed lunch each day to tidying the centre and setting up the dining area for breakfast and evening meal. All the students who attended represented the school with pride and their behaviour was fantastic. It was especially reewarding to hear members of the public praising the behaviour of our students when we were completing activities on the public beach area. I am sure that the students who attended will have made memories that will last a lifetime.

Latest from Year 10

For the first time in many years, Year 10 took part in work experience in May. Mrs Sellers (School Careers Lead) was instrumental in this and it was a huge undertaking, but Year 10 students rose to the challenge!

This involved them making telephone calls, arranging interviews, checking transport, and practicalities such as dress and lunch arrangements.

Below are some comments from employers about a few of our students (we could list many more!) which show that Waseley students are polite, keen, responsible, mature, punctual and are superb ambassadors for the school. It makes me very proud to be their Year Head.

Mrs. Williams, Head of Year 10

"A quiet student but gaining in confidence as the week progresses."

"You would walk through an interview. We would definitely offer you a Saturday job!"

"Best work experience we have had for a long time! Good use of initiative."

"Good company, easy to get along with and works hard."

"Formed good relationships and ran activities independently with the children"

"Really interacted well with the boys and great dinosaur knowledge! A credit to the school and his parents."

“Naturals with young children - great potential shown.”

“Dependable and used initiative - would definitely offer them part-time jobs.”

“Making great progress having gone from kitchen portering to being involved in the cooking and plating up of meals.”

“Working with non-verbal young people and is really helping to support their learning.”

“Super impressed with him. He's been in Y6 this week, helping with SATs, PE lessons and helping supervise various activities.”

“What enthusiastic students. They got stuck in to everything from tidying our office to dealing with high profile companies at the Children’s Hospital charity, and meeting with consultant medics.”

“Excellent students. We have been able to rely on them to lead activities and they are so mature. This is especially good, as some of these came to this school and we are proud of the young people they have become.”

Year 10 STEM

Earlier this year, 60 Year 10 students took part in a workshop hosted by Smallpiece Trust, a STEM-sponsored charity which provides fully-funded workshops to inspire students.

The workshop focused on F1 car design and the students had great fun building model F1 cars with working drive systems.

To help Year 10 students understand about developmental milestones, it has been great to have some visitors to school this half term. Many of our students do have lots of young family members to interact with but having visitors in the classroom is so beneficial as students learn to plan activities and consider what children can do. It really consolidates the learning and helps with upcoming coursework.

The theme for next year is 3-4 year olds and so we are already planning more visitors including Mr Blatherwick’s daughter, Emilie.

Year 10 Food Preparation & Nutrition Students

This year, the Year 10 Food students have shown creativity, high levels of skill and they are always happy to try new taste and flavours, which helps their understanding of the topic. Earlier in the year, the fishmonger from Morrisons visited and the students learnt how to gut and fillet a fish which, alongside their understanding of portioning a chicken in class, means they can aim high when it comes to assessments.

We have finished the year with a challenge involving summer-themed cakes. Students were tasked to show their understanding of seasonal food, presentation and raising agents, and they all look delicious. Well done all and thanks to parents who always support us so well!

Year 11 Made Every Day Count

As the academic year draws to a close, we have already said goodbye to our wonderful Year 11 students. Last September, I spoke to Year 11 about making every day count as they would soon be sitting their GCSE examinations, and would be leaving school! From daily interventions, online tuition and weekly revision sessions, Year 11 have worked so hard this year in preparation for their summer examinations. It has been a pleasure to see them so dedicated to their studies.

On Friday 16th June, we held a celebration assembly for Year 11. Not only was this an opportunity to say goodbye and good luck, but it was also a time to celebrate the achievements of Year 11 and to reflect on their time at Waseley Hills. There was lots of laugher and of course some tears as we looked back on their Waseley journey. With photographs, special memories and past events all being revisited, it really was a lovely occasion. There were lots of messages from staff, including past members of staff who all wanted to wish Year 11 the very best. The assembly was also an opportunity to reward achievements such as 100% attendance and AIR Award, to name a few. Prizes such as chocolate and £20 Amazon vouchers were awarded to those who received recognition awards. I would like to thank Mrs Bridgeman for her contributions to the assembly – it would not have been the same without her.

The event that most students were most looking forward to came on the 23rd June – the Year 11 Prom. This was once again held at Grafton Manor Hotel. Year 11 pulled out all the stops with not only their chosen transport but also their amazing outfits. One of the highlights of the evening was watching students arrive, looking so fantastic and full of excitement for the evening. Welcome drinks took place on the lawn of the Manor before students entered the marquee. Students enjoyed food, dancing, the use of a photobooth and a sweet cart during the evening. Due to the lovely weather, students were also able to appreciate the beautiful venue, including the outdoor space. Year 11 behaved impeccably throughout the evening, with venue staff and the DJ also commenting on the maturity and conduct of our wonderful students.

I hope Year 11 are now enjoying their summer after all their hard work. I look forward to seeing those that will be returning to us in September when they join Waseley Sixth. I wish every single student the very best for the future and wish them luck in whatever their future destinations will be.

Mrs Bradley, Head of Year 11

On Wednesday 28th June, the upcoming Year 12s had a first-hand experience of Sixth Form life on their induction day.

The day started with an assembly, hosted by the two lead ambassadors, Kirsty and Ciaran, who both did a fantastic job of explaining Sixth Form life and talking students through a day in the life of a Sixth Form student.

We then moved on to some team building exercises, in which the current Year 12 Prefect team joined with the Year 11s to help, partake and bond. These involved a quiz about pop culture and trying to build the tallest tower out of cardboard. These exercises helped establish and develop relationships between the Year 11s and current Year 12s to make their transition in September 2023 easier.

After the morning session, our new Year 12s experienced a typical Sixth Form day by attending sample lessons of their chosen A-Level subjects, run by teachers and also Year 12 Prefects. They attended ‘Supervised Study’ sessions to complete subject bridging work and socialised in the common room during break times.

It was great to see our current Year 12s develop relationships with our new intake and talk about options, recommendations and personal Sixth Form experiences. This was obviously made all the better with tea, biscuits and doughnuts!

Overall, the day was an enriching experience that allowed our new Year 12 intake to get a personal, up-close experience of what being at Waseley Hills High School Sixth Form is like and we can’t wait to welcome them all in September!

Keelan, Year 12

Safeguarding News

This term, we were thrilled to be able to invite local Edgbaston man Agustus Stewart to deliver an assembly to raise awareness and educate our Year 9 and 10 students about the risks surrounding gang culture, grooming, exploitation and knife crime.

After being sentenced to 12 years in prison as a troubled teenager, Agustus Stewart survived an assassination attempt, a heroin addiction and witnessed unprecedented levels of violence. Now an author and motivational speaker, he managed to turn his life around.

The students got a lot out of the experience as did many of our staff who enjoyed this assembly with a twist“Speaking to my culture group this morning, feedback was really positive. They said it was really engaging and every year group should have it. It made them think about how easily they could be influenced. They really enjoyed hearing his story.”

IMPORTANT RELATED CONTACT INFORMATION

FEARLESS (www.fearless.org) – Part of Crime-stoppers – resources and a reporting pathway for young people to pass information anonymously.

BEN KINSELLA TRUST (www.benkinsella.org.uk) – National knife crime charity with learning resources and support pathways.

NSPCC (www.NSPCC.org.uk) – Information and resources for young people, parents and professionals with some topic specific materials.

St GILES TRUST (www.stgilestrust.org.uk) – Supporting young people and families in adversity, including exploitation and criminality.

CATCH22 (www.catch-22.org.uk) – National support and advice service recommended by the National Crime Agency for numerous topics including exploitation and criminality.

Dress for Success in September

From September, we will be moving back to wearing uniform all week and bringing PE kit to

From September, we will be moving back to wearing uniform all week and bringing PE kit to change into only on the timetabled days. change into only on the timetabled days.

If you don If you don’’t have the correct t have the correct uniform or footwear, you will be sent to uniform or footwear, you will be sent to student support where you will be temporarily student support where you will be temporarily provided with the correct item. provided with the correct item. You will need to return the item at the end of the school day. You will need to return the item at the end of the school day.

No rings; No necklaces; No bracelets; No false nails; No nail varnish; No false eyelashes; No trainers

No nose studs (spacer acceptable) ; one pair of small ear studs; If we see it, we will confiscate it.

Subtle make up only.

Any prohibited jewellery will be put into an envelope and given to your Head of Year

There will be a weekly check!

https://www.waseleyhills.worcs.sch.uk/parents/uniform-information

Promoting Wellbeing

We believe that promoting the health and wellbeing of our pupils is an important part of their overall education. We do this through our personal, social, health and emotional (PSHE) curriculum. PSHE covers many topics including all kinds of relationships, physical/emotional health and the skills needed to live in the wider world. The aim of our PSHE curriculum is to help pupils make safe and informed decisions during their school years and beyond. Relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) is the statutory element of our PSHE curriculum, it is statutory for all schools in England to teach personal, social, health and emotional (PSHE) and relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) in secondary schools.

Values and Aims

Students will learn the significance of stable relationships as key building blocks of community and society. Care will be taken to ensure that there is no stigmatisation of young people based on their home circumstances ensuring inclusivity and sensitivity for all learners and their backgrounds. The CRST schools across the Trust serve a wide variety of communities and cultures and recognise the different beliefs and needs of each individual student cohort.

The aims of the RSHE and PSHE programmes of study are to enable students to: -

1. avoid being exploited or exploiting others or being pressured into unwanted sexual behaviours

2. be prepared for puberty and adulthood

3. challenge stereotyping and prejudice in order to encourage mutual respect

4. communicate effectively by developing knowledge of appropriate terminology and ensuring knowledge and information is factually accurate and current

5. develop and use communication and assertiveness skills to cope with the influences of their peers and the media

6. develop knowledge of when and how to access support and guidance

7. develop positive values and a moral framework that will 1) guide their decisions, judgements, and behaviour 2) give them the confidence and self-esteem to value themselves and others 3) give them respect for individual conscience and the skills to judge what kind of relationship they want

8. know how the law applies to sexual relationships in order to safeguard themselves

9. understand their personal feelings and behaviour so they can lead fulfilling and enjoyable lives

10. make safe choices when using technology, such as social media platforms

11. make well-informed, positive choices to support their own health and mental wellbeing

12. understand the consequences of their actions and behave responsibly within relationships

For further information on each strand of the topics visit ‘Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education’ at www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-educationrelationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

Mr. Mason PSHE Lead

All About Art

Art Club – Years 7 and 8

Stourbridge Glass Museum

The Year 10 GCSE Art groups have visited Stourbridge Glass Museum this week to support their Portfolios. They learned about the heritage of the glass industry locally and as a contemporary art form. The artists in the hot shop worked with great skill together and our students did a workshop with glass, copper and oxides which will be fused together in the kiln.

Designs created on the interactive tables and drawings in the gallery will form part of their Summer Independent Task, where they will record their learning. Thanks to the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers for their sponsorship of this excellent enrichment project

This summer term a fantastic group of Year 7 and 8 artists have been making and creating 3D doughnuts in our after-school art club. Students have used rolled up newspaper and modrock to create these 3D doughnuts then added paint to create the dough and colourful icing and sprinkles. Students have shown confidence, enthusiasm and kindness to all at art club. All members have made new friends and learnt new skills. Miss Dipple and Miss Cross want to thank every art club member for their positive attitudes and for creating a space where all are welcome. Thank you, art club! See you next year!

Mrs. Kearns, Subject Lead - Art

Year 11

Watch this space! The Art department is very proud of the achievements of our amazing Year 11 students as they completed their Externally Set Assignments and Exam recently. We can’t wait to share their work with you after results day.

Cultural Capital

There are so many opportunities for Creative Days out as a family over the Summer, usually for FREE! Some family friendly exhibitions we think would be good fun are ‘I grew up 80’s’ exhibition at Worcester Art gallery, Quentin Blake’s Birds Beasts and Explorers at Compton Verney, Warwickshire and Dippy the Diplodocus at the Herbert Read Gallery in Coventry.

Keep up to date with our students’ artistic talent by following us on Instagram.

Summer Reading Challenge!

What with the warm weather and long holiday, Summer is the best time to sit in the shade with a great book. It sure helps with the boredom of trying to keep cool on a hot day, too! So, have a go and see how many of the sunshine challenges you can complete. There’s also a bookmark for you to colour in.

Read a book, short story or poem with a hot theme.

Read a book whilst lying on a sun bed.

Read a book to a parent, friend or sibling.

Read the TV guide to find that summer movie.

Read one chapter a day for a week.

Read an article on your tablet/phone.

Read a book, short story or poem with a Read a recipe whilst making a summer treat.

Read a magazine or newspaper.

If you would like to write a review of any books you particularly enjoyed, please send it to samato@waseleyhills.worcs.sch.uk and it will feature in the next edition of Waseley News. Stuck

Have

Cooking Up A Storm!

Staff and students regularly enjoy food from around the world in the canteen. Special menus this term have included American Diner and “Absolutely Spec - Taco - lar!” Hacienda Mexicana. The Aspens kitchen team are very excited about the upcoming menus for September, the first of which will be Mezze Goes Greek.

Baking For Malawi

Friends of Sick Children in Malawi was founded 15 years ago by a former Maths teacher in this school and her husband. At the time, equipment, such as wheel chairs and incubators, were being cobbled together from bits and pieces. Drugs and other medical resources were very scarce. The teacher who worked at the hospital had to walk 12 miles to provide the children with a basic education while they were patients.

Waseley Hills High School has taken an interest from the start, and donated money raised through coffee mornings, as well as knitted blankets, hats and whatever else was needed for premature babies. These were knitted mostly by our students in the Autism Base. The money we have raised contributes substantially to the salary of the teacher, as well as her travel expenses, so that she doesn’t have to walk the long distance to school. We have at least one fundraising event every year for Friends of Sick Children in Malawi.

https://www.friendsofsickchildreninmalawi.com/

TEAM PE Sporting NEWS

Double Whammy by Mrs Bridgeman in March as she hosted North Bromsgrove Academy in a Year 10 Netball event. The girls did amazingly well and won both matches. Match 1: 31-13 and Match 2: 15-13

‘THIS GIRL CAN’ in PE at Waseley During the last assessment cycle, Year 10s got to try Volleyball in their core PE lesson. It was such a hit they requested a club after school. So, every Thursday they attend, putting their new skills into practice. Well done to all the Year 10 girls involved as they attend practice every week without fail and they are a credit to the school as Enrichment Champions.

KS3 Netball. Year 8 really did TURN UP and PLAY Miss Harley hosted Parkside for a ‘Turn up and Play’ KS3 netball event. The girls in year 7, 8 and 9 played in 3 very competitive matches.

Year 7 lost 4-3 in a very close performance Year 8 won 10-5 - outstanding performance. Year 9 lost 7-5

Spinning it to win it is what Luke in Year 8 mastered to become the match day winner. On July 4th, Miss Harley opened a Year 8/9 Table Tennis event. The overall winner was Luke in Year 8, with Alex in Year 9 coming 2nd and Dan in Year 8 coming 3rd

Ding Dong more time for ping pong! On July 11th, Miss Harley organised a second Open Year 7/8 Table Tennis event. The overall winner was Daniel with Jacob coming 2nd and Dan coming 3rd .

The concept of losing is void; you either win or learn a new lesson

Mrs Bridgeman opened up her Netball to the boys for a year 10 Girls v Boys series of matches. A much talked-about event by the girls and a packed sports hall ensued However……..after 3 matches of 3-2 Girls, 4-0 Boys and 2-1 Girls, the Boys won with an overall score of 7-5. Well done lads - you turned up prepared to take on a battle.

Got to be in it, to win it September 2023 is a New Year and New You! We would like to see more of our clubs well attended so we can start to get regular football matches on with all year groups.

Miss Harley Subject Lead - Physical Education

TEAM PE Sporting NEWS

Team Harley v. Team Blount Round 1 - Netball

The long-awaited netball contest was played out between Miss Harley and Mr Blount’s GCSE PE classes. It was a very contested start with both teams making a challenge to take the lead. Mr Blount’s team were low on numbers against Miss Harley's full class of fresh players. Some excellent play was seen by Alfie and Charlie to defend and get the ball out to Anneka but lapses in adherence to the rules and falling back on the powerful passes of Charlie and Alfie meant a third of the court was over played, causing a foul and a handover of possession. Team Harley made quick work of these advantages and went ahead with a slowly extending lead thanks to the efficient work of Ruby, Mia and Grace. However, some brilliant work seen around Mr Blount’s team with improvements seen in Lucas and contact fouls and, most importantly, the goal with Joe and Tate. Tate is not in GCSE but was eager to get involved and make up the numbers for Team Blount - well done Tate for making some fabulous goals and support play, making headway towards catching up. However, Team Blount, lacking in numbers to replace key players, began to fall further behind and the quick work of the year 10 netball team in Miss Harley's class, supported by some outstanding play from the boys, meant the team's lead was extended further and further beyond the grasp of Mr Blount’s group's valiant effort. Final score 12- 4 to 10C Pg1 - Miss Harley. A special thank you to Mrs Bridgeman for her neutral team positioning and Olympic standard whistle blowing and umpiring.

Team Harley v. Team Blount Round 2 - Football

The GCSE football contest started at a high tempo with Jack making a risky move in goal for Team Blount. An early goal by Cameron at 7 minutes in gave them a swift lead after great control and consistent play by Lucas R. Team Harley did not give up and sent in fast and furious phases of attack. Lucas R and Alfie were calm and controlled in midfield to cut out the attacks, however Kieon broke free and a long-range shot went just over the bar. Soon after, Team Harley went 2-0 down after Cameron was swift to take advantage of a deflected ball and sent in a 25-yard top corner attempt which Oli B just could not reach.

The play continued end to end with both teams competing well and some outstanding play by both. Kieon showed mesmerising footwork and got a shot away and Team Harley were back in the game at 2-1. A swift further attack and a goal from Lucas R took Team Blount further ahead at 3-1. Tactical changes were made and Team Harley came out fighting - some great saves by Dylan P as stand-in goalkeeper kept the score line down as Team Harley refused to be beat down. Great battling in midfield again by Lucas R and Alfie and some key clearances from Lucas W in defence kept them at bay but a bottom corner blast from Oli B made it 3-2.

The game was for the taking now and Cameron rallied his troops in the final minutes of the match as Team Harley kept up the pressure. In the final minute against the run of play, Cameron broke through the defence and fired off a last-minute goal to take Team Blount ahead at 4-2 to take the win.

Term Dates 2023-2024

Autumn Term 2023

TERM STARTS

STAFF TRAINING DAY

HALF TERM

STAFF TRAINING DAY

TERM ENDS

Spring Term 2024

STAFF TRAINING DAY (Trust)

TERM STARTS

HALF TERM

TERM ENDS

Summer Term 2024

TERM STARTS

HALF TERM

TERM ENDS

STAFF TRAINING DAY

Wednesday 6th September 2023

Friday 27th October 2023

Monday 30th October 2023 – Friday 3rd November 2023

Friday 24th November 2023

Friday 22nd December 2023

Monday 8th January 2024

Tuesday 9th January 2024

Monday 12th February 2024 – Friday 16th February 2024

Friday 22nd March 2024

Monday 8th April 2024

Monday 27th May 2024 – Friday 31st May 2024

Friday 19th July 2024

Monday 22nd July 2024

Reception is open 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday during term times - 0121 453 5211

You can email us at any time on office@waseleyhills.worcs.sch.uk especially if you have any news and pictures you would like to share in our next newsletter.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and via the school website.