Stoke News Autumn 2

Stoke News

News from the Stoke College Community

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Autumn Term 2 2023

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The Battle of the Houses

Meet the Chefs

First Class Honours

International View

An update on the Lions V Unicorns - who is winning?

Discover the detail that goes into meal planning for school

We catch up with an Old Stokian

Stoke College through the eyes of our Spanish students

An evening of dancing and merriment to celebrate Burns Night.

The Stoke Ceilidh

Friday 26th January, 6.30pm Stoke College Sports Hall, CO10 8JE Professional live band and caller Full bar & table service

Tickets: £25 (£10 ten and under) - includes hot food A great chance to come together - kilts optional!

Scan for tickets

CEO’s Thoughts

Welcome A journey of accomplishment for Stoke College.

A successful half-term of achievement and academic success for our students and staff.

Welcome to the final edition of Stoke News for 2023.

This half-term has been extraordinarily busy for Stoke College both in and out of the classroom. I’ve been enormously impressed with the diligence and tenacity of our students and staff throughout this frenetic term.

We’ve seen dedicated study as students reached their mock examinations, sporting prowess on the pitches and stunning artistic performances.

We know that our school reaches far beyond the textbooks - this was especially striking at November’s firework celebration. I am so impressed with the enormous sense of community at Stoke College and seeing 450 students, staff, parents and guests from the local vicinity come together perfectly illustrated this. I would like to thank our PTA and staff for making this event such a success, not just in providing an evening’s entertainment but in welcoming guests onto the campus to demonstrate the warmth of Stoke College.

Over the past term, Mrs Hunn-Smith and I have been looking ahead to next year’s academic admissions. We have

met with our Year 11 students together with their parents to discuss the options available to them after their GCSEs. We have also interviewed applicants for our prestigious A level Scholarship programme. The list of applicants to join the school for next September is looking brilliant and I am grateful to our Admissions team for their hard work in this area.

I do hope you will be able to join us at our annual Stoke Ceilidh on Friday 26th January - this happy, family event is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a school community. Our PTA have promised a fabulous event of feasting and dancing - and the traditional addressing of the haggis. Please see the poster (left) for further details.

Please take the time to read the pages within and join me in celebrating the work and achievements of our whole-school community, this half-term.

My very best wishes,

Contents Stoke Stories 4 Sixth Form 8 Boarding 12 Mathematics 14 Science 16 English 18 Humanities 20 Performing Arts 22 Art 24 Music 26 Sport 28 MFL 30 Food 31

If you would like to contribute news to the next issue (published at the end of the term), please send in information and JPEG images to info@stokecollege.co.uk

by Friday 8th March.

Keep up with our news on our social media channels.

Facebook @StokeCollegeSuffolk Instagram @stoke_college Your support on our social media is hugely appreciated. Every like, comment and share helps us to reach more people and spread the good news of Stoke College.

Our website stokecollege.co.uk contains links to school information together with a link through to the Parent Portal your unique space to find information about your child’s school life from timetables to reports.

Mr Mark Logan CEO, Stoke College Stoke News

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Stoke Stories

Stoke College Celebrates Bonfire Night

Our PTA organised another incredible community celebration of the traditional Guy Fawkes Night. The skies were lit up beautifully.

Wednesday 8th November saw over 450 guests visit our beautiful campus to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night 2023.

The event, organised by our PTA, offered guests the chance to watch the illumination of the Stoke skies and enjoy a delicious hot dog or two cooked up by Chef Matt and team. The PTA sold hot and cold drinks and guests were also able to buy treats from the gift store.

Mrs Martin and a team of volunteers hosted the popular Stoke Fire Pit for younger guests to toast their marshmallows for tasty S’mores.

This year we added a new layer of entertainment with an exciting Fire-eater display. To view a video of our the event, visit Stoke Fireworks .

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Stoke Stories

Lions & Unicorns: The Winner Takes it all!

This term the Unicorns and the Lions have been a close knit battle. So far, the Lions have been able to keep their title. Can the Unicorns win in 2024?

House Point Update This academic year the House System has progressed and had a flying start!

Unicorns Head Mrs Davey Prefect Mikhail Z

Lions Head Mr Khan Prefect Farai M

Alongside individual house points, we have had our Inter-House Public Speaking Competition.

So far the lead point scores across each year group are: Year 7 - Kirabo N-L Year 8 - Daisy H Year 9 - Alessia E Year 10 - Emily C

Year 11 -Maddie J Year 12 - Charlie H Year 13 - Emily L

The overall house scores are Unicorns 2980 and Lions… leading in front with 3145!

The Stoke Main House Twinkles Once More Thank you to Miss Oakes of our Housekeeping Team for her exquisite decorating skills of the Stoke College Christmas Tree.

Staff and students have been found gazing at its beauty as they pass the ancient staircase of the Main House.

Decorated in a sumptuous palette of Stoke blue and gold, Miss Oakes has created a beautiful festive sight for all. We simply had to celebrate our tree by placing it on the front cover. Thank you to some of our Year 7 students for performing beautifully among the branches (see below for a ‘behind the scenes’ pic).

Stoke News

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Stoke Stories

Stoke Staff

Good nutrition is an essential ingredient for academic success. Our catering and hospitality team take great care to design meals that will see students’ appetites satisfied and energy levels ready for peak performance in the classroom or on the sports pitches. We catch up with Chefs Matt (MS) and Emma (ED) to learn more about their own career pathways and life in the Stoke College kitchen.

What inspired you to become a chef, and how did you find yourself working at our school?

ED: When I joined SC 12 years ago, it was in a parttime supporting role in the kitchen. I soon realised how much I enjoyed the catering environment, especially the opportunity to pursue my passion for baking.

My original background is in business and finance so I have been able to utilise those skills as I have progressed my catering career here. Being able to bring my own children into Stoke College has been wonderful, it is a very special place to work and go to school.

MS: I have been a Chef for 30 years, I went to catering college after school and have never looked back. I had progressed into School Catering Operations which I did for 12 years but I was keen to get back into the kitchen. When IFG took over the catering contract for SC, it was the ideal opportunity for me to take that role.

Can you share some insights into the menu planning process for the school? How do you ensure a balance between nutrition and variety for the students?

ED: my responsibility is specifically for snacks and desserts. I work with Matt to plan these in advance to ensure they complement the main school menu. Within the day we offer both a savoury and sweet snack.

We believe that the snack element of the school day should be a treat as well as nutritionally balanced. The after school snack provides 6

Stoke News

at SC as part of my role.

MS: We work with the School Council and encourage students to share their likes and dislikes about food.

We pro-actively serve the students daily. I admire the work of our Food Tech teacher at SC - not many schools have this privilege and I look forward to working collaboratively in the future.

the fuel for our students to complete their club and diploma activities.

parents and guests to showcase the wide offer of SC catering and hospitality.

MS: We use seasonal foods wherever possible and take feedback from the School Council when planning the menus. We have to consider the tastes of our international students - food is a lovely way to bring different cultures together.

Are there any upcoming changes or innovations in the Stoke College dining hall that students and staff can look forward to?

What are some of the unique challenges or considerations you face when preparing meals for Stoke College?

ED:Within the school body there are many different dietary needs. I spend time researching recipes to appeal to a variety of dietary needs, ensuring that our students all have access to nutritious snacks no matter what their dietary restrictions may include.

MS: One of the challenges I enjoy at SC is the opportunity to cater for our wider school events as well as the daily feeding of students and staff.

I really enjoy the opportunity to create canapés and presentation food for our

MS: I’ve been looking into ways of bringing more variety and choice to our Boarding students’ supper menu. In January I am introducing a new range of menus inspired by many different types of food including street food.

In what ways do you encourage students to engage with food and cooking beyond their meals at school?

ED: We work with our Deputy Head Pastoral where there may be questions regarding specific students’ nutrition.

With younger students joining SC, I offer a friendly face to discuss our menu and encourage them to try new things. For some students, joining SC is the first time they have choice at lunch and we appreciate that it can be overwhelming. I love being able to interact with students

Could you describe a particularly memorable or special event related to the Stoke College dining experience that stands out to you?

ED: Catering for our Prizegiving events is always a high point of the year for me. It is lovely to prepare the canapés for parents and students as they celebrate their achievements. I also love preparing the Boarders’ Christmas meal.

MS: soon after joining SC, we were asked to cater for the new Lower School outdoor theatre production of Jungle Book. This was a lovely opportunity for us to interact with parents and students on a really beautiful event.

How do you collaborate with the school community?

MS: we support our PTA with events like Fireworks and the forthcoming Ceilidh. I also work closely with our Admissions team to provide refreshments for our Open Event guests.

Our catering team serve our day and boarding students together with supporting the School by providing refreshments for our many events.

Stoke Stories

Incredible Autumn Term Fundraising Efforts Congratulations to the Stoke College students, staff and parents who have generously supported this term’s fundraising events.

“I’m enormously impressed with our students’ fundraising efforts this term. I am proud to work at a school that demonstrates such respect and care for the wider community.”

Miss Watson, Deputy Head Pastoral Stoke News

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Stoke Stories

Why Choose a Small Sixth Form for A Level Study Mrs Hunn-Smith considers the enormous benefits of A Level study in a small Sixth Form.

“Some teachers really make it known that they’re there for you. And they’re not just there to teach you. They’re there for you as a human as well. They sort of view you as a whole person.”

“It’s always more fun when they kind of recognise that everyone is a different person…my favourite teachers were always the ones that seemed to know me outside of just ‘a student’ it was ‘you’re that student’.”

“She treats you more like the person you’re becoming” Something I am often asked by the parents of prospective Sixth Form students is ‘how do they cope with it being…small?’

It’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask and we absolutely know the answer: students cope brilliantly in our Sixth Form community because it is large enough to ensure a positive energy and the chance to find your own friendship group, yet small enough for everyone to get the individual attention that is fundamental to the Stoke Approach.

I recently submitted a Masters dissertation, 15,000 words of original research into the importance of teacher-student relationships during Sixth Form. Developing research into attachment theory suggests that by the time they reach Sixth Form, students are forming their own adult identities and to do this, they need to form more adult attachments away from their parents, specifically with their teachers, working closely in what feels more like the meetings of equal minds rather than hierarchical or authoritarian relationships.

It was abundantly clear from the hours of recorded interviews that Sixth Form students at Stoke College know how well they are supported, by teachers who see them and recognise them as individuals each on their own journey. This is something that you just can’t achieve in a huge institution but is absolutely at the heart of the Stoke Approach.

‘New’ Old Stokian Update

In interviewing a range of our own Sixth Form students about their experiences, it was incredibly heartening to hear that what we work so hard to provide here at Stoke College really is recognised. The identities of both students and the teachers they named are fully protected, but the following snippets give a flavour of the way our current students experience their Sixth Form life: “She was always pushing you in the right direction and she knew just how far to push you, where you got your limits but she would push you. Like that perfect balance. With each individual student, especially me. ”

“If I don’t understand anything in a lesson he is willing to stay behind and help me even when it is the end of school.”

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“The transition in moving away from home and the new style of learning has been smooth and exciting. I’m doing dance, weightlifting, lacrosse and attempting volleyball! I can’t wait to see what I get up to in the next few years!”

Sienna, Stoke Scholar 2021-2023, now studying Physics at the University of Durham.

Stoke Stories

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Gets Underway

Our Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award programme is back for 2024 with a new cohort of students. Building on the success of last year’s Award, Mr Khan and team will be, once again, welcoming students to join them at Friday lunctime’s D of E club as they learn the essential skills required on this exciting step of their Stoke Earlier this month, Mr Khan welcomed Year 9 students and their parents into Constable for a presentation evening about all things Bronze D of E. If ever there was a school club synonymous with the Stoke College core values, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is it. The Award celebrates the acquisition of new skills, time spent assisting in the community and trekking out into nature - all activities recognised in our own Stoke Approach.

The Bronze Award club will commence on Friday 17th January, at lunchtime. Mr Khan together with Mr Misso and Mr Martin will guide students along their own D of E pathways.

Students will meet to learn new skills that will assist them on their final expedition together with receiving support for the other sections of the Award: Skills, Physical and Voluntary Service.

If you missed the evening presentation and would like further information, please contact Mr Khan,

Congratulations to Old Stokian, Joe: A First Class Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering Mrs. Shane in the Mathematics Department was delighted to hear from former student Joe Selfridge who got in touch to say that he had had just obtained a first in his mechanical engineering degree at Birmingham University. He expressed his many thanks for being pushed to achieve his full potential in mathematics during his time at Stoke, as without this, he tells us he would never have found his passion in engineering.

“Joe did not always find Mathematics easy and is an inspiration to all students who should know that with hard work, you can achieve anything that you want to.”

Mrs Shane, Head of Mathematics and Head of Upper School, Stoke College.

Joe has currently found work at a Cambridge based Engineering Company. We are immensely proud of Joe for his achievements.

If you have news of an Old Stokian please do get in touch with the college, info@stokecollege.co.uk.

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Stoke Stories

Stoke College to Launch New Educational Platform

Commencing September 2024, our Sixth Form will embrace a student-centred pedagogy, building upon the successful Stoke Approach.

Through tailored assessments and use of Curriculum.com, we aim to empower students to excel academically on an exciting educational journey.

Educator Profile

Mrs Yasmin Sarwar and Mr Luke Deering are two of the co-founders of Curriculum.com, an educational platform that will be launched into the Stoke College Sixth Form, from Sept 2024. We discover a little more about their experience as educators and motivation for creating Curriculum.

What inspired you to work in education?

YS: I came into teaching by chance. It was never part of my plan, but when I began, it was truly inspiring to witness the positive impact it had on young people’s lives. Over the past 20 years, I have been on a journey to challenge the traditional notion of what it means to be a top student, teacher, and school.

It has been an incredible experience, and I am grateful to love my job and enjoy what I do.

LD: Working in education has always felt like a natural path. As a student I struggled with dyslexia, often finding myself left behind. This wasn’t due to any fault of my teachers, but rather because they lacked the capacity to devote necessary time to each student. Despite my poor grades in high school, my involvement in sports and SAT scores opened the door to university in America. It was there that my dyslexia was properly identified, and I received the support I needed. This eventually led to a full scholarship based on my academic performance.

I was the same student throughout, but my initial struggles in navigating academic challenges nearly cost me all future educational opportunities.

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Over the past decade, my focus has been to develop technologies that ensure systemic constraints no longer come at the cost of students’ individual learning needs, thereby avoiding situations where students, much like myself in the past, slip through the cracks.

What is your teaching philosophy?

YS: My teaching philosophy is a combination of the best practices from the East and West. Having received my education in the East and become an educator in the West, I have developed a winning formula that includes three key elements.

Academic achievement alone cannot always predict a person’s future success. Therefore, having a consistent track record throughout one’s academic life is not always the determiner in terms of students’ outcomes.

However, having the opportunities and platform to explore their interests, find their true passion, and,

through that process, improve their academic results often leads students to aim for the best journey that will cultivate that passion — usually at top-ranked universities in their respective fields of study.

Passion and inspiration can be powerful motivators for students to achieve outstanding results. It is crucial to provide every student with a platform to aim for the top, fostering an environment where they can pursue their passions.

Categorising students into specific groups, such as the Oxbridge Honours or Medic group, may not be the best approach. Instead, all students should be encouraged to cultivate their passions for the topranked universities for their chosen courses, as on route this journey, students will amass more knowledge and improve their skills, and this contributes to them being better learners and also achieving higher grades in their exams, regardless of which university they ultimately attend.

Secondly, it is crucial to have passionate teachers who enjoy teaching. When this passion is combined with strategic pedagogical teaching and learning approaches, where students and teachers collaborate on personalised interventions informed by consistent information on a weekly basis, it significantly enhances the learning experience. This approach not only helps students improve their performance but also makes the learning process more efficient and effective.

In summary, our philosophy is underpinned by the belief that future success is not necessarily predetermined by a set of metrics established in one’s younger years. We hold that actual triggers, coupled with strong willpower, can stimulate significant learning and achievement during the Sixth Form. Thus, we reject the notion that academic achievement, personal growth, and extracurricular activities must be mutually exclusive.

What led you to integrate technology into your teaching to enhance the learning experience?

YS: For the past 20 years, I founded and led top schools such as Cardiff Sixth

Stoke Stories Form College and Oxford International College, and was recently involved in launching OIC Brighton. The success of these schools is largely attributed to a highly effective teaching and learning methodology, which, until now, has been manually delivered by a very passionate team who put a lot of effort and time into delivering this.

LD: To build on Yasmin’s points, over time our goal evolved to go beyond just looking to implement these methods in Yasmin’s Schools. We aimed to make our approach accessible to schools worldwide, adaptable to any curriculum.

Can you explain the primary features and services of Curriculum.com?

LD: Curriculum.com offers a multifaceted approach, primarily serving two key purposes. Firstly, the technology focuses on empowering schools to enhance academic outcomes. This is achieved by increasing real-time academic transparency between students and teachers through micro formative assessments, which are crucial for the rapid identification and rectification of gaps in knowledge and skills, as well as addressing any underlying misconceptions. Secondly, the platform provides robust scaffolding to empower schools to implement processes that significantly reduce time-consuming and attention-intensive tasks for teachers. This enables educators to concentrate on their core passion: nurturing a lifelong love for learning in students.

How does curriculum.com address specific challenges faced by British independent schools in today’s educational landscape?

What led you to select Stoke College as an ideal school for your new platform?

LD: We live in an era where capturing a student’s attention is increasingly challenging for both private and public schools, domestic and abroad.

Despite being a technology company, we recognise that good teachers are the most important element.

Because of this philosophy, our technology’s role is to inform and guide teachers, as well as to liberate their time.

This approach empowers educators to nurture an early passion for learning in their students. Engaging student interest and assisting them in visualising an exciting future in their chosen fields of study is crucial. If we fail to cultivate a compelling “why” behind their learning that captures their attention, our efforts, even with extensive use of educational technology, will continue to yield limited success.

In what ways does curriculum.com promote student engagement and facilitate personalised learning experiences?

YS & LD: Our vision for the classroom is centred on three essential objectives to enhance the educational experience for both students and teachers.

First, we prioritise enabling students to work at their own pace. Recognising the importance of individual attention, we believe personal pacing is crucial for each student’s progress.

Second, our approach empowers teachers to provide timely, data-driven intervention. Utilising insights from assessments and weekly classroom engagement, teachers can offer tailored support to meet each student’s unique needs.

Third, we encourage students to take an active role in their learning journey, focusing on enjoying the educational experience beyond just achieving high grades.

At the heart of our technology are formative assessments designed to understand each student’s grasp of the material and reintroduce past topics in a manner tailored to their unique learning path. Additionally, our combination of artificial intelligence and pedagogical methodology offers realtime insights to teachers at various levels, identifying common knowledge gaps and providing strategies to address them.

As a result, teachers are better equipped to deliver lessons that are both informed and individualised.

They can focus on revisiting material that needs reinforcement, followed by introducing new learning objectives in a personalised manner, previously unattainable. This approach ensures that no student is left behind, fostering a deeper understanding of the material and ultimately leading to improved academic outcomes.

YS: I have had the pleasure of knowing and working alongside Mr Mark Logan for several years. One of the things that impresses me about Stoke College is the teachers’ dedication to guiding students through a personalised learning journey. Their approach goes beyond merely adhering to the standard curriculum, recognising the unique educational path each student embarks upon. This philosophy resonates deeply with our principles, and it’s why I am thrilled about our collaboration with Stoke College. Our joint effort aims to not only boost academic performance but also to develop tailored career planning for every student.

Finally, how do you see curriculum.com contributing to the broader educational landscape?

LD: We envision Curriculum. com as a catalyst for a new era of technology-supported learning in a post-AI world.

In the evolving AI landscape, while some may view AI as potentially disruptive to the workforce, we firmly believe we are entering an era where AI integration doesn’t diminish a teacher’s value but instead amplifies their abilities tenfold. Our hope is to extend this philosophy to the broader educational landscape, demonstrating how AI can revolutionise teaching and learning for the better.

For further information about joining Stoke College Sixth Form in September 2024, please contact admissions@ stokecollege.co.uk .

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Tales from the Boarding House

Boarding News: Incredible Experiences for Students

We look at the experiences of our international boarding students within the Stoke College boarding houses. From enjoying the benefits of the Stoke campus to the exciting day trips, memories have been made for all.

Last week, our Chinese immersion students embarked on a captivating journey to Colchester Zoo, immersing themselves in the diverse wildlife and experiencing the marvels of different animal habitats. The students were particularly enchanted by the petting zoo, where they interacted with goats, llamas, alpacas, and sheep. Their excitement peaked as they encountered the charismatic red panda and witnessed the serenity of a sleeping lion and the tiger. However, the highlight was meeting a friendly leaping leopard, which left them in awe. The underwater walk among the sea lions and encounters with the orangutans and penguins added to their fascination.

They were surprised that the penguins were not surrounded by snow and ice, a stark contrast to their native habitats and zoos in China. The students were intrigued to discover that in the United Kingdom, various animal species are sometimes housed together, a practice uncommon in China. They were also astonished by the sheer size of the zoo and the extensive range of animals, especially those not native to their continent.

The meticulous efforts of the zoo staff in recreating natural habitats within the enclosures amazed them. This visit serves as a part of our cultural immersion into the UK, allowing our students to explore places loved by our staff and students while gaining insight into diverse animal species and enhancing their 12 Stoke News

descriptive abilities. In line with this, our students have been engrossed in learning to read and write about animals in their English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes this week.

Boarding Student Profile

Tales from the Boarding House

Our happy boarding houses provide a welcoming home-from-home environment for local, national and international students. Here, Miss Cook interviews two international boarders, Luis and Adrien to hear about their experiences at Stoke College.

Where have you come from, and which year have you entered at Stoke?

different teachers turn up to teach. There are really good relationships between friends, and I think that is because it is a small school.

A: I come from Spain, the capital city Madrid in a place called Boadilla del Monte and started year nine at Stoke College.

L: I would describe it as a small school with very little people, some of the teachers are very strict, the lessons are shorter than in Spain. Lessons are more practical than in Spain, with Science and DT for example, there was opportunity to meet people from different places in the world with the Immersion programme.

Sometimes we went on outings to places, like when we went to Cambridge. It’s in the middle of nowhere, and there isn’t anything very close by.

L: I come from Spain, and live in the centre of Madrid, Madrid is the most populated city in Spain and has loads of places to visit if you go there! I started in year nine this year.

What were your first impressions of Stoke College?

A: I thought it was going to be in the middle of the city, and I was surprised to see it was in the middle of the countryside – which I was happy about because it meant there was loads of freedom, green spaces, and wildlife. When I first entered my room it was really clean, the building was a surreal feeling of being in an older place but really beautiful.

L: I thought it was going to be bigger, with more people, but when I saw it was much smaller than I thought. I like it because there is more freedom, being able to go on a walk makes me happy, and I thought I’d be able to make loads of friends with it being smaller.

What is the best thing about boarding at Stoke College?

A: That you don’t have to worry about the homework much because prep times are helpful, most of the evenings have activities prepared.

L: If you have a friend that is also boarding you have a lot of fun with them, you get to spend lots of time with

Mr Khan, Miss Affleck and the Boarding team are ready to welcome students to the Boarding Houses. them. Homework is made much easier because you have teachers there to help you and other peers there to remind you about things you might have forgotten. There are also evening activities that are fun, and sometimes we get to choose what we would like to do.

don’t have in Spain, and I enjoy them because they are practical but there is also a creative element to them which means I can decide what I want to make.

Which lessons do you love the most?

A: In the evenings, it has been nice to have some freedom and free time after signing out and saying where I’m going to be. I have really enjoyed walking around the grounds and spending time outside, I’m going to share with my friends how much I enjoyed doing that.

There is a big difference between school in Spain and here – here we have to go to different classrooms, in Spain we stay in the same classroom and have

A: Music – it is mostly practical, and the teacher is really attentive and explains everything really clearly. I also really enjoy my music, I listen on my headphones whenever I’m allowed to.

Food Technology – I really love practical lessons, I enjoy cooking with other people.

L: DT and Food Technology – those are subjects we

How would you describe Stoke College to your friends at home?

Current day students are welcome to enjoy up to three nights a week as a flexi-boarder (where space allows). Flexi-boarding is a great way for our day students to benefit from the peer-to-peer study periods boarders enjoy at Prep Time, together with dining with friends.

If you are interested to know more about Flexi-boarding and book a trial session, please contact Mr Khan or Miss Affleck for further details.

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Mathematics

A New Mathematical Shape - Tested at Stoke College Mr Hearn introduces us to a shape - the first of its kind - demonstrated here in a creative classroom activity.

In March 2023, after a 50-year search, mathematicians discovered the first ever aperiodic monotile; a single shape that tessellates to cover an entire surface with no gaps or overlaps, but only with a pattern that never repeats.

To celebrate this discovery, the Mathematics Department at Stoke College produced our very own hat tile display, utilising the artistic skills of our Year 7 and Year 8 students who kindly agreed to decorate all the tiles by hand.

UK Maths Trust

Senior Mathematics Challenge

The Mathematics Department would like to congratulate the following students on their tremendous achievements in the Senior Mathematics Challenge that took place earlier in the term: Jordan, Year 12 : Bronze Certificate and Best In School Abigail, Year 12: Bronze Certificate Tom, Year 13: Bronze Certificate Oliver Bx, Year 13: Best in Year Stoke College students competed against thousands of fellow Year 12 and 13 pupils across the country in this nationwide, prestigious competition and we are immensely proud of all of our students that took part, for their dedication and commitment to problem-solving in Mathematics.

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Numeracy Ninja Update Form time Numeracy Ninjas has got off to a flying start this term with many of our Year 7 and 8 students improving by one or two belts! The Mathematics Department are particularly proud of these budding numerical prodigies and special mention must go to Omar K, Year 7 for his outstanding achievement of 3 belts so far this year!

Mathematics

Mathematics: The Key to an Exciting Career Pathway Where will A Level maths take you? Mr Hearn considers the incredible range of career options unlocked by mathematical achievement.

An A Level qualification in mathematics equips students with a plethora of transferable skills, such as: logical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. As a result, it is highly sought after by universities and prospective employers alike. It is also an essential requirement for a range of undergraduate level courses, including: Actuarial Science, Economics, Engineering, Physics, Statistics and (of course) Mathematics.

A degree in mathematics is one of the most lucrative undergraduate degrees (according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies) and can lead to a wide range of career pathways:

What do mathematics graduates usually do after graduating? The following infographics the most common industries that mathematics graduates move into:

If you have any questions about careers in mathematics, please come and see the Mathematics department or Sixth Form team.

New Old Stokian Waving the Flag for Mathematics at University Mrs Shane was delighted to hear from former Year 13 student Osian Gold, who is currently studying Mathematics at the University of Huddersfield. Osian has become the student representative for first year Mathematics students and is also a student ambassador for the maths, engineering and computing department.

Well done Osian!

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Science

Stoke College Hosts a Forensic Science Workshop Stoke Science’s dedication to igniting the spark of scientific enquiry in all has been extended to welcome younger students in an exciting new workshop.

As part of Stoke College’s outreach programme, Mrs Maidment launched an initiative to inspire younger students in the realm of science, providing immeasurable value in shaping future generations of curious minds. The impact of igniting a passion for scientific exploration at an early age cannot be overstated. The workshop hosted by Stoke College serves as a pivotal platform, cultivating an environment where young learners engage with scientific concepts, sparking their curiosity and nurturing an intrinsic interest in the field.

Opening up the Stoke scientific laboratories to students before they enter secondary education, capitalises on a crucial developmental phase. It transcends mere theoretical learning, encouraging hands-on exploration and experimentation. This approach not only fosters an early understanding of scientific principles but also instils confidence in these budding scientists.

Mrs Maidment designed an interactive workshop that allowed the visiting young minds to visualise and comprehend complex scientific ideas in relatable, tangible ways. The Forensic Science afternoon, created and delivered by Mrs Maidment, drew on the skills of some of Stoke College’s Sixth Form students and staff to deliver a truly immersive experience for our guests.

The first guest school to participate in our Forensic Science afternoon was Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School. Over 16 Stoke News

twenty students from Years 7 and 8 spent the afternoon at Stoke College, solving the crime. The students were sent a video in advance, explaining the nature of the crime and their task.

Once the task was complete the guest students were treated to delicious treats cooked up by our Chefs before returning to their school with a bag of goodies.

Mrs Maidment carefully curated the event to build on the science study skills of the guest students. The workshop tasks were designed to cultivate a mindset of inquiry and problemsolving that can be utilised far beyond the classroom, nurturing a generation empowered to tackle future challenges with scientific acumen and innovation.

“My brain hurts from thinking so much!”

Guest Student

Science

The event was hugely successful with some of our own Lower School students joining in with our guests. The feedback from students was incredibly positive and the event will be repeated in 2024, together with other inspirational workshops as part of our outreach programme.

The programme is designed to both inspire the minds of younger students and also open up the Stoke College campus to allow students to become familiar with senior school equipment, classrooms and teaching before leaving Primary or Prep School education.

“I’m not sure he is a real police officer.”

Guest Student

Mrs Maidment’s, and indeed, the entire Stoke College Science team’s, dedication to igniting the scientific spark in younger students not only enriches their educational journey but also contributes significantly to cultivating a society driven by curiosity, discovery, and progress.

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English

Inspired Minds After an Autumn Term of English

Stoke College’s English department has been a hive of creative activity throughout this term. The team have continued to use imaginative and creative methods to enthuse our young readers and writers.

On Tuesday 5th December we were joined by award-winning author Richard Lambert (author of Wolf Road, Shadow Town, and other young adult novels). Richard conducted a creative writing workshops for Key Stage 3 students in the morning and hosted a ‘Drop In’ Q&A session throughout lunchtime in Constable. Students were able to bring their copies of the The Wolf Road for Richard Lambert to sign during the lunchtime session.

Benjamin Zephaniah 1958-2023 We were terribly saddened to hear of the death of poet and wordsmith Benjamin Zephaniah in recent days. As English teachers we are familiar with his work - often from our own GCSE studies of English! – and he has produced some truly excellent novels and poems which fit in with our current curriculum. Miss Meechan’s year nine group looked at his poem, ‘We Refugees’ last week, having studied Alan Gratz’s novel, Refugee, this term. Students created digital jam-boards depicting their emotional response to the poem and showed a really mature analysis of the poem’s imagery. Miss Meechan was impressed with students’ ability to link the poem not only to the novel, but to the real world, using their knowledge of the context surrounding ‘Refugee’ to support their comments.

Image: bbc.co.uk 18 Stoke News

English

Using Lego in the Year 8 Classroom Mrs Moodie’s Year 8 English classes have been using Lego to re-create scenes from The Hunger Games. The students were encouraged to use textual details to inform their building decisions. Working on a physical task develops a deeper understanding of the text.

Stoke Festive Reads “A beautiful narrative set amidst the turmoil of World War II. A story of resilience, hope, and the power of melody. A long but very worthwhile read.”

We asked Mrs Parsons, Head of English, to recommend a little seasonal reading for those wishing to escape the screens to curl up in a cosy corner, this Christmas holiday.

“Hot on the tails of Richard Lambert’s visit to Stoke, I’d recommend his young adult novel for a gripping distraction over the Christmas break..”

“A literary tale based loosely on fact. Discover the possible motivations of Shakespeare and his writing of Hamlet in a tender and lyrically written narrative, focusing on Agnes, Shakespeare’s wife, and their family life.”

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History and Geography

Classroom Creativity, Field Trips and Beyond

Exploring the breadth of humanities at Stoke this term exemplifies the wide value of these subjects in the curriculum. Utilizing resources both on campus and at the coast, inspiration flourishes abundantly.

Our A Level Geography students travelled to Southwold to complete the fieldwork required for their studies. Under the guidance of The Geography Fieldwork Academy they carried out work considering a number of hypotheses.

The Stoke Sixth Form students delved into the intricate relationship between second home ownership and coastal erosion within coastal communities. Students explored the multifaceted impact of this phenomenon, analysing socioeconomic repercussions, environmental degradation, and cultural shifts. They considered how second home ownership influences local economies, community dynamics, and housing affordability. Moreover, their work scrutinised the consequences of coastal erosion on these communities, examining its ecological impact, displacement risks, and strategies for adaptation and mitigation.

The students took a holistic approach, integrating geographical theories, case studies, and fieldwork to comprehend the complex interplay between human activities, land use, and the vulnerability of coastal areas to erosion and its consequences.

The field trip gave our students the opportunity to spend time together away from the classroom as well as the chance to learn new skills that will help them throughout their A Level studies and, of course, they enjoyed the obligatory Fish and Chips!

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History and Geography

Photograph: Taken as part of a Year 10 GCSE project looking at erosional and depositional features on the River Stour through the Stoke grounds.

Making History Come to Life Our new History teachers, Mr Cox and Miss Dawson have been working hard to breathe new life into the Stoke College History Department, this term and it is working with many students reporting how much they are enjoying their History lessons!

The Departmental work has been expanding beyond the classroom with the introduction of a whole-school Lions V Unicorns Public Speaking competition. The competition saw a series of rounds where the final winners pitted their wits against each other at the recent Performing and Visual Arts Evening.

Another notable addition to our school’s extracurricular activities has been the introduction of the History & Classics clinic, held during Tuesday lunchtimes. This initiative has been designed not just to offer extra support to students but also to challenge and extend the abilities of those who excel in these subjects. The clinic has proven immensely beneficial, providing a platform for intellectual growth and academic exploration among our pupils.

Fostering creative expression is a cornerstone of the Stoke College educational philosophy. The inception of the ‘Creative Space’ in Boudicca has provided a nurturing environment where students can unleash their creativity. Year 12’s Georgina C has exemplified this through her remarkable drawings depicting scenes from the Odyssey, showcasing exceptional talent and artistic flair.

Stoke College History embraced the opportunity to create an immersion students’ weekend activity. The students we invited to delve into Greek myths, exploring ancient stories and adorning Greek amphorae (pots) with their favourite narratives.

This cross-cultural exchange not only promotes understanding but also celebrates the richness of different heritages within our school community.

The engagement doesn’t halt there. Year 7 students are gearing up for an exciting project over the Christmas period.

They will be participating in a Motte and Bailey castle building project, utilising recycled and sustainable materials for their creations. This innovative endeavour encourages creativity and environmental consciousness, offering students the opportunity to design castles either through edible means or digitally, fostering imaginative thinking and problem-solving skills.

These initiatives not only enrich our academic landscape but also cultivate a spirit of inclusivity, curiosity, and excellence among our students. They are a testament to our dedication to providing a holistic education that prepares our students to thrive in a diverse and ever-evolving world.

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Performing & Visual Arts

A Night of Music, Words and Art The final Performing and Visual Arts showcase event took place on the penultimate week of term. Guests were treated to performances in the PAB, an exhibition of art in Constable and the final of our inter-house Public Speaking competition.

This half term we have had our first annual Performing Art and Visual Evening, which was a wonderful celebration of ability, progression, enthusiasm and love for expression. We saw students, sing, play instruments, perform their own poetry, perform duologues, monologues and present their artwork. The evening was presented by our Performing Arts Prefects Matilda T and Finlay M, with Isla M (Year 13) directing lighting and sound.

Stand out performances were from Tom K (Year 8) whose drum performance created atmosphere and warmth for us all.

The Performing Arts clubs musical theatre performance of Meet the Plastics from the infamous Mean Girls, provided humour and an energy for modern theatrical interpretations. Charlie H (Year 12) performed his own poetry inspired by Flanders Fields, which was individual and emotive. GCSE Drama students presented their scene studies from Blood Brothers and A Level Drama students performed a very challenging scene from Antigone by Sophocles where Creon and his son Haemon exchange differing views on the management of Haemon’s wife Antigone.

During the interval Miss Coll and her A Level artists captured our imaginations with a thought provoking exhibition in 22 Stoke News

Constable demonstrating the progression of their artistic studies and the exciting development of the department as a whole. This was accompanied by mulled wine and mince pies served by our fantastic catering team.

In other areas of the department, this half term KS3 were taken to see Snow White at Bury Theatre Royal, being the oldest theatre in the country; this working relationship has offered us fantastic seats at a local pantomime. Alongside entertaining acting, our very own Mr Evans became very good friends with the Dame who involved him in his scenes at every opportunity!

We thank Bury Theatre Royal for their hospitality and after the performance we were also fortunate enough to have their educational team come in and deliver a pantomime workshop to our KS3 students to harness our own students’ theatrical skills and experience.

Performing & Visual Arts

“Oh Yes it is” - Pantomime Inspires Stoke Drama Mrs Davey looks back at the term’s accomplishments in and beyond the Drama Studio. Performing Arts at Stoke College goes far beyond the stage set in enriching the lives of our students. Drama lessons and clubs develop public speaking skills, confidence and empathy for all students.

This term has been exciting in the Drama Department, the LAMDA provision has doubled and we now have two full days of LAMDA lessons, with a waiting list for lessons. Introducing Public Speaking lessons has captured students’ imaginations and we are excited to see how the next round of examinations go.

KS4 and KS5 went on an excellent school trip to see Metamorphosis by Frantic Assembly at The Mercury Theatre in Colchester. Students went for an exciting trip to Nandos building team spirit before the show. This performance was an opportunity for students to start analysing live theatre as part of their examination specifications. In the new year we are looking forward to having Frantic Assembly come into school to deliver a devising-based workshop.

This half term Performer of the Week has been awarded to students who are progressing and evolving through the study of Drama. Some successes are Anais, who has demonstrated hard work, focus and confidence in her theoretical understanding of Blood Brothers. Charlotte, who has not only excelled in her studies in the Performing Arts Department but she has also achieved a role in a professional pantomime Snow White at Bury Theatre Royal. We have such pride in her achievement and this demonstration of acting excellence has inspired others in our community to take a passion and drive beyond the classroom.

Finally, this half term Year 7 having been studying the genre of Pantomime, creating their own version of Alice in Wonderland.

This has seen them direct and devise their own piece of theatre which they performed in school. They completed and designed posters for an in class competition to advertise this small performance. The winner of this was Isla S for her creation of movement in her representation of Alice falling down the rabbit hole.

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Performing & Visual Arts

Artwork of the Week The Artwork of the Week award celebrates the creative excellence of pupils throughout all years at Stoke College. The Award is presented at the whole-school church assembly, every week.

First to win this award following half term was Amelia, Year 9, for her detailed and accurate monochromatic portrait collage (left). This is the second time Amelia has won the award and this goes to show her commitment and effort in the subject.

Next was A-Level student Isla, Year 13 for her acrylic self portrait that was then manipulated into a mixed media abstract study (below left), fitting into her Personal Investigation exploring automatism and expressionism in contemporary art.

What another fantastic half term celebrating the amazing talents of art students at Stoke College. Each week one student is awarded the Artwork of the Week, where a certificate is presented in whole school assembly and the chosen artwork is exhibited for the week in the beautiful St John the Baptist Church on our school grounds.

In the same week, the skill demonstrated in the Art department was just too strong to choose one winner, so another congratulations to Macey, Year 11, for her charcoal study of a crushed tin can for her project Reflections.

The award was then presented to Year 7 student, Kirabo, to celebrate her huge success in achieving full marks in her practical and theoretical end of term assessment. This included her Sonia Delaunay inspired geometric shape composition and watercolour painting, demonstrating an eye for precision with her colour mixing and brush control. Congratulations to all, we look forward to another term of celebrating the Visual Arts at Stoke!

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Performing & Visual Arts

What’s Been Happening in Hambling?

Art education at Stoke College cultivates critical thinking, creativity and communication skills whilst developing cultural understanding. Miss Coll reports on the term’s key focus areas and the exciting results produced.

In yet another exciting half term in the Art studio, KS3 have been expanding their creative skill set across a range of topics and processes.

Year 7 students have been exploring shape, form and pattern in paint. Using watercolour, young creatives have been turning shape into form and now begin their Sonia Delaunay inspired paintings, working hard to achieve accurate brush control and bold colour palettes. Year 7, can you remember the difference between shape and form? And what is the difference between contrasting and complementary colours?

Year 8 students have loved working in 3D, creating their own abstract cardboard portraits. Following their research into collage skills of replace, remove and shatter, they now use their colour theory knowledge to paint bright and bold expressive patterns on their structures. Ask your child, can you remember what inspired Picasso’s portraiture? And what would make a portrait disproportionate?

Venturing into the realms of printmaking, Year 9 students have begun turning their self-portraits into a lino print reduction. After creating a detailed design plan, students have carved and printed layers of their print using a monochromatic palette of printing ink. Year 9, are you able to explain to a friend or parent what a lino print reduction is? Do you remember what monochromatic means? And how can we show form in a portrait using colour?

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Performing & Visual Arts

Technological Advances in the Stoke Music Studios

Dr Olyver delights in the introduction of brand new musical equipment and technology to Music. The Stoke College Choir carolled in the festive season at a Christmas Lights Switch On event in Bury St Edmunds.

The school music department has experienced significant growth and enhancement. Notably, new keyboards and Charanga, an online Digital Audio Workstation music production program have been acquired, providing all students with an interactive platform for creative musical composition.

This investment has already yielded impressive student compositions.

The Stoke Choir Helps to Turn on the Christmas Lights in Bury St Edmunds with a Stunning Performance The school choir has undergone remarkable expansion, attracting a larger number of participants. The choir’s success is underscored by their performances at events such as the Bury St Edmunds lights switch on and the upcoming Stoke by Clare Christmas Fayre. Moreover, they are set to headline the performing arts evening concert and will lead the end-of-term Christmas Carol service. This multifaceted engagement reflects the department’s commitment to fostering musical talent and providing students with diverse opportunities to showcase their skills, enriching both the school community and its cultural presence in the wider community.

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Performing & Visual Arts

Christmas Cards Designed

by Talented Stoke Students

Miss Coll had the delightful challenge of selecting the four finalists for this year’s Stoke Christmas card competition. The cards have been sent out to our friends in the community.

As we look forward to the Christmas season, students at Stoke College started the festivities for the Christmas Card Competition this half term. Open to all students across the school, the designs submitted explored each student’s take on all things Christmassy across a range of media. With over 40 submissions ranging from watercolour to pastel, collage to illustration, the skill presented managed to take it up a level from last year’s submissions. With so many wonderful designs, just four students have been selected as this years winners and their artwork will be used for this year’s Stoke Christmas cards.

Congratulations to: Daisy, Year 8 – The Lion and Unicorn Around The Christmas Tree, Colour Pencil Illustration Freddie, Year 8 – Wrapping Presents, Collage Tabby, Year 10 – Stoke Snow Globe, Watercolour and Pen Ella, Year 12 – Rocking Robin, Watercolour (right)

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Sport

Sports News from the Stoke College Pavilion

The benefits in sports participation at school are numerous from physical fitness and personal growth to stress relief and social interaction. The Stoke College sports department celebrates a successful half-term of growth and development of skills that will take students beyond the sports field.

U13 Rugby vs BHPS (22/11)

Our final boys’ Rugby game of the term saw us play Barnardiston Hall Prep School and despite depleted numbers, put up a good fight against strong opposition. The boys found the first half tough-going as they kept getting sucked into unnecessary rucks and this led to BHPS scoring a number of tries, whilst in attack we had a few opportunities but were unable to convert. The second half was a different story however as BHPS kindly leant Stoke one of their students and this led to a change in fortunes as we scored two quick tries. Hayden O was tenacious in attack and defence with numerous rampaging runs both through and around the opposition. Man of the match went to Tom K for outstanding work in attack and defence and also scoring a fantastic solo try. Tom has worked extremely hard in lessons this term and is reaping the rewards in the quality of his performances!

ISA East Region Table Tennis (13 & 16/11) For the first time ever in the ISA East Region, a Table Tennis tournament was hosted here at Stoke College. Across two days and three different age groups (U11/13/16), we invited 48 students from other ISA member schools from across the region to compete alongside our own. The standard was high across both days with fierce competition. Students played in a group stage before moving into a knock-out phase and finals. Our own students from Stoke showed some great skill in the senior events, winning a number of games throughout the day, in particular our GCSE PE students in Year 11. A huge thank you goes to the PTA for supporting us in hosting this by purchasing new tables for us in the last academic year and also to catering for supporting the event. The Stoke PE Department has some great ideas in the pipeline for running more sporting events here at Stoke so watch this space!

U15 Rugby vs TGS (28/11) The U15’s travelled to Thetford Grammar School for their last rugby fixture of a season, a season where they have shown huge improvements in skill and organisation both in attack and defence. The boys started sluggishly and conceded three tries in the first half before a fantastic score of our own just before half time that left the game finely poised.

A rousing team talk from Mr Khan at half time had its desired effect and the boys came out firing on all cylinders, scoring another try to make the score 3 tries to 2. With illness and injury playing a part in our squad, the boys began to tire and eventually lost by 5 tries to 2.

Man of the match went to Sammy B (Y10) for superb work in attack where he was an elusive runner and a constant thorn in Thetford’s side where, on another day, Stoke would have won the game comfortably!

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Sport

Inspirational University Trip for Sports Scientists

Max P, Yr 10, writes about the inspirational taster day where Stoke students were able to discover more about the further education and career opportunities facilitated through the study of sports science.

The sports science taster day at the University of Essex was by far the most enjoyable Stokian school trip I have been on.

We looked at testing our abilities in a variety of tests. For example, I participated in a VO2 max which shows the volume of oxygen used whilst doing exercise. This was fascinating to me as I have always been interested in my maximum capabilities.

We also did a 10 second bike sprint that would show me the amount of power that I can produce in my legs in a small amount of time. Then we also followed up with a jumping test called a counter movement jump which we did with our hands around our hips so we couldn’t use the momentum from our hands to make us jump higher. This was accompanied by the isometric mid-thigh pull test, this is used to measure our whole-body strength.

After these fun activities we had a lunch break where we were allowed to explore the massive campus. This was very fun for me as I have always wanted to see what it was like to be in a university environment. There were cafes, restaurants, bars (which we didn’t go in) and a cinema for the students to spend time in.

After lunch we all met up at the sports psychology room where we got to take part in four tests to see how different environments would affect our performance. The first test that I took part in was a rowing test where we would see how fast we could do 200 meters on the rower. There were two conditions that we did this in; the first was with an object to block out view with our component and second, was where we could see our opponent and how fast they were going. For me I found it easier to do the 200 meters when there was a barrier between me and my opponent. This helped me focus on trying to beat him without knowing how good he was doing.

After that we did a balance test. This would be where we would stand on a balance board and we would have to stabilize ourselves to move this dot on the iPad that would correspond to the movement that we did on the pad. The first test we did with no distractions and the second we did with the instructor talking to us and asking questions. To my surprise I got a better score the second time around when the instructor was distracting me and asking me questions.

Next we did a reaction time test. This was interesting because we again had two circumstances and the first was with two colours and the second was with a variety of colours that would distract me when I was to hit the button.

Congratulations to Aidan M, Yr 12, for winning the Bronze for 100m Breastroke in the ISA National Swimming finals

After that we did a golf challenge where we would have to try and put in the ball but the catch was that we had to vision the ball going into the hole the second time that we did it. This helped me and I managed to get the ball the second time.

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MFL

French Students Take on the Role of Estate Agent Mme Henson set our Year 9 language students the challenge of creating eye-catching and informative Estate Agent advertising guides.

James D, Year 9 Jacks Estate Agents

email:

j.estateagents@gmail.com

Tel: 123456 098432 Prix: €1,250,000

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du bas vers l'arrière.

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4 chambres

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GRANGE/ATELIER EN BOIS 19' 8" x 23' 8" (6m x 7.23m) Présentement divisé en deux espaces, un côté utilisé comme garage et l'autre comme atelier. Il existe actuellement un permis de construire pour cette dépendance à retirer et à remplacer par un bâtiment de deux étages, offrant un énorme potentiel pour les nouveaux propriétaires.

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ÉCURIES Grange américaine avec quatre écuries et sellerie/salle d'alimentation.

Construit sur une zone sèche et dure, avec une participation supplémentaire tous temps.

Le terrain au-delà des écuries est actuellement divisé avec une clôture temporaire en trois enclos séparés, la clôture extérieure étant construite à partir de grillages pour chevaux avec des rails en bois.

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EXTÉRIEUR: À l'avant de la propriété se trouve une allée en bardeaux, offrant un parking pour de nombreux véhicules. On accède à cette zone par un portail électrique coulissant, avec portail d'accès piéton supplémentaire. D'un côté de la propriété se trouve le bâtiment bureau/double garage, et de l'autre se trouve la majorité de l'espace extérieur, y compris les écuries et les paddocks, ainsi que la grange/atelier en bois avec des plans à aménager. Le jardin arrière est également de bonne taille et est en légère pente vers le bas de cette zone. Le jardin est principalement en pelouse et est bien entretenu, avec un important hangar de stockage en bois à l'arrière et un grand patio à l'arrière de la propriété constituant un espace parfait pour se divertir et manger en plein air.

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Permis de planifier La propriété bénéficie d'un permis de construire (accordé le 23 janvier) pour remplacer le toit de la propriété, créant un deuxième étage beaucoup plus grand, ainsi que pour ériger une extension de deux étages à l'élévation avant et le remplacement d'une dépendance avec un studio/magasin indépendant sur deux étages avec des pièces habitables

Isabelle J, Year 9 30 Stoke News

Jack W, Year 9

Food

A Spicy Twist on a Traditional Seasonal Treat

The Food Technology kitchen has been filling the air with delicious, mouth-watering spiced scents as Key Stage 3 students have been baking gingerbread. Mrs Connelly shares the recipe to recreate at home.

Rye and Black Pepper Gingerbread

Ingredients 75g dark brown muscovado sugar 75g unsalted butter 25g golden syrup 1 egg 4 tsp ground ginger ¼ tsp finely ground black pepper ¼ tsp ground cloves ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda 225g rye flour, plus extra for dusting ¼ tsp fine sea salt 50g icing sugar

Method - preheat oven to 180°c In a small pan, combine the sugar, butter and syrup. Set over a low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Transfer to a bowl; set aside to cool.

Once cool, whisk in the egg into the butter mixture. In a large bowl, use a fork to whisk together the spices, bicarb, flour and salt. Add the butter mixture to the flour until a dough forms.

Chill for 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Line 2 baking trays with baking parchment.

Roll the dough out between 2 sheets of baking parchment (lightly dusting with flour, if necessary), to about 3mm thick. Use cutters to cut out the dough.

Put onto the prepared baking trays. Bake for 8-10 minutes until light golden brown, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool.

Decorate!

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