Partnerships

We are proud to work in partnership with several schools and organisations across the city of York. Although many events were unable to go ahead this year due to lockdown restrictions, we continued to Partnerships celebrate our partnerships and connections with this great city.

York Independent State Schools Partnership (ISSP) In November we hosted a special York ISSP breakthrough event, attended by over 130 pupils and staff from our ISSP partner schools across York. Teachers competed for Year 7 pupils’ votes as they put forward compelling, and sometimes comical, arguments for the biggest breakthrough in mankind’s history. By bringing together teachers and pupils from across the city, the day was an opportunity to celebrate education in York and foster new friendships and viewpoints. We also welcomed over 100 year 9 and 10 pupils to St Peter’s School on Saturday 7 March for the annual ISSP Masterclasses. This year the big question was ‘What is Beauty?’ Inspiring and exciting classes in Art, Art History, Philosophy, Classics, Psychology, History and Chemistry encouraged pupils to tackle this topic through a myriad of tasks, mediums and questions. Visit yorkissp.org to find out more about the partnership.

Stargazing Live Our ever-popular Stargazing Live event returned to St Peter’s in February for the tenth time. Almost 400 people attended the event to explore the wonders of the University with hands-on experiments, a Planetarium Dome and the opportunity to look through telescopes with York Astronomical Society. We also welcomed Simon Goodwin, Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at Sheffield University, who delivered a fascinating lecture about the possibility of alien life in space. The event, organised in conjunction with York University Physics Department and York Astronomical Society, is one of a number of science lectures hosted by St Peter’s School throughout the year. York Astronomical Society also helped pupils from all three sections of St Peter’s School to observe the Transit of Mercury in November, a rare astronomical event. They provided specialist equipment and solar telescopes which helped our pupils to see the silhouette of Mercury passing the face of the Sun. Huge thanks to the visiting York Astronomical Society members who really enthused the pupils and allowed us to experience this spectacular event.

Public Lectures Our Public Lecture series brings inspirational speakers to the school and members of the public are invited to enjoy the lectures free of charge. In the Christmas term we were delighted to hear again from Tom McLeish, Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of York, speaking about the poetry and music of science. We welcomed back renowned theologian and leading idealist philosopher, Professor Keith Ward, to explore the topic of the cosmic Christ and whether we should send missionaries to the stars. Jacquie McGlade, Professor of Resilience and Sustainable Development at UCL introduced us to alternative views of prosperity and treated us to some glimpses of her life with the Masai in Kenya. Chris Ryan took us into the real and fictional SAS world as he spoke about this latest novel, ‘Black Ops’. The beauty and meaning of stained glass was opened up to us by renowned artist Helen Whittaker. The lecture series resumed in January with jet suit pilot and engineer Alex Wilson, from Gravity Industries. The lecture, supported by the Institute of Physics, gave the audience a unique insight into the world of jet suit technology. In March we welcomed historian Greg Jenner who traced the history of celebrity from the Bronze Age to the Silver Screen with a lecture inspired by his new book ‘Dead Famous’. Mr Ben Fuller, Head of the Public Lecture programme, said: “Our public lecture programme continues to attract high profile individuals thanks to the hard work and dedication of so many people at St Peter’s School and our partners.”

Physics Olympics The Olympic Games may have been postponed until 2021, but the annual St Peter’s Physics Olympics went ahead this year with a total of 30 pupils taking part from schools across the North East and Yorkshire. Mr Andy Parr, Physics Teacher at St Peter’s School, launched this year’s Physics Olympics in June, challenging pupils to complete two virtual challenges: the Fermi Quiz and the Simply Complicated Challenge. The teachers at St Peter’s were particularly impressed by the entries for the Simply Complicated Challenge, an open-ended challenge which required pupils to create a Rube-Goldberg style machine to raise a flag. Well done to St Peter’s 8-13 who had the best performing pupil overall. St Peter’s 8-13 pupils also gained 1st, 2nd and 4th places in the Fermi Quiz.

York Minster Choir In June we confirmed that St Peter’s School was to become the new Choir School for York Minster, following the sad closure of The Minster School at the end of the summer term. This new partnership will enable us to continue our 1,400 year association with York Minster whilst ensuring continuity of education for the choristers and reassurance for their families. Head Master of St Peter’s, Jeremy Walker said: “I am saddened that The Minster School is closing but look forward to welcoming choristers and their families to St Peter’s. They will be joining a school which nurtures and celebrates excellence, whether that be in music, academics, sport or all the other opportunities we share with our pupils. They and future generations of choristers will be a great addition to the life of St Peter’s.”

Robert Sharpe, Director of Music at York Minster said: “The Minster School can trace its origins back to AD 627 when St Paulinus founded the Minster and a school for its choristers. This school went on to become what is now St Peter’s School. The very sad decision to close the present Minster School is set alongside this excellent opportunity for our choristers to continue to be educated together a short distance away, and for the Minster’s mission and choral tradition to continue to flourish for years to come.”