The Roborian Magazine 2019-20

Contents 2 -23

Autumn Term

24-40

Spring Term

41-49

Lockdown

50

Next Steps

51-52

Staff Leavers

Welcome to this year’s issue of Roburian, the phrase ‘a year like no other’ has never felt more appropriate!

The challenges we faced as a school due to the Coronavirus pandemic were simply unimaginable a year ago. In all our time as leaders and educators, that experience was certainly tested! However, the way our community responded was nothing short of spectacular. As school shut for most of our young people, key worker children continued to attend and staff continued to teach. Overnight, the education we offer transformed into a world of digital lessons; through Zoom, our Virtual Learning platform Firefly and Microsoft Teams.

We are immensely proud of the creativity, resilience and ability to adapt that our staff and young people showed throughout. They all embraced the school’s values and made sure they demonstrated what being part of the Grange community is, no matter what the circumstances.

This year’s Roburian may look slightly different as you delve into the second half of the year; the usual Spring and Summer pictures of sports days in the sun and trips to other countries replaced with colourful pictures of rainbows and many small digital rectangles from Zoom lessons! It certainly is an edition to cherish as, despite the gloom of a global pandemic, Grange young people found a way to make 2019-20 a memorable and positive academic year.

Mrs Leonard and Mr Rands

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September

Year 2 pond dipping at Lower Moss Wood.

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Year 6 dressed for the occasion on the trip to Quarry Bank Mill.

In the Apprentice House at Quarry Bank Mill.

Edward in Year 6 sharing a book with new Reception children.

Charity Captains delivered 874.8kg of food to the food bank.

3

Cookery Club

4

Rugby Vs Lymm

The new Year 7s enjoy the freedom of the Bewerley Park trip.

Theatre Club

Zoe and India showcase their ‘Brain Cake’ entry into the Physiological Society bio-bakes competition.

5

Enrichment activities are a big part of life at The Grange. This all starts at ‘Socfest’ where students come to sign-up to the activities that they want to do that year. It was another buzzing event this year with a huge range on offer.

The new Sports Centre received its official opening in September. Guests were given tours of the bespoke facilities whilst students showcased their sporting talents. Celebrations were rounded off with the unveiling of two new boats named after our Team GB rowing Alumni, Tom and Emily Ford.

6

Students on the Bronze DofE assessed expedition.

The GSPA Bollywood Ball.

The first of the regular lunchtime concerts.

Upper Sixth chemists tried out the labs at Liverpool University.

7

October

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Above and opposite: Year 6s experience fun, camaraderie and adventure on the Plas Menai trip!

Geographers, on a field trip to Yorkshire, where they explored the management and changes in Mappleton’s coastline.

Left: Grange students at MUNCH (Model United Nations: Cheadle Hulme). Oscar was awarded Best Young Delegate in his committee and Beth and Emily both received special mentions for their work in the Youth Committee.

9

Year 7 students with their “dubious tetrahedron” at the Catalyst Science Discovery Centre.

A Level Literature students enjoyed a fascinating afternoon in the company of Booker prize-winning author Margaret Atwood.

10

The school’s donations to Mid-Cheshire Food Bank - 67 crates coordinated by our Community Action Group... 67!

Politics students at the Tory Conference.

Pyjama Day raised £560 for Alder Hey.

Lunchtime musical entertainment with Cash on the piano under the watchful eye of Mrs Bushnell-Wye as part of the “Pop-Up Performance Week”.

11

The U15 Netball team on their way to becoming Cheshire champions for the first time. The U16 team also defended their title in the competition. “Y10 have got better year on year and finally got what they worked for! Teamwork, spirit, resilience.” Miss Fowler.

The U16 Rugby team made it through to the semi-final of the Cheshire Shield with an excellent 19-15 win.

The U12 football team progressed to the 3rd round of the National Cup with a 6-1 win against St Cuthbert’s.

Reception children in a yoga session during Wellfest week.

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November

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Grange artists exhibited alongside leading artists at the Chester Arts Fair. Emily and Catherine won their respective age groups in the Art in Education award, and Sixth Former Hannah won the prestigious People’s Choice Award!

“Compliments Cards” written by 7JEM ready to be delivered by Mrs Horsley and her Kindness Ambassadors in celebration of World Kindness Day.

Biology Club planting scavenged seeds.

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Emma was elected to the National Youth Parliament to represent the region and attended the Youth Parliament session in the House of Commons.

A plethora of activities for Interfaith Week included a Sixth Form debate with local religious leaders, sampling food from different cultures, and a storytelling workshop at a nursery.

The first read through for The Great Gatsby.

Year 10 students at World Skills Day.

Grange singers at Capesthorne Hall.

15

Year 3 made “Blobsters” in outdoor education.

A cake sale for Children in Need.

A poppy for a Remembrance display.

16

Making Autumn hedgehogs.

Roberts Bakery shared bread-baking secrets with children at The Junior School.

Roman Soldiers in formation.

17

The U19 Hockey team: winners of the County Indoor Championships!

Four of the many Grange students receiving Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Awards.

What a comeback! 3-0 down with 15 minutes to go and then an injury-time winner to win 4-3! Into the last 16 of the National Cup.

The U12 Hockey team.

18

Gold for Saanvi and Bronze for Will at the ISA National Swimming finals at the London Aquatics Centre.

December

19

Striving for those marginal gains: Rowers with winter sunset on astro.

20

Biology Club learnt how to use the sterile technique to grow E. coli under the close supervision of Sixth Form helpers.

Casting a vote on polling day in our mock election.

Year 11 trip to the Pompeii exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Students were happy to see the mosaic from Stage 7 of the Cambridge Latin Course!

U12 netballers on their way to the North final of the National SnS Cup via a 33-28 victory over an excellent Withington team.

20 residents from Oak Grange & Queen Elizabeth House enjoyed a fun-packed afternoon of Christmas activities. Community Action students helped to organise and facilitate whilst our musicians and actors provided entertainment.

21

Climbers getting in the swing of things during the Everest challenge. All proceeds went to the school’s charities.

3L’s Prize winning Christmas Tree.

6J’s Prize winning Christmas Tree.

A musical celebration.

Reception children on the Rudolph Run for St Luke’s Hospice.

22

The Junior School catering team serving up some festive joy!

Christmas dress up day.

Year 4 Christmas fun with electricity.

The Christmas netball tournament was great fun!

23

January 24

AJIS Indoor Athletics squad.

Celebrating Chinese New Year in Reception.

Year 4 investigating how the digestive system works.

Children enjoyed learning some new skills in the Circusology workshop.

25

26

Year 1 enjoyed a drama workshop at The Lowry.

Reception in Outdoor Education.

The St Luke’s Hospice mascot payed a visit to Reception to say “thank you” for fund raising efforts.

Year 5 at Safety Quest.

Year 6 made stars in Outdoor Education.

Years 5 and 6 did a water survival course.

Members of this year’s Project Gambia team sort through donations.

Year 7 getting to grips with making fresh pasta.

GCSE students travelled to The Lowry for a performance of the exam text “An Inspector Calls”.

27

Science students on the trip to CERN.

28

Jess, a former Grange student, spoke inspirationally to Years 10 and 11 about gender, sexuality and identity.

Seb on his way to becoming the UK Cyclocross champion!

A selection of the school’s winners from the Indoor Rowing Championships.

The U12 netball term became North Champions in the SnS National cup.

Cross country time.

Year 7 working with ink and rollers during an art lesson.

29

February

30

Another magnificent musical showcase.

Shocking physics...

Musicians at Ilam Hall residential.

Students on the Madrid trip outside The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Spain’s national museum of 20th-century art.

The U11 footballers took 4th place at the AJIS tournament.

31

A fabulous experience in The Gambia.

Footballers on the Madrid trip got to train at the Real Madrid training complex.

32

Visiting Oxford University.

Children in Reception made Valentine cards.

Reception children exploring the woodland.

Willow in Year 2 donated her hair to charity.

Planet Protectors working on the School Bird Watch survey.

A Year 10 art project in the outdoor classroom.

33

The Talent Show was full of amazing acts from Taylor Swift on the ukulele to stand up comedy and rock bands. The winner was Izzy who treated the audience to a performance of her own song, ‘Silver’.

The school hosted the U19 county netball tournament.

Graphics students doing illustrative work in the library.

34

U14 SnS Cup North Champions.

March

35

Sharing favourite reads for WBD.

Fantasy author, Daniel Whelan, leads a brilliant creative workshop as part of the Senior School celebrations.

A couple of brilliant entries into the Book Fair competition.

36

Year 4 made book characters using potatoes.

Dane won the House Art Competition.

Reception enjoyed a visit from Cheshire Search and Rescue.

Senior School students led an assembly at the Junior School all about Fairtrade Fortnight.

An entry into the Fairtrade poster competition.

Lucy representing the school at the Living Edge exhibition at the Lowry Gallery.

A lunchtime concert at St John’s, Hartford.

37

National runners-up.

Winston the rowing dog.

The Gold DofE team with Sir Ranulph Fiennes

38

The Show Must Go On! As Coronavirus began to impact on school life across the country, the cast and crew of our ‘The Great Gatsby’ production were determined to still give a performance to remember.

The cast didn’t let their months of hard work and rehearsals go to waste and didn’t want to let their audience down.

So, they put on a full show, recording the proceedings on cameras. Another amazing production!

39

Due to the global pandemic, we said goodbye to Year 11 and Year 13 on Friday March 20th - much too early!

It was a strange, and in some ways a sad day, but that didn’t stop us celebrating their time at The Grange.

40

Lockdown

41

42

Going Online

The school may have been closed to most of our children (key worker children continued to attend) but that did not mean the end of learning for our students. Almost overnight the school was able to transition to remote learning with lessons continuing via Zoom. As always our young people responded brilliantly with a huge amount of fantastic work being completed from home. The next few pages provide a snapshot of this period.

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Senior School student Ben, put his 3D design skills to good use during lockdown creating these visors using a 3D printer from home. Mr McAleny and Mr Jackson also got busy creating visors for our local healthcare community.

Y13 student, Jack, who starred in our production of The Great Gatsby, secured a place at the prestigious Drama School ALRA North on a full scholarship!

Sophia took the building of a model of a Greek temple to a whole new level with some impressive DIY skills.

Children of key workers enjoy a Joe Wicks workout.

44

Biology work from home.

Taking part in the House fitness challenge.

Head Boy Harry took it upon himself to completely restore an electric bass, learning a host of new skills along the way.

Junior School pupils were asked to share nature photos with some fantastic results (above and left).

45

Partial Re-opening The school was allowed to partially reopen towards the end of June. It was great to have some of the children back but things were still a long way from normal...

Y6 students in Food Tech after partial reopening.

Lower Sixth students synthesising aspirin.

Y5 designing magical kingdom characters.

Y4 made stick people on their return to school.

46

GCSE Results Day

Following in the footsteps of past cohorts, The Grange School was delighted to celebrate the efforts and achievements of all of its GCSE students.

Head of The Grange, Mrs Debbie Leonard, commented “It has been a tough year for GCSE students across the country and I am so proud of the great character and commitment that all

of our Grange students have shown. No one set of grades will ever be able to fully capture their character and talents. That being said, they have all achieved a strong set of grades that will stand them in good stead in the next stage of their education. I know that every single one of them will go onto further success thanks to their great spirit and dedication”.

Head of Sixth Form Jamie Walker commented “Our GCSE students have had a wholehearted approach to school life and have impressed both academically and outside of the classroom. Their GCSE results will provide an excellent springboard for their future studies and with such achievements across such a range of departments, the future certainly looks bright for what will be the class of 2022!”

47

A Level Results Day We were proud to celebrate the great success of the class of 2020 who have kept pace with previous year’s cohorts by achieving a stunning set of A Level results.

Head of The Grange, Deborah Leonard, commented ‘The Class of 2020 has shown great resilience through a really challenging time. The student is at the heart of our provision and I am delighted that there are so many positive outcomes to celebrate today. All of our students leave the school armed with strong results and the impressive skills that a Grange School education offers. I am incredibly proud of each and every one of them, especially at a time that they have had to show so much resilience.’

After a busy year as Head Boy, Harry Barker achieved a clean sweep of A*s to go on to read Medicine at Downing College, Cambridge whilst Head Girl Orla McEvoy achieved A* and A grades to take up her place for Dentistry at the University of Manchester.

Harry spoke about the spirit amongst his year group over the last six months saying ’It’s not been easy for our year. We left school with two days’ notice but we’ve pulled through it together. I’m proud of what everyone in the year has done today, we’ve all worked so hard for what we have achieved.’ On his own success Harry said ‘On the whole, it is a feeling of relief! I’m very excited about going to Cambridge and a bit apprehensive as I know it will be a challenge. I’ve missed learning so much and having responsibilities and being busy so I can’t wait to start’.

On her results, Orla said ‘It has been so nerve-racking because normally you’d have sat your exams and at least been able to make a judgement on how they went yourself.’ Orla also commented on how the Year 13 students at The Grange worked through the last six months together. ‘One random Friday in March it was all over and it’s been so important to support each other. The second it went past 8am today, there were loads of messages on my phone. It is important to celebrate each other’s results as we’ve not been able to see each other as we normally would.’

48

Full Re-opening

The school re-opened to all young people at the start of the Autumn term. It was wonderful to see all the students back again as we got back to something approaching business as normal.

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Next Steps The Class of 2019 Toby Abbott Owen Adkins Harry Barker Alistair Begg Hannah Bloor Emma Bloor Sophie Brilus Maddie Brougham Isobel Bryce Rachel Buckley Grace Capper Owain Carlick Holly Chambers Jack Cotton William Creed Lauren Davey Claudia Delafaille Cameron Duff Issy Edwards Daniel Edwards Lucy Edwards Oliver Fleetwood Jack Furlong Natalie Geary William Gray Naomi Hall Lucy Hall Tristan Hall Douglas Hall Thomas Happe Tom Harding Jemima Hawes George Henty William Heywood-Mullarkey Abigail Higgs Peter Hill Oliver Holmes Matthew Howard Abigail Jessop Harvey Jones Thomas Kendall Alicia Kenwright Matthew Kenyon Georgia Knott Elisha Kunalan Jake Macintosh Sean May Orla McEvoy Jack McGinn Matthew Millar Antonia Molton Nathaniel Morrey Amelia Morton Sophie Novelli George Oglesby Henry Oglesby Sebastian Paisley Finlay Pillar Rose Radcliffe Amelia Rogers

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Digital Leadership Apprenticship Barclays Business Management Medicine Chemistry (2021) Music - Vocal Performance Art & Design (General Foundation) Cognitive Science (Humanities) Engineering The Future Apprenticeship Biomedical Sciences International Management Philosophy, Politics and Economics Materials Science and Engineering Dental Surgery Business and Management Mechanical Engineering GAP year Chemistry (Industrial) Information Technology Management for Business (with placement year) Geography History Psychology Business and Management Acting Neuroscience with a Modern Language (4 years) Agricultural Business Management (with placement year) Textile Design Medicine (2021) Economics (2021) Product Design and Manufacture History Accounting and Finance Modern Languages Politics and Economics Environment and Business History Civil Engineering with a Modern Language Geography (Human Geography) Mathematics Physiotherapy Business Management Computer Science Medicine (Phase One) Medicine BMBS Gap year Medicine Geography Physics Dentistry (BDS first-year entry) Philosophy Applied Farm Management Architecture Economics (with placement) English Literature Computer Science with placement (2021) Graphic Design Geography (2021) Economics Natural Sciences Geography Law

MMU Newcastle Cambridge Loughborough Bath Dundee Edinburgh Leonardo Bath Bath Durham Sheffield Liverpool Reading Harper Adams Durham Loughborough Leeds Chester Birmingham Exeter ALRA Manchester Reading De Montfort Cambridge Leeds Nottingham LSE Sheffield Newcastle Reading Leeds York Sheffield Newcastle Warwick Southampton Sheffield Liverpool Sheffield Nottingham Edinburgh Leeds Manchester Manchester Newcastle Royal Agricultural Sheffield Bath Durham Bath Brighton Leeds Cambridge Durham Birmingham Liverpool

Next Steps The Class of 2019 Estela Sanchez Montes Alexander Santini Harry Scholefield Phoebe Smith Ella Stacey Isabelle Stanton Holly Stephens Orla Stott Bradley Strickland-Baker Lucy Tarry George Taylor Gabriel Tenner Samuel Thorington Alexandra Topping Samuel Wakefield Poppy-Valerie Walker Scott Watson Rory Webster Isabel Webster Finn Webster Molly White Toby White Benjamin Whittaker Joseph Williams Andrew Yau John Young

Biomedical Sciences Materials Science and Engineering (2021) Business and Management Music Biomedical Sciences Modern Languages and Cultures (with year abroad) Graphic Design Mathematics with Statistics Accounting and Finance (with placement) Architecture Political Science Physics Industrial Economics Pharmacology Human Geography Medicine Classics Combined Honours in Social Sciences (2021) Modern Languages and Cultures (with year abroad) Product Design and Technology (with placement year) Geography Civil Engineering Computer Games Programming Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Computer Science (with industrial placement) Mathematics (with industrial placement)

Newcastle Sheffield Sheffield Durham Sheffield Durham Edinburgh Loughborough Newcastle Liverpool Birmingham Durham Nottingham Bristol Cardiff Leicester Oxford Durham Durham Loughborough Manchester Sheffield De Montfort Bath Exeter Bath

The Class of 2018

Kate Barclay Ottilie Bardsley George Blackshaw Stephen Boyd Laura Irwin Phoebe Kenwright Liam Murphy Richard O'Brien Joanna Ravenscroft Jodie Sale Samuel Sanger Erin Simpkins James Todd

Fashion Buying and Merchandising Biological Sciences (Zoology) Football Business & Marketing Geography International Relations Physics with Particle Physics & Cosmology Philosophy, Politics & Economics Classical Civilisation Biochemistry English Literature Business Management (year in industry) (4 years) Strategic Fashion Management Organ

MMU Oxford Brookes UCFB Manchester Newcastle Swansea New College of the Humanities Leeds Bath Durham Birmingham University of the Arts London RCM

Information correct as of 10th September 2020

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Staff Leavers: “Thank you and Good-bye...”

Sonia Evans Steven Chappell Sue Mawson Paula Barrow John Land Lorna Ahern Jo Pennington Jannette Bloor Matt Greenwood Wendy Gallimore Helen Chaplain Simon Howells Helen Lawson Mary Wade Jay Holmes Bret King Jackie Brook Helen Adamson Deborah Jackson Michelle Baird Caroline O’Rourke Jenny Breton Jeanette Oakes Sally Brunt Amy Kember Maija Kaipainen Faith Livesey Ben Madden Melanie Wright Susan Thornes Penny Allison

Bursary Assistant Caretaker Cleaner Cleaner Deputy Head Academic Development Deputy Head of Sixth Form Design & Food Technician Director of Drama Director of Music Earlybirds and Sundowners Assistant English Teacher Head of French Head of Girls’ PE HR & Governance Administrator IT Technician Lead Rowing Coach Midday Assistant PA to Deputy Head - Junior School Rowing Administrator School Nurse Senior Administrator Teacher & Head of Food & Nutrition Teacher of Biology Teacher of Business & Economics Teacher of Chemistry Teacher of English Teacher of Maths Teacher of Music Teacher of Physics Teacher of Physics Teacher of Politics/History

John Land - Deputy Head for Academic Development Having given 40 years of service, John Land was the longest serving member of staff at the school having dedicated his entire working life to The Grange.

He came to the Junior School in 1980 from the City of Liverpool College. A former pupil of Helsby Grammar School, he played for Cheshire School Boys Under 19Xl. His passion for sport continued throughout his career, coaching many boys at cricket and football and becoming Head of Boys’ Games. Alongside this, he took on the responsibility of Head of Maths and in 2016 he became Deputy Head for Academic Development. John has worked tirelessly for the School and this was recognised when he was presented with the Day Cup in 2005.

Jeanette (Netty) Oakes - Teacher of Biology After 23 years at The Grange, Netty has retired to Tarporley and will be greatly missed by staff and students alike. She was a wonderful, warm and friendly teacher who always kept the needs and wellbeing of her classes to the fore.

Netty’s passion was for the environment and the natural world; she relished the annual field trip to Blencathra in the Lake District where she could wade into rivers with the students, stride over sand dunes, scramble over rocky shores and sip coffee in the staff bar. Perhaps the highlight of Netty’s career was the expedition to the Amazonian rainforest in Ecuador and a week on the Galapagos Islands, where she dived with seals, turtles and sharks.

Within the department, we will miss so much about Netty; muddy coffee, technological knowhow, mackerel pate, catching apples with your face, chastising Kenyon, Rajni Days, Science Club (often), Biology Club (not so often), just half a piece of cake, queen of tennis, riding for disabled, the other half a cake a little bit later on, sustaining the pond, and all the giggling. Fun times!

We’re all going to miss you much, Netty. Have a wonderful retirement and please do stay in touch.

Helen Lawson - Head of Girls’ Games We bid farewell to Helen Lawson after over 20 years at the school. During this time she has been a stalwart of the PE department, performing the role of Head of Girls’ Games and Head of Hockey. She has coached many teams and individuals to success over her time at the school and dedicated a huge amount of time and effort into creating many sporting opportunities for our students. She led and accompanied a large number of trips during her time and was a regular for the Year 11 Alton Towers activity day! I am sure Helen will be looking forward to dusting off the golf clubs and spending more time on the course in the coming years. We wish you all the very best for a well-earned retirement, Helen.

Ben Madden - Teacher of Music

Ben came to us as an accomplished singer and cellist as well as a speaker of Russian! His enthusiasm for instrumental work and groups was soon to be seen in both Training Orchestra and string group. He instigated the now popular orchestral weekend to Ilam Hall which is a highlight for all musicians in It is impossible to put into words the extent of John’s the school, students and staff. contribution to School life both in and outside the classroom.

Children and colleagues alike will miss his jolly disposition He has a great sense of humour and has supported many trips to Bewerley Park with Year 7. and his notorious jokes.

We wish John every happiness in his retirement and hope He also instigated the Staff Band, which played at the end he enjoys the extra time he will have to tend his garden and of house events. With memorable performances of One Direction, Queen and Mozart to name but a few and our own support Northwich Victoria Football Club.

Ukelele group, always to great acclaim.

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