Former Hills Road students perform at the Edinburgh Fringe. See page 10
Hills students make it through to AoC Sports finals.
Students focus on their wellbeing. See page 7
Hills news
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A termly round-up from Hills Road Sixth Form College.
December 2019 www.hillsroad.ac.uk
UK first Hills teachers are the first in the country to achieve Chartered Teacher status.
The course has helped me to develop my teaching skills and gain a stronger understanding of my profession. Lizzy Bazley See page 2 Hills Hustings: Daniel Zeichner, Labour
and Rod Cantrill, Liberal Democrats
Labour and Lib Dems clash over Brexit Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire parliamentary candidates took part in the Hills Road Hustings, to give students the chance to ask questions on the issues that matter the most to them. Prison reform was hot on students’ agendas. Hills student Luke Davies asked where candidates stood on punishment versus rehabilitation in our prisons.
Labour, Green Party and Liberal Democrats all took a similar position that prison service reforms are critical, Rod Cantrill said that “prisons should be a place for rehabilitation, not punishment” and all parties acknowledged that significant investment was required. Tensions mounted as the debate moved on to Brexit and the subject of Continued on page 3
Remembering former student Jack Merritt With great sadness, we say goodbye to Jack, an outstanding Hills Road student. See page 5
Also inside: Donald Trump attends Hills EPQ marketplace. See page 4 ›› Students raise money and collect gifts for Winter Comfort and Cambridge City Food Bank. See page 6 ›› Anyone for Esports? See page 12 ››
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at a glance
First teachers in the UK to gain chartered status
Congratulations to seven Hills Road students who won bronze, silver and gold Youth STEMM awards. The award is achievement-based and designed to support and inspire the next generation of STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) professionals. Lauren Hulme, Gold award winner and Hills Road student, said: “I learnt time management, gained an appreciation of the importance of communication of science to the public and got a glimpse of science in the real world. I’m really glad I did the award!”
Lizzy Bazley and Ayden Duffy at their graduation
Hills Road teachers Ayden Duffy and Lizzy Bazley were among the first cohort of 98 teachers nationally to celebrate achieving Chartered Teacher status. Established in 2017, The Chartered Teacher Programme is a 15-month teacher certification course. Aligned to the Chartered College of Teaching’s aims, the programme helps to raise the status of the profession and supports teachers to acquire the expertise necessary to maintain excellence in teaching and secure the best outcomes for children and young people. The programme recognises the knowledge, skills and behaviours of excellent teachers, highlights the importance of their expertise in
Although it was a challenging course, it has helped me to develop my teaching skills and gain a stronger understanding of my profession. Lizzy Bazley, A level Biology teacher at Hills Road
Going for gold
This is the best professional development I’ve had since becoming a teacher, I learnt so much. Ayden Duffy, Head of Sport at Hills Road and A level Physical Education teacher supporting the learning of children and young people, and represents the first step in the development of a career pathway focused on effective classroom practice, not leadership. To complete the programme, participants undertake a range of different assessments that enables them to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge of their subject, pedagogy, assessment, excellent classroom practice and critical evaluation. A key part of Ayden’s training programme was the Action Research module. He introduced low stakes testing to his PE students last year and then offered the students who didn’t perform as well as they might, personalised workshops to bring them up to speed with their learning.
Flash Fiction competition Hills students embraced their spooky sides this Halloween to enter our very own 50-words Flash Fiction competition. Out of over 80 entries, Holly Fake won first place with her spine-chilling tale Head screwed on. Louise O’Brien won the Student Choice award where students had to vote for their favourite story. Louise received over 180 votes for her tale, Waiting in Silence!
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in brief Daniel Zeichner meets students to discuss the election, the environment and Brexit.
Dr Peake from the University of Cambridge introduced the 6 Steps to System Change, not Climate Change — a 6-point plan for rapid decarbonisation.
South Cambs candidates Anthony Browne, Dan Greef, Chris Southeran (Chair) and Ian Sollom Cover story continued
a second referendum. Daniel Zeichner claimed that Labour’s position was clear and that his party would hold a referendum within six months of being elected. Daniel Zeichner went on to say that he believed Remain was “hanging by a thread” due to the gamble Jo Swinson [Liberal Democrat leader] had taken with the party’s position to revoke article 50. Mr Cantrill responded by asking the Labour candidate “Where will the strong voice of Remain be in the Labour party?” Rod Cantrill said that Jeremy Corbyn [Labour leader] is “sitting on the fence” and that “ultimately, Jeremy Corbyn does not believe in the European project, he is a Brexiteer.” Questions moved on to the threat of climate change and how candidates would support environmental issues in Cambridge. All of the parties talked
about sustainability in transportation and building development, with Labour pledging significant investment into cycling schemes. Mr Zeichner said: “we want to invest £50 per head (currently £10), so we can make Cambridge an exemplar cycle city, like Friberg in Germany”. Both the Lib Dems and The Green Party discussed making Cambridge the greenest city in the UK. Following the hustings, students were asked if the debate had changed their minds on who they would vote for if they could. Overall, most students stated that it helped them to reaffirm who they supported, but they still had questions. Student Salem Abu-Zyed commented that he was still unclear how the Liberal Democrats would support the 52% of disenfranchised Brexit voters if the party revoked article 50.
Dolly Theis visits Hills to discuss the 50:50 Parliament, and the Ask Her to Stand campaign created to encourage more women into politics.
Hills Road Politics students visit BBC Radio Cambridgeshire to discuss whether the voting age should be lowered from 18 to include 16/17-year-olds.
Para Cheerleading team member and Hills student, Isabel Millhouse, is training hard for a third year of success at the World Championships in Florida. Known as The Lions, the group is made up of a mix of disabled and non-disabled athletes who have come together to make the sport inclusive at a national level.
Thanks to all candidates and students that took part in the debates.
Student news Hills student, Katie Kirkpatrick recently won the 12-18 category of the BBC Proms Poetry competition with a poem she wrote called One Man Band, Gagarin Plays the Saxophone, inspired by Public Service Broadcasting’s Prom of Gagarin. Katie won tickets to the BBC Proms concert where her poem was read out by actor Adjoa Andoh.
Many people think cheerleading is just pom-poms and football teams, but All Star Cheerleading is a sport in itself; it’s a challenging and dangerous sport that combines tumbling, stunting and dance. Isabel Millhouse
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EPQ
Above: Krutika promoted the hobby of beekeeping to younger people by making a series of YouTube videos. Right: Phyllis designed and built a set for the play ‘End of the Line’ which was performed at Cambridge’s ADC Theatre!
Students showcase their Extended Project All Year 13s presented their Extended Project (EP) at our EP Market Place held at the beginning of the autumn term. In four days, over 1,200 students presented their projects for students and staff to enjoy, and to be assessed. The EP provides a wonderful opportunity for students to work under their own initiative, to reflect on their performance and to plan and manage a large-scale project independently. All of the projects presented demonstrated individual ingenuity and provided real insight into students’ interests and passions. Here is a selection of some of the brilliant work our students have created.
Clockwise from above: Inspired by Frida Kahlo, Lucy created a selection of merchandise featuring the artist; Tatiana wanted to crochet a doll of a controversial figure. Who better to choose than Donald Trump?; Holly created a hand written book about plants used in medicine; With an interest in making jams and pickles, Ben created a company called Black Squirrel Preserves; Daniel made an Orrery that accurately shows how the planets and moon revolve around the sun.
a tribute Remembering a former Hills Road student It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to 25-year-old Jack Merritt, former Hills Road Sixth Form College student from 2011 to 2013. Jack was one of the two victims of the London Bridge terrorist attack on 29 November 2019. In memory of this extraordinary and immensely bright young person, we want to share some of our memories of him at Hills Road and celebrate the life he went on to live before his tragic and untimely death.
From the first time we met Jack, it was clear that his dream was to study Law at University. While at the College, he developed a keen interest in his A level subjects, Economics, Government and Politics, Philosophy and History, and he enjoyed being able to discuss and debate issues that he felt strongly about. Combined with his academic studies, Jack also completed Enrichment courses in Chemical Photography and Basketball. He was also interested in fashion and created streetwearinspired t-shirts for his Extended Project Qualification. Outside of his studies, he wrote articles for an online fashion magazine and attended London Fashion Week as a journalist. Jack left Hills Road to study law at the University of Manchester, graduating in 2016. He went on to study at the University of Cambridge, completing a Masters in Criminology
Jack Merritt with his father and Hills Road Estates Manager, Dave Merritt
and found his vocation in working to understand the underlying causes behind prison statistics. Jack became a course coordinator for the University of Cambridge’s prison rehabilitation programme, running the Learning Together project, which provides students and offenders with the chance to study alongside one another to help reduce re-offending. Many of the tributes from the people Jack worked with, his friends and family, demonstrated how Jack’s passion for social and criminal justice was infectious. He courageously engaged with the world and he was devoted to helping people that society had forgotten. We are extremely proud of the person Jack became: a responsible and active citizen, and we will endeavour to honour his values at Hills Road.
Jack’s commitment and humanity shone out. He believed in the best in people and was the best of people. The life of the whole Hills Road community is the poorer for his loss, and we shall continue to champion the values that Jack lived. Our love and thoughts are with his father and mother, Dave and Anne, and with the rest of his family and friends. Jo Trump, Principal
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Social action
Supporting homeless and food bank charities 10 Year 12 students have taken Event Management as their Enrichment activity and put social action at the heart of their event ideas. The charities they chose to support included Winter Comfort and Cambridge City Food Bank. To ensure everyone in the College, their families and friends could contribute, the students devised four initiatives: 1. A giving tree, where people donated gifts for Winter Comfort. They also sold baubles for £1 for students and staff to write a message to a homeless person. 2. Students bought candy canes and wrote special messages on the tags for their friends. Dressed as Santa’s elves, the Event Management group then delivered the canes to students and donated the money raised to Winter Comfort. 3. Christmas Jumper Day also raised money for the homeless charity. 4. Food collection stations Over were set-up around the College, with all donations going to the Food Bank.
800 gifts were donated
Members of the Event Management Group
Over 428 gifts were donated and over £290 raised for Winter Comfort. 390 food donations were also given to the Cambridge City Food Bank.
Hills students celebrate Languages Day Every year, millions of people across Europe celebrate language learning, through Languages Day. Created by the Council of Europe, the event stems from the Council’s conviction that linguistic diversity is a tool for achieving greater Over intercultural understanding and a key element in the rich cultural heritage of our continent. Over 60 raised Hills Road students took for charity part and spoke languages ranging from Korean to Russian and German to Portuguese. Students also raised £981.33 for the charity Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
£980
wellbeing
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Grand opening of the Sanctuary Room by students involved in the project and the Principal, Jo Trump
New Sanctuary Room opens for students In a busy College, having a peaceful and quiet space for students to spend time in can be a vital resource that contributes to their wellbeing. Recognising this issue, a group of Hills students wanted to create a space where their fellow students could go for some tranquillity and calm. Decorated with wellbeing in mind, the room has floor cushions, bean bags and fairy lights to make this the perfect space for students to sit back, relax and take the vital timeout they need.
Art as therapy
Wellbeing at Hills Progression Week in November included two packed days of Wellbeing activities for students to enjoy. Students were encouraged to spend time focusing on their emotional health by either exploring the different aspects that can contribute to wellbeing or trying a new activity that helps to strengthen their positive mental health. Activities ranged from self-defence and meditation to yoga and mindfulness. The programme also included workshops with specialists teaching
students how to manage stress, the importance of self-care, and how drugs and alcohol affect mental health. Sarah Sainsbury, Wellbeing and Mental Health lead at the College said: “Students seemed to really benefit from the programme. Many commented that they had experienced a new activity they would use to look after their Wellbeing, or they had found out something new about what can affect their emotional health.�
Alcohol impairment goggles
Sanctuary Room
Self-defence
Dermot: Pets As Therapy
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sports round-up
Excellent play by the men’s and women’s badminton teams at the AoC regionals. Special congratulations to Charlie Wakefield, Alfie Brown, Saamya Rv and Olivia Chan who are through to national finals.
Hills Road teams make it through to AoC finals The autumn term was a busy time for Hills Road sports teams as they trained for the Association of Colleges (AoC) 42nd National Championships. Hills students compete to represent the College and the Eastern Region through regional tournaments. Following some pretty tough matches, we are delighted to report that Hills Road students will represent the College and the Eastern Region in cross country, tennis, badminton, cricket and mixed hockey at the finals in April 2020.
Hills netball team win U19 County Schools Tournament The Hills Road netball team won the Cambridgeshire County Netball Association U19 County Schools tournament in October at St Ivo School, St Ives. The tournament was a roundrobin, with every team playing each other. The Hills Road team won all nine of the matches they played. They will now go on to represent Cambridgeshire at the Regional Schools Tournament in January 2020.
Nicolas Harhalakis, cross country runner said: “We are pleased to have qualified for the AoC National Championships. The regional competition was pretty hard, and we came up against some good runners. We are looking forward to representing our region at the nationals in April.” Congratulations to Nicolas Harhalakis, David Dow, Tom Henson, and Tom Bridger who have qualified to represent the Eastern Region in the cross country race at the AoC finals. A brilliant result!
The Hills Road mixed hockey team are through to the AoC national finals after winning against Colchester Sixth Form College 12-0 and USP College 7-0.
Hills tennis players representing the Eastern Region at the AoC national finals are Neha Kibra, Ella Peake, Robi and Eduardo Schofield-Martoglio, Darius FatemiGhomi and Matthew Story.
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Hills runners make it to the next round of the CDSSA 11 Hills Road cross country runners took part in the men’s District Schools Sports Association race and two participated in the women’s race. All students have qualified to go through to the next round which takes place on 11 January 2020. Well done to the runners in the men’s race; Conall McGinness who finished first, Nicolas Harhalakis (3rd), David Dow (4th), Tom Bridger (5th), Tom Henson (6th), Tom Blake (9th), Casper Hiscock (10th), Sam Myers (11th) and Liam Bell, (13th).
Will Jones has been chosen to play for the AoC Men’s England Hockey team! Players are selected from AoC Sport member colleges through a two-phased trial process. The first phase trial took place on 9 October and the final trial to select the England Colleges squads was in Reading on 29 November. We recently caught up with Will to find out why he likes hockey so much.
Congratulations to Shannon Flockhart who finished first and Matilda Taylor (3rd) who part in the women’s race.
How did you get into Hockey? I started playing when I was about six at my local hockey club in Royston. I continued playing and going up the ranks until I was 16. I then moved to Cambridge City, where I played a year in their second team and this season in their first team.
What do you love about Hockey? I love the team spirit, and being able to improve continuously; the game requires such a wide range of both skill and fitness, there is always something to improve.
Will you continue playing Hockey when you leave Hills Road? Yes, I will continue playing. I’m not sure what I will be doing after Hills, but I will definitely keep playing hockey!
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10 the arts Outstanding show… breathtaking for its variety, creativity and pace. Fringe Review
Joyous gusto… consummate musicians, singers, puppeteers and actors. British Theatre Guide
Gilgamesh & Me by Babolin Theatre Hills Fringe company, Babolin, took their 15th show, Gilgamesh & Me, to Edinburgh. With script by Richard Fredman; Head of Performing Arts, music by former student Jon Whitten and a brilliant cast of former Hills students, Babolin created a dusty
world of scribes, tree-loving ogres, sky-bulls and a steamy romance that sent the goddess of love into a frenzy of revenge. There was high-energy ensemble play, operatic foolery, delicious irreverence and moments of searing beauty.
Music by Hills Road
The Journey Begins This year’s November dance show, The Journey Begins, shared work choreographed collaboratively by Hills Road students. The show incorporated a range of styles from tap to contemporary, and themes
ranging from The Roaring Twenties to Fornasetti’s series of painted plates. The performance was a highly successful evening’s entertainment and a very positive performance opportunity for students. Well done to all!
Autumn is a busy time for Hills Road musicians when over 350 students and staff come together to treat their lucky audiences to some extraordinary musicmaking. In October, the Chamber Orchestra performed a collection of solo and ensemble items, the evening also included performances from the Jazz Orchestra and Folk Roots Group. In November at the Autumn Concert, the audience enjoyed two concertos by the Symphony Orchestra and also two incredible soloists: Holly Woods for the beautiful Hoffmeister Viola Concerto and Freddie Ball for the dazzling Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto. Not to be outdone, Chamber Choir, Wind Orchestra, College Choir and Jazz Orchestra offered a varied and joyful programme with musical offerings from Vaughan Williams to Led Zepplin.
trips and visits 11
PE Trip to Boston USA Hills Road PE students visited Boston in October to gain further insight into the Americanisation, franchising and commercialisation aspects of US sport, and the differences between USA and British sports. Here’s a snapshot of their trip! Day 1: Professional ice hockey The group visited the Bruin’s ice hockey team to understand how the club charges for its tickets and how it secures sponsorship. Students also got to have a go on the ice rink! Day 2: American Football As the USA’s most popular sport, students watched Harvard playing in a men’s American football match against Cornell Big Red. Following the match, the players took students onto the pitch to talk about the game. Day 3: American Football and basketball Students played American football on the beach where they learned about the rules of the game. They
also watched a basketball match with the Boston Celtics playing Cleveland Cavaliers. Day 4: Baseball As one of the USA’s most popular sports, students went to visit the Red Sox baseball stadium and learned more about the game. Day 5: Harvard University Students visited Harvard University and enjoyed a talk from Chris Hamlin, a Harvard Women’s soccer team coach. In the evening they watched Chris’s team in action playing against Boston College. Day 6: Sports psychology and more ice hockey! The group met with Adam Naylor, a Mental Game Consultant who supports the complete development and care of all varsity studentathletes. In the evening it was time for another ice hockey match, this time North Eastern University were playing Massachusetts.
Maddie Forsyth and Iain Lynn at the Faculty of Classics
Latin reading competition Maddie Forsyth and Iain Lynn (above) both came second in a senior Latin reading competition held by the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Classics. Both students came second in their categories of prose (Tacitus) and verse (Virgil).
Student trip to see the Aeneid Harvard football stadium Inside Boston College Eagles changing rooms
Harvard in action
Classics students also enjoyed an evening at St John’s College where they watched a rare live performance of one of ancient literature’s masterpieces. Adapted from Virgil’s first-century BC epic poem the Aeneid, The Song of Arms and a Man. Selections from the original Latin text were interspersed with an English narration and accompanied by live ancient music, giving those new to Latin and classical scholars alike the opportunity to hear this literary classic in something close to its original, public-performance context.
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For more info about Enrichment activities visit www.hillsroad.ac.uk
Couch to 5k
British Sign Language
Y12s try something new Crime scene for Forensics
Forensics
Year 12s have experienced their first term of Enrichment, and what an experience it has been! Alongside the popular activities such as forensics, first aid, rowing and music tech, the Enrichment team at Hills have three new activities to add to the list, British Sign Language, Couch to 5k and Esports.
First Aid
Learn to row
What’s Esports? Esports is a competition that involves gamers competing in the multiplayer online battle arena game, League of Legends. New to Esports, the Hills Enrichment team are clearly naturals at the game, having made it through to the British Esport Championships!