Wellingburian 2021-2022

The Wellingburian

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Wellingborough School

London Road Wellingborough Northamptonshire NN8 2BX

Website: www.wellingboroughschool.org

Telephone: 01933 222427 Email: admissions@wellingboroughschool.org

Facebook: @WboroSchool Instagram: @WboroSchool

Twi�er: @WboroSchool @WboroSenior @WboroPrep

Senior School

Headmaster: A.N. Holman, MA (Cantab) MEd

Prep School

Head: K.A. Owen, BSc (Hons), PGCE

Founda�on

Director: Neil Lyon Email: founda�on@wellingboroughschool.org

The Wellingburian Magazine

Design & Artwork: Ki�y Kiernan Email: wellingburian@wellingboroughschool.org

Printed by: Print Data Solu�ons Website: www.printdatasolu�ons.co.uk

Old Wellingburian Club

President: Julian Amey (57-67, GA) : 2019-2021 Peter Crisp (73-83, PL) : November 2021 - Present OW Liaison: Debbie Whi�emore Email: owclub@wellingboroughschool.org

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Welcome to Wellingborough School

Page 2

ISI Inspec�on Report Page 3

A Year at Wellingborough School Pages 4-5

Well Built Pages 6-7

Working Well Together Pages 8-13

Farewell Pages 14-16

Prep

Star�ng Well Pages 18-19

Well On Their Way Pages 20-22

Well Rounded Pages 23-36

Well Played Prep Pages 37-38

Senior Well Accomplished Pages 40-70

Well Balanced Pages 71-86

Well Played Senior Pages 87-90

OW and Founda�on Well Connected Pages 92-95

Well Established Pages 96-97

WELCOME

TO THE 2021-2022 EDITION OF THE WELLINGBURIAN

If the 2020-21 academic year was a case of “The Pandemic Strikes Back”, then this year was very much “Return of the School”, although there were a number of big ba�les along the way.

We started with a great deal of hope whilst not wishing to be complacent, delighted to be able to grab opportuni�es to restart as many aspects of School life as possible having been de-bubbled. The students embraced their newfound freedom, many joyfully ge�ng back into old ways whilst for others it was the first �me they’d seen anywhere near the full gamut of what Wellingborough had to offer.

It got a li�le s�cky in the middle, but by February half term there was a huge sense of release as restric�ons started to come to an end. Sport had led the way, the open air contribu�ng to our ability to welcome back a full suite of fixtures from September, but other ac�vi�es needed to bide their �me. Music’s pent-up crea�vity was finally able to burst forth, trips started to trickle back and, by the �me we reached the summer, School looked pre�y much like it did three years ago – or as far as we can remember.

Not wan�ng to stretch the Star Wars analogy any further, one of the biggest events for the School in 21-22 was a ma�er of “An Inspector Calls” – or, rather, six of them as we underwent a Focused Compliance and Educa�onal Quality Inspec�on. This is a big deal: it only happens around once every six years and every element of School life is put under the microscope in order for the Inspectors to be able to determine if we’re doing everything we’re supposed to do (we were) and how the students are achieving and developing. For the first �me in the School’s history, the Inspec�on found us to be Excellent in both areas of Educa�onal Quality, a cause for celebra�on but also recogni�on of how much hard work –through an extraordinarily difficult �me –has gone into ensuring that every child at Wellingborough is enabled to thrive.

And so this edi�on of the Wellingburian is our chance to celebrate again all that is great about the School. It is testament to the dedica�on of everyone in our community that there is so much upon which to report. The publica�on itself wouldn’t exist without the Marke�ng Team, and so I will join you in thanking them as I, too, sit down, to reflect and reminisce on another successful year.

Andrew Holman Headmaster

“ ” “

Throughout the school, pupils’ development of knowledge, skills and understanding is enabled by teachers who are commi�ed to helping pupils to improve and achieve their full poten�al.

Key findings

• Pupils develop and display strong leadership, teamwork and resilience as they progress through the school.

• Pupils’ spiritual understanding and apprecia�on of the non-material aspects of life are excellent.

• Pupils show extremely high levels of respect for one another and celebrate the diversity within the school community.

• Pupils have a mature understanding of right and wrong and readily take responsibility for their own behaviour.

The quality of the pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent.

Pupils of all ages are excellent communicators. They are fluent, ar�culate and confident in using language to express their views in and out of lessons. Throughout the school, pupils are excellent listeners. ”

WELL BUILT

Building the future, and keeping the past alive, are one and the same thing. Hideo Kojima

In late 2021 the Governors undertook a review of the preferred loca�on for the School, almost 150 years a�er their predecessors had undertaken a similar exercise that saw the School move from its town centre loca�on to the current site on London Road. You will already know from the Headmaster’s communica�ons that the top-level outcome was that the School would remain on its current 55-acre site on London Road.

Immediately a�er that decision was taken, the Governors took the opportunity to consider ways that the site should develop in order to sustain the margin of excellence that has dis�nguished a Wellingborough educa�on for 425 years. The principal considera�on was the physical manifesta�ons to support future ways of teaching and learning, but other factors included be�er op�mising the ‘town’ / ‘field’ balance, improving vehicular access, allowing the School to be�er play its part as a member of the community, and achieving a net zero carbon sustainable footprint.

The work was wrapped into a master planning exercise under the �tle Project Copernicus, which set out a statement of strategic intent of how assets will be delivered to enhance teaching and learning, and to underpin the School’s vision.

The purpose of this master planning exercise was to:

• Frame the vision and provide a commonly understood pathway rooted within the ethos of the School that maintains a sense of direc�on, no ma�er how long the journey might be.

• Deliver clarity and context; to sequence and priori�se redevelopment along the pathway and prevent incremental ad hoc development.

• Focus and inform robust financial planning.

• Demonstrate to stakeholders the longer-term ambi�ons for the School.

• Provide support to planning applica�ons and provide focus for fundraising.

The result of this work is a proposal that preserves and enhances the best of Wellingborough School whilst also adop�ng a strategic approach to developing the facili�es.

Figure 1 – the ‘new’ Wellingborough School 1881

Under Copernicus, that which works will be retained and refurbished – for example, much of the 1881 building stock to the north of the site (shown in white at Figure 2). Other buildings that do not lend themselves to modernisa�on or adapta�on (many of which were erected as a ‘temporary measure’ many decades ago) are cleared and replaced with facili�es that are fit for the future.

The need to sustain current opera�ons whilst delivering Project Copernicus means it will be phased, broadly as follows:

Phase 1 1 Technology Centre 7 Nursery / Lower Prep (with its own catering provision) 3 Energy Centre 2 Gate House and new parking 6 A ‘through site’ access road, linking London Road and Irthlingborough Road

Phase 2 4 Sports Centre and swimming pool (including provision for community and local primary school use)

Phase 3 7 Upper Prep 11 CCF / Duke of Edinburgh facility / parking at the Embankment

Phase 4 8 Science Centre

Phase 5 9 Teaching and research building 5 Landscaping the quad

Phase 6 10 Theatre / performing arts centre

Phase 7 Refurbishment of exis�ng building stock (including energy efficiency works) and landscaping - to run throughout as opera�ons allow

See Figure 2 for reference

Whilst financing will ul�mately dictate the precise �melines for the delivery of each phase, this is deliberately a long-term plan that will see full delivery over a 30-year �meframe; subject to planning, we intend to start Phase 1 in 2023. Much, much more to follow in due course, but the journey starts here.

Figure 2 – Wellingborough School under Project Copernicus

WORKING WELL TOGETHER

Whilst the pandemic hindered the School’s ability to reach beyond its gates and support opportuni�es and chari�es as has become the norm here, it also gave rise to a refreshed apprecia�on of how fortunate we are and what we can do to help people and communi�es who do not benefit from our privileges.

Global events once again drew our eye and, as ever, the students were especially keen to rally round and find ways of raising both awareness and funds – and it really is the students who lead the way, demonstra�ng their passion and commitment and never failing to rally their peers to their cause.

Andrew Holman Headmaster

W E L L I N G B O R O U G H T O Z A M O Ś Ć!

Firstly, I want to say thank you! For every individual who has contributed monetarily, food shopping, spreading the word in the community and rallying up support of the student body. Also, to the volunteers who helped sort and pack food, did shu�le runs for food in the local community. It simply would not have happened without all your support.

It is a sure sign of the bea�ng heart of our school and what we stand for, and I am truly proud of our school and local community. I know there were so many community links involved from businesses to chari�es suppor�ng the cause.

There were over 30 volunteers to help sort and pack. It was such a good atmosphere and to have all ages and backgrounds working with determina�on, good spirit and humour was incredibly special. The truck arrived in Zamość! Philip Edmonds’ fully loaded lorry from Bri�sh Humanitarian Aid, arrived and the items were loaded onto smaller Ukrainian vans for distribu�on. It took mul�ple vans to distribute the food that was donated. The first van crossed the Ukrainian border for distribu�on to people who had no access to food by any other means. Again, I want to say thank you for all your support.

Steve Hill Chaplain

T H E P L A T I N U M J U B I L E E

C E L E B R A T I O N

The Prep School was busy making Jubilee cra�s, researching facts about the Queen and making decora�ons for our tea party celebra�on outside on the pa�o near Lower Prep. They also learned a song that has been specially wri�en for the occasion – the tune, once heard gets stuck in your head!

In Nursery the Happy Helpers as usual proudly wore their badges but for Jubilee week they also had a Happy Helper crown. The children understand that the Queen appears on our stamps so they designed their own Jubilee stamp and I am sure you will agree there are many amazing pictures of the Queen.

The Whole School was treated to some lovely English scones with cream and jam!

R E M E M B R A N C E

On Wednesday 10th November Year 12 Nevill created and delivered a House presenta�on about remembrance. We explained about the importance of remembering those who sacrificed their lives and who are s�ll serving for our country.

In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place: and in the sky The larks, s�ll bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders’ fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders’ fields.

We separated into eight groups of mixed year groups, to encourage team building and ver�cal mentoring in House and in these groups we challenged them with a Remembrance Kahoot with prizes for the winners. This was a great experience for our Tutor group to collaborate and to put all of our ideas together as a team.

“In Flanders’ Fields”

By John McCrae

Iris 12NE

The children have enjoyed their Wellbeing Wednesday lessons. Each week there has been a creature who portrays the week’s message. This par�cular week it was Elrig the Wise Owl. The message he gave to the children was about respec�ng themselves and recognising that each one of us is a superhero in our own way, as we have many posi�ve quali�es, and we can share them with others - a message for all of us I think!

M I N I M A R A T H O N

On Wednesday 13th October we took part in the Mini London Marathon, a 2.6 mile route around the School grounds. It was a fantas�c event with around 100 pupils taking part, pupils from all over the School joined in, from Hedgehogs to Year 13. This event was to raise money for the Senior and Prep School chari�es and got the fundraising off to a solid start. Thank you to all of the pupils, staff and parents involved.

The Weymouth girls focused on pu�ng together their Christmas hampers, one per year group, to raise money for our House Charity: The Air Ambulance Service. They must be commended on their efforts, as they looked very en�cing indeed. The Year 12 girls were busy selling raffle �ckets for the hampers and preparing for the draw, which took place in our final assembly of the year on Monday 13th December, alongside the tradi�onal Weymouth Na�vity, acted out by Year 13 girls - a much-an�cipated play. In addi�on to the hamper fundraiser, we had a Weymouth House breakfast, a lovely get together for the whole House, including our Year 7 and 8 students. We were entertained with some tunes to get us in the Christmas spirit and the dining room staff decorated in �me for the occasion. In addi�on, the girls donated a number of advent calendars to the Wellingborough Food bank and we hope many children enjoyed them.

Joanne James Weymouth Housemistress

W E Y M O U T H H O U S E C H A R I T Y H A M P E R S

C U L T U R E W E E K

Culture week is where we celebrate Wellingborough's diverse cultures and help educate students about different cultures. The culture week was made possible by the students in the Inclusivity Club.

I was delighted to deliver a car boot full of advent calendars to the Wellingborough Food bank. Thanks to your generous dona�ons, 216 children, who are not as fortunate as our pupils, received and enjoyed an advent calendar in their weekly food parcel.

Catherine Waite Charity Co-ordinator

A

M A Z I N G C H A R I T

A C T I V I T Y B R E A K

Y

Congratula�ons to the Charity Commi�ee who organised a brilliant charity break �me in November! All stalls were crowded with pupils eager to spend their 20p’s! Thank you to all pupils who played the games and contributed to our school charity, Cancer Research. In 25 minutes we raised £179.00!

Catherine Waite Charity Co-ordinator

During the week we had different ac�vi�es to help promote different cultures. We had a quiz for all students to test their knowledge on different cultures. Throughout the week we served South Asian food in the Dining Hall, which everybody enjoyed. And finally on the last day we had stalls with different ac�vi�es, which ran over both lunches so that everybody could be involved. Our most popular stall was the food stall, which had food from all over the globe, and was made possible by parents who brought in food from their own country. We also had a stall teaching people how to �e a sari and a stall with henna. These were also very popular and lots of fun. The other stalls had a carrom board, music, and a stall with diverse authors. The week was a huge success, and we hope to do it again.

O N

Zakariya, in our Nursery has done an amazing thing – he hadn’t had his hair cut for over 3 years. It was beau�ful and fell naturally to the base of his spine when not �ed back. His Mummy and Daddy decided it was the perfect �me for Zakky to have his hair cut. It has been donated to the Li�le Princess Trust, this is a charity that provides children undergoing cancer treatment with a wig made of real hair. We are all very proud of you, Zakariya.

Rebecca Girling Head of Lower Prep

C H A R I T Y U P D A T E

The Prep School Charity Commi�ee were delighted to announce that they have more than doubled their target for the year and have raised a magnificent £4,535.53 for Cancer Research! Gemma from Cancer Research joined us for an assembly. She listened to a presenta�on given by Charity Reps before gratefully receiving the ‘big’ cheque and explaining what our money would be used for.

A

K

During a week in November the An�-Bullying Ambassadors for the School ensured that each day saw a different enjoyable ac�vity to make our stand against bullying. On Monday they presented a whole school assembly on An�-Bullying Week and the theme of ‘One Kind Word’. Odd Socks Day marks the start of An�-Bullying Week which is designed to encourage children to express themselves and celebrate their individuality. On Monday pupils wrote kind words and messages on the playground with chalk.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Charity Reps for their dedica�on, ideas and enthusiasm, members of staff for their support (par�cularly in coun�ng the £420.10 coins collected in the Club Coin Challenge!) and everyone who has so generously donated �me, cakes, chocolate and money, to name but a few, throughout this year.

Catherine Waite and Charity Commi�ee

Tuesday was a blast with making loom bands, from experts to complete novices, some amazing crea�ons were made. Wednesday was the Hand Pain�ng Tree, in Club colours, which was displayed outside the Robinson Centre. Thursday was Disco Time, where we danced and boogied the lunch�me away. And finally on Friday it was ‘Wear Something Blue’ Day for the School Charity, as the colour blue is serene and calm and is a symbol of peace.

Jo Rowley-Burns Head of Pastoral Care

N T I - B U L L Y I N G W E E

L I T T L E P R I N C E S S T R U S T D O N A T I

M U S I C R E T U R N S!

Music returned to the School in no uncertain terms this year! We were delighted that almost every pupil con�nued to take online individual music lessons during the lockdown providing us with a strong base from which to return to normality. Our Spring Concert was a triumph, with well over a hundred pupils taking part in an evening of ensemble music-making, alongside several outstanding solo performances from our leavers, Tanaka Jalathge, Fiona Kidd, George Leahy and Zsofia Liber�ny. Tea-�me recitals have con�nued on a regular basis, now finding a permanent home in Chapel, with good ven�la�on and acous�cs.

Pupils of all ages and abili�es enjoy these opportuni�es to perform before a small and apprecia�ve audience of fellow pupils, family and friends. How pleased we were to return to St. Mary's Church for our Easter services.

Accompanied by a brass quartet and organ, the pupils sang with real vigour and enthusiasm, something we have missed during the last few years.

It was also the first opportunity to hear the reformed Chapel Choir as they sang three pieces by Malcolm Archer, Mozart and Charles Wood. Mr Runnells was successful in securing a redundant pipe organ from a closed chapel in Leicestershire. With the help of both pupils and staff, it is currently being re-assembled in Chapel where it will take its place alongside the excellent digital organ. The hope is to eventually offer an organ scholarship to a pupil with the aim of coaching them in the art of hymn-playing and accompaniment to support our regular services throughout the year.

Runnells Director of Music

Ian

FAREWELL

James Petrie

A�er over 14 years in various posts within the Estates team (and several more years before that as a pupil at the School), James Petrie le� in November 2021 to become the Estates Director at The Perse School in Cambridge. It was in his final role as the Estates Bursar at Wellingborough that he really shone; a colleague and friend to all, James’ leadership and diligence has been instrumental in preserving the fabric of the past whilst also shaping the future. He leaves a powerful legacy, his fingerprints being evident across the site – figura�vely and in some areas, quite literally…

Brendan McKenna

Brendan McKenna joined Wellingborough School in September 2017 as ICT Coordinator and Maths teacher, immediately making an impact with his cheerful demeanour and willingness to help anybody. He later became ac�ng Pastoral Coordinator and then Head of Curriculum where he led the planning for a total change in our curriculum to the Interna�onal Primary Curriculum, leading our Heads of Department team. We wish him all the best in his new role, at a school not a million miles away, and we hope to see him on the touchline in the near future.

Joe Ramsden

It was with a heavy heart that we said farewell to Joe Ramsden, to take up his new posi�on at Bedford. As O.W, Games teacher, Head of Year 8 and outstanding History teacher, he was that perfect combina�on of consistently dedicated, strict if required, rarely shouty and always humorous, fun and smiley. He was a superb role model and was loved and respected by pupils and staff across the School. His signature style of taking Garne’s stairs three at a �me, burs�ng through his classroom door whilst delivering a full force projec�on of 'right, then' to begin his lessons summed up his love of History and his enthusiasm and passion for teaching.

Zarina Shah

Zarina has been part of Wellingborough School for 15 years as a member of staff and longer when we remember that she a�ended Wellingborough as a student and her children also joined the School. A reflec�on of Zarina’s adaptability is reflected by the range of year groups for whom she has been a valued Teaching Assistant. She has a fabulous sense of fun and engaged children in a range of ac�vi�es from reading, pain�ng, science inves�ga�ons to number work. We all wish her well in her new career.

Adele Andrews

Adele Andrews commenced employment on 31st August 2010 and le� the School on 23rd December 2021. Adele began her tenure as a Finance Officer and moved onto the role of HR Assistant in March 2013. In September 2015 Adele became the Payroll & Pensions Officer and held this positon un�l her leave date. Adele was a commi�ed and loyal employee with a great sense of humour. The School wishes her all the very best in her future endeavours.

Liz Barnes

Liz Barnes worked as Finance Officer for over 20 years, with du�es related to fee billing and associated charges to the parents of over 800 pupils. As well as rou�nely colla�ng bills, sor�ng out Direct Debits and liaising with parents, the recent pandemic and a move to a new so�ware system demonstrated the need for adaptability and agility. We wish Liz and husband Nick all the best for the future.

Paddy O’Hanlon

Colour Sergeant O’Hanlon, or Colour as he was affec�onately known by the cadets, joined us just over 5 years ago as the School Staff Instructor for the Combined Cadet Force (CCF). During this �me, he made his mark with his memorable parade style and enthusiasm for First Aid and CCF compe��ons. One of his biggest successes involved suppor�ng the Army sec�on, to take home the �tle of Combat Cadet Champions 2022.

Alison Holley

We sadly say goodbye to a true Schoolmistress this year in Alison Holley. Mrs Holley led an incredibly successful Classics Department and taught with passion, empathy as well as ‘a rod of iron’ over the last 22 years. She guided our Gi�ed & Able students to many an Oxbridge College, supported our pupils as a much-respected tutor and ran countless outstanding Ba�lefield and Rome trips. In the words of a recent leaver, ‘She (Mrs Holley) managed to frame the Classics in the modern day, which is a unique skill in itself; whether it was se�ng essay ques�ons of ‘To what extent was Camilla a feminist icon in the Aeneid’ or comparing the year of the four emperors to the Cameron, May, Johnson quick succession (very topical). In short, she made La�n interes�ng, current and debatable.” We wish her a long and happy re�rement. Cura ut valeas domina ilex.

Clare Drakeford

Clare joined the school in November 2017 as Head of Netball and Sports coach. During her �me at the school, she undertook her PGCE and successfully navigated her NQT year. An excellent Netball coach, a great teacher and a superb role model for the pupils. Her energy and bubbly enthusiasm will be missed. We wish her every success at Trent College and for the rest of her career.

Lee Hilton

A�er he originally joined in September 2002, as an NQT from Loughborough University and stayed un�l 2007, he returned in 2012 to take on the Director of Sport role. During this �me, under his leadership, some of his many successes include suppor�ng staff and their teams to Na�onal finals (Hockey, Netball, Trampolining) and increasing Sport/fixture par�cipa�on numbers across the School. We wish him well as he moves to Malvern College as Director of Sport, designated safeguarding lead and boarding tutor.

Jess Clarke

We sadly say goodbye (again) to Jess, as she heads off to pastures new. Jess came back to us as a Graduate Student, before comple�ng her Teacher Training in the PE and Geography Depart ments. Jess, in true Wellingborough style, involved herself in everything inside and outside the classroom. Teaching GCSE classes, coaching and running the Girls’ Hockey programme, suppor�ng the CCF and DofE ac�vi�es, and being a dedicated tutor in Weymouth House. We wish you and your young family all the best.

Kim Kelly

It was with great sadness that we learned of Kim’s passing in August. She has worked in A�er School Club for 7 years, she always put the children’s interests first, especially ensuring they had a range of fresh fruit every day. Kim had a gentle sense of fun and was regularly seen playing bat and ball, turning the skipping rope or building towers with the children. We will all miss her.

Victoria Livingstone

Kathleen Maddams

Kelly Washington

Dorothy Faulkner

Ophelia Wilson

Julia Clarke

Lucy As�ll

Roisin Szczygiel

Andrew Doig

Flory Petcu

STARTING WELL

How wonderful it is to be able to begin by saying so much has happened in school this year! We have been able to focus on all the things that we have been able to do, rather than worrying, as in the previous year during restric�ons, about what we were not allowed to do.

All year groups have enjoyed trips out and welcomed visitors into school. This has enriched the curriculum for our pupils and enabled them to delve deeper into their learning as they began the Interna�onal Primary Curriculum topics for the first �me. Whether it be experiencing what it was like at the �me of the Great Fire of London, or learning how to make their own chocolate, the opportuni�es have been grasped with both hands.

Our pupils have con�nued to focus on our core value of kindness, choosing Cancer Research UK as the charity for us to support this year. Raising over £4500 is no mean feat and it was certainly a team effort. There was a wide range of ac�vi�es such as non-uniform days, ac�vity breaks, the Club Coin Challenge, cake sale and ice cream break, to name just a few.

We have enjoyed drama performances from all age groups and Upper Prep pupils have relished being involved in many sports matches against other schools. It has been lovely to have parents able to come into school to see all of this in ac�on, with a highlight for many being our whole Prep School Sports Day in July. It was just like the Olympics, beginning with the Club Parade, complete with flags, and ending with the tradi�onal relay races!

I hope, as you read through the pages that follow, you are able to get a flavour of what our pupils have achieved this year; we are so proud of them all.

Katharine Owen Head of Prep

N U R S E R Y

We have con�nued our morning drop off at the door to Nursery as it helps the children se�le quickly to their learning. Some of our new parents were amazed when they saw their children happy and engaged in ac�vi�es on our Seesaw videos later in the day!

The balance bikes have proved very popular, and children regularly ride round the Nursery garden dressed as superheroes.

Mr G taught the children woodwork skills, crea�ng and assembling using hammers and screwdrivers. These ac�vi�es are great for strengthening fingers and wrists in readiness to hold a pencil, it also requires careful concentra�on. We have made sound s�cks, hedgehogs and tractors to link with our topics.

R A N G E R J

Nursery had a fabulous a�ernoon when Ranger J came to visit. She talked with the children about Autumn and then everyone went on a conker hunt in the School grounds. Ranger J stayed for tea with us, and we hope she will visit us again.

We even managed to open our ‘Foods from around the World’ restaurant … Jamie Oliver would have been proud! This term the children have been under the ocean mee�ng ‘merpeople’ and the occasional friendly pirate.

ac�ve year in our busy Nursery.

Mary Gu�eridge Head of Nursery

Another

WELL ON THEIR WAY

R E C E P T I O N B U T T E R F L I E S

This year has been incredibly busy for Bu�erflies. We have enjoyed many topics throughout the year, but the children’s favourites were definitely Superheroes and Space. To start our Superheroes topic off we had a visit from The Mighty Freeze who stole our precious box, leaving us to solve the problem of how to retrieve it. We looked for clues and came up with a plan. Luckily we worked so well as a team that we were able to return the box safely back to the classroom.

We then had a surprise visit when some aliens crash landed on the school field. Astronaut George was able to draw us a map to follow so we could rescue them, but how could we get them back to their planet? The children were so excited when they came to visit and wrote some pleading le�ers to Mrs Girling to ensure they could stay for a while, un�l we could repair their spaceship, she reluctantly agreed but the aliens became firm friends. We then took a class visit to the space centre in Leicester where Astronaut George helped us to learn all about the planets and why we can only live on Earth.

As well as these exci�ng experiences we managed to squeeze in our Na�vity play ‘The Na�vity’, a celebra�on for Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Valen�ne’s Day, a Mother’s Day tea and Father’s Day fun a�ernoon, Sports Day, a visit to Woburn, a magnificent bug ball and watched our caterpillars grow into bu�erflies and release them into the environment. It is no wonder we are all exhausted but feeling very posi�ve about a fabulous year!

Diana Randle Bu�erflies teacher

Y E A R 1 H E D G E H O G S

Hedgehogs have had a busy year where they have emersed themselves into all of the topics we have covered. We started off the year with ‘Brainwaves: The Brain’. Using a jelly version of the brain they discovered that it controls thinking, problem solving, memory, movement, dreaming/sleeping and emo�ons. We all had lots of fun and got very messy!

The next topic was ‘Who am I?’ We shared photos of us as babies and we had to guess who was who!

‘Let’s Celebrate’ was an opportunity for us to find out about celebra�ons across cultures.

The Year 1 play, Three Billy Goats Gruff’ was a real success. The children learnt their lines perfectly, sang songs enthusias�cally and performed brilliantly on the day and it was so good to be able to welcome parents and carers to watch in person. While the children were busy prac�sing for their play, we also covered the topic ‘From A to B’, which was about different types of transport and the different journeys we make.

The highlight of the year, was our topic in Trinity term, ‘The Big Smoke’. The children learnt all about The Great Fire of London and how it started and what happened in 1666. The children were also taken back in �me when ‘Those History People’ visited our school and we re-enacted what happened. The children came to school dressed in Tudor costumes and learnt different trades, such as bread making, ink making and medicine making. To end this part of the topic, the children shared their knowledge through a class assembly. The children then looked at how London had changed and what it is like today. The children loved looking at all of the different landmarks, learning about the Queen and having a Pla�num Jubilee celebra�on – such a busy and fun filled year!

Y E A R 2 O W L S

Owl class have shown their wise a�tude and have loved being the top of the Lower Prep this year. We have embraced many new styles of working and enjoyed using these in our work.

In our Time Traveller IPC topic, we inves�gated our own families and made museums “about us.” We looked at family trees and learned how to make our own. In November we learnt about Remembrance Day and inves�gated our school war memorial.

We started our Christmas fes�vi�es with our Chris�ngle service in the Chapel.

Our highlight of the second half of Lent term has to be our play Robin Hood. The children were so excited to perform their play to their parents and friends and the singing and ac�ng was just amazing. Well done Owls – you brought the house down!

Trinity term has seen our work on our Towers and Turrets topic. We have had a fantas�c �me learning all about castles and started our project with an amazing Castles day at school.

The children in Owls have been working hard in English. We have embraced a new style of working and the independent wri�ng has been superb. Excellent poems and reports have emerged accompanied by pirate experience days which involved ship’s biscuits and large amounts of “grog.” We sang shan�es and made hats and learnt what our new pirate name would be. All this has meant that we had masses to write about and share in our reports.

Altogether a fabulous finish to the children’s �me in Lower Prep and Key Stage 1.

In Lent term we started the It’s Shocking topic. We had enormous fun learning how to make sta�c electricity and seeing who could get their hair to stand on end. We had a super trip to The Thinktank Museum in Birmingham where we learned so much at the electricity show and inves�gated the amazing displays in the museum.

WELL ROUNDED

K I S M E T

We had a surprise visitor from Kismet, a therapy dog. She was in school with Mr O’Hanlon and he asked whether we would like the children in Lower Prep to meet her and hear her story. Well as you can see from the photographs it was a ‘yes please’ from everyone.

Kismet is a very calm long haired dachshund and she happily let the children stroke her. In Nursery one of the children even got to hold her. Mr O’Hanlon told us that she was a rescue dog from Afghanistan. He had found her as a puppy when he was working there with the army and he brought her home. The children were all amazed by how so� her coat was and how gentle she is. A real treat for everyone.

I P C B R A I N W A V E S

At the beginning of Michaelmas Term, Years 1 and 2 started our first topic following the new Interna�onal Primary Curriculum, (IPC) it is called Brainwaves. The children were given a brain (aka strawberry jelly!) to inves�gate. They worked in groups and hidden in each brain was a picture showing what our brain does. Working together the children discovered the six func�ons our brains do; thinking, problem solving, memory, move ment, dreaming/sleeping and emo�ons. They learned how important it is that we look a�er our brains by drinking lots of water. A very exci�ng start to a new topic.

B I R D F E E D E R S

In DT, Owls were working on their bird feeders. The children are jus�fiably proud of their finished product, they have reused either a drinks carton or a plas�c bo�le making this an environmentally friendly project. We are also confident that garden birds will really appreciate having a feeder to visit in the colder weather. We remembered to keep them filled as birds get to rely on feeders when the hedgerows are bare during the winter months.

A R E A L L I V E

S U P E R H E R O!

Dr Verma, a real live superhero, came to visit Bu�erflies. She talked to the children about her job and showed them some of the items she needs to use to help people when they are poorly. The children’s listening skills were very impressive, and they asked though�ul ques�ons. Their independent cra� ac�vity was to make their own doctor’s bag.

W O R L D B O O K D A Y

The en�re Upper Prep was taken off �metable for the day to complete a range of magical wizard and witch focused ac�vi�es. We started the day with an assembly led by Mrs Simmons which was very well received by staff and pupils alike. It was wonderful to see the children in a wide range of fantas�c costumes - so many of them really embraced the theme of the day (the latex nose on one of our Year 6 pupils was par�cularly scary!).

Throughout the course of the day, every child made their very own imaginary wizard card like you would find inside a Harry Po�er chocolate frog box. Our younger pupils transformed a humble s�ck into a magical wizarding wand. Our older pupils completed some magical science ac�vi�es including Slytherin Slime, Hufflepuff enchan�ng bubble lamps, Ravenclaw incredible sta�c crea�ons and Gryffindor secret le�er wri�ng. The Maths ac�vi�es included po�on making and probability ac�vi�es with Ber�e Bo�s Beans - for obvious reasons these sessions proved extremely popular.

The day also included a drama session based on all things magical, where the children wrote their own words to 'Double Trouble' and performed them to the class. This was a truly wonderful day, and I would like to thank all the staff involved for their extensive planning and resource making, the children for their boundless enthusiasm and the parents for embracing the theme of the day.

Claire McDougall Head of Curriculum

Owls who are part of Gardening Club set off to the spinney in the outside learning area. We posi�oned feeders, mealworms and fat balls along the hedgerows hoping these will encourage birds to visit us. We knew that it is important to keep feeding birds once started and this became a weekly task for the Owl Gardeners un�l Spring started!

C H I C K S!

We had a very special delivery of 11 fer�le chicken eggs that were due to hatch in 24 to 48 hours. Thanks to the support of WPSA we were able to engage with The Happy Chick Company who specialise in providing, suppor�ng and enabling children to watch chicks hatch and develop for 10 days. The whole of Lower Prep were on tenterhooks when the eggs arrived. We told the children that nature is unpredictable and we would need to be pa�ent and not expect all the eggs to hatch. Once we explained to the children that hatching was a very strenuous ac�vity and the chicks needed a calm environment for this, honestly, I have never known the Lower Prep to be so quiet.

In our assemblies we have been talking about how we need to look a�er our environment and that if we all do a li�le bit it will make a big difference. We looked at a real nest that had been abandoned for a couple of years and listened to the beau�ful songs our garden birds sing. There are pictures of the most common garden birds displayed along the corridor and it has been a delight listening to the children iden�fying them as they walk to their classrooms.

Oh my goodness, the result was way beyond all of our expecta�ons, so many of our children, and pupils from Year 3 and 4 witnessed chicks either in the process of hatching or having just hatched. There have been so many memories created and I am not talking about just for children – every adult across the whole School that has been down to Owl Class has delighted in seeing the fluffy chicks as soon as they have been made aware they are here. The chicks spent the weekend with Mrs Wood and then went back to the Happy Chick Farm. A huge thank you to WPSA for funding this opportunity for the children.

Rebecca Girling Head of Lower Prep

Trinity Term was busy for the Science department with lots of exci�ng topics and ac�vi�es that took place across all year groups. A�er an enforced two-year break, we were recently delighted to welcome back into school, astronomer Mr Andrew Green, along with his mobile planetarium. This brought to life Year 5's learning of their science topic Earth, Sun and Moon. Pupils were excited to enter the six-metre dome, where they were able to view 3000 stars in the night sky, enjoying a speedy (and ver�ginous) visit to various loca�ons in the world.

The children learnt about black holes and meteorites, the Great Square of Pegasus and the Summer Triangle. They enjoyed making links between the stars and ancient myths, such as that of Callisto (the Great Bear) and Arcas (the Li�le Bear). Mr Green was delighted to answer the interes�ng and numerous ques�ons that were posed. Following this visit the children produced some wonderful and imagina�ve models of the Solar System.

Claire McDougall Head of Curriculum

Year 6 made the most of the sunny weather and the outdoor learning space. As part of their topic on Evolu�on and Inheritance, they had been colla�ng data to analyse. The children had been looking at colour varia�ons in living organisms and were inves�ga�ng whether there is a correla�on between the length of a holly leaf and the number of prickles it has. The pupils then produced some detailed and well-presented data analysis.

E V O L U T I O N A N D I N H E R I T A N C E

T H E F A B U L O U S 'F I V E R C H A L L E N G E'

The Fiver Challenge is an exci�ng project-based task which aims to develop pupils’ teamwork skills. It introduces the essen�al life skill of financial literacy as pupils develop products, make financial plans for their business, carry out market research and finally launch their products to market. This ac�vity is part of the Year 6 PSHCE Curriculum. related to financial awareness.

Year 6 pupils were given £5 with which to make a profit over the course of the month of June. The pupils worked very hard to create and sell a range of unique products, ranging from plants, marmalades, clay figurines, bracelets, and edible delights. One group made tartan hair scrunchies from nearly new skirts to match the school uniform and were sold in the school shop. They raised over £200 for charity! On Thursday 30th June 2022, Year 6 set up stalls at break �me selling a wide range of goods and services. There were awards for the most original product, the best advert, the most profitable company and the best in sustainability.

C A D B U R Y W O R L D

Year 4 had a fabulous trip to Cadbury World as part of their ‘Chocolate’ topic and it was very pleasing to hear that the Cadbury’s staff were so impressed with the level of our pupils’ knowledge – a testament to the work they had already done in school prior to the visit.

Katharine Owen Head of Prep School

T H E T H I N K T A N K

T R I P

Owls had a fantas�c trip to The Think Tank in Birmingham. The photographs show how engaged the children were with all the ac�vi�es. They looked at so many different things from fossils, animals around the world, to inside the human body and electricity. The displays were all interac�ve and captured the children’s interest. They enjoyed the construc�on site in Mini Brum and were enthralled with the Electric Light Show. I was very impressed with the children’s knowledge and understanding of electricity. It really was a very successful trip and the children behaved wonderfully, enthusias�cally approaching every ac�vity on offer.

Rebecca Girling Head of Lower Prep

Y E A R 5 ‘G O W I T H

T H

O W’ T R I P T O S T O K E B R U E R N E

On Tuesday 22nd February, Year 5 pupils and 6 staff visited the Stoke Bruerne Canal and museum. Our exci�ng day was led by a volunteer from the Canals and Rivers Trust. During our day the pupils learned about water safety and then the history and development of the canals system pre-industrial revolu�on. They took on roles such as being a coal mine owner, navvies who built the canals by hand plus the shipping merchants. Just before lunch the pupils had the opportunity to look around the museum and a�empt to make their own floa�ng paper barges. A�er lunch we enjoyed a wildlife walk in the sun where pupils made their memory strings. Our des�na�on was the Blisworth tunnel - the third largest tunnel in the UK which is so long it has total darkness in the middle. Our final stop was back to the locks where a well-�med narrow boat trip allowed the pupils to see how the boat navigates through the lock system.

The pupils were very engaged and enthusias�c as always and the follow up lessons allowed them to write formal thank you le�ers to Adrian Royston our amazing volunteer. I personally would highly recommend an a�ernoon visit during a weekend or holiday to either Stoke Bruerne or the magnificent Foxton Locks near Market Harborough.

Clare Whitaker Head of Geography

E F L

B L E T C H L E Y P A R K

On Thursday 5th May, Year 6 visited The Na�onal Museum of Compu�ng at Bletchley Park. The day was filled with engaging, interac�ve ac�vi�es that perfectly complimented our lessons in school. Year 6 are currently studying the history of compu�ng in IT and their learning was enhanced and brought to life through explora�on of both historical and modern technology, a digital escape room, codebreaking tasks and the opportunity to programme the original ‘Snake’ game on computers from the 1980s. All pupils thoroughly enjoyed the day and then commenced their research projects in which they were able to incorporate their learning from the museum.

Y E A R 4 V I S I T T O S A C R E W E L L F A R M

Year 4 experienced two amazing exit point ac�vi�es in one week. First, they visited Sacrewell Farm Centre near Peterborough. With mixed weather condi�ons the children spent the day consolida�ng their exis�ng knowledge on farming and how food goes from field to fork. They had a tractor ride to look around Riverford Organic farm plus the ar�san courtyard where we spoke with the chocola�ers, blacksmith, and an awesome ar�st. They had a PE lesson with races such as egg & spoon, sack and wheelbarrow races (all farming themed) and mee�ng some very friendly peacocks. A�er having lunch and dodging the rain shower, pupils explored the paddocks, mee�ng lots of different animals along with some free �me "taking responsible risks" in the outdoor zone. The children also looked around the old Victorian water and flour mill. A fun day was had by all.

N O R F O L K

On Wednesday 11th May, Year 5 pupils set off to Norfolk for three days of adventure and fun with their friends and peer group. It was a super opportunity for them to face a variety of ac�vi�es pu�ng the School's Habits of Mind to the test. The children were delighted to find their rooms on arrival but were keen to get cracking with the a�ernoon ac�vi�es. There were rota�ng ac�vi�es over the three days with specific goals: bushcra�, assault course, Big Zipper, archery and tree climbing.

The bushcra� ac�vity required teamwork and communica�on skills. The children were quick to realize that collabora�on would reap the best results. There was camaraderie collec�ng the right balance of silver birch twigs to branches and keeping the fires burning long enough to toast some marshmallows and popcorn.

To some, the Big Zipper seemed daun�ng but, to others, the highlight of the trip. Similarly, the tree-climbing was an opportunity for all the children to test their bravery. It was lovely to see the children encouraging each other and applauding those who overcame their fears. Archery was about focus and striving for accuracy. Could you hit a balloon with a bow and arrow? The most laughter was heard on the assault course when the children conquered team and individual challenges.

Thursday brought some sunshine, and the rock pooling was a huge success - creatures were willing to be scooped up in nets and eyed with wonderment and awe before being returned to their seawater home.

The children have created lifelong memories, strengthened bonds of friendship and have even more stories to share. They le� happy and buzzing, proud of their achievements and increased independence.

Many thanks go to Mrs Rowley-Burns, Mr Richardson, Mr Owen and Mrs Evans for making the children feel supported and empowered on their first school residen�al trip.

Amanda Simmons Head of English

Y E A R S 3 & 4 T R I P T O

G R A F H A M W A T E R

Year 3 and 4 pupils took part in an ac�vi�es trip to Gra�am Water and had a wonderful �me as I am sure you can see from the photographs! We were truly blessed with the weather and all of the children were fully engaged throughout the day. The ac�vi�es included Ra� Building which was the most popular ac�vity of almost every child on the trip! Following some excellent guidance from the Gra�am instructors our pupils made some very secure ra�s and then paddled out into the water with gusto and giggles, many ended up in the water, but a large mo�vator here was in order to cool down!

Claire Petrie Deputy Head

S P A C E C E N T R E

Bu�erflies con�nued their topic on Space with a trip to the Space Centre in Leicester. The children were amazed to meet Astronaut George, he was very grateful to them for finding his missing space ship. The children were stunned by the size of the Thor Able rocket, it is 27 metres tall! Exploring inside a replica space capsule was great fun, so many bu�ons to press. All the adults were very proud of the children, they had remembered so much informa�on about space, this is a truly inspiring topic. I had many wonderful le�ers from the children asking me to let the aliens stay in Lower Prep. When I was told the aliens are excellent at �dying up and are very friendly I was persuaded, so we now have two new addi�ons in Bu�erflies, Bob and Jim the aliens!

Rebecca Girling Head of Lower Prep

The Year 4 pupils had lots of fun this year making chocolate chip cookies, then learning all about the adventurer and entomologist Evelyn Cheesman, and making a bug hotel for the garden. In the Trinity term the pupils made food “Kawaii” characters in felt and made them into keyrings for their bags.

The Year 5 pupils have been busy making pop up cards for global celebra�ons from Día de los Muertos to the Hermanus Whale Fes�val. They have also worked hard in the workshop making a mug tree.

It was a team effort for the Year 6 rubber band buggies, then they dived into learning about climate control, making a cushion from scrap material and a pencil pot highligh�ng the plight of some endangered animals.

Sara Holman Head of DT

WELL PLAYED

The academic year 2021-22 will be remembered for a return to ‘normal’ in terms of sport, or a ‘new normal’. Most of the restric�ons put in place at a na�onal level the previous year by the Government and Na�onal Governing Bodies had gone. No longer was there a need to sani�se every ball, piece of equipment and pupil a�er every session.

The buzz returned to the Prep School on Wednesdays and Fridays as pupils in the Upper Prep eagerly an�cipated those much-loved fixtures. The programme of compe��ve sport returned to near pre pandemic levels.

In both Games and Physical Educa�on lessons staff and pupils alike worked hard to catch up with the skill development, coaching �me and opportuni�es missed due to COVID. In some sports, namely rugby, at the beginning of the 21-22 season rules were adapted to ensure a safe transi�on back to compe��ve sport. Pupils were also able to return to the Waendel pool for swimming lessons again. Furthermore, there was a return to Club Sport each term, culmina�ng in Sports Day, which took place in July with several hundred parents and family members in support. The atmosphere that day was special to experience.

In 2022-23 we welcome Miss Short our new Head of Prep Sport. Miss Short is an OW and is very excited to take up the post. She is looking forward to implemen�ng some new ini�a�ves and ac�vi�es in the Prep School.

Jonathan Dean Ac�ng Director

of Sport

WELL ACCOMPLISHED

The 2021/22 academic year was another busy and unprecedented year at Wellingborough with educa�on across the world s�ll suffering the effects of the Covid pandemic and the associated restric�ons. Students who had never taken public examina�ons were studying and preparing for the first full A level and GCSE exam season since 2019, whilst also wondering if those exams would actually happen. The return of a more “normal” school experience towards the end of the year was extremely welcome and Wellingborough students have embraced each opportunity. An ISI Inspec�on in late March, which resulted in the best ever inspec�on report for the School with pupils’ academic and other achievements judged to be excellent (the top grading) for the first �me, confirmed the success we see from day -to-day and year-to-year as the students develop through their �me at the School. The resilient, ar�culate students, who make the most of their educa�on both inside and outside the classroom, described in the report are immediately recognisable to anyone who works at Wellingborough and here we celebrate them and their achievements.

Chris�ne Gamble Deputy Head, Academic

D E S T I N A T I O N S

Adams, Emilie Ahmed, Hamza Ali, Rihana Askew, Harriet Ayres, Hayden Barnes, Molly Beirne, Ka�e Bowie, Alexander Callis, Jasper Chadwick, Philippa Chopra, Vansh Daly, Liam Davies, Oscar Denton, James Duffin, Thomas Dunkley, Archie Dunkley, Ber�e Dunn, Jamie Elekima, Walter Evans, Harry Ferguson, Charlo�e Ferguson, Marcus Fleckney, Max

Geography - University of Leicester

GAP year. Applying for 2023 Applying for Veterinary 2023

Food Technology and Product Development - Harper Adams University Business Finance and Management - University of East Anglia GAP year. September 2023 start - Royal Holloway, BA Music and Theatre Studies Poli�cs and Interna�onal Rela�ons - Lancaster University Natural Sciences - Durham University Property Development and Planning - Oxford Brookes University

Level 2 Engineering Appren�ceship - Navy Economics - Queen’s University Belfast Accoun�ng & Finance - London School of Economics and Poli�cal Science History - Loughborough University

Aeronau�cs and Astronau�cs - University of Southampton

Marine Technology - Solent University (Southampton)

Accoun�ng and Finance - Newcastle University

Flying Start Degree Accountancy - PWC - University of No�ngham Gap Year travelling University of Cambridge - Medicine Applying for Appren�ceships

Food Business Managing and Marke�ng - Newcastle University Mechanical Engineering - Newcastle University Aeronau�cs and Astronau�cs / Aerodynamics - University of Southampton

Fountaine, William Gouldstone, Anna Gray, Alfie Grayson, Henry Hampden Smith, Tom Hawkins, Elizabeth Heaver, Amelia Hemsley, Harry Hicks, Elsa Hilton, Ella Hollick, Jack Hummel-Newell, Joshua Ivory, Frederick James, Tate Jones, Caoimhe Kenney, Thomas Khot, Anoushka Kidd, Fiona Lauder, Alexander Liber�ny, Zsofia Loibl, Ria Long, Harry Marchant, Francesca May, Harry Mitchell, Lydia Mukhtar, Nicole Murphy, Jus�n Neal-Davis Rhys Nixon, Ellie Nwajiaku, Ifeanyichukwu O'Connor, Emily Osborne, Rhianna Palmer, Emily-May Patel Reece Peel, Tobias Perry, Ben Pope, Daniel Rimmer, Jonathan Ross, George Sadikot, Ali-Asgar Sgoluppi, Fabian Sharpe, Harvey Stables, Luca Sterling, Joseph Stockdale, Mark Tandy, Nadya Thomsen, Jack Udugama Jalathge, Tanaka Warren Thiemann, Maria Washoma, Shamiso Webb, Millie Whitaker, Lauren

Real Estate - Oxford Brookes University

Occupa�onal Therapy - Cardiff University Medicine - University of Leicester ( Sept 2023) English Language and Linguis�cs - Cardiff University Modern and Contemporary History - Aberystwyth University Nutri�on and Diete�cs - University of Winchester Geography - University of Exeter Business and Marke�ng Management - Oxford Brookes University Medicine - University of Liverpool Product Design and Manufacture - University of No�ngham Gap Year - Applying 2023 Sport Business Management - Sheffield Hallam University Gap Year

Appren�ceship - UCEM Business - Oxford Brookes History - University of York Medicine - Imperial College London Liberal Arts - University of Bristol Accoun�ng and Financial Management - University of Sheffield Natural Sciences - Durham University Mathema�cs - University of Bath ( Sept 2023) Gap Year travelling Real Estate - Oxford Brookes University Poli�cs - Cardiff University

Informa�on not available Law - No�ngham Trent University Sports Journalism - University of Gloucestershire Veterinary - University of No�ngham Poli�cs and Interna�onal Rela�ons - Queen Mary's Q50 Electrical & Electronic Engineering - University of No�ngham Fashion Communica�on and Promo�on - No�ngham Trent University

Real Estate - Oxford Brookes University Professional Dance and Musical Theatre - Bird College Money, Banking and Finance - University of Birmingham History - University of Bristol Business Mangement - University of Sheffield

Marine and Natural History Photography - Falmouth University Gap Year - Applying 2023

Digital Marke�ng - University of Portsmouth Gap Year - Applying 2023

Law - Oxford Brookes Business - Loughborough University Rural Enterprise and Land Management - Harper Adams University Business - University of Reading Golf - Turning professional Economics and Business - University College London Gap Year applying 2023

Neuroscience - University of Warwick Applying for Medicine 2023 Biological Sciences - University of Leicester Biological Sciences - University of Exeter Physical Educa�on with QTS - University of Brighton

This ar�cle has been collated with informa�on available at the �me of going to print. If any names are not men�oned they will be in a future Wellingburian when the informa�on is available.

S C H O L A R S H I P A R T I C L E S

At Wellingborough School, you can achieve a scholarship for excelling in your chosen area. For example, I was lucky enough to be awarded an academic scholarship which means I receive £100 each year to spend on things that will help me with my studies. You can get an academic, art, sport, drama or music scholarship.

This year I spent my money on a selec�on of books that I think will help me at school and I am also interested in. The books I chose are Prisoners of Geography, History of Britain and Ireland, a Spanish Dic�onary, the Scarlet and Ivy series and War Girls. I chose these books because they are to do with my interests and my favourite subjects such as Geography and History. I looked for books that I could learn something from and enjoy reading. I bought books because I enjoy reading but if you prefer there are other op�ons of things to buy for example educa�onal trips or equipment to do with your area. £100 is plenty to buy something you enjoy and that helps you improve in your area.

I am thrilled to be a scholar and I’m really grateful for this opportunity. It is really rewarding especially going to the school I wanted to go to.

Hannah 8WY

A R T S C H O L A R

Sam 10CR is an Art Scholar, an accolade that not only highlights his talent (and provides him with £100 each year to spend on art-related endeavours), but gives him the responsibility of ac�ng as an advocate for Art. He recently produced a piece of work that is now proudly displayed right outside the Headmaster's Study. Here is Sam's reflec�on:

When I was in Year 8, I was awarded the �tle of Academic Scholar, which means I receive £100 a year to spend on things relevant to my educa�on for excelling in my academics.

I decided to spend my money on many books that I believed would develop my vocabulary and comprehension, as I thoroughly enjoy reading. I chose Li�le Women (Louisa May Alco�), Jane Eyre (Charlo�e Bronte), The Picture of Dorian Gray (Oscar Wilde), Ariadne (Jennifer Saint), Metamorphica (Zachary Mason) and The Beekeeper of Aleppo (Christy Le�eri). I chose the three classics as I felt like challenging myself and extending my vocabulary. I chose Ariadne and Metamorphica as I enjoy reading about Greek mythology which I find quite interes�ng. I chose The Beekeeper of Aleppo simply because it was recommended to me by a friend, and the blurb appealed to me. I feel very grateful to be a scholar and to be able to spend this £100 I have been awarded each year, on something I really enjoy doing.

For me art is a way to relax but also to focus. It needs �me and effort and some�mes pa�ence. Over the lockdown I spent a lot of �me on the internet and social media and I saw lots of people drawing and pain�ng planets. I did some research and found an interes�ng method that I wanted to try. I used spray paints and cut out masks to create the planets and added some spla�ers of white paint to create stars. It didn’t work the first few �mes but as I prac�sed it improved and didn’t look like a total mess! It showed me that even though some�mes it’s frustra�ng you have to be pa�ent with projects and it will eventually pay off and you can create something you're proud of.

C A D E M I C S C H O L A R

We were so delighted to have so much sport back in Michaelmas Term. We asked two of our Sport Scholars, Annie 11WY and Thomas 11PS to tell us about what this means to them, as well as what else they are up to on the spor�ng scene.

“Arriving back at school as a Year 11 student, yet to complete a full academic year in the Senior School, has been quite a challenge. The return to school sport has brought about a huge amount of excitement, along with a li�le trepida�on, as sport no longer takes place exclusively for our year group and we start to train and play with the 6th Form. This �me last year, we were offered a broader Games programme as there was no compe��ve sport on the horizon. This was a nice change from tradi�on, but I am very glad that we’re ge�ng back close to ‘normal’ again. I can’t believe it was over a year ago when everyone was on the fields doing fitness every session, since we weren’t allowed equipment, whilst baking in the intense sun.

The return to school sport has also had a posi�ve effect on my own wellbeing and I am confident in saying that my friends feel the same. Frustra�ngly, some restric�ons have been implemented by the RFU which means that the Year 11 boys aren’t able to ‘compete’ for a 1st XV spot (although judging by the size of some of the Year 13 boys that may not be a bad thing!) Ul�mately, we’re just glad to have a compe��ve fixture list back and be out represen�ng the School again. For the senior girls it has been a different story, with many of the girls in our year group represen�ng the 1st XI, 2nd XI & 3rd XI Hockey sides this season and doing a great job.

From a personal perspec�ve, throughout the summer I con�nued to play U15, U19 and Men’s 2nd XI cricket for my local club Horton House, and am currently part of the Northampton Saints PDG squad. Next term, I hope to represent one of the School’s senior football sides & contribute to the Rugby 7s programme, with Trinity bringing the possibility of a place in the 1st XI cricket side. I’m also trying to balance all my commitments with the small ma�er of GCSEs on the horizon! I have no firm plans looking ahead a�er school yet, except that I would like to study at university and having recently received some treatment for an ongoing back injury, physiotherapy is something that I’d like to explore a li�le more.”

Thomas 11PS

As a year group we had just completed an incredible Year 9, by reaching Na�onal finals in both Hockey and Netball and as the summer was approaching, I was looking forward to my first Senior School compe��ve tennis season. I had just a�ended the final tour mee�ngs for both the Tennis tour to Portugal and Cricket tour to Dubai before the announcement was made to stay at home. When lockdown was announced I naively thought that I would be back playing sport in a ma�er of weeks. As the months went by it got harder, not being able to play sport every day and no matches on the weekend made me realise how much sport affects my happiness. Your teammates are the best friends you have as sports players winning and losing together makes the bond even stronger. Personally, it is my place of fun, where I see friends and have a sense of purpose and progression. In lockdown I had to set my own goals, mentally I found it tough at �mes when I did not know when my next compe��ve match would arise.

I am fortunate to be involved in Club sport who were allowed with guidance to resume. This enabled me to prepare for the challenges ahead of Year 11 and integra�ng with the Sixth Form into the Hockey season. For me the 1st XI was a big jump from age group sport, when our last school fixture was in Year 9. With the support of Mr Houghton the team has made a really promising start to the season. Mixing age groups enables new friends to be made and allows the older players to set the standards for us.

My aspira�ons are to progress as far as I can and experience, if possible, 1st Team sport in all terms. Con�nuing to be selected for Player Pathway through Wasps Netball and compe�ng for Northants Storm in the Regional League takes �me and commitment. This season, the U16 Northants Storm have set our goal to reach the Na�onal Finals. County and Club hockey are also important to me, but I am aware that managing my �me to also do my best in my studies will be a challenge that I am determined to overcome this year.

Annie 11WY

M U S I C S C H O L A R S H I P S

Since I joined Wellingborough School in Year 4, I have had the opportunity to be involved in lots of different musical ac�vi�es. These have included individual lessons on trumpet, piano and the electric guitar, as well as par�cipa�ng in musical groups such as orchestra, Chapel choir, brass groups and concert band. I have also played in concerts, assemblies, music recitals and open days.

Outside of School, all these things helped me earn a place in the Northampton County Junior Brass Group where, last year, I was principal trumpet, and this year I am part of the Jazz Groups.

These experiences have helped increase my love of music, so I decided to apply for a Year 7 Music Scholarship to allow me to con�nue my musical journey whilst also showing others what music can do for you and, as a Music Scholar, to showcase the opportuni�es available for everyone at Wellingborough School.

As a Music Scholar, I was awarded £100 each year to spend on something related to my Scholarship area. This year I chose to buy a mouthpiece for my trumpet to improve the control of my playing as I work towards my Grade 6 exam and a prac�ce mute to allow me to prac�se more at home without deafening my neighbours!

Oscar 7PL

A C A D E M I C S C H O L A R S U C C E S S

Arjun 7GA is one of our Year 7 Academic Scholars and, as part of his award, he is able to spend up to £100 each year on things related to his studies. Here, Arjun explains how he decided to spend the money.

I decided to spend my money on various types of books that would help me improve in the areas I lack, which includes History, French and Poetry.

I chose two Poetry books because by reading poems, we allow ourselves to open our minds and our thoughts to the endless meanings which helps develop literacy and describes how we are feeling emo�onally. I also chose KS3 History and French study guidebooks as we need to understand in great detail. The literacy focus in both books will help with wri�ng skills and grammar for future assessments.

I have always been a keen reader of reading books, I have read most books wri�en by David Walliams, David Baddiel and Enid Blyton. These stories have a genuine heart and are delivered with a comedy skill that balances out the very dark moments. I want to enhance my reading skills further by developing my knowledge of vocabulary and intensity. Some of the books selected are ‘Shadow Jumper’ (J.M. Forster), ‘Casino Royale’ (Ian Fleming) and ‘The Time Machine’ (H.G Wells).

I feel very grateful to have this £100 to spend on books to help me study.

Arjun 7GA

Two of our Music scholars in Year 7, Oscar 7PL and Zachary 7CR both performed in the NMPAT Autumn Fes�val of Music last weekend. Oscar played trumpet in the Jazz 2 ensemble, and Zachary played his Cello in the Training Strings group and his Clarinet in the Junior Wind Orchestra. Both boys played really well and enjoyed performing in the concert. It was extra special for them both as they have missed performing so much over the last 18 months.

Well done, Oscar and Zachary, and we can't wait to be able to hear you play in front of audiences in School!

Thanks to the hard work of Mr Medley, with a bit of assistance from Mr Waugh and the Headmaster, the first two of our three teams took part in the Bri�sh eSports Rocket League Winter Qualifiers, with the Year 7 team looking on ahead of their first match.

Our 'mixed' team of Year 9 and Year 7 pupils, the Wellingborough Wonders, were taking on a Sixth Form college from Leeds and this proved to be an incredibly hard match. An honour does, however, go to Nicholas 9PS for scoring the School's first ever compe��ve eSport goal, closely followed by one of our Year 12 Wellingborough Wizards, Robson 12GA. The event takes place every week, in what are called the Winter Qualifiers, and our performances this term will determine which league each team is placed in for the Spring Divisions, which should mean that schools are more evenly matched.

eSpor�ng is not just geeky pupils si�ng looking at screens - it's an excellent opportunity to develop teamwork, collabora�on and communica�on, in a se�ng much more closely aligned to 'real life' and what students might encounter in the rest of their lives than many other ac�vi�es.

Thomas 12CR

Extra message from Mr Holman:

The OW Club has very kindly donated some money to the eSports cause which should, in �me, allow us to buy some excellent kit that will support our aim of making this into a fun, developmental, educa�onal ac�vity at the School.

On Thursday 11th November Wellingborough School took part in the Oundle Balloon Debate compe��on. Held online, owing to Covid concerns, Thursday a�ernoon saw Will (8GA) and Oscar (8CR) squirreled away at the top of the Prall building ready to convince the judges their character should not be thrown out of a balloon. Will gave a convincing argument that Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the prin�ng press, should not be evicted from the balloon, as without him we would have no schoolbooks with which to learn. Oscar defended the pioneering computer programmer Grace Hopper, poin�ng out that without her we wouldn't be able to have the compe��on at all as we were all merrily communica�ng through Zoom. Both Will and Oscar spoke confidently and eloquently and were also given the opportunity to hear from more experienced public speakers. Mrs Pehlay and I were extremely proud of both Will and Oscar and their speeches - we would have kept them both in the balloon!

Kathleen Kenney Teacher of English

Andrew Holman Headmaster

B

A L L O O N D E B A T E

C O M P U T E R S C I E N C E

Year 12 Computer Science students are currently working on a Smartwatch project, using the Raspberry Pi (a single-board computer the size of a credit card) together with a small circular LED display and three bu�ons. They have wri�en an opera�ng system for the watch, together with a number of switchable watch faces and a game which is best described as a cross between pong and air hockey, played on a circular table. The so�ware is wri�en in the Python programming language, and the students have connected their Smartwatch displays to the Raspberry Pi computers via the General Purpose Input/Output pins - a special feature of the Raspberry Pi which makes it easy to a�ach new devices, sensors, and displays.

The pictures show the Smartwatch in ac�on. You can also see some of the mathema�cal knowledge that the students have used in the design of the game and watch faces.

F O R E N S I C S C L U B

Forensics Club have started to inves�gate the suspicious death of Norman Nobody. Their inves�ga�on will include fingerprint analysis, hair sample analysis, blood-spla�er analysis, chromatography, handwri�ng analysis and footprint analysis. We hope they’ve gathered enough evidence to find out what happened to Norman. Three suspects have already been brought in for ques�oning.

Rebecca Hill Head of Science

S T R Y

Congratula�ons to all our Year 13 students who took part in this year’s RSC Chemistry Olympiad compe��on. This is a na�onal compe��on which is always extremely challenging and this year was no excep�on. We had some stunning successes including Alexander Bowie who earnt a Bronze cer�ficate and Ali-Asgar 13PS who a�ained a Silver. Special congratula�ons go to Molly 13MA, Anoushka 13NE and Walter 13PL who earnt Gold cer�ficates, pu�ng them in the top 8.9% of candidates (771/8668).

Christopher Birch Head of Chemistry

I O L O G Y

Just as Year 13 were about to go on Study Leave they got the chance to become ‘CSI Wellingborough’ with a dastardly crime to solve. Complete with PPE they used electrophoresis to produce DNA fingerprints of the five suspects involved in the case. I am happy to report that they successfully solved the crime! Tanaka and Harriet were let off the hook – it was Mr Gray again!

Year 9 have been studying the movement of molecules with the classic osmosis inves�ga�ons, involving many potatoes, visking tubing and plenty of sugar solu�on. As we approach exam week, they have also been busy making flash cards and mind maps as revision resources.

For Year 10 we have taken some �me to review the lockdown topics from last year and then focus on developing their prac�cal skills. Being able to design an inves�ga�on takes a li�le prac�ce and we have been trying to answer the ques�ons ‘Do leaves at the top of a tree have more chlorophyll than the leaves at the bo�om?’ and ‘Are biological washing powders more effec�ve at removing stains than non-biological washing powders?’

Year 12, while s�ll making �me for revision, have moved onto the second year’s topics of photosynthesis and popula�on ecology. Escaping outside to count daisies and speedwell was a great prac�cal for a sunny day.

Hannah Pa�son Head of Biology

B

Students o�en find opportuni�es to experience the prac�cal side of what they are studying at School. Here, one of our Year 10 Photographers writes about a great day he had recently.

I went on work experience on a DB shoes photoshoot. A�er waking up at 5:30 I had a long drive ahead of me to the loca�on. The car was full of unreleased shoes that will go on sale this winter. Once we arrived at the house where we would take the photos, we set up outside for the first couple of pictures. This involved reflectors to bounce the sun’s light rays, to make a natural looking image. This is instead of using studio ligh�ng which can make a photo look unnatural. Once we had finished taking pictures outdoors, we moved indoors as it started to rain and used the windows and reflectors to light the pictures. We also used scrims, which diffused the sunlight as it can o�en be too harsh, or make the shoes look too shiny. When we had finished with photographing s�ll life shoes, we moved to photographing shoes on a model. We took some pictures inside and outside, using the same ligh�ng techniques, but the models’ poses showed how the shoes were func�onal, as well as stylish.

Thomas 10PL

H E A D O F S I X T H F O R M O V E R V I E W

It has been a full and jam-packed year as we tried to make up for the �me lost during Covid, returning to our face-to-face ac�vi�es and being able to run events has been welcomed by students and staff alike. I have loved seeing the students and parents at our informa�on evenings and enjoyed being able to converse with them all face to face. I cannot believe how much we have already achieved, and I apologise that a two-page spread in this publica�on will not reflect everything we have done. I am excited for the opening of the Sixth Form Centre and developing our offer and programme further.

None of this could have been achieved without our students who con�nue to impress me with their ingenuity, commitment, organisa�on and tenacity. Celebra�ng their achievements and equipping and enabling them to make their next steps is highly rewarding and one of the most mo�va�ng aspects of my role. I look forward to working with the new students who begin their P16 journey with us in September and seeing where their ideas and hard work will take us!

Sarah Baxby Head of Sixth Form

G A L A D I N N E R

The Year 12 Gala dinner event, saw the students’ hard work come to frui�on. The Year 12’s not only organised and co-ordinated the event, but having undertaken six chef training sessions, they prepared and served a meal to over 50 guests, including parents and staff. At the same �me the group sourced prizes for a raffle which helped raise £640 which has gone to support this year’s School Charity, which is raising money for cancer. You should all be proud of your achievements; I know I am!

F A I R

We took the whole of Year 12 to Northampton University for the University and Appren�ceship fair. Our students made the most of the event and were soon exploring the different stands, gathering informa�on and discovering opportuni�es whilst amassing quite a freebie collec�on.

Our students booked themselves onto the guided tours as for many this was their first visit to a University and they took full advantage of it. It got the students thinking about the op�ons available to them, considering what courses they wanted to pursue and what types of campus they would like to be based at.

As a chef for the event - I was lucky to be able to work in a pressured professional environment alongside a group of people who have made a career in this industry. It was a great feeling to see your product enjoyed by others, and it gave me and the rest of the chef team a real sense of pride alongside life�me skills and memories.

Callum 12PS

I just wanted to thank the Year 12 students who organised such a fabulous Gala Dinner last Friday. Both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The food was excellent and the service and a�en�on to detail was second to none and an awful lot be�er than some professional events we have a�ended in the past. You should be very proud of all the students and what they achieved as it really was a very memorable evening.

Parent review

U N I V E R S I T Y A N D A P P R E N T I C E S H I P

M

E D I C A L P O R T A L

On 30th November, aspiring medics including ourselves a�ended a valuable training session led by The Medic Portal. The a�ernoon was full of �ps regarding MMIs (Mul�ple Mini Interviews), the most common interview technique adopted by medical schools across the UK. We were able to reflect on why we wanted to become medics, �mes where we had shown leadership and how a professional doctor must act.

The session was led by Dana Mahdi from King’s College London on behalf of The Medic Portal. She was enthusias�c and was able to offer informed sugges�ons because she had undergone the process herself. She was charisma�c and perfectly demonstrated the extreme reac�ons that actors may exhibit during the breaking bad news sta�on.

We were also able to individually engage with Ms Mahdi in interview prac�ce where each student could act out a poten�al sta�on that may be involved in future interviews. The tasks ranged from general interview ques�ons such as “Why would you like to do medicine?”, to a problem-solving task where you are asked to select 3 professions from a list best suited to survive on a desert island.

A�er a�ending the session and receiving an interview �ps notebook, it was clear that the session could not have come at a be�er �me for us; Year 13 prospec�ve medics have sent their UCAS applica�ons in and are hopefully awai�ng invita�ons to interview.

Walter 13PL and Ali-Asgar 13PS

M I C R O E N T E R P R I S E C H A L L E N G E

Our Year 12 Business students were involved with the Micro enterprise ini�a�ve. This entrepreneurial task challenged our students in teams of up to 5, to create effec�ve business opportuni�es within their school or local community in a short period of �me. Our students undertook this ac�vity in less than two weeks and drew on their business knowledge and skills to organise a number of different entrepreneurial selling opportuni�es which led to them raising a total of £258 for the School charity.

During the last two weeks in our Business lessons, we have been taking part in an inter-school compe��on to see who could raise the most money for charity. We were split into 5 teams and each team had to come up with ideas on how best to sell goods/services for the most profit within the School. Our team decided to sell Krispy Kreme doughnuts as we knew these branded delights would go down a storm with most pupils. Luckily for us we liaised with the Krispy Kreme head office and they agreed a charity discounted price for the stock to ensure a decent profit margin. We managed to raise £109.25 with the doughnuts and overall, the teams raised £258.36 for charity. Doing this task has helped us relate to our A level business course as it has allowed us to understand how a business has to operate. This is done by keeping costs down while s�ll trying to maximise profits and trying to match the supply and demand of the product, which unfortunately our group failed to do as we sold out instantly and s�ll had pupils queuing for our doughnuts.

12GA

Ben

L I F E R S

I had a tear in my eye throughout this emo�onal event. Eight of our Sixth Form students who had been with us since Nursery shared their fond memories with the Lower Prep pupils about their �me in the School. It was lovely to hear how Golden Time, the red tricycles in Nursery and the many plays put on for parents were at the forefront of the students’ memories. The students received a card and School teddy bear from the pupils in Bu�erflies. What a lovely occasion and what wonderful individuals these students have turned out to be!

Sarah Baxby Head of Sixth Form

H E A D S T A R T

It was great to welcome our students back a�er their GCSE’s to sample a full week of life in the Sixth Form. The students looked smart in their business a�re and their a�tude and demeanour reflected their shi� to a posi�on of seniority and that of role models within the School. It was great to hear students talking about their subjects and making informed choices on which subjects they would finalise for September. It was lovely to see the students working together and making the new students feel welcome. The students loved having the opportunity at the BBQ and at Box End to get to know each other in a more relaxed environment and they had a fabulous �me to boot!

Walter 13PL Molly 13MA George 13CR Henry 13PL Anoushka 13NE Shamiso 13WY

Maria 13WY Rhianna 13WY Luca 13CR Rihana 13NE Thomas 13PS

U P D A T E

The visit to the University and Appren�ceship fair at Northampton University helped to get the students thinking about what opportuni�es might lie ahead. This was followed by Mrs Arber, Head of Careers, interviewing every Year 12 student to guide and support them with this process. Alongside this Mrs Kenney was working with the Aspiring students group, those considering Oxbridge, veterinary, Den�stry and Medicine applica�ons alongside those looking at Law degrees. This was all before we began with our informa�on evenings for UCAS, Oxbridge and appren�ceships.

We changed the format of our UCAS Day to allow us to support students looking at different op�ons and this became our Des�na�ons Day. Students were able to get support and advice on the different opportuni�es available to them and how to apply. The day was supported with visi�ng Universi�es, Gap year speakers, OW’s and an interac�ve session ‘survival cooking’ which was delivered by the catering staff from Chartwell’s who designed the session to help prepare the students for when they leave home and have to cook on a budget.

With the excellent careers programme, careers lunches, visi�ng speakers and work experience undertaken our students are given every opportunity to be as well prepared as possible for their future careers.

L E A V E R S’ D A Y

Leavers‘ Day provided us with a great opportunity to wish our students well and to say farewell and good luck, but not goodbye. Our leavers are always welcome back, in fact we encourage it, the staff love to see them, and the exis�ng students benefit from hearing about their experiences and journeys. The Leavers’ Lunch allowed us to catch up with the students and hear about their future plans and the church service was an opportunity to reminisce about their Wellingborough experience, whilst the Prize Giving allowed the whole school to wish them well.

L I F E S K I L L S I N Y E A R 1 2

A variety of important topics have already been covered in our Life Skills lessons. Towards the start of the school year, we produced and finalised our individual CV’s which will be an important tool to draw on when applying for opportuni�es. This accompanied with competency based interview prac�ce has been very beneficial in preparing us to provide rapid examples to tricky ques�ons. We do so many things at school it is some�mes hard to put the examples into words when we are put on the spot and asked direct ques�ons around certain areas, such as demonstra�ng leadership or resilience.

Recently we have been learning about racism and xenophobia. I feel it is important to educate younger people on these crucial subjects as most do not understand how frequently these incidents occur. Most recently we have debated current affairs and how the changing economy will affect our genera�on. Mrs Sco� explained interest rates, mortgages, salaries, debits/ credits, along with the fast changing infla�on rate and the impact of this. Reflec�ng on the 2008 financial crisis was also enlightening.

C A R E E R S A T

W E L L I N G B O R O U G H S C H O O L O V E R V I E W

It has been an incredibly busy year in Careers with many visi�ng speakers and lots of interac�on with companies and ins�tu�ons. I have been extraordinarily impressed by the Wellingborough students and by how much resilience they have shown following the pandemic. Students have been working incredibly hard to gain competencies and experiences to fill any poten�al skills gaps. I have enjoyed mee�ng the students in Year 12 and Year 11 individually and encourage any student who would like further mee�ngs to get in touch or knock on the Careers Office Door. The aim of Careers at Wellingborough School is to offer support that is approachable and tailored to the needs of the School Community.

Alexandra Arber Head of Careers

A P P R E N T I C E S H I P E V E N I N G

Our Appren�ceship Evening took place on Wednesday 16th March. Despite companies only just star�ng to emerge from the pandemic and many s�ll mainly working from home, we were extremely fortunate to welcome speakers from a range of companies including AECOM, the ASK (Appren�ceship Support and Knowledge) programme, Compass Group, VW Group, NHS and ICAEW.

Our lessons are filled with fun and enjoyment with an icebreaker taking place at the start of every lesson. This involves fun games such as passing a balloon behind your back to your teammates, heads down/thumbs up and wink murder. There was even one lesson where we were separated into teams and challenged to make the tallest possible giraffe adhering to specific rules. The game required high levels of teamwork and crea�vity to get the tallest giraffe. These icebreakers are a great way to start and relax the students to learn for the rest of the lesson. Along with this it is giving us ideas of how we may mo�vate and work in teams in the future!

Vignesh 12CR

P S H C E

I have enjoyed leading sessions with Year 7 upwards as a part of the PSHCE programme and have been introducing Unifrog, our Careers Pla�orm, students have been taking Personality, Interests and Work Envionment quizzes to help find out more about themselves and researching Careers that fit with their favourite subjects.

I have also joined Mrs Sco� and Mr Farley’s Year 12 Life Skills lessons to deliver sessions on CVs and Cover Le�ers, how to search for and secure Work Experience and how to make a good impression on Work Experience.

Alexandra Arber Head of Careers

Speakers shared informa�on about Higher Appren�ceships and Degree Appren�ceships and set up stalls to answer ques�ons over refreshments in the Dining Hall a�erwards. Thank you to all of the contributors and for those students and parents who joined us on the night.

Alexandra Arber Head of Careers

C A R E E R S L U N C H E S

We kicked off Careers Lunches in Lent Term. Students from Year 11 – Year 13 can sign up to a�end talks on Careers that interest them. The invited speaker delivers a presenta�on which is followed by a Q&A over a delicious sandwich lunch provided by Chartwells.

So far, we have been delighted to welcome:

Careers in Medicine and Den�stry – Iwan Ellis - Cardiff Medical School

Careers in Law – Professor Peter Crisp – Pro Vice Chancellor External of University of Law and President of The Old Wellingburian Club

Careers in the Civil Service and the Civil Service Fast Stream – Bally Chahal - Private Secretary to the Director of Energy and Infrastructure at Department for Interna�onal Trade (and former member of Wellingborough School Staff)

Careers with Deloi�e – Conal Estop - Global Business Services Analyst at Deloi�e (OW)

Thank you so much to all of our speakers for sharing their �me and exper�se with our students. If you would like to offer your services as a Careers Lunch speaker I would love to hear from you – aar@wellingboroughschool.org

Alexandra Arber Head of Careers

On Friday 18th March, we visited the MCS development of warehouses in Wellingborough. It was a sunny day and we were warmly greeted by the project site manager Phil, a�er this introduc�on to what was going on and what was being built, we were shown around by a degree appren�ce called Freya who was working onsite. The warehouses were humongous and seeing all of the builders working on the internal structure of the warehouses was so interes�ng. I can’t wait to see how the project progresses. They have invited us back to see the project further down the line. The trip was inspiring and really brought the project development industry to life!’

Many thanks to Phil Hawley and Freya Bignell at MCS Group for making our visit possible

M C S G R O U P S T A N T O N C R O S S B U I L D I N G S I T E

Archie 12CR

A R 1 2 W O R K

E X P E R I E N C E

From Tuesday 5th – Monday 11th July 2022 our Year 12 students embarked on their work experience placements. Students were charged with finding their placement and given the tools to do so in their Life Skills lessons. Loca�ons ranged from No�ngham to London, with one student heading out to sunny Spain for her placement.

Here’s a small cross sec�on of the companies that welcomed students - Rolls Royce, AECOM, Susie Berry Events Yard, The Royal and Derngate, Nissan, Tollers Solicitors, Heygates, Barclays Payments, Bri�sh Geological Survey, Whi�lebury Hall and Northampton Hospital.

A few sound bites from companies:

‘Everyone who has worked with Grace this week has reported back posi�vely to me, she’s asked lots of ques�ons, been very professional and courteous and a credit to Wellingborough School.’

‘Just wanted to say what a pleasure it has been having Toby join us on a work placement. He has applied himself incredibly well over the 5 days he's been with us, shown genuine interest and shown off his skills very well.

The 5 days have flown by and by the end of it I felt like he'd been here for years!’

Perkins

'Aanya is ge�ng on great! She has worked with classes, supported the school show, had discussions with our Deputy School Leader and our School Business Manager about their roles too.

She is a credit to her parents and the school.'

Hall Meadow Primary School

Hear�elt thanks go out to all hosts for opening their doors for our students to gain invaluable insights and experience when they haven’t been able to access in-person work placements since before the pandemic.

For students who were unable to a�end work experience due to DofE or for those who have secured placements in the Summer holidays, we engaged NCS to provide Skills Booster sessions for the students on 5th-12th July. The first day looked at Independent Living Skills and was provided by Helen Westwood from the Money Charity, the rest of the week we welcomed Kevin Spriggs from Catch 22 and AKA (Health, Wealth and Oneness) who covered Employability, Careers and Progression and Volunteering and Social Ac�on. Kevin offered an engaging and interac�ve programme which I hope will stand our students in good stead for any work experience or summer jobs that they have in place and beyond. There were some great ice breakers and problem-solving tasks which highlighted the importance of teamwork, leadership and communica�on throughout. Many thanks to the team at the NCS for pu�ng the programme in place for us and to our facilitators for sharing your �me and skills with the students.

Travis

S K I L L S B O O S T E R W O R K S H O P S I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H T H E N A T I O N A L C I T I Z E N S E R V I C E

S I X T H F O R M C E N T R E

The eagerly an�cipated Sixth Form Centre will be open in September, the build will provide a fantas�c working space for students to study both individually, in pairs as well as in groups. Students will also have access to the brand-new IT suite to facilitate their learning and carry out research. There are several study rooms, a kitchen area as well as a large open space. I look forward to the students making use of this facility and taking ownership of this space. I cannot wait to put the Sixth Form year group photo up as they become the first cohort to benefit from this new facility.

Sarah Baxby Head of Sixth Form

I N P R O G R E S S

G C S E A R T &

P H O T O G R A P H Y

Holly 11MA

Jess 11MA

Roddy 11CR

Pip 11PL

Holly 11MA

Ollie 11GA

Tom 11PL

Ellie R 11NE

Amelia 11NE

Izzy 11MA

Helena 11NE

Finn 11CR

Emily D 11WY

Lili 11WY

Ellie W 11NE

Shimei 11WY

Max R 11PL

Harrison 11GA

Ka�e 11MA

Rory 11CR Bryony 11NE

Erin 11WY

Molly 11MA

Niall 11CR

Maddie 11MA

Bella H 11WY

Lucas 11PS

Emily C 11MA

Jess 11NE

Josie 11MA

Stella 11MA

Ollie 11PS

Ma�hew 11PL

Finn 11GA

Bella P 11NE

William 11PL

Henry 11GA

Rhianna 13NE

Lydia 13NE

Ella 13NE

Anna 13WY

Dan 13CR

Millie 13NE

Libby 13NE

Rhianna 13WY

Emily May 13NE

Ellie 13WY

WELL BALANCED

Y E A R 7

Year 7 had their first full year, without lockdowns, a�ending Senior School since Chrysalis had come to frui�on. Michaelmas term saw a slow start to the year as the last remnants of restric�ons were li�ed but very soon, students were enjoying the wonderful co-curricular events. They adjusted very quickly to the new rou�nes and were enthusias�c about all opportuni�es from the get-go. Plenty signed up for a range of clubs from deba�ng to polymer clay modelling. Their sports commitments and music played a big part in their lives. Pupils also took enjoyment from par�cipa�ng in House Shield events such as Pancake Race, Spor�ng events, General Knowledge quiz, to House organised breakfasts, Bake Off, BBQ and ‘Cream teas’.

All pupils have shown great resilience throughout their Covid experience, and some followed on with developing their leadership skills throughout the year. We have had excellent representa�on in school wide groups such as School Council and Inclusivity Group through to Year 7 Form Captains and Reading Ambassadors for Years 3 and 4. We have been so proud of the pupils for organising book dona�ons to build their own’ House Library’ as well as pu�ng ideas forward to improve the Common room, not only for themselves but for future Year 7 pupils to enjoy.

The year ended with fun filled days where pupils enjoyed ac�vi�es such as laser maze, trampolining, a trip to the zoo and then finally a lovely 2 day camping trip to the Peak District to gain some new skills as they climbed rocks, abseiled down them and experienced a variety of water events.

All pupils have matured considerably from those ini�al days of nervousness and look relaxed and ready for the next stage in their journey through Senior School. Remember to ‘always be kind’!

Kerry Varney Head of Year 7

This year in Fryer’s saw a large leap back towards normality for Year 8s. Despite a li�le disrup�on here and there, it warmed hearts and li�ed spirits to see the return of large scale events, trips, and sports fixtures.

Year 8s represented their Senior Houses well in a broad range of intramural events, none more high-profile than the Annual School Pancake Race which saw Garne’s crowned the winners and helped bolster a superb array of charity drives for the 2021/22 academic year.

As well as the return to the fray of old favourites, some new events made an appearance in Fryer’s House this year. The first Fryer’s Table Tennis Tournament saw pupils and teachers ba�le it out for the �tle with the highly an�cipated final matches to be played out on the last day of term.

I personally have been very impressed by the Form Groups’ efforts in preparing and delivering House Assemblies. Pupils jumped at the opportunity to share what they were truly passionate about - No surprise that Football and Table Tennis made the bill, however some did certainly produce the unexpected with Just Dance, Karaoke, and a superb end of year video with interviews which saw budding stars get their first experience of the bright lights. It might also surprise some that the two most prolific answers to “What’s your favourite memory of Year 8?” emerged as the PGL Coast Trip, and playing B team cricket.

It's with great sadness that Fryer’s must say goodbye and good luck to three of the School’s finest form tutors with Miss Drakeford and Mr Doig moving on to pastures new and Mrs Wainwright stepping down from Form Tutor responsibili�es. Wellingborough’s loss is certainly Stamford’s and Trent College’s gain and we hope to see Mrs Wainwright make several appearances in Fryer’s next year. We wish them all well, and I personally would like to say thank you to them, Mr Jardine White, and Mrs Holman for their support and efforts in a truly full-on year. Let’s hope for another, a�er a well-earned rest.

Sami Eggleston Head of Year 8

This year has been another enjoyable one for Pla�’s and, with the gradual li�ing of Covid restric�ons as we progressed into 2022, it has been increasingly even�ul.

The Michaelmas Term started falteringly, as the last ves�ges of social distancing meant that House Singing was unable to run. As anyone who heard Pla�’s rehearsals will tes�fy, that was probably a mercy to other Houses, who clearly would not have been able to compete with our beau�ful rendi�on of Ho Hey by the Lumineers. We were able to bring ourselves back from this disappointment, however, with a very successful House BBQ and 5-a-side football tournament and an overall 2nd place in House Rugby. The term was rounded off nicely with the Senior pool tournament, won by Jamie Dunn, and a Christmas movie night; Home Alone was the film of choice and I think it’s safe to say that Wellingborough Pizza Hut made a very healthy profit!

Lent was a very busy one for inter-House compe��on, giving most, if not all, the boys the opportunity to represent the House. Pla�’s achieved 2nd places in the Pancake Race, House Badminton and General Knowledge, along with a 3rd place in House Football, 4th in Cross Country and a very respectable 5th in House Music.

Into Trinity, and the exam season loomed large in front of Year 11 and Year 13. To this end, Year 12 started to step up and fill the various posi�ons of responsibility around the School, including the change of Heads of House and House Prefects. Tate James, having led Pla�’s proudly for the past year, has now made way for our new Head of House James Elson, who I’m sure will con�nue, and build upon, everything that Tate has achieved this year. Will 2022-2023 finally be the year that we purchase House sweatshirts? Only �me will tell.

I would like to finish by thanking all the boys and parents for their support this year. Regardless of outcome, I have been so impressed with the way the boys have thrown themselves into House events; their enthusiasm and team spirit has, as ever, not only made me very proud, but also assured me that the ‘Pla�’s man’ spirit of dedica�on and gentlemanly conduct will con�nue long into the future.

Sue Curley Pla�’s Housemistress

M A R S H

My first year as Housemistress of Marsh has been a most enjoyable one made smoother by a hardworking team of tutors. The year began in true Wellingborough School style with the Year 13s, ably led by Nicole, gathering the troops, including the Year 7s and 8s for the first �me, to rehearse our House song ‘Demons’ by Imagine Dragons. The sound was superb, making the news of the cancella�on of this event heart-breaking for some; however, the girls deserve to be very proud of what they achieved, despite never performing the song outside Marsh’s four walls.

Choosing a House charity for the year was difficult. With three nomina�ons and very brave speeches being made, we chose to support all three chari�es, namely Cynthia Spencer Hospice, PASIC (cancer support for children and young adults) and the Bone Cancer Research Trust. Mrs Hill’s dona�on of a hot drinks’ machine was a great success and I would like to thank Pippa C for se�ng up a JustGiving page and monitoring this venture; it has raised £128 during the winter months. March saw the annual Marsh House bake-off with, at the request of the Year 13s, Mrs Barn hurst making a guest appearance to judge the impressive array of cakes. Jess S was crowned the winner with Year 11 definitely cra�ing the best cakes!

Marsh have had numerous successes on the sports field; we were victorious in the Junior and Inter House Hockey compe� �ons, culmina�ng in an overall win as well as winning the Junior, Inter and Senior House Tennis. We came second in all three Netball compe��ons and second in sports day. There is some work to be done on both the badminton court and cross-country course, but it is pleasing to see so many girls represen�ng their House with enthusiasm and good spirit.

One of my favourite House Assemblies this year has to be listening to Zsofia perform one of her grade 8 piano pieces. All the girls were mesmerised and it was a real treat to listen to such high quality music. I would also like to thank Zsofia for arranging our musicians for House Music and Hannah and Charley for pu�ng together harmonies for the song ‘July’ by Noah Cyrus, accompanied by Pippa on the piano and Gabriella on the drums. Zsofia was also crowned the individual winner of the General Knowledge compe��on and the rest of the team put up a good fight to finish in fi�h place.

At the end of the year, it was a great pleasure to award some House shields – congratula�ons to Heather in Year 10 who was awarded the Endeavour Shield for conduc�ng herself with quiet modesty and trying her hardest in all that she undertakes. The Junior Contribu�on Shield was awarded to Gabriella in Year 9 and the Senior Contribu�on Shield went to Pippa C in Year 13. Finally, Marsh are bidding a fond farewell to two tutors: Mrs Burgess, a�er being a tutor in Marsh for fi�een years, is taking on a new whole school role with PSHCE and Miss Horry is taking a Sabba�cal year to complete a Master’s in Fine Art. I would like to thank them for their �reless efforts with the girls.

Arimoro Marsh Housemistress

Hilary

September 2021 saw a welcome return to the House for all year groups as we tried to adjust back to what we previously knew as 'normal'. A common theme throughout the year in House assemblies focussed around the importance of mutual respect, whether that be for their surroundings, amongst peers or between pupils and staff members. We welcomed 19 pupils into the House as Year 9 and they quickly se�led into the swing of things contribu�ng to all aspects of daily House life, whilst Year 10 became a part of the House for the first �me, with the removal of year group bubbles. We were hugely proud of Angus M (Year 9) for his starring role in the Na�onal tour of 'School of Rock' and it was superb to see so many of his peers suppor�ng him from the stalls when the show came to Milton Keynes before Christmas. Whilst House singing, unfortunately, had to be postponed due to COVID, we were s�ll able to hold our annual 5-a-side football tournament and BBQ, raising close to £200 for this year's chosen charity 'Cancer Support UK'. Josh H-N (Year 13) won the House charity pool compe��on in Michaelmas and whilst House rugby and football did not quite go to plan, there was success both individually, and as a team, in House X-Country; doughnuts all round for Year's 7-13! We bid farewell to a number of both Year 11 and Year 13 pupils in May and hope that their hard work and efforts are rewarded with a posi�ve set of results in the summer. Alex L (Year 13) was presented with the pres�gious 'Skinner Cup' for all-round contribu�on to House life in the final assembly prior to study leave, whilst Callum H was appointed Head of House for 2022-23 with support from John M and Finley W-P, and they have made a successful start to their tenure during the back end of the Trinity term. The House was also rightly proud of School prefect appointments for 2022-23 for Sam F and Josh M.

Steynes Housemaster

George Hougton

Parker

My first year in Garne’s has been incredibly exci�ng, and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.

On the spor�ng front our junior and senior teams provided consistently strong performances throughout the year, placing us on the podium for each inter-house event. Our A and B house teams did us proud each term, and it was fantas�c to see the boys encouraging each other and never giving up. When brains and intellect were needed our Achilles’ heel was clearly found, and the inter-house general knowledge compe��on proved a step too far. The less said about this the be�er.

Charity fundraising is an important part of the Garne’s year, and we have con�nued to support Cransley Hospice in loving memory of my dear friend and colleague Mr Allen Ramsden who was a long standing Garne’s tutor. Our football compe��on is a great way for all the boys to mix in together at the start of the year, and this year it was won by team Ife, with Ma� winning the Golden Boot. The reintroduc�on of the annual table tennis compe��on was another excellent opportunity for laughter and to increase house spirit, and this hugely enjoyable event was comfortably won by Ed in Year 12.

The Garne's Gentleman

We are Confident, Humble, Respec�ul and Generous.

We encourage and help each other.

Being a gentleman is a ma�er of choice.

Work together, together we thrive.

Another incredible achievement this year was our success in the annual inter-house pancake race. We sent out a team of our greatest flippers, and combined with our new Year 7 and 8 athletes, we stormed home in first place to secure what is arguably the most pres�gious trophy in the School.

My Year 13 are a passionate and determined group of young men, many of whom I taught during their first week at school back when they were in Year 4. I thank them all for their help this year, and wish them all the best for their future endeavours and in all their upcoming challenges.

Congratula�ons must go to James Sales (Garne’s 17-21) who le� us last year, and recently represented the England U19 Cricket team in the ICC World Cup as well as Northants CCC. We look forward to monitoring your progress and hope to get you back in soon.

Lester Williams Garne’s Housemaster

Weymouth House 2022, what a year it has been. Abba was without a doubt the band of the year thanks to Year 13’s influence; Abba tunes set the mood at our Karaoke / picnic first event, every House breakfast, and of course, the House Dinner.

The girls have been very generous in their �me and efforts in fundraising and giving to others; House breakfasts were a�ended regularly, they donated a huge number of Advent Calendars to Wellingborough Food Bank at Christmas, and they worked in teams to create beau�ful Christmas hampers and busied themselves selling �ckets for them. Our dona�on to Air Ambulance is £1,497.40 (with a very generous dona�on coming from one family), an excellent amount indeed.

Weymouth Girls are all rounders, and this is clearly highlighted in both their musical and spor�ng achievements this year. Our highlights for 2021-2022 being the following: winning both Seniors and Juniors House Badminton and Juniors House Netball, as well as first place in the Years 7 & 8 and Years 9 & 10 House Cross Country and not to men�on 3 Weymouth Girls se�ng new School records for House Cross-Country (Freya, Jemima and Annie). On the Musical front, the girls did themselves proud and won the House Music Shield, and of course, there was an element of Abba in there. It’s a shame we didn’t get to do House Singing, we might have been in for the win there too! House Athle�cs was a fantas�c event; it was brilliant to see everyone playing their part in the compe��on.

The girls have displayed lots of pa�ence with the House refurbishment. It is gradually coming to an end now, and they have taken it in their stride. We are now pu�ng in the so� furnishings to make it a li�le more homely and cosy as well as choosing Artwork from previous Weymouth girls to put on display.

This has been my first year as Housemistress of Weymouth, and it has been an absolute pleasure and honour to be working alongside a wonderful group of young people and their caring and suppor�ve tutors.

Joanne James Weymouth Housemistress

What a year. All back in House and beginning to see the shadow from the new Sixth Form centre extend over the Cripps’ garden furniture. No House singing as things se�le down so the new Year 9s were welcomed by the Upper Sixth sharing the Common Room and very sociable it was. Thank you, Gents. We welcomed Mr Eggleston and Mr Kay as well as Mrs Pa�son to the fold and very quickly Mr Eggleston headed off to head up Year 8 to be replaced by Mr Porter. House rugby was disappoin�ng where we placed third, House football a li�le be�er as we placed second and then the crowning glory House General Knowledge where we romped home with a stunning win. House Music featured some powerful performances by Tommy and Josh amongst others as well as some maniacal conduc�ng from future Head of House James and yet s�ll denied victory?!

The annual charity event returned with a vengeance this year featuring an all night row with all the trimmings (chilli, head shaving and fry up!). The 13 hour event raised over £5K in one night with dona�ons made to The Tim Stockdale Founda�on, The Oddballs Founda�on and Cancer Research. A long but excellent night - well done to all. The most money raised by a single House in one night ever!

As the year closes we say goodbye to Mr Hilton a�er 12 years of service and we wish him tremendous luck in the future and Mr Porter also heads out with our best wishes. He was offered the, to become tradi�onal, leavers wet shave (see photo) but declined. This year only 2 students took me up on the offer but I sense it will become a thing. In the honours for next year, we have the Head Boy (again) and three school prefects, very well done gents! It all bodes very well.

Hargreaves Cripps’ Housemaster

Keith

Nevill has had a very successful year with many achievements throughout the House. We started off the school year with our annual House BBQ which was a great way to introduce the new Year 9 and 10 girls into Nevill. Despite House Singing being cancelled, the rehearsals gave us the opportunity to work together, and we were able to save our singing voices for House Music instead. During House Hockey we put on a great performance with the Seniors winning their compe��on and the Inters & Juniors coming second; everyone put in a huge effort and proudly represented the House!

This year we organised many charity events, Year 12 successfully raised £87 for our House Charity, Beat, through their Valen�ne’s fundraiser; par�cular thanks to Becky for her excellent presenta�on promo�ng the importance of the charity and tackling ea�ng disorders. Year 12 and 13 also planned and organised the Nevill Frock Exchange, thank you to everyone for making an effort to bring in clothes which raised money for our charity and also helped to tackle the current issues associated with ‘Fast Fashion’. We were also able to donate a number of clothing items to Ukrainian families living in the local area. The sale of our counters within the House was also successful and these charity events allowed us to raise £555.10 for Beat this year.

The House Music compe��on was much an�cipated since House Singing had been cancelled and the Year 12’s managed to gather an enormous choir to sing ‘Forget You’ by CeeLo Green; there were also amazing performances from Emily-May, Delph and Fiona, as well as two Year 8 pupils (Mirae and Imogen) performing. The General Knowledge compe��on also showed our range of talent and intellectual ap�tude within the House with Nevill being the top Girls’ House.

This term we said sadly goodbye to the Year 13 class of 2022, and I wish them all the best for the future and good luck in their exams as well as to the Year 11’s who are leaving. I would like to congratulate Evie who will be the Head of Nevill for 2022-2023, I know she will do an excellent job at leading Nevill alongside Meghan and Anya in the role of Deputy Heads of House. This school year we have immersed ourselves into the House spirit and we have shown our talents and commitments throughout many compe��ons suppor�ng each other along the way.

Jill Livingstone Nevill Housemistress

50 Year 9s, 30 Year 10s and 17 Year 12s undertook their DofE Expedi�ons this year. This is in addi�on to the 150 pupils from the previous year who are s�ll finishing their full Award. The expedi�on areas ranged from Olney (Bronze), North York Moors (Gold Cycling), Peak District (Silver) and the Lake District which is s�ll a firm favourite of the Gold Walkers. Here are a few of their highlights:

Gold - Walking Snowdonia

Bronze - Grendon

Silver - Peak District

Gold - Cycling Robin Hood’s Bay

Gold - Walking Snowdonia

Bronze - Grendon

Silver - Peak District

Gold - Cycling Robin Hood’s Bay

Gold - Walking Snowdonia

Gold - Cycling Robin Hood’s Bay

This year saw the return of compe��on to 3 of the 4 sec�ons. The RAF competed first, in November, and the First Aid team came away with the winning trophy. The Marines went to the famous Pringle Compe��on and came 5th, very respectable for a new team who had never experienced these challenges before. Finally, the Army a�ended Combat Cadet with the a�tude of ‘we will give it a go’, again a new team, and came back not only as the winners of the CCF cup but as overall cadet champions!

It was great to be able to thank our outgoing NCOs with our annual Mess Dinner and to welcome in the new cadet Heads of sec�on.

Year 9 were able to a�end the Yardley Chase training area for their First Field exercise and it was the first �me some staff had been there too as it had been 5 years since we last visited.

RAF First Aid winners

Pringle

Pringle

Mess Dinner

Combat Cadet winners

Yardley Chase

On the spot repor�ng of the Year 9 ba�lefields trip, 10-12 July 2022, as I write this whilst on the trip and with our final day s�ll to come tomorrow.

In our first day we explored the Ypres salient around Hooge cemetery and Hill 62. Pupils never fail to astound me with their observa�ons and eye for detail and on a beau�ful summer’s day, the juxtaposi�on between skylarks overhead and trench warfare was especially well ar�culated by pupils.

Day 2 is an early start in order to have a full day at the Somme, with a stop in Arras at the Wellington tunnels on the way. Newfoundland Park preserved trenches provides a superb layout of a war of stalemate and an understanding of the ul�mate sacrifice that so many made.

At Thiepval Memorial to the missing, pupils read aloud the names of those OWs who lost their lives on the Somme and we take �me to ensure that 'we will remember them' is a deed and not merely words. Abi found the name of her rela�ve on the memorial and perhaps may find herself telling her grandchildren of this moment in years to come.

Harrison and Isabella have just done us proud in laying a wreath in the 8pm Menin Gate ceremony and again, this may prove to be one of life's moments that our pupils think back on throughout their lives.

Thank you, Year 9, for your excellent behaviour, reflec�ons and for willingly jumping out of bed at crazy o'clock. As our coach driver said 'You like a packed i�nerary don't you?'. We certainly do.

Jane Selby Head of History

A R 1 0 B A T T L E F I E L D S

What an absolute pleasure to get Year 10 on the ba�lefields trip in July 2022, with the wait since September 2020 being oh so worth it.

They were exemplary, the weather stunning and Ypres and the Somme as moving as ever. The Wellington tunnels in Arras are worthy of a special men�on due to the mix of visual and audio delivery, which makes it very poignant.

Jane Selby Head of History

B A T T L E F I E L D S D A Y 2

We started the second day driving back into France, to the town of Arras. Arras was fought over during WW1, and we were interested to find that New Zealand Commonwealth soldiers (who were mostly miners), had arrived and used old chalk mines to dig under no man's land and take the German trenches by surprise. It was an informa�ve place which helped us understand some of the crea�ve ways sides were using to gain the upper hand in trench warfare. The 100 year old graffi� and carvings into the chalk by men wai�ng for the whistle to go over the top was very moving.

A�er Arras we travelled to the Somme. Specifically, we visited Beaumont Hamel which is one of the only preserved ba�lefields on the Western Front. It was a sobering experience as in the trenches before us thousands of men had been killed by German machine guns. At Beaumont Hamel it was especially sad as huge amounts of Canadian Newfoundland men had died and that is why the Caribou Monument stands there to honour them.

We soon arrived at Thiepval Memorial for those who died in the Ba�le of the Somme, but their bodies could not be recovered. With over 73000 names and standing at 50 metres tall it is the largest Bri�sh war memorial in the world. For me this was a very important part of the trip as my Great-Great Grandfather had died in the Somme and his name was in Thiepval. A�er what I had learnt about the condi�ons of the Somme it was hard to imagine what he had been through not only then but during his previous 3 years at war. Despite this I s�ll felt a very strong sense of pride of what he had done, and the sacrifice he made for Britain. We read out the names of the 11 Wellingburian Masters and pupils who had died at the Somme and paid our respects with a minute’s silence.

Henry 11GA

A�er arriving in Malaga, I was ready to make my first steps into the business world and really get a feel not only for how business is run but also how the people running them have worked hard to create a strong founda�on. Day a�er day I a�ended various conference mee�ngs which taught me different ideas about the business world and helped me gain a greater understanding of the relevance of my work at school. I spoke to many successful people such as the owners of the company themselves, who were willing to listen to my ideas and take some on board.

Inxpress is a shipping business, and the point of the conference was for the franchise owners to see how important customer service is and how they can keep on top of the technical side of the company to make it easier for them and the company’s prospects. It was massively rewarding for many new franchisees, and my father’s own franchise was able to win an award there.

R I F L E S H O O T I N G

The School Team shot its first four matches for a few years during Lent term, with all of them held as away matches.

First we went to Oundle’s ten lane range, where we were greeted by a large home con�ngent. Ellie performed best as the team recorded a remarkably close defeat to Oundle by 709 points to 717.

At the match against Rugby School Ellie raised her personal best to 97 and Emma and James li�ed theirs to 96. Ellie’s and James’s 188s were the top scores overall, as Wellingborough beat Rugby by 732 points to 724.

At Uppingham we achieved our best score yet with 744 points, but were convincingly beaten by Uppingham’s 772 including an outstanding 199.

Wellingborough’s best individual score of the season was a remarkable 197 by James in the final match against Oakham.

A�er a busy few days and a lot of delicious food, I now have a new perspec�ve on the wider world and feel more confident in being able to use my newfound skills in crea�ng a company of my own one day. This was an opportunity that I am not sure I would have gained anywhere else.

Robert 12PL

Wellingborough finished third in the East Midland Schools League, behind Oakham and Uppingham but ahead of Oundle and Rugby.

Many former Wellingborough School students have progressed to shoot for the county team and some have gone on to gain interna�onal honours on overseas tours. Here’s hoping that trend con�nues.

G E O G R A P H Y T R I P

The Geography Department kicked off the new school year with a much-needed fieldtrip! It had been a long �me coming due to Covid postponing our plans from last year. The Year 11 and 12 Geographers spent the day in the glorious sunshine wading in Burbage Brook in the Peak District. The students were collec�ng data on a variety of river characteris�cs to see how they change with distance downstream. The pupils worked really well in their groups and despite a few of them ge�ng submerged, we rounded off the day with a well-deserved ice cream. The Geography Department are hopeful that we will be able to go on more fieldtrips this year, so watch this space.

In other news the Geography Department is nicely se�led into our new classrooms in the old Garne’s building and we are enjoying using our newly refurbished rooms and u�lising our new technology.

Camilla Alexander-Watson Head of Geography

H O U S E S O F P A R L I A M E N T

Year 12 and 13 History and Poli�cs students went on a trip to the Houses of Parliament, kindly organised by Mr Farley. We had a guided tour (superb) of both Commons and Lords; followed by Q+As in a Select Commi�ee Mee�ng room with Wellingborough MP, Peter Bone’s Case Workers (really interes�ng). We also watched from the public gallery of the Commons as the Home Secretary took ques�ons from a number of MPs. Whilst fascina�ng just to be in a building where so much has gone before, many students had career opportuni�es revealed to them and came out highly enthused by what they had experienced.

Jane Selby

What an experience! My highlight was standing in the House of Commons where Boris Johnson has passed so many laws. The architecture of the Commons and Lords is incredible and surprisingly smaller than they look on the television.

Joshua 12PL

I P

S C H O O L O F R O C K

Some�mes, there are so many good things that happen in a week that I struggle to decide which is my favourite. This week in Lent Term does not fall into that category, following the amazing �me I had watching Angus 9PS in School of Rock in Milton Keynes yesterday. I know that many other staff, students and parents have taken the opportunity to see him and...well, wow! It was brilliant to be able to see a young man having the �me of his life, and feeling proud that he is part of our community. I love the film, so had high expecta�ons, but was absolutely blown away by the whole thing, and found it difficult not to just keep watching Angus every �me he was on stage. I lost count of how many other Wellingborough folk were there last night, all also eagerly an�cipa�ng what was to come, and I'm sure they had a fantas�c �me too, at the top of Mount Rock!

Andrew Holman Headmaster

Abseiling, climbing, scrambling, caving and watersports - lots of adventures had by all!

WELL PLAYED

Sport con�nues to flourish with almost 90% of our community represen�ng the School in compe��ve fixtures across the academic year; a quite astonishing achievement. Representa�ve honours have also risen as our youngsters con�nue to excel both in and outside of school with over 50 of our students represen�ng county level equivalent or above in a range of sports and ac�vi�es ranging from ‘tradi�onal’ sports to baseball!

We’ve also had success in team sports with the 1st XV making it through to the fourth round of the Natwest Cup and the U16 VII winning their group and making it to the knockout stages of Rosslyn Park Na�onal 7s for the first �me in the school’s history. The U14A Hockey team made it through to regional finals day and were unlucky to miss out on the Na�onal Finals, whilst our U12A Netball side were crowned County champions! It’s certainly been a year to celebrate, par�cularly on the back of the global pandemic and everything that all our pupils have had to contend with at a crucial �me in their physical and social development.

In the penul�mate week of the Trinity term, we saw the return of our annual Sports Awards Evening. In con�nuing with tradi�on, we welcomed back OW Joseph Stockdale (2013-18 Cripps'), who passed on his wisdom and experience as a pupil but also shared his current career plans with our audience around his aspira�ons to represent Team GB at the next summer Olympics in Paris 2024.

It’s been a year to remember - here’s to the next 12 months and no doubt more excep�onal exploits from our pupils.

Lee Hilton Director of Sport

September 2021 saw the return of compe��ve school hockey and we well and truly hit the ground running with eleven teams from Years 7-13 regularly represen�ng the School each week. Over 130 girls played in compe��ve fixtures this term and all teams showed excellent improvements, especially having missed out on a full year of compe��ve hockey in 2020. Highlights for the season included our first ever "Friday Night Lights" match, where we also raised over £300 for the school charity in the process.

Our U14A XI reached the England Hockey Tier 2 Midlands Finals, narrowly missing out on a place at the Na�onal Finals and the U16 indoor hockey squad performed admirably at their Midlands Finals in December, especially given the youthful nature of the side. Congratula�ons to all girls who have represented the School in 2021.

George Houghton Housemaster and Teacher of PE and Games

The appointment of the School’s 21st Headmaster, Thomas Holme, in 1738

WELL CONNECTED

The Old Wellingburian Club was formed in 1897 and has an ac�ve body of more than 4,000 supporters around the world who are just as passionate about the School’s future as they are about its past. The Club enables former pupils to keep in touch with the School as well as each other, and to meet and network with other OWs of all age groups for social and spor�ng events.

A�er a hiatus of two years, it has been wonderful to see the OW spor�ng fixtures revived against the School, from football and netball to hockey and cricket.

The Club arranges regular year group reunions and sends out a Newsle�er each year, as well as periodic emails. It has a wide presence on social media and its LinkedIn Group is a great way for young OWs to network and exchange careers advice and support.

Each year the Club supports the School in various ways. It funds Sixth Form prizes at Prizegiving and is now helping the Careers Department with an ini�a�ve.

- Professor Peter Crisp (73-83, Pl) OW Club President, 2021-22

The Club’s Commi�ee for 2022-23 will include: Peter Crisp (73-83, Pl), Richard Jackson (70-81, St), Simon Marrio� (60-71, St), Jon Morris Smith (76-86, Pa), Joe Smith (98-05, PS), Sophie Timms (82-92, W) and Rosie Turner (05-14, N).

We have received a deligh�ul photo of the School Hall, da�ng from the turn of the last century, perhaps a year or so a�er it was opened in 1896. It shows the windows on the le�, gas lamps, and a striking wallpaper. It is interes�ng to see there were no honours boards in sight. The second image shows the Hall facing the other direc�on, with the inscrip�on “Success to the School” emblazoned on the end wall, when the Headmaster Dr Pla� celebrated great exam results in 1898.

The third image shown here is the Garne’s House rugby sevens team of 1972. What remarkable hairstyles there were then. What will people be saying in another fi�y years’ �me about the team photos taken in 2022?

1. The School Hall, facing north

2. The School Hall, facing south

3. Garne’s House rugby sevens, 1972

A N O W C R I C K E T I N G

L E G E N D

Local journalist, broadcaster and author Andrew Radd has wri�en the story of George Thompson (1890-93), the man who did more than anyone else to propel Northamptonshire into first-class cricket - and then kept the club there, also playing six Test matches for England in 1909 and 1910. This remarkable cricketer toured Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the West Indies (and, briefly, the USA) before the First World War. He kept in touch with his Wellingborough friends and the book relates a 'capital evening' he enjoyed with eight other OWs in Johannesburg during an MCC tour.

N E W S O F O W S

In March more than 100 OWs of all ages enjoyed the opportunity to tour the Houses of Parliament and then a�end the OW London Dinner on the terrace of the House of Lords. The keynote speaker was Rt. Hon. Michael Ellis QC (81-86, Pl), the Member of Parliament for Northampton North since 2010 and is currently the Minister for the Cabinet Office. His �me as a pupil at the School had equipped him well in the art of deba�ng and public speaking, and he gave a thought-provoking speech about the value of a career in public service.

E V R I C H A R D C O L E S

The well-known clergyman Rev Richard Coles (70-78, W) re�red as Vicar of Finedon at Easter, a�er serving the parish for eleven years. Several OWs were members of the church congrega�on. Richard has since published his first novel, Murder before Evensong, which has been well received by the cri�cs.

4. George Thompson OW

The Headmaster with Michael Ellis OW

Rev Richard Coles OW

R

The OW Club is delighted to announce that Sophie Timms (82-92, W) has offered to serve as the Club President in 2023-24. A�er school she studied Poli�cs and French at the University of Bradford and the Ins�tut d’Études Poli�ques in Strasbourg and then spent over 20 years in the City, working in public and corporate affairs and communica�ons roles; she is now Corporate Affairs Director at Kier construc�on.

In 2019, Sophie was awarded the Freedom of the City of London for services to Diversity, and was named in 2022’s PR Week UK Power Book. She has one daughter, and two of her siblings were at the School – Harriet Timms (81-86) and Colonel Giles Timms, OBE, MC (82-87); in 2006 Giles was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in Afghanistan.

Sophie says: ‘I always try to describe what Wellingborough gave me as great opportunity, great grounding and friends for life. It’s great to meet up with old faces at an event and reminisce about school life and shared experiences. The OW London Dinner this year at the House of Lords, a�er two years in lockdown, was very special and, as always, the con�ngent that spilled over to the pub a�erwards was a solid number!’

A N O L Y M P I A N O W

Many congratula�ons to Benjamin Alexander (94-99, Pl) on taking part in this year’s Winter Olympics. He represented Jamaica in the giant slalom compe��on. Although success eluded him, he epitomised the spor�ng spirit and is the 4th OW to have taken part in the Olympic Games down the years.

Benjamin Alexander OW

Sophie Timms OW

WELL ESTABLISHED

T H E S C H O O L F O U N D A T I O N

Patron: The Earl Spencer

Chairman: Clive Westley (59-64, F)

Founda�on Director: Neil Lyon (80-85, W)

Founda�on Secretary: Debbie Whi�emore

The School Founda�on was established in 2006. Over the past 16 years it has raised funds for bursaries and building projects in all parts of the School. Countless OWs and parents have shown their support, and the new Sixth Form Centre owes much to the generosity of so many –thank you!

T H E S U G D E N A R T S F E L L O W S H I P

In 2016 four Old Wellingburians clubbed together to endow an Arts Fellowship in memory of their former Headmaster John Sugden (1965-73). Kindly supported by the Sugden family, the aim of the Fellowship is to help talented Sixth Formers by means of a scholarship in Art, Drama or Music. The 2021-22 recipient was Iris (12NE). The Headmaster was delighted to award the 2022-23 scholarships to Holly 12MA and Florence 12WY.

T R E

As the 2021 edi�on of this magazine went to press, work had just begun on the new £1.7 million Sixth Form Centre, being built on top of the roof of the Dining Hall. The Founda�on Office was asked by the Governing Body to launch a fundraising campaign, and we are delighted to report that almost £300,000 has been raised by parents, OWs, staff and friends of the School.

The names of all those pupils whose parents supported the Appeal will see their names recorded for posterity on the Wall of Donors inside the new Centre, alongside the many OWs who have helped. It is very touching to see the level of support, and we are very grateful.

S U P P O R T I N G T H E N E W S I X T H F O R M C E N

This is our annual opportunity to thank all those who support the School’s Bursary Fund, assis�ng families with school fees.

The Douglas Compton James Charitable Trust and the Maud Elkington Trust both offer considerable financial support each year. Douglas was a pupil at the school from 1928 to 1935, and retained a deep affec�on for the School throughout his life.

We are also very grateful to a group of Old Wellingburians and former staff who support the War Memorial Fund each year, which provides a 100% bursary for a current pupil.

We are delighted to announce that one OW has kindly offered to fund a 100% Bursary from this September – a remarkable act of generosity; we are most grateful.

Each year the School receives generous support from the Nevill Trust, a fund named in memory of Tom Nevill (Headmaster, 1940-56). The Trust also makes several awards to Year 13 leavers who have excelled in their subjects, and the recipients of the 2022 awards are:

Molly 13MA- Management with Interna�onal Business at Royal Holloway Alex 13PS - Natural Sciences at Durham Zsofia 13MA - Natural Sciences at Durham Toby 13GA - History at Bristol

Douglas James (standing, far right) in the Tennis VI of 1935