A Specialist Technology and Languages College

The AshbeianPage Contents

2 Wacky Races Raise Fast Cash

3Rockets and Robots at Residential

4 Big Apple Trip is Sweet

5Hoop, Hoop Hooray for Roadshow

6Faculty Focus - Science & Advisory

7Faculty Focus - PE

8 Olympic Success at Aquathon

Issue 22 - Summer term 2012

Anyone for Zumba?Zumba, photography and construction classes replaced normal lessons for an afternoon, giving students a chance to develop new skills.

All 1,700 students chose from more than 30 different activities, including basketball, orienteering, gardening and crafts.

The event was part of the school’s House programme, which encourages students to hone skills such as team working and leadership, and to develop their sense of community responsibility.

A championship cyclist, a fiery fundraiser and a boy who has overcome persistent medical problems were among the prize winners at this year’s annual awards ceremony.

Students were recognised for their academic and sporting achievements, their commitment to extra curricular activities, and their contributions to school life and the wider community.

Remarkable Students Get Awards

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Triumph Over Adversity Award for dedication to his studies, in spite of repeated medical setbacks. His condition is now under control following surgery.

Anthony Moore was chosen by his fellow students to receive the Alex Grose Award, for the enthusiasm and friendship he has shown in the Sixth Form.

The evening’s guest speaker was former student Helen Cartledge.

Recipients included cycling sensation Kieran Horner-Maddocks for his contribution to PE over the last four years, and Karol Chudy for his fearless fundraising, which included having his head shaved in assembly and eating the world’s fifth hottest chilli pepper.

Max Greenhalgh, who suffers from enchepalitis, a swelling of the brain, was one of the recipients of the Ashfield

Zumba got people moving on House afternoon

Delighted award winners (left to right) Abbie Thorpe, Rosie James, Emma Hunt, Oliver Bush and Jack Weatherill.

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The Ashbeian

Caring for Babies is not Child’s PlaySeven new arrivals boosted school numbers – and kept Health and Social Care students busy round the clock.

The seven virtual babies were cared for by Year 11 students who took it in turns to look after the babies.

The experience was designed to give the 15 students an insight into the demands of caring for a baby, and to help them make informed career choices in future.

Two of the babies were programmed to exhibit behavioural difficulties, associated with having a mother who was alcohol or drug dependent.

Headteacher Eddie Green looks back over an eventful year - and forward to the future...

As a Headteacher and a parent, I often reflect on what makes a good school. It is not an easy question to answer as there are so many aspects that go to make up an effective organisation.

Strong academic performance, exciting and varied extra-curricular activities, new experiences and opportunities, excellent resources and strong teaching, good order and behaviour, a commitment to our wider community, high quality pastoral care and above all students who participate and contribute to the life of the school are just some of the features valued by parents.

This newsletter highlights many of the above features and illustrates why all of us at Ashby are so proud of our school and our students. The range of events and student achievements featured in this issue shows just how busy we are throughout the year. I am sure you will agree that Ashby is a school that we can all be very proud of.

At Ashby, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our performance and to ensure that you, as parents, have access to all the latest information about school developments and activities. This year, one of the key changes has been the re-design of the school website, which we hope will make it much easier for you to find all the information you need, as well as news of all the latest happenings in school.

We are very optimistic that our examination results will once again be very good and I will write to you in the Autumn term with details of our 2012 performance, but early indications suggest it could be a record year. We wish all our students every success and hope that the publication of results in August brings them the rewards they deserve.

Head-lines

Scooters, pushbikes and rollerblades took over Mallory Park race track for a night of ‘wacky races’, helping students to raise more than £400 for charity.

Twenty-five students signed up to complete as many laps of the circuit as possible, using any form of non-motorised transport.

Only non-motorised transport was allowed

in the wacky races

We say farewell at the end of this term to a number of students in Year 11 who are moving on to pastures new and, of course, to our Year 13 students. We wish all of them every success and best wishes for the future.

We also say farewell to several members of staff. Miss Cave, Miss Watts, Ms Moreton-Riley, Miss Quinn, Mrs Wilde and Mr and Mrs Williams are all moving on and Ms Yates will be commencing her maternity leave. Mr Townsend has also left us after 10 years. Ms Leeming left at Easter. We wish all of our colleagues the very best for the future.

My first year at Ashby has gone extremely quickly, but has been one of the most enjoyable of my career. The encouragement from parents, staff, governors and students has been remarkable and I am very grateful for the support I have received. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all. We are a good school with a determined ambition to become a truly outstanding school, but we can only achieve this by all working together and long may this continue.

Eddie Green Headteacher

Kieran Horner-Maddocks clocked up the most laps at 26, riding his pushbike. Matt Jones managed the highest number of laps on foot, completing eight.

In total, staff and students covered 300.5 laps of the circuit in two hours – a total of 375 miles.

Students donated the money raised to their House charities.

Wacky Races, Smiley Faces

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Media Students Join Festival PushA group of Media Studies students has been helping to publicise this year’s Ashby Arts Festival.

Festival organisers approached the school to ask for their help in promoting the event.

Glenn Sets Sail

Seafarer Glenn Higginbotham will fulfil his dream of joining the Merchant Navy, after being offered a full cadet sponsorship by one of the world’s largest shipping companies.

Glenn will take to the seas as a Cadet Deck (Navigation) Officer later this year, with Maersk Crewing Ltd, part of the A.P.Moller – Maersk Group.

Glenn will train for his professional seafaring certification and educational qualifications, as well as spending sea time on board Maersk vessels.

His cadetship will take three years to complete. Glenn will be fully sponsored, getting his course fees paid along with a sponsorship allowance of £9,000 a year to cover his living costs.

Glenn was one of just 55 new cadets to be selected by Maersk from more than 1,000 Officer Cadet hopefuls.

Students have since designed their own posters and flyers and, by the end of May, will have delivered assemblies about the festival to all Ashby primary schools.

Project manager Meg Jones said: “It was a great opportunity to get involved in some real marketing.” The project ties in with the marketing element of the students’ Year 12 Media Studies course.

Magical Steve Conjures up SuccessMagician Stephen Forrest doesn’t miss a trick – he is already performing to audiences in the hope of pursuing a career in magic when he leaves school.

Since he began practising magic six years ago, ‘Magical Steve’ has performed twice at Ashby’s Got Talent, and regularly entertains guests at weddings, parties and corporate events.

Stephen, who is inspired by illusionists such as Dynamo and Derren Brown, is now expanding his repertoire further by taking lessons in magic and building up his range of props.

Schools are in TuneMore than 100 musicians from six local schools performed together in a joint concert at Ivanhoe College in March.

This was the third consecutive year that musicians from Ashby School had joined forces with students from Ivanhoe and Ibstock high schools, and primary school pupils from Hill Top, Ashby C of E, and Woodcote.

The concert had an Olympic theme, to mark the build-up to the London Games this summer.

Catherine Matthews, Music teacher at Ashby School, said: “The response to our two previous concerts was so positive that we had no hesitation about staging a third. It was a great opportunity for our young musicians to work alongside others and to perform in front of a larger audience.”

Magical Steve is setting audiences alight with his magic Glenn will join the

Merchant Navy later this year

Musicians from six schools sang and performed together

Rockets and RobotsNine engineering students from Year 10 attended a ‘Rockets and Robots’ summer school at the University of Leicester.

During the four day residential visit, the eight boys and one girl built and launched their own rocket and created a sound-triggered robot. They also took part in a range of fun games and activities and evening sports sessions.

The event was run by university students.

The free summer school was aimed at students with an interest in science, engineering or technology-based careers.

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The Ashbeian

Harriet Goes for Gold (Again)Swimmer Harriet West is planning to add to her tally of gold medals when she competes in the International Children’s Games in South Korea this summer.

Harriet, who hopes to be selected for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, is a leading light in the 100 metre butterfly.

Earlier this year, she won gold representing England Central in the UK School Games. She also picked up gold in the ASA National Age Championships.

In February, Harriet will travel to Dubai for a 10-day swimming summer school. Harriet trains seven days a week – including two 4.30am sessions before school – and is a member of the City of Leicester Swimming Club.

States Wow Students

More than 40 students experienced the sights and sounds of some of America’s best known landmarks, during a whistle-stop tour of Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York.

The visit included an open top bus tour of DC, taking in Arlington Cemetery, the Pentagon, the Lincoln Memorial and the White House, where the lawn was prepared for the annual ‘Easter egg roll’. Students also visited the Smithsonian group of museums, the Jefferson Memorial and had a guided tour of Congress.

A stop in Philadelphia included a tour of the historic buildings in the Independence National Historical Park and Old City.

The visit ended with three days in New York, visiting Top of the Rock and Times Square, watching a baseball game, touring Central Park, taking the ferry to Liberty and Ellis islands and visiting an American school where many met students they had already linked up with by email. Students also enjoyed a few valuable hours at the shopping mall.

‘Being Head Boy and Head Girl this year has been a real honour and a very fulfilling experience.

Our personal highlights have included the Sixth Form bingo night, the Christmas quiz (with its incredible turn out of more than 250 students and staff), the Christmas pantomime and the planning of the Yearbook and leavers’ ball.

Earlier this year, we were selected to participate in the Lessons from Auschwitz programme, as part of which we spent a day at Auschwitz. It was an experience we will never forget; we were both extremely moved by the poignancy of the place and the lessons to be learnt from it.

We have been privileged to have a brilliant team around us; the House

Students visited some of America’s best known landmarks

Captains and the staff senior team, not forgetting the constant help and support from Ed and Juliette. We know that, without their strong backing and encouragement, we would never have been able to achieve so much.

We have been extremely fortunate to belong to such an excellent Year group and we are exceedingly proud of what everyone has achieved together.’

Sign Up for St JohnStudents may be able to sign up for first aid lessons next term, if plans to run a six-week St John Ambulance course go ahead.

The idea has come from Josh Lee, a member of the school’s Medical Club, who is himself a sergeant in the Coalville division of St John Ambulance. Josh, who hopes to train as a doctor, said there was already a lot of interest from medical club members in taking up first aid lessons.

Josh said: “The sessions would cover everything from CPR to bandaging; everything you need to know to keep a person in a good condition until the ambulance arrives.”

It is hoped that the first meetings will take place in October. The club will be open to Year 12 students.

Wes and Beth (Head Boy and Head Girl) Say…

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physical recreation, expeditions and the development of new skills.

Megan Lewis is one of the students facing gruelling expeditions through the Yorkshire Dales and Derbyshire in the next few weeks.

Experiences like these often help to set Duke of Edinburgh students apart from their peers.

Historian Natasha Harasymiw will spend part of her summer holidays restoring historical artefacts at a cathedral in Cornwall, to complete her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Natasha is one of more than 60 students to be involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme this year.

Students have tackled Bronze, Silver and Gold levels, taking on obligatory challenges such as volunteering,

Cyclist Kieran is on Right Road

Kieran is busy training for future events

Mary Goes to HondurasSpanish speaker Mary Hough will spend a gap year improving her language skills and helping others, after being selected to teach English in Honduras.

Mary will fund part of her trip with money from the Mary Smith Scholarship Fund and with inheritance left to her by a family member. She said: “I wanted to use my inheritance money to do something memorable and something that would be beneficial to as many people as possible.”

Mary must raise £4,800 to cover the cost of the trip, which is run by Project Trust.

Film Makers’ Box Office HitA short film by a team of Sixth Form scientists has won a national award. The film, entitled ‘A Moral Dilemma: Saviour Sibling or Spare Part Baby’, won the Year 12/ 13 Box Office Bioethics competition run by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. Members of the winning team were presented with £200 of Amazon vouchers at the Council’s annual lecture in London. The film makers, who are all members of the school’s Medical Club, were Marco Narajos, Holly Clamp, Jonathan Sheldon, Joshua Lee, Harriet Copeland, Megan Lewis and Brendan Lau.

Hoop, Hoop HoorayWheelchair basketball was one of the sports on offer, when students took part in a paralympic-themed roadshow.

Professional coaches were in school for a whole day to run paralympic sports sessions with students. About 60 students, of all sporting abilities, were involved, in three groups of 20.

The activities were part of the Paralympic Inclusive Disability Roadshow.

Promising road cyclist Kieran Horner-Maddocks is hoping for more success on two wheels in 2012.

Kieran, 18, who took part in his first race at the age of five, came first in the East Midlands heat of the GHS national time trials in 2011. He went on to secure an impressive 17th place in the national final.

Kieran said: “I have been riding bikes since I was two or three. As soon as I could walk, my Dad put me on a bike – and I have been riding ever since.”

Kieran, who is a member of Coalville Wheelers cycling club, is now busy training for more national time trial open events and gaining experience in road race events.

Kieran’s cycling heroes are Sir Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins.

D of E Students Face up to Challenges

All D of E students have to complete an expeditionStudents had a go at wheelchair basketball

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The Ashbeian

AdvisoryThe latest technology is being used to help students improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

Laptops, e-readers and electronic spell checkers are all helping students to overcome difficulties in the classroom. E-readers are successfully encouraging students to discover the joys of reading and have been particularly popular with boys.

Students who have problems with writing also have access to a dictaphone to capture their ideas on tape.

The emphasis is on giving students the support they need to boost their performance in mainstream lessons.

Judith Arnold, new Head of Advisory, who took over the post in September, said: “It is vital that we keep up to speed with the latest technology. Devices like this engage students’ interest and help them to develop their literacy skills, in preparation for their GCSE exams.”

Students are also being given a chance to socialise and build their confidence at a new weekly breakfast club.

The club is held in the Personalised Learning Centre (PLC, previously the Student Support Unit) which has now moved to Lockton House, bringing all Advisory activities under one roof.

New friendship groups run by Mr Birtwistle are encouraging students to develop their coping strategies by tackling set tasks. The groups help students to make friends and settle more quickly into school life.

An eight-week anxiety programme, run by an educational psychologist, has also proved successful.

Other initiatives include an after school homework and study class every Tuesday. There are also plans to introduce a touch typing course to give students an advantage in their use of computers.

From September, the Faculty is planning more individual literacy support, particularly for students with dyslexia. More than 100 students in Years 10 and 11 are currently receiving additional literacy support.

Faculty Focus

ScienceHot shot scientists have brought a splash of glamour to science lessons this year.

A Russian cosmonaut, a professor from the Giant Hadron Collider, and forensics experts from De Montfort University have all visited the school in the last 12 months.

In June, the school also hosted a GSTEM (Geography, Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) conference. Activities like this all help to raise the profile of science-related careers.

A Biology field trip to Wales in June will give Year 12 students a chance to look first hand at rocky shores, river beds and wildlife. There will also be a Year 13 Biology trip to Nottingham University.

Students hoping to pursue medical careers are getting help from University of Leicester medical students through an online mentoring programme. The ‘bright links’ scheme is open to members of Ashby School’s Medical Club.

Extra help has also been offered to students after school through the C2S (Commit to Success) programme, to boost the grades of borderline students.

The Faculty’s existing revision programme is believed to be responsible for the 25 per cent increase in passes over the last four years. A 12-week revision plan for Year 11 students in the run-up to exams was launched in March, complete with revision guides, past papers and after-school sessions.

Meanwhile, the creation of two new Science classrooms is benefitting all students. Year 10 students have embarked on a new Core Science syllabus this year. The linear course is assessed at the end of Year 11, rather than by modules. This lends added importance to revision sessions and end-of-topic tests.

Adam Linnik, Head of Science, has praised Science staff for their hard work and commitment to the students. He said: “They know that a Science qualification will benefit students across a wide range of careers and that they are helping to set the students up for life.”

E-readers have been encouraging students to read

Extreme PhysicsAt Easter, Year 12 students George Locke and Joel Williams helped to run an Extreme Physics workshop for younger students in Durham. The boys were selected to help at the workshop following a formal application process.

Joel said: “Extreme Physics was an exciting opportunity to work with young people to encourage them to aspire higher in their learning, especially in the field of physics. To have the students respond in such an enthusiastic way was probably the most exciting part of the experience.”

Eight Year 10 scientists were chosen for a separate three-day ‘Extreme Physics’ course at Stowe School during the Easter holidays.

The residential course put the fun into Physics during three days of workshops, visits and team challenges. As part of the experience, students visited an Airkix centre to try indoor skydiving.

Students tried indoor skydiving

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Maths teacher Mr MacDonald is taking on his third charity challenge in three years, in aid of the Brown Dog cancer charity (www.cancerbrowndog.co.uk). Mr MacDonald, Assistant Director of Sixth Form, hopes to complete a 35 mile cycle ride and a 15 mile walk through the Peak District.

Mr MacDonald said: “I am really grateful for the support I have received in the past from students and colleagues at Ashby School. Hopefully, in Olympic year, I can raise even more money for Brown Dog.”

To donate, go to https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/kevjackiemacdonald

on to win the Leicestershire School Sports Partnership (SSP) competition, which was hosted by Ashby School.

A squad of 16 swimmers from Ashby School won the Leicestershire SSP swimming gala at Hinckley.

In the Charnwood netball league, the U15s came third, while the U16s and U19s both clinched fourth place.

In rugby, the U16s reached the semi final of the county cup.

Meanwhile, the U16 and U19 basketball sides both won their tournaments in the Leicestershire SSP competition. There was also victory for Ashby in the SSP table tennis competition.

In badminton, the U16 boys won the Hinckley and Bosworth district final and came second in the county tournament.

There was a second place for the U15 boys’ footballers, too, who reached the

From the Governors…PersonnelJudith Arnold was appointed as the new Head of Advisory at the beginning of the Autumn term. A substantial investment has been made into this Faculty for the purchase of new facilities and resources.

Figures indicate there has been a positive increase in student

attendance, both in the main school and the Sixth Form.

All school policies have been updated and are available on the school website or from the school, on request.

All teaching and non-teaching staff have now completed safeguarding training.

PERock-it-ball is the latest sport to be offered to Year 10 and 11 mainstream PE students. Students can also choose a new leadership option, culminating in a level 2 sports leadership qualification.

For Year 10 GCSE PE students who struggle with traditional sports, there are plans to run a residential trip next year. The trip will give them practical experience of activities such as orienteering, which are not available in school.

From September 2012, the school will run a BTEC course for Year 12 students, alongside the existing A level. The BTEC will be 100 per cent coursework with a focus on vocational and leadership skills. Modules will include the opportunity to carry out leadership roles in local primary schools.

In September, the PE department launched its ‘Student of the Week’ competition. Each week, students are nominated for effort or achievement by members of PE staff. The names of the winning students are posted on the Faculty noticeboard.

Students who had been nominated more than once were rewarded with a tour of the Olympic facilities in London in May. Others went to Manchester to watch Paralympic events. ‘Student of the Week’ is one of the initiatives introduced by new Head of Faculty, Vikki Rundle-Brown, who took over the post in September.

Two of Ashby’s most promising sports stars were shortlisted at an awards ceremony to celebrate the county’s outstanding young people. Motorcyclist Taylor Mackenzie (a former student) and equestrian competitor Beatrice Payne were both named in the Young Sports Personality category at the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire’s Awards for Young People.

In May, 25 students helped to run a tri-golf tournament for local primary school children.

The school’s trampolinists continued to do well. They took third place in the Midlands regional competition and went

semi final of the county cup but were narrowly beaten by Lutterworth.

The school’s athletes were also hoping to end the year on a high by competing in the English Schools Athletics competition at Saffron Lane in May.

Mr MacDonald Backs Brown Dog

Kevin with his wife Jackie at last year’s challenge

U15 girls came third in the Charnwood netball league

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The Ashbeian

Talking HeadsAllison Devine is a senior catering assistant in Cellar Express in B block and has been at the school for five years.

Here, she talks about dressing up, chips on Fridays and ‘Mutiny on the Bounty.’

Mini Sagas, Massive AchievementScores of successful English students have had their mini sagas published in a new national anthology.

Students from all Years were asked to write a short story on a subject of their choice in no more then 50 words. Sixty had their sagas chosen for inclusion in the ‘Mini Sagas’ anthology.

• 25 May Year 11 study leave starts

• 31 May Year 13 study leave starts

• 1 June Diamond Jubilee holiday (school closed)

• 4 - 8 June (inclusive) Half-term break

• 11 June Year 12 return to school

• 18 June Swallow Falls Biology trip

Diary dates• 21 June

World of Work day

• 28 June Sports day

• 29 June Sixth Form leavers’ ball

• 2 July New Year 12 induction

• 4 - 6 July Year 9 induction

• 9 - 11 July Skills for Management Conference

• 30 August Autumn term starts

What is the funniest thing you’ve been asked to do while at Ashby School? The catering department is always looking for ways to get involved in school life, like dressing up for special occasions such as Hallowe’en, with themed food and menus.

Describe your average working day. I start work at 9.15am, cooking all the hot food for morning break and preparing the food to be cooking for lunchtime. At break times, I can be found on the till in Cellar Express and, once lunch is over, I’m responsible for making sure the restaurant and kitchen are clean and tidy before I leave at 2.30pm.

What do you like best about your job? I like the hustle and bustle of the kitchen and the people I work with.

Tell us something about yourself that not many people at Ashby School would know. I am a direct descendant of Captain William Bligh, of ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ fame.

What are the most popular items in the school restaurants? There are so many things to choose from! At Cellar Express, Chinese and Indian meals are always popular, as is Pasta King. We also sell hot, fresh baguettes and cobs – and don’t forget chips on Fridays!

What do you think of today’s young people? I think they are very fortunate to be growing up in a time with such great technology and so many opportunities. I wish I was a teenager today.

What scares you most? Wasps!

How would you spend a million pounds? I would travel all over the world and then buy a cottage in Cornwall, overlooking the beach.

If you were stranded on a desert island, who would you prefer to be stranded with? My three children, believe it or not!

What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done? I moved house to a new area where I didn’t know anybody. It turned out to be the best thing I ever did.

What would you never do? Eat a kiwi fruit – I’m allergic to them!

Who do you most admire and why? I admire people who stand up for their beliefs, even at great personal cost, like Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma.

If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do today? Spend the day partying with family and friends.

Olympic Torch Lights up AquathonAll runners in the school’s sixth annual aquathon held the 1948 Olympic torch as they crossed the finishing line, to mark the build-up to the London 2012 Games.

The race – which included a 400 metre swim followed by a three kilometre run – was won by Harry Miles and Josh Bunyan, who recorded the fastest time of 16 minutes and 24 seconds,

The fastest individual competitor was Ryan Lovatt, who finished in 18 minutes and 17 seconds, completing the whole course in his swimming trunks. Eye-catching entrants included Nick Newland, who dressed as a bear, and Bethan Trigg and Jo Gidlow, who ran as a three-legged team. More than 80 people took part.

The event is expected to raise about £1,000 for the school’s House charities.