January 2008
Luke Smith Christmas Number One
Posted 10-01-08
Talented Year 13 student Luke Smith managed to reach top spot in the NUMU national music charts over the Christmas period. NUMU is a dedicated safe website space for young people to showcase their music, meet others and learn new skills. It is designed to support the Music curriculum across primary and secondary schools and integrates with the innovative learning approaches of Musical Futures.
The idea of the site is that students record their own compositions or cover versions of songs and upload them onto the site. Any time someone from anywhere in the world listens to their song via the website it is counted as a play, and for every play the recording moves up the chart.
Luke’s smooth clarinet version of ‘Mr. Bojangles’ scored a massive 340 hits in the week leading up to Christmas and showed his warm lyrical sound. For his efforts he receives a Roland CD2 Digital Recorder and the school also receive some score writing software.
The masterpiece was produced by fellow Year 13 student Rowan Upstone and recorded by Karl Peters and Zach Penrose in the school recording studio.
To put Luke’s achievement in context, there are over 100 schools that contribute music for the website. Waddesdon alone has over 40 songs uploaded onto the site and so to be number one at any time is huge. Year 12 students Karl Peters and Rebecca Neale have also recently featured in the top ten along with The School Brass Band.
Check out ‘Waddesdon Five Arrows Records’.
December 2007
Mathematics and Computing at Waddesdon CE School
Posted 21-12-07
We have some great news to share with the community: Waddesdon CE School has been designated by the government as a Specialist Mathematics and Computing School. This means that we will be given additional resources to improve still further the opportunities that we provide to support our students’ learning, especially in Mathematics and ICT. All subjects will benefit as we will be able to provide new technology to support learning across the curriculum. We will be working with a range of community partners to help them to inspire further success with their own students. Our designation is due to start in April 2008.
All this is in addition to the work we are already doing as a Specialist Visual Arts College and as the Lead School in the Aylesbury Vale Leading Edge Partnership. So the future looks bright and exciting.
Back To News and EventsWaddesdon School Association
Posted 07-12-07
Waddesdon School Association would like to say a very BIG thank you to all of you who donated items and raffle prizes for the Christmas Fayre and to those of you who came along on 24th November to support us. Thank you also to those of you who helped us in the week before the Fayre, and those who helped us on the day. We are pleased to announce that we made over £3,000 - a fantastic total! We couldn’t have done it without your help and support. The money will be going towards the new music room.
Saturday 1st March 2008 – Family Quiz Night
Our next event is a Family Quiz Night on Saturday 1st March in the evening and children will be welcome (you will need them!) Further details will follow after Christmas.
Happy Christmas and many thanks to you all. See you in the New Year!
The WSA Team
Back To News and EventsYouth Speaks
Posted 07-12-07
The Rotary Club of Aylesbury has, for many years, supported a public speaking competition for young people called ‘Youth Speaks’. One of the students who participated this year gives his account of the experience below:
"We practised and perfected our speeches and finally the day of the competition came. All of us were so nervous. For the first 10 seconds of my speech I was unsure but then, as I looked up from my cards again to engage the audience, I saw the faces of Mrs Peachey, Mrs Flitney and Mrs Wybron all smiling, all supporting. From this moment I stopped shaking and my brain seemed to go into automatic mode. I recited my speech and, as I returned to my seat, though about how all that preparation had led up to two critical minutes. To hear ‘Third place: Waddesdon School B Team’ came as a great surprise! As we thought it through, a smile appeared across my face and I looked across to Heather who was doing the same and as we both looked at Alethea, who shouted, ‘Oh, that’s us!!!’"
Rotary Public Speaking is an incredible competition that I recommend to anyone who enjoys public speaking. This is true for anyone from Year 7 through to Year 13, and I look forward to seeing you next summer in Mrs Peachey’s room!“
James
11JW
Watch out Green Park, Year 9’s are about!
Posted 07-12-07
Four students from Year 9 were selected to attend a two-day course at Green Park, entitled ‘Maximise Your Potential’. Here are just a few of their comments:
"It was very exciting meeting new people…in our first activity Rob and I had to rely on people we had only known for a few seconds to help us across the low ropes course."
"The mobile team challenge was, in my opinion, the best bit of the course. We had to get across a series of ropes, poles and planks to complete the task and get some lunch. It was great fun and we learned a lot about each other during this first activity."
"After lunch on the second day, we had our final activity, which was rock climbing. As it was so cold we found it difficult to hold on to the rock and most of us didn’t get to the top, but we always supported one another …I thoroughly enjoyed the time there and I think it has definitely boosted my confidence."
"The trip to Green Park boosted my confidence as I tried new activities. My favourite activity was rock climbing because I managed to climb to the top and abseil down, which I have never done before."
Tom Carr, Rob Gaines, Nathan Jones and David Payne
Year 9
The Year 8 Mosque Visit
Posted 07-12-07
When we arrived at the Aylesbury Mosque, we took off our shoes to show respect. We were amazed at the amount of colour in this Mosque. We were greeted by the Imam, who is the leader of the Mosque. The main things I noticed were the Arabic writing on the walls (these remind people of the Qu’aran, holy books, teachings etc) along with many pictures. These items brought the Mosque to life and were so beautiful to observe. I also saw five clocks, which represent the five times in the day for the worshippers to pray. The Imam lectured us about the five prophets of Islam and told us many fascinating facts. For example, all male Imams must have a beard to show masculinity, and male Imams will always wear white. He also told us that there are about 125,000 prophets.
I found this visit to the Mosque highly interesting and I found it to have a peaceful atmosphere as well. My favourite part was just to be able to have the opportunity to see such a bright, accepting place. I would certainly recommend it to anyone in secondary schools. It was wonderful.
Glen Alcock
Year 8
Sports News
Posted 07-12-07
KS1 Multiskills Festival
Six local Primary Schools attended a Multi Skills Festival at Waddesdon School on Wednesday 14th November. The Festival was based around fun activities relating to the fundamentals of movement, balance, agility and co-ordination. The afternoon was a great success with Westcott coming out on top with 435 points. Ben Amos, our Gifted and Talented Young Ambassador, presented the children with certificates and Olympic style medals.
‘Step into Sport’ Conference
Five Year 12 pupils were selected to represent Waddesdon School at the annual Step into Sport Conference held at Stoke Mandeville Stadium on the 22nd November. Following the day’s training, which involved workshops relating to child protection and leadership skills, the young volunteers will identify volunteer placements within sports clubs in the local community and work towards a bronze, silver or gold award. Well done and good luck to Caroline Wilkins, Ben Amos, Hannah Rowland, Emma Vear and Lucy Collins.
Huff and Puff
All partnership primary schools now have a playground initiative in place called ‘Huff and Puff’. Trained playground leaders co-ordinate the handing out of brightly coloured equipment to encourage pupils to be more active during their playtimes. This initiative is to be extended into Secondary Schools in January with the help of a big Lottery Grant. Year 8 leaders, alongside Ben Amos and Caroline Wilkins who are leading the project, will be responsible for our playground equipment. Look out for more information in the New Year.
Badminton
The girls only Badminton Club continues to thrive and attract large numbers of pupils. A further big Lottery Grant will enable us to offer boys Basketball in February 2008.
A Great Year
The past year has been amazingly successful. Commitment to fixtures - over 130 competitive inter school fixtures since September alone - training and performances on the pitches, courts, in the sports hall and on the track have been excellent. Team and individual performances in all of the competitions have been spectacular, but particular mention should go to the Year 8 footballers, who became district champions in March of this year. Countless students have won representative honours for the county and beyond in rugby, football, netball, hockey, badminton, athletics, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting and ten pin bowling.
SPORTSMARK Status
Waddesdon CE School has achieved ‘SPORTSMARK’ status for the academic year 2007/08. This national award is only available to schools in which over 90% of pupils take part in two hours high quality PE and Games per week, within and beyond the curriculum.
INTER FORM is back!
Inter Form competition is back as a permanent date in the school calendar and what an amazing start we have had – Inter Form Hockey and Rugby for everyone in the school. Centred around fun and mass participation, we have seen every single student in the school getting involved in the Inter Form competitions. Over 120 matches have been played - 1800 minutes of competitive sport - played in a wonderful spirit, promoting fierce competition, cohesion, team work and understanding of others. It has proven to be the best Inter Form Competition to date. Congratulations to everyone who took part.
Thank you to all the students for getting involved and for your continued support of PE at Waddesdon CE School – you are brilliant!
Ben Wilson
Head of PE
Headteachers Report - Winter Term
Posted 07-12-07
Parents, carers and families will be as delighted as I am to hear about the school’s success in achieving redesignation by the Government as a Specialist Visual Arts College. This is excellent news indeed and means that the students will continue to benefit from the school’s status at least until the next OfSTED Inspection. One additional very significant benefit that is allied to our redesignation is the fact that Waddesdon will continue to be the Lead School in the Aylesbury Vale Leading Edge Partnership. This means that we will carry on our partnership work supporting excellent teaching and learning with Quarrendon School and The Grange School, Aylesbury. In an exciting new development, the Headteacher at The John Colet School, Wendover, has informed me that her Governors have agreed to her school joining the partnership. One of the areas which we are developing as part of the Leading Edge initiative across all of the schools is what is known as a ‘Virtual Learning Environment’ (VLE). The VLE will help students to learn even more effectively by providing many more on-line learning activities in support of their classroom-based learning. We will, of course, keep parents and carers informed as this exciting innovation progresses.
Following the inclusion of Waddesdon Church of England School in the list of “Outstanding” Schools in the recently published Annual Report of Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools, the Director of Children’s Services for Buckinghamshire, Sue Imbriano, wrote, “I would like to thank all those concerned for the tremendous work that has gone into the school since the last inspection, which improves the life chances of the children and young people of Buckinghamshire.” This is a tribute not just to the excellent work of the students, their teachers and other staff. Parents, carers and families are an essential part of the team which makes our school truly outstanding and I would like to thank all of you for the support that you provide for the young people and the staff of the school. It is great to be judged as “Outstanding” and I am fully confident that together we will succeed in ensuring that we remain at the top of our game. Please accept my very best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Peter Norman
Headteacher
Sarah Davis - Community Work
Posted 07-12-07
This term Art Teacher Mrs Davis has been working in the community with partner primary schools Grendon Underwood and Quainton C of E Primary School. The focus has been to develop the effective use of sketchbooks in Art lessons. She has worked alongside teachers, developing schemes of work and, through teaching Art to their classes, an understanding of how Waddesdon’s Art Department approach sketchbook work.
The sketchbooks, with a distinctive Primary Partners logo, have been donated to all primary schools in the partnership by Waddesdon Arts College. Mrs Davis has also worked with Secondary School Partners, Quarrendon School, running a mosaic workshop and The Grange School's Year 8 and 9 Gifted and Talented students’ ceramics project, “Elongated Forms”.
Back To News and EventsNews from the Music Department
Posted 07-12-07
Building Work
The building of the new music room is continuing in earnest and the new iMac computers have been ordered. Thank you to the WSA who have made this all possible with their financial support.
The Carol Service, Thursday December 13th
This year we are involving all the Year 7 students and they will be singing a new version of ‘The Holly and The Ivy’. Other groups performing are Waddesdon Brass Band, Junior Singers, The Flute Choir, and The String Group.
The Lunchtime Concert
This half term has seen superb performances from The Jazz band that played a 70’s funk programme, a Sixth Form performance concert as well as an exciting debut from ‘The Scallys”.
The Jazz Band
Jazz Band certainly is back after a two year absence. They brought the house down in assembly with their performance of ‘Play That Funky Music’. Andy Heirons featured with a fine guitar solo along with the evergreen Luke Smith on saxophone. They followed this up with a Lunchtime Concert that included Sax solos from Joe Kessell, solos from Richard Southgate and Rebecca Neale. Connor ‘Paddling’ Poole funked it up on piano during ‘Watermelon Man’. The audience loved every minute and the band will be performing soon at the GCSE Presentation Evening.
Waddesdon Brass Band
The band recently performed a selection of traditional Christmas carols at the WSA Christmas Fayre.
Junior Singers
Junior singers are looking forward to taking part in the Carol Service and also ‘The Christmas Spectacular’ Lunchtime Concert. If you are in Years 7 or 8 and enjoy singing, practises take place on Wednesdays at 3.10pm in C11.
Back To News and EventsA Dramatic Success
Posted 07-12-07
This year, for the first time, the Speaking and Listening Competition that has been held for many years at Key Stage 3, was introduced at Key Stage 4. It was a tremendous success. All pupils had prepared a Dramatic Monologue as part of their GCSE English coursework. These were delivered during Masterclass Week, and the best from each English group were performed in early November to the whole year group. The standard was astounding! All six pupils delivered their monologues to a spellbound audience. Speeches ranged from a wonderfully comic and skilful parody of a librarian, which had the audience full of laughter, to a monologue from a ‘disturbed young psychopath’, which chilled the listeners to the bone!
Real tears welled up from one ‘actress’ whose hopes and dreams had been shattered. (However, one can feel confident that this young lady will go far in real life.) Another ‘actress’ showed herself to be ‘a proper little madam’, who wonderfully mimicked so many of our celebrities today. The audience were thoroughly entertained by a very lively golf instructor (Joyce Grenfell beware!) and a judge who definitely showed a real lack of judgement. Mr Norman, who had been invited to judge the competition, spoke of what a privilege it was to work with such talented young people, a sentiment thoroughly endorsed by all the students’ English teachers. Many congratulations to all!
Back To News and EventsYear 7 Scale the Heights!
Posted 07-12-07
Green Park, at Aston Clinton, was the venue for each Year 7 class to develop their team building skills, challenge themselves on an individual level as well as forge new friendships with their classmates.
Each class was split into small groups and then rotated around three activities. The low ropes challenge involved transporting two large and heavy planks of wood around an assault course with the aid of just six small metal pipes. Pupils learned to listen to each other, work as a team and natural leaders certainly emerged! The archery session tested everyone’s accuracy and strength and at the end we were treated to a display, by the teacher, of firing a long bow with properly fletched arrows exactly as archers would have done at the Battle of Agincourt. Possibly the favourite activity of the day was the climbing wall. Equipped with ‘spider shoes’, a harness and a hard hat everyone had the opportunity to scale the heights.
The students were a pleasure to be with; their support of each other, together with their good humour, was exemplary. A special mention must go to 7SJ who had one of the wettest days on record and still they completed the day with smiles on their faces.
Jan Jones
Assistant Head and Head of Year 7
Lost Property
Posted 07-12-07
Parents - please label your child’s sports kit, bags, clothes etc so that any lost items can be returned when found. At the end of each term, all lost property is displayed so that students can claim their lost belongings. Unclaimed items are sent to various charity shops.
Student Contact Details
On several occasions recently we have had to try and contact families of children at short notice, but have not been able to do so because the contact details we hold for families is out of date. At the start of each term every student will be given a copy of the ‘change of details’ form found in the back of the Directory, which asks for any change in address and/or contact details. Please complete this and send it into school so we can be sure we are able to contact you whenever necessary. Many thanks for your co-operation in this important matter.
Back To News and EventsWaddesdon’s 10th Masterclass Week, 15th-19th October 2007
Posted 07-12-07
Masterclass Week is the time when we allow ourselves to explore the curriculum in alternative ways. With the whole timetable collapsed, Masterclass Week allows us to offer whole and half-year group activities and projects. For example, Year 7 started their week with The Real Game and Year 8 ended the week with two highly productive sessions learning about the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Boxes’ appeal and preparing over 140 Christmas Boxes to be sent to less privileged areas of the world. For Year 9, a highlight of the week was the Enterprise and Business Education Partnership day, run in collaboration with the Aylesbury Vale District Council Waste Management Team, in which groups worked to plan a recycling programme and campaign for the local area. As has now become traditional, Year 10 had been preparing since September for their whole year group Model United Nations General Assembly on Thursday. The General Assembly was chaired by “Secretary General” Peter Norman and Year 10 worked as state delegates to negotiate resolutions on issues such as Child Labour and Aids/HIV.
Educational visits are another feature of this special week. Year 7 students were guided by the Humanities Federation in the Waddesdon Trail and visited the Natural History and Pitt Rivers Museums in Oxford with the Science Department, whilst Year 8 headed to the Aylesbury Mosque in support of their RE studies. Most year groups also attended short lectures. For example, Year 8 students enjoyed “The Wonders of Chemistry” with plenty of flashes and bangs lighting up the main Hall and then a view of the sky at night in the visiting Planetarium in the Sports Hall. Year 9 were overwhelmed by the life story of Steve Cunningham who, despite becoming blind in his youth, has played international football and holds a land-speed record.
Sixth Form students enjoyed speakers from universities and colleges as well as business, commerce, the political arena and voluntary organisations. Examples included Diane Abbott, MP; Sister Frances Domenica MBE, founder of Helen and Douglas House; Peter Riddell, Political Correspondent for The Times and Elizabeth Burton Philips, author of “Mum, can you lend me twenty quid?” - a harrowing true story about addiction and drug abuse. Students also attended the Sixth Form debate on the motion: “This House believes that the Government has a duty to guide its population towards a healthy diet”.
Masterclass Week is only possible thanks to the active support of so many visitors to the school. Thank you and well done everyone!
Tanya Simpson
Assistant Headteacher
Students go GREEN and Achieve Eco-School Bronze Award
Posted 07-12-07
The School Recycling Action Group (RAG) has now implemented a recycling programme that will enable the school to become ‘greener’ and more environmentally aware. Each classroom now contains a paper basket for recycling while cans/plastic waste is recycled in the canteen, main hall and staff kitchen. We’re doing so well that we are having to ask the council for more frequent collections.
With regular meetings, the RAG team have drawn up an Action Plan, ready for the New Year, working towards the Eco-School Silver Award. New projects include donating unwanted school equipment to School-Aid; collecting postage stamps for charity; and preventing used ink cartridges and toners from ending up in landfill sites. Combined with our paper, can and plastic recycling we aim to work towards a more environmentally friendly school. You can help us too by sending us your Christmas cards in January so we can give these to The Woodland Trust to be recycled.
If you would like to get involved in our recycling scheme or have any suggestions that you may like to put forward, please contact Miss Bridges (Librarian) at the school.
Back To News and EventsWaddesdon Gold Duke of Edinburgh Students Visit the Palace
Posted 07-12-07
The Equerry-in-Waiting to The Duke of Edinburgh is desired by His Royal Highness to invite you to attend the presentation of Awards to Young People who gained The Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award at St James’s Palace on Thursday 31stOctober 2007
Five Waddesdon Alumni have successfully completed the Gold Award this year including Ed Johnston, Rachel Vine, Stephanie Fisher, Naomi Childs and John Dancer. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh spent some twenty minutes talking with the Gold Award holders about their awards. Chris Huggins, the BBC Breakfast TV Sports Correspondent spoke and presented The Award certificates and brought the proceedings to a close. This was definitely a day to remember and a well deserved celebration of individual students’ achievements, a testament to the hard work and commitment of the participants. Well done to everyone!
Back To News and EventsSamaritans Purse
Posted 07-12-07
Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of Year 8 pupils and their parents, 136 shoe boxes were wrapped and filled with presents for impoverished children abroad. Contributions were also gratefully received from other members of the school community. Classrooms became hives of industry, with form tutors supervising the controlled chaos of Christmas paper, sellotape, rubber bands and a huge range of goodies. The music rang out and it really felt as though Christmas was just around the corner! Many thanks to all who contributed.
Vanessa Clark
Head of Year 8
November 2007
Year 11 Mock examinations
Posted 28-11-07
Year 11 mock examinations will be held from 11th -21st December in the school hall.
The Year 11 mock examinations timetable shows how the school day will operate during this period. A copy of this was handed out to students on Monday 26th November.
Just prior to the exams, students will be briefed by their Head of Year on all aspects regarding behaviour, equipment and timings.
Half Colours Presentation
Posted 22-11-07
On Wednesday 16th November 2007, Year 10 students were
presented with their Half Colours Awards during a special
assembly. Our guest of honour presenting the awards was
musician and singer-songwriter Betsy Cook, who has
written for a wide range of performers including Cher, Dolly
Parton and Paul Young.
Students are awarded Half Colours for excellent performance, effort and participation in sport and the arts in Years 7, 8 and 9. A total of 62 students received the award. The school is delighted with them and very proud
of their achievements.
Peter Norman
Headteacher Back To News and Events
Excellent support for Arts Award Evening
Posted 22-11-07
The Arts Award has arrived at Waddesdon and we are pleased to say that the response has been outstanding. This new and exciting initiative is nationwide and encourages young people to enjoy the arts and get involved, and we are!
The launch evening was well attended by parents and students. Helen Le Brocq from Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership was able to tell us about the challenges the Arts Award offers and the wide variety of activities available. The scheme works through three levels, rather like the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, Bronze, Silver and Gold. It is wonderful to be part of a scheme that recognises the commitment young people have for the arts.
The rewards are also clear, there are good opportunities to investigate your chosen art form and attend exhibitions or perhaps a West End show. Meeting new people and working with artists is a definite bonus and at Gold level UCAS points for university are awarded.
If you would like to know more, please pick up an information sheet and joining form from the School library.
Sue Johnston
Head of Aesthetics
Renewal of Specialist Status
Posted 09-11-07
The DCSF has confirmed that Waddesdon Church of England School has
been redesignated as a Specialist Visual Arts College at
least until the next OfSTED nspection.
This is excellent news for everyone associated with the school and a tribute
to the vision and hard work of staff, the commitment and
creativity of students and the support of the community. I
am very grateful to all concerned and we look forward to
continuing the excellent work established over the past few
years.
One additional important benefit is the continuation
of funding from the DCSF for the Aylesbury Vale Leading Edge
Partnership. This means that we can continue to work in
partnership with Quarrendon and The Grange Schools to
support all of our young people.
Peter Norman
Headteacher
Recycling Action Group
Posted 09-11-07
Does Waddesdon do enough to help the environment? We, like many others at the school, believe that we do not do enough and need to do more, starting with recycling. So, working with Miss Bridges, the school librarian, we have joined Eco-Schools which will help us to fulfil our mission and also allow the school to receive an award for their commitment to saving the planet. The Eco-Schools Programme provides a simple and sustainable framework to enable our school to make an even more positive impact on the community.
Having sent out questionnaires to all students, we are now setting up an Action Group which will produce an Action Plan by Christmas, with ideas to help us achieve our mission. Later, we hope that members of the community, including some interested parents, will join our group.
Already some practical action has been taken. We are committed to introducing recycling into the school by having baskets for paper waste placed in all areas of the school. This is to stop so much paper being wasted during the day – paper that can so easily be recycled rather than just being deposited in rubbish bins. Did you know that on average a family uses six trees worth of paper each year?
We also want to recycle tins, cans and plastics so there will be recycling baskets for these articles in certain areas of the school. How much better to recycle used cans rather than just throwing them in the bin. Did you realise that recycling one aluminium can saves us enough energy to run a television for three hours? What about ink cartridges? These, too, need to be recycled because the school does so much printing that we use up cartridges really fast - just ask the Office!
So, we’ve started but there is still a lot more we can do. More about this in the next newsletter. Until then, remember that every time you recycle, you are doing your little bit to help.
Maryam Amjad 12AS and Katie Bishop 12JG
September 2007
WADDESDON CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL OPEN DAYS
Posted 13-09-2007
We would like to invite you to one of the following open sessions for those seeking a place for entrance in September 2008
Monday 24th September 10 – 12 noon
Monday 24th September 7.30 – 9.30pm
Tuesday 25th September 7.30 – 9.30pm
All sessions will start promptly at the times given so please allow time
for parking
There will be a talk by the Headteacher followed by a tour of the school. We look forward to seeing you.
Waddesdon CE School, School Lane, Waddesdon, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 0LQ
Tel: 01296 651382
August 2007
Posted 28-08-07
Outstanding Success for Waddesdon Students
Sixth Form students at Waddesdon Church of England School once again achieved outstanding success in their summer examinations. Students achieved a 98% pass rate at A and AS Level, with 40% of grades at A or B and 67% at grades A, B and C. Headteacher Peter Norman said, “Our students and their teachers deserve our enthusiastic congratulations. Their achievements are the result of the persistent hard work of students and teachers, and the patient support of parents and families.”
There were many outstanding individual achievements, including the following:
- Ruth Ryalls gained grade As in A Level English, Chemistry and General Studies, a B in Physics and As in Biology and Religious Studies at AS Level
- Emma Sewell gained grade As in A Level English, Food Technology and Health and Social Care
- Kate Hollick gained grade As in A Level English, History and General Studies and a B in Economics, with a B in AS Level ICT
- Jessica Birch gained grade A in A Level in Psychology and a double A grade in Health and Social Care, with a B in Science and a C in General Studies
Peter Norman
Headteacher 16-08-07
Waddesdon CE School Celebrates Record Results
Students and staff at Waddesdon Church of England School are celebrating the best GCSE results in the school’s illustrious history, with 85% of students gaining 5 or more A*-C grades and 76% gaining 5 or more A*-Cs including English and Mathematics. Almost one quarter (24%) of grades were A* or A. All students gained at least 1 GCSE pass. Headteacher Peter Norman said, “These results are truly phenomenal! Our students have performed brilliantly! The previous best result for 5 or more A*-C grades was 78% 3 years ago and the previous best for 5 or more including English and Mathematics was 63%. To have broken both of these records so comprehensively is utterly outstanding. Our students and their teachers are to be enthusiastically congratulated on their fantastic efforts. Yet again the school has shown that students of all abilities can and will achieve great things, given the right balance of support and challenge. Their achievements are the result of students’ sustained hard work, rigorous teaching and the commitment and loyal support of parents and families. Well done everyone!”
Of particular note are the achievements of the following students. Interestingly, 6 out of our 8 top performing students were boys:
- Hannah Rowland gained 8 A*s, 7As and 1B
- Ben Amos gained 7A*s, 7As and 1B
- Andy Norman gained 6A*s, 4As, 4Bs and 1C
- Steven Coppack gained 4A*s, 7As, 3Bs and 1C
- Chris Beckerleg gained 3A*s, 10As, 1B and 1C
- Imogen Yapp gained 2A*s, 10As and 4Bs
- Philip Roberts gained 2A*s, 9As and 2 Bs
- Peter Cross gained 2A*s, 10As and 3 Bs
Peter Norman
Headteacher 23-08-07
July 2007
The hard work is over!
Posted 03-05-2007
As we come to the end of another busy term many of our pupils anxiously await the outcome of their GCSE and GCE exams
Results are sent to us by the Exam Boards in the middle of August and all candidates are strongly advised to collect their results directly from school.
The results will be placed in confidential envelopes ready for the pupils to collect from the Main Hall at any time after 11.00am on the following days :
- GCE Results: Thursday 16th August
- GCSE Results: Thursday 23rd August
Members of staff will be on hand to answer any pupil queries throughout the day
Results for candidates unable to collect their results on the day will be posted to their home address by first class post on the day of release.
Alternatively, candidates may ask another person to collect their results providing they give that person some written authority to do so.
Candidates should not ring the school on Results Day for verbal confirmation from members of staff.
Meanwhile we hope all pupils will enjoy their holidays and a well earned break
Graham Walkinshaw
Exams Officer
Year 8 Camp
Longridge Marlow
Posted 17-07-2007
With the threat of thunder and lightning and a forecast of floods the 2007 Year 8 camp was under a dark cloud. With the tents set up, albeit with the help of Mr Carr the groups were into their first activity. Dragon boating, raft building, canoeing and kayaking were the chosen water activities.
The fast flowing river and large waterfalls took their toll and all activities except the dragon boat ended in a swim to shore. Dry land activities included climbing, problem solving and the assault course. All pupils worked hard throughout the two days and fuelled up on the endless cakes that were provided by parents and pupils. Mrs J commented ‘this is the largest amount of cakes ever’ and I can assure you Miss J has been on a serious amount of school camps. (Best cake by Richard Crossley)
A quick quiz that baffled Mr Engel (member of Mensa) then on to the football tournament. This was dominated by the staff team, ably led by Mr Norman, who showed great ball control. This was a team that Sir Alf Ramsey would have been proud of. Finally warmed by the large fire and hot chocolate – special thanks to Mrs Flitney & Mrs Taylor, it was then over to Mr Goodwin to put 140 Year 8s to bed.
The entire campsite woke at 4.30am and the final day was soon starting. A full English breakfast was followed by more activities, cakes and the packing away of tents. Again, thanks to Mr Wilson and Mr Carr who must have packed over twenty tents. This was a great two days with only a slight downfall of rain during the last activity. Michael Fish could not have got it more wrong!
Back To News and Events
June 2007
Stanley Baughan: Skeet Shooting Champion
From The Bucks Herald:
A 12-year-old Waddesdon CofE School pupil has been crowned the Bucks Skeet Shooting champion for 2007 at the annual championships in Northamptonshire last week.
Stanley Baughan, who lives in Westcott, has been shooting for just three years and acquired his shotgun licence at the age of 10.
He has been shooting locally and regionally for the last two years at venues including Hunters Farm, Fleet Marston where shooters are encouraged and trained from an early age.
Stanley is coached by his dad Fred who is a freelance shooting instructor and organiser of a programme for young shooters called Hotshotz. The Waddesdon pupil is a member of the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association and recently won the Bucks Sunday League in the U18s colts class.
And he went one better on Sunday June 9 when he blasted his way to the 2007 Bucks Skeet championship again in the colts class. The enthusiastic youngster said he is very much an all-rounder.
"I enjoy all sports but shooting is my passion. It gives me motivation to be out in the fresh air, gives me the chance to travel to different locations in the country and meet with like-minded companions of all ages and from all walks of life. "It is a sport that needs concentration, determination, single mindedness and discipline, which are all life-enhancing skills for a boy of my age to be learning," he said.
Stanley's mum Jackie said she was glad to highlight the positive use of guns in the media. "With all the negative media coverage regarding guns, it is good to see some positive reporting, on how a gun can be used in the correct circumstances for sporting fun, leisure and competition," she said.
The School is very proud of Stanley, we look forward to seeing him action again
Back To News and EventsTesco Vouchers Competition
This year the ICT Department organised the collection of the Tesco ‘Computers for Schools’ vouchers and we would like to thank everyone who helped us by bringing in vouchers and helping us to count them. Our current total stands at a massive 104,000 with more still trickling in. The deadline for collecting the vouchers, the ink cartridges and the mobile telephones for this year’s total is Friday 29th June. Remember any collected after this date can be banked for next year’s total so if you find any hidden away anywhere please bring them into school!
During the last week of the voucher promotion we ran an inter-form competition and the winning form was 7SD. The competition was a great success and really helped boost our voucher total so well done to 7SD and all the other forms for taking part. For collecting the most vouchers 7SD won a hamper full of healthy treats - which apparently didn’t last very long!
We are hoping to have enough vouchers to exchange for four laptop computers, sixty pairs of headphones and three sets of stereo speakers. This equipment will help enrich the learning experience of our students so thanks again for all your support.
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May 2007
Skiing in the USA 1st - 8th April 2007
Posted 03-05-2007
Following previous successful school ski visits to Europe, we took a party of forty students to JAY PEAK, Vermont in the USA during the Easter break. The trip was amazing; conditions were outstanding and for the majority of the time we were skiing through powder. There is something to be said about doorstop skiing.
To top off an unforgettable week, we then spent a night and a day in the Big Apple, New York City before returning home. We took in all the incredible sights on the New York Water Ways Cruise and then spent the afternoon shopping.
What a trip!
Next year we are planning to go back to America. Watch this space!
Waddesdon Welcomes New Headteacher
Posted 02-05-2007
I have now been in post as the new Headteacher of Waddesdon Church of England School for almost 3 weeks and already I am very excited by the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. OfSTED were quite right in their judgement earlier this academic year that the school is “outstanding”. This is due to the hard work of students and staff and the excellent support provided by the community. I would like to thank all parents, carers and families for the excellent work you do to support your children and the school as a whole: this really is greatly appreciated.
The community will be aware of some of the unique and interesting initiatives that we are involved in at the school which give Waddesdon a distinctive ethos and character. The school is, of course, a Church of England school and is built upon distinctively Christian values. We believe that this gives our young people the best framework within which they can achieve and develop into well-balanced and productive young men and women with a sense of civic responsibility and an awareness of the importance of spiritual values and the Christian heritage of our culture and society.
The school is also one of the Government’s network of Specialist Visual Arts Colleges and within this context is developing excellence in the visual arts curriculum and working with various community partners to provide the best possible opportunities for our young people to experience and gain expertise in a wide range of visual arts.
In addition, the school is a Leading Edge Partnership School and has been identified and selected by the Government and the local authority to work with other local secondary schools to help raise standards of attainment across the local community.
Of course our focus continues to be centred around excellence
in all areas, with a particular emphasis
upon the highest
standards of learning and teaching and behaviour and appearance. The accelerated curriculum, first introduced nearly 3 years ago, is designed to stretch and challenge all students and to give each student a genuinely personalised curriculum. The marvellous facilities that have recently been opened – the Rothschild Building, the Thorpe Building, the Alan Armstrong Sports Complex, the all-weather pitch – provide an environment which is designed to encourage and support high quality learning and civilised behaviour and to foster a sense of pride about the school amongst the young people and adults who work here.
These are just a few of the very exciting initiatives which enrich the culture of the school and help us to inspire our young people to learn and achieve. I believe strongly that we must continue to think creatively and bravely about how to ensure that the school continues to be the very best it can be over the next 10 – 15 years. The next few months will be a dynamic and exciting time for the school as we explore these issues and make our plans for the future. I am sure that I can count on the active support of the community.
Peter Norman
Headteacher
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