News snippets

News items culled largely from Mr. Berrill's report to governors, June 2005

The Sports Hall extension is nearing completion.
A new telephone system is being installed in readiness for the new academic year.
One of the Science rooms is being refurbished.
Mr. P. Livesey joins us from Sharnbrook school in September as head of P.E. He will replace Mr. Tysoe who is to become Director of the Gifted and Talented Academy within the Sports College after many years of distinguished service to the school. Mr. Tysoe, as guest of honour, presented the prizes at the recent Sports Achievements Awards evening.
Tracy Norton joins us in the English Department, as does Alison Hague. Joining the Mathematics department is Celia Rodrigues and Deborah Butler.
Considerable thought has been given to a new pastoral structure, possibly resulting in a house system.

Sport

Fifteen students were selected to represent Bedford at the County Championships in June.
A team of Year 9 and 10 boys and girls were entered into the AAA championships
The school's cricketers continue to do well, and at the time of the Governors' report the Under14 and Under 15 teams had not lost a single game.
On the exam front there were some excellent results, particularly from Leila Slatter in Year 13 who dropped only 2 marks in her Dance and Gymnastics, and Vignesh Murali in Year 12 who gained 100% in the Tennis moderation!
Our Gifted and Talented group meets on a regular basis. The last master class session was run by Alun Brown from the RFU, who delivered a skills, agility and quickness session, which was followed by some healthy snacks before Jacki Boorman, a registered dietician, who works with professional sportsmen and women, gave an inspiring talk on what young people should eat to help with sports performance.

The Arts

Sophie Hallett (Y11 viola player) has been accepted into the County Youth Orchestra.
On 11th May three of our A2 Music students each performed a twenty minute solo recital to an appreciative audience. Adam Baker (voice & piano), Lucy Gallivan (flute) and Sarah Danes (violin) all performed to a very high standard and are expected to receive top grades for this component of their A level in Music.
Our top steel band, The Clangers, have been selected to compete in the National Finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth at the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham in July. Success could mean selection for the Schools Prom at the Royal Albert Hall in October.
In mid-May ten of our more advanced instrumentalists participated in a workshop and open rehearsal at Bedford School with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. This included a marvellous performance by Lucy Gallivan (Y13) and Ruth Whitmore (H11) on their flutes.
Lucia Ariano (y9) and Sophie Hallett (Y11) were invited to perform in a Viola masterclass in Wootton. The masterclass was taken by Michael Altrem, and our students acquitted themselves very well.
The steel bands continue to impress. In June our year 11 steel band entertained at the Bedford Magistrates Annual BBQ, held at the Danish Camp in Willington. Hopefully this will be the only time in their lives that they will be up before the magistrates. One of the magistrates, a friend of the family, made a point of saying how impressed he was not only by the stupendous playing, but also by their behaviour. (Mind you, I think all of us would be on best behaviour in such company!)
The year 10 band was also busy, entertaining at the Great Barford Festival and the Turnpike Farm Music festival in Biggleswade. Full marks also to Ben McKean, who had his audience dancing to "Surfin' USA" by the Beach Boys.

Finally

A number of students will be accompanying Mr. Wright and Mrs. Bell (chair of governors) to South Africa, where they will be involved in redecorating a school. Hopefully we will have news about this on their return.

Robert Leggat