A Specialist Technology

and Languages College

The Ashbeian

Diary dates 18-20 May

Day trip to Edale for Year 10

Geography students

20 May Year 13 leavers’ assembly

21-22 May Visits to Ashby Castle for Year 10 History students

22 May Last day for Year 11/ 13 before exam leave begins

25-29 May Half term

8 June International delegation in school

School Community Springs to Life A traditional spring fete to celebrate the idea of community brought students together – and helped to raise more than £900 for charity.

The fete was part of a morning of activities to celebrate community cohesion, which also included two performances by the Khula African Arts Group.

Sixth Formers set up and ran traditional fete stalls and activities, including welly wanging, tin can alley, bat the rat, cake sales and fruit bobbing.

Proceeds from the fete will be divided between the schools’ six House charities.

10 June Year 10 trip to Houses of Parliament

12 June Performance at Bosworth Battlefield by Year 12 students

16 June Trip to Cadbury World by Advisory Faculty

17-19 June Gold Duke of Edinburgh

19 June Physics trip to Sellafield

23 June Sports heats

Issue 13 - Summer term 2009

Every Student Matters at Ashby School

Page Contents

2Ofsted Praises

Ashby School -

View from the Top

3Aquathlon

Makes a Splash

4School Impresses

Overseas Visitors

5School Council

Needs YOU!

6-7Faculty Focus:

Science, PE, ICT,

Advisory

8 Talking Heads

25 June Sports day

26 June Year 13 ball

29 June Year 10 work experience begins

Induction for external Year 12 students

1-3 July Year 9 induction

3 July Water sports trip departs

6-8 July Year 12 business conference

German exchange departs

10 July End of term

20 August AS/ A2 results

27 August GCSE results

3 September Start of new academic year

Loudoun stall-holders (left to right) Kerry Parsons, Alice Gibson, Sophia Jones and Andrea Carlisle.

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The Ashbeian

View from the TopOfsted finally arrived last term for the long-awaited inspection that we had been expecting since September.

The inspection was very thorough and fair. Staff had worked hard to prepare and the students behaved and performed impeccably – I felt very proud of them. The final judgement was a good school with outstanding features.

Many aspects of the school’s work were identified as outstanding. The curriculum (subjects and range of courses offered) was considered

exceptional, while the progress and achievement of students with learning difficulties, students’ behaviour, management of resources and value for money, working with other schools and colleges, and the boarding house were all graded as outstanding. (Nationally, only eight per cent of state boarding establishments are graded as outstanding.)

The report contains many other positive comments, including the fact that students feel safe in school and take the safety of others very seriously, they readily accept responsibilities in school, have very well-developed work-related skills and a clear understanding of right and wrong.

Ofsted thought we needed to make sure all students were challenged to do better – we have to ensure they don’t find the work too easy!

Some students need to improve their attendance – that is the only way they will achieve good examination results. Ofsted said that the school needed to give students more time to reflect on spiritual matters and to help them understand the wide range of cultures in Britain. When students leave Ashby School, they will work and study with people from all backgrounds.

We are taking these comments very seriously. Staff are currently writing a development plan to outline how we will maintain the school’s good and outstanding aspects and how we intend to improve further over the next three years.

Our main focus this term is to support Year 11 and 13 students with their final preparations for this summer’s examinations. Most Year 13 students are planning to go to University and most Year 11 students intend to get five or more A* - C GCSE grades (including Maths and English) so they can return to the Sixth Form.

Students not intending to return to Ashby School are working to achieve the grades they need for courses at Stephenson College and with other training providers.

This period of final revision and preparation is essential if students are to do well in the summer examinations. I wish the students every success and the staff and I look forward to congratulating them when the A level results come out on 20 August and the GCSE results come out on 27 August.

Mrs V. Keller-Garnett, Headteacher

Funny for MoneyAccessories helped to raise more than £600 for Comic Relief at Ashby School – when staff and students wore hats and pants to brighten up their school clothes.

Student Liam Manifold collected another £400 by hopping backwards throughout Red Nose Day.

His day began with a backward hop to school from his home in Measham. Liam left home at 7am, completing the journey in two hours - and collecting £40 from passing cars on the way.

Liam – who wore his t-shirt backwards with a red wig – set his target for the day at £200 but, by breaktime, had collected more than £400.

Liam said: “I always do something for Comic Relief and hopping backwards seemed like a funny thing to do for money. Everybody thought I was hopping mad!”

Taylor Takes on Top Teen RacersA young motorcyclist from Ashby School is one of just two British riders to be selected to compete in the 2009 Moto GP Red Bull Rookie Series.

Taylor Mackenzie, 16, will be up against the best teenage racers from America, Australia, Japan, South Africa and Europe.

The Championship takes place over six European Moto GP events, which began in Spain and Portugal in March and April.

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Taylor in action.

Liam Manifold hopped backwards for Red Nose Day.

Page 3

Sophie to Ride at Royal ShowA young rider from Ashby School will compete in the Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead in May.

Sophie Barker, 16, will take part in the ‘working hunter’ section with her horse, Austin, after making it through 20 qualifying events.

The show brings together the elite from many equestrian sports to compete side-by-side.

Sophie, who been riding since the age of two, is also hoping to qualify for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show in October.

Aquathlon Makes a Splash

The school’ s third charity aquathlon helped to raised more than £1,500 on land and in water.

More than 100 staff and students signed up for the gruelling event which included a 400 metre swim and a three kilometre run.

These included Hannah Holland, 14, and Andrea Richardson, 15, who swam and ran while tied together. Teachers Jonathan Jones and Ben Clarke completed their swim underwater wearing scuba gear, before pushing one another around the running circuit in a wheelbarrow.

Teacher Vikki Rundle-Brown and student Jack Murray completed the whole course twice without stopping.

The fastest overall time - an aquathlon record - was 16.20 minutes which was set by Patrick Parker and Alex Kavanagh.

Sportathon is Non-Stop-AthonA 24-hour sportathon helped to raise £2,000 for Loudoun and Erdington House charities.

Sixty students spent 24 hours playing sports around the clock. Activities included table tennis, volleyball, aerobics and football.

Sew Far, Sew GoodA student from Ashby School has secured one of just 50 places to study at the prestigious Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

Sixth Former Sophie Clamp will study History of Art at the famous institute from September, after making it through a gruelling selection process.

Sophie, who is doing A levels in Art, Textiles and History, said: “There are only 50 places a year so to get in is a dream come true.”

Fellow Textiles student Becky McBride hopes to fulfil her ambition of working in the fashion industry after winning a place to read Textiles, Fashion and Fibre at The Winchester School of Art.

A Night to Remember for

Award Winners

Outstanding and hard working students will be recognised at the school’s annual awards evening on Thursday 14 May.

Prizes will be presented to students who have excelled in the classroom, on the sports field or in other areas of school life.

Guest speaker will be the Reverend Dr Michael Gilman, an old boy of the school, whose interests include old buildings, religion and European languages.

A full list of award winners will appear on the school website.

Top of the Pile

Year 10 students who put in a little extra effort can become ‘Top of the Pile’ by picking up the most reward points.

During the Spring term, Aaron Bingham earned the most Well Done Awards for positive attitude, Millicent Jacklin picked up the most Extra Curricular Awards for taking part in after-school activities, and Lattrice Davis was top of the table for Academic Awards.

Teachers Ben Clarke and Jonathan Jones ran a wheel-y good race.

Robin Edlin was the first recipient of the Tina Parker Cup in 2008. It was presented to him by Governor Mrs Hazel Finch.

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The Ashbeian

Dutch and Chinese Take Away

Ashby IdeasTeachers from China and Holland visited Ashby School to find out more about education in Britain – and to see a successful school in action.

The Chinese visitors sat in on lessons, spoke to teachers and were given a guided tour of the campus by Ashby School students.

Meanwhile, teachers and educational experts from Limsburg in Holland came

to find out more about special needs teaching in the UK – and were impressed by the school’s commitment to ‘Every Child Matters’.

Dick van Tulden said: “It has been an eye-opener. We have met people with lots of enthusiasm and a real interest in giving the best education to every child.”

Ashby School is committed to the ‘Every Child Matters’ initiative which aims to ensure that every child can enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, be healthy, stay safe and achieve economic well-being.

Hair Today, Career TomorrowA new diploma to introduce students to the workings of the beauty industry will be launched at Ashby School in September 2009.

The Hair and Beauty Diploma will teach students about the industry’s development, the science and technology behind it, and the day-to-day running of a salon.

The course is aimed at Year 10 students interested in pursuing a career in the hair and beauty industry.

It will be the second diploma to be launched at Ashby School, following the success of the Engineering diploma.

Ashby School is now appealing for industry professionals to help shape the course.

Teacher Claire Coxall said: “We would like to hear from anyone who has specialist knowledge of this extensive industry, and may be able to help us with developing resources, offering work placements, or delivering a talk about their job and experiences.”

Experts should have experience in at least one of the following professions: hair dresser (manager and/ or stylist), beauty therapist, nail technician, spa manager, make-up artist, beauty product manufacturer, sales representative for hair and beauty products, recruitment consultant for the hair and beauty industry.

Heading up New TeamThe new Head Boy and Head Girl for 2009/10 have been named as Tom Caron and Sarah Folwell.

They will be supported by Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl, Louis Gibson and Emily Harris.

During their year in office, the four are determined to work together to promote the numerous opportunities available to students at Ashby School, and to encourage students from all Years to get involved.

Lessons of Auschwitz to

be Shared with StudentsA harrowing visit to former death camp Auschwitz by the Head Boy and Head Girl will be used to tell fellow students about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Gaurav Srivastava and Bryony Farmer spent a day at Auschwitz, where the Nazis murdered at least a million people, most of them Jews.

Gaurav and Bryony saw relics of the atrocities, including victims’ belongings and prisoners’ barracks, as well as visiting the gas chambers and walking the road taken by thousands of victims.

Gaurav said: “We were lucky to leave the camp and go home to our families when so many others never got the chance. Our visit to Auschwitz was definitely one of the most important experiences of our lives.”

He and Bryony will share their experiences with other students in a series of assemblies.

The visit was organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust.

Musicians Band TogetherMusicians from Ashby School have entertained packed audiences at two concerts.

A night of big band music, based on Jools Holland’s popular Hootenanny, was held in the Sixth Form Centre in May. Ashby School’s jazz band shared the stage with a visiting big band from Birmingham.

Ashby School also joined forces with musicians from its feeder high schools, Ibstock and Ivanhoe, for a concert in April. This was the first time that the three schools had staged a joint performance.

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Trainee teachers from China at Ashby School.

Musicians entertained audiences at two concerts.

Tom and Sarah are the new Head Boy and Head Girl.

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Life in Other CountriesA four-day trip to Romania gave students an insight into life in Eastern Europe – and a chance to explore textiles teaching overseas.

Seven Sixth Formers and two teachers made the journey to Sibiu in April to stay with the families of Romanian students.

The visit was part of the Comenius project, which brings together students

from several European states to find out what life is like in different countries.

During the visit, students spent time at the Colegiul Tehnic Textil in Sibiu, a specialist textiles college, to find out about industrial practices, teaching methods and fashion trends in Romania.

They also called at local places of interest, including Dracula’s castle.

Specialist Schools

Steering Group Report

Technology College ReportOfsted inspectors highlighted the ‘exceptional impact’ of technology college status as one of Ashby School’s ‘outstanding’ features.

They praised the way in which specialist technology status had helped to develop the curriculum provision at Ashby. This included the fast track route available to Science students - enabling them to complete an AS level in Year 11 - and the Engineering Diploma.

Specialist college status was also seen to be ‘promoting excellent partnerships with local high schools and colleges’.

Ashby School is determined to ensure that the next phase of its specialist status continues to deliver outstanding outcomes for both students and the wider community.

Languages College Report

Primary Language InitiativeAshby School is at the cutting edge of nationwide plans to get French up and running in primary school classrooms.

By 2009/ 10, the Government has called for all Key Stage 2 pupils (aged seven to 11) to study a foreign language.

Ashby School has been working closely with primary schools in the Ashby area since 2002 – and all 13 primary schools in the Ashby Family of Schools now teach French to their KS2 pupils.

Ashby School’s co-ordinated approach has helped to ensure that all pupils in KS2 across the Ashby area have a similar experience of French lessons.

Head of Languages Helen Hughes has spoken to teachers from across the country about Ashby School’s success in working with local primary schools.

Miss Hughes said: “We are ahead of the game and pupils are benefitting enormously.”

Having an Ice Time

Geography students gave up part of their Easter holiday to experience the natural wonders of Iceland.

A group of 30 students from Years 11, 12 and 13 visited some of Iceland’s breath-taking landmarks, including the Gulfoss waterfall and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and American plates are moving apart to create a rift valley.

Students also saw geysers, walked on a glacier, travelled in an ice cap, and tried out a geothermal swimming pool and spa. On a whale-watching trip, students spotted minke whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Teacher Emily Starkie, who led the visit, said: “It was an amazing trip with lots of memorable moments.”

Make the School Council

Work for You‘Make your School Council work for you’ – that is the message from council members who want more students to come forward with suggestions for the future of the school.

The School Council tackles issues as diverse as school dinners, uniform, and the environment.

Council member Richard Tann-Watson said: “The School Council is here to represent students so we need to hear from more people of all Year groups about what they would like to see happening in school.”

The School Council is made up of students from all Year groups. They can be contacted by email or in person. A School Council notice board with details of student representatives is outside the library.

Students can also propose topics for School Council discussion through Mr Procter or Mrs Allsop.

Ashby students spent four days in Romania.

Students experienced the natural wonders of Iceland.

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The Ashbeian

Faculty Focus...

ScienceChange was the theme for a week of science-based challenges to mark National Science Week.

All students were encouraged to think about Science and its uses by taking part in special form-time activities, such as experimenting with colours and testing their knowledge of scientific terms. Their final task was to design a teacher for the future.

Adam Linnik, Head of Science, said: “We used the time to show students how science benefits and influences our everyday lives and gave them a new insight into how useful and fascinating Science can be!”

The school also organised a series of science lectures by visiting speakers.

Meanwhile, Year 11 fast track students spent a day at Cambridge Science Festival.

More than 50 AS Biology students travelled to Wales to learn more about ecological techniques, in preparation for their Unit 2 summer exam.

The visit included sampling the organisms in river water and the diversity on a rocky shore.

Students spent their evenings analysing the data collected using statistical calculations. They gained a useful insight into ecological techniques that cannot be used at school and are now well-prepared for any statistical questions in their exam.

Get GrowingSavvy students who care about the environment are being urged to dig in – by helping with the school’s new vegetable plots.

So far, volunteers have planted salad potatoes, onions, garlic, fennel, rhubarb and parsnips close to the Science building.

Students do not need to be gardeners to get involved – they need to enjoy being outdoors and want to do their bit for the planet. The group meets after school on Mondays.

The plots are part of the Sustainable Schools programme, which aims to encourage young people to think about the environment and be more energy efficient.

PE

BadmintonAshby School’s under-16 boys’ badminton team were the outright winners of the Leicestershire Schools Badminton League.

NetballNetball continues to be extremely popular with more than 40 girls attending training every Monday night.

Team League positionEnd-of-season

tournament

Under 15s 4th 4th

Under 16s 4th 5th

Under 19s 3rd 2nd

Water polo

Waterpolo has continued this year, in spite of a lengthy pool closure.

The boys’ Under 19 team has qualified for the final of the English Schools’ Swimming Association Plate Competition to be played during the Summer term. This will involve two teams from the South, two teams from the North and one other team from the Midlands.

FootballMore than 60 students have been taking part in a Sixth Form five-a-side league on Mondays after school.

Ten teams have competed in the league; the four teams left to compete for the finals are the Average Joes, AAFC, Bransfords Brains, and Nicholsons Knights.

RugbyAshby have again fielded teams at Under 15, Under 16 and Under 18 level.

The Under 16s narrowly missed out on a spot in the quarter finals of the County Cup.

The Under 18s were knocked out of the County Cup when they were beaten by Welback College in the quarter finals.

HockeyAshby School’s hockey team played a match against King Edward VII Coalville but lost 2 -1.

BasketballThe Under 19 boys’ basketball finished a respectable third in the County league.

The girls’ team qualified for the end-of-season play-offs but were defeated by John Cleveland College.

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Students meet after school on Mondays to tend the school’s new vegetable plots.

The boys’ Under 19 water polo team.

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Advisory Faculty

The attainment of students with learning difficulties was judged to be ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted inspectors.

There are 141 students on the SEN (Special Educational Needs) record at Ashby School this year.

New Initiatives

This year, the Advisory Faculty has introduced Friendship Training for students who find social interaction and developing friendships difficult.

Small groups of students meet for one hour a week for 10 weeks to develop their social and personal skills.

A cash boost of £2,500 from Student Transport helped the school to introduce a programme of independence/ mobility training for students in Years 10 and 11. Much of the Faculty’s work involves preparing students for the world outside school – for college, training and/or employment.

Dyslexia

Ashby School continues to contribute to the teaching of students with dyslexia across the county. Representatives from Ashby School ran a workshop in March at the County’s Dyslexia Conference entitled ‘Making Leicestershire Classrooms Dyslexia-effective’.

The Tip Tops – an after-school club for able local primary school children – meets every Friday to explore Mathematics, the universe, languages, film making and other topics. Gifted and talented GCSE and A level students act as tutors. About 70 primary and Ashby students attend every week.

Flight Club

Ashby School has launched its own Flight Club, to broaden the historical, social and cultural horisons of its gifted and talented students.

So far, the Flight Club has taken students for day trips to Dublin and Edinburgh. There are plans to visit Belfast in September.

Trips are organised by Malcolm Salt, the co-ordinator of the school’s gifted and talented programme.

Themed lunches to coincide with the visits have also been held. GCSE and A level students sampled the delights of haggis and Irish favourite colcannon at lunches in the library.

Ski Trip – BulgariaMore than 60 students spent a week on the slopes of Bansko in Bulgaria in February.

The group, which included beginners and advanced skiers, improved dramatically during the six days on the piste in excellent skiing conditions.

Teacher Mrs Vikki Rundle-Brown, who was one of the teachers accompanying the group, said: “Everyone made huge leaps in both skill and confidence. The students were a real credit to the school – they made me extremely proud and made all the hard work worthwhile.”

Computing, Networking and ICT The Faculty is building up a national reputation for its success in the OCR iPro course. The school achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in this course in 2008.

This vocationally-related qualification is suited to students wanting to work in the IT industry or simply to improve their IT skills.

The Faculty’s role as a Cisco Regional Academy continues to flourish. Ashby School is now involved in training 14 institutions including three FE Colleges.

Computing A2 results were also well above national standards. The school has introduced a new AS Computing Course, giving students access to the latest Microsoft.Net Development Suite. Most students at this level now study VB.Net and Java programming.

For Year 10 and 11 students, the Award in Digital Applications Course (one GCSE equivalent) was very successful in its first year. A large number of Year 10 students obtained a GCSE pass and are pursuing a second GCSE equivalent in the current academic year.

The course involves the production of e-portfolios. Students acquire invaluable, transferable skills that can be taken into many areas of study in the Sixth Form and at college.

The school has been a pilot school for a new functional skills certificate in IT and the class group that took the course all obtained a pass (the majority at Level 2 – the equivalent of a higher grade GCSE pass.)

From the Governors...

PersonnelThe Personnel Committee discusses staff and student issues. This year, topics have included the staffing structure, including appointments.

Governors have welcomed the appointment of an open door counsellor who is in school one day a week. This scheme has already benefited students.

They are also pleased to note recent improvements in attendance figures.

Meetings to discuss Social, Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) with Ibstock and Ivanhoe Colleges have continued. Governors are kept informed of developments across the three schools.

STEP students practise their transport skills.

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Talking Heads

What is your name? Shelagh Setterington

What is your role at Ashby School? Librarian

How long have you been at the school? Since August 2007

What did you do before you came to Ashby? Director of Library and Learning Resources at a girls’ school in North Leeds

How has the library changed since you arrived? The Library has had a makeover in terms of carpeting, the new quick internet stations by the counter, updated computers, new ceiling tiles, paint and chairs. We hope it provides a comfortable welcoming space conducive to learning.

Describe your average working day. I open the library at 8am for any early bird students. Most days I work at the counter issuing and returning books, answering reference enquiries from students and staff, making fiction recommendations, and trying to keep up with new publications and resources. I also give book talks and offer research classes. The start of the Autumn term is always busy as I do all the Library Inductions through the English Department.

What do you like best about your job? I love the variety - no two days are the same in the library so we never have time to get bored.

‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body’. Is this true? I believe so. You are never bored or lonely with a book.

Tell us something about yourself that not many people at Ashby know. I have danced with Tom Chambers, current winner of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.

What do you think of today’s young people? Young people today get a lot of bad press often unfairly. They have to grow up in a far more complex world than I did. I would like more young people to open their minds and be more receptive to reading.

What achievement are you most proud of? Probably the birth of my two children and getting my degree.

What are the most popular books in the library? The ‘Twilight’ series by Stephenie Meyer. Vampires are in vogue!

What is the most unusual item left behind in the library? I once found a fried egg in a book – someone must have been using it as a bookmark! (Not at Ashby School).

If you were stranded on a desert island which book would you take? I would need something which would make me laugh. My choice would have to be part of Roddy Doyle’s ‘Barrytown Trilogy’ called ‘The Van’. It makes me laugh out loud.

Who do you most admire and why? I think it would have to be Annie Lennox. She’s not only a fantastic singer/musician but also a great human rights activist who uses her fame to highlight causes she believes in - plus she’s a Scot!

If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do today? Gather together all my loved ones have a big party and eat, drink and be merry!

Film-Maker Felix Gets AwardA gifted animator

from Ashby School has

been recognised by

the Lord Lieutenant of

Leicestershire.

Felix Chan, a boarder at

School House, picked

up second prize in the

Creativity and Innovation

category of the Lord

Lieutenant’s Awards for

Young People.

Felix was nominated by boarding house staff who were

impressed by his short, animated films. The films have attracted

international recognition through the internet and word of

mouth.

He was presented with an iPod nano by the Lord Lieutenant, Lady

Gretton, at an Oscars-style ceremony at County Hall.

James is Young Person of the YearA student from Ashby School has been voted ‘Young Person of

the Year’ by his local community.

James Field was chosen for the accolade by the young people of

Agar Nook, after taking part in the Positive Futures scheme run by

North West Leicestershire District Council.

The scheme’s leaders praised James as a positive role model.

James is part of Ashby School’s Alternative Curriculum

programme, which finds placements for students who need an

alternative to mainstream learning. He is currently on a sports

college course and is keen to become a volunteer for Positive

Futures, supporting other young people.

Book Group is Success StoryBook lovers can get even more from their reading by joining

Ashby School’s monthly book group.

The group meets on the last Monday of every month and

discusses a different title each time.

Teacher Alison Cave said: “Ashby School Book Group is a fun and

informal gathering of people who have read and enjoyed the

same book. If you like the sound of the book we’re reading this

month, just read it and turn up! You don’t have to commit to

anything.”

The next meeting will be on Monday 29 June. Members will be

talking about ‘An Uncommon Reader’ by Alan Bennett.

Previous books have included ‘Twilight’ by Stephenie Meyer, ‘A

Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian’ by Marina Lewycka and

‘Restless’ by William Boyd.

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Felix receives his award from Lord Lieutenant, Lady Gretton.