02 Christmas Newsletter 2010 © 2010 Wade Deacon High School. All rights reserved.

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Foreword

“Pupils leave our school as outstanding citizens who will make a positive

contribution to our community”

Wade Deacon High School and Fairfield High School celebrated the best results ever this year and claimed, collaboratively, the position of the highest performing school in Halton once again. Wade Deacon High School is in the top 4% of all schools nationally for the additional progress and attainment that our pupils make from Y7 to Y11. We are very proud of all our pupils and members of staff for this exceptional achievement.

As you know, we have worked very hard to ensure that all our pupils leave our school as outstanding citizens who will make a positive contribution to our community. Therefore, we are delighted to have this work recognised nationally by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT), who awarded us with the Cultural Diversity Quality Mark Conference Award; this was in competition against other schools across the nation.

We have really enjoyed working in partnership with our partner primary schools this year and value the expertise that we can learn from each other. On a visit to the school, the SSAT were very impressed with our partnership work and as a result, awarded Wade Deacon High School the “Highly Commended” category for work with partner primary schools. This award is a reflection of the superb collaboration of all teachers and members of staff across our community and schools.

The Building Schools for the Future programme is going ahead and we look forward to working in our brand new building sometime in 2012/13. The building will be a fantastic resource for the community and will include a six court Sports’ Hall, a state of the art auditorium and amazing subject resources to deliver the very best education for 21st century careers.

The building reflects our commitment to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum with personalized pathways for every child. In 2011, Y8 pupils will have the opportunity to choose a small range of optional subjects and start their GCSE courses in Y9. This will provide every child with the flexibility to work at a pace that suits their needs, capability and talents, so that every child receives the best education. Also, in 2011, you will be able to go online and check your child’s progress in every subject.

We look forward to an exciting year in 2011 and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

o Christmas Holiday Friday 17th December 2010 – School closes

Tuesday 4th January 2011 – School opens

o 23rd February – Year 9 Options Evening

o 7th March – PSHE (period 5)

o 9th March – Year 8 Options Evening

o 17th March – Let’s Revise (Years 10 & 11)

o 26th March – Saturday Boost Session

o 30th March – Citizenship & Enterprise Day

o Easter Holiday Thursday 31st March – School closes

Monday 18th April – School opens

Celebration!

a six court Sports’ Hall, a state of the art auditorium and amazing subject resources to deliver the very best education for 21st century careers.

The building reflects our commitment to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum with personalized pathways for every child. In 2011, Y8 pupils will have the opportunity to choose a small range of optional

School closes

Mrs P A WrightExecutive Headteacher

Mrs J GormleyHead of School

03Christmas Newsletter 2010

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BUDDING JOURNALISTS INTERVIEW LOCAL NEWS ANCHORYear 9 pupils working on an innovative project to design and write their own magazine were whisked off to the Granada TV studios in Manchester to interview news anchor Lucy Meacock for one of their features.

Anna Kipping, Ruth Moss, Jessica Whittle and Beth Gemmell interviewed Lucy for almost an hour before being shown around the Granada Reports offices to see how the programme is put together. The group was lucky enough to be invited backstage to the producer's gallery to watch the live production of the Lunchtime Report before finishing their interview with Lucy on set after the programme!

The girls met Fred the weather man who was very nice and entertaining, Tony Morris the other presenter and lots of behind the scenes staff who were very generous with their time explaining how everything works.Lucy Meacock enjoyed the interview; “All the girls came up with brilliant questions and I am sure they will have very successful careers ahead of them whatever they do. They were an absolute credit to their school - so well done to them and to Wade Deacon High School.”

Anna Kipping said “It was a really great experience. It was amazing how everyone treated us like adults rather than children.”

The hard work starts now as the class are working with magazine publisher and ex-editor of Marvel Comics, Tim Quinn, to create a young people's magazine with a positive focus, contrasting with the scandal often found on newsstands. At the end of the 8 week programme the class will have a professionally produced 28 page magazine packed with features.

04 Wade Deacon High School.

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STRETCHING MINDS IN SCIENCE

THE ROYAL NATIONALLIFEBOAT INSTITUTION

Year 11 pupils had a taster of A-Level Chemistry during a visit by Chris Wright from Riverside College. Wade Deacon High School is now closely linked with the College in developing a range of activities designed to bridge the gap between science at Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5, making the transition to Sixth form College much smoother.

Pupils undertook a series of practical experiments examining the role of catalysts in chemical applications focussing on colour and energy change – all really challenging material designed to stretch our pupils.

All pupils really enjoyed the session. Aaron Ardani thought the session was inspirational; ‘I really enjoy Chemistry in school and this, coupled with the session today has really fired my enthusiasm to continue with science at A level.’

Meanwhile Sam Ellis and Matthew Smith have decided to study separate sciences at GCSE after being selected for the prestigious Daresbury Laboratories CCLRC Award for Academic Excellence in the Foundation Stage. They listened to a lecture about Astronomy using the Starlab and received book tokens as their prizes. The awards evening was attended by Dr Jackson and Ms Fraser, who said “The evening was thoroughly enjoyable and it is extremely pleasing to see two well deserving students receive recognition for their hard work throughout the Foundation Stage”.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institu-tion (RNLI) was the focus for Year 7 in their first English project at Wade Deacon High School. Pupils studied what the RNLI does, where their money comes from, and roles of their individual volunteers, while developing key literacy skills such as text analysis and writing to persuade. The six week programme culminated in a visit from one the RNLI volunteers who talked to pupils about water safety and the type of equipment the RNLI use. Pupils then undertook fundraising activities including cakes sales, and guess the sweets in the jar to support the RNLI.

Sam Ellis & Matthew Smith

John Findlater & Aaron Ardanni

Cameron Mair

Remembrance

Year 10 pupils’ have been making waves with their poetry honouring our soldiers after studying the works of the First World War poets. The best of the pupils’ work has been published in a booklet which will be sold at Widnes locations to raise money for ‘Help for Heroes’, the charity which supports soldiers wounded in Britain’s current conflicts. Copies of the booklet, priced £1 are also available from the school office.

Ms Bird, who coordinated the fund raising effort, is very proud of the pupils; “The poetry published in our booklet is absolutely fantastic, and the pupils were very keen to make sure that their efforts would raise funds to support our heroes as well as raising their grades in English!”

One keen Year 10 poet reached a much larger audience with his work. Michael Carroll’s poem was heard by thousands across Merseyside after he was asked to read it for BBC Radio Merseyside! His work came to the attention of a BBC producer after it was read at a meeting of the Air Cadets of which Michael is a member. Michael’s poem is shown below.

HONOURING OUR HEROESHONOURING OUR HEROES

05Christmas Newsletter 2010

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As I lay bleeding,Dying on the floor.

I felt a strange new feeling,To look across the moor.

I turned my head left then right,Watching bullets flying,

I thought this was a fight,I didn’t mean to be dying.

Tears spread across my eyes,As I thought of my wife.All those deceitful lies,

Of my past life.Blood swelled in my throat,

As the medic appeared.All I could muster was a choke,

And that’s the last I heard......

HONOURING OUR HEROES

Then I got the dreaded note,The one that’s red and bare

My voice got caught in my throat,And all I could do was stare.My husband had been killed,

In that vicious battle.He had nearly healed,

‘Till he got threw away like cattle.

“He’ll be flown back to England,In a jet black coffin.

He’ll have a marching band...”To me that means nothin’

“...We are very sorry for your loss,But he was a needed fighter.

He may not have been the boss,But he did not surrender.

.....

The last I heardGuns blazing, crash, bang, boom,

Charging towards the enemy base,Trying to seal our targets doom,

“Hurry lads, we’re losing the chase!”Cried our Commander, blood in his mouth.

We were told this would be easy,‘cos were from down South.

The last letter to my family,Was begging to come home,I was told “this is too timely.”

And to die alone.We fought all day,And into the night,

I wanted to say,“We’ll lose this fight.”I got shot in the foot,And all down my side.I got threw in a truck,

Never again, to see my bride......

I walked through a crimson sunset.Since he died,

My face was always wet.I collapsed and cried.I was to be his wife,

Through better and worse.So I took my life,

In front of his hearse.

I put a gun to my chest,And shot out my heart.

I knew was at rest,Straight from the start.

I left my body when I closed my eyes,He reached out and grabbed my hand,

And we started to rise.We rose, never glancing back to that dreadful land.

Michael Carroll

These talented poets had their work published in the booklet.

06 Wade Deacon High School.

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STRONG INTERNATIONAL LINKSCONTINUE TO DEVELOP

International Dimension

As part of the school’s ongoing development of International Links and the Global Dimension, we have made a successful bid to join the British Council’s Connecting Classrooms (Europe) programme.

This involves working with a cluster of schools in the area as well as working with schools in Slovakia, Serbia and Germany. As part of the launch of this programme, Wade Deacon hosted teachers and educators from the three European countries. They visited both sites in order to find out more about the way schools are organised; the strategies used to engage pupils in their learning and the pastoral support that is available to the pupils. Needless to say they were very impressed with the quality and standards that they saw. The next steps are to organise joint curriculum projects across the clusters not only to add to the curriculum but also to give all members of the cluster a greater insight into, and knowledge of, life in different countries.

As part of our links with Tongling Number 12 Middle School, we are delighted to welcome Wang Lingli as our Mandarin Assistant for the next twelve months. Lingli teaches English at Number 12 Middle School and is determined not only to enhance our pupils’ awareness and knowledge of Mandarin but also to gain further insight into our education system. Lingli has already made an impact in the school through speaking in assemblies and engaging pupils in the study of Mandarin. She has also been working with pupils in our partner primary schools. Whilst she is with us, Lingli is determined to see as much of the country as possible. She is thoroughly enjoying both working and living in Widnes.

Wade Deacon’s international links have been further enhanced by the school being awarded the prestigious status of hosting a Confucius Classroom on the Peelhouse Lane site. This means that the International Division of the Chinese Education Department, called Hanban, will directly fund a teacher of Mandarin and also provide a budget to purchase resources for the teaching of Mandarin and aspects of Chinese culture. As only 21 schools across the country have been granted this status. It is a reflection of the importance Wade Deacon attaches to the links with our twinned communities in Tongling.

In order to gain Confucius Classroom status, an extremely detailed and thorough bid had to be prepared outlining how the Confucius Classroom would enhance the work that is currently being undertaken both within the school and across the our community. The extra funding the school receives will allow Wade Deacon to offer a wider range of cultural experiences and opportunities to further promote the study of Mandarin.

Mr McGee with guests from Serbia, Slovakia and Germany

Wang Lingli

07Christmas Newsletter 2010

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EXCITING NEW PLANS AGREEDBuilding Schools for the Future

After months of negotiation the preferred bidder for our new school has been announced as Local Transformation Partnership. Their plans and design for Wade Deacon High School are excellent with a 500 seat auditorium, 6 court sports hall and fabulous specialist teaching facilities, all within the one school building. The plan is to keep the historic frontage of the Lower Wing building on Birchfield Road, but everything behind will be brand new.

This building project will greatly enhance our facilities. Pupils at Wade Deacon will enjoy a state of the art learning environment and the very latest technology, helping them to achieve ‘world class’ educational outcomes. All pupils will be accommodated on one inspirational campus when the new buildings are completed in 2012/2013 academic year.

  

The first Citizenship and Enterprise Day of the year saw all year groups working 

on topics linked to Community Action and Active Citizenship. Year 7 pupils 

explored charities and associated issues, becoming active citizens in 

promoting charity work, including composing their own charity songs.  Year 8 

focused on animal welfare, hearing about the work of the Dogs’ Trust and investigating 

the life of a chicken.  Year 9 pupils spent the day exploring a wide range of issues and 

engaging in activities linked to maintaining the environment.  Homelessness was the 

focus at Year 10, with pupils participating in a wide range of activities, from 

moral debates to shelter building.  Raising awareness of a variety of 

disabilities was on the agenda for Year 11, who attended sign language, 

disability awareness and sensory deprivation workshops, as well as preparing 

for the annual party for pupils from the Brookfields School hosted by Wade 

Deacon’s Year 11. 

COMMUNITY ACTION AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP

“FLASH MOB” ROCKS BREAK TIME!  

Excitement and electricity  rippled  through  the break‐time  canteen as  large 

numbers  pupils  suddenly  started  dancing.    Year  11  pupils  had  secretly 

organised  a  ‘flash mob’  dance,  as  seen on  T‐mobile  TV  adverts  at  London 

train  stations.    Caught  unawares,  pupils  from  other  year  groups  were 

entertained with  the well  choreographed  routine, with many  joining  in on 

the  sides.    The  surprise  event  was  one  of  many  fund  raising  activities 

undertaken by Year 11 before the annual Brookfields Party, at which the year 

group were proud to present a huge £1000 cheque to the Brookfields School. 

Governors’ Report

AWARDS PRESENTATION EVENINGOur annual Awards Presentation Evening this is one of most important days in the calendar and one I particularly look forward to because take the opportunity to celebrate what an excellent learning community we have. Our motto, ‘A Commitment to Excellence’ exemplifies the ethos of our pupils who received their hard-earned GCSE certificates during the prestigious ceremony held at the Foundry. The award winners also deserve the highest acclamation for their achievements during the year.

Our young people would not have been celebrating so many successes without the help and support of their parents and carers and the effort, expertise and endeavour of our superb staff.

I would like to give my congratulations to all the award winners. I wish them all every success in their chosen paths, particularly those who have now left school and are going on to explore new horizons.

Mr John WoodroofeChairman of Governors

10 Wade Deacon High School.

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Christmas Newsletter 2010  11 

Year 8 pupils  taking part  in a Dragon’s Den project convinced local dragon’s to invest a whopping £1700 to fund their idea for 

an  inter‐generational  event.    Their  company  ‘Bridging  the Community’  worked  all  day  developing  their  ideas  before 

finally  pitching  to  the  dragons,  including  Steve O’Connor,  Eddie  Stobart  CEO  and Widnes  Vikings owner at the Stobart Stadium.  The group had  to create business objectives and a mission  statement,  conduct  market  research, calculate  their  costings  and  establish  success criteria  before  pitching  their  idea  to  the  dragons and answering questions.  Mr  Berne  was  delighted  with  the  group’s performance;  “Their  presentation  was  impeccable and their success was down to their hard work and dedication.”  The hard work has only started of course, because with  funding  secured,  the group  starts planning  to deliver  on  their  promises  to  the  dragons  as  they organise their event! 

Opened  this  September on  the Peelhouse  Lane Campus, our  ‘Immersive Environment’  Concept  Classroom  quickly  became  known  as  the  “Wow” room.  The latest technology whisks our pupils off to another world at the touch of a button, transforming and inspiring learning.  Developed  in partnership  the Widnes and Runcorn CLCs,  the Wow  room features a professional radio station and green‐screen film studio, making it a hotspot of multimedia creativity!  The green screen film studio features the same technology that TV studios use to add computer graphics behind weather presenters, so  this allows pupils  to create broadcast quality  film and TV output. 

DRAGON’S DEN SUCCESS

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Christmas Newsletter 2010 12 

Wade  Deacon High  School  won the  Under  13 

Boys  and Under  16 Boys  competitions  at  the Halton  Schools’ Table  Tennis  Competition  which  was  held  at  the  Stobart Stadium. Wade Deacon will  represent Cheshire Schools’ Table Tennis Association in the Regional zone at Blackburn in January 2011.    The  next  generation  of  Wade  Deacon  pupils  is  also enjoying  table  tennis  success.  Pupils  at  Farnworth  Church  of England Primary School won the under 11 Boys and Under 11 Girls competition.  

Years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 all progressed through  the Halton phase of  the North West  Counties  Competition.  Scott Critchley represented Lancashire Rugby 

Union  and North Wales Academy. A number of Year 9 pupils are involved in the Regional Selection Process for Rugby League which  leads  to  scholarships  in  Year  10.  Mr  Woan  and  Mr Critchley represented Great Britain Teachers in a fixture against the British Asian Association. Great  Britain  Teachers won  the game 32‐14. 

 Jack Watts  in Year 8 has been signed  by  Liverpool  FC  to  be part  of  their  Academy  team. 

Jordan  Smith  and  Harry  Caton  have  been  invited  for  a  trial period at Accrington Stanley  FC. Oliver Main has  represented Cheshire County U16s  and was  invited  to  trial  at Burnley  FC. Year 7 and Year 11 reached the 3rd round of the National Cup, losing  3‐2  to  Birchwood.  All  5  years  were  entered  into  the National Football Cup for the first time with Year 7, Year 8 and Year 11 all progressing to at least the 2nd round.  

    

A  combined  team of pupils  from Y7, Y8 and Y9 have  reached the final of the Merseyside League Cup which will be played in January 2011. 

On  Sunday  14th  November, pupils from Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 took part  in the British Schools’ Modern Biathlon North West Qualifiers at Wavertree Sports  Park.  Kiera  Grady  and  Chloe  Doolan  (Year  8)  came second,  receiving  the  Silver Medal  in  the  group  competition. Jessica Wright (Year 8) came sixth in the individual competition which has secured her a place at the semi‐finals in Macclesfield in January 2011.    Over 35 pupils regularly attend the Y10 dance extra curricular club.  4  pupils  attended  an  audition  for  “Watch  this  Space” Dance and Theatre Company. They were all successful and they are now rehearsing for a performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall.  The  four  pupils  are: Megan  Hulme;  Jade  Clarke‐Rogers; Louise Molyneux; Bethany Webster. 

After  the  success  of  the  2008  tour with  35  girls who  played Netball, Hockey and Volleyball, Wade Deacon  return  to Spain with an even larger number of pupils. 66 pupils and 8 staff set off  for Salou  in October. Pupils  took part  in  football  (girls and boys), rugby  (boys) and netball. The trip was offered to pupils from across Years 8, 9 and 10 who attended extracurricular PE clubs  as  a  celebration  of  the  hard work  and  commitment  to Wade Deacon’s sports teams. All pupils excelled themselves  in training,  competition  and  social  activities.  The  group  visited Port  Aventura  theme  park,  Barcelona’s  Camp  Nou  football stadium, toured the city and went shopping at a local Mall.   Results: Boys Football ‐ 2nd in tournament Girls Football ‐ 5th in Tournament Netball ‐ U14 2nd in tournament, U16 5th in tournament Rugby ‐ Beat Spanish opposition 54 – 10 

AF 

Rugby 

Football 

Dance 

Table Tennis  Athletics 

Gaelic Football 

THE SPORTS SUMMARY 

The full sports roundup is available on the school website; www.wadedeacon.com 

Wade Deacon High School Under 13 Boys Winners Farnworth C of E Primary Under 11 Winners 

Spain Sports Tour 

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