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NORTHGATE REVIEWNORTHGATE REVIEW

Summer 2007

The History of Northgate

Little did Roger Cooper realise the scale of the job that layahead of him when he responded to an article in a local

newspaper. It was appealing for someone to pen a history of boysat Northgate School, a history of the girls having already beenpublished.

Roger, a Northgatean from 1946 until 1953, embarked upon thetask after retiring in 1998. He spent his working life in scientificresearch and technical management, including spells working inCalifornia. Moving back to the area in 1999 gave him theopportunity to engage in the extensive research that was required.

Every Monday morning, Roger and his wife would incorporate avisit to the Suffolk Records Office in Gatacre Road into their routineand it was here that foundations for the book were laid. The authordecided to use information from school magazines and thetestimonials and reviews from past and present headteachers, suchas Brian Ingham, to add a personal touch. He also put out appealson Radio Suffolk and in the local press for any ex-pupils and this ledto interviews which provided not only recollections, but alsodocuments that are used in the 120 years of history covered in thefinal book. He is also indebted to Kay Anderson, former DeputyHead at Northgate, for her contributions and advice.

Mr Watts, who has driven the project from the start, is very pleased with the end result. He said ‘The Northgate of todayhas a much extended remit to the one first established in Victorian times, but the quality is constant. The list ofachievements of old Northgateans is impressive, and it continues to grow. At the heart of this story is a happy, successfulcommunity, building on the foundations described in this book yet seeking to push forward the boundaries of knowledgeand to care for the physical and emotional development of its young people.’

The book is available solely from the Northgate High School office (Tel 01473 210123) at a price of £6.99 (plus £0.81 p&p).

Old Northgateans

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‘Northgate taught me

self discipline and

gave me self respect’

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Old Northgateans

4 What did you do after you left school?I worked in Ipswich Unemployment Benefit Office as aclerical officer for three years.

5. What led you towards a music career?I was rubbish at everything else and I wanted to be thecentre of attention.

6. What are your views on education?I fink a gud ejuCashun caN set yoo up for life. It givs yoomOre choice wotevVa yoo deeside to doo.

7. What preparation did Northgate, and school in general, giveyou for life?It taught me self discipline and gave me self respect.

8. Any advice you would wish to give current students?Always take the polystyrene disc off the bottom of the pizzabefore you put it in the oven!

Not many schools can say that one of their ex-pupilstook to the stage at Live Aid - Nik Kershaw did and

Northgate can. One of the most successful recording artistsof the eighties, Nik was a pupil at the school until 1975 andhe was the Fifth Year pole-vaulting champion!

His hits include Wouldn't It Be Good, The Riddle and I Won'tLet the Sun Go Down On Me. He is also a prolific writer,

penning The One and Only for Chesney Hawks and songs forJason Donovan, Gary Barlow, Lulu and ArchbishopDesmond Tutu!

He continues to record prolifically and his latest album wasreleased in Oct 2006, called You've Got To Laugh. This washis seventh studio album, but the first one recorded underhis own record label ShortHouse Records.

He kindly took some time out from his busy schedule toanswer our questions.

1. What are your most vivid memories of Northgate?The uniform which, in my case, comprised black blazer,white shirt, black and red tie, dark grey trousers and blueand silver platform shoes; playing tennis on the courts infront of the school; my elder brother rescuing me fromgetting my head stuck down the toilets on my first day.

2. Which staff do you particularly remember? Why?Mr Down the geography teacher. Was his first name reallyNeil or is that an urban myth? Mr Parrat my form teacher,just because everybody liked and respected him. Mr Robinthe P E teacher. My brother refused to play for the schoolrugby team and Mr Robin seemed to want to take it out onme! Mr Ockleton the headmaster and his two dalmations.Mr Lumb, art teacher, see below

3. What was your favourite subject at Northgate? Why?Art, especially in the sixth form. Michael Lumb took greatdelight in annoying the more conservative teachers byplacing our ‘installations’ in prominent positions around theschool. A particularly fond memory is of my string sculpturewhich wove magnificently through the staircase in the artblock and made it virtually impossible to get from one floorto the other. Then there were the trips to London to seemen in bowler hats wrapping each other in cling film.

Nik was a pupil until 1975 and was theFifth Year pole-vaulting champion

P T A Quiz

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After many years, the PTA quiz nights run like a well-oiled machine. They are on a grand scale with up to 28

teams of eight locked in cerebral combat at 7.30 on aSaturday evening, four times a year, the sound of brainsgrinding only broken up by the half-time meal!

There is a high level of organisation and the volunteers thathelp accomplish a great deal. Posters are printed, tickets aresold, furniture is moved round the building, tables areborrowed from the Sports Centre, drinks are delivered anda temporary bar set up. Special lighting is installed, teams ofscorers, markers and waiters are prepared, food is cooked,delivered and served, sound equipment is installed for thequizmaster, draw prizes are collected and countless hoursspent by the quizmasters researching, setting and checkingthe questions.

There are two separate quiz nights that cover manydifferent areas. The general knowledge event, set byMr Christopher, covers a variety of topics, from identifyingmanufacturers' logos to naming motorway numbers andtheir destinations! The other is a music event, hosted byStephen Foster from BBC Radio Suffolk, which spanssubjects as diverse as film and show scores, hits from the50s, classical pieces used in adverts, hits from the 90s,blues, reggae and even album cover art.

The competition is usually close and often teams areseparated by just a few points. Even if you are not the

eventual winners, there is still a chance of glory as the mid-position team is rewarded as well. The emphasis is on funand, although there are prizes at stake, an enjoyableevening is the reward for every team. Look out forinformation on the next quiz in the PTA newsletter and ifyou want to swap the brain work for something morephysical then the Chair of the PTA, Bob Minter, can becontacted on 01473 410885. The PTA are always lookingfor new volunteers to assist in any capacity, to help raisefunds to enrich pupils’ and students' experiencesthroughout the school.

The emphasis is on fun and an enjoyableevening is the reward for every team

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Playing up in Exams

Following months of hard work the GCSE Drama examperformances were finally upon us. Forty-four pupils

had been working since January, during lesson time,lunchtime and after school. Prior to their formalexamination, a total of ten performance groups staged theirfinal dress rehearsal over three evenings in March.

On Monday night, audiences were wowed withperformances of Aids - The solution, a self-devised piecewhich explored a future society’s prejudice against HIVsufferers and those associated with them through anallegory of the Second World War Holocaust and Hitler'streatment of the Jews. Popular playwright John Godber wasalso explored through adaptations of his plays Shakers,Teechers and Bouncers. The pupils were challenged by hisabstract approach to play writing and successfully used thetechniques of multi roleplay, minimalist props and set,music, direct address and cross-gender characterisations tocreate light hearted, comic interpretations of the texts.

A particular highlight for the audience on Tuesday nightcame courtesy of Jamie Newson, Nathan Smith,Callum Allen, Robert Barns and Robert Cook whoperformed Bouncers. Thanks to the quick wit of the boysand their rapport with the audience, laughter and applausewere heard continually throughout the play.

Wednesday night saw a change in mood as the piecesfocused on creating dramatic tension through the themes ofsorrow and loss. Mrs Ellis was particularly pleased with theway Streetgang performers used material as their royal prop(a prop used more than once to represent different things)as a means of communication to their audience, whereasKindertransport utlised music and movement effectively intheir portrayal of Eva. In the weeks leading up to the examthe script of Kindertransport had been carefully edited andadapted by Miss Patrick not only to meet the timing criteriaof the exam but, more importantly, to showcase the talentof Antonia Cobbin, Rebecca Chapman, Chloe Leech,Amy Snelling and Kayleigh Marshall.

The pupils put on a tremendous performance anddemonstrated the exceedingly high standards of drama thatare consistently maintained within the department atNorthgate. The week was seen by all involved as acelebration of the hard work and dedication given to thesubject by the pupils and teachers, and gave an insight intothe successful creativity and originality of the GCSE Dramacourse run at Northgate.

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Enthusiast ic Staf f

Staff sport continues to be a strong area. Racing Club Northgate, a Sunday league side comprising many members ofthe staffroom, has consolidated last season’s promotion. As the football season ends, the sound of willow on leather

beckons!

Last season was a memorable one for the Northgate staff cricket team, after achieving promotion to the top division ofthe Ipswich Inter-firm league for the first time the year before. The team managed to perform beyond all expectations andfinished eventual runners up to BT, who have consistently won the league.

The Northgate team defeated every team in the league (apart from BT) at least once during the season and some excellentindividual and team performances were recorded. Leading batsman of the season was Mr Wilson for his consistent scoringwhilst Mr Dawson and Mr Rutland will be remembered for some explosive innings which had the opposition fieldersrunning for cover.

Top staff bowler was Mr Hunt who bamboozled many a batsman with his crafty demonstration of the art of spin bowling,and excellent bowling contributions were also recorded by Mr Jenner and Mr Bailey.

Special mention must be give to Mr Watts for his “catch of the season” which resulted in a palm size bruise which impressedthe rest of the team.

Following these successes, the team has landed a valuable sponsorship deal with a prestigious firm. Strood CorrosionControl, a local company who specialize in corrosion prevention and control, will be part-sponsoring the team kit. CliveJenner, director of the company, hopes that this will be the start of a valuable partnership.

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Enthusiast ic Pupi ls

Many Northgate pupils and students participate inextra-curricular activities at the school and beyond.

Niesha Holder, a Year 12 student, is no exception and hasbeen a member of St John's Ambulance since the age offour, taking part in their Badger and Cadet programmes.Her commitment and drive have led to a visit toBuckingham Palace to meet Princess Anne.

Niesha has recently been given the Grand Prior award, thereward for years of study and exams. St John's cadets takepart in an interactive and full programme, working towardsthe award, which has been developed to enable young

people to learn important life skills in a fun and safeenvironment. Once a cadet has completed theirmembership award, they complete eight different subjectsto gain their bronze and silver awards and a further foursubjects to gain their gold and Grand Prior Awards. Cadetscan also undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award schemefrom the age of 14 years.

‘We meet once a week, cover a subject and do sometraining,’ Niesha explained, ‘It is really sociable and thereare perks. I get to go to the Ipswich Town matches and theSuffolk Show for free, although on duty! The Grand Priorwas hard work and I had to sit 12 separate exams.’

As Commandant-in-Chief of St John's Ambulance, PrincessAnne meets the cadets who have achieved their GrandPrior every March and Niesha was one of over a hundredstudents to go to Buckingham Palace. After instruction onetiquette, for example how to address royalty and how tocurtsey and bow, the cadets walked together to the palacein uniform.

‘We were led into the Bow Room in the palace. The insidewas very ornate and there was gold everywhere. We wereserved some canapés - some nice, some interesting.Princess Anne came into the room - she was smaller andslimmer than I expected. She came around and spoke toeach cadet, she was very nice. It was a great experience.’

St John’s Ambulance volunteers are well known for thethousands of hours they spend each year ensuring publicevents are safe. They are also the leading first aid trainingprovider in the UK and the third largest youth organisation.You can find out more information at www.sja.org.uk.

Niesha’s commitment and drive have ledto a visit to Buckingham Palace

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Instruct ion in Construct ion

The CITB Construction Industry Training Board hasbeen looking to recruit women into all levels of the

construction industry and, to encourage them to thinkabout a career in this area, they teamed up with OtleyCollege to deliver an All Girls Taster Day. While at thecentre, the Northgate girls were mixed with pupils fromtwo other Suffolk schools and were given expert tuition bythe resident lecturers. They all had the chance to try theirhand at roofing, carpentry, bricklaying and plastering.Everyone who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselvesand it gave them a valuable insight into something theymight have never experienced.

Jo Brown, a Northgate Year 10 pupil reflected on the day:

We arrived at Otley College around 10 o'clock - all excitedand raring to go. The organisers introduced themselves andtook us up to a lecture room on the top floor of the

construction unit, where we were then put into groups andtold the plan for the rest of the day. Each person washanded a pair of really heavy building shoes, which weunfortunately had to wear to take part. We all looked likepenguins walking down the stairs with them!

By lunch time, we were all exhausted. I hadn't realised howhard plastering could really be, and my feet ached from thehuge blocks of concrete I felt like I was carrying round onthem. The college had prepared lunch for us, so we all satin the upstairs cafe eating and chatting.

The afternoon wasn't much easier. Everyone else aroundme seemed to be able to build a wall, but it just wasn'thappening for me. However the more I concentrated, thebetter I got, and eventually (with some help) I managed tofix a couple of bricks to the floor with cement. The last unitwas roof tiling. We were taught the process of putting on ahouse roof and then we were split off into smaller groupsto practise. I found it really fun and it came quite naturallyto me. Kirsty and I were even crowned tilers of the daybecause of our amazing verges!

The day made me realise how hard construction workreally is but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I really admire peoplewho work that hard everyday, because I found it difficultjust for a couple of hours! It made me think about howmany careers are out there, and you never know... one dayI could be your local roof tiler!

I really admire people who work that hard every day

Language Col lege Blog

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At the end of the last academic year, the LanguageCollege began putting together a new website,

designed to provide students with a new way ofsupplementing and enhancing their language studies. It isalso intended to serve as a way of keeping the pupils andstudents up to date with the happenings in the world oflanguage learning, whilst at the same time offering them theopportunity to have their own voices heard.

Officially launched in September, the Northgate MFL Blog,(www.northgatemfl.co.uk) has already reached over 3000hits. It is used widely across the school, as well as by otherschools throughout the UK and overseas as a referenceguide, study aid, and as an opportunity for students to

publish their work to the world. With visitors from as farafield as Australia, Mexico, Argentina and India, theNorthgate MFL blog has already established a widecirculation, and the future is looking good.

The recent Year 10 German Exchange to Soest was the firsttime that we 'blogged' a school trip, with Philippa Hicks,Will Holden and Natalie Martin keeping an online diary ofevents during the week. While our French partner schoolwere here, Year 11 students wrote and recorded a jointpodcast between our two schools. On the theme ofpodcasting, Mr Blagona's Year 9 German class recorded apodcast to demonstrate what they had learned in aparticular lesson, loaded it on to the Blog, and thencorrected it themselves online.

The language teachers have also been quick to embrace thenew technology, with worksheets, revision guides, links toother useful websites and homework being posted online.It has even been recommended by the BBC!

Mr Blagona, Language College Development Co-ordinator,said, ‘We are the only school in the region to have alanguage blog. It is an ideal way for pupils, students andteachers to share their work with the world.’

The MFL blog has visitors from Australia, Mexico, Argentina and India

Science Week

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National Science and Engineering Week is coordinated by the British Association for the Advancementof Science, funded by the Department of Trade & Industry, and works in partnership with the

Engineering and Technology Board.

During the week Year 7 pupils had the opportunity to experience this national event which focuses on expanding people’sunderstanding of science, engineering and technology. A variety of events were run allowing the youngsters to participatein activities that they would not expect to experience in their normal science lessons. These events were completelyvoluntary, and approximately half of Year 7 gave up their own time during lunchtime and after school to take part. Whythis success? The events that were available were new and varied, but remained within the overall aims of the week. Sowhat did they do?

Mr Karwoski showed the pupils how they could identify a chemical by the way in which it burned, or, as the photographshows, exploded.

Pupils had the opportunity to look at the organisms that use the school’s pond as their habitat. Mr Stuart and Miss Fowlerwere on hand to provide a quick identification as to what they found.

Mr Asher explained how secret messages can be written using milk, lemon juice and candles. The method involvesdeveloping the message with a naked flame.

Under Mrs Warren’s stewardship the pupils were able to generate enough voltage from the contents of an average larder(lime, orange, grapefruit, lemon, apple and a potato) to start a car. The winner was Daniel Arnold with a fruit batterygenerating 12.65 volts.

Mr Christopher’s ‘Tower of Doom’ competition proved that tall constructions can be made simply by using marshmallows,spaghetti and the correct structure. This event allowed pupils to show both their engineering and architectural skills.

There were two dissections during the week: a rat dissection, led by Miss Mosley and a snail dissection, led byDr Kingsnorth. This allowed the potential coroners to find out what was inside their animal!

Finally, our resident mission controller, Mr Snowden, set a task to design and build a set of rockets, which were tested onthe school field.

As part of the week’s events Mr Brown also ran a BAYS science day.

Special thanks go to Mrs Cordery for providing technical support and Miss Hallett for drumming up interest and for givingadditional help with many of the events.

Science Week

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Comic Rel ief

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After last year's sterling effort for Sport Relief, Northgate turned its hand to Comic Relief, subtitled The Big One. Theschool made it a non-uniform day and pupils paid £1 each for the privilege of ‘dressing down’ for the day. Sixth form

students were encouraged to pay £1 to wear red.

Lower School was very active in fund raising and was a hive of activity during break and at lunchtime. There was a cakesale and a 'guess the weight of the cake' competition in the morning, followed by a lucky dip, 'guess the number of sweets'competition, more cakes and 'pin the nose on Fred' at lunchtime. Earlier in the week, Miss Samson distributed papersquares to lower school tutor groups and, for the sum of 20p, pupils and staff could creatively represent themselves in anyway they chose on their section. These were then joined together on Comic Relief day and formed a long strip.

Some sixth form students went to more extreme lengths. Hayden Bishop and Sam Foley, currently in Year 12, decided thatthey would shave their legs and did so, in front of a large crowd who gave over £200. Tim Cornish dressed in and paintedhimself red, raising eyebrows and over £250, including donations from members of the public on the bus!

Overall, the pupils and students raised over £1800 for the good causes that Comic Relief supports both at home andabroad. The current total for nationwide donations stands at £40million.