The Bright StuffSix years ago she spoke no English ... now Weronika is off to Oxford

Former Brightstowe student Weronika Razmus has been offered a place at Oxford University – only six years after moving to the UK without the ability to speak or write any English.

Weronika, aged 18, moved with her family from Poland to Shirehampton in 2011 and attended Oasis Academy Brightstowe until the summer of 2015.

She then won a scholarship to Colston’s School to study for her A Levels and has now been offered a place to read Chemistry at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford, this autumn.

Weronika won a Tolman Scholarship, which are provided by Old Colstonians in memory of Jim Tolman, who attended Colston’s and went on to become a hugely popular PE teacher here at Brightstowe for many years.

Every year high-flying Brightstowe students have the chance to be selected for one of the Tolman Scholarships and this year, three have been successful - our current head girl, Emily Hignell, along with Karolina Milha and Luke Rakhshan Parast.

“This is an amazing opportunity as none of my family have been to university,” says Weronika.

“When I moved to the UK in 2011 I didn’t speak any English, German was my second language. But I was determined to pick it up and all the staff at Brightstowe were great in helping me to become fluent. Both my parents work in construction but I would like to stay working in something Chemistry-related when I finish my four-year degree.”

Meanwhile Brightstowe Year 11 Leanne Pullman has been awarded a

April, 2017

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The Bright Stuff April 2017

Scholarship success for students

Brightstowe students are being given the opportunity to “go green” three times a year.

This has nothing to do with looking after the planet or sustainability concerns – it’s about celebrating pupils who are doing well across all areas of school life.

In order to “go green” students need to hit four targets:• Attain 97 per cent attendance• Earn 600 “Bright Pounds” for good

behaviour across a two-term period• Reach a level that is at or above

their chronological reading age• Reach their minimum expected

grade for Maths following each assessmentThen following each of the long

breaks during the school year – Easter, summer and Christmas – a special assembly will be held where

successful students will be given a certificate and a badge.

Any students who “stay green” for the entire 12-month period will be invited to a special celebration event with Mr. Docherty in September. The programme will take into account pupils with special educational needs.

“Going Green is about bringing our pastoral and curriculum elements together in one programme - celebrating those things that are done really well on a daily basis,” says Danny Haines, Assistant Principal – Pastoral, pictured right.

“Our pastoral team is very concerned with having oversight of students’ behaviour and welfare concerns, along with their progress, so that we can focus on intervention where necessary.”

Behaviour-friendly students ‘going green’

sixth form scholarship to Redmaids’ High School, where she will be studying A Levels in Art, Biology, Chemistry and Maths.

Isabel Tobias, Headmistress at Redmaids, said: “Leanne was awarded her scholarship on the

strength of her performance in the exam, the research she carried out and her communication skills in interview. She is a thoughtful and mature girl who showed she valued the opportunity to study in an environment where girls aim high and are encouraged to transcend gender stereotypes.”

Joe Docherty, Principal at Oasis Academy Brightstowe, said: “Congratulations to Weronika, Emily, Karolina, Luke and Leanne. All of them display a passion for learning and an outstanding work ethic and they are a credit our academy. We wish them every success for the future.”

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Left, Emily Hignell, Karolina Milha and Luke Rakhshan Parast. Below, Leanne Pullman

The Bright Stuff April 2017

Just the job! Employers and students meet at careers fairA wealth of local employers set up stall in Brightstowe’s sports hall for the academy’s inaugural careers fayre.

Wessex Water, Warburtons, Nisbets, Skanska, Rolls-Royce, Babcock, HMRC, the civil service and Army were all represented at the event, as were the city’s two universities, the University of Bristol and University of the West of England, and City of Bristol College.

Law firm Bond Dickinson and accountants KPMG also sent staff along to speak to students at the fayre, as did the Reflections Training Academy, which offers hairdressing apprenticeships, 3PB Barristers Chambers and youth organisation Young Bristol.

Year 11 intervention manager Melanie Powell said: “This is the first time we have held a careers fayre

and I’m really pleased with the way it has turned out – everyone from students to employer organisations has been really engaged.”Right, Year 10 student Fabian St. Jean with Joe Grimstead of Wessex Water. Below, the team at the Babcock stand

Nicola Gralinska and Julia Drozek at the Reflections Training Academy stand. Right, Year 11 student Saliou Diallo tries on a barrister’s wig and gown

The Bright Stuff April 2017

The cast of this year’s annual academy production were put through their paces in rehearsals before their three-night run in the final week of term.

Around 30 students from Years 7, 8 and 9 auditioned for a role in Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s much-loved “Little Shop of Horrors” – and 40 were successful.

Lucy Grist, head of drama at Oasis Academy Brightstowe, said: “Last year’s production of ‘High School Musical’ was our first and was a huge success.

“The aim this year was to top that

if possible and tickets sold out within five days.

“Particular mention should be made of Shannon Lees and Kieron Williams, who played the lead roles of the Mushniks, and Freddie Brown in Year 7, who is a real rising star.”

Principal Joe Docherty added: “I am deeply proud of everyone involved in Brightstowe’s second ever whole school production Little Shop of Horrors.

“It is so important that we encourage and support the performing arts at OAB, and the school production never fails to

inspire, motivate and challenge our students. This whole production has been characterised by a great amount of energy and enthusiasm, be it from the students, the production team, backstage crew, parents and staff. I’m immensely grateful to all those who have donated their time to making this such a success and most especially, would like to congratulate the stunningly gifted stars of the show for delivering such a superb night out. Their success is testament to their dedication and commitment throughout rehearsal.”

Curtain going up on Little Shop of Horrors

The Bright Stuff April 2017

OASIS ACADEMY BRIGHTSTOWE PRESENTS:

Based on the film by Roger Corman Screenplay by Charles Griffith

Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman Music by Alan Menken

And now Oasis Academy’s latest

production… Enjoy!

The Bright Stuff April 2017

The Quest for a brighter futureOasis Academy Brightstowe is one of a number of schools across Bristol selected for the launch of a new programme called Future Quest.

Run by South Bristol Youth, Future Quest works with the University of Bristol and University of the West of England to help raise the proportion of young people from socially disadvantaged areas who go to university.

Future Quest targets pupils living in those council wards with the biggest gap between the potential numbers of young people with the potential to progress to university and the actual figure.

In Avonmouth, Kingsweston and Shirehampton, for example, the combined figure is 12 per cent whereas official data shows that it should be 17 per cent.

At Brightstowe 15 students each from Years 9 and 10 have been chosen to attend the programme, all of them high attainers at Key Stage 2 with the potential to achieve excellent GCSE results.

Jan Pritchard, head of education and learning at South Bristol Youth, said the group works with over 2,000 students across more than 30 schools in Bristol.

“Future Quest is not about forcing these pupils to go to university,” she said.

“It is about providing the information and experience needed to enable them to make an informed choice, whether that means going

on to university, FE College or an appropriate training scheme.”

Over the coming weeks Brightstowe’s Future Quest group will visit the city’s two universities, the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Houses of Parliament, with Bristol North West MP Charlotte Leslie.Pictured top, Brightstowe’s Future Quest launch. Above, Rachel Stevenson, Jan Pritchard and Jess Oldfield of Future Quest

The Bright Stuff April 2017

Year 9s are real high flyers

Our Year 9s showed that Bristol’s proud aviation heritage is in safe hands as Brightstowe became an aircraft design and test flight centre for the day.

The group of triple scientists designed, manufactured, tested and flew their own powered, radio-controlled gliders, working

with engineers from GKN during the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) flight day.

“Bristol was where modern aviation began in many ways,” said Sam Bark, Head of Science at Oasis Academy Brightstowe.

“This was a phenomenal day

and the students got a lot out of it, learning about the physics of flight, different forces and the manufacturing process.

“The event is supported by Rolls-Royce and projects like this really help to bring STEM subjects to life for those students who may be thinking about science for a career.”

... while Year 7 also win their wingsMeanwhile a group of Year 7 and 8 students attended the regional finals of the Flying Start Challenge at Filton.

This involved a “fly-off” with other local schools using gliders the students had designed and built at their after-school club.

Students also completed a quiz about aeronautical knowledge and presented their work to a body of experts.

Creative productions teacher Cathy McCreadie said: “Top spot in our group went to Clifton College. A fun learning experience was had by all and the students are keen to compete again next year. Watch out Clifton College!”

Special mention to Sidi Diallo and Croydon Poretta, right,whose glider flew an incredible 12 metres, and to Arvin Jahad-Armaghani, whose presenting skills were exceptional despite the lack of a script or much preparation

The Bright Stuff April 2017

Diary datesMonday 24 April – INSET DAYTuesday 25 April – START OF TERMMonday 1 May – BANK HOLIDAYMonday 29 May - Friday 2 June – HALF TERMMonday 5 June – START OF TERMFriday 30 June – sports dayFriday 30 June – Year 11 promMonday 3 July – reserve sports dayThursday 6 July – transition dayMonday 10 July – Regional OlympicsThursday 13 July – INSET AFTERNOON – early close at 12.15Tuesday 18 July – Academy AwardsWednesday 19 July – Sports AwardsFriday 21 July – END OF TERM - Academy closes at 1pm

Duke of Edinburgh candidates meet Dambusters legendOasis Academy Brightstowe students attended a special Duke of Edinburgh Awards ceremony at Bristol Free School.

The guest speaker at the event was George “Johnny” Johnson, the last surviving member of the “Dambusters” raid in World War Two.

Mr. Johnson talked about is time in Squadron X, training for Bomber Command missions in the darkness of night.

Mr. Johnson, of Bristol, was aged 22 when he took part in the 1943 air raids on German dams using experimental bouncing bombs.

He presented the Duke of Edinburgh Awards to students from Brightstowe and Bristol Free School and praised the scheme, which is designed to broaden skills, horizons and friendships.

Those taking part had to complete a number of volunteering, learning and physical challenges and an expedition involving hiking and camping in the Mendips, at Wrington and Shipham.

The group was the first from Brightstowe to have become involved in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, under the leadership of Assistant Principal Alison Eynon.

IGD dayThe Year 9 catering class was visited by volunteers from the Institute of Grocers and Distributors.

They delivered a workshop around how subjects studied in school relate to jobs in the future.

The aim was to increase student’s knowledge of the food and grocery industry and help them to recognise the transferable skills they are constantly developing throughout their schooling.

Ambition Lawrence WestonAmbition Lawrence Weston’s new website is now finished and live. Click www.ambitionlw.org to have a look at the new look and find out what’s going on in Lawrence Weston. Ambition Lawrence Weston’s role involves:• Facilitating the “Lawrence Weston Community

Network” – a network that brings together all the organisations (public and voluntary) in the area to encourage information sharing and joint projects and initiatives

• Community planning – we are currently writing a new 2017 Community Plan for Lawrence Weston

• Facilitating and supporting Lawrence Weston Neighbourhood Planning group – a group set up to deal with all planning and land use issues

• Supporting the development of a community managed website

• Producing “On Your Doorstep” – a community newsletter for Lawrence Weston

• Community engagement – supporting a number of smaller groups (Henacre, Parent and Practitioner group) and supporting individual residents to come together to tackle issues in the neighbourhood.The site also allows you to upload your own

events and there is a forum for discussions about different topics so that you can express your ideas and views.