Leatherworking as Part of the Curriculum Woodbridge School is one of only a few Schools in the region to offer Leatherworking as part of the curriculum for Design students. In Year 12, 3D Design students are given the opportunity to learn traditional leatherworking craft skills, the aim being to create a high quality product to produce in a small batch run.
For our Graphic Communication students, it presents the chance to conceive and develop brand identity, design logos and packaging for products, as well as understand the entire life cycle of a product from conception through to sale. Students work in collaboration with one another from concept through to delivery.
Design Students’ Concepts and Creation In terms of the physical design, students have access to a variety of materials including not only leather, but metals, threads and other materials that can be incorporated into the design to increase aesthetic appearance; they’re able to personalise their own leatherwork creating individuality.
Skills learned include those required to use appropriate tools in a safe and effective way, as well as using traditional handmade techniques they might not have had to opportunity to experiment with or implement before. These include forming templates, cutting accurately, saddle stitching and cleaning edges; techniques specific to leatherworking; these skills are transferrable to many careers in the design industry.
“Graphic communication students are encouraged to explore ideas that are interesting to them and they utilise a range of various techniques to achieve the result they want.” Mrs Cracknell, Head of Design explained. She continued, “This could include either hand generated or digital solutions, or a combination of both. Most students work on Adobe Creative Suite and Pro Create. Furthermore, students learn to create packaging templates, which are then often programmed to be cut on our laser cutter for a highly accurate result. Another strand that graphic students explore is video editing and creating content for web and social media. For this project, the students will create a 20 second promotional video to advertise the leather product and brand.”
3D Design and Graphic Communication students were paired or put into small groups, and the overall brief given to each team:
As a team, you will design, plan, make and promote a product manufactured from leather. You will work together to decide upon your product, produce a small batch run which must also include packaging, design a brand for your company and promote the product and the brand using social media as your platform.
Mrs Cracknell, Head of Design explained, “This project is designed to widen the students’ experiences and skill sets. First of all, being put in a group or pair means you have to communicate, compromise, encourage and support each other through the process, which is often the set up expected in most workplaces or even at university. Furthermore, there are many aspects to cover, from the initial design stages, through to development and manufacture, so the students have to multi-task, and carefully plan their work loads. And finally, it gives each student a chance to get hands on and help each other to meet the final deadline. Towards the final days it will be likely that 3D students will need to work on graphic tasks and vice versa.”
We recently spent time with Year 12 3D Design students Havannah, Rosie, Amelie, and Ted as well as Year 12 Graphic Communication students Alina, Amelia and Imogen, approximately mid-way through their Leatherworking Project at school which provides opportunities for skill development and enrichment of their learning experience.
Meet Year 12’s Havannah, Rosie, Amelia and Ted – 3D Design Students Speaking with the students it was clear that they were all enjoying the individuality and freedom the project allowed, many commenting that this was the best part of the process, that it was about them, their preferences and their trial, sometimes error and definitely success.
Havannah described the bracelet she had designed and was beginning to make, explaining how she was enjoying the work,
“I’m not the kind of person who can decide absolutely everything on paper, so it’s been really good to have the time and freedom to explore ideas, figure out what was going to work – and what wasn’t – and let the style and design develop as I experimented.” She continued, “Working with the different materials, as well as the leather, has been really interesting, figuring out ways to make something that’s individual and desirable, that I think other people might like too, because at the end of the day the outcome is that we create something that could be sold.”
Choosing to create luggage tags, Rosie told us,
“I chose to make these as I could not only create something that I and other people would find useful, but I could use a variety of different colours and textures of leather. It’s been great to use the different tools and develop skills needed to work with leather – it’s not as easy as you, or rather I, thought!” She also said, “I’m about half way through this project now, having just finished an architecture project which I also loved doing – that’s the thing about Design there is so much variety, freedom and creativity encouraged, it’s so enjoyable. I’ve particularly enjoyed looking at and learning about the considerations needed for the lifecycle of a product. Through from thought to design and creation, marketing and selling. It’s so great to think that this product has come from me, I’m already really pleased with it.”
Talking about her bracelet, Amelia commented on how she’s differentiating her design from others with the use of thread as an additional material,
“I’m chosen to embroider my leather bracelet, so it’s completely unique and special. It’s something I would like to buy or receive, definitely something I would wear – and that part of the thought process was really interesting and meant we had so much freedom in terms of designing and creation.” Talking about the process, interestingly she also mentioned, “I’ve changed my mind a few times during the process actually! It’s actually quite hard when you know you could do anything, making a decision and sticking to it and following that through is difficult as you do worry if you’ve chosen the right one, what would have happened if you’d chosen another -there are as many issues as if it had been a prescribed design, just in different ways. It really makes you realise and appreciate the journey products take from design to shop!”
Ted has chosen to make a bracelet too, but his design incorporates a metal too,
“My bracelet is designed using brass, I wanted a special and individual clasp to feature as part of the overall design and finish, so it’s different to something you might have seen before. The learning process is certainly interesting working with a metal, it doesn’t always go the way you think it will as it can be unpredictable when using heat to manipulate it into shape and design intended.” He also added, “I’ve really enjoyed the freedom we’ve been allowed on this project, and the trust – but knowing Mrs Cracknell is there for advice and guidance when you need it is brilliant, you can talk through your thought process and get ideas on different methods to use, and taught how to use particular tools needed – as well as safety when using them. I’ve loved experimenting.”
Graphic Communication Students, Development of Brand Identity Through to Delivery While our Design students are literally creating their products, our 3D Graphics students have been briefed throughout the process as part of the project, collaborating in order to conceive brand identity, logos, marketing material and packaging – and will also produce a promotional video which will be presented, alongside everything else including concepts, packaging, finished articles etc. to Miss Norman at the end.
Mrs Cracknell, Head of Design explained, “Essentially the role of the graphic students is to set the tone in creating a brand identity for the product and hypothetical company. This also includes designing the packaging and promo video. This process reflects what the actual product is, considers its appeal, its customer and target audience. It’s a vital part of the journey of a product beyond physical creation.”
Meet Year 12’s Alina and Amelia – Graphics Communication Students Alina was creating the logo when we caught up with her, and she talked us through her thought process and creativity,
“I wanted to keep it very simple and sleek. I’m experimenting with different ways of doing this but haven’t made my decision on the final design as yet. I’m considering using gold leaf to make the boxes completely unique, but I’ve lots of other ideas too, so I don’t want to decide on one single thing just yet.”
Alongside her fellow students, she’s also been working on packaging and producing prototypes for boxing, with considerations made for those sold in person (in shops perhaps) as well as those online; thought being given to how well they will transport and the client’s expectation and experience – all vital elements of the process.
Amelia talked about what she’s currently working on, as well as her previous work on packaging also,
“We work as a team with the Design students, take our brief and develop the different elements required. We have to communicate effectively and make sure we’ve got all the information we need, it’s such an important part of the process because if something is missed it could change the entire brand identity.” She added, “I’ve particularly enjoyed learning to use the laser cutter to produce possible packaging options, I’ve looked at what other brands do online, as well as those I come into contact with myself in shops and from online stores, taking time to first of all sketches then draw out possible designs using the computer, it’s amazing how it comes to life in front of your eyes! I’ve loved working on this.”
Mrs Cracknell commented on the overall process and the journey towards completion for all of the students we met and spoke with today, “The students are only half way through their project right now, so there is still time and opportunity for their creativity and skills to develop much further, and it will be really interesting to sit with Miss Norman and hear them present their finished products, packaging, logos and other marketing materials at the end of this part of the course. I’m excited to see what they achieve, and I think they are too.”
It is with immense pride and delight that Woodbridge School can confirm that six of its students have received Oxbridge offers – making this one of the most successful years in recent times for our students.
Four Year 13 students received offers from Oxford University: Hannah has an offer to read Ancient and Modern History at Oriel, Oxford, Oliver will read Classics at New College, Kitt has an offer to read Law at Magdalen and Amy has an offer to read French and Modern Greek at St Peter’s.
Two Year 13 students have received offers from Cambridge University: Maggie for Theology, Religion and the Philosophy of Religion at Murray Edwards, and Katie has an offer to read Veterinary Medicine at Homerton College.
Our joint Head of School, Oliver, commented, “I was absolutely thrilled to receive an offer to read Classics! There is no way that I could have achieved this without the tireless support of Miss Wright, both as Head of Oxbridge and as my Latin and Greek teacher for so many years.”
Speaking about her offer to read Ancient and Modern History at Oxford, Hannah commented,
“I am absolutely delighted to have an offer for my dream course at Oxford! The application process was hard work, but also very enjoyable. I am extremely grateful to our Oxbridge coordinator, Miss Wright, who also helped me with Ancient History, and to the Head of History, Mr Smith. Woodbridge School has shaped me as a person and I owe a great deal to everyone here.”
Talking about her offer to read Veterinary Medicine at Homerton College, Katie commented, “I was surprised, delighted and thrilled to receive an offer! I’m now looking forward to focusing and working hard to achieve the grades needed; I’m very thankful for the help and support I’ve always received from the teachers at Woodbridge School.”
Miss Norman, Head of School commented,
“This is such wonderful news, the entire community of Woodbridge School shares the delight and celebration of such an amazing accomplishment for each and every one of these Year 13 students. It’s testament not only to the students’ hard work, commitment, focus and dedication to their studies, but it also underlines the ethos and values of Woodbridge School, where all of our students work with teachers to find their individual pathway, to discover and nurture their talent and passions, so they can be the best version of themselves today, and in the future.”
Miss Wright, Head of Academic Scholars and Oxbridge, said,
“Each year getting in to Oxford and Cambridge becomes more and more competitive, and I am delighted for our offer-holders. They have taken up all the opportunities offered by Woodbridge’s FitzGerald Programme for academic high-fliers, including successful entries into seven essay competitions last year, while also contributing enormously to the school in drama, music, debating, the Cadet Force and art. I am immensely proud of them all.”
Students travelled to Coventry this week to take part and compete in the 52nd running of the King Henry relays. It turned out to be quite a spectacle, and the fastest leg in history for Henry Dover in his last ever race in a Woodbridge School vest.
The relays are a national event, the largest schools’ cross country relays in England, with strong cross country athletes competing from schools all around the country.
The format is teams of four for the girls and six for the boys, with each athlete running 2.3 miles. There are no age groups so it is just the best selection from across the senior school.
For the sixth year in succession our Girls team finished in the top ten, equalling their second best result in fourth place; quite something with the top four called up on stage to receive team medals and badges.
Not to be outdone, our Boys team were able to compete with the leaders for half of the event and were justly rewarded with their best ever finishing result in 6th place. Just seconds away from the top five and an amazing achievement in this company. The team were awarded with top ten badges for only the second time in Woodbridge history; our previous best result being 9th.
For Henry Dover, this was his last ever representation in a Woodbridge School vest and what a day it turned out to be. Henry won the first leg and in doing so he recorded the fastest leg ever run in the 52 year history of the event, taking five seconds off the course record!
Previous winners of the fastest leg trophy include: Sebastian Coe, who just a few years after setting his record in the mid 70s went on to set three world records in 41 days in 1979; Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, multiple world Triathlon Champions; Dave Moorcroft, previous 5000m world record holder; Richard Nerurker, 2:08 marathon runner and multiple Olympian and World Championship competitor!
Congratulations to every one of our young athletes on a special day of racing.
Girls:
Year 9’s Romilly (14:35)
Year 7’s India J (15:02)
Year 7’s Ella(15:25)
Year 9’s Felicity (15:21)
Boys:
Year 13’s Henry (10:45)
Year 11’s Angus (12:36)
Year 12’s Iwan (12:04)
Year 8’s Digby (13:26)
Year 10’s Jasper (13:24)
Year 12’s Bruce (13:14)
Whilst this is the final race for Woodbridge School teams this winter, there are still a number of regional and national events to follow, the first of which is this Saturday, 3 February, where 23 of our athletes will race for Suffolk Schools at the Anglian Schools Championship in Lincolnshire. A five county event with 80 athletes in each race and for Juniors (Year 8) and above, the final selection race to compete for Suffolk at English Schools in Pontefract in March.
Congratulations to our relay runners and good luck to everyone competing on Saturday!
Last Sunday two of our equestrian teams travelled to the Inter Schools County Dressage Competition held at Suffolk Rural College, Otley; so local to everyone no startling early morning to contend with set us up for the day nicely!
The warmup tests were first where Year 10’s Elodie had a great start, winning and scoring 75%. Elodie has only recently joined the Woodbridge School Equestrian Team, so this is very impressive – well done Elodie.
This success continued as the next warmup test was also won, this time by year 13’s Katie who had a huge score of 79.77%. Brilliant work Katie.
Next up was the County Prelim Team competition, and it was a hattrick for Woodbridge as we took another win with a team of Year 9’s Harry, riding Irish Dancer IV, a pony he had only ridden half a dozen times, scoring 61.67%, Year 7’s Jasmine on Volandero Amber Dancer scoring 64.63%, and Year 10’s Elodie riding Mushera Westside scoring 62.96%. Great work Harry and Jasmine!
And finally our riders competed in the County Open Team Competition, again with a team of three riders who also did incredibly well – it was quite a day for Woodbridge. Year 8’s Grace rode in the Prelim on Malin Spike managing a brilliant 68.65% taking 1st place individual. In the Novice competition, Year 13’s Katie scored a fantastic 67.86% riding Grannus Top Dollar, and Year 7’s Jasmine, our youngest rider on the day, gained 62.50% riding Firsedge Stockley Blossom. These results meant we secured the County Open, with Katie winning 1st individual, Jasmine placing 2nd – well done girls!
As both teams won, this meant that Woodbridge qualified to represent Suffolk at the County Championships at Hickstead in May 2024, which is absolutely super.
Each of the students represented themselves to a very high standard, an absolute credit to Woodbridge School.
A shout out and thank you to all of the parents for their support throughout a sunny but actually freezing cold day.
On Wednesday last week, Year 12 and 13 Geography students were treated to a ‘ship to shore’ live zoom link to the Joides Resolution. This is a scientific research vessel which is drilling core samples from the Mediterranean gateway seabed, looking for evidence of past climate change amongst other things. Our report from Miss Gill, Head of Geography, shares more information.
Miss Gill, Head of Geography
The expedition is looking at rock cores in order to identify past climate changes and mass extinction events in the hope that evidence from the past can help make decisions about the future.
Students were shown around the ship; the view of the Mediterranean from the ‘office’ window drawing an audible gasp from the audience and then on to the drilling derrick with its enormous bits and through to the different well-equipped laboratories.
The scientists come from many different nations and have specialties in disciplines such as sedimentation geology, micropaleontology, geochemistry and geophysics. After the expedition, the core samples will be stored in Bremen and be available to many more scientists for further research.
The students had an opportunity to question the scientists onboard with everything from ‘What is the most important thing you have found so far?’ to ‘Do you get seasick?’ and ‘Why is it important to identify gas in the samples?’ If you want to know the answers, ask an A level Geograper! If you’d like to find out more about the Joides Resolution and what they do, visit https://joidesresolution.org/expedition/mediterranean-atlantic-gateway-exchange/.
A number of students were invited for tea and cake with Miss Norman earlier this week, in recognition of various activities in and outside of School.
Earlier in the term, Miss Norman talked about the kindness and generosity shown by a number of our students at Christmas. She explained how she received an email from an elderly couple, local residents who had been treated to some delightful carol singing by a group of the School’s Sixth Formers, raising money for The Bridge School.
Praising the students for their wonderful singing and politeness, the residents also went on to explain that this was the only contact they had over the Christmas period, so this act of kindness was felt with real warmth and meant a great deal to them. In recognition of that, Year 13’s James, Jasmine, Kitty, Isla, Ollie, Esme and Evelyn, Year 12’s James, Toby and Xander and Year 9’s Romilly enjoyed tea and cake with Miss Norman.
Alongside these kind and caring carol singers, Miss Norman also invited Year 13’s Issy and Freya in recognition of them both being superb role models in their tutor groups.
Our chess teams have been extremely busy, with matches played last Wednesday and Thursday in the National Schools Championships and the Ivan Gromov Online League.
National Schools Championships Regionals
Last Wednesday our chess B team, made up of Year 13’s James, Year 12’s Artem, Year 9’s Callum, Year 8’s Pranav and Year 7’s Otto and Dominic, took part in the National Schools Championships Regionals, playing against Norwich School.
Unfortunately it was the end of the road for our young team, who performed admirably against Norwich A but lost eventually 9 – 3. Well done to all of them.
Individually though, Callum won both his games, and Artem also won one of his. Congratulations to both of them.
Our A team however dominated their match, winning 12-0 against Norwich B team. Congratulations to Year 13’s Polina, Year 12’s Sergei, Christopher and Harry, Year 11’s Nikolai and Year 10’s Rowan.
Ivan Gromov Online League
Thursday night saw students take part in the continuation of the Ivan Gromov online league – Woodbridge School fielding two teams for only the second time this season.
Our A team remain top of the league winning comfortably 6-0 against Tonbridge B, and our B team drew 3-3 with Eton College B. This included debuts for Year 9’s Lade and Year 12’s Benno, who both won, along with Year 12’s Aidan. Very well done everyone who took part.
The start of the netball season has been a busy one already, with 18 matches played, along with one tournament.
The Junior teams travelled to Finborough last week to play a triangular with Orwell Park. The U13A, B and C teams all came away successful and secured brilliant wins, with the U13Cs scoring 24 goals in 24 minutes, amazing!
The same teams travelled to Fram Prep on Wednesday, and we had a repeat performance with three out of three wins secured with over 60 goals scored between the three teams, which demonstrates our strength in shooting and depth in teams.
The large U12A squad enjoyed their first match against Finborough, where they could put into action the skills and tactics, they had learned so far. The team played their little hearts out and were victorious.
The team also travelled to Fram Prep on Wednesday and played their Junior 3rd team. Another good performance with centre passes and backlines being practiced which have been our main focus over the past week, along with our shooting. Again, the team tasted success and scored 23 goals! Well done!
The U13B travelled to Ormiston Endeavour for their league tournament last week, playing five matches and winning them all – a great achievement, well done!
Finborough were our opponents again last week, but this time with the U14A, B and C, as well as the U15A, B and C teams. On a bitterly cold afternoon, the B and C teams fought hard in the cold conditions and the U14s came away with two wins, but unfortunately, the U15s could not follow suit and lost narrowly.
Inside in the warm, the U14A and U15A teams both played. The U15s were first up, all pumped and ready for the match after warming up to the opposition’s music. The first three quarters saw the girls play with superb determination and defended brilliantly all the way down the court. Unfortunately, in the last quarter, our opposition got the better of us and dominated the play and went ahead.
The U14A team’s game was a slightly different story with us dominating from the starting whistle and leading by 11 goals in the first quarter. Preparation for the Regionals was on the agenda, putting into action all the tactics which have been recapped, learned, and practiced over the past few weeks.
The U19 and U16A teams faced a combined St Jo’s team on Tuesday, at home. Playing half a match each against the same team, enabled us to use our fresh legs on the court and brush off all the cobwebs as mock exams had prevented several of the girls from playing netball since before Christmas. The U19s were up first and from intercepting the first centre, they were on a roll. Brilliant defence, excellent centre court play, and superb shooting enabled us to have a seven-goal lead in the first 10 minutes. The girls managed to keep this up and played with great determination and tenacity, securing a well-deserved win.
The U16A team took to the court to face the same team, and with our first centre pass, we managed to convert and go ahead straight away. The girls fought tirelessly, making some excellent interceptions which we converted into goals and our shooting was consistent. St Jos started to catch up in the second quarter, but we managed to keep our cool and our heads up, coming away with the win, which was deserved.
Well done to every team so far, a great set of results!
A level Drama students were lucky enough to visit the National Theatre last week to see The Witches. An absolutely spellbinding performance, it was the perfect antidote to blow away the January blues. You can hear more about it in our report from Year 12’s Phoebe.
Phoebe, Year 12 “On the 22 of January, A level drama students had the absolute pleasure of watching the National Theatre’s The Witches. Directed by Lyndsey Turner, this musical concoction had everything: magical disappearing acts, unbelievable technical effects, and a powerhouse, predominantly female, cast.
When imaginative schoolboy Luke moves in with his grandma, her talk of square-footed, bald-headed, children-squelching witches seems crazy. But when the pair visit the seaside ‘Hotel Magnificent’ they are plunged into the heart of the witches’ evil plan: to turn all of Britain’s children into mice.
With witty and heart-warming characters, such as the seemingly charming but fatefully greedy Bruno Jenkins, whose extravagant tap number about a sugar-high, surrounded by bedazzling dancing and singing confectionery, made us roar with laughter; this production had it all. However, beneath this sugar-coated veneer lay pure evil. Played by Katherine Kingsley, the Grand High Witch had so many different dimensions. A selfie-taking celebrity one moment, a hellish witch another, and even a seemingly lovely lady dressed head to toe from the Boden catalogue, Kinglsey brought everything to the table. Her incredible solo Wouldn’t it be nice?, was essentially an anti-child declaration that caused the audience to roar with laughter – and question their priorities!
This trip gave us so much to think about, particularly the importance of compelling set design. With visions of Kath Kidson inspired colour palettes and wonderfully inventive costumes, we all gained so much from this amazing opportunity and can’t wait to apply what was learnt into our own work.
Last weekend Suffolk Schools Athletics announced their Cross Country team to compete at Anglian Schools in Lincolnshire on Saturday 3 February, and we’re absolutely delighted to confirm that 23 of our students have been selected, with two on a very short reserve list.
Well over 80 schools enter the Suffolk Trials and 36 schools have one or more athletes selected to now race at Anglian Schools. Woodbridge School are absolutely thrilled to be able to confirm we once again lead the way in terms of representation, with our 23 athletes more than double that of any other Suffolk school.
Congratulations to the following students going through to compete at Anglian Schools:
Competing in the Minor Girls race:
Year 6’s Chloe
Year 7’s India B
Year 7’s India J
Year 7’s Ella
Year 7’s Alexandra
Year 7’s Imogen
Reserve runner on short list, Year 7’s Jasmine
Competing in the Minor Boys race:
Year 6’s Archie
Year 7’s Dexter
Year 7’s Alfie R
Year 7’s Olly
Year 7’s Otis
Year 7’s Josh
Year 7’s Charlie
Competing in the Junior Girls race:
Year 8’s Alice
Year 9’s Romilly
Year 9’s Felicity
Reserve runner on short list, Year 9’s Sophie
Competing in the Junior Boys race:
Year 8’s Digby
Year 9’s Jago
Competing in the Inter Boys race:
Year 10’s Jasper
Year 11’s Angus
Competing in the Senior Boys race:
Year 12’s Bruce
Year 12’s Iwan
Year 13’s Henry
Congratulations to every athlete selected, and good luck!
