Month: January 2016
Tuesday saw the second meeting of the Academic Society in which Mr Cottrell spoke on the subject of ‘Science is the answer?’. In his inimitable way (references to a significant OW, deep fried canary, eel reproduction, Norwich Football Club and lots of ‘jokes’) Mr Cottrell spoke about the advances that science has enabled in terms of medicine, understanding the world around us and advancing the comfort with which humans live their lives. He also spoke about the potential science has to solve current and future problems. He explained how if the history of the universe was seen as the width of the Science Lecture Theatre (about five metres) then human existence would cover the width of a piece of paper. Within that the scientific approach is so recent that one can argue if science has achieved so much in such a short space of time, what can be achieved in the future?
However, Mr Cottrell presented a far more sceptical view of science than many of us had expected. He argued we tend to trust scientists and that there have been frequent examples of scientists falsifying data (for a variety of reasons). Scientific understanding is still exceptionally crude and future generations will look back and laugh at many of our explanations. It would take 13.7 billion light years to travel from one edge of the known universe to the other but so far the one of the greatest achievement of humans is imaging the Earth from five and a half light-hours ‘away’. Equally much of science is controlled by big business. Should it be? If not should it be scientists, governments, the voters, or the big corporations who decide what science should and shouldn’t do? Thought provoking stuff.
In questions Mr Cottrell was asked ‘If he could be a particle, which would he be?’. His answer, ‘a preon’. Of course!
Any of our parents and skiers (not just junior trippers) may like to join the pre-meeting ‘shop opportunity’ at the forthcoming junior ski trip meeting. Tuckwell Room 6.45 on Tuesday 19 January with Top Gear/Surfanic. Top Gear is an independent, family run business and has been providing ski wear into schools for over 30 years; Surfanic International design and manufacture leading edge ski/snowboarding clothing and accessories. The partnership offers excellent school discounts on outstanding ski and snowboarding wear as well as expert advice and a reliable service.
Many congratulations to our Y8 pupil, Hugo Thomas, who has been selected for The Suffolk Hockey Squad at U14. Next week we hope to congratulate many more of you for making the various Suffolk Hockey squads – the names are coming in thick and fast!
A number of Woodbridge School pupils represented the School against the best Suffolk Clubs at the annual County Cross Country Championships held at Heveningham Hall.
U11s are not able to progress to Nationals but our two athletes deserve special mention:
U11 Girls – Amy Goddard – Suffolk Champion!
U11 Boys – Tommy Burrows – Bronze Medal (Running a year up)
In the U13 and above a top 8 finish guarantees selection to represent Suffolk at the Nationals:
U15 Girls – Sarah Barker – 4th (Running a year up)
U15 Boys – Nathan Goddard – 4th (Running a year up)
U20 Men – Connor Grant – 4th (Running a year up)
U15 Girls – Millie Buckingham -5th (Running a year up)
U13 Boys – Henry Dinwiddy – 5th (Running a year up)
U15 Girls – Amy Graham – 7th (Running a year up)
U13 Boys – Edward Rufford – 8th (Running a year up)
7 County vests with everyone running in the same age group next year!
Equally impressive results from everyone else on the day:
U15 Boys – George Rufford – 11th (Running a year up)
U13 Girls – Sophie Graham – 18th
U13 Girls – Victoria Burrows – 20th
U15 Boys – Daniel Davies – 21st (running a year up)
U15 Boys – Alex Evans Lombe – 23rd (running a year up)
U13 Boys – Thomas Liddy – 30th (Running a year up)
To round off a successful day the Woodbridge School U15 Girls won the County Team Silver Medal defeating a number of the larger County Club teams!
Please join us at what looks set to be a wonderful concert on Saturday April 2, 7.30pm in the School Hall. Sea Fever features a swashbuckling array of nautically inspired British songs from Vaughan Williams to Benjamin Britten. Chris Dollins (baritone) and Frances Ringer OW, and graduate of the London School of Music (piano). Tickets (£8) available on the door or via 01394 387041.
Host families are required for seven French students (all between 13 and 14 years old) for eight days from 4-12 February 2016, as part of the French exchange. A small remuneration package is available. Please contact Mrs Chandler if you are able to accommodate one or more students.
The poet, Jean Sprackland, said, “Learn a poem by heart and it becomes part of you. Speak a poem aloud and you become part of its life in the world”.
Poetry By Heart is a national poetry competition for Years 10 to 13 now in its fourth year. On Tuesday the first round took place in school. Each participant chose two poems from a wide-ranging anthology, and recited them before an audience made up of supportive friends, English teachers and a clutch of Year 9s who clearly have the competition in their sights next year! The five participants recited poems by Edward Thomas, Rupert Brooke, Robert Burns, William Henley and Jacob Polley, to name a few. Their fantastic efforts can be viewed online. The winner and runner up will be announced in Assembly on Monday, however Mrs Davis would like to thank all five who took part – Sam Bryant, Hazel Brown-Balaam, Daniella Elman, Jamie Saul and Lia Schreiber – and also Rhiannon Humphreys who, although not a competitor herself, joined the five others, contributing some inspired reading of poems of her own choice. She said, “This is a venture that will grow and grow and these students will have certainly inspired more to participate next year. Woodbridge is a school where students are willing to take a risk, knowing that they will be encouraged and recognised for the efforts that they make.” Deputy Head, Miss Norman added, “Listening to poetry for half an hour was a wonderful indulgence.”
The U18 boys’ team played an exciting and end to end game against Norwich School. Bitterly disappointed, they had to settle for second best after the match was determined by penalty strokes, ending 4-4 after full time.
Woodbridge started nervously and the Norwich centre forward pounced on a moment of hesitation and robbed the ball from our centre back and calmly slotted it into the net. Woodbridge recovered and started to settle into the game. However too much direct play down the middle resulted in many turnovers and counter attacks. Chris Moody made some good saves in goal and the back four, led by Ben Kilburn had to be at their best to stem the tide. 10 minutes from the break Norwich doubled their lead and went into half time 2-0 up. Woodbridge had chances in the first half but Norwich defence, especially at penalty corners were up to the test.
In the second half Woodbridge improved their marking, and defensive positioning, was more patient and also started to change channels more, making use of the full width of the pitch. Forward leads improved to give us more width. 7 minutes into the half some good link play between Will Neall and George Williams from a free hit released Ed Robson to take a clear shot and the keeper had no chance. Ten minutes later Myles King made clever use of tactics at an attacking free hit to win a corner. Ed calmly converted. 2-2.
Woodbridge won another penalty corner. A good move was converted well by Will Neall getting the final touch from a Robson flick. Play continued and minutes later Robson again unleashed and the score was 4-2 to Woodbridge, scoring 3 goals in 6 minutes.
The writing looked on the wall for Norwich. But with key players tiring, and a little inexperience showing, Norwich persisted and forced penalty corners, two of which Woodbridge couldn’t keep out. The final score was 4-4.
Disappointed to not convert their strong position, Woodbridge went into penalty strokes. Now it was a lottery. Chris Moody saved one of Norwich’s strokes and Myles King, Will Neall and Tom Innes scored for Woodbridge, Norwich winning the match 4-3 on strokes.
A very exciting game to start the season.
Player of the match was a close contest between Ed Robson and Ben Kilburn, but ultimately Ben Kilburn’s play in defence, and as distributor won him player of the match.
Monday lunch, 1.10pm till 2.20pm &
Tuesday after school, 4.15pm till 5.00pm
Drop in sessions open to everyone, we will discuss:
- how to revise,
- use of revision timetables,
- different techniques,
- dealing with stress etc.
Should student feel they need any extra support, please contact Mr Patten and he can arrange a specific session based on student’s needs.
On Wednesday we were privileged to welcome Monty Halls to come to speak to Years 6-12 about the importance of developing leadership skills in young people. Monty is a former marine who went on to do a Marine Biology degree and is best known for his three BBC2 series ‘Great Escapes’, where he lived on the west coast of Scotland and Ireland with his dog Reuben. He also presented the multi-award winning series ‘Great Barrier Reef’.
Monty spoke about his life and career, including working with Nelson Mandela for a year, sleeping in a scorpion filled cave and being attacked by a Tiger shark!
However, his main focus was on how important it is for all young people to received leadership training. He told the students how, in a survey of over 400 top business leaders, over 90% felt leadership should be formally developed at school. His key message was that everyone has the capacity to lead and he challenged the archetypal image of a leader as a dominant ‘alpha’ personality but instead asked students to think about how there are very different approaches to effective leadership.
At Woodbridge School we want all our students to leave feeling they have the capacity to lead so we are looking to pilot a leadership course, developed with Monty Halls and various other independent schools, to help develop this confidence.
Monty was effusive at the end of the day:
“It was my great pleasure to visit Woodbridge to speak to the students about the importance of their own leadership development. The school is showing real drive and initiative to make sure that leadership – such a crucial life skill – is introduced to all students. Woodbridge is very much at the vanguard of creating meaningful, progressive, accredited leadership training for every young person that attends the school, and I look forward very much to working with them (and indeed learning from them) in the future.”
Our pupils found this talk an enlightening experience:
“I found it extremely useful listening to someone who has taken the same career path that I am hoping to travel on”
Matthew Sutton
“It was encouraging to discover that someone who had such little military experience was so successful in his field”
Phoebe Cook
“Varied as our aims and goals were, he was a fascinating and personable man with words of wisdom for everyone”
Gabby Zins
“He is an inspiring man who definitely helped me realise that leadership can come in many forms and that our path of life is not set in stone”
Abi Crane
“It was very interesting to hear about his experiences in his field because he talked to us as equals”
Matthew Bye
“I found it a truly enlightening experience. It was a great opportunity to learn not only more about leadership, but also what we can expect going into a life in the armed forces and general life after school- a very worthwhile experience!”
David Spray
“I enjoyed talking to Monty and learning about his own life through the armed forces and university. It has definitely give me a good idea what to expect in the future”
George Cory