Category: Senior School News
On Saturday 9 March six Woodbridge School athletes had earned the right to represent Suffolk at the UK Inter County Cross Country in Loughborough.
A prestigious annual event where the top eight athletes from each English County compete against area teams from Scotland, Wales and Ireland. So just 350 of the very best cross country runners in the United Kingdom in each race.
Alex competed well in the U17 mens’ race despite a slight knee injury to finish in 210th place and 4th for Suffolk.
For Eloise in Year 7, this was a first county club representation and a great first experience competing a year up in the U13 girls’ race to finish a credible 235th and 5th for Suffolk.
Amy in Year 9 posted her best result so far in a national level competition, finishing 160th and 2nd for Suffolk, competing a year up in the U15 girls’ race.
April, not quite over her recent virus, fought well in the same race, always in the top 100 to finish 1st for Suffolk and in 95th place
Kit’s season continues to go from strength to strength. Competing in the U15 boys’ race with a ferocious start, Kit found himself in about 60th place after the first kilometre of his five kilometre race. From that moment on there was no stopping him as he fought his way through the field to finish an incredible 22nd and 2nd for Suffolk. The Suffolk Team finished an amazing 6th overall in this age group. To give Kit’s performance some context, it is always good to point out that in team sports there is normally a National squad of around 30 announced before the final team is agreed. Getting into the top 100 in England alone takes some doing, so to finish 22nd in the UK is a major achievement.
Last, but not least, Ruby. Ruby started this race having won the South of England Inter Counties in December and the South of England individual title in January. Last year when she competed in this fixture, she competed a year up and finished an eye-opening 8th. To keep the pressure off, friends and family were not saying anything, but deep down everyone wondered whether a medal was possible.
From the start Ruby was always in the lead pack and by mid race, the young star started to take the race by the scruff of the neck. In the final kilometre Ruby was able to power away from the lead pack to cross the line as UK Under 13 Inter County Champion.
Not only did Ruby win her race, but across the 10 races on the day from U13 to Senior, Ruby was in the shortest race at 3000 metres, and her winning margin of 19 seconds was the largest of the day.
An outstanding achievement and a credit to her hard work, determination and family support. Of course, at the same time, a small piece of history for Woodbridge School.
Congratulations to all of our athletes and good luck to those competing at English Schools in Leeds this coming weekend – the final fixture of the winter!
…And the search for enlightenment, or for knowledge of the unknowable. Or just for a happy ending? With charming and beguiling grace our five players set the scene: a family full of love and hope but few prospects seeking solace in each other and in storytelling. And what a story… the separated talents left searching fruitlessly without ‘sight’; the sightless searcher succeeding through unshakeable belief. One may fail, one may be thwarted; but with belief comes the courage to continue, to be resilient, and ultimately to find. The story’s end saw its family reunited and the philosopher’s stone secured; the story’s message saw the storytellers’ hopes renewed, and a feeling that their prospects are on the turn. Here’s to their success, to their prosperity, and, ultimately, to their love for each other! Hurrah!
Many congratulations to our Sixth Form quintet on their beautifully wrought rendering of this uplifting folk tale – they brought wit and warmth, and a glorious burst of springtime to a chilly March evening!
Sophie reports:
On the sunny morning of Wednesday 13 March, the Year 8s went on an amazing trip to BT Adastral Park in Martlesham as part of British Science Week.
After introductions and a brief safety talk we were straight off to the Innovation Centre, where companies owned by BT had setup a small mock shop to demonstrate futuristic technology and examples of electronics and wiring in everyday life. We visited a bank with a hologram for a worker; we went to BT Pulse where we met Double, a mobile iPad on wheels which allows workers across the world to be in the same room and work together; and we learnt how drones are currently being used and what businesses are having to consider in terms of security and flight space. It was fascinating to find out about the products and systems that already make jobs easier, as well as those we can expect to see soon in stores, hospitals and more!
After the tour we headed back to the main hall to explore a huge variety of exhibits. Opportunities abounded, from Space Race challenges, to the Adastral Park’s Ambulance Team’s heart rate machine! I had a go on quite a few of the wonderful exhibits, but my favourites were the Explorer Robots, where you had the chance to program the Bee Bots to complete a challenging course. I also loved the Learning in 360 Degrees exhibit, and wearing the Virtual Reality headsets to see around a virtual workplace – it was a lot of fun, even if I did come out feeling a little dizzy! There was something for everyone.
Then it was back to the main hall for the presentations. Loads of people from Woodbridge School won prizes for taking part in the various activities, including a first place for ‘The Lears’ team who managed to reach the Sun in the Space Race. Sadly, and all too soon, it was time to say goodbye and head back to the buses after a lovely, inspiring morning at Adastral Park. The staff were helpful and kind and were always suggesting great activities for us to take part in. It was a great trip and a fantastic way to celebrate British Science Week! Thank you to Mrs Calver and the teachers who took us on this trip! I really enjoyed it!
For the first time in 30 years, Woodbridge CCF has reached the CCF National Competition, and for the first time ever the school team has become the top CCF RAF drill team in the country out of 220 schools. 15 Schools took part in the the National Competition.
The School will now represent the RAF Air Cadets as the only CCF team in the Air Cadets National drill competition at RAF Honington in November. This competition is formed out of the 900 ATC units in the country reduced down to 6, meaning that out of 40,000 cadets across the country, Woodbridge CCF is not only the best CCF RAF drill team, but in the top 7 out of over 1000 cadet units as a whole.
We travelled to Ipswich High on a glorious afternoon and knew we had to be on our game to win this tournament but also knew that we had it in ourselves to do so. We started off playing St Joseph’s and from the very beginning played well and dominated them. This was a comfortable victory with all of the girls playing their part.
Next it was Ipswich High and they gave us a run for our money to start with, but we stayed calm! Maddie and Steph put in some great shots and Ruby distributed the ball well in the centre. Lily and Ada played well in defence, passing the ball securely up to Maggie and Chloe. Sure enough, we came out on top, knowing our next game would be our toughest.
Ipswich School have some strong players but Libbie, Esme, Izzy all played really well and kept possession of the ball vitally when we were ahead. But Ipswich then pulled it back to one score behind… we were counting down the seconds (well the Dads on the side-line were!) … and the hooter went at last! Phew.
Our last game was against our B team and the girls played really well and it was so good to see them all on a court together.
Well done, girls, a great display of netball, team work, belief and determination. You are a pleasure to coach and here’s to the next fixture!
The neutral venue of Harleston Magpies was used for this epic encounter. Woodbridge started the game strongly and never looked back with some fine midfield and forward play. Barnaby, making his junior 2 debut, settled his and the team’s nerves by scoring early on. There was then some lovely playing out from the back by Moses, Tom and Joe. The midfield three of Jonjo, James and Kai provided some lethal passes into our attacking players for them to capitalise and score more goals for the team, Luca doing this fantastically well, striking the ball cleanly to score two, with James getting the other. Poor Fred in goal didn’t have too much to do but when called upon made some important saves.
The FitzGerald Society is Woodbridge School’s Junior Oxbridge programme for academic highfliers who seek intellectual challenges beyond the curriculum. Events so far have included an afternoon discussing arsenic poisoning, as well as trips to the British Museum, the Wellcome Collection and a University of Cambridge Year 10 Open Day. On Friday 1st March, the Science Lecture Theatre was transformed into the Royal Courts of Justice for the main Lent Term event – a Moot (or mock law trial). We were particularly fortunate in having three extremely eminent legal guests present: the Rt Hon Sir John Waite (formerly of the Court of Appeal), Mr Justice Beaumont (ex-Recorder of London) and Mr Justice Bevan (formerly of the Old Bailey). They were joined by Mr Finbow, Chairman of the Seckford Foundation and George Vestey, the High Sheriff of Suffolk.
The audience (from Years 7, 8, 9 and 11, plus parents and friends) made up the jury and were treated to a display of impassioned debate and close interrogation from the two legal teams (who were in wigs and gowns, thanks to the generosity of various parents). However, unlike in normal courtroom dramas, the cast had not learned lines from a script. The barristers had been presented with a series of witness statements, police documents, and summaries of various laws. From that, they had to decide who was to be called to give evidence, to formulate what questions to ask the witnesses, and to anticipate what the other side might ask on cross-examination. Moreover, the prosecution had to consider the difference between Murder, Unlawful Act Manslaughter, and Child Destruction, as well as which would be the most appropriate charge against the defendant. (The defendant, Michael Attleborough, had stabbed his pregnant girlfriend in the abdomen. The baby was born prematurely, and the defendant was accused of causing its death.)
Similarly, the witnesses had to work out what their responses would be to likely questions, and there were some superb character studies of 999 operatives and police officers, medical experts, an uncertain shopkeeper, a loyal – but hilariously nasty – sister, and the aggrieved (or aggravating?) girlfriend. The judge gave a studied and fair summing-up, and then it was over to the jury. Was Attleborough (currently serving four years’ imprisonment in Ipswich jail for GBH) guilty of Manslaughter? The jury’s excitement was palpable as they argued with each other. Guilty – he’s a wrong ’un. Not Guilty – the medical evidence isn’t strong enough. Guilty – he stabbed her in the abdomen. Not Guilty – the baby was born two weeks after the attack and he didn’t intend to harm it. So the arguments flowed this way and that, all showing how much evidence the jurors had absorbed. Finally, the vote was called and the verdict was announced. Not Guilty: 44; Guilty: 25. So the defendant was free – to return to jail.
With the verdict delivered, it was the turn of our learned guests to speak about the Moot. All agreed that it had been of a very high standard. Mr Justice Beaumont made some valuable remarks about procedure. Mr Justice Bevan commented on how very convincing barristers, judge and witnesses had been. The Rt Hon Sir John Waite echoed these statements, asking how many schools would take time out of a busy curriculum to undertake such a worthwhile endeavour. He ended with a clarion call for us all to consider the value of the Rule of Law: This is the administration of Justice; this is an embodiment of the British tradition of fair play; this is the Rule of Law on which all our liberties are founded. And how hard and terrible a life it would be for us all if the Rule of Law did not prevail as it does in this country.
Quite. And to judge from the enthusiasm of the participants and audience alike, Moots – and all the benefits which they bring – are here to stay at Woodbridge.
Many congratulations to Issy, who has had a brilliant run of success recently. We have just heard she has earned one of only sixteen places in the U16 National Tour Finals to be held in March, having finished twelfth in the National Tour league thanks to her performances in Sunderland and Nottingham. She has also recently qualified for the first time into the main draw at a British Tour event (Corby). This all follows successes in 2018 which included: National Tour finals at U14 in both Winter and Summer leagues; the Suffolk Ladies open doubles title, and a semifinal spot in the singles; three regional grade 3 U18 titles and a further doubles title; and an open women’s grade 3 title alongside two as runner-up. She has also represented the Suffolk county team at U14, U18 and senior, never dropping a singles rubber… No wonder she was Suffolk LTA junior girls’ Player of the Year 2017!
Many, many congratulations to Asmee who did exceptionally well in this year’s national Intermediate Maths Challenge for pupils in Years 9 to 11. She was best in school, even though still only in Year 9, with a magnificent score of 93 which earned her a gold award and a place in the follow-on Cayley round for the best Year 9s in the nation.
Also earning gold awards and our congratulations were Saif (91 and best in Year 11), Nathaniel and Billy in Year 11, and Rachel (91 and best in Year 10), Molly, Katie and Nina in Year 10 all of whom qualify to sit the international Pink Kangaroo paper.
Silvers were awarded to Ka Yeung, Amy, Elise and Archie in Year 9, Samuel, Ho Kan, Ariane, Seb, George, Oliver, Reace, Tilly and Talia in Year 10, and Maddie, Hal, Charlie, Medomfo and Ianthe in Year 11. Congratulations!
And bronzes were awarded to Milo, Henry, Lucy, Tanya, Honor, Khushi and Isabella in Year 9, William, Ramtin, James, Ella, Charlie, Lily, Tom, Thomas, Beatrice and Billy in Year 10, and Sophie H, Sophie G, Saffron, Charlotte, Charles, Georgia, Joshua B and Joshua R in Year 11. And congratulations once again!
All 30 Year 9 Spanish Intensive students visited the Europa Centre on Wednesday 27 February. This is a slightly bizarre building in the Upminster area which contains a replica Spanish town. The pupils were split up into small groups and were taken round the ‘town’ by Spanish natives to ask questions in Spanish and practise role plays, for example at the train station, in the hotel or at the travel agency. The teachers heard some fabulous Spanish being spoken by pupils, and were very impressed by their enthusiasm. Hopefully this experience has whetted their appetite for the Spanish study trip to Salamanca in June where they will also be thrown into lots of Spanish speaking and listening for the week! Special mention to Jacob, Sophia and Milo who won the ‘Missing Person’ competition by asking and understanding various questions and replies in Spanish to identify a missing person. Well done to all pupils on a very successful day and hopefully a boost to their confidence!