Category: Woodbridge News
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 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, 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!
What a time we had!
Thursday at the turning circle: five in the morning doesn’t feel so early when the weather is good and the Coach drivers Chris and Martin are so cheery and welcoming. Many roads, one ferry and thirteen hours later we arrived in Cologne to a friendly welcome and fine dinner at our splendid Jugendherberge. The perfect journey preluded a perfect tour!
Friday dawned beautiful – indeed the weather throughout our stay was glorious – unbroken blue skies and crisp summer sun to banish any wintry chill. The walk across the Rhine towards the soaring Gothic masterpiece that is the Cathedral could not have been more inspiring: the breath-taking space once inside quite overwhelming. And to think we were not simply tourists here, but guests, choristers for Midday Prayers (after a quick busk outside!). And the acoustic. Oh my goodness… voices rising higher and higher, further and further. What a privilege to perform there; what a memory. Quickly followed by a dizzying ascent to the top of one of the dreaming spires for views to horizons barely contemplated below. And there was a trip to the famous Chocolate Museum as well. What a day… so far! Because soon after we were off to Heimersheim to perform in the ancient Pfarrkirche St Mauritius. A beautiful setting in which a small but perfectly formed and immensely appreciative audience delighted in the Chamber Orchestra’s brilliant performances and the Choir’s equally mesmerising repertoire. And our reward was a fabulously convivial dinner in the local Hotel zum Stern – no mean feat feeding forty famished folk so (e)fficiently.
Saturday took us to Bonn and a rendezvous with Beethoven (or at least his death mask, his birth house and a host of fascinating memorabilia besides). The Namen-Jesu-Kirche was fabulous: over three hundred years of history, beautiful spaces, glorious decoration, and another splendid acoustic. Lily used her fluent German to brilliant effect while the orchestra rehearsed to encourage passing trade to return for our concert. And another busk in the market square elicited great applause and one besotted baby, transfixed by Miss Weston’s conducting and the choir in full voice. The evening concert was majestic, presented this time to an audience worthy of its quality – the pews were full and the appreciation rapturous. It was a wonderful event and our thanks go once again to our hosts for such kindness and generosity.
Sunday meant Koblenz, an enormous statue of Kaiser Wilhelm, a cable car ride above a misty confluence of the Moselle and Rhine to a castle-topped hill across the waters. And then a quick trip to Andernach for our final concert to be given in the extremely modern Kreuzkirche – unprepossessing from the outside in its concrete carapace, but beguilingly spacious and beautifully wrought on the inside with glorious stained glass and finely panelled woodwork. The welcome was every bit as warm and welcoming, and the audience passionate and plentiful. The concert performances of orchestra and choir were as good as they had ever been, and with an acoustic just a little softer than on previous occasions the musicianship was even more brilliantly presented. Indeed, in response to Millie’s lovely speech in excellent German, the residents were moved to say that they had not hosted such a fine concert in all their long memories, their long and heart-felt applause testimony to the truth of that claim.
Marvellous.. and then it was Monday and a journey equally smooth to bring us and our wonderful memories safely home.
Many, many thanks to Mr Milton, Miss Weston, Mr Turner, Miss Alzapiedi, Mrs Hornsby and Mr Cole for their organisation, conducting (of course!) and care; and many more congratulations to our wonderful orchestra and choir for performing so well, and for being such a pleasure to tour alongside.
To celebrate Chinese year of the pig, our Year 8 and Year 9 pupils put on a fantastic performance of singing and tongue twisters in Mandarin for the audience at the Ipswich Chinese New Year Show, which took place on Sunday 10 February. They also had the chance to sit in the audience and enjoy watching other performances. The ACCE founder and organiser of the show, Mrs Lydia Tse, was very impressed with our pupils, and so was the rest of the audience. The pupils were awarded a certificate for their fantastic effort and, of course as part of Chinese tradition, a red money packet for good luck with the new year.
Stunning.
Sumptuous.
And deeply original.
The shock of arrival was magical: such a beautiful staging, such glorious detail, and such wonderful costumes.
And the surprises kept coming, not least Kathryn Clements’s brilliant choreography so astonishingly brought to life by the cast, but in particular by Tom… I tend to resist naming names in production reviews – especially as so much of what Miss Mayes and Mr Williams bring to the stage is ensemble based – but Tom’s performance was quite exceptional. His dancing alone compelled the viewer; but, without words, that he spoke through movement and expression so well of his angst was all the more remarkable. And the ambiguity created by casting him ‘the girl’ captured all the more tellingly the human scope of the fable. Around him the ensemble wove its spell of desire, despair and derision. Our quartet above guiding the old lady’s story; a preacher at odds with the Word; angels and clowns, harlequins and charlatans, acrobats and a majorette (very fine work!), and the most surgically relaxed knife thrower one could have wished for. And still more visual delights: the black and the white offering the most dramatic contrast to the red, teasingly introduced and vividly unmissable.
The story is chilling, the ending at best uneasy; but this production of The Red Shoes transcended such disquiet to leave the audience moved, beguiled and hugely impressed. Many congratulations to the cast, to the directors, and to the backstage team for an outstanding evening’s entertainment!
This week a Careers Lunch took place, this time for those interested in Finance and Recruitment. Many thanks to Paul Lewington, Laurence Denvir and Jim Marshall for giving up their time and talking to our students about their career paths and passing on tips for their futures.
Miss Norman Reports: This week England is focusing upon raising awareness around Children’s Mental Health. 75% of mental illnesses start before a child reaches their 18th birthday, while 50% of mental health problems (excluding dementia) take root before the age of 15 years. From the tragic story of Molly Rose whose suicide was linked to viewing harmful internet content, through to discussions being held in parliament on the effects of social media and mobile phone technology upon children’s wellbeing, the importance of acknowledging and re-examining this area cannot be clearer.
Over the summer holidays, Woodbridge School enabled me to complete my instructor training in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). This is an internationally recognised training course that is designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill- health in young people from ages 8 to 18. Subsequently, I have been able to extend this superb training initiative to 22 pastoral staff at Queen’s House, The Abbey and the Senior School to ensure that our teachers are able to spot the early signs of mental health issues, tackle the stigma surrounding it, and protect those young people who might be at risk of harm, guiding them towards appropriate support. More staff are signing up to complete the Youth MHFA two day course to ensure that they feel confident in dealing with the issues that come their way, offering reassurance to our pupils that they are not alone and that it is ok not to be ok. The Government’s plan to ensure that every school from 2019 has at least one member of staff trained to deal with mental health is a crucial one; Woodbridge School recognises that just one member of staff is not enough in a region classified as the weakest for accessing external support. It reminds our parents and pupils just how important mental health and well-being is within education.
Next term, I would like to extend the MHFA training to parents and those in our community who are interested in completing this certificate. There will be a voluntary donation to complete the training with proceeds going to a charity chosen by our pupils that supports mental health. If anyone would like to find out more about what the course entails or register interest then please do not hesitate to contact me at snorman@woodbridgeschool.org.uk.
National finalists for the first time in 30 years!
Many, many congratulations to our dedicated and resourceful cadet team, brilliantly led by Flo, which came an exceptional third in the Eastern Region competition hosted at RAF Honington, taking away two trophies, and earning their place in the National Finals at RAF Halton in early March.
Our cadets swept all before them in the Drill Competition element of this very prestigious event, winning it outright for the fourth year in a row, and this time following up with a series of top four finished in many of the other elements to come a very fine third overall, behind reigning national champions and winners Kimbolton (though second, by a very distant 20 points, to our team in the Drill!), and Oundle.
The competition last weekend involved some 40 schools, all vying for the honours, but few could compete with our magnificent fourteen. The National finals streamline this down to the top twelve schools in the country… no pressure, then!
The next month may just contain a little more drill, first aid, aircraft recognition, shooting, acquisition of RAF knowledge, and solving of devilish command tasks…
The team: Flo, Oliver, Henry, Tash, Kit, Poppy, Joanne, Amy, Sophie, Lucy, Charlie, Toby, Luke and Annie