Category: Woodbridgian Weekly
Last week, a Drama Scholarship and Enrichment workshop took place, hosted by Annie Eddington, a familiar face in School. Year 8’s Rebecca shared her experience of the workshop, during which Annie looked at language, interpretation, movement and many other aspects of Shakespeare’s work, focusing on this year’s Shakespeare on the Lawn, Love’s Labour’s Lost.
Year 8’s Rebecca
“It was an extraordinary experience to be selected to participate. Annie was an amazing leader; she guided us through the complex, colourful and captivating world of Shakespeare, where we delved deeper into scripts and scenes, broadening our vocabulary as well as our understanding of Shakespeare’s themes and language.
Not only is the play itself sensational, but the way we investigated the language and deeper meaning beneath a myriad of metaphors, alliteration, oxymorons, hyperbole, and countless other techniques, was fascinating.
We explored different aspects and perspectives, discussing character traits, whilst creating our own portrayals of different characters.
Overall, the workshop was wonderful, enhancing our understanding of Shakespeare, as well as our Drama and English skills.
Our Year 10 historians enjoyed a busy day in Norfolk on Tuesday, exploring some of England’s finest Norman castles and cathedrals.
The earthworks and flint ruins of Castle Acre were a wonderful backdrop to learn all about these impressive structures of military and administrative dominance, and provided an interesting contrast to the robust limestone keep seen later at Norwich.
Here the students were also given a tour of the enormous cathedral. Like the priory at Castle Acre this was home to a large community of Benedictine monks, and Year 10 were left better able to appreciate the importance of piety and spiritual power to the Anglo-Normans.
A great day out, the historians went home with minds brimming with thoughts of the earls, monks, bishops, and kings of this truly transformative period in our history.
In the last of our series of interviews with Year 9 students involved in this year’s Shakespeare on the Lawn, we met and talked to Marina, Lola, Issy and Amelie, or rather, The Princess of France, Rosaline, Katharine and Maria from Love’s Labour’s Lost.
It’s been absolutely wonderful to be able to watch students rehearse and prepare for next week’s performance, and we hope that these interviews have given you a real insight into the characters, play and our young actors’ thoughts and feelings about being involved and on stage!
Performances take place next Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 and 2 July, at the time of writing this we had a few tickets remaining, so make sure to book yours at www.ticketsource.co.uk/woodbridge-school-drama/e-xzodke.
The Princess of France, played by Marina
The King’s daughter, the Princess of France has been sent on an important diplomatic mission. Somewhat insulted by King Ferdinand’s refusal to allow her and her ladies into his court, she decides the best response is to match wits rather than be offended. Taking pleasure in setting them all up for mockery, as she does not believe their declarations of love to be true, becoming Queen upon her father’s death means she has to combine her new responsibilities with the grief she is left to carry.
Enjoying every moment of rehearsals and excitedly looking forward to performing, Marina explained how much fun she’s having playing the role of the Princess of France, “It’s been an incredible experience, it really has. I’ve learned lots and been really challenged too, particularly the scenes in which I have to act and dance!” She continued, “It can be nerve-wracking enough simply being on stage, without having to dance too, but with everyone else taking part and so ultimately in the same boat, it’s actually been lots of fun.” She ended with, “It’s been brilliant working together, everyone’s getting on so well and we’re all really looking forward to performing next week.”
Rosaline, played by Lola
A witty and intelligent lady, Rosaline attends the Princess of France. Refusing to be even the slightest bit impressed by Berowne or his profession of love, she resolves to make a fool of him, and so the fun unfolds. She decides to play at being the Princess, playing her well enough to fool the gentlemen!
Lola explained more about how she feels about being part of this year’s production, “In the beginning I was incredibly nervous, anxious and worried about everything really – but as soon as we started rehearsing, working together, with the help and support of Miss Mayes and Mr Williams, it all started coming together quite quickly.” She continued, “It took a while to learn my lines, and the choreography has been challenging, but it’s all starting to feel very exciting.” Talking more about how she feels about being part of Shakespeare on the Lawn she shared, “We’ve all become really, really close, we’re a strong community and we’ve been really supportive of one another, coming together to rehearse when we get moments outside of formal rehearsals, it’s become a huge part of our lives happily.”
Katharine, played by Issy
Quick-witted enough to keep pace with Rosaline, Katharine is loyal to her mistress, the Princess of France, and is rather impressed when she first meets Dumaine, but that soon fades when he breaks his oath – and falls in love with her. She refuses to marry Dumaine so long as the Queen is in mourning, which she believes will give him time to grown up!
Sharing what she feels have been the highlights of rehearsals so far, Issy said, “I have so enjoyed the dancing, I absolutely love that part of the performance, mostly because in the 1950s, when our version of the play is set, the dancing was amazing, so different to what we see on dance floors today.” She continued, “It’s all been such good fun, hard work but fun, and I’m so glad I’ve been lucky enough to be part of it – every Year 9 student should take part in Shakespeare on the Lawn, it’s a great opportunity to spend time with people you might not ordinarily do things with in School, and to be part of something that means the world to everyone involved.”
Maria, played by Amelie
Another lady attending the Princess of France, Maria met Longaville at a family wedding, and was actually rather impressed by him. However, upon her arrival at court, she is (rightfully) unimpressed by his poetic prowess – but still promises to marry him once her mistress’s year of mourning is done.
Amelie shared, “My absolute favourite part of Shakespeare on the Lawn so far has been the final dance – as well as the costumes, I really love mine and it brings my character to life even more. The audience are going to absolutely love the finale, and enjoy the stage, so much time and effort has been taken to make sure we can transport everyone back to the 1950s, seeing Shakespeare in this era – well, in our version of this play anyway!” Talking about what else she’s enjoyed about being part of this she said, “Everyone should get involved in Shakespeare on the Lawn, it’s such a fun experience, you meet so many new people and learn so much – I’d definitely recommend everyone in Year 9 gets involved!”
Thank you to these Year 9s, as well as all who have taken part in our interviews this year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to see behind the scenes of the production – quite literally!
We look forward to welcoming audiences to both productions next week, and we will share our review in next week’s newsletter.
Wednesday was Sports Day in School, and we’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who joined us in supporting our students, making it a wonderful day for everyone taking part.
Throughout the School year, our young athletes have continued to perform superbly, improving and impressing over and over again, ever-focused on PBs and School records – and this year’s Sports Day saw one of our students breaking no less than FOUR of them!
It was another wonderful event, and what an atmosphere – the whole School took part and we were delighted to see lots and lots of our parents, family and friends showing their support and cheering our athletes on from the sidelines. The students ran, jumped and threw, doing their absolute best to get maximum points for their houses.
It was brilliant to hear the students cheering each other on and congratulating and sharing in each other’s achievements. Personal bests were achieved and records broken as we’ve already mentioned – Year 7’s Chloe was record breaker of the day with four of them beaten!
This and more of our other results shared below:
Year 7 – Records broken:
- Chloe – 1500m – 4.56.41
- Chloe – 800m -2.28.65
- Chloe – long jump – 4.46m
- Year 7 Girls Relay – Annott – 59.57 Chloe, Katherine, Juno, Ellie
Year 8 – Records broken:
- Dexter – 1500m – 4.56.41
- Dexter – 800m – 2.14.30
- Thomas F – 800m – 41.07
- Imogen M – 300m – 47.78
Victor Ludorum and Victrix Ludorum results were:
- Year 7 Boys: William
- Year 7 Girls: Chloe
- Year 8 Girls: Imarah
- Year 8 Boys: Thomas F
- Year 9 Boys: Digby
- Year 9 Girls: Bay and Eirann
- Year 10 Girls: Georgia
- Year 10 Boys: Charlie
- Senior Boys: Year 12’s John
- Senior Girls: Year 13’s Georgia P
House Points Results:
- Burwell – 1,401
- Annott – 1,309
- Seckford – 1,296
- Willard – 1,103
Well done to all of the competitors for giving their all, many thanks to all of the staff involved on the day and in the lead up to Sports Day and to the parents, family and friends supporting.
We wish Year 7’s Chloe, Katherine, Matilda, Juno, Ollie, Year 8’s Dex, Tom, George, India J, Alexandra, Imogen and Year 6’s Sofia, good luck for Wednesday 2 July when they compete for the East Region in the National Prep School Athletics Championships in Birmingham and year 9’s Digby Hamish and Romilly competing for Suffolk on 11 and 12 July in the English Schools Track and Field Championships.
A link to Sports Day photography and the access code will be shared with parents privately.
On their recent field trip to Foxburrow Farm, Year 12 Biology students investigated key ecological relationships by studying the effects of grazing and light intensity on plant growth.
The trip provided a hands-on opportunity to explore how grazing by herbivores influences the abundance and diversity of different plant species.
Students compared grazed and ungrazed areas, recording the presence and frequency of various plants to determine changes in species richness and competition. In addition, they examined how varying light intensities affected internode length and leaf surface area in nettles.
By measuring these morphological features in shaded and well-lit areas, students gained insight into how plants adapt to differing light conditions, contributing to their broader understanding of plant ecology and environmental factors affecting growth.
Everyone had a great day, learned lots and enjoyed the opportunity to explore what they’ve learned in the classroom – in the field, literally!
It has been wonderful to welcome back two OWs – Etiane Cheung (2015–2022) and Lily Constantine (2016–2023) – over the past two weeks to deliver talks to our Year 12 students.
Etiane, now in her third year studying for a BA in Modern Languages with a year abroad, visited to talk about university applications and life at King’s College London. She has certainly made the most of her time at university so far, embracing opportunities to study, work, grow, and be challenged in the best ways. Her talk gave students a fantastic insight into what it’s like to live and study in the heart of London.
Lily left Woodbridge after completing her A levels in 2023, having secured an apprenticeship with Fred Olsen Logistics Ltd. After completing her Level 2 qualification in Customer Service Skills, she moved into a full-time role at MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company as their Transport Customer Coordinator. She returned to speak with two colleagues about life after Woodbridge, what it’s like to study and work without going to university, and the exciting apprenticeship opportunities available at MSC.
Two very different paths—two very successful outcomes. Congratulations to both of them, we’re extremely proud of you, each smashing it in their own way!
Something a little different last week was Miss Gill our Head of Geography, hosting a webinar which was presented by the Royal Geographical Society titled ‘What do Geographers Actually Do?’
Students heard from a number of speakers who had studied Geography after A levels and learned about the diverse careers, that followed, such as International Development, Urban Planning and Sustainability Management. It was a fantastic opportunity to gain insight into where a Geography degree might lead! Thank you, Miss Gill!
Our Design and Drama department have once again collaborated to design and create not only the programme for this year’s Shakespeare on the Lawn, Love’s Labour’s Lost, but merchandise which can be purchased on both nights of the show.
The brief:
Members of our Drama department visited Year 10 Design students Jago, Charlotte, Emma, Sukie and Abigail, to deliver their brief: Focus to be on the Roman God of Love, Cupid, as a symbol of love to reflect elements of the play.
The Design and Creation:
Students set about designing individual stylised cupids, which would feature on the front cover of the show programme. These designs were then translated to a set of merchandise, including a ceramic coaster, ceramic fridge magnet and an 11oz mug.
For the merchandise in particular they’ve been able to make use of the skills they’ve already acquired using the sublimation printer and heat press; everything has been made in-house.
Each of these items make the perfect souvenir and memento from this year’s show, for not only our students but everyone who’s been involved and all those coming to watch.
The collaboration has given our students the perfect opportunity to showcase their creative skills as designers, commenting on their creations Mrs Cracknell shared,
“It’s been incredible working with these students on the programme and merch, they’ve absolutely loved the entire process, from the brief to the creation and the sale, it’s a real-life experience for them that underpins everything they’re learning about in the classroom. It’s also great to work so closely with the Drama department and students, we’re excited for everyone to see what they’ve created and the finished items will be revealed on the first night of the show.”
We look forward to welcoming everyone into School on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 July, for Year 9’s Shakespeare on the Lawn, Love’s Labour’s Lost. Tickets can be booked at ticketsource.co.uk/woodbridge-school-drama/.
We were thrilled to welcome staff from EDF into School this week, to facilitate our annual Year 9 Enterprise Day. This fantastic event gives students valuable insight into the world of work – and is also great fun!
EDF began the day with an engaging talk on how to identify personal strengths and use them effectively within a team to create a product. This year’s challenge was to design and build a Gravity Reactor – a prototype structure capable of holding the weight of a small ball. Teams also had to calculate their costs and potential profit.
Students were split into teams, and the planning, designing, and building began. It was great to see how engaged and enthusiastic everyone was. Students thought carefully about their designs, took their roles seriously, and collaborated brilliantly throughout the day. Each classroom housed four groups, and at the end of the day, teams presented their designs to each other.
Their structures were then tested to withstand an earthquake (wobble) test! The winning team from each room went on to present in front of the whole year group, where EDF staff and our Deputy Head Academic, Mr Hayward-Bradley, had the difficult job of selecting an overall winner.
The winning team wasn’t necessarily the one with the most profit or the tallest structure; teamwork, collaboration, and time management were all taken into account – and our winners were…Gravi-Jacks team! Congratulations to Alice, Abi, Tabby, Hamish, and Jack!
Well done to everyone who took part, it was a great day, and our students shared some lovely feedback:
“This was fun, collaborative and so interesting to be a part of.”
“I had great fun, it was really challenging and enjoyable.”
“This was such fun day, so engaging and thought provoking.”
“It was a really unique way to spend the day.”
Last Friday, we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Central College of Animal Studies into School, they delivered an engaging veterinary experience workshop for our Year 9 and Year 12 students.
With hands-on with activities such as identifying parasites, gowning up for surgery, and locating a foreign object in a toy dog, students also learned how to bandage animals of different sizes, practiced suturing, and tested their knowledge by identifying surgical tools, examining X-rays, and even observing kidney stones.
It was incredibly rewarding to see and hear how engaged the students were—an enjoyable and educational experience for all!
Last week senior students from our Drama Scholarship and Enrichment programme took part in an exciting opportunity to explore James Graham’s new play Punch.
One fateful evening, an impulsive punch leads to fatal consequences, with teenage protagonist, Jacob Dunne, left dealing with the consequences of his actions. Our students were treated to a seminar style discussion and practical seminar, mirroring what they might expect if they elect to study Drama at university. Year 12 Drama Scholar Georgia was kind enough to write a review about her experience.
Year 12’s Georgia
“Last week, I took part in a seminar, about all things Punch – a new play written James Graham.
The seminar explored the play’s themes, particularly the power of restorative justice, and I was able to express my thoughts and feelings whilst enjoying what my peers had to offer, encouraging me to consider things I hadn’t before the session.
A few days later, I had the great pleasure of attending a practical workshop, led by Jordana Golbourn (an external facilitator) and was given the opportunity to bring to life choral moments from the play.
We immersed ourselves in the world of Punch by not only considering the acting and staging but also the set design, lighting, and costume, improving our abilities as well-rounded Drama students.
I am so grateful for the opportunities provided by our wonderful Drama team and cannot wait for the next one!”
