The Wheatleyan 2015-16

TheWheatleyan www.bablake.com

Celebrating 2015/16

Issue 202| ISSN 1759-0302

welcome

“Schools are governed by an annual academic cycle and, as another year rolls around, you might therefore expect to read similar reports about similar people and similar achievements. Yet the sheer unpredictability of school-life, the imaginative vibrancy of youth and the colourful and creative ambition of our community prevent us from ever standing still!

I congratulate our editors on again achieving what is nigh-impossible: in the space of a few pages, distilling down the dedication and diversity which characterise another vintage Bablake year! Within this record you will find examples galore of academic inventiveness, cultural richness, adventurous activity, sporting success and charitable outreach — which all contribute to the rounded and aspirational education on which our young people thrive.

Through his or her unique gifts and personality, every individual had a vital role to play in moulding last year’s story, thus ensuring that 2015-16 could take its own special place in the Bablake annals.

I shall pass no more comment, for the pride which we share in our community will be amply apparent as you read on. I therefore bid you to tarry no longer, but to enjoy savouring the memories of a year like no other!”

Mr John Watson Headmaster

TheWheatleyan Editor: Jasmine Shankster-East Deputy Editor: Lauren Putnam News and Features: Jasmine Shankster-East and Lauren Putnam.

Beyond the Classroom: Hannah Allroggen, Beth Carter and Will Rowland.

Flair Art and Design: Minnie Klesnik-Edwards and Josh Thind.

Flair Literature: Lantian Pinkney and David Stephen.

Performing Arts: Hannah Jewkes, Shivani Patel and Harry Vincent.

Sport: Megan McElligott and Danika Patel; Danny O’Malley and Cameron Park.

Former Pupils: Ashni Hindocha, Georgia Kelsey and Vikesh Puri.

“When the two students you had provisionally selected to edit The Wheatleyan approach you on the first day of the Autumn Term asking how they can be involved with the magazine, you feel especial confidence the edition will be a strong one.

Over 12 months later, Jasmine Shankster-East and her deputy Lauren Putnam have not let me down, producing such a strong statement of Bablake’s best journalism. Both have been an absolute pleasure to work with too.

Jasmine has chased, hassled and extracted writing from her reporters and members of staff with impressive skill and eagerness, never afraid to rephrase or rewrite articles. Appointing an editor who was then involved in almost every key event of the year, including Bablake’s 30th consecutive production at the Edinburgh Fringe, has presented photographic problems as the issue could have been a Jasmine yearbook, had she not stood firm against this! Competitive, fair and prescient, Jasmine moves to a Law degree at the end of this academic year and her future is very exciting.

Medicine awaits for Lauren and she will impress too.

She saw so much of the 2013-14 edition develop through her elder brother’s magazine role, so she has also brought maturity, creativity, and a calm intelligence to all our editorial meetings.

Last year’s A4 edition received much praise for its rich quality, but my editors and our designers at Mustard have indeed surpassed it. We all trust you will enjoy the read!”

Mr Mark Woodward, Staff Editor mgw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk

Photography: Alex Heron, Beth McCormick and Claudia Youakim. Front and back cover photo: ‘The Musicians’— photography live on stage at the Belgrade Theatre, by Mr Mark Woodward.

Marketing: Samantha Sidhu and Jody Wong.

Production Design: Mustard Design www.mustardhot.com Print: W&G Baird Ltd Acknowledgements Bablake PE department, Aniruddha Bose, Mr Paul Cleaver, Miss Alexandria Hingley, Jessica Hunter, Mr Peter Nicholson, Mollie O’Sullivan, Mr Andrew Phillips, Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt, Mrs Helen Skilton, Mrs Alison Tumber, Mr Chris West, Mr Mark Woodward (photography); Mrs Britt Mattu, Mr Terry Patchett, Millie Ross, (proof-reading); Katie Ingram Photography (retouching and editing); staff and pupils (written articles).

Bablake School, founded in 1344, is a school within the Coventry School Foundation (registered charity No 528961) and exists to provide quality selective education for boys and girls. The senior school of around 750 pupils shares the site with the Bablake Junior School of some 230 pupils which now includes a pre-prep, with a capacity of around 120 pupils, located near Coventry railway station at what was Cheshunt School (founded in 1909). King Henry VIII School, founded in 1545, is also part of the Foundation.

Coundon Road, Coventry CV1 4AU t +44 (0)24 7627 1200 f +44 (0)24 7627 1293 e info@bablake.coventry.sch.uk w www.bablake.com f www.facebook.com/bablakeschool i www.instagram.com/bablakeschool p www.pinterest.com/bablakeschool t www.twitter.com/bablakeschool This publication is printed on paper sourced from sustainably managed forests.

highlights

04

14

News & Features

Guest of honour 6 Headmaster’s review 8 Fringe life 12 Where are they now? 14 Staff news 16 Bablake’s bookworms 26

06

28

Beyond the Classroom

Charity highlights 30 Back to the 50s 32 Into the wild 34 Normandy visite! 36 Debating for dummies 42 Beth Shalom 52

30 58 73

54 Flair

Young art 56 Exam showcase 58 Design technology 62 Crystal ball 64 Literature & creative writing 66

72 Performing Arts Sherlock 73 The Musicians 74 House drama 76 Musical notes 80

80

84

96

Sport Sportsfile 85 SA memories 86 Sports focus 88 Sportstalk 98 Representative honours 100

103 The Wheatleyan celebrates the best of the academic year it represents, complementing the material published in our excellent termly newsletter The Lion and the daily news posted on our website, official Facebook page and Twitter feed.

102

Former Pupils

Reunions 103 The Apprentice 104 Grapevine 106 Rio part 1 110

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

3

news&features

News & Features

Edited by Jasmine Shankster-East (Editor) and Lauren Putnam (Deputy Editor).

“This issue portrays yet another successful year.

Students have thrived in every sector of school life and we have witnessed amazing music and drama, brilliant exam results, and that magical Bablake spirit throughout. With a sports tour to South Africa, music tour to Paris and many other visits, Bablake has really put itself on the map this year; meanwhile, within school, a sense of unity has been increased with the introduction of the vertical house system.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Lauren and our section editors, compiling what we hope will be the best Wheatleyan yet. I am extremely honoured to have had the opportunity to collate another marvellous Bablake year into one magazine, and hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.”

Jasmine Shankster-East (Editor)

“Editing this year’s edition of the Wheatleyan has been a privilege and fantastic experience! In developing the edition, the abundance of co-curricular activities on offer and vast array of talent shown by our students have been very apparent.

Jasmine and I have worked incredibly well as a team, retaining enthusiasm throughout the process, even chasing teachers for articles! The section editors have been extremely committed and have utilised their creativity to write captivating articles. Additionally, I would like to thank Mr Woodward for his guidance and support, which has been invaluable.

I am confident we have made this the best edition of The Wheatleyan yet and it is a proud moment to see our final product, after 15 months’ hard work. I have gained so many new skills in the process, which I will carry forward to university and beyond.”

Lauren Putnam (Deputy Editor)

Jasmine Shankster-East, Editor Profile

Lauren Putnam, Editor Profile

Passions: Netball, hockey, drama, public speaking and debating.

Passions: Music, charity work and sleeping!

Ambitions: To gain a law degree, and find fulfilling employment, surrounded by the people that make me happy.

Ambitions: Study medicine at university, travel the world and learn more foreign languages.

2015/16 Highlights: Sports tour in South Africa, inc. finally meeting an elephant face to face! Taking part in Rising — Coventry University’s global peace forum — was a brilliant experience.

2015/16 Highlights: Becoming deputy editor of The Wheatleyan, and volunteering at the RNIB Pears Centre for my CSV placement.

4

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

goldstarsawards

The Gold Stars highlighted Bablake for its ‘fantastic story-led website that engages viewers through great visual imagery and daily news updates’.

engaging bablake ... bablake’s Social Media Engagement and Website was Rated Best in the UK Independent Sector at the gold stars awards.

At the inaugural 2015 Gold Stars Awards, an initiative instigated to highlight the excellent work of marketing departments across the country, Bablake’s positive online presence was recognised by the judges as a national leader, writes Mr Mark Woodward.

Both our website and social media engagement were rated the best in the UK in the independent schools sector.

As a very early adopter of social media, already recognised as top in the UK for our social score in 2013 and 2014 by Interactive Schools and narrowly second to Sedbergh School in 2015, the award for engagement was very welcome, however

to be rated as best website, a marketing medium established now for almost two decades, was a distinct honour amid very fierce competition.

The Gold Stars highlighted Bablake for its ‘fantastic story-led website that engages viewers through great visual imagery and daily news updates’. Our very positive, appropriate online digital portfolio thrives on engaging and regular content, which most usually comes directly and naturally from school life; of course, the website draws all this positive action together.

With a daily web story and regular social media posts alongside — often with a keen eye on community, national and international events — we have plenty to talk about and there is enough variety to keep our audience engaged. Our posts and content genuinely reflect what it is to be part of Bablake’s wonderful community, but we have not been afraid of covering social issues or sharing posts from other users.

Through effective social media, we have even been able to engage with our pupils on important issues such as e-safety and connect them with alumni/ae or industry specialists who have supported their skill development. Our positive digital footprint is planted as an educational role model.

It is excellent for Bablake to be recognised as a national leader, but the school will not be resting on its laurels as there is the desire to improve our online delivery even further and remain a leader.

If you are not already aware of our complementary social media delivery, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are our strongest platforms.

www.thegoldstars.co.uk Recognising Achievements in Independent School Marketing

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

5

prizegiving

Bablake Prize Giving 2015/16 Highlights from the Guest of Honour Mr Ronan Cassidy’s speech

L

et me start by saying what a pleasure it is to be invited back to Bablake. It is a particular honour to have the opportunity to participate in such an important event in the lives of our prize winners. Firstly, and most importantly, I should like to congratulate them. It struck me as rather ironic I was invited back to present the prizes, given that I was so rarely invited to attend as a pupil — at least prior to the Fifth form. So I have the greatest admiration for all of you who have already achieved so much more, just by being here tonight, than I ever did.

Bablake has a history of educating young men and women who have gone on to find success in academia, journalism, industry, medicine, law and teaching — and I can think of plenty of examples from amongst my own classmates. We have also always had our successes in sports, theatre and music too; today we think of our Olympian Nick Skelton, just as back in 1988 one of my contemporaries, Rob Clift, won gold in Seoul with the Olympic hockey team.

I suppose this is a natural moment to reflect on what it is in the individuals, and in the school, that engenders this success.

I have spent the last 30 years working in people management and in my experience there are three qualities most organisations tend to observe in successful individuals.

The first is intellectual capacity — or brainpower — to analyse critical issues in complex environments and develop practical solutions. In a school as academically competitive as Bablake, the very fact that you sit here this evening means you have already proved you possess this intellectual attribute. I suggest to you that your key challenge for the future is not to waste it. However, it takes dedicated, motivated and passionate 6

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

teachers to help pupils develop intellectual curiosity and make the most of their talents.

Looking back at my time, what stands out is the passion Bablake teachers brought to teaching their own subjects and the encouragement they gave to engage in the subject beyond the strict requirements of the curriculum.

The second attribute is achievement motivation — or, to put it another way, the capacity for hard work, self organisation and the ability to hold oneself to high standards. I am afraid there are usually no short cuts — and success is usually 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Again, I doubt if any of you prize winners tonight — whether in academics, sports or music — could have succeeded without great hard work and determination — and I applaud your efforts. Equally it was a feature of Bablake that the passion and hard work of the teaching staff always went well beyond what would normally be expected of them.

This was manifest in their leadership of the various sport teams, clubs, theatrical and musical activities — whether it was leading rugby and hockey tours abroad, running the weather station or taking performances to the Edinburgh Festival. I have little doubt

that the example of commitment and hard work, which those teachers set, rubbed off on their pupils.

The third attribute is actually the most difficult one to master and it is the area of relationships. The reason it is the most difficult is because it is the area which is not under our own control, but in which we depend on others. It is the ability to engage with other people, especially those with different views and from other cultures, to empathise with and understand them, and ultimately to unite and motivate them in co-operation in pursuit of common goals. In short, it is about accepting personal responsibility for our relationships with those who depend upon us — professionally, emotionally and morally.

I actually think that this is where Bablake offers the greatest added value. In many ways it is why the best examples of education in our country continue to make our pupils competitive with those from anywhere else in the world. The approach to education when I was at Bablake fostered respect for others — starting with the teachers respecting the pupils themselves.

It encouraged intellectual curiosity, debate and argument, and provided plenty of

prizegiving

formal and informal opportunity for taking responsibility. If the school can continue to send young people into the world with the courage to stand up for their own convictions, but the wisdom to respect those of others, then I think the next generation will sustain its history of success.

In summary — you have already proven that you have the brainpower and the capacity for hard work — and if you make the most of Bablake I believe that you will easily develop the capacity to build strong relationships.

So looking forward — not least as the father of three young sons — I am tempted to reflect on what the future holds for our prize winners. There is much written about the challenges facing young people today. There are many unfavourable comparisons made with the financial advantages enjoyed by the Baby Boomers or Generation X — for example university tuition fees, the affordability of getting on the housing ladder, the demise of final salary pensions — none of which I have to admit ever particularly dominated my thoughts when I was at school. Then there are the broader issues of nationalism, Brexit, terrorism, social mobility, the hour-glass economy and competition for jobs from the developing world and all the rest of it. Reading the newspapers, you could occasionally be forgiven for thinking that today’s youngsters have just missed out on some wonderful golden age enjoyed by their parents and grandparents.

Well, I have a different view. I think our prize winners face a world of far greater opportunity than my generation — and certainly that of my parents. You may not always believe it, but you are better fed, better housed, live longer and enjoy the prospect of greater prosperity than ever before. Access to higher educational opportunities are the greatest they have ever been in this country and social snobbery and other non-meritocratic obstacles to advancement are far fewer — whatever some may say. British society is

much more focused now on preserving our environment and conserving ecosystems.

Technology has utterly transformed the ease with which you move, communicate and are entertained. Globalisation and ease of travel means that you will see so many more countries, and connect to so many more people than my generation could ever have imagined.

More importantly, I think you have grown up in a much kinder and more tolerant society than we did, one in which I firmly believe that people DO fundamentally treat each other more decently than ever before. Social diversity is much more accepted and respected,

But times changed. Four years later I was wandering around Vietnam, I worked in China for most of the nineties and I lived in post-apartheid South Africa. My children are bilingual in English and Russian, and just last Friday I was meeting with my Russian counterpart up in Northern Siberia on the edge of the Kara sea — a possibility which would have been unthinkable when I left university. I have had plenty of very convivial visits to Buenos Aires too. So I am an optimist and that’s my advice to you too.

You will not be without your challenges; many will be surprising and unexpected ones, but on balance I would argue that, in many ways, they pale against those of earlier years and you will be very well prepared to meet and solve them. So I genuinely think there is no better time to be young. No doubt every previous generation said the same — but that does not mean it isn’t true. You are young men and women with proven advantages of brains, and athletic and artistic prowess. You have parents who are prepared to invest in you by sending you to Bablake — many no doubt making great sacrifices to do so — something you might wish to remember when you’re a little older. You have the opportunity to profit from the education Bablake offers. You are very fortunate in comparison with most of the other young people on our planet, so I will conclude by offering my sincere congratulations on winning a prize this evening — and encouraging you to look to your future with excitement and confidence.

“You have the opportunity to profit from the education Bablake offers. You are very fortunate in comparison with most of the other young people on our planet.” and equal opportunities and meritocracy are a much richer part of your lives. This is most obviously the case for the young women here today whose opportunities, and achievements, are now inestimably greater — even when compared with my classmates who grew up under the last female Prime Minister. It is also a safer world compared to that of my generation and certainly compared to my parents’ world.

And, frankly, it is also a more interesting one which has opened up for the better.

To illustrate the point — I grew up in a world which accepted the cold war as an enduring fact of life and even when I graduated in 1988, I never expected to have the ability to travel and work in China, Vietnam, Russia or many other communist and nonaligned countries. Apartheid South Africa lay under sanctions and actually — like most of my contemporaries — I wasn’t entirely sure what sort of reception I would get in Argentina.

Mr Ronan Cassidy, a former pupil (1978-85) and University of Oxford Modern History graduate, is now Chief Human Resources and Corporate Officer of Royal Dutch Shell plc.

School captain Hannah Allroggen delivered a vote of thanks to Mr Cassidy.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

7

headmaster’sreview

Bablake Prize Giving 2015/16 Highlights from the Headmaster’s Review Commenting on the proliferation of bucket lists and highlighting two suggestions from a recent Times Educational Supplement student survey of the 100 things to do at school before the age of 16, ‘win something, lose something’ and ‘take a risk’, the Headmaster MR JOHN WATSON continued...

W

“... we are keen to review and develop our curriculum so that it best prepares our young people for bright futures.”

8

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

e’ve become very risk-averse as a society — and yet, you can’t really be a winner unless you take risks, nor can you normally win without losing and learning from the experience. This formed part of my message in opening assemblies last week: unsurprisingly, I focused on the Olympics, on some of the golden firsts of the Rio games, Nick Skelton, oldest GB Olympian, and Kare Adenegan, the youngest GB Paralympian — what an amazing inspiration to us all!

We’re going to focus shortly on some of the golden moments of Bablake’s year of 2015-16, but I’d like firstly to take Nick Skelton’s example to set those moments in context. Nick and his horse, Big Star, suffered significant set-backs on their way to triumph. Nick broke his back, was told he would probably never ride again, and latterly also had a hip-replacement. Since London 2012, Big Star was out of action because of injury for almost 18 months. But it was through sheer determination and relentless dedication that man and horse achieved Gold — and the same is true of so many of last year’s achievements and prizes. If you listened to Nick Skelton’s interview after he’d won his medal, he spoke constantly about his horse. It’s actually only in equestrian events in the Olympics that an animal competes. In sport we often think of teamwork, but in the individual show jumping event, it was also teamwork that won the day.

Many can, of course, be very proud of their academic progress and we are keen to review and develop our curriculum so that it best prepares our young people for bright futures. The vast majority of our students still choose to go to university, and last year’s U6th students are about to embark confidently on this next, exciting phase of their education. They will return for their own Bablake graduation ceremony at Christmas, when we shall celebrate the outstanding young adults they have become. Many, of course, can be very proud, but I shall mention just two: top-performer Matthew Rowlands, who achieved 5A* grades at A level and an A grade for his Extended Project Qualification, and proceeds to Cambridge to study Law; and James Allitt, who battled so bravely with leukaemia to gain two As and a B and to win a place at Loughborough University for Automotive Engineering. Two of our students achieved Gold for the first time in the Chemistry Olympiad, we had our first-ever Industrial Cadet awards in the Engineering Education Scheme, 14 Extended Project awards and over 20 British Science Association Gold Crest awards: so impressed was the assessor by the Bronze and Silver

headmaster’sreview

Crest projects that seven from 16 were upgraded by the assessor to the next level, with a Year 9 project on Pigeon Behaviour deemed as advanced as the best Sixth Form projects!

I love walking round on Saturday mornings, watching sport, and am very grateful to those parents who come to support their children in team-games — even when the rain is horizontal!

We naturally prefer it when the sun is shining, and there is no finer sight than six rounders matches and three cricket matches being played simultaneously at the games fields with the pavilion as a back-drop.

70% of games were in fact won by our rounders teams, who were overall victors in all but one of their Coventry Schools tournaments. Other highlights included the U18 boys’ hockey team reaching the quarter-finals of the National Plate competition; the 1st XI winning through to the regional quarter-finals of the HMC T20 competition; and the intermediate girls’ athletics team winning their English Schools final.

Whilst a primary aim must be to ensure that pupils thrive academically, opportunities to participate or take responsibility in the many co-curricular activities at school help them to develop as human beings and, again, to benefit from each other’s talents and contributions. Our musicians have been very busy, playing in school concerts, in the community and on tour in France. A very memorable Back to the 50s concert was staged by pupils as part of one pupil’s Gold Arts Award, and we are delighted that seven pupils are now learning to the play the organ, subsequent to the restoration of the organ in our Main Hall and the provision of a beautiful, hand-built chamber organ in the Rehearsal Room — thanks to a generous legacy. We enjoyed some great drama, most notably the production of The Musicians for the National Theatre Connections 500 competition, in both the school theatre and the Belgrade Theatre, whilst a very successful version of Sherlock heralded the school’s thirtieth successive appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival — unique, we think, for a school drama company.

There are also plenty of opportunities for pupils to enjoy the outdoors and to benefit from taking quantified risks and learning leadership skills. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is thriving, with very strong support from staff, and our Combined Cadet Force, having won several prizes on summer camp, can look forward confidently to its biennial inspection.

The enriching array of residential expeditions last year also included: the Second Year residential week in Yorkshire; a History/

DT/German joint visit to Berlin; French visits to the Opal Coast and Normandy; a Classics trip to Sicily; a Music tour to France; a ski trip to Serre Chevalier; a Geography expedition to Iceland and field course to Wales; and the annual Beth Shalom visits for the whole Third Year.

We hope our children, with minds broadened by such visits, will learn to live out the values of peace and reconciliation within our own community and in a world where so many regions are riven by conflict. Peace and reconciliation remain a prime focus for us, within our assemblies, our Life Choices programme, our charity-fundraising (over £28,000 last year, with Gift Aid), our outreach programme and our community service.

Underpinning the success and achievements of our school are the care, guidance and support given by fellow pupils and staff and we continue to enhance the ways in which we address the mental and spiritual well-being of all members of our community.

I always say to support staff they are every bit as important as the teaching staff in the contribution they make to our community, even if some are rarely seen by the pupils. This includes the Bursar and his team at the offices of the Coventry School Foundation — and they also support the Governors, who give voluntarily and generously of their time to exercise oversight of our schools. We are especially grateful to them currently for their support of exciting on-site developments as we enhance the Fifth Year Common Room, the Sixth Form Centre and Careers, Learning Support and Medical facilities. All of these will make a significant difference to our pupils’ education.”

“We’re going to celebrate many individual accolades, but none of them would have been achieved without the teamwork of fellow pupils, staff and parents who make up the Bablake community.

Nor would the recipients of prizes have got there without showing determination, taking a risk, stepping out of their comfort-zone.”

The following pupils assisted the Headmaster on the evening: Stefan Harris (Engineering Education Scheme), Sathvika Krishnan (CREST); Alexandra Hamilton, Albert Jie (South Africa tour); Beth Carter, Georgina Owen, Jasmine Shankster-East (Sherlock cast); Katerina Jackson (Duke of Edinburgh), Will Rowland (Duke of Edinburgh).

The Headmaster’s Prize Giving speech from 2016 may be found in full on our official website, where (during term) his weekly bulletin for parents is also published. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

9

prizegiving

Prize Giving 2015/16 Many can, of course, be very proud of their academic progress.

Headmaster, Mr John Watson

The music before the ceremony was performed by Sam Lowe, while flautists Beth Carter and Enya Bowe, accompanied by Mr Tim Crompton on piano, entertained pupils, parents and staff during the Interlude with Vivaldi’s Allegro from Concerto in C major for two flutes.

3rds Attainment: Will Canning, Tim Henderson, Alex Hyde, Jasmine Marajh, Kogulan Vipulan.

Progress: Nicholas Buckley, Siddhant Chohan, Eva Kant, Caragh Shaw, Alice Weaver.

4ths Attainment: Kare Adenegan, Enya Bowe, Amrit Gill, Svetlana Kim, Saambavi Thavakumar.

Progress: Eve Lapworth, Tess Lillicrapp, Ayesha Riaz, Thomas Rouse, Anna White.

5ths Form Prize: Shivani Bodalia, Jamie O’Connor, Ria Patel, Daniel Smith, Julian Wreford.

Progress: Charlotte Allitt, Bethany Isard, Liam McSorley, Deepra Sinha, Hannah Sweeney.

Excellence at GCSE: Shivani Bodalia, Anna Elkins, Baht-Ammi Francis, Yasmin Hobrow, Avni Kant, Olivia Kelly, Cherie Ng, Ria Patel, Harriet Rowlands, Mathumye Sachchin, Jakevir Shoker, Deepra Sinha, Leshanth Uthayanan, Abilan Vijayaratnam, Rachel Worthington, Julian Wreford, Salim Zayyan.

6th Form Scholarships, awarded on entry to the Lower Sixth Academic: Shivani Bodalia, Baht-Ammi Francis, Yasmin Hobrow, Olivia Kelly, Cherie Ng, Ria Patel, Harriet Rowlands, Jakevir Shoker, Deepra Sinha, Rachel Worthington, Julian Wreford, Luke Wyman.

Music: Yasmin Hobrow, Avni Kant, Sam Lowe.

Sport: Eleanor Faulkner, Sophie Hollinrake, Dan Smith.

Whitehouse: Elicia Coles, Anna Elkins, Avni Kant, Leshanth Uthayanan.

Lane Scholarships awarded to L6th Formers for outstanding academic achievement: Sam Cranage, Daniel Lanning, Raajun Nagra, Will Petchey, Harry Vincent.

Prizes Awarded The most prestigious of over 200 individual prize-winners this year included: Shell Scholars 2016–17 Academic: Ben Aitchison, Alexander Gallon, Erin Keeling, Joshua Ogbonna, Lara Pennell, Harry Scott-Burt, Millie Shaw.

Art: Sadie Aspinall, Millie Shaw.

English: Sadie Aspinall, Bianca Booth.

Music: Harry Scott-Burt.

William Townsend Form Prizes Shells Attainment: Eleanor Baird, Celestine Dal, Benedict Harrison, Adrian Judge, Wenyu Wan. Progress: Rajit Bagga, Maya Koria, Millie McCamley, Alexander Spencer, Harinija Vicnakumaar.

2nds Attainment: Namuum Batkhishig, Charlotte Bull, Alex Cox, Jasmine Harrison, Harry White.

Progress: Lily Allison, Mila Bilsland, Theo Cave, Matthew Menashe, William Roche.

10

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Other awards Best Contribution to Magazines: Jasmine Shankster-East.

Felicity Chapman Poetry Prize: Matthew Billings.

Philippa Chowne Prize (Music/ Charity): Enya Bowe.

Former Pupils’ Association For Merit: Nivaran Aojula, Thomas Betts, Vinnie Bhandal, Ed Collier, Madison Cotteret, Monty Dosanj, Anna Knight, Matt Rowlands, Manvir Thandi, Ciara Wyman.

The Jenkins Cup (Shells): Rajit Bagga, Amie Shipley.

TW Patchett Scholarship and Courtesy Prize: Beth Carter, Vikesh Puri.

Pembroke Award: Thomas Nelson.

The J V Rattigan Cup for Merit in the L6th: Jasmine Shankster-East.

The Chris Ashworth Trophy (Outstanding Achievement): Kirat Johal.

Best Contribution to the School by students new to the 6th Form: Ali Hijazie.

The Jackson Progress Prize: Charlotte Byng, Molly Richardson.

The Seaborne Trophy for Sportsman of the Year: Thomas Betts.

The Leonard Ward Trophy for Sportswoman of the Year: Hannah Mordey.

The H Curt Prize for Service: Matthew Rowlands.

The Hawley Cup for Service: Sonia Dhillon.

The Humberstone Prize for Character and Scholarship: Thomas Betts.

prizegiving

Jakevir Shoker receiving his prize from Mr Ronan Cassidy.

Achievements Congratulations Arts Award: Enya Bowe (Gold); Level 2: Sathvika Krishnan, Miles Scott-Burt (Silver); Micheal Adeyemi, Namuum Batkhishig, Charlotte Bull, Keira Burton, Madeleine Gallon, Jasmine Harrison, Maya Koria, Hema Lall, James McCook, Crystal Ng, Georgie Paterson, Giselle Pinto, Ellen Richardson, Harry Scott-Burt, Amie Shipley, Anna Shirley (Bronze).

Bablake Christmas Card: Abama Sivanesan. Ria-Jasmine Ladva, Giselle Pinto (Runners Up).

Bablake Diary: Cover art: Qinrui Zhang (Autumn), Imogen Hayley (Spring), Harriet Rowlands (Summer).

Chemistry Olympiad: Ruby Griffin, Anna Knight (Gold); Sandy Duan (Silver).

Combined Cadet Force (CCF): Jenna Bottomley, Stefan Harris, Anna Price, Will Rowland, Rohan Sangha (Sergeant).

Coventry Sports Awards: Kare Adenegan (Young Sportsperson).

CREST Awards: U6th: Nivaran Aojula, Madison Cotteret, Henry French, Georgia Gunson, Ali Hamzah-Ahmed, Ali Hijazie, Eva Klesnik-Edwards, Courtney Moffitt, Arun Nahar, Chimdi Ogbuneke, Love Oko, Jagraj Thandi, Chris Tuttle; 4ths: Sathvika Krishnan (Gold).

Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge: Suwetha Bhavanandan.

Design a Bookmark: Seniors (4ths, 3rds, 2nds): Emma Blackett, Ashleigh Stonier; Shells: Harinija Vicnakumaar.

Engineering Education Scheme Team (EES): Stefan Harris, Robert Jacques, Lantian Pinkney, Surajan Singh (all receive a Gold CREST award).

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ): Nivaran Aojula, Hannah Davies, Yuchen Duan, James Hamer, Alice Hayes, Matthew Hayhurst, Annie Honess, James Horton, Ruth Jones, Jack Nash, Matthew Rowlands, Hannah Ward, Emily White, Ciara Wyman.

Fifth Year CV Challenge: Joint Winners: Sam Lowe, Martin McKenna, Julian Wreford.

House Captains: Bayley: Philippa Morris, Arjav Patel; Crow: Roisin Bowe, Emily White; Fairfax: Rachel Faulkner, Paige Herrod, Liam Meechan, Matthew Rowlands; Wheatley: Matthew Hayhurst, Annie Honess, Arun Nahar, Ciara Wyman.

House Trophy: Fairfax (Winners); Bayley (2nd); Wheatley (3rd); Crow (4th).

Maths Challenge: Senior Gold: Vinnie Bhandal, Madison Cotteret, Sandy Duan, Anna Knight, Paul Li, Scott Ma, Jakevir Shoker, Mimi Sun, Cindy Tan, Chris Tuttle, Julian Wreford, Ciara Wyman; Intermediate: Jack Green, Amrit Gill, George Evans, Svetlana Kim, Ajan Manoharan; Junior: Rebecca Asbury, Theo Cave, Alex Cox, Jasmine Harrison, Aarushi Khurana, James McCook, Crystal Ng,

Dominic Reeves, Arjan Sanhu, Ben Sawyer, Nithisa Sivaruban, Jacob Swales, Wenyu Wan, Harry White, Shianne Whitmore.

Media: Ali Hijazie, Jasmine Shankster-East (6th Form leaflet).

Mock Interview Morning (U6th): Anna Price (Best Performance); Jamie Darlison (Highly Recommended).

Music: Grade 8, Voice: Lydia Bruton, Howard Weyman.

National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain: Anna White (‘Cello).

National Scout and Guide Symphony Orchestra: Emma Blackett, Charlotte Merry.

Queen’s Scout Award: Jacob Baines.

Rising Global Peace Forum: International Space Centre nominated by Matthew Hayhurst and Jasmine Shankster-East.

Rotary Club (Coventry): Excellence in Design and Technology: Rachel Faulkner.

SAMYO (National Youth Orchestra and Choir for Indian music): Sathvika Krishnan.

Senior Prefects: Thomas Betts, Sonia Dhillon (school captains); Rachel Faulkner, Ruby Griffin, Matthew Hayhurst, Annie Honess, Eva Klesnik-Edwards, Chimdi Ogbuneke, Ross Parnell, Nick Payne, Alesha Robinson, Matthew Rowlands, Chris Tuttle, Ciara Wyman.

Stretch Magazine (Editor): Beth Edmiston.

Summer Reading Challenge volunteers: Ashley Kabue, Jauvan Sangha, Caragh Shaw and Meridith Womble-Lancaster.

UK Aerospace Challenge 2016 Finalists: ‘Team Aerospike’: Ali-Hamzah Ahmed, Harry Loud, Lantian Pinkney, Iain Suren.

Spotted at ...

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the 30th consecutive year — cast of Sherlock.

National Theatre Connections 500 Festival at The Belgrade Theatre — cast of The Musicians.

Public Examination Fact File 2015-16 A2 • 125 pupils: 100% pass rate.

• 73% of all grades were at A*, A or B grades.

• 44% of all grades were at A* or A. (National average: 26%.)

• 31 students achieved 3 or more A* or A grades.

• 8 pupils achieved 3 or more A* grades.

GCSE • 102 pupils: 100% achieved at least 5 A* — C grades.

• 64% of all grades were at A* or A — a school record.

(National average: 21.7%.)

• 32% of all grades were at A*.

• 21 pupils gained 10 or more A* grades.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

11

fringelife

Fringe life Wheatleyan editor Jasmine Shankster-East relives her week at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe festival as a key member of the cast of ‘Sherlock’, the play that proudly represented Bablake in its 30th consecutive season at the world’s prestigious drama festival.

Sam Griffiths as Sherlock.

12

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

fringelife

S

pending a week in the lively, exciting, historic, culturally rich city of Edinburgh, taking part in one of over 3000 professional shows performed in August, representing Bablake in its 30th consecutive production at the world famous Fringe, seemed a frightening prospect at first, and I was not quite sure what to expect.

As soon as I arrived at Edinburgh Waverley train station in the heart of

“My week at the Edinburgh Fringe was the best drama experience I have ever had...”

the city, I was immediately immersed in the vibrancy of the city, surrounded by swarms of thespians and very eager for the challenges Edinburgh would present.

Our alarmingly early tech and dress rehearsal on the first full day threw us into festival mode straightaway, and with just two hours before our first performance, we were flyering on the Royal Mile, marketing our show to the public. This was something I had been rather apprehensive about beforehand, but as the week went on, it became second nature to be travelling from our university accommodation in Musselborough, dressed as if we had just arrived from the Victorian era.

Eccentricity is almost compulsory in August during the Fringe, so we all felt remarkably at ease embracing the Sherlock look on the trains and streets of Edinburgh. Soon enough, we attracted a lot of attention with our murder mystery freeze frames and small snippets from the play.

Flyering was exhausting, especially daily before and after each performance, but with the whole team tirelessly involved (and plenty of coffee stops), we succeeded in dispensing all but a few of our boxes of flyers. Georgina’s staplegunning expertise even made BBC 1’s national Six O’Clock News coverage of the Fringe, and our advertising proved very effective allowing for the encouraging ticket sales for each performance. With so much competition, numbers never fell below half capacity, while for the final performance we sold all bar three of our seats.

All week, our performances were never shy of charm and enthusiasm, and the professionalism on stage would have been nothing had our two outstanding ‘Hannahs’ not been so slick with our lighting and sound. Our audiences were all warm and receptive, and it was so gratifying to receive praise from fellow performers like Dr Ahmed who complimented the craft and professionalism of our production. We owe so much too to ‘Sherlock’ — Sam Griffiths — for his direction, writing and belief in our ability.

In our spare time, we made sure we saw many other plays and performances, each of us taking full advantage of our Greenside Venue pass. Shappi Khorsandi’s stand up comedy, forensic mind reader Colin Cloud’s bewildering show (where some of us were invited on

stage) and stunning, thoughtprovoking drama — A Series of Unfortunate Break Ups, Steam and The King’s Men to name just three — made the week even more fulfilling.

Life at the Fringe was brilliant. I had enjoyed the alternative nature of a visit earlier in the year to the Brighton Festival, but seeing Edinburgh as both an actor and spectator, I was more fully able to appreciate every aspect of the experience. The ambient vibe throughout the week was magical, and I was so proud to be part of not only a small team for our production but the whole festival team.

Every performer and production invested so much hard work, energy and perseverance to entertain the paying public. The creative arts are refreshingly alive at the Fringe, and during August, at least, the local economy is very much boosted. Yet we also saw a very bleak contrast in fortunes, when we spent part of our final evening distributing food we had not used during the week to just a few of the many homeless people on the city’s streets.

As a cast, we had looked forward to the rich experience of a week at the Edinburgh Fringe for so many years and our dreams were fulfilled. My week was the best drama experience I have ever had, and performing for Bablake in its 30th consecutive year at the festival was a privilege and opportunity I will never forget. I have promised myself it will not be my last experience of the Fringe or Edinburgh!”

Sherlock was an original A level play, written, adapted and directed by former pupil Sam Griffiths, assisted by Ms Caroline Farmer, Director of Drama, and Mr Malcolm Wyatt, Theatre and Events Technician.

Cast: Beth Carter, Heather Faulkner, Sam Griffiths, Georgina Owen and Jasmine Shankster-East.

Crew: Hannah Calderbank, Hannah Jewkes.

Staff: Mr Chahal, Miss Kukucska, Mrs Sawyer, Mr Woodward.

Venue: Greenside, Nicholson Square.

A charity performance of Sherlock raised £120 to be shared between Macmillan Cancer and Zoe’s Place.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

13

Where are they

now?

14

109

13

3

university

gap year

direct employment

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

finaldestinations

Once again, our talented leavers, the Class of 2009, left Bablake with friends made for life. Now living exciting lives across the UK and beyond, these students’ exciting journey is being developed by top universities and employers.

UK Universities (inc deferred entry) 9 Birmingham, London (Imperial 2, King’s College 1, Royal Holloway 2, UCL 3, St George’s 1).

7 Bristol, Leeds, Leicester.

5 Coventry, Loughborough, Warwick.

4 Liverpool, Manchester.

3 Cardiff, De Montfort, Nottingham, York.

2 Aston, Bath, Birmingham City, Cambridge, Glasgow, Keele, Lancaster, Lincoln, Nottingham Trent, Oxford, Portsmouth, Sheffield.

1 Cardiff Metropolitan, Derby, Durham, Harper Adams, Leeds Beckett, Plymouth, Reading, Southampton, St Andrew’s, Swansea, York St John.

What are they studying?

Degree Disciplines The Arts, Humanities and Languages: 18 1 Archaeology 1 Classical Civilisation 2 English 1 Fine Art 1 French and Spanish 2 Game Art Design 7 History (inc Ancient 1, Ancient and Medieval 1)

1 Modern Languages and European Studies (French and Spanish) 2 Philosophy STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics): 57 2 Biochemistry 2 Biological Sciences (Microbiology 1, Physiology with Pharmacology 1) 11 Engineering (Aerospace with a Year in Industry 1, Agricultural 1, Automotive 1, Biomedical 1, Chemical 2, General 1, Mechanical 3, Mechanical with Year Abroad 1) 2 Biomedical Science 1 Biotechnology 1 Chemistry 1 Computer Forensic Investigation (with Industrial Placement) 1 Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence 1 Dentistry 1 Diagnostic Radiography 1 Forensic Investigations 1 Genetics with a year in Europe 5 Geography (inc Human and Physical 1, Physical 1) 1 Geology

1 Global Health and Social Medicine 1 Industrial Design and Technology 1 Information Technology Management for Business 1 Life Sciences with a Foundation Year 3 Mathematics (inc Actuarial Science, Statistics) 1 Mathematical Physics 6 Medicine 1 Nutrition 3 Optometry 3 Pharmacy (inc Health Foundation Year) 1 Physics, with a Year in Europe 2016 1 Product Design 1 Quantity Surveying 2 Sport and Exercise Sciences Social Sciences: 34 3 Accountancy (inc Finance 2) 4 Business Management (International 1, Marketing 2, Transport 1) 1 Criminology 8 Economics (inc Politics and International Relations 1, Social History and English Literature 1) 6 Law (inc Criminology 1) 3 Marketing (inc Advertising 1) 1 Political Science 2016 2 Politics (Modern History 1, Sociology) 4 Psychology 1 Quantitative Social Sciences 1 Social Work and Applied Social Studies (including placement)

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

15

staffnews

Valete “Remarkable teaching and support staff care about their students’ learning, happiness and life way beyond the classroom. We wish all colleagues leaving Bablake fulfilment and good health for future challenges in new surroundings or retirement.”

Goodbye to former School Caretaker Malcolm Martin.

16

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

staffnews

Mrs Ann Fisher (Biology Technician) Mr Mark Woodward A perfect colleague, Ann is one of life’s most enthusiastic, vibrant characters. In her 21 years at Bablake from June 1995, she worked for four different Heads of Biology, who all appreciated her professionalism and the very positive vibe she brought to their department.

In a recent ‘Meet the Team’ interview, Ann conveyed how much she loved the variety of her job, testing new experiments and interacting with staff such as Mrs Case whom she worked with over the last 12 years. She was also appreciative of how less formal Bablake is now with the advent of enthusiastic young staff.

Remarkably, Ann celebrated her 70th birthday while still at Bablake, although it would have been impossible to suspect that. She was also so highly regarded that her retirement celebrations lasted over a good number of days!

We trust she has enjoyed the infancy of her retirement, which has already included a trek in Nepal; we wish her all the very best for the future.

One of Lynda’s defining characteristics as a teacher was the concern she exuded for her pupils, a sense that she knew them well as individuals and cared for them as such. Lynda was heavily involved in some key curriculum changes in the department; these included developing the Philosophy and Ethics A level in its current, highly popular pre-Govian format, alongside Mrs Alison Tumber (now Head of Sixth Form), and revamping the Third Year curriculum into a challenging, engaging course with topics such as terrorism and the Holocaust. For 18 years, Lynda also organised school trips to Beth Shalom, the National Holocaust Centre in Nottinghamshire, probably one of the most powerful and moving trips on the school calendar.

Alongside her substantial contribution to the RE department, Lynda has had many other ‘strings to her bow’.

For much of her time, she was a highly committed and popular Sixth Form tutor. She ran Bablake’s Amnesty International society for many years, encouraging students to start campaigns against injustices around the world.

She was ‘Head of Floral Art’, where she was able to put her artistic talents to use in creating beautiful environments for school events such as the bi-annual Senior Citizens’ Party.

For several years, Lynda was a highly enthusiastic Head of Bayley House, while more recently, with the support of pupils, she oversaw the process whereby Bablake became a International Cross of Nails school in recognition of its work towards ‘peace and reconciliation’.

The whole school responsibility which she was most associated with has been, of course, Head of Life Skills (formerly PSHCE), a role Lynda developed from its embryonic state when PSHCE was little more than a few worksheets.

It is acknowledged as a difficult role requiring considerable patience, as some staff do not always feel comfortable presenting material outside the comfort zone of their academic subject. Lynda rose to those challenges with great enthusiasm and creativity, delivering the Life Skills department to her successor in a greatly enhanced state.

We will really miss Lynda’s energy, friendliness and commitment, and wish her, and husband Steve, a joyful and well-deserved retirement.

Mrs Lynda Jackson (Religious Education) Dr Toby Smith Lynda has been a highly devoted member of staff during her 21 years at Bablake. Arriving from St Joseph’s, Kenilworth, in 1995, she quickly established herself as a very capable, versatile Religious Education teacher. She was as equally adept nurturing and encouraging Shell pupils as she was explicating the Ethics module to our eager A level students. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

17

staffnews

Mrs Carol Davey (left) and Mrs Alyson Heath. Image: Mrs Alison Tumber.

With the departure of Mrs Carol Davey (Head of Department) and Mrs Alyson Heath, our Food and Textiles department has moved into an exciting new era, under the Design Technology umbrella. We asked both ladies to reflect upon their life at Bablake.

Mrs Alyson Heath “After 23 years in the state system, including teaching in one of the most difficult schools in Coventry, it was a relief to arrive at Bablake, appointed by Headmaster Dr Stuart Nuttall in 1998, as a part time teacher of Food and Textiles and make ‘teaching’ my main task.

I gradually increased my time, taking on pottery with Mrs Pam Goodwin under Head of Art Mr Tony Weaver. When first Mr Mark Warner and then current Head of Art Mr Paul Cleaver 18

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

took over, I increased my time there and taught Key Stage 3 Art. In 2003 Dr Nuttall was a bit taken aback when he asked me if I minded going full time and I replied, ‘No, not at all; it means I can now afford a cleaner!’

Alongside Mrs Goodwin, I took on the job of Charity and CSV co-ordinator in 2004, sharing the job and one salary point! We applied for the post on lilac flowery paper using a pink glitter pen and amazingly got the job — how things have changed! (The Careers department

always tells pupils to stand out, but we are not sure about this one! — Editor.)

We gradually raised the profile of Charity at Bablake. Among my highlights would be Hats for Haiti, the regular Sports Relief Mile, run in fancy dress around the school, and Dr Nuttall’s video version of Is this the way to Amarillo? In those days, we spent all Friday morning between teaching counting the charity money with our prefects, a task thankfully the Finance Office has now taken on.

staffnews

My involvement with school drama productions was an enjoyable if not an exacting part of my early time at Bablake, and my husband remembers to this day 30 Mikado costumes strewn around our house in various stages of completion for several weeks. The tension backstage used to be exciting, when I helped with makeup too.

The Senior Citizens’ parties were an important part of my job and although there was much hard work in preparation and organisation, it was rewarding on the day when I saw how much it meant to our visitors to gather, socialise and listen to our talented young musicians who entertained them.

Providing the refreshments for the Carol Service at the Old Boys was also a challenge, and even harder when it was moved inside St John’s with no water available.

I have always been attached to the Fourth and Fifth Year tutor team, which I loved, angst and good times alike. I took part in the Race for Life for Pippa Chowne who was in my tutor group and helped coordinate the fantastic concert her year group held in her memory, an event I will always remember.

Highlights of my time at Bablake include several Second Year trips to Fousseau (despite nearly missing the bus the first time, but that’s another story), Fifth Year visits to Disney Paris, and a variety of Art, Food and Textiles trips.

My love of photography ensured these were well documented.

Within the department, my forte was creating displays and keeping them updated. I attended several Creative Textiles courses which combined my love for the creative arts and helped us develop the Textiles courses in school. I am very sad GCSE Textiles has been put on hold at the moment, but very hopeful it will be resurrected in the future. As a department, we have always worked as a team and still socialise regularly with former members — I really have gained friends for life.

I taught Food from Shells through to Sixth Form Enrichment. We have developed the syllabus and risen to all the changes in health, diet and lifestyle constantly thrown our way, however, this is such an important life skill to pass on to pupils. It has always been so rewarding to see our youngsters taking

home their dishes or textile items with a real pride in what they had achieved, and we still hear stories about how certain recipes have become firm family favourites; I was at a wedding recently when an ex pupil asked if I could get him a copy of the ‘Pineapple Upside Down’ recipe.

Three years ago, I reduced my time which meant relinquishing responsibilities and actually going back to enjoying just teaching, an aspect very often overlooked in the mad scheme of things! In retirement, I am looking forward to travelling with my husband Gary when he retires next year and spending more time in our home in Padstow.”

Mrs Carol Davey “Arriving in September 2007 from King Edward’s Five Ways, Birmingham and previously a comprehensive in Castle Bromwich, Bablake was a bit of a culture shock: being called ma’am, which originally sounded like Mum, having lovely small groups and teaching Textiles after a 10 year break. Mrs Dianne Surgey had just been appointed Head of Department and I worked closely with Mrs Alyson Heath, who helped guide me through the Textile projects.

I assisted Mr Lakbir Atwal with his form for a year, then had my own Second Year group. The visit to Fousseau was always high on the pupils’ list of things they remembered and so it was on mine, as it was a great way to really get to know my tutee’s characters. As with all young children, that form was a bit of a handful to start with, but by the time we reached the end of the Third year, everyone had matured and I loved working with them — our last week was so special. We went to Laser Quest and Pizza Hut, they made a wonderful video of memories and bought me so many gifts, it took three trips to the car!

In 2010, I was appointed Assistant Head of Sixth Form, which was wonderful as, until then, I had not had contact with that part of the school at Bablake. In my previous school, I had really enjoyed that aspect in a similar role.

When my Head of Department retired in 2011, I was appointed her successor and was grateful to the Headmaster for allowing me to retain my role in the Sixth Form. Life then became very busy!

New schemes of work, decluttering classrooms, new displays and equipment all followed. The team pulled together and with the help of our excellent technicians, we were soon working to our full potential. I introduced the House Ready, Steady Cook competition which has proved very successful over the years with great pupil enthusiasm and flair.

Sixth Form life has been interesting and I took responsibility for new Chinese students entering Bablake from mainland China, such a rewarding part of my work seeing such excellent language and personal development over their time. UCAS statements and references always formed a key part of my role, and I will never cease being amazed by all the wonderful experiences and opportunities our students enjoyed and wrote about so eloquently in their personal statements. Daily contact with my tutor group and seeing them mature into such impressive adults were a privilege. Many have kept in contact on Facebook and it is lovely to see how they flourish in the big world outside Bablake.

I have taught Food and Textiles to our Shells through to Fifth Year and then Enrichment for our Sixth Form.

Working with such polite, friendly and hard-working pupils has been a highlight. I will miss seeing the beaming look on their face when they produced the most amazing piece of Textiles or a delicious dish for their family, however I will not miss Controlled Assessment!

I am sure the department will go from strength to strength and the new Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE will be popular. It is disappointing Textiles has been suspended, but I am sure it will be resurrected.

There are too many highlights to list, but Fousseau trips, Leavers’ Balls, Senior Citizens’ parties, my final GCSE Food practical lessons, Ready, Steady, Cook and the lovely things pupils have said to me will stay with me forever.

I now look forward to lots of travel, learning to play golf and speak Spanish, and spending more time in my apartment in Mallorca.”

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

19

staffnews

Malcolm Martin hands the keys over to new Caretaker Mrs Jo Davidson.

Mr Malcolm Martin (Caretaker) Mr Mark Woodward Life is all the richer for big, predictably naughty kids like ‘Malc’, one of the most inspirational, entertaining, and positive people I have had the pleasure of meeting… and no, he did not bully or pay me to write this. His appetite for hard work was second to none and, living on site, Bablake and the community within its grounds soon became his life, even at ghastly hours of the morning when the Sports Hall alarm had been rudely set off by some nocturnal creature’s creeping. His ruthlessly efficient salting sallies along all of the school’s paths early on arctic-clad wintry mornings may not have been appreciated

by Bablake’s pupils (and many staff), when the traditional 6.30am Twitter messages / web alerts merrily declared school to be open on potential snow days, but his dedication had to be admired, albeit grudgingly!

When seeking anecdotes for our farewell to Malcolm, too many of the staff confessed their tales — which would make several volumes — would prove too salacious for the Wheatleyan audience, while others suggested some of his opinions would not be appreciated for their blunt truth!

Unsurprisingly many colleagues, like his ‘partner in crime’ and welcome successor Mrs Jo Davidson, despite spending far too much time, unexpectedly, in wet hedges or pranked, offered fond recollection of his kindness. Jo said: “Malcolm was a great boss to me and the Housekeeping team. I worked alongside him for nearly 10 years, so he has taught me all I know about the job. Even when he was seriously ill, he kept going and had a laugh. He is sorely missed by us all.”

Technician Mrs Ruth Case spoke for many parents commending Malcolm for his care of her children when they missed a bus or had forgotten a homework locked away in a classroom. She recalled his sensitive side too! One Christmas break, he collected emergency ‘fish blocks’ she had left on his gate to feed the Biology department’s fish; similarly when faced with a Biology freezer thaw, he tended clinostats and algae left illuminated all round the clock, with a care many would not have recognised as he teased them about their attire, hair or general appearance.

20

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Recent parents, pupils and staff may be unaware of Malcolm’s immense bravery against one of the most virulent cancers, Burkitt’s Disease, which left him in 2006 with just 6 weeks to live. It is one of my proudest moments joining him in donating a day of our wages as part of his fundraising for the Lymphoma Association and then helping him instigate Bablake’s Charity calendar. He has raised thousands of pounds for local wards and should be proud of the masses of toys he bought for children suffering with severe illness. Malcolm’s philosophy towards illness was contagious, a role model for appreciating the value of every second of your life and approaching tasks with positivity. In 2008, he was recognised most appropriately as a ‘Pride of Coventry and Warwickshire Community Awards’ Brave Heart Hero.

I trust Malcolm’s kindness and first class degree in common sense were appreciated by all, as, since he accepted his post in October 2001, the school really did course through his veins and thrived under his tending. I very much miss his daily humour, tie and leg-pulling, and positivity, but trust his reluctance for retirement and his wonderful, long-suffering wife Sue’s patience have not been stretched too far.

Mr Ken Binsley (Physics Technician) Mr Trevor Hyde Ken joined Bablake in September 2003 as the Senior Technician, working predominantly in the Chemistry department, after a number of years in industry. His unflappable nature soon endeared him to the teachers with whom he worked. His interests in mountaineering, rock climbing and being out on the hills soon led to him being roped into helping various members of the Science department, not least former member of staff Miss Caroline Hall (now Mrs O’Connor), in running the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

Ken later transferred his technician allegiance to the Physics department, where, during a moment of weakness, he agreed to take on running the whole DoE Scheme. He was often found with his head in a map of the ‘Lakes’ planning some demanding route for a group of unsuspecting Sixth formers. In this new role, Ken worked with many members of staff outside the Science department and his reputation grew within the school.

He has handed over the DoE reins to Mr Nicholson and Mrs Hollick, but continues to assist them in this demanding role in retirement.

staffnews

Ms Lorraine Gibbens (Headmaster’s PA) Mr John Watson Lorraine was appointed Headmaster’s Personal Assistant in 2004 and brought with her a wealth of appropriate experience and skills. I was therefore extremely fortunate to ‘inherit’ her and we soon forged an excellent working relationship.

There is never a dull moment in the Head’s office and I could always rely implicitly on Lorraine to anticipate my needs and suffer my foibles with unfailing patience!

She was especially adept at keeping a variety of plates spinning (often very fast!) and knew how to prioritise the seemingly endless tasks required of her — even when most demanded simultaneous, urgent completion.

Her efficiency, complete discretion and ready understanding meant she could be trusted with significant projects, and she did not shy away from contributing her ideas and suggesting improvements. She was able to manage and motivate others, while her interpersonal skills enabled her to respond with both courtesy and attentiveness to all ‘callers’, whether on the phone, by e-mail or in person, whatever their demands or mood!

I was very sorry her last months at Bablake were affected by illness, but remain grateful for her outstanding support and her loyalty as a servant to the school, with our pupils’ best interests always at heart.

Cath is competitive and always installed this into her teams, stressing that, if you get the basics right, the rest followed with commitment and perseverance. She was even competitive in senior rounders lessons, (allegedly) sometimes bending the rules to her team’s advantage!

Fantastic company, she kindly accompanied our girls on tour to South Africa and then to Singapore and Malaysia, where she overcame her fear of flying, but not her fear of snakes!

We wish Cath all the best for her retirement and are sure she will be spotted walking her dogs on Coundon Wedge, around Allesley; if you visit the Hebrides, you could also catch up with her there! Cath used to be a keen runner but is now a cyclist enthusiast, so watch out for her and the dazzle of her lycra on the road!

Miss Rachel Young (Biology) Mr Mark Woodward

Mrs Cath Mills (Girls’ PE) Mrs Sue Smith After 11 years teaching PE and Games at Bablake, and, prior to her post here, Tile Hill Wood, Cath retired this summer. Her Bablake connection began as a parent as both her son, Peter, now a physiotherapist, and her daughter, Sarah, now Head of Girls’ PE and Games at King’s, Worcester, are former pupils.

Cath brought her expertise in netball, rounders and athletics to the department and our girls thoroughly enjoyed her teaching style. She was a dynamic teacher, who encouraged the best in every individual, regardless of ability. Her enthusiasm for teaching and her fun elements, which always had a purpose, made lessons most enjoyable.

Miss Rachel Young came to Bablake fresh from teachertraining in 2005 and leaves for a return to her own alma mater, Wolverhampton Grammar School, where she has been tasked with overseeing the introduction of a new House system as well as teaching her subject.

Rachel has been a highly respected Biology teacher and a much loved, caring form tutor, latterly for our GCSE groups.

In fact, she leaves Bablake not quite realising just how well thought of she was by the whole Bablake community and she will prove a very hard act to follow.

In her time with us, she has been Junior Science coordinator, where she developed an exciting, academically challenging new curriculum. She contributed fully to our House system, initially as Deputy House Head of Wheatley and latterly Head of Bayley. She has supported Girls’ PE as well as Warhammer Society, Duke of Edinburgh and various other school trips. She has been a colleague whose impact has been immense and whose mutual support and professionalism have always been guaranteed.

We wish her well in Wolverhampton, confident that those pupils will be in the very safest of hands, while sensing our loss is very much their gain. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

21

staffnews

Mr Stephen Jephcott

Ms Caroline Farmer

(General Assistant) Mr Mark Woodward

(Director of Drama) Mr Mark Woodward

Stephen joined us in October 2006 as a general assistant with responsibility for the day-to-day care of our minibuses, a fleet that grew steadily in his time, whilst also doing some driving and looking after the distribution of parcels.

A respectful, courteous and calm man, he attended to his daily tasks with gentle humour, humility and endeavour. We wish him both happiness and good health as he retires.

Ms Farmer would have wanted to write her own Valete piece… something along the lines of: “Caroline Farmer is the best teacher we have ever had. We appreciated her vigour and never had any trouble from her.”

To sum Caroline up, for me, the clue was always in the title!

She lives, breathes and creates drama. The last four years have been phrenetic and I have loved working with her creatively.

Taking her Fringe production of Sherlock this summer, when she landed her exciting promotion and was unable to go to Edinburgh for Bablake’s 30th consecutive year, was a privilege and the professionalism of her actors and technical crew was a tribute to her nurture.

She teaches actors to survive independently under pressure.

A love of the Arts, creativity and a thirst for performance has been sewn in many of our pupils by Caroline, but she has also shown them how to be tough, professional and driven, if they are to succeed. Morwenna Hocken is just one of ‘Farmer’s children’, a definite name to watch — incredibly talented already, Ms Farmer polished Mo’s craft, inspired her further and we await her making an exciting career in Theatre.

In Caroline’s time, Bablake Theatre has sprung up and stood out online, via its own website and then on Facebook and Twitter. The thirst for attending live theatre has also been fostered in the hesitant and broadened in the already converted. An array of clubs in Bablake for eager thespians has also been expanded.

As for my own favourite Farmer moments? There are many — maybe not all that should be printed — but the following stand out: settling in the crowd for a talk by author Jonathan Meres, Ms Farmer’s Head soon popped up from the audience, like Bruno on Strictly, as if drawn by a kindred spirit; too many photographic opportunities as Ma’am was doing something daft to inspire a cast; her alter ego ‘Adele’ at Bablake Staff’s Got Talent … and so much more.

So obviously blessed with professional confidence on stage, whether as actor, singer or pianist, there is a very sensitive Caroline just below an outer shell that really is not as tough as it might seem. She is a fierce feminist (which is a very good thing), a loyal colleague for her friends, and enriched many people’s lives in a short time at Bablake.

Caroline has been a whirlwind, enjoying professional acting and building links with The Crescent, Birmingham, so America and the British International School of Chicago better watch out! She will make a similar impression and has been advised, with other new colleagues, not to speak ill of certain presidency candidates with a business pedigree. I am unsure whether she will be able to stop herself and I suspect, if she were not of Irish birth and thereby eliminated from possible selection, many would have been tempted to pencil her in as a future American presidency candidate.

Mrs Trudi Clarke (Nurse) Mrs Amanda Weatherall Trudi came to Bablake five years ago after working in the NHS for many years and inbetween as a school nurse in Hong Kong. She worked with me on a part-time job share basis and quickly fitted in her role as a school nurse, while her daughters Alex and Georgia enjoyed their time as pupils.

From the start, Trudi’s bubbly personality was a tonic to everyone she came in contact with and she enjoyed the job, although one aspect she may not miss too much will be those rainy or cold Saturday mornings spent at the side of the rugby pitch. I suspect the only rugby she watches now will be from the warmth and comfort of her sofa!

Tennis is something Trudi loves and plays weekly.

Retirement will give her ample opportunity to spend time at Wimbledon from now on, nor will she need to arrange it around her work days. Animals are a massive part of her life, especially dogs; many of our ‘patients’ enjoyed seeing pictures of her dog. A highlight last year was an amazing family holiday to South Africa where she went on a game reserve to see the animals, in particular the big five, an experience she will have time to repeat now!

We will miss Trudi a lot. The last five years have flown by and we have become firm friends. We keep in touch and plan nights out, but now have to fit these around Trudi’s hectic life as a retiree!

22

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

staffnews

Mr Matthew Rushton (Second in English) Mrs Kate Duke Who has not been charmed

by Matt Rushton?! In his two years at Bablake, he has cast a spell on staff and pupils alike with his enthusiasm, energy and sense of fun.

Always versatile, he has appeared as PC Plod in his Literary Treasure Hunt, hosted his own game shows in lessons such as ‘The Great British Quote Off’, compèred a spelling bee, led Power Readers ceremonies, coached hockey, made a chicken out of a tea towel — but do not ask him to repeat this as it is not as impressive as it sounds — and even performed as a Gallagher brother and member of Green Day, at our Bablake Staff’s Got Talent, though it would be best not to mention he was not placed in the Top 3.

There is, however, no doubt that his talent lies in the classroom. Pupils — or Rushtonites or Team Rushton as he insists they chant — have been won over by his passion and love of puns. His lessons are meticulously planned and full of innovative ways to engage his pupils. His rapport with pupils is obvious and his approach to parents friendly and professional, as is his relationship with colleagues, although he does enjoy teasing History’s Mr Jeff Grantham about his love of Aston Villa. Matt’s only interest in a season ticket would of course be restricted to a Potter World one — he has visited three times, and once he even took his child.

Matt has been an inspirational Second in Department. He brought his magic to Key Stage 3, conjuring up new digital initiatives and successfully introducing the new IGCSE. From creating electronic markbooks to sharing his imaginative resources, Matt has indeed been a wizard.

He leaves us to lead his own team. They are lucky to have such a kind, warm and talented man. With his zest for life, fervent love of teaching and thoughtful support of colleagues, who wouldn’t want to be part of team Rushton!

Mrs Duke continued a recent trend for teacher poetry at our Staff Common Room’s End of Term Valete:

Thank you also to ...

Mlle Lamia Loukil (French Assistant) and Herr Hakan Cetin (German Assistant) for their enthusiastic preparation of our linguists, and being excellent colleagues.

Miss Grace Denny (Mathematics PGCE) who spent two terms at Bablake, making an excellent impact in the classroom and proving an exceptional colleague on school visits, including the Second Year Visit to Yorkshire. We wish Miss Denny the very best for her post teaching Mathematics in the Doha British School, Qatar.

We are delighted to report that Mrs Kayleigh Lacey (Alumni Database Clerk), who left at the end of her initial contract in March 2016, returns for another year.

IN MEMORIAM

Mrs Sharon O’Meara (Treasurer) Mr John Watson Sharon was our Treasurer from September 2011 and fought a long, courageous battle with cancer, always thinking above all else of her family and strong in her faith until the end of her life.

My first memory of Sharon is from her interview. She greeted me in a warm and friendly way, by name, before I had even introduced myself. This personal touch and conspicuous interest in people remained a hallmark of her time throughout Bablake. She was a most conscientious, dedicated colleague, with a ‘can-do’ attitude and a highly imaginative, positive approach to all her endeavours. She was an outstanding servant of our community, above all eager that what she did would have an impact on our pupils’ education. She was a great friend and colleague to many and we miss her hugely.

But we cherish the memory of the very positive and beautiful person that she was.

The Bablake community will also be saddened to hear of the death in January of retired French teacher Mrs Pamela Lloyd who suffered latterly from Alzheimer’s. Former Deputy Head Mrs Gill Thomas wrote: “Pam was an excellent linguist and highly respected colleague, who became a good friend to many of us. Pam was in charge of Fousseau and was such a kind, gentle lady. She set her pupils high standards and was determined they should reach their potential.”

Mr Rushton the teacher: energetic and playful his humour abounds His punning is legendary met by occasional groaning sounds Popular, personable, professional and Potter mad In the words of his pupils, “We’re really sad To say goodbye to a teacher who has inspired us and been totally funny.”

His youthful exuberance and personality so sunny.

Indeed, he’s a breath of fresh air breathing life into texts and Creating magic with flair. From King Lear to Treasure Island, Yeats and Of Mice and Men. Here’s to your sparkling future, Matt: a super colleague, an entertainer, our friend.

Colleagues and friends supported ‘Glow in the City’ in Sharon’s memory. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

23

staffnews

Salvete We welcome the following highlytalented new members of teaching staff to Bablake ...

Miss Kate Blackie (Teacher of Religious Studies) Kate completed her PGCE at Cambridge, having studied Philosophy at Durham University. Prior to this, she was Head Girl at Wrekin College, an HMC boarding and day school in Shropshire. She would like to be involved with netball and drama activities.

Miss Katharine Davies (Teacher of English) Katharine was a pupil at King’s High in Warwick before studying English and Drama at London University. She has subsequently taken an MA in Creative Writing and has written two novels. She has taught in several state and independent schools.

Her co-curricular contribution will include English and Drama activities.

Miss Rebecca Kane (Teacher of Biology) Becky is a graduate of the University of York, where she spent one year of her course working for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. She taught for a year at Kirk Balk Academy in Barnsley and was an Assistant Housemistress at The Mount School. Previously a university officer cadet, she is keen to be involved with the CCF and to support the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Mrs Alison Lister (Teacher of English) Alison has a BA in Theatre and Professional Practice from Coventry University and an MA in Shakespearean Studies from London.

She has taught English since 2007 and has occupied the roles of Deputy Curriculum Leader and Curriculum Leader for English.

She returns with her family to the UK after time in Uganda.

Mrs Catherine Lynch (Teacher of English) Catherine studied English Language, English Literature and Art at the University of Birmingham and is an experienced teacher. Her two most recent posts have been at Yardleys and Archbishop Ilsley in Birmingham. She will lend some support with Drama.

Mrs Joanne Solomon (Teacher i/c Food and Nutrition) Joanne was Lead Teacher of Textiles at Southam College, where she also taught Food up to GCSE. A graduate of Coventry University where she studied Contemporary Craft and Fine Product Design, she spent two years (2009-11) as Art Technician at Bablake before taking her PGCE in Design and Technology: Food and Textiles. She is keen to be involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.

There will be no Director of Drama this year and our principal production will be supported by local drama company, Highly Sprung.

24

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

staffnews

New responsibilities Mrs Lorainne Alexander, now full-time.

Mrs Helen Billings, Assistant Head of Sixth Form and Second in MFL. Mrs Maria O’Neill, Life Choices (PSHCE) Co-ordinator.

Mrs Cathy Shields, Admin Support Secretary (part-time).

Mr Sukki Sahota, Head of Bayley House.

Mrs Helen Sawyer, Assistant Life Choices Co-ordinator.

Dr Emily Adams

Mrs Sally Aitchison

Mr Ethan Cox

Weddings Mrs Claire Adlington (formerly Stoves).

Mrs Kelly Lenihan (formerly Ormsby).

Mrs Jade Russell (formerly Payne). parents with new arrivals Mrs Amy Cassell, Mrs Alison Learmont-Henry, Mr Andrew Phillips.

Mrs Amanda Edney

Frl Carolin Pfennig

Mrs Elizabeth Staveley

Mrs Zoe Wilkin

Mlle Lorelei Rajalu-Poli

We also welcome Dr Emily Adams (Physics Technician).

Mrs Sally Aitchison (Finance Assistant).

Mr Ethan Cox (ICT Apprentice Technician).

Mrs Amanda Edney (School Nurse).

Fräulein Carolin Pfennig (German Assistant).

Mlle Lorelei Rajalu-Poli (French Assistant).

Mrs Elizabeth Staveley (Headmaster’s Personal Assistant).

Mrs Zoe Wilkin (Biology Technician).

We welcome back Senora Isabel Cowell (Spanish Assistant).

Mrs Kayleigh Lacey (Alumni Database Clerk).

Mrs Alison Learmont-Henry (Chemistry) from Maternity leave.

Mr Sukki Sahota (Chemistry).

Science Technician Team for 2016-17.

Miscellaneous Seen on Channel 4: Mrs Louise Alderson-Bolstridge’s house.

Mr Lakbir Atwal, selected for the Grand Masters’ World Cup hockey squad.

Bablake’s Got Talent performers: the courageous and adept Mr Julian Bunce, Mrs Kate Duke, Ms Caroline Farmer, Mrs Carrie Martlew, Mr Shoyeb Memon, Mr Russell Munns (guitar teacher), Mrs Gill Press, Mr Matthew Rushton, Dr Toby Smith, Mrs Alison Tumber. Thank you to judges Mr Jim Burns, Mrs Helen Skilton, Mr John Watson.

Mrs Helen Billings once again liaised with the Parents’ Association for various successful initiatives: e.g. Christmas Fayre.

Ms Caroline Farmer: following her role as The Fool, was Nurse Ratched at The Crescent’s One Flew Over The Cuckoo Nest.

Miss Alexandria Hingley successfully arranged for Bablake to be accepted into the Coventry and Warwickshire Champions network.

Ms Sam Holyman, West Midlands Association of Science Education President.

So impressed with Mrs Alison Tumber’s role in Sister Act, in Solihull’s St Augustine’s Musical Theatre Company production.

Mr Pete Nicholson successfully completed his 100 mile charity cycle for Pancreatic Cancer.

Mrs Cathy Ranken exhibited her excellent Art. Spring term INSET: departments choose their own CPD day: Art: smaller art galleries (London).

Biology, Maths, Music: curriculum planning.

Careers: MOOC, Coventry University Careers department visit.

Chemistry: bangs and explosions in the Lab. Classics: Museum of London.

DT: Science Museum, Design Museum (London).

Economics: guided tour of The City, visits to Bank of England and Museum of London.

English: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust tour and tower gallery RSC tour.

Food and Textiles: Cookery school.

Geography: Snowdonia National Park.

History: Imperial War Museum (London).

ICT: Coventry University Computer Science department visit.

MFL: Coventry University and University of Warwick visits, inc Arabic lesson.

PE: Synergy Gymnastics INSET and Segway polo.

Physics: Coventry Transport Museum visit.

Psychology: Human Evolution gallery and States of Mind exhibition (London).

Religious Studies: Islamic Experience exhibition and Burmese Buddhist vihara visit (Birmingham). @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

25

stafftalk

Bablake’s

bookworms

Interviewed by Lauren Putnam and Jasmine Shankster-East

“So many people are unhappy in their work, but I have to say I look forward to it every day.”

Bablake’s librarians Mrs Needham (left) and Mrs Ryan.

26

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

stafftalk

Would you mind stating your role?

Mrs Ryan: “I work part-time as Assistant Librarian and Mrs Needham (Julie) is Head Librarian.”

How long has this current team been working together?

Mrs Needham: “I began working at Bablake in January 2006, while Lucy joined in September 2009.”

Mrs Ryan: “Yes, our team has been together seven years. I worked in the library as a parent volunteer soon after my daughter started at Bablake, helped set up the first book club, and have been here ever since!”

Mrs Needham: “Lucy has been an incredible help with our Library website (www.bablakeschoollibrary.co.uk) which we update regularly with information about author visits, competitions, our Power Readers scheme and so much more.”

It is so obvious from the lovely atmosphere in our Library that you both love your job, but what is the best part of it?

Mrs Needham: “I am very lucky to have a job I love! So many people are unhappy in their work, but I have to say I look forward to it every day. Probably the best part is being able to pass on my love of books to the next generation.”

Mrs Ryan: “That is very true. It is definitely a privilege to play a little part in pupils’ light-bulb moments, when they discover an author, genre or particular book which switches on a life-long love of reading.”

Now for our hardest question!

What is your favourite book?

Mrs Needham: “This is very difficult, because there are so many books I love for different reasons. I read books from the classical through to the contemporary, and there are quite a few I would like to pick. If pressed however, I would probably say The Rainbow

by DH Lawrence, as this was the book that set me on the road to a literary career.”

Mrs Ryan: “Like Mrs Needham, it is too difficult to choose an absolute favourite, however the book I read as a young person which has had the most influence on my life is The Last of the Vikings by Henry Treece. This gripping book, with its haunting illustrations by Charles Keeping, triggered my fascination with the world of the Vikings, medieval history and all things Scandinavian. I am sure this book influenced

Bablake’s success and smooth running only occur because of the expertise and enthusiasm of various teams who, behind the scenes, offer such excellent support to the academic staff and pupils. After last year’s interview with our ICT technicians, we turn to our Librarians, Mrs Julie Needham and Mrs Lucy Ryan, both parents of current and former Bablake pupils.

my decision to take a History degree and my desire to travel to Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. I am also rather addicted to Nordic Noir crime dramas!”

Mrs Ryan brought in a selection of her favourite books for our photoshoot, including a treasured edition of The Last of the Vikings published in 1964.

We asked both our librarians how they went about passing on their love of literature and encouraging young people to read?

Mrs Ryan: “A great way to inspire people of all ages to read is to encourage them to join a book club. We have three book clubs — Junior, Senior and Alternative — in our library aimed at different age groups and reading preferences. This is the best way to explore new genres and authors, and gain different perspectives on books. Eating free cake and having a bit of fun help along the way there too!”

Mrs Needham: “I totally agree. There are so many great ways to encourage pupils to read. We make sure there are lots of vibrant displays to showcase books and urge pupils to see reading as fun as well as educational.

The Power Readers Scheme Head of English Mrs Kate Duke instigated for use in library lessons encourages pupils to read widely and they are rewarded with certificates and badges. We have book related competitions and quizzes throughout the year, and, of course, arrange regular author visits, book signings and book fairs.”

Finally we asked our Librarians to tell us a secret about themselves!

Mrs Ryan: “When I was living in York in the early 1990s, I decided to join the Army Reserve and was the only female member of the battalion shooting team.”

Mrs Needham: “My secret is very much related to how I became a Librarian.

When I was a Sixth Former, my Head of Sixth Form chose me as Careers Librarian, which involved overseeing the library at lunchtimes. I had no idea then that I would choose to pursue this as a career, as my intention before that had been to teach French!”

As our interview ended, we noted our Staff Editor make notes about pitching for Mrs Needham’s assistance with the Bablake Careers Office shelves!

Footnote!

A third of last year’s ‘Meet the Team’ did try and photobomb this year’s photoshoot! If you can guess who that was, please send your answer to the editorial team.

If there is a Bablake support team you would like featured in future editions, please let us know!

Seeing former Bablake pupils, like illustrator Alex T Smith and Young Adult author Lauren E James, successfully publishing books not only helps inspire current pupils, but in Lauren’s case is clear evidence of the success Mrs Needham and Mrs Ryan have had fostering a love of literature, since she was one of their Library Prefects from 2008-10. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

27

beyondtheclassroom

Beyond the Classroom

Edited by Hannah Allroggen and Beth Carter, assisted by Will Rowland.

As seen in the printed termly diary, there is an ever-increasing, bewildering amount of co-curricular activity available every day at Bablake. In this section, you will receive a brief but impressive glimpse of this range. Our termly newsletter, The Lion, bablake.com’s daily news item and our extensive social media footprint offer further exciting evidence.

We asked Beth and Hannah what co-curricular activities had meant to them and later in this section, the latter writes eloquently about the benefits of becoming involved.

Beth said: “Co-curricular activity has dominated my life at Bablake over the past seven years. The societies, music groups, drama productions and academic trips have helped me form friendships across year groups, gain more experience in performance and fundraising, and helped enrich my academic studies as well. I am glad more clubs and trips are introduced every year!”

Hannah confirmed this, saying: “Participating in co-curricular activities at Bablake has allowed me to make numerous friends, learn new skills and has improved my ability to work as an individual and as part of a team. My favorite activity is hockey, where, as a member of the 1st XI, I have had the opportunity to represent Bablake across the UK and beyond. Last summer’s sports tour to South Africa was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I gained unforgettable memories, such as being kissed by an elephant!”

We did ask Will too, but he was probably involved in one of his many co-curricular activities!

Hannah Allroggen, Editor Profile

Beth Carter, Editor Profile

Will Rowland, Editor Profile

Passions: Hockey, flute, Duke of Edinburgh.

Hobbies: Music, drama, baking, reading.

Ambitions: Reach university, travel the world.

Ambitions: Live in New York, travel to Thailand.

Hobbies: Clay pigeon shooting, running, hockey.

Dream job: Work for the UN abroad.

Dream job: Actress.

Ambition: To design and build my own home, travel to all continents.

A level Subjects: French, German, History.

A level subjects: Classical Civilisation, Music, Mathematics.

Dream job: If geology does not work out, chief Pukka Pies taster.

A level subjects: Biology, Design Technology, Geography.

28

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

bablakevisit

“... it was a delight to see the vibrant atmosphere created by pupils enjoying a shared love of reading.”

‘abso-flipping-lutely’

great!

Part of Second year pupil Giselle Pinto’s prize for winning a national cartoon competition arranged by Orchard Books and cult comic, The Beano, was a school visit from awardwinning author Jonathan Meres who brought his unique mix of music, reading and infectious stand up comedy to Bablake, Hannah Allroggen writes.

For an often irreverent hour, our pupils laughed, gasped, howled, clapped, sang and, in the words of Jonathan Meres’ character Norm, ‘waved their hands in the air as if they didn’t flipping care’, as our energetic guest impersonated the BFG, christened our Second years ‘lobsters’, created a new School Song in the guise of a popular nursery rhyme, read the first chapter of his new book, ridiculed his own follicly-challenged status and, of course, shared the world of ‘Norm’ and some autobiographical information with his audience.

Librarians Mrs Needham and Mrs Ryan, who coordinated the event, were delighted with the response from our pupils and such

was the record demand for signed books at the end of the talk that Jonathan Meres was signing his tomes and bookplates for almost an hour! Mrs Needham commented: “Judging by the infectious laughter throughout, the visit was a definite success.” Head of English Mrs Kate Duke quite correctly said, in her vote of thanks, it was a delight to see the vibrant atmosphere created by pupils enjoying a shared love of reading.

Everyone present will have had their own personal highlights, maybe Mr Meres’ remarks about staff false teeth falling out as Head of Girls’ PE Mrs Sue Smith’s pockets shed a flurry of loose change.

There truly was something for, in the words of Norm, ‘abso-flipping-lutely’ everyone present!

Thanks go to Jonathan Meres for his time spent with us and, of course, Giselle, without whose creativity the event would not have happened! She was presented with every book in the ‘Norm’ series, all signed, and was delighted she had the weekend ahead of her to speed through the stories.

Footnote!

Bablake was the final gig on the #Norm9 tour, just after Jonathan Meres had learnt he would be one of the 2016 World Book Day authors, an honour former pupil, author and illustrator Alex T Smith enjoyed when official illustrator in 2014.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

29

charityreport

Charity

highlights!

MRS O’neill’s third year as charity co-ordinator saw bablake raise £28,366.64 — amazing generosity from the bablake community, writes hannah allroggen.

28,366.64

£

Last year, once again, we supported many local, national and international charities raising £28,366.64 in total, surpassing £20k for the sixth year running. Fundraising groups, which have expanded to help even more causes, were busy all year delivering assemblies to both the Junior and Pre Prep schools, as well as the Senior School, raising awareness of charitable causes close to their hearts. So many tutor groups arranged their own fundraisers, like 3JEK with their Superheroes and Villains sports evening.

Our Macmillan fundraising team organised a fantastic World’s Biggest Coffee Morning, as well as a Quiz Night with a fish and chip dinner. In addition, Nick Payne, Liam Meechan and Thomas Betts took part in the Kenilworth Half Marathon raising £4,131.76, one of JustGiving’s most successful fundraising teams of 2015.

Ali Hijazie, Josha Hundal and Ben Jones shaved their hair for PAPYRUS, whilst Mr Nicholson and Mr Woodward supported the Movember Foundation by growing a moustache in November. Our Guide Dog Charity Enterprise group had been busy organising many events and altogether we raised enough money to sponsor our own Guide Dog puppy — Blake, whose progress we will be following throughout the year.

Bablake pupils showed unison with the Headmaster’s fundraising for UNICEF, spelling the name of the charity and the school on the field. Mrs Lenihan led Operation Christmas Child, while Mrs Lawrence and Hannah Denton took charge of collecting Christmas selection boxes in support of Coventry Food Bank. Enya Bowe’s Back to the 50s concert raised £1,806.10 for the Womankind charity.

As well as this, the Feminist Society, led

by Hannah Mordey, donated an amazing amount of women’s sanitary products and underwear for Coventry Comfort Carers.

Mr Nicholson’s cycling challenge, taking him on a 100 mile route around London, also raised £1,045.00 in support of the Pancreatic Cancer Charity.

Together we continue to make a difference!

Please watch out for news on the Bablake Charity Twitter feed — @BablakeCharity #FundraisingFriday Donations for Coventry Comfort Carers.

30

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

charityreport

A real close

shave!

bablake’s event supporting mental health charity papyrus was a hair-raising success reports Josha hundal.

As mental health is an issue which is not talked about often enough, we were motivated to raise money for a related organisation. PAPYRUS, a charity that seemed not as well known as Mind, was particularly relevant to us as it addressed mental health in teenagers specifically.

As we were fundraising mainly among our school peers, we felt it would be fulfilling for everyone to know they were supporting others of their own age who were possibly struggling with stresses related to school, work and all types of relationships; in fact issues that might worry us too. Additionally, we wanted to bring mental health statistics and information to the notice of the school, to spread awareness and understanding of, admittedly, often difficult issues to approach.

We decided to fundraise by doing a charity head shave. The occasion was great fun with swarms of people coming to watch, and the event being captured by the presence of Mr Woodward with his camera skills.

We are so proud of how encouraging staff, pupils and family members were.

We managed to raise around £350, which was a great amount of money for, essentially, three bad haircuts. The generosity shown is a brilliant reflection of the care and support from Bablake students and staff. Ali Hijazie, Ben Jones and I would like to thank you all and say we are very relieved to have what we think are decent haircuts again.

“So, I see you have decided to start a Mr Watson Appreciation Society.”

Headmaster in conversation with Josha in a School corridor an hour after the event.

For more information on PAPYRUS, please see www.papyrus-uk.org. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

31

charityreport

“The show, which I started planning just over a year before the actual performance, raised over £1800 for Womankind Worldwide, a charity which works in partnership with women’s rights organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America; it aims to end violence against women and girls, ensure women have a say in decisions that affect them, and enable women to take control of their own livelihoods.

Organising this event helped me gain my Gold Arts Award. I gained so much from undertaking this and I am so glad it prompted me to arrange the show, as it was an amazing experience for me and hopefully all others involved.”

Back to the 50s director Enya Bowe

The show included the following songs: Why Do Fools Fall in Love? — dancers, singers and band Rockin’ Robin — Oliver Brindley and band Hopelessly Devoted to You — Lydia Bruton Lollipop — Junior Choir Since I Don’t Have You — Oliver Brindley and band Hound Dog — Wind Band Fever — Ashleigh Stonier, Mya Lane and band La Bamba — Swing Band Da Doo Ron Ron — singers On the Street Where You Live — Howard Weyman Beach Boys Medley — Wind Band Hushabye — Junior Choir Rock Around the Clock — Oliver Brindley, dancers and band 32

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

charityreport

Many thanks to the Music department and Mr Malcolm Wyatt for their invaluable assistance with this event.

For more information on Womankind Worldwide, please see womankind.org.uk online.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

33

travellers’tales We feature just four of the many residential trips and visits enjoyed by pupils and staff during 2015-16. These amazing opportunities provide life-lasting memories and, for so many, sow the seeds for future decisions.

Into the

wild...

Lower Sixth student Jody Wong reflects on her time in Snowdonia, as well as interviewing Geography teacher and former Bablake school captain Mrs Jo MacGibbon who has experienced field trip life as both a student and a member of staff.

To some, a three day residential field trip exposed to unpredictable hillside temperatures may seem a world away from fun, but for me this was a highly anticipated experience, offering a break from intense AS classroom lessons and providing a more practical approach to study.

Staying in Betws-y-coed, in the Conwy Valley, we spent the first day travelling, becoming acclimatised, learning house rules and enjoying our first evening lesson. Meals were spent in a dining room shared with other schools and the food was delicious and plentiful.

The next day was crucial as results we collected from studying rivers were to form the basis of our answers in the summer exam and govern our success. With accurate data being imperative, we waded into the water and measured the width, depth, stream velocity, channel gradient and wetted perimeter using measuring tapes, ranging poles and clinometers.

34

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

As part of the Rivers module, we also walked around Llanrwst looking at flood defences and how other councils have attempted to prevent flooding in areas such as Carlisle which, with three confluences upstream and being a built up area, is subject to major floods. We followed the investigation up with excellent, informative lessons at the centre given by local rivers expert Helen.

We spent our final day looking at glacial landforms left behind by previous glaciers. How fascinating to discover Britain once had glaciers! My favourite landforms were the hanging valleys — high waterfalls that fell from hundreds of metres above into the valley below — and the roche moutonnée/sheepback whose features include visible striations left by glacial ice abrading the rock.

All in all it was an experience of a lifetime and I am so glad to have been in the last cohort of students able to enjoy this particular trip. I asked Mrs MacGibbon how field trips had changed:

“My field trip was in the Lake District with Messrs Rhodes and Jackson.

Unfortunately the weather was horrific and we had to wade through bogs and rivers — however, that did not stop us having lots of fun! Field trips are such a fundamental part of my subject, not only in terms of learning, but to give real life experiences that really enhance classroom material. Today, there are more opportunities for students, such as the Living Rainforest trip, investigations into crime and practical skills, and visits to places like Iceland.”

I asked whether field trips were more enjoyable as a teacher or a student?

“My love for Geography means I have enjoyed both, but my memories of field trips stand out at school because they are what inspired me to study the subject as a degree.

As a teacher, it is obviously great to see our students enjoy revelations about the world around them.”

But, finally, why Geography in particular?

“Because it is real and relates to everything happening in the world and the news, even aspects like buying a house where you have to consider the likelihood of flooding, geology, accessibility and the community. There are also so many different sides to the subject — e.g. scientific work, data analysis, political, economic or social issues — making it really fascinating to study. Like all other subjects, it offers lots of transferable skills which employers are looking for these days, so presents many career options.”

Geography is all around us. It is involved with every aspect of our lives: place, weather, climate, energy resources and geopolitics to name a few.

travellers’tales

Sicilian

top tips

Reporter Beth Carter asked members of this year’s Sicily trip, organised by the Classics department, for their top tips for survival on a Classical trip abroad. Next issue, maybe we should ask the staff involved with these visits to provide their own checklist and see how the lists compare!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

offerta speciale pizza solo 2 euros!

Stay near Greg Harris, who has been on many previous trips! His experience is vital.

Bring your sun cream… otherwise you will be easily burnt.

Stick by the teachers, as they buy you ice cream!

Don’t play ninjas in the rain (slippery).

Don’t play ninjas on the beach (sand in your eyes).

Perhaps just don’t play ninjas?

Don’t buy flowers from strange men (or women).

Don’t bother going to bed early, your friends will keep you awake anyway.

Always have a pack of cards.

Bring a mac as it may very well rain in Italy in the Autumn!

Bring a loud speaker because the quality of the coach radio stations is always questionable.

Don’t buy strawberry milk as your friends may very well drink it.

Go to the toilet before you go on the coach.

Don’t miss the shuttle bus to the top of the hill or similar landmark, otherwise it will be a very hot, long walk!!

If pizza costs less than two euros, it is not going to taste very good.

Don’t ever eat pink chicken!

Bella Sicilia

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

35

travellers’tales

... many of us enjoyed an impromptu walk to Mont Saint Michel, which involved lots of sand, sea, and sinking (into the clay).

Normandy visite!

Our optimistic group of Francophiles left Coventry for a channel crossing from Portsmouth on a crisp April morning. By evening, we wearily clambered onto the cobblestone courtyard of the unmistakable Château, where we were pleasantly greeted with a hot chocolate and biscuit, before being escorted to our dorms.

After some much needed rest, kindly awoken by the peacocks and cockerels who also enjoyed life at the Château, we looked forward to our first activity: a French language lesson — quelle surprise! This involved planning what to ask the tourist office about our itinerary the next day, and with the advice of Mrs May (Head of Modern Languages), these questions were linked effectively to our A level specification.

The next surprise was being introduced to the lake which the Château boasted within its vast grounds. Unsurprisingly, the water temperature matched the miserable weather in Normandy, but we braved the cold in canoes. Most of us found le canoë to be most enjoyable, with various activities forcing us to cooperate effectively and navigate the icy waters, supposedly inhabited by crocodiles according to the animateurs. Although there were valiant efforts to remain dry, one group discovered three really was a crowd in the canoe when all three attempted to stand up. Inspired, others took the plunge or were ‘sacrificed’ 36

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

presented with a very French experience of cheese and wine-tasting, languagelearning with traditional cultural exposure!

The penultimate day offered opportunity for basketball and trampolining, combined in an activity aptly named l’aéroball, which we all enjoyed regardless of the rain and chilling temperature. After further French lessons, many of us enjoyed an impromptu walk to Mont Saint Michel, which involved lots of sand, sea, and sinking (into the clay). To top off this activity-filled day, a treasure hunt was on offer where we learnt a variety of new words, alongside enjoying the healthy competition.

At Easter, our Sixth Form French classes enjoyed a trip to Château de la Baudonière (Normandy). David Stephen reports further on a visit full of language-learning, fun, and adventurous activity. all in the name of good sport.

The following day brought our trip to Villedieu-les-Poêles, a quaint, very French town, where we used our language skills to navigate the market stalls and shops.

However, the fun for some stopped there as, on our return to the Château, we devoted time to preparation for our final day speaking test. Archery, however, was also on offer in the afternoon, with some students rising to the challenge and succeeding in le tir à l’arc, whilst others laughed and enjoyed their more unsuccessful attempts. As the day drew to a close the pupils found themselves outside, serenading all residents to a musical mash of Kate Bush, Nirvana and Katy Perry.

Fencing (l’escrime) was on the menu the next day — the group flourished at this, enjoying a rare opportunity to trial the sport. Again this was a great chance to learn new vocabulary in a real-life setting, as the activity and instructions were conducted in French. The Château also produced its own (non-alcoholic) cider from its pommiers, which we got to taste, before continuing our French lessons. After dinner, we were

The final day began with l’examen oral, which we had been well prepared for. We felt confident to thrive using our language knowledge in an exam setting with a native speaker. After this we were able to relax by kneading bread which we were able to enjoy eating later.

Interestingly the rural French Château was also home to llamas, one of which was cleverly named Dalai. Although the Château offered many opportunities, our final afternoon was spent in Granville: a seaside town, resembling St Tropez more than Skegness, much to our delight. And enjoying the sights, we spent the evening at a local crêperie, sampling French cuisine, while discussing the eventful and successful week we had spent in Normandy.

Without a doubt, we learnt so much during this trip and improved our language skills. We are now more confident and knowledgeable, appreciate the importance of the French language even more and are eager to use what we have learnt in the classroom in the outside world.

travellers’tales

Our Yorkshire

by Zara Richards

tykes

Bablake’s Second year visited Haworth, Yorkshire in June, for four nights. Each form camped at a local scout campsite for one night, and stayed at a youth hostel for the rest of the stay. We visited Jodrell Bank Observatory on the way, Leeds Royal Armouries, the National Media Museum, the Yorkshire Dales and Skipton on the way home. My favourite trip was to the Media Museum, with spotting a giant Dalek being the highlight of that day!

Jodrell Bank was incredible fun with many space-themed activities for everyone to enjoy. We had the opportunity to engage with many fascinating objects such as the Lovell Telescope — one of the biggest fully steerable telescopes in the world. We also had the opportunity to try out thermal cameras, physics experiments and see the stars at night in an inflatable observatory that we had to crawl into.

The Royal Armouries visit was the most interactive of all the activities. Whoever came up with the idea of giving excited twelve and thirteen year olds sharp weapons probably should have thought a bit more carefully! Dressing up in uniform, having armour piled onto me, was very enjoyable. Luckily, we survived with no injuries, and knowing a lot more about historical weapons.

My form camped with 2JM on the Tuesday night. I loved the camping, and I still regret not teaching everyone how to play caterpillars in their sleeping bags in the middle of the night, although I think Miss Kukucska may have had something to say about that.

The Media Museum was definitely my highlight, with six floors jam-packed with optical illusions, animation studios, and props from shows. We were split into groups and created our own short animation with clay and stop-motion technology. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day, especially since the teachers let us have free rein and wander wherever we pleased... within the museum, of course. We were all exhausted when we returned to the youth hostel and fell asleep immediately.

On Thursday, we spent a day hiking in the Yorkshire Dales. Being a Scout, I quite enjoy hiking and rated this day a close second to the Media Museum. We enjoyed White Scar Caves (fortunately before it was flooded later in the summer), Ingleton Waterfalls and a spot of parkour (freerunning) from limestone rock to rock. Eating our lunch surrounded by beautiful scenery was very peaceful. Discovering my much awaited jam sandwich had been squashed in my backpack dulled my enthusiasm temporarily though.

Finally, our time in Yorkshire came to a close. We packed everything away again, thanked the hostel staff for their hospitality, and got driving. We stopped en route in Skipton, where I almost got lost going up a staircase in Skipton Castle. Somehow, everyone had saved some money to spend in the local sweet shop — these treats helped the return to Bablake go swiftly.

We returned, thoroughly worn out and ready for another week’s holiday, but it was back to school on the Monday. It was a brilliant trip! My friends, the teachers and all the activities were brilliant — the only part I did not enjoy was washing my clothes afterwards!

We enjoyed White Scar Caves (fortunately before it was flooded later in the summer), Ingleton Waterfalls and a spot of parkour (freerunning) from limestone rock to rock.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

37

bablakeaction

The

CCF Year Every rank of the Bablake Combined Cadet Force, all the way from new recruits in the Third year through to the Sixth Form, has enjoyed exciting trips, reports will Rowland.

The annual Summer Camp at Nesscliffe is always popular and well-attended, and so it proved this year with my own highlight being leading the Tug of War team to a victory over six other schools. The year began with our October Camp at Swynnerton. This is aimed at the younger recruits and tends to be their first outing with the CCF. It was a brilliant opportunity to allow them to show their new skills and put their training into place in a military environment.

As well as testing new recruits, every camp is a great chance for senior cadets to practise leadership and planning skills.

Of course the younger cadets not only utilise new skills, but are introduced to the concept of key teamwork.

We proudly played a part in Bablake’s Remembrance Service in November and look forward to participating in this respectful, poignant occasion once again. It is an extreme honour to be entrusted with laying the school’s wreath as part of the service.

38

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

This year, we have seen our weekly CCF training at school develop, with the addition of shotgun handling and links with Duke of Edinburgh preparatory training.

This has made our Tuesday night parades very interesting, and the success of these additional routines might be measured by the very strong attendance.

Once again, being involved with the CCF has been extremely enjoyable for all involved, and we all look forward to another year, in which we hope to be as successful as we have been this year.

In summary, I have continued to learn so much from our camps and training. As I near the end of my education at Bablake, I fully appreciate the CCF has taught me invaluable life skills. I will definitely continue my links at university, where I am confident I will gain further key lessons that will benefit me way beyond the close of my formal education.

“As well as testing new recruits, every camp is a great chance for senior cadets to practise leadership and planning skills.”

bablakeaction

life in the fast lane ... design and race the f1 car of the future in the F1 in schools competition, writes adam keir.

On race day, our team — Thomas Betts, Chris Blackett, Rachel Faulkner, James Horton, Adam Keir and Will Rowland — became Bablake’s most successful yet by achieving third place ...

‘F1 In Schools’ is a national competition where teams of aspiring young engineers and designers manufacture and race a small CO2 powered dragster. The teams must also raise funds and sponsorship which are then put towards purchasing materials and components for the car, uniforms, marketing and display pieces. The more funding the team raises, the more practical testing can be done, which can in turn help carry the team to victory in the racing stage.

Last year, in our second taste of the challenge, we were able to raise almost £1000, with a significant contribution from our named sponsors, Arup Group. This allowed us to invest in a professionally designed uniform which boosted our team profile, earning us valuable points in the team marketing round.

We were also able to purchase different materials and bearings to construct the wheels from, so we could test a variety of set ups for weight and rolling resistance. Although this may seem insignificant, the effect of a wobbly wheel could have caused a serious issue when racing the car.

In the races, competing as Arup Racing, we missed out on second place in our class by just a few thousandths of a second, but we were proud to be placed third, thereby achieving a target set for us by Headmaster Mr John Watson.

Our team was made up of five Upper and one Lower Sixth students, whose roles ranged from managing finances to writing reports and building engineering portfolios. However, ‘F1 In Schools’ is a very much a team enterprise, with everyone working together to complete the task.

On race day, our team — Thomas Betts, Chris Blackett, Rachel Faulkner, James Horton, Adam Keir and Will Rowland — became Bablake’s most successful yet by achieving third place, something to be very proud of, but we have left the opportunity for a future team to surpass this. The challenge has been set! @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

39

co-curricular

The following four pages capture some of the values and highlights of our co-curricular provision. Please consult termly newsletter The Lion and our expansive 24-7, 365/6 days a year digital portfolio for regular updates!

Why co-curricular?

Hannah Allroggen explains why being fully involved in what is on offer beyond the classroom at Bablake is so important.

I enjoy the diversity of activities outside the classroom and relish the opportunity to play hockey in a team and play a musical instrument in a group or solo. I regard co-curricular as a chance to become a well-rounded individual and take a break from my academic studies from time to time.

Taking part in co-curricular activities has also allowed me to make numerous lasting friends as well as develop my character and personal moral values.

The importance of co-curricular inside and outside school cannot be underestimated. The aim of education is to foster the all-round development of students, which includes allowing them to demonstrate their non-academic ability in areas such as music, drama and sport. The idea of participating in many activities outside the classroom epitomises the ‘spirit of opportunity’ Bablake School has as its core value.

At Bablake we are fortunate to have numerous clubs and societies catering for a wide range of different interests; there is even a Funky Knitting club and we are encouraged to start new societies, if there is a gap. Participating in these activities allows pupils to gain more experience in activities they are already comfortable with as well as be introduced to new skills and values, gain confidence, and be creative. Co-curricular activity definitely provides the perfect environment for making new friends and developing a rapport with other students and teachers. It can be a welcome diversion from the stress of the classroom too.

40

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Not only is the importance of co-curricular noticed at school, but beyond too, especially when looking for employment.

Skills gained from participating in co-curricular activities, both inside and outside school are attributes employers are keen to see in prospective employees. Employers are increasingly searching for not just academics, but well-rounded individuals who have shown, for example, great time managements skills in balancing academic studies with, say, long term commitment playing hockey or taking part in a stage production.

Crucially, co-curricular activity gives all students, regardless of age, gender, ability or interests, the chance to develop as an individual and integrate with other members of the Bablake community. The years spent at school are ideal for discovering new activities that suit you or finding a team or group you feel comfortable in. Participation in co-curricular stands you in good stead for the future and I would highly recommend it to all pupils.

co-curricular

celebrating

Diwali

Our Sikh and Hindu society always marks the build up to the Diwali festival of lights with a musical concert and traditional food, writes Mr mark woodward.

Diwali marks the end of the harvest season and the onset of winter, and is generally associated with the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity as well as reminding us of the story of Rama and Sita, where goodness overcomes evil.

Ashni Hindocha and Josha Hundal, two of our Sixth Formers who helped organise the event in 2015-16, confirmed the hour-long celebration had raised an impressive £220, which was being donated to Cancer Research.

They added: “We had Kirandeep Dhaliwal and Krina Mistry performing traditional Hindu and Sikh dances on stage, while Upper Sixth pupils Roisin Bowe and Alesha Robinson did some beautiful mendhi (henna) designs. We would like to thank everyone who came, bought food and celebrated the festival of light with us; we wish you all a very happy Diwali.”

Mr Lakbir Atwal (ICT), one of the teachers involved in organising the event, said: “We were delighted so much money was raised for charity in so short a time. This year’s amount was the most we have raised so far, and, overall, the event was definitely the best of the three we have held.”

Mr Inderpal Kalsi (Chemistry and Head of Fairfax) added: “Everyone agreed about how exciting the celebration was. It was great to see our Sixth Formers take charge of the event and Krina’s dancing was a real highlight.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

41

Debatingtips

debating for dummies Beth Carter and David Stephen, half of our successful Lower Sixth debating team for Coventry City Council’s ‘Democracy Week’, offer their top tips for successful debating. For their competition, they had to propose PE should be compulsory for Sixth Formers, and oppose the abolition of political parties.

* Impersonalise points — we did not want PE to be compulsory but we won the debate by ignoring our feelings and preferences. * Use jargon relevant to the case: e.g. statistics, terminology. * Do not predict what the other team will say — practise thinking on your feet and being adaptable. * Never repeat a point — it wastes time! * Do not feel it necessary to speak for the whole time, as a little less is sometimes more. * Use body language to emphasise points with passion. Debating is also the art of persuasion, for the judges particularly. * Stay current and relevant to the argument — avoid tangents. * Stay relevant to what the chamber members ask, as you will be marked significantly on this. * The first and second speaker must never cross points. It is important to widen your argument to show a broad range of knowledge, even if you are unsure of the topic. * Have a lot of content points in your arsenal, but do not rush your words in order to fit them in.

42

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Be flexible with what you are proposing, especially when questions are asked from the floor.

* Speak with confidence, clarity and passion. * Appreciate the points of your other team members and work with them, not against them. It is not about being the best speaker, but the best team. * If you feel yourself running out of steam, make a short and snappy finishing point and sit down. Rambling on will devalue your argument. * Do not use too many fillers — ‘like’, ‘sort of’, ‘erm’ — as they make you seem unprepared and nervous, and do not present a high impact argument. * Make sure your introduction and conclusion are concise and passionate, as these are the sections people will remember. * Find a way to enjoy your topic — this will ensure the passion of your language is natural. * Prepare your debates in advance.

There is nothing worse than rushing to prepare in 20 minutes, but don’t rely on preparation alone.

* Do not be distracted by interjections from the opposite team. As a speaker, you have the power to reject them. * Also do not be put off if the opposing team has a clearer argument, as it is not necessarily about content, but more about how passionately you phrase your words and how intelligently you show your content points. * Memorise what you are proposing and the flow of your argument will come naturally. * Do not be confused by points from the opposing team — if you can, counteract them with your second or third speaker. * You feel different when you are standing in a debating chamber — it suddenly becomes much more real. * Enjoy it! Debating is fun and is an opportunity to develop confidence, particularly in socialising with others and public speaking.

FeministSociety

There is a voice for everyone and those students or staff who have felt oppressed are beginning to feel empowered.

Feminist society In last year’s issue, Bablake’s Feminist Society published a wish list.

Hannah Allroggen assesses what the society achieved in its first year.

The members of last year’s Upper Sixth who founded Bablake’s Feminist Society, and enabled a LGBTQ Society to be established, left a really positive legacy before heading to university. Supported by the work of our Chaplain and the school’s commitment to values of peace and reconciliation, this is what I feel they achieved within the year: * There is more informed discussion in Bablake about feminism. There is a voice for everyone and those students or staff who have felt oppressed are beginning to feel empowered. * Our Prize Giving celebrated 40 years of coeducation, with public support from our Headmaster and a short speech from Roisin Bowe about the Feminist Society. * Regular, open conversation about sexism has been initiated with school leaders. * Fundraising has been very successful. Just under £2k was raised for Womankind Worldwide, and there was immense support for a Coventry Comfort Carers collection and CRASAC (Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre). * Our ‘Life Choices’ programme is being adapted to cover areas we highlighted were lacking. The introduction of Mental Health ambassadors and visits from the Self Esteem Team are very positive steps. * More teachers have listened to the concerns of the society and stood up to challenge sexism.

* The school has moved a long way towards a non gender specific uniform code and girls are able to wear trousers. * There has been very positive interest from the national media: Roisin Bowe was named by The Daily Telegraph as a ‘pupil champion’ for her campaigning, Mr Woodward was featured by Laura Bates in the same paper in an article about feminist dads and he was asked by HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference) to write a blog about feminism. * Katerina Jackson applied successfully to become a ‘Girls Against’ ambassador.

Head of Careers Mr Woodward, who has delivered a clear message against sexism in Sixth Form assemblies and sees employers leading the way on equal opportunity, is mystified about people’s ignorance about feminism: “No one should be afraid of feminism. I have been a feminist since university — for me, it is about equality and respect. I am ashamed of any society that normalises objectification, sexual assault, body shaming or street harassment — behaviour that demeans personal confidence and, at its worst, is criminal. I admire the courage of public figures like Laura Bates and all our students who have stood up and helped challenge the outrageous sexism seen in their daily lives.”

The Feminist Society still has much to achieve. We are nominating regular role models via @bablakefemsoc, hope to produce a termly newsletter to help highlight the positive impact of feminism and would like to instigate a school partnership with White Ribbon UK. We will continue questioning inequality, highlighting sexist attitudes, challenging gender stereotypes and urging school to improve our sex and relationship education (SRE) in ‘Life Choices’.

We are still excited we have a community where the students have a voice, and teachers are willing to listen to our views and help make changes within the school. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

43

houseactivities

House Activities 2015/16 A literary and visual compilation of the House year, collated by Hannah Allroggen.

Bayley House Officials Staff Mrs Lynsey Lawrence (Head), Mr Clive Mohamed (Assistant) Captains Philippa Morris, Arjav Patel Some Bayley pupils share their thoughts on what is great about the House system at Bablake...

Favourite activities: ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’, badminton, hockey and netball.

Best part of the House system: I can improve my ability to work within a team as well as have an opportunity to develop my leadership skills as a House Prefect and in Vertical House sessions. Being part of Bayley has been a great experience and I have tried so many new things; events like the Shell Olympics gave me the chance to get to know the younger Bayley members and welcome them into the House. Weekly assemblies help direct pupils, motivating them to work hard as well praising everyone’s unique achievements. There is always a supportive atmosphere at all House events and they are fun!

Katerina Jackson (U6th)

44

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Favourite activities: all the sports events, Scrabble and the drawing competition.

Best part of the House system: The House system is great for integrating pupils of different ages and makes the older pupils more approachable. I really like the sports events as we have a chance to compete with other Houses and make new friends. People in Bayley are happy to listen to views on how our House and School could be made even better, for example providing younger students with as many opportunities as possible. The team of prefects and staff always does its best to assist whoever is in need, whether troubled by academic or personal problems.

Emma Allroggen (3rd Year)

houseactivities

Favourite activities: hockey and basketball.

Best part of the House system: Bayley gives me the chance to be involved in a number of events and activities throughout the year. Many of these help students develop their verbal and thinking skills, as well as teamwork. By promoting the importance of involvement in as many activities as possible during the year, staff and prefects try and help all students find specific area of interests they can be fascinated by and enjoy. Being a proactive student, who is keen to be involved in a number of activities during the year, is very rewarding.

Xander Bennett (5th Year)

Favourite activities: House quiz, Music and Drama festivals, and rugby.

Best part of the House system: Being appointed House captain this year is a great honour and I have enjoyed encouraging the younger students to develop, by promoting a positive attitude towards learning and co-curricular activities. By performing individual duties and taking part in a number of events themselves, the House prefects set a good example for the younger pupils and share positive attributes with them, encouraging them to follow the same path. I would like younger years to try and enjoy their school life as much as possible, like I have, and make a valuable contribution to House and school life.

Nikita Ermolenko (U6th)

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

45

houseactivities

Crow

House Officials Staff Mr Andrew Phillips (Head) Mr Sam Williams (Assistant) Captains Roisin Bowe Emily White

46

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Opportunities for leadership “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.�

John Quincy Adams, former US President.

The House system has always provided students with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills.

Previously, this has been aimed at the senior end of the school, with students in the Lower Sixth applying to become House prefects for the following academic year.

Successful applicants have been tasked with acting as role models for younger students, and assisting in delivering the vast and diverse programme of House events, activities and sporting competitions.

houseactivities

However, for 2016-17, House Heads have now introduced junior prefects so that pupils of all ages have the opportunity to develop leaderships skills throughout their time at Bablake. Junior prefects will be responsible for motivating and organising their peers for forthcoming events.

There will be one boy and one girl selected for each year group.

It is hoped that this new initiative will inspire some of our younger students to acquire the leadership skills which will enable them to inspire others and prepare them for senior perfecting positions in the Sixth Form and life beyond Bablake.

Mr Andrew Phillips

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.� @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

47

houseactivities

Fairfax Fairfax wins the 2015-16 House Trophy 1st Fairfax 2nd Bayley 3rd Wheatley 4th Crow

House Officials Staff Mr Inderpal Kalsi (Head) Mrs Jo MacGibbon (Assistant) Captains Rachel Faulkner, Paige Herrod, Liam Meechan, Matthew Rowlands

48

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

The House trophy returns to Fairfax “Fairfax started the year by winning both the boys and girls competitions at the annual Shell Olympics. Our Shells continued this success and came first in both the boys’ and girls’ Scrabble. Our Shell girls were very consistent over the course of the year, finishing in either first or second place in all of their events.

We came first in the Junior Quiz with Charlotte Bull annihilating the opposition with her vast general knowledge.

The Second years produced some fascinating dishes in their Ready Steady Cook competition and we finished in first place. We continued to dominate the Third and Fourth year Badminton competition and Ravi Bodalia remains undefeated in his time at Bablake.

houseactivities

The senior boys impressed on the basketball court, winning each week and finishing in first place. Many of our House prefects were part of the school’s 1st XV and used their skills in the indoor arena to win this year’s Dodgeball.

The senior girls had a mixed year but Rachel Faulkner (House Captain) and Courtney Moffitt (Sports Captain) represented Fairfax House on a regular basis.

We came in second place for the third consecutive year in House Chess and first in the new House Charity competition.

The destiny of the overall House trophy came down to Sports Day, as all the Houses were in contention for first place. Fairfax House was rallied with some last

minute advice and statistical analysis in our assembly prior to Sports day. We dominated Sports Day, with our Shells, Seconds and Fourths finishing in first place , thereby clinching the overall House trophy for Fairfax.

2015-16 was a very successful year with excellent support from our team of House Officials. Each and every one of them played an important role throughout the year, but I give a special mention to Matthew Rowlands (House Captain) for directing the House play ‘Cinderella’, and all the cast and crew members who took part and made the evening special.

I hope we continue our success next year and look forward to the new House Officials excelling once again.”

Mr Inderpal Kalsi @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

49

houseactivities

Wheatley “ ... last week I felt I completed my task with great confidence and enjoyed this leadership role, which is something I feel greatly proud of.”

Reaction of a Wheatley Upper Sixth pupil after a Vertical House Session

House Officials Staff Miss Jayne Simmons (Head) Miss Laura Watts (Assistant) Captains Matthew Hayhurst, Annie Honess, Arun Nahar, Ciara Wyman

50

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Vertical House Sessions In 2015-16, we introduced an exciting new dynamic to the House system — Vertical House Sessions. These mixed age activities involve students from every year getting together into small, tutor-group sized gatherings. Over the course of the year, the groups have engaged in different get-to-knowyou activities, all aiming to be as interactive as possible.

The sessions often become quite competitive! It also gave our Fifth form members the opportunity to speak to the Lower Sixth formers in their group for advice when making their A level subject choices.

houseactivities

Not only do these activities promote interaction between the different year groups, they are led by our Sixth Form students, giving all of them an invaluable opportunity to develop their leadership and people skills. One Wheatley student last year wrote about what leading a session had meant to her: “Previously, I would have felt in a great panic and been very uncomfortable about having to lead a group in this way. However, last week I felt I completed my task with great confidence and enjoyed this leadership role, which is something I feel greatly proud of. To some this may not seem like a great deal, but for myself this simply shows how much as an individual I have grown in confidence.�

We are excited to continue the scheme in the coming year, confident that because the groups stay the same, the students will get to know each other over the years to come and the sessions will go from strength to strength.

Miss Jayne Simmons

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

51

beyondtheclassroom

BETH SHALOM Every year our Third year pupils visit Beth Shalom, the National Holocaust Centre, as part of their Religious Studies curriculum. This visit has had a phenomenal impact on so many current and former pupils since its instigation when the centre opened in the late 90s. Here is Zahrah Jahangir’s powerful personal reflection after her visit.

52

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

beyondtheclassroom

B

efore visiting Beth Shalom, I had read all the facts and had taken in all the information, but I was not prepared for the actual impact of my visit. I guess I knew what happened, but I struggled to see and feel the emotional scarring. If somebody tells you six million people have died you are shocked, but it seems to be human nature that you feel more empathy if you have a connection with them. I knew my visit to Beth Shalom was going to be emotional, and we would gain a real insight into the holocaust but I was not prepared for the full emotional impact.

As I sat in the coach heading home, I thought about what I had just experienced. It just really clicked inside my head how many people died. I wondered how many people needed to be killed for a lesson to be learnt, and thought all religions and races should be equal, nor should you be punished for just being who you are.

Innocent children were killed, when they had not done anything, even newborn babies. I thought that was outrageous. Mankind is the most intellectual species on Earth, and yet we chose to follow one man’s opinion, when each of us has brains and opinions, so why did others not use them?

I now have some insight into how those six million people felt during the holocaust, although I cannot ever fully understand how they felt, other than knowing it was horrific. However, I am still frustrated as, while you could say those six million people died to teach us a lesson so that history is not repeated, we cannot say we have learnt our lesson, because we haven’t. There are innocent people and children who are dying right now, because of who they are.

So after the Beth Shalom visit, I was shocked about how one person can influence and manipulate all those people to kill innocent people. Another thing that occurred to me is how can you look into a child’s eyes and think that it is right to pull the trigger, that it is not wrong to take that person’s life. How would I feel to be that child?

I was incredibly upset by the silent audience of people who did nothing; if they had all stood up for what they believed was right, not as many people would have suffered and died. They could have stopped the killing of innocent children. I feel it is just so sad how one evil action can ripple to complete destruction.

My reflections on hearing holocaust survivor Janine’s personal story are that I was not prepared for just how emotional it would be to listen to it. Some of my friends next to me started crying. To have a survivor a few metres away tell their story about the holocaust and all the emotions they felt brought the feelings I had read about into reality. Hearing a real survivor’s account was so moving especially when she told us all about her family, how she loved them, how most of them were killed and of all her memories of them. Janines’s immense love for her inspirational Aunt, without whom she would have been dead, was particularly overwhelming. However, the part of her story that got to me was when she was telling us about her oppressors calling her, when she was hiding under the cupboard. I can hardly imagine the fear she must have felt.

We saw that in the museum’s Garden of Remembrance there were many different memorials, but the ones which stood out to me were the graves that told a story. Yes, you have your normal graves, that tell you who a person was, when they were born and died, but the ones that had most impact were the ones that told you how they died, or a little detail about them. For example, there was a whole family, who as one of the Nazis was about to kill their one month old daughter all stepped in front of the gun.

That showed me what real love looks like, that they died together for each other and how a parent could sacrifice their own lives for the love of their children. But, I also found it upsetting how there were rows and rows of graves, and how many of them were just babies.

Sitting hearing someone’s real life experience was so much more effective than sitting in a classroom, reading someone’s experience in a textbook. It was living history and I had more of a revealing insight about what that person went through, and all their thoughts and emotions. I saw the emotions on Janine’s face when she was telling her story; I was almost in her shoes. When you talk to someone, you look at their face and gain more of an understanding of their feelings from watching their facial expressions. If you talk to someone and you cannot see their face, it is a bit unreal.

My visit to Beth Shalom overall has affected me tremendously, but especially the talk with Janine. It is such a shame we are the last generation to get that opportunity of meeting survivors, but this experience will definitely stay with me forever.

“I now have some insight into how those six million people felt during the holocaust, although I cannot ever fully understand how they felt, other than knowing it was horrific. ”

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

53

Please submit your best creative work (poems, stories, drawings, photographs) for consideration for future editions of Flair via mgw@ bablake.coventry.sch.uk

GCSE art project by Harriet Rowlands.

54

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

art&design

F lair

Art & Design

Edited by Emily White with initial support from Daisy Williams.

Edited by Minnie Klesnik-Edwards and Josh Thind.

“Ever since primary school, I cannot remember a time that I did not enjoy doing Art and I develop as an artist each time I pick up a pencil or paint brush. It was during GCSE when I feel I found my direction as an artist and I could see the skills I used evolve most in my work. I chose a project on Freak Shows, exploring life within the shows.

A level Art has allowed me to explore different areas of Art independently. For AS, I produced work on creepy, scary dolls and the Day of the Dead festival, which also gave me insight into Mexican culture.

The breadth of this topic allowed me to experiment with different media and a variety of drawing styles.

I have focused on a more architecturally based project for my final year A level project, exploring the formation of buildings which has again expanded my use of various media. I have become a more abstract, expressive artist, by using larger scales and experimenting with 3D materials to use on my pieces.

I have always been proud of my artwork, whether it has been created for an examination, practice or relaxation, as I have a strong conviction of where it all fits in my direction as an artist.”

Minnie Klesnik-Edwards (Editor)

During my time in Art, I have been able to develop my creativity and my skills. I have created work on a variety of topics from wildlife to expressions; unlike Minnie, I have never enjoyed creating just the same type of work, so have always satisfied my artistic curiosity by developing new skills in new topic matter.

During my AS year, I focused on construction and destruction. This involved observing how excavators can break down structures, erasing them from society. I then turned my attention to car design, where I examined several iconic designers who had inspired me, before developing my own designs. This led me to create a final canvas piece exploring destruction designs with the use of several media.

I have not continued with Art for my final year of Sixth Form as I needed to study my other subjects for my intended career. This is unfortunate as I have thoroughly enjoyed creating my artwork, as well as the atmosphere in lessons. Seeing other artists’ points of views and how they express their feelings and emotions through their work is powerful and inspiring, giving you confidence to adopt the same approach and mould your work to display the clear message you want people to understand.

Josh Thind (Editor)

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

55

youngart

Monsters& zombies Staff from our Art department alongside groups of Second and Third year pupils enjoyed every minute of the ‘Zombie Monster’ workshops led by local creative Emma O’Brien. Sitting completely absorbed in the sewing and design work, everyone eagerly competed to produce as gruesome and grotesque a monster or zombie as possible. The vast collection of impressive ‘unique, designed and made plushes’, that emerged from the sessions, all had their own definite characters and headed to new homes to begin unique lives!

Mr Mark Woodward

56

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

youngart

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

57

examshowcase

G CSE

4

A selection of the GCSE work which was on show at our annual Art and Design Technology exhibition.

Artwork by: 1. Ellie Edmiston 2. Chris Bale 3. Mollie O’Sullivan 4. Jess Brake 5. Avni Kant 6. Izzy Harris 1

5

2

3

6

58

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

examshowcase

3

Artwork by: 1. Luke Trueman 2. Beth Isard 3. Tommy Knight 4. Rachel Worthington 5/7. Ria Patel 6. Harriet Rowlands 8. Avni Kant 1

6

7 4

5

8

2

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

59

examshowcase

AS

5

Once again our A Level Art students produced outstanding pieces.

1

3

2

4

60

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

6

examshowcase

Artwork by: 1. Claudia Youakim 2. Georgia Kelsey 3. Ruth Truslove 4. Grace Jastrzebski 5/6. Josh Thind 7/8. Charlie Kane 9. Qinrui Zhang 10. Alice Hayes 11. Robyn McDaid

9

A2

7

10

8

11

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

61

designtechnology

DT

1

2

3

Design Technology — A Year in Review “Another dynamic year has been and gone in the DT Department with more diverse coursework to show and ever expanding use of the 3D printing facilities, 3D software modelling and CNC machining centres.

Sadly, we said goodbye to one of the most interesting and influential Upper Sixth groups for many years; we wish them well! This meant we lost two of our best ever Arkwright Scholars, James Horton and Adam Keir, as they move on to university and more dynamic design work.

James had time to win an award from the Rotary Club for outstanding coursework, as did Lucie Barnes in the GCSE group. Rachel Faulkner’s design work was recognised by an award from the Furniture Makers’ Company.

Some of the Sixth Form expanded into using concrete, as part of their projects, with dramatic effect, while many of the GCSE group showed various styles of MP3 docking stations influenced by a diverse range of design eras.

With impending syllabus changes taking place in September 2017, and a new direct partnership with our Food and Textiles department, there will inevitably be changes in some of the lower school work to reflect new directions and skills, so watch out for developments at future exhibitions!

Success for the F1 in Schools Team came a step nearer at the regional final when the team narrowly missed out on appearing in the national final. Our Engineering Education Team returned to the top of the podium with great success and also marked our 16th consecutive year linked with Arup.

Work has already started on GCSE and A level coursework for Summer 2017, we are looking forward to our February visit to Bologna and we continue to post the department’s news regularly via our Twitter feed, @BablakeDT.” Mr Chris West

62

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

4

designtechnology

5

Examination projects by: 1/5. Robert Jacques 2. Grace Jastrzebski 3. Will Rowland 4. Peter Cusack 6. Lucie Barnes 7. Sophie Hollinrake 8. Aaron Biddle 9. Chris Blackett 10. Nathan Golsby-Taylor 11. Andrew Wong

6

9

7

10

8

11

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

63

celebrations

Crystal Ball

64

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Our 11th Crystal Ball, organised excellently once again by the Senior Prefects for our Fifth Year pupils, was enjoyed by all. Student photographers — Roisin Bowe, Kirat Johal, Hannah Mordey and Bryony Welling — produced a fabulous record of the evening, which was posted online at www.facebook.com/CrystalBall2016

celebrations

Leavers’ Ball A pictorial record of the evening enjoyed by our Class of 2009 at Nailcote Hall Hotel, Berkswell, which has become a regular venue for our Upper Sixth’s final formal gathering before heading for new, exciting challenges.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

65

flairwords

F lair

Literature & Creative Writing Edited by Lantian Pinkney and David Stephen.

Listen to me!

Tap! Went the tree branch on my window, Like a giant asking to come in.

Creak! Went the bough in the gusting wind.

Lantian Pinkney, Editor Profile

David Stephen, Editor Profile

Like someone creeping across the floorboards.

Passions: Riddles, puzzles.

Passions: Languages (French and German), reading, Classics.

Rustling! Are the leaves as they blow across the garden.

Ambitions: Study French and German at the University of Cambridge, learn more languages, and work in international business.

Running and flipping like gymnasts along the floor.

Drip drop! Goes the rain on the windowsill.

Favourite Genres: Murder mystery, comedy and surrealism.

Clatter! Go the bin lids.

Ambitions: To be an inspirational role model.

Favourite Genres: Action, fantasy.

Favourite Books: Rick Riordan’s novels — accurate and wellresearched.

2015/16 Literary Highlight: ‘The Thousand Characters Essay’, a poem containing 1000 individual Chinese characters, with each used only once; arranged into 250 lines and arguably 8 rhyming phrase stanzas, each with a unique story, it was once used to teach Chinese children the characters. This is not for the faint of heart! It can be confusing at first, but it is definitely worth a read.

66

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Favourite Book: ‘Perfume: The Story of a Murderer’ — historical crossgenre novel by German writer Patrick Süskind.

2015/16 Literary Highlights: ‘The Little Prince’ by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, ‘The Madwoman of Chaillot’ by Jean Giraudoux.

Racing down the windows; they are racing cars.

Rolling like wobbly wheels down the street.

Bark! Go the dogs.

As the storm rages round their kennels.

Stop! Listening to the noises.

Head buried under the pillow.

I’m trying to get a good night’s sleep!

Matthew Billings Shell pupil Winner, Felicity Chapman Poetry Prize, 2016

writingcompetition

Peace

and reconciliation

by Kogulan Vipulan

Third year pupil Kogulan Vipulan’s response to last year’s request for a creative or factual piece on ‘Peace and Reconciliation’ was judged the best submission.

How many times have you woken up in the morning, listened to the news and heard about a tragic event concerning war or conflict? How many times have you wished that the world could forgive and forget; live in peace and reconcile over the events?

Peace and reconciliation are two words with similar meanings.

Peace meaning freedom from disturbance or a state or period in which there is no war. Correspondingly, reconciliation is defined as the restoration of friendly relations or the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.

Imagine peace existing as a tree and representing civilisation.

When war breaks out, one by one the tree begins to shed its leaves as people flee or fall victim to all the violence. Over time, the tree becomes bare and exposed as more and more leaves fall off.

Likewise, civilisation begins to break away and branch apart.

What was civilisation has become coarse and barren society.

However we all have a chance to forgive and make peace. If war ends and everyone reconciles, then civilisation can be born again.

As a result, the bare tree will grow its leaves back.

Time and time again in our lives we have argued with others, fallen out and caused the tree to become bare. However, we should never forget that we have the opportunity to make peace. We should always try to reconcile and ensure the leaves grow back and never fall again. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

67

languagefocus

Pourquoi devrait-on apprendre d’autres langues dans un monde anglicisé?

David Stephen argues for the importance of other languages in an Anglicised world.

P

our beaucoup de gens de nos jours, les langues étrangères ne sont pas importantes. Ce serait moins compliqué et plus facile pour tout le monde, si on parlait la même langue. On se souvient des cours de français ou d’espagnol à l’école avec les conjugaisons et les descriptions de sa famille, mais on soulignait l’importance de la bourse ou des mathématiques plus que l’importance des langues.

Personnellement les langues représentent un chemin rarement exploré, en dépit de la richesse et l’histoire qui se trouvent là.

Je crois que même pour les hommes d’affaire, c’est important d’apprendre les langues. Pour ceux qui font le commerce international, il est nécessaire qu’ils comprennent et apprécient d’autres cultures. Le langage est un aperçu et une opportunité de connaître les coutumes d’un pays, et leurs pensées/habitudes. Par exemple, si on voulait organiser un rendez-vous au déjeuner à Paris avec des collègues parisiens, ce serait une mauvaise idée de se donner seulement une demi-heure pour le faire. Il faut s’amuser et apprécier le repas, en buvant du vin et en mangeant du pain: un concept peu employé en Angleterre.

Mais cette idée est plus profonde que ça. Je considère la langue comme un miroir qui reflète une culture. Il faut qu’on connaisse les autres pays et langues parce qu’on doit se rendre compte que, globalement, le pays de naissance n’est pas toujours le plus important. À travers les langues on peut distinguer entre flâner et se promener, ou Waldeinsamkeit et Einsamkeit, et par conséquent connaître ce qui se passe à l’étranger. En analysant la grammaire, la syntaxe, et les règles d’une langue, on voit un peu de la culture. Avec le français, on voit la finesse, la beauté, et la sophistication, mais de l’autre côté, avec l’allemand, on voit la structure, le côté pratique, et une vue littérale des mots et concepts.

On ne peut apprécier la culture (avec la littérature, le cinéma et l’histoire) que si on lit et explore ce qui a été créé à l’étranger dans une variété de langues. Comment peut-on vraiment dire qu’on connaît la révolution industrielle ou l’idée d’une bourgeoisie et d’une monarchie sans avoir exploré ces concepts dans d’autres pays. Les poèmes de Hugo et l’écriture de Böll nous montrent la culture de ces pays d’une autre perspective. Certaines expressions ou mots utilisés avec des connotations particulières nous donnent une idée plus exacte du message de l’écrivain. En général, ce qui s’est passé est mieux décrit par les écrivains de souche, et de l’époque.

Donc, pour moi, l’importance des langues est trop marginalisée dans notre monde moderne. La domination de l’anglais est présente partout et le désir d’apprendre une autre langue est moins trouvé à l’école. Si on parlait seulement l’anglais, comment pourrait-on s’exprimer dans des façons différentes? Les pays sont très différents dans un sens historique, géographique et politique, et donc par conséquent les gens de souche voudraient s’exprimer différemment et voudraient réfléchir aux sujets différents. La façon d’avoir cette idée globalement? Avoir et apprécier une variété de langues !

“Certaines expressions ou mots utilisés avec des connotations particulières nous donnent une idée plus exacte du message de l’écrivain.”

68

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

languagefocus

Enjoy translating David’s article (facing) into English or a language of your choice.

The editors for 2016-17 would be delighted to see your versions.

Please submit via mgw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

69

poetrycorner

Gold CREST Engineering Education Scheme student Lantian Pinkney promotes her love of poetry over these pages, introducing readers to haikus and some of her favourite poets.

Haikus The most famous haiku — a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world, was composed by Matsuo Bashō in c1681/6.

Furuike ya kawazu tobikomu mizu no oto.

(The old pond is still a frog leaps right into it splashing the water.)

(Translation by Earl Miner and Hiroko Odagiri.)

Inaudible sound Too easily I forget My world lost allure.

Lantian Pinkney

Create your own haiku!

Usually two images which juxtapose each other.

Most commonly a 5, 7, 5 syllable, 3 line, one verse poem.

Have a go!

70

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

“... poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

English teacher John Keating (Robin Williams) ‘Dead Poets Society’

poetrycorner

Impressive

poets

“Item I gyve unto my wief my second best bed ...” (from Shakespeare’s will)

Li Bai

Carol Ann Duffy

Li Bai, also known as Li Bo, was one of the two key 8th century Tang dynasty Chinese poets, acclaimed as a genius and a romantic figure who took traditional poetic forms to new heights.

In an act of dubious generosity, Shakespeare left his ‘second best bed’ in his will to his wife Anne Hathaway. This inspired a sonnet, Anne Hathaway, by current poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, who turned the supposed slight into a testament of love.

Jìng yè sī Chuáng qián míng yuè Yí shì dì shàng shuāng.

Jŭ tóu wàng míng yuè, Dī tóu sī gù xiāng.

(Thoughts on a still night A pool of moonlight before my bed shining like frost upon the ground Gazing at the moon, I raise my head And lower again with thoughts of home.)

The bed we loved in was a spinning world of forests, castles, torchlight, cliff-tops, seas where he would dive for pearls.

My lover’s words were shooting stars which fell to earth as kisses on these lips; my body now a softer rhyme to his, now echo, assonance; his touch a verb dancing in the centre of a noun.

Some nights I dreamed he’d written me, the bed a page beneath his writer’s hands. Romance and drama played by touch, by scent, by taste.

In the other bed, the best, our guests dozed on, dribbling their prose. My living laughing love — I hold him in the casket of my widow’s head as he held me upon that next best bed. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

71

performingarts

Performing Arts

Edited by Hannah Jewkes and Shivani Patel, assisted by Harry Vincent.

“Once again, 2015-16 was a year of great triumph for the Arts at Bablake. A Sixth Form cast performed on stage for the 30th consecutive summer at the Edinburgh Fringe, actors from every year group represented Bablake on a professional stage at the Belgrade’s National Theatre Connections 500 Festival and we were able to reveal first the majestic sound of our restored Compton organ in the Main Hall and then a new organ in our Rehearsal Room.”

Hannah Jewkes, Editor Profile

Shivani Patel, Editor Profile

Harry Vincent, Editor Profile

Passions: Music, drama, hockey.

Passions: Drama, sport – esp. hockey, netball, football.

Passions: Hockey, music, travel.

Ambitions: Study civil engineering at university, complete Grade 8 clarinet.

2015/16 Highlight: Being Company Manager for ‘Sherlock’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Ambitions: Study a science degree at university, while continuing to play sport, try new sports and assist with drama productions.

2015/16 Highlight: Being Assistant Stage Manager for the school’s production of ‘Sherlock’.

72

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Ambitions: Studying Chemistry at university, become an engineer.

2015-16 Highlight: Wind Band.

Please note our online portfolio for the Performing Arts: (Drama) @bablaketheatre (Music) @bablakemusic

onstage

Sherlocks galore!

Suraj Lall

Charlotte Merry

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Director Ms Caroline Farmer cleverly adapted former pupil Sam Griffths’ A2 Theatre Studies production for three casts. Charlotte, Steven and Suraj — the three actors who played Sherlock in our Autumn term production — offer their thoughts on the experience.

Suraj Lall “Acting has always been a hobby and, after involvement with many other school productions, I was keen to be involved in Sherlock, especially as I am a big fan. I loved every minute of the production from auditions to the final performances.

Working with people from different year groups helped me make new friends and as there were three separate productions to work with, Ms Farmer gave us more autonomy. I liked the independence, as it really felt as though we were responsible for this part of the show.

Sherlock convinced me to keep going with my acting and helped take my mind off my ever-looming GCSEs by relaxing me and providing relief from stress.”

Steven Floyd

The chance to enhance my dramatic skills was much appreciated and the shows went really well. It was excellent that one team felt confident enough to spend a week performing at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The teamwork within the cast was amazing, while the support and fun we had was unbelievable. People expect that sort of environment to be stressful, but it was fun and exciting.”

The Reichenbach Falls

The Speckled Band

Charlotte Merry “Being part of Sherlock was an excellent experience and playing the lead role, such an iconic character, was a brilliant opportunity. As a female, taking on such a complex male character was challenging but very enjoyable.

The rehearsals were long but we managed to have many laughs along the way. Learning my lines presented fewer problems than trying to make my character relatable yet comical.

Steven Floyd “When we were first told about the idea of performing Sherlock, I knew it was going to be like no other play any of us had been in. We were venturing from intense drama to genuine comedy. Everything had to be perfect; comedy is about timing after all. We had a great cast prepared for the challenges, but that did not stop the pressure building in the weeks before the play.

On the opening night, tension was high, we were the last of three casts to perform; it was up to us to finish the play with a bang, and outdo the previous performance.

The Speckled Band was a complex show involving several set changes, but with the first successful night out of the way, our initial nerves gave way to excitement for the following performances. Soon enough, the shows had ended but the memories of the brilliant experience stay with me.

The play was a fantastic experience and working with such a brilliant cast and crew made it all the better. If I could go back in time to the nights of the show, I would do so in a heartbeat, and I just cannot wait for the next big performance!”

“The game is afoot!”

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

73

onstage

The Musicians Bablake was delighted to be part of the National Theatre’s Connections 500 Festival 21st anniversary and chose Patrick Marber’s The Musicians from an exciting selection of plays.

After presenting this play at school, there was excellent feedback from Ms Rosemary McKenna, a National Theatre director, before the cast performed at Coventry’s prestigious Belgrade Theatre. Company and Directing Stage Manager Hannah Calderbank has written about this experience.

Being Company and Directing Stage Manager for The Musicians was a rewarding experience and I was very proud to be part of the performance at the Belgrade Theatre. Performing on a professional stage was very exciting and an amazing opportunity, allowing us to meet new people from other casts and enhance our knowledge of amateur dramatics.

Throughout the weekend of the Connections 500 celebrations, we had a lot of opportunities to watch other performances and attend a multitude of workshops. Although performing at the Belgrade was enjoyable, it obviously did not come without its challenges, such as matching the excellent standard of other plays.

As regards the technical aspects, the facilities at the Belgrade differed very much from Bablake’s, and initially it was odd being unable to communicate with the lighting and sound technicians. This hurdle was soon overcome though, as there was a speaker backstage which allowed me to hear everything that was happening on the stage, and I put my trust in the lighting and sound technicians to do everything on time, which of course they did!

Performing at a local theatre was so rewarding for both the cast and crew. It was a wonderful experience none of us will forget!

74

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

onstage

“Performing at a local theatre was so rewarding for both the cast and crew.�

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

75

housedrama Once again, the standard of our House Drama Festival was exceptional. The impressive dedication and professionalism of all actors, directors and crew involved really did stand out.

Bayley: Hansel and Gretel Crow: A Journey to Oz

76

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

housedrama

Fairfax: Cinderella Wheatley: Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

77

onsong

Compose yourself!

Current and former Bablake pupils and parents are invited to compose a piece of music on a theme of their choice, in black biro, that fits the sheet music. Please email: a) a photo of your composition or b) a photocopied page to mgw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk by 28 February 2017.

If you wish to submit an audio recording of the piece, that would be most welcome. Entries will be judged by an external musician and the winning composition will feature on our website and in next year’s edition.

Composition title:

78

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Composer’s name and status (i.e. pupil, parent etc.):

onsong

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

79

onsong

Musical notes

Bablake’s musicians on stage at Disneyland, Paris.

The following four pages feature just a few of Bablake’s 2015-16 musical highlights.

It has been a year of many memorable musical moments in school and beyond: e.g. the sounds of a Javanese gamelan on loan from the Royal College of Music in London; our choir, Alexandra Hamilton and Dasha Sutton performing the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation for a film seen worldwide.

“Nerves were running high as we all put our instruments together in complete darkness and ran out onto the stage.”

80

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Norman nights This summer, talented young musicians from the Brass Group, Junior Choir and Wind Band enjoyed a music tour to Normandy, France, arranged

by European Studies. We stayed in Rouen, about a 15 minute walk from the cathedral, and began with a visit to the Nausicaa Sealife centre and dinner at the popular Flunch restaurant.

On the second day, everyone performed at the cathedral square in the morning playing music that ranged from Celtic Ritual, a traditional piece, to Take That’s Rule the World. After playing very well in windy conditions, there was a coach journey to the Forest of Cantalou where we had a wonderful picnic in the sun. After a guided tour of Rouen and the cathedral, we gave another performance in the old town market square.

The next day, we left Rouen and visited the Mémorial de Caen, which commemorates Europe’s descent into the Second World War, the D-Day landings and the final liberation.

We then visited the Bayeux War Cemetery, where pupils and staff conducted a moving ceremony, organised by Mrs Gail Timothy (former Head of Modern Languages). We finished the day with a concert by the beach at Arromanches les Bains, and a visit to the carousel as a reward for playing well.

On the last full day, excitement was rife among pupils and staff as we were due to visit Euro Disney! After an early breakfast and coach journey (with comedian Steve at the wheel), we found ourselves backstage at Disneyland ready for our performance on the main stage.

onsong

Nerves were running high as we all put our instruments together in complete darkness and ran out onto the stage.

We did ourselves proud, performing If I Didn’t Have You from Monsters Inc. and Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. After finishing the concert, we were then able to go around the park for a couple of hours; many students went on rides such as Tower of Terror and Pinball Wizard.

We finished the day with pizza in the restaurant of King Ludwig’s Castle in the Disney Village, before travelling back to the hotel.

Before going home on the last day, we managed to fit in one final concert. We set off in the early hours of the morning to go to Monet’s Garden in Giverny. During our concert, the audience was treated to two versions of a trio (by Hannah Calderbank, Beth Carter and myself) since the music flew off our stands during the first performance! There were also great solos and selections from the Choir and Wind

Band’s usual programme.

We then set off home, slightly behind schedule, and missed our ferry back to England, therefore we had to wait a couple of hours at the docks. This gave us extra time to reflect on what a great trip we had enjoyed.

Thank you to the Music department for giving us the chance to develop confidence performing in front of large crowds, and, of course, for arranging the whole trip.

Concert for organ and strings Early in the Autumn term, Bablake’s newly refurbished Compton organ — expertly and tenderly rebuilt by Trevor Tipple, organist and director of music at St Martin’s Church, Worcester — was presented in all its glory at an inaugural organ and strings concert where many of Bablake and KHVIII’s best musicians joined forces.

Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt and Mr Alistair Kennedy (KHVIII) proved dynamic

directors for the evening’s programme of music, which featured pieces by Albinoni, C S Lang, Sammartini, Torelli, Vivaldi and Widor.

Composer and organist Dr Nicholas Scott-Burt had the privilege and pleasure of playing the Compton organ throughout the concert. He also kindly explained many of the techniques required to play the instrument after providing the audience with an excellent explanation about the alterations made.

Dr Scott-Burt is currently teaching several pupils to play the Compton organ and the new chamber organ currently situated in the Rehearsal Room.

We are indebted to the generosity of the estate of John Overton Phipps, former Headmaster of Coventry Preparatory School, for the funds necessary for this project.

Hannah Jewkes

Mr Trevor Tipple, Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt and Dr Nicholas Scott-Burt at the Compton organ.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

81

onsong

Musical notes GCSE coursework concert The hours dedicated to practice at home and attending weekly school rehearsals are very evident at our excellent concerts throughout the year. One such occasion was February’s showcase for our GCSE musicians, an annual fixture in our musical calendar that does not gain the high profile its standard demands.

Yasmin Hobrow kindly reported on this year’s concert: “Our GCSE Music class produced a presentation for our parents to explain what we had been learning over the two year course. In pairs, we presented a slideshow on each of the four Areas of Study in our specification. Then, as a class, together with Mrs. ScottBurt, we performed an example of Klangfarbenmelodie, used by Arnold Schoenberg in Peripetie, one of the set works from Area of Study 2.

Inbetween the Area of Study presentations, there were performances from various members of our class to showcase our performance coursework pieces and also the different genres of music explored in the set works.

82

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

The performances included a flute duet from myself and Olivia Kelly, saxophone solo from Sam Lowe, piano solo from Lauren Ashby, guitar solo from Elliot Brewster and a violin, cello and piano trio from Avni Kant, Riona Wilson and Shivani Bodalia.

This concert was a perfect way to mark our excellent GCSE Music course.”

Yamaha flute workshop with Lisa Nelsen Internationally renowned flute soloist Lisa Nelsen, the daughter of opera singing pig farmers from Western Canada, visited Bablake as a Yamaha artist and delivered an inspiring workshop for talented flautists from our Junior School through to the Upper Sixth.

As well as captivating everyone with stories about her family and extensive musical career, Lisa offered our eager musicians pertinent tips on how to improve their technique and breathing.

Everyone was excited to have a chance to test Yamaha’s new range of student flutes. There was also an opportunity to see a gold flute, £14k’s worth, at close quarters — unsurprisingly, Lisa Nelsen’s technical mastery made this instrument sound amazing.

Shivani Patel

onsong Yamaha artist Lisa Nelsen and her golden flute.

“As well as captivating everyone with stories about her family and extensive musical career, Lisa offered our eager musicians pertinent tips on how to improve their technique and breathing.�

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

83

sport

Sport Megan McElligott and Danika Patel, with assistance from Cameron Park and initial advice from Danny O’Malley.

“2015-16 proved another excellent year for Bablake’s sports stars locally, regionally, internationally and globally, and we trust you will enjoy the report on our South African sports tour.

We celebrate stellar team success, as you will see in the feature on our boys’ Hockey 1st XI in particular, while in an Olympic year, it will be no surprise to hear of excellent individual achievement by students like Peter Cusack.

We look forward to coverage in next year’s edition of Kare Adenegan’s amazing experience at the Rio Paralympics.”

Megan McElligott, Editor Profile

Danika Patel, Editor Profile

Cameron Park

Passions: Netball and hockey.

Passion: Netball.

Ambitions: Travel the world, study Law with Criminology at university and hopefully work for the National Crime Agency in the future.

Ambition: Study Biomedical Science at university.

Sport is a key part of the rest of the editorial team’s Bablake life. Cameron Park is a sports scholar who plays cricket and hockey to a high level, while Danny O’Malley ended the year as 1st XV captain.

For information on all team fixtures, some match reports and our team selections, www.bablakesport. com remains the definitive location.

All our major sports also post news weekly via their Twitter accounts: @bablakecricket, @bablakeghockey, @bablakehockey, @bablakenetball, @bablakerugby.

2015/16 Highlights: Spending two weeks in Africa on this summer’s sports tour, which included interacting with young cheetahs and feeding an elephant!

84

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

2015/16 Highlights: Continuing as a sports scholar and ending the year being appointed netball captain.

Danny O’Malley

sportingfacilities

sportsfile

a review of bablake’s state-of-the-art sports facilities from sports editor megan McElligott.

Born: 1971 Revamped: 2013 Highlights: indoor cricket nets; three squash courts replaced by a professional gym, climbing wall and dance studio; swimming changing rooms fully upgraded; sports hall resurfaced with indoor hockey potential.

Born: 1985-6 Revamped: 2014 Highlights: two full pitches; resurfaced twice since original build.

o1

sports hall

o2

astroturf

Born: c1931 Revamped: Pavilion revamped in 1989 after lightning strike.

Highlights: three key rugby pitches and cricket squares with scoreboxes and covers for 1st XI pitch.

Born: 1975 Revamped: 2015 Highlights: Originally two courts; transformed and resurfaced to offer three full netball courts, plus four tennis courts.

o3

playing fields

o4

netball courts

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

85

sportsfocus

SA

memories

Bablake’s girls and boys enjoyed a superb sports tour of South Africa this summer. Megan McElligott and Albert Jie report briefly on their experience.

I anticipated our netball and hockey tour to South Africa would be the trip of a lifetime and it did not disappoint. From the cold mornings spent exploring Pilanesberg Game Reserve to boiling hot days spent on the beach at Gold Reef City, everyone’s spirits were consistently high and we were eager to start every day, even at 5am!

One of my highlights was the five minutes I spent in a seven month old cheetah’s enclosure. When I volunteered, my excitement overpowered my fears, however when I entered the enclosure and 86

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

saw them approaching at speed, I began to think I had made the wrong decision. But, much to my relief, they were playful and surprisingly tame, just like small kittens, and I am so glad I put myself forward for such an unusual opportunity.

Another highlight was the friendships made, especially between different year groups. We all worked together as a team, both on and off the courts or pitches. This helped seal our sporting highlight, namely winning a close fought hockey match in 25 degrees heat and on a grass pitch, conditions we were definitely not used to.

Determination brought us through.

We owe the trip of a lifetime to our teachers and coaches, who remained full of humour and in high spirits. The animals, the way of life and the feeling of community were experiences we will never forget.

Megan McElligott

sportsfocus

Interaction with the elephants at the sanctuary in Haartebeestpoort was hands-down the highlight of my trip!

Minnie Klesnik-Edwards

After a 10 hour flight to Johannesburg, we parted from the girls to spend the next week in Pretoria where we had our first taste of the more physical style of rugby played in South Africa. Although the first set of games resulted in defeats, we enjoyed the outstanding hospitality of our hosts, a tour of the Loftus Versfeld stadium, and the honour of meeting Adriaan Strauss, captain of the Springboks. This was to be the location of our second set of games, playing on pitches next to the stadium — a great experience.

There was unanimous agreement that meeting elephants and taking them for walks should be counted as tour highlights.

We also enjoyed the variety of animals seen on the safari at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, despite the early start and freezing temperature. Our visit to the Lesedi Cultural Village was eye-opening. We learnt how the different South African tribes lived; my favourite aspect was hearing about the history of the Zulus.

Our second week was spent in Cape Town, where we were billeted with South

African families. Some of us were initially rather nervous, but this proved an invaluable opportunity for us to learn about the culture and language of the Afrikaans. Our visit to a local primary school stood out. We taught the young children rugby skills like tackling and passing, while the girls worked with them on netball and hockey. This day was particularly touching for the whole group, as these children, despite having so little and living in such poverty, had so much enthusiasm and passion that coaching them was such a joy. It really reminded us how lucky we are and how often we take things for granted; a genuine bond was made and everyone was sad to leave.

We completed the tour by attending a Super Rugby game between the Stormers and the Chiefs, an atmosphere like no other rugby match I have ever experienced, before enjoying the end of tour meal and reflection on what had been such an amazing trip.

Our tour memories, which will never be forgotten, would never have been possible without the efforts of the PE staff for which we are all extremely grateful.

Albert Jie

Thank you to Jemima Beddow for the excellent photogaphy she has supplied for this feature

Spending time with the young children from the local township and having the opportunity to teach them both netball and hockey, was a heart-warming, eyeopening experience I will always treasure.

Jasmine Shankster-East

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

87

sportsfocus

CricketReview Mr Andrew Phillips

For current news, please follow @bablakecricket

Honours Board Centurion: Manav Jaspal 106* v KHVIII Team Tally 1st XI: Regional Quarter-Finalists (National HMC T20) U15: Played 9 — Won 4 Drawn 1 Lost 4 U14: Played 8 — Won 1 Lost 7 U13: Played 11 — Won 9 Lost 2 U12: Played 11 — Won 9 Drawn 1 Lost 1 U12s Team of the Season The Shell cricket team had an outstanding season winning all bar one of their fixtures; this excellence culminated in a 50 run victory over County cup winners Solihull in the final game.

At the heart of the team were Jamie Parnell (captain) and Alex Mousley (vice captain), whose opening partnerships of 160 against Princethorpe and 105 against KHVIII were particularly memorable.

Jamie scored 93 in the former and over 70 in three others; he also took 5 wickets four times. Likewise, Alex scored heavily, making 3 half centuries and also bagged 5 wickets on 4 occasions. When one considers the U13s enjoyed a very similar season, the future looks very bright for Bablake Cricket.

Thank Yous • 1st XI cricket scholars Ross Parnell (captain) and Harvey Burke (wicket-keeper), excellent ambassadors for Bablake over the last seven years at school and county level.

• Professional coach and former Glamorgan player Nick James, whose work with our players during the Spring and Summer terms is much appreciated.

• Groundsman Anthony Kilroy and his team for producing excellent squares and outfields, which become better and better every season.

• The dedication of all Junior and Senior School coaching teams.

Twitter Our Twitter feed continues to entertain and inform its loyal followers. Top tweets this year included: @DanMousley40 receiving his Midlands Cap from @jamestaylor20 at the @BunburyCricket Festival. #Proud (@richmousley RT) #BablakeT20 Final @WboroSport beat @WarwickSchlCrkt by 6 wkts to win the Bablake T20 2016! Congratulations! #Champions 88

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

#BablakeT20 Play-Off @bablakecricket beat @KEASTONVI by 24 runs to finish 3rd #BablakeSport Once again an excellent day at @bablakeschool in their @ bablakecricket T20 Comp! Fantastic hospitality — looking forward to tomorrow! (@QMGSCRICKET RT) Year 6 Tom joined Dan & Alex representing @bablakecricket today.

1st runs, 1st wkt & a worldie catch in the U15s!! (@richmousley RT) Y5 had a great time playing rounders and cricket @bablakeoutreach today — smiles all round! (@Clifford Bridge RT) Excited that the sun’s out for @bablakecricket & girls’ sports day of rounders & Kwik cricket with local schools @bablakeschool (@bablakeoutreach RT) 1st XI fixture against @PrincethorpeCol is CANCELLED — square is a lake! #FirstDayOfSummer @bablakeschool.

U12 Jamie Parnell, under the captaincy of brother Ross, steps into the 1st XI after a last minute injury call up! Good luck!

Youngest debut?

A second @bablakecricket & @warks_wcb family hat-trick is completed by Jamie Parnell.

Delighted to report on a @warks_wcb hat-trick for the Mousley boys. (@bablakeschool RT) #BablakeMVP for last week goes to Manav Jaspal (U13s) who scored 96 against KES Stratford which secured a 101 run victory #BablakeSport Arjan Basra wins #BablakeMVP last week for his bowling performance against @KEVICHB: 4-1-8-5. #1stXI @bablakeschool #hero Always a cold one against @BVGS1527 — full block this Saturday (1st XI, U15, U14, U13 & U12) #BablakeSport #3Jumpers Our new 6 lane outdoor cricket nets were in operation today during senior training #BablakeSport @bablakeschool “Practise like you’ve never won. Play like you’ve never lost.” #BablakeSport @bablakeschool @bablakerugby @bablakecricket @BablakeJunior Well done, Dan Mousley, @BablakeCricket #scholar, on @WarwickshireCCC’s U15 Player of the Year award.

sportsfocus

“The Shell cricket team had an outstanding season winning all bar one of their fixtures ...� @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

89

sportsfocus

Girls’HockeyReview Mrs Jade Russell

For current news, please follow @bablakehockey

The seniors had lost a number of key players from last season, but also gained some talented newbies! They bonded well throughout the season, led successfully by captains Emily White and Sophie Price. The 1sts fought hard playing against some tough opposition.

Their persistent hard work and commitment came to fruition at the end of season, with two great wins against Princethorpe (3-1) and King Edward’s VI (3-1). They were unlucky to lose 0-2 to Rugby in the Warwickshire Tournament, conceding a penalty corner in extra time. The Bablake girls, as always, worked hard despite three key injuries and continued to play at a high tempo, competing well.

Lots of experience was gained for the developing squad this year, in preparation for 2016-17.

The U15s had an enjoyable year with a much improved second half of the season. In the Warwickshire tournament, their first match was against King’s High, whom they had lost heavily to previously. The team gave this fixture its all, but was defeated 2-1; our goal had been a brilliant one slipped in by Iz Hemus. We went on to play Stafford and were frustrated losing 1-0, then Gurpreet Sahota scored an amazing goal set up by Iz Hemus in a 3-1 defeat against Princethorpe.

The U14s ensured they started the season strongly losing only two matches in the first term. Despite losing a number of players to illness and injury, the squad was always tough opponents. Everyone was impressed with the determined effort from all of the team and captain Jessica Horton over the season.

Team of the season would be our U13 girls, who built on their success at U12s level and adapted to developing their game at 11 a side instead of 7. Some of their highlights were wins over Kingsley (10-0 with hat-tricks from Lily Allison and Imogen Al-Dabbagh), KHVIII (11-0) and Princethorpe (7-0). They were victorious in the U13 Invitational Tournament and 7-a-side Warwickshire Tournament, as well as runners up in the 11-a-side Warwickshire tournament where they lost narrowly (1-0) to winners King’s High.

Our U13s’ success came through teamwork, a trait all of the girls in this squad display, in addition to their passion for hockey. They went on to represent Warwickshire in the regional finals at Cannock Hockey Club, displaying some superb individual skills and gameplay, winning one, drawing one and losing one of their group matches.

The opposition was tough in the quarter finals, but Loughborough squeezed a sneaky goal past our excellent goalkeeper for a narrow 1-0 win. We finished the season 6th in the Midlands.

90

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

“Team of the season would be our U13 girls, who built on their success at U12s level and adapted to developing their game at 11-a-side instead of 7.”

Congratulations must go to Emma Allroggen and Freya Bennett for their individual success — both girls were selected to play for Warwickshire JAC, which won its Midlands tournament, and they have now graduated to the Midlands Junior Elite squad.

Our newest stars, the U12s, captained by Maria Savage, started with a great win against NUL (7-0) and battled hard in the U12 Invitation tournament, coming second. Credit must go to the girls for continuing to work hard, improve and develop over the season.

This is clearly reflected by them converting early season defeats into wins against the same opponents in the second half of the season.

sportsfocus

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

91

sportsfocus

Boys’HockeyReview Mr Andrew Phillips

A good side has the ability to play badly and grind out a result.

Winning is a habit! #1stXI #belief #commitment #BablakeSport

Inspirational 1st XI captivates Bablake with its National Cup run The 1st XI’s successful run in the England Hockey U18 Schools Plate captured the interest of the whole Bablake community this season. After losing to a very strong Magdalen College team fielding five internationals, Bablake drew local rivals Warwick School in the first round of the Plate competition.

In the Warwickshire League, the teams had drawn 1-1, therefore this was always going to be a close game. Our 1-0 win came via a goal from GCSE student Julian Wreford.

A very physical game against Bloxham School followed in Round 2. This finished 0-0 with both teams squandering excellent chances. The game was therefore decided by penalty flicks and Bablake kept its cool, with self-confessed ‘best goalkeeper in the league’ Chris Blackett making an impressive save to propel the 1st XI into Round 3.

Bryanston School made the journey from Dorset and we struck early with Cameron Park scoring in the opening minutes. However, Bryanston fought back and levelled the game at half time. Brad McKenzie-Quinn scored the goal of the season to regain the lead which was followed by a short corner strike from Park. Bryanston scored in the final few minutes, however, Bablake held on for a 3-2 victory.

In Round 4 we welcomed Richard Huish College, Taunton. A tight, fast paced game ended in a 1-1 draw, which meant once again penalties decided the result.

“It takes a special group to reach the last 8 of a national competition. @bablakeschool can be very proud of the 1st XI. #belief #commitment #CupRun” 92

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Recent confidence in our penalty shoot-out against Bloxham showed as we stepped up and took 3 excellent flicks as Richard Huish crumbled under the pressure. Bablake recorded a 3-0 win on flicks and progressed to the last 8 in the country.

England Hockey blessed us with another home draw for the quarter-final and we welcomed Prior Park to ‘Fortress Bablake’.

Prior Park fielded several internationals and the 1st XI faced a tough challenge, however, they created the better chances in the first half. 0-0 at half time, Prior Park took the lead early in the second half and then quickly converted a second. With 8 minutes left the decision to take our keeper off and hit the gamble button was made and we fielded 11 outfield players. Unfortunately, this last ditch effort did not pay off and Prior Park finished 4-0 victors.

The 1st XI this season was absolutely exceptional and reaching the last 8 in a National competition is testament to its hard work and dedication. It has been an enjoyable season coaching and managing such a committed and motivated group of players who have been brilliantly led by captain Tom Betts. We wish them all the best in the future.

Thank you to all our coaches, including professional Phil Gooderham, for their dedication all season. We congratulate Mr Lakbir Atwal on his selection for the Grand Masters World Cup squad.

For current news, please follow @BablakeHockey.

sportsfocus

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

93

sportsfocus

Girls’NetballReview Mrs Jade Russell This was the first season playing home fixtures on our new courts and our girls made sure the governors’ investment in our facilities was justified with some exceptional netball.

The senior teams trained hard and showed great commitment, with our Fifths to Upper Sixths working together for the first time.

Individuals had to be competitive and fight more for a position; this worked very well, allowing us to field 4 senior teams!

The 1st VII had a challenging season, adapting new players to the team, but still managed to come runners up in the Coventry Schools tournament. In the next round, we won 2 of our 5 matches, playing some of our best pressure netball all season and the pure determination from the girls was impressive.

The 2nd VII, captained by Kirat Johal, had an enjoyable season with some great wins over Nottingham High School (31-1), Solihull (25-7) and King’s High (32-3), while the 3rd VII enjoyed an impressive run of 6 matches undefeated.

Our senior girls enjoyed a brilliant Summer tour of South Africa.

The lessons learnt against excellent opponents and the bond established between players will bring many benefits on the courts next season and we look forward to reporting on another successful year of netball.

Our U15 A & B teams went one better than the seniors as both won their Coventry Schools tournament, a title they have held now for 4 years! They had a superb start to the season with a run of 4 excellent wins, 3 of them over major opponents: KHVIII (29-8), King’s Worcester (12-8) and RGS (10-8). This will put the girls in an excellent place to compete for the senior places next year.

The U14s must also be congratulated on an excellent season. The A team won 15 of its 17 matches, scoring over 400 goals, while the B team won its Coventry Schools tournament. The A team finished runners up in its Coventry Schools tournament and progressed to the next round, where we won our group games and semi-final very convincingly, but lost in a nail-biting final 7-8 to KHVIII. After this defeat, there was a palpable determination to exact revenge and, in the next two meetings with KHVIII, we were victorious on both occasions. We were once again invited to the Bromsgrove School tournament, where our girls faced high quality, competitive opponents. The girls rose to the challenge, acquitting themselves very well, and the draw against undefeated group winners, Oundle, again indicated the promise the team has.

94

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

“They are a very talented squad, which is extremely exciting for the future of our netball success!”

Our U13s mirrored the progress of our U14s in the Coventry Schools competition, with the A team runners up and B team victorious. The U13Bs, in particular, made tremendous progress with results over the season, working really hard to improve the quality of their game.

This resulted in a remarkable 4 month run where they won every match bar one.

Our U12 A & B sides went from strength to strength this season.

They are a very talented squad, which is extremely exciting for the future of our netball success! Congratulations must go to both teams for their Coventry Schools competition performance. The A team finished second to KHVIII, losing 8-7 in a tough final, while, like the U14s and U13s, the Bs went one better winning all of their games, including a confident win in their final against KHVIII. Individual achievements: • Hattie Morris won the U14 Regional Coaches’ Trophy at Henleyin-Arden hockey club awards evening, was Warwickshire U16 captain – a great experience as a player and captain while significantly younger than other players — and also made the U17 Warwickshire netball squad.

• Hannah Denton and Maria Savage were selected for the Warwickshire U14 Satellite programme.

For current news, please follow @BablakeNetball

sportsfocus

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

95

sportsfocus

RugbyReview Mr Rob Burdett

For current news, please follow @bablakerugby

As always, the 1st XV worked exceptionally hard throughout the year and recorded some excellent victories. With a young squad the team had to fight hard for every win and be competitive throughout the year. This positive attitude was highlighted in the 12-0 loss to old rivals KHVIII despite the disappointing result — a match where our training tops were kindly sponsored by the Old Wheatleyans RFC. The squad’s determined approach, combined with the developments made over the season and on tour in South Africa should provide a bright future for next season.

With a squad of predominantly Fifth year boys, the 2nd XV was always going to have a tough season. Wins against Princethorpe, KES Camp Hill and Lawrence Sheriff highlighted the team’s potential and, at the time of writing, this promise is being realised in the 2016-17 season with a 100% record up to half term!

The majority of the 2nd XV then formed the U16 squad for the end of season Coventry Cup. Having beaten a tough President Kennedy in the semi-final, Bablake moved on to face KHVIII in a fantastic final.

A tense 14-13 win ensured our status as Coventry Champions.

“The U12s show huge promise and completed an excellent season for Bablake with a thrilling victory versus KHVIII in the Coventry Cup ...”

The Under 15 team also showed huge resilience in a tough season.

The team made significant progress winning nine matches, proudly reaching the Coventry Cup final. Here they were defeated by an outstanding Woodlands side, but performed bravely. This match was an overwhelmingly emotional game as it represented the last time a Woodlands team would play competitive rugby before the school’s closure. We have valued fixtures against excellent Woodlands sides for decades and the school’s rugby pedigree has been recognised on the international stage, most recently via England player Tom Wood.

Our U13 and U14 teams made pleasing progress throughout the season. The U14s won their final 3 matches and were also crowned Coventry Schools champions, narrowly defeating Woodlands 15-12.

The U12s show huge promise and completed an excellent season for Bablake with a thrilling victory versus KHVIII in the Coventry Cup, coming back from 4 tries down to win 35-25 and showing a great level of pace and skill in the process.

Rugby continues to thrive at Bablake, with a large proportion of the boys representing the school and a number going on to representative rugby. With Bablake building exciting new links with Wasps RFC and the City of Rugby Initiative, an exciting future lies ahead.

Congratulations!

• Dan Smith and Chris Bale represented Warwickshire U16.

• Liam Duggan and Rory Meechan represented Warwickshire U15.

• Callum George — referee for the U12 Coventry Schools Cup final.

96

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

sportsfocus

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

97

sportsfocus

Sportstalk We report on some of the other team sports played and notable personal sporting achievements over the year.

Athletics

Our junior girls were successful both individually and as a team. They finished first in the English Schools Athletics Track and Field cup, 21 points above second place; their score enabled them to compete as a team at the regional B finals in June. There they battled through torrential rain and winds, but still competed to the best of their ability again finishing first, defeating Oxford High, The King’s School, Stratford, Moreton Hall and Campion School.

Freya Bennett (pictured) has had much deserved individual success on the track this year for both school and club. She came second in the Warwickshire championships, qualifying to represent Warwickshire at the inter-counties. Coventry Schools winner at 1500m, 800m and high jump, Freya won bronze medals for these at the U15 Warwickshire Championships, narrowly missing out on representing her county while a year young.

Congratulations must also go to Emma Allroggen, Freya Bennett, Anastasia Jeffcoat, Olivia Kelly, Jasmine Marajh and Hannah Sweeney on their selection to represent Coventry in June at the West Midlands Championships.

Mrs Jade Russell

Chess

Lightning has struck not twice but three times now as Fifth form pupil Rajan Parekh (pictured) claimed his third Lightning Chess trophy this year, winning his final game of the 2016 competition against fellow Bablake A team player Monty Dosanj.

A fine evening of Lightning Chess saw players from Bablake Junior School, Bluecoat and KHVIII compete for the 2016 trophy over 5 rounds. The matches were keenly contested and the deciding game was an exciting spectacle.

Rajan now has former international Paul Lam’s record of four Lightning Chess wins in his sights, since he should have two more shots at the trophy while studying in our Sixth Form!

98

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

The same evening Ciara Wyman collected the 2015-16 season Division 2 trophy on behalf of her team, while Monty Dosanj proudly received the cup trophy won by our A team.

Mr Mark Woodward

Football

Bablake’s 1st XI gave 110% this season, leading to questions about its mathematical prowess rather than any footballing ability! Adjusting to the departure of star players from 2014-15 took some time as we lost our first three fixtures, however the season was soon turned on its head.

Two wins on the trot, including an impressive 3-1 success at local rivals Coundon Court, marked the start of a 9 game unbeaten run. This good form lasted for the first half of the next game, as we led 2-0 at half time, but with the game finishing at 2-2, questions began to be asked about the squad’s resolve.

Coaches Grantham and Hobday did not need to worry as emphatic performances in the next three games, all victories, saw the side’s confidence return. The spirit was even there to come back from 2-0 down at KE VI Camp Hill for a 2-2 draw. We ended a very satisfactory season drawing 1-1 against our other local rivals, with the TV pundits calling Howard Webb for his opinions.

Manvir Thandi

Rounders

What an outstanding, successful summer!

Over 70% of all fixtures were won and our U12s, U13s and U15s were crowned as Coventry Schools champions, while our U14s were runners up.

The U13 team won all 4 games in their section, including a close call against KHVIII by one rounder. We beat Coundon Court in our semi-final and Blue Coat in the final. There was some excellent fielding and much improved batting.

sportsfocus

“This year saw the dawn of immense success on the international stage for two talented Bablake sports stars.”

Peter Cusack GB U23/U19 wheelchair basketball.

The win for our U15s was a truly magnificent effort from every player! Undefeated in the group games, we batted first in our semifinal against Finham Park scoring just 2 rounders, so there was pressure to ensure our fielding was first class. It was! The team gave a masterclass, and we limited our opponents to just 1 rounder. The final was a high quality contest and we secured a 5-4 win.

Meanwhile, inspirational wheelchair basketball ace Peter Cusack was helping his club to another national title and captaining the England U19 team in a series against Germany, as well as playing for the GB U23 Junior Men’s team in Dubai.

Mrs Jade Russell

What was 2015-16 like for you?

It was a pretty good year for me, involving quite a lot of balance between the demands of school and sport. I was delighted we remained winners at the regional championships as well as the school games. Academically, the whole year led up to my AS exams, which did not go too badly.

Realising their potential

This year saw the dawn of immense success on the international stage for two talented Bablake sports stars.

Kare Adenegan soon dared to believe her Paralympic dream was about to happen four years ahead of schedule — an amazing achievement we will feature in next year’s edition. She inflicted a defeat on Hannah Cockcroft, a feat no-one had managed in her professional career; she also enjoyed success in the London Marathon and personal bests in other meetings. Her first major medal, a bronze, came in the IPC World Championships in Doha, Qatar, in October 2015 and Channel 4’s Superhumans featured her in one programme.

We asked Peter a few questions about his wonderful year:

What were your highlights?

Being named captain of the GB U19 squad for the three match series against Germany stands out, especially as we won all three games.

My other highlight was being selected to represent the GB U23 team in Dubai.

What do you hope to do in 2016-17 and beyond?

I have high hopes for this season! My local club CWBA has developed really well — we are playing in Division 1 of the national league and are unbeaten so far, so it would be brilliant to maintain this performance. My main aim for this year is to be selected for the GB U23 squad for the World Championships in Toronto. This is what we, as a squad, are currently preparing for, and we are aiming to win the gold.

Do you have a fun fact about yourself?

I enjoy audiobooks.

What advice would you give to other aspiring sports people?

You never know what you are capable of until you try: aim high, work hard and the rest will come.

Mr Mark Woodward

Further news in 2016-17 will be in our termly newsletter The Lion.

Kare Adenegan T34 international wheelchair racer.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

99

sportinghonours

Representative Honours 2015/16 We congratulate the following individuals and teams on their success in 2015-16, which we hope will inspire their peers to match them in the future.

International/Prestigious British Modern Biathlon Championships Lucas Bennett Bunbury Festival Cricket Dan Mousley (Most Valuable Player in the T20 final) England Karate Clare Jackson (Juniors) Team GB Athletics T34 Wheelchair Racing Kare Adenegan Wheelchair Basketball Peter Cusack (U23/U19 captain) Trinidad and Tobago Swimming Jasmine Morajh

Regional Midlands Cricket U15: Daniel Mousley Hockey Elite U13: Emma Allroggen and Freya Bennett Junior Regional Performance Centre U17: Hannah Allroggen, Thomas Betts and Aidan Johnson U16: George Bayliss and Julian Wreford Swimming U16 Midlands Championships: Georgia Ementon West Midlands Athletics Juniors: Olivia Kelly (1500m) Intermediates: Emma Allroggen and Freya Bennett (1500m) 100

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Cross Country (inc Inter County) Boys: Lucas Bennett and Matthew Hart Girls: Emma Allroggen, Freya Bennett and Olivia Kelly

Team achievements Cricket National T20, regional finalist Warwickshire Cup, U14s semi-finalist

County Representative Honours Leicestershire U17 Cricket Cameron Park Warwickshire Cricket U17: Daniel Mousley and Ross Parnell U15: Daniel Mousley U15B: Prabhjote Sahota U12: Alex Mousley and Jamie Parnell Hockey Junior Academy Centre U16: Hannah Allroggen and Sam Lowe U15: Amrit Gill, Nathan Golsby-Taylor and James Sawyer U14: Daniel Barnes, Xander Bennett and Guy Jewkes U13: Emma Allroggen Junior Development Centre U15: Aaron Biddle, Max Harrison and Josh Lowe

Cross Country Girls: National Cross Country Cup, U14 regional finalist Hockey Boys: National Plate, quarter-finalist; Warwickshire League, 2nd X1 2nd Girls: Warwickshire Tournament, U14 3rd U13 runners up, U13 Minis winners, U12 2nd Netball West Midlands South Netball League, U19A winners, U19B winners Rugby 7s Warwick: U12 Shield winners Swimming Girls: Relays (Olympic Park), Open Girls 6th in Freestyle B final; Warwickshire Schools, U13 runners up

Congratulations also to ...

Netball Satellite Academy U17: Hattie Morris U14: Hannah Denton and Maria Savage

Our teams and individuals, who won over 32 Coventry Schools trophies for athletics, cross country, hockey, netball, rounders, rugby and swimming.

Rugby U16: James Judge and Daniel Smith U15: Liam Duggan and Rory Meechan

Kare Adenegan, as documented earlier, for an amazing season of key medal wins that culminated in selection for the Rio Paralympics in September 2016.

Table Tennis U16: Jack Green U13: Milly Green

Bablake Cricket Scholars: Harvey Burke, Daniel Mousley, Ross Parnell and Daniel Smith.

Daniel Mousley, U15 Player of the Year at Warwickshire’s Annual Cricket Awards.

sportinghonours U12 Warwickshire cricketer Jamie Parnell.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

101

formerpupils

Former Pupils Edited by Ashni Hindocha, Georgia Kelsey and Vikesh Puri.

School visits

Bablake 1344

Former Pupils and staff are warmly encouraged to visit Bablake on an informal basis by school archivist Mr Peter Burden (pfb@bablake. coventry.sch.uk) and Alumni Relations Officer Mrs Sylvia O’Sullivan.

There are numerous concerts, drama productions and sports fixtures, where former pupils are also very welcome!

Former pupils may be interested to know that Bablake Wines (www.bablakewines.co.uk) is now selling bottles of very acceptable red and white wine and champagne with a ‘Bablake 1344’ label.

Archives We host a vast array of records dating back to 1902, including complete sets of school magazines, photographs, written records, exercise books and much more. If you are interested in viewing such material, Mr Burden will be happy to help out with any enquiries.

Scholarships The Trustees of the Coventry School Foundation Prizes Fund invite applications for: • The Sage Scholarship: tenable in any subject by a former pupil of the school at any university, college or other institute of further education (including professional and technical education) approved by the trustees.

• The Colonel Sir W F Wyley Scholarship: similarly available to former pupils, but restricted to those studying science subjects.

Make the most of every opportunity given! Bablake has set the foundations for so many former pupils’ lives and it is inspiring to know we have the stability to create such unique pathways.

The Trustees envisage offering assistance towards the cost of projects, expeditions or travel relevant to an applicant’s subject of study.

Applications should be made in writing to the Headmaster, Mr John W Watson, giving full details of the purpose for which a scholarship is being sought.

HMC Bulkeley-Evans Gap Year Scholarships are also available via www.gap-year-the-bulkeley-evans.co.uk.

Ashni Hindocha

Ashni Hindocha, Editor Profile

Georgia Kelsey, Editor Profile

Vikesh Puri, Editor Profile

Dream job: Cosmetic dentist in London.

Dream job: Solicitor.

Future ambitions: Travel the world, visit every continent.

Future ambition: Work in law.

Dream job: Clinical psychologist or related to biopsychology.

Hobbies: Great British Bake Off, retail therapy.

102

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Hobbies: Music, reading.

Future ambitions: To be happy and able to help others.

Hobbies: Binge-watching TV series, video games, reading.

reunions

Reunited

(and it feels so good!)

A very enjoyable aspect of Alumni Relations Officer Mrs Sylvia O’Sullivan’s role at Bablake is arranging reunions for former pupils, which, especially for those who have not grown up with social media, rekindle friendships and the bond with their alma mater, writes Ashni Hindocha.

A

s she says, “It is definitely a pleasure welcoming back our former pupils; they most certainly have a story or two to tell about their years at Bablake, and it is always fascinating to see their reaction to new facilities and changes to our site.”

This year the Alumni office was busier than ever with at least eight formal reunions for our Old Wheatleyans: • Netball and Hockey Tournament — the official opening of our new courts.

• Karen Fraser, Bablake’s ‘first girl’, returned as guest of honour for 2015’s Prize Giving.

• The Lincoln reunion.

• Celebrating 40 Years of Girls — a tea party and evening reception.

• Remembrance Day service.

• The annual Spring Coffee Morning.

• Our Classes of 95/96.

• The 1970s decade.

As well as these formal occasions, many returned for concerts, plays and sports fixtures such as the Bablake v KHVIII rugby match or Old Wheatleyans RFC VP days. In addition, a healthy number of year groups regularly arrange informal gatherings in Coventry or London.

Excellent numbers of former pupils returned again to assist our Careers department with two Mock Interview Mornings and a Careers Convention, while there was a steady stream of people

dropping by for a personal tour of our school from Mrs O’Sullivan or archivist Mr Peter Burden.

It is inspiring to read about the outcomes of our former pupils in print and online, or meet them in person. Their advice is invaluable and, once I have completed my Dentistry degree, I look forward to being able to return to offer advice in turn to the pupils at the school then… as well as reminisce just a little!

Don’t forget to let us know your news!

Mrs Sylvia O’Sullivan, Alumni Relations Officer, and Mrs Kayleigh Lacey, Alumni Database Clerk, would be delighted to receive news of former pupils, to help produce our biannual Former Pupils newsletter. Please email: sosullivan@ bablake.coventry.sch.uk.

NB There are Bablake Alumni groups on LinkedIn and Facebook (a closed group at www.facebook.com/groups/bablakereunited/) plus there is a new register for Former Pupils at bablake.web-intouch.com @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

103

careerdevelopment

“My apprenticeship has, quite frankly, changed my life.”

Josh at the award ceremony. Photo: Amy Christian.

Josh White The Apprentice Vikesh Puri comments on the early career of former Bablake pupil Josh White, who graduated from Bablake in 2009, and was named 2015 EAL Advanced Apprentice of the Year, in recognition of his dynamic work as a Business Analyst for IBM.

104

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Josh expressed his keen support for the vocational route offered by apprenticeships in his acceptance speech for the award, saying: “My apprenticeship has, quite frankly, changed my life.

My confidence has grown immensely and I have no fears delivering presentations to client directors or visiting local schools to help promote apprenticeships.”

We asked Josh to offer a brief description of his work as an apprentice and his reply came from Košice, in Slovakia, where he was working with developers: “The team is preparing to ‘go live’ with a new system for a client at the moment, so each day is different. Usually my work involves daily meetings with our internal project team and client teams, assessing and solving key issues and actions.

I support the developers with any queries they have about how to develop the system and fix any issues. I also support the client when testing the system.

From training courses and day to day work, I have developed such a broad range of skills: e.g. presenting to clients, and learning how to communicate with remote teams all over the world.”

We congratulate Josh on his exceptional award and look forward to news of further developments in his career.

sport

Old Wheats!

Last season was a significant one. Loyal supporters witnessed the Wheats win handsomely against some clubs, but then suffer the same in reverse against the top sides, writes Mr Mark Woodward.

T

he VP day draw for the 1sts against Old Coventrians was an outstanding spectacle, while every player may feel proud of their contribution to the club. Captain Ben Craig and coach Jonathan Fitt are thanked for their commitment.

Over the summer, a number of very good players have moved to different clubs for a variety of reasons, while a few have had to retire through injury.

The early signs are that many of those gaps have been plugged and the club is rallying well. A new coaching team, led

by Matt Cappell, is working effectively with new 1st XV skipper Richard Saunders and vice captain Ollie Thorpe.

The Mini Wheats initiative goes from strength to strength and now offers Sunday morning rugby coaching for U6 and U7 boys and girls. There is also talk of some matches for these age groups!

Old Wheats stalwarts and joint Chairmen Dean Bryant and Paul Wright speak of a challenging season ahead for the 1st XV with fixtures against the likes of Bedworth, Droitwich and the Old Coventrians, while the Stags (2nd XV) will face similarly tough opposition.

Players of all abilities are always welcome and regular training sessions take place throughout the year. Support is always valued by the players on match days too.

If you are interested in playing, supporting, becoming a vice-president or sponsoring the club, please contact Dean Bryant (07712 87777 or dean_bryant@sky.com).

Please do not underestimate what you can do for the club.

Your support can be offered in many ways to aid the plans we have for continued success.

For further news, see @ oldwheatleyans, www.pitchero. com/clubs/oldwheatleyans, or www.facebook.com/OWRFC. @TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

105

alumninews

Grapevine Brief news about Former Pupils, with help from Mrs Kayleigh Lacey.

Fay McConkey

Tim Hands

News about our former pupils is regularly reported on www.bablake.com, with use of the hashtags #BablakePupilsEverywhere and #RealisingTheirPotential on any accompanying social media coverage. Since the start of 2016, the following former pupils have been featured online. #1 Matt Vines (1994–2001) UK artist management Vice President at the Three Six Zero group.

#14 Joshua White (2005–2009) Digital apprentice (IBM), EAL National Advanced Apprentice of the Year.

#2 Kimberly Jamison (2005–2012) Freelance writer.

#15 Fay McConkey (1984–1991) VFX producer (Double Negative), Oscar winner (Ex Machina).

#3 Derek Littlewood (1990–1997) Games designer. #4 Wes Finch (1989–1994) Musician.

#16 Darren Carnall (1990–1995) Associate choreographer (Kinky Boots, UK), Olivier award winner.

#5 Will Hine (2006-2013) Trainee architectural technician, drum’n’bass artist.

#17 Tim Hands (1970–1977) Dialogue and ADR Supervisor, Emmy and Golden Reel awards winner (Game of Thrones et al).

#6 Olivia Broadfield (1992–1999) Songwriter (for Billie Marten), musician.

#18 Dr Mark Whalley (1980–1987) Headmaster (Rookwood School).

#7 Ash Hawkins (1998–2005) Videographer.

#19 Melissa James (2006–2013) Volunteer of the Year, York Award; Psychology graduate.

#8 Alex T Smith (1996-2003) Award-winning illustrator and author. #9 Becki Hawkins (now Douglas) (1992–1999) Senior nutritionist (Champneys), writer.

#20 Hannah Elsy (2005–2012) Theatre producer. #21 John Haidar (2002–2009) Theatre director.

#10 Melissa Walton (now Wells) (2001–2006) Food coach, author of The Goddess Revolution.

#22 Ameena Tahir (2005–2012) Henna designer (Henna by Ameena), Psychology and cognitive neuroscience undergraduate.

#11 Bradley Gill (2007–2014) CBSO singer, music undergraduate, Student President (University of Birmingham Music Society).

#23 Sarah Thompson (now Brown) (1988–1995) Senior manager (EY).

#12 Kate Townshend (now Bradford) (1994–2001) Freelance journalist, primary school teacher. #13 Nayantara Sriram (2005-2012) World Health Organisation intern, musician.

106

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

#24 James Langton (2005–2012) Junior model maker; nominated for Steve Olney and New Designers awards. #25 Ronan Cassidy (1978–1985) Chief HR and Corporate Officer (Royal Dutch Shell plc). #26 Nick Skelton MBE (1971-6) Equestrian, Rio gold medalist.

I am a very proud parent today. Fay, an ex-pupil of Bablake, won an Oscar for Double Negative for its visual effects on the film Ex Machina. As parents we wish to thank Bablake for all of the support and encouragement so many years ago.

Janet McConkey #27 Tom Calderbank, Jack Jacques, Callum McDonagh, Rob Vallance and Jonathan Wellings joined Alastair Grant in a Ben Nevis climb to raise money for the Cameron Grant Memorial Trust. #28 Sam Griffiths (2008–2015) Director for Sherlock (Edinburgh Fringe Festival), computer science undergraduate. #29 Matt Davidson (1996–2003) Actor, MA dissertation won 2016 CAF BCU Prize. #30 Rebecca Garforth (2006–2013) Designer, Tigerprint award winner. #31 Jonathan Collett (1983–1990) PR consultant, working with Pakistan cricket team this summer.

We already have an exceptional list of pupils to feature over 2016-17, but please contact us with your news!

alumninews

Melissa James

Lucy Timms and Charlie Hands

Congratulations to the following ...

Anniversary 30th consecutive Bablake production at the Edinburgh Fringe, while aware of previous visits in the late 70s/early 80s.

Higher Education

Alex T Smith

Karen Fraser

Audio downloads: Roger Worrod, miscellaneous.

Award Winners: Lauren James (Branford Boase 2016 long list); Alex T Smith, Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion (UK Literacy Association), The Hundred and One Dalmatians (Children’s Book category in the Association of Illustrators World Illustration).

(See #BablakePupilsEverywhere for Darren Carnall, Tim Hands and Fay McKonkey. #Olivier #Emmy #Oscar).

Jonny Lawrence (Class of 2005), French and Arabic Studies 1st, University of Oxford.

Bablake legends, numerous pupils and staff, at Art and Design Technology exhibition, Netball and Tennis Courts official opening, concerts, KHVIII rugby match, school plays et al.

Leo Newport (Class of 2002), PhD, University of Durham.

Bablake: seen in Nativity, Nativity 2 on TV schedules.

Beth Rowland (Class of 2006), English and History 1st, University of Nottingham.

Back at Bablake: Sarah Brown, Erin Hushon, Kate Ross (Bablake Feminist Society, U6th Enrichment talk by Laura Bates); Joe Cashmore (Photography Enrichment: drone); Rory Dulku/Rachel Hepworth (drama); James Elkins (IFA); Will Fitzgerald (JLR); Karen Fraser (Guest of Honour at 2015 Prize Giving); Lauren James (Book signing in Library, 6th Form Enrichment); Emily Lewis (now Hall) (Pre Prep teacher); Professor Ray Lund (neuroscientist); Andy Moran (surveyor); Stuart McNaney (account manager at CEF); Kayleigh Mullarkey (now Lacey) (Alumni Database Clerk); Aaran Patel (BMAT, Medical Extension); Ellen Parker (BJS).

Kirstie Townshend (2006–2008), Master’s in Terrorism, International Crime and Global Security, Coventry University.

Roya Ziaie (Class of 2005), Molecular Genetics MSc, Best dissertation, University of Nottingham.

Achievements for Matt Davidson, James Langton mentioned earlier.

Also top of the class: Victoria Jones, Connor Putnam, Beth Rowland.

Dr Allison Jones, Executive Dean at UCLAN.

Wedding of the Year Charlie Hands and Lucy Timms (both Class of 2005). Guests included: David Barrington, Adam Clarke, Laura Coulthard (now Mitchell), Mark Davis, Mandy Flemons (now McGowan), Sam Foster, Ben Hands, Ella Hughes (now Hands), Guy Hands, Nick Lloyd, Rob McGowan, Andrew Mitchell, Chris Mitchell, Carla Oldroyd, Ali Rowe, Ryuko Reed and reporter, Mrs Alyson Heath.

Ross Boulton’s wedding also included: Paul Barnes, Eleanor Bonas, James Gibbs, Anthony Hernandez, Jason Manku, Tom Osborn, Marie Palmer, Bavesh Panchal, Simon Parkes, Simon Tite, Jo Ward et al.

Heard, mentioned or spotted In a year when one of the editor’s favourite posts on the FP Facebook group was a discussion about the dreams many still had involving the school and connected memories, all this was happening: Ad Watch: Nando’s pre-Olympics, fitness-inspired ad had Darren Carnall as one of its stars.

Amnesty Media Award Student category: Jonny Lawrence, article in The Cherwell on child prostitution in Jordan.

Armistice/Remembrance Day: David Amery, Peter Amery, Peter Burden, Geoff Eames, John Greenhill, John Print, James Sherlock joined our assembly in the Main Hall.

Charlotte Rouse: BaxterStorey graduate scheme promotion .

BBC News presenter Martine Croxall: ‘In the worst of times, a star rises in the field of journalism…’ (David Henderson, blog re Paris ’15 coverage).

Behind the Lens: Aniruddha Bose (living a dream or two at the 2016 Rio Olympics, trackside by Usain Bolt); Ben Duffy (Atlantic Challenge 2015 official photographer, photo of Jessica Ennis-Hill for Rio Olympics Team GB was cover shot for the The Daily Telegraph, Fabulous, The Guardian, The Times).

Bomber Command Memorial: John Greenhill.

Brian Matthew: still hosting BBC Radio 2’s Saturday Sounds of the Sixties at 86; Nayantara Sriram (aka Acacia) on Asian Network; Mel Wells contributing to #bodypositive on Radio 1’s The Surgery.

BT Sport: Holly Payne (sponsored by Pingles Leisure Centre), with England Hockey at Action Woman of the Year Awards.

Charitable action: Luke Alderson-Fletcher (Special Effect); Will Carr (Heart of England Mencap); Matt Clements (Cancer Research UK); Gary Davies (PHAB); Michael Douglas (Georgie’s Gift); Guy Dunwoody (NSPCC); Dickie Hemming (Prostate Cancer UK); Georgina Lloyd (Skillshare International); Alan Lole (Cancer related); Rachael Mohomed (now Arkell) (Gigathon); Mark Shilton (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance); Kirstie Townshend (Coventry Winter Night Shelter); Chlöe Whittle (Alzheimer’s Society); Ben Youngjohns (Zoe’s Place).

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

107

alumninews

Ben Duffy’s photography

Erin Taylor and Jake Burgess

Keisha Simms (centre)

Richard East and family

CNN/ Fox News: expert commentary on medical issues and terrorism, Dr Qanta Ahmed.

Local newsagents, service stations, airports and any high streets left: UK Cachemag, edited by Adam Redshaw.

The Colly: tattooed Jack Brown; Makhan Bhinder, Anna Knight (Jedward).

Lord’s: Elliot Bates, same row as Mrs Alison Tumber in 30k stadium.

Shital Desai (now Dave): appointed Chief of Adult Medicine for District of Columbia and Suburban Maryland at the Mid Atlantic Permanente Medical Group.

Mercury Music Awards: Matt Vines (with Slaves).

Coventry Telegraph: Monsieur Stephen Byng (guest blog re Wasps v Toulon cup rugby); Rhiannyd Jones (Seasonal Soul); Faye Sweet (now Abbott), Coventry’s ‘City of Culture’ campaign.

Crowdfunding (or similar): Paul Lam (Coventry Chess Academy Members Development Fund); Katie McDermott (Not Dogs); Daniel Wye (for short film The Wake).

National Press: Bablake uniform (various); Michelle Beckett (Daily Telegraph); Kate Bradford (was Townshend) (Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Grazia, TES); Becki Hopkins (was Douglas) (Daily Mail, Vitality); Kaleigh Howat (now Williams) (Vogue); Hope Hughes, Mel Wells (Daily Mail); Melissa Kite (Private Eye); James Lynas (TES); Lorna Syson (various); Rosie Tressler (The Guardian); Alex T Smith (#3000Refugees, The Guardian); Alex Walsh-Atkins (Viz letters); Christopher Walters (The Times).

Dan Skelton Racing: Izzy Meyrick.

National Youth Theatre (Summer): Morwenna Hocken.

‘Democracy Week’ (Coventry City Council): Genevieve Holmes.

OCR bursary: Keisha Simms.

Dentistry (Suffolk): Nick Stolls, involved in sub committee dealings with Department of Health.

Old Wheatleyans Newsletter (biannual): message from Bablake archivist Mr Peter Burden.

Designs on the Catwalk: Jo Edden (Harrods); Supriya Lele, named by i-D magazine as one of the Top 10 graduate designers.

On a Menu: ‘The real James Brindley’ pizza.

Credited: Sarah Barnard, Clare Samson, Mrs Alison Tumber, Madison Woodward (The Next Together).

DJ-in (with no ‘g’)/On the Decks: Sean Clothier, Will Hine, Matt Despilia (aka Lang), Malik Mattu.

Dubai Rugby Sevens: Christmas-morphing his way to media attention, Richard Drury.

Edgar Street (Hereford FC): Alan Cox (Assistant Referee).

Film about Bablake (on DVD) by Bill Hayes and Alec Moretti, with introduction and commentary from Mr John Lawrence.

National News (TV): Economist Paul Hollingsworth (BBC News, News at 10).

Old Wheatleyans RFC: Many former pupils on the books, inc. Clubman of the Year, Joe Bristow.

On Your Telly: Michelle Beckett, The Big Question (BBC 1); Daniel Friebe, Tour de France interviews (ITV 4); Dr John Thanassoulis, Professor of Financial Economics at Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, and the Associate Dean for Executive Education (BBC 1).

Pakistan Cricket Team: ‘press up’ guru, Jonathan Collett.

Photoblend: Olli Adébisi (for Paris, Nov ’15).

GOLD! Nick Skelton and Big Star at 2016 Rio Olympics. #Take7

Presenting at Women of the Future: Georgia Horn.

Guardian Masterclass: Alex T Smith (Getting Started on Your Children’s Book).

Presidents: Pavesh Sehmar (York Finance Conference); Frank Walton (Royal Philatelic Society London).

Guest Blog: Dr Carolyn Brinkworth (Women in Astronomy).

Representative Rugby: Bedford, Josh Buggea, inc. poster adverts; London Irish to Bristol, Shane Geraghty; Nottingham, Jamie Jack.

Hospital/Med School Records compilations: Will Hine as Whiney.

In the Game: Matt Davidson, award-winning dissertation into role of actors in gaming; Emily Morris (E3 2016, Turing Test).

Inspired by Shakespeare: Wes Finch (BBC Radio 3). iTunes, Soundcloud and other reputable digital stores/streams: Barbershizzlé (inc Plester and Overton) with Emma McGann Rudolph; Olivia Broadfield Jumberlack; Jake Burgess and Erin Taylor (aka Charlie Jack) This Year Is Up; Wes Finch; Will Hine (Whiney); Charlotte Loasby.

Jobs created: 90 at Sixteen South, Northern Ireland for Claude TV show, Alex T Smith.

108

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

Rolls Royce (on placement): Oliver Warlow.

Royal Albert Hall: Bradley Gill.

Royal Mile, Edinburgh, 2016 Fringe Festival: Katie Carlson, Stuart Castledine, Richard East, Jenny Greaves, Alexandra Hand, Mo Hocken, James Laurenson, Josh Sood. Josh, Katie and Mo were involved with productions.

Rugby international Tom Wood (Woodlands & England) called Bablake ‘the enemy’, in jest, in a press conference, at Ross Hudson’s prompting.

alumninews

‘The Last of the Boys’

Lauren James

Mel Wells

Class reunion, 40 years of girls

Rugby promotion: Millie Ross (Streatham-Croydon WRFC); Frank Sackey (University of East London, World Cup literature); Matt Williams (Wasps).

In memoriam

Saving the NHS: newly qualified, Dr Uma Raman, Dr Pam Uppal.

Claude Barnwell (1930-1937)

Scottish Parliament: Adam Clarke (Liberal Democrats Press Office).

Colin Blower (dates unconfirmed)

Skyscanner: Mark Shilton.

Leigh Bramley-Dobson (1955-1962)

Stage Life: Katie Carlson (Richard II, Keble O’Reilly Theatre, Oxford); Hannah Elsy (Quentin Dentin Show, Arts Theatre, West End); Adam Fray (Brummegem Pals); Hamish Glen (The Sisterhood, Belgrade Theatre, director); Sam Griffiths (Sherlock, Ed Fringe, #30YearsInARow, #UniqueForASchool); John Haidar (The Last of the Boys, Southwark Playhouse, director); Guy Kelly (The Beta Males, Udderbelly Festival); Andy Monaghan (Sleeping Beauty, Sadler’s Wells); Christopher Walters (Ross, Chichester Festival Theatre).

Sidney Brown (1937-1944)

Still salivating over Bablake’s Chelsea buns 76 years later: Mr Charles Cook.

We are very sorry to inform readers of the deaths of the following:

Joseph Brunt (1959-1966) Robert Hancox (1960-1965) Brendan Jennings (1972-1979) Mrs Pamela Lloyd, Teacher of French and Spanish, mother to former pupils Anna and Jonathan: ‘A teacher who really enriched pupils’ lives.’

Lisa Pendrey (2003-2008) Ken Reaves (1951-1958)

Tea and Chat, Nuneaton: Ryan Lester.

Egons Ruskulis (1975-1983)

Team NHS: #IAmTheDoctorWho Amanjeet Dahaley; Tom Hine (general campaigning).

Leon Tomlinson (1940-1945)

Twickenham: Sophie Tumber, Rugby World Cup volunteer.

Grant Walshe (1943-1948), Lord’s Taverner, MENSA member, who had an illustrious career with Barclays Bank before enjoying retirement in Cardiff and Great Sampford.

Upper Sixth Question Time panel: Beckie Carter.

Waterstones and all good independent bookshops: Lauren James (The Next Together); Roger Parkes (The Secrets Holder); Alex T Smith (Claude: Lights! Camera! Action!, Going for Gold; The One Hundred and One Dalmatians illustrations); Mel Wells (The Goddess Revolution).

We ‘Hustled for (Catherine) Russell’ in her NUS Education Officer bid at the University of Leeds.

Yogahush: yoga classes by Genevieve Prue.

Philip Townshend (1969-1976)

Bernard Wheat (1937–1942) You may also be sorry to hear the buildings of Bablake Old Boys’ Club/ Former Pupils’ Association (1948–2016) were sold this year.

Reminiscences Thank you to those of you posting so many photographs and memories on the Former Pupils Facebook group.

Most likely to…

Be seen on Strictly: Richard Drury, Martyn Gray, Richard Lowe.

Conduct a casual conversation with an Old Wheat at traffic lights, tube stations or on a bicycle: Millie Ross.

Addenda…

Many former pupils returned for reunions (see p103), the 2016 Careers Convention (www.2morrow-2day.com/careers-convention.html) and Mock Interview Mornings (http://www.2morrow-2day.com/mockinterview.html) (September 2015, July 2016).

Former staff Miss Vanessa Hawkins (PE), goal scorer live on Sky Sports during club finals.

Please submit news for inclusion in the 2016-17 Wheatleyan by email (mgw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk) to Staff Editor, Mr Mark Woodward, by 1 September 2017.

Mr Mark Warner (Head of Art), more sketching, painting breaks.

@TheWheatleyan / www.bablake.com / @bablakeschool

109

riopart1

2012-13 Wheatleyan deputy editor Aniruddha Bose, a current Chemical Engineering undergraduate at the University of Birmingham, volunteered at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

His outstanding photographic reportage completes this issue and offers a taster for Rio Part 2 which will feature prominently in the 2016-17 edition!

110

The Wheatleyan 2015/16

#realisingtheirpotential #photographicexcellence

One of the country’s leading co-educational independent schools is closer than you think…

Coundon Road, Coventry CV1 4AU t +44 (0)24 7627 1200 f +44 (0)24 7627 1293 e info@bablake.coventry.sch.uk w www.bablake.com f facebook/bablakeschool i instagram/bablakeschool t twitter.com/bablakeschool

Cast of ‘The Musicians’ performing at The Belgrade Theatre as part of the 2016 National Theatre Connections 500 Festival.