Welcome to the Summer edition of the Lion Magazine.
A short but another incredibly busy term.
The multiple successes of our sports teams were crowned with eight Coventry Cup trophies. The quality of our performing arts was demonstrated, yet again, with an outstanding production of The IT and frequent concerts from our musicians. The Art and Design Departments’ annual exhibition was impressive, with a wide variety of work
on display. All of these, and the many other aspects of our vibrant school, which are celebrated within these pages, bear testimony to outstanding talent and to the joint endeavour of pupils, staff and parents. I am so happy and proud to be part of it!
Mr
School Captains
Congratulations to our new School and Vice Captains who have recently been appointed.
They are Krish and Daisy (School Captains) and Umarah, Laila, Isaac and Rhys (Vice Captains).
Our Captains have been chosen for their leadership qualities and commitment to our school community. We are confident that their commitment and passion will lead us through a successful year ahead.
Andrew Wright, Headmaster
Our House system fosters friendly competition across all year groups. Pupils can actively contribute by participating in team and individual events, earning valuable House points along the way.
Pupils earn House points for every event and the collective event points contribute towards the House Cup which is awarded at the end of the academic year.
House Events
Masterchef
The House Masterchef competition took place earlier this term. Each year group was tasked with cooking their own recipes within 30 minutes. Shells had to make a salad dish, Year 8 a stir fry, Year 9 a pasta dish, Year 10 ‘flavours of the world’ and Seniors had to cook a meal for two people for under £5. Judges evaluated the dishes based on presentation, taste and the tidiness of their workspace.
After some wonderful cooking, inventive dishes and a competition that was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone the results were: Wheatley won for Shells and Year 8, in Year 9 Crow won, in Year 10 Wheatley won and in Seniors Crow won.
Our House badges:
Photography
House photography is a relatively new event which was introduced during Covid when the House activities had to take place online. This year the three categories were Shadow, Movement and In The Detail
Photographs were judged by age group with winners being awarded to Juniors, Intermediates and Seniors. Thank you to Tracy from Reprographics, a keen photographer herself who judged the competition.
Drama
House Drama was a great success this term. A pupil-led activity run by Sixth Form prefects, this year’s scripts were traditional versions of Snow White and Cinderella.
Everyone involved in the productions was fantastic and a special thank you to the house prefects for their hard work and dedication, without them this event would not have been such a success.
BAYLEY CROW FAIRFAX WHEATLEY
The IT
The IT was an opportunity for our senior pupils to immerse themselves in a creative performance project like no other.
The cast and crew showcased their ideas and gave the audience an intimate and meaningful theatrical experience. Staged ‘in-the-round’, the play gave voice to the challenges of teenage pressures, represented in both production design and ensemble performances.
‘I enjoyed the different style of theatre, and also the strong ensemble that’s needed and working with everyone. I think rehearsing all the different styles of scenes was quite different to anything I’ve done before.’
ELLIOT
‘I love feeling part of a community and I think that within this show we created a family and everyone has a level of respect and trust for each other.’
ELLA
‘The collaborative work that everyone put together towards the show allowed it to become a strong show with multiple creative ideas.’
NANCY
‘The strong themes within the play have helped me to realise the importance of looking out for one another, you never know when somebody may be struggling.’
MARTHA
‘I enjoyed the atmosphere the most. It is so friendly and lively, and filled with the kindest, most creative people. It is also incredible doing a different type of theatre that I haven’t done before.’
EMMA
London Theatre Trip
In June, pupils embarked on a London theatre visit to watch the musical, Hadestown. After experiencing the multi-cultural atmosphere in Covent Garden, they thoroughly enjoyed the performance which was not only musically brilliant but had some stunning creative moments to inspire our Drama pupils. There were some very enthusiastic discussions on the ride home.
BREAKING NEWS
Rehearsals for Bonnie and Clyde, our incredibly exciting music production for 2025 will begin next term. The cast and crew members have already displayed passion and dedication in their recent read-through and this is certain to be another theatrical experience where new friendships and memories are made. Performances take place on 29 - 31 January 2025
Mark the dates in your calendar as this one is not to be missed!
Basketball
The Coventry Basketball season came to a close with our U12 boys, U14 boys, U16 boys and U16 girls all winning their finals to be crowned champions, capping a fantastic season. U16 boys won their Coventry final to become champions vs Blue Coat 39-35 with Daniel as the most valuable player.
During the Tri-Nations tournament, Niki made a substantial contribution and has now been selected to represent England U14 in the international basketball tournament in Copenhagen, Denmark. This is a fantastic achievement.
Niki has also led our U13 Golden State Warriors to the NBA finals in Birmingham. The U12 Warriors just missed out on a place in the finals with a narrow loss in their final play-off game but they too should be congratulated on an outstanding season.
Cricket
It has been an exciting term of cricket, with our boys and girls representing the School in a busy programme of fixtures.
We have fielded a total of 31 teams across all age groups, and for the first time in the history of the School, we have as many girls playing cricket as boys. We have once again been brilliantly supported by Nick James, our professional cricket coach, sharing his wealth of experience from playing international cricket.
The girls have shone this season, with our U12s and U13s winning the Nottingham High School invitational tournament. The boys have also enjoyed success with the CSF 1st XI progressing in the U18 T20 National HMC competition and our junior sides enjoying strong results against local teams. Individual stand-out performances have come from Tom, who scored 90* in the U15s victory against KES Stratford, and Zach’s incredible hat-trick to win the game for the U12s in the final over against Bishop Veasey’s
Grammar School. Ben and Zane also put on a fantastic partnership of 73 against Loughborough Grammar School to rescue the U13s from the jaws of defeat to secure a memorable victory.
Congratulations to Phoebe, Ariana, Daisy, Aaron and James who have been selected to represent their respective age groups for Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
Photo: U12 and U13 girls at the Nottingham HS invitational tournament.
Athletics
This term has been busy with plenty of Athletics events for all age groups.
The Inters (4ths & 5ths) and Junior (2nds & 3rds) champs was the first competition to be held, with the Year 8 championships to follow.
Congratulations to our Year 8 boys and girls that qualified for the city championships in June: Elliot (hurdles and long jump), Niki (800m, javelin and high jump), Jack (800m), Matt (1500m), Jacob H (long jump), Hugo (discus and boys’ relay team), Zoe (hurdles), Scarlett (800m and long jump), Lucie (hurdles and high jump), Lyla (100m and javelin), Lexie (javelin), Chioma (shot), Darcey (shot), Hannah (discus) and Lauren (1500m, high jump and the girls’ relay team).
The English Schools’ Track and Field Cup was just as successful as the last. All the teams competed with grit and determination, with the Junior Girls finishing in 2nd place with 318 points beating the other five schools.
We are hopeful that this team will now reach a Regional final next term.
Gamelan
Our pupils recently enjoyed a Gamelan workshop where they created some fantastic compositions.
A Gamelan orchestra can be found on the islands of Java and Bali in South-East Asia. It consists mostly of percussion instruments such as gongs and metallophones.
We are grateful to The Royal College of Music for lending us such amazing instruments.
Spring Concert
We were thrilled to hold another successful Spring Concert, always a highlight in the musical calendar.
The concert showcased some exceptional talent from a number of soloists and performances from the School’s orchestra, swing band, wind band and vocal ensemble.
Huge congratulations to all the performers for an outstanding concert.
Rush Hour Concerts
Every term we offer our pupils the chance to perform in our Rush Hour Concerts which are always enjoyable.
This term pupils performed a wide variety of musical pieces ranging from violin solos to rock band - and everything in between. Some were seasoned performers using this as another opportunity to perform, whilst others bravely made the first step of performing to a live audience, after only a few weeks of lessons.
Congratulations to all performers who have taken part in these concerts.
Record Success!
In the run-up to the exams, 62 Year 10 pupils took the Biology Olympiad Challenge, an online competition run by UK Biology Competitions in conjunction with the Royal Society of Biology.
This is an extremely popular competition with over 45,000 entries from hundreds of schools all over the world. Almost all our pupils’ efforts were recognised with an award of some sort, with a record number of medals received.
An impressive eight pupils received Gold awards, placing them in the top 5% of entrants, with Xishan achieving the best in school. A further nine pupils were awarded Silver and 14 received Bronze awards giving a total of 31 medals – a record achievement. Well done to everyone involved.
Soak the Teacher
Pupils thoroughly enjoyed raising money for charity by soaking the Headmaster and some of their teachers one afternoon this term.
Here you can see Mrs Lenihan, Mr Wright and Mrs Welchman-Taylor getting soaked all for a good cause.
Over £140 has been raised so far and the form that raises the most money will get to choose the charity.
Duke of Edinburgh
During April, four DofE teams set off to the Lake District to complete the practice expedition for their Gold Award.
Despite facing some challenging wet and windy conditions nearly every day, the students showed great determination and all successfully completed. Well done all.
A Love of Languages
Upper Sixth Spanish students celebrated their final lesson with a trip to Las Iguanas. Their love of Spanish has brought them many happy memories including a summer language course in Málaga, where they ‘lived the content’ of the A Level course.
Here’s a little insight into why our students chose Spanish and what they plan to do with it in the future:
‘Spanish is my favourite subject – so interesting and you learn more than just how to speak another language.’
KIRAN
‘I studied both French and Spanish A Level and want to pick up a third at university. The teaching groups are small, so you have a great relationship with your teachers and your lessons are personalised. Our group trip to Málaga at the end of Year 12 showed me how much I enjoy using languages and how much they help you grow as a person.’
IZZY
‘Studying Spanish A Level taught me the importance of communication skills in general. The A Level is really engaging in terms of content, and I am really excited to be studying Law with Spanish Law at university!’
MAYA
‘Languages have opened up different routes for me and have given me skills that I know I will use in the future. The future is international and a language gives you more career prospects in the future. I am looking forward to studying Spanish and Portuguese at university.’
DARCEY
Lunchtime Talks
We were delighted to welcome Andrew Smith, co-founder of Elsense Limited who shared the design process behind the electronics and software used in creating the circuit board for the DeLorean car, which our DT students recently adapted into the Back to the Future time machine.
Andrew demonstrated the professional tools engineers use for design and simulation, and gave insights into circuit board manufacturing. This session showcased the practical application of A Level subjects like Maths, Computer Science and Physics in real-world engineering.
Law Career Talks
Alsters Kelley, a Warwickshire law firm recently visited Lower Sixth to discuss the challenges and rewards of working in the legal profession.
Former student, Alicia also visited us to share her personal insights with Year 11 and Lower Sixth students about studying Law and the experience of studying at Leeds University. Her talk also covered how various voluntary roles, work experience and extra-curricular activities contributed to her success in securing places at her preferred university choices.
Mechanical Engineering
Former student Ed returned to Bablake to share his experience of studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Birmingham whilst securing an industrial placement with Williams Formula One Racing.
He provided insight into degree study along with some useful tips for the application process and the importance of building experiences through taking part in different projects at school.
Yorkshire Coastline
Lower Sixth Geography students recently experienced stunning coastal landscapes and environmental work on a field trip to Yorkshire.
Highlights included exploring the rapidly eroding Holderness coastline, a visit to Flamborough Head and learning about river management techniques in Malton.
Meta Quest
Our A Level Computer Science students have been pushing the boundaries of technology with their latest programming project.
By using a Meta Quest VR Headset, they have been designing and creating complex games from scratch. They have also introduced their own code and brought the games to life by using Unity and Visual Studio which can deploy and
Gold CREST Award
An award recognised and respected by universities and employers, the CREST Gold Award allows students to conduct real research with the aim of contributing something new to the technological or scientific community.
Lower Sixth worked in small groups to write an article of around 3,000 words and then delivered a presentation summarising their project. Some of the questions the groups chose to answer were:
Why is life carbon based and not silicon based?
How does Botox work?
How do beta-lactam antibiotics work?
Professor Mike Ward from the Chemistry department, University of Warwick kindly watched the presentations and gave valuable feedback on the students’ articles. Each group was given written feedback about their strengths and areas that they could improve but the general feedback was that the standard was very high.
Congratulations to our Sixth Form students on their outstanding EPQ assignments.
Here you can see some of their assignments on display. EPQ assignments are designed to extend and develop students’ abilities beyond the syllabus and help prepare them for university or their future career.
Year 8 Art Exhibition
Year 8 pupils have been studying cubism this year. They started by creating mixed media work from drawings of bottles and from this they created portraits with the same cubist theme. Pupils chose to work together and create a triptych, others combined family members into one piece. Their ideas were imaginative and they have worked very hard to realise their intentions.
Shells Attack Warwick Castle
Written by Daisy and Harriet
We arrived at the gates of Warwick Castle raring to embark on our thrilling day out. As we were released into the grounds the many peacocks roaming around caught our eye.
We first explored the large Motte and Bailey castle by going through the gate house. As we crossed the bridge there were two portcullises with murder holes above. When this castle was used for defence back in the Medieval times, any invaders could be trapped between the portcullises and have boiling water poured on them through the holes.
Then we learned how archers would hide behind the walls while reloading their bows. In the dungeon prisoners would be hung upside down by their ankles and no toilet breaks were allowed!
During lunch we sat on the banks of the river Avon and watched the trebuchet. Although it took a long time to load, it did not disappoint and was definitely the highlight of our day. After an action-packed afternoon which included the Kingmaker’s Exhibition and Time Tower, the day finished with a tour around the beautiful grounds.
After our fun-filled day, we withdrew our forces and returned to Bablake.
Leavers’ Day
It was a sad but fun farewell to our Upper Sixth on Leavers’ Day. The sun shone on a brilliant ‘Hawaiian Wild West’ themed morning, which involved bucking broncos, an inflatable obstacle course and water guns galore, all whilst wearing cowboy hats, Hawaiian shirts and even a gorilla costume.
After the morning fun, everyone gathered in the Dining Hall to watch a farewell film that captured moments of their time at Bablake.
Junior School News
Welcome to Simba.
As we near the end of another academic year, we have this edition of the Lion to reflect on all the incredible experiences for the School.
It is hard in many ways to have all the highlights of three months summarised in a few pages. Nevertheless, these stories represent a small snapshot of the successes and achievements of Bablake Junior School since the last edition.
Residential trips have been a significant element of the last few months, with an overseas ski trip to Artesina, Italy, and Years 4, 5 and 6 embarking on their exciting visits to PGL, WildChild and Calshot. When you see our children in these settings, it is possible to see their character, independence and resilience shining through. Where there are challenges, they rise to them; where there is a need for great conduct and manners, they epitomise these qualities.
Our incredible drive for learning in and out of the classroom continues apace. With staff setting up environments of trust and allowing children to take chances in their knowledge acquisition, we are developing the metacognitive thinking for future success. With learning as varied as the immersive Roman Day or the British Beekeepers, it is no surprise that children are happy in school.
Well done to all the amazing staff and children at Bablake Junior School, and thank you to the parents for your continual support. Together, we will keep our Lion roaring!
Mr Warren Honey, Headmaster
Exploring the World Through Religious Education (RE)
In our RE curriculum, we aim to provide pupils with a comprehensive and enriching experience that goes beyond textbooks.
Through a variety of methods and activities, children gain new perspectives, expand their vocabulary and develop their ability to make informed judgements and summaries. We place a strong emphasis on comparisons and valuing differences. By exploring similarities and differences between religions, children learn to appreciate the rich tapestry of global beliefs and practices. This approach fosters a sense of respect and openmindedness.
Whether through tasting traditional foods, participating in cultural ceremonies or handling religious
Year 3
A Step Back in Time
Year 3 pupils had an exciting adventure when visiting the Roman Alcester Museum.
They spent the morning learning about the history of the Romans whilst dressed in true Roman costume.
They examined ancient artefacts, the Samian ware was a particular favourite and there was hands-on fun sorting various types of pottery, all unearthed in Alcester. The day finished with an interesting talk about the Roman army and trying on Roman armour. A fantastic end to a fun day.
Year 4
Conquering Calthorpe Court
The Year 4 PGL trip to Calthorpe Court was a fabulous trip enjoyed by all.
Pupils experienced a range of activities from navigating an obstacle course blindfolded to conquering their fears when climbing high ropes. We are proud of their attitude and involvement throughout a week filled with new and exciting experiences.
Year 4
Probot Programming
In Computing, Year 4 children have really enjoyed learning how to program a Probot.
They discovered how to draw regular polygons, thinking carefully about how they should work out the angles in their turns. They also used loops, which was trial and error and resulted in some exciting shapes and patterns.
Junior School News
Year 5
A Journey Through Norse History
Year 5 thoroughly enjoyed their Viking dress-up day.
The day was packed with Viking history and activities, including a shield-making workshop, crafting an ancient message that had to be decoded by using Viking Runes and learning about the Norse language of the Vikings.
Year 5
Buzzing Bees
Year 5 visited the British Beekeeper’s Association in Stoneleigh this term.
Pupils learned about the importance of honey bees in their role as pollinators and the threat that they face due to loss of habitat. Whilst making insect hotels in the gardens, the children discovered how we can help by planting ‘bee friendly’ plants in our own gardens such as lavender. The highlight of the trip was looking at the inside of the hive, being able to see the bees create honey was an amazing sight.
Year 6
Age UK Visit
Visiting the Gilbert Richards Centre in Earlsdon was a wonderful way to end our year of connecting with Age UK.
Theo, Ria and Archie were treated to a one-to-one knitting workshop. They quickly got their needles in order, casting on and knitting their first row. The AGE UK volunteers have vast amounts of experience in knitting to raise money for this charity. Sophie, Isabel, Shaan and Anaya worked their magic with a drill and screwdriver to create bird boxes and pencil stands complete with the Bablake badge.
Our day at the Centre was thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding.
Hitting the slopes in Italy
Despite an early start at 3am, there was nothing that could dim the enthusiasm and energy of our 18 Junior explorers. They were particularly excited when sampling their first Italian pizza and on the coach journey through the mountains to arrive at Artesina.
For some it was their first time skiing and Artesina proved a wonderful place to learn. The location was beautiful with the nursery slopes directly outside the hotel. The progress made by our novice skiers was fantastic and they were completing short runs within the first day.
Our proficient skiers were scaling the mountain with speed and experience, showing no fear and enjoying the amazing facilities that were on offer.
A visit abroad is a significant undertaking, especially without family members around for a week, but everyone contributed to making it a memorable experience. Whether playing games in the evening, entertaining one another with song or providing emotional support, every pupil made a difference to someone’s day in a positive way.
Junior School Music Celebration of Song
The Junior Music team hosted a Celebration of Song, a fantastic event where every pupil took part in a choral performance showcasing the songs we have been learning in singing assembly throughout the year. This was a very special event and one that we hope both pupils and parents will cherish for a long time to come.
Matilda
Our Year 6 production of Matilda was a fantastic achievement. The pupils worked tirelessly and showed so much commitment, from learning their lines to perfecting their songs and dances. Well done Year 6 and good luck on your move up to Senior School.
Junior School Sport
Hockey
Coventry Primary Schools
Sports Partnership hosted a hockey tournament at Bablake Playing Fields.
160 enthusiastic children showcased their skills and teamwork. The day was filled with exciting matches, numerous goals and impressive defensive plays.
Mr. Freemantle’s team stood out, advancing to the finals with a match against Grange Farm. Despite extra time the match ended in a deadlock. Both teams were awarded joint gold medals.
Football
The U11 boys showcased their talent at the ISFA Midlands Regional Tournament at Repton School.
The competition started with a 0-0 draw against Warwick and in the second game, another draw 3-3 against Nottingham High with goals from Reuben, Shaan and Karum.
The team continued with a 1-1 draw against Solihull (Reuben scoring again) and a hard-fought 2-1 victory over The Croft. A 1-0 win against Milton Keynes Prep secured their semi-final spot where they were narrowly defeated by Fairfield.
Junior School Sport
Cricket
Our U11 A team played a 6-a-side tournament and qualified for the county finals.
Both events allowed the boys to showcase their skills against some of the best cricketing talent in the region. Manam led the team brilliantly, while Taha’s aggressive batting impressed everyone. Hayder and Ethan displayed fantastic pace bowling for the U10s and U11s, taking many wickets across multiple games.
Our U10 A and B teams remain unbeaten this season with commanding victories against Crackley Hall, King Henry’s and The Croft. The U9s have battled against strong sides, showing resilience, while our U8s are also unbeaten as we head towards the end of the season.
Play on the Pitch
Eight excited Year 6 pupils were selected to participate in the Play on the Pitch Festival run by Sky Blues in the Community and held at the CBS Arena, the home of Coventry City FC.
During the event they played five games on the championship pitch. Miss Lapworth and Miss Young were delighted with the teamwork displayed.
Other News
Year 9 National Careers Challenge
Year 9 pupils recently took on this challenge sponsored by NatWest, testing their entrepreneurial spirits, pushing them to visualise and develop innovative business ideas with a local theme, that would also have global potential and appeal.
Guided by the theme of Coventry heritage, they had to think about our city’s rich history and cultural significance.
Pupils came up with a number of creative ideas including Coventry treasure hunts to Sky Blue Eco Taxis and Eco Clothing. Their efforts were showcased and judged by independent judges in three-minute pitches, where each group presented their business venture. Le Monde, whose cultural food restaurant idea offering diverse food, reflective of Coventry’s ethnic communities, were the winners and now advance to the finals in Doncaster.
Gardening Club
Our garden club, founded by Mrs Barratt, gives pupils a chance to enjoy the outdoors and learn gardening.
The garden is 100% recycled, using old tires, reused pallets, donated plants and seeds. Even our soil was donated. This year the girls involved (Nieve, Anna, Chloe, Ena and Sarah all in Year 8) have done a fantastic job of creating this little oasis at Bablake.
The Gardening Club is working with the Eco Team to make our garden as wildlife friendly as possible, soon the pollinator wildflowers will be blooming and the bird feeders will be up.
Other News Bablake
Equestrian
Four riders attended the British showjumping Just for Schools Winter Championships in Wales competing in various team and individual classes over two days.
The team of Charlie, Lucie and Lauren achieved a Team 3rd in the 80cm team Championship and Charlie also took individual 3rd place in the 90cm Championships. Our riders also competed in league classes from 60cm to 1m over the two days with points being earned in the hope of qualification for the Summer Championships at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire.
Well done to all our riders who represented the School in a very competitive environment.
Joshua meets Theresa May
Joshua was recently invited to attend the Andy Street re-election campaign dinner with Theresa May as special guest for the evening. He was lucky to be picked out of the audience to ask the former Prime Minister some questions.
Joshua asked Theresa, “How would you advise young people to get involved in politics and how did you get inspired to get involved in politics?”.
Theresa responded, by saying, that she actually wanted to be an MP from the age of 12 and that she wanted to get involved in politics to make a difference and improve people’s lives. She stated, “Young people wanting to get involved in politics should keep going, persevere, believe in yourself and your ability, and then get as much experience as you can in your local party.”
Joshua has now met and asked questions to four of the past and present Prime Ministers, including Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and now Theresa May.
Out of School Achievements
Hema Achieves Black Belt in Taekwondo
Congratulations to Hema who is now a certified black belt in Taekwondo.
She has overcome numerous challenges since starting in 2017 including multiple knee injuries and lockdowns. Hema was recently assessed by over twenty-five instructors and four Grandmasters to earn her black belt. She also received the highest mark ever for her thesis submitted to GTUK.
Isla Shines at County Championships
At the County Championships, Isla competed in the 75m hurdles, high jump and long jump, earning two golds and a silver.
She won gold in the hurdles with a comfortable lead and performed excellently. In the high jump, she cleared 1.50m but the bar fell off during her celebration, resulting in a silver medal. In the long jump, Isla aimed to surpass her personal best of 5.10m and achieved 5.23m, securing her qualification for the English Schools. Well done to Isla - her efforts currently place her 8th in the UK for U15 girls.
Charles Strikes Gold at U17 County Championships
Congratulations to Charles on taking a gold medal in the Shot Put at the U17 Warwickshire County Championships.
Open Events
Open Morning Junior and Senior Schools
Saturday 28 September 9:30am – 12:30pm
Bablake School
Coundon Road, Coventry CV1 4AU
Sixth Form
Open Evening
Tuesday 15 October 5:30pm – 9pm
024 7627 1200 info.bablake@csfoundation.org.uk | bablakeadmissions@csfoundation.org.uk
@bablakeschool @bablakejunior
bablake.com
Artwork by Chloe (Shells)