The Lion - Issue 36

THE

LION

NEWS & VIEWS FROM BABLAKE SCHOOL ISSUE 36 SPRING 2005

Bablake Diary

Saturday 5 March Former Pupils’ Annual Dinner Saturday 12 March PHAB Ball Monday-Friday 14-18 March Junior Drama Production – Samurai Friday 18 March 6th Form Scholarship interviews Tuesday 22 March End of Term Monday-Friday 4-8 April King’s Sports Camp Tuesday 12 April Summer Term begins

Les Misérables

Friday 22 April Parents’ Association St George’s Ball Thursday 28 April House Music Festival

In this issue Mock Interview Recipe KT Tunstall Gig Amnesty International Greek Classical Tour Hadrian’s Wall Visit Bablake in Business Individual Successes

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The rush for tickets for our Dramatic Society’s fantastic production of Les Misérables has mirrored the frenzy for copies of Victor Hugo’s original text. And with every justification..!

OUR DRAMA AND MUSIC productions are known to audiences across the UK and Europe, but this year’s production must rank as one of the most ambitious yet.

From the moment the audiences were greeted by the warm, inviting Front of House team to the rousing finale, the audience was royally entertained and expressed its pleasure with standing ovations each night.

A cast drawn from the 3rd Year upwards, was on stage for almost two and a half hours and had its audience gripped throughout. The backstage crew was very impressive – the costume and set changes were numerous and the delivery of every scene slick and

professional. Well done to stage manager Megan Usher for co-ordinating all this so well!

In a play with so many superb performances, on the night your reporter attended, highlights included Sarah Corrigan’s heartrending On Your Own as Eponine and the whole Thenardier familles – Kate Byrne as Little Cosette sang brilliantly and her parents, Adam Fray and Elisse Power, were exceptional, especially in their lead of Master of the House. Adam Jackson’s Javert commanded the stage imperiously, Andrew Monaghan as Gavroche gave notice of future roles, Stacie McDermott’s Fantine and Ed Whitney’s Marius also drew the eye

alongside Arthur Keegan-Bole’s doomed but well intentioned Jean Valjean.

Debuts from the likes of Kayleigh Mullarkey and the involvement of many of the 1st XV made this a full representation of Bablake’s talented students. Lighting, sound and special effects fully enhanced the performance, as always.

The production emphasised just some of Bablake’s strengths in its fine delivery, excellent teamwork and the intense dedication of cast, orchestra, backstage crew, costume makers, set designers and various directors.

Messrs Appleby, Prescott and Sutton alongside Mrs Tatum can be justifiably proud of the production. Many hours of rehearsals produced a great night’s entertainment.

Remarkably it will be followed, as the Autumn play always is, by the Summer production that will be taken to the Edinburgh Fringe. In the meantime, we look forward to the House Music Festival next term.

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Bablake School

careersnews ASDA/CAREERS DEPT CV CHALLENGE – 5TH YEAR Congratulations to Stephanie Goldie whose Asda parttime job application was voted the best of those submitted, just beating Sophie Devall and Rebecca Lane. Richard Smith presented the best CV though was pushed hard by Sarah Marks whose covering letter was rated highly and Reena Panchal whose overall application was very pleasing. As well as these challenges, the 5ths have now completed their first interview with the Careers Department and Connexions and are ready to choose post 16 options.

Further assistance is always available in person, by arranged interview or dropping into the Careers Office.

LOWER SIXTH The L6th have submitted their Work Experience requests and now are being asked to submit CVs that will be assessed by four different professions. They must also submit their Unique Selling Points online.

THIRDS The 3rds have completed a series of PSHE lessons offering guidance on choosing their GCSE options. We remind parents and students that the careers website is www.2morrow-2day.com and it is possible to email them with any concerns over options choices.

OPTIONS Our 5th and 3rds will be choosing AS/A2 and GCSE subjects in the next month.

SOME TIPS FROM THE CAREERS DEPARTMENT Look at Career/University implications – are certain subjects vital?

You must enjoy the subject Ability to hit a high grade is important Choose a combination that allows flexibility at the next option stage Be cautious about too many new subjects Will the method of assessment suit you?

Be happy with the content of your choices Be informed.

WHO CAN HELP WITH THE CHOICES? Curriculum co-ordinator (Mr McConaghy) Year heads (Mr Burns, Mrs Tatum and Mr Hyde) Careers Dept (Mrs Scott and Mr Woodward) Head of 6th form (Mr Burns) Heads of Departments, Subject & Form Tutors Learning Support Co-ordinator (Mrs Friebe) Personal adviser (Connexions) Family, Friends & Professionals Hardy 4th, 5th & 6th formers.

WHERE CAN I FIND ONLINE HELP? www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/ www.woodyswebwatch.com www.2morrow-2day.com And FINALLY...

Gender is not an issue when choosing options Use reliable, up-to-date resource material written no more than 2 years ago Be suspicious of sales-talk or any negative comments about other subjects or careers Listen carefully to everyone's advice Know your own mind YOU will be sitting in lessons YOU will be completing the exams.

If we can help in any way, let us know...

A recipe for success in mock interviews Ingredients 89 U6th students 81 Interviewers Preparatory talks and booklets from the Careers Department Cooking Time Leave individual students and interviewers in a room for 30-45 minutes Outcome University/Job Interview-ready students

The interviews took place on Saturday 6 November and were conducted by a mix of local professionals, former Bablake students and parents. We questioned students about the experience.

Advice to L6th?

Make sure you are prepared in the subject you wish to study and current affairs, especially those relating to your topic.

Really, really prepare! Read through notes and keep an eye on the news for a few weeks before.

Definitely do it! Go and test yourself.

The feedback from interviewers was invaluable.

What did you learn?

How to interest my interviewers!

How to ‘win over’ an interviewer.

I found out my weaknesses and strengths which will help me perform better in future interviews.

To have a good question to ask the interviewers.

How to deal with the questions you least want to be asked.

To admit you don’t know the answer to a question rather than rambling on and digging yourself into a hole.

To save embarrassment, you need to be prepared!

To be more confident in interviews, be myself and not have pre-rehearsed answers.

Experience of what happens at an interview.

Summarise in no more than 5 words?

A good learning process.

Reality check.

Brilliant preparation for the real world.

Confidence boosting.

Invaluable use of time.

Thank you interviewers!

Informative, sweat-inducing, fun experience.

Fulfilling, positive and beneficial.

Informative, enjoyable and worthwhile.

Nerve-wracking but great experience.

Makes interviews much easier.

Exciting, inspiring and enlightening.

Useful, rewarding, stimulating and challenging.

Helpful insight into the future.

The Lion | Spring 2005

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CCFnews

As Bablake CCF drove up to the gates of Anzio Camp, just outside Leek, the rain just didn’t want to stop. It looked as if we had picked the wettest week of 2004!

However, our cadets were all in good spirits and eager to begin the military activities, so we knew that the weather was not going to beat us.

THE CAMP, SET IN 34 acres, was home to the American troops in the 1940’s and later used to house German POW’s. Since then it has been widely used and enjoyed by thousands of soldiers and cadets. With its long history, and recently refurbished accommodation, it was rather sad to hear that the camp was to be demolished later in the year. We were to be the last CCF to be based there and, having the camp to ourselves, we made good use of the excellent facilities, including the NAFFI, the range, the trim trail and the 3000 acres of Peak District Park that made up the training area.

Cadets began the week’s training by being taught the correct methods to set up and operate a vehicle check point and harbour area, as well as practising map reading and route planning. This was followed by revision of radio procedures, patrolling and observational skills.

The training would definitely put them in good stead for the second phase, the two day expedition over the rugged, open moorland. For the first time at Bablake the CCF and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme were combined, so that cadets who completed the two day expedition would also have passed their bronze practice D of E. The first evening, the cadets were given a set of orders and then had to plan their routes according to this. They were briefed about a group of belligerent senior citizens, codenamed ‘GODs’ (Grumpy Old Demonstrators), who were holding secret meetings in the area to set up protests about the government’s outrageously poor state pension scheme and lack of consideration for the elderly. Their task was to patrol the training area and search out any ‘GOD’ activity. They had to treat suspects very carefully, however - these people knew how to handle their walking sticks and zimmer frames!

In good spirits and eager to start After a hearty cook-house breakfast, the patrols departed from the camp in ‘friendly force’ minibuses to their drop off points on the moors. After carrying out the necessary radio checks, making sure they had enough rations and had ‘cammed up’ correctly, one by one they rather reluctantly left the warm and comfy minibuses to enter a world shrouded in fog and drizzle. As the cadets began their patrols, they soon melted into the mists and were left to their task.

Throughout the day the fog grew thicker and the rain became heavier. However, the cadets became even more determined as they patrolled across bracken, through woodland, over walls, through ditches and, for those who didn’t manage to tread carefully enough, had their feet swallowed up by bogs. As the cadets reached their harbour areas and began observing, they radioed in any relevant information concerning ‘GOD’ activity that they had seen or heard.

By the end of day one, the tired, yet surprisingly still happy cadets, were ready to return to camp for a wellearned hot shower and supper.

The third day brought even more torrential rain and with it, gales. Waterproofs went back on and soon the cadets were dropped off and patrolling along the quiet roads, keeping watch for the ‘red minibus’ that they had heard the ‘GODs’ mention the previous day.

Through the fog, cadets spotted the silhouette of a large vehicle approaching and heard the grizzle of a struggling diesel engine – it could only be the minibus. They moved to the side of the road, and as the minibus drew near, stepped out, halted it and carried out a vehicle check. The driver was kept occupied by a series of seemingly innocuous questions whilst cadets checked over the bus and its passengers. Once the cadets were happy they had extracted enough information from the driver, the bus was sent on its way. Their radio operator then relayed

the information to the control centre. More patrolling and moving to designated check points followed before the cadets were packed into the warm minibuses to return to camp for hot showers, a hearty meal and fun and games in the NAFFI before bed.

With the expedition now complete, the final phase of training was the section competition. This started with a uniform and kit inspection, followed by a ‘short’ run around the camp perimeter and completion of the ‘trim trail’ exercises. Cadets earned their sections points by their prowess in the various activities. Maurice Tasker proved to be the pull-up ‘King’ and Natalie Clisham, the leap frog ‘Queen’ both winning vital points for their sections. The competition continued on into the evening, as the sections battled it out over a game of Jenga and Blockbusters, which was much enjoyed by all. The staff also ran a tuck shop and if there had been pot noodle points to be awarded, Claudia Campbell would have gained a few, as she managed to eat her way through an entire pack over the course of the week!

Corporal Hughes and his team won the section competition. All the cadets deserve congratulations however: their conduct, enthusiasm and determination were exceptional and they were a credit to themselves and Bablake CCF. Staff were delighted to see how well cadets of all ages got on with each other and how all thoroughly enjoyed the week’s activities. As a bonus, not only had they learned and put into practice many new skills, but any cadet enrolled in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme had now passed their bronze practice expedition. The latter was particularly pleasing as there had been scepticism in some quarters as to whether D of E activities and CCF could be successfully combined.

Thanks must go to Sgt. Maj. Robson for his excellent planning and organisation throughout the week.

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Bablake School

Bablakearts

KT Tunstall wows Bablake

“Made the bald guy in the corner go crazy and dance like a worm on a fish hook” FOOTNOTE! A great night and since the gig, KT Tunstall has been feted as a star for 2005 in a number of national newspapers and on the Radio 1 website with Jo Whiley a particular fan. Big little venue tour looming and her album has been warmly received by the music magazines, gaining 4/5 as its average rating.

A review of the gig was posted online on the BBC Cov and W website written by Mark Woodward. Thanks to Martin Cure for the PA system, Simon Davis for the photography, Dave Prescott for lighting and Mark Taylor for audiovisual assistance.

OLIVIA

DESPITE A HEAVY COLD, KT played a seven song set drawn from her debut album and finished with a stunning version of Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.

Support came from one of our former students, Olivia, a talented singer songwriter from Hinckley; Shipston-based Ten O’Clock Scholars whose 60s dripped rock particularly caught the audience’s admiration and Wish whose Muse and Radiohead influences have caught the notice of Radio 1’s unsigned initiative.

The 100 strong audience left aware they had heard and enjoyed four acts, all with the potential to make it in 2005.

Mark Woodward, Head of Careers at Bablake, who had invited the artists, said: “It was so good to be able to create awareness about the hardships too many families suffer at the hands of violent relatives while also offering students and staff music of this quality. There was a fantastic buzz about the school when we knew KT was coming.

She was a massive hit with the students, gave our 6th Form journalists an interview and wanted to perform for the Amnesty Campaign without a fee. She deserves success with her excellent debut album.”

THE TEN O’CLOCK SCHOLARS

Eleven days before the release of her debut album, KT Tunstall, who set the nation alight with a performance on Later With Jools, headlined a gig at Bablake School on 25 November in support of Amnesty’s Stop Violence Against Women campaign.

MUSIC ACTIVITIES AUTUMN 2004 The Music Department has had a very busy term with a guitar evening in October and a workshop and performance with a group from Berlin during half term.

After Open Day came the Autumn Concert with items from the Bablake Orchestra, Jazz Group, Chorale, Chamber Choir, Bablake Choir and the cast of Les Misérables.

There were also solos from Matthew Weeden, Emily Biggins, Arthur Keegan, Jacob Fagan and Claire Laverick.

WISH

Then came Les Misérables and in the last week of term the two Carol Services.

The Lion | Spring 2005

Charitynews TSUNAMI DISASTER We have been totally overwhelmed by the amount that has been raised by Bablake pupils and parents in the two weeks since we have been back. £2,442 and still counting.

Thank you all very much.

CHRISTMAS PARTY Our annual Christmas party for the local elderly had a very strong musical theme this year. Abi Bose began the afternoon with two excellent sitar pieces before Sarah Corrigan sang Over the Rainbow, Dream a Little Dream of Me and Mr Bojangles accompanied by Arthur Keegan-Bole on guitar. The choir delivered a couple of pieces, Cécé Sutton sang two pleasing solos and Mrs Tatum led the communal carol singing.

FAME ACADEMY This year’s Fame Academy was won by Becky Simmons after two original heats and two semi-finals. At some point, Becky, Melissa Walton, Kate Byrne, Emma Utting, Laura Owen and Martika Cawley all gave performances that were worthy of winning the competition.

‘Stop Violence Against Women’ Amnesty International’s campaign for 2004 was ‘Stop Violence Against Women’ and was launched on the 8 March, International Women’s Day. AT BABLAKE THE AMNESTY team led assemblies and organised a letter writing campaign to highlight this major worldwide problem. It was obvious from the response of the students as a whole that we needed to develop this campaign further and so for the first time ever the Amnesty group decided to organise a day’s conference and to invite speakers to address pupils from Bablake and other schools in the area.

The first speaker at the conference, Mr Reg Pyne from Hertfordshire, a member of Amnesty International for over 40 years, presented the global perspective on violence against women. Then Victoria Paige from the Cornerstone Centre in Coventry, which gives shelter and counselling to local women who are victims of abuse, led us in thinking about what domestic violence is and its impact on the lives of those who suffer it. The final presentation was delivered by Jasvinder Sanghera, from Karma Nirvana

Refuge in Derby who is the leading expert on Forced Marriages in the UK. She explained during her talk that she had left her home and country to avoid a forced marriage and her sister burnt herself to death while in a forced marriage.

The day was a great success, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. Each of the presentations was very well received, and they made such an impact on the way that we view the issue of domestic violence. It was a truly moving experience for all involved with some thought-provoking discussion. An opportunity was given to individuals to write a message of hope for the future in imagining a world where violence against women does not exist, which will later be created into a patchwork quilt. It was a day which provided us with the determination to continue to campaign against this grave violation of human rights.

Nerves played a massive part over the competition and while voted through only by the people’s vote in a cold-affected semi final performance, Becky Simmons’ experience of being a finalist last year saw her triumph deservedly.

The event was well supported by students and raised hundreds of pounds for Seeds for Africa.

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Bablake School

Bablaketravel

CLASSICAL TOUR OF GREECE 2004

57 Pupils accompanied be seven staff travelled to Greece during October half term to see the main sites at Athens, Delphi, Sounion, Olympia, Mycenae, Epidauros and Corinth.

WE SPENT A DAY walking around Athens, seeing the Parthenon and other monuments on the Acropolis, and then walking up Lycabbetos, the hill on the other side of the city. The next day saw us cruising to the island of Aegina, to visit the temple of Aphaia. Then came the tour – first to the temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, then to Delphi with its atmospheric sanctuary, high up in the mountains. On to Olympia, home of the Olympic Games, and then to Tolon, and a hotel right on the sea shore. From Tolon, we visited the theatre and sanctuary at Epidauros, the archaic citadel of Mycenae, with its beehive tombs, Tiryns with its cyclopean walls and finally Corinth, where St Paul addressed the crowds. We even managed glimpses of some modern olympic buildings.

The food was good, the weather was perfect (especially when compared to the cold and rain that Coventry was experiencing) and the arrangements largely worked as planned. All who went on the trip came back saying that they had had a great time (staff included). Thanks to all the staff for their time and energy in making the 2004 Classical Tour such a success.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD training continued over the Autumn term despite there being no expeditions. Many certificates were awarded at Bronze and Silver level, and some pupils who left the sixth form in the summer achieved their Gold Awards, and now wait to hear when they can attend the presentation at Buckingham Palace.

The sixth form pupils who are undertaking Bronze leadership for their Gold Award have been invaluable; they have been meeting weekly with their groups to teach the skills that the Bronze candidates will use when they go on to complete their first expeditions in March.

Silver candidates have been learning about map reading and planning a safe expedition ready for their practice expedition in the Easter holidays, and at both Bronze and Silver level most pupils performed well in the tests. Pupils now need to concentrate on completing the skill, service and physical recreation sections of their awards, and work on fitness ready for the expeditions later in the term.

German exchange October 2004 EARLY ON THE EVENING of Friday October 9 a group of 30 German pupils arrived to spend a week with their Bablake exchange partners.

Some were visiting for a second time and for some it was their first time not only in Coventry but in England. German teachers of English, Herr Treese and Frau Kalin, accompanied the group. During the day, whilst our pupils were at school, they visited Warwick, Stratford upon Avon and London to take in the sights.

Once again, the Exchange was a great success and our pupils are now looking forward to the return trip.

We depart on Wednesday 9 February to spend a week in Hemer, visiting the surrounding area and adding to our knowledge of German life and language.

The Lion | Spring 2005

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Hadrian’s Wall classics trip As part of the study of Roman Britain, the Fifth Form Classical Civilisation set plus two enthusiasts from the Fourth and Upper Sixth Forms, bravely set out for Hadrian’s Wall during the coldest weekend of November.

MR. SWALES AND MR. WEST shared the burden of the six hour drive to the Twice Brewed Inn while Miss James and the twelve pupils were crammed in the back with bags packed with warm clothes, waterproofs and walking boots.

After a nourishing meal at our accommodation the pupils were driven to Milecastle 42 where they had their first experience of what life would have been like for a Roman soldier posted on the wall. Standing in the icy dark it is not difficult to sympathise with a soldier who would have nothing but a woollen cloak to keep warm.

On a cold and sunny Saturday morning we visited the best preserved Temple of Mithras in Britain, and then returned to Milecastle 42 from where we walked along the wall, at varying speeds, to Housesteads Fort with its fine granaries and latrines. After lunch in Hexham, pupils took the audio tour around Corbridge Roman Town followed by a visit to Chesters Fort to see the baths and fort.

The evening consisted of a pub meal in Garrigill, which entertained many pupils with its pool table, and then a quiz was held back at the Twice Brewed Inn where pupils could show off the extent of their general knowledge.

Our last day included another walk along the wall, including the remains of Greatchesters Fort and then on towards Walltown Crags, before visiting Vindolanda Fort with its reconstructed towers, vicus and the museum with its extensive finds. After lunch, we began the long journey back to Bablake, having had a full, informative and exciting trip to all the principal sites along Hadrian’s Wall.

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Bablake School

Bablakenews

A large number of Lower Sixth students have been getting some first-hand knowledge and experience of the financial world since September through their participation in the Young Enterprise scheme and two national share dealing competitions, Shares4schools and Proshare Student Investor.

Bablake in the business and financial world THE TWO YOUNG ENTERPRISE companies, Ivy and Indigo, with the assistance of outside volunteers from business, have so far had a good deal of success since their launch. Both companies were hard at work in December attending the Coventry Christmas Trade Fair and the Bablake PA Fair selling a range of products. Ivy’s jewellery and cut-price CD’s and games were good sellers with the public while Indigo’s bath bombs won a prize for one of the best products at the Coventry trade fair.

Their enterprise has been rewarded by profits from both events. Both companies are planning for and looking forward to the upcoming international trade fair. Ivy’s board consists of Pritesh Desai, Krisha Patel, Conor Doherty, Charndeep Sanghera, Sundeep Bains, Bina Modi, Clare Taggert, Ramandeep Lidder wth designers Ruth Hibbert and Nicola Lines. Indigo’s company comprises Alex Kantor, Kelly Walker, Luke Stefaniak, Lauren Ewington, Nelson Ho, Alex Bull, Chris Pritchard, Emily Ford and Sophie Plackett-Smith.

Shares4schools and Proshare Five lower Sixth students, Pritesh Desai, Krisha Patel, Conor Doherty, Manpreet Rai and Anthony Webb have invested £1500 in three companies on the stock market as part of the Shares4schools scheme and after a shaky start have maintained a profitable position. They spent the better part of the period between October and December holding a strong position in the top 10 schools in the country and have held on to this placing in the new year. Details can be found on the website www.shares4schools.com.

Another group of students comprising Lauren Bates, Nelson Ho, Alex Kantor and Haydn Johnson have taken part in the national Proshare competition investing £100,000 in a range of companies to see if they can make a profit on their dealings; they have very quickly learned that share prices do go down as well as up!

“This hands-on experience of learning by doing has taught the students a great deal and we hope it will equip and inspire them to succeed in the business world in the future.”

The Lion | Spring 2005

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Bablakenews House events

MATHEMATICS STUDY DAY DECEMBER 2004 SAW THE Mathematics Department venture outside the bounds of the school. A group of 6th Form ‘A’ level pupils attended a Mathematics Study Day at the University of London’s, Institute of Education.

The second half of the Autumn term became increasing more hectic with daily events at some points.

THE SENIOR QUIZ WHICH had started before half term finally concluded with Bayley winning. This was followed immediately with the Intermediate competition, which Crow won this time. The 4th year basketball then commenced on Monday lunchtimes and Crow were the winners once again. Bayley then surprisingly won the Chess competition, as it was expected that Crow would win as it has the British champion Paul Lam and his brother Mark in the team.

However Bayley managed to win more boards.

The senior boys hockey was a very close and thoroughly enjoyable competition, and Fairfax won this event for the third year running. In the same week the senior girls played and the real competition was for second place as Crow had all the county players so were expected to win. Fairfax managed to take second place. Senior boys badminton was a very

Debating and public speaking

The day was a series of lectures on diverse aspects of Mathematics and its application from Medicine to Chaos.

popular event and once again Crow dominated. The senior girls hard-fought competition followed and finished as a three way tie between Crow, Fairfax and Wheatley. Netball followed for the senior girls and was well attended and Wheatley won handsomely. Finally right at the end of the term the PE Department ran a 2nd year football event which Fairfax won convincingly. Our thanks go to all the pupils who took part and made these competitions so enjoyable and to the staff who ran the events.

This term the House calendar is full of junior competitions. We begin with Badminton and then it’s squash. Then throughout the term there will be preparations for the House Music Festival.

Note that the date of this evening of music is not as advertised, it will now take place on the 28 April.

Please make a note in your diaries.

The day was enjoyed by all who attended and gave some insight into the modern applications of Mathematics.

IT HAS BEEN A very successful term for both debating and public speaking. Many lively lunchtime debates have been held on a range of motions, but the first pupil to win a prize this year was Amun Sachdev, who was awarded the prize for the best individual speaker in the first round of the Birmingham and Midlands Institute Debating Competition in October.

November saw the first round of the Business and Professional Women’s Schools’ Public Speaking contest. Mark McKelvie, Liam Collins-McIntyre and Matthew Galloway, who last year became the Coventry Jubilee Rotary Club’s Public Speaking Champions, represented the school and were awarded the runners-up shield. They now progress to the regional round in February.

Most recently, over two weekends in November, Bablake hosted the Coventry Festival of Speech and Drama and our pupils enjoyed many successes. Oliver George (Poetry Recital), Alannah Norton (Humorous Verse), and Sareena Kainth (Short Story Writing) all won their respective classes and were awarded certificates and medals. Two pupils, Jamie Stefaniak and Christopher Lamb, each won their age group sections in the Public Speaking class. The success was rounded off by Alannah and her ‘co-stars’ Pam Uppal and Katie Mulhern, who triumphed in the Small Dramatic Scene category.

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Bablake School

boys’sport BABLAKE 1ST XV VS. KING HENRY VIII

INDIVIDUAL SUCCESSES Congratulations go to the following: Brett Chatwin on being selected for the Midlands U16 Rugby squad.

Eleanor Jones on achieving Silver Level at the Warwickshire Children’s University.

Aisling Flanagan on qualifying for the World Irish Dance Championship and the All Ireland Dance Championship.

The U14 Girls Hockey Team on winning the Warwickshire championship and qualifying for the National finals in Nottingham.

The U18, U16 and U14 Netball Teams on going forward to represent Warwickshire at the regional finals of the National Netball tournament.

The 27 A level Mathematicians who achieved Gold (3), Silver (7) and Bronze (17) awards in the UK Senior Mathematics Challenge.

Michael Carey, who gained a Gold Award, has been invited to take part in the first round of the British Mathematics Olympiad.

James Vickery on gaining a 1st Degree Blackbelt in Free-style kickboxing and Karate.

Sareena Kainth, Christopher Lamb, Jamie Stefaniak, Allanah Norton, Pam Uppal, Katie Mulhern and Oliver George on winning prizes at the Coventry Festival of Speech and Drama.

Amun Sachdev on being awarded the prize for the best individual speaker at the Birmingham and Midland Institute’s Schools’ Debating Competition.

Liam Collins-McIntyre, Matthew Galloway and Mark McKelvie on progressing to the regional round of the BPW Arden public speaking contest.

Rebecca Blassberg on being selected for the district Water polo academy.

Rachel Hollinrake, Georgia Horn, Rebecca Sewell, Elizabeth Stubbington and Roya Ziaie on being selected for the U13 Warwickshire Hockey Squad.

Luke Harris for representing the Midlands Rugby Division under 18s in their victory against the North.

Brett Chatwin who represented the Midlands Rugby Division under 16s and has also been selected for subsequent England Trials.

The 39 pupils who have been successful in the first round of this year’s poetry competition Great Minds from the Midlands and who will have their poems published in the Midlands anthology later in the year.

The following five U6th students on their offers of places at Cambridge and Oxford for October 2005: Peter Bell to read Natural Sciences at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Lydia Bridgland to read Natural Sciences at Robinson College, Cambridge.

Lisa Hagan to read Education at Homerton College, Cambridge.

Jonathan Thompson to read Engineering at Christ’s College, Cambridge.

Chloe Whittle to read Geography at St Edmund Hall, Oxford.

This year Bablake’s 1st XV again took on King Henry VIII at the home of Coventry RFC, the new Butts Arena. In this impressive stadium hundreds of vocal supporters watched the teams in an extremely close and hard fought encounter creating an excellent atmosphere. Bablake just managed to come out winners by 12-5. Tries were scored by 5th years Brett Chatwin and Ryan Birch, with a superb individual effort to clinch the match.

U14 TOUR TO IRELAND 2004 U14S SECURE 100% RECORD! The U14 rugby team recently returned from a highly successful tour to Limerick, Ireland. During the tour the boys played three matches against Villiers School, Killarney Rugby Club and Abbey School, Tipperary.

In the first match, after a slow start, the team began to show their promise and a Dominic Ainsworth hat-trick and a try from Gurvinder Vim helped the team to a 2620 victory. After the match, the boys were fortunate to watch Munster defeat Cardiff in a Celtic League match at the famous Thommond Park.

The second match saw another hard fought match. This time the result was in the balance until the final whistle with Bablake winning 29-27 with tries coming from Daniel Jack, Sam Clark, Dominc Ainsworth and two from Robert Thomason. Billy Hyslop also deserves a mention for a fine performance.

The final game saw Bablake’s best performance of the tour with a 37-17 victory over Abbey School. Tries here came from Sam Bristow, who scored three, Billy Hyslop, Robert Thomason and two from Dominic Ainsworth.

All of the boys deserve a great deal of credit for their outstanding performances. In particular Adam Simmonds put in a consistently high level of performance and was voted players’ player of the tour. Andrew Thomason grew in confidence during the tour and was given most improved player whilst Billy Hyslop was the player of the tour.

NATHAN WARD Nathan Ward, 5T, has just completed his first full year kart racing, finishing 10th in the Junior TKM championship based at Whilton Mill racetrack. As most of the competition have been racing since the age of 8, this is an excellent conclusion to Nathan’s first season. The TKM championship is highly competitive and it is where many well known racing drivers first started their careers including Jenson Button and David Coultard. Next season sees Nathan moving up to the senior championship which will be an even greater challenge.

The Lion | Spring 2005

girls’sport SENIOR NETBALL The senior netball squads have had an extremely successful first half of the season both in friendly, league and tournament matches. The first team squad have progressed through two rounds of the National Schools Competition to gain a place in the West Midlands Finals. Back in October they were winners of the Under 19 Coventry Schools Tournament, just beating King Henry VIII on goal average. Goal average has been crucial this season as in the subsequent Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire round of the competition they were placed second – again on the narrowest of margins (0.006 of a goal). However the team were top scorers, with 79 goals over the 5 matches and they hope that they can reproduce their success in January at the West Midlands Tournament.

Bablake now go through to represent the Midlands at the National Finals in February. It has been a number of years since Bablake has reached a Hockey National Final. (Since Miss East was playing for school!) We are very proud of this outstanding achievement and wish the girls all the best.

SQUAD Jodie Neale (GK), Sam Brindley, Ira Kleine, Adelle Middleton, Roxy Ziaie, Lucy Horn, Holly Payne (C), Lauren Boon, Charlotte Weaver, Lauren Carpenter, Lijana Kaziow, Lara Jackson, Laura Owen, Rachel Powell, Abigail Rewhorn (GK), Rebecca Sewell.

U18 HOCKEY Last term the U18 hockey team reached the Midlands finals for the second year running. They came runners up in the Warwickshire tournament having won their section, scoring 13 goals and conceding only 1, taken a 2-0 win in the semi-final against Twycross House. The final saw them narrowly losing to Kings High 1-0. The girls trained hard for the Midlands round as they knew the competition was going to be tough. They finished third in their section, narrowly missing out on the semifinals, but they competed well and certainly gave the winning team, Repton, a run for their money as Bablake scored first, the only team in the section to score past them. A new member of the sixth form, Sophie Plackett-Smith, can claim fame to the goal along with two more during the course of the day.

U14 & U16 NETBALL. Once again Bablake U14 and U16 netball teams have had an extremely successful first half of the season. Both teams have competed in the first two rounds of the Daily Telegraph National Schools Competition and have emerged as both Coventry and Warwickshire champions. They now play in the West Midlands with the aim of reaching the National Finals. These squads are talented and committed players who have worked tremendously hard to carry on the Bablake tradition of excellence in netball. Particular praise should go to the U16 squad who, despite the many demands on their time in their GCSE year, have managed to juggle academic work, netball and recreation with great maturity.

U16 netball

BABLAKE WIN UNDER 14 MIDLANDS HOCKEY FINAL After winning the U14 Warwickshire Hockey tournament with relative ease, Bablake had high expectations of doing well in the Midlands round. The girls made a nervous start to the tournament against Wolverhampton Grammar, conceded a goal but fought back hard and Lijana Kaziow scored to take a 1-1 draw. The second game was against the tournament favourites, Repton. Bablake were disappointed to concede a goal in the last few minutes. The pressure increased, knowing that they had to win the next 2 games to reach the semi-finals. The third section match was against Oakham School and was the defining match of the day. With the score at 0-0, Lucy Horn nonchalantly stopped a ball on the defending line and then cleared to the halfway line. Holly Payne then demonstrated some fine individual skills to produce the only goal of the game. This victory boosted their confidence and the girls followed it with a convincing 3-1 win over Dame Alice Harpur. Lauren Carpenter scored two of the goals.

U16 hockey

In the semi-final, Bablake faced Oundle school. Their increased confidence levels saw another improvement in performance yet they could not find the final touch on the ball to provide the goal. In the dying seconds of the match, Bablake won a penalty corner and a slick one-two at the top of the circle between Holly Payne and Lucy Horn saw Holly slotting home the goal and Bablake advancing to the final.

The final was between Bablake and Repton School. From playing the team earlier in the day, Bablake knew exactly where their opponents’ strength lay. Charlotte Weaver had an outstanding game in denying their play maker from time and space on the ball. Bablake dominated the game and were unlucky not to score from open play on a number of occasions. As the game wore on, it became apparent that the match was to be decided by penalty strokes. Lauren Boon took the first stroke and scored and Jodie Neale denied the 1st Repton stroke taker. Lucy Horn made no mistake with the second stroke and Repton then scored their second stroke to take the score to 2-1 in Bablake’s favour. Captain Holly Payne then scored the third stroke and Jodie Neale made another outstanding save. The pressure then fell on Rebecca Sewell as she knew that if she scored Bablake would have won the championship.

With great relief she slotted home the ball and Bablake were the Midlands Champions!

U14 netball

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Bablake School

Bablakeupdate HEADMASTER’S NOTES IT’S OFFICIAL. We are no longer a building site. All the safety fences have gone from the playground and the Swimming Pool is fully functional. And what a wonderful facility it is! All who have used it have been surprised and impressed by the new pool and surroundings.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the school’s Tsunami appeal. We have been overwhelmed with the generosity of giving and the willingness of individuals to arrange fund raising events. Overwhelmed, but not surprised.

It is for this reason and all that is reported on in this newsletter as well as the fact that Bablake pupils are generally well behaved, pleasant, well mannered and respectful that applications for entry to the school continue to be very strong indeed at all levels. Once again, much has been achieved in the past few months and I suspect that it will be no different for the rest of this academic year.

Stuart Nuttall, Headmaster

STAFF NEWS ACADEMIC NEWS AS THE HEADMASTER MENTIONED in a previous newsletter, our current Sixth Formers have already received an encouraging number of offers from top universities. There is still a concern from some parents that their children, will, as the press has reported be discriminated against when offers are made by universities. We can only reiterate that we have experienced no discrimination. On this, we were greatly heartened by the publication last term of the Schwartz Report on Admissions to Higher Education. It was full of good sense and, in particular, we were encouraged by its central assertion that ‘applicants should be assessed as individuals: it is not appropriate to treat one applicant automatically more or less favourably by virtue of his or her background, school or college’. However, the subsequent publication of new university benchmarks based on school type demonstrated only too clearly that the battle is not yet won, but at least independent schools now hold the moral high ground on this issue.

The Tomlinson Report (14 to 19 Curriculum) was also published last term and the reforms outlined in it were broadly welcomed in the secondary sector but until the Government’s response is known later this year, the extent to which the proposed reforms will be implemented can only be speculative. What is known is that the existing system, GCSE and AS/A2 exams, is likely to be in place for at least the next five years.

Bablake School, Coundon Road, Coventry CV1 4AU T +44 (0)24 7627 1200 F +44 (0)24 7627 1290 E info@bablake.coventry.sch.uk W www.bablake.com Designed & produced by Mustard 01608 662262

AT THE END OF this academic year we say farewell to three members of staff, Alan Brown (Head of Design Technology), Graham Burgess (ICT) and Terry Proctor (Maths) who are all retiring. During their long and distinguished time at Bablake they have been excellent teachers who have given many years of dedicated and first class service to pupils at Bablake.

All schools flourish because of the drive, enthusiasm, care and commitment of staff, and these qualities have been demonstrated in abundance by these teachers. We are sure that all parents will to join us in thanking all three for the considerable efforts they have made to ensure that Bablake pupils have achieved highly under their guidance and to wish them a long, happy and healthy retirement.

Mr C R West, who has been teaching Design Technology at Bablake for seven years, will take over the running of the department from Mr Brown. In addition, we are pleased to welcome the following new and very well qualified staff to Bablake from September 2005: Miss N Beasley (Maths), who has taught at Nicholas Chamberlaine School for two years, following a 2.1 Honours Maths degree and a PGCE at Birmingham University.

Miss R Blattner (ICT), who has taught at Caludon Castle School for two years following a 2.1 Honours degree in ICT and Education with a distinction in the practice of teaching from Newman College.

Miss L Hancock (DT), who has taught for one year at Stratford High School, after a PCGE at De Montford University, a 2.1 Honours degree in Manufacturing Engineering at Salford University and several years in industry. Miss Hancock (1988-95) joins the growing number of former pupils who have returned to teach in Bablake.