The Wheatleyan 2012-13

TheWhea�leyan Celebrating 2012/13

Issue 199 | ISSN 1759-0302

www.bablake.com

“2012-13 will undoubtedly go down in the Bablake annals as yet another vintage year! Our leavers celebrated record A-level results, and more than ever proceeded to their first choice of university.

The multiple successes of our sports teams were crowned with senior tours to Sri Lanka and Malaysia, and to South Africa. Our musicians benefited from a new partnership with Orchestra da Camera, with an inaugural workshop led by world-renowned violinist, Tasmin Little. The quality of our drama reached new heights, and our artists were inspired by an exhibition which featured eminent former pupils in the world of art, design and photography. We raised a record £24,100 for charity, and a group of pupils made the first visit to our partner school in a South African township.

All of this, and the many other aspects of our vibrant school celebrated within these pages, bear joyous testimony to outstanding talent and to the joint endeavour of pupils, staff and parents as we together build an ambitious, generous and outward-looking community, which nurtures and moulds our young people for life. I am so happy to be part of it!

Many congratulations and thank you to those who have compiled this annual record; we shall cherish it.”

John Watson, Headmaster

Student Editorial Team Editor: Katie Carlson Deputy Editor: Aniruddha Bose

Photography: Aniruddha Bose, Annabel Knight and Bethan Mordey

News and Features: Katie Carlson and Aniruddha Bose

Production Design: Mustard Design www.mustardhot.com

Beyond the Classroom: Kathryn Jones and Kalika Puri Flair: Art and Design – Jessica Betts and Charlotte Loasby Flair: Literature – Beth Brankowski and Thomas Grantham Performing Arts: Bradley Gill and Lara Morley-White Sport: Matthew Payne and Beth Starkey Former Pupils: Josh Bhathal and Kate French

Print: Windrush Acknowledgements Phoebe Brook, Faye Chambers, Paul Cleaver and the Art department, Mariona FoguetGonzalez, the PE department, Helen Skilton, Alison Tumber, Chris West, Mark Woodward (photography); Peter Burden, Terry Patchett, James Ross, Millie Ross, (proof-reading); staff and pupils (articles).

A Bablake mobile app is available for both Android and Apple platforms.

The Wheatleyan is printed on paper sourced from sustainably managed forests.

“The editorial team is always chosen for its keen journalism, outstanding leadership qualities, eager appreciation of modern design, encouragement of innovation, attention to deadlines and censorial duty to choose only the best material.

Editor Katie Carlson has been ever wise, sharp with her text, ruthlessly efficient, tireless in her quest for material, impressive under pressure and delightfully sardonic. Deputy Editor Aniruddha Bose has been similarly impeccable, bringing a very keen eye for design to the magazine and an infectious serenity to the regular editorial meetings. Once again it has been humbling to work with such talented pupils and I await news of their guaranteed success beyond Bablake.

Thanks to Katie, Aniruddha and the rest of the excellent editorial body, I am confident we have produced an edition that the Bablake community will once again be extremely proud of.” mark woodward, staff editor

mgaw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk

TheWhea�leyan 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 800 pupils shares the site with the Bablake Junior School of some 190 pupils which now includes a pre-prep, with a capacity of 109 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 t www.twitter.com/bablakeschool t bablake.tumblr.com p www.pinterest.com/bablakeschool i instagram.com/bablakeofficial

In this issue...

Highlights

4 News & Features

13

UK’s No 1 For Social Media 5 Headmaster’s Review 6 Academic Achievements 8 Young Sports Reporter of the Year 10 Final Destinations 12 Staff News 14 Well Grounded 21

24 Beyond the Classroom Beyond the Specification 25 Home and Away 26 Future Preparations 34 Charity 36 House Activities 40 Offering Enrichment 48

31

50 Flair

55 78

99

Galleries 52 Design Technology 56 Photographic Excellence 59 Celebrations 60 Desert Island Books 66 Flash Fiction 68

70 Performing Arts Blithe Spirit 71 Stage Whispers 74 On Song 76 OdaC 78

82 Sport

109

Fantastic 5 83 Sporting Honours 84 Sports Abroad 86 Individual Excellence 88 Sports Focus 90 Sports Talk 100

102 Former Pupils Interview 103 Old Wheatleyans RFC 104 News Desk 106 Reunited 110

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

3

Highlights: UK’s No 1 For Social Media 5, Headmaster’s Review 6, Academic Achievements 8, Young Sports Reporter of the Year 10, Final Destinations 12, Staff News 14, Well Grounded 21

News & Features Edited by Katie Carlson and Aniruddha Bose "Last year’s excellent edition was a hard act to follow, but between myself and Aniruddha, I think we may have just done the trick. Editing the Wheatleyan has been a brilliant experience – tapping into the wealth of young journalistic talent at Bablake, leading a hard-working and creative team, and watching our issue grow from a few notes scribbled on an A4 sheet to a slick, professional publication.

I'd like to thank the team for working so fastidiously on this year's issue, and Mr Woodward for bringing it all together. My final words are to all the budding journalists at Bablake: get involved with next year's issue – you won't regret it!"

Katie Carlson – Editor

"Katie has already mentioned that improving upon the previous issue was a daunting task but it has been an incredible experience. As Deputy Editor, I developed my own journalistic and photographic skills and had the privilege of seeing the talents of the rest of the team emerge. Being part of the process from start to finish has been an absolute joy. It was a pleasure to work with Katie and such a meticulous and reliable team.

I'd like to thank Mr. Woodward for giving me the role of Deputy Editor and guiding Katie and myself through the year, and Mustard for such professional design work. Despite minor panic as deadlines approached, hopefully, we have produced the best edition yet!"

Aniruddha Bose – Deputy Editor

Katie's profile

Aniruddha's profile

Passions: History, drama, 19th century literature, Woody Allen films, Italian food, Billie Holiday.

Ambitions: To read history at university, travel the world, and finish every book on my reading list. One of these will never happen!

2012/13 highlight: The ski trip to Austria – the views took my breath away as much as the exercise.

Passions: Playing the ukulele, physics, Tarantino movies and sushi.

Ambitions: To study chemical engineering at university, go skydiving and become Britain's next top model.

2012/13 Highlight: Getting lost underwater while diving in Malaysia with the World Challenge team.

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

2012/13 Academic Survey

2012/13

Rated the UK’s No 1 School for Social Media

Ranked number 1 nationally in the Interactive Schools’ ‘Social Authority’ league table for independent schools and winner of five #FabSchool weekly awards from the Social Media Police, Bablake has gained regular praise for its social media delivery that began in March 2009 on Twitter. With excellent support from our PE department in particular, our digital footprint is very strong.

Interactive Schools said: ‘Not only does Bablake engage with people, but it tweets interesting content – which includes links to its website and external sites! The school does this on a regular basis, which constantly keeps its followers aware of Bablake. The language of choice is playful, fun and very social friendly. This makes people feel at ease and much more likely to advocate their message.’

Here is a selection of our Twitter highlights from the year...

September: Our U6th Medics are attending 'Anatomy Academy' today. Well done to Amelia Brook for instigating and Miss Alison Learmont for arranging!

Happy 35th Birthday, @bablakewx (our Bablake Weather Station)! An amazing labour of love, science & dedicated pupil and staff collaboration.

Latest 'tome' from former pupil Alex T Smith: 'Claude in the Country'. Brilliant as always! Now in 14 countries too!

October: 'Hola', 'salut' & 'hallo' to our new Spanish, French & German assistants, wishing them a great year at Bablake.

Congratulations to Frances Mahony who competed for West Midlands U19s at the weekend's National Junior Wheelchair Basketball Championships.

November: Thank you to those who attended our Open Morning. Great to see so many new familiar faces & we trust you enjoyed the visit! #comebacksoon Our maintenance team has raised over £300 towards the printing costs of the 2013 Charity Calendar for #Cry. Amazing achievement.

December: Proud of the Class of 2005 at Graduation Ceremony. Great to see so many return. #leadersofthefuture

January: Seems bizarre to be talking of extending our 6th Form pupils on Entrance Exam day, but time flies! Ask the prefects!

An amazing £2500+ has been raised by our L6th for @TeenageCancer this academic year, on top of a similar sum for @CRY_UK. #prideinourpupils February: Great to hear our 1st XI football team was also victorious today, beating Princethorpe 2-1, inc. a fine Sam Dale goal. #lampardindisguise March: Re Hbbbbbbu! @bablakeschool Lesson to self: don’t sit on phone during school concert! Turn off instead!

Thanks @hughkh for alert! @BNYMellonRace @legardj Hope Sam really enjoys his day with you all at the Varsity boat race. @covtelegraph #YoungSportsReporterOfTheYear.

April: The final enrichment session for our U6th was delivered by Laura Bates, creator of the @EverydaySexism project. #necessarydebate #courage May: Mesmerised by Mathematical wizardry, our pupils write an account of an #IGGY workshop by Dr Dave Wood (@warwickuni) There's time to grab your blue suede shoes for @BelgradeTheatre's #AllShookUp; #YOG production with Bablake's Megan Evans & Lydia Bruton.

Where's our 'summery' weather gone, @bablakewx?

Would've loved it for our U6th's final games session!

Sunshine for Saturday's 99/98 reunion?

June: We wish representatives from our student magazine, @stretchmag, all the best at the @shinemediawards in London later today. #lionpride July: Website reports on Mark Best's phenomenal 123* v Warwick in our T20 final win. #masterblaster @bablakecricket @CovTelSport Wonder how our rugby tourists & pupils at Harrismith Secondary will celebrate Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday today. #iconicfigure August: As ever, #resultsday is a mass of emotions. So proud of our A2 pupils who have achieved so much in their 7 years. #reflectionsofexcellence Please follow @bablakeschool for more! www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Headmaster’s Review

Headmaster’s Review at Prize Giving 2012/13

One of my greatest and most humbling privileges as a Head is that I’m surrounded by lots of very talented people – both pupils and staff – and in their work, their music, their sport, their drama, I see them achieving remarkable things. And that’s surely why we’re here tonight: to celebrate talent, achievement, and success.

But life’s a bit of a lottery, isn’t it?

Some people simply seem to have more of their fair share of brains than others.

Some are born incredibly artistic, unlike the Headmaster, who always could visualise wonderful scenes, but whose pencil or paintbrush failed him miserably in the execution. How often do we say when admiring talent passed down through generations: ‘It must be in the genes’? And aren’t we always dumbstruck by the awesome innate talent of black athletes?

We’re obsessed with talent shows like the X Factor, and, at school, every other report uses the word ‘talent’ or ‘ability’. Well, Thomas Edison, the most prolific of American inventors, with over a thousand patents to his name, perhaps best known to us for the electric light bulb, only had three months of formal schooling and would not have admitted to innate talent. In fact it was he who said: ‘Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.’

Bounce is the title of a book I read earlier this year. And if you’re guessing, yes, it’s written by a sportsman – in fact, an international table-tennis champion, Matthew Syed. The subtitle is The myth of talent and the power of practice. Syed was brought up in Reading, and from his street came five national table-tennis champions, and around the corner, another five. He writes: ‘For a period in the 1980s, this one street and the surrounding vicinity produced more outstanding table-tennis players than the rest of the nation combined: a Ping-Pong mecca that seemed to defy explanation or belief.’ To what does Syed attribute this incredible success? First, opportunity: they all had keys to a one-table hut, which they could access 24/7. Secondly, hours and hours of practice, underpinned

by unstinting internal motivation – but highly specific practice under the guidance of a passionate coach, who was a teacher at the local primary school: practice which involved striving for a target which was just out of reach. Thirdly, the lived and learned experience and knowledge which came from that practice and from his coach’s feedback. Fourthly, a growth mind-set rather than a fixed mindset which saw failures as learning opportunities. And fifthly, positive thinking and self-belief. Such a theory has profound implications for us as educationalists. For example, Syed believes that we should praise effort rather than intelligence. If a pupil gets 10/10 every time, that leads to a fear of failure and therefore a reluctance to attempt anything more challenging.

Not surprisingly, Syed and others’ theory that, given the right conditions, you can achieve whatever you want has been highly controversial. Indeed, only in a recent copy of The Times, there was an article by cricketer Ed Smith who quoted from The Sports Gene, a new book by American David Epstein, whose research debunks Syed’s theory, and sets out to prove that we can’t all be Jessica Ennis, Gareth Bale or Usain Bolt – not that I have pretentions to be any of them! Surely there’s substance to both theories, isn’t there? I am delighted that we award prizes which recognise both achievement and effort or progress.

And there’s significant truth in what Syed argues, for talent without practice simply can’t evolve. Unless we as parents and teachers allow our children to fail, to grapple with difficulties, to develop true grit and perseverance in the face of obstacles, to work with determination to achieve their goals, we’re selling them short; we’re not preparing them for life and all its inevitable exciting challenges.

This is what Winston Churchill had to say about practice: ‘They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds.’

Record A-level results, with 55% of grades at A*/A and 81% of pupils gaining places at their first-choice universities.

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

business Headmaster’s & enterprise Review zone

And how about this American journalist, H L Mencken, on talent: ‘The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office.’

Michael Gove has had plenty of practice at being Secretary of State for Education. In fact he’s lasted far longer than any other recent incumbent. Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families since 2007, he became our Education Secretary in 2010, when the coalition government came to power. Is his educational revolution simply ‘back to the brave old world’ of his own education, or is he trying to ape a system which works very well in a totally different culture on the other side of the world? Well, we can only admire his emphasis on academic rigour, and it can only favour schools such as ours. But so unreliable is the marking of exams currently (where the same cohort of Bablake pupils can achieve 72.4% A*/A grades in English Literature GCSE and 37.4% in English Language) that the introduction of more open-ended questions can only lead to further incompetence in the application of a mark scheme which must necessarily become less prescriptive.

And neither schools nor universities favour the abolition of AS level as a motivating staging-post on the way to A-level.

However, change there will be, and a school such as Bablake should not fear that change, for we shall continue to do what is in the best educational interests of our pupils.

Mr Gove is beginning to listen more, and has had to accept the recommendation that the introduction of new GCSEs should not be rushed.

I am going to ask my talented assistants to speak shortly, and they are going to concentrate on who we are as a community rather than just on what we have achieved last year. We have, of course, achieved a phenomenal amount. There was much jubilation over record A-level results, with 55% of grades at A*/A grade (compared with 26% nationally) and with 81% of students gaining places at their first-choice universities. Last week, some Lower Sixth students took to the skies in a Network Rail helicopter, having won the prize for ‘best presentation’ amongst 76 top Midlands schools at the Education Engineering Scheme finals. Our intermediate girl athletes were ranked 20th in the country on points-score, and we won 6 of the Coventry Cup netball titles; our 1st XI cricketers were Warwickshire champions and play again in the following year’s delayed finals. Our Drama Department produced plays of outstanding quality (both at home and for the 27th successive year on the Edinburgh Fringe). Our musicians have established a link with Orchestra da Camera, which included an inaugural workshop with renowned violinist Tasmin Little, and we held a joyous joint carol service with the Junior School for the first time in the awe-inspiring setting of Coventry Cathedral. We also topped the School Authority league tables for independent schools for our official Twitter presence!

The Headmaster then introduced 4 pairs of pupils to talk about specific and diverse highlights of the school year.

We want our pupils to emerge as generous and selfless young adults, so let’s be judged as a community on the

practice of compassion rather than purely on the talent of achievement. Returning to Coventry Cathedral, Connor Putnam and George Esworthy will speak briefly about ICON (International Cross of Nails).

Within school, we continued to extend the support offered to pupils through our peer support scheme, to which 32 of our current Fourth Year contribute. Ben Jones and Grace Harrold from last year’s cohort will tell us about it.

We raised a record £24,000 for diverse charities, and we are very grateful to Mrs Heath for her tireless and enthusiastic dedication to our fundraising endeavours.

Harriet Rowlands and Martin McKenna actively contributed with their form.

14 students benefited from our first group visit to our partner township school in South Africa. Keisha Simms and Mariona Foguet-Gonzalez will tell us what this visit meant to them.

A school community is all about people and their relationships with each other and the outside world. Our staff are wholly dedicated to providing life-enriching opportunities to our pupils, and we bade a fond farewell to several outstandingly loyal colleagues who retired in the summer: Mrs Beth Hill, who made a strong contribution not only to Languages, but also as quiz mistress, to charity and to many school trips. Mrs Pam Marchant, who taught Girls’ Sport and Geography, and was Deputy House Head of Fairfax. Mrs Chris Friebe, Head of Girls’ PE for a while, but probably most remembered for her encouragement, care and guidance for individuals as Head of Learning Support. Mr Mike Masters, erstwhile Head of Chemistry, Science, Wheatley House and the CCF, who devoted his energies and talents to Bablake pupils for 40 years. And Mrs Gill Thomas, Head of Girls’ PE, Mistress i/c Girls’ Welfare, teacher of Geography and Health Education, and ultimately, since 1992, an outstanding Deputy Head who made an enormous contribution to the happiness and success of our community. So, please join with me in showing your gratitude for their service to Bablake and in wishing them happy and healthy retirements.

My thanks go also to: the staff, both teaching and support, whose relentless aim, with me, is quite simply to give our pupils the best possible preparation for life; to our Governors, who give generously of their time and expertise to advise us and to ensure the current and future well-being of the Foundation schools; and to our Parents’ Association whose enthusiasm and support enable us to enhance the education we offer and to ensure that all parents are made to feel a part of our extended family.

The Headmaster’s Prize Giving speech from 2013 and previous years may be found in full online at www.bablake.com/headmasters_notes.php, where his weekly bulletin to parents is also published.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Academic Achievements

Prize Giving 2013 “I’m surrounded by lots of very talented people – both pupils and staff – and in their work, their music, their sport, their drama, I see them achieving remarkable things.”

Headmaster, Mr John Watson

Award-winning author of the H.I.V.E. series of teenage fiction, which has been published in almost 20 languages, Mark Walden (1984–1991) presented the prizes. Before writing these eight novels, Mark was a video games designer and producer. He has recently launched a second series entitled Earthfall. As well as encouraging pupils to challenge and get involved, Mark suggested that the advances of the internet age over the last 20 years would be regarded as just as significant as the industrial revolution, so current Bablake pupils must become its guardians. Music was performed by Bradley Gill and Aron Sood before the ceremony, while Ben Powell, Chris Tuttle, Anna White and Rachel Worthington played Two Rondeaux by Purcell during the Interlude.

Prizes Awarded The most prestigious of over 200 individual prize-winners this year included:

4ths Attainment: Sonia Dhillon, Eva Klesnik-Edwards, Anna Knight, Billy Moore, Emily Poole, Christopher Tuttle.

Progress: James Horton, Ben Jones, Liam Meechan, Arun Nahar, Alesha Robinson, Jashan Sangha.

5ths Form Prize: Beckie Carter, Ryan Cornall, Sophie Greer, Helen Rowland, Connor Putnam, Eva Tite.

Excellence at GCSE: Dhilip Bains, Francesca Bellingeri, Sian Brahach, Beckie Carter, Georgia Clarke, Brogan Coulson-Haggins, Matthias De Veer, Mariona Foguet-Gonzalez, Elliot Forbes, Rubi Ingaglia, Amy Kuner, Connor Putnam, Emily Robinson, Keisha Simms, Danujan Sivanesan, Hayley Smith, Scott Spencer, Alexander Towlson, Becky Williamson, Helena Worthington.

Shell Scholars 2012 – 13

6th Form Scholarships, awarded on entry to the Lower Sixth

Academic: William Canning, Fiona Chung, Matthew Cooper, Ayman Farid, Alex Hyde, Abinaya Muraleetharan, Agsharan Rajavarothayam, Darya Sutton, Piraveen Thayaranjan, Kogulan Vipulan.

Academic: Dhilip Bains, Sian Brahach, Georgia Clarke, Matthias De Veer, George Esworthy, Morwenna Hocken, Rubi Ingaglia, Amy Kuner, Connor Putnam, Keisha Simms, Danujan Sivanesan, Hayley Smith, Alexander Towlson.

Art: Anastasia Jeffcoat, Alicja Wisniewska.

Art: Francesca Bellingeri.

Music: Ellie Aitchison, Hattie Morris, Darya Sutton.

Music: Aron Sood, Helena Worthington.

William Townsend Form Prizes

Sport: Jade Aston, Aimee Piercy, Brad Pinkham, Brendan Roberts, Mollie Sargent.

Shells Attainment: Enya Bowe, Amrit Gill, Harry Hine, George Parker, Ayesha Riaz.

Progress: Xander Bennett, Eve Lapworth, Charlotte Park, Thomas Rouse, Prabhjote Sahota.

2nds Attainment: Baht-Ammi Francis, Olivia Kelly, Deepra Sinha, Daniel Smith, Julian Wreford.

Progress: Michael Brown, Eleanor Faulkner, Bethany Isard, Harriet Rowlands, Rachel Worthington.

3rds

Whitehouse: Pamilla Kang, Sivarjuen Ravichandran.

Lane Scholarships awarded to L6th Formers for outstanding academic achievement: Abi Collins, Joyce Du, Harry Gao, Thomas Grantham, Richard Price, Harry Smith, Elaine Zhang.

E Jenkins Cup (Shells): Iz Hemus, George Parker.

Felicity Chapman Poetry Prize: Deepra Sinha.

Pembroke Award: Kate French.

TW Patchett Scholarship and Courtesy Prize: James McAllister, Kalika Puri.

Attainment: Beth Carter, Ashni Hindocha, Thomas Nelson, Daniel O’Malley, Vikesh Puri.

The J V Rattigan Cup for Merit: Katie Carlson.

Progress: Jenny Beech, Peter Cusack, Helena Farren, Callum George, Kiran-Sophie Ladva.

The Leonard Ward Trophy for Sportswoman of the Year: Beth Jepson.

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

The Jackson Progress Prize: Ryan McSorley.

Academic Achievements

The Seaborne Trophy for Sportsman of the Year: Ronan Jones.

Best Contribution to the School by students new to the 6th Form: Ellen Luo, Thomas Ryan-Moulder.

Former Pupils’ Association Prize for Merit: Rebecca Brown, Joseph Cashmore, Lewis Emerson, Joe Gibbins, Matt Hollinrake, Jack Mills, Jennifer Scoular, Shirley Wu, Flora Zhan.

The Chris Ashworth Trophy (Outstanding Achievement): Beth Rowland.

The H Curt Prize for Service: Anna French.

The Hawley Cup for Service: Ben Evans.

The Humberstone Prize for Character and Scholarship: Maneesha Sehgal.

This prize is awarded each year by the Trustees of the Humberstone Memorial on the recommendation of the school staff, in memory of F W Humberstone, Headmaster of Bablake School 1870 – 1890.

Lewis Emerson, George Esworthy, Elliot Forbes, Anna French, Kate French, Harry Gao, Amy Kuner, Sally Li (best in school), Ellen Luo, Joshua Rowe, Flora Zhan, Elaine Zhang.

Anna Knight was placed in the Top 40 girls in the UK and invited to Oxford University’s Maths Summer school.

Media: 6th Form leaflet – Jake Hinley, Beth Rowland; Jennifer Reay (photography).

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

National Publications: Beth Rowland – Farmers’ Weekly, Sec Ed. Physicist of the Year (University of Warwick award to local schools): James McAllister.

Senior Prefects: Ben Evans, Maneesha Seghal (school captains); Ronan Jones, Beth Rowland (vice-captains); Anna French, Matt Hollinrake, Eleanor Morris, Mwelwa Mukwashi, Ryan Parnell, Georgia Powell.

Army 6th Form Scholarship: Jonathan Porter.

Shine Media Awards: Stretch – student magazine.

Runners up at National Final: Environmental Strategy; Inspirational Teacher – Mr Mark Woodward. Shortlisted for five other categories: Best Feature Article – Will Hine; Best Overall Editorial Content; Best Commercial Strategy; Community Initiative; Outstanding Pupil – Amelia Brook.

Arkwright Scholarship: Will Banfield.

Silver Wings (RAF): Richard Coton.

Arts Award: Silver – Bethany Carter, Avni Kant, Aron Sood; Bronze – Lydia Bruton, Sam Lowe, Anna White, Jody Wong.

UK Youth Parliament (Coventry): Amelia Brook.

BNY Mellon Young Sports Reporter of the Year: Sam Lowe.

BBC Midlands Today – Bablake Weather Station and our snow day.

Achievements Congratulations:

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge: Gold award – Austin Gährs.

Chief Scouts Diamond Award: Jacob Baines.

Cicero Concordia 2013: Cultural Competition UK – Holly Twigger commended; U6th Latin Translation – Sam Paplauskas 2nd, Marlena Cummings joint 4th.

Crest Awards: Gold – Josh Bhathal, Aniruddha Bose, Andy Haughian, Marcus Judge, Aaran Patel, Kalika Puri, Joshua Rowe, James Tumber, Adam Wellings; Silver – Tom Betts, George Esworthy, Matthew Hayhurst, Connor Putnam.

Bronze – Amrit Gill, Katerina Jackson and Georgina Owen’s projects were submitted for a case study.

Engineering Education Scheme: Best Presentation at Exhibition Day – Aniruddha Bose, Andy Haughian, Joshua Rowe, James Tumber.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ): Lucy Burns, Joseph Cashmore, Ben Evans, Anna French, Joe Gibbins, Sally Li, Lois Miller, Jack Mills, Eleanor Morris, Mwelwa Mukwashi, Georgia Powell, Beth Rowland, Thomas Ryan-Moulder, Maneesha Sehgal, Shannon Smith, Shirley Wu. F1 in Schools: Regional finalists – Aniruddha Bose, Joshua Rowe, James Tumber – Impulse (L6th); Will Banfield, Simran Bansal, Jake O’Sullivan, Bradley Pinkham, Scott Spencer and Robert Tuckey – Synergy (5th).

Grade 8 Music: Flute – Beth Gaunt; Trombone – Nick Evans, Trumpet – Joshua Rowe.

Jaguar Land Rover Advanced Apprenticeship: Erica Ash, Jonathan Utting.

Spotted On:

Channel 4 Snow Map – photograph of our Main Building in the snow.

2012-13 Public Examination Fact Sheet A2 • 109 pupils: 100% pass rate.

• 81% of all grades were at A*, A or B • 55% of all grades were at A* or A • 35% of all pupils achieved all A* or A grades, with 12 pupils achieving 4 A* or A • 81% of all pupils accepted by first choice university AS LEVEL • 119 pupils: 98% pass rate.

• 67% of all grades were at A or B • 35% of all pupils achieved 3 or more passes at A grade GCSE • 123 pupils: 99% achieved at least 5 A* - C grades • 63% of all grades were at A* or A • 29% of all pupils gained 9 or more A* or A grades • 9 pupils gained 10 or more A* grades

Maths Challenge: Senior Gold award winners – Joyce Du, www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Academic Matters

Brotherly

love

Sam Lowe won the BNY Mellon Young Sports Reporter of the Year prize with his ‘report’ on the Boat Race. As well as Sam enjoying a VIP day with his family at the 2013 event, double Olympic gold medal winner Malcolm Howard, President of the Oxford Boat Club, presented him with his winner’s plaque in Junior Assembly. Here is Sam’s prizewinning entry: Yesterday’s 14th Oxford versus Cambridge Boat Race was a dramatic race, which ended with Oxford winning by just one foot. The two teams were neck-andneck throughout, and at no point was there a team that was in the lead by more than a length.

There were also family affairs involved in the race as brothers raced each other, Matt Smith and David Livingston for Oxford, Ben Smith and James Livingston for Cambridge.

Cambridge immediately had a headstart, with their weight advantage being almost a stone per man. When the coin was tossed, Oxford got the Middlesex station, which gave them an advantage through the first and final bend. 11 out of the last 20 races have been won by the crew on the Surrey station.

The race started cleanly at Putney Bridge, with Oxford edging Cambridge out, although Cambridge pulled it back past Fulham Football Club. The umpire had a busy time throughout the race, trying to keep the two boats apart.

Through the first corner, Oxford got about a third of a length. The crews carried on coming close, with their oars constantly touching. The corner rounded off into a headwind, and Cambridge had more of an advantage, as the wind didn't affect them as much.

Coming into the Surrey corner, Cambridge edged out ahead of Oxford. Cambridge was two-thirds of a length ahead. The oars were now overlapping, but Cambridge was so far ahead that there wasn't much effect. At the end of the bend, Oxford started coming back at Cambridge. It was turning into a thrilling race that you couldn't take your eyes off.

The wind was now behind the crews. Cambridge had a lot of work to do with a minute and a half until they got to the bend in Oxford's favour. Past Chiswick steps and the yellow flag, Cambridge had the lead, but only by a quarter of a length. There was still a bit of the corner left in Cambridge's favour. They now had only seven minutes until the end of the race. Cambridge was beginning to look a little

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

“Sam’s report read like a good report should.”

Jonathan Legard, BBC sports reporter and commentator

weary, which gave Oxford even more of an advantage.

Oxford was edging back, with half a minute left until the advantage swung into their favour. At the start of the corner, Oxford started pushing and they were about half a length ahead. Going through the tight turn underneath Barnes Bridge, no one thought Cambridge could pull Oxford back. But then Cambridge started pushing, and they closed some of the gap. After the turn, it was pretty much a straight run in to the finish, so it would be whoever had the most fuel in the tank at the end. The weight difference also started to tell.

Cambridge had now pulled it back to a third of a length and they were pushing with one minute left of the race. It looked like Oxford were going to hold on with a third of a length but Cambridge were still coming. With ten strokes left, no one knew who was going to win. Coming into the line, there was a desperate surge from Cambridge and across the line there was a phenomenal surge. It was later confirmed that Oxford had won by a foot. Cambridge was so close to pulling it back.

Overall, it was a fantastic race. Afterwards, the Oxford cox, Acer Nethercott, said, “It was a great win for us. I was absolutely delighted with how we rowed. However, I was frustrated as to how much steering I had to do. We came so close constantly and we zigzagged a lot in the end.”

Ben Smith, one of the set of brothers, said: “I’m absolutely gutted with the outcome. It nearly is the dead heat that both families wanted, but I was unlucky to be on the losing side. We gave it our all and that was all we could ask for.” When asked if he had managed to see his brother before the interview, he replied that he hadn’t but he hoped his brother was fair on him.

The umpire, said, “I was frustrated with how much the teams were getting closer together, and I’m sure they were frustrated with constantly having to change their course, but that is rowing for you.” www.whichblueareyou.com

Academic Matters

Engineering futures

The best minds in our 6th form are U6th are given every opportunity to extend their intellectual curiosity. As well as a broad range of extension lessons, the opportunity to complete a CREST award and encouragement to attend taster courses offered by universities or organisations such as Headstart, the Smallpeice Trust or Workshop, there are two activities that stood out this year:

The 2013 leavers who undertook the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) all gave a short presentation about their project to a small group of friends and teachers, last November, while four of the group braved a public lecture followed by a short question and answer session in front of their mentors and an audience of over 70. All the topics explored in the EPQ exercise are full of intellectual curiosity and the independent learning encouraged is a perfect prelude to university study of a similar nature.

Meanwhile, in association with Arup, four L6th pupils, Aniruddha Bose, Andy Haughian, Joshua Rowe and James Tumber were selected at interview for the Engineering Education Scheme (EES). Not only did they gain Gold CREST awards for their work but there was national recognition.

The group worked on a solution to cross a 22km European stretch of water, proposing a tunnel capable of carrying both road and rail traffic. At the final celebration day, the group proudly won the prize for top presentation, winning a flight in a Network Rail survey helicopter as its prize.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Final Destinations

Beyond The talented Class of 2006 leaves Bablake for an impressive and exciting range of challenges presented by first-rate establishments and employers, with 81% of the year group studying at their first choice university.

Bablake

UK UNIVERSITIES 9 Nottingham 8 London (2 – Imperial; 3 – King’s College (KCL), 1 – London School of Economics (LSE); 2 – University College (UCL)) 7 Warwick 6 Exeter, Loughborough* 5 Newcastle* 4 Aston, Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Nottingham Trent, Oxford Brookes**, Sheffield* 3 Cambridge, Coventry, Manchester, York 2 Birmingham City, Bristol, Leeds Metropolitan, Portsmouth, Southampton* 1 Aberystwyth*, Anglia Ruskin, Bath Spa, Chester, Cornwall*, Durham, Heriot-Watt, Lancaster, Liverpool, Medway School of Pharmacy, Newman, Plymouth, Reading, Salford, Sussex*, West of England (UWE), Winchester *place deferred until 2014 UNIVERSITY ABROAD 1 Spain GAP YEAR 18 (2 – Art Foundation, 15-Mix of paid and voluntary work plus independent/ arranged travel, 1 – Cricket professional in New Zealand); (9 have places at university deferred) ALTERNATIVES 1 Employment DEGREE DISCIPLINES (inc deferred places) The Arts, Humanities and Languages – 17 1 Applied Performance – Community & Education 1 Archaeology 1 Art 3 English (History 1, Language & Literature 1, Literature & Politics 1)

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1 2 6 1 2 1

Fashion Communication & Promotion French (History 1, Russian 1) History (inc Ancient History 1, Anthropology 1, Philosophy 1) Modern and Medieval Languages Politics (History 1, Philosophy 1) Textile Design for Fashion & Interiors

Engineering, ICT, Health & Medicine, Natural & Physical Sciences, Sports Science – 47 1 Animal Science (with European Studies)) 1 Biochemistry (with Study Abroad) 3 Biomedical Science 2 Biotechnology (inc Microbiology) 4 Biology (inc Conservation Biology and Ecology with Study Abroad (4 years) 2, Marine Biology) 2 Computer Science (inc Computer Systems-Forensic and Security 1) 1 Diagnostic Radiography 1 Dentistry 4 Engineering (inc Design 1, Mechanical with a Year in Industry 1, Product Design 1) 5 Geography (inc Management 1, Physical with Mathematics 1) 2 Geology (inc Year Abroad) 1 Geophysical Sciences 2 Mathematics (inc Economics 1) 4 Medicine 1 Natural Sciences 1 Ocean Science 1 Ophthalmic Dispensing 1 Palaeontology and Evolution 3 Pharmacy 3 2 Physics 1 Physiotherapy 2 Product Design (Management 1, Technology 1) 1 Surf Science and Technology Social Sciences – 42 7 Accounting (inc Accounting and Finance 5, Accounting and Finance with Industrial Experience 1) 1 Building Surveying 8 Business (Economics & Finance 1, Management 5, Management & Public Policy 1, Mathematics 1) 1 Criminology 8 Economics (inc German 1, Management 2, Politics 1) 1 Education (Primary ) 1 International Relations and Politics 7 Law (inc Business Studies, Criminology) 6 Psychology (inc Behavioural Sciences 1, Cognitive Neuroscience 1, Social Psychology 1) 1 Real Estate

cha

Spotlight

allenging, outgoing, awesome, exciting, fantastic, studious, super, sporting...

fun, amazing, interesting, enjoyable, happy, magical, inspiring, help

words for Bablake We asked Shell G to describe Bablake in three words and then created a word cloud from the results. Matthew Cooper also wrote a paragraph about his first few weeks at the school:

T

his term has been a whirlwind of starting new lessons, meeting new teachers and making new friends. Bablake is a fantastic school – it has a sense of heritage and continuity from centuries gone by, considering its 1344 origins, and there is an atmosphere of pride in helping young people learn.

Mr Grantham, a dynamic and enthusiastic History expert, is my form tutor. He epitomises all the other teachers at Bablake – approachable, supportive and dedicated to helping us learn and grow as people.

My favourite lessons include Science and Design Technology but the teachers at Bablake make even my least favourite lessons interesting, exciting and fun. With the superb sports facilities, science labs and music rooms, Bablake offers me so much to discover and new dimensions to learning.

I would not want to be anywhere else!

We used the following words/linked phrases (including repetitions) from Shell G to create the word cloud above: studious, sporting, fun, fun, exciting, amazing, awesome, fun, good, fun, happy, exciting, magical, fantastic, super, amazing, friendly-environment, full-of-opportunities, enjoyable, encouraging, amazing, fun, excitingopportunities, full-of-opportunity, fun, friendly-environment, inspiring, outgoing, amazing, Bablake-is-fun, interesting, exciting, challenging, friendly, kind, helpful, a-strongeducation, learn-achieve-succeed

by Katie Carlson

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Staff News

Valete Mr Mike Masters Dr Patrick Knight Mr Mike Masters has been at the heart of Bablake’s Chemistry Department for over 40 years and it just will not be the same place without him.

He joined the staff in September 1973, having completed a teaching practice here in the previous academic year.

He was Head of Science from 2005 until 2010 and Head of Chemistry from 1993 to 2005.

He has become renowned for his showmanship and love of all things pyrotechnical. This may sound flippant, but it has helped to produce countless memorable, inspirational lessons that have influenced thousands of pupils. He possesses an encyclopaedic knowledge of Chemistry, encompassing both theory and practical to the very highest level. He has been remarkably generous with time throughout his career, always enjoying coaching pupils through their qualifications in his free periods.

He was happy to help out younger Science teachers by sharing his experiences and he has also been a very willing supporter of school life outside the laboratory.

Mike was a highly skilful and supportive sixth form tutor, delivering great pastoral care and helping his tutees move on to life after Bablake. He coached the school squash teams for 20 years, was head of Wheatley house for 15 years and led the Combined Cadet Force as contingent commander. He was an enthusiastic member

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of the Wednesday Games afternoon staff, leading groups of pupils for Clay Pigeon Shooting, Rock Climbing and Rugby. He was a member of the school orchestra for many years, playing cello and he was an absolute stalwart of the trips to Le Manoir de Fousseau, sometimes managing two trips in a school year.

Mr Masters’ lessons were always memorable; the rate of learning was incredibly fast and the quality of accompanying anecdotes was always excellent. He was renowned for his end of term spectaculars, which included a huge range of exothermic reactions. He did not disappoint during his final lesson in 2013 when his show produced enough smoke to trigger the fire alarm and result in a fire drill for the whole school. Mike is the epitome of all that is good about high quality teaching staff; he has always put the welfare and progress of his pupils and colleagues before his own needs, is immensely proud of his pupils’ achievements and has without doubt earned the right to a full and happy retirement. We wish him all the best for the future.

Mrs Gill Thomas Mr John Watson It is sometimes said that the fear of having to give a speech to an audience of colleagues is what most deters teachers from leaving! For a time, and to the huge advantage of countless pupils and staff, that seemed to work pretty well with Gill Thomas – until retirement beckoned. It is equally daunting to be asked to write a tribute to her exceptional career, for it would be impossible to do it justice.

Miss Palmer joined both Bablake and King Henry VIII (then Coventry School) in 1977 as Head of Girls’ Physical Education, shortly after the advent of co-education, and

Staff News

“I put everything down to Bablake and the ambition all the teachers instilled in us to make us believe we could do whatever we wanted. Yes! Such legends!”

she in fact taught the First Year girls from both schools together. In 1979 she was made Mistress i/c Girls’ Welfare, a title she never really liked, but a role in which she was to show the pastoral qualities which would characterise her career. Being a joint Geography and PE graduate, she was also keen to teach the former subject, and her passion and thoroughness as a teacher never left her. Even as Deputy Head, she refused to cut corners, hated missing any lessons, and hauled huge bags – full of exercise books – to and from home for marking. I once observed a very imaginative and memorable lesson on plate tectonics, with Poundland sponges used for illustration!

Gill also taught and ran Health Education (a precursor of PSHCE), and even at this early stage of her career, she would burn the midnight oil with incredible stamina for hard work. Stuart Nuttall, her new headmaster, wrote in 1991: “Ambitious, dedicated to Bablake, does too much.”

Such was her commitment to the school and to her pupils that this would not change. In 1992, her many qualities (including ‘expertise gained from dealing with girls’ uniform’) earned her the position of Second Deputy Head, and she was a natural choice for Deputy Head when Ron Jones retired in 2003. His parting words (“This is where you learn to fly by the seat of your pants”) proved to be prophetic, for her feet never touched the ground!

Beneath Gill’s calm exterior lies a highly competitive streak. She was a full England triallist for netball, and no fewer than 22 of the Bablake teams coached by her competed in national finals. She motivated them to rise to challenges, and to outwit and outplay their opponents.

She always set herself and others the highest standards.

She loved to accompany Geography field trips and sports tours. During the 2005 South Africa tour, the boat set out for Robben Island under clear blue skies, but conditions rapidly deteriorated. Even then, she retained a sense of perspective and humour: “If something does

happen, at least we won’t be there to face the music.”

We have known Gill for her great care and consummate professionalism. She has the personal touch, allied to impeccable judgement. She has trained as a counsellor, and is a great listener. She also has the rare ability of guiding you to a decision, which you then think is your own! Her humility enables her to see the best in people and to draw the best out of them – and she has invariably put others’ needs before her own, even when facing illness. She is also very resilient as a leader, and it is no surprise that her favourite poem is Rudyard Kipling’s If. Gill’s guiding principle at Bablake was that we should always put the pupils first. She introduced our peer support scheme, and pupils are very keen to be involved.

Some of her pastoral work has been emotionally draining, but Gill always devoted all her energy and expertise to seeking positive outcomes for those in her care. She was also hugely supportive of staff and I am sure that none of us ever left her office without feeling better for the experience. She is a very dedicated mother and wife, with two very fine children (Sarah and Richard, former Bablake pupils) to show for it. We should also thank Ian, her very supportive and patient husband, who would often wait long hours for her to arrive home in the evenings!

The Bablake community owes a huge debt of gratitude to Gill for her care, encouragement, humility and loyal service to the school. We wish her a happy and www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Staff News

healthy retirement, which will undoubtedly be busy; she still has much to give others, but we hope she will also spare some time for herself. Ever faithful to her post, and determined to do what she could to ensure the best possible start for the school in September, she sent her last e-mail to staff at 11.30pm on 31 August! Any areas for improvement? Well, I am afraid that Gill failed miserably to meet one of her targets in her last appraisal: “to make time to use the fitness suite on a weekly basis”! However, I understand that this has now changed with just a little more time in retirement.

Mrs Chris Friebe Mrs Sue Smith No written piece can do Chris justice, but I will try. She joined the school as a part-time PE teacher in January 1983 working a Monday and Friday afternoon. She worked with Gill Thomas and they have become lifelong friends; it is therefore fitting that they both retire this year and can spend some time together without having to fit it in around school.

Chris specialised in gym and dance and very quickly made an excellent contribution to the success of the school’s netball and athletics teams. She stepped into Gill’s trainers and took over the Girls’ PE department in Sept 1992. She has a superb eye for the potential in a pupil and through her strong teaching gets the best from individuals and builds a team. She always dealt directly with pupils and took many teams to the National Netball finals; indeed, it was a pleasure to see her encourage and guide her team to 3rd place a few years ago. She likes the game to be played in a ‘decent’ way. She took the first Bablake team to a National finals in 1987 and since then a further 21 netball teams have represented Bablake at the National Netball finals, 19 of which have been coached by her and Gill Thomas.

Chris has accompanied two tours in my time at Bablake to Barbados and South Africa and she has also been on a trip to China; Mr West amd Mrs Thomas accompanied her on all three. On tour I noticed that she never refused a glass of wine, but this was only to be sociable with our hosts! One late evening in Barbados we were driven to the middle of nowhere where a netball court cut into a field with floodlights on and a blue haze of smoke greeted us. Mrs Friebe was umpiring and as the game progressed, she inevitably inhaled some of the blue haze; we discovered that her umpiring is not as good when under the influence of what must have been the smoke from a little marijuana! She floated up and down the court easily enough, but forgot to blow her whistle and even when she did, struggled to get her words out!

On top of this, the banter from the local all male crowd distracted her, before in true Mrs Friebe style, she soon got the better of them! Next morning, she was not quite her usual self!

Chris has a good grasp of spatial awareness on a netball court, but it does not transfer into her minibus driving skills. In the olden days you used to be able to

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drive a minibus round the back of school and past Art and DT. Chris came along and hooked the back of the bus on the steps to the textiles room and dragged it behind her; it took several staff to stop her before she realised. On another occasion, she set off for the track at Canley and ended up driving a bus full of kids towards her home in Balsall Common – only a comment from a pupil prevented her arriving at home. She also discovered that tippex was a perfect match for fixing the paintwork on minibuses. Former Director of Studies Andrew McConaghy recalls having a lift to school with Chris on the odd occasion; he said it was not unlike an international flight with arrival being the next day.

She not only enjoys developing the more talented pupils, but also gains great satisfaction from inspiring pupils to achieve that target of swimming a length or doing a forward roll. She recognised the need for more personal support in the school and this led her into building the Learning Support Department from nothing.

She headed her 2nd department at Bablake in 2000 and has encouraged pupils and enhanced their learning strategies to give them the confidence to succeed. I am sure many Heads of Departments are grateful to Chris for helping them achieve their GCSE targets. There are now at least 60 pupils that are achieving standards beyond their expectations due to the endless work and support given by Mrs Friebe and her colleagues. The combination of Chris and Mrs Karen Baker (ex-History) formed the foundations of a formidable partnership around school as well as on social occasions, especially when there was an opportunity for another glass of wine! She has been a sociable member of the common room and has organised a number of leaving events for previous members that have retired.

Her advice to many of us has been invaluable and to those that sit on the fence, her strong opinions have pushed us in the right direction. Chris has put many long hours into co-curricular activities as she believes these are crucial to a child’s development. One season she worked all week, including lunch times and after school, then did Saturday school fixtures, rested briefly in the afternoon and then on a Sunday took the U14 county netball team, which was the very successful Bablake team that came 3rd in the National School netball finals in 2005.

This year she has gone off some weekends to visit family and friends. She has been completely consumed and devoted to her grandchildren and even found a little time slot to accompany husband Richard on a weekend abroad.

She will no doubt find the move into retirement will give her the opportunity to spoil and indulge her family. She is a very proud Mum and appreciates the foundation that

Staff News

attending Bablake School gave Maria and Daniel, both now very successful. Mr Woodward is also very humbled by the fact that Chris often likens him to Daniel.

For 30 years Chris has been a loyal and dedicated teacher to Bablake and we wish her a long, happy and well deserved retirement.

Mrs Pam Marchant Mr Steve Jackson After a career gap to bring up her family, Pam came to Bablake to teach PE part-time in 1989, as one of a trio appointed to cover the maternity leaves of Gill Thomas, Chris Scott and Mandy Reed. Fortunately, Pam was given the opportunity to stay on when they all returned, primarily to teach games.

Pam took charge of junior hockey teams and helped with Hockey club for many years. She ran senior tennis teams, and was on the Warwickshire Schools' tennis committee for many years, running schools' tournaments for Warwickshire and Coventry. She was very enthusiastic and always keen to give advice. She went on the hockey, netball and rugby tour to the South Pacific in 1999. It was Bablake's first mixed, multisports tour. Pam also taught girls' PE to Bablake's first Transitus class, which was the forerunner of Bablake Junior School, where she also taught for a number of years. Her expertise and experience were a great loss to the department when she stopped teaching PE to take up a teaching role in the Geography Department, though Pam continued to coach hockey and tennis at Bablake until 2010. Colleagues in the PE department have been generous in their praise of her contribution to this area of school life.

Pam is a committed and dedicated colleague who has the highest professional expectations of herself.

Initially, Pam was appointed part-time, to teach junior classes in Geography; however, such was her dedication to the task, that when an unexpected late full time vacancy came up in the department, she was an obvious choice, throwing herself enthusiastically into teaching GCSE and AS level geography. She developed a close friendship with Sheila Bunney in the department over many years before Sheila’s retirement, the two of them certainly keeping me on my toes as Head of Department!

As Simon Enstone arrived in the department, Pam took on the role of mentor, offering invaluable support, playing a similar role with all new arrivals, even supporting and counselling more experienced colleagues like Martin Rhodes, Gill Thomas and myself. She would not like to be called the ‘mother’ of us all, but she certainly played an invaluable role in the life of the department.

Pam has made many valuable contributions to the Geography department over the years. Her exam results have been excellent, especially at GCSE, where her patience and methodical encouragement have helped many a recalcitrant pupil! She was also an enthusiastic advocate of new teaching and learning methods, always seeking to improve the delivery of her subject knowledge.

Pam was a highly effective and efficient second and third form tutor for many years; her involvement in the pastoral support of pupils’ education at Bablake was outstanding.

Pam loves the outdoor life and geography fieldwork in particular, accompanying fieldtrips to Snowdonia, Broadway, Malham and Shropshire. She also supported Duke of Edinburgh training hikes at weekends and in the holidays. Pam and husband Paul enjoy their ski holidays, so it was with great enthusiasm that they accompanied many school ski trips to France, the USA and Canada; who could forget skiing powder on ‘Genevieve’ at Tignes?!

What an awesome experience – never to be forgotten by the Marchants, Harris family and Jacksons!

Pam is a close friend to many of us who have had the pleasure to work with her, so when she retired to spend more time with husband Paul, and to enjoy life as a young grandparent, there was some sadness. However, such is her dedication to the department that she has even returned this Autumn to cover for absence, for which we are extremely grateful. We wish Pam every happiness in her retirement, but look forward to retaining our long and lasting friendship.

Mrs Beth Hill Mrs Gail Timothy Mrs Hill has been at Bablake for over 20 years. She first came to work in the Languages department, teaching French and German and then took the Transitus class (a forerunner of the Junior School) for their English and Languages lessons, before returning to the senior school.

She worked part-time at first, teaching French and German to all levels and getting involved with all aspects of school life. She was in charge of the inter-house and school quiz matches, often driving the teams to Birmingham, Worcester or wherever the heats were, and she was also staff rep on the PA for years!

When Mrs Jill Shaw retired as Head of German, Beth stepped in and did the job for a number of years, whilst at the same time organising the Charity collections and events for the school and continuing to run the school quiz www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Staff News

teams. She took over the German exchange, sorting out exchange partners and arranging trips and visits in this country for the German visitors, as well as taking our pupils to Germany in February, where, despite the cold, (and usually snow) a fantastic time was had by all. The job wasn’t without challenges during this time for we had two maternity covers, one cover for a breast cancer operation and then Mrs Hill was ill herself, being diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammography. What was so impressive was her optimism and spirit, both during the upheaval in the department and then during her own illness and recovery.

In recent years she has been responsible for minority languages, liaising principally with the Chinese teachers, both of whom have always found her easy to deal with and she has coped with their many questions and any difficulties with both humour and diplomacy.

During her time at Bablake, Beth was always willing to accompany groups on trips. As well as the German exchange, she spent many happy Saturdays on Chris Mellers’ theatre trips, followed the lure of the buzzer box wherever it took her with the junior, intermediate or senior quiz teams, went to Fousseau pretty much every year and was a vital member of the team for the Shell French trip. Those of us who were lucky enough to spend time with her on these trips will remember her for her cheerfulness, no matter what time of day or night it was, and especially for her poetry. If you have seen the Leavers’ book this year you will have read her latest poem to her form, and if you read her Fousseau poems on the internet, you will know why she has been given the nickname ‘the Fousseau laureate’. Many of us have shared good times with Mrs Hill and know she will keep in touch, but it just won’t be the same without her in Modern Foreign Languages. We wish her the very best in her retirement – she really deserves it!

Mrs Louise Yates Mr Ian Appleby Mrs Yates joined the English Department at Bablake in 1997, as a scholar with an outstanding first degree from Oxford and a higher degree from Dublin. It was refreshing and challenging to have someone so well informed, so well read and so much the intellectual, becoming part of what was already a very lively and academic group of English teachers. Mrs Yates, however, showed from the outset that she was by no means just an academic; her imaginative and stimulating approach to lessons with pupils of all ages marked her out as potentially a first class teacher. That she soon became a first class teacher hardly needs saying. Her capability and excellence were manifest to all the colleagues who worked with her and to all the children who were fortunate enough to be her pupils. Mrs Yates was anxious to improve, quick to learn, ready to take advice and was soon so well established that she became a key figure in the teaching of English at Bablake.

Mrs Yates was and indeed is, an avid reader. Her

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passion for literature of the finest sort was easily and enthusiastically conveyed to her classes. As a teacher she remained a student, forever exploring and discovering texts, and her own enjoyment of study again influenced most of those she taught. She set and demanded high standards and all in her classes were challenged and stretched to the utmost. She demanded rigour and cogent analyses in literary study but she would also stimulate outstanding creative writing and some most lively and enterprising responses in drama.

In all aspects of her teaching, her preparation of lessons was thorough, detailed, imaginative and quite simply exemplary.

She took immense trouble to ensure supporting material was available to all pupils; she recommended reading, and lessons whether at A-level or in Shell drama were always carefully constructed.

Mrs Yates commanded not only respect and admiration but also a great deal of affection from those she taught; pupils knew how she cared for them and knew how hard she worked to ensure their success; and her pupils were successful. Her examination classes always did outstandingly well whether at GCSE or at A-level. The guidance and the preparation they received could hardly have been bettered.

Mrs Yates contributed fully to Bablake life. She was a dedicated form tutor; she was very much involved in the House system at Bablake, directing House plays and supervising other events; she had responsibility for Gifted and Talented children; she accompanied ski trips and each year gave invaluable help to the Bablake production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She undertook external examining to improve her knowledge and to pass this on to her classes.

Mrs Yates could be a demanding teacher but she was also good fun. I can picture her marching down the corridor of the Theatre Block – never the hideous acronym EDM – towards room 3 with a smile and a kind word for those she would meet on the way. She was popular for her sense of humour and for that rare ability to laugh at herself. She was popular with colleagues and with pupils. Her engagement and enthusiasm were infectious; she could chat to anyone and she was meticulous in seeing a task through. Her passion for academic study was matched only by her twin passions for gossip and shopping. Needless to say, here too her thoroughness and attention to detail were remarkable!

Those who were taught by Mrs Yates were privileged indeed; she was a loyal and devoted colleague and a true, kind friend to many of the staff. Working with her and sharing her love of literature was always an absolute pleasure. I am sure she will be greatly missed.

Staff News

Mrs Su-Yu Chiang

Mrs Kelly Kerrigan

Mrs Gail Timothy

Mr Steve Jackson

Mrs Chiang came to Bablake in Sept 2006 to introduce Mandarin Chinese, first as a lunchtime club (which continues to this day) and then as a more formal session leading to GCSE. Pupils appreciated her approach from the beginning and her friendly and efficient manner engaged them immediately, while they felt they made lots of progress. She was not interested merely in teaching Pinyin, but insisted that the pupils had a knowledge of both the traditional and the more modern Chinese characters.

Chinese New Year and the Chinese tea ceremony were always highlights of the year’s teaching, as she taught them not only the language, but also introduced them to the culture and customs of the country. She had a large number of teaching commitments in the local area throughout her time with us and found eventually that the load was too much and felt she had no option but to leave Bablake to concentrate on her commitments elsewhere. She was sad to leave and the pupils were sad to see her go.

Kelly was appointed as an NQT in the Geography department in September 2011, arriving as Miss Butler, but such is the pace at which Kelly lives life, that by early February 2012, she had not only got engaged to Gareth, but had become Mrs Kerrigan within five months of arriving at Bablake!

Kelly’s imagination and strong classroom skills and management enabled her to develop a rapport with pupils, particularly in key stage 3 classes, where there was vibrancy in the room, and a buzz of expectancy and anticipation from the start of lessons.

As a tutor, Kelly developed a good relationship with her tutees, adopting a firm but fair approach to discipline.

She helped to organise a form trip to Le Fousseau, good practice for many similar challenges as she planned our first departmental field outing to the ‘Living Rainforest’, a visit from ‘Tropical Inc’ and their exotic animals, and the annual Shell trip to the Black Country Museum.

Elsewhere within school, Kelly threw herself enthusiastically into helping with the U13 Netball Teams, qualifying as an umpire, and giving up time at weekends.

She was heavily involved with CCF, graduating as an officer by the summer term 2012. Kelly and Gareth also assisted with Duke of Edinburgh hikes. Kelly leaves Bablake to take up a post at Twycross School.

Miss Katarzyna Dzikowska Mr Paul Cleaver Katarzyna (Kasia) joined our Art department in 2010. She settled in quickly and brought along an almost infectious enthusiasm which made working with her both enjoyable and exciting.

Teaching in both our Senior and Junior Schools, she made a fantastic contribution to the art education of the pupils. She created an impact at Bablake, most particularly developing the Art department's teaching of photography.

She was always willing to become involved with cocurricular activities and assisted with the debating society and Duke of Edinburgh as well as on the pastoral side of the school. Kasia now moves to an exciting full-time post in the United Arab Emirates and we wish her all the very best in her new role there. We also congratulate her on her marriage this summer to Simon.

Upon departure, she presented Headmaster Mr John Watson with a limited edition print of the school which we proudly look forward to displaying.

Dr Siân Foster Mr Dan Menashe Siân came to Bablake three years ago on a temporary basis. She was thrust in at the deep end, taking on both third form Classical Civilisation sets in mid course and immediately impressed us with her meticulous preparation. When, in the following year, the department needed to find a permanent member of staff to teach Latin and Classical Civilisation, we knew the solution was already to hand.

Siân also took on responsibility for Classics Club, which was given a new lease of life under her stewardship. Pupils were now introduced to the delights of Harry Potter and scientific spells, www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Staff News

mosaic making, Roman recipes, creating Greek pots and all manner of imaginative and creative ideas, utilising the help generously offered by other departments and allowing pupils to understand the relevance of Classics. Siân found herself equally at ease in explaining nominative and accusative cases to the second form to bringing ancient comedy and Roman buildings to life in the sixth form. We are very sad to lose her to Solihull School next year. Our loss is definitely their gain.

Mr John Pease Mr Gary Park John Pease first got to know the English and Drama Departments as a Postgraduate student early in 2006.

He came to Bablake for two terms from the University of Warwick and immediately made a big impact on staff and students alike. When a permanent post came available two years later, John, who had spent a year teaching in Yorkshire, jumped at the chance to join us permanently.

In his five and a half years with us, he formed a formidable partnership with David Prescott. This manifested itself in many ways: they worked collectively on numerous school productions and took a number of trips to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, continuing a Bablake tradition of representation at that world famous event which had already been established for twenty years before John's participation. Anyone who never saw one of their plays would also remember the Pease and Prescott show that was staged annually in the commentary caravan at the Coventry Godivas' athletics track, when Bablake held sports day.

John of course produced several school productions himself, usually featuring pupils from the lower years.

Most memorable among these were Sparkleshark, Henry V and The Importance of Being Earnest. His inclusive and vibrant style of direction launched the Bablake Drama careers of many a young pupil who would go on to star in the main school play.

John departs with his partner and their two young daughters, returning to Yorkshire and their extended family. We wish him every success for the future, thank him for his contribution and will remember him fondly.

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Mr Liam Connelly Mr Mark Woodward We wish ICT technician Mr Liam Connelly, who left us in April, all the best for his new post at Netplan, a well established ISP and specialist in virtualisation and cloud hosting services.

Mr Connelly, who joined Bablake in the 2009-10 academic year, had especial responsibility for our portable network facility and was the point of contact for the Junior and Prep schools. He was a valued member of the ICT team and we wish him all the best in his new venture.

Mrs Joanne Shenton Mr Paul Cleaver We say farewell to Joanne who has been our Art Technician for the past two years, sorry that she could not stay but excited that she is looking to stay in education. She provided the Art department and other departments with excellent support and good humour during her time at Bablake, and will also be sorely missed by our pupils. Her assistance and organisational skills in supporting the department’s exhibitions was especially appreciated.

We wish Joanne all the very best for the Primary PGCE course that she is embarking upon and know she will be a super addition to the teaching profession. She follows the previous Art technicians Miss Joanne Price and Miss Clare Connelly, both of whom also left to train for secondary school teaching, so we express our gratitude to the Art department and our pupils for inspiring all three to enter what is a most rewarding profession.

Thank you also to: Mr Patrick Heller (German Assistant), Miss Claudia Lang-Lenton Arrizabalaga (Spanish Assistant), Miss Nancy Le Rouzic (French Assistant), for their enthusiastic preparation of our linguists and being excellent common colleagues. Mr Michelle Baker (English), Mr Stewart Dear (Geography), Miss Simone Cheshire (History), Dr Louise Greenway (Biology), Miss Ina Rengelink (History), Mrs Carrie Martlew (English), Mrs Hazel Orrock (English), Mr Neil Orrock (Psychology), Mrs Helen Sawyer (Mathematics) and Mrs Brenda Wood (Art) for their excellent work covering staff illness or maternity leave, as well as embracing the Bablake community so warmly.

We are delighted that Dr Greenway, Mrs Martlew and Mrs Sawyer will be staying with us.

Meet the Team

Well grounded Bablake only operates so smoothly because of the crucial expertise and enthusiasm of the teams of people who, behind the scenes, offer excellent support to the academic staff. This year we turn to the external Grounds Team, which ensures our pitches and grounds are always immaculate, writes Aniruddha Bose and Katie Carlson.

Mr Roy Goodwin

Mr Karl Ward

Would you mind stating your roles?

Mr Roy Goodwin: I am Head Groundsman (a.k.a. The Hat) Mr Karl Ward: I work as Assistant Groundsman.

Mr Jim Cregan: I am Groundsman responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the Old Wheatleyans’ site, including the Astro pitches.

Mr Pete Lucas: I’m employed as Gardener and Groundsman.

We suspect you are the longestserving team on site and there are over 100 years’ service between you.

Is this correct?

Mr Goodwin: Pete is the new boy!

Even he has been here over 20 years though. I began on 19th May 1975 and Karl arrived on 13th May 1979.

Jim began working for the Coventry School in 1974 and worked on all the sites until he was invited to work on the astro. Yes, definitely over 100 years of experience!

What changes have you seen, and perhaps been involved with, since you have been here?

Mr Cregan: Mainly the construction of the Astro and the development of the adjoining football pitches.

Mr Goodwin: There have been a lot of improvements to the Games Field.

Thanks to Mr Watson and Mr Kimber, we have updated our equipment and working practices to boot.

Mr Jim Cregan

Mr Ward: I’ve noticed a dramatic improvement in the cricket and rugby facilities.

Mr Lucas: There’s been a general expansion of use of the school grounds.

As everyone agreed the changes had been for the better, we asked what the best part of the job was.

Mr Lucas: It’s better than a gym workout for keeping fit!

Mr Ward: Definitely the continuity of our team which has been together for so long; 30 years plus for three of us and even over 20 years for Pete.

Mr Cregan: It has to be working in the fresh air and the tranquillity on a summer morning.

Mr Goodwin: For me, it’s working in a happy environment and continuing to improve the Games Field.

Impressed with the team’s pride in its work, we then asked what the strangest thing to have ever happened in a working day had been!

Mr Lucas: I was chased through the school grounds by a frenzied swan!

Mr Cregan: About 10 years’ ago, during the summer holidays, there was a policeman half way up one of the oaks pleading with an intoxicated young man to come down, who’d claimed he was waiting for the traffic to stop so he could cross the road safely.

Mr Ward: Everyday is an experience,

Mr Pete Lucas but the day when the ‘rabid hound’ chased us, 3 years ago, stands out!

Mr Goodwin: We had the pavilion struck by lightning but my new French fertiliser caused a real stir. It was so rich and strong in its aroma that, once it was down, horses from farmers’ fields nearby broke out to try and eat the grass. It was like a scene from ‘Rawhide’ with the police trying to round up all the horses with lassoes.

Brilliant! Finally, do you have any secrets to tell?!

Mr Goodwin: I was Head Groundsman at 17. People also say I am tight with money but I spent £5 cash in 1981.

Mr Lucas: I’m the opposite. I like time in coffee shops.

Mr Cregan: In 1983, through Coventry boxer Errol Christie, I met Muhammad Ali. We shook hands, he bit his famous lip, pulled a face and pretended I had hurt him. Pure magic for me!

Mr Ward: I was going to say I’d been a Sunday Parks adult referee for 24 years, but my other secret is that if I found a magic lamp, I’d have these three wishes: health, wealth and happiness for me and mine; huge success for Stoke City and St Helens; the third would be a Surprise, Surprise - still a secret!

Please let us know whom you would like to be featured in future issues.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

21

Staff News

Salvete

“A warm welcome to the following highly-talented new members of Bablake’s staff.”

Miss Victoria Barfield (Art) Miss Barfield graduated from Falmouth College of Arts in 2006 with First Class Honours. She has exhibited at The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Show and presented her work to the Queen at an exclusive exhibition at Tremough Campus. She has been Artist in Residence at Hazlegrove Preparatory School in Somerset for two years and taught Art at St. Andrew’s School, Turi, Kenya.

Mr Simon Enstone (Head of Geography) Mr Enstone needs little introduction for most since he left us just a year ago to teach in Tanzania.

He returns with a fresh perspective as Head of Department and we are delighted to welcome him back.

Dr Louise Greenway (Head of Learning Support) Dr Greenway, who covered Mrs Alexander’s maternity leave in Biology, now returns as Head of Learning Support. She studied Genetics and Immunology at Swansea University before taking a PhD in Mucosal Immunology at St Bartholomew’s hospital in London. She has taught at King Henry VIII, where she was SENCO, and also worked closely with students with special needs and learning difficulties at Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre.

Mrs Jo MacGibbon (Geography) Mrs MacGibbon is a former Bablake School Captain. She studied for her first degree at the University of Leeds before completing an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial College.

She worked as an Environmental Consultant before becoming a teacher. She has relocated from Norfolk with her family, and is a keen sportswoman.

Mr Allan Mansfield (Physics) Mr Mansfield is a former pupil of King Henry VIII, and studied Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Bath. He has taught English as a Foreign Language in Thailand, and trained as a teacher of Physics and Mathematics at the University of Reading. He plays hockey and is a musician.

Mrs Carrie Martlew (English and Theatre Studies) Mrs Martlew covered the maternity leave of Mrs Reddish part-time, whilst also teaching at Warwick School. She studied English and Drama at the University of Ulster, and is an experienced teacher who has had pastoral responsibility and has worked overseas.

Mr Philip Neale (German and French) Mr Neale is a graduate of Oxford University, where he studied Modern Languages, before completing his PGCE at the University of Birmingham. He has previously taught at Kineton High School, and comes to us from Lawrence Sheriff Grammar School, where he has been Assistant Head of Sixth Form and Head of French.

Mrs Gill Press (Deputy Head – Pastoral, Designated Teacher for Child Protection, and Geography) Mrs Press, before moving to the Midlands, was Deputy Head of Seniors at the Harrodian School in London, where she was responsible for pastoral care and performed many of the roles which she will be fulfilling at Bablake. Prior to this, she was Head of Girls’ PE in a large London state school.

Her subject specialisms are PE and Geography.

Dr Toby Smith (Head of Religious Studies) Dr Smith taught at King Henry VIII. He is a graduate of the University of Durham, where he initially studied English Literature, before completing an MA, doctorate and teacher training in Philosophy and Religious Studies. He is a keen sportsman.

22

The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Staff News

From top left: Miss Laura Watts, Mr Duncan Bevis, Mrs Jenny Blyth, Miss Robyn Brandrick, Mr Fernando Gonzalez, Mr Rohen Kular, Miss Charlotte Marti, Miss Johanna Raue

Welcome also to: Mr Duncan Bevis (Learning Support, and maternity cover) Mrs Jenny Blyth (Home Economics Technician), Miss Robyn Brandrick (Art Technician), Mr Fernando Gonzalez (Spanish Assistant), Ms Sarah Hodgkinson (English), Mr Rohen Kular (ICT Technician), Miss Charlotte Marti (French Assistant), Miss Johanna Raue (German Assistant) and Miss Laura Watts (Girls’ PE, covering maternity leave) Congratulations New responsibilities: Mr Ken Binsley remains as DofE Co-ordinator, co-ordinating the Gold award Miss Lynsey Cheffings, Head of Bayley Mr Jeremy Hobday, Head of Second Year Mr Alistair Hopkins, is redesignated Deputy Head (Academic) Mr Trevor Hyde, Head of Physics Mr Chris Mellers, returns as part-time School Chaplain with responsibility for CSV Mr Clive Mohamed, Assistant Head of Bayley Mr Peter Nicholson, DofE Silver Co-ordinator Mrs Maria O’Neill, Charity Co-ordinator Mrs Chris Scott, Head of Third Year Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt, Outreach Co-ordinator Mrs Helen Sawyer, Gifted &Talented (Symposium) Co-ordinator

Mrs Helen Skilton, Oxbridge Co-ordinator Mrs Sue Smith, Second Designated Teacher for Child Protection Mrs Alison Tumber, joins the SMT and takes responsibility for UCAS Miss Rachel Young, Assistant Head of Wheatley Weddings Mrs Katarzyna Brady (formerly Miss Dzikowska) Mrs Kate Duke (formerly Miss Ewart) Mrs Elisabeth Hollick (formerly Miss Sara) Mrs Alison Learmont Henry (formerly Miss Learmont) New Arrivals Mrs Lorainne Alexander, Mrs Mandie Bradshaw, Mrs Ceri Rees, Mrs Laura Reddish, Miss Ina Rengelink Miscellaneous Mrs Katarzyna Brady was honoured to contribute a painting to a Coventry City of Sanctuary exhibition.

Mrs Maria O’Neill published her first Spanish text book Well done to the PE Department on arranging our first Sports Awards Evening.

Mr Mark Taylor continues to represent UKIP as a candidate in local council elections and be interviewed on radio and TV on local and national issues. www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

23

Highlights: Beyond the Specification 25, Home and Away 26, Future Preparations 34, Charity 36, House Activities 40, Offering Enrichment 48

Beyond the Classroom Edited by Kathryn Jones and Kalika Puri “Once again all Bablake pupils enjoyed a rich and relaxing programme of co-curricular activity over the year, with the traditional day of activities in May and a collapsed programme in the final week of the summer term proving as popular as ever.

Almost every pupil travelled across the UK for sport, academic challenge (field trips and visits) and co-curricular activity (e.g. CCF, Duke of Edinburgh), two year groups enjoyed the first visits to Yorkshire and many were fortunate to experience exciting foreign tours.

We only skim the surface of the broad and diverse opportunities open to Bablake pupils but we are certain you will find an exciting range of activities in our pages.”

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Editor Profiles Name: Kathryn Jones Passions: I enjoy history and reading Agatha Christie novels. Even though I've never been much of a sporty person, I have recently rediscovered a love of swimming and badminton.

Ambitions: I have no idea where life will take me, but I look forward to doing something with history or archaeology.

2012/13 Highlight: Definitely the 2012 trip to Turkey, with my fondest memory being the hot water springs of Pamukkale. It was a wonderful trip to experience with friends and I will hold onto those memories long after I leave Bablake.

Name: Kalika Puri Passions: Reading science fiction and fantasy novels, knitting and crocheting, creative writing and SCIENCE! Ambitions: Earn the right to add ‘MPharm’ after my name, publish a novel and never forget to be awesome!

2012/13 Highlight: The Classics trip to Turkey - historical fun in a foreign country with great friends!

Beyond the Classroom

Beyond

A

the specification

u cours de mes études, j’ai visité la région que j’ai étudiée, le Nord Pas de Calais (NPC). Ce qui m’a particulièrement intéressé quand j’y suis allée, c’était le succès de la reconversion d’une économie minière et industrielle en une région dont l’activité économique est principalement basée sur le secteur tertiaire. Cette reconversion était essentielle après la fermeture des mines pendant les années 80. En fait, l’économie pendant ces années était en déclin et sans la capacité de développer d’autres secteurs, le déclin d’économie aurait été inexorable. Cependant, grâce à son dynamisme et sa capacité d’adaptation le NPC est devenu le carrefour de la communication européenne et on pourrait dire, dans une certaine mesure, la capitale de la grande distribution de l’Europe. Je vais analyser les changements qui ont affecté les développements des secteurs tertiaire et touristique, le commerce et le développement de l’infrastructure. De plus, je vais envisager l’avenir économique de la région.

Au début, la décision d’investir dans l’infrastructure et la logistique était l’un des changements les plus importants pendant les vingt dernières années. Le NPC occupe une position géographique favorable, ce qui explique le développement d’un réseau excellent de transport qui améliore les liens entre le Royaume-Uni, la France et le continent. Les transports maritime, fluvial, aérien et routier ont contribué à l’augmentation du nombre des touristes qui visitent la région. A l’origine, le réseau fluvial était le transport primordial, qui offrait et qui offre toujours 690 km de voies navigables, soit 10% du réseau français. Mais maintenant la construction autoroutière, grâce à l’essor du tourisme, connâit d’importants changements. On doit mentionner aussi le Tunnel sous la Manche qui a été ouvert en mai 1994 ainsi que le TGV (le train à grande vitesse), qui assurent les liens entre Londres, Paris, Bruxelles et Amsterdam. Le Tunnel sous la Manche a 30 millions de passagers et 3 millions de poids lourds chaque année.

La logistique de la région a favorisé le développement de la grande distribution aussi. A l’origine c’était le textile mais maintenant celui-ci est un secteur en crise. Plus tard, c’était le commerce en général et maintenant il y a 66 hypermarchés pour la grande distribution dont le NPC est le berceau européen. Bien qu’il y ait eu un déclin dans le secteur textile à cause de la fabrication des vêtements dans les pays pauvres ou les pays en voie de développement, tels que l’Inde et la Chine, il y a d’autres secteurs tertiaires qui connaissent un essor considérable, tels que la vente par correspondance. Parmi les entreprises de VPC les plus connues, il faut citer la Redoute et les 3 Suisses qui ont leur siège à Roubaix. En outre, le textile reste un secteur innovant avec la fabrication de vêtements spécialisés dans la région. Donc, dans une certaine mesure, les changements économiques n’ont pas toujours réussi à détruire chaque secteur de l’industrie traditionnelle parce que le textile était l’un des trois piliers économiques de la région pendant le 19e siècle et la première moitié du 20e. Néanmoins, la région continue d’en profiter. La vente par correspondance, à l’ avenir, continuera d’être une source de revenu très importante parce qu’elle représente 80% du chiffre d’affaires national de ce secteur.

Eleanor Morris

En ce qui concerne les autres entreprises dans le secteur tertiaire, leur développement montre que le secteur tertiaire deviendra le secteur principal de l’économie de la région à l’ avenir. L’assurance et l’industrie bancaire deviennent de plus en plus importantes, surtout à Lille. Grâce au succès de l’investissement à Lille, la capitale de la région a été choisie comme capitale de la culture européenne en 2004. Il est évident que la région a une culture et un patrimoine très forts qui ont été exploités pour attirer les touristes et pour devenir une source de revenu. A mon avis ça représentait un défi audacieux quand on pense à son passé minier et historique avec les deux guerres mondiales. Cependant, le devoir de mémoire, et le patrimoine riche comme les festivals et les jours des géants donnent aux Anglais, aux Belges et aux Allemands plusieurs raisons pour lesquelles ils veulent venir. Quand j’y suis allée les géants m’ont intéressée parce qu’ils ont leur propre histoire. Ils naissent, se marient, ont des enfants comme les hommes, et cette tradition unique est un symbole des atouts économiques quand on pense à l’industrie touristique en général.

La Coupole, qui est un musée d’histoire dans un bunker qui a été construit par les nazis m’a montré l’importance du devoir de mémoire et je pense que cet aspect du tourisme deviendra de plus en plus important. En fait, il y a plus de 100 musées dans la région y compris certains qui témoignent de la deuxième guerre mondiale.

Cependant la crise économique représente toujours des difficultés et des changements négatifs pour certains secteurs. L’industrie automobile souffre a cause de la flambée des prix, y compris celui de l’essence et aussi le coût de fabrication des voitures. Mais le besoin de transports veut dire que, surtout après la fin de la crise économique, cette industrie continuera à offrir un service essentiel.

En plus, sa position géographique facilite la continuation de ces industries parce que c’est le carrefour européen.

De plus, malgré le déclin des trois piliers de l’industrie le besoin d’acier assure son avenir. Il faut mentionner aussi la pêche industrielle, qui a changé à cause de l’amélioration de l’infrastructure. Maintenant cette industrie connaît un essor parce que la pêche régionale devient de plus en plus internationale. Malgré la crise économique mondiale qui menace la pêche industrielle, la pêche locale restera un secteur stable parce que la pêche fait partie de la gastronomie locale qui est basée sur le hareng.

Culturellement, le lancement du hareng du haut d’un beffroi pendant le carnaval de Dunkerque montre que la pêche a été, est et sera toujours importante.

Pour conclure, je dirais que le secteur tertiaire, facilité par le développement de l’infrastructure de la logistique, deviendra le secteur primordial à l’avenir. Ce secteur sera facilité par le développement du tourisme. Dans l’ensemble, cette reconversion a permis de surmonter la crise après la fermeture des mines et, avant tout, a créé une économie qui bénéficie à la fois les habitants et les industries, sans exploiter les habitants comme pendant la période minière.

Eleanor’s A2 French essay on the economy of France’s Le Nord Pas de Calais region is degree level standard. www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Home and Away

The Army offers a Sixth Form Scholarship to talented students who have good Regular Army Officer potential. Only 100 scholarships are awarded each year across the whole country, so competition is tough but if you pass the officer selection process, you will be paid £1,500 a year in your final 2 years of school. You'll also be given a provisional place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst once you finish school or university.

Steps to success Jonathan Porter sets out the 10 steps that led to him being awarded a 6th Form Army Scholarship.

1: Scoping visit to Army Liaison Officer in school and Army careers office in Coventry to explore the benefits of joining the British Armed Forces and to consider if it is right for me (March 2012). I discovered scholarships are awarded on merit, irrespective of your background or method of schooling. There are two Army Scholarship Competitions each year and you need to be aged between 16 and 161/2 to apply.

2: Expression of interest: complete U16 application form and send to Armed Forces careers office in Coventry to register my interest on file.

3: Gather information, building knowledge on who does what and what I want to be in relation to my own interests. Browse websites. Talk to recruiting officers at The Skills show at the NEC (Nov 2012).

4: Apply for the scholarship (May 2013). Application form asks for: GCSE subjects and predicted grades; sports, activities and interests detailing achievement levels; adventurous training; positions of responsibility and work experience; medical history; regiments of interest; medical forms and GP report.

gain Scholarship, be an Officer; reflection on any ACF, CCF or similar experience; which regiment or corps you aspire to join and why; future plans – e.g. university, subject. A good basic knowledge of who does what in the Army is very advantageous.

7: Generic Army Insight Course (GAIC) – 3-day residential at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell (August 2013): physical fitness training and tests (very strenuous physical exercise), combat skills and living in the field, survival techniques, leadership building, military knowledge.

8: Testing: full medical examinations; aptitude tests – numerical, verbal & abstract reasoning; assessed MSFT (Multi Stage Fitness Test); planning exercise; command tasks – unled, led and assessed; current affairs essay – 1-2 sides of A4; individual obstacles – as many as possible in 3 minutes; two separate interviews – one panel and one individual.

9: Notification of recommendation of Army Scholarship, with requirement to provide certified copies of GCSE results. Candidates are expected to achieve a minimum score of 46 ALIS points for their 7 best subjects, where an A* is worth 8, an A 7 and so on.

5: Acceptance of my application (July 2013) with appointment for interview.

10: Confirmation of receipt of the award, subject to providing certified proof of academic achievements (Nov 2013).

6: Interview at the Army Careers office in Coventry (August 2013) which was a fact-finding exercise to enable the Senior Careers Advisor to produce a written report for the scrutiny board. Areas covered: family/ home/social life; school – academic, sport, positions of authority, co-curricular activities; breadth of interests – social, cultural, sporting, travel, knowledge of current affairs, holiday jobs; reasons for wanting to – join Army,

For more information, see www.army.mod.uk/join/20129.aspx.

Many congratulations to Jonathan for this excellent article and his fine achievement.

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Home and Away

A phenomenal amount of planning and much staff time ensure the maximum benefit for the high number of Bablake pupils who take part in the Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards. Ananya Nair offers a glimpse of the challenges faced!

F

or many people, DofE is an unforgettable experience, and indeed, it was for me too; though not for the reasons you might expect. I would say it was a completely enjoyable two days, if it were not for the fact that my group became lost several times, leading to a variety of escapades and us walking for 11 hours straight on the first day alone.

Yes, you read right! 11 hours on the first day, despite the target set by all of the groups of finishing both days of walking in 12 hours. Somehow, our excellent map reading led us out of the boundaries of the map and into the unknown not once, not twice, but three times! The number was actually probably higher than this, but I cannot remember every time we strayed off the correct path… it seems to me that we ended up spending more time lost than we did going the right way.

However, it was this that I would remember the most about the trek. Even though we strayed several times along the way, we persevered and we did walk

all the way to the campsite, even if we only arrived at half past ten, tired and hungry. But when we eventually arrived, we received the warmest reception you could expect: our tent was set up and our year-mates made food for us, while voicing several uplifting thoughts, such as ‘we thought you’d be lost forever’ and ‘you look like death.’ Despite our apparently hopeless endeavour, the resilience and teamwork that we learnt along the seemingly never-ending road to the checkpoint – and beyond – kept us going. And somehow we managed to survive the second day too, completing our expedition successfully, even though there was a time where we believed we would fail.

I’m really grateful to the people who helped us that day; to Mr Nicholson and Miss Simmons for finding us in the dark, contemplating starting a small fire to cook some food when all hope was lost; to the married couple (and their dog) who pointed us in the right direction; and most of all to the rest of my group, for encouraging me when I felt like giving up, and making what perhaps might have been the two worst days of my life into two of the best I could hope to have.

Our termly newsletter The Lion includes more detailed progress reports on the CCF, Duke of Edinburgh and more of our local trips.

“11 Hours off the Map”

Dof taster E

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

27

Home and Away

Home and

away...

Berlin Ruth Jones

and gloves. I could only imagine how horrific it would have been for them. I will certainly never forget the experience of visiting Sachsenhausen.

“55 Bablake pupils braved the cold weather to fly out to Germany for the History and Design Technology “...the prisoners were trip to Berlin, a holiday where made to stand outside for the excursions had been suited to the two disciplines but included hours on end in the winter some shared visits. From the many conditions, particularly places we saw during our visit, the shocking since we were most memorable were our trips to the nuclear war shelter and its bitterly cold even in our museum, where we gained a great thick coats...” insight into the terrifying threat of nuclear war faced by both sides As our trip drew to a close, we of Berlin during the Cold War, visited the 1936 Olympic Stadium when there was an ‘iron curtain’ for an excellent tour. Berlin was separating the two halves of Berlin. an amazing opportunity for both History and DT pupils to expand their Our trip to the Sachsenhausen knowledge of their respective fields Concentration Camp was also and was certainly a worthwhile trip very memorable as it offered an – the only disappointment was that opportunity for us all to see the the visit had to finish!” reality of the horrors that the enemies of the Nazis faced, the terrible conditions that they were La Vie Parisienne forced to endure. The tales of Katie Carlson the treatment there really struck home: the prisoners were made to Wheatleyan editor, Katie Carlson, stand outside for hours on end in Brian Wilson Travel Prize winner, the winter conditions, particularly visited Paris with fellow 6th shocking since we were bitterly formers Beth Brankowski and cold even in our thick coats, scarves Charlotte Loasby (Stretch editor).

28

The Wheatleyan 2012/13

“Regarder le coucher du soleil sur la Seine du Pont Neuf, c’est un spectacle complètement inoubliable – un panorama que j’ai été très heureuse de voir pendant mes vacances d’été à Paris. Pendant ce séjour, nous avons visité non seulement les sites touristiques typiques, comme le Louvre, l’Arc de Triomphe et la cathédrale Notre Dame, mais nous avons également eu la chance de vivre « la vie parisienne », en louant un appartement à Paris, en feuilletant aux kiosques sur la rive gauche, et en se faisant de nouvelles amies aux cafés philo du Quartier Latin.

Parmi mes souvenirs du séjour sont: le Panthéon où nous avons fait hommage aux héros français comme Voltaire, Rousseau et Hugo, le Palais Garnier où une loge est réservée en permanence pour le Fantôme de l’Opera, et les Galeries Lafayette avec leur magnifique dôme en verre de la belle époque. Nous avons eu la chance aussi de visiter Les Invalides pour apprendre plus au sujet de ce personnage dominant de l’histoire française, Napoléon.

A part nos aventures culturelles, nous avons aimé goûter la cuisine parisienne – des crêpes aux cafés des rues de Montmartre, des macarons aux Champs-Elysées, et des croissants chaque jour pour le petit déjeuner – tous commandés en français, bien sûr! Tout compte fait, ce séjour était une expérience culturelle et éducative incroyable, pleine de souvenirs que nous n’oublierons jamais.”

Home and Away

Classical Turkey Kalika Puri “Turkey was an unexpected destination as, before we had done a little research, few of us expected to find so many classical sites there. However the trip turned out to be an undeniable success, incorporating both educational opportunities and downright fun!

One site we visited was the once magnificent Troy. Long gone are the days of Paris and Helen’s forbidden love; alas, all that remains now are the vaguest impressions of building foundations, the majority of the city having been torn up by Heinrich Schliemann in his quest for the treasure of Troy. Nevertheless, it still holds great fascination as a place of ancient history and more epic times.

The crumbling yet beautiful city of Ephesus was a sight to behold, with its formerly grand library and a 24,000 seat theatre. Here we also saw the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Artemis, of which only one column built on an enormous scale had survived. A performance was put on at the Odeon in Aphrodisias, where talented members of our group acted out the short play Ajax for our entertainment.

We cautiously explored the underground Basilica Cistern, where ghostly fish swam between dramatically lighted pillars, and admired the massive Hippodrome which could hold 100,000 spectators. We even braved the heights of the Acropolis at Pergamum, which could only be attained by cable car.

The sites were not all chosen for classical significance, however; other visits included the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar (where much wily haggling took place), Gallipoli (where we learnt about Turkey’s involvement in WW1), religious sites such as the Basilica of St John and the House of the Virgin Mary, and finally the pools of Pamukkale (meaning ‘cloud castle’ in Turkish) where a complex of snowy

white terraces created by mineral deposition presented an astonishing sight and warm springs which we could wade through – magical stuff.

“...we also saw the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Artemis...”

Thanks to Dr Archer, Mr Bunce, Mr Menashe and Miss Ormsby for organising such a fantastic trip.

World Challenge Aniruddha Bose “After 18 months of planning, preparation and fundraising, our party set off for Kuala Lumpur and the start of the Dive Malaysia Adventure. We soon headed to Kuala Tahan and the jungle trek at the Taman Negara National Park. For our time in one of the planet's oldest and most biologically diverse tropical rainforest ecosystems, spanning over 4343km sq., we were selfsufficient and encountered giant centipedes, many leeches and even a bird eating tarantula. It was hot, humid and hard work.

It was then off to the Perhentian Islands and in particular Perhentian Besar for a 4 day turtle conservation project, which involved patrolling the unspoilt tropical beach to prevent poaching at night and also helping to relocate the eggs into a hatchery whenever a turtle came ashore to lay.

After this the majority of the team took the PADI Open Water diving course – an incredible time, with the best aspect being swimming through a coral tunnel into the middle of a reef surrounded by fish.

The waters were crystal clear and teeming with life including turtles, sharks, rays and a multitude of brightly coloured fish. Those who had already qualified prior to the expedition had the opportunity to do other diving courses, e.g. a wreck dive and a night dive.

The five days of diving soon passed and then it was off to the Cameron Highlands 300km north of Kuala Lumpur for more trekking in a very different environment. The area was much cooler and was covered in tea plantations as well as jungle.

The expedition continued in Ipoh for a day of white water rafting, followed by two days of rest and relaxation and seeing the local sites, before returning to Kuala Lumpur.

Last minute gifts were bought at the large open air market before watching the light show at the Petronas Towers.”

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Home and Away

Cultural

exchange Following last year’s recce by Mrs Helen Skilton (Head of History), Bablake’s first cultural exchange for group of 5th and 6th form pupils with Harrismith Secondary in South Africa took place this summer. We asked a pupil from both schools to write about the experience.

We are looking to raise £10,000 this year to allow the Harrismith learners a chance to visit Bablake in September 2014. Please contact Mrs Skilton hs@bablake.coventry. sch.uk for ideas about fundraising.

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

The Bablake View Keisha Simms When thinking back to our time in South Africa, there are countless memories and eyeopening experiences to reflect on, but the most memorable legacy was newly formed friendships with the Harrismith learners.

Over the two week period there were exchanges of all kinds which made the trip even more valuable, including teaching the girls from Harrismith a Bollywood routine, whilst we delved into Zulu culture, learning both the language and traditional dances. Each day offered us a new opportunity to see the real South Africa, whether we were picking up litter in the shantytowns or wrapped up in the middle of the excitement for Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday.

For many of us the most poignant two days were those spent at a local primary school, where we attempted to improve the day to day life of the children through painting huts, constructing irrigation systems and building stairs. When we were not hard at work, we had the chance to have some fun with a friendly football match (Bablake vs Harrismith) and, despite most of the children being half our age, they certainly put up a good challenge.

The welcome we received from the South Africans was heart-warming and made it all the more difficult to leave, but we hope to repay their hospitality next September by offering some of their pupils the opportunity of coming to England. The bond between Bablake and Harrismith has been firmly established and will truly stand the test of time.

The Harrismith View Amos Pheko The visit of Bablake learners to our school was a great pleasure and a privilege. We learnt about English culture and proudly taught them aspects of our different culture. We exchanged information, enjoyed each other’s company and had fun.

Meeting the Bablake pupils has been fun and a joyful learning experience for us.

We are spiritually attached, even if seas physically separate us.

Spiritually together, we shall always remember one another. It really has been a lifetime experience for us.

Hopefully we will meet again but in the meantime, we wish our friends all the best for the future.

Home and Away

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Home and Away

In June, first all the Shells and then all the 2nd years went on a 5 day residential trip to Yorkshire. This was probably the biggest trip ever run by the school in terms of numbers attending and much was hanging on its success as it was the replacement for the form trip to Le Fousseau.

From the outset, the trip was planned to be co-curricular and entertaining with themes linked to art, geography, science, history and engineering writes Mr Trevor Hyde.

ocal knowledge was put to good use and a richly varied programme emerged. The pupils called in at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park to study various forms of modern art on their way to Haworth Youth Hostel. Visits then followed to the Industrial Museum in Bradford, where students discovered how the woollen industry grew up in the area and the machinery that made it so successful; this also exposed them to the living conditions of the late Victorian period in the workers cottages on site.

Each form also visited the National Media Museum, where amongst other things they were shown some of the technology used in making television productions, as well as how photography has changed in the last 200 years. The museum had a gallery showing the development of computer games, which proved to be very popular with the students.

A whole day was spent at the Royal Armouries museum on the edge of Leeds city centre; this included two formal hands-on workshops looking at the development of medieval warfare and contrasting this with trench warfare of the First World War. Time was then spent exploring the many and varied galleries of the museum, as well as watching the demonstrations from museum staff.

Each form spent a night under canvas just outside Austwick in the Yorkshire Dales; this was followed by visits to the underground limestone White Scar Caves and a 3 mile walk in limestone country, either along the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail or along the Pennine Way from Malham Tarn to Malham Village depending on the weather. Students were introduced to the many features unique to this landscape, such as limestone paving and Malham Cove.

The final day saw the whole year group descend on Skipton village to see the village market and visit Skipton Castle.

Both trips were blessed with great weather and the Youth Hostel staff were so impressed with the behaviour that they are allowing us back next year!

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Outdoor classroom 32

The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Home and Away

Not only do Bablake pupils receive education in the physical classroom, but they also see their learning come alive in a variety of visits around the region and beyond. Here is a photographic selection of just a few highlights.

Living Rainforest

Black Country Museum

Coombe Abbey conservation

Nottingham Galleries of Justice

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Beyond Bablake

Future preparations Even in a school year without a Careers Convention, there are always many activities planned to assist pupils maximise their potential.

Here are some of the highlights: Over the rest of 2013-14, there will be a focus on current affairs and mini lectures from specialists in areas such as ‘How the human brain works’, which all pupils in 2nd – 5th year will be encouraged to attend.

IGGY staff will visit to give some guidance in using their website to the full – the interactive website allows our pupils to debate and discuss issues (e.g. contemporary global issues and how science can solve them) with other pupils from around the world. There are competitions and quizzes related to every academic subject possible from ‘Classics Wednesday’ where pupils can learn about the epic poems of Homer to Professor Ian Stewart’s Compendium of Mathematical Cats!

Symposium Mrs Helen Sawyer Preparations for launching Symposium, aimed at our Gifted and Talented pupils, took place over 2012-13.

Every Friday lunchtime 50 2nd, 3rd and 4th year pupils will meet with their 6th form mentors to take part in a variety of activities, ranging from discussing current affairs, debating topical issues, participating in team challenges and quizzes and learning about a variety of topics beyond the curriculum. A number of visitors also spend time imparting their knowledge to the Symposium pupils – specialists in Mathematics, English and Science from Warwick University’s International Gateway for Gifted Youth (IGGY) have already visited Bablake.

Symposium activities will have a specific focus each half term. For the first half term there will be a focus on a variety of team problem-solving scenarios from competitive bridge building – using only newspaper and tape – to competing in a Mensa brainteaser challenge.

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Mock Interview Morning Mr Mark Woodward The majority of our U6th was once again put through its paces at this annual event. After submitting a CV and online Personal Statement by a deadline date, pupils face a panel and/or individual interview, either for general character questions or an examination of their future plans with an expert in the specific field chosen.

Our pupils were a credit on the day and their professionalism shone out. Nerves had been faced and their relief at doing so well was a consistent theme in feedback. One tweeted: ‘Some good feedback at the Mock Interview Morning. Definitely worth going.’ Others said: ‘The Mock Interview went so much better than expected.' ‘Really enjoyed Mock Interview Morning.’

‘Definitely improved my confidence.'

Even our interviewers were effusive on Twitter: former Headmistress of Leicester High School, Mrs Julia Burns, interviewing candidates with a love of History, as well as wishing them all the best for their university applications, said: ‘Very impressed with the Y13 students I interviewed this morning.’

Beyond Bablake

“Our pupils were a credit on the day and their professionalism shone out.”

Such realistic and rigorous interview practice is only possible thanks to the expertise of the team of interviewers. Everyone knows how to cajole, instil confidence and offer excellent advice for future interviews. Two of the team have even attended 15 of the Mock Interview Mornings that I have arranged and one of these remembers her own practice interview at Bablake in 1995 – a fact one of this year’s candidates teased her with, by letting slip that she had not been born then!

Some invaluable individual advice was passed directly to the candidates on the morning and there were two general areas where improvement could be made: a) nothing should be written in an application that a candidate does not want to be quizzed about and b) work on being better informed about current affairs and specific news items related to your chosen course.

Particular plaudits should go, however, to Pavesh Sehmar who attended an interview at 9.30am, performed superbly, dashed into his waiting transport and hours later was in the audience for the talk at Durham University which he had wanted to attend!

We were also delighted to welcome Mrs Rosemary Edees (Assistant Headteacher) and Mr Samuel Mohomed (Biology) from Coundon Court to the event as they are keen to instigate a similar event for their own 6th Formers.

For those in the L6th and potential interviewers, the 2014 Mock Interview Morning takes place on Saturday 20th September.

TEDxWarwick Bethan Mordey 15 L6th pupils were invited to TEDxWarwick, a conference centred on building bridges and inspiring ideas. The Warwick University co-ordinators approached Bablake before Christmas with the task of promoting the event. Previous to the main event in March, Bablake’s TEDxWarwick team attended two small TEDxYouth events at Warwick, where they watched a series of inspiring speakers and volunteered with photography, filming and stewarding the events.

They visited other schools, promoted the event within Bablake and met on several occasions with the event organisers. The main event itself was an all-day conference with interactive events and well-known inspiring speakers: e.g. Sir Phillip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee, who spoke about sport and education and the importance of the two, and Derek Paravicini, the incredibly talented piano player who has suffered from blindness and severe autism his entire life yet has been able to pursue music As well as enjoying the content of the conferences, we all gained a lot of experience and knowledge about successful events management.

Beyond Bablake Week Mr Mark Woodward As always, L6th pupils took full advantage of the freedom to plan their own week: for example Olivia Merciano enjoyed an excellent placement at the ICC; Jevan-Priya Sehmi worked with By Box; James McAllister and James Tumber linked with Bunge for a European placement; and Richard Price headed to Nigeria to extend his passion for Geology. The majority of the year found placements outside Bablake.

Others worked on EPQ or CREST projects, while over a dozen pupils worked on Stretch magazine (The Respect Issue), under the excellent leadership of editor Charlotte Loasby, which we hope will be as successful with national nominations as the previous issue. The team had the benefit of initial help from Coventry University’s Hub facilities and two of its Journalism students, as a result of our Phoenix Partnership link.

Footnote Pupils also enjoyed: a Leadership Day, talks from Emma Goodman (CVs), Alan Bullock (Personal Statements), Gapforce, Coventry University, Simon Bason (Not Going To University) (all L6th); the 6th Form Forum (talks from former pupils and parents); The Challenge (5ths); the PETXi Future Leaders Programme (4ths, 5ths); Business Day and Key Skills (4ths); and our Careers PSHCE input, which concentrates on persuading pupils to stay ahead, be as professional as possible, network ruthlessly and create a positive digital footprint. www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Charity

Charity report

24,100

£

Total raised 2012-2013

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Autumn Term: A fantastic full school effort raising money and giving time and energy to others saw a new record set for a single term: £11,777.63. We supported Macmillan, Children in Need and Movember, whilst also arranging harvest baskets for local senior citizens and boxes of food for Coventry’s food banks.

Mrs Alison Tumber and the 6th form raised a very impressive £1,969 for the Teenage Cancer Trust in support of peer James Allitt, whom we are delighted to report has returned to Bablake for the 13-14 year, after treatment in Birmingham.

Mr Malcolm Martin (Caretaker), the housekeeping team and Mr Mark Woodward produced another Bablake calendar, this year in aid of CRY, while Mr Kris Tyas achieved yet another goal for the British Heart Foundation by cycling the National Three Peaks Challenge – Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis – the 3 highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales.

From our collection of unwanted clothing and household items, Cancer Research UK benefited by approximately £4,125 and, on top of the term’s total, our Parents’ Association raised a very impressive £7,000, through the sale of tickets for 2 charity performances of Calendar Girls and a raffle.

Charity

“We thank Mrs Heath for helping raise more than £150,000 during her 9 years as Charity Coordinator – a phenomenal sum.”

Spring Term: The wintry weather did not hold back our fundraising. Further initiatives, with Teenage Cancer Trust in mind, pushed the final total to £2736.26: Tom Grantham’s poetry (sold by e-book), ‘Jams for James’ and items donated by famous James’ all raised money – thank you to Messrs Blunt, Bond (Dalton and Moore), Caan, Cullum, Dyson and Galway amongst others. The appetite of the L6th for raising money did not abate, as a Butterfly Ball organised by Olivia Luciano, in memory of Pip Chowne, raised more money for CRY. We supported Hope 4, a Rugby charity helping the homeless and badly housed, and non-uniform day contributions went to Harrismith Secondary in South Africa, our link school, to improve its facilities. Aron Sood and Becky Williamson organised a brilliant variety show which raised over £1500 for TEACH, a charity that improves education for children in Africa. Cake sales galore for Bliss, Myton Hospice and Comic Relief amongst others swelled the term’s grand total to £6,968.

Summer Term: With year groups on exam leave or enjoying residential trips, we usually expect a reduction in our fundraising in this short term. However, this year the support of the whole school ensured we raised a record £24,100 for the year. British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research, Harrismith Secondary, the Matt Hampson Foundation, which helps young people affected by serious injury through sport, and SSAFA, which gives support to our troops, all benefited from the £700 raised by the 6th form who organise the annual 5th year Crystal Ball.

The Jaguar Enterprise group gave £587 to the Mary Ann Evans hospice and Mrs Kelly Kerrigan handed over a final total of £3,100 to Meningitis UK after taking part in the London Marathon. We also raised over £650 for Breast Cancer Care, a charity nominated by several of the staff who were retiring.

As Mrs Alyson Heath (HE and Textiles) hands the role of Charity Coordinator over to Mrs Maria O’Neill (Head of Spanish), she would like to thank everyone who has given their support to charity over the past 9 years and wishes her successor all the best.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Charity

Teach Variety Show

Aron Sood and Becky Williamson

“Not only did we manage to raise over £1500 for the TEACH charity, which helps provide educations for orphans in Africa, but we also had a great time organising it.”

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

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ehearsals and planning took off as soon as we were given the go-ahead to hold the event, with Becky Williamson organising ticket sales, advertising, and coordinating all the acts – no mean task!

The 3-hour programme was a perfect mixture of contemporary and show entertainment, beginning with a piano and tabla fusion from Aron Sood and Jiwanjot Sahota. Hayhurst and Stowers provided some super comedy sketches, there was a barbershop trio, rock band The False Endeavour played a super set, there was singing from Narissa Pankhania and Cara Mattu, and the audience enjoyed solos from guest singer Reece Bahia, Megan Evans, Charlotte Loasby and Emily Robinson.

Rory Dulku was involved in much of the show, such as the grand finale Superstar from Jesus Christ Superstar.

He sang a few solos, including Drowned (Tim Minchin) and Gethsemane (again from JCS), both of which were arranged for orchestra by Aron Sood.

We were both amazed at the outstanding amount of effort everyone devoted to this event, and we were sad when it had finished since we had had so much fun in the months of preparation beforehand. Not only did we manage to raise over £1500 for the TEACH charity, which helps provide educations for orphans in Africa, but we also had a great time organising it. It would be great to deliver an even bigger spectacle next time.

Thanks go to Mr Tim Crompton (Director of Music) and Mr Malcolm Wyatt (Theatre Technician), who offered so much support and advice in rehearsals.

Charity

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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House Activities

“All those who represented us this year have done Bayley proud �

House activities

2012/13

Through the words of the House Heads

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

House Activities

Bayley Mr Jeremy Hobday

House officials Staff Mr Jeremy Hobday Miss Lynsey Cheffings Captains Eleanor Morris and The Bayley Council!

While Bayley’s girls were led by Ellie Morris, Rebecca Brown (Culture) and Beth Jepson (Sport), the boys had the newly named, one-off Bayley Council to champion them.

The Shells began the year by dominating the traditional Olympics day in September, winning the competition with ease and the Shell girls went on to be a formidable force winning Badminton, Hockey and Swimming. The Seniors contributed well winning Basketball, Girls Badminton, Scrabble and Tennis, not forgetting a memorable win in the first ever Inter-House Dodgeball. Scrabble, however, was a disaster, so we hope some special training will improve performances next year.

The highlight of the year was the House drama, performed with great humour and skill by our cast, and excellently directed by Sam Paplauskas, Sachin Sharma and Shannon Smith. Jim Garvey’s I’m a Teenager, Get Me Out of This Family was a great choice and it was a fantastic advert for Bablake House activities.

All those who represented us this year have done Bayley proud, and Miss Cheffings and I would like to thank everyone for their efforts. www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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House Activities

Crow Mr Andrew Phillips

“The House system is about getting involved and taking part! �

House officials Staff Mr Andrew Phillips Mr Sam Williams Captains Ben Evans Maneesha Sehgal

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

The Shell Olympics is always a great way to start the House activities. The morning was bathed in glorious sunshine and the fresh-faced, energetic and highly enthusiastic new recruits enjoyed the usual activities. With the support of the prefect team, led by House Captains Ben Evans and Maneesha Sehgal, Crow registered its first points of the year finishing in 3rd place. However, more importantly, our new Shells wore the famous navy Crow bibs with pride, honour and courage. Their quest for the House Cup at Bablake had begun.

The Autumn term is always extremely busy and this year was no exception! House Scrabble is anything but a quiet game of strategy, particularly the Senior competition, which involved several controversial words and tile placements which were referred to the judging panel. Our 2nd year boys led the way winning their competition. The House quizzes followed and our Junior team proved its grey matter was unrivalled, winning its respective competition with some ease. Chess proved an intellectual step too far, however a programme of intensive training and practice has been put in place to avoid future embarrassment.

The House system is about getting involved and taking part! Crow members proved this throughout the year with pupils willing to give their time

House Activities

and energy throughout the year. This was particularly demonstrated on a Friday evening when the Badminton and Netball competitions took place. Our sports captains, Harpreet Chohan and Abigail Stinton, showed incredible organisation and commitment rallying the teams.

One of the sporting highlights of the year was Crow’s performance in the boys’ Senior Hockey. On possibly the wettest night of the year, with the local ducks gathering at one end of the astroturf, Crow played/ swam its way to a fine victory led by captain Ronan Jones.

The most prestigious event of the year was the House Drama. Cultural captains Craig Easton, Isobel Lindsay, and Mwelwa Mukwashi opted for a well-known classic, Alice in Wonderland. Months of careful planning, set production, technical checking, costume production and rehearsals resulted in a fantastic performance which was enjoyed by a full capacity audience in the theatre. Mr Sam Williams (DT), Assistant House Head, did a fantastic

job co-ordinating the play; casting Jake Morton as the caterpillar was truly inspirational as it was one of the stand out performances of the evening alongside Anna White who played Alice.

The Summer term saw the usual hotly contested events such as Ready Steady Cook, Rounders, Tennis and new for 2013 – Senior Dodgeball! Our Junior Tennis players led the way winning their event and thus securing Crow valuable points. The year culminated with Sports Day. Powered by ice pops and Haribo, the Crow athletes did their House proud and gave everything on the track and field.

Whether welly-wanging, placing tiles on a scrabble board, cooking a dish with seemingly impossible ingredients or giving blood, sweat and tears on the sports field, everyone in Crow can be proud of his or her efforts!

However, next year we hope to pass the wooden spoon onto someone else and swap it with the House Cup…! www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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House Activities

Fairfax Miss Kelly Ormsby

House officials Staff Miss Kelly Ormsby Mr Inderpal Kalsi Captains Beth Rowland Joel Venson

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Much of the 2012/13 academic year was taken up with planning and rehearsing for the House Drama production.

Fairfax decided to aim high, and took on an ambitious version of Romeo and Juliet. The directors and producers wanted to show that, whilst it may be over 400 years old, it truly is a timeless classic, and so decided to perform over three time periods. This involved lots of scene-setting, music and costume changes, but the cast and crew worked tirelessly in the build-up to ensure it was a success. Will Rowland and Claire Jackson gave an excellent account of the two love-struck teenagers, whilst Baht-Ammi Francis as Mercutio captured the audience in a poignant death scene. A special mention must be made to our director, Beth Rowland, without whom it would not have been possible.

House Activities

“Fairfax were winners of the 2012-13 House trophy.”

“I would like to say a special thank you to all of the U6th as they leave Fairfax, but particularly to the House prefects and captains, Beth Rowland and Joel Venson.”

The eagerly anticipated and most well supported event of the year was the introduction of Senior Dodgeball. Fairfax won the B team competition, made up mostly of members of the L6th, but the U6th could not quite manage such levels of success, and came 4th. It is a competition we shall all look forward to in the coming years.

Other competitions where Fairfax have shown great commitment, talent and effort include the Ready Steady Cook contests, Rounders and the Shell Girls’ Badminton, where despite having a limited number of girls available on the day, we managed to win the event! The Senior tennis players were all keen to have a go and represent Fairfax, but, while a ‘dream team’ combination of next year’s House captains, Beth Starkey and Huw Edwards, managed to win all of their matches, Fairfax came 4th overall.

I would like to say a special thank you to all of the U6th as they leave Fairfax, but particularly to the House prefects and captains, Beth Rowland and Joel Venson.

They led by example throughout the year, and were outstanding role models for the rest of Fairfax.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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House Activities

Wheatley Miss Jayne Simmons

“What impressed me the most was the sense of teamwork...”

House officials Staff Miss Jayne Simmons Mr Lakbir Atwal Captains Amelia Brook Lucy Burns Jimmy Xu Flora Zhan

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Still on a high from winning the House trophy last year, 2012-13 began excellently, as we won both Shell Scrabble competitions. Our girls won the 2nd year competition as well! We obviously are a very intelligent bunch, since we then went on to win both Intermediate and Junior Quiz by significant margins, as well as the Chess and the Senior Scrabble.

We have also performed well on the sports field, coming 2nd in the 3rd year Basketball at the start of the year, before our boys went on to win the Shell and 2nd year Swimming.

One of my highlights was the Senior girls’ Hockey competition. Having won against Fairfax and Crow, the result came down to our final match against Bayley. This was the closest match of the competition and very competitive, with both teams being close to scoring several times; we managed to hold them to a draw and so won the competition overall. What impressed me the most was the sense of teamwork amongst the girls, especially those who had not played Hockey for years but still came along to support.

The Senior girls continued on a roll, winning their Netball competition and coming 2nd in Badminton; other victories included the Intermediate Girls’

House Activities

Badminton, 4th year Table Tennis, Shell boys’ Badminton and the 2nd year Girls’ Swimming. This highlights the great talent that we have across all of our year groups.

This year, Wheatley performed particularly well in the Ready Steady Cook competitions, winning the Shell, 2nd and 4th year competitions, with a 2nd place from the 3rd years. Particularly impressive was the delicious ‘Pesce Florentine with ciabatta’ with a Panna Cotta dessert, cooked by Matthew Hayhurst and James Hamer. This led to Matthew gaining the unprecedented achievement of having won the competition over all 4 years he has been able to take part, for which the Food and Textiles department presented him with a cookbook.

This year has also seen the addition of the special recognition certificates, presented to pupils who have far surpassed the total number of points needed to attain

their full colours. Wheatley pupils to receive this honour were Amelia Brook and Erin Hushon, who have dedicated hours of their time and energy to the House system over their 7 years. The House would also like to thank Mrs Beth Hill (Head of Minor Languages), who is leaving this year after running the House quizzes very smoothly and professionally for many years; it is not as easy as she makes it look!

The House Drama festival was as competitive as ever, with our excellent sixth form production team of Amelia Brook, Lucy Burns and Rory Dulku guiding our fantastic cast through an innovative and lively version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The year was be rounded off with a competitive Sports Day, and we’ll be looking to win back the House Trophy from Fairfax in 2013-14!

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Enrichment

offering

enrichment Classics Society Mr Julian Bunce

T

his year saw the launch of the Classical Society for those studying Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation in the 4th Form and above. It has lived up to its aim of involving students in activities, with plenty of exciting developments: e.g. those going on the trip to Turkey were asked to develop some guidebook materials on the sites which could be uploaded to smartphones. This was duly done by a team of workers, and uploaded with the help of Oliver Warlow; a few 'luddites' were content with paper copies, though the rain at Troy may have indicated the advantages of modern technology. As far as we know this is the first time such technology has been used in this way on a school trip.

As well as the successful study visit to Turkey, there has been the (now traditional) trip to the British Museum, incorporating the essential Christmas shopping in Covent Garden, and a Saturday minibus trip in March to Wroxeter and Shrewsbury Museum.

Unfortunately the Roman house featured on Channel 4’s programme Rome Was Not Built In A Day was closed for repairs (!), but we explored remains of Roman baths and shops before going into nearby Shrewsbury to warm up.

The continuing series of talks by university professors has attracted a lively interest from audiences. Professor Kevin Butcher from Warwick University spoke on ‘Roman coinage’ and had some examples to examine, while Professor Ken Dowden of Birmingham University gave a well-received talk to a large audience, many of whom had travelled from far afield, on Book 4 of Virgil’s Aeneid.

The most noteworthy feature has been the talks by our own students and staff. Holly Twigger’s talk on ‘The life and death of an Egyptian Pharaoh’ and Kalika Puri’s on ‘Crime and punishment in Greek mythology’ have set a high standard for others to follow. Especially well received was the experiment by Mr Shoyeb Memon (Maths). After outlining the methods used by Eratosthenes in ancient times to measure the earth’s circumference, he involved pupils in repeating the experiment in the school grounds. By comparing measurements gathered in Dubai by his niece with pupils’ results, we achieved a figure which was accurate to within 5%. We were impressed both by Mr Memon’s professorial passion and Eratosthenes’ brilliance (and he didn’t have a calculator).

Enrichment Mr Mark Woodward The U6th continues to enjoy Friday afternoon’s Enrichment programme, run by Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt (Music and Outreach), choosing 4 different activities over the year, ranging from Cosmetics to Photography and Conservation Work to Italian for Beginners. For one lucky group each year, there is even the chance of a Mystery Trip with Mr Cleaver (Head of Art)!

There are also 5 sessions where the full year group gathers. As well as talks from Sarah Gee (Managing Partner of Indigo Ltd) and Joe Greenwell (former

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Enrichment

“The highlight of the year for many was the visit of ‘Everyday Sexism’ founder and journalist Laura Bates, whose eloquence and engagement with our pupils were both outstanding.”

Chairman of Ford UK), last year pupils enjoyed an acoustic Christmas gig from former pupil Wes Finch and Ellen Miller. U6th pupil Amelia Brook sat on our Question Time panel with two prospective Youth Parliament candidates (Aston Jones-Oakley and Daniel Mackenzie) and I and M Controls MD Nicola Kirkley. We were indebted to BBC News presenter and former pupil Martine Croxall for chairing this event.

The highlight of the year for many was the visit of Everyday Sexism founder and journalist Laura Bates, whose eloquence and engagement with our pupils were both outstanding. Former pupils Zain Ali and Caitlin Edwards returned to report on this event and Laura spent time with our Shells, 3rds, 5ths before her talk and led a further focus group at lunchtime.

Shine Media Awards Mr Mark Woodward Ellen Parker, editor of Stretch 9 – the Art and Design issue – proudly led her team to seven nominations for the 2013 Shine Media Awards. Ellen, Amelia Brook, Mia Davies and Joel Venson attended the National Final where the magazine received two runners-up awards for Environmental Strategy and Inspirational Teacher.

The other five categories where the magazine was shortlisted were: Best Feature Article – Will Hine; Best Overall Editorial Content; Best Commercial Strategy; Community Initiative; Outstanding Pupil – Amelia Brook.

Bablake Weather Station Is 35 Years Old Mr Steve Jackson On 19th September 1977, four pupils took the first weather readings in an old Stevenson Screen with a rain gauge with holes in it and used a wetted finger to assess wind direction. Wind speed was worked out with the aid of descriptors from the Beaufort scale. The Headmaster gave us £5 out of his own pocket for a small barometer bought at Boots, whilst cloud cover was measured in oktas. We found some old mercury, alcohol-sheathed thermometers and even dry and wet bulbs with RH tables. All very amateurish, so we had to wait for a Campbell Stokes and for an anemometer or wind vane.

12,784 consecutive days of weather records later, we have not missed a single day, though we came close when my son Andy was born at 8.30am, necessitating a consequent dash from delivery room to Stevenson Screen!

How times change, with Met Office MMS equipment and our own Campbell Scientific AWS installed in a state of the art enclosure with data sent directly to the Met Office and to school and home via modem. In so many ways, it was much more fun in the 1980s when we had a team of 14 pupil observers, out in all sorts of weather at 09.00hr, rain or shine – maybe it is too sanitised today with just four or five observers stuck at a computer screen! In the old days, we even drew our own synoptic charts from the shipping forecast!

Progress? Yes definitely, but at a cost!

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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In the Picture

The Composite by Olivia Sweeney and Amy Weatherall, a 3rd year Art digital manipulation project using new media in a creative way

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Highlights: Galleries 52, Design Technology 56, Photographic Excellence 59, Celebrations 60, Desert Island Books 66, Flash Fiction 68

Edited by Jess Betts and Charlotte Loasby Editor Profiles Name: Jess Betts Passions: Netball, sailing and, of course, Art! Ambitions: I'd love to spend at least one summer as a sailing instructor somewhere in the warm Mediterranean! After uni I'd like to have a creative job that involves some sort of creative flair and live by the sea.

2012/13 Highlight: Working backstage on 6th form play ‘Blythe Spirit’. The acting was incredible and it was great to be part of an extensive backstage crew who, arguably, made the show happen!

Name: Charlotte Loasby Passions: I love Art, particularly designing, fashion and playing the guitar and piano.

Ambitions: I'd like to gain a place at my chosen university in London and later on become a successful marketing executive.

2012/13 Highlights: Probably passing my driving test and going to China.

Art design ‘Please enjoy this year’s Flair- we present a selection of our pupils’ best creative work in a variety of media.’

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

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Art & Design – GCSE

Some of the best work from our 2012-13 GCSE Art candidates; this was displayed at our annual Art and Design Technology exhibition evening that went a long way towards celebrating the best of Bablake’s pupils’ creative work.

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The Wheatleyan 2012/13

Art & Design – GCSE

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Art & Design – AS

Some of the best work from our 2012-13 AS and A2 Art candidates. The majority of this was displayed at our annual Exhibition evening, while those looking to make Art their career were also able to show their work in our Roots Gallery exhibition, alongside pieces by former pupils living with and for their Art and Design work.

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Art & Design – A2

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Design Technology

technology

Again, A2 and GCSE pupils inspired by many trips (this year to Berlin, for some, as well as to popular Midlands’ employers) and spurred on by the donation of a new 3D printer from local firm John Burn, vied to outdo previous public examination classes. 2 GCSE pupils won prestigious Jaguar Land Rover advanced apprenticeship places and Will Banfield was awarded a prestigious Arkwright Scholarship.

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Design Technology

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Art & Design

Jess Betts and Charlotte Loasby

Isobel Lindsay

Dan Jack

Stephen Cheetham

Ben Duffy

Becky Garforth

Lorna Syson

There was no better way to showcase the great success of Art and Design pupils, both past and present, than to put on an exhibition 'highlighting the route from education into the workplace'. The week long exhibition at Coventry’s Roots Gallery, included work from 7 former Bablake pupils, now professional illustrators, designers and artists, and 6 of our undergraduates studying these areas, all hung alongside work by 7 current A Level pupils, showcasing, as Roots curator Sian Conway said, 'the importance of using the arts to educate'. King Henry VIII contributed similar work to the exhibition.

Footnote Those featured were: John Bigglestone, Stephen Cheetham, Ben Duffy, Katie Ingram, Alex T Smith, Lorna Syson, Jenny Uffindell (professionals); Lauren Boon, Harriet Carter, Lauren Carpenter, Ruth Herbert, Dan Jack, Clare Jepson, (undergraduates), Rebecca Garforth, Bethany Gaunt, Erin Hushon, Eve Kershaw, Isobel Lindsay, Ellen Luo, Emily Thornhill (pupils).

Alex T Smith

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Photographic Excellence

Behind the

As well as offering invaluable support with various school events’ photographic needs alongside Aniruddha Bose and Annabel Knight, U6th pupil Bethan Mordey has shown a very keen interest in developing her love of photography and natural eye for a good photograph.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Celebrations

Established in 2006, by Lauren Bates and Haydn Johnson, under the watchful eye of the school captain Alex Kantor and his U6th team, our eighth Crystal Ball was another success. Held at Bablake, it was organised by the Senior Prefects for our 5th year pupils.

Photography by Aniruddha Bose, Annabel Knight and Bethan Mordey.

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Celebrations

Crystal Ball

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Celebrations

A pictorial record of the evening enjoyed by our U6th pupils at the Forest of Arden.

Leavers’ Ball

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Photography by Scott Morgan (formal), Aniruddha Bose, Annabel Knight and Bethan Mordey.

Celebrations

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Highlights: Galleries 52, Design Technology 56, Photographic Excellence 59, Celebrations 60, Desert Island Books 66, Flash Fiction 68

Edited by Beth Brankowski and Thomas Grantham Editor Profiles Name: Beth Brankowski Passions: Film, art (Andy Warhol), literature (Sylvia Plath) and music (Smiths).

Ambitions: Study history of Art at university and to make the most of that experience in a related career.

2012/13 Highlights: Thriving in the stimulating, challenging environment of Bablake’s 6th Form.

Name: Thomas Grantham Passions: Writing, reading, films, art and singing along badly to music.

Ambitions: To take Film Studies at university, and eventually pursue a career in the film industry.

2012/13 Highlights: Forging new friendships and strengthening bonds with people I love.

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Literature Creative writing

Literature & Creative Writing

Felicity Chapman Winning Poem

Prize

Venice of the North Deepra Sinha – 2H Amsterdam, capital of The lowly Netherlands.

Perhaps not as visited or as grand As Paris or London.

A handful of living statues, Next to the beach volleyball.

Dressed in orange As they watch football.

I see their envious faces As we skip the queue To the Van Gogh Museum.

Have you been there too?

The NEMO museum, Built like a sinking ship.

It kind of reminds me Of the famous RMS Titanic.

Went everywhere by tram, Something I’d never done before.

I wish they had them where I live, I would love to do it more.

It began to rain Out of the blue.

Made an interesting experience At the Royal Artis Zoo. Have you ever been To a zoo in the rain?

I’ll tell you now I’m not doing it again.

Amsterdam, capital of The lowly Netherlands.

I’d rather go there Than Paris or London.

Runners up The Lights Jakevir Shoker – 2H Luminous lights shine in the empty darkness.

Emptiness is filled with lights that glint in the faint moonlight.

Indigo and the colours of the rainbow boast their beauty like a peacock, Calmness seeps through the spectators, they are mere pawns compared to this spectacle.

Even though it isn’t the busiest of cities, it’s bustling with people at night, an ant colonnade, Staring uncontrollably at the dazzling lights, their eyes glued to the flashing flickers of light.

Tearing through the darkness is this glistening burst, an array of colour bursting, into its sudden death.

Edinburgh, London, Paris and Cardiff can’t contest for the place in my heart for this place Right now, as this place in my heart, my special place, is Leicester and its Diwali lights.

Coventry Lucie Barnes – 2S Coventry city is famous for many things.

Frank Whittle gave jet engines to many wings, It has museums, cathedrals and so much more, And some up-market shopping right at the core.

When Lady Godiva shows her face, It sends Peeping Tom into disgrace.

The famous ring road surrounds the town, A challenge for visitors, it makes them frown.

For four-legged friends, parks to explore, To play, walk or run, until their feet get sore.

At the end of the day when the sun goes down, Everything is quiet away from the town.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Literature & Creative Writing

island books Mr Julian Bunce (Classics) Which books are you reading now?

The Miller’s Tale by Chaucer, and It's a Don's Life

by Mary Beard.

Beth Brankowski and Thomas Grantham put four members of Bablake’s staff on the cultural hotspot...

Who is your favourite novelist?

Ian McEwan.

Who is your favourite character?

Mr Toad and Mr Squeers from Nicholas Nickleby.

What is the first book you remember reading?

Jason and the Argonauts.

Funniest book you've ever read?

Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.

And the saddest?

The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy.

Which classic should you have read?

War and Peace – I will someday!

What is your most underrated book?

Birds Without Wings by Louis de Bernieres.

Who would be your ideal literary dining companions?

Aristophanes and Oscar Wilde.

Which book would you make compulsory reading?

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.

Mrs Helen Skilton (Head of History)

Who is your favourite character?

Hari Kumar from The Jewel in the Crown

by Paul Scott.

What is the first book you remember reading?

Too long ago for me to possibly remember, but when I was a child I was a great Enid Blyton fan.

Funniest book you've ever read?

1066 and All That.

And the saddest?

The Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore.

Which classic should you have read?

Jane Eyre.

What is your most underrated book?

Anything by Barbara Pym, who seems to be coming back in fashion now though, but I got there a long time ago!

Which book are you reading now?

The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally.

Who would be your ideal literary dining companions?

Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell seems a fascinating character to me.

Who is your favourite novelist?

Pat Barker.

Which book would you make compulsory reading?

The Communist Manifesto!

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Literature & Creative Writing

“Douglas Adams, Steve Bell and Maurice Sendak. I would also have Oliver Postgate, the animator and children’s programmes writer; he should be there for being the voice of Bagpuss and giving the world the Clangers.”

Mr Paul Cleaver (Head of Art)

Mr Gary Park (Head of English)

Which book are you reading now?

Buddha for Beginners.

Which books are you reading now?

Alan Bennett Untold Stories and Skios by Michael Frayn – coincidentally, they were at university together.

Who is your favourite novelist?

Douglas Adams.

Who is your favourite character?

Either the Penguin or John the Monkey in the If series by Steve Bell.

What is the first book you remember reading?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

Funniest book you've ever read?

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

by Hunter S Thompson.

And the saddest?

And the Ass Saw the Angel by Nick Cave.

Which classic should you have read?

Beowulf.

What is your most underrated book?

Higgledy Piggledy Pop by Maurice Sendak.

Who would be your ideal literary dining companions?

Douglas Adams, Steve Bell and Maurice Sendak. I would also have Oliver Postgate, the animator and children’s programmes writer; he should be there for being the voice of Bagpuss and giving the world the Clangers.

Which book would you make compulsory reading?

An atlas.

Who is your favourite novelist?

Ian McEwan.

Who is your favourite character?

Joe Gargery from Great Expectations.

What is the first book you remember reading?

The Noddy series.

Funniest book you've ever read?

Adrian Mole series, especially The Weapons of Mass Destruction.

And the saddest?

Why Be Happy When You Could be Normal?

by Jeanette Winterson.

Which classic should you have read?

Quite a few by D H Lawrence.

What is your most underrated book?

The lighter Thomas Hardy novels like Under the Greenwood Tree.

Who would be your ideal literary dining companions?

Sebastian Faulks and Muriel Spark.

Which book would you make compulsory reading?

The Bible – a crucial frame of reference and, in a sense, a starting point for all literature in the English language. www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Literature & Creative Writing

70 Years

fiction

Hannah Davies – 4F ‘Stop! No! Please Don’t! Have mercy! Nooooooooooooo!’

The man watched the whirlwind of snow cascade down from the pearly sky in wonderment. He thought back to the days when he would tumble down rolling fields on a blanket of snow while shrieking with the ease and lightheartedness of the young.

I am a rose, once beautiful and lush, my petals did blossom and I reached for the sky... for my love.

70 years gone in the blink of an eye. If only his gnarled hands and aged limbs would break free of the bonds surrounding them. If only he could rewind to that day, so many years ago, and do it all again. To just have one more independent moment, whether in the blistering heat of summer, with the sun scorching down, casting halos of light on him, or in the commanding winds of Autumn, with leaves creating a symphony of rustles; to just have a chance to apologise and say goodbye.

The constant regret consumes him and the guilt swallows him whole. He never meant to pull the trigger, he never intended to be the one that would invoke such feelings of fear and loathing and now he intends to pay the price; he will see his sentence through to the very end; until the last breath leaves his body.

70 years gone in the blink of an eye. If only his gnarled hands and aged limbs would break free of the bonds surrounding them.

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She Arun Dhanjal – U6KFB I still remember how She used to look at me. Her warm gaze once filled me with serenity. I was at peace when under Her watchful eye. She once held me with a loving embrace. I lived for Her and breathed for Her, but now? It is a distant memory.

For my love turned Her back on me, with not even a kiss to say goodbye. Is it not terrible how someone you once trusted in and thought loyal can suddenly disappear? How the soft touch can transform into a vicious thorn in your side? How the calming gaze can morph into an evil glare?

Perhaps you think you know what I am, or what She is. I fear you are wrong – I am no man or boy, and She is no woman. I am a rose, once beautiful and lush, my petals did blossom and I reached for the sky... for my love. There’s no doubt you can guess who She is. She means as much to you as she did to me. She feeds you with her rays and nourishes you. She is the Sun who once loved me… but no longer. By life itself, I was betrayed.

Literature & Creative Writing

Nothing dares come to this place, A place of horror, travesty.

The jet-black Sea corrodes the rocks nearby

The Mist Jack Green – Shell C The mist settled over the hill.

The trees bare skeletal bones, frozen in the great chill.

The mist surrounded the gravestones where the dead lay sleeping still.

The Guide Rachel Hepworth, Kathryn Jones, Frances Mahony, Kalika Puri – L6th A group of pensioners walked through a rainy underpass with a half-blind dog. The dog was their stalwart guide, his name: Anopheles. Death was sitting in front of them, a charming grin on his face and a wicked banjo in his hands. Death is sexy.

That morning, the pensioners had arisen for no conceivable reason. They had been suffering from various ailments, including Alzheimer’s, for many years.

The dog had arrived at the nursing home because he knew it was time. He led them through the morning mists towards Help the Aged – but this was not their final destination.

Death tipped his hat in acknowledgement of their arrival and bent down to tickle Anopheles on the ear, then returned to his banjo, cross-legged on the floor.

A jaunty cowboy tune floated through the underpass and a wash of light seeped out from the neck of the instrument. Glancing suggestively towards the portal, he nodded and flicked his eyebrows. Taking their cue, in silence, the pensioners accepted their fate and walked into the light. The music trickled on through the coming of the dawn, and Anopheles wagged his tail, settling down to sleep.

The lake lay icy and lost.

The grass glistened, like diamonds with frost, and the whole world stopped and listened, then waited to defrost.

The Angry Sea Lewis Carroll – Shell G Nothing dares come to this place, A place of horror, travesty.

The jet-black Sea corrodes the rocks nearby, A lion biting its prey.

The naked rocks cry for help, Nothing can protect them.

I act as the roof above them, Cascading over everything.

The slowly moving object, I hear them sobbing, crying.

The sea was extremely raucous.

I cry and cry and cry.

What am I? I make the waves angry when doing so, Inflicting more pain upon the rocks.

Can someone help?

Anyone, Please help...

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Highlights: Blithe Spirit 71, Stage whispers 74, On Song 76, OdaC 78

Performing Arts Edited by Bradley Gill and Lara Morley-White

New drama clubs have been established: Actio for Shells and 2nd years; Actus for 3rds and 4ths; Babtech to train students in behind the scenes sound and lighting; Actorum for the 6th form. The Dance Club is also up and dancing, working on the choreography for the school musical (Autumn 2013).

Bablake Theatre’s online portfolio, by the pupils for the pupils has more info: www.bablaketheatre.com www.facebook.com/Bablake-Theatre @bablaketheatre YouTube: BablakeTheatre www.bablaketheatre.com/blog.html

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Editor Profiles Name: Bradley Gill Passions: Music in general – singing, playing piano and clarinet, listening to and analysing an eclectic mix of music.

Ambitions: Hopefully, one day, I will be able to do all of the above at the same time, although my main dream would be to get a part at the Royal Opera House. So, watch this space!

2012/13 Highlight: Achieving more than I thought would be possible.

Name: Lara Morley-White Passions: Drama, dance, art and YouTube.

Ambitions: Apply successfully for Drama school - even if it takes many years of trying - and eventually gain a job within the acting profession.

2012/13 Highlight: The craziness that was the Edinburgh Fringe.

On Stage

Blithe

Spirit

Lydia Bruton & Peter Cusack

“As soon as the curtains opened, we were treated to exceptional performances from an excellent cast.”

Noel Coward’s improbable farce Blithe Spirit was a triumph – it had it all, even pyrotechnics. The show began as soon as we entered the EDM Foyer as L6th former Megan Evans was singing wartime songs in full WWII uniform whilst we were offered cups of tea to relax with. Pre-show, we also watched an enlightening video from 1941 on the best way to store and make tea.

As soon as the curtains opened, we were treated to exceptional performances from an excellent cast.

Elegantly dressed in immaculately fitted clothes, Katie Carlson was an excellent, waspish Ruth Condomine, playing the high-maintenance character with aplomb.

We can still hear her piercing scream too!

Ruth's husband, Charles, a man of high class, was played by Rory Dulku, and he had the character perfectly pitched as he grew increasingly tortured by his life with two women, managing Ruth's howling tears and gradually losing his happy life when a past marriage to Elvira and her wicked ways returned to haunt him.

Madame Arcati, played by U6th stalwart Simeon Blake-Hall, thoroughly amused us. Dressed in her eccentric clothes, he waltzed around the stage in heels, causing great hilarity and demonstrating an obsessive love of cucumber sandwiches!

Elvira, played expertly by Lara Morley-White, was the scheming ghost of Mr Condomine's first wife. We enjoyed her persecution of Charles, especially when he didn’t know it was happening! Gently mischievous, she played havoc with new wife Ruth and there was a very convincing struggle. www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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#27yearsinarow

years Bablake at the Edinburgh Fringe...

F

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Katie Carlson

rom absurdist theatre to musical comedy to Shakespeare, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is famous for the sheer variety of its performances. During our week in the Scottish capital, we had the opportunity to sample a small number of the hundreds of shows which descend on Edinburgh each August, as well as gain a real taste of the festival by producing and performing a show ourselves.

Doubtless, this year has proved one of Bablake’s most successful in its 27 consecutive years at the Fringe. Our production of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray sold over 350 tickets during its 6 day run and gained a 4* review from ‘Broadway Baby’, a rare feat for a school company.

When not performing, we spent time promoting the show on the Royal Mile, where our marketing strategies drew crowds every day and greatly increased awareness of the show.

However, the highlight was experiencing what the rest of the Fringe had to offer! On an average day, we saw four or five shows, from up and coming musicals in miniature venues to stand-up comedians selling out huge concert halls. Particular highlights included a Korean musical extravaganza, a Danish physical theatre thriller, and a musical combining 2500 years of philosophy with jazzy show tunes.

An unforgettable week was had by all, and with next year’s production already in the planning stages, we cannot wait to return and see more of what the Fringe has to offer.

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#uniqueforaschool

Our AS and A2 Drama students produced 3 excellent pieces for their practical examination: Bronte Polly Teale: the tale of the 3 sisters and their forgotten brother.

The Hothouse Harold Pinter: unsettling yet comic masterpiece.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde: inventive use of space, tragic and comic.

Take to the

stage www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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On Stage

stagewhispers...

Bayley I’m a Teenager, Get Me Out of Here (Jim Garvey) Crow Alice in Wonderland Fairfax Romeo and Juliet Wheatley Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

From the stage… Enya Bowe talks about Crow’s production of Alice in Wonderland.

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I

was Edith, Alice’s older and extremely bossy sister.

As this was quite a small role, I also played one of the cards (7 of diamonds).

House Drama involves all years, from Shells up to 6th formers, so I got to meet and get to know several members of Crow House, which was great. Rehearsals were twice a week, so it didn’t take long for me to learn my lines and stage directions.

After a gruelling technical rehearsal and a few dress rehearsals, the rest of the cast and I were ready for the final performance.

Despite a few minor hiccups, the play went extremely well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the adrenalin rush while performing and hope to experience that feeling several more times.

The House Drama Festival was a fabulous introduction to Bablake theatre and has inspired me to join Drama club and audition for a main role in the school’s next play.

On Stage

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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On Song

the musical

year

Bradley Gill, RIBI Coventry Young Musician of the Year, reports on another excellent year, full of fantastic opportunities for Bablake’s musicians.

Autumn

This term began in earnest, with the new Shells introduced to the array of musical activities happening throughout the school. The Senior Scholars’ concert took place in late September, and featured fantastic recitals of Mozart’s Fantasia in C minor by Ellie Morris, and an unusual Flute sonata by Rabboni, immaculately performed by Beth Gaunt. The annual autumn concert was a tribute to the many ensembles Bablake has to offer. Highlights ranged from an electric orchestral performance of the Grand March from Verdi’s opera, Aida, to the Woodwind Ensemble’s performance of a Homage to Beatrix Potter and the Senior Brass Group’s rendition of Abba’s Does your Mother Know?

The music CSV group was busy on Wednesday afternoons visiting primary schools and special schools as well as Walsgrave hospital and a dementia day care centre.

Another musical highlight of the term was the String workshop day with international violinist Tasmin Little – the first event linked to our new partnership with Orchestra da Camera – where 60 string players from across the Midlands filled Bablake’s Theatre for workshops, master classes and a final performance.

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The festive season was an exceptionally busy one. As well as entertaining senior citizens at the annual Christmas party, the singers across the school performed an outstanding concert of vocal music at St. John’s Church, as part of our continuing partnership. The highlight for many though was an outstanding Carol Service, which took place for the first time this year in Coventry Cathedral, and on p80 there is an interview with Mrs Scott-Burt, who organised and directed the service.

Spring

The advent of 2013 brought new ventures for the department, as the Junior Choir had the opportunity to perform at the National Festival of Music for Youth, and as part of Bablake’s new status as an ICON (International Cross of Nails) school, we were delighted to be invited to perform for the newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, when he visited Coventry. The CSV music group was busy fulfilling a programme of workshops at the RNIB school in Exhall, working with some profoundly disabled young people as well as performing concerts in a variety of community settings.

Of course the Easter concert did not fail to impress, with the music scholars in the U6th enjoying their final opportunity to perform before study leave. Ellie Morris and

Georgia Powell delighted and amazed us with two piano solos, and the Chamber Choir’s recital of Pergolesi’s Magnificat, after a term’s hard work, complemented the Brass Ensemble’s performances of modern classics: Killing me Softly and All my Loving.

Summer

The lower years showcased their talents this term with performances at the Junior Scholars’ concert, our Summer Concert, the senior citizens' strawberry tea party, and various events in and out of school. L6th pupil Megan Evans represented Bablake in the 2013 Rotary Club’s Young Entertainer competition and former pupil Beth Mills brought her band Xyra to Bablake for a musical masterclass and lunchtime concert before auditioning for X Factor and making the judges’ houses round.

In short, it was a fantastic year’s music-making! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Crompton (Director of Music), Mrs Scott-Burt and Mr Cooper for their continued support and enthusiasm throughout the year, arranging concerts, recitals and rehearsals. Their philosophy matches the advice at a recent OdaC Woodwind workshop, from Margaret Cookhorn, contrabassoonist with the CBSO: ‘If you think you have done so much practice that your lip has fallen off, do another two hours, as it probably hasn’t.’

On Song

musical

musings

“... I immediately agreed, hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to practise some vocal coaching and of course, practise my sightreading skills!”

Reflections on the Choral Life Beth Carter and Bradley Gill

Helping the Choir Bradley writes: When I was approached at the end of my GCSEs and asked if I wouldn’t mind giving up half an hour each week to accompany the Junior Choir, I immediately agreed, hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to practise some vocal coaching and of course, practise my sight-reading skills! What a year it has been! I have noticed a vast improvement in the 20 or so young singers, not only in their technique and ability, but also in their emotional connection with the music and confidence as singers.

A Busy Time In the Choir Beth writes: A couple of days after we were lucky enough to perform our Easter pieces, in front of the newly chosen Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, in Coventry Cathedral, we arrived at school early one Sunday in March.

We hopped on a coach and headed into Birmingham, to perform in the National Festival of Music for Youth competition at the prestigious Birmingham Conservatoire. After a quick warm up, we waited in the audience until it was our turn to sing ‘Memory’ from ‘Cats’ and the other two songs we performed for the Archbishop.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Outreach

OdaC Anna White Bablake’s new partnership with Orchestra da Camera brought 2 workshops with acclaimed virtuosos.

In the Autumn Term violinist Tasmin Little led the day, while Anna reports on February’s cello ensemble day that she attended:

I

had really been looking forward to this day and it did not let me down! The highly esteemed Danish cellist Hans Nygaard came to Bablake to hold four master classes and to play the melody of Phantom Riders. My cello teacher, Peter Wilson and Mrs Scott- Burt organised the event and the invitation of Hans, and Peter played the harmony of Phantom Riders. Peter’s father, Trevor Wilson, composed Phantom Riders and it truly was a great piece! It had a lively bassline, which sounded like clattering hooves and a fun, fast-paced tune.

For part of the day we split into groups and practised other pieces to present in a concert at the end of the workshop. Four of us also had master classes.

Beforehand I felt nervous, however Hans helped me relax and I played well. He showed me how to play the piece better and was very encouraging; he also told me mini stories to remember what I had learnt.

I really enjoyed the concert. We presented the group piece that we had worked on and then listened to the other groups’ pieces. We finished with a hairraising finale of Phantom Riders and really moved the audience. It was a day well worth attending!’

“It had a lively bassline, which sounded like clattering hooves and a fun, fast-paced tune.”

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Arts Award

The Arts Award continues to go from strength to strength under the guidance of Mrs Scott Burt and we now have two pupils (Beth Carter and Aron Sood) embarking on the gold award, a first for Bablake. Here we offer a pictorial record of silver and bronze award workshop sessions delivered to our Junior School pupils during 2012-13.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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On Song

Carol

service

Interview with Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt

by Bradley Gill

What made you decide to hold the service in the cathedral this year?

Coventry Cathedral is such a beautiful space; it seemed a shame not to celebrate in this local venue. I wanted somewhere where I could fit all the choirs from both schools, to join forces in celebration of Christmas.

What were the biggest challenges you faced, when organising and rehearsing there?

I was surprised at how well the planning and preparation process went. I suppose the most unpleasant part was having to walk everyone there in the cold December rain for our final rehearsal. I did however have to check that Poppy the donkey, a visit arranged by Mr Mellers on the evening, wasn’t wearing metal shoes which would damage the priceless marble floor.

How do you decide on the order of service?

At my house, Christmas starts in July! I begin looking at carols and music over the summer holidays, so that pupils can rehearse them over the Autumn term, in good time for the festive season.

When choosing music, I look for something with impact, with a variety of composers which reflect the different facets of the Christmas story. I also consider the age range of the performers; something enjoyable for the Junior School, and something more challenging for the Senior choirs.

For the first time this year, Bablake commissioned a piece especially for the service – Prince of Peace, written by my composer husband – which included over 100 singers, a brass section, and the mighty organ in the cathedral.

What did you enjoy most about the service?

I loved conducting the massed choirs and brass in Prince of Peace; it was very special to hear new music come to life, with young voices. The positive comments we received from the Bablake community were inspiring, if a little drowned out by the magnificent organ voluntary!

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On Song

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Highlights: Fantastic 5 83, Sporting Honours 84, Sports Abroad 86, Individual Excellence 88, Sports Focus 90, Sports Talk 100

Sport Edited by Matt Payne and Beth Starkey “There are always so many stunning team and individual performances by Bablake pupils in the sporting arena… and 2012-13 was no different.”

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Editor Profiles Name: Matt Payne Sporting Passions: Cricket, hockey, golf.

Ambitions: To study economics at university, whilst continuing to play sport at the highest level possible.

2012-13 Highlight: Winning the Warwickshire U19 cricket cup, and beating Solihull 1-0 to knock them out of the Warwickshire Hockey Cup, having lost 5-0 to them two weeks before in the league.

Name: Beth Starkey Sporting Passions: Playing and coaching tennis, playing hockey.

Ambitions: Get into the University of Leeds to study nursing and be part of their hockey team.

2012-13 Highlight: Getting through to the U18 Midlands Hockey tournament.

Sporting Focus

Fantastic Matt Payne and Beth Starkey

Name: Robert Faulkner Age: 17 Sports Played: Rugby, Athletics.

Sporting Honours: Midlands Rugby (U16), Warwickshire Rugby (U18); Midlands Athletics (Discus), Coventry Athletics (400m); School 1st XV Rugby.

Favourite School Sporting Moment: Winning U16 Coventry Cup (Rugby).

Greatest Sporting Achievement: Playing Midlands U16s Rugby.

Sporting Aspirations: To play Rugby and Athletics at a high standard and continue to enjoy myself.

Sporting Role Model: Lawrence Okoye – played rugby, athletics and American football all professionally.

Best Sporting Attribute: Committed and try to never miss training.

Name: Rachel Faulkner Age: 15 Sports Played: Netball, Hockey, Athletics.

Sporting Honours: Warwickshire Netball (U14); Warwickshire Athletics (U14+U15).

Favourite School Sporting Moment: Reaching the U14 National Netball finals.

Sporting Achievement: National Netball Finals.

Sporting Aspirations: To play Netball at a high standard as possible after school.

Sporting Role Model: Jessica Ennis.

Greatest Sporting Attribute: Always committed and try my hardest.

Name: Eleanor Faulkner Age: 14 Sports Played: Netball, Hockey, Athletics.

Sporting Honours: Warwickshire Netball (U14s), National Finals for Hurdles (U13).

Favourite School Sporting Moment: Drawing

with King’s High in Hockey.

Greatest Sporting Achievement: Finishing 8th in the UK for U13 hurdles.

Sporting Aspirations: To become as successful as possible in Athletics.

Sporting Role Model: Jessica Ennis.

Greatest Sporting Attribute: When training, I always try my best.

Name: James Faulkner Age: 17 Sports Played: Rugby, Athletics (400m Hurdles).

Sporting Honours: Coventry (U16), Warwickshire and Midlands Rugby (U18), 1st XV Rugby.

Favourite School Sporting Moment: Winning U16 Coventry Cup (Rugby).

Greatest Sporting Achievement: Midlands trials for Rugby.

Sporting Aspirations: to play Rugby for England.

Sporting Role Model: Mike Brown, Israel Dagg.

Greatest Sporting Attribute: Agility.

Name: Lewis Faulkner Age: 13 Sports Played: Rugby, Athletics (85m Hurdles and 800m).

Sporting Honours: Coventry Rugby (U14); Midlands Athletics (U13).

Favourite School Sporting Moment: School Rugby.

Greatest Sporting Achievement: Midlands Athletics.

Sporting Aspirations: To play Rugby for England.

Sporting Role Model: Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson.

Greatest Sporting Attribute: Speed.

Footnote The idea for this feature came from all 5 Faulkners (2 families) competing in an Athletics event at a very high standard. www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Sporting Honours

Sporting board of honour 2012/13 International Honours England Athletics: Wheelchair Racing – Kare Adenegan Horse Riding: British Show Jumping Championships – (4th) and 3* International Horse Show – Lucinda Roche; Royal International Horse Show – Lucy Farrington Sailing: National Transition Squad – Nia Gripton-Crockford Scottish Exiles Rugby: U17 – Dominic Rae Welsh Exiles Rugby: U17 – Huw Edwards Regional Honours Midlands Hockey Junior Regional Performance Centre U17: Mollie Sargent U16: Sophie Price, Emily White U15: Thomas Betts, Rory Kenney-Herbert Netball (National Talent League) U16 Warriors: Aimee Piercy U16 Regional Academy: Aimee Piercy, Mollie Sargent Rugby U16: (Trial) Paul Gascoigne, Jamie Jack Swimming U15 Midlands Championships: Nick Payne West Midlands Athletics – Intermediates: Grace Harrold (300m) Athletics – Juniors: Eleanor Bonas (800m); Lucy Farrington (High Jump & Hurdles); Eleanor Faulkner (Hurdles), Hannah Sweeney (100m & High Jump) Hockey – Development Academy U16: Chloe Mason, Aimee Piercy, Mollie Sargent West Midlands Multi Event Athletics – Juniors: Eleanor Faulkner, Hannah Sweeney County Honours Warwickshire Cricket Winter Academy: Mark Best, Daniel Mousley 2nd XI/ U19: Mark Best U17: Matthew Clements, Matthew Payne U15: Ross Parnell U13: Daniel Mousley, Daniel Smith U12: Daniel Mousley

Hockey Junior Academy Centre U15: Mantaran Dosanj, Aidan Johnson, Jasmine Shankster-East, Iain Suren, Daniel Williams U14: George Bayliss Junior Development Centre U15: Eleanor Bonas, Ruby Griffin, Grace Harrold, Danika Patel, Anna Price Netball: Regional Academy U16: Aimee Piercy, Mollie Sargent Satellite Academy U14: Sophie Hollinrake, Emmanuella Kamara-Musa Rugby U18: Ronan Jones U16: Paul Gascoigne (Worcester Warriors), Jamie Jack (Leicester Tigers), Bradley Pinkham (Worcester Warriors) U15: Chimdi Ogbuneke U14: Harry Garforth, Daniel Lanning, James Moffitt, Daniel O’Malley, Jack Whitaker Table Tennis U16: Paul Lilley U14: Claudia Youakim Team Achievements Athletics (boys): 2nds Super Sixes West Midlands Bronze medal; Intermediate B 6th at Midland round.

Athletics (girls): 2nds Super Sixes West Midlands Silver medal; Junior B 3rd and Intermediate B winners at Midland round.

Cricket: 1st XI Bablake T20 winners; Warwickshire Cups – U19s runners up, U15 winners, U13 runners up.

Hockey (boys): U14 Warwickshire Cup semi-finals; U16, U13 Midlands Zonal runners up.

Hockey (girls): U18 and U16 Warwickshire Indoor winners and then 4th and 3rd in group at Midlands; U16 Midlands Zone 3rd; Warwickshire Schools U16 runners up.

Rugby: 7s – U18 Rosslyn Park 3rd in group.

Congratulations also to: Jamie Jack: Place at Leicester Tigers Academy.

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Sporting Honours

Awards Evening Major Awards Recognition (for high level achievement outside school): Nia Gripton Crockford: Sailing Lucy Farrington, Lucinda Roche: Horse Riding Players of the Year

Mr Rob Burdett (Head of Boys’ PE) and Miss Hannah Moseley (Acting Head of Girls’ PE) and the PE department organised the first Bablake Sports Awards Evening, covering our Junior Winter Sports. Guest of Honour was Mr Ron Jones, former Bablake Deputy Head and Wales rugby international.

Year group and major sport awards for those who have stood out in a number of different activities and demonstrated good practical and personal qualities throughout the season.

Shells: George Parker, Amy Smith 2nds: Eleanor Faulkner, Dan Smith 3rds: Eleanor Bonas, Cameron Park 4ths: Thomas Betts, Georgia Gunson Boys’ Rugby Player of the Year: Chimdi Ogbuneke Boys’ Hockey Player of the Year: Thomas Betts Girls’ Hockey Player of the Year: Emily White Girls’ Netball Player of the Year: Rachel Faulkner Teams of the Year Girls: U14B Netball Lost only one fixture, played a mass of fixtures and showed dedication to practices and matches.

Boys: U15 Hockey Excellent Hockey league performance and consistent throughout the season.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Sports Abroad

Boys’Tour South Africa Introducing Bello! Without a doubt the most used word on tour. Who knew a group of 1618 year olds could gain so much amusement from changing one letter of the word ‘hello’? writes Dominic Rae.

T

he tour party of 37 senior rugby players and 6 members of staff started in Cape Town where the first day included visits to Newlands Rugby stadium and Newlands cricket ground. Also while in Cape Town we took a trip up Table mountain where we enjoyed some of the most magnificent views we will probably ever experience. We trained at the foot of the mountain, by far the most scenic training location we will ever use and certainly different from training on Coundon Road under floodlights on a misty Friday evening.

After a gripping tour of Robben Island prison from a former inmate , who explained in great detail about the struggle to overthrow apartheid, we travelled to Kasselsvlei School in Cape Town for our first set of matches. This was undoubtedly the best atmosphere of all the games with a large crowd and a lot of local spectators. The 2nd XV narrowly lost 25-31, and the 1st XV 33-41. The 1st XV faced a South African version of the Haka, an experience in itself. Kasselsvlei played the fastest rugby we have ever experienced and something we will definitely learn from. Whilst staying here we visited an authentic African restaurant and enjoyed some rather different food, such as crocodile and springbok.

Our final day in Cape Town included a trip to view seals at Duiker Island, a stop to see a penguin colony and a visit to the most south-westerly point in Africa, where the lads became very friendly with baboons.

From Cape Town, we travelled up the famous Garden Route to Brenton-on-Sea, a short journey away from the location for our second set of matches. These were against PW Botha and were both more successful than the first matches as the 1st XI won 30-17 and the 2nds 12-0. The squad then visited an elephant sanctuary,

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where everyone was able to feed them, before moving to Jeffreys Bay, near Port Elizabeth, to play a second game in three days; it is fair to say the team physio worked overtime on the day between these games. The third set of matches was played against Nico Malan High School, who are in South Africa’s top 50 schools. Both our teams came out second best in these games, with the South Africans’ considerable size advantage showing.

From Port Elizabeth, we flew to Durban where we stayed on a game reserve, with a wake-up call from a zebra included in the cost, and visited a local village for a Zulu dancing show. In Durban, on safari, we saw 3 of the big 5 (buffalo, elephants and rhino), and at Ushaka Marineworld, swam with sharks and sting ray and attended the dolphin and seal shows. One member of the team also learned a useful life tip here, namely that diving in shallow water is not the best idea.

Our final set of matches was played against Westville Boys, one of the top 10 schools in South Africa. Being billeted with members of the opposition team the night before the game was once again great way for us all to broaden our understanding of South African way of life. We were determined to get a result! Unfortunately, despite playing our best rugby of the tour, this was not to be but heads were held high with the 1st XV losing 7-17 and 2nds 0-25.

At the traditional end of tour dinner, Andrew Haughian won 1st XV player of the tour, and Ross Chapman the 2nd XV award. On behalf of the whole party, I would like to thank the members of staff and parents for the opportunity to tour; we all have special memories we are not going to forget any time soon!

Sports Abroad

“...we went to St Joseph’s Orphanage to donate money and presents.”

Girls’Tour Sri Lanka & Malaysia After a long, sleepless, rather gruelling 10 hour flight we finally touched down in Colombo to be greeted by our tour guide Adjit, a true legend and a highlight of our trip. Once settled in Kandy, our first excursion was to see a Sri Lankan cultural show, which was, interesting to say the least writes Alexa Goodyer.

A

fter being in the country for only a few hours we soon realised that the two weeks would be particularly interesting as we had not managed to find a proper, working toilet that wasn’t just a hole in the ground.

On our first full day in Kandy, we visited the Temple of the Tooth, which is the most sacred place in the Buddhist world, although it felt slightly surreal when a group of 15 English schoolgirls walked through a temple full of locals who were mid-prayer. The same afternoon we travelled to our first hockey fixture. This was at the Sri Lankan International Hockey Stadium, which wasn’t as impressive as I make it sound! The pitch had been sewn together, with various holes and dips in which water had gathered during the prematch watering of the pitch.

A bad sport blames his or her tools, so I cannot say we lost because of the poor state of the pitch but it was surely a very influential factor!

Day 3 was my favourite day as we visited the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, an excursion that involved riding, feeding and washing elephants.

The next few days were filled with various netball matches, a trip to the Tea museum and the opportunity to go rafting. If I had one piece of advice to convey, I’d say to watch out for leeches and cockroaches: I’ve never screamed so loud!

Our final night in Sri Lanka included a very elegant meal at a 5* hotel and goodbyes to Adjit before our journey to Penang and the arrival of our new Malaysian tour guide Laurence. If you hadn’t fallen in love with Adjit, then you would’ve fallen for Laurence! I’m sure if you ask, we’ll show you some selfies! Our first night in Penang had one clear highlight, Mrs Smith’s moving food!

The next day was, by far, the most memorable of our trip as we went to St Joseph’s Orphanage to donate money and presents, as well as spend time with the orphans that lived there. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and life-changing experience that none of us will forget.

In our fixtures, we did not really have much success on the Hockey front, only achieving one draw, but the teamwork and the overall experience of playing in a different climate was hugely fulfilling. Our final moments in Kuala Lumpur were full of variety: shopping at the night market, seeing the views from the top of the Petronas Towers and running around Sunway Lagoon Water Park.

Our tour to Sri Lanka & Malaysia was a once in a lifetime experience; we bonded as a team, shared memories we will never forget and met some truly inspiring people.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Sports Focus

Individual Excellence Riding All Over The World!

Lucinda Roche Where Nick Skelton went, winning an Equestrian Team GB gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, Lucinda Roche would love to follow and she has certainly had a successful 2012-13. Placed in the top 10 at the British Masters, an International 3* show, she was then 5th in the Speed Derby and 7th and 8th in the Accumulator at Blaye in Bordeaux, an International 2* show, qualifying for the World Ranking Grand Prix.

Lucinda won a class at the Hickstead Derby meeting, was placed in all classes in two trips to Ireland as well as at the International 3* show in Chepstow and jumped double clears in all her European Trial classes.

Lucinda’s best show was at the British Showjumping Championships at Scope, Stafford, where she was 4th in the 16 and Under National Final and 6th in the grade B & C National Final, before finishing 8th in the under 18s National final and 3rd in the National U21. The atmosphere was electric at the latter and, with all of the top riders in the country present, Lucinda promisingly did not look out of place.

“...with all of the top riders in the country present, Lucinda promisingly did not look out of place.”

One to Watch!

Kare Adenigan Inspired by the London Paralympics, Kare Adenigan has taken less than a year to go from nowhere to posting the 5th fastest wheelchair 100m time in the world, in fact a medal-winning time at the 2012 games.

Lucinda by Carla Jane Photography

Building for the Future!

Dominic Rae Dominic was placed 2nd in the Junior U21s and best U18 at the NPA Midlands Bodybuilding Championships.

Dieting for 20 weeks for the competition, eating 8 meals a day, and training 5 days a week, Dominic confirmed the organisation and dedication required equated to the skills necessary for preparation for his academic work.

Kare by Jamie Gray & Coventry Telegraph

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Dom by Fivos Photography

Sports Focus

Nia Gripton-Crockford, recently selected for the full RYA National Youth squad and previously trained by former pupil Philip Walker, reports on her amazing sailing experience this summer:

I

sailed at the J24 nationals with London 2012 Olympic laser radial sailor Alison Young.

The J24 is a keelboat with the majority of competitors being over the age of 18: the fleet is also separated into two sections, determined on the age of the boat. Older boats are referred to as westerlies, which are a slower design of the boat and, despite the fact that the fleet is split into two, all boats race together with prizes for the overall winner as well as the winners of each fleet.

Our team on the RYA boat Nitro, unusually an all girls team made up of myself and five others, was what is known as a scratch team as most of us had never met.

For a week we lived and competed together, coming 19th overall and winning the westerly plate resulting in all of the members of the boat becoming the J24 Westerly national champions.

As you can imagine 6 strangers living and sailing together for a week has the potential to bring the stresses and strains out in everyone, which would not be conducive for a competitive and effective team. However this did not happen due to Alison’s leadership and the mutual respect she demanded. She gave each of us our

own set role within the boat, to provide her with the right information to be able to make the correct tactical calls.

Alison taught me how to create a winning team from scratch in a short space of time, a skill I hope to transfer into my own career.

The time dedicated by Alison to her personal fitness and her self-discipline in carrying out an hour long daily fitness routine without fail, irrespective of how long we spent on the water, were aspects of the life of an Olympic athlete that I found both inspirational and fascinating. I also saw the impressive rigour of this self-discipline in Alison's eating and drinking habits as she repetitively turned down the temptation of a cheap cone of chips in favour of a healthier option which was usually harder to find and more costly.

I spent the winter in the 420 national transition squad and found the skills I learnt and developed in that time were transferable to the J24 and Cruiser, that I spent time racing in Fowey regatta week towards the end of the summer. I have gained so many skills that can be transferred into my daily life. Seeing Alison's single-mindedness that she is showing to achieve her goal of a gold medal at Rio in 2016 will give me similar drive in my own life. www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Sports Focus

CricketReview

Mr Andrew Phillips

This has been an outstanding season for the Seniors. The 1st XI won the Bablake T20 competition in majestic style. They won all 4 pool games to set up a final with Warwick School. Warwick set an imposing 172 off their 20 overs, only to watch Mark Best complete an astonishing innings of 123 not out off 59 balls including a 6 over mid-wicket to seal a memorable win.

The 1st XI also attempted to retain the U19 Warwickshire Cup. After a series of impressive wins they met last year’s runners-up, Solihull School. The 1st XI posted an impressive 173-6 off their 20 overs, which included another magnificent 124 not out from captain Mark Best in his last innings for Bablake. However, Solihull batted superbly and chased down what seemed a formidable target with 5 balls to spare.

The U15s also had a very successful season, defeating KHVIII in a fantastic Warwickshire Cup Final thanks to a fine innings of 64 from captain Ross Parnell. As County Champions, they progressed to the Midlands semi-final, the last 16 of the National Cup. In this round the U15s lost

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to an outstanding Shrewsbury team, however it was an experience that will fill them with much confidence. The U14s have also continued to show vast improvement with the highlight being reaching the semi-final of the Coventry Cup. The U13s have had a fantastic season! Despite narrowly losing in the semi-final of the prestigious Warwickshire Cup to King Edward’s Birmingham, the team bounced back and won the Coventry Schools Cup against a strong Finham Park side. In addition to this, victories have come thick and fast throughout the season, including an exciting last ball win over King Edward’s Aston. Dan Smith, who represented Warwickshire, should be congratulated on some fine performances. While Julian Wreford and Camren Bisal have also performed consistently well.

A very busy term saw the Shell cricket team play 10 matches, winning 6 of these. Crucial to the team was Dan Mousley, who scored over 300 runs, including 106 whilst playing for the U13s against Arnold Lodge. The team, whose bowling attack always put sides under pressure, has a very bright future with a strong squad of talented players, who have all made valuable individual contributions throughout the season.

Sports Focus

Covers 2013 saw the arrival of brand new cricket covers on our 1st XI square, kindly provided by a group of parents who worked exceptionally hard to raise the necessary money.

Fundraising events included a very successful, enjoyable quiz night and a cake sale.

The covers were donated in memory of Mike Payne, father of Matthew and Nick, who was a huge supporter of cricket at Bablake. On Thursday 25th April a memorial cricket match was held in Mike’s honour, which was the official ‘opening’ of the covers. Brothers Matthew and Nick each captained a side in what was a thoroughly memorable match, followed by a fantastic tea provided by the parents.

“They won all 4 pool games to set up a final with Warwick School. Warwick set an imposing 172 off their 20 overs, only to watch Mark Best complete an astonishing innings of 123 not out off 59 balls including a 6 over mid-wicket to seal a memorable win.”

Bablake Bears Congratulations to Daniel Mousley (U12 & U13), Daniel Smith (U13), Ross Parnell (U15), Matthew Clements (U17) and Mark Best (U19 & 2nd XI) who have all been selected to represent Warwickshire during the season.

Ross, Matthew and Mark were awarded Bablake Cricket Scholarships in recognition of their outstanding achievements and commitment to school cricket.

Daniel Mousley (U12 Batsman of the Year, winner of the Neil Abberley Outstanding Performances award, leading wicket taker across all of the county age groups and selected for winter cricket with Warwickshire), Matt Payne and Dan Smith have also been awarded scholarships for 2013-14.

For current news, please follow @bablakecricket

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Sports Focus

Boys’HockeyReview Mr Andrew Phillips

This season has once again been very successful across all age groups, with more boys than ever before representing the school. An agreement with other local independent schools to timetable games for each year group on the same afternoon has resulted in more A & B fixtures than ever before. These changes have also coincided with the inaugural year of the Warwickshire Hockey League, in which our U13s, U14s, U15s, 2nd XI and 1st XI are entered. The league includes the following schools: Bablake, King Edward’s Birmingham, Solihull, Warwick, Princethorpe, KHVIII, Lawrence Sheriff and Bishop Vesey’s. It has raised the profile of hockey, given further focus to training sessions and ‘league’ fixtures have been played with an extra competitive edge. At 1st XI level independent umpires from the Midlands Hockey Umpiring Association have been appointed and these games have been used to further trial two way radio communication between the officials (only currently used at International level).

The 1st XI was excellently captained by Hugh Kenney-Herbert, who led by example and demanded the highest standards from the squad. Highlights of the

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season included an impressive 6-1 win in the league over local rivals KHVIII and knocking Solihull School out of the Warwickshire U18 Cup with a hard fought 1-0 win.

The 2nd XI, captained by James Colburn, had an indifferent season, performing well in friendlies but struggling to find strong performances in the league.

However, there are a number of players who showed promise and should be looking to secure a 1st XI place next season if the necessary hard work is put in over the summer months.

The 3rd XI displayed excellent commitment and this team once again provided a chance for boys to represent the school who had not previously had the opportunity to do so lower down the school.

The U15s, under the guidance of Mr Atwal and captaincy of Rory-Kenney Herbert, had another strong season especially in the newly formed league. Their hopes of becoming champions suffered a setback after losing 2-1 against King Edward’s, however later results reflected the strength, depth and quality in the squad. Highlights included victories against Camp Hill (14-0), Princethorpe (7-0), KHVIII (3-1), Solihull (5-1) and LSS (1-0).

Sports Focus

“This season has once again been very successful across all age groups, with more boys than ever before representing the school.”

The U14s also had a good season, showing excellent commitment to training and a strong work ethic. Jamie Darlison, Christian Green and Cameron Park have all been on excellent form this season. The team performed well in their County Tournament with victories over Princethorpe (1-0) and LSS (1-0).

The U13s are also developing into a good side, well led by Julian Wreford. They were unlucky to go out of the U13 County Tournament on goal difference despite good performances against King Edward’s (2-2) and KHVIII (0-0).

The U12s are looking like a very promising and talented group of players. Victories against Princethorpe (2-0) and Loughborough GS (4-0) were well deserved after weeks of hard work at training on Friday evenings!

Special mention should go to Amrit Gill (captain) and Tom Rouse (GK) who both excelled within the team.

For current news, please follow @bablakehockey

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Sports Focus

Girls’HockeyReview Miss Hannah Moseley

Enthusiastic and committed to practices, our girls improved their skills as the season progressed, enjoyed some very competitive matches and produced some excellent results. Unfortunately the bad Spring Term weather rained on their parade, leading to an unprecedented number of cancelled matches and practices.

The senior teams bonded throughout the season and had great success in the indoor game, impressively reaching the Midlands zonals just before Christmas where we played bravely without injured international Jess Horn. The team also enjoyed some competitive games on the Astro, especially late in the season when wins against KHVIII (2-0) and King Edward’s High School (3-0) were most satisfying.

The U16 squad, although relatively small in numbers, trained hard together and had a successful season. The highlight was mirroring the progress of our 1st XI by moving from the Warwickshire Hockey Tournament to the Midlands Zonal Rounds, where the team just missed

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out on progressing further after finishing 3rd. Goalkeeper Mariona Foguet-Gonzalez was a star throughout that tournament.

Captain of the U15s, Ruby Griffin was delighted with her team’s performance. She reported the A team had a 60% success rate, winning 12 matches and drawing 2.

Wins against strong teams such as St Martin’s and Solihull (both 3-0) came with brilliant goals from Emily White and Daisy Williams. The team also beat KHVIII (3-1), with dominant midfield work and fine saves from goalkeeper Hannah Mordey. In the Loughborough Festival, the team won 4, drew 1 and lost 2. A couple of B team matches were arranged against Coundon Court and Princethorpe, which the girls thoroughly enjoyed. The future is bright for this side as long as the hard work and commitment continue!

Representative county honours went to Emily White and Sophie Price, while Sophie was also involved in the regional training sessions over the summer.

Sports Focus

Our U14s’ commitment to practices and matches throughout the season ensured the team displayed high levels of skill and its finest hour was a victory for both A and B teams against KHVIII. The U13s made good progress and had some very pleasing results, including wins against Kenilworth (5-0), Princethorpe (4-1) and KHVIII (2-1). Their excellent level of skill throughout the year brought the reward of a draw against strong rivals King’s High (0-0).

The Shells worked hard at improving their basic skills and enjoyed the competitive fixtures. Results did not always reflect the close games, but finishing 3rd in a late season Invitation tournament gave confidence for future years as did victories over Kenilworth and KHVIII. For current news, please follow @BablakeGHockey

“Enthusiastic and committed to practices, our girls improved their skills as the season progressed, enjoyed some very competitive matches and produced some excellent results.” www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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NetballReview

Miss Hannah Moseley

Once again the programme of Netball fixtures was extensive and demanding. In the Spring term alone, there were 149 matches or tournaments across the girls’ major sports. Next season, to keep up with these, please refer to www.bablakesport.com since all details (inc. results) will be posted there.

Our Senior VII won the Coventry Schools Tournaments early in the season and finished victorious in the Dominique Matthews Tournament where the team won all six of its matches.

Aimee Piercy who, along with Mollie Sargent, was selected for the Warwickshire U16s and the West Midlands Regional Development team, reports the U16As also sailed through the Coventry Schools tournament as winners, while the B team impressively came 2nd in its competition and enjoyed a win against KHVIII (15-12) in the regular fixtures. Throughout the season, the U16s grew stronger and stronger with some excellent results against Kings High (30-9), Princethorpe (21-12) and KHVIII (41-10).

After last year’s exciting Nationals journey, the U15s looked to move their skills to the next level although weather conditions were often demanding to say the least; the team battled a snow blizzard to compete against Princethorpe!

While the U14As won the Coventry Schools Tournaments, a special acknowledgment should go to our U14B team as it not only won its Coventry Schools competition but won every game of the season bar one.

After an encouraging win against St Martin’s in the first game of the season, it was a mixed season for the U13s. There were signs, however, as the season progressed that training and commitment were beginning to reap rewards and the squad was clearly starting to fulfil its potential.

The U12A and B teams played well and made excellent progress, showing especial regard for tactical work. The A team recorded excellent results against Princethorpe and Bilton Grange, while many fixtures, such as the 14-13 win over KHVIII, were nail-bitingly close and decided by a single goal. Senior players Erin Hushon and Avril Patel offered invaluable support to this age group at training sessions.

Thanks go to all our coaches but especially retiring duo Mrs Chris Friebe and Mrs Gill Thomas, whose expertise and support as coaches have been inspirational for so many players for so many years.

For current news. follow @Bablakenetball

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“After last year’s exciting Nationals journey, the U15s looked to move their skills to the next level although weather conditions were often demanding to say the least; the team battled a snow blizzard to compete against Princethorpe!”

Sports Focus

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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RugbyReview Mr Rob Burdett

This season saw too many near misses for the 1st XV, with the team losing out narrowly in countless numbers of matches before Christmas. PostChristmas the snow started to fall and the programme was greatly affected; however, when play was possible, results certainly improved with fine wins versus King Edward’s Birmingham and John Cleveland College, followed by an 18-8 victory in the end of season match against traditional rivals KHVIII. Our 7s team impressed against strong opposition at both the King’s Worcester and Rosslyn Park tournaments, eventually finishing 3rd in its group at Rosslyn Park.

Ronan Jones’ leadership was outstanding throughout the year and it was a pleasure to see so many of the U6th perform so well following a number of years where success at age group level had been limited. There was always an outstanding level of effort and commitment in matches and training which made the group a pleasure to work with. Ronan and James Faulkner should be congratulated on their selections for Warwickshire, as should Dominic Rae and Huw Edwards who were selected for the Scottish and Welsh Exiles respectively.

The 2nd XV really did have a season of two halves.

Injuries in key positions and an allergy, from some, to training in the early part of the season resulted in defeat after defeat. The team’s potential, however, was always evident and, with the appointment of inspirational captain James Brindley, there came a monumental change of fortune that resulted in 7 straight victories at the end of the season. ‘Gold for Victory’ was clearly a most effective rallying call!

The U14 and U15 squads continue to progress extremely well and have recorded some excellent victories. The U14 team was perhaps the most improved team in school this season. A win against KHVIII in

the Coventry Cup final followed a stunning 2nd half comeback from 25-0 down against Cardinal Wiseman in the semi-final and a comprehensive victory against Coundon Court. The team also excelled in the Warwick 7s, narrowly losing to Millfield in the Plate final. At U15s Liam Meechan and Chimdi Ogbuneke were selected for Warwickshire, whilst Harry Garforth, Daniel Lanning and James Moffitt represented the county U14s.

The U13s had an excellent season, losing just twice.

The highlight was undoubtedly the victory against Nottingham High before Christmas and the team showed it could score from anywhere on the pitch, had genuine pace, and worked very hard on its continuity play. A resounding Coventry Cup victory against KHVIII ended the season on a high.

As with all teams, the U12s’ season was also greatly disrupted this year by the weather but there was still some excellent development amongst the players and every reason to expect rapid improvement next year.

Tom Mordey’s scoring, Liam Duggan’s leadership and the excellent contribution of Oli Brindley and Daniel Mousley in the forwards were all very promising signs for the future. Increased involvement in 7s rugby this year will have also added an extra dimension to the squad’s skills.

We were again fortunate to enjoy an excellent link with Leicester Tigers for training sessions, via rugby development officer, Matt Williams, a former pupil. We also congratulate Jamie Jack on his place at the Leicester Tigers Academy and wish him all the best there.

For current news, please follow @bablakerugby

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Sports Focus

Mick Hibbert Trophy Matt Payne

In front of over 1000 spectators, our 1st XV proudly regained the Mike Hibbert trophy with an 18-8 win over local neighbours KHVIII at Coventry RFC's Butts Park Arena. Stoic defence throughout from both teams, coupled with some exciting breaks from the backs, made for an excellent spectacle on a bitterly cold but dry evening.

Andy Haughian scored the first try of the game, completing a rapid drive by the forwards; all this amid a furiously frenzied first few minutes of the game, where both sides had good possession in each other's 22.

A penalty reply from KHVIII was then answered by a dash for the line, won by Robert Faulkner. This try left the game poised 10-3, in our favour, at half time but there was some anxious talk on the touchline that we might rue not having made more of some very good possession in the KHVIII half.

Both sides spent the early stages of the second half looking for a significant breakthrough, but the only score was a penalty to Bablake, which James Faulkner converted.

The win was finally sealed for Bablake when Andy Clisham broke free on the KHVIII 22. His pace, strength and positive, direct running were rewarded with a fine solo try.

A clever interception soon after led to a well-

deserved consolation try for KHVIII; this proved to be the last move of the game. The excitable crowd had witnessed one of the most open games for a number of seasons and both teams should be commended on their excellent spirit.

Ronan Jones, Bablake's 1st XV captain, proudly collected the Mike Hibbert Shield from Mrs Marion Hibbert, wife of the former Old Wheatleyan. When asked how he felt, he commented: 'It was a special feeling captaining the side in front of such a big crowd and we are all really pleased to have regained the Mike Hibbert trophy.'

Head of Boys' PE Mr Rob Burdett added: 'I thought King Henry VIII defended superbly but our team was slightly stronger in key areas. Captain Ronan Jones was outstanding in leading a dominant pack, the backs played with pace and ambition, plus Andrew Clisham's score to seal the win was a fantastic piece of individual brilliance!'

We would like to thank the spectators (including many former pupils and parents), match officials, and Coventry RFC and its staff for their part in all making the evening such a success.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Sports Talk

Sportstalk Staff and students share their experiences and views on another exciting year of sport at Bablake

Boys' Athletics Mr Rob Burdett The boys were impressive this term. Both the Intermediate and Junior teams reached the Midlands B final in the English Schools cup, whilst the 2nds and Intermediate Teams also won the Coventry Championships with the Juniors finishing as runners up.

The 2nd Year boys team also won the Coventry Super 6s and finished 3rd in the Warwickshire final. A number of boys were also selected to represent Coventry.

Girls' Athletics Miss Hannah Moseley Bablake’s girls achieved their greatest success on the athletics track with frequent training and competition enabling them to gain personal bests across the board. The current Shells have been introduced to a number of new disciplines and show real talent and promise for the future.

Both the Junior and Intermediate teams won the Coventry Championships and qualified for the Midlands Finals. The Intermediate team performed very well and gained a point score that positioned them amongst the top 20 teams in the country. The Junior team also won the Super 6s competition and were selected to represent Coventry in the Regional Schools Games Finals. Our Shell and 2nd year teams both won the City Championships.

Special congratulations should go to the girls selected to represent Coventry at the West Midlands Championships: Eleanor Bonas, Lucy Farrington, Ellie Faulkner, Baht-Ammi Francis, Alex Hamilton, Grace Harrold, Olivia Kelly, Amy Lilly, Hannah Mordey, Shivani Patel, Chandra Singh, Hannah Sweeney and Daisy Williams.

Basketball Mr Rob Burdett Harpreet Chohan and his peers should again be congratulated on maintaining a Senior basketball side. As well as weekly practice and coaching, the team enjoyed sharing the spoils from a home and away fixture with KHVIII.

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Peter Cusack and Sameer Rehman also saw success in the West Midlands U15 Wheelchair Basketball squad which won the National Junior Championships for the first time in its history.

Chess Mr Andrew Chowne and Mr Inderpal Kalsi The A team had an excellent season finishing 2nd in the Coventry Schools League Division 1. In his final year Daniel Rowlands led the team by example on board 1 and he ended up with 5.5 out of 8. George Esworthy was very consistent scoring 7 points, another excellent performance, while Matthew Rowlands also had another good season contributing 5 points. Other scores were: Tom Hingston 3, Monty Dosanj 3, Vikesh Puri 3 (he also scored 4 points for the B team) and Rajen Parekh 2.

The B team won division 2! Our top scorers were: Lucas Zhang 8, Ciara Wyman 6, Jake Morton 6, Michael Parvis 6 and Arjav Patel 5. An excellent team performance and we are looking forward to continuing development next season.

Rajen Parekh, London Rapid Play U14 winner, won the Coventry Schools Lightning Cup with a perfect 6 wins out of 6. He became Bablake’s first winner since Mark Lam and before him Paul Lam. Monty Dosanj, George Esworthy, Tom Hingston, Vikesh Puri, Daniel Rowlands and Matthew Rowlands all won 4 games; Lucas Zhang and Ciara Wyman won 3, and Kalika Puri won 2.

16 players entered the Rowlands Cup. Daniel Rowlands beat his brother Matthew in the first semi-final and George Esworthy beat Rajen Parekh in the second semi-final. Daniel and George then contested the final for the 4th year running- Daniel had won the first two finals and George won last year. In a very exciting match, both players had chances to win, with George eventually coming out on top to win his second final.

Sports Talk

The chess club has been thriving this season with many pupils coming along for a game. Dulcie Emery has been especially helpful on a Friday evening, and it has been good to see so many girls at the club.

Cross Country

Rounders Miss Hannah Moseley We have been successful on the rounders pitch across the age groups with straight sweeps against Kingsley, Thomas More and Solihull. The U18s also finished the year on a high with victory over rivals KHVIII.

Mr Jeremy Hobday This year over 25 students have represented the school in Cross Country, with 10 of these qualifying to run for Coventry. The Shells, 2nd and 3rd year runners won 6 individual medals with Katerina Jackson winning Gold in the 3 leg Coventry City League championship.

The 3rd year girls won the city relays and the boys won their combined relay event.

In the West Midlands Championships, Olivia Kelly was 17th, Xander Bennett 11th and George Parker, a Shell finished in an excellent 5th place. Well done to them all.

Football Mr Jeffrey Grantham Football has never been the sport of kings, or independent schools. Famously outlawed by Henry VIII, it has not been a priority at Bablake. This season though, the team has achieved new heights. During this meteoric rise, unprepared teams were systematically torn apart by the ‘total football’ displayed by Captain Jack Orford and his band of hugely talented men. The likes of Coundon

All the girls’ teams performed well at the Coventry Schools tournaments. We were victorious in the U12 and U14 age groups and were narrowly pipped to the post in the finals of both the U13 and U15 age groups. The U14 team was also selected to represent Coventry in the Regional Schools Games Finals.

Swimming Nick Payne, who swims for Leamington Spa Amateur Swimming Club, achieved the tough qualifying time necessary to compete at the Midlands Youth Championships, and in the 200m free took four seconds off his personal best to qualify in 2 mins 12.15 secs.

Meanwhile, Shell Music Scholar and City of Coventry swimmer Georgia Ementon, despite having a season where her training was disrupted by illness, performed superbly in the Warwickshire County Championships in March. A series of personal bests there and some fine swimming in the Bristol Open ensured qualification for the British Gas Midland Championships.

Tennis Court (3-1), Lawrence Sheriff (3-2) and long term rivals Princethorpe (2-1) were all toppled.

After losing Assistant Manager Mr John Pease midseason, the team needed once again to reassert itself.

The Bablake squad duly did so recording a 9-1 victory over Leicester Grammar School, a fitting end to a hugely entertaining and unsurpassed season.

The future is bright (maroon and gold in fact), especially with the appointment of Mr Jeremy Hobday (Physics) as Assistant Manager and Sid Saje as captain for the 2013/2014 season.

Mrs Chris Scott and Mr Rob Burdett As always, the tennis season was challenging for our players, competing against strong and talented teams who are training regularly for club, county and beyond.

Our boys’ fixtures against KES Stratford, Princethorpe and Warwick were all competitive and played with a fantastic spirit and superb sportsmanship. In the Midlands Girls' Tennis tournament, both senior pairs missed a place in the semi-finals by one game. They played well as the standard was extremely high.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Highlights: Interview 103, Old Wheatleyans RFC 104, News Desk 106, Reunited 110

Former Pupils Edited by Josh Bhathal and Kate French Name: Josh Bhathal Passions: Cycling, the gym and workings of the human body.

Ambitions: To pursue a career in medicine.

2012/13 Highlight: Rugby tour to South Africa.

Name: Kate French Passions: Baking cakes and doing mathematics, especially problem-solving.

Ambitions: To go to a top university to study mathematics.

Highlights: Spending a month this summer in Africa, meeting lots of new people and learning so much about such a different culture.

Former Pupils’ Association Officers President/Chairman: Alan Partridge Secretary: Dave Parnell Committee: Dean Bryant, Paul Cowley, Dave Edwards, Andy Hibberd, Roger Moulding, Ted McQuillan, Simon Miles, James Paxton, Brad Thompson, John Watson and Greg Weaver.

The Former Pupils’ Association is always looking for new members. If you attended Bablake (or KHVIII), then for a small amount each year, you can become an official member. The membership cost goes towards the running cost of The Old Boys Club, where you are always welcome. We also have rugby, football and cricket sporting subsections. Membership entitles you to a free copy of the school magazine and you will receive regular updates on what is happening within the association and at the school.

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Let us know your news Mrs Sylvia O’Sullivan, our Alumni Relations Officer, would be delighted to receive news of former pupils, since she produces a biannual newsletter. Her email address is sosullivan@bablake.coventry.sch.uk.

Please note there are Bablake Alumni groups on LinkedIn and Facebook (a closed group at https://www.facebook. com/groups/bablakereunited/) plus there is a new register for Former Pupils at http://bablake.web-intouch.com/.

Sage and Wyley 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.

The Trustees envisage offering assistance towards the cost of projects, expeditions or travel relevant to an applicant’s subject of study. Application 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.

Interview

Interview: Daniel Friebe (1991-1998) What inspired you to write about cycling?

I was drawn to professional cycling, both as an interest and a career, by my love of sport, obviously, but also my passion for languages. It's very different now, but 15 years ago, cycling was very centralised in six Western European countries: Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Holland. To understand or even follow the sport, it was therefore almost essential to speak foreign languages, and I was fortunate enough to have had some excellent teachers at Bablake! My passion for languages fuelled my love of cycling and vice versa.

When it then came to thinking about jobs or, in my case, getting some work experience alongside my Modern Languages degree at University College London, it was also no doubt easier to make my way in what was then, I repeat, a niche sport in the United Kingdom. In the longer term, it proved much more straightforward for me to find opportunities in other, more mainstream sports thanks to my work on cycling than it would have been for someone, say, determined to break straight into football.

Who are the most famous cyclists you have written a biography for?

I’ve written a biography of Eddy Merckx, who is widely hailed as the greatest cyclist of all-time, and ‘ghost-written’ two autobiographies, both on behalf of Mark Cavendish. The two exercises are very different but equally challenging; biographies obviously require a massive amount of research and interviewing secondary sources, whereas ghost-writing autobiographies is essentially a test of your ability to listen to and understand one individual.

Do you do any cycling yourself?

I don't cycle a great deal now, no. I live in central London and, while cycling is becoming more and more popular here, I don't particularly enjoy slaloming between Routemaster buses and stopping at traffic lights every few 100 metres.

Running is much less time-consuming, less dangerous and cheaper. I imagine that I'll cycle seriously again at some point in the future, but maybe not until I move out of London. Having said all of this, I did ride up all of the climbs featured in Mountain Higher.

If you could write about anything else in the world, what would it be and why?

I love the mountains, which is why I've written two books on that subject, but in general I enjoy human-interest stories most, whether they're about a pro athlete or someone else. As far as sports-writing goes, I've done a lot on cycling, a fair bit of cricket and some golf and tennis, but I hope to do some more football in the future.

Briefly, what inspired you to write you most recent book, Mountain Higher?

Mountain Higher is a sequel and the success of its precursor, Mountain High, was great motivation to do a second book. The first book was great fun to do but concentrated on famous climbs and did restrict us somewhat; I always looked for offbeat angles and new information, but there wasn’t too much latitude to stray from well known climbs and their very famous stories. There are still a few ‘legendary’ cycling climbs in Mountain Higher but we’ve always tried to give them a new slant, introducing elements of their history that will be new to most people.

Do you travel a lot in your job?

I spend around 70 days abroad per year, for work. The Tour de France invariably accounts for 25 of those, and the rest are shared between other races or events and trips to interview people. It's generally the same countries – France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Germany – but I do manage the odd trip to, say, the Tour of California or Tour of Oman. I cannot grumble, really!

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Sport

BablakeOldBoys Mr Walter Horseman

Our 1st and 2nd teams compete in the Warwickshire Premier League and while the 1sts narrowly missed relegation, the 2nds stayed mid-table. Our 3rd team stayed in Division 5 while the 4ths won promotion from Division 6 thanks to the great efforts of Steve Fish.

Our midweek team, a very young side captained by Steve Swaffield, was promoted and the Sunday senior side, captained by Clarke McCallum, won the league Knockout Trophy and also maintained Division 1 status. As this league is packed with Birmingham League clubs, we did well to stay up.

Most of the season, our 1st XI fielded 8 players that have come through the club’s youth organization, which is excellently marshalled by George Rubery and Steve Swaffield. We have at least 1 side in all age categories from U9 to U16. The U9As and Bs won the Coventry and District competition, so will compete on the outfield at Edgbaston later this year. Our U16s reached the semifinal play offs in the Lord’s Taverners competition before being defeated by Wellington. As well as players selected for Coventry and Districts sides, Nathan Biggs, Josh Blaylock and Cameron Mitchell (all U11) were selected to tour with Warwickshire Bs. We look forward to a dry and successful 2014 season. Despite the dreadful 2012 weather (when an unprecedented 64 games were cancelled, rain-affected or abandoned) groundstaff Callum and Tony Bristow’s end of season and out of season work was so good that our ground and square were rated 4th out of the 78 clubs in the area. Their excellent work continued in 2013.

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2012 Awards U10

U11

U13

U14

U15

U16

Best Batsman Best Bowler Coach’s Player Best Batsman Best Bowler Coach’s Player Best Batsman Best Bowler Coach’s Player Best Batsman Best Bowler Coach’s Player Best Batsman Best Bowler Coach’s Player Best Batsman Best Bowler Coach’s Player

Nathan Biggs Josh Blaylock William Bastock George Patteril Manot Jaspal Cameron Mitchell Ben Clarke Arjun Sidhu Sean Hepburn Tom Betts Nadeem Khan Matt Blaylock Matt Naylor Nadeem Khan Nick Payne Matt Payne Adam Russell Tom Hingston

Sport

OldWheatleyansRFC Kate French

“...the Stags are now hopeful of entering a Warwickshire league for the first time next season.”

On the Pitch The 2012-13 season was one of consolidation as well as real development for the Old Wheatleyans RFC. After back-to-back promotions, the 1st XV was playing in Midlands 3 and finished a very respectable mid-table.

Team highlights for the season included great victories against Evesham, Ledbury, Redditch and Southam, whilst an individual performance of note came from Richard Drury, who scored 22 tries and was rewarded with a full senior Warwickshire cap.

For the 2nd XV, re-branded as ‘The Stags’, the season was also an excellent one. 18 fixtures were played, 11 won and the Stags are now hopeful of entering a Warwickshire league for the first time next season. The overall highlight for the Stags was the blend of youth and experience, with 8 current Bablake 6th formers having a huge impact on the squad.

Off the Pitch The Old Wheatleyans RFC celebrated its 2012-13 campaign with the traditional End of Season dinner at Coventry RFC. There was hearty reflection on life in the new division under the care of a new coaching and physio team, led by Lee Cassell and much discussion about the emergence of a dedicated nucleus of current Bablake 1st XV players under the tutelage of former pupils Robert McGowan and, club stalwart and seasoned professional, Greg Weaver.

Mr Nick Newbold, MD of HIA Ltd, spoke warmly of his connection with the club and continued sponsorship, while the players and their guests not only enjoyed some excellent company, fine food and drink, but also collected prestigious end of season awards.

For further news, see @oldwheatleyans or www.facebook.com/OWRFC

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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News Desk

Newsdesk News in brief about former Bablake pupils Rod Adlington (1979-1982) Award-winning poultry business www.adlingtonltd.com

Sophie Dyball (now Staniforth) (1991-1998) Now a qualified solicitor.

Mandeep Badial (now Gill) (1998-1995) Working for Dafferns as a chartered accountant.

Caitlin Edwards (2004-2011) Returned as Vice President of Exeter University’s Labour party and Her Campus reporter to cover the visit of Laura Bates, founder of Everyday Sexism.

Abhimanyu Bose (2003-2010) Timelapse videos for Keele University and Bablake (planned) and EEF photographic award.

Josh Buggea (2005-2010) Returned to help train our South Africa rugby party.

Chris Carlson (2002-2009) Now in gainful employment but was one of the key organisers for the International Mining Games hosted at Camborne in 2012.

Sarah Cheetham (1998-2005) Working in Costa Rica.

Ben Cooper (2005-2010) Returned to help train our South Africa rugby party; currently playing Scottish club rugby after successful U20 World Cup involvement.

Sarah Corrigan (1998-2005) Returned to talk to our 6th Form about her role with Teach First.

Jim Darragh (1984-1991) Entrepreneur of the Year nominee in Investor All Stars awards 2012 Martyn Dawes (2002-2009) Fully established with Ryanair as a pilot.

Richard Drury (2003-2005) Stepped off the treatment table to score 22 Old Wheatleyan tries and gain Warwickshire representative honours.

Ben Duffy (1986-1993) More photographic acclaim working with amongst others, Adidas and Chelsea. He enjoyed a dream assignment in New Zealand photographing England’s Ashes cricketers.

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Jo Edden (1996-2003) One of her designs was seen on the catwalk at New York Fashion Week Beth Evans (2005-2012) Gap year included placement as a Deloitte Scholar in Edinburgh.

Emma Fairclough (2005-2012) Featured on Sky 1’s Ashley Banjo’s Secret Dance Crew.

Wes Finch (1989-1994) Played another Bablake Enrichment gig and supported Billy Bragg at the RSC. Karen Fraser (1975-82) Director of Credos – the first girl at Bablake in September 1975. (We are hoping to host a 40 year Reunion for our first intake of girls, in 2015.)

Daniel Friebe (1991-1998) Released Mountain Higher and interviewed on p103.

Jon Halling (1978-1985) Director of Quality Assurance for Medimmune, biopharmaceutical arm of AstraZeneca.

David Hill (1999-2006) One of Cage Warriors’ featured fighters.

Thomas Hine (2002-2009) Ran Birmingham Half Marathon for BCH Cancer Ward Appeal Melissa Kite (1983-1990) Writing for various nationals; opinion pieces included HS2.

News Desk

Guy Lewis (1993-2000) Brought two shows to the Edinburgh Fringe 2012, performing with The Beta Males.

Derek Littlewood (1990-1997) Worked on The Snowman and The Snowdog app.

Kirstie Logan (2006-2008) Arranged a Miss Warwickshire pageant to raise money for The Joshua Foundation.

Nishant Magar (1994-1998) and Manisha Magar (1996-1998).

Left Bablake for the US; both now in the Medical field after initial Foreign Affairs and Biology degrees respectively.

Francesca Melhuish (2001-2008) Working for Parenthesis (local marketing and PR agency).

Scott Morgan (2005-2012) Kindly assisted with formal photography for our Leavers’ Ball. Photo of the month in Bournemouth University student magazine, Nerve.

John Nollett (1980-1987) Excellent press for Pailton Engineering Ltd, with much press for apprenticeships offered.

Katie Jayne Osborne (1992-1999) Amateur dramatics, including local production of Calendar Girls.

William Price (1954-1959) Business professional with considerable international managerial and consultant experience in metal mining, refining, distributing and consuming companies.

Millie Ross (2004-2011) JCR President for Magdalen College, Oxford.

Alex T Smith (1996-2003) Further releases for Claude, now in 14 countries and to be a TV series. Again involved in Coventry Book Festival.

Appointed 2014 World Book Day official illustrator.

Chris Starkey (2004-2011) A guest at David Gest’s birthday party.

Lorna Syson (1997-2004) Her brand goes from strength to strength; always blogged about favourably and featured in more magazines.

Mark Walden (1982-1989) Returned for an author visit and Prize Giving.

Tony Wells (1955-1962) Published second novel, The Golden Few; very proud of Bablake’s current success.

Emily Whitmore (2000-2007) Team GB success in biathlon and triathlon.

Congratulations to the following: Births Charlotte Leivers (1998-2005) Degrees Lawrence James (2002-2009) History (York) Jonathan Lawrence (2005-2012) Sara Smithson Prize, European and Middle Eastern Languages (Oxford – Somerville) Linzi Melrose (2003-2010) Geography (Lancaster) James Ross (2002-2009) Classics and Modern Languages (Oxford) Weddings David Green (1990-1997) Lauren Grey (1996-2003) Hannah Sheard (2001-2008) and Luke Alderson-Fletcher (2002-2009) Engagements Kayleigh Mullarkey (1998-2005) and Ross Lacey (1998-2005)

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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News Desk

Spotted in/on/at: Bablake Alumni Reunions – Birmingham, Durham, Oxford Bablake Art Department – Lauren Boon, Lauren Carpenter, Georgia Edmiston Barbados and Abu Dhabi – Paul Best (Warwickshire CCC) BBC News – Zain Ali and Kirstie Logan with Ed Miliband BBC News relaunch – regular show for Martine Croxall (also spotted in Luther) BBC website – Ed Preston (on sewage works) BBC 3 – Madison Woodward BBC 6 Tom Robinson – track from Polar Rays album – Luke Sanders Belgrade – Oklahoma: Abbie Bird Boxing – WBA and IBO middleweight title fights – Matty Macklin Coventry Telegraph – Zain Ali as reporter; Pip Collison (Godiva athletics) Daily Mail re F-35 fighter plane – Lieutenant Commander Robin Trewinnard-Boyle Daily Telegraph – Claude (Alex T Smith) in Top 5 children’s characters ever Deal or No Deal – Zoe Clements Emmy Awards – Tim Hands Greetings cards – Alex T Smith, Lorna Syson designs Guardian website – Abhimanyu Bose (photography); Harnake Virk (reviews) London Irish RFC – Shane Geraghty London Marathon – Michael Douglas, Dan Poole, Elynn Lyell Nativity 2 and Love and Marriage – Bablake campus inc. turning circle and cupboard at side of Main Hall One Bionic tracks – Ibe Ihenacho Oxjam Coventry – Jamie Conlon Panto (Lythan St Anne’s) – Melissa Walton (now Wells) Piers Morgan’s Life Stories: Karren Brady – Tara Warren Radio 4- Sketchorama- Guy Kelly; Today – Ben Roberts St James’ Palace – Gold D of E – Emily Brett, Emily Sheard and Oliver Towlson The Nog Inn, Wincanton – landlord Will Cutts The Times – By Box and Caroline Evans (now Rooke) This Morning – Kate Byrne Various magazines: Ben Duffy (photographer), Melissa Wells (model) Various Home and Lifestyle magazines – Lorna Syson and her interiors.

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Xyra and national media in build up to X Factor – Beth Mills Viva Forever – Darren Carnall Waitrose magazine: artwork by Stephen Cheetham Warwick Arts Centre and RSC (Billy Bragg support) – Wes Finch We were indebted to Chris Carlson, Katherine Cooke, Matt Davidson, Chris Harding, Alex Kantor, Alex Lawrence, Alexandra Mawn, Mark McKelvie, Victoria McNaney (now Kaczur), James Ross, Sarah Potter, Alex Smith, Chris Starkey and John Thompson for returning for the U6th Mock Interview Morning.

Photography by Mark Radford

Exhibitors in the Coventry Foundation Roots Gallery Exhibition: John Bigglestone, Stephen Cheetham, Jenny Dimond (now Uffindell), Ben Duffy, Katie Ingram, Alex T Smith and Lorna Syson.

Local Bablake business/related café of the year (unofficial award from Bablake Careers Department): Kendall’s in Earlsdon run by Marcus Kendall. Thank you to John Greenhill for making the connection for us. Unofficial runner up: Brad Davis – wedding cars and related fields.

We also congratulate Trevor Webb OBE on being appointed an alderman of the City of Coventry.

Miscellaneous Fundraisers: Emily Aucutt, Olli George, Pawel Kaminski, James Kerr, Kirstie Logan, Shaq Magee, Megan McNiff, John Nollett, Melissa Walton

Please submit news for inclusion in the 2013-14 Wheatleyan by email (mgaw@bablake.coventry. sch.uk) to Staff Editor, Mr Mark Woodward, by September 1 2014.

In Memoriam Former Pupils and Staff We are very sorry to inform readers of the deaths of the following: Mr Gordon Fraser (1974-1981) Mr William Gibbs (1945) Former Head boy and Ogden Trust Bursary benefactor Dr John Irons (early 1950s to late 1960s) Charismatic Biology teacher at Bablake. John Davenport (1957-1964) was one of a number of pupils who remained in touch and benefited from his friendship and advice.

Mr J Luckman (1949) Ms Abi Myton (1991-1996) Tragic loss to Abi’s friends and family. Abi had fought back bravely from illness and was on the right road, enjoying life as the Abi we all remember fondly from school, before she fell ill again.

Mr G Osborne (1940) Mr Geoff Venn (1954-1961) “A truly exceptional teacher, with an infectious enthusiasm for his subject” – killed in a car accident in Northbrook along with his wife.

We were also sorry to hear of the death of Bob Milburn, PA Chairman 1978-1980. His sons Richard (1975-1982, now a senior lecturer at the University of Cumbria) and Edward (1981-1984, an outstanding professional county cricketer, now MD of Red Rock Training Ltd/Total Online Solutions Ltd) were Bablake boys.

www.bablake.com @bablakeschool

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Reunited

Back together Kate French

The Return of the Classes of 1991 & 1992 While the weather offered only fleeting glimpses of summer sunshine, the atmosphere was very convivial and it was lovely for both current and former staff to share happy memories with their former pupils.

After assembling in the Main Foyer, pupils were encouraged to tour the campus, revisit their original form rooms and view new facilities. During the buffet in the Dining Hall, formal speeches from Mr Peter Burden (Archivist), current school captains Ben Evans and Maneesha Sehgal, and Headmaster Mr John Watson were all warmly appreciated. It was noted that Ben exited very swiftly after having reminded the former pupils they had completed their Bablake days in a technology-free era!

Asked about the event, Mrs Sylvia O’Sullivan, Alumni Relations Officer, commented: “I was delighted to see so many former pupils returning to Bablake on Saturday for their reunion; the day went exceptionally well and there was a really good atmosphere. This was the first time we have had a combined reunion and it seemed to work really well. It was also very rewarding to be able to finally put a face to all the email addresses, after planning for 12 months!’

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Former Pupils and staff are warmly encouraged to visit Bablake on an informal basis by school archivist Mr Peter Burden and Alumni Relations Officer Mrs Sylvia O’Sullivan, but we always organise formal reunions too.

1950s Reunion stirs many happy memories...

The second of our formal school reunions took place in June and it was the turn of pupils from the 1950s to renew friendships with some of their peers and reminisce about their days at Bablake. Former pupils, who were greeted by members of our new Prefect team, gathered in the Library, before a welcome address from Mr Peter Burden (Archivist) and Mr Alan Partridge (President of the Former Pupils’ Association).

The most moving part of the day for the majority was the chance to tour the school where they revisited former classrooms and noted the changes that had happened over the decades. Those who had written their names in the stone at the top of the Tower, however, were unable to view their handicraft since the area is now very much under lock and key!

A light buffet was then served in the Dining Hall, which had served as the Gym for this generation of pupils.

At this, Headmaster Mr John Watson welcomed the group and spoke of the pride in both our former and current pupils. Former Headmaster Mr Seaborne was mentioned a few times and there was a rousing version of the School Song, led by Mr Ian Wallace! The current pupils present, as always, were an absolute boon and enjoyed comparing notes on their experiences as pupils with our guests. For James Faulkner, the occasion was especially poignant since his grandfather was one of our guests!

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