Bromley High School Magazine
2014
Front cover by Katie Dulieu Photography AS This page by Harriet Abbott Fine Art AS
Above: Solving algebraic problems, and helping out in Maths Club
Achievement Art Charity Report Computer Science Dance Design Technology Drama D of E expedition Economics English From the Headmistress
6 22 58 30 40 42 18 44 28 14 2
Geography Government &Politics History Mathematics Modern Languages Music Physical Education Science SHINE Junior School Alumnae
34 67 26 10 46 36 54 24 4 68 64
Welcome to another year of exciting achievements at Bromley High. As well as chalking up a collection of well-deserved successes in exams and competitions, the girls have thoroughly enjoyed themselves in creative productions from art and design to music and theatre. In addition to outdoor challenges around the UK, there have been foreign excursions – to Europe, America and Asia - with school choirs, orchestras, pen-friends and study groups. In our turn, we were very happy to play host to students from overseas and also, for the first time, to 40 pupils from fourLondon primary schools as part of the Serious Fun Above right: on Saturdays programme set up by the charity Shine Helping to make a (Support and Help In Education Trust). difference in Mongolia on the Bromley High As always, links between the Junior and Senior schools have 2014 expedition been strengthened by activities such as our Community Festival We’d love to hear about your Bromley High school and Cross Phase days for Years days too. If you have memories and photos to 5,6,7 and 8, giving the younger share, then please send them to Mrs Denise girls much appreciated support and Woodfield, Bromley High School. Blackbrook Lane, Bickley Bromley Kent BR1 2TW or send encouragement as they enjoy a an email to bromleyoldgirls@bro.gdst.net taste of life in the Senior school We are unable to return originals, so please copy and a chance to forge friendships or scan anything precious! Bromley High Old across the age range. Girls’ Association enables you keep in touch with us and your classmates, contact us for details. Happy reading!
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Contents
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL MAGAZINE 2014
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Becoming Headmistress of Bromley High School has been a delightful journey of discovery. After a few weeks of learning to navigate around the site, I had learnt to distinguish the cleaners’ cupboards from the dark room and the flower room, and to find my way to the Forest School on the outer fringes of the grounds. But a school is more than a place, it encompasses an ever increasing flow of people running through its past and present. So every new day we witness fresh achievements by our girls and every week brings news of an old girl who has distinguished herself in her career or public life. A magazine is a snapshot panorama: words and images which, however striking and sharp, will always be a blurred attempt to capture the life of a school in rapid motion. I hope that this volume gives glimpses of the opportunities offered by the expansive education that our girls enjoy - and some sense of the exhilarating energy with which they seize those opportunities.
Headmistress September 2014
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Every new day we witness fresh achievements by our girls and every week brings news of an old girl who has distinguished herself in her career or public life.
Foreword
Discovering the Forest School on the outer fringes of the grounds.
Above: Working together - gifted and talented pupils from local schools have fun in our Shine programme, and right, Bromley High girls discover Mongolia and take on new challenges along the way.
The Head Girl Team 2013 – 14 From left: Alex Ostick, Faye Holyoake, Joumana Naja (all Senior Prefects), Emma Norton (Deputy Head Girl), Olwen Mair (Head Girl), Alex Chrysostomou (Deputy Head Girl), Rachel Caulfield and Bethan Boxall, both Senior Prefects
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Our first year working with the SHINE project (Support and Help In Education) was hugely positive, and all involved seemed to ‘glow’. We started by inviting parents into the school, so from the off, they were able to see what we had to offer. Parents of the SHINE children were interested and committed. The children were all very enthusiastic, and as co-ordinator of the project, every week I was left elated not only by their enthusiasm, but also by the comments from their TAs – who continuously praised our efforts. We learned about the impact each session was having on the children in their schools. They took many of the teaching ideas back into their classrooms; they displayed the work in their own schools; and they commented on the positive relationships the children had formed. There were children, for example, who were apparently not very popular in their own school peer group, but who had gained huge confidence through the friendships formed by being part of the SHINE programme. SHINE parents too were very supportive of the whole initiative – this was evidenced by the very good attendance we had for each session, and the large number of parents who visited at the start of the programme, and at the end during festival day. For me, being involved in SHINE added a completely new facet to my teaching. It allowed me to work with teachers and support staff in every part of Bromley High. Being involved in lessons, supporting and observing in a range of subject areas, as well as working with different children, helped me develop as a teacher, and I felt privileged to be taking part. Everyone involved in SHINE – whether it was teachers delivering the sessions, support staff pitching in to provide admin or drive the mini-bus, or 6th formers helping out – were totally committed to delivering the best possible experience for the children, and this gave a very special feel to our Saturday mornings. Mrs Kowalczyk, Shine Co-Ordinator
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It’s the most, funnest thing I’ve ever done so far! Porsha
SHINE
Serious FUN on Saturdays at Bromley High! This is an amazing place and I have learnt how to sing, speak other languages and to be social with different people. Lana
It was a pleasure working with pupils from our SHINE project. They were all so positive and they tackled every task with enthusiasm and determination. Some of the debates and discussions were surprisingly lively and I was impressed with the mature approach the children had to the ideas presented. Mrs Elkins, Deputy Head SHINE is a good programme and I would love to go back to learn more great stuff. Ayobami
Everyone took part in the music-led activities in week 5 – from learning new songs to playing instruments
I really enjoyed the SHINE project even though I had to wake up early in the morning. I really liked working with different people in different schools. Destiny
It wasn’t a waste of my Saturdays. It was a good place to go and learn and do different activities. Helen
Shine
This has been an amazing experience and I A card from Poverest primary school have learned a lot. I will also say the teachers and helpers have I loved doing the Shine project. all made our days with happiness and I wish I never had to leave. Thank you for picking Poverest These have been the best Satur- Primary. I personally enjoyed the days I have ever had. 10th May because I loved making Janine
the sounds and learning It has new languages. definitely been an extreme I also learnt that honour to get this privilege to plastic bags trap air go to SHINE. It has helped me to in the bit where you develop so many skills such as code breaking, sport, art, wind turbines put your food. We and so much more. From the start it has been impeccable. all had lots of fun. Thank you. I have made myself David more confident because of the Shine project. The people from Poverest Primary had the most fun in their life. Love Chelsea
The SHINE project is recommended to ages 8+ and it builds up your confidence. Jermaine Being involved in SHINE was a fascinating and highly rewarding chance to watch very bright young people responding positively to learning opportunities that extended the boundaries of their experience. It became clear that their level of performance would rise to meet the expectations we had of them: for the most able children, factors such as background and previous experience in no way limit what they can achieve, or what we can expect them to achieve. Mr Greenwood, ICT teacher
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
GCSE RESULTS 2014
Bromley High Girls on air to receive top results
Three academic high flyers had an early start at Bromley High when they received their results on BBC Radio 5Live. Opening her envelope on air, Hannah Wooderson was delighted to discover that she "had achieved nine A*s and an A grade and exchanged hugs of relief and exhilaration with Amna Bokhari and Caroline Warren, who each achieved 10 A*s. In total, 46 girls, half the year group, achieved at least eight A*s and As and 94 percent of all entries were graded A* to B. New Headmistress Angela Drew (from September 2014) said: ‘Multiple As and A*s at GCSE require sustained hard work across nine or 10 subject. It is always a moment of real celebration because GCSE success is a reward for consistent effort and enthusiasm as much as intellectual ability. My warmest congratulations to the girls and their teachers.’
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Brittany ADAMS
8
(2)
Gabby DREW
9
(1)
Poppy ADAMS
10
(6)
Tabtim DUENGER
10
(10)
Holly ANDREWS
10
(8)
Isabelle DUVAL
10
(10)
Ope ANIBABA
9
(3)
Bethany EDWARDS
9
(8)
Lucinda ARCHER
10
(6)
Georgina FARROW
8
(3)
Lizzie BARROW
10
(4)
Beatrice FORWARD
9
(7)
Amna BOKHARI
10
(10)
Kate FRANCIS
10
(4)
Molly BOWDERY
10
(10)
Elise FURNEAUX
10
(10)
Sophie BRANCH
9
(2)
Ana GALLARDO
10
(4)
Charlotte BRAZIER
10
(10)
Sophie GISSING
10
(10)
Vikki BRUCE
9
(9)
Anna GLEIS
9
(8)
Lucy CHALLIS
9
(4)
Saffron GUPTA
10
(6)
Imane CHENAF
10
(8)
Laura HARRIES
10
(10)
Lena CHIEN
9
(8)
Rachel HARRIS
9
(5)
Katerina CHRYSOSTOMOU 10
(10)
Lorna HEMINGWAY
9
(8)
Stephanie COLLINS
10
(10)
Emma HOLLIS
9
(4)
Charlotte COLOE
10
(3)
Paris HORAN
10
(4)
Niamh COMAC
10
(5)
Danica HOWARD
9
(8)
Catherine CORNISH
10
(10)
Georgina HUMPHRIES
10
(10)
Sacha D'ARCY
9
(7)
Emsal IYIKAN
9
(9)
Buse DEMIRBAG
9
(4)
Laura JOHNSTON
9
(9)
Lizzie DRAY
9
(5)
Olamide KASSIM
8
(5)
10
(10)
Katy PLUMTREE
9
(0)
Emma WONG
8
(5)
Chloe KELLY
9
(9)
Emma PRESLEY
9
(3)
Jasmina WOOD
9
(7)
Grace KELLY
10
(8)
Charlotte RAVEN
8
(4)
Hannah WOODERSON
10
(10)
Jennifer KIBAZO
10
(9)
Grace REYNOLDS
9
(9)
Emily YEADON
9
(7)
Emily LAMB
10
(1)
Felicity RICKARD
10
(9)
Eva ZAPICO
9
(4)
Olivia LEWIS
9
(0)
Aliyah SAIFUDDIN
10
(10)
Lily LITTLE
10
(1)
Tola SALAU
10
(9)
Lucinda HOLCOMBE Y12 1
(0)
Victoria MAN
9
(8)
Frankie SALMASI
8
(2)
Pascale BIBBY Y9
1
(1)
Jessica MARTIN
10
(7)
Aleena SIDDIQUI
10
(9)
Daniella HUNT Y10
1
(1)
Lucy METCALF
10
(10)
Marie SIMMONS
10
(1)
Yi Wei ZHANG
1
(1)
Emily MILLS
10
(10)
Hayley SLEVIN
9
(9)
Georgia MOODY
10
(10)
Charlotte SMITH
9
(1)
Anah MUSHTAQ
10
(10)
Vassiliki SPENCER
10
(4)
Rose OAKLAND
10
(4)
Panayiota THEODOROU 10
(9)
Zehra OMERCIK
10
(1)
Ellen TIDBALL
10
(10)
Olivia O'SULLIVAN
10
(10)
Holly VERGHESE
8
(1)
Catie OWEN
9
(3)
Georgia WARE-LANE
9
(7)
Niamh PAUL
9
(8)
Caroline WARREN
10
(10)
Abigail PENNELLS
11
(11)
Sarah WATERTON
9
(0)
Lucy PETER
8
(4)
Millie WEBB
10
(10)
Amadea PICCIAU
10
(5)
Madeleine WEBSTER
9
(6)
(Figure in brackets denotes number of subjects at grade A* or A)
Millie PLAYER
10
(10)
Arabella WHEELER
10
(3)
Results correct at time of going to print
GCSE Results
Alka KAUSHIK
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014 Elly-May Bell Art, English Literature, Geography Ravensbourne - Art Foundation Milly Blunt Mathematics, Psychology*, RS*, AS EPQ* Southampton - Criminology and Psychology Isobel Borman-Clerck Classical Civilisation, Photography* Ravensbourne - Fashion Promotion Bethan Boxall Drama Theatre Studies*, English Literature, GPS, AS Psychology Trinity St David - Theatre Design & Production Alice Brown Geography, ICT*, Mathematics Southampton - Marketing Emily Bruce Art, Business Studies*, English Literature Loughborough - Communication and Media Studies Julia Bryson Chemistry*, German*, Mathematics*, Further Mathematics*, AS Biology* Durham - Mathematics (3 years) Kathryn Calderwood Art, Business Studies, English Literature Nottingham Trent - Fashion Marketing and Branding Sydney Campbell-Rahman Biology, French*, Spanish, AS Chemistry Leeds - French and Spanish Isabel Cauchi Business Studies*, DT Product Design*, Photography* Sussex - Business and Management Studies (with a professional placement year) Rachel Caulfield Biology*, Chemistry*, Geography*, AS Spanish* Bristol
Bromley High’s Upper Sixth had much to celebrate on A level day. A* grades were up on 2013 with 20% of the total being awarded the top grade, and well over half of all entries across all subjects were awarded an A or A* grade. Taking the B grades into account, the year group achieved almost four-fifths A* to B. AS results were 49% A and 77% A-B Former Head Louise Simpson said: ‘We are delighted that our A* grades are up on last year, and that our girls have secured so many excellent offers at highly competitive universities. Well done to them all and to the teachers and parents who have supported them in their endeavours.’ 8
Sophia Ching Biology, English Literature, Mathematics BPP University - Banking and Finance (Accelerated) Liliana Chow Art*, Psychology*, RS*, AS EPQ* Bristol - Psychology Alexandra Chrysostomou Biology*, Chemistry*, Mathematics*, AS Geography* Cardiff - Medicine Charlotte Churchman Classical Civilisation*, Economics, Spanish* Birmingham - International Business with Language (4 years) Stephanie Cooper Economics, Japanese*, Mathematics*, AS Geography, AS EPQ* Leeds - International Business and Japanese Charlotte Durden Biology*, Geography*, History*, AS Mathematics, AS Physics Exeter - Geography (Science) Katie Everest Business Studies, DT Product Design, Geography* Birmingham - Geography with Year Abroad Caroline Farmery Economics*, Geography*, History*, AS Mathematics Birmingham - Economics Susannah Firth French*, German*, Psychology*, AS Geography Birmingham - Modern Languages with Business Management
Evie Furneaux English Literature, Mathematics, Psychology*, AS Economics Leeds - Psychology
Emma Norton Biology*, Chemistry*, Mathematics*, AS Geography*, AS Further Mathematics* St Georges - Medicine
Aine Greene Art, Business Studies, English Literature, AS Geography, AS EPQ* Hull - English
Alexandra Ostick Biology*, Chemistry*, English Literature*, AS Critical Thinking, AS Mathematics Gap Year
Hannah Gregory Business Studies, Geography Employment
Annie Penfold Business Studies, English Literature, Photography* Greenwich - Primary Education (2 Year Accelerated Degree)
Laura Harte Economics*, Mathematics*, Psychology* Leeds - Accounting and Finance
Katie Peter Art*, Economics*, Geography* Exeter - Economics and Politics with Industrial Experience (4 years)
Pria Hassan English Literature, Photography, RS Salford - Television and Radio
Helen Phillips DT Product Design*, Mathematics*, Further Mathematics*, Physics* Bristol - Civil Engineering
Emma Herring Business Studies*, Drama Theatre Studies*, History*, AS EPQ* Exeter - History with Study Abroad (4 years)
Rhea Prashar Business Studies, English Literature, History Brighton - Law with Business
Kiera Holland Art*, Psychology*, RS Leeds - Psychology
Lilian Qu Art*, Biology, Geography*, AS Mathematics Kingston - Art Foundation
Rose Howell Biology, Mathematics, Psychology York - Nursing (Child)
Olivia Rhind Geography*, Mathematics*, Physics*, AS Biology* Bristol - Geology with Study Abroad
Gemma Hughes Business Studies, English Literature, GPS Brighton - International Business (4-year sandwich)
Fleur Spedding Economics, Geography*, History, AS DT Product Design, AS EPQ* Manchester - Geography
Katherine Hutchings Biology, Mathematics, Psychology Portsmouth - Property Development
Emilie-Bess Stevenson Business Studies, English Literature, Mathematics Kent - Social Sciences
Shanta Islam Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, AS RS, AS EPQ* Westminster - Human and Medical Science
Rebecca Tanner Biology*, Chemistry*, Mathematics*, Further Mathematics*, AS Geography* Bristol - Mathematics
Hannah Lamb Biology, Chemistry, Psychology*, AS English Literature* Sheffield - Psychology Olwen Mair Classical Civilisation*, English Literature*, German*, History* Durham - English Literature
Georgina Weaver English Literature*, Geography*, History*, AS Critical Thinking* AS Mathematics*, AS EPQ* Leeds - Geography
Hannah Marsden Biology*, Chemistry*, Psychology*, AS Critical Thinking*, AS Mathematics Newcastle - Medicine (stage 1 entry)
Caitlin Westgate Art*, History*, Photography*, AS English Literature*, AS EPQ* Central St Martins - Art Foundation
Chloe McCallum Art*, Classical Civilisation*, History*, AS Mathematics Central St Martins - Art Foundation
Annabel Wheeler Classical Civilisation, English Literature*, PE Leicester - Ancient History and Archaeology
Charlotte Mealings Economics, GPS, Psychology Hull - Politics
Zara Zaidi Art, DT Product Design, English Literature UCA Rochester - Art Foundation
A Level Results
Loraine Funso-Fayomi Economics, Geography, Mathematics Kent - Accounting & Management with a Year in Industry
Ruby Middleton Business Studies*, ICT*, Psychology, AS History Reading - Business and Management Alice Myers Business Studies, RS, Spanish Southampton - Management Sciences and Spanish Joumana Naja Classical Civilisation*, English Literature, History*, Spanish* Warwick - History
(* denotes grades A* and A) Results correct at time of going to print
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
MATHEMATICS: NEW FACES AND TOP MARKS It has been another excellent year for the mathematics department. It has been a pleasure to welcome some new faces to the team. Mrs. Brolly, Mr. Keane and Mr. Clifford all joined us at the start of the year. They have quickly settled in, and I know that their pupils all appreciate their effort and commitment. I was delighted by our examination results from the last academic year. Our GCSE results were among the best in the GDST group of schools, and our A-level record continues to be impressive – with over 80% of our pupils achieving a top grade. All of our girls deserve to be congratulated – but I would like to make special mention of Emily Thomas – for her double A* in Maths and Further Maths A-level – and of Alex Chrysostomou, Emma Norton, Rebecca Tanner, Laura Kruszewski and Rebecca Lennard – who all scored 100% in one of their AS modules. The girls have continued their academic progress this year. Again, it is difficult to pick out individuals from a group of such committed pupils – but Julia Bryson and Rebecca Tanner were awarded the BHPA Senior Mathematics Prizes for their achievements in their final
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The Maths Team from left: Mr Keane Mrs Brolly and Mr Clifford join Mr Potter, Mrs Wilcox and Miss Batten
year; Stephanie Cooper and Evie Furneaux were awarded the Jean Smith Prizes for Single Mathematicians for their effort and progress in Year 13; and Danica Howard won the Year 11 Mathematics prize for her progress in her GCSE year. I am always struck by the good spirits, enthusiasm and co-operation of Bromley High girls. Every week, Maths clinic is full of girls looking for extra help with their studies. This year, some of our Year 12 girls have been happy to mentor girls lower down the school. Girls from Years 7 to 11 regularly meet at puzzle club to prepare for competitions, or just indulge in some problemsolving. Some of the most able girls in Year 12 meet weekly to work on problems from the Oxford entrance exam. In Year 13, Julia Bryson and Rebecca Tanner have pitted their wits against STEP questions, in preparation for further study of mathematics at top universities.
Competitions Bromley High has once again met with success. In the Junior Individual Maths Challenge, our girls achieved 30 bronze awards, 27 silver awards, and 11 gold awards. The gold winners were Priyanka Patel, Riya Parikh, Olivia Naish, Imogen Duke, Elisabeth Mateola and Beth Fisher from Year 8; Deborah Bakare, Chrisa Prachalias and Kate Norton from Year 7; and Amelia Pondering the solution of an equation
Shelmerdine, Beth Marsch, Imogen Gush and Amanda Male from the Junior School. In the Intermediate Individual Maths Challenge, there were 17 bronze awards, 14 silver awards and gold awards for Laura Harries, Charlotte Brazier, Amna Bokhari and Yiwei Zhang. In the Senior Individual Challenge, there were 8 bronze awards, 2 silver awards and gold awards for Iwa Liu and Anna Myers. Sara Miah, Yiwei Zhang, and Laura Harries did so well in the Intermediate Challenge that they qualified for the prestigious Kangaroo competition, in which Yiwei Zhang achieved a merit. From the Junior Challenge, Priyanka Patel qualified for the Junior Mathematics Olympiad!.
In the Junior Team Challenge, Pascale Bibby, Sara Miah, Priyanka Patel and Elisabeth Mateola managed a top 10 finish against stiff competition. According to Miss Bateman, their achievement was due to a combination of mathematical agility and sprinting ability – as the relay round of the Team Challenge involves running from one end of the room to deliver answers to team mates. In the Senior Team Challenge, our girls finished easily in the top half of the competition. Julia Bryson’s experience from the previous year was useful, as she quickly organised the team into its optimum arrangement for the relay. Rebecca Tanner came up with some astute solutions. Anna Myers and Vivian Huang showed great promise, and will form the backbone of next year’s team. The Hans Woyda competition saw our girls go head-to-head with other schools in rounds of quickfire individual questions and team investigations. The highlight of the round-robin stages was our match-up with Newstead Woods, our local rivals. It was the first time that the two schools had met in the competition, and I am pleased to say that Bromley High came out on top.
Mathematics
Lectures & masterclasses It is not all about competition. There were plenty of opportunities for our girls to attend mathematical events and lectures over the course of the year. A group of girls from Year 9 attended Saturday masterclasses during the autumn term – where they learnt about topics as diverse as the use of probability in card games, the construction of complex 3-D shapes, and the connection between tyre treads and transformations.
I am always struck by the good spirits, enthusiasm and cooperation of Bromley High girls. This year, some of our Year 12 girls have been happy to mentor girls lower down the school
Happy Bromley High girls after creating their colourful mandalas
During cross-phase day in the spring term, girls from Years 5 to 8 worked together to design codes so that they could send secret messages to one another and escape detection by the enemy. In the summer term, the girls used their knowledge of geometric constructions to design beautiful mandalas. During enrichment week, Year 7 visited Howlett’s Zoo, where they solved some fiendishly difficult problems involving facts about the animals in the zoo – as well as getting excited about a new-born elephant and some very friendly gorillas. Mr. Clifford and Mrs. Brolly organised the House Sudoku competition, which was won for the second year by Priyanka Patel.
Mr. Keane organised a competition for Pi Day (March 14th), in which girls competed against one another to recite the digits of pi to as many decimal places as possible. Emma Ptak was the winner – managing to recite a staggering 89 decimal places before running out of steam. As always, I would like to thank the department for their enthusiasm and hard work over the past year; and to thank our pupils for being such a committed and cheerful group of individuals. The success of the mathematics department is very much a joint effort – and I look forward to plenty more successes in the future. Mr. Potter Head of Mathematics
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BROMLEY HIGH v NEWSTEAD WOODS
Hans Woyda championship: head to head with Eltham College
On 28th of November we played a Hans Woyda match against Newstead Woods. With the help of Riya Parikh (Year 8), Alka Kaushik (Year 11), Eva Liu (Year 12) and Julia Bryson (Year 13), we won the match with a tremendous victory. We were in the lead from the very first round, as we were very good at working out the problems in the time limit given. There was a sense of nerves, excitement and anticipation during the questions. We watched the other team who also looked as if they were full of mixed emotions. It was more daunting for Alka and Eva who were competing in their first Hans Woyda match and they both did very well. In the arithmetic round and the calculator round, Riya was able to work out the questions very quickly and give the team the points and Alka was able to answer the questions within the time limit and get the right answers as well.
A FEW EXAMPLES FROM SECTION 6 The distance d between the points with the coordinates (a,b) and (x,y) is given by: d= (x-a)² + (y-b)² For Years 7-9: Find the distance between (7, 12) and (10, 8). For Years 10-11: Find the distance between (a, 17a) and (10a, 5a). For Year 12: Find the distance between the centres of the circles (x-4) ² + (y-4) ² = 9 and (x-4) ² + (y+4) ²= 9. For Year 13: Find two values of k for which the distance between the centres of the circles x² - 10x + y² - 8y + 23 =0 and x² - 10x + y² + 2ky + 23 =0 is 6.
We did a magnificent job in all the rounds as we scored all the points with the minor exception of a few. The questions were quite difficult but Bromley High managed magnificently. The last round was the race and we all had to be very fast to try and earn the points. Fortunately, we gained all the points in that round and grabbed a win. Riya Parikh Year 8
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Surprising career paths and new opportunities for maths graduates – Doh! Year 10 girls attended a series of lectures The creators at the University of London, where they were surprised to learn that the creators of ‘The of ‘The Simpsons’ are mathematics Simpsons’ are graduates, and that the cartoon is full of mathematics maths references. Year 11 benefited from graduates, a talk by Dr. Alison Hartshorn, of the University of London, who spoke about and the the contents of a mathematics degree and cartoon is full the various different career pathways available to mathematics graduates. of maths Our girls were impressed to discover references the exciting opportunities that a maths degree can open up in the world of work. Dr. Hartshorn had been involved with planning the journey of a satellite around Mars. She had also prevented an international bank from losing a million pounds a minute by using complex mathematical models to ensure that the rooms in which the bank kept its servers never became so hot that the servers went down.
The Hans Woyda maths championship saw Bromley High playing against Eltham College in a fierce battle of the mathematicians. The team comprised Priyanka Patel, Year 8, Lucy Metcalfe, Year 11, Iqra Ahmed, Year 12 and Julia Bryson, Year 13. In the first round, our Mathletes proved themselves successful in the face of difficult algebra questions. But we didn’t allow ourselves to get too complacent. The mental arithmetic round was next. The arithmetic questions were not only difficult, but also incredibly stressful; pressure burdened our shoulders while numbers raced around our cerebral cortices. However, it was another successful round; credits go to the youngest member of our team, Priyanka, whose talent for doing sums quickly in the head and simultaneously shooting her hand up in the air was particularly admirable. By the end of the round, the team was still on the course for victory. Next was the group round, where the team was at least cleared of individual nerves. We were asked to find ways of making the numbers 1-
The youngest member of the team – Priyanka Patel
20, using the numbers 1, 9, 2 and 8 in that order, and using certain mathematical signs. But we had forgotten that we had to write the answers on the answer sheet, not on scrap paper. With 30 seconds left and almost all the solutions found, the team realised their mistake; in the end, we wrote only 8 out of the 20 solutions we found. The final and seventh round was the head to head. Each pair was assigned two difficult questions to complete against each other. The competition sparked some controversy when Julia was told that her mathematically correct answer to the very last, particularly difficult integration question was wrong. At the end of the competition, it was a loss, but a narrow one and the team left Eltham feeling satisfied with their efforts and considerably more confident in their mathematical ability.
One of the masterclasses where I particularly enjoyed the challenge was the ‘Mathematics of Navigation’. As none of us had been taught trigonometry before, we were introduced to this fascinating subject. Everyone managed to catch on quickly, and we began to enjoy finding out all the lengths of the sides for a right-angled triangle. Things then started to get slightly complicated when cos, sin and tan were introduced. However we soon had the hang of this and were doing it perfectly well too. After the break, we were then introduced to the very difficult and confusing world of longitude and latitude, using the trigonometry we had just learnt about to find out distances between two different places on the Earth. Personally I found this stage very difficult, but managed to complete a few questions with a lot of help. Pascale Bibby Year 9 Year 9 use trigonometry to measure the height of the sports hall
Mathematics
MASTERCLASS: the practical applications of trigonometry
In November 2013 a group of intrepid Year 12 mathematicians dodged flying Frisbees at the Institute of Education to hear a series of lectures on topics ranging from prime numbers to ‘Sex, drugs and sausage rolls: calculating the real risks of life’. Perhaps the most complex lecture of the day was given by Matt Stuttle, a technical lead/manager at Google’s London office. His talk was titled: ‘Statistical speech recognition, synthesis and some pictures of cats’. Myma Enchill-Yawson commented: “The lecture had the clever subtitle ‘How to Wreck a Nice Beach’, which in itself is a speech recognition misinterpretation of ‘How to recognise speech’! The lecture was extremely confusing for all of us, but it was very interesting to find out that a lot of mathematical equations are involved in speech recognition, even though it comes under the category of computer science.”
The lecture had the clever subtitle ‘How to Wreck a Nice Beach’, which in itself is a speech recognition misinterpretation of ‘How to recognise speech’!
Year 12 visit to the Institute of Education lectures
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES This year the English Department have been out and about. Year 7 enjoyed a day immersed in Victorian London at Dicken’s World in November while Year 8 soaked up medieval England at the Canterbury Tales and Cathedral on a very chilly day in May. Year 9 spent a day in Ypres visiting the battlefields in preparation for the study of GCSE poetry. A fascinating visiting theatre production of ‘Macbeth’ enthralled our Key stage 4 pupils while sixth form pupils visited the National Theatre’s ‘King Lear’ production and argued about the Fool’s death the whole way home. Trips to Senate House, a clutch of visiting authors, a visiting theatre company, the quarter finals of the English Speaking MACE debating competition and the GDST Chrystall prize for public speaking have all played their part in creating a vibrant and active Department.
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Acrobatic ‘Macbeth’ in Senior School Box Clever Theatre Company provided a vibrant threehanded performance of ‘Macbeth’ in early March. A cleverly constructed ‘wigwam’ style scaffold was set up in the senior school hall and pupils were intrigued by this intelligent and physical production that saw all three actors literally dangling at times from the scaffold. The acting was of the highest quality and it provided year 11 with a timely performance of this crucial examination text. Year 8 pupils were also provided with the opportunity to sample a range of Shakespeare’s plays with snippets of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘Taming of the Shrew’ all included for a lively and engaging presentation. Mrs Morter Head of English One fell swoop... the Box Clever Theatre company bring Macbeth to life
THIS WAS ONE OF OUR ENTRIES FOR THE GDST CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION. ‘THE TOPIC WAS ROLE MODELS’
Mrs Shakespeare At first, it was great. At night we'd lay awake and release our hopes and dreams, blossomed and bloomed like sweet roses Precious little petals sung out the colours of a kaleidoscope Magenta, ochre, emerald, gold I'd walk for hours, trying to write, Wishing that with every step I would write rhymes, quips, puns, twists Hoping that on each stone my mind would align with my strides Nothing. But he loved it He loved the way my words were stuttered, scattered like stars across the sky. Muffled like the heartbeat, our hearts beating in time Words fell from the pages of my mouth, inky letters dripped from my tongue But with every kiss my lips became a script Cherry jewels, glistening with love At night he'd cry and scream and tremble, I said to him Get a hold of yourself, William, for God's sake My broken words frustrated him, Before my eyes a poor credulous monster was born His kiss would bruise me, smudged my words into an illegibility It's not that hard, Bard To transform a blissful dream into a chaotic nightmare I came to realise that, the flowering dreams we grew are suffocating, And even Apollo himself could not compose a melody sweet enough To feed the ashes of our love
English
PAULA FISHER PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION WINNER 2014: SERENA HUNT YEAR 8
L IK E A G IR L What is a girl? A girl can be someone who worries about her hair and how she looks or loves to be with animals and doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. She can be a book lover and keep a diary. A girl can make a difference. A girl can be someone that takes one cow and forms a herd. Girls are strong either physically, mentally or both. So I ask you, when did 'like a girl' become such an insult? Raise your hands if you've seen the advert where people were asked to do actions like a girl. For those of you who have not yet watched it, an ad campaign produced a video challenging society to redefine the phrase 'like a girl' into an attribute that is far more positive. The older participants (late teens) in the advert were instructed to do some actions such as run like a girl or throw like a girl. Everyone started running with flailing hands and pulling silly faces. When the producers asked the young girls to do the same thing, the difference was astonishing. They completed the actions with self-confidence and impassioned power. This suggests that during puberty, girls begin to absorb the message that acting 'like
a girl' means being weak, and as a result they seem to lose their self-confidence. Many teenage girls feel like they're not good enough; that they're fat, ugly, unpopular, uncool. Society is making girls' strength plummet, making us feel inadequate and objectifying us. If a boy is told they ‘hit’ like a girl, they appear deeply offended as this is an apparent demonstration of weakness. And then you realise, one of the main reasons boys don't want to be a girl (not that they have a choice) is because they are likely to have to go through child birth. Millions of women give birth each year but men are afraid..? We endure possibly the most excruciating pain imaginable but we ‘hit’ like a girl. Correct me if I'm wrong, but where is the logic here? We girls don't want our courage or toughness doubted, joked about or belittled. We want to be treated like a person. An equal. People in our own right. So, what does 'like a girl' actually mean? What should it mean? The answer is simple: it means 'as best as you can'. For all.
Society is making girls' strength plummet, making us feel inadequate and objectifying us.
‘King Lear’ at the National Theatre One of the hottest tickets in town at the moment is Simon Russell Beale’s performance in ‘King Lear’ at the National Theatre and we were delighted to secure tickets for our A level students. Russell Beale is one of the greatest stage actors of his generation, so Year 12 and Year 13 Literature students were particularly interested to see how he interpreted this challenging role. The production did not disappoint and stimulated a great deal of debate, especially around the contentious decision of Lear killing his own Fool. Directed by Sam Mendes, the staging was beautifully lit and thoughtfully constructed. Well worth an outing.
Thank you. 15
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Condemned WINNER OF THE 2014 BHS BATTLEFIELDS VISIT POETRY COMPETITION
The Unidentified Soldier We cannot escape the sirens and screams, A General speaks; we are called to the line. The guns and waiting shells gleam, In the moonlight, even death shines
A body for burial stares up at the sky It was mine, the soldier’s.
I reach into my pocket and pull out ammunition I load, I aim I have permission To take a life, they are all the same.
Families embracing after years Of terrifying, petrifying fear Some are mourning, fighting tears, The streets are parties, everyone cheers
The torrent of shells Rain down all around. The suffocating smells, I collapse on the ground
Some of us will never go home, Some of us will not see our loved ones again, Some of us will stay where we fell, alone, But will remain unchanged forever a picture in a frame
People rushing all around, An angel dressed in white, At last! I have been found, Will I live beyond tonight? The angel smiles, sadly, it seems I take its hand and close my eyes From way up, high I look down on the world,
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Years have passed, Armistice Day Has come at last, It is over, they say.
Visitors will come and go; Will pay respect and plant up our graves. But no-one else will ever know Who I was – I have no name Amy Fidler Year 10
Patience is all we need. But wait; will we succeed? Condemned to spend our lives in hell, Oh, look. Our youth is theirs to sell. We cannot be freed. All I can hear are agonising cries, Curse their lowly, desperate lies. Come on. Were we not taught to be strong? To shed a tear is immorally wrong. Help. We are slowly suffocating. Consumed by terror and rage, What have we done to be trapped in this cage? I destroy, shout and pray. No use. I know this is where I'll forever lay. Will we ever see the light? Simple soldiers soar away, And dream about a better day. Drifting away to green grass dew, The Sun is bright and all is anew. Oh, how we long to be freed. We are disturbed, shell-shocked and lonesome, Yet you thieves told us that it would not be so gruesome. You stole our youth from us all, And all we are able to do is bawl. When can we give up?
If there is a God, then tell me why? Why do you do something to make us die? War is seemingly a game when it is brutal and violent, You just wait until it all falls silent. We are disconnected from all. The cold winter punching my skin, Is better than the guilt I feel when I cannot save my kin. Oh, Lord, I swear I cannot cope with this, And I assure you that there is nothing I will miss. I beg to be taken. You with your disgusting, malevolent smile, I have never seen a human so vile. But please, patriot, write your pretty rhyme, And make your 'soldier lads' get slaughtered in their prime. Be happy, though, for you have freed them.
Aida Hashemzadeh Year 10 Runner up of the 2014 BHS Battlefields Visit poetry competition
Bright and early one Friday in June, Year 9 departed for Ypres to learn more about the experiences of soldiers in the First World War. First stop was Lijssenthoek where pupils learnt about the causes of the war, the ethos of the Commonwealth War Graves, Empire troops and the role of women. Many pupils found this to be a moving and thought provoking experience. The next destination was Essex Farm Advance Dressing station infamous for the story of Joe Strudwick and underage recruits as well as the site of the composition of John McCrae’s well known poem,‘In Flanders Field’. After a much needed hot chips picnic, pupils visited the newly renovated Passendaele Museum which is truly an outstanding experience in terms of war memorabilia and gaining a real sense of the conditions of the war. A short commemorative service held by our guides and the opportunity to spend personal time amongst the graves of Tyne Cot CWGC concluded the day. Pupils were asked to compose a poem that reflected their experience for a Bromley High School poetry anthology to commemorate the Great War. This was sold in aid of Unicef in support of child victims of war today. Mrs Morter Head of English
Dear diary Dear Diary, I am lost; A blind man to those around me. War is not honour, It is a necessity. I am just a piece. . . A piece of no man’s land; A barb of wire blowing in the wind. Dear Diary, my ears ring, From the unwanted orchestra of bombs; Echoed only by the hell inside my head. It will never be silenced, demanding to be heard. Silence . . . however… Silence . . . is deathly. Dear Diary, my feet ache, Ache incessantly pulsing -, it is my second heart. When I die will it live on? The throb. The pulse. The ache. Brilliant pain, he is my friend. . . But my friend has a harsh grip. Dear Diary, my bones are ice Cracking, crunching . . . frozen. I walked across no man’s land today; The ground split and snapped. . . Was it ice? Or my fellow friends bones? I suspect both.
Dear Diary, gas. . . Rolling, unstoppable; I was lucky, I was quicker than another Falling, gargling, writhing. . . Lungs gaping for air He gulped thick, green, wool Reaching for me, he shuddered still. Dear Diary, squelching, sucking mud Pulling men into its arms: Sucking them into her abyss I am scared to walk there It is selfish, it will take anyone. Men drown in it Choking it, becoming it. Dear Diary, this day I die. I feel death surrounding me: Men tumbling, falling. . . A stale wave every day, I am a grain of sand On the edge of the shore Being dragged into the wave. . . I am to die.
Saffron Morter-Laing Year 10 Runner up
Dear Diary, my ears ring, From the unwanted orchestra of bombs; Echoed only by the hell inside my head.
The Expectations of Conflict Against Reality I stand in a trench of vile stinking mud, And the bitter cold wind freezes my blood. Then the guns open up, and the flames light the sky, And as I watch, soldiers go stumbling by.
English
Year 9 Battlefields trip 2014
War is a death sentence, for the young and old, The soldiers decide they must unfold. There’s no time for hiding or staying off line, Its time for war, and the war must be mine. Explosions flare up, causing destructive deaths, I stand there awaiting, taking my last breaths. Bodies scattered, stiller than silence, The time has come, I must use my violence. A sniper’s bullet wings close to my head, Whilst I wistfully think of a comfortable bed. I fight for my life but can’t revive my soul, I plummet to the ground and I lose control. My afterlife awaits in the mist of the graves, I lost my chance, now there’s no more saves. There’s row after row in which the soldiers a lie, Now there’s one for me, the one in which I die. Aurally, the atmosphere is shamelessly silent, But visually, the atmosphere is simply violent. The field of vision is astonishingly breathtaking, The anticipation of war is sincerely mistaken. Names graved upon a wall, In the midst of the soldiers at peace, They fought, they struggled, and they strived, But sadly couldn’t survive. We respect, we remember and we never forget, The Soldiers gave us, what we get. Though high above their souls may be, Their memory will last for eternity.
Sophie Moss Year 10 Runner up
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Edward Scissorhands
‘I guess it would have to start with scissors’
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A long time ago, an inventor lived in a mansion. He worked for the government during the war, but after it finished he wanted to make one last creation – a man. But the inventor died leaving the man unfinished and alone. The man had a name; his name was Edward… Many years later, at Bromley High School, things started to change. From October 2013 onwards various girls from Years 7 to 13 developed American accents, meeting on school nights in clusters of children, gangs of teens and hordes of housewives. A stunning pair of Edward-sized scissor hands were designed and made by Chloe McCallum, Year 13. With the help of Mr Graham, the drama studio seemed to grow mockshrubbery – even in the shape of a dinosaur – and doors rolled in, painted in an array of pastel colours. A white snow-angel rose from within the costume cupboard, whose shelves suddenly blossomed with 1950s dresses come January. Even an Edward-sized belted leather jacket appeared, with many thanks to Mrs Wilcock. After Christmas the little dramatic community met more often and grew in confidence. ‘Dino’ even plucked up the courage to make an announcement in assembly – that on the 6th and 7th of February they were to tell the story of the unfinished man. Watching in both awe and confusion, Edward saw this wonderful and vibrant world blossom around him. By the time February came, he was encased in a whirlwind of floral dresses, telephone calls, love and loss. On the night of the show, each character shone, their glowing performances underlain with a beautiful soundtrack courtesy of Ms Daniel, Mr Sansom and the budding talent of the music department and soloists. Unveiled by his adoptive mother Peg (known offstage as Tilly Keeper), Edward and the audience were steered into 1950s American suburbia. We were thrown into a bustling barbecue with chattering housewives, and warned of teenage girls and their ‘glands’ by Bill (Sophie
Watching in both awe and confusion, Edward saw this wonderful and vibrant world blossom around him. He was encased in a whirlwind of floral dresses, telephone calls, love and loss
Drama E D WA R D
Girls – and audiences – were transported to 1950s suburban America
Durman). Sassy bankers and a devious character played by Tara Jennett led us to robbery and some necessary lessons in right and wrong. Teased by Kevin (Charlotte Brown), we fell in love with Edward alongside the female heart-ache of the story, Kim (Grace Bassett). I was honoured to play the part of Edward alongside such an array of talent. Although the story did not end happily for me, the experience was unmatchable. Such a beautiful adaptation of Tim Burton’s film would not have been possible without the commitment of all the girls, teachers, behind-the-scenes support and audiences – whose reactions were humbling. Thank you all. Emma Norton
Doors rolled in, painted in an array of pastel colours. A white snowangel rose from within the costume cupboard, whose shelves suddenly blossomed with 1950s dresses
S C IS S O
RHAND OLD KIM, a S CAST grandmothe r LUCY, Old Ki m’s grand-da JO U MANA NAJA ughter INVENTOR, Ed w ISABELLA SA EDWARD, an ard’s father GG un EMMA HERRI AR PEG, a loving finished man NG housewife an EM M A NORTON KEVIN, Peg’ d mother s son TILLY KEEPER BILL, Peg’s husb CHARLOTTE KIM, Peg’s da and BRO ughter SOPHIE DURM WN AN HOUSEWIVES GRACE BASS (o ETT BETHAN BOXA f Suburbia) LL EMMA H ERRING KA MADELEINE TERINA CHRY WEB SOST NIAMH ARKL STER BRITTANY MURP HY CHLOE LO OMOU IE CHARLEY COLLINS AN VICK KELLY EMILY FANN NIE THORPE ING ABIGAI L HUDSON DANIELA HU REBECC A SA EM NT IL GGAR MAE DAWS CHLO IE CL ARK KATE DEBLIN E MCC ALLUM G JIM, Kim’s bo JOUMANA N yfriend AJA DENNY, Jim ’s fr TARA JENNET SUZANNE, Ki iend KA T TE RI N A CHRYSOST m’s friend OMOU RADIO SHOW MAE DAWS HOST/POLICE POLICE OFF M AN ICER ALLEN/ OLIVIA O’SU REPAIRMAN PSYCHOLOG LLIV IST OLIVIA HOLM AN ES CHILDREN CHLOE MCC JESSIC A CRAW ALLUM ISABELLA SA FORD KATE GGAR NORT
ILINA BHASIN ON LIBBY HU ELIZABETH BR NAYANA BROW DSON SAMA IERLEY SERE NTHA WILSON N KATHARIN NA HUNT NA HARRIET EA E GEORGE OL DIA PETTIT-JO MES FABIEN IVIA NAISH HN NE ST GNEHM REBE ON ROSANN JIM’S GANG CC A ELLIOTT A AICHEN CH REBECC A SA ANTELLE OM KATE DEBLIN GGAR SOPH OTOSHO G EMILY PU IE MCCALLUM GH SAMANT SOPHIE BUTC BANK EMPL HA LEE KE OYEES SOPH HE R EMILIE CL RRI-ANN CA IE GISSING ARK MADELEINE RT Y-DOWDE FELICIT Y RICK WEBSTER KA N ARD OLIVIA TERINA CHRY REPORTERS O’SULLIVAN SO ST OM OU MADELEINE BALLET DANC WEBSTER SO ERS IONA PHIE GISSIN MITCHELL LO G FELICIT Y THE SCISSO UISA COE RICKARD R BAND IAIN SANSOM (P KRISHNI JAIS iano) BECK HANKAR (Bas Y BROWNE (D s) HE URSULA GO rums) JOHN LEN PHILLIP DDARD (Cla S (Flute) AL HALL (Guita rinet) LAUR EX CHYSOSTO r) Saxophone) A HARRIES (C MOU (Flute PARIS HORA larinet) GE ) N (Alto Saxo MEGAN OW ORGINA HU phone) ABIG EN (Percussi MP HR IES (Alto AIL PENNEL on) LS (Bari Saxo phone)
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Theatre Trip Highlights
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Pupils share their thoughts…
The task this year was to produce a piece derived from an American state. The winners were as follows.
A lively musical tracing the true story of nine men who were sent to prison for a crime they did not commit
Best programme: 7F for a hugely ambitious Tennessee Tornado
“It was a fantastic mix of song, dance and drama.” “They took a serious topic (racism) and adapted it to create a musical satire.” “I really liked the overt caricatures.” “The use of chairs to create the locations – a train and the prison for example – was extremely clever.”
Best set/props:
8E for An Apple a Day, set in an Apple store
Best teamwork:
8O for the effective creation of their ghost ship in The Griffin
Best costumes:
9S for an array of international characters in
Best musician:
Emily Pugh for her piano accompaniment to
The Pennsylvania War 9B’s The Shadow Train Best individual performance: Tamara Elliot in Legally Witchcraft
The Bunker by Belt Up Theatre @ The Southwark Playhouse Two adaptations of classic stories relocated to a bunker in World War One
“The traverse layout and cramped, enclosed space created a claustrophobic feel, and gave me a sense of how it must have been during the war.”
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DRAMA FESTIVAL
The Scottsboro Boys by Kander & Ebb @ The Young Vic
The Fastest Clock In The Universe by Philip Ridley @ The Old Red Lion
Best in Year 7:
7S for Where Animals Came From
Best in Year 8:
8F for Mission Impochahontable
Best in Year 9:
9G for Legally Witchcraft
A dark comedy about a birthday party that goes horribly wrong
Overall winner:
9G for Legally Witchcraft
“It looked at the power of love and the paranoia of growing old… We were so close to the actors that we could touch them… but they acted like we were not there.” “I was captivated - I just didn’t know what would happen next.” “I liked the use of humour to show the dark side of the relationships.”
KS 3 In June around 45 girls from Years 7 & 8 chose and performed some of their favourite characters for ‘A Date With Disney’. Included were short selections from ‘Frozen’, ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Toy Story’ amongst others. Several of the participants sang, danced and played multiple characters and whilst all the girls are to be applauded for their commitment, Rebecca Seed, Izzy Speed, Zoe Roach-Bowler, Olivia Naish and Nadia Pettit-Johnston, and Fabienne Gnehm receive a special mention for somehow managing to switch between disciplines supremely effectively.
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A L EVEL PERFORMANCE
Peepshow by Isabel Wright Year 12 explored the physical performance work of Frantic Assembly, presenting the highs and lows of two vibrant young women as they share a flat for the first time.
The Darling, The Dimwit and The Decrepit Hotel This Year 13 devised piece ingeniously used two suitcases and three doors to tell the tale of two simple souls, Hugo and Alice, trying to find their feet in 80s London.
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Art Study Tour to Amsterdam
I learnt lots about different styles of art, the culture of Holland and the different forms that art can take.
Our trip to Amsterdam was one that was educational yet enthralling, and eventful yet leisurely. It was a trip that has increased my knowledge and appreciation of many works. We arrived in Amsterdam on Sunday and soon settled into the Poet Hotel, which was in the heart of Amsterdam's museum quarter, our arrival coinciding with a colourful night of festivities relating to the World Cup. The city resembled something like the Van Gogh pieces that we would see in museums in the next few days, the lurching forward of the trams and bikes laced with splashes of exuberant orange, the national colour. We visited many museums – including the RijksMuseum, the Kröller- Müller Museum, Van Gogh Museum, Foam Museum and the Stedelijk Museum. My personal favourite was the Stedelijk Museum, for the sheer diversity of it, with constructions made from found objects such as paint pots and broken glass to grand oil paintings. I also liked the RijksMuseum, for the
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history behind the works and quirky stories behind them telling of vandalism and hidden symbolism, for example, The Night Watch by Rembrandt, which was slashed to fit onto a previous museum wall, and the promiscuity conveyed by milk maids in Johannes Vermeer's work. The Anne Frank museum touched all of us, giving us an insight into the tension and fear that must have been prevalent in the small, secret Annex. Anne’s dreams to be a famous writer resounded with all of us, and we could understand the feelings behind the teenage girl's words painted on the walls throughout the house. Overall, this trip was very enjoyable and I learnt lots about different styles of art, the culture of Holland and the different forms that art can take, it can be right in front of you and you wouldn't necessarily know and appreciate it unless you looked hard enough, which luckily we got the time to on this trip. I hope to return to Amsterdam soon as I now have very fond memories of my time there, as I'm sure the rest of the group do too. Mae Daws Year 9 From top: Other highlights included afternoon visits to ‘the local park to do a relaxing session of sketching’; a motif from the newly decorated RijksMuseum and ‘The Milkmaid’ by Vermeer c1658
Right: Exploring the city on foot before enjoying a canal boat ride. Far right: Giacometti’s Walking man at the KröllerMüller Museum
John Downton Awards for Young Artists 2014 The John Downton Award for Young Artists is an annual exhibition which celebrates the creativity of Kent’s young artists. The exhibition commemorates the life and work of John Downton, the celebrated Kent artist, poet and philosopher. Following strict competition from over 300 entries we are delighted that the following girls’ work was selected for exhibition at County Hall, Maidstone following an awards ceremony. Beatrice Forward, Anna Gleis, Eva Jensen, Tara Jennett and Annie Penfold. Congratulations especially to Beatrice who also received the Gold award in the 11-16 category. This was presented by Fine Art lecturer at Canterbury Christchurch, Charles Williams. The works of Beatrice and Anna were also shown at Turner Contemporary, Margate and in Sevenoaks. We are proud of all the girls. Above: Beatrice Forward Ms Shepley Head of Art & Design etching on acrylic
Year 7 Art club
Year 5 and 6 Art Club
This was a great opportunity for us to interact with the younger students and share our passion and love for the subject through creating exciting and dynamic pieces of work. The girls embraced the chance to experiment with materials and processes that they are not able to use in the lower school.We tried to encourage them to take risks and have fun with the subject and resources they were offered.We taught them many image transfer processes, how to make felt and creative techniques that we as sixth form have discovered over the course of our GCSE and Alevel studies.
For the past two terms we have been running an art club for years 5 and 6.The three of us have enjoyed interacting with the younger girls and teaching them new and exciting processes that they have not come across; such as collographs and photo transfer. Utilising the facilities available in the art studios, the girls have explored a range of media and used various materials to create unique and personal work that they are very proud of! The girls had the opportunity to express themselves through their abstract art but also pick up skills when drawing from observation.
Harriet Abbott, Eva Jensen, Katie Dulieu
Art & Design Ceramics workshop
We are now coming to the end of our second project having been enthusiastically knitting stockings in aid of a Ugandan orphanage. Girls across the year groups have knitted 47 stockings which will be filled with candy canes and sold at the school Christmas market.
On Monday 9th June Mrs Zamar, a ceramics specialist, came into school to run a special art workshop for year 10 – the art of making pottery from coils. Every Art GCSE student learnt about the firing, methods for shaping and sculpting, and how to make masterpieces from strips of clay. By the end of the workshop everyone had learnt so much, and with the extra finishing off sessions the next day, from the most delicate bowl to the sturdiest sculpture, every person had made something unique and beautiful. Fortunately for us we were lucky enough for Mrs Zamar to be able to come back on the 24th June for a follow up session – this time we were learning how to glaze and finish off our masterpieces! Using a variety of oxides and even reactive glazes everybody finished off their pieces to a high standard, and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Along with learning new skills we all really enjoyed ourselves, and are very grateful for the opportunity. Sophie Farrant Year 11
Kate Kelleher in Year 10 has learnt to knit and Emily Pilcher, also Year 10 has learnt to pearl as part of their ‘learning a new skill’ for D of E. Heather Finden in year 7 has also learnt to pearl… Thank you for your kind donations of wool and knitting needles…keep it coming and remember all are welcome. Ms Shepley Head of Art & Design Knit and Natter Club have a new project for 2014. We are going to knit a blanket made out of squares for babies in the Princess Royal hospital, Farnborough. Knit and Natter club is a fantastic club that runs every Thursday lunchtime at 1 o’clock. It is open to everyone, teachers included! The club caters for a range of abilities, from experienced knitters’ right down to those who have just started and coloured wool and needles are available to borrow. Our first project of the year was knitting doddle hats for Innocent smoothie bottles. For each bottle sold, 25p goes to Age UK, contributing to keeping the elderly warm in the winter. More money is given for unique hats. Each of us has learnt a great deal and really looked forward to Thursdays – for some, it has been the highlight of the week! We have had a few sessions of Knit and Natter club
The girls at Bromley High School Knitting club made 61 very individual ‘hats’ after just two weeks!
now, and we all are really enjoying it; Madeline said ‘Knitting club is great fun and the best club the art department runs.’ It is great thing to do, and to raise money for charity at the same time, said Lucy-Ann. It is also very addictive; ‘knitting before sleep!’ as Mrs Jenner commented! It doesn't matter if you can knit or not, as there is always time to learn - Imogen said ‘My grandma taught me to knit and I really enjoy it!’, and Raveena said ‘I've learned a brilliant new skill now. It is extremely satisfying when a hat is completed. However, we find that it was Nadiya’s comment that sums up Knit and Natter club: before a helpful teacher or friend comes to the rescue, ‘you feel like a hedgehog in Antarctica!’ Special congratulations must go to Imogen Goddard, who completed a total of 21 beautiful hats! Lucy-Ann, Raveena and Imogen Year 10
Congratulations!
All our A-Level Art students have received Foundation Year offers from their first choice of college: Lilian Qu – Kingston Caitlin Westgate – Central St Martins Chloe McCallum – Central St Martins Zara Zaidi – Rochester Isobel Borman-Clerk – Ravensbourne Elly-May Bell – Ravensbourne
Zara Zaidi
Recent news…
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Art and Design
News from ‘Knit and Knatter’ club…
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Café Scientifique with @FunSizeSuze In January, the Science Department was delighted to open Café Scientifique for the first time, and invite Dr Sujata Kundu, a materials chemist and teaching fellow at Imperial College, as our guest speaker. Dr Kundu gave a fascinating insight into her career and her life as a scientist, which varies from research to media and policy making. A substantial slide show showed Dr Kundu in parliament questioning ministers on scientific policy, as well as on the Discovery Channel explaining how scientists’ favourite reactions occur and the chemistry behind them. Dr Kundu has also recently returned from a trip to Mount Etna where she was involved in live video feeds from the summit to schools in England. Her talk centred around how diverse a scientist can be in a number of different careers and it was marvellous to see so many girls from all years in the school attend. The Café opened again in February, when our speaker was Professor Cathryn Lewis from King’s College, London. Professor Lewis gave a fascinating insight into the use of statistics in medical trials and highlighted how good-quality data, mathematics and the ability to evaluate scientific claims play a crucial role in the modern-day scientific community.
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Professor Lewis gave us a fascinating insight into the use of statistics in medical trials, and how good-quality data and mathematics play a crucial role The girls met Dr Sujata Kundu from Imperial Collage (above left) and Professor Cathryn Lewis from King’s College, London (below)
BIOLOGY Year 11 do DNA! In biology classes, Year 11 have extracted DNA from strawberries and have also grown pollen tubes to look at the pollen tube nucleus. Here are some pictures of their achievements. The strawberry DNA is the layer of white protein filaments floating on top of the extracted strawberry juice.
Test tubes in the school biology lab show the exciting results of the Year 11 girls’ DNA experiments
Lake District field trip The upper sixth Biology students went to the Lake District for an ecology field trip. After arriving at the Blencathra Field Centre we got to grips with some basic ecology, such as studying the percentage cover of plants in a field; this provided us with essential knowledge of the equipment required to undertake such investigations. Fleeces and wellies keep Day 2 was largely the girls ready for all aspects of the trip, as they considered the most gather information and undertake investigations to enjoyable of the field help with their coursework trip, in which we gathered information of species richness at various heights above sea level, as we jumped from rock to rock. On day 3, we experienced some dangerous scree as we carried out a similar experiment. The mild weather and the beautiful landscape heightened our enjoyment of this practical. The trip culminated in us carrying out independent investigations such as,‘Is there a relationship between the mosses that grow on south-facing and north-facing walls?’ Once we had collected our data, we applied statistical methods that we had learnt on the trip, which enabled us to conclude whether we could accept our hypothesis.This trip was an enjoyable one, which provided an excellent foundation to ecology as well as improving our knowledge of practicals, which will help us with our upcoming coursework. Alex Ostick
The mild weather and the beautiful Lake District landscape heightened our enjoyment of the practical experiments
Science
ECOLOGY
Assembly has never been such fun! School started with a bang the day the science department took over Assembly to demonstrate amazing chemical reactions – and the girls had to predict the outcome of each experiment!
Left: Dr Rowley has fun with liquid nitrogen...
Above: Mr Viljoen stands well clear while demonstrating his fizz-bang experiment mixing hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide Left: Burning methane bubbles with spectacular results
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Year 8 loves the Tudors! This year, history has been fantastic. I have enjoyed it so much because of the helpful video clips, quizzes and exciting trips. We have covered a variety of topics and I think my favourite was the Tudors. I was always interested in the Tudors but after going into more depth and learning the reasons why it was such a bloodthirsty and successful era I found it all the more interesting. When I came to revise for my exams I found it quite easy to remember what I had learnt because all of the information had stuck in my mind and I can still remember it now. Overall, history has been an immensely fascinating subject and I will continue to learn it next year.
WHAT WAS THE SHORT-TERM SIGNIFICANCE OF TROTSKY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY (UP TO 1930)? TWO STUDENTS DEBATE...
This year I have enjoyed history immensely. I think the topics we learnt were broad and interesting, and the quizzes, trips, video clips and interactive learning were extremely helpful. The lessons have made me more interested in history as a subject, because of the way we learnt things – it has made me realise history is an important and brilliant subject to learn. I particularly enjoyed discovering about the Tudors, and Henry VIII with his six wives, because it was taught in unique ways, such as making Facebook fan pages instead of just writing notes. I think I have learnt a lot this year, and it all stays in my mind because the lessons were memorable and fun.
Trotsky was instrumental in helping the Soviet takeover of power in 1917, but after Lenin’s death he lost the power struggle with Stalin and was banished from the USSR. Trotsky lacked a power base, meaning that his superiority as a speaker, writer and intellectual were insignificant compared with Stalin’s grip on the Party machine. The work of Trotsky in the early 1920s amounted to little; source 2 explains, ‘The present government of the USSR is very different than the Soviet power of the first years of the revolution.’ Trotsky’s initial influence as the leader of the 1917 Revolution and Red Army meant that he was in prime position to stake his claim for power after Lenin’s death. Indeed, his strong relationship with Lenin indicated that he should have succeeded Lenin as leader of the USSR. However, Trotsky’s personality proved to be his own worst enemy, as his haughty attitude ensured his unpopularity within the Party, thereby condemning him to a powerless position. Trotsky had no real support in the Party. As Stalin ensured the Party’s allegiance to him and aimed to discredit and destroy his opponent, Trotsky’s significance was essentially written out of history.
There is evidence to suggest Trotsky’s successful impact on Russia, particularly during the October Revolution and the Civil War. His drive and intelligence meant the Red Army was victorious over the Whites, allowing the government to develop into a Communist one, working towards improvements for workers. His influence in signing the Treaty of BrestLitovsk meant he was providing the Russian people with what they had been demanding since the Tsarist collapse, allowing the government to focus more on issues such as the economy. However, Trotsky’s significance in the government’s development was limited due to his lack of support. His Menshevik background and Jewish roots meant some party members viewed him as a distrustful character and therefore he was unable to make significant changes to the government. The actions of Stalin, such as telling Trotsky the wrong date for Lenin’s funeral, led to decreasing support for Trotsky to become leader of the USSR, resulting in the failure of his Permanent Revolution. As an international revolutionary, he was more interested in working towards Marxism across the world than achieving the national interests of those in Russia, limiting the progress made in society and government.
Priyanka Patel Year 8
Olwen Mair Year 13
Emma Herring Year 13
Katie Jagger Year 8
‘I was always interested in the Tudors but after going into more depth and learning the reasons why it was such a bloodthirsty and successful era I found it all the more interesting’
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Year 8 trip to Penshurst Place: A journey into the past
HITLER ON TRIAL
Hitler on Trial was an exciting, unique and educational experience for Year 11 historians. Not only did we pick up new hints and tips for our exams in the summer, but we were able to immerse ourselves in the trial; at the end of the session, we had to decide to whether he was solely responsible for starting the Second World War. After evaluating the evidence, we all came to our own conclusion with the benefit of hindsight: a highly important skill in history.
Year 8 were lucky enough to visit Penshurst Place on a history trip. Penshurst is a historic building near Tonbridge. The original medieval house is one of the most complete examples of 14th-century domestic architecture in England which has survived. We were able to experience different things: the Buttery, crimes and punishment, the Baron’s Hall, the barber surgeon, a poor maid, a Spanish prisoner and some groups were able to joust.
Amna Bokhari Year 11 This is the last occasion on which we are participating in this event due to specification changes. We wish to extend our warm thanks to Josh Brooman and his team at the School History Scene for the provision of such an excellent revision conference over the years.
History
1939 -1945
YEAR 11 HISTORIANS ATTENDED A HALF-DAY ‘HITLER ON TRIAL’ WORKSHOP AND COURTROOM DRAMA PRESENTATION DESIGNED FOR GSCE STUDENTS
Year 8 girls enjoying a brush with the past at Penshurst – including a close encounter with some of its armour and weaponry
The Spanish prisoner explained, ‘English sea dogs kept shooting us, ruining our crescent formation, and many people died’
My favourite part was seeing the Spanish prisoner. At this time England was at war with the Spanish and they had captured hum. The prisoner explained to us how he was captured. He also explained that their plan was to sail to Holland in a crescent, so they were protected. He said that the ‘English sea dogs kept shooting us, ruining our crescent formation, and many people died.’ I really enjoyed this trip; it was a great experience to see how people were treated back in Tudor times. Sasha Hill Year 8
Mr Brasier Head of History
Parliament in action: Year 12 trip to Westminster In March, the Year 12 Government & Politics students, along with Mr Brasier and Mrs Murphy, took a trip to the Houses of Parliament. We had an excellent tour guide who gave us a deep insight into the functions and history of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. This put what we had learnt throughout the day as well as much of our AS course into perspective, as it gave an awareness of politics in the real world when put into practice. We all very much enjoyed the trip
After our tour three of us were lucky enough to get seats for Prime Minister's Questions; it was fascinating to see the Prime Minster respond to the questions that other MPs raised during the half hour we were present. It was particularly useful to us as we are currently learning about the role of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in our lessons, and being able to witness this in action was helpful in understanding our topic.
Elizabeth Kelleher Year 12
Lydia Felton Year 12
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
TARGET TWO POINT ZERO The Bank of England and The Times Interest Rate Challenge
THE ECONOMIC CYCLE TO MUSIC This is a selection of tracks that students have used to play our ‘Economic Cycle to Music’ game. Many of these have been suggested by the students themselves and we are constantly updating the list. If you have any further ideas, please email the song’s name and artist(s) to Mrs Hilder. RECOVERY/GROWTH
In November 2013 Year 13 Economists took part in this prestigious competition held at the Great Portland Street Conference Centre. The objective of the challenge was to tell the Bank of England judges what level of interest we thought would provide the best chance of meeting the bank’s inflation target and why. The inflation rate target is currently 2% on the CPI measure and our team and others had to decide what interest rate should be set to achieve this target. We took the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee interest rate set on 10 November as the basis of our decision and discussed fiscal, monetary and supplyside factors before coming to the contentious decision of proposing a very minimal increase in rates. In addition to considering the rate of interest, we also discussed the recent renewed Bank action of injecting money (quantitative easing) into the economy in order to meet the inflation target in the long term. With adrenaline rushing, our team rose to the challenge magnificently, presenting their
case and options to the panel of judges whilst competitor teams also listened. The time slot allocated of 15 minutes was very well utilised and the judges flatteringly commented on our skilful interpretation of the present economic conditions and our analytical and evaluative stance. We were then asked some quite testing questions that probed into our economic understanding and application. Each of our team was required to make a significant oral contribution, without reading from a script. If the girls were under pressure, so was their teacher, who listened with bated breath!!! Despite a formidable effort and the lucid presentation of a very credible case, we unfortunately did not win our heat. We came away from the competition, however, with gold foil covered chocolate bars in the shape of Bank of England gold ingots and a spring in our step! The girls certainly did themselves proud and I take my hat off to the team members. Mrs Hilder Head of Economics and Business Studies
2.0%
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BOOM
RECESSION
SLUMP
‘Good Vibrations’ [The Beach Boys (Greatest Hits Vol 1)]
‘Money's Too Tight’ ‘(I've Had) The Time Of My Life’ [Simply Red (Picture Book)] [Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes] ‘Celebration’ ‘Another One Bites the Dust‘ [Kool & The Gang [Queen (The Game)] (Celebrate)]
‘Things Can Only Get Better’ (D-Ream (The Platinum Collection)] The Only Way Is Up’ [Yazz and the Plastic Population (Wanted)]
‘Dancing in the Street’ [Martha and the Vandellas (Dance Party)] ‘Money (That's What I Want)’ [Barrett Strong (Tamla Motown Gold [Box set])
‘Help’ [The Beatles (Help)]
‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ [Oasis (Heathen Chemistry)]
‘Trouble’ [Coldplay (Parachutes)]
‘Goodbye My Lover’ [James Blunt [Back To Bedlam)]
‘Eye Of The Tiger’ [Survivor (Eye Of The Tiger)]
‘Money’ [The Flying Lizards (The Flying Lizards)]
‘Under Pressure’ [Queen and David Bowie (Hot Space)]
‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ (The Verve (Urban Hymns)]
‘Higher & Higher’ [Jackie Wilson (The Greatest Hits Of Jackie Wilson)]
‘Money’ [Pink Floyd (The Dark Side of the Moon)]
‘Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?’ [Moby (Play)]
‘Never Ever’ [All Saints (All Saints)]
‘Rescue Me’ [Fontella Bass (The Very Best Of Fontella Bass)]
‘Don't Stop Me Now’ [Queen (Jazz)]
‘Alcoholic’ [Starsailor (Love Is Here)]
‘If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time’ [R. Kelly (R.)]
‘I'm Still Standing’ [Elton John (Too Low For Zero)]
Walking on Sunshine’ [Katrina and the Waves (Walking on Sunshine)
‘Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me’ [Elton John & George Michael (Love Songs)]
‘Against All Odds’ (Take a Look at Me Now)’ [Phil Collins]
‘Boys Are Back In Town’ [Thin Lizzy (The Definitive Collection)]
‘The Heat Is On’ [Glenn Frey (Beverly Hills Cop Sountrack)]
‘I Predict a Riot’ [Kaiser Chiefs (Employment)]
‘Funeral March’ (Various composers, including Beethoven)
‘Build Me Up Buttercup’ [The Foundations (Build Me Up Buttercup)] ‘Don't Worry, Be Happy’ [Bobby McFerrin (Simple Pleasures)]
‘Holiday’ [Madonna (Madonna)]
‘Come Fly With Me’ [Frank Sinatra (Come Fly With Me)]
‘Place You Hands’ [Reef (Glow)]
‘Lifted’ [Lighthouse Family (Ocean Drive)]
‘Boom Boom Boom Boom’ [Vengaboys (The Party Album)]
‘High’ [Lighthouse Family (Postcards From Heaven)]
‘Boom! Shake the Room’ [DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (Code Red)]
‘Get Back’ [The Beatles (Let It Be)]
‘Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah’ [Song of the South (Disney film)]
‘Start Me Up’ The Rolling Stones
‘Money, Money, Money’ [Abba (Arrival)]
‘Ride On Time’ [Black Box (Dreamland)] ‘Boom Boom Boom’ [The Outhere Brothers (1 Polish 2 Biscuits and a Fish Sandwich)]
‘Everybody Hurts’ [REM (Automatic For The People)] ‘Streets of Philadelphia’ [Bruce Springsteen (Philadelphia soundtrack)]
Bromley High played host to a high-profile Economics conference when we opened our doors to guest schools including Dulwich College, Kent College, Walthamstow Hall, Croydon High and Crown Woods School. All pupils who study Economics in Years 11, 12 and 13 attended with a view to enhancing their understanding of the theory and analysis learned in the classroom and this was most certainly the case. Dr Steve Davies addressed us on the topic ‘What is growth and where does it come from?’ Economic growth is a component of GCSE, AS and A2 Economics specifications and Dr Davies emphasised in particular the significance of innovation as a driver of economic growth in the global economy. Innovation and technological advancements have conjoined to increase GDP in the modern world at a rate only dreamed of in the past and have also enhanced the viability of international trade as a factor in increasing growth. Dr Richard Wellings tackled the extremely topical area of major infrastructure projects. He referred to the cost benefit analysis that has been undertaken in consideration of the HS2 project. He discussed the influence of special interest groups and the concept of pressure to ‘buy votes’ with tax payers’ money in advance of an election. £80 billion appears to be a realistic estimate of the cost of HS2 and associated projects and Dr Wellings discussed the opportunity cost implications of this. He also discussed other infrastructure projects such as Heathrow expansion plans and ‘Boris Island’ and the multiplier effects that are likely to emanate from them. Professor Len Shackleton, University of Buckingham Professor of Economics and a former Civil Service Economics advisor, discussed ‘The minimum wage and the living wage’. He considered whether there is a case for regional differences in the minimum wage and considered the concept of the living wage. This latter
concept has had a high media profile recently and has been endorsed by both Ed Miliband and Boris Johnson, i.e. from both sides of the political forum. Professor Shackleton referred also to cost of living issues, in particular the recent furore over energy price hikes. All speakers were thought-provoking, challenging and encouraged us to think and participate in discussion and debate during the day. The speakers furnished us with new views and ideas that will enhance and enrich our formal study. Not only did we learn a lot, we were also treated to an absolutely splendid buffet lunch and came away with a raft of publications that will provide us with plentiful background reading. We also enjoyed participating in the live twitter feed, and Vicky in Year 11 was particularly gratified when her tweet led to much debate from the audience. It was also great to meet up and chat with pupils from other schools. We had a very fruitful day and hope to organise another similar conference in the future.
Speakers and students taking part in lively discussion at the IEA Economics Conference at BHS
All speakers were thoughtprovoking, challenging and encouraged us to think and participate in discussion and debate during the day.
HOT OFF THE PRESS! Financial education is now part of the national curriculum (from September 2014). Although at Bromley High we are not obliged to follow the national curriculum we recognise the importance of financial literacy and this is an important component of GCSE Economics. The course illustrates to pupils the relationship between personal finance and public finances amongst many other issues. Tax, public spending and government debt are all ‘hot potato’ topics. These – and how they relate to personal finances – are all crucial areas that your daughters will learn about, in addition to money management, labour market issues, the European Union and the Euro, migration, globalisation and trade... We could go on... and on! We believe that financial education and economic understanding and awareness are essential in making sure that your daughters, who are the next generation of consumers and producers, make informed and savvy decisions.
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Business Studies and Economics
November: BHS hosts Economics Conference
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
california dreaming Sixth-form students from the Economics and Computer Science departments enjoyed a week exploring San Francisco old and new...
The sun was blazing – ideal for our cruise around the bay, which included travelling under the Golden Gate Bridge and getting a closer view of Alcatraz. The views were breathtaking!
On Saturday, we visited Intel, where we learnt the history of how the computer chip evolved. We used binary coding to see how computers work and also learnt about how clean the factory had to be in order to produce the microscopic chips! There was only one dust particle in a cubic foot of air, whereas so-called fresh air has 15,000 dust
particles. The facts and figures were astounding. We then visited the Computer History Museum, where we were able to explore the development of mobile phones, a range of different robots, old calculators and the Google Map street view system. That evening we went to Bubba Gump for dinner, then – jet-lagged – we headed back to our hotel. At midnight we were all fast asleep when the hotel fire alarm woke us up. We grabbed what we could and ran down the staircase into the street, but the alarm turned out to have been set off by some burnt toast... Back to bed for us all. On Sunday morning the sun was blazing – ideal for our cruise around the
We used binary coding to see how computers work and also learnt about how clean the factory had to be in order to produce the microscopic chips!
At the Computer History Museum, the girls saw an original Babbage Engine, designed by English computer pioneer Charles Babbage in the 19th century
bay, which included travelling under the Golden Gate Bridge and getting a closer view of Alcatraz. The views were breathtaking and lots of amazing images were taken. We then walked up to Ghirardelli’s Square, where we had mountains of ice cream despite asking for only one scoop. We then travelled by tram to Westfield shopping centre for the afternoon. (We managed to negotiate 2 and a half hours of shopping, which to a teenage girl was never going to be enough time to visit all the seven floors of designer brands...) On Monday morning, after more pancakes for breakfast, we took the old-fashioned tram with open sides up and down the steep-sided roads towards the City Hall. The building was huge and had
been built on earthquakeproof structures to prevent it from collapsing in any future earthquakes. Throughout our trip one thing we had noticed was the huge number of homeless people who walked the streets at day and slept in doorways at night. Michael, our tour guide, told us there were 6000 homeless people in San Francisco. With a total population of 800,000 this means 1 in 125 people are homeless. We then visited the Painted Ladies; a row of seven Victorian houses worth around $2.5 million each. The view behind them was stunning. On Tuesday morning we had to get up at 6:15 for an early breakfast before our tour around Alcatraz. Apart from shopping of course, I think this morning was the highlight of many people’s trip. We arrived on the Island to see old derelict buildings. On the way into the cell house there was a large poster saying, 'if you break the rules you go to prison, if you break the prison rules you go to Alcatraz'. Everyone was mesmerised by the scale of the place and the terrible conditions that the prisoners had to endure. The cells were only 5
foot wide by 9 foot in length and 7 foot high. After the tour of the cell house we went to the gift shop. It was almost scary to know that an ex-prisoner of Alcatraz was sitting in the shop signing autographs of his book. The whole experience was amazing!
Computer Science
The trip to San Francisco started in true American style, with good food and a constant supply of drink and ice cream on the flight out. Our visits included the Budweiser factory, where we saw the fermentation tanks where the beer is produced, 40 tanks in total; the scale of the production line was enormous. Following on from this we visited the Jelly Belly factory and after what seemed like thousands of videos (and the relentless sound of the tour guide’s overenthusiastic voice) we had the chance to eat the jelly beans and buy some for friends and family.
On Wednesday morning we finished packing and returned to the airport just after midday. It was sad that we had to leave but we had an amazing trip with loads of great memories we will never forget. I think we all laughed more than we ever have before just in this oneweek trip. Anna Myers
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
THE NEW COMPUTER SCIENCE CURRICULUM As a department, we are delighted with the challenges and opportunities that the new Computer Science curriculum has brought to our pupils; from a teaching perspective it gives us the opportunity to help inspire a new generation of potential app developers, web designers and programmers, whilst also giving our pupils exposure to content that we believe they will thoroughly enjoy and find rewarding. Some pupils who have arrived from other schools where they studied elements of Computer Science are particularly pleased with the news that they can continue with this learning and share their knowledge and skills. The coding clubs that began in September 2013 give the pupils an opportunity to showcase their prior knowledge and aid their continued development. The same applies for our existing pupils, who, after taking part in ‘Hour of Code’ activities earlier in the year, are enormously enthusiastic. The number of pupils who chose Computer Science as a GCSE option for the current academic year is testament to this. Whilst our lessons are not all about ‘coding’, there will be an emphasis on computation, where there is great scope for our pupils to think creatively, solve problems and model systems. Programming requires our pupils to begin by approaching a problem in a logical manner, thinking and breaking problems down into parts, and then breaking these parts down even further. At Key Stage 3 our pupils are looking at machines, languages & computation, data & representation, abstraction and design, and modelling amongst other areas. Key Stage 4 delves further into programming, allowing our pupils to gain a deeper understanding of languages such as Python and VB.net, algorithms, and networks. The Key Stage 5 strand begins in 2016-17 when our upcoming GCSE pupils finish their two-year course and get ready to study for their A-Levels. There is already great excitement and anticipation growing amongst a number of our pupils and we hope this continues to grow as we aim to develop the great potential that we have at Bromley High.
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Introduction to the Computing Lab The new Computing Curriculum brings with it a need to develop our programme of study and widen our departmental resources; we now have access to a Computing lab which is solely dedicated to each of our KS3 classes and currently our two This new lab gives GCSE groups. This new lab gives the girls an opportunity the girls an to further develop their research opportunity to into computers by gaining develop their hands-on experience of taking research into apart and assembling machines. computers by We now have a number of Kano gaining hands- computer kits, which are deon experience signed to help people of all ages of assembling assemble a computer from scratch and learn basic coding and taking skills. Additionally, we have apart machines. Raspberry Pi’s, credit-card-sized computers which we hope will spark the imaginations of our pupils as we hope to get them involved with more programming and robotics in the near future.
Olivia Naish Year 8
Computer Science
The ‘Hour of Code’ is an inspirational scheme set up to encourage young people to take Computer Science as it is a growing enterprise in Britain. This program has been introduced in the UK after its huge success in the USA and Bromley High has taken up the challenge. We started to complete the tasks in one of my Computing lessons, and after about ten minutes I found myself really getting into my stride and starting to enjoy myself. The program started off quite easy as we were starting to learn how to put commands together so that our character would move forward, turn right and left. Gradually this got harder as we were introduced to repeat commands, so that we would not have to keep on re-typing commands and ‘if’ statements: for example, ‘if there is a path ahead turn left’. There were also videos made by successful computer scientists and computer engineers, including a Pixar animations designer and the Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who helped us use certain commands. One of the stages was all about how to make the computer draw shapes, which was a bit trickier as we were using pixels not steps (1 step = about 50 pixels). We started to make patterns, which is where the repeat command came in handy. I completed five stages at school, which I found really interesting so I decided to try and complete it at home! The stages I found the hardest were stage 9 and 15. Stage 9 was with the farmer (a character) where I had to learn how to pick up virtual piles of dirt and fill virtual holes in the ground, but after I had practised it for a while I got used to it. Stage 15 was where we started to use and make functions to draw a shape which makes my life easier as I did not have to keep on repeating commands. I think an ‘Hour of Code’ is a really good idea as it has made me consider Computer Science as an option for the future and has given me an irreplaceable skill that I will keep and expand on for the rest of my life.
THE HOUR OF CODE Celebrating 25 years of the World Wide Web
‘I think an ‘Hour of Code’ is a really good idea as it has made me consider Computer Science as an option for the future and has given me an irreplaceable skill that I will keep and expand on for the rest of my life.’
We were delighted to take part in the ‘Hour of Code’ global initiative: a scheme initiated to give coding exposure to people of all ages. We ran this exciting program with all Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level ICT & Computer Science classes during the week of 3-9 March and again during the week of 8-14 December. The tutorials have been created in collaboration with engineers from Microsoft, Google, Twitter and Facebook. Designed as a game that teaches basic coding principles, this whetted the appetites of many budding Computer Scientists in a range of school years. 20,000 classrooms worldwide are now signed up for the Hour of Code, and we see this as an excellent opportunity for our pupils to gain exposure to an environment that allows them to be creative, enjoy solving problems and puzzles, and above all witness how real-world programs are written and assembled.
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
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Year 7 – fizzing with excitement!
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When the day finally arrived, there were many volcanoes of all different sizes and types. We first went outside and let everyone erupt their volcanoes. They were all amazing and I was particularly proud of the one I made with Mia as it created a huge explosion! By the time everyone had exploded their volcanoes, the grass had turned a brownish colour from all the Coca-Cola and Mentos and there was a strange smell of vinegar. Mrs Norris, our form tutor and geography teacher, posted some of the pictures on Twitter and we got a re-tweet from Plymouth University! We then went back inside to feast our way through the volcano cakes, which were all delicious! They had been decorated with strawberry laces, sparklers and lots of strawberry sauce to look like lava. We had an amazing time and it was one of the best geography lessons ever. One day I hope we get to do it again! Thank you to the geography department for coming up with the idea.
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Each year, the Royal Geographical Society awards prizes to GCSE students who have performed exceptionally in geography examinations taken over the summer. We are delighted that Laura Kruszewski achieved one of the highest marks in 2013 for the OCR GCSE examination board. Laura scored 100% on all modules of her GCSE Geography and is one of 15 pupils in the UK to be awarded this prestigious honour from the Royal Geographical Society.
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We have been studying volcanoes and especially the volcano in Montserrat. We were set homework to make a volcano, either in pairs or on our own. It could be a simple model, edible or even exploding! This made everyone extremely excited – everyone wanted to make an amazing volcano!
Annabelle Ashley-Cheek Year 7
Royal Geographical Society Honours awarded to Laura Kruszewski
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Mrs Norris Head of Geography
YEAR 10 FIELD TRIP In order to complete their Geography controlled assessment, Year 10 visited flood defences in Shrewsbury and assessed the sustainability of these strategies. They carried out primary data collection, completing field sketches, bi-polar analysis and questionnaires. They also made use of secondary data and considered the reliability and usefulness of such information. The girls worked extremely hard and produced excellent investigations. Mrs Pradic
THE GREAT GEOGRAPHY BAKE OFF!
Year 8 concocted an assortment of amazing iced cakes to raise money for a ‘Save the Rainforest’ charity. The results, illustrating different geographical features of tropical rainforests from rivers and waterfalls to flora and fauna, were colourful, informative – and delicious. . . !
Geography
‘We really enjoyed making – and eating! – our Rainforest cakes’
YEAR 9 FAIRTRADE PICNIC CAKES Year 9 pupils have been learning about the benefits Fairtrade can bring to farmers and communities. Girls have been focusing on one village in Ghana where switching to Fairtrade farming and trading has been a life-changing experience. They were given the task of researching the range of Fairtrade products available and looking at the price difference. To support the campaign we had a number of Fairtrade picnics in school, with girls making cakes and snacks from Fairtrade ingredients. Mrs Norris
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Christmas voices Carol Singing in 'Intu' Bromley In December 2013 members of Cantabile went carol singing in Bromley, raising money for Child Aid. An impressive £375 was raised towards supporting the lives of disabled children, orphans and those in vulnerable families. It was lovely to see many parents and ex-pupils who came to support the girls.
Hitting the high notes: Music Festival celebrates school talent A fantastic celebration of instrumental and vocal talent was heard in the annual Bromley High Music Festival. The competition featured 135 entries from the Senior School and 42 from the Junior School. After making it through the preliminary rounds, the finalists performed in one of seventeen classes on the day of the competition, ranging from Popular Song to Advanced Woodwind. A packed but rewarding day finished with an outstanding evening concert. Our adjudicator this year was Simon Sundermann, the Assistant Principal and Head of Vocal Studies at Bromley Youth Music Trust, who commented: “The standard of performance was very high. It was a great pleasure to be here. I was very impressed with the music making at Bromley High.” Congratulations to all who participated! Mr Sansom Deputy Director of Music
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Year 7 Charity Christmas Concert All our Year 7 girls performed in a charity concert in the Senior School Hall. The evening brought together curriculum work devised around the singing skills they had gained from the Dieci Voices Workshop, and also included some solo items from selected musicians. Over £400 was raised for the Bromley 'Latch-Project' charity which supports young homeless people in the borough.
On Wednesday 7th May the school was buzzing with the busy sounds of all our Junior and Senior musicians rehearsing for the combined evening concert. The evening began with our Senior Orchestra, who got the audience’s feet tapping to Latin rhythms, after which a beautiful performance from Pocoflutes was directed by two of our Year 13 leavers, Helen Phillips and Alex Chrysostomou. We then enjoyed the Hawthorns and Normandy Tour Orchestra, the Junior Jazz band with impressive solo improvisations and some of our youngest talent in the wonderful Training Band. In this instrumental first half the progress and skill of performers was truly apparent with a confident Junior String Group swiftly followed by the winners of the Ensemble Class in our Music Festival, Sophie Oliver and Ellie Sheehan, who self-directed a stunning duet of an Einaudi composition. Many of the audience commented on how inspiring it was to see the potential in their junior musicians at a combined event with the older girls. One of the highlights had to be Percussion Ensemble’s ‘Cup-la
Juniors and Seniors together in concert
One of the most inspiring nights of the year! Emily, Year 9
Cups’ – the dexterity and concentration was amazing! The first half ended with two brilliant performances from Rock Group, showing the true versatility that lies within the musical talent in the school. The second half was dedicated to singing, led confidently by another Year 13 leaver, Bethan Boxall, who gave us a fantastic rendition of a Dean Martin classic with the Spain Jazz Orchestra and Choir. Guest appearances from Mr Sharkey and Miss Higgins enhanced the upbeat feel which continued with the outstanding Hawthorns Choir’s ‘Lost in Space’. The standard of the choirs – Cantabile, Normandy Tour, GCSE & A Level Choir, Vocal Group and the Combined Choirs – who all sang so beautifully and with such enjoyment, sincerely exceeded expectations amongst the performers, the audience and the music staff. It was an exceptional concert and a real pleasure to spend time with the entire music team who worked so hard to put together such an enjoyable event. Emily Pugh in 9B commented ‘One of the most inspiring nights of the year!’ and we agree! Sincere thanks go to all parents and staff who supported the event. Ms Daniel Director of Music
Music
Perfect harmony:
Bromley High musicians play the Royal Festival Hall! In September four of our talented music scholars took part in a spell-binding performance of Benjamin Britten’s ‘Noye’s Fludde’ with members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall. Sophie Oliver, Ella Gann Ophelie Podbielski-Stewart and Nadia Pettit-Johnston are selected members of Bromley Youth Music Trust’s Young String Ensemble and had been invited to take part in the LPO and Southbank Centre’s production of Britten's Chester Miracle play. With a cast of professionals, young people from local communities and audience participation, the piece required stamina, intuition, musical talent and a fisherman’s costume! Well done to all four girls. 37
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Anniversary concert at Southwark Cathedral Last November the Bromley High School Music Department celebrated 140 Years of the Girls’ Day School Trust at one of London’s most prestigious venues, Southwark Cathedral. The concert began with music from the early 1870s and followed a diverse musical journey through the decades, highlighting the musical talent at the heart of the school and of the GDST. The evening ended with a stunning choir performance of a contemporary anthem in which over 150 girls took part.
It was wonderful to have such a large number of very talented musicians participating at such a stunning venue, and to have so many parents, friends and staff supporting the event. Ms Daniel
Travelling musicians
The school’s singers and musicians performed at inspiring venues both at home and abroad during the year
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Senior school tour
In February a talented musical group of forty Bromley High Girls made their way to Northern Spain via luxury transport with the most excessive amount of leg room and five-star on-board catering! After a relaxing night’s sleep we arrived in Burgos and checked into our four-star hotel. The following night we ventured to the local town Lerma where we experienced probably the best concert ever, a highlight for the whole group. After which we then performed our first concert to a packed audience and were really pleased when one of the local musicians joined us on stage for
‘La Bamba’. The next night we performed in Sahagun and were really excited to receive a standing ovation. Between then and our next concert we turned our time to preparing for the Music Tour talent show; the winning group
to Spain delivered an improvised play relating the best of the trip and this proved to be a close second favourite to the tuba concert. Our final concert took place in Salamanca where we performed in the most impressive venue, a private club right in the centre of the city. We left Spain with so many fun memories, new friends and musical skills. We thank the music department for making this trip possible. Hyat El-Zebdeh, and Elise Wiseman, L6th
‘The concerts were great fun, the atmosphere and audience were always amazing, spurring us on!’ Mae Daws Year 9
On Friday 4th April we set off for Normandy. The sea was calm so we had a smooth, fun journey and enjoyed looking at all the shops. We arrived at our destination at about 19:30, unpacked and had a large dinner. It was delicious! Then we played a game of speed charades and went to bed, tired but happy. The next day was concert day. It started with a visit to the Bayeux Tapestry, where we enjoyed an audio guide. After a trip to the local market to buy some souvenirs, we visited the Cathedral before heading to our first concert venue. We then had dinner and headed back to the church for the concert. We had a great day on Sunday performing in a Mass in the morning and also in an old people's home in the evening. A lady called Margarita was celebrating her 101st birthday by listening to our concert and we sang her Happy Birthday! On the last day we boarded the coach and started the long journey back to England. We had had lots of fun, but were glad to go back home.
Music
Normandy tour
In the home of Normandy lace, the girls found time – between concerts – to view the historic Bayeux Tapestry
A lady called Margarita was celebrating her 101st birthday by listening to our concert and we sang her Happy Birthday!
Debby Bakare and Ella Gann
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
School Dance production ‘A Step In Time’ Over 100 girls took part in this year’s school Dance production ‘A Step in Time’. The show took audiences on a journey through time and with the help of projection and film explored music from different eras. Alongside Miss Gibbs and the senior school students, outside professional dance artists choreographed pieces for the performance in various dance styles.
A Step In Time!
Stepping back to the 90’s with HipHop and ‘MC Hammer’
Year Nine Dance collaboration and film project
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In the summer term- over four weeks - a group of year nine pupils participated in dance workshops at Marjorie McClure School. The aim was to collaborate with their year seven dance group and create a piece based on the theme of ‘America’. The students took different famous landmarks and used photographs to inspire movement ideas. The Bromley High girls took on the role of choreographer, dancer, leader and film maker. Each session was filmed and students from both schools were interviewed and asked questions on their experience. This then concluded in a short performance to students and teachers at Marjorie McClure. This was a very rewarding experience for both groups. We felt proud of what we all achieved in a such a short space of time and enjoyed working with the year seven group.
Working with students with disabilities has been both an eye-opener and a pleasure. Their personalities and characteristics outshone their disability and proved they were very capable.
Rosie Faye and Eloise Berry Year 9
Sam Lee Year 9
Dance
DANCE FESTIVAL AT MARJORIE MCCLURE SPECIALIST SCHOOL Before the Easter Break ten (enthusiastic) year 8 pupils took part in a Dance Festival at Marjorie McClure School. The girls involved were Elizabeth Brierley, Nadia Petitt-Johnson, Serena Hunt, Isabella Speed, Isabella Garratt, Rebecca Seed, Zoe Roach- Bowler, Charlotte Brown, Kristina Griffin and Katie Jagger. During lunchtime rehearsals the group devised a dance piece to the song ‘You can’t stop The Beat’ from Hairspray. The style of dance was Lindy Hop which originated in the 1920’s. We travelled to school on the mini bus and were all very excited. When I entered the building, I was instantly overwhelmed by the happy atmosphere. The children were so friendly and happy, it brought tears of joy to my eyes. We soon joined in a quick song and participated in a big group warm-up. After this lots of groups from local Primary Schools and Specialist Schools performed a dance they had created. We were one of the last to perform. All the dancers were brilliant and the children at the school loved clapping along to the songs. I loved to watch the delight on their faces as we performed our piece. The experience was indescibable and if I have this opportunity again I would love to participate.
We were one of the last to perform. All the dancers were brilliant and the children at the school loved clapping along to the songs. I loved to watch the delight on their faces as we performed our piece. Elizabeth
Elizabeth Brierley Year 8 Right: 1940’s warthemed piece below: 1970’s disco
Indian and Bollywood dances from ‘A Step in Time’
GCSE Dance Summer 2014 sees our first cohort of students completing a GCSE Dance course at Bromley High. Plans for an A Level Dance course will start next year.
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
A level Study Day In November 2013, a group of year 12 and 13 students joined other sixth forms at the Institute of Education for a day of lectures on Product Design. Our first lecture was by Suzanne Trocme, a writer and furniture designer. She spoke about how war affects design and how accidents can lead to new inventions, such as the wooden leg splint being made out of bent plywood during the war years by Charles and Ray Eames. The splint had
previously been made of metal. She explained the importance of space and the relationship between objects and where you place them. She also emphasised the importance of considering the end user, the function of the piece and how a ‘green certificate’ is becoming increasingly significant. She then moved on to the science and psychology of design, and how the environment can alter people’s behaviour. For example, when working on the design for a museum bench, she found that people occupy one-third of the seat pad. Therefore in her simple design, she included a small groove to separate her seat into two halves and encourage more than one person to use it at any one time. She showed us how
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different colours are associated with different emotions and can therefore be used as a marketing device. In Trocme’s view, less is more. As a proud reductionist, she believes that extra decoration is unnecessary. A quarter of detail is often an over-complication. We thoroughly enjoyed her speech and found her designing tips interesting and informative as well as entertaining. The second lecture was presented by Seymour Powell, a global design and innovation company with clients including LG, Ford, Nokia, Barclays, Samsung and Dove. Seymour Powell design products from cordless kettles to spaceship interiors – and their aim is to make things better:
Some vital advice was not to overcrowd our portfolios with unneeded information, but to choose what the reader will see. Image + words = a message to the reader
requirements. A final example was the OXO potato peeler. The design company tested several different handles, starting with a simple bicycle handle and then adapting this to produce a peeler that is comfortable and easy to use.
Suzanne Trocme designed her museum bench with a seat pad in two halves, to encourage more than one person to sit on it at once
‘better for people, better for business and better for the world’. Graham Potts, a key designer in the company, explained the strategy of user research. By filming people at home, Seymour Powell are able to recognise the ‘design difficulties’ of this environment and design a product which will be better for that person. One of their recent projects is the hose snake, an extremely adaptable attachment that works as a sprinkler, a long-reach hose for hanging baskets, a hands-free hose, and has a strong spray function for cleaning. Made from heat-treated wire with a flexible coating, the hose snake has a patented twist action that allows it to withstand at least 2000 different orientations on every single millimetre point without breaking. The third lecture was presented by Anthony Dickens, a selfemployed product designer who has worked for Audi, Veuve Clicquot and Red Bull bringing the essence of
brands to life. Anthony talked to us about his inspirations for design work and about how refining your initial idea to make it simpler will encourage more people to use it. He gave the examples of Jonathan Ive and Dieter Rams, where Ive took the simple but innovative design of Rams's calculator and reduced it to the best parts to make the iPod calculator; and Industrial Facility's hair dryer, where the company focused on how the cord of the dryer always gets tangled, so incorporated a compartment to store it when it is not being used. He also reminded us that products need to fulfil their purpose, mentioning how Ronan and Erwin Bouroullec designed a very long office table so that people could work at it in groups. The aim was to encourage people to communicate with each other, share ideas and work more productively. The final issue covered by Dickens was social inclusion. He gave us the example of Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick, who designed a chair that could be used by any size or shape and adjusted to individual
After lunch we had a lecture and practical workshop led by the designer and university lecturer Pascal Anson. He talked to us about the importance of layout and photography in our portfolios; the way you present the production process is like telling a story. Pascal showed us some images of his own designs which he is putting into a book called ‘The Ordinary Made Extraordinary’, demonstrating how an image should capture the theme and also the reader’s attention. Some vital advice was not to overcrowd our portfolios with
unneeded information, but to choose what the reader will see. He explained to us that image + words = a message to the reader, and how we should create an interesting background or layout. The activity of the day was to make the 'link and the monster'. This consisted of everyone blowing up a balloon and linking it to other people’s balloons to make a 'monster'. Pascal explained that the monster was a modular unit; each group’s
up we started to join them up. We decided to twist the two ends together to create a shape with a large hole in the middle so that the next balloon could be attached through the hole. We soon started to see a large shape coming together. The rest of the room were less enthusiastic, but we managed to get the majority involved and other schools started to bring their monsters over to us so that we could link them all together. Eventually, with team work and persistence our creation was complete. The monster travelled to the back of the auditorium – and was demolished! Written by the Year 12 AS group
Design Technology
monster could be combined with other units to create one massive monster. Unfortunately, these balloons were particularly hard to blow up so we had to wait for the pump to reach the Bromley High School girls before we could get started. As soon as all our balloons had been blown
Visit to the Design Museum Extraordinary stories about Ordinary things SCHOLARSHIP NEWS Congratulations to Honor Jennings, who was awarded an Arkwright Engineering Scholarship. Honor had to complete a rigorous selection process consisting of a detailed application form, a two-hour aptitude paper and an interview hosted at Imperial College, London University. The aptitude paper tested candidates’ flair and originality in solving design problems.The interview was a grilling in which candidates had to discuss a design or engineering project they had conducted. During the interview day candidates also took part in a teambuilding exercise to solve a hands-on engineering problem working with students they had never met before. Honor will now have access to a wide range of activities to enhance her understanding and experience of engineering. She has also received a financial award of £600 to enhance her A Level studies.The scholarships are respected by leading universities and supported by top engineering employers such as Rolls Royce, BT, BAE Systems and the Royal Air Force. We look forward to some of our current Year 11 pupils applying for a scholarship for next year. Anyone interested should speak to Honor or to the head of DT. Ms Bowman Head of Design Technology
In November 2013, the Year 10 DT GCSE students, myself included, visited the Design Museum. The aim of the trip was to see new and bold design work that could influence our future projects and inspire us to make original yet stylized products. We started with a short workshop run by the museum about the many collapsible and foldaway chairs currently available on the market and their use in our lives. We analysed and found faults in them in order to design our own, meeting certain criteria and solving issues we spotted in the examples shown to us. We found it very useful as it aided us to find flaws in both other people’s and our own work – which is a vital part of design, particularly in initial stages, as only by adjusting designs can we produce our best work. After a brief stop for lunch, we had the rest of the afternoon to browse the small museum. The first exhibition was of work by the designer Paul Smith, which showed the transition from key ideas and photographs to preliminary designs
We all thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and the collections on offer and cannot wait to incorporate aspects into our own designing, so look forward to the new and exciting creations coming out of the DT department soon!
and then on to a final collection. It was clear from his work that he is very interested in blending colour and bright designs with both classic and modern fashion. The second was a collection called ‘Extraordinary stories about Ordinary things’. It was amazing to see how objects we know today, for instance a radio, started out as a simple piece of technology and yet have been remodelled several times over to fit in with a specific time period. We all thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and collections, and cannot wait to incorporate aspects into our own designing, so look forward to the new and exciting creations coming out of the DT department soon! Clare Sylvester Year 10
I
really enjoyed making my mechanical toy in DT. It was rewarding to have an idea and then make it into a 3d object.
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Lost and found...
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition finally takes place!
On the Friday morning we arrived at Knockholt station full of energy and excitement with our prepared map and route plan in hand. Setting off over the hill and through a golf course, we initially walked in the right direction and despite the sudden rain we remained on track for a while. However, after three hours or so we came across another group, who suggested that they were lost. EIYNBHUIGRHGHSCE L After confidently telling D HX ME them that they were, we found a map of the woods attached to a EXPEDITION tree, which told us that the other group were actually exactly where they should have been – and that we were over 5km from our route. Eventually finding our way back on track, we stopped for a lunch break and a game of catch with the tennis ball. After half an hour we kept on walking, with our rucksacks seeming to become increasingly heavy with every step we took. However, at around half past five we arrived at the campsite (despite walking past it a few times). Encouraged by the fact that we had finally made it and that other teams were running up to help take our bags, we
Mr Laing Assistant Head, Co-curricular
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DITION POEOL
Eating a warm meal after a cold and wet day was really exciting and great fun. Scraping the burnt rice off the bottom of the pan wasn't so much fun but we were still up to the challenge!
DUKEBR OFO
The postponed Bronze D of E qualifying expedition finally took place in September. Our largest number of pupils (12 groups) walked off into the Ashdown Forest on a rather grey and drizzly Friday morning.The weather failed to dampen their spirits and, after a rather long day for some, they arrived safely at the campsite. Pitching tents in the dark was an unwelcome adventure for some but they were all dry and well fed for the night, which delivered some heavy downpours. Day two brought some bright spells and the girls built on their experiences of the first day and performed very well. After a few missed turns and a little backtracking, they arrived back safe and well. Yet again I was impressed with the resilience and persistence of our groups and I hope they look back at what they achieved with a sense of pride.
BRONZE
discovered that the last team to arrive had still got to the site three hours before us and had already pitched their tents and made themselves at home. Nevertheless we pitched up and cooked our rice for dinner. Eating a warm meal after a cold and wet day was really exciting and great fun. Scraping the burnt rice off the bottom of the pan wasn't so much fun but we were still up to the challenge. That evening we had a campfire and toasted marshmallows over it whilst singing songs. Waking up early in the morning to the dampness of our tent after a rainy night, we struggled out of our sleeping bags, knowing we would be exposed to the cold. Cooking porridge for breakfast was rewarding as the rain came pouring down, and after quickly packing up our tents we were ready to start walking again. We were determined to not go so far off track on the second day, and we managed to reach lunchtime before going wrong, but swiftly afterwards we took a wrong turning and ended up walking through field upon field of flowers. During our trek through the sweetcorn fields Mr V suddenly popped up from nowhere. Asked if we knew where we were, we answered with a confident 'yes'. Shortly after Mr V departed we
EY HIGH SC
Duke of Edinburgh Awards
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SILVER
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Sophie Grieves Year 10
Silver Practice Expedition April 2014 OO
realised we actually had no idea where we were going. Finally, comprehending that Mr V had just let us keep walking in the opposite direction to the finish, we had to ring Mr Laing to admit that we were lost. Minibus approaching, we felt slightly embarrassed and Mr Laing's grin of 'I told you so' wasn't really what the team wanted to see, but after a few minutes of listening to Capital and finding we weren't the only team to need picking up, we weren't too disheartened. Mr Laing took us to where we had planned to be, and we managed to find the rest of our way quite easily without going wrong again. Whilst our map-reading skills need some improvement, we had a huge amount of fun. We would like to say thank you to all the teachers who accompanied us, and in particular the ones that assisted our group, who had to walk a few extra kilometres to do so!
EXPEDITION
Our silver D of E practice consisted of us spending two nights camping and two days walking using our map skills. What I particularly enjoyed about doing silver D of E was how everyone became a lot closer and you got to know people better, as we were together for a longer amount of time. D of E created so many special memories within our groups, such as the night we camped near the beach. We sat on the beach in the evening and we will always remember how peaceful this was. There are also a lot of funny memories such as quietly walking past a herd of scary-looking cows, being careful not to get charged at. A particularly funny moment in my group was when we found ourselves on the wrong side of a river: we stood there wondering how to cross, and we did consider building a raft, but after testing how deep the water was we decided it was best to walk the long way round! I thoroughly enjoyed my D of E experience, even though at the time we may have been very tired, cold and wet. Looking back on it, we only remember the good times! Lucy Peter
I thoroughly enjoyed my D of E experience, even though at the time we may have been very tired, cold and wet!
All our D of E girls got plenty of opportunity to practise their map-reading and tent-pitching skills whilst observing the wildlife en route
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Year 8 German breakfast Year 8 German have had their topic of ‘Food and Drink’ brought to life with a German breakfast. The girls had the fabulous opportunity to practise their topic vocabulary while sampling German breads, meats and cheeses, along with a variety of German biscuits and cakes. It was a real pleasure to see the girls entering into the spirit of the meal and applying their learning in a real-life context. The vast majority of the food was consumed with great enthusiasm, although some of the German bread seemed to be an acquired taste! Frau Parkin and Frau Savova
A letter from my German Exchange visit Ich bin in Brϋhl, in der Nähe von Köln. Ich liebe Brϋhl, weil es sonnig ist und es gibt keinen Regen. Meine Austauch-Partnerin, Hannah, ist sehr nett, aber sie ist ein bisschen schüchtern. Sie hat lange, glatte, braune Haare und braune Augen. Im Moment schreibe ich in meinem Tagebuch, und in einer Stunde werde ich ins Bett gehen. Ich liebe Hannahs Familie - sie sind lieb und freundlich. Vor zwei Stunden haben wir viel UNO gespielt, das war interessant und lustig. Gestern sind wir zum Schokoladen-Museum gegangen. Ich esse gern Schokolade – es ist sehr lecker! Ich habe Photos gemacht und viel Schokolade fϋr meine Familie gekauft. Am Sonntag werden wir ins Phantasialand gehen. Ich mag Phantasialand sehr gern, weil die Fahrten erstaunlich sind und viel Spaß machen, aber sie sind sehr kurz. Bis bald Pascale Bibby Year 9
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Eine Reise nach Berlin Am Donnerstag den 17. Oktober sind drei Mädchen der 12. Klasse und sieben Mädchen der 11. Klasse nach Berlin gefahren, damit wir diese prächtige Stadt besuchen konnten. Ich konnte es kaum erwarten! Wir sind dort für drei Tage gelbieben und deshlab hatten wir genug Zeit, die Sehenswürdigkeiten zu sehen, wie das Brandenburger Tor und Checkpoint Charlie. Die Reise war auch eine groβe Chance, neue und ungewöhnliche Vokabeln zu lernen, weil es überall neue Worte gab! Persönlich, was ich am besten gefunden habe, war die Geschichte von Berlin, weil ich es faszinierend finde, wieviel erst in letzter Zeit passiert ist und deshalb fand ich Checkpoint Charlie und die Stadtführung am interessantesten. Bei der Stadtführung haben wir die Berliner Mauer, das Brandenburger Tor, das Holocaust Mahnmal und den Bunker von Hitler gesehen, also konnten wir die berühmtesten Sehenswürdigkeiten in nur drei Stunden besichtigen. Unser Reiseführer war sehr gut informiert und hat die Tour ganz interessant gemacht und obwohl wir es ein biβchen anstregend
gefunden haben, war das total egal, weil wir den Rundgang total genossen haben. Auch waren wir an der Spitze des Fernsehturms (203 Meter hoch) und wir haben eine tolle Aussicht gehabt, wo wir ganz Berlin sehen konnten. Es war auch sehr interessant, weil wir Ost-Berlin und West-Berlin vergleichen konnten und wir haben einen groβen Unterschied zwischen Ost und West bemerkt. Etwas anderes, was ich wirklich geliebt habe, war das kleine Symbol von Berlin, ‘das Ampelmännchen’, weil es so typisch Deutsch ist. Was mir persönlich am besten gefallen hat, war der Besuch im Reichstag, weil ich den Kontrast zwischen der modernen Architektur und den alten Gebäuden geliebt habe. Auch, weil ich mich für Politik interessiere und es war eine gute Erfahrung, das echte Parlament zu sehen. Insgesamt war die Reise nach Berlin eine wunerbare Klassenfahrt und deswegen würde ich Berlin total empfehlen. Ursula Goddard Year 12
In April a group of 19 girls from Years 9 and 10, accompanied by Frau Harvey, Frau Weston and Frau Wolage, left Gatwick for Cologne to start their Spring Exchange with pupils from the St Ursula Gymnasium in Brühl. During their visit they undertook a wide variety of activities including a visit to the famous Lindt Chocolate Museum in Cologne, the Beethoven House and the Haribo shop in Bonn and attended a number of lessons in school, including two special ones taught by Herr Zachert, the German teacher – well known to generations of BHS pupils. The weather was spring-like throughout and the girls received a very warm welcome from their host families. They tried hard to improve their German skills and we hope that they will retain fond memories of their visit. Mrs Harvey
Berlin trip for Years 11 and 12 Just before half term ten Year 11 and Year 12 girls went to Berlin to broaden their German experience. The trip included a walking tour through the city centre, where we finished at Checkpoint Charlie, then a visit to Potsdamer Platz to admire the astonishing architecture and on to a cinema to watch the film "Rush" in German. The next day we spent a thought-provoking time in the Jewish museum, followed by a viewing of the Gedächtniskirche and on to KaDeWe (the “Harrods” of Berlin) on the famous Berlin shopping mile, the Kurfürstendamm. Later we bought some “Ampelmännchen” souvenirs at a shop on one of Europe's most beautiful squares, the Gendarmenmarkt. In the evening we enjoyed some Austrian cooking, including Wiener Schnitzel and Kaiserschmarren as well as Hungarian Gulyas. On the final day we started with a visit to the top of the TV tower on Alexanderplatz, where the panoramic view over the city is spectacular. Then we had a guided tour of the Reichstag, the German parliament which was redesigned by the English architect Sir Norman Foster. We rounded the day off with a meal at the Berlin version of the Munich "Hofbräuhaus", where some girls tried Currywurst accompanied by some typical oompah music played by musicians in Lederhosen. A good time was had by all. The girls had the opportunity to practise their German and everyone got on really well. Berlin was definitely a hit.
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Modern Foreign Languages
German Exchange to Brühl 2014
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Paris Trip 2014
MFL POETRY AND SONG COMPETITION The air was filled with the sound of French, German and Spanish poetry and music when Year 10 pupils battled it out in the annual poetry and song competition. Goethe, Garcia Lorca and Victor Hugo were amongst the bards whose words inspired us and they were imaginatively interpreted by the girls. First prize for French poetry went to Georgina Walker, Imogen Goddard won the German prize, and Raveena Rao and Eisha Moten shared the Spanish prize. This was the first time song was introduced and it proved a very popular addition. Abi Hudson and Anna Humphrey were the victors with a song entitled ‘Toxique’, and Daniela Hunt, Victoria Cheung, Kevali Patel, Iarina Corniciuc and Leigh-Anna Wallace were triumphant with their very catchy ‘Me gustas tú’. Our talented musicians Sophie Butler, Raveena Rao and Imogen Goddard entertained us in the interludes and Sabrina Sinha, Sophie Emery, Nathalie Falshaw and Ellie Trew were very competent comperes. Well done also to all who contributed to this competition and thank you to the participants and the fantastic audience for making this event such an enjoyable and memorable experience. Mme Strange
‘At Bromley High we realise just how important languages are. Currently around a quarter of our Sixth Form study Languages at A level (including several taking more than one Language), and many of the girls will continue to study Languages at University.’ 48
Over the Bank Holiday weekend, the languages department accompanied 34 of our Year 9 girls on a trip to discover the wonderful sights of Paris.We visited Louis XIV’s famous Château de Versailles on the first day, then returned to Paris for a photographic opportunity in front of the Eiffel Tower in the Champ de Mars and ended our day with a lovely cruise on the River Seine. On the Monday we visited the Tour Montparnasse, where the view of the capital from the 57th floor was breathtaking, and we walked all the way from Notre-Dame to the Louvre, along Les Tuileries, and eagerly climbed up the Butte Montmartre which offered a great opportunity to buy souvenirs, eat “crêpes” or have one’s portrait done by the Montmartre artists. A massive thank you to Ms Parkin, Mme Smith and Frau Wolage who gave their time to accompany the group. Well done to all the girls for being great ambassadors of Bromley High in France and I hope that they have made the most of this exciting opportunity to discover a different way of life. Mme Strange Head of Modern Foreign Languages
I am very proud to announce that the nine year 8 pupils who went to Putney High School on Thursday to take part in the final of the Spelling Bee competition, all came first against six other GDST schools of the region. Serena Hunt, Priyanka Patel and Madeline Ffitch as the French bees, Riya Parikh, Nidhi Abraham and Elisabeth Mateola as the Spanish bees, Rhiannon Hughes, Imogen Duke and Rebecca Mukasa as the German bees, all had two minutes to translate and spell as many words as they could in one foreign language. All contestants performed with confidence, showing their ability to retain information and articulate clearly, as well as perseverance to deal with a stressful situation when being singled out to be tested in front of other people. These three teams were a credit to the school thanks to their commitment and determination to win. A big thank you also to Miss Higgins who gave up hours of her time to drive us there and back! Mme Strange
The Modern Languages Department and the entire Senior School at Bromley High enthusiastically celebrated an international Day of Languages. Girls, teaching staff, support staff and catering staff were all involved in making this an unforgettable day. This is a Europe-wide event and Bromley High girls wished to extend it to an international level this year. The day started with a fantastic assembly prepared by our Head of Spanish, Miss Delatorre, with the help of some bilingual Year 7s and Year 8s. This was followed by a quiz for Years 7 to 11 organised by our very efficient and committed Year 12 linguists: they acted as our Language Ambassadors throughout the day. We had a special themed lunch of Coq au Vin, Tortilla de Patatas, Lemon Butter Gnocchi, Bratwurst and Potato Salad and Glazed Strawberry Tart. Throughout the day the Sixth Form Language Ambassadors helped to promote the message: “that languages are important, socially and in the work environment, but above all they are fun!”
“In an ever more global society and a shrinking world, it is fantastic and very important to be able to celebrate languages and international culture in the school today. On the back of our recent International School Award from the British Council, and given the diversity of pupils, many with a second language at home, it has been a day of celebration for us all. Merci bien to all concerned!” Louise Simpson
In October 2013, seven Year 12 pupils travelled to Rouen where we spent six days learning French at the ‘French in Normandy’ language school and enjoying the cultural opportunities that the town has to offer.We relished a variety of activities, such as a visit to Dieppe, a guided tour of historic Rouen and a visit to the Musée de Beaux Arts where we were able to see impressive works of Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet. One afternoon, we even had the opportunity to create our own Impressionist masterpiece! At the language school we were taught by enthusiastic, dynamic teachers in small groups which we found dramatically boosted our vocabulary and grammatical knowledge, as well as teaching us more about the culture and way of life in France.We all stayed with a guest family, who welcomed us warmly and we enjoyed living in their delightful manor house for the week. Our trip to Rouen was a huge success and I doubt anyone would hesitate returning there.
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Modern Foreign Languages
CELEBRATING A WONDERFUL INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LANGUAGES!
AS FRENCH TRIP TO ROUEN
LANGUAGES: A MAGNIFICENT VICTORY FOR YEAR 8!
Quality Time in Mongolia Bromley High School Expedition to Mongolia 2014
Horse trekking was amazing! Jenny The girls commence their 4-day trek on horseback
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Expedition
The sense of achievement I felt after completing the 4-day trek was amazing, and being rewarded with half a can of Coca-Cola at the end was even better. Grace
From top: Demonstration of the fermenting horse milk process; Rehearsals for the Naadam Festival; Quality time with the children of the summer camp.
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The Day Care Project was an unforgettable experience. Getting to interact with children from such different circumstances helped to open my eyes to how truly fortunate we are. Maddy
The two teams carry out their projects – one group painted a school and played with the pupils, while the other team did landscaping activities and played games with the children at summer camp
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Lydia
This year two teams went on expedition to the wilds of Mongolia for three weeks. Mongolia is a vast country but also the world's most sparsely populated – the total population is approximately 2.8 million with over a million of those people living in Ulaan Batar. We only saw a tiny fraction of the country but what we did see was from an array of perspectives – while flying over it, from bus and taxi windows, on foot and from horseback. Both teams spent a number of days trekking on foot and camping through the hills about nine hours’ drive outside UB. Both teams were incredibly fortunate with the weather as the sun shone most of the time and the rain held off. Each night we pitched camp in beautiful spots but our third night, on the banks of a stream with gers (yurts), yaks and horses visible on the surrounding rolling green hills, provided perhaps the most idyllic scene ever experienced
by any of us. Trekking by horse exposed us to more of the country and this time we had the added bonus of a couple of nights in a ger which was a great experience. The horses were small, had minds of their own and the saddles were EXTREMELY uncomfortable but the experience was amazing and everyone was glad to have done it. The two teams had projects – one painting a local school and playing with the pupils, while the other team did games and other activities with the children at summer camp. Having an opportunity to spend time with the local children and put something into the Mongolian community was enjoyed by all. We all had a wonderful time and would recommend Mongolia to anyone who wants to go on holiday to an unusual and beautiful country.
Expedition
Although the trek was tough, the views were worth it!
Dr Major Head of Religious Studies
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Bromley High School 2013-14 was yet another exciting year of sporting endeavours for Bromley High School. Here are pictorial highlights from some of the individual and team events.
U15,16 Netball
Above: Sasha Hill warms up on the tennis court. Right: Hannah O’Flynn and Imogen Meers have both excelled in the swimming pool U13 football team
Netball, Swimming and Diving, Dance, Tennis, Athletics and Football were all enthusiastically represented during the 2013-14 season at Bromley High
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Left: Teeing off during Year 11 golf lessons Above: Celebrating sporting achievement at the annual Sports Dinner for years 10-13 Right:The BH swimming team with their winning certificates from the GDST Trust Rally. Below: GB Beach Volleyball player Jake Sheaf trains with Year 11
U12,13,14, 15 swimmers at Trust
Physical Education
Sports Summary 2013-14
Winners of the Trust Athletics Rally Trust Athletics Rally
Bromley High organised and hosted the first South East Trust Rally which included a Table Tennis competition
Year 12 PE lesson - trampolining
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
2013-14
AWARDS 2013-14 DANCE Junior Dance Salver Lois Hill ‘Smiler’ Dance Cup (Junior performance) Rebecca Seed Senior Dance Salver Tilly Keeper Chase Award for dance Susie Firth & Emilie Stevenson Butler Award for dance Katie Dulieu & Emma Gray Appleby Award for dance Caitlin Westgate & Emma Herring CROSS COUNTRY Davies Cup for cross country Sabrina Sinha Trophy for commitment to cross country Imogen Duke GYMNASTICS Trophy for commitment to school gymnastics Imogen Sears ATHLETICS The Windsor Cup for athletics (field events) Paige MacHeath The Grimwade Cup for athletics (track events) Elizabeth Ibidunni HOCKEY The Castledine Cup for commitment to hockey Renee Ojikutu The Davies Hockey Cup (Outstanding team member) Millie Webb The Crosley Baggaley Shield (1st X1 Player’s Player of the year) Grace Baylis and Amy Reynolds The Morley Junior Hockey Cup (years 7 – 9) Rachael Cawker Player’s player of the season U12 A Team Georgia Gray B Team Annabel Ashley-Cheek U13 Renee Ojikutu U14 Krista Moody U16 Isabella Goodwin NETBALL The Flannery Cup for the most improved senior netball player Annabel Wheeler The Barker Cup for netball (Highest selection achievement) Charlotte Brazier The JC Cup for outstanding commitment to senior netball Angharad Hunter
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Junior Netball Cup (years 7 – 9) Amelia Bowes
The Baylis Leadership Award Anna Myers
Senior Netball Cup (years 10 – 13) Caroline Warren The Bebbington Cup for progress in netball (years 7-9) Lilly Tuesley Player’s player of the season U12 A Team Ellie Smith B Team Mia Santini C Team Holly Lovick-Freeman U13 A Team Fabienne Gnehm B Team Ella Middleton U14 A Team Amelia Ward B Team Megan Platts U15 Flo Marshall U16 Lucy Metcalf Seniors Honor Jennings
HIGH ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Allardyce Cup for all-round sporting endeavour Isabella Goodwin Cubberley Cup for commitment Lydia Goundry Junior PE Cup for all-round service to the PE department Paige MacHeath/ Tamsin Falshaw Senior PE Cup for all-round service to the PE department Hannah Cawker Trophy for outstanding school PE performance of the year Sabrina Sinha and U14 Netball team: Chukwuamaka George, Amelia Ward, Krista Moody, Martha Jennings, Amelia Bowes, Olivia Tikare, Oreoluwa Okikiade, Paige MacHeath and Tamara Elliott. Sports leaders Level 2 Award 2013-14 Daniela Hunt, Eisha Moten, Sabrina Sinha, Sophie Emery, Ellie Wilson, Lydia Goundry, Sophie Grieves, Tabitha Swann, Emily Pilcher, Susannah Farmery, Natalie Falshaw, Ellie Trew, Florence Marshall, Nathalie Melville, Elizabeth Ibidunni, Nadia Elgaddal, Sophie Butler, Katy Cottrell, Tiggie Balfour, Izzy Hann, Grace Bassett, Idil Kuyumcu, Atlanta Tsiaoukkas, Charlotte Pluckrose, Julia Coulson, Susannah Williams, Aoife Sherry, Isabella Goodwin, Darcey Pooley, Anna Humphreys, Lucy Nash, Olivia Cauchi, Ella Burwell, Shiva Naser, Lucy Goddard, Iarina Corniciuc, Kate Kelleher, Charlotte Collins
TENNIS The Braginton Cup for commitment to school tennis (Junior) Negin Mortazavi The Gibson Tennis Doubles Cup Sasha Hill/Negin Mortazavi SWIMMING The Swimming Trophy for excellence Imogen Meers The Hancock Swimming Trophy for highest achievement Tamara Elliott The Ball Cup for commitment to school swimming Eliza Prentice The Churchill Cup for the most improved school swimmer Bayode Abass Sports leaders special awards Hannah Cawker, Georgia Moody, Amy Reynolds, Millie Webb, Angharad Hunter, Annabel Wheeler, Sophie Grieves, Natasha Fenn, Charlotte Brazier, Krista Moody, Millie Bowes, Anna Myers, Amirah Martin, Lydia Scobie, Buse Demirbag, Eliza Prentice, Sabrina Sinha, Natalie Falshaw Achieving Gold Ambassadors Congratulations for achieving Gold Sport Young Ambassadors: Grace Baylis, Madeleine Crust, Hannah Cawker, Tara Jennett, Anna Myers, Buse Demirbag, Caroline Warren, Charlotte Brazier and Charlotte Raven.
U12, 13, 14 Trampolining team
REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS Swimming Imogen Meers National Swimmer Hannah O’Flynn Regional Swimmer Tamara Elliott Great Britain & National Biathlon Imogen Meers National Schools Champion Sabrina Sinha National Schools Champion Hockey Alice Prentice JAC County Hockey Katharine George JAC County Hockey Georgia Gray JAC County Hockey Jessica Crawford JAC County Hockey Ellie Smith JAC County Hockey Imogen Sears JAC County Hockey Renee Ojikutu JAC County Hockey Grace Fitzpatrick JAC County Hockey Olivia Fitzpatrick JAC Hockey Jasmine De Maid JAC Hockey Rachael Cawker JAC Hockey Megan Platts JAC Hockey
U14 Kent Schools Netball Tournament winners Marisa Conner JAC Hockey Tammy Falshaw JAC Hockey Amelia Ward JAC Hockey Eliza Prentice JAC County Hockey Isabella Goodwin Regional County Hockey Grace Baylis Premier Hockey and Crystal Palace Football Club Netball Ellie Smith Kent Netball Millie Bowes Kent Netball Martha Jennings Kent Netball Ore Okikiade Kent Netball Olivia Tikare Surrey Storm Development Squad and County Netball Charlotte Brazier Kent and Regional Netball Sophie Grieves Kent Netball Lydia Goundry Kent Netball Honor Jennings Kent Netball Trampolining Isabella Saggar National Trampolining Rebecca Saggar National and Regional Trampolining Tennis Sasha Hill National Tennis 3rd in Great Britain Diving Marisa Conner International and National Diver Rowing Sophie Durman International Rower Skiing Eleanor Trew International Skier Athletics Alice Prentice National Runner & High Jumper Sabrina Sinha Great Britain International Runner Anna Myers Represented Great Britain in Athletics Gymnastics Sianah Brock National Acrobatic Gymnastics Imogen Sears National Gymnastics Dancing Krishni Jaishankar Indian Dancing International Champion
We are proud of all these girls, as well as those who compete for the school on a weekly basis. Sport is growing at Bromley High School and with it comes commitment and determination from all involved.
Anna Myers GB Athlete In the summer of 2014, the Youth Development League finals were held in Birmingham, a national final with the top 8 athletics clubs in the UK. Anna ran the 1500m race; finishing 3rd in the U20 age group; Blackheath and Bromley Harriers girls’ squad won the overall event and are going to represent GBR in the European Athletics Club Championships in Istanbul in September!
Miss Bernatovitch Director of Sport
Sabrina Sinha GB and NI Athlete Sabrina is consistently performing to an elite level, winning the London Mini Marathon, the British Road Championships, UK Inter-Counties Championships, London Youth Games Cross Country and National Schools Biathlon Championship, to name a few, and gaining her third England International vests and one GB & NI vest plus numerous national titles along the way. Sabrina is now on the IAAF World Youth rankings (U18), ranked 17th in the 800m and 13th in the 1500m (where she is the highest 1999 birthday). British Athletics nominated Sabrina for a Sports Aid award and she is also supported by Greenwich Starting Blocks. Grace Baylis Premier Hockey player Grace was first introduced to hockey in Year 7 when she started at Bromley High, and in Year 8 became a goalkeeper, something that came naturally to her given her football talent. She now plays senior National League hockey at a high standard. Grace also had the great chance to understudy the GB goalkeeper Maddie Hinch during her time at Holcombe, whilst playing amongst many international players. During the 2013 to 2014 season, Grace made her first team appearance and played in the final of the Kent County Cup, helping the team to victory by preventing any goals being scored against them. Ellie Trew GB Skiing Ellie was first introduced to the idea of racing at the age of 11 when Bromley High entered the Kent Schools Ski Championships. Soon after this competition she started training with Bromley Ski Club and is still a member to this day, competing for them in both national and regional races. In March Ellie was lucky enough to be selected to compete for England in the World School Ski Championships. The team came 6th overall (and first out of the ‘low-lying’ countries). Marisa Conner GB Diving Marisa has worked her way through the British diving levels from Novice to Elites. She is currently Armada Cup 3m 2015 Girls Springboard champion. The Armada Cup is an Annual Open competition held in Plymouth for Age Group and Elite divers. Marisa has now had her first GB Junior Elite Competition and is currently ranked 10th on Platform, 12th on 1m Springboard and 15th on 3m Springboard. Sasha Hill National Tennis Sasha Hill (see previous page for picture) has had an outstanding season on the tennis court and has a current rating of 3:2. At the end of the Winter season she was 5th nationally for the U14s, which led to her being invited to a National camp at LTA head Office in Roehampton and training with the GB coaches. Sasha has many County, Regional and National titles to her name, both singles and doubles, and an International doubles title. She is currently Kent Champion for the Under 14s singles, doubles and mixed titles and Runner-up for the Under 16s.
Ellie Trew competed for England in the World Schools Ski Championships. Sabrina Sinha met Mo Farah and was nominated for a Sports Aid award
Left: Anna Myers gets set to represent GBR at the European Athletics Club Championships Right: Marisa Conner has worked her way up to Elite diving level Below left: Grace Baylis with the GB Hockey Team. Below right: Sophie Durman (second from back) with the Head of the River Fours
Sophie Durman National Rowing On the river Sophie has been working tirelessly, attending camps in the holidays in her bid to better the silver medal that she gained in her first International Regatta. She undertakes vigorous training to compete in the National Schools and Henley Royal Regatta. At the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships Sophie came 6th in the Year 13 category and 3rd in the senior relay (which was the furthest distance you could row with 8 team members in the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race record time of 16 minutes 24 seconds). Summer season is coming up which includes Henley and British Championships.
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Physical Education
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Charity begins at school... 2013-14 was a bumper year for fundraising activities. We began the school year, as always, bringing our bears into school for Action Medical Research, which was closely followed by our Harvest Assembly for Wateraid. As usual we sent our tins and dried goods along to the Oxlea Trust, and this year to the Salvation Army as well, to help the disadvantaged of Bromley. We also had our usual collections for national events such as Jeans for Genes Day, World Aids Day, the Poppy Appeal, Polio and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In October we celebrated our pink week with ribbons, accessories and a donation station, whilst Halloweek raised funds for The Burgess Autistic Trust and a Chinese orphanage in Beijing. This experience led to Year 8 producing some beautiful mobiles (using the new laser printer) to send out to decorate the Beijing dormitories. Bringing our bears into school to raise funds for Action Medical Research
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We had a number of cake sales for charities including The Maypole Project, Help for Heroes, Forces Children’s Trust, an orphanage in Ghana, Cancer Research and Children in Need. The Geography department (famous for their cakes!) raised funds for a Save the Rainforest charity by making a collection of rainforest-themed cakes. A special congratulations to 10G, who raised £750 for St Christopher’s Hospice with their sweet sale. We also entered the Steve Sinott Award for the first time: Olivia Holmes and Annie Thorpe made a video presentation to try to win this very prestigious competition where two people are selected from across the whole country to travel, in this case to Uganda, to learn about the problems of educating children overseas. Sadly they were not winners but a great time was had making the film. Following the horrific hurricane that hit the Philippines we raised funds with a collection and karaoke, to help those trying to rebuild their homes and lives. At Christmas 2013, 27 shoeboxes headed off to Smile International and we donated
our Sainsbury’s vouchers with orders of equipment that they requested. One Young Enterprise group, Impulse, raised an additional £1044.39 to add to our contribution. We also sent gifts from every form to the Salvation Army appeal through the Glades in Bromley for local underprivileged children. 7F sold Candy Canes at Christmas for the Lily Foundation and the music department raised money for Child Aid, by singing in the Glades, and for the Latch project with the retiring collection at the Carol Service. Year 8 celebrated Eid and sent just over £100 to the UNICEF food appeal to help provide meals for schoolchildren in Africa. Year 8 produced some beautiful mobiles (using the new laser printer) to send out to decorate the dormitories at a Beijing Orphanage
Dr Major’s year 10 ethics class sold Marie Curie Cancer Care daffodils and raised £130. In February we had our purple week, where we sold purple ribbons, guessed the number of purple sweets in the jar and wore purple accessories, raising almost £200 to help with the eradication of polio. We also went along to the Blind Club of Bromley with our annual hyacinth collection. We wore our own clothes to school as part of the Unicef Day for a Change and in aid of our sponsored children in Kenya, Russia, Peru and the Philippines. We also raised money to buy books for a school in Uganda on
World Book Day. Sports Day was a great opportunity to raise funds for the Make a Wish Foundation with cold drinks and face painting. Community Day – another fantastic fundraising
day, with stalls contributing raffle prizes and a percentage of their We gave potted profits, hyacinths at a tea held for members of the Blind Club cakes donated by the PTA, face painting by Year 9 - and Mrs Minuti, and Pimms sold by senior management! We raised over £650 for Marjorie McClure School in Chislehurst to add to the £868.12 raised by the Red Letter Young Enterprise Group. 7E ran a chocolate fountain stall and raised over £110 for Leukaemia Research and 8F held a nail painting stall for the Chartwell Trust, also raising well over £100. This followed on from our very successful walk for Amantani around Jubilee Park. Amantani is an amazing charity that provides schooling for children in the Andes in Peru and we have had lots of contact with them this year, selling their bracelets, watching their films and sponsoring their school. Special congratulations to Annabel Holcombe, Bayode Abass and Siobhan Jamieson who were our highest individual fundraisers. Mrs Jenner
Right: Anna Hollis Year 12 Below: Chloe McCallum Year 13
Art Gallery
Art and Design, Photography and Design Technology Gallery
Stephanie Collins Year 11 Below: Izzy Borman-Clerk Year 13
Chloe MacCallum Year13
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Abstract detail, Emma Gray Year 12
Caitlin Westgate Year 13
Anna Gleis Year 11
Above: Charlotte Raven Year 11 Left: Felt vessel, Chloe Lovick Kelly Year 12 Below: Ceramic pot, Niamh Comac Year 11
Art Gallery Left: Aleena Siddiqui Year 11
Right: Elvis, Chloe Kelly Year 11 Right: Photomontage, Karishma Patel Year 12 Below: Niamh Paul, Year 11
Above: Georgia Ware Lane Year 11
Left: Millie Player Year 11
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Elise Furneaux
Lucinda Archer
Maddie Webster
Bathroom caddy and iPad holder by Beth Edwards
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Year 11 GCSE work
DT Gallery
Emma Hollis
Emily Mills
Abi Pennells Hannah Wooderson
Millie Webb
Arabella Wheeler
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014 Our Old Girls are a diverse and far-flung group of individuals who often return to Bromley High School to offer their advice to girls considering university and career choices. Here they share their own university and work experiences with us. We also chat to one of our oldest Alumnae, Jeanne Izod (née Gilbert, DOB 06/04/1920), as she celebrates her 95th birthday with her daughter Valerie, our Head Girl in 1967. We hope you will stay in touch and join us at our forthcoming Alumnae Events and generally keep the conversation going. For more information contact Denise Woodfield by email: bromleyoldgirls@bro.gdst.net or telephone 020 8781 7025
Nicole Sykes Class of 2010 Whilst I attended Exeter University to study Zoology after my A Levels, my interests changed and I ended up getting involved with campaigning with the Liberal Democrats. I spent my holidays interning – first with the AV referendum campaign, then with Paul Burstow, the MP for Sutton and finally for Vince Cable MP. Straight out of university, Camden Liberal Democrats hired me to be their Campaign Organiser, with responsibilities including everything from running my own office, producing literature, training and managing volunteers, press releases, digital campaigns, strategy, fundraising - and dealing with death threats against my candidate. It was eclectic. I was particularly lucky to have a Campaign Manager there who's also a GDST Old Girl from Nottingham High, who now acts as my mentor. Now I'm the Campaign Manager for Bath and North East Somerset Lib Dems. It's more of a co-ordinating, project and people management role. I'm managing 29 Councillors, an MP who also happens to be the party's Chief Whip, two parliamentary candidates, a score of Council candidates, a full-time paid assistant, three part-time paid interns and about 50 roving volunteers who range from sixth-form students to folk in their 80s who stuff thousands of envelopes by hand. It's a diverse, challenging and fast-paced role, and I'm grateful to Bromley High for setting me up to be able to deal effectively with the dozens of challenges that are thrown my way every day.
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Bromley High Alumnae news Lucy Bubbers Class of 2013 I studied Biology, Chemistry and English Literature at A-level and took up a place at Norwich Medical School, part of the University of East Anglia. Studying Medicine has so far been an incredible adventure! First year was a whirlwind of getting used to life away from home, making new friends and trying to get some work done too. I spend around half my time in lectures and the rest of the time I’m able to gain hands-on experience with GPs and in hospitals. Being on placement at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is fantastic and my first year highlight was assisting in theatre on hip and knee replacements. I was fortunate enough to finish the first year exams in the top ten percent and was awarded a distinction. Second year has been just as brilliant, so far studying cardiovascular, stroke and respiratory medicine. Whilst on placement I have taken arterial blood gases, ECGs and had the privilege of talking to many patients.
Jeanne Izod (nee Gilbert) Class of 1937 Valerie Leyland (nee Izod) Class of 1968 One of our oldest Alumnae Jeanne Izod (nee Gilbert) celebrated her 95th birthday on 6th April. Born in 1920 Jeanne joined the Senior School when she was 11. Her daughter Valerie Leyland (nee Izod) also a Bromley High Alumna was Head Girl in 1968. Valerie is pictured celebrating her mother’s birthday. We spoke to Jeanne about her memories of Bromley High. She joined the senior school in 1931 under the headship of Miss Littlewood. She has good Jeanne celebrated her memories of her schooldays, remembering her 95th birthday with teachers fondly: Miss Sladden, Geography; her daughter Valerie Miss Lord, Maths; Miss Cam, Chemistry and Miss Jones the needlework teacher (‘of course I was hopeless but we liked Jenkin Jones’ she added). Jeanne told us how happy she was at Bromley High and particularly enjoyed belonging to the Dramatic Society and the Choir. She had parts in Alice in Wonderland (either Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum!) and played the Pope in Pygmalian! She remembers singing in assembly and in Pirates of Penzance where, she added, ‘fathers were “roped in” to play male parts’. She remembers cycling to the old School in Bromley South and how those with bicycles used to cycle to the Games field in Bickley for their Cricket and Hockey lessons.
Melissa Orhan Class of 2010 (Camberwell School of Art Foundation then on to Manchester School of Art) I graduated from Manchester School Of Art in June having studied Graphic Design. I am currently in Goa, India and am interning for a web design startup company, Dccper. Although based in India most of their clients are Canadian and British so it really has been amazing experience for me and I have a lot more work to put in my portfolio! I tend to focus on logo and icon design but on the side I love to design patterns and have been trying to get some interest in my pattern designs so when I'm back in England I will try and push this further. I leave Goa in November but there is talk of me returning in January and being employed properly as part of the Dccper team so I really hope this happens as I'm loving it out in Goa and really enjoying the work I'm doing!
After graduating from Warwick University with a Psychology degree I secured a three month internship with a PR & Marketing company in Soho, and was thereafter promoted to Account Executive. This was an exciting but incredibly fast-paced job, working with several Londonbased ‘lifestyle’ clients including a West End bar and a dating agency, and also helping to event manage the 2012 London Lifestyle Awards. Following this, I combined work with my dance interest in a fixed term marketing contract for International Dance Shoes, who supply all the shoes for Strictly Come Dancing as well as professional and amateur competitive dancers worldwide. At the moment, I’m an Account Manager for a specialist marketing company helping independent vets, opticians and dentists all over the country. As well as giving marketing advice to clients and writing content for them ranging from poster text to full websites, I also co-ordinate and event manage workshop meetings in London three times a month, and travel to Belfast and Edinburgh every quarter. Work life is always busy but never boring!
Lucy Botham
Katherine Murphy
Class of 2012 Having joined Bromley High in Reception, stating in the school magazine at age four that ‘when I grow up I want to be a vet,’ I went to study veterinary medicine at the University of Liverpool in 2012. Throughout school, I was determined to pursue this highly competitive course and I’m glad that I was never persuaded to change direction as I am in my 3rd year and I absolutely love it! Each day is filled with lectures covering areas such as the correct nutrition for a dairy cow, how to deal with upset clients and varying respiratory diseases for all animal species! There is always something new to learn! My advice to anyone interested in studying veterinary medicine is to fully research all aspects of the course and complete lots of work experience to make sure that this is truly what you want to study. The course is extremely demanding, you have a lot more contact hours than most other courses and you are expected to complete 8 weeks of placement each year during your summer holidays. If anyone has any questions about either applying for veterinary medicine or the course in general, I am happy to help. I am contactable through the careers department at BHS
Class of 2010 I studied Classical Civilisation, Geography and Chemistry for A level together with AS Physics and Biology, and then went to Durham University to study Anthropology. Durham offers both biological and social anthropology in one degree and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In my third year I studied Palaeoanthropology (or, the evolution of hominins, such as neanderthals and “Lucy”), Social evolution and History and Theory of Medicine. I spent time in South Africa at a research camp studying samango monkeys, baboons and slow lorises. I also lived in a local village to undertake participant observation, where I worked in a daycare centre and followed community nurses on their rounds. After completing an MSc in Palaeopathology – also at Durham – I am currently working for Thames Valley Police, where I am studying frontline policing. In this role I am looking to maintain a high quality of service in the face of budget cutbacks. I am collecting information from forces across three counties, and am writing a report of recommendations that will be presented to the Assistant Chief Constable.
Alex Chrysostomou Class of 2014 I’m currently in my first year studying Medicine at Cardiff University. I graduated with A Levels in Maths, Biology and Chemistry and was also very proud to be Deputy Head Girl. Since moving to medical school my life has changed dramatically! My days are now filled with lectures and case study groups as well as more practical learning experiences like dissecting a cadaver and mock patient examinations! I am also on placement one day a week in Newport, spending time at the Hospital and a GP’s surgery to reinforce the work we study in lectures. The course is both challenging and fascinating and I am enjoying every minute. It is certainly the case that medics ‘work hard and play hard’ and I’m having the time of my life in Cardiff! Living in a Hall of Residence was the best decision for my first year and it enabled me to meet many new friends, and together we are enjoying both university and city life! I had an incredibly happy thirteen years at Bromley High and I’ll always be grateful for the support and encouragement – both academically and personally – that the School gave me as well as the lifelong friends I met there.
Leila Boulden Class of 2013 I studied English Literature, History and Government and Politics at A Level. Currently I am at the University of Southampton studying Law and in my second year. Studying Law has been a rewarding and challenging degree, which has taught me so many transferrable skills, one being how to work under pressure. In my first year I got involved with loads of extracurricular activities, such as national mooting, being Course Representative and partaking in University negotiation competition. The most rewarding activity since being at University is being elected the President of the University of Southampton Law Society in my second year. This was a massive achievement for me, because I was up against strong competition and it’s a great responsibility. Through this role I have liaised with global law firms, met lawyers who are the best in their field and negotiated sponsorship packages for the society. Although studying can be overwhelming at times with all the reading, I’m looking forward to applying for Training Contracts with City Law Firms and putting all the theory into practice.
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Alumnae
Sorcha Exworthy Class of 2009
Alumnae
Stephanie Mansi Class of 2009 Head Girl 2008-2009 I went to Loughborough University to study Management Sciences at the Business School (a 4 year course) and spent my full third year (2011-12) within the Film Marketing team for Europe at Warner Bros. Pictures. I worked on digital advertising campaigns for WB's film releases. In the summer before going back to uni for my final year, I completed internships with both a digital marketing firm and a publicity firm. I graduated with First Class Honours in 2013 and went straight into employment, working for Odyssey Mobile Interaction, a mobile advertising firm. I started as an Account/ Campaign Exec and worked up to a Client Services Manager, which involved the campaign management of multiple mobile media campaigns across a range of different brands/clients. After 18 months at Odyssey, I left for pastures new and have just started a new job at MediaCom (the UK's largest media agency) working as a Senior Comms Planner on the Sky account. I absolutely love my job and the fact that every campaign presents new challenges keeps the work really stimulating – plus, working for the biggest and best media agency in the UK is an added bonus!
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ALUMNAE IN SCHOOL RECENTLY The Annual Reception provided an occasion for our Alumnae to reconnect with the school, often resulting in current girls being able to benefit first-hand from their experiences.
Cupcakes – decorated in the school colours (which have become a bit of a tradition!) – and a glass of fizz provided welcome refreshment during an evening of non-stop conversation and reminiscing for staff, past and present, and Old Girls alike.
Alice Young Class of 2009 Alice has studied at Oxford for the past five years graduating with a high 2:1 in Archaeology and Anthropology from Hertford College and then completing an MPhil in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology. Alice very kindly agreed to conduct practice interviews for our Oxbridge candidates; the girls found the experience invaluable and are extremely grateful to her. ‘Now that I am back in Bromley I look forward to catching up with Bromley High and reconnecting with the school!’
ALUMNAE IN THE NEWS Dr Mary Baker MBE (BHS 1943 – 1953) has stepped aside from the Presidency of the European Brain Council to preside over the organisation and running of the Year of the Brain, a programme to raise awareness to our most important and fascinating organ. With over 200 organisations holding events all over Europe this initiative is coming to life. In October 2014 Aston University hosted a special lecture to mark the YOTB; Dr Baker attended this and speakers included Sir Colin Blakemore, Terry Waite, CBE and the British Alpine skier, Anna Turney. (Dr Mary Baker has very kindly agreed to speak as part of our Academic Lectures series and will also be our Prize Giving Guest of Honour in 2015)
Emma Norton who left Bromley High last year (2014) to read Medicine at St George’s Medical School was awarded a prize for the second highest Salters’ A Level Chemistry mark in the UK. The magnificent Fishmongers’ Hall in London hosted the annual Salters’ Awards for Excellence in Science at A Level and at Graduate level; Emma received her award from Lord Sainsbury of Turville. She receives a prize of £200 from The Salters’ Company.
I was extremely proud to be able to witness Emma collect her prize and share in her success along with some distinguished scientists and guests at the Ceremony. She deserves the highest accolade for her achievements and the ceremony was a fitting tribute to all who received their award Dr Rowley Head of Chemistry
Dr Rowley with Emma and her mother at the awards ceremony at Fishmongers’ Hall, London
SHOULD WE HAVE MORE REFERENDUMS?
IS DIGITAL DEMOCRACY THE WAY FORWARD
Following the Representation of the People Act in 1969 there was universal suffrage in the UK for those over 18. Now, many argue that the voting age should be further reduced to 16; this has already taken place for the Scottish Independence referendum. Should the rest of the UK follow suit for general elections or are 16- and 17-yearolds too politically immature? It seems contradictory, even hypocritical, to deny the vote to 16-year-olds, who are already entitled to participate in many parts of civil society, such as the trade union movement. More importantly, this fails a simple ethical principle: denied the right to vote, 16-yearolds in the military cannot hold to account the very political leaders who could decide to deploy our Armed Forces. In contrast to this, the idea that 16- and 17-year-olds have rights without responsibilities has become less relevant since the school leaving age has been increased to 18. Arguably, now that young people have to remain in education until 18 by law, they will no longer pay tax. In conclusion, the argument for lowering the voting age in UK general elections has been diminished since the increase in school leaving age was brought into statute law.
In the Scottish independence referendum the No vote won the day – but it is worth taking a look at the arguments. Economics: The ‘Yes’ Campaign argued that an independent Scotland could hold its own on the international economic stage, taking in even more money from North Sea oil and emulating the ‘Norwegian model’ of financial success. The ‘Better Together’ Campaign countered that Scotland would not necessarily be granted a sterling currency union nor direct entry to the EU. World affairs: In addition to suggesting that Scotland might be blocked from EU membership, ‘Better Together’ argued that an independent Scotland would suffer a loss of reputation, with companies leaving it and NATO and UN influence significantly reduced. The ‘Yes’ Campaign argued that Scotland could forge its own path, freed from the responsibility of harbouring Trident nuclear weapons and able to move away from Westminster’s English Conservative bias. National spirit: Finally, the ‘Yes’ Campaign played on Scottish nationalism, with the SNP timing the vote to coincide with the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, while ‘Better Together’ argued that, having been together since 1707, we simply work better as a single state.
A referendum is an opportunity for the people to vote on a specific issue. They differ from general elections, as we are making a decision ourselves rather than electing MPs to make decisions for us. Referendums are not used widely in the UK: apart from the vote on Scottish independence, the last one was in 2011 regarding the introduction of a new voting system called AV. An argument in favour of their wider use is that they encourage participation and allow the government to consult the people other than just at election time. This form of direct democracy can help to re-engage voters with politics and democracy. Also, referendums arguably allow for a government that is more in touch with the electorate. However, it could be said that such decisions should be left to the professionals as they are more able to come up with solutions. By shifting their responsibilities to the people they are undermining their own decision-making role. Furthermore, referendums provide decisive answers to specific issues. However, the turnouts of referendums have been declining, with the 2011 AV referendum having a turnout of 47%. This means that the results may not reflect the desires of the whole population, only those who voted.
Digital democracy is simply using 21st-century information and communications to promote democracy. It is an alternative to compulsory voting and makes voting easier and more convenient. It enables citizens to express their views without having to leave home. It is thus likely to have a positive impact on participation rates and, in turn, on levels of political education. It is cheaper and easier to organize than referendums, and so could be held more frequently, meaning that citizens become active participants in politics rather than passive recipients. However, one problem with any attempt to make participation easier is that scrutiny of the process becomes weaker. The great advantage of physical participation is that people’s identities can be effectively checked and the process of voting can be properly policed. Additionally, digital voting would further erode the public dimension of political participation, reducing democratic citizenship to a series of consumer choices. Overall, although digital democracy is convenient and cheap to organise, its introduction would do little to bridge the gap between ‘information poor’ and ‘information rich’, indicating that it may not be the way forward.
Angharad Hunter
Sarah Christie
Liz Kelleher
Folu Alao
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The political face of the UK is constantly evolving, giving the girls plenty to explore and debate in GPS classes. Here four sixth-formers analyse issues that have caught their interest this year
SCOTLAND DECIDES: UNITED WE STAY
Government and Politics
‘ ‘‘ ‘ SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO VOTE AT 16?
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
2013-14 has been another busy year in the Junior School, with so many events, trips and visitors arranged to enrich the learning experience of the girls. They have embraced the wide range of extra-curricular opportunities on offer, extending their knowledge and skills in all areas and at the same time a great deal of fun was had by all! The following pages in the Junior section of the magazine are intended to provide you with a flavour of what life is like for the girls on a daily basis. It is not possible to report on all their achievements, but you should gain a real sense of what the girls themselves feel has been their favourite aspect of the year. Particular highlights for me were the wonderful Italian Restaurant with homemade pizza made by the Year 3 girls and having the Mayor of Bromley visit the Year 6 girls as part of their Enterprise Day. The girls have displayed their usual enthusiasm for taking on a challenge and teams have entered many competitions at school, local and national level in sport, music, mathematics and handwriting. We also entered a team in the GDST quiz and made it through to the quarter final stage. The girls have performed with confidence and enjoyment on many occasions to different audiences. The girls always impress me with their ability to use their initiative and suggest ideas that they feel will enhance and improve our school community. The charity Talent Show and Craft Fair was one such example, with the whole school pulling together to raise enough money for Mamotsekuwa, our sponsored child, to be educated for two years. I would like to thank you, as parents, for your continued support of everything we do in the Junior School. The partnership of girls, parents and staff ensures that we are a strong, vibrant community. I look forward to a happy and successful year ahead, and hope you enjoy reading this year’s magazine.
Headmistress Junior School September 2014 68
The girls always impress me with their ability to use their initiative and suggest ideas that they feel will enhance and improve our school community.
Junior School Foreword
Our team in the GDST quiz made it through to the quarter final stage.
From top: GDST Quiz quarter final team, Year 3 Italian Restaurant, Year 5 Maths Blast Competition at Eltham College.
Above: Taking on a challenge with the English Primary Schools Chess Association National Championships Left: An attentive audience listens to the Mayor speak during a visit on Year 6 Enterprise Day
‘A particular highlight for me was the wonderful Italian Restaurant with homemade pizza made by the Year 3 girls’. 69
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014 Our topics are further enhanced with exciting trips out and some visitors to the school. This year we visited Jubilee Park, Legoland, the Museum of Childhood and we travelled around Bromley on an old Routemaster bus. We welcomed the owl man, tiny visitors from newborn babies to 3-year-olds, and also a dancer who delivered the ‘Road to Brazil’ dance workshop.
I felt shy when I started at school but then I made friends in the playground. We played in the sandpit and the house together. Victoria
We made models out of different things. I made a big rocket – I liked the jets I put on the back! Maizie-Anne Taking to the air with model space rockets (above) and hot-air balloons (below) as part of the summer term’s transport project Above: Enjoying the view from an opentop Routemaster. Far left: Investigating the natural world with the help of the computer microscope. Left: Trying out a few moves with the ‘Road to Brazil’ dance workshop
I learnt to put the tissue paper on the balloon with glue. They were very colourful when we had finished. Phoebe
Above: Teddies played an important part in learning about size during maths classes Left: Measuring height using coloured bricks Above right: Making a new friend at the Museum of Childhood!
In our class assembly I went on a journey around the world in a balloon and a ship. I was Phileas Fogg Nicole We rode our bikes outside and had a race together. We had a big photo with all of our bikes and scooters lined up. Serena
In the Autumn term, we started with the text ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’ and an investigation to find out who had been sleeping in the classroom! This took us on an adventure into the school grounds and the local outdoor area of Jubilee Park to investigate where bears and other woodland creatures live. We became experts on midnight creatures, learning about nocturnal animals and investigating science topics of habitats and light and dark. In the Spring term we enjoyed the theme ‘Here I am’ and brought a little of home into our new learning environment. We talked about our most precious things. We learnt about our bodies and our senses with a listening walk around school, exploring our sense of smell, tasting different foods and discovering how to keep healthy. In the Summer term, we went ‘Up, Up and Away’ with our transport topic. Mr Gumpy took us on an exciting adventure in his motor car, before we boarded the train to take a look through the train window. We were allowed to show off our own two wheels on our ‘Bring Your Bike to School Day’ and experimented with floating and sinking as we designed and built our own boats to test on the water. We have been very busy in our first year at Bromley High making new friends and learning lots of exciting new things.
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Reception
In maths we played lots of different games. We had to sort teddies into their different sizes, then we had to write down how many were big, medium and small. Lily
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
The Year 1 classes have had a very exciting time. We had a letter from an explorer called Will Snow and went on a polar expedition to investigate the topic of ‘Fire and Ice’. We were visited by a real-life explorer and learnt about the effectiveness of blubber. We then moved ‘Deep Down Under’ the sea for our next topic. We enjoyed making a message in a bottle and finding out about creatures under the sea. We had a fantastic trip to the Sea Life centre in London where we saw lots of underwater creatures. Our final topic of the year was ‘Into the Woods’, through a stunning start of woodland box creations, we were visited by a Gruffalo who needed our help to find woodland creatures. We had a lovely time visiting Jubilee Park where we explored mapping and collected natural objects to create Andy Goldsworthy art. Both Year 1 classes performed an assembly to the Junior School; 1B presented all they had learnt in their woodland topic including miming, dancing and singing whilst 1H were busy bees and told us all about being helpful and hard-working. The visit to the Wildwood gave the girls a fabulous finish to the year and we had a wonderful time meeting the creatures we had been learning about throughout the term.
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We got to touch some blubber and it felt wobbly and cold. Aoife
At the Sea Life centre we saw some jellyfish in a tank, with a light that made the jellyfish look colourful. Jessica Year 1 girls exploring the world from school and on day trips.
I loved the Sea Life centre because we got to stand on some glass which was on top of sharks! Georgina
Year 1
I remember seeing a field with some pretty flowers and a really huge, long log in the forest. Zahra
Left: Creating a model of London buildings, below and right: presenting woodland boxes
Making a shelter for the Gruffalo and sharing woodland finds on a walk in jubilee Park
I really loved making the model of London and burning it down. Rebecca
At Wildwood we saw some wolves and a man let us stroke some rats. They were called Big Rat and Small Rat Connie
Creating a clay hedgehog. Below: learning about wild life at Wildwood.
When we went to Jubilee Park we made maps and it was so much fun. Isabelle
Wildwood was my favourite school trip in year 1. I liked seeing all of the different animals. My favourite animal was the otter. Ella
Some people were dressed up as the Gruffalo and we had to guide them using our maps. Rhia 73
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
On the walk to Jubilee Park I found it very exciting to see the animals. It was interesting because you could learn about what types of animals live in each section of the woods. Meri
I enjoyed the WildWood because it was fun. My favourite bit was when we saw the bison. Hiral Creating artwork based on the wildwood back in the classrom
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My favourite thing was when we saw a real reptile [a snake] that was slithery, dark and light green as it hissed loudly. Avani
When we went to Jubilee Park, there were lots of buttercups and there was a small river that had a plank of wood over the top so people can walk over it. Poppy
It was a very funny day with Pirate Ron as he was very clumsy and made us all laugh. Ramya
From top: Pirate Ron and Pirate Day; making models of London Buildings to learn about the Great Fire of London and getting dressed for a Polar expedition.
The Wind in the Willows play was great fun and I liked the songs. I enjoyed playing my part because my lines were funny. The audience laughed and I felt proud. Issie Polar Fun Day was very fun. Two of us got to dress up in clothes. It was really interesting what the man told us- for example they got blisters on their feet when they climbed the mountain. Rebecca
Year 2 have had a fantastic time this year learning through the creative curriculum and enhancing our knowledge with trips and visits. We enjoyed the ‘Fire and Ice’ topic – learning about hot countries and then coming back to the U.K when we went back in time to learn about the Great Fire of London. We had a great time making models of London buildings and then taking them onto the school field to burn whilst we sang ‘London’s Burning!’ We then moved onto learning about Ice and Polar Regions. It was very exciting when we were visited by a polar explorer. For our ‘Deep Down Under’ topic, we learnt all about under the sea creatures and habitats. We started off our topic by exploring the world of pirates and we had a visit from Pirate Ron for the day. We enjoyed learning about Jacques Cousteau who invented the aqua-lung and a particular highlight was the trip to the London Aquarium to see the creatures closeup! We went ‘Into the Woods’ and were visited by the Gruffalo who left such a mess in our classrooms! We began to teach him about different woodland animals. We went to the WildWood in Herne Bay and enjoyed seeing all the different animals especially the bison and the owls. The girls in Year 2 put on an excellent performance of ‘The Wind in the Willows’ at the end of the summer term. Their acting was wonderful and the girls enhanced the story with their beautiful singing and dancing. A fantastic way to end their time in the Preps!
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Year 2
What I enjoyed most about the Great Fire of London was making our own houses in pairs. I learnt that 9 people died and because it was windy the fire kept on spreading. Eve
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Through drama, the girls are able to transport themselves to another place or time or put themselves in another person’s shoes. They can explore their own feelings and those of others and they can have fun! They can learn to speak out confidently and with good intonation when performing to an audience and they can acquire the skills needed for discussion and debate. All the girls have the opportunity to take part in plays, productions and assemblies during the year. The Hawthorns Christmas production was called Celebrate! It marked Bromley High School’s 130th birthday and followed the history of the school – and the events which were happening in the country at the time – through action, song and dance. We saw a Victorian Christmas, a suffragette march, evacuees leaving war-torn London, the Swinging Sixties and much more through the eyes of past Headmistresses and pupils of the school. The whole evening culminated in the first public performance of a song cycle specially commissioned by the GDST to mark its 140th birthday. The composer, Sheila Wilson, came to listen to the girls performing her work. She was absolutely delighted with the singing and the enthusiasm of all the Hawthorns girls. The girls in Year 2 presented a delightful version of The Wind in the Willows and the girls in Years 3 to 6 gave two superb performances of “Rainmaker”, a musical set in the Guatemalan rainforest. This was staged in the senior school hall with stage lights, make-up and stunning costumes. All Hawthorns girls performed confidently and enthusiastically to appreciative audiences of family and friends.
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! e t a r b e Cel Confident and enthusiastic performers
130 years of Bromley High School brought to life through action,song and dance.
Junior Drama
The Junior girls entertained us on a watery theme with lively performances of Wind in the Willows and Rainmaker.
e h t n i d n i W llows Wi Hawthorn girls gave the first public performance of a new song cycle by Sheila Wilson (above with Mrs Clare)
r e k a m n Rai
Composer Sheila Wilson was absolutely delighted with the singing and enthusiasm of all the Hawthorns girls.
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Year 3 have had a fantastic year. We started by embarking on an ‘Italian Adventure’ where we learned about the life and times of the Ancient Romans and also modern-day Italy. We began with an exciting archaeological dig in the school grounds searching for artefacts. It was fascinating to explore Crofton Roman Villa and discover that Romans lived in the local area. Our Roman Day was very memorable – we particularly enjoyed participating in the Roman feast. We interviewed Marcus, a ‘real-life’ Roman, in our video conference with the Museum of London. The topic culminated with our ‘Fabulous Finish’ presentation to parents, where we sang songs and shared our home-made pizzas with them. Our journey continued to Mexico where we encountered the Aztecs. We particularly enjoyed learning how they discovered chocolate. Our interest and taste buds were stimulated by our visit from a manager at Hotel Chocolat! The beating of the drum on our Mexicolore Day signalled the start and set the tone of a very exciting day involving music and drama. Our learning flowed into the summer term, when we enjoyed studying ‘Rivers’. We learned about their formation from source to sea, were surprised to find that Bromley has many local rivers and we learned about waste water treatment. Our topic finale certainly made a splash! We thoroughly enjoyed getting our wellies wet when we investigated the River Darent with rubber ducks! What a wonderful learning journey we had together this year!
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Above: The girls enjoyed their trip to Crofton Roman Villa and had fun dressing up for Roman Day (right and above right)
The topic I liked the best was ‘Chocolate’ partly because we got tasters of chocolate but also because I enjoyed learning how chocolate is made. Zara
Below: Some of our young geologists exploring rocks and identifying minerals at ‘Rock Circus’. Right: budding archaeologists unearthing treasures in the school grounds.
I enjoyed making new friends in year 3. Leah
I loved the visitors, especially when we learnt about the Aztecs and Mexicolore came. They made it realistic and it was so much fun playing the big drums and chanting. Raakavi
Year 3
I enjoyed learning an extra language, which was Spanish, and I can’t wait until next year when we get to learn German. Olivia Right and inset: Artistic endeavours this term ranged from traditional waercolour to more fanciful creations. Below: Fun on the River Darent included a colourful duck race.
Above and right: Drumming Aztec-style, and making delicious pizzas
I loved making and decorating the pizzas for our Italian afternoon. I designed mine with the Italian flag on it. Olivia 79
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
The best bit of Year 4 was doing Forest School. Forest School was a great way to learn about the environment and have fun. We had to wear waterproof clothes so that we didn’t get wet. We could get muddy, look at bugs and worms, identify the trees or build shelters out of sticks. We whittled some arrows and made an archery range and then enjoyed shooting arrows at the archery board. Charlotte and Lillie
Above: Making instruments using recycled materials for Sustainability day. Right: Exploring the Maritime Museum and becoming a pirate!
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I liked making our Tudor houses, it was difficult sawing the exact lengths of wood we needed. Gabriella
Above: Looking closely at forest finds. Right: Carrying out science investigations and working as a team.
We really enjoyed studying Clarice Cliff and Georgia O’Keefe. We loved creating our Clarice Cliff bowls, and had to paint them with very bold colours. We also liked Georgia O’Keefe’s style of art because she used lots of detail in her paintings. The highlight of our year was drawing daisies up close, inspired by Georgia O’Keefe. Hannah and Alice
The highlight of Year 4 was making and designing biscuits. Our group created lemon biscuits – we got to eat them in the end and they were yum! We worked great as a team and now we know why sometimes it doesn’t work at home! Freya, Keren and Hannah
Above and right: The girls loved dressing up in Bollywood costumes and decorating their hands with Henna tattoos. They also transformed themselves with Tudor headdresses and Indian masks.
I really enjoyed learning about the Tudors, especially Tudor Day when I learnt about the Tudor pillory as a form of punishment and how horrible it was. Annie
In Year 4 we had India Day. It was really fun and India is a fascinating place to learn about. I really enjoyed cooking Bombay potatoes and having henna tattoos printed on us. I loved being able to experience Indian culture and wear traditional costume. Saskia
Year 4 have discovered ‘Tudor Treasures’, journeyed to far-off lands uncovering the ‘Jewels of the East’ and become ‘Robin’s Recruits’, exploring the Forests of Bromley High. In the Autumn term, we took a step back in time to investigate life in the Tudor period. We had great fun studying artefacts with Bromley Museum and took part in an action-packed Tudor Day. When we visited the National Maritime Museum we enjoyed learning about life on board a Tudor ship. In the Spring term, we wrote letters to our link school in Bombay and compared our lives with the lives of people who live in India. We found it fascinating to discover the children’s hobbies, fashions, music and sports. We took part in a celebration of Indian culture by cooking and tasting food, creating Rangoli patterns, listening to stories and dancing ‘Bollywood style’. In the Summer term, we got very messy exploring the forest, building shelters and learning survival skills. Whilst visiting Howletts Wildlife Park, we investigated habitats and animal adaptations. We took part in an exciting workshop on sustainability and performed a song for the School website. Throughout the year we have enjoyed taking responsibility for the Bromley High guinea pigs, Boris and Half-Pint – which gave us a chance to play with them, too.
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Year 4
The thing we loved the most about Year 4 was looking after the guinea pigs at Guinea Pig Club. We were responsible for feeding, stroking and playing with them. Isabella and Francesca
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
I found a worm, I think I’m going to call it Speedy because it is very quick! Annabel
I liked sharing our treasures at base camp, in a circle of logs. I really liked Aoife’s treasure because it felt squishy but it looked like a hard rock! Tilly I really enjoyed our last week at Forest School. We roasted marshmallows on the fire, sang campfire songs and had fun with our friends. Kirsty
Above: Setting off for Forest School. Below: a note in the woods. Right: Speedy the wiggly worm.
I liked working with Sara when we built our shelter. The logs were really heavy but we worked together to lift them. Emma
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I love learning about the environment. I had never held or even encountered a frog before. It was amazing! Hannah Top: around the camp fire. Above: Making a shelter. Left: Climbing trees. Right: Year 1 looking closely at bugs and mini-beasts.
We had to be really careful with the newt that we found. Newts are really rare and it didn’t like being in the bright sunshine, so we put it back under a dark, damp rock. Anya
Forest School was really fun. We learnt about all the strange creatures and worked with girls we had not worked with before in the classroom. Rohini
Top right: identifying forest finds. Above: Making bows and whittling arrows. Right: Natural art with mud glue. Left: Investigating leaves
I wish our classroom was in Forest School, then we could have Forest School every day! Ava We count how many children are in the Forest School area so that no-one gets lost. We use the boundary to keep us safe. Jessica
Junior Forest School
Exploring the Great Outdoors! This year several classes have had the opportunity to take their learning outdoors into a forest setting. Trees, worms, plants, stones and even handsomelooking toads and newts now provide an exciting environment to stimulate learning and develop skills as the girls experience Forest School as a new addition to the curriculum. Forest School promotes self-confidence and independence in a safe and secure environment. Set in the woodland, on the edge of the school playing fields, it provides a superb opportunity for the girls to encounter the beauty, joy, awe and wonder of the natural world. In all weathers, the girls go outside dressed in their warm clothes and waterproofs to undertake hands-on discovery tasks, investigations and independent activities, such as shelter building, environmental art, plant identification, bug hunting, mud sculpture, tool use and fire lighting. We are looking forward to rolling this programme out to other age groups next year.
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
We started the year by immersing ourselves in Victorian life: the junior hall was transformed into a gloomy Victorian school room, and we became detectives, searching through the belongings of lost-luggage suitcases to identify possible owners and working out how everyday objects were used. We also made Victorian samplers, sponge cakes and ceramic plates. Next we travelled further back to the time of the ancient Greeks. We had a heated debate on the advantages and disadvantages of being a Spartan or an Athenian! We also tried making Greek jewellery, following Greek recipes and researching Greek philosophy. Our poetry lessons were inspired by Kit Wright’s poem The Magic Box and we wrote our version of wonderful things we would put in our own magic box. In the summer term our classic author study was based on the novels of Michael Morpurgo. We wrote an opening to our own adventure story in his style, using cliffhangers for our friends to guess what might happen next. We enjoyed collaborative maths investigation – especially being able to ‘spend’ £100 from a catalogue of offers and discounts! We also tested our reaction times in a combined project with science, which made us realise why we need maths in our everyday lives. We were enthralled by the rainforest man, and handled a wide range of creatures. Some of us were even brave enough to touch a giant stick insect! Our trip to Metro Bank helped us understand money and finance. We combined this with a visit to The Body shop, Lush and Hotel Chocolat, which linked with our ethically sourced product research, choosing to spend or save our money! For our residential trip to Sayers Croft, the weather let us enjoy activities from pond dipping to shelter building and orienteering. We came back exhausted but with new confidence. Finally, studying artists including Patrick Caulfield and Bridget Riley enabled us to produce eye-catching art of our own.
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Left: Thinking on the sandwalk at Down House Right: Exploring our new iPads! We used a variety of apps to present our work, and then created movie trailers
Fired Up was a really interesting trip which taught us to plan carefully for a brilliant finished painted plate in the style of William Morris.
I liked Year 5 when we did the Greeks because we got to make things as part of our Greek Personalised Project. It also helped me to learn more about their culture. Above: Dramatising a Greek myth during Greek Day Left: Creating ceramic designs in the style of William Morris Below: Getting to know Metro Man at the bank. Right: Building our land yachts
Year 5
In Year 5 we took part in debates. It was amazing to disocver what you were capable of doing and it helped with your courage to speak in front of people. Some of us took part in a debating club at lunchtime too.
Victorian Day sent a shiver down our spines but let us learn more about this era and what it was like to be a Victorian school child. Right: Someone had to wear the Dunce’s hat in the Victorian classroom! Below: A mask of Medusa was made for a personalised learning project
Below: Our very individual Victorian samplers
Above: Doing the laundry, Victorianstyle. Below: Joining Senior girls for science on Cross Phase day
Above: Holding a stick insect and overcoming fears with rainforest creatures
The Year 5 trip to Sayers Croft was an enjoyable experience. It gave us all a chance to work together as a team and bond as a year group.
We were lucky enough to be able to make delicious cocktails using two fruits of our choice. The experience was fantastic and our cocktails were brilliant! 85
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Above and left: Year 6 and 7 girls performing in Normandy on the Middle School Music Tour
Our visit coincided with the 70thanniversary celebrations of the Normandy landings. The local mayor said the performance was especially moving because “the elderly residents of the town were about the same age as you girls when our country was liberated by your great-grandfathers� 86
Above: Year 2 girls trying their hand at music technology Above right: The Hawthorns Orchestra tunes up for a concert. Right: Senior citizens of Lauriston House were entertained by Year 3 girls singing at their Christmas Party
Year 3 Shazia Khan-Bourne Grace Wu Year 4 Rohini Kumar Year 5 Francine Bibby Sophie Lee Year 6 Madeleine Compton Micol Febles Victoria Paddle Emily Watts Orchestra section leaders: Aidene Quek Beth Marsch Strings group leader: Ella Gilbert
Playing percussion instruments, taking graded exams and performing in concerts and festivals are all part of the musical life of the school.
Junior Music
MUSIC TROPHY WINNERS 2013-2014
As you walk around the Junior School, you can usually hear the sound of music – and not just from the music wing. Songs are often used to reinforce learning in maths, phonics, languages and other areas. In their timetabled music lessons the girls perform, compose and listen with increasing confidence and ability. They play a wide range of classroom percussion instruments and many also take individual instrumental lessons, gaining success in their graded examinations and local festivals. There are many co-curricular musical activities taking place every week, with something for everyone, whether they are just beginning or are a more advanced musician. The girls love singing and playing for others in productions, informal concerts, topic presentations, assemblies and even in our talent show! They perform to members of our local community at school and elsewhere and last year, our Year 6 girls sang with the SHINE project choir on the community festival day. The Middle School Music Tour for girls in Years 6 and 7 was to Normandy. We visited the famous tapestry and the local market in the town of Bayeux and the girls were able to practise their French speaking skills as they shopped. The girls gave concerts in local churches and at a community centre. Our visit coincided with the 70th-anniversary celebrations of the Normandy landings. The local mayor said the performance was especially moving because ‘the elderly residents of the town were about the same age as you girls when our country was liberated by your great-grandfathers’.
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I had never actually made mayonnaise before, but after seeing the chef make it, I was sure I could handle it. I was wrong – the chef made it look easy, but it wasn’t. My team worked well together and made the best mayonnaise. I hope I will make it again at home. Micol Above: the Mayor of Bromley inspired us with a talk on business and enterprise. Left: Braving the elements on board HMS Belfast.
I loved the Crows’ Nest experience…you got to climb really high and then you were pushed off the crates and dangled in the air for a bit. Charlotte We learnt how to make a fire using flint and cotton wool. We also made a shelter using logs and rope. I enjoyed working as a team to build the shelter. Eleanor
The girls worked in teams to pitch their business ideas to the Dragons, and were delighted when their projects raised money for charity.
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For our Swinging Sixties afternoon the girls got into the groove with colourful costumes. Left: learning about Life in Ancient Egypt.
Learning to kayak and acquiring team building skills in France
Year 6 has had a very busy year. Our study of Britain since 1939 included a visit to HMS Belfast, moored on the River Thames, where we learned how it played a vital part in the WW2 Arctic convoys and D-Day landings. The topic culminated with a ‘Swinging Sixties’ afternoon, comprising dance and drama. Other themed days included Predator and Prey Day, about the barn owl, and Egyptian Day – a hands-on workshop about Ancient Egypt. We enjoyed three cross-phase days, with the girls in Years 5, 7 and 8, making mandala patterns and carnival masks among other activities. Representatives from Transport for London and the LB Bromley Road Safety Unit visited us, to help us learn how to plan our travel safely as we become more independent. We also enjoyed our final session in the Life Bus, in which we have covered so many aspects of PSHE, in such a fun and informative way, during our time in school. In March we won the first round of the GDST Quiz and went through to the final, held here at the end of the summer term. We didn’t win, but our team of Year 6 girls put up a fantastic performance. Our residential trip to Le Chateau du Broutel in France was a great success. We had an action-packed week, enjoying adventure activities and the opportunity to practise our French language skills during trips to local markets. One of the highlights of the year was our Year 6 Enterprise activity. We listened to visiting speakers, including the Mayor of Bromley, who taught us about the challenges of the world of business. We then worked in our teams and pitched our ideas to the ‘Dragons’ for funding. We were delighted when our projects raised hundreds of pounds for charity. It was a lovely end to the year.
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Year 6
Abseiling was so much fun. I was scared when I put my feet over the edge and started my first few steps down, but then I realised that there was nothing to worry about and went down in three jumps. I loved the interviews in Abbeville. It really Charlotte tested our French vocabulary and helped to build our confidence. I thoroughly enjoyed this visit and I loved speaking to local French residents. Aidene
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
The enthusiasm, determination and commitment which the Junior School girls have displayed when participating in a huge variety of sports is always a joy to watch. Clubs in netball, hockey, gymnastics, fencing, swimming, athletics, rounders, tennis, modern and ballroom dancing, cross country and cricket catered for all tastes and abilities and enabled girls to strive to reach the highest standards possible. Our school teams continued to excel and maintained our reputation not only for the outstanding achievements of our top teams, but for the sheer number of teams that we have fielded when we are given the opportunity to enter multiple teams. Highlights this year have included winning both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ team tournaments at the Bromley High Netball Tournament and finishing as runnersup in the plate competition at the Under 11 GDST Netball Rally hosted by Northampton High. We became Kent Champions in the Mini Tennis red and orange team competitions and finished as runnersup in the green event, making us once again the most successful school in Kent. Our gymnasts finished in third place at the Trust Gymnastics Meeting, whilst our swimmers won all their galas, culminating in the hugely satisfying victory by the biggest margin ever against Eltham College! Our girls then joined with the boys from Eltham College to finish as runners-up at the Bromley Borough Primary Schools’ Mixed Hockey Championships and our Year 4, 5 and 6 athletics teams performed strongly across a variety of events to win several athletics meetings against local independent schools.
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Right: Year 6 Fencing club members Below left: Sports Day celebrations Below right: Year 6 on their marks!
The most special time for me in year 5 was when I was invited to be in an athletics meeting. On the day, I felt very scared because I thought that everyone would be better than me but once I had finished my first race, I loved it! Victoria
In Year 5 I got the chance to travel to Northampton High to represent Bromley High at the Netball Trust Rally. I really enjoyed it because I learnt so much and it gave me an idea of what to expect when I am in Year 6. Charlotte
I was so proud that I caught someone out twice when I was on second post in rounders. I was really pleased because it is very hard to catch people out in Year 3. Olivia
At gymnastics, I was very scared about vault but I managed to overcome my fear and I eventually did it and now I find it really easy. Amelie
Above: Inter-house Cross Country winners Above right: Mixed Hockey team Right: Independent Schools’ Athletics Meeting winners
It was an honour to be in the athletics team and I discovered that I was really good at long jump when I finished 3rd in a competition. I worked really hard to get better when I went to athletics club at lunchtime. Elsa 91
Junior Sport
I love PE and everything that we do in lessons. I was particularly thrilled when I was asked to represent the school in a tennis tournament and I now play much more tennis. I hope it will pay off if I get chosen again. Anna
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
The inter-form and inter-house competitions for all girls from Year 3 upwards, together with the netball and rounders leagues for Year 5 and 6, ensured that the principles of fair play, team work and the ability to handle both winning and losing are an integral part of each girl’s learning process, with the older girls being given positions of responsibility such as the captaincy of school teams or league teams, umpiring and assisting with coaching the younger girls.
Below: The Ballroom Dancing Club prepare for the Hawthorns concert
The first time I played rounders, I held the bat in my hand and I knew that I was going to love it. I wasn’t very good at it at first but with the help and encouragement of my teacher, I improved so much with my fielding and batting. I love sport at Bromley High. Janani
I loved all sport this year, especially playing in the Netball and Rounders Leagues because we mixed with Year 6s who helped us to improve. Lots of teamwork was required and it was such fun. Aria
My highlight in Year 3 was when I represented the school in tennis. We worked hard in mini red club to improve our shots and this helped our team to finish in first place at the Kent Championships. It was an honour to be presented with a gold medal and I was so proud. Hannah 92
A special moment in year 4 was when I took part in the Tony James Cross Country run because I worked really hard and came 85th out of lots of girls. I had such fun achieving this. Amelie Above: Kent Schools’ Mini Tennis Green runners-up. Above left: Kent Schools’ Mini Tennis Red champions Right: Gymnastic Trust Rally thirdplace winners
I really enjoy swimming as I think that it’s like another world but under water. When I was chosen for the first time to swim against another school, I was bursting with excitement. Zoe
I used to find sports like rounders and netball difficult but as we played them and learnt more and more in lessons, I got much better at them and rounders is now a sport which I really enjoy. Daisy
Sports Awards 2013 – 2014 All Round Achievement
Amy Claiborne-Dixon Imogen Gush Maddie Bonner
Year 6 Hockey Progress
Faith Coackley
Year 6 Cross Country Progress
Sophia Short
Year 5 Netball Progress
Isabella Harrod
Year 6 Netball Progress
Nikita Dhatariya
Year 6 Netball Achievement
Alex Kazic
Year 6 Gymnastics Achievement
Lola Eftekari
Year 6 Contribution to Team Swimming Alicia Foreman Beth Marsch Year 6 Dance Progress
Above: Inter-house Hockey champions Left: Inter-house Netball winners
In Year 4, every time I was in a tournament or competition, I would wake up that morning feeling quite nervous. When I eventually got to the competition I would become much more confident because I was with my friends and encouraging teachers who were there to support me. Saskia
Every day throughout Year 6, I would always look forward to our games lessons and competitions as it surprised me how much you learn in one lesson. I particularly enjoyed hockey and still do. Many mornings I would have to wake up early, remember all my kit – but it was all worth it once I started playing! I also liked tennis, cross country, dance and rounders and I am proud of what I have achieved in these sports. Pippa
Nancy Cawker
Y4 – 6 Athletics Achievement
Emily Kerr
Year 6 Rounders Progress
Selma Larsson-Yaprak
Year 6 Tennis Progress
Pippa George
Year 3 – 5 Mini Tennis Progress
Keren Itsagwede
Year 6 Helpfulness Award
Isobel Aitken Dyte
Year 3 Swimming Progress
Ira Dubey Cavell Spencer
Year 4 Swimming Progress
Elissa Bonds-Tschuetscher Isabella Fisher
Year 5 Swimming Progress
Anna Wood
Year 6 Swimming Progress
Amanda Malek
Isabella Munday Charlotte Harriss-Orr
In Year 5, I was picked to swim against Eltham College. I felt honoured to have been chosen as it was so exciting to swim against boys. We pushed ourselves hard and beat the boys. It felt great! Thea 93
BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
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On July 4th the whole school came together to celebrate our second Community Festival Day. This year we hosted almost 300 pupils from a range of primary schools including those who attended our SHINE project. The wide range of stalls and activities was really appreciated by the girls and parents alike. The girls really enjoyed meeting our local Bromley Fire Brigade team and Community Police officers and we are grateful that they were able to support us. The Fire Engine was a real hit particularly with our younger guests! The music, PE and dance departments put on a marvellous display of Bromley High talent. We also hosted 50 senior citizens, who had a lovely day. Many of our Year 10s did a marvellous job looking after them. I was particularly taken by one lady of 102 who really enjoyed watching the events of the day unfold. The climbing wall and rodeo were a great hit, although some staff were a little too competitive on the rodeo! The Year 10 pupils showed great leadership skills in planning and managing the Year 5 sports day. Thanks to the PE staff who supported the girls with this event. I was impressed with so many of our girls who supported and helped with the preparations and activities on the day. This was a strong team effort from teachers and support staff, producing a great day for our guests and school.
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Mr Laing Assistant Head
We also hosted 50 senior citizens, who had a lovely day. Many of our Year 10s did a marvellous job looking after them.
Community Festival 2014
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Above: Scaling the heights and testing your nerve on the Climbing wall Above: A grand picnic in the sunshine accompanied by the lower school music ensemble, provides the perfect chance to catch up with friends. Below and left: sampling the Festival day fare...
This year’s Community Festival was bigger and better than before! It was a real treat to be able to welcome so many local children for our now annual Community Festival and to see so many parents, alumnae, and the wider school community here to enjoy a feast of different activities. We are committed to working closely with our neighbours and I hope that they enjoy the opportunity to come and share. # Ms Simpson Former Head
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BROMLEY HIGH SCHOOL 2014
Looking forwards... As you read this magazine, our Junior School Council may well be turning the pages of an outdoor play equipment catalogue. As, with careful guidance from the Head of the Junior School, Mrs Dickerson, the girls themselves will be making the decision on which exciting climbing frames and adventurous play equipment we will be installing in the Early Years playground in the coming months. There is nothing in the world more lovely than the sight of our littlest girls at play and we thank all those whose donations are funding this wonderful extension to their opportunities for outdoor play. For the senior school, we have just had confirmation of the building plans for our very own Fitness Gym by skilful manipulation of existing space in the sports/swimming pool building. However, our project for the Music School remains our key priority in 2015. Amidst the cluttered chairs and tired hangings of the eighties auditorium, a beautiful performance space is fighting to get out. We would very much appreciate your support in turning our tired old auditorium into a beautiful concert and recital room that will be a fitting showcase for our many talented musicians. 96
Back cover by Annie Baxter Fine Art AS This page by Caitlin Westgate Fine Art A2
Bromley High School Blackbrook Lane, Bromley Kent BR1 2TW 020 8781 7000
www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net The Girls’ Day School Trust is a Limited Company Registered in England No 6400. Registered Charity No 306983 Registered Office 100 Rochester Row London SW1P 1JP