Peek Inside a Cobham Hall Classroom

Mini-Beast Invasion

Years 7 and 8 shared their Science lab with a grass snake, a blue-tongued skink, a frilled-neck lizard, a tortoise, a terrapin, a cockroach and a tarantula as Cobham Hall was invaded by an array of mini-beasts.

The creatures were part of a workshop discussing and demonstrating structural differences, and how animals adapt to different habitats. Head of Science Mr Fryer explained why he organised the workshops, “Seeing the animals in the flesh makes the subject all the more real. The students also gain a greater respect for the animals.”

Parents Enter Lab

The Science lab was full of eager pupils on Saturday morning, but instead of the girls, it was their parents!

Following on from a previous successful Parent Workshop, Head of Science, Mr Fryer, decided to again open his lab for parents of our Year 7s. Explaining why, Mr Fryer said, “A key reason for offering these sessions to parents is to allow them to experience what their daughters do in a typical Science lesson.”

It was a morning of discovery for the ‘students’ as they began to understand the pressure of following the instructions exactly, but the elation of successfully carrying out an experiment and seeing the result. Parents carried out several experiments including diffusion, chromatography, and making a temporary slide of onion cells and using a microscope to observe a cell nucleus, and separating salt from a mixture of sand and salt, by filtration and then evaporation.

Spring Chickens

Mr Fryer’s Year 7 Science class were thrilled when the first of the fertilised eggs that were delivered began to hatch during their lesson.

The presence of the eggs, and subsequently the chicks, give girls the chance to experience first-hand just how rapid the development is from fresh hatchling to the cute, fluffy chicks we recognise.

“As always,” explained Head of Science Mr Fryer, “respect for the chicks is absolutely paramount. Their presence prompts the girls to not only understand and witness their growth, but opens wider debate around farming, vegetarianism, and care for animals.”

Staff and pupils throughout the School were invited to visited the chicks at lunchtimes. Once the chicks had developed, girls had the opportunity to handle them. For many this meant overcoming fear – including fear of hurting the chicks, or fear of being pecked. Many girls took the opportunity, and for many it the first time they had held a chick.

Latin Scrabble

Latin GCSE students practised their vocabulary with a game of Scrabble!

Geography Conference

Year 12 Geographers, along with Mrs Keys, headed to Bloomsbury Baptist Church for an A Level Geography Conference, focusing on examination technique as well as covering coastal landscapes, and earth life support systems.

Soviet Propaganda

Year 10 History students made excellent use of the grounds during the early Spring sunshine to create their own Soviet Propaganda films.

Musical Performances

Musicians both experienced and novice took the stage this term. Younger students battled nerves to perform at our Beginners’ Concert, while IB students wowed with recitals.

Careers Advice

It was time to think about the future for Year 10 this term, with a variety of opportunities to consider career paths.

Inspiring Futures, who run the Futurewise careers guidance service, were also in school to run a Business and Enterprise Morning for Year 10. The interactive session encourages the girls to set-up a business and pitch their ideas to the group. This helps develop leadership, creativity, confidence, teamwork and communication skills, as well as an understanding of business and commercial operations.

In addition, girls also had interviews with the Education Business Partnership to establish Work Experience placements in the Summer Term.

University Planning

It wasn’t just Year 10 thinking about their futures this term. Year 12, through Dr Marin’s University Challenge Programme, have had the opportunity to find out more about the requirements for embarking on Law or Medicine, as well as about the process for applying to universities overseas or the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

They got to hear from Year 13s about why they chose their course, as well as have lunch with Elder Louise Read, now studying Law at Warwick University.

There was also a visit from Kat Knight from City University London, to give a presentation to Year 12 students regarding Personal Statements and UCAS application guidance).

Additionally, the girls also visited the Drill Hall Library, at the nearby ‘Universities at Medway’ Campus, for an introduction to a university library and to develop research skills.

Lord of the Flies

Miss West's Year 11 class made 3D islands using the description of the setting from William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies'.

Fair Trade Chocolate

Year 9 split into groups during one Geography lesson. As a “Fair trade chocolate company”, “independent farmers”, “fair trade farmers”, “supermarket” & “shoppers”, the girls learned about Fair Trade.

Indigestion Remedies

Year 7 tested their own methods for working out which indigestion powder was ‘the best’. First, they had to work out a definition of ‘the best’, then test their methods. They could adjust these in light of experience.

Medieval Times

Year 7 enjoyed a Medieval Banquet at school thanks to the Catering Team before heading to nearby Eynsford Castle to learn more about Medieval England.

Eye, Eye!

Year 10 were dissecting eyes as part of their Human Responses topic. They were tasked with locating the lens and using it to magnify writing.

GCSE Hearts

GCSE PE students found an alternative use for their sports equipment, by making models of the heart! The above was deemed by Miss Fautley and Mrs Hooper to be the best model.

Role-Play in Geography

Year 9 built shanty towns to explore how difficult it is for people to live in less developed countries. "Chance Cards" determined future of homes during floods, fires and the building of new legal homes, which saw Mrs Kipling and Mrs Keys 'bulldozing' some buildings!

Twelfth Night

Year 8 turned Miss West’s English classroom into a theatre, staging ‘Twelfth Night’ just before the end of term. They did an excellent job of analysing the play as they went through the scenes.

Choice Chambers

Year 9 had to overcome some fears when they did a biology practical - they were using choice chambers to see if maggots preferred dark or light conditions. But first, they had to pick up the maggots!

Self-Esteem... en español!

Year 7 Spanish Lessons took a Wellbeing twist with girls taking part in activities to raise self-esteem and promote good relationships between students - practicing in English then applying the same idea in Spanish.

Dramatic History

History really comes to life in Miss Williams’s classroom! Both Year 7 and Year 8 enjoyed role playing this term. Year 7 recreated the Feudal System and Year 8’s classroom became a courtroom as they recreated a public enquiry into the conditions in a Victorian Textile Mill.

Forbidden Places

Year 8 investigated and gave short presentations of their findings on the world’s ‘Forbidden Places’ - including Pripyat, Gruinard Island and Area 51.