News@Com Summer 2007

HEALTH BENEFITS

COMBERTONhas been recognised as a Health Promoting School.

‘The National Healthy School Programme supports the links between health, behaviour and achievement; it is about creating healthy and happy young people, who do better in learning and in life.’ (Healthy Schools Programme)

Such concern for the ‘whole’ person is at the heart of our values and aims at Comberton Village College.

We have a long tradition of providing high quality health education and pastoral support. This programme has offered us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate good practice, to identify areas for progression and to set targets for such development.

We have examined school life at CVC through four key themes: personal, social and health education, healthy eating, ‘physical activity’ and emotional health and well-being. Through reviewing our current Drugs and Sex and Relationship Education policies, and writing new food and physical activity policies, we have reflected on our practice and ensured that it is consistent with national guidelines. We have encouraged the whole school community to be involved in this process, including the School Council.

This process has led to key developments in the school’s food provision; the Catering

Department has worked exceptionally hard to ensure that the food provided in school meets national standards. To support such changes, we have also developed the taught curriculum so that pupils have the opportunity to learn the skills needed to make healthy food choices.

We have also highlighted the importance of recognising the mental and social aspects of health by adding new sessions to the Personal Development Programme. We have included units of work which have been written in partnership with the Primary Care Trust, and taken part in the national pilot of the Samaritans’ DEAL project. These sessions have given pupils the opportunity to reflect on strategies for dealing with difficult emotions. Pupils have also become more aware of where they can access information and support. In keeping with our holistic message of health we have led yoga, judo and aerobics sessions to highlight the benefits of physical activity for emotional well-being.

A key strength of the Health Promoting School Programme is its focus on self-reflection and analysis.

As a Health Promoting School we look forward to making further positive changes to the health of all our community.

Becky Lewis, Personal Development Co-Ordinator

TOURISTATTRACTION:The Great Wall of China.

China calling

AGROUPof Year 9 pupils are currently in China as part of Specialist Schools and a Academies Trust ‘Towards the Olympics’ project.

As well as taking part in a sporting and cultural festival with, among others, Comberton’s Chinese partners, Changping No 1 School, they are visiting places such as The Great Wall and The Forbidden City. And there is a chance that many more staff, their families and pupils will be able to experience Chinese culture and see some of next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing.

Director of Sport Nigel Carrick went on a fact-finding mission to China last month and is working towards securing university accommodation and tickets for some of the Games events for up to 200 people. Watch this space!

SHOWER

TIME:For Mr Bellis.

Students splash cash to douse staff

PUPILSraised more than £160 with buckets and water and a few sponges.

“£161 raised for charity over lunch —not bad for half an hour’s work !” said Mr Love, tutor to 10N, who organised the very successful Sponge the Teacher event.

Eight teachers bravely agreed to be doused — Mr Wren, Mr Bellis, Ms Bateson, Mrs Hall, Mrs Jones, Mr Goldring, Ms Salmon and Mr Love —and students paid 50p to throw three sponges at their “favourite” teacher or £3 to tip an entire bucket of water over their head! Various tactics were used by the teachers to keep off the worst of the water. Mrs Jones wore an all-covering white spacesuit, com-

plete with face mask, Mrs Hall opted for umbrella and cagoule, Ms Bateson decided to go with the flow and wore her swimming cap while Mr Love donned swimming goggles. However, all got soaked to great cheering from the crowd.

Mr Wren and Mr Bellis proved the most popular with four full buckets each with Mr Goldring a close second with three.

The money will be split between the charities selected by Year 10 and the year fund.

“What a bracing way to finish the week. We must get Mr Munday on the bench next year —he doesn’t know what he’s missing !” said Mrs Jones.

Pledge to adults

COMBERTON will continue to provide a full community education programme despite continuing cuts in public funding.

The governors are committed to Comberton maintaining its founding principles as a ‘village community college’ and have been looking at ways to ensure this happens.

Principal Stephen Munday said: “This time last year I reported about the significant cuts in public funding to support the type of adult community learning that has always been provided at the college.

“Regrettably, that development has continued this year. There is very little public funding left now that is supporting the majority of the courses that are provided as part of our community education programme.”

No support can be provided from the main school budget as there is no spare funding and, in any case, it would be illegal to divert the provision for school pupils in this way. The easy answer for Comberton would have been simply to give up. The college is not obliged to provide a community education programme. However, given its commitment to the community, this was never an option. The college will run a full and significant community education programme in the coming academic year.

But it is a programme that will have to cover virtually all of its costs in a way that have never previously been required. This will mean some further increase in

! New Prefects in Post — Page 3

! Pupils’ Benchmark — Page 3

! Prize Writer — Page 3

! French Exchange — Page 4

! Holocaust Survivor — Page 4

! School Council at work — Page 4

! Harbour School — Page 5

! Snowdonia — Page 5

! Academy of Death — Page 5

the charge that has to be made for the courses, something that no-one wishes to happen. There has been some staff re-structuring to cut the costs of provision. The courses will now be run on two evenings (Mondays and Wednesdays) rather than the previous three (there will be approximately the same total number of courses). Close co-operation with Melbourn and Bassingbourn village colleges will continue.

Mr Munday added: “Through these steps, we aim to continue to provide a vital part of the role of the village community college.

“We hope that members of the local community can understand why these various steps have been taken. Most important of all, we hope that you will continue to enjoy and benefit from the lifelong community education that we are committed to preserve at Comberton Village College.”

Age no barrier — to teaching or learning

WORKING TOGETHER:

Tutor David Ashpole advises retired Hardwick Primary School teacher Jeanne Evans on her pottery.

THE ‘most senior’ member of the Comberton staff has no plans for a second retirement.

Pottery teacher David Ashpole, who was 76 last month, is not only the oldest staff member at CVC but the oldest adult education tutor in the county.

The former Head of Art at Chesterton Community College – he retired 10 years ago – plans to continue working at Comberton teaching GCSE and A level art to adults “as long as my knees hold out.”

Diana Cook, the head of Community Education at CVC, said: “ David’s results have always been outstanding and several of his ex-students have gone on to develop new careers based on their success with him.

“Over the years David has also taught a range of popular day schools, including calligraphy, landscape painting, portraiture anddrawing buildings.”

INSIDETHISISSUE

! Focus on DoE— Pages 6 and 7

! National Call-up — Page 8

! Pupils in Medal Haul — Page 8

! Unravelling the science of sport — Page 8

! Celebrating the Best in Art and Music — Page 9

! Five Years at Comberton — Page 9

! Youngest pupils Under the Spotlight — Page 3

! The Toughest of Challenges — Page 10

! In the Medals — Page 10

! Showcase for Talent — Page 11

! Crusaders celebrate — Page 11

! Vocational update — Page 12

New prefects in post

THEnew head prefect team have already been busy since their appointment at the end of last term.

The five have interviewed for senior prefects this term and they have now been selected.

The Head Prefects have chaired the student council, presented a proposal at Head of Year meetings, and delivered an excellent assembly on inspiration, aspiration and perspiration! The Parents’ Evening Prefect Team ran a very successful Year 10 parents’ evening last month, recruiting, training and supporting an excellent Year 9 team of volunteers.

The School Tours Prefects have been very busy with

WINNER:Helena Wareham with her winning entry at the East of England Show

Helena’s all write!

YEAR 8 pupil Helena Wareham collected a £25 book token after winning a prestigious handwriting competition.

She won Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Handwriting Awards at the East of England Show.

She won the class for pupils in Key Stage 3 and was presented with her prize on the show’s main stage on the Saturday of the three-day event. Head of Year Anne Jones was delighted to be there with members of Helena’s family.

Helena saw off the challenge of two pupils from Cromwell Community College, Chatteris, who were second and third.

Her winning entry was on display during last month’s Show at Peterborough.

staff candidates for jobs, and the Interviews Prefects have interviewed for the new Head of PE, the new Head of Spanish and a History position. The Year Prefect teams introduced themselves to their year group in an assembly, and have been shadowing members of staff on duty at break and lunchtimes in preparation for doing duties in pairs themselves in the autumn.

Every time a prefect completes something for a member of staff, I have received an e-mail or a message about how well they conducted themselves, and how impressive they are, so well done to them and here’s to the next two terms in office!

Lorna Bateson, Head of Pupil Leadership

Pupils’benchmark

A NEW bench was unveiled outside the Performance Hall thanks to prize money won by the college debating teams and a grant from South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Winners and runners-up in last year’s SCDC ‘Great Debate’ competition, the Year 11 students decided to put their winnings to good use.

Using a design by fellow student Carl Spence-Jones and a grant from SCDC, they commissioned local artist Andrew Tanser, of Wysing Arts, to make and install a newbench near Cb3.

The Line-up

Head Prefects: Emilia

d’Escrivan, Otto Hopkins-Fagan.

Deputy Head Prefects: Beth Collett, Josh Shepherd, Jess Moore.

Year 7: Laura Trundle*,

Clarrissa Luck, Ellie Smith.

Year 8: Josh Matthews*, Noor Dawson, Emma Nicholas.

Year 9: James Davenport*, Harriet Sewell, Alex Southworth.

Year 10: Seb Shepherd*, Alana

Geard, Emma Hall.

Year 11: Amy Dickens*, Jess Maisey, Susie Rodger.

School Tours: Nicola Deboys*, Angus Smith, Ian Graffy*, Emma Thompson.

Interviews for new staff: Basil Nourallah*, Amy Goodfellow, Will Thompson.

Parents’ Evenings

Arrangements: Kate Bedford*, Josh Wright, Peter Heynes, Vicky Rooke.

Open Evenings Arrangements: Sarah Warren*, Hamish Gordon, Grace Weatherhead, Laurence Hothersall.

May Ball: Ben Tomlinson*.

Yearbook: Tim Heynes* *Senior prefect

The bench commemorates the students’ fine debating skills and was a wonderful opportunity for Carl to work with a real artist on creating his GCSE Art and Design coursework project.

Many thanks to SCDC for their contribution and to Andrew Tanser for creating such a beautiful piece.

Claire Coates, Assistant Principal

OFFICIALUNVEILING:South Cambs District Council representative Susannah Harris with (left to right) Holly Peck, Rebecca Davenport, Miles Partridge, Carl Spence Jones, Tom Skingle, Connor Schwartz and Rafie Faruq.

Emilia d’Escrivan Otto Hopkins-Fagan Josh Shepherd Beth Collett Jess Moore

HOLOCAUST:Survivor Eva Clarke tells Year 9 pupils about her family’s experiences.

School Council is hard at work

THE School Council meet regularly to discuss life at Comberton.

Recently they have worked with Mrs Allen to ensure that Green Duty is an established part of school life. They have also been consulted on the new detention system.

Their attention is also drawn to issues which affect young people on a national or global scale. E-safety is a relatively new issue which has received considerable media attention.

School Council members saw their annual assembly slot as an opportunity to raise awareness across the school community. The Council were keen to acknowledge the benefits of new communication technologies and interviewed a sample of staff and pupils on their thoughts. It became clear that many people value the convenient and efficient systems which mobiles and the internet afford us, but many also mentioned the potential risks. Risk is a key element of the Personal Development programme; pupils learn it is a key part of life, but we must learn how to assess and manage that risk. Council members researched the two major areas of cyberbullying and personal safety and presented practical safety tips and points for general thought, such as the particular impact of cyber-bullying on the victim.

If you would like further information on this issue, visit http://www.ceop.gov.uk/ (the National Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre). The young person’s section can be found at http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk

The assembly presentation can also be viewed on the school’s website.

Tales of war

EVAClarke is a Holocaust survivor and last month she came in to share the story of her family with the Year 9. This fitted in with modules they have studied in History and are moving on to study in RE lessons. The Holocaust means 'burnt offering' and refers to the large number of people who were killed (and often burnt) under Nazi occupation of Europe during the Second World War. Many groups were persecuted during this time and this has been closely studied in History lessons. Jewish people were the worst affected; being killed in their villages, concentration camps and extermination camps. The population of Jews in Europe at the beginning of the war was eight million; by the end of the war six million had been killed.

LIFEINFRANCE:Shop ‘til you drop (above) and pupils enjoy playing on the beach (right).

Eva was born in a concentration camp in the last days of the war. She tells the story of her family; her mother being one of the only family members to survive. She told of the conditions for Jewish people in the early part of the war when the persecution first began, and then what they were like inside the work camps. Her mother had a brief stay at Auschwitz, where her father was killed. The inspiration behind Eva's work is for commemoration, but also to warn people of the tragic effects that prejudice and discrimination can have and unfortunately are still having in certain parts of the world today.

Corinne Davidson, Head of RE

Say it in French — naturally

WHENwe first arrived I didn’t want to speak French. It just seemed alien, but by the end we were using French even on the coach home. On the ferry back it didn’t feel right to be ordering ‘sausage and bacon’ instead of ‘croissant and chocolate’.It all happened without our noticing.At the first meal you couldn’t say anything but by the last meal we could all speak even if we only used short sentences like a six-yearold.A number of people have already made plans to return to France this summer.

We had great fun going to Rouen and looking at the timber houses, the ‘ossuary’ with its desiccated cat caught by the mice.Most of the time was spent finding lunch in French by the old market where Joan of Arc was burned, although the French staff told us it was probably a myth like Robin Hood!The evening had us all dressing up in costumes for a fancy dress ‘soiree’ with the French parents and pupils. No-one starts dancing until the buffet, with all 5 courses, has been eaten and discussed at great length. Paris was a challenge. Forty-two people up and down the ‘Tour Eiffel’. The Metro was fun and then more French finding lunch in the ‘Quartier Latin’ and back home via the Boulevard St Michel.No-one remembered Peter Sarstedt at all even though I sang it very loudly!

The day in Honfleur was gloriously sunny, but started with a trip to the supermarché for all kind of weird dishes demanded by Madame Jarry.Then off to see the old harbour for a bit of ‘café culture’ and to look at the boats and wish we were ‘Captain Jack’ or ‘Captain Swann’.After the ‘pique-nique’ in the town gardens it was off to the beach or should I describe it as mud?It you looked east it was the Seine and if you looked west it was ‘La Manche’.The boys played cricket and had an ‘insultathon’ in the sand — don’t ask —and the girls did gymnastics and danced around crabs. Very primitive. Too soon it was off home, but not until there had been much kissing on both cheeks, hugging and tears. We had all made good friends and we will be back next year!

Ian Rigg

Snowdon success

SEVEN intrepid Year 10 boys set off to Snowdonia to climb the second largest mountain in the UK.

Josh Wright, Nicky Suddes, Dan East, Ross Thompson, Callum Ross, Grant Henry and Taonga Banda took one of the toughest and best-known routes, Crib Goch, the route that Sir Edmund Hilary trained on before completing the first ascent of Everest.

It was an incredibly tough trip. We camped out in the wilderness and carried all our own kit for two days.

Before leaving we dashed around Morrisons, each person with just £6 to buy themselves all the highenergy food they could find for the weekend: flapjack and pitta bread; noodles and pasta.

Six hours in the minibus with the heating on constantly (it was broken), tunes blaring and thousands of sweets being munched before we arrived. Everyone charged off up the mountain! Then they came back down and packed their bags. After about 45 minutes walk we reached our first camp. There was a stream next to us for drinking water and we designated a toilet area and laid out the group trowel. Everyone was really embarrassed that they had to ask to borrow the trowel, as it was bright orange and you could see it for miles! There were some tired faces as we set off with our packs on Saturday morning. It was a long, hard slog, and it took nearly three hours to get to the top. Grant was a star, running back down to encourage others who were struggling, and even carrying their packs for them! Callum never thought he could do it, but he made not just up Y Garn, our first mountain, but the second, Glyder Fawr, after lunch too. We all arrived exhausted at our next camp after nine hours of walking. Thanks to the midgies and the exhaustion, everyone was asleep by 10.15 and awoke refreshed and ready for the main challenge. After dumping our big packs in the bus, we headed (minus Callum who had bad blisters and tired legs) to the bottom of Crib Goch. The boys had been going on about how easy it had been and did we really call this scrambling, but they soon shut up when they saw the knife edge of the ridge and the

ONTHEEDGE:Students negotiate a ridge.

1,000ft sheer drops on either side. Some were more comfortable than others, but it was great to see everyone helping each other out. Dan and Josh were like mountain goats, while others took it a little more steadily.

Rob (Ms Bateson's cousin) was pronounced a legend when Grant dropped his shoe 300ft off the side of the cliff and Rob jogged down to get it for him. By the time we reached the end of the ridge, it had been raining for an hour and people were cold, hungry, tired and pretty grumpy. A few handfuls of seeds and nuts and a couple of mouthfuls of cheese and chocolate later, there was a race on to the summit of Snowdon and you couldn't stop them running up!

A much quieter, sleepier bus returned late on Sunday night, with some very smelly, very sweaty, but very proud people on board. There was more than one of them surprised by what he could achieve if he set his mind to it, and they are eager to go away again and perhaps try their hands at rock climbing next!

Lorna Bateson

Welcome to the Academy of Death

MUSICteacher Geoff Page has written a musical for Comberton pupils and initial casting for the Academy of Death has taken place. Rehearsals for next year’s show are under way. The students of Dr Knox’s Private Academy of Anatomy gather to learn from the famous surgeon and inspirational lecturer whose ground-breaking research is changing the face of modern medicine. However, there are sinister happenings, as Knox

enlists the help of two students to provide him with a regular supply of cadavers ready for dissection.

Bodies are stolen from graves and even recovered from the gallows.

But the demand for bodies continues to grow and Fettes becomes increasingly desperate for money to buy a diamond engagement ring to win the heart of the beautiful Isabella. Fettes finds a creative solution to the problem, but

A PARTNERSHIP between Comberton and the Harbour School, Wilburton, has provided learning opportunities for all involved. The joint work, a result of Comberton’s status as a Leading Edge Partnership School, has enabled Harbour pupils to come to CVC and collaborate with Year 8 boys in an Express Yourself Project.

It has also meant that Advanced Skills Teachers Sean Pollock (PE), Mike Sharpe (Drama and Emotional Development) and Mary Martin (Creative Writing) have been working with pupils at the all-boys Harbour School in their own environment.

The Express Yourself work involves joint classes with Year 8 boys in Art and Creative Writing and Mrs Martin says they have been a huge success.

“This is something we started this academic year and hope to continue,” she said. “A lot of it has been about social inclusion and learning enhancement and I believe CVC staff and pupils are learning as much as the Harbour boys are. It has brought together pupils with very different experiences.”

one that leads him further and further down a path of despair and destruction.

Based on the historical events surrounding Dr Knox’s involvement in the West Port Murders of Burke and Hare, and the short story The Body

Snatchers by Robert Louis Stevenson, this musical drama will keep you laughing, crying, shrieking, and on the edge of your seats until the final curtain falls!

VISITORS:Harbour boys at Comberton.

Award goes from s

The DoE Award

THEDuke of Edinburgh’s Award is a highly successful programme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities for young people throughout the United Kingdom.

The aim is to provide an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development for young people. The Award has several core principles:

“The Award concept is one of individual challenge. It presents to young people a balanced, non-competitive programme of voluntary activities which encourages personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perserverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community.”

There are three separate Awards Bronze, Silver and Gold, open to 14, 15 and 16 years old respectively. Within each of these levels there are four sections for participants to complete service, skills, physical recreation and expeditions.

Bronze

WITH100 pupils signed up (double last year) this is a monster year for the bronze award and Year 9 have covered themselves in glory.

They have been an exceptionally impressive year group to work with —organised, responsible and loads of fun!

We’ve had to redesign the training to cope with so many, and pupils attended three Monday training sessions after school on stoves, tents, food and first aid.

We learned everything from how to cook on a meths stove, to why just eating Mars bars on the expedition will put you on an emotional roller coaster.

The last school-based training was a huge team race, where groups brought in all their kit, and scored points for having everything on the kit list, for being able to pack their rucksacks correctly, and for being able to put up their tents and stoves quickly and accurately. We set up a lovely camp at school, and it was a shame to take it all down – I think a lot of people would have liked to stay over!

Two training weekends followed, with the group travelling to the Chiltern Hills in two groups. We stayed at the beautiful and huge camp site at Green Park, which has great facilities from an orienteering course to a swimming pool. On Friday night, having all piled off the coach, we set up camp, cooked our dinner and then ran round the grounds hunting out checkpoints on the orienteering challenge. Saturday involved all sorts of activities from following a route through the maze of Wendover Woods, to planning a short walk for another group to follow — with some difficulty! We used the swimming pool for an hour on Saturday afternoon (which was very welcome given there are no showers at the campsite!) and then sat all evening planning routes for Sunday. Sunday morning, we dragged the pupils out of bed really early for a full day’s walking with their packs on their backs. We’d made it a long day, and pupils collapsed at the end at Ashridge Monument, exhausted but happy (-ish!)

We’re now looking forward — with more than a little trepidation –to the assessed venture in September, when all 100 pupils and 20 staff will descend on the Chilterns again! It will be the biggest D of E trip we’ve ever run. Watch out Chesham … here we come!

DoEIMAGES: The silver group (above), welcome refreshment(right), the end of a bronze practice expedition (below) and the gold group tackle the awesome Jack’s Rake (left).

Silver

IN the spring of Year 10, those pupils who have completed the bronze award are invited to enrol on the silver, which is a step up, in terms of commitment and responsibility, and also challenge.

Of the 51 pupils who had completed bronze last year, 38 signed up for silver — an impressive 75% continuation rate!

In April we travelled to the Dark Peak area to complete the practice venture. Three gruelling days trudging up and down, and up and down, and up and down, the hills round Edale.

The skills pupils had learned on bronze were tested and developed, with participants carrying more weight, using the compass to help them on the wastelands of Kinder Scout, and coping with the demands of a much harsher environment! Highlights included — Amy G getting stuck on the ground under her pack and not being able to get up and the boys’ toes all sticking out the end of their tent getting wet, as they’d decided not to bring the inner section to save on weight … was it worth it lads?

The following weekend, the pupils were on a training day in Ashdon, near Saffron

Walden. Th spent fine-tu navigation s work, conto timings, bef charged out on an adven They had 2. as many che they could i hills of Esse

The final st last weeken area to com

Hard planni bought, new pletes a safe

strength to strength

The Award at CVC

THEAward has gone from strength to strength in the last year at Comberton. We run the bronze award in the summer of Year 9, the silver award in the summer of Year 10 and for the first time we have a Gold group running this year with ex-pupils now in Year 12.

Exactly 100 pupils have signed up for bronze, 36 or silver, and 15 for gold. There are 16 teachers involved in training sessions or coming on the trips, four other members of staff from the school, six ex-pupils, and two volunteers — a grand total of 179 people in, or around, the school involved in the Award! Ms Cook oversees the three sections pupils complete individually: the physical recreation, the skill and the voluntary service. Current Year 9 pupils have been busy researching different things they can do for these sections and have signed up to all sorts.

For Physical Recreation, we have football, netball, tennis, rounders, squash, rugby, swimming, riding, and jazz dance. For the service: babysitting course, first aid course,

he morning was tuning their skills: compass our lines and efore pupils ut all afternoon nture race.

helping at Cubs, charity shops, the Home Meadows elderly homes, afterschool primary clubs and for the skills: art club, pottery, music lessons, drama, learning Mandarin, fishing, care of horses, and a personal project on trees.

The Expedition

The main thing most people think about with the Award, however, is the expedition. Ms Bateson and Mr Bellis oversee this, and this last term alone there were four weekend expeditions, two weekend training days, and a two-week trip to Switzerland goes at the beginning of the holiday. Running the expeditions covers not just putting a trip together, but making sure everyone (staff as well as pupils!) is trained in the skills they’ll need,

2.5 hours to find heckpoints as in the rolling sex. tage of the silver expedition section is the assessed venture, when, on the nd of term, participants will travel to the Peak District to the White Peak mplete the 48km expedition. ning has all been completed: routes selected, route cards written, food w kit bought, and we hope that every single one of the 38 participants comfe, enjoyable and successful venture!

HOMEAND

AWAY:

Planning a route (left) and a perfect site for a wild camp (right).

from camp craft to navigation, from picking your food, to buying your kit. It has been brilliant this year to see how well pupils have coped with the challenge – how responsible and mature they have been at training, and how much initiative and personal responsibility they have taken for their success on the expeditions.

Lorna Bateson details some recent expeditions at every level.

Gold

FORthe first time at Comberton, a gold group is being run this year with ex-pupils. Having a total of 70 hours training leading up to it, we were finally ready at Easter for our practice venture to the Lake District. Five days of wild camping, and tackling the big mountains.

Staff worked at really honing students’ navigation skills, and by the end of the two days, every person could find a tiny point on the map, and say, very accurately, how long it was going to take to get there.

On the first night we spent an hour wandering round in the dark trying to find tiny

streams, hillocks and walls in the pitch black with only a compass and pacing to help us. A highlight of the first two days was a scramble up the famous Jack’s Rake on the front of Pavey Ark — not part of the D of E but good training for some of the other activities we’ll be doing in Switzerland this summer.

The final three days were a long expedition, with some huge height gain and loss.

Although generally at Gold they tell you to avoid the summits as it’s too hard, because we are doing the Assessed Venture in the Alps, it was really important to practice with big height gain and loss.

We’re all really excited about the trip to Switzerland in a couple of weeks now.

WE’VEMADEIT:The bronze group at the Bridgewater Monument in Ashridge.

National call-up!

COMBERTONcompeted in the national finals of the UKMTTeam Challenge earlier this month.

The four maths aces, Douglas Buisson, Chris Hughes (both Year 9) and Year 8 pupils Roseanna McMahon and Richard Tanburn, earned their place in the London final on July 2 as the best of the regional runnersup.

They had finished second in the 27-school regional heat. This was only the second time Comberton had qualified for the national final of the prestigious competition, much to the delight of Head of Maths Steve Wren, who was not at CVC the last time they reached the finals. Comberton have also been successful in individual UKMT Maths Challenges.

In the Junior Maths Challenge for Years 7 and 8, Comberton pupils collected 18 gold, 23 silver and 28 bronze certificates. The gold winners were:

Kalen Sabnis Thomas, Shu Sam Chen, Daniel Murphy, Alex Orosa, Jaime

Pupils in medal haul

NINEComberton pupils won medals in the national Physics Challenge.

This is a national competition targeting the most able physics students in the country.

Pupils keen to stretch themselves followed a series of tutorials led by physics teachers.

They then sat a demanding hourlong paper.

This year we had 15 Year 11 pupils sitting the exam and Head of Physics Tim Clark was delighted that nine of these gained a medal.

Hannah Dickens was the only student to get silver, with bronzes going to Carl Spence-Jones, James Robertson,Joe Brennan, Jacob Wells, Tom Skingle, Anna Fitzmaurice, Tom Humphries and Alexandra Finn.

There were certificates of participation for Alex Dopadlik, Rishi Sharma, Hannah Nelms, JohnPaul Haugh, Amelia Fortnum and Rosie Sandford.

FINAL

CHALLENGE: For Comberton’s outstanding mathematicians.

Lennox, Guy Nicholls, Josh Higginbottom, Sam Bithell, Deborah Fetterman, Adam Winch Furness, Belinda Hughes, Richard Tanburn, Rachel Lambert (all Year 8), Joseph Dickens, Anita Jiang, Briony Butterworth, Hattie Algar and Lisa Jiang (Year 7).

Also, following their success in the Intermediate Maths Challenge in February, several pupils were invited to complete the Olympiad and Kangaroo Papers.

Olympiad Certificates of Merit were awarded to: Matt Sawyer (Year 10), Chris Hughes and Douglas Buisson, who scored so highly he was invited to a maths residential course during activities week last week.

Haojie Xu(Year 9) and Alastair Janse van Rensburg (Year 10) each received Certificates of Merit for Kangaroos.

ENERGYAND

EXERCISE: Pupils learn about the The Science of Sport at Fenner’s in Cambridge.

Unravelling the science of sport

EVERYyear the University of Cambridge holds a Science Festival with events being held across the city over a two-week period.

This year during the Science Festival, the Indoor Cricket School at Fenner’s organised an event called “The Science of Sport” and our Year 8 Science class went along to find out what it was all about.

We undertook lots of tests which told us all about how fit we were in different aspects of our health.

There were tests on our flexibility, reaction times, accuracy, sprint time, nutrition and lots more.

The staff were really helpful and we all learned lots of information about the Energy and Exercise topic we were studying in school at the time. Dr Duggan, Miss Harrison and Dr Chambers took us and we all had a great time!

Micha Thomas (80)

Celebrating . . .

The best in art and music

THE Art Department held its annual private view last month, filling the art rooms with pupils, parents, staff and appreciators of fine art.

The desks in Art 1 were put into storage, allowing display boards to be set up both downstairs and on the mezzanine, turning the art department into a sophisticated (and tidy!) gallery space.

The atmosphere was further enhanced by some good music, food and wine.

Each year the display celebrates the best of the work produced by our Year 11s, often highlighting some potential Damien Hirsts of the future.

One of the features of the department is in the diversity of the work produced and viewers were able to see some stunning work in fashion design, sculpture, printmaking and silk painting as well as plenty of excellent painting and drawing.

A current trend is for pupils to use digital image manipulation to further experiment with their

ideas. This is giving a more contemporary edge to some of the work produced.

It has been lovely to celebrate the work of the current Year 11 and we wish them all the best in their future creative endeavours.

The art show was followed by a concert in the Performance Hall. The Music Department’s “Summer’s Evening” was once again a great success.

Featuring the new ‘Training Orchestra’ directed by Year 9 pupil Anna Carter and the ‘Senior Orchestra’ directed by Mr Paul Garner, the evening also played host to a wealth of other talent in the form of vocal and instrumental solos and the exciting and ever-popular Jazz Band.

FUNANDGAMES:One of the activities available to pupils at Year 11 Leavers’ Day.

ONDISPLAY:An exhibit at the Art Department’s private view of Year 11 work.

A more informal evening than in previous years, the tone was one of celebration and enjoyment. Greg Dean, Head of Art and Design &Ben Parker, Head of Music

Five years at Comberton

YEAR 11 said their final goodbyes to Comberton with a double celebration. Leavers’ Day was fantastically warm and sunny and a great time was had by all, not only enjoying a range of activities in and around the sports hall but also in the Performance Hall. And earlier this month the ‘May’ Ball was the hottest ticket in town when the Corn Exchange in Cambridge belonged to Year 11 for the night. A fantastic slideshow put together by assistant Head of Year Tom de Trafford was one of the highlights of the formal presentations on Leavers’ Day.

Head of Year Mary Swarbrick said: “It brought a lump to more than one throat. There were some marvellous memories for all of us from the last

five years.”

After fun and games on the bucking bronco and various inflatable games and a barbecue, Year 11 were treated to an all-star show, compered by David Coplowe and organised by music teacher Jude Bristow. Musicians, dancers and acrobats performed for their peers, to rapturous applause.

July 2 was Ball night. Everyone looked marvellous with the arrivals ranging from the glamorous to the witty.

“The whole year had a fabulous night that we will all remember,” said Mrs Swarbrick. “A big thanks must go to all those who helped — pupils and staff.”

Youngest pupils go under the spotlight

FOR the first time Year 7 were given their own production.

The plot of “The Evacuees” centred around three working class city children who are evacuated to the countryside at the outbreak of the Second World War.

Starring excellent performances by Sam Wood as “Keith”, Alice Thomson as “Susan” and Freddie Hedges as “Vern”, each tutor group was given responsibility for a different scene and more than 200 pupils were involved altogether. This feat of organisation was aided by the

superb commitment of the Music Production leaders, Sam Corkin and Rose Jenyon, who prepared rehearsals materials and looked after the technical arrangements on the night. Many congratulations to all who made the evening one to remember.

Pupils get wind in their sails

MOREchildren than ever are getting involved in the opportunities for watersports at Comberton.

The Sailing Club sets off every Tuesday after school to train at Grafham Water.

This year the Club has included mainly pupils who have sailed before and are improving their skills and gaining experience in more types of boat.

Four beginners also sail on Tuesdays and are thoroughly enjoying learning a new skill.

The pupils are accompanied by two members of staff who, this year, are training as Assistant Instructors so as to be able to provide more tuition for our pupils in future years.

During Activities Week, 40 more pupils under-

NAUTICAL KNOWHOW: Pupils set sail at Grafham Water.

took some ‘nautical education’ in sailing, windsurfing and kayaking – the week was entitled ‘Wet Week’ and we provided a taste of the sports as well a whole week of fun. Some pupils also pursue watersports on a more competitive level —Alice Parker (9C) is hoping to take part in her first race for the Cambridgeshire Schools Sailing Association in the near future, and Rhianna Smith (9V) has started her second season of windsurf racing with a great success; she achieved third place in the Eastern region’s 4.5m class in the first race of the season, helping her team, the ‘Lakeside Loafers’ based in Peterborough, to their first tournament win!

Niki Smith, Head of ICT

In the medals

CHARLOTTE Cox was selected for two national events after success at the Eastern Region Disability Championships.

At the end of last month she spent the day in Watford at the MENCAP National Athletics Championships.

The toughest of challenges

COULDyou cross a deadly white-water rapid using only three planks and make sure the rest of your classmates and teachers made it to the other side alive?

Or fight off a boa constrictor in a lifesize game of snakes and ladders?

These and other similar challenges were all successfully completed with no fatalities by a group of nine pupils from Comberton, although Ryan Hanks (9R) did complain that he felt a little dizzy and had to lie down after leading his team blindfolded through a jungle infested with black widow spiders.

The Kielder Challenge is a series of outdoor adventures, which takes place on the grounds of Hinchingbrooke Country Park in Huntingdon. All members of the CVC team jointly planned how they would go about completing each task successfully. The team was made up of pupils both with and without physical, sensory or learning disabilities and everyone had an equal input into the planning and execution of the challenges.

Exhausted by the end of the day, pupils were unaware that the toughest challenge still lay ahead when Mr Goldring decided to sing them a run down of the latest chart hits on the bus on the way home.

The following weekend, the Year 10 pupil was in Blackpool as part of the East Anglian team for Disability Sport.

Charlotte (above) was selected after her superb performances in the Eastern Regional Championships at Ipswich, where she won three medals in the under-17 moderate learning disability classification.

She sprinted to silver in the 100m and 200m and was third in the long jump.

Charlotte’s family are all extremely proud of her as are all the Centre and PE staff.

INTHE

‘JUNGLE’: Pupils tackle one of the challenges at Hinchingbrooke Country Park.

READYTOGO: Comberton pupils and staff prepare for the Kielder Challenge.

Showcase for talent

The Dance, Drama and Music departments thought that the standard of GCSE work this year was so professional that it ought to be shown to a wider audience.

For the first time the three departments collaborated to produce a showcase of works from all years, particularly Year 11. It was a great opportunity for our students to experience performing to such a large group of people. The evening concluded with a very energetic boys’ group, of Year 8 dancers, who had the whole audience

clapping along. Many parents also commented that it was good to be able to watch what the students have been working on in lessons. Hopefully this event can now be an annual occurrence.

“The students were all excited to perform, for most it was the first time in front of a paying audience,”said Head of Dance Zoe McKeown. “I was very pleased with the standard of work, particularly as there were more than 100 pupils involved. Many were nervous, but they all rose to the pressure of a live audience and did some of their best work.”

DANCINGGIRLS:Pupils from Year 10 strike a pose from their

Comberton Crusaders is a Charter Standard Community Club based in Comberton with 10 boys’ teams and six girls’ teams. Many of the players attend (or will attend) Comberton Village College.

TWO goals in extra-time helped Comberton Crusaders under-13 boys’ team to victory in the Waterbeach six-aside tournament.

They beat the hosts 4-2 in a thrilling match after coming from a goal down – as they did in the 2-1 semi-final victory over Milton Colts.

The final saw Crusaders – a team of boys who are all at CVC – up against hosts Waterbeach Colts.

They went a goal down within seconds of the start but Johnny Cohen-Gold equalised just before half-time although it still needed a couple of fine saves by Lewis Miller to keep Crusaders level at the break.

Captain Louie Ferre, on for the second half, promptly put his team back in front, only for Waterbeach to score and set up extra-time.

Louie scored his second with a header from Elliot May’s long throw before Mark Cooper secured victory with a clinical finish from Bertie Horne’s sweeping pass.

SUPER SQUAD:The Crusaders’ under-13 boys won the six-a-side Waterbeach tournament.

WE would like to share this season's story of the Comberton Crusaders Under-12 girls’ football team.

Girls football has been really growing in the last few years. This year there were 17 teams in the Cambridgeshire Under-12 age group, in two divisions. Crusaders were in the stronger ADivision because of how well we did last year.

We have 10 players in our squad, five of them are in Year 7 at CVC (Fiona Carter, Kate Cattermole, Sophie Jones, Joanna Raymond, Millie Turner), three will be in Year 7 next year (Jessica and Georgina Hurry, Selina Leung), and two go to school at St Mary's in Cambridge (Lauren Hilton Taylor and Vicky Stockbridge). Most of us played in the Under-11 team last year and have been playing football at primary school before that. We had a really great season this year. In the League, we played 14 matches, won 13 and drew 1 to finish top with 40 points, 11 points ahead of runners-up Bishop’s Stortford. In the league play-off, we beat

Alconbury (second in Division B) and then lost 2-0 to Bishop’s Stortford in a very close final.

In the Cup, we won three knockout matches to get into the final against Stortford (again) at the Cambridge City ground. We were nervous with all the supporters watching in the stands and around the ground. It was a really exciting and close game. Stortford scored first half way through the second half. We kept attacking and Fiona equalised with seven minutes to go, then Millie scored the 2-1 winner with a minute left. Everyone was so happy, we won a big cup and all the players got two medals as well. In early June, we also won the Cambridgeshire Under-12 girls’ tournament. This was a series of short matches against a number of teams then a semi-final and final. With Crusaders we are moving up from 7-a-side to 11-a-side on a bigger pitch so we will need to find a few more players.

Kate Cattermole (7E), Joanna Raymond (7E) and Fiona Carter (7R)

TOPTEAM:Crusaders’ under-12 girls.

GCSEwork.

Crusaders: Lewis Miller, Bertie Horne, Eric Clery, Elliot May, Johnny Cohen-Gold, Louie Ferre, Mark Cooper, Tim Vries.

Photo: grantaphotography.com

Hands-on learning

DECISIONSabout any of our futures are important, none more so than what subjects we are going to study in Key Stage 4.

The Year 9s at Comberton have been through this process and have had their individual routes confirmed for next year.

Within this are our first cohort of students who have opted to follow one of the new BTEC courses.

The way in which we learn is dependent on our learning style, many of us favouring one particular way.

For some it is visual, where through our eyes we take in all the information we need; for some it’s auditory, where listening plays a major part in building our understanding; while for others it is a more practical learning style, kinaesthetic. Many of the students who have opted for the vocational courses have a ‘hands-on’ learning style and we are determined to deliver courses that build on this more practical style.

The skills they will learn, alongside the subject content, will make the students more appealing to the outside world; to businesses and organisations who are looking to employ young people who can present their findings in a mature way, can interact with staff and the public alike, can make decisions based on sound judgements and who have shown a determination to succeed. All of these traits will be addressed through the BTEC courses in Art, Sport and Business. This is an exciting time for the Comberton and one in which we would like to involve you, the parents and supporters of CVC. We are looking for partner businesses/organisations with which we can build up practical links, both in terms of making visits away from Comberton, and also allowing key speakers to come into school to work with the students. If you work in a company/organisation and you feel you could become involved please contact

PRACTICAL EXAMS:The Year 10 exams make up 15 per cent of the final marks on the catering course.

CVCPIONEERS:The pupils who have opted for BTECcourses in Business (far left), art (left) and sport (below).

me directly at the school by e-mail to glewis@comberton.cambs.sch.uk so we can discuss the details.

I am keen for the students to ‘adopt’ a business and work with them for the two-year duration of the course. Organisations with a sports or art link would be particularly welcome.

Gary Lewis, Head of Vocational Studies

Catering fits the bill

WHENwe were told that Technology was not a compulsory subject at GCSE any more, it was decided to choose a food-related subject which involved as much practical cooking as possible and catering fitted the bill.

We have nearly completed the first year of this new course to us and I hope the 40 pupils who chose the subject have enjoyed the course so far.

The GCSE is made up of the following components: Practical Exams: Year 10 15% This was held in March and

most pupils performed very well. Year 11 25%. Work experience: Year 10 20% It has proved quite a difficult task to organise catering placements but we did eventually manage to do it with the invaluable help from Miss Lewis. I hope the pupils found it a valuable experience. Theory Exam Year 11 40%.

During this year we have also completed the Level 2 in Food Safety in Catering and the Level 2 in Nutrition, which are accredited qualifications.

Anne Jones, Head of Food Technology