School News

The last academic year was action packed, the summer term alone included over 90 cricket fixtures, the District Athletics Championships, a Ready Steady Cook competition and The Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions for Bronze, Silver and Gold participants, alongside the first public exams since the Covid pandemic for our Year 11 and 13 pupils.

We are excited to be back on track, with a busy calendar and a thriving school community, packed with learning, extra-curricular activities and school trips.

Here are a few highlights from the year:

YEAR 9 CROSS-CURRICUlAR WWI DAY

On Thursday 17th March 2022, our Year 9 pupils participated in a cross-curricular World War I day.

The aim of the day was for pupils to learn more about the history of war through a full day of engaging activities, including a coding treasure hunt in maths, rationing, and making Anzac biscuits in food and nutrition.

Pupils also created aeroplanes in art and, using the ‘Virtual Reality’ (VR) headsets, experienced the terrifying reality of life in a trench. The day also included a military drill competition and an inter-house football tournament.

THE DUNOTTAR TASTER DAY

We’re delighted that Dunottar continues to grow in popularity, with an ever-increasing number of applicants each year, making the selection process very challenging!

In May 2022, we hosted our annual Taster Morning for a fantastic cohort of Year 5 pupils, hoping to join us in September 2023.

They took part in an exciting Harry Potter themed science lesson, creating potions from witches’ warts and shredded lizard gizzards amongst other delightful ingredients. Pupils were then able to choose another fun activity including art, cricket, photography, cooking, geography (using VR technology) and Lego robotics.

One parent commented: “Thank you so much to all the team for today! My daughter had a brilliant time. You can’t get more of an endorsement than her saying ‘I wish I could have continued’ as soon as we got out the gate! Don’t suppose you fancy running it every Saturday.”

CHARITY WORk

In the last academic year, our pupils nominated several local and national charities to work with, including:

• Loveworks & Foodbanks • The Lucy Rayner Foundation for Mental Health and Well-being • Comic Relief

Supported with mufti and fundraising activites, we raised over £7,512.12 for the valuable work they carry out in the local and surrounding areas. PlEASE DO GET IN TOUCH...

If there is a charity you are particularly supportive of or involved with, please do get in touch with the team so we can discuss ways of helping you.

YEAR 9 HOlOCAUST PROjECT

GlASS BlOWING WORkSHOP

On 4th March, our art scholars attended a workshop at the studio of one of Britain’s leading glass artists, Adam Aaronson.

At the West Horsley studio, pupils chose what they wanted to make, either a bird, circular or abstract paperweight, or tumbler. After choosing their colours, pupils had the opportunity to work with Adam and his assistants to make their individual pieces. They dipped, pulled, spun and twisted the hot glass as it slowly cooled, moulding their designs using specialist tools and materials.

The experience was thrilling, and all pupils produced some impressive work.

Next time you pay a visit to the school, please make sure you drop into the orangery/reception area where you will find the glass pieces on display. During the last academic year, 30 of our Year 9 pupils were involved in a project organised by Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, supported by the UCL Centre of Holocaust Education. The project is based on the two-part BBC documentary ‘My Family, the Holocaust and Me’ where five secondgeneration British Jews embark on a journey to discover the Holocaustrelated past of their families.

Our pupils interviewed families impacted by the Holocaust, and learned the truth behind the suffering of the Jews.