LOOKING AHEAD
Ambition | Independence | Responsibility Welcome to the Summer Term edition of Looking Ahead, our Sixth Form newsletter which showcases the academic and co-curricular pursuits of our Year 12 and Year 13 pupils. As Year 13 reach the end of a busy exam period and Year 12 look forward with anticipation to Year 13, it is wonderful to take the chance to look back on a brilliant term of hard work and happy memories. My thanks to our Sixth Form pupils for putting together these articles and to the whole Sixth Form community for making this term such a cracker! Best wishes, Mrs Camilla Young youngc@malvernstjames.co.uk
The whole MSJ community was delighted to get together last week for the Masquerade Summer Ball
Year 13
Valete Michelle
I am extremely honoured to have been invited to the Year 13’s Valete Service on the 20th May. As usual, this year’s ceremony was filled with laughter, tears, farewells, and words of encouragement; it was so emotional to watch the Year 13 leavers going up on stage one by one, followed by the moving words of their form tutors. In particular, I remember Dr Guy representing each of her Year 13s as an element from the periodic table, and Mr Attfield telling us about his form’s favourite moments in MSJ. I am thankful to have experienced the Valete Service and to have enjoyed wonderful music and refreshing afternoon tea with our leavers. I am sure they are looking forward to very bright futures indeed.
Morrisby Testing and Interviews Year 12 Mrs Young
In recognition of the importance we place on providing objective and supportive guidance to our Sixth Formers as they prepare for life beyond MSJ, we were delighted to welcome Sarah Frend, Director at the Independent Education and Career Guidance Consultancy, to host hour-long
interviews with each member of our Lower Sixth cohort. These interviews were inspired by the information submitted by pupils during their Morrisby psychometric testing, but inevitably interviews veered in all sorts of weird and wonderful directions as pupils became excited about their futures
and started to draw connections between university courses and career paths. Over recent weeks, the atmosphere in the Sixth Form Centre has been buzzing with discussion and anticipation about what lies ahead. We are delighted to see pupils consider their futures with such maturity and excitement.
Prefect Leadership Training Programme Isabella and Lottie
Over the past five weeks, the newly appointed Prefect Team has taken part in a bespoke MSJ Leadership Training Programme in order to prepare us all for the upcoming year. Each session explored a different facet of student leadership including communication, setting SMART targets and safeguarding. We were provided with various case studies in order to consider and apply our newly developed skills to real life situations. The Programme has improved our confidence, and inspired us all to approach our new roles with fervour! We hope to not only use these skills as Prefects in Year 13, but also after MSJ as we begin University courses and enter the world of work.
Business Trip to the Morgan Factory Lily, Year 12
On Tuesday 21st June, the Year 12 business group visited the Morgan Motor Company in Malvern to consolidate the work we have been doing in class on the different types of production. On arrival, we were given a full and informative tour around the factory, including exploring all its different buildings. During the tour, we met many of the company’s employees and learned more about lean production, a manufacturing method used to eliminate waste. Morgan have a five year apprenticeship programme where apprentices work across each department in the factory. At the end of the five years, the apprentices select which department they would prefer to work in on a permanent basis. It was interesting to learn how the USP of the Morgan Factory depends on the customer’s ability to tailor each car to their own desires, including colour, design and the material of the seats. Each car is therefore unique. At the end of the tour, we visited a museum displaying old artefacts, including models of old cars and learned more of the history of the factory.
MSJ Rewind Michaela, Year 12
At the end of term, the new Year 12 Prefect team led an assembly on the history of our school. From the pioneering women who built the founding schools, to the OGA who have changed the world, we aimed to make sure current members of our community were all aware of what has gone before. Malvern St James is founded from four schools, located in and around Great Malvern - St James’, The Abbey School, Lawnside School and Malvern Girls’ College. Our school community has over 4000 members all together, such as Lucy Richardson - founder of the Orchard’s Cookery School and Kiki Mathews - the fastest female to row the Atlantic. In our assembly, several Prefects even dressed up in former school uniforms to perform a fashion show which was much enjoyed by all involved!
Year 12 UCAS Exhibition Mr Jackson
Year 12 pupils continued their UCAS journey by attending the Bristol UCAS Exhibition at Stoke Gifford. On offer to pupils were live workshops, course and careers taster sessions, student talks, and expert led talks on a variety of topics. Over 200 Universities were present offering a wealth of information on their courses and student life. There was certainly plenty to experience with our students picking up lots of tips as well as a lot of glossy marketing material! One pupil commented that the event gave her, “The chance to explore and meet unis, colleges and employers face-to-face, gaining booklets, and speaking first hand to those already at the university”. Another pupil recognised the value in, “Learning about specific course content for different universities”. Everyone left the event better informed and better prepared to plan for their future.
Sixth Form
Celebration Curry and Ceilidh Gracie & Poppy
On the 29th April Year 12 and 13 met for a final night of celebrations before the exam session begun, and Year 13 departed for pastures new. The pupils were dressed in their finery and enjoyed a wonderful curry along with a glass of wine. What came next was, I think, a shock to us all! Suddenly, the Burdock Band struck up and everyone found themselves on their feet. After the first song many pupils could be seen Googling ‘Ceilidh band’, perhaps wondering where the evening was taking them. However, there was no respite and even Mrs Raraty was swept into the revelry! We broke off for a short awards ceremony, honouring the talents of the departing Year 13s, and reminiscing about some of their finest moments during their Sixth Form life. ‘Indefatigable’, ‘Ebullient’, and ‘Inspirational’ are just some of
the words staff chose to describe pupils in their final year. It was a special evening for us all, not just because we let go of our inhibitions on the dance floor, but because our unity as a community was evident for all to see!
Platinum Jubilee On Wednesday 27th April, staff, pupils, and parents had the pleasure of being invited to the Platinum Jubilee Celebration, which took place from 5-6pm. Many of us gathered to celebrate the Queen’s reign and appreciate her indomitable spirit that has carried the nation through some of its most turbulent times. It was an opportunity to socialise with many people who we perhaps wouldn’t see on a daily basis, which many of us enjoyed. To celebrate, a large variety of delicious sandwiches, scones and cakes were offered, not to mention locally sourced Prosecco which was thoroughly enjoyed by many. The MSJ Catering Department worked tremendously hard to provide us with a wonderfully designed Union Jack cake, which was greatly appreciated and proved to be extremely popular with parents, staff and students alike. A huge thank you should be given to all staff who made this possible, notably Mrs Fowles and the Catering Team for their astonishing efforts.
Lucy, Year 12
CREST Research Trip to Birmingham University Harriet, Year 12 As a group, MSJ pupils current participating in the Gold CREST Award were joined by pupils studying A Level Chemistry at Pershore High School, as they travelled to Birmingham University to carry out the final stage of our reaction, as well as many more exciting and new experiments. Alongside the three hour reflux to complete the Gold CREST reaction, we had the pleasure of learning about and carrying out some thin layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy, as well as observing some NMR spectroscopy and column chromatography. We were also taken on a tour around the Birmingham University campus and attended a talk on studying chemistry at Birmingham University, including a chance to explore its high tech and modern facilities. Throughout the day we were in regular contact with a group of post graduate students who were more then happy to give advice and talk about their experiences. This was a great opportunity to not only do some exciting chemistry but also find out more about university life.
Handing of the Gowns by Cyra
Geography Trip to Frith Wood Chloe, Year 12 On the 26th May all the Year 12 biologists and geographers went on a field trip to Frith Wood, on the outskirts of Ledbury. The aim of the trip was to understand how to correctly and effectively sample an area of woodland in preparation for our upcoming field trips in the Autumn term. It’s fair to say the geographers were much more enthusiastic than the biologists at the prospect of spending the afternoon in the woods, taking transects and using quadrats to randomly select plants and measure the carbon content of some trees. The biologists took a slightly slower approach as they had not previously been on an A Level field trip but still collected data such as the number of different species in the area. We all really enjoyed our day out discovering a new place in the local area and testing our sampling skills.
On the 10th May, the newly appointed Prefects for 2022-23 were welcomed into their roles during this poignant ceremony. It is a tradition at MSJ that the outgoing Prefects will take to the stage and physically handover their gowns to the equivalent incoming Prefect. This is always a wholesome and significant time for the old and new Prefects and feels like an important rite of passage for all the Year 12s who have enjoyed the ceremony year upon year, aspiring to be part of a team that has guided them through all their years at MSJ. The outgoing Head Girl then delivered a short speech, welcoming in the new leaders, before the old team exited the stage, to mark the beginning of a new generation of ambitious Prefects.
Year 12 Chemistry Visit to Bristol University Jemima, Year 12 On Friday 24th June the Year 12 chemists went down to the chemistry laboratories at Bristol University to do a caffeine extraction from tea leaves. We then analysed the caffeine which we extracted using NMR spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy to see if the sample collected was pure, giving us an excellent and informative insight into aspects of the Year 13 required practical
Summer Fun in Greenslade Mrs WG & Miss Din On the hottest day of the year, we thought it was a good idea to try out our new firepit. We relaxed from the bustle of exams in a paddling pool singing ‘Under the Sea’ and had a Disney Bonanza of songs, where chocolate bananas were grilled and sweet Merlin chased after embers of fire next to his presidential doggy paddle pool. Sitting on the hammock and bean bags, engrossed with laughter and stuffed with haloumi, burgers, sausages and homemade flat bread, we could only laugh and smile at the wonderful memories we were making while having the time of our lives!
syllabus. This gave us the best possible preparation for the more advanced practical skills required in the final year of the course. Overall, the trip was exciting and engaging, as well as providing us all with the opportunity to use the amazing equipment in the Bristol University laboratories and a taste for what life is like studying a STEM subject at a top UK university.
Year 12 Play “Tissue” Mia, Year 12
As part of our Drama A level, Year 12 were given the opportunity to direct the Senior Summer Play. After much discussion, we decided to direct ‘Tissue’ written by Louise Paige, a poignant yet comical play which follows the story of a young woman who develops breast cancer. We felt strongly that, seeing as we learn in an all-girls’ environment, this was an important topic that we should be able to discuss openly and with confidence. We were fortunate to be supported by Mrs Whitmore, Head of STEAM, to ensure the scientific angle of the piece was appreciated by all involved. With the unfailing support of Mrs Fisher, Head of Expressive Arts, the experience allowed us the opportunity to explore directing for the first time, by arranging a rehearsal schedule and working with pupils lower down the School. Lastly, we were pleased to use the project as a chance to raise money for Breast Cancer UK.
English Trip Michaela, Year 12
On Thursday 30th June the Year 12 English Literature A Level class watched travelled to Cirencester to enjoy the HandleBards’ summer production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, directed by James Farrell. The HandleBards are cycling Shakespearean actors who carry all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes. Whilst we enjoyed the performance, we ate our picnics and were thankful it did not rain! With just four performers making up the cast, each one played a variety of characters, involving many quick changes, sometimes on stage! This was a light-hearted and incredibly comedic production, with plenty of audience participation. Even some of our teachers were pulled to the stage to take part!
Mamma Mia! Joyce, Year 13
A group of 50 students from Year 6 to Year 13 were presented an exciting opportunity to see the musical Mamma Mia in Bristol Hippodrome on Friday. It was a lively and brilliant performance and was a great way to celebrate the end of exams! Everyone had so much fun and was singing enthusiastically along to the famous ABBA songs, with favourites being ‘Our Last Summer’ and ‘Dancing Queen’! The bus back to school was certainly the place to be!
MSJ Summer Ball Mrs Young
After having to forego the traditional Leavers’ Ball in recent years, the whole MSJ community was delighted to get together last week for the Masquerade Summer Ball; we were certainly ready for a party and this wonderful event delivered on all fronts! We were privileged that so many of our 2020 and 2021 leavers were able to return to School for the farewell event they so richly
deserved. The beautiful York Hall was decorated exquisitely, and it was wonderful to see current Sixth Formers rub shoulders with staff, parents and Old Girls to celebrate successfully navigating the last few years and looking forward with such optimism and MSJ spirit. Throughout the evening, we were treated to a marvellous magician, fantastic live band and exciting auction, alongside
a delightful meal. The evening most certainly ended with a bang as we were treated to a spectacular firework display in the quad. Many thanks to all those who worked so hard to put together such a superb evening and thank you to all the former pupils, current pupils, parents and staff who were able to join in the revelries; what a fantastic way to begin the holidays!
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WISHING ALL OUR YEAR 13 L E AV E R S E V E RY S U CC E S S W I T H T H E I R E X A M R E S U LT S A S T H E Y LO O K A H E A D TO T H E F U T U R E A N D W H AT E V E R L I E S B E YO N D M S J