The St Marylebone School Newsletter October 2013
Another great results year for The St Marylebone School This is now the twelfth consecutive year of achieving over 90% A*-C at St Marylebone School, an achievement that few comprehensive schools can boast. Our GCSE headline figures of 94% A*-C and 92% A*-C including English and Maths tell the story of a highly successful academic school. To maintain this level of achievement year on year requires the consistent and persistent focused dedication of all staff within a school, and a commitment to every child to ensure the best possible outcome. Our staff give generously of their effort and time to make sure that this happens. What must always be remembered with regards to statistics is all that is not seen. The Year 9 Award, the dance show, the sixth form directed musical, performing arts week, Brilliant club, the drama department in Edinburgh, Marylebone Jam all these activities and many, many more make Marylebone the strong and nurturing community it is. The excellent exam results are simply by-product of this.
Results and Statistics All results are correct as of 3 September 2013 (but subject to minor changes)
2013 Departmental A2 Level Results Subject
Ent
A* 140
A 120
B 100
C 80
D 60
E 40
U 0
A*-B %
A*-E %
Av Pnt
Art
26
12
5
7
1
0
1
0
92%
100%
119.2
Art: Textiles
6
0
1
3
2
0
0
0
67%
100%
96.7
Biology
22
4
4
7
4
2
1
0
68%
100%
100.9
Business
9
2
3
3
1
0
0
0
89%
100%
113.3
Chemistry
21
0
8
6
2
4
1
0
67%
100%
95.2
Classical Civilisation
10
0
5
2
3
0
0
0
70%
100%
104.0
Dance
6
1
2
3
0
0
0
0
100%
100%
113.3
Drama
15
1
2
9
2
1
0
0
80%
100%
100.0
D&T
7
0
1
4
1
0
1
0
71%
100%
91.4
Economics
30
3
10
9
7
1
0
0
73%
100%
104.7
English Literature
57
9
9
21
14
3
1
0
68%
100%
101.4
Mathematics Further
12
1
3
5
2
1
0
0
75%
100%
101.7
French
14
0
2
7
3
2
0
0
64%
100%
92.9
German
4
1
1
0
2
0
0
0
50%
100%
105.0
Geography
17
3
8
4
2
0
0
0
88%
100%
114.1
Politics
14
3
6
3
2
0
0
0
86%
100%
114.3
History
27
3
8
10
5
1
0
0
78%
100%
105.2
ICT
5
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
60%
100%
92.0
Mathematics
52
11
15
11
11
2
2
0
71%
100%
106.2
Media Film
6
1
1
2
2
0
0
0
67%
100%
103.3
Music Tech
5
1
2
1
1
0
0
0
80%
100%
112.0
Music
5
0
2
1
1
1
0
0
60%
100%
96.0
Physics
10
1
2
3
4
0
0
0
60%
100%
100.0
Psychology
31
2
7
6
11
5
0
0
48%
100%
93.5
Philosophy
9
0
1
5
1
1
1
0
67%
100%
88.9
Religious Studies
7
0
1
3
2
1
0
0
57%
100%
91.4
Sociology
9
3
1
3
1
1
0
0
78%
100%
108.9
Spanish
4
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
75%
100%
100.0
Home languages
7
0
4
3
0
0
0
0
100%
100%
111.1
447
62
115
146
90
26
8
0
73%
100%
102.6
Totals
Year 13 Summary of Performance Summary Table for Yr 13 Results
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Percentage of grades A*-B Percentage of grades A*-C
71 91
70 90
Percentage of grades A*-E Percentage of grades at A*
99 n/a
Average Points per Entry*
99
99 13.3 % 101
68 87
73 92
73 91
99 100 8.4% 9.2% 97
Extended Project AS
Ent
A* 70
A 60
B 50
C 40
D 30
E 20
U 0
The Extended
20
13
2
3
2
0
0
0
A*B % 90
102 (B) A*E % 100
100 13.8 % 103 (B) Av Pnt 63
Summary of GCSE results for pupils in Year 11 Number of pupils in school in Year 11=137 Percentage Percentage of entries achieving A*-C at GCSE or equivalent
94^
Percentage of entries achieving A*-G at GCSE or equivalent
100
Pupils achieving 5 or more grades at A*-C including English and Maths
92
Pupils achieving at least 3 A*-A grades
69
Pupils achieving the Gove Gold Standard (English Baccalaureate*)
70
Pupils achieving 5 or more grades at A*-G including English and Maths
100
Pupils entered for at least one GCSE
99
Pupils achieving 2 grades in Science A*-C
77
Pupils achieving 1 grades in Science A*-C
89
Ks2-Ks4 – pupils with three levels progress in English
88
Ks2-Ks4 – pupils with three levels progress in Maths
93
Ks2-Ks4 – pupils with four levels progress in English
51
2013 GCSE Results for Year 11 Ent
A*
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
U
A*C
Art: Fine Art 57
25
19
8
4
1
0
0
0
0
A*G
Pts
100%
7.1
98.20%
Art: Textiles
10
3
0
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
6.6
Business Studies
3
2
6
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
92.3%
100%
6.5
BCS
6
2
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
7.2
Dance
22
2
7
6
5
2
0
0
0
0
90.9%
100%
6.1
Drama
24
2
12
7
3
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
6.5
DT Food
17
0
0
2
7
2
3
2
1
0
52.9%
100%
4.1
DT Graphics
13
2
3
4
2
1
1
0
0
0
84.6%
100%
6.0
Economics
18
0
8
6
4
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
6.2
English
144
14
42
46
36
4
1
1
0
0
95.8%
100%
6.1
English Literature
144
36
51
38
13
3
2
1
0
0
95.8%
100%
6.7
French
40
19
13
5
3
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
7.2
Geography
54
3
15
14
16
5
1
0
0
0
88.9%
100%
5.9
German
45
5
9
14
16
1
0
0
0
0
97.8%
100%
6.0
Health and Social Care
10
0
4
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
6.4
History
91
47
29
11
3
1
0
0
0
0
98.9%
100%
7.3
ICT
122
13
39
42
22
1
3
1
0
0
95.1%
100%
6.2
Latin
8
3
1
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
87.5%
100%
6.1
Maths
143
22
39
53
25
1
2
1
0
0
97.2%
100%
6.3
Music
46
2
9
26
7
2
0
0
0
0
95.7%
100%
6.0
Religious Studies
134
46
55
20
8
3
2
0
0
0
96.3%
100%
6.9
Sc: Biology
30
11
14
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
7.2
Sc: Chemistry
30
14
11
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
7.3
Sc: Physics
30
8
16
6
0
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
7.1
Science Core
113
10
31
29
27
11
4
1
0
0
85.8%
100%
5.9
Science Additional
91
17
19
30
19
6
0
0
0
0
93.4%
100%
6.2
Science Applied
13
0
0
0
10
2
1
0
0
0
76.9%
100%
4.7
Spanish
42
12
12
8
9
1
0
0
0
0
97.6%
100%
6.6
Home Languages
8
5
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
100.0%
100%
7.2
ICT DIDA
19
1
1
8
8
1
0
0
0
0
94.7%
100%
5.6
Totals
1549
326
470
416
252
55
21
7
1
0
0.9451
100%
6.3
Save money with the Sixth Form bookshop As usual, the Sixth Form bookshop is selling key texts required by students at AS and A2, usually at prices well below the high street or even Amazon. The bookshop can also order in any other book, usually at a substantial discount and often for delivery the next day. The bookshop also stocks used copies of key texts, usually at between half and two thirds the price of new copies. These are available on a strictly first-come-first-served basis, so students with a keen eye for a bargain should put a visit to the bookshop high on their list of priorities. Purchases can be made online using ParentPay or in person with cash or cheque (cheques should be made payable to St Marylebone School). For prices, see https://frog.stmaryleboneschool.com/index.phtml?d=562650. The bookshop is based in the Sixth Form Learning Resource Centre at Blandford. For requests and enquiries, drop in or email Dr Gardner (g.gardner@stmaryleboneschool.com).
Support for Independent Learning in the Sixth Form Independent Learning has always been a key theme of Sixth Form life at St Marylebone, with teachers working to help KS5 students develop the critical and practical academic skills they need to succeed within each subject area. Now, as competition for access to higher education becomes ever more intense, our Director of Independent Learning, Dr Gardner, is developing a structured and targeted programme of support for Independent Learning that operates across the KS5 curriculum. This will combine with and complement the work of subject teachers in order to maximise the chances of every student realising their full potential at AS and A2. A key focus of the programme will be personal statements and interview-practice for university applications, the Extended Project Qualification, extended essays and independent project work. More generally, Dr Gardner will be supporting the development of transferable skills in research, critical thinking and writing, all of which are increasingly essential for progress at KS5 and admission to university. The programme includes not only timetabled support sessions for classes and small groups, but also on-request workshops and one-to-one consultations that will help both groups and individuals identify and strengthen their capacities as independent learners. Any student interested in developing their strengths or simply wanting to know more about the range of support on offer should drop into Blandford Learning Resource Centre or email Dr Gardner (g.gardner@stmaryleboneschool.com
The Library has played host to two visiting authors this term. On 2nd July ReadingZone Live (a partnership between ReadingZone and The London Grid for Learning Trust www.readingzonecom) chose St Marylebone to host a live video conference with Geraldine McCaughrean. The team interviewed Geraldine about her career as a prize-winning children’s author and then invited pupils to come and meet her, ask their own questions and take part in a live video-conferenced event. This was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn how an established author is able to find inspiration, release their creativity and express themselves through their writing. The LGFL team complimented the readers from St Marylebone on their impeccable behaviour and the intelligent questions they had prepared for Geraldine. We hope to host another event very soon!
On 9th July Natasha Farrant ignited a genuine passion for reading among the year 7 students who were lucky enough to take part in the workshops she ran as part of Activity Week. Natasha read extracts from her brilliant new book and explained how she finds the inspiration to write. She then led some lively workshops and taught the year 7s how to create a short screenplay scene based on a collection of illustrations and the theme of a disastrous birthday party. Students worked in groups to write their scenes and then performed them for everyone at the end of the session; they had clearly taken Natasha’s advice on board as many of the scenes were very inventive and extremely funny! A big thank you to Natasha Farrant and Geraldine McCaughrean for entertaining and inspiring the pupils they met, and well done to all of the students who took part in these author events and performed so brilliantly!
Shakespeare Summer School During Activities Week, a constellation of excited Year Twelve minds clustered in the Main Site Library to begin a Shakespearian journey. Upon this journey we would learn of Othello, ‘one that loved not wisely but too well,’ and his descent into a fever of jealousy, passion, and illusorily moral vengeance, fuelled by the magnificently malicious Iago. Over the course of these two days we would be guided by lots of very special and inspirational people. The first of these was the wise and wonderful Doctor Alycia Smith-Howard, who spoke of the unique nature of Othello in relation to Shakespeare’s other great tragedies, with particular reference to Shakespeare’s focus upon domesticity driving conflict in this play. Following this fascinating lecture, we split into smaller groups to focus in great detail on the text itself. Shakespeare’s craftsmanship is breathtaking and the process of unweaving Othello’s language was incredibly rewarding! ‘I am not what I am’ Iago “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.” Othello “Tis within ourselves that we are thus or thus” Iago These are just some of the beautiful lines of Shakespeare’s Othello, and I hope you find them as inspiring as we did. After studying the text, both academically with the English department, and practically in National Theatre workshops, we were lucky enough to see life breathed into the words of Othello. The National Theatre’s vivaciously contemporary production of Othello made us laugh and cry as our stomach turned with the turbulence of the play, proving that the tragedy of Othello haunts us even today. By Anna D Y13
STEM at St M
Forensics, Railways, Spaghetti, Animal Research, Eggs, Archimedes, Bubbles, Cars and Bridges.... and still much, much more On 16th July, Year 9s participated in an action-packed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) day with a range of activities led by the Science, DT and Maths departments along with visiting STEM speakers. The day began with Dr Frascione from Kings College talking about Forensic Science and ended with the Spaghetti challenge, constructing the highest (dry) spaghetti tower topped by a marshmallow. Along the way, students worked on bridge construction and design with the help of our visiting engineer boy band (5 wonderful engineers from Network Rail), created body bubbles and kit cars in science, took on the egg challenge (dropping an egg from 5 meters without breaking; hint: parachutes), created a tetrahedral castle from garden canes, re-enacted the Battle of Syracuse with models of Archimedes Trebuchets (Catapults), explored the ethics of animal research and even had some time to learn about careers available to those with STEM skills (actually, an important objective....). The coming year will see yet more activities to target understanding, enjoyment and participation in STEM and the STEM team of Dr Baxandall, Ms Barden, Mr Bowden and Ms Jeffrey welcome all ideas from those within the St Marylebone community. Particular thanks are due to Mr McIvor for organisation of the Year 9 STEM day.
Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering On 26th June 2013, students from St. Marylebone were privilege to attend a conference where three of the four winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering spoke about how they are responsible for creating one of the world’s most useful resources. The winners were Louis Pouzin, Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn who had received their prize from HRH The Queen the day before. As well as hearing about their great idea of the “Internet” we learnt about the process and steps it took for them to create this piece of technology that is vital in our lives. Using the internet we also were able to conference call a school from Africa and a student from India so they could listen to what these inspirational speakers were saying. As well as this we also had a talk about how engineering affects our daily lives and how engineering is more than just fixing things. The best engineers create and learn from their mistakes. We also had a talk led by a sports engineer about how engineering affects the aerodynamics of sporting equipment, and how this has a crucial effect on the outcomes of races. From the speech I learnt how engineering affects more aspects of our everyday lives than we would think. The lecture was truly inspiring as the presenter often reinforced the very real possibility that we, as a generation, have the potential to make something equally as great and that through the beauty of engineering the next development in the world of electronics and inventions could come from us. We were asked to create a ‘crazy’ idea that we would like to see created. Once we had said some of ideas the presenter reminded us that the people who invented the internet came up with a ‘crazy’ idea that revolutionised the way our world is run. Based on this trip I have realised that, as corny as it sounds, anything is possible and that you should persist to succeed. By Kate and Clemency 10H + 10N
Music video making project On Tuesday 16th July the whole of Year 8 took part in a music video making project. We all learnt the words to the song ‘Ain’t no mountain high enough’. We sang and danced along together. We then separated off into our form groups where we planned, filmed and created our very own music video. On the Wednesday, ten Year 8 students stayed in school to edit the whole thing together. It was great fun, we had to remember the story line and edit all our clips to fit in certain time frames. We then added the music. In the end we had five professional looking music videos. Awards were given to two of the five videos. Written by Rosie R & Emily D
DIARY DATES Dates for your diary Term Dates 2013/14
Term 1 Thursday 5th September 2013 - Friday 25th October 2013 Term 2 Monday 4th November 2013 - Friday 20th December 2013 Term 3 Tuesday 7th January - Friday 14th February 2014 Term 4 Monday 24th February 2014 - Wednesday 9th April 2013
STAFF INSET: Thursday 10th & Friday 11th April 2014
Term 5 Monday 28th April 2014- Friday 23rdMay 2014 NB: Public Holiday - May Day 5th May 2014 Term 6 Monday 2nd June 2014 - Thursday 17th July 2014
Mon 11th November 2013 Yr 9 Parents’ Evening Blandford Street—4pm—6.30pm Mon 18th November 2013 Yr 8 Parents’ Evening Blandford Street—4pm—6.30pm Thurs 28th November 2013 Academic Review Day Weds 4th –Friday 6th December 2013 West Side Story Steiner Theatre Saturday 7th December Michaelmas Fair 11.00-2.00pm Thurs 19th December 2013 Service of Lessons & Carols in the Church—7pm Fri 21st December 2012 Dismissed after Church 12.30 End of Term
St Marylebone School 64 Marylebone High Street London W1U 5BA Telephone: 020 7935 4704 Fax: 020 7935 4005 www.stmaryleboneschool.com