Headteacher’s Newsletter End of Term Message from the Head Flourishing indeed we are! This half term has been action packed, highly successful and most rewarding for all who have engaged in the vast array of opportunities for personal development beyond the classroom. Amongst the many wins and highs, the highlight on a grand scale must surely be the five night run of performances of Iolanthe at SC Town Hall this March which matched the best productions ever seen since the Vesey association with G&S light opera began in 1922. What makes our students so special is that they typically rallied round together, joining with counterparts from SCGSG, and rose to the challenge of matching the best in front of very discerning and highly appreciative audiences. Equally in the classroom, our students have been working extremely hard as evidenced by the, in general, first-rate module marks received this March, leading to the final AS & A2 exams in the summer. Beyond their intellectual curiosity, our students are increasingly spurred on by the desire to match offers for courses of study at top universities which they can justifiably expect to achieve. Internal grades at all year group levels also augur well for the near future as we continue to make year on year academic growth. Long may our students and our school continue to flourish!
David Iddon Headteacher
BISHOP VESEY’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Spring 2009
We are flourishing this spring at Vesey’s!
Staff News
Academic Profile
Internal promotions for next term: Matthew Phillips will assume Senior Leader responsibility for the Specialist Schools Language College status, with Rüdi Götschel in the role of Lead Practitioner in Languages. Bev Gilbert becomes Senior Head of Year and Ruth Hearn Senior Leader i/c Personalised Learning & Child Welfare. Hannah Lockyer will assume responsibility for leading History and Sarah Sangster will assist with the leadership of Biology. We wish them all well in these exciting and formative new roles which will bring further benefit to the school. Our deepest sympathy was extended this March on the news of the death of former Chemistry teacher Richard Ormond. Joining the school in Jan. 1980, retiring in 2005, he remained as keen as ever to help out in the classroom and to support the extracurricular side of the school, so dear to him, until his health began to fail.
Dr Barrie Fleet, Schools Liaison Officer for Corpus Christi College, Cambridge visited us once again this March to address an audience of Yr 10 & L6 students, offering sound advice about application to top universities and emphasising how important the one hour interview is in the admissions process. We have already begun the warm-up for Oxbridge 2009/10 with 20 students benefiting from a session on interview confidence building and neuro-linguistic programming, along with other seminar sessions and of course departmental support to reach top flight academic levels.
Parents’ Association Tickets for the Gala Dinner Dance at The Old School House, Weeford on Sat. 16th May are selling quickly for what will undoubtedly be a highlight of the Vesey social calendar. Please contact organiser David Jupp on Tel: 0121 311 1309 or david.jupp@btconnect.com
Headteacher’s Forum
On 4th March members of Year 8 joined Quakers John & Diana Lampen over lunch for a exploration of faith in action, learning about The Hope Project and discussing the peaceful resolution of conflict, before an assembly with the rest of Year 8 and Year 7 in which we learned more about Quaker beliefs and worship.
Friendship groups of students in Year 10 and (centre) Year 7 enjoying their lunchtime break in the dining room and around our site.
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Funky Bishops Big Band Tour
The Funky Bishops Big Band realised they had a challenge on their hands with 4 workshop performances across Sutton Coldfield in one day. Primary school children enjoyed a ‘hosepipe quartet’, ‘The Simpsons’, ‘a family of saxophones’ and electric guitars. The talented and dedicated young musicians, had a super day out sharing their music.
Headteacher’s Newsletter General Studies
Chess
This term has seen a continuation of lectures by members of staff within our General Studies programme. We drew on a science theme with excellent lessons on Designer Babies and Ethics from Bushra Hameed and Matthew Phillips. Oliver Downes delivered a highly stimulating lecture on ‘Evolution and Creation’. Our Chess Team received a boost this year with the arrival of Leo Tsoi Yr7. We are delighted that he is taking part in the trials to select an Under 11 national chess team this April in Liverpool. Our ever faithful Captain Thai Pham10R continues to lead by example.
ICT
Chemistry Two Y10 students, Mark Smyth and Joshua Topley, have been accepted on the prestigious Salters’ Institute Chemistry course at York University and Bath University, respectively. Year 11 sat their second Chemistry module examination and achieved an impressive 65% A*/A. Many are well on their way to obtaining a top grade in their GCSE this summer.
Forensic Science Session for all Year 9 students “Can you solve Sally’s murder?” involved work on identifying murder weapons, fingerprints, footprints and the analyChris Slocombe from the British Computer Society sis of fibres from a crime visited to talk to the U6 & L6 ICT students about scene. The session will ‘The role of BCS within the ICT profession’, providing be followed up with a view of careers within ICT and how BCS can sup- work on chemical analyport both personal and business development. ses in Chemistry lessons.
Library
English Each Year 11 Form spent a double lesson this half-term revising for their ‘Poetry from Other Cultures’ examination with the Birmingham poet, Dreadlock Alien. Students had the opportunity to watch some of Dreadlock’s own performance poems as well as his renditions of examination poems like John Agard’s ‘Half-Caste’. Students analysed and explored many of the poetic techniques from the poets through group activities. Dreadlock Alien is also in process of writing a Bishop Vesey poem as a memento of the day.
On Mon 23 Feb, 30 boys from Yrs 7&8 had an audience with author of Cherub Books Robert Muchamore. Other authors Jan Ormerod, Paul Dowswell, Angela Barrett and Niamh Sharkey visited school earlier this term to interview some of our boys about the ‘Booked Up Programme’.
World Book Day 2009
On 13 March Year 9 watched an hour long performance of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ in Big School as part of their work in English lessons. ‘The Young Shakespeare Company’ also led an acting and directing workshop with students which included stage fighting. Our students will use this live performance to help them to interpret the characters and themes of the play in class. New: Junior Drama Club runs on Thursday evenings this term. Students will learn some dramatic techniques and will get the chance to perform in a short play next term. New members are always welcome to join us in Old Big School. A great opportunity. On 12 March 28 L6 AS Eng Lit students took part in a poetry study day for their exams at The Carrs Lane Centre in B’ham. 3 university lecturers working at the forefront of their fields in the study of contemporary poetry explored a number of issues related to the controversial collection of poems ‘The World’s Wife’ by Carol Ann Duffy. New: English Tea Club Head of English, Ed Jopling has launched a tea club on Friday evenings to help Y11 students with their English revision. Students have a free cake and drink whilst revising key topics. The sessions are open to all Y11 students in Rm 4.
April 2009
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Iolanthe The tradition of G&S light opera, dating back to 1922, continued this year with a joint schools 5 night run of Iolanthe at SC Town Hall, produced by Wendy Turner, with Musical Director, John Jones of SCGSG. Deemed to be as good as the best ever, this production received rave reports and a flood of mail to school from supporters, in commendation of another great success. We welcomed to our audience the Pimble/Whiting family. Derek Pimble was Dame Carruthers in our 1939 performance of Yeomen of the Guard, his daughter Kate Whiting (nee Pimble) was in the chorus of Trial by Jury & HMS Pinafore in 1979 and his grandson Peter Whiting was The Lord Chancellor in our 2009 production! We also welcomed Robin Leaney, now living in Taunton, who played Private Willis in the 1949 production of Iolanthe.
French & German Exchanges We welcomed our French Exchange visitors from Dreux and our German Exchange visitors from Bayreuth for the penultimate week of term. During their stay, they all experienced a variety of visits. French students were hosted by Yr9 students and their families and our German visitors by Yr10 students and families. Sincere thanks to our students and host families including English teacher Eve Chang and to the Languages team Jane Broughton, Ian Maddy, Rüdi Götschel, Denise Quail & Linda Pryor for all the organisation.
Science Club
Berlin
15 BVGS students of German and/or Art, accompanied by Rüdi Götschel, Denise Quail & Anne Fitton stayed in Berlin from 26 Feb -1 Mar, visiting the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate and other famous sites.
Geography Field Trip Party Leader Laura Jones, along with Matt Collins and Simon Scamp led the annual L6 Field trip to Snowdonia this March, studying glaciation in icy conditions, staying at the Youth Hostel in Betwys-yCoed and using the latest data logging technology in preparation for AS exams.
Languages Easter Quiz On 17 March, 6 Yr 8 students took part in an inter-school languages quiz. The quiz tested cultural awareness, geographical knowledge and linguistic ability. BVGS finished the quiz as joint winners with Arthur Terry. The team consisted of Ben West, Dylan Sehra, James Barratt, Henry Thompson, Alistair Bell and Andy Quach.
Sutton Coldfield Schools Parliamentary Debating Marti Lea, Cheryl Taylor and Bushra Hameed took the members of BVGS Science Club to see ‘Brainiac Live’ at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Friday 13th March. Students thoroughly enjoyed the show, especially the exploding caravan! They also found out what materials you can run through, how to avoid being electrocuted and the best way to spin on an office chair! Yr 10 Chemists have been making video news reports and chat shows to help them learn more about the Haber Process.
Biology Quiz Winners
Photographs courtesy of : Shobby Patel PR Officer, Sutton Coldfield and Matthew Boulton Colleges
Representing BVGS in this year’s competition were Shane McIntyre & Vinay Raaj. Year 9 internal debating results: Winners 9R, Runners up 9B.
Biology On 4 March, 14 Biology students from Y12 visited the Genetics Department at Aston University, accompanied by Bev Gilbert and Oliver Downes. The students took part in several hands-on practical workshops where they carried out genetic engineering procedures on bacterial plasmids. As part of National Science Week, on 13 March 10 Biology students from Y10 attended the Birmingham University ‘NHS Careers Day”, accompanied by Biologist & Head of Y10, Dave Phillips. They attended workshops on the latest technology for medical procedures and tours of the medical school research departments. Also in Biology 10 members of Yr 10 went to the Learning Hub at the University Hospital, Birmingham as On 20 March, Yr 10 students Tom Andrew, Richard Robinson, part of the Gifted and Talented programme. The morning was given over Mark Smyth and Jack Whiting, accompanied by Head of Biology, to presentations by a range of NHS workers and local universities that Matt Phillips & Julie Wadeson, took first place out of 68 teams offer degree courses. In the afternoon the pupils visited the biochemistry, from 20 Midlands schools. Our other teams were 4th and 8th, in this radiotherapy and clinical research departments of the hospital for a firstquiz organised by B’ham Uni. Congratulations to all 12 students! hand careers experience.
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Headteacher’s Newsletter BVGS Hockey
The first team rounded off the season in style with a convincing 7-3 win over Lawrence Sheriff, with goals from Josh Storer, Jafar Ibrahim, Tom Homer. Good luck to the following who leave this year following first-rate service to school hockey: Marcus Stockton (captain), Ben Winnington (vc), Matthias Holtham, Josh Storer, Chris Bailey, Jafar Ibrahim, Matt Coulthard, Dan Pryor. The 2nd XI have had a fantastic season with only 2 defeats, which bodes well for the future as all of this side have at least another year left and will be pushing hard for first team places next year. The junior sides have finished the season with some good performances notably the U15s. With key players missing they won 1-0 away at Derby Grammar School. The U13s have started 11 a-side fixtures a year early and have already got the better of King Henry VIII Coventry and are performing extremely well at the Sutton Schools competition on a Thursday afternoon. Hockey is certainly on the way up as the students take advantage of our fantastic Middle Field facility.
Athletics The BVGS Athletics Sports Day for all years is on Wed. April 22nd at Wyndley from 12h45. Do come and join us.
Cross Country SC Cross Country Championship races will be held on our Sports field on Thursday 23rd April. All spectators welcome - Please park in the school car park. Sam Watkins Yr 8 and Kieran Smith Yr 11 will both represent the West Midlands team at the All England Schools’ Championships to be held in Leicestershire.
Inter-house Swimming Sports New records were set on 11 March at the refurbished 25m pool at Wyndley. The Junior Championship was won by Whites. The Intermediate Championship was won by Reds who also won The Senior Championship .
Junior Rugby U13 rugby finished second in Greater Birmingham Tournament, narrowly losing to KES Five Ways. The U12As beat Adams GS 21-0 with tries from Jack Sanders, Hussain Siddiqui & Jack Andrew, the B team lost 25-31, the C team drew 5-5 and the D team won 20-17. At the Kings Macclesfield Festival the U12s began with a 5-5 draw against Bridgewater HS and a great try from Joe Gouldbourn in the first minute. 7-7 against Crossley Heath and a defeat 5-10 against St. Ambrose College . Despite the 10-0 win against Kings Macclesfield B we were out of the Cup and into the Plate. The semi finals saw the team beat St. Edwards College 12-0 to set up a return against Bridgewater HS. 0-0 at the end of full time and an extra time drop goal penalty shoot out saw the team sadly lose on sudden death. In the Greater B’ham Tournament, hard fought games and great wins led to the Final for our U12s v KES Birmingham. A very close game was settled early in the first half when a long kick downfield bounced in favour of a supporting KES player who touched down. All round a very good first season for the U12s.
Table Tennis Oliver Jupp 10G was runner-up in the West Mids U16 Table Tennis Championships held in Wood Green. Well done to Andrew Smith & Alex McAleavy, who progressed to the semi-finals and the knockout round. Edward Greenslade and Daniel Betty both won 2 of their 3 matches at KES Edgbaston.
Jack Jones Grade 7 violin and top class indoor rower.
Indoor Rowing
Last walk through the tunnel for 1st XV U6 rugby stalwarts.
Remarkable results at the B’ham Indoor Rowing Championships, Bilal Pandair Yr7, Jasroop Bhogal Yr9 & Jack Jones Yr10 all took 1st place and BVGS came 1st in all year group relays! At the National Championship in London inside the top 10 places were Bilal 10th/154, Jasroop 9th/159 & Jack 10th/95 and Yr9 relay 10th/43. Our senior relay team were lying in 4th place when the chain snapped, no re-run permitted! There were many other creditable performances in a sport which turns to water next term and then 7 BVGS students join the Bishop Bavin School Regatta in South Africa in August on a B’ham Schools trip. Our U16 4 man relay team has just set an unofficial world record with 18,021m rowed in one hour!
Published for BVGS by Sharon Weblin, Headteacher’s PA sw@bishopveseys.bham.sch.uk Tel: 0121-250-5403. Printed by Jayne Joyce, BVGS Reprographics.