BVGS Newsletter Autumn Half Term 2012

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Newsletter November 2012 Students take the lead!

So many exciting events, visits and opportunities in the space of just a few weeks since the Summer update newsletter. We are well underway now in the academic year 2012-13 and can already detect a sense of real urgency and commitment about the school. Student leaders, of all ages, are ever more prominent, organising and hosting our house and school events. It is particularly pleasing to see so many of our former students returning to offer assistance and support. We are indebted to our benefactors from the wider Vesey Community and Vesey families for the tremendous financial support we are receiving to maintain the ‘additionality’ which offers students such a wide-ranging feast of activities for their personal development beyond the classroom.

Sincere thanks to all who are contributing to the well established ‘Vesey Experience’.

The School is in good heart.

Lord Mogg OV re-visits his alma mater

Lord Mogg OV 55-62 Chairman of Ofgem, Chair of ERGEG and Chair of Governors at the University of Brighton, above with members of Year 8 School Council. He had lunch with Sixth Formers discussing the next hundred years of energy and met Old Veseyans over tea, including his German A Level Teacher Roy Cash. L-R Headteacher Dominic Robson, OVA Chairman Roger Crees, former Chairman of Governors and OV Peter Randon, Lord Mogg, Roy Cash and Executive Head David

Andrew Cotterill, School Captain 201011 came back to BVGS for a Headteacher’s Forum Lunch with students in Year 11, inspiring them to aspire to places at top universities. He promoted the study of Modern Foreign Languages as well as talking about volunteering. Andrew had just been part of the Olympic Games 2012 army of willing helpers, who by their model, along with the athletes themselves, have helped to inspire a generation.

Concentration and Solutions in the Laboratories!

Year 7 and Year 10 pictured here carrying out experiments in the Science Laboratories.

Year 7 were involved in an investigation to compare the solubility of three different sizes of sugar particles. Notice the intensity and precision of our young scientists as they apply themselves to the tasks in hand.

Year 10 were investigating Refraction - how light behaves when it passes into and out of glass blocks.

(Section 5.4 of Unit 1 GCSE)

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The official Bishop Vesey’s Twitter account is @BVGS1527

November 2012

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Record Results

All Star Students

L-R: Tom Andrew, President of BVGS School Council 2011-12 and 1st XV scrum-half achieved a record 5 A* grades at A Level this summer whilst Andrew Hyslop and Andy Quach scored ten A*s at GCSE.

BVGS 2012 Record Results at A Level and GCSE will be published in The Sunday Times Parent Power League Table this November. We expect to be comfortably in the TOP 60 state secondary schools in the country with our excellent results this year.

Our league position is a reflection of the huge effort of individual students and all staff. We believe that our high scoring school records will be beaten by future generations of students through hard work, perseverance, determination to succeed, strong parental support and the special Vesey brand of outstanding care, support and guidance from our first-rate staff. BVGS results reflect a Vesey Community wide effort to help our students.

Talent alone is not enough!

Over 60s Computer Course Now well established as part of our offer to members of the local community, this popular course allows those who are less familiar with modern technology to develop computer skills, ably assisted by volunteer Sixth Formers who provide this service through the Sixth Form Enrichment programme. Our students have been praised for their patience and helpfulness in this option. The course will be run again from February.

Leo wins Biathlon

Young Firefighter

Fireman Dan

and First Aid Course Congratulations to Daniel Beggan 9R who graduated from the Sutton Coldfield Fire Station Youth Project on 6 October following a 20 week gruelling course under the guidance of Blue Watch Commander Nigel Cox. The course enabled recruits to participate in sessions such as using fire service equipment, drill yard exercises, fire-fighting, search and rescue, dealing with road traffic incidents, first aid, CPR and road safety.

Following a demonstration of their skills, each recruit was provided with a certificate by Group Commander Simon Shilton.

We hope that Dan’s experience encourages more of our students to ‘have a go’ at community related courses and extend their learning and influence for the common good. Well done, indeed!

New Online Resource for all the Family Congratulations to Leo Karski 7BL who won Gold on 30 Sept in the Yr 7 Boys West Midlands Biathlon held at Tudor Grange Sports Centre, representing BVGS. He swam 50m in 30.63sec and ran 500m in 1.33.32mins., beating the 2nd placed runner by 00.02sec! He swims four times a week with Boldmere and City of B’ham Swimming Clubs and hopes to reach the National Biathlon Finals at Crystal Palace in March.

Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition: Britannica Online School Edition is a unique online resource packed full of articles and multimedia. Britannica offers students vast , accurate and up to date resources ideal for in-depth research, homework or fact-finding. Its four age-specific areas contain a variety of clear, current and accurate information for all the family.

Britannica is accessible at the link below. The school ID will be required to login . The ID is available from the school library. http://school.eb.co.uk/storeschoolcard?id=bishopveseysgs

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BVGS Newsletter

Year 7 this academic year have benefited from the kind and generous support of Patrons and Friends of Vesey Music, who through discrete financial support for the musical life of the school, have helped to provide additional experiences. All members of Yr 7 will have lessons in brass instruments and special vocal tuition to build more choirs and choral ensembles. We are indebted to John Clemson, Head of B’ham Music Service, who is helping us with our initiatives for Music and who has provided the instruments for this exciting new dimension to the life of the school.

English Department A busy start to the term with the launch of drama classes and creative writing classes in Year 7 led by Sarah Slater and Karen Gutteridge. Also launched is RAW during Wednesday lunchtimes for aspiring writers and enthusiastic readers organised by Claire Callan and Sandra Holland. At KS4, Year 10 students have started their courses promptly and most GCSE English Language students have completed their first controlled assessment worth 10% of their GCSE. Year 11 students continue to prepare for their upcoming January examinations in GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature, Meanwhile at AS level, five students attended a master class in reading poetry at the University of B’ham organised by Kate Steadman. Next half term: Year 11 revision classes on Mondays after school, AS revision classes for U6 retaking modules on Friday at 1pm in B5 and an AS trip to Shakespeare's birthplace.

Junior Soloists Concert

Sixth Form Enrichment: Young Investors

On 9 October, 13 junior soloists offered a delightful evening of high calibre entertainment and polished performances to a packed audience in Big School. A range of instrumental and vocal items led to a wonderful showcase event. Our ambition for Vesey Music, providing more and more platforms for performance and developing a range of new initiatives, is already bearing fruit. All members of Year 7 are engaged in brass tuition and all have singing lessons. We are enormously grateful to the Patrons and Friends of Vesey Music who have offered discrete financial support to underpin the developments for our young musicians.

Pictured above is Nick Lee 10R who starred at the recent concert with his performance of Remembrances from Schindler’s List. Nick is working towards Grade 8 and plays with B’ham Schools Symphony Orchestra, Academy Orchestra and Bournville Strings Orchestra.

Join us for the Christmas Concert on Tuesday 11 December in Big School at 7.30pm. Another musical treat in store!

On 8 October, 24 SixthFormers undertaking the IFS Student Investor Challenge as part of their Enrichment Programme were treated to a talk

by Liam Collins from the IFS Institute in London. As part of the Investor Challenge students have to invest £100,000 in a range of virtual stocks and shares. They were given top tips about how to choose a company to buy shares in and how to monitor share performance. Students then presented their chosen share portfolios to Liam, justifying their investment decisions. Liam kindly commented that BVGS was the first school he had visited where students had presented their own ideas with such conviction to him. The prize for a team which has generated the most money from their share portfolio by February is a place in the regional final, the first stage towards the final prize - an all-expenses paid trip for the winning team (plus their teacher) to New York.

The Alpha Course at BVGS The student Alpha Course organised by senior Christian Union members Mark Poniatowski and Emily Riley has been running after school on Tuesdays during this term with 15-20 attendees meeting for food, to listen to a talk by a guest speaker and to discuss some of the most pressing questions in life.

Jenny Chester (pictured) is a voluntary youth worker with the Walsall Faithworks team.

Tom Naraine, OV 08, is helping with CU on alternate weeks, as part of his year working with the Sutton Vineyard church. Christian Union meets weekly in Room B4.

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Richard Jeffries

Alex graduated from the University of Birmingham this year with a degree in Geology and Geography and is currently working as an Instructor in Geography and Games, with an aim of attaining QTS at the end of this academic year.

He is keen to get students to not just be interested in Geography academically, but to follow issues closely outside school and to engage with topics that are currently affecting the world and people’s lives on a global, as well as a local scale. In doing so he hopes they can then go on to take full advantage of living in a global society and help address some of the problems which their generation especially will have to face, such as climate change and a shift towards sustainable energy.

Alex Jones

Davina is the latest addition to the Physics Dept. at Bi sh op Vesey's Grammar School. She has studied both in the UK and in Germany and is part of the new Year 7 Science Club team which will run Vesey's first ever Science Fair at the end of this academic year.

Davina is pleased to have joined the Vesey Community and is enjoying both her teaching and role as a Year 8 Form Tutor. Enthusiastic and hard-working, she contributes to the Vesey aims of academic excellence and preparing young Veseyans to become responsible influential members of society.

Davina Jackson

Camille, who is from near Lille in Northern France, gradu at ed in 2011 from the Université Catholique de Lille, where she gained a Masters degree in English. She worked as a foreign language assistant at Benenden School, Kent during 2011-2012 and was a French lecturer at Centenary College in Louisiana for a semester in 2010.

Camille says she is happy to do her GTP training at Bishop Vesey's this year where she is teaching mainly French along with some Spanish later in the year.

Suhail Ougrader

Christine Nwankwo joined us in September 2012 as a teacher of Business and Economics, having previously taught pupils from over 35 different countries in an international secondary school in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire. Her enthusiasm for Business stems from her time working with a number of key businesses in the West Midlands whilst working as a Financial Recruitment Consultant, prior to entering the teaching profession. Her ambition for the next year is to contribute further to the department aim of raising the profile of Business and Economics in the school, and to allow all students to develop skills and aptitudes which prepare them for the world of work or a career in Business.

R i c h a r d Jeffries qualified with a BEd (Hons) in Music in 1997, and taught at Four Oaks Primary School f o r 1 4 years. with resp on sibil it y for Music. He directed numerous concerts, musical performances and shows in that time. He always encourages young people to get involved in playing an instrument or singing, and in April 2005 founded the Four Oaks Cluster Choir. They recently reached the category Finals of Choir of the Year 2012.

Since 2005, he has developed several other community choirs of all ages and now works with nine different choirs per week, including a choir for teenagers, a Training Choir for young children and the newly formed Vesey Voices.

Christine Nwankwo

S u h a i l graduated with a degree i n L a w from the University of Liverpool in 2010. He decided on a career in teaching as an undergraduate student and whilst doing his degree he carried out work experience at a local grammar school and was employed during the holidays as a revision mentor at the school. He took a gap year, travelling and working as a private tutor to law students. Whilst completing a PGCE at Edge Hill University he completed a work placement at a local college as well as at the grammar school.

After completing his PGCE, he is now at Vesey’s teaching Law to sixth form students and Citizenship to lower school students. He is a fan of rock climbing and cycling.

Camille Carpentier

Daniel Everett BA in History and English from the University of Birmingham joined the History Department in September 2012 having previously taught for six years at Heart of England School in Balsall Common, and voluntarily for one year in the Dominican Republic. He hopes to play his part in ensuring the History Department continues its recent success.

Daniel has also enjoyed seeing the Senior Cross Country Team make a successful start to their season and is looking forward to playing an active part in athletics at BVGS.

David Beckett

Over the past five years David has represented England at U18, U21, E n g l a n d A ( Ou t d o or ) an d Seniors (Indoor) and Great Britain Youth in various tournaments throughout the world including Junior World Cup and European Championships. He knows all about time management in order to be able to play and train at this level and also have time for his academic studies and other activities. He played for Berliner Hockey club - a very different experience, learning about German life and cultural differences, alongside his hockey. To enhance this experience he took intensive German lessons completing up to level A1.2. Now back in England he plays for Cannock Hockey Club in the top league in England.

Daniel Everett

As a former BVGS student, Natalie is delighted to be back in the school for her GTP training year. She graduated with a BA Hons in Modern Languages from Durh am University and will be teaching German and French at the school this year. Having lived and worked in Russia, Natalie is very passionate about the Russian language and culture and is currently providing our students with the opportunity to learn Russian during their lunch break. Natalie is a keen netball player, playing for Wyndley Netball Club, and during her time here co-founded the school’s netball team alongside former student Jessica Hughes. She is looking forward to being involved in all aspects of Vesey life.

Natalie Adcock

Teachers joining BVGS this year

BVGS Newsletter

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Non-Uniform Day 11 October 2012 - £887 raised for Islamic Relief Students pictured below going about their normal lunchtime activities in mufti, enjoying a day in aid of a good cause. Evidence of Vesey togetherness and working for the benefit of others less fortunate than those of us who enjoy the great privilege of life at Vesey’s.

On Thursday 11 October, students came in non-uniform to support a water project being run by Islamic Relief. Two former students Zeeshan Ali OV 02 from the charity and Ali Nagi OV 12 held assemblies for Year 7-10 to promote the work of the charity.

Pictured here in Big School: L-R Helen Pitt, Charities Co-ordinator, Zeeshan Ali, Dominic Robson, Headteacher and Ali Nagi.

Jeavon Porter-Fraser BVGS 2005-10

We were shocked and saddened to learn of the untimely death, following a severe asthma attack, of Jeavon PorterFraser, who left BVGS in 2010, having made his mark most notably through Vesey Sport. A great athlete who broke the U15 100m record in 2009 which had stood since 1994.

In Junior Rugby he was the full-back star of a memorable U13B-U15B team. At U14B he appeared in 11 matches, scoring 26 tries and 3 conversions. Always full of energy and bounce, outside school he not surprisingly enjoyed trampolining and paintballing. He brought a lively and cheery enthusiasm to all he did. Popular and endearing amongst his peers, well known wherever he went, with an infectious smile and a relaxed attitude, he brightened the lives of all he met. He will be sorely missed and we extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to his family at this sad time. His funeral at St Philips’ Cathedral in Birmingham was a celebration of his life and reflected his personality through which he always looked on the bright side. We are indeed the richer for having known Jeavon for whom there will be a special Memorial and Thanksgiving Service here at BVGS in Big School at 11am on 21 December, to which we invite all who shared his short but memorable life.

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Attain Travel is a proud sponsor of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Sports This year the netball squad has 24 players who have so far played two tournaments. The practice tournament with Fairfax and Bishop Walsh was a warm up for the regional tournament on 3 October.

This was a great experience, playing four different teams and holding our own.

Unfortunately we did not progress through to the second round but we had some wins and a good morale boost for the season to come.

BVGS Teacher is National Champion Psychology Teacher Naima Field became National C O19 Ladies Champion at the British Championships held at the NIA in July. At this two day event, Naima was in second place going into the final day. She then raised her game, performed at her best and came away with the Gold medal and title of National Ladies Champion. An exhilarating sport as seen in the pictures. Naima is able to offer tuition to Sixth Formers on Wednesday afternoons at Wyndley and Elise Robinson L6 will now prepare to compete in the British Schools Championships.

Indoor and Outdoor Rowing in full swing as the Regatta and Time Trial seasons begin The first regatta of the academic year took place on Sunday 14 October in Bedford, where our best finish of the day came from the school’s first ever women’s double sculls involving Sasha Collins and Head of Lower Sixth, MFL teacher and Rowing Coach Min Egan. Both in strong positions in this photo, with blades all nicely aligned.

The standout performance of the day came from Robert Huskisson who ranked well in his single scull category beating crews from Bedford Modern and Emanuel School. Rowing is fast becoming a major sport and more and more girls are involved.

BVGS students have once again entered the Concept 2 Indoor National League this year. Sessions run at lunchtimes under the supervision of Brian Davies with L6 student, Dan Offen, coaching Yr 7 as part of the Young Leaders programme. Time trials have just taken place for the national league. Students in teams of 4 row 125m each and submit a time for the 500m completed. So far Yr7 are ranked 52/88 teams, Yr 10 18/50 teams and best of all Yr 11 8/55 teams across the country. A sport with an excellent following at BVGS.

BVGS Rowing continues to flourish with over 60 students involved in two Wednesday afternoon senior sessions

Photo: Stu Small

Having gained promotion to Midlands Div, 2 Veseyans are finding their feet and after a couple of defeats recorded a superb away victory over a previously unbeaten Stafford side. With all players now available after some early season injuries Captain Sam Irvine OV 03 is confident of further success. 2nd XV have got off to a great start recording three 50 point victories out of their first four games of the season. 17 year old Ali Careless has been particularly impressive. BVGS Head of Rugby Zak Feaunati, No 8 for the Veseyans draws a trio of opponents in this photo, before slipping a pass.

BVGS Newsletter Hockey Round-up:

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25 students and 3 staff enjoyed a pre-season four day Hockey Tour to Belfast, with fixtures against Irish Champions Banbridge

School and later Methodist College. P4 W0 D1 L3. An excellent occasion to learn, develop and bond against such challenging, national-ranked opposition.

There was time for a tour of Stormont, indoor go-karting and an open top bus tour of Belfast, seeing the peace walls and murals as well as the Titanic quarter. Off then north up the coast to visit the Giant’s Causeway. A huge success on and off the pitch in terms of development. Special thanks to teachers Chris Howell, Dave Goodwin and Kevin Doughty for the organisation and leadership.

The 1st XI have benefited from the Ireland tour with back to back wins against Adams G.S 4-3 and Loughborough G.S away with a superb 3-2 result, before a real tussle in a home match with Warwick School - final score 4-5 after leading 4-3. 2nd XI have had some excellent results with convincing wins over Adams G.S (5-0) and Nottingham H.S (5-0 with Lewis Chatham scoring a hat-trick). The U15s equalised in the last minute to draw 1-1 with Solihull, Sam Davis scoring the deserved goal. The U14s started with a 2-0 win against Adams G.S with Ben Green and Ben Moore scoring.

Rugby Round-up: After a slow start to the season with two heavy defeats to Northampton Boys and RGS Worcester, the 1st XV bounced back with a great win over King Henry VIII 26-21 winners. Then it was KE VI Aston. Vesey’s started very well, dominated so much of the game but could not convert pressure into points. Eventually Vesey’s held on

to win a tight game 10-7 with Aston almost snatching the win in the final play of the game. Another heavy defeat followed to a very physical Trent College team. The Vesey spirit was back for the KE Lichfield game in the Daily Mail Cup Round 2, with Vesey winning 41-0 with two tries to Dan Offen and Adam Joseph-Kerr. P6 W3 L3.Notable performances so far this season Darius Paszkowski, Nathan Felton, Dan Offen and Cameron Pallister.

2nd XV, based on the foundations laid at U16, game understanding, a good work ethic, and continued player development, have made a good start with wins against Northampton Boys’ School, King Henry VIII, KES Aston and Trent College with an agonising two point loss to RGS Worcester. P5, W4, D0, L1 F141, A36. The U16s have had a positive start to the season with a record of P4 W3 L1. The season started with an extremely encouraging performance against a strong and physical Northampton side. A fine bit of individual play by scrum half Oli Hobin set up at last minute winning try for George Hawkins, leaving the final score at 17-14. A narrow loss to RGS Worcester has been followed by strong victories against KES Aston and Trent College. The U14A have had a fantastic start to the season with 3 wins and 2 defeats against some very strong opposition. A spirited display against a powerful King Henry's pack was the pick of the bunch with Vesey finishing the game with a solid 31-17 win. Zach Davison has also scored a number of tries out wide, set up by some quite brilliant and creative play by a promising and developing back line. U13As have had two good scores against RGS Worcester and King Henry VIII but have struggled against some very good sides, especially Northampton and Ellesmere. Will Poland has led his team very well from fly half and has scored many tries with his darting breaks down the blindside and has defended superbly. The standout player in the forwards so far is Declan Mee, whose spectacular contact skills and work rate complement his long range kicking for goal and touch. P6 W2 L4

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Cross Country Running A very good start to the new season with the Senior Team re-invigorated and keen to fill up the trophy cabinet again. Despite the E-Coli outbreak in Sutton Park, sensible precautions were taken and nine teams took part in the Annual Pairs Race. Our top runners, Captain Sam Lacey and New Veseyan Ben Topley, took the main prize with a fast time. For the first time in many years Vesey also took the Team trophy with Megan McBrien and Mark Poniatowski completing the foursome. In the first Sutton Schools’ race at Bishop Walsh, Vesey once again dominated the event with three winners Year 7 Leo Karski Years 8/9 George Beirne and in Years 10/11 Sam Davis all bearing the Vesey mitre. There are two more Sutton races this term with the finale at Vesey on Wednesday after the half term break. It starts at 3.45pm with the Sutton Primary Schools’ race.

Sam Davis

L-R Megan McBrien, Ben Topley, Sam Lacey and Mark Poniatowski

Paired runners set off in opposite directions in Sutton Park

New Public Speaking Opportunities for 2012 Last half-term we offered more opportunities for students to act as host/compères and speakers at our public and Vesey Community events. (Left to right and anticlockwise) Callum Delaney and Brett Waldron from Year 9 spoke at the Year 8 Information Evening about their experiences in Year 8. Ed Elliman spoke at two Year 7 Welcome Evenings to parents and students about his life in Year 7, emphasising that the more you put in, the more you seem to get out. Josh Hall, Joe Perrin and Jordan Orchard compèred the recent Junior Soloists Concert in Big School helping to create a warm atmosphere amongst our capacity audience and drawing highly appreciative responses for our top performing junior musicians. Josh, Joe and Jordan were successful in securing places as compères for this event from ten candidates, following auditions held by Ben Woodford 11R and Leo Morton 9G, both of whom have significant experience as public speakers on stage in Big School. Other students who have been involved in this new initiative: Tom Jones L6 and Steven Mapp L6 spoke eloquently at the Year 10 GCSE Information Evening and Ed Elliman, Dominic Devine, Balamrit Sokhal and Kieran Henderson all in Yr 8 spoke at the Open Evening/Morning in September.

Sam Lacey in action