Headteacher’s Newsletter Half Term Message from the Head The Induction Evening on 6th May for new members of Year 7 and their parents illustrated just how great a moment it is to be joining Vesey’s. More highly supportive parents and more extremely talented young men becoming part of our school’s ongoing rapid development, as we move forward to becoming one of the nation’s foremost schools. The Vesey future is secure and in safe hands. The new Veseyans of tomorrow join at a time when our students are making history once again, breaking longstanding records in track and field. In just a few weeks this half-term, we have so much on which to report. Do enjoy this feast of photos and reports on exciting and memorable times that have been had by so many, home and abroad. We are once again indebted to members of the Vesey Community for the fantastic support we have received. Sincere thanks.
David Iddon Headteacher
BISHOP VESEY’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Summer 2009 Staff News
History….in the making
We said thanks and farewell recently to Physics Teacher Simon Scamp and Art Technician Laura Crane. Congratulations to Dominic Robson on his recent appointment as Deputy Head. Dominic is already heavily engaged in school improvement planning to raise the Vesey bar yet further. Laura King now assumes responsibility for the teaching of French. We welcome back Maria Hill from maternity leave, and thank D&T Technician, Jonathan Holden, for stepping in to support.
RECORD BREAKER CONGRATULATIONS to JAMES BROWN who set a NEW RECORD for the long jump at our sports day
the old U13 record had stood since 1970!
RECORD BREAKER CONGRATULATIONS to JOSH LACEY who set a NEW RECORD for the 800 metres at our sports day
the old U16 record had stood since 1972!
All students featured on this page were helping to raise funds for Charity on our recent Non-Uniform Day.
Academic Profile
RECORD BREAKER
Records in track and field are expected to be matched in the exam halls this summer as our students look set to raise the academic bar yet again. 88% of A Level students are currently applying to the elite Russell Group Universities. We expect record results yet again at GCSE in Yr11.
BVGS Rugby Dinner 09
Parents’ Association The Gala Dinner Dance at The Old School House on 16th May proved to be another highlight in the Vesey social calendar with c150 diners enjoying a convivial atmosphere and raising valuable funds for our forthcoming projects. Do please remember to join the PAC 200 Club, the administration of which is now with Rob Sturch who can be contacted via the School Office. The annual ‘nearly new’ uniform sale will take place on Thurs 2 July at 7.00pm. Please donate quality used items to the school office by 30 June.
Sincere thanks to England Rugby Internationals Olly Barkley, Danny Grewcock & England Captain Steve Borthwick who joined us on 1 April at the BVGS Annual Rugby Dinner at The Ramada Hotel, presenting the players’ top awards and engaging with the Vesey audience in a Rugby Q&A session. A super night out in the company of such illustrious elite professional sportsmen. Many thanks to all concerned in the organisation of a wonderful Vesey Community event, especially Head of Rugby Zak Feaunati, Vesey Foundation Manager Donna Treanor, Deputy Head Bill Potter and compère for the evening, Chairman of Veseyans RFC, Karl Ward.
CONGRATULATIONS to JEAVON PORTER-FRASER who set a NEW RECORD for the 100 metres at our sports day
the old U15 record had stood since 1994!
RECORD BREAKER CONGRATULATIONS to DARIUS RAKHSHAFAR who set a NEW RECORD for the shot at our sports day
the old U15 record had stood since 1971!
Increasingly eco-friendly at Vesey’s We are grateful to those who have recently donated trees for our school site and to parent Chris Ross whose donation of an oak tree and of funds for 10 bird boxes was greatly appreciated. The Biology Department has a camera equipped bird box in place this year in anticipation of ‘live coverage’. Governor David Allan has been leading research into our electricity consumption as part of a cost cutting exercise but also to connect with our desire to respond to national and world concerns about ‘carbon footprint’ and responsible use of resources.
Headteacher’s Newsletter
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Bhangra Dance wins ‘Vesey’s Got Talent’ April 2009 Panel members were witty, harsh, complimentary, knowledgeable and entertaining, as they enjoyed reviewing the variety of acts before them.
Winners: Ashok Sehjal & Asha Parekh
Well done to Nikesh Pokar (right) who compèred the event, organised by stand-up comic Richard Sheils (below left). The dance skills of Ashok & Asha triumphed as they picked up the Bhangra beat together and brought a touch of Bollywood to the Vesey stage.
Charities Over £740 was raised at our recent Non-uniform Day, plus over £314 from the Sixth Form event “Vesey’s got Talent”. In all just over £1055 will be split between our two nominated charities – ‘The Histiocytosis Research Trust’, which is dedicated to the search for a cure for the Histiocytoses - a family of rare diseases of the immune system and ‘The Cystic Fibrosis Trust’. Cystic Fibrosis is the UK’s most common lifethreatening inherited disease and each week, 5 babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis in the UK, but treatments are being developed all the time. Thank you to our generous and caring students.
Student Voice Our students’ views continue to come to the fore through regular school council meetings that are held by all year-groups. Our vertical school council that meets every halfterm and has a representative from all year-groups in the school has set up a dedicated email address so that every student can make his / her views and opinions heard: school.council@bishopveseys.bham.sch.uk
Aim Higher Freya Morrissey, Schools Liaison Officer from Newnham College Cambridge is joining us on 1 July for a session with the L6th (a 30 minute presentation, followed by 15 minutes Q&A) on how to write an effective personal statement for UCAS applications . Biology Technician, Phil Barker, recently coordinated the donation of 500 books from the Biology Dept. to School-Aid. Thanks go to Kevin Wamsley for the delivery to ‘The Entertainer’ in Sutton Coldfield from where they will be relayed to the charity supporting developing countries.
Library
English Trip On Friday 1 May Kate Steadman led a trip to see Shakespeare’s ‘A Winter’s Tale’. She, along with Ed Jopling, Sandra Holland, Suzi Porter Jan Townsend and 28 U6 students made the trip to Stratford-upon-Avon for the thoroughly enjoyable experience. The students have been studying the play as part of their A2 course.
Year 7 Year 7 had a very useful 'Revision Skills' day on 23rd April with Louise Darby and have done useful work with tutors in preparation for the end of year exams in the first week of June.
History Boys
England place for Leo
The Year 8 team who won the Birmingham Champion of Champions KS3 Chills Book Award Quiz on Tuesday 24 March. On 7 May student teacher Liz Appleton led an after school revision session during study leave for Sixth Form students on ‘The History Boys’ which is part of the English Language and Literature A Level course. She brought along three members of the cast she had directed in a university production to help improve students’ awareness of the text as a play. Suzi Porter and Sandra Holland organised the event which involved hot-seating characters in role and watching members of the cast perform key scenes, as well as enjoying tea and cakes.
Languages Congratulations to Leo Tsoi 7P who has been selected to be part of the England Inter-
15 Y7s took part in a nation-wide French competition - ‘Le Grand Défi’ on 14 May. They had been attending extra sessions to prepare them for the paper. Results to follow.
May 2009 Kraków
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Netball Tour to Barbados
A very successful trip was organised and led by Ruth Hearn to Kraków and Auschwitz. 42 Yr 10 & 11 historians were able to sample Polish culture in the city of Kraków, as well as gaining an insight into Polish History. A day was spent at Auschwitz and Auschwitz Birkeneau in order to expand students’ knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust. Equally a tour of the Polish ghetto and the investigation of a survivor’s life and story provided students with a very personal experience of the Holocaust. In addition to this we were treated to a walking tour of Kraków which took in the sights of Wawel Castle, Cathedral and Schindler’s factory. Accompanied by Bev Gilbert, Dave Goodwin, Dave Philips and Hannah Lockyer, everyone had an excellent time.
The Netball Tour to Barbados was hugely successful. The girls, accompanied by Laura Jones and Michelle John, played with determination, skill and enthusiasm to win five out of their six fixtures, competing against local school and club teams. The highlight was playing at the National Stadium, with a good number of spectators in the stands. The squad did Vesey’s proud, both on and off the court, with numerous compliments paid by locals who commented on how polite, and well-mannered they were. A great way to end an excellent season. On the presentation evening awards went to the following: Most improved player: Sarah White; Player’s player: Beki Alsop; Most Outstanding player: Mia Archer. Captaincy was handed over from Katie Lawrence to Katie Richards
Design & Technology The Green Power Car sponsored by GKN Driveline Walsall and Eberspacher is now at the stage to be driven around the car park. Y10 students Jamie Billingsley, Elliott Chatham, Sanjay Dhokia, Thai Pham supported by Geoff Goode and Jonathan Holden, will add safety features and bodywork before starting to hold driver testing Leadership Challenge 09 sessions. It is hoped that the car will be ready to The annual L6 training event, held on 1 April proved compete fully in next year’s competition, and may to be another highly successful day, thanks to Major even make it to the test track this year for trials. Alexander Bathurst and his team of trainers.
Year 11 Army Training Day
Blindfolded trust games, navigating obstacles, negotiating a path through a minefield, creating a working crane and thinking ‘out of the box’ were some of the activities designed for Yr 11 team members by visiting Army Sergeants on 29 April.
Clay-Pigeon Shooting Congratulations to Jack Pope L6 who won Gold in his class at the English Open on Sat 10 May with a score of 83/100 targets. He also took a Bronze in the Junior category and came 2nd in the ‘Father and Son’ competition.
Team Bonding in progress amongst our L6
Night of the Proms
No fewer than 134 performers joined the musical platforms for this new-look to the Vesey concert, along with a new-style lay-out of accommodation for the audience. A tremendous musical offering from the immense Vesey talent, which included ambitious orchestral works such as ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ - R Strauss. The evening ended with a joyous rendition of ‘Rule Britannia’ by Rhiannon John L6 and much patriotic flag-waving as the audience joined in with the singing of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. A great night out and certainly not the Last Night of the Proms at Vesey’s!
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Headteacher’s Newsletter Sports Day
22 April 2009
As the sun shone on Wyndley, Veseyans raised the bar and re-wrote the record books!
A memorable afternoon with some splendid performances across a range of events. 4 long-standing records fell dating back as far as 1970. The oldest record left is 12.8s in U14 hurdles set by G Jones in 1969. A target for some of our up and coming athletes! Steve Crawshaw, Director of Sport and his team of helpers are to be congratulated on the splendid organisation of a complex event which ended with Red House victorious on 236 points, Blue House 2nd with 203 and Golds and Whites keenly contesting 3rd place which went to Gold House by just 3 points.
Warwickshire County Champions
Indoor Rowing
Congratulations and Good Luck to golfers Sam Williamson 10R, Tom Jones 8B and Monty Foley-Williamson 8W who have qualified as Warwickshire Champions to play in the English Schools’ Team Golf Championships in July in Norfolk. BVGS offers golf lessons at The Belfry as part of our sports programme in Years 8-10.
Our success continues at national level in the Concept 2 School Indoor Rowing League. Recent results: Eights: Yr7 4th/44 teams, Yr11 1st/35 teams. Fours: Yr7 7th/330 teams, Yr9 3rd/311 teams and Yr11 3rd/213 teams.
Cross Country
Other Sporting News Oliver Jupp 10G is now the North East Birmingham School's U16 Table Tennis Champion. Congratulations to Dan Hemingway OV 07 who has recently had his contract renewed to play for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership. James Youngman 11R won Bronze at the Midland ASA Youth Championships and finished fourth in the 100m and 200m backstroke, both in club record times.
Cricket
Sam Watkins leading the Junior race in the Sutton Coldfield Cross Country Championships on 23 April. Sam & Kieran Smith 11B have been selected for the West Mids. Cross Country Team at the English Schools’ Championships
U12: Off to a great start but losing narrowly to Bablake School chasing 100 and being all out for 87. U13: Tremendous 9 wicket wins against King’s School, Macclesfield, Joe Mewis (2-16) and Drew Byrne (2-21) Monty Foley-Williamson (55no) James Morgan (50no) and Bablake School bowled out for 137 Suhayb Hussain (3-17) and Steven Mapp (2-12). A majestic 109no from Captain Monty Foley-Williamson secured the victory. U14: lost narrowly to King’s Macclesfield by 20 runs Qaasim Yasin (5-14), beat Fairfax by 106 runs with Andrew Hendry 51no and then beat Bablake by 119runs with Andrew Hendry 99no. U15: Despite the early season being dominated by injuries and unavailability, BVGS U15s have made a solid start to the campaign. Defeated by King’s School, Macclesfield and Bablake School but managing to progress into the next round of the Warwickshire Cup, beating Heartlands School by 113 runs, BVGS now plays Holte school in the next round. 2nd XI: Kings Macclesfield were bowled out for 132 thanks to spin bowlers James Burland (4-23) and Reese Gora (4-31) but Vesey`s could muster only 108 in reply Tom Cooper (18). Against KES Birmingham James Burland again distinguished himself with 4-31 and fine fielding saw KES bowled out for 119. A poor start saw Vesey`s 17- 4 before Jon Hipkiss (34) and Vinay Raaj (33) enjoyed a stand of 60. Quick wickets fell but the last pair of Reese Gora and Andrew Coulthard saw us to within 3 runs of victory from 3 balls before Coulthard was caught. King Edward VI College, Stourbridge were next and Jon Roden (47) and Navjot Siyan (43) saw us to a good total of 163 but Stourbridge convincingly scored 164-4. The first win finally came against Bablake School with Vesey`s scoring 107 Reese Gora (30) and 3 wickets in Bablake`s total of 58. Dan Lock also took 3 wickets. 1st XI: The first XI playing record thus far is played 5, won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1. Following a battling draw against King’s Schools, Macclesfield, BVGS suffered their only defeat of the season to KES Birmingham in a match in which they missed a number of key chances in the field. Matthew Hill has been in excellent early season form with the bat and newcomer Junaid Qasim has bowled with increasing pace and control in his first season in the 1st XI. Sam Truelove and Sam Oliver shared a partnership of 138 in an impressive 57 run victory over a strong Bablake side.
Published for BVGS by Sharon Weblin, Headteacher’s PA sw@bishopveseys.bham.sch.uk Tel: 0121-250-5403. Printed by Jayne Joyce, BVGS Reprographics.