Maid enhill N ew sletter - Maidenhill School

Best Ever Results!
Students at Maidenhill School,
Stonehouse, have achieved
record GCSE results once again,
surpassing the school record set only
last year. 72% of students achieved
5A*-C grades with many achieving in
excess of 10 good GCSE passes.
“These record results come as no
surprise and are an indication of the
sustained improvements at the school
and are testament to the hard work
of our students and staff. Students
continue to make excellent progress on
a wide range of courses and deserve
to celebrate their achievements before
moving on to new challenges.
An investment of £3.6 million
has been confirmed for
refurbishment of the school buildings.
This will involve changes to the
exterior and interior of the school.
A team of architects have drawn
up a feasibility plan for the changes
and have been consulting students
The upward
trend in results
is set to continue
in 2012 against
a backdrop of
an improving
physical
environment as
a result of large
scale capital
investment at
the school. Driving up standards and
creating bright futures for our youngsters
continues to be the central focus of all
our efforts.
It is most
heartening
to see the
results of the
endeavours
of our young
people and
to see them
achieve and
surpass
their goals.”
Gary Watson
Headteacher
Maidenhill
Makeover
about their ideas for the design of
the exterior. A small group of art
students worked with the architects
to suggest innovative design ideas
that they then presented to the
group. The same architects designed
our new Sports Hall and Performing
Arts studio.
WINTER 2011 EDITION
Maidenhill Newsletter

MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2011
HEADTEACHER’S
UPDATE
The last three years have proved
both challenging and rewarding
in equal measure. Results have risen
dramatically, new facilities have come
on stream and there are more ahead.
A suite of Apple Mac computers
in music technology, a brand new
computer room and refurbished girls’
toilets are all imminent. The £3.6m
project will begin in March 2012
and last a year to completely lift the
appearance of the main block with new
windows, external cladding, a new
heating system, new roof and revised
and improved library facilities.
I would like to take this opportunity
to, once again, commend the
professionalism and dedication of
all the staff at Maidenhill, without
whom such rapid improvements would
not have been possible. They are a
tremendous group of people who work
tirelessly on behalf of our students, your
children.
Maidenhill School is now in a very
secure position. Results are set to
increase again in 2012, teaching and
learning are strong, a massive new
capital project is about to begin,
finances are on track, governance is
effective and the developing ethos of
the school continues to be one built
around positive relationships between
staff and students.
I would also like to thank you, the
parents, and the school’s governors for
your ongoing support. I am pleased that
I am leaving Maidenhill in Mrs Wilson’s
capable hands and at such a good point
from which to begin the next phase
in its journey. I shall be leaving with
great sadness and wish you and your
children all the very best for the future.
Stonehouse has a secondary school and
students of whom it can be justly proud.
UNIFORM
Maidenhill students
started this year
with a smart new uniform
of black blazers with
an embroidered red
rose. The red tie with
white diagonal stripes is a
colourful contrast to the
bright, white shirts. There
is also a black V necked jumper to
wear with either black trousers or a
skirt. We have had a number of very
positive comments about the new
uniform from the local community.
Student comments
It makes me feel a lot more grown-up
and makes me aware of what an early
morning feels like in the real world - so
it prepares us for that as well.
We stand out from other schools
and everyone can tell we are from
Maidenhill.
We look smart all the time and people
have complimented us.
You feel proud to represent the school
in such a smart uniform.
Mr Watson joined the school
in September 2008, at that
time a very different place to what
it is today. He has transformed our
school. His personal goals of seeing
every young person in his charge
achieve their best have borne fruit.
Year on year the school has attained
its best ever results.
Talk to any student and you will find
a considerable warmth towards
A Letter from the Governors
Mr Watson as they appreciate that
he sees them as individuals. He has a
concern for their ambitions, interests
and empathises with them on a
host of issues. Everyone visiting the
school is given that broad, beaming,
welcoming smile that instantly puts
you at ease.
Mr Watson has used his skills to
great effect, enabling his team of
senior leaders, teachers and broader
workforce to rise to the challenges
that the school faced. His ‘teamwork’
approach has brought great
dividends to the school.
Thank you Mr Watson, we wish
you good luck and every success in
leading your new school.
Eric Dawson
Vice Chair – Governors
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On 10th November, last year’s
Year 11 joined with parents and
staff to celebrate their achievements
in our annual presentation evening.
Students were nominated by each
subject area as well as for shields
and trophies. Mr Watson presented
his special award to Lewis Brain for
MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2011
Achievements Evening
Library
Year 7 Library Helpers are developing
ways for students to find a good
read. Research shows that 75% of people
want to browse and be inspired by what
they see. Only 25% come into the library
knowing what author they want and go
straight to that section.
Mrs Escott-Allen is gradually placing more books
‘face-on’ so they can be seen from a distance and
attract potential readers. This is especially important
for very thin books which can get lost between the
bigger ones.
Library Helpers meet every Thursday afternoon
and are filling the new display by the library counter
with a different theme each week. The first theme
was ‘Horror, Spooks & Ghouls’ and lots of people
commented how good the display looked and how
easy it was to choose from. About ten spaces on the
display had to be topped up as people borrowed
from it. They’ll be keeping an eye on how well each
theme does. This will help Mrs Escott-Allen when it
comes to designing the new library layout.
Mrs Escott-Allen - Librarian
outstanding academic achievement.
Lewis achieved 15 A*- C grades
including 7 A grades and one A*.
Megan Bullock received the Teacher’s
Special Award for commitment to
her studies – her 11A*- C grades
included 7As and 2 A*.
Billy Perry earned the Governors’
Special Award for contribution to
whole school life. Billy had been an
active member of the School Council
and took a lead role in a number of
school productions during his time at
Maidenhill.
Jess Weaver, Kate Lapidge and Harry
Vallender performed for one last
time at Maidenhill to enthusiastic
applause. The proceedings ended
with a delicious buffet prepared by
catering students.
Catering for Year 11
Achievements Evening
I
was pleased to be asked by
my catering teacher to be
involved with the catering for the
Achievements Evening. First of all my
thoughts were “Oh no”, but then
I realised that I could be helpful.
There were other people helping
as well which made it fun. Miss Fry
was playing songs while we worked.
I made all sorts of foods including
tikka bites, sausage rolls and caramel
cream bites. My friend Megan
Hobson and I were asked to design
the menu for that night’s food.
We were really pleased that we had
been asked to be involved in such a
great job. I was so proud!
Beth Patton - RKF
Year 9
Visiting Author
On Thursday the 17th
of November, Dianne
Samuels, the author of a text
we are studying for our GCSEs,
came in to Maidenhill School.
She gave a lucky few of us
a writing workshop, in which we learnt different writing
techniques, especially to do with creative writing. One of the
activities was to write non-stop for fifteen minutes on one
topic, which really made our wrists ache but was a great
activity because we learnt how to creatively write.
In the afternoon, we had a talk about the creation of her
play Kinder Transport about Jewish children that were sent
from different countries to England just before the start of
WWII. To understand some of the characters’ thoughts and
feelings, some people volunteered to read out pieces of
script and then discuss the characters and how they react to
certain situations. We found out that Dianne Samuels based
her story on what had happened to some of her friends
and family and used this to create a lot of the characters in
Kinder Transport.
It was a fantastic opportunity, and really opened many
people’s eyes to creative writing.
Janneke Bax-Pratt - DKB
Year 11
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MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2011
Year 11 - A taste of the future!
STROUD COLLEGE
TASTER DAY
When we arrived at Stroud
College we were given
our timetables and we were then
collected from the canteen. I started
with electrical. We got paired up
with a student doing their Level 2
course and made a one-way lighting
circuit. This gave us a chance to talk
to the students about the course
and the things we would be doing.
We then had a break after which I
did plumbing. We got told about the
trade and all the safety we needed
to know for the lesson. We then
cut some copper pipe, put it into a
corner type piece and soldered it to
make an L shape. After lunch I did
brickwork where we learnt how to
lay bricks and how to measure, how
to use the mortar and we made a
little wall. Overall, the day was really
good and very enjoyable.
Matthew Maryon - RES
Year 11
AIMHIGHER: Y11 STUDENTS
GO TO UNIVERSITY
Eighty eight Year 11 students spent the morning at the Oxstalls
Campus of the University of Gloucestershire on 19th October. The
aim of the morning was to brush up their study skills as well as seeing
what a University could offer. Students were able to work out their
preferred learning styles and were given strategies to make revision
more effective. Cornell note taking was another skill covered during the
session – with key themes clearly recorded in an innovative way. Student
responses were positive for the session.
UNI SUMMER SCHOOL 2011
During the final week of school, before the summer, five year 11
pupils got selected to attend a week at Gloucester University.
The week was spent living the life of a student. We stayed in halls at
the Cheltenham campus and it was a completely realistic experience
as we were put into floors with no-one we knew. We were given the
opportunity to visit many of the campuses. We went to lectures in a
variety of subjects like psychology. The best parts had to be the evening
activities. We had the chance to do rock climbing at the Warehouse,
bowling in Stroud and there was a disco on the final night. We believe
that the experience has helped us decide on what path we would like
to go down in the future and it has also allowed us to make life-long
friends. The party that we had at the end of the week was amazing; it
was a perfect end to a brilliant week. We think that everyone who had
the opportunity to go would agree to do it all over again, if they had the
chance. It was a fantastic week full of fun and drama.
Lauren Chandler - DKG
Year 11
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MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2011
‘HAVE A GO’ SKILLS EVENT
‘Have a Go’ skills event was held at Gloucester
A Rugby Club during November for Year 11 students.
The students were encouraged to take part in a number of
short, bite-sized activities including hairdressing, grooming a
horse and bricklaying.
A wide range of employers and training providers were
present, including some presenting opportunities to ‘Have
a Go’ at higher level skills such as accountancy, engineering,
marketing and communication.
CIRENCESTER COLLEGE
TASTER DAY
On Friday 18th November,
a large number of Year
11s visited Cirencester College
for a taster day. The taster
sessions I experienced there were:
pre-teaching, drama and theatre
studies, photography, psychology
and also biology. The people at
Cirencester College were lovely,
the courses were interesting and there was generally a really
happy atmosphere throughout the college. Cirencester College
looks like a very hopeful future for me and many others.
Laura Wells - RRO
Year 11
COFFEE SHOP
Maidenhill’s ‘Drink and Think’ Coffee Shop is seeking
students to manage and run the coffee shop as from mid
January 2012. We hope to open one evening and one break
time a week.
Suitable candidates will be good team workers and have
great communication and customer care skills. Please see
Miss Fry or Mrs Hill for an application form.
SPORT
Netball
Years 7 and 11 have shown excellent
commitment so far this season and have
even worked around their play rehearsals
to fit in some training time. The Year 7 team
have done particularly well beating KLB ‘B’
team and Sir William Romney School.
Cross Country
We have excelled at cross country running
this year with 6 students selected to
represent Stroud District at the County
Championships. Emily Chandler and Nathan
Marks qualified in the top 10 for the Juniors
and Danni Sharpe, Julianne Thomson, Luke
Nurding and Ryan Hampson qualified for
the Inter age group.
Basketball
Well attended so far this year has been the
boys’ basketball club run by Mr Emerson.
The boys train regularly on a Tuesday after
school and frequently at lunchtimes. The new
sports hall has enabled full court basketball
at Maidenhill. Following the enthusiasm that
the Year 7s have shown Mr Parrott, the new
Sports Assistant, has set up a girls’ basketball
club after school on Monday.
Rugby
Mr Smith has been training the Year 7 boys’
rugby team this year. Mr Clements took the
team to a Saturday tournament at Rednock
School and the boys did themselves proud
playing well in their matches.
There are extra-curricular sports on every
day after school. Take a look on the notice
boards in the corridor and up in the PE
department. If you want to be involved in
something, just come along with your kit!
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MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2011
School
Council
The School Council has been
reformed to create a simpler
and more effective system for
representation of the student body
across all four Learning Communities.
Alex Allcock remains the School
President and each tutor group has
representatives from Key Stage 3 and
4. Students from each Community
attend the termly senate meetings
with Mrs Halliday and Mrs Wilson.
Held at Maidenhill School
during half term, Bandit 7 was
organised by Kevin Howlett and
assisted by professional musicians
and music teachers.The young
people who attended came from a
variety of schools and quickly formed
themselves into bands, often with
no-one they had previously met.
Their remit was to produce a song
and music to perform at a gig on the
Wednesday evening.
For most people this would be a
very daunting task but by the end
of Monday’s session friendships
had been formed and a range of
musical genres were evident from
the compositions emanating from
the rehearsal rooms. By Wednesday
everyone was ready for the gig that
The Council is currently involved
in looking at the rewards system in
school and feeding back on Vertical
Tutoring.
The Council will also work closely
with ‘Maidenhill Friends’ for ideas on
fund raising. Future plans are to meet
with ABM Catering who provide
a service to students at break and
lunch in the school canteen.
Maidenhill has three students on the
Stroud District Youth Council - Millie
Gardiner, Lydia Stephens and Neil
Bond. Millie represents the Housing
Portfolio for the Stroud District
Youth Council.
Bandit 7
October 24th to 26th 2011
was being held at the Stroud Valleys
Artspace that evening.
In an electric atmosphere each
group performed with seemingly no
nerves and bags of confidence.
The audience were full of admiration
for not only their children, but for
all of the performers, and they were
amazed at what had been achieved
in such a short space of time. At the
end of the evening, exhausted but
exhilarated, many were asking “Can
we do this again next year?” Praise
indeed for both the staff and the
young people!!
Thanks to Kev and his team and I
look forward to being part of it
next year.
John West (Governor)
Goodwill Fest
Poster Competition
M aidenhill
students
were invited
to take part in
Stroud Life’s
Goodwill
Fest poster
competition.
India Danter 7RES came 2nd in
her age category winning £25. Josh
Jones 10RES became the overall
winner of the competition, winning
£50 and an opportunity to help
switch on the Christmas lights in
Stonehouse.
Arts Award
At Maidenhill School, we offer the
Arts Award qualification, which is
accredited by Trinity Guildhall and open
to all students at three levels:
Bronze-equivalent to working at GCSE
D – G level.
Silver-equivalent to working at GCSE
A* - C level
Gold-equivalent to working at AS Level
and carries UCAS points
We have around 20 students currently
taking the course at Silver with over
a fifth of the school now holding an
Arts Award. The whole of Year 7 will
be doing the Bronze, both in and out
of lessons, from January 2012. The
best thing about the Arts Award is
that you can be any age (between 11
and 25) and be working towards any
level – we have an exceptional Year 8
student, Abigail Jones, who has already
completed her Bronze and Silver
awards and is now starting on her Gold
level!
If you would like to complete the
Bronze Award, you should see
Ms. Machers, who will be able to discuss,
in more depth, what is involved. You
can also check out the Arts Award
website www.artsaward.uk.org which
will provide ideas and resources.

MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2011
Fairgame Theatre
in partnership with Maidenhill
Fairgame
Theatre
has become
Theatre in
Residence
at Maidenhill
after a long
partnership.
They moved
into an office in the school in July this
year and have already been doing
some exciting collaborative work.
Recently drama workshops have
taken place with young people in the
school, culminating in a presentation
of their work to an appreciative
audience before the performance of
their national rural touring show,
‘Arabian Nights.’
If you didn’t manage to see it, it is
on at the Subscription Rooms in
Stroud between the 21st and 24th
December 2011.
SCHOOL PRODUCTION 2012
This year Maidenhill’s school
production is ‘U Gotta
Have Cool’.
The script and songs have been
written by Phil Harris, who teaches
guitar at the school. It is an original
production, set in Stonehouse and
it will be performed for the first
time across three evenings in March
2012, with matinees for local primary
schools.
‘U Gotta Have Cool’ will feature a
cast of different age groups, from
years 7 to 11, and as always a
professional band will accompany
the production. The dances will be
choreographed by Megan Hobson
in Year 9.
Nature in Art
Year 7 students took an
educational trip to ‘Nature in
Art’ in Twigworth, Gloucester during
September. They studied the large
collection of animal and wildlife art
and artefacts. They met wildlife artists
and took part in some ‘hands on’
workshops.
The trip was to explore how we
describe and respond to our world
through writing and drawing and for
the students to enjoy learning and
have fun with their new classmates in
and out of a school setting.
Mrs R. Finch
“I enjoyed looking around the art
gallery and the sculpture garden”
Thomas Deane 7HDW
“I learnt about the different tools
used in wood sculpturing”
Oliver Ayre 7HDW
“I made two new friends, Millie
and Leah”
Gabbi Cook 7HRF
“I enjoyed meeting the wood sculptor
Robert. He made amazing sculptures”
Talia Webster 7HDK
St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance supported
nearly 300 Maidenhill
students in passing their Young
First Aider award last Summer.
Their certificates were presented
during Learning Community
assemblies this term. One of
our Year 8 students , Lamorran
Trevenna, is a member of St John
Ambulance and assisted in the
assemblies and in local media coverage. Maidenhill students raised nearly
£600 for the charity through events including a non-uniform day. We are
very appreciative of the work of St John Ambulance in school.
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MAIDENHILL NEWS: WINTER 2011
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
TERM 3
Tuesday 3rd January Start of Term 3
Friday 6th January Live Courses for Y11 start at Stroud College
Tuesday 10th January Live Courses for Y10 start at Stroud College
Friday 13th January Y11 Mock Results Day
Wednesday 18th January 4.30pm – 7pm Y10 Parents’ Evening
Tuesday 31st January Y11 Science Trip to Bristol Zoo
Thursday 2nd February Y11 Triple Science Visit to London
Friday 3rd February Y11 Hospitality Event at Calcot Manor
Tuesday 7th February Y11 Leavers’ Photographs
Thursday 9th February Y11 Poetry Live
Thursday 9th February End of Term for all Years
except Y11 LIVE Students
Friday 10th February Inset Day
Friday 10th February Live Courses for Y11 finish at Stroud College
TERM 4
Monday 20th February Start of Term 4
Tuesday 21st February Theatre Visit to Bristol Hippodrome
to see Blood Brothers
Friday 24th February Rotary Club – Junior School Event
Tuesday 28th February Live Courses for Y10 start at Stroud College
Friday 2nd March Live Courses for Y11 start at Stroud College
Friday 2nd March Y9 Science Lecture at Wycliffe College
Wednesday 7th March 7pm School Production
Thursday 8th March 7pm School Production
Friday 9th March 7pm School Production
Thursday 15th March 4.30pm – 7pm Y7 Parents’ Evening
Tuesday 27th March 4.30pm – 7pm Y9 Parents’ Evening
Friday 30th March End of Term
Maidenhill Friends
aidenhill Friends have been
M busy since the last newsletter:
• Forging new links with the
school council.
• Working closely with students
and Miss Fry, some wonderful
cakes were made for sale at the
Stonehouse Jolly in July.
Everyone was very impressed
with the incredibly high
standard and £175 was raised.
• Refreshments are made available
to suit individual events whenever
needed, leaving busy teachers
to concentrate on performances
or meetings with parents.
• Organising raffles and stalls.
Bingo recently raised over £150.
• Making plans for bigger things in
the future.
• A stall at the Goodwill Fest
in Stonehouse
I would like to take this opportunity
on behalf of all the committee to
wish everyone a very happy
Christmas, and I look forward with
great excitement to putting in place
some of the wonderful plans we
have for you next year!
We look forward to hearing
from you!
Paula Trevenna
Chair, Maidenhill Friends
MAIDENHILL
SCHOOL SHOP/BANK
The shop is open daily from 8.30-9.05
a.m. and during breaktime in the main
corridor opposite the finance office.
We can supply all your stationery
needs for school from only 10p for a
pen to a full pencil case for £1.30. We
supply calculators for £5, geometry
sets for £1.40 and also revision guides.
If you need to hand in trip money,
music money or need tickets to
shows, this is the place.
Mrs A Papps
Maidenhill School, Kings Road, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, GL10 2HA Tel: 01453 822469 / 824776
If you would like to receive a copy of this newsletter by email, please contact admin@maidenhill.gloucs.sch.uk
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