July 2008 - Prince Henrys Grammar School

in
The
view
Volume 21 Summer 2008
news magazine of
Prince Henry’s Grammar School
Specialist Language College
Rugby
triumph
Prince Henry’s
are county
champions
Proud of the past, prepared for the future

Take pride in our school
SINCE the last edition of Inview we have
received our Ofsted inspection report,
which concludes that Prince Henry’s is
“a good school with outstanding features.
Students make good progress as a result of
challenging and skilful teaching”. Inspectors
Absolutely
eighties
also noted that “students’ progress
goes hand in hand with good personal
development and wellbeing; they enjoy
learning, show concern for others and take
pride in their school. Attendance is good
and behaviour is excellent, as a result of
high expectations and exemplary care
and support”.
Our new Science block is now open,
providing state-of-the-art facilities with 11
laboratories, preparation rooms and new
reception area.
John Steel, Headteacher
That was sum event!
WORLD Maths Day was a huge
success this year, with more than
a million pupils competing in the
‘mathletics’ event organised to
help improve basic arithmetic
skills. A website gave real-time
results as pupils from more than
150 countries answered mental
maths questions.
A new world record was
It’s a numbers game: Year
7 ‘mathletes’ Madison
Miller, Rohini Ajaykumar
and Stephanie Rumsey.
set of 182,455,169 correct
answers given. Awards were
presented to Stephanie Rumsey
and Rohini Ajaykumar, Year 7,
and Choi Yi Chan, Year 9, for
their contributions to the total,
and an entire Maths set won a
subscription to the mathletics
website for their efforts.
Ongoing success in languages
We continue to excel as a specialist Language College – and Ofsted agrees
Ofsted confirms re-designation
PRAISE from Ofsted for our role as a Language College has secured our
Language College status for a further three years.
Inspectors commented on our “outstanding contribution to local
schools and community language learning”, and highlighted our students’
“strong awareness of their global citizenship”. New developments include
the launch of a Polish course for beginners as part of our Community
Education Programme.
Durban dignitary visit
WE were honoured when Ina Cronje,
Minister of Education for the South
African province of KwaZulu-Natal,
paid a visit to Prince Henry’s to meet
pupils who had been to our partner
school Earlington Secondary in
Durban, as well as pupils who will fly
out this summer.
Mrs Cronje took part in a live web
chat with a teacher from Earlington,
who watched the whole event via
webcam. She asked pupils about
VIP visit: KwaZulu-Natal Education Minister Ina
Cronje received a warm welcome when she
visited the school.
their preconceptions of South Africa
and said she hoped to meet them
during their trip.
Rousing chorus: The cast of Back to the 80s belt out another classic hit.
THIS year Prince Henry’s had a dose of 80s
nostalgia when a cast of 105 and crew of 30
performed the smash hit musical Back to the 80s.
Crammed full of classic pop songs from the
era, the five performances delighted more than
a thousand parents and friends in the audience,
who hummed along to classics such as Girls Just
Wanna Have Fun, Kids in America, Material Girl
and Man in the Mirror, but the highlight of the
show was the final song, Time of our Lives – for
which Emma Roe and Will Cook imitated the
famous lift from the film Dirty Dancing.
TEACHING Assistants Ms Crosby, Mrs Parkinson
and Mr Whitaker have been working on their
NVQ 3/Teaching Assistant qualification, which
they will complete by the term’s end.
PRINCE Henry’s and seven local primary schools
have agreed to establish a Joint Collaborative
Centre for the Governance of External Services,
the new Children’s Centre and the Orchard
Centre Learning Support Unit.
The long-awaited Otley Children’s Centre at
Ashfield School will meet local community needs
such as family support and parental outreach.
News in brief
Colourful conscience: Jordan Drake, Scott Marshall
and Gaby Gill, Year 9, display their protest pieces.
Children in arms way
PUPILS in Years 8 and 9 tackled an important issue in Art
and Religious Studies when they examined the implications
for children – particularly child soldiers – of the global
arms trade.
As part of the Control Arms campaign, pupils designed
and created protest T-shirts, posters and placards. “We
have so many rights in this country – kids would never be
forced to join the army or carry a gun,” explains Gaby Gill,
Year 9. “We have to protect the children of other countries.”
Group
encourages
eco-shopping
Active role in Amnesty
YEAR 12 students Vicky Wilson,
Amy Barker and Rebecca Krengal,
along with Miss Alltoft and Miss
Havas, headed for the University
of Nottingham during the Easter
break to attend the Amnesty
National conference and annual
general meeting.
Ohayo gozaimasu!
All three students took an active
role in the working parties and voted
during the plenary sessions, and
enjoyed having the opportunity to
see how the decision-making process
works. The Prince Henry’s Amnesty
group was also awarded a prize for
their work over the past year.
JUST after Easter a small group of eager Year 9 and 10 pupils began studying
Japanese. So far the group has learnt how to introduce themselves, a number
of everyday phrases, numbers up to 120 million, and 20 simple kanji, the
characters used in modern Japanese writing.
If you fancy trying something different and challenging, it’s still not too late
to join the group, which meets in Room 53 every Tuesday after school.
2
AFTER a detailed feasibility study the school
governors concluded that Prince Henry’s does
not currently have the resources to offer the
International Baccalaureate as an alternative
to A-levels. The school is looking into a National
Baccalaureate qualification run by AQA.
YEAR 10 students received some excellent
GCSE Science exam results recently, with 26
students scoring full marks in one or more of
their exams.
JOEL Pell and Lyndsey Fox completed their
entry-level qualification in Science, working with
Ian Nicholls to produce ten pieces of work.
AS part of our Green Day, Waitrose
agreed to remove plastic bags from its
checkouts for a day.
The Eco Group took used bags to
the supermarket and helped customers
to pack their shopping using these
recycled bags, as well as the free Bags
for Life provided by Waitrose.
The Eco Group talked to customers
about how they could save energy at
home and at work, and are now putting
some of the ideas to use around
the school.
In the bag: Waitrose Partner Dora Sykes,
Tom Hymers, Waitrose Partner Kevin
Buckley, Linzi Ranfagni, Lauren Wilson,
Daniel Gleghorn and Lenja Rohlfing.
3

Abroad spectrum for travel
Over the past school year more than 350 pupils have taken part in one of 15 foreign visits, meaning that
pupils at Prince Henry’s have more opportunities to travel abroad than at any other school in the area
Far and wide
WHILE Year 9 French pupils
enjoyed an exchange visit to
Otley’s twin town of Montereau,
German pupils took part in
an exchange to Rhein-Maas
Gymnasium.
Year 13 students, meanwhile,
headed for Madrid, where they
visited our new partner school
and enjoyed some of the area’s
cultural sights.
Another group of students
visited Bielsk Podlaski and Warsaw
in Poland for the finale of our
three-year Comenius Project with
Poland and Italy. The programme
Sport and
culture in
Dubai
IT was Prince Henry’s most
ambitious sporting trip ever – taking
47 pupils from Years 9 and 10 to
Dubai on a rugby and netball tour.
As well as the matches, the trip
was also a very cultural experience
for the pupils, who visited a Bedouin
camp and a spice and gold souk
(market), as well as trying the rare
treat of camel riding.
“It was great to play other schools
from around the world and test our
strengths and playing capabilities
against them,” says Jameel Karim,
Year 9. Casey Brownbill, Year 10,
agrees: “It was great fun playing
against local opposition and
experiencing the cultural diversity
Dubai has to offer.”
Fountain of youth: Pupils pump it up in Poland.
included the launch of our joint
recipe book, Europe on a Plate,
and students were able to practise
what they had learnt in their Polish
lessons prior to the trip.
A group of 45 Year 8 pupils
flew to Barcelona, where they
visited the Camp Nou stadium,
Parc Güell and the Sagrada
Familia cathedral, as well as our
partner school IES Montserrat.
June was a busy month for
Year 7, with 45 pupils taking part
in the annual trip to Le Touquet
in France, and 40 pupils visiting
Cologne in Germany.
A trip to
remember
THE History department’s trip to
Flanders proved to be a poignant
experience for the 44 Year 9
pupils who visited battlefields and
monuments at Vimy, Thiepval and
Ypres, as well as smaller cemeteries
such as Langemark and Brandhoek.
Several students found memorials
to their relatives and a wreath
was laid at Brandhoek in a moving
ceremony.
“One of the aims of the trip was to
provide an opportunity to reflect on
the scale of industrial warfare and
consider the relevance and nature
of remembrance today,” explains
History teacher Victoria Canon.
In Flanders fields: Year 9 pupils on
the History trip to Belgium.
History lesson: Laurell Malpass and Josh Blundell, Year 12.
Harrowing history
YEAR 12 students Josh Blundell
and Laurell Malpass recently
travelled to Poland with other
students, local MPs and a
Holocaust survivor to take part
in the Lessons from Auschwitz
project, which included a visit to
a Jewish graveyard in the town
of Oswiecim and a guided tour
of the two Auschwitz
concentration camps.
On their return, Josh and
Laurell passed on their learning
by giving a talk to Year 8 students,
who study the Holocaust as part
of their work on Judaism.
Peak fun on ski trip
Ski Sunday: Pupils enjoy the facilities at Sunday River resort.
THE 2008 ski trip was Prince Henry’s fourth visit to the legendary
Sunday River ski resort in Maine, USA.
Tucked away near the Canadian border, the complex boasts no
fewer than eight peaks, offering a huge range of skiing experiences.
This year was one of the best on record for snow, and the 60 pupils
made the most of the amazing conditions, despite the slight chill –
one morning recorded a low of -13°C!
Team spirit: Members of the netball
4 and rugby squads that visited Dubai.
5

Movies in Media Studies
Material world
IN an exciting development from the Media Studies
department, as of September it will be possible to take a new
course – A-level Film Studies.
Designed for students with a real interest in cinema, the
course studies British and American films and the industry
that creates them. Students will also have to prove their
own skills behind the camera, as this is an entirely practical
course, requiring students to assemble a portfolio of work
demonstrating their talent.
Year 13 student Rowan Purvis has been particularly
successful in his Applied A-level group, receiving full marks for
his stylish and atmospheric horror film Exposure.
YEAR 10 Product Design pupil Chris Rawlings came
runner up in the Best Use of Materials category at the
prestigious 2008 PrintIT! awards, having been shortlisted
from more than 23,000 entries.
Prince Henry’s strengthened its links with Harewood
House when pupils attended a Chinese calligraphy
session at the stately home in June.
Year 13 Textiles students worked with garment
designer Jo Palmer on patterns and clothing items for
their final projects. The students learnt about designing
pieces for specific clients and how to turn flat drawings
into 3D products.
“I learned a lot about pattern cutting and garment
construction,” says Becky Burton, who worked with
Jo very closely to produce her coat for theatre
production Wicked.
Best dressed: Garment designer Jo
Palmer with Year 13 students Tessa
Baston, Libby Toovey and Becky Burton.
Camera ready: Rowan Purvis, Year 13, produced the superb horror movie Exposure.
A winning ensemble
IN March the Prince Henry’s brass
ensemble won the Leeds School’s
Chamber Music Competition at
Temple Newsam. Competing
against 11 other schools, the group
received medals and a shield for
their hard work.
All Saints’ Church in Otley was
the venue for the school senior
music concert in May. The occasion
was a grand finale and a sad
goodbye for many of the school’s
older musicians. Senior ensembles
and soloists performed a variety
of pieces, including barbershopstyle
vocals, and orchestral and
band pieces.
“The senior choir sang beautifully
as usual,” commented accompanist
Richard Kenwood-Herriott.
Where there’s brass:
Members of the school’s
brass ensemble following
their win at Temple
Newsam.
Drama students
play to the crowds
THE Sixth Form Drama students’ examination
performances proved to be exciting, entertaining
and highly professional.
Deadenders and Handle with Care showcased
the full range of the Year 13 students’ abilities.
Handle with Care was an ensemble piece about a
psychotic postman and his unwitting victims, while
knockabout comedy Deadenders dealt with a
bizarre street and its eccentric residents.
The same students also created workshop
versions of well-known plays, which were
performed on the same night to a packed theatre.
Year 12 students performed Billy Liar, a comedy
about a young man who has a lively imagination
but lacks the courage to fulfil his dreams.
Problem solving
the Army way
THIRTY Year 10 pupils were picked up by Army
officials and experienced a day team building,
working as a group and solving problems with
Army officials.
All aspects of enterprise skills were covered
during the event, which took place at Batley
barracks and gave the pupils the chance to show
how well they could think.
“They were such a good group, and worked
really well as a team,” commented an impressed
Corporal Squires.
Science Week
goes with a bang
LEEDS University was the place to be
during Science Week.
Year 9 gifted and talented pupils
completed a series of fascinating
workshops on explosions, the earth
and sensitivity.
A group of Year 11
students, meanwhile,
witnessed the delights of
chemistry as performed
by Professor Mike Hoyland,
who enthused the
scientists with his famous
crash, bang and
wallop show.
Long way round
IT was a long hike, but it was worth
it – that was the consensus when 22
Year 10 pupils completed their final
expedition for their Bronze Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award.
The group trekked more than 18
miles around Nidderdale, carrying all
Outward bound: Year 10
pupils Tom Darbyshire,
Abbi Hewitt and Casey
Brownbill.
Product placement: Chris Rawlings, Year
10, with the BBC’s George Alagiah and
Product Design teacher Dawn Smith.
their food and equipment. Despite
the occasional organisational hiccup
such as learning – the hard way
– that north is the red arrow on a
compass, all pupils did extremely
well and look forward to more of the
same next year.
Students take on
recruitment role
WHEN 20 Year 12 Applied Business
students took on the role of Human
Resources executives, they headed
straight for a smart hotel.
As part of their brief, the students
visited The Met Hotel in Leeds with
teacher Amy Smith to interview
employees about the hotel’s
employment methods and policies.
“The visit was really beneficial, as I
was able to see how The Met actually
recruits its staff,” explains Stacey
Ward. “This really helped when it
came to devising my own recruitment
policy for my final portfolio.”
Democratic
debate
DEMOCRACY was in the spotlight when
Prince Henry’s hosted a conference
at which local MP Greg Mulholland
and the leader of the Conservatives
in Europe Timothy Kirkhope gave
their views on British democracy and
the challenges it faces. Questions
from Sixth Form students gave the
politicians a tough time.
Students were also able to enjoy
the sights of London and observe
politicians in their natural habitat during
a visit to the Houses of Parliament to
hear our democracy in action.
6 7

WE ARE A LEEDS INCLUSIVE
Double win for county’s best
ONCE again we’ve proved that we’re Yorkshire’s leading
state school for rugby.
Both the U15 and U18 teams came away from the Army
Foundation College at Harrogate as county champions. The
U18s defeated Doncaster Hall Cross 18-6, with a brace
of tries from captain Joe Robinson – a fitting finale to his
rugby career at the school. The U15 team ran amok, winning
comfortably against Richmond School, with captain Nathan
Rogers leading by example throughout the game.
These results are great rewards for the hard work put in
by both squads throughout the season. All players involved
have been a credit to the school, displaying a first-class
attitude and true team spirit. The standard has been set for
next season, and even more hard work is needed between
now and next April to keep up this success.
Finally, watch out for former pupil Danny Care, who is
playing for England this summer in New Zealand.
Worthy winners: Richard Goakes and Nathan Rogers of the U15 rugby squad.
Four-way winners: The U14 netball squad.
Best-ever season
for netball
THE U14 Netball squad has enjoyed quadruple success this
season, winning the Leeds School League, two tournaments and
the Benfield Ford Cup.
The girls managed to fight their way to the top against
tough opposition from Leeds Grammar School for Girls and
Woodhouse Grove School. “I am proud to be captain of such a
hardworking team,” says Hollie Phimister.
Prince Henry’s swimmers won the ‘B’ group championship and
Toby Rankin, Josh Walker and Marissa Balance secured four
individual medals.
Cyclist Gaby Shaw has been chosen for the British Cycling
Youth Endurance squad.
In cross country, the U14 boys and girls, and the U13 girls,
all won their category in the Leeds School League. The U16
girls and U13 boys both won second place, and the U12 girls
finished third.
In football, the U13 football team won the Aire Wharfe Cup.
The U18 team reached the semi-finals, and the U12 team was \
a quarter finalist.
Sports in brief
SCHOOL
Prince Henry’s Grammar School
SPECIALIST LANGUAGE COLLEGE
Farnley Lane,
Otley,
West Yorkshire
LS21 2BB
Tel: (01943) 463524
Fax: (01943) 850978
Website: www.princehenrys.co.uk
INVIEW
Editorial Co-ordinator: Alison Hinchcliffe.
inview is produced
by Words&Pictures.
Tel: 01943 854800.