10 Spring 2009 - Greenhead College

NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 10
SPRING 2009
Greenhead
news
The newsletter of Greenhead College
Mrs Sunderland
Competition Success:
Congratulations on a superb report
and 1st placing from the adjudicator in
the Mrs Sunderland Festival at the end
of February. There was a strong field,
including our own brass quintet (placed
third overall), but the Vivaldi and Elgar
performances gained high praise for
their ‘subtlety and sophistication’.
Bravo! SWR
www.greenhead.ac.uk
Members of Greenhead College String Ensemble
A trip of a
lifetime!
Five days in New
York! Wow, what an
experience!
Just before half term 23 Business
Studies students made the journey
across the Atlantic for five days of visits
and sightseeing. After a seemingly long
plane journey and very little sleep, we
finally arrived at the Big Apple! Luckily,
the Hotel Pennsylvania was situated
right in the centre of the action, with
Madison Square Garden and Macy’s
department store just a few blocks away. The tour of Macy’s gave us a valuable insight into the role of
retailing and in-store layout with consideration of the needs of different consumers. We also found out
about the methods of promotion used by Macy’s. The trip to the Federal Reserve Bank was fascinating
and enabled us to experience how banks and financial institutions have supported US businesses and
how monetary policy and interest rates are used to support the US economy. (There was also plenty of
gold to see!) The Broadway Show ‘Mamma Mia’ gave us a taste of New York nightlife. Many thanks to
all staff for organising visits, trips and bringing us home safely.
Lucy Firth and Samantha Tingey

Greenhead
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 10 SPRING 2009
news
Introducing the New Senior Students:
Pictured (l-r) with the Chair of
Governors, Mr Charles Kaye,
are Ashford Campbell, Ben
Wallis, Hannah Galloway, Sian
Green, Aaron Cox, and James
Sykes - the new Senior Students.
Currently first year students, they
are eager to fully engage with
the challenges and rewarding
work which this office involves.
When asked why they chose to
compete for votes from a peer
based electorate focused and
thoughtful ideas were forwarded.
James felt motivated to “make
something of myself and to do
something worthwhile on behalf
of the college community.” Aaron
was inspired to run because
he can “help people.” Sian
commented that when she first
joined Greenhead last year she
Geology Field Trip:
was impressed by the “friendly
faces” of the student helpers and
their “approachable” manner.
Hannah has felt that since joining
Greenhead her self confidence
has developed enormously and
this role will provide a further
“test.” Ben wanted to “make a
difference at college and leave my
mark behind.” He also hopes that
the team will provide a bridge for
new students to make an “easy
leap academically and socially”
into a new learning environment.
Ashford referred to the “honour”
involved in giving something back
to one’s immediate educational
community.
As for their ambitions about how
to serve and contribute to the
wider College profile, incisive
remarks materialised, notably
that they want to put the GREEN
into Greenhead. Environment
appears to be at the top of the
team’s agenda: from looking
after our immediate teaching and
learning/social spaces to utilising
new relevant environmental
initiatives which everyone can
contribute towards. They are also
looking forward to welcoming the
next generation of Greenhead
students. This team hails from
one partner and four non partner
schools. Everyone commented on
how much they have enjoyed the
diverse student community which
comprises Greenhead. They
aim in September to welcome
everyone back in a friendly,
supportive and motivational
manner. We wish them every
success.
The Geology Department has
gratefully received a donation of
fourteen compass clinometers,
essential data collection equipment,
from Mr Vince Williams, Director (and
palaeontologist), The Workbug Co
Ltd, based in Northampton. Vince
has recently completed his PhD
at Leicester University Geology
department and volunteers his time
and expertise on Greenhead geology
residential fieldworks. Thank you
Vince. VB
AS Geology students enjoying the cold but sunny weather at Lochranza, Isle of Arran in February.
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www.greenhead.ac.uk

Greenhead
news
NEW FACES
From Oxford to Yorkshire
Andy Raw joins the college as Head of
Physics and has found Greenhead staff “to
be very helpful and friendly” and students
“to generally be very pleasant.” Having
read for a Physics degree at Oxford University Andy’s
professional experiences have involved teaching in
two Comprehensive schools including eleven years as
Head of Physics in one of them. He was then Head of
Physics for eight years at a Sixth Form college in Bury.
Outside college, Andy is married with two children,
aged six and seven, and enjoys “playing cricket for
Leymoor CC.” He also watches football taking “my son
to watch Huddersfield Town” but “is a Derby County
fan myself.” Andy enjoys “reading, films and current
affairs” and is currently trying to learn the guitar.
Infectious Enthusiasm
Welcome to Debbie Woodbridge who
joins Greenhead’s English department. “I
was born and brought up in the north east
and moved to Yorkshire to study English
and philosophy. Most of my teaching experience was
gained at Mirfield Free Grammar, where I also had
the role of Professional Mentor – I loved working with
trainee teachers – so eager and energetic! Greenhead
is a very busy and productive place – the enthusiasm
for learning, achieving and simply enjoying life is
infectious. I used to be in a folk band and still enjoy
listening to all sorts of music and playing (or trying to
play) my guitar. Highlight? – meeting Patrick Stewart –
he was lovely.”
Made To Feel At Home
Greenhead’s new Vice Principal (Structures)
is Anton McGrath who oversees “the
curriculum, quality of teaching and learning
and the self assessment process alongside
continued professional development for all staff.”
A born and bred Lancastrian (Bury), Anton studied
Geography and German at Aberystwyth University.
Anton’s professional credentials are varied including
work “in a chip shop, as an auxiliary nurse and as
an administration assistant for a local council.” From
working at Wigan and Leigh College as a Geography
teacher he has held many educational roles “ranging
from course leader to learning support manager. I then
moved to Ashton Sixth Form College to take up a role
as Assistant Principal (Curriculum) before moving to
Greenhead in 2008.” An enjoyment of sports outside
of college allows for a little relaxation: “I’m an avid
Evertonian. I play golf and five a side football. However,
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 10 SPRING 2009
my hobbies and interests have had to take a bit of a
back seat in the last few years; my two children take up
all my time!”
And Anton’s impressions of Greenhead to date?
“Everybody I have met is friendly and approachable.”
On first joining the college “they made me feel at
home.”
She’s the HRM (and more)
Debra Todd’s job isn’t easy to describe,
but it sure is important – not least because
it’s her responsibility to look after the staff!
Skipping over the other responsibilities
that come with being Human Resources Manager,
we should note that in her other capacity as Clerk to
the Corporation, Debra is the officer who acts as its
official advisor. The Clerk is a senior post holder but is
independent of College Management.
The fact that she is just about to complete a five-year
CIPD Master’s degree (that’s the Chartered Institute
of Personnel and Development to you and me) gives
some indication of the kind of legal and procedural
knowledge that she is expected to draw on. The extra
fact that she’s funded it herself – two evenings a week
for five years – gives some idea of her commitment.
In her spare time, Debra enjoys outdoor activities with
her two children. She has climbed many of the UK’s
highest mountains, and also finds time for swimming.
She’s more than impressed with Greenhead as a place
of work, describing it as having “a wonderful sense
of family and a high level of trust” and a place where
“everyone’s contributions are recognised”. She feels,
she says, “incredibly lucky and privileged to be here”.
Matthew Peers
Zestful Travels in a Camper
Van
Welcome to Abi Norman who joined
Greenhead’s Geography department in
September 2008. Prior to Greenhead Abi “taught at
Honley High School for three years.” Abi originally hails
from Lincolnshire, near Louth, and read for a BA Hons
in Geography at the University of Sheffield (“one of the
main attractions being the ski slope.”) Having spent a
year teaching in Bordeaux “and enjoying it, I decided
to pursue a career in teaching. My teacher training was
completed in 2005 at the University of Leeds.”
One of Abi’s prime interests is travel which has
involved taking in “New Zealand with my boyfriend in
a camper van and visiting South East Asia, Thailand,
Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Dubai.” Abi is a keen
sportswoman enjoying swimming, spinning, circuits
and loves trying new sports such as zorbing, surfing,
skiing and white water rafting.
www.greenhead.ac.uk 3

Greenhead
news
OFFERS ROLL IN!
Hundreds of university offers have been achieved by
Greenhead College students over the last few weeks, from
all over the country and for a wide range of courses.
They include 29 offers to read for degrees at the universities
of Oxford and Cambridge, which this year celebrates its 800th
anniversary. The number of Oxbridge offers is in line with the
college’s success over the last 15 years and totals about 140
offers in the last five years. At a time when the number of
applicants is increasing to these universities our ‘hit-rate’ is
far better than the national average. The offers achieved by
our students reflect achievement by all departments at the
College, and their former High Schools, and this year include
four highly competitive ‘medic’ offers.
On the afternoon of Wednesday 25th March some of our
former students who are already at Oxbridge, and four
admission tutors, came in to College to talk to our students
and to dispel some of the many Oxbridge myths. Further open
meetings will be held in College, at lunchtimes, on 26th and
30th March and 1st May for those who missed this meeting
and would like to find out more.
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 10 SPRING 2009
Debating Night at
Greenhead
The three teams of Greenhead students
did extremely well in a nerve-wrecking
round of debates. The first debate
was “we believe we should ban
animal testing.” Greenhead proposed
the motion and did well under the
pressure of scrutinising questions,
but were unfortunate to be beaten
by New College. The second debate
consisted of both Greenhead teams
and was about whether “globalisation
had a destructive effect on the world.”
Greenhead’s Team A won this debate.
The final debate centred on whether
the UK “should become a non nuclear
weapon country.” A good night of
debating from all six teams, and well
done to those who won.
Aimee Swaine
This success confirms the excellence and high standards of
Greenhead College and you would have to go a long way
to find its equal. Congratulations to all the students as they
embark upon their futures.
This year’s successful Oxbridge applicants
Cambridge
Union Debating
Competition
In October 2008, four Greenhead
students descended upon Queen
Elizabeth Grammar School for
the Cambridge Union Debating
Competition. Jess Parkinson and
Robin Rea made up Team A while
Jack Tindale and Andrew Lewis
made up Team B for Greenhead. The
teams were split up and judged on a
prepared debate (performance related
pay for teachers) and an unprepared
debate (whereby only 15 minutes were
allowed to make notes, without any
other materials.) The evening was very
enjoyable and a valuable experience
for all and Jess and Robin progressed
through to the regional heats, so
congratulations to them.
Andrew Lewis
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www.greenhead.ac.uk

Greenhead
news
First Ever
Employers and
Gap Year fair a
success!
300 students and their parents attended this event on February
26th. The college was buzzing with questions and answers and a
feeling that the future could be bright (if not orange) despite the
credit crunch.
Many of the employers reported being impressed with the calibre
of our students and a number of interviews have been lined up as a
consequence.
The gap year stands attracted a lot of attention, not least amongst
the Greenhead staff who are now dreaming of volunteering in
Thailand and becoming ski instructors! One exhibitor said he “talked
non-stop for the whole 2 hours”: one student said she’d organised
her gap year and had her future mapped out afterwards.
We have a feeling the first fair will not be the last. RB
Global
Support
Greenhead
welcomes a
global group
of Language
Assistants
(pictured) who
carry enthusiastic
expertise and vital support to our students. We thank Marianne
Lesage, Vincent Perne, Gabriel Jacques-Belair and Sandy Viot who
support French students. Jana Slodowski and Katharina Mitsche
provide German input. Spanish is facilitated by Ana Lopez Ruiz and
Gema Iniguez Ruiz. Italian expertise is provided by Monica Estienne.
Marianne has found people at Greenhead to be “nice, friendly
and talkative.” Gabriel Jacques-Belair who comes from Frenchspeaking
Quebec believes that Greenhead will give him teaching
experience with the age group to whom he later wants to teach
American history. Teaching, he says has been important to him since
childhood. “Unlike most kids I didn’t want to be an astronaut or a
policeman.” Ana comments on enjoying Greenhead’s “efficient and
yet warm atmosphere” remarking that “the students are fantastic -
probably Greenhead’s greatest strength.” Jana notes that she will
remember a “good relationship with both teachers and students”
including the “motivating and supportive atmosphere.”
Interviews conducted by Jacob Plant & April Lodge
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 10 SPRING 2009
Important Diary Dates
MARCH
31 AS Assemblies (until 3 April)
Spring Concert
APRIL
3 College closes
15-17 Library open for revision 9.30am
to 4.00pm
SUMMER TERM
20 College opens
AS Art Examinations (until 1 May)
21 A2 Assemblies (until 24 April)
22-24 Drama Enrichment Production:
‘Town’
27 A2 Art Examinations (until 8 May)
30 Higher Education Information
Evening for Parents
MAY
1 Final date for Key Skills entries
4 Bank Holiday
7 Student meeting with PaWS
Project Leaders/Supervisors (6
period day)
11 AS/A-level Examinations
commence
15 Last day of AS teaching
22 Last day of A2 teaching
College closes
27-29 Library open for revision 9.30am
to 4.00pm
29 A2 Leavers’ Ball
HALF TERM
JUNE
1 College opens (AS/A-level
examinations continue)
4 A2 General Studies exams (am)
9 Art Show Private View, 6.30pm
12 What’s Ahead Conference/PaWS
meeting/New A2 Timetables
15-19 Project and Workshadowing Week
15 A2 General Studies Examination
(am)
22 New A2 lessons commence
23 PAWS Debriefing (6 period day)
24 Last day of examinations
29 Governors Meeting
30 Trip to Oxford University Open Day
(until 1 July)
Music Concert
JULY
2 Trip to Cambridge University Open
Day (until 3 July)
9 College closes
www.greenhead.ac.uk 5

Greenhead
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 10 SPRING 2009
news
Charity Day
Cheque
Handover
It was a proud morning for
the Senior Students when
representatives from the Laura
Crane Trust and LEPRA [a British
medical development charity
working towards care of people
with leprosy (Hansen’s disease)
and a range of other poverty
Josh Hazeldine presenting the cheque to the Laura Crane
related illnesses including TB,
representative and Jack Tindale completing the handover to LEPRA.
Malaria and HIV/AIDs)] arrived
at the College to receive their fundraising cheques from the November Charity Day. The hard work and
effort that had been exerted in the preparations were well worth the final result of raising the final sum of
£2,140. The entire student body should be delighted with the important differences made to the lives of
hundreds of vulnerable people.
Jack Tindale
A S G e o g r a p h y F i e l d T r i p
A recent trip
to the Preston
Montford field
study centre
involved looking
at three key
areas of the
AS Geography
course: Flood
Defences in
Shrewsbury,
River Studies on
the Long Mynd
in Shropshire
and Glaciation
in Snowdonia.
The students
were excellent
despite the cold
and in some
cases very wet
weather.
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www.greenhead.ac.uk

Greenhead
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 10 SPRING 2009
news
SPORT NEWS SPORT NEWS SPORT NEWS
Boys’ Basketball
The boys’ basketball team have
had a competitive season in the
British Colleges NE League and
British Colleges Cup. Captained
by Dominic Harriott-Thompson,
they have worked hard to stand
in second place in the league
(so will make the play offs) and
are yet to be knocked out of
the cup competition. Therefore
the team still have their most
important games to play as the
season comes to its end. Watch
this space!
Netball
The first team are battling well
to earn a place in the North East
play offs and have become a
hard team to beat. This was
sealed with a great win over our
nearest rivals Wyke, from Hull.
All we need now is a win over
Gateshead and the play-offs
are ours for the taking! And still
the first team are unbeaten and
no one has even come close.
Superb performances and
excellent teamwork have seen
this team gel and win every
game comprehensively. Well
done girls! SY
Trampolining
We have some super
trampolinists in college
this year. The recreational
trampolinists have been working
conscientiously at improving
their skills and routines. The
advanced trampolinists have
also been developing their
compulsory and voluntary
routines for the regional British
Colleges competitions. They
have been rewarded with
places in teams and will be
attending the National Finals at
Loughborough in April. Laura
Atkin came first in the region,
qualifying for the Regional team.
Kelly Booth just missed out by
coming sixth in the region but
makes up the Regional ‘College’
team together with fellow
GC students: Lucy Dellow,
Sara Dyer, Jessica Haigh and
Jessica Chatwin. Max Oscroft
performed to a consistently high
standard and qualified for the
Boys’ Regional Development
team. Congratulations to each
of you.
New Enrichment
Activities
Two exciting new sporting
opportunities available during
the college enrichment slots
are Archery and Fencing. Both
theses activities are delivered
by professional coaches and
are proving to be extremely
successful. Fencing classes
are on Wednesday afternoons
in the hall coached by the
Huddersfield fencing club
coach. Archery is into its
second term and students have
had the opportunity to try field
archery at Fan Woods. ASW
Tennis
The Tennis team are having a
tremendous season so far with
all three teams winning all group
and knockout matches in their
region. This means that the
girls’, boys’ and mixed teams
will all go to the Bolton Tennis
Arena at the end of March and
represent the North region in the
National Schools’ tennis final.
This year, our students have
successfully qualified for the
British Colleges’ sports final
held in Loughborough in the
girls’ singles event, boys’
doubles event and the girls’
doubles event. I am confident
that the success will continue
throughout the rest of the
season as two teams have been
entered into the Glanville Cup
and one team into the Aberdare
Cup. KLU
Loughborough
News
This year we have over 40
students who have qualified to
represent the North East region
in their specific sports. They will
travel down to Loughborough
at the beginning of April and
compete against the top sports
students from the rest of the
country’s regions. Sports
included are Hockey (both boys
and girls), Tennis, Swimming,
Badminton and Trampolining.
Well done to all students
involved! PE Staff
Hockey
Once again this term has been
extremely successful for the
hockey teams. Both the girls’
and boys’ squads have qualified
for the BCS finals to be held at
Loughborough University on
3-5th April. The mixed squad
have also been unbeaten during
this term and the squad are
looking forward to the NE final
match v Richmond. Richard
Lovatt and Greg Moorhouse
have gained squad places
in the British Colleges team
and during half term attended
their first squad training in
preparation for the squad’s
international tour. ASW
www.greenhead.ac.uk 7

Greenhead
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 10 SPRING 2009
news
A Novel Experience
Friday February 27th was a red letter day
for some A1 Literature students when they
welcomed novelist Catherine O’Flynn to their
class and had the privilege of discussing What
Was Lost - her debut work and one of their
coursework texts.
Catherine, accompanied by her husband Peter,
made a special trip from Birmingham and, in an
hour session, explained some of the inspiration
and sources for her novel which blends genres
and is comic, disturbing and thought-provoking.
She revealed that time working in retail informed
her depiction of the malevolent shopping centre at the tale’s core as well as how publishers respond to a
manuscript defying categorisation. [It worries them!] Students questioned her on themes, narrative style and
her favourite writers including Ishiguro, Vonnegut and Foster Williams.
And what did they make of the talented winner of the Costa First Novel Award, the Jelf Group Novel
Prize (2007) and the Galaxy British Newcomer 2008? ‘Warm and friendly’; ‘very approachable’; ‘’really
informative’: ‘It was good to get insight from the author’ who ‘fully answered questions’. Catherine’s opinion
of them and the college? ‘Lovely!’
What Was Lost - February’s Book of the Month - is in the college library. MJP
Courmayeur 2009:
Our party of students and staff visited the breathtaking mountain region of
Aosta, skiing the resort of Courmayeur nestling under the high expanse of
Mont Blanc. With massive rock cliffs and glaciers as a backdrop, we enjoyed
perfect conditions with fresh powder during the week. Our ski instructors, all
Brits, were excellent and even the beginners skied a black run on the final
day. An awesome experience! BF
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www.greenhead.ac.uk
BBC Battle of
the Brains:
Well done to the enduring
Evergreens (featuring
Richard Pember, Dave
Davies, John Blake, Ros
Moors, Sue Clark, Martin
Rostron and Tom Rowley)
who were narrowly
pipped to the post by G
Force in a recent BBC2
broadcast. The ‘cerebral
challenge’ took place
on 20th December 2008
at Granada Studios
Manchester eventually
being filmed at 9pm
amidst an ongoing lengthy
shooting schedule. From
the Green Room to the
studio floor poised,
polished professionalism
was observed throughout
the team.
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