The-Quadrant-Issue-5-Feb-2017

THE OUADRANT
A ROUND-UP OF NEWS FROM BICKLEY PARK SCHOOL • ISSUE 5
Bickley Park’s Four Quadrants of Learning have been abuzz with activity.
The Academic Quadrant continues to see the benefits of a rigorous, boy-friendly
approach to learning, with A*s in Spanish GCSEs and places gained at leading
independent schools, with numbers of scholarships. The accelerated reading
scheme has had a massive impact on boys’ interest in reading and reading
ages: 52 million words were read in the first half of the year. A rich and
varied programme of performance opportunities have featured in the Arts
Quadrant, including a new approach to learning musical instruments for
all boys in Y2-4, a stunning performance of Journey’s End and every boy
aged 5-13 participating in the first round of the school public speaking
competition. The Community Quadrant has included the first ever
event organised to recognise the contribution made by grandparents,
with a tea party and entertainment arranged by Year 3 and 4.
Community mindedness has been to the fore with boys undertaking
litter picking in the local area, staff featuring on the BBC when
clearing snow from the school site and the BPSA being as busy
as ever with fund raising and socials. The Sports and Outdoor
Education Quadrant has been enriched by the addition of the
Astro Turf which has enabled competitive hockey fixtures to feature
for the first time. Adventure School residential trips have helped
boys develop key life skills of team building, leadership, resilience
and managing risk. And hoving into view we have Bickley Park’s
centenary, which will include a number of exciting happenings.
This Issue’s HIGHLIGHTS
THE ACADEMIC QUADRANT:
• Visits from fascinating and inspirational individuals
• Trips to great cultural centres
THE ARTS QUADRANT:
• Assemblies which put experiences into practice
• Drums, drama and dragons!
THE SPORTS & OUTDOOR EDUCATION QUADRANT:
• The Headmaster’s Challenge – Go-Kart Adventure!
• Preparations for a 177 mile walk along Offa’s Dyke
THE COMMUNITY QUADRANT
• Working with the community and for the community
• Building on Success: developments are underway at BPS
...and much more!
Aspire • Endeavour • Achieve
Jack enjoying Indian Day

ACADEMIC
QUADRANT
Indian Market Day
Year 1 and 2 boys, parents, grandparents and
guests enjoyed a fantastic Indian Market Day
in the Pre-Prep hall. The event brought alive
the creative curriculum topic on India.
Author Visit, Avril McDonald,
for Year 1-3
Years 1, 2 and 3 welcomed the author of the Feel Brave series of
books, Avril McDonald. Avril spoke to the boys about the time
her daughter had a nightmare and how, through storytelling,
they overcame the bad dream together. This led to Avril coming
up with the characters for her books. She read some of her
stories to the boys, who thoroughly enjoyed hearing about
Wolfgang and his friends. The books help children
deal with issues such as self-confidence and fears.
Avril McDonald
Toby and Thomas having enjoyed Avril’s talk
Tube Map
Leo (Y1) produced a faithful reproduction of the London Underground
map. He has an amazing knowledge of the tube system. His birthday
treat was to visit Watford tube station which is to close in 2020.
Bob Neill and
Democracy
Our local Member of Parliament,
Bob Neill, spoke to the Prep
Department boys about the
important concept of democracy.
He highlighted the effort, struggle
and persistence needed to achieve,
and maintain, democracy.

Thomas wearing a real polar traveller’s head gear
Pre-Prep Polar Fun Day
The Pre-Prep launched their Pole to Pole creative
curriculum topic by welcoming Polar Explorer
Malu to Bickley Park. Malu has explored and
worked in both the Arctic, where she lived for
six years, and the Antarctic. The boys had a funfilled
day which started off with a presentation
by Malu all about the Polar Regions. The boys
learnt about how effective blubber is by making
their own blubber gloves. They also learnt how
glaciers work by creating their own ‘Gloopy
Glaciers’. A creative time was had looking at
Inuit art before creating their own print. In
addition, they tried on the kit that Malu used
when working in the polar regions. It was a fun,
action-packed day.
A funny thing happened on the way to the forum
Author Visit, Rob Lloyd
Jones, for Year 3-6
Author Rob Lloyd Jones spoke to Year 3-6. Rob
is an historian and Egyptologist. He discovered his
love of books quite late if life, but is now passionate
about reading and writing.
Yr 3 trip to Crofton Villa
Year 3 thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Crofton
Roman villa. They enjoyed finding out about the
underfloor heating in Roman villas; looking at
bones and discovering what Romans ate; making
mosaics and dressing up as a married Roman
woman and poor farmer!
Taisei’s name on the world Mathletics leaderboard
Academic Success
After three years of study, BPS pupils Christian, James and
Theo sat their Spanish GCSE at the age of 12/13years old.
They performed very well, given the many other demands
on their time, achieving 2 A*s and an A grade.
Mathletics
Congratulations to Taisei Masumoto who was ranked third in the
world out of the thousands who participate in the on-line Maths
games Mathletics.

Yr 3-8 Curriculum
Trips Day
Year 3-8 headed off in numbers of different
directions on Expeditions Day. Year 3 enjoyed
a trip to the Prep Department theatre for
a wonderful Roman Day. Year 4 visited the
National Gallery and the Festival Hall where
they played Indonesian instruments that form
part of an authentic gamelan orchestra. Year 5
enjoyed a show at the Unicorn Theatre: Jason
and the Argonauts. Year 6 visited the Hindu
temple in Wimbledon. Year 7 loved learning
about a range of different future career
choices at Kidzania. Year 8 visited The Tower
of London before taking part in a Science
workshop at University College, London.
Y8 at the Tower of London
Y3 form a tortoise in their Roman workshop
Y3 Roman workshop
Y4 playing the gamelan

THE ARTS
QUADRANT
Assemblies
Assemblies in the last six months have included: Growth Mindset (1AK);
Roald Dahl (2JP); Diwali (2LB); The Romans (3KJ); The Tale of Treasure
Island (3LMW); Christmas Toys (4NB) Monty Python Meets Christmas
(4SBD Drama Assembly); School Values on Holiday (6AP); Honesty
(7AH); Managing Change (7DW); Commedia dell’arte (Y7 Drama
Assembly); Gothic Horror (Y8 Drama Assembly).
3LMW’s Treasure Island
4NB’s assembly
Y7 Commedia dell’arte
2LB’s assembly
1AK Growth Mindset assembly

Max Dickinson - Extraordinary Nature
Rayyan - Cubist Self Portrait
Jun-li - Matisse Inspired Paper Cutout
Spencer Harris - Wire portrait
Art Work
Paolo (Pre-Prep)
Nikhil (Pre-Prep)
Fynn (Pre-Prep)
Dragons’ Den
Year 8 boys concluded their Dragons/Apprentice project by presenting products they had constructed in Design Technology lessons to four
dragons form the world of business: Ron Chirochangu (banking/insurance/investments), Gillian Hayes (technology/insurance), Jodie Marshall
(insurance/own start-up business), Yunis McClean (technology and has worked for Dragons’ Den’s James Caan). The boys were asked the sort of
questions that real life entrepreneurs might be asked: an excellent foretaste of the business world some of them will enter when they are older.
The Apprentices
The Dragons
Indian print making
and drumming
Pre-Prep boys loved their Indian Day, which launched
their creative curriculum topic. They were immersed
in an Indian cultural experience which included
dancing, drumming, print making and storytelling.
Mason and Ediz print making
Zayn drumming

KS1 Christmas
Celebration
Year 1 and 2 produced a Christmas show in which Strictly Come
Dancing met the nativity. The boys spoke with great confidence,
character and expression. We loved their dance routines,
particularly the Funky Camel and a very moving rendition of Silent
Night with sign language.
Reception Nativity
Reception produced a lovely nativity entitled ‘The Little Angels’.
And what little angels they were too…delivering a confident,
calm and happy performance to an enthralled audience.
Nursery Painting Fun
The Magi
Nursery Sing-a-long
Nursery Christmas Puddings
Staff Panto
Mrs Evans ‘The Luvvie’
in the staff pantomime
Strictly Come Dancing meets the Nativity
Reception
Chinese New Year
Craft Session
Reception
learning
calligraphy
during Chinese
New Year

Guitar and Drums Concert
Hoards of boys performed in the guitar and drum concert. The
sound was loud and joyful. It was great to see boys as young as seven
embracing the opportunity to show their enthusiasm to play after
only a few weeks of learning their instruments.
Boys participating in the ‘Band on the Run’ project
Nursery ‘Perform’ Drama Workshops
Band on The Run
All of Y4 spent the Spring Term learning brass and woodwind
instruments.
Nursery enjoyed their Perform Drama workshop sessions.
The theme, ‘Funky Farmyard’, was chosen to fit in
with their creative curriculum topic ‘Down on
the Farm’. The children pretended to drive a
tractor and move like animals.
Informal
Concert
Musicians from
Y4-6 treated their
audience to a
rich and varied
programme in
the first informal
concert of the year.
Woodwind
& Brass Concert
There was a good turnout at the
Woodwind and Brass Concert. What
characterised each performance was
the enjoyment of those who played.
It was great to see a healthy flow of
young talent in the ranks, particularly
in the Brass and Woodwind Band.
Philip playing at the Brass and Woodwind Concert

SPORTS &
OUTDOOR
EDUCATION
QUADRANT
Adventure talk by
Charlie Walker
Adventure traveller, Charlie Walker, delivered
a fascinating talk about his adventures whilst
cycling 43,620 miles around the world in
1606 days. BPS will be sponsoring a piece
of kit he will be taking on his next adventure:
a mega-triathlon along the entire length of
the border between Europe and Asia. The boys
who attended will also participate in a live
Skype interview with Charlie half way through
this adventure.
Hever Castle Triathlon
Jack Davis swam across Hever Castle lake, whilst Ilias
Prachalias and Atrin Almasi cycled and ran around the
grounds whilst representing BPS in the world’s only children’s
triathlon. The team, in spite of including two 12 year olds and
one who had just turned 13, had to enter the 13-15 year old
race, which included numbers of competitors who were over
6 feet tall! In spite of this, they acquitted themselves well.
Charlie Walker tells of his adventures
Hever Castle Triathletes
Hockey
It was also great to witness the excitement of the Prep
Department boys when they saw the new Astro Turf,
timber trail and outdoor classroom for the first time.
Year 8 enjoyed being the first ever pupils to use the Astro
in a training session with hockey coach Nigel Lovegrove.
Year 6 Hockey on the new Astro
Ash Randall
Freestyle footballer, Ash Randall,
who has broken multiple world
records, visited BPS in January. His
feats include juggling a football on
the roof of a moving car down Cardiff
Airport runway to set a new Guinness
World Record. Ash delivered an
impressive assembly show-casing his
freestyle talents and led workshops
for boys in the Prep Department.
Bickley Park’s first ever
competitive hockey fixture
took place against King’s
Rochester.
Ash Randall
demonstrating
his skills

Offa
Numbers of Year 8 boys walked 15 miles to test their metal in an
Offa’s Dyke selection walk. The walk will involve walking up to 17
miles a day along the 177 mile long boundary of England and Wales
in July, a massive challenge for 12 and 13 year olds. The boys all
completed the walk in good spirits and were even more determined
to take on the Offa’s challenge.
Headmaster’s Challenge –
Go Karting Adventure
Over 130 dads, guests and boys participated in the third annual
‘Man and Boy’ BPS Grand Prix at Buckmore Park. A great time
was had by all. Some fantastic races culminated in the fastest
dad’s time being achieved, in the closing seconds of the final
race, by Steve Davis. Will Ide and David Manzini achieved
the best times in the boys’ races.
Year 8 on their Offa’s Dyke selection day
The team determined to complete the 177 mile trek along Offa’s Dyke
Kent
Squash
Team
Freddie, Alex
and Aayan
represented Kent
in a six counties
squash
competition.
Boys raring to go in the Annual BPS Boy and Man Grand Prix
Timber
Trail
Enjoying the new
timber trail.
On the track
Pre-Prep
Forest
School
Enjoying a
mindfulness
session in Forest
School.

Rugby
The Colts participated in the St Christopher’s tournament and
achieved a credible second place. The U9s played at St Dunstan’s
and remained undefeated through the group stages. Unfortunately,
the tournament organisers ran out of time, so the knock out stages
were cancelled. The Rugby Firsts were amongst the strongest
performers in the Worth Rugby Tournament, but the rub of the
green didn’t work in their favour. However, they managed to emerge
as winners of the Plate competition. Rain played its part in this
year’s House rugby competition, infuriatingly falling at its heaviest
on the morning scheduled for the Prep Department competition.
However, we managed to complete the rearranged fixtures through
the course of the following week. Once again, it was great to the see
the determination and spirit evident in the matches played and the
willingness of the boys to put themselves on the line for their House.
Yr 7 Survival Camp
Year 7 thoroughly enjoyed their Adventure School residential
trip to Frylands Woods. The boys were full of their experience
as they emerged from the woods with charcoal war paint on
their faces looking like a combination of Rambo and Lord of the
Flies. The benefits of Adventure School were clear to see with
a sense that the boys had bonded and developed resilience in
amongst extremes of weather and basic living conditions.
Worth U13s Festival Plate Competition winners
Eltham College v Bickley Park U8
Wet but happy on the Y7 Adventure School Survival Skills Challenge
House rugby in progress

COMMUNITY
QUADRANT
Grandparents’ Evening
60 grandparents and guests of boys in Year 3 and 4 visited BPS
for the first ever Grandparent’s Event. They thoroughly enjoyed
a tour of the school site and entertainment put on by the boys.
The event was rounded off with high tea.
BPSA Yr 7 & 8 Social
Most of Year 7 and 8 attended a social organised
by the BPSA. The boys’ views had been sought
beforehand as to the sort of event they wanted
to happen and they chose to have a football
match on the new Astro, enjoy the
climbing wall and have access to
the table tennis and table
football tables. Needless to
say pizza featured too!
Atrin and Saif at the Y7&8 social
Zac with his grandparents
BPSA Yr 2-5 Bingo Night
A great time was had by all at the annual BPSA Y2-8 Bingo bonanza.
Mr Dean did an excellent job as caller, with boys learning a new
language: ‘Bingo Lingo’!
Bingo Night
BPSA Christmas Fayre
The festive season was launched in spectacular style with
the BPS Christmas Fayre. The choir really set the scene
with some joyous singing outside the sports hall as people
arrived. There was a terrific buzz from start to finish.
An impressive £3000 was raised which will go towards
supporting projects in the Academic Quadrant.
Christmas Gift Boxes
Boys brought in Christmas gifts in boxes to support the work
of the Samaritans.
Choir members at the Christmas Fayre

Harvest Food Bank
This year’s Harvest Festival featured two ingredients: Spam and water! Spam was generously
donated, alongside other meat and non-meat products, owing to our designation as a
‘meat school’ by Bromley Foodbank– our contributions amounted to a healthy 237 kgs.
Water, and its importance to mankind, featured as a central theme for the service.
Litter Picking
Senior boys have been serving the local area by collecting litter in and
around Page Heath Lane. They have performed their task magnificently
and have played their part in ridding the local area of one the scourges
of modern life.
Delivering gifts to the foodbank
Ollie Deen and friends at the cake sale
Izaac, Dylan, Alex and Leon serving the community
Macmillan Cake Sale
Thank you to everyone who supported the cake sale organised
by Oliver Deen and friends. The event raised a fantastic £720,
£500 of which is to be donated to Macmillan Cancer and £220
to St Christopher’s Hospice.
Staff displaying the Dunkirk spirit when it snowed
Snow Clearing
Bickley Park staff appeared on the BBC
London News website highlighting their
efforts in clearing paths around the school
site from well before the usual scheduled
start time in order that the boys could
travel safely along the paths.

Building on Success at Bickley Park School
During 2017 BPS will be investing £900,000 to improve and
enhance the school’s facilities, with an extensive development
scheme planned for Pre-Prep.
Mr Patel, Assistant Head (School Development), is leading
the works which aim to overhaul some areas that have become
tired, while providing additional classroom space and facilities
for BPS’s growing pupil population. The development scheme
will significantly enhance our facilities making the school an
exciting place to learn.
The Prep site, too, is likely to benefit from further development
in the short to medium term, with initial plans already in the
pipeline. Mr Wenham remains focused on all development at
the school being geared towards providing the pupils with a top
quality learning environment.
The improvement works will be completed in time for the start
of 2017/18 school year.
The developments will include:
• Overhauling the pre-prep reception area to make it more
welcoming, while creating a registrar’s office and improving
security at the entrance to the department.
• Replacing a dining area and staff room with extra classrooms
for Years 1 and 2.
• Creating a bespoke dining room with neighbouring kitchen
facilities in place of two existing reception classrooms.
• Refreshing and improving the sports hall to support Early
Years and KS1 development. This will include improvements
to lighting, heating and equipment.
• Taking out a hedge to build three state-of-the-art reception
classrooms.
• Creating an office area for the pre-prep senior leadership team.
www.knibbsdesign.co.uk
Space is cleared for the new Reception block
Pre-Prep boys watching the digger at work
Aspire • Endeavour • Achieve
BICKLEY PARK SCHOOL
14/24 Page Heath Lane, Bickley, Bromley, Kent BR1 2DS
Telephone 020 8467 2195 • Fax 020 8325 5511 • info@bickleyparkschool.co.uk
www.bickleyparkschool.co.uk