Aylesford School
and Sixth Form College
NEWS AND VIEWS
JULY 2015
From the Head
CONTENTS
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Summer Promenade
Art Department
Library News
Science Department
Technology Department
MFL Department
History Department
Sixth Form News
Attendance
PE Department
Sixth Form Leavers
Dear Parents and Friends of the School,
Artwork by Emily Gardner 13SMS
If every picture tells a story this edition is an epic! Enjoy the read and I wish all those connected with the school students, staff, parents, carers, and governors – a fruitful and rewarding summer.
There are, as ever, staffing changes in the coming year. Mr Smith has secured a position as Assistant Head at
Banbury Academy; Miss Williams is moving to an English teaching post in Manchester; Miss Taylor has been
offered a Doctorate Scholarship through Birmingham University and this supports her long term intention of
becoming a clinical psychologist; Mr Townsend is retiring; Mr Jackson has taken up a teaching position that
allows him to pursue his great passion for Hockey alongside his Geography teaching; and Mrs Hall is leaving to
spend more time with her growing family. Mr Roe is leaving to pursue alternative career paths and Mr Wright
completes his long fixed term position in Ethics.
We are, however, prepared and ready to go for September. Mrs Kiddle and Mrs Hensel will share MFL
responsibilities whilst Miss Tapson and Miss Constanza join us to complete the Language team.
Miss Schofield joins the English team, Miss Harrison joins the Geography department and Miss Batool joins
the Ethics department. The science team is strengthened by the permanent appointment of Mr Arnold and Mrs
Atkinson. Mrs Green, a qualified teacher who has been working for us as a food technician, joins the DT Team
as a food technology specialist. Mrs Stone replaces her as the Food Technician. Miss Carter departs temporarily
on maternity leave and is replaced temporarily by Mr Johnson. Interviews are currently underway to select a
Media Studies teacher and an appointment will be made before the end of term.
Two of our Teaching Assistants are moving on; Mr Dwyer is completing a family move to Wales and Miss
Colmer is also relocating. Mr Love and Mrs Macrae have been appointed to our team of teaching assistants.
We look forward to the start of the new academic year with relish!
Best regards,
Aylesford School and Sixth Form College
Tapping Way · Warwick · CV34 6XR · 01926 747100
http://www.aylesford-elearning.net
SUMMER PROMENADE
The musicians of Aylesford School have once again provided a professional, passionate and productive set up
to this years Summer Promenade with four stations around the main hall area.
Acts included solo and ensemble performances with a vocal group, a string trio and a piano duet with a wide
span of different genres of music to cater for all tastes.
This would have only been achieved through hours of practice and hard work, and I would like to thank each and
every performer for their contribution to a fantastic event.
Mr Bannister, Head of Music
Above: From left Daniel Scannell 8MMY, Adam Newman 10MCR
and Christopher Hearn 7HPR
Above: Ellie Bradbury 11ACK
Above: Thomas Bolton 12JRD singing and playing the piano.
Pictured to the right: From left Samuel Smith 12MRT and Joseph
Lydick 12JRD
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SUMMER PROMENADE
The Summer Promenade was held once
again this year. It was a superb afternoon
of musical performances for guests to
enjoy alongside Art, Photography, and
Design Technology displays
encompassing the theme ‘Our Next
Generation’.’
The music students performed a variety
of solo recitals, duets, small group and
large ensemble pieces. The Art and the
Design and Technology displays
showcased a selection of work from
GCSE and A Level work.
The Year 12 and Year 13 Photography
produced a great exhibition and portfolios which are currently being considered for two photography awards to
be presented at Awards Evening next October.
The standard in all cases was very high and often thought provoking. Overall the variety of work on offer was
excellent. There was definitely something for everyone to enjoy. Well done for all those students who took part.
Mrs McKinney, Assistant Head
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ART DEPARTMENT
ART OPEN EXHIBITION
Thank you to everyone who has submitted
work for our annual summer exhibition. Once
again we received a broad range of work
from students, their families, staff and friends
of the school. The exhibition really
showcases the enormous range of talents of
those associated with the school.
This term we have been extremely proud of our Year 9
students. We entered a selection of their work for the
annual schools art exhibition which is held in St. Mary’s
Church each year. Their ‘book art’ exhibition consisted of
folded book sculptures, detailed letters of the alphabet
and decorated book pages inspired by Tom Phillips’
‘Humument’. It was a pleasure to be able to show off
students’ talents and I have received many compliments
about their work. So well done Year 9!
Mrs Grinham, Head of Art
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LIBRARY NEWS
Carnegie Book
Award 2015
“The thing I enjoyed
most about Carnegie
is the meeting up
after finishing a book
and discussing our
opinions on them.”
Sam Meddoms,
10WDC
“I have enjoyed Carnegie as it’s a great way
to talk about books without sounding nerdy.
It’s also a nice way to spend lunch with
friends. I’ve enjoyed reading all the books and
I will be excited to hear the winner.” Anya
Blayney, 9AMD
“I have enjoyed being part of the Carnegie
Book Group, because it has encouraged me
to read more and introduced me to new
books that I probably wouldn’t have picked
out myself.” Georgia Amis, 9AMD
What’s Been Happening This Term?
Plenty of activities at lunchtimes to promote and
encourage literacy and reading with Summer themes
and celebration days, including crosswords, word
search, Sudoku and cryptographs, plus a celebration of
VE Day with the big screen showing of ‘Carrie’s War’,
the magical adventures of Carrie during her evacuation
to Wales during the Second World War.
Pictured below from left to right:
Olivia Thomas 9AMD, Lily Owuye 8BNS, Miss
Lorna Hobart, Library Assistant, Daisy Hill
8WLL, Anya Blayney 9AMD, Samantha
Meddoms 10WDC and Georgia Amis 9AMD
Remember In Autumn
We’re open from 8am every morning and until
4.30pm 4 days per week, with drinks and biscuits
provided.
Join the team as a Library Assistant.
Watch out for all the reading events, films on the
big screen and competitions. With seating for 60
and 30 computers, call in to see our great library!
Pupil Librarians
Our Pupil Librarians have been
excelling this year with their help in the
library in a variety of ways. Kirstie
Eykyn 7HPR, Kirsty Hunter 7GRI
and Heidi Irvine 7 GRI, and Elizabeth
Erdozain and Keri Hancock from
7BMF have been involved with our
Newburgh Reading Buddies, helping
young pupils from the local primary
school develop their reading skills.
Connor Bonser and Sumayyah
Samantha Meddoms 10WDC , Daisy
Gaibbee from 7ILE and Charlie
Hill 8WLL, Lily Owuye 8BNS, Heidi IrO’Neill 7HPR all helped keep the
vine 7GRI, Elizabeth Erdozain 7BMF,
library nice and tidy. Charlotte Clark
Kirsty Eykyn 7GRI, Keri Hancock
and Poppy MacRae from 8MMY,
7BMF and Kirsty Hunter 7GRI
Daisy Hill 8WLL and Lily Owuye
8BNS have worked hard towards their Senior Librarian certificates and
not forgetting all the Years 9, 10 and 11 Librarians who make the library
a wonderful place to be!
Mrs Mcloughlin Library Assistant
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SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Eggstravagant Science
Eager to make the most of the hot weather Miss
Robbins took her Year 8 class outside during the
heat wave to investigate the Physics behind
conduction. Using an infra-red thermometer the
students identified the hottest surfaces around the
school and then attempted to fry an egg there.
Mrs Goult offered the roof of her car but with an
approaching sprinkle of rain the temperature had
fallen from 570c in sunlight to a mere 370c and so
sadly although warmed through the egg was not
cooked.
Aylesford School has become one of the schools in England to receive support from the Glass in
Society Project.
The Glass in Society Project is a grant scheme operated by the Worshipful Company of Glass
Sellers of
London. A livery company set up in 1664. They have been awarding schools money for projects
involving glass since 1991.
Aylesford School Science Department successfully bid for £800 to purchase a state of the art
telescope.
The telescope is a Skywatcher Explorer 200-P. It uses the same Go-To system that allows you to
point the telescope at a specific object or even tour the skies at the touch of a button. Its extensive
database includes a massive 42,900+ night sky objects.
The telescope will form the backbone of one of the projects due to be taken by students in the Autumn
in the department’s new STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) club. This follows on
from a highly successful Science Week that culminated in the watching of the total eclipse in March.
This high precision instrument will also be used in teaching elements of GCSE and A-level courses and
to support the BTEC Level 3 course in Astronomy.
Mr Leigh Balidham
presents the telescope
to Mrs Goult, Head of
Science, Mr
Bamford, Science
teacher and STEM
leader and to students
Picture from left:
Mr Leigh Balidham,
Connor Read 10ARC,
Jordan Slater 10RBS,
Mrs Goult, James
Harris 10RBS,
Josefin Wulkan
10RBS, Mr Bamford
and Rhiannon Henry
10ARC
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TECHNOLOGY
BIG BANG TRIP
On Thursday 25th June a group of Year 8
students went to the Big Bang event at
the Ricoh Arena, to check out everything
technology; new and old.
The students got to hear about the
technology behind Viking combat and
how they formed the modern world we
live into today.
The students also got to hear from Sarah
Weldon, founder of the Ocean’s Project
and how she is preparing for a world
record attempt to row solo around Great
Britain.
Students can follow Sarah’s adventure at
SarahRowsSolo on YoutTube
Ella Muldoon 8WLY, Hannah Smith 8WLL and Carys Eadon
8WLL try out some Viking battle weapons.
Pictured above: Sarah Weldon
Leah Coop 8WLY, Lauren Finnegan 8WLY and
Katie Enston 8WLY check out Tata’s Pixel ZT
Concept Car
Pictured above: Poppy MacRae 8MMY and Lily Owuye
8BNS got to meet some slithery guests.
Katie Enston 8WLY got to try on the hi-tech equipment
that a 21st century solider needs to wear going into
combat.
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MFL DEPARTMENT
On 22nd May 22 Year 7 and 8 students set off for
France. We all got to school by 7.15am and got
on the bus in eager anticipation! The journey was
great fun and we really enjoyed the ferry ride.
When we arrived at our accommodation, le
Chateau d’Ebblinghem, everyone was really
excited and some of us played football and
frisbee! After dinner we made some army biscuits,
and these were the type of biscuits that soldiers
would have eaten in the trenches during World
War I.
On our first full day we left the chateau at 9 o’clock
to visit a snail farm. The man spoke in French and
we had to work out what he was saying. When we
all got the chance to eat some snails, most of us
tried them and actually quite liked them! After the
town trail in Boulogne sur Mer we went on a boat
trip in the harbour. As it was quite choppy, water
kept coming into the boat whenever there was a
strong wave! Then we went to the aquarium which
was fantastic! As well as all the fish, we saw some
very impressive sharks, some seals and some
penguins. After dinner we did a scavenger hunt in
the grounds of the chateau, and the winning team
won some house points!
Pictured above: Corey French 8MMY
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Picture above: Andrew Thomson 8MMY
Pictured above: Patrick Kirwan 8 TML
MFL DEPARTMENT
The following day we made some tartes au sucre,
and those who understood the French instructions
seemed to do the best job! We went to the park for
lunch and some of us played boules. In the afternoon
we travelled across the border to Belgium. If we
hadn’t been told we were travelling to a different
country, we wouldn’t have known we were in a
different country! First of all we visited the Tyne Cot
World War I Commonwealth Cemetery and it was
very moving to see all the gravestones and the large
number of people who were never identified. Then
we went to the Languemark German Cemetery
which was different because all the gravestones were
in the ground and you had to look down to read them.
Some people think that this shows respect as you
have to bow your head to look at the gravestones.
Before going back we visited Ypres and all received
a present from a lovely chocolate shop. After dinner
Mr Orme organised a football and frisbee
tournament!
Pictured right: Killian Beaussier-Colautti 7HPR
avec un petit lapin!
On the Monday we went to a war museum called La Coupole. This was a bunker during the Second World War
which was built by prisoners of war and was to be a launching pad for V2 rockets fired on London. We saw a
replica V2 rocket and there were videos about the war and the making of the rockets. We learnt that the man in
charge of developing the rocket, Von Braun, went to work for NASA after the war. After lunch we went to a
chocolate factory and the lady there told us in French about how the chocolate was made. Then we went to a
farm which had goats, chickens and rabbits. There had been two goats born that morning, so we got to hold
them as well as the rabbits. We then had to work out what the lady was saying about cheese making, and we
were able to pick out many words such as different animals and food. As it was our last night we had a talent
show and disco after dinner. The range of talent we saw was interesting and amusing, and Tia-Rose won with
her dance performance!
On the last day we had to get up early, pack all our stuff and leave le Chateau d’Ebblinghem. On the way back
to Calais we visited a bakery where the guy spoke in French and explained the different stages of breadmaking. We also got to try a pain au chocolat and buy baguettes! Our trip back to England was good fun as
we’d all got to know each other, but it seemed to last longer than the journey to France as we were all quite
tired.
We would say the whole experience was amazing and we all had lots of fun. We would like to thank our
teachers and also of course Killian for helping us with our French!
Merci et à la prochaine!
Écrit par Francesca Shrimpton 8BNS et Danny Bradbury 8BNS
Pictured left:
Year 7 and
Year 8
students in
France with
Mr Orme and
Mr Smith
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MFL DEPARTMENT
University of Warwick: 50th Anniversary
celebration in the French Department
The morning started with a welcome to the pupils
attending from local schools, who had all been
invited to share in the 50th anniversary celebrations.
Two second-year undergraduates of French Studies
shared their experience and explained the shape of
their degrees, stressing how it is not just about
language and literature. They talked about their
forthcoming trips abroad and where studying a
language could lead you.
School pupils then gave their presentations on
varying topics, including what it means to be in the
EU, the creation of Disneyland Paris and the story
of the Lovelock Bridge in Paris. Aylesford pupils presented extremely well on the history of the Musée d’Orsay,
and they were complimented on their maturity, good organisation, planning and teamwork. They also did a quiz
for the other secondary and primary schools.
After the break students did a group task, assisted and guided by ex-pupil Shannon Neill, who has just finished
the second year of her French and English degree. They were asked to look at two different advertisements for
French films and compare the artwork. This was to encourage them to think about French art and culture in a
broader sense and to consider the social issues faced by France, as well as being a “taster” of the French
Studies course at the university.
Congratulations to Liam Blake 8TML, Charlotte Clark 8MMY, Daisy Hill 8WLL, Patrick Kirwan 8TML, Lily
Owuye 8BNS and Adam Wyatt 8MMY, who were all a credit to the school!
HISTORY DEPARTMENT
On Wednesday 1st July, Sophie Keen 7TYL, Diane Holland 7TYL, Ellen Bell 7TYL, Charles O'Neill 7HPR
and Christopher Hearn 7HPR – all Year 7 students, accompanied by their teacher Mrs Keell visited Warwick
Castle as finalists in Warwick Castle’s “Design a Castle Competition.” All five students had been selected as UK
finalists in the nation-wide competition with over one hundred entrants from different schools. The Aylesford
students were eager to discover if they might win a prize. The students worked very hard on their castle
designs. Amazingly, Sophie Keen was awarded fourth prize overall in the UK-wide competition – and won a
free day’s visit for herself and all her Aylesford classmates to visit Warwick Castle.
A huge well done to all the students involved and look out for competition details for 2016!
Pictured left: Ellen
Bell, Sophie Keen,
Diane Holland,
Christopher
Hearn, and Charlie
O’Neil with their
certificates at
Warwick Castle
Sophie Keen with her castle
model
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HISTORY DEPARTMENT
Black Country Museum Trip
On Thursday 18th June a record number of sixty
Year 8 students stepped back in time by visiting
the Black Country Museum. The museum is a
real piece of living history with each building telling
its own story. The purpose of the visit was to
augment the work they have been recently
undertaking on the Industrial Revolution, the
changes that took place during this fascinating
period and how they impacted on the people that
lived through them. By visiting the museum we
hoped to make this period of history more
accessible and meaningful. Students examined
the changes in how people worked and lived and
new forms of power and transport notably steam.
Students studied life for the poor in the newly
developed towns and the dangers they faced, as
well as what it was like to be a child working in one
of the new look factories. We were shown round the
museum by costumed guides who really brought the
past alive. The guides praised the students on their
fantastic behaviour.
Whilst at the museum we visited the general store
where the proprietor showed us her wares and
explained the role shops played in the local
community. We also visited some houses of the
poor during the trip. One student was overheard to
say ‘That was mindblowing!!!’ The students also had
the chance to take a trip on a canal boat.
We also experienced first-hand what it was like to work below ground as a miner; an incredibly dangerous job.
Students were only given a dim torch to replicate the candle the miners would have used. It was very sobering
to think that children as young as ten years old were working for as long as twelve hours a day in the cold, dark
and dangerous conditions. It certainly made many of us count our blessings. It is even more sobering when
one considers that young children are still being exploited in countries around the world in the name of profit.
Overall it was a thought provoking and enjoyable trip.
Dr Woodcraft, Head of History
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YEAR 7 WARWICK CASTLE HISTORY TRIP
Warwick History Trip Recount
On 3rd June, fifty students luckily got to take part in the Warwick Castle trip. Frist we walked to Warwick
Castle, once there my group listened to the attacking and defending talk. I liked the castle talk because we got
to learn how they did things back in those days. We had a small break then went in the dungeons. The
dungeons were good fun. My friends and I went in together and we couldn’t stop screaming. When we got out
of the dungeons we wanted to go back in. After we had the trebuchet talk, we joined the other groups so we
were all together. We learnt a lot of facts about the trebuchet. We launched the little trebuchet. Next ,we had
our lunch in the peacock garden. I didn’t really like peacocks until the trip! The teachers were very kind and let
us get an ice cream. Climbing the tower was a bit of a struggle, but when we got up there it was worth it. The
view I saw was amazing and spectacular! Going down the stairs was much easier. Finally we went to the shop.
Most people bought teddies, pencils or mugs to remind them of the fantastic trip they experienced. Other
people bought sweets. I personally thought the trip was really good fun and very enjoyable. If I got the chance,
I would go again.
Written by Evie Fryett 7HPR
Pictured above: Oliver Williams 7ILE
Year 7 students visit to
Warwick Castle
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HISTORY DEPARTMENT
Imperial War Museum Visit
Sixty-seven Year 9 students and five members of staff went to the Imperial War Museum, London on the 15th
June for what proved to be a very thought-provoking day. The students were given the opportunity to take part
in a Holocaust workshop; this involved a tour of the museum’s Holocaust exhibition as well as a follow up
session with one of the museum curators. Students were also given access to the newly created World War One
exhibition as well as the chance to explore the museum independently allowing them to focus in on the aspect of
war they found most interesting. The students really enjoyed the day as the following review shows:
On Monday 15th June Year 9 students went to the Imperial War Museum. We left the school 8:40am and we
were on the coach for three hours. When we arrived we were split into two groups. One group went to learn more
about the Holocaust and did a work shop whilst the other group looked through the World War One section of the
museum.
Firstly we learned about some of the small items they had been donated by survivors and families of people who
have lived/survived/victims of the holocaust. There were keys found because people thought that they would be
going back home so they took their keys to unlock the door when they got home but this was not the case.
There was a large model of Auschwitz. This was the largest concentration camp known throughout the
Holocaust. It was not painted to show that there was no emotion. There was also a train that showed people
getting off, creating two lines, one of them for women and children which took them to death camps. The other
line was for men, and the men were taken to workers camps where they were worked to death, whilst being
starved.
Later we looked around the World War One and Two sections of the museum and learnt more about the:
uniforms, weapons, tanks, planes, etc.
Overall the trip was a great experience and we learned more facts about the Holocaust and the people that lived
through it, and facts about World War One that we never knew.
Jessica Chapman 9CRT and George Divanis 9JCK
Pictured above: Joshua Mitchell 9CRT, Brandon
Whitehouse 9AMD and Lewis Wilson 9AMD
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Pictured above : David Luncan 9ORM and Devid
Andrade Siqueira 9ORM
HISTORY DEPARTMENT
YEAR 9 CIVILLIAN BOMBING PROJECT
This term Year 9 students have undertaken a project
on the impact of civilian bombing as part of a wider
enquiry question:
‘Is the bombings of civilian populations ever
justified?’
Students gained an opportunity to explore the impact
of bombing on civilian populations through a study of
the bombings of Coventry, Dresden and Hiroshima.
As part of the project many of our students visited
Coventry Cathedral and explored the city’s role as a
city of peace and reconciliation and its links with
Dresden and Hiroshima. The students produced
some wonderfully thoughtful work. Some chose to
speak to elderly members of their families and
recounted their amazing stories and experiences of
WWII and the Blitz. Some brought in artefacts from
the period including ration books, family photographs
and medals. Some truly incredible family histories
emerged. The
project really
helped bridge the
generation gap. It
was a pleasure
and privilege for
us to read these
incredible
accounts and get
to see these
incredibly
personal artefacts
and memorabilia.
YEAR 8 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AN
OVERARCHING QUESTION:
‘For better or worse: For richer or poorer – How did
life change in the 17th - 19th Centuries? Are we
really that different?’
As part of the question students undertook an enquiry
‘Should profit ever come before people?’ During the
first half term, students focused on slavery, its causes,
impact and abolition, together with modern day slavery.
A focus during the second half term has been ‘A lost
childhood –child labour in the Nineteenth Century.’
Students also explored life for the urban poor in
nineteenth century Britain. We also drew modern day
parallels by examining child labour around the world
today and life for slum dwellers in less developed
countries. As part of their studies students visited the
Black Country Museum.
SIXTH FORM TASTER DAYS
Sixth Form 2015 Taster Days
Students who have applied to join the
Sixth Form in September 2015
attended the Sixth Form summer
Taster Days.
These days were designed to give
students a flavour of the subjects and
acquaint them with the current Sixth
Form students, their tutors, and staff
who will be involved in their journey in
the Sixth Form.
Our current, delightful Sixth Form
students made the students involved
in the taster days feel welcome and
were available to talk about the
realities of life in the Sixth Form and
to answer any queries that they might
have.
We will look forward to welcoming
them on board in September.
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SIXTH FORM NEWS
LIFE IN YEAR 12
The Year 12 students have just finished a hard working and difficult period in their lives. They have been
embarking on their A2 courses without knowing the results of their AS exams and also without the benefit of a
holiday which normally follows an exam period.
In addition to their ‘A’ Levels they also have their futures to think about. They have recently had two important
assemblies, one about applying for university and one regarding the many different types of apprenticeships
available. Each route is accompanied by a booklet produced by the school and it is vital that the students read
this.
The UCAS booklet explains the entire process of how to make an application to study at university. First, all the
students have to register and record their personal educational details on the UCAS website. The tutors were
working on the student references during the last term of the academic year.
Our Year 12 students should be starting to write their Personal Statements between now and September. They
receive a great deal of guidance, help and advice from school both during Year 12 and the start of Year 13, but
preparatory work during the summer holidays is vital for a top class statement.
We wish all our Sixth Form students every success with their exam results. The AS and A2 results will be
available on Thursday 13th August from 9am until 11am in Stoneleigh. Remember that the results envelope will
only be given to a person other than the student if Mrs Bayliss has received a letter from the student concerned
giving permission for this named person to collect the results on his or her behalf.
Mr Scholes Sixth Form Assistant
ATTENDANCE
LEAVE OF ABSENCE OF DURING TERM TIME
As you will be aware, current attendance regulations
stipulate a Headteacher may not grant a leave of
absence during term time unless there are exceptional
circumstances.
A holiday request is not considered to be an
exceptional circumstance.
It is for the Headteacher to decide what he/she views as ‘exceptional’ and it is at their discretion if the
circumstances warrant the leave to be granted. If the leave is granted, the Headteacher is able to determine
the number of school days a child can be absent for.
The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the ‘resident’ parent.
Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child will be required to be in
school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an
unauthorised absence, which may result in legal action being taken against the parent(s), by way of a Fixed
Penalty Notice being issued to the parent(s).
Failure to make an application for leave in advance can also result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to
the parent(s).
Where a Fixed Penalty Notice is issued and not paid within the required timeframe as set out on the notice, the
matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal
proceedings under S444 Education Act 1996.
Parents are asked to respect the new regulations under which the school must work and if there is a need to
take a child out of school during term time, an application or request must be made in advance and make clear
how the circumstances are exceptional.
Mrs Chamberlain Assistant Headteacher
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PE DEPARTMENT
Sports Day Results
On Friday 3rd July all students in Year 7, 8, 9, and 10 took part in Sports Day. The events this year were
Athletics, Dodgeball, Football, Frisbee, Netball and Rounders. There was an excellent atmosphere and
healthy competition. Congratulations to all competitors for making it an enjoyable day. The results were as
follows:
Year Group Winners
Year 7 BMF
Year 8 BNS
Year 9 JCK
Year 10 YRD
Year Group House Results
Year 7 Ragley
Year 8 Ragley
Year 9 Charlecote
Year 10 Ragley
Overall House Winners
Ragley
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PE DEPARTMENT
MOTIONHOUSE DANCE COMPANY WORKSHOP
th
On Friday 15 May Motionhouse Dance Company came into Aylesford to do a free workshop with our budding
dancers.
The students that took part were from Year 7-13 and were as follows; Ellie Holderness, Ellie Spanswick,
Kirstie Eykyn, Heidi Irvine, Naraj Monks, Holly Sawyer, Elisabeth Erdozain, Siona Ward, Emily Alderson,
Leah-Mai Ricketts, Charlotte Langford, Olivia Thomas, Yasmin Ricketts, Natasha Ward, Chloe Morris,
Samuel Poulton, Holly Stevens and Hayley White.
Under 14 Cricket
The boys have carried on from last year both in terms of their enthusiasm and
their commitment.
The captaincy has been shared by Josh East and Jonny Barton both of whom
are developing into competent young players.
This season’s fixtures have been more challenging than last season and early
six- a- side games resulted in defeats at the hands of Southam College and
Trinity School, the latter off the last ball of the game.
We played a Shipton A and B side on the astro turf and won both matches. Josh Cooper was the star with
the bat scoring 43 not out. In the other match, good all round performances from Matthew Degg, Danny
Bradbury, Liam Blake, Liam Fentham and Adam Geobey, resulted in a comfortable victory. Tight bowling
and fielding restricted Shipston B to 57 runs against Aylesford’s total of 72. Patrick Kirwan continues to
improve as wicket keeper; indeed we are lucky to have so many Year 8 players who demonstrate good skills
with both the bat and the ball.
The eleven- a- side fixture against Shipston fell casualty to the weather but we managed a match versus
Myton and won in a closely fought contest. Again the fielding, catching and bowling was the key to restricting
Myton to 57 runs. Tom Smith, another improving cricketer, batted sensibly to steer Aylesford home by three
wickets. Charlie Mann, Onur Guler, Jack Prue and Jacob Parsons, all played their part in the victory.
The game against North Leamington School provided an excellent victory for the team. NLS batted first and
scored 88 off their 16 overs, wickets for Josh East and Jonny Barton, two excellent catches by Tom Smith
and a superb run out from Patrick Kirwan were the main events. In reply, a solid start by Jacob Parsons and
Tom Smith set the tone for the run chase. Tom Smith continued to hit the bad ball and finished with 30 not out,
ably supported by Jonny Barton (10) and Josh East (17 not out), bringing victory with one over and 6 wickets
to spare. Charlie Mann is another boy who has shown great improvement in his all-round ability and is
developing into a fine player.
At the time of writing we still have to play Trinity and Southam.
A special thanks to Mr Scholes for his lunchtime, indoor sessions which have maintained the boys’ enthusiasm
and sharpened up their batting skills. Congratulations to you all; looking forward to next season already!
Mr Timson.
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PE DEPARTMENT
DISTRICT ATHLETICS
On Monday 29th June over 30 students represented the School Athletics Team at the Central Warwickshire Track and Field Championships.
Here are some of the most notable performances:
Year 7 Girls
Felicity Nicholls 2nd High Jump 1.20m
Year 7 Male
Ethan Wilson 1st Discus 17.74m
Reece Newey 1st High Jump 1.30m (school record)
Jack Cooke 2nd Hurdles 15.20 secs (school record)
Christopher Hearn 3rd Shot Putt 6.78m
Toby Scott 3rd Long Jump 4.13m
Toby Scott, Ryan Unitt, Reece Newey, Jack Cooke 3rd Relay (school record) 57.00 secs
COVENTRY, SOLIHULL AND WARWICKSHIRE SCHOOL GAMES
On Thursday 2nd July Aylesford Students were proud to represent Central Warwickshire at the CSW Level 3
School Games at Warwick University.
The Year 7 boys qualified for the Golf event and took part in nine holes in the morning followed by another
nine holes after lunch. These were short Par 3 holes which tested their short game skills and team work
because they had to play alternate shots.
After some superb play Toby Scott, Adam Webber, Harvey Holland, Jack Lewis achieved 2nd place overall
in the competition and they were very proud to receive their silver medals from Guest of Honour 2012
Paralympic Silver Medallist Mel Clarke.
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PE DEPARTMENT
COVENTRY, SOLIHULL
AND WARWICKSHIRE
SCHOOL GAMES
In the Tennis the Aylesford
students were Liam Fentham,
Tom Mullan, Peter Price, Jamie
Pokorski, Joshua Yarrow, and
Reece Newey.
Following a very tough semi-final
the team finished in 3rd place by
winning their Bronze Medal match.
This was a fantastic achievement
because most of the team were
competing against students who
were from the year group above.
Meanwhile at the athletics track the
Year 10 BTEC Sport students were volunteering their services as Sports Leaders (officiating, scoring and
timekeeping). This was a fantastic opportunity to show off their leadership skills which they have been
developing during the summer term. The students did a fantastic job and received many compliments; the
students were: Brady Floyd, Richard Harrison, Maisie Durrant, George Smith, Laquisha Joseph,
Samuel Ward, Daniel Tortos, Callum Judd, Thomas Wyatt, Rhys Jones, Matthew Akers, Fern Scobie,
Lara Murray, Holly Nicholls, Amy Savage and Harry Harrison.
Warwickshire County Track and Field – 2015
Congratulations to Isobel Davis 11JNS who is the 2015 Inter Girls County 800m
Champion after winning the Warwickshire Schools Athletics Championships
at Edmondscote Athletics Track on Saturday 13th June in a School Record time
of 2mins 24.3 seconds.
Inter Counties Athletics (Mason Trophy)
Following her success at the County Championships, Isobel Davis broke her own school record for the
800m by finishing in a very creditable 8th place at the Inter Counties Athletics Match at Alexander Stadium in a time of 2mins 21.92 seconds.
RFU INTERVIEWS
Aylesford played host to a very important day of interviews to find a new RFU Community
Rugby Coach for the South Warwickshire area. There were 18 boys from Year 7 and 8 who
took part in the practical element of the interview process and were able to show off their
rugby skills to the candidates and the coaches looking on. There was an impeccable
attitude from the boys and the RFU were very pleased with the school for providing the
hospitality for the day.
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SIXTH FORM 2013 - 2015
SIXTH FORM STAFF
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SCHOOL NOTICE
LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME 20152015-16 – INFORMATION
FOR PARENTS
In September 2013, the Government introduced some significant changes to attendance regulations for
pupils at school. The regulations will continue to apply during this academic year (2015/2016).
The most important of these is in relation to term-time leave of absence.
The amendments set out in Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, govern
all requests for leave within term-time. When considering such requests for a leave of absence, the school
are obliged to act within the law.
The amended regulations removed references to ‘holiday’ and ‘extended leave’, as well as the statutory
threshold of 10 school days. It is now clear that Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence during
term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. If the leave is granted, head teachers are able to
determine the number of school days a child can be absent for.
The Government has not defined ‘exceptional circumstances’ as referred to in the 2013 regulations. It is for
the Head Teacher to decide what he/she views as ‘exceptional’ and it is at their discretion if the
circumstances warrant the leave to be granted.
The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the ‘resident’ parent.
Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case by case basis and on its own merits.
Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused, the child will be required to be in
school on the dates set out in the application. If the child is absent during that period, it will be recorded as an
unauthorised absence, which may result in legal action being taken against the parent(s), by way of a Fixed
Penalty Notice.
Failure to make an application for leave in advance can also result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to
the parent(s).
It is important to note, Fixed Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child, (for example 2
children and 2 parents, means each parent will receive 2 invoices in the amount of £120 each, totalling £240
for both children, this is reduced to £60 per child if paid within 21 days).
Where a Fixed Penalty Notice is not paid within the required timeframe as set out on the notice, the matter
will be referred to Warwickshire County Council’s Legal Services to consider instigating criminal proceedings
under S444 Education Act 1996.
Fixed Penalty Notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct for
Penalty Notices.
Warwickshire Secondary School pupils recorded 10,792 half day sessions of absence
due to holiday in Autumn Term 2013 alone. This is a decrease of 4,700 on previous
years. This is a positive outcome as it means that 2,350 days of education was
achieved.
We greatly appreciate parental support to reduce the total amount of days lost due to holidays. We are
committed to working in partnership with you to enable your child to reach their academic targets and to
support their social development. For this to happen we need to keep individual attendance as high as
possible - we all need to play our part.
Your child’s progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority.
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SCHOOL DATES
School Dates: 2015 - 2016
Autumn Term 2015
Teacher Training Day
Teacher Training Day and Sixth Form enrolment
Friday 4th September
Monday 7th September
Term begins for all Years
Tuesday 8th September
Teacher Training Day
Friday 25th September
Half-term
Monday 26th October
- Friday 30th October
Term Ends
Friday 18th December
Spring Term 2016
Teacher Training Day
Term begins
Monday 4th January
Tuesday 5th January
Half-term
Monday 15th February
- Friday 19th February
Term Ends
Thursday 17th March
Teacher Training Day
Friday 18th March
Summer Term 2016
Term begins
Monday 4th April
Bank Holiday
Monday 2nd May
Half-term
Monday 30th May
– Friday 3rd June
Term Ends
Friday 22nd July
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