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DERBY GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Issue 2
Tel: 01332 523027 Website: www.derbygrammar.co.uk
email: [email protected]
news: [email protected]
December 2011
A Foreword by the Headmaster
The autumn term is the longest and busiest of the year, and this second edition of Derby Grammar School
Life focuses on more high profile activities and events that have happened since the start of the year.
During the autumn term DGS was visited by the Independent Schools‟ Inspectorate. I am delighted with the
detailed and very positive report the inspection team produced and know that staff, pupils and their parents
will share in that sense of pride when they read it. Parents of pupils at the School will receive a printed
copy and it is also available on our website for everyone to read.
There is so much that is achieved by our pupils each week that is worthy of celebration, however while
they enjoy such a wonderful and varied education it is also
great to see that they are mindful of others less fortunate.
The amount of money raised for a variety of charities this
term has been tremendous. £7,500 was raised for Children
in Need alone. The efforts of the pupils feature in a number
of articles running throughout this publication.
Well done to everyone in contributing to the success of this
term. I wish you all a restful holiday and a happy new year.
Richard Paine
Headmaster
More Shoe Boxes Needed!
Operation Christmas Child is an appeal that DGS has responded to
with enthusiasm for many years. Yet again, Junior School pupils
have been filling shoe boxes with gifts for children who will otherwise
not receive any presents this Christmas.
Pupils have also been bringing in shoe boxes for a second Christmas
appeal. These are being filled for young people at Derby‟s YMCA,
under the direction of Reverend
Paul Taylor. As for the last few
years, the collection taken at the
annual Cathedral carol service will
be used to buy and distribute
Christmas presents of essential
items of food, clothing and toiletries
to homeless people in Derby.
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Contents
Foreword by the Headmaster
More Shoe Boxes Needed
Children in Need
Readathon
‘Movember’
German Exchange
Foreign Language Assistants
Junior School
Staff Profile
Biology Trip
Sports Report
James Cozens
House Drama
Bugsy Malone, School Play
Coming Up…..
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Every year Derby Grammar School has its own
Children in Need week. It is largely the Year 12
pupils who get the experience of organising most
of the activities and this year we raised £7500, which is extraordinary, considering the
size of our School.
CHILDREN IN NEED
A new event during the week was an „egg heads‟ competition, where two teams of
teachers battled it out before facing a team of pupils who proved their intelligence in
a convincing victory at the Friday night variety show. The teacher bouncy gladiator
and boxing matches were also big events as we got to witness yet another P.E.
teacher being defeated by the one and only Mr „The Don‟ Critchlow.
The Junior School sold cakes, pupils were sponsored to be silent for a day, Mr Buxton (Caretaker/Site
Manager) and three Y12 pupils took part in a haggis eating contest – everyone joined in and really enjoyed
themselves. As usual, the week concluded with a night of entertainment given by both students and teachers.
Take Me Out was a great addition to the evening. The audience were greeted with a series of beautiful girls
(by girls I mean a bunch of Sixth Form lads in dresses and tights and wearing lipstick) . A lucky „gentlemen‟
was able to get a date with one of these heartbreakers and a romantic video revealed how they got on at the
Mediterranean (a cafe in the centre of Derby). The X-Factor Competition was won by an outstanding Junior
School boy, but in addition to other excellent performances, there were videos of some failed entries.
Towards the end of a very amusing night, the traditional teacher gunging took place. This year the two
unfortunate teachers were Mr Hilliam and Mrs Bruce, who for some reason had the most money donated in
their buckets. However, all of this was topped by the grand finale when a number of prefects, including the
Head boy, decided to re-enact the Full Monty! Children in Need week is about the whole school coming
together as a community to let their hair down (or in some case put more on) and raise as much money as
possible for other people who are less fortunate. This has always been an exciting event in the
calendar which is eagerly anticipated by everyone.
Ben Grimsdell Y12
Readathon To encourage pupils to read, English teacher, Miss Rowe,
organised a Get Caught Reading competition. Pupils and staff were asked to bring
in photos of themselves reading in unusual places. First prize was awarded to Joe
Weightman (Year 8) for his picture entitled In Deep Waters. £713.88 was raised
for CLIC Sargent and Roald Dahl‟s Marvellous Children’s Charity. Both charities
help youngsters who are seriously ill.
‘Movember’During November, Mr Whitworth grew a moustache to raise
money and draw attention to the Prostate and Testicular Cancer Campaign. Mrs
Taylor, our Office Manager, tried to knock Mr Whitworth out with a hammer and
then produced a large saw from her kit bag in an effort to restore some facial
normality. In the end some shaving cream and a traditional razor got the job done.
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German Exchange
In September this year, I was one
of a group of pupils from Year 8
who travelled to Germany on an
exchange trip.
I was nervous
about going but it turned out to be
one of the best things I‟ve done.
After an early start we travelled to
Luneburg, near Hamburg, by
coach, plane and train. As we
pulled in to Luneburg the
excitement built and it was great to
meet our exchange partners after
so much emailing beforehand.
Luckily for me my exchange family
were very welcoming and spoke
excellent English.
The first morning I was a bit
worried about what I‟d get for
breakfast and had prepared myself
for the worse (cold sausage!) but
was pleased to be greeted by
cornflakes. Every day I was given
a packed lunch for the day and it
was mainly delicious, apart from a
flubbery sausage on one occasion.
We went on lots of trips during the
days and spent a morning in our
exchange school trying to learn
maths and music in German. This
proved to be harder than expected
due to the fact that I could only
count to twenty!
spent on an aerial tree climbing
The highlights of the trip were the activity followed by a barbeque,
made all the better for meeting up
visit to the VW Autostadt, the
afternoon spent at the saltwater with other friends on the exchange.
swimming pool and the day out
with the exchange family.
The After a brilliant trip everyone said
VW Autostadt translates as the VW their goodbyes and thank you. The
city of cars. I‟ve never seen so journey home began, but unfortumany cars! My favourite was the nately, it wasn‟t quite as smooth as
Bugatti Veyron which had its own planned due to hoards of rival
Hamburg football fans crowding
showroom. I also liked the
Lamborghini showroom where the the train station. When the riot
car‟s engine roar was demon- police arrived the teachers looked
strated. It was deafening. We a little concerned!
spent an enjoyable afternoon However, we caught our train
splashing around in the Luneburg safely and arrived at the airport on
water park. It is unusual due to the time. Soon we were home,
fact it contains salt water, which dreading school the next morning,
tasted revolting and stung our less than eight hours away. I had a
eyes. Nevertheless we managed to great time and would recommend it
break the rules and send everyone to next year‟s Year 8.
down the big water slide together.
Andrew Fletcher Y8
My day out with the family was
And this Year’s Foreign Language Assistants Are...
Each year all DGS pupils studying foreign
languages benefit from regular one to one or
small group conversation sessions with our
foreign language assistants. This may take
place in a little room (more like a
cupboard) on the top floor of Rykneld Hall, or
simply outside a classroom, but the
benefit is enormous!
Asmah Mohamed was born in Paris
(near the Stade de France) and has
a degree in English and Spanish.
She has always wanted to work in a
school in England, before returning to
become a teacher in France.
Sven Weichbrodt was born in
Neubrandenburg and went to a
Gymnasium (a Grammar School).
Three years ago he spent five
months in Newcastle as an exchange student, but the experience
didn‟t put him off his studies as he
graduated last summer from the
University of Rostock with a degree
in German and English. His hobbies
include playing guitar in a band,
reading and playing football. He says that he finds the
pupils at DGS well behaved and hard working!
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Berta Blanco-Diaz was born in the
Asturias, northern Spain, and studied Law.
While training to become a judge her
husband
(Dr DiazSotres) was recruited to
work for the NHS as a
consultant
histopathologist, so she
moved to England in
2003. The family now
have two children, Adrian
aged 6 and Daniel aged
8 (who is a pupil at
DGS).
Junior School
So much has been packed into this half-term in the Junior School that it has
flown by at top speed and we are now in the busy, but exciting run up to
Christmas.
The second half of the term began with another visit from the ISI Inspectors. We
were delighted to welcome our colleagues from other schools to view the vibrant
atmosphere in the Junior Department, as we are so proud of the work that our
boys do. The children behaved brilliantly and were excellent ambassadors for the
School.
After the inspection, it was time for Children in Need week. We were impressed
by their effort in the Sponsored Distance Swim and by their enthusiasm in entering the Push Your
Teacher in the Pool Competition. In addition, each day, the Junior School was engulfed in generous donations of the most tempting and delicious cakes and biscuits for our now famous cake stall. The week
was peppered with many events in which Junior Boys were involved. Of particular excitement were the
Penalty Shoot-out competition and the legendary Connect 4 competition. We all concluded the week on
the hard-court making the words Children in Need out of the coppers that we had brought in as
donations. If you were lucky enough to join the School in the evening, you will have enjoyed the
entertainment of the Junior School Staff Act and my „gunging‟ – one event I‟d rather not repeat!
All the boys who helped in this week are to be highly commended but I would particularly like to mention
the prefect team. Without any staff help, these six boys organised a variety of extra fundraising events
including a sponsored silence, a „bad choir‟ and a competition which allowed other boys to be prefects for a day.
They raised a staggering £130 to add to our Junior School
total of almost £1500.
Visitors to the Junior Department this half-term will have
seen the magnificent display of art entries for our House
Art Completion. We were so overwhelmed by the quality of
submissions that we had to call on expert advice from the
Senior School Art Department to help with judging. Congratulations must go to all boys who submitted a piece of
art. We are also very pleased with our impressive, new
flat-screen television, kindly donated by Vauxhall Cars,
Derby, which is being used to display photographs of the
superb events in which the boys have been involved.
With term drawing to a close the Junior School is looking forward to its annual theatre trip. This year we
are going to see „The BFG‟ by Roald Dahl, an author highly admired by our pupils and studied by Year 6
in their „Biography‟ topic. As I write, the festive sounds of House carol rehearsals in full swing permeate
the Junior School with each House squeezing in extra practices and making additional props and
costumes to liven up their performance. For those of you new to the School, the House Carol Competition
afternoon (on the last Thursday of term) is a real treat. Make it a priority in your diary!
Of course, no Christmas season would be complete without the whole School carol service at Derby
Cathedral. I wonder if you feel as I do, such a sense of
awe at the beginning of that service, when the main lights
are turned down and we are left in twinkling candle-light
listening to the voice of a lone chorister. It is at that
special, spiritual moment that I feel Christmas has finally
arrived.
Leaving you with that thought and on behalf of all the
Junior School staff, I would like to wish that Christmas is
for you, a peaceful and joyful time.
Clare Bruce, Head of Junior School
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Staff
Profile
The staff interview in our first edition of ‘DGS Life’ proved so
popular, that we thought we’d interview Mrs Jackson, another
new member of staff who teaches in our Junior School.
Why did you choose to become a
teacher?
A few of my friends had trained to be
teachers and I thought I would enjoy
it too, so I spent some time in their
schools and loved it.
Where did you go to school?
I went to a British Army School in
Belgium as my dad was working at a
chemical factory in the same town.
For my secondary education I went
to a boarding school in Kent.
What did you do when you left
school?
After school I went to Reading
University to study psychology and
worked with young adults with
learning disabilities.
Where did you teach before Derby
Grammar School?
I taught at two junior schools in the
south, before I moved to Derby in
2010 and spent a year at Derby
Moor Community Sports College as
a tutor in maths and English.
BIOLOGY TRIP
How have junior schools change
since you were a child?
If you forgot your P.E. kit then you
had to do it in your vest and pants.
You never forgot it twice!
What are your first impressions of
DGS?
I thought it was a very nice and
friendly place.
What is the best and is the worst
thing about working at DGS?
My lovely class and cookies at
breaktime are the best things! Worst,
is having to fight Miss Bruce
„gladiator style‟ for Children in Need.
Do you have any interesting or
unusual ambitions?
I have always wanted to do a
parachute jump. However, each time
I try to organize it I have had a clear
message „from above‟ that it is not a
good idea to throw myself out of a
plane. Once it was bad weather,
then a broken down plane …
Do you have any hobbies
or special interests?
I have been all over the world
scuba diving and I particularly
love sharks! I also love
walking my dog, Dexter, in
the countryside.
Tell us an interesting fact
about yourself that nobody
else knows!
I once worked in the kitchens
at Wimbledon Tennis Club
and Cliff Richard ate one of
the salads I prepared.
What is your favourite TV
programme?
Sadly, it‟s probably
Eastenders!
In October the Year 13 biologists, spent three days in North Yorkshire
exploring beaches and countryside in pursuit of shoreline algae, mice,
freshwater invertebrates and an increased understanding of ecological
concepts and techniques.
We spent a very cold and windy first afternoon on Filey Brigg (a strip of exposed rock that extends into
the North Sea), investigating the adaptation and distribution of different types of seaweed, whilst pupils
completed an assessment paper that counts towards their A level. One member of the group dropped her
notes into a rock pool in her excitement to identify the features of one species she found.
On the second day we visited a nature reserve
owned by Yorkshire Water and looked at the
influence of the water table on biodiversity. Then
we had an evening setting traps, which we returned to in the morning. The first wood mouse
caught caused great excitement, but Robbie
Awbery was a little disappointed as he only
managed to catch a slug!
On day three the group carried out a freshwater
invertebrate study to determine the energy
flowing through the ecosystem.
Mr Neal, Teacher of Biology.
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Autumn Term Sports Report
Rugby results for the season (up to 24/11/11)
Team
Played
Won
1st XV
6
1
Loss
5
2nd XV/u16
2
2
0
U15s
9
4
5
U14s
2
0
2
U13a
8
5
3
U13b
1
0
1
U12
3
0
3
Overall
31
12 (39%)
19 (61%)
After a few pre-season training sessions in the summer holidays, the 2011 fixtures started with the arrival
of Princethorpe College to play our 1 st XV at Pastures. The season at senior level came with great
anticipation, following our unbeaten regular campaign of the previous year. The opposition‟s tour to South
Africa meant this was their „8th game‟ of the season and it proved to be just the start we did not want! The
firsts without their injured captain Chris Brown, then lost to Newcastle. Poor tackling meant a heavy loss at
Chellaston and without some key players Stafford proved too strong.
Living in the shadow of the previous year‟s experience was hard, but a good solid win against Worksop
2nds got the season underway following (non-playing captain) „Monty‟s‟ return to the starting side. A
narrow loss due a late penalty against QMGS Walsall, robbed the team of at least a draw, having played
most of the rugby and scoring two well taken tries. The seconds secured two very good wins against 3 rd
XV‟s from Denstone and Worksop. The 1 st XV will finish the season far stronger than they started it and
the potential is there for next season following the successes from the 2 nd XV matches.
Matches in the lower part of the school have had mixed results. The under 12s and under 14s have had
difficult seasons, with few games to pit their skills against opposition. Development in both lesson time
and during practices is crucial and there will be opportunity in the future to play more competitive matches.
The under 15s have also had a mixed term, with a good win against Newcastle to start their season well.
A tidy win at home versus Abbotsholme was punctuated by a poor run of form, seeing losses against
Lady Manners School, Ratcliffe College and Chellaston School. The side then achieved a win against
Thomas Alleynes School from Uttoxeter, as well as a win against a second string Denstone side.
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Consistency in both performance and attendance at
training has to be achieved as these players move
forward to playing in the School‟s senior side next
year.
Year 8 (pictured on Page 6) has had the most
successful time of all our teams. Regular good
numbers at training and genuine competition for
places has ensured standards have continued to
rise. The team had a great start to the season at
Newcastle. A narrow loss against a strong Lady
Manners side gave them a reality check but a weakened Chellaston side provided a much-needed win
to keep confidence high. Ratcliffe proved a stern
test, with the side bereft of four county triallists.
A very accomplished win midweek against Stafford
gave the team some belief and this run of form secured wins against Denstone College B and QMGS
Walsall. All the interest in Year 8 was rewarded
with a hastily arranged match against Bishop
Vesey at both A and B level and the boys thoroughly enjoyed playing in a competitive match
against another school. The fact a school with 43
boys in a year group can put out both an A & B
team is testimony to the hard work of Mr Masters
and enthusiasm generated by the boys themselves.
Other notable sporting performances and
accomplishments
County Rugby
Under 13 – John Cooke-Rodgers, Andrew Fletcher
and Dan Grimsdell,
Under 14 - James Hopkinson
Under 15 – Joe Cox and Richard Bowen
Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire
School of Rugby – Under 15 Munraj Atwal
Hockey –
Nick Lathbury – Burton HC 1st XI in Midlands Premier League and Derbyshire u17s
James Cozens – Belper HC 1st XI in National
League (Men's Conference North)
Cricket –
Mitchell Millington – Top scorer in Barton Cricket
Club‟s senior team, Scoring 744 runs for Barton 1st
XI in County League Division 4 at an average of
37.2, finishing 4th best batsmen in the league.
District Cricket –
Under 14s – Ally Beardmore (Derbyshire Dales)
and Rishi Gandhewar (South Derbyshire)
Under 13s – Peter Clark (South Derbyshire)
Thanks go to all those members of staff who have
DCB County Winter Training Squads –
given their time to practise and manage rugby sides (Derbyshire Cricket Board) Under 14s - Shivam
within school, including those pupils in the Sixth
Kolhe Under 11s - Noah Magill
Form who have also given their free time to help!
Football –
After Christmas the sport changes to hockey and
James McDermott (Yr 11) – played numerous times
fixtures will be posted on the website and available for Derby County U16 development XI, and Jack
in the School calendar.
O‟Callaghan was selected to play for Derbyshire FA
(clubs) U16s and ISFA (North) squad.
Mr Whitworth, Head of Games
James Cozens Year 12
James Cozens, new this year into Year 12, writes about how he has
settled into the School and his love of hockey.
From the first minute of starting at Derby Grammar School Sixth Form I
knew instantly that it was the place for me. I was never too worried about
the making friends situation because for a sociable, sporty teenage lad,
friends are not too hard to come by, but the friendships I have found in only
a short space of time, are ones I will want to hold for years post school
days.
A major passion of mine has always been hockey. I came from a state
school where hockey was never really part of the curriculum, but that is
certainly not the case at DGS. Having been involved in a lot of hockey from
a very young age, I have learnt a variety of coaching drills and techniques
which I am delighted to pass onto the DGS first team. I have been working
with the team for about six weeks now and our first game is coming up very
soon, so it will be interesting to see how far they have come on. Coming to
DGS has been brilliant.
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House Drama
“I‟ve got a plan so cunning, you could stick a tail on
it and call it a weasel!” For those of you who are
avid Blackadder fans you may recognise this quotation and think that the Blackadder TV
series is a legacy in its own right and therefore
cannot be topped. However, if you attended Derby Grammar School‟s
House Drama Competition in October you would realise this is not the case.
The four Houses each performed an episode from the four different series, with
each production being surprisingly good considering the lack of preparation time.
Derby House has been defending their winning position for a lengthy period of time
and triumphed yet again with their outstanding performance of Corporal Punishment from Blackadder Goes Forth. House captain San Puri describes Derby as
being “ambitious, proud and hardworking”. San himself played the role of Melchett,
effectively portraying his unusual love for his carrier pigeon (played by Chris Brown)
which Blackadder shot and proceeded to eat. The challenging role of Blackadder was taken by Daniel
Hughes, who arguably gave Rowan Atkinson a run for his money and received the award for the best actor
of the evening.
As proud as I am to be a member of Derby House, I must commend the other
Houses for their excellent interpretations. Bemrose clinched second place,
performing an episode from the very first series „The Queen of Spain‟s Beard‟. Ollie
Dixon played the role of Blackadder extremely well, sending up the lack of romance
between himself and the Spanish Infanta who happened to have an unfortunate
case of facial hair. Atkinson came a well-deserved third, with their performance of
„Head‟ from the second series. Alex Dengate was perfectly cast as Percy, with his humour captivating the
audience. Blackton came last, but it has to be said that their performance of Ink and Incapability was an
entertaining modern interpretation, with Max Cadman (as Blackadder) being commended in the judge‟s
comments.
Jess Hopkinson Y13
Fat Sam‟s Hoodlums in
between telling Blousey and
Fizzy to „come back tomorrow‟ for their auditions.
Performances will take place
on Thursday 8th and Friday
9th March. Meanwhile, we
would be grateful for your
help in gathering props. We
are particularly looking for old
Rehearsals are now well
furniture that we can use in
underway for Derby Grammar
future shows. If you have any
School‟s exciting version of
of the items listed below
the musical, Bugsy Malone.
which you might be able to
Pupils are preparing to „get
donate to Derby Grammar
splurged‟ in what promises to
School‟s props cupboard,
be a real spectacle. This year
please contact Mrs Watson,
the staging will be even better
Head of English. Thank you!
than ever before, thanks to
the hard work and enormous
Items
fund-raising efforts of the
A wooden table and chairs
PTA. The School hall will be
A fold-up camp bed
transformed into Fat Sam’s
Toy Guns
Grand Slam Speakeasy
Plastic food such as
where you can see Dandy
burgers
Dan, a dime a dozen gangA
swivel
chair
ster, splurge.
An armchair
It‟s Splurge Time
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Coming Up......
The Beetroot Tree Gallery are holding their
annual exhibition of artwork produced by
students of Years 3 to 13 in February. It
was an honour for Derby Grammar School
to be asked to choose the theme, which is
„Influences‟.
Ms Sellors will be selecting artwork from
each year group to go into the exhibition.
Students may also enter as individuals.
(See Ms Sellors for details) The gallery is
visited by the general public who can vote
for their favourite pieces.
When? Tues 14 Feb-Sun 26 Feb 2012
Where? South Street, Draycott,
Derbyshire DE72 3PP
www.thebeetroottree.com
Special viewing & prize-giving Sun 26 Feb 4-4.30pm