the ashbeian...2009/11/23 · advice to fellow students who want to speak to someone of their own...
TRANSCRIPT
A Specialist Technology and Languages College
TheAshbeianIssue 14 - Autumn term 2009
Ashby School Wishes Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Successful New Year
Page Contents
2It’saBeauty!NewDiplomaLaunches
3BulldozersMoveinForLastMobile
4PromisingPoetPocketsPrize
5GreenCampaignersGetSilver
6-7
FacultyFocus:BusinessStudies,ModernForeignLanguages,ArtDesignandTechnology
8 DiaryDates
Fivefilm-makersfromAshbySchoolhavereeledinfirstprizeinacompetitiontopromoteLeicestershire’sBigSwitchOffenergy-savingcampaign.JadeBakewell,Jake
How did this rubber duck ruffle feathers in a photography competition?
See page four...
Bowley,LewisSmith,JordanBarryandThomasSmithmadea90-secondvideourgingallschool-userstosaveenergybyturningoffunnecessarylights,computersandotherelectrical
items.Thevideo–entitled‘YouWouldn’t…’–showedstudentsdoingunthinkablethingssuchassawingoffafriend’sarm.Itconcludedbyshowinganemptyclassroomwithallthelightsblazing–somethingunthinkableinthecontextoftheBigSwitchOff.
Judgeswereimpressedbythecreativityandtalentofthewinningfive,whoareallYear11MediaStudiesstudents.
Film-Makers Reel in First Prize
Sportingambassadorshavebeenappointedtoencouragestudentsofallagesandabilitiestogetmoreinvolvedinschoolsports.
APlatinumAmbassadorfromYear13isworkingalongsidetwoGoldAmbassadorsfromYear12andfourYear10SilverAmbassadors,topromoteanddeveloptheschool’ssportingprogramme.
Anewly-formedSportsCouncil,featuringstudentrepresentativesfromeachYear,willalsoboostsport’sprofile.Itsrolewillincludeorganisingsportingevents,competitionsandexerciseclasses,andpromotingpositivevaluesthroughsport.
OneoftheCouncil’sfirstprioritiesistogetmoregirlsinvolvedinsport.
Newly-appointed Sports Councillors, pictured here at a team-building event, want to encourage more students to take up sport.
Be a Good Sport...
A scene from the winning film.
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The Ashbeian
Asever,theschoolyearhasbegunwithmanynewdevelopments.Theseinclude:
• Anew10-daytimetablethatisworkingwell;
• MoreYear10and11studentstakingAScoursesinCriticalThinking,Scienceforthe21stCentury,andProductDesign;
• MorevocationalcoursesinPEandSport,Business,LeisureandTourism,Construction,Engineering,HairandBeauty,MusicTechnology,FilmandMedia,DramaandScience–studentsareenjoyingthesecoursesandachievingwell;
• MorePEforallYear10and11students;
• MoreYear12and13studentstakingtheExtendedProjectQualification(EPQ).Thiscourseishighlyratedbyuniversitiesasstudentsaretaughttheskillsneededtowriteadissertation.Mostuniversityundergraduateswriteadissertationaspartoftheirfinaldegree;
• Much-improvedattendance.Allstudentsarenowveryawareofthelinkbetweenattendanceandexamresults;
• Severalnewandrefurbishedclassroomareas,egTextiles,FoodTechnology,Engineering,upgradedFitnessSuite;
• Theestablishmentofalisteninglunchclubandbefriendinggroupstohelpstudentsfeelcomfortableandmakefriendsmoreeasily;
• Moreexamplesof‘goinggreen’.HousegardenshavebeencreatedthistermandtheschoolisnowaSilverEcoSchool;
• Schoolmusical‘WestSideStory’,showcasingtheschool’sexceptionaltalentsinthefieldsofdramaandtheperformingarts.
Asyoucansee,therearelotsofexcitingchangesinprogress,allofwhicharedesignedtoenhancethelearningexperienceandachievementsofourstudents.
MrsV.Keller-Garnett,Headteacher
Hair and Beauty
AnewDiplomainHairandBeautyhasbeenlaunchedatAshbySchool.
TheGovernment-backedcourseallowsstudentstoexplorepossiblecareersinhairdressing,barbering,beautytherapyandspaindustries.
Studentsdevelopbothpracticalandmanagementskills,preparingthemtoworkin,andevenrun,hairandbeautybusinessesandsalons.
ThecourseisruninpartnershipwithStephensonCollegeatCoalville.ADiplomainHairandBeautyisequivalenttosevenGCSEs.
Listening Lunch Club Launches
AlunchclubforstudentsinneedoffriendshipandalisteningearhasbeensetupatAshbySchool.
TheListeningLunchClubisrunbystudentstogivecompanyandadvicetofellowstudentswhowanttospeaktosomeoneoftheirownage.
Theclubalsoactsasadrop-incentre,tohelpstudentsgetmoreoutofschool,givethemasenseofbelongingandtackleanyfeelingsofalienation.
Onestudent,whousesthelunchclub,said:“IcomeherebecausethelistenersaremyageandIcantalktothem.TheyhavebeenthroughalotoftheproblemsthatIamhavingsotheycanhelpme.”
TheListeningLunchClubmeetsondaystwo,fourandsixduringbothlunchesandondayeightduringlatelunch.Alllistenersaretrainedtounderstandtheissueofconfidentiality.
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View from The Top...
Diploma students are exploring careers in the beauty industry.
Student listeners Hannah Rowland and Ian Boots.
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Health MattersWorkshopstohelpstudentsquitsmokingaretakingplaceatAshbyHospitalduringDecember.Thelunchtimemeetingsrunforsixweeks.
ThefirstHPVvaccinestoprotectYear10and11girlsagainsttheriskofcervicalcancerweregiveninSeptemberandNovember.Thethirdsessionwillbeon8February.
Chlamydiatestingwillbeavailableon28January.
Staffhavealsoattendedameetingtohelpthemsupportstudentswitheatingdisorders.
Last Mobile is Demolished
ThelastmobileclassroomatAshbySchoolhasbeendemolished–11yearsaftertheschoolfirststartedplanningtogetridofit.
Ittookjusttwohourstodestroythemobilewhichhadbeenonthesiteformorethan30years.Theclassroomwasthelastof11mobilestoberemovedfromAshbySchoolinrecentyears.
SchoolSiteManagerAnitaAllsoppulledtheleverwhichbeganthedemolition,undertheguidanceoflocalbuilderKeithBeesley.
MrsAllsopsaid:“Itwassoexhilaratingtostartthedemolition.Wehadbeenwaitingforthisdayfor11years.Wecouldn’twaittogetridofit!
“Mobilesarefreezingcoldinwinterandtoohotinsummer.Nowallourstudentswillbetaughtinpurpose-builtclassroomswhichprovideamuchbetterlearningenvironment.”
Time for TeaAteapartyforsomeofAshby’solderresidentswillbeheldattheschoolinDecember.
Aspartoftheschool’sinvolvementinthelocalcommunity,100Ashbypensionershavebeeninvitedtospendanafternoonattheschool.
Theywillenjoyaperformancebytheschool’sMusicdepartmentbeforesittingdownforteaandrefreshments,servedbySixthFormers.
Sports Writers WantedSportswritersareneededtoproduceAshbySchool’snewsportsnewsletter.
Thenewsletter–whichisbeingrunbythenewly-formedstudentSportsCouncil-willincludeinterviewswithtalentedschoolathletes,reportsonsportsclubsandteams,andupdatesonschoolsportingactivities.
AnyoneinterestedinacareerinjournalismorsportwhowouldliketogetinvolvedshouldcontactMissTeasdaleorstudentAlexHinsley.
Musicians Take a Trip
SomeofthebestmusiciansfromAshbySchoolfine-tunedtheirplayingandteam-workingskillsduringaresidentialmusictrip.
Sixty-onestudentsspentaweekendatKingtoninHerefordshire,wheretheypractisedforuptoeighthoursaday.Studentsplayedinvariousensembles,rehearsedintensivelywithbandmatesandtookpartinanimprovisationworkshop.
Theyalsotackledsportingandmusicaltasks,includingwritingtheirownsongs.
ThetripwasfollowedbyaperformanceatAshbySchoolforfamilies,friendsandstaff,atwhichall61studentsplayedtogether.
Scholarship SuccessSixthFormerNicholasBagleyhasbeenawardedanArkwrightScholarship.
OutstandingDesignstudentNicholas,16,willreceive£500tohelpfurtherhisstudiesinDesignandTechnology.HewasselectedfortheawardfollowinganinterviewandentranceexamsetbytheArkwrightScholarshipsTrust.TheTrustaimstoidentifyandencouragetalentedDesignandTechnologystudents.
Site manager Anita Allsop celebrates the demolition of the mobile. Musicians practised for up to eight hours a day.
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The Ashbeian
Promising Poet Pockets Prize
ApromisingpoetfromAshbySchoolhaswonrecognitioninanationalpoetrycompetition.
NataliyaManskova,16,wasoneofjust16winnersinthisyear’sPoetryLivePoetryCompetition.
SimonPowell,DirectorofPoetryLiveLtd,said:“Thejudgeshadatoughjobchoosingthewinnersbut,intheend,therewasnodoubtthatNataliyashouldbeoneofthem.Clearly,thisreflectsverywellontheEnglishdepartmentatAshbySchool.”
Nataliya’sprizewasaweek-longstayatTyNewydd,thewriters’centreinNorthWales,foracourseledbypoetryexperts.
Health and Safety is ParamountTheHealthandSafetyofallstaff,studentsandvisitorsatAshbySchoolisparamount.
Intheschool’sannualhealthandsafetyaudit,theschoolreceivedthetoprating.Thisauditwascarriedoutbyanindependentcompany.
Spotchecksbythelocalauthoritytakeplacethroughouttheyear.Theschoolisalsoaskedtocompleteanannualreturn.
Theschool’sHealthandSafetyCommitteemeetstermlyandconsistsofgovernors,staff,students,apremisesofficer,thecateringmanagerandarepresentativefromtheBoardingHouse.
Atthismeeting,allaccidentsandincidentsarereported,alongwithalldetailsofregularequipmentchecks.Itisanopportunityforitemsofconcerntobeaddressed.
Inthelastyear,CCTVhasbeeninstalledattheschool.ThisisjustoneofthemeasuresintroducedbyHealthandSafetyCommitteemembers,whoareconstantlyimprovingsitesecurity.
AnyonewithconcernsaboutHealthandSafetyatAshbySchoolshouldcontactAnitaAllsop,SeniorAdministratorandSiteManager.
Fiona is Fab First AiderAfirstaiderfromAshbySchoolhasbeennamedCadetoftheYearforLeicestershireandRutlandbytheStJohn’sAmbulanceBrigade.
FionaSalmon,17,isnowhopingtoclinchthenationaltitleatthecountrywidefinalsinJanuary,againstabout40otherhopefuls.
Fiona,whowantstobeadoctor,regularlyusesherfirstaidskillsasavolunteerateventssuchasmotorracingmeetingsatDoningtonPark.Shehaseventreatedhermumforshockandabrokenarmafteranaccidentoutwalking.
Shesaid:“StJohnisveryspecial–yougettolearnanduseyourfirstaidskills.Firstaidisagreatskilltohave-andnotalotofpeoplehaveit.Itcanbeinvaluable.”
Judges Go Quackers for Emma’s Picture
AyoungsnapperfromAshbySchoolhaswowedjudgesinaphotographycompetitionwithherpictureofarubberduck.
EmmaHopkins,15,wonfirstprizeinthe‘AyUpMeDuck’competitionrunbyVanillaGalleries,basedatLoughboroughUniversity.
HerwinningentryshowedGustheduckenjoyingaholidayinScotland,alongsidesomeHighlandcattle.
Students’ Success is not DebateableFourstudentsfromAshbySchoolmadetheirvoicesheardintheregionalheatsofanationaldebatingcompetition.
SixthFormersRoshniKaravadra,LydiaWright,SianBebbingtonandAnandSrivastavarepresentedtheschoolinthefirstroundofthe‘DebatingMatters’contestatLeicesterGrammarSchool.
Thefourtackledthecontroversialideathat‘Itisirresponsibleforwomenover50tohavebabies.’
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Gus the duck on holiday in Scotland.
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Golfing Glee for Harry
TeengolfingsensationHarryCoefoughtoffstiffcompetitionfromaroundtheworldtofinishfifthinhisfirstmajorgolfingtournament.
Harry,16,andhisgolfingpartner,JamesPretty,18,earnedtheirplaceintheInternationalPairsWorldFinalinScotlandinOctoberafterwinningtheNationalFinalinCornwallaweekearlier.
IntheWorldFinal,thepairtrailedtheleadersbyjustfivepointsgoingintothefinalroundofthe36-holecompetition,finishingarespectablefifth.
Harry,whobeganplayinggolffouryearsago,said:“Ihadplayedinafewlocalcompetitionsbutnothinglikethis.Therewere20countriesrepresentedsowearereallyhappytohavefinishedfifth.”
School Gets Award for Charity FundraisingAshbySchoolhasbeenhighlycommendedbyCancerResearchUKforitsoutstandingfundraising.
Theschoolhandedoverachequeformorethan£4,000toCancerResearchUK–thelargestamountevergeneratedbytheschoolforasinglecharity.
ThemoneywasraisedbytwoofAshbySchool’sHouses,whichbothchoseCancerResearchUKastheircharityfortheyear.
AnnetteBreeden,ofCancerResearchUK,said:“Competitionfortheseawardsisconsiderable.IamdelightedthatAshbySchoolhasbeenchosentoreceivetheaccoladeofHighlyCommendedintheSchooloftheYearcategory.”
In2008–09,theschoolraisedarecordtotalof£9,855.73forcharitythroughHousefundraising.
Sarah Celebrates Winning DesignAbadgedesignedbyanAshbyschoolgirlisbeingwornbyGuidingmembersacrossthecounty.
SarahHickson,15,whoisaYoungLeaderintheSeniorSectionofthe1stAshbyGuides,designedthebadgeforacompetitiontomarktheCentenaryofGuidinginLeicestershire.
Herbadge–whichfeaturedtheGuidingpromisebadge,thenumber100andafireworkdisplay–waschosenasthewinningentryintheSeniorSection.
School Gets Silver
AshbySchoolhasbeenawardedSilverEcoSchoolstatus.
TheschoolsuccessfullyappliedforSilverstatusaftermonthsofhardworktoencouragestudentsandstafftothinkgreen.
AteamofEcoWarriorscampaignedtopersuadeallschooluserstoturnofflights,computersandotherapplianceswhennotinuse,torecycle,andtohelpgrowtheirownfruitandvegetablesintheschoolgrounds.
TheschoolrecentlylearnedthatithadreduceditsenergyefficiencyratingfromaGtoaCinsomepartsoftheschoolandfromaGtoaDinothers.
EmilyStarkie,SustainableSchoolsCo-ordinator,said:“TobeawardedSilverEcoSchoolstatusisfantastic–bothfortheschoolandfortheenvironment.”
ToearnSilverstatus,theschoolwasrequiredtocompleteagreenchecklist,whichincludedcarryingoutanEnvironmentalReviewandpromotingitseco-friendlyideastothewidercommunity.
TheschoolisnowworkingtowardsGreenFlagstatus.Toachievethis,itmustbecomeaFairTradeschoolandstartworkontheeightnewHousegardens.
Harry Coe (right) with his golfing partner, James Pretty.
The school’s vegetable gardens have helped the school to gain Silver Eco School Status.
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The Ashbeian
Faculty Focus...
Business StudiesThenumberofstudentswantingtotakeBusinessStudiescoursesroseagainin2009.
Thegrowingpopularityofthecoursesisthoughttostemfromashifttowardsmorepracticaltopics.Studentsnowlearnhowtosetupandrunabusiness,ratherthanconcentratingonbusinesstheory.
TheFacultyhasalsolaunchedtwonewpractical-basedcoursesforYear10students–aDiplomainHairandBeauty(seepagetwo)andaBusinessApprenticeship.
Duringthetwo-yearApprenticeship,studentsspend50daysonworkexperienceplacements.Theywillcompletetheirfirsttwo-weekblockjustbeforeChristmas.
PaulMills,HeadofBusinessStudies,said:“Vocationalcoursesofferadifferentwayoflearning.Theyteachskillsthatarerelevanttotherunningofabusiness.Thesecoursesarenotaneasyoption.”
Inspiteofthis,100percentofstudentsontheBTECTravelandTourismcoursepassedwitheitheraMerit(equivalenttoGCSEgradeB)oraDistinction(gradeA).
MorestudentsarealsocontinuingwithBusinessStudiescoursesatAlevelandbeyond.PopularFurtherEducationcoursesincludeBusinessStudies,EconomicsandEventsManagement.
Tobooststudentachievement,theschoolhosteditsfirsteverEnterpriseDayforYear12students,billedasacrossbetweenTVshows‘TheApprentice’and‘Dragons’Den’.
Studentsworkedingroupstodeviseanewproduct,investigatecostings,identifyatargetmarket,andgiveapresentationtotwomanagementconsultants.
FouryoungeconomistshaveenteredanationalBankofEnglandcompetitiontopredictinterestratechanges.
ReenaandRoshniKaravadra,SophieArkinstallandMichaelDoylewereaskedtodecidewhethertheywouldalterinterestratesinNovember2009,andtoproduceasetofminutesfromtheirdiscussion–justlikegenuineBankofEnglandGovernors.
Iftheirentryissuccessful,theywillgothroughtothenextroundofthecompetition,tobeheldattheBankofEngland.
AlsoinLondon,Year12LeisurestudentsandYear10TravelandTourismstudentsvisitedtheO2Arenatolookatcustomerserviceatoneofthecountry’sbiggestvenues.TheyalsospenttimeattheNationalMaritimeMuseumtoenablethemtocomparethetwo.
Modern Foreign Languages
AtAshbySchool,thenumberofstudentstakingaModernForeignLanguage(MFL)remainsoneofthehighestinthecounty.
In2008–09,87percentofYear11studentsstudiedaMFLsubject,surpassingtheschool’stargetof85percent.TheGCSEpassrateinMFLwas99.3percent,asignificantachievementaslanguagesaretakenbystudentsofallabilities.
Thisyear,thereisagreateremphasisonAppliedFrench,amodular,computer-basedcourse,wherestudentsfocusonpracticalelementssuchasbusinesslanguageandthemedia.Two-thirdsofallYear11FrenchstudentsarestudyingAppliedFrench.
AtPost-16,studentNiallPeachbecamethefirstintheschool’shistorytogetthreeAgradesinhisMFLAlevels.NiallearnedthetopgradeinFrench,GermanandSpanishandplanstostudyModernForeignLanguagesatDurhamUniversity.
NickFitzpatrick,ActingHeadofMFL,said:“TogetanAatAlevelintwoMFLsubjectsisfantasticbuttogetthreeisincredible.”
AllstudentswishingtostudyLanguagesatuniversitysecuredaplace.
Thisyear,80SixthFormersarestudyingatleastoneMFL–oneofthehighestratesinLeicestershire.
Thelaunchofafter-schoolItalianclassesthistermhasalsoprovedpopularwithstudents,aswellasstaffandparents.Therearealsoafter-schoollessonsinJapaneseandMandarin.
ForthosewishingtoexploreotheraspectsofEuropeanculture,anMFLFilmClubrunseveryWednesdayafterschool.
Theschoolhasalsobeenmakinguseofitsvideoconferencingfacilities,tocommunicatewithaschoolinStrasbourg.Studentsfromthetwoschoolsusedthelinktotalktoeachotherabouttheirlocalareas.
TwoforeignlanguageassistantswillbeinschooluntilMaytohelpstudentsimprovetheirFrenchandGermanspeakingskills.
TripsandvisitsfeaturehighlyinMFL.Attheendofthesummerterm,AshbystudentsvisitedGermany.Theweek-longculturalexchangeincludedvisitstoLuxembourgandFrance.
InNovember,AshbystudentstravelledtoLilletospendadaysoakinguptheatmosphereofthetraditionalFrenchmarkettown.Forsome,itwastheirfirsttriptoFrance.
Thisyearmarksthe10thanniversaryofAshby’spartnershipwithFrenchschoolLyceeTribouletinRomanssurIsere.InDecember,28FrenchstudentswillspendaweekstayingwithAshbystudents,visitingStratford-upon-AvonandBelvoirCastle.
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Ashby students on a German cultural exchange trip.
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Art, Design and Technology
ThepopularityofArt,DesignandTechnology(ADT)subjectsissoaring–alongwithexamperformance.
AtKeyStage4,examresultswereoutstanding,withboysoutperforminggirlsinADTsubjectsforthefirsttime,withapassrateof77percent.Girlsachieved76percent.
Thisyear,95Year11studentsarefasttrackedontoAScoursesinResistantMaterials,GraphicsorTextiles,meaningthattheycancompletetheirA2inYear12.
ThiswillgivethemanextraAlevelqualificationandleavethemfreetoconcentrateonotherAlevelsubjectsinYear13.StudentscannowstudyFoodTechnologyatASlevel.
ForthosewhowanttopursueanADTcourseatuniversity,thereareplanstocreateuniversitylinksinYear13.Thiswillstretchmoreablestudentsandgivethemaheadstartondegreelevelwork.
Sincelastterm,£500,000hasbeenspentrefurbishingtheADTFaculty.Itnowboastsapurpose-builtTextilessuite,adedicatedConstructioncomputerroom,aremodelledEngineeringareaforDiplomastudents,andahi-techprofessionalkitchenwithitsowncomputersuite,fortheteachingofFoodTechnology.
InFood,studentOliverCrooksreachedthefinaloftheFutureChefcompetition.Students’workinFoodTechnologyhasalsofeaturedinanumberofothercompetitionsandshowcases.
InDrama,AshbySchoolcelebrated12consecutiveyearsattheEdinburghFringeFestivalwithtwoproductions.WorkingwithYouthArtsLeicestershire,agroupofstudentsperformed‘UnderMilkWood’,whileformerstudents–underthebannerofExADUS–staged‘Farenheit451’.
From the Governors...
Specialist Schools Steering Group Report
Technology College ReportAshbySchoolhassuccessfullyreappliedforSpecialistTechnologyCollegestatus.
Aspartofitsapplication,theschoolsubmittedacomprehensiveactionplan,outliningitsaimstoimprovestudentexperienceandattainmentfurtherinthespecialistsubjectareas.
Facultiesarealreadyworkinghardtoachievenewtargetsandarekeentoreproducethisyear’ssuccessesatGCSEandAlevel.
Theyarealsocontinuingworkonanumberofsuccessfuloutreachprojects,sharingknowledgeandfacilitieswithcommunitygroupsandlocalprimaryschools.
Languages College ReportThefirstofseveralmasterclassesforthebestYear9linguistsfromIbstockandIvanhoeHighSchoolstookplaceinNovember.ThesessionsaredesignedtoencourageYear9studentstotakeuptwo,oreventhree,languageswhentheyjoinAshbySchoolnextyear.
Theschoolisalsoworkingcloselywithlocalprimaryschools.TrainingsessionsforprimaryteacherstakeplaceatAshbySchooleachhalftermfollowedbyaday’straininginJanuary.ThesesessionsprovidelocalprimaryteacherswiththeskillstheyneedtomeetGovernmenttargetsforallprimaryschoolstoteachaforeignlanguagefromnextyear.
AshbySchoolisalsocontinuingtoextendthelanguageopportunitiesopentoitsownstudents.ALeisureandTourismvocationalFrenchGCSEqualificationhasbeenlaunchedthisterm.
AtPost-16,French,GermanandSpanishstudentsarestudyingfilmandliteratureforthefirsttime.
Curriculum Committee ReportAshbySchoolhasmadeasmoothtransitionfromasix-daytoa10-daytimetable.
ThenewtimetablegivestheschoolgreaterflexibilitytocollaboratewithStephensonCollegeonthedeliveryofDiplomasubjects.ItalsocreatesmoreopportunitiesforallstudentstoworkontheirphysicalfitnessinPE,andhasenabledtheschooltointroduceafullGCSEinReligiousStudies.
TheCurriculumcommitteeisnowreviewingtheYear9optionssystem.ThenewsystemislikelytofeaturedifferentPathwaysforstudents,basedontheirpriorattainment,learningstylesandplansforthefuture.
AfinaldecisiononthiswillbemadefollowingcloseliaisonwithteachingstaffatAshbySchoolanditstwofeederhighschools.
ThesechangesareanexcitingopportunitytoofferstudentsahighqualityservicewhichwillhelpthemtoselectthesubjectsbestsuitedtomaximisetheirsuccessatKeyStage4.ThePathwayssystemisexpectedtoenhancetheschool’soutstandingprovisionwhichwasrecognisedbylastyear’sOFSTEDinspection.
Food Technology students past and present cooked up a storm at a school open evening.
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Talking Heads
Whatisyourname?Nicola Wright
DescribeyourroleatAshbySchool.Catering Manager
Howlonghaveyoubeenattheschool?Just over seven years
WhatdidyoudobeforeyoucametoAshby?Catering manager at Walkers Pork Pies in Leicester
Howhastheschoolmenuchangedsinceyouarrived? The menu is a lot healthier now, since the school decided to do its own catering in-house. The emphasis is on providing the students with healthier meals, using better quality produce, and offering a more varied service by opening up the cabins and Sixth Form cafe. It has been a joy to be part of it.
Havestudents’attitudestofoodalteredinrecentyears? Yes, they do make healthier choices now, although a lot of it comes with age. Sixth Form students prefer more formal hot meals whereas the younger ones prefer to grab and go.
Whatarethemostpopulardishes/fooditemsonthemenuatAshbySchool?Pasta dishes of any kind are the absolute favourites. These are followed by the many varieties of cold-filled tortilla wraps and cobs. We make so many different foods that it would be hard to choose an overall winner. I haven’t even mentioned the homemade chocolate Rice Krispie cake.
DoyougetyourmealsfromAshbySchool?Whatdoyouchoose?I eat my lunch at school every day. I nearly always opt for a cob from the deli bar with tuna mayonnaise and sweetcorn and a bowl of mixed salad. But it’s hard work resisting all the homemade cakes when they are warm just out of the oven.
Doyouenjoycookingathome?Whatisyourfavouriterecipe?Cooking is my absolute passion. I can spend hours, even days, producing a special meal. I would say my favourite recipe is lobster thermidor.
TellussomethingaboutyourselfthatnotmanypeopleatAshbyknow.Most people know I live on a 63’ narrow boat called ‘Feisty Lady’ named by my husband. Can’t think who after? But most people will probably not know we have a trike that is the only one of its kind in the country. We regularly enter competitions and win prizes, because it is covered in real flame artwork.
Doyouprefer‘TheXFactor’or‘StrictlyComeDancing’.Why?Definitely ‘Strictly’. I love dancing. I met my husband while we were both in adult dance troops. Once we had danced together for a few months we were inseparable.
Whatdoyoudotorelax?I don’t. I’m always on the go. I have so many hobbies and things I like to do that I never just sit down and do nothing. There are just not enough hours in the day to do everything I’d like to.
Help is at HandAnewdrop-infacilityforstudentstodiscusstheirhealthandrelationshipconcernshasopened.
Studentscantalkinconfidencetonursesorayouthworkeraboutissuessuchassmoking,drugs,alcohol,sexualhealthandrelationships.
Thisisthefirsttimethattheschoolhashadayouthworkeronsiteonaregularbasis.
YouthworkerDetteThompsonsaid:“Thesessionsareaboutimprovingyoungpeople’shealthandhelpingthemtomakeinformedchoices.Everythingisconfidentialandnon-judgemental.Andwe’vegotplentyoffreebiestogiveaway!”
Detteoffersadviceandservices,suchasprovidingcondomsandcarryingoutchlamydiaandpregnancytesting.
ThesessionsruntwiceaweekatAshbySchool.TheyareheldonMondaysfrom12.30–3pmandonThursdaysfrom1–2pm.
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• 7 December ClothesShowtrip
• 8 December ‘IntotheSixthForm’evening
• 9 December Year11DramaworkshopsFrenchexchangestudentsarrive
• 10 December Year11DramaworkshopsYear10EnglishtriptoBirminghamRep
• 14 December CarolserviceatStHelen’sChurch
• 16 December Christmaspartyforolderpeople
• 17 December CertificateeveningforYear13students
• 18 December Endofterm
• 5 January Studentsreturntoschool
• 11 – 29 January Publicexaminationperiod
• 14 January Year11parents’evening(ABCE)
• 18 January Year11parents’evening(FGHL)
• 19 January Year9optiontalkatAshby,6pmand7.30pm
• 21 January Year9optiontalkatIbstockCollege,7pm
• 25 January DeadlinedateforYear11/12studentstoapplyforcollege/SixthFormplacesinLeicestershire(LeCap)
• 28 January Chlamydiatestingavailable
• 29 January AshbystudentsgotohostfamiliesinFrance
• 1 February Year12Geographyfieldtrip
• 5 February NonuniformdayinaidofUNICEF(DayforChange)
• 8 February HPVvaccineforYear10/11girlsFullGovernors’meeting
• 12 February Year9optionformstobereturned
• 13 February Skitripdeparts
• 15 – 19 February Springtermhalf-term
Diary dates
The drop-in team offers advice on health and relationships.