Lower School
Throughout Lent term , First Year pupils have learned different methods of grounding and calming in their mindfulness sessions . They have also worked through a variation of study skills during their library sessions to help prepare them for their end of year assessments next term .
Second Year pupils have embarked upon the ambitio programme . The five-step process of think - research - record - create - present has challenged them to develop transferable skills in their tutor time using subject matter of their choosing . The new Lower School Ambassador programme has taken shape this term too , with recruitment to swell ranks due to start at the beginning of Summer term ; the more pupils wanting to represent their school community the better .
Lydia Walker , Head of First Year Adam Copley , Head of Second Year
Middle School
Lent term is always busy and intense , and this one has proved no different . Fifth Year pupils began with their GCSE mock exams , and have been completing coursework and syllabus content for the rest of term - their final full term in Middle School ! They made post-16 choices about their educational futures , supported by various staff within the School . Fourth Year have been progressing through their GCSE courses , completing coursework and assessments along the way . A special mention should go to the HPQ pupils , who presented their finished projects to appreciative audiences . Like the Fifth Year , the Third Year have been making choices , this time about the start of their GCSE journeys . And all this is in addition to the daily trials , challenges , opportunities and achievements that are the staple diet of Middle School .
Inaayat Hashim , Head of Middle School
Sixth Form
During the first half of Lent term , our Lower Sixth students have been learning about the wide range of Post-18 opportunities that are available to them , with presentations on university , apprenticeships , studying abroad and Gap Years from York University , NYBEP , Project Trust and astarfuture . During the second half of term , they undertook an initial programme of employability workshops exploring areas such as ' Brand You ', ' Effective Communications and Networking ', ' Confidence and Resilience ' and ' Success at Interviews '. These workshops aim to enable our
students to stand out from the crowd in the future job market . Our Upper Sixth students have been busy completing UCAS and other applications ( most have already received a wide range of exciting offers and are now making firm and insurance choices ), and preparing for , sitting , and learning from , the February mock exams . With only a few weeks to go before the return of ' real exams ', every bit of practice and feedback is absolutely crucial !
Tim Morris , Head of Sixth Form
Academic Update
A huge array of academic extension activities have taken place this term , including visits , trips , competitions and in-house events . Our Fourth Year HPQ candidates showcased their diverse range of final projects in their presentation evening , whilst Lower Sixth linguists excelled in the annual Modern Foreign Language debating competition held in York , progressing to the semi-final in French and winning the final in Spanish , showcasing their superb linguistic skills . Similarly , our Middle School Chemists won the regional heat of the RSC Top of the Bench competition , progressing through to the national final , whilst Sixth Form Chemists entered the RSC
Olympiad . Lectern Society has also had a highly successful term , with senior pupils presenting persuasive arguments on the topic of Arts vs Science , and younger pupils participating in a Lectern Lite as part of our Arts Week celebrations . Most recently , we celebrated the International Day of Mathematics and have also marked World Book Day and British Science Week in similarly enthusiastic fashion . What a fantastic celebration of academic endeavour !
Laura Powell , Senior Deputy Head
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