A Specialist Technology and Languages College The Ashbeian Issue 14 - Autumn term 2009 Ashby School Wishes Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Successful New Year Page Contents 2 It’s a Beauty! New Diploma Launches 3 Bulldozers Move in For Last Mobile 4 Promising Poet Pockets Prize 5 Green Campaigners Get Silver 6-7 Faculty Focus: Business Studies, Modern Foreign Languages, Art Design and Technology 8 Diary Dates Five film-makers from Ashby School have reeled in first prize in a competition to promote Leicestershire’s Big Switch Off energy-saving campaign. Jade Bakewell, Jake How did this rubber duck ruffle feathers in a photography competition? See page four... Bowley, Lewis Smith, Jordan Barry and Thomas Smith made a 90-second video urging all school-users to save energy by turning off unnecessary lights, computers and other electrical items. The video – entitled ‘You Wouldn’t…’ – showed students doing unthinkable things such as sawing off a friend’s arm. It concluded by showing an empty classroom with all the lights blazing – something unthinkable in the context of the Big Switch Off. Judges were impressed by the creativity and talent of the winning five, who are all Year 11 Media Studies students. Film-Makers Reel in First Prize Sporting ambassadors have been appointed to encourage students of all ages and abilities to get more involved in school sports. A Platinum Ambassador from Year 13 is working alongside two Gold Ambassadors from Year 12 and four Year 10 Silver Ambassadors, to promote and develop the school’s sporting programme. A newly-formed Sports Council, featuring student representatives from each Year,will also boost sport’s profile. Its role will include organising sporting events, competitions and exercise classes, and promoting positive values through sport. One of the Council’s first priorities is to get more girls involved in sport. 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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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.
Page 2
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.
Page 3
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.
Page 4
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.’
Page 4
Gus the duck on holiday in Scotland.
Page 5
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.
Page 6
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.
Page 6
Ashby students on a German cultural exchange trip.
Page 7
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.
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