Weekly Newsletters

The first of these events was the school welcoming Dame Ann Dowling, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, to speak to Year 8 students on aspects of engineering.  The quality of questions and student interaction was superb.

The second event involved a group of Year 9 students who have been working with a Cambridge University Postgraduate. These students visited Cambridge University's Girton College for the day to receive feedback on assignments they had written. I am pleased to say that the vast majority of these students attained a 2:1 grade for their efforts, which means that the university considers them to be performing at a good standard at A Level, way ahead of their time. Well done to all of the students involved.

Finally, on Thursday, I witnessed the whole of Year 10 involved in small group discussions and interactions with prominent local businesses. Whilst I was impressed in the level of interest shown, what I could see clearly was that some were realising for the first time that qualifications are necessary, but what is also essential are the interpersonal skills to get ahead of the queue in securing the best jobs.  The feedback from the businesses was so positive about the students.  So, well done to the students for the way they have shown themselves to various external people or organisations, but also a big thank you to the staff for making these worthwhile opportunities happen.

Bryan Erwin
Principal

Speakers for Schools (S4S) is a UK charity founded by Robert Peston (BBC Economics editor).  Launched in 2011, S4S has been providing secondary schools and colleges with talks from a range of industry leading professionals, public figures and academics. It is through S4S that we have been fortunate to have Professor Dame Ann Dowling visit our school.

A world authority on combustion and acoustics, Dame Ann is a Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cambridge. In 2002, she was recognised in The Queen's Birthday Honours, receiving a CBE for services to Mechanical Engineering, and again in the 2007 in the New Year's Honours List when she received a DBE for services to science. In the 2015 New Year's Honours, she was admitted to the Order of Merit.

Dame Ann led the Cambridge MIT Silent Aircraft Project, which published its radical new design concept SAX-40 in 2006 with the aim of raising aircraft industry aspirations. She now leads research on efficient, low-emission combustion for aero and industrial gas turbines and low-noise vehicles, particularly aircraft. Dame Ann delivered a talk all around her work on the Silent aircraft project and included many demonstrations based around this topic.

At the end of the session, there was an opportunity for students to ask Dame Ann some questions, and our students rose to the challenge asking some pertinent questions. Our students were extremely well behaved, and from their evaluation, they found her both engaging and motivating.

Mrs Patman & Mr Swift
Pupil Premium Administrator & Assistant Principal

These sessions are to help enhance coursework grades, complete outstanding tasks and to improve exam techniques needed for the forthcoming examinations.

We will be running the following sessions: 

• Monday 12 February for GCSE ICT, 9am - 3pm in 1L25 with Mr Boothman and Mr Swift. 
• Tuesday 13 February for GCSE Computer Science, 9.30am - 3pm in 1L26 with Mr Satari.

If you have any queries regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Mr Satari
Head of Faculty: Computing

Congratulations to Aspire, who remain in first place this week. Second and third place are very close together.  It's a very difficult time of year with lots of illness around. Hang in there and keep on coming to school to make the most of your lesson time.