School News blog

Literary - Different Worlds

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Stratford upon Avon School played host to a wonderfully collaborative event featuring schools for all around the district recently. The event was the Stratford Literary Festival’s ‘Different Worlds’ which involved eight schools who produced and performed literary pieces based on the theme of ‘different worlds’, with the assistance of a project author assigned to that school. Stratford upon Avon School were teamed with author David Calcutt who worked with year 7 students, Archie Arundell, David Hartle, Thomas Boswell, Christina Harris, Lucy Clifton, Shannon O’Donnell, Esmee Bartle, Olivia Dalton, Sophie-Jayne Haywood-Grinnell, Harriette Upchurch and Molly Kingham.

The eleven students produced some wonderfully expressive pieces of poetry which they performed on stage in a delightfully choreographed fashion. Their poetry provide the final piece of the evening which had seen schools produce, poems, rap songs, and even a talk show about another world which utilised its own language!

Stratford School’s LRC manager, Miss Dunnicliff, explained “We love taking part in this annual event, it is a great way of introducing students to the Literary Festival and of course there is the added bonus of being able to work with David Calcutt whose expressive style engages our students right from the start!”

The other school’s participating were: Alveston School with author Ali Allen, The Willows Primary school with Julie Fulton, Stratford upon Avon Primary school with Ann Evans, Welcombe Hills school with Emma Purshouse, Bishopton school with Ann Evans. Bridgetown school with Escape Community Art Group and Thomas Jolyffe working with Karen King. The whole evening was expertly compered by Mr Sandle-Keynes from The Willows and everyone who participated had a great experience.

Mollie Plays for England

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Year 9 student, Mollie Rouse, was recently selected for an England training camp and her talents must have shone when she was there because she was chosen to play for the Under 15s England side against Holland recently.

Mollie went with the England team to Holland for a series of training camps and two competitive games against the Holland team. Mollie was selected for the main team on both occasions and although they lost the first game 1-0 they won the second in triumphant form 3-1, with Mollie scoring two of the goals!

Mollie said the experience was ‘Challenging and very different but I enjoyed it all especially hearing the national anthem being played before the game”

There are a number of England games coming up that Mollie may be selected for, but her main hope is to be part of the UEFA team in November as England have already qualified for the tournament.

Dance Show Innov8tion

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Stratford upon Avon School’s Performing Arts department put on its annual Dance Show ‘INNOV8’ recently. The show spread over three nights, two evening were held at the school and then a final grand event at the Civic Hall. The performance featured the talents of more than 100 students either dancing or helping with sound, lighting and stage management.

The evening gently merged a variety of dance styles into one evening of entertainment that took the audience on a trip through ballet, contemporary, street dance and hip hop whilst conjuring up images from fairy tales, the 50s and even well-known musicals like ‘Cats’.

The students had all worked very hard, giving up their weekends and evenings to rehearse and the audience all certainly appreciated their efforts as it made for an extremely enjoyable evening.

Lyndsey Wardleworth, the Performing Arts Curriculum Leader said “The Dance show is always a wonderful event for the school and students and we are tremendously proud of the hard work and enthusiasm they bring to the show.”

Mrs Wardleworth and Miss Batchelor don’t have long to enjoy the relaxation that follows a major performance like this because the school is set to prepare for its ‘Summer Extravaganza’ which will be held in July and will feature, dance, drama and musical performances.

The Pride of Stratford are Stratford School students

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Pride of Stratford Awards

This year at the annual Pride of Stratford Awards, run by Touch FM, Stratford school students made a clean sweep of the 'Young Achiever of the Year' nominations. All four finalists were either past or present pupils from our school.

The finalists were selected for their contribution to the community and for personal endeavour. Tom and Harry Richman, from year 13 and 10 respectively were nominated for their work within the community.Tom for his work as a Youth Club junior leader and for his work on 'the HUB' (Our own after school club for Year 7s) Harry was nominated for his volunteering within the Scouting organisation as well as for his charitable work for 'Acorns'.

Past pupil, Brandon Hitchman, was nominated for representing the local community through his selection to the Under 18 England Basketball team.

The winner though was our own ,Verney Cull, from year 12 who was nominated for a number of reasons. Firstly for his entrepreneurship in setting up his own business 'Magicull' which provides entertainment for corporate events and weddings. He was also nominated for his work representing the RSC during the Royal family visit and for a community act of kindness when he rescued a stranded motorist.

We are extremely proud of all our nominees and congratulate all of them on representing the school and our local area in such a magnificent way. They had a wonderful time at the gala dinner where the awards were presented and they all expressed how the awards made them feel very honoured and pleased to be part of such a special event.

Verney also got to demonstrate his magic on the night (see inset photo). Verney's business 'Magicull' can be found on Facebook.

Paul McHugh Selected For England Futsal Team Tour of Japan

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Paul McHugh Selected for England Team Japan Tour!

Year 11 Student Paul McHugh has already been awarded his first England cap and now he has been selected for the England Futsal VI team senior squad who will be going to Japan to compete at the beginning of this month.

As one of the newest members of the senior team it is an honour for Paul to be selected for such a prestigious England tour. Especially as there are only 10 members of the squad and to be chosen as one so quickly is testament to his hard work and talent.

Mr Calcott, Curriculum Leader for PE said “We are extremely proud of Paul’s acheivement and are honoured to have him represent the school in this way. To be selected to play for England at all is a massive acheivement in itself and to then participate in such a high profile tournament so early on is exceptional”

The Tournament will be taking place in Sendai, Japan. The other participating countries alongside England and Japan are Spain, Russia, Belarus and Korea.

Christmas Concert Provides the Festive Spirit

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Stratford School Christmas Concert

Students and staff from school put on a festive array of performances at our Christmas Concert this year. The audience was treated to innovative interpretations of Christmas classics including a wonderful acapella version of ‘Let it Snow’by Sophie Dobedoe and a punk rock version of Jingle Bells by the Ukulele group. Even the staff performed some of their own songs with the harmony of Ms Browne and Mr Sewell lifting everyone’s spirits with the song ‘Watching Feathers Fall from Angels’ written by Mr Sewell himself!

One of the highlights of the evening were the four winsome Year 11 ballerinas who danced on point, very appropriately, to ‘Walking in the Air’. Frankie Appleyard, Laura Bird, Chloe Hadded and Lydia Hadded were a resounding hit with the audience who were left wanting to see more of their wonderful performance.

The evening was rounded off by Reiss Hemming, Keiran Marklew and Callum Marshall with their excellent reworking of Guns and Roses ‘Paradise City’ re-titled ‘Christmas City’. This was then followed by everyone, including the audience, singing ‘Merry Christmas Everyone'

It was a wonderful evening that really got all the audience in the Christmas Spirit. The students had all worked so hard and obviously really enjoyed the evening themselves. We loook forward to the next performing Arts event.

Senior Awards Evening 2012

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Senior Awards Evening 2012

We held our annual awards evening at the end of term at a candle lit evening of entertainment and celebration. We welcomed back past pupils and celebrated with current ones as the list of winners was read out and prizes presented. Each year we ensure that awards are given to students who have demonstrated hard work, determination, achievement and effort within their subject work at GCSE and A2 Level. Determination was a key word throughout the evening and something that was reflected in the closing speech of the guest speaker Mr Francis Prentice MBE. Mr Prentice was himself a past pupil and Head Boy of Stratford school, had served as a governor of the school and helped to raise valuable funds and resources for the students. Mr Prentice received his MBE this year for services to Stratford upon Avon, and the Hospice in particular, and he drew on these life experiences when praising the students and the staff for their efforts and achievements.

Mr David Williams, Head Teacher, explained “It is very important to us as a school to hold events like this where we get an opportunity to recognise the many achievements made by our pupils, not just the ones invited to this event but all those who have worked hard and achieved their different goals and aspirations. We are grateful to Mr Prentice for his kind words and in particular we are grateful to the parents and family of the students who given them such important support throughout their school lives and it is delightful that we get to enjoy this evening with the whole family.”

The award recipients were;

JESS ADAMS -Prize for Textiles, HOWARD ALLISON - Prize for Music, JOSHUA ANDERSON - Prize for GCSE Science & Commendation for History, SAMUEL ASHFORD - Prize for Biology, Prize for Catering, Prize for Mathematics & Prize for Physics, THOMAS BAILEY - Prize for BTEC Science & Prize for Geography, ELEANOR BILSLAND -Prize for French & Prize for Mathematics, BETHANY BRIDGES -Prize for English Language, ZACHARIAH BROUGH - Prize for Chemistry, Prize for English Literature, Prize for Food Technology & Prize for Physics, CHAVONNE BROWN - Prize for German, ANNABEL BURKILL -Prize for Resistant Materials, BENJAMIN CAPPER- Commendation for Mathematics, EMILY COLLINS - Prize for Dance, DANIEL CRABB - Commendation for Catering, VERNEY CULL -Prize for Electronics, SANNIDHA DATLA -Prize for Business Studies, BENJAMIN DAVIS - Commendation for French, ADRIAN DE HOEST-THOMPSON - Prize for ICT, KIRSTY DEAR -Prize for German, KATIE DIXON -Prize for Food Technology, JOE DUFFIELD-HARDING -Commendation for German, JAMES FOLLAND - Prize for Art & Prize for BTEC Engineering, KITTY FROST -Commendation for Art, WILL GANNER -Prize for Music, LAURA GLADSTONE -Commendation for English Language, SASCHA GOMES -Prize for ICT, Prize for Catering (& recipient of the Edward Smith Memorial Catering Prize), Commendation for Child Development & Commendation for P.E, REBECCA JOLLIFFE -Prize for GCSE Science, REBECCA KNOWLTON -Prize for Drama, JESSICA LALLY - Prize for RE & Commendation for German, ZOË LARSSON -Prize for Dance, REBECCA LEEFE - Prize for BTEC Science, TOMAS LEON GRIMES - Prize for Drama & Prize for French, JOSHUA MALONE -Commendation for P.E, LOUIS MITCHELL - Commendation for Catering (GCSE), CHARLES PADLEY -Prize for Chemistry, GEORGE PARKER - Prize for History, THOMAS PARTRIDGE - Prize for BTEC Engineering, KATIE PATTERSON - Prize for P.E, REBECCA PINFOLD - Prize for Child Development & Commendation for Textiles, CAMILLA PRICE - Prize for Catering, Prize for Textiles & Commendation for French, LUCY RICHARDSON - Prize for Child Development, ANDREW ROONEY - Prize for Catering (& recipient of the Edward Smith Memorial Catering Prize), RYAN RUSSELL - Prize for Electronics, OLIVER STRAIN - Prize for Business Studies, OLIVIA TEW - Prize for Food Technology & Prize for P.E, CHARLOTTE THOMAS -Prize for Biology & Prize for Geography, ALEX VAUGHTON- Commendation for BTEC Engineering, VANESSA WALL - Prize for Catering, BENJI WATKINSON -Prize for English Language & Commendation for BTEC Engineering, HAMISH WATSON - Commendation for English Literature, ROBYN WILSON - Prize for English Literature & Prize for RE, LUCY WINTER - Prize for Resistant Materials, AMY WITTON - Prize for History.

MATTHEW AKERMAN - Commendation for Film Studies, JOSHUA ALLEN- Prize for English Language & Prize for P.E, ALEX BEARD- Prize for Product Design, EMILY BENNETT - Commendation for Product Design, JONATHAN BONELL -Prize for Film Studies, CHLOE CALLAN-FOSTER -Prize for Biology, SHANNON-MARIE CASSIDY -Prize for Psychology, JOE COCKINGS -Prize for Chemistry & Prize for Physics, SAMUEL DEXTER - Prize for P.E, JOSEPH EGGINGTON - Prize for Maths, EMILY FROST - Prize for Geography, JEROME GARDNER -Prize for ICT, ELLIE GREGORY - Prize for ICT, OLIVIA HERBERT -Commendation for Psychology, CHARLOTTE HERITAGE-Commendation for Food Technology, ALEXANDRA HODGKINS -Prize for Food Technology, LUCY HONYCHURCH - Prize for Biology, THOMAS HUGGINS -Prize for Chemistry, LUCY HUGHES -Commendation for Food Technology, MOLLY KINOULTY- Prize for Business Studies, JAMES KIRKHAM -Prize for English Language & Prize for Geography, JAMES MCHUGH - Prize for Economics, LOIS MELLO-THORPE - Prize for English Literature & Prize for Psychology, CALLUM OLORENSHAW -Commendation for Product Design, GEMMA O'NEAL - Prize for Art, JONATHAN O'SHEA-Prize for English Literature & Prize for Product Design, MATTHEW PAFFETT -Prize for Film Studies, JAMES PATON - Prize for History, BARNABY PERKS - Prize for Maths & Prize for Physics, BEN SANDERS-CROOK - Commendation for History, KATHRYN SAUNDERS -Commendation for Art & Commendation for Geography, MADELEINE SEHER - Prize for History, REBECCA TAME - Commendation for P.E, ALEXANDER WALPOLE - Commendation for Mathematics.