Newsletter - July 2018

THE K’FORD TIMES THE KINGSWINFORD SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Issue 4

4 The K’Ford
Times

The Kingswinford
School Newsletter

July 2018

Goodbye So much for that year group to Primary Science
Year 11! be proud and what a sendoff as Transition Project
they move onto the next stage
Our Year 11 prom was held on of their education. The Kingswinford Science, Maths
Thursday 28th June at The and DT Faculties hosted the annual
Village hotel in Dudley and it Throughout the evening we had Primary Science Transition
was lovely to see all of the laughter, dancing and a fair few Project with Year 6 at St Mary's
students again after their tears of joy (mainly from the Primary School and Blanford Mere
exams. staff!). Highlights included Mr Primary School.
Wallbank singing his own song
As you can see from ‘The Living Daylights’; Blessing The theme this year was "Space
the pictures (see Race to Mars." The primary school
pages 6 & 7), there Chitapa and her students tackled mathematical
were many smart rendition of a Beyonce space problems; baked space rock
suits and stunning classic; some funky cakes; and tested soil samples from
dresses on show dancing from Mrs Hill Mars, the Moon and Earth to
(Check out Mr and Mrs Jones. investigate their composition.
Macdonald in
traditional Scottish We would like to say A special thank you goes to The
garb!) and the a big thank you to all Kingswinford School Science
students had a those that helped Ambassadors who supported the Year
wonderful time. organise and support 6 students in their classes.
this event to make it a
An amazing truly memorable night,
celebration for all of our as well as all of the
students after 5 years of hard parents, carers and
labour in the education mines! families that came to see the
students arrive.

Goodbye Year 11 and best
wishes for the future!

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Year 9 and 10, Ellie Rhodes, Prefects’ Meal
"And we shall Lewis Everall, Will Darby, Leah
teach rock to Wade and Rebecca Owen. by D Stanton
the world!" Once again, shining in the lead
female role after wowing The Kingswinford School would
by D Cotterill audiences as Audrey in Little like to express their gratitude to
Shop of Horrors, was the Hickory's for their extreme
On the 14th February the phenomenal Mollie in the role generosity in providing a
Kingswinford School prepared of Miss Mullins. However, this fantastic, celebratory night out
for opening night of our very year's show took a lead for all our Year 11 prefects. The
own production of 'School of performer that needed not only evening's celebrations
Rock the Musical'. Taken from mature and professional acting were kindly organized by Mr
the huge Hollywood hit movie. and singing talent but also total Baggott, to thank them all for
The musical follows Dewey commitment to a role that in is the tremendous job they have
Finn, an out-of-work rock singer featured every scene of a 2- done throughout the year: they
and guitarist who pretends to hour show. Alex in Year 10 have been wonderful
be a substitute teacher at a stunned the audiences each ambassadors to the school.
prestigious prep school. night with absolute dedication,
energy and raw talent in the
All 3 nights were a roaring role of Dewey Finn.
success. The live music and

We would also like to say a
huge thank you for all the
support Hickory's have given to
our school, not only for the
celebratory meal, but also
for presenting the school with a
contribution of £120 sponsor
the Girls’ Basketball team

stage lighting were exceptional, I am very proud of the students
but this had nothing on the each year, and each year the
talents of our students. Lead bar continues to be raised.
roles were performed by School of Rock was a high
immensely talented and energy, exciting but difficult
fearless Year 7 and 8 students, show to perform and the
Luke Stretton, Raheim Watson, students totally smashed it.
Sophie McColgan and Mia
Hickman. Joining them in the Well done to you all yet again.
Horace Green class were now
already production veterans in Thank you!

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4

Students ‘Wow’ Celebrities

At the BMW PGA Rusedski and Scottish rugby “Windsor Academy Trust Choir
Championships legend Gavin Hastings. from Halesowen; not only great
Several other film and television singers but an academy with a
by S Bianco stars, including professional strong golfing pedigree.”
footballer-turned-actor Vinnie
Following on from the extremely Jones of Lock, Damon Hill took time out of his busy
successful performance of the golfing schedule to speak to the
closing ceremony at the YST Mrs Bianco fulfills a lifelong dream students and wish them well for their
(Youth Sport Trust) Conference at meeting Ronan Keating in the flesh! performance
The Ricoh Arena, Coventry, The Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
WAT (Windsor Academy Trust) and Snatch fame, as well as Skins During the rehearsal we got an
choir was approached by the Golf actor, Luke Pasqualino were also impromptu surprise visit from the
Foundation to perform at the BMW taking part in the event. lovely Ronan Keating, who spoke
PGA Championship celebrity Pro- Twenty students from across the to the choir and congratulated
Am tournament at the Wentworth trust performed a variety of songs them on their beautiful singing, he
Club in Surrey. for the Golf Foundation President's also took time out to have a
This was a huge honour for the Awards. photograph taken with the excited
choir to perform at such a students and Lead Practitioner for
prestigious occasion. The President's Awards ceremony Primary Music Miss Rose
was teed off perfectly by Emma Alexander
Stars of film and television joined Anderson and Ali Jodiyawalla, who
the best golfers in the world for a are members of the England The performances went well and
day of unscripted competition. Young Ambassadors group. Ali students were rewarded with an
These included Damian Lewis and and Emma spoke eloquently, while arousing applause and cheers from
rowing legends Sir Matthew 10 ‘Presidents’ Awards’ were the audience followed by afternoon
Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave. presented by the charity’s current tea, before the journey home.
Making his debut in the event this President, Sandy Jones. Each However, there was one celebrity
year was Fifty Shades of Grey star award winner was serenaded with all the students wanted to see; Niall
Jamie Dornan as well as Matthew an appropriate song by the brilliant Horan from ‘One Direction” who
Goode, Dougray Scott. Greg was out on the 9th hole at the time
the students completed the
performances. This meant we had
a long walk out around the golf
course to find the celebrity. It was
the icing on the cake for the
students after a perfect day.

Mrs Bianco, Lead Practitioner for
the Arts across the Trust said “It
was an amazing day, we are so
proud of our talented students, they
are a credit to their schools and
Windsor Academy Trust”

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4 some new rendering and drawing
skills.
MFL News stationers and charity shops. We
recommend Oxford Learner’s or As part of primary Science
transition year 6 students from St
Collins Easy learning in particular. Mary’s CE and Blanford Mere
Primary schools spent the
by J Curtis DT News morning in Food Preparation and
Nutrition making Rock Buns. This
Congratulations to our Star by E Wilkinson enabled students to experience
Linguists! These students made food preparation and making and
exceptional progress, put in Recently in Design and introduced them to Food Science
outstanding effort and all share a Technology we have welcomed where they learned about
fantastic attitude to learning year 5 and 6 students and they aeration and caramelisation.
languages. They will be awarded have enjoyed some fun and
a label pin. exciting lessons. The year 5’s Currently we have a number of
took part in a project known as new clubs in Textiles, Resistant
Year 7 : Ava Griffiths, Umar ‘The Kings Table’ that saw them Materials and Food Preparation
Ashgar, Madison Jeffs, Rhys Hill, build their very own Trebuchet and Nutrition. These clubs will
Freya Smith and Saibah Abid. (medieval styled catapult). again be available in September.

Year 8 : Joel Hackett, Neve In Textiles students are making
Nicholls, Gabi Shokolarova, cushions based on a superhero
Awais Sharif, Sophie McColgan theme. There are some unusual
and In’am Kiyani. and original creations being made
and students have enjoyed using
Year 9 : Jess Heath, Callum The kit the students assembled the dye sublimation printer to print
Nicholls, Jaslene Kanith, Holly was all pre-cut on the laser cutter their fabric professionally.
Bevan, Harry Day and Caitlin using 3mm plywood. The
Kemp. students enjoyed the challenge of In Resistant Materials students
the build and even more so from year 7 - 10 have been given
Year 10 : Zak Phillips, Subhaan relished the opportunity of going the opportunity to take part in an
Tahir, Salma Sharp, Bryn Griffiths to battle against some of their exciting new project where they
and Bethan Law. fierce rivals. are building fully functioning
hover crafts. This club will allow
Happy Holidays!! The year 6 students enjoyed an them to understand the
authentic introduction to Design technology that makes the crafts
The MFL department would like and Technology where they work and also learn new
to wish you all a lovely holiday. designed their very own picture CAD/CAM (Computer Aided
When your thoughts turn to the frame to showcase lots of Design/Computer Aided
new term and you are buying information about their hobbies Manufacture) and experience
your new pencil case we would and interests. There was a model making techniques. They
like to request you look out for a positive feel during these will also learn and develop an
nice dictionary (French or transition classes and the new understanding of electronics that
Spanish) to bring to your lessons intake seem to enjoy learning
and to use at home for your
homework. We want you to
develop good dictionary skills and
be able to be more independent
when expressing yourself in the
target language. There are lots of
reasonably priced ones around in

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UK Mathematics Trust
are needed to power these crafts. The Maths Challenge - runs two secondary
Upon completion, students will be Department age challenges. The Intermediate
racing against each other on Maths challenge is aimed at
different terrain to see what they “where everybody counts” Years 9 and 10, the Junior Maths
are capable of. challenge is for Years 7 and 8.
by V Patel The challenges focussed on
In Food Cooking Club year 7 to 9 problem solving, and over
students have been learning the Year 6 Kings Table - On the 13th 650,000 students from over 4000
skills needed to make a June we welcomed some eager schools competed this year. A
successful cake and methods of Year 6 Mathematicians to take massive well done to everyone
cake decorating. The next theme part in an engineering based task who took part, and to those who
will be ‘Summer fruits and which involved them creating and gained certificates!
vegetables’ where students will testing a catapult. The students
be making fruit kebabs and really enjoyed the challenge. Intermediate Maths Challenge -
Mediterranean vegetable tray Students at The Kingswinford
bakes. Recent WAT Maths Challenge - School achieved 9 silvers and 3
big congratulations to our most bronzes in this year’s UKMT
Bloodhound club is still recent WAT Challenge winners Intermediate Maths Challenge.
operational and the second car is Kate Calvert and Lillymai
close to completion. The final Mchugh. Well done to both girls Silver Medal Winners
stages of applying fibreglass, for using their problem solving
paintwork/graphics and installing skills. Harvey Davies; James Stacey; Millie
electronics is underway. Our Bassett; Bryn Griffiths; Ranveer Paul;
team are hoping to visit Santa Science Transition - we Subhaan Tahir; Philip Davidson;
Pod Raceway during the summer welcomed two classes of primary Cara Capewell; Tiarna Pinnock.
months to put the cars through school children this term and ran
their paces as we work towards a Deal or No Deal activity. Much Bronze Medal Winners
achieving a land speed record for fun was had by all focusing on
a model car. averages and risk. Lauren Allen; Joseph Saxon; Andrew
Roberts
Equipment
Please could you ensure that in Junior Maths Challenge - Years
September your child returns to 7 & 8 had the opportunity to take
school fully prepared for their the Junior Maths Challenge. Here
Mathematics lessons. It is vitally are the results:
important that your child has the
correct equipment, not just for Gold Medal Winner
examinations, but also in their
Mathematics lessons to help Dean Jukes
improve their confidence in using
it correctly. Silver Medal Winners

Below is a list of equipment that Joshua Griffin; Samuel Heath; Luke
they should bring to every lesson: Young; Jessica Tamber; Jack John

Black pen and spare pen Bronze Medal Winners
Pencil and spare pencil
Eraser Alishba Sheraz; Harvey Andrews;
Pencil sharpener Alex Smith; Oliver Walker; Eleanor
Ruler in cm Timmis; Isabel Law; Kevin Albaque;
Scientific Calculator Aaron Lancaster; Awais Sharif;
(e.g Casio FX85-GTPLUS) Kallum Capewell; Tyler Foxall; Anna
Pair of compasses Kendrick
Protractor
Glue stick Well done to all of our amazing
Green pen Mathematicians!

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Prom 2018

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The King’s Table – Primary Schools Project

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Active Learning the West Midlands Safari Fond Farewells
Week Park; stretched their minds at
Birmingham’s Think Tank; In any school each year in summer
by K Ward appreciated Art in local there is the mixed emotions as
Galleries; produced a play in some of our favourite staff depart,
Throughout the final week of a day; designed and made moving on to bigger or better
term, through the incredible their own hoodies; cooked up things (or just to a well-deserved
efforts of all of the staff, we a storm in our foodie retirement after a lifetime of public
have put on a huge range of masterclasses; repainted service!), whilst welcoming a new
amazing experiences for our school picnic benches in their batch of staff to come and fill the
students at home and abroad. own designs; gone crown ranks. We have been blessed this
green bowling; and taken part year that we have only five staff
First, we have sent almost in a whole host of other leaving us and I would like to take
300 students to residential activities. Just a monumental the opportunity to publically thank
trips across the globe. amount of planning and them for their tireless hard work:
Students have caught foul preparation has gone into
balls at a baseball game in making this week full of Miss J Carrier – Maths
New York city; visited lifelong memories – these are
Auschwitz to depen their the times our students will Mrs G Purewal – Religious Ed
understanding of the remember for the rest of their
Holocaust near Krakow; lives and where lasting, firm Mrs Whyton-Owen – Spanish
climbed the Eiffel tower (and friendships are made. Don’t
visited Eurodisney!) in Paris; believe us – just check out Miss D Hampton – Site Team
toured fantastic football some of these photos!
stadiums in Madrid; been Mr P Buckley – Site Team
spooked in the London
Dungeon; and surfed the bay I wish them all the very best in their
in Newquay. future and hope they will come
back to visit us all soon!

Revision Guides

Subject revision guides are an
essential preparation for exams in
year 11 and excellent course
support through year 10. Schools
obtain substantial discount from
publishes and so they will be
available to purchase over the
summer break on IPAY, with a
closing date at the end of
September to order goods. Please
visit the your iPay website to find
out more.

Those who have stayed
closer to home have visited

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WAT Student Sports Day & We ended the day on a high
Senate WAT Games with the year 10 girls and
boys relay which was very
by J Edgington by Sports Captains close, with Argon winning the
girls and Krypton winning the
On Friday 22nd June, Head of On Tuesday the 10th July we boys by a few seconds. We
the Student Senate, Miss had the best Sports Day ever! can’t wait to come back and
Edgington took seven Student The day kicked off in the help next year. Well done to
Senators from the morning with the field events everyone taking part, the full
Kingswinford School to the and long-distance runs. results will be announced in
Windsor Business Centre for There were some fantastic the final assembly the last day
the WAT Student Senate performances from all of term.
Summit. students including a record
break from Alisha Stephenson The following day we set off
This is an event where with a time 4.50.00s in the with 100 athletes to the
students from all the schools 1500m breaking the record Aldersley Stadium to compete
in the trust report to everyone set in 1983 by M Nash. against the Windsor High
about what they have been Grace Jones (Y8) also had a School and Sixth Form to
working on this academic fantastic performance getting become WAT Champions.
year and share their ideas for 15.31m in the discus and
the future. Michael Ezeji (Y9) 9.05m in Whilst there were some
the triple jump. amazing individual
This year our students have performances from
been working hard to develop The afternoon however was Kingswinford students,
school practice through two the most fun because this is Windsor High School left as
key projects. First, students in when the sprints took place Secondary school victors –
year 10 helped offer advice and the whole school got to we’ll get ‘em back next year!
and guidance to year 9 watch with ice creams from
students through the ‘Year 9 the side. There was a
options Project’. Second fantastic atmosphere with all
students from all years have students getting involved and
been involved in our student cheering on the competitors.
survey to find out ‘What There was a close call in the
makes a good teacher?’ and year 10 boys sprint between
‘How children learn’. Some Kieran Phillips and Jalen
essential learning for the Idowu with Jalen coming out
school shared with the whole in first place with a time of
trust. 9.7s.

Next year the Senate will be
developing our ‘ASPIRE’
approach to student learning
through the introduction of
ASPIRE cards.

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Masters of
Excellence in Of particular note, in addition to Food
the Arts Jess, are Bethan Law (KS4 Art
Winner), Alex Bradbury (KS4 by M Moody
by T Macdonald Drama Winner) and Mollie
Hickman (KS4 Music Winner), Last year we opened our
The Windsor Academy Trust Thomas Mecrow (Overall Winner fantastic new refectory for
hosted its first Excellence in the 11-14, Art), James Stacey service, but throughout this year
Arts evening to celebrate the (Overall Winner 14-16, Art), we have been beset with
amazing Art, Music, Dance and Kiara Pugh (11-14 Art, category teething problems and staffing
Drama across the Trust. winner), Tyler Malpass (11-14 challenges. To try and make the
Students from all of the schools Art, category winner), most of this amazing facility, and
in the trust joined together in the to bring a new ‘flavour’ to the
spirit of friendly competition to A massive well done to all of our dining at Kingswinford, we have
reward our outstanding Artists of students – clearly we have a sought a catering partner
all ages. huge amount of growing talent at through this year with the help of
The Kingswinford School! some of our students from the
Student Senate. Following a
There was an amazing amount New Prefects long and rigorous selection
of incredible artwork on show; process we are delighted to
stunning drama productions; by D Castle announce our new partnership
fantastic dancing and, of course, with Mellors who will be joining
the now infamous WAT choir. We have recently completed our us in September to lead our
Kingswinford excelled in all Prefect training programme and catering provision. We have
areas except Dance (and even inducted a new set of prefects already had the ‘smoothie bike’
then Jess Taylor won the KS3 formally into the school student arrive for an afternoon to much
Dance prize!) – we haven’t, until leadership programme. We have excitement, and expect more
this coming year, offered Dance drawn prefects from across two change, some new faces
as a subject. Next year we year groups this year – years 9 alongside the existing team and
expect great things from our new and 10 (soon to be 10 and 11): a whole new dining location in
Year 10 GCSE Dance group and we have just had far too many the Quad – the food promises to
hope we can win some more outstanding students wishing to be amazing (and healthier too –
prizes for our talented students, contribute and support our just don’t tell the students!).
but for this year we can be school. Prefects in year 11 will Mellors wowed us with their high
rightfully proud of our Artists, be ‘Senior Prefects’, whilst our street concepts, 99p mini meal
Musicians and Actors who won Year 10 Prefects will serve for offer and quality of provision,
top prizes in all age groups! two years and ensure that we and with their expertise we
have continuity in the expect all students will want the
programme. The prefect chance to sample some of their
programme culminates in a wares in September.
celebratory meal, this year at
Hickories Smokehouse: a small
thank you for the amazing
support and dedication of our
extraordinary prefects.

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Pineapple and choreography in our school students are wearing and also to
Studios through next year have a review of the current
(and, of course, in our new uniform with students and
by L Palmer musical production for 2019 – parents. Of particular focus will
Grease!). be trousers and shoes: formal
During April a group of students trousers (not skintight, not jeans)
interested in Dance came Last Words and formal shoes (polishable
together with staff and Students leather – not trainers).
from Windsor High School and by Tom Macdonald
Sixth Form to take a trip to Another focus will be parental
London to see a west end show Well I’m one year in now – we’ve communication – I think we can
(Dreamgirls) and train with some changed a lot through this year do better: from Parents’
of the cast in the world famous but I’ve also found a lot more Evenings, to reports,
Pineapple Studios. that we would like to change establishing a PTA and just
next year. There have been through simple phone calls.
Twelve students went on the trip some mistakes along the way Plenty more for us to do but I
and had an amazing time. So but I am so very proud of what hope that these two foci will help
much so, that we have our students and staff have the relationship between school
generated enough interest (and achieved through this year and and home.
expertise!) in dance to put this we wait with baited breath to see
on our curriculum for next year! how much improvement our Finally I would like to thank the
We look forward to some Year 11s have made on the students and parents – I have
exciting dance performances previous year. loved my first year at
Kingswinford and look forward to
Date There are some things I wanted many more like it!
Tuesday 4th September to tackle this year that we have
Wednesday 12th September not managed to prioritise this
Monday 24th September year and we will start with those
Wednesday 26th September priorities in the new year. First
Wednesday 17th October and foremost, we are looking at
Wednesday 24th October uniform – both in terms of
Friday 26th October improving the quality of what
Monday 29th Oct – Friday 2nd
Nov Upcoming Events

Monday 5th November Activity
Term starts
Friday 16th November Meet the Headteacher Evening
Thursday 22nd November INSET Day (school closed to students)
Friday 7th December Open Evening
Friday 21st December Careers Evening
Year 7 Settling In Evening
Non-Uniform Day & Half Term Ends

Half Term Holiday

Term Starts
Mock Exams Start (Year 11)
Mock Exams End
Presentation Evening (Year 12)
INSET Day (school closed to students)
Non-Uniform Day & Term Ends