14 February 2020 Issue 52

NEWSLETTER Ermysted’s Grammar School

Dear all,

In this issue you can read about: our performance at the King

Henry VIII Relays; our musicians supporting the recent

production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ at Craven College; the

fundraising efforts of Year 10 with a charity bake sale; an update

on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme; and the County Cup Quarter

Final.

Please note that the Parents’ Association will be running their

annual Café at Skipton Town Hall on Saturday, 21 March. I’m sure

that donations and hungry visitors would be very welcome!

The Department for Education has asked schools to bring the

following advice to the attention of parents: “The government is

closely monitoring the spread of the Coronavirus and is taking

action at home and abroad. The overall risk of Coronavirus to the

UK remains moderate. However we understand that people may

be concerned where there are children, students or staff returning

from or visiting China. Public Health England and the Foreign

Office have issued advice for anyone travelling to the area

available at: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china.”

My best wishes to you all. Have a lovely half term.

Michael Evans

Headmaster

IN THIS ISSUE

COUNTY CUP QUARTER FINAL

KING HENRY VIII RELAYS

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

BAKE SALE

14 February 2020 Issue 52

National runners-up at the

King Henry VIII Relays

On Wednesday 5 February, Ermysted’s Grammar School

cross-country team had another fantastic performance at

the Coventry relays in the War Memorial Park. Since

1972 King Henry VIII School in has hosted what is now

regarded by many as the national inter-schools cross

country relay race. Boys and girls compete in their own

categories: the boys’ race is 6 x 2.3 miles; the girls’ race is

4 × 2.3 miles. The course is over pavement, grass,

woodland – and usually quite a few puddles – and is

largely flat with no real hills. Schools enter their best

runners, regardless of their age, although this will usually

include predominantly runners in the Sixth Form. The

race has a strong legacy, boasting former competitors of

the calibre of Seb Coe, Alistair & Jonathan Brownlee, and

Richard Nerurkar.

Conditions were very good, cloudy but with only light

winds, which meant fast times were possible. Ermysted’s

have a great crop of athletes at the moment with the

school being picked to represent England later this year

as a result of recent impressive performances, not least

winning this event last year. However, this flat relay is a

far cry from the mud and hills they are used to. The

students had aspirations of a high single figure placing

and set off in determined fashion with Year 12 runner

Sebastian continuing his good recent form. He was up

with the leaders early on before coming back eight

seconds clear of the other 56 teams as he ran the

individual 2nd fastest time of the day. Joe took over on

the second leg and slightly extended the team’s lead but

the pre-race favourites Judd from Kent were ominously

now in second place.

Cross-Country Captain Will was the only Year 13 in our

team and determined to run well in his last time at

Coventry. Unfortunately although Will and Arthur on leg

four ran well they were up against Judd’s best runners

and we soon fell behind as Judd gained an unassailable

lead. Louis on our 5th leg took over neck and neck with

Woodbridge and RGS Guildford. Louis ran a good time to

reclaim second place and built up a cushion of time over

Guildford for last leg runner Alex. Alex ran another sub-

12 minute leg to bring us home in the runners-up spot of

the 57 teams but well behind the impressive winners.

Our time was fast and did find us 15th on the all-time

fastest times list.

Mr Speak

Work Experience Work experience is due to take place from Monday 6 to

Friday 10 July 2020. The deadline for submission of

placement forms is Monday, 24 February. Pupils should

contact the employers and ask them to complete their

form. In the past we have had students enjoying work

experience in local businesses including Skipton Building

Society, Keelham Farm shop, Skipton Town Hall, Skipton

Council offices, local architects, solicitors, as well as MP

offices, financial and IT companies in Leeds, London,

Manchester and some students even did their work

experience abroad in The Netherlands and Hungary. Get

searching!

Mrs Rose

Duke of Edinburgh DofE continues to thrive here with large numbers of

pupils signed up to the scheme. It is pleasing that a

significant number of boys who started under Mr

Fothergill have completed any outstanding sections to

gain their awards this year. I note that since June 2019 47

boys have been gained their Bronze Award, nine have

14 February 2020 Issue 52

Little Shop of Horrors School musicians took part in Craven College's

production of 'Little Shop of Horrors' on Friday, 7 and

Saturday, 8 February. This is the second year that

Ermysted’s have supplied the band for Craven College -

last year playing for 'Chicago'. The band were 'tight' in

that they attained a professional standard of show band

and were much appreciated by the cast and the

audience. Four of the band will progress to study at

University next year, two of them doing Music.

Dr Cloke

Bake Sale

You will have heard about the recent fundraising efforts

of the local community to help the Water Street Primary

School pupil who sadly fell ill last year with

Meningococcal Meningitis. At morning break time on

Thursday, 6 February, a group of Year 10 pupils

(organised by James, 10KG) arranged a bake sale to help

the cause. Thanks to donations and a baking session by

James’s Year 10 GCSE Food & Nutrition classmates, he

managed to raise £170 in 15 minutes! Well done to all

involved.

Mrs Taylor

gained Silver and eight have completed their Gold. We

still have a few boys at each level who are finishing things

off so I am hoping to see these numbers grow over the

next few weeks.

We had considerable interest when DofE was launched

for this academic year back in November. Some 49 boys

are signed up to Bronze, 21 to Silver and 14 to Gold. The

vast majority of the Silver and Gold groups are building

on earlier success, but it is good to welcome some boys

new to the scheme. To date the boys have been

attending fortnightly meetings and are making real

strides to complete their Volunteering, Physical and Skills

sections outside of school. It is fantastic to see the range

of activities that the boys are involved in and I have no

doubt that these will build valuable life skills and

generate many memorable experiences. The vast bulk of

pupils have inputted proposals on all three sections and

are fulfilling their weekly commitments towards their

goals. A few have already spent the required period of

time on the activity and their assessors have submitted

reports. At Gold level most of the group have plans in

place to complete their Residential section.

The focus of the next few weeks is on expedition

preparation. At all three levels the teams have a Practice

Expedition followed by their Assessed Expedition, both

taking place in the summer term. At Bronze these are

over two days, at Silver they are over three, whilst the

Gold expeditions last for four days. Plans are taking

shape with the boys currently planning their routes.

Thanks to all parents for encouraging and supporting

their sons through the DofE journey. More information

about the summer expeditions will be released shortly.

Mr Lane

County Cup Quarter Final We played this County Cup Quarter Final on the

Wednesday before half-term over at Norton. It was very

wet in Skipton in the week before the game thanks to

storm Ciara but over in Norton the only threat to the

game being played was a strong wind. In fact, the ground

was so firm that two of our players ended up being

subbed off with twisted ankles. Skipper Croft won the

toss and played into the strong breeze. We hoped to hold

our own first half but we were soon on top playing some

14 February 2020 Issue 52

EVENT DATE TIME

Year 10 Parents Evening Wednesday, 4 March 16:30

Year 7 Consultation Day Wednesday, 25 March School hours

Spring Concert Wednesday, 1 April 19:00

Year 6 Transition Evening Wednesday, 24 June 18:30

Sixth Form Taster Day Thursday, 25 June School hours

Selected Upcoming Events at Ermysted’s

Thanks for reading…

This newsletter was compiled by Ermysted’s Grammar School. If you have comments or anything for inclusion in future

newsletters, please email ktamsons@ermysteds.n-yorks.sch.uk.

Ermysted’s Grammar School | Gargrave Road | Skipton | BD23 1PL www.ermysteds.co.uk

Headmaster: Mr M J Evans

The full calendar of events is available here.

good team football and Newbould looking threatening

whenever he was on the ball. On 14 minutes we broke

the deadlock when Eaglesfield and Newbould set Croft

away down the left who crossed low and hard. Nash

controlled his shot well from just outside the six-yard box

beyond the post to drill it past the keeper (0-1). On 25

minutes we scored a great team goal. Songo cleared up

at the back, setting Bradley free up the right wing.

Newbould took over and set Firth free through the

middle of the park. Firth passed outside to Nash for a

quality one-two which Firth then gleefully stroked home

at the near post (0-2). If that was our best team goal

Bradley scored our best individual one. Croft once more

delivered a deep corner which Bradley controlled just

inside the angle of the box. From there he arrowed his

strike across goal just inside the post about a yard under

the crossbar (0-3). 3-0 against the wind at half-time was

an almost perfect return but it did come at some cost as

both Evans and Croft finished their matches nursing badly

twisted ankles.

All our subs were on for the start of the second half and

we tried a new formation which kept Norton at bay and

Smith swept home for 4 nil. It stayed at that score for a

while but we really ran away with it on 70 minutes when

Newbould got the

goal (0-5), his play

deserved as MoM.

Nash completed

his second assist.

Morrison made it

six within a minute

of the restart and

Newbould played

in Eaglesfield for a

flattering 0-7 score

-line on 74

minutes

whereupon the ref

blew up early. So

seven different

goalscorers and a

clean sheet, not a

bad trip to the east

of the county! We

now have a semi-final to look forward to and a rematch

against St. John Fishers who we drew with in the league

back in November.

Mr Speak