Chiswick School, Burlington Lane, London W4 3UN. Telephone 0208 747 0031

Also available online at www.chiswickschool.org 24th March 2014 - Issue 13Student Services Direct Line 020 8747 6655 to report your child ill or late.

D i a r y D a t e sS P O R T SMARCH

Mon 24th - Mon 31stYear 10 Mocks

Mon 24th - Fri 28thPGCE Profile Week

Tues 25thYear 11 Performance Showcase

Thu 27thYear 11 Performance Exam

APRILTue 1st

Year 11 Mono/Duo RehearseYear 12 Progression Evening

Wed 2ndYear 11 Study Skills Day

Year 12 Mono/Due ExamYear 13 Scripted Rehearse

Thu 3rdMEN C Vaccinations for Year 10

Adult Education End of TermYear 13 Scripted Exam

Year 8 HPV Injections 3

Fri 4thLast Day of Term

Year 11 History Trip

Your Weekly Newsletter

CHISWICK SCHOOL

The school was judged outstanding by an external team of reviewers last week. The team, led by an OFSTED inspector also included a serving head teacher and senior staff from other schools from the Challenge Partners organisation.

The report was full of praise for the school and the progress it has made recently. ‘The senior team continues to have a relentless drive to improve student attainment and progress as well as raise student aspirations through a variety of whole school effective improvement strategies’ the report said. It also commended teachers on the quality of lessons ‘Lessons are well-planned, with planning to stretch and challenge the most able evident in the best lessons’. The review team also commented on the stimulating learning environment the school provides and the evidence of collaborative learning.

There was lots of praise for the students too. ‘Levels of engagement were high in nearly all lessons’ the team said and they were very impressed by how students related to staff and the number of after school activities they attended. They also said that student progress was exceptional and congratulated the school on the upward trend in GCSE results.

Chiswick Judged Outstanding in Challenge Partners Review

The History department received a special mention as an area of excellence. They quoted the culture of academic excellence in History, the way the staff worked together as a team, and the high expectations staff have of students. The review finished with recognition of the impact of partnerships the school has forged, including international as well as local partners, the report is a vindication of all the hard work teachers, students and others have put in over the last few years.

‘This is fantastic news,’ said a delighted Mr. Ryan, Head teacher. ‘Everyone deserves huge congratulations for what has been achieved. There is still more work to do to ensure an OFSTED inspection delivers the same verdict but hearing the word outstanding used about Chiswick School will give us all a huge boost.’

The Chiswick Alumni Newsletter, edited by Ann Glennerster, encompasses a variety of articles regarding the early history of Chiswick School and the past experiences of Chiswick alumni students. There are usually two issues every school year and, in the winter issue, there are several interesting articles: Jonathan Dryden-Taylor describes his past in Chiswick Youth Theatre which has led to his career as an actor at the moment in the National Theatre. Two Chiswick students delve into the world of Media. There is an artical about our very own librarians at Chiswick, and an account of when the school was evacuated!

The Newsletter is available to pick up from the reception, and online on the ChiswickSchool website at http://www.chiswickschool.org/page/?title=Alumni+Newsletter&pid=400

If you are a Chiswick Alumni student, or if you know of anyone who would like to be part of the Chiswick Alumni, please fill in a quick questionnaire at http://www.chiswickschool.org/page/?title=Chiswick+School+Alumni+Society&pid=289.

Alternatively email Ms Lawrence, Chiswick School’s career adviser at ela@chiswickschool.org

Chiswick Alumni

Wall to Wall Media Seeks Family to Take Part in BBC 2 History Experiment

Year 12 Students Excel in Project Presentations

'Wall to Wall Media' are a company who produce awardwinning television, offering a wide range of programmes for all the major broadcasters. You may recognise some of the company’s output, which includes: The Voice, Who Do You Think You Are? and Turn Back Time for BBC1, Long Lost Family for ITV, and The 1900 House and Child Genius for Channel 4.

They are currently looking for a fun, and adventurous foodloving family to take part in filming a new primetime series for BBC Two, over the summer holiday period of 2014. It would be an unforgettable family experience, and a fascinating living history project for both students and parents. It may also, for pupils who enjoy drama, provide a chance to immerse yourselves in bygone decades.

Applications are invited from families with at least two children aged 8+. The series will look at the impact that the culinary revolution has had on family life over the past 40 years, and will be a once in a life time experience for the whole family. Using this selfcontained time capsule, the students can experience firsthand what and how their parents and grandparents ate; appreciating the importance of evolving technology and quality family time at the table.

The family ideally, will be interested in foodcaring about what it is that they eat.

The Year 12 Candidates for the Extended Project Qualification presented the projects to an audience on the evening of Wednesday March 5th. Wednesday March 5th. The ‘EPQ’ equivalent to an A/S qualification is becoming increasing valued by universities because it provides reliable evidence that a student can manage their time effectively and research independently to produce an extended piece of writing on a topic of their choice. The presentation of their ideas is part of the assessment.

The topics students had chosen were wide reaching and challenging. The Ecology of Madagascar, Alternative Airline fuels, Institutional Racism and Pagan Influences on Catholicism were examples.

‘It was great to see such a range of challenging projects on show’, said Ms. Ward Dyer, EPQ Co-ordinator. ‘The

They will enjoy a range of meals; from a Sunday roast, to meals out, takeaways, browsing farmers’ markets, TV dinners, cooking for friends, trying new recipes and international cuisine. It should also be mentioned that, the family selected will be financially compensated for the use of their home.

Any interested families should simply email dinnertimes@walltowall.co.uk (or call 020 3301 7875) to express an interest. There is no commitment to take part at the initial enquiry stage.

By MaryaM Khalifa

presentations were interesting and engaged the audience well’.

Coral Richards presented her work on animal species in Madagascar. ‘Doing this project has enabled me to study my chosen topic in depth. It has helped me gain my university offer to read Zoology at Reading. If I am successful in achieving my A level grades, I will be able to go to Madagascar for six months as part of my university course. That is really exciting.’

School Charities Committee Win Young Heroes Award

The School Charities committee representing all years in the school have completed the Young Heroes programme run by the charity City Year. The aim of the programme is to develop student leadership and active participation skills.

In the first five sessions the students learnt about leadership and volunteering

as well as practising public speaking. They all decided on a social action they could undertake and decided to raise money for the Children’s Society. A cake sale raised £94.

The biggest spin offs were the raised confidence of the group and the development of a cross year team who now get on really well despite their different ages. In the final session the students committed to further charity work and all received a tee shirt and certificate for their efforts.

‘It was a valuable experience for students to explore areas that are not necessarily covered by the curriculum. It was a pleasure to see their confidence grow and see students become actively involved in their community,’ said Ms. Jesson, Head of PSCHE and Citizenship.

Billie Branson is the Year 11 representative on the committee. ‘I really enjoyed the sessions. I became more confident and more committed to the Charities Committee. It was great discussing different ideas with students from other years. It made me think how I could have more impact on charities locally.'