Excel Autumn/Winter 2012

The News Magazine of Rivington & Blackrod High School

Craft ClubStudents rememberthe fallen

Languages Day

Students celebrateour third annualLanguages Day

Autumn/Winter 2012

Community . Standards . Inclusion

Welcome from the Head TeacherWelcome to this edition of EXCEL Magazine. What a great term it has been! We started our academic year celebrating excellent GCSE and A-Level results, with 93% of students achieving 5 GCSEs at A*-C and the number of students achieving this measure, including English and Mathematics, having increased to 67%. This is a 10% increase on last year and is well above the national average. At A Level, 45% of all grades were A*-B, with an overall pass rate of 98.5% which again is an increase on last year. These results are also the best the school has achieved Post 16 and this is a record high point in the school’s achievement, in a year when national results have declined.

We were delighted to be awarded our second accreditation of the prestigious national Inclusion Quality Mark Award (IQM) which reflects our relentless commitment to each and every student. Alongside this, we are also delighted to announce that we have been awarded the Secondary Geography Quality Mark (SGQM). This award process encourages and supports schools to reflect on their work and strive for the highest quality in their teaching. We followed this news with two very successful Open Evenings for Year 7 and Post 16, when prospective pupils and their parents witnessed the excellent range of opportunities and experiences available in school. I was extremely proud, on both evenings, by the way current pupils engaged with visiting families to demonstrate the very best of our school.

It has also been a busy term, as students have been auditioning for Rivi’s Got Talent. These eagerly awaited shows will take place in March 2013. Alongside this, the Lionheart Challenge came to Rivington and Blackrod High School, as 180 year 9 students took part in this innovative business and enterprise activity day which helped to raise awareness of the business world and the challenges which are faced by budding entrepreneurs. Our students have also participated in another very successful Anti-Bullying week. This was enjoyed by all and was very successful in clearly stating our expectations of each other and how young people should interact inside and outside school. There have been so many exciting things taking place across school that I could not possibly mention them all here, but I hope that you thoroughly enjoy reading about them in the magazine and I thank all of those who have contributed to these activities.

Thank you all for your continued support.

Best wishes for the festive season ahead.

T. PurcellTony Purcell, Head Teacher

Students Remember the Fallen As part of the History Department’s enterprise activities, a group of year 9 and year 10 students have been decorating poppies for Remembrance Day. The students feel strongly about this cause and this is also reflected by the whole school vote for our chosen school charity this year: ‘Help for Heroes’. The poppies will be sold by the students alongside the traditional red paper poppies. The proceeds of this venture will go to both the British Legion and Help for Heroes.

Rebecca Grantham, Director of Humanities

1 / Community . Standards . Inclusion www.rbhs.co.uk

Tiffany Jones and Kiyra Green, Year 9

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News


Poems to RememberAs part of Remembrance Week, year 8 students were tasked with writing a letter or poem to a solider currently serving in Afghanistan.

Naomi Siddle, Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages

We were so impressed with the work that our year 8 students produced during their form period, that many of the wonderful poems written have now been sent to serving soldiers.

You could work localLike as a milkman,

Or a butcher, fishmonger – but no!You’re a soldier, and fight in Afghanistan.

You leave your family Most of the time.

The hellos and goodbyes are often sadBut you say, “I’ll be fine!”

You’re so brave,And I say that with pride.

Because you and the world Stand side by side.

We wear poppies.They are so red,

We wear them to support the aliveAnd sadly the dead.

So thank you for your service.We wear poppies so red,

To support the alive And the dead.

By Megan Powell, Year 8

Poppies are Red


NewsEquipped to Save a LifeWe are now equipped with three potentially lifesaving Automated External Defibrillators on site, to help save a life. The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has provided the equipment which has been kindly funded by Horwich Rotary Club.

Staff have been trained to use the Defibrillators, which are located at both the upper and lower school sites, in secure cabinets. It is proven that intervention during the first few minutes of cardiac arrest is vital and now trained staff will be on hand to give immediate help to anyone who unfortunately suffers a cardiac arrest within school. The installation of the defibrillator is part of a project in Bolton to promote emergency life skills / cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to all in the Community and where accessible, to use a defibrillator.

The British Heart Foundation’s ‘Heartstart’ programme is also being incorporated into the school’s curriculum, so that every pupil in key stage 3 and 4, as well as some students in the sixth form, will be taught how to assist in the event of an Emergency. Ann Devine, Director of PE & Teaching and Learning


Waste Not, Want Not!A new craft group has started in Geography, ‘up-cycling’ old items into new gifts to help raise money for charity. The group have started making modern jewellery from old beads, buttons and scrabble pieces and we intend to use glossy magazines to design vases and pillowcases to make cushions. Some of these items formed the basis of our ‘Blue Friday’ stall. Leanne Moore, Year 9, observed that ‘It is good fun turning unwanted items into something beautiful’.

Louise Hardwick, Geography Teacher

Twilight Dawns for Primary School Students

The English Department added a little bit of a twist to the school’s open evening, with a gothic theme spreading throughout the department, as an almost life sized figure of Robert Pattinson from the Twilight Films took centre stage. Primary school students were asked to guess the figure’s height in Twilight books, with the winner collecting the same height in books for their school. Two students were closest, with guesses of 62 books. Jessica Carberry, from St James Daisy Hill Primary School and Rosie Anderson, from Markland Hill Primary School, shared the prize, of 60 books, between them. Gemma Lawrence, an English Teacher in the Department, went to each school to present the prizes, dressed as the character that she portrayed on Open Evening: Bellatrix LeStrange from Harry Potter. Kath McGuire, Director of English & Expressive Arts

Dr. Jonathon Tobin (BWFC), Steve Nicholls (Community Resuscitation Development Officer), Mike Macias (BWFC), Judith Marsden (Chair of Governors), Keith Maher (Horwich Rotary Club), Amy Lowe (left) and Amber Neild-Hamid (right) Year 8

Sophie McNulty, Rosie Anderson (Year 6) and Gemma Lawremce

Chloe Underwood, Year 9

Faculty

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Vision for the FutureWe took all of our year 11 Geography students to Liverpool to collect data for their GCSE controlled assessment. Students were given the task of measuring environmental quality in a number of locations in the city. This will contribute 25% to their GCSE grade. Matt Biagetti of Liverpool Vision (the regeneration organisation for the City) spoke to the students about the city’s transformation, from a rundown and neglected space, into a vibrant and cosmopolitan ‘City of Culture’. He commented on their exemplary behaviour and their great questions.

Denise Ryley, Geography Teacher

All year 9 students took part in our third Languages Day at Rivington and Blackrod High School, participating in a variety of taster sessions including Italian, Spanish, Urdu, Gujarati, Turkish and Russian. Students were also given the opportunity to look at different European and World cultures. The day built upon the success of previous events which have been held, to create the best ever Languages Day.

Currently we have 300 students studying for a GCSE in French or German. The numbers show the importance of language development in the world of work, as students are keen to have a language on their CV. A focus on languages helps us to ensure that our students are more aware of the benefits of communicating with others. In today’s society, more than ever, it is essential for young people to appreciate other cultures and languages.

Laura Foulkes, Head of Modern Foreign LanguagesFrantic Assembly creates thrilling, energetic and unforgettable theatre. Rivington and Blackrod High School Sixth Form students, from both Performing Arts and Drama & Theatre Studies, were lucky enough to participate in a phenomenal physical theatre workshop with one of Frantic Assembly’s recognised theatre practitioners. Both staff and students thoroughly enjoyed the experience. ‘An unforgettable experience that thoroughly inspired me’commented Emma Cavill, year 13.

Lisa Walshe, Assistant Head of Drama and Co-ordinator of Performing Arts

Languages Extravaganza

“The vibrant and visceral Frantic Assembly” THE INDEPENDENT

One hundred students from year 8 & 9 attended workshops focusing on body image. An outside trainer from Beat (www.b-eat.co.uk) came into school to deliver a workshop that had been created to help youngsters positively embrace their bodies. Its aim was to build body confidence by dealing with feelings about physical appearance and exploring how “ideal” images of beauty are created.

The workshop materials included surprising facts, activity sheets and a DVD that investigated the trickery used to create ‘perfect’ images. It was a time to reflect on inner beauty and why we like our friends, regardless of their looks. One student said her friend was special because she simply made her laugh.

Deena Payne, Senior Support Coordinator

The Perfect Image

An event for young scientists was held at Rivington and Blackrod High School, with the theme being, ‘God and the Big Bang’. The aim of the event was to enhance students’ scientific understanding and demonstrate the compatibility of science and faith. Year 11, 12 and 13 students were joined by students from St. Joseph’s High School and Westhoughton High School to hear sessions on science and the imagination, surprising science and chemistry cluedo. It was an amazing day and gave students the opportunity to debate the compatibility between science and faith.

Nicola Robertson, Director of Science and Creative Design

God and the Big Bang Science Dayotion

Emma Cavill; Nicole Foster; Stephanie Wallace; Izzie Hutchinson;

Jessica Fielding; Jodie Clayton; Michael Roberts


Faculty


Entering the World of ChocolateThe Business Studies Department took sixty students to Cadbury’s World to help them with their assignment. They were given a talk by the tour guide and were taken around the factory to view the process through which the different chocolate bars are produced. Students created a questionnaire about the recruitment process and employee motivation. They then used this information to create graphs, ready for analysis. David Petrie, Teacher of Business Studies

Breaking News!The English Department set a selection of year 8 students the task of becoming live news reporters. The students were allocated slots in Rivi Studios, where they performed self-written and self-directed news reports on their current topic: The Titanic Disaster.The students worked in small groups, combining their knowledge of the Titanic with their drama skills and artistic flair, to produce some entertaining news reports. Watch out Newsround! Sally Grundy, English Teacher

Sixth Form Trip to SnowdoniaA productive and eventful week in Wales helped our year 12 Geographers with their AS level qualification. Students are examined on this fieldwork, which contributes 30% to their final grades. We had fun measuring velocity in the River Conway, looking at changes in urban areas in Llandudno, examining coastal erosion and defences at Criccieth and visiting Electric Mountain in Llanberis. Students commented on the excellent facilities at the field centre and are looking forward to more fieldwork in year 13. Denise Ryley, Geography Teacher

Liam GrimwoodYear 9

Ellie Gittins and Laura GittinsYear 13

The Next Trains to Arrive on Blackrod Station will be Bloomin’ Lovely, When Spring Arrives…That’s because they will be the new station planters, made by our students from the POWERWAVE Skills Centre, in conjunction with Network Rail, Arm4Rail and other organisations working on the station refurbishment project. Students are making 10 planters for the station, in the shape of engines, using materials donated by the local office of Travis Perkins (the building supplies merchant). When finished, they will be filled, by volunteers from rail user group ‘the Friends of Blackrod Station’, with spring bulbs and other flowers and shrubs.

Not only will the station benefit, but so will two students – with the offer of permanent full time work with Arm4Rail. As well as helping the students on the construction of the planters, Arm4Rail is to work with POWERWAVE to sponsor a programme of construction-based activities in brickwork, joinery, painting and tiling, for 10 selected students. Michelle Howard, Director of Business Development

www.rbhs.co.uk / 6Community . Standards . Inclusion

Community

Daniel MillerYear 11


Community


Aiding the TransitionStudents in Year 8 are busy devising an exciting drama workshop to take into local primary schools. The focus of the workshop is transition, for an audience of young people in years 5 and 6. Our students are aiming to prepare future students for the adventures that lie ahead at secondary school. Students started working on their self-devised pieces with two days’ creative input from Curriculum Plus and now they are ready to take on the role of teachers to support their younger colleagues.

Eileen McAuley, Director of Inclusion

It’s OK….The Teenage Health Project has been raising awareness of mental health within school as it is an issue which affects many people. A competi-tion was held for the year 13 BTEC Art students to design a mental health poster. The winning entry is now being made into a large canvas and displayed in school. The winner was Eleanor Kirkpatrick, second prize went to George Marr, whose poster will be produced for display in sixth form and third place went to Beth McGlinn. Well done to all!

Emma Wilkinson, Teenage Health Coordinator

Space station hotels…a plan for the futureWe were delighted when Hays Travel in Horwich offered to sponsor a competition offering winners a Kindle, cinema tickets and ‘Love to shop’ vouchers. Year 9 students were challenged to produce a creative vision of how tourism would look in the future. We have received entries for underwater and space station hotels, visits to the centre of the earth and aeroplanes where spray tans are included! Emma Woodcock, the Manager at Hays, awarded first prize to Matthew Donaldson, second prize to Matthew Beckett and 3rd prize to Zain Admani. Well done to all who participated.

Jane Chesney, Geography and Travel and Tourism BTEC Teacher

Megan Cooper, Emily Horan, Julia Higson, Matthew Moore, Lauren Bird and William SpeakmanYear 8

Matthew Beckett, Matthew Donaldson, Emma Wood-cock and Zain Admani.

Eleanor Kirkpatrick and Abdullah Bamji,Year 13


Community


Working in conjunction with Greater Manchester Police Service, year 9 students eagerly participated in The LionHeart challenge: an innovative Business and Enterprise Activity day which raised awareness of the Business World and the challenges faced by budding entrepreneurs.

The challenge commenced with the announcement of a, strongly citizenship based, theme of national importance. On receiving the challenge, each team (comprising of ten students) came together and worked, in line with their LionHeart Business Coach’s mentoring and understanding, to develop a comprehensive Business Proposal. This comprised of a full human resources plan, a product solution and a financial and marketing solution.

On completing these tasks, each team then practiced and rehearsed their final presentation before presenting it to an entire room full of peers, teachers, business professionals and judges, to try and ensure that their business idea led to success. There were 5 team winners on the day, with one team winning overall.

The day was a huge success and all students thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Well done to all of the year 9 students involved.

Jade Lyons, Head of Business Studies

The LionHeart Challenge

Mini Olympics Work ExperienceTen young people from year 8 took part in the Teenage Health, Mini Olympic themed, holiday club over half term. It was a follow on from the week of activities that they completed over the summer. The young people took part in different physical activities, such as table tennis, dodge ball and fitness testing. On the second day they all went horse-riding; an activity that many had not tried previously.

Emma Wilkinson, Teenage Health Coordinator

At Rivington and Blackrod High School we run a very successful Work Experience Programme for all our Year 10 students. The Programme aims to give students first-hand experience of the world of work and to develop the qualities and skills which employers are increasingly looking for. Our students find this an invaluable and enjoyable experience. Some of last year’s placements included working at Walt Disney Co. in London, Manchester City Football Club, Sealife Centre, Force India Formula One Team and many local Businesses and Primary Schools.

Deandre Maher, Library and Community Assistant

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Sport

www.rbhs.co.uk

Hitting the TargetRebecca Greenfield has been on target this year,

showing excellent form in Archery. Rebecca is the Scottish under 14 champion, 3D champion, the South

West Challenge Champion and the English National Champion. Rebecca trains with ‘Ye Olde Delph

Bowmen’ at Hulton Park.

Lindsey Tait, Assistant Head of PE


Sport


BOSPAA Year 7 Girls WinnersCongratulations to the year 7 girls Sports Hall Athletics Team who came 1st and were named School Team of the Year at the BOSPAA Awards Dinner at the Reebok. They were in a category of 6 schools, all of whom had performed well during 2011-12. Our girls had achieved 3rd place in the North West Finals of the Sports Hall Athletics Competition, after winning both the Bolton and Greater Manchester events convincingly.

The girls were absolutely delighted with their win – so now the pressure is on to repeat this feat again this year!

Sue Archibald, School Sports Coordinator

Year 8 student, Emily Digby, loves tennis and was very successful this summer.

Emily entered the Bolton Sports Federation Tennis Tournament at the Leverhulme Pavilion in Bolton, which attracts players from all over the North West. After winning all her preliminary rounds, Emily played a nail biting final. She lost the first set and was 3 - nil down in the second set, but managed to win a tie breaker and then a third set, convincingly, to become the 2012 U14 Girls Singles Champion.

Emily is also captain of the mixed U16 Junior Tennis Team, at local club Markland Hill and led her team to victory in winning their League this summer too.

Emily was presented with her U14 winner’s trophy and also the League cup at the Sports Federation Awards Ceremony Evening at Rivington Barn.

Ann Devine, Director of PE & Teaching and Learning

Terrific Tennis

Playing for LancashireJoe Brown (year 11) and Tom Billington (year 9) have both been selected to represent Lancashire at Cricket. Joe has been the under 16 ‘B’ team wicket keeper and has taken 10 wickets through the summer inter-county campaign. Joe’s best batting performance saw him score 125, not out, against Yorkshire. Tom bats at No 3 for the Lancashire under 13 squad and his best innings for the county were 51 and 52 runs. Tom has played against Worcestershire, Surrey, Sussex, Essex, Durham and Yorkshire over the summer.



SportRiding Over MountainsCongratulations to Martha Gill, on her recent success in the National Mountain Biking Championships, where she finished 3rd. We would also like to congratulate Martha on her selection for British Cycling’s introductory performance programme for young athletes. Martha has been identified as a potential Olympic talent and recently attended a four day training camp at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester.

The programme has discovered and nurtured the likes of double Olympic gold medal winners Laura Trott and Jason Kenny. The British Cycling Talent Team is a precursor to the Olympic Development Programme (ODP), which puts athletes through a process of development and opportunities. Well done and good luck for your future success Martha!



Boys win the ECB U13’s National Club FinalMarcus and Lewis Haydock, Saul Guffogg, Tom Billington, James Roberts, Charlie Whittingham and Robbie Holt were all instrumental in the Horwich RMI under 13 cricket team’s success, as they finished 3rd in the ECB’s National Club Championship. The boys went through as representatives of the Bolton League, winning both the Lancashire Cup and the North of England title. The National Club Championship encompasses the whole United Kingdom and the boys also defeated Scotland representatives, Grange Cricket club from Edinburgh. Graham Green, Head of PE

Year 7 student Adam Needham has set his sights on Olympic Talent Identification with British Gymnastics. Adam attends the City of Preston Gymnastics club, which has been given an Olympic Legacy gift of £49,935.


Olympic Hopeful

Martha GillYear 10

We appreciate hearing your views on this Excel magazine. Please email [email protected] to give your feedback.

Lower School and thePathway CentreAlbert StreetHorwichBolton BL6 7AW

t. 01204 333366f. 01204 333367

Upper SchoolRivington LaneRivingtonBolton BL6 7RU

t. 01204 333266f. 01204 333264e. [email protected]. www.rbhs.co.uk

Excel Autumn/Winter 2012

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