Year 7 Sporting Development Trip to Arnhem, Holland

A group of 27 Year 7 pupils recently visited Arnhem, Holland on a five day sporting development trip.

The group stayed at the Hotel Papendal situated in the training grounds of Dutch Football team Vitesse Arnhem. The group with a split of both Boys and Girls had four 90 minute training sessions on the Vitesse Arnhem first team training ground with the Academy coaches of Arnhem. The training sessions focused on the technical side and the Dutch way of playing Football. The group then played two matches each with the boys playing the first match on the first team training ground. The results were very close with the College being the victors in three of the four matches played. The College also had the opportunity to tour the Vitesse Arnhem stadium and play a game a Footgolf and ten pin bowling. Finally, the group had the chance to watch a Football match in Arnhem between Vitesse and PSV Eindhoven, and they weren’t disappointed as the entertaining game finished 3-3.

The staff involved were very impressed with the behaviour of the group whose manners were impeccable around the Hotel and at the training ground.

Mr Cook

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Cambridge Union Debating Finals

After successfully qualifying in the regional rounds of the International Competition for Youth Debaters, last weekend, Mrs Diamond and myself got the opportunity to take Lehtu and Jan to compete in the finals at the Cambridge Union.

The competition we faced was of the highest I have witnessed at any age range and our team really had to raise their game. Over the course of the day we moved from strength to strength, beating the Netherlands’ national team and teams from Oundle School, Dundee High School and Birkhamsted School along the way. It was an invigorating day and a steep learning curve.

Jan and Lehtu are now in a fabulous position to lead the charge in debating at Liverpool College next year.

Mr Barnicoat

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Forest School

Our PTA funded the training of Ms Shackell to become a fully certified forest school teacher. Now, thanks to her amazing efforts, and the support of pupils, colleagues and parents, our forest school facility is nearing completion. This amazing grove, affectionately known as “The Dell”, will be the location of the delivery of our unique outdoor education programme and also of the forest school. Thanks to all our volunteers and the generosity of the PTA.

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National Representative Honours in Handball

Congratulations to Sam D (Y11 School) who has been chosen to represent Great Britain in Handball at U18 level and will travel to Sweden to compete in the European Open Championships in July. 

Sam has been in the North West Handball Academy for the past 18 months. In January he was selected to be on the pathway to the England U16s Team. Within a month of being on the pathway, he was selected to attend trials but he has now bypassed the U16s to become the youngest member of the U18 team. Well done Sam.

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Secret Garden

Thanks to the support of one of our parents and the work of pupils, teachers and the estates team, a remarkable transformation is almost complete.

The Gardening Club, led by Miss Miller and Miss Shaw, launched an ambitious plan at the start of the year to transform the area behind the biology labs into a secret garden. They envisioned the area becoming a multi-use space that sixth form students could use to revise in, teachers can lead practical investigations in and also an area for relaxation.

Following an appeal in the Principal’s newsletter, a parent generously donated the topsoil we needed for the project and also offered the services of his company to help us finish clearing and preparing the site. Many tonnes of earth, brick, stone and vegetation have now been removed and replaced with an equal tonnage of good fresh top soil. During the Easter holidays, the area was levelled and turf was laid. All that now remains to complete the garden is for pupils to plant some shrubs plus a suitable work of art on the brick wall.

We look forward to seeing the final result!

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Pre Prep House Poetry Competition

Pre Prep pupils have been taking part in a House Poetry Competition with over 70 pupils submitting poems on the theme of “Friendship”. The competition was then judged by the poet Deryn Rees-Jones. She was very impressed by the standard of the poems produced: ‘I liked the ones where the writer allowed me to see the world or feel a feeling a little bit differently. Reading the poem meant that something had somehow changed in me.’ Dr Rees-Jones congratulated all children who entered and also the many who decorated their poems so beautifully.

The house winners were:

• Fox- Iris R3
• Owl- Joel 2Q
• Rabbit- Heidi 1P
• Badger- Emmie 1Q
• Hedgehog- Rowan 1Q
• Squirrel- Alice 1P

The year group winners were:

• Reception- Mariella R2
• Year 1- Keira-Lilly 1R
• Year 2- Noah 2Q

Well done to all the pupils!

Mrs Gannon

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