Updates from NLS
This half-term has been a rich and varied one and marks the last one before the examination season launches for Year 13. Our excellent students in the Sixth Form have done a great deal – and have again been a pleasure to work with and a credit to you as their parents.
We continue to be wowed by Archie Year 9 and his fantastic Cross-Country success.
After winning the Warwickshire School’s Cross County event back in January, and being crowned Warwickshire Schools Junior Boy’s Champion, Archie was selected to represent Warwickshire at the English Schools Cross Country Championships. This event took place at Wollaton Hall in Nottingham on Saturday 18 March and Archie finished an impressive 7th place in the Junior Boys race.
Not only was it a fantastic achievement for Archie to finish in the top 10, he was successful in qualification to the England team! Archie’s next competition will be in Liverpool on 25 and 26 March, as part of the England team, racing against Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
KS3 Update
Year 7 students have continued studying A Monster Calls (a superb book by Patrick Ness). Last term they used the novel to write analytically about Conor’s emotions and how we as a reader interpret these and, in Spring 2, they have worked on their own creative and descriptive writing. Students will complete their main assessment in this after the Easter break and viewed a screening of the film version on Thursday 30th March. Beginning in Summer 1, students will be looking at the theme of Identity and Culture through the lenses of literature and non-fiction.
As we come to the half way point of the academic year, it is a good time to reflect upon just what a busy half-term and academic year it has been so far for the PE Department and our sports stars. As the light returns in the evenings and we emerge from the depths of winter, warmer weather is surely on the way
KS3 Update
In Year 7 students have been studying ‘A Monster Calls’ a superb book by Patrick Ness. They have recently been using the novel to begin to write analytically about Conor’s emotions and how we as a reader interpret these. They will continue to study ‘A Monster Calls’ as we move into Spring 2 but will turn their attention to writing their own creative and descriptive writing.
KS3 Drama
Year 7 Drama students have explored House of Secrets (Northwood Hall) This unit of work focuses on collaboration skills and how to work well in a group. Students listen and follow a radio play where they are introduced to two characters who are journalists. Students have had the opportunity to create and develop role-plays linked to the story of North wood Hall as we follow the story of the journalists. Why does Mrs le-Strange want to sell Northwood Hall? What are the rumours and stories linked to the house? What happened in Northwood Hall the night that Mrs Le-Strange’s Uncle died? Students will have the opportunity to create small performances using a range of Drama strategies and creating interesting and believable characters in groups to build up their confidence. The final performance will allow students to devise an ending to the story exploring the genre of mystery, crime and/or horror and and considering how they could interpret the characters through the performer skills.
This half-term has flown by and the Christmas break seems a distant memory!
That said, students in the Sixth Form have done a great deal and, as ever, been a pleasure to work with and a credit to you as their parents.
Year 10 students have returned to school after the Christmas period displaying an impressive and pleasing attitude towards their learning. It has been great to see students adapt to the increasing demands of their GCSE subjects, with them now experiencing mock exams, controlled assessments and coursework that will contribute to their subjects’ overall grade.
As we reach the end of, what I always think is often the most challenging, half term it has been lovely to reflect on the continued progress and growing maturity of Year 7. As the nights are getting lighter and spring is on the horizon it is also a great opportunity to look forward to some exciting opportunities for the remainder of the year ahead.
WE ARE HALF WAY THROUGH THIS ACADEMIC YEAR! Spring is fastly approaching. It has been a very busy 6 weeks of the Spring Term.