Head Teacher's Message

As we reach the end of the summer term, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the incredible achievements of our students and wish everyone a wonderful and well-deserved break. Please do take time to look at the rich articles in the bulletin, they really help keep you informed of all the great work our young people do at school.

The last few weeks of term have been filled with remarkable events and celebrations. Our students have been recognised and rewarded for their hard work and achievements throughout the year. Highlights include a vibrant Sports Day, exciting Maths Bees, wonderful Summer Music concert and the enriching Year 9 UN Day, amongst many other key events. These activities have not only showcased the talents and dedication of our students but also fostered a sense of community and school spirit.

As we close out the year, I am pleased to announce that the final data report for student attainment and attitude to learning, including the progression examination results for Years 10 and 12, is now available on Go4Schools. I encourage you to take the time to discuss these reports with your children over the break to prepare them for their return and next steps.

Additionally, student timetables for the next academic year will be live on Go4Schools on Tuesday, 3rd September. Please review these timetables with your children before they return to school on Wednesday, 4th September. To help students stay organised, we will again provide pocket-sized timetable cards to go alongside their student identification cards and lanyards.

For any key information required for September, please check our website. I also want to remind you of the safeguarding section on our website, which contains important resources and contact information should you need anything over the break.

Congratulations to the students of Manor College, who have won this year's much-coveted College competition, breaking Binswood's two-year winning streak. It was a great effort by all, coming down to the final week and the points secured at Sports Day.

I am also pleased to introduce our new senior student leaders, Will Wagstaff and Millie Preece. I look forward to working closely with them both next year as they take on these important leadership roles.

Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all parents and carers for your continued support throughout this academic year. Your involvement and encouragement have been invaluable to our students and the broader school community.

Wishing you all a fantastic summer break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in September.

Mike Lowdell
Head Teacher

Well Done to Binswood who have achieved the highest number of reward points during this half term - its been very close though throughout the term amongst the Colleges.  

At the end of term there is always much excitement as to which College has accumulated the most reward points for the year. 
Well done to Manor who this year win the sought after cup.

Year 10 students have enjoyed learning about Marketing Mix (Topic 2.2.) This has  involved students researching how multinational businesses have adapted their marketing mix in order to gain a competitive advantage. 

Students have also reflected on their work experience and researched how it applies to Business Studies learnt in lessons.  They have also made a positive start to their Young Enterprise business plans which enables practical experience at running a small business.

It is imperative that all students carry on completing revision and practice questions from the workbook to check understanding and we recommend all students have a copy of the Business Revision Guide and Workbook. 

Year 12 – Our Year 12 students have been investigating growing economies around the world, in preparation for Year 13, theme 4 topics on Globalisation and International Trade.

Students have been using the growth indicators GDP, literacy and health index to compare the economic growth of these economies to the UK.

In particular they have been assessing foreign direct investment opportunities in new markets such as the East African Community. 

Natural resources in these countries, such as cobalt and lithium, are some of the reasons for the investment.

Students also assess the  factors that contribute to globalisation.

Year 7 – HTML
This half term students have been learning how to create a simple webpage using HTML including heading, paragraph, image, hyperlink and formatting tags.

Year 8 – Binary
This half term students have revisited their understanding of the Binary number system from Year 7 including converting between Binary and Denary plus Binary addition.  They have developed Binary further by understanding how Binary is used to represent characters, images and sound.

In addition we would like to announce that the Cyber Explorers Challenges platform that students completed earlier in the year has now been accredited by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and, on successful completion, students will receive a certificate of achievement equivalent to SCQF Level 4. Well done to Bethany … our first recipient this year!

Year 9 – Cyber Missions
This half term students have developed their understanding of Cyber Security further by following the Cyber Explorers Missions platform created by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).  This platform has now been accredited by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and, on successful completion, students will receive a certificate of achievement equivalent to SCQF Level 5.

All of our GCSE students have continued to develop their programming skills using a high level language (Python). In addition to this …

Year 10 – GCSE Computer Science
Students have now studied all elements of the specification at least once and are now spending time revisiting prior learning/topics and exam technique, this will continue into Year 11.

Year 12 – A Level Computer Science
Students have been developing their understanding of how to simplify Boolean logic using rules and Karnaugh maps, Data Structures, Lists, Graphs and Trees.  Students are also developing their ideas for their programming project and will be producing a draft analysis prior to the summer break.

Extra Support – GCSE and A Level
For all our GCSE & A Level students there is a continued promotion of using the Smart Revise platform to develop and enhance student’s ability to recall information and facts plus improve their use of literacy and keywords around the subject. Your support by encouraging your child to engage with this at home on a regular basis is much appreciated. Each student has their own personal login and can access the platform on any device through a web browser.  Our GCSE after school support club will continue to run next term, on Wednesdays, with Mr Challice.

Computing Club
The club has had a regular steady group of students from Years 7 to 10. Students get involved in a range of activities from Coding to Lego to Games.

CISCO Certificates & iDEA Award
We continue to offer CISCO certification and our latest certificate (Python) is available. Look out for the next course early next year. 

We also encourage all KS3 students to at least complete the Bronze award for iDEA.  This is something students can access at home as well as in class. Students have their own individual logins for these. 

This half term we have seen Maya, Amrit, Ariana, Alex, Amber, Rob, Blessyl, Ellie, Lucas, Annabel and Nathan achieve their Bronze certificate whilst Ellie has also achieved her Silver certificate … well done

These courses are an invaluable addition to CV’s, references, College and University applications plus apprenticeships and we will encourage students to continue working towards these as they enter KS4.

BAFTA Young Game Designer
Congratulations to Samuel who has, for the second year, been shortlisted for the Game Concept Award with his ‘World: Dance Floor!’ game design. More details can be found here.

Supporting Students At All Levels
We promote independence in computer science and offer a variety of support mechanisms students can access during their lesson and at home through SharePoint. Some of these strategies are outlined in the image below:

Year 7 Drama Exploring Comedy
This unit of work focused on collaboration skills and how to work well in a group. Students explored the Elements of Comedy, including stock characters from Commedia Dell Arte, Non-Verbal Communication, Slapstick and the use of Status through practical activities. Students had the opportunity to create small performances in groups to build up their confidence using the elements of comedy to develop their storytelling. The final performance allowed students to devise a comedy based on their chosen scenario and for them to consider how they could interpret the characters through the performer'sA skills and use elements of comedy to enhance the performance.

Year 8 Drama Exploring Text - Teechers
This unit of work focused on collaboration skills and how to work well in a group. Students explored John Godber’s Elements of Comedy including stock characters, Non-Verbal Communication, Multi-Role, Direct Address  and the use of Status through practical activities.
Students had the opportunity to create small performances in groups to build up their confidence using the elements of comedy to develop their storytelling. The final performance allowed students to explore an extract of the script and consider how they could interpret the characters through the performer skills and using elements of comedy to enhance the performance.

Year 9 Drama Exploring Text (Monologues/Duologues)
This unit of work focused on collaboration skills and how to work well in a group. Students explored a monologue or a duologue as a performer or a designer. Students had the opportunity to create a performance to build up their confidence using a range of drama strategies. The final performance allowed students to explore an extract of the script and consider how they could interpret the play using appropriate Drama strategies.

GCSE Drama
Year 10 GCSE Drama students have been revising for their progress exam and explored their Section A set text An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley from a Performer and Director perspective in order to prepare them for the written exam. They have also had the opportunity to practice some exam style questions.

• An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley Heinemann ISBN 978-0-435232-82-5
• Revise Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Drama Revision Guide ISBN 9781292131986
• Drama Revision Workbook ISBN 9781292131979

Live Theatre Evaluation
Students have created a set of live theatre notes based on Life of Pi to help them with revision and in preparation for the exam. They have also had the opportunity to practice some exam style questions.

Year 12 A Level Drama & Theatre - Component 3 Theatre Makers Revision
Section A Live Theatre Evaluation
This unit of work focused on Section A of the written exam and was an opportunity to revise in preparation for the exam.

Section B Colder than Here Laura Wade
This unit of work focuses on Section B of the written exam and was an opportunity to revise in preparation for the exam.  In the exam students were given an extract from the play and they answered TWO questions from the perspective of: Performer (18 Mark) Designer (18 Mark)

Enrichment in Drama

On Wednesday 3 July the VIBE Drama club performed their unique rendition of Hamlet – Ophelia’s Story at our Drama Showcase. You can read more about this in our Extra-Currcular section in this Bulletin.  

At our Drama showcase the audience were also treated to a preview of a performance of ‘Happy from students involved in a piece they then performed the next evening at the Belgrade Theatre. This piece was created when the students worked with a Highly Sprung Director over two days in June and performed as part of the Physical Fellowship event  where students also had the opportunity to take part in all day workshops with professional theatre companies.

Year 7 students have been studying the theme of Identity and Culture through the lenses of literature and non-fiction. Students have been building on the historical learning that took place in Summer 1: such as South Africa’s apartheid era, the migration of those from the Caribbean and South Asia and the tyrannical brutality of despotic leaders and, after analysing the way the voices of those who experienced these times is portrayed through various literary and non-fiction texts, have been creating their own voices, being able to write evocatively, persuasively and passionately about travel, culture and destinations from across the globe.

In line with the recent module of Identity and Culture some fantastic poems have created on identity, and were also entered into the Young Writers Competition called Through Their Eyes.  We are delighted that 61 student poems have been selected to be published in their next anthology which will be called ‘Through Their Eyes – Radiant Verses.! A massive well done and congratulations to all who participated, we can't wait to see their poems published.

They also looked at different events in history, alongside some transactional writing.

From this, they drafted a letter as if they were a passenger on the Windrush, and how they felt when they had arrived to London.

All students worked well, and produced lovely, moving pieces.

Well done to all those involved! 

Similarly, Year 8 students have been studying a scheme of learning on Minority Voices through the base text of Long Way Down, a novel written entirely in verse, where they have looked at writers’ creation of a voice and have recreated their own ‘voices’. Two classes immersed themselves in John Lyons poetry at the beginning of summer term. After reading and studying the poems, students created their own nature and fire poems, which were nothing short of amazing. All students were actively engaged and showed off all their new skills, and transferred it all over to their creative writing module. 

Additionally, many completed mini speaking and listening tasks, linking closely to the topic of the novel-in-verse.

And others embarked on a task of completing posters that protest against knife crime.

This was an excellent way of showing off all of their new knowledge and showing off their skills, ready for a nice transition into Year 9. 

Year 9 
A massive well done and congratulations to Year 9 – they started off the summer with their studies in one of their GCSE texts An Inspector Calls and showed really good engagement. In the theme of celebration, we must congratulate all of our amazing Year 9 students on their Speaking and Listening Assessments, in preparation for their English Language GCSE. Students touched upon a variety of topics and showed great independent learning when researching and practising their speeches. With this amazing start, we look forward to what comes next with their journey into GCSE English.

On Wednesday 17 July, Year 9 were the first year group to take part in our Model UN day. From start to finish, Year 9s threw themselves into this amazing opportunity of exploring different matters relating to culture, environment, education and border control of each country. Students then went on to use their findings to build alliances with different ‘countries’, discuss important matters relating to all of the countries, and use their newly found speaking and listening skills to debate the different topics. Thank you to all of our leaders, runners, and every participant within each country who made the day as fantastic as it was!

Celebrating National Writing Day
In June students in Years 7, 8 and 9 participated in a writing challenge during one of their English lessons to celebrate National Writing Day. National Writing Day is an annual event which “aims to encourage everyone to find their own motivation and voice […] inspiring people of all ages and abilities to try writing for fun and self-expression.”
Our students did themselves and their teachers very proud with many engaging, shocking and humorous entries.
The entries that ultimately won and impressed the judges for their effort and imaginative are below. Overall winners won a coveted Amazon Gift Voucher and runners up received a fiction book that they will hopefully enjoy getting stuck into.

Honourable mentions:
Year 7 - Lilly, Nico, Ellie, Joe and Sophie 

Year 8 - Sadie, Florence, Isla , Edward , Joseph , Polina  Max , Lillie, Norah and Emily

Year 9 Alexis, Mia and Lawrence

KS3 Performance Poetry  Competition
A huge well done to Joseph F in Year 7 who won the KS3 Performance Poetry Competition. This competition ran across NLS and our cluster schools and students were tasked to choose their favourite poem or one of their own and perform it in their own style. The winners in each category will have their poem performance shown in assemblies.  Joseph's poem recording will be played  to numerous primary schools in our local area and we are sure he will inspire future poets.

Year 10
Year 10 have successfully channelled their way through a very content heavy year this year! Starting with poetry, to finishing with their studies of English Language Paper 1. Our Year 10 students sat the English Language Paper 1 for their progression exams, and have done themselves proud. The results across the year were pleasing, and we look forward to seeing the amazing progress that they make in Year 11.

Year 12
To experience Shears’ poetry as a reality, Year 12 English Literature successfully climbed Skirrid Hill with Miss Norman and Mr Hoskin. All of them involved agreed it was a fantastic opportunity and fulfilling, but tough, climb.

Rewards in English
This year has been an incredible year in terms of rewards for our students. All year, we have had students who have shown a consistent, excellent effort in their studies, and the rewards gained are a true reflection of that. We have crunched the numbers for the top students across the classes this half-term, and for the academic year 2023-2024. The top classes and students are as follows…

Well done , and to all students for their active participation, collaboration with peers, and work across the year. We look forward to seeing if and how the tables turn in the 24-25 academic year!

Congratulations to Year 10 and Year 12 who have been working hard to complete their GCSE and A Media Level Coursework.

GCSE students have been walking around school armed with ghost masks and props to produce their horror DVD covers and the A Level students have been working on their music videos.

Students have tackled the new update to InDesign and Photoshop well and have been utilising intervention time to complete their coursework.  The end is in sight – well done and good luck as you head into your exam years!

Year 7, 8 and 9 classes have been exploring various locations around the world this term.
Year 7 have been learning about the polar environments, from the animals of the Arctic, the Inuit people as well as the famous Race to the South pole back in 1911.  The Geography teachers have been really impressed with the quality of the posters produced for this topic. They have also been carrying out some fieldwork in the school grounds to produce “Messy Maps”.

These are maps of the school grounds to show what items they collected, how they felt in the areas, what sound and textures there were in the areas etc.

Year 8 have been learning about some of the fastest changing nations in the world and the importance they now have, e.g. China, India and the Middle East.

Year 9 have been investigating urban areas of the world with two main cities examined – Mumbai and, closer to home, Birmingham.

Year 10 have been extending their knowledge of hazardous areas of the world including the impacts of changing climates as well as revision for their recent end of year 10 exam.

In June, Year 12 Geographers spent three days in the lovely seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk to complete fieldwork. They were investigating a range of Geographical issues in the town from physical Geography such as coastal processes and the impact of sea defences, as well as the impact of climate change on the town, and for Human Geography they examined the impact of second home ownership on the settlement.

A few students even had a go at using a drone to investigate the town and the beach.
It was a very worthwhile residential fieldtrip with students collecting a wide range of data for their coursework project.

The students were a delight to take away and were commended by the course leader on their thoroughly positive attitude to Geography and the fieldwork, well done all!

Year 10 Travel and Tourism students have continued learning content for Component 2; Customer needs and travel and studies have included how market research is used to identify customer needs as well as emerging travel and tourism trends.

The final weeks of the term students have been working on Learning Aim B; recognise how the needs and preferences of travel and tourism customers are met which will continue into the Autumn term.  

These lessons involve students exploring ideas about customer needs and preferences. Specifically exploring ideas about customer needs and preferences and desirable preferences such as convenience and levels of flexibility.
The NEA Component 1 results will be finalised by the exam board Pearson in August and final grades confirmed with students in September.

Year 10 have had their results for Component 1:  Human Lifespan Development.  Students completed four tasks across six hours which contributed to 30% of their BTEC Health and Social Care qualification.  Well done to all for their excellent attitude to learning throughout the assessment.

Students have started Component 2: Health and Social Care services and values  and will complete five written tasks at the end of October for this unit which will be scheduled across six hours and this will equate to 30% of their BTEC Health and Social Care qualification.

Communication regarding the dates of commencing the coursework will be sent in the Autumn term.  So far students have been looking at the different health and social care services people may need to access for different needs.  In addition students have also looked at the range of barriers to accessing services and how these barriers can be overcome.  A range of case studies have been looked at with regard to accessing services based on specific needs and the barriers that may prevent service users receiving care. 
Students have shown great maturity when exploring service user’s needs and have been sensitive and creative in exploring how barriers can be overcome. 

Year 7 have concluded the year studying the Florentine Renaissance. We focused on improvements in art, medicine and science, investigating what these improvements looked like, why this remarkable change took place and its impact for mankind. In Year 8 students will be looking at the period 1500-1900, beginning with Henry VIII and the Reformation and then focus on the religious wars that followed.

Year 8 concluded the year with a look at the social and political change of the industrial age, 1700-1900. They have examined the horrors of slavery and the reasons for its abolition; at municipal reform with the Public Health Acts of 1848 and 1875; the impact of the railways on British life and political reform with the various Reform Acts and Chartism. Students begin Year 9 with the causes of World War I, then journey through this conflict and onto World War II. They end the year with an examination of the British Empire with a focus on India, Ireland and migration into Britain after World War II.

Year 9 concluded the year studying the British Empire. We have focused on Ireland and migration into Britain after World War II with the previous two terms studying World War I and World War II. We look forward to those students beginning  their GCSE History studies in Year 10 with Paper 1 looking at the History of Medicine and also to those able to join the Battlefields trip next April which complements Paper 1 looking at medical provision in the trenches.

Year 10 have just concluded the year with a progression on Paper 2, covering Elizabeth I and the Cold War. The results in this exam reveal a great deal about the progress students have made over the last two years of their GCSE History. In September students will be given a revision schedule detailing, week by week, what they need to focus on in preparation for their December Year 11 mock exam on Medicine, a topic last studied in year 9. The positive habits and importance of revision are best begun at the start of the year to ensure students are best placed to reach their potential in the final exams in June 2025.

Year 12 Historians have concluded the year with a progression exam covering Paper 1 – Britain, 1918-97 and Paper 2 – USA, 1955-92. The results in this exam reveal a great deal about the progress students have made over the last year of their A level History. It indicates how well they have been working this year and any additional work and revision to further support their learning. Students have been introduced to the coursework element, chosen their area of focus and should have ordered the books they need to read over the summer, so please be aware of this. Year 13 will begin with coursework, which will be a focus throughout the year and also Paper 3, which looks at the British Experience of warfare from the Napoleonic wars to World War I.

Year 12
What an exciting time in Politics for our students with a general election taking place; it has been fascinating to observe and discuss the recent election with the students. This process and its outcome will be an integral part of their responses to Paper 1 and Paper 2 questions in their final exams next summer. As always, it remains important for students to regularly engage with the news, both international and domestic.

On this note Politics students, Leo, Karim, Noah, Isaac, Raph and James, did a fantastic job of staging a mock election with all North Leamington students choosing their preferred party. They produced entertaining and informative campaign videos for each of the political parties, explaining various policy areas such as the economy, education and how to improve the NHS. The aim of the election was to raise awareness of the importance of politics and stimulate further debate with the Labour Party winning. It was  an enriching and relevant educational experience, and our candidates did a great job with enthusiasm.

Politics students have concluded the year with a progression exam covering Paper 1 – British Politics and Paper 2 – British Government

Year 7
We are so pleased with the progress our Year 7s have made this year!  They have  completed their end of year assessments and there has been huge progress made throughout all maths groups.  Well done year 7! 
To celebrate the end of year we have completed a Maths Bee on July 18 which involved team work, relays, problem solving skills and of course a bit of maths!  Manor took an earlier win in session 1 but congratulations goes to the overall winners, Blackdown, who made a fantastic comeback in the second session. 

1. Blackdown
2. Croft
2. Manor
4. Park
5. Binswood

We wish you all a very restful summer and do come back ready keen and eager in September.  Well done again!

Year 8
The year 8s have completed their end of year assessments and we are so pleased with the progress made.  So many students have worked hard and made great progress and we are so proud of them all.  As with the year 7s, we have had a celebratory ending with them on July 11 by running a  Maths Bee involving team work, relays, problem solving and a bit of maths!  Over a number of scored rounds, students worked hard on their Numeracy and Maths skills and worked collaboratively in teams for their Colleges.

Blackdown took an early lead in session 1 but congratulations goes to the overall winners, Binswood, who made a surging comeback in the second session!

Well done Year 8  

1. Binswood 
2. Blackdown 
3. Manor 
4. Park 
5. Croft 

We wish you all a very restful summer and do come back ready keen and eager in September.  Well done again!

Year 9
The year 9s have now come to the end of Key Stage 3 and we are very pleased and proud of their progress throughout the year.  They will  start their GCSE preparation as they move into Year 10. Now is the time to really make sure gaps in learning are closed and things get a little more serious.  We are sure our Year 9s will rise to the challenge and do really well in maths next year.  Don’t forget to bring a calculator to all lessons though! 
We wish you all a very restful summer and do come back ready keen and eager in September.

Year 10
Our Year 10s are now well into their GCSE course in maths and we are really pleased and proud of their progress so far.  The end of year exams were really encouraging and the attitude and resilience seen by our Y10s has been commendable.  We are sure with continued hard work and efforts they will do really well as they go into their final GCSE year.
We wish you all a very restful summer and do come back ready keen and eager in September.

Year 12
Having completed their end of year exams, and completed  work experience, we know the year 12’s have put in great effort in maths.  Although it is a significant leap from GCSE, our students have risen to the challenge and have continued to show resilience, hard work and determination to achieve excellent results in their end of year exams. 
We wish you all a very restful summer and do come back ready, keen and eager in September.

 German

We would like to congratulate Year 7 German students for their fantastic effort in the end-of-year reading assessment. Our students followed the advice of creating flashcards to learn their vocabulary and this method definitely paid off. We have some amazing results in this skill and the students should really be proud of their successes. Year 7 also completed a speaking test, and again, we saw great progress with many developing their answers and pushing themselves with more complex structures. Well done, we are really looking forward to seeing them progress further next year.

Year 8 German students completed an end of year listening assessment. We are so pleased with the commitment shown with vocabulary learning. They created mind-maps and flashcards to revise the vocabulary relating to the town, shopping and holiday topic. We saw some excellent results in this skill and we are really pleased with the progress made. Year 8 students also completed a writing test and many produced a fluent piece of work with extended answers and complex structures. Well done to Year 8 and we are looking forward to continuing this progress next year.

Year 9 German students have progressed and achieved fantastic scores in the end of year listening and reading assessments. We have spent time practising these skills to avoid the distractors. Well done, Year 9 on the results and not falling for those distractors. The students have shown real dedication to regularly revising vocabulary and have had a great attitude to learning. We look forward to seeing those who have opted for German in Year 10 progress further and begin the exciting GCSE course.

Year 10 German students have completed their progress examinations in German and we are really pleased with the progress made. They have progressed well in listening and reading.  The students have also shown dedication to the writing test. They listened well and produced a plan to remind themselves of the complex structures, which should be included and they planned well to avoid repetition. We are looking forward to further progress in Year 11. Well done!

French 

Year 7
Students have recently completed a reading assessment. It was evident how hard the students worked to learn the key vocabulary from the sports and free time module and their dedication, in the very high grades achieved across the board. Students also completed a speaking assessment for the first time. Whilst for some this may have a nerve-wracking experience, all students tried their very best and many came out with excellent marks. Well done Year 7, you have made excellent progress ready for Year 8.

Year 8
Students have completed their end of year assessments. By learning key phonics sounds for the town vocab, many students were able to very successfully complete the listening assessment and achieve their target grade or above. Students also demonstrated their knowledge of vocab and structures in a written assessment. There were some excellent pieces of writing produced which included opinions, reasons, comparisons, irregular superlatives and the near future tense. Well done Year 8!

Year 9
Students have worked hard to revise the key vocabulary and structures to complete their assessments for the year evidence by the high grades achieved. For some, this will have been their last time in a French classroom so we wish them a Bon Voyage. We are delighted those continuing next year to begin the GCSE course. This is a very exciting time for students and we look forward to seeing them flourish as language learners next year.

Year 10
Year 10 have completed their Progression Exams, including reading, listening and writing. Students across both tiers have scored well in all skills, especially the listening which is often the hardest skill in French. Students worked hard in lessons in the lead up to the exams practising writing techniques and learning key structures to show off their language skills. We look forward to making even more progress as we enter our final year of GCSE French. How exciting!  

Year 7: Blues and Rap Music
This unit of work focuses on music appreciation, composition and collaboration and performing written music. Students have been provided with listening tasks to develop their understanding of Blues and Rap and to encourage creative thinking. Alongside class performances students have been tasked with creating and performing their own Blues and Rap pieces using MixCraft software.

Year 8: EDM (Electronic Dance Music)
This unit of work focuses on music appreciation, composition and sequencing, exploring the use of musical devices to create music in the style of EDM. Students have been provided with listening tasks and contextual information to develop an understanding of the genre. Students were then tasked with using music software to compose and record a piece of EDM refining their performing, recording and sequencing skills alongside composition and theory.

Year 9: Free Choice Performance
Cover Versions
This unit of work focuses on students collaborating in pairs or small groups to perform, record and/or produce a cover version of a famous piece of music. By developing a more independent approach to learning this has involved gathering appropriate resources and equipment in order to collaborate, perform, practise and record their chosen cover track. They have analysed the musical features and apply genre-specific stylistic elements to their performance. Students have demonstrated a disciplined and safe approach to their work, monitor their progress and identify areas for development.

Year 10: BTEC Music Level 2: Component 2
Students have recently completed PSA Tasks 1 and 2 of Component 1 of their BTEC Music course and are currently working towards elements of Component 2. During these components, students have been learning about a range of musical styles, tasked with performing, reproducing and composing pieces to demonstrate their practical/instrumental/music-making skills. Alongside their practical work students have produced written analysis and reviews to demonstrate their historical, contextual and theoretical knowledge. 

Year 12: BTEC Music Level 3: Unit 39 and 7 
Students in Year 12 are developing their knowledge of the music industry and exploring how the different areas are interrelated. Students have studied job roles, venues, contracts, marketing and business plans with a view to building a comprehensive understanding of how the industry operates and the potential career opportunities. Students also use their time to continually develop their performance skills and broaden their musical repertoire.

Unit 7 is aimed at developing students composing skills and provided the opportunity to create and compose five original ideas in contrasting styles/genres, with a view to developing a selection into full compositions.

Music Tuition

We offer a variety of music instrumental tuition at North Leamington School.

Lessons are available for

·         20 minute  -  individual lesson

·         20 minute  - shared lesson 

·         30 minute  - individual lesson (for Violin only)

If your child wishes to start receiving lessons in September at NLS, or has been been receiving instrumental tuition please contact us at nls@northleamington.co.uk.

The last Summer term has seen students representing NLS brilliantly in Rounders, Tennis, Cricket and Athletics, with a plethora of individual and team successes.

The Year 7 Girls Rounders team finished off their season by winning the District Year 7 tournament at Myton. They beat Myton, Aylesford and Kenilworth teams to be crowned champions. Congratulations to all the girls on their performance.

The Year 7 and 8 Boys and Girls Athletics teams competed at the Town Championships at Edmonscote Track, with some fantastic team and individual performances.

The Year 7 boys came fourth overall, with highlights including:
Lucas Coonan winning Silver in the 200m
Joe Ford winning Silver in the Long Jump

 The Year 7 Girls finished second overall, with stand out performances from:
 Rosa Carginn winning the 70m Hurdles & and Silver in the High Jump
 Elsa Clegg winning silver in the Shot putt.

The Year 8 Boys finished third overall as a team, with excellent individual performances:
Stan Brown winning Silver in the 800m,
Dylan Kerr winning Gold in the 1500m
Otto Castle winning Gold in the Javelin.

The Year 8 Girls team also finished third overall, with the highlight being Esme Blake winning the High Jump Competition.

Three NLS Students, have been selected to represent the county at the National Schools Athletics event in Birmingham. Congratulations to Jacob Smith in Year 9, Archie Lane in Year 10 and Jimmy Ward in Year 11 on their selection to the squad.

Congratulations also to a number of NLS Students who have recently gone through trials and been selected to represent Warwickshire at Football. Well done to: Jesse Hunt who has been selected to the U16 squad and to Esme Blake, Elsa Clegg and Isobel Reading, who have all been selected to the Girls U14 squad.

We still have a number of boys waiting to hear back from the County selection committee at U14, so fingers crossed for a few more hoping to be picked. Well done to all!

With this being the last Newsletter for the Year, it gives us an opportunity to give appreciation and recognition to all students who have taken the time and effort to attend extra-curricular clubs and represent the school at Sport. This year we have taken part in Athletics, Tennis, Cricket, Rounders, Squash, Rugby, Netball, Football and Basketball Fixtures and won 8 trophies and numerous honours along the way.

A huge congratulations and thank you from the PE department on all their performances this year.

                                            Team Trophy winners, 2023-2024.

Congratulations and thank you from the PE department on all their performances this year.

Sports Day 

The last Tuesday of the term saw our annual whole school Sports Day. Despite the negative looking weather forecast, the PE department set up with their fingers crossed for a day full of activity.

Colleges competed in a variety of team events during the morning including Football, Netball, Rounders,  Dodgeball and Tennis before all year groups came together in the afternoon and continued the sporting battles with Athletics and Tug-of-war.

When all the points for each event were finally accumulated and totted up, it was Mr Boyes’ Manor College who triumphed and will keep the much sought after Sports Day Trophy until next year.

Well done to all students who took part, competed well, and in supporting each other during the whole day with a fantastic attitude, demonstrating sportsmanship and team spirit throughout.

At NLS, we utilise the schemes of learning and opportunities that the Prince's Trust offers to enable some of our most vulnerable students to achieve. Our Prince’s Trust pathway has yielded some wonderful results this year with most of our students achieving the certificate at Level 1 and others achieving the award accreditation.

A huge thank you to all staff and students for all of their hard work and successes during their Prince’s Trust lessons this year.

If you wish to have any more information about The Price’s Trust, please contact jbarrett@northleamignton.co.uk

Year 7:

Year 7 have been looking at money management and effective ways of budgeting. Hopefully they will put these skills to good use over the summer!

Year 8:

Year 8 have been focusing on managing different types of relationships including managing potential conflict at home, avoiding peer pressure and forming healthy relationships in all aspects of their lives.

Year 8 have been developing their digital literacy skills and have focused on strategies for staying safe on line. We have had some interesting and insightful contributions from students on this important area of their lives.

Year 9:

Year 9 have been exploring career options and the skills and qualifications they need to move on to the next stage in their own career journey. During their final lesson they interviewed one another for their dream jobs. We look forward to seeing some chefs, teachers, lawyers and of course many professional footballers in the future!

Year 10:

Year 10 have started to examine different forms of abuse in relationships and warning signs of coercive behaviours. Students have shown a lot of maturity in the way they have discussed these issues.

Year 12:

Year 12 have been looking at the impact of gangs and organised crime on communities. They have been discussing possible strategies for tackling this.

We've had an incredibly dynamic term in Psychology, bursting with exciting activities and achievements. Our Year 12 students have shown extraordinary dedication in preparing for their exams, attending intensive revision sessions, and creating top-notch revision resources. A special shout-out to Luis and Hanna our outstanding Psychologists of the Month for their unwavering commitment to growth and excellence in Psychology. Luis even chose one of Miss Clifford's favourite books, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Dr. Oliver Sacks, as his prize—a perfect companion for diving into the next topic of Biopsychology.

What have we been studying?

This term, our students delved into the intricacies of research methods, focusing on data analysis and research design. They applied their mathematical skills and explored various ways psychologists conduct and interpret research. Now, they're embarking on the exciting challenge of designing their own studies, putting their newfound knowledge to the test with 12-mark ‘design a study’ questions!

In addition to mastering research methods, students tackled the fascinating topics, Psychopathology and Attachment. They examined a range of mental health disorders and treatment methods, including how phobias develop and the behaviourist techniques used to treat them.

Egg Babies and Attachment Adventures

One of the highlights this term was the arrival of our Year 12s adorable egg babies!

Students kept detailed diaries of their babies first years, applying their knowledge from the Attachment topic to illustrate key concepts and theories about child development.
Most egg babies thrived under their parents care, enjoying fantastic experiences and making it through their critical period in one piece. Sadly, a few egg babies faced challenges, with some experiencing maternal deprivation and others not surviving their first hour. Despite these hurdles, the project provided an invaluable and fun learning experience, doubling as a fantastic revision activity for their exams.

Looking Forward to next year
As we wrap up this term, we're excited about the progress our students have made and can't wait to see what they achieve next. We will be review our exams and consider further skills to focus on so we hit the ground running in September. Over the summer holidays, there is a reading competition where students are tasked to read a Psychology related book and complete a book review. All entries will go into a prize draw to win a Waterstones Voucher! The recommended reading list for students to choose from include:

• Reaching Down the Rabbit Hole by Dr Allan Ropper – Bio-Psychology and Psychopathology
• The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks – Psychopathology and Neurological disorders
• The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt – Psychological Well Being
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathon Haidt – How are our smart phones impacting our younger generations?
• Wild by Kristen Hannah – Attachment based book
• The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo – Social Influence and Obedience
• The Psychopath Test by John Ronson – Psychopathology
• We are all completely beside ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler – Relationships/psychological well being
• Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker – About a large family who have a large number of schizophrenia suffers

Here's to a fantastic summer and more thrilling adventures in Psychology!

Year 12:
 Year 12 are now over half way through the A-level and have covered 38 topics! We have been very impressed by the hard work and the commitment they have shown this year. It is important that students spend some time over the summer reviewing their notes and addressing any areas where there might be gaps in learning so that they have a positive start to Year 13.

Year 10:
Year 10 have been exploring issues relating to medical ethics, including saviour siblings and organ donation. They have shown a great deal of maturity and empathy and it has been interesting to hear their views on this. Well done on completing your GCSE exams. 

Year 9:
Year 9 students have been working on Paper 1 Theme 3 (Good and Evil). They have been examining causes of crime, aims of punishment and arguments for and against the death penalty. Students are now over half way through the GCSE. We have sent students home with their Year 9 exercise books and assessment folders so that they can use these to help them prepare for their first Mock exam in the autumn term.

Year 8:
Year 8 students have been studying the Five Pillars of Islam this half term. It has been lovely to see the creative homework tasks that students have completed where they focused on the Pillar they felt is particularly important to the Muslim faith.

Year 7:
Year 7 students have been exploring Sikhism.  They have particularly enjoyed developing their understanding of the Five Ks and how they impact the lives so some Sikhs. We have been very impressed by some of the project work we have seen on this, including cookies made in the shape of each of the Five Ks. They were almost too good to eat!

Year 7 - Our Shining Lights
Year 7 students have been investigating the properties of light. Using different equipment they have investigated how light is reflected, refracted and what happens when light is passed through a prism.

Students were tasked with setting up their own equipment and investigate what happens when light is passed through a different medium

 They used a variety of skills, practical skills to set up ray boxes with power packs, maths skills to measure angles with protractors determining the law of refraction and investigative skills to see what happens to light when it is passed through a prism.

Working in teams students produced refraction diagrams and answered questions to determine the law of refraction and what happens to light when it is passed through a medium.

Finally, they were asked  to create a rainbow using a glass prism to show them how different colours in the visible light spectrum refract at different angles to produce a rainbow, which, as stated by students, “shows science is cool!”

Making Salts

Year 7 have been studying acids and alkalis and really enjoyed analysing substances using universal indicator to identify whether they are acidic or alkaline. They loved seeing the colour changes associated with this and especially the challenge of trying to make a neutral green solution from an acid and an alkali.

Tasked to make a salt from the reaction of an acid and an alkali they developed their practical skills such as filtration and crystallisation whilst making copper sulfate crystals,  and were keen to make the biggest crystals!

We welcomed The Smallpeice Trust in who ran a brilliant Engineering Experience Day event for some of our year 7 students. It was a great opportunity for students to experience real life applications of engineering, with a chance to design and build an object to solve a problem. The event was funded by the RAF charitable trust.  This hands-on event provided an invaluable opportunity for students to delve into the fundamentals of aerodynamics and engineering through engaging, practical activities.

The day began with prototyping exercises using simple materials such as paper, straws and tape allowing students to experiment and understand basic flight principles. The students explored different wing designs, empennage shapes and mass distribution.

Building on these foundational skills, the students then progressed to creating a final model using wood and an electric motor for propulsion. This progression from simple to complex materials and designs helped reinforce their understanding of engineering concepts and the physics that underpin successful flight.

Adding an exciting competitive edge to the day, students were invited to write a letter explaining why they should be selected to attend the prestigious Royal International Air Tattoo. The winners of this competition will enjoy a trip to one of the world's largest military air shows, where they can further their interest and knowledge in aviation.

Participants have the chance to work towards achieving a CREST Award. This highly respected qualification, recognised by many companies in the STEM sectors, celebrates creativity in science, technology, engineering, and maths projects. Attaining a CREST Award not only acknowledges the students' hard work and ingenuity but also enhances their credentials for future educational and career opportunities.

The Engineering Experience Day was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 7 students to ignite their passion for STEM and gain practical experience in the field of engineering. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and look forward to seeing their continued growth and achievements.

Year 8 – Exploring Planet Earth
Year 8 scientists have been learning about the structure of our planet. Students were able to make links between their learning in science and geography and were impressed with their knowledge of the  layers of the earth. From looking at what is inside the earth we moved to studying the atmosphere surrounding it, learning about how the atmosphere was formed and how it is still developing today. The students were very inquisitive about climate change and how it is linked to the composition of our atmosphere with lots of brilliant questions and ideas about how individuals and organisations can make choices that affect our atmosphere and climate.

Year 9 students have been diving into the exciting world of electromagnetism and have built their own electromagnets and rigorously tested them. They investigated the different ways to increase the strength of their electromagnet to make the strongest electromagnet! This hands-on experience sparked curiosity and innovation. 

Year 9 Big Bang Fair - A number of Year 9 students enjoyed the opportunity to experience the Big Bang Fair at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham this term. The Fair is the UK’s largest celebration of STEM (Science, technology, engineering and maths) for young people, with over 200 organisations across government, industry, education and the wider science and engineering communities.

Students took part in demonstrations, problem-solving tasks as well as talking to specialists about different career opportunities related to science, technology, engineering and maths.

Year 10 Physics Olympiad
Huge congratulations to the Year 10 students that took part in the Junior Physics Challenge. They completed challenging online tests prepared by BPhO Physics Olympiad and applied their knowledge in different scenarios.

All students who entered did well and achieved high scores to receive certificates. They should all be proud of themselves.

Of particular mention are four NLS  students who achieved a Gold award (top 15% across the UK) Martin S, Sophie R, Hikaru T and Willem S. Well Done to all.

Our Year 12 Chemists have been completing their Organic Chemistry topics in which they have learnt all about alkanes, alkenes, halogenoalkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids and how to test to see what organic molecules are present in a sample.

As part of this, students have conducted distillation on a primary alcohol, to ensure that it was oxidised to an aldehyde, which the students then were able to confirm the presence of by conducting a further test, the Silver Mirror test.

The Year 12 Chemists enjoyed a small competition to see who could produce the best silver mirror; the winners being Mille P and Natalia S 

Students have now moved onto the Year 13 content which begins with Theory & Methods.  The 10 topics explore how we research society to be able to identify patterns and trends and how based on these research findings we can look to improve society.  Students also explore how society functions and how we develop shared norms and values and social order.  With Miss Howard the theories we explore range from Marxist views of living in a capitalist society and how all institutions benefit the elite in society, to Functionalist views of society which suggest institutions allow for clear roles to be identified and cooperate harmoniously.  The 10 topics will be embedded as final questions into paper 1 & 3.  Over the summer we expect students to ensure all revision resources are up to date for Paper 1: Education & Paper 2: Families and Households.  Students should also be revisiting the knowledge and skills demands for each question by completing question plans using the past exam question handouts that are available on the school portal and have been provided for students. 

With Ms Holland, the students have completed Topics 3 and 4 of the 10 theory and Methods topics. They have considered key issues such as ‘Is Sociology a Science, and should it be?’ Sociology is a subject that uses evidence to support theories and explain patterns in society. It is seen as a ‘social science’ as a result (think BSc!), but this is contingent on what we mean by science in the first place! We have had some interesting and lively debates about what science is, how much truth it brings to the table, and whether scientific methods can be used to explain patterns we don’t necessarily see in society, such as ‘class differences’ or ‘cultural deprivation.’ Students showcased their wealth of knowledge of history, current affairs and a developing critical mind when debating these concepts and showed they are able to evaluate difficult concepts with examples to support their views. We have also examined ‘Objectivity and Values’ in which we have considered the place of our values in how we view the world, and whether, as a paid Sociologist, these can be left to one side and true, objective knowledge sought or whether these views will always be seen through a specific lens… Food for thought for the summer holidays!

It’s been another fantastic term with students consolidating their learning into much stronger outcomes. The moderators have recently completed their marking of a sample of Year 11 and 13 students' exam work. Our students have performed brilliantly. 

Our Year 13s have produced fantastic work over the course. Here are  some of the pieces they have completed during the course. They have worked hard, producing a variety of 2D and £D artwork as large pieces and in their sketchbooks.

Year 11 have, likewise, produced strong artwork and below is a flavour of the artwork produced over their course.

Students spend many weeks researching, drawing and testing materials and techniques in their sketchbooks in preparation of their final outcome. Again, we have seen hard work generating art that is personal and creative and some examples of their work can be seen here. We are so impressed by the quality of work students have produced and their ability to look at and respond to the world around them.
It’s exciting to see how students evolve and develop and how they choose the materials they believe suits their style of art.

Well done to all of you!

Year 7 Students have been painting seascapes in the style of Artist Kurt Jackson.

Jackson is known for his mixed media paintings, where he applies sand and found materials into his paintings. Our Year 7 have taken their colour theory knowledge one step further, delighting us with their ability to explore mark making with different tools like, sponge and a pipet.

Students are so keen to take them home and show off their skills. What a fantastic year you have been.

Year 8 Students have been busy exploring the many ways they can use cogs, lines and patterns after looking at the abstract artwork of Ruth Piper. Her colourful compositions have inspired our students to create their own abstract masterpieces. Our curriculum requires students to understand the artist’s ways of working, and research helps them understand the processes of creating art. Below are some fantastic examples of sketchbook studies and research. 

Year 9 students have researched the illustrative artwork of Teesha Moore, who combines portraits, words and images to create stories. Some students have used themselves for the portrait, whilst others have selected their favourite celebrity. Focus has been on planning a successful composition which they have traced and then applied materials too. Students have had freedom in the selection of materials being used, whilst using their portrait drawing skills previously learnt. It’s been an enjoyable term talking to them and listening to the story they want to portray.

Year 10 students have been researching and learning from two or more Artists and planned their own compositions to complete their final exam piece. Examples here are from their sketchbooks and after choosing from a list of starting points they have taken their art into a personal journey, selecting artists who they admire.  

We have been amazed by such fantastic artwork our students have created and look forward to seeing more amazing work in year 11.

Year 12 have working towards their progression exam and planned and tested out a final piece for this. Below are some of the student’s art in their sketchbooks. Students choose their own projects, research artists, visit galleries and museums, take photographs, draw and create their own responses.

A lot of time and effort goes into their sketchbooks.

What a fantastic year we have had in Photography. All terminal exams and moderation events are now completed and we would like to congratulate all students and wish them well as they move forward onto the next step of their journey.

Year 9 students have now completed their Photography Foundation course and we have seen some amazing images being created around aspects of formal elements. This term we have focused on Light looking at Shadows and Silhouettes. We look forward to welcoming the current Year 8s into their Photography course this September.

Year 10 students have had a taster of what the extended examination period will be having completed their end of year exam. We have seen some fantastic outcomes as they have worked to complete their major Component 1 projects.

Year 12 are well into their Component 1 project with the Research written project  completed and focus going to their practical projects and development of their ideas.

Students are working on a varied of projects using a range of media and techniques.

Students from both exam years have completed their coursework and exam components. Work was exhibited in a professional manner to show off a whole range of outcomes and then externally moderated by the exam board. Students will receive their grade for this over the summer.

A sneak peak of the work below:

Year 12 and Year 10 students have completed their textiles progression exam. The three-hour exam  saw students being ambitious completing their practical work using a wide variety of techniques.  This will help prepare them for the timed examination period for Component 2 next year,

Summer Rotations - Years 9,8 & 7

Year 9 students have been completing their bag, scarf or t-shirt for the NYC fashion inspired project, working independently and meticulously to complete work to their chosen design.

Year 8 have been busily completing their final packaging-inspired cushion covers, adding applique lettering and other details to their tie-dyed fabric base, alongside some fantastic homework.

Year 7 have completed one of their final outcomes - the Pop Art inspired doughnut cushion which saw some students extending their skills by using applique skills to complete a healthier style food item!  The second piece they have worked on is a Jon Burgerman inspired pizza keyring.

Year 10 Design Technology
Students have been working on their NEA aiming to complete as much of the research section before the summer holidays.  The NEA is worth 50% of their GCSE so every mark can really make a difference to their overall grade next year.  

Year 10 Food
Students will be starting their NEA at the start of Year 11. The first task will be released to students in their first lesson back after the holiday, which consists of an investigation style assessment. The second NEA will begin after the October half term with far more practical related assessments contributing towards their GCSE.  The NEAs combined  is worth 50% of their GCSE so every mark can really make a difference to their overall grade next year. 

Recently Year 10 have been practising the NEA by choosing a dish suitable for a specific task.  Making pasta was one of these options which is trickier than it might seem.

Year 7 and 8 and 9 DT classes
As we end a very busy year for our KS3 classes I would like to thank parents for their ongoing support in providing ingredients for students for food practical lessons; it is truly a wonderful sight to see so many of our students truly engaged in learning.

We hope that students and families at home are enjoying seeing the wonderful practical items made in the food rooms and in the workshops.

Students follow a spiral curriculum meaning that they often revisit a skill previously used in another year.  However, each year the skill level increases eventually with the hope they have become skilled technology practitioners.

We are looking to offer a new enrichment  opportunity next term, for Year 8 & 9  to  cook some more complex dishes. We will provide more details in September. Intervention sessions will also be back in place for our KS4 students to support them through their NEAs.

Year 12 Product Design
Students are well underway in their assessment and although it sounds like it is far away from now we will be looking for a Christmas deadline for the NEA to be marked.  Students are making a wide range of items from textiles inspired products to storage solutions and the modelling for these prototypes is looking very professional.  

RISE Young Voices; A partnership between NLS, RISE and Really Youthful Theatre Company

This term, a wonderful group of students in years 8 and 9 have taken part in a theatre project with the Really Youthful Theatre Company; this project is a youth-led provision which encourages and engages seldom-heard voices,  increases youth participation, and supports co-production within RISE (mental health services for young people).

Our students have produced two films about some of the issues which affect young people’s mental health.

The students wrote the scripts, planned the drama, acted, directed and produced both films. This culminated in an exciting screening event when the films were shown to their chosen group of friends.

One film was about bullying, and showed the effects of bullying on mental health.

The second film showed the link between mental health and homelessness.

Both productions were very powerful to watch.

All nine students who took part have been invited to become “RISE Young Ambassadors”; this means that they can help in amplifying the voices of young people as mental health advocates. They have all signed up to join the scheme, which is a fantastic achievement.

Year 7 Eco Leaders 
This year the Year 7 Eco Leaders have created our very own NLS pen recycling scheme. They have run a competition to create the recycling boxes and collected the pens. They have saved over 2026 pens from landfill. Well done Eco Leaders! 

Year 5 Eco Workshops 
Our wonderful Year 7 Eco Leaders and Year 8 International leaders have been fantastic in helping us run Eco workshops for Year 5 students in the local area during the past couple of weeks. Students from local schools (Brookhurst, Cubbington, Milverton, St Paul's and Telford ) joined us and it was lovely to welcome over 290 Year 5 students to NLS to take part. 
Students enjoyed the opportunity to plant microgreens, build hedgehog houses and complete a wildlife treasure hunt in the school allotment.
Our Leaders have been a credit to NLS and the Year 5 students had a wonderful time exploring our allotment - it has been lovely to host them at NLS. 

Year 7 Spy Fiction Project
Over the year in English our students have worked with the students in our partner school in Mumbai, creating characters which they have exchanged and then using those characters to write spy fiction stories. Their stories have been superb and a lovely way to collaborate with students in a different country. 

This half term our Extra Curricular opportunities have continued  with students enjoying the wide variety and number of opportunities available.

Those who have taken part in our extra curricular sports have been hugely successful and our winning teams can be seen here.  

  
On Wednesday 3 July the VIBE Drama club performed their unique rendition of Hamlet – Ophelia’s Story at our Drama Showcase. Ellie - Drama Leader in Year 9 Reviewed the performance for us:

VIBE Drama Club showcased a breathtaking act of Ophelia. It was a play written by our very own Mrs. Wright and was a fresh, innovative take on Hamlet, an age-old performance. Demonstrating an ocean of talent, our cast embraced a range of characters, allowing every moment to be rich in emotion and carefully crafted skill. Ophelia, portrayed by Alexis, took the stage by storm, telling a story of heartbreak, power, and redemption.
Hamlet, acted by Isaac, brought a level of depth to this well-known character, while gifting us with pockets of comedy alongside Guildenstern and Rosencrantz (Gaia and Freya).
Each cast member brought boldness and flair to the performance, and our school could not be prouder to have such dedicated students!

At our Drama showcase the audience were also treated to a preview of a performance of ‘Happy from students involved in a piece they then performed the next evening at the Belgrade Theatre. This piece was created when the students worked with a Highly Sprung Director over two days in June and performed as part of the Physical Fellowship event  where students also had the opportunity to take part in all day workshops with professional theatre companies.

Details of all our extra curricular clubs can be found on the website and are displayed in school on the digital screens and at tutor time - details for September, including some new additions, will be available at the start of term.   

This term has seen all three levels successfully complete their expeditions.

Firstly our Gold students completed their  expedition over four days in the Snowdonia National Park. They walked 75km (46miles) reaching heights of up to 800m whilst carrying all of their kit, in some cases weighing up to 17kg. 
They not only had to endure heights, distances and workload, but also heavy wind and rain and the soaking of clothes and tents that comes as a consequence of that weather. They did so without complaint all whilst dealing with aches, strains, injuries (new and recurring), blisters and swarms of midges at the campsites.

Next were our Bronze participants: 97 Year 9 students successfully completed their expedition by meeting the 20 Conditions of DofE across a weekend in The Cotswolds. They appropriately navigated their routes of up to 15km per day – walking for six hours per day, set up camp and cooked a hot meal using the meths’ burner cookers. They all did brilliantly despite the atrocious weather conditions including a midnight thunder and lightning storm. 

Finally our Silver participants completed their expedition in Shropshire at The Long Mynd.  

Their route covered about 50Km in total, walking from Church Stretton to two camp site locations over three days and being entirely self-sufficient. We had pretty much perfect weather for the occasion and the sun even managed to breakout on the last day. All students successfully completed this important but challenging element to their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has grown successfully over the last couple of years at North Leamington School. This year:

• 97 Year 9 students will have completed their Bronze award
• 57 Year 10 students will have completed Silver award
• 19 Year 12 students will have completed their Gold award by next March.

During this time, along with their expeditions, our students also have:

• contributed over 5,000 hours of volunteering to our local community
• developed themselves by spending over 3, 500 hours learning new skills
• partaken in an additional 2,500 hours of physical activities

These are phenomenal numbers. As we move into next year we are looking to increase our numbers again and, if your child is in Year 9 (Bronze) or Year 10 (Silver) in September I would ask you to seriously consider the benefits that undertaking DofE can provide to young people.

If you want to learn more, please email me at jbarrett@northleamington.co.uk, look at the DofE website https://www.dofe.org and please do come along to our Parental Engagement evenings on Thursday 12 September 2024 for Silver and Thursday 19 September 2024 for Bronze. 

Would you like to work at North Leamington School?

Having enthusiastic, dedicated people who are passionate about making a difference to the lives and education of our young people at NLS is key in our recruitment.

Our vacancies are advertised on the school website under the ‘Vacancies’ pages as opportunities arise. They are also advertised on the WMJobs and TES websites.

With our recruitment planning for September underway the following roles will be advertised in early/mid-September:

• Teaching Assistants – Level 1 – Permanent Roles
• Science Technician – Permanent Role
• Exam Invigilators – Casual contracts

If you, or someone you know, would like to join our friendly, supportive teams, please keep an eye out over the summer holidays for further information when the positions will be advertised. 

We would welcome your application.
The HR Team