Bull’s EyeThe Bulmershe School Newsletter May 2015

For more information on these sports stories - and to keep up-to-date with The Bulmershe School sports teams and competitors - visit the school website at www.thebulmersheschool.com

SucceSS For BulmerShe SporTS TeamS Year 10 student Georgia Townsend

(pictured right) has had a successful season with Reading FC Under-16 girls. They not only won their league but also the Berks & Bucks FA cup.

The under-19 boys basketball team (pictured below) topped the

conference for the second year running, only losing one game all season.

The Under-16 boys basketball team also had a very successful season winning the West Conference.The school trampoline squad (below) won the Sainsbury’s

School Games level 2 competition for the second year running. Individual success went to Bethan McMillan who took second place

and Cherry Wright who was fourth. Well done Bethan and Cherry, who will now go on to represent Wokingham in the Level 3 competition.

Every year Ofsted publishes a data report which looks carefully at exam

results and progress made by students in Year 11 examinations, writes Headteacher Emma Reynolds.

This is called the Data Dashboard and it compares schools to national averages, and also to schools which are similar in profile.

The latest Data Dashboard was published last month, for the 2014 results, and I am delighted to share our highlights with you:

n Bulmershe is in the highest range for Science results nationally; this includes selective schools such as grammars.n Bulmershe is in the highest range for

progress made in English nationally. Again, this includes selective schools such as grammars.n Bulmershe is in the second highest range

nationally for progress in Maths These outcomes are a product of the hard

work of students and staff alike and the support of our families - thank you.

However, we are not complacent and continue to do everything possible to ensure that our students receive the very best education.

Finally. I would like to wish good luck to all our Year 11,12 and 13 students who are entering the summer exam season. I am sure all of your hard work and commitment will be rewarded in your final grades.

Emma ReynoldsHeadteacher

oFSTed daTa BooST For BulmerShe

The Year 7 girls football team are

pictured (left) with the trophy they were awarded for winning the Reading Schools Football League.

Over the season they played 12 games, winning nine, drawing two and losing just one game.

Above: cooking is obviously one of the joys of camping...!

Below: there is still plenty of energy left at the end of a gruel-ling day.

It has been very rewarding to see the steady rise in students’ achievements to above

national averages every year for the past three years across all key stages writes Margaret Allan.

This is due not only to the time and effort that teachers invest in ensuring that all students have the opportunity to achieve their potential, but also to the students playing their part by working hard and attending extra sessions where needed.

It will come as no surprise that attendance, punctuality and behaviour are strong contributing factors in improving achievement, and these are closely monitored by the Inclusion

governor and the committee. As governors we continue to be impressed by

the positive attitudes and strong commitment we meet at all levels in the school’s drive to provide outstanding teaching and learning.

The bold decision to move to a 3-year GCSE programme as from September is one example of a school that is determined to become a centre of excellence for all its students.

Ofsted provides an overview of how the school performed in last year’s exams and make comparisons with other similar schools. These data can be seen at http://dashboard.ofsted.gov.uk/dash.php?urn=110062

Margaret Allan is Vice Chair of Governors, with responsibility for Teaching and Learning. Governors’ on the Teaching & Learning committee take responsibility for monitoring school progress on student performance; safeguarding, attendance, punctuality and behaviour; the performance of different subject areas, and community engagement. Senior staff members report to these governors in briefing meetings, after which the governors make their own reports. These are circulated to all governors to ensure they are kept informed. Governors are also linked with subject leaders in order to gain a broader understanding of the different departments.

From The Bulmershe School Governors

Margaret Allan, Vice-chair of Gov-ernors (Teaching & Learning)

The last weekend in April was a tough one for 20 Bulmershe students in their quest for the

Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. Weeks of planning had led them to set off on

Friday morning to be dropped in the middle of the countryside near Marlborough.

They set off on foot, carrying everything to survive three days of walking and camping. It would turn out to be a demanding weekend.

The first night saw high spirits and a lovely atmosphere at camp and a number the students took great delight in using the play area to rest and relax ahead of Day 2.

Early morning saw the teams set off in good time and make excellent progress on their longest day. Rain greeted them at camp but, still in good spirits, they cooked, pitched tents and even sat down for revision sessions!

Those who had achieved their Bronze Award had been at this stage before and knew they needed a good night’s sleep to get through the final day which notoriously pushes challengers

beyond their comfort zone.On the morning of Day 3 there were blisters

and sore shoulders but the groups set off with determination. The weather responded,

making walking conditions more comfortable.

The final destination was the prehistoric stones at Avebury, a wonderful setting that students could admire as they crossed the finish line. Heads nodded on the bus journey back but the success stays with the students as they

look toward their next challenge.Participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

scheme gives young people the opportunity to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, to develop their skills and learn new ones, to lead others and to work as part of a team.

There are three progressive award levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Young people create their own programme by choosing volunteering, physical and skills activities and undertaking an expedition.

ON COURSE FOR THE D of E SILVER AWARD

The Bulmershe Ensemble continue their winning ways. Following an outstanding

performance at the Music for Youth regional festival in Swindon, they have been invited to perform at the Finals in Birmingham in July.

Only six senior choirs have been invited to participate, so it is an amazing achievement for the Ensemble. They now have a chance to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, as the best two choirs in the finals will be invited to sing at the Youth Proms.

There was further success in the Mayor of Reading’s Let’s Sing Reading competition, where the Ensemble beat 11 local choirs competing for the Youth Choir and Community Choir trophies.

Huge congratulations to all members of the group and to Assistant Head Miss Lant. Under her leadership this group of students has been moulded into an award winning and very professional choir in just a year.

The picture shows the group celebrating their latest victory with the Mayor of Reading, Councillor Tony Jones and Miss Lant.

MORE SUCCESS FOR THE BULMERSHE ENSEMBLE

The Bulmershe School Alumni are organising reunions to celebrate the 50 years that

The Bulmershe School has been successfully educating young people.

Former Bulmershe students and teachers from the 1972 to 1979 intakes returned to school for a reunion on 25 April, and those who started at the school between 1980 to 1984 met on 9 May

The events proved to be very popular each drawing around 200 alumni visitors.

On both occasions the former Bulmershe students who attended were very pleased to be able to chat to a number of former staff who also came along, and they were grateful to be shown around the school by some of the current students, who all did an excellent job.

There has been much appreciation shown by

the alumni who came to the reunions. Among the emails were these comments:

‘An amazing night, re-formed many friendships … A massive thanks to all involved - and I must say how fab the school is now looking!!!’

‘Such an amazing evening, so grateful for all the hard work that went into it and to all the Bulmershe School students who helped out. They also did a great job.’

‘Big thanks to all who organized the event, I had a great time. Wish I could rewind the event and have it all over again!’

The next reunion will be on 20 June, for alumni who started at the school between 1985 and 1988. There will be another on 11 July, for those starting between 1989 and 1992.

Alumni reunions:happy returns for former students

Above: former students who joined the school between 1972 and 1979 listen intently in their ‘assembly.’

Left: alumni from the classes joining between 1980 and 1984.

Keep up-to-date with school news and get the information you need.Visit the school website: www.thebulmersheschool.com

Acclaimed author Geraldine McCaughrean signs a copy of her latest book The Middle of Nowhere for a student during her recent visit to

The Bulmershe School. As well as signing her books, she spoke to students about writing. The school also hosted students from The Dolphin School, Forest, The Holt, Maiden Erlegh and Waverly Prep school at the event.

Bulmershe student Chris Faulkner beat 13,000 entries in the Kennel Club’s Dog

Photographer of the Year competition. Chris’s entry was third in the ‘I love dogs

because...’ category. The award-winning picture (below) is of his

dog, a ridgeback-cross called Buster. Chris’s picture was shown in Channel 4’s

Crufts coverage this year and so was seen both nationally and internationally.

Student’s winning picture shown on Crufts TV show

The school’s Under-13 girls rugby team came second in the Berkshire School Games at Bisham Abbey recently and then went on to

represent the whole of Berkshire in the regional competition against top teams from Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Middlesex.

Many people in our school community have direct links with Nepal and have families

who are suffering from the devastating effects of the recent earthquake.

Millions have been affected, families have been devastated, homes and possessions destroyed. The death toll could be in five figures and over two million children are directly affected. For many there is no longer a school to go to, which not only affects their education but also leaves them vulnerable.

Bulmershe staff and students are raising funds to support the victims. A non-uniform day held

recently raised nearly £700 for the emergency fund. Students were shown a film to let them know what the people of Nepali are facing.

Another big earthquake recently has added to the problems and the people are still in urgent need of medicines, food and shelter.

Therefore we ask you to give generously to support the people of Nepal. You can do so through the Disasters Emergency Committee website at www.dec.org.uk/nepal

pleaSe SupporT The people oF nepal

Above: a Nepali school damaged in the earthquake.