A Specialist Technology and Languages College

TheAshbeianIssue 14 - Autumn term 2009

Ashby School Wishes Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Successful New Year

Page Contents

2It’saBeauty!NewDiplomaLaunches

3BulldozersMoveinForLastMobile

4PromisingPoetPocketsPrize

5GreenCampaignersGetSilver

6-7

FacultyFocus:BusinessStudies,ModernForeignLanguages,ArtDesignandTechnology

8 DiaryDates

Fivefilm-makersfromAshbySchoolhavereeledinfirstprizeinacompetitiontopromoteLeicestershire’sBigSwitchOffenergy-savingcampaign.JadeBakewell,Jake

How did this rubber duck ruffle feathers in a photography competition?

See page four...

Bowley,LewisSmith,JordanBarryandThomasSmithmadea90-secondvideourgingallschool-userstosaveenergybyturningoffunnecessarylights,computersandotherelectrical

items.Thevideo–entitled‘YouWouldn’t…’–showedstudentsdoingunthinkablethingssuchassawingoffafriend’sarm.Itconcludedbyshowinganemptyclassroomwithallthelightsblazing–somethingunthinkableinthecontextoftheBigSwitchOff.

Judgeswereimpressedbythecreativityandtalentofthewinningfive,whoareallYear11MediaStudiesstudents.

Film-Makers Reel in First Prize

Sportingambassadorshavebeenappointedtoencouragestudentsofallagesandabilitiestogetmoreinvolvedinschoolsports.

APlatinumAmbassadorfromYear13isworkingalongsidetwoGoldAmbassadorsfromYear12andfourYear10SilverAmbassadors,topromoteanddeveloptheschool’ssportingprogramme.

Anewly-formedSportsCouncil,featuringstudentrepresentativesfromeachYear,willalsoboostsport’sprofile.Itsrolewillincludeorganisingsportingevents,competitionsandexerciseclasses,andpromotingpositivevaluesthroughsport.

OneoftheCouncil’sfirstprioritiesistogetmoregirlsinvolvedinsport.

Newly-appointed Sports Councillors, pictured here at a team-building event, want to encourage more students to take up sport.

Be a Good Sport...

A scene from the winning film.

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The Ashbeian

Asever,theschoolyearhasbegunwithmanynewdevelopments.Theseinclude:

• Anew10-daytimetablethatisworkingwell;

• MoreYear10and11studentstakingAScoursesinCriticalThinking,Scienceforthe21stCentury,andProductDesign;

• MorevocationalcoursesinPEandSport,Business,LeisureandTourism,Construction,Engineering,HairandBeauty,MusicTechnology,FilmandMedia,DramaandScience–studentsareenjoyingthesecoursesandachievingwell;

• MorePEforallYear10and11students;

• MoreYear12and13studentstakingtheExtendedProjectQualification(EPQ).Thiscourseishighlyratedbyuniversitiesasstudentsaretaughttheskillsneededtowriteadissertation.Mostuniversityundergraduateswriteadissertationaspartoftheirfinaldegree;

• Much-improvedattendance.Allstudentsarenowveryawareofthelinkbetweenattendanceandexamresults;

• Severalnewandrefurbishedclassroomareas,egTextiles,FoodTechnology,Engineering,upgradedFitnessSuite;

• Theestablishmentofalisteninglunchclubandbefriendinggroupstohelpstudentsfeelcomfortableandmakefriendsmoreeasily;

• Moreexamplesof‘goinggreen’.HousegardenshavebeencreatedthistermandtheschoolisnowaSilverEcoSchool;

• Schoolmusical‘WestSideStory’,showcasingtheschool’sexceptionaltalentsinthefieldsofdramaandtheperformingarts.

Asyoucansee,therearelotsofexcitingchangesinprogress,allofwhicharedesignedtoenhancethelearningexperienceandachievementsofourstudents.

MrsV.Keller-Garnett,Headteacher

Hair and Beauty

AnewDiplomainHairandBeautyhasbeenlaunchedatAshbySchool.

TheGovernment-backedcourseallowsstudentstoexplorepossiblecareersinhairdressing,barbering,beautytherapyandspaindustries.

Studentsdevelopbothpracticalandmanagementskills,preparingthemtoworkin,andevenrun,hairandbeautybusinessesandsalons.

ThecourseisruninpartnershipwithStephensonCollegeatCoalville.ADiplomainHairandBeautyisequivalenttosevenGCSEs.

Listening Lunch Club Launches

AlunchclubforstudentsinneedoffriendshipandalisteningearhasbeensetupatAshbySchool.

TheListeningLunchClubisrunbystudentstogivecompanyandadvicetofellowstudentswhowanttospeaktosomeoneoftheirownage.

Theclubalsoactsasadrop-incentre,tohelpstudentsgetmoreoutofschool,givethemasenseofbelongingandtackleanyfeelingsofalienation.

Onestudent,whousesthelunchclub,said:“IcomeherebecausethelistenersaremyageandIcantalktothem.TheyhavebeenthroughalotoftheproblemsthatIamhavingsotheycanhelpme.”

TheListeningLunchClubmeetsondaystwo,fourandsixduringbothlunchesandondayeightduringlatelunch.Alllistenersaretrainedtounderstandtheissueofconfidentiality.

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View from The Top...

Diploma students are exploring careers in the beauty industry.

Student listeners Hannah Rowland and Ian Boots.

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Health MattersWorkshopstohelpstudentsquitsmokingaretakingplaceatAshbyHospitalduringDecember.Thelunchtimemeetingsrunforsixweeks.

ThefirstHPVvaccinestoprotectYear10and11girlsagainsttheriskofcervicalcancerweregiveninSeptemberandNovember.Thethirdsessionwillbeon8February.

Chlamydiatestingwillbeavailableon28January.

Staffhavealsoattendedameetingtohelpthemsupportstudentswitheatingdisorders.

Last Mobile is Demolished

ThelastmobileclassroomatAshbySchoolhasbeendemolished–11yearsaftertheschoolfirststartedplanningtogetridofit.

Ittookjusttwohourstodestroythemobilewhichhadbeenonthesiteformorethan30years.Theclassroomwasthelastof11mobilestoberemovedfromAshbySchoolinrecentyears.

SchoolSiteManagerAnitaAllsoppulledtheleverwhichbeganthedemolition,undertheguidanceoflocalbuilderKeithBeesley.

MrsAllsopsaid:“Itwassoexhilaratingtostartthedemolition.Wehadbeenwaitingforthisdayfor11years.Wecouldn’twaittogetridofit!

“Mobilesarefreezingcoldinwinterandtoohotinsummer.Nowallourstudentswillbetaughtinpurpose-builtclassroomswhichprovideamuchbetterlearningenvironment.”

Time for TeaAteapartyforsomeofAshby’solderresidentswillbeheldattheschoolinDecember.

Aspartoftheschool’sinvolvementinthelocalcommunity,100Ashbypensionershavebeeninvitedtospendanafternoonattheschool.

Theywillenjoyaperformancebytheschool’sMusicdepartmentbeforesittingdownforteaandrefreshments,servedbySixthFormers.

Sports Writers WantedSportswritersareneededtoproduceAshbySchool’snewsportsnewsletter.

Thenewsletter–whichisbeingrunbythenewly-formedstudentSportsCouncil-willincludeinterviewswithtalentedschoolathletes,reportsonsportsclubsandteams,andupdatesonschoolsportingactivities.

AnyoneinterestedinacareerinjournalismorsportwhowouldliketogetinvolvedshouldcontactMissTeasdaleorstudentAlexHinsley.

Musicians Take a Trip

SomeofthebestmusiciansfromAshbySchoolfine-tunedtheirplayingandteam-workingskillsduringaresidentialmusictrip.

Sixty-onestudentsspentaweekendatKingtoninHerefordshire,wheretheypractisedforuptoeighthoursaday.Studentsplayedinvariousensembles,rehearsedintensivelywithbandmatesandtookpartinanimprovisationworkshop.

Theyalsotackledsportingandmusicaltasks,includingwritingtheirownsongs.

ThetripwasfollowedbyaperformanceatAshbySchoolforfamilies,friendsandstaff,atwhichall61studentsplayedtogether.

Scholarship SuccessSixthFormerNicholasBagleyhasbeenawardedanArkwrightScholarship.

OutstandingDesignstudentNicholas,16,willreceive£500tohelpfurtherhisstudiesinDesignandTechnology.HewasselectedfortheawardfollowinganinterviewandentranceexamsetbytheArkwrightScholarshipsTrust.TheTrustaimstoidentifyandencouragetalentedDesignandTechnologystudents.

Site manager Anita Allsop celebrates the demolition of the mobile. Musicians practised for up to eight hours a day.

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The Ashbeian

Promising Poet Pockets Prize

ApromisingpoetfromAshbySchoolhaswonrecognitioninanationalpoetrycompetition.

NataliyaManskova,16,wasoneofjust16winnersinthisyear’sPoetryLivePoetryCompetition.

SimonPowell,DirectorofPoetryLiveLtd,said:“Thejudgeshadatoughjobchoosingthewinnersbut,intheend,therewasnodoubtthatNataliyashouldbeoneofthem.Clearly,thisreflectsverywellontheEnglishdepartmentatAshbySchool.”

Nataliya’sprizewasaweek-longstayatTyNewydd,thewriters’centreinNorthWales,foracourseledbypoetryexperts.

Health and Safety is ParamountTheHealthandSafetyofallstaff,studentsandvisitorsatAshbySchoolisparamount.

Intheschool’sannualhealthandsafetyaudit,theschoolreceivedthetoprating.Thisauditwascarriedoutbyanindependentcompany.

Spotchecksbythelocalauthoritytakeplacethroughouttheyear.Theschoolisalsoaskedtocompleteanannualreturn.

Theschool’sHealthandSafetyCommitteemeetstermlyandconsistsofgovernors,staff,students,apremisesofficer,thecateringmanagerandarepresentativefromtheBoardingHouse.

Atthismeeting,allaccidentsandincidentsarereported,alongwithalldetailsofregularequipmentchecks.Itisanopportunityforitemsofconcerntobeaddressed.

Inthelastyear,CCTVhasbeeninstalledattheschool.ThisisjustoneofthemeasuresintroducedbyHealthandSafetyCommitteemembers,whoareconstantlyimprovingsitesecurity.

AnyonewithconcernsaboutHealthandSafetyatAshbySchoolshouldcontactAnitaAllsop,SeniorAdministratorandSiteManager.

Fiona is Fab First AiderAfirstaiderfromAshbySchoolhasbeennamedCadetoftheYearforLeicestershireandRutlandbytheStJohn’sAmbulanceBrigade.

FionaSalmon,17,isnowhopingtoclinchthenationaltitleatthecountrywidefinalsinJanuary,againstabout40otherhopefuls.

Fiona,whowantstobeadoctor,regularlyusesherfirstaidskillsasavolunteerateventssuchasmotorracingmeetingsatDoningtonPark.Shehaseventreatedhermumforshockandabrokenarmafteranaccidentoutwalking.

Shesaid:“StJohnisveryspecial–yougettolearnanduseyourfirstaidskills.Firstaidisagreatskilltohave-andnotalotofpeoplehaveit.Itcanbeinvaluable.”

Judges Go Quackers for Emma’s Picture

AyoungsnapperfromAshbySchoolhaswowedjudgesinaphotographycompetitionwithherpictureofarubberduck.

EmmaHopkins,15,wonfirstprizeinthe‘AyUpMeDuck’competitionrunbyVanillaGalleries,basedatLoughboroughUniversity.

HerwinningentryshowedGustheduckenjoyingaholidayinScotland,alongsidesomeHighlandcattle.

Students’ Success is not DebateableFourstudentsfromAshbySchoolmadetheirvoicesheardintheregionalheatsofanationaldebatingcompetition.

SixthFormersRoshniKaravadra,LydiaWright,SianBebbingtonandAnandSrivastavarepresentedtheschoolinthefirstroundofthe‘DebatingMatters’contestatLeicesterGrammarSchool.

Thefourtackledthecontroversialideathat‘Itisirresponsibleforwomenover50tohavebabies.’

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Gus the duck on holiday in Scotland.

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Golfing Glee for Harry

TeengolfingsensationHarryCoefoughtoffstiffcompetitionfromaroundtheworldtofinishfifthinhisfirstmajorgolfingtournament.

Harry,16,andhisgolfingpartner,JamesPretty,18,earnedtheirplaceintheInternationalPairsWorldFinalinScotlandinOctoberafterwinningtheNationalFinalinCornwallaweekearlier.

IntheWorldFinal,thepairtrailedtheleadersbyjustfivepointsgoingintothefinalroundofthe36-holecompetition,finishingarespectablefifth.

Harry,whobeganplayinggolffouryearsago,said:“Ihadplayedinafewlocalcompetitionsbutnothinglikethis.Therewere20countriesrepresentedsowearereallyhappytohavefinishedfifth.”

School Gets Award for Charity FundraisingAshbySchoolhasbeenhighlycommendedbyCancerResearchUKforitsoutstandingfundraising.

Theschoolhandedoverachequeformorethan£4,000toCancerResearchUK–thelargestamountevergeneratedbytheschoolforasinglecharity.

ThemoneywasraisedbytwoofAshbySchool’sHouses,whichbothchoseCancerResearchUKastheircharityfortheyear.

AnnetteBreeden,ofCancerResearchUK,said:“Competitionfortheseawardsisconsiderable.IamdelightedthatAshbySchoolhasbeenchosentoreceivetheaccoladeofHighlyCommendedintheSchooloftheYearcategory.”

In2008–09,theschoolraisedarecordtotalof£9,855.73forcharitythroughHousefundraising.

Sarah Celebrates Winning DesignAbadgedesignedbyanAshbyschoolgirlisbeingwornbyGuidingmembersacrossthecounty.

SarahHickson,15,whoisaYoungLeaderintheSeniorSectionofthe1stAshbyGuides,designedthebadgeforacompetitiontomarktheCentenaryofGuidinginLeicestershire.

Herbadge–whichfeaturedtheGuidingpromisebadge,thenumber100andafireworkdisplay–waschosenasthewinningentryintheSeniorSection.

School Gets Silver

AshbySchoolhasbeenawardedSilverEcoSchoolstatus.

TheschoolsuccessfullyappliedforSilverstatusaftermonthsofhardworktoencouragestudentsandstafftothinkgreen.

AteamofEcoWarriorscampaignedtopersuadeallschooluserstoturnofflights,computersandotherapplianceswhennotinuse,torecycle,andtohelpgrowtheirownfruitandvegetablesintheschoolgrounds.

TheschoolrecentlylearnedthatithadreduceditsenergyefficiencyratingfromaGtoaCinsomepartsoftheschoolandfromaGtoaDinothers.

EmilyStarkie,SustainableSchoolsCo-ordinator,said:“TobeawardedSilverEcoSchoolstatusisfantastic–bothfortheschoolandfortheenvironment.”

ToearnSilverstatus,theschoolwasrequiredtocompleteagreenchecklist,whichincludedcarryingoutanEnvironmentalReviewandpromotingitseco-friendlyideastothewidercommunity.

TheschoolisnowworkingtowardsGreenFlagstatus.Toachievethis,itmustbecomeaFairTradeschoolandstartworkontheeightnewHousegardens.

Harry Coe (right) with his golfing partner, James Pretty.

The school’s vegetable gardens have helped the school to gain Silver Eco School Status.

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The Ashbeian

Faculty Focus...

Business StudiesThenumberofstudentswantingtotakeBusinessStudiescoursesroseagainin2009.

Thegrowingpopularityofthecoursesisthoughttostemfromashifttowardsmorepracticaltopics.Studentsnowlearnhowtosetupandrunabusiness,ratherthanconcentratingonbusinesstheory.

TheFacultyhasalsolaunchedtwonewpractical-basedcoursesforYear10students–aDiplomainHairandBeauty(seepagetwo)andaBusinessApprenticeship.

Duringthetwo-yearApprenticeship,studentsspend50daysonworkexperienceplacements.Theywillcompletetheirfirsttwo-weekblockjustbeforeChristmas.

PaulMills,HeadofBusinessStudies,said:“Vocationalcoursesofferadifferentwayoflearning.Theyteachskillsthatarerelevanttotherunningofabusiness.Thesecoursesarenotaneasyoption.”

Inspiteofthis,100percentofstudentsontheBTECTravelandTourismcoursepassedwitheitheraMerit(equivalenttoGCSEgradeB)oraDistinction(gradeA).

MorestudentsarealsocontinuingwithBusinessStudiescoursesatAlevelandbeyond.PopularFurtherEducationcoursesincludeBusinessStudies,EconomicsandEventsManagement.

Tobooststudentachievement,theschoolhosteditsfirsteverEnterpriseDayforYear12students,billedasacrossbetweenTVshows‘TheApprentice’and‘Dragons’Den’.

Studentsworkedingroupstodeviseanewproduct,investigatecostings,identifyatargetmarket,andgiveapresentationtotwomanagementconsultants.

FouryoungeconomistshaveenteredanationalBankofEnglandcompetitiontopredictinterestratechanges.

ReenaandRoshniKaravadra,SophieArkinstallandMichaelDoylewereaskedtodecidewhethertheywouldalterinterestratesinNovember2009,andtoproduceasetofminutesfromtheirdiscussion–justlikegenuineBankofEnglandGovernors.

Iftheirentryissuccessful,theywillgothroughtothenextroundofthecompetition,tobeheldattheBankofEngland.

AlsoinLondon,Year12LeisurestudentsandYear10TravelandTourismstudentsvisitedtheO2Arenatolookatcustomerserviceatoneofthecountry’sbiggestvenues.TheyalsospenttimeattheNationalMaritimeMuseumtoenablethemtocomparethetwo.

Modern Foreign Languages

AtAshbySchool,thenumberofstudentstakingaModernForeignLanguage(MFL)remainsoneofthehighestinthecounty.

In2008–09,87percentofYear11studentsstudiedaMFLsubject,surpassingtheschool’stargetof85percent.TheGCSEpassrateinMFLwas99.3percent,asignificantachievementaslanguagesaretakenbystudentsofallabilities.

Thisyear,thereisagreateremphasisonAppliedFrench,amodular,computer-basedcourse,wherestudentsfocusonpracticalelementssuchasbusinesslanguageandthemedia.Two-thirdsofallYear11FrenchstudentsarestudyingAppliedFrench.

AtPost-16,studentNiallPeachbecamethefirstintheschool’shistorytogetthreeAgradesinhisMFLAlevels.NiallearnedthetopgradeinFrench,GermanandSpanishandplanstostudyModernForeignLanguagesatDurhamUniversity.

NickFitzpatrick,ActingHeadofMFL,said:“TogetanAatAlevelintwoMFLsubjectsisfantasticbuttogetthreeisincredible.”

AllstudentswishingtostudyLanguagesatuniversitysecuredaplace.

Thisyear,80SixthFormersarestudyingatleastoneMFL–oneofthehighestratesinLeicestershire.

Thelaunchofafter-schoolItalianclassesthistermhasalsoprovedpopularwithstudents,aswellasstaffandparents.Therearealsoafter-schoollessonsinJapaneseandMandarin.

ForthosewishingtoexploreotheraspectsofEuropeanculture,anMFLFilmClubrunseveryWednesdayafterschool.

Theschoolhasalsobeenmakinguseofitsvideoconferencingfacilities,tocommunicatewithaschoolinStrasbourg.Studentsfromthetwoschoolsusedthelinktotalktoeachotherabouttheirlocalareas.

TwoforeignlanguageassistantswillbeinschooluntilMaytohelpstudentsimprovetheirFrenchandGermanspeakingskills.

TripsandvisitsfeaturehighlyinMFL.Attheendofthesummerterm,AshbystudentsvisitedGermany.Theweek-longculturalexchangeincludedvisitstoLuxembourgandFrance.

InNovember,AshbystudentstravelledtoLilletospendadaysoakinguptheatmosphereofthetraditionalFrenchmarkettown.Forsome,itwastheirfirsttriptoFrance.

Thisyearmarksthe10thanniversaryofAshby’spartnershipwithFrenchschoolLyceeTribouletinRomanssurIsere.InDecember,28FrenchstudentswillspendaweekstayingwithAshbystudents,visitingStratford-upon-AvonandBelvoirCastle.

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Ashby students on a German cultural exchange trip.

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Art, Design and Technology

ThepopularityofArt,DesignandTechnology(ADT)subjectsissoaring–alongwithexamperformance.

AtKeyStage4,examresultswereoutstanding,withboysoutperforminggirlsinADTsubjectsforthefirsttime,withapassrateof77percent.Girlsachieved76percent.

Thisyear,95Year11studentsarefasttrackedontoAScoursesinResistantMaterials,GraphicsorTextiles,meaningthattheycancompletetheirA2inYear12.

ThiswillgivethemanextraAlevelqualificationandleavethemfreetoconcentrateonotherAlevelsubjectsinYear13.StudentscannowstudyFoodTechnologyatASlevel.

ForthosewhowanttopursueanADTcourseatuniversity,thereareplanstocreateuniversitylinksinYear13.Thiswillstretchmoreablestudentsandgivethemaheadstartondegreelevelwork.

Sincelastterm,£500,000hasbeenspentrefurbishingtheADTFaculty.Itnowboastsapurpose-builtTextilessuite,adedicatedConstructioncomputerroom,aremodelledEngineeringareaforDiplomastudents,andahi-techprofessionalkitchenwithitsowncomputersuite,fortheteachingofFoodTechnology.

InFood,studentOliverCrooksreachedthefinaloftheFutureChefcompetition.Students’workinFoodTechnologyhasalsofeaturedinanumberofothercompetitionsandshowcases.

InDrama,AshbySchoolcelebrated12consecutiveyearsattheEdinburghFringeFestivalwithtwoproductions.WorkingwithYouthArtsLeicestershire,agroupofstudentsperformed‘UnderMilkWood’,whileformerstudents–underthebannerofExADUS–staged‘Farenheit451’.

From the Governors...

Specialist Schools Steering Group Report

Technology College ReportAshbySchoolhassuccessfullyreappliedforSpecialistTechnologyCollegestatus.

Aspartofitsapplication,theschoolsubmittedacomprehensiveactionplan,outliningitsaimstoimprovestudentexperienceandattainmentfurtherinthespecialistsubjectareas.

Facultiesarealreadyworkinghardtoachievenewtargetsandarekeentoreproducethisyear’ssuccessesatGCSEandAlevel.

Theyarealsocontinuingworkonanumberofsuccessfuloutreachprojects,sharingknowledgeandfacilitieswithcommunitygroupsandlocalprimaryschools.

Languages College ReportThefirstofseveralmasterclassesforthebestYear9linguistsfromIbstockandIvanhoeHighSchoolstookplaceinNovember.ThesessionsaredesignedtoencourageYear9studentstotakeuptwo,oreventhree,languageswhentheyjoinAshbySchoolnextyear.

Theschoolisalsoworkingcloselywithlocalprimaryschools.TrainingsessionsforprimaryteacherstakeplaceatAshbySchooleachhalftermfollowedbyaday’straininginJanuary.ThesesessionsprovidelocalprimaryteacherswiththeskillstheyneedtomeetGovernmenttargetsforallprimaryschoolstoteachaforeignlanguagefromnextyear.

AshbySchoolisalsocontinuingtoextendthelanguageopportunitiesopentoitsownstudents.ALeisureandTourismvocationalFrenchGCSEqualificationhasbeenlaunchedthisterm.

AtPost-16,French,GermanandSpanishstudentsarestudyingfilmandliteratureforthefirsttime.

Curriculum Committee ReportAshbySchoolhasmadeasmoothtransitionfromasix-daytoa10-daytimetable.

ThenewtimetablegivestheschoolgreaterflexibilitytocollaboratewithStephensonCollegeonthedeliveryofDiplomasubjects.ItalsocreatesmoreopportunitiesforallstudentstoworkontheirphysicalfitnessinPE,andhasenabledtheschooltointroduceafullGCSEinReligiousStudies.

TheCurriculumcommitteeisnowreviewingtheYear9optionssystem.ThenewsystemislikelytofeaturedifferentPathwaysforstudents,basedontheirpriorattainment,learningstylesandplansforthefuture.

AfinaldecisiononthiswillbemadefollowingcloseliaisonwithteachingstaffatAshbySchoolanditstwofeederhighschools.

ThesechangesareanexcitingopportunitytoofferstudentsahighqualityservicewhichwillhelpthemtoselectthesubjectsbestsuitedtomaximisetheirsuccessatKeyStage4.ThePathwayssystemisexpectedtoenhancetheschool’soutstandingprovisionwhichwasrecognisedbylastyear’sOFSTEDinspection.

Food Technology students past and present cooked up a storm at a school open evening.

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Talking Heads

Whatisyourname?Nicola Wright

DescribeyourroleatAshbySchool.Catering Manager

Howlonghaveyoubeenattheschool?Just over seven years

WhatdidyoudobeforeyoucametoAshby?Catering manager at Walkers Pork Pies in Leicester

Howhastheschoolmenuchangedsinceyouarrived? The menu is a lot healthier now, since the school decided to do its own catering in-house. The emphasis is on providing the students with healthier meals, using better quality produce, and offering a more varied service by opening up the cabins and Sixth Form cafe. It has been a joy to be part of it.

Havestudents’attitudestofoodalteredinrecentyears? Yes, they do make healthier choices now, although a lot of it comes with age. Sixth Form students prefer more formal hot meals whereas the younger ones prefer to grab and go.

Whatarethemostpopulardishes/fooditemsonthemenuatAshbySchool?Pasta dishes of any kind are the absolute favourites. These are followed by the many varieties of cold-filled tortilla wraps and cobs. We make so many different foods that it would be hard to choose an overall winner. I haven’t even mentioned the homemade chocolate Rice Krispie cake.

DoyougetyourmealsfromAshbySchool?Whatdoyouchoose?I eat my lunch at school every day. I nearly always opt for a cob from the deli bar with tuna mayonnaise and sweetcorn and a bowl of mixed salad. But it’s hard work resisting all the homemade cakes when they are warm just out of the oven.

Doyouenjoycookingathome?Whatisyourfavouriterecipe?Cooking is my absolute passion. I can spend hours, even days, producing a special meal. I would say my favourite recipe is lobster thermidor.

TellussomethingaboutyourselfthatnotmanypeopleatAshbyknow.Most people know I live on a 63’ narrow boat called ‘Feisty Lady’ named by my husband. Can’t think who after? But most people will probably not know we have a trike that is the only one of its kind in the country. We regularly enter competitions and win prizes, because it is covered in real flame artwork.

Doyouprefer‘TheXFactor’or‘StrictlyComeDancing’.Why?Definitely ‘Strictly’. I love dancing. I met my husband while we were both in adult dance troops. Once we had danced together for a few months we were inseparable.

Whatdoyoudotorelax?I don’t. I’m always on the go. I have so many hobbies and things I like to do that I never just sit down and do nothing. There are just not enough hours in the day to do everything I’d like to.

Help is at HandAnewdrop-infacilityforstudentstodiscusstheirhealthandrelationshipconcernshasopened.

Studentscantalkinconfidencetonursesorayouthworkeraboutissuessuchassmoking,drugs,alcohol,sexualhealthandrelationships.

Thisisthefirsttimethattheschoolhashadayouthworkeronsiteonaregularbasis.

YouthworkerDetteThompsonsaid:“Thesessionsareaboutimprovingyoungpeople’shealthandhelpingthemtomakeinformedchoices.Everythingisconfidentialandnon-judgemental.Andwe’vegotplentyoffreebiestogiveaway!”

Detteoffersadviceandservices,suchasprovidingcondomsandcarryingoutchlamydiaandpregnancytesting.

ThesessionsruntwiceaweekatAshbySchool.TheyareheldonMondaysfrom12.30–3pmandonThursdaysfrom1–2pm.

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• 7 December ClothesShowtrip

• 8 December ‘IntotheSixthForm’evening

• 9 December Year11DramaworkshopsFrenchexchangestudentsarrive

• 10 December Year11DramaworkshopsYear10EnglishtriptoBirminghamRep

• 14 December CarolserviceatStHelen’sChurch

• 16 December Christmaspartyforolderpeople

• 17 December CertificateeveningforYear13students

• 18 December Endofterm

• 5 January Studentsreturntoschool

• 11 – 29 January Publicexaminationperiod

• 14 January Year11parents’evening(ABCE)

• 18 January Year11parents’evening(FGHL)

• 19 January Year9optiontalkatAshby,6pmand7.30pm

• 21 January Year9optiontalkatIbstockCollege,7pm

• 25 January DeadlinedateforYear11/12studentstoapplyforcollege/SixthFormplacesinLeicestershire(LeCap)

• 28 January Chlamydiatestingavailable

• 29 January AshbystudentsgotohostfamiliesinFrance

• 1 February Year12Geographyfieldtrip

• 5 February NonuniformdayinaidofUNICEF(DayforChange)

• 8 February HPVvaccineforYear10/11girlsFullGovernors’meeting

• 12 February Year9optionformstobereturned

• 13 February Skitripdeparts

• 15 – 19 February Springtermhalf-term

Diary dates

The drop-in team offers advice on health and relationships.