Fantastic Textiles - Plymouth High School Textiles Students produce ... One person in the school who...

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Summer Term Issue July 2014

Fantastic TextilesStudents produce outstanding work for their GCSE projects

LibraryThe Dr Glas

and Learning Centre

Opening TimesMonday to Thursday - 08.30 to 16.45

Friday - 08.30 to 16.15

New Books now available

Sport Relief 20144

From the Head TeacherMary Utton5

Charity NewsAn update on events in support of PHSG’s chosen charity6

Model United Nations ConferenceBath, March 20148

National Science and Engineering WeekStudents’ engineering abilities are put to the test10

Marine BiologyMaking full use of our local environment11

TR2Behind the scenes at Theatre Royal Plymouth12

Year 9 Mathematics MasterclassesUniversity of Plymouth14

8 out of 10 cats...Year 8 Maths Masterclass15

‘YOU’RE HIRED’Students’ entrepreneurial skills are put to the test16

Public Speaking CompetitionSouth West Academic Trust17

RE-RITEPhilharmonia Orchestra17

Engineering in EducationAn in-depth experience in science, engineering and technology18

Food TechnologyYear 11 GCSE Catering20

Design and TechnologyGCSE Textiles, GCSE Graphics, GCSE Resistant Materials and A Level Product Design22

Gym & Dance CompetitionStudents get the opportunity to demonstrate their athletic and artistic abilities28

OctopushChloe Stoneman shares the finer points of underwater hockey30

PE Department NewsSuper 8 Athletics Competition, Athletics Success and Katie Bradley31

GCSE Art ExamFinal pieces32

A Level Art ExamFinal pieces34

Contents ■16

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COVER IMAGE: Olivia Rounsfull vintage upcycled quilt

TALKPLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL for GIRLSSt Lawrence Road, North Hill, Plymouth PL4 6HTT: 01752 208308 F: 01752 208309email: [email protected]: www.phsg.org

GRAPHIC DESIGNRob Banks | Plymouth High School for Girls

4 | TALK | Summer Term Issue July 2014

n Friday 21st March PHSG supported Sport Relief by having a mufti day. Girls were encouraged to come dressed in sports gear and

as a famous sports personality. We raised an impressive £668.10 with the mufti money.

One person in the school who really took on the idea of sport related mufti was Mr Law of the maths department, who came to school dressed as a female tennis player, complete with red nails! He was a vision to behold! Girls sponsored him to wear this outfit and have his nails painted.

During the course of lunchtime a very unique netball match took place.

With Mrs Goolden as referee the match began. The blue team scored almost immediately, a theme which was to continue throughout the match. Despite some very dubious refereering from Mr Callaghan, which saw him send off 4 of the blue team in the second half, the blues were victorious winning 6-0.

Some interesting interpretation of the rules occurred during the match including Mr Varrall eating his lunch whilst playing netball. Rather than marking each other, some teachers decided it was best to simply hug their opponents!

Students were asked to donate money whilst they watched this extraordinary sporting event and the collection buckets accumulated a total of £81.16.

Thanks go to the teachers who played in the matches, to the head girl team who collected the money, and to all the girls who paid their mufti money and supported the teachers’ netball match.

The grand total for Sport Relief was £749.26.■Donna Roughton, Charity Coordinator...........................................................................

TALK | Summer Term Issue July 2014 | 5

Dear Parents, Carers, Students and Friends of PHSG

So the Summer Term draws to a close and another academic year is completed. We now wait with anticipation for the August examination results and look forward to sharing our students’ successes with you next term; they certainly deserve to do well having worked so hard in preparation.

I hope that each and every one of our students spends some time reflecting on their own individual achievements over this year. There is so much that we can take pride in at Plymouth High School, and much to celebrate. Once again this edition of our TALK magazine provides insight into just some of the excellent learning opportunities our girls and boys experience and the successes they have achieved this term.

I would also like to thank all our staff for their hard work and commitment throughout the year, and I would like to thank you parents for your continued support and strong partnership. I know every young person is given the best support to achieve academic success and develop their sporting, creative and musical talents.

It only remains for me to wish you a safe and very happy summer, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in September.■

Yours sincerely

Mary Utton...........................................................................

From the Head TeacherMary Utton

‘I hope that each and every one of our students spends some time reflecting on their own individual achievements over this year’

Summer Term 2014

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FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Model United Nations Conference, Engineering in Education and Super 8 Athletics Competition


How the charity was chosen

The Head Girl Team met with Miss Roughton in January to decide on a short list of charities for 2014. The decision was made to support a local charity this time after our success last year, raising just over £3000 for Cancer Research.

The Head Girl team came up with the five local charities below:

St Luke’s HospiceSSAFAJeremiah’s JourneyLepra - Exeter branch Dame Hannah Rogers at Ivybridge

Voting forms were then issued to all tutor groups, along with a short extract about each of the charities, with the vote taking place in mid-January. The voting sheets were then collated, counted and verified, and the winning charity was announced to the whole school through the Head Girls’ Assembly.

Our meeting with Wayne Marshall from St Luke’s

After the decision was made to support St Luke’s for 2014, the Head Girl Team and Miss Roughton were invited to St Luke’s to meet with Wayne Marshall, the Community Fundraiser.

During this visit we discussed our plans for raising money and found out a bit more about the hospice itself.

Founded in 1982 St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth has been providing specialist end of life care to the local community for over 30 years. Having grown from a seven bed unit

at Syrena House in Plymstock to the purpose built 20 bed inpatient unit in Turnchapel, along with the specialist community service and hospital team, St Luke’s has always had a strong presence in the local community.In 1988 St Luke’s moved to the purpose built inpatient unit in Turnchapel thanks to the support of the local community. 2005 saw development again with the introduction of the integrated services which provides support to patients and their families and carers today. This meant that care could be provided to anyone in the area, whether in the hospital, home or hospice. St Luke’s was one of the first hospices in the UK to pioneer this service - something they are really proud of.

Since opening their doors in 1982 St Luke’s has been committed to offering dignity and choice to patients and their passion for this has never dwindled.

During our visit we were shown around the hospice and were able to see some of the new building work being carried out in the reception and coffee shop area.

One of the most thought provoking areas at the hospice is the garden which offers a quiet place for patients’ visitors to sit before or

Charity ReportAn update on events in support of PHSG’s chosen charity...

MUFTI DAY: Students show their support wearing yellow, the hospice’s colour


after a visit. The garden is a very special place and is used as a memorial garden as well as a place of quiet reflection.

Following our visit to the Hospice, the Head Girl Team along with Miss Roughton came up with a few ideas and the following events calendar…

January - Decision on charityFebruary - Valentine’s cake saleMarch - Netball match teachers vs teachersApril - Yellow Mufti Day and Easter Egg RaffleMay - Small change collection and Quiz NightJune - Bake sale and bake off judging July - Music Festival and Mufti Day, Summer Fayre and Garden Sculpture Project

Quiz Night

On Friday 23rd May, we held a quiz night in aid of St Luke’s. Twelve teams competed over 12 rounds to see who would win out in the battle of the brains. Rounds included TV and Film, History of Plymouth, Science and of course General Knowledge. One of the best rounds was round 5 which saw teams listening to snippets from theme tunes of famous TV programmes. Jokers were played which doubled scores in some rounds.

During the interval there was a raffle which saw the ‘Old Girls with Old Gits’ collect a signed copy of a Mary Berry cookbook and

the ‘The Birds’ win a box of deluxe Thornton’s chocolates. There were over 10 raffle prizes in total. Well done to ‘The Captain’s Table’ for winning the quiz.

Thank you to all teams for taking part and pitting their wits against each other and making the evening so much fun.

Merry Money Month of May

During the month of May, tutor groups from across the school collected small change in a bid to raise the most money for St Luke’s. Coins of all descriptions made their way into the collection boxes.The winning tutor group was 8LAW who managed to raise a total of £36.98 through their small change collection.

The top ten tutor groups can be seen below.

Tutor Group Amount8LAW £36.988FRE £27.837GRA £23.157LUX £16.4911SIB £14.308PET £13.4711ROU £12.3810MAL £9.70KS5GDC £9.338RAN £9.28

Total raised from all collections was £259.35.

Total raised at time of writing

Netball match £146.93Cake sale £73.00Easter egg raffle £92.95Mufti £554.59Small change collection £259.35Quiz £242.40Total so far £1369.22

Upcoming events Garden sculpture project - the Head Girl Team will be inviting students from all years to come up with ideas for some garden sculptures for the Memorial garden at St Luke’s, working with Mr Luxton in the technology department to produce the art work.

Staff team taking part in the Exeter half Marathon, 19th October 2014.

Our aim is to exceed the £3000 reached last year. Please support us in doing this for a very worthwhile charity.■Eleanor Borthwick, Milly Atkinson-Handley, Molly Toms and Selenna Wheeler, Head Girl Team and Miss Roughton, Charity Coordinator...........................................................................

QUIZ NIGHT: A test of wits and general knowledge in aid of a good cause

‘Since opening their doors in 1982 St Luke’s has been committed to offering dignity and choice to patients and their passion for this has never dwindled’


The Model United Nations is a conference where representatives from different schools all come together to debate genuine issues of the

time. Each school is assigned 3 countries to represent and we were given Singapore, Zimbabwe and Belgium. The countries are then split up into committees; for example, Human Rights, Political, Environmental, Economic, Health, the Middle East and the African Committees. There are many Model United Nations conferences across England and in other countries, but the one we went to was held in Bath at Kingswood School.

Fifteen of us left school on Friday at 9am and travelled for 2 hours to the YMCA

in central Bath. We were fortunate to arrive early enough to have time to spend looking around Bath before we had to be at the school for the MUN opening ceremony and lobbying session. The opening ceremony was very formal with a fascinating talk from a teacher who had travelled around the world in a tuk tuk to visit primary schools in as many countries as possible. He raised our awareness of global issues and our responsibility to become involved and make a difference. After the ceremony we went into our committees to persuade other representatives to sign the resolutions we had written prior to the event. The resolutions are topics we wish to debate and have to be written according to the formal rules laid down by the MUN. The first part

must consist of a series of statements about what the situation is currently. This is followed by a series of suggestions we make as to how to improve things. It is these last suggestions that each of us must be prepared to present in a debate and also which we must persuade other countries to sign up to and support. The resolutions which had the most signatures were then presented to the Chair of each committee and they decided which would go forward to be debated over the weekend. Several of us got a lot of signatures and our preparation before the event really helped us to be persuasive.

On Saturday we returned to our committees where we sat in alphabetical order by country and began our debates on the issues chosen the night before. Catherine Shirley who represented Zimbabwe in the Political Committee had her resolution chosen for the problems in Syria. Amusingly, one of her suggestions was for Syria to be allowed to enter the Eurovision song contest as a symbol of harmony and unity. This and other more serious suggestions were debated by her committee. When put to the vote she was successful and her resolution was passed.

After many more debates we did more lobbying for resolutions and then continued debating after lunch. Lunch was served in the most amazing dining hall - exactly like the one shown in the Harry Potter films but sadly there were no floating candles. At the end of a tiring day of intense discussion and making lots of new friends we returned to the YMCA and a night out in Bath.

On Sunday we went to our committees for one more debate, in which Meryn Turner’s resolution was chosen to be debated in the Health Committee. The resolution was based on the taxing of fast food and was passed by the committee. The committees then came

Model United Nations ConferenceBath, March 2014


together to debate a topical issue. Human Rights Committees 1 and 2 debated the current problems in Sudan while the other committees debated the tension and problems between Russia and the Ukraine. These were much larger debates involving up to 200 people, so they were quite daunting. Once the debates were complete there was a formal closing ceremony where certain individuals were commended for their efforts throughout the weekend. Congratulations go to Catherine Shirley who was recognised as a Highly Commended delegate by her Committee Chairman.

Overall the weekend at Model United Nations was very enjoyable and less intimidating than we first thought. We all grew in confidence throughout the weekend, realising that however confident others might

appear at first we too knew a great deal, could speak just as well and were just as committed. Everyone got involved, making the weekend a mixture of serious discussion, because of the issues debated, and also fun due to the controversial and sometimes outrageous views of certain countries. Throughout the weekend you are representing the view of your country rather than yourself and have to put your personal feelings aside to make the weekend more realistic. It was a beneficial weekend, both for educational purposes and for topping up our wardrobe!Taylor Gill and Georgia Ward, year 12

Footnote from Mrs Eales-White

I would like to add my thanks to all those who participated for the amount of preparation they

took with their debate - all done independently and with great curiosity and eagerness. This really helped during the discussions as they knew exactly what was going on and could criticise those who spoke with little evidence but a lot of bluff and bluster. I also would like to thank our students for their maturity and responsible attitude towards our stay in the YMCA and the way they conducted themselves over the whole weekend. I too had a really enjoyable time listening and watching them.■Mrs Eales-White, Director of Learning, Head of History...........................................................................


In recognition of National Science and Engineering Week (14th-23rd March) students took part in an activity which tested their engineering abilities.

Prior to the event, cardboard boxes and plastic bottles were collected but still the task remained unspoken of. Then, in a science lesson during the week beginning the 14th, students paired up and listened to the brief.

‘You are stranded on a desert island called Sequin Island. The water in the sea is too salty to drink. There is a river which carries fresh water but it is very dirty. You must make a filter which allows you to have access to clean drinking water.’

The resources were limited to cardboard, one plastic bottle, glue, staples and Sellotape. There was also a selection of materials to choose from including cotton wool, netting and two tightly woven fabrics. This may have varied from class to class but the basics were the same - you were only allowed three pieces of your chosen material. The majority of the project was independent work. There was a sheet giving guidance but following it wasn`t compulsory. Many groups followed the guidance given and made large cardboard rings with material on the inside.

However, some people decided to take a different approach and came up with their own ideas that included tubes, smaller rings and scooping the water by hand. These methods weren’t always successful but the ideas often had a lot of promise.

Time went quickly and the less organized groups were soon rushing to complete their filters and filter their water before the time was up. Those who had already finished took this opportunity to double or even triple filter the

water to make it as clean as possible.When time was called, each group judged

their water compared to the next group and decided which was cleaner. In some cases the result was clear but in others it was a tough decision. The winning groups then proceeded to take their water for further inspection which was conducted by the teachers.

The water was filtered through a funnel lined with filter paper. This took a while so until the results were known students discussed what worked well (large filters and efficiency) and what groups could have done better (deciding on a final design earlier to save time was a prime example).

The water was judged according to how clean the filter paper was after all the water had filtered through. The paper was stuck on the board and the class decided on a winner

who received a chocolaty prize.Afterwards, the more effective methods

were discussed. We concluded that if you were stranded and had no clean water the best thing to do is make a filter consisting of 3 layers; a layer of sand, a layer of charcoal and a layer of grass.

Another method that can be used to get clean water does not require any filtering. Simply find a large branch with plenty of green leaves and cover it with a plastic bag, securing it tightly. Water can be collected this way because of the respiration that the leaves conduct.

Overall the event was enjoyable but also encouraged us to think, work quickly and effectively and explore different methods.■Erin Eastman, year 8...........................................................................

National Science and Engineering WeekStudents’ engineering abilities are put to the test


This year we have been making full use of all the amazing links to Marine Biology we have here in Plymouth. We have been lucky enough to have several

guest speakers come in and talk to our students about different aspects of Marine Biology. Springwatch presenter and Marine Ecologist Maya Plass wowed year 12 Biology students with her knowledge and enthusiasm for the marine environment as she gave a curriculum talk on classification and biodiversity. The topic of scientific or latin naming of species was brought to life as Maya gave some very memorable examples.

Who knew that a horse fly with a golden tip to its abdomen was named in honour of Beyonce Knowles? Scientifically it’s known as Scaptia beyonceae.

Who do you think these organisms were named after?

Agra schwarzeneggeri (beetle)Aptostichus angelinajolieae (the trap door spider) Bagheera kiplingi (jumping spider)Calponia harrisonfordi (spider)Nepenthes attenboroughii (pitcher plant)

We have also been visited by underwater photographer and Marine Biologist, Dr Paul Naylor. Paul is very well known within both the SCUBA diving and marine conservation communities. He gave a very passionate talk about the wonders that can be found in our local marine environment and showed us a wide variety of images that he had taken himself whilst on local dives. He was also generous enough to gift copies of his most recent books to the department; Benny the Blenny and Great British Marine Animals (3rd Edition).

In March, seven year 10 Biology Challenge students attended a day visit to the Marine Biological Association on the Hoe. Louise Pilkington, Aimee Bickley, Sorcha Hewes, Alice Buckner, Emily Carrick, Constance Shaw and Chiara Thomas spent

the day working alongside MBA staff in series of workshops and lectures learning all about the marine species we have here in the South West. They were given a tour of the facilities at the MBA followed by two practical workshops and a lecture. They were able to practise their microscope skills by examining seawater samples containing phytoplankton and zooplankton collected earlier that morning. During their second practical session they were looking at local fish species, using

key features and characteristics to help them identify the species of fish.

If you’ve got a particular interest in Biology, why not come along to Biology Challenge? Come and see Mrs Lewin or Mrs Staddon for more information!■Mrs Lewin, Teacher of Biology...........................................................................

Marine BiologyMaking full use of our local environment


TR2 is the production and learning centre for the Theatre Royal Plymouth. It contains costume, set, props and rehearsal facilities and much

more. It is the centre for the Theatre Royal Plymouth’s outreach programme working with schools, young people and adults across the local area. We were met by Fran King who is the Education Producer at TR2 and were led on an informative tour around the building to experience the many different careers available.

First we went to Wardrobe where many of the costumes are made for shows in the main theatre, The Lyric, and The Drum. Unfortunately due to cuts in Arts Council funding TR2 can’t afford to employ permanent staff in wardrobe so many have had to go

freelance. This means that they are called in to work only when they are needed to make new costumes. This is unstable for staff but is common in Arts Centres across the country due to funding cuts. An area that is thriving, and for which Plymouth is highly regarded across the UK, is the construction of sets. We witnessed the set of Miss Saigon (which opened in London’s West End this year) being refurbished by the skilled team that work at TR2. The huge and beautiful backdrop was being attentively re-painted and just round the corner a car was being constructed. In fact the set is so large that the construction team have had to take over a rehearsal room in order to finish their work!

Just up the stairs is the Creative Learning Team and here they do their vitally important work in the many outreach programmes

offered by Theatre Royal Plymouth. These groups, the Young Company and the People’s Company, offer opportunities to get involved with theatre and performance. They also work with adults who have learning disabilities, asylum seekers, and people who feel socially excluded. The theatre creates projects which help people gain valuable skills and to make friends in their local area; all within a creative environment. The Creative Learning Team aims to build a safe community with the strong belief that the creative arts can make a difference in people’s lives.

Along the corridor is the finance office. When overwhelmed by the magic of a theatre it’s easy to forget that it all has to be managed financially. A strong team of accountants is needed to ensure the smooth running of the theatre. They manage what money comes in

TR2Behind the scenes at Theatre Royal Plymouth


from ticket sales and funding and what goes out, including budgets for commissioning new plays and the money spent on visiting shows. Maths plays a part in theatre too!

After the tour we were met by Jennifer Tang, the Assistant Director of the Theatre Royal, who talked to us about her job and how she got involved with theatre. We then discussed the many ways you can get into the industry and how every person’s journey is different, and that, especially in the arts, you have to allow yourself time to reach your goal. This involves becoming a well rounded individual who is constantly developing their ideas about their work and grasping every opportunity. She gave us all advice to never compare ourselves to any other person and to show, with confidence, what makes us exceptional. With this we will boldly follow our own career path.■Anna Salisbury, year 13...........................................................................

‘We witnessed the set of Miss Saigon (which opened in London’s West End this year) being refurbished by the skilled team that work at TR2’


Throughout February and March both Mr Goodchild and I were delighted to accompany four of our year 9 girls to the Royal Institution Mathematics

Masterclasses at Plymouth University.The Royal Institution Masterclasses

aim is to engage and to enthuse keen young mathematicians. Masterclasses are given by inspiring presenters who help foster enthusiasm for, and knowledge of mathematics. Masterclasses are highly interactive, including a mix of lecture, demonstration, individual and group work. There are also trans-disciplinary Masterclasses, involving design, engineering and science. Masterclasses enable students and their teachers to experience and engage in mathematics from new and imaginative viewpoints. The hands-on and investigative nature of Masterclass activities make them ideal for students with a range of learning styles and abilities. You can find out more about the Royal Institution by going to www.rigb.org or www.richannel.org

I look forward to next year’s Masterclasses.Miss Donna Roughton, Leader of Mathematics

Class 1: From Flowers to Fine Art Lead by Dr Jenny Sharp

In the first Masterclass we did, we were studying Fibonacci numbers and how they are present in so many things. The class, named ‘From Flowers to Fine Art’, really demonstrated this. It showed us how Fibonacci numbers can be used to make flowers whose petal arrangements are perfect and that artists use the Fibonacci ratio, named the ‘Golden Ratio’ because of its perfect appearance. We even found that humans are proportioned

to a perfect ratio and compared ourselves. Fibonacci can also be used to produce a spiral. That is why a spiral is so hard to produce digitally, because of the difficult number pattern. The Greek letter used for Fibonacci is phi φ; it is with this that you can work out the nᵗʰ term. Altogether we found out that Fibonacci is much more than a complicated number sequence and I enjoyed learning all we did.Natasia Leggett, year 9

Class 2: Who’s better? Lead by Dr Carrie Headlam

The second week of Masterclasses began with the epic battle over who are better, girls or boys. Five questions were asked and it ended with the boys being victorious 3-2 (boo). This test led smoothly into the days hypothesis (a question). Next we had the tedious task of filling out a probability tree (You don’t want to know what they are. Just know that you NEVER want to encounter one). There were 32 different outcomes, but the probability of it being won by the girls was 50% - an even chance. We then had to work out the chance of each outcome. For example: What is the probability of scoring 4

(or 6/32) since it could happen on both teams? The conclusion was that both boys and girls are evenly matched. An extension on from this was factorial numbers. For example: Alan and Beth are asked to sit next to each other. In how many different ways could they do this? The answer is 2 AB and BA and this pattern continued, having 3 different letters, 4 different letters etc. Using a calculator we had to work out 10 factorials, written as 10! This is equal to 3628800. We then went on to work out the proper probability of each outcome. I would like to thank Miss Roughton and Mr Goodchild for arranging the trip and spending their Saturday mornings with four fourteen year olds. Also for putting up with our forgetfulness in picking up a calculator, or even a pencil on the odd occasion!Lydia Johnson, year 9

Class 3: Are U turning? Lead by Dr Paul Hewson

In this Masterclass I had no idea what to expect. All we knew was that we needed to bring bikes. We began by planning an

Year 9 Mathematics MasterclassesUniversity of Plymouth

WHO’S BETTER: Girls or boys?


experiment that we would conduct outside with the bikes. My group decided to see how accurately people could ride a u-turn on a bike. After planning we went outside and tested our theory. After all of our riders had gone we went back inside to analyse and evaluate our data. Overall this class was fun and I liked how we got to ride our bikes to complete the idea of the Masterclass. I was a bit cold outside though!Rebecca Bloomer, year 9

Class 4: Protecting your information with Cryptology Lead by Dr Mathew Craven

The day started by looking at the origins of why coding was originally used; to transfer messages on the battle field without fear of interception. We looked at some basic shift ciphers, where the alphabet was moved across a couple of places, but the students found it easy to decipher the message. Students were then taught about encryption involving a pair of ‘keys’, where a complex cipher is used and only when keys are combined can the message be fully encrypted and decrypted. The girls then had the opportunity to try different types

of encryption and decryption, looking at the strengths and weaknesses of each method. Mr Peter Goodchild, Teacher of Mathematics

Class 5: Euclidean Crop Circles Lead by Garrod Musto

This was our final master class, and we were taught about the Greek mathematician Euclid and about the mysteries of crop circles. First we talked about Euclid and what he was like, and then we went on to a little bit about Pythagoras which was off topic but was still cool. I managed to get koalas from Euclid (eucalyptus leaves - koala). Next we went on to exploring crop circles and their properties; Rebecca and I were the first to say they were created by Aliens. Over the break we had to either work in pairs or by ourselves to work out the shapes in the crop circles, their rotational symmetry and their lines of symmetry. After the break we had a go at drawing our own crop circle patterns. We were supposed to write instructions but never actually got around to that. Overall it was a great class and I really enjoyed it.■Georgina Nicholl, year 9...........................................................................

8 out of 10 cats... Year 8 Maths Masterclass

Not the television programme hosted by Jimmy Carr but the 1980’s television advertisement for Whiskas cat food where it claimed that, referring to the cat food, ‘8 out of 10 owners who expressed a preference preferred it.’ This was the inspiration for a Year 8 Mathematics Masterclass organised and held at Plymouth University.

Four of our students attended, initially looking into what is meant by the claim ‘8 out of 10…’ The day then focussed on exploring data. They tried using open and closed questions to identify an object written on a card. The YouTube clip ‘Yes Prime Minister - Leading Questions’ illustrated brilliantly how leading questions can be used to change a person’s point of view (please have a look, it is very clever). The difference between an aim and a hypothesis was explained when carrying out a survey/questionnaire. The girls looked at selective, systematic and random sampling methods and the different outcomes they can give for an average. Interesting discussions were held during an activity on whether data should be classified as qualitative or quantitative (discrete or continuous) followed by looking at how each type data can be illustrated diagrammatically.

The day ended with students from all the schools attending being put into mixed groups. They then used what they had learnt throughout the day to complete their own chosen survey on packets of Smarties, which they presented to the whole group.

An enjoyable day… and of course we ate the Smarties at the end!■Mrs Randell, Teacher of Mathematics...........................................................................


You’re Hired! is a programme aimed at Sixth Formers. It is Plymouth’s leading business and employment skills competition, and it aims to

test our entrepreneurial expertise and help us to develop it for our future careers.

During the course of the day we were set two different challenges supported by different companies (who are also sponsors of the programme) - Bailey Partnership, Clare Associates and KPMG. The first challenge, set by Clare Associates, evaluated our skills in working within a team of our peers, and we had to design and promote a brand for a hotel named ‘Sheepstor Manor’. The purpose of this task was to design different forms of advertisement, including a logo; produce various website designs considering which would be more likely attract the public; and use the most cost effective methods to publicise the hotel as a result.

My responsibility within our group was as the designer, and with the help of my team I was given an ‘Honourable Mention’ by the Clare Associate judge. For the logo itself we decided to focus on an older target market, and therefore it would need that sense of elegance

and class. We opted to use a simple colour scheme with a drawing of a tree as a black silhouette to represent the location. In addition we decided to add gold to make the logo appear eye catching and high quality so as to fit with the five star rating stated in the brief. The aim of the logo was to draw attention when compared to other local hotels, which are its competitors, while still being produced cost effectively. The target audience were ultimately looking for quality and that is what we strived to incorporate within the logo.

The second task, set by Bailey Partnership, seemed more challenging. It was based on securing management and maintenance of all aspects of a built environment. We were initially given design briefs of the layout with a bird’s eye plan of a building. Then we were given several proposals from different

companies which outlined how long it would take to construct and the costs of materials. We had to decide which company had the most suitable proposal to fit with the design specification. The skills necessary for the completion of this task not only gave us an insight into this field but it also tested our accuracy and reliability when trying to identify the best option.

The day as a whole was a great opportunity, allowing students to experience the challenges we could expect in our future careers. Moreover, it enabled us to be ready for what employers are looking for, not only identifying our skills academically, but also through other talents that will help to sustain a successful career.■Anisha Kalam, year 12...........................................................................

‘YOU’RE HIRED’Students’ entrepreneurial skills are put to the test

BRAND NAME: Students design for hotel logo


On Thursday 27th March, Amber Johnston, Emma Bean and I went to Exeter University for the South West Academic Trust’s public speaking competition. The teams consisted of a speaker, a chairperson and a questioner. The speaker’s job was to deliver a speech on the given subject and then answer questions posed by the questioner from an opposing team and the audience. The chairperson introduced the topic, gave links and then concluded. The job of the questioner was to pose questions to the speaker from another side. The speaker of our team (Amber Johnston) performed our speeches with a questioner and chairperson from another school. Our team’s chairperson (Emma Bean) and questioner (myself) were put with the speaker from a different team. We won the first two rounds in the morning (beating DHSB and Colyton Grammar School!) with our speeches “Are we too obsessed with famous people?” and “Are we

right to be cynical about politicians?” This resulted in a place in the final against Bishop Wordsworth’s school. It took place after lunch so we had approximately half an hour to create a five minute long speech which had to be delivered with little reliance on the script. Our final speech, “Is the internet a positive force for society?” was detailed and persuasive. Emma Bean delivered a confident and efficient introduction and conclusion and the questions posed by myself were probing and thoughtful. It was a close final, but in the end Plymouth High came in second by one vote. The day was a great experience and one that will stay fresh in our memories for a long time. Plymouth High put on an excellent show, as always, and Miss Tomalin was super proud of us for being so amazing with very little experience and practice. ■Hannah Harvey, year 8...........................................................................

RE-RITE Philharmonia Orchestra

Based on composer Igor Stravinsky’s fantastic ballet score The Rite of Spring, RE-RITE is a large-scale walk-through experience that offers visitors the chance to step inside an orchestra, to feel the sensation of being among more than 100 expert musicians and experience the thrill of walking among them, via giant projections, surround sound and interactive stations dotted throughout the installation. It has been seen by thousands around the world, and at the end of April the RE-RITE installation was set up in Plymouth. Students from Plymouth High were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to learn about the music and its development with a follow-up visit to the exhibition. It was great to hear the fantastic sound, to see what a violinist sees (via a head camera) and to watch orchestral players concentrating and counting during the sections where they did not play. Listening activities, dressing up as the conductor and playing some percussion instruments were also part of the visit.

Here are a few students’ comments about the visit:

“I found out about all the different sections of an orchestra and I learnt how hard it is to be a composer. I also got to play the gong at the end of our trip.” Hannah Bowden, year 8

“I really enjoyed the experience because it was something I would never ordinarily have gone to. The trip was fun and I got to learn and do stuff that I have never done before.” Ruth McCulloch, year 8

“RE-RITE was an immersive experience that allowed any instrumentalist or member of the public an opportunity to take a look inside a working orchestra. You became one of their numbers by taking along your instrument and ‘playing’ the (really difficult) piece with them or trying your hand at conducting! It was an amazing once in a lifetime opportunity to understand music in an orchestral setting. This was an educational and inspiring trip and I am so happy that I was invited to join the orchestra’s excursion to the event.”■Roslyn Irving, year 13...........................................................................

Public Speaking CompetitionSouth West Academic Trust

The Engineering Education Scheme in England and Scotland links teams of four year 12 students and their teacher with local companies

to work on real scientific, engineering and technological problems.

The scheme provides students with an in-depth experience in science, engineering and technology that will enable them to make an informed decision about their future studies and career. This year we were teamed with the Plymouth University Robotics Department.

Our team:

Jos GuyHannah CooperStacey BishopElisabeth Temlett-DixonClive Poole (teacher)Phil Culverhouse (Engineer at Plymouth University)Clare Simpson (Engineer at Plymouth University)

Our task was to design and create a new head for the University’s female promotion robot EVA and also to fit it with a speaker and give the robot the ability to speak for itself.

At the beginning of the scheme we spent time getting to know the project in hand. We had several meetings (both in school and at the University) and on a few occasions we got to see the robot (EVA) and watch her work properly. We had a bit of brainstorming to do at this stage and we spent quite a lot of time leading up to the workshop on brainstorming

our ideas, assigning team members particular jobs and coming up with rough designs for the head which we were going to create on SolidWorks software and have printed at the University.

In December, we went on a three day residential course at Plymouth University, where we were able to meet all of the other teams and get to know more about their projects, all of which were rather interesting. We all found this residential course very useful because we got to spend a lot of time around engineering students and professors. It was an excellent opportunity to ask them questions about their careers and how they find the

courses in Plymouth University. I also found the residential course very beneficial for me because it gave me a rough idea of what life in university would be like. We were also given the opportunity to attend lectures on writing reports and what you can do with a degree in engineering.

After the workshop we continued the meetings and slowly but surely finished the project. We managed to successfully create a working head (after several attempts). We also created a speaker with a chest plate so it could fit comfortably into the robot’s chest and programmed it so that the robot could speak.

On 28th April, all of the engineering

Engineering in EducationAn in-depth experience in science, engineering and technology


teams came together once more at Plymouth University for the celebration and assessment day. We set up our stall and prepared a presentation which we would present to the board later on in the day. We had the robot at the table with the final head and chest plate design on it. We also had her programmed so that she could introduce herself to anyone who

came over to our table. We got the chance to see the other teams and their finished projects. I was amazed to see how much their ideas had developed since the residential course in December.

At the end of the day, the people who were managing the Engineering Education Scheme gave all of the participants certificates and announced the winners of the competition. We were up against some intelligent teams with really interesting projects. Unfortunately, despite our hard work and impressive final design, we were not the winners.

Personally, I would definitely recommend this course to any student who is truly interested in doing an engineering course at any university. It offers many opportunities to have one on one conversations with engineers at different stages in their careers. You can get a lot of useful information to help you get to where you want to be. Also, this course gives you a chance to improve and develop skills which would really help you in your future lives, such as time management and presentation planning.■Elisabeth Tremlett-Dixon, year 12...........................................................................


FUTURE ENGINEERS: (Left to right) Elisabeth Temlett-Dixon, Stacey Bishop, Hannah Cooper and Jos Guy

‘Our task was to design and create a new head for the University’s female promotion robot EVA and also to fit it with a speaker and give the robot the ability to speak for itself ’

Food TechnologyYear 11 GCSE Catering

Design & Technology

Students had to prepare, cook and serve a two course meal showing international or local dishes. Meryl and Olivia’s menus utilised locally sourced ingredients; Amelia and Ellie’s were inspired by Italian menus; Annabelle and Megan’s menus were drawn from French cuisine.■


MERYL ATTRILL

OLIVIA COLBURN


AMELIA BURNARD

ELLIE EASTMAN

ANNABELLE WATERHOUSE

MEGAN WALSH

GCSE TextilesDesign & Technology

After a lot of hard work students have once again produced some fantastic projects for GCSE Textiles Technology this year. We have included just a sample here of some of the amazing work which they should be very proud of - well done!■


SOPHIE PEARSON hand printed and dyed fabric which was then lasercut and hand embellished to decorate a detachable collar for her dress

CHLOE STONEMAN made a children’s outfit with contrasting binding and button tabs and butterfly embellishment

HOLLY RANDALL used tie dyed fabric with leather flower embellishments for her retro style dress


OLIVIA ROUNSFULL used screen printing, hand embroidery, applique and transfer printing on her vintage upcycled quilt

LUCY DAW’S corduroy playsuit has contrasting lined pockets and a detachable corsage

LILY BARNES designedand machine embroideredthe bee motif on her dollwhich also had hand knittedhat and shoes

HAYLEY CARMICHAEL’S panelled dress with machine and hand embellished details

LAURA KENNINGTON used lasercut elements for the bodice of her dress


GCSE Graphics

Design & Technology

A selection of this years GCSE Graphics work...■

KATIE LITTLE

CATHERINE BURDETT

EMMIE HOYTE

KATYA TREGASKIS


GCSE Resistant MaterialsA selection of this years GCSE Resistant Materials work...■

ELLEN MARKS ELOISE JAMES SOMA GARDI SOPHIE ALLEN

ALICE PIERCE

SAVANNAH DALE

KIMBERLY WILLIAMS

ANNA GEE


A Level Product Design

Design & Technology

AS Level Lighting Project

AIMEE BURLISON

KATE FIRTH PATRICK WESTLAURA SELWOOD


AS Level Textile Project

NONA SHACKLETON

A2 Level Textile Project

GRETA CERNIAUSKAITE

The 2014 Gymnastics Competition gave an opportunity for students to demonstrate their gymnastic abilities to their peers. All four

Houses put on great displays and a lot of work by the House and Sports Captains in year 12 ensured that their teams were fully prepared for the competition. The event was judged by the PE staff and each House scored well, but in the end Latimer came first with Temple a close second. Anthony placed third with Kendall coming fourth. Well done to all girls involved; great to see you supporting your House.

‘Seasons’ was the theme of the Dance Festival this year. Participants from each House; Antony, Kendall, Latimer and Temple, all did extremely well performing their

routines in front of the school. Nick Perry and Emily Boucher (year 10/Temple) performed an exciting and hilarious dance to the song ‘Ice Ice Baby’.

Nick said, “A lot of effort was put in by the groups in my House and the outcome was exciting. We had a great day!”

Emily Molloy (year12/Kendall House Captain) danced an amazing, dramatic lyrical/modern piece to the song ‘Sail.’

Hopefully next year’s festival will be as good as this year’s!■ Charlotte Boyle and Nick Perry.........................................................

Gym & Dance CompetitionStudents get the opportunity to demonstrate their athletic and artistic abilities


I have played Octopush, also known as underwater hockey, for the last three years. It is a team game consisting of 6 players and 1-4 offside subs. It is a game in which you have to manoeuvre

a puck around the bottom of the pool into a metal goal.

I really enjoy playing and have entered national events for the past two years as a member of the Plymouth Underwater Hockey Club (PUHC) team, winning in the under 16 category. I was also awarded player of the year in June 2013 for the under 16 category and the team won two trophies.

The diagram below shows all the equipment needed to play Octopush:

Mouth guard and snorkel - essential for 1. breathing and to keep your teeth safe from flying pucks.Hat with ear guards - to protect ear drums 2. and to also tell what team you are playing in.Mask - essential to protect eyes and to 3. help you see.Fins - to increase your speed in water.4. Stick - held in one hand and used to push 5. the puck along the bottom of the pool.

Puck - looks like ice hockey puck; adult 6.

puck weight 1.5 kg and junior puck weight 850 g.Glove - a silicon glove 7. normally 5mm thick used to protect hand when going against an opponent. The more violent the competition, the thicker the glove.

Playing Octopush is a very time consuming sport and involves lots of hard work and pushing your body to the limit. But you reap the benefits with improved fitness, gaining lots of new friends and improvement of social skills. I follow a circuit training regime which consists of:

Monday, Friday, • Sunday- 50 sit ups, 50 air bikes, 20 burpeesGym - 3 times a week for 45 minutes• Swimming - once a week for 30 minutes• Octopush - Tuesday: adult game, 1 hour • and 30 minutes; Sunday: children’s game, 1 hour training, 1 hour game

I’m currently part of the UK winners team for under 16’s as well as training for the GB squad and have been narrowed down to the top 18. I play twice a week in adult and children’s games at the Life Centre. Adult games, for ages sixteen and over take place on Tuesdays from 8:30-10pm. Children’s games are for ages 8-16 on Saturdays from 3-5pm. No equipment is needed apart from a swimming costume and the first session is free so come along if you are interested in getting involved!■Chloe Stoneman, year 10...........................................................................

OctopushChloe Stoneman shares the finer points of underwater hockey


On Tuesday 13th May we took two teams to an athletics Super 8 competition on at Brickfields, one consisting of year 7 students and the other made up of year 8 and 9. Mixed teams were required, so our students joined up with a team from DHSB. The teams worked really hard and did very well. The girls involved were:

Year 7 - Emily Bee, Fiona Barron, Daisy Rushton, Mya Tungate, Maddy Harris, Kia Clarke, Olivia Bull and Jenny Milburn

Year 8 and 9 - Jess Kent-Woolsey, Orlane Mbahin, Maisie Hapney, Miaya Weymouth, Lydia Johnson, Dominique Adkins, Cordelia Taberner and Erin Eastman

The year 7 team achieved first overall and went through to the next round.

There was also individual success for Jenny Milburn who came second in the year 7 girls and Emily Bee who came first. Congratulations!

The year 8 and 9 team narrowly missed going through to the next round but achieved third overall. Jess Kent-Woolsey was the first girl individually which again was a great achievement!

Well done to all those that went and for their outstanding effort. Good luck to the year 7 team in the next round!Mrs Alford, Teacher of PE

Athletics SuccessYear 7 student Emily Bee travelled to Oxford on Sunday 1st June to compete in the Sandra Luke Memorial Athletics Event. She took part in 3 events - high jump, long jump and hurdles.

In the high jump she gained a personal best of 1.42m, coming first in the event. In the long jump she jumped 4.46m, also gaining first place and she came second in the hurdles. Points were allocated for each event and added up at the end. Her end result was GOLD, coming joint first place.

This was the highest level competition that she has competed in so far, so really well done and good luck for upcoming events during the summer.

Huge congratulations to Emily!

Katie BradleyThe PE Department would like to congratulate our TaeKwondo superstar Katie Bradley (year 12) on her fantastic recent success.

Katie travelled to Taipei in March for the World Junior Championships. Katie enjoyed a strong run to the semi-final, coming through four rounds and growing in confidence along the way. After a close first round fight, she made sure of early finishes in her last-16 and quarter-final bouts to secure her medal before facing Fatemeh Omouriharis of Iran for a place in the final.

Going into the latter stages of what was a tight match the Iranian held a 2-0 lead. Katie tried to reduce the deficit but Omouriharis ultimately won 6-0. The score-line didn’t reflect how close the match was, but Katie has the consolation of a well-deserved World Championship Bronze medal for her efforts.

“I’ve been to two European Championships and just missed out on a medal both times” said Katie. “So to now get a world medal is great.

We are very proud of you Katie!■The PE Department...........................................................................

PE Department News

Super 8 Athletics Competition


GCSE Art ExamFinal Pieces


These are just some of the incredible works of art produced by our talented year 11 students during their 10 hour GCSE exam.■

ALICE PIERCE MORWENNA BROUGHTON

ELIZABETH COLLINGWOOD


BRYONY RENYARD

EMMA LOWE

MEGAN ELLIOTT MEGAN WALSH

LILY BARNES ALEX MUXWORTHY


A Level Art ExamFinal Pieces

IMOGEN SMITH

DREW MORTIMORE

VICTORIA HORAN


FRAN KELLY

KATY O’HARE

MOLLY RUSSELL

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