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9 September 2016 | Edited By Michael Streat | Vol 27 No 1 | online at www.woodbridgeschool.org.uk

WOODBRIDGE A GRADE ABOVE


Once again our pupils have pushed open wide the doors to their futures through hard work, perseverance, resilience, and ultimately great success in the summer examinations.  Many congratulations to all the candidates who gained the grades they needed in such fine style.  Universities and apprenticeships, Gap years and adventure beckon the Year 13 leavers; A levels beckon the rest!
 
Our leavers had a rewarding and almost universally successful day transferring grades into futures on results day.  And those results were excellent: well over four fifths were graded A*-C, and over a third of candidates gained the equivalent to three straight A grades. The range of universities and courses is as exciting as ever, from St Andrew’s to Southampton, from UEA to Cardiff, Woodbridge pupils have embraced the UK; we have medics and engineers; artists, designers, linguists and scientists; leavers are off to study the humanities, social sciences, political sciences and more.  Add to the list foundation courses in engineering, in art and design, apprenticeships and auditioning, and brilliant Gap years: the Antipodes; the Far East; Switzerland; the UK…
 
Particular congratulations must go to Imogen Bacon for her four A* grades at A level; also earning four A or A* grades at A level were Phoebe Goddard and Emma Wellesley Wesley; and Ella Burdett, Flora Douglas, Poppy Hill, Nancy Huang Zhouer, Polina Koshel, Angel Lim Zi Qi, Liu Yuxin, Audrey McBride, Sam Myerscough, Alice Pertwee and Matthew Sutton all secured three A or A* grades.
 
This year’s Upper Sixth have a tough act to follow, but many have started exceptionally well, notably Alexander Appleton, Jasper Beaumont, James Bellhouse, Nicole Buckingham, Dorene Chen Yongyin, Lydia Cook, Cathy Dong Renfeng, Catherine Hua Yinglu, Lai Chun, Oscar Liang Yilei, Madeline Lord, Sami Shubbar, Jamian Stephan, William Woods Ballard and William Zhang Jingyi all who have secured the equivalent of at least three A grades each.
 
GCSE results were every bit as impressive for us: well over half the grades were A* or A, nearly a quarter A*.  Eleven candidates gained at least eight A* grades each, nearly two thirds at least one A*, and these fifteen gained at least 10 at A or A* overall: Emily Barker, Henry Bellhouse, Joseph Brierly, William Clarke, Harrison Cole, Abigail Crane, William Emery, Emma Harrington, Theo Lindsay-Smith, Katja Longbon, Will Martin, Chloe Neall, Georgina Warren, Oliver Wroe, and Gabby Zins. 
HOLIDAY ADVENTURES
 

So many!  Up mountains, across seas, in the air and on the ground… well over one hundred of our pupils were involved in school trips of one sort or another, and many staff with them of course.  I’m keen to tell the stories over the next few weeks, so do please let me know.  Otherwise I’ll just have to bore you all with my story of swimming with a bear in Yosemite…
 
TOM DANCES HIS WAY TO THE TOP
 
Tom Scoggins has been very busy over the summer. At the beginning of the summer holiday, he took two dance exams in both Tap and Modern dance, and has just received his two certificates, receiving distinction in both.

Tom will be taking part in the Woodbridge Dance Festival at the Seckford Theatre on Saturday 1st October, dancing 'Uptown Funk' with his Jazz group that won the overall prize at the North Norfolk Dance festival earlier this year.
JOHN STAFFORD MEMORIAL CONCERT



At the end of the summer term, St Mary’s Church was full to overflowing with many hundreds of pupils, parents, colleagues and friends, gathering to honour the memory of John Stafford with a concert centred on his music.  John was the most versatile of composers, so this journey took us from medieval carolling to a samba, by way of ‘A short walk on a rainy day’.

The concert celebrated five aspects of his music - three Stafford piano duets from some of those closest to John, a new band singing Leonard Cohen and Pink Floyd to recognise his constant innovation, and Andrew Whyte, Saskia Blake and Rebecca Reidy, three of our most musically distinguished OWs, playing Beethoven’s ’Archduke’ trio, honouring one of John’s last performances
The concert was framed by our current ensembles the concert band and chamber choir, so many of them coached by John.  His original compositions reminded us how well he understood our talents and our occasional limitations, orchestrating beautiful and brilliant sounds whatever resources were assembled before him.

Of course we never wanted to be holding such a concert but, with the gap he leaves in our lives and our music making still so large, we are all so glad we did.  Mr Penny reminded us of the joys of learning with John, and really we felt that John was there: in his music; in the musicianship of those he taught; and in all of our hearts as we honoured the memory of a brilliant talent and a wonderful man.

John’s wife and family were immensely touched, and deeply grateful to all the performers.  They would like to thank all the members of the school community who took part, pupils past and present, parents and friends, and indeed more widely everyone in the community: the kind words and tremendous support have been enormously appreciated.

 
PARENT WORKSHOP
Wednesday 21 September
6.30pm to 8.00pm
Seckford Theatre

Raising teenagers:
The GCSE Years

Elevate


Advice on how your child can optimize their study techniques and gain
excellent results.
 
PARENT WORKSHOP
Thursday 22 September
6.30pm to 7.30pm
Seckford Theatre

Raising teenagers:
Supporting driving

Colin Curtis
Ian Hallwood

Advice on safe driving from advanced instructors who were also former traffic policemen.
PARENT WORKSHOP
Wednesday 7 December
7.00pm to 8.00pm
Seckford Theatre
 
Raising Teenagers:
Talking to our teenagers
in the digital age

The RAP Project
 
Advice on helping your child to handle concerns around digital safety, and also gap year and festival safety.
MUSIC NEWS
SUMMER HOLIDAY MUSIC NEWS


 
Rosie Greenway, William Emery, Tristan Hilger, and OWs Charlie Green and Harrison Cole combined to play Schubert “Trout” Quintet in its entirety during a very successful Felixstowe lunchtime concert in August.

Meanwhile, Josh Cole, Amy Knight, Brendan Bennett and Jonathan Ferguson all played with the Suffolk Youth Orchestra on tour and at Snape, whilst Jennifer and Lucy Clare  took part in local Pro Corda courses.
OW ISABELLA PINCOMBE AT THE PROMS
 
News in from recent OW Isabella Pincombe: "I was invited to apply to the BBC Youth Ensemble via the Royal Academy of Music and the National Youth Chamber Orchestra. I had to send in a video audition clip and write a piece on why I felt I deserved the prestigious place amongst the BBC Symphony Orchestra members at the Last Night of the Proms. I was very surprised to be chosen and feel hugely excited to be participating in something that has been part of my life since I was very small. I have been lucky to have had two rehearsals at Maida Vale already and then of course at the Royal Albert Hall on the 10th September. The piece we will be playing is a new work especially commissioned for the Last Night of the Proms by Tom Harrold called Raze. Our performance will be broadcast on BBC2  at 7pm and we open the proceedings."
 
OW MICHAEL XU GAINS PLACE AT RNCM

Also in from OW Michael Xu: "I have decided to change course from maths to music, and today I received my offer from the Royal Northern College of Music for this September! I have not been given a confirmed acceptance yet, but I think this is already good enough news to tell."

Our hearty congratulations to Michael whose achievement is all the more remarkable given that he did not even study A Level Music!

 
SPORT NEWS
MAJOR TENNIS WIN FOR REACE
 
While some of us enjoy our Summer break lying on the beach, travelling or just catching up with life, the Woodbridge School Tennis players are hard at work on the courts, training and competing in tournaments.  There is much to celebrate after the Summer. 

Recently Reace Figaji (Y8) won the U12 Colchester and District Annual tennis Competition. Reace was runner-up last year and went one step better this year.  Well done Reace!


 
A BUSY SUMMER FOR HARRIET PETLEY
 
Harriet Petley (Y10), here on the right reached the doubles final of the Road to Wimbledon Competition.  Harriet was also selected to attend the England U16 Football camp.
SUCCESS FOR THE GIRLS' TENNIS TEAMS
 

Before the Summer holidays the Woodbridge School girls tennis teams achieved particular success. The U13A team was unbeaten during the season. The U13B team also had a strong season and wasn’t really tested until finals day. The Suffolk Schools Team Tennis Division 2 County Finals were a great experience and our players came away learning many lessons and also improving as individual and doubles players. The team finished third overall in Suffolk. The team representing Woodbridge at the finals were Ella Walker, Clara Simpson, Molly Marshall & Julia Long.
ISSY EATON  AIMS HIGH AT NATIONAL U12 TENNIS FINALS

Issy Eaton (Y8) competed at the National U12 tennis finals as part of the Suffolk U12 team. She also made it into the semi-final and final of a number of tournaments (singles and doubles) she played just before and during the holiday. The cherry on top of Issy’s achievements, and a reward for her hard work and commitment, is an invitation to the U14 National Training Camp for three days in October. These camps are very exclusive, with the LTA only running 3 a year, and inviting 8 players to attend. What a great opportunity for Issy to play with and against the best in the country.
ZARA LYE COMPETES AT THE NATIONAL U18 EVENTING CHAMPIONSHIPS


Many congratulations to Zara Lye who finished 7th individually in the National under 18 eventing championships this summer, (out of 80 under 18s) and was part of the East of England team which won the Team competition. Here she is in action. It was a brilliant reward for all the hard work she has put in!
OW SAMUEL LYNE ENJOYS MAJOR HOCKEY SUCCESS
 
OW Samuel Lyne (Leaver 2015) was always a key member of the boys’ hockey teams and excelled for the boys’ first team during his senior years as a Woodbridge School. While at school Samuel also achieved success and club and county level. He has now gone one step further.  Samuel recently won his first international hockey cap, representing Cyprus at the FIH World League Round 1 in Prague. The FIH World League Events are the pathway to Olympic Games and World Cup Qualifications. Cyprus is one of the smaller hockey playing nations but Samuel definitely made his mark on the world stage. He scored one of Cyprus’ goals during the tournament and very impressively was awarded with the “Best Junior Player” Award! Many, many congratulations to Samuel. 
 
OW LORNA BENNELL TRAINS FOR ENGLAND U21 HOCKEY SQUAD

OW Lorna Bennell (2014/2015 head girl) has been training with the England U21 Squad leading up to the Junior World Cup in November.  This has been a wonderful experience for Lorna despite not making the final group for the World Cup. Lorna is currently playing for Durham University in the Investec EH National League.
 
CLICK HERE FOR FORTHCOMING SCHOOL EVENTS
WSPA EVENTS
WSPA COFFEE &
CROISSANTS


Wednesday 14 September
8.30 am
Tuckwell Room


>> Event Details
WSPA AGM 2016


Monday 19 September, 7pm
Redstone Library, Senior School


>> Event Details
FAMILY FUN DAY

Saturday 17 September 
12.30pm
Senior School



>> Event Details
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