It is with great pleasure that I introduce the Christmas newsletter. A lot has happened in the space of half a term. Since my last newsletter a reality TV star has been elected as the next President of the United States and as I write it has been announced that Nigel Farage is in the running for the TIME magazine “Person of the Year”. As I recall saying at Speech Day in the summer, we live in strange times.
Closer to home Mrs Whitney-Thomas and myself were asked to present at the SSAT National Conference on the school’s work in the area of social mobility, Adams’ has been chosen by the Royal Society of Arts as a model of innovative education and so far this term we have had the largest amount of Oxbridge offers in recent memory.
We have also just found out that AGS has been invited to represent Innovation and Excellent Practice in Secondary Education in the Parliamentary Review 2017. Each year a small number of outstanding schools are selected to appear alongside The Rt Hon Philip Hammond (Chancellor of the Exchequer) and The Rt Hon Stephen Timms (Education Select Committee) in a report aimed at highlighting best practice and raising standards in secondary education.
All of these things stand as a wonderful reminder of the vast array of dedicated pupils and staff we have here. It is of course always lovely to be recognised by those outside of the school but we must also remember that there were a tremendous amount of things this term alone that contributed to the spirit of Adams’. For example, in November we had our annual Dixon Cup competition in which the pupils once again stunned me, the rest of the staff and many parents with the sheer breadth and depth of the talent our pupils possess.
Just before Dixon Cup a group of pupils returned from an amazing tour of Australia and I greatly enjoyed finding out more about it when they presented in assembly; you can see highlights of their trip by watching their video on our YouTube channel.
I have been very pleased that the school community has been considerate of those less fortunate than themselves with a number of successful charitable initiatives. The visit by Georgia Williams' mother Lynette was a special moment and I was impressed by the pupils' spontaneous standing ovation after hearing about Georgia and the charity that bears her name.
I have also been greatly impressed by the amount of donations the school has collected for the Newport Food Bank and I would like to thank every single pupil, parent and staff member who has contributed.
There have been a number of Christmas events in school, starting with the wonderful Christmas concert in the Hamilton Hall; the quality of the performances certainly whets the appetite for February's House Music competition.
This evening's Family Carol Service is a wonderful way to end the year and I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Finally I would like to wish you the compliments of the season and hope that you enjoy a restful Christmas break and a peaceful New Year, whatever it may bring.
Gary Hickey
Headmaster
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Dixon Cup
Adams’ Grammar School pupils once again demonstrated their skills in drama, film, public speaking and dance in this year's House drama competition with all four Houses competing to be crowned the Dixon Cup winners for 2016. Read More |
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Year 7 visit to Haberdashers' Hall
It has become a new school tradition for all Year 7 pupils to visit the Haberdashers' Hall during their first term at the school. Two classes go at a time and pupils from Clive and Darwin have provided us with a write-up of their day. Read More |
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Australia Tour
At half-term a group of Adams' pupils and staff set off on the long journey to Australia to pay a return visit to Ringwood Secondary College in Melbourne.
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A-Level English Trips
In early November our Lower Sixth English pupils visited Shropshire’s Attingham Park and Wightwick Manor in Wolverhampton. Two pupils have written about their day and how the visits have helped to bring their texts to life.
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Academic Commendations
Please follow the link below to view the latest Headmaster, Taylor and Peterson Commendations.
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Music Newsletter
The music department have enjoyed an incredibly busy term once again. To find out more about what they have been doing and their plans for next term please read their newsletter. Read More |
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Arkwright Scholars
Congratulations to this year's Arkwright Scholars who have all had to complete a lengthy and challenging selection process. Pictured with Mr Jones and Dave Patrick of the Arkwright Scholarships Trust are this year's winners Gakhal Sukhneet, Adarsh Menon and Felix Davison. Year 11 pupils interested in finding out more about becoming an Arkwright Scholar should speak to the DT department.
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Monmouth Enterprise Initiative
The Monmouth Enterprise Initiative involves each of the Haberdashers’ schools sending a team of Sixth Formers to London to undertake a day’s work experience with a corporate business. This year the focus was information technology related industries.
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Top of the Bench Regional Final
Many congratulations to our Year 9 and 10 Chemists who have won the RSC's Top of the Bench regional finals. This is the third consecutive year that an AGS team has won and the boys are now looking forward to representing the school at the final in April 2017. Pictured left to right are Alex Supple (11T), Luke Pritchard (9C), Isaac Harris-Holt (10D) and Tom Rowe (9C).
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Standing ovation for Mrs Williams
We were honoured to welcome Mrs Williams to school this term to tell pupils about the work of The Georgia Williams Trust, which has funded diving scholarships for two of our Sixth Form students. It was an incredibly moving assembly with a spontaneous standing ovation for Mrs Williams from all the pupils and staff.
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A busy time in Junior Boarding
Our junior boarders have enjoyed lots of weekend outings this half-term including trips to the Birmingham Christmas Market and Chester, a tile decorating workshop at Ironbridge, an evening of ice skating and a healthy outdoor climb to Lilleshall monument. They also treated their parents to an evening of musical performances, readings and sketches during their annual Arts Evening. The boys have produced a short 20 second video to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas from Longford Hall. View here |
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Senior Boarding news
Our senior boarders have also enjoyed a busy term with paintballing and football being popular activities as well as a trip to Twickenham for the Varsity match. Find out more in their newsletter. If you would like to find out more about boarding opportunities in the Sixth Form, please contact Marketing. |
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Working with primary schools
This term we have been delighted to welcome pupils from Lilleshall Primary School, Newport Junior School and St. Peter's School Edgmond. The children have enjoyed working in our science labs on a variety of experiments to support their lessons at school.
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CCF Update
Our Combined Cadet Force Cadets were proud to represent the school at the Remembrance Sunday service and parade in Newport to honour all those who gave their lives in the service of their country. Approximately 50 Year 8 recruits have just completed their initial training as a CCF cohort. The boys learn basic drill and kit preparation, as well as introductions to leadership/team working and basic weapons handling. In the New Year the recruits will chose either the Army or RAF section and receive more specific training for that section.
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The first RSCM scholarship
Congratulations to Sixth Form pupil James Sale who has just been awarded an Organ Scholarship by The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM). Ten scholarships are awarded each year and James is the first person to receive one this year.
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Newport Food Bank Appeal
Many thanks to everyone for supporting this year's Newport Food Bank Appeal. In addition to the huge amount of food that has been donated, over £500 has been raised with our end-of-term Christmas jumper day. Volunteers from the Food Bank will be collecting everything on Friday. Thank you!
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Christmas Netball
Our Sixth Form girls had a fabulous fun afternoon of netball at the annual Christmas tournament competing against two other schools. Dressed for the occasion, they collectively played some outstanding netball with the 1st Team crowned overall winners. Read More |
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Cross-country report
The cross-country teams have been very active this half-term. Our congratulations particularly to Years 7/8 and 9/10 who represented the school at the Midlands round of the English Schools Championships. Both teams finished in a very impressive eighth place.
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Table Tennis success
Congratulations to the table tennis players Amar Samra, Chris Chen, Yaswant Perumal and Jamie Chen. They took second place in the Shropshire Schools under-16 finals.
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Smedley Cup
Congratulations to Darwin House on their Smedley Cup win this week making them the overall 2016 House rugby champions.
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Hockey Reports
Our hockey teams have been in action across the region, many thanks to Mr Fowler for providing match reports and updates on their progress.
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Football Reports
The 1st XV have made a slow start to the 2016-17 season, which was natural considering the bulk of last year’s starting XI have now left the school. Many thanks to Mr Biggins for supplying match reports and updates on their progress. Read More |
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Quiz Night - Friday 3rd February 2017
Our AGS Society would like to invite you to a brain-teasing 'Family Fun Quiz' with fish/ sausage and chips and a glass of wine/juice. Tickets are priced £10 for adults and £5 for children and can be booked online here - just select the event and complete the form. All proceeds will be used to support the school and pupils.
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A wonderful Christmas Ball
The AGS Society would like to thank everyone who supported this year's Christmas Ball. Goldstone Hall was once again the perfect setting and the evening raised a fantastic £1,550, all of which will be used to support the school and pupils.
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Dates for your diary
Tuesday 3rd January 2017 - Term starts
Tuesday 24th January - MUFTI Day
28th/ 29th January - Boarders' Exeat Weekend (no Prep Club Friday 27th)
Friday 3rd February - Family Fun Quiz Night
Thursday 16th February - House Music Competition
Friday 17th February - Staff PD Day
Monday 20th to Friday 24th February - Half-Term
For a full list of key school dates and term dates, please visit the parents area of the school website. |
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Notice
We were sad to learn recently of the death of former art teacher Dudley Chambers. Despite retiring over 20 years ago, Dudley is remembered as being an inspirational Art teacher who was always calm, assured and willing to share his considerable wisdom and experience while allowing students to express their individuality. His time at Adams' included being Head of Clive House and boarding master. He was also actively involved in rugby and cricket and had a lifelong passion for bird watching, often shared with staff and students alike. Our thoughts are with his family.
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