Year Eleven

Study Leave & Examination Information letter April 2012

Examination Information letter

Our thoughts have turned towards GCSE success in the summer. The post-mortem on the trial exams was swiftly followed by reports and Parents’ Evening. A photo of the entire year group and a scramble to finish the Year Book are more signs that we only have weeks remaining in compulsory education. Revision Camp is oversubscribed at Easter.

The English Speaking Union public speaking competition was won by Chew Valley School in resounding style at a hard-fought competition at Bristol Grammar against finalists from Colston’s School and QEH. This was the first time in the competition’s history that two teams from the same school had made the final!

The CVS A Team (Sophie Cotterill, Julia Lawson-Johns and Claire Hammett) spoke on the topic ‘Queen Elizabeth should be the last British monarch’ whilst the B Team (George Merriott, Duncan Salkovskis and Lydia Sinclair) discussed the subject: ‘Public figures should not be judged by their private lives’.

‘The quality of the competition was outstanding,’ commented Mr Mallett.  ‘Our speech-makers, George and Sophie, did a superb job with carefully researched, elegantly and wittily constructed argument and impassioned delivery.  The questioners, Duncan and Claire were perceptive and critical listeners who engaged the speakers in well-mannered but rapier-like cross-examination.  Both teams were urbanely chaired by Julia and Lydia respectively.’

The CVS A Team won the final and also took the prize for best questioner (Claire).  The CVS B Team were highly congratulated and took the prize for best chairperson (Lydia).  It was a superb result and richly deserved. The A Team now move on to the South West final.

Thanks to Mr Blower for preparing the teams.

In early January the hockey team played their regional final against Ralph Allen, both teams having won their respective leagues. Ralph Allen had a superb player who signalled her intentions by dribbling round our entire team to score in the first minute. However, we showed real mettle and Jess Hepburn equalised within ten minutes. Natalie  Sidwick was performing miracles in goal but we went 3-1 down. Again Jess scored to ensure a nail-biting end, but Ralph Allen just held onto a 3-2 victory. There were notable performances from Millie Hunt, Dilys Barker and Emily Harding, but double goalscorer Jess was voted the player of the match and is thanked for helping to organise the team throughout the season. Continuing the good form for the girls, we beat Norton Hill 27-16 at netball. This was a rare victory indeed and player of the match was Georgia Watts.

Lewis Nightingale represented Bristol Athletic Club in the Midland Cross Country Championships at Wollaton Park in Nottingham. Running at U-17 level, he was up against the best runners from a huge region stretching from Cornwall to the Midlands. With many competitors a year older, Lewis came a respectable 60^th in a time of 22 mins 29 secs.