Welcome to the latest edition of Rough Notes and thank you for reading our monthly publication, it really is a fantastic way to share the amazing things our students and staff are doing both in and out of school.
Despite being the shortest month of the year, exacerbated by the half-term break, there is such a lot to mention.
I am delighted to report that seven out of eleven students interviewed have been offered places at either Oxford or Cambridge following a very successful application round for the school. A crack team of Woodroffe staff supported students past and present through the process and whilst some will undoubtedly be disappointed, all students have commented how much they have grown because of the experience and the support provided to them.
Students will be going on to study subjects including:
- English
- Classics
- Philosophy
- Maths
- Chemical Engineering
Following the closure of the 6th Form application process, I can report that we have had our largest return to date which also includes our largest number of applications from students outside Woodroffe. With over 30 qualifications on offer, there certainly is something to offer almost every student at post 16 level. We look forward to meeting our new intake on admissions day in the summer.
On Sunday the 19th of February, students and staff joined Lyme Bay Chorale at St Michael’s Church for a musical performance which celebrated the traditional and the new. There were great individual performances along with collaborative choir pieces showcasing the talent of both Lyme Bay Chorale and team Woodroffe. The audience were treated to a lovely afternoon of live music.
Year 9 student, Seb recently attended Taunton School as part of Taunton Festival of the Arts. I am delighted to report that Seb won the Kingsfield Cup for 1st place in Taunton Music Festival’s 14 and Under Piano Solo category. Congratulations to Seb, a fantastic achievement.
Over the half-term break, students from year 10 travelled to Italy to participate in snow sports high up on the Italian Alps. I am pleased to report that the ski trip was a huge success, and all returned without injury, no mean feat! Mr Loveland, trip organiser said “The instructors, coach drivers, our rep, David, and the hotel owner, Barbara, all commented on how well behaved, respectful and fun the students were. They were excellent ambassadors of the school. They made excellent progress in their skiing and demonstrated great resilience throughout the week”. What great feedback, it certainly makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Our sports teams have continued to perform well this month. Our year 8 netballers gained qualification for the County round after coming second in the area competition. Our year 7 boy’s football team have made it through to the semi-final of the County Cup and play Bournemouth School for Boys. The restructured inter-tutor competition continues to go from strength to strength with great numbers participating and tutor group ‘L’ leading the way with 222 points to date. Still all to play for! Our basketball teams continue to go from strength to strength with the last match a convincing 78-point victory to year 7.
Our Sports Leaders had the opportunity to visit Lyme Regis Fire Station just before the break looking at effective teamworking in the emergency services. This was a great opportunity to gain real-life knowledge of the different career paths available post school.
The bronze, silver, and gold DofE participants have been working in preparation towards their expeditions later this year. Recently, the bronze participants prepared and cooked their own lunch on the school terrace using that classic cooking apparatus, the Trangia. After a hearty meal, students were entrusted with the washing up, not an easy task for a teenager in 2023. They got the job done in time for afternoon lessons.
Student artwork has been displayed for the first time in the Lyme Bay Medical Centre. The art has been displayed in the patient waiting room, helping to brighten the space whilst making waiting there a more pleasant experience. The school’s annual art exhibition at the Town Mill will soon be upon us, we hope to see you at the gallery viewing the fantastic artwork our students have produced as ongoing works and examination pieces.
In addition to providing artwork to the medical centre and preparing for the upcoming exhibition, 6th Form art students enjoyed a residential visit to London during the half-term. This was a fantastic opportunity for students to immerse themselves in all things art whilst visiting some of the most prestigious galleries in London.
A group of students from years 9, 10 and 11 recently completed the Intermediate Maths Challenge. The event is organised by The University of Leeds and requires students to solve problems designed to make them think. The questions are useful for university entrance tests and interview screenings which students may meet in the future. In total, students from Woodroffe were awarded 3 golds, 20 silver and 16 bronze certificates. Congratulations to them all.
I hope you enjoy this edition of ‘Rough Notes’. Should you wish to find out more about our school, news, or events, please visit the school website which I am sure you will find useful. In addition, for regular updates, why not look at our social media outlets:
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Thank you for your support, it is appreciated by us all at Woodroffe.
Dan Watts
Headteacher