Bishopsgate School News (full text)

Visit from Zimbabwean Priest

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As part of our Enrichment Programme of lectures for Years 7 & 8, we were privileged to welcome a Zimbabwean Anglican priest, who had been forced to flee Zimbabwe after encouraging political debate, and condemning the Mugabe regime, in his church.

His presentation was inspirational, offering an insight into life for ordinary people in Zimbabwe and emphasising the importance of standing up for principles and having the courage to bring about necessary change.

There was also a clear message about our good fortune to live as members of a democratic country in which free speech is the right of all citizens.

Common Entrance Success

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were delighted to receive news that all our Common Entrance candidates had passed to their first choice senior schools, including Eton College, Hampton and Reeds. The results were very pleasing with Hampton and Reeds awarding 3 prizes for academic excellence to our pupils.

Year 8 is now enjoying a well earned Leavers' Programme, a highlight of which is a residential outward bound week in Devon.

National Spelling Award

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Times Spelling Bee - National Semi-finals

Having beaten seven other schools to win our local heat, Bishopsgate’s Year 7 spelling team, comprising Sam Clarke, Mason Rainier-Kirkwood, Tim Senanayake and Michael Hawkins headed off to Southampton on Friday 22^nd May for the National Semi-Finals of The Times Spelling Bee. They competed against the nine other local heat winners from the South of England for one place in the Grand Final in London. The competition was always going to be tough and this proved to be the case right from the start when the opening set of words was much tougher than it had been in the heats. Nevertheless, the Bishopsgate boys performed magnificently and were thrilled to finish 2^nd out of 10 schools - just missing out on a place in the Final but still a tremendous achievement! Well done, boys!

The Fonz at Bishopsgate

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Henry Winkler, the actor who starred in 'Happy Days', visited Bishopsgate on Thursday and was a tremendous hit with children, staff and parents! He spoke to the children about the talents that lie within all of them. He read extracts from his best selling children's novels about Henry Zipser, a dyslexic boy who will not let his learning challenges hold him back. The books are both hilarious and insightful. The children were able to buy copies of the books and Henry sat patiently signing each copy. A kind and inspirational man, he had time for each child and was full of praise for the children's excellent listening and interesting questions.

Major Academic Scholarship

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were delighted to hear the news that Jonathon Oldfield has been awarded the top academic scholarship by Hampton School. This is a tremendous achievement and we all offer our warmest congratulations to Jonathon, whose hard work and academic flair have paid off handsomely!

Spring Concert

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I congratulate all the children and music staff involved in a quite superb spring concert. The variety of music and the quality of performance were absolutely outstanding.

Highlights included the Junior Choir, whose beautifully sung renditions of 'The Bare Necessities' and 'Sound of Music Medley' delighted the audience, the Swing Band, who wowed the audience with their dynamic performance, the Senior Choir who lit up the hall with 'The Rhythm of Life' and the Cellists, who played superbly.

The drumming spectacular at the end was a fitting finale to a wonderful evening.

French Trip

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Year 6 had a wonderful time in Normandy last week. The pupils visited a variety of interesting places including the Bayeux tapestry, the D-Day Landings museum, the 360-degree cinema at Arromanches and Caen castle. They had the opportunity to practise their French at the market in Courseulles (where the stall holders did a good trade in berets!) and they learned about the production of apple juice, cider and Calvados at a local cider farm. The weather was warm and sunny all week, which was a great bonus! Merci beaucoup to all the children who were marvellous ambassadors for our school!

Latest Sport

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to our Under 9 girls' Netball team, who won the Bishopsgate Tournament on Saturday, winning all their matches.

The Under 10 Netball team won the IAPS Haileybury Festival. To gild a great day, Alexandra Oldfield was awarded the ‘Player of the Tournament’ trophy.

Congratulations also to our Under 8 Netballers, who won 5 and drew 1 of their 7 matches at the Eagle House Hi-5 Tournament.

Netball v Lambrook Haileybury

Under 10A Won 18-0
Under 10B Won 19-1

Netball v Eton End

Under 10A            Won 11-4
Under 10B            Won 3-0
Under 10C            Won 8-0

Under 11 Hockey

Congratulations to the girls, who won 2 of their 3 matches in the Surrey Hockey Championships, finishing a very creditable 2^nd overall.

Rugby v St George’s

1st XV Won 29-22
Colts A Won 26-21
Colts B Won 35-5

U8A Drew 10-10

U8B Won 11-9

U8C Won 11-7

Rugby v Denmead
Under 9A      Lost 0-66
U 9B       Lost 10-40
U8 A Won 8-7
U8 B Won 15-9

Rugby v Feltonfleet
1st XV   Won 46-0

Rugby v Sunningdale
1st XV    Won 46-7
2nd XII   Won 19-5
U11A    Lost 14-0
U9A     Won 55-10

Under 13 Woodcote Rugby 7s

Congratulations to the boys who lifted the Woodcote trophy on Saturday. They won all 4 of their matches against Woodcote, Sunningdale, St George's and Milbourne Lodge and scored 125 points.

Football v Staines Prep
Colts A Won 2-1

National Indoor Rowing Championships

Pupils from Bishopsgate took part in the National Indoor Rowing Championships this week.The standard was very high with 1,800 competitors taking part.

Over 150 year 7 boys raced. Our results were:

5th Mason Rainier-Kirkwood

19th Henry George

26th Sam Clarke

65th Joshua Crew

92nd James Mohsen

Over 130 Year 7 girls raced. Our girls were all Year 5s. They were using this as preparation for the British Indoor Championships in November when they will compete in their own age group. All 3 girls are within just 25 metres of last year's gold medal time. Six months to find those 25metres!

Enrichment Lecture

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many thanks to Mr Justin Bowman, who visited Bishopsgate on Wednesday morning to speak to the pupils of Years 7 & 8 about the work carried out by his company Air Charterservice Aviation PLC .

Even though Mr Bowman has addressed members of the United Nations, he was apprehensive about speaking to a room full of 12 and 13 year olds! He need not have worried, as the children found his lecture both fascinating and inspiring.

They learned about the logisitics and dangers of flying relief supplies into war torn and famine stricken countries. He told the story of how he had narrowly escaped walking into a minefield and how he had been on a plane which had landed on a runway in Africa where children were playing football.

He also described his own background and outlined suitable degree courses that could lead to exciting careers in logistics and aviation.

At the end, there was a sea of hands as the boys waited their turn to ask a question, clearly reflecting the success of the lecture.

IAPS Netball Success!

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to our Under 10 Netball team, who won the large and prestigious IAPS Netball tournament held on Sunday 1st March at Haileybury in Hertfordshire.

We were delighted also that Alexandra Oldfield was awarded the 'Player of the Tournament' trophy!

This triumph was the girls' fourth tournament win of the year, a superb record.