Thursday 10 May. 

Dear all

Exciting news from the school! We have appointed our Head Boy and Head Girl. With one of our governors, I interviewed all five candidates. An impossible decision followed, but eventually Lauren McPartlane and Henry Judge were appointed. All five were outstanding at interview (and have a strong track record of making excellent contributions to school life) so we had no choice but to also appoint Emily Adamson, Alex Forward and Tom Hardy as Deputy Heads of School. I have worked with many students in leadership roles in the past, but never a team of the calibre of our own Senior Student Leadership Team.

In my last piece, I touched on the central importance of our staff in ensuring The Buckingham School moves forward to become a first-class school of choice, but I also noted that the students are what we are all about.  Just like our new Heads of School, the rest of our students have been delivering recently!

Top of my list is a real spine tingling moment. There was an accident recently, on London Road.  Many of our students were nearby and three students (Molly, Kathryn and Kie) demonstrated their leadership skills, supporting at the scene: “three beautiful amazing young kids.”

Our students really are a tremendous bunch. The “youth of today” are so often criticised by the older generations, but it really strikes me that a Buckingham School student knows how to conduct themselves, and (usually!) does so in an exemplary fashion. This week I received a message from a Swan Pool user who walked past the front of school at home time. Students were well-behaved, well-mannered and moved out of her way without being asked to allow her past. As a teacher herself, she writes “I would be proud to work in a school where students were this happy, mature and polite.” I wish I knew who those students were!

Daisy Abra and Angus Butcher performed at the Mayor Making ceremony last week, during which the school received the award (again) for “Excellence in Sports and the Arts.” We have had triathletes competing for the first time, our Duke of Edinburgh expeditions are away soon, many year 7’s are soon off to PGL, students taking part in the apprenticeship challenge, more success in sports fixtures, another primary schools’ tournament coming up, and so on…

It has been wonderful to pass on an influx of thank you’s and compliments received from parents recently. Staff who have gone beyond what we expect of them deserve acknowledgement for what they do inside and outside of the classroom …keep them coming!

With best wishes.

Mr A McGinnes
Headteacher

Head Boy and Head Girl

Accident on the London Road and our fantastic students! 

Students from our school helped out when a road traffic accident happened just down the road from the school.  We are extremely proud of Molly, Kathryn and Kie for helping at the scene. What fantastic students we have, and what maturity they have shown. 

The partner of the injured cyclist said in a recent social media post “I would like to thank the three beautiful amazing young kids, a boy and two girls from The Buckingham School. They talked to my three young girls age 8, 3 and 11 month old. They did not have to do anything but what they did was amazing." She also said that if they were her children she’d be so proud of what they did for her girls whilst she was talking to the paramedics.  The three students took the girls to the Swan Leisure pool whilst she stayed with her partner at the scene. 

Students from Buckinghamshire schools take part in sales apprentice challenge

Centre of Further Education (Sixth Form) students took part in an event at Pinewood Studios organised by Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership’s skills hub.

Our students participated with other local Buckinghamshire based schools, colleges and UTCS. Teams of students, paired with local businesses, were challenged with presenting a sales pitch for a product to a judging panel. 

Marina Jackson, under-19 skills manager for the Buckinghamshire Skills Hub said: “The challenge gives students the opportunity to discover traits common to all sales professionals, exploring and developing confidence, knowledge, presentation, communication, research, resilience and persistence.”

The competition which was judged by Ailie Smith, CEO of Creative Media Skills, Athol Hendry of the Careers and Enterprise Company and Marina Jackson from Bucks Skills Hub.

Ailie said: “It was so rewarding to be involved in this inspiring event for local young people. “As a business owner, I feel it is crucial to take responsibility for guiding the next generation, using opportunities such as this event to ensure a capable and confident future workforce.”

The full article can be found at 

Mayor Making Event

The Town Council hosted the Mayor Making ceremony which took place on Friday 4 May, where Jon Harvey was elected to be Mayor again for a second year. 

Two of our students performed at the Mayor Making ceremony; Daisy Abra reciting her own poem about imagination and Year 11, Angus Butcher, musican. Mr Harvey, in his speech, acknowledged and thanked Angus in advance for his performance at the beginning of the ceremony.  

He also thanked Daisy, who was one of two poets performing on the night, by saying, “May I say a huge thank you to the two poets who have created these compositions. They are both wonderful and inspiring poems."

I closed my eyes, by Daisy Abra.  

I closed my eyes and I could see,
A whole new world in front of me.
A blood red sky, bleak mountains high,
Trees like silk, rivers of milk.
Clouds of gold above the ground,
And a deafening silence, not a sound.
No people, no war,
Just peace, and adventure in store.
No suffering, no anger, no sadness, no death,
No greed, no gain, no bereavement, no pain.
Happiness and joy floated by,
Like glimmering angels that never die.
And as bul colors joined my view,
My spirit flew.

Well done, Daisy and Angus for representing The Buckingham School. 

To read the Mayor’s full speech, from the Mayor Making ceremony, click below. 

http://themayorofbuckingham.blogspot.co.uk/2018/

The Buckingham School has been presented with a Community Award for ‘Recognition of Excellence in Sports and The Arts’ by Buckingham Town Council. Pictured here is Ms Rachel Hunt, Curriculum Leader for Performing Arts accepting the Award.  

Performing Arts

Thank you to Heather Worrell from Artspool for recently presenting a three-hour workshop on the written GCSE paper with our Year 11 dance students.  Dance students from Thornton College also attended the workshop.  In the afternoon, all students went to Thornton College to share examination performance pieces with collaborative marking, from The Buckingham School and Thornton College Performing Arts staff. 

Ms R Hunt, Curriculum Leader for Performing Arts 

Coaching for Success

At The Buckingham School, we are constantly trying to support and engage our students in strategies that will enhance their learning experience and allow them to feel more positive towards school. As a result, we have teamed up with a company called GRIT who are running “Coaching for Success”, a programme aimed at supporting students, in achieving their full potential. A selected group of students have been given the opportunity to take part in various different personal development training events to support them in achieving goals. Students who attend programmes such as GRIT can achieve: More motivation to succeed at school, greater persistence in committing to and fulfilling on personal goals, social skills & self-confidence that will support their progress in school and beyond, a developed emotional awareness and resilience to overcome obstacles and increased responsibility for their learning and their school.

The programme involves various sessions, either in school or off-site, such as training at Buckingham Athletic Football Club. Students have a dedicated Performance Coach, to support them in achieving their educational goals and looking at future plans. 

At the end of the programme will be a completion event to celebrate each student’s achievements and this will be attended by parents, governors, coaches and school staff. 

A Level Business & Economics Grade Booster Seminar 

Eighteen A Level Economics & Business Studies (Year 12 & 13) attended 'Grade Booster' (run by the Examining Board and Tutor 2U)which was held at one of Westfields Shopping Centre in Shepherds Bush, London. The seminar hosted by Examiners and specialists analysed the key areas of the curriculum and techniques to use in order to boost student grades plus giving valuable revision tips especially on how to attain the higher marked evaluative questions. 

After the seminar, the students were allowed to visit the countless stores ranging from Tesla Cars to Snug (Frozen Yoghurt Store). An eye opening and successful trip enjoyed by all our fantastic Sixth Form young adults.

Mr D Patel, Curriculum Leader for Business & Economics

Triathlon 

Sainsbury’s School Games ran their first ever Triathlon last week at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. We entered a team of Years 7/8 girls and boys and a team of Years 9/10 girls and boys. They competed against other schools in the County across swimming, cycling and running (relay) disciplines. It was a fantastic opportunity for all students, and a well-run event to attend. All students worked really hard throughout to cover the furthest distance in each of the disciplines. We are awaiting the final results from the event. A very well done to all of you, from Mrs Cowley, Assistant Curriculum Leader for PE.

Women’s Rugby - Alliance Cup Final 

If you have had chance to look at the last e-Bulletin, you will know that Miss Collie (Head of Year 7 and PE teacher) played in an important rugby match for Bletchley Ladies on Wednesday 25 April. 

Caroline kindly made this an opportunity for myself, Maurice Young and fifteen Year 7 & 8 girls to go along to The Northampton Saints ground to watch and support her and her team mates.

Caroline scored 2 tries and absolutely smashed it out on the pitch, truly inspiring our students - I think a new rugby team may have been formed on the minibus ride home!

Thank you, Caroline and CONGRATULATIONS on winning the first Women's Alliance Cup Final at Franklins Gardens!

Miss L Higgs, Teacher of Art

Rounders

Our Year 9 Girls Rounders team, pictured here won 14 - 9.5 v Akeley Wood. A fantastic performance from all the team! Our Year 10 team also won v Akeley Wood 19 - 11.5. Well done. 

Mrs V Cowley, Assistant Curriculum Leader for PE.

Pilgrim Walk to the Vatican City

Our very own, Zari Wilmot, Officer Manager, completed a pilgrim walk during the Easter holidays.  In total, from the small town of Aquapendente to The Vatican City in Rome, she walked a total of 197 kilometres (just over 122 miles with 15 kilos in her backpack), and as evidenced by the stamp on her pilgrim passport and pilgrim certificate.

In Zari’s own words, “I will not say it was easy, the word tough is an understatement. I fell over on the first day, luckily was unharmed other than a grazed knee.  The convents were very cold with limited lighting and one has to be quiet by 8pm!  Nevertheless, if I have to do it again, I will; only this time without a heavy load on my back.”

Zari thanked her work colleagues for their support and generosity.  In total, £365 was pledged. The euro equivalent of £135 has been donated to Casa di Lazzaro Convento del Cappuccini, in Aquapendente.  The remaining £230, will be donated to the school.  

Well done, Zari, this is a fantastic achievement. 

Maids Moreton Women’s Institute

This year Maids Moreton Women's Institute are celebrating 60 years and each month they are trying to do various activities for the community. This month they have decided on providing sanitary products for schools.  On behalf of The Buckingham School, we thank you, Maids Moreton WI for your donation. 

Bittersweet Music students from The Buckingham School joined forces with Buckingham Children’s Choir to perform ‘Any Dream Will Do’ at a Civic Service in Buckingham Parish Church. Suzy of Bittersweet Music would like to congratulate Ella O’Connell and Amelia Gohl on their delightful singing at the event. 

The next BIG performance opportunity for Suzy’s music students and Buckingham Children’s Choir, will be to appear at Buckingham’s annual and very popular ‘Music in the Market’. This is a fantastic and FREE ‘family friendly’ music event taking place in the town centre on Sunday 27th May. Music and much more, from midday until 22:00hrs! 

Audiences can expect a varied selection of live music including: acoustic duos, full bands, choirs, children’s entertainment and a small but perfectly formed orchestra! Something for everyone! 

If your child is a member of Buckingham Children’s Choir, or has music lessons at school with Suzy - then get in touch quickly to secure a chance for them to perform at this fantastic musical event!
Email suzyasmith@aol.com.    
Facebook Bittersweet Music (Buckingham) 
Buckingham Children’s Choir 

Ex-student, Ollie Robb, has been awarded Coaches Player and also Player's Player and an Award for his rugby achievements with Scarlets Welsh Rugby Union and Crawshays). Warren Gatland OBE presented the Awards on the night. 

Useful links from the school website:

Calendar Events for this week, and further ahead. 

Click here.