In the Key Stage 4 Textiles category Jasmine, Year 12, was awarded Highly Commended, Izzy, Year 11, 2nd Place for her KS4 Drawing and in the KS2 Photography category Chloe, Year 7, was awarded 2nd Place and Victoria, Year 7, Highly Commended.

This week the GCSE Drama groups performed there Devised Performance pieces as part of their coursework. Girls were issued with four stimulus' to decide from with both groups choosing the quote "Sometimes I feel my bones straining under the wait of all the lives I'm not living".

Felicity and Holly named their performance 'Bedlam', set in London in 1996, focussing on two characters suffering from psychopathic mental health issues, using key approaches of 'Artaud' theories on presenting, a seamless performance of quite a chilling and dramatic piece of theatre. 

The second group named their performance 'Hollow Bones' set in 2019, focussing on three separate lives of terror that has happened in our world and the effects the traumatic events have had on the characters mental states. The girls used 'Brechts' style on breaking down the fourth wall, making their audience very much apart of the action as they performed this 'in the round'.

Hannah, Rebecca and Izzy performed a most creative, symbolic piece of theatre, raising clear awareness of the nightmare that continues to live in many victims heads still to this day.   

We have our fastest ever Word Millionaire! Elise, Year 7, passed this milestone in record time and received her library prize and certificate this week. Year 7 also have a new reading challenge this year, as recommended in the Accelerate Reader training sessions last term. All girls have been set a daily 30 minute reading target which is created by the AR programme. These targets are all unique and personal as they are based on their individual reading ages. It is calculated on the number of quizzes they take which then estimates daily reading time. 

Year 7 had their first Parents’ Evening and work share last week. Thank you to all of you that gave me feedback on what you have heard and how much you valued the depth of explanation and the individual knowledge of each child. One of the most important elements of successful learning is the relationship between each child and their teacher. From what you told me it is clear that these are both strong and warm and this is laying great foundations for future learning and progression.

I am looking forward to seeing Year 11 parents on Monday 4 November, and a host of prospective parents at the Open Afternoon on 7 November. 

Lastly, this week we said goodbye to Mrs Kirkup who has been working alongside Mrs Copeman in library for the last seven years and her calm authority and professionalism will be greatly missed, as well as her expertise with displays. She’s been the library's engine, its protector and its champion. We wish her the best of luck in her new role working within the RBWM Supervised Contact Team.

We also say goodbye to Miss Olivia James who is leaving us to take up a new position of Communications Manager within the External Relations Department at Birkbeck College. We wish her well in her new role. 

Over the half term period the first grade card will be posted home to all pupils from Years 7 to 11 and ‘Bon Voyage’ to all those going on school trips abroad and at home. I hope you have a marvellous half term holiday.