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Four Schools in OneA new approach

There has been a real buzz at school this term.

Our Open Evening saw over a thousand people visit the school in an evening, with almost 200 coming to the three subsequent Open Mornings.

The school has split itself into four smaller schools within the school: Angelou, Russell, Turing and Ellis.

Each school has its own Headteacher and Deputy, making it the size of a small primary school. We felt our school was too big. The new system means students are

known, supported and guided in more depth than was possible before. With Headteacher Mr. Deighan alongside the other four, we believe that five heads are better than one.

By making the changes we’ve been able to recruit five additional teachers, so our core departments can be more flexible. They can respond to the needs of our students through faster interventions and smaller class sizes. The school enjoyed a rise in GCSE results this summer against a national

downward trend. Our motto is Challenge and Pride. Our students know that hard work, resilience and creative innovation bring about success. We are a community of individuals who have the confidence to be ourselves; it’s tangible to those who have visited the school and those within.

Our team of highly trained and expert teachers are at the school’s core. Our goal is to help young people embark upon a powerful learning journey.

VARNDEANEYE

Varndean SchoolBalfour RoadBrighton BN1 6NP

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Varndean Head of Maths Andrew Blair is using his research for a PhD at King’s College, London to make Maths more exciting. He’s been investigating and using an academic system called Inquiry Maths. This sees students given a set of starting points that help them develop their mathematical reasoning. The students, working in pairs or small groups, set their own problems and decide the best way to solve them. Work is shared during the lesson, and students learn how to use algebra to prove their results. During an Inquiry Maths lesson the teacher can act more as a facilitator, helping students to reach their own conclusions, rather than learning by rote.

Students have been enthusiastic about the benefits. Year 9 student Jacob Cons said, "Inquiry maths has really given me an insight into investigating problems with an array of answers for all different levels. It will really help introduce analytical work for younger children." The site is being used already in Sussex and Surrey schools. Visit Andrew’s site to see more:

www.inquirymaths.co.uk

“Inquiry maths has really given me an insight into investigating problems with an array of answers for different levels.” Jacob Cons, Year 9

An Age of InquiryInnovation in learning

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It all adds up Inquiry Maths is just one way that Maths teaching at Varndean is using cutting edge theories of learning to help students improve

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Varndean students have been learning how you can turn on a light switch when you’re not in the room and how you can make a cup of coffee just by tweeting that you want one! Challenges like these can all be solved with Arduino, an open source system with its own programming language. When combined with different types of affordable hardware, all sorts of interactive experiments can be conducted. Working with scientists from Sussex University, an intrepid band of ICT pioneers have been getting to grips with writing code and operating hardware. ICT Teacher Olly Thompson says, ‘Having launched a new GCSE in Computer Science this year, lots of our students are learning programming. Thanks to the support of the university, they've now been able to see how they can make objects in the real world obey their commands. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next term!’

News in BriefBusy times

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‘It’s been a while since the Samba band took part in Burning The Clocks. Combined with our winter concert these events mark a wonderful end to a great year of music at school.’

Ryan Kearsey

Musical students have been busy in the run up to Christmas. On 13th December we put on our Winter Concert, which as ever was a real showstopper of talent. Then, on 18th December the school had its annual Carol Service in St John’s church. We’ll be rounding off the term on 21st December when the school’s renowned Samba band takes part in the Burning The Clocks parade. Lead professional for Music, Ryan Kearsey says, ‘It’s been a while since the Samba band last took part in Burning The Clocks. Combined with our winter concert at school, these two events mark a wonderful end to a great year of music at Varndean.’

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Intra Schools CompWho will shine?

Over the course of this term the four new schools have been battling it out in the new intra schools competition. Each year group has been taking part in a variety of different sports, including netball, swimming, football, and basketball.

It’s been a hard fought competition, with positions changing constantly.

Turing have maintained a lead that’s been gradually widening. Currently, the school is on 55.5 points. Angelou are in second place with 53 points, while Ellis have 47.5 points and Russell are on 41 points.

Sport continues to flourish. Ben Pope and Jake Brooks (pictured right) to play football for Brighton Boys U-15's. Ben has also been selected for Sussex U-15's. The boys had to go through a chal lenging selection process and we send them both our best wishes.

Marina Reid Martin won the Sussex U13 league 150m and High Jump in September, continuing our strong showing in both track and field. Another year 8 athlete, Chloe Watson, who represented Sussex last year, started this season by winning the team road relays at Goodwood. Year 9 swimmer Lauren Kelly is the Sussex breaststroke champion and ranked number one in her competitive region. Our year 9 n e t b a l l t e a m r e m a i n s undefeated, while our Year 9 boys’ rugby team reached the semis of the Brighton & Hove 10 a side tournament. Last but not least, our Year 7 boys’ football team started the Sussex Cup with a stunning 6-0 win, losing in the final 5-4!

Going for GoldStudents take part in the Netball competition

Chloe Watson

Lauren KellyMartina Reid Martin

Jake BrooksBen Pope

Sports FocusStep up to the mark

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Dear Varndean families,

I am sure that you have heard many predictions and much speculation about the 21st December. The Mayan calendar and other cultures and civilizations, a re-birthing, a three day festival of love… For those of you I know personally, you’ll know that any move towards a time of greater kindness and humanity would fill me with the deepest joy, but enough of my spiritual leanings.

As well as all of the above, it marks the end of an extraordinary long term for our school community.

As ever, we remain focussed right to the end where we have a flourish of special assemblies on Friday. The PE department are the current champions as voted by the students, measured by a stylish clap-o-meter. I believe this year they are attempting something called a ‘Gangnam Style?’, with RS in hot pursuit with a more traditional submission.

I would like to pay tribute to our music, drama and dance teams who have filled the past few weeks with the highest quality arts. We have had two Shakespeare plays, a three hour music concert, a Carol Service and a dance show; this in addition to and as a result of providing a vibrant curriculum for all students. Thank you for the many emails of congratulations and appreciation to the staff. The arts will always play a central role at Varndean School and I know that many of you will have joined the national campaign to ensure its continued value.

One of our most pleasing evenings this term was the Duke of Edinburgh Awards at Hove Town Hall. We swamped the stage with the sheer numbers of students who successfully completed and, whilst this has become an expectation, I would like to pause and mark the work of Mrs. Browning and her

team of dedicated volunteers of staff and parents.The heads of our four schools highlight some of their successes this term on pages 10-13 and I look forward to their continued development.

It remains for me to wish you a restful and reflective break and to thank you for your continued support for the work we do at Varndean School.

Seasons best,

Mr. Deighan

HeadspaceView from the top

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‘I was incredibly proud to watch the students’ performances. Well done to everybody involved and thank you for all the support from parents and teachers. It was a brilliant night of dance at its best.’ Kirsty Powell, Dance Teacher

Over 100 students from Varndean School, as well as local primary schools, performed in the annual winter dance show. The night was a huge success, seeing a combination of dance styles from hip hop and contemporary, to commercial and tap.

Varndean staff and students were happy to welcome students from Downs Juniors and Bevendean Primary, to perform in front of an audience of 250 people.

The night provided students with a fantastic experience of performing to a large audience.

Dance teacher Kirsty Powell, who organised the event said, ‘I was incredibly proud to watch the students’ performances. Well done to everybody involved and thank you for all the support from parents and teachers. It was a brilliant night of dance at its best.’

Winter Dance ShowRazzle dazzle in the darkness

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Varndean reaches the final six£80,000 prize on offer

The BackgroundIn October Business Manager Andrew Stephenson noticed an article in the TES, the Times Educational Supplement. It announced a new competition whose prize was an £80,000 new build, provided by Clearspace. It’s a company that specialises in making ready built structures for schools. Andrew had been mulling over the need to provide extra facilities for an applied learning centre with Headteacher William Deighan.

Andrew realised this might be just the solution the school needed. So, he put together a 300 word submission and sent it off. The waiting began for a response. To our delight, the school was informed in secret at the beginning of December that Varndean had reached the last six, out of a national entry of more than 600 schools! However, the challenge was only just about to begin. All the finalists were given less than a week to produce a slogan, annotated photographs, showing how the new space would be made, plus a 30 second video pitch! At this stage, the competition bid passed over to Sacha van Straten, the Director

of ICT & Communications. He opted to make an animation, realising it would make us stand out and avoid the need to disrupt classes. Even so, it took over three days of editing and revisions to get the video just right. Meanwhile, Sacha gave a set of photos to Steve Howell, our reprographics manager. Steve’s a whizz with Photoshop and produced the annotated images shown here, which blend our proposed site with images from the Clearspace website.

We need your helpAll six schools saw their submissions go live on 14th December. You can see our images and the animation here: www.tesconnect.com/building. Voting will run on the site from 10th January to 31st February. The school with the most votes will get the building! Registration is free so please make sure you help us to help the students at Varndean, for whom this could be a life changing opportunity.

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Building spaces to build lives.

Giving hope by giving

opportunity.

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Matt Morrish left Varndean last year, having scored 100% on his GCSE PE course. He won a sports scholarship to St Bede’s, a renowned centre for sporting excellence.

What sports did you enjoy playing most at Varndean and why?I played a lot of sport at Varndean, the most enjoyable were football and rugby. The devotion and commitment of Mr Taylor’s training sessions and P.E lessons right from year 7 in the pouring rain inspired me to play and enjoy my rugby. For me football has always been enjoyable, but I have been lucky and played my whole life in an environment with coaches and players that is relaxed. This environment was well created by Mr Tuck and Mr Pellett after taking over from Mr Aggy in year 7.

Who were the biggest influences on your development as a sportsman and can you explain why?Because I play a lot of sport I’ve had many different people influence me. I have to say that Mr Taylor in year 7 started off and inspired me to take my sport seriously. My friends have also been a huge influence in my development. I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by people who have similar goals and ambitions.

What are your favourite sporting memories at Varndean?One of my top memories of sport at Varndean is beating Stringer at cricket in year 10. The fact we were definite underdogs and overcame that position made it all the more special.Another favourite memory of mine is Ned Walls celebrating after scoring a goal against Blatch, when we were already 4-0 down - an over head kick followed by a ‘why always me?’ Mario Balotelli celebration. My absolute favourite sporting moment from my time at Varndean is Mr Taylor’s 5 years of utterly useless drop goal attempts after every single P.E lesson!

You scored 100% on the GCSE PE course at Varndean. How did you do it?I’d just say that you need to make sure to try and do well in your theory as well as your practical, a lot of people last year got good results on their practical but when it came to the theory they didn’t do as well as they should have and therefore didn’t get the results they wanted. P.E was one of the last exams last year, this means that people sometimes have the tendency to slow the pace and intensity of their revision.It sounds a cliché but if you don’t revise you wont get the grades you want, unless you want D’s or E’s. So revise, start revising early, but don’t kill yourself because stressing out about your exams doesn’t help at all.

What are you studying at St Bedes?I study AS Levels in Business, Psychology, P.E and Geography. I am also on a football scholarship. This gives me enhanced opportunities to train to a very high level; in other sports too.

What would you like to do when you finish at St Bedes?The main aim after finishing Bedes is to try to attain a professional contract at a football club. However I am aware that’s a very challenging and difficult goal to achieve. I have always wanted to go to America, so I am going to try to get a soccer scholarship to play in one of their top division teams whilst studying sports psychology.

What message would you like to give to your former teachers at Varndean?I would like to say thank you, both for doing a great job and helping me to get my GCSE grades. But also for putting up with me for five years. I know at times I may not have been a teacher’s ideal student, but I like to think that when it came down to it we both enjoyed my time at Varndean equally. Without you I would not be the person I am today (not quite sure if that’s a good thing or not though!).

Alumnus UpdateMatt Morrish

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Centre StageIt’s been a busy term for the Drama Department. Y11 have been through controlled assessments. Y10 students finished working on Bouncers by John Godber, and continued the physical theatre theme with an exploration of Hannah and Hanna, a play exploring

the plight of asylum seekers in the UK.Meanwhile, Year 10 performed Macbeth, and rehearsals for Oliver

continue.

Year 11 have studied Arthur Miller’s seminal play, The Crucible, this term. Set in the Massachusetts town of Salem in the 1690s, it explores issue surrounding witches, suspicion, paranoia and intrigue. As a community battles to accept rumour and superstition versus the more human elements of the truth, a group of young girls and all around them get sucked into a downward spiral. The final climax is as shocking as it is brutal.

The Crucible

MacbethThe Scottish play presents challenges. The complexities of Shakespearean English. The intensity of madness and corruption - none of these are easy to master. Add to that we decided to put this Year 10 version on in the round and you have the makings of a theatrical Everest. Thankfully, our intrepid Year 10s acquitted themselves with poise and confidence.The audience loved it. The actors deserved the acclaim. Bravo!

Oliver!Please school, can we have some more entertaining drama, with singing, costumes, a hero against the odds, and some cracking music? Yes, of course you can! Following a knockout series of preview set pieces at the Brighton and Hove Duke of Edinburgh Awards Evening, our intrepid Year 8 performers will be regaling you with the tale of Oliver Twist next term. Performances run from 20th - 23rd March 2013 and it’s sure to be a sell out sensation!

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News from the SchoolsHighlights

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‘Maya Angelou who gives our school its name has many worthy qualities.  Her life has been characterised by ambition, determination and resilience’ Gareth Hughes, Head of Angelou

Nearly 50% of Angelou year 11 students have achieved or exceeded what is

expected of them at the end of the year after just one term.

Our sports teams have been a credit to themselves and the school.  Their determination has brought results and notable successes in boys’ basketball, mixed football and swimming. Together they have

contributed to an overall second place at the end of this term. 

Next term we welcome Claire Webber to the Angelou team.  Mrs Webber joins us from Priory School in Lewes and will be

our new school leader.

Contributions to the Clock Tower appeal were overwhelming and demonstrated the students’ generosity of spirit which was confirmed by the tremendous number of our year 10s who applied to be prefects and those who

completed their Duke of Edinburgh Award this term.

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News from the SchoolsHighlights

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‘Russell School has built strong relationships and a clear identity. There is outstanding participation from all students, especially in the performing arts’ Krissi Carter, Head of Russell

At the Winter Concert over a hundred students performed. More than 50% of students

who participated came from Russell School. The hard work, dedication and hours of rehearsals

was clearly evident from the exceptional quality of the performances, making me as Head of

School, extremely proud.

Our sports teams have battled on bravely during the intra schools competition. We may be lying in fourth

place but our spirit and team enthusiasm never wavered. We know that a comeback in 2013 is a

definite possibility!

We’ve had the highest overall attendance figures this term of any of the four

schools. 7CB managed a brilliant 96.7% figure!

Unique to Russell School, Philosophy for Children (P4C) sessions are incorporated into tutor time and assemblies,

where communities of enquiry are created so that students are given the opportunity to reflect, reason, be

analytical and build on critical thinking skills.For more information on P4C, please go to

http://www.sapere.org.uk

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News from the SchoolsHighlights

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‘Students have high expectations of themselves and are proud of academic success. In discussing Turing’s story, tutors and students identified his outstanding brain-power and innovation as key features’ Sara Spivey, Head of Turing

We are creating a culture in which being studious is respected and celebrated. Our year 11 students have led the way in this: in their college application forms they have set themselves a GCSE

target of 89% 5A*-C.

Our sports teams have led the way in the intra schools sports competition. We lead currently with 55.5 points. We intend to remain victorious throughout the year. Our team spirit, will to

win, and determination have been inspirational. Special mention to the following teams, for their outstanding wins: Y7 girls orienteering, Y7 boys orienteering, Y8 girls netball, Y8 girls

benchball, Y9 boys football, Y9 boys basketball, and Y10 boys basketball. Congratulations!

We’ve had a fantastic number of students manage 100% attendance this term - not easy with all the bugs flying

around and the demands of a busy school life. So well done to all 133 of you who managed to get in and learn every

day. Congratulation too to 9AM who managed a class attendance figure of 98%.

Sadly we say goodbye to two members of staff at the end of this term.  Mr Bradley leaves us to take up a post as Assistant Headteacher at Thomas Bennett

School in Crawley, and Ms Morgan leaves us to become SENCo at Millais School in West Sussex.  We wish them

well for the future and will miss them.

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News from the SchoolsHighlights

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‘We pride ourselves on teamwork and collaboration. Ethel Ellis was an advocate of academic, sporting and creative success. As Team Ellis we have celebrated each of these.’ Jo Meloni, Head of Ellis

Our sports teams have done us proud battling it out against the other three schools to leave us in joint 2nd place in the current intra school standings as we go into the Christmas break. 2013 will be our

time!

Congratulations to Aishan Irfan who was awarded a Blue Peter badge for her poetry. Orla Byrne in Year 10 and

Romy Beer in Year 9 were elected to represent Varndean on the Brighton and Hove Youth Council.

A large group of Ellis students have taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme this term, with 15 students

successfully completing their Bronze award and one student, Niall Madden in Year 11 completing the more

gruelling and challenging Silver award.

We have been the most successful school for Achievement points this term - over 8700 have been

awarded!This is proof of the hard work and effort Ellis students put into all aspects of their school life. We’ve set the

pace, now let’s keep the lead.

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Students from Varndean School just can’t get enough of the Duke of Edinburgh. That’s the Award scheme, of course, which sees students undertake voluntary work, research projects and an expedition. In early December 64 Varndean students collected their Bronze awards and 21 students collected their Silver awards at the Brighton and Hove Duke of Edinburgh Awards ceremony. This was the highest number of awards from any D of E centre in the city.

In achieving their awards students have been involved in a variety of activities, including completing a pier to pier swim, helping out at Brownies and in charity shops. They’ve learnt to make dresses, cook meals and even circus skills. On top of this, they have completed their expeditions in some of the wettest conditions seen for years.

A highlight of the evening was a short film made by Year 11 student Zack Stubbs, who completed his Silver assessed expedition in the New Forest during a cold and wet October half-term. The film was made by mounting a small video camera onto a golf club, held aloft as the group undertook a study of trees in the forest. The film captures the spirit of a D of E expedition and you can view it online by clicking here.

Head of the D of E Award scheme at Varndean, Alison Browning, says, ‘There’s such a buzz about the D of E at school. Students love the satisfaction it brings and take great pride in overcoming the many challenges it presents.’

Duke of Edinburgh Award SchemeTo the Downs, and beyond

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‘There’s such a buzz about the D of E at school. Students love the satisfaction it brings and take great pride in overcoming the many challenges it presents.’ Alison Browning, D of E Coordinator

Images by Bob Rhodes

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GCSE Physics students at Varndean School have been treated to a look into the outer boundaries of the Universe. Thanks to an outreach programme run by Sussex University, a mobile planetarium was set up in the main hall. Within, visitors were greeted to a multimedia wraparound experience that took them through some of the challenges posed by using telescopes to study galaxies. Teacher Carl Wadey, who organised the event, says, ‘I just wanted to make what the students are learning in class more realistic and  relevant  to everyday life. It was also a good opportunity for our students to meet and ask questions about university, as the event was run by undergraduates or PhD students.’

ScienceGo explore

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Science teacher and eco-coordinator Tamsyn East has just returned from a three day visit to CERN, the European centre for nuclear research. She applied successfully for a funded trip provided by The National Science Learning Centre. Tamsyn attended lectures from some of CERN’s top researchers, covering the last 100 years of particle physics. She also got to visit key facilities at the centre, including the Large Hadron Collider. She says, ‘CERN was

an incredible place to visit. There are 27km of particle accelerators located 100m underground across France and Switzerland. Thousands of physicists are trying to understand the origin of the universe by colliding millions of particles/seconds, generating temperatures billions of time greater than the temperature of the sun, in the quest to find out how it all began. Not only that, but there are countless applications of this research being applied to many fields,

such as better forms of cancer treatment. Our GCSE Triple scientists will soon benefit from learning about this cutting edge research, as they complete their course towards the end of the year. Seeing how the world’s best physicists are applying theories we discuss in the classroom was an amazing experience.’

As well as the visit to CERN, Tamsyn will attend a follow-up conference next May.

Large Hadron Collider

The pop up Planetarium

Tamsyn East

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January 2013

Monday 7th January – New term begins

Friday 11th January - INSET (NB this is a new date)

Thursday 17th January – Year 7 Parents’ Evening

Thursday 31st January - Varndean Links

February 2013

Monday 4th February - INSET. School Closed

Tuesday 5th February - Poetry Live trip, Year 11

Thursday 14th February - Year 9 Parents’ Information Meeting

Monday 18th February to Friday 22nd February - HALF TERM

March 2013

Thursday 7th March - Year 9 Options Evening

Tuesday 12th March - Twilight INSET. School closes 12:45

Thursday 14th March - Year 8 Parents’ Evening

Wednesday 20th March - Saturday 23rd March - Oliver!

Thursday 28th March - TERM ENDS (Dance Show at 5pm)

SUMMER TERM BEGINS: Monday 15th April 2013

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Next TermKey dates

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varndeanschool

@varndeanschool

www.varndean.co.ukWEditorialSacha van Stratensachavanstraten@varndean.co.uk