Highlights of 2008-2009

September

Year 9 students competed in the ‘Joe Dutch History Trophy’, an Oral History Competition about World War 2 with Mr Dutch, a D-Day veteran.
120 Year 11 students practised their interview skills with volunteers from the Rotary Club.

The Greenpower team took part in the national finals, finishing 53rd out of 82 teams after starting 79th on the grid.
Year 9 attended performances of a Midsummer Night’s Dream at Grange Barn, Coggeshall, as part of the Making Good Progress pilot.
Music Department held a very successful Music Competition Night.
The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr & Mrs Spyvee, presented prizes at the annual Prize Day.
A football tournament in memory of former student Alex Launder, organised by the school and the English Schools’ FA, took place involving teams of Year 6 and Year 10 student from Colchester schools.

Assemblies held to mark the 90th anniversary of the ending of World War One.
Years 10 and 11 students visited Paris.
‘Collective’ Christian girl band in school for a week leading assemblies, RE, Dance, Music and Drama lessons.
George Lowe, 8GB, receives the best student award in Colchester Borough Council’s ‘I’m a councillor, get me out of here’.
Artist in Residence, Chris Fisher, presented prizes and certificates to ex-Year 11s at their Presentation Evening.

Year 9 students from Stanway, Thomas Lord Audley and Alderman Blaxill Schools participated in a ‘Changemakers Conference’ at Stanway, followed by groups of students from all three schools making presentations at the Moot Hall.
Gifted & Talented Year 8 students took part in a Video Conferencing Project as part of the National Year of Reading.
The Building Bridges Project for Gifted and Talented girls in Colchester was launched at Essex University.
A very successful Christmas Fayre and non-uniform day raised £2,000 for the School Council and St Helena Hospice.
Year 8 students went on a 3-day residential trip to Germany.

Holocaust survivor, Otto Deutsch gave a talk on his war-time experiences in the LRC.
Year 9 students commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day by visiting the Imperial War Museum and holding a special assembly.

Heathlands, Fordham & Stanway Fiveways Primary Schools spent a morning at Stanway investigating maths and a problem considered by famous mathematician Euler.
The school’s very successful production of ‘Grease’ was a sell-out on all three nights.
The school gained its second specialism of Maths & Computing, effective from April 2009.

Abigail Stringer, 9CG, & Adam Norgate, 9SC, took part in filming for Colchester Borough Council DVD on ‘What does the changing world mean for us?’ which will be used by the Council for training purposes.
Year 8 students visited Sainsbury’s to learn about ‘Fairtrade’ products.
The school’s ‘Green Team’ made presentations to students about the effects of Climate Change.
Students, staff and governors raised £1,275 on Red Nose Day, which is split between Comic Relief and the school, through a series of events during the day, including many students and staff coming to school in their pyjamas and a quiz night.
Stanway’s ‘Funky Voices’ performed with 500 other children at the Colchester Schools’ Prom.
Year 10 Art students visited West Mersea to take photographs and draw landscapes to support their GCSE studies.
Two successful Enrichment Mornings took place with activities provided by many outside agencies.

Year 10 rugby team won the Rugby 7s district tournament.
Year 10 female students visited Cambridge University as part of the ‘Building Bridges’ project.
Year 7s visited Mountfitchet Castle as part of the History curriculum.
Year 10 Geographers travelled to Walton on the Naze to undertake experiments.
Year 7 students attended the ‘2 Smart 4 Drugs, Knives, Alcohol & Bullying’ roadshow at the Charter Hall.
Year 11 students celebrate their last day in school with the leavers’ assembly & Prom.

Ben Trood was appointed Head Boy, Abbie Hubbard, Head Girl and Elliott Lamb, Megan Frogley, Joe Fowler and Megan Griffiths were appointed deputies.
Year 10 student Gareth Morton was awarded an anti-knife crime award from Essex Police for writing the best rap.
Year 9 students Kelly Sutton & Amie Speller won gold and silver medals respectively in the Essex Athletic Championships.
24 Year 7 students took part in a Digital Video Day.
Year 10 Dance students visited five feeder primary schools to deliver a dance workshop to over 150 Year 5 students.
Year 10 English students visited London to see ‘Blood Brothers’.
Year 7 students raised £540 for Advantage Africa.
6 Year 9 students were invited to attend the Mayor-making Ceremony at the Town Hall.
Year 7 students attended a very successful 5-day Danbury Camp.
A tree planting ceremony took place in memory of former student, Alex Launder.

Numeracy & Literacy Summer school for new Year 7
Gifted & Talented and Literacy Summer Schools run for Year 8.
Ardeche Adventure Trip to South of France for students from all age groups for the 15th consecutive year.