As well as being my birthday, the 14th August 2014 was a landmark day for the school. We celebrated our first ever set of A Level results. Our Sixth Form Academy students achieved a 100% pass rate with 40% achieving grades A* to B, and 64% grades A* to C.

Our Year 13 BTEC students also achieved a 100% pass rate with 80% achieving a Double Distinction or Double Distinction*, equivalent to two A or A* grades at A Level.

When we established the Sixth Form in 2012 it was with the ambition of ensuring our students were able to attend the university of their choice. As I write, bags are being packed as students head for degree courses at universities such as the University of Kent, Queen Mary University of London and the University of Sussex. They will be studying subjects as diverse as chemistry, law and animation. I would like to wish all our university entrants every success, and congratulate both the students and their teachers.

There were also numerous successes amongst our Year 11 GCSE group. For example, Raymond Oke achieved nine GCSEs at A* or A grade; Dilan Kartal passed 12 GCSEs including eight A* or A grades; Zilan Sahan and May Luu both achieved eight A* or A grades; Osayande Okuonghae achieved 10 GCSEs at A* to B grade. There are many other success stories including examples where young people achieved well above the grades that would have been expected of them, thanks to hard work and dedication.

Naturally we are disappointed that for the first time in six years our overall GCSE results fell. This seems to be part of a national trend. Despite the considerable support the school gave them, it is impossible to quantify the impact the death of their friend had on our Year 11 students.

The Government have decided to remove coursework and modular exams meaning that everything now rests on terminal exams taken in May or June of Year 11. What is going to be done in the future to ensure the life chances of young people are not affected if a tragedy strikes during the exam period? I wrote to the Secretary of State for Education raising this point before our results were known and will continue to ask these questions. We will be appealing in respect of a large number of our GCSE grades.

With your support I am confident that students in all year groups will continue to make progress and, should they wish to do so, study at university.

Believe and achieve,

Richard Brown, Headteacher

The Urswick School

newsletterA Level roll of honourEvery student is offered a place at university

Summer ConcertStudents perform to a packed audience

The trip of a lifetime Work experience in Peru

Issue 22 – September 2014

Off to university!

A message from Father Rob, Rector of Hackney

Dear friends,

Welcome to a brand new and exciting year for the Urswick School. I can say this with full confidence as daily God is shaping and creating something beautiful in you and in me.

The Christian story celebrates new beginnings daily, as forgiveness is offered, reconciliation made, and God’s love never

diminishes for it is unconditional and unbound by time.

Rest assured, especially if you are new to this school community, that daily you will be prayed for, loved and supported, as this mirrors that which God is doing for all of us, with no exceptions. We have at our heart, Jesus’ message written in St John’s Gospel, that Jesus loves the Urswick School, and he came that all of our students and staff might have life in all its fullness.

Enjoy this new school year, and make that life, and make God your most magnificent obsession, as you are God’s most magnificent obsession.

With love,

Fr Rob

Student Report: GCSE Spanish trip to Peru

Last term, Year 10 GCSE Spanish students travelled to Peru for a two week work experience trip to Cusco. Caiampo Gomes and Dylan Hibbert-Gray have written this report.

We met at the school’s gate at 2am; excited for the trip ahead. We hardly had any sleep but our adrenaline kept us awake. We said our final goodbyes and set off for Lima! The long part of the journey had begun: 1-hour flight to Amsterdam; 14-hour flight to Lima and finally a 21-hour coach journey to Cusco.

The scenery in Cusco was beautiful and we started our exploration on horseback through the Andes, discovering the Incas trail and the Sacred Valley of Sacsayhuaman. The historical and cultural visits were very educational – learning about the Incas and the way they fought against and hid from the Spanish to protect their heritage. It was incredible to see how the Incas once lived and wonderful to learn all about their interesting history. We also had the opportunity to dress up in the traditional clothing and taste the different cuisines of the Peruvian people.

We spent four days of our work experience in the community of Huerta – painting the town hall and the nursery school. Seeing the end product was phenomenal. We were able us witness the big change that we had made for the children of Huerta. The joy and happiness in their faces made our efforts worthwhile. It was a great challenge to built a geodesic dome for the children to play in, but the impact the dome had on those children was incredible. The nursery school’s Headteacher was so thankful.

The journey to Peru has taught us to appreciate the things we have: family, education and opportunities to succeed in life. We are thankful for this experience because it has really opened our eyes and given us an insight of what other people have to go through in order to make it in life.

After all the great visits and work experience activities, it was time for our journey back from Peru to London. Happy to see our families again after 2 weeks, we reported numerous stories of our time there. Big thanks to Ms Fekih, Mr Austin and Mr Finlay who accompanied us on the trip.

Mobile phones and MP3 players are not allowed in The Urswick School. Our rule is: Off and Out of Sight.These items are brought to school entirely at the owner’s

risk. There will be no compensation paid by the school if they are lost or stolen whatever the circumstances.

Mobile phones

Delancey Chess Challenge

This year, the Urswick School participated in the Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge for the first time. The first stage of the tournament took place in the school over several weeks during the Spring and Summer Terms, and our champion was Kacper Filar in Year 9.

Six other students achieved qualifying scores to progress to the London Regional Mega Final, held at Richmond Park Academy, which offered our students the opportunity to get their first taste of competition chess and to test themselves against some of the strongest junior players in London. After a shaky start, Urswick students started to score some points and in the final round both Kacper and Ilke Delice, Year 8, came close to qualifying for the Southern GigaFinal.

The students had a great day and came away enthused and determined to return next year. As well as Kacper and Ilke, the other students who took part were Sam Rowell, Luke Sokhal and Evan Richards, Year 8, and Lam Vu and Tel Robinson, Year 9. Well done to all.

Chess Club is held every Wednesday lunchtime in room 105, with a Beginners’ Club on Mondays after school in room 105. Could you be the next London chess champion?

Ms Caldwell, Maths Teacher

l-r: students wear traditional clothing; a view of the Andes

The St John’s Group outside the Science Museum;

Nathaniel, Year 8, inside a giant bubble

Tea with the Headteacher

Congratulations to our Year 13 graduates, who were all offered a place at university.

A Level Rollof Honour

Maths Prize PuzzlePlace numbers inside the circles so that all of the relationships shown by the arrows are correct.

√ _ %x

Please hand your answers to Mr Mason in Room 106 by the 17th October.

A winner will be picked at random from all the correct entries.

Name:

Form group:

+5

-16x3

+10

÷2

At the end of term, students who had gained 120 credits or more were invited to take part in an event more regal that the Queen’s garden party: Tea with the Headteacher.

The hard working students were rewarded with burgers, ice cream, toffee apples, candy floss, pick and mix sweets and, to top it all off, a chocolate fountain! For their outstanding efforts, students also received a certificate and a £10 JD sports voucher.

Over 90 students were invited to attend and they all had a wonderful time, with many commenting on how much they enjoyed the chocolate fountain, as did many of the staff that attended.

Our school motto is 'Believe and Achieve' and our students certainly achieved. I look forward to next year's Tea with the Head party and to even more Year 7 and 8 students gaining 120 or more credits. Well done to you all.

Ian Howard, Assistant Headteacher

Summer concert Yet again, Urswick School students did us proud at this year’s Summer Concert. There was a wide variety of performances from bands to bell ringers, drummers to dancers and soloists to singing trios. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this sell out event.

We have some outstanding talent which shone brightly on this wonderful summer’s evening. A big well done to everyone involved.

Rebecca Gough, Head of Music and Ms Hunting, Music teacher

Visit our website for more photos: www.theurswickschool.co.uk

Student Degree & University

Sehindemi Ajayi Computer Science at University of Essex

Nurcan Altun Architecture at University of Kent

Filimon Andetsion

Mathematics & Computer Science at Queen Mary University of London

Abdulafeez Arogundade

Sports Science at Coventry University

Eboseta Ayemere Chemistry at University of Kent

Sila CelikInternational Business with Spanish at University of Westminster

Ozge Ceren Criminology at University of Greenwich

Taslim Chowdhury

Criminology & Criminal Justice at University of East London

Jordan Eadon

Deferred university place for 1 year to complete Nexus IP Apprenticeship in Business & Administration

Oloruntosin Giwa

Sports Science at Middlesex University

Michael HerbertComputer Games Design & Story Development at University of East London

Ademola Ikusawe

Computer Science at University of Kent

Brittany Kandza-Laurent

Sports and Exercise Science at University of Essex

Kai MasonComputer Games Programming at London Metropolitan University

Javaughn McNeish Law at University of Sussex

Yousuf Mohammed

Chemistry at Kingston University

Lemuel Oliver Chemistry at University of East Anglia

Gwamaka Osei Computing at Bournemouth University

Qui Van PhanGames Modelling, Animation & Effects at London Metropolitan University

Luana Pinto Psychology at University of Bedfordshire - deferred

Kirsty Redford Criminology at University of Sussex

Montel Thomas Psychology at Liverpool Hope University

Cherie Turner

Deferred university place for 1 year to complete Jump! Programme Apprenticeship in Business Administration

Gamze Ucar Law at University of Kent

Barry Vine Sports Coaching & Analysis at London South Bank University

Dilek Yener Neuroscience at University of Sussex

The Urswick School sportsnewsSports Day 2014 On Wednesday 16th July 2014, The Urswick School held its annual Sports Day at the renowned Lee Valley Athletics Centre.

The day was full of glorious sunshine, plentiful laughter and an abundance of exceptional athletics performances.

Among the impressive performances were Deborah Fatungase and Leighton Williams, both from 9CAS, who won the best female and best male athlete awards respectively for winning the same combination of events: 100m, high jump and relay.

The winning forms were 7MAE, 8DBJ (for the second consecutive year) and 9GAR, with 7MAE taking the overall award for highest points total. All of the awards were given out by special guest, GB long jumper, JJ Jegede.

Well done to all those that took part and were part of such a special day!

Matthew Williams, 2nd i/c PE Department

Below: GB long jumper JJ Jegede presents Deborah with Best Female Athlete award

Get set for a new season of sport! Look out for an after school club timetable in the next issue of the newsletter.

Term Dates 2014/15Autumn Term 2014: Half Term: Monday 27 to Friday 31 October 2014Finish: Friday 19 December 2014

Spring Term 2015: Start: Monday 5 January 2015Half Term: Monday 16 to Friday 20 February 2015Finish: Friday 27 March 2015

Summer Term 2015: Start: Monday 13 April 2015Half Term: Monday 25 to Friday 29 May 2015

Other dates for your diaryFriday 24 October 2014: Year 7, 11 and 13 Progress Day(no timetabled lessons for students)

School dates for the rest of the year are available to view on our website: www.theurswickschool.co.uk