king's high king's high

king’s high
news
Winter 2010
Head Girl, Emma Walshe, and Senior Prefect, Nunu Tao.
Seasons Greetings from all at King's
www.kingshighwarwick.co.uk

Autumn Half Term Trips
Year 8 in Paris
China
China was the exciting
destination for thirty eight
students and six members
of staff this Autumn half
term. The students (ranging
from Year 10 to Year 13)
experienced the China of the
past, present and future in their
journey to four principal cities
on the eastern seaboard.
At the Great Wall of China
Enjoying the market at Brie-Compte-Robert
Seventy seven girls travelled to Paris during half
term to enjoy the romance, beauty, cuisine and
buzz of the capital city. Based at the Château de
Grande Romaine in Lésigny, they took in the
sights of Paris including a trip up the Eiffel Tower,
a coach tour of the city and a river cruise on the
Seine. The girls were able to put their language
skills to the test purchasing local produce and
gifts at the market in nearby Brie-Compte-
Robert. Other excursions included the Parc Astérix
theme park, where they braved some of the
largest rollercoasters in Europe, as well as viewing
the impressive architecture and art collections of
the Château de Chantilly.
Netball Tour in Jersey
Four netball teams (two each from the U13 and
U14 squads) travelled to Jersey during half term
to experience the unique atmosphere of this
Channel Island and play some very competitive
netball matches. All four teams played three
matches each against tough opposition where
they won all but two. The girls not only developed
their netball skills through training and play, they
also experienced a tour of the island from which
they gleaned an insight into its history. The group
also enjoyed some more light-hearted pursuits
including bowling, shopping and a visit to
‘Aqua Splash’.
The first stop on the tour was ‘China Present’ incorporating the capital, Beijing.
Here, students visited iconic structures from the Great Wall, built to prevent the
invasion on Mongol hoards, to the Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium, designed to embrace
competitors from all over the world. They visited the vast and infamous Tiananmen
Square and in contrast experienced the
thrill of riding in rickshaws through the
narrow streets of the old town, Hutongs.
Bike ride through the ancient city of Xi’an
The final destination was ‘China Future’
– Shanghai – the most populous city in
the world whose bright lights and fastemerging
financial district have the
potential to rival Wall Street and the
Docklands. Whilst staying in Shanghai
they also took an excursion to Suzhou,
the ‘Venice of China’, where, in this
‘small’ city of over six million people,
they witnessed the skilled craft of
double sided embroidery.
Views from the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai
The second stop was ‘China Past’, which
took in the ancient walled city of Xi’an
where, in the mid 1970s, a farmer’s
accidental discovery led to the Terracotta
Warriors becoming a ‘wonder of the world’.
This visit also included a trip to the Tang
Dynasty show and a calligraphy lesson.
King's Terracotta Warriors!
The nine-day
demanding tour
resulted in some very
tired, not to mention,
culturally exhausted,
students and staff
alike who, now that
they have time to
reflect on the
wonders they have
seen, are already
asking – when can
we go back?

Collaboration
Drama Workshop
King’s High was thrilled to welcome West End leading man, Norman
Bowman (currently performing as Sam Carmichel in Mamma Mia), as
he joined members of the production of Guys and Dolls to lead a
masterclass. The students impressed Mr Bowman with their talent
and ability to take direction as they worked dynamically through
their songs. His detailed insight and guidance inspired the cast and
contributed to their developing performances.
Norman Bowman offering advice at the Drama Workshop
Guys and Dolls
The latest offering from the collaborating Drama and Music
departments of King’s High and Warwick School was the classic
Broadway musical – Guys and Dolls. Performed at the Bridge House
Theatre from 17 until 20 November, this joint production was, as
always, both incredibly professional and thoroughly enjoyable. Sadly,
this is the last show Sarah Barker-Doherty will co-direct as she
heads off for Aiglon College in Switzerland.
Sarah comments, “The cast did themselves proud and reached an
outstanding level as their experience grew over the five
performances. It has been an absolute pleasure to work not only
with them but in collaboration with such talented colleagues:
Matthew Smallwood as a superb musical director; Mike Perry, codirector
at Warwick School; Jane Gurnett and Jo Robley Dixon. This
last production was an emotional one for me as I watched the last
night come to a close on such a talented and enthusiastic cast.
I will miss working on these collaborative productions with such a
fantastic group of colleagues and indeed the many enthusiastic
drama students I have had the pleasure of teaching over the years.”
Runyonland – opening scene
Music I can wish you…
You can bet he’s doing it for some doll
I love you, a bushel and peck

Collaboration
Young Enterprise Group
The Young Enterprise group "Branded" consists of six Warwick
Boys and six King’s girls, all in lower sixth, who aim to produce high
quality products for a fair price, something that will be of benefit
to all Warwick Foundation students and parents. With the British
climate in mind, they have chosen to sell King’s High umbrellas
which are in the King’s colours and have our logo on.
There are two options – the Golf umbrella at £11.99, fantastic for
parents, and the telescopic smaller umbrellas at £9.99 which are
ideal to slip into school bags. As well as selling them during social
and sporting events throughout the year, orders can be placed now
via email to 2697@kingshighwarwick.co.uk.
The Big Draw with WS and Prep
Our Sixth Formers took part in the Annual Big Draw event on
Friday 8 October, working alongside fellow pupils from Warwick
Preparatory and Warwick School. They created a jungle theme
display and produced long strips of drawings consisting of plants,
animals and insects. Year 7s also contributed to the event with
photocopies of drawings they had made of plants which were
used as outlines for others to colour.
The Big Draw
Music Technology Workshop
Clockwise from bottom right, Henry Turner, Evie Miller, Harry Nockolds,
Tim Walton, Rebecca Muress, Arran Dulay, Josh Young, John Boddington,
Charlie Moran, Danya Zeng, Charlotte Thomas, Ellie Roach.
Twenty five pupils from Warwick Preparatory School visited the
new Creative Arts Centre to take part in a Music Technology
Workshop in October. They were given the opportunity to use
music computer software to compose pieces about space and
then experience recording their ideas in the recording studio.
Radio Stars
New Year 7 pupil Georgina Feller has
landed the part of twin Lily Pargetter in
the radio series The Archers. Playing
her brother is Jack Firth, Year 7, from
Warwick School. Her first episodes
aired in August and she records her
part in a studio at the Mailbox in
Birmingham. Georgina has been a
member of Playbox in Warwick since
she was three and is no stranger to the
spotlight, having played roles in both
theatre and radio.
The project is part of a joint partnership with the Foundation and
other local feeder Primary schools. The music composed at the
workshops will be performed in the Spring Term at a Charity Concert
which will include a performance of To the Stars by Nigel Hess.
Georgina Feller
Music Workshop

Personal Achievements
Congratulations to:
Naomi Hanson (Year 10) who has
been selected as one of thirty guides
from three thousand in the South West
Region to travel to Nova Scotia next
summer as part of the Guides
international travel scheme.
Abby Simkin
(Year 12)
who is the
Member of
Youth Parliament (MYP) for Warwickshire
and attended the House of Commons
during half term, where she and fellow
MYPs debated five topics on the green
benches, chaired by Speaker John
Bercow. Topics included “The Afghan war:
should we withdraw by 2010?” and
“Education and job opportunities: should the school leaving age
rise to 18?” Abby comments, “It was an honour to be among the
only group of non-MPs to be allowed to debate on the green
benches, in all the House of Commons’ hundreds of years of
existence. It was also heartening to experience at first-hand
Speaker Bercow’s enthusiastic support of the Youth Parliament.”
Beth Irving (Year 11) who has been
selected to play clarinet with the
National Wind Youth Ensemble
(NYWO). The NYWO was formed in
1968 by the late Eric McGavin and
consists of some of the finest young
wind players in the country. Beth will
be attending a week’s residential course
in April at Queenswood School,
Hatfield, then in July will be heading off
to the Far East for a two week tour
including concerts in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Taipei and Macau.
Children in Need
The King’s High Children in Need Cookery Book
This year, King’s High
produced a cookery
book jam-packed
with delicious
recipes from pupils
and staff to sell for
Children in Need. It
is exceptional value
at £3 and a perfect
gift for Christmas.
You can purchase copies by emailing Mrs Dudley on
l.dudley@kingshighwarwick.co.uk. To date, King’s has raised over
£600 from a cake sale and proceeds of the cookery book.
Sports Victories
Individuals
• Rhianne Oscroft (Year 11) has been selected to play Water Polo
for England against Australia in Sheffield in December.
• Maddie Spalding (Year 10) has been selected to represent
Warwickshire Schools in the Midlands Schools Swimming
Championships.
• Emily Court, Melanie Wilkinson, Polly Lepage-Norris and Jane
Wackett were all selected for the Mercia Lynx Regional Hockey
Squads to play in competitions during October half term.
Following the Tournament, Jane
Wackett received an England Trial.
• Olivia Darby, pictured,
(Year 10) was selected
to compete at Aintree
in the British Showjumping
Championships on
26 November.
Teams
• The Clay Pigeon Shooting Team came third in the Inter Schools
Shooting Competition in Somerset against seven other teams.
From left to right,
Clay Pigeon
Shooting Team:
Abigail Walker,
Georgina Lindsay
and Aimee Besant
• The U14, U16 and U18 Hockey Teams all qualified for the
Midlands Hockey Finals. The U14 and U18 Teams were County
Champions and the U16s were runners up on goal difference to
qualify for the Midlands Zone rounds.
• The U16 and U18 Hockey teams have also qualified for the
Midlands Indoor Hockey Finals. King’s is one of only two schools
who have hockey teams in all five possible Midlands Hockey Finals
– a commendable achievement.
• The U12 Hockey team won the Solihull School Invitational
Hockey Tournament for the fourth year in succession. They scored
14 goals and defeated Princethorpe College 2-0 in the final.
• The U19 and U14 Netball teams both qualified as runners up
from their County Tournament to play in the Coventy, Solihull and
Warwickshire Netball tournaments. The U19s narrowly missed out
on progressing to the next round but the U14s played some
impressive netball to gain a place in the next round of the West
Midlands Competition. This is due to be played in January.
• The U16 Medley Team won the division 4 ESSA championships.
The team consists of Rhianne Oscroft (Year 11), Charlotte Riley
(Year 11), Maddie Spalding (Year 10) and Emma
Hutchinson (Year 10).

Events
Celebrating Year 12’s Achievements
We were delighted to be
joined by many of our Year
12 parents for this
celebratory afternoon.
Girls from each tutor
group gave lively accounts
of their new Sixth Form
life at King’s and Rebecca
Muress, Hannah Armitage
and Danya Zeng sang and
played beautifully for us.
It was a special pleasure to
welcome as our Guest a
lady who has a unique
association with our school having served as a member of our staff for 33 years and who,
as the staff nominee to our governing body, is now our Vice-Chairman of Governors. She
congratulated the girls on their superb GCSE results. “The future is open and you can decide
where it is that you are going to make your life count, probably in ways which at the moment we
can’t even imagine”, she told the girls, illustrating this point with three inspiring female figures:
Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Marie Curie and Cicely Saunders none of whom, when they were young,
dreamt they would respectively one day win Nobel prizes for discovering pulsars and radium, or
found the worldwide hospice movement. “Think of the brilliant world into which you are growing
and all its possibilities”, said Mrs Lampitt.
Forthcoming Events
Wednesday 5 January
Spring Term Begins
Saturday 22 January
Entry Examination for Year 7 Entry/
Sixth Form Scholarship Examination
Saturday 29 January
Entrance Interviews for Year 7 Entry
Thursday 3 February
Year 11 Parents’ Evening
Monday 21 – Friday 25 February
Half Term
Wednesday 2 March
Year 7 Parents’ Evening
Saturday 5 March
Old Girls’ Association Annual Lunch
Thursday 31 March
Spring Term Ends
Other News
Voluntary Service
Staff Leavers
We’re in the Money!
Old Girl Amelia
Dowler, who is
Curator of Greek
Coins at the
British Museum,
returned to King’s
High on 14
October to give a
talk to Latin
Amelia Dowler
students from
King’s and Warwick
School, on the collection of coins at the
museum.The audience was surprised to learn
that the museum’s collection, in addition to
ancient coins, contains examples of money
up to the current day including paper money
and even electronic money, i.e. credit cards.
They even have in their collection a Barbie
Cash Register and Barbie Credit Card, which
needless to say, is never refused!
As part of their Duke of Edinburgh
Community Service, four Year 10 girls
visited Rushton House, the RNIB School in
Coventry. The children there are aged 11-
19 and have multiple special needs. With the
use of SIMS specs the girls experienced how
it felt to be blind or partially sighted. They
walked around the sensory garden, made a
drink and completed simple jigsaws. Later on
in the afternoon the girls observed a variety
of lessons at the school. Inspired and
humbled by their experience the girls are
following up this visit with a number of
fund-raising events for the school.
Mr Aitkin
Mrs Hill
Mrs Barker-Doherty
We say goodbye at
the end of this term
to three members of
staff: Mr Aitken
(Caretaker 2002-
2010); Mrs Hill
(Teacher of English
2008-2010) and
Mrs Barker-Doherty
(Director of Drama
2006-2010). We thank
them and give them our
best wishes: Mr Aitken
in his retirement; Mrs
Hill in her new post at
Trinity School and
Mrs Barker-Doherty
in hers at Aiglon
College, Switzerland.