ChronicleA U T U M N 2 0 0 9 - Kings' School

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HAMPSHIRE BOOK AWARD
The Hampshire Book Award is unique in that it is judged
solely by Year 8 students at secondary schools across
Hampshire. There is absolutely no adult intervention in the
final decision-making. Each year our Librarian, Mrs Miles,
invites a number of avid readers to become judges. They are
required to read a shortlist of six recently published books
from a wide range of genres. The twelve judges meet with
Mrs Miles to discuss the books they are reading and finally
decide on the one they felt was the best. The main judging
day is always a huge event, held at the Discovery Centre in
Winchester and greatly enjoyed by all concerned. Over the
past couple of years our students have been fortunate to
meet the winning authors when they attend the prizegiving
function at Winchester Guild Hall. It was a huge thrill
to meet Irish author Derek Landy, and the American author
Rick Riordan, both of whom kept us in stitches with their
amusing tales – and autographed copies of their books.
HAMPSHIRE BIG READ
When the Hampshire Big Read was launched it was a huge
honour for us to be invited to attend the launch ceremony
at the Gurkha Museum in Winchester. Kings’ school was
selected from all the schools in Winchester and we took a
large group of well-behaved, neatly turned out Year 7s to
this prestigious event. The book chosen for the Big Read
was Michael Morpurgo’s wonderful war-time tale, ‘Private
Peaceful’. The pupils were able to meet and chat to a
number of veterans from earlier conflicts, they met the Lord
Lieutenant of Hampshire and several other dignitaries, and
were all given goodie bags including copies of ‘Private
Peaceful’.
VISITING AUTHORS, POETS
AND PERFORMERS
Mr Attwood and Mrs Miles are very keen to bring visiting
authors into our school. We have had some marvellous and
memorable visits and have several lined up for the
remainder of the current academic year. Recent visitors have
included the author Alan Durant, the poet Adisa, whose
performance style is simply fabulous, and the novelist Alex
Wheatle, who shortly after visiting Kings’ was awarded an
OBE - though we can’t take credit for that! The poet and
playwright, Olusola Oleyeloye paid us a visit and inspired us
with her creative presentation, whilst Sarah Singleton, the
author of popular Gothic fiction, encouraged students to
write their own horror stories in her informative workshops.
The Library team has developed an excellent relationship
with the Children’s Discovery Centre in London, through
whom links to a variety of authors are being forged.
Music Department -
Recording Studio
The Music Department is proud to house a brand new
recording studio, which enables students to create
professional recordings using a 24-channel multitrack
recorder, connected to a PC with Cubase 5, Sibelius and
Reason. Combined with the recent installation of 8
new PCs and three fixed data projectors into the
department, ICT and Music Technology are becoming
an integral part of both the KS3 and KS4 music
curriculum.
A corner of the largest music classroom, Mr Clarke’s Studio
2, was partitioned off during the summer holidays and made
soundproof. This was then split into a control room and
separate performance area. This also doubles up as another
rehearsal space when the studio is not being used for
recording. Equipped with a new digital piano, drum kit and
enough space to record a medium-sized band, it is hoped to
enable soloists and bands in all year groups to create their
own recordings, and perhaps ultimately, their own album.
The Music BTEC students, who are the first to take this
brand new course at Kings’, have been the first students to
try out the new facilities, as one of their units involves the
creation of their own album.
It is hoped that in the near future, the Music Department
may also be able to offer a Music Technology course for
pupils at KS4 (Years 10 and 11).
On 19th October, Digital Village, the company who provided
and installed the technical equipment, came to Kings’ to
deliver a day’s training. Two pupils in year 10 – Chris Pott
and Sam Sanders, and two pupils in year 11 – Charlie
Haywood-Smith and Tom Wright, learnt how to create a
professional recording. They will now be the department’s
first “Music technicians”, and will soon be fulfiling their new
roles when the year 11 pupils perform their next piece of
coursework. The boys thoroughly enjoyed their day in the
studio, and learnt a great deal in a short space of time. Well
done to all of you!
The Library at Kings’ is always lively, a place of fun,
learning and choice. For relaxation, innovation,
participation and inspiration, a visit to our happy
Resource Centre is a must!