MACMILLAN

10K’s IN 10 DAYS
KICKBOXING AND
BASKETBALL STARS
TASTY TREATS FOR
MACMILLAN
issue 16 JANUARY 2016

Happy New Year to
everyone and I hope
you all enjoyed a very
relaxing Christmas
holiday.
HEAD TO HEAD
2016 will be another
exciting year in AGSB’s
development because
we will be pleased to
welcome North Cestrian
School into the AGSB
family in September
when it opens as
a state secondary
school. As you know,
we have established
the Hamblin Education
Trust to support this
process and its board
of trustees will oversee
the management of the
changes which are necessary. North Cestrian School will
provide each year around 125 much-needed school places
for the growing population of young people in Altrincham.
At the same time we are considering increasing our annual
intake of students at age 11 by one form group. So far,
we have been able to do this in some years but not every
year because we simply do not have the classroom space
to cope with such growth. Yet we are very conscious that
there is a growing population of young people in Altrincham
and beyond who would benefit greatly from a place at
AGSB. Consequently we have made a bid, supported by
Trafford Councillors both in spirit and with capital money,
for a substantial building development on the School site
which would not only increase our classroom space but also
resolve some of the other issues we face, such as with pupil
movement through narrow corridors.
As you know, competition for capital funds in all areas of life
is very fierce so if the bid is not successful first time round
we will continue to try for capital funds because we are
committed to playing our part in providing the best possible
opportunities for teenagers in Altrincham and beyond.
Happy New Year
everybody! I hope
you’ve all had a nice
break and that you’re
refreshed and ready to
start on the uphill climb
to end of year exams.
My message to you at
the start of this year
is to try and better
yourselves just that
little bit. The principle of
marginal gains applies
massively to life. If you
go on that extra run each
week, listen to that extra
Radio 4 programme
each week, or even
just sit down with one
subject and focus for an
hour that you wouldn’t
have done last year, you will see an improvement in yourself.
Your health and general knowledge will be improved, and
if you multiply these improvements together, you will be a
better you. Life is very competitive, so get yourself ahead
now! Your exams are closer than you think.
Life isn’t all about exams and hard work though, life is
about happiness. In the same vein as marginal gains,
Julian of Norwich said that “All shall be well, and all shall
be well, and all manner of thing shall be well”. This is just
talking about lots of little “wellnesses” adding up and
accumulating so that all is well. Put your phones away, and
just have a chat with the person next to you. Look for the
beauty in nature walking to and from school, maybe even
pick up a book and immerse yourself in a whole new world.
Change your life in a small way and watch happiness come
in to it, and if someone gives you a smile, smile back and
share the joy.
Our school is a nice place to be, but, if everyone in it is that
little bit happier, then through marginal gains it will be an
even more enjoyable place to be for everyone. Have a good
year!
wheelie
fast
The first two weekends of October saw Mr Suthard achieving further cycling success, while competing to defend his World
Champion title at the Manchester Velodrome.
The weekends consisted of several races – the first of which was a 750m TT race, where he finished 9th despite having an
unknown puncture in his rear disk wheel. The next race was the big one, with Mr Suthard hoping to become the 3000m pursuit
World Champion once again. Racing alongside many professional racers, Mr Suthard managed to shave 3 seconds off his
previous times, qualifying 3rd fastest and placing him in the ride off for the bronze medal. In this race, he managed to knock
another 2 seconds off his last year’s winning time, finishing with the bronze medal. Amazingly, Speedy Lee’s time was actually
faster than the silver medallist, and only 0.8 seconds behind this year’s winner – and ex US Olympic cyclist – Dean Phillips!
Mr Suthard was then invited to race in the champions of champions race the following weekend – a race only world champions
could compete in! This race format was a little different to the ones Mr Suthard was used to, as he hadn’t taken part in this
type of race for over 15 years. Despite this, after 64 laps and over 20 minutes of cycling, Mr Suthard finished in a brilliant 6th
position, although he feels half a lap more could have seen him on the podium.
Mr Suthard has hopes of knocking another 5 seconds off his time next year and hopefully he will be champion once again
You can watch Mr Suthard in action on this link: https://youtu.be/tl21mDAvM4s
Congratulations to Speedy Lee!
Devansh Metha
Head Master
Tobias Nicholls, Head Boy

ROBOT WARS
WORLD CHAMPION
I first began to compete in Robot Wars in 2004, after watching the original TV series. Since then I began to compete
competitively in the featherweight (13.6kg/30lb) and heavyweight (100kg) classes with my robots Explosion and Eruption
respectively, and have won both the featherweight and heavyweight UK championship titles.
Since 2011 I have annually competed in the FRA Featherweight UK Championships held every April at the Gadget Show
Live, and have been placed second twice, as well as winning the competition in 2013. This year the event was upgraded to
the World Championships and saw competitors come from as far as Australia to take part. I entered this year with a brand
new version of my old robot, Explosion, which had shown promise in a few live shows earlier in the year. It was designed to
be much tougher than the older version, constructed from “hardox” (special steel) and titanium to stand up to destructive
opponents and is armed with a pneumatic flipping weapon to throw its opponents out of the arena.
COULD YOU USE
THIS SPACE?
HELP THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE, PROMOTE YOUR business
Due to funding cuts, the school magazine is at risk. We have already moved The Word online, but we need to raise funds for
the End of Year Magazine. Can you help by placing an advert in the next edition?
We are offering the opportunity for you to advertise your business to the AGSB community. There are a range of packages
below that may suit your needs. If you have any specific requirements or questions please email: publications@agsb.co.uk
The first round of the competition consisted of four qualifier fights over the Thursday and Friday, in which you must score
enough points to be one of the top eighteen competitors who go through to the next round. These fights went well – five
knockouts scored me 14/16 points which put me through to the one-on-one rounds of the competition. However, the first fight
on Saturday was against triple UK champion, 2014 winner and long-standing rival Beauty 2 (which I had previously beaten in the
2013 final). This was a popular draw – pitting the 2 favourites for the competition against each other in the second round! After
a lucky escape near the start of the fight, I managed to throw Beauty 2 out of the arena, putting me through to the next round.
The next rounds of the competition saw me fight Drumroll, armed with a nasty drum spinner designed to rip into its opponents, and
Little Nipper which has a hydraulic claw with 3 tonnes of crushing force! In the semi-final I fought Beauty 8, similar to my own robot
with a flipper weapon. I managed to flip all of my opponents out of the arena which put me through to the final of the competition.
In the final I once again fought Beauty 2, which had fought its way back into the competition since our first fight via a losers’
melee. This fight was much closer than the last, and was very even with both robots narrowly escaping being thrown out
of the arena. Luckily, my opponents suddenly damaged one of their wheels, which hindered their mobility and gave me the
opportunity to get underneath and throw them out of the arena – winning the world championship!
The four days concluded with the awards ceremony – featuring champagne spraying and gold confetti cannons, and I was
given a really nice trophy which I am sure to treasure for the rest of my life. My challenge now is to defend the title in 2016!
Michael Oates
END OF
YEAR
MAGAZINE
PRINTED
£250 Full page colour ad
£150 Half page colour ad
The school magazine has been
running for over a hundred years.
It reflects the achievements of the
boys along with the history and
heritage of the school. The magazine
is printed annually and is distributed
to all students, staff, governors and
visitors to the school.
THE
WORD
MAGAZINE
ON LINE
£75 Full page colour ad in 3 editions
The Word is our termly magazine
which reflects the life of the
students of the school. This is an
online edition which is available to
all students, staff, governors and
parents of the school.
SPECIAL
OFFER
END OF YEAR
+ THE WORD
£300 for a full page colour ad in
the End of Year Magazine and
in 3 editions of The Word plus a
dedicated student designer
A dedicated member of the
Publications Committee will be
assigned to work with you to create
your bespoke advert.
please CONTACT us at publications@agsb.co.uk TO BOOK

10 x 10k’s in
10 Days
Recently, I took on a challenge in order to raise money for Genesis, a breast cancer charity, by running 10 10k’s in 10
consecutive days. That in total, is 100,000 metres or over 2 full-length marathons.
MACMILLAN
COFFEE MORNING
1 in 8 women are diagnosed with the most common cancer in the UK. Breast cancer starts when cells in breasts begin to
divide and grow and divide in an abnormal way. It is not one single disease –there are several types. It can be diagnosed at
different stages and can grow at different rates. Last year around 55,000 people were diagnosed with breast cancer. Earlier
detection, increased knowledge and understanding of the biology of breast cancer, and better treatments mean that survival
rates after a diagnosis of breast cancer are improving:
• More than 8 out of 10 people survive breast cancer beyond five years
• More than three quarters of people survive it beyond 10 years
• It is thought that 570,000 people in the UK currently have breast cancer
However, these improvements can’t prevent thousands of women each year being victims of the disease. With the work that
Genesis does, the mortality rates will only decrease, but that needs people like me or you to help by donating or raising funds.
After being inspired by others who raised money for Genesis, I decided I wanted to help. Although a daunting, demanding
effort, I was carried through to the finish with the knowledge that people with cancer suffer a lot more than I did in those 10
days, as well as my motivation to contribute to the funds needed for the fantastic research carried out by Genesis.
I am a keen runner, having run competitively on a regular basis. However, I decided that I wanted to push myself to help a
great cause in the process. During the 10 days, various friends ran legs with me and supported me to the finish, thus making
my task a lot easier. The more money raised, the closer Genesis is on the path to finding the cure for breast cancer, so I would
really appreciate further donations to my JustGiving page or to me directly. You may see charity buckets around, and any
contributions you make would be gratefully accepted.
There are Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to like, share and retweet, so please take the short amount of time needed
to look at those. I would thoroughly recommend and encourage raising money for such an organised, appreciative charity
like Genesis.
Daniel Racle
Facebook: Dan’s 10k Challenge https://www.facebook.com/Dan10kchallenge
Twitter: @dan10kchallenge https://twitter.com/dan10kchallenge
Instagram: danny_rac07
JustGiving: Dan’s 10 x 10k’s in 10 Consecutive Days https://www.justgiving.com/Dan10kchallenge
On the 24th of September, the Food and Nutrition GCSE students prepared
and made lemon drizzle cakes, shortbreads, brownies, cupcakes and
scones in preparation for the MacMillan coffee morning. They also gave up
their lunch break to decorate and put the final touches to the products, to
make them as appetising as possible.
The next day, we transported the cakes and bakes to the staff room ready
for the break time rush. They certainly went down a treat and we managed to
sell all of our products. In total we raised over £200 in support of MacMillan.
Luke Breedon

YIPiYAP
GAP YEARS
Yipiyap is an Altrincham-based company that recruits school leavers who
have chosen to take a gap year and arranges paid placements for them
supporting pupils as in-school tutors during their year out.
The business was started in 2012 by former maths teacher and AGSB
parent, Anne Morris, whose son is now in Year 11 with the first tutors
being former AGSB students Joss Serraillier and Areese Ishaque. Yipiyap
currently employs 25 tutors who work in local primary and secondary
schools gaining invaluable work experience and personal development
opportunities during their year out and has employed 15 AGSB leavers
over the past three years.
Current tutor, Archie Batra said:
“I had always planned to take a year out before going to university as I
wanted to experience the independence and responsibility of adult life
before committing to at least three years of being a student. So Yipiyap
was exactly what I was looking for. They recruit gap year students to teach
Science, Maths and English (in my case Maths) to children in schools all
over Manchester. Being able to teach maths to children who did not get
all the advantages in life that I got is already an incredibly rewarding and
enjoyable experience, and everyone at Yipiyap is so friendly that it barely
feels like work at all! It has also given me the opportunity to earn money
to go travelling and relax after thirteen years of school whilst all my friends
plunge themselves into debt and even more school and even more tests. I
feel very lucky!
Taking a gap year and working for Yipiyap has also given me time to think
about what I really want to do at university and has therefore enabled me to
reapply for a different subject. It has also allowed me to treat the application
process more seriously as I was able to make mistakes the first time around
and learn from them. I am now applying for History based on my actual
grades, not my predictions, with a stronger personal statement and a more
positive attitude towards university.
If you’re thinking about taking a gap year then working with Yipiyap is a
fantastic way to spend it. It is a nice transition from school to university and
the Yipiyap team is immensely helpful - from finding your work experience
placements to making sure that you’re settling into your new, independent
life. My advice to anyone considering taking a year out would be to just go
for it. It’s a great way to earn money, meet new people and prepare yourself
for university- what’s not to like?”
Kelvin Chu was a tutor for the year 2014/15 when, having gained the
necessary grades, he took a year out to reapply for Medicine. Kelvin said:
“I joined Yipiyap as a maths tutor through a recommendation from
Mrs Williamson after receiving no offers for Medicine. This was a great
opportunity as I was able to keep my brain active whilst gaining some
experience to write on my Personal Statement, and most importantly earn
some money whilst doing it!
After a few induction days it took a while to get used to going to school not
as a student, but as a member of the department team. I became power
mad when all the students and fellow teachers addressed me as “Sir” even
though I was only a few years older than the majority of those I taught! My
year as a tutor has flown by, but it has been an insightful year. It was a great
feeling to have personally helped so many students, and have some claiming
that they finally understand a topic after days or weeks of struggle.
There were challenges – every so often there were misbehaving students not
willing to work or who were answering back. However I think this all adds
to the experience and I feel that the year has helped improve my confidence
and prepared me to work in the real world.
I have now received an offer at Imperial College London to study Medicine and will
start in October. Yipiyap has been so helpful this year and I would wholeheartedly
recommend anybody who is thinking of taking a year off to apply!”
Founder of Yipiyap, Anne Morris, commented:
“When I started Yipiyap I wasn’t certain I would find young people of the right
character and temperament to do this work but I felt that if they were anywhere
it would be at AGSB. As it turned out I couldn’t have asked for better tutors to
help launch the business than Joss and Areese. Even at 18 they were extremely
high achieving yet down to earth young men – traits that I have found consistent
in all the students who have followed them. At the beginning we were starting
something from scratch with no rule book but nothing phased the tutors and all the
pupils and staff they worked with thought the world of them. AGSB students have
continued to impress ever since and they, along with all our tutors, are incredibly
inspirational young people who we are proud to have representing our company.
What they do is great for schools and great for them. We love working with them
and helping them add value to their year out in all sorts of different ways.”
Anne added:
“One of the highlights of my job is feeding back to the tutors comments
we get from their schools. For example, Cathy Downing, Head Teacher of
Stamford Park Junior School said of Archie after his first half term:
“Archie has made an excellent start to his work within our school, being very
professional and an excellent tutor at all times.”
And Nigel Hooley of Macclesfield Academy made the following comment about
Kelvin:
“Kelvin has been a massive hit with our students. They have commented how
they really enjoyed the opportunity and how much they like Kelvin. Some of
the students have been a little disaffected due to recent set changes and to
see them with a smile on their faces after Maths was fantastic.”
If you are considering a year out and are interested in applying for a role with
Yipiyap, please see Mrs Williamson or visit www.yipiyap.co.uk for more details.
The Yipiyap Team

Vive les langues
étrangères
On a recent visit to AGSB, ex-student Oliver Carroll (2012) discussed
the impact of A level languages at University, in the work place and in
improving career prospects.
“I was never one to buy into the adage that ‘you don’t need languages,
everyone speaks English’. But it didn’t cross my mind how useful
having languages on my CV would be. I studied French to A Level and
then a Law degree, and within the first week of my internship at Clifford
Chance, the ‘magic circle’ law firm with whom I’m about to start my
training, a partner asked me to compile a presentation in French for her
to present to the board of BNP Paribas – France’s biggest bank.
I was seconded to the Amsterdam office of the firm for two weeks,
where I was tasked with helping on an English case in an international
court in Strasbourg. Again, most of the documents and case law were
in French. Despite not having studied Spanish past GCSE, a Latin
American litigator asked me to review a dossier of Cuban witness
statements – all in Spanish. I asked myself why they assumed such
language knowledge, but after talking to my fellow interns – many
of whom are now my colleagues at the firm – it became clear that a
majority of them had languages on their CV to one degree or another.
Spanish Trip
To Salou
Hola! During activities week last year, a group of pupils in Year 8 flew off to Spain to try the food, speak the language and most
of all to have fun! In total, we spent three action packed days in Barcelona to get a taste of the culture.
Thursday was the most exciting day - we went to Port Aventura Theme park, home to Europe’s tallest rollercoaster, the
‘Shambhala’! The rides were scary yet thrilling and everyone had a blast!
Our ‘touristy day’ consisted of a trip to Park Güell and the Sagrada Família, tapas on ‘Las Ramblas’ and finally the most
memorable part of the day which was a trip to Camp Nou. Here we took some fantastic photos from the top of the stadium
looking down on the amazing pitch and we even had the chance to buy a Barcelona jersey!
We stayed in Salou which had a beautiful beach and we all enjoyed going swimming every night!
Thanks must go to Mrs Wallwork for organising the trip as well as Mrs Hagerty, Mr Cammack and Mr Williams for helping to
lead it. I would definitely recommend it to any Year 8 linguist this year.
Matthew Buchalter
In the modern business world, and now at the top of the legal profession,
it quite literally pays to have languages. Yes, many in the rest of the
world speak some English. But they also have mother tongues. So if
you don’t want to be out-competed by them, then pull your finger out,
and learn a language. You just never know what doors it will open.”
Oliver Carroll
Agsb’s
cleanest room
Mr Lowe was awarded a gift of “Heroes” chocolates at the end of the
summer for having (yet again and again and again, to the pleasure
of the cleaner) the cleanest, tidiest classroom in the school for the
seventh consecutive year.
What a hero!
Lydia Williams
Cleaning Supervisor

ACTIVITIES week
TRIP TO GERMANY 2015
We went to Germany during Activities Week and I can honestly say it was the best trip I have ever been on! Mrs Donelan, Mr
Shorten, Miss Cathcart and Mr Flanagan made it a fun and exciting trip for us all. We set off on the Saturday night for a coach
journey that would take us through France and Belgium to Boppard.
Luckily the coach was extremely comfortable and we could watch films of our choice. We set off for our second leg of the trip,
by the time we got to Germany everyone was excited to see the hotel. The Hotel Rheinlust was a lovely old building situated
on the river Rhein. The town of Boppard had cafes and shops as well as plenty of river cruises to offer us. There was also a
nice buffet breakfast each morning and a tasty lunch and evening meal. We took part in many activities whilst we were there
including bowling and visiting the town of Koblenz, the point on the river Rhein where three rivers meet.
My favourite day of the trip however had to be when we went to Phantasialand. It was the best theme park I have ever
been to. It also had its own village for buying sweets and food. Mrs Donelan and Mr Shorten told us to meet up in Berlin at
lunchtime. We remembered Unter den Linden and the waffle café! We then set off to explore. Black Mamba was the main
ride - it did two loop de loops and went upside down. It gave me the best adrenaline rush I have experienced!! Next there
was a huge log flume with an almost vertical drop with the splash of a life time at the bottom. After that my group each got a
slush and went on the water rides.
The previous day we had been to a medieval castle. This castle was the only one to survive many wars. We learned about its
rich history and were able to try on armour and shields. We got Mr Flanagan to put on a heavy helmet whilst everyone took
photos!
We also went to Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet Museum - a music museum where they showed us many German
instruments from years ago, all in working order. There was a brass band from 300 years ago still a glistening bronze colour.
The village of Rudesheim was perfect for tourists. We had travelled by chairlift above it before visiting the museum. The views
had been very impressive.
German exchange
2015
It was a regular Manchester morning when we readied for our little trip - a motley crew of Wellington and AGSB, headed
by the erstwhile Mr Smith towards Stuttgart, for our part in the German Exchange. We arrived on time, which does say
something for the renowned German efficiency, and were whisked away to our respective partner’s houses where we were
let loose upon the streets of Fellbach and Stuttgart.
Alas, the time for fun was over, and at 8am we started a week in the German education system at Friedrich-Schiller Gymnasium,
notably different from the more rigid English system, with the children having days of varying length, but the vast majority only
lasting around four or five hours, something that went down very well with the English arrivals!
Trips included the ZentrumfürKunst und Medientechnologie (Centre for Art and Media Technology, or ZKM) in Karlsruhe. We
viewed a series of enigmatic and eye opening displays about the world around us, causing us to stop and think about the
heaps of technology we ply ourselves with, in the vain hope of bettering ourselves. Followed by a terrifying look at security
and all that this encompasses including the sheer amount of surveillance governments utilise to censor and monitor our every
waking moment, and often when we’re not awake too; Orwell would be turning in his grave. A machine accurately told four
of us where we’d been in the last 24 hours, what Wi-Fi we’d ever used and the make of our phones without us ever having to
pull them out of our pocket, we were rather eager to leave before the museum found out our entire life story!
The next day we headed to the Porsche Museum for an interesting look at one of the world’s most renowned car makers.
Finally a brief detour into Stuttgart for some last minute gift shopping and to see a regular day in a major German city.
There was an air of melancholy as we realised this was our last day in Germany with sad looks on our faces, we bade farewell
to our host families, and prepared to say a final auf wiedersehn to all the friends we’d made at FSG before boarding the train
for home.
Nanda Saravanan
In the evenings Mr Flanagan amused us all by running a quiz situated in Die Kanne, which was a room in the hotel just used
by our party. The weather was beautiful and warm the whole trip.
Lynn Donelyn and Luke Collins

Design and technology
AT AGSB
Design and Technology is critical to the UK’s future success.
In 1989, England and Wales were the first countries in the
world to establish D&T as a statutory entitlement for all pupils.
It is ironic that whilst our achievements across the UK in D&T
education are seen as world-leading and worthy of replication
in other parts of the world, they come under repeated question
here in the UK.
The latest estimates are that by 2022, 1.82 million new
engineers will be required in this country and that by 2030, 1
million people will be needed to fill jobs in a variety of creative
industries that do not yet exist. Science and Mathematics
alone cannot provide the creative thinking and hands-on
expertise that is essential to producing world-class engineers
and designers. An understanding of D&T ensures that students
are equipped with the tools to thrive in an increasingly fastpaced,
innovation hungry marketplace where employers are
seeking out individuals who can problem-solve.
Our course at AGSB provides the opportunity for students
to take risks, become creative and apply their learning from
Mathematics and Science to solve real world engineering
problems using smart materials, electronics and embedded
microprocessor control.
Sir James Dyson states “Design and Technology is a
phenomenally important subject. Logical, creative and
practical, it’s the only opportunity students have to apply what
they learn in Mathematics and Science – directly preparing
them for a career in engineering. Policy-makers must
recognize D&T’s significance and strive not just to preserve it,
but to make sure it appeals to the brightest of young minds”
Robert Baker
gcse
product design
I’ve always enjoyed designing. Whether it be drawing a car as a child or even
building a house on the early ‘Sims’ games, I have always had a brain full of ideas.
With product design, I have been able to visualise my ideas and turn them from
a figment of my imagination into a real product. Learning skills such as computer
aided design and practical manufacturing create the perfect skillset for an aspiring
engineer, and beyond.
Product design at GCSE incorporates both coursework and theory with the former
being worth the majority of the course. The main bulk of the course is spent
meticulously designing the product, spending hours on folder work to make sure
that you are fully equipped with all the relevant information before you start the
construction. First you find a client and evaluate their existing products. Many
initial concepts are drafted on paper before narrowing them down. The three
chosen ideas are developed and fine tuned. From there more development must
be done, including making models and exploded diagrams, which all help you to
eventually manufacture your chosen product into something which is both useful
and aesthetically pleasing. The fact that you finish the course with something you
have made, a physical and real entity, which was nothing more than a seed in your
head merely a few months before, really epitomises what I enjoy about this subject.
You literally can create something out of nothing.
Luke Kwan
gcse
electronics
Like all design and technology subjects,
electronics offers the combination of
creativity, practical manufacturing and
scientific theory. However, electronics
is arguably the “most technical” – being
slightly more Maths and Science based
than others. If you like designing and
coding circuits then this is the subject
for you!
In Year 10, almost all of the lessons are
spent doing practical work. This usually
consists of designing and assembling
circuits on a breadboard in order to learn
how different electronic components
function. This starts from basic principles
(lighting up an LED), but lessons quickly
move on to more interesting tasks such
as assembling timer circuits using 555
monostable and astable chips, and
programming PICs.
A-level
Product design
Taking Product Design at A Level was an
easy decision; making my own speakers
at GCSE was pretty cool and it could only
get better. Starting Sixth Form and going
in to Year 12 was a big change (but also
a welcome one), where only studying
your four favourite subjects meant that a
quarter of the timetable was taken up by
Tech – around a lesson per day!
Mr Baker’s quick-fire theory lessons
are unmatched within the school, and
completing the syllabus up to 3 times
throughout the year ensures that there is
no reason to drop any marks on the exam
(although this doesn’t always happen.) As
Year 11 consists of one big piece of
coursework. This can be any project of
your choice, based on concepts covered
in the previous year. A project as simple
as a nightlight can be enough for an
A* grade, but most people choose a
more complicated project which is more
interesting to work on for the year. For
example, lots of people in my class made
a “Whack a Mole” game, while others
made a remote control car, an automatic
basketball hoop counter and a model
railway control system. Unfortunately there
is still an exam to prepare for at the end –
not many subjects are able to escape that!
Electronics was a subject that I really
enjoyed studying and is beneficial to
anyone looking into a science-based
career. I would highly recommend it!
Michael Oates
summer draws closer, quizzes become
the theme of the lessons in preparation for
the exams, so be sure to massage your
earlobes and cherry-pick your knowledge!
Everyone’s favourite aspect of the course
has to be the practical, and although
it may not sound like much, making 2
keyrings and a box holder for them will
definitely test your patience. However, it
is well worth it as it is designed to hone
your skills preparing for Year 13, especially
when learning how to use the lathe (easily
the best machine in the workshop). And
of course, there is no greater satisfaction
than finishing your project!
In Year 13, you do it all again, only this
time you can make any product you wish.
This year’s projects range from my own
project of a laptop tray, to a device that
can change the height of a table, which I
still don’t quite understand! Inevitably, the
pressure is much higher this year but Mr
Williams’ Court of the Day at the start of
every lesson helps ease it off, as well as
giving you the chance to hear one of Mr
Williams’ (occasionally) hilarious stories.
I think anyone that has taken Product
Design at A-level can agree that there
are definitely a lot of ups and downs, but
this all makes Tech the most memorable
subject.
Oh, and one small word of advice: stick to
the deadlines. Please.
Devansh Mehta

How 9/11
Changed Our Lives
I read my first few words aloud, standing on stage at the US Embassy. This was the question I answered as part of the national
competition run by ‘Since 9/11’, a charitable organisation dedicated to keeping the memory of 9/11 alive. One 1200-word-essay
and a few months later, I discovered I was one of a handful of unbelievably privileged winners who had won a 5-day trip to New
York. And now I was at the prize-giving ceremony, about to read my essay aloud to an audience including the US Ambassador
himself, the Permanent-Secretary for the Department of Education, Admiral Lord West and various other dignitaries. No pressure.
Aside from that nerve-wracking experience, the prize-giving ceremony was extraordinary in itself. Being ushered through security
and into the grand entrance of the building, meeting the prestigious judges and contributors involved with the competition,
getting involved in discussion and making connections, being interviewed and professionally photographed; the entire event
was meticulously planned and very rewarding. As I touched down in New York about a day and a half later along with the other
winners, I was pretty convinced that the trip would be equally amazing.
Just hours after the flight, we met the former FDNY Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen for dinner at a restaurant in Manhattan.
The following day, we went on to meet the Port Authority Director in 4 World Trade Centre, as well as meeting the current FDNY
Commissioner and his senior colleagues. To top it all off, we met the NYPD Commissioner at 1 Police Plaza. These exclusive
meetings not only allowed us to gain an insight into many of the city’s most important operations, but they also gave us a
personal view of the huge dedication and sacrifice on the part of the emergency services during 9/11.
Kickboxing
ChaMPION
Ever since the age of 5, I have taken part in kickboxing at the Matt Fiddes Martial Arts School. Kickboxing is a martial art
that involves the combination of hand and foot techniques, in various different forms. It all began when a leaflet was posted
through my door, asking for new members, and from there my journey began when my mum signed me up to the classes.
Now, at the age of 11, I am a second degree black belt, and I take part twice a year in the Matt Fiddes British Kickboxing
Championships. The championships consist of 3 categories; hand drills, forms and kicks; and each category is split into age
and belt level. Last year I competed in the two annual competitions, Northern and British, and I now hold the Northern and
British title!
I train 4 times a week with my instructor Master Southern, and in training we practice various techniques such as sparring,
but I especially enjoy the fitness side of it as well as being able to improve in each session.
In the future, I’m not sure where my kickboxing will take me, and at the moment I enjoy training and taking part in the annual
championships. I took part in the championships in Swindon, and I hope to continue my success in the next year.
Noah Peters
Probably the most educational and emotional part of the trip was our visit to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum,
where the Director escorted us around. The building was built around the very foundations of the Twin Towers themselves, with
each of the nearly 3,000 victims profiled in detail. A huge amount of information into the events before, during and after the
attacks was conveyed throughout, whether through artefacts or walls of imagery or (perhaps most powerfully) audio recordings
of calls and communications made during 9/11. The experience left a lasting impression on us all.
However, some of the opportunities provided a more personal insight into the effects of the 9/11 attacks. We visited Stuyvesant
High School, a large and highly competitive selective state school with over 3000 students and state-of-the-art facilities. This
was followed by a visit to the New York Times, where we sat through an editorial meeting and heard about developing news
before it had even been fully released. Not to mention the city itself. Going up the Empire State Building and the Freedom Tower,
down into the subway below, walking along Wall Street and up Broadway, visiting Times Square and Central Park - the sightseeing
alone was wonderful.
Perhaps most impressive was the generosity and dedication of the organisation, in providing us with such invaluable
opportunities. The people we were with, our chaperones and the charity organisers, truly went above and beyond in making the
trip unforgettable. I would recommend anyone between 13-16 years old who’s interested to find out more about the competition.
It really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Arya Tandon

Finley Tonner
basketball champion
Finley Tonner in Year 11 has had tremendous success in his sport of Wheelchair Basketball. He has recently been involved
in a number of competitions, including captaining the North West to become National Champions for an incredible third year
running. He has also won his second consecutive silver medal at the Sainsbury’s School Games in September. As a result
of this, he has been asked to attend Trafford Roll of Honour Awards, which is obviously an amazing achievement. Hopefully,
he will be able to continue his success in the future and carry on impressing at high levels.
Joshua Dow
eVERYTHING YOU
WANTED TO KNOW
Name: Nick Nack Soulsby – Bond villain
Born: 23/03/1999
Position: Around the average European male belly
button
Supports: GapKids
Famous For: Wearing shorts – he has worn shorts every
day since he was in year eight – even in bed
Infamous For: He has organised two water sports trips for
school – both were unfortunately cancelled
one for algae and for the lake being too wet.
Often Seen: Running around school
Catchphrase: ‘Are you a plus, plus; an equals, plus; an
equals, equals; a minus, equals or a minus
minus?’
Did you know: Mr Soulsby once represented GB at
Skateboarding in the ‘X Games’
Written By:
Name:
Born:
Position:
Supports:
Famous for:
Often seen:
Catchphrase:
Did you know:
Written by:
Name:
Born:
Position:
Supports:
Famous for:
Infamous for:
Often seen:
Catchphrase:
Did you know:
Written by:
Darren Birtwell & Scott Meakin
Alena Gabonayova
23rd February
Cleaning Supervisor
Slovakia of course
Patrolling the corridors, nooks and crannies
of AGSB in search of cleaners
Cleaning and cleaning and cleaning and
more cleaning.
“Help me please”
She celebrated her 30th wedding
anniversary last year with husband Jan (Yan).
Lydia Williams
Devansh Mehta
India
Graphic Designer
United, but Cricket and Badminton are
obviously more important than football
His GCSE technology project
Bad exam answers in Tech
In T1 Study, working through A-level tech
coursework!
Everything is awesome
Dev can speak three languages and looks
like a Lego figure when he lets his hair grow.
Michael Oates
Book
ME
Our staff recommend…
The Stuff Of Nightmares
By Malorie Blackman
‘The Stuff of Nightmares’ tells the story
of Kyle, who lives alone with his mother
after his father dies unexpectedly. During
a school trip the train taking him and his
class is involved in an accident. Kyle
discovers he is not the only one who knows
fear. ‘And, as Death enters each carriage
and reveals everyone’s darkest fears, it’s a
moment when those nightmares become
real.’ After experiencing the frightening
and occasionally slightly disturbing
fears of those around him, Kyle has to
overcome his own worst nightmare and
discover what he’s really afraid of.
I found the plot unpredictable but it
moved along at a rate that kept me
interested. This would make a brilliant
read for Halloween!
By George Roberts
Next
Edition
Ask the teacher.
A new feature in the word
First up is Mrs Weil (that’s Miss
Meehan if you don’t know she
changed her name)
A no holds barred interview
where we put your questions to
her.
Email us your questions:
publications@agsb.co.uk

• DANIEL RACLE • Sam Benjamin • • Michael Oates • zain ahmad • jack peel •
AGSB Publications Committee • Editor: alan williams
• Assistant editor: Luke kwan • business manager:
Daniel Kupusarevic • junior assistant editor: Joshua Dow
spring Calendar 2016
if you have any suggestions for the magazine, please email them to:
publications@agsb.co.uk
SPORT FIXTURES CAN BE FOUND ON THE AGSB WEBSITE
A
January
a
A
A
A
7
A
4 Mon. School Opens.
18 Mon. Y11 Immunisations.
19 Tue. Expedition Information Evening 7pm - AGSB
AGM 7pm.
20 Wed. Y12 Parents & Student Consultation Evening
5-7pm.
21 Thurs. Y9 / Y12 Trip to National Museum of
Computing. Y10 Study Evening 7pm.
B
11
B
February
1 Mon. Y13 Exams to Friday 5th February. Spanish
Exchange to Barcelona returning Monday 8th January.
PFA Meeting 7pm.
4 Thurs. Intermediate Maths Challenge.
6 Sat. Interfaith Dinner.
B
22 Mon. School Opens. Senior Football Tour to Holland.
23 Tue. Y9 Options Evening. Y11 Business Studies trip
to Cadbury’s World.
24 Wed. Message Trust Band in school all day for
PHSE.
28 Sun. Y13 Geology Trip to Cyprus, returning Sat 5th
March.
B
Mon. PFA Meeting 7pm. French Exchange to Saintes,
returning Monday 14 March.
11 Fri. Y9 Options Deadline.
12 Sat. Yr 5 STEM day. B
21 Mon. Y12 Geology trip to Vale Eden returning
Wednesday 23 March.
22 Tue. Easter Concert 1.
23 Wed. Easter Concert 2.
24 Thurs. Y12 Reports sent home. Whole School
Photograph.
25 Good Friday. School Closed
B
Mon. PFA Meeting 7pm.
13 Wed. Y8 Parents & Student Consultation Evening
5-7pm (in the Grammar).
25 Mon. Music Exams in Coleman Hall all week.
27 Wed. Old Altrinchamians Committee Meeting
7.30pm.
28 Thurs. School Photographer Y11 & Y13 Year groups
and individuals. Y7 Curriculum Evening 7pm.
8 Mon. Y9 Football trip to Barcelona, returning Friday 12
February. Spanish Exchange to Barcelona returns.
9 Tue. Y10 History trip to Berlin. Y12 Higher Education
Evening 7pm.
10 Wed Y10 Parents & Student Consultation Evening
5-7pm.
11 Thurs Chad’s Challenge Casino/James Bond Evening
12 Fri School Closes for Half Term. Y11 Reports sent
home. Ski Trip to Anton, Austria, returning Sunday 21
February.
29 Mon.
MARCH
1 Tue. Y9 Parents & Student Consultation Evening
5-7pm (in The Grammar).
4 Fri. Expedition training weekend, returning Sunday 6
March.
14 Mon. Y13 Reports sent home.
14 Monday - 18 Friday Y13 Physic EMPA’s.
18 Fri. An Evening of Classical Music 7pm.
28 Easter Monday. School Closed.
29 Tue & 30 Wed. Y13 Biology Trip.
30 Wed Drama Production - The Thwarting of Baron
Bolligrew.
31 Thurs Drama Production - The Thwarting of Baron
Bolligrew.
APRIL
1 Fri School Closes for Easter Holidays.
Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Marlborough Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2RS
Tel: 0161 928 0858, email: publications@agsb.co.uk, web: www.agsb.co.uk
Devansh Mehta • Mark Graham • John Graham • adnan ahmad
• Mat Buchalter •YoUSUF SHABBIR • • Sai Kommuru • Arvi Gund • james taylor •