The Snow Leopard July 2016

The Snow Leopard
The Dixie Grammar School Journal
Celebrating the Dixie Difference
Summer 2016

July 1st 2015 / June 30th 2016
Welcome to the 2016 edition of the
Snow Leopard. I am hugely grateful to all
contributors to this wonderful record of
life at the Dixie.
Our fantastic inspection result is very
much yesterday’s news, but the effect on
school life is still being felt. Recognition
and praise are potent motivators; criticism
tends to have the opposite effect and
that is why we spend so much time in
presentation assemblies every week
giving students recognition for their many
efforts and successes. Whilst the majority
of students have come to the front at
some point this year to the applause of
the senior school, not every student has
- I very much hope that next year will be
different. You all have unique talents and
the school would benefit greatly from you
sharing them; I would very much like the
opportunity to recognise them.
None of the opportunities we offer
students here are possible without the
most dedicated governors; talented,
committed staff; involved, supportive,
enthusiastic parents and wonderful
students. What has made this year so
successful; one in which interest in places
at the school has rocketed and in which
several year groups are now full. What
makes the school such a challenging and
enjoyable place to be? The answer is
reflected on our Prize Giving programme
– all of you. All of us define the school and
have contributed to making 2015/6 one
of our most successful years. Induction
day earlier this half term sticks in my mind
for many reasons. There were 60 students
– 30 from our Junior School who were
welcomed by the familiar faces of Mrs
Lynn and Mrs Oliver, and 30 from other
schools whose nerves were calmed so
effectively by our welcoming prefects. It
was wonderful to witness the anxiety at
the start of the day turn into confidence
at the end; fantastic to see our senior
prefects take such a lead during the day in
providing activities which allowed all our
visitors to take part. Speaking to parents
at the junior school fete, they do feel
that they are part of a 3-18 school – from
nursery to A level.
Our inspection was certainly motivating
for us all, and the busy nature of school life
1

Welcome
underlines the positive effect it has had.
We maintain our Kaisen approach – looking
for marginal gains in all we do and we are
constantly looking to improve what it is
we offer, to evaluate what it is that sets us
apart and capitalise on it. This philosophy is
all-pervasive and can be seen for example
in our provision of Mandarin lessons for
parents and the community, teaching
in local primary schools, but also in our
introduction of the EPQ, our links with
Ellesmere College and the list goes on.
Thomas Aquinas said, “If the highest aim
of a captain were to preserve his ship, he
would keep it in port forever.” So it is with
the Dixie – we are very conscious of our
rich heritage and traditions, but equally we
are embracing exciting new developments
and governors are spending much time
with me and the senior team helping us
plot our course forwards.
Over the summer, seven classrooms in
the main block will be refurbished to
bring them up to the standard of the ‘new
look’ rooms 1 and 2. There will be a new
storage area for the sports barn created
at the Junior School and continued large
investment in our ICT infrastructure to
ensure that wifi is school wide, in turn
enabling greater investment in digital
facilities available to students in lessons.
I very much look forward to the launch of
the Heathcote Foundation in September.
Bernard Heathcote was Head Boy at
the school in 1920, taught in a local
primary school and returned to the Dixie
regularly in the late 1980s to teach chess.
Mr Heathcote sadly passed away last
November, but through his bequest we are
able to launch a Foundation in his name,
all funds from which will go directly to
supporting those students who would
benefit from the advantages that a Dixie
education offers, but whose families
require financial support.
It is a real privilege to be the Headmaster
of such a vibrant school, a real joy to
share in your successes and to chart your
progress. As I have said on many of the end
of year reports – have a wonderful break
over the summer and return ready to aim
even higher!
Richard Lynn, Headmaster
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“I could not be prouder of the school, staff, parents and pupils and I am thrilled
that no school in the wider area has received a more glowing assessment from ISI.”
Mr Lynn, Headmaster
Christas 2015 Excellence award.
Maya in Year 4 rose to the challenge this year in the decorated egg competiion! A great play on words! Tweet March 23rd - image of
eggcellent.
From 3-18, amd om everu categpru tje Doxoe was given top marks! Read our inspection report at dixiegrammar.fluencycms.co.uk 26th
Nove 2015
Use image of blackboard from the Tweeter page Nov 25th 2015.
Word poster thing - Mr Smaditch.
Excellent Dixie, children parents work good education confident academic excellent, excellent teachers, extra curricular, natural leaders,
staff, governors, PTA, excellence, education, school, SCHOOL, Junior, Nursery, Senior School, Dixie Grammar School, Dixie, activities,
understanding, pastoral care, family, friendly, happy, successful, charitable, the dixie grammar school is excellent, excellent teaching
staff, support staff, first class, eduction, eyfs, challenging, parents, supportive parents, family atmosphere, range of subjects, 3-18,
curriculum, 3-18, social cultural, welfare, health, pupils learning, leadership, teaching, governance, pastoral,isa, excellence across all 8
categories, friendly, 3-18, awards, prizes, top notch.Excellent Dixie, children parents work good education confident academic excellent,
excellent teachers, extra curricular, natural leaders, staff, governors, PTA, excellence, education, school, SCHOOL, Junior, Nursery,
Senior School, Dixie Grammar School, Dixie, activities, understanding, pastoral care, family, friendly, happy, successful, charitable, the
dixie grammar school is excellent, excellent teaching staff, support staff, first class, eduction, eyfs, challenging, parents, supportive
parents, family atmosphere, range of subjects, 3-18, curriculum, 3-18, social cultural, welfare, health, pupils learning, leadership, teaching,
governance, pastoral,isa, excellence across all 8 categories, friendly, 3-18, awards, prizes, top notch.
Dixie Cast radio responce to our inspection sucess! 12th Nov 2015 - may not be a photo?
Leicester mercary.co.uk
Staff, pupils and parents from the Dixie
Grammar School are celebrating this week
following the publication of the school’s
inspection report which awards them the
highest possible rating in every category.
The Independent Schools Inspectorate
uses a four-point scale, with ‘excellent’
being the equivalent to Ofsted’s
‘outstanding’. Schools are closely
inspected in eight areas and Dixie was
given the coveted ‘excellent’ rating in all
categories.
The inspection took place between
Tuesday 13 and Friday 16 October 2015,
examining the quality of pupils’ learning
and achievement; the contribution of
curricular and extra-curricular provision;
the contribution of teaching; the spiritual,
moral, social and cultural development
of the pupils; the contribution of
arrangements for pastoral care; the
contribution of arrangements for
welfare health and safety; the quality of
governance and the quality of leadership
and management.
Staff at the school know that very few
schools receive the elusive ‘excellent’
for teaching and even fewer achieve
‘excellent’ across the board, so were
delighted when the Headmaster was able
to pass on such superb news.
All three phases of schooling at Dixie
(Nursery, Junior and Senior) were covered
by the inspection which gives cause for
celebration for the whole family of staff
and for pupils aged from 3-18.
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An Excellent Result!
Highlights from the report include parents
being delighted with the way the school
is led and deals with each pupil as an
individual, the excellent quality of teaching
and the extremely well-planned lessons
which engage pupils, teachers giving of
their time generously out of class and the
strong relationships between staff and
pupils resulting in excellent pastoral care
and secure, confident pupils.
The report also emphasised pupils’
excellent personal development and
commented on both the high achievements
of the youngest pupils in the EYFS (Early
Years Foundation Stage) and on the
excellent skills in independent working,
reasoning and investigation in evidence in
the Sixth Form.
A number of key events are now being
planned to celebrate such an achievement
with staff, parents, pupils and the wider
community.
4

5
We are passionate about music and take every opportunity to rejoice with our voice,
whether that be singing in our school assemblies, carols at our local church, performing
at the NEC or to welcome guests and fellow students within our school, music brings
happiness and unites us all.

A School in Harmony
6

hen,
of his palms.
A
oor, then ca
Senior Teacher and Head of English, Jon Dixon said “This was the first
evening of its kind that Dixie has staged and it was fantastic to see
students of all ages engaging with such a wide variety of literary texts.”
his cases out in
wife, has stirred in her bed at the right. sout and puts on a robe,
ost often jovial, she has
developed an iron repression of her exceptions to beh
From the right, WILLY LOMAN, the Salesman, enters, carrying two large sample case
ays on. He hears but is not aware of it. He is past sixty years of age, dressedquietly. Even as
is apparent.
He unlocks the door, comes into the kitchen, and thankfully
of his palms. A word-sigh escapes his lips—it might be “closes t
n carries his cases out into the living-room, through the
en
LINDA, his wife, has stirred in her bed at the right.
ts on a robe,
ost often jovial, she has developed an iron repression of her
loves him,
she admires him
al nature, his
temper, his massive dreams and little cruelties,
served her only
ngings within him, longings which she
shares but lacks the
llow to their end.
LINDA: [Hearing WILLY outside the bedroom, calls with some trepidation.] Willy!
’s all right. I came back.LINDA: Why? What happened? [Slight pause.] Did something hap
DA: You didn’t smash the car, did you?
ith casual irritation.] I said nothing happened. Didn’t you hear me?LINDA: Don’t you feel w
tired to the death. [The flute has faded away. He sits on the bed beside her,
b.] I couldn’t make it. I just couldn’t make it, Linda.
ry carefully, delicately.] Where were you all day? You look terrible.
ot as far as a little above Yonkers. I stopped for a cup of coffee. Maybe
offee.
What?
After a pause.] I suddenly couldn’t drive any more. From the right, WILLY LOMAN
lays on. He hears but is not aware of it. He is past sixty years of age, dressed
Even as he crosses the stage to the doorway of the house, his exhaustion is apparent.
locks the door, comes into the kitchen, and thankfully lets his burden
g 7

and thankfully lets his burden down, feeling
word-sigh escapes his lips—it might be “Oh, boy, oh, boy.”
to the living-room, through the draped kitchen
Starring Roles
avior—she more than
loves him,
s.
he crosses the stage to the doorway of the house, his
lets his
she more than
, as though
as sharp reminders of the
temperament to
pen, Willy?WILLY: No, nothing happened.
ell?
The English Miscellany on 11 March was
a huge success - an evening of dramatic
readings and performances that showcased
the talents of students from Year Six to
the Upper VI (as well as some members
of staff!). The evening began with a
performance of the first act of Arthur
Miller’s ‘Death of a Salesman’, featuring
Harry Campion, Ella Grainger, Freddie
Sykes and George Bacon in the lead roles.
The rest of the evening comprised
poetry readings, soliloquies and musical
performances of texts by writers as diverse
as William Shakespeare and Lewis Carroll.
The star of the Miscellany was undoubtedly
Harry Campion, who, in addition to his
lead role as Willy Loman in ‘Death of a
Salesman’, performed a soliloquy from
‘Hamlet’ and sang John Ireland’s ‘Sea
Fever’, based on the John Masefield poem.
Particular thanks also go to Harry Lawson
for hosting the evening with humour and a
snazzy bow tie.
, the Salesman, enters, carrying two large sample cases.
8

World Book Day is a celebration! It’s a celebration of authors,
illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of
reading.
Our
Books are loved by all our students and to
celebrate World Book Day the children and
staff in the Junior school dressed up as a
character from their favourite book. The
School held a Special Assembly to show off
all their costumes. We were delighted to
have several Harry Potters, a few Gangsta
Grannies and of course the two ugly sisters
from Cinderella! It was a fantastic day!
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Real Characters
10

11
Our adorable cast and vast array of seasonal activities put
everyone in the mood for a very Merry Christmas.

Twinkle Twinkle...
All Reception and Pippins Nursery children
performed for the school and their parents
in a fantastic Nativity play. This told the
age old story of the birth of Jesus. and was
interspersed with both traditional and new
songs.
The children loved dressing up in
traditional Nativity costumes, angels,
donkeys, shepherds, innkeepers, kings and
of course Mary and Joseph.
All the Reception children had speaking
parts, with the narrators bringing the story
together. The Nursery children joined in
enthusiastically with a small group singing
the nursery rhyme, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little
Star.’
The children gave a polished performance,
having learnt their cues, entrances and
exits and made all of the Early Years Staff
proud!
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‘‘An exciting, cultural, artistic and educational trip packed with
amazing experiences which broadened my knowledge of talented artists.
An incredible weekend which l am so grateful for” Abigail Riley, Year 10

Make Your Mark!
Each year the Art GCSE course starts with
our Two Day Residential Course in London
where we study in a selection of Museums
and Art Galleries. The work done in these
galleries is then fed into the coursework
over the two years of the course. We use
the National Portrait Gallery, the National
Gallery, the British Museum and the
Victoria and Albert Museum .
Mr Bailey, Head of Art
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15
“When we went to Rosliston Forestry Centre my favourite parts were holding Midge the
American kestrel and Sooty the barn owl. I also enjoyed looking at different habitats because
we found a toad and a churchyard beetle and a very, very very, long worm.” Joe Blunt Year 6

Natural Explorers
Year 6 spent the day at Rosliston Forestry
Centre, bug hunting, bridge building
and getting close up and personal with
birds of prey. They had so much fun
playing competitive mini beast ID (bonus
points for both greater and lesser water
boatman), finding a toad and a worm that
was bigger than the toad, climbing over
a very rickety bridge and then building
their own afterwards that weren’t much
stronger but much more stylish. Stroking
the feathers on owl and looking at the
colour of its eyes to see what time of day
or night it flies, they didn’t realize that
they had learnt anything.
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17

Spaced Out!
Year 9 students travelled to the National
Space Centre where the main activity
was a simulated mission to Mars. All the
students had specific jobs to do, just like
on a real space mission. Their tasks were
to ensure that the team who had already
been on Mars for two years took off
properly and launched a space probe to the
correct Martian moon. After overcoming
emergencies such as low oxygen levels
and dangerous humidity problems, the
missions were completed and crews
returned to Earth. The missions taught the
students a great deal about teamwork,
communication skills and moral dilemmas.
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“The views were amazing and we learnt a lot about chemistry and mining. The mines
were very cramped but really interesting. We got to work in teams and we carried out
lots of really fun experiments, some included explosions!” Collective thoughts, Year 8
Year 8 visited Ecton Hill Copper Mine
at the end of September last year. The
Copper Mine is no longer in use but had
been a very important part of the economy
of the area in the past but it closed once all
the copper had been removed.
The first part of the day involved a walk
up Ecton Hill to the old waste heap where
the students had to search for samples of
rock that were coloured. These were the
minerals which contained copper, iron,
lead and (rarely) cobalt. The samples were
taken back down to the activity centre and
after lunch the samples were analysed to
show the metal compounds they contained.
The students were taken into the mine
having donned hard hats and lamps. They
saw the old seams of copper ore and were
told the story of how the tunnels were dug.
They even saw a tractor which had fallen
into a shaft.
Finally the students made and lit
gunpowder. This was exciting and very
important to the mine because gunpowder
was used to break the rock.
A great day out!
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Rock on Dixie
October 1st 2016 - Our Year 8 had a
fantastic day a the Ecton HIll Copper Mine
yesterday. Tweet,
Perhaps this could offer an opportunity for
a cross-ciricular activitity? If the group had
taken Mrs Knight along with her fantastic
textile studies projects, could thy have
said they were doing Mine Crafts? (Sorry,
almost worthy of a Christmas Cracker
joke).
Year 3 have been expeirmenting this week.
Do you know which rocks are permeable?
We do now! Tweet Sept 23rd 2015.
Cavubg advebtyres tgus afterbiib! Sept
17th 2015 Junior School tweet. - part of
pioneer camp.
20

“I started the MedSoc to bring together pupils who have a passion for medicine, and to
create opportunities for them to hear from experts. It is also for pupils who would like to
learn more about all the different roles in the medical profession.” Christian Smaditch L6
Budding doctors at the Dixie Grammar
School have had their chances of success
boosted by one enterprising young 6th
form student. Keen to enter the profession
himself, Christian Smaditch instigated the
school’s first Medical Society, aka MedSoc.
Typically found on the campuses of leading
universities, the society’s aim is to indulge
the passions of future doctors and give
them access to key figures in the world of
medicine. This term’s programme includes
lectures and talks from an impressive
range of experts, including pharmacists,
paediatricians and the inaugural lecture on
Thursday 24 September from Professor
Nick London MB ChB (Hons), MD, FRCS,
FRCP (Edin), the Associate Dean / Head of
Leicester Medical School and Professor
of Surgery, University of Leicester. The
school has an outstanding record for
helping its Sixth Formers get places at
their first-choice universities for a wide
range of courses and it is hoped that this
terrific initiative will help maintain this
record for those looking to enter the
medical field.
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MedSoc
22

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Beth Shalom
A truly educational and enlightening
experience – this was the verdict from the
year 9s after their visit to Beth Shalom,
the Holocaust Memorial Centre. They
really enjoyed listening to the speaker,
Mr. Stephen Frank. He was 81, stood
and gave a really animated, emotional
and slick presentation and everyone
was in total admiration. He talked of his
illustrious well-educated and charitable
family reduced to living in the horrendous
concentration camp and Czech Jewish
ghetto. We all got a real sense of how he
and his family dealt with the changes in
their circumstances and all because they
were of Jewish descent. Indeed, they
weren’t even religious. As a young child,
he wondered why he couldn’t play in the
park anymore like the other children. Can
anyone truly understand the need for
segregation? He talked of the horrors
of amongst other things, continuously
starving in the concentration camp. In the
midst of the extreme trauma, however
he told of his delight in helping a fellow
prisoner grow tomato plants from the
seeds of a rotten tomato.
He was lucky; he survived and he now
gives talks highlighting the importance of
being kind and living without prejudice.
Equally the Beth Shalom gardens have
and aura of peace. The year 9s were able
to contemplate, in the calm environment,
why living in harmony is vital.
24

The trip began with a three day stay
in Beijing, staying in an electric power
university hotel. Guided by our fabulous
tour guide Sofia, we visited Beijing’s
most impressive landmarks, including the
magnificent Great Wall and the elegance
of the Summer Palace, in addition to dining
in some especially delicious restaurants,
After our stay in Beijing we then travelled
by China’s High Speed Rail to Changzhou,
which in itself was an incredible experience.
We stayed for 10 days in Changzhou’s
most prestigious high school, and, after a
fabulous opening ceremony, participated
in a number of activities, some of which
included calligraphy, martial arts and, to
our despair, 20 hours of mandarin lessons,
complete with homework. We were guided
by volunteers from the school, whose
kindness and fabulous English kept us all on
the right track, whether that being guided
us back to our accommodation block after
an ambitious exploration trip, or quietly
whispering the correct answer to us in
class.
Outside of the school we also visited all
that Changzhou had to offer, including
the magnificent Pagoda overlooking the
school, the shopping mall and the incredible
Dinosaur Theme Park. In Changzhou we
also spent an afternoon with our Chinese
volunteers, who organised trips to the
cinema, complete luckily enough with
subtitles, and even a karaoke bar! All
in all Changzhou was a truly fabulous
experience, which led to a very emotional
goodbye when our time in Changzhou
came to an end. In the closing ceremony
the Dixie performed a dance to the popular
Chinese chart song Little Apple, and, even
if I do say so myself, stole the show! For
our final day in Beijing we visited the world
famous Tiananmen Square, before then
passing into the Forbidden City, with both
places taking us all by surprise, both with
their size and beauty. We left for Dubai the
next day, all very sad that the experience
was over. I’m sure I speak for the whole
group when I say I would like to extend the
biggest thanks to Dr Ketchoin, Mr Hamson
and especially Mrs Gu for organising the
trip and being with us on our visit. It was a
trip of a lifetime, and I’m sure the memories
will stay with us for a very, very long time.
George Bacon Yr.11
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Chinese Summer Camp
26

Having been awarded Confucius
Classroom status last year, the China Week
celebrations were particularly significant
and the school’s new Confucius teacher,
Mr Zhikwan Wei, was right at the heart
of events. Wednesday morning saw him
take a whole-school assembly to talk
about Chinese New Year traditions and
this was in addition to the Tai Chi class on
Tuesday after school and free adult taster
classes in Mandarin for the community on
Wednesday and Thursday evening. At the
senior end of the school, Sixth Formers
organised a China quiz over lunchtime on
Wednesday and on Thursday afternoon we
were treated to an excellent lecture about
modern China from Katharine Carruthers,
the director of UCL Institute of Education
Confucius Institute for Schools.
Meanwhile, at the younger end of the
school, pupils in Years 6 and 7 tried
their hand at making traditional Chinese
dumplings on Friday morning. Children
in Reception and Nursery began Monday
listening and dancing to Chinese
music, going on to make Chinese
lanterns, Chinese fans, paint pictures
of monkeys and sampling Chinese food
with chopsticks! In the afternoon two
senior school pupils came to share their
experiences of China with the children.
Following some practice writing Chinese
symbols, all went home with a Chinese
party bag including some chopsticks to
practise eating with at home.
The Dixie Grammar School first
introduced Mandarin Chinese to its
curriculum over 16 years ago. Along with
French and German, it is now a language
taught to all pupils in the younger years
as part of the school’s core curriculum.
Indeed, pupils are first introduced to
Chinese culture and some simple language
in Year 5 in the Dixie Grammar Junior
School and Mr Wei’s arrival from China
has allowed the school to bring this
opportunity to other local primary schools
also (Congerstone and St Peter’s), where
Mr Wei teaches on a weekly basis. The
study of Chinese in the school goes from
strength to strength, with a full weekly
adult class, which is free to the community,
and Deputy Head Boy, Edward Platts,
having recently received an offer to study
Chinese at Oxford University next year.
Mrs Lucy Gu, teacher of Chinese and
Confucius Classroom Manager at Dixie,
said, “I am delighted with this week’s
celebrations. It was a real honour to
welcome Katharine Carruthers to the
school and just wonderful to see the range
of activities we could offer to all of our
pupils, from the youngest to the most
senior.”
27

Take-it Away, Dixie
28

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The Power of (L)6
Our Year 12 Maths Leaders visited the
Junior School to try their hand at teaching
a lesson to some of our younger pupils as
part of their Maths Leaders Award. Lessons
included a shape hunt with Reception, a
mini-beast survey with Year 1 and surface
tension challenges with water (Year 2). The
Maths Leaders did a fantastic job and the
Junior School pupils thoroughly enjoyed
their sessions.
In the afternoon Year 5 were treated to a
series of mathematical team challenges
run by Mrs Daniels and the Maths
Leaders. Activities included a jigsaw
challenge, problem solving with cake and
a mathematical treasure hunt. Year 5 were
so engrossed that even when a helicopter
landed on the school field they didn’t stop
working!
30

Phoebe, age 5, said “I like the pancake
race the best because I could run with a
pancake and flip it. I really like running!”
Tuesday 9th February was a well-planned
affair for children in the Pippins Nursery
and in Reception at the Dixie Grammar
Junior School, incorporating a whole day
of activities. Pupils watched a recipe video
in the morning and wrote instructions on
how to make a pancake. In the afternoon
Mrs Clare Cormack (Reception Teacher)
and Mrs Lindsay Chapman (Early Years
Educator at Pippins Nursery) held a special
pancake bake-off to see who could make
the best pancake. The children loved
watching the good and bad cooking skills
and told Mrs Cormack everything she was
doing wrong including leaving the egg
shells in the batter! Then came pancake
tasting, with a variety of toppings and
finally everyone made their way to the
bandstand for the Great Pancake Race!
All the children ran with the pancakes to
the stage and flipped them up into the air.
Great fun was had whether the pancakes
were caught or carried away on what was
a windy day! Last of all, the whole group
gathered together and on the count of
three tossed all of the
pancakes up in the air at
once. One even landed
on the roof! The children
loved it and it
was great to
celebrate this
fine tradition.
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Flipping Fantastic!
Feb 9th 2016 Tweet - Year 4 have refined
their pancake aing and flipping skills. And
eating of course!
It’s Shrove Tuesday and pancakes are on
teh house...Opps!
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Marching Orders
Year 3 dressing up, learning about the
fort and trainning to be soldiers. 13th Oct
2015. Tweet.
Year 3 thoroughly enjoyed a trip To Lunt
Fort, where they experienced what it was
like to be a Roman Soldier. The children
learnt about what the Romans wore and
ate and their life in the fort.
They also learnt how to be a Roman
Gladiator, forming ‘The Tortoise’ and
marching into the ‘Coliseum’.
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35
“I have had fun buddying William. He was very kind and was nice to everyone. He would
always help and was a good friend. He may be my best friend, he has been very kind to
me. Thank you to everyone that came to induction day.” Jean-Luke Richardson Year 6

Buddy Up
Our annual Year 5/6 Science Day is
always a favourite of ours. There was
some fantastic collaboration much in
evidence and our year 6 were the best
of hosts. Students were mixed together
in teams of 4 or 5 students from both
year groups and given the task of
designing, building and testing a timer
for the Tokyo Olympic games in 2020.
Mr Kirkwood, Head of Science, gave an
introductory talk in the hall on ideas on
timing devices that would allow a marble
to drop a vertical height of 50cm but take
exactly 60 seconds to reach the finish
line. Students were then taken to the
science labs where they quickly got on
with their initial designs and discussions
with their new team mates. Some amazing
devices were produced and a lot of
interesting scientific and engineering
experimentation was evident. Although
the task was challenging, all students took
an active part and learnt a lot from the
experience. The Year 5 students returned
later in the week and joined the other
new students - 60 visitors in total - for
induction day 2016. Next year’s senior
prefects helped settle nerves at the start
of the morning and entertained at lunch.
The day culminated in the Dixie uniform
fashion parade, with Mrs Ennis providing
the commentary. Students made a
fantastically positive impression wherever
they went and we are all looking forward
to welcoming them back to the Dixie
Senior school in September.
36

Swimming has featured highly on the agenda this academic year, with the ISA
National Finals in the Olympic Pool in London, the Hinckley and Bosworth Swimming
Gala and our very own annual Gala featuring students across years 6 to 9. Well done
to everyone and congratulations on bringing home so many impressive medals!
Six Students from the Dixie Grammar
School representing the Midlands at
the ISA National Swimming Gala at the
Olympic Pool (London Aquatics Centre) in
London have returned with an impressive
medal haul. The final medal tally from our
National Finalists was: 5 gold, 3 silver and
3 bronze medals. Dan Kennedy was the
standout performer with 3 gold medals and
being named national champion 3 times
also. Results: Kartik Thakkar (Year 4) 4th
in Backstroke & gold in Freestyle Relay
Oscar Mitchell (Year 5) 4th in Backstroke
& silver in Freestyle Relay Dan Kennedy
(Year 6) 3 x national champion, gold in
37

Swimming Success
the freestyle relay, gold in Individual Fly,
gold in Individual Medley. Becky Smart
(Year 8) bronze in Medley Relay, 6th in
50m Breaststroke Rhys Chiles (Year 11)
silver in 100m Breaststroke, bronze in
Senior Medley Relay Ryan Gordon (Lower
Sixth) gold in Fly with a time of 27.11
mins, bronze in Senior Medley Relay, Silver
in 200 Individual Medley. Well done to
Lancaster, who won the Swimming Gala.
38

39
“So many of our pupils have produced outstanding performances today and I couldn’t be prouder
of them. Everyone has played their part. They have shown tremendous team spirit and it is great
that our best are once again representing the county in the nationals.” Mr Christian Fielding

Ready, Set, Go!
HALL OF FAME, 2015...
Year 6 :
Cricket Ball Toby Salisbury 39.26
Year 8:
100m Matt Evans 13.11
Chloe Vinestock 13.24
400m Alex Brankin 1:04.2
800m Alex Brankin 2:33.2
Long Jump Matt Evans 1.42
Katie Mears 1.8
Year 9
1500m Georgia Ellis 6:18.5
4x 100m Relay Lancaster 57.79
Year 10
200m Tom McCarthy 25.41
Ella Grainger 29.00
Long Jump Ella Grainger 4.22
4x 100m Relay York 51.33
Year 11 + Seniors
200m Jimmy Webster 24.2
1500m T Mueller 5.12
Long Jump Jimmy Webster 5.61
High Jump K White 1.70
Shot H Draper 7.10
40

We are extremely proud of all our students, their families and
the staff for their wonderful efforts, support and continued
generosity which has raised over £4,000 this academic year.
Members of the PTA at the Dixie Grammar
Senior school were convinced that their
children could not get enough of school
and so organised a sleepover for pupils
from Year 6 and 7 on Friday 6 May. Over
40 pupils returned to school at 6pm for a
BBQ and a chocolate fountain followed
by team challenges, a bouncy castle and
plenty of games to help tire the students
out, with a late night film to help ensure a
great night’s sleep. All pupils slept in the
school Assembly Hall, which we can now
confirm is definitely not haunted, and,
following a hot chocolate and croissant
breakfast, were collected by their parents
at 9am. A generous team of parents, staff
and Year 8 helpers ensured the whole
event was a great success.
Richard Lynn, Headmaster: “We are lucky
at Dixie to benefit from a friendly and
family atmosphere and it is this, along
with the generous support of our parents
and staff, which allows us to offer such
memorable experiences for our pupils.”
The Junior School sold fruit donated by
family at Sport Relief charity event which,
combined with other fund raising actives
including the sale of wristbands, raised
over £400 for Sport Relief. Rhiannon
Chiles, a Year 7 student added £200 to this
donation by completing a 3K course.
41

FUNdraising
The Junior and Nursery school has raised
over £255 for Children in Need and this
coupled with the funds raised at the Senior
School, the total for Children In Need came
in at an amazing £728.
Sweet Charity in the form of Truffles made and
marketed by year 8 students in aid of Muscular
Dystrophy UK raised £295.
The Dixie Grammar Junior School pupils
enjoyed a Harvest Festival assembly led by
the Reverend Julia Hargreaves. Following
the assembly Mrs Laird, Head of Junior
School and the Head Boy, Head Girl
and House Captains delivered the fresh
produce to Bosworth Court Nursing Home.
Donations of tinned and packet food, were
collected from the School, by FareShare
for distribution amongst local food banks.
Students at the Dixie Grammar School
have responded in record-breaking style
to this year’s shoebox appeal to help
give Christmas presents to children who
otherwise would receive nothing. The
appeal to support Operation Christmas
Child began in October and the final
count on Monday 16 November was 112
shoeboxes full of toys, the largest haul
the school has ever donated. Pupils had
been shown a short film in assembly
about what a difference a shoebox full
of small presents can make to a child
living in poverty, in war-torn countries
or as refugees. One student, Georgia
Nelson (Year 11) and her family were so
moved, that they personally filled and
brought in 40 boxes. The pupils are now
looking forward to hearing where the
shoeboxes went, happy in the knowledge
that somewhere in the world they will have
made some children’s Christmas a little
brighter.
Mrs Di Scott (teacher who organised the
appeal) commented “It was hard work
and by the end my classroom was so full
of boxes I could hardly move. It was like
Santa’s grotto! Dixie students are always
generous but this time they really rose to
the challenge.”
42

A selection of the various awards presented to students over the
past academic year. Congratulations to all who took part.
The 2015 inter-House Photographic
Competition launched by Mr Paul Smith,
Chair of Governors, was extremely well
supported with 187 individual entries.
The competition was of a very high
standard, and the judges, including
members of the local Rotary club and
a professional photographer, found the
entries very difficult to separate.
In each category there were 3 winners
from the lower, middle and upper school.
The winners of the competition within
each category are: Amber Jackson | Katy
Hurst | Abby Riley | Alice Whitmore | Cam
Overton | Zach Gauhar | Ethan Kirwan-
Jones | Jared Cutler | James Evans. The
photographs from these winning entries
have been made into a school calendar.
Health Education England (HEE) is
delighted to announce that students from
The Dixie Grammar School in Market
Bosworth are the East Midlands winners
of the Step into the NHS national schools’
competition. Year 8 students impressed
the judges with their entry to promote the
role of a drama therapist to their peers.
Mrs Joanne Banton, Head of Careers at
The Dixie Grammar School, said: “I am
thrilled that our students have won this
important prize and it is real recognition of
their creativity and teamwork skills.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is the
world’s leading youth achievement award
which enabling students to push personal
boundaries, gain new skills and enhance
their CVs and university applications.
The school offers the Duke of Edinburgh
Award at all levels to students in the Upper
School. The Bronze Award is offered to
students in Year 10, Silver to students in
Year 11 and Gold to students in the Sixth
Form. To gain the awards students must
undertake a physical activity, volunteer
their time and learn a new skill in addition
to completing an expedition. The Bronze
expedition takes place in the Charnwood
area of Leicestershire, Silver in the Peak
District and Gold in Snowdonia.
43

Snapped Up Prizes
Christian Smaditch (Year 12) was named
winner of the Whitbread Memorial Prize
2015, not only due to his impressive
performance at GCSE in Year 11, but also
because of the outstanding involvement
he shows in other aspects of school and
community life. Christian, his parents, Mr
Richard Lynn, Headmaster at the Dixie
Grammar School, and Mr Paul Smith,
Chairman of the Governors, were invited
to the House of Lords to receive his award
from Lord Lexden, President of the ISA.
Year 10 and Year 11 students at the Dixie
Grammar School have been crowned
world champions in the annual language
competition run by Vocab Express. This
global event saw over 30 000 students
around the world learning vocabulary
online to accumulate points for their
school.
The final school total was 556 450 points
with Eniola Awodiya Dixie’s top scorer,
with 60 855, pushed all the way by Amy
Hemsworth on 56 800 and Zach Gauhar
on 45 875. Dixie also now boasts three
global champions, with Alex Harlock,
Natalka Smaditch and Judith Kam scoring
the most number of points in the entire
championship for Polish, Hebrew and
Mandarin respectively.
Mr Richard Thirlwell, Head of Modern
Languages: “We began entering this
competition every other year for fun in
2012. Having won in that first year and
again in 2014, this cohort of students
had a lot to live up to, but I was delighted
with the spirit in which they approached
it, the enjoyment they had over the week
and, of course, the success it brought
them. Watching our total score continue
to rise on the Friday and Saturday late
into the evening was remarkable and real
testament to our students’ enthusiasm and
dedication.”
On Tuesday 19th of April all of us and Mr
Smaditch went to Warwick University
to take part in the Salter’s Festival of
Chemistry. The first challenge we faced
was called ‘Murder in Salterstown’ and
included Chromatography and salt
experiments. We split up into pairs and did
a challenge each. The Chromatography
required precision and accuracy to get
fair results. We had six samples of inks
and blotted them over two pieces of
Chromatography paper. The results for
both of the experiments would help us
work out who the victim and murderer
were. We practiced good teamwork skills
and used our Chemistry knowledge to help
us through it. We all worked well together
as a team in this challenge and enjoyed
doing it. All our work paid off as we came
3rd out of 12 schools and won a prize. We
were all very excited and happy.
44

“It was truly wonderful to see so many awards being handed out this year but we
would also like to remind everyone, you are all winners and we are all so very proud of
each and every one of you.” Mr. Lynn, Headmaster
We were delighted to welcome Dr. Peter
Vardy (pictured left) as our guest speaker
at this year’s awards ceremony. He
certainly had his work cut out for him with
awards being given across the curriculum,
and across all years (a small selection of
these award winners are outlined on the
right). Once again, a very large thank
you goes out to everyone who made this
event such a success. We were so very
delighted to welcome our guest speakers,
governors, and over 600 parents, students
and staff to this wonderful event held in
our amazing big top funded entirely by
our wonderful PTA. Thank you so very
much. The day also saw the handing over
of the role of Head Boy and Head girl from
Benjamin Payne and Megan Clews to Adam
McGrath and Kiran Bansal. We are pleased
to welcome our new Head Boy and Head
Girl to their elected posts and wish them
the same level of success as exiting Head
Boy and Head Girl who have done such a
wonderful job over the past year.
Photos available via: www.photoluminarti.com
45

Congratulations!
ART
Oliver Crane | Megan Mears | Alice Whitmore | Olivia Dracup | Cam Overton | Sophia Smaditch
Kathryn Booth | Lera Medvedeva | Lara Steel | Judith Kam | Abigail Riley | Natalka Smaditch |
Lizzie Harvey | Millie Hemus | Lindsay Potter | Daisy Caulfield | Millie Feeney | Yasmin Wong |
Sophie Gooding | Ruth Hope.
ENGLISH
Oliver Robertson | Robyn Walker | Harriat Whitehead | Laila Gauhar | Victoria Mayfield | Sophia
Smaditch | Ione Gildroy | Lexie Kirwan-Jones | Lera Medvedeva | Alice Boddy | Anna Ketchion |
Anna Sykes | Ella Grainger | Amy Hemsworth | William McGinnigle | Joshua Melen | Harry
Broughton | Ryan Gordon | Karen Tang | Eve Webley | Megan Harrison | Edward Platts | Nikita Sall |
Charlotte Testar | Jimmy Webster | Jordan Henshaw | Ben Payne | Liam Reynish
HISTORY
Emily Clement | Matthew Coutts | Jennifer Smart | Helena Brown | Alex Daniels | Rebecca Smart
| Max Benbow | Grace Brooks | Edward Green | Alexander Harlock | Raveena Mahal | Abigail Riley
| Charlie Bowman | Amy Hemsworth | Lauren Nicholls | Harry Broughton | Malaka El-Gammal |
Thomas Stone | Edward Platts | Richard Wilkinson | Ruth Hope | Naomi Potter
MATHS
Matthew Coutts | Rita Feditsa | Oliver Robertson | Helena Brown | Conor Duane | Laila Gauhar
| Grace Brooks | Katie Mears | Chloe Vinestock | Eniola Awodiya | Georgia Ellis | Olivia Paice |
George Brown | Amy Hemsworth | Hannah Mihsein | Harry Broughton | Thomas Stone | Eve Webley
|Amrita Bansal | Adam McGrath | Jimmy Webster | Lizzie Adams | Edward Dyer |
Joe Grainger
SCIENCES
Matthew Coutts | Jennifer Smart | Robyn Walker | Helena Brown | Ryan Clark | Laila Gauhar | Katy
Hurst | Sophia Smaditch | Rebecca Smart | Grace Brooks | Jessica Falshaw | Kathryn Penrose |
Chloe Vinestock | Freya Webley | Eniola Awodiya | Georgia Ellis | Zach Gauhar | Abigail Hewitt |
Anna Ketchion | Maddy Kirk | Natalka Smaditch | George Bacon | Amy Hemsworth | Mark McCall |
Hannah Mihsein | James McCall | Alex Pickering | Christian Smaditch | Thomas Stone | Eve Webley |
Amrita Bansal | Kiran Bansal | Joshua Mackley | Adam McGrath | Nikita Sall | Sean Sall | Aaron Caton
| Edward Dyer | Niamh Gascoyne | Joe Robertson
MUSIC
Matthew Coutts | Margarita Feditsa | Maddy Green | Laila Gauhar | Eleanor Partridge | Rebecca
Smart | Kyla Burton | Edward Green | Cat Nicholls | Chloe Vinestock | Eniola Awodiya | Zach
Gauhar | Ellie Osborne | Natalka Smaditch | George Bacon | Isaac Mackley | Lauren Nicholls | Harry
Campion Libby Goodman | Jack Gascoyne | Sam Keys
LANGUAGES
Matthew Coutts | Rits Feditsa | Robyn Walker | Anya Friston | Laila Gauhar | Ben Hemsworth | Katy
Hurst | Simran Mann | Sophia Smaditch | Imogen Banton | Grace Brooks | Kathryn Penrose | Lauren
Poole-Brooks | Lara Steel | Chloe Vinestock | Eniola Awodiya | Georgia Ellis | Judith Kam | Anna
Ketchion | Reuben Stephens | George Bacon | Anna Finn | Amy Hemsworth | Isaac Mackley | Hannah
Mihsein | Lauren Nicholls | Harry Broughton | James McCall | Thomas Stone | Karen Tang | Eve
Webley | Megan Harrison | Jasmin Kees | Evie Kirk | Edward Platts | Jordan Henshaw
46

ANNE LAiRD
Anne’s gentle support and guidance of
me in my first two years as Head has
been a great comfort and her wisdom
invaluable to me. Her disarming good
humour, self-deprecation and relentless
focus on the children has ensured very
positive outcomes for all in her care. I am
so delighted that her last inspection gave
the external recognition and confirmed
what we all know to be true: she is an
exceptional Head teacher!
Richard Lyn,n, Headmaster.
Anne joined the Dixie Grammar School
which was then called the ‘The Wolstan’ in
1990 along with eight other new teachers.
This was her first job in an English school.
She began by being a class teacher in Year
3 but also specialised in teaching ICT in
both the Junior and Senior school up to
Year 8.
Anne was promoted to Director of Studies,
then Deputy Head before being appointed
Head of the Junior School in 2011. She
has seen many changes over the years,
one being the school’s relocation from
Market Bosworth to our present site at
Wellsborough. As Head she has overseen
the development of the open classroom
and the creation of the EYFS department.
Anne has always had a passion for
teaching, helping the pupils achieve their
potential. She enjoys following their
progress through the Senior School and
into the big wide world. Anne is very
approachable, has a ready smile and is
always cheerful. She never passes a pupil
or parent without a happy greeting.
The final accolade of achieving Excellence
in the recent ISI inspection was well
deserved, reflecting all the hard work she
has done over the years.
Sonia Horton
MRS HORTON has been with the School
since the Junior School began in 1990
as the ‘The Wolstan’. She has worked
tirelessly to support the children in her
classes. She has also taken on the roles of
Head of Early Years, Special Educational
Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator and
supporting pupils throughout the School.
Mrs Horton has also led the very popular
extra-curricular skiing trips to Tamworth
Snowdome and organised several School
skiing holidays.
MRS ENSTON joined the Wolstan the
following year as the Year 2 teacher and
has led Year 2 ever since. As well as being
our Humanities co-ordinator, responsible
for developing the History and Geography
curriculum, she has also been our inhouse
librarian, working with the staff
and children to manage and organise the
library and bring the very popular book
fairs into School. MRS COOKE, piano teacher,
and MISS KATARINA, violin teacher, will
sadly be leaving at the end of this term and
we wish them well.
Mrs Anne Laird,
Head of the Junior and Nursery School
Initially RICHARD HOLLINGDALE joined
the school in January 2008 to cover a 2
term Maternity leave. Having spent many
years as Director of Music at King Henry’s
School, Coventry he brought with him
a wealth of invaluable experience and
expertise and we were fortunate enough
to persuade him to return permanently to
teach Music part-time from September
2009. His skills as accompanist and
organist have enriched many Concerts
and Carol Services and he has been very
supportive of all his students. Richard is a
47

Until We Meet Again...
true ‘gentle man’, calm, caring, professional
and thoughtful. He has not only been a
huge asset to the Music Department but
has also supported the PSHCE and RS
departments and acted as an assistant
form teacher to junior forms. He has
always found the time to support his
students and they will miss his thorough
approach, quick wit and gentle humour, not
to mention the ‘pot luck’ revision question
sessions - where correct answers were
rewarded from a seemingly bottomless tin
of chocolate treats!
An oboist himself, he has been the
conductor of the School Wind Band and
also established a Dixie Wind Quintet
which, under his expert direction, has
gone from strength to strength. They are
now a really polished ensemble and will be
performing one of his compositions in his
final Strawberry Prom Concert in July.
We wish him well in his retirement.
Sarah Ennis
MR HAMSON has embodied what the Dixie
Grammar School is about over the past
nearly thirty years. Having been teaching
physics from almost the very start he
presented this subject in his own unique
way. Although not to everybody’s taste
(what subject does appeal to everyone?)
he has managed to inspire an impressive
number of students to go on to take
up careers in physics and engineering;
including such notable institutions as
the Royal Engineers and the European
Space Agency. He also has a phenomenal
memory for and interest in past students
(even those who were perhaps not the
most gifted physicists). When old boys
and girls return to school it is often Mr
Hamson who they ask about first so it is
fitting that he should have taken on the
role of building up the alumni network. All
institutions change and evolve over time
and the Dixie Grammar school will remain
here preparing students for the 21st
century but some will think it will have lost
a little something when next year lesson
ends are no longer punctuated with the
sound of ‘Homework diaries out!’
Joe Kirkwood
At the end of February this year we
welcomed KIRSTEN ENGFER to our school.
Kirsten is a student at the University of
Goettingen in North Germany. She is a
former pupil of the Jade Gymnasium (our
exchange school) - hence the connection
with The Dixie Grammar School. As part of
her studies she had to spend 3 months in
an English speaking country and asked if
she could work here on a voluntary basis.
Kirsten worked in the English Department
at the Senior School and also gave one
to one speaking sessions to our A level
German students and some of our Year
11 students. In addition to this she spent
every Friday morning at the Junior School
helping out wherever needed.
Kirsten settled into ‘Dixie life’ very quickly.
She was kind, patient and encouraging and
her hard work was valued by both staff and
pupils alike. Kirsten thoroughly enjoyed her
time at the Dixie and we were delighted to
have her here. We wish her all the very best
for the future.
Many thanks to everyone who helped to
make her stay so successful.
Jenny Field
48

The Dixie Grammar Junior School & Nursery
Temple Hall, Wellsborough
Leicestershire CV13 6PA
01455 293024
info@dixiejs.org.uk | www.dixie.org.uk
The Dixie Grammar School
Market Bosworth
Leicestershire CV13 0LE
01455 292244
info@dixie.org.uk | www.dixie.org.uk