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Modern Languages
Languages Day
Friday 8 March
The newly refurbished suite of rooms for the Modern
Languages Department, officially opened on Thursday 7
March, was the reason for Languages Day held throughout
the Preps and Senior School. French breakfast was
served to pupils in the Preps, while pupils in Years 7, 8,
9 & 10 were treated to a language or cultural element in
each subject of the day. Lessons in the Languages
Department consisted of sketches in the foreign language.
Pupils in Senior and Lower School Assemblies
were able to watch Rotkäppchen performed by Year 9
pupils and a Spanish dance by girls in Year 10. A mass
of international flags in the Lobby gave a special flavour
to the day, topped by a tasty lunch with a European
menu.
Religious Studies
The Religious Studies department has continued to
go from strength to strength this year. The examination
results were excellent once again and most
especially at A-level where almost all students achieved
A grades both at A-level and also at AS level. The subject
is now more popular than ever at all levels.
As usual all of Year 7 visited the world famous Hindu
temple in Neasdon in north London. The sixth form visited
Buddhist temples in Kennington and Wimbledon.
They also went to an A-level conference in Philosophy in
the autumn and attended a lecture I gave on ‘Philosophy
for All’ in March.
We are particularly pleased to have a new member of
the department joining us from October half term. Mrs
Geraldine Crouch will join the department. She is an
experienced Religious Studies teacher and an examiner
for the OCR examination board.
WJH
Physics
The year has been a period of initiation for the ‘new’
Physics department, with all four teachers being
effectively in new positions.
Several new initiatives have been launched this year
and are now beginning to come to fruition. This year we
have started the year teaching topics such as ‘Theme
Park Study,’ ‘Mobile Communications,’ and ‘Physics of
Film’ which have enthused the pupils and the staff.
The AS and A2 course is thriving and we have thirty
two students this year taking AS Physics and thoroughly
enjoying it. We have spent the first term looking at
Imaging (particularly medical and astronomical),
Designer Materials (What is that Formula One car made
of?) and Signalling (mobile phones and synthesised
music have been two highlights). Next term promises a
look at the mystical Quantum Theory.
The A2 students have been looking at Computer
Modelling and then heading Out Into Space looking at
gravitation and delving briefly into Einstein’s relativity.
The lessons seem to go very quickly, but I’m not sure
this is due to time dilation!
Our use of ICT continues to march forward. We are
now using our laboratory computers in about a quarter of
lessons and the investment in computer simulations has
further inspired and aided the pupils. PowerPoint presentations
are now commonplace from both the teacher
and pupils, and our pupils really feel they are in the 21st
Century.
RJA