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SIDCOT in the top 10% of UK schools for 2008
A-LEVEL RESULTS
Back row: Mike Young, Nathan Al-Shehab, Sam Wilkins, Tomas Atkin, Rhiannon Redpath
Front row: Jack Hopper, Gary Marshall, Timothy Langford, Robin Sheridan, Emily Fincken, Charlie Browne
Sidcot School's A level results are once again outstanding, with 72% of the grades being achieved at A and B level. The overall pass rate was 99.5% and the average points per candidate (excluding General Studies A Level) adds up to the equivalent of three grade A's.
Some of the high points were: Edward Pau gaining 5 A grades and a B at AS level and he will be going to Edinburgh to read Economics. Head Boy Freddie Pimm gained 4 A grades and turned down Oxford to read medicine at Imperial College. Head Girl Charlie Browne gained 2 A's and a B at A2 level and an A and B at AS level and will be reading English at Newcastle, Tom Atkin gained 3 A grades and will be reading Engineering at Loughborough and Sarah Brown (ABC and, A at AS) was offered an unconditional place at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts .
Again the results in Maths and Science were very strong. 84% of the Maths A level grades were A's (making up about half the upper sixth form!) and all the Physics grades being at A or B level .
Our AS results were also excellent with 73% of the grades being at A and B level. 16 students gained 3 or more A grades and 7 gained 4 or more grades.
Headmaster John Walmsley commented: Sidcot is an inclusive school and we do not select students on ability. It is therefore particularly gratifying to get such excellent results and shows what can be done in a school where every student is valued whatever their ability. Boys and girls again did equally well which is significantly different to the national position. Next year we look forward to our International Baccalaureate results which will be published for the first time alongside our A level results. The course is going extremely well with the students really enjoying their studying and we are expecting more outstanding grades to match our A level successes.
2008 GCSE RESULTS
Left to right: Imogen Hambly, Jess Fenwick-Brett, Sarah Toogood, Joe Patrick, Alex Barrett, Peggy Spackman, Roderick KergozouDeLaBoessiere, Jake Hill, Ed Saunders, George Saunders, Matt Rayner.
This year 91% of our students gained at least 5 A* to C grades at GCSE (90% including Maths and English). 37% of the grades were A* or A and 15% of the year group achieved a tally of 8 or more A* or A grades. Isis Wolf gained 10 A* and 1 A grades; Holly Wallis gained 2 A*, 8 A's and a B grade; Zoe Wride gained 2A*, 8 A's and a B grade; Alexander Barrett gained 4 A*, 2 A's, 2 B's; Imogen Hambly gained A*, 9 A's and a B; and, Joe Patrick gained 4 A* grades 4 A grades and a B grade.
Headmaster, John Walmsley, commented "these are excellent grades and a real tribute to the hard work of both students and teachers. We are a mixed ability school and, as a Quaker School, our aim is to get the best from every single child. Once more, there is no significant difference between the boys and girls results. These students will now feel confident about embarking on their sixth form studies whether they are doing the International Baccalaureate or A levels at Sidcot or moving on to colleges to study other courses".
Talented musicians remember Catrine
By Gareth Jones, Community Correspondent - Cheddar Valley Gazette, 31 January 2008
Talented young musicians from five schools across the country arrived in Winscombe, on Saturday 26 January, to take part in the fifth Catrine Basil Music Awards. A group performs below.
The awards were set up in 2004 by Malin Basil in rememberance of her daughter, Catrine, who died in a tragic accident while on holiday five years ago. Catrine was a gifted musician and a former student of Sidcot School and the awards recognise and support the achievements of those who share her love of music.
Students competed in a variety of musical categories including woodwind, brass, piano, original composition, voice and digital composition, in front of a packed audience. There were many fine performances which reflected the preparation and dedication of the competitors and which left the judges with a very formidable task.
The Catrine Basil Music Awards Evening supports the charity War Child, which works with children affected by war, and the 2008 Awards supports War Child's Iraq Appeal.
Winners and judges at the Catrine Basil Music Awards pictured below.
Pupils Celebrate New Performing Arts Centre
Sidcot pupils (pictured above with musical instruments) celebrate with music, the start of building work on a major new £multi-million creative and performing arts centre. Pictured from the back from left to right - Pollard's trainee surveyor Julie , Sidcot's Estates Bursar Hilary Atkin, Headmaster John Walmsley, Pollard's Project Manager Jon Hodge and Pollard Director Martin Blake.
Pupils celebrate the start of building work on a major new £multi-million development which will provide them with a centre of excellence for creative and performing arts.
The massive building project is being carried out by Somerset builders Henry W Pollard and Sons Ltd, and is expected to be completed in Autumn 2008.
The new Performing Arts Centre will include art studios for visual and conceptual arts including painting, sculpture, photography and film making. It will also provide extensive facilities for music and drama study, including a dedicated performance hall, rehearsal studios, a library and teaching rooms.
Sidcot School teaches students in all subjects through to A level and International Baccalaureate Diploma level. Commenting on the project Headmaster John Walmsley said, "Our school is justifiably proud of its long history of creativity in the arts. This new state-of-the-art centre will provide the very highest quality, 21st century facilities for our students. It will also become a major focus for Arts in the local community, with local people being able to watch and take part in a whole range of creative arts."
Pollard Director, Mark Smith said, "We are delighted to be working on this major project for Sidcot School. We have worked with them on a number of their refurbishment projects in recent years, but this will undoubtedly be a show case building. Although this is a huge development we are working closely with the school to ensure that there is minimal disruption for staff and pupils."
Digital image, pictured above, of Sidcot's new Performing and Creative Arts Centre.
The interior view, pictured right, is part of a full 'virtual' model created by an A level Art student George Pimm.
Bicentenary Celebrations
We are looking forward to celebrating the Sidcot Bicentenary 2008 with a series of special events throughout the year. The School hopes that as many of the Sidcot community, both young and not-so-young, will be able to join us. So that you can easily keep track of these, we have put together a special calendar showing all the key dates and featuring delightful images taken at the centenary celebrations back in 1908. It is, therefore, a unique slice of memorabilia as well as a useful aide-memoire that no Sidcotian should be without!
The calendars are £10 (including P&P). To receive a copy, please email Julie Patrick or telephone the school.
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