Better Times- issue 17 by Polly Sharpe

BETTERTIMES Bohunt Education Trust Termly Events Review ISSUE 17 – SPRING 2024 – ENJOY

BET WELCOMES NINTH SCHOOL – BOHUNT FARNBOROUGH TO THE FOLD!

BET AWARDS 2024 LAUNCH

BOHUNT HORSHAM PRIMARY OPEN EVENTS

BOHUNT WOKINGHAM SIXTH FORM GETS GREEN LIGHT

SGS BOARDING MATTERS

enjoy respec t achieve

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD AS SCHOOL JOINS BET AS BOHUNT FARNBOROUGH FROM 1 JANUARY 2024, FERNHILL SCHOOL IN FARNBOROUGH FORMALLY BECAME PART OF BET, WITH SOME EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MIX

This follows the school announcing its journey towards becoming an academy and joining a like-minded trust, to benefit from working in greater collaboration with others to support its improvement journey in 2023. After careful consideration, BET was selected as the school’s new partner, based on its similar vision and values, and the high expectations it holds for the students, colleagues and schools within the close-knit trust. By being part of the Trust, the school will benefit from enhanced training; bolstered senior leadership capacity; best practice sharing and personal development support; increased facilities and resources; and a whole range of wider opportunities. To support the school’s exciting new chapter, together with the Trust it has also been considering developments which will help to ensure it reflects the community and provision it delivers today, whilst being fit for the future. This includes consulting on a new name for the school, which has been confirmed as Bohunt Farnborough. The new name reflects that the school is now part of the Bohunt family, and will foster the same high expectations and strong reputations of BET’s schools. The choice of ‘Farnborough’ reflects the broader community to which the school is proud to deliver a quality education. With the new name comes an evolution of the logo, maintaining the wings which reflect Neville Duke Road which the school is situated on, and is named after the famous British fighter pilot. Alongside retaining this heritage, the new logo will include the Bohunt stag. The aim of the new branding is to reflect the school’s proud legacy whilst ensuring it is fit for the future.

These developments will be gradually implemented, including new site signage and digital platforms. The school has been on a strong journey of improvement in recent months, and school and trust leaders, along with the wider community, are looking forward to embracing the opportunities that this new partnership will bring. Sarah Palmer, Headteacher, Bohunt Farnborough, said: “We are thrilled to be embarking on the next chapter of our school’s journey, and long-standing history. Being part of Bohunt Education Trust, and having the opportunity to collaborate with other schools, will hugely benefit and enhance the provision and opportunities that we can deliver for our students, colleagues and our community. “It has already been a fantastic experience collaborating with the Trust and our school community on the positive developments and opportunities that are set to come in the next few months and we are looking forward to working with everyone to make this next step a huge success.” Neil Strowger, Trust Leader of BET, said: “We are elated to welcome Bohunt Farnborough – and all of its students and colleagues, into the Bohunt Education Trust family. BET and our schools have a shared vision and values which closely align with the school’s. We are looking forward to working in greater collaboration with one another as we seek to deliver the highest quality education, and opportunities, to all our students. “We have the highest ambitions and aspirations for what we can achieve for the Bohunt Farnborough community, and would like to thank everyone for their active collaboration and enthusiasm for working more closely together so far.”

BETTER TIMES

CONTENTS Bohunt Farnborough

Chair and Trust Leader Welcomes

Trust News

SCHOOL NEWS Bohunt Worthing

Bohunt Wokingham

The Petersfield School

Steyning Grammar School

Priory School

Bohunt School, Liphook

Bohunt Horsham

The Costello School

Bohunt Sixth Form, Liphook

Armistice Day – page 18

TPS at 65 – page 20

Priory’s Library – page 25

FUTURE ISSUES OF BETTER TIMES We want to ensure you enjoy BETTER Times and find it a useful and engaging platform. If you have any suggestions for future content, please email the Comms team at: comms@bohunttrust.com Many thanks to all this issue’s contributors.

Xiang’an Experimental School Vist – page 13

WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR OF BET

I hope that you have all had a relaxing festive season, and return refreshed and ready for the new year. The Winter Term is the longest in the academic year, is the one in which a huge amount of learning takes place, and for which you all need the greatest resilience! Firstly, I want to offer a warm welcome to the staff and pupils of Fernhill School, Farnborough, which joined the Trust formally on 1 January 2024. This long-established school will now be known as Bohunt Farnborough. Already, various members of the Trust team have been working with staff at the school for several months, to understand the school’s strengths and weaknesses, in preparation for alignment of curricula and establishment of the Bohunt ethos from day one. The addition of a ninth school to the Trust is a compliment to the abilities and achievements of the Trust leadership over the ten years since BET was established as a MAT. After several years of intensive effort by the Trust Executive, school leadership and Governors, it is gratifying that a new Sixth Form at Wokingham has been approved finally. This joint investment of over £10 million by Wokingham Borough Council and BET is planned to open in September 2025, and will provide 300 Year 12 & 13 places, plus an additional 150 places for Years 7 to 11. The establishment of a third BET Sixth Form, complementing those at Steyning and Liphook, will enable students from the southern part of Wokingham to continue their education in the Borough, instead of having to go outside the area. Early last October, we were delighted to learn that Ofsted had judged that Bohunt Worthing is a Good school, which is very well led and managed, whilst inspectors complimented the teaching and learning provision, recognising that the curriculum is well-planned and ‘ambitious’. Ofsted also judged Bohunt Horsham to be Good, noting Outstanding Leadership and Behaviour. Work now is intensifying ahead of the opening of the Primary phase there next September. Initial indications from the well-attended open mornings are that all of the available places will be taken up, demonstrating the excellent reputation that Bohunt Horsham has established. At this time of year, I find myself reflecting how fortunate we are

in this country, when I look at the unnecessary strife elsewhere in the world, much of which is due solely to the egos of the misguided leaders of those nations or factions which have initiated these conflicts. It is distressing to see the disruption they cause to the lives of millions of people, yet they continue with this destruction regardless of international condemnation. I reflect with pride also on the tremendous efforts that our schools make to provide equality of education and opportunity for all our pupils, especially some of those with special educational needs. My congratulations to all those concerned, especially the pastoral teams who I know work tirelessly to keep many less fortunate pupils engaged with their education. I was privileged again to attend the annual Bohunt Liphook Carol Concert which goes from strength to strength, with an amazing range of musical talent on show. Taking place in St Mary’s church in Liss, the solemnity of the occasion reminded us during the festive season to remember those who have gone before and to look forward to the challenges and successes ahead of us in the New Year. As always, I am amazed at the talent and confidence of our young people, and congratulate both them and those staff who support them, and who formed their own impressive small choir for the occasion. I am proud to be the Chair of Trustees of the Bohunt Education Trust, the success of which is due solely to the excellent leadership and abilities of you all, both teaching and support staff. My thanks and admiration go to all of you.

DR RAY MORTON

Chair of the Trust Board

BETTER TIMES

MESSAGE FROM TRUST LEADER Dear Colleagues,

I wish you a very happy, healthy and, of course, successful 2024. I trust that you will be reading this having enjoyed a restful and restorative break for the Christmas and new year celebrations. Akin to 2021, 2023 is unlikely to go down as a vintage one for society generally, although this is not to say that there were not some incredible highlights and amazing moments in our wonderful schools. The continued war in Ukraine and enormous cost of living pressure brought much pain and difficulty to our communities. I was shocked, yet unsurprised, to read in the recently published (Pisa) survey that in the UK 11% of pupils told researchers that they missed a meal at least once a week. This was largely overlooked by the mainstream media as I struggled to find any reference from the DfE, who were, however, very proud to publicise that the UK had moved up the ranking to make the top 10 in both reading and maths (science fell out of the top 10 to 11th). It is profoundly upsetting to think of the many children in our care who are regularly going without food due to economic distress and I wonder how it is that ‘only’ 3% of teenagers in Portugal, Finland and the Netherlands told the survey they had missed a meal in the last 30 days because of a lack of money. Our focus on the progress, attendance and outcomes of disadvantaged pupils feels ever more important, children regularly attending our schools is cardinal, we can make sure they are fed, warm and engaged in learning. It is only by ensuring that our poorest children gain the best qualifications that they will have any chance of escaping from the desperate poverty trap which has ensnared multiple generations in areas we serve. This welcome has been a little less than politically neutral and I hope that whichever government we elect later this year will seek to provide us educators with the means to do more. More materially

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but also to be given more freedom to escape the straitjacket of the current inspection framework and performance measures. 2024 does provide cause for optimism as there is a growing recognition at the highest levels of government (but not yet cabinet) that reform to our assessment regime is urgent and necessary. The Advanced British Standard is possbly not the answer to the challenges posed by the modern era. I will spare you from my further predictions for the year ahead, other than to opine that there will be magical and memorable moments to sustain us through the indubitable challenges that lay before us in 2024. The French astrologer Michel de Nostradame, or Nostradamus as he is better known, published his work Les Propheties nearly 500 years ago. These infamous books contain 942 forecasts that appear to predict the future. He is said to have predicted John F Kennedy’s assassination, the 9/11 terror attacks and even the start of the coronavirus pandemic. For 2023, he predicted an economic disaster worldwide- “So high will the bushel of wheat rise That man will be eating his fellow man”, he wrote in one of his quatrains. Though the world was shaken by the economic slowdown post-COVID-19 and the soaring cost of living crisis, this prophecy was, fortunately, something of an exaggeration. The year ahead does not appear to be overly cheerful according to Monsieur Nostradame: a climate catastrophe, naval war with China, a new ‘King of the Isles’ and a young Pope being but a selection of what is to come. Whatever 2024 brings, we face it together, safe in the knowledge that we in BET are part of something so much bigger and more powerful than our individual selves. And on that bombshell… Happy New Year!

NEIL STROWGER

Trust Leader of BET

OFSTED PRAISES BOHUNT SCHOOL WORTHING’S ‘AMBITIOUS’ CURRICULUM AND WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE AT THE END OF NOVEMBER, STUDENTS AND STAFF AT BOHUNT SCHOOL WORTHING CELEBRATED THEIR LATEST POSITIVE OFSTED REPORT, WHICH CONFIRMED IT CONTINUES TO BE A ‘GOOD’ SCHOOL. Ofsted praised the school and BET for working hard to ensure ‘the best interests of students are met’, and that students enjoy their learning and achieve well. Amongst the many areas highlighted about Bohunt School Worthing, inspectors complimented the school’s teaching and learning provision, recognising that the curriculum is well-planned and ambitious. Similarly, inspectors commended the ‘welcoming and inclusive atmosphere’ the school fosters. Through positive relationships with staff and respect for their peers, students feel safe and well-supported. Most importantly, Ofsted recognised that this ‘overwhelmingly positive’ view was similarly shared by parents and carers. Amongst the other strengths highlighted include: •

The school offers an ‘exceptional’ number of extra-curricular clubs, activities, and trips. These cater for a wide range of talents and interests, including sport and the arts, and the take up is high. Leaders also ensure that disadvantaged pupils also benefit from the activities on offer.

•

Staff were praised for their good subject knowledge and for teaching enthusiastically, alongside delivering the ‘broad and ambitious’ curriculum developed by the school and Trust well.

•

Inspectors noted that the school is very well led and managed, with the Trust providing ‘valuable expertise and support’ to school leaders and staff, with staff receiving good training.

•

Ofsted commended the improvements made to the mathematics curriculum, which have been successful, and students achieve well in this subject, in line with other subject areas.

•

The Trust’s vision of ‘enjoy, respect, achieve’ is being realised, with ‘purposeful’ lessons and students having ‘positive attitudes to learning’.

•

Key Stage 4 students can choose from a wide range of academic and vocational subjects, highlighting the school’s commitment to providing students with a diverse range of learning opportunities.

•

Students are very clear about the school’s expectations for behaviour.

•

Staff understand the needs of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This includes the school’s prioritisation of literacy, with a ‘sharp focus’ on identifying and helping students who require additional support and ensuring they improve.

The ambitious school is looking forward to work with staff, families, governors and the Trust as it continuing to build on its solid foundation. This includes implementing further processes to ensure that high standards continue to uphold and embedded throughout the school. Paul Collins, Headteacher at Bohunt School Worthing, said: “I am very pleased with this Ofsted report, which reflects our ambition to deliver an excellent, innovative education for every single student at our school. We’re very proud that Ofsted has recognised our effective teaching and learning, and our impressive approach to delivering the curriculum across subject areas. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all our staff for their commitment to going above and beyond for every student at our school, and to our wonderful students and the wider school community for their continued collaboration and support.”

BETTER TIMES

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STEYNING BOARDING – SCHOOL MATTERS NOT EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT BET IS INCREDIBLY PROUD TO RUN A WELL-ESTABLISHED, AFFORDABLE STATE BOARDING SCHOOL LOCATED IN THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH DOWNS.

Steyning Grammar School (SGS) offers co-educational boarding at sixth form, covering over 30 A-level and Applied qualifications, developing independence, social skills and lifelong friendships. Students live in a purposebuilt boarding house, with single en suite rooms and facilities to ensure students embed effective study routines and enjoy an extensive enrichment programme. A dedicated team of residential staff oversees outstanding pastoral care in a safe and nurturing environment, and Boarding Tutors build strong relationships in fortnightly 1:1 meetings to monitor wellbeing and academic progress. Acceptance is promoted and celebrated in SGS’s cosmopolitan residential community with over 30 countries represented. Boarders follow their chosen pathways after sixth form and the boarding experience is a crucial stepping stone to support this. Ofsted graded SGS Boarding Outstanding for pastoral care in 2022. Subjects and extracurricular activities at SGS Boarding are diverse — with sports, arts, and music programmes that appeal to a wide range of interests. At every step, pupils and staff come together, always offering and getting support — an endeavour that’s led to 44% of A Level students achieving A* to B grades in 2023, and an average Distinction grade in applied subjects..

SGS’s research-backed emphasis on developing character is crucial to this success. It focuses on eight character strengths that help students reach their full potential – academically, socially and individually — and get into their first-choice universities. CURIOSITY AND ZEST At sixth form, students pursue a broad range of A Level and Applied courses that prepare them for university, apprenticeships or the world of work. They get to explore an incredible breadth of A Levels subjects, including Art and Design, Digital Media, Law, Psychology and many more. Teachers are experts in their field and use their knowledge to inspire young minds in a relaxed, yet purposeful environment. They keep learning interesting by incorporating various teaching methods, such as small group seminars, demonstrations, or practical activities. Whatever the format, each ensures students get the most out of their classes. Oscar Canton, an SGS graduate, still remembers his favourite class. “I enjoyed Mathematics as it is my personal favourite and my Further Mathematics classes explored complex topics which satisfied my curiosity. In Economics, my teachers taught real-life, practical examples outside of the syllabus and encouraged lively discussion.”

BETTER TIMES

GRATITUDE AND GRIT For Canton, joining SGS was not an easy move at first. It meant leaving behind his friends, family, and home to follow in his older sister’s footsteps. “At first, I found it challenging to integrate as I was not an outgoing person,” he says. The induction process and the family atmosphere at SGS helped him settle, come out of his shell and improve his self-confidence. As a boarder, he was paired with a buddy with more experience living away from home. Since both his parents were living in Qatar, Canton truly appreciated all the help he could get in his new environment. “It was helpful to discuss challenges and how to overcome them,” he says. “We all went on a day out to Brighton with staff to familiarise ourselves with the city and got a student bus ID to reduce the cost of travel during social time.” GROWTH MINDSET AND SELF CONTROL WITH LEARNING Outside the classroom, there is room for students to play, explore, and grow. At SGS, super-curricular activities allow young learners to go in-depth into something they have picked up in the classroom or learn about a new topic altogether. That’s not including enrichment activities hosted by a wide range of clubs and societies, such as drama, music, ICT and more.

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Canton loved exploring new things. “There is a great enrichment programme and I had a go at most things,” he enthuses. “There were also leadership opportunities and I was lucky enough to be elected as Head Boy in my final year. Furthermore, there were several sporting opportunities to partake in, such as a weekly trip to the local 5K park run and football clubs.” Understanding Others and Self Control with Others SGS emphasises seven key principles of equalities whereby all learners are of equal value. Diversity is a strength, positive attitudes and relationships are fostered, a shared sense of cohesion and belonging is nurtured, expectations are high and standards are raised for all students - but especially for the most vulnerable. Just as high are academic standards, which have led to excellent results over the past few years in the A Levels and Applied qualifications. Upon graduation, Canton pursued Mathematics and Philosophy at, a subject he thoroughly enjoyed in Sixth Form, at the University of Sheffield. Today, he works as an audit analyst for a large US technology company called Calero. To find out more about how your Year 11 child could Enjoy, Respect and Achieve in Boarding for Sixth Form, visit the BET Family Open Morning on Saturday 20 January 2024 10:00-12:00. Find out more at sgs.uk.net/boarding.

BET LAUNCHES PROJECT ERA AT BOHUNT EDUCATION TRUST, AND WITHIN ALL OUR SCHOOLS, WE RECOGNISE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF LEARNING, BOTH WITHIN THE CLASSROOM AND IN THEIR OWN HOMES.

Families are integral to this educational journey. We also acknowledge the importance of skilled educators who can deliver the curriculum in a dynamic, engaging way and the importance of ensuring that all students can partake in enhanced online learning. Our Project ERA initiative is a digital technology education and implementation programme that empowers each student to engage in learning using an iPad. This enables students and teachers to use the devices collaboratively in lessons to bring subjects to life and to participate in shared learning. The technology provided puts exceptional teaching and learning into the hands of every BET student at school and at home.

BETTER TIMES

BOHUNT WOKINGHAM SIXTH FORM GETS GREEN LIGHT BOHUNT SCHOOL WOKINGHAM IS POISED FOR GROWTH, WITH PLANS FOR A 300-PLACE SIXTH FORM AND AN ADDITIONAL 150 PLACES FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD. The new sixth form will address the current absence of such facilities in the rural south of the Wokingham borough. Presently, many students from Bohunt Wokingham must pursue their post-16 education outside the borough. This expansion will enable a larger number of them to stay closer to their homes. Additionally, the initiative encompasses 150 extra spaces for students aged 11-16, accompanied by a commitment to enhance the school’s amenities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The expansion project is a joint effort between Bohunt Education Trust (BET) and Wokingham Borough Council (WBC). During a meeting with the decisionmaking Executive at the end of September, both BET and WBC agreed to enhance their financial investment, each contributing up to £5.25 million to the shared endeavour.

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Neil Strowger, Trust Leader at BET, said, “We are thrilled that BET’s collaboration with WBC will extend exceptional educational opportunities to a greater number of local students. We eagerly anticipate starting work on the new build.” Jen Comber, Headteacher of Bohunt School Wokingham shared her excitement about the positive development, saying, “The green light for Bohunt Wokingham Sixth Form is a magnificent milestone on our journey to provide outstanding education, unparalleled opportunities and first-class learning environments for our students.” Cllr Prue Bray, executive member for children’s services said: “This is excellent news for residents in the south of the Wokingham borough. Bohunt is the first new secondary school to open in the Borough for over 50 years, and will soon have a sixth form to allow more young people to stay in the borough to finish their schooling.”

PENSIONS AT BET WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

Are you taking advantage of the Pension Schemes available as an employee of BET?

Both schemes not only give you a lump sum and income on retirement, they provide Ill Health Early retirement benefits and life insurance for your dependants. Actions to take now (no matter what stage you are at in your career) so you have a comfortable retirement:

Register and access your Teachers’ or LGPS Pension account: https://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/members/member-hub.aspx https://mypensionportal.hants.gov.uk/ (all schools apart from Wokingham) https://berkshirepensions.org.uk/bpf/my-pension-online/my-pensiononline (Wokingham only)

Check your Pension account for accuracy and run your own estimate Make a nomination to ensure your benefits & life cover are paid correctly Think about joining an AVC pension saving scheme or consider buying some additional pension. Find details at BET People Open a Personal Tax Account and check your State Pension: https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account Any questions or concerns, please visit BETplease People www.bohunttrust.co.uk/careers/bet-people/ or email HR@bohunt.hants.sch.uk Any questions or concerns, visit BET People or email HR@bohunt.hants.sch.uk

SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… MR COLLIN’S CULTURAL EXCHANGE TRIP TO CHINA - BOHUNT WORTHING

In November, Paul Collin, headteacher of Bohunt School Worthing visited Xiang’an Experimental School, as part of a 10 day exchange trip to China. Paul tells us more about his visit. “When we arrived, Principal Sun Qiaoping, Principal Liu Yang, Vice Principal Qiu Shuyu and all the English teachers greeted the British guests at the main entrance of the school. We walked into the school building, feeling the advanced school facilities, the improvement of school equipment, into the “labour, science, geography” and other unique multi-function rooms. The high hanging on the wall of the labour equipment, the interesting scientific works, the threedimensional beautiful map, and the vast universe of the ceiling, are all examples of how at scale the Chinese undertake buildings, education and hospitality. The lovely smiling faces on the playground and outside the classroom were full of sincere welcome, making us the “big friends”, as we were called. As educators, it was great to see that we upheld similar views of their staff supporting the children, with every opportunity to give children freedom and happiness, within their education. We were free to walk into every classroom, observing beautiful pictures and artwork. The overall layout of the classroom reflects the class culture of scientific and technological teaching, and the textbooks with Chinese characteristics also allowed us to understand more about their teaching of native and English language. The students were enthusiastic, fluent in spoken English, confident and generous in their introductions, showing a good spirit and a warm and friendly attitude towards us all. Activities not only

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broaden students’ international perspectives but also cultivate students’ intercultural communication ability. It also deepened the understanding and friendship between the teachers and students of China and the UK. In the Dragon Dance and Lion Dance Club class, the delegation gathered all their strength and went into ‘battle together’. Under the guidance of Teacher Wei, the PE discipline, we held the dragon dance stick and experienced the Chinese intangible cultural heritage. Reciprocity is a traditional Chinese virtue. At the end of the symposium, the two sides exchanged gifts. The purpose of this exchange is to achieve “Cultural identity, “Cultural Understanding,” “Education Identity, Education Understanding,” to absorb each other’s advanced education and teaching concepts, promote mutual learning, and cultural understanding and enhance friendship between China and the UK, and lay a good foundation for deeper exchanges in the future.

STUDENT/TEACHER INTERVIEW A BIG BOHUNT WELCOME TO LUCY RUZGAR WHO IS A NEW HISTORY TEACHER AT BSW. SHE STARTED IN SEPTEMBER, SHE IS OUR PP AND DISADVANTAGED LEAD AS WELL AS OUR RAINBOW CLUB LEADER. SHE IS INTERVIEWED BY JACK H WHO ALSO JOINED US IN SEPTEMBER IN Y7 AND WHO IS IN MISS RUZGAR’S HISTORY CLASS. JACK TO LUCY What inspired you to be a teacher? I had two very great History teachers one was my GCSE teacher and one was my A level teacher. Both were very helpful and supportive and I wanted to be the same. I also really love History so I get to talk about what I love every day. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be? I would be therapist or I would like to work for a children charity like LGBTQ youth. What’s the best part of your job? Being a role model for young people get to show young people you don’t have to fit into a box in life. “People think History teachers are boring old men and I am neither of those things.” I also run Rainbow Club which is a social club for LGBTQ+ students and their friends to have a safe space to chat and hang out at lunchtime on a Friday. Who are your heroes? My Dad. Why did you choose to teach at Bohunt School Worthing? I chose to teach at Bohunt as it is much smaller than my old school so I get a good relationship with my students. I also love the fact that enjoying school is part of the ethos of Bohunt as school is about so much more than just getting GCSE grades. Tell me a little about a teacher that inspired you? A level teacher “Zan” – she was very firm but fair and every Wednesday she would turn up late with McDonald’s breakfast and I thought she was brilliant. What is one exciting teaching method you use? Something I would use are group projects with iPads which is Teamwork and students having to draw the information we have been learning as both are challenge and an opportunity. What are your thoughts on education today? Still a lot to be done after Covid and helping students to catch up but schools are making up the lost time trying to make school a better place to be for students.

LUCY TO JACK Tell me about yourself in 30 seconds? Kind, tech savvy, smart, I love Blooket. What are your strengths? Computing, Food tech, helpful. Give one example of something you enjoy, respect or have achieved at Bohunt School Worthing House Leader and digital leader.

What one thing would you change about school life? Not having science as a GCSE, it should be optional. How do you think that pressure could be reduced? Making lessons more entertaining, including opportunities to use different methods of learning such as Blooket.

What or whom inspires you? Mr McPherson - he is helpful and supportive helped me with friendships and responsibility. What are your plans for the future after leaving school? Either a lawyer or maybe something in technology. What is your favourite line from a film/song/ book? “Boom! I turned myself into a pickle Morty! Big reveal, I’m a pickle. I turned myself into a pickle” Rick from Rick and Morty.

BETTER TIMES

SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… AUTHOR DARREN SIMPSON VISITS BET STUDENTS AT BOHUNT SCHOOL WORTHING

In October, Year 8 judges from schools across the Trust were invited to an author visit from Darren Simpson, the winner of the Year 7 BET Book Award. This was an occasion to meet up with fellow judges and listen to Darren talk about his winning book ‘The Memory Thieves’ as well as provide an exciting experience for Worthing’s new year 7 cohort to meet an author.

The impact of an author visit is evident. It generates a buzz about reading and enthusiasm grows. Darren has celebrity status amongst all Bohunt Year 8 judges who were keen to get him to sign copies of his books purchased from a pop up shop run by Steyning Book Shop. Darren is based in Nottingham and is a Literacy Champion for Read on Nottingham. This initiative aims to support children’s enjoyment of reading as they move from primary to secondary education and his determination to undertake the lengthy train journey in order to appear in person was appreciated by our students, librarians and teachers alike. Darren talked about how a family incident sparked the start of the story-writing process and he went into detail on how he created his memorable characters, drawing on his own interests from his childhood. He involved the audience in memory games and spoke of the books he reads for inspiration and enjoyment.

Sophie Harmer, librarian at Bohunt Worthing said, I get asked where Darren’s books are in the library and the year 7s are keen to find out which books are on the shortlist for the 2024 Bohunt Book Awards. This leads to the promotion of new titles which in turn, encourages readers to move away from borrowing their safe and predictable book choices and try new authors and genres. Conversations are started in the library “If you like ‘The Memory Thieves, why not try…” and most importantly, “Miss, who is the next author visiting?”

After reading an extract from ‘The Memory Thieves’, Darren faced a barrage of questions from the students. He recounted how the journey to becoming a published author had taken years not weeks, and the students valued his honest answers. He explained how resilience was important when facing tasks and gave the budding authors in the room tips to help with their own creative writing. Often his characters face journeys of self discovery and it was evident from the questions in the room that our readers enjoyed seeing aspects of themselves in his books.

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… CHARLOTTE – THE RISING STAR Bohunt Wokingham student, Charlotte, first started playing football at the age of three. She was inspired after going to watch her brother play and one day her dad asked her if she wanted to try and from there it all started. Charlotte was the only girl in a team of boys for the first seven years of her playing life. This changed when Charlotte was invited to attend and play for the Reading academy development squad at under 10 level. In her first year at the development squad the coaches there clearly saw something in Charlotte and put her forward to trial for the Reading academy team. Since being selected for the academy team Charlotte has been playing for them ever since, and not just at her age group, but she is currently playing two years up, for the under 16 team. In September last year Charlotte was made aware that Wales national team scouts were coming to watch her play, after hearing nothing for almost two months her and her family assumed she was unsuccessful. That was until the end of October when her parents received an email from the scouting team. This email had a team sheet on it for the upcoming UEFA international tournament and on there was Charlotte’s name. Charlotte was so shocked yet immensely proud of this unexpected news, especially as she had also been asked to play up a year group and represent the Wales under 15 team. Charlotte didn’t know anyone in the team but this did not faze her when she turned up to the tournament. In Charlotte’s first game she played the last 20 minutes. During the next match the team captain had to go off and Charlotte was given the armband by her and the coaching team. The next game Charlotte was given the captain armband from the start of the game. Charlotte felt so accomplished and proud to be given the captain’s armband and what an achievement for someone new to the team and who was playing a year up. What an experience for Charlotte and definitely one to watch for the future.

BETTER TIMES

BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW… NEIL GRIFFITH, HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL the morning? What gets you out of bed in the morning? Normally one of my two children. I have two children under 3, so if one decides to sleep past 6:00am, the other doesn’t.

How would you describe your day job to a child? The spinning on multiple plates at the same time. Some plates are bigger than others and spin at a different rate, but is a lot of fun and never boring!

What is your biggest achievement to date, personal or professional? Professionally, I am very proud to become a member of the leadership tam here at Bohunt Wokingham. Personally, climbing Mount Snowdon is something I will always look back on with pride.

What does a typical day look like to you and what are you currently working on? My typical day varies greatly based on the challenges and/or incidents presented to us during the school day. As a pastoral team, we are currently working on practices and processes that will further the strong pastoral provision here at Bohunt Wokingham.

What three words would you use to describe your role? Demanding, exciting and rewarding.

What is on your wish list for the next five years at BET? To become fully embedded within the school, including the implementation of pastoral processes I have experienced success with in the past.

What’s your favourite line from a film? “If I am not back in five minutes, just wait longer” – Ace Venture – Pet detective.

What do you like most about your job? Working with such a great mix of students and staff.

What are your biggest professional challenges? Learning the ways of a new school, new role and new staff and student body.

What’s your personal mantra? Get the little things right, and the big things will follow.

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BET STUDENTS COMMEMORATE ARMISTICE DAY

BETTER TIMES

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… TPS AT 65

Last year marked the Sapphire Anniversary of The Petersfield School – 65 years! The school celebrates TPS Day each year on 20 June, and there were extra special events to mark the 50th and 60th anniversaries, including a “Class of ‘58” Golden Anniversary Reunion in 2008. This year the entire school gathered on the field for a special “65” drone shot! Petersfield County Secondary School moved from St Peter’s Road to the new Cranford Road site on 20 June 1958 with 739 students on roll and became a comprehensive school in 1975. The Sports Hall was opened in 1972 and the new Science block in 1978. We became The Petersfield School in 1990 under the headship of Mrs Kathy Bell, the third of only 5 headteachers in 65 years - Mr Eric Young 1958-1971; Dr Derek Jack from 1971-1989; Mrs Kathy Bell from 1990-2001; Mr Nigel Poole from 2001-2016, and now Mr Mark Marande since 2016. The Studio theatre was built in 2004 and the school became a Performing Arts College. In 2016 we joined the Bohunt Education Trust, and the school has now grown to over 1400 students.

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STUDENT/TEACHER INTERVIEW LAURA LEAHY (TEACHER OF DT) AND JACOB F (YEAR 9) JACOB TO LAURA

LAURA TO JACOB

What inspired you to be a teacher? I had very good teachers and education and was proud of my school. I love it when students feel proud of themselves.

Tell me about yourself in 30 seconds? I was born in August, and have one brother. I am a Pompey fan and I play for Petersfield Town Juniors as a striker. I am an animal lover and sadly recently lost my beloved cat.

If you were not a teacher, what would you be? I was originally a hairdresser, but I had always wanted to be a PE instructor in the Army. Who are your heroes? My nan inspired my love of cooking, and my parents gave me my work ethic. What is the best part of your job? I love working with children, especially when they feel they have really achieved something. Why did you choose to teach at TPS? It has the best reputation and I love the culture of Team TPS. I also like the staff and, of course, the students. In fact, I was a student here! Tell me about the teacher who inspired you the most? My Maths teacher who said, “Be the best, be all you can be” which I have always remembered clearly. His lessons were really fun as well as informative.

What are your strengths? I am a fast runner and a good cook. I am a good listener and people sometimes come to me for advice. I have been told I have a calming influence in class. What are your weaknesses? Well, Maths isn’t my best subject! And I know I should make more time in my busy life to spend with my family.

What plans for the future do you have? After school, I would like to try and get a scholarship to play football in Canada or the USA. My family would move there with me. What is your favourite saying from a song or book? I don’t have a particular favourite, but I do like my grandad’s reminder – “look after your mum!” What one thing would you change about school life? Uniform - I don’t like wearing a tie!

Can you give me examples of Enjoy Respect and Achieve? Enjoy – winning sporting and academic awards Respect – opening doors for people Achieve – always having good attendance in school to do my best What or who inspires you? My grandad is an amazing man, and also my dad. In fact, my entire family inspire me!

What is the one exciting teaching method you use? I am loving my new kitchen and the new camera, as it lets me demonstrate in class. The lesson flows better and I can do lots of questioning while students are cooking. What are your thoughts on education today? Post-Covid, teaching can be quite challenging because of the amount of lost education time, and friendship group issues can sometimes impact.

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… STEYNING GRAMMAR SCHOOL STUDENTS COLLABORATE WITH DOWNLAND SCHEME

Staff and students at Steyning Grammar School (SGS) are lucky to be surrounded by the beautiful South Downs National Park. Over the years students at SGS have helped to maintain, protect and improve this stunning area through the school’s partnership with conservation group the Steyning Downland Scheme. The most recent collaboration was making a fire pit and gate situated at the entrance to the Downland area, for the community to use and enjoy. The students and staff from the school’s DT department worked with a local carpenter and blacksmith to create the intricate fire pit and five-bar gate decorated with wooden animals. Teacher Kathleen Lamb said: “I would like to thank the DT staff, for all of their hard work the students, past and present for their creativity and hard work - we are all very proud of them and their achievement.” The partnership between SGS and the Steyning Downland Project has been running for more than 10 years and every year sees Year 7 students spend a day doing conservation work on the South Downs. This year students cleared dead ash trees and created new pathways for the public.

One Year 7 said: “It’s nice to be out in the woods with your mates, and what’s really great is you are doing a good deed for Steyning.” Teacher Christine Humphreys, who accompanies the students on their Downland Days said: “The students get to learn about the local environment, conservation, the safe use of tools and teamwork.” The school’s boarders have also been supporting the project and recently spent the day planting more than 1,000 saplings in an open area of The Downs, to create a hedge and encourage biodiversity. The saplings were donated by The Woodland Trust and Steyning for Trees. Director of boarding, Tom Leighton, said: “The students are leaving a legacy for after they have left the school.” The Steyning Downland Scheme was launched in 2007 when the Goring family decided to set aside 67 hectares (165 acres) of the Wiston Estate in the South Downs National Park for the benefit of the community, the land and its wildlife.

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… SPORTING SUCCESS AT STEYNING Sports teams at Steyning Grammar School have had outstanding success this year - topping league tables, winning district cups and seeing the growth of its girls’ football teams. P.E. staff and students celebrated the news last September that the boys’ teams had won the Tony Miller cup for notching up the most points across Basketball, Cricket, Football and Rugby over the last year, in a league made up of 12 other schools. Hot on the heels of this was the school’s Year 10 and Year 11 netball teams winning their respective district leagues in the same afternoon. Other standout teams have been: •

Under 12 Rock Road Football team - unbeaten and top of the league

•

Under 13 Rock Road Football team - top of their league

•

Under 14 Football team - won 5 out of 5 of their matches

•

Under 15 Rugby team - unbeaten in the league

•

Under 16 Netball team - top of their league

•

Sixth form first team- Unbeaten in the league

According to the school’s head of P.E. Dan Hegarty the consistently strong performances, across a range of sports, have been the result of a commitment from the staff and students. “We are fielding teams in a range of sports and providing students with lots of opportunities to play in district, county and national competitions,” said Dan. “Staff are running clubs and fixtures 3 or 4 times a week in some cases. There is so much going on and it’s a real team effort,” he added. In addition to the success of established teams, the school has had a real push on girls’ football. “We are now getting lots more girls attending the club after school and are fielding more successful teams as a result,” said Dan. The P.E. department uses its dedicated Twitter page (@pe_sgs) to regularly share the success of its teams and and acknowledges the students efforts with followers. Dan added: “Our students are performing really well and they are a pleasure to work with.” Meanwhile, Year 13 student Bel and Elsie in Year 9 are successfully combining their school studies with playing their chosen sport at a high level. Bel is part of the Brighton and Hove Albion Women’s Under 19 squad, who recently won the Nike Premier Cup. Elsie has been selected for the Great Britain Under 18 water polo squad after putting in some impressive performances at a county level. Elsie regularly trains in the pool for 6½ hours during the week with most weekends consisting of tournaments and training up and down the country. Elsie said: “I’ve been very committed, so I am really pleased with this selection and proud of myself as I know how hard I’ve been working for this outcome.

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… GAME-CHANGERS EVENT AT PRIORY: HEAD OF TWITTER UK TALKS CAREERS, AI AND THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA

In November, Priory School we were privileged to welcome David Wilding to Priory School to talk to many of their Year 10 students about his career as Head of Twitter UK (Planning). David was educated locally; he went to Havant College and was the first of his family to go to university, where he studied Politics. His career in advertising and media planning included 8 years at Twitter. This success is inspiring to students, who over the course of the next year will be faced with making important decisions about their post-GCSE pathways. He encouraged them to be open minded and aspirational in their choices. His presentation covered the business dynamics of working in a cohesive environment, where creativity and innovation are encouraged. Twitter was a fun, dynamic place to work, and he thoroughly enjoyed his time there. He talked about a clear

strategy and how this pulled everyone to be working in the same direction. He then talked about the changes in the company culture over the last year, where the strategic direction has become less clear with new leadership and this has resulted in many people being made redundant, or leaving, as he himself did. David also discussed how social media can be a powerful and positive platform, when everyone has a voice, and they use that voice well. For example, he cited how discussions around #metoo and #blacklivesmatter were represented. However, he also went on to warn about the dangers of free speech and how some people use that opportunity to post offensive posts. This led to a broader discussion about the pros and cons of social media and the importance of ‘think before you tweet’. His view is that social media is having less relevance now, and it is more content-led platforms, such as TikTok, that are growing. Our students challenged him with some great questions, around politics, impartiality and influencing. Here are some of their #tweets that they wrote as feedback following the talk: Zaara “@DavidWilding thanks for coming to Priory and explaining all about your job and thoughts on a growing company which has changed so much recently. It is always good to get an inside perspective on such a powerful company which can influence so many.” Moan “@DavidWilding thank you for coming to Priory, you are an inspiration and gave us such an insight into Twitter. It is so interesting to hear about your career path, thoughts on AI and the future of social media and the internet.”

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… PRIORY UNVEILS ITS NEW LIBRARY, GIVING THE FORMER CHAPEL A NEW LEASE OF LIFE Coming back to school in September is always an exciting time, and last year, students at Priory school had the added anticipation of finally being able to reveal their new library to the students and staff. Since March we have been planning the redevelopment of the old Chapel building to give it new life and house the library. The building itself had many stunning original features intact and we uncovered a few more along the journey which allowed us to reveal and enhance the character of the original building. We wanted to ensure these features were preserved and celebrated and due to the aesthetic of the library the final design has a strong nod to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Previously the space was a little unloved, having been both a Drama classroom and then a gymnasium, so it was in need of new life. Extensive investment, and a lot of hard work on the part of the site team at Priory and other members of staff has resulted in us having a library we can really be proud of. Not only has the space had a completely new fit out, including furniture and refurbished original parquet floor, it has also had an extensive overhaul of the books available within it. Over 600 new books have been sourced which is a real boost to the already wide range of exciting reads available at Priory and helps ensure our focus on literacy and developing a love of reading is supported. Whilst there are still a few more decorative tweaks to be made, the new space has been well received and enjoyed in lessons and break times. There is a soft seating area for break time reading and board game playing, and Ms Doney hosts the weekly Affictionados club, a popular club for students who love literature and regularly enter competitions and book review events. Visitors to open evening this year were truly blown away by the space and its atmosphere. There were even a few tears of joy from some of our Priory students, and lots of excitement from Yr 6 students who are hoping to come to Priory next year. The team have worked hard at Priory to ensure the school library is a place of equity and inclusion. The library is a place to read and escape, an area for study, homework or quiet crafts. The environment is a safe space for supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing; students can recharge, socialise or just ‘be’ without the worry of the ‘busyness’ of the school day. With the new renovation, the library is becoming the hub of the school, a place where students and staff alike are gravitating towards. The school library provides a curated collection, perfect for readers of all ages and abilities; enticing them into wonderful worlds, genres and authors.

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BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW… SARA RICHARDSON - RECEPTIONIST, BOHUNT SCHOOLe What gets you out of bed in the morning? The desire to get the day started… and to get in the shower before the kids steal all the hot water! I love the mornings as the household wakes up and I hear the ensuing chaos that goes with it –. it’s a crazy whirlwind of activity and I wouldn’t have it any other way. How would you describe your day job to a child? I work in a school, but although I am not a teacher, I have an equally important job! I get asked lots and lots of questions by mums and dads and teachers, and our students too. I send out the letters you take home to your family. Plus, I get to play with buses and trains! What is your biggest achievement to date, personal or professional? Without a shadow of doubt, raising my three beautiful, kind, funny and spirited children who have grown into incredible young people of whom I am exceptionally proud. BUT getting the chance to perform on stage at the Royal Albert Hall for NODA’s Centenary Celebration Concert comes a very close second! What does a typical day look like to you and what are you currently working on? A typical day begins with a cup of tea. I work with the reception team, the “dream team”, covering both Reception and the School Office. We start the day working on safeguarding our students by attending to absences so every student is accounted for; every period, every day. After that it is a free-for-all depending who, or what, comes into the office. I proofread correspondence that the school sends out, and also administrate the travel provision for our school. This is interspersed with the almost-daily requests to order replacement tickets for the many students who lose theirs! I also get heavily involved in admin support for our larger trips – such as the ski trip, and Expressive Arts performances; both of which I thoroughly enjoy. Overall, the very best element of my role, above and beyond anything else, is helping students – and if a student comes to reception with a worry and goes away happy, then that is a job done well. What three words would you use to describe your role? Never Dull Moments What is on your wish list for the next five years at BET? To continue in the same vein that we are currently in – I work in a strong team of three, and we keep the cogs turning supporting our school community. I want to continue slowly brightening up our office space, creating a pleasant working environment which at times is against the odds as our space can be a bit of a dumping ground which I am at pains to redress. What’s your favourite line from a film? Some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright.

What do you like most about your job? Without hesitation, the people. It is a joy to work in an environment where, even though many can be dealing with some pretty serious issues, I have colleagues and friends who are just brilliant to be around – funny, caring, understanding, supportive, thoughtful, fab at their jobs, and who know how to make a decent cup of tea AND can bake. What are your biggest professional challenges? The start of term in September! We arrive back to school lulled into a false sense of security with gentle inset days… and then when we officially hit the start of term, office life is deluged by everything happening at once! The challenge is to stay organised, stay afloat, try and remember what you were doing two minutes ago before your attention was thrown in a different direction, and exhale slowly as the bedlam eases into the calmer month of October. What’s your personal mantra? Dance to your own beat!

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… BOHUNT SCHOOL GOLD DUKE OF EDINBURGH TRIP TO SNOWDONIA

In September, 11 Year 13 students took to the terrain of Snowdonia National Park for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition. Students arrived on Wednesday and straight away were out onto the hills near their campsite in Caernarfon. Students worked with their leader to brush up on their map reading, as well as getting used to the terrain of Snowdonia. Thursday saw the opportunity for students to summit Snowdon - one group started on the Pyg trail, with the other starting on the Miners, before taking an alternative, slightly more challenging path. The weather was extremely hot and the students decided to change their routes so that they were close to water supplies and had more protection from the sun. Instead of walking over the bare hillside they changed the routes to walk through forest with shade and water supply. Friday and Saturday was spent walking across new terrain, with new Wild campsites each night - one about 500 m below the summit of Snowdon. Students experienced some night navigation on Friday evening, which was a challenging yet enjoyable exercise for all.

and warm weather for North Wales was much appreciated and gave us some magnificent sunsets while putting up our tents for wild camping, as well as no soggy boots or gear! Our group leaders Andy and Nick kept us enthused when things got a bit tough, and my teams’ camaraderie kept the smiles on our faces for the whole 5 days. I would 100 per cent recommend Gold DofE to anyone who is up for a bit of physical and mental challenge but also wants to have a really good time in nature and with friends!”

Students made fantastic progress throughout their five days in Snowdonia, and are now looking ahead to their qualifying expedition next year, where we are sure they will pass with flying colours. Duke of Edinburgh Leader, Andy Copeland, said “They were an absolutely fantastic group of young people. Very focussed, motivated and fun. We were really proud of how they performed in a challenging environment and very hot conditions. They made some really smart choices about routes and seemed to get so much out of the whole experience.” Feedback from parents was really positive with one telling us, “After each DofE expedition, he has returned having grown a little more in himself, his independence, his awareness of others and his self-belief” And the students themselves had great things to say about the experience. Lucy, who took part in the trip said, “It was an extremely gratifying experience. When we looked back on the progress we had made in the day and the mountains we had climbed we all felt very proud of ourselves. The unusually dry

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… BOHUNT STUDENT SALLY, ATTENDS ‘TASTE OF PARLIAMENT’ WORKSHOP Bohunt School student Sally shares with us her experience attending a workshop at the Houses of Parliament. “During October half term I took part in a two-day ‘Taste of Parliament’ workshop hosted by MP Damian Hinds in the Houses of Parliament. The two days included lots of fascinating sessions with people who work in Parliament, as well as a fantastic tour of the Houses. I was able to have group discussions with people performing all sorts of roles in Parliament, such as members of the Policy Research Unit, the Parliamentary Archives, Hansard, the Parliamentary Library and Damian Hinds himself. For me, one of the key takeaways from these sessions was the incredibly broad range of roles within Parliament. I had never appreciated just how many jobs there are within Parliament and how varied they are too. Being able to talk to these people gave me a taste of what it’s really like to work in the world of UK politics. I felt really inspired by this. Along with these discussions, I was fortunate to be able to watch a parliamentary questions session in the House of Commons on the subject of education. I found this really interesting; it was amazing to hear MPs debating and discussing issues that affect me and my school peers every single day. I also had the opportunity to sit in on a committee meeting on the subject of AI. Again, it was very interesting to hear the discussion taking place around issues that directly affect me and are very much relevant to the world around me. In addition, the tour of the Houses was really fascinating - I learnt so much about the history and development of Parliament, as well as how political institutions function today. ‘Taste of Parliament’ was a fantastic experience which I would thoroughly recommend to anyone who wants to know more about how Parliament really works.The workshop truly gives you a flavour of what it’s like to be in the heart of UK politics.”

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… BOHUNT HORSHAM WELCOMES PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES TO NEW PRIMARY PHASE

It has been much anticipated, and we are pleased to say that the doors to Bohunt Horsham’s new primary phase were finally opened to the very first prospective families in October last year. The team at Bohunt Horsham welcomed over 100 families and young children to their brand new Duckling class open mornings, where they the refreshments whilst listening to speeches from Headteacher, Georgette Ayling as well as a passionate introduction to her vision for Bohunt Horsham Primary Phase from our Director of Primary Education, Lisa Wright. The open events provided the opportunity for families to learn firsthand about Bohunt Education Trust’s commitment to providing an exceptional and tailored learning experience for all children from 4 through to 16, as well as how an all-through school can benefit children and families. The children who attended with their families had the opportunity to play with some of the brand-new toys and equipment, all carefully chosen by Lisa to support and enhance their learning through play, exploration, and creativity.

The BET ethos of ‘enjoy respect achieve’ which for the primary setting translates to, ‘play care grow’ is never far from our thoughts, and these values were demonstrated to interested families during the various sessions held. Lisa Wright, Director of Primary Education, said: “It has been a fantastic week of open events and we are incredibly humbled that so many braved the wind and rain to come and visit us. I am immensely excited and proud to be bringing this new phase of Bohunt Horsham to life and just cannot wait to welcome our first Duckling class into the school in September 2024.” Georgette Ayling, Head Teacher, said: “The opening of our primary phase is something we have been looking forward to for five years. It is so exciting to finally be able to welcome prospective families to view what we have created for their children. It is amazing to think we are meeting children now who will form friendships that they will take with them through their entire educational journey and we are in the privileged position to see them grow and support them all the way through to Year 11.” To discover more about Bohunt Horsham primary visit: www.bohunthorsham.com/bohunt-horsham-primary/

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BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW… AMY SLATER-BEADELL - COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, BOHUNT HORSHAMe What gets you out of bed in the morning? My kids! The school run is always a hectic one in our household with two school drops and then getting to “mummy’s school” as it’s now referred to! As with most children, mine would much prefer to stay in bed on their Kindles than get ready for school. However, they are already looking forward to when they get to go to Bohunt, although they will have to wait a while as they are only in Reception and Year 3!

How would you describe your job to a child? I write letters, create information, and generally make sure all parents and the outside world know how great Bohunt Horsham is.

What’s your biggest achievement to date? My children. They drive me insane but they are my world and I wouldn’t swap them for all the tea in China!

What’s your favourite line from a film? I’m a bit of an old softy so it’s got to be “I’m just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her” - Notting Hill.

What do you like most about your Job? The variety and creativity of it. Yes, there are the core tasks involving key communications out to the school community but comms is more than just writing letters. It’s about using technology, images, and your voice to bring our message to the world in a positive and exciting way that others will stand up and take notice of.

Who is the most famous person you have met? Barbara Windsor. Once upon a time I used to work at a hotel as a Banqueting Supervisor and her nephew had his bar mitzvah celebrations there. It started with us catering for them at a house and ended with a big party at the hotel on a Sunday night. It’s very bizarre walking into someone’s house to see a celeb just sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea. She was such a lovely lady, very friendly and welcoming especially when children from another function realised that “Peggy Mitchell” was in the building and gate-crashed her dinner. She signed autographs, talked with them a bit and then went back to her evening.

What advice would you give your younger self? It can all change in a flash so enjoy as much as you can when you can because you just don’t know how long it will last. Don’t be afraid to take the opportunities, the worst that happens is you don’t like it and you try something else. Oh and tell the people you love, that you love them every day. Even if they drive you up the wall because one day, you may not be able to anymore.

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SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… COSTELLO STUDENT EMILY IS GLIDING HIGH Year 10 student Emily applied for and received one of only 27 UK gliding scholarships out of over 700 applications and was the youngest scholarship recipient. She is gliding locally and has recently completed her first solo flight. Emily says, “Ever since I was a small child, I have loved aviation. My parents used to take me to air shows when I was little, and they say that I have always been fascinated by things that fly. Planes, helicopters, gliders, anything really. As I got older, I started looking into potential career paths as an aviator and decided that I would like to fly as a commercial pilot when I’m older. It was last year that I fully committed to achieving that goal; I would study theory for hours on end. When school rolled back around in September, I

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began looking into PPL training schools. It was a big decision to make; but after a few months of research, I finally decided on a school. Not too long after, I began gliding, and recently, I received a gliding scholarship from the Air League. Knowing that I had that scholarship really helped my family and I; one of the barriers we have faced is money. It isn’t a cheap career path to follow, unless you obtain bursaries or scholarships. It was, and still is, a struggle, but the support that I have been granted from the Air League is truly incredible.”

SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… MEET SOME OF COSTELLO’S SPORTING STARS, DISCOVER WHAT INSPIRES THEM AND THEIR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS.

UMA

ROSE

HARRY

English schools cross country runner and school record holder for the 1500m.

County table tennis winner, Year 11 netball captain

GB table tennis player

Tell us a bit more about your training routine... My training routine involves four runs a week and individual conditioning. I personally train with my teammates twice a week, this can vary from summer to winter. During the summer, we do more speed training, adapting around what each individual is training for, e.g 800m, 400m, 1500m etc. During the winter, we do more hill training, fartlek and trail running to prepare for road relays and cross country races. I usually have races once a week and do my own strength training on off-days, as well as plenty of rest. Who drives your inspiration? My biggest inspiration is probably runners like Keeley Hodgkinson or Laura Muir, British female runners who run at my distance (800m and 1500m)

Tell us why you love your sport? I like table tennis because I like learning all of the individual shots and techniques. What is your biggest achievement to date? My biggest achievement was getting to represent Hampshire in the nationals. What three qualities do you think you need to be a good team player? Co-operation, communication, adaptability.

Tell us why you love your sport? I love it because it is a tactical sport. What is your biggest achievement to date? Under 15 doubles national champion 2023. What three qualities do you think you need to be a good team player? Hard working, committed, good understanding of the game.

Tell us a bit more about your training routine I used to play at the table tennis club at school with my friends, for the nationals I got some personal training sessions and I used to play at Aldworth on a Friday. Who is your biggest inspiration and why? My mum because she taught me to be a good sport and a good team player.

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2 0 24

#BETawards2024

Nominations open on Monday 22 January 2024 Enjoy Respect Achieve (ERA)

Innovation

Game-Changer

Teacher of the Year

Trust First

Teaching Team of the Year

Green Chicken School

Support Team of the Year

Outstanding Leadership

Support Member of the Year

Long Service

Chair’s Award

Awards ceremony

Friday 26 April 2024 at Old Thorns, Liphook Dress code: black tie

Entry and criteria information available at: www.bohunttrust.co.uk/bet-awards-2024

SCHOOL HIGHLIGHT… BOHUNT SIXTH FORM: WHERE EXCELLENCE MEETS PERSONALISED SUPPORT FOR EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS

Bohunt Sixth Form stands as a beacon of educational excellence, offering students a transformative learning experience that extends far beyond the ordinary. With a winning combination of outstanding teaching, exceptional academic results, and personalised support, Bohunt Sixth Form is not just a Sixth Form; it’s a launchpad for future success. The commitment to maintaining a vibrant and dynamic learning environment is reflected in Bohunt’s innovative teaching methods. Teachers employ cutting-edge pedagogical techniques, integrating technology and real-world applications into the curriculum. This approach not only enhances students’ understanding but also prepares them for the challenges of a rapidly evolving global landscape. Exceptional Results: Bohunt Sixth Form takes pride in its track

record of delivering exceptional academic results. The school’s commitment to high standards and continuous improvement is evident in the consistently outstanding performance of its students in examinations. Bohunt students not only meet but often exceed national averages, a testament to the school’s unwavering dedication to academic excellence. The focus on holistic education extends beyond examination scores. Bohunt Sixth Form recognises the importance of nurturing well-rounded individuals. Students are encouraged to explore their interests, engage in extracurricular activities, and develop essential life skills. This comprehensive approach ensures that Bohunt graduates not only excel academically but are also prepared to thrive in a diverse and competitive world. Bohunt Sixth Form is located in a state-of the-art building, away from the main school campus and features dedicated sixth form-

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only study spaces. It is equipped with a cafe, outdoor gym and outdoor classroom, as well as access to an in-house wellbeing advisor. During last summer term, students enjoyed a trip to St Lucia with peers from Steyning Grammar School studying biodiversity and learning about a new culture. A recent open event provided the chance for students and parents to learn more about the Sixth Form. A parent visiting the Open Evening commented on how “approachable and articulate the current students are, and it is great to see as a parent how much they like being in this place.” Clare Hodgson, Head of Sixth Form, said: “It’s been incredibly exciting to tell people all about Bohunt Sixth Form, and the

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opportunities we offer to our students. Our Sixth Form combines academic excellence with the freedom and independence of college giving our students the best foundation for an exciting future. We look forward to continuing to engage with these students and helping them to make an informed choice about whether to apply to us for September 2024 enrolment. For those seeking an education that goes beyond the ordinary, Bohunt Sixth Form is a place where excellence is not just encouraged – it’s expected. More information about Bohunt Sixth Form and details of how to apply is available at www.bohuntsixth.org or via email: sixth@bohunt.org.

ENJOY RESPEC T ACHIE VE w w w.bohunt tr us t .com Longmoor Road, Liphook , Hampshire GU30 7NY t: 01428 724324 e: comms @ bohunt tr us t .com @ Bohunt _Tr us t @ bohunt _tr us t

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