Year Eleven

Year 11 Trial Examination Letter & Timetable November 2009

Year 11 is the busiest year of all, with many demands on the students. As ever we have managed to fit in a variety of activities as well. In the summer, April Wilson competed for England in Marseilles, helping them become U17 European team champion in the mounted games. She followed this in the less salubrious setting of Chepstow to become U15 world individual champion. Many congratulations to April, and also to Kara Tucker who rode for the successful U15 England team in Windsor.

The traditional rounders competition had been held over from last year due to bad weather. We took advantage of the beautiful autumn weather with 11W meeting 11L in the final. There was some lusty hitting, not least when Martyn Mail launched a piledriver into (umpire) Mr Brown’s belly. The bruise was very impressive! A surreal game had to end as the ball was irretrievably lost in a hedge – the Duckworth-Lewis method was used to declare a tie.

The tug-of-war competition has become legendary, won by 11H for fourth year running, beating 11A in final. It is worth mentioning a splendid effort from 11E with Mr Davis very enthusiastic and emotional about his charges.

Meanwhile, Tom Blanchard played a crucial role in preventing a catastrophe in Chew Stoke one Saturday in September. Tom has a part-time job at the farm in Breach Hill Lane and called 999 as soon as he noticed flames in buildings on the farm. Six hundred tons of hay were destroyed in the blaze and a huge pall of smoke could be seen for miles. Tom’s concern was for the sixty cattle which were in an adjacent barn. With the hay smouldering on the floor, Tom helped the farmer to lead the cattle and their calves to safety, while firefighters from Chew Magna, Blagdon, Paulton and Bedminster contained the blaze. Tom was typically modest about his actions, saying that he did not have time to think and that the adrenaline rush kept him going. He was full of admiration for the professional job of the firefighters and is now enquiring about the possibility of joining the Fire Service after his studies.

On the sporting front, the rugby team has enjoyed some close encounters, starting with a hard fought win against a decent rugby playing school, Norton Hill. Tom Blanchard complained that his lung capacity was only at 50% due to his heroic cattle-saving efforts. Matt Tattersall made his debut on the wing (Chew Valley's answer to Jonah Lomu!!!!), while Kyle Westgate and Adam Pollett were amongst the try scorers. Nathan Berkley was awarded man of the match for his play-making abilities. The next week, Culverhay gained their revenge on Chew Valley, winning 24-17. It was a very physical game played at a fast pace, in front of a decent crowd. Mr Edwards maintains that we would have won if we had taken our chances. John Pearce scored an opportunist try after a mix-up in the Culverhay defence. Frank Read / George Powlesland were awarded joint man of the match for their tackle count and work rate around the pitch.

The serious business of GCSE exams looms large and two Maths groups will be sitting their final exams early in November – we wish them all the best. This will be followed by two weeks of trial exams in December. It is our intention that the Year 11s are as finely tuned as possible for these important pointers to the future.

Finally, Elise Davies in Year 11 has won a poetry competition held in Bristol. The ’Why We Love Poetry’ exhibition was hosted by ten of the best poets writing for young people in the UK. The aim was to produce poems which puzzle, buzz and sting, poems which lilt, whisper and sing, poems which enlighten, linger or stun, poems which are silly, cheeky and, of course, fun! Elise won the children’s category and the poem was put on display at the Arnolfini Art Centre. Having previously won first prize in the Bath Literature Festival Young Writers' Competition, Elise is clearly a gifted poet. Congratulations to her.