The Challenge

Year 9 - Surrey University Engineering Island

On Monday 11th March, 15 Year 9 students visited the University of Surrey to take part in a day of Engineering workshops.

At the beginning of the day, students were informed of the many areas that involved Engineering as well as possible career paths. The three practical sessions that followed focused around survival on a desert island; building a structure for shelter, a bridge to access water and a raft to go fishing on. In their groups students had to use all of the Winston competencies to plan, build and evaluate the structures that they had made before testing them against other groups. During one task the Winston students were also asked to problem solve and work collaboratively with students of another school, showing the importance of team work in a career setting.

In between workshops students got to ask questions about university and were invited on a campus tour by some of the university student ambassadors to understand what it's like to study and live on campus. A free lunch at the university cafe was also a highlight for many! Overall, a productive day that allowed everyone to gain greater insight into the world of university and engineering.

Celebration Break

I was delighted to spend some time with students who are making a difference at Winston. Each one is making a positive contribution and we had time over hot chocolate and lovely cakes to talk about their work and their successes.

Assembly

Mr Jennings has been taking assemblies this week, on the theme of rising to the challenge and being prepared to overcome a difficulty to achieve your goal.

Learning at Winston

Balance in Year 8

Year 8 students have been working in paired balances including counter balance and counter tension, as well as symmetry and asymmetry. On Wednesday they had an extra challenge, as they were set the task of building new trust relationships and combining their work, creating balances in larger groups. 
They had to consider and develop ideas, plan the balance and who was take which role, listen to each other and be fully engaged to that the balance was effective. Some groups “overcame stuckness” and had to demonstrate resilience, as they attempted their balance which wasn’t, at first, very effective; they adapted the balance or positions for a more effective result.

Bring a Book to Life!

 As a part of our World Book Week celebrations, the library hosted a book art competition. Students were given the brief to use an old book (one that they were happy and most importantly allowed to use!) and create an original piece of art. Below are just some of the amazing entries that are now on display in the Discovery Space.

                Well done to all those that entered! Winner will be announced next week... 

Behind Closed Doors

Year 9 students have had the opportunity to watch and then participate in discussion groups, a production with the theme of domestic violence.  Students became immersed in the play and where audibly shocked by the final scene.  The theatre company then worked with the students to draw out the themes and to consider what positive relationships look like and how to respect each other.

Opportunities at Winston

Former Editor of The New Statesman at Winston

 John Kampfner, former Chief Executive of the Creative Industries Federation and Editor of the New Statesman from 2005-2008, gave an inspiring and aspirational talk to over 100 students from The Winston Churchill School this week.

John’s visit to school was organised through Speakers4Schools, a charitable organisation founded by Robert Peston, aimed at giving students within the State sector access to insights, information and perspectives from top influential figures to help them in preparing for their own futures.   

John talked at length about his career as a foreign correspondent with The Daily Telegraph, first in East Berlin where he reported on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of Germany and then as a reporter in Moscow at the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He went on to become chief political correspondent at The Financial Times and political commentator for the BBC’s Today programme.

John spoke to the students about the importance of setting clear goals in life and about the importance of valuing yourself, as an individual, whilst also valuing the people with whom you work. He spoke at length about the ways in which the world of work has changed over the generations and how important it is to not let anyone, be they parents or teachers, define students’ levels of success. He spoke passionately about the necessity for teenagers to be able to define their own success and that hard work and enthusiasm is a vital component to any students’ level of success.

Speaking after the event, Simon Donaldson, Head of Performing Arts at the school said,

 ” Speakers4Schools is a wonderful charity in which hugely influential figures within the UK give up their time freely and without restriction for the benefit of inquiring students in the state education sector. Last year, we were inspired by the visit of Tim Davie, Chief Executive of BBC Worldwide, who spoke about the sheer range and depth of BBC productions across the world and Lindsey Hilsum from Channel 4 news, who provided our students with a remarkable insight into the extraordinary life of a working War Correspondent''.

We are all looking forward to continuing our excellent relationship with Speakers4Schools.”

Pictured in the photograph are some of the students who attended the Speakers4Schools event, alongside John Kampfner.

Year 9 Girls' Rugby

This class have covered passing, tackling and rucking with some application into game situations. Today we look the skill of the scrum outside of the game and learnt why we have a scrum and how to perform an effective 5 man scrum. The girls quickly learnt about the importance to drive the legs and stay low and flat in the scrum and how to reduce the risk of collapse. They all experience front row and second row within the scrum, and we can’t wait until next week when we will apply all these skills into controlled games. As a result of these rugby lessons a number of the girls are attending Girls' Rugby Club after school on a Wednesday, which is run by Harliquins Rugby Club. 

Girls and Sport

Football Festival hosted by Chelsea FC

On Wednesday the 5th March, the year 10 and 11 girls’ football team had the opportunity to go to a Women’s football festival hosted by Chelsea Fc. We took part in a warm up exercise lead by the Chelsea coaches before taking part in three 7-aside, 10 minute games and a skill session, which consisted of shooting and dribbling drills. For the first game, we played Thomas Bennet where we achieved our first win with a score of 4-0. 

Next was a skilful team from Blenheim High school where we managed to keep the score to 0-0 (with some fantastic saves from Cara Henderson!). Our final game was against Cobham Free School were we won 3-0 with some excellent goals from Katie Godan - including one where she dribbled past 4 different players. We were fortunate enough to be able to meet Rueben Loftus-Cheek (a Chelsea and England player) and we were allowed to ask questions and take photos with him. We also saw Hannah Blundell and Jorginho who both play for Chelsea. After the day we were left inspired and proud of our performance, especially after keeping a clean sheet. We would like to the thank Chelsea Fc for the festival and for having the opportunity to play against other schools, meet some of their professionals and train with some of their coaches. 

We also appreciate and would like to thank Miss Exworth and Miss Walton for taking time out of their day to take and support us as well as for organising our team so that we were able to go. We look forward to the closing stages of our season.

Written by Lucy Bower and Holly Cudsin

Girls Playing Rugby

Girls getting dirty! Students were engaged in their 3rd rugby lesson, with the aim of developing the tackling into rucking.  

No fear the girls just got stuck in!! 

Amazing Music!

Working with the band of the Royal Logistics Corps

"Amazing", "professional" and "inspiring". These are just some of the words I would use to describe Wednesday 27th February, at Winston for 60 student musicians. We were really lucky to have a day of rehearsing with the Band of the Royal Logistic Corps who wowed us with the immense talent that they possess. 

It was amazing to learn the different pieces with them and then to perform a concert with them at the end of the day, in the main hall. They were so good at helping us with the challenging music that we played and I know that we all found the careers talk very interesting.

Holly Brewerton (Music Captain)

In the News!

Year 7 Algebra

7WR have been starting their work on algebra this week.  They have demonstrated a high level of understanding and they have been using some of the games created by the maths department to help them demonstrate their learning.  Playing Substitute Teacher (a top trumps style game) where they need to find out which teachers in the school have the best courage and speed has been very popular.