Sister Act 2

Lift your spirit with Winston’s Sister Act!

The transformative power of music is clear to see in The Winston Churchill School’s production of Sister Act, showing at The Rhoda McGaw Theatre. The show celebrates music, laughter, and the bonds that help us keep our faith in our darkest moments. Eve led the production as ambitious performer Deloris, who dreams of singing in a white fur coat. She was desperate to find fame at the sleazy club run by her no-good boyfriend Curtis, played by Ethan, who clearly relished the villainous role. His gang of cronies had audiences roaring with laughter as they struggled to run a successful criminal operation - how tough can you be in a pink leotard?

When Deloris witnessed a shocking event at the club, she was whisked away by the heroic (if a little sweaty) police officer Eddie, played by Josh. Hidden in a run-down convent, the vibrant, clowning Deloris met her match in the form of serious and stern Mother Superior, in a split role, played by Natasha and Daisy. However, the enthusiastic nuns made Deloris, and the audience, feel welcome very quickly. You couldn’t help but fall in love with Evie and Emma’s perky, earnest Sister Mary Patrick, the crazy but loveable Sister Mary Lazarus played by Eleanor and Imogen and Sister Mary Robert, sweet and uncertain, played by Emilie and Ellie.

As always the cast was made up of students from Years 7 to 11, and each year group shone with talent in acting, singing and dance. Guided by a supportive and committed Performing Arts  Department, the students handled all of the backstage running of the show, the lighting and sound, and the choreography of beautiful routines. No Winston show is complete without a live musical accompaniment, and the live band, comprised of both staff and students, provided the upbeat soundtrack to every twist and turn. Soon the nuns, and the audience, were singing in harmony, restoring the convent to its original glory.

As Deloris realised that singing and celebrating with her sisters was the true source of wealth and happiness, it was clear that students involved in this year’s production were also full of the joy of music. Sister Act lifts the spirits with its infectious sense of humour and the obvious excitement of every student onstage, and restores one’s faith in the power of friendship, and disco tunes.

Well Done Winston!

Sister Act

First Photographs of Sister Act

I am hearing great feedback about our latest school production, 'Sister Act'.  As is always the case, our highly talented students are making the most of the opportunity to create a memorable evening of entertainment.

The photographs are courtesy of Anthony Gurr LMPA, from Woking Photographer.

Learning Opportunities

Coming Soon!

Several special opportunities have been presented to students at Winston.  last week we were fortunate to have Major Tim Peake in school and this week we have been asked to record questions around the environment and climate change to be answered by David Attenborough in a Netflix Podcast.

Speakers4Schools have asked members of our English Department to participate in the making of a film which illustrates how Penguin Classics are used in the teaching of literature.  This again is an opportunity to showcase the work of our students and our staff.

More details will follow.

Year 11 Revision Begins in Earnest

Every Friday Year 11s striving for Grade 7-9 in English are invited to an intervention session with Mr Collins. 

This morning students were “challenged to challenge” the poets and the intention behind what they have written. Students were encouraged to find the “big ideas” and interrogate them.

Collaborating on the glass boards allows students to share their ideas and feed off of each other, relying less on Mr Collins and more on their own amazing ideas!

 Aviation Live Broadcast

Aviation LIVE – Tuesday 4th February 2020 @ 10:30am (Broadcast length = 30 mins)

Some of our students had the opportunity to watch this live broadcast this morning in Discovery Space.  

The key question: Are you interested in a career in the Aviation sector?

Aviation LIVE is a live streamed event in partnership with Gatwick Airport that will be broadcast to thousands across the UK wanting to find out more about a career within aviation hosted from Oakwood School, Surrey.

This live, interactive event featured a Q&A session with industry professionals from Gatwick Airport. Questions submitted from both the live and virtual audience on key topics such as: why enter the aviation sector and pathways into aviation were addressed by the panel, and broadcast in real-time as well as LIVE job updates.

It also discussed apprenticeship opportunities available within Gatwick Airport as the event is  being held during National Apprenticeship Week.

Tim Peake Discussing Space Travel

The Science of Space

Major Tim Peake's visit to Winston, as part of a charity filming assignment, was exciting for our students and Tim Peake also found the experience inspiring, as no other secondary school has a planetarium!

Tim sent us the following message:

“I very much enjoyed visiting The Planetarium at The Winston Churchill School. It is a superb educational resource that I am sure will inspire young people to think beyond the confines of our planet and instead encourage them to reflect on the many ways in which Space – and its exploration - is helping broaden our knowledge and understanding across so many different subjects.”

We would like to thank Major Tim Peake for giving so generously of his time to our students, it was a great experience.  We hope, in a few weeks time, to share the film of the discussion session.

Watch this 'space'!

Major Tim Peake at Winston!

Winston Welcomes Tim Peake

Space Walk the Winston Way

Major Tim Peake became the first British European Space Agency astronaut to travel in space; the date 15th December 2015, when his mission was launched on Soyuz TMA-19M. He joined American astronaut Col. Tim Kopra and Russian cosmonaut Yury Malenchenko on the International Space Station. 

On 15th January 2016, he and Col. Tim Kopra exited the hatch of the space station on an assignment to repair for the station’s solar panels. They worked in total darkness, while the panels were not generating power, to avoid the risk of electrocution. This meant that Tim Peake became the first official British person to walk in space. Tim returned to Earth on June 18, 2016, shortly after becoming the first British subject to be honoured by the Queen—as Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George—while in space!

Tim Peake made a surprise visit to Winston on Thursday afternoon, as a production company had asked to use our planetarium to film an interview.

Ten students from Years 7, 8 and 9 were selected to meet Tim and talk to him about his experience on the International Space Station.

There will be more detail to follow about Tim's visit but here are a few images of the afternoon.

 Setting up the interview.

Waiting for Tim to emerge from the planetarium!

 It was worth the wait!

Watch this space for more about Tim's visit.

Our School

Year 9 Rugby

9W/PE1 have spent the last 3 weeks learning and progressing their Rugby skills. After their 1^st lesson many of the boys were anxious about playing full contact or even getting muddy! Therefore, lots of fun challenges in pairs were introduced so the boys felt comfortable playing Rugby and slowly but surely the class moved onto tackling, rucks and scrums. Mr Martin could not be prouder of the progress and personal journeys the boys have had during this unit and has been his favourite group to have taught Rugby with. Not only had their Rugby improved but more importantly the boys showed an increase in confidence, resilience to overcome their personal challenges, the ability to motivate and collaborate in teams as well as showing a high level of respect and sportsmanship towards each other; many of which are reflected in the England Rugby core values. Well done 9W/PE!

Celebrating Success

At break-time on Friday the maths department celebrated the successes of the year 11 in their mock exams.  The 80 students who made the most progress from their year 10 mock to their year 11 mock in the year were invited to come and celebrate with the maths department so we could acknowledge that all their hard work was paying off.

Exploring Peer Pressure in Year 7

In Year 7 Winston Extra lessons we have been exploring peer pressure. We have analysed a Year 7 scenario, questioned why people behaviour the way they do, both with regards to putting peer pressure on others, as well the reasons for giving in to peer pressure. We have deepen our knowledge of this when looking at a study about conforming. We have then discussed different types of peer pressure and the impact this can have. Student were then challenged develop a freeze frame showing bullying and then Break out into a role play explore a situation of peer pressure. To finish the lesson the students worked together to create their classes top tips on dealing with peer pressure. 

Learning at Winston

Maths on Wednesday

I had the pleasure of visiting several maths lessons on Wednesday.  Students were fully engaged in their learning and Year 9, both Aspire and Grammar streams, were tackling grade 6 and grade 7 GCSE maths questions.  This created a buzz in the classrooms as they problem solved their way through this challenge.  The students were very keen to be on the blog!

Year 11 Assembly

This week Mr Fricker gave every student a progress card, which provides useful data regarding targets and predicted outcomes for GCSE, BTec and VCerts.  Year 11 are very focussed on working to achieve above their target grades.  These cards will be used by teachers and will help to form the basis of the conversation at Parent's Evening.

Year 10 GCSE Computing

The students in the GCSE Computing class were working in team to complete one of the challenges on the image below.  They were keen to engage in conversations about the role of such technology in the future, particularly in the areas of health and care of an ageing population.

Personal Safety

Students in Year 8 experienced a drama production and workshop on Peer Pressure, focusing on the issues of alcohol and illegal substances.  It looked at how easy it is to be encouraged by 'friends' to try substances and most importantly, where this gateway leads.  Students then have to consider how these situations can be avoided by contributing to the discussion that followed the play.