Forthcoming Events

Click here to see the Calendar for the term.

Click here to see the latest 'Parents' Notes' which describes events for this week.

Friends' School Biennial Charity Ball 6th October 2006

'Only 30 tickets left - 30 June 06'

It's that time again! The Friends' School Biennial Charity Ball will be held on Friday, 6th October this year. Invitations will be going out shortly so book your table and order your tickets as soon as possible. Previous balls have been a sell-out so, to avoid disappointment, contact Alison Stanbury in the Marketing Department - email: admin@friends.org.uk or 01799 525351.

Our chosen charity this year is COPARS, a local charity which supports families with children suffering from cancer. We will be holding an Auction of Promises so any donations would be warmly welcomed. One particular item that always works our guests into a generous frenzy of bidding is the promise of a get-away-from-it-all holiday so if anyone is willing to donate a week in their holiday cottage, chateau, houseboat, penthouse, outhouse … please contact Tanya Fenwick on 08701 603337.

News

The Governors are delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Wigley to Head Friends' School from 1st September 2006. Click here to find out more.

A and AS Level Exam Results 2006

Students were celebrating this morning following another set of excellent A level results. 30% of the grades gained were at A (6% above the national average) with the A to C pass rate at 78% (72% in 2005).Overall a 100% pass rate was achieved for the second year running and all students taking English, Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and History achieved A and B grades.

James McCall achieved A grades in History, English and Film Studies. "I am completely flabbergasted by my results. With 3 A grades I have won a scholarship to read English and Creative Writing at Lancaster University next year". Having achieved 3 A's and a C, Jackie Shaufeld was also celebrating her results " after dreading my results for so long, its amazing to open the envelope and find results I've only dreamed about".

The new Head, Graham Wigley congratulated the students and paid tribute to their teaching staff. 'These are excellent results for a non-selective Sixth Form. 84% of the students achieved grades as well as or better than expected on entry to the Sixth Form. The wealth of individual care and guidance and the quality of subject teaching at Friends' is evident from these results and I look forward to leading a school with such a dedicated staff'.

Thursday 17th August 2006

GCSE Exam Results 2006

Thursday 24th August.

Results will be in school on the above date and will be posted to students on this date by first class post ( ie to arrive the following day).

Students may come in to school to collect their results, or phone, between 10.00 am and 12.30 pm.

Year 8 and 9 at Harlow Outdoor Education Centre July 2006 Click on the photo to see more.

Year 8 and 9 at Grafham Water during Activity Week - July 2006. Click on the photo to see more.

Year 7 Trip to Sheringham 3 to 6 July 2006 Click on the photo to see more

Latest copy of 'The Avenue' Click here or on the image on the left to download a copy of our latest newsletter, for Summer Term 2006.

Examples of A & AS level and GCSE Art Coursework June 2005 Click on the image on the right

Summer Ball 30th June 06 'A Great Time' Click on the photo to see more.

Year 7 Trip to London 'Docklands' 15 June 2006 Click on the photo to see more.

Sports Day 14th June 2006 Click on the photo to see more. Results: Mennell 758, Tuke 644, Lister 63.

'A Comedy of Errors' by members of the 6i Drama group - May 2006 Click on the photo to see more.

El-Shaddai Street Child Rescue in India

If you would like to find out more about El-Shaddai following our Assembly on Tuesday 27th June click here.

El-Shaddai Street Child Rescue in India cares for the abandoned Street Children and those from economically poor or broken families, providing them with the basic necessities of life. Based in Goa, El-Shaddai has helped nurture slum children, abandoned girl children and provide them with shelter through the various shelters and houses run by El-Shaddai.

Year 8 make Sushi in Food Technology June 2006

www.friends.org.uk
Click here to see some facts and figures about our Website. June 2006

Year 11 and 6ii Strawberry Tea 16 June 2006

Write Away 2006 Friends' Year 9 Pupil in top 10!

Write Away is a competition organised by the TES and The National Association for the Teaching of English. Bethan Waters, a Year 9 pupil made it through to the final ten of the 12-14 age group.

The Literary competition requires students to write an autobiographical piece of not more than 600 words. Bethan chose to write a piece about attempting to climb Mount Snowdon with her father.

This is the ninth year of the competition and all the 9000 entries, from all over the UK and International schools in many parts of the world, are read by panels of teachers. The final twenty are judged by celebrity writers, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson.

Bethan received her certificate and prizes at a ceremony and lunch at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Afterwards, we watched 'Coriolanus'.
All the winning entries can be viewed on the TES website and Bethan's autobiographical piece can be viewed by clicking here.

At school we had read and discussed examples of autobiographical writing, including last year's winners. The class worked on their own pieces and English teacher, Gill Kinnear, initially selected a few to be sent to the competition.

Bethan experienced a wonderful day and enjoyed chatting to Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Rosen; shown above.

June 2006

Head's Report for the Year 2005/06 If you were not able to be with us and to hear the speeches on Friends and Families Day on 20th June then click here to view the Head's report.

Assembly Friday 9th June Barry Kaufman-Wright - Government and former Essex Police wildlife officer gave a talk about his work. (Google Barry Kaufman-Wright to find out more.)

Year 8 Religious Studies trip to a Hindu and a Sikh temple in London - 6th June 2006

The Hindu Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Neasden

These photos are from their website. Find out more at www.mandir.org

The Sikh Central Gurdwara of the British Isles at Shepherds Bush
- where we were given a meal and presented gifts

Click here to find out more about Sikhs and their Gurdwaras (temples)

End of Year 11 lessons 19 May 06

Good Luck in your exams

6i Geography Field Trip 26 - 30 April 2006 to the Lake District. Click on the photo to see more

Our German Exchange to Bremerhaven 20-27 April - 2006 Click on the photo on the right to see more

Year 9 and 10 Girls' Hockey Tour of Barcelona - April 2006   Click on the photo to see more.

'Frosty and the Snowmen' 5 of our Year 11 students are in this jazz band. Click on the photo to see their website and listen to some of their excellent music.

‘An Evening of Cabaret’ Thursday 23rd March 7.30 pm. A showcase of music performed by students and guest professional musicians. Click on the following (64 kbps) mp3 tracks to play or download some of the music recorded at this most successful and enjoyable event.

Frosty and the Snowmen with Scott Devlin - 'Cantaloupe Island' by Herbie Hancock. Click here.

Year 8 Musical Medley - 'Grease' by Jim Jacobs and Waren Casey. Click here.

Year 8 Musical Medley - 'My Fair Lady' by Frederic Loewe. Click here.

Frankie Warren - 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen. Click here.

Eleanor Lea - 'Rhythm is gonna get you' by Gloria Estefan. Click here.

Gaby Biland and Bethan Waters - 'Other Side of the World' by K.T. Tunstall. Click here.

Sax Group - 'Irish Stew' by Murphy and 'Seguadilla' by Bizet. Click here.

Lorraine Daniels - 'Tonight' by Bernstein and 'I Got Rhytym' & 'Girl Crazy' by Gershwin. Click here.

Sebastian Major - 'Bill's Soliloquy - Carousel' by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Click here.

Joss Satt - 'Why, God, Why?- Miss Saigon' by Boubil & Schonberg. Click here.

Kenya Brading - 'These Sneakers' by Kenya Brading. Click here.

Friends' School Choir - 'You are not alone' by R. Kelly. Click here.

Friends' School Choir - 'California Dreamin''' by The Mama & Papas. Click here.

Bethan Waters - 'Fields of Gold' by Eva Cassidy. Click here.

Daniel Meades - 'Nessun Dorma' by Puccini. Click here.

Many thanks to Gavin Greenaway and Martin Wilson for directing the music, and to all participating musicians and singers.

Left click on the above to play, but as these files are quite large (between 1 and 3 MB), it might be easier to right click and 'save target as' (to save to your hard disc) and then play.

Year 9 Food Technology Lesson

Some of our Year 9 pupils cooking their chosen Chicken Korma or Chicken Chow Mein dishes in a recent Food Technology lesson.

New Junior School Website

This is currently being constructed by our own staff. A new and easier to access layout has been produced and we are now in the process of updating the content.

Although the Junior School website is part of the whole school website, it now has its own web address which is www.friendsjunior.org.uk

14 April 2006

Latest copy of 'The Avenue' Click here or on the image on the left to download a copy of our latest newsletter, for Spring Term 2006.

1st XI Girls Hockey match against Stoke College

Wednesday 15 March 06: Score - Friends' 4 Stoke College 0

Year 11 and Sixth Form Football practice

Rekawa School Our twin school in Sri Lanka which we support following the Tsunami disaster. Click here to see photos from their sports day in February. (and see the upside-down man!)

Flexi-boarding! is available to day pupils on a regular or occasional basis providing we have spare beds. The rate at the moment is £29 a night. If you are interested then please contact the School. Don't forget that from September 2006 the boarding fees for pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be reduced to £4740 per term for Full Boarding and £4540 for Weekly Boarding.

U 13 Girls Bishops Stortford and District Hockey Tournament 9 March 06

Out of the 9 schools participating, we came 3rd equal. Well done.

Odenwaldschule Exchange in Germany Click on the photo to find out more about this school in Germany which sends one pupil to Friends' School each term.

World Book Day 2nd March 06 Sale of books and 'Mocktails' ( non-alcoholic cocktails) in the library which raised £82.62 for Book Aid International. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge

Thanks to Janice Weatherall for organising the event and to Gary Oakshott for creating the popular 'Mocktails', and to all those who helped.

Music from our Seasonal Words and Music 13th December 2005 at St Mary's Church SW

Joint Junior and Senior Schools' Choir

Concert band in rehearsal

Click on the following (64 kbps) mp3 tracks to play or download.

Concert Band - 'A Happy Winter Holiday' by Roland Kernan. Click here.

Junior Choir - 'The Nativity Carol' by John Rutter. Click here.

Junior Choir - 'The Mince Pie Song' arranged by Martin Wilson. Click here.

Junior School Orchestra - 'Merry Christmas Medley' arr. Turner. Click here.

Senior School Choir - 'The Christmas Bells' by David Fletcher. Click here.

Senior School Choir - 'Christmas Tide' by Bob Chilcott. Click here.

Joint Choirs - 'Away in a Manger' by Peter Hunt. Click here.

Years 5, 6, 7 ,8 - 'Christingle Rock' by Sheila Wilson. 'Shine your Light', 'Circle of Love', 'Thank you for the World', Count each Blessing', 'Christingle Rock and Roll'. Click here to find out more about 'Christingle'

Many thanks to Gavin Greenaway and Martin Wilson for directing the music, and to all participating musicians and singers.

Left click on the above to play, but as these files are quite large (between 1 and 3 MB), it might be easier to right click and 'save target as' (to save to your hard disc) and then play.

Some Photos of the Year 8 Trip to Normandy last July. Click on the photo on the right to see more.

Year 9 Maths Making a football from pentagons and hexagons

Assembly Friday 10 Feb Thanks to Chris Bennett from Linton Zoo who talked to everyone at assembly about conservation of Endangered Species. The photo shows year 7 pupils with some of the items confiscated by customs.

Quaker Tapestry Exhibition

39 of the 77 panels in the Quaker Tapestry are on show in Norwich Cathedral from February 1st to March 11th. 10.00 - 4.00 Monday to Saturday. Admission free.

All Year 7 and Year 8 went to see this exhibition at Norwich Cathedral on Thursday and Friday this week. 9 & 10 Feb 06

Click here to see more details of the exhibition or visit www.quaker-tapestry.co.uk

The Sea by Edward Bond Our Middle School Play - 7th & 8th February. Click on the photo to see more.

Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA)
Study Tour - 22 to 30 April 2006

Open to Quakers or those in sympathy with the Society of Friends and who will be at least 18 by the start of the tour.

Click here to find out more from their website

Click here to see the poster (pdf)

Click here to read email from Cheron Constance (Word)

Click here to download an application form (Word)

Year 8 Geography trip to Epping Forest 8th November 2005 Click on the photo to see more

Sixth Form weekend trip to Bowles Rock 4 - 6 Nov 2005 Click on the photo to find out more.

Sixth Form Pilgrimage to explore the roots of Quakerism in the Lake District - September 2005 Click on the photo to see more

Autumn Term 2005 Newsletter Click on the image on the left to download the latest copy of 'The Avenue'. This is being sent to all parents in the end of term mailing.

'Twelve Days of Christmas' and Happy Christmas to all.

Some of our boarders enjoying their Christmas Lunch

The beautiful 3D decorations in the dining hall by Artist in Residence Dilly Boase, depicting the 'Twelve Days of Christmas'. Which one is missing? See enlarged photo at top.

Friends' Supports Amnesty International Dec 05

Pupils at Friends' School Saffron Walden supported Amnesty International's Greetings Card Campaign this week during their lunch break. Volunteers from the local Saffron Walden Amnesty group set up in the school Library to enable the students to send greetings cards to individuals who do not have the freedoms which are taken for granted in this country.

These cards will be sent with messages of hope and solidarity to victims of human rights violations and those who defend them. These cards offer hope and encouragement to the recipients and can act as an effective way to bring about change - the impression their mail makes on police, prison staff or political authorities can help to keep them safe.

Click on the link below to find out more about what 'Amnesty' is doing.

6ii in their assessed drama performance

Members of 6ii in their exam assessed drama performance of 'HtH', on Tuesday 6th December - all their own work from initial ideas to final performance.

Non-Uniform Day on Friday 18 November 05 when £430 was raised for 'Children in Need'. Click on the photo to see more.

Indian Dance and Movement Year 8 rehearse in their Drama lesson last Wednesday 23rd November 05

Year 10 & 11 Battlefields History Trip. Photos are now on the website. Click on the photo to see more.

From the Archives - Pennyfarthings

This photo taken between 1880 and 1890, has recently surfaced. The names on the back were: Eric, Duncan and George Fredrick Linney, Isabella Farrand, TP Wallis, Merron or Alderton? + Brown, France + Arundel.
GF Linney & his wife Lucy were Superintendant (Head) and Mistress of the Family at Croydon and SW 1869 to 1890.

Roger Buss- Old Scholar Archivist

Whole School Photos - Now ready for collection from Reception from 14 Nov 05

Click on the above photo to enlarge

Remembrance Day and White Poppies

'Waitrose' visits Year 10 GCSE Food Technology Class - 7 Nov 05 ...about fish: types, how to fillet a herring, prices, nutritional value etc. Many thanks.

Another very successful International Evening 3 November 05

Many thanks to Michelle Gillmore and everyone else who helped. Click here to see more.

May 05 Fashion Show. Photos now available re. fundraising for World Challenge Expedition. Click on the photo to see more.

Year 10 Geography Field Course to the Lake District 25 - 28 Sept 2005. Click on the photo to see more.

Year 11 Mock Exam Timetable December 05

Word version or pdf

Year 8 RS lesson Pupils in Year 8 created a Hindu shrine as part of their study of Indian Religions. They learned how the arti ceremony (sacred fire) is performed and shared some Indian sweets made by Helen Golden, Head of Religious Studies

Halloween

Essex Police have asked us to put this link to their website for advice for young people about Halloween.

Year 7 Trip to Sheringham July 2005.

Click on the photo to see more

Click on the above image to see the Sixth Form booklet in pdf format.

Year 10/11 Trip to WWI Battlefields

25 students from Years 10 and 11 spent 3 days exploring the WWI Battlefields in France and Belgium - 5th to 8th October 2005. More photos will be posted on this website in due course.

A Poem for Space "Which poem would you send into space?"

That was the question posed in a memorable assembly at Friends' School Saffron Walden to mark this year's National Poetry Day on October 6th. The theme of National Poetry Day this year is The Future and to tie in with that an online poll was organised by the Poetry Society to find which poems should be read in 100 years time - A Poem for Space.

The theme of National Poetry Day this year is The Future and to tie in with that an online poll was organised by the Poetry Society to find which poems should be read in 100 years time - A Poem for Space.

Organised by Gillian Kinnear, Head of English, and Janice Weatherall, School Librarian, Friends' assembly followed this theme and supported by suitable props (a spaceship) and music ('Rocket Man'), some aliens (pupils) read a selection of poems that had been nominated on The Poetry Society's website.

In the second half of the assembly pupils from different school years nominated their choice of poetry as the Poem for Space and at the end a poll was taken. From a choice of poems ranging from 'The Soldier' by Rupert Brooke to poetry by Edward Lear and Jenny Joseph, the popular winner was a haiku by Ihara Saikaku, chosen and read by sixth-former James McCall.

Afterwards Gillian Kinnear said, "It certainly stimulated conversation about poetry throughout the day. Quite a few students - and staff - talked about their favourite poems and about which ones they would put into space."

This was the twelfth National Poetry Day, the annual nationwide celebration of poetry.

Visit the National Poetry Day website to find out more.

School Ball 1st July 2005

Some of the Year 11 and 6th Form boarders prior to the ball. Thanks to Moira Thomson for the photos.

German Exchange visits Friends' School

First part of this year's German Exchange. Students from the Pestalozzi Schule in Bremerhaven stayed with Year 9 pupils for a week recently. Our students are looking forward to their exchange visit next summer. More photos will be posted on this website in due course. Above shows students on their trip to Cambridge - punting and tea at Grantchester Meadows. September 2005

School Photograph

A proof is on display outside Reception. Order envelopes will be sent home with pupils on Friday 7th September and should be returned to Reception, with a cheque made payable to Friends' School Saffron Walden, by Monday 17th October. Prices are: Rolled and in a commemorative box = £19, Mounted = £31 and Framed = £52. Parents living overseas can ask for this to go on their school bill. Thanks to Kirstin Batcheler for the above photo. Click here to see a copy of the order envelope.

Monday 26th September 05 European Day of Languages 'Celebrating linguistic diversity, plurilingualism, lifelong language learning' Here at Friends' School: #Euro Quizzes at lunchtime. #Have your lunch or evening meal in your chosen language.

Click here to find out more from the EDL website

Students from Chile - Thursday 22nd Sept 05

Students from the Mayflower School and the Redland School in Santiago in Chile have been staying at the Bell College. They visited Year 9 pupils and talked about Chile and also entertained us with folk dances. Many thanks.

6i Students spend day at 'MotorWise' - Sept 05

Last Monday our 6i students attended the annual 'Motorwise' event organised by Uttlesford District Council at Carver Barracks in Wimbish. The event was designed to promote safe driving and safety awareness at a time when many students are envisaging taking their first driving lessons. A most productive day was had by all. Thanks to Nick Guthrie for accompanying the trip and for the photos.