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.

News

GCSE and A Level Results Summer 2005

'Stunning GCSE and A level results!'. Click on the photo to find out more about our GCSE and A level results for 2005.

Year 9 End of Year Trip to Holland July 2005. Click on the photo on the right to see photos of the trip.

Newsletter Summer 2005 Click on the image of the left to view the latest Newsletter. This is being sent to all parents with the end of term mailing.

Exhibition of GCSE, A2 and AS Artwork There will be an exhibition of GCSE, A2 and AS exam work in the Art Studios and Octopus Gallery from Wednesday 29th June until Friday 1st July. So please feel free to come and enjoy the wonderful artwork created by our very talented students. Click on the image on the left to see more.

Term Dates for 2006 to 2007

Click here to download latest term dates

Wizard of Oz. Photos now on the website. Click on the photo on the left to see more.

Carnegie Medal Annual Award for the best children's book published last year. Pupils and staff enjoying their picnic at their last meeting.

The dozen pupils in years 7 to 10 plus several members of staff have read the 6 short-listed books and met to decide which one they thought would be the winner. They have chosen "Looking for JJ" by Anne Cassidy. The official winner will be announced on July 8th. Let's see if they were right? Thanks to Janice Weatherall for organising this annual event.
Click here to find out more about the Carnegie Award.

Essex Youth Games at Southend Saturday 18th June 2005

Congratulations to Fred Whitfield and Sam Richardson who both represented Uttlesford and Braintree District in the U 14 Hockey at the above games on Saturday. The team won all their matches and won the contest, winning gold. Sam scored two goals and Fred as goalkeeper let in no goals. Well done.

German Exchange to BREMERHAVEN 25 MAY - 01 JUNE 2005 Click on the photo to see more.

ESOL Trip to Bournemouth 30 April - 2 May 2005 Click on the photo.

6i Geography Field Trip to the Lake District 21 - 24 April 2005 Click on the photo to see more.

Richard Hutton's 'Complaints Book' The notebook of the Steward of the Quaker workhouse at Clerkenwell, 1711-1737. The workhouse at Clerkenwell was started in 1702 and developed into our school. Click on the image on the left to see an online copy of this fascinating historical set of personal notes about life in our school almost 300 years ago.

Almost 20 years ago now, Tim Hitchcock, Professor of Eighteenth-Century History at the University of Hertfordshire, transcribed and edited the 'Complaints Book' of one of the School's earliest masters. This was published as Richard Hutton's Complaints Book by the London Records Society (vol. 24, 1987). The Society has now posted most of its publications on the web, and among the resources available is vol. 24.

Click here to read an introduction to this book by a former Head of Friends' School John Woods on page12 in our Tercentenary Book 'The School on the Hill'.

Year 9 PSHE talk about the Samaritans May 05

Year 9 heard about the work of the Samaritans from Colin McCall of the Cambridge branch. He told students that the Samaritans is a confidential, 24 hour service which is available to people of any age, no matter what their situation. Despite their name, the Samaritans is not a religious organisation and does not promote any faith view.

Students were able to ask about Colin’s experiences as a phone listener and discuss how the Samaritans would respond to a difficult or controversial problem. He stressed that the most important thing a person can do for someone in distress is to listen - giving advice is not always as helpful as many people believe. Just knowing that we are not alone and that someone understands can make a huge difference to someone who is feeling lonely or worried.

Find out more at www.samaritans.org.uk

Strawberry Tea 27 May 05.

The completion of GCSE and A level courses. Good luck and revise well!

Temperature 29 C - the hottest day in May for the last 50 years!

Click on the above to enlarge.

'Friends and Families Day' (Our Speech Day) was on Saturday 21st May 2005

Joint School and Old Scholars' choir rehearsing excerpts from Handel's Messiah, Brahms' Requiem and Mendelssohn's Elijah in the Assembly Hall for their most successful afternoon concert.
The Heads' reports can be seen by clicking here.

'Wizard of Oz' - Years 7, 8 and 9 Production
17 & 18 May 2005

Click here to see more photos.

World Challenge Expedition to Kyrgyzstan July 2006 - Fashion Show

In rehearsal. Click on the image to to see more. .

In order to raise funds for the World Challenge Expedition to Kyrgyzstan in July 2006, members of the Senior School put on a Fashion Show on Friday 13th May with the support of various local shops.

Click on the above picture to find out more about the Friends' School Development Proposal.

Thursday 5th May 2005 Assembly hall used as a polling station in the Local Government and Parliamentary Elections

Science Department GCSE Workshops Summer 05 - click here to see programme for this term.

Draft A Level and GCSE Exam Timetable Summer 2005 or as pdf files week -1,0, week 1, week 2,3,4, week 5.

Year 9 Physics PowerPoint Presentations

Year 9 were asked to produce PowerPoint Presentations on generating electricity using different energy resources. Christine Sleight. 27 April 05.

Grade 8 Violin with Distinction

Congratulations to Yu Kimura in Year 11 who has just passed her Grade 8 Violin with Distinction.

Head of Music Ian Rowe, said, "Yu is a very talented violinist and did extremely well in her exam. Getting a Distinction at Grade 8 is in itself a real achievement, but Yu also got full marks in one of her pieces which is unheard of at that level"

After her GCSE examinations this summer Yu has decided to return to the Sixth Form to study music at A-Level and also to work towards her Diploma.

Tsunami Appeal - Our Twin School

Pupils, parents and staff will be aware of the tremendous efforts made last term to raise funds for the relief of those affected by the Boxing Day disaster. Senior School pupils and staff raised £2,000, of which £1,000 was sent for immediate relief, and the Junior School raised a further £1,500 through Swimathon sponsorship. This gives us a remaining sum of £2,500 which is now ready to be distributed.

We have just received details of our 'twin' school in Sri Lanka. Rekawa School is in the town of Netolpitiya; it is a Buddhist co-educational school covering the age range from five to eighteen years, with 276 students and 18 staff. The Headteacher is Mrs. Malinie. Through the agency 'Adopt Sri Lanka' we have undertaken to sponsor Rekawa School for £500 per term for a minimum of the next two years. The first instalment will be sent this week, and by the beginning of May the agency will appoint a Field Officer who will be responsible, in the first instance, for letting us know how the funds are being used and how we might help further.

I will keep all pupils, parents and staff informed as to how things develop and provide more information about Rekawa School as soon as I can.

Andy Waters

19 April 2005

Sports Fixtures Summer 2005 Click here to see Sports Fixtures for the Summer Term 2005 for Boys and Girls.

World Challenge Expedition 2006

You will no doubt have read and heard through the media over Easter that the political situation in Kyrgyzstan is 'fragile'. Both World Challenge Expeditions (WCE) and myself are monitoring the situation, but at present this is the state of affairs as regards our trip.

1. Expeditions to Kyrgyzstan this summer have been diverted to other locations by WCE. This is standard practice and procedures are in place for this eventuality.

2. Our expedition is currently going ahead as planned, and a decision will be made before our departure in July 2006 as to whether the destination should be changed.

As stated, the situation is being monitored closely and any further developments will be communicated to you. Further questions should be addressed to me at school.

Guy Martin

18 April 05

Latest Newsletter - Spring 2005 Just click on the image on the left to view this pdf version. If you have difficulty then see full instructions on our Newsletter page.

An Engineer! Who, Me?

This was the title of the latest production by Cragrats Theatre Group to members of Year 10. Cragrats is a theatre group of talented young actors which specialises in science and engineering careers presentations

"The pupils were introduced to the range of opportunities available to them in different types of engineering, science and technology," said Julie Anderson, Head of Careers, "Qualifications, learning styles and sources of advice and guidance were covered in a very entertaining performance".

"They were very good," said Henrietta Coats, "They put their points across using lots of humour". Robert Taylor added, "It was a very memorable performance". Leo Cunningham Baily said," It was very funny and very informative."

To find out more about CragRats Education click here.

Einstein Year Success + Poster Competition

Congratulations go to Bethan Waters in Year 8. Bethan’s poem for the UNI-verse poetry competition was chosen out of over 2000 entries, to receive a special runners-up prize in the 12-15 category. The competition to mark ‘Einstein Year’ was organised by the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

The competition to mark ‘Einstein Year’ was organised by the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Bethan’s poem, along with the other winning entries, may be viewed here and at www.the-ba.net

Julie Anderson March 2005

Year 7 PSHE talk on Autism

As part of their work in PSHE on disability, Year 7 students heard about autism. This condition is now known about more widely but still little understood. Autistic children and adults may suffer in many ways through lack of understanding. Debs Hume, a psychology student with considerable experience of autism, explained how

this condition first came to be recognised and the ways in which it can be recognised. Several famous individuals are now thought to have been affected, among them Vincent Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci and Bill Gates.

March 2005

Holocaust Talk

Inge Samson, a refugee from Nazi Germany, spoke to members of Year 10 about her experiences of escaping from Germany just before the Second World War broke out in 1939.

Although she had been brought up a Lutheran by her parents, her father was a Jew and her mother had Jewish grandparents. In the eyes of the German state this meant the family was Jewish and subject to the restrictions imposed upon them.

She explained that her family had been helped to escape by Frank Foley, head of the British Passport Control Office in Berlin. In this position, which was a cover for his role as a British spy and head of the city's M16 station, he helped more than 10 000 Jews escape Nazi Germany, a greater number than Oskar Schindler.

"No word of Jewish gratitude towards Frank Foley could be exaggerated," wrote a Jewish aid worker in his memoirs, which are now in the Israeli Holocaust memorial Museum.

"All our Jewish relatives perished in concentration camps," Inge Samson told the pupils, "We all knew how much Captain Foley helped us".

Members of the class spoke warmly about her talk afterwards. "I admired her courage for coming in to school and talking about some of her most tragic years," said Oscar Willans.

March 2005

U16XI Girls' Hockey v. Stoke College March 05

Score 1:1. This is the team that will be touring Barbados in July.

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge. Photos by Martin Hugall.

1st XI Football v. Birchwood High School

No score. Photos by Martin Hugall

Buddhist Visit

Sadhujivin, a monk of the Western Buddhist Order, visited Friends' School Saffron Walden recently and spoke to Year 8 students as part of their study of the religions of India. He talked about the spirit of Buddhism meaning that we should be more awake to reality. He urged the students to see themselves as unique and precious, and as essential to the universe as one tiny piece of a huge jigsaw. He explained that we have no need to fear death because we are part of the great cycle of death, life and renewal.

Two members of the Harlow Buddhist community then explained to the students how they had come to follow this religion and what it meant to them.

One Year 8 parent said it had made a very strong impression on the students to meet someone who had dedicated their life to their religion.

Helen Golden, Head of Religious Studies at Friends' School Saffron Walden, said that this speaker had shown that religion is not a dry, dusty theoretical subject but is a vibrant, dynamic force in people's lives. 'Sadhujivin showed us that Religious Studies is not about learning about the past but is about applying those ideas to the world of today," she said.

Friday 4 March - snow but school as normal.

Successful School Ski Trip Returns February 05

30 pupils in years 5 to 8 have recently returned from a week of skiing in Claviere in Italy. "Great weather and a fabulous ski school" said Jenny Allwood who organised the school ski trip.

Click on the above photos to enlarge. Click here to see more photos.

National Sudan 1 Food Colouring Alert

Our caterer Gary Oakshot has checked the Sudan 1 products lists on the Food Standards Agency website at www.food.gov.uk, and as far as he is aware we have not been using any of the products listed.

Outcome of Fundraising Events for our Tsunami Appeal, as of 24th February 2005

Donated to UNICEF - Non-uniform day - £219, Austerity lunch - £59.52
and Sixth form sale of Pizzas - £145.35 making a total of £423.87 which has already been sent to UNICEF

To the Disaster Emergency Fund - The £377 from staff donations for 'an hour of time' has already been sent off to the DEF.

To support our 3 year project 'Sponsor a School in Sri Lanka' - Rock Concert organised by the Sixth Form - £509.84, Staff donation - £25, Year 7 Cake Sale - £74, Year 9 Pancake Sale - £81.58, Valentine Disco organised by Year 11 - £239.75, Money from extra overnight boarders - £70

This means that we are able to bank £1,000.17 towards our 3 year 'Sponsor a School in Sri Lanka' project.

So overall the Senior School has raised over £1,800 for the Tsunami Appeal.

The Junior School raised £3,000 through their 'Swimathon'. This is normally split between the Alex Ruffell Memorial Fund which supports a school in Zimbabwe and the Junior School. On this occasion the £1,500 which would have gone into Junior School funds will be put towards our whole school Sri Lanka Project.

More information about our 'Sponsor a school in Sri Lanka' project to follow. In the meantime you might like to visit their website at http://www.adoptsrilanka.com

It is heartening to note that some of the most lucrative fund raising events were run entirely by our pupils and in most cases it was the pupils who came forward with the ideas. Well done to all who participated and supported these fund raising events. We still need to raise more money for our longer term Sri Lanka project over the next 3 years.

Andy Waters

Additions to the Website

Music Austria Tour October 2004 Click on the photo to see more

Year 8 Normandy Trip June/July 2004 Click on the photo to see more

Year 9 Pancake Sale on Shrove Tuesday in aid of our Tsunami Appeal 8 Feb 05

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge

"We made about 170 pancakes in the Food Technology lesson with Year 9 pupils working brilliantly. We raised £81.58 in total. Well done to all."
Catherine Whyte.

School Rock Concert in aid of our Tsunami Appeal.
	A great success - this concert raised over £500. Thanks to all who performed, helped, and supported this event. Click here or on the photo to see more

NEW LEAGUE TABLES SHOW VALUE AT FRIENDS'

Friends' School Saffron Walden is among the top schools in the country in delivering a "value added" education: improving pupils' achievement between Key Stage 2 and GCSE.

The DfES Achievement and Attainment Tables, published on Thursday, show that Friends' was in the top 25% of schools nationally and one of the top schools within the area, with a "value added" score of 1037.4.

The "value added" score is based on a comparison of the results achieved by students at Key Stage 2, aged 11, and at GCSE level, aged 16. This year is the first time that this measure has been published and it is designed to show the impact that a school has had on its students.

"We are delighted that one of the true strengths of Friends' School has at last been nationally recognised," says Head Andy Waters.

"Although I strongly believe that education is about far more than just league tables and raw results, this new measure is important because it reflects the quality of teaching in a school and shows clearly that our pupils achieve beyond initial expectations."

Thursday 13th January 2005

'Our Seasonal Words and Music' performed by the Senior and Junior Schools at St Mary's Church on Wednesday 15th December 2005

School Christmas lunch on Tuesday 14th December Decorations by Marietta Zang Photo by Sally Kikaya - click to enlarge

Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to all

Friends' Supports Amnesty International

Students 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.

Over 150 cards were signed by pupils and staff at the school. These 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.

The local organisers said "We were delighted by the level of support shown again this year by the pupils at Friends' School."

9 Dec 04

Quaker Homeless Action Christmas Shelter Appeal

This year we are asking pupils to donate: TOILETRIES eg. Soap, flannel, shower gel, shampoo,toothpaste, toothbrush, nailbrush, shaving foam, disposable razor TOWELS old, but clean and still serviceable

To make the gift more festive, cover top and bottom of the box separately with wrapping paper. Put an elastic band round the box if possible.

No box? Not enough to fill a box? No problem - bring loose items too.

Collection point: clearly sign-posted outside Reception in the entrance hall of the senior school from Monday 6th December to Friday 17th December.

Further details from Christine Sleight or Ann Fear.

Click here to find out more about 'Quaker Homeless Action'.

International Evening 25th November 04 A great success Click here to see more

The World Cries Out for Justice and Peace

This wall hanging was inspired by a painting by Oliver Jarman when she was a pupil in Year 7. Click on the photo on the right to see a larger version of this patchwork wall hanging which is normally hung in the dining hall.

Students from Year 7 worked to create her design on a giant scale, by tearing and decorating strips of fabric, using batik, fabric paint, sequins and ribbons. It was then pieced together and finished by Religious Studies teacher Helen Golden. The whole project took two years to complete and Olivia chose the words from Quaker Faith and Practice.

Serena O'Connor, her art teacher said of Olivia's work, "Olivia was very nervous and tentative when she started this painting. She loved the warm colours of the sunset that dissolved into the silhouette. It was wonderful to see her confidence and enjoyment grow as the painting began to unfold and reveal itself"

Press Release

Friends' School Saffron Walden, which recently celebrated its Tercentenary, moved to the town into a brand new building in 1879. This building is now in need of substantial restoration and repair. In addition, recent increases in pupil numbers mean that the School needs to create more teaching space, particularly for the Junior School.

The Governors have commissioned a study to assess the building needs in more detail, and to produce a master plan to guide the School's building development for the future. Part of this study is exploring how to fund the likely building programme.

Another significant element of the study involves looking at ways of extending the community use of Friends' School facilities; these are already used on a regular basis by twenty-two local organisations ranging from sports clubs to performing arts groups.

At present, the work is still in its early stages. However, we hope to hold a series of discussions and open consultations with the local community, our parents, pupils and friends in the New Year.

Andy Waters
Head

November 15th 2004

World Challenge Expeditions - an opportunity for an expedition from Friends' School for students in Years 10, 11 and 6i.

Planning is now underway for a World Challenge expedition that will take 20 students away from their comfort zone and into a new experience. World challenge Expeditions guide us through the planning process and provide support both in the UK and overseas.

The next step in the process, which takes about 18 months, is a presentation to pupils and parents in the next few weeks. However , if you would like more information in the meantime then visit the World Challenge website at www.world.challenge.co.uk or click on the above photo. Go to 'What can I do?', then 'With my School' and look at 'Overseas 16-18' and read the information.

Guy Martin

District Cross-Country

Friends’ sent a 40 strong team of Years 7 to 9 to the District Cross Country at Saffron Walden County High last Wednesday. Competing against much larger schools puts us at a disadvantage but a 3rd place for the Year 7 girls in the team event was a real highlight. This was due to the outstanding running of Eliza Walter, Emma Taylor and Laura Flynn, who were placed 1st, 3rd and 6th respectively. Other placings worth mentioning were Bethan Waters who came 4th in the Year 8 girls, Jimmy Hall 9th in the Year 8 boys, Fred Whitfield 6th and Sam Richardson 2nd in the Year 9 boys. All in all a very successful and enjoyable afternoon.

Year 10 Geography Field Trip to the Lake District September 2004 Click on the photo to see more.

Sixth Form Quaker Pilgrimage Sept 2004 - to explore the roots of Quakerism. Click on the photo to see more.

Sixth Form Residential Trip to Bowles Rock Outdoor Centre Sept 2004 Click on the photo to see more.

GCSE and AS/A Level Art Coursework June 2004. Click on the photo to see some examples of students' work.

French Exchange visit : 11th to 19th October.

Click on the photo to enlarge

The French students from Le Collège la Révolution, Nîmes have enjoyed their stay with their partners. They have explored the local area and included in their diary accounts of their visits to Cambridge, London and Stratford upon Avon. We had a joint day out to London, went to see The Thames Barrier and were given valuable information about it. After this, we had a guided tour of the East end of London and went to the London Dungeons to find out about the terrifying events in Britain's history: Jack the Ripper's London, the plague of 1665 and the 1666 Great Fire of London.

The group had another day to London to see the much acclaimed 3-D Mummy exhibition at The British Museum, and they have been on a Shakespeare's trail to The Globe Theatre and various famous sights in Stratford upon Avon. The French students attended lessons and helped with the French Café on the School's Open Morning.

All were very happy with their partners, so were their teachers hosted by Brigid Fischer-Vousden, Janice Weatherall and. myself.

They will leave with fond memories of their stay and wish to thank all at the school who helped to make this a successful experience. A big thank you to parents who returned so well the hospitality of the French families.

Gisèle Searle-Barnes.

Music Austria Tour

Click on the photo to see more

Ian Rowe and 4 other members of staff will be accompanying 42 of our musicians from years 5 to 6i to Austria. The party leaves on Wednesday 20th October and returns during half term on Tuesday 26th.

They will be performing three concerts whilst away: The first to local primary schools, the second at a retirement home and the third at a spa resort.

There will also be excursions which will include a trip to Hohenwerfen Castle, Ice Caves, Salt Mines, Tour of Salzburg, and visit to Mozart's Birthplace.

We wish them all an enjoyable and successful tour.

To see the updated programme for weekend outings for boarders click here. Day pupils are welcome if there is room.

Sixth Form Challenge

On Monday 4th October 2004, all the sixth form were involved in a day of leadership skills presented by World Challenge Expeditions, allowing them to experience a different side of leadership, involving discussion and activities.

Click here to download the latest term dates up to and including Summer 2006.

Students from Chile entertain the School

15 Year 9 students from the Mayflower School in Santiago in Chile, who are staying at the Bell College this week, talked about their country and danced for us in assembly on Monday.

Start of Autumn Term 2004 Year 10 pupils during their 2 day study skills induction to their GCSE courses. A 1 day course on revision skills was also arranged for all pupils in Year 11.

Do have a look at the new departmental pages which are continuously evolving. See the index top left or click here

GCSE and A Level Results Summer 2004

'Best GCSE results for over ten years'. Click on the photo to find out more about our GCSE and A level results for 2004.

Click here to see Junior School Key Stage 1 and 2 results.

Year 9 Trip to Holland June~July 2004 Click on the photo to see more

Summer Ball June 2004 at Duxford Click on the photo to see more

'Six One Goes to Glasgow' 28 June to 1 July 2004 - during the School's summer activity week. Click on the photo to see more

Sports Afternoon 9th June Tuke 484, Mennell 479 and Lister 394 Click here to see photos

ESOL trip to York 7 - 9 May 2004 Click on the photo to see more

French Exchange 17 - 25 April 2004 Nimes Click on the photo to see more

German Exchange 2004 Click on the photo to see more