Broadoak Students Excel
Tuesday, 24 August 2010 13:15
Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College are celebrating their excellent GCSE results. The overall A* -C results are the best ever at 64% an impressive increase of 8% on
the previous year’s results. Particularly impressive are the improvements in Maths and ICT results with almost all students gaining A*-C in ICT. Headteacher Shelagh Pritchard commented “The improvements across the board reflect the huge amount of hard work put in by all the teachers and students. We have held additional sessions for those requiring extra support, even holding revision classes on Saturdays and in the half term, which were really well attended. This is my first year as Headteacher at Broadoak and I have been so impressed by the commitment of all the students, the enthusiasm of the staff and the amount of parental support given to the school.”
Broadoak College are delighted with their first ever results for the ICT Diploma which is equivalent to seven GCSEs, with students achieving outstanding results across not only their academic examinations but also for their work-based projects. The Diploma encompasses a wide range of skills including innovation, communication and personal learning and thinking skills
Those students who did particularly well are Callum Grayson and Katie Davies who both gained an amazing 16 GCSE top grade qualifications, Christopher Wall gained 14 passes, 10 of which were A* or A grades and over 30 students gained 12 GCSEs or more at A*-C grades.
The majority of Broadoak’s students will go on to Weston or Bridgwater Colleges for the next stage of their education. All the staff and governors at the school would like to congratulate the students on their excellent results and wish them all the best for the future.
The next academic year is looking very exciting for the college, especially with the teaching and learning enhancements offered by the Royal Shakespeare Company partnership and the development of their extensive extra- curricular and outreach programmes.
Broadoak’s Sports Day Success
Thursday, 22 July 2010 07:53
Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College held its biggest Sports Event for 7 years on 28 June.
Broadoak’s Sports Day was a huge success with the majority of the students taking part in a range of track and field events. The participants were from Years 7-10, the Year 11s having now left after completing their GCSE’s.
The students enthusiastically supported their friends from their Tutor Groups and winners were rewarded with medals, the Year Group competition winners received a shield.
Students took part in a number of track events from 100metres to 1500 metres and produced record breaking achievements in the shot, discus, javelin and long jump.
Sports Day Records
Year 7
Amy Clist - 200m
Beryl Tebug - Javelin
Conner Sheppard - Shot Put
Bradley Williams - Javelin
Year 8
Alex Seymour - 100m
Alex Seymour - Long Jump
Jake Harper - 200m
Year 9
Nichol Smith - 100m
Victoria Horsburgh - Shot Put
Lewis Vick - 800m
Kerrin Hawkings - Long Jump
Year 10
Lewis Clarke - 100m
Jake Hobden - Shot Put
Luke Jacobs - 1500m
Showcase of the Creative Arts
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 15:46
On July 6th, Broadoak held its fifth annual Showcase of the Creative Arts.
Held in the College’s Centre of Excellence, the event showcased the very best that our students have achieved over the previous year in Art, Photography, Product Design, Food Technology, Music, Dance and Drama.
The Centre of excellence was transformed into an art gallery for the evening, and the snack bar became a stylish piano lounge, as guests were treated to a stunning display of talent and creativity, which surpassed even last year’s superb show.
The outstanding skills of Broadoak students were highlighted in a huge variety of media and techniques; exquisite fashion textiles, fluent piano-playing, classical sculptures, vibrant paintings and bravura dramatic performances, to name but a few.
Our guests’ response was highly enthusiastic, as was their appreciation of the refreshments provided, including delicious snacks created by Miss Lee and her Y11 Food Technology students.
The event amply demonstrated the excellence of the arts experience offered to students at Broadoak, which has won us the coveted Artsmark Silver Award from Arts Council England; but above all , it was a tribute to the extraordinary dedication, commitment and ability of our student artists.
Year 11 Prom
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 19:39
Over 130 of Broadoak’s Year 11 students stepped out in style at this year Prom on 1st July on a stunning summer’s evening. The event was held at the Hilton Cadbury House in Congresbury.
Students arrived in a host of exciting vehicles including stretched limos, vintage cars, a fire engine and even an ice-cream van! Some took to two wheels and arrived on a gleaming Harley Davidson. The girls looked fabulous in their beautiful gowns and dresses and the boys looked exceptionally handsome in their suits and tuxedos. Everyone enjoyed a farewell disco with a delicious buffet.
On hand was the local press from the Weston Mercury and the pictures can been seen on the paper’s website the link is below and will be featured in the paper.
http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/content/twm/flatfiles/photos/proms10.aspx
A professional photographer took stunning photographs throughout the evening. Photos are now available to order directly from the photographer from £5 for single prints to £25 for a 2010 Prom Photo book. Please visit to www.sharontaylorphotography.co.uk for more details.
The Family is the Centre of Learning at Broadoak
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 15:03
Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College invited Year 6 families to a range of family workshops on Thursday 1st July in preparation for September 2010.
Families enjoyed the art of making fresh bread with Ms Lee, bread with dried tomato, poppy and pumpkin seeds was baked and savoured fresh from the oven!
Caribbean magic with North Somerset Music Service’s steel band showed families how to stage a stunning performance with a powerful pulse and fierce rhythms.
Martin Dewhirst, a trained Forest Skills Leader showed families how to make a musical instrument, ‘a kazoo’, using hazelwood. Forest Skills workshops are an innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning. 
Dancers showed great achievement in performance skills and choreography during a short workshop with ‘Danceworks’.
Family photography was creative fun, families were introduced to image-editing techniques using ‘Photoshop’ and finished with a family photograph in a bespoke frame created with the help of local artist Sally Corney.
Families attending the workshops said, ‘They were all fun and I really enjoyed them’, ‘It was challenging, but fun’, and ’It was nice to be on my own with my mum’.
Xanne Blythe, Partnership Manager (Extended Services) said, ‘The benefits of family learning are far reaching, building strong relationships, involving parents in their children’s learning and ensuring home-school communication’.
Phyllis Selby, Parent Support Advisor said, ‘The workshops enabled families and their children to have a fantastic time and feel more confident about starting school in September 2010’.
Look out for future family learning activities at Broadoak from September with Family Animation, Family Web Page Design and Family Art workshops.
To book a place or for more information call Xanne Blythe on telephone 01934 422000.
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Maths Challenge
Tuesday, 29 June 2010 17:53
In April, 87 students from years 7 and 8 took part in the Junior United Kingdom Mathematical Trust (UKMT) challenge. It is aptly named as this is indeed a challenge with questions designed to engage and enhance pupils’ mathematical thinking. All the questions are multiple choice but the last 10 questions actually incur penalties for incorrect answers! It is aimed at higher performing students and of those that take part 40% are awarded a certificate. Approximately half of these will be bronze certificates, a third will be silver and the remaining sixth will gain gold!
Our students performed really well with plenty of certificates awarded. However, David Gwyer did exceptionally well gaining our only gold certificate and consequently the best in school certificate also.
The following students gained a silver certificate: Tom Lloyd-Evans; William Dix McGrath; Harvey Thompson; Emily Horsburgh; Jack Crundwell; Jennie Kuht; Faye Williams; Luke Hibbs; Alistair Creaven; Ryan Heeney and Tom Hale.
These students gained bronze: April Staines; Michael McLoughlin; Koren Mcintosh; Jamie Smith; Michael Saunders; William Plimmer; Annly Stephen; Carla Middleton; Lauren Trevitt; Samuel Shortman and Joshua Martyn.
We look forward to all students taking part again next year and hopefully gaining even more certificates. Also all the students will be eligible for the team challenge, which was reported on earlier this year, where we hope to enter two teams next year!
Broadoak School Teams Up with the Royal Shakespeare Company
Tuesday, 22 June 2010 18:25
At the end of 2009 Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College, in Weston super Mare, was approached by the Royal Shakespeare Company to be one of only 10 schools in the UK to join the RSC’s Learning and Performance Network. Supported by North Somerset’s Find Your Talent programme their bid was successful, and they have now entered into an exciting three year partnership with the RSC.
Broadoak’s application was successful as the RSC was very impressed with the school’s vision of how the programme could work within their school improvement aspirations, the school’s capacity to build partnerships with a cluster of local schools and the profile of the students. In September nearly 800 Students from the Broadoak cluster will be travelling on two outings to Stratford to see performances of Hamlet and the Comedy of Errors followed by workshops to increase their understanding and appreciation.
Shelagh Pritchard, Headteacher comment “We are delighted to be part of this exciting and innovative programme, it will give all our students here at Broadoak, and the Year 6 pupils in our cluster, a positive experience of Shakespeare and have a significant impact on their Literacy Curriculum. We will be taking part in a host of performance projects, as well as international events over the next three years. We aim to make the most of this new partnership.”
Broadoak’s success will be shared by Year 6 and Year 8 pupils from 12 Schools who will be taking part in a whole range of activities. Workshops will be held to build upon their understanding of Shakespeare with different plays being performed by members of the RSC in the Primary School’s during the summer term, prior to their trips to Stratford. Many of these children will continue to enjoy this educational journey as they will be joining Broadoak as Year 7 students in the new school year.
The team at Broadoak School have already played a major part in two North Somerset initiatives connected to the RSC partnership, called Find Your Talent and the Join up Join In programme. Xanne Blythe, the school’s Partnership Manager has organised all these events and added “The aim of Find Your Talent is to find new ways of engaging young people with culture, developing young people’s aspiration, motivation and self esteem. The Join Up Join in Programme offers funding to economically disadvantaged children to increase their engagement with learning. These two initiatives will provide funding for additional support to all the Weston school s in our cluster, for extra Inset Training, it’s an amazing opportunity for us all.”
The students from Broadoak will also be able to take part in the World Shakespeare Festival, which will be a series of high-profile collaborative productions with UK theatre companies and their international counterparts from ten Olympic nations, starting on Shakespeare’s birthday, 23 April 2012, as part of the Olympic celebrations.
Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College awarded Artsmark Silver
Thursday, 17 June 2010 20:27
Arts Council England has awarded Artsmark Silver to Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College in recognition of the school’s commitment to, and excellence in, arts education. Broadoak is part of the National Artsmark Award programme along with other schools across the UK, who received an Artsmark award this year. This award is nationally recognised as a prestigious and coveted award and sets the standard for outstanding arts provision in schools.
Shelagh Pritchard, Headteacher said “I’m delighted that the Arts Council has recognised our school’s dynamic arts education programme. Our students have really enjoyed working with Artists including Ken Sutherland, Julie Starks and David Kemp. We are also very fortunate that our partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company brings us many opportunities for the arts too. Our students have also enjoyed working with vocal coach, Jodie Bridgman, photographer Martin Edwards and well-known local story teller Jane Flood. Our students really benefit from the interaction with these professionals and become more self confident, engaged and excited about their learning.”
Alan Davey , Chief Executive , Arts Council England said: “Arts Council England believes that the earlier children are creatively inspired , the more likely they are to have a lifelong engagement with art.
Throughout this summer term Broadoak will be sharing it’s curriculum of art and creativity with 10 other Weston super Mare schools through their Royal Shakespeare Company programme as well as offering an extensive programme of summer holiday activities.
Fame Production photos
Wednesday, 12 May 2010 17:33
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Mathletics at Broadoak
Tuesday, 04 May 2010 19:45
Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College welcomed their prospective Year 6 students and families to an array of after-school fun filled family workshops on 27 and 28 April 2010.
Workshops focused on mathematical applications, Bristol City Football Club coaches gave football skills workshops, local artist Sally Corney offered T-shirt design working with geometric tangram shapes, developing spatial-visualisation skills, at the same time reinforcing geometrical concepts.
Families also tried their hand at Mathletics, an interactive computer game with Mandy Thorpe, Playing for Success Manager. Mathletics enabled families to compete with other worldwide players and go head to head with fun mathematical games at all levels. Students were given free access to the Mathletics website for 10 days, to continue practising maths at home.
60 family members took part in a fabulous free prize draw which included a privileged Bristol City stadium tour on Saturday 24 April, football coaching, family interactive games and quizzes in the Bristol City support suite. Families ended a perfect day with complimentary tickets in the family enclosure to the final home match of the season with a 16, 000 fan-filled stadium and a 2.1 win to Bristol City.
“This was our first football match that we had ever seen and we REALLY enjoyed it; we would like to see another. I really enjoyed the football coaching, and I know that my dad did to, (although I had to persuade him a little to join in). I enjoyed the whole trip and thought the park was lovely. Me and my dad (Rob) would like to say a very big thank you to you all, I can’t wait to be part of Broadoak College! “ Polly Scott
Xanne Blythe, Partnership Manager (Extended Schools) said, “Family activities can go a long way to ease a student’s transition into Secondary school. There will be numerous opportunities for our Year 6 students to visit Broadoak before September 2010 with after school activities in July plus a treasure hunt and a varied menu of activities set for the Summer”.
A Fishy lesson for year 11 Food Technology
Wednesday, 28 April 2010 19:48
As part of the revision for GCSE Food Technology Miss Lee invited the Fishmonger from Seafoods Fishmongers, Burnham on Sea, to demonstrate filleting different fish.
Fishmonger, Matt Wright came to school with a variety of fish, ranging from cod and mackerel to sea bass, oysters and scallops. Matt has won a number of awards for filleting fish and was keen to share his passion for fish with the year 11 students.
He started off filleting and gutting a rather ugly Gurnard fish, which immediately grabbed the year 11's attention. He then quickly and skillfully filleted some cod, while Becky Latham and Miss Lee coated it in flour and fried them. A luxurious alternative to fish fingers.
The year 11 students were adenturous in trying new fish and a favourite was the grilled seabass. All the students really enjoyed the experience, asking excellent questions and trying new foods. Sam Mitchell was the most daring and was the only one to try an oyster-he said. 'it was very salty!' The Food Technology group are now raring to go with their 'Fish' revision thanks to a brilliant hands on lesson with 'Seafoods' and fishmonger Matt Wright.
IT Diploma Success at Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College
Friday, 02 April 2010 11:11
Friday 26th March 2010 saw the first ever Delivering Diploma National Awards to celebrate innovation, best practice and passion in Diploma delivery held at the prestigious Landmark Hotel in London. There were more than 120 nominations across five categories and two Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College Information Technology Diploma students - Callum Grayson 11M and Daryl Tebug 11W - were lucky enough to have made it through to the final for the Student of the Year category.
Accompanied by Miss Mitchell and a guest from their family, Callum and Daryl set off to London on a mini-bus to be welcomed at the 5* hotel with a champagne (or orange juice) reception followed by interviews on camera for Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency and photographs for the Delivering Diplomas magazine.
After a delicious 3 course lunch, the ceremony began....Callum and Daryl were feeling the nerves. “Student of the Year” was the third category and each finalist had a testimonial read about them from the previous categories so there was quite a wait. Finally, the category arrived....two other finalists names were announced as runners up and the tension mounted even more. Unfortunately neither won the title of “Student of the Year” - they were beaten by a very worthy Level 3 student but Callum and Daryl both achieved a High Commendation for their achievements over the past 18 months.
The three other finalists they were up against were all Level 3 students (16-18 years of age) and as Level 2 students, Callum and Daryl should be very pleased to have reached the final five. Congratulations to Callum and Daryl!
In addition, North Somerset 14-19 Consortium were finalists in the “Consortium of the Year” up against some well established consortiums from across the country...and won! Congratulations to all involved in the delivery of the Diplomas in North Somerset and this can be seen as a recognition of everyone's hard work over the past few years.
A brilliant (but long) day had by all!
North Somerset Dance Festival
Wednesday, 31 March 2010 07:25
Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College Year 11 dance students took part in the North Somerset Dance Festival on Wednesday 24th March. The event was held at the Playhouse Theatre and was organised by the SSCO. This is the third year that they have run the event and the success of it seems to be rising.
The students who took part have been attending Dance Club which is held on Tuesday nights. They have been working on a dance which is a mixture of styles, combining Contemporary, Street and Ballet together. The music is a mix of songs by the group Utah Saints where they have put together 71 songs in 5 minutes, these songs range from Kate Bush to LL Cool J and Donna Summer with the style of dance reflecting the music throughout. The dance was a greatly received by the organisers and blew the audience away not only with the funky dance moves but the costumes that the students created together.
The evening was a real success with Broadoak students being the oldest performers there that night. All of the students had a fantastic experience and are pleased that their last performance as Broadoak students for the festival was such a success. They would like to thank all who were involved in organising it.
The Great British Elm Experiment: Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College plants an Elm tree for the future of the species.
Friday, 26 March 2010 18:35
Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College has been chosen as one of the first 250 schools to take part in The Conservation Foundation’s Great British Elm Experiment. Year 11 students as part of a Forest School Initiative being run at Broadoak have planted what is hoped will be an Elm tree which is resistant to Dutch elm Disease. The tree was planted in the Bluebell Field at the Plantation Uphill with the kind permission of the Woodland Trust who own and manage the site.
Successive generations of pupils will be monitoring and caring for the elm tree over the years from sapling upwards in an experiment to unlock the mystery of why some trees survived Dutch elm disease which killed 25 million elms from the 1960s onwards. Students will be logging their elm’s progress over time on the Conservation Foundation website www.conservationfoundation.co.uk. Height, girth, biodiversity and any signs of Dutch elm disease will be recorded and it is hoped that with time – and luck - a new generation of elms will become established throughout the country and a new generation will be encouraged to have an interest in elms and biodiversity.
Mr Dewhirst, of Broadoak said “We are delighted to have been chosen to be one of the first schools to join the experiment. We applied for an elm because it is a great opportunity for students to have a first hand experience of a conservation project to try and bring back a species of tree which has disappeared from our landscape. Future generations of students will be involved to monitor and log its progress so this will be a long term project which we hop will last for many years. ”
This new national elm planting campaign is using young trees propagated from mature healthy native elms which The Conservation Foundation has discovered still growing in the English countryside. It is part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of Elms Across Europe, the project which led to the setting up of the Foundation by David Shreeve and David Bellamy in 1982.
UKMT Team Mathematics Challenge
Monday, 22 March 2010 19:15
On Friday 19th March four students from Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College visited the Royal High School in Bath where they competed in the UKMT Team Maths Challenge. Jake Johnson, Tom Lloyd-Evans and Faye Williams in year 8 and Harriett Cooke in year 9 took part in the four rounds of the challenge.
First was the group competition where the team worked together to solve ten mathematically challenging problems. They needed to decide their own strategy: whether to work in pairs, individually or as a team, to answer the questions in the time allowed.
Next came the “crossnumber round,” similar to a crossword but with numerical answers. The teams worked in pairs with one pair working on the across clues, and the other pair on the down clues. In this round our team really excelled, putting their teamwork skills to good use and earning themselves a fantastic result.
The final two rounds were the “head-to-head competition” and the relay race which was not only mentally challenging but physically exhausting!
The students left feeling very tired but proud of themselves and looking forward to the opportunity to compete again next year.
Karate Champion strikes Gold
Sunday, 21 March 2010 13:25
On 27th and 28th of February 2010, Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College Year 11 Student, Sam Difford (competing for Oldmixon and Uphill Karate Kai Club) took part in the AMA International Karate Open at Sheffield Ponds-Forge International Sporting Arena.
Sam was competing under two weight categories, the 14-15 year old 63kg and under category, and the 14-15 year old open weight category, 90kg and under.
Sam was competing against the top fighters from a number of different countries, including England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Iran.
Fighting in his weight category of 63kg and under, Sam fought his way through 5 difficult rounds to reach the final where he met another English Competitor, and eventually won Gold and the title of AMA International Karate Open 14-15 years -63kg Champion.
Each round consists of a time limit and/or an eight point winning margin, Sam’s feat was made even more impressive because he only gave away 4 points in the entire competition!
Fighting in the more difficult 14-15 year old 90kg and under ‘open weight’ category, Sam fought many competitors who were a lot heavier and stronger than him. Amazingly Sam progressed through 3 rounds to narrowly lose in the semi-final to the eventual winner of the competition. In the reportage (3rd/4th place play off), Sam was victorious against a Welsh Competitor to claim a highly impressive 3rd place overall in the AMA International Karate Open 14-15 years -90kg Open.
Congratulations Sam, you showed true ‘pride in excellence’ in this competition- Well Done!
If you are interested in taking up Karate with Oldmixon and Uphill Karate Kai Club please contact Sensei Wendy White (4th Dan) 01934 814550. The Karate club train at Oldmixon Primary School on Wednesdays at 7.30pm, and Uphill Victory Hall on Fridays at 7.30pm
The Family Stories Project Launches
Thursday, 11 March 2010 16:16
Delivered by Exley Edwards, film maker and Jane Flood, Storyteller
Extended Services has teamed up with Find Your Talent to produce the
‘Family Stories’ Project.
Year 7 and Year 8 families at Broadoak are invited to take part in this exciting film making pilot project.
Working with film maker Exley Edwards and storyteller Jane Flood families will be guided through the process of creating a narrative, the techniques of film making and have the opportunity to make a film in their own home with their family.
The subject matter of the films will be food, how it’s prepared, the ingredients used, food for special occasions or just about anything else based on food in the family.
No experience or special skills are required just the willingness to share your food stories and to have fun. All equipment supplied.
This project will start after Easter and the films will be edited and completed ready for showing early next autumn.
There will be two after-school workshops and one “Make a Film in a Day” Saturday workshop. Families will be guided, helped and facilitated to make their very own family food film in their home.
This is an exciting chance to work together with your families, to learn new skills and who knows maybe we have the next Stephen Spielberg or Nigella Lawson in North Somerset. This project will be part of ‘Your North Somerset’ festival and a Storytelling festival early next year.
Broadoak’s Poetry Slam Champs
Tuesday, 09 March 2010 19:18
On Friday the 5th of March, the Western Federation of Schools annual poetry Slam was held at Worle School. Thirteen students from year 9 were taken and, following a morning workshop, had to write a completely original poem and then perform it in front of a panel of judges and other competitors from four Weston Schools.
Ironically, Daisy Davidson, Jess Rampling and Rachel Price brought the Slam title back to Broadoak, and took the individual team gold, with a stunning performance of a poem called Winning isn’t Everything. The poem was about taking pride in what you do, and it was certainly a fitting end to the day given the tremendous effort and enthusiasm all the students put in. They really did the school proud.Broadoak‘s first in school radio podcast
Monday, 08 March 2010 18:50
Broadoak produced its very first radio podcast on Thursday 4th March, when Fabiola and Sapphire from Literacy Club, became radio presenters reporting on what they have been doing in Literacy Support, as well as advertising the school’s eagerly awaited production of ‘Fame.’
The first podcast was enthusiastically listened to by Mrs. Truss and Mr. Foale who were thrilled to be invited to the launch.
Primary School Netball Tournament at Broadoak
Thursday, 04 March 2010 19:09
Broadoak hosted the annual primary school Netball tournament for the Wyvern and Broadoak cluster of schools on Wednesday 24th February. Students from Bournville, Corpus Christi, Christchurch, Windwhistle, and Ashcombe competed against each other to earn the right to represent our cluster at the North Somerset partnership finals.
Each team was mentored by a Year 10 student who helped to coach them throughout their matches and give them advice on how they could improve as the afternoon progressed. The Year 10 students were also involved in umpiring a section of the tournament.
In the lead up to the tournament each school had been receiving coaching from Victoria Eddins which had been funded through the school sports coaching programme, a national initiative.
The feedback from schools regarding the coaching has been extremely positive and there was definitely an improvement in playing standards so thank you to Victoria.
Christchurch school emerged as winners at the end of the afternoon having one all of their games so congratulations to them and a big thank you to the students who made the afternoon a huge success..
