News from the School
​
Biology Field Trip to Fingringhoe Wick
​
In September last year,Year 11 went to Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve, to undertake ecology-based practicals, for their GCSE Biology course. The day consisted of identifying and comparing species of plants, making ‘mud pies’ to determine the soil type of the areas where we undertook random sampling to compare biodiversity and line transects to examine the impact of trampling on plant species. We also undertook some pond dipping with identification of the invertebrates to determine the water quality, using the Trent Biotic Index. We enhanced our classroom study of conservation with a talk on the project Fingringhoe have undertaken with the Environment Agency of Colchester, by breaching the seawall and flooding former agricultural land. In doing so they have created new salt marsh - a popular habitat for many birds.
Fortunately, the sun shone and all girls found a new appreciation for the biodiverse rich area of Fingringhoe Wick. With water boatmen, midge pupa and dragonfly larvae all being spotted in the ponds, it is clear to see the whole of Year 11 have taken to ecology – inspired by the widely knowledgeable staff at the nature reserve.
​
Rachel Hoddell
​
​
Piano Masterclass
​
​
​
​
​
Richard Meyrick is a professional pianist who performs and teaches in and around London. He founded and directs the Piano Studio in Mayfair and he created the Pianoman programme, where he gives masterclasses to young people throughout the UK. The class gave us an insight into his technical mastery and practising techniques; interpretation of musical character and composers’ ideas; and the passionate performance of sections from a variety of pieces from Baroque to Romantic. The audience enjoyed the questioning he used to involve us in thinking about musical ideas. Students playing in the masterclass included A-Level students Leila Hua, Mia Standen and Alex Webster-Hirst, as well as Helena Exley and Eirys Proselkov. With the help of Richard Meyrick, every pianist improved her already enjoyable performance and we all
learnt a lot about how to practise and perform professionally. Overall, it was a very inspiring masterclass from Richard Meyrick and both the performers and audience left with a greater understanding of the subtleties of music.
Flautist Lottie Anstee went on to win Chelmsford Rotary Club’s Young Musician of the Year in January, enchanting the audience with her performances of Poulenc's Sonata (first movement) and Sunday Morning, a modern piece composed by Ian Clarke. She was accompanied on the piano by her brother, Edward. The judges said 'stunning performance' with an 'absolutely fabulous sound' - and gave a few useful tips for improvement.
​
Lottie Anstee
​
​
Progress 8
​
New figures from the Department for Education released in January show that students who took their GCSEs last summer made more progress, as judged by the new Progress 8 measure, in their time here than at any other school in Essex. The school also ranks 8th, nationally, for Attainment 8, with an average score of 80.7.
Progress 8 is a new government measure of the progress that students make from arrival in Year 7 until GCSE results. Based on the student’s best 8 GCSE grades, including English and Maths, if a student makes the progress expected, the school’s Progress 8 score is 0.0. A score of 0.5 means pupils made on average, half a grade more progress across their subjects than expected. Our Progress 8 score of 0.91, means that students on average achieved almost a whole GCSE grade higher than they would have been expected to achieve. This is particularly pleasing given that students join us already achieving at a high level.
​
​