News. 26 September 2018 Evan Wood Black Stripe in Tae Kwondo

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1 News 26 September 2018 Evan Wood Black Stripe in Tae Kwondo Another Tae Kwondo success, this time with Evan Wood of Year 8 achieving his black stripe. Fantastic news, Evan, congratulations - black belt next! 26 September 2018 Welsh Schools FA Cup Progress Year 10 football squad beat Tredegar Comprehensive School 3-1 in their Welsh Schools FA Cup fixture this week, with Cian Trollope scoring two goals and Cowan Lewis one. Year 8 also won their match vs Caerleon, winning after a tense penalty shoot-out with goals from Evan Williams and James Holley. Great team play boys - congratulations on your well-deserved wins. 21 September 2018 Literacy & Numeracy Voice Team IHS now has a Literacy & Numeracy Voice Team whose role is to look at how literacy and numeracy is working across the school curriculum, from a pupil s perspective. The team will feed back their ideas and findings each week and will make a valued contribution in the development of this area. 21 September 2018 Cody Butler Black Stripe in Tae Kwondo Cody Butler of Year 8 won his black stripe (1 st Kup) in Tae Kwondo this weekend he s just one step away from achieving his black belt. Congratulations, Cody! 21 September 2018 S E Wales County Netball Squad Selections Congratulations to Jasmine Athwal, Isabel Clark, Lowri Stephens, Jessie Thomas, Abbie Williams and Hollie Williams on your selection for the S E Wales County Netball U16 squad. We would also like to wish good luck to Eloise Spacey who will be having a late trial for the squad. Keep us informed, girls! 20 September 2018 Year 8 Rugby Victory Our Year 8 rugby team scored a very impressive victory in their Caerphilly Cup match vs Bedwas Comprehensive this week 56 7! This is a fantastic start to the rugby season and we are sure the team will go from strength to strength. New players are welcome to join in training during Friday lunchtimes.

2 20 September 2018 Cody Butler Taekwondo News We are thrilled to hear that Cody Butler of Year 8 gained his black tag in Taekwondo this weekend. This is just one belt away from black belt and Cody must have worked extremely hard to get to this level. Congratulations, Cody! 17 September 2018 Dylan Hulbert Karate Success Dylan Hulbert (Year 10) achieved two Bronze medals in Kumite and Kata and Gold in the team Kumite this weekend at the Welsh Karate League competition in Neath - all good training for when he represents Wales in Malta in October. A great achievement, Dylan well done! 17 September 2018 Tia Lewis Karate News Tia Lewis of Year 9 won Bronze medal in advanced Kata as well as Gold in the team Kumite this weekend at the Welsh Karate League competition in Neath.What an excellent achievement. Fantastic news, Tia, well done! 17 September 2018 Ethan Hackland Blackwood Town U14s Player of the Match Congratulations to Ethan Hackland of Year 9 who was nominated Player of the Match this weekend by his team, Blackwood Town U14s. Well done, Ethan. 17 September 2018 Amy Oliver Team Gold in Gymnastics Amy Oliver of Year 8 competed at the Adrian Stan British Team Championships this weekend. Following a tremendous performance, Amy and her team took Gold. The photograph shows Amy competing on the beam. Fantastic, Amy congratulations.

3 12 September 2018 Senior Prefect Team Following a rigorous selection process, we are very proud to announce our new senior prefect team for this new academic year. Head Boy: Dylan Griffiths Head Girl: Megan Price Deputy Head Boys: Brandon Avery / Tobias Wells Deputy Head Girls: Lyra Davies / Bethan Pask Senior Prefects: Isabel Clark; Louise Cowell; Aaron Feist; Gabriella Lockwood; Jacob Probert; Jessie Thomas; Sophie Way We are confident that the team will do a fantastic job over the coming year congratulations to all. 5 September 2018 GCSE Successes The school is delighted with this year s GCSE performances for our hard working and committed Year 11 pupils. The school saw a 9% increase in the number of pupils achieving C grades or above in five GCSEs including English and maths. Well done to pupils and staff (and parents) on an impressive performance. 19 May 2018 Chloe Davies Welsh National Netball Club Championship Winner A massive well done to Chloe Davies (Year 7) and her Newbridge Under 13 Netball teammates who today not only competed in the Welsh National Club Championship, but went on to win! 20 May 2018 Grace Morgan Welsh Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion Congratulations to Grace Morgan of Year 7, who is now Welsh Champion in Under 12 Level 3 Rhythmic Gymnastics. A fantastic achievement, Grace! 18 May 2018 Cowan Lewis Bristol City Football Academy Cowan Lewis of Year 9 has just been signed up for another 2 year contract at Bristol City Academy. Congratulations, Cowan awesome news! 20 May 2018 Kaisha Bradley First 2k Run Well done to Kaisha Bradley of Year 8 who took part in her first 2k run this weekend in Caerphilly.

4 12 May 2018 Ellie Davies - USA Cheer Finals Success Great news from Las Vegas, where Ellie Davies of Year 8 and her Royal Diamonds cheer team competed in the US Finals they are now Level 2 Medium Champions What an amazing experience for Ellie and her team, and a fantastic result too congratulations! 12 May 2018 Ella Mitchell - S & E Wales Athletics Regional Championships A successful weekend too for Ella Mitchell of Year 7, taking Bronze in her age category in both hurdles and high jump in the championships in Cardiff. Well done, Ella! 12 May 2018 Caitlyn Mapps - S & E Wales Athletics Regional Championships Caitlyn Mapps of Year 10 achieved a very impressive haul of medals this weekend, winning THREE gold medals in the long jump, hurdles and 200m. She also achieved a huge personal best in the hurdles and is now ranked 3 rd in the UK. Superb, Caitlyn! 12 May 2018 William Davey - S & E Wales Athletics Regional Championships A fantastic result also for William Davey of Year 7, not only winning Bronze in the U13 boys 200m but also achieving a new personal best. Great work, William! 12 May 2018 S & E Wales Athletics Regional Championships William Hawker of Year 8 had a superb day at the Welsh Athletics regionals, taking Gold in the 100m and Silver in the 200m. Fantastic results, William, well done!

5 12 May 2018 S & E Wales Athletics Regional Championships A great weekend for Toks Akanbi-Mortimer of Year 8, competing in the Welsh Regional Championships in Cardiff and winning two Silver medals in the U15 high jump and hurdles. Congratulations, Toks! 9 May 2018 Year 8 Rugby - Runners-up at Monmouth 7s Tournament A big well done to our Year 8 boys rugby team who competed in the Monmouth 7s today. The boys had an excellent day of rugby, coming runners-up in the semi-finals to the eventual winners. A fantastic team effort and some great rugby skills on display. 6 May 2018 Grace Morgan London Spring Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics Grace Morgan, Year 7, had an amazing experience competing in the London Spring Cup this weekend. Well done on your hard work and dedication, Grace! 2 May 2018 Rounders Successes Our two rounders teams won their first games of the season a great start, girls! 27 April 2018 Year 10 Rugby Team - Caerphilly Cup Runners-Up Congratulations to our Year 10 rugby team who were runners-up in the final of the Caerphilly Cup. An excellent achievement, boys, well played! 29 April 2018 Cody Butler -

6 Taekwondo Success Cody Butler of Year 7 has been busy competing at his Taekwondo tournament, winning Silver in patterns and Bronze in Sparring. Well done, Cody! 25 April 2018 Callum Lewis / Tia Lewis Karate World Championship Selections The Lewis family are a force to be reckoned with both Callum Lewis of Year 11 and his sister Tia of Year 8 have been selected to represent Wales at the Karate World Championships in Dundee, Scotland on June. Congratulations, both, and the best of luck for June. 22 April 2018 William Hawker Athletics & Rugby News William Hawker of Year 8 achieved two personal bests this weekend in the 100m and 200m. To top it off, William and his team won the Cardiff & District rugby tournament. What a great weekend you ve had, William! 18 April 2018 Year 10 Rugby Team Caerphilly Cup News An outstanding performance by our Year 10 rugby boys, winning against Cwm Rhymni in the Caerphilly Cup Semi Final! Well done to all players on your outstanding teamwork. 16 April 2018 Olivia George Formation Dance News It is fantastic to see Olivia George of Year 9 back on top form in Blackpool over Easter following a long period of illness in the autumn/winter. Well done, Olivia, on your dedication and commitment to dance. We look forward to following your progress in the future.

7 16 April 2018 Callum Lewis Karate News Callum Lewis walked away with another four medals to add to his tally, in the Welsh Karate League finale this weekend. He has now stepped up to the men s under 75 kilo category. Congratulations, Callum! 16 April 2018 Disneyland Paris Trip Our Mathematics Department organised a visit to Disneyland Paris, which took place during the Easter holiday. Pupils visited some of the most famous sights in Paris, as well as enjoying the thrills and taking in some of the shows in the iconic theme park. They also found time to complete a series of mathematical challenges along the way. A fabulous time was had by all a big thank you to the members of staff who generously gave up their time during the holiday. 27 March 2018 Alexandra Turner - Rotary Senior Writing Competition Winner Congratulations to Alexandra Turner of Year 10 who has been announced Local Area Winner of the Rotary Senior Writing Competition. This is an incredible achievement and we are delighted for her! 27 March 2018 Year 7 Rugby Sevens Win Our Year 7 rugby sevens team beat Tredegar in their first game, which is a tremendous start. Good luck in your next match vs St Julians, boys!

8 24 March 2018 Ann Smart Welsh Schools Championships We are proud to announce an outstanding result from our Year 10 netball team, who came 2 nd in the Ann Smart Welsh Schools Championships. The girls are a full year younger than the other teams who competed from all over Wales and they have their eye on the top prize for next year. Well done on your amazing teamwork and netball skills, girls! 26 March 2018 Welsh Karate League Season Finale Great news following the Welsh Karate League finale at Merthyr Tydfil, with two of our pupils winning Silver trophies for their performance overall in the 2017/18 season: - Dylan Hulbert for kumite - Tia Lewis for kata. Congratulations, both! 21 March 2018 Year 10 Netball Team SE Wales County Champions A phenomenal result from our Year 10 netball team - winners of the SE Wales County Netball League! Star player: Eloise Spacey. We are very proud of you all for your tremendous teamwork and the skills you brought into play. Congratulations, girls! 21 March 2018 World Down Syndrome Day Today Islwyn High School celebrated World Down Syndrome Day. The theme of WDSD 2018 is What I bring to my community. All people with Down syndrome must have opportunities to contribute to the community and live valued lives, included on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society. Pupils and staff showed their support by wearing odd socks, donating 50p each which will go to the Down s Syndrome Association. Socks are used as the symbol of WDSD because chromosomes are shaped "like socks" and people with Down's syndrome are born with an extra one. Congratulations to Tilly Burke of Year 9 for helping lead an inspirational assembly on this topic.

9 18 March 2018 Dylan Hulbert Karate News Kyu Grade Championships Dylan Hulbert of Year 9 also had a great result this weekend, gaining 2 nd place in kumite fighting (under 16s) in the Kyu Grade Championships in Prestatyn. Well done, Dylan! 18 March 2018 Tia Lewis - Karate News Kyu Grade Championships We have some exciting news from the Karate Kyu Grade Championships in Prestatyn this weekend. Tia Lewis of Year 8 was crowned Kyu Grade Champion 2018 in kumite fighting (12-16 years). Tia celebrated her 13 th birthday on the same day and this will certainly be a day to remember! Tia is also team captain for the kata - her team are top of the league in the whole of Wales. She recently achieved Bronze in the open style Wales championship and Silver in team fighting. Tia is competing in another tournament this Sunday in Merthyr and we wish her the best of luck. nts/view?contentstoken= c9t hpbw&currentindex=1 (Cut and paste this video link into your web browser) 15 March 2018 Year 7 & 8 Girls Football - CSSA Football Tournament Our Year 7 and 8 girls football teams competed in the CSSA football tournament today. Both teams did exceptionally well, with Year 8 reaching the final. Congratulations on your outstanding teamwork, girls! 14 March 2018

10 South Wales Argus Sports Awards Two of our pupils, Caitlyn Mapps of Year 10 and Amy Oliver of Year 7, spent a wonderful evening at the South Wales Argus Sports Awards. This was in recognition of their outstanding achievements in athletics and gymnastics respectively. Amy was thrilled to meet sports legend Linford Christie during the course of the evening. We are proud of all your achievements in your chosen sports, girls you are truly inspirational. 14 March 2018 Welsh Schools Disability Gymnastics Championships Six pupils from the SSRB represented Islwyn High School at the 2018 Rotary Welsh Schools Disability Gymnastics Championships in Sofia Gardens, having previously qualified at the Area Finals. Results are as follows:- Championship Trophy for Age Group awarded to Ellie Lee-Fortt, Joshua Miles and Elise Sorrell. First in Category awarded to Chelsea Billings and Liam Thomas. Jade Davies also put on an exceptional performance in her category. These results are outstanding and demonstrate the hard work and commitment of our gymnasts congratulations to all. 12 March 2018 Year 7 Netball Success Congratulations to our Year 7 netball team today who came runners up in the South East Wales tournament today thanks to a magnificent team effort. Well done to each and every one of you, girls! 10 March 2018 Toks Akanbi-Mortimer - Welsh Athletics News Toks Akanbi-Mortimer of Year 8 did himself proud this weekend at the Under 17 Indoor Combined Events Championships in Sheffield - congratulations on achieving four "personal bests", Toks! 10 March 2018 Caitlyn Mapps Welsh Athletics News Caitlyn Mapps of Year 10 added to her haul of medals this weekend, winning Bronze in the Under 17 Indoor Combined Events Championships in Sheffield. She also achieved a big personal best in hurdles. Great news, Caitlyn, congratulations. 8 March 2018 Amy Oliver Amy Oliver of Year 7 competed in the British Gymnastics Championships this weekend. In spite

11 British Gymnastics Championships of two costly falls, she carried on to come in the top 20 in this very tough competition. What a very determined young gymnast you are, Amy, we are very proud of you! 8 March 2018 Fundraising Event for Kidney Wales Fundraiser Sophie Williams enlisted the help of her fellow Year 9 pupils to put on a tea party at breaktime today. The event proved extremely popular with pupils and staff alike and raised a whopping for Kidney Wales. Thank you to all who contributed and helped make the tea party such a success. A special mention to the Year 9 Cake Committee for their hard work and dedication. 7 March 2018 William Davey 60m Champion A belated "Congratulations" to William Davey of Year 7, who last month won Gold in the 60m at the SE Wales Indoor Championships. William was forced to take a lengthy break from sport in the autumn due to an accident but is clearly back on top form. We are very proud of you, William. 26 February 2018 Catering Department - Winnner of The Team Award We are delighted to announce that Islwyn High School Catering Team has won The Team Award for overall best performing catering team within the Borough. This is in recognition of the way the team dealt with the relocation from two different sites to the new building in Waterloo. The team quickly adapted to the new surroundings and dealt with any issues encountered in a professional way. Team members worked together to ensure that the service to pupils and staff was to the standard that is expected and with the least disruption along the way. Councillor Eluned Stenner presented the award along with Rob Hartshorn, Head of Environment and Public Protection, and Jane Wright, Operations Supervisor. 26 February 2018 Emily Curtis-Jones Skiing Award We are very proud of Emily Curtis-Jones of Year 11 who gained her gold level skiing award over the half term - well done, Emily! 26 February 2018 Oliver Cooke Skiing Award Oliver Cooke of Year 7 had a great half term improving his skiing technique! Well done on achieving your Silver Level, Oliver.

12 26 February 2018 Tia Lewis Karate News Tia Lewis of Year 8 had a great weekend, gaining Bronze medals in team kumite fighting in the Youth Open Championships at Merthyr. Congratulations, Tia. 26 February 2018 Dylan Hulbert Gold Medal in Karate Congratulations to Dylan Hulbert of Year 9 who achieved a fabulous result in the Welsh Open Championships yesterday, taking Gold in kata. 26 February 2018 Callum Lewis Karate Successes Another successful weekend for Callum Lewis of Year 11. Callum captained the Welsh team at the Karate Union of GB Grandslam in Chesterfield, taking 2nd place in the team kumite. He then competed in the Welsh Open Championships in Merthyr, taking Silver in kata and Bronze in kumite. Fantastic news, Callum, congratulations! 14 February 2018 Sheena Williams-Jones - Army Cadet Presentation Well done to Sheena Williams-Jones of Year 11. Sheena taught Key Stage 3 pupils about what it means to be an Army Cadet during an excellent presentation in assembly, inspiring a new generation of pupils to think about joining their local cadet force. Thank you, Sheena. 5 February 2018 Amy Oliver Gymnastics News Amy Oliver (Year 7) has qualified for the British Championships in Liverpool s Echo Arena in March, having passed her compulsory Level 1 and making 6 th place in Great Britain. Good luck, Amy the sky is the limit!

13 5 February 2018 Welsh Karate Squad Selections We are extremely proud to hear that three of our pupils have been selected for the Welsh karate squad. Dylan Hulbert of Year 9 has been selected for the junior shotokan karate squad. Tia Lewis of Year 8 has been selected for the senior squad kata and kumite, at the tender age of 12. Callum Lewis of Year 11 has been selected for senior squad kumite and kata and will be representing Wales in Serbia in November. Their success is testament to their dedication and commitment to their sport. 2 February 2018 Rugby Successes Congratulations to our Year 8 and 9 rugby teams who were victorious against Risca Comprehensive School, scoring some great tries and displaying fantastic teamwork. 30 January 2018 Amy Oliver Nominee for Young Sports Personality of the Year A gymnast described as a fantastic role model has been nominated for Young Sports Personality of the Year in the South Wales Argus Sports Awards. Amy Oliver is only 11 but has already achieved so much in the sport, with four years in the Wales squad under her belt and the last two as part of the British Home Nations set-up. Having started her gymnastics career at the Crumlin-based Valleys Gymnastics Academy, Amy now trains full-time with the Welsh academy in Cardiff. One of the highlights of 2017 was representing her country in an international competition in France, while she also travelled abroad to a number of training camps. Amy emerged as the fourth best 11-year-old in Britain after scores from the spring s compulsory and autumn s voluntary championships were combined. Melissa Anderson, head coach and director of Valleys Gymnastics Academy, nominated Amy for the young personality award. Commenting on the young star, she said: Amy is a fantastic role model. Although she is young, she sets a fantastic example for her younger peers and is dedicated and fastidious in all that she does. Amy is a gold ambassador for Sport Caerphilly. She also volunteers as a runner at Welsh competitions on a regular basis, thus giving something back to the sport and setting a great example for other gymnasts. Amy demonstrates exceptional commitment to her sport and trains approximately

14 25 hours per week, and has done this since the age of eight. She travels to Lilleshall National Sports and Conferencing Centre regularly for British squad training. 29 January 2018 Rhys Price First Aid Hero Rhys Price of Year 9 made front-page news after he saved the life of another pupil on a public bus on the way home from school. Rhys, a St John Cadet, used the Heimlich Manoeuvre to save a younger pupil who was choking on a sweet. He then called the emergency services, staying with the pupil until they arrived. The emergency services commented that the outcome could have been very different had Rhys not intervened. He was highly commended for his actions. 25 January 2018 Youth Speaks Competition On January 25th the team of Isabel Clark, Lyra Davies and Meg Price, Lyra Davies (Year 10) took part in the Youth Speaks competition organised by the Pontllanfraith Rotary Club. The topic for their debate: Are we abusing freedom of speech? The girls competed against two older teams from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni and, although they didn t win, they gave an excellent performance, with Isabel winning an award for best Vote of Thanks. The team now want to put this experience to good use by entering again next year! 22 January 2018 Year 9 Ski Trip Alpe de L Huez, France A group of Year 9 skiers travelled to Alpe D Heuz in France last week with members of school staff. All had a fantastic experience both on and off the slopes. The quality of snow provided some outstanding opportunities for everyone to impress with their newly acquired downhill skills. Apparently, an abundance of black runs were achieved by some pupils and our confident and athletic staff! 21 January 2018 Kian Godwin Golfing Award Congratulations are due to another of our golfers, Kian Godwin of Year 7, who was awarded an academy trophy at Bryn Meadows golf awards ceremony today. Kian has been playing golf for just a year and already has a collection of certificates and badges for his achievements.

15 21 January 2018 Ruby Dark Golfing Award Ruby Dark of Year 9 was presented with The Meadows 2017 trophy at Bryn Meadows today. With her handicap dropping from 36 to 19.7 in just one season, it just goes to show how much Ruby s hard work and commitment to the sport is paying off. Great news, Ruby, congratulations! 19 January 2018 Year 7 Residential Trip - Llangrannog Nearly 100 Year 7 pupils travelled to Llangrannog in West Wales this week for the annual residential stay in the Urdd camp. Staff in the school s Welsh Department are huge fans of what Llangrannog has to offer - they aim to give young people relevant and memorable experiences in a uniquely Welsh environment. This allows everyone to develop their Welsh language skills whilst enjoying fun activities. At the same time pupils develop the skills and confidence to be independent and balanced individuals as well as kind and responsible citizens. This is all in line with the school s vision for our young people. Whilst there, pupils had access to a whole programme of go-karting, skiing, tobogganing, archery, horse-trekking, quad-biking, walking (or mynd am dro ), climbing and swimming to name just a few. It s safe to say that everyone was exhausted by the end of the week. An experience that everyone will remember! Da iawn pawb December 2017 Food Bank Donations An incredible effort by IHS pupils who have been bringing in hundreds of tins and other items for the local food bank this week. Thank you to all who made donations. The items will be much appreciated by local families in need this Christmas. 17 December 2017 Jaeden Davies Cheerleading Premier This weekend, Jaeden Davies of Year 8 took part in her cheerleading premier with her new team, RSD. Jaeden is very keen and looking forward to the 2018 competition season. Good luck, Jaeden, let us know how it goes.

16 17 December 2017 Tia Lewis Karate Successes Congratulations to Tia Lewis of Year 8 on winning Gold in the Under 16s Girls Kumite (under 5ft 3 ) at the Kyoshin Championships in Newport today. Tia has had a winning week, also receiving Best Junior Female award in karate last weekend. Congratulations on all your achievements, Tia! 17 December 2017 Callum Lewis Karate Successes Congratulations to Callum Lewis of Year 11 Callum won the Gold medal in Under 16s Kumite (over 5ft 3 ) this Sunday at the Kyoshin Championships in Newport. It has been a very successful week for Callum, who received the Tony Kiff Memorial Award last weekend for his dedication and commitment to karate and for all his achievements during December 2017 SSRB Christmas Concert Pupils and staff from the Special Resource Base (SRB) performed Bethlehem the Musical at their annual Christmas concert. Weeks of rehearsal culminated in pupils showcasing their talents to the delight of a packed hall of families and friends. Everyone who attended enjoyed an amazing morning of music, song and dance.

17 11 December 2017 Cowan Lewis Karate Award Cowan Lewis, Year 9, was awarded the Enoeda Cup for his spirit and achievements in karate throughout Well done, Cowan! 6 December 2018 Annual Christmas Concert Ms Day and her team arranged a superb Christmas Concert that really showcased the immense level of talent that our pupils possess across the year groups. The programme included soloists, instrumentalists, bands and choirs with up to 100 pupils on stage at any one time. The school hall was packed and everyone in the audience was blown away with the standard of performance. 4 December 2017 William Hawker Silver Medallist in 200m More gymnastics news from the East Wales Gymnastics Championships at the weekend - William Hawker of Year 8 won Silver in the 200m. Fantastic news, William, congratulations! 4 December 2017 Ella Mitchell Gymnastics Successes This weekend marked the first competition of the season for Ella Mitchell of Year 7. Ella took Silver in high jump, Bronze in long jump and a achieved a personal best in 200m. Great results, Ella, well done!

18 4 December 2018 Toks Akanbi-Mortimer Silver Medallist in High Jump and Shot Put Toks Akambi-Mortimer of Year 8 had some fantastic results at the East Wales Gymnastics Championship this weekend, taking Silver in both the U15 high jump and shot put congratulations, Toks! 26 November 2017 Karate Welsh League Some fantastic results were achieved by IHS pupils at this weekend s Karate Welsh League competition in Penarth. Tia Lewis of Year 8 won silver in kata. Dylan Hulbert of Year 9 won a bronze medal in kata and a silver medal in kumite. Callum Lewis of Year 11 took bronze in kata and bronze in kumite. Congratulations to all! We always love hearing about our pupils achievements, sporting or otherwise, outside of school and are very proud of their hard work and determination which is essential for success. 23 November 2017 Year 9/10 Netball Results Well done to Year 9 and 10 netball girls for their performance in today's tournament. Congratulations to IHS1 for going through to the final. A very close finish with IHS2 only 1 point behind! 23 November 2017 Year 7 Rugby Success Congratulations to our Year 7 rugby team who won their match vs Blackwood Comprehensive in the Caerphilly Rugby League with a score of What a great result! 17 November 2017 Children in Need IHS supported BBC Children in Need this year by holding a non-uniform day, with pupils also organising various fund-raising activities around the school. The total amount raised was a whopping 1, Thank you to pupils and parents/carers for their support. 17 November 2017 Samaritan s Purse Appeal Thank you to all those who have donated and given up your time to help with this year s Samaritan s Purse Appeal. The final count was 174 shoeboxes, which will be sent to children living in great poverty. Chelsie Regan of Year 9 is to be commended for her contribution of 30 boxes. 17 November 2017 Sophie Williams Kidney Research Fundraiser Sophie Williams of Year 9 has single-handedly raised almost 800 for kidney research by organising a disco and various other fund-raising activities. This is an amazing achievement and will support much-needed research into kidney disease in the future. Well done, Sophie!

19 8 November 2017 Welsh Schools Football Cup Congratulations to IHS U15 girls football team they are now through to the next round of the Welsh Schools football cup following their 5-2 win against Tredegar Comprehensive. There was a great team effort by every player. Goal scorers were Chloe Kittlety (4) and Abby Fleet (1). Well played, girls! 4 November 2017 Amy Oliver Gymnastics Success Amy Oliver of Year 7 competed in the Elite National Levels in gymnastics, which is the highest level of competition available for her age group. Amy did herself proud yet again, coming 3 rd overall in Britain and retaining her place in the GB gymnastics squad. Wonderful news, Amy! 1 November 2017 Ruby Dark Most Improved Player Award (Golf) Ruby Dark, Year 9, celebrated a lovely end to the golf season - she was awarded the Janet Cavaciuti Shield by Monmouthshire Ladies County Golf for Most Improved Player. Great news, Ruby, and very well-deserved. 28 October 2017 Year 7 pupils receive their first caps for Islwyn District Rugby We are very proud to share with you that Thomas Gregory, William Morgan, Finley Robinson and Max Rossiter of Year 7 received their first caps for Islwyn District Rugby. Congratulations, boys, we look forward to following your progress in the future. 26 October 2017 S E Wales Netball Development Training Centre The following girls have been selected to train at the South East Wales Netball Development Training Centre: Jasmine Athwal, Holly-Mai Bowen, Isabel Clark, Chloe Rodway, Lowri Stephens and Hollie Williams. This is a great achievement well done, girls! 24 October 2017 Prizing Giving Ceremony Congratulations to all IHS pupils, both past and present, who received awards at this year s Prize Giving Ceremony. It was a wonderful opportunity for parents/carers to join us in celebrating the achievements of some of our very talented and hard-working pupils. This was the first such event in our new building and so was all the more special. The evening rounded off with refreshments in our canteen. Thank you to all governors, parents/carers and staff who supported the event. 23 October 2017 Lyra Davies Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award Lyra Davies, an extremely talented poet in Year 10, has won the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2017 and will see her poem "Topography of an Apple" in print and in an online anthology in March In the meantime you can see Lyra s winning entry at: Winning the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is a tremendous achievement, with Lyra s poem being chosen from thousands of entries across many countries. This is the biggest award for young writers aged ITV Wales came into school to film Lyra reading her poem and she appeared on the evening news.

20 Congratulations, Lyra, we are extremely proud of you. 23 October 2017 School Sports News Our sports teams have had a very successful term so far. Recent wins include:- Yr 7 netball team won their first ever game, 5-3 vs Newbridge Yr 8 football vs Newbridge (Welsh Schools FA cup fixture) won 7-1 Yr 8 rugby won their game vs Bedwas Comprehensive Yr 7 & 10 rugby teams won their matches vs Risca Comprehensive Yr 9 & 10 netball teams won their league games vs Newbridge Well done to all involved in our extra-curricular PE activities keep it going! 8 October 2017 Kian Godwin Academy Champion in Golf Congratulations to Kian Godwin of Year 7, who is a member of First Swing Golf Academy. Kian played excellent golf in a junior tournament at Bryn Meadows, winning Academy Champion in the 10+ age group. Great news, Kian. 7 October 2017 Toks Akanbi-Mortimer Athletics Silver Medallist Toks Akanbi-Mortimer of Year 7 was also very successful at the Welsh School Athletics Combined Events Championship, winning a Silver medal in the U14 age group. Congratulations on a fantastic result, Toks! 7 October 2017 Caitlyn Mapps - Athletics Success Caitlyn Mapps of Year 10 achieved another great result this weekend at the Welsh School Athletics Combined Events Championship, taking home a Silver medal. Well done, Caitlyn! 29 September 2017 Macmillan Coffee Morning Our Macmillan coffee morning, organised this year by our Asdan pupils, was a great success and enjoyed by pupils and staff alike. The final total raised for this worthwhile cause was Thank you to all those involved in organising the event, and to everyone who so generously donated cakes. 28 September 2017

21 Islwyn High School Official Opening Today, Thursday 28 th September, the First Minister of Wales officially opened the brand new multimillion pound building, Islwyn High School. The impressive three storey building, constructed on the site of the former Oakdale Colliery, forms part of the Welsh Government s 21st Century Schools programme and is home to pupils from the former Oakdale and Pontllanfraith Comprehensive Schools. Guests invited to the officially ceremony included the Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr. Dave Poole, Mayor of CCBC Cllr. John Bevan, Local MP Chris Evans and Rhianon Passmore AM. Headteacher Tim Williams, who welcomed guests and led the formal proceedings said, I am thrilled to welcome the First Minister of Wales to officially open Islwyn High School. It was certainly challenging merging two schools and relocating to a new campus but we couldn t be more proud of our pupils. I have no doubt that we will continue to achieve great things in this fantastic facility. Caerphilly County Borough Council s Cabinet Member for Education and Achievement, Cllr. Philippa Marsden also delivered a speech to mark the opening and said, The thoughtful design was created by Caerphilly Council s Property Team and the modern facility will work towards improving the learning culture and provide an environment where pupils can thrive. But the building alone cannot infuse the vision and passion that guides the school s development, the heart of any school is its pupils and staff and I have no doubt that the school will achieve great things. The First Minister of Wales Rt. Hon. Carwyn Jones AM, gave the final speech before unveiling the plaque and said, It has been one of my great pleasures to tour Wales over the years and open new schools. Our young people deserve the right facilities where they can learn and get their best experience. He continued, I know this building will be a fantastic place to teach in and the facilities will be available for many years to come. It gives me great pleasure to officially open Islwyn High School. Following the official ceremony, guests were invited to tour the facility during lessons to view pupils using the art technology workshops, science labs, IT suites and music rooms. The tour included a visit to our SSRB where guests joined in with pupils at work in their lessons. Guests were also able to view the outside space which boasts a 3G pitch and multi-use games area as well as outdoor learning spaces and an amphitheatre. 27 September 2017 Amy Oliver Gymnastics Successes We are very proud of Amy Oliver, Year 7 - Amy is in the Welsh Elite Gymnastics Academy and also the British Gymnastics Squad. She trains at Sport Wales National Centre, Cardiff, putting in a full 28 hours a week in addition to school. This year Amy represented Wales at a competition in France, achieving second place against gymnasts two years senior to her. Amy will be competing in the Welsh Championships in October followed by the British Finals in November. In March next year she will be competing in the British Championships at the Echo Arena, Liverpool alongside the senior British elite gymnasts. Her goal is to make the Wales Commonwealth Team Amy clearly has a very bright future in gymnastics ahead of her and we wish her the best of luck in her forthcoming competitions.

22 7 September 2017 Senior Prefect Team We are very proud to announce our Senior Prefect Team for Islwyn High School 2017/2018, following a rigorous selection process at the end of the summer break. Head Boy: Head Girl: Deputy Head Boys: Deputy Head Girls: Joshua Davies-Box Ellie Silcox Levi Crook Jak Woodford Alannah Carthew Carys Smith Left to right: Levi, Jak, Joshua, Ellie, Alannah, Carys The Head Boy and Head Girl become part of the Governing body of the school, attending meetings and having an input in Governors decisions about Islwyn High School. Our Senior Prefects are positive role models in the school and provide a strong voice for all pupils. They support the ethos and aims of the school while working closely with The Headteacher and Progress Manager. They have a strong input in the Year 11 calendered events throughout the year, both in and out of the classroom. We look forward to a very successful partnership during this exciting year in our new school building. 17 July 2017 Casey Lai & Tegan Phillips - Gymnastics Success Casey Lai (Year 9) (right of photo) and Tegan Phillips (Year 10) competed in a team gymnastics competition on Saturday with Valleys Gymnastics Academy. The girls started gymnastics just a couple of months ago but worked extremely hard in the run-up to the competition, with their dedication and commitment paying off. Both girls did extremely well, with Casey s team taking 2 nd in the Youth group before going on to take 2 nd in the Skills group (out of a total of 20 teams). Well done, girls! 14 July 2017 Che Hope & Morgan Lloyd - Dragons U16 Rugby Congratulations are due to Year 9 boys Che Hope (back middle of photo) and Morgan Lloyd (front left) who play rugby for Blackwood U15s. The boys have not only represented the district this past season, but have also been selected to train and play for the Dragons U16 team. We are extremely proud of Che and Morgan, particularly as they have achieved this feat a season earlier than normal! 14 July 2017 Disneyland Paris - Residential Trip This week 69 Year 8 pupils, along with 5 members of staff, attended an international residential trip to Disneyland Paris. The pupils enjoyed two full days exploring both theme parks and each and every one of them displayed impeccable behaviour. It is always a positive experience seeing pupils outside of the classroom and for many students on the trip it was either their first time abroad or their very first time away from their families. Throughout the trip the pupils were congratulated on their fantastic timekeeping for arriving at the designated meet points when instructed. It really was a trip that ran very smoothly. On the very last night we all returned to the Disney theme park to watch the light laser show to mark the park s 25 th anniversary year. The show was projected onto the Disney castle and was simply mind-blowing. The show lasted around 15 minutes with animations from 25 years of Disney productions, and had over 6000 people in awe of what they were seeing. Please ask a student or member of staff who attended this trip about this show - it truly was amazing! 5 July 2017

23 Ellie Davies Cheer Team Success Ellie Davies of Year 7 (along with several other pupils from Islwyn High School) is a member of Gymfinity cheer, dance and gymnastics club in Tredegar. Last weekend their Level 2 Cheer Team competed in their first international competition in Liverpool. They won their division and were awarded the Grandmasters title for achieving the highest score out of all the divisions. Then they went on to win a gold bid, which means they qualify for the finals in America in This is a massive achievement for a club that has been running for just nine months congratulations to Ellie and all the team! Their next competition is in Bournemouth this weekend - this is the last competition of the cheer season 2017 and we wish them the best of luck. 22 June 2017 Welsh Baccalaureate Social Issues Event As part of their Welsh Baccalaureate Mini Challenge, Year 9 pupils completed a course in conjunction with First Give Charity on Social Issues. Pupils independently contacted their chosen charity and spent time researching and learning more about the purpose of the charity and how they are of benefit to the community. Pupils then presented to the class and six groups made it through to the final. Leon Ward from First Give came into school to give a master class in public speaking and to help prepare pupils for the final. The panel on the day: Mr Tim Williams Head Teacher Cllr Mike Adams, Deputy Mayor, CCBC Mr James Kent, Area Lead, Wider Curriculum, EAS Mrs Sara Davies, Regional Support Officer Welsh Baccalaureate, WJEC First Give Charity - Leon Ward Mrs Tina Crooker, Head of Inclusion, Islwyn High School Jessica Murray, Year 10 Pupil Council Representative Lewis Way, Year 10 Pupil Council Representative Head of Welsh Baccalaureate - Miss Erica Rowlands Winners: Thomas Morris, Jack Hayes, Gareth Donovan and Darian Lawrence chose LATCH and won Thomas Morris battled cancer himself and received support from LATCH during this time. 2nd: Jemimah Greenwood, Amy Jones, Eloise Spacey, Ffion Perry chose Blue Cross and won 250. They created a video after visiting the charity and spending time playing with the dogs and learning about how the volunteers help rescue them. 3rd: Jasmine Athwal, Joseph Shelton and Sophie Way chose Parkinson's as their charity and won 250. Joseph gave an emotional speech as he explained how he lost his grandfather to the disease. The team also created a spectacular video and gave a very informed presentation on the work the charity does. The Head Teacher gave a 50 donation to each team for the benefit of their chosen charities so everyone was a winner. Islwyn High School's mission is to prepare our young people for an ever changing world and to become good citizens. This event confirmed that many of our pupils are already well on their way to achieving this.

24 As a school we are looking forward to working with First Give Charity again in the near future. 21 June 2017 Benjamin Mattey 1 st in Wales in 300m U15 Boys Sprint We are very proud of Ben Mattey of Year 9 who is now ranked 1 st in Wales in 300m U15 Boys Sprint. Ben is currently training for the Welsh Schools Championships on 1 st July. Good luck, Ben - we can t wait to hear how you get on! 21 June 2017 Cowan Lewis Welsh Karate Champion And Sibling Success! Cowan Lewis of Year 8 competed last weekend in the Karate Welsh Championships which were held at Merthyr. Cowan won Gold in his category (12 15 years) and is now Welsh Champion! Cowan also came first in the Team Kata along with his brother Callum (Year 10) and sister Tia (Year 7). An extraordinary achievement by a very talented family. Well done to you all! 19 June 2017 Ruby Dark Winner of Lady Captain Charity Competition Congratulations are due to Ruby Dark of 8ER Ruby won the Lady Captain Charity Competition at Bryn Meadows this weekend, with a fantastic score of 43 points and a birdie which also resulted in her golf handicap dropping. This is a superb result for Ruby, especially in the incredibly hot weather. Well done, Ruby! 6 June 2017 Rotary Young Writers National Final Schools in the area were invited to submit entries to the Rotary Young Writers competition using the theme 'Reflection'. Writing had to be 500 words or under and entrants under 14 on September 1st The work of two writers has been selected to go through - that of Lyra Davies and Isabel Clark - and both of these young ladies have been invited to the Senedd on June 22nd for a presentation by the local AM, Rosemary Butler. One of the two will be declared the winner and their writing submitted for the national final. Not only this, but there is a cash prize too. Check out our Twitter link, where you can see the girls entries. Which one would you choose? Read them for yourself and judge. 18 May 2017 Ben Mattey Welsh Championships Success Congratulations are in order for Ben Mattey of Year 9 who competed at the Welsh Championships in Brecon at the weekend. He came home with a clutch of medals, taking Gold in 100m sprint, Silver in 200m sprint and Bronze in shot put. What a wonderful achievement! 8 May 2017 Cowan Lewis Karate Success Cowan Lewis of Year 8 travelled to Birmingham to compete in the Karate Union of Great Britain competition, achieving 2 nd place a fantastic

25 result. We already know he is a very talented footballer but he is clearly talented in other areas too! 30 March 2017 S E Wales County League Champions We are very proud to announce that our Year 8 and Year 9 netball teams are now S E Wales County League Champions! Year 8 played Newbridge in the finals, winning 18-14, and Year 9 played Caerleon, winning Our players displayed outstanding netball skills and teamplay, supporting each other throughout their games. They are a credit to Islwyn High School exciting times lie ahead! 28 March 2017 CSSA Gymnastics Championships Congratulations to all IHS pupils who competed in the CSSA Gymnastics Championships, achieving some fantastic group and individual results:- Year 7: Boys team 1 st in Team Competition Aimee Critchley 1 st in Tumble Ellie Davies 1 st in Vault Ellie Davies 1 st in Individual Year 8/9: Girls team 1 st in Team Competition Abigail Craig 1 st in Tumble Abigail Craig and Casey Lai joint 1 st in Vault Overall Individual Champion: Abigail Craig The photo shows Aimee Critchley on the podium. Well done to those listed above and to everyone who took part. 28 March 2017 Dragons Rugby Cup Tournament Congratulations to Newbridge U12s and Blackwood U13s/U14s, who recently won the Dragons Rugby Cup Tournament which was held at the Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach. After winning their respective group stages in December last year, these teams were victorious in the finals. This was a huge achievement, having competed against teams from throughout the area. We are very proud that a number of our pupils are members of the winning teams and contributed to their success in the tournament. Well done, boys!

26 21 March 2017 World Down s Syndrome Day Pupils and staff are raising awareness of Down s Syndrome today, showing their support by wearing lots of socks and generously donating 1 each which will be given to the Down s Syndrome Association. People with Down s Syndrome have an extra chromosome, and chromosomes look like socks hence Lots of Socks, a fun initiative which is associated around the world with Down s Syndrome. A special assembly has been held to discuss what Down s Syndrome is, what it means to have it, and how people with Down s Syndrome play a vital role in our community. The photo shows Matilda Burke of Year 8 speaking in assembly. 17 March 2017 Musical Success Abbie Williams of Year 11 has entered many music competitions this year on the piano, most recently the Bristol Festival where she came 3rd in her class (Post 1900). Abbie will be competing again in Birmingham on the 25th March and also in Caerphilly Young Musicians Well done on your success, Abbie, and good luck with the future competitions. 15 March 2017 S E Wales Netball Champions Our year 8 netball team came first in the S E Wales netball tournament today, following a fantastic team performance. Well done, girls a welldeserved win. 14 March 2017 Eisteddfod Our first annual Eisteddfod at Islwyn High School has been held on both sites for Years 7-9. Once again, carrying on a long tradition established by Pontllanfraith and Oakdale comprehensive schools, we could see a huge pool of talent amongst our pupils as they took part in a festival of music, performance and literature. Well done to everyone involved in this very enjoyable event. 13 March 2017 Caitlyn Mapps Takes Gold Year 9 s Caitlyn Mapps earned a gold medal this weekend in the Welsh Combined Athletics Championships in Sheffield. She gained several personal bests and a season s best. You are amazing, Caitlyn! 9/10 March 2017 Into the Ark Performance You may have been following the progress of Taylor Jones, who attended Pontllanfraith Comprehensive, and Dane Lloyd, who attended Oakdale. The boys are currently competing on TV s The Voice with their duo Into the Ark. They surprised our pupils this week with special performances on both sites, receiving a rapturous reception. Don t forget to vote! 10 February 2017 New Building The new school is coming along nicely and on schedule. Check out the recent photographs on:-

27 6 February 2017 Athletics Success Congratulations on an exceptional performance from Year 7/8 & Year 9/10 girls who finished 2nd at the Caerphilly Schools Indoor Athletics competition. Well done, girls! 1 February 2017 Ben Mattey takes Bronze! Congratulations are due to Ben Mattey of Year 9 who represented Rhymney Valley Athletics Club in the Welsh Championships 300m on Saturday, winning a Bronze Medal. Fantastic news, Ben! 13 January 2017 Callum Lewis Black Belt in Karate Well done Callum Lewis (Year 10) who is now a black belt in karate following a gruelling assessment. Callum also won a student of the year award for his hard work and dedication in achieving this success! 12 December 2016 Ruby Dark Golf Update Ruby has had an anxious wait following trials with the Golf Union of Wales, but has just heard she has been selected to receive national coaching. This bodes well for a successful future at the highest levels in women s golf. Congratulations, Ruby! 24 November 2016 Netball Success Congratulations to our Year 9 and 10 netball players who represented the school in the CSSA Netball Tournament at Heolddu yesterday. Year 9 came third overall and Year 10 came second, qualifying for the finals on December 9th. Well done to all on your success! 18 November 2016 Children in Need Pupils and staff from IHS were happy to support Children in Need, with donations raised for our non-uniform day as well as various events organised by pupils during break and lunch-time. 8ER deserve a special mention for their cake sale which raised (the photograph shows a delicious cake baked by Faith Somerville). A grand total of 1,156 was raised for this very worthy cause. 16 November 2016 Royal Albert Hall Performance 25 pupils from Islwyn High took to the stage at the Royal Albert Hall to perform alongside other schools from Gwent and Caerphilly. The World

28 Premiere of Daniel Bickerton's piece #CONNECT went down a storm at the Albert Hall on the last night of the Music For Youth's Schools Proms Pupils had a long, but exciting, day in London and are really pleased that they can add this once in a lifetime opportunity to their CV. There were 2 pupils on the stage playing with the orchestra, and 23 in the massed choir. "I am so proud of all the children from Islwyn High involved in the performance. They grew in confidence throughout the rehearsals and performed superbly on the night. Thanks to the parent supporters who also came with us. Definitely one for the memory book." Ms Day, Head of Music. Pupils involved were: Jaskaran Bains, Liam Billingsley Saxophone, Kyle Chaplin, Sophie Cook, Levi Crook, April Eady, Dylan Elliott, Alex Ford, Alex Greenwood, Ryan Gregg, Oliver Harris, Samuel Howells, Oliver Jane, Mia Jeffrey, Louise Morgan, Jessicca Murray, Morgan Phillips, Lewis Bailey Robson, Adam Sheehan, Carys Smith Percussion, Elinor Smith, Camryn Thomas, Casey Truman, Elouise Welsh, Ethan Wilcox. 13 November 2016 Remembrance Day Services Our Deputy Head Boys and Girls and members of our Student Council were proud to pay their respects on behalf of Islwyn High School at Remembrance Day services held at the Cenotaphs in Blackwood and Oakdale. The photograph shows Rhys John (Head Boy), Jessica Murray, Eve Mainwaring (Head Girl) and Lewis Way who laid a wreath in Blackwood. Jamie Greenway (Head Boy) and Charlotte Smith (Head Girl) represented the school at Oakdale. 14 October 2016 Ruby Dark Golf Update Ruby played in the semi-finals of the Welsh Mini Masters last Sunday in Aberystwyth and came first, qualifying for the final to be held on the Montgomery course in the Celtic Manor on Tuesday 25 October. Ruby is guaranteed at least third place and we can t wait to hear how she gets on - good luck, Ruby!

29 13 October 2016 Lyra Davies Highly Commended Young Poet Of The Year Lyra, a Year 9 pupil, recently entered a global poetry competition organised by the Poetry Society and Foyle s bookshop in London. Her entry was highly commended and she made the trip to London to collect her prize of poetry books and certificate from celebrated poet Ian McMillan, a familiar face from the weekend paper reviews on BBC Breakfast. Lyra wrote her poem independently; it displays an outstanding ability to play with language! Lyra s poem starts: The Prenderghasts We are the Prenderghasts. We live in apartment 32. We are monsters; We are renegades, Retrograde; Detrimental to society. We are Vertical sleepers; Horizontal runners; We sunbathe In the rain. You can see the full version on 3 October 2016 Keiran Rodway s First Cap Congratulations to Keiran Rodway of Year 7, pictured here with his first Islwyn Schools District Rugby Squad cap. We look forward to hearing further news of his fledgling rugby career. 2 October 2016 Ruby Dark Golfing Winner Congratulations to Ruby Dark of Year 8 who played in the last round of golf of the season with South Wales Girls at Whitchurch Golf Club. Ruby came 1st in the 18-hole Stableford competition with a fabulous score of 38 points all that hard work is definitely paying off, Ruby! 30 September 2016 Macmillan Coffee Morning We are pleased to report that we raised a total of 970 during our coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, across both Pontllanfraith and Oakdale campuses. Everyone enjoyed supporting this fantastic cause and we would like to say a huge Thank you to all parents/carers, pupils and staff who made this possible with their delicious cake donations. 9 September 2016 Cross Country Winners Well done Holly Mai Bowen, Millie Arnold, Lowri Stephens and Megan Williams of Year 8 who competed in the SE Wales Cross Country Team Relay Championships at Rougemont and came first. Excellent team work, girls!

30 September 2016 Ruby Dark Golf Success Congratulations to Ruby Dark of Year 8 who recently won the girls Woodlake Park Junior Open golf competition this is a tough course over 18 holes and she played superbly. September 2016 Caitlyn Mapps - International Athlete Year 9 s Caitlyn Mapps became an International athlete during the summer break, having been selected to compete at Long Jump for Wales Under 16 team at the Celtic Games, Swansea on 6th August. Caitlyn was the only 13 year old girl to make the FULL Under 16 Welsh Team and in fact she was the only 13 year old in the whole competition. What an achievement! Despite competing with a lower back injury, Caitlyn came 4th, with 4 of her jumps over 5m. In other competitions, Caitlyn took the Silver medal in the Welsh Championships for 75m Hurdles and was also asked to represent East Wales in Long Jump in the Inter-regional championships at the end of August. Caitlyn took the Gold medal beating very strong competition from South, West and North Wales competitors. Fantastic news, Caitlyn. 5 September 2016 Welcome to Islwyn High School Islwyn High School extends a very warm welcome to all pupils and staff at the start of an exciting new era. We are all looking forward to great things ahead and will keep you updated of any news items in this section. You can also follow us on The photo shows a group of Year 7 pupils looking extremely smart in their new uniform and ready for their first IT lesson.