SOMERVALE SCHOOL PRESENTATION EVENING

Somervale students have been celebrating their achievements at the school’s annual presentation evening. Students who completed Year 11 and 13 last year attended with their parents to receive their exam certificates and prizes.

The guest of honour at the event was Roy Blatchford, Director of the National Education Trust and long standing friend of the school. Mr Blatchford handed out awards to over 24 winners, including a new award, the Mark Jones Memorial Award for ICT given in memory of Mark Jones, who taught at the school between 2003 and 2007.

The prize winners were:

BMT Defence Award for Technology – Kirsty Alexander (graphics)

Stewart Award for Physical Education – Sarah Britton

The Callum Stewart Trophy for Outstanding Achievement in both Sport and Academic Pursuits – Jake Atkins

Lisa Rupprecht Memorial Award for Endeavour – Charlie Maggs

Somervale PTA Award for Contribution to the Life of the School Community – Nathalie Fox

Governors’ Award for Media Arts – Emily Urch

The Mark Jones Memorial Award for ICT – Alexandra and Joanne Hobbs

Headteacher’s Award for Outstanding Achievement – David and Gareth Burnett

Somervale Wins Eco School Silver Award

Somervale School is celebrating becoming the first secondary school in Bath and North East Somerset to achieve the prestigious Eco School Silver Award. Eco Schools is a national scheme which supports schools to develop their work on sustainability.

Throughout the last year a group of students have devised a whole school project to encourage students to be responsible for the environment around them. They have written an action plan, devised an Eco code and have completed a whole school environmental review.

One group of students – The Beautiful Future Team – runs an organic fruit and vegetable garden and they have now raised enough money for a polytunnel through selling Christmas hyacinths. Other projects include recycling, fundraising and energy saving.

Earlier this year, students gave a presentation at the Bath and North East Somerset Climate Change conference and were regional finalist in The Teaching Awards for Sustainability.

“It is an exciting project and I hope many more students will get involved throughout the next few months,” said teacher Ms Cathie Evans. “I am delighted that the students’ work and commitment to the environment has been recognised in this way.”

Visit of Schools Radio to Somervale School

On Friday 14th November Somervale School played host to a visit from SchoolsRadio.com pioneers, Peter Thompson and John Bradford who came to see how the unique partnership between Somervale School and Somer Valley FM was progressing.

The visit was organised by Paul Myers, marketing manager of Arqiva who sponsor SchoolsRadio.com. Michael Gorman, headteacher said, ‘It was important for the school to link up with the SchoolsRadio.com as it offers us at Somervale a context for our achievements in this work. The visit demonstrated to us just how much we had achieved in developing school radio over the last two years. We are very much looking forward working more closely with the Schools Radio network over the coming years to spread the message of how central radio can be in developing oral skills and self esteem in young people.’

President of Vision Charity who is the Chairman of SchoolsRadio.com said “Somervale have done an incredible job of setting up their school radio activity which is most impressive. Their achievements will surely be an inspiration to any schools wishing to set up their own facility”

It was a great complement to the work that Somervale has done with Somer Valley FM that they are now held up as an example of best practice. The school and Somer Valley FM are developing courses in radio production for students and adults in the community.

Radio is an important element in today’s youth culture. Apart from music, radio delivers news, sport, entertainment and information all of which influence students’ views on the world in which they live. Above all it can provide involvement. Students listen to – and respect radio – now they can take an active part!

Mark Kenny, Deputy Headteacher said, ‘what we have learnt about radio is that there are ways for all to excel, whether it be students with limited confidence in their ability becoming part of a broadcast team or the most able hosting their own shows, it offers a creative outlet for all.’

Somer Valley FM has secured a grant of £28,000 from the Rural Renaissance Initiative to train 15 students in radio production. It is hoped that this established track record will stand the school and the station in good stead to offer training to teachers across the country in how to establish a school can move from in school broadcasting to offering community radio on your doorstep.

The above photograph shows Peter Thomson and John Bradford from Schools Radio with Somervale students in the Radio Station.