Page 4 - Abberley Adventures - Autumn 2020

ABBERLEY ADVENTURES
4
Academic
Lessons have continued without disruption and the excellent effort grades and high number of Show Ups received have been testament to the hard work that children have been putting in. A few children from overseas have continued to receive ‘distance learning’ and I thank our teachers for the huge effort that has enabled this to continue whilst also teaching the majority of children at school in the normal way. The virtual learning programme delivered by Abberley during lockdown was second to none and it is reassuring to know that we are in a position to revert back to this excellent provision should we ever need to. I hope this won’t be necessary!
We’ve been inviting various speakers to come and deliver academic workshops as well as inspiring talks. We had a visit recently from author Jon Lawrence, who delivered a session on creative writing aimed at helping our senior children with this important area as they prepare for Common Entrance English. We have a Maths workshop lined up after Half Term for our 100s and someone coming to work with our Top Year scholars to help them prepare more broadly.
Children in older years will be having internal exams after Half Term and these provide us with an excellent way to check that they are ‘on track’ as well as providing them with invaluable exam practice. A number of our pupils have been attending virtual as well as real school visits and undergoing interviews and pre-tests. I am delighted to report that we had early scholarship success with Duncan Henstock being awarded the Sir Michael Palin All-Rounder scholarship to Shrewsbury School. Well done to Duncan and very best wishes to all those who are preparing for scholarship attempts later this term.
I have enjoyed meeting numerous parents this term to discuss senior school destinations. This is a vital part of my role and I am very keen to meet and discuss this and to advise you accordingly. I sent a letter at the start of Half Term to parents of Rems, Shells and 100s with detailed advice about selecting a senior school for your children and inviting you to join us for our Senior Schools Information Evening at 6.30pm on Thursday 19th November. I hope many of you will be able to attend.
Music and Drama
Our Music and Drama departments have been busy. The Music School was moved temporarily due to lack of ventilation
in its normal setting but it has continued to function superbly with individual peripatetic lessons going ahead as normal and 4 class music lessons being enjoyed by all. Associated Board Music Exams will be taking place in the first week of December
at Malvern College, so children need to keep practising hard!
The Choir hasn’t been able to perform ‘en masse’ as usual but Mr Dunham has formed a group of Senior Singers, who have performed in smaller groups in our Chapel on Sundays. The sound has been fantastic and it’s been lovely to hear our Chapel filled again with the sound of singing.
We have enjoyed three Performing Art Showcases this term, one from each bubble with solo or small group LAMDA performances from 68 pupils and group poems from 5 classes. Next half of term the showcases will be as follows:
• Friday 6th November - 100s and Top Year
• Friday 27th November - Removes and Shells • Friday 4th December - Form 1 and Form 2
These events will be filmed and broadcast on the Monday after each event.
Our 100’s enjoyed rehearsing their production of Robin Hood and the school was treated to their fantastic outside performance on Saturday 17th. It was wonderful to see actors and the audience having such a great time watching this quirky and hilarious production. Well done to the 100’s and thank you to Mrs Eynon and all the staff who helped make this production such a resounding success. I hope parents enjoyed watching the recording and, again, we are so sorry that you were not able to join us ‘in the flesh’.