Matravers school website

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http://www.matravers.wilts.sch.uk/

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CELEBRATIONS have been going ahead at Matravers School as students produced another year of improved performances at both A-level and GCSE. However, the school is to appeal to the exam board about the English GCSE results which were significantly different to what was expected.
As the A-level (A2s) and AS-level results were announced on Thursday 16th August, headteacher Chris Dark said, “We are pleased, the A2s were encouraging and the performance of the school was better than last year.
“The percentage that got an A-E grade was 94%, which remained the same as last year, and the percentage of A-C grades was higher this year at 60%.”
Chris Dark said the school was especially pleased because the overall point score for each pupil was up to 240 this year compared to last year’s score of 223. He added, “It shows a better overall level of performance.”
Matthew Biro, Jessica Foote, Elizabeth Martin and Lisette Skyrme all received two As and a B at A-level, Lisette Skyrme also gained a fourth C grade and was placed in the top five percent in the country for her A- level in art and design.
Charlotte Lawes, who received six ‘A’ grades in her AS levels said, “It’s fantastic, I feel really good and very relieved. I’m planning to apply to Cambridge to study social and political sciences, so I needed to get good grades now.”
A further three students received four A grades in their AS-level results; Abigain Horsley, Ollie McGregor and Jo Chmiel. Jo is heading to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).
Ollie said, “I’m relieved to get the results I did. Now I just have to work out which subject to drop for next year!”
A week later and it was the turn of GCSE students to open those all-important envelopes.
In praising the students’ achievements, headteacher Chris Dark said, “It’s the best we’ve achieved in the past, our target this year was 38% which we excelled, so we are encouraged by this result.”
The school was also pleased to record an overall pass rate of 97% for the year group.
Chris Dark commented, “We only fell short of 100% because we had a few students doing entry level courses at college. These courses are the equivalent to NVQ level 1, but don’t count as GCSEs.
“I’m delighted that so many students achieved such outstanding results, and we should never doubt their effort and motivation to get them.
“This is shown in the average point score being up to 368, compared to last year when it was 348.
“Sometimes it’s easy to assume that it is not a stressful time for the students, but of the 178 who took exams this year, a huge number of them worked very hard to get the results they did.”
However, Matravers School believes that something went awry with the English GCSE exam results. Chris Dark explained, “Something was out of kilter with the English results, we are going to appeal them as they are way out of what they have been and should be.”
As students gathered to open their results, amongst the screams and tears of excitement, some students found they had achieved excellent results.
Two students achieved an impressive 12 A grades; Eleanor Jones (of which 7 were A*), and Laura Sach (of which 6 were A*).
Eleanor says she is returning to Matravers to study French, maths, chemistry and music.
She added, “I am very, very ecstatic, I was so nervous before because there is a lot of pressure to do well, but to finish and get the results, it such a relief.”
Three students gained 11 A grades, Chloe Hillier (3 A*), Michael Hulbert (3A*) and Sam Pictor (2 A*).
10 A grades were awarded to Joanna Wadey (2 A*), Oliver Todd (1 A*) amd emma Harris.back to top

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A SCHOOL in The Gambia now enjoys running tap water - thanks to the charitable efforts of Matravers School in Westbury. A £1,650 water tower has been built at the Gambian school and is to be emblazoned with the Matravers crest in their honour.
Matravers has been sending students to visit the Gunjur Upper Basic School on the south-west coast of the Gambia. Last month, when this year’s group of 13 sixth-form students and three teachers went out to visit, they officially presented the school with a brand new water tower and pump, providing safe, clean running water.
The money had been raised through various charitable events at the school including non-uniform days and a sponsored walk. Before the water tower was installed, the Gunjur Upper Basic School's thousand pupils had to queue to use a hand pump for water.
The group spent a week in the town of Gunjur, experiencing the Gambian way of life and learning about their culture.
In amongst riding camels, learning how to tie-dye, weave and work metal, the students visited the town's health clinic, took part in the country’s independence day celebrations and formed friendships with pupils at the school.
Students Matthew Scott and Laura Sach even gave a short biology lessons to pupils at the school who all learn in English, due to the variety of different tribal languages spoken and the country's history as a British protectorate.
Schooling in the Gambia is a somewhat more laid back affair than English schooling. ITC teacher Rachel Edwards, who organised the trip said, “Even though the standard of education is very different, they all really love it and are really proud of their education.” Gambian pupils have to pay to attend school and are set in classes according to ability rather than age and can only progress once they have attained a certain level.”
Student Lizzie Curtis said that the experience had shown the group “a sense of perspective of how much we have that they don't have.”
Becky Barrett said of the Gambian students, “They have so little but they seem to have so much energy and be so much more full of life than we are.”
During their stay, the group was housed in a series of bungalows called The Africa Lodge. This has been decorated with the Matravers logo due to the school's continued support of the town. Showers were taken from a bucket and food was eaten by hand from a large communal plate. The toilets had been upgraded from last year’s holes in the floor to Western style units that had to be flushed by hand with a jug if water - an activity which clearly impressed upon the students just how much water we use in this country without any thought.
Student Emma Dadger said, “All my views on everything have changed. I appreciate everything a lot more. We do take a lot for granted.”
The excessive consumption of Western lifestyles was something that the trip had clearly brought home to the students. Emma Dadger said, “I've actually eaten less since I came back” and fellow student Rob Workman said, “It's disgusting how much we eat here.”
Trip organiser Rachel Edwards said, “For the many years we have been going out there, we've promised them a water tower or something similar so this year I was more than pleased to see the equipment there.” Money to start the project had been sent out ahead of the group, who brought with them the remainder of the funding and stationery for children at the school.
Rachel Edwards added,”The staff would like to say thank you to the students for being such a credit to the school

WHNews

 

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A SPORTS centre in Westbury has been brightened up with the help of local school children.

Pupils from Matravers School spent three days creating sports-themed paintings to hang throughout the Leighton Recreation Centre in Wellhead Lane.

Eleven children from Years 7, 8 and 9, created the 10 paintings as part of the school's enrichment week.

The paintings now hanging in the main corridor all focus on the various sports on offer at the centre, with football, cricket, rugby, racquet sports and trampolining all represented.

A further three paintings, aimed at younger children, have been placed in the viewing gallery near to the crèche..

Phillipa Denham, head of science at Matravers, came up with the idea to get the school involved, although the children came up with the designs.

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"All the sports paintings were the students' own ideas," Mrs Denham said.

"They were all very proud of them in the end."

Keith Brunsden, general manager of the recreation centre, said the public response to the artwork had been very positive.

"All the gym users and aerobics ladies have said how good all the paintings are," he said.

Matravers School has Arts College status, which places a strong emphasis on the artistic talents of the pupils

  Wilt Times

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A WESTBURY school celebrated the opening of its new drama studio with a visit from a professional director.

Paul Weiland, visited Matravers School in Westbury on Tuesday following the completion of the new facility.

The studio is separated into three separate rooms that can be joined as one to create a large rehearsal and performance space.

It was completed in the last few weeks and the school held its own Expressive Extravaganza, an evening of art and drama entertainment involving 100 pupils, to celebrate.

Around 300 visitors turned up to help celebrate and take part in the grand opening.

Jane Farr, personal assistant to headteacher Chris Dark, said: "It was a wonderful event and the whole school is delighted to have the drama studio open for use. It will start to be used extensively at the beginning of the next term in September."

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 Paul Weiland directed films, comedies and commercials including Made of Honor, Mr. Bean and City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold.

Wiltshire Times