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Every dystopian novel is not predicated on the main character’s ability to lecture on the comma splice or their mathematical know-how.  The main characters of the genre live by engaging in a dynamic relationship with their own nature; the attitude and beliefs with which they encounter and adapt to difficult circumstances.  From the characters in Ray Bradbury’s ‘Martian Chronicles’ adapting to the new reality of life on Mars, to the harsh challenges to self-belief and optimism faced by Meg and...

The last week of the Spring Term saw schools’ transition to a new phase of learning, where technology and teaching skills were tested as never before. However, as always, students and staff at St John’s College in Southsea were up to the challenge! Following the announcement of school closures, teachers at St John’s College are now taking full advantage of Microsoft Teams to provide remote learning and virtual classrooms. Students from Year 3 to 13 can join their normal timetabled...

KING’S Ely Sixth Form student, Billy Pinto, has been called-up by the prestigious National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT). Billy, 16, will be starring in (subject to the COVID-19 situation) ‘Imagination’, by Timothy Knapman and Stuart Matthew Price. Directed by Richard Fitch, the production will be presented at CURVE Theatre, Leicester and for the International Youth Arts Festival, Kingston in June and July. As a member of the NYMT 2020 Company, Billy will also be invited to participate in other events...

Design Technology teachers at a Stamford School are manufacturing 200 protective face masks a day for the NHS, as part of the national effort to increase the availability of PPE for frontline NHS staff. Teachers at the Stamford Endowed Schools originally trialled using the Schools’ 3D printers to manufacture visors, but the process was too slow to meet demand. Staff worked over the weekend to prototype and refine a design for creating the face masks using laser cutters. The first...

Both boys and girls ranging from 9 to 18 years have been selected for county, district, academy and international squads, including Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and as far as Hong Kong. Director of Cricket Pete Sanderson said: “These students are a credit to how sports players can mix their academic studies with still developing their sporting skills. I’m extremely proud to see so many students getting recognised for their talent. They have all worked extremely hard in their different groups and...

St Swithun’s sixth form student Pernille Faye, has won a coveted music award for the second successive year. The prize, a place on the Martin Read Foundation’s 2020 Young Composers’ Scheme, gives the 17 year old access to composer mentoring and workshops. The award also includes a commission to create a four-minute piece for solo percussion which will be performed publicly at the Royal College of Music in London this April by percussionist-in-residence and RCM undergraduate Patricks Skabadis. Pernille is...

A group of Second Form pupils from Dauntsey’s spent half term in the North of Sweden on an ‘Arctic Adventure’ of a lifetime. Their base was the city of Skellefteå which was blanketed in thick snow throughout their stay, with temperatures rarely above freezing and as low as -16°C.  The pupils tackled a number of challenges including an alpine luge competition, ice fishing, cross country ski-ing, igloo building, snow shoeing, building campfires and husky sledding.  In between challenges, the pupils perfected their...

Prizes aplenty for skilful King’s Ely and Ely Cathedral Sixth Form Organ Scholar Miriam, 16, not only passed the examination for the Colleague of the Royal College of Organists (CRCO) – an achievement very rare for someone of school age for whom it was their first organ exam – but she also won numerous Royal College of Organists (RCO) prizes. Miriam, who has been a student at King’s Ely since joining in Year 9 as a member of Ely Cathedral...

15 year old Sophie Kelly, a pupil at St Swithun’s school, Winchester, has been selected to join the England squad for the upcoming U17 Netball Europe Championships. Playing the position of goal attack, Sophie, from Winchester, was part of the St Swithun’s netball team that reached the final of a national cup competition last year. She also plays regularly for her club team Weston Park Blades and for Superleague franchise Surrey Storm. One of the youngest players in the England...

Mental health charity receives bumper cheque from King’s Ely community KING’S Ely has raised more than £1,800 for a charity which supports local people who are struggling with their mental health. The substantial sum was raised through the ‘Memory Baubles Ely’ initiative, which was spearheaded by King’s Ely’s long-serving Head Receptionist, Rosie Holliday, in the run up to Christmas. Rosie launched the initiative to raise funds and awareness for Talking FreELY, a non-profit organisation which encourages open discussion about mental...