As part of our Black History Month preparations, we have been learning about British-Jamaican nurse Mary Seacole who bravely travelled from England to Crimea to care for injured soldiers on the front line.
Despite her glowing references and hard work, Mary encountered racism throughout her life. She applied to travel to the war with British nurses, but was refused and so made her own way there, at her own expense; risked her life to bring comfort to the wounded and dying soldiers; and became the first black woman to make her mark on British public life.
Riding a Dream
Earlier this month, 10 year 11 students went to Ascot Racecourse official stables to learn all about race horses. We started with introductions and why the Riding a Dream trip started.
We then met the horses at the stables. First, we met 12 strings an ex-race horse, then we met Flossy and Duke two non-race horses. We then met another race horse called Army of stars. Ella the Spanish horse and lastly, Maya.
Once we met the horses, we got suited and booted into our correct riding equipment. Ready with our equipment on, we got training on the horse simulator. We learned the horse-riding stance and how to hold the reins.
We were put through our paces with a fitness test wall sit and plank, as these are just a couple of fitness tests which jockeys must go through in order to ride a horse. Jockeys also do the multi-stage fitness test (commonly known as the bleep test), however, we managed to avoid that!
We went to the paddock where we met the horses from earlier, we took turned riding the horses. We learned how to make the horse start off, stop and go faster. We also learned how to trot and turn the horse through cones.
After lunch we went back to the stables, and learned all about horse grooming, we learned the different names for brushes and what they were used for. We learned how to quarter mark a horse too. Unfortunately, it was time to go home, after what was a great day we were wanting to take all the horses back in the minibus with us!
Diary Dates
- Inquisitive Fortnight- Monday 7 - Friday 18 October
- Year 7 Open Evening- Thursday 10 October 2024
- Year 7 Assessments begin - Monday 14 October
- Sixth Form Open Evening- Wednesday 16 September
- Last Day of Term- Friday 25 October
- Term 2 Starts- Monday 4 November
- Year 11 Mocks begin- Monday 4 November
- Year 9 Assessments begin- Monday 11 November
- Aptitude Workshops for Year 7 Entry 2025- Monday 11 November
- Year 11 Geography Field Trip- Thursday 28 November
- Year 11 Consultation Evening- Thursday 5 December
- INSET Day (School closed)- Friday 6 December
- End of Term- Friday 20 December
Join us on 1st October 2024, as we host our first Open Evening of the academic year. Following a record-breaking enrolment, we are thrilled to invite prospective students, and their families, to discover our stunning campuses.
Meet our Senior Leadership Team, engage with our passionate teaching staff, and find out what makes our high-achieving, diverse, and welcoming college in the heart of beautiful Henley-on-Thames so unique.
This is our most sought-after event of the year, with limited spots available .
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Artist of the Week
The art department are pleased to share this beautiful drawing of shell from Zainab Sultan in year 9. This is a two lesson first hand observational drawing of a shell using contour line and shading technique on A3 size sugar paper. Zainab has demonstrated this technique with great skill and resilience. Each contour line has been carefully recorded using a HB and 6B pencil. Well done!
Tips for dealing with back to school anxiety
Please find linked a useful article from Young Minds about dealing with back to school anxiety: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/blog/tips-for-dealing-with-back-to-school-anxiety/
If you wish to find out more, please fill in the 10-second form in the link below and you'll receive an email with all the course details before choosing to enroll or not:
Feel free to contact Mark at The AIM Group on: mark.coton@theaimgroup.co.uk or 0204 525 1932.
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