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Junior Prizegiving Speech 2010

Junior Prize Giving 2010

Governors, guests, staff, parents and members of the Lower School. Welcome to the Ripon Grammar School’s Junior Prizegiving 2010. And what a busy year it’s been I am sure you would agree.

I would like to welcome Emily Cummins, today’s speaker at Lower school Prizegiving. Emily is quite a remarkable person in many ways. She is also related to two students at RGS; she is cousin to David and Phil, students in the second and sixth form.

I was fortunate to hear Emily speak at the annual engineering conference this year and she has incredibly compelling story to tell. She is currently studying at Leeds University and is in her final year. Nothing remarkable about that I am sure you are thinking. But when I tell you that she has earned, already at a very young age, the Barclays Woman of the Year Award 2009 and Cosmopolitan magazine’s Ultimate Save-the-Planet Pioneer 2008 then I am sure you will realize that this is no ordinary student. She went to school at South Craven School in Skipton and enjoyed design technology at school. She wasn’t, by her admission, good at mathematics so couldn’t pursue the traditional engineering route but she was passionate about design and innovation.

As with all inventors, her first invention came along unexpectedly. Her grandfather has arthritis and struggles to hold objects in his hands. Squeezing a tube of toothpaste is beyond him. So Emily designed a device which could hold a tube of toothpaste with a much bigger handle on it so her granddad could use it. The idea became a GCSE DT project and won several awards for its relevance and simplicity. Emily was inspired by her visit to Namibia, the World Challenge destination for our students this year, where she observed first hand the issue of lack of refrigeration in hot country. Meat and fish lasted only a day before being dried in the sun where flies bring an ever present threat of disease. Vital medicines that needed to be kept cool couldn’t be so they tended to go off very quickly too.

Emily said the following:       

When I was four, my Granddad gave me a hammer and began to teach me how to make toys from scraps of materials found in his garden shed. I loved the fact that we could make something out of seemingly random bits, and my interest in sustainable design was born. As I got older I learnt about the properties of different materials and became more experienced in using a range of tools. Now I’m 22 and my latest innovation is a sustainable fridge which is ‘powered’ by dirty water but keeps medicines or small food items clean, dry and cool. I refined my fridge during a gap year in Namibia and then decided to give away the design plans in townships across southern Africa because I wanted to enable as many people as possible to build their own fridges.

The design is very simple. Water evaporates from the sand or wool and heat energy is transferred away from the inner cylinder, which therefore becomes cooler. The design is ideal for use in the developing world because it doesn’t require electricity and can be built using barrels, spare car parts and ordinary household materials. Unlike previous pot-in-pot coolers, the contents are kept dry and hygienic because the water does not come into contact with the product.

Emily has decided to give the idea away to benefit others and this may have cost her financially. A very simple idea with extremely practical uses. It was designed during her A level Product Design lessons. She is passionate about making the lives of others better and that is what impressed me most when I met her.

Another incredibly simple design was a playground roundabout in Africa which doubles up as a water pump. As the children play in the village on the roundabout it pumps water up from the village well. The simplest ideas are always the best.

As we face tremendous economic challenges in this country, with huge debts (around £50,000 for every person in this country), the main talk is of how we can make savings without affecting front line services in the NHS and education. But surely the most important way this country can solve some of its problems is by encouraging the innovators, creating wealth and makings things that can be sold abroad. This country has a history of innovation and as an engineering college, I believe the students certainly have the talent and ideas to make a success of themselves and create the wealth this country badly needs.

Are you the type of student, like Emily, who can do this? Maybe you think you are not clever enough. You would be wrong. I taught at Bristol Grammar School over 20 years ago, where I taught Richard Penny, uncle of Jack in the third form and Alice in the first form. I know it is difficult to believe but it is true I am that old! I also taught a rather lazy boy who was in the bottom set for science. Completing homework was a constant challenge for Charlie, but he was always a very pleasant student who was always happy to explain why he hadn’t completed his homework. Most of his excuses revolved around a passion for wildlife photography, since every evening he would go to a river where he knew of a kingfisher’s nest, and he would take photographs. Instead of handing in his homework, he would try and palm me off with his latest photograph of a kingfisher. He knew that I was interested in wildlife too, but I must reiterate that I never accepted a photograph of a kingfisher instead of his homework. ‘You have got to do some work otherwise you will never pass GCSE chemistry. You will spend the rest of your life regretting it, Charlie, and don’t say that I never told you. You will never make a living from photographing kingfishers.’ I lost track of Charlie until recently when I watched ‘halcyon river diaries’ on TV on Sunday evening. Yes Charlie is now one of the country’s top wildlife photographers, married to Philippa Forrester, former Tomorrow’s World presenter, indulging in his passion for wildlife and kingfishers in particular. It is a good job I never became a careers adviser. Halcyon is a name for a bird of Greek legend which is commonly associated with the kingfisher. The phrase comes from the ancient belief that fourteen days of calm weather were to be expected around the winter solstice - usually 21st or 22nd of December in the Northern Hemisphere, as that was when the halcyon calmed the surface of the sea in order to brood her eggs on a floating nest. The Halcyon days are generally regarded as beginning on the 14th or 15th of December and Halcyon means calm and tranquil, or 'happy or carefree'. For Charlie, his days doing what he now loves do seem halcyon ones, in contrast to days spent at Bristol Grammar School in a chemistry lab being taught by Mr. Pearman. He never won a prize at school or received a commendation but he had a passion for wildlife.

So what are we to conclude? Both Charlie and Emily have a passion for what they do, a real burning ambition to pursue an interest. Academic qualifications are very important of course but in themselves they are not enough to guarantee success in life. You need passion for what you do. A survey of students at school confirmed this. When a group of students were asked ‘what is the most important characteristic in a teacher to make him/her successful?’ the response was ‘passion for their subject’. If you don’t have an interest in what you are doing, this will become apparent very quickly. The other important factor is resilience. Things don’t always go right. Do they ever? As Winston Churchill famously remarked, ‘success is the ability to go from one failure to the other without any loss of enthusiasm’. 

Exam success clearly eludes many students, and the following answers in exams suggests that these students would struggle.

What is a vacuum? Something my mum says I should use more often.

What is the national grid? A very large free barbecue in public parks.

Give 3 ways to reduce heat loss in your home. Wear thermal underwear, move to Hawaii, shut the door.

Define the term intensive farming. It is when a farmer never has a day off.

What was Sir Walter Raleigh famous for? He is a noted figure in history because he invented cigarettes and started a craze for bicycles

(ICT)What is a network? When you chat to people you don’t like to try to get a job.

Name six animals that live specifically in the Arctic. 2 polar bears and four seals.

Assess Fashion House plc’s choice to locate its factory near Birmingham. Is Birmingham the right location for this type of business? No. People from Birmingham aren’t very fashionable.

The local swimming pool uses a computer system to regulate water level. Can you suggest a disadvantage in using a computer in this way?

Computers don’t make very good lifeguards. 

This time last year the school was recovering from swine flu and Ofsted. The school survived both I am pleased to say. Since the school has been here since the 7^th century, I am pleased to say that it has also survived the great plague, the great depression and the Great War. The school is nothing if not resilient. There is also a real passion for the school amongst the staff and students too. The students are incredibly passionate about the school and it is without doubt that their passion helps to make it the success it is today. The future of Ripon Grammar School is assured given the quality of students we have here. It is a privilege to work here, and I know that the staff share that sentiment too and enjoy working with you, the students, very much. But the next challenge is always just around the corner, and Michael Gove, the new education minister has offered all schools the option of becoming academies. Careful consideration of whether this is the right course of action for the school will be fully debated by the governing body, but this particular band wagon will not simply be jumped on without giving the implications of this due consideration. The government is always coming up with initiatives and they want you to embrace them all, lest your Ofsted grade will suffer. But as Bill Cosby said ‘ I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.’ As a school we are confident in what we do. That doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. Far from it. But it is very important not to sign up for every government initiative that comes along.

Trying to summarise a year’s activity in twenty minutes isn’t possible so I suppose but I will give you a flavour of the some of the highlights and progress which has been made. Planning permission for the new music block has been secured with a revised programme scheduling the music block to be completed by May 2011, ready for September 2011.  It will house 2 classrooms, music practice rooms and storage space for instruments. The car park at the front of the new sixth form centre will be started over the summer holidays and the Astroturf requires assistance from the LA. If this financial assistance is granted then I am optimistic that this facility should be available by Spring 2011, providing not only a superb facility for the school but also one for Ripon; there is no full size Astroturf in the city.

Numbers at the school in September will be higher than ever and interest in the school remains very high. The popularity of the school at all levels is undiminished, exemplified by a record number of applications for sixth form places. I expect that results at A level will be a record this year, testament to the excellent team work between students and staff. The commitment to excellence is evident and staff are always willing to give that extra assistance to students whenever they need it. But that doesn’t make Ripon Grammar School special. The atmosphere is what makes Ripon Grammar School such a special place, and time and again visitors remark on it. This is what sells the school to prospective parents. It was humbling when preparing an assembly to ask what is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to you? ‘Getting into Ripon Grammar School’ was the reply of at least one student. I am delighted that the school means so much to so many students.

At the end of the academic year I would like you to thank all the staff for their unstinting dedication to the welfare of the students here. The popularity of the school has never been greater, and the interest in places at sixth form level in particular is at an all time high, testament to the superb work being undertaken by Mrs. Wise and Mr. Andrew. The extra curricular activity programme which is such a vital feature of Ripon Grammar School continues to provide opportunity for personal development for so many students. This only happens because the staff give up time, often in holidays and at weekends, to enable these trips to take place. The Duke of Edinburgh programme overseen by Mr. Thompson with assistance from Mr. Walker and Miss Russell, Mr. Clarke’s RE trip to London, Mr. Smith’s French Trip for the Second Form, the form competition organized by Mr. Fell, Mr. Mann’s Greenpower Cars, the pantomime trip for the first form, the trip to the Deep, the plethora of sports fixtures organized by the PE department. This is just a tiny snapshot of all the activities which go on and I am grateful to all the staff for providing students with such a wide range of extra curricular opportunity. I am sure the students will wish to thank the staff for their efforts this year. Applause. 

It is with particular sadness at this time of the year that we say goodbye to certain staff. Mrs. Sparey will retire at the end of the year after tremendous service to both Ripon Grammar School and North Yorkshire. She has shown total commitment in her roles both as head of history and running the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and her passion for history is clear for all to see and she has inspired many generations. She will hand over to Mr. Spiers, currently teaching history at St. John Fisher’s in Harrogate. Mr. Andrew is moving to Warminster School to teach economics and business, and I know he will be much missed, having very successfully led his department for many years. He is a popular deputy head of sixth form too and has always shown great dedication to the school. He will be replaced by Mr. Demir, currently head of economics and business studies at Latymer School in London. Mr. Walker returns to his alma mater, Bradford Grammar School, having made a very significant contribution to the physics department in 3 short years. He was involved in the running club as well as initiating a number of engineering activities to support the school’s specialism. We wish him well with the birth of his first child. He will replaced by Miss Green. Mr. Chapman has made a significant impact in a very short time, and has made a great contribution to sport and rugby in particular. Mr. Colley, a PE graduate of Leeds Met, and an international volley ball player will replace him. Dr. Mattinson has secured a teaching post at Roundhay School nearer his home; he has, taught in local primary schools and contributed to sport and drama in his time. He will replaced by Miss Hoskins. Miss Ryan will be replaced by Mrs. Ball who is head of drama at Bedale High School. Miss Simmons has secured a post at Ripon College as literacy coordinator and will be replaced by Miss Wildman who is currently teaching at Benton Park School in Leeds. My thanks to Mrs. Medway who has assisted at a difficult time in the English department due to Mrs. Webster’s maternity leave. I am very grateful for the commitment and energy that Mrs. Medway has provided to the department at short notice. Mrs. Caine will replaced by Dr. Meakin, a graduate of Cambridge University who is currently teaching at Ermysted’s Grammar School. Mr. Smith (psychology Mr. Smith) is retiring and is replaced Mrs. Pye who has taught at Stockport Grammar School, and congratulations go to Miss Gennevieve who has deservedly been appointed head of MFL at Northallerton College. She has contributed enormously to the languages department as well as being G and T coordinator. She will replaced by Mrs. Scott. We are all looking forward to the return of Mrs. Mackenzie next term; she has recovered from her illness. Mrs. Tarter has been replaced by Mrs. Dring, who has the unenviable task of replacing the school librarian of the year, someone who has brought vision and innovation to the library service at Ripon Grammar School. She will be missed and the challenge of ensuring generations of students remain informationally literate will be some legacy for Mrs. Dring, who is the new learning resource manager. She will be assisted by Miss Grigson, who has already started in the learning centre. Miss Grigson is a first class mathematics graduate who has worked as a librarian at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Miss Raymer has been appointed Deputy Head of Lower School and Mrs. Fell Deputy Head of Sixth Form. A lot of changes but I am sure we have appointed a worthy set of successors to replace a wonderful set of staff who are leaving. I know that they will carry on the fine work and match the quality of teaching which exists. As John McEnroe said ‘I'll let the racket do the talking.’

There is sadness at saying farewell to staff who have made such a significant commitment to the school’s success over the years and I hope that they will prosper in the future and we hope to see them back.  A round of applause.

There is no doubt that the students in the lower school are a very talented bunch. Emma Frost and Rosie Lyall have been selected for the Regional Junior Performance squads for North of England hockey, and along with Melody Swiers, Esther Walpole and Charlotte Clayton have represented North Yorkshire in hockey. The U14 hockey team won the area tournament and represented Harrogate and Craven in the North Yorkshire tournament where they finished second. The under 12 netball team finished first in the area netball tournament and Amy Gatford has been selected for the elite development tennis squad at Leeds Carnegie. Anna Jeal beat the reigning British national fencing champion to finish third in the Leon Paul Fencing Competition. Sophie John and Rebekah Vanzo have been selected for the Junior Development squad for netball. Zara Cotton, Harriet Stringer, Elizabeth Walker, Hannah Scholes and Donna Castle Ward have represented North Yorkshire in sports as diverse as badminton, riding swimming and cross country.     

In Cross Country Cup, the Junior boys team were the stars. A team comprising the Year 8 boys, ably supported by Ben Pease from Year 7, finished fourth and qualified for the next round. James McDaniel, Thomas Stringer, Josh Stockdale and the Yates twins (Charlie and Harry) are all talented in a range of sports including cross country.

The Harrogate and Craven Schools’ Championship saw us enter complete teams in all of the boys and girls races for the first time with over 50 pupils representing school and 15 subsequently going on to represent the district in the North Yorkshire Championships. Anna Jeal continued her tremendous start to her school running career finishing fourth in the first year girls’ race, despite her best efforts to follow the wrong course! Alex Speight, once again showed how on his day he can make running look so easy, and finished a comfortable second in the Year 9 boys race. In the Year 9 girls race Sabrina Barr, Mabel Ellerker and Ruby Beardsall all ran exceptionally well finishing seventh, 10^th and 12^th respectively.

The Club Championship that awards points for attendance at training, individual success and team success was a one horse race, with Ben Pease dominating from the start. Ben has been a fantastic addition to the club, he has trained hard, run in every race, and is developing into an athlete who will soon be able to beat the best runners in the district. Anna Jeal finished second; she has excelled in her running alongside her national successes as a biathlete and third was James McDaniel.

Scott Ogilvie represents Yorkshire at rugby, and hopes to be fully recovered for the coming season. The Yates twins, Tom Newby, James McDaniel, and George Foster have all represented North Yorkshire at rugby and their year group were central Yorkshire champions again. Alex Speight represents Yorkshire at cross country, Derek van der Westhuizen North of England at basketball, Josh Crewe, George Foster, Harry Lamb Yorkshire at cricket, Matthew Clare England at badminton, Mathew Cotton Yorkshire at badminton, George Robinson North Yorkshire at badminton and Dean Porter North Yorkshire at hockey.    

The first years enjoyed their link project with the cathedral culminating in performing a mini play on the life of St. Wilfred. Form 1B took part in the ‘make your mark with a tenner’ as part of the enterprise education programme at school. The group were mentored by Chris Hannaway OR who talked to them about his business Arctic Farm frozen yoghurt. 1B raised almost £500 for the Funzi and Bodo charity to support schools and medical facilities on these islands off the Kenyan coast. 2 RGS teams are on course to progress to the Harrogate and District final in the Betty’s and Taylor’s Enterprise competition.

The sponsored walk raised over £2000 for the Help for Heroes charity, chosen by lower school forms. It’s cancer research UK this year with the walk taking place next week. The students in the lower school assist on the first form induction programme for the students who will join the school in September, and they undertake their duties with customary RGS pride, courtesy and enthusiasm. Dan Reynard has proved he’s got talent by winning the Lower School talent show (you will hear him later) and there was a performance poetry competition inspired by the visit of Philip Wells.    

Zac Mudge was best in school in the Junior Mathematical Challenge, with Nick Edwards also qualifying for the Junior Mathematical Olympiad from the second form. Matthew Cotton and Ben Pease achieved gold awards from the first form.  

A group of second year girls won the local ‘can cook, will cook’ competition organised by NYBEP beating St. Aidan’s and St. John Fisher’s. The team of Megan Jones, Nicole Jackson, Mollie Gittings and Sampie Dutka cooked a superb risotto – I should know I was one of the judges in the school heat and I enjoyed eating it.

A group of first years undertook the renewable resources STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) project where collaboration across DT, maths and science permitted students to design and test solutions to engineering problems.

The careers’ evening held in March and organised by Mrs. Wilson was a spectacular success with over 400 students and 80 organisations attending.  

The Big Band, with Sarah Owens, Melody Swiers, Dan Reynard, Jonathan and Sally Pitts, has also qualified again for the Music for Youth finals to be held in Birmingham in July for the third consecutive year. Excellent news was forthcoming since the Big Band were awarded the ‘Martin Donaldson Trust Award 2010’ which will mean an appearance at the prestigious Cheltenham Jazz Festival next year. At the Harrogate Festival, Musiciality won the Junior Choir and the Lower School Big Band won the Junior Jazz Section. The Lower School Music Awards were of a very high standard, with Alex Elvidge winning the first form award, Jessica Bryden in the second form and Sarah Owens in the third form. Rosie Lyall won the Ripon Young Musician of the Year playing the clarinet.

With so many talented staff and students working together is it any wonder that the school is enjoying so much success? The fact that so much passion is demonstrated by them both merely ensures the excellent outcomes that are being achieved.

As Hegel, the philosopher said ‘we may absolutely affirm that nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion’

It is with great pleasure that I will now ask Miss Cummins to present the prizes.