Please click here to read our third edition #3

Tong
High
School
AUTUMN 2014 EDITION 3
Knowles Park
Fence Full of
Familiar Faces
P5
In this edition:
Keep up TO DATE with all the news
and views from Tong High School
P3
Future Scientists
P6
Business
and Enterprise
P8
Keeping Fit with
Humphrey...
www.tongschool.co.uk
Calendar
Season’s Greetings!
As we come to the end of 2014, it is a good
time to reflect on the many successes at Tong
High School over the last term.
This is the third edition of ‘VisiON’ - the Tong
High School magazine to help you stay up to
date with all the news and views from the
school. Since our last edition we have
celebrated GCSE and A Level exam results with
students and their families. Continuing to build
on the record-breaking success of 2013, this
year Tong recorded exceptional A-Level exam
results with a 98% overall pass-rate.
This year’s GCSE results also show that Tong has
seen an increase in English and Science and
recorded exceptional Humanities, ICT, Spanish
and Health and Social Care results. These
results demonstrate and reflect the dedication
and hard work of both students and staff.
At Tong High School we encourage every
single one of our students to reach their full
potential. Students worked incredibly hard
towards achieving the best possible grades
and conducted themselves in a focussed and
assertive way. Staff are now working as hard
as ever to prepare our current Year 11 and
THS6 students for the forthcoming GCSEs
and A Levels in summer 2015. As part of our
ongoing commitment to continually
improving the facilities, education,
experiences and opportunities enjoyed by
students at Tong High School, our annual
School Improvement Plan is available to view
on our website - http://www.tongschool.co.
uk/school_improvement_plans.htm.
Since September, the new Year 7 students
have settled in incredibly well, many attended
our transition residential camp to Sconce
Scout Camp in Baildon and they are now
confident members of the school community
– you can read more about this on page 3.
We continue to work closely in our
community. This edition celebrates our
involvement in the Knowles Park fence
project. The fence is full of some very familiar
faces, including current Tong students and
former student One Direction singer, Zayn
Malik alongside other recognisable faces from
the local community – you can read more
about this on page 5.
We were also delighted that West Yorkshire
Sports decided to mark the launch of the
2014/15 Jet2 Holidays West Yorkshire School
Games within our high school with VIP guest
Bradford’s British and European weightlifting
champion Rebakah Tiler – you can read more
about this on page 4.
12th Dec
Year 11 Celebration Afternoon
15th Dec
Year 9 Celebration Event
16th Dec
Year 10 Celebration Event
16th and 17th Dec
In the Mix Performance and
Winter Wonderland
18th Dec
Exam Celebration Afternoon
19th Dec
Last day of Term
5th Jan
School Re-opens
Jan
Rock Challenge Rehearsals
Start
15th Jan
Year 9 Parents Evening
As this copy of the VisiON goes to print we
are currently deciding which student will be
the winner of our Christmas card competition.
May I take this opportunity to wish all our
students, parents/carers, friends and the
community a very happy holiday and a
peaceful New Year.
14th – 23rd Jan
Anne Frank: A History for
Today Exhibition
Thank you for your continued support.
I hope that you enjoy reading VisiON.
23rd Feb
School Re-opens
Stephen Curran, Head teacher
26th Feb
Year 8 Parents Evening
12th Feb
Year 10 Parents Evening
13th Feb
School Closes for Half Term
AU T U MN 2014 ED IT I O N 3
LFuture
ATEST NE WS >
Scientists
Sixth Form Physics students
visited the highly acclaimed
Collider exhibition at the
Museum of Science and
Industry in Manchester.
Students learnt about the
Large Hadron Collider at
CERN, the European centre
for particle research. The LHC
is where the Higgs Boson was
discovered earlier this year.
A stream of protons and
lead ions are accelerated
around the 17 mile ring at
671 million mph before they
are smashed together.
Scientists study the debris
from the collision. A Level
Physics students study these
sub atomic particles when
they study AS Physics at Tong
High School Sixth Form.
The students were able to
spend time also looking
around the rest of the
museum trying out
simulators, lifting cars with
their bare hands and looking
at optical illusions.
THS No Limits –
Out of Classroom
Learning Like No Other!
This academic year, Tong High School has revamped
and launched a brand new and exciting extracurricular
programme called ‘No Limits’.
No Limits is for all Tong students and provides ‘out of classroom
learning like no other’.
Year 7 Students Settled into
High School Life
In order to support young people in making the transition
between primary and secondary school, Tong offers an
extensive range of activities and opportunities.
Bev Poynton, Year 7 Assistant Head Teacher says; “As Head
of Year 7, my role is to ensure that all 227 students are safe,
happy, confident and successful at secondary school. I am
fortunate to be supported by a team of 10 form tutors, who
see their form groups on a daily basis and are the first point
of contact between home and school. Together as a
pastoral team we work to support and guide students and
their families, be firm but fair and celebrate successes.”
Since September, the Year 7 students have settled in
incredibly well. Many attended our transition residential
camp to Sconce Scout Camp in Baildon and they are now
confident members of the school community.
“The students have settled into Tong High School life
extremely well and are a credit to the school and their
families – we look forward to see what the future holds
for our youngest students.”
Ms Dawson is leading on the No Limits initiative. She says;
“No Limits is Tong High School’s response to Ofsted’s ‘Going
the Extra Mile’ report which provides guidance on how schools
can support students in getting to the next level.” In the report
‘Going the extra mile: excellence in competitive school sport’,
Ofsted finds that schools with high sporting standards have
similarly high expectations in the classroom. Both help to
cultivate an environment in which pupils excel.
THS No Limits provides clubs for Tong students to excel
and represent the school in the community whether that
be football, cheerleading, athletics, basketball, cricket…
Additionally, THS No Limits provides clubs for students to
develop their fitness and provides them with opportunities
to learn something new such as free running, swimming and
training in our own fitness suite.
Students receive a THS No Limits badge to wear with PRIDE
on their PE t-shirts. Those who represent the school will also
wear a badge for their commitment in representing our school.
Although this initiative is predominantly delivered through PE
and the Arts other departments are now looking to offer THS
No Limits clubs such as chess and design workshops. Watch
this space for new clubs coming in the New Year!
More information on our website
http://www.tongschool.co.uk/extra_curricular_activities.htm
Ofsted finds that schools with
high sporting standards have
similarly high expectations in
the classroom
Picture Captions
Mrs Chaplin took part in the ice-bucket challenge on the Year 7 residential
Year 7 outdoor classroom at the Year 7 Residential camp
Year 7 students who achieved their PRIDE gel band by October half term.
03
Bradford’s European Champion Added Weight
to School Games Launch at Tong High School
In October, an Olympic-style opening
ceremony for almost 100 school students
marked the launch of the 2014/15 West
Yorkshire Sainsbury’s School Games.
Bradford’s British and European
weightlifting champion Rebakah Tiler – the
world’s strongest 15-year-old girl - officially
opened the popular annual school sports
programme here at Tong High School.
Rebakah, from Denholme, was also inducted
into Games organisers’ West Yorkshire
Sport’s new Hall of Fame celebrating the
county’s elite sporting talent.
The opening ceremony included
performances by Tong High School’s
cheerleading squad.
Steve Curran, Head teacher says; “At
Tong we are committed to ensure that
every child and young person has the
opportunity to reach their full potential.
We were delighted that West Yorkshire
Sports decided to mark the launch of
the 2014/15 Jet2 Holidays West Yorkshire
School Games within our high school.
I have seen first-hand the important role
sports and performance can play in
school life; enhancing school values and
raising standards of pupils’ achievement
which can be vital to development.”
Many Tong students are making their
mark already representing their district,
region and their country and we
regularly celebrate their success.
Some former students are very
well-known in the world of sport –
including England and Aston Villa
Midfielder Fabian Delph, International
Choreographer Nicola Yellop famous for
her Spellbound routine on ITV’s Britain’s
Got Talent, Bradford Bulls forward John
Bateman and newcomer - Rhianna-Mae
Laing who whilst at school competed as
part of the Great Britain under 18
women’s basketball team and is now
in London doing an Advanced
Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence
at Barking Abbey alongside her A Levels
in Chemistry, Biology, Psychology.
The West Yorkshire Sainsbury’s School
Games are organised by West Yorkshire
Sport and delivered with support from
a team of school games organisers from
Leeds, Calderdale, Bradford, Kirklees
and Wakefield. Six sporting finals, 850
schools and 5,000 primary and
secondary pupils make up the School
Games programme in West Yorkshire.
The launch event was supported by Jet2,
Education Network and Xamax.
Bradford City FC Football Scholars
Tong High School, Bradford became one of the first schools
in the country to offer the Futsal Level 3 Programme teaching young people to play, coach and referee the world’s
fastest growing indoor sport and opening the door to
university courses and sports industry careers.
In 2012, the two year Futsal / BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma
in Sport (worth up to 3 A-Levels) became an
offer to students across the city for students aged 16 to 18.
Two years on, 14 students who initially signed up have
completed the Futsal programme and we are now celebrating
their success.
After developing their technical, tactical and physical ability
former Tong students Jack Strudwick and Ben Baker have now
been accepted to study a foundation degree with Bradford
City which has offered them both employment. Additionally,
six of their fellow Futsal graduates have been offered places
onto university courses across the country.
Ian Ormondroyd, Manager, Bradford City FC Community
Foundation says; “The partnership with Tong High School has
worked really well with great support from the school.”
For more information please contact Bradford City
on 01274 706850 or Tong High School Sixth Form
on 01274 681455.
AU T U MN 2014 ED IT I O N 3
Knowles Park Fence Full of
Familiar Faces - ‘For the
Community by the Community’
The community around the Tong Street corridor,
one of the busiest main routes into Bradford, is
now greeted by a new piece of artwork specially
commissioned as part of a regeneration project
for Holme Wood and Tong.
Tong students attended a community
celebration at Knowles Park on 11th September
as the community-inspired artwork was unveiled.
Haworth Sculptor Craig Dyson was chosen to
work with the community and create the
fabrication from their ideas. Craig says; “It has
probably been one of the most hands-on
community involvement projects I have done.
The sense of community is incredibly strong.
People help people.”
Local school students had the opportunity to
see Craig at work in his studio in Haworth. Craig
then worked with students from Tong High
School and Carrwood Primary to lead
workshops that inspired ideas. Students then
created images that the artist took away, to
translate into this fabulous bespoke fencing.
The fence at Knowles Park is artistic impressions
of some very familiar faces, including current
Tong students and former student One
Direction singer, Zayn Malik alongside other
recognisable faces from local community.
The project began in January when members
of the local community were asked for ideas
on how to regenerate the area around the
park. This collaborative project has been
between Bradford Council (Housing
Development Team & Parks & Landscapes),
Sculptor Craig Dyson, Tong High School,
Carrwood Primary School, Holmewood
Christian Community Centre: The Daylight
Centre (senior citizens group) and The Edge
(youth group).
It has probably been one of the most
hands-on community involvement
projects I have done. The sense of
community is incredibly strong.
People help people.
05
Business
and Enterprise
Sixth Form Students Speak at a
Global Entrepreneurial Leaders
Conference in Edinburgh
‘Get Enterprising’
All KS3 students
(Year 7 and 8) and those
studying GCSE Business in
Year 9 are currently preparing
their entry to the next
Market Challenge
competition.
Tong Students Meet the Mayor
In September, Enterprise Champions from Tong High School
were invited to a Civic Reception with the Lord Mayor and the
Lady Mayoress (Councillor Mike Gibbons and Mrs Liz Sharp).
This reception was for Step Up Market Challenge Winners from
across the district and was held in the Banqueting Hall at City
Hall, Bradford.
Student Investor
Challenge
Students studying BTEC Business are taking part in the
ifs Student Investor Challenge. The ifs Student Investor
Challenge is a UK wide investment game for students with
a top prize of a trip to New York. This challenge is the UK’s
premier investment competition with over 100,000
students from 2,500 schools benefiting from the
experience in previous years.
The ifs Student Investor Challenge is designed for
teams of four students and has two distinct phases:
• Phase One: Using the ifs website, invest a
virtual £100,000* in a set of stocks and watch
your wealth grow.
• Phase Two: The top 20 teams with the best
performing portfolios as of close of trading on
30 January 2015 (plus one wildcard winner) from
each region will compete against each other in
a four week online challenge. The top two teams
from each region will be invited to the final in
late April 2015.
Find out more via the ifs website
http://www.studentinvestor.org/
Five students from Tong High School’s Sixth Form travelled
to Edinburgh to speak at the WildHearts Junior Global
Entrepreneurial Leaders (GEL) Conference in September
at the RBS Gogarburn Headquarters.
Tong High School won the national schools’ category Micro-Tyco
Enterprise February 2014 Challenge mentored by staff from the
Deloitte Leeds office and school staff. The school was also third in
the overall competition globally, having generated £3657.06 from a
£1 investment from the WildHearts charity. As a result, sixth form
students from Tong High School were invited to speak as part of
the keynote section of the conference.
Students confidently presented at the conference, talking about
winning the competition, their involvement and impact and also
encouraging others to take part in the Micro-Tyco challenge. The
students received a thank you card from Mick Jackson, Founder of
WildHearts & Micro-Tyco which said; “Thank you so much for
making the Edinburgh GEL so fantastic! People are still talking
about how the ‘boys from Bradford’ owned the stage.”
The WildHearts Global Entrepreneurial
Leaders’ Summits bringS together some
of the world’s leading Corporate, Social
and Founding Entrepreneurs. Mick
continues: “Micro-Tyco is pioneering Inner
Change, Local Change and Global Change
through compassionate entrepreneurship.
It unites everyone from our children to our
corporate executives with the vision that
business can and must be a force for good.
The outstanding effort from Tong High
School will fund 73 micro-businesses in the
developing world every year whilst inspiring
school children across the UK to become
Global Ethical Investors too.”
AU T U MN 2014 ED IT I O N 3
Tong Primary Schools ‘Make a Splash’!!!
Last academic year, 5 Primary Schools from
the local catchment area came to Tong for
their swimming development programme
and it was a resounding success with students
making excellent progress and staff giving
really positive feedback. This year we have
7 primary schools coming to Tong to develop
their swimming talents.
“It is an absolute pleasure to teach each
and every one of the students that come
and swim here at Tong! They are all stars of
the future – I hope that you all continue to
enjoy your swimming lessons with a smile!”
Kelly Mitcalfe - Swimming Teacher, Tong
High School.
“We have been taking our Year 3 and 4
children to Tong for the past 8 months
or so and have not been disappointed.
The sessions are varied and the children
are making great progress in all their skills.
We particularly enjoyed the swimming gala
in June which was well organised and is
something we will look forward to doing again
next year. Most importantly, Scholes children
look forward to swimming lessons and love
it!” Lauren Milner, Scholes Village Primary.
“Ryecroft have been lucky enough to use
Tong’s wonderful swimming provision for the
last 6 years, we have been able to tailor the
swimming lessons to the needs of the
children - resulting in all of our children
completing their programme. All are now
confident being in and around water and
most of the children are able to swim which
has allowed them to also access the inter
school aquafests and swimming galas run by
Tong’s excellent Accelerate team.” Neil
Johnston, Ryecroft Academy.
“East Bierley Primary School has just
commenced its third successful year of
swimming lessons at Tong High School
swimming pool. The lessons have been
thoroughly enjoyed by all the children
involved and great progression has been
seen throughout each year. Ability groups
provide suitable lessons for every child from
non-swimmers to the more experienced.
Swimming teachers record each child’s
progression and at the end of the school year
badges and certificates are awarded for effort
and achievement. The children look forward
to their lessons and they frequently say that
swimming day is their favourite day of the
week! They particularly enjoy the five minutes
of free time at the end of each lesson.”
Suzanne Fox, Class 3 Teacher, East Bierley
Primary School.
It is an absolute pleasure to
teach each and every one
of the students that come
and swim here at Tong!
07
Get in touch...
You can reach the Main Reception via any of the following methods:
Write to:
Tong High School,
Westgate Hill Street,
Bradford BD4 6NR
@Tong_HighSchool
Call:
01274 681455
Tong
High
Email:
office@tongschool.co.uk
School
www.facebook.com/OfficialTongHighSchool
www.tongschool.co.uk
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Keeping Fit with Humphrey...
Please have a look
at our BRAND NEW
Accelerate website
www.accelerateths.co.uk
In 2011, Tong High School launched the Tong School Sport
Enterprise which was built upon the successful school sport
programme that had been established over the years.
In 2013, the Tong School Sport Enterprise became ‘Accelerate’,
which delivers curricular, extracurricular and out of school activities
and half-term and summer camps for children and young people
across the region, with a specific focus on sport and the arts.
Meet Humphrey, Accelerate’s healthy hippo. Humphrey is trying
to keep fit and healthy, but he gets lonely doing this on his own.
In order to keep Humphrey leading an active lifestyle, he gets
to spend every weekend at the house of a young person from
one of our partner primary schools.
1. Healthy food – Humphrey also visited Evie from Birkenshaw
Primary School and they ate lots of fruit and vegetables.
2. H
umphrey spent the weekend with Eve Parkinson from
Birkenshaw Primary School – he went to Rainbows and
played lots of active games and also had his first visit to an
Airport when he went to collect her Grandma and Granddad!
3. H
umphrey went on a bike ride with Eva Lau from
Gomersal St Mary’s Primary School
The young person is chosen for showing Tong High School’s
PRIDE (Positivity, Respect, Innovation, Determination and
Excellence) values during PE or Performing Arts lessons,
that are delivered by our Accelerate team.
4. Aidan Mahoney from Birkenshaw Primary School took
Humphrey to the park.
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