Lipson Life Newsletter #1

p3 p 8-9 “WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF HIS “THE EXPERIENCE HERE IS MORE THAN ACHIEVEMENTS AND ARE EXCITED BY HIS ABOUT GETTING THE GRADES YOU NEED; FUTURE CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN BASED IN LONDON” - ALUMNI NEWS THEY WANT YOU TO BECOME BETTER CITIZENS” - OFSTED SPECIAL #LIPSONLIFE 1 The Newsletter for Lipson Co-operative Academy and the Lipson Community |December 2021

#LipsonLife, December 2021 2 WELCOME... ...to the latest incarnation of an Acdemy newsletter. As it suggests on the front, we would like this eventually to become not just a much-loved and eagerly anticipated(!) missive within the four walls of the school, but beyond them, too, read and enjoyed by the whole Lipson community. Small steps first, though. Please let me know your thoughts on the design, content, tone, etc. of this edition, and any suggestions you might have for future direction. Your feedback will ensure that the newsletter becomes what you want it to be. Thank you. Rick Cowdery STAYING SAFE - LATEST COVID MEASURES SEE CANCELLATION OF THE CHRISTMAS FAYRE AND ASSEMBLIES UNFORTUNATELY, COVID-19 reared given a fair wind, we might see its ugly head again towards the end of it re-emerge during 2022 in the the term. guise of a Spring Fayre; As a result of a rising number of • Wearing of face masks in positive cases amongst students and communal areas, classrooms and staff, as well as the emergence of the while moving around the school Omicron variant, we had to site; reintroduce a number of measures across the school and make some • Increasing ventilation in tough decisions on school activities. classrooms and permitting the wearing of coats during lessons; These included: • Cancelling the Christmas Fayre, • No assemblies for the latter part although organisers hope that, of the term. Lipson Co-operative Academy [email protected] Bernice Terrace facebook.com/LipsonCooperativeAcademy Plymouth twitter.com/LipsonAcademy PL4 7PG tinyurl.com/yzpxp579 01752 671318

#LipsonLife, December 2021 3 ALUMNI NEWS DRUM MAJOR - FIRST CLASS HONOURS FOR CONGRATULATIONS TO... FIRST CLASS LIPSON MUSIC GRADUATE …Senior Leadership Team member Tracy Ashton, DRUM roll, please, for former Lipson Academy Big who has secured the Headship at the Promise Band member James Gullis, who has graduated with a Cooperative School in Okehampton, which caters for First-Class honours degree in Contemporary Music. children aged 4-16 with social, emotional and mental health needs. Tracy has made a huge contribution to James received his degree from the Academy Lipson over her 21 years here and we wish her all the of Contemporary Music, in Guildford, in a ceremony very best! postponed from the summer. ….Lukasz Mlodziniak, who has celebrated 15 years at Talented drummer James is now living and working as the Academy, working tirelessly with our English as a musician in London, gigging regularly and focusing on an Additional Language students to ensure a smooth promoting his original London jazz band called Caytra. transition for those in an incredibly daunting situa- tion. Lukasz really will go above and beyond for any His progress comes as no surprise to teacher Pete member of staff or student in the school. Twyman, who, along with colleagues in the school’s prestigious music department, helped develop the youngster’s talents. Pete said: “He dedicated so much of his personal time to improve his drumming and embraced every musical opportunity whilst at Lipson. “He was also very passionate about nurturing our younger players and his legacy and respect from younger musicians here at Lipson is still evident now. “He was principal drummer within the Music Academy programme and had a regional reputation as a drummer with immense talent. It was this talent that James aligned with resilience and hard work as lead drummer for the Co-operative Big Band here at Lipson that has led to him gaining a First in Music. “We are all so proud of his achievements and are excited by his future career as a professional musician based in London.” Mother Fiona paid tribute to James’ Lipson mentors. She said: “Thank you for all of your help, input, support, encouragement and hard work in getting James to follow his path in life. “The guild worked especially well for James, and the Big Band provided a professional discipline, along with the opportunity to perform in many venues, work with fellow musicians and provide mentoring, all of which have informed his studies and enabled him to move forwards after leaving ACM.”

#LipsonLife, December 2021 4 OFSTED SPECIAL “THE EXPERIENCE HERE IS MORE THAN ABOUT GETTING THE GRADES The report noted that “there has been YOU NEED; THEY WANT YOU TO BECOME BETTER CITIZENS” a significant shift in the culture of the school’’ since the previous visit to the POSITIVE strides across the board made by the Academy have been recognised Academy, with one pupil by the independent schools regulator Ofsted. encapsulating the thoughts of many that: “The experience here is more Inspectors from the Office for about getting the grades you need; Standards in Education, Children’s they want you to become better Services and Skills rated the Academy citizens.” as ‘good’ in every measurable area following their recent two-day visit, This has helped bring about a daily with the school’s expectation of routine in which the majority of kindness from staff and pupils, in and students enjoy their lessons and out of lessons, underpinning its find- engage well with learning, attend ings. regularly and punctually, and feel safe, all while living out the Academy’s This represents a hugely expectations of kindness from staff significant and pleasing upgrade from and pupils. the school’s ranking two years previously, which indicated that it As a result, the report states, “the required improvement. behaviour of the pupils is now a strength of the school.” This improvement, which has come in a period dominated almost entirely by There are, said the report, also the vagaries of the COVID-19 numerous opportunities for students pandemic, was abundantly evident to develop as individuals in during the inspectors’ latest visit on extra-curricular activities. Academy November 3-4 this year, as their teachers - underpinned by a report - published on government consideration of their workload and website www.gov.uk - highlights. well-being from the school’s leadership - are praised for providing In all five areas under inspection - Inspectors also considered the pupils with this extra support outside quality of education; behaviour and spiritual, moral, social and cultural regular school hours. attitudes; personal development; development of pupils and the extent leadership and management; and to which the education provided by The report recognises that sustained sixth-form provision - the the school meets the needs of the focus on staff development and inspectors judged the Academy as range of students and, in particular, effective training have resulted in a ‘good’, a ranking bettered only by the needs of disabled pupils and those solid understanding of how ‘outstanding’ on the Ofsted scale. who have special educational needs. teachers can help students progress Many conversations between the and a consistency in teaching inspectors and the Academy’s methods. leadership during the visit involved current school practice that was close “Leaders, including trustees,” says the to being outstanding. report, “are clear on what they are trying to achieve, and why.”

#LipsonLife, December 2021 5 “NOW WE CAN REALLY CONCENTRATE ON WHAT MATTERS AND THAT’S ABOUT IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES AND GETTING THE BEST SETS OF RESULTS THAT WE CAN” ACADEMY head Martin Brook believes that the “The credit for this judgment and this report lies with positive Ofsted report that praised the school for “a everybody at Lipson.” significant shift in the culture” is the result of students, staff and the Lipson community all valuing the school’s Mr Brook said that the Academy will now focus fully on expectation of kindness, inside and outside of the providing each of the school’s 1,100 students with the classroom. pathway to become the best they can be. He said: “It is now a case of flicking a switch and saying to the staff He also feels that the unity highlighted in the report can and the students. provide a launch-pad for a journey in which the sky is the limit for the school and its pupils. “Now we can really concentrate on what matters and that’s about improving student outcomes and getting Mr Brook said: “I am…delighted with some of the key the best sets of results that we can. messages that have come out of the report. “I am really pleased to see lines... that reference the fact “I don’t think we’ve reached our potential yet. I think that kindness is at the heart of what we do and that the we can be a great school and that’s what we are hoping quality of relationships between staff and students is at for. We have still got to improve the outcomes that our the heart of what we do. It was nice to have that recog- students get because that’s what opens doors for them. nised by an external verification process. “I want us to be a great school and I’ve got enough “It’s a massive testament to the work that the staff have people around me here; we’ve got enough backing from done over the last two years. I’m really clear in my mind parents and the community and from the governors; that this report is owned by the whole community – the we’ve got a superb set of students; and a really good students, the staff and the community deserve this for group of staff. the work that they have done and the way they have supported the school over the last two years. “It’s a cliché, but the sky’s the limit.”

#LipsonLife, December 2021 6 MP JOINS HISTORIC WHOLE SCHOOL REMEMBRANCE DAY TRIBUTE PLYMOUTH MP Luke Pollard was a guest at the Academy as the school united to pay their respects on Remembrance Day. It was the first time in the Academy’s history that it had staged its own November 11 service with the whole school gathering together as one. Mr Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, lined up alongside headteacher Martin Brook and Executive Head Boy Cherno Sumareh in the school courtyard to join the two-minute silence that was impeccably observed by around 1,100 students and dozens of teaching staff and support staff. The service began with a parade by the Academy’s Combined Cadet Forces, and included readings of In Flanders Fields by Year 11 head boy and head girl Jake Gough and Darcy Olivia Higgins, and For the Fallen, by cadet Millie Beresford. Earlier, Mr Pollard, the former Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, had met with Cherno to discuss students’ plans to introduce a nature reserve to the school.

#LipsonLife, December 2021 7 MEDIA STUDENTS GAIN INSPIRATION AFTER ATTENDING PRESTIGIOUS FESTIVAL YEAR 12 & 13 Media Studies students recently attended “The short films and animations have provided enjoyable the Aesthetica Short Film Festival, a BAFTA-qualifying viewing and provided our students with valuable ideas prestigious and inspiring film festival that is a hotbed for and concepts that are sure to help them develop their fresh ideas and talent discovery. own films and continue their love for the medium. Head of Media, Rhys Phillips said: “Aesthetica is a key “As expected, our students have been mature and festival to explore new cinema and original film making, continue to show how much of an asset they are to the which our students were able to engage with in a Academy and all engaged with the virtual festival fully. virtual capacity. It’s a destination to experience the I have no doubt it has been of benefit to their learning.” power of and craft of cinema. Year 12 Media student Chrissy Venter summed up the “Live masterclasses from industry professionals, such experience. as creative directors for Film 4 and BBC Film, enabled our students to get under the skin of film making and “I think the Film Festival has given me a more open and get a flavour of what is like to be part of the media/film wider insight into media and film,” she said. “It has really industry. helped me to learn the insides of film making and all the work that goes into making a really good film. “Webinars and live chats, discussing topics such as in- “On top of that, it has given me lots of inspiration and clusivity, equality, environmentalism and mental health, ideas for cinematography, concepts, sounds, and overall were all thought provoking and certainly struck a chord new ideas that I can apply to my own film making in order with our students. to create something I really love.”

#LipsonLife, December 2021 8 STUDENT PARLIAMENT IS MUCH MORE THAN PARLIAMENTARIANS JUST TALK - REAL ISSUES ARE DEALT WITH Year 7 THE Lipson Student Parliament is a student run, democratic Llogan Shave Parliament with three-four students from each year group Peter Friend representing their year as MPs. Thomas Martin Holly Ashmore The Student Parliament is run by myself, the Executive Head Boy of Lipson, and it is one of my favourite parts of my job. I am really Year 8 proud to be able to say that I have set up and run a Student Chris Kane Parliament here at Lipson. Fatima Ishaq Amelie Claughton Hender Our Student Parliament is not just a group of students that meet on a regular basis to talk about minor issues such as the colour of Year 9 the walls - our Student Parliament is a lot more than that. Jia Feng Chen Maura Holc We have tackled issues such as behavior and we have set up an Chloe Smith entire environmental team. I am currently in talks with our local MP, Luke Pollard, about getting funding to set up a nature reserve. Year 10 Gracie Marie Cartilage Lipson’s Student Parliament is a student run, democratic parliament where real issues get resolved. Shantaya Fairclough Charlie Harris Cherno Sumareh Lea Marie Jenkins Year 11 Jake Gough Ben Edwards Cyan King Darcy Olivia Higgins

#LipsonLife, December 2021 9 ‘EXCEPTIONAL’ PROGRESS MADE BY LIPSON STUDENTS ON LEXIAUK THREE-STEP PERSONALISED LEARNING MODEL LIPSON students have made great strides since signing up charts provided by Lexia, week by week, members of staff to online literacy providers LexiaUK, with the and students can see the progress made, once the students company itself rating their progress as ‘exceptional’. have completed new tasks. In Lexia’s three-step personalised learning model, “In addition, TAs working with the class apply extraction students are motivated by their own success and have work outside the classroom, based on lesson sheets their own personalised learning paths, which have proved prepared by Lexia, to support students when they are extremely effective in accelerating literacy skills. struggling with challenging materials. Performance data is easy to access and simple to interpret, “Fortunately, students picked up on Lexia really quickly and and teachers have the resources they need for face-to-face we have been informed by Lexia that the progress made in instruction and independent student practise. Year 9 in Lipson is one of the biggest in the entire country, which we are all really proud of. Teaching Assistant Tamas Timar said: “The great advantage of Lexia is that it creates tasks for the students based on Deputy Head Tom Goodman said: “The students have how much work they have done previously and how well shown a great aptitude and desire, and the hard work, they have managed to answer questions in previous tasks. determination and resilience that they have shown is no doubt the reason that they are making the progress that has “We have been using Lexia since September. Based on a been noticed by Lexia.” placement test, Lexia assessed each student’s abilities in the areas of Word Study, Grammar and Comprehension, and One of the students said: “I really look forward to Lexia used this information as a point of comparison and lessons and feel that it helps me learn in a way which is best reference for measuring future progress. By looking at for me.”

#LipsonLife, December 2021 10 Lipson's Spectacular Sparx At the beginning of term the Mathematics department began our ful scale rol -out of the Sparx Maths online ser- vice. This is now in ful use for both classwork and homework with year groups 7 to 11. A central aim of Sparx is to increase engagement and aspiration, by enhancing how classwork and homework is delivered. In the classroom, after teaching and instruction on a particular element of work is complete, the tasks to be completed for each lesson are displayed for students on a Chromebook device, which they then complete at their own pace. Students continue to write their answers and bookwork codes in their exercise books. Whilst they complete the work, real-time feedback is delivered to the teacher on the progress of each student, alowing them to see where help may be required and assess individual levels. Different groups of students can be set supplementary or differentiated tasks if required. Because Sparx is accessed online, students can log in from anywhere with Internet access to continue their learning, or complete homework. Another feature of Sparx which students love is the XP system. Whilst completing work, students wil earn XP points, to indicate how wel they have completed a certain task. Below are some of our outstanding students who have achieved amongst the top XP points during the term. We would like to congratulate the fol owing students who have achieved the folowing: Ivan G - Achieving Sparx Level 7 (75,651 XP) Jessica L - Achieving Sparx Level 2 (22,991XP) Gabriel P - Achieving Sparx Level 2 (25,963XP) Hol y M, Jack H, Charlie S, Maura H and Corey M - Achieving Sparx Level 1 (al over 10,000XP) The top students in each year group are as follows: Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Courtney D Ivan G Hol y M Jessica L Gabriel P Zaynab I Daisy-Jane L Jack H Ruby R Solomon D Aileen H Aj-Lee G Corey M Reece B Rowan F Farnhan H Marlin C Azir R Zach L Sophia S Tyler C Abdur I Grace B Quinn S Caitlyn O Year 9 are currently the leaders for the overal average XP per student, working out at 2,713 XP points each! Hot on their heels are year 11, with 2,617 XP points each on average. Wel done to al for this fantastic effort. We would like to thank al parents for their support as we have adopted Sparx, and the students for their positive response and hard work. We look forward to celebrating more student success stories in the new year. The Mathematics Department

#LipsonLife, December 2021 11 DEPARTMENT IN FULL SWING AS EXCITED STUDENTS ACROSS THE BOARD IN KS3 FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE THE Dance Department has been in full swing this term incredibly excited to go out and perform so we are hoping as students now have the option to take part in the Dance to go next term. Academy in all KS3 year groups. It is great to see so many students getting involved in Years 7, 8 and 9 now. A theatre trip took place for any of our Year 9 and 10 BTEC dancers or Dance Academy students, which was a We have started a Year 7 Dance Academy Club on huge success! We went to see The Nutcracker by Matthew Thursdays after school, which has been full of excited Bourne at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth. All the students students ready to learn new dance styles. We have created who attended thoroughly enjoyed the contemporary ballet a contemporary style group performance with various chal- performance, which included lavish and vibrant production lenging lifts. features. In both the Year 8 and 9 Dance Academy lessons, all our In November, we were fortunate enough to be joined by an students have shown excellent diligence to improve their associate at Exim Dance Company to lead a workshop with dance skills in different styles. Our Year 8 students have our committed Year 9 and 10 dance students. created a performance based on the film Dear Evan Hansen, which we will perform in assemblies next term. This was challenging for most of them to learn new movements and exercises but they all showed great In October, we started rehearsals for a performance with determination and energy. The intention of the workshop three Year 8 students and three Year 10 students. The aim was to engage students with a project called ‘Making was to take the performance to a local care home, Trenant Waves’, which is free for students to attend and involves House, to perform for the residents. COVID-19 them working with other like-minded students to create unfortunately prevented that, but the students are dance performances.

#LipsonLife, December 2021 12 BREAKFAST THE VUE FROM HERE LOOKS GOOD - YEAR 11 GO CLUB FREEfor FROM EXAMINATION TO RELAXATION AT SCREENING OF DUNE all year groups YEAR 11, having worked so hard to prepare for their PPEs in November, certainly deserved the cinema trip arranged by the English Department. Toast From 8-8.30am Bagels On November 15, 50 Year 11 students plus Mr Mitchell, Mrs Toze, and Miss Ford Cereal descended upon Vue Cinema for a special screening of Dune. They certainly did Entry at the back of the Lipson proud with their maturity and respectful nature, even with the copious canteen Tea amounts of sugary sweets and drinks consumed over the two and a half hour Coffee runtime! Stay, chat and make friends after enjoying It was absolutely wonderful to see them able to relax and enjoy the movie after breakfast such intense preparation for their PPEs, and we have already been overrun with requests for the next cinema trip! All welcome #LipsonLife♥ RULEBS ORFEAKFAST Watch this space... DRY AND HAPPY CLUB 1 RESPECT EVERYONE CANCELLEDCHRISTMAS DESPTE the absence this year of the 2 BEST BEHAVIOUR popular (with the students) Soak the FAYRE Teacher feature, £874.18 was raised 3 KEEP CHILLED for the BBC Children in Need appeal 4 NO RUNNING Saturday November 27 by students and staff. 5 ORDERLY QUEUES Noon to 3pm 6 ASK BEFORE LEAVING 7 ENJOY BREAKFAST! Stalls Entertainment Raffle UN-FGaAmYes RE Refreshments and much more THERAlEl Vweryas no Christmas Fayre this year,Wbeulctomthee Christmas Raffle still took place, raising the grand sum#LipsonLife♥ of £176 , which will help to replace the 11-a-side goal nets on the Astroturf. Also: in the event of a fire alarm, return to the canteen The main winners were: Thanks are especially due to Holly and Carol Arscott - Signed Argyle football her Sixth Form team, who took the when it is safe to do so #LipsonLife♥ Caretaker Bob - Elf Hamper lead on a wide variety of activities that Simon Hunter - Chocolate Hamper included a popular penalty shoot-out. Linda Petick - Voucher Stacey Parker - Voucher Students also donated to the cause by Ali Rankin - Mystery prize paying to come to school in mufti.

#LipsonLife, December 2021 13 SOCIALLY DISTANT LIPSON RESEARCH GROUP ARE CONFIDENT LEARNERS AS ALEX QUIGLEY SHARES HIS EXPERTISE ON LANGUAGE LEARNING COVID-19 might limit and shared specific approaches and contact, but it places no strategies. boundaries on learning. As well as authoring Closing the Teachers stayed socially Reading Gap, Closing the Writing distant when they attended Gap, and The Confident Teacher, Alex the final Lipson Research works for the Education Group of 2021 to hear from Endowment Foundation, dedicated Alex Quigley about to breaking the link between family disadvantage, language income and educational achieve- acquisition and the reading ment, where he is responsible for gap. content, resources and training. Alex explained the He also blogs on his own website, importance of language theconfidentteacher.com, and learning in all subjects, regularly writes columns for The particularly for Times Education Supplement and disadvantaged students, Teach Secondary magazine.

#LipsonLife, December 2021 14 LIPSON RESIDENTS ATTEND FENCE MEETING A PUBLIC consulta- tion was held during November to talk with Lipson residents about the pros and cons of putting up a protective perimeter fence. CAPTION As an active and fully COMPETITION committed member of the Lipson com- WHAT is going on here, then? munity, the school A prize (yet to be decided but wanted to listen to very valuable - possibly) for the and consider all local best explanation. views and opinions on Answers to me at the proposed project [email protected]. before seeking plan- ning permission. MISSED OUT? THEN YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS Plenty of views about the fence were aired, while some residents simply wanted to see what such a fence might look like and how it could affect community life.. CALLING all Year 11 students.... If you could not make it to our extremely popular Sixth Form Open Evening held in November, when a good number of potential 2021- 22 students popped in to have a look, it is not a problem - we have got a virtual version of the event for you. Simply follow this link...tinyurl.com/9kfhznvh ...to discover all you need to help support your choices for September 2022 and beyond: • a video of the Open Evening presentation; • prospectuses; • application forms; • video links to subject specific courses.

#LipsonLife, December 2021 15 YOUNG GUNNERS GOING FOR IT - CCF CADETS SWEET OUTCOMES ALL ROUND AS YEAR 10 FOLLOW IN NAVY’S FOOTSTEPS STUDENTS CASH IN ON COURSEWORK THE first annual Candy Cane Campaign took LIPSON CCF Cadets have been working with School place recently, with Year 10 students selling the Staff instructor David Ward in developing their skills and familiar Christmas sweet to raise money so that working as a team in Field Gun training. the Salvation Army can provide presents for less fortunate children. The Field Gun Run is a tribute to the Royal Navy’s The candy canes, which cost a bargain £1, came involvement in the relief of Ladysmith during the second complete with labels attached to them on which Boer War. personalised feelgood messages were written. The project under Sam Durham comprised a The original version of the Field Gun Run competition first large part of the pupils’ coursework. took place at the Royal Tournament of 1907, and it is estimated that 15,000 members of the Royal Navy took part in the run before the Royal Tournament ended 92 years later. The Inter-Port (Command) Challenge Cup, first awarded in 1909, was competed for by Portsmouth, Devonport and, at various times, Chatham (until 1960), and Naval Air Com- mand, later Fleet Air Arm, (from 1947). Nowadays, the competition is still run at HMS Collingwood and celebrated its centenary last year. Our students were trained to be field gunners, racing to assemble an antique field gun (albeit a smaller version of the original), run with it, and disassemble and reassemble it as the competition requires, before dramatically dragging the gun home, maintaining the spirit of the Navy’s contribution to the relief of Ladysmith. In keeping with the Royal Navy CCF Training Syllabus, the CCF Field Gun capability offers the opportunity for cadets to learn and develop skills and put into practice the core competencies of the Navy, namely: Courage, Commitment, Discipline , Respect, Integrity and Loyalty The cadets had a great time together working as a team and, hopefully, will progress to compete at some stage in the future.

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#LipsonLife, December 2021 17 AUTUMN 2021

#LipsonLife, December 2021 18 LIPSON VALE YEAR 5 STUDENTS FIRED UP BY VISIT I HAD the pleasure of visiting Lipson Vale Primary physical reactions from observation, and how to explain School this half-term to teach their Year 5 students the difference between reversible and irreversible about science! The students were very polite, reactions. enthusiastic and welcoming. Unfortunately, we were unable to complete our trilogy My aim was to help them learn about properties of of sessions here at the Academy because of restrictions matter, and so I took with me some laboratory put in place due to COVID-19. equipment, chemicals, ‘fire’, and my trusty goggles to show them first hand! The students were going to learn how to separate mixtures and develop their practical skills in our science In the sequence of sessions, the students learned how laboratory – they will just have to come back another to scientifically describe and compare the properties day! of materials; how to distinguish between chemical and Mr Chick TOP MARKS FOR HARRY POTTER IN SCIENCE CLUB VENTURE THIS term in Science Club, students have designed paper aeroplanes to fly as far as pos- sible; raced cars along a track to find the fastest; returned to our childhoods and tried to make the biggest bubble we possibly could; and, last week, we took inspiration from Harry Potter, making rainbow flames (the green was a particular favou- rite). Finally, in preparation for Christmas, we made decorations by growing crystals on pipe cleaners. It has been a busy term but lots more to come – so join us next term! IS EVERYONE HERE? OKAY, THEN, SMILE FOR THE CAMERA BIG up - and a big cup - to 7JTD, the Tutor Group of Mrs Taljaard, for being the best attended tutor group for the first half-term of the school year. Standards set.

#LipsonLife, December 2021 19 ART SPECIAL A TEN-PAGE LOOK AT THIS TERM’S PROGRESS ACROSS THE YEAR GROUPS

YEAR 7 It has been great to see our new Year 7 students really engage enthusiastically with art lessons this term. We have some exceptionally talented students across the year group and they have been keen to engage with our unit of work exploring line and tone. As a year group, they have been exploring materials and gaining confidence through experimenting with and mixing different techniques to great effect. Now looking at artist Paul Cezanne, they have begun applying their knowledge of tonal drawing into their most recent work. I look forward to seeing their subsequent oil pastel works, in due course.

YEAR 8 Our Year 8 have been working in clay during this half of term on our run-up to the Christmas break. These sculptural clay outcomes will serve to complete their Gargoyle Projects of this Autumn Term, enabling the students to see their planned designs reach fruition. It is always great to see students working passionately in 3D, some for the first time. The individual characters of the students really shine through in their original and unique creations. YEAR 9

This year, the Year 9 students have been working through our new Key Stage 3 foundation inspired Scheme Of Learning. Students are engaged during lessons in varied workshops styled as quickfire high energy mini-projects. This is to give them a broad breadth of experiences so they have a greater understanding as to what art is, and to build their confidence and skills in the broad range of materials available to them in the department. Having a complete understanding of the different approaches open to them for creating artwork and how they can choose approaches to suit their own interests will give our students the ability to make a more informed decision when they come to pick their options. GCSE



It is always wonderful to see the great breadth and variation of our GCSE students’ work, and this year is no different. We take great pride in the individualisation and passion students embody within their projects and this year we have personal projects ranging from portraiture to street art. Our students are really pushing their boundaries, celebrating their artistic skills through their outcomes, exploring personal and meaningful topics to themselves as young people, as well as aspiring towards those high grades at GCSE.

GCSE PHOTOGRAPHY You may be forgiven for thinking that you are looking at lessons taught at Hogwarts! However, these are the fantastic results of our Year 10 Photography groups who have been keen to learn how to modify and edit their images using programmes such as Photoshop to create surreal scenes and visual trickery within their recent project. We are thrilled to see the work of these burgeoning young photographers develop and mature and look forward to the work they will produce in the year ahead.

A LEVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

Our accomplished A-level Photography and art students are currently building into their portfolio work, with the Year 13s presently delving deeply into their personal projects. We love seeing these young individuals pursue concepts and ideas that they personally find fascinating and it is clear to see their work so enriched with their own passion. This year, project themes have included Mental Health, Photographic Essays, Sexuality and Identity.

YEAR 13



#LipsonLife, December 2021 30 NET GAIN FOR TABLE TENNIS GIRLS AT DEVON SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS OUR table tennis teams enjoyed a hugely successful Devon Hannah Friend and Lily Felgate now go on to represent Schools Table Tennis Championships, earning themselves Devon in the next regional round in January. an invite to Hot Chocolate Friday in the process. The Under-16 boys also had a very successful tournament, The Under-16 girls won their age-group, defeating Ivybridge making it all the way to the final, where they suffered their in the final, a well-deserved reward for the team’s hard work only loss of the competition, to a very good Taunton over the past few years - Hei-Tung Moo, Kiera Walsh, Academy team. STUDENTS AND STAFF TAKE IT TO THE BANK WE have been delighted to support Plymouth Foodbank again this Christmas. Students worked together on a Charity Challenge in their tutor groups to fill boxes and fulfil a delivery to the foodbank. Members of staff also collaborated in donating festive treats and basic necessities to those who need them this Christmas. A whopping 90% of food distributed by foodbanks in the Trussell Trust is donated – makes you think, doesn’t it?

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A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS... ...AND A HAPPY AND HEALTHY 2022 December 2021. With thanks to StockInDesign - www.stockindesign.com