Comenius students at Birmingham’s famous Bull

Smith’s Wood Sports College and Lyndon School have welcomed 26 students from across Europe as part of the Comenius project.

The six day visit – which involved students from Turkey, Poland, Spain, Romania and Sweden- included a sight-seeing trip toLondon, a day trip to Stratford-Upon-Avonand a day out at the Drayton Manor theme park.

Comenius is aimed at schools, colleges and local authorities across Europe and aims to develop knowledge and understanding among young people and education staff of the diversity of European cultures and languages, and the value of this diversity. It also aims to help young people to acquire basic life skills and competences for their personal development, for future employment and for active European citizenship.

 Students at Smith’s Wood Sports College and Lyndon School have been delighted to be involved in the visit and show their European counterparts just what England has to offer – something made particularly special in the year of the Olympic Games.

Angela Braid, who is an organiser of the Comenius project at Smith’s Wood Sports College says, “It was great to welcome our friends from Europe toEnglandand to Birmingham and to Smith’sWood Sports College, we shared some fantastic times together and it was an experience none of us will forget. It was an absolute pleasure to be involved with Comenius. ”

Swedish student Jacob Andersson said, “The trip to England has been quite an experience and has really been something I will remember. The trips we have had; the people I have met and England in general has been just amazing. I really want to thank the host families for taking care of us all so well and making the stay a real pleasure.”

Liam Ross, ‘Young Enterprise Mike Collins Young Achiever of the Year’

The Smith’s Wood Sports College Young Enterprise team – ‘Fusion’ – walked away with the most prestigious award at the Young Enterprise Final 2012.

Year 11 student, Liam Ross, was awarded the ‘Young Enterprise Mike Collins Young Achiever of the Year Award’ for Most Improved Managing Director. Liam and the rest of the team were honoured and elated with this award.

Liam says, “It was beyond belief when I won the award. It was not just down to me, it was also down to the fantastic efforts of my team – and so I thank them. This is one of the most amazing achievements I have ever had and means a lot to me, as it does to my school.”

The judges were extremely impressed with the pupils’ presentation and verbal communication skills. Teachers from other local schools, who were also at the ceremony, commented on how charismatic the students were and how much they enjoyed the presentation given by the Fusion team.

The competition was fierce between Smith’sWoodSportsCollege and other schools in Solihull including the CTC Kingshurst Academy, John Henry Newman Catholic College and Solihull School – but Fusion rose to the challenge.

Coordinator of the Young Enterprise group, Amanda Wilcox, says, “The Year 11 students who are part of the Young Enterprise Scheme have been on a very long learning journey.  They have taken time to develop their skills and teamwork and have come together as a very effective team. The College is proud of the journey the pupils have taken.”

The Fusion team were also awarded for ‘Best Customer Service’ at the recent Trade Fair in Chelmsley Wood. Their latest award is further testament to their personal talents and ability to work as a team.

The Fusion team is made up of Liam Ross, Liam Weldon, Macaulay Ward, Alessio Ianiello, Amy Shaw, Annabelle Bennett and Amelia Holmes.

Logo for SWSC Duke of Edniburgh

On May 4^th, two groups of Year 10 students and a group of Sixth Form students from Smith’s Wood Sports College began their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh training in Bromsgrove.

They successfully camped over night, cooked meals on trangiers and navigated themselves across the country side with out getting lost (for the majority!)

Students on D of E training weekend

Overall it was a fantastic weekend and a great start to the Duke of Edinburgh season and the Bronze Award training.

Students in PE at Smith’s Wood Sports College

Smith’s WoodSports College is to become a Youth Sport Trust Gold Partner School for its commitment to PE and school sport.

Youth Sport Trust Partner Schools can demonstrate how they are delivering high quality school sport and improving the PE experience for every young person.  Importantly, they are also using sport to raise achievement levels across the school.

As a partner, Smith’s Wood Sports College – who achieved the highest accolade – will receive additional training and development opportunities and can become involved in national education and sport initiatives. 

Mr Hawkins, Principal at Smith’s Wood Sports College, said: “The Gold Charter Mark is yet another important step in the development of Smith’s Wood as aSportsCollege. It is further evidence that we take our PE and sport work very seriously and the proof of this is welcomed by the fact that so many young people are willing to focus on sport and choose Smith’s Wood Sports College as their school of choice. The Gold Charter Mark is further testament to the sporting excellence and sporting achievements by the staff and students of Smith’s Wood Sports College.”

Annette Montague, Education Director at the Youth Sport Trust, said:

 “Youth Sport Trust Partner Schools share our belief that sport changes lives and understand how it can be used across the curriculum to improve attainment.  PE and school sport can be a catalyst for young people to live healthy, active lives and we are delighted to be working with schools across the country to support them develop this provision.

Students in concert at Warwick Arts Centre

Smith’s Wood Sports College was one of over 300 schools represented at a concert – named String Explosion – hosted by the Solihull Music Service which joined together over 300 students who are learning string instruments in the area through the wider opportunities programme.

Students learnt the pieces separately in their schools and then had a mass rehearsal on the day where the work was put together at the Warwick Arts Centre. The students then performed to around 1000 people who were in the audience to enjoy the music.

Tiana Mills, a student from Smith’s Wood Sports College who played the violin at the concert, says, “The experience of performing at the Warwick Arts Centre was one of a kind. Having chance to represent Smith’sWoodSportsCollegewas truly amazing.”

Smith’s Wood Sports College music teacher, Miss Pitcher praised students by saying, “The pupils rose to the challenge of performing in a large scale orchestra, having to follow a conductor, and weren’t at all phased by the 1000 parents watching. They did brilliantly!!”

Students in Belgium

40 students from Smith’s Wood Sports College enjoyed a three-day trip to France and Belgium as part of their History studies.

Highlights included a poignant visit to the Menin gate in Ypres,Belgium, where the last post was played to commemorate the events of World War I. At the Tyne Cott cemetery, a choir sympathetic to those lost in both World Wars performed an outdoor concert of war songs to remember the events and lives lost through both conflicts.

Charlotte Dunbar, a student on the trip, found remembering the events of the World Wars particularly emotional, “It was an amazing experience. Going to the Menin Gate was special because of how the memory of the unfound soldiers was commemorated in such a moving way.”

History teacher Miss Osborne, who organised the trip, says, “In lessons, pupils had been taught about the high number of casualties suffered in the war and the horrendous conditions of the trenches.  However, by going to Tyne Cot cemetary, the Menin Gate and Sanctuary Wood, amongst other places, it really brought home the realities of the war to the pupils.”

The trip was not all about events of war – a visit to the town of Ypres also educated the pupils in the other important aspect of Belgian heritage – Chocolate!

Pupils with 2 of the nominated titles

8 students from Smith’s Wood Sports College were present at the Solihull Book Awards 2012.

Members of the Smith’s Wood Sports College Book Club read and reviewed all three nominated titles – ‘Sky Hawk’ by Gill Lewis, ‘Divine Freaks’ by Fiona Dunbar and ‘Operation Eiffel Tower’ by Elen Caldecott before attending the ceremony.

Year 7 student, Bethany Lloyd opened the winning envelope to award author Gill Lewis the Solihull Children’s Book Award 2012 with her novel ‘Sky Hawk’

Speaking after the event, student Megan Beard said, “I enjoyed the Solihull Book Awards as I found hearing about the authors’ inspiration interesting.” Lauryn Kelly said, “I found the information from the authors useful as it really gave me some useful tips on becoming an author. I also enjoyed listening to the authors and how they got their inspiration.” 

The Smith’s Wood Sports College Book Club meets every Tuesday, at 3pm to read and discuss books, write reviews and make literature-related crafts.

The Smith’s Wood Sports College Young Enterprise team – named ‘Fusion’ – has been awarded for ‘Best Customer Service’ at the Chelmsley Wood Trade Fair.

Seeing off competition from John Henry Newman Catholic College,  CTC Kingshurst Academy, Park Hall Academy and Grace Academy, the team of 19 students’ sold their own products – some of which were handmade – and maximised sales opportunities by confidently approaching passing customers at the Chelmsley Wood Shopping Centre.
On winning the award, Managing Director of Fusion, Liam Ross said, “It was a privilege to represent Smith’sWoodSportsCollege at the Chelmsley Wood Trade Fair. I am so glad that our company won the ‘Best Customer Service’ award.” Abigail Bartrum, who is also a Managing Director, said, “Representing Fusion and the college was an amazing experience! I was so proud to win the award.”

Fusion’s success is the culmination of months of hard work which began in September 2011 when the team opened a stationery shop at the college selling stationery essentials to students and staff. Fusion then expanded revenue through holding raffles and launching a tuck shop. The revenue generated from these opportunities provided the team with enough money to enterprise their own product.

Coordinator of the Young Enterprise group, Amanda Wilcox, says, “The Year 11 students who are part of the Young Enterprise Scheme have been on a very long learning journey.  They have taken time to develop their skills and teamwork and have come together as a very effective team for the Trade Fair.  The College is proud of the journey the pupils have taken.”

The team created handmade plaques, slogan badges and patterned mugs which were sold at the Trade Fair on 19 March. One of the judges was so impressed with the handmade items that he said he would sell them in his own store. Another local businessman is interested in buying plaques to sell in his own business.

Fusion received a certificate, plaque and Amazon vouchers as their reward for their months of hard work where they have shown themselves to be budding young business people.

The Smith’s Wood Fusion team are: Liam Weldon (MD), Abigail Bartram (MD), Amy Shaw, Amelia Holmes, Christopher Colley, Helena Jennings, Stacey Smith, Allessio Ianiello, Lorna Hill, Sophie Phipps, Danielle George, Keely Shannon, Brittanny Baker, Hayley Roney, Bethany Young, Sophie Wilson, Liam Ross, Macaulay Ward and Annabelle Bennett.

Sport Relief Runners

Not only was the target distance of that from Land’s End to John O’Groats far exceeded, but the school achieved the mammoth distance of 1478 miles – the equivalent of travelling from the school building to Naples, Seville or Belgrade!

PE staff completed at least one mile each with many others going over ten and twenty miles.

But it is the students whose efforts were of particular admiration. Amy-Jo Clamp, year 9, completed a total of 22 miles over two days on an exercise bike. Dale Hyde, year 9, cycled an impressive 15 miles in one sitting and then ran a further 4 miles on Friday!

The greatest achievement, however, was made by year 9 student Bradley Stokes, who completed a marathon 26 miles over two days, of which ten miles were completed running.

Lewis Round, who organised the event, praised the efforts of the students, “Having set the seemingly impossible challenge of travelling the length of the country in a mere four days I thought it near impossible for our students to achieve after the first day only covering 140 miles. Yet again the students showed their resilience and desire to succeed by eclipsing the 874 mile target by completing over 1400 miles.”

It is hoped the final fundraising total will be £750 to help change lives across the UK and the world’s poorest countries.

The day began with us going to a rehearsal room in the theatre which had lots of mirrors. It was here that we met our instructor, Jade, who showed us a dance which was really catchy. It was a great experience because we will probably never be able to do that sort of thing again. We did the routine for an hour.

We then had a singing activity where we sang ‘Where is the Love’ which Oliver sings when he is locked in the basement of an undertaker. We all had different parts to sing so that when we all came together, we were in harmony. It sounded great altogether.

Finally, we had a tour of the Hippodrome where we saw the actor’s dressing rooms. We got to sit where all the famous people – like the Queen, Prince Charles and Madonna – sit to watch performances.

We then went backstage to see the set. Most of the set was like a machine as it moved up and down on and off stage.

It was a great day.