Latest News
More Families are Opting for State-Run Boarding
01 Feb 2012More families are choosing state-run boarding establishments like School House for their sons, according to new figures.The number of state-run boarding places on offer has risen by 25 per cent in the last 10 years, as highlighted by an article in The Guardian.At School House, the number of places has almost doubled to 72 this year, following...
County Final for Young Chefs
30 Jan 2012Two promising young chefs represented Ashby School in the county finals of the Rotary Young Chef of the Year competition.Megan Newton and Jessica Nicholson both made it through to the finals after producing mouthwatering menus in the school heats in December.The pair, who are in Year 10, turned out exceptional dishes at January's county finals but were up against fierce competition from schools across Leicestershire....
Girls Talk their Way into District Finals
27 Jan 2012A team of girls from Ashby School has won the district semi-finals of the Rotary Youth Speaks competition.Nancy Heath, 16, Emily Essex and Annabelle Lock, both 15, took first place in the semi-finals at Leicester Grammar School on Thursday (26 January). They will now represent the school in the district finals of the competition at Huntingdon in February.
Academy Move is a Step Closer
25 Jan 2012Ashby School has moved a step closer to becoming an Academy, after Governors voted unanimously in favour of the change.At a special Governors' meeting on Monday (23 January), Governors made the unanimous decision to apply to the Secretary of State to convert to an Academy from 1 September 2012 (or the nearest appropriate date).A formal application will be submitted next week (beginning 30 January).The school should lear...
School Re-opens to Students on Tuesday 21 February After Half-Term
25 Jan 2012Ashby School will be closed to students from Monday 13 February to Monday 20 February (inclusive) for the Spring half-term break. Students should return to school on Tuesday 21 February.Monday 20 February is a teacher day, when only staff will be in school. The school will be closed to students on this day and will re-open for lessons on Tuesday 21 February....
Cheerleaders Make their Mark in Competition
18 Jan 2012A team of cheerleaders from Ashby School has clinched second place in a regional competition. The 12 girls performed at the Cheer and Dance Championships at New College, Leicester, coming second in the Level 2 Youth and Junior Cheer section. The team, which has been together for just over a year, is also the official squad for the Nottingham Hoods basketball team. Rebecca Quinn, who helps to coach the team, said: “To do so well in the competitio...
It's Madness to Miss School Musical
14 Dec 2011Madness musical ‘Our House’ received rapturous reviews when it was staged by Ashby School students over three nights in December. The show's concept was based on the game of Monopoly.Performers from all Years took on singing, acting and technical roles for the show, which was based around the songs of nutty boys Madness. Music for the show...
Battlefields Tour for History Students
14 Dec 2011More than 40 History students made a moving visit to the battlefields of Ypres and the Somme. The Year 10 students went on a three-day whistle-stop tour of historical landmarks, including the Lijsenhoek War Cemetery, and the Town Cells and Shooting Post in Poperinge. Students visited important historical landmarks.They also attended ...
Shoe Boxes Spread Xmas Cheer
14 Dec 2011Students helped to spread Christmas cheer to troops in Afghanistan by putting together shoe boxes full of goodies. Members of form C3MW were set the challenge of creating the most exciting shoe box gift and getting closest to the 2kg weight limit.Students with one of their shoe boxes.Students worked on the project for two weeks duri...
Tarran aims for Title Success
14 Dec 2011Motorcyclist Tarran Mackenzie is following in the footsteps of dad Niall and brother Taylor by making his mark on racing circuits around the UK. Tarran, 16, has just completed his second year of racing at national level – and is going for national title success in 2012. Tarran will be riding for Loughborough-b...
Are You Eligible for Government Premium?
09 Dec 2011Families are being urged to check if they are eligible for a Government premium to help children from lower income families do their very best.For every child registered for the 'Pupil Premium', Ashby School receives £488 this year.This money can be used to help the school enhance the facilities available to its students.Families are being urged to register before 13 January to make sure their children and others in their class don’t miss ...
Ashby School Launches Academy Consultation Process
07 Dec 2011Ashby School's proposed conversion to an Academy will be discussed with parents at a special meeting in December. Parents are being asked to return a reply slip to confirm whether or not they wish to attend.Click here to read the letter to parents about possible Academy conversion and to print off the reply slip....
Students Become Police Witnesses for a Day
02 Dec 2011Sixth Formers became mock witnesses for a day as part of a police training exercise at Ashby police station. Five students volunteered to help the police by playing the part of witnesses. They were asked to watch a short video clip of an incident and were then interviewed about what they had observed. The students involved were Sarah Deakin, Emily Barnard, Sophie Winterbottom, Bradley Miles and David Odifa. The advance witness course was run for local...
Ashbeian Autumn Issue Now Out
30 Nov 2011The latest issue of school newsletter, The Ashbeian, is now available to download here or as a hard copy from the school....
School Will be Closed on Wednesday 30 November due to Strike Action
25 Nov 2011Ashby School will be closed on Wednesday (30 November) due to strike action.However, the Sixth Form Centre will remain open to Sixth Formers who wish to come in for private study or to use school resources. The area will be staffed by members of staff not involved in the industrial action although there will be no catering facilities available.Headteacher Eddie Green described the closure as regrettable but said that the school had been forced to close because of insufficien...
24 Reasons to be Charitable
25 Nov 2011A 24-hour TV marathon is expected to raise hundreds of pounds for charity this weekend. Forty students and four members of staff will watch an entire series of hit US drama ‘24’ over a 24-hour period. The TV endurance test will begin at 5pm on Saturday (26 November) and finish at teatime the following day. The idea for the viewing challenge follows a successful 15-hour ‘Potterthon’ last year, when students watched all six Harry...
Farewell to Clive Jones
23 Nov 2011Clive Jones, former Chair of Governors at Ashby School, has died.Mr Jones, who was an old boy of the school, was a fervent supporter of Ashby School. He was Chair of Governors during some of the school's most ambitious projects, including the creation of its flagship Sixth Form Centre and new buildings for the teaching...
London Exhibition for Amy
23 Nov 2011Artist Amy Kindon will see her work displayed in a London exhibition after being selected for a series of weekend art workshops at De Montfort University (DMU).Amy, who is in Year 11, will join other gifted young artists from across Leicestershire on the 25-week course, to learn a range of techniques, including portraits, textiles, architecture and photography.
Speaking Out for Ashby
21 Nov 2011An enthusiastic speech by three Ashby students earned them a place in the district semi-finals of a public speaking competition. Emily Essex, Annabelle Lock and Nancy Heath won the senior category in the local heat of the Rotary Youth Speaks competition. Winning team (left to right) Nancy Heath, Emily Essex and Annabelle Lock.
Mayor of Ashby Joins the Crewe
12 Oct 2011The Mayor of Ashby is setting the pace for Crewe’s fundraising campaign by running 12 marathons in 12 months. Staff and students were so inspired by news of Mayor Coun Richard Bebbington’s marathon challenge, they decided to adopt his chosen charity – Wishes 4 Kids – as Crewe’s House charity for the year. Since then, Coun Bebbington has visited the school to talk to Crewe members during their morning assembly. Coun Bebbin...
Roll Up for Christmas Concert Tickets
12 Oct 2011A Christmas carol concert for older Ashby residents will take place again this December due to popular demand.The concert, which will feature music and entertainment by Ashby School students, is open to all senior citizens from the town and surrounding areas. The seasonal entertainment will be followed by festive refresh...
Matt Hampson Returns to School to Accept Cheque
10 Oct 2011Rugby star Matt Hampson will return to Ashby School tomorrow (Tuesday) to mark the end of a year-long fundraising partnership between himself and the school. Students and staff from the school’s Bullen House will hand over a cheque for £2,487.58 to the Matt Hampson Foundation during morning assembly. Matt is expected to use the assembly to give a motivational talk to students about persevering in the face of difficulty. Bullen adopted the Foundation as ...
Cheerleaders are Official Squad for Nottingham Hoods
10 Oct 2011Ashby School’s cheerleading squad are now the official cheerleaders for the Nottingham Hoods basketball team. The girls made their first appearance at a Hoods’ game on 8 October, less than a year after the squad was set up. A spokesperson for the Hoods said: “The girls will add an extra dimension to the already electric atmosphere at Hoods home games. They will be performing routines during the half-time breaks, as well as encouraging the crowd to...
Russian Cosmonaut on Mission to Ashby
05 Oct 2011A Russian cosmonaut will touch down at Ashby School next month to talk to students about his role in the Russian space programme. Alexander Martynov will address students from Ashby School, Ibstock and Ivanhoe High Schools and local primary school pupils, as part of the school’s gifted and talented programme. Dr Martynov, who worked at the Russian Mission Control Centre from 1968 to 1992, will tell students what it is really like to live and work in space and...
Aspiring Students Get Motivated
28 Sep 2011World class athletes were the inspiration for students during a day of sports-driven motivational activities.Thirty Year 11 students took part in a series of interactive sessions using rowing machines, a football speed cage, timing devices and other equipment to hone important skills for success. These included team work and communication, target setting, problem solving, risk taking and creative thinking.The sessions were run by the Aspiring Minds p...
Fair Trade
28 Sep 2011Scores of children from local special needs schools were treated to a morning at the fair, with the help of students from Ashby School.All the fun of the fair.More than 20 Sixth Formers volunteered to take the youngsters around Ashby Statutes historic street fair and to go with them on some of the rides. The dodgems proved to be one of the most p...
Giant Digger to Help with Careers Advice
23 Sep 2011Click here to go to Careers Booklet link - More than 40 industry experts, and a giant digger, will help students to make important decisions about their future at Ashby School’s annual careers evening. Representatives from scores of professional organisations and further/ higher educational establishments will in school to talk to students. Staff from Desford-based firm Caterpillar will bring a giant digger – known as a backhoe – to show to s...
Donation Station Set Up at Ashby School
21 Sep 2011Ashby School is now a donation station for Cancer Research UK. Students and staff are being asked to donate unwanted items such as books, CDs and clothes, in a box outside the library. Other items including DVDs, toys, shoes and jewellery are also welcome. All donations will be sold in the charity’s Ashby shop. Student Marco Narajos, who is a volunteer for Cancer Research UK, said: “We have notic...
Parents Urged to Get on Board
07 Sep 2011Parents of Ashby School students are being urged to get on board by enrolling as governors. The school currently has vacancies for two parent governors to play a vital role in shaping its future. Governors help to discuss and make important decisions about the school's policies, plans and progress. These cover issues as diverse as discipline, new buildings and equipment, and student safety. Elaine Blunt, Acting Chair of Governors, said: "Parent g...
Re-Sit Forms for GCSE and GCE Now Available
07 Sep 2011Re-sit forms for GCSE November modules and GCE January modules are now available on the school website. Click here to go to the Examinations page....
International School Hat-trick
07 Sep 2011Ashby School has achieved the International School Award for the third consecutive time. The Award is given to schools which add a global dimension to lessons across the curriculum. Over the last three years, the school has introduced an international element to a range of subjects, including international poetry in English, international conflict in Art, world music in Music lessons, international trade in Business Studies and the study of diseases in Biology.&nbs...
GCSE Results are Best Ever
25 Aug 2011Ashby School students are celebrating the school’s best ever GCSE results – including 22 who achieved straight As. Eighty six per cent of students achieved five or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C, not including Maths and English. This figure was up from 78 per cent in 2010. Results day can be an emotional experien...
A Level Top Grades Go Up Again
18 Aug 2011The number of top grades achieved by Ashby School’s A level students rose again this year. Twenty students earned straight As and/or A*s, including four who secured places at Oxbridge. Students queue anxiously for results.Among them were Emma Howard and Anand Srivastava who both picked up four A*s. There wer...
Evening Language Classes for Students - and their Families
15 Jul 2011Language lovers of all ages can take up Italian and Spanish lessons at Ashby School, starting in September. The after-school sessions are open to students, staff and parents from Monday 26 September (Italian) and Tuesday 27 September (Spanish). Since being added to the diverse range of languages on offer at Ashby School, Italian has proved extremely popular. Spanish is also expected to be successful. Students can also study French or German GCSE....
School Re-Opens on Thursday 1 September for Years 10, 11 and 13 and on Monday 5 September for Year 12
15 Jul 2011School re-opens on Thursday 1 September 2011 for students in Years 10, 11 and 13.Year 12 students should return on Monday 5 September....
Winning Designs Impress Shoppers
15 Jul 2011Designs by Ashby School students have been wowing shoppers after going on display in an Ashby shop window. A passer-by was so impressed by one of the paintings that she went into the shop to ask if she could buy it. The shop window.The designs – including items of clothing, bags and artwork – have been ...
Skills for Life for Students
06 Jul 2011First stop, Ashby: next stop, the big time! More than 70 students at Ashby School boosted their business brains by signing up for a crash course in management skills. Students spent three days working with some of the area’s most successful businessmen and women at the school’s 24th annual Skills for Management conference. Stu...
Economists on the Money in London
01 Jul 2011BBC Television Centre and the Bank of England Museum were visited by Year 12 Economists during a day trip to London.The students were given a tour of Television Centre, which included a talk on the operations of the news department, a visit to a sound stage and a look around a star dressing room. They also learned about the cost of running Television Centre.
Girls Sample Extreme Physics
29 Jun 2011Four girls from Ashby School gave up part of their school holidays to take part in an Extreme Physics workshop. Lydia Gibson, Laura Taylor, Kelsey Price and Annabelle Lock attended the residential holiday programme at Rugby School, along with students from 24 other schools. Students took part in individual and team challenges including simulated sky-diving, rock climbing and a dragster race.
Loudoun Lifts Trophy on Sports Day - See sports day pictures here
24 Jun 2011Students of all sporting abilities took to the track for Ashby School’s annual sports day. Students put their speed and stamina to the test in a full programme of track and field events, including javelin, long jump and a pentathalon. Runners raced over distances of 100, 200, 300, 400, 800, 1500 and 3000 metres. Callum Weeks is presented with the Vict...
Day of Dance Gets Students Moving
22 Jun 2011Cheerleading and contemporary dance workshops featured in a 'Day of Dance' organised for Ashby School students. Seventeen members of Ashby School’s after-school cheerleading club joined a morning cheerleading workshop. Dancers took part in a contemporary dance workshop.This was followed in the afterno...
Sea Cadet Chosen for Prestigious Role
22 Jun 2011A sea cadet from Ashby School has been chosen to be the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Staffordshire for 2011/ 12. Joshua Priestland, 15, is a Leading Cadet with the Burton-on-Trent Sea Cadets. Over the coming year, he will accompany the Lord Lieutenant at prestigious, official engagements. Since taking up his new role, Joshua has already met Prince Edward.
Ashby School Hosts Visitors from Asia
22 Jun 2011Ashby School played host to secondary school leaders from across South East Asia for a day in June. The 10 principals were among a delegation of 50 who travelled from Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. There were also representatives from Australia and New Zealand. The visitors were in England for the ‘Seasons of Success’ conference run by the National College for School Leadership (NCSL), at which Ashby Headteacher Mrs Viv Keller-Garn...
Fashion Show is Part of End-of-Year Extravanganza
15 Jun 2011Clothes designed by students from five local schools appeared on the catwalk at Ashby School's end-of-year show.The fashion show – which followed an urban theme – brought together the work of young designers from Ashby School, Ivanhoe and Ibstock high schools, Griffydam Primary School and Sir John Moore Primary School, Appleby Magna. The fashion ...
Live Creatures Delight Pupils at Ecology Day
13 Jun 2011Snakes, newts and woodlice were the stars of an Ecology Day for 100 local primary school pupils. Youngsters from Willesley Primary School were at Ashby School for a day of workshops based on the children’s TV programme ‘Deadly 60’. Workshops included pond-dipping, woodlouse racing and handling a live snake.A pupil meets Rosalita the k...
Chick Flicks Dominate Film Awards
13 Jun 2011An unexpected trend emerged at the Ashby School Film Awards - hens featured in three of the winning films.Paige and Meesha Greensmith's 'What, the Cluck?' won the Year 12 Best Script award, while Year 12 Best Film went to Emma Hunt and Abbie Thorpe for 'The Wonders of Gloria'.A scene from 'Fowl Play'.Matthew Elliot picke...
Fashion Workshop for Primary Pupils
26 May 2011Primary school children will take part in a day-long fashion workshop at Ashby School in June. The youngsters from Griffydam Primary School will use the latest technology to design and print their own t-shirts for a fashion show to take place later in the year. A pupil works on his design.Pupils will also practise modelling their ...
Leicestershire Headteachers to Share their Expertise at Conference
25 May 2011Leicestershire headteachers Mrs Vivien Keller-Garnett and Mr Alex Green will be sharing their expertise with colleagues from around the world at one of the biggest educational events of the year. Mrs Keller-Garnett from Ashby School and Mr Green from Abington High School are among a handful of school leaders invited to speak at the National College’s annual conference Seizing Success 2011. Delegates will come from as far afield as the Far East, Australia and N...
Long Journey to Italy is Well Worth it
25 May 2011Milan, Venice and Verona were among the cultural highlights of a school visit to Italy. Thirty-two students made the 27-hour journey to Italy, where they stayed at Nago, a small town 10 minutes from Lake Garda. Students visited the cathedral in Verona.Students spent a day in Verona, visiting the balcony made famous by Romeo and Juliet, as...
World of Work Opens for Students
24 May 2011Successful businesspeople – from architects to chocolate makers - will share the secrets of their trades with Ashby School students at a series of special workshops on Wednesday (15 June). More than 500 students will take part in career workshops, led by visiting experts, as part of the school’s ‘World of Work’ afternoon.
Chef Tia Takes Third in National Cookery Competition
23 May 2011Chef Tia Allen was on top form when she took third place in the grand final of Rotary International's Young Chef competition.Tia was one of eight talented cooks to reach the final and hoping to be crowned Young Chef of Great Britain and Ireland. Contestants were asked to create a stunning three-course dinner for a panel of highly experienced judges....
Charity Total Tops £7,000
20 May 2011Ashby School has raised more than £7,500 for its House charities this year. Fundraising events in 2010 - 11 have included sponsored walks, a 24 hour sports marathon and a gruelling ‘aquathon’ race across land and water. Exhausted competitors recover after taking part in the fundraising aquathon. Of the total, £3...
Ashby's Got Talent - and More Cash for Charity
20 May 2011Ashby’s Got Talent – and that’s official! Hastings were crowned the winners of Ashby School's very own talent showcase - a victory which also confirmed them as this year's inter-House champions.Body popper Daniel Ambrose-Jones in action.The House's success followed strong performance...
Origami to Help Japanese Quake Victims
18 May 2011An after-school origami session helped to raise more than £60 for Japanese earthquake victims.A group of Sixth Formers show off their creations.Six Japanese origami experts from across the Midlands were in school to teach the ancient art of paper-folding. The after-school session was open to both staff and students for a do...
George Attends Cambridge Masterclass
18 May 2011A promising scientist from Ashby School has taken part in a Science masterclass at Cambridge University. George Lock, 16, was one of 100 people nationwide to be selected for the masterclass at Pembroke College. The course was designed to give students an insight into university life and how Science is taught at a higher level. George said: “It was a chance to experience life at the university; there were lectures and tours and talks with student...
New Senior Team Speaks Up for Student Voice
13 May 2011The Student Senior Team for 2011 – 12 will be Head Boy Wes Eyley, Head Girl Beth Murton, Deputy Head Boy Edward Sherriff and Deputy Head Girl Juliette Parry. All four are looking forward to settling into their roles alongside new Headteacher Eddie Green.Senior team (left to right) Edward Sherriff, Juliette Parry, Wes Eyley...
Year 12 Induction Will Take Place on 4 and 5 July
11 May 2011Sixth Form induction for new Year 12 students will take place on Monday 4 July and Tuesday 5 July.Internal and external students who hope to obtain a Sixth Form place for 2011 - 12 are advised to keep these dates free.More details about the induction programme will be released before July....
Ceremony Rewards Talented Students - SEE FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS
04 May 2011The achievements of some of Ashby School’s most talented students were celebrated at the school’s annual awards evening. Among the recipients was Jessica McGeown, who received four awards, including the inaugural Clive Jones Shield, for the student who has made the most outstanding contribution to school life. Award winners (left to right) J...
Le francais diplomatique, s'il vous plait!
12 Apr 2011Talented linguists spent a day tackling topical French issues, during a visit to the French Embassy in London.The visit was a first for Ashby School and the Embassy, which had never worked with a school before.Students at the French Embassy.The Year 13 French students were given a tour of the Embassy, learned about different careers in the organisat...
Students Present Handmade Gifts to Elderly Residents
08 Apr 2011Handcrafted items made by Ashby School students will be presented to elderly residents at a special ceremony at Hood Court next Thursday (14 April). The bird tables, nesting boxes and planters have been made by students, at the request of Hood Court residents. The presentation will be attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Ashby, Jim and Jill Hoult, and John Coxon, Leader of Ashby Town Council. Peter Higgs, Learning Mentor at Ashby School, said: &ldquo...
Important Information about Year 10 and 11 GCSE Modular Re-sits
08 Apr 2011All students who wish to re-sit GCSE modules must submit their requests by Friday 15 April or by post to arrive in school with full payment by Friday 22 April.For full details of what to do about GCSE re-sits, and the deadlines for re-sit requests, click here for Year 10 or click here for Year 11....
Charity Concert Ends on High Note
06 Apr 2011A concert featuring musicians from Ashby School has raised more than £1,000 for local charity Hospice Hope. A capacity audience at Ashby School was treated to an evening of swing, jazz, Motown, pop and rock, including a performance by Ashby School Jazz Band. Head of Music Catherine Matthews hands over a cheque to David Jones of Hospice Hop...
Musicians Go 'Around the World in 80 Staves'
06 Apr 2011Musicians and singers from seven Ashby schools will come together to stage a musical odyssey. Ashby School will join forces with its two feeder high schools, Ibstock and Ivanhoe, and four Ashby primary schools for a performance of ‘Around the World in 80 Staves’. This is the schools’ second joint concert, following the success of the inaugural event a year ago. About 200 children will take part in the show, which will take listeners ...
Students Rise to Respect Challenge
25 Mar 2011Awards have been presented to Ashby School students for their part in a project to promote respect in the community. Eight students from Ashby School signed up for the Respect Challenge. As part of their challenge, they were asked to design and build bird tables, nesting boxes and planters for elderly residents of Hood Court in Ashby. Peter Higgs, Learning Mentor at Ashby School, said: “The students worked extremely hard to do what was asked of ...
House Day 3 is a Real Achievement
25 Mar 2011Achievement was the theme of the school’s third House Day. All students were encouraged to try something new, from salsa and karate to knitting.Students try out some salsa moves.More than 120 students from Bullen House were involved in a successful attempt to break the world record for the largest ever rugby scrum.
Aquathon...and on...and on
25 Mar 2011A gruelling race across land and water tested staff and students to the limit – and helped to raise valuable funds for Ashby School’s chosen charities. A competitor crosses the finishing line.Ninety-nine staff and students - of all sporting abilities – tackled the school's fifth annual aquathon, which included a 400 me...
School Breaks World Record for Biggest Rugby Scrum
23 Mar 2011The world record for the largest ever scrum has been broken by Ashby School.Students and staff from the school’s Bullen House formed a scrum of 126 people, smashing the previous record of 68. The successful attempt took place on Tuesday (22 March), after a day of scrum workshops and following an earlier motivational talk by former England and Tigers rugby star, Matt Hampson.
Chef Tia Cooks up Another Storm
23 Mar 2011Champion chef Tia Allen has moved a step closer to being named Rotary Young Chef of the Year by triumphing in the regional finals at the weekend. Tia, 16, won the regional competition in Harrogate on Saturday (19 March). She will now represent Ashby School at the UK finals in Stratford on 30 April. Tia hard at work during the regional final.
Switch it off for Climate Week
18 Mar 2011Switch it off - that is the message from Ashby School where staff and students will be doing their bit to mark Climate Week from Monday (21 March). All school users are being urged to turn off computers and to step up their recycling efforts, as part of the school’s Climate Week activities. Posters, presentations and notes in the school’s daily bulletin will urge staff and students to think about what they can do to halt climate change. An...
Record-Breaking Scrum is Worth a Try
14 Mar 2011An attempt to break the world record for the largest ever rugby scrum will be made by students at Ashby School next Tuesday (22 March). The students hope to smash the existing record of 60 by forming a scrum of more than 200 people. Their attempt has the backing of former Tigers and England rugby star, Matt Hampson, who visited the school last month to give students a motivational talk. Teacher Ed Cooper said: “To create a scrum of this size won...
Big Book Giveaway Marks World Book Night
09 Mar 2011Ashby students were among a million people to receive a free book to mark World Book Night, one of the country’s biggest ever book giveaways. In all, more than 100 free books were handed out to students at Ashby School as part of the event. Local book lover Anna Barker (centre) gave away books to Sixth Formers.English teacher...
Winning Fashion Design Will Go on Show in Shop Window
28 Feb 2011Fledgling fashion designers are competing to have their creations displayed in the window of an Ashby dress shop. Twenty-five Textiles students are taking part in the competition, which is being run by the school in partnership with The Dressing Room, in Bath Street. Student Helen Sleigh works on her design.Year 12 students are each ma...
Climb the Best, Climb Everest
18 Feb 2011Staff and students climbed 100,000 steps - the equivalent of conquering Mount Everest – to raise money for charity. Thirty-five intrepid climbers from Ashe House clocked up 8,848 metres – the height of Mount Everest – using the steps in the Science building. Students climbed 100,000 steps.Students Ed Sherriff a...
Tia Serves Up Another Winning Menu
18 Feb 2011An award-winning young chef has served up another victory – by being named Rotary District Young Chef of the year. Tia Allen, 15, of Donisthorpe, was up against 13 other finalists from schools around the county in the Leicestershire North District contest.Winner Tia with her shield.Tia’s winning menu included carpaccio of b...
Working Together is Key Skill
16 Feb 2011Eye-catching displays were used to showcase students’ talents and ideas – and how good they were at working together. Working in small groups, Year 10 students were asked to research a charity of their choice, come up with fundraising ideas, and produce posters and letters to publicise a fundraising event. Their work was displayed on boards in the library.
Fireband Set Competition Alight
16 Feb 2011Psychedelic Fireband were crowned winners of Ashby School’s Battle of the Bands contest. The four-piece – made up of Sam Allen, Matt Forrest, Rob Lea and Alex Goodbold – were one of seven acts to compete for the title. Indie rock trio Messenger of the Fallen were one of the acts to perform....
Rugby Star Visits School Before Students' World Record Attempt
09 Feb 2011Rugby star Matt Hampson will visit Ashby School on Friday (11 February) to inspire and motivate students who are hoping to break the world record for the largest ever rugby scrum. Students from Bullen House will make their world record attempt on Tuesday 22 March. They hope to smash the existing record of 60 by involving more than 200 people. M...
Fund Helps Young People to Follow their Dreams
28 Jan 2011Cash-strapped young people from the Ashby area can apply to a special fund to help them follow their dreams.The Mary Smith Scholarship Fund was set up in 1936 to help young people from in and around Ashby to pursue their career or educational ambitions.The fund is open to anyone aged under 25 who lives in the Ashby area, or is a former student of either Ashby School or Ivanhoe High School.In recent years, applicants have been awarded pay-outs for books, educational ...
Ashby School Helps to Influence One of London's Newest Academies
18 Jan 2011Ashby School’s top-rated Gifted and Talented programme is helping to shape the experience of students at one of London’s newest Academies. Representatives from the Bridge Academy in Hackney visited Ashby School to find out about its work with gifted and talented (G & T) students.
Local People are Urged to Get Cooking
12 Jan 2011An after-school cooking club to encourage local people to eat more healthily is being launched at Ashby School, with help from the National Lottery. ‘Let’s Get Cooking’ sessions will be held once a week to help students, their parents and other members of the community to improve their cooking skills and adopt a healthier diet. Ingredients will be provided free of charge. Sarah Middleton, Food Technology teacher at Ashby School, said: “The i...
Students Speak Up For School Sports
17 Dec 2010Young Sports Ambassadors from North West Leicestershire - including some from Ashby School - travelled to Westminster to urge the Government to rethink proposed cuts to school sports funding.While in London, the Young Ambassadors campaigned alongside Olympic athlete Denise Lewis. They also held a short meeting with Andrew Bridgen, MP for North West Leicestershire, to express their concerns about the possible impact on school sports.
Fun in the Sum
14 Dec 2010A Motivational Maths Day put students through their paces – and showed them the fun side of Maths. More than 540 Year 10 students were involved in the day of Maths-based activities in November. Some challenges were run by the RAF.Some took part in challenges run by the RAF while others faced a circuit of puzzles and nume...
Evening of Celebration for Former Students
13 Dec 2010Ashby School is to host an evening of celebration for A level students who sat their exams at the school in the summer of 2010. The students – who achieved the school’s best ever A level results earlier this year - are being invited back to school on Monday (20 December) to receive their examination certificates at a special presentation. This year’s A level pass rate was 99.6 per cent, with many students notching up several As and A*s. ...
24 Hour Sporting Challenge Will Get Students Moving
10 Dec 2010A 24-hour charity sporting marathon is being organised by students to raise money and encourage more young people to get active. The sponsored 24 hour sporting event will kick off at 3.30pm on Friday 17 December and run until 3.30pm the following day – all through the night. Students of all sporting abilities will take part in a range of activities, including football, badminton, hockey, swimming and dodgeball. They will play a different sport every hour for ...
Schools Holds Festive House Day
10 Dec 2010Ashby School will hold a festive House day on Friday (17 December) to encourage students to think about the true meaning of Christmas. Students will take part in an afternoon of seasonal activities which will include making Christmas decorations and cards for Headley Court Military Rehab Centre. Students decorated their form rooms.They w...
David Wilson to Help Train Next Generation of Builders
08 Dec 2010Building magnate David Wilson is to help to fund and deliver the training of a new generation of builders at Ashby School. The school has been awarded the David Wilson Foundation Grant worth £11,800 to run a construction programme for students aged 14 to 16. Students will learn brick laying, carpentry, joinery, plumbing, painting and decorating.David Wilson is expected to oversee elements of the course. Part of the grant will be used to...
Questionnaire for Parents of Year 10 and 11 Students
01 Dec 2010A questionnaire will be issued to the parents of Year 10 and 11 students on Friday (3 December).Parents are being asked to complete and return the questionnaire as soon as possible.The findings will be used to help the school decide future policy and practice on a range of issues from behaviour to subject choices.Teacher Paddy O'Brien, Director of Key Stage 4, said: "Questionnaires like this are very important to gauge what parents think the school is doing wel...
Exam Certificates are Ready for Collection
01 Dec 2010Exam certificates for all students who sat exams in the summer of 2010 are now available from B block reception. Students are being urged to pick up their certificates as soon as possible. All unclaimed certificates are stored for an academic year before being returned to the exam board. Jacqueline Tuite, Examinations Assistant, said: “Every year, we end up with a drawer full of unclaimed certificates. Students work so hard revising for, and sitting, their ex...
On Yer Bike! Young Speakers Send the Competition Packing
01 Dec 2010A team of students from Ashby School has made it through to the regional semi finals of a public speaking competition, with a winning speech on the benefits of cycling. James Rucinski, Maisie Ridgeway and Marco Narajos beat off stiff competition from two other schools to win the local round of the Rotary Youth Speaks competition, which was held at Ashby School.
Talented Linguists are Lost in Translation
26 Nov 2010Five talented linguists were chosen to represent Ashby School in a Europe-wide translation contest. David Ison, Sam Rodrigues, Zoe Ross, Anna Fraser and Eleanor Stevenson were asked to translate topical stories into English. Students hard at work.Sam and Eleanor translated from Spanish to English while the remaining three tra...
Winner Tia is Chef of the Future
24 Nov 2010A promising young chef from Ashby School has been crowned winner of the Leicestershire Futurechef competition. Tia Allen, 15, beat off stiff competition from every school in Leicester and Leicestershire to clinch the title at Loughborough College on 13 November. Tia with her winning dessert....
School Stages Free Carol Concert for Senior Citizens - Tickets Available Now
24 Nov 2010A free carol concert for Ashby’s senior citizens will be held at Ashby School in December. This will be the second time the school has staged a Christmas concert for the town’s older residents, following the success of its first free concert in 2009. Senior citizens will be treated to a festive performance by school musicians, followed by seasonal refreshments, including mince pies. There will also be a chance to win an early Christmas present in the pr...
Sixth Form Life in the Spotlight
03 Nov 2010An open evening to introduce prospective students to life in the Sixth Form will be held at Ashby School on Tuesday 7 December 2010.The 'Into the Sixth Form' evening will give would-be Sixth Formers and their families an insight into post-16 education, including the courses on offer, facilities, workload, and extra-curricular oppportun...
Love Your Leftovers - and Save £50
01 Nov 2010A free cookery class to help people make the most of their leftovers was held at Ashby School in November.The beginners’ cookery session gave participants valuable tips on how to improve their cooking skills and save up to £50 a month, by using up their leftovers. Chloe Farmer, 11, and her mum, Julie, learn to love their leftovers.
School Releases Diwali Lanterns
27 Oct 2010More than 60 lanterns will be released at Ashby School next week to mark the festival of Diwali. Every student in the school has helped to decorate one of 64 lanterns with his or her goals for the year. The lanterns will be released into the sky during morning registration next week (beginning 1 November). To avert any possible risk to aircraft or wildlife, the lanterns – which are attached to wires - will be pulled safely back to earth when they ...
Make a Date for Careers Evening
13 Oct 2010A careers evening to help students decide on their future direction will be held at Ashby School in November. Vets, lawyers, personal trainers, bankers, nursery school staff, police officers and members of the armed forces will be among those on hand to talk to students about their careers. Students will also be able to talk to representatives from 17 different universities and colleges, about the study options on offer. Marnie Clark, Work Experience ...
Ashby School Holds Colourful House Day
06 Oct 2010Banners, cheerleaders and chanting drummers will all feature in a day of colourful House activities at Ashby School on Thursday (7 October). For one day only, students will be encouraged to come to school wearing their bright House colours, rather than their usual school uniforms. Students made colourful banners.They will spend the morning w...
Students Step into MEPs' Shoes - in Strasbourg
06 Oct 2010A group of 19 Year 13 linguists travelled to Strasbourg in September to spend a day at the European Parliament. The students joined other teenagers from across Europe for a day of debate on the future of Europe. Students outside the European Parliament building.Ashby School was the only Leicestershire school parti...
Italian Lessons Are for Language Lovers of All Ages
01 Oct 2010Language lovers of all ages can take up Italian lessons at Ashby School, starting this month. The after-school sessions are open to students, staff and parents from Monday (4 October). Since being added to the diverse range of languages on offer at Ashby School, Italian has proved extremely popular. Students can also choose from French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. Nick Fitzpatrick, Acting Head of Modern Foreign Languages, said: "In the...
Open Evening for Year 9 Students
01 Oct 2010An open evening for prospective Year 10 students and their families will be held at Ashby School on Wednesday 6 October.Current Year 9 students from both inside and outside the school's catchment area are welcome to attend with their parents.During the evening, students and their families will be given an informal introduction to the school, along with the opportunity to see its impressive range of facilities, activities and achievements for themselves..The headteac...
Free Parenting Classes to Help with Teens
01 Oct 2010Parents of Ashby School students can get help understanding their teenagers at a series of free parenting workshops at Ivanhoe College. The evening sessions, called ‘Tears, Tantrums and Teenagers’, will give advice and information to parents on how to live with teenagers. The workshops will be run by trained Relate counsellors, and will take place once a week for three weeks, starting in November. Gus Colquhoun, Exten...
Headteacher to Leave Ashby School
29 Sep 2010Headteacher Mrs Vivien Keller-Garnett has announced that she will be leaving Ashby School at the end of the academic year.Mrs Keller-Garnett, who has been at the school for 13 years, will take early retirement from Ashby School in July 2011.The school's Governors are in the process of recruiting a new headteacher and expect to make an appointment by December 2010....
School has Vacancies for Two Parent Governors
29 Sep 2010Parents are being invited to help shape the future of education at Ashby School, by signing up to become a Parent Governor. The school has two vacancies for Parent Governors, who will help to make decisions on issues such as discipline, health and safety, and staffing. (Applicants must be the parent of a registered pupil). Andrew Burton, Clerk to the Governors, said: “Being a Parent Governor is extremely rewarding, particularly at a school as large and s...
School Launches Security Cards and Prepares for Cashless Catering
24 Sep 2010All students at Ashby School will be issued with personalised ID cards on Monday (27 September), as part of new security measures at the school. To boost site security, all staff and students will need ID badges to enter school buildings. The measures will protect students, staff and equipment, by making the school a no-go area for intruders. Students can ...
Open Evening for Year 9 Students
22 Sep 2010An open evening for prospective Year 10 students and their families will be held at Ashby School on Wednesday 6 October.Current Year 9 students from both inside and outside the school's catchment area are welcome to attend with their parents.During the evening, students and their families will be given an informal introduction to the school, along with the opportunity to see its impressive range of facilities, activities and achievements for themselves..The headteac...
Charitable Students Hope to Raise £10,000 for Motor Neurone Disease Charity
17 Sep 2010Charitable students at Ashby School are hoping to raise £10,000 to help sufferers of Motor Neurone Disease (MND). They decided to support the cause after hearing a frank account of MND from the school’s Chair of Governors, Clive Jones, who has the disease. In the past, students have divided the proceeds of House fundraising events between several charities but this year will donate the lot to the Leicestershire branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Associ...
Bumper Crop of Top GCSE Grades for Ashby Students
24 Aug 2010An impressive 78 per cent of Ashby School students achieved five or more GCSEs at the top grades of A* to C this year. Students celebrated some of the school's best GCSE results ever.Among the students celebrating was Lauren Faulkner, who missed most of her GCSE lessons following a heart transplant, but still managed to pick up a fistful of goo...
Students Celebrate Exam Success at A Level
19 Aug 2010Students at Ashby School are celebrating excellent A level results, including a string of straight As and A*s for some students. In Maths, students did exceptionally well, with 14.5 per cent of passes at the new top grade of A* - almost double the national average. Jumping for joy are (left to right) Ben Weatherill, Sarah Folwell, Tom Caron ...
Year 10 Exam Results
16 Jul 2010Year 10 GCSE and AS examination results will be available from form tutors when students return to school on Thursday 2 September....
Students Hone Management Skills
16 Jul 2010Some of Ashby's most successful business men and women gave up three days to mentor Ashby School students on their management skills.More than 100 students took part in the 23rd annual Skills for Management conference, honing essential skills such as planning, negotiating and team work.The winning team.Working in syndicates, students took ...
Young Designer Takes First Prize
07 Jul 2010A young designer from Ashby School has picked up first prize in a regional design competition. Anthony Page, 18, impressed judges in the District Final of the Rotary Young Designer competition with his model of a motocross race track and pavilion, for wasteland near Loughborough. Winning designer Anthony Page with his t...
Claim Lost Property Before End of Term - or Lose it for Ever
02 Jul 2010Gold jewellery, memory sticks and even an ipod are waiting to be reclaimed from the school’s lost property box. Students are being urged to collect their lost belongings before the end of term – or lose them forever. The pile of lost property has been growing all year and includes several pieces of expensive-looking gold jewellery, such as bracelets and rings. Anita Allsop, Site Manager at Ashby School, said: “Some of the items in th...
World Cup Nations under One Roof
25 Jun 2010Supporters of ten of the World Cup nations are living under one roof at a house in Ashby. At School House – a state boarding residence affiliated to Ashby School – there are boarders from England, Germany, Spain, France, Nigeria, Ghana, Portugal, Japan, Greece and Denmark. All have been cheering on their own teams in the tournament. Xenia Elias, Deputy Director of Boarding at School House, said: “School House is like a microcosm of t...
Summer of Sport at Ashby School
25 Jun 2010Forget Wimbledon and the World Cup - sport was top of the agenda at Ashby School on Thursday (1 July) for its annual sports day.Erdington celebrates its victory with House Manager Mrs Rundle-Brown.Students took part in a full programme of track and field events, including javelin, high jump and a pentathalon. Runners competed over distances of 100, 200, 300, 400, 15...
Let's Get to Work
23 Jun 2010Hundreds of local companies will provide work experience placements for almost 500 Ashby School students next month, in spite of the recession. This year, parent power has also helped to plug a gap in work placements. Delia Shaw, Work Experience Co-ordinator at Ashby School, said: “Companies that have been forced to make redundancies clearly don’t have enough work for their own staff, so obviously can’t take on a student. Others have had to close ...
Rugby Star Matt Hampson to Open House Gardens
21 Jun 2010Former England rugby player Matt Hampson will officially open Ashby School’s new student gardens next Tuesday (29 June). Matt Hampson, who played for Leicester Tigers and England Under 21s before being paralysed during rugby training in 2005, was the students’ choice for the official opening of the House gardens. Matt Hampson (front) is pi...
International Visitors Learn from School's Success
16 Jun 2010World Cup hosts South Africa were among the countries to send educational experts to Ashby School this week, to learn from its success. Headteachers and educational leaders from several countries – including South Africa – spent a day at the school on Tuesday (15 June). The 12 visitors were given a tour of the site, and found out more about initiatives such as Student Voice - which gives students a say in the running of the school - and the House system...
Scores Turn up for Last Tea Break
11 Jun 2010A reunion organised by four Ashby School staff attracted scores of former employees from Coalville firm Pegson’s. The reunion – which was held at Ashby School in May - was the idea of four ex-Pegson’s workers, who all now work at the school. Former Pegson's workers reminisce about old times.Peter Higgs, who w...
Three Gold Stars for Gifted and Talented Programme
09 Jun 2010Ashby School has become the first in the country to receive three gold stars for its work with gifted children. The school has been awarded three-star Gold School status by the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC), for its commitment to boost the achievements of high ability children. Ashby School’s gifted and talented programme includes the ‘Tip Tops’, an after-school club for gifted children from local primary schools, who are tutored ...
Team Thrives in Army Challenge
09 Jun 2010Determination and team work helped students from Ashby School to make their mark in a county-wide army challenge. A team of six from Ashby School competed against 17 other Leicestershire schools to clinch second place in the Army Team Challenge at St George’s Barracks in Rutland. Ashby School's team in action.The three girls and th...
Lock, Sock and Barrel for World Record Attempt
07 May 2010A new world record for the longest ever line of socks has been set by students at Ashby School.The world's longest ever line of socks was laid out in the sports hall.They smashed the existing record of 1,594 metres by tying together 1,800 metres of socks - more than 10,000 individual socks.
Students Honoured at Awards Evening
05 May 2010Awards were presented to Ashby School’s most remarkable and hard working students at the school’s annual awards evening in May. Headteacher Mrs Vivien Keller-Garnett (centre left) and guest speaker Duncan Saunders (centre right) are pictured with award winners (left to right) Sian Bebbington, Luke Thorogood, Rebecca E...
Power Cut Stops Students Riding High
04 May 2010Students had the ride of their life during a visit to Alton Towers theme park – when they were stuck on rides for more than an hour during a power cut.Year 11 Business Studies students were at the theme park to learn about customer service.But the 45 minute power cut gave them an unexpected insight into customer service practices when staff were...
Scouts Save for Jamboree
04 May 2010Ten students from Ashby School have been selected to attend the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden. But first, the students must raise £1,950 each to pay for the trip. Some of the Scouts who are fundraising hard to pay for their trip to Sweden.The successful students will be among 30,000 y...
Mock General Election Gauges Students' Views
30 Apr 2010Ballot boxes will be dusted off two days early at Ashby School for students to cast their votes in a mock general election on Tuesday and Wednesday (4 and 5 May). Students representing five political parties have posted their election pledges around the school and will be hoping to pick up the most votes when the school’s 1,700 students go to the polls next week. Candidates are standing for Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and UKIP parties. ...
Cross Channel Rowing Challenge Boosts Charity
28 Apr 2010Eighteen students rowed the length of the English Channel for charity - without even leaving Ashby School.Prefects from Hastings House completed the 34 kilometre distance - the equivalent of crossing the English Channel -using the school's two hi-tech rowing machines. Students split into two teams of rowers, both racing to be the first to complete 17 kilometres -...
Bumper Total for Bullen
28 Apr 2010Champion fundraisers from Ashby School will hand over a cheque for more than £2,000 in their school assembly on Tuesday (4 May). Students from Bullen House have collected £2,237.68 since September for their chosen charity, Help for Heroes. Their main fundraising event was a 350-mile sponsored bike ride, completed on the school’s exercise bikes, which raised £1,000. The challenge was inspired by a cycle ride across Northern France by Help for...
European Project Culminates at Ashby School
20 Apr 2010An international project to highlight the cultures and fashions of five European countries will culminate at Ashby School in May. Teachers and students from Denmark, Italy, Lithuania and Romania will arrive at Ashby School on 11 May for the final stage of the two-year Comenius project. A taste of history at Ashby Castle.Durin...
New Senior Team Outlines its Goals for Year in Office
14 Apr 2010School unity is the biggest issue driving the newly-elected Student Senior Leadership Team. Head Boy Sam Hooper and Head Girl Annie Berrow will be working with Deputy Head Boy Luke Dodd and Deputy Head Girl Abi Himan to create a more unified school community.The four want to see students of all Years working more closely with each other and with staff.
Spring is in the Air at School Fair
14 Apr 2010A morning of welly wanging, apple bobbing, sack racing and – unusually - head shaving at Ashby School helped to raise more than £1, 500 for charity. Carl Jarvis has half his hair shaved off by Mr Hayes. The other half was done later.Sixth Former Carl Jarvis proved to be one of the main attractions when he had his head shaved to ...
Students Put a Sock in it for World Record Attempt
26 Mar 2010We want your old socks – that is the message from Ashby School students who need to collect more than 10,000 unwanted socks to set a new world record. So far, students have collected about 2,000 socks but have to top 10,000 to beat the record for the world’s longest ever line of socks. The record stands at 1,500 metres.
Judges Confirm that Ashby's Got Talent
24 Mar 2010Inspiring young performers raised the roof when they took to the stage to prove that Ashby School had talent. The ‘Ashby’s Got Talent’ contest attracted aspiring entertainers from every House, all hoping to impress the judges and a packed lecture theatre. Show stealers Jamie Bradley (right) and Grant Topping....
Teacher Sarah Cooks up a Storm
19 Mar 2010Food Technology teacher Sarah Middleton does not only share her cooking expertise in the classroom – she has even addressed crowds of Food Technology teachers at Wembley Stadium. In 2008, Sarah was approached by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) to help raise the standard of Food Technology teaching nationwide.
Table Tennis Players Net Great Results
17 Mar 2010Talented table tennis player Sigourney Ducksbury narrowly missed out on victory in a county-wide tournament. Sigourney made it through to the girls’ under 16s final at the 2009/ 10 Leicestershire Schools Table Tennis Association Individual Championships in February. She was beaten by Zainab Ali, of Madani High School, Leicester, by 11 points to 9. The championship, which was held at Leicester Grammar School, also featured success for Kent Matsum...
Schools are on Song for Big Show
12 Mar 2010Musicians from seven Ashby schools will team up and tune up for an ambitious concert at Ivanhoe College on Wednesday (17 March). Seven schools took part in the concert.About 200 young performers will take to the stage from Ashby School, Ibstock and Ivanhoe high schools, Willesley Community Primary School, Ashby Churc...
Chinese Visitors at Ashby to See Successful Learning
09 Mar 2010Teachers from China have been sitting in on lessons at Ashby School to see successful learning at first hand.The seven teachers spent two days at Ashby School as part of a three-week visit to the UK to find out more about the successes of the English educational system.The visitors, from Nanjing International Language School, focused on ‘active learning’.Ch...
Wat-er Way to Raise Money
09 Mar 2010Fitness fanatics and feisty fundraisers will be pushing themselves to the limit in Ashby School’s fourth annual aquathon on Tuesday (16 March). More than 100 staff and students - of all sporting abilities – have signed up to tackle the course, which includes a 400 metre swim and a three kilometre run. Emma-Louise Sudworth (left) and Jess Woolerton c...
Sneak Preview of World of Work
05 Mar 2010Experts from a vast array of career backgrounds visited Ashby School to give students an invaluable insight into the world of work.Media make-up artists wowed students with their special effects......such as creating the impre...
One Last Tea Break for Pegsons' Workers
27 Jan 2010Four ex-employees of Coalville firm Pegson’s are appealing for former colleagues to join them for one last tea break. The four men, who all now work at Ashby School, have decided to hold a reunion. Peter Higgs, who worked in the Bay 4 fitting shop at Terex Pegson’s in the 1960s, is now Alternative Curriculum Co-ordinator at Ashby School. He said: “When we heard that Pegson’s was closing down, we decided that it would be great t...
Nicholas Bags Prestigious Scholarship
25 Jan 2010A promising Design student from Ashby School has been presented with a prestigious scholarship award at a ceremony in London. Nicholas Bagley, 16, was presented with an Arkwright Scholarship for his outstanding work in design and technology. Scholars are selected following a rigorous selection process which includes an application, an Arkwright Aptitude Paper and an interview. During the interview, Nicholas was asked to present his GCSE project work t...
Hip, Hip Hair-ray for Fundraiser Billy
25 Jan 2010A high-profile haircut by an Ashby School student has helped to raise more than £1,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support.When Billy Kyle, 16, decided to cut off his trademark ponytail after eight years, he thought it might help to raise some money for charity. Billy before his haircut.Billy hoped to raise £200 but went on...
Special Fund Still Helping with Student Costs - Apply Now
20 Jan 2010Ambitious young people from the Ashby area can apply to a special fund for help with the costs of their education or chosen career.The Mary Smith Scholarship Fund was set up in 1936 to help young people from the Ashby area to pursue their career or educational aspirations.More than 60 years later, the fund is open to anyone under 25 who lives in or around Ashby, or is a former student of either Ashby School or Ivanhoe High School.Clive Jones, Chair of Governors at A...
Recession Pays Off for Marco in National Competition
18 Jan 2010The recession-busting plans of a student from Ashby School have earned him second place in a national essay-writing competition. Marco Narajos, from Year 10, impressed judges with his answer to the question: ‘Has the recent financial crisis changed the way you think about your future?’ Marco wrote about his decision to become a dentist, after taking note of the professions which were least affected by the economic downturn. Marco said: &ld...
Teacher Takes on Hair-raising Challenge
18 Jan 2010A teacher from Ashby School will have his head shaved tomorrow (Tuesday) to raise money to help stamp out polio. Design teacher Karl Goodere decided to lose his locks after hearing about the End Polio Now campaign, which is being supported by the Ashby Castle Rotary Club. Since then, students have been paying £1 each to enter Mr Goodere’s charity prize draw. The student with the winning ticket will be invited to shave off Mr Goodere’s hair at brea...
Year 11 Parents' Evening Cancelled - Thursday 14 January
13 Jan 2010The Year 11 Parents' Evening on Thursday 14 January has been cancelled, due to icy travelling conditions.The Parents' Evening - for the parents of students in Ashe, Bullen, Crewe and Erdington - has been re-scheduled for Monday 25 January from 5.30 - 8pm.Appointments that have been made for 14 January will be carried forward to 25 January.The parents of students in Ferrers, Gylby, Hastings and Loudoun should attend their Parents' Evening as planned on Mon...
Yvonne is Top of the Lollipops
08 Jan 2010Ashby School’s crossing patrol officer has been crowned top of the lollipops by Leicester Mercury readers.Yvonne Allan received the most votes in the newspaper’s quest to find the county’s best warden.Yvonne celebrated 25 years at Ashby School in 2009.Since starting work at Ashby School 25 years ago...
School Community Mourns Loss of Highly Respected Governor and Local MP
29 Dec 2009The whole of the Ashby School community – past and present - joins with people across North West Leicestershire in mourning the sudden and untimely loss of David Taylor M.P., who died on 26 December.Nationally and locally, tributes have rightly focussed on his outstanding record as a constituency M.P. .For Ashby School he was also an ‘old boy’, a parent whose four daughters attended the school, a very long st...
Chefs Turn Up Heat in Competition
11 Dec 2009A promising chef from Ashby School has cooked her way through to the second round of a national competition. Tia Allen, from Year 10, won the Ashby heat of the Rotary Young Chef 2010 competition. One of the dishes served up by Ashby's young chefs.Tia impressed judges with her balloutine of chicken...
Young Entrepreneurs Make their Mark
09 Dec 2009Circus skills, banking brainteasers and money-making ideas were all on the agenda as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week in November. Students of all Years grappled with a range of entrepreneurial tasks, including the challenge to ‘Mark Your Mark with a Tenner’. Aspiring young entrepreneurs were asked to devise a sc...
BBC Switches its Attention to Ashby Students
09 Dec 2009Reporters from BBC Switch were at Ashby School to interview students about some of the issues affecting young people. Charlotte Ashton from BBC Switch, whose grandfather is a Governor at Ashby School, was on site to talk to students about bullying and their attitudes to alcohol. The interviews were shown on BBC Switch online, a website ded...
Former A Level Students Go Back to School
07 Dec 2009Awesome A level students who passed their exams in the summer will return to Ashby School next week to be presented with their certificates at a special celebration evening. Students will be presented with their certificates by Clive Jones, Chair of Governors. The evening will also be attended by Coun Graham Allman, Mayor of Ashby. Special prizes will be awarded to a number of students whose hard work and achievement particularly impressed teachers. B...
Big Bang Expert Visits Ashby School
04 Dec 2009A leading physicist who has been working on the world’s largest Science experiment – the headline-grabbing ‘big bang machine’ - will be at Ashby School next week to talk to students. Professor Paul Newman, of Birmingham University, has been working in Switzerland on the Large Hadron Collider, which replicates the conditions created by the ‘Big Bang’. The £9 billion experiment – which has received international news co...
O Come All Ye Older People
02 Dec 2009Older people from in and around Ashby are being invited to a free afternoon of festive entertainment at Ashby School. Tickets for the afternoon of Christmas carols and refreshments are free to all senior citizens. Visitors will be treated to a performance by the school’s Music Department, followed by tea, coffee and mince pies, served by Sixth Formers.
Curtain Rises on West Side Story
02 Dec 2009The curtain will rise this week on Ashby School’s production of ‘West Side Story’. More than 50 students are involved in the performance, as cast members, musicians or backstage helpers. The show runs from today (Wednesday) until Saturday (5 December). The production is the culmination of months of hard work for staff and students. Auditions for ‘We...
Film-Makers Reel in First Prize
11 Nov 2009Five film-makers from Ashby School have reeled in first prize in a competition to promote Leicestershire's Big Swtich Off energy-saving campaign.Jade Bakewell, Jake Bowley, Lewis Smith, Jordan Barry and Thomas Smith made a 90-second video urging all school-users to save energy by turning off unnecessary lights, computers and other electrical items.A...
Sports Councillors and Ambassadors are Fit for Purpose
11 Nov 2009Sporting ambassadors have been appointed to encourage students of all ages and abilities to get more involved in school sports. A Platinum Ambassador from Year 13 will work alongside two Gold Ambassadors from Year 12 and four Year 10 Silver Ambassadors, to promote and develop the school’s sporting programme. Sports Councillors...
Help is at Hand with Health and Relationships
06 Nov 2009A new drop-in facility for students to discuss their health and relationship concerns has opened at the school.Students can talk in confidence to nurses or a youth worker about issues such as smoking, drugs, alcohol, sexual health and relationships. The drop-in team gives health and relationship advice.This is...
Cooking Up a Storm
06 Nov 2009Young chef Oliver Crooks has made it through to the local finals of the 2010 Future Chef competition. After impressing judges in the schools heat, he has earned a place in the next round at Leicester College on 7 November. Oliver will be asked to cook a hot main course and a hot or cold dessert for two on a budget of £6. Shani Leavsley, regional co-ordinator of the competition, said: “The FutureChef programme helps develop an interest in food and c...
Listening Lunch Club Opens its Doors - and its Ears
06 Nov 2009A lunch club for students in need of friendship and a listening ear has been set up at Ashby School. The Listening Lunch Club – known as tLc – is being run by students of all ages to give company and advice to fellow students who want to speak to someone of their own age. Student listeners Ian Boots and Hannah Rowland.
All the Fun of the Fair
04 Nov 2009Sixth Formers were at Ashby’s annual Statutes to help scores of special needs pupils enjoy all the fun of the fair. Students Lydia Tombs (back, left) and Lynsey Upton (back, centre) with children from Springfield School.A team of Sixth Formers joined pupils from schools across the region on rides such as the waltzers...
Silver Award for Green Efforts
28 Oct 2009Ashby School is celebrating after being awarded Silver Eco School status. The school successfully applied for Silver status after months of hard work to encourage students and staff to think green. The school's vegetable gardens have helped the school to secure Silver Eco Status.A dedicated team of Eco W...
Hair Today, Industry Experts Tomorrow
14 Oct 2009The beauticians and salon managers of the future are being trained at Ashby School, following the launch of a new Diploma in Hair and Beauty. The Government-backed course allows students to explore possible careers in hairdressing, barbering, beauty therapy and spa industries, before they enter the workplace. Students develop both practical and management skills, preparing th...
Ashby School Saves Energy
12 Oct 2009Ashby School has been given top marks for saving energy – by reducing its energy rating from a G to a C.Since 2007, eco-friendly staff and students have run a campaign to encourage everyone in the school to save energy.In classrooms, users have been urged to turn off lights, projectors and computers, when not in use. Posters and stickers have been put up around the school reminding staff and students to save energy.Now the school’s B block has been given...
Turning Up the Heat at Fringe Festival
28 Sep 2009Former students from Ashby School turned up the heat at this year’s Edinburgh Festival with a production of ‘Fahrenheit 451’. The seven-strong cast and crew were given four star reviews by five different reviewers for their interpretation of the play, which explores the dangers of censorship. The seven former Ashby students were Keir Watson, Rachel Lissaman, Stephen Marsden, Alice Broster, James Muriftt, David Piper and Linda Horsburgh. ...
Italian Lessons for Students, Staff and Parents
24 Sep 2009Language lovers can take up Italian lessons at Ashby School from October. The after-school sessions will be open to students, staff and parents. Italian is the latest language to be added to the diverse selection already offered at Ashby School. Students can also choose from French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. Nick Fitzpatrick, Acting Head of Modern Foreign Languages, said: “In the global marketplace, languages are increasingly import...
Lollipop Lady is One of the Best
21 Sep 2009Lollipop lady Yvonne Allan has achieved national recognition - by making it onto the final shortlist for the country’s leading transport employee. Mrs Allan, who has been guiding students across the road at Ashby School for 25 years, reached the final eight of Frontline Employee of the Year at the National Transport Awards. Yvonne Alla...
Cash Boost for Young Engineers
18 Sep 2009Engineering students are setting up their own production line – with the help of a £60,000 funding boost. The cash was awarded to the school’s Engineering Diploma Consortium*, as part of a regional initiative to encourage more students to use computer-aided design technology. Adrian Farmer (back row, fifth from left) accepted the award on behalf o...
School is Highly Commended for its Charity Fundraising
14 Sep 2009Ashby School has been highly commended by Cancer Research UK for its outstanding fundraising. In 2008, the school handed over a cheque for more than £4,000 to Cancer Research UK – the largest fundraising total ever generated by the school for a single charity. The money was raised by staff and students from two of Ashby School’s Houses, which both chose Cancer Research UK as their charity for the year. They were inspired to choose Ca...
Let's Get Growing
09 Sep 2009Ashby School is collecting Morrisons' 'Let's Grow' vouchers.More information about the school's commitment to sustainability and green issues can be found in the Sustainable Schools section of the website....
A Great Result for GCSE Students
27 Aug 2009Successful students at Ashby School are celebrating after picking up dozens of A grades in this year’s GCSE exams. A jubilant Emma Howard notched up 12 A*s, in spite of missing 10 weeks of school due to illness earlier in the year. Pictured with their results are (left to right) Mark Johnson, Jess Fraser, Anand Srivastava, Anna Fraser, Susan Glover, Emma H...
Ashby School Students Are A-Mazing
20 Aug 2009High-scoring students at Ashby School have notched up more than 150 grade A passes at A level. The highest achievers included Hannah Willett, who picked up five grade As and will go on to study Natural Sciences at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. Top scorers included (left to right) Sarah-Jayne Varty, Lauren Harding, Niall Pea...
Show Highlights Work of Talented Design Students
08 Jul 2009An end-of-year show to celebrate the talents of Ashby School’s Art, Design and Technology students was the culmination of months of hard work. The evening included exhibitions of work from all ADT subjects including displays of GCSE, AS and A2 level work. Outfits designed and produced by Textiles students were modelled by 20 volunteers from Years 10, 11 and 12. The show was an opportunity for friends, family and members of the local communi...
Luke Pens Winning Entry
08 Jul 2009A talented young writer from Ashby School has won a prize for his creative writing in a national competition.Luke Freeman, 16, picked up third prize in the Senior Young Writer's category of the Rotary Young Writer of the Year competition.Luke's winning piece was chosen from hundreds of entries penned by young people across the country.Entries were judged on imagination, quality and writing style.Luke, who was in the 14 to 18 age group, was pr...
Dedicated Volunteers Chosen for Prestigious Camp
08 Jul 2009Two sporting students from Ashby School have been chosen to attend a prestigious Young Leaders' Camp, to develop their leadership and volunteering skills.David Harris-Watkins, who plays for Ashby Rugby Football Club, and Anna MacDonald, a keen gymnast with Coalville Gymnastics Club, will both take part in the four-day, residential camp at the world famous Rugby School in August.They will be among just 200 of the country's most dedicated young sporting volunteers, aged 16 to ...
Business-Minded Students Get the Edge
08 Jul 2009Ambitious students got a headstart in the cut throat world of business when they enrolled for the school's 22nd annual Skills for Management conference.Members of the winning team with their mentor Tony Evans (back row, centre) and Tony Green of ENTO, which sponsored the event.More than 90 Year 12 students signed up for the three-day conference, ...
Nataliya is Well-Versed in Language of Success
03 Jul 2009A promising poet from Ashby School has won recognition in a national poetry competition. Nataliya Manskova, 16, was named as one of just 16 winners in this year’s Poetry Live Poetry Competition. Simon Powell, Director of Poetry Live Ltd, said: “The judges had a tough job choosing the winners but, in the end, there was no doubt that Nataliya should be ...
Snap Happy Rebecca Wins First Prize
01 Jul 2009An aspiring snapper from Ashby School has been named Young Photographer of the Year – thanks to her winning shot of a fellow student. Rebecca McBride, 18, was awarded the title of Young Photographer 2009 by the Rotary Club of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, after impressing judges with her image of friend and fellow Sixth Former, Alice Gibson. Rebecca, who wants to work in the fashion industry, started taking pictures a few months ago after being asked about photography i...
Visiting Pupils Use Latest Technology to Make Puppets
29 Jun 2009Imagination joined forces with technology when pupils from two local primary schools visited Ashby School to try their hands at computer design. The children – from Viscount Beaumont and Thringstone primary schools – were taking part in the school’s CADCAM (Computer Aided Design and Manufacture) project. Pupils from Viscount Beaumont Primary Scho...
Wesley is on a High
29 Jun 2009A high-flying Ashby School student is hoping to take to the skies in one of the world’s fastest planes next week as part of his work experience placement. When Wesley Eyley, 15, of Blackfordby, decided he wanted to do something different during work experience week he wrote to the Wing Commander of RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. The RAF base has agreed to give Wesley a week-long placement, which includes the promise of a flight in a Eurofighter Typhoon travel...
And They're Off
24 Jun 2009Hundreds of students were hoping for victory when they took part in Ashby School's annual sports day. Students competed for glory – and valuable House points – in a full programme of track and field events, including javelin, high jump and triple jump. On the track, students raced over a range of distances from 100 to 3,000 metres.
Places Up for Grabs on Unforgettable Field Trip to Sicily
19 Jun 2009Thirty places are up for grabs on an unforgettable field trip to Sicily in March 2010. The trip to Sicily - one of the most geographically intriguing places in the world - is open to all students. The itinerary is expected to include:Mount Etna: Students will ascend the largest active volcano in Europe by cable car and 4 x 4 vehicle. Etna has the longest period of documented eruptions in the world;Alcantara Gorge: Students will pull ...
Ashby School Shows Leadership Qualities to Overseas Visitors
12 Jun 2009Headteachers from around the world visited Ashby School in June to find out more about leadership in a successful school. Forty headteachers and educational experts from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand spent an afternoon at the school to take a closer look at its leadership structure and training. S...
Students Trade Classroom for Workplace
12 Jun 2009Ashby School students are to try their hands as plumbers, clerical workers, hairdressers, waitresses, veterinary assistants, classroom helpers and even as a bell boy at the Ritz Hotel in London. More than 470 students will swell the workforce later this month when they take up their work experience placements. Delia Shaw, Work Experience Co-ordinator at Ashby School, said: “Many employers realise the benefits of work experience – they get eight days&rsq...
Students Take Shakespeare to Battlefield
05 Jun 2009Thirty students from Ashby School will help to stage an open air performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Richard III’ at Bosworth Battlefield next week.The A Level students, who all study Drama or History or both, have been working with professional theatre and arts groups to prepare for the performance.The play will be given a 21st century spin when students act out its most famous scenes against Bosworth’s historic backdrop next Friday (12 June).
Ashby School Earns Place in Good Schools Guide
05 Jun 2009Ashby School has earned a coveted place in the 2009 Good Schools Guide. The school was named winner of the ‘2009 Good Schools Guide Award for Boys taking Systems/ Network Management at VRQ Level 3 at an English School’. The awards are made using data from post-16 performance table results for the last three years, from 2006 to 2008. Adrian Wright, who has been teaching the course at Ashby School for 10 years, said: “This award m...
Night Classes Help Parents of Teenagers
03 Jun 2009Night classes to help parents understand their teenagers are to be run at Ashby School. The free sessions, called ‘Living with your Teenager – Riding the Storm’, will give advice and information to parents on how to live with teenagers. The sessions, to be run by trained Relate counsellors, will take place once a week for three weeks, starting later this month. Gus Colquhoun, Extended Services Co-ordinator for the Ashby Family of Sch...
Yvonne Makes it onto Awards Shortlist
01 Jun 2009A lollipop lady from Ashby School has been shortlisted for a national award. Veronica Allan, known as Yvonne, has made it onto the shortlist for the Frontline Employee of the Year Award at the National Transport Awards. Yvonne was congratulated on her 25 years service at County Hall.The news comes as a double boon to Yvonne who is celebrat...
Last Stand for Mobile Classrooms
20 May 2009The last mobile classroom at Ashby School has been demolished – 11 years after the school first started planning to get rid of it. Staff celebrated with champagne as the mobile – known as Room 36 - was razed to the ground in May. Anita Allsop, Site Manager, celebrates as the last mobile classroom is demolished....
High-flying Maths Students are Winning Team
20 May 2009Maths students got off to a flying start in an airport challenge – by beating teams from two other schools.Twelve students from Ashby School took part in the ‘Apprentice’-style challenge, to adapt a large airport building to incorporate disabled access and facilities. Maths student hard at work on their airpor...
Festival First for Bass Ace
20 May 2009A self-taught bass player from Ashby School is to perform at one of Europe’s biggest music festivals for unsigned bands. Chris Elderton, 15, will play at The Glastonbudget Festival near Loughborough in May as a member of The Stiggz. The band was chosen for the festival line-up after successfully making it through the qualifying heats. The Stiggz, who are influenced by indie artists such as Paul Weller and Oasis, will play a 35-minute set of their own songs to...
Awards for Outstanding Students
08 May 2009Ashby School’s most remarkable students were recognised at the school’s annual awards evening in May.The award-winners included Hannah Redburn, 16, of Coleorton, who is partially sighted. Hannah has amazed teachers by throwing herself into school life, even riding motorcycles as part of the school’s transport education course.
New Senior Team Outlines its Vision
08 May 2009All students should seize the opportunities up for grabs at Ashby School - that is the message from the newly-elected Senior Team which has pledged to make fellow students more aware of what the school has to offer outside lessons.Head Boy Tom Caron and Head Girl Sarah Folwell will lead the Senior Team in 2009 – 10 with the help of Deputy Head Boy Louis Gibson and Deputy Head Girl Emily Harris.
Film-Maker Felix Gets Award
29 Apr 2009A gifted animator from Ashby School has been recognised by the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire.Felix Chan, a boarder at School House, picked up second prize in the Creativity and Innovation category of the Lord Lieutenant’s Awards for Young People. Felix was nominated by boarding house staff who were impressed by his short, animated films. The films...
Ashby School Praised by Ofsted
03 Apr 2009Ashby School has been praised by Ofsted inspectors as a good school with outstanding features. The teaching standards, school curriculum and excellent behaviour of students were all singled out for praise by inspectors, following a two-day inspection in March. Inspectors applauded the school’s work as a specialist college for enhancing the curriculum and developing partnerships with local primary schools, high schools, colleges and the community.
Community Celebrations at Ashby School
30 Mar 2009African drummers brought a splash of culture to a celebration of ‘community’ at Ashby School on Wednesday (1 April). The Khulan African Arts Group gave two performances.The Khula African Arts Group gave two performances of music and dance, as part of a morning of community events. These included a traditional En...
'Every Child Matters' to Dutch Visitors
25 Mar 2009Teachers and educational experts from Holland travelled to Ashby School to find out more about special needs teaching in the UK - and were impressed by the school's commitment to 'Every Child Matters'.Dutch visitorJac Verstegen chats to students Paige Wyllie (left) and Samantha Fraser.The 23 visitors from Limburg in Southern Holland spent a...
All Change for Science Week
24 Mar 2009Change was the theme for a week of special science-based challenges to mark National Science and Engineering Week. All students were encouraged to think about Science and its uses during their form-time activities. Students experimented with colours, tested their knowledge of scientific terms and tried their luck in a science quiz. Their final task was to design a teacher for the future. All Year 11 students also had a one-off Science lesson linked to...
Badminton Boys Net Great Result
20 Mar 2009Four badminton players from Ashby School took third place in the regional round of a national competition.Ashby Boys’ Key Stage 4 Badminton Team represented Leicestershire in the regional round of the ‘Center Parcs National Schools Championships’ in February. The team – made up Chris Hall, Mark Edwards, Joey Li and George Blackburn - competed against Repton, Guilsborough, William Farr and Nottingham High School to achieve third place. ...
Swimmers Run For It (and Vice Versa)
18 Mar 2009Ashby School will be raising money on land and in water on Tuesday (24 March) – when the school holds its third charity aquathlon. More than 100 staff and students have signed up for the gruelling aquathlon which includes a 400 metre swim and a three kilometre run. These include Hannah Holland, 14, and Andrea Richardson, 15, who will swim and run while tied together. Teachers Jonathan Jones and Ben Clarke will complete their swim underwater wearing scuba gear...
Sporting Students Go Round the Clock
18 Mar 2009When most students leave school for the weekend on Friday afternoon (20 March), 50 students from Ashby School will begin a 24-hour sporting marathon. The students will kick off the non-stop sponsored sporting session at 3.30pm on Friday, finishing at 3.30pm the following day. The round-the-clock sporting programme will feature 20 different sporting activities, including badminton, netball, frisbee, darts, trampolining, table tennis and volleyball. Hou...
Stars Make Appearance During BBC Visit
18 Mar 2009Economics students brushed shoulders with the stars during a visit to London. Both Jeremy Paxman and Phil Tufnell were spotted by students as they were given a guided tour of BBC Television Centre in March. They also saw Jeremy Clarkson while queueing for lunch in a nearby shopping centre. The tour of Television Centre included a look at the news room, production studios, dressing rooms, and the weather studio. Students spent time in an ...
Chocs Away for Charity Bingo
13 Mar 2009A delicious evening of chocolate bingo will be held at Ashby School later this month to raise money for charity. The bingo evening - to be held on Wednesday 18 March – will raise money for ‘Help for Heroes’, to support ex-servicemen and women and their families, and the Air Ambulance Appeal. All prizes will be chocolate-based. Teacher Helen Philliskirk said: “We were looking for a fun way to boost funds for charity so chocolate...
Chinese Teachers Sit in on Lessons
13 Mar 2009Teachers from China spent a day at Ashby School to find out more about education in Britain – and to see a successful school in action.Chinese visitors are pictured with Sixth Formers, who gave them a tour of the school.The seven trainee teachers, who came from schools across China, sat in on lessons, spoke to teacher...
Ashby School is Outstanding, Say Parents
11 Mar 2009Parents think that Ashby School is ‘outstanding’, according to the results of a survey. Parents of students in Years 10 and 11 were questioned about every aspect of school life from discipline to community spirit. They classed the school’s overall effectiveness as ‘outstanding’ and rated the school as ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ – the two highest ratings – in almost every category. The surv...
A Week in France
11 Mar 2009Sixteen students spent a week in France in February visiting Ashby’s partner school, Lycee Triboulet, Romans-sur-Isere.Pictured in France are (left to right) diarist Ruby Fitzpatrick with Bridie Granger, Kirsty Ottey and Tierni Bozeat.The students, who stayed with the families of their French counterparts, had a packed itinerary w...
Charity Casino Night is no Gamble
13 Feb 2009A casino night to raise money for Cancer Research UK is being organised by a Sixth Former from Ashby School. Anthony Moon, 18, of Coleorton, who lost his mum to cancer in 2007, will host the casino night at Swannington Village Hall next month. The event will feature casino games, including roulette and black jack, along with horse racing, bingo, a disco, licensed bar and food. All proceeds will be donated to Cancer Research UK, including profits from the bar.&...
The Writing's on the Wall - of Love
11 Feb 2009The writing’s on the wall – literally - at Ashby School where students are paying to pin up their messages of love, in the run-up to Valentines Day. Students are being charged 20p for each heart-shaped message which they add to the ‘Wall of Love’ in the school library. All proceeds from the wall will be divided between Cancer Research UK and Rainbows. Julie Farmer, Assistant Librarian, who helped to come up with the idea for th...
Successful Speakers Ponder Credit Crunch
10 Feb 2009Three students from Ashby School fought off stiff competition to make it through to the semi-final of a speaking competition. James Rucinski, Anand Srivastava and Alanna Torossian reached the county semi-final of the Rotary Youth Speaks competition – but narrowly missed making it through to the next round. Their speech, entitled ‘Greed’, focussed on the credit crunch and ways in which greed had led to the current economic meltdown. T...
Cook Book is Flavoursome Fundraiser
10 Feb 2009A mouth-watering money-spinner has been served up by students at Ashby School, who have produced their own cook book for charity. Savvy students have already sold 150 copies of the ‘Loudoun Cookbook’, which is packed full of their favourite recipes. The 100 illustrated recipes include family favourites like spaghetti bolognaise and fruit scones to more adventurous dishes such as choc chip chilli and chocolate iced berries. Teacher Peter Ha...
Captain Carl Cycles Down Under
06 Feb 2009A cyclist from Ashby School is in Australia to compete in the Cycle Speedway World Championship. Carl Jarvis, 16, of Coleorton, was given an added boost when he was named Captain of the Great Britain Junior Team on Sunday. During his time in Australia, Carl is hoping to represent Great Britain in five Ashes test matches against Australia, as well as competing for Leicester in the World Club Championships, for the England World Cup team, and as a solo rider in the J...
Slice of Scholarship Fund Up For Grabs
30 Jan 2009Young people from the Ashby area can apply for a slice of a scholarship fund to help them fulfil their ambitions.Since it was set up in 1936, the Mary Smith Scholarship Fund has helped hundreds of young people to further their career or educational aspirations.The scheme is open to anyone under 25 who lives in or around Ashby, or is a former student of either Ashby School or Ivanhoe High School.Clive Jones, Chair of Governors at Ashby School, who sits on the Mary Sm...
Lollipop Lady May be Employee of the Year
30 Jan 2009A lollipop lady who has been guiding students across the road at Ashby School for almost 25 years has been nominated for a national Employee of the Year award. Veronica Allan, who is known as Yvonne, was delighted to learn she had been nominated for the title of Frontline Employee of the Year at the National Transport Awards. Her name was put forward by a member of the public who believed that Mrs Allan met all the criteria.
Revue of the Year
26 Jan 2009Talented staff at Ashby School left their white boards to tread the boards in a spectacular staff revue. Almost 100 members of staff took part in the sell-out variety show, which featured theatrical performances, musical ensembles, song and dance – including a routine from hit musical, Mamma Mia! Teacher Matt Hall takes to the stage with his backing...
Stars of 2008 to be Applauded at Prize-Giving
23 Jan 2009An evening of prize-giving to celebrate the achievements of Ashby School’s most successful GCSE students of 2008 will take place next week.Prizes will be awarded to the school’s highest-achieving students, including an Outstanding Performance Award for Ben Weatherill, who scored one of the country’s top 10 marks in his GCSE Drama exam, out of 60,000 candidates.Teacher Sue Sibson said: "The January prize-giving is an opportunity to present examination c...
Award Winner Ben Has High Hopes
21 Jan 2009Princess Anne and the Archbishop of Canterbury were among the audience members when student Ben Cooper, from Ashby School, spoke at an awards presentation in London. Ben, 16, was at Lambeth Palace to receive the Hope Award, an accolade given to young people who have shown exceptional qualities. Ben was nominated for the award for his academic progress and social development, since arriving at Ashby School as a boarder in 2006. He said: “It was r...
Green Students Go Bronze
21 Jan 2009Green-thinking students have earned Ashby School the title of Bronze Eco School, for their efforts to take care of the environment. Students formed their own environmental group, the Eco Warriors, last year, to tackle issues such as recycling and energy efficiency. Since then, they have introduced classroom recycling bins for items such as paper, card and ink cartridges, installed a compost bin, and helped to reduce energy consumption in parts of the school by urgi...
Poetry Comes to Life
21 Jan 2009Characters inspired by some of the nation's best-loved poems made a guest appearance at Ashby School to mark National Poetry Day.Mrs Allford as The Lady of Shallot by Alfred Lord TennysonPoems such as 'Goblin Market' by Christina Rossetti and 'Digging' by Seamus Heaney were brou...
Flying Visit to France is Eye-Opener
18 Dec 2008A day trip to Lille was a cultural eye-opener for languages students – and an opportunity to do some Christmas shopping. Sixth Form student Katie Sawyer wrote this account of the visit: ‘As I write this, I am recovering from Friday’s day trip to Lille though, despite the lack of sleep, it has to be said that I did have the most amazing time! As an admirer of most things French, it is fair to say that this report may be considered bia...
Lorna is Lovin' it After Taking Away McDonalds Award
18 Dec 2008A national award has been presented to a student from Ashby School for her outstanding performance on work experience. Lorna Wiltshire, 15, of Ibstock, picked up the McDonalds Student Award for Outstanding Achievement for Work Experience for 2008 at a gala dinner in London this month. ...
Apprentice Star Inspires Students
15 Dec 2008A finalist from TV series ‘The Apprentice’ helped to inspire Business Studies students from Ashby School during a conference at Warwick School.Alex Wotherspoon, who came second in the 2008 series, spoke to students about his business experience and answered questions from the audience. He also signed autographs and posted for photographs.Forty-three Advanced Business students from Ashby School joined students from other schools at the conference which was ru...
Presentation Evening for Outstanding A Level Students
12 Dec 2008An evening of celebration to mark the achievements of Ashby School’s outstanding A level students will be held at Ashby School on Thursday (18 December). Students who sat their A levels at Ashby School in the summer of 2008 achieved the school’s highest ever A level pass rate – a staggering 98.5 per cent.
Badminton Players Net a Place in Regional Final
10 Dec 2008Four badminton players from Ashby School have beaten opponents from across Leicestershire to reach the regional final of a national competition. Students Mark Edwards, Chris Hall and George Blackburn, from Year 11, and Joey Li, from Year 10, represented Ashby in the first round of the Center Parcs National Schools Championship at Babbington Community College in November. The four played five matches between them, including singles and doubles, beating Bosworth Comm...
Trampolinists Reach New Heights
10 Dec 2008Trampolinists from Ashby School have bounced their way into the second round of a national competition – less than a year after taking up the sport. Nine students from the school have made it through to the Zonal round of the British Schools Trampolining Competition. Trampoline Club membersIn all, 20 pupils fro...
New Parent Governor is Elected
10 Dec 2008In the school's recent Parent Governor elections, Elaine Blunt was successfully elected with 56 votes.Mrs Blunt has two children at Ashby School, one in Year 11 and another in the Sixth Form....
Creative Students Scoop Prize
05 Dec 2008Creativity helped Ashby School students to scoop second place in this year’s ‘Make Your Mark’ regional final. As part of Enterprise Week 2008, students were asked to come up with entrepreneurial ideas, based on Olympic and Paralympic values such as respect, courage, friendship, determination and equality.
Live Tracking System is First of its Kind in the Country
05 Dec 2008A live electronic system that enables parents to track students’ behaviour, progress and attendance online has been launched at Ashby School. The new system is the first of its kind in the country. Developed by Bromcom Computer Systems, it is a response to the Government’s pledge that all schools will report to parents online by 2010. Parents can log on at any time to see if their child is attending lessons or if s/he has failed to turn up to classes. B...
Lifelong Learning is for Staff, Too
03 Dec 2008It is not only students at Ashby School who are sitting exams and keeping up with coursework – staff are, too. More than 20 members of staff have been studying for extra qualifications over the last 12 months. Their efforts prove that Ashby School’s mission to ‘promote lifelong learning within a technologically advanced society’ is alive and well. Headteacher Mrs Vivien Keller-Garnett said: “At Ashby School, we believe th...
'Real Men Read' Calendar Goes on Sale
28 Nov 2008A charity calendar featuring some of Ashby School’s most photogenic male teachers has gone on sale.
Young Chefs Get Cooking in Competition
28 Nov 2008The best young chefs from Ashby School will be turning up the heat on Thursday (4 December) in a national cookery competition. Twelve students have been selected to represent the school in the search to find the Rotary Young Chef of 2009. During the two-hour challenge, students will be expected to show that they can create, organise and prepare a well-balanced three-course meal, which must not only look great but also follow the principles of a healthy diet.
Tip Tops Pupils are the Tops
21 Nov 2008Primary school pupils are tackling GCSE Maths problems at after-school workshops, with the help of students from Ashby School. The weekly ‘Tip Tops’ sessions introduce pupils as young as 10 to concepts such as advanced algebra and quadratic and simultaneous equations. The pupils are tutored by gifted and talented students from Ashby School, who give up their free time for two hours after school every Friday to attend the classes. Teacher M...
Travelling Musicians Hit a High Note
17 Nov 2008Musicians from Ashby School started the Autumn term on a high note by taking part in the school’s first residential Music trip.More than 40 students travelled to Kington in Herefordshire for three days of musical activities. These included the chance to play in several different ensembles, rehearse intensively with bandmates, an...
Staff are in the Pink
17 Nov 2008Colourful costumes replaced work clothes when staff at Ashby School wore pink for a day, in support of the Breast Cancer Campaign.Pink cowboy hats, dressing gowns, and even slippers helped to generate funds and awareness for the campaign.Each member of staff taking part donated £2 to the charity, helping to raise £263.91.Staff and students at A...
Sam Makes Waves in Yacht Race
17 Nov 2008Student Sam Pizzuto swapped schoolwork for sailing to compete in one of the world’s classic offshore yacht races in October. Keen sailor Sam, 17, was a crew member in the prestigious Rolex Middle Sea Race, covering 630 miles around the coast of Sicily. The race began and ended at Malta. Sam and his fellow crew members on the Lazy Duck completed the c...
Year 11 Mock Exams to Begin on 21 November
05 Nov 2008Year 11 mock examinations will begin on 21 November, in a range of subjects.All students should have received a mock timetable, allowing them to plan their revision effectively. These mock exams are an important rehearsal for the summer GCSE examinations and are used to determine students' levels of entry to subjects.The subjects in which students will sit mock exams are as follows: Electronic Products ...
Governor Needed to Shape Future of Education
29 Oct 2008Parents who want to shape the future of education in Ashby can do just that by signing up to become a Parent Governor at Ashby School.The school has a vacancy for one Parent Governor, who will help to make decisions on issues such as discipline, health and safety, and staffing. (Applicants must be the parent of a registered pupil).Andrew Burton, Clerk to the Governors, said: "Being a Parent Governor is extremely rewarding, particularly at a school as large and s...
Trip to Conkers is the Business
10 Oct 2008A day out at Conkers proved to be a tree-mendous learning experience for A level Business students.The 68 Sixth Formers spent a day at the National Forest visitor attraction near Moira, where they tested their team working skills by taking part in treasure hunts, mascot building and an assault course.Rangers led the day's activities.Judith Cooke, from the school's Business ...
Kimberley Kicks Back at Bullies
08 Oct 2008Black belt Kimberley Lowe will be kicking her inhibitions into touch when she steps into the ring for the first time.Kimberley, 15, took up kick boxing at the age of eight, after being bullied at school.Since then, the sport has helped to boost her fitness and her confidence and she is now preparing for her first fight in the ring, against competitors from across the region.Kimberley, who achieved her black belt in 2006, said: "When I got bullied at p...
Tom is Putting on the Ritz
29 Sep 2008When student Tom Lackenby signed up for work experience, he found himself rubbing shoulders with the elite, during five days at the world-famous Ritz Hotel.During his time at The Ritz, Tom rubbed shoulders with supermodels, ran errands across London in his bell-boy uniform, and was even tipped £20 for opening a door. At one point, Bill Clinton and Margaret Thatcher were dining in an adjacent room....
It's A Knockout Comes to Ashby
26 Sep 2008An 'It's a Knockout' tournament at Ashby School will see students and staff pitted against each other in a night of zany games.The charity tournament will feature 12 teams of students (two from each of the school's six Houses) and one team of teachers.All entrants will take part in games based on the hit TV show, 'It's a Knockout', which traditionally featured wacky water races, out-sized fancy dress costumes and hilarious assault courses.Each team will donate...
Show Me Who You Are
24 Sep 2008It's a big world out there as students from Ashby School will discover when they link up with schools overseas for a Europe-wide lifestyle project.About 25 students from Ashby School will take part in the project, entitled 'Show Me Who You Are'.Along with students from Denmark, Italy, Turkey, Romania and Lithuania, they will be compiling an e-journal to reveal what life is like for young people in the 21st century.The students, all aged 15 to ...
Students to Speak at European Parliament
22 Sep 2008Four students from Ashby School are to travel to Strasbourg, as guests of the European Parliament.Alice Gibson, Rachel Leakey, Pierre Welch and Sam Blackburn won places on the 'Euroscola' trip after impressing judges with their written thoughts on 'Europe and its Future'.Pictured are (left to right) Pierre Welch, Alice Gibson, Sam Bl...
Virtual Babies, Real Life
12 Sep 2008Class numbers are set to swell at Ashby School next week when six virtual babies join students in their A level lessons.To prepare students for the realities of modern life, the new deliveries will include one baby with drug and alcohol dependency and a shaken baby.Strolling out with their babies are (left to right) Charlotte Mahdoodi, Rebekah Wykes-Elton, Beth S...
Hairy Fundraising Pays Off
05 Sep 2008A hair-raising challenge by Sixth Formers has helped toboost funds for disaster-struck students at Ashby School's partner school in China.When an earthquake struck Sichuan province in China the home of Ashby's partner school, Leshan - in May, killing more than 68,000 people, student Filip Dragovic decided to help.Along with a small group of Sixth Form friends, Filip launched a five-week, sponsored beard growing challenge.
Back to Business
05 Sep 2008Business-minded students swapped the school day for office hours when they took part in an intensive three days of skills training.More than 90 students were given the chance to bring their business ideas to life at the21stannual Skills for Management Conference at Ashby School.Pirates (left to right) Matthew Smith, Myles Griffin, Justin Birch and Jacob Pickering, all 17,...
Flagship Sixth Form Centre Opened by Ex-Students
05 Sep 2008Two ex-students officially opened Ashby School's flagship new Sixth Form Centre three years after launching the campaign for its creation.Nick Lackenby and Lucy MacLauchlan, who were Head Boy and Head Girl at the school in 2005 06, cut the ribbon at the £740,000 centre on Thursday 11 September.Headteacher Mrs Vivien Keller-Garnett (right) cuts the ribbon, wit...
Ashby is Truly International
03 Sep 2008Ashby School is officially an international school after being presented with an International School Award for the second time.The school successfully retained its International Schools status by impressing judges at the British Council with the wide range of international-themed events taking place both inside and outside the classroom.These included an Italian-themed day in the school restaurant; African drumming in GCSE Music; and a focus on poetry of different c...
Tributes Paid to Former Teacher
28 Aug 2008Tributes have been paid to David Evans, a former teacher at Ashby School, who has died while working as a volunteer in Ethiopia.Mr Evans, 61, had worked at Ashby School for the last seven years, teaching in several Faculties, including English, Drama and PE. Dave Evans bel...
Ashby Students Have Done It Again!
21 Aug 2008Jubilant GCSE students at Ashby School have done it again – by notching up a pass rate of 99 per cent. Ninety nine per cent of all results were at grades A* – G. The A-list. Sarah Folwell (left) and Emily Harris had lots to celebrate.High-fliers included Emily Harris, 16, of Ashby, who picked up 11 A*s, along with Rub...
Ashby Scores Its Highest A Level Pass Rate Ever
14 Aug 2008Sensational students at Ashby School have achieved the school's highest A level pass rate ever a staggering 98.5 per cent.Six of the school's highest-scoring students secured places at Oxford or Cambridge University, including Alice Insley, whose four A grades earned her a place to read History of Art at Cambridge.Alice was among 38 students to gain three or more passes at grade A.Others included Sam Andrews who will now...
Nottingham Road, Ashby -de la- Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 1DT Tel: 01530 413748 Fax: 01530 560665 Email: admin@ashbyschool.org.uk
© 2012 Ashby School Site Design: Peter Bourne Communications