Debating the District

A group of Councillors from Lewes District Council visited Chailey School on Monday, 21st October 2013 for a 'questions and answers' session with members of the School Council.    Topics under discussion included education, local transport, amenities, planning developments and environmental issues.  The visit provided an ideal opportunity for the Councillors to find out what young people in this area really think about what is going on around them. 

It was a very lively session and Councillor Tony Nicholson commented on how impressed he was with the enthusiasm and informed engagement with political and local issues shown by Chailey students. 

 

Japan Jamboree

 

 

On 28th of September 2103 Emma Scott and Zoe Webber decided to go for a selection day in Lewes.  This selection day was for the World Scout Jamboree in Japan in 2015.  Emma and Zoe have been in scouting for six years and say that when they heard about this opportunity they “jumped at the chance”. 

The World Scout Jamboree is when all of the scouting groups from around the world get together in one country.  It takes place every four years but you have to be a certain age to go – luckily Emma and Zoe are the right age as they wouldn’t have been able to attend in 2019!

The girls describe what happened on selection day: 

 “There were 16 applicants and only four were chosen, two were from 1st Barcombe and that was us!  There are 36 scouts going from the Lewes district and 3000 scouts going from England.

Each person has to raise £1,800, so during the next two years we all try our hardest to raise that money as a group or by ourselves.  We have been planning to do bag packing at Waitrose nearer to Christmas and we have already done one fundraiser where we collected sticks for bonfires and have raised £10 each.”

Emma and Zoe say that they both enjoy doing the fundraising because “it gives us time to get to know the two other people who we don't really know.  We are so happy that we have been chosen as this really is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

A fantastic achievement and we all wish the girls well with their fundraising efforts.

Historical Excellence

Bethany Churchill, a Year 11 student, has just researched and written an historical account of the life of Catherine of Aragon.  Entitled ‘Humble and Loyal’ it follows the life of ‘Henry VIII’s first love’ as Bethany calls her, from her birth to her death in 53 pages.  Profusely illustrated in full colour, it is a professional production from start to finish.

Bethany is something of an expert on the Tudor period and has read extensively on the subject.  When she did her work experience at Hever Castle for a week last July, the administrator of Hever was very impressed with the depth of her knowledge.  “Bethany knew more than all of us” was her comment at the time.

So perhaps Hilary Mantel has a worthy successor here at Chailey to follow in her footsteps as an historical author.

County Hockey hopes for Josh

Josh Essex tells us that he was chosen for the Under-13 County Hockey squad a month ago.  He got to this stage by attending County training days at Hurstpierpoint with boys from all over East and West Sussex.  He has four more training/coaching sessions to attend at Hurst before the final Hockey squad will be chosen.  Good luck Josh!

Year 10 visit Farley Farmhouse in Chiddingly

The Art Department is very fortunate to be working with the Farley Trust to produce work in response to their trip to the home of the photographer Lee Miller and her husband, the Surrealist, Roland Penrose. The visit included looking at the work currently being exhibited as part of the Farley Arts Trust Awards, drawing in the sculpture garden and a tour of the house.

Arts Award Success

Lorna Hutchinson and Oscar Bedell are pictured standing beside their work at the bi-annual Farley's Trust Arts Awards - an exhibition that shows the best of GCSE and A Level student work across East Sussex.  Well done to both of them for being selected in their categories.  Oscar also won the overall prize in the GCSE 3D category.  Both students are currently pursuing different art forms at higher levels at Sixth Form College.

Luke kicks off with Wasps!

Luke Talbot in Year 7 is, according to the Chairman of Wasps Minis Rugby, ‘one to watch’.

Luke joins other youngsters every Sunday morning being put through their paces at the London Wasps training ground in West London and last year the U11s walked away with the Middlesex Plate after beating Ealing in the final.  Luke played a pivotal role as Wasps’ Centre, turning in an outstanding performance as he had done throughout the season.

Their Head Coach, and ex-player, Mark Currie was quoted in the Wasps news report as follows:

 
“Luke travels with his father from Brighton, is nearly always the first boy at training and last to leave.  His natural strength and speed combined with vision and a never give up attitude has made him the most valuable player in the squad.  He is an outstanding tackler, has an excellent side step and an accurate pass off both hands.  If he continues with his current drive, I see a promising future in this sport for him.”

Luke says:  “Playing for Wasps is a dream come true for me.  I’ve supported them all my life so to get the chance to wear the famous black and gold is a real honour.  I travel a long way from my home in Sussex each week but I wouldn’t miss it for the world!  My ambition is to one day play for Wasps 1^st team and join such greats as Lawrence Dallaglio, Tom Varndell and Stephen Jones.”

Well done Luke!