Art exhibition showcases enormous talent

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If anyone wants reassurance that the arts are alive and well at Sackville, a visit to our art exhibition would more than provide it.

Showcasing work from GCSE and A level art and photography students, the quality of what was on display would have graced an art gallery. The breadth of the work alone makes one pause for breath, but add the sheer quality of what is on display and you have something quite exceptional.

An enormous amount of hard work has gone into these pieces, and judging by the reaction of those visiting some strong grades can be expected this year.

Selected items from the showcase will be exhibited at the Festival of Arts St Swithun’s from Saturday 29th June to Tuesday 3rd July. Pop in if you get a chance!

It must be summer … Primary Area Sports arrives at Sackville

Lovely to see so many local primary students at Area Sports on Wednesday June 26th. Postponed last week due to the weather, today nothing could dampen the enthusiasm, effort and energy on show.

Thanks to all of the primary students, their teachers, Sackville PE staff and sports leaders for making this happen.

Amber’s headline debut a sell-out success

While we were preoccupied with our prom on Friday June 21st, year 10 student Amber Titchener played her first headline gig at Chequer Mead, with all proceeds going to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Support acts on the night were Eliott Meldrum, Elodie Ansell, Seren Amelia, Urban City, Galaxy Thief and Amber T. Elodie and Seren are also both Sackville students. Pictured here you can see Amber (Centre) flanked by Seren (left) and Elodie.

The night started with local songwriter Elliott Meldum aka Arden who gave a class performance of Ed Sheeran’s “The City” and then an original song “All In A Game”. Sackville’s own Elodie Ansell followed with a magical performance of Ella Eyre’s “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” and Jorja Smiths “On My Mind”.

The talent kept coming with Year 9’s Seren Foulds aka Seren Amelia with a perfect performance on guitar of Gnarls Barclay’s “Crazy” and Florence and The Machine’s “You Got The Love’. Local dance act Urban City (including several Sackville students) then took the stage for a twenty minute explosive and energetic performance!

After the interval the audience were treated to the sounds of South Coast Indie band Galaxy Thief.   The band gave a high energy performance with the audience up on their feet dancing.   Energy levels stayed high as Amber took to the stage joined by Urban City’s backing dancers to perform an exclusive first performance of “Now” followed by the massive YouTube hit “Tick Tock”.

After more originals on guitar (“She Don’t”, “Jigsaw”) Amber then gave a heart stopping performance of Adele’s “When We Were Young” with Galaxy Thief’s drummer Ben Watton playing keys.    More pitch-perfect covers from The 1975, Paramour, Sam Smith, and Amy Winehouse followed. The finale was The Killers “Mr Brightside” which had everyone up in the theatre on their feet and all the acts joining in on stage!

An amazing evening – well done to everyone involved.

Year 11s sign off with a day to remember

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Friday June 21st will live long in the memories of our year 11s. The day began with a leavers’ assembly expertly choreographed by Mr Millican. A particular highlight was lots of old photos of the year group.

Since this was an INSET day, many staff were able to share these memories with the students.

The afternoon was spent preparing for the evening’s festivities. By 5pm, Bourg de Peage Avenue was alive with the sight of nearly 200 students arriving to enjoy the year 11 prom. And how they arrived! Each year there seems to be an ever more spectacular collection of vehicles bringing our smartly attired young people to school.

Parents were invited into school for a (soft) drink and a chance to wonder just where the last five years have gone. After this students headed off to Barnsgate Manor for their justly earned end of year 11 celebration. They have worked so hard this last five weeks, and with such an excellent attitude. It has been a pleasure to work with them.

We would like to thank all of our parents and carers for their support not just in the demanding GCSE period, but over the last five years.

Year 12s enjoy the cut and thrust of economic debate at the New College of Humanities

Congratulations to four of our year 12 business and economics students who travelled to the New College of Humanities on June 19th to engage in debate about the role of technology in economic development. Liam Edwards, Ayo Odeyinde, Bob Coxon and Caitlin Black debated whether the UK should increase the proportion of GDP spent on overseas aid from 0.7%, and whether developing countries should prioritise education over other competing claims on resources. 

A further session run by Noisy Classrooms in the afternoon engaged the students with how blockchain technology could assist in facilitating microfinance – a timely discussion the day after Facebook launched its own e-currency.

Thank-you to the New College of Humanities for hosting, and PiXL for organising and facilitating.

Buffeted and bedraggled, but two brave boys bike it to Brighton

Enormous congratulations to Bailey Brown-Watts (left) and Max Scrivener in year 9 who did battle with the weather gods on Sunday in the annual British Heart Foundation London-Brighton Bike Ride. At over 50 miles, this is a challenge for anyone, but for 14-year olds with a 20 mph headwind it is a tall order indeed. 

The boys were riding separately with other family members.

You can tell from the picture how justly proud they are of the medals they can now keep forever as a memento of a wet but immensely satisfying ride.

Well done to both boys and good luck with your fundraising!

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze a stern test for year 10s

All going well - first break

Cornflour blue views

Up onto the South Downs

Cooking breakfast, 6am Sunday

A rare bit of blue sky

Rest at the top of the hill

The elements were not on our side over the weekend of June 15th and 16th, when our year 10s undertook their practice Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition.

Though Saturday started well and the teams enjoyed spectacular views over Newhaven and Seaford as they climbed onto the South Downs, the weather gods deserted them by late afternoon. They had to put up tents in continuous rain the intensity of which only increased as the time to cook (outside) arrived. Luckily, staff had brought a gazebo along.

The night was mercifully dry, but even without the drumbeat of raindrops on nylon, some students awoke with the light – about 4am at this time if year. A two hour wait was ahead for some as no breakfast cooking was allowed before 6am. By this time all Trangias were lit and the air was filled with the aroma of porridge and bacon. All the groups were packed and away by 8am – just in time for the first rainstorms of the day.

Most arrived at lunch tired and bedraggled; some were wondering what they had signed up for. In the end the sun did emerge, as tired legs carried what seemed like increasingly heavy rucksacks to the finish line. We departed Bishopstone bathed in warm sunshine, and the students were able to reflect on a challenge accepted and overcome. It was not an easy weekend, but it did show what grit and resilience can achieve.

Now just for those year 10 exams this week …

Thank you to Mr Langford for organising the weekend.

Year 10 students design a car at the University of Sussex

Congratulations to our year 10 students who visited the University of Sussex on June 6th to design a green car. This is part of the university’s STEM outreach programme.

Our students impressed with their use of the SolidWorks program and their soldering skills. We are also pleased that their behaviour was described as ‘exemplary’.

Cecee makes it 7 out of 7

Year 9 student Cecee Cashman just can’t stop winning! She had a year off from kickboxing competitions last year but her return this year has been spectacular.

She has now won the seven competitions she has entered. Most recently she has won

• The Central Event of the GB Slam League
• The WAKO Scottish Championships in Edinburgh
• Two divisions at the South Eastern competition

This is a formidable success rate – well done Cecee.