Roade School & Sports College

Since the last edition of Hartbeat there have been a number of noteworthy events and happenings that may be of interest to readers in Hartwell.

• Probably the most significant one for the school is our redesignation as a
Specialist Sports College. The school has held the status for four years since successfully submitting the original bid, and during that time has been able to develop a number of initiatives, both sporting and academic, reaching out across the whole school and community and also at Key Stage 2 (for primary pupils). Redesignation, for which a new bid was submitted, will allow the school to build on the partnership links it has so far developed. The school has also taken on a secondary specialism – Science – and this too will have a beneficial impact on the teaching and learning environment.

• Roade School was one of the first in the county to achieve the Northamptonshire Healthy Schools Bronze Award, and this was followed by the Silver. After a great deal of hard work, the school is now near to gaining the coveted Gold Award. The criteria that have to be met are exacting and the school has to demonstrate a
clear and on-going commitment in developing and promoting the health of the whole school. These awards are an indication to the wider community that the school is serious in its aim of providing the healthiest possible environment and it also sends out a clear message to the student population about the need for a healthy lifestyle, both mental and physical.

Summer Term Report
Summer term is traditionally the time for examinations, but it is also a time of much sporting and other outdoor activity.

● On April 9th we hosted the Key Stage 3 Sports Festival at which a team of 55 of our students competed against groups from seven of our neighbouring secondary schools at rugby, basketball, football, netball and hockey. Honours were shared evenly amongst the participating schools with Roade triumphant in Boys Football and Girls Hockey and runners-up in Girls Netball.

● The Annual Presentation of Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards was held on May 18th. Two Roade students received Gold Awards: Hannah Fraser and Louise Nicholls, while five more were presented with Silver Awards: Gertrude Chan, Hollie
Matthews, Louise Nicholls, Rhian Owen and Victoria Salmons. Bronze Awards went to a bumper bundle of 13 students: Matt Billingham, Katie Bowles, Thomas Chaplin, Hannah Ewin, Oliver Fall, Sarah Goodman, Caroline Greaves, Chris Green, Andrew Harris, Robert Harris, Andrew Hayward, Louise Nicholls and Julia Edwards. The Award Scheme has been a great success at Roade School for many years, due largely to Lesley McNeillie and her team who give time so generously

●Matt Irvin, designer and keeper of the Dr Who robotic dog K9 , visited earlier this year to launch the Year 10 Robotic Games Design Project. Two magnificent robots made in the School – ‘Nipper’ a 250g dragster and ‘Pushover’ a 12kg Sumo wrestling robot – were chosen in a regional event at Moulton School on May 8th. to go through to the national finals in the National Indoor Arena at Birmingham on July 8th. The team have entered Pushover in the Sumo Assault Course and are taking Nipper and two siblings along for a Dragster competition.

•Congratulations to the Year 10 soccer team in defeating Danetre School (Daventry) 3-0 to become the District Champions, after dispatching William Parker School 3-2 in the quarter finals and Campion School 4-2 (after extra time) in the semi final.

● On Friday, June 10th Year 8 students competed in a wide variety of sporting disciplines and activities. Individual form winners were: 8SE Javelin, Shot Putt, Rounders, and Rounders Ball Throw; 8DR 30 Leg (!) Relay, 50m Sprint; 800m; 8AR Netball; 8BT Obstacle Race; 8LY Football; 8BT Obstacle Race.

● Recently 25 students from Year 7 had an enjoyable but exhausting weekend at
Longtown Outdoor Activity Centre. Activities started on Friday evening with orienteering around the grounds. Saturday saw the group extending themselves with a full day of gorge walking, canoeing and caving. On Sunday the party went mountain walking and then tasted some of the on-site activities – the zip wire was a firm favourite. The last year has been a full one which saw many changes – new Head teacher, Foundation Status and Sports College Redesignation, but this new year looks as if there will be just as busy, so I’d better sharpen up my pencils and get in a new stock of paper.

Before I close I must mention the school website – www.roadeschool.northants.sch.uk –
it is the place where you can read the fortnightly School Newsletter. In fact editions back to October 2003 are accessible, as are copies of the Head teacher's Mailshot
and much else besides. Indeed, if you are seeking information about the school, the website (which is continually being developed and updated) should be your first port of call.

Terry Peck, Roade School and Sports College