Seven days spent skiing with friends, surrounded by beautiful scenery....what a great way to start the Easter holidays. Almost seventy students and staff led by Mr Cantrell were able to enjoy the last of the winter sports season at Les Deux Alpes high in the French Alps.
The journey was long but worth the wait as the Writhlington ski fanatics made their way onto the slopes at this beautiful French resort. Experienced skiers and first timers all thoroughly enjoyed the days on the slopes, the falls in the snow, the early staff wake-up call...and the evening activities in the resort. These included bumper cars on ice, ice skating, bowling and an unseasonal beach theme night in fancy dress.
Five hours skiing every day toned winter muscles and the group returned to Writhlington 8 days later, exhausted but exhilarated by a fantastic experience..A queue has already formed for the next ski trip in 2007.
Former Writhlington A level Art student Matthew Gulliford returned to school this week to present Headteacher Marie Getheridge with one of his recent paintings which featured in the James Hockey Gallery.
Matthew completed his first class BA Honours degree in Digital Screen Arts in 2004. He then finished his Masters in Fine Art at the University College for the Creative Arts which is the second largest Arts institute in Europe.
Matthew is currently doing his doctorate in Fine Art practice-based research. Such scholarships are extremely rare within the Arts field and Matthew was successful in an extremely competitive environment. When he completes his Phd Matthew intends to continue with both teaching at university and exhibiting his work which has attracted a considerable amount of attention in art circles in London.
Any talented artists interested in obtaining details of research opportunities within the Fine Arts field can contact Matthew via the school.
Year 9 students were presented with a novel twist as part of their SATs preparation this week.
The Advanced Level Performing Arts students produced scenes from the set English texts and linked them to quiz activities during a performance in the Main School Hall.
The Advanced students have formed a theatre company called "Bedsheets not included" and intend to specialise in performances in education. Plans are in hand for a new version of one of the GCSE set plays.
Our photo shows the Performing Arts group on stage.
The Norton Radstock Regeneration Company – working with the local community to create plans which will provide a brighter future for the town - is now ready to put its proposals on public display prior to submitting a formal planning application.
The aim of the exhibition is to inform the community of NRR’s proposals. There will be a number of staff on hand to answer any questions.
The Exhibition will be held at Radstock Museum on Friday 7 April from 12 pm until 7 pm and Saturday 8 April from 10 am until 4.00 pm.
Writhlington Sports Centre is now approaching its 1st Anniversary. The centre’s impact on the community has been fantastic. Local people now have access to state of the art sports facilities at an affordable cost. Activities on offer include a Fitness gym with all the latest cardio vascular equipment equipped with T.V screens and weight training equipment, Badminton, Tennis, 5 a side Football, Cricket, Trampolining, Gymnastics, Fencing, Theatre School, Tae Kwon Do, Holiday Activities, Birthday Parties and lots more.
The fitness gym has gone down well with both young and old, with over 250 adult MemberPlus users and an expanding junior gym programme. Read More......
Eleven members of the CCF gave up their Sunday to compete in Somerset’s Orienteering Championships. This was a good opportunity to put into practice the map work skills learnt in CCF. They competed against 120 other competitors and won 12 medals! The majority of our pupils were first timers!
The Under 14 girls took a clean sweep of the medals in the individual event with Charlotte Owen winning gold, Joanne Clapp the silver and Vicky Jones the bronze.
We also did extremely well in the Under 14 boys category with Oskar Newland flying around the course to set the quickest time, but despite our protests he was added to the U15 category and forfeited his medal. However, a maiden outing for Michael Taviner saw him secure a well earned silver medal.
In the U16 boys individual event David Williams also had a fantastic race winning a silver medal.
To cap off the day, the girls also won the U14 girls team event with Vicky Jones, Alice Carpenter, Lauren Smith, Charlotte Owen and Joanne Clapp posting the lowest combined scores to win another 6 gold medals.
The Orchid Project has won its first Gold Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society - amongst a host of awards at the London International Orchid Show held last weekend.
As well as a gold medal for the School's tropical research display, prizes included a silver-gilt medal for the plant display and two top plant awards for exceptional culture. The event also featured a lecture on Orchid Growing given by sixteen year old student, Callum Swift. Callum drew a large audience eager to learn tips from one of Writhlington's most expert growers.
The London show is a major enterprise event in the School's calendar and students sold seedlings of over a hundred orchid species raised in the school's orchid laboratory.
Year 9 student, Julie Miller, explained that the money raised supports conservation projects in the tropical world as well as funding future student expeditions including next year's expedition to the mountains of Laos.
The public showed great interest in the students' work as did the Times Magazine which will publish a feature on the school and its activity at the show in the near future.
March 2006
After school sports for local primaries
Writhlington School is offering all year 5 & 6 pupils in local primary Schools a chance to participate in exciting sports activities after school at the new multi-million pound sports facility on its site.
For five weeks on Mondays, we will provide transport to Writhlington Sports Centre, a healthy drink and snack and the opportunity to take part in tennis, trampolining, fencing and circus skills. Each week pupils take part in two of these sports and can rotate the following week. Parents collect their children from the Sports Centre at 6.00pm. This service is subsidised and costs £5.00 per week.
Currently 40 pupils from 6 local primary schools are taking part and are enjoying making new friends, joining in new sports and keeping fit and healthy. We plan to expand these sessions after Easter.
If you are interested you can get more information from the Extended Schools team on 01761 439925 or email
March 2006
Rock School rocks
Rock School sessions have been extremely successful in recent weeks with a number of newly founded bands being taught the basics of how to work together in a band situation. The young participants are taking immense pleasure in making music in a fun and energetic environment and are learning a number of new skills, both socially and musically. Currently running fully booked evening slots four out of five weeknights, Martin Miles is gradually easing all budding musicians through all crucial elements required to be an accomplished musician.
Unfortunately, Rock School is no longer accepting new applicants due to anoverwhelming demand, but if you are still interested in auditioning for a place next term, please call 01761 439925 or email
Twenty seven students and staff of Writhlington Business and Enterprise School spent the February break in New York just as the city was experiencing the biggest snowfall in its history. The group was on one of the first planes to land at JFK airport after the blizzard. Despite the cold weather the group was able to complete the trip and enjoy the sights of a very white New York.
Visits included Madison Square Gardens, the Empire State Building,Times Square, shopping at Macys and a spectacular guided tour of a wintry Central Park.
A combination of unique Brazilian products and sound business systems won first prize and praise from the judges for Writhlington School’s new Young Enterprise Company at the West of England Trade in the Galleries, Bristol.
Managing Director Rachel Hale explained that the name reflects the companies mission statement to develop new markets for innovative Brazilian products. Current products include photographs taken by students on their recent expedition to the Brazilian rainforest and original ceramics from artist Armando Cadaxa.
Rachel Mandley, who met Armando in Brazil described the story of his work. “The ceramics, called muiraquita, represent Brazilian animals and in ancient times were given by the women of all female Amazon tribes as tokens to the men they mated with.”
Products including photograph down loads are available to buy online at www.brazilbrasil.co.uk or can be found in selected stores around the country.
left to right, Elijah Gould, Anika Roellke, Rachel Hale, Rachel Mandley, Hannah Heal
January 2006
Praise for Gifted and Talented Exhibition
Able, talented and gifted students at Writhlington Business and Enterprise School hosted an exhibition of their work for Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of NACE. Julie Fitzpatrick said "I am full of admiration for the students who organised the exhibition of their work so professionally. Writhlington School has taught them to develop their abilities to a high level and is preparing them well for the world of work and business. But most impressive of all is enabling them to use their gifts and talents to benefit communities locally and overseas".
Students summed it up by saying that "'at this school we have the will to do well". The school is in the process of preparing for the National Challenge Award, a prestigious award which recognises the school's capacity to provide excellent provision for all learners and in particular those with specific talents or gifts.
Speaking at the event, Colin Cattanach, Deputy Headteacher commented "The school expects to be assessed for the Challenge Award later in the year and will be one of only 10 other secondary schools nationally who will have achieved the rigorous standards. The quality of work presented at the exhibition was outstanding and reflects the relentless commitment of both students and staff to achieve excellence". The photograph shows our students with Julie Fitzpatrick
Writhlington School is opening its Rock School to all young people in the Norton Radstock area. Rock School has been running successfully this year for Writhlington School students and is now inviting youngster from the local area to join.
Young people must be aged 12-18 and have ideally achieved grade 4 or equivalent level on the chosen instrument.
Rock School is open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Sessions are run by Martin Miles, an experienced musician, who will lead young people through the elements of song writing and structure, music theory, recording technicques, operation of professional PA equipment and achievement of sound quality.
After a successful audition, young people will be formed into bands and will also be given a chance to record any music produced.
If you are interested in Rock School, please call 01761 439925 or email
January 2006
WSBE Web Company, WEEE Can Do It!
In January 2006 it is expected that the government will begin to enforce the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. This directive is an attempt to deal with the growing mountain of waste electronic goods that are a by-product of the information age.
One of the main devices thrown away is computers which contain high levels of lead, mercury, and cadmium. Many scientists believe that we are poisoning our future.
Companies are already beginning to respond to this new directive and if you call the local waste disposal unit of BANES you will find that if you want them to dispose of computers it will now cost you 12 for a monitor and 8 for the box.
In light of this new development, and as part of the vision of the Business and Enterprise culture of our school, these computers are now being turned into something of real value. The school has a Federation of primary schools that it supports with ICT infrastructure and therefore there is a regular supply of “old” computers. The Advanced Level ICT students at Writhlington, as part of their course work, check and repair these computers and set them up for students and the local community. This is achieved by using a free operating system called Ubuntu (www.ubuntu.com) which is an ancient African word for, “humanity to others”, or, “I am what I am because of who we all are”. Ubuntu is based on Linux and is completely free but has a complete office suite which works with all Microsoft Office products. This means that there is no problem taking work to and from school or the office. Linux also has graphics, CAD, web design, programming and other software which are all based on industry standard packages.
Seven of the Year 13 Advanced Level students received awards this term for their work in this field.
Seven days spent skiing with friends, surrounded by beautiful scenery....what a great way to start the Easter holidays. Almost seventy students and staff led by Mr Cantrell were able to enjoy the last of the winter sports season at Les Deux Alpes high in the French Alps.
Former Writhlington A level Art student Matthew Gulliford returned to school this week to present Headteacher Marie Getheridge with one of his recent paintings which featured in the James Hockey Gallery.
Year 9 students were presented with a novel twist as part of their SATs preparation this week.
Writhlington Sports Centre is now approaching its 1st Anniversary. The centre’s impact on the community has been fantastic. Local people now have access to state of the art sports facilities at an affordable cost. Activities on offer include a Fitness gym with all the latest cardio vascular equipment equipped with T.V screens and weight training equipment, Badminton, Tennis, 5 a side Football, Cricket, Trampolining, Gymnastics, Fencing, Theatre School, Tae Kwon Do, Holiday Activities, Birthday Parties and lots more.
Eleven members of the CCF gave up their Sunday to compete in Somerset’s Orienteering Championships. This was a good opportunity to put into practice the map work skills learnt in CCF. They competed against 120 other competitors and won 12 medals! The majority of our pupils were first timers!
The Orchid Project has won its first Gold Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society - amongst a host of awards at the London International Orchid Show held last weekend.
.jpg "Writhlington School students in New York wsbe")
Able, talented and gifted students at Writhlington Business and Enterprise School hosted an exhibition of their work for Julie Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of NACE. Julie Fitzpatrick said "I am full of admiration for the students who organised the exhibition of their work so professionally. Writhlington School has taught them to develop their abilities to a high level and is preparing them well for the world of work and business. But most impressive of all is enabling them to use their gifts and talents to benefit communities locally and overseas".
In light of this new development, and as part of the vision of the Business and Enterprise culture of our school, these computers are now being turned into something of real value. The school has a Federation of primary schools that it supports with ICT infrastructure and therefore there is a regular supply of “old” computers. The Advanced Level ICT students at Writhlington, as part of their course work, check and repair these computers and set them up for students and the local community. This is achieved by using a free operating system called Ubuntu (
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