Heckler News – May 2018
Back in early September when the news broke of Year 7 trials date Mr Keenleyside had the daunting task of identifying a squad of fifteen players from an impressive sixty. Mr Keenleyside select the strongest possible squad for the up and coming matches in the Spen valley Cup competition. Being handed a bye in the first round and confidence high our first game came in October against Upper Batley High School.
What a start to their Year 7 footballing career at Heckmondwike with outstanding a demolition job winning 9v0. Goals coming from Jayden Mudonhi (3), Tom Burton (2), Rory Aveyard (2), Jack Blakeley (1) & Oscar Kellett (1). The most impressive aspect of this performance was the style of play with fantastic passing and possession.
The quarter final was a strong Whitcliffe Mount but undeterred by this we dominated the game winning with ease 6v1. Goals coming from Tom Burton (2), Linton Clough (2), Jayden Mudonhi (1) and Jack Blakeley (1).
Semi-finals and tough opposition in St J Fishers and the game didn’t start to plan with us conceding two early goals but they showed real resilience fighting with a goal from Harvey Swift to take the score 2v1 at half time. After the break we started the more positive putting St J Fishers under immense pressure but they the managed to snatch a third against the run of play. Our second soon followed from the penalty spot from Sam Sepehri to set up a tense final couple of minutes. Sadly we were unable to capitalise on our late chances and at the final whistle the score ended 4v2.
To reach the semi-finals in our first season is a fantastic achievement. Well done and thank you to all the squad.
Squad: Woody Walker, Pyarali Meghjee, Sam Sepehri, Noah Chapman, Oscar Kellett, Linton Clough, William Parker, Logan Wright, Thomas Burton, Rory Aveyard, Harvey Swift, Zoran Mattara, Jack Blakeley, Rocco Parkin, Ayaan Aziz and Jayden Mudonhi.
The Year 10 boys were entered into two competitions this season in the West Yorkshire cup and Spen Valley cup. Sadly our journey in the West Yorkshire cup was very short lived losing narrowly to Rastrick High in the first round. However our progress in the Spen Valley cup went from strength to strength. In round one we smashed Batley Grammar 9v1 with goals coming from Rahul Ho-Shing (3), Harry Hobson (1), Harry Rhodes (2), Mohsif Mirza (1), Joe Brennan (1) and Henry Sykes (1).
In the second round we were drawn against Manor Croft with them unable to deal with our pace and power with us winning convincingly 4v1 with goals coming from Rahul Ho-Shing (1), Joe Brennan (1), Henry Sykes (1) and Ans Muhammad (1).
The semi-final and with confidence growing we travelled to BBG. We started the game well taking the lead early with a well worked move down the right finished off by Ans Muhammad. A second soon followed from the boot of Rahul Ho-Shing going into the break winning 2v1. The second half continued much in the same vain with us dominating possession and more goals soon followed from Rahul (3) and Joe Brennan (1). At the final whistle we had won comfortably 6v2.
Finals morning at Batley Grammar school and in near perfect conditions we took on a strong opposition in Mirfield Free Grammar. Having lost to Mirfield two seasons earlier we knew that this would be our toughest test. The boys started in blistering pace not giving the Mirfield players any time on the ball and peppering the goal with shots. Our first goal soon followed from Rahul Ho-Shing when he latched onto a perfectly weighted cross from the left to smash the ball home. Our second goal came mid through the first half to give us breathing space. The goal a carbon copy of our first finished off in style by Rahul again taking us into the break leading 2v0. We knew Mirfield would come out fighting in the second half but the boys kept their composure and hit them on the break scoring another two goals from Joe Brennan and a Henry Sykes power driver to give us an unassailable 4v0 lead with only minutes remaining. Mirfield managed to snatch two consolation goals but at the final whistle to joyous scenes we had won and become newly crowned Spen Valley cup champions.
Well done to all the players this season and thank you to the parents for all their support.
Squad: Jake Thompson, Alfie Webster, Oliver Rushforth, Edward Brown, Luke Nixon, Oscar Smith, Henry Sykes, Ans Muhammad, Harry Rhodes, Joe Brennan (c), Mohsif Mirza, Harry Hobson, Thomas Grierson, Jonathan Fawole, Freddie Ward and Rahul Ho-Shing.
In order to celebrate National Careers Week and National Apprenticeship Week 2018 5th -10th March we invited a range of external speakers into school to raise students’ awareness of the range of opportunities open to them beyond school and to develop and widen students’ aspirations.
An organisation called Ahead Partnership were invited in to facilitate an interactive employer panel and year 7 students were given the opportunity to ask the panel of employers a range of questions about their career paths and to find out more about labour market intelligence and growth sectors. Year 8 and 9 students had an introduction to Higher Education from the University of Leeds and were also introduced to Degree Apprenticeships. Year 10 and 11 students were given an overview of apprenticeship opportunities from the National Apprenticeship Service with a focus on new apprenticeship opportunities particularly around Higher and Degree apprenticeships.
In addition, a wide range of opt in lunchtime sessions were offered, for which year 11s were given priority but which was also opened up to other year groups where possible. Medical Student Ambassadors from the University of Leeds came in to talk to students about the realities of studying Medicine at university. We also had representatives from the University of York and the University of Huddersfield who had stands in the Swann Hall and were on hand to answer enquiries from any students. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne came in to deliver workshops about STEM Careers and Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Careers. In addition we invited in a STEM Ambassador and 2 young people who are Apprenticeship Ambassadors from Yorkshire Housing, one of whom is a female Apprentice Surveyor and one young person who is doing a Business related apprenticeship.
York University came to Heckmondwike to deliver an excellent session on Higher Education to our Year 10 students. York University gave a very inspiring talk to our students on Higher Education, they outlined how higher education works, how university life is structured, how students are assessed, how the costs can be managed and how well supported students are by the university. Our students gained an excellent insight into the large range of different university degrees they can undertake and learnt how they can choose to study individual subjects or combine various different subjects. They learnt how York University degrees are structured through a combination of lectures, seminars, lab practicals, workshops and tutorials. Our students learned about the life skills they gain from university degrees as well as the employment skills that are needed for the workplace. Our students learned about the earning power university degrees provide, they also gained valuable information on how students are provided with excellent careers support in sourcing good graduate employment opportunities. Our York University Ambassador spoke to students about their collegiate system and the benefits of it, such as the excellent pastoral support. They outlined to students how they support every single student and endeavour to include all students in various social activities which are completely different and separate to their academic studies, hence promoting a good healthy academic and social balance. This was an extremely inspiring and informative talk that gave our Year 10 students some valuable information that will contribute to them being able to make fully informed decisions about their futures.
National Careers Week activities were very successful and in spite of snow disruption on several of the days before and one day in between 167 students booked onto optional lunchtime sessions and many more also talked to the university representatives in the Swann Hall and attended careers related assemblies. One comment from an employer on the year 7 employer panel was ‘I had a great time at your school, what a wonderful group of young people.’ Some feedback from students from the week were ‘I have learnt that no matter how hard something is you have to be resilient and persevere’ and another student commented ‘I’ve learned that you need to follow your passion and you’ll find a job that suits you’. 92% of students who answered a survey about the week said that it had made an impact on raising their awareness of the different types of career opportunities open to them in the future. The students have also suggested lots of career related activities which they would like to have in the future, so we are looking forward to offering some of these soon!
The school swimming team visited Bradford Grammar School for the third time at the end of January and had a fantastic time, as always. Thirty one students represented the school and it was great to see so many new faces from year 7 taking part. There were over thirty races including individual and team events; we did not have one empty lane, thanks to our senior girls who stepped up to swim against the BGS senior boys. The final score was BGS 258 vs HGS 253; this is our first loss, however we soon realised our mistake – we had sat at the wrong end of the pool! We already have our invite for next year and look forward to winning again (we know where we will sit of course).
Well done to everyone in the swimming team and I hope you are ready for the Leeds School Swimming Gala in March.
Emily Pyrah
After winning the Spen Valley schools competition for Under 14 Boys, Under 16 Boys and Under 16 Girls, the teams went on to compete in the West Yorkshire championships held at Garforth Leisure centre.
Our pupils faced some stiff competition from Q.E.G.S, Wakefield Girls Grammar and Leeds Grammar , playing against some of the best players in Yorkshire.
The Under 16 Girls led by Angela Xu and Under 16 Boys led by Tim Lee produced an excellent level of performance throughout the tournament with both teams finishing in 4th place in their respective competitions. All of their matches were very close with the outcome being decided by the final doubles matches.
Under 16 Girls – Angela Xu, Alice Brown, Faiza Kamran, Isabella Mencattelli
Under 16 Boys – David Peng, Imaad Khajwad, Tim Lee, Anthony Zhao
The Under 14 boys team led by Year 8 pupil Asish Chittamum produced a high standard of play in all their tournament matches. A narrow win against Q.E.G.S by 3 games to 2 secured second place and the Silver medal.
Well done to all of the players for their efforts.
Heckmondwike Grammar School’s Senior Prize-giving took place at Dewsbury Town Hall on Thursday 21st December. The ‘Christmas spirit’ was very much present for this first time that the event has been held there, and the atmosphere was full of goodwill. The Soul Band provided excellent entertainment before the start; and there were many highlights to the evening. These included the Head Boy and Head Girl, Jack Bloxsome and Bronwen Brown, presenting very positive reflections on their respective journeys through the school, followed by fellow student Megan Dransfield performing exceptionally with a Puccini aria that brought tears to many an eye. The guest speaker, Tracy Brabin MP, a former student of the school, spoke inspirationally of her time at the school and the experiences that eventually led her into politics. A particular and very personal element was produced when Peter Roberts, Deputy Head and master of ceremonies for the evening, introduced his son, Lewis, who won a number of prizes and in particular the top academic award of the ‘Rex Scholarum’; a moment of especial pride for the whole family. The school’s congratulations go to all prize winners and their families; and their thanks to all of the staff of the Town Hall who made the event such a triumph.