BSW Blog – 7 July 2022

Dear Parents and Carers,

A very warm welcome to our latest Bohunt School Worthing Blog for July 2022. Well, it has truly been a very busy term since we sent out our last Blog in May. Not only have I well and truly sat in the seat of Headship here at Worthing for a total of eight weeks now; (where has the time gone?) but we have seen our ERA days, arts festival, photo shoots, year 11 exams & prom and many more celebrations take place all in such a short space of time.  

On reflection when you move from one school to another, it is easy to take for granted what you have in your current school or indeed your community. It is only once you are taken from it and move into another, that you truly have the ability to reflect. 

What is clear from my own reflections is that the opportunities on offer to our students here at Bohunt Worthing are truly outstanding. Staff work relentlessly to ensure that our students not only achieve academic excellence but also have the opportunity to experience it as well. 

As I mentioned in my last addition to the blog, as a school, which is part of the successful Bohunt Education Trust, which is recognised for both its high standards of academic excellence and its care, nurture and opportunities that all students receive, we understand what we need to put in place for students to excel here at Bohunt School Worthing.  

As we move towards the summer holidays, a time for all to recharge, relax and look forward to a new educational term, it will be September when we reset, refine, and re-establish our high academic standards, routines, and commitment to all young people.

Respect is the bridge between enjoyment and achievement, this comes in all forms. Warm and strict approaches to students, understanding how they can work together to achieve, respecting each other and their own individual qualities are key. 

We have been continuing to reignite the learning in all our classrooms with our learners this term. Returning to classroom ‘norms’, post-pandemic, allowing all our young people to access the vibrant and dynamic learning that comes from discussion, group interactions and environments that are not constricted by the expectations of social distancing. 

At BSW, we believe there are no shortcuts to success, and our students would not make the progress they do without this relentless focus and pursuit of excellence.

As we speed our way towards the end of term this will be our penultimate blog for this year. I hope you have enjoyed reading through all of the events that have taken place this year. We really value your input as well as parents, carers, students and stakeholders. If you would like to see something specific within one of our blogs next year please do let us know. Drop us an email at info@bohuntworthing.com  

Your voice matters!

Best wishes

Paul Collin

Enjoy

ERA Week returned this year during the week beginning June 20th. For the first time in 3 years we were able to return to a full lineup of fantastic outdoor learning opportunities and activities, featuring a range of residential and day trips, visitors to the school and extra-curricular events.

Many of our Year 7 students headed to Normandy for the week to experience a dose of French culture, including visits to historical towns and days out at some exciting sites. Staying in the beautiful Opal Coast region, students spent time exploring places including the Planetarium, Parc Bagatelle and even a genuine French bread factory! For many students this was their first time on a residential school trip and trip coordinator Mr Cordwell commented on the excellent conduct and spirit demonstrated by all pupils.

Some of our Year 7 students spent their ERA week in school, completing a range of activities including an animal encounter, a chance to get up close and personal with a range of amazing exotic species!

Year 8 students experienced a packed schedule of in-school and local activities. All students partook in a beach clean along Worthing’s coast, giving back to the community by helping collect litter from our lovely beaches. Students headed further along the coast to Brighton for the day, visiting the Sea Life Centre, i360 and Brighton Pier on a beautifully sunny day. Students also enjoyed a day at the Southwater Water Sports Centre, trying their hands at kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing.

A group of our Year 9 pupils headed into the wild for the Bushcraft experience. Spending 3 nights under canvas (or in the case of particularly adventurous group of 5 students, under a tarpaulin!), they camped in Blenheim Woods in Oxfordshire and learned a range of Bushcraft and survival skills from First Aid to cooking. Led by a team of brilliant Bushcraft Leaders, the students had some unforgettable experiences, from rescuing their teachers in a mock survival S.O.S situation to working in ‘tribes’ to build the tallest campfire.

Many of our Year 9 students jetted off to Sorrento to sample the best in Italian food, history and culture in the blazing sunshine. When they weren’t scaling the majestic Vesuvius or exploring Roman ruins in Pompeii and Herculaneum, the students were tasting genuine Italian pasta and learning how Mozarella is made. With boat trips along the stunning Amalfi Coast and the chance to create a delicious lemon sorbet, the unique experiences are certain to be remembered for years to come.

A group of our Year 9 pupils visited the Amex Stadium to see where Brighton and Hove Albion F.C are based and to find out more about the inner workings of the club. With a chance to peek behind the scenes and to walk out onto the pitch, this was an unforgettable opportunity.

Year 10 students took part in a series of workshops and events on the theme of careers and futures. With their GCSE exams just a year away, this was a chance to start thinking about where their qualifications might lead them and the skills necessary to succeed post-16. A team from 8billionideas provided a virtual workshop that showed students how they can follow an idea through to become successful entrepreneurs. Students also received a visit from the Army Elite Skills Academy, promoting resilience, teamwork and focus as some of the keys to success.

Having completed their exams and seen out their final days at BSW, our Year 11 students had their Prom on Wednesday 29th June. At the fantastic Long Furlong Barn, situated in the beautiful surroundings of the South Downs, students got together to celebrate their achievements and bid their farewells. With some sharp suits and fabulous dresses on display, Year 11 partied in style as they enjoyed pizza, ice cream (soft) drinks and a packed dancefloor!

Respect

On Wednesday 6th July, BSW warmly welcomed Gay Jacklin from Worthing4refugees charity in order to present her with a cheque for over £480 as well as 30 shoe boxes filled with essentials and letters of welcome to any refugees arriving in Worthing. Students spent two days during our ERA week at Sainsbury’s, Lyon’s farm collecting donations of items and spare change to raise awareness of the work Worthing 4 Refugees do to welcome and support displaced families arriving from all over the world. Cara, a year 9 student also involved in the promotion of the event said, “personally, this was one of the best days of ERA week. It felt good to know that we were helping people and making a difference in our community. Thank you so much Worthing 4 Refugees for giving us this opportunity to help people” and, Zach a year 7 student commended by staff for their great attitude and approach told us, “I was really happy to help people who have less than me”. Christian in year 9 got a lot out of the day and said, “If no-one were to help refugees, by what means would they be capable of obtaining support. For everyone would follow the bystander apathy”. The staff at Sainsbury’s were really impressed at the student’s positive behaviour and ability to provide such a warm welcome to their customers. We hope to continue with this event next year and continue to raise more money for those who need it the most.

Everyone at BSW is looking forward to Friday’s Eco Day run by Turing House – a day of fund and awareness raising for environmental issues. Well done to Miss Worthington and her fabulous team of Geography Leaders who were ably supported by ex-student Ella Haughton in making this fantastic recycled whale-tale sculpture! We will bring you a full report on the event in the next BSW Blog!

Achieve

On Saturday 2nd July BSW opened it’s doors for its 2022 Festival of the Arts. Showcasing the incredible work of our students across all the arts, the event provided visitors with a spectacular array of artworks, music and drama. Year 10 and 11 Art students’ work was on display in the main gallery while musical performances from the cast of Matilda and BSW’s premier rock band Crocodile Tears. Our amazing steel drum band also performed in the suitably sunny outside entrance and visitors could have a glass of (non-alcoholic) bubbly on arrival before feasting on some homemade treats.

School Office messages

As we near the end of term please ask your child to collect any lost property from the school office. Please also suggest your child has an early clear out of their locker to save any nasty end of year surprises, locker keys will be collected in by your child’s form tutor at the beginning of the last week of term, Monday 18 July.

Key Dates