Bowls World Singles Champion returns to Bryanston

Congratulations go to Julie Saunders, School Shop Manager and sports coach, who became the Bowls World Singles Champion of Champions before Christmas. Over fifty of the world's best male and female bowlers attended the competition in Christchurch, New Zealand. In the tense match at the Burnside Club, Julie triumphed 10-2, 6-8(2-1) on the final wood against Australia's Julie Keegan.
(19.12.06)
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Congratulations to Prep School Rugby Sevens Winners

Our congratulations go to prep schools St Olave's York (U13) and The Downs Bristol (U11) for winning the recent Rugby Sevens tournament held at Bryanston. Over 400 youngsters attended this year's annual tournament which saw Port Regis taking both the U13 and U11 runner up places. Well done to all those who took part.
(19.12.06)
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Annual charity fair raises over £7,000

This year we're hoping to raise around £30,000 to provide a sports ground and facilities for the thousands of slum and street children in Nepal by donating to The Child Welfare Scheme (www.childwelfarescheme.org), whilst still maintaining our support for the other charities. Thank you to all those who contributed to The Nepal Fair in November which raised a tremendous £7,000. Michael Jacobs, Chairman for the charity expressed his thanks and commented how "we very much value the relationship with Bryanston and the encouragement the pupils have given us." This year we will have to think up some new ideas to swell the coffers and reach our £30,000 target.
If any OB or parent has any fund-raising ideas, or would like to be involved in any way please contact Sarah Stacpoole at Bryanston: saes@bryanston.co.uk.
(29.11.06)
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Charity Kayaking Challenge

On Saturday, October 7th, a group of staff from Bryanston Common Room joined forces with Lord Phillips and Simon Bowes to take part in the Endeavour Kayak Challenge. This event has been running since 1966, its purpose being to raise funds through sponsorship for the charity Endeavour Training, of which Lord Phillips has recently been elected president. Endeavour Training is engaged in the establishment of youth development projects, assisting disadvantaged children and helping them to discover a purpose in life that might otherwise be denied to them, whether through neglect and abuse or through exclusion from mainstream education. Bryanston managed to raise a sum just short of £3,000 in support of this charity, earning an award for the highest sum donated by a newcomer to the event.. All those involved felt that it was a privilege to participate in a cause with such a laudable purpose.
(6.11.06)
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Science Centre Development 'Tops Out'

Local prep school heads joined Bryanston staff, pupils and Dean and Dyball representatives to celebrate the 'topping out' of the Sanger Centre for Science and Mathematics. The significant milestone in the building's construction process, was marked by our head boy and girl, raising the school flag. The tradition of the topping out ceremony marks an important milestone in the construction of a building bringing together all the parties involved.

Visitors to Bryanston enjoyed a tour around the new building, which will house the Science and Mathematics departments from September 2007. The classrooms will provide the necessary environment for developing the study of these popular subjects and provide a resource for local prep school visits.

Pictured is The Head: Sarah Thomas, Head Boy and Girl: Bryony Gardiner and Benjy Barkes and Dean and Dyball representatives: Kevin Valentine and Frank Newton.
(13.10.06)
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Girls hockey U18 County Winners

Great team spirit and excellent leadership by Emma Payne (Captain) and Sophie Farrington (Vice-captain) proved to be the wining combination at the Dorset County Championships. Unbeaten all afternoon, Bryanston girls went on to become county winners. A string of goals from Emily Crutcher, with great build up play by everyone and solid defence, meant that the team conceded just two goals all day. They go on to represent Dorset in the West of England tournament in November.
(13.10.06)
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Rugby XV go from strength to strength

Bryanston's recent match against Millfield proved that the team are going from strength to strength, losing only 3 games in the last 4 seasons. The final score saw them triumphant by 34-15.

The first 20 minutes were all Bryanston and the Millfield pack were rocked back by an aggressive Bryanston eight. A penalty from captain Henry Pyrgos opened the scoring before Bryanston scored a tremendous try. A line out was thrown long and ball off the top gave Guy Ridley, the fly half, time and space to put Miles Bosoni in for the first of his two tries. Bryanston led 28-10 at half time.

The third Bryanston try was scored by hooker Adam Bellamy. The other points were secured by the trusty boot of Pyrgos. Millfield scored straight after the second half began through skipper Ed Jackson to give the home side a timely reminder that Millfield still had some life in them. The boot of Pyrgos once more came to the fore and nursed Bryanston home. He finished with 5 penalties and two conversions for 14 valuable points. He and vice captain Archie Stead at 8 ran the game and were ably supported by prop Jon Vickers and centre Ben Williams. It was a great advert for schoolboy rugby and was certainly appreciated by the Academy managers watching on the sidelines.
(6.10.06)
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Art and Design Exhibition Success

The Study Gallery of Modern Art in Poole provided an innovative space in which to showcase Bryanston's recent AS Level Art and Design Exhibition. During the week long exhibition more than 500 visitors took the opportunity to view the pieces. Gallery Director, Jem Main, commented that "a number of visitors were shocked and surprised that young people could produce work to that standard; particularly in 3D design." Our thanks to the gallery and their staff for being such welcoming hosts.
(18.9.06)
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Good Schools Guide Award

The sustained quality of A Level teaching at Bryanston has been recognised by the Good Schools Guide who have awarded certificates to the School for the following results: the best results at AS Level achieved by boys taking Design/Technology and Product Design; the best results at A Level achieved by boys taking Art and Design (3D Studies) and the best results at AS Level achieved by girls taking Fine Art.
(21.8.06)
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2012 Olympic Games Fever at Bryanston

Over 4000 people visited Bryanston on Saturday 15th July to take part in the Dorset Youth Games and to run the Sport Relief Mile for charity. Olympian Sarah Ayton was on hand to present medals and start the fun mile. Bryanston was proud to play host to the games which promotes the positive benefits sport can give to those who participate in it, at whatever level.
(25.7.06)
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An opportunity to catch up

The weekend of 24th/25th June saw Bryanston playing host to over 200 Old Bryanstonians, their families and staff, with reunions from the years of 1986-1996, 1980 and 1974-1978.

We offered our visitors tours of the school and of their old boarding houses with current pupils being the guides. Amidst reminiscent stories of Et Nova, Et Vetera friendships were renewed and new connections made. Those who brought their children along were able to make use of our sporting facilities throughout the afternoon.

Saturday lunchtime saw the reunion for the Classes of 1986 and 1996, with a total of 175 sitting down for a BBQ lunch. Saturday evening was the turn of the girls of the Class of 1980, the first fully co-education year group. An excellent turn out of 22 from the 42 girls to work through the full five years at Bryanston says it all!

Neither the persistent rain nor the lure of the football could dampen the spirits of the 130 Old Bryanstonians and families for the reunion of the Classes of 1974-78 on Sunday lunchtime. All three reunions, although being quite different, contained the pervading atmosphere of great pleasure and excitement at being back at Bryanston and meeting old friends.
(5.7.06)
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Healthy School Award

Staff and pupils at Bryanston have been celebrating the recent acquisition of the coveted National Healthy Schools status; the first senior school in north Dorset to receive the validation.

Bryanston's Healthy School status was awarded following a validation visit from the Health Improvement Specialist for North Dorset Primary Care Trust, Fenella Barnes. She observed that "the commitment of all staff, teaching and non-teaching, to the development and general well-being of their pupils was clear. The young people I spoke to were delightful, and my special thanks to them." She also commended the school on how it "integrates itself well into the local community, participates in local health-related research, and hosts local education / community meetings."

Bryanston excelled in the four main areas; PSHE Curriculum, Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Emotional Health and Well Being.
(1.6.06)
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Marathon Canoeing

Devizes to Westminster 2006: One hundred and twenty five miles in four days, racing for up to seven hours each day. The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race is the greatest challenge faced to date for every junior crew. An excellent first day saw the Bryanston crews lying in 3rd and 7th places. These placings were retained for the next two days, although the time gap between crews remained extremely small. Low water levels on the Thames made the second and third days long and arduous, although light tail winds provided some respite on the long stretches. The fourth day - a 17 mile sprint from Teddington down to Westminster - finally got underway at six o’clock in the morning with a mass start at Teddington. Bryanston crews initially took the lead, dropping slightly behind the leading wash group as they paddled through Richmond. Once again, a relatively young squad looks forward towards next Easter, with plans for Junior Team success.

Final results:
4th place: Tom Kelley and Ed Brimfield
7th place: Nick Fisher Dodd and James Silcock

(3.5.06)
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Rugby

England under 18's Triumph!: Pupils Jack Steadman and Ben Williams played for England Under 18's against Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the Home Countries Four Nations winning all of their games and thus the championship. It was the first time that Wales had lost at this age group in 8 years. Ben scored one of the tries against Ireland. Both of the boys travel this weekend to France to play in the last International of the season against the French in Castres.

Old Bryanstonian Fraser Wilford played in the recent U19 Rugby World Cup for Scotland and they had their best finish ever of coming ninth.

Old Bryanstonians on Walkabout: Old boys Jack Helsby and Adrian Griffiths have been enjoying a GAP year in Australia and met up in Melbourne with the Australian Commonwealth Games rugby VII preparing for the competition. Jack and Adrian are pictured with Aussie test stars Lote Tuquiri and Matt Giteau. England went on to beat Australia so both Old Bryanstonians were rather pleased.
(26.4.06)
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Modern Language Study Visits

Spanish: A group of GCSE students, supported by three members of the Bryanston staff, enjoyed a week’s revision course in Salamanca during the holidays. They stayed in pairs with local Spanish families and spent part of each day at a language school at which native speakers delivered the entire course in Spanish. This experience was balanced with a trip to Segovia, a guided tour of Salamanca, an evening Tapas tour, a Salsa workshop, a film and a farewell dinner. Pupils’ confidence in Spanish increased dramatically ready for the challenge of their GCSE exam. The trip was declared a great success and it is hoped to repeat it next year.

German Exchange: During the first week of the Easter holidays Mrs Gillian Kohn accompanied a group of nine students for the 30th exchange visit to the Kaiserin-Friedrich-Gymnasium in Bad Homburg near Frankfurt. Two students are in the sixth form and were doing work experience in a publishing house and a newspaper office. Seven GCSE students stayed in their German partners' homes and accompanied them to school, as well as taking part in excursions to Bonn, Mainz and Frankfurt, where they visited Goethe’s and Beethoven's birthplaces, and an interesting modern museum. They also had time to hit the German shops and sample the local cuisine. It was a very positive experience for all and they have returned keen to show their knowledge in the oral examination this week.
(24.4.06)
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Chamber Music Finals

Bryanston musicians have reached the final of the National Chamber Music competition for the third successive year. The first round took place at St. Swithun’s School, Winchester. A record number of groups from Bryanston entered: Junior String Quartet, Oboe Quartet, Wind Quartet, Senior String Quartet and String Trio. The performances of all groups were commended and the String Trio (Katharine Littlemore, Emma Richards and Bryony Moody) went on to play in the semifinals, before being selected to play Dohnanyi's Serenade in the finals concert at St. John’s Smith Square which took place on 19th March. Their performance at this concert was outstanding
(22.3.06)
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Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius

Bryanston musicians joined forces with the local community last weekend in an uplifting performance of Edward Elgar's oratorio The Dream of Gerontius. Bryanston pupils provided the semi-chorus as well as half the main chorus of about 150 voices. The large orchestra was led by Christina Ball, Head of Strings, and provided an opportunity for a few of our most talented pupils to play alongside adult professionals. Andrew Carwood sang the part of Gerontius splendidly, with Suzanna Spicer and Michael Bundy taking the parts of the Angel, Priest and Angel of the Agony.
The chorus was lively as 'demons', calm as 'angelicals' and in turns reflective and confident as they commented on the narrative. The orchestra played with tremendous dynamic range and the combined forces gave the large audience in the school's Coade Hall an experience to treasure. The choirs were rehearsed and the performance was skilfully directed by Bryanston's Director of Music, Paul Searle-Barnes.
(15.3.06)
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Expeditions for Geography and Classics Students

Geography: Steve Richardson and Hil Daynes took a group of 15 Sixth-Formers to Morocco this half term and had a strenuous and challenging time. The group stayed at two centres. A whole day was spent in Marrakech, where the group was staying in the Medina - the old city of Marrakech - with visits to souks, tanneries and the Medersa ben Yusuff (a Quranic college of some architectural significance), as well as the Jemma el Fna - the World Heritage Site square which is the heart of the city. The second centre - the Kasbah du Toubkhal - was our base for both a trek over high passes and snow fields to an overnight stay in the village of Tinhourine, and a study of rural settlement in the rapidly changing village of Imlil.

Classics: 27 students and four intrepid staff set off for Naples airport on the Friday before half term and enjoyed a hugely successful trip around Southern Italy, staying in Sorrento but visiting Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Pompeii, Paestum, Solfatara, Amalfi and a few local markets too!
(23.2.06)
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Sporting Triumphs

Bryanston's rugby 1st XV has been named Team of the Month by Rugby World. Bryanston was in competition with ten other unbeaten sides for this award, which we finally won on the basis of victories over two of the country's strongest rugby-playing schools. Rugby World praised Bryanston for "playing with a fine mixture of pragmatism and flair" and for having lost just one game in the past two seasons and only three in three years.

Bryanston's hockey players are Dorset County champions at U18 and U16 level. This is the third consecutive year that the U18s have won the County Championship – an impressive record.
(3.2.06)
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Bryanston gains top place in recent value added tables

Bryanston was ranked top co-educational school in England in recent BBC value added tables and placed 4th overall.

The BBC tables are derived from figures published by the Department for Education and Skills, which show the value schools add to pupil performance from Key Stage 2 to GCSE. They take into account the different individual starting points and therefore allow comparisons to be made between schools with varying academic intakes. The BBC analysis removes schools with small numbers of candidates; in the full DFeS tables Bryanston is placed 2nd in the list of co-educational schools in England and 10th overall.

Individual attainment is a mainstay of Bryanston education and considerable attention is paid to ensuring that pupils achieve or exceed their potential. For some years the School has worked with the Education Department at Durham University to monitor the progress of its pupils. The schemes offered by Durham University have consistently shown substantial value added at both GCSE and A Level for pupils of all abilities. The Government's figures now confirm this. Not only do Bryanstonians regularly achieve top grades, they also do better than children of similar ability (as measured at Key Stage 2) elsewhere.
(27.1.06)
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