News and events
What's happening in DASP?
Piddle Valley Children re-make a TV Classic!
In the Spring Term, children at Piddle Valley First working with Jo Neale and Assistant Headteacher Cath Rothman created an animation based on the classic TV show, Mr Benn.
Wanting to show off their work, but not wanting to infringe copyright, Jo contacted David McKee, the creator of Mr Benn, to ask if the animation could go onto this website. He very kindly replied '"I wish you lots of viewers. Apparently there are already various things on the internet or whatever that I've never seen (I don't use a computer, email, internet etc etc.) Thank you for asking me......I would love to see your students/pupils work.
Thanks again, David McKee."
We are therefore delighted to show this excellent work, inspired by the wonderful original creation of Mr McKee.
Mrs Rothman said "We had such fun making this film and perhaps more importantly the children went on to write some terrific 'Mr Benn' stories of their own."
Thomas Hardye School 2012 A level results better than national average.
The Thomas Hardye School celebrated another record year for A Level results. The pass rate of 99% exceeded last year with almost one third of the results achieved at A*/A. The average point score per entry was 231 points and the average point score per student 860 points, equivalent to three grade A’s!
Mike Foley, Headteacher, was delighted with the outcome: “These are outstanding results by any comparison and congratulations are due to students and their teachers for all that they have achieved. The young people who received their results today should feel justifiably proud and it is worth pointing out that this generation have taken more tests and examinations in their school careers than any other.”
The vast majority of students achieved a place at their first choice of university including the large cohort with offers for Oxford and Cambridge. As usual there were some outstanding individual performances:
Tom Brind |
3 passes at A* and one at grade A |
The outstanding set of A Level results follows on from the record IB results published in May when students achieved a 100% pass rate and an average score of 33 points. As the majority of the school's sixth form have come through the schools of the Dorchester Partnership, the whole of DASP can take great pride in these results.
Cerne Abbas First make the biggest Torch yet!
On Monday May 28th, Cerne Abbas First School pupils braved the heat to trek up the hill to celebrate the coming Olympics in a unique way. Wearing red and orange clothes and carrying flame like banners, they assembled on the famous chalk giant to create a torch effect. Originally planned for February, as part of the DASP Olympic Torch Project, the school decided to postpone until the dryer weather.
Thanks to a parent at the school a flyover was arranged to get the aerial shots that truly show the scale of the venture. Children and adults were organised by Jane Still, presently teaching at the Thomas Hardye School and whose husband Jonathan is the vicar of St Mary’s Church in Cerne. Her careful planning ensured that the correct look was obtained. Cerne Abbas Headteacher, Helen Williams was delighted with the effect and says the children will never forget this experience. It also made for a special celebration, as it was her Birthday!
DASP Head leads Teacher visit to India
Peter Farrington, Headteacher at The Prince of Wales First School in Dorchester cannot resist the lure of India. He has recently been in India leading a group of 7 teachers on an educational study visit to Bangalore. To read about this exciting trip you can follow his Blog on the school's website (www.princeofwales.dorset.sch.uk) or at http://powbangaloreblog.blogspot.co.uk/ He would love it if you could send him some questions or make comments about the photos he is posting. (Google Account required).
Dorchester Schools Make Science Fun for the Family
The Middle Schools of the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership, in association with the Thomas Hardye School ran another one of their successful Family Fun Science Days on Saturday 21st January.2012 Children came along to Dorchester Middle School with their parents, to take part in activities that showed the fun side of science. From Maths balloons to seeing how far a can of soup rolls compared to a tin of cat food (the answer being that the cat food tin rolls further, as its contents are more solid). Teachers from all four schools were there to show the breadth of science in education in the Dorchester area.
A particularly popular workshop was the’ CSI’ room, where budding Sherlocks could examine the forensic evidence of a ‘crime’. In addition, a perennial favourite is the Mini Beasts workshop, which always proves popular with the youngest visitors. During the course of the afternoon, more than 177 students registered, with an average age of about 8. Eleven of these were third timers at these events and will be awarded their British Science Association Star or Superstar Investigator Award.
These Fun Days would not be possible without the support we get from STEM Ambassadors – scientists and engineers from Universities and industry who work with our students. Dr Genoveva Esteban, STEM Ambassador representing a team from Bournemouth University said ” It has been great to have the opportunity to observe the school’s pond under the microscope and to show it to children and their families. I hope some children will become scientists in the future!” The schools were also grateful to Dr Andrea Galotti from Queen Mary University of London, for providing support.
And Bubblz the maths clown (www.bubblzmaths.co.uk) said “There were record levels of enthusiasm and some GREAT mathematical thinking. I had a wonderful day” - - she used more than 400 balloons – a personal record!!
The experience was great for those helping as well. Eleanor (Year 7 from DMS) was helping with the “Be seen, be safe” activity where visitors were invited to design a reflective safety vest “I really enjoyed looking after the children and helping! I would definitely do this next year, thank you!!”
Phil Lane, Head of Science at Dorchester Middle said “We love seeing children and their parents working together here at these fun days. However, just as important is that when they leave one of these events they take science home with them and continue that partnership begun here”.
Sport in DASP
We have added a new link to the side bar to access information on Sport in DASP. Do have a look to see what Levi Dailey, our new Sports Co-ordinator for DASP is achieving.
The DASP Olympic Torch
DASP Schools have been involved in their own Olympic Project, passing a torch from school to school. Each school is coming up with imaginative ways to carry the torch, from fire engines to horse drawn carriages. Whole schools are turning out to cheer the torch on and its certain these children will never forget Olympic year.
The Thomas Hardye School Student Voice have been visiting all schools as part of the Project. They work with children on Olympics related lessons.
To see photos and video of the handovers see our Olympic Torch Page.
A coach provided by the Allum family, brings the torch from Broadmayne to Frome Valley.
‘Wow’ Days get the year off to a great start…
Children at Manor Park have given their own direction to learning last Autumn term, through ‘Wow Days’ and ‘Hot Questions’.
In Key Stage One, Year One had a visit from a mysterious giant who left clues as to his identity. This was used as a stimulus to start the topic 'Marvellous Me.' Later this term Reception are planning WOW sessions to begin their topic 'If you go down to the woods today,' which include a visit to the woods and a visit to school by some owls.
In Year Two the children enjoyed starting their first mini topic ‘Toy Story’ by bringing in toys that were special to them and using them to generate their own questions. In the next few weeks we are looking forward to starting this terms main topic ‘Adventures on the High Seas’. This will be launched with our ‘WOW Day’, where the children will come to school dressed as pirates for a day of pirate fun!
In Years Three and Four, the hall became a place for inspiration and enthusiasm, as they examined Celtic artefacts, photographs, representations and a short film clip about Maiden Castle and Chesil Beach. Having been trained in the art of asking ‘hot questions’, they thought showered all of the questions about Celts and Maiden Castle they wanted answers to.
The questions have given a great basis for cross-curricular planning and the children have responded brilliantly!
Manor Park would like to say ‘Thank you’ to the Prince of Wales First School for allowing us to visit their roundhouse and enabling us to answer some of the many questions posed.
Michaela Rowe
Manor Park First School
DASP Middle Schools Orchestra at Corn Exchange
The Middle Schools Orchestra joined forces with the Durnovaria Silver Band for a Concert of Film Music at the Corn Exchange on Friday 17th June.
Proceeds went towards a fund to enable subsidised membership of the groups.
DASP Music Newsletter
A brand new music newsletter is available to download from this website. It has details of coming music events and reports of all the great musical activities happening in DASP. Go to the Music section or download the newsletter from here.
Dorchester Gifted and Talented Spring Writing Competition - The Winners
A special awards ceremony was held at Maiden Castle Farm, Dorchester on Tuesday 3rd May, 2011 for three pupils who won a very special competition.
The competition which was arranged by the DASP (Dorchester Area School Partnership) Gifted and Talented Co-ordinators Group was open to all pupils in Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 throughout Dorchester. Pupils were encouraged to write a poem on the theme of Spring with each Key Stage having a different visual stimulus.
The winning pupils Ella (Key Stage 1 winner from Milborne St. Andrew First School), Madeline (Key Stage 2 winner from St. Mary’s Middle School) and Alex (Key Stage 3 winner also from St. Mary’s Middle School). All visited the farm to receive their winners certificate and meet the newborn lambs.
Chair of the DASP Gifted and Talented Co-ordinators Group, Gary Spracklen, explained how, "as a group we wanted to engage all our learners across the partnership in a competition that would inspire writing. We were delighted by the response from pupils and were very impressed with the quality of the poetry". The difficult job of selecting the winning poem in each category was given to Year 13 pupils at The Thomas Hardye Sixth Form. Gary explains how, "having pupils from Thomas Hardye Sixth Form involved in the judging shows how this competition has involved pupils at every level and highlights the strong links we have as a partnership".
The DASP Gifted and Talented Co-ordinators Group would like to thank all pupils who took part in the competition and the Hoskins family of Maiden Castle Farm for hosting the special awards ceremony.
A full list of finalists:
Winner of each Key Stage highlighted in bold.
KS1 Finalists:
Ella |
Year 2 | Milborne St. Andrew First School |
| Emiliea | Year 2 | Damers First School |
| Indira | Year 1 | Damers First School |
| Lucy | Year 2 | Sunninghill Prep |
| Phoebe | Year 1 | Damers First School |
KS2 Finalists:
| Madeline | Year 5 | St. Mary’s Middle School |
| Samuel | Year 4 | Broadmayne First School |
| Kiera | Year 6 | Dorchester Middle School |
| Georgia | Year 3 | Sunninghill Prep |
| Alice | Year 4 | Manor Park First School |
KS3 Finalists:
| Alex | Year 8 | St. Mary’s Middle School |
| Kate | Year 8 | St. Mary’s Middle School |
| Georgia | Year 8 | St. Mary’s Middle School |
| Katie | Year 8 | St. Mary’s Middle School |
| Lottie | Year 8 | St. Mary’s Middle School |
BBC Olympic Dreams Project Sporting Challenge
As we count down to the Olympics, Thomas Hardye and its link school in India, The Doon School are competing in sporting challenges - at a distance! As one school completes a challenge it sends a video to the other, who then take on that challenge. These can be seen at this website. Click on the link below.
Thomas Hardye/Doon Sporting Challenge
Weymouth Music Festival
On Saturday the 5th of March the Weymouth Music Festival was held at Wey Valley School. Many musicians, instrumental groups, bands and ensembles entered this exciting event. After a few events, it was my turn as a violin player in the DASP Middle Schools Orchestra, conducted by Johanna Wolff.
We played Dr. Who and Thus Spake Zarathustra. These both went well and we were given postitive feedback from the adjudicator. He also told us some good pointers for improving our playing.
We were very happy to be invited to play in the concert; enabling us to hear many of the other acts that had taken part. There was an amazing variety of talent so it would be hard to say what my favourite was, as they all did really well. I was very pleased to have had the opportunity to have taken part in it.
Eilish
See more accounts at:
http://www.dasp.org.uk/daspmusic.htm
Two DASP First Schools are judged Outstanding by OfSTED.
March 2011: Cerne Abbas First and Winterbourne Valley First School have both been judged Outstanding in their recent Oftsed Inspections. Congratulations to Helen Williams (Headteacher Cerne Abbas) and Rachel Horne (Headteacher Winterbourne Valley) and their staffs for this excellent achievement.
John Nash, Director of Children's Services for Dorset, talking about the Winterbourne Valley inspection said 'I was delighted to see that the school achieved an 'Outstanding' grading, and congratulate the Headteacher and whole school community on this excellent and well deserved result. In fact I have never seen such a remarkable report before.' In fact, OFSTED judged the school to be outstanding in all 31 categories – an outcome not achieved by any other First school in Dorset under the latest OFSTED framework.
The Winterbourne Valley report states ‘pupils’ achievement is outstanding and they make excellent progress so that by the time they leave Year 4, their attainment is high in English, mathematics and science. Evidence from lessons, pupils’ work and displays around the school shows that attainment in information and communication technology, art and design, geography, history and music is significantly above expectations for nine-year-olds. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities make outstanding progress because of high-quality individualised support. Pupils are very successful in using their literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology skills in other subjects, especially in science, geography and history.’
The report also says that pupils' academic and personal development benefits enormously from the significant work of the Dorset Area Schools Partnership (DASP) in promoting, within the pyramid, high-quality learning from five to 16.
Prince of Wales First launch iPhone app
The Prince of Wales First School, Dorchester has become one of the first primary schools in the country to launch an iPhone App for parents and carers. The iPhone App was developed by the school’s ICT co-ordinator, Gary Spracklen, who says "The iPhone App has been developed in consultation with parents and carers and is intended to continue to support the strong communication links between home and school". The iPhone App offers parents, carers and members of the wider school community a powerful tool for keeping track of news and events from the Prince of Wales First School. Gary adds "Our parents and carers like to have a choice in how they access information, the iPhone App is an excellent development which supports the wide choice of communication channels already used by the school".
The iPhone App, allows users to view a school calendar and keep up to date with term times. Parent and Curriculum Governor for I.C.T, Katie Gallego, explains how, "Having this sort of information in the palm of your hand is invaluable as a parent". In addition to a school calendar, a ‘news section’ also provides a useful reference point for parents with information relating to each class. The iPhone App also has a built in feature which allows users to contact the school office. The school is already seeking to support other mobile devices.
The iPhone App, available now through iTunes, will be officially launched at the school’s Parent I.C.T Evening on Monday 8th November, 17:15-20:00. This event will allow parents, carers and members of the wider school community to explore the technology pupils use everyday to support their learning across the curriculum.
Puddletown First School gains Green Flag “Eco-Schools” award
September 2010: Pupils at Puddletown First School are rightly proud of the big green flag now flying in their playground. It was awarded to the school as a result of its “Eco-Schools” activities.
Children are the driving force behind the environmental improvements. The School Council lead an “eco-committee”. They have helped carry out an environmental audit of the school’s activities and resources and decide which environmental issues need to be addressed.
One of the developments over the last two years has been the design and planting of a nature area, “Butterfly Bus-stop”, with a wildlife pond, log pile and insect-attracting shrubs and flowers. The area is a valuable resource for lessons and the older children can also attend a lunchtime Nature Club.
Younger children at the school work hard during the spring and summer tending their raised fruit and vegetable beds. They are especially proud this year of their bumper crop of strawberries.
By maximising the use of the limited outdoor area, the school has also been awarded Natural England’s “Big Wildlife Garden Gold Award”.
A Stunning 91% 5 A* - C GCSE Pass Rate for The Thomas Hardye School
The Thomas Hardye School has achieved a 91% pass rate of five or more A* - C in the GCSE examinations. 413 out of 453 students gained these remarkable results and 79% achieved 5 A* - C including English and Mathematics, an increase of 1% on last year’s record score.
Mathematics and English lead the way with Mathematics gaining 130 of the top A*/A grades and English 132.
90% of the students gained the key GSCE in English – a wonderful performance.
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, French and Design Technology also gained a substantial number of A*/A grades and very high pass rates. The school’s creative students also performed exceptionally well with 94% in Art and Design.
28% of all grades were A*/A.
As ever the school is keen to stress the depth and quality of its results. As the school for all students in Dorchester and the surrounding area these results indicate its success in achieving the best for every student in its care.
DASP Prom Concert 2010
On 3rd July 2010, the DASP Prom Concert was held again, in the Marquee in the grounds of Thomas Hardye. With the usual excellent variety of music and rousing finale, the show was a huge success. A number of people have suggested it was the best yet and a fine way for retiring DASP Music Adviser, Liz Adams, to 'leave the stage'.
As usual, the Concert was also the chance to present the annual DASP Citizen awards. These are given to children who make an outstanding contribution to the life of their school and is voted for by the children. Our photo shows Co DASP Director, Peter Farrington, with the winners.
Winterbourne Valley Maths Cafe
Winterbourne Valley First school recently ran a Maths Cafe. The children organised tea, cakes and scones and parents were invited to come along. Through the practical matter of preparing bills and taking payment, the children could practice their maths skills. As you can see from our photo, the school were very lucky with the weather and were able to run the cafe outdoors.
Sports Leaders at St Marys
In June, working with the West Dorset School Sports Partnership, St Mary's Middle School provided a venue and Sports Leaders for a day with First School children. They took the younger children through a range of sporting activities. Showing great maturity, this was a terrific experience for them and their younger participants.
Prince of Wales First win SWGFL Competition
Year 2 pupils from The Prince of Wales First School, Dorchester have won a prestigious e-safety competition. The competition was organised by SWGfL (South West Grid for Learning) and was open to all school’s in the south-west of England. The aim of the competition was to emphasize the importance of E-Safety and to encourage pupils to make E-Safety messages and deliver them in a way that would make a difference to the attitude of others.
Gary Spracklen (School ICT Co-ordinator), explains how pupils at The Prince of Wales First School created their entry, “As a Year 2 class we thoroughly enjoyed making our e-safety video and engaged in the design process using Merlin, our school’s VLE (virtual learning enviroment). Children began the process by accessing a range of relevant e-safety websites through our class page. The children then used a discussion board to share their thoughts and ideas of how we could communicate an e-safety message to children in a 30-second TV commercial”. Barbara Thomas, (Teaching Assistant), who also worked with the children in creating the entry, shared how, “The children were very keen to link in the Rights of the Child and therefore also considered their responsibilities when considering e-safety”.
Beatha and Lauren both in Year 2, explain how they came up with the SAFE internet ‘surfer’ theme. Beatha told us how she, “knew people use the word “surfing” for two fun actvities now, so she put the two together to create the idea of SAFE surfing”. Lauren explains how following their idea, the two girls enlisted the help of their classmates, “we asked everyone to bring in a bodyboard and we made a wave in our school hall using PE equipment and bits of blue and white fabric”.
The children who enlisted the help of Year 4 pupils, Lauren and Emerald to record their entry, now have an exciting day’s radio broadcasting to look forward to with Cylde Broadcasting. In addition to their main prize the school have also won a prize pack including a digital camera, flip video camera, digital photo frame, and much more.
See their video at: