GCSE Music Students’ Concert

Inspiring and informative concert supports students’ learning.

On Monday 25th March, our Year 10 Music GCSE Students travelled to the Gordon Craig Theatre to watch a fantastic concert, conducted and led by Patrick Bailey. Patrick Bailey is a conductor, composer, arranger and presenter who conducts concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and many others. He has given concerts across Europe and in Dubai, India, Oman, China and the USA. As a composer, workshop leader and presenter, Patrick has led projects and written and presented concerts for BBC orchestras, BBC Proms, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Royal Opera House, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Music for Youth. He led an inspiring and informative session for us, which presented pieces from different musical periods, some minimalism as well as music composed for television. The pieces were performed by a small orchestra of professional musicians. As well as performances of the works, Patrick also explained the context of the pieces, and analysed them, illustrating his points with some cues being played by the musicians. The language he used to do this recapped some key vocabulary which is vital for our students in their listening and appraising exam. Furthermore, it was fantastic for us to see more unusual instruments such as the harpsichord in action, live. The afternoon concluded with Patrick leading a composition session in which he illustrated an approach to composing a whole piece for GCSE using just two 4-bar fragments of music. It was a very useful learning experience for students in order to help them with the composition element of the course, just prior to embarking upon their own composition coursework. This was a fantastic event organised by Hertfordshire Music Service and we were very pleased to be able to take part.

Mrs McKinnell

Savouring success in Food

Celebrating excellence in the Food room, students at Bishop’s showcased their creativity and skill through diverse cultural dishes, dairy delicacies, community engagement, and triumphant exam performances in the food department

At Bishop’s Hatfield, Food students embarked on a very creative and busy culinary journey this half term.

Year 9: Festival Food

In Year 9, students delved into the vibrant world of festival cuisine, drawing inspiration from cultures around the globe. With lessons on cultural food and food choice, they completed a project where they had the freedom to choose and prepare dishes reflective of various festivals. The results were nothing short of spectacular, with an array of curries, pies, homemade burgers, paella, stir-fries, and delectable cakes gracing the food room workstations. Each student demonstrated commendable independence, leaving us thoroughly impressed.

Year 10: Dairy Delights Meanwhile, Year 10 students dedicated their efforts to mastering the art of dairy, elevating their high level skills with Crème Patissière in fruit tarts and Crème Brulée. Through rigorous skill-building, they showcased remarkable growth and finesse in their creations. Their achievements were a testament to their dedication and enthusiasm for their GCSE Food course.

Community Engagement: Cooking with Oakview Primary School The spirit of collaboration and community outreach flourished as we welcomed Oakview Primary School into our food room. Together, we embarked on a cooking lesson to support their Year 6 South America project. It was a joyous occasion filled with shared laughter and learning new skills. This initiative not only created bonds between students but they also imparted valuable knowledge and cultural appreciation.

Year 11: A Triumph of Taste Last but certainly not least, the pinnacle of our endeavours this half term was the Year 11 food exams. With nerves high and aprons tied, our students rose to the occasion, showcasing their culinary prowess and creativity under pressure. Their dishes were extraordinary, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and unwavering passion for the subject. From exquisite mains to divine desserts, they left us in awe of their talents.

In conclusion, this half term has been a whirlwind of delights and achievements at Bishop’s. We extend our congratulations to all our students for their outstanding contributions and commendable efforts.

Year 9: Life in Nazi Germany

Year 9 Historians investigate the impact of the Nazi regime on society

As part of their study of Nazi Germany, Year 9 Historians have been investigating the impact of Nazism on different social groups. From 1933 to 1945, Hitler aimed to instigate a social revolution in Germany to create a society based on his ideology. Our Year 9 students have been undertaking historical research into the impact of these policies on women, young people, workers and the Catholic and Protestant Church. To develop their historical analysis skills, they were required to use a variety of resources, including contemporary accounts and propaganda to inform their own interpretations on the extent to which Nazi policy affected the different social groups. On completion, they presented their findings to each other during a marketplace event. The students enthusiastically engaged with independent research and it was great to see them so actively discussing their research, formulating their own judgements and engaging with a key historical debate.

Great work Year 9!

Year 8 History: Great Exhibition

Year 8 Historians reinterpret the Great Exhibition of 1851

Over the past couple of weeks, Year 8 have been developing their historical research skills in their study of the impact of the British Empire on the world. This work culminated in a reinterpretation of the Great Exhibition of 1851, where the students presented their findings on the effects of British colonialism and the legacy of empire. The students had to utilise a variety of historical skills and use a range of resources to create their own interpretations on British rule, and the results were exceptional! The students really enjoyed undertaking their own research and sharing their knowledge with each other and with staff. Their creative juices were flowing through a multitude of exhibition stands in which they showed the positives and negatives of the Empire, supported and challenged by researched sources and even by a few native culinary goodies for us to eat on a Friday afternoon! It was a pleasure to hear our students speak so confidently about their learning and to see their creative presentations. Well done Year 8!

 

 

Young MFL Leaders Programme Successful Second placement

Year 10 Modern Foreign Language Leaders visit local primary schools, giving French and German activity workshops to KS2 pupils

On Wednesday 20 March, sixty-two of our Year 10 MFL Leaders in four teams visited Oak View School and St Philip Howard School, giving French and German activity workshops to KS2 pupils. Young Leader initiatives have made a great impact on the teaching of young people over the last 20 years across many curriculum areas, using a sports team model. The BHGS Foreign Language Leader Programme hopes to engage a whole new group of young leaders through MFL. Building on their experiences during their first session in November, the Young Leaders planned, delivered and evaluated their learning activities for the Key Stage 2 pupils, with an eye to developing and demonstrating leadership skills through foreign language related tasks. The culmination of this year’s programme is the Languages Discovery Day for the Key Stage 2 pupils (hosted by our school on Tuesday 2nd June) in which the Year 10 pupils will play a leading role delivering a wide range of foreign languages and cultural experiences. There will be certificates and awards for Team Leadership and Initiative, which will be presented in July. Our students were, as ever, enthusiastic and brilliantly delivered their lessons to the younger pupils – they were also able to find out what life is like on the ‘other side’ of the whiteboard putting in an enormous effort preparing engaging materials! A big thank you to all involved, here at Bishop’s and at the primary schools to make this opportunity possible.

Industrial Cadets Detector Testers Visit

Industrial cadets started their series of twelve projects by a visit to Detector Testers and experienced the opportunities open to women scientists and engineers

On Monday the 11th of March, we travelled to Detector Testers (a manufacturer of detector testing products) and experienced a day in the life of an engineer, as well as celebrated International women’s day.

To kick off our day, we were welcomed into a meeting room where we discussed travel, the economic state of travelling and talked about the GCSE subjects that the members of staff had taken to become engineers and how Women in Engineering are the future.

After our meeting, we went onto our next adventure of the day, seeing their product in action. The product itself was a Smoke Alarm Tester called ‘Testifire’. The aim of this product is to make sure alarms are ready and set for comfort and safety. Their main customers are usually companies, families and workers in the fire alarm industry.

Not only did we see the final product but we also got to see how the products were made behind the scenes from the initial idea through to the prototypes and testing. The different stages to create the tester were: a) Designing (all done on a computer!). b) Prototypes (3D printed to perfection to check sizing) c) Testing (using the prototypes to test that the initial idea works) d) Selling (producing mass products and selling worldwide)

Being able to see behind the scenes made us realise how much engineers put in in order to get the final product that is a simple click away. It was mind-blowing to find out how many different jobs are needed to create one project. We had a go at being Engineers by building structures made of splints and straws to hold eggs and weights. The staff helped us along the way, giving us helpful tips and support talks throughout our building process.

Looking back on the day, we learnt that months of planning and work go into one engineering idea and it is a variety of different people with many talents in all aspects of engineering who turn the idea into reality. Overall, the day gave us a glimpse of the engineering world and whether this is our dream career. Either way, we found it very useful to understand what engineers actually do and how they go about it. We thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to Mrs Higgins and Dr Lota for organising this visit.

Amara C (9Au)

 

The Industrial Cadet scheme is an industry-led initiative aiming to provide young people with employer connections and experiences in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Students build portfolios to showcase experiences and acquired skills, celebrating progression and fostering the confidence to succeed. https://www.etrust.org.uk/industrial-cadets

Speed Interviewing

Year 12 experience Speed Interviewing during Bishop’s Mock Interview events

In line with Bishop’s 360, our school like to develop the whole person and in the Careers area, we look at all the skills required to develop our pupils’ futures – and one of them is getting “the job”! A key aspect to achieve this is the dreaded interview. Therefore, for the second year running, our Year 12s were put through their paces by a panel of interviewers across two mornings at a fast paced Mock Interview event. The feelings among the pupils on the day was a mix of nervous excitement – as for many it was the first time they had been interviewed. Our Mock interviewers were all from different sectors: Banking, IT, Finance, Law, Media, Leisure, Accountancy. They were all very experienced and keen to test our sixth formers. Each pupil was given two or three interviews each – so there was a chance to improve any techniques or answers. The volunteer companies were worked hard; not a minute to look up before another candidate arrived to interview! Despite a pressurised environment the interviewers were full of praise for our interviewees. Quotes such as “very confident”, “explained themselves well” and “great skills” were mentioned. Our pupils even commented that they had enjoyed it… eventually! This event follows up our Mock Assessment centre and looks to give all Year 12s an opportunity to try out being interviewed and reflect on “what went well” and “even better if”. Some of our pupils even secured their Work Experience placements – that’s networking for you!

Thanks goes to all our businesses that supported our event: Computacenter, PayPoint, Crane and Staples, Barclays Bank, The Crown Estate, Bourne Leisure, Penguin Random House publishers, Roche, University of Hertfordshire and MJL Pharmaceutical Advertising.

Professionals from our alumni community are always welcome to help us inspire and guide our students in their career journey. If you feel you can help, please get in touch via our Alumni Hub or email jhiggins@bishophatfield.herts.sch.uk. If you are a former pupil of our school and have not registered with our alumni network yet, please scan the QR code below or visit : https://bishophatfield.herts.sch.uk/alumni/ Our alumni network could help make a difference in your career too (and it is a great way to catch up with friends you have lost touch with)!

Year 9 Visit to the Warner Bros Studios

Magical day for Year 9 students

Year 9 students embarked on a journey through the wizarding world of Harry Potter this week, blending entertainment with learning in a way that left an indelible mark on them all. The adventure began with a costume characterization workshop, where students had the opportunity to delve into the intricate details of costume design and its role in bringing characters to life on screen. From the iconic robe of Voldemort to the Christmas party dress of Luna Lovegood, students were captivated by the artistry and attention to detail involved in crafting each piece and were then able to have a go at creating their own character costume design. Students gained invaluable insights into the intricacies of filmmaking, learning about the technical aspects of cinematography and special effects, and gaining a newfound appreciation for the craftsmanship and ingenuity required to bring a cinematic masterpiece to life. We then took a tour of the studios and were able to view many of the preserved sets in real life, before mounting broomsticks and riding the Hogwarts Express! Naturally, a day immersed in Harry Potter’s world would not be complete without a butterbeer, and many of our students decided to sample the delights of the drink or the flavoured ice cream. Overall, our visits to Warner Bros Studios were a resounding success, offering students a unique blend of entertainment and education that left a lasting impression.

Bringing Leftovers to Life

A British Council collaborative project with schools all across Europe

The idea is simple: no-one likes eating the same food for days running. Have your parents ever made too much dinner, and you’re eating it for the next week?!…

As a group of three schools: Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School in the UK, ZDZ K. K.Baczyńskiego in Poland and Cross and Passion College in Northern Ireland decided to design a campaign to encourage reusing food waste and food scraps for our collaborative project ‘Stronger together for social action’. We researched the types of foods that tend to be left over the most, which include pasta, salads, milk, boiled potatoes, bread, fruits, eggs, and roast vegetables. Therefore, we started thinking about how to change leftovers – for the better! We are excited about making a positive impact in our school communities, as well as the wider community in our three countries.

The three schools have decided to work together to create an e-recipe book of recipes for leftover and scrap food. The collaborative recipe book will offer lots of interesting recipes that give a fantastic opportunity to share some of the unique and traditional cultural differences between our three countries. Our recipe book will hopefully be available to all online where we hope to create a contest for the best recipe. We plan to film the preparation and cooking of the recipes with the biggest number of likes in each school. The Polish school, as they have English language classes for Hospitality and Catering Services, will add the book and films to its curriculum as obligatory to watch and prepare during their language and practical lessons.

Our e-book will be active and open to add any new recipes anytime anywhere. But apart from that we would also like to create an acrostic poem that will stand for ‘Bringing Leftovers to Life’ through an online platform that will be available to everyone. This is a creative, fun, collaborative but also a challenging way for students to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas about the subject and for Polish students to learn the language as well. As it was stated at the beginning we tend to get something with one ear and let it out with the other. With this acrostic poem we hope the whole idea will stay in our heads for longer. The two English speaking schools can challenge themselves to write a poem in Polish as well!

We pitched our ideas to the British Council, along with 30 other schools all across Europe and are excited about working together to inspire others to care about food. Someone takes their time to make our food, right? So it is only correct that we use it wisely.