Artificial flowers make a big show at RHS Harlow Carr

RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate are currently displaying plasticine flowers designed and made by children at The Froebelian School in Horsforth, Leeds.  The project, inspired by James May’s plasticine flowers which proved to be a highlight of the Chelsea Flower Show, formed part of the children’s ‘Art Week’ celebrations. 

Pupils aged 3-11 throughout the school thoroughly enjoyed using their skills and talents to create beautiful flowers which were then displayed on trellises and exhibited during The Froebelian School’s Festival Week earlier in the year.

Each class, led by Mrs Hayfield, the Art Co-ordinator, and assisted by a host of enthusiastic mums and dads, produced different types of flowers such as poppies, roses and lilies.  Some of the children even made creepy crawlies to accompany their displays so they had the look and feel of a real live garden.

Why did Brown fail?  Perhaps our school children know the answer!

Children attending the Froebelian School in Horsforth have put their political thinking caps on to produce a “Children’s Manifesto” which they sent to the leaders of the three main political parties.

Having discussed their ideas and concerns, the children in Years 5 and 6 expressed their views and put together a detailed document outlining their main concerns so that they could lay the foundations for future generations.  The manifesto was then sent to Messrs Brown, Cameron and Clegg.

The pupils advised each leader that they hoped they would consider their thoughts and opinions of children like them when making important decisions if they were to form the next government.

Their key messages were:

·         Social issues such as personal safety, more police on the streets and zero tolerance for anti-social behaviour

·         Security of our country; in particular the fighting in Afghanistan and the possible retaliation by terrorists against our country.  We would like the defence system to protect our country

·         Our parent’s lifestyle and how it will change because of increased taxes and VAT ie £1.20 for a litre of petrol is unacceptable because 75p of this is tax

·         Job opportunities – we work hard at school and hope one day to go to University.  We are worried that there will be no decent jobs and that the skills we have acquired will be wasted

·         Healthcare – we would like the next government to make the NHS more efficient so that we can see our doctors as soon as we need them.  We are particularly concerned about healthcare for elderly people

The children received an e-mail response from Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats thanking them for sending him their manifesto and a letter on behalf of David Cameron.

Nick Clegg said – “I am always pleased to see young people taking an interest in their local community and the issues that affect them.  I agree that it is very important that people feel safe in their neighbourhoods and I would also like to see more police on the streets to try and reduce antisocial behaviour. I hope that the war in Afghanistan will soon be concluded and that by tackling terrorism fairly, we won’t be faced with terrorist attacks.

I understand your concerns about money and job opportunities.  I do not want to cut jobs and I hope that by the time you come to look for a job Britain will be out of the recession.  Regarding the NHS I propose a cut in the bureaucracy and managerial staff and an increase in practising doctors and nurses, which would make appointments more readily available and reduce waiting lists.”

Ian Pendlington of the Conservatives wrote – “I am writing on behalf of David Cameron to thank you for your letter and for the copy of your Children’s Manifesto.  I know David will very much appreciate your taking the time and trouble to send in your ideas and suggestions, which I will ensure are passed on.”

Sadly, there was no reply from Gordon Brown.  Perhaps in retrospect he should have taken more notice!

Wendy Staniland, Deputy Headteacher added – “As the election campaign developed, Year 6 became increasingly interested in and excited by the political discussions and even persuaded their parents to let them watch the debate.  The election fever even hit their Lego town of ‘New Barnsley’ (pictured).  The final result of a hung parliament had us all on the edge of our seats and even managed to interrupt our practice for the school production!”

Froebelian pupil wins National Schools’ Squash Tournament

Local boy, Ben Merchant who attends The Froebelian School in Horsforth, has won a national schools’ Squash Tournament which was held in Ipswich. In its forty second year, the competition, organised by the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS) saw 24 children from around the UK pit their wits and skills against each other in what proved to be a very exciting tournament.

Representing the Froebelian School in the U11 draw, Ben, who is only 10 and in Year 5, won the final convincingly with scores of 9-6, 9.-0 and 9-5. After learning to play squash with his Dad two summers ago, Ben has been taking weekly lessons at Chapel Allerton Squash Club.  Ben entered his first tournament in 2009 and is now so committed that he trains three times a week.  Since September 2009, Ben has won three tournaments, has become the Yorkshire U11 champion and has been selected to train with the North East of England team. Ben was presented with his cup by Stephen Meads, Squash Professional and Coach at Wellington College and Hong Kong’s National Coach and Former World Number 11.

John Tranmer, Headmaster of the Froebelian School and Chairman of the IAPS, which represents over 500 schools nationally, said – “Ben deserves great praise for his excellent squash playing; a combination of natural talent and many hours of dedicated practice.  He is a credit to his parents, our school and above all, to himself.”

Dramatic Due are Tops!

Yasmin and Marc Smith, pupils at The Froebelian School in Horsforth, have had a dramatic time recently competing in local Yorkshire Festivals.

Marc, aged 7, won first place in the poetry class for 8 years and under at the popular Skipton Festival and was also awarded first place during The Froebelian School’s own festival.  He will be presented with his trophy on Speech Night, taking place at Yeadon Town Hall on the 9^th July, and he is the only pupil in the history of the school to win this award two years in a row!

In the prestigious Horsforth Festival, both Yasmin and Marc were equally well rewarded for their performances.  Yasmin was placed 4^th and 3^rd in the poetry and prose classes for 9 years and Marc was placed 2^nd in both the poetry and prose classes for 7 years.

Although only 9 and 7 respectively, they performed an extract from “Peter Pan” in the duologue class for 12 years and under, where they came 1^st.  In addition to their medals for 1^st place, they won “The Nicola and Rochelle Gordon Trophy” for Junior Duologue.  By an amazing coincidence, the first person to win the trophy was Emma Gordon, Yasmin and Marc’s Aunt who helped the duo to prepare for their Horsforth classes.

Yasmin and Marc said – “We have really enjoyed competing in our first Horsforth Festival and we are looking forward to many more.”

Froebelian win the double!

The netball team at The Froebelian School, based in Horsforth, have excelled in their chosen sport to such an extent that they recently won two netball tournaments within as many days.  On Wednesday 3^rd March the netball team were winners of the Gateways Schools Invitation Tournament and on the 4^th March they were victorious again in the Fulneck Invitation Tournament.

Competing in the Gateways Tournament, the School’s netballers enjoyed conspicuous success where the teams played a round robin. The “A” team won all five games to be crowned victors; whereas the “B” team won one game and were closely defeated in the other four matches. 

A further tournament took them to Fulneck where the “A” team won both games in their group stage and the “B” team won one out of their two matches which meant they met each other in the semi-final.  This was a well contested game where unsurprisingly the “A” team won.  The School’s “A” team then went on to beat Hipperholme in the final to be crowned tournament winners.

Success for Froebelian at Skipton Festival

The Froebelian School, based in Horsforth, one of Airedale’s finest independent schools, is proud to announce that many of its talented thespians have been highly successful at the Skipton Festival. 

The children competed in seven of the classes namely; Acted Scene, Solo Drama, Prose Reading, Verse Speaking, Choral Speaking, Bible Reading and Comic Verse.  Froebelian pupils swept the board taking first, second and third places in all categories except for Verse Speaking where they came second.

The whole of Year 6 took part collectively in the Choral Speaking class and their wonderfully entertaining rendition of “Ernie” deservedly won them the cup.  The School is also very proud of Marc Smith who won the U8 Verse Speaking medal.

At the Saturday night concert the Froebelian School’s young performers of “Ernie” were awarded the Sorottimist trophy as the outstanding performance overall.

Lorraine Taylor-Parker, Speech and Drama Teacher said – “The Froebelian School recognises the value of drama in the curriculum.  All the children enjoy devising and performing their selected pieces.”

Froebelian celebrates “World Book Day” with

visit from local author

Children in School celebrated “World Book Day” in an extra special way this year.  Local man George Peter Algar, author of “The Shepherd Lord” visited the School to explain the story and to read extracts to Years 5 and 6.

“The Shepherd Lord” portrays an enthralling but largely forgotten episode from medieval English history which has been researched and brought to life from the shadows of two dusty poems; the Shepherd Lord of Skipton Castle, a work by William Wordsworth and The Nut-Brown Maid.  Set in the 15^th Century against the backdrop of the War of the Roses, it is the story of Henry Clifford, the aristocrat who was raised as a shepherd for his own safety.

An amateur historian and descendant of the Bolling family , George Peter Algar has written the story in his own unequivocal style; with narration and dialect. 

Written from the perspective of a father-son relationship, the book takes a refreshing approach to telling the story of a rich feudal history set in Yorkshire at the time of the War of the Roses.

The children sat engrossed in the tale that was being told and were fascinated at meeting a real live author here! 

World Book Day was nominated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.  Although the UK and Ireland celebrate on the 4^th March; most other countries hold World Book Day on 23^rd April.  The origins of the day we now celebrate come from Catalonia where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St George’s Day – a tradition established over 80 years ago. 

The Froebelian School gains top marks

in entrance exams

The Froebelian School, based in Horsforth, Leeds is proud to announce that its Year 6 pupils have done exceptionally well in the recent 11+ entrance exams to a number of the regions top independent schools.

One pupil, Emma Peacock, gained the highest mark in the entrance exams at Bradford Grammar School.  This result is not only a testament to the hard work Emma has put into her schooling but is also a wonderful endorsement for Froebelian.

Every pupil within Year 6 has achieved the offer of a place at their chosen school providing Froebelian yet again with a 100% success rate.

John Tranmer, Head of the Froebelian School said – “Despite the continued economic difficulties, I know from talking to high school colleagues that demand for places at selective independent schools has remained strong. This reflects our experience at the younger phase where there are still plenty of parents keen to place their children in top, fee-paying prep schools.  I think the difficult times have meant that parents think very carefully about the future for their children and for some it is not “can I afford the best?” rather “can I afford not to invest in the best?”  In celebration of their achievements, the pupils were presented with a newly designed school tie which details each pupil’s name in their form; a fitting keepsake for the time the children have spent here at Froebelian.”

When the summer term comes to a close, the pupils at Froebelian will go their separate ways to schools including The Grammar School at Leeds, Bradford Grammar School, Woodhouse Grove, Prince Henry’s School (Otley), Ermysted’s Grammar School (Skipton), Halifax Grammar School, Ashville College (Harrogate) and Queen Margaret’s School (York).

Froebelian reaches the final in prestigious

Schools netball tournament

The Froebelian School based in Horsforth is proud to announce that their pupils have done exceptionally well in a netball and cross country sports tournament which was organised with seventeen other schools held at Queen Margaret’s School, York.

Playing particularly well and coming runners up, nine Froebelian girls from Years 5 and 6 played netball teams from as far north as Scotland and as far south as Suffolk with the day culminating in a very exciting and closely fought final.

In the cross country event, a team of four girls ran 2km with Molly Hamilton (Year 5) coming in 10^th place, Emma Peacock 13^th place, Phoebe Ridyard 22^nd place and Amy Peacock 26^th place.

At the end of a very enjoyable day prizes were presented by none other than footballing legend Gareth Southgate and the School was delighted that their very own Games Captain Melissa Shepherd was awarded “Player of the Netball Tournament”.  This accolade was voted for by the other school coaches attending.

Philippa Stanworth, Sports Co-ordinator said – “The girls were fantastic, participating with enthusiasm and true sportsmanship.  The children were well looked after at Queen Margaret’s School and had a fabulous day.  Melissa being voted player of the tournament was the icing on the cake for us as a School.  She thoroughly deserved this award.”

Froebelian School, Clarence Road, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4LB: E mail: office@froebelian.co.uk Tel:0113 258 3047 Fax:0113 2580173           Headmaster Mr J. Tranmer MA PGCE