Trent College - At Trent you are unique

Explorer Tom Avery - who made it into the record books in 2002 when he became the youngest Briton to complete the perilous journey to the South Pole - came to the school, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, last week.

He spent more than two hours talking to youngsters about his perilous exploits as part of Trent College’s Main School Programme - which brings pupils into contact with leading figures from all fields of human endeavour.

Toby Leadbetter, Head of the Main School Programme at Trent, said: “Tom Avery has done a huge amount in his life and really encompasses someone who has followed their own dreams and lived the life they wanted.

“It was fascinating for our pupils to listen to him talk about his numerous adventures and the reasons he gave for pursuing the life that he has.

“He was also able to offer us an insight into what preparation is required for one of his expeditions - as he is currently training for the biggest challenge of his polar career - The Barclays Capital Ultimate North Expedition.”

Mr Avery used state-of-the-art kites to power himself and his team to the South Pole in record time in 2002, days before his 27th birthday.

They covered the last 47 miles to the Pole in a marathon 31 hours - also smashing the South Pole speed record.

A graduate of Bristol University, Mr Avery started his career with ice climbs in Wales and Scotland, aged 16, before organising expeditions to the Andes, New Zealand, the Alps, Tanzania, Patagonia and Morocco while still a student.

He briefly worked as a trainee accountant for a top London firm, but was forced to choose between the City and the mountains - and chose the mountains.

In 2000 he reached the summit of his climbing career when he led a pioneering British expedition to a previously unexplored mountain range on China’s western border - even naming one of the peaks after his mother, which they conquered on her birthday.

Mr Avery is a official ambassador for both the 2012 London Olympics and the Princes Trust, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

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TRENT COLLEGE TEACHER LAUNCHES BID TO SECURE ST PANCRAS CREATOR HIS PLACE IN THE HISTORY BOOKS

With the recent re-opening of St Pancras Station, a Trent College teacher has produced an article which he hopes will give a leading but much-forgotten East Midlands philanthropist his rightful place in history.

Francis Wright - who was one of the founders of Trent College, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, in 1866 - was the driving force behind the creation of St Pancras, with the Midland Railway Company’s ambitious and aggressive bid to establish itself an independent supply hub in London.

Trent College teacher and historian Toby Leadbetter - who has previously published a full history of the school and a book on Wright and First World War flying ace Albert Ball - has turned his attention once again to Wright, in his role as director of the Midland Railway Company and Chief Executive of the Butterley Company.

Under Wright’s direction, the railway company - which had already set up an impressive track network between Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, started a major acquisition of land around the St Pancras area, as a means of bringing coal and beer into the capital.

The company had traditionally brought produce into neighbouring Euston Station, but increased traffic from rival operators was leading to a bottleneck - and Wright took the decision to create St Pancras.

The article, which can be reproduced in full with a writing credit for Mr Leadbetter, not only highlight’s Wright’s role within the railway company, but as the controlling executive of the powerful Butterley Company - which built and designed St Pancras’s roof and provided all the 60 million bricks which went into its construction.

In the article, Mr Leadbetter writes: “There are many who still gaze in wonderment at this marvel of Victorian engineering mastery with its ‘series of tightly-strung ribs of cast iron, held together with tie-beams placed parallel on the top of brick vaults (which incidentally also stand on top of Butterley iron piles); this 240-ft span of cast iron and glass stands with no internal support whatsoever.

“The vision of Francis Wright endures and so should his name along with many other Victorian philanthropists. This is a national name that should conjure up the very spirit of the progressive and dynamic Victorian age.

“Mention of St Pancras or Butterley should give due merit to the driving force behind both successful concerns. Francis Wright must surely be judged to have been one of the most progressive industrialists, educators and benefactors of the 19th Century.”

Wright, a staunch Christian and supporter of low church principles, had turned the the Butterley Company - which produced coal, iron and bricks - into a nationally renowned concern by the time of his death in 1873.

Aside from its creation of St Pancras, the Butterley Company - which was later broken up when it was bought out by Hansons - also manufactured railway wagons and built the original Vauxhall Bridge in London in 1814.

Wright also built homes, shops and churches for his hundreds of workers - making church attendance compulsory for all on the payroll - and founded Trent College in 1866, with other like-minded individuals.

The ethos of Trent College was to educate ‘boys in body and mind with close adherence to scripture and morals’ and was originally planned as one of five schools.

Wright, who himself had been educated at Rugby, also served as High Sheriff of Nottingham, Deputy Lord Lieutenants of both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and as Chairman of the Ashbourne Bench - where his puritanical views led him to launch a failed bid to ban the annual Shrovetide Football Match in the town.

Speaking about his latest article, Mr Leadbetter - who also leads Trent’s Whole School and Sixth Form Extension Programmes - said: “The Industrial Revolution was one of the key turning points in British and World history and there is no doubt in my mind that Francis Wright was one of its key players.

“People like Arkwright and Brunel remain household names to this day and, with St Pancras officially re-opening as England’s new rail link with continental Europe, I felt that it was vital that someone flagged up Francis Wright’s key role in the station’s foundation.

“The creation of St Pancras allowed a crucial and direct rail link between the Capital and industrial activity in the East Midlands, and I hope that through this, Wright will be given his rightful place in history.”

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DEFENCE CHIEF SET TO TALK TO TRENT COLLEGE STUDENTS

A formaer chief of defence who this week called for a massive increase in defence spending will be talking to pupils at Trent College about his career and on-going conflicts involving the British Military.

General Lord Charles Guthrie who, along with Admiral Lord Boyce and Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig, last week formed the UK National Defence Association, to press for a massive cash injection from the Government into the armed forces.

The General will be talking to Sixth Form pupils at Trent College, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, on Wednesday (14) about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and answering questions on his distinguished career.

Toby Leadbetter, Head of the Sixth Form Extension Programme at Trent, said: “This is a very topical visit for us.

“Iraq and Afghanistan remain constantly in the news and General Lord Guthrie made the headlines himself last week by calling for greater financial investment in the armed forces.
“We have a large number of pupils at Trent at the moment who are studying politics, so the General will be a fascinating guest for them to listen to and question.

“Some of our guests on the Sixth Form Extension Programme are in the early stages of their careers, but we also like to invite people who have made it to the top – and there’s no doubt that the General has had an incredible career.”

General Lord Guthrie was educated at Harrow and went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before being commissioned into the Welsh Guards in 1969.

In 1966 he joined the SAS and served in the Middle East, Malaysia and East Africa, before returning to the Welsh Guards in 1970.

He was finally appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff in 1997 – a post he held until 2001.
He is currently Colonel of the Life Guards, Gold Stick to the Queen and Colonel Commandant of the SAS.

Speaking about the state of the armed forces last week, the General said: “Under-funding of our armed forces is already having consequences, both for our overall defence capability and for our forces at the sharp end, which are too thinly spread and being required to go to war with equipment which is often outdated and not fit for purpose.”

guthrie

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AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR SET TO VISIT TRENT COLLEGE

Youngsters at Trent College will be meeting an award-winning novelist this week as part of a new extracurricular programme at the school.

Lesley Glaister will be talking to pupils at the school, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, on Thursday (15) as part of the new Main School Programme.

The programme gives pupils aged 11-16 access to some of the leading figures from the arts, business, the media, law, science and other fields – and introduces them to some former Trent pupils who are building exciting careers for themselves.

The programme was launched following on from the success of the Sixth Form Extension Programme at Trent College, which did the same for pupils aged 16-18.

Toby Leadbetter, Head of the Main School Programme, said: “Getting Lesley to come to Trent is a real catch – she’s an incredibly talented writer who has won a lot of awards.

“We thought she would be particularly interesting for the 11-16 age group because we hope she will inspire creativity in our pupils, and encourage them to produce stories of their own.

“Having a contemporary writer coming to visit us will also help our pupils to see creative writing as something contemporary and exciting, away from the more formal setting of their English Literature lessons.”

Lesley Glaister was born in Northamptonshire in 1956 and grew up in Suffolk, before moving to Sheffield where she took a degree with the Open University.

She was 'discovered' by the novelist Hilary Mantel when she attended a course given by the Arvon Foundation in 1989. Mantel was so impressed by her writing that she recommended her to a literary agent.

Glaister's first novel, Honour Thy Father (1990), won both a Somerset Maugham Award and a Betty Trask Award.

Other novels include Trick or Treat (1991), Limestone and Clay (1993), for which she was awarded the Yorkshire Post Book Award (Yorkshire Author of the Year), Partial Eclipse (1994) and The Private Parts of Women (1996).

More recently, she has written Now You See Me (2001), As Far as You Can Go (2004), and her latest novel Nina Todd Has Gone (2007).

She lives with her husband between Sheffield and Orkney and teaches Creative Writing at Sheffield Hallam University. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Pictured below is Lesley Glaister (Centre) with Library Staff and Students.

glaister

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TRENT PUPILS GET STUCK INTO A BOOK

Pupils at Trent College all got stuck into a book this week as part of a school-wide event to encourage reading.
Pupils from reception classes to sixth formers downed tools for half an hour on Monday to read their favourite books and talk to other pupils about their literary choices.
Youngsters from Year Six met up with members of the sixth form for a special Harry Potter-based readathon in the school library, while pupils at Trent - located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, went to read to younger children at The Elms Junior School.
Almost all 700-plus students, as well as staff, took part in the Trent Reading Challenge - which took place during the third lesson on Monday morning.

Pictured below are students in the warner library:

warner2 warner

The event was organised by Trent College’s Literacy Co-ordinator Liz Dunford, who said the ‘Read to Succeed’ session aimed to foster a love of books and literature amongst pupils.
She said: “Statistics show that an enthusiasm for books is even more important to someone’s potential success in life than having well educated parents in good jobs.
“It is also a fact that, in general, boys are more reluctant readers than girls.
“So to show just how important we feel that reading is at Trent College, we scheduled this special session so the entire school could read for pleasure and share their enjoyment of books.
“Teachers were able to learn from pupils about the latest must-reads from the children’s book market, and members of our sixth form shared their own love of books with younger pupils from Year 6.
“We had a huge amount of fun and we showed that books are for everyone - even if we all have different tastes.”
Trent College is currently undergoing a multi-million pound building project which will see the school’s existing dining facility transformed into an extensive new library at the historic Long Eaton school.
To allow this to happen, work will soon begin on a state-of-the-art new dining facility elsewhere on the main Trent College campus.

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TRENT SET TO TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

FORMER pupils from a Trent College boarding house will be descending on their old school next week to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its founding.

Wortley House was established in the grounds of Trent College, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, in 1947, from a converted sanatorium - allowing Trent College to take an extra 60 boarders.

Around 100 former pupils and staff are expected to travel back to the school from around the UK to the event on Sunday, September 30.

The house was named after Francis Wortley - a founding member and former president of the Old Tridents’ Society- and Trent College governor for 37 years.

Rex Gooding, 64, current President of the Old Tridents’ Society, was a boarder at Wortley between 1955 and 1960 and will be attending the reunion.

Mr Gooding, a Nottingham-based estate agent, said: “I think it’s wonderful that so many former members of Wortley House will be returning to Trent College to reminisce.

“And when you’ve spent five years living with people there’s a great deal of reminiscing to do.

“Wortley was a distance from the main school in my day and close to the Derby Road, which made it very convenient for us to pop into Long Eaton for refreshments, away from the prying eyes of the teaching staff.

“There was also the Wortley run - the path between the house and the main school which was usually taken at a gallop to avoid the cold and the notorious Wortley Ghost, the fictional spirit of a dead serviceman which haunted the imaginations of younger pupils, if not the footpath itself.

“I’m lucky because I still live locally, so I’ve seen both Trent College and Wortley House develop through the years - but I think there will be some old boys who are in for a bit of a shock when they see their old house today.”

Wortley House was finally closed to boarders in 1998 and transformed into the school’s Wortley Sixth Form Centre, to meet increased demand for post-16 education at the school.

Current sixth formers at Trent College will be meeting up with former pupils to hear their stories from yesteryear at the reunion and to guide them around the school’s state-of-the-art sixth form centre.Trent pupil Kirsten Johnson, current Head of School, said: “Wortley is a household name to all Trent College students, past and present, and it will be fascinating to spend some time speaking to former inhabitants of the house that carries his name.

“I’m sure they will notice many changes - perhaps most notably the presence of girls, as Wortley House was previously an all male domain.

"Nowadays life at Wortley is very fast paced - as Trent College's Sixth Form Centre there are so many social and academic events going on that make the last two years at school a whirlwind of activity.
"But many things will be the same too - as the sixth form promotes independence and self-sufficiency for all its students, which is still one of the main principles behind boarding."

The Wortley House reunion was organised by the Trent Association - an organisation within the school which helps former Trent College pupils to stay in touch.

Althea Tomlin from the Trent Association added: “Wortley House holds strong memories for anyone who had either boarded in it or, more recently, spent their final two years at Trent College studying for A Levels within its walls.

“We look forward to inviting them back to Trent College to take a trip down memory lane, as well as seeing their former boarding house as it is today.”

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BULLDOZERS MARK ARRIVAL OF NEW ERA FOR HISTORIC TRENT COLLEGE

WORK has started on a major development programme at Trent College as part of a two-year drive to build new facilities and raise academic attainment to even higher levels.

The programme including a multi-million pound new catering facility and an extensive new library at the historic Long Eaton school.

Trent College Head Gill Dixon (pictured) donned a hard hat and climbed aboard a JCB to officially commence work demolishing the school's outdated pavilion this week, to make way for the state-of-the-art new dining facility.

Once completed, the new catering facility will leave the existing dining hall free to be converted into an extensive academic library for Trent pupils. The new library would provide a wide range of multimedia and resources to support learning and teaching throughout the school.

Gill Dixon, who joined Trent College, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, a year ago as the school's ninth Head, said: "This is the first phase in a programme of building work which will help take Trent College into a very successful and memorable period in its history.

"By tearing down our old pavilion, which dates from the early 1990s, we will be able to provide an outstanding dining facility on the main Trent College site and a venue which will also be big enough to accommodate all of the Trent College staff and students for whole school assemblies and major events. But more importantly, it will provide us with the vital space at the heart of our school to build a new library.

"This new library will serve as a focal point for academic achievement and aspiration for generations to come. It will offer for the minds of our students what our fabulous sports facilities currently offer their bodies.”

The facility, which is set for completion in August 2008, will also incorporate a new sports pavilion on a lower level, a weights room and changing rooms and will also be used for conferencing and large external events for corporate customers.

Artists’ impressions (pictured) of the new dining facility have also been displayed around the school so parents and pupils can give their views on the plans - which have been granted full planning permission by Erewash Borough Council.
The new facility will allow for a much more efficient organisation of lunchtime arrangements for children from Trent College and The Elms, located on the main Trent campus, and will have a significant impact on the time available for curriculum development at the school.

Major work is also planned for The Elms Junior School, including better play spaces for children, music rooms and extra classrooms.

“Trent School, with its heritage and traditions spanning nearly 140 years, has a unique and distinguished past and much to look forward to. I wish to maintain the ethos and the traditions of this school; retain the breadth and depth of experience; strengthen our community as a whole; improve and maintain the quality of all of our facilities and continue to work with, and for, our talented pupils and staff. ” Mrs Dixon added.

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Trent College GCSE level results

“Trent College has always been about inspiring children to achieve more than they ever thought possible and I am delighted that this year our pupils have done precisely that. 119 pupils out of our 121 GCSE pupils achieved at least 5 grades from A* to C, with 42.4% of all grades awarded at either A* or A.
Though many schools are now opting for the more vocational and non-traditional GCSE subjects, we continue to value our academic curriculum, which places emphasis upon the core and robust subjects including the separate sciences and modern, foreign languages. Our pupils have demonstrated a combination of talent, hard work and academic discipline which has enabled them to achieve such good results and they and their teachers are to be congratulated.”

Gill Dixon, Head

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Trent College A2 and AS Level results

“Good schools enable pupils, whatever their academic ability, to achieve their best. Our academic results have, over the last three years, improved significantly and now speak for themselves. This year 61.6% of all our A level grades were either an A or a B, with the top 50 pupils achieving an A and B pass rate of 83%, which is outstanding and as good as the most academically selective schools around. At AS level, our Lower Sixth students achieved the highest pass rate in the history of the school, with 65.0% of all grades at either A or B.
At Trent College, students are academically stretched and they do achieve their personal bests. As I would hope from any school that sees its virtue in breadth and diversity, I take great pleasure in the fact that our students are not a distinct breed but are a mixed bunch, each pursuing their own unique interests and developing careers in a surprisingly wide variety of areas. We are delighted to see that 83% of our Upper Sixth this year have been accepted by the university of their choice, with an impressive quality and range of courses and careers taken up.
Our congratulations and best wishes go with this year’s leavers, the Year of 2007. They have grown into confident, socially skilled, bright, broad and interesting young men and women. They have an air about them, a real charm and charisma, and their school, like their parents, is very proud of them. We wish them well as they walk out through our school gates for the last time and into their new lives. We hope that they keep Trent close and let us know how they shape their futures.”
Gill Dixon
Head, Trent College

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TRENT STAFF FLEX MUSCLES FOR TOUGH GUY CHALLENGE

A GROUP of super-fit employees at Trent College are preparing for one of the toughest endurance competitions known to man – the Tough Guy challenge.

The 16 staff members from the school, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, have been training hard for the event, which is set to take place on Sunday, January 28 at Old Perton, South Staffordshire.

Around 5,000 competitors from around the world are expected to take part in the challenge, of which at least 1,000 will probably find the ordeal too gruelling and drop out before the end.

The course consists of an eight mile run, including one of the toughest obstacle courses there is – the Killing Fields – which forces participants to navigate fire obstacles, high rope climbs, barbed wire, electrified fences, leg-breaking swamps and underwater tunnels in sub-zero temperatures.

The event takes place twice a year, on the last Sundays in January and July, and organisers use the event to fund their own charity – a horse sanctuary, which looks after hundreds of retired horses and gives young offenders the opportunity to learn new skills and change their futures.

Entering the event this time round are Trent staff Ben Ward, Ellie Bird, Jim Forrest, Julie Gale, Paul Mayfield, James Prince, Justine Rimington, Paul Saville, Ian Slack, Emily Stableforth, Max Stevens, Reuban Strain, Ian Thomas, Geoff Thompson, James Witcombe and Tim Worthington.

In last July’s event, the Trent team came 24 th out of the 53 teams, many of whom were armed forces or gym teams.

Team captain Ben Ward said: “There’s nothing quite like the feeling of emerging from the ice cold under-water tunnel. You open your eyes and for a few seconds you have no idea where you are, but after that you regain your senses and you feel more alive than you’ve ever felt before.”

“We did really well in the July event but we’re confident we’re going to smash last year’s time. I started doing the event in 2004, but had read about Tough Guy as a teenager and always wanted to get involved.”

Co-competitor Ellie Bird added: “Most of us are doing it for the fun. It’s a great social event, and a good chance to share an unforgettable experience with like-minded friends.”

“It’s also a great challenge – a goal to train for – and, of course, there are many great stories to tell afterwards and a huge sense of achievement.”

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TRENT COMES TOP OF THE CLASS AT GCSE

TRENT College is the highest performing co-educational school in Derbyshire at GCSE, new figures released by the Department for Education and Skills revealed this week.

A total of 95 per cent of pupils at the school, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, achieved five or more A* to C grades overall at GCSE in 2006 – while 92 per cent achieved five or more A* to C grades (including Maths and English).

The result puts Trent at the top of the class among co-educational Derbyshire schools and comes after the school also achieved its best ever year at A Level.

The school enjoyed an overall pass rate of 98.9 per cent at A Level in 2006 (compared with 97.1 per cent in 2005). Of these passes, 65 per cent were at A and B grades (compared with 58.1 per cent in 2005).

Mark Ronan, Deputy Head (Academic) at Trent, said: “This achievement is a very proud day for us and is only possible through the commitment of our dedicated teaching staff and the hard-work of our students.

“With the arrival of Gill Dixon, our new Head, and major plans for the school over the next five years already set in motion, I fully expect our academic achievements to improve year on year.

“I send my congratulations to all concerned.”

In December, the school announced major developments to the campus, including provision for a brand new library which will become a key focal point for academic activity by students.

Mrs Dixon, who joined Trent in September as the school’s ninth (and first female) Head, spent much of her first term putting together her vision of how the school needs to develop during the next five years.

The new library is set to occupy the school’s current dining facilities and kitchens in the main school building, and will aim to drive Trent pupils to even greater academic heights in the years ahead.

To make way for the new library, a state-of-the-art dining and conference facility will be constructed on the site of the school’s pavilion.

Major work is also planned for The Elms, Junior School to Trent College, a project first started seven years ago.

The building work – which will not interfere with the children’s education, with all major structural work taking place during school holidays – will provide The Elms with larger cloakrooms and improved play spaces for pupils, a staff room in the Lower Elms School, music teaching and practice rooms, a library, a design and technology room, additional changing rooms and one extra classroom for each year group from Year 3 to Year 6.

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THE PLAY’S THE THING FOR TRENT PUPILS

AROUND 60 pupils at Trent College will be treading the boards next week when they stage one of the all time greats of Musical Theatre.

Youngsters from Years 8-13 will be taking part in the Rogers and Hammerstein classic, Oklahoma! – which runs at Trent College, located on Derby Road, Long Eaton, between Wednesday and Saturday, November 15 – 18.

There will also be a special performance for younger children at The Elms, Trent’s infant and junior school, to enjoy.

James Gregory, Theatre Manager at Trent, said: “This year we wanted to do a classic musical and when we announced that we were doing Oklahoma! we were inundated with young people wanting to take part.

“Quite a few of the youngsters involved have never done a play before, let alone a musical. We also think it’s a popular choice with parents, because the show’s completely sold out.”

“The emphasis with extra-curricular drama at the school is all about allowing our pupils to have fun and enjoy themselves.”

First performed on Broadway in 1943, Oklahoma! was the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein – the theatrical duo also behind South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music.

Trent College mounts three main productions each year – a musical during the Michaelmas Term, the main school play during the Lent Term, and the main lower school production during the Summer Term.

Recent productions at Trent include musicals The Wizard of Oz and Annie, as well as William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations (COR), by Alan Ayckbourn.

The school also mounts an annual trip to the Edinburgh Festival, where the most gifted pupils are invited to perform.

And for those with a more serious dramatic leaning, T rent College also offers Drama at GCSE and Theatre Studies at AS and A Level. These examination groups stage their own productions throughout the school year and Drama scholarships are available at the school from Year 7 onwards.

Former Trent pupils include the TV and film actor Michael Maloney – who starred in Truly, Madly, Deeply, and Spooks – and RSC actress Gemma Larke.

David Jackson, Head of Drama at Trent, added: “Drama is a focal point for creativity and self-expression at the school. “

“All students are encouraged to participate in Drama as an activity throughout their time at Trent and, apart from acting, many pupils also join the stage crews or contribute towards set design, make-up and costumes.”

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TRENT PUPILS’ MARATHON EFFORT FOR CHILDREN IN NEED

PUPILS at Trent College will be running a total of 850 miles on Friday, November 17, to raise money for Children in Need.

The 33 pupils, all members of Blake House at Trent, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, will be running 26 miles each at stages throughout the day, in their bid to raise more than £2,000 for the children’s charity.

And to make things more difficult for the pupils, a jungle-style assault course will be set up around Blake House for them to manoeuvre as they undertake their mammoth trek – each youngster must complete the course 245 times during the day to achieve their 26-mile targets.

And with no-one allowed out of lessons to take part in the run, many of the pupils will be starting the event at 5am, and will be running through their lunch hours and free periods, in order to complete the distance by the end of the day and fulfil school commitments.

But it is not the first daring deed undertaken by pupils at Trent’s Blake House. In previous years, students have swum the distance of the English Channel in the school swimming pool and climbed to the top of Mount Everest – by running up and down the stairs at Blake House.

Max Wigglesworth (COR), 17, Charities Organiser for Blake House , said: “Blake House has a strong tradition of finding weird and wonderful ways of raising money for Children in Need.

“Last year we imagined our plane had crashed in the Sahara Desert and we ran the 600 miles to safety around the long-jump pit in the school’s grounds.

“This year we’ve gone one better and are running the 850 miles to safety after crash landing in the Amazon – hence the jungle theme.”

And not to be left out, female pupils at the school will be cycling the equivalent of the Tour de France – more than 3,000 miles – in the school grounds.

Simon Petty, 17, Head of Blake House, said: “We think that raising money for children who are less fortunate than ourselves is a really important thing to do and we all look forward to Children in Need and dreaming up a new and bigger challenge each year.

“It’s going to be tough because we’re all so busy throughout the school day but, with free periods and lunch, we will be able to keep the momentum going throughout the day.

“We’re also hoping members of other houses at Trent will be out in force to cheer us on because it’s going to be a bit of a slog. We’re hoping to finish for around 6pm.

“Although it may take Max slightly longer because he’s decided to run a total of 50 miles throughout the day to raise even more money.”

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TRENT PUPILS HEAD ACROSS THE POND FOR PRE-CHRISTMAS FUN

YOUNGSTERS from Trent College headed Stateside during the Christmas break in a special school trip which explored Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York.

The pupils, who are all aged 13-16, flew out to Washington on Saturday, December 16, along with pupils from John Ferneley School, in Melton Mowbray, for the week-long excursion.

During their stay in Washington, the youngsters were taken to see the White House, Arlington Cemetery, the tomb of President John F. Kennedy, George Washington’s former home and the Vietnam Memorial.

Their stay in Washington concluded with a floodlit night tour of the city’s historic centre.

Wilma Robinson, who teaches at Trent, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, organised the trip with her husband Chris, who teaches at John Ferneley – a state school.

Wilma said: “The students gelled together from the start. They needed to in order to survive the chaos of Heathrow airport and the loss of our bags on arrival in Washington.

“However, this did not diminish the mood of anticipation and excitement. Each day was a whirlwind of new experiences and visual delights for us all. It was a wonderful week away for all the pupils, which allowed them to really explore and understand American culture.”

After Washington, the youngsters travelled by coach to New York, via Philadelphia, where they had a brief stay and ‘took in’ Independence Hall, played touch football in the shadow of the world famous Liberty Bell, and ascended the steps made famous by Sylvester Stallone in the Rocky movies.

In New York, the pupils toured the newly regenerated Harlem area of the city and saw the famous Apollo Theatre. They also visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, walked along Wall Street and spent a few quiet moments at Ground Zero.

Pictured are Trent pupils Rebecca Holmes and Ross Christie at the Statue of Liberty.

Rebecca said: “We had an absolutely fantastic time seeing these amazing cities and finding out a lot about America. But what made it really special was making lots of new friends at John Ferneley School.”

The pupils also went to the Museum of Modern Art, ate “the best hot dogs in New York”, visited the John Lennon memorial, Strawberry Fields, in Central Park, took in a Broadway show and even had some time left over for a bit of retail therapy before flying back to the UK on December 23.

Apart from regular overseas excursions organised for Trent pupils, older students at the school can also take part in an annual four-week expedition during the summer holidays.

Recent expeditions have been to Northern India, Morocco, Bolivia and Peru, Alaska and Greenland.

Pupils at the school have also had the opportunity to go scuba diving in the Red Sea, skiing in France and horse riding in England

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TRENT PUPILS BECOME LEGAL EAGLES FOR THE DAY

SIXTH FORM students at Trent College will be taking the law into their own hands this week when they take part in a mock trial with a leading international lawyer.

The teenagers will take part in the trial at the school, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, at 4.40pm tomorrow (Friday, November 3), before Judge Ian Meakin.

The event has been organised as part of Trent’s Sixth Form Extension Programme – which aims to provide all Post-16 pupils at the school with a programme of academic activities, lectures, competitions and social events away from the class room.

Recent events held as part of the programme include lectures by Tony Benn MP and Professor Roger Williams (physician to the late George Best), debates, competitions, academic forums and special dinners.

Pupils will also be entering into the spirit of the event and dressing in full legal regalia for the trial.

Ian Meakin is a graduate of King’s College, London, and studied at Gray’s Inn and the Inns of Court School of Law and is a member of the Bar of England and Wales.

Aside from his judicial responsibilities, he is also a practising barrister and a partner of the Swiss-based international law firm Byrne-Sutton Bonnard Lawson Meakin & Associés.

Mr Meakin’s principal area of practice is international commercial arbitration and he specialises in commercial contracts, construction, oil and gas, international joint ventures, international sale of goods, research and development contracts, shipping and maritime law, sports law, trusts and estates.

He teaches part-time at the University of Geneva and is fluent in French.

He said: “The Mock Law Case is a practical exercise in which students can role play as if in a court of law.

“It forces the students to undertake thorough preparation and they hopefully come to realise that there is no substitute for hard work in preparing to present a case.

“It also helps them to understanding that to be on your feet is a lot more difficult than it may appear.

“Last year's Moot was a great success and the leading advocate spent a week with me this summer as my mini-pupil.”

Toby Leadbetter, Head of Sixth Form at Trent, said: “The aim of the event is to give the students a very challenging situation – and not just those who are planning on a legal career in the future.

“How many of us would put ourselves in this situation of having to be challenged by a judge and opposing lawyers? It will be a very rewarding experience for the pupils taking part.”

Please click here to see a selection of photographs taken during the event.

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POLITICAL HEAVYWEIGHTS HEAD TO TRENT COLLEGE

TWO Labour Party heavyweights are heading to Trent College this term to talk to students about their careers in Government and the political process generally.

Former Chesterfield MP Tony Benn will be giving a lecture at Trent College, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, on Wednesday, October 11 - click here to see a few images from his visit.

Then, on Thursday November 30, former Home Secretary and Sheffield Brightside MP David Blunkett will be taking part in a politics conference with sixth form pupils at the school.

Both politicians are appearing as part of the school’s Sixth Form Extension Programme - which aims to ensure students have access to successful speakers from the fields of law, science, medicine, business, entertainment, drama and sport.

Trent Head of Politics Toby Leadbetter, who also runs the school’s Sixth Form Extension Programme, said: “This programme is all about exposing our students to people who have excelled in their chosen areas of employment, whether that is medicine, politics, the law, the theatre or whatever. It’s about focusing on how that person has got to where they are in their lives and what they’d achieved by the age of 30, which makes it more relevant to a sixth former.

“From their Sixth Form studies, our students are aware of Tony Benn and his significance to the history of the Labour Movement, so it will be wonderful for them to hear him speak.

“As a former high profile member of the Blair Government, David Blunkett is obviously a household name and we are delighted that he has agreed to come and talk to our pupils.

“I’m sure both Mr Benn and Mr Blunkett are looking forward to sharing their passion for politics with our young people.”

Tony Benn was born in London on April 3 1925, the son, grandson and father of MPs, he retired from the House of Commons in May 2001, after fifty years in Parliament, to “devote more time to politics” , the longest serving Labour MP in the history of the party, which he joined in 1942.

He was a Cabinet minister in the Wilson and Callaghan Governments from 1964 to 1979, as Minister of Technology, Secretary of State for both Industry and Energy and President of the Council of European Energy ministers in 1977.

An elected member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour party from 1959 to 1994, he was Chairman of the Party in 1971/2.

David Blunkett was educated at the University of Sheffield and, prior to becoming an MP in 1987, worked for the East Midlands Gas Board and as a tutor in politics and industrial relations.

He was Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in 2005, Home Secretary between 2001 and 2004 and Secretary of State for Education and Employment between 1997 and 2001.

Prior to entering Parliament, he was Leader of Sheffield City Council between 1980 and 1987 and a South Yorkshire Metropolitan Councillor between 1973 and 1987.

Mr Leadbetter added: “Between them, these men have spent almost 70 years in Parliament and we are all looking forward to hearing them speak. I think our sixth formers will come out of this with an even greater understanding of the political process.”

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Grandparents’ Day

150 grandparents enjoyed glorious sunshine on the first ever Grandparents’ Day at Trent College on Saturday 17 th June.

After refreshments in the Pavilion overlooking the extensive cricket fields, with the backdrop of the stunning Trent Arboretum, the grandparents retired to the coolness of the Chapel where they were welcomed by Jonathan Lee, Headmaster of Trent since 1988. He acknowledged the important role grandparents play in the lives of our pupils - collecting the children from school or attending plays, concerts and sports events, often providing the necessary funds to support music lessons or school holiday trips, and even contributing towards school fees. This was followed by a brief resume of the history of Trent - since its inception in 1868 as a boys’ boarding school, through to the introduction of girls from age 11 in 1992 and the opening of the Elms, Junior School to Trent College, in 1999. The grandparents, several of whom were themselves former pupils, were interested to know there are currently 1,080 pupils on the campus, with almost 50% girls in the most recent intake. They were then treated to a range of fascinating monologues by four Year 12 Theatre Studies students, before being shown round the campus in small groups by forty Year 9 and Year 12 pupils. They visited all areas of the school and were particularly impressed by the newly refurbished Shuker boarding house and the extensive Sixth Form Centre – many commenting on how fortunate today’s pupils are in being educated in such well-resourced facilities.

They then reassembled in the Thai Lecture Theatre, where Wilma Robinson, Director of Marketing, presented a pictorial review of “A Day in the Life of a Pupil at Trent”. The morning was rounded off with a splendid musical concert in the Chapel featuring soloists of all age groups.

And now it was time for a typical “school dinner” in the wood-panelled Dining Hall, where all the grandparents formed an orderly queue to wait in line to be served with roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, followed by spotted dick and custard. Many stayed to watch tennis and cricket matches in the afternoon, and no doubt some dozed off in the sunshine, having enjoyed a glass of wine with lunch!

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Art at Chatsworth

The Chatsworth Private View Art Exhibition was held at Chatsworth’s Carriage House Restaurant on Saturday 29 th April, 2006 and displayed work by Year 12 Art students, based on the architecture and landscape of the Chatsworth Estate.

The students produced the work over the Lent term and visited Chatsworth to draw and paint on site for a day.

The evening was well supported by the artists themselves, their parents, teachers and governors and much admiration was made of all the work, with many students being asked if their work was for sale!

Following the Private View, a selection of framed pieces stayed up in the restaurant for a further two weeks.

T he students themselves were very proud to see their pieces exhibited and were delighted by visitors’ comments about the high standard of work produced. The paintings in the foyer represent a selection of their excellent work

Trent has donated a piece to the Duke of Devonshire, who selected a coloured pencil study of light shining through the golden gates, drawn by Helen Nowell. Well done, Helen!

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The Canoeist's Everest

125 miles, 77 locks, weirs, tidal waters, swan attacks and blisters... It's The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race 2006!

One of the most punishing endurance tests in the UK sporting calendar started at Devizes Wharf on Good Friday, with the course taking canoeists along the Kennet and Avon Canal to the River Thames at Reading. From Reading, travelling downstream to Teddington, the race finally finished outside the Houses of Parliament at Westminster Bridge in London four days later.

Four teams from Trent College completed the strenuous course, having trained extensively for six months prior to the event. The teams of two paddled marathon kayaks and camped overnight at Newbury, Marlow and Teddington. In total, the paddlers raced 125 miles against teams from many British schools and competitors from around the world.

They were supported by friends and relatives, in particular three Sixth Formers who cycled along the entire route, cheering the teams on when energy levels were flagging. Every crew crossed the finish line at Westminster knowing they had completed the most physically challenging weekend of their lives. For all, it was an immense achievement and testament to the paddlers’ immense determination, spirit and focus. Congratulations to Daniel Itzhak and David Rigley-Williamson who gained seventh place overall in a time of 19h 58mins 29secs.

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Serious Amazon Young Adventurers

Grubs, tarantula legs, frogs and cockroaches - tasty or not? Georgia Groome, in Year 9, found out all about the 'supermarket' in the Amazon Jungle - but first you have to catch it! As one of the eight lucky youngsters to be selected following gruelling auditions by CBBC and BBC New Talent, she took part in a three week adventure in South America in July 2005 to help rare Red Uakari monkeys and Pink River dolphins.

The young adventurers travelled by dug-out canoe and lived rough in the heart of the rainforest as they helped in conservation projects and met local tribes-people.

Georgia : “I had such a good time. The people were so friendly and I learnt lots. I'd stay there forever if I could – it was the high point of my year. It was so cool I just can't get over it. One night we had a crocodile, a lizard and a poisonous tarantula in camp!”

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National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth.

At Trent, we currently have 86 pupils in Years 7-12 enrolled in the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth. Developed by the government to promote an integrated approach to teaching gifted and talented students within the general education system, NAGTY offers a growing range of services and activities for members. Through the Student Academy, members become part of a gifted community and can take part in:

A year-round programme of short courses delivered by experts at locations across the country
Summer Schools providing a lengthier, in-depth focus on one subject in a university environment
Online Study Groups, offering Internet-based learning guided by academic specialists
Discussion forums where members discuss wide-ranging topics

National baseline tests help us identify our gifted and talented pupils so that we can make appropriate provision for them. As well as expecting high academic standards and providing appropriately differentiated work, we organise special activities for them. This year the “Bright Sparks” programme for Lower School has included the following items:

An investigation into reading, led by Mrs Dunford
A Team University Challenge competition, won by the Cheesy Pineapples
A word trail activity based on general knowledge and esoteric dictionary entries
Presentations by each team on historical ‘what ifs …?’:

What if Harold had won the battle of Hastings?
What if Philip II’s Armada had conquered England?
What if Napoleon had won the Battle of Waterloo?
What if Germany had won the Battle of Britain?

From September 2006 our able pupils in Year 9 will be taking the Critical Thinking AS course, which develops higher-level thinking skills that are invaluable across the curriculum. It will also stretch and challenge our more able students, who will take the examination at the end of Year 10.

In the Sixth Form, students are invited to be members of the Academic Forum, with regular student-led sessions on politics and philosophy. Simon Colver, a Year 13 student, Head of the Academic Forum, says “ I have really enjoyed both speaking and listening to others on interesting academic subjects , and leading the Academic Forum has increased my self confidence . ” Simon has promised to return to Trent in a year’s time to share his experiences of his first year at New College, Oxford, where he will be reading Engineering.

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Music Department at Trent College

The Music Department at Trent College has had a typically active year, but there can be little doubt that the highlight of the classical side of the department’s performances came on the evening of March 19 th in the Albert Hall, Nottingham. The concert featured all of the school’s senior ensembles, such as the Symphonic Wind Band, the Chapel Choir, the Senior String Ensemble, The Swing Band, The Senior Brass Ensemble and the Symphony Orchestra. Also, at the beginning of the second half, Year 7 formed a massed choir and sang a medley of Disney songs, much to the delight of a packed audience.

All performers played well, but particular credit must go to the soloists: Tom Scott (guitar), Sarah Hammond (voice), Harriet Chambers (violin) and Cambridge-bound Tristan Melen (piano), whose rendition of Rhapsody in Blue at the end of the concert brought the evening to a rousing conclusion, and brought the audience to their feet for a standing ovation – a very memorable performance indeed!

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The Tempest at Trent College

Pupils at Trent College in Long Eaton performed The Tempest to packed audiences on three evenings in December. When you bear in mind the average age of this cast of 36 was 14 years of age, you can see their achievement was quite phenomenal. This project was ambitious for another reason. The age of the cast ranged from 13 to 18, making it a whole school project which has enhanced the already strong sense of community at Trent. Combine this with the beautiful but complex language of Shakespeare and you can understand why staff and students alike have been rehearsing for an average of 6 hours per week.

Drama is taught in Years 7, 8 and 9 at Trent College and as a choice subject at GCSE level , while Theatre Studies is offered at AS and A level , and each of these examination groups stage their own productions. All students are encouraged to participate in Drama as an act ivity throughout their time at Trent, and many boys and girls join the stage crews contributing towards set design, make-up and costumes. The School stages up to six productions each year and the most talented actors have the opportunity to perform in front of international audiences at the Edinburgh Festival, where for the past six years we have been invited to take productions. Two pupils from Year 11, David Campbell and Eilis Sanfey have been selected from a field of five thousand youngsters to be members of the internationally acclaimed National Youth Theatre.

In May, our Lower School thoroughly enjoyed performing Alan Ayckbourn’s play Ernie's Incredible Illucinations - written in 1967 as a stage-play specifically designed to be performed by 11-15-year-olds. The story centres around Ernie, whose extraordinary 'illucinations' can also be seen by those around him, resulting in all sorts of mayhem and chaos - to the delight of the parents and pupils in the audience!

In Autumn 2006, we are staging the musical “ Oklahoma!” which will offer many challenging roles to our very talented students.

dramaleft dramaright

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Young Enterprise - Success for The Apprentices

Congratulations to this year’s Young Enterprise Group - All of the 14 Students passed their OCR Examination with flying colours : Tom Prusinski, Emily Kyte, Stephen Longford, Sam Gourlay, Felicity Dunbar, Sophie McMaster, Charlie Macildowie & Olivia Jackson with Distinction, and Georgina Morgan, Caroline Eastwood, Ami Cooper, Ria Jordan, Amelia Chappell and Tori Gwinnutt with Credit.

They all participated in the Young Enterprise scheme throughout the year, as members of “The Apprentices”, a company comprising fourteen Year 12 students, who elected a board of directors from amongst their peers, raised share capital, and marketed and financed products of their own choice. They designed and printed a stunning 2006 Calendar, based on photographs taken of the Trent College Arboretum, and also successfully sold a range of products to school pupils. They gained valuable experience of business in the real world, taking responsibility and initiative and being accountable to shareholders for the running of the business, improving their self confidence and communication skills. Georgina Morgan, Managing Director of “The Apprentices” said “At the beginning of each weekly meeting, we sang songs to foster team spirit! It certainly seemed to improve our productivity”

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Trent College celebrated World Book Day on March 2nd

With a range of events – a book illustration competition, and competitions for poetry and short stories. The Giant Book Sale in the library was a great success, and many pupils participated in lunchtime events with lots of quizzes and fun in the Warner Library, followed by a pub-style quiz in the evening for boarders. This year the highlight was undoubtedly the visit by Year 10s to the Elms, where the Trent pupils read to groups of junior pupils. Will Rostance, a Year 10 pupil, said “ My group loved the story I read, and asked me to come back again the next day!”

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TRENT PUPILS BRAVE THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Youngsters from Trent College trekked off to the Peak District National Park at the weekend (Sept 16/17) as part of an introduction to life at their new school.

The pupils, all aged between 11 and 12, spent a night under canvas at a campsite near Buxton and enjoyed a variety of activities - including rock climbing and abseiling, bug hunting and a barbeque.

The weekend was organised to help all 115 Year 7 pupils settle into life at Trent and build new friendships. It also aimed to improve team-building and develop leadership and initiative skills.

Liam Webster, Head of Lower School at Trent, said: “These weekends are invaluable for the pupils in terms of developing life skills and encouraging them to try alternative sporting activities.

“They are also a good preparation for more adventurous expeditions available to our pupils as they get older.

“They all did really well as, for many, it was their first time away from home on their own.

“They did all their own cooking and I’m pleased to say that nobody starved - although I do think that a few of them will be bringing thicker pillows next time.”

Older pupils at Trent College, located in Derby Road, Long Eaton, can also take part in an annual four-week expedition during the summer holidays.

Recent expeditions have been to Northern India, Morocco, Bolivia and Peru, Alaska and Greenland.

Pupils at the school have also had the opportunity to go scuba diving in the Red Sea, skiing in France and horse riding in England.

Please click here to read some archived press cuttings.

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