Headmistress highlights Mayfield’s exciting future


T


he Headmistress, Antonia Beary, Chairman of


Governors, Nicholas Bagshawe and Development Director, Tim Eaton hosted two presentations in November, at which they discussed with parents the five- year plan to improve still further the educational experience on offer to girls at Mayfield. Miss Beary highlighted the current and future focus on retaining and securing the very best teachers, challenging pupils to be the best that they can be, and providing facilities of a standard which supports independent learning and personal development. On the question of facilities, Miss Beary shared with parents the School’s exciting plan to create a dedicated Sixth Form Centre and build a new Middle School boarding house, to replace the much-loved but less-than- modern Connelly House.


A brochure outlining our vision and five year plan will be sent to all parents and Old Cornelians during the course of the Spring Term.


C


ongratulations to Anneka Wehnes whose


entry into theHistory of Parliament Schools competition was judged as ‘Highly Commended’. The judges commented that Anneka’s ‘Speech on King Charles I after his execution’was ‘a remarkable piece of work which captured the intensity of religious feeling and commitment that must have been felt by people at the time.’


Sculptor Stuart Smith captivates students at Annual Potter's Day


O


n Saturday 12 November the annual Potter’s Day event took place in the Concert Hall at


Mayfield.


Our guest ceramic artist was Stuart Smith, whose previous jobs include sculpting waxworks at Madame Tussauds, and creating backdrops and props for the film industry.


Fifty-seven Ceramics students from Years 10-13 were amazed to see the detailed, lively modelling and sheer skill exhibited in the many finished pieces that Stuart brought along with him to show the girls and a number of other guests.


No doubt many of them will now have the confidence to go on and model figurative sculptures of their own.


Auschwitz PROJECT


LESSONS FROM T


his term Connie O’Conor and Flossie Taylor have embarked on


their Lessons from Auschwitz Project, run by the Holocaust Education Trust. For the girls, it is not only a personal experience but a journey of learning and exploration about the history of the Holocaust and the world in which we live.


Award-winning author delights pupils


The initial seminar, which included a discussion of the background history of the Holocaust and the testimony of a survivor, was followed, on 10 November, by a visit to the sites at Aushwitz-Birkenau. The group was accompanied by representatives from the Israeli and Rwandan embassies, journalists, Rabbi Marcus and two MPs, Amber Rudd and John Denham on a harrowing and powerful tour, an experience which I am sure the girls will never forget.


We look forward to witnessing both Connie and Flossie’s Next Steps project next term when they will share their own personal journeys and the lessons they have learnt.


Natasha Clyma Head of History A


ward-winning author, Lucy Christopher, delighted girls


in Years 10 & 11 on 4 October with an entertaining insight into ‘the story behind her stories’.


Miss Christopher described the creative writing process she adopted for her two very different novels, Stolenand Flyaway, explaining how her ideas and characters developed.


Booked up!


•Girls in Year 7 were thrilled to receive a free book on Friday 18 November thanks to Booked Up, a national programme encouraging children to read for pleasure.


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