Students and staff at King Edward VI High School have taken part in recordings for "School of the Week" on Stafford FM.
Pupils had the opportunity to meet Breakfast Show presenters Stu Haycock and Max Mallen and tell them about some of the exciting events and opportunities happening in school, from Year 6 transition to Year 11 football and from the new school newsletter to the new Science Club. 
The recordings took place in school to feature on "School of the Week" on Stafford FM's breakfast show. The interviews will be broadcast during the show from 2nd-6th June 2014 between 7.00am and 10.00am.
To tune in go to www.staffordfm.co.uk or download the Stafford FM app. 

Fifteen year seven pupils spent a morning at the Kingston Centre in Stafford where they took part in a “Have you got the energy?” workshop.  The pupils investigated some of the more innovative ways of generating energy.
Their first challenge was to get a voltage from a piece of fruit.  To do this they
used a nickel plated screw and a 2p coin. Groups tried different fruits such as apples, pears, oranges, limes etc. Once the groups had perfected their fruity batteries they made two more, connecting them up to provide sufficient power to light a 3V light-emitting diode.
The next activity involved pupils turning a LEGO motor into a generator.  By turning a small handle and operating through a system of gears, the pupils managed to generate enough power to light an LED.
Pupils were given the opportunity to see how a hot air engine (a Stirling engine) works.  Basically, it uses waste heat energy to alternately expand and compress air. This motion is then used to spin a wheel which can subsequently be used to turn a generator, producing electricity. Apparently this is a new technology
being used in household boilers, it harnesses waste heat energy from the hot
water system and transfers it to electrical energy, thus saving on fuel bills.
Pupils used a wind tunnel to turn small turbines and measured their output voltage.  Pupils then altered the design of their turbines to see which one was the most efficient at harnessing power from the wind.
The final activity involved pupils using photovoltaic cells to capture light energy.  Pupils compared the output voltages generated by the Sun, a security light and a strip light.
Before we left, the pupils were given a short talk from Brian, a representative from Alstom.  He spoke to the pupils about careers in engineering, through both the apprenticeship and university routes. 
Throughout the workshop pupils were asked questions about electricity, circuits, acids and alkalis and renewable energies.  Mrs Dolloway was extremely proud of the way in which pupils responded to these questions, in particular Ryan Hawkins who was an absolute star.  A great morning, enjoyed by all.

Budding Maths students have taken part in this year's UKMT Maths Challenge.

Year 9 and 10 students at King Edward VI High School achieved 2 silvers and 14 bronzes in this year’s Senior category of the UK Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Maths Challenge. Over 200,000 students from across the UK sat the Intermediate Maths Challenge with roughly the top 6% receiving a gold certificate, the next 13% silver and the next 21% bronze.

The winners were:

SILVER AWARD
Jordan Talbot (Highest score in the school)
Rachel Clayton

BRONZE AWARD
Hannah Malpass
Eleanor Bailey
Jai Belcher
Beth Poynton
Joshua Wilson
Joel Mccamley
Amy Mace
Todd Dawson
Ryan Ashforth
Claire Beardmore
Daniel Arthur
Laura Hawkins
Annabelle Clayton (Highest score in Year 9)
Gemma Stewart

In the Junior category, students achieved 3 silvers and 12 bronzes.

SILVER AWARD
Isabella Terry  (Highest score in the school)
Daisy Scarlett
Kirsten Reade

BRONZE AWARD
Nathan Phillips
Jacob Harvey          
Jessica Turner          
Nadia Dias    
Matthew Jones
Maisie Grocott   
Stuart Bishop 
Robert Cartlidge
Isabelle Kelly
Lauren Mills
Charis Farmer
Shannon Hendy

Well done to all the students for their scores and for taking part.

Ms E J Knights
Subject Leader for Maths

The Exam Preparation Sessions timetable is available to view on the school website, detailing when the exams and corresponding prep sessions are taking place for Year 11.

Please go to www.kevi.org.uk/exams-2014 for more details.

Thank you to everyone who took part in Readathon this year! It was a great success, as we raised £1028.60. This money is going towards CLIC Sargent, a leading cancer charity that helps children and young people who have cancer and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity. The coffee mornings and afternoons that were held in the library, for Year 7 and 8, hopefully helped more of the children in this school to read with their parents and raise more money for Readathon. We would also like to thank Mrs Brough and Miss Lambe for holding the assemblies over the Readathon week that encouraged and made us aware of Readathon. Mrs Brough will be announcing who raised the most very soon. 

Report by Liberty Busby Y8

Last week, a team of boys from King Edward VI High School, containing a mixture of Year 10s with a few Year 9s, played in a Rugby County Cup Final against Queen Mary’s Grammar School of Walsall.

The King Edward’s team had to pass through four other rounds to get to the final and faced tough opposition from teams that included Wolverhampton Grammar School.

Earlier in the year, this team had entered a district competition that took place at Stafford Rugby Club, and played against teams such as Blessed William Howard Catholic High School, Sir Graham Balfour School, Alleyne’s Academy and Walton High School. After playing all of these teams the King Eddie’s team came out on top and took overall victory after a close encounter with the Blessed William Howard team.

After this competition win, the Eddies' players went into the new competition with high hopes and with great confidence, and this played a part in the first game. They played a team from Aldersley High School who definitely exuded the same amount of confidence as the Eddies’ team, but a little less desire in the pouring rain.  The game was a tight one but the Eddies’ team just had the advantage and eventually won; 7 points to nil.

The next round was due to be against a Walton team who had lost to the Eddies’ players earlier on in the year. But due to unforeseen problems, the Walton team gave way meaning King Edward’s walked on into the next round.

In the next round our team faced an opponent whom they were becoming all too familiar with. Blessed William Howard was the team that had caused them the most amount of trouble in the District Competition, and they knew that it was going to be a difficult match. The Blessed William Howard’s team arrived with only 13 players, and even after gaining 2 more players from the Eddies’ team, they still decided to give the game before the match had started. This didn’t stop an enthralling match break out though as both teams played for pride. After a high scoring encounter Eddies’ edged the win, winning 23 –19.

Going into the semi-final, they were due to play against the favourites in the competition, but because of ineligible players this team was disqualified and so Wolverhampton Grammar School, who had lost to them in the previous round, took their place. Being at home, the Grammar School definitely had the early advantage, and with this advantage, they managed to notch up a 6-0 lead by half time. Half Time though was definitely the turning point. After an inspiring team talk by coach Mr Abel, the Eddies’ team went out all guns blazing, and with three consecutive tries by Josh Wilson, William Turner and Joe Shanley; they took a 15-6 lead running into the remaining moments. Wolverhampton Grammar tried to stage a late comeback with another try, but it wasn’t enough, and as the final whistle went, it was met by jubilation from the Eddies’ players and travelling supporters. The final score was 15-13.

Going in to the final, the Eddies’ players knew they were the underdogs. They were a smaller, less experienced team with much less resources compared to Queen Mary’s Grammar School that they were facing. And this lead to the score at half time: 17-0. Queens’ took a commanding lead going into half time from 3 tries, which all had controversial decisions made into the run-ups of the tries, but did really come from Eddies’ ill-discipline. These three tries really got the Eddies’ players up for the match and wanting revenge on a team which had perhaps not deserved such a big lead.

The Eddies’ players huffed and puffed, but couldn’t knock the Queens’ defensive wall down. It seemed that the Eddies’ players were getting tired and mentally drained, but before they could give up, Jordan Talbot picked the ball out of the air at the line-out a drove towards the line with the help of the Eddies’ forwards behind him. After huge drive by the team, the maul collapsed but only to find that Talbot had put the ball down for the try. The comeback was on.

Straight after the next kick-off, the Eddies players took control and pushed their way deep into the Queens’ defensive area. The Queens’ defence stole the ball back but only to then knock the ball on and give away a scrum only 10 metres out. After a strong scrum from both teams, the ball made its way to the feet of Eddies’ number 8, Jordan Talbot, where he picked the ball up and drove for the line. After stepping 2 people and handing off another, Talbot dived for the line and the try was given. The Eddies’ team was really back in the game.

Queens’ were now deflated, and after a nervy kick-off by them, and a sin bin for one of their players, Eddies’ gained a scrum on the half way after the ball didn’t go 10 metres. From the scrum the ball was shipped out to Will Turner, who kicked the ball over the top for winger Josh Wilson chase. After a lucky bounce, which meant that the Queens’ fullback couldn’t gather the ball, it fell to the feet of Wilson, who kicked it through towards the try line and carried on going until the ball bounced up into his hands and he could score the try. The scores were now 17-17 and it was anybody’s game.

The Queens’ sin binned player returned to the field, and this meant that the Queens’ team had rejuvenated energy and will and this evidently told as the player who just came back on, ran into the corner to score a try. The score was now 22-17 and stayed that way until the final whistle. The Eddies’ team played well but came up just short.

The Eddies’ players, like proper sportsmen, blamed everything under the sun for the reason why they lost, including the referee. But as an emotional Mr Abel explained to them all, they’re a developing team and to even get to the final was an achievement in itself.

In the end, the Eddies’ team was triumphant in defeat and will push again for the trophy next year.

Acting Headteacher, Mr. Christey, congratulated the rugby team on their wins. “Another fantastic performance by our sports teams, well done to you all. Despite setbacks and challenging circumstances throughout the rounds, you have proved successful and have done very well to reach the finals. An impressive triumph. You should be proud of getting so far.” Mr. Christey also thanked coach and Head of PE, Mr. Abel and the staff involved for their efforts and motivation of the team.  

Report by Jordan Talbot Y10

U15s team report by Jordan Talbot Y10

On Wednesday 30th April, the Year 10 boys’ football team took part in the semi-final of the District Cup. They faced a Walton High School team who beat them in the final just two years before, but went into the game on the back of a win against the reigning champions.

Walton, the team playing away, started quickly from the kick off and got in and behind the back of the Eddies’ back line numerous times. But with great defensive pressure from Callum Hope and Mathew Winnington, the Walton attackers never got a shot on target. After a few close calls, the Eddies’ players managed to get a foothold in the game and started to dictate the play.

The Eddies’ midfield and front line started to build pressure on the Walton defence, whilst the Eddies’ one stood tall. When the midfield picked the ball up in the middle of the park, the Walton back line was starting to look weary, and the Eddies’ forwards took advantage with a swift cross field play which dragged everybody across but left space for Charlie Clayton to finish into the right hand side of the goal.

Next it was the turn of Joshua Wilson to get on to the score sheet with a fine finish from just inside the box to the left hand corner after a neat bit of play from the Eddies’ front line.

At 2-0 down, the Walton team tried desperately to get back into the game, and they were starting to show signs of frustration when their moves were resulting in nothing, until from a short corner, they grabbed one back. From a short corner that wasn’t spotted earlier enough, the ball came in and the header was fired towards the goal, goalkeeper Jordan Talbot made a great initial save, but only for the ball to fall to the Walton striker who had an easy tap in.  The half time whistle went soon afterwards.

Straight after the break, Eddies’ regained their two goal cushion with a wonderful strike from Joshua Wilson, his second of the match, after a long ball over the top from keeper Jordan Talbot. The goal followed from an attack from the Walton frontline which petered out into the arms of the goalkeeper.

Soon after, Wilson finished his hat-trick with another strike following an over the top ball which the Walton defenders could not handle. With the wind swirling, the ball of the top bisected the defenders and left Wilson to straight drag race for the ball against the defender. Wilson just reached the ball first and stroked the ball past the keeper.

At 4-1 down, again the Walton team looked defeated, as from the kick off they played directly forward, play speculative balls, which rebounded off players, until the ball fell to the Walton striker, who took a speculative shot, which should have been a simple save by keeper Jordan Talbot. But during a compete howler, the ball rolled through the keepers’ legs and into the goal!

Final score: 4-2 to King Edward’s.

PE teacher and football coach, Mr. Warrilow, congratulated the team for their amazing performance. In other sports news, the U12 team beat Christ Church Academy 4-3, the U13s defeated Walton Priory Middle School 3-1 and the U16s crushed Alleyne’s Academy with a 1-0 win.

Acting Headteacher, Mr. Christey, said “The incredible performance by our talented players means that 4 out of our 5 teams will be competing in the finals next week. This is a tremendous achievement for our school and for the boys. Well done to all of the teams for their efforts, I am sure all staff, students and parents join me in wishing you all the best of luck for next week.”

The former Education Secretary, Estelle Morris, was in school on Friday to visit Year 10 students and support them in their GCSE studies. The Right Honourable Baroness Morris of Yardley, as she is now known, listened to the campaigns of several students as part of their GCSE Citizenship Controlled Assessments.
Lady Morris, who was Secretary of State for Education and Skills in the Labour Government of Tony Blair, watched and listened as students pitched their campaign ideas to make a change in society, ranging from issues such as Child Slavery in Africa and Drug Addiction in Young People to Reducing the School Leaving Age to 16 and School Uniform.
Students from the school's newsletter, The Edwardian, were also given the opportunity to interview Lady Morris about her career in politics (now as a member of the House of Lords) as well as her memories of teaching in secondary schools for 20 years. 
In speaking to reporters, Jordan Talbot and Gemma Stewart, Lady Morris talked about the importance of Citizenship Studies in school, saying it "empowers students" and teaches us "how as citizens we can solve problems". She added, "I am delighted that some good schools are still nurturing Citizenship and glad that at King Edward's it has remained an important part of the curriculum". "We [the Labour Government] made it part of the National Curriculum so young people could understand the role they can play as citizens."
Lady Morris stressed how it was "important to look beyond the 5 A*-C GCSEs to ensure a broad education for our young people."
Taking a trip down memory lane, Lady Morris said she had "fond memories" of her time as a school teacher between 1974 and 1992 and still receives letters from former students.
Acting Headteacher, Mr. Christey, said "this was a fantastic opportunity for some of our students to pitch their ideas to a member of the House of Lords and former Education Secretary. The Citizenship course encourages our young people to take an active interest in current affairs and global issues and engage with their local and world communities. Having the opportunity to voice their opinions to a former government minister was a real privilege for them and is a reminder of the important role young people play in society."
Citizenship teacher and event organiser, Mr. Lomas, thanked the former minister for her visit to the school and for all the work she did in supporting the students with their exams and hearing their views.
Lady Morris listened to the campaigns for nearly two hours, taking a keen interest in everything the students had to say and entering into discussion with them about their campaigns.
Lady Morris thanked the students and staff for inviting her and congratulated the students on their well-argued campaigns.