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Principal's Blog

Principal's Blog
  • 27th November 2012

    • Congratulations

      Congratulations to our team of four sixth formers who represented Stover in the Regional Senior Team Mathematics Challenge at Exeter University. This really is a sensational success and I am very proud of them all.

      Stover were competing against 15 other schools from the region, including Exeter School, Maynard School, Blundells, Colyton Grammar School, Wellington College, and similar so the opposition was very strong. Our team consisted of James Li and Ngoc To from Year 13 and Andra Zahara and Jane Chen from Year 12 who did brilliantly in gaining a score of 133 out of a maximum of 176. Some of the questions were of a standard well beyond Further Mathematics A Level and demanded mathematical flair and creativity in determining the best approach. In addition, the questions had to be answered under very tight time pressure. Because of the team nature of the event, they also had to demonstrate shrewd strategic thinking in determining how the team divided up the work on the questions.

      The Challenge is run annually by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust jointly with the Further Mathematics Support Programme and this year was sponsored by Rolls Royce. At regional level, it consists of three rounds of different types of questions where the marking is very strict with no marks for correct part-answers or for using the right method but with calculation slip-ups or for going broadly in the right direction!

      Having won the regional heat, our team has been invited to participate in the National Finals in London on Tuesday 5 February 2013, competing against the winners of the other regional heats. This will be a full day event with an additional fourth round based on work prepared in advance. Pupils will receive two certificates each - one for being part of a participating team and the other for gaining first place as part of the regional winning team. I will present these certificates in the next Whole School Assembly.

  • 24th January 2013

    • Sunshine 

      How lovely it is to see the sunshine today after so much snow, hail, sleet and rain…. long may it continue.

      Pupils of all ages love the snow but I know for many of you the last few days have proved difficult for travelling.

      The timetable has run almost in its entirety and thank you for all your support on Tuesday when I took the decision to finish lessons early enabling pupils, parents and staff to get home safely.

      I hope you found the Clarion Call messages helpful. 

      As a boarding school, the school is always open whatever the weather and you can be assured your child will be supervised if you are delayed at any time.

      The public examination season is with us again and several Senior Day pupils stayed in boarding this week to make sure they did not miss their exams due to the snow.

      I look forward to seeing the first signs of Spring, which hopefully is just around the corner.

  • 4th February 2013

    •  

      Another busy week at Stover!

      Four of our Sixth Form students, with their Teachers Mrs Lucy Cocker and Mr John Earle, are on their way to London to take part in the National Finals of the Mathematics Challenge. They recently won the Regional Final which was held at Exeter University.  

      Good luck to the Stover Team:   James Li, Jane Chen, Andra Zaharia and Ngoc To.
       

      Jane Chen was recently placed in the top 25% of pupils in the National Mathematics Kangaroo Challenge and received a Silver Certificate in recognition of this achievement.  Well done, Jane.
       

      Well done to our Year 13 pupils who have received a number of excellent University offers.   James Li has been offered a place at Cambridge to read Natural Sciences. 
       

      In the Entrance Hall we enjoyed a lovely display of coastal cakes, from Year 8. This is a joint project between the Home Economics and Geography Departments. I was very tempted by the Cadbury’s chocolate fingers but resisted!
       

      The Jubilee Hall was a hive of activity on Friday afternoon - we hosted our annual Year 9 Careers Fair. Local employers across a wide range of professions joined us for the afternoon.
       

      Another busy week at Stover!

  • 7th February 2013

    • New Recording Studio

       

      We launched our new recording studio this week. It is located within the Music department next to the Chamber Hall. It consists of a computer running Cubase, KRK monitors, a Roland keyboard, a Yamaha mixing desk and a Tascam Digital to Audio interface. It will enable pupils to get a ‘hands on’ experience of creating and recording their own music. We will be posting their recordings onto the School Website in the future. Parents may also aspire to be a star of the future and you are very welcome to join us in the studio!

  • 14th February 2013 (St Valentine’s Day!)

    • St Valentine's Day 

       

      Congratulations to our Year 6 pupils who achieved some excellent results in their scholarship examinations. 

       

      This week we have held a Whole School Open Day and our first Open House in Boys’ Boarding. We welcomed many prospective parents and their children on Saturday to Stover and I know many of our current parents enjoyed their tours of our boarding facilities in Clock House on Tuesday.

       

      Thank you to all the pupils who led tours – it is much appreciated.

       

      I am able to reveal that the “theme” for the House Music Competition this year is Elvis Presley. House Leaders chose their Elvis song this week and rehearsals will soon be in full swing.

       

      Half term starts tomorrow. I wish you all a very enjoyable break and let’s hope we do see some Spring sunshine!

       

  • Friday 3rd May 2013

    • The forecast looks good for the May Bank holiday weekend!

       

      I know we are all pleased that Spring has finally arrived and with the lighter, longer evenings more of our activities can be outside, taking advantage of our beautiful grounds.  On Wednesday, the Sixth Form hosted a BBQ for staff and Yrs 9-11, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.

       

      Public exams have started.  Pupils are focusing on their final revision and we wish them every success.   In the meantime Year 11 pupils have their Prom to look forward to next week, at The Lord Haldon Hotel.

       

      Final preparation and training is in hand for the Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenges next weekend.   Good luck! 

       

      Three of our pupils have been offered places on the Salters’ Chemistry Camps at St Andrew’s University this summer.  Well done!

       

      This week we have had an informative visit from the Beekeepers’ Society who demonstrated how to inspect a hive of bees.   We hope to have our own hives at school in the near future.

       

      Last week Silver D of E pupils were camping at the Kennford International Park and have been praised by the owners for their swift action in response to a potentially serious incident.

       

      The forecast looks good for the May Bank holiday weekend! 

  • Monday 13th May 2013

    • The Adventures Ahead


      On Friday there was much excitement at school as our teams made their final preparations for the Jubilee Challenge and Ten Tors events.

      Just before they set off, with Mr Brown and Mrs Head, I presented them with their individual Stover sweatshirts and wished them all the best for the adventures ahead.

      Both teams crossed the finishing line with good times, despite the poor weather conditions.  On the high moor it was very misty and very wet!

      Well done to Sidney, Orla, Sam, Ben, Katja and Jake (Ten Tors team) and Anna-Mae, Ricardo and Maddy (Jubilee Challenge).  Thanks also go to Will and Amy for their support.

      On a lighter note, Year 11 held their Prom at the Lord Haldon Hotel on Friday evening.   Pupils and staff enjoyed good food, entertainment and dancing. 

      I will be at the Devon County Show on Thursday afternoon.  Please do drop into see us.