Kingsmead Staff Cricket XI V Year 10 On a beautiful sunny evening at Brompton Ralph CC, a staff team took on the all-conquering Year 10 side in their last school cricket match. Batting first the staff made a steady start until Mr Sinnott got going and quickly reached 31 hitting 3 sixes before retiring. New PE teacher Mr Fairclough scored freely before being out for 18 and Mr Porters 15 at the end of the inning left the staff score on 116. The Yr 10’s were well lead in the field by Reece Hale, all bowled tidily with Yannick Nash the most successful taking 2 for 16. In reply the Yr 10’s got off to a slow start against some tight bowling with Lawrence Priest surviving a sharp caught and bowled attempt by Mr Elkins. Lawrence and Johnnie Benson soon benefitted from this ground work and cashed in both retiring on 30. Olly and Reece Hale both chipped in with 12 and 16 respectively. Everyone got to bat and the students eventually won with an over to spare. It was a great match played in the spirit that the team have shown throughout their cricket at Kingsmead, they are a credit to the school. Thank you to Brompton Ralph CC for their use of their great facilities.

Three students from Year 8 visited Bridgwater & Taunton College for 2 days at the end of June to take part in the college’s Challenge for Women: Construction and Engineering Project. The project provides the opportunity for girls to gain hands-on experience of construction and engineering, practise engineering techniques and meet female role models from within the industry. The girls were selected to take part in the project after writing their own letters of application and this trip was the first of several which will take place over the next three years.

Kingsmead played in the National Youth Futsal cup finals on Saturday 23rd June in Birmingham, playing particularly well and enjoying a great experience. It was the final competition of a long and successful season where they have been crowned Taunton Area Champions, County Champions and Regional Champions along the way. The team of boys from Year 7 were a credit to the school and although they didn’t win the Futsal Cup they do have the consolation of being the only school team to progress through to the National Finals where they flew the flag for the South West. Full credit goes to each of the players who were supported in force by parents on an action packed day of futsal. Well done boys! Squad: Logan Thomas, Matthew Templeton, Charlie Wingfield, Matthew Woodbury, Charlie Freeman, Oliver Chaffey, Harry Storry.

On Saturday 16th June Year 10 students visited Bristol for the day as part of their Art, Music and Drama studies. First stop for the 33 students was The Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, where the group had the chance to view the work of Grayson Perry, one of Britain’s most famous living artists. Then after a picnic lunch the students took to their seats to watch ‘Miss Saigon’ at the Bristol Hippodrome. This was a great opportunity for the students to see a live theatrical performance, take in the set designs and understand how successfully music can be composed and performed professionally in the Performing Arts industry.

This June Kingsmead athletes have competed at the County and at the South West Schools Athletics Championships. First were the County Championships, held on 9th June in Yeovil, where there were some amazing results for Kingsmead, with five students becoming a County Champion and winning gold, several more winning silver/bronze and seven students qualifying for the South West Championships.

Year 6 mathematicians from our feeder primary schools visited Kingsmead on Monday 11th June for a half day of Maths Challenges. The Year 6 children first spent time working in small mixed school teams on a challenge to construct a self-supporting tower. They then competed in a Relay Race in their school teams answering Maths questions. The day was a great chance for Year 6 children to visit Kingsmead prior to joining Year 7 this September.

Kingsmead’s Year 11 students celebrated in style at their Prom night on Friday 15 June, held at Oake Manor Golf Club. The students made their grand entrances to the cheers of family and friends, arriving in a variety of styles including Limos, Cadillacs and Rolls-Royces to tractors, campervans, on horseback and even on stilts! After photos on the red carpet the students went on to enjoy a 3-course meal and disco inside the venue with their classmates and teachers. It was a super evening for the year group and a fitting finale to their final year at school.

Kingsmead’s Year 7 boys’ futsal team go from strength to strength. A big well done to the boys who became South West Regional Champions following competition on Sunday 17 June at the Regional Finals held in Paignton. The team played five games in the tournament; winning four and drawing one to secure the trophy. The boys will now play in the National Finals next weekend in Birmingham and we wish them every success.

On Wednesday 13th June twelve Year 7 students visited Taunton School to take part in a day of maths challenges. The students worked as two teams, competing against other local schools in a series of tasks. These included a treasure hunt and a relay race which involved mathematical problem solving, plus a Sudoku game with a food theme (named ‘Fodoku’).

Kingsmead welcomed students and teachers from Plettenberg, Germany into school last week. The group, from the school Albert-Schweitzer-Gymnasium, spent two days with us as part of their study visit to the area. In school they joined Kingsmead students in lessons to find out what life is like in an English school. Miss Whitcombe's Year 9 German class were paired up with the German students to show them around and complete a joint piece of work which will be on display in the language block. Our visitors took part in PE and Catering lessons, developing their cricket skills and baking scones. They also visited Lynton, Lynmouth and Minehead while in the UK on their 4 day trip.