Olivia wins the Simon Bailes Scholarship

A Saltburn school girl with a passion for art has moved counties so that she can take up a recently-won scholarship at one of the region’s leading schools.

Olivia Forster and her family applied for and won the Simon Bailes Scholarship at Polam Hall School in Darlington and, now, the 11- year old and her family have moved to the town to allow Olivia to take up her scholarship.

The Simon Bailes Scholarship was the first business-sponsored scholarship and is the only external 11+ award at Polam Hall School which is promoted in local primary schools every year.

Candidates take part in an assessment day of exams to test academic skills and assess potential. Detailed reports from the primary school are a key part of the process and all candidates have an interview.

Olivia was selected as the winner of the Simon Bailes Scholarship after achieving a high standard in the written examinations and impressing staff at the interview stage. In addition, Olivia has a keen interest in art, something she inherited from her father who is an artist.

Simon Bailes Peugeot has been working in partnership with Polam Hall School for 11 years to extend entry to the school into the wider community. The scholarship has been a major success with many scholars going on to top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

Most recently, Suzie Millar achieved 4 A* in her A levels and has gone to the University of Cambridge to read theology.

Bridget Charlton, marketing manager of Simon Bailes Peugeot said: “Each year we are consistently impressed by the outstanding potential of the young people who apply for the scholarship. Olivia has the perfect mix of excellent academic credentials and a real love of the arts both of which she can pursue at Polam Hall School which excels in these areas.”

Head teacher of Polam Hall School, Marie Green said: “Over the past 11 years the Simon Bailes Scholarship has contributed to the bringing out of outstanding achievements from pupils who have gone on to study at the country’s top universities. Olivia is an enthusiastic scholar- even moving her family thirty miles to attend Polam Hall! Thanks to Simon, we can open up our facilities and teaching to the wider community and I look forward to many more years of working in partnership.”

Robyn takes centre stage with the Northern Sinfonia

A pupil from Polam Hall School has been selected to perform a moving and memorable solo at The Sage with the prestigious Northern Sinfonia.

Robyn Haggie, 15, is a member of one of The Sage choir groups, the ‘Key Lasses’. After a very competitive audition, Robyn was chosen to perform the solo of Howard Blake’s classic, Walking in the Air with The Northern Sinfonia at its Christmas concert.

The Northern Sinfonia performs an annual Christmas concert at The Sage and Robyn will be joining it for its five concerts over two days on December 23 and 24.

Robyn triumphed over 15 other singers at the audition to be chosen for one of the solo performances. The other solo singer is a member of all-male choir group at The Sage, the ‘Key Lads.’

Marie Green, Polam Hall’s headteacher, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Robyn who has done extremely well to be chosen for this solo. The standard of performance demanded by the Northern Sinfonia is very high and we are immensely proud of Robyn for this achievement.

“At Polam Hall School we support all our students in their activities outside school and encourage them to develop their talents further.”

Robyn Haggie, said: “I love music, especially singing and I also play the flute. I am very excited about performing with the Northern Sinfonia; it is a very prestigious orchestra. I am extremely fortunate to be picked to sing a solo with it and I am looking forward to performing Walking in the Air.

“I have attended a weekend school at The Sage for two years and I have also really enjoyed being part of the Key Lasses choir. I hope to continue singing alongside studying for my GCSEs.”

Click here to hear Robyn

Hello

Everyone at Polam Hall would like to say a huge thank you to Mr & Mrs Todd of Todd Highway Maintenance for clearing our car parks on Monday morning. It has helped enormously – not only with parking but it has eased the flow of traffic and made walking between the buildings much safer.

We have recently invested in a new Management Information System and have been working hard this term to ensure that all information has been transferred correctly and is up to date to the best of our knowledge. Early next term we will be sending you details of the information we hold – please take the time to check that everything is correct and return it to us. Once all the information is confirmed/corrected we will be able to use the e-mail and texting service associated with this system.

Congratulations to our Numbers Club winners this week: -
• 1st prize – A Wheeldon £20
• 2nd prize – B Cruickshank £14.50

A Polam Hall inspired patchwork bedspread, designed, stitched and kindly donated by Mandy Young, is currently being raffled. The bedspread can be viewed in the main foyer. Raffle tickets are available from the Junior & Senior School offices at £1 per ticket.

Please make a note in your diaries of the following dates this month: -
• Junior School Carol Concert – Tuesday 14th December at 2pm
• Senior School Carol Service at St Cuthbert’s Church – Wednesday 15th December at 11am
• Oliver – 11th/12th & 13th January 2011

A full list of events can be found on our website.

Buttercup News and the MyDaughter Newsletter are now available from the website and don’t forget – you can follow us on both Facebook and Twitter.

This is the last e-newsletter of 2010 and everyone here at Polam Hall would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.


The Polam Hall Team

Festive U6 Lit Lesson

Jodie's seminar paper today on the poet Ogden Nash yielded up the following poem, which once read we felt we should share with everyone as a little warning. We enjoyed it - hope you do too!
http://www.westegg.com/nash/santa.html

'Thank you' to Shoppers!

A big 'thank you' to the 95 students and staff who joined me on our annual Christmas shopping trip to the Metro Centre. Everyone was where they were meant to be and at the right time which meant a stressfree evening for all! Most of us returned with a 'few little bags'...secret Santas were purchased, sparkly bits of bling were sourced for the disco and, of course, gifts for parents? Ho Ho Ho! Thanks also to the parents who came to collect on such a wintry night.
Mrs Hardy

Hello

Polam Hall has been a Winter Wonderland this week with students of all ages enjoying the snow. For everyone here at Polam Hall it is the first time that the school has been closed due to the weather. During this spell of bad weather, please check the website which will be updated by 7am each morning if we are closing. Please click here for more information.

Regrettably the Junior School Production of Oliver has been postponed due to the poor weather. New dates will be advised before the end of term.

At present the Senior School trip to the Metro Centre on Monday will go ahead. Please click here for full details.

A Polam Hall inspired patchwork bedspread, designed, stitched and kindly donated by Mandy Young, is currently being raffled. The bedspread can be viewed in the main foyer. Raffle tickets are available from the Junior & Senior School offices at £1 per ticket. The draw will be made at the Junior School Carol Service on Tuesday 14th December

Please make a note in your diaries of the following dates this month: -
• Oliver (Junior School Production) – POSTPONED
• Parents’ Association Numbers Club – next draw 9th December 2010
• Junior School Carol Concert – Tuesday 14th December at 2pm
• Senior School Carol Service at St Cuthbert’s Church – Wednesday 15th December at 11am

A full list of events can be found on our website.

Buttercup News is now available from the website

Don’t forget – you can now follow us on both Facebook and Twitter. Both have been updated re closure throughout the week.


The Polam Hall Team