News and Diary

Welcome to the News and Diary pages where we aim, through
reports and pictures, to give you an insight into life at
Queen Margaret's School
.

Autumn Term 2008

Appointment of new Headmaster

The Chairman and Board of Governors are pleased to announce that Dr Paul Silverwood has been appointed as Headmaster of Queen Margaret's School to begin in September 2009. He will succeed Dr Geoffrey Chapman who retires at the end of this academic year after 16½ years of distinguished service.
Dr Silverwood joins QM from Benenden School in Kent where he is currently Assistant Head and Director of Studies. He was born in 1971 and attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield. He read Natural Sciences at Cambridge before going on to do a PhD in Nuclear Chemistry at Manchester University. Thereafter he taught Science at North London Collegiate School before becoming Head of Chemistry at St Edwards School, Oxford. He is married to Rebecca and they have two daughters, aged 5 years and 3 months.
The Chairman and Board of Governors believe that Dr Silverwood's appointment will put QM in the strongest possible position to consolidate, strengthen and expand the school's position as one of the very few all-girls schools which offers all-round excellence in a boarding environment.



Great North Runners

This year 24 girls and 4 members of staff will take part in the Great North Run on Sunday 5th October, our largest team yet.
Team QM is aiming to beat the £3000 raised for charity last year with this year's proceeds going to Children with Leukaemia, Great Ormond St Hospital for Children and The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, charities chosen by the girls.
Anyone wishing to be a sponsor should contact the school by phone on 01904 728261 or
e-mail enquiries@queenmargaretsschool.co.uk
Team QM Limbers Up


ChemNet Visit

On 24th September the Chemistry department welcomed Dr Paul Nilsson, the ChemNet ambassador for the Royal Society of Chemistry.
He spoke to sixth form girls about the variety of careers available to them as a result of studying chemistry and the support that the RSC offers throughout their A Level course.


Queens of Drama

Olivia Brown, Alicia Theaker, Alexandra Townsend-Rose and Lucy Trower, have just learned from the examiners that they were all among the top ten highest scoring candidates in this years GCSE Drama examination.
Commenting on their achievement Dr Chapman said ''individual girls have received similar recognition in Modern Languages and English but never has the school achieved four top ten places nationwide in one subject - these are probably the best results in the country''.
Olivia Brown, Alicia Theaker, Alexandra Townsend-Rose and Lucy Trower with QM's Director of Drama Mrs Deborah Whitcombe

 

Science Non-fiction

On Friday 16 September girls in the school's Scientific Society heard Mr Simon Hadlington give interesting and frequently amusing account of his work as a freelance scientific journalist. His audience learned how stories are researched and how they are made accessible to both general readers and the readers of scientific journals.
Mr Hadlington with Miss McDermott who teaches Chemistry

2008 Exams Success

QM's Public Examination results this year were again very satisfactory. At A2, the 77 percent of passes at A or B grade compared well with our 5-year average and was as predicted. Most girls secured places at their first choice universities.
At AS-level, QM candidates achieved 71 percent of As and Bs, a great improvement on last year and at GCSE, the girls gained a 63 percent pass rate at A* or A grade.

Fourteen in County Lacrosse Squads
Congratulations to the QM senior lacrosse players who won places in the Yorkshire squads at the trials held at Harrogate Ladies' College on Saturday 13 September.
Selected for the 'A' Squad were - Alex Bell, Olivia Brown, Jenny Hobbiss, Katie Lambert, Harriet Noble, Poppy Ropner, Sophie Samuelson and Anna Wilson.
Selected for the 'B' Squad were Alice Bowring, Hannah Emerson, Lotty Forbes Adam, Phoebe Robinson, Alex Townsend-Rose and Lucy Trower

QM Wins at Hickstead

The QM Team of Sophie Beaty, Rosanna Lambert, Daisy Miller and Violet Miller (reserve) who won this year's National Schools and Pony Club Jumping Championships at Hickstead during the Summer holiday. To add to the thrill of winning in the Hickstead Main Arena, their prizes included a gold cup which remains at Hickstead, a second cup to keep for the year, rosettes, medals, sashes and rugs.

 

Summer Term

Forensic Science and Ice-cream

On June 25, thirteen AS chemists and physicists had the opportunity to visit Hull University to experience working in the University's science departments. The day started with lectures; for the chemists the subject was forensic science and for the physicists, black holes. Later, the girls worked in the undergraduate labs where the chemists tried their hand at forensic analysis while the physicists carried out a range of experiments, a highlight of which was to make ice-cream!

Winning Young Scientists

Winners of the QM Junior Schools' Science Challenge this year were the Riccall Primary School's ''Out of this World'' team. Well done.

 

A Mathematical Challenge

Maths can be rewarding, especially for those Year III girls who sat in the hot seat at this year's Mathionaire competition. As in Who Wants to be a Millionaire, the more questions answered the bigger the prize but in this competition all the questions are mathematical. Congratulations to all who took the challenge and especially to Catherine Hocknell and Tak Wai Chan who achieved perfect scores.

Online Uniform Shop Goes Live

We are pleased to announce that you can now purchase QM school uniform, online, from Schoolblazer Ltd. Just click on the link below and follow the prompts. If you have any difficulty, the Schoolblazer helpline is on hand from Monday to Saturday.

www.schoolblazer.com


Dahl's Plays Delight

The Year IV productions of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach and Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory delighted an audience from Escrick Primary School. May '08

Come to Tea

It was party time at Red House on 25 May when the girls in Year 1 entertained the staff to tea

Brimham Rocks

It was a great day out when Year III visited Brimham Rocks on a joint Chemistry and Geography field trip to study the impact of tourism on the area, erosion and weathering and soil characteristics.

D of E Wolds Expedition

Year IV girls on a practice expedition in the Yorkshire Wolds in preparation for their D of E Bronze awards.



Chess Champion

Congratulations to Gerardine Labonte-Hazlewood who won the Girls' Under 14 trophy in the York Schools Chess Championships held on 18th May

Sunshine and Tennis

The afternoon of 15 May was bright and sunny, ideal for Senior House Tennis won this year by School House.

 

QM Sixth Formers Support Charities

Lower Sixth girls taking part in this year's Queen Margaret's Prince's Trust (QMPT) challenge raised almost £4000 to be donated to charities including The David Lewis Centre (£476.52), Breast Cancer Haven Yorkshire Appeal (£503.53) and The Prince's Trust (£3013.18). For more information about QMPT go to 'Curriculum', click on 'Clubs and Activities' and scroll down.

Musicians Make Merry

True to form the Music Departments Annual Dinner
on 1 May was joyful celebration of music and the girls' achievements. The occasion also had its light hearted moments when the ''less serious awards'' were made -but first the Prize Winners.
Brass - Katie Morton
Woodwind - Jess Nutt
Percussion - Blaze Harper Gow
Strings - Camilla Beese
Keyboard - Joyce Wong
Voice - Alex Hope
Prefect - Sarah Morton
Commitment and Enthusiasm while at QM - Rosie Keith.
Fun prizes, too many to mention here, included -
Highest heels worn at a concert - Alice Leaman-Brown
The most Divaish Diva - Valentina Rodrigues
Best pirouette whilst playing the flute - Suzy Halstead
Least adept at juggling Dance and Choir rehearsals - Georgie Miller
.

Royal Academy Shortlist

A painting entitled 'Cloudy Weather' by Amelia Owen (LVI) is one of 105 submissions shortlisted from over 760 entries for the
A-Level Summer Exhibition Online
organised by the
Royal Academy of Arts.

Murderous Maths

On 30 April, Kjartan Poskitt, the author of Murderous Maths, entertained Years I and II with his fast and extremely witty presentation on matters mathematical.


Masterchefs

The School House team, winners of this year's Junior 'Masterchef' competition



Scottish Dance Championships

Congratulations to Suzy Halstead who won the Scottish U18 Ballet Championships for the second year running and also to Megan McMillan who, at a separate event, came 3rd overall in the Scottish Highland Dance Championships. Both events took place during the Easter holidays.

Starring Year IV

This Year's GCSE text of Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' was brought to life for Year IV when the theatre group 'Say Two' gave a performance in the school's theatre on the first day of term. Afterwards, and with great enthusiasm, several girls had the opportunity to perform scenes from the play in an interactive workshop.


Spring Term 2008

Sporting Achievements

QM came a very creditable joint 5th in the National Schools' Senior Students' Tennis Finals held at the Bolton Arena on 14 March, a fine achievement against schools nationwide.
Playing for QM were - Ellie Jarvis, Hattie Liddle, Lucy Lovett and Thea Speke.
There was further success in the York and District U15 Netball Tournament when the QM team won all its matches to retain the trophy. Playing for QM were - Lotty Forbes Adam, Venetia Foster, Tamsin Martin-Smith, Rebecca Pratt, Poppy Ropner, Davina Thorne and Miranda Wallace.



Music Festival Week

A masterclass by an international concert pianist and a recital by The Field String Quartet were just two of the many events included in QM's Music Festival Week, March 3rd - 8th.
Sarah Beth Briggs, a pianist more used to concert halls worldwide, spent an afternoon with some of QM's music scholars and in the evening, gave a recital open to the school, parents and guests.

Bollywood Style

The Move It exhibition at Olympia on 9th March was an opportunity for six senior school girls to attend dance classes ranging from Bhangra, 'Bollywood Style', to Advanced Jazz as well as to watch some superb performances by dancers from the London Colleges


The Visit of a Celebrated Author

On 4th March QM was delighted to welcome Anne Fine, Children's Laureate 2001-2003 and winner of the Whitbread Award in 1993 and 1996, who gave a fascinating presentation on the theme Adaptations. There was also an opportunity for girls to have their copies of her books 'signed by the Author'.



Honk

QM's Junior and Middle School actresses delighted audiences with their performance Honk, a musical based on the story of the
Ugly Duckling. With good singing from a strong cast and a lively interpretation of an amusing script, success was assured.

Three Hundred Competitors at QM Junior Sports Tournament

Last Friday, QM welcomed over 300 girls to the annual Junior Sports Tournament, a popular event which this year attracted 17 schools including one, Cargilfield Prep School, from Edinburgh. In the morning, while preliminary rounds of the hockey and netball competitions were being played, the cross country race took place.
First home was Rowan Palmour from Tregelles School with St Mary's, Lincoln, taking five of the first ten places.
The netball competition, played at a very high standard despite the windy conditions, was won for the second year running by Belmont Grosvenor with Grantham Prep School runners up. Hockey winners this year were Cundall Manor who beat Wellow House in a well contested final.



Classicists in Greece

Mrs King's GCSE Greek group in
Athens at half term

The Dancing Queens

During the weekend 2/3 February it seemed as if most of the girls at QM were dancing. On Saturday the Prefects were hosts to the Monitors from Ampleforth at the annual Burns Night celebrations and on Sunday, a cast of over 70 girls delighted their audience in a spectacular performance in dance of Cinderella.
The Cast Takes a Bow

Visit to Wordsworth's Home

Early in February, twenty six UVI girls in the English Department had the opportunity to visit Dove Cottage, the home of William Wordsworth in Grasmere and later went on a lecture/walk above Rydal Water.

 


Three Years - Three Wins

For the third year in succession QM's 2nd XII took the trophy at Scottish Schools' Open Lacrosse Tournament held at Loretto School on the 19th January. Having won all five first round matches, the 2nds won their semi final 4 - 3 and went on to beat Abbots Hill
2 - 1 in the final.
QM's 1sts won three and drew two games to reach their semi-final but lost 3 - 0 to North London Collegiate, the eventual tournament winners.
QM's Victorious 2nds

Masterchefs

The Garry Team, winners of this year's
Middle School Masterchef Competition

 


Some Great North Runners

QM's Great North Run team beat their target of £2,500 raising just over £2,800 for York Cancer Research. Congratulations to the team and thank you to all its sponsors.


Autumn Term 2007

A Christmas Carol - a Hit

Judging by the flood of e-mails and letters congratulating the cast, the production team and the Drama Department, the school's presentation of A Christmas Carol was a resounding success.

Thank You to the Sponsors

The school, and particularly all those involved with A Christmas Carol, would like to thank the sponsors for their kind and generous support.
Beautique, Escrick
The Black Bull, Escrick
Ben Johnson, Stationery Supplies
Britsafe Security Limited
Escrick Park Estate
Ingleby's Luxury Coaches
J R Rix & Sons
Park Laundry
The Parsonage Hotel, Escrick
York Road Garage, Escrick

Quiz and Pizza

Upper Sixth Chemists celebrate a creditable 3rd place out of twelve teams competing at a Quiz and Pizza evening run by The Royal Society of Chemists ChemNet at Bradford University.



A Place in the Regional Finals

As runners up in the county round of the National Schools' Netball Championships held at Thirsk on 17 November, QM's U16 team has secured a place in the North Regional Finals

Master Chefs

The Hall Team, winners of this year's Senior Masterchef competition

Conkers

The winner of this year's Chaplain's Year 1 Conker Championship was Harriet Bird with Sophie May just a split conker away in second place.

A Good Sports Week

Congratulations are due to several QM sports teams for their achievements during the last week. The Under 16 Hockey team took the County title with the Under 18s runners up in their group. Both teams now go through to the District round.
In lacrosse the school's 2nds won the Northern Schools' Tournament and twelve QM girls represented the County in the Under 14'A' and 'B' teams.
Northern Schools' Champions

Congratulations are also due to Jenny Hobbiss who has been invited to attend the National Centre of Excellence for Lacrosse, training with the England Under 19 Squad.

Performing Arts, Parkin and Pyrotechnics
Friday November the 2nd was day when children from the regions junior schools came to QM's Centenary Theatre for the Junior Performing Arts event, a day filled with music, drama and dance and above all, the opportunity to perform.
Meanwhile, QM girls were preparing for their special weekend which included the much enjoyed junior and middle schools' Activities Day. This time, drama and art workshops were added to the programme of clay pigeon shooting, archery and air rifle shooting.
The finale on Sunday evening saw the whole school come together for the Bonfire Party which, as ever, lived up to expectations with Guys to be judged, parkin and toffee apples and of course, a superb display of fireworks.


Promoting Careers in Science

Members of the Garry House team, this years winners of QM's annual competition for Year IV girls 'This Could Be You'. House teams compete to discover the profession of invited guests who work in science related fields. This year's visitors included a quality assurance analyst, an osteopath, a plant pathologist, a patent attorney and a psychotherapist.

 

John Rutter at QM

On 6 October, QM was the venue for The Association of Choral Directors, Yorkshire Region, to sing under the direction of John Rutter, the world renowned choral composer and conductor. It was also a once in a lifetime opportunity for members of the school's Chamber Choir who were invited to join the company and sing under the direction of this celebrated musician.

Some Great North Runners

Once again QM entered a team for The Great North Run, this year hoping to raise at least £2500 for Yorkshire Cancer Research. Team members included Harriet Cameron Little, Matilda Clark, Jessica Osborne and Sarah Procter with Miss Whittle, Dr Chapman and
Mr Miller from the staff, all finished in very respectable times.
It's not too late to support the team, just send a cheque made out to 'Yorkshire Cancer Research' to Nicky Craig at the school.

A Weekend for All
Weekends at QM are busy times but the 15/16th September was exceptional. On Saturday, in addition to a full sports fixtures list, Old Margaretians re-visited the school for their AGM, service and lunch. On Sunday, more visitors when QM was the venue for the County Hockey Development Programme as well as the County Under 15 and Under 17 trials.
Sunday's main event however was the Junior and Middle School Activities Day which gave the girls an opportunity to try their hand at something new. Clay pigeon shooting, fencing, rifle shooting, archery, fly fishing and circus skills were all on offer, each under the guidance of instructors brought in for the day. Anyone just dropping in would have seen a lot of girls having a very good time. In the evening, new girls and old hands had further opportunity to meet at the 'getting to know you supper'.

.........meanwhile the LVI went paintballing


A View of Ancient Greece
Fourteen QM classicists claimed the honour of 'first trip of the new term' with their visit on 7 September to the theatre in Newcastle to see the RSC production of Penelopiad. The play, by Margaret Attwood, is a re-telling of the Odyssey from the women's point of view. Imaginative staging, fine acting by the all female cast and the use of choruses all contributed to a performance with a tangible feeling of ancient Greece.


QM at the B A Festival of Science

On 11 September, 39 sixth form scientists went to York University to attend lectures given at the British Association's Festival of Science. Topics included Nuclear Fusion and Are you Living Sustainably, several girls won book prizes. In the afternoon the subject was careers in science and engineering.
In the evening it was the turn of Year II to visit the University to see a demonstration entitled The Delights of Chemistry given by Dr. Mike Hoyland and sponsored by The Royal Society of Chemistry. The girls clearly enjoyed the spectacular presentation given by a chemist who is regarded as a superstar in the field of chemistry demonstrations, a reputation appreciated at QM following several visits to the school.

 

Summer Term 2007

A Fine End of Term

After two of the wettest months on record QM's end of term events, Speech Day and the Summer Ball, enjoyed fine weather, well almost.
By the evening of Speech Day the marquee had been transformed with a 'black and white' theme in preparation for a much enjoyed Summer Ball. Thanks are due to Dom Sidwell and her parents for their enormous contribution to the success of the Ball.
For some girls, school activities did not cease on Saturday as they looked forward to this summer's expeditions.

July 9 - !2 th - Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award expedition to the
North York Moors.
July 19 - August 10th - World Challenge Expedition to Sri Lanka
August 7 - 22nd - 'Operation Walacea' Expedition to Honduras August 28 - 31st - Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award (Riding) Expedition to the North York Moors.


Gift of a Bechstein

Performers after the concert to inaugurate the Bechstein Grand Piano once owned by the late Mr C P Clarke and generously given to the school by his daughter and members of his family

Science is Fun

Tuesday 26 June was QM's annual Science Challenge Day when over 40 young scientists from 8 junior schools came to QM to put their science skills to the test and make their presentations. This year's overall winners were Bootham Juniors with Riccall Primary School runners up. Best presentation - Cawood (team 2)
Well done.


A Bright Outlook

QM's LVI girls have just spent two days considering the opportunities that lie ahead in both higher education and the field of business. On day one visits to Manchester United and Manchester Airport gave an overview of major commercial enterprises and the roles of people who work there. The programme for the second day included marketing challenges guided by business professionals, an exercise assessing the quality of personal statements, an introduction to UCAS Apply and finally a talk on the pros and cons of a Gap Year given by a representative of Africa Asia Venture.

UK Maths Challenge

Congratulations to those girls who have been awarded their UK Junior Maths Challenge Certificates.
Bronze: Tak Wai Chan, Felicity Halstead, Alexandra Hamilton, Sophie Horrocks, Olivia Lucas, Pheobe MacMillan, Megan Ormston, Caroline Thompson, Katrina Williamson.
Silver: Willa Gray, Charlotte Hale, Teresa Leeming, Grace Whitcombe, Hannah Wilkinson.
Best in School:Charlotte Hale and Grace Whitcombe


Parents' and Daughters' Tennis Tournament 2007
One of the highlights of QM's sporting and social calendar is the Annual
Parents' and Daughters' Tennis Tournament which took place
on
17 June. Winners of this year's hotly contested and much
enjoyed tournament were -

Senior Mothers and Daughters
Winners: Emma and Sue Fisher
Runners up: Hattie and Caroline Liddle
Senior Fathers and Daughters
Winners: Lily and Mark Shepherd
Runners up: Matilda and Duncan Clark
Middle Mothers and Daughters
Winners: Frances and Judith Johnson
Runners up: Francesca and Fiona Mutch
Middle Fathers and Daughters
Winners: Isabelle and Mark Granger
Runners up: Anna and David Sheppard
Junior Mothers and Daughters
Winners: Rosie and Tracey Haggas
Runners up: Willa and Rosalinde Gray
Junior Fathers and Daughters
Winners: Hettie and Simon Riddell
Runners up: Georgie and Philip Pruden



Two Classic Plays for Children

Left- the BFG

Sophie meets the Queen

and below - Fantastic Mr Fox
Just before half term the Year IV Drama Group presented two Roald Dahl classics, The BFG and Fantastic Mr Fox, to an audience of parents, friends and children from Escrick Primary School.

 



Focus on Food

On 17 May, Upper and Lower Sixth girls taking business studies had the opportunity to act as a focus group for Parkam Foods when the company visited the school. As group members, the girls had to taste and comment on new products as well as to consider aspects of packaging design and product marketing.



Choristers' Travels

On 13 May, QM's Senior Choir sang Evensong at All Saints' Church, Brompton-by-Sawdon near Scarborough just ninety nine years and four days after its first such performance.
QM girls at Brompton in 1908

and earlier this term.....
The Senior Choir after singing at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel at Greenwich.

Winning Sailing Team Member

Over the weekend, 12/13 May, over 300 young sailors competed in the 2007 Royal Yachting Association's Eric Twiname Championships. Among them was Grace Fell (Yr III) who was a member of the North of England Team. Sailing Toppers, Grace's team were clear winners in their class.

 

Sky Dive Success

'Thank you to everyone who contributed towards my Sky Dive in support of Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust. I raised about £16,000 which would not have been possible without your help. This money has been gratefully received by Addenbrooke's Hospital and put towards finding cures for cancers such as Leukaemia'.
Sabrina Sampson


RLSS School of the Year 2006

QM's contribution to the work of the Royal Life Saving Society was recognised at the March AGM of the Yorkshire RLSS when the school was named 'School Of the Year for 2006'. Currently QM has over 40 holders of the bronze medallion, the highest number in a school in the region.

IV Go to Paris

Eight Yr IV girls spent a part of their Easter holiday living with French families in Paris. Their programme included time at a French school, sightseeing, Impressionist art at the Museé d'Orsay, shopping (of course) and a visit to Eurodisney all of which gave ample opportunity to improve their French.

Senior Scottish Ballet Champion

Congratulations to Suzy Halstead (Year IV) who won the Senior (Under 18) Scottish Ballet Championships during the Easter holiday.

Spring Term 2007
Oxbridge Information Evening

On 13 March, 300 pupils and parents, from 11 N Yorks schools, came to QM's Centenary Building to attend a joint presentation given by the Tutors for Admissions from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and Christ Church College, Oxford.

QM Triumphant

In a remarkable sporting fortnight, QM teams have shown winning form across the board.
The senior tennis squad won through to the national finals in the Nestlé Senior Students' Tennis Championships, the U18 hockey team won the York and District Hockey Tournament for the eleventh time in fourteen years, the U15 lacrosse team won the Northern Schools' U15 Tournament and the U13 netball team, equalling the recent success of the U12s, won the Casterton U13 Netball Tournament. ''Go QM'' as they say!
The U15 Lacrosse Team

Battle of the Bands

Saturday Feb 24
This year's 'Battle of the Bands' saw groups from Uppingham, Ampleforth and Loretto, as well as two from QM, perform to loud applause.

Junior Schools' Netball Tournament

On Friday 2nd February over 200 girls, from 20 junior schools, came to Escrick Park to play in QM's 8th Junior Schools' Netball Tournament. This year's winners were Belmont Grosvenor from Harrogate with Beeston School, Norfolk, runners up.
Final score 6 - 5.

A Successful Audition

At the end of last term we learned that Harriett Hare (Yr IV) has been chosen to play the adult Cosette in the Northern Musical Theatre Company's production of 'Les Miserables'.
Harriett, who studies both singing and dance at QM, initially auditioned to be the young Cosette but won the senior role after auditioning with over 200 other hopefuls including a number of students currently studying music at university. The production is to be staged at the Grand Opera House, York, in July.

Oxbridge Offers

Congratulations to the following girls who have been offered conditional places at Oxford or Cambridge.
Lilly Shepherd to read PPE at Brasenose College Oxford,
Charlotte Whicher to read Physiological Sciences at Corpus Christi College, Oxford and Faith Julian to read History at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
Rose Blackett Ord, who sat her A2s in 2006, has an unconditional offer to read English at Somerville College, Oxford.


Autumn Term 2006

Team QM Raises over £5000 for Shelter

The members of Team QM would like to thank all those friends, colleagues and members of the QM community whose sponsorship helped them to exceed their £5000 target when they took part in the Great North Run.
The school would also like to thank the following organisations that kindly agreed to support the team's efforts.
Acanthus WSM Architects (Leeds), All Test Ltd., Batty's Joinery Manufacturers, Britsafe Security, Consultant Caterers, D J Byers, East Coast Fire Services Ltd. First Technology,
Galtres Fine Wines, Geoff Acomb & Sons, H F Brown & Sons. Ingleby's Luxury Coaches, IT@Spectrum,
M A Thomlinson (Plumbing), Rix Petroleum Ltd., Simpsons (York) Ltd., Station Taxis and York Rd Garage.
All money raised is to be given to Shelter.

Choristers Perform at Selby Abbey

Choristers from QM performed at Selby Abbey on 4th October in aid of the Abbey's Appeal Fund. The concert, of choral and orchestral music, was performed in conjunction with Ampleforth College.

Girls from Single-Sex Schools Succeed

An article was published in the Times newspaper in September 2006 under the headline "Single-sex school girls choose jobs they enjoy and earn more." The piece referred to a study of 13,000 people, born in 1958, throughout their lives. Researchers found that by the age of 16 girls from single-sex schools were more likely to study subjects they enjoyed and were good at rather than allowing gender stereotypes to influence their choice of subjects. This meant more maths and science, a pattern which carried through to university and subsequent employment. This in turn enabled the girls to enter work areas typically dominated by men and in which salaries tended to be higher. Reference was also made to research by the Economic and Social Research Council which found that while boys from single-sex schools did no better than their co-educational peers, girls from single-sex schools did do slightly better than theirs.

More recently, an article in The Economist, September 2007, made reference to research which looked at peer effects associated with gender. The study, by economists Victor Lavy of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Analia Schlosser of Princeton, looked at half a million students passing through school in the 1990s. Their findings ''chimed perfectly with conventional wisdom'' in that while boys benefit from being in a classroom with girls, girls do not benefit from being taught with boys. Furthermore, the higher the proportion of boys in a group the greater the effect on the girls' education.

Girls Only do Better in Exams

Data compiled from statistics supplied by the Independent Schools' Council