After the success of our Dance Show last term, we are delighted to be able to present another in-person event. As part of our annual Spark event celebrating the Marple Hall Spirit we are inviting you to join us for an evening of Art, Dance, Drama and Music performed by students and staff. During the evening there will also be an auction of prints of selected GCSE artwork.
Exhibitions of our student’s artwork can be viewed from 6 pm with the performances starting at 7 pm. Showcasing the opening number from this year’s school show “We Will Rock You”, our Concert Band and many other performances this is an event not to be missed!
For full details about tickets and other performances see our Performances page.
Over the past term, students have been participating in our extra-curricular challenge. The challenge known as the “Blue Peter Badge Challenge” is based on the children’s BBC television programme of the same name. Blue Peter badges are awarded for sending in interesting stories, makes, pictures, poems and more.
We have set ourselves the target, for every student in Key Stage 3 to achieve a Blue Peter Badge. Students were set challenges based on the themes of four Blue Peter badges, including the environment, music and sports. We have already had over 100 entries, which we have helped students send off to Blue Peter, to gain their real Blue Peter Badges.
We are currently exploring the green badge, which we are using to help develop our wellness garden. Make sure, you get involved. If you would like more information, please speak to your form tutor or Mr Osgood.
Here are just a few of the entries we have received.
Firstly, thank you to everyone who sent in ideas for the new school strapline – see last week’s blog here for more details. We’ve had loads of great suggestions and there’s still time to add to the list if you find yourself inspired.
Secondly this week I’d like to highlight just one example of the kind of activities that young people are involved in regarding climate change. Challenging the climate crisis is something that many people are passionate about, and it is something that unites a great many young people. Their passion for protecting the environment of the future is clear to see, and this can only be a good thing for everyone.
Despite a pause during Covid Stockport has always been keen to give a forum for young people to shape future policy on climate change, and last week two students were able to take part in a debate in the council chamber. Schools were invited to put forward proposals and the best ones will be debated by the actual council with a view to making them happen. Therefore this was a genuine chance to change policy and make a difference. Sophie Ellwood and William Roberts did a great job representing MHS having already done very well to earn the right to present their views.
Miss Sargeant has been instrumental in supporting students in this campaign and so I’ll let her explain what happened, see below!
Thanks
Joe Barker
Initially 70 schools sent forward their ideas for policy change in Stockport. 20 schools were chosen to attend the debate and just 5 were chosen to present their idea… we were one of the 5, arguing for more grants to help insulate houses.
Schools across Stockport were asked to put forward ideas to fight against Climate Change and 5 were chosen to go forward to council. In the end the students of Stockport voted for sustainable sanitory products across schools, put forward by Reddish Vale. All 5 ideas will be put forward to council and the winning one will be put into policy.
Sophie and Will laid out an outstanding argument to create grants for housing insulation. They researched the criteria for the funding and realised this had recently ceased and due to rising energy bills this was not just important but something that could affect not just adults but all young people. They argued that rented properties deserved the same opportunity as home owners and that this had to change immediately. Will and Sophie were spoken to by the mayor, councillors and other schools about their maturity when delivering, how well they carried themselves throughout the day and how passionate they were. They were absolutely amazing and I am so proud to have been a part of it with them. This was an opportunity for Stockport students to make a difference and that they did with force.
Even only irregular readers of my blog over the past four months will know that I have spent a lot of time talking about the Marple Hall Spirit. We’ve done a great deal of work over that time re-awakening the Marple Hall Spirit, which we felt had gone to sleep a little in the slow and stunted journey out of covid.
We think we’re making good headway and it’s great to see students engaging with the various ways in which we are promoting our school ethos. However, I can’t get away from the fact that the current cohorts of students weren’t with us in 2016 when the Marple Hall Spirit was created. The same apples to plenty of staff, and no doubt loads of parents too.
So, whilst we are not looking to re-write the Marple Hall Spirit, there is a very important piece of work that we can do together. Alongside the Marple Hall Spirit sits our school ‘strapline’ – a short and pithy statement that is supposed to sum up what we are and what we believe in. Think Nike’s ‘Just do it’ or Tesco’s ‘Every little helps’. Our current strapline is ‘Our community, Our Future’.
It was written in 2013 and whilst it does a good job of summarising some of the things we believe in, it doesn’t really hit the mark. A good strapline is one that can be used regularly by everyone in the organisation, should be positive and uplifting, and should inspire people to action. As worthy as ‘Our community Our future’ is, I have hardly ever (never) used it in general conversation with a student, parent or colleague. It isn’t an action or something that can be used as encouragement to act in a certain way.
Therefore the Governors and I have agreed that we’re looking for a new strapline, and we have begun the process of creating a long-list of possible options. Eventually we’ll ask all students and staff to vote on their favourite, probably in September so the new Year 7s can take part, but for now we’re at the idea generation stage. So far I have over 100 ideas collected from staff, governors and a group of 80+ student volunteers. Now it’s your turn. If you can think of a great strapline that sums up what we are trying to achieve at Marple Hall School, or what it is we care about most, and especially if it is something that we can use to inspire young and old alike…then please let me know. Feel free to email me directly at joe.barker@marplehall.stockport.sch.uk and I’ll add your thoughts to the list.
I’ve just got back to my office after spending a lovely half an hour at this Year’s GCSE Art exhibition. It’s been three years since we were last able to display our student’s work and I was instantly reminded of just how talented some of our young people are – simply breathtaking. I’m always in awe of people who can do things that I have very little (if any) talent for and I couldn’t stop smiling all the way around. Below is a selection of the work on offer for your enjoyment!
A huge well done to all the students involved, and a massive thank you to my colleagues in the art department, and to all the parents, carers and relatives who has supported our artists along the way.
Best wishes
Joe Barker
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Marple Hall School
Hill Top Drive
Marple
Stockport SK6 6LB
Headteacher: Mr Joe Barker