Academic year 2021-2022
Message from the Headmaster
A rather intense week to be honest as the big exams have got under way in the Great Hall. Lots of heightened emotions as the students take their place in the exam room, but I have every faith in all of them, as many hours have gone into revision and all I ask is that everyone tries their best.
For those not taking exams there have been some amazing trips out that you can read about below. Yesterday was supposed to be the school photo day, however due to a thunder storm, hail and buckets of rain (and I mean buckets) – it was postponed until after half term. Tomorrow we are in yet another football final (it just rolls off the tongue nowadays!) naturally we wish them all well.
Half term is around the corner and the great jubilee weekend. Have a lovely time with your friends and family as we celebrate all that is great within the United Kingdom.
Sports, Prize Giving and Graduation Day
Sports, Prize Giving and Graduation Day RVSP
Archie Davies returns to Buckswood
It is one of THE most rewarding parts of my job when I see former students return to the school to share their experience, their achievements and their many stories as well as explaining that there is life after Buckswood!…
Message from the Academic Principal
It seems remarkable that we are here in week 6 of the summer term. Already our IB examinations have finished (well done everyone) and we are over halfway through our GCSE and A level offerings. Last week was a tough one for GCSE, with English,Science and Maths all taking place. Students have, however, benefitted from the excellent revision session their teachers have put on to make sure they are fully prepared. As mentioned previously, students in Forms 1-4 and L6 have their own end of year exams between June 15th - 22nd, which will test them on knowledge acquired across the whole academic year. Once exams have finished for Form 5 and U6 students, they are welcome to leave school. However, for the final 2 weeks of term, we do have A level and IB taster sessions that Form 5 students can involve themselves with. All details have been provided via information shared on Microsoft Teams. We hope that all of our students have a great half term, but please remember, there are important academic tests to prepare for!
Geography
Lower 6th Geography A Level & IB trip to London – 19th May 2022
This week Geography students from the school travelled “into the field” and visited various locations around the most significant commutable case study example for their studies – London.
They were provided with the opportunity to visit Deptford in the south-east of the city and witness first hand an example of urban renewal, and to contrast this with the surrounding area. From here the group proceeded the short distance across the River Thames to London’s Docklands where they experienced the transition of the old wholesale goods yards that had fallen into dereliction to become one of the most significant areas of new economic growth worldwide. We concluded the trip by exploring Stratford and examining the ongoing transformation of this once economically deprived area since the decision to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
Students were tasked with research questions to answer during the trip. They are now analysing their evidence and carrying out further secondary research in order to produce presentations that they will give before the end of term.
An excellent time was had by all students and staff during a day that challenged stereotypes held about the capital and its environs.
Students outside the entrance to Canada Place, Canary Wharf

Royal Ascot

We are fornate to secure 10 tickets for Royal Ascot this year (on Tuesday 14th June). Please email [email protected] to secure your child's place on the trip (approximate cost of £75). Junior School
Here’s to another great week at Buckswood. Despite the occasional shower, the sun has helped to bring the best out in all of us and it has been a joy to see the children playing in the lovely warm weather. This is set to continue next week so please do keep an eye on the forecast and ensure children have sun cream to hand. Thank you to families who made the extra effort in helping our form 1 students to really get into character as our evacuees - some fabulous outfits - they thoroughly enjoyed the trip out.
In sports' news, well done to our junior boys in the recent, successful football match and to our girls in their successful netball matches.
In PSHE, juniors have been covering examination skills, revision and stress management, which all ties in with mental health week. Students have covered learning about potential effects of examination stress on our physical and emotional wellbeing and ways to manage it. Mr Maclean taught the students how to identify signs of examination stress in themselves, who to ask advice and where to look for guidance. He also covered how to select and use strategies to help manage examination stress, including revision techniques. After the half term all students will undertake end of year exams: this will hopefully give them experience and better prepare students for exams in the future.
Mr Sutton would like to praise our form 3 students for their magnificent assembly entitled 'honk honk'. They demonstrated the importance of one of the headmaster's key pillars - teamwork/collaboration. Students discussed how these magnificent geese fly in a V formation by working as a team they achieve 72% greater flying range than flying solo... It's so great to see at Buckswood children mixing and helping each other whether class to class or key stage to key stage.
Next week, we would like to celebrate the beginning of the Queen's Jubilee; please can you help your child to dress up in blue, red and white clothing to emulate the Union flag?
Thank you for your continued support
GCSE
GCSE end of year examinations/mocks will start on the 15th June. We cannot stress the importance of these examinations enough; they help build up students’ stamina with timings and concentration, as well as identifying final gaps in knowledge or skills that need to be prioritised. We encourage students to employ a variety of revision techniques which prepare them best for these examinations. Revision hints and links can be found in previous newsletters. If you require any further information please contact [email protected]
Trips:
Team building day:
All the Form 4 will be attending a Team Building Day on Monday 13th June 2022. The day will be held at Blackland Farm near East Grinstead. The day begins at 10:30 and finishes at 4pm approximately. We will depart Buckswood on school transport 08:45 and return in time for students to go home in the evening as usual.
The day will encourage team work and will also introduce the students to elements of:
• Working in teams
• Developing working relationships
• Co- operation in and between teams
• Interpersonal co-operation
• Organisational skills
The educational aims of the day are achieved by placing the students in an unfamiliar but non-threatening situation with a series of tasks and activities to complete. Students are divided into teams to provide a competitive element, and over the course of the day undertake a series of specifically designed tasks according to the instructions they receive.
The course was devised by Steve Ranger M.A., P.G.C.E., F.R.G.S. who has undertaken research into the effects of Outdoor Education, and Paul Morley B.Ed. who has researched the value of Outdoor Education in developing self-esteem.
The trip costs will be approximately £35 plus VAT per student plus transport costs. This includes instruction, all specialist equipment, course materials, review sessions, transport and a packed lunch.
Thorpe Park
KS4 Form 4 Thorpe Park trip will take place this Thursday on 26th May. All form 4 are expected to attend as the students will be attending a physics workshop. Please ensure consent forms for day students have been given to Mrs Kellet and Mrs Bachellier.

As well as recognition of their hard work this year, the trip will help to further their understanding of Forces and Motion through a science workshop followed by some first-hand experience of acceleration, gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy on the rides! Thorpe Park is one of the UK’s leading theme parks with rides, attractions and live events, including Stealth, the UK’s faster rollercoaster. Students should wear their school games kit. Please make sure they have appropriate clothing for the temperature, including sun cream if sunny and a waterproof coat. The cost of the trip will be added to your school bill. Please do get in touch if you have any questions.
Sixth Form
This week, I would like to focus on the IB as the U6th IB have now finished their exams and are soon to be flying the nest. With this in mind, this Saturday, the L6th and U6th IB gathered at the Lions to celbrate a new Buckswood tradition - the Passing of the Baton - in which the U6th passed the baton of responsibility to their younger peers. It was a wonderful day, with bright sunshine, not to mention lots of music and laughter. As I mentioned in last week's newsletter, the day centred around the opening of Buckswood's very own sport - Smashball! - and Mr Sutton kindly donated two tables, which the U6th then kitted out appropriately. These will be introduced to the wider school community next week. The L6th then took on the U6th in a 'best of three' series of clashes, with the U6th triumphing 2 games to 1. The U6th are therefore crowned (perhaps appropriately, as they invented the game) Smashball! Champions 2022.
In the meantime, the L6th - mostly Anna Valaria, Ana Karen, Jessica and Selma - were hard at it in the kitchen preparing a Mexican feast of beef, chicken, black beans and guacemole, with Oliver, Jonathan and Jasmin producing a delicious Greek salad and Theo from the U6th preparing an Oriental rice dish. Needless to say the food was eaten with great relish!
We then had speeches in the lounge followed by a 'Passing of the Torches' ceremony, with lots of laughter and even a few tears.
I would personally like to say what a wonderful group of students we have here at Buckswood and the U6th IB are no exception. You will be greatly missed
Maths prizes for Form 2!

The following Form 2 students received certificates for the UK Junior Maths Challenge:
Sho – Gold
Spike – Silver
Edie – Bronze
Sepehr – Bronze
Chengxi – Bronze
Sho did exceptionally well and he was also invited to the next level Kangaroo competition Summer vacation internships
In courtrooms & skyscraper offices across London. Click the link below to find out more.
Click here to find out more
Rugby

Rugby training on Camber Sands. More from the Sports' awards
On Tuesday 10th May, we held our annual Sports Awards dinner. The ethos for this is slightly different from Prize Day as we celebrate the winter sports of the school, Football, Netball, Rugby and Basketball. (Slightly delayed as we have had a few bouts of covid in the Sports Department! Who said exercise was good for you???) We look at the teams as a whole and recognise all players that have made a contribution as well those that have shown excellent ability and talent. It is a chance for sports to appreciate the other sports that happen in the school and see how many people at Buckswood take part week in week out. We had 150 guests (that were able to attend) which shows how many students take part in sport in the school.
Each coach had the chance to speak and give some 'stats' like we like to do, on each team and then have the privilege to present awards to our players.
Some of the highlights were Terry winning Senior Football Player's Player, Morgan winning U16b Player's Player to a standing ovation! On of our youngest Sports Personality winners Isabelle for her total commitment to any sport she gets put into, and our emerging Basketball team, with Kenny, Hok Him and Wing all winning prizes. Not forgetting Rugby with Harvey, winning coach's player, and in typical rugby player fashion, accepting the award still recovering from a broken collar bone.
It was fantastic to see all the students dressed formally and how they listened and congratulated all the winners from all the different sports. It was such an evening of unity and cohesion which sport has that magical ability to do. Bring everyone together for a very enjoyable evening.
Thank you to all the Sports staff for their support and help setting up and taking down. Especially Miss Johnson for her awesome power point presentation, and Gary for being such a great waiter on the night!
Special thanks to Mr Sutton and Fred the chef, for their very tasty dinner. I don't think there was anything left!!!!!!
Until next year.......Uniform

Please do read the link below, about our updated uniform policy Uniform
Safeguarding - How to help children cope with loneliness

Safeguarding - CLICK HERE
Boarding activities
2021-2022 учебный год
Сообщение от директора школы
Честно говоря, довольно напряженная неделя, поскольку в Большом зале начались большие экзамены. Много повышенных эмоций, когда студенты занимают свои места в экзаменационной комнате, но я полностью верю во всех них, так как на пересмотр ушло много часов, и все, о чем я прошу, - это чтобы каждый старался изо всех сил.
Для тех, кто не сдает экзамены, было организовано несколько удивительных поездок, о которых вы можете прочитать ниже. Вчера должен был состояться школьный фотодень, однако из–за грозы, града и проливного дождя (я имею в виду ведра) - он был отложен до окончания половины семестра. Завтра у нас еще один футбольный финал (в наши дни это просто слетает с языка!), Естественно, мы желаем им всего наилучшего.
Половина семестра не за горами, и наступят большие юбилейные выходные. Прекрасно проведите время со своими друзьями и семьей, пока мы празднуем все самое замечательное в Соединенном Королевстве.
Спорт, Вручение призов и Выпускной день
Спорт, Вручение призов и Выпускной день RVSP
Арчи Дэвис возвращается в Баксвуд
Это одна из самых полезных частей моей работы, когда я вижу, как бывшие ученики возвращаются в школу, чтобы поделиться своим опытом, своими достижениями и многочисленными историями, а также объяснить, что есть жизнь после Буксвуда!…
Сообщение от академического директора
Кажется замечательным, что мы находимся здесь на 6-й неделе летнего семестра. Наши экзамены на IB уже завершены (все молодцы), и мы прошли более половины наших предложений GCSE и A level. Прошлая неделя была трудной для GCSE, поскольку все экзамены проходили по английскому, естественным наукам и математике. Однако учащиеся извлекли выгоду из отличной контрольной сессии, которую провели их учителя, чтобы убедиться, что они полностью подготовлены. Как упоминалось ранее, учащиеся 1-4 и 6 классов сдают свои собственные экзамены в конце учебного года с 15 по 22 июня, которые проверят их знания, полученные в течение всего учебного года. После окончания экзаменов для учащихся 5-го и 6-го классов они могут покинуть школу. Тем не менее, в течение последних 2 недель семестра у нас есть дегустационные сессии уровня и IB, в которых могут принять участие студенты 5-го класса. Все подробности были предоставлены с помощью информации, размещенной в Microsoft Teams. Мы надеемся, что все наши студенты отлично проведут половину семестра, но, пожалуйста, помните, что нужно подготовиться к важным академическим тестам!
География
Нижняя 6–я география A Level & IB поездка в Лондон - 19 мая 2022 года
На этой неделе студенты–географы из школы отправились “в поле” и посетили различные места вокруг самого важного примера коммутируемого тематического исследования для их учебы - Лондона.
Им была предоставлена возможность посетить Дептфорд на юго-востоке города и воочию увидеть пример городского обновления, а также сравнить его с окружающей местностью. Отсюда группа проследовала короткое расстояние через реку Темзу до лондонских Доклендов, где они испытали превращение старых оптовых складов, которые пришли в запустение, в одну из самых значительных областей нового экономического роста во всем мире. Мы завершили поездку осмотром Стратфорда и изучением продолжающейся трансформации этого некогда экономически неблагополучного района после принятия решения о проведении Олимпийских игр 2012 года.