Year 13 students spent a weekend in London watching Shakespeare as originally intended in the authentic setting of the rebuilt Globe Theatre. After a fascinating tour of the venue, students stood in the open to watch a dynamic performance of King Lear.

Their experience was heightened as prior to the performance they had ‘adopted’ an actor who had corresponded with the group on the rehearsal process from page to stage.

Whickham students continued their residential experiences with an activities week in the Lake District. 36 pupils accompanied by Mr Hollier, Mr McGonnell and Mr Hollier, took part in activities to develop self-confidence and team building skills through activities such as rock climbing, canoeing, and raft building. A highlight o the course was a mini-expedition with an overnight cap in the mountains. One group managed to navigate their own way to Red tarn, just below Helvellyn. After pitching their tents in very strong winds, the group then scrambled their way across Striding Edge to the summit of Helvellyn…after the wind had subsided.

The students even managed to befriend a lost dog that was grateful reunited with is owner the next day. Well done to all on a challenging and rewarding week. The attached pictures capture some of the activities.

Mr Pickering and colleagues from the drama department have just returned from a drama trip to London’s Theatre land, involving more that 40 students. Highlights of their trip included the musical version of The Lord of the Rings but they also saw the National Theatre’s highly acclaimed and innovative production of Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse.

Even by the adventurous standards of Whickham School’s programme of international visits, this summer’s World Expedition to India established a new level of challenge.

Eight students accompanied by Mr Golightly flew to Delhi and then continued their journey by bus to Manail in the north of India, before continuing on to Leh in the Himalayas. A vital few days were spent acclimatising to the altitude and heat, before travelling by jeep to a small primary school in Shay village.


Once there, they spent a week painting the school and adding educational murals to the walls. Their contributions were greatly appreciated and they received formal thanks from local politicians and community leaders.

The team then progressed to the Zanskar mountain range, coping with altitude sickness and tiredness as they scaled heights of some 16.900ft over a ten-day trek. Their exertions were rewarded with some memorable views and a remarkable sense of personal achievement.

At the end of the expedition, the students enjoyed a well-deserved period of rest and recreation in Delhi, including a trip to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

The travelling itinerary for Whickham students has been busier than ever in 2006-2007 with 8 separate trips to five countries across four continents. This in addition to a number of residentials in Northumberland and the Lake District as ever more Whickham students engage in residential; experiences.

Crossing Continents
Eight of our upper school students are currently taking part in an ambitious World Challenge expedition in India.

After arriving in Manail, the students along with Mr Golightly and two World Challenge leaders will embark on a two-week trek across the Zanskar range before some well deserved rest and recuperation in Delhi.

From Delhi, the students will travel to Leh where they will carry out community work at Chochut secondary school, where they will also complete their own mural.

The students raised £3000 themselves to fund this unique experience. We look forward to reporting further upon this in September.

French Homestay
Whickham students are continuing their continental journeys with a week-long homestay in Strasbourg in the Alsace region. After a visit to Champagne, students paired-up to stay with French families, gaining first-hand cultural insights, embarking on a variety of excursions and practising their language skills.

Approximately 30 students from years 9 and 10 have participated in the homestay experience, gaining fascinating insights into French family life and many other aspects of French culture.

Sixteen year 10 students have recently returned from a highly successful visit to Gymnasium School in Breda, Holland where they took on the challenging but highly rewarding task of planning an international festival for year 7 pupils at the school.

The students were selected after a rigorous application and interview process. Once in Holland, they worked alongside 16 Dutch Young Leaders to plan, deliver and evaluate the festival. The students had to accommodate cultural and linguistic differences in some fascinating debates to decide the format of the festival and the key activities that they would run. Key skills of organisation, delegation communication were put to the test. Eventually, the Young Leaders decided to run a series of small workshops, including Drama, Dance, Art, Sport, music – and even a rap competition for over 200 year 7 pupils!

This highly successful exchange was funded by The Youth Sports Trust, The British Council and Sports College initiatives.

The educational links between Whickham and Gymnasium have been strengthened and both sets of students made many lasting friendships. We hope that an annual Dreams and teams event becomes an established fixture on the school calendar.

February saw the second of the Drama department’s theatre trips to New York. Mr Pickering, Mr Crosland and Ms Mc Donnell led a group of 20 students on an unforgettable tour of the Big Apple to see Broadway’s best.

Theatrical highlights included a trip to see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spectacular Phantom of the Opera and the more challenging contemporary musical, Rent. Students were also able to participate in their own theatre workshops where they also talk to performers about the realities of stage life in the city.

A walking tour of the city provided a more down to earth insight into an urban landscape that so many of the students had only previously experienced on television or cinema screens. Memorable moments included ice skating in Central Park to night views of the city skyline from the top of the Empire State Building, alongside retail therapy in the likes of Bloomingdales, Macy’s and the famous toy shop, FA Schwartz.

Mr Pickering said: “ It was a fantastic, unforgettable and exhausting experience! The students had the opportunity to experience all that Broadway and this wonderful city had to offer.�