How the money is used (click the tabs)

Swing Band

Friends enabled the Swing Band to purchase some smart new logo'd shirts. The Band has taken part in every major concert at the school over the past year. It also played a big part in the NCH Charity Concert. Mrs Johnston says: "We're thrilled with the shirts and they have definitely helped the street cred of the band - many thanks to Friends!"

ESOL

Friends' £200 donation to the ESOL department was put towards a TV, Video, DVD player and an assortment of guided readers. the class sets of books have already proved very popular with the students. ESOL's Mr Nelson says: "Students love the opportunity to read an exciting story, learn new vocabulary and practise their pronunciation."

The TV, video and DVD player have also proved a useful addition to the department by allowing staff yet another medium to help with their teaching.

Climbing Club

The school's climbing club spent the £400 donated by Friends on harnesses, ropes, helmets and other essential equipment.

Medical Centre

Friends paid for a range of visual aids and respiratory dummies for training purposes at the school's Medical Centre and also some funky soft furnishings to brighten up the Centre.

Fencing Club

This year Friends donated some more money to the Fencing Club. As the Club's Mrs Bruce explains: "Thanks to the continual support of Friends we are able to equip our young fencers sufficiently to enable them to compete at national level."

Friends Award

Every year Friends hand a special Friends Award (or Scholarship) to a school leaver or senior pupil moving on to higher education, training or planning a worthwhile gap year activity (the pic on the right shows our 2006 winner, Joanne Grainger). This year (2008) the Awards went to Ben Wood and William Ormondroyd - more details of how they plan to spend the money can be see here>>

Sixth Form Centre

Friends donated £500 towards resources for the sixth form centre. The money was spent on a set of smart, sturdy wooden garden benches to transform what was essentially a bare courtyard into an attractive outdoor seating area.

Head of sixth form Mrs Enthoven says: "We wanted to create a welcoming and relaxing environment for students outside the sixth form building - away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the school. Our smart new benches do the job admirably. They're used all year round, too, not just in the warmer months. One bench spent the winter inside the locker room providing much needed seating, then it was carried out again when the weather improved in the spring."

Swim Team

This year Friends have helped the swim team to buy more essential training equipment including starting blocks. In the past donations have enabled the team to purchase special 'tea bag' vests (seen in the pic on the right) plus flippers, hand and finger paddles.

Enthusiastic swimmer Murray MacFarlane has been impressed. "We've used the flippers and finger paddles a lot", he says. "In fact the finger paddles have really made me aware of where I'm going wrong with a stroke. They're not easy to get used to but they've definitely helped me strengthen my arms and keep my fingers close together."

Experienced swimmer Jack Baker agrees. "I really notice that my muscles and shoulders ache more after using the paddles but they've made me realise the benefit of pushing my hands right through the water to complete each stroke. They've also made me notice how my hands enter the water and this has meant I've been able to improve my front crawl technique. The paddles are great - they add variety to the training!"

Theatre

Friends enabled the theatre to purchase a sparkling new star cloth which looks spectacular at events especially the school Christmas Concert and the annual Year 7 Variety Show.

The theatre's Andrew Copping says: "Thanks to Friends for their contribution towards this very expensive item. It's absolutely tremendous and simply transforms the bare stage which we would otherwise have for concerts."