MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!!!!!

Following our technical hitch when the HelioSS experiment stopped transmitting its position, thus making it impossible to find the payload and recover the experiments, we thought the payload was lost. Yesterday evening we received a call from a farm worker who had found a "scientific experiment" in a field near Stowmarket. He came across it when testing soil samples prior to harvesting. The payload has been somewhat beaten up by his quad bike but the data, brine shrimps and radiation badge are all intact. We have over 2,000 photos (1000 of them are close-ups of a corn field). The photos were taken every 30 seconds during ascent, descent and sitting in the field.

The six photos which are attached are of:
1. Ascent - view of Cambridge
2. Peak altitude - school crest
3. Party balloons before launch
4. Party balloons at peak altitude demonstrating Boyles law (almost - they had leaked)
5. Party balloons just before touchdown - really demonstrating Boyle's law.
6. A corn field.

A very warm welcome to Sponne School Technology College.  

This year has progressed extremely well with it about to come to an end and the new one starting after the summer holidays.  

In 2009, our students gained the highest set of GCSE results the school has ever seen including the critical 5A*-C including English and mathematics (63%) and 79% gained 5A*-C grades, up 8% on the previous year.  Our A level results continued to improve further to even higher levels.  These results continue to put us well above national averages.  Well done to all our students.  We are looking forward to the results for our current students during August.

In addition to the excellent examination results, a whole range of other activities have taken place to support our curriculum.  Many of these appear in our newsletters or on our website.  We are tremendously proud of two of our music groups that have just performed this week in the Birmingham Symphony Hall after being invited by the national Music for Youth organisation - this is a very prestigious occasion and they were tremendous!  Our school show of "Grease" will be marvellous I'm sure.  On the sporting field we were very successful and our students have performed to a very high standard.  There were numerous other events including residential visits at home and abroad and day visits complementing our enhancement programme of activities.  
 
As ever, there are many events, concerts and residential visits taking place at Sponne; please look at our diary pages for further information including term dates.

Jamie Clarke
Headteacher

The July Newsletter is now available.  Please note that the training day in term 2 is on 3rd December 2010 as correctly stated in this online version.

Extended Services are running many activities during the summer holidays. Please click here for more information.

Click here to find out more details about The Grand Union Training Partnership