Withernsea High School

The school’s year 10 and 11 students listened intently as 45-year-old Adam Corbally shared his personal experience of making the wrong choices at a young age, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and not being afraid to ask for help. After leaving school with no qualifications, moving out of the family home at the age of 16 and surrounding himself with the wrong people, Adam Corbally found himself on a downward trajectory that resulted in a short spell in a youth offenders’ centre. This became the catalyst needed to bring about positive change, with Adam determined to turn his life around. This wake-up call paved the way for a return to education which ultimately saw Adam work hard to earn a Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice (CeMap). Realising he again needed change, Adam went on to become an independent greengrocer – selling fruit and vegetables at his local market in Glossop, Derbyshire.   With a growing appetite for business and entrepreneurship, and a desire to push himself further, Adam applied for a place on series eight of BBC reality show The Apprentice. A successful application led to an 11-week stint on the programme before he was fired for poor presentation skills in the penultimate challenge of the contest. Leaving the show with rare praise from Lord Sugar, who requested that he ‘keep in touch’, Adam used his failure as an opportunity to better himself by practising his public speaking and presentation skills. This ultimately led to him becoming a member of the Professional Speaking Association and the creation of his own motivational speaking business in 2012. Since then, Adam has delivered enterprise workshops and his keynote aspirational speech to a variety of different business and educational establishments across the UK, reaching over 500,000 people – many of them secondary school and college students. Alongside the growth of his business, Adam has also managed to build an impressive property portfolio and enjoy a part-time acting and media career which has seen him appear in Hollyoaks, participate in energetic gameshow ‘Total Wipeout’ and become a contestant on quiz show, ‘Eggheads’. Reflecting on Adam’s visit, and his eclectic career journey to date, Withernsea High School Careers Leader Viki Foster said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Adam Corbally back to the school. His keynote speech was fantastic and his message about the importance of school, the benefits of a positive mindset and surrounding yourself with the right people and influences really resonated with our students who remained engaged throughout. The impact of his message was evident by the number of students who stayed behind at the end of the session to ask questions, thank him for his advice or simply shake his hand.   “Learning about the many different avenues of Adam’s life and career helped to highlight how a person’s career journey is rarely a straightforward path – a lesson which should bring reassurance to students who may still be considering their future options. “As Adam said during his speech, he was not happy in his younger years because he made a series of bad decisions that impacted his future and overall happiness. However, he recognised that the best thing he did was to ask for help and seek positive influences. I think that’s a really important message for our students to take away, especially as they prepare for their GCSEs and have access to a wealth of support and encouragement both in and out of school.    “Such encounters with guest speakers are a fundamental element of our careers programme which is tailored to meet the needs of individuals, ensuring that they are supported as they make important decisions about their futures.” Adam added: “For me, literally every day is a school day and every audience is completely different. The students at Withernsea were amazing as always and it was a real honour to be given the opportunity to speak to them at an important time in their lives – at a time when there’s lots of change on the horizon and they’re working out who they are and what they want to be. They showed respect and listened intently. As a speaker, you can’t ask for more than that. “Without wanting to sound too cheesy, when your words really land and you get feedback that says ‘I’ve listened to you, I’ve heard you and I’m going to take action’, it’s a really great feeling. You know you’ve really hit home when a teenager takes a couple of minutes out of their life to say ‘thank you’, shake your hand, ask questions and talk about their own life and experiences.   “If I can help make a few kids be a bit happier in themselves, hopefully motivate them to get better grades and give them a better start than the one I had, then that’s why I do what I do and those interactions make it all worthwhile.”  “Surround yourself with brilliant people and bring out the best in those around you as they bring out the best in you. This will enable you to create and take the opportunities that you deserve. My advice is to think about the four people who you spend the most time with because it’s likely you’ll become a reflection of them. Remember to ask for help and take action when needed. “We are lucky to live in an age where there’s so much opportunity, information and support at our fingertips thanks to the internet. You can literally achieve anything with the right help, the right people and the right attitude.”      PHOTOS Turning setbacks into success 01: Motivational speaker Adam Corbally with Withernsea High School’s Careers Leader, Viki Foster. [Photo Credit: Tim Nuttall] Turning setbacks into success 02: Adam delivered an engaging and interactive talk that encouraged audience participation. Year 10 student Oakley O’Hara followed Adam’s advice to take opportunities when they present themselves by seizing the moment in order to win a prize of a film poster. [Photo Credit: Tim Nuttall]   Article by Tim Nuttall November 2024

Earlier the same morning, a whole school assembly, delivered by teacher of history, Will Scott, reminded students of the reasons for remembrance; the ways in which people can pay their respects and how remembrance looks across our community. Bringing home the realities of war, Will also shared the story of his great grandfather, Private Laurence Smirk, who enlisted in the army in April 1943 and served in the 1st Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. After serving only a year in the armed forces, he was shot by a sniper on the streets of Anzio, Italy, whilst delivering a message in June 1944. Will said: “Compiling the information about my great grandfather was really interesting and quite an emotional experience for both myself and my family. My mum spoke to a lot of relatives while helping to research his story, so it was nice to have the wider family involved. It was a pleasure to share the story with our students, to remember the life of my great grandfather and to highlight the countless families that will have similar stories to tell.” Meanwhile, a group of year 9 students were chosen to represent the school at the town’s remembrance commemorations. Student Sam Jennison read the exhortation and a wreath was laid on behalf of the school community. Accompanying the students was Second in Humanities, Clare Atkin, who said: “They represented the school incredibly well and were very respectful and thoughtful. I think they gained a lot from it. The reason we selected students in year 9 to take part was because they are currently studying The Great War in history lessons, so it will feel quite immediate to them. “They could certainly see from the huge number of wreaths that were laid yesterday, and on Sunday, that there are many different groups and organisations involved across the community. I think it’s important for students to see that it’s a significant event for them to be involved with and to understand the reasons behind it.” Elsewhere across the school, members of the Key Stage 3 art club created 80 purple poppies which were placed in the school grounds as a symbol of remembrance for the animals that served during wartime. These new additions joined some of the 350 red poppies that were created last year and reused for this year’s commemorations. Year 10 Engineering students also used their skills to help create three poppy wreaths, made from hand-cut and spray-painted sheets of aluminium. The finished products formed part of this year’s in-school displays, with one wreath also being raffled to help raise funds for the Royal British Legion. The raffle helped to raise an impressive £106.50 for the RBL, with year 7 student Sam Sherwood (ticket number 280) being drawn as the winner of the wreath.   Amy Norris, Head of Design Technology, said: “A total of 57 students across three engineering classes were involved with the poppy wreath project, with each student making an individual poppy to place on one of the wreaths. The teaching assistants assigned across the groups also tested their engineering skills to make poppies, making it a real team effort. I was also really impressed with how many students wanted to give up their social time to help add finishing touches to the project and to complete the wreaths to a standard of high quality. Their hard work has been reflected in the money raised through the raffle and I would like to thank everyone who has purchased a ticket in support of the efforts of our students for the benefit of the Royal British Legion.” Remembrance at Withernsea High 01: Year 9 students represented the school at Withernsea’s Armistice day commemorations. Pictured left to right are Charlotte Finer, Cale Orwin, Cole Purdy, Sam Jennison, Alex Napier, Brooklyn Haley and Crystal Hayton. [Photo Credit: Withernsea High School] Remembrance at Withernsea High 02: The members of the ‘10A’ engineering group were one of three Year 10 classes who produced a wreath of remembrance. [Photo Credit: Withernsea High School] Remembrance at Withernsea High 03: A close-up of one of the three wreaths on display. One example was raffled off for the benefit of the Royal British Legion. [Photo Credit: Withernsea High School] Remembrance at Withernsea High 04: A display of purple poppies, representing animals who served in wartime, was created by key stage 3 art club students and positioned in the school grounds. [Photo Credit: Tim Nuttall] Remembrance at Withernsea High 05: Traditional red poppies, made by students in the previous academic year, were once again used as part of this year’s display. [Photo Credit: Tim Nuttall]   Article by Tim Nuttall November 2024

Mr Mountain, Acting Head of PE, provided the following match report:

“From the off we were on the back foot, with Waltham starting strong and having a few shots from long range but nothing really troubling Lindley. Then, on the back of a neat ball from Grundy, Hall skipped past two defenders and the goalkeeper to put the ball into an empty net. 1-0.

“The lead was short lived though as the away side hit back with a long shot that nestled in the corner of the net. Withernsea then regained the lead from the edge of the box after some good footwork from Neal saw him find space and lob the goalkeeper to make it 2-1. Both sides had some great chances, but no more goals were scored in the half.

“Withernsea were again under pressure early in the second half and conceded from a neat finish from a corner to make it 2-2. From this moment, Waltham really upped the pressure but Withernsea were equal to the challenge and the score remained level. Then, in the last 10 minutes, it was a great advert for school football - it was really end-to-end stuff, with both sides having chances to win but neither being able to capitalise.

“The game then went to the lottery of penalties which, like the game itself, didn't disappoint. Some great penalties were scored and some really good saves were made. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be our day, but the boys can be proud of their efforts."

Congratulations to the following students for a great performance:  

Craig L

Freddie W

Tommy T

Jaidan H

Corey S

Ollie N

Oliver H

Jake M

Warren G

Louie S

Dylan T

The ‘Business Breakfast’ offered an informal introduction to the school’s careers programme for Withernsea High's newest intake of learners. Over the next five years, the programme will deliver a range of opportunities, information, advice and guidance aimed at equipping students with the skills and knowledge required to achieve their career aspirations. Joining students to talk about their future options were representatives from a number of organisations including Humberside Police, Cranswick Country Foods, Holderness Health, Centrica, Southgates Chartered Certified Accountants and Wilberforce College. Emily Lucid, marketing and liaison manager at Wilberforce College, said: “It was a fantastic event. The year 7s are a credit to the school and were extremely engaged in learning about careers and what it takes to get into the industry of marketing.” While Sarah Powell, head of patient services at Holderness Health, added: “It was a great opportunity to interact with young people and to explain the workings and purpose of a doctor’s surgery.”  To help students get the most out of the experience, the school’s 160-strong year 7 cohort had previously been given the chance to work with expert trainers from Talk The Talk – an organisation whose aim is to develop communication skills through oracy intervention. During a transition workshop, which took place within the first fortnight of the new academic year, Talk The Talk supported students using oracy-based activities and strategies designed to enhance self-confidence, resilience and empathy. Among the activities were a number of tasks that encouraged students to step out of their comfort zones, away from people they knew at primary school, to interact with others who were new to them. School careers leader, Viki Foster, said: “Our year 7 students confidently put their enhanced communication skills to the test at the Business Breakfast where they were placed in groups and encouraged to get to know an external representative who had been assigned to each table.   “Taking their cue from prompts in an accompanying workbook, the students were interested to learn about the lives and career paths of their assigned representatives, as well as the opportunities that could be available to them in the future. “While decisions about future careers may seem quite a long way off for year 7, it is important that they take their first steps towards thinking about their futures and begin exploring the many options available to them. Our aim is to provide students with impartial information about all the pathways and opportunities available so that when they come to make decisions, such as what to study at GCSE level or which direction to take upon leaving school, their decisions are fully informed. “The behaviour of students throughout the Business Breakfast was exemplary and feedback has been incredibly positive. We are very proud of year 7 for the mature way in which they have embraced their introduction to our careers programme and I hope they have enjoyed the activities so far.”  In recent years, secondary schools have been given more responsibility to arrange independent careers guidance and encounters with employers. This includes working with qualified careers professionals, businesses and training providers to make sure young people receive impartial information and guidance to understand the full range of options available to them. In September 2022, the Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Act 2022 came into force which extended the reach of careers education to include students in year 7. For students at Withernsea High School, this provision was already in place. Viki Foster added: “As a school, we are proud to have been ahead of the national curve by including year 7 in our programme of careers events for a number of years prior to the 2022 careers guidance reform. The oracy workshop and business breakfast not only complement each other, they also serve as a strong foundation for year 7 to build their careers knowledge on. “The skills and experiences that such events bring, including increased confidence and enhanced communication skills, are not only an asset for the workplace of the future, they will also help students to navigate their way through high school and their teenage years. “These events also help us to achieve one of the eight nationally recognised ‘Gatsby’ benchmarks, a framework of eight standards for the provision of careers guidance in schools, which states that ‘every student should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace.’” Networking event 01: Emily Lucid, marketing and liaison manager at Wilberforce College, pictured with a group of year 7 students at the Business Breakfast. [Photo Credit: Viki Foster] Networking event 02: Former Withernsea High School student Erin Morley, now a Senior Internal Auditor at Centrica, was one of a number of ex-students who returned to the school to support the event and inspire the next generation of school leavers. [Photo Credit: Tim Nuttall] Article by Tim Nuttall November 2024

Delivered by Collingwood Learning, a facilitator of drama-based learning experiences, ‘The Smashed Project’ is an international theatre-in-education programme that aims to break the culture of underage drinking and reduce alcohol-related harm among young people.

Through interactive learning, the project empowers students with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions – encouraging them to observe, explore and reflect on themes including the social and emotional causes of drinking, the impact it has on young lives, and the influence of peer pressure.

Andrea Monaghan, Head of Personal Development at Withernsea High School, said: “We know that young people face many pressures during their teenage years, including navigating their way around the use of alcohol. We were therefore delighted to invite The Smashed Project into school to deliver a performance workshop, exploring issues around underage drinking, for the benefit of our year 7 students.

“It was well-performed - delivering a thought-provoking and sometimes humorous message in an age-appropriate and accessible way. The workshop following the performance helped our students to unpick issues like peer pressure and allowed them to direct the performers into trying out different strategies in response to this pressure.”

Year 7 student Isaac Farmer said: “I really enjoyed it. The show taught us about what can happen when people drink and it taught us to make sensible decisions about alcohol.” Fellow student, Patrick Brazier-Bennett added: “It is important that we talk about alcohol now so that we don't make bad decisions when we are older.”

A spokesman for The Smashed Project said “Smashed empowers young people to explore the themes raised through a natural fascination with the characters and their choices. What attitudes drove them to do what they did? How do they feel now? What could they do differently to get a better outcome?

“By interacting with the characters, learners rapidly identify the causes and consequences of underage drinking. Playing director, they reshape the story and develop new attitudes and behaviours that will help them make the right choices in their own lives.

“Students learn to recognise social dynamics at play, personal responsibility, decision making and communication. We believe these are the essential building blocks to guarding against many risks and creating positive futures.”

Designed by young people, the Smashed performance taps into the rhythm of teenage lives through the stories of three young people:

“Mal could be the first in the family to get to uni. Georgia might make the national team if she just goes the extra mile. Freddie hides his crushed dreams and dysfunctional background beneath a veneer of bravado and a haze of alcohol. To Mal and Georgia, the older Freddie represents a taste of danger, excitement, and rebellion. Each seeking to escape from something, they become locked in a negative spiral of peer pressure and a culture of underage drinking.

This illusion of fun soon becomes more elusive. Drinking affects their mental and physical health and their relationships with friends, family and school. Mal’s aspirations appear to be dashed, but is it too late to change? Can Georgia get back on track? Will Freddie get the help he needs? A dramatic finale asks the audience to consider the choices the characters made, and what their own choices might be in their real-life story.”

 

Parent/Carer Guide

The Smashed Project provides a guide for parents/carers to help open ‘positive and honest conversations about alcohol with young people’. The guide explores the dangers of underage drinking and the importance of confronting the issue, while also looking at the reasons behind why a young person may drink. It also explains the law and helps parents/carers to answer any questions their child may have.

The guide can be viewed/downloaded here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/f985b63f-c5ac-47f7-b78c-1247d0888d2b

 

 

 

 

 

Created by Year 10 Engineering students, each wreath has been made from hand-cut and spray-painted sheets of aluminium. The finished products will form part of this year’s in-school commemorations, with one wreath being raffled to help raise funds for the Royal British Legion.

Raffle tickets, priced 50p each or five for £2.00, are available to purchase now from the school’s main reception. You can also pay via ParentPay – in which instance, payment will secure entry in the draw. This will take place on Tuesday, 12^th November.

ABOVE: One of the finished wreaths on demonstration display. 

ABOVE: 10A Engineering were one of three Year 10 Engineering groups who produced a wreath. 

ABOVE: Poppy flowers and leaves were cut from sheets of aluminium before being spray-painted and attached to a frame. 

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ABOVE: Blake and Harry with one of the wreaths as a work-in-progress. 

Around 25 of Withernsea High School’s regular cyclists took up the offer of a free bike health check which was conducted by a technician from cycle charity R-evolution. Repairs ranged from brake and gear improvements to basic tyre inflation. In addition, over 40 sets of bike lights and locks were given away to help improve cycle safety and security in the local area. Leading the school’s mission to promote active travel is Nick Richmond, teacher of PE, who said: “We were delighted to welcome Matthew Rogers from R-evolution who kindly joined us to complete a day of safety checks on our students’ bikes. Ensuring young people remain safe on their commute to and from school is essential, particularly in the winter months when the weather, combined with darker mornings and evenings, can further impact their safety. “We aim to deliver as many cycle servicing and safety equipment giveaways as possible throughout the year and I’m pleased that an increasing number of students are making the most of these opportunities – demonstrating a clear understanding of the importance of staying safe, secure and visible.” In recent months cycling has received increased prominence at the school after it was added to the PE curriculum – making Withernsea High one of the first schools in the country to regularly offer cycling as part of timetabled lessons. This was achieved thanks to funding secured from the East Riding Road Safety Team and Sport England which facilitated the purchase of 25 mountain bikes, plus associated secure storage facilities. Throughout the first half of the autumn term, every student in years 7 and 8 has received at least one opportunity to cycle as part of their regular PE lessons. Safe cycling will continue to be in the spotlight early next year when year 8 students will become some of the first in the country to engage in a pilot scheme of virtual road safety training. Delivered by The Bikeability Trust, a charity responsible for the national cycle training programme in England, students will use iPads to interact with road-based cycling scenarios. Nick Richmond said: “This virtual approach to training will enable more students to take part in the Bikeability programme. When out on the roads, the ratio is usually one tutor to four students. Whereas with the virtual training, one tutor can potentially support a full class of approximately 30 students. Although it will never fully replicate or replace the practical experience of being physically out on the road, it will be a great introduction to Bikeability which students can carry forward into practical settings.” Dr Dan Bishop, Director of Research for The Bikeability Trust, said: “Over the past year or so, we have worked in partnership with Bikeability training providers in various parts of England to see whether immersive cycle training can be delivered in their communities. We have some fantastic data to show that a combination of immersive cycle training and on-road experience is a good way to make improvements in all four of the key skills [observation, position, communication and priorities] laid out in the National Standard for Cycling. “We have also found that the children’s performance in video-based situation awareness tests, a bit like the hazard perception test for driving, is closely related to how well they performed in the on-road cycling assessments when assessed by Bikeability instructors. In effect, we may have a really useful training and assessment tool that could be an indicator of a rider’s road readiness.” Meanwhile, under the banner of the school’s Board for Change - a group of students who work collectively to help make significant changes for the benefit of their peers - the school’s dedicated active travel ambassadors are preparing for their first formal meeting of the new academic year which will see them reflect on last year’s successes while looking at ways to improve the promotion of active travel in the year ahead. Their work to date, including activity days and prize giveaways designed to promote and encourage active travel, has led to the team being shortlisted for national awards. Nick Richmond added: “I am very proud of our active travel ambassadors who, along with many other students across the school, continue to lead the way for sustainable travel on a daily basis. We are looking forward to another exciting year of plans as we continue towards our aim of making a healthier, happier and more active Withernsea.” PHOTOS School students benefit 01: Year 10 student Jayden Gleghorn was one of around 25 students who brought their bike in for a free service and safety check. Jayden is pictured with Active Withernsea engagement officer, Jennifer Lount, and teacher of PE, Nick Richmond, who leads the school’s efforts to promote active travel. [Photo Credit: Tim Nuttall] School students benefit 02: Matthew Rogers, a technician from cycle charity R-evolution, spent the day repairing students’ bikes and checking them for safety. R-evolution’s team of mechanics and volunteers regularly work around the Humber area, helping people get back into cycling through free cycle repairs, loans and training. [Photo Credit: Tim Nuttall]