Welcome to our new e-Bulletin. The e-format should work on any device, tablet or computer, automatically resizing for ease of reading.

The Bulletin will continue to focus on news, successes, events and hot topics around school.  We are just keen to publish the Bulletin regularly to keep our school community updated as and when news happens. 

Monday 26 March. 

Welcome to my first Bulletin post. This format will allow us to publish more regularly and give us even more opportunities to celebrate our pupils’ many successes. Enjoy reading about them!

The extra opportunities offered by the school, such as those highlighted in this Bulletin, are vital to our children’s personal development, and have a huge positive impact on their mental health. In my first letter to the community, I outlined my commitment to sport, music, drama and so forth: I promise to only strengthen what the school has to offer in these areas. The leadership team are currently looking at what we currently offer and, in particular, ensuring that all of our pupils have equal access to such opportunities.

Trips is another area of focus. It is excellent to see that the school runs major trips, such as skiing, or recently to Barcelona and Berlin, and long may such enrichment opportunities continue. However, I am keen to ensure that the school runs more trips which are relatively local and inexpensive. If we think back to our own childhoods, trips are amongst some the most memorable experiences that we had at school.

Finally, it has been a short term, but my first term as Headteacher of The Buckingham School has flashed by. Thank you to all for making me feel so welcome, and I wish the entire community a wonderful Easter break.

Andy McGinnes
Headteacher

BBC School Report gives young people in the UK the chance to make their own news reports for a real audience.

Students participated in the BBC’s annual News Day, simultaneously creating video, audio and text-based news reports, and publishing them on the school website. This was a great opportunity for students to develop their journalistic skills to become School Reporters.

Click here to view two news reports from the day.

STEM Day at The Buckingham School 

Race for the Line & Crest Award

March 21^st was an exciting and extremely busy day at school with our Year 7 students being off timetable for most of the day and I want you all to know about the activities and events that took place throughout the day. 

Year 7 students have been working extremely hard in their Technology class to produce a foam rocket car and a presentation that assist towards the school being awarded with a Discovery Crest Award. Throughout the day, students were on our MUGA launching the rocket cars or presenting the project to our guest judges.

The students who have yet to build their cars, worked with robotics in our Computing department, racing them in the LRC. Also, students were competing against each other in a Science project with dried spaghetti and marshmallows!

Later in the day, we welcomed thirty Year 6 students from our feeder primary school, Buckingham Primary to join us, for enrichment activities with Year 10 students. 

Click on the links below to see our Race for the Line cars in action and also to learn more about the Crest Awards. 

Race for the Line Photo Gallery.

Crest Projects: https://www.crestawards.org/about-crest-awards/

Lacey Townes
Computing Teacher 

Mock Trial Competition

Fifteen students from The Buckingham School participated in the annual Mock Trial Competition in Milton Keynes’ Magistrate Court. This was our fifth year in the competition.

Students had to learn a specially written case and in the roles of lawyers, witnesses, magistrates and court staff, had to prosecute and defend their case.

The group of students who represented The Buckingham School cannot be praised enough for their effort and commitment throughout the preparations for the competition and also during the day in Milton Keynes. They have displayed excellent teamwork at every stage of the process and were a pleasure to be around. In addition, the students also developed valuable life skills personal attributes such as critical thinking, analysing information, planning and of course public speaking.

Though the team did not advance to the next round, they were a very difficult opponent to the teams they competed against and were praised by the organisers for how well they did. A huge Well Done to TBS Mock Trial Team!

Eve Braddock, Millie Porteous, Ellie Kirsop, Florence Allen, Rebecca Dady, Isabelle Ford, Ella Rose Walker, Charlotte Ware, Rowan Cyster, Amelia Earl, Evie Daly, Daniel Pepler, Daisy Bateman and Jake Suckely.

A special thanks to Erin Talbot (Year 10) who was the senior student leader, and mentored the team from the beginning all the way to the day of the competition.

Staff v Staff Netball Fixture in aid of Sports Relief

Staff organised a Netball match during Tuesday lunchtime, in aid of Sports Relief. 

The game started with high energy and, for some, a lack of understanding of the rules. Once the obstruction and contact rules were explained to some, students were exposed to to lightning quick netball game. The Blues took the lead in the first third. Big cheers were given to Mr Waine each time he touched the ball. During the first third also saw Mr McGinnes enter the court as GK. You could tell that he would have been more comfortable with a rugby ball instead, but with his height towering over the shooters helped keep the Reds score to zero. Blues ended the first third 2-0.

The second third saw a swap of positions throughout the teams with both teams scoring 2 a piece making it 4-2 to the Blues going into the last third.

The final third was all about the Blue team and Mr Mandel demonstrating his ability to shoot. With the Blue team striding ahead scoring another 7 goals. The Red team struggled to keep possession and even with Miss Keeping''s shooting ability the height advantage going with Mr Churchward meant only 3 goals scored. Final Score Blues 11 Reds 4. Money raised £84.60 to go to Sport Relief.

Team Red: Mr Churchward, Miss Vaill, Miss Collie, Mr McGinnes, Mr Mandel, Mrs Wattam, Mr Wise and Ms Bones.

Team Blue: Miss Keeping, Mr Ribbans, Ellie, Mrs Baxter, Mrs Hatton, Callum and Mr Waine. 

Under 16’s Girls County Championship

Congratulations to our U16 Girls Football team on winning the County Championship! They beat Shenley Brook End School. Well done, to all thirteen girls on the team, this is a fantastic achievement!  The full match report for the game can be found under under News & Events on the school website. 

Other Sporting Successes

Year 7 Netball team beat Akeley Wood School 31.3. Fantastic! 
Thank you to Mr Beaumont, for driving our boys to Stowe for their Rugby match.  Great performance, team!  
Year 8 Netball team beat Royal Latin School and Akeley Wood School.  Brilliant! Year 11 Netball team have won the league for the second year. Well done! 

Swimming News

Annabelle Quinn, competed in the CMK Swimming Gala on Saturday at Bletchley Leisure Centre. Annabelle competed in Age 11 category against 30 others. Swimming 7 races in total, Annabelle managed to medal in all 7 races. Winning 1 x bronze medal (50m Butterfly), 5 x silver medals (100m Individual Medley, 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstoke, 50m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle) and 1 x gold medal (50m Breaststroke).
A massive congratulations from everyone at The Buckingham School. Watch out for this young lady, she has high hopes for swimming in the GB Olympic Team one day in the future. Keep up the great work Annabelle. Miss Collie.  

Youth Sports Trust - A Gold Standard Mark for our School 

The Quality Mark is a nationally recognised badge of excellence for PE and school sport. Pictured here is Mr Churchward, Curriculum Leader for PE with the school''s Gold Quality Mark certificate. We are extremely proud to have received this Quality Mark acknowleding The Buckingham School for its Gold standard in PE provision. 

Useful links from the school website:

Calendar Events for the coming week, and further ahead. 

Click here.