Screen Time

I was interested to read the following in the press on Friday: "TV hits GCSE grades Research from the University of Cambridge suggests that schoolchildren spending extra time in front of the television or computer every day could see their GCSE results fall by the equivalent of two grades. The study of 845 secondary pupils found that the average pupil spends four hours a day in front of a screen, with each extra hour of screen time seeing an average of 9.3 fewer GCSE points scored while students doing an extra hour of homework or reading added an average of 23.1 GCSE points". When I meet with students to discuss their academic performance “screen time” is often a focus of our conversation! It has been nice to hear that many students had busy summer breaks away from screens. Toby Yapp appeared or rather starred in “Life Raft” at the Bristol Old Vic (the precursor to Lord of the Flies - but at sea). He was one of the 2 leads in a story about 13 children adrift at sea in a life boat. It examines the dynamics and drama that ensues as the children try and work out how to survive. The reviews were very positive indeed. Sam Cording got through to the final of a National computer gaming programming competition. Please do follow the link at: http://youtu.be/Y_frQ3VoT4g to see Sam in action at the ICC in Birmingham. Well done to both on fantastic achievements. A number of sixth from students successfully completed their D of E gold expedition over the holidays! Not an easy challenge. Please do encourage your children to share their summer stories with pastoral and academic staff so that we can celebrate their achievements as a community.