BEAUMONT SCHOOL NEWS

Year 11 Interviews 19 January 2012

All Year 11 students have been issued with a letter giving the time for their meeting with Senior Leadership Staff on 19 January 2012. If you indicated that you wished to attend the meeting with your child you may wish to check the letter for details.

Year 10 and 11 Booklets

For any parents who ordered the booklets to help their Year 10 and 11 students with their studies and exams (following the Parent Information Evening in September), please note that the booklets have now arrived and will be given to students during form time on Thursday 3 November.

Songs for a New World - Thurs 20 and Fri 21 Oct, 7pm, School Hall

Tickets for the Upper School Musical are on sale from Room 6 at break or by emailing Beaumont.Music@beaumont.herts.sch.uk. They are priced £7 or £4 (concessions). Read on for a review from Gavin Plumley, a London Arts Writer

'There are performances that can just take you further. Like last night's by the Upper School students of Beaumont School in St Albans. Performing Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World - the American musical theatre composer's 1995 review of songs - there was true conviction and confidence on display. Together, the students underlined why music and drama are as central to a child's education as any of the subjects that our Education Secretary privileges at any one time. Clearly, Beaumont School lives up to its tag of 'community comprehensive', nurturing all the talents on offer.

The show was wonderfully candid, underpinned by taut band playing, with particular badges of honour going to a superb student drummer, bassist and keyboard players. Directed by the Head of Music, Hanh Doan has built a superb level of commitment and trust within her students. Through her clear musical guidance and the Head of Drama Zoe Shepherd's unfussy but emotionally telling direction, the students were able to tell their story.

Hearing 14 to 18 year-olds speak to you about ambition, failure, love lost and found and the hopes of a new generation is markedly powerful. I would defy anyone to find a better mouthpiece for Jason Robert Brown's occasionally preachy songs. Railroading over their more self-regarding corners, the students gave the songs proper heart. And when the words 'Hear my song, it'll help you believe in tomorrow' are delivered in perfect unjaded tones, you cannot help by marvel at the sagesse put on young shoulders.

Last night's performance forms part a remarkable network of events and extra-curricular work at Beaumont. Seemingly blind to the pressures of exams and daily life (though they succeed brilliantly in those too), 'Miss Doan' and her colleagues set the bar high, perform difficult music and take no prisoners. Her department has resurrected the word 'geek' and it's become a badge of true pride among her students. Many of the school's departments have Twitter accounts and Blogs, with bedtime listening recommendations, updates on rehearsals and immediate praise for successful kids. It's a model of how to nurture talent and trust. And the students are thriving.'

For more articles on Music and Theatre go to http://entartetemusik.blogspot.com/

School Uniform

Please see this letter for details of uniform requirements. Please note that students should return to school in September in full Winter Uniform.

UCAS Parents Information evening - presentation material

Copies of the material presented at the meeting on 11 March can be downloaded here

Powerpoint presentation

University finance information sheet

Useful websites