The summer holidays seem a world away as Netherwood settles into the events of the autumn term.
The new head girl is Joanna Thompson, the new head boy is Mathew McMann and their deputies are Verity Craig and Daniel Jenkins. They are wished well as they lead the school into a new academic year.
Netherwood pupils once again achieved excellent GCSE results, and this year the school was pleased to announce excellent A-Level results as well. The sixth form goes from strength to strength with an increase in numbers of pupils and in the subjects offered. New this year are PE, art, accountancy, RS and German. Three sixth formers are also achieving sporting honours, with Elisha Garrett and Rachael Bush in the county netball squad and Zaki Dad chosen to play hockey for Hong Kong at Christmas. Anyone who would like more information about Netherwood sixth form should contact director of sixth form studies, Mr. John Holland.
Years 10 and 11 have had an interesting start to the term with two very different visits. On Saturday, September 25, they travelled to Stratford upon Avon to see an excellent performance of 'As You Like It' at the Swan Theatre. The acting was of a very high standard and the director, who was making his RSC debut, brought out the humour of the play exceptionally well, even if there were a few dodgy Welsh accents!
The following week, the same classes were invited to Withybush Conference Centre to attend an NHS World of Careers presentation. This was very well organised, and gave the pupils the opportunity to discover more about what other careers are on offer in the NHS, besides becoming a doctor or nurse. The whole event gave a fascinating insight into the world of technology and therapies that make up the Health Sevice. The school is grateful to all those who worked so hard to make the event a success, particularly those brave souls who dressed up in nursing uniforms from the past 10 or so decades for the quiz.
Less than three weeks into the term saw the first Rotary Youth Speaks competition of the year. This was for Years Seven to Nine, and this year took place in Netherwood School. The standard was incredibly high considering the ages of the speakers, and the judges took an exceptionally long time to make up their minds. Netherwood did not win the team event this year, but all the school's speakers were a credit. Kate Mellor won the prize for best chairperson, while her team-mate Jennifer Perrett won best proposer. Together with Carys Mills they debated the topic 'ghosts don't exist, do they?'. Rachel Scourfield was judged best opposer after she debated 'Money makes the world go round' with Winnie Courtene-Jones, ably chaired by Rosie Thompson. The third team comprised Darcie Tyler-Henley, Nichola Thomas and Robyn Layton, whose topical subject was 'You can't be cool without your mobile'. Congratulations go to all the speakers. The school now looks forward to the senior competition at Greenhill on Monday.
Pupils at Netherwood are always very good at giving help to others less well off than themselves, and this was evident at their annual Harvest assembly, when Mrs. Val Newton, of Cross Hands, visited the school to speak about her work with poor families in Romania, Moldova and Croatia. She visits them regularly with aid and even takes over 100 of the poorer families for an annual holiday in the Carpathian mountains. She went away from Netherwood with a mountain of rice and pasta donated by the pupils. Mr. Holland, head of sixth form, was delighted when the rice and pasta he purchased with the overseas borders money was doubled by the manager of Kilgetty Co-op, a very generous gesture.
The giving went on when almost £180 was collected last week for the 'Jeans for Genes Appeal', when staff and pupils paid for the privilege of wearing their jeans to school.
Netherwood continues to enjoy meeting pupils from all over the world and this term sees another first for the school, with two pupils from Vietnam. The school welcomes them and everyone hopes they will be very happy.