the

wo o d l e i g h a n
Issue 1 - Summer 2005
MADDIE HALL To create her work, Maddie Hall used cartridge paper to draw on and chalk pastels to blend
THE FLOWER (above) colours and add highlights. A bold background was used to make the vivid tones on each
pastel, 50 x 50 cm 2005 petal stand out.

 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term

{CONTENTS}
{NEWS} 5 ALL CHANGE
What’s new at Woodleigh
BY GEORGE HARRISON

{ F E AT U R E S } 6 GARDEN PARTY
Esther’s golden duck
BY THOMAS TURNER

{ARTS} 12 HOUSE PLAYS

Caberets, musicals and nativities
BY LU C Y S OA N E S

{MUSIC} 16 BAND ON TV
Tyne Tees shock for school players
BY BEN KNOWLSON

{FOLIO} 20 THE DOOR

And what’s behind it
BY THOMAS SAUNDERS

{WOODLEIGH} 24 C’EST WOODLEIGH

The world according to Antoine and Jean
BY ANTOINE COGIS

{SPORT} 25-33 ALL THE ACTION

Season reviews for boys’ and girls’ games
B Y S TA F F W R I T E R S

{GALLERY } 34 RECENT PHOTOS

Life around the school
B Y S TA F F P H O T O G R A P H E R S

Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 

 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
EXCITING
CHANGES AT
WOODLEIGH
PHOTOs: PSHE slots into place,
New tennis courts laid, set and
tarmaced and a driveway in a day
By GEORGE HARRISON YEAR SEVEN

AT WOODLEIGH School there have been a lot of changes recently.

A new floor has been laid in the gym, to replace the old wooden surface. Underfloor
heating has also been added. The new playing surface should be fantastic for badmin-
ton and small sided football.
The new tennis court has just been completed. It will be used by the school and also
hired out to the local primary school. The area will double up as a five a side football
pitch.
The entrance drive has been revamped and resurfaced and is now looking very
smart.
We have a new teacher - Mr Tolkien, who replaces Miss Wilson. He teaches English
and football. He is good with computers and electrical things.
A number of old trees have been cut down. The large tree next to the driveway was
cut into pieces. Year Seven and Eight managed to move one of the largest sections in a
PSHE lesson on cooperation. Other larger sections will be used to make new benches
to be used around the school.
Some of the smaller logs are being used by Year Seven to create a totem pole which
is going to welcome people at the back gate. Apparently there will be a sculpture of Mr
Mills on the top, fashioned from old bits and pieces of trees.
Pupils in Year Eight have used the wood for a variety of design projects, including
a magnificant caterpilllar, features on pages 22 & 23, and also some artistic wild mush-
rooms.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 
English gets competitive with Kids’ Lit
quiz and Youth Speaks
By MILES MURKETT YEAR SEVEN
THE Kid’s Lit quiz is a huge multination-
al event run a five countries including the
UK and New Zealand. This year it was
held in Huddersfield.
The quiz consisted of ten rounds, each
on a completely different literary category.
For example phenomenally difficult ques-
tions were posed on Cats, Harry Potter,
Middle Earth and first lines of novels.
In between the main rounds there were
bonus rounds where spot prizes could be
won. Book tokens and pound coins flew
around the room. Winners included Mr
 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
Tolkien, who correctly answered a ques-
tion about Mr Tolkien.
Overall, Woodleigh finished twelfth
out of over 50 schools.
Mr Tolkien, having heard news of
a public speaking contest, called ‘Youth
Speaks’, being held at Lady Lumley’s
School in Pickering immediately organ-
ised a team of five experts.
There were three speakers and two
prompters. He had less than a week to
prepare the ultimate speaking team. The
subject was the importance of sport in
education.
At Lady Lumley’s the tension was
enormous. When it came to our turn
the tension had grown tenfold. As they
walked up to the speech desk you could
see the sweat running off there faces like
a waterfall. Isobel introduced the rest of
the team.
The other schools attending included
Lady Lumleys, Ryedale, Norton College,
and Malton.
The standard was extraordinarily high.
The quality of language used in many of
the prepared speeches was surprisingly
good.
Malton emerged the winners, using a
combination of humour and persuasion.
Esther’s duck in
By THOMAS TURNER YEAR SEVEN
THE SUMMER Garden Party. There
were games such as Tombola, football
speed shot, beat the goalkeeper and a gi-
ant raffle.
Stalls included plant sales, cakes and
bookshops. A tasty barbeque sold sausag-
es in the middle.
£1000 was raised for the new gymna-
sium floor.
Ben Knowlson, Esther Ryan, Mr Eng-
land, Ed Bloom, Justin Birkett all took
part in the race in the duck race.
The stream that they were racing on
had lots of twists and turns, at the end of
the race there was a five-foot high water
fall. It was after a week of making the
boats and it was time for the big race.
The boats were amazing and all of the
people that made the boats looked really
competitive against each other.
quacking win
Then all of a sudden the people that
competed in the duck race jumped into
the stream and put their boats into the
water with them still holding them. They
were staring at the starting flag, which
was a chequered flag.
The flag went down, the people let go
of the ducks then ran onto the land to fol-
low them. The ducks came round the first
corner and went into the side and then
carried on.
All of a sudden the ducks started
speeding up and went round the second
corner and smashed into the side and
bounced off.
It was the last straight and the ducks
got lots of speed. They eventually shot off
the waterfall. It was amazing. Esther Ryan
won the duck race with a great smile on
her face.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 
 Bormio is best says Brad
By BRADLEY WHITE & TOM STOKOE YEAR SEVEN
THIS YEAR’S ski trip set off for Bormio,
in Italy, where World Cup races are run.
The hotel was set on a beautiful hillside
overlooking the alpine scenery.
We arrived all tired and ready to sleep.
Once the equipment was hired from the
nearby ski shop everyone avidly set off
for the slopes.
The group took part in group lessons ,
slalom races and mad downhill dashes for
the brave.
After four days we went to Livigno for
lots and lots of shopping which was very
 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
popular with all the girls.
The hotel rooms were very posh and
the beds were very comfortable. In our
rooms we had our own TV and our own
key.
The food in the hotel was very tasty,
apart from the chewy chicken nuggets
which were in fact squid, and you could
get a drink from the bar whenever you
wanted to.
When we arrived back all our fami-
lies were waiting patiently to greet us at
Woodleigh
The right habits - Year Six visit Fountains Abbey to live like
medieval monks
By WILLIAM MEGGINSON YEAR SIX
OUR TRIP to Fountains Abbey was really
good. The objective of the day was to live
the life of a monk. We walked to Swanley
Grange to get our habits on.
Then we walked down to the abbey
with our habits on, we put our hoods over
our heads and put our arms together. We
had to put our heads down and respect
the peace. Father Abbot asked us what we
had heard while we were walking down
to the Abbey. I said I had heard a bird.
We walked onto a big patch of grass,
where the monks had sheltered for a year.
When new people came, Father Abbot
would ask them why they wanted to be a
monk.
In their girdles there were wax tablets
and daggers. Not for self defence. They
used them for cutting wood and cutting
fish.
After we walked down to the Abbey,
the man asked us what was there that
was useful. Some people said the river,
because it was good for drinking, wash-
ing and cooking.
After that we walked into the Abbey,
down a big passage to the altar, where
we prayed. Then we went to the Chapter
House to get punished. Then we went
to the Warming Room. In the Warming
Room they bled them with leeches.
After that we went to the Refectory,
where the monks ate.
Near the Refectory was the kitchen.
There used to be a table which turns to
give the food.
In the Cloister, they would read and
write. We went to the Store Room, where
they kept the food.
After that we went to the lay broth-
ers’ dining room. The lay brothers do the
work around the abbey.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 
Pedal power circuit grips Woodleigh
By MILES MURKETT YEAR SEVEN

THE Woodleigh pedal push is a tight winding course all around

the school, with flats, hills and steep slopes. It is one of the tough-
est courses in Yorkshire, often compared to the Tour de France.
The peleton was greeted with regular refreshment breaks to
keep the riders going.
A wide variety of vehicles, from scooters and rollerblades,
to buggies and tractors often crashed with riders falling off and
having to call the mobile repair to get them back on the road.
At the end of the day all the competitors were awarded med-
als in recognition of their acheivements. Everyone went home
very happy and very hot.
All the sponsorship money raised for future funding of spe-
cial occaisions.
10 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
 TOP 10 tunes
l Blue Orchid - White Stripes
l Vertigo - U2
l Take me out - Franz Ferdinand
l Holiday - Greenday
l Pretty fly - The Offspring
l American Idiot - Greenday
l Buck Rogers - Feeder
I believe in a thing called love -
l Darkness
l Everybody’s changing - Keane
The Prejudice is one to watch
By MILES MURKETT YEAR SEVEN
MYSELF, Miles Murkett the guitarist, Charlie Carveles the drummer and Lewis Welch
the part-time bass player all practise when we can. We usually play in the drum room
on a Friday before lunch. The best thing about playing the guitar is the noise, you can
make as much as you like and you don’t get in trouble, as long as you have got some
skill. If I play with the window open people coming up the hill outside our house stop
and listen to my music. Sometimes I even get complaints from the neighbours because I
play too loud. My favourite songs to rock on my guitar are the Darkness’ ‘I believe in a
thing called love’, Feeder’s ‘Buck Rogers’ , and last but definitely not least, The red-hot
Chili Peppers’ ‘Can’t stop’.
Playing live is difficult. To start with you are very nervous, not knowing whether
the crowd are going to like you or not. But as soon as you start playing all of the nerv-
ousness disappears and you feel much more confident. When you sit down afterwards
there is a huge sense of relief that you did it.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 11
Kill the aunt,
an African cabaret
and unhappy
penguins
By LUCY SOANES & CANDY FONG YEAR SEVEN
EVERY Winter term all four houses,
North South, East and West produce a
play. The same script is used for all four
plays, but the interpretations and sets
vary widely.
This year’s house play was about some
posh people who had no money who lived
in a large, but filthy, house. However,
their Aunt Nell was rolling in it, so they
hatched an evil plot to do her in and col-
lect the inheritance.
Numerous half-baked attempts on her
life ensue until it transpires that Aunt
Nell lost all her money on the horses.
When confronted with their evil deeds,
they give the Aunt a battered painting as
TOP 5 MOMENTS
l Tom Dales’s menacing laugh.
Joe Robinson and Thomas Turner
l squirting water at the audience.
l The clock kept falling off the stage.
Lorn McNaughton’s surreal script
l changes.
l South forgot to use their canoe.
12 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
compensation. Later they read that she
has sold the old master at auction.
This year East won, featuring a vir-
tuoso performance from Tom Dales.
The plays were judged on how well
the lines were learned, the standard of
scenery, the level of acting performances
and how effectively costumes and props
were used.
Nursery, Reception, and Years One
and Two performed a spectacular play
about a penguin who was too young to go
with his family on holiday.
This year’s Cabaret-in-a-day was on
Friday 22nd February. Each play was
based on an traditional African myth,
and the music featured African drums,
rhythms and dances.
At the start of the play, once the au-
dience were all sitting down, the cast
danced, weaving between the tables to
the stage. The band featured African in-
struments and everyone wore authentic
costumes.
All the children sang African songs,
for example, the ‘goodbye’ song and the
‘hello’ song. In total, four African para-
bles where presented in the gym, which
was carpeted for the day and adorned
with spectacular African wall hangings
and sparkly lighting.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 13
Ingleborough
no problem for
intrepid
Woodleigh
walkers
By JASON BIRKETT & ED BLOOM YEAR SEVEN

INTREPID Woodleigh explorers aced the three peaks on a spring

term activity weekend to raise funds for the new tennis courts.
First, Whernside loomed large. Winding paths grew ever
steeper but all managed to win the battle. Cold, wind and drizzle
hampered all on the way down.
Five hours later a welcoming pub beckoned at the end. Brad-
ley’s dad cheated, racing ahead in a Lotus.
Ingleborough loomed large and grey after lunch. Hail bom-
barded the party as mist crept in. Morale fell as the path end-
lessly circled. Hours of heavy trudging in mud, moss and slime
proved no match for these hikers.
Steep doesn’t do it justice. ‘Loose rocks and slippery condi-
tions, mini landslides and near disasters,’ said Edward Bloom,
almost taking the quick way.
Timber Lodge provided overnight respite.
The smell of a full English breakfast enticed the weary to
consider the final challenge: Pen Y Ghent.
The hill was uncompromisingly vertical. Apparently, Tho-
mas Turner heard there were wild truffles at the top, and he
nosed into the lead.
Mrs Murkett snapped the joyous moment celebrating the as-
cent.
According to Year 7, K2 and the Matterhorn are up next.
Other activity weekends this year have included a Chinese
themed two days including authentic food and craft making, a
walking , clying and running event to raise money for charity,
and canoeing in the local countryside around Malton.
14 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term

TOP 5 camping
MOMENTS
l When Ben Knowlson got stuck in the
lake on a mountain bike.
l Miles Murkett wished he hadn’t eaten
that pot noodle the night before.
Will Megginson leaned to the left,
l Ben Knowlson leaned to the left. The
canoe capsized.
l Lewis Welch and Thomas Turner set
up their tent in a puddle.
l Tom Stokoe fell on his tent which
collapsed spectacularly.
Canoeing and
daredevil
mountain
bike riding on
first camp
By BEN KNOWLSON & MILES MURKETT YEAR SEVEN
THOMAS Turner, Ben Knowlson, Lewis Welch, William Meg-
ginson, Jack Redfern, Rob Mewburn and Clayton Hill canoed at
the Rydal Lake.
The groups were in two-man canoes. Every canoe tipped
over at least once.
With everybody wet and cold we rowed over to the nearest
island to get some hot drinks and a block of chocolate. Some
people did exercises to keep warm before getting back into the
canoes.
With everybody at the location it was time to head back to
the boat shed to put the canoes away.
Then we set off for the most exiting bike ride I have ever ex-
perienced in my whole life so far. We had cycled an exhausting
one to two miles towards a mountain, which looked like a great
monster.
Eventually after the tiring ride we started to head up a road
which was at about forty-five degrees. At the front Brad White
and Miles Murkett were cycling all the way up without walking,
but all of the other cyclists started to walk up the rough road.
The route was getting steeper and steeper, then all of a sud-
den Ted Foster came zooming past me and fell off. Three quar-
ters of the way down Miles jumped off a five foot drop and then
came off but fortunately did not hurt himself.
When we got to the bottom of the path we stopped at Ryedale
Water for a rest. Once everybody had recovered from the eight
mile bike ride which we had just cycled, we set off again towards
the camp site.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 15
TV surprise for school musicians
By BEN KNOWLSON YEAR SEVEN
MUSICIANS from Woodleigh School set
off to Durham this term, for a day packed
full of music.
We were one of many independent
schools taking part in a challenge to learn
two pieces in one day. To add to the pres-
sure, the performance was at three o’clock
that very afternoon.
When the musicians arrived they were
separated into Brass, Woodwind and Per-
cussion. The three groups went off to be
given their pieces and learn them.
The first tune was one everyone knew
- the one and only James Bond ‘Live and
Let Die’ theme.
Time to get down to business - instru-
16 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
ments were tuned up and raring to go.
Bar by bar the tune gradually made
more sense. With a bit of practice and
hard work we got used to the sight read-
ing.
After an hour of non-stop playing and
rehearsing it was time to put down the
James Bond theme and look to the second
piece; the Blue Danube waltz. To some of
the musicians the piece looked a lot more
complicated.
This time each part played their first
line, so they knew what it sounded like
and to keep everyone together. After
more hard practice and concentration it
gradually came good.
After lunch, the Brass players bumped
into the Woodwind players who let slip
that the concert would be recorded by
Tyne Tees television for the evening
news.
This came as an enormous shock. The
pressure increased!
All the groups got together and re-
hearsed as one. The practice sounded
great and before anyone knew it, the
clock struck three.
It was the moment of truth for the mu-
sicians.
All the players played the notes in
front of them and sounded absolutely
brilliant. It was a great day out.

JONTY GILLINGHAM RECEPTION
A DRAGON STORY (below) FOUNDATION STAGE FUN (above)
year 2 literacy, 2005 2005
THERE was once a dragon the size of a house. He was just having
his fortieth birthday. He had green wings and he had big and small
blue spikes. He had teeth the size of a T-Rex’s.
He had claws as sharp as a spear. He had a tail that was longer
than a rocket. He had a red and scaly back and he had spikes. He
didn’t like to be forty because he didn’t want to grow up. His name
was James.
James’ cave was dark and ghostly. The cave was at a top of a
mountain where the sea was and the dragon could fly down and
grab fish .The cave had drawings and cobwebs and spiders the
drawings showed a great battle against dragons and James was
one of the kings.
He has two hours sleep and then practises lifting rocks with his
tail. Then he eats 3000 tons of food a day. He is unhappy because
he doesn’t have a door. He needs a microwave because he might
not be able to breathe fire.
A princess came to the cave. She had golden hair that swishes
in the wind and she wore a beautiful gold and pink frock. On her
head she was wearing a crown. It was bright yellow with a red ruby
Foundation Stage Fun! Trips this year have in-
cluded a visit to Cruckly Animal Farm, a day at
Boggle Hole for a rock-pooling adventure and a
fossil hunt and a day at Beck Isle Museum where
the children learned about life in the past. They
dressed in period costume, wrote on slates, had
a go at brass rubbing and used a washboard and
a dolly stick to wash some clothes.
in the middle of it. Her name was Sam Gillingham. Sam was eight-
een years old. She was helpful but sometimes she was bossy.
Sam came to the cave for dragon scales because she wanted to
be rich to make her palace better. She got to the cave by carriage
and rode to the bottom of the mountain and climbed up. When she
got there she went in with a spear.
The dragon looked up and saw her. He was delighted to see
Sam and said, “Please come in for a cup of tea.” Sam looked and
said it’s dark and ghostly in here. Using her phone she ordered a
big, blue, bright door from the castle and she ordered the best mi-
crowave they had.
The dragon did most of the work because he was excited to
have a different cave. When it was finished it looked fabulous.
James was very, very pleased with the door and the chimney and
the new house was brilliant.
He thanked Sam with some treasure and a new crown. They
celebrated with a “Princess and Friendly Dragon Party”. Sam didn’t
go home, instead she practised running away from dragons. James
practised chasing Sam, and they lived happily after.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 17
NURSERY & RECEPTION As part of the Nursery and Reception’s guardian partnership scheme with the National
MINIBEAST HOMES (above) Trust, Mark Bradley and his team have spent two days with us this term. The children
spring term 2005 were able to hone their wood working skills when making minibeast homes or ‘bug
boxes’. They hammered a basic wooden box together and filled up the space with
differing sizes of bamboo cane. These boxes provide a warm, dry and safe
environment for all types of minibeasts to reside in. Photo courtesy Gazette & Herald.

18 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term

Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 19
YEAR FIVE
THE DOOR (below)
spring term 2004
descriptive writing
by Thomas Saunders

When I opened the door I saw a maze of confusing thoughts, permanently shimmering
and changing. The more confused I became, the more confusing the maze seemed, for
the maze was my confused thoughts.
I finally realised that, and as soon as this happened I sat down and stopped trying,
and it slowly cleared. Now I was in the midst of a beautiful city. I thought - ‘that tower!’
and immediately I was at the top of it.
Up there I could see the wonderful world I was in: orchards, undtended, but per-
fect; I could see moors and fruitful fields. I leapt off the tower and found I could fly.
I landed in a pear tree and saw words carved into the trunks. There were 42 trees.
Seven said love, seven said friendship, seven joy, seven freedom and seven knowl-
edge.
I had landed in a freedom tree. I tried a pear and became totally free.

20 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term

 Wade and Bell were giants who lived
in the local area. Once, Wade became
angry with his wife Bell, and scooped
up a clod of earth to throw at her. He
missed.
The hole left by the scooped earth
can be seen today as the massive Hole
of Horcum. The clod which missed Bell
has become Blakey Topping, an odd
shaped hill a mile from Saltergate car
park.

Last term, Year Six went on a Geography fieldwork trip to the Hole of Horcum, which is YEAR SIX
found near Saltergate car park. INSIDE THE HOLE OF HORCUM (above)
At the Hole of Horcum, there was an overflow channel from the Esk lake, which was autumn term 2004
formed when the River Esk flooded down to Lake Pickering. (The Vale of Pickering) In geography fieldwork /english myths
the Vale of Pickering, all the fields are full of crops, this is because the silt left from the & legends
lake is very rich and good for agriculture. by Guy Gilliat

Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 21

YEAR EIGHT
CATERPILLAR WOOD SCULPTURE (spread)
summer term 2005
design and technology project
by Mairi Aitken

YEAR SEVEN
BIKE CRASH (below)
autumn term 2004
english - descriptions
by Bradley White

The world flew about him. Trees swirled,

sky swirled, bones crunched. The track met
his face like a slap from life itself. Rocks and
grit embedded in his lips and filtered inside
his mouth and onto his tongue. Louis’ ride
stopped.
Eyes wide and bright stared at all that
was peaceful. Birds soared above, occa-
sionally perching to spy a closer view. The
sound of a far off waterfall splashing and
sploshing permeated through the woods.
Even the insects spoke. Before the crying.
And the wailing. And the shouting:
“Mummy!”

22 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term

YEAR SEVEN
MARGOT’S POINT OF VIEW (below)
autumn term 2004
english - autobiographies, based on
‘The Diary of Anne Frank’
by Ben Knowlson

The postcard arrived. Father read it and then

went to tell mother. Neither me nor Anne
could hear what they were saying as they
put us in our playroom. When they had fin-
ished, while they were upstairs I went into
the kitchen and found the postcard on the
floor. I picked it up and read it from top to
bottom. We have to move away and share
an annex with the van Daan family.
We packed our bags and got ready to
move. Mother and father were looking
forward to moving and living with the van
Daans, but personally, I was dreading it. It
must be awful sharing a house with the
van Daans especially Peter van Daan (Mr
and Mrs van Daan’s son) because he never
brushes his teeth and he is so fat.
We have moved into the annex. I hate it.
It’s not just the van Daans, it’s everything.
The bedrooms are freezing, there’s no hot
water and I can never get a signal on my ra-
dio. Mother and father love it, but person-
ally I would rather sleep in a rabbit’s hutch.
All we do is stay in one room all day. That is
one whole day in the same room as Peter
van Daan.
Today he stole my sweets while I sat
on the toilet. For lunch, we had some fresh
fruit, for dinner we had fish and for supper
we had some cake which mother and Mrs
van Daan made. It’s nearly time for bed
now, I hope tomorrow is better.

Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 23


Vive la vie à Woodleigh
By ANTOINE COGIS & JEAN PAULHAN YEAR SEVEN
WOODLEIGH School is bigger than my
school, at mine we haven’t a swimming
pool, we haven’t horses and we can’t
do biking because the playground is too
small.
The lessons begins at 8.30 a.m. in
France, in England at Woodleigh school
Langton it’s better because the lessons be-
gins at 9.00 a.m.
In my school, in France the lessons are
during 50 minutes and in England it’s 40
minutes.
Here we can play tennis, we can’t
in mine school. At Woodleigh we do
sometimes canoeing and we have many
camps.
For example, there are activity week-
ends and also first and second camps for
the children in years six to eight.
24 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
jean’s top 10
Woodleigh is like a big house where
l everbody knows everybody else.
l The breaks and sports and
tournaments are really good.
Often we have a practise for making
tents or for cooking in mountains. It’s l The activities during the weekend
and the camps are excellent.
very interesting and educational.
At France it’s very rare because we
haven’t so many rivers. Sometimes we go l The swimming
events.
pool and house
to museums with my school in France,
like the Louvre, but it’s not always very
interesting.
l The tennis court and bike riding.
For sport, we have a big pitch, where The lessons, because they are quite
we can play football, netball, cricket, rug- l easy and short.
by and more sports.
I left my French school on the 18th
April 2005 to come here, now I am very
l The football on the back lawn.
happy and my English is much better.
My brother and my cousin, will go
l The teachers are interesting.
to Howsham, another school next to
Woodleigh.
l Pupils are friendly with foreigners.
Apparently it’s stricter, they’ll find
out after half-term.
l Matches at the weekend.
 U13 FOOTBALL
Best goal - Sunny Chan in the top left
l
hand corner against Bramcote.
l Best attempt at goal - Ricky Chiu
shooting from the half-way line.
l Best win - home vs Reed.
l Player of the season - Joe Robinson.
Best moment of complete chaos -
l away at Terrington.
l Best
out.
miss - Brad White from five yards
l Best desparate lunge by keeper -
Lewis Welch away at Hurworth.
l Best penalty - Brad White away at
Bramcote.
Best penalty save - Clayton Hill vs
l Staff. Almost.
Football well poised for
improvement
By BEN KNOWLSON YEAR SEVEN
WOODLEIGH’S football sides showed
immense improvements this season.
The u13 side started brightly in Bram-
cote’s 5-a-side tournament. Brad White
scored three, and Sunny Chan scored one.
Despite beating Minster comfortably, the
side just missed qualifying for the knock-
out stages.
With a small squad, the senior side
struggled against more experienced teams
in the eleven-a-side matches. However,
Woodleigh ended the season strongly,
finishing equal first in their home tourna-
ment in March.
The under 11s played with great flair
at certain times, and wanton abandon at
others.
At the Cundal 5-a-side tournament
Woodleigh cruised to a semi final berth
before losing to a pacy Hurworth side
who went on to win the event.
A mid season dip followed, but a re-
surgence was complete when the second
team won Lisvane’s annual mini soccer
festival, and the first team comprehen-
sively outplayed Minster.
The under nines started with a fantas-
tic performce to reach the semi-finals at
Cundall Manor, and despite some unfor-
tunate losses in November and Decem-
ber, managed to finish the Spring term
unbeaten.
The win at Bramcote was definitely
the highlight.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 25
Great season for Girls
By LUCY SOANES YEAR SEVEN
MATCH
IN GIRLS’ games we play rounders and
tennis in the summer. Mrs Johnston and RESULTS
Madame Matique teach us the sport we
play at games. Summer term Rounders:
At the start of summer we do play
rounders but if it’s too wet we go in the l U13 vs Belmont Grosvenor - WON
gym. Tennis is normally played in the U11 vs Belmont Grosvenor - WON
middle of summer when it is warm. U11 vs Bramcote - LOST
Year 8, 7, 6 and 5 girls usually play U9 vs Bramcote - LOST
rounders together so the year 5’s and 6’s U13 vs Bramcote - LOST
can get help from people older than them. U13 vs Terrington - WON
Matches for girls are on Wednesdays U13 vs Belmont Grosvenor - WON
and Saturdays. Mixed rounders is played U11 vs Fyling Hall - WON
about twice a year. U11 vs Lisvane - LOST
Lately we have played an under 11’s
mixed rounders match and that was won
by us with a score of 22-30. At the end of
the summer most people improve on their
catching, throwing, and batting.
In winter we play hockey and netball.
Our top score is 35-4 against Belmont
Grosvenor and one of our hockey scores
in the under 13’s was 4-1 against Fyling Hall.
The under 11’s and under 13’s play
together most of the time so the under
11’s have some competition and some
tips from people that are older than them.
Nearly every games time the girls play
hockey unless they are doing a run.

26 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term

Close battle for cup
By BEN KNOWLSON YEAR SEVEN
ALL YEAR the school houses, North,
South, East and West compete against
each other in Football, Hockey, Swim-
ming, Rounders and Athletics tourna-
ments.
Competition has been fierce. South
won the Football easily. East won the
Hockey after a close encounter.
House Basketball was cancelled. The
next house competition was Sports day.
East won and South were second. North
came third.
House rounders was very close but
East won again. South came second,
North third and unhappy West came
fourth.
East won the overall house championship.
The senior pupils who entered the
TOURNAMENT
Badminton tournament spent the morn-
ing at Pocklington sports centre to play RESULTS
four hotly contested rounds.
The first round results proved unex- Senior tournaments
pected. In the first match, Ed Bloom was
knocked out by Candy Fong with an 11- l Tennis - Joe Robinson
3 shocker. There were more surprises Chess - Ricky Chiu
to follow. Just before the second round, Badminton - Ricky Chiu
the seeded players arrived in a convoy of Table Tennis - Ricky Chiu
cars. Snooker - Bradley White
Alan Lee, Brad White and Mairi
Aitken all fell at the final hurdles leaving Junior tournaments
Jean Paulhan to take on the mighty smash
of Ricky Chiu. l Tennis - Louis White
Ricky proved indestructable, romping Snooker - Philip Johnston
to a 14-5 lead in under ten minutes. Jean Table Tennis - Philip Johnston
survived three matchpoints before being Junior Badminton - cancelled
trounced 15-6.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 27
 It’s

28 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term

 East !
By BEN KNOWLSON YEAR SEVEN
SPORTS day 2005 was full of races which included 100m
sprint, 200m sprint, 400m and 800m. There were also vari-
ous house events during the afternoon which included hur-
dles, throwing tennis balls into buckets, a maze and hoop
throwing.
All events were very successful and all got brilliant times.
The year 3-5 boys 200m were well attempted. For North
Edward Megginson came 3rd with a time of 37.34 seconds.
For East, Oliver Medforth came 1st with an amazing time
of 34.14 seconds. As you can see, the picture tells you how
happy he was. For South, Andrew Chapman ran and came
2nd with a time of 35.90 seconds. And finally for West, Tho-
mas Lee ran and came 4th with a time of 39.36 seconds.
All of these times were very close and well run by every
competitor.
The year 3-5 boys 800m was also run very well and times
were also very close.
The year 6-8 girl’s long jump was very successful as well.
For North Gigi Cheung was jumping and got a distance of
2.10m and came 4th. East’s long jumper was Alice Bristow
and she came 3rd with a distance of 3.00m. Isobel Procter
was jumping for South and came joint 1st with a distance of
3.32m. And for West, Esther Ryan was jumping and she also
came 1st with the same distance as Isobel Procter.
East was the winner of the afternoon but all results were
very close.
The following week the school athletes and the students
went to Huntington stadium, to host and compete in the annual
Woodleigh athletics competition.
The group arrived at the stadium at around 12.30pm. Ath-
letes were getting warmed up around the track for track events
which included: 100m sprint, 200m sprint, 300m sprint, 400m
run, 800m run and two relay races which were 4x100 and 4x400.
Athletes were also warming up around the field for field events
which included: - long jump, high jump, cricket ball throw,
rounders ball throw, shot put and the discus.
The first event of the afternoon was the under 13 300m
sprint. The race was very close. Miles Murkett set off at the be-
ginning of the race 4th but in the last 80m he ran his very fastest
and snuck into 3rd place. Miles got a brilliant position and a bril-
liant time.
Esther Ryan got a brilliant time and position in the 400m
run. She came first out of all the schools.
Brad White also got a brilliant position and time in the 100m
sprint. He came second for Woodleigh.
Georgina Barclay got a brilliant distance in the long jump.
Miles Murkett got a brilliant height in the high jump.
Everybody who took part did very well.
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 29
Mixed season for
keen U13s
By MR MILLS RUGBY
THIS SEASON’S team was a mixture of a few veterans from last
year, some promising under eleven’s and those who had never
played rugby before.
After an encouraging warm up session at St. Martins Am-
pleforth, the team narrowly lost to Scarborough College 10-17.
Once we found our next opponent, Red House Norton, the team,
after shooting into an immediate 14 point lead, decided to make
more exciting for the home team’s supporters and we eventually
won 19-17.
Reality check number one; a strong physical team from Cun-
dall, which exposed a few weaknesses saw a 10-20 defeat. How-
sham Hall away proved as strong as ever, inflicting a 24-0 defeat.
Three victories over Hurworth, Reed and Scarborough College
followed, which not only was a good way to end the term, but
also saw the emergence of a team, using the big men well, and
showing some skill to go with it.
Reality check number two; massacre at Cundall 63-0! Two
injuries and three of the team jet lagged. ( In the end a trip to
Scotland was necessary to secure a victory over Cundall at the
30 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
Merchiston Sevens)
After some even more serious training the team bounced
back to two more victories, Bramcote and Fyling Hall, the latter
giving some of the current under eleven’s some valuable experi-
ence.
A visit from the south, Lochinver House, resulted in a pleas-
ant Sunday morning’s game. As the tourists had yet to win and
we were such good hosts, we duly obliged, losing a close match
10-19.
Two more close defeats followed. Terrington 12-15 and How-
sham 7-8. Standing on the touch line near PTM was only for
the brave or deaf. Aysgarth was our last match and also the last
time Mr. Parsons would referee for us as he departs for warmer
climes. Not only does he deserve thanks for giving up his time
over the years to come here, but also for the positive feed backs
afterwards. Another close match, a 26-20 victory for the team,
which left honours even, won seven, lost seven.
Finally I would like to thank the parents for their support, no
matter what the weather threw at them.
Younger teams
show great potential
By MR WOOLLEY RUGBY
THE UNDER 11 rugby team featured fine individual perform-
ances from Rob Mewburn, who always led by example as cap-
tain, and Charlie Allenby who often provided a backbone in
both attack and defence.
Jack Redfern and Rhys Smith gained in confidence with each
match and both learned to not only use their size to their advan-
tage but also to offload the ball at the right time. Tom Saunders
and Tom Horsley both proved to be useful hookers and it was
difficult at times to choose the better of the two. Tom Barclay
was probably the most improved player of the squad, closely fol-
lowed by George Boyes – both showed huge progress in all areas
of the game. One of the most exciting aspects of the team was
the centre partnership of William Megginson and Louis White.
Ted Foster also developed into a fine scrum half and Clayton
Hill was a welcome addition to the squad and he used his speed
and strength to good effect throughout the season. Louis Knowl-
son, Kyden Woodhead and Mark Thomas all played well on the
wing. It was pleasing to see Guy Gilliat gaining in confidence
with each match and Andrew Chapman should be one to watch
next year.
Their victory in the St Martin’s Ampleforth Sevens is a re-
flection of what a really good team they are.
In the U9s, Henry Blundell is a cracking forward and he has
often been a solid platform on which to build the rest of the for-
wards. Charles Saunders is proving to be a good hooker and Guy
Welch has improved with each match played. Freddie Weeks has
worked hard and showed great improvements.
William Procter has developed a really good side step and
often passes the ball at just the right moment. Oliver Medforth
has also shown tremendous progress and is beginning to use his
size and pace to good effect.
William Bennett- Baggs never stops working for the team
and John Soanes is a naturally gifted tackler. Jay Mitchinson-
Singh, Oliver Rees and Edward Megginson are the three players
that have really developed a much better understanding. Alex
Machen was a welcome addition to the squad in the second term
and has proved to be a good all – round player. George Mewburn
has been the back bone of the team .
Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 31
Rollercoaster season for
By BEN KNOWLSON, LOUIS WHITE & GUY GILLIAT YEAR SIX & SEVEN
THE UNDER 13 team have had mixed fortunes this term, in a
long season including many fixtures and tournaments.
The first match was lost to a strong Aysgarth side, but over
the season the side showed steady improvement to win matches.
In May we played the Pocklington 6-a-side. Various teams at-
tended. The specially selected six did very well, although they
unfortunately came last. During the tournament the whole team
improved in the field and with the bat. George and Sam Harrison
batted extremely well. They put this down to their new bats.
Later in May, Woodleigh seconds were involved in a thrill-
er against Fyling Hall. This was a brilliant match, proving a
real challenge for both teams with quckfire 20 over run chase.
Woodleigh edged a close match.
Over the rest of the season the team has continued to im-
prove, all players have performed well.
The Under 11 side has performed well, if inconsistently this
season. Highlights included the match against Minster, where
George Boyes scored three astonishing fours in successive balls,
and Rob Mewburn decimated the opposition batting with six
wickets in a devastating spell.
Lisvane held the home side until the nearly the end. Woodleigh
edged the match by three runs scored in the final over. Wand-
like, Rhys Smith’s bat flashed the crucial runs to secure a win.
Asygarth, Reed and Bramcote proved too strong for this side.
But next year’s side will be licking their lips in anticipation.
32 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
THE U9 Kwik Cricket team proved almost invincible this sea-
son. Inexperienced batting pairs and early season indecision
caused an unlucky collapse against a strong Aysgarth side.
But disappointment did not set in. The players practised with
ruthless discipline and determined professionalism. Against
Bramcote, Woodleigh won the toss to bat first. Setting a high
target, the home team proceeded to plunder Bramcote’s batting
order and limit their scoring to 20 at the half way point. A win
was never in doubt.
St Martin’s looked a useful outfit, but again Woodleigh’s de-
votion to maiden overs left the visitors with a total of 0 after 13
overs. By the end Woodleigh had romped to victory by over 30
runs.
Lisvane arrived for the season finale. Despite accurate and
dangerous bowling, Woodleigh’s batters set a daunting 128 to
chase. Onlookers gasped, and watched 15 wickets tumble , seven
stumpings and five catches resulting in a convicing
175 run victory.
 Woodleigh’s cricketers

MATCH RESULTS
Summer term Cricket:
l U13 vs Cundall Manor - CANCELLED
U13 vs Howsham - LOST
U13 vs Reed - WON
U13 vs Aysgarth - LOST
U13 vs Minster - WON
U13 vs Bramcote - LOST
U13 vs Scarborough College - LOST

l U11 vs Aysgarth - LOST

U11 vs Reed - LOST
U11 vs Bramcote - LOST
U11 vs Minster - WON
U11 vs Lisvane - WON

l U9 vs Aysgarth - LOST
U9 vs Bramcote - WON
U9 vs St Martin’s Ampleforth - WON
U9 vs Lisvane - WON

Summer term | No. 1 | the woodleighan | 33

Editors: Ben Knowlson, Miles Murkett

Sub Editors and writers: Cassie Battye, Ed Bloom, Jason Birkett, Candy Fong, George Harrison,
Joe Robinson, Lucy Soanes, Tom Stokoe, Thomas Turner, Lewis Welch & Bradley White

Design and layout by Mr Tom Tolkien

Photo credits: Mr Tolkien: pages 1, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,
35, 36. Mrs Howarth: page 17. Cassie Battye: pages 10,22,23. Candy Fong: page 10, 22, 23.
Mrs Murkett: pages 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16. Mr David Harrison, courtesy of ‘Gazette & Herald’ : pages 18-19.
Mr Mills: page 9

Many thanks to: All the staff and children at Woodleigh School
All text © Woodleigh School 2005. Woodleigh School - Langton - Malton - North Yorkshire. Y017 9QN
01653 658215 (tel), 01653 658423 (fax), www.woodleighschool.freeserve.co.uk
34 | the woodleighan | No. 1 | Summer term
RYAN HODGETTS To create his work Ryan Hodgetts based his image on a bunch of flowers. He chose individ-
PETALS (above) ual flower heads and reinterpreted them in an original impressionist style. Only a segment
coloured chalks on paper, 100 x 65 cm 2005 of the work, which is much larger in scale, is printed here.