These additions to the curriculum enable our brightest pupils to study a range of challenging academic subjects, whilst our more creative pupils have the opportunity to study a range of creative subjects including two Art GCSEs - Fine Art and Graphic Communication.

The school maintained its high standard in Art with 40% of grades A* and 60% A*-A. Two pupils achieved 100% in their Art GCSE - Beth Greeves in Graphics, in which she designed Olympic stamps in a mock commercial brief for Royal Mail. Shannon Bills also attained 100% in her Fine Art GCSE.  The school did particularly well in drama with 5 pupils attaining the LAMDA Grade 6 Acting Award (a Level 3 qualification), all with Merit. In History 54% of pupils achieved A*-A grades, in Personal Finance 60%, in English Literature 47% and 42% in Additional Science.

Amy Eckleben who attained her LAMDA Grade 6 Acting Award with Merit as well as 3A*s,  4As and 3Bs (1.5 grades above her predictions) was delighted:  “My results are better than I expected. I can’t thank the Thames teachers enough for believing in me! They have taught me so much and inspired me never to give up!”

Another pupil who achieved outstanding results was Johanna Smith who gained an A in Additional Maths (an AS qualification) as well as 3 A*s, 6As, 1B and 1C. Chris Gouro attained an average 2 grades above his predictions – a fantastic achievement - and Ross Montgomerie 1 A*, 4As, 3Bs and 1C, 1.7 grades higher than his predictions.

The focused teaching, individual attention and personal encouragement provided at Thames, makes a real difference in enabling pupils to reach their full potential.   

Stephen Holsgrove PhD, Executive Head, comments:  “At Thames whether a student is capable of achieving all A*grades and beyond or finds academic study more of a challenge, our aim is to develop each individual to ensure they reach their full potential – without putting them off study! What we are looking to achieve in individuals is more than just exceptional GCSE results, we also care about and support our pupils overall development during the early teenage years.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at Thames, parents and pupils for their hard work, motivation and support.  This year’s results bring the schools average grades over four years to 92% 5A*-C  and 72% A*-C including English and Maths.”

“As in previous years we will continue our support of our leavers going forward, assisting them in making their final college choices and ensuring each takes the best future educational route they can.“

This is the second year that we have won this award in the boys' category, and the first year for the girls. Our Year 10 class have just completed their Personal Finance course and 69% of the class have gained A*/A grades, so we are hopeful that next year we will win the award for a third year.

In 2009 Thames was awarded the Good School's Guide GCSE Fine Art Award in the boys' and girls' categories and again in 2010 in the boys' category.

In other clubs last term, pupils made props and costumes for the end of term production, investigated the innards of various organisms—plants, fish and small animals—in the Dissection Club, and learnt about SCUBA and conservation in the Marine Conservation Club.

Due to popular demand, Design Technology has been added to the curriculum in Years 8 and 9.  Each class is split into two to study either Woodwork or Textiles.  The focus of both these courses is two fold - pupils learn how to develop their ideas and thinking skills by working to a brief and learn practical skills that can be applied later in life, using handtools in Woodwork and sewing machines in Textiles.

For the first time we are running a double art GCSE.  Five Year 11 pupils are taking a GCSE in Graphic Communication alongside Fine Art.  The Graphics element is being taught by Steve Trimm, a creative director from the advertising industry who has worked with many big brands including Pringle, BA, Nokia and Links.  Steve is acting as both tutor and client. He set four commercial briefs from which pupils have chosen one to develop for the duration of this term. At the end of term the students will pitch their ideas to him in the style of a real client presentation. 

Dave Adkins, Deputy Head and Head of Art at Thames comments: “We are always looking for ways to improve and extend the Art curriculum offered at Thames.  Hopefully the pupils will perform a little better than 'The Apprentice' contestants at real life business pitches!  This is a great way for pupils to sample what an actual career would be like in Graphic and to provide them with invaluable work experience.”

For the duration of the trip the students were encouraged to speak Spanish for the majority of the time and to sample the Spanish culture.

Francisca Anastasi, who accompanied the trip, commented: “We all had a fantastic time, the pupils got to immerse themselves in Spanish culture and experience the language first hand. I have noticed a marked improvement in their progress as a result. They are much more confident speakers.  It was also a lot of fun and an opportunity for students to spend time together, away from home, in a new environment.  I think they have learned a lot from the experience as a whole.”

What the pupils thought:

Yonnatan : “The Spanish teachers were excellent and had a great sense of humour, we got to speak lots of Spanish on the trip in formal lessons and our free time.”

Jasmine: “The locals were very friendly and encouraged us to speak Spanish. They were very helpful and spoke slowly so that we could pick up what they were saying. The trip just wasn’t quite long enough, before we knew it we arrived back in England  - in the cold, wet and dark!”

Amy : “The trip was very organised and we got to do lots of sight-seeing but we also had time to relax by the pool, do some market shopping and have fun on the beach.”

Cherelle:  “I really liked the Spanish classes, the teachers took the time to explain everything in a meaningful way so that we could then go out and practise what we had learned in our free time.”

Matthew: “We had a really lovely time and got to sample real Spanish life.”

Clare is particularly enthusiastic about empowering pupils to develop the learning and thinking skills to enable them to achieve their full potential both academically and in their personal life.

If you missed the fruit of their hard work shown on ITV1 on Saturday 28 March, you can catch up on this episode and the one where Myleene came to Thames to spring the surprise on them on Youtube.

David Adkins, Head of Art, said that it gave the students an interesting insight into architecture, adding that if he had been given such an opportunity at school, he might have been tempted to follow architecture as a career! Ben, in Year 11, said "I was really inspired by the workshop and it confirmed that I do want to be an architect." Many thanks to all the staff at Project35 for giving up their time to allow our pupils to enjoy this unique experience.