A 100% home record on the great pitch up at Holcombe Park has led to CGSB topping the East Kent Under 19 Schools First Division as we approach the half way stage of the season. Comprehensive wins at home against Marlowe Academy, Sittingbourne CC and Astor of Hever along with away victories at Marsh Academy and Angley have set up a realistic push for the title. A very talented and huge squad of 23 have all been used this season and the goals have been shared around all eleven positions. The desire to play fast flowing Arsenal style football is paying dividends.

East Kent Division 1

	Pl	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
Chatham GS	6	5	0	1	42	7	10	+35
Homewood	5	5	0	0	19	9	10	+10
Canter bury High	5	4	1	0	28	9	9	+19
Dane Court GS	5	4	1	0	14	5	9	+9
Chaucer TC	6	2	1	3	12	11	5	+1
Maplesden Noakes	6	2	1	3	13	13	5	0
Howard	4	2	0	2	12	8	4	+4
Sitting bourne CC	6	1	2	3	12	17	4	-5
Greenacre	5	1	2	2	8	13	4	-5
Marsh Academy	4	2	0	2	13	16	2	-3
Castle High	2	1	0	1	11	14	2	-3
Angley	4	1	0	3	10	22	2	-12
Marlowe Academy	4	0	0	4	6	25	0	-19
Astor of Hever	4	0	0	4	5	35	0	-30

The visual, creative heart of our school is beating strong, with so many good things happening: We are in our new studios, making better artwork with more students as a direct result of our improved work spaces. Over three times as many students were entered for GCSE Art in Summer 2007 than have ever been entered, and our GCSE exam success was particularly notable for the y10 students outstripping the fine achievements of y11 by almost 10%, with an overall A*- C rate of 96%! Our AS classes are totally full as a result, and we continue to build on the success established last year with a personally rewarding programme of study for them. We welcome the new creative talents that have joined us from other schools, as the rich diversity they contribute makes for more stimulating lessons.

Life drawing runs from October- January, in three five session courses, with the opportunity to make top grade art work with this excellent experience. All GCE students are firmly encouraged to attend, and we extend the offer to y10 GCSE students also. Please support your students by sending them to us on a Wednesday pm , with a cheque for £18.00 that pays for the professional life drawing model we employ. Life Drawing classes have been proven to positively affect GCE and GCSE success. Our recent Tate trips were worthwhile , and the y9 Tate Modern trip is planned for early December... we hope the crack in the floor doesn't get any bigger!

The 'Big Food' project is looming large in the y8 programme, so parents, be prepared for an exciting mess in your homes during December ! This is an impressive Key Stage Three project, although the building project for y7 may yield even more wonderful work. Our Y8 artistic and reflective skills were challenged in July with the Cathedral project, where the Artists , mathematicians and sportsmen learned a great deal, and created very thought provoking and beautiful pieces. This rich experience lead the new GCSE classes in on a high level, and our current Y9 students are working very hard to maintain good progress.

H Haythornthwaite, Head of Art

After eleven and half hours, we finally arrived at our destination, Tokyo, Japan. Totally shattered but full of excitement - it was the beginning of our ten days trip to the land of the rising sun.

Tokyo, despite the rain, was a lively and vibrant place full of bright lights and loud sounds. Next stop was host families in Chigasaki city. Regardless of nerves we all had a fantastic weekend, experiencing Japanese culture and traditions. After the home stay, we visited Tsurmine high school where they had prepared a morning full of activities. Another hour and a half later, after travelling on the Shinkansen (the bullet train), we arrived in Hiroshima. Here we experienced an emotional roller coaster as we witnessed the horrors of the Atomic bomb. Next on our agenda was the old capital of Japan, Tokyo. A Trip to Gion Corner, City of the geisha. Throughout our week, we visited many shrines and temples that are famous throughout Japan. Our Trip to Cobe high school was short but sweet with a one night home stay after the success of our pantomime performance of Cinderella. As our trip came to an end, none of us wanted to leave and Japan had made an everlasting impact on our lives.
It really was the trip of a lifetime. Highly recommended to all.
By Jo Balk, Lauran Clarke & Ben Cooper

Students went to see ‘La Bayadere’ at the Royal Opera House as part of their preparation for their practical exams. We were lucky enough to have paid only £6 to sit in the balcony boxes. Here are their thoughts, some more frivolous than others:

The show was magnificent with a beautiful combination of costumes and wonderful choreography, and inspiring performances. – Felicity Baker

Amazing, the music was fantastic! My favourite part was when the dancers came out one by one in a repetitive dance, all wearing white tutus. – Emma Wheeler

Indescribable – my favourite part was the dream sequence. – Jo Relf

Dazzling –I most enjoyed the wedding/death where Nikiya came in as a ghost and the argument between the two girls for Salor’s attention the most. –
Amy Marriott

Mind blowing! –Hermione Williams
Spectacular ending to a spectacular performance of amazing talent. – Alice Hobbs

‘La Bayadere’ was simply enchanting and the scantily clad dancers kept me awake throughout the entire performance. – David Knight

I thought that the best part of the ballet was the
end of the first Act. The ballet as a whole was
‘custie’. – Leanne Uden

The climax was an awe – inspiring culmination of
music, dance and light –true art. – Joe Harvey

If Chairman Mao is the bloodiest dictator in
history, then this show would be equal in entertainment factor – thrilling. – Sam Rowland

One of our 6th Form Students has been selected to represent Great Britain in Fencing at a competition being held in Halle, Germany during November 2007