Sir Christopher Hatton School, Wellingborough: KS4 Gifted & Talented Mathematics Course.

This course has been devised to encourage able pupils taking Higher GCSE to appreciate the wider use of mathematics in a sporting environment and in addition, include elements of AS Statistics and Mechanics.

Day One began with Robolab with pupils designing and programming their own ‘buggy’. The pupils began by getting their buggy to turn 360 degrees before attempted gradually more difficult tasks; this was finished off with a highly competitive ‘Grand Prix’.

The afternoon session saw an introduction to Statistics using the mean heights,weights and standard deviation of the players to see which players don’t fit a Normal distribution. This produced some interesting results!

A great day was had by all. Can’t wait for day two!

The Saints Study Centre has today started the first of many match day experiences funded by Barclaycard. On the day of each home game the Study Centre will be hosting a family learning experience for pupils and parents from local schools.

Ten lucky children from Whitehills Primary School brought along a parent to the Study Centre on Saturday, ahead of the Saints EDF Energy Cup match against Bristol. The pairs arrived promptly at 10:30am and had their photographs taken with the Saints mascot, Bernie. These photos were then used to make name badges on the computers.  The children made theirs then used their new skills to teach their Mum or Dad. Following this, the young and slightly older learners went out to the Saints training pitches to meet a Saints Community Coach for a tag rugby session.  By the time they arrived back at the Study Centre, Saints players Jon Clarke and Mark Easter were waiting to be interviewed. The children and parents were presented with a number of possible interview questions to ask the players and encouraged to think of some of their own. After all the excitement of meeting the players and having a group photograph taken with them, it was then time for a break for lunch.

Half past two has soon arrived and its now just thirty minutes until kick off- time for all children and parents to get to their seats!  Go Saints!

We hope everyone has enjoyed their match day experience here at the Saints and we would like to thank Barclaycard for making this day possible.

This week we have been very busy in the Study Centre as our eight Playing for Success schools, for the Autumn term, have taken part in their Induction Day. Each morning (Mon- Thurs) thirty year 5 pupils from 2 schools (fifteen from each) have arrived at the Study Centre at 10am to be welcomed by Pete, Jeanette and Vicki. The young learners were shown around the Study Centre and had their photos taken next to Bernie, the Saints Mascot. Using these photographs and their new and existing ICT skills, the children created a name badge on the computers. Whilst one group was in the ICT zone with Pete, another group was making and designing an Origami sports kit with Jeanette in the Academy Room.  Following these activities the young people were able to get changed in the Saints team changing rooms ready for their practical tag rugby session delivered by Saints Community Coaches on the Saints training pitches.

After all the running around in the fresh air, the children then had their lunch. In the afternoon, the groups swapped over so they both had a chance to make a name badge and an origami sports kit. By this time it was 2pm and almost time to go back to school. So the young learners then had a chance to make a postcard on the computers using all their photographs that had been taken during the day. Half past two soon came along with lots of moans and groans about leaving the centre and having to go back to school!

All the groups had a wonderful time and we look forward to seeing them all next week for the start of the after school Playing for Success sessions.

All schools will be picked up by Vicki at the allocated time and dropped off again at the end of the session.

See you all next week!

“The whole experience has been fantastic! It was definitely worth coming because it was so much fun, and also very educational. I particularly enjoyed the team games. It was enjoyable and helped us use our imagination throughout the course…….. I thoroughly enjoyed our trip and am very grateful for all your work.”- Daniel

“I really enjoyed the trip and I was pleasantly surprised by it, I didn’t expect anything like it. I wish we did the team building at school in forms like once a term or even more!  I enjoyed the club challenge and would have loved to spend more time on it. The Robolab was also good and very funny when we raced each other. I was also surprised by all the things we were able to keep! I had a wonderful time.” - Elizabeth

“The experience at the Saints Study Centre was a great one. I really enjoyed the team events and the tour of the stadium. The best thing we have done so far was the Robolab; it was really fun making our own robots. The only thing that could have been improved would have been if we had played a match at the end of the tag rugby session. Overall though it was a great expereince which I definitely enjoyed.”- Mathew

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Saints and I hope the school will do it again in the future. I am sure the younger children would enjoy it too. I particularly liked Robolab as I had never done anything as interesting, (and to do with science) in my life! I hope we will have the opportunity to return in the future. But for now…… GO SAINTS!” - Harriet

“I think it was a good expereince and Paul Shields is really funny. I liked Robolab, the stadium tour, the team games and making the smoothies was the best. I think it would have been even better if the rugby was longer. Come on Saints!”- David

The Saints Study Centre team would like to congratulate the Wrenn XV on their hard work and wish them the best of luck for the future. A*’s all round!

Day 3:

Today was the last day of the Wrenn XV’s fantastic Science at Saints programme.

The morning kicked off with a fun selection of Kaleidoscope online maths puzzles, with the students having to create a range of challenging patterns using just 18 jigsaw shapes. After cracking several levels, the Wrenn XV took part in a healthy eating talk, and a fruit tasting session - delicious! After munching their way through platters of gorgeous fruit, sponsored by Waitrose, the group took part in an hour of rugby training with the Saint’s Community Coach.

The students played tag, learnt how to pass the ball, attack and defend quickly and effectively. They had a great session, and wore themselves out!

After a recuperative lunch break, the Wrenn XV created their own fruit smoothies and designed a poster to advertise their healthy drink, developing their ICT skills.

We’ve had a fantastic time! Thanks to all at the Saints for a great three days!

 ”The tour of the stadium was interesting especially the trophy room. The Robolab was interesting because we could work together as a team.” - Sam

 “I liked doing the Robolab because we won the Grand Prix twice. We were the coolest people there! Then we were interviewed for the TV too!“- Saffron

“The whole day has been great, a brilliant sequel to yesterday =]. The robolab was challenging but when we learnt the basics, i really enjoyed it!” - Dan

“I really enjoyed doing the tour, it was really informative. The buggie races are super fun, and even though it was a tough start I’m sure we will do well! =] - Zoe

Day 2:

Today was an exceptionally exciting day for the Wrenn XV. After a great tour of the stadium, which included a treasure hunt and Physics questionnaire, the lucky group got to work with two of the Saints players, Lee Dickson and Paul Shields, building robot cars as part of the Robolab challenge.

Lee and Paul helped the fifteen build their robots which they then raced outside the Saints Study Centre, whilst being filmed by a BBC camera crew!

The star-struck pupils had a fantastic time with the two players, who kindly autographed some programmes for them to take home.

After a lunch break, the students continued with their Robolab challenge, trying to get their robot buggies to turn 360 degrees, park in a garage and then reverse back out again - much harder than it sounds!

A cracking second day, and many thanks to the Saints, and especially Lee and Paul, for all their help today.