Cricket Trials

So Tom was put forward for cricket trials for our local district which is South Lakes (we live in a complicated part of the country - yes we are in Yorkshire, but Ingleton cricket club is part of the Westmorland League, which in turn is affiliated with Cumbria Cricket Club).

We have been kept hanging for ages as to when the trials would be, we were told October and then we got an email saying it was the following week.  Tom hadn't touched a cricket bat in over a month! We quickly got on to John asking for advice, he happily suggested he did a training session for him.  Phew.  He spent ages helping him with his batting technique - his weakest part of the game and gave me a list of hints and tips to work on.  Oh and Under 11s use a hard ball - never done so before, so he had to wear pads, box, helmet, gloves and use a wooden bat.  Not much to get used to then!!!!!  

We then took him across to the field on Tuesday evening for a practise and once again spent ages with him on his batting.  

Wednesday saw us at Sedbergh School for his trial.  I am never comfortable in private schools, and we got lost immediately but luckily someone showed us where to go.  It was your bog standard school gym, with the exception that it had 4 proper cricket nets.  Think we counted about 18 children altogether including Tom and Charlie from Ingleton.  Was strange watching them - Tom does stand out a bit at Ingleton, but here he didn't.  They spent 2 hours bowling in the nets - having one go at batting.  Tom's batting wasn't great but his bowling was good - he got a few wickets and was bowling straight.  I think he looked about average and he certainly looked bewildered at the start.  It wasn't until one of the adults went over to him and told him not to look so scared that he finally began to relax!  Quite a few of the children knew each other already, John sends our kids to trials at 10, but there are younger teams too.  Tom was in the boisterous lane - typical!  He kept out of trouble (apart from almost bonking an adult on the head with a mis-thrown ball and getting in the way of another boy during his run up) and showed his love of bowling.

With my lack of cricket expertise, I was worried at the end if he did enough to get chosen.  Matt was confident that his bowling would get him through.  It was a nervous couple of days before we got the email on Friday afternoon saying he had been accepted.  Unfortunately Charlie didn't, which is a shame as it would have been good to have friends to hang out with and share driving. 

Tom was delighted, bouncing around for a while with a huge grin on his face.  He now gets 18 hours of training with the South Lakes District Team.  They then select a number to go to Cumbrian County Cricket Trials in December / January.  If he isn't selected, he will still have the opportunity to play for South Lakes District team in some matches in the summer. It will be good for him to be around players of the same calibre and to have more training.  

We need to take him to a specialist sports shop in Preston now to get him some kit.

Humm, another reason to go for QES: playing for a Cumbrian team it would make sense to go to a Cumbrian school.  They hold training sessions during school holidays, but because North Yorks and Cumbrian schools have different holidays, Tom has been unable to go along to any.

The Andersons Come to Visit

Last weekend, we had the pleasure of the Andersons for a visit.  Millie is now 5 and still a whirlwind.  A very precocious child - of which the parents are aware.  She is full of energy and opinion and a blur of red hair.  Great fun, but it would be exhausting to be her parents!

Bolton Abbey stepping stones

We were blessed with the most beautiful Friday and Saturday for their visit.  Matt went to collect them whilst I was with Tom over on the cricket field whilst he got some training ready for his trials.  John came for an hour and stayed until we couldn't see the balls anymore.  You could see that Tom was a bit rusty, so it was good to have such an intensive session with him.

Millie arrived about 5 minutes after we got in.  She was full of it and could remember every detail of her last visit which was a year ago - pretty impressive!  We gave them an hour before bedtime.  Surprisingly both went to bed well and we were able to relax with some cheese and wine.

Saturday was an amazing, proper summer's day.  Tom had a footie tournament in Skipton.  He went with a friend, we followed after, arriving just as it finished: great timing!  We then headed to Billy Bobs so the kids could have a good play.  As it was such a wonderful day, we sat outside and enjoyed the sunshine whilst the kids played.  Tom took on the role of 'big brother' and enjoyed it - preferring to hang out with Millie than go to the bigger kids area. After lunch, an ice cream and another play, we headed to Bolton Abbey where both kids went across the stepping stones, had a play on the beach area and then went on the welly walk.

Tom and Millie

It was hot and we were all running out of water, so Sarah and I headed quickly to a cafe before it closed to get provisions in.  Oh, Sarah...we have a lot in common.  We were born in the same hospital, both lived in the same area of Berkshire and we discovered another coincidence: she has relatives in Backwell!!

Anyway, we had a much needed drink and then split up: Matt and I to the car park and the kids and Michael and Sarah back to welly walk to do all the activities they missed on the rush for drinks.  We had complicated logistics for the day: 6 of us altogether, only 5 fit in the car, so Matt was on his bike.  However, he was wearing sunglasses as it was so bright, but time was getting on.  He was worried about getting home in the light.  All his biking gear was in the car!  Anyway, we worked it all out and we had a fab day.  The kids got on fine, and us adults were very happy and comfortable chatting about nothing much.

Tom and Millie. Again.

Sunday, the weather broke! Typical.  We decided to head to Sizergh Castle to do the Wild Trail and have lunch before dropping Michael and Sarah off at the train station.  This we did.  The trail was super muddy and slippery but we all managed it.  Tom helped Millie on the bits she wasn't sure of.  As I said she is a whirlwind.  Everything is interesting to her and she is super enthusiastic, she is a fun person to hang around with.  One thing though, as it was raining we gave her one of Tom's waterproof coats to wear.  She wasn't happy!  She called it a 'RIDICULOUS COAT'.  She did try to refuse to wear it, and was left in the car by herself until she wore it.  She did eventually wear it - but she wasn't happy.  The memory of the weekend is of Millie shouting 'this is a RIDICULOUS COAT' over and over again.  I dropped them off at Oxenholme and didn't fancy their chances keeping her suitably engaged for the train trip home.

It was fun though and Tom really enjoyed her company.  The wooden train set came out, and they had a ball playing with it together.  Certainly glad we have held on to it.

Which school - what a quandary

So, Tom has been back at school for a month.  He's had a busy time: he's already been on a school trip to Hadrian's Wall, is about to go on a residential to Edinburgh, went for Head Boy (he had to write a speech full of his ideas and present it to the whole school.  He did really well - but didn't get voted in) and played rugby for the school - gallantly offering to help when some (more rugby types) decided not to take part.  He has visited Settle College with the school and we have been to Settle College and QES for open evenings and 1:1 tours during the school day.  There was one week where Tom didn't actually do a full day's schooling for one reason or another.

Anyway, the main topic of conversation in the Young household is Secondary School or High School or whatever they are called nowadays.  This hasn't been easy for me.  It is no secret that I didn't get on at my first secondary school and just the sheer action of walking into a school (especially Settle College which looks and feels very like St Crispins) brings back all my old fears.  I have been in tears and poor Matt has been sympathetic - who knew school days could still affect you so long afterwards - especially when I have done so much since.

Anyway, I have (I think) put that behind me again and we are back to trying to work out what will be best for Tom for his next stage of education.

QES were the first to hold their open evening, and we were very underwhelmed by the place.  The Headmistress did a very boring speech to us about their core values - so much so that I couldn't actually tell you anything about it.  We came out not knowing any more about the school than when we went in - she didn't really mention the pupils, any achievements, nothing about clubs, school trips, curriculum she did keep harping on about how old the school is though: it opened in 1591!  The Head Girl and Deputy Head Boy did do speeches which were way better, along with the Head of Year 7 who also was OK.

We were then sent on a tour of the school with a 6th former.  She was great, but the tour was very very rushed.  We didn't get to speak to teachers for too long and didn't get to see much work / get any feeling for the school.  We did spend a long time in the art room though - full of wonderful pieces of art, this didn't have a great affect on Tom as he doesn't like art, thinks he is rubbish at it ( because he doesn't try!).  As a result he got a bit overwhelmed and spent the rest of the tour clinging to me - not a great sign.  I came out of the school feeling cold, Matt wasn't impressed either!

Such a shame as we really enjoyed the Settle College open day last year.  Anyway, we thought we couldn't leave it there, so I called them to book a 1:1 tour.  Wanting to treat Settle College the same, we booked in with them too - in the same week so we could do a quick comparison.

Settle College was first up.  We were taken around by Student Services, and saw many classes in action.  The noise level was low - it looked like people were working hard.  The only class with any noise was Alice's - lol!!!!  Some classes even had their doors open they were so quiet.  The teachers on the whole were young and enthusiastic and very welcoming.  Class size is around 27ish.  We saw a transition and all seemed orderly.  We met the headmaster (a geography teacher so he must be OK).  He welcomed a year 7 class when we were there and he knew everyone's name as they entered - not bad considering they had only been there 1.5 weeks.  His children go to the school which is a really good sign.  School trips seem good: Barcelona, ski trip and Belgium for WWII in the first 2 years.  They go to Iceland with A level geography - not bad hey, especially, when they could get away with no trip at all considering where they are located!

There are 156 in Year 7, and 600 (ish) altogether.  It is small enough that every teacher knows every pupil and that's how they market themselves: as a small, intimate school with a community feel.  Lots of pupils come from Skipton where they have the grammar school system.  Usual happens: those who have gone to private prep schools who teach to the 11+ get into the state funded Grammar Schools, meaning that state primary school pupils have little chance of getting in and have to go to the non grammar schools which have a bad reputation.  They are shunning this and heading to Settle College instead.

There is a 6th form with 75.  They do a good range of subjects.  They start GCSEs in Year 10.  They have a cricket team, however, there aren't a huge number of extra curricular clubs.  

QES, we were shown around by the Head Mistress.  She is definitely better 1:1 than in front of an audience.  She was enthusiastic and honest - pointing out areas where they could do better.   She answered every question well.  The school was very very quiet during lessons: you could hear a pin drop.  The transition looked good too (saw Luca!)  Class size is slightly bigger.  They take in 250 (ish) each year, full school is 1,400 including 6th form of 200.  They keep Year 7 together in one area for the year so they don't get swept up / intimidated by the other pupils.  

The school does have amazing facilities - much better, newer and brighter than Settle College and they have a studio school, meaning that if Tom isn't academic - he could go there at 14 and do some vocational pathways which include: engineering, land management, health care, photography, criminology etc etc.  6th form areas are amazing: they have their own library and a brand new funky common room and study areas etc.  School trips are different at QES - as they say, it is difficult to take 250 children at a time to places, so I don't think they do many in the early years, but they do have a ski trip, overseas trips and field trips etc, how you get on them I don't know - forgot to ask!  They also have a 'nurture' area where children who need additional support can go (i.e. - if pupils are misbehaving they can be sent out of class and sent there - which is good).  They have dozens of clubs at lunchtime and highly recommend each pupil joins at least 2.  They have an active cricket club with a team in each year.

The school does have a reputation for good behaviour and the head teacher was on it when we were with her - telling people to straighten ties etc.  She had a banter with the kids (especially the 6th formers) but you could see they all respected her.  She had a presence which is what is needed!  Tom was happy to ask her questions and make comment which was good to see (he didn't so much at Settle)

So...what to do.  They are such different schools.  We have looked at results and QES is very slightly ahead of Settle College.  Matt and I had a good chat about it...the best differentiator we can come up with is people.  The more boisterous pupils at Ingleton seem to go to Settle College, whilst the more academic / sensible pupils seem to head to QES.  His 2 best friends from last year's Year 6: Rebecca and Luca have both gone to QES.  Also Owen (Annabel's brother), who Tom looks up to and is a great role model, also goes there.  Also the behaviour at QES is 'apparently' better. 

As far as his class goes - it is split between the two schools which is normal.  Lucas, Finn and Matthew are going to QES and Charlie to Settle.  We think more girls are heading to Settle than QES.  Tom isn't swayed by who is going where.  He hasn't made close friends at Ingleton and is keen to start a new school with more opportunities to make friends.  He will know quite a few children going to QES: from football, cricket and scouts - more than will be going to Settle College.

Also, QES is nearer to us than Settle College, this does have a bearing, as regardless which way he goes, he will have to go on a coach.  Time on a coach is dead time.  He will spend significantly more time on a coach if he goes to Settle - if you add it up, it gets quite scary! 

Question is - will he get 'lost' at QES?  It is so big, the teachers won't know him. Will he go under the radar due to him being average academically and well behaved?  Or, will the fact that every time he changes teachers he will have to prove himself again be good for him?  There will be more chance for him to be lazy in Settle - if he gets too comfortable.

I think on the whole Matt and I are heading towards QES, Tom doesn't seem to have an opinion, although we have tried hard to find out his feelings.  I even got him to write down his good and bad points for each school - but it didn't really reveal much.  We've got until the end of October to make a decision, wish I had a crystal ball to see what sort of person Tom will become.  This decision is much harder than I thought it would be...

Year 6

Tom started school again today.  Year 6, wow, where has the time gone?

He still has Mrs Clements, but has moved with her round to the Year 6 classroom which is a little apart from the rest of the school - meaning it is quieter.

He is in a class of 27: 5 boys and 22 girls including 7 girls from Year 5 (all classes are mixed years this year).  He's off to Edinburgh for his residential in October and has already got to sit on the benches at the back at assembly.

I think he is going to like Year 6, just hope he learns to concentrate this year...can it happen?