Leeds Rotary Technology Competition

On Tuesday 5th March, 8 of our best Technology students were chosen to take part in the Leeds Rotary Technology competition. The competition has been running since 2007 and is funded by local Rotary clubs and over 130 students from 14 schools across Leeds took part. We spoke to the founder of the competition, Cliff, who said he wanted students to learn hands on skills such as teamwork, problem solving and using tools. Throughout the day there were 80 volunteers from local engineering companies and Leeds University to help the students and promote STEM careers.

Students were given a task on the day to launch a space rocket using limited resources such as sticks and elastic bands. They had to work independently, as teachers were not allowed to help. Students worked well together and came up with different ideas which they tested. Although we did not win, all the students enjoyed taking part and working together.

Year 7 Drawstring Bags

Year 7 have been generating, analysing and evaluating design ideas for their drawstring bags. They have demonstrated a wide range of textiles skills, from tie-dye to applique, and extraordinary sewing techniques.

All students have been trained to use the sewing machines independently while manufacturing these amazing Circus themed drawstring bags.

Keep up the great work!

Miss Ahmed

Paper gift bags and fabric pencil cases

Year 8 students have done a brilliant job manufacturing their own pencil cases.

Students used batik dyes and wax to create a beautifully patterned base. Some then further embellished the surface of their fabric by adding block print and sequins over to top to add more detail.

They then used their exceptional sewing skills to attach a zip as a fastening method. It has been wonderful so see the pencil cases being used around school.

Keep up the great work Year 8!

Miss Ahmed

Yes Chef!

On March 4th, Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students visited The Met Hotel in Leeds city centre. This was an amazing opportunity for our students and proved to be an enriching and unforgettable experience for them. Guided by the Executive Chef and Chef de Partie, they stepped into the bustling world of professional kitchens, assuming the roles of apprentice chefs for a morning. Collaborating to prepare a sumptuous lunch, they honed their culinary skills under the guidance of seasoned professionals.

The highlight of the day came as they transitioned from the kitchen to the dining area, serving the meticulously seasoned and spiced meal to each other. This hands-on approach provided invaluable insights into both the artistry and teamwork essential to the hospitality industry.

Following the culinary adventure, students embarked on a tour of the hotel, delving into its rich history dating back to the 19th century. They gained a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings of a city centre hotel, including its clientele and corporate operations.

The trip proved to be not only educational but also inspirational, offering students a glimpse into potential career paths within their city. Overall, the visit to The Met Hotel was a resounding success, leaving a lasting impression on all participants and igniting their passion for the world of hospitality.

Leeds Market Visit

On 28th February, Year 11 Hospitality & Catering students visited Leeds Market food hall, which was filled with street food delights!

Students had the opportunity to meet with James, the owner of Fat Annie’s, and hear all about his vegan hotdog and burger business. Along with his tips for a future career in hospitality, he gave our students a very interesting talk about how he came to work in the food industry and what it entails.

Leeds City College were available too to talk to students about their new venture in the market; a vegan cafe run by apprentice chefs from the college. Again, a real insight into next steps at post 16.

A great visit to the market was topped off with an array of lunches; from falafel to fish and chips and humus to salt and pepper chicken. They have such a brilliant choice of multi-cultural food, so we even sampled the delights of baklava and Polish pastries!

Year 11 Educational visit to Nando’s

On Wednesday 13 December, 4 students from Year 11 went to Nando’s and had a fantastic time.

Nando’s had an open kitchen which gave our students an opportunity to observe food preparation and hygiene skills.

Our students enjoyed a wonderful meal that they observed being made and were then able to explore a variety of flavours and cooking methods to plan their own Nando’s style meal.

Mussel power is back!

In an engaging Year 9 cooking session, students delved into the world of seafood, specifically working with freshly harvested rope-grown mussels. The aim was to deepen their knowledge of cooking with fish, and to achieve this, they embarked on the preparation of two delightful dishes – Jamie Oliver’s “Angry Mussels” and the timeless Moules Mariniere.

Year 9 students eagerly explored handling and cooking mussels, gaining valuable hands-on experience. The classroom buzzed with excitement as the aromatic scents of simmering broths filled the air.

The culmination of the lesson saw the students enjoying their creations – a delectable spread of “Angry Mussels” and Moules Mariniere, paired with golden fries and crusty baguettes. The session not only supported the students’ learning about cooking with fish but also showcased the satisfaction of transforming fresh, sustainable fish into culinary delights.

Thank you Fish in School Hero programme!

Bebras and Oxford University Computing Challenge

In November 2023, all students in Years 7 and 8 and those taking Computer Science GCSE in Year 11 took part in the Bebras Computing Challenge. This national competition tested their computational thinking (problem solving) skills and gave each student a score and a position within the school and within the whole country in their age group. The year 7s entered the Junior category where there was a total of 117,539 Year 6 and Year 7 participants. The average score in the country was 81.1 and the average score in our school was 61.9. There were 5 students who scored in the top 10% in the country:

In the intermediate age group, which is made up of Year 8 and Year 9 students, there were 209,813 participants. The average score in the country was 63.9 and the average score in Mount St Mary’s was 48.9. There were 2 students who scored in the top 10% in the country:

In the senior age group, which is made up of Year 10 and Year 11 students, there were 38,427 participants. The average score in the country was 73.3 and the average score in Mount St Mary’s was 59.9. Jakub Kordonski just missed being in the top 10% in the country with a score of 113 and a position of 4,052 in the country.

All the above students were invited to take part in the Oxford University Computing Challenge (OUCC). In addition, Miranda Opilowska, Zofia Wojcik and Dominik Walczak qualified to take part, as they were in the top 10% last year. Sem Zeremariam, Riley Clark, Carla Gunzon, Alissia Johns, Sachin Arunkumar and Gabriela Wierzchon were also invited to take part because they had done better this year than those that qualified last year. Sem and Sachin declined the invitation but everyone else took part in the first round of OUCC on 18th of January.

All students found the OUCC difficult, but they demonstrated great resilience by continuing to try to solve the challenges until every second of their allocated 50 minutes had been used up. In the Junior competition there were 6,400 competitors in the UK and the average score was 10.9 whilst our average score was 13.2. Three of our students scored above average, Timothy and Matthew scored 18 and Patrick scored an amazing 26, which earned him the very first certificate of Merit that anyone from this school has ever achieved. In the Intermediate competition there were 9,735 competitors and the average score was 11.4. We had four students whose score was above average, these were Anvi who scored a very impressive 20, Gabriella and Riley who scored 16 and Dominik who scored 14. In the senior competition there were 3154 competitors, and the average score was 14.2, Jakub Kordonski scored 10 which was very commendable as the competition fell within his GCSE mock exam period.

Approximately 20 students from each age category are invited to take part in the final round of the OUCC. In the Junior competition they needed a score of 54, in the Intermediate 56 and in the Senior competition a score of 66. Whilst none of our students came close to meeting this threshold, they can be extremely proud that they were invited to take part in this competition designed to find the very best
problem-solving brains in the Uk.

Tropical World Visit

On 8 December the Year 11 3D Design group spent the afternoon at Tropical World conducting research on animal habitats for their coursework. Everyone had a great time and the Cotton-Top Tamarin was just as fascinated by the Year 11 students as they were by it.

J Greaves

Year 9 Hospitality Students visit Leeds City College

Year 9 Hospitality and Catering students recently visited Leeds City College, where they delved into the world of hospitality and catering through a pizza-making taster session and a tour of the college’s diverse departments.

With aprons tied and rolling pins at the ready, our aspiring young chefs stepped into the bustling culinary space at Leeds City College. In a session led by a college lecturer, they kneaded dough, stretched and shaped their pizza and topped their creations with an array of ingredients. Students practised using a peel to place the pizzas in the deck ovens and then to retrieve them, which is much harder than it looks! The end result? Fabulous slices of pizza that vanished quicker than you could say “buon appetito!”

The students embarked on a whirlwind tour, exploring the huge range of departments within the college. The teachers and students they encountered along the way eagerly shared insights that brought each department to life.

The combination of scrumptious pizza and enthusiastic students resulted in an experience that was not only delicious but also highly informative. Our Year 9 students returned with a broader perspective on the range of educational pathways available to them.