East Leake
ACADEMY A LEVEL RESULTS. There was excitement in the air on Thursday for sixth form students at East Leake Academy – part of the Diverse Academies Trust – as they celebrated receiving their A Level results.
Despite a challenging year, today’s results are the culmination of students’ hard work and dedication during their time in the sixth form and reflect their continued commitment to their studies. The results help cement East Leake Academy’s position as a high performing sixth form centre for the area.
The superb results achieved also mean many students will now take up their places at both Russell Group and leading universities, as well as going on to undertake higher level apprenticeships.
One of this year’s top performers, Isaac Baguley, achieved A* grades in chemistry, biology, maths and further maths and he will be taking up his place at St John’s College, Cambridge to study natural sciences.
He said: “I was inspired by all my subject teachers, especially Mrs Freeston and Mr Renshaw who helped with my application for Cambridge. East Leake was the best place for me because I have great relationship with all staff and nowhere else would be better.”
Another top performer, Jack Osborn, achieved A* grades in physics, maths and further maths.
With a place secured at Imperial College London to study aeronautical and spacecraft engineering, he said: “I was mostly inspired by Mr Barkley and Mrs Moore. I chose to stay at East Leake because I was familiar with the teachers and it is an excellent sixth form.”
Millie O’Connell achieved A* grades in chemistry, maths and business studies. Millie will now be heading to the University of Leeds to study law. She said: “I was inspired by all my subject teachers who provided me with lots of support. I appreciated that all my teachers were willing to go the extra mile.”
Another high-flyer is Amy Ralphs with A* A* A A* grades in geography, history, English literature and the EPQ (extended project qualification). She will be studying geography at UCL.
Amy said that she was delighted with her results. “I have been particularly inspired by Mrs Clifton and Mr Strickland. I chose to stay because I was familiar with the subject teachers and felt comfortable studying A Levels at ELA.”
Academy Principal, Blake Francis, said: “We would like to say huge congratulations to all our students. They have worked incredibly hard to achieve success in their studies and this has been reflected in the grades they have deservedly achieved today, with another top set of results. They have all shown an incredible amount of resilience and determination to succeed despite significant disruption to their studies during the last two academic years.
“We couldn’t be more proud of them and hope that they can now move forward positively to achieve their personal aspirations. We wish them all the best in their future journey.”
The academy invites any students yet to secure a place with a post 16 provider for this September or students considering their post-GCSE options to visit www.eastleake-ac.org.uk or email sixthform@eastleake-ac.org. uk for more information.
OPTIMISTIC VIIEWS. East Leake Rector the Rev Tim Parker is putting an optimistic view on the future and hopes others will as well.
Writing in his parish magazine, Tim, as he is affectionately known by many of his parishioners, tells his readers they will probably have been hearing many pundits in the media speculating about what the months ahead will look like.
“So, for what it’s worth, let me add my own.
“Personally, I’m optimistic that vaccines and boosters will continue to do their job in protecting from serious illness and that, while we may have some extra precautions that stay with us, by and large there will be very little from a public health perspective to stop things getting back to normal.
“But there will be more to it than that.
“Many of us have been living a different ‘mode of life’ for the past 18 months. We have put our energies into different things, connected with different people and faced different personal stresses than would be ‘normal’ for us prior to the pandemic.
“All this means that we will have changed and, importantly, changed in ways that we and others won’t be expecting.”
The Rector says many leaders in business, communities and churches are expecting ‘conflict’ to be a major component of the next 6 months – not because we have become the self-centred work-shy layabouts some in the media have said, but because we have a lot of social ‘re-learning’ to do in a very short time.
‘”Being’ community as a church takes time and effort, and a surprising amount of practise. It’s hard work trying to love someone who is very different to you. It’s an ongoing challenge to seek their flourishing and well-being as much as your own, especially when the things that release the best in them feel like pulling your toenails out to you” he says.
LITTER PRAISE. East Leake Parish Council have extended their thanks to local resident, Finlay Horn, for helping to keep East Leake free from litter!
Finlay, who is in the 6th Form at Loughborough Grammar College, has volunteered his services for 12 months as part of his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
In total there are five sections to complete at Gold level of this award. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition.
MEADOW PARK WORK. The continuing super work of volunteers at East Leake Meadow Park is again making its mark with earlier in the year hedge laying/ coppicing and pollarding of the Stonebridge, sculpture area and Oak Meadow copses being completed for the year.
Dangerous/dead branches that were overhanging paths were removed. Various bulbs and hazel were planted in the areas cleared. The very generous donation from Arch Communications enabled the Friends group to add another seat in Gibson’s Field and plant, in various places along Kingston Brook, 500 wild daffodil bulbs. It is the second part of the donation Arch has made since their start up in the village ten years ago.
Say the Friends: “We value their input and are pleased that they intend to continue their support.”
The butterfly bank in the Play Field was weeded and two different mixtures of wild flowers sown in that area.
As the year progressed, work continued in the park on an ad hoc basis, with a group of 16 -- by invitation and split into smaller groups -- working on an arranged day. . Dogwood was cleared, rankweeks pulled, the trees in the arboretum checked and the shrubbery weeded.
CHURCH NEWS. With the easing of Covid restrictions church leaders at St. Mary’s Parish Church in East Leake have decided that “now is not the time to rush” as church services get back to normal.
For the next few weeks the Church leaders have decided to “continue with many of the practices that we have become accustomed to” in the past for months.
Parishioners are “strongly recommended” to continue to wear masks at services, even when singing.
Hymn books and normal service sheets are returning and these will be placed in a box by the door at the end of services. Seating will continue to be spread out and the church building will also be well ventilated.
Communion will no longer be received where parishioners are sitting unless it is requested. Instead communicants “will be invited to come forward to the Lord’s Table with a one-way system in place and receive the bread there.”
Options for receiving the wine at communion are still being considered.
Many more changes will be phased in gradually over the coming months, including the return of post-service refreshments.
YOUTH CHALLENGE. Young people involved with East Leake Youth Challenge staged by St Mary’s Church have been on a mission recently to cover 2,000 miles and raise £2,000 for the Friary, a West Bridgford charity to help the homeless.
Over their last weekend they achieved both the targets that had been set.. What began as a way to use free time after finishing GCSE’s became a team effort in perseverance and mutual encouragement. Ten young people – Sean, Alex, Nathan, Matt, Ben, Rebekah, Fred, Luke, Tim, Cameron – plus Dudley Pate and Jo, St Mary’s youth worker have walked, run, cycled, swam and paddled their way to their goal.
They admit it has been a challenge. Two of the youth were injured and could no longer take part which put pressure on the others to up their game. Others had to go into isolation waiting for covid tests or because they tested positive. And in the final week there were real doubts about whether the competitors would reach either of their goals.
But in the end the runners said with a double down of effort and lots of cheering each other they made it with 24 hours to spare. The total raised is now a whopping £2,125 and boxes full of trainers and clothing. The giving page is also still open for anyone who still wants to make a donation: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/the-friary
With Jo getting married last Monday at the end of the effort, she was especially glad to see the challenge completed, otherwise she might have had to go up and down the aisle a few times to make up her daily step count! Instead of a wedding gift list her husband Phil and herself chose to ask for donations to the Friary. This has raised another £625 as well.
Jo, Dudley and the youth wish to thank all those who have supported their efforts with prayer, encouragement, donations and practically. The add: “We wonder what the next challenge will be...”
POLICE APPEAL. Police have issued a plea to the public after a spate of anti-social behaviour at a historical railway line which runs through Rushcliffe Halt at East Leake.
The Nottingham Heritage Railway is located in Ruddington and described as a “valuable part” of the community and a popular attraction for visitors.
However, police say tresspassers are causing criminal damage and subjecting staff and volunteers to verbal abuse.
They are urging young people in the area not to playing on the lines and respect the site.
A spokesperson for Rushcliffe Police said: “There has been numerous calls to the Rushcliffe Heritage Centre in relation to ASB and Criminal Damage.