Abingdon News No. 60

www.abingdon.org.uk 13 Abingdon in Partnership Over 140 Students were hosted by Fitzharrys School on 8 February for a variety of Partnership activities. There was a real buzz and excitement around the event with students engaged and motivated to share and collaborate; and teachers valuing the opportunity to meet and discuss their thoughts and ideas. We are grateful to Fitzharrys for hosting the event so well. Partnership Extravaganza! As part of the drive to provide access to Rugby for young people across the community, Abingdon has been working closely with the RFU and Gloucester Rugby to create a town-wide Rugby Coaching Partnership. Students from local secondary schools have been invited to a series of coaching sessions at Tilsley Park, providing all children, irrespective of gender with the opportunity to play touch Rugby and work with students from other schools. In addition, Steve and 5th Year student coaches visited three local primary schools to introduce the children to Rugby in the form of Partnership Tag Rugby sessions. The 5th and 6th Year students have been enthusiastic to take part in the lessons which focus on fundamental skill development such as passing and evasion, working hard to help engage the children and make the sessions fun and active. Rugby for all Around 200 students from Larkmead, Fitzharrys and Our Lady Abingdon joined our Lower School Students in marking World Book Day 2022 (3 March) with a visit from bestselling author Alex Scarrow, author of the epic TimeRiders sequence and the terrifying Remade trilogy. In a hugely entertaining session, Alex told the story of how he turned his complete failure as a video games designer into a career as a successful writer. While none of his designs ever became actual video games, they helped inspire TimeRiders, a nine-book sequence in which teenagers battle dark forces trying to change the course of human history - for the worst. Alex followed this epic series with the Remade trilogy, in which an alien virus lands on earth and within three weeks reduces most of the world’s population to biological goo - which then becomes a life force with bold ambitions for the future of the planet. Alex warned that Remade should not be read before a meal - a warning born out by a number of graphic illustrations, the sight of which prompted many members of the audience to emit groans of delighted disgust. Record numbers of students were inspired to buy signed copies of the books, and library copies are leaving the shelves at speed! Marking World Book Day 2022… …with stories of time travel and intelligent goo