The series of Lunchtime Concerts at Derby Cathedral this year included a wonderful hour of entertainment from very talented children in the ‘Winners’ selection from the Derby Arts Festival 2014. The Cathedral audience was enthralled by the varied performances, which included the Choir and individual pupils performing from the Old Vicarage School in Derby. The School Choir were winners of the Anne Huxley Rose Bowl and Ravensdale Trophy, beating other Schools to win these two Classes with Honours and Distinction. Adjudicator Alison Sutton wrote of the Signed Singing performance “Really evocative singing – fluid and compelling. Excellent sense of timing and pace. The Signing is full of conviction”. The Old Vicarage School Headmaster, Matthew Adshead, said “I am in awe by the many talents of our wonderful children. They learn British Sign Language from our Nursery Class upwards and to use it in such an impressive way is a credit to them all and our dedicated staff”.
Independent Schools Association (ISA) East Midlands Tennis Champions
The Old Vicarage School in Darley Abbey became this year’s East Midlands Tennis Champions in a tightly fought tournament this summer between members of the Independent Schools Association (ISA). With winners in both the Boy’s and Girl’s competitions the School achieved the overall highest School.
Tanzanian Teaching comes to Derby
As part of the all round education at the Old Vicarage School, the children and their parents maintain close links with their sister School St Augustines, located in the Sakina district of Arusha, Tanzania. Sponsoring in excess of 26 children to receive clothing, food and education at the School, OVS pupils can learn many lessons of life in another country where children are less fortunate than themselves, many of them orphaned to terrible diseases. Each year the Old Vicarage School hosts a special assembly for volunteers returning from Arusha to present their rich experiences to the OVS pupils, even dressing some of the pupils in traditional Tanzanian clothing much to the delight of the School’s special assembly! Throughout the year the children at the Old Vicarage School hold fundraising events to send money to St Augustine’s, package their second hand uniform to clothe the children and donate colouring pencils and paints for use within the School.
