Our school library has a huge range of books for students to borrow and our librarians work with teachers to make sure that we stock plenty of books to complement our curriculum. One such example is an initiative between the library and Geography Department. A list of fiction books set in locations that are studied in Geography lessons is made available to students on our learning platform, Myvle. They can then bring their studies to life by borrowing their chosen book from the library and becoming absorbed in a story set in the place they are studying. A bonus is that it's not only their geography knowledge that will improve. Literacy is an essential skill that brings all sorts of benefits to the reader and is the key to learning across all subjects at school. Evidence suggests that students who read for enjoyment every day develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures. We encourage all students to make use of the fantastic facilities we have to offer in our library!

Earlier this week, four of our Year 10 students travelled to Eastwood Hall Hotel for a Youth Sport Trust Girls Active Conference. The Youth Sport Trust is a charity working to ensure that every child can enjoy the life-changing benefits that come from play and sport. Girls Active is one of their initiatives and it aims to find ways to ensure that PE, sport and physical activity are relevant and motivating for girls. During the day our students, together with students from ten other schools, took part in workshops to identify why some girls do not participate in physical activities. They also had the chance of some physical activity themselves by trying out Zumba, Drumba, yoga and boxercise. The students have returned eager to share their enthusiasm for sport with those of our younger students who are currently non-engaged in our lunchtime clubs. They already have plans for a new club, which they will run with the support of our PE staff, focusing on activities that students have said they would like to try. Well done girls for embracing this opportunity to get involved!

Several of our students had the opportunity to see and help behind the scenes of a BBC Radio recording yesterday, as Radio 4's 'The Kitchen Cabinet' visited us here at Lady Manners School. The programme makers used our Main Hall to record an episode of the popular Radio 4 culinary panel show. Several of our students – who had an interest in broadcasting – were able to see how the sound engineers recorded the event, and how the producers worked to bring all the elements of the show together on the night. They did a fabulous job, assisting before and during the recording. Meeting Jay Rayner, the host, and the food experts on the panel (Dr Annie Gray, Nisha Katona, Rob Owen-Brown and Jordan Bourke) was a bonus. The Main Hall was packed for a laughter packed hour of food related debate and discussion with a Derbyshire flavour. For views on Bakewell puddings, Derbyshire oatcakes and more, you can listen to the episode when it is broadcast at 10.30am on Saturday 25 January. It is repeated on Tuesday 28 January at 3pm and will also be available on BBC Sounds and as a podcast.

We have been hearing great things about one of our talented students, Sienna Robinson, a Year 10 student who is a swimmer. She has been competing at national level for her club, Sheffield City Swimming Club and, after winning a silver medal in the Summer Nationals 2019, was selected for the National Development Programme. Sienna continued to work hard, training six days a week and up to three mornings. Unexpectedly, in October 2019, she qualified for the 100m and 200m breaststroke in the Winter Nationals Open Age Competition – one of very few 14 year olds in the country to qualify. Sienna competed in December 2019 and came first in the 14 year old category for 100m breaststroke and second for 200m breaststroke. The biggest competition of the year in Great Britain is the Olympic Trials at the British Championships, where all the top swimmers and Team GB will compete. Amazingly, Sienna has qualified early for both 100m and 200m breaststroke and is hoping to make a third qualification for 50m breaststroke in the forthcoming weeks. Sienna is hoping to make the Junior Team GB and then to stay on the pathway for Team GB - ultimately aiming for be selected for the Paris Olympics 2024. Sienna works really hard in pursuit of her goal and it is testament to her determination that she fits this in with her schoolwork. She is looking forward to the British Championships (Olympic Trials) in London in April 2020. This is fantastic news and we are watching Sienna's progress with interest. Good luck in April Sienna!

Yesterday, our Year 7 and Year 8 netball teams and our U16 hockey team travelled to play fixtures at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Ashbourne. The matches were hard fought and our teams emerged with the following results: - Year 7 netball lost 3-9 - Year 8 netball won 77-6 - U16 hockey drew 1-1 Well done to all who played.