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10/12/24

The deadline for Christmas Dinner and Christmas Jumper Day tickets is fast approaching. Well, it's tomorrow actually.#wearevalleypark#christmasjumperday#getyourticketsnow pic.twitter.com/ZzxVdoPhT4— Valley Park School () December 10, 2024

10/12/24

Our annual Decaf Christmas Event is underway, and our guests are enjoying some carol singing from our choir.#wearevalleypark#carolsinging#decafchristmas pic.twitter.com/cT9oxKMLgn— Valley Park School () December 10, 2024

09/12/24

We had the pleasure of Dominic and Emma visiting our Year 9s today to deliver a Health, Fitness and Wellbeing Class. It was a fantastic session and a wonderful opportunity for our students.#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/9giVghdDjN— Valley Park School () December 9, 2024

06/12/24

There are many reasons why a student might struggle with attendance at school. We have a dedicated team to help & support you. To speak to someone, contact us by phone or email & a member of the attendance team will get back to you. pic.twitter.com/nwqarCqZdC— Valley Park School () December 6, 2024

06/12/24

There's an event on Wednesday 11 December you won't want to miss...#wearevalleypark#wearevalleyparkchristmas#adoptatrainstation pic.twitter.com/Ib5KuRj2MQ— Valley Park School () December 6, 2024

06/12/24

There's still time to sign up for our Christmas Decaf event. It's on Tues 10 Dec 2024 from 11.30am-2pm. Whether you live with dementia, are affected by family or friends living with dementia, or simply want to support the cause, we’d love you to join us. https://t.co/o0jQVf5C8P pic.twitter.com/YsAiJKZWcF— Valley Park School () December 6, 2024

04/12/24

We have some Christmas treats coming your way in December...#wearevalleypark#wearevalleyparkchristmas pic.twitter.com/cqCxoW6rss— Valley Park School () December 4, 2024

03/12/24

Make sure you wear your Christmas Jumper to the Christmas Dinner, and not the other way round...#christmasjumperday#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/oNCCCLTviD— Valley Park School () December 3, 2024

03/12/24

We have some Christmas treats coming your way this December...#wearevalleypark#jinglebellrock#panto#carols pic.twitter.com/S1gQ9XiWCc— Valley Park School () December 3, 2024

29/11/24

"The higher a pupil’s attendance, the more they are likely to learn, and the better they are likely to perform in exams and formal assessments.” The Department for Education#everylessoncounts #attendance pic.twitter.com/v5092KZTl1— Valley Park School () November 29, 2024

29/11/24

The Production Arts students took centre stage at our inaugural installation event on Wednesday. Read more: https://t.co/ILCCjMMrWV #wearevalleyparkproductionarts pic.twitter.com/V5Y27CqxU6— Valley Park School () November 29, 2024

27/11/24

On Monday 2 December and Wednesday 4 December we are holding a Sixth Form Open Morning Tour. You can book your place here: https://t.co/58lYerhh35 #sixthformopenmorningtours pic.twitter.com/zx1Wx9jg7Z— Valley Park School () November 27, 2024

27/11/24

Our first Futures Insight Morning session was a great success!Read more: https://t.co/2oq7IZOtmZ#wearevalleyparkfutures pic.twitter.com/EepKscVZZE— Valley Park School () November 27, 2024

27/11/24

Our Decaf Christmas event takes place on Tuesday 10 December 2024 from 11.30am - 2.00pm at Valley Park School. Read more: https://t.co/o0jQVf5C8P #decafchristmas#dementiacafe pic.twitter.com/ozmLSFShyM— Valley Park School () November 27, 2024

25/11/24

What is evil?Philosophy and Ethics students had the opportunity to listen to Dr Peter Vardy discuss the nature of evil and why it exists. Very well done to the students who did us proud by presenting their ideas to the whole conference. pic.twitter.com/cUwMcxFr3c— Valley Park School () November 25, 2024

22/11/24

Last night we held our inaugural ARK Awards, celebrating achievement across the school. Well done to all those who received their awards, and thanks to our speaker, Matt Pinkett.#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/IT27dZXWcg— Valley Park School () November 22, 2024

19/11/24

Author Luke Palmer workshops with year 9 students, helping them create a ‘matrix of minor misdemeanours’. #creativewriting pic.twitter.com/WDTU61auIG— Valley Park School () November 19, 2024

19/11/24

Today we welcome author Luke Palmer to our school for a series of workshops with year 9. pic.twitter.com/JyHPJusjif— Valley Park School () November 19, 2024

17/11/24

There are many reasons why a student might struggle with attendance at school. Valley Park has a dedicated team to help & support you. To speak to someone, contact us by phone or email & a member of the attendance team will get back to you. pic.twitter.com/wMq7BUhR18— Valley Park School () November 17, 2024

15/11/24

Don't forget, applications for Sixth Form are now open on Kent Choices!#wearevalleypark#wearevalleyparksixthform— Valley Park School () November 15, 2024

15/11/24

Drama and Performing Arts students went to the Marlowe Theatre on Wednesday to watch the poignant musical production Come From Away. An incredibly clever and moving production, inspiring for us all to see. #wearevalleyparkperformingarts#weallcomefromaway pic.twitter.com/PStT4Dom9g— Valley Park School () November 15, 2024

14/11/24

We're looking forward to welcoming you to our Sixth Form Open Evening today, which starts at 5pm. pic.twitter.com/kbUKdAxY57— Valley Park School () November 14, 2024

12/11/24

Year 8 & 9 students joined a Cyber Security workshop led by Baasit Siddiqui from Gogglebox. They learned about cyber security events, threats, and the Cyber Explorers platform. Students enjoyed interactive quizzes and were eager to earn badges. pic.twitter.com/itGYCLfhwu— Valley Park School () November 12, 2024

12/11/24

This Black History Month, students at Valley Park paid homage to the Black unsung heroes of the ‘Wild Wild West’. Read more: https://t.co/ujfOCgICs2 pic.twitter.com/QX9byiX5Zh— Valley Park School () November 12, 2024

11/11/24

Valley Park remembers, lest we forget.#wearevalleypark pic.twitter.com/mSNEqu0n9O— Valley Park School () November 11, 2024

Betty Blue Eyes

Valley Park Productions put on a pig of a show in July 2015. We asked two of the cast how they prepared for their roles...

Josephine Biggs: 'Mother Dear'

'The story revolves around Joyce and her husband Gilbert, who've recently moved to Shepardsford, but haven't found the popularity or fortune Joyce is looking for. Gilbert is 'only' a chiropodist without his own shop, so he can't 'roll in and declare victory' as Joyce is hoping.'

'After being refused the sale of an empty shop on the parade by the villainous men on the council, the chances of Joyce and Gilbert ever being made into respected members of the village is beginning to look unlikely.'

'In revenge, Joyce and Gilbert steal a pig which is intended to be eaten at a private function in celebration of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Prince Phillip.'

'Stealing the pig is difficult, but it's made even harder by the merciless Meat Inspector Wormold, who's on the prowl for anyone who has anything to do with the sale or consumption of illegal meat.'

'To make this near impossible feat worse, Mother Dear has no idea what to say and what not to say, which makes keeping the pig a secret even more difficult.'

'I performed the part of Mother Dear, the old and cantankerous mother of Joyce. I particularly loved to play this part as she was such a complicated person to play.'

'On the first night my slipper accidentally came off. I just picked it up, grunted, looked at the audience, back at the shoe, then shoved it back on again. The audience found it funny, whereas I was just thankful no one realised I'd tripped!' 

'At the start, I had trouble trying to figure out the correct posture for a woman of 74, but Mr Gleadall gave a demonstration which helped enormously.'

'With the assistance of Maisie Barden, who applied my wrinkles each night, and the make-up girls who sprayed my hair grey, I really did look the part! '

'I came home looking like a back-up dancer from the ‘Thriller’ music video, but it was so effective when I was onstage.'

'Undoubtedly my favourite scene was 'Pig, no pig'. All the players in this scene were completely reliant on each other to carry the song. This made it so much more effective for the audience. '

'When I first heard it, I was worried that I'd never be able to remember it. As it happened, the problem was not remembering it, but trying to get it out of our heads. By the time show week arrived we were at the point of singing it in our sleep!'

'I was quite disappointed when we couldn't use the real Betty, but I feel it would have made things a lot more difficult, trying to steer her around the stage and it would have been too much for her.'

'Overall, I'd say Betty has been my favourite show so far. After 5 months of rehearsing together, the whole cast became one big family. Standing on the stage with so many brilliant young actors and actresses, this whole experience has been an achievement for us all.'

Ben Anderton: 'Gilbert Chilvers'

'I played Gilbert Chilvers, a kind hearted man with an ambition to have his own surgery on the parade. Playing Gilbert required me to soften up like his character as he was always being pushed around by his wife and the town council.'

'When our director, Mr Gleadall, explained Gilbert's background and experience to me, I began to feel for him as a character. In my previous show, 'Miss Saigon', I played a Vietnamese General. He was a violent, mean person, so transitioning to a character like Gilbert was really interesting.'

'In preparation for the show, I often went to the farm to spend time with Betty and Hetty, our farm pigs, so they could get used to me, and I to them. This is so when it came to the show nights they wouldn't panic on stage.'

'During the song, 'The Kind of Man I am', I was required to hold a knife to Betty. She had to stay very still as this was the part of the show which required me to 'kill' her. I was afraid she would panic as I would be holding a sharp object at her! Sadly, we weren’t able to use Betty for the real show, but it would’ve been a great experience performing with a live animal!'

'When Haydn Oakley came to Valley Park to help prepare us for the show,  (see last issue) he had a session with Cathy Butler (Joyce), Josie Biggs (Mother Dear) and myself.'

'The song we chose for him to help us with was 'Pig, no pig'. Haydn gave us lots of tips to help us develop this hilarious scene, as he had performed the show in the West End.'

'What I really loved about the show was the songs. I think everyone who watched or was in this show would agree that you would get at least one song stuck in your head, especially 'Betty Blue Eyes'.

'The rehearsal for this song was hilarious and there was no one else I would rather work with on that song than Sam Murray (Mr. Allardyce). It was a great song and really catchy as were most of the songs in the show!'

Betty the Pig