James Byrne, musician with the Villagers, contributed his memories of Stratford for the 60th Anniversary book, 60 Years A Growing, which was launched in November 2014.
Secondary School was a culture shock. Everybody seemed in a rush to grow up. Sometimes I thought I was the only one who was happy to still be a kid. Football and music were still central to my sense of being. I was the goalie for the school team. But my dreams of goalkeeping stardom dwindled the shorter in height I remained. Life may have been different if I had have grown a foot and a half in 1st Year instead of when I was eighteen.
I formed my first proper band in 4th year with Bronwyn Murphy White, and that's been my life ever since. I’m glad I stuck out the last two years, the good times outweigh the bad. Polyester school jumpers are not missed though. Now I'm a married man of 33. I play drums in a band called Villagers. I run a record label. I teach a bit. My moods are still dictated by the fortunes of Manchester United.
Read the 60 Years A Growing eBook for more Stratford memories.
James Byrne
The 1st years completed a zombie lab today where they used their scientific methods and thinking to identify patient zero from the zombie suspects. Using measuring skills, pH, observation skills and much more they successfully identified the source of the outbreak!
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The TY Horticulture class were out in the Autumn sunshine planting Spring bulbs using the chaos planting method. This is when a multitude of different spring bulbs (Hyacinths, Daffodils, Tulips, Crocuses, Narcissi) are mixed together and randomly planted so that we have a mixture of flowers and patterns emerging in the spring. It mimics nature and so is more enticing to pollinators and native insects that need the food in Spring.
Stratford is celebrating Maths Week 2026 (12th - 18th October) with daily activities around the school, at breaktimes and in Maths classes! The tutor-time daily quiz is proving to be extremely competitive as each form group tries to solve it and then run to find Ms Matthews in order to win the box of chocolates!
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