WorthSchool School m magazine Worth a ga z ine
Winter 2013
INSIGHT Worth School m a ga z ine
Young medics Page 2
Someone to look up to What it takes to be a good Year 13 Prefect Page 10
DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE 2
Worth School magazine
Up for more: the Young Medics at a Thursday lunchtime session with Louise Chamberlain, Head of Biology.
The Young Medics Society was set up by Ms Chamberlain, Head of Biology, in 2012 and is going from strength to strength. The Society is open to students in Years 9, 10 and 11 who are considering medicine as a career, either human or veterinarian. The aims are to give early information about the process of applying to medical school - and also to provide enjoyable academic enrichment. Students are encouraged to aim high in all of their (I)GCSE subjects so will be targeting at least 8 A*s. Off-site activities so far have included trips to the Old Operating Theatre, the Alexander Fleming Museum and the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. In the lab at school, students have investigated the antibacterial properties of natural substances, made lactose-free milk, explored the effectiveness of hand washing, dissected rats, investigated the effect of alcohol on Daphnia magna and tried out UKCAT questions.
Young Medics also carry out academic research projects. Last year, students researched the history of the recognition and treatment of a particular disease/health issue; projects included Epilepsy, Meningitis, Tuberculosis and Women’s Mental Health. This year, inspired by the NHS Careers Competition, Young Medics will be researching and making presentations about careers in the NHS. In the words of Helena Purle (Year 11), “Young Medics is an easy and enjoyable way for young people to find out more about a possible future in medicine, do the practicals that there are no time for in class and go on fascinating trips. It makes my Thursdays.” Any students interested in joining Young Medics should speak with Ms Chamberlain in the first instance. www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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Hockey sticks at
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Worth School magazine
dawn
Hockey has become a very serious matter at Worth. Sam Clark, Head of Girls’ Games, tells us more. In the two years that I’ve been at Worth, hockey has become a focal point for girls’ sport. We are aiming to achieve excellence alongside participation, and the fact that a third of girls in the Sixth Form continue with the sport is testament to its popularity. I’m delighted to say that Worth now has is first Hockey Development Officer, Simon Faulkner, who joined us in September. Simon plays for East Grinstead Hockey Club in the English Premier League and has represented England and Great Britain at Under 21 level, as well as having been a qualified coach for nearly five years. His appointment is a major step towards our goal of becoming a leading hockey school in Sussex and the region. This year has been our best season to date. The First XI beat Seaford College, Reeds School and, most recently, Ardingly U18s in the County Tournament. At the same time, the U15As have recorded comfortable victories against Lingfield Notre Dame, Mill Hill and Sutton Valence. They also beat Bede’s School in the County Tournament, despite being a year younger, and drew with the eventual winners Eastbourne College as well as Brighton College and Christ’s Hospital. Another key element in our plan is our partnership with East Grinstead Hockey Club (EGHC). The Club is located just under five miles from the school and is in the Premier National League for both outdoor and indoor hockey. Some 15 Worth girls are playing age group hockey at East Grinstead and training on a weekly basis; I have done some coaching for the East Grinstead Hockey Academy too. We operate a pitch share system whereby EGHC uses our astropitch for weekend junior matches and for some Hockey Academy sessions. In return, we have been able to introduce indoor hockey by using their facilities. This is the start of what I hope will be a long and successful partnership. Hockey has been a major part of my life since I was seven years’ old and I am delighted that the girls have “caught the bug.” There is so much to be gained from team sports and I am looking forward to watching the game I love grow here at Worth.
Sam Clark, Head of Girls’ Games (centre) with Joanna Bartholomew, Marta Carlotti, Emily Guest, Jane Burnell, Charlotte Hermanns and Maddy Man. www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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JUST SOUTH OF THE
ARCTIC CIRCLE James Sparks and Jeremy Man report on the school’s geography trip to Iceland
During the holidays a group of optimistic Worth students set off for Iceland. After negotiating Heathrow and Reykjavik airports, we stepped out into the cool, brisk Icelandic summer. From the airport we drove a couple of hours to a breathtaking lake named Vatnskot. In the far distance we could see geothermal plumes of steam made golden in the midnight sun.
Day Two involved potholing down an extinct lava tube. The size of the tube varied from that of a London underground tunnel to a small gap that the younger years managed with ease, but for some of us it became quite a contortionist’s act. Nevertheless, it was truly humbling to walk within the Earth’s newly formed crust; indeed throughout our trip we came to understand that Iceland is continually forming and growing as a land mass.
On Day Four we travelled to Husavik, a small fishing village just south of the Arctic Circle. From here we ventured out into the bay to watch the whales. Whilst we were lucky enough to glimpse them, something we did not find was our sea legs! Mr Kaaber described it as a scene from Titanic as Worth students lay stricken across the deck suffering from violent sea sickness. Once we were ashore and Mrs Hall Palmer had finished taunting all those who had been sick, we returned to our northern base camp of Myvatn.
Image by Mr Mark Macdonald Worth students relax at Thingvellir National Park in southern Iceland, on the first night of the field trip. 6
Worth School magazine
Day Five was another utterly amazing day as we visited Askja, a nest of calderas in the centre of Iceland only accessible for three months of the year. After off-roading through lava fields in one of the last genuine wilderness areas of Europe, we hiked to up the side of Askja to Viti Crater. In true Worth style, we took every opportunity to slide down seemingly endless snowcovered flanks and snowball fights became the norm. However, once we reached the caldera the laughter stopped as we were struck by the
vastness of the lake in front of us. Our amazement was heightened when both our Icelandic guide and Mr Lavis explained that this lake was formed from one volcanic eruption ejecting thousands of cubic metres of rock into the atmosphere. As students with a keen interest in the natural world, visiting Iceland fulfilled our ambition to see iconic geological features that are being created as we speak. We would encourage everyone to go on the next trip to Iceland.
www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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Fr Luke Jolly was elected Abbot of Worth by the monastic community on 8th August to serve for a period of eight years.
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THE WORTHIAN
WHO BECAME
ABBOT Emily Richardson traces the new Abbot’s history with Worth School where he is now President of the School’s Board of Governors. The newly elected Abbot of Worth Abbey, Father Luke Jolly, attended Worth School from 1966 to 1971. Fr Luke admits that the favourite part of his years at Worth was playing football, an activity that occupied most of his time. However, when he wasn’t playing football, Fr Luke was also a keen student of history. He was taught by Fr Bernard, whom he describes as one of the “famous teachers at Worth Abbey”, legendary for entertaining many students with re-enactments of battles in his classroom. Fr Luke studied history at Manchester University and, after briefly considering becoming a teacher, decided to go into social work and trained as a probation officer. However, after working for a year as a probation officer, Fr Luke returned to Worth as a monk in 1980. Fr Luke believes that his experiences in the Lay Community after leaving the school were more formative than his experiences at Worth as a student in his decision to become a monk. However, he says that Worth gives a person “a rounded view of life, and teaches you to relate to other people and to serve other people”.
Five years after this return to Worth – and now a fully-fledged monk and ordained priest – Fr Luke took over teaching Fr Bernard’s history classes. As well as being a teacher, Fr Luke has held other senior roles within the school such as a Housemaster and School Chaplain over the years. Between 1996 and his election as Abbot, Fr Luke held senior roles in the monastery, such as Novice Master and Prior. Articulating his vision for the years ahead, Abbot Luke says: “In response to the call of Christ we live in fellowship, we create sanctuary, we offer service and witness to the glory of God.” Fr Luke feels that he and the monastic community can lead the broad Worth community purposefully with this vision in mind. All of us within the school and church community are confident that during his time as Abbot, Fr Luke will be inspired by God to be a competent and compassionate leader who will support and develop the community as a whole.
www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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Aiming for
prefection
Some of this year’s Prefect team: Victoria Cotterell, James Sparks, Jenny McGregor, Alex Davis-White, Kaeshini Sivananthan, George Shaw, Hugh Lurcott and Jeremy Man. 10
Worth School magazine
Kaeshini Sivananthan on the joys of challenges of striving to be the ideal Year 13 Prefect.
Everyone wants to be a Prefect. Of course there are perks that come with the job – ties, badges, Prefect dinners. But for all of us on this year’s Prefect team, we’ve found that there is a lot more to it. As one of the Prefects quite eloquently said: “The main job is definitely getting people to put their trays back.” Whatever our area of specific responsibility - being Head of School or House, PR, Years 7 & 8, Chaplaincy, Voluntary Service, DoE, Performing Arts, Learning or Sports – we all have a responsibility serve the school community in many little ways which contribute towards the overall success of the School. Simply being appointed as a Prefect by the Head Master is not the same as being a Prefect. Respect is earned and not given, and this emphasises the need to lead by example, not by being better but by being an equal. In the words of PR Prefect Connor Thornton-Clark, “I can remember being in their [ junior students’] shoes and looking up at the Sixth Form students and thinking that I would never reach there, or at least feeling it was an age away. Now, in my final year at school, I can see it from the other perspective. I know that having role models when I was younger was key to how I’ve gone about business at school, and I’m trying to emulate this for the younger years.” It is a sentiment echoed by Year 7 & 8 Prefect David Corr: “I think I was surprised just how much the younger years look up to you. You are always told as the highest year that the younger years look to us for an example and most of us thought that wasn’t all that true. However, I’ve found that you do have a huge influence on
their attitudes and small things like your opinion on rugby can have a profound impact on their views also.” There is also the time commitment to be considered, alongside studying, which most Prefects will say is more than they bargained for. However, the end result of the dedication and time is that “you feel you have earned the role”. Besides contributing to the Worth community, being a Prefect is also about learning. We have to learn to communicate effectively, and work together as a team. We have to learn to understand others and appreciate our differences. It can be stressful and demanding, but you have to take it in your stride and smile because there’s always something funny in every situation that makes it worth it. For me, being the Head of St Mary’s has been extremely rewarding. My job description is daunting, but in reality I don’t consider it an extra duty. It is wonderful being in a house where I know everyone’s name and speak to them on a regular basis. Being a Prefect has definitely made me a more responsible and patient person. It’s so much fun organising socials for the different year groups and events like Christmas pudding making, where everyone gets together and has a wonderful time. Being a Prefect is definitely a challenge when you have to balance it with study and other commitments, but the memories and personal achievements are forever, and the values and lessons you learn are essential for life.
www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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The purpose of Worth students join with other young people from around the world at the Vigil of the Resurrection held at the Taizé community in France. Many will say a pilgrimage is a journey to a place where Heaven is closer, a place where holiness is felt as soon as you arrive. Santiago de Compostela, Lourdes and Taizé are great examples of this. Every summer, a group of Worth pupils goes to Lourdes and this year there was also a group which went to the Taizé community, as well as a group of staff members who spent a week walking the Camino of Santiago de Compostela. I went to Lourdes with the Order of Malta Volunteers with 13 other Worth students, half of whom had already left school. I can say that it is a truly rewarding and unique experience. As one of my fellow students put it, “In Lourdes, you don’t get out as much as you put in, but instead you get out ten times more than you put in.” Helping pilgrims with disabilities is extremely tough both physically and psychologically, but the joy and love that you transmit to them to invaluable and the feeling you have in return is unforgettable.
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Worth School magazine
The Year 11 students who travelled to Taizé in France joined 3,500 other young people from 20 countries for a time of prayer, reflection, sharing and fellowship. Founded by Br Roger in 1943, the Taizé community is a monastery of brothers from many Christian traditions who dedicate their lives to living together as a sign of communion. Since the 1960s many thousands of young people have joined them for a week at a time. Our intrepid Worth pilgrims, accompanied by Mr Manning and Br David, report a very beautiful experience of prayer and solidarity with other young people from across the world, especially those from regions where there is unrest and conflict. They participated in a meeting with Cardinal Kurt Koch from the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity in Rome, joined in the manual work with gusto and ate together the simple
pilgrimage Francesc Mora Ortega
meals which they helped to serve. In the words of Mr Manning, it was “ a wonderfully enriching experience for all, and the chants from Taizé will be ringing in our ears for some time!” The Chaplaincy at Worth inspires pupils to realise that everything we do is for the greater glorification of God. Fr Peter, the Senior Chaplain at Worth, comments: “Giving up your time to help others is very important. Going out of your comfort zone and opening yourself to the spirit and allowing God to work in you is essential.” The Chaplaincy is trying to establish a culture within the School to go out and help people who are disabled or are less privileged than us. In serving others we meet Christ and grow in love of each other – this is the greatest gift anyone could give, and in giving it, we also receive it.”
It has now become a tradition at Worth for five students to come from Colegio de San Benito in Chile to spend three months helping the Chaplaincy. In return, three students will spend six months of their gap years in Chile, helping at various schools. Some will be in San Anselmo, a school for the poorest in the capital. This is one of the most powerful things you can do; reaching out to the poorest of people and providing direct help. Similarly, four leavers are going to Peru to support the work of Outreach Peru. The Chaplaincy and the school are extremely impressed by the selfless sacrifice that the students show by going to such places to seek the greater glorification of God. May they continue to do so.
www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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MAKE MINE A PIÑATA Henry Jacobs charts the recent successes in the Spanish department. When the GCSE statistics were published following this summer’s examinations, a radical new trend was set. There was shown to be a 16.9% increase in the number of foreign language entries at GCSE compared with just last year, reversing a long-term downward drift in schools across the UK. Boasting the greatest increase in entries at GCSE Level of 25.8%, Spanish is currently undergoing a major boom.
Given that it has around 406 million native speakers, 60 million non-native speakers and an estimated 20 million students across 44 countries, there is a 6.9% chance you speak it. At Worth, there has also been a substantial rise in the number of Spanish students, almost double the 2010 figures at KS3 level but, equally importantly, results have set new records. Although the International GCSE may
Head of Spanish, Ms Joanne Geraghty, with her Year 9 Spanish group. 14
Worth School magazine
be considered a more challenging qualification, 90% of candidates of mixed ability who took the qualification at Worth received an A* or A. The IGCSE, or International GCSE, is now studied in all modern foreign languages at Worth. It presents a more independent study syllabus and reduces the difficult linguistic step up from the traditional GCSE to A Level or IB standard. Aside from IGCSEs, at A2 Level, three fifths gained A*-A, and at IB Higher Level, the department’s average remains a perfect 7 (the top grade in the IB exams) for the second year running.
Miss Geraghty, Head of the Spanish department at Worth, believes the dramatic rise of Spanish is down to the students recognising the language to be a major benefit, even requisite, in the international employment sector and also a gateway into Spanish culture. Spanish loan words like fiesta, loco, piĂąata and tango, which have gradually slipped into the English language over the past few decades, paint a highly colourful and vibrant representation of Spain that may be a source of attraction for young students.
www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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VARIATION ON A THEME Director of Music Michael Oakley has achieved a long-standing ambition with the formation of a girls’ Schola. The formation of the five-member group – formally announced at the beginning of the Autumn Term – will bring an entirely new repertoire of hymns and other music to the Abbey Church. A Schola is a sub-group of the Abbey Church Choir and the idea comes from ‘Schola Cantorum’ which has its roots in monastic establishments. There has been a boys’ Schola at the school for over 10 years, renowned for producing a strong, young, vibrant sound that fills the Abbey Church. “Being part of the Schola allows the most able and experienced – boys and girls - to spread their musical wings,” says Mr Oakley. “A girls-only Schola now gives us the means to explore new repertoire, for example the hymns and other music of Hildegard of Bingen, a 12thcentury Abbess, mystic and writer, whose music has a fluidity that goes beyond plainsong.
“They are a terrific group of girls who have impressed me with their singing ability and also in showing the high level of commitment required by this group.” Both the girls’ and the boys’ Schola members are seen as excellent role models, not least in setting a standard of singing for the junior members of the Abbey Church choir. So will we be seeing both Scholas join forces on occasion? “Quite possibly,” says Mr Oakley. The boys’ and girls’ Schola can be heard as part of the choir in the Abbey Church on alternative Sundays in term time, and on Thursdays in the Joint Act of Worship.
Director of Music Michael Oakley with Schola members Jane Burnell, Angelica Grusovin, Jenny McGregor, Esther Barrott and Michele Gilling-Ulph. 16
Worth School magazine
www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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THE JOY OF A SOLEMN PROFESSION
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Worth School magazine
For those privileged to have ever witnessed the Solemn Profession of a monk, perhaps the most dramatic moment is when the monk prostrates himself on the funeral pall. While that was certainly a memorable part of the Solemn Profession of Br David Jarmy which took place on 2nd October, the warmth and joy of the members of
the monastic community as they came forward to hug their brother were equally unforgettable. The Solemn Profession was attended by friends, family and members of the school community including the girls of St Anne’s where Br David is the Chaplain.
Fr Charles in white steps forward to welcome Br David as a full member of the monastic community. www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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TAKING CARE of BUSINESS In September, Worth welcomed a new Director of Finance and Operations, Mark Sweeting. Alex Brammer (Year 12) spoke to him about the demands of his new role and how he is settling into the Worth community. What does your position as Director of Finance and Operations entail?
Would you tell us a little about your family and interests?
I am a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Worth who leads, manages and develops the School’s financial and operational departments. This means that I’m responsible for the day-to-day management of the Worth estate and the support staff within the School and Abbey, as well as the financial planning and reporting, the management of resources and the investment strategy of the group.
I come from Tottenham in North London originally, where my father’s family live and my mother emigrated to from County Mayo in Ireland. I’m married to Irene, whose family come from Wales and Sicily, and we have a three-year-old son called Hector. We also have two rescue dogs; an elderly ex-racing greyhound (Dave) and a loopy lurcher (Doris).
What is the role’s greatest challenge? Well it’s early days, but I’d say it’s the daily mental discipline of shuttling effectively and quickly between the continuous operational demands of running the business and its strategy. You can easily dedicate your whole working week to dealing with what comes across your desk, but it’s my job to help develop the overarching objectives of Worth and then to ensure that everything we do contributes to them. What career did you pursue prior to joining Worth? After graduating in History, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant and joined Deutsche Bank. Since then I’ve worked in various roles in the front and back office, with the last five years spent in a Chief Operating Officer role in Credit Risk Management. I also set up an independent wine business with my wife. Mark Sweeting in the grounds at Worth with his wife Irene, son Hector and dogs Dave and Doris. 20
Worth School magazine
I enjoy good wines and real ales. It is also impossible to be born next to the greatest football team in the world and not be a football fanatic. I’m a dedicated reader and a bit of a cryptic crossword fanatic. Whenever we can, I enjoy walking with my family and going out to the theatre. Have you had to relocate to join the school? Yes, we moved onto campus from a village called Ide Hill, near Sevenoaks in Kent; I have many good friends there and it acts as a sanctuary to return to, as Irene’s mother lives there now. What aspect of working for the school do you enjoy most? I’ve been really struck by the high degree of commitment to Worth of the people who work and live here. The school’s commitment to develop and encourage the ‘whole person’ means that my role is more nuanced and multi-dimensional too; offering a rare opportunity to pursue business objectives that are broader than the purely financial. The three-minute walking-commute from our back garden to the office is certainly very pleasant too.
www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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Eye of the tiger
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Worth School magazine
We are proud to say that Worth now has its first wrestling champion in the shape of Year 11’s Maahan Mirnezami who already has two gold medals to his name. The first gold came at the Welsh Open Championships in Cardiff in August where Maahan won the schoolboys’ Under 100Kg category. The second gold was secured at the British Nationals held in Derby in October. Maahan, who joined Worth School in Year 9, fell in love with the sport after going to the Olympics last year and now trains twice a week at a club in Slough. “Doing well is about developing fitness and stamina, too. It’s important to have enough muscle but, in fact, developing too much will slow you down,” Maahan explained.
One thing he can’t have too much of is the encouragement of friends and supports. Says Maahan: “While it’s not a team sport, we really support each other at the events. The Club members will chant for me in the corner and I go to as many competitions as I can to support them. It may look like a one-man sport, but without your colleagues you won’t do well.”
Maahan Mirzenami (right) enjoys some light-hearted arm wrestling with fellow Rutherford housemate, Adel Khraishi.
www.worthschool.co.uk Winter 2013
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Organ Scholar Congratulations to Luke Navin in Year 13 who has won a place to read Music at Keble College, Oxford. He has also been awarded the Organ Scholarship there for 2015 so is now officially ‘Organ Scholar Elect, Keble College, Oxford’. Find out more about Luke and his music at the new Voices microsite, www. worthschoolvoices.co.uk which features news and views from around the Worth community.
Insight Editorial Team: Simon Fisher Catherine Forrester Henry Jacobs (Year 13) Francesc Mora Ortega (Year 13) Emily Richardson (Year 12) Kaeshini Sivananthan (Year 12)
Photography: Images by Emma Duggan Photography, except Iceland and pilgrimage images, and girls’ Schola (latter by Peter Langdown Photography).
For the latest Worth School news and events, please visit www.worthschool.co.uk Worth School, Paddockhurst Road, Turners Hill, West Sussex RH10 4SD t: 01342 710200 e: school@worth.org.uk Registered charity number 1093914 Company registration number 4476558 Printed on environmentally friendly paper made from raw materials sourced from managed and sustainable forests. BAINES design & print 01707 876555 A59317