The Borlasian 2021 by sir william borlase's grammar school

Jennifer Baron

Zoe Ziaullah

Ines Graham Usabiaga

Issy Grimes

2 Katie Haveron-Jones

Ella Murgatroyd

Tom Letts

The Borlasian 2021

HEADTEACHER’S FOREWORD

I am delighted to see the Borlasian published this academic year. This is further evidence of the innovation, creativity and resilience of Borlasians through this incredibly unusual time. It was wonderful to welcome everyone back to school “live” in September after the long 2020 lockdown. However, COVID restrictions meant that the whole school had to operate in a different way and we learned to absorb into our common practice the concepts of Bubbles, Social-Distancing, Perspex Screens, Masks, and very long lessons. Against that backdrop of restrictions, our students have managed to be as creative as ever, finding solutions and imaginative ways to express themselves. It was an incredible achievement to have a Christmas Carol Service and the outdoor concert celebrated in the magazine. By January, we were all

back in Borlase@Home which most people found more challenging second time round. However, again, you can see in these pages the way our students managed to carry on producing creative ideas until we were back together again in March. Thank you to all the staff, students, parents, and governors for their tremendous enthusiasm across the year. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in contributing to and editing the Borlasian this year - this is another year that will stand out in our history; thank you for marking it here in these pages. Best wishes everyone for 2021/22. Te Digna Sequere! Miss K Mountfield

EDITORS’ FOREWORD

It has been an extraordinary year at Borlase, where the school community has had to adapt to a number of challenges. As new Year 12s, arriving at a new school under such circumstances seemed daunting at first, however the staff have made an incredible effort to maintain a positive outlook and provide an optimum environment, not only for learning, but meeting new people and engaging in the community. The Borlase@ Home period, in particular, demonstrated how this could be achieved in spite of the circumstances, and the running of societies online allowed year-groups to come together in a way that school in person would not have allowed. Moreover, the turnout proved a great success, and several societies were even founded during lockdown! For the Magazine Team, this year has been an opportunity for our small society to take on big responsibilities: we were set the challenge of devising a way to manage the ever-growing number of societies, and ensure that Sixthformers knew when, where, and what was going on with them. With the launch of the Societies Hub and weekly Bulletin, alongside the running of the online magazine, Sequere, with numerous competitions and articles, we have found ourselves busier than ever before, but we feel we thoroughly enjoyed the projects we have undertaken

this year, and anticipate that our successors will rise to the challenge as we look forward. Putting together The Borlasian this year has proved a challenge in itself as, due to the pandemic, many of the Performing Arts and Sports activities that would usually form a large component of the magazine have been unfortunately missed out on, and sorely missed. However, thanks to the contributions of the staff, students, and especially due to the commendable efforts of Mr Lofthouse, The Borlasian lives on for another year. Special thanks also goes to our editorial predecessors - Isobel, Tenzin, and Lily - who not only advised us in undertaking Sequere and The Borlasian this year, but guided us as new students in an unfamiliar school, making us feel welcome and supported. Having spent our first year of Borlase in unprecedented circumstances, we are eager to embark on our next year at Sixth Form, and to experience all the other wonderful events and activities that we have observed as we leafed through old editions of The Borlasian, preparing to put this year’s edition together. We look forward to the year ahead, and to reading the next (and hopefully fuller) edition of The Borlasian! Megan Houston & Danny Lewis

SCHOOL CAPTAINS’ FOREWORD

The pair of us struggle to believe that our first excited steps through the chapel gate are now almost seven years ago. We’ve been the best of friends since our nervous Year 7 days, entrenched in oversized school blazers. Borlase can seem like a big place to new joiners who aren’t used to hunting for their French lessons in M7 (walking in on an amused class of Year 10s is more of a tradition than an accident by now). Nonetheless, Borlase soon became more of a second home than the maze it once had been, and we outgrew our initial worries, just like we outgrew those blazers.

The school couldn’t possibly be the school it is without the staff. The consistent support and encouragement they’ve delivered to students in such challenging times is unparalleled. We are both immensely proud of how our school created such a high quality online learning environment in a matter of days. However, the gradual return to Borlase life has been welcome, and has put a new spring in the step of students who will no longer take for granted in-person lessons, study rooms or, indeed, Mimi’s cookies. Borlase gave us the chance to be a chorister, a cox, a cheerleading flyer, a tap-dancing pepper pot, a skier, a rockstar and a robotics designer. Our motto, Te Digna Sequere is manifested in the variety of opportunities for students, opportunities which you will find throughout this Borlasian. During this final chapter at Borlase, we realise that the pages are full of happy and fulfilling memories. Borlase has prepared us to step forward into a new chapter with selfbelief and confidence unlike when we arrived. We cannot go without thanking our phenomenal deputies, Olly and Charlotte, and the tour-de-force that is our prefect body; we couldn’t possibly have asked for a greater team. And to current and future Borlasians, we urge you to enjoy your years here, and to take every chance that is offered to you. These truly are the best of times. Imogen Baguley & Leon Tasch

HOUSE REPORTS

BRITONS

Throughout this challenging year Britons have carried on smiling and throwing themselves into those events that have taken place. In the Hidden Talents competition, we came third, and Max Baker and Ash Bryant took 2nd and 3rd place in the final. For House Art, each member of Britons made an origami butterfly, all of which came together to create a collective piece of artwork, which was hung in Cloisters at the start of the summer term. During lockdown, House Photography competition allowed us to share our artistic abilities and Year 9 held an unofficial rounders tournament between the different forms. All Britons should feel really proud of themselves for their drive and team spirit, but we’d especially like to thank Miss Rayner, Sra Roman and Mrs Walder, for their enthusiasm and support throughout the year, and also the senior prefects, Sasha Radford and Freddie McGreggor, for their hard work. Juno Edwards, Ella Jenkins, Sonia Sonawala

DANES

Having won the House cup at the end of last year we carried this momentum into this year where we have, more often than not, been leading in the house points tally. This has been significantly helped by our success in the House competitions that have taken place: a win in the Hidden Talents competition, and a third place result in the individual House Photography heats, partly resulting from the Danes’ high participation in the event. There have been no typical House Assemblies this year, making it a bit harder to keep the spirit among the Danes, however due to the enthusiasm and commitment of Mr Miall we were able to keep Danes as great as ever. It has been a pleasure to be House Captains over the past year, and observing the students’ attitudes to the challenges

we have all faced has been inspiring. Going forward we hope that all Danes continue to demonstrate our key values of participation, enthusiasm and competitiveness. Ben Jackson & Na’iamh Bowen

NORMANS

Our time as House Captains began in May 2020 with a compilation of short video clips describing the five things that Normans were most grateful for. We were proud of the uplifting message that the video provided at a time when the novelty of online school was quickly beginning to wear off. Our video shed light on a new-found appreciation for parents, pets, brothers, sisters, books, gardens, and, of course, for our teachers. Without the context of the coronavirus pandemic, items such as ‘toilet paper’ might seem somewhat incongruous, but we were, of course, living in unprecedented times. This year’s main focus was the House Photography and Art Competition, and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated, with 103 individual entries. A special congratulations to Mei Babes who won 1st place in the Junior category. For our whole-house artwork, we split one of Basel Hammond’s aeronautical drawings into 16 squares, and each tutor group was tasked with completing two squares via any medium of their choosing. When we pieced the squares back together, the result was striking and far better than we had envisaged, resulting in second place. Our consistently high performance throughout the competition meant that Normans were crowned the winners of the competition. Thank you to Mrs Colville and Mr Chappell for leading us over the past year as we navigated our way through lockdowns and Borlase@Home. Sophie Underwood & Jack Rait

HOUSE REPORTS

ROMANS

It has been a rather disrupted year but, typically, Romans have thrown themselves into enrichment days, #dosomethingdifferent day and the House Art competition, coming an excellent 3rd in Whole House Art and 4th overall. On Sports Day all Romans fought well, none more so than our 4 x 100m staff relay team of Miss Holmes, Mrs Furley, Mr Black and Miss Longstaff who came a fantastic 4th! Thank you to our House Captains, Swathi D’Souza and Gautam Nemani, who wish you all the very best as they leave Romans and Borlase! Here’s to a new year of live events with our new Head of House, Miss Longstaff and House Captains, Josh Kaushal and Charlotte Dudley who I know will lead Romans with enthusiasm. Ms Holmes

SAXONS

Great Saxonian effort has been shown throughout the year. The new Year 7s quickly proved themselves worthy, coming first in Netball, joining our Year 8 Netball and Year 9 Football on top of the podium. Congratulations on first places to Maria Kharatishvili in the Year 10 public speeches competition, and Danny Lewis in the Year 12 Student Voice competition. Danny’s presentation ‘Why men’s mental health is a silent crisis’ was both provocative and thoughtful. The House Art competition attracted inspiring entries from all year groups, taking us to the top of the leaderboard with 265 points; many photographs showed

a strong artistic concept and a typically Saxonian sense of humour. Our whole-house artwork was an installation on Chapel Lawn steps entitled Steps out of Lockdown. Each member of Saxons brought an object which in some way represented their time spent inside during the two lockdowns. House Captains, Matt and Zuzu, have been admirable ambassadors and their team spirit, unequivocal enthusiasm and commitment to after-dusk photography were pivotal to our success. We say a sad farewell to Mr Duggan who has really enthused sporty Saxons, and wish him well in his new school. Mrs Pryor & Dr Parsons

VIKINGS

House Art brought a superb effort from the house, and particular thanks must go to Julia Koteles for her organisation, enthusiasm and direction of this work. ‘The idea was that everyone brought in a box, decorated in their own unique way to represent their time in lockdown. We then built it all up into a house-like structure to symbolise borlase@home and how fantastically well the school has adapted to new circumstances.’ For the KS3 Nature Trail, inspired by May’s Mental Health week, V1 and V2 created their own kites and rejuvenated an area of the school grounds which will feature sunny sunflowers. A huge thank you to all the staff and tutors who contributed their time, support and guidance, and in particular, our Heads of House - Lulu and Pavlos. Mr Holloran & Miss Williams

PAST & PRESENT

STILL GROWING

An article in the 1933 edition of The Borlasian recalls a discussion held at a meeting of the Old Borlasian Club which reflected on “how the school is progressing”. That year’s edition was also prefaced with the declaration that “the number of entrants this term is greater again than the past. There are 134 on the register this term”. The Old Borlasians were impressed at the school’s capacity to produce students “of a particular quality”, in consideration of their ever-growing number. In light of the school’s current number of 1,153 students, its progress seems astonishing. However, the progress which is perhaps more worthy of attention is the “type” of student that Borlase now produces. Although it can certainly be said that students remain “honest”, “decent”, and “distinguished”, a Borlasian is no longer a “definite type of boy”. Borlase now offers a learning environment and opportunities to students of any gender, background, or faith, and allows them the freedom to develop their own individual “character”.

It is important to reflect on the outdated values and lack of equality that have historically been present in society in order to move forward, and Borlase has demonstrated the determination to do so this year. There have been many open discussions encouraging students to voice their opinions on equality and ideas for progress,

which have been provided by both the activism of staff members, and that of students in societies. For example, the lecture given by Chris Hemmings opened a discussion about “manliness” (which was evidently once a part of the school’s values) and why we should attempt to ‘undefine’ it. Therefore, whilst we Borlasians should aim to maintain the traditional values of “enthusiasm” and “decency”, we should strive to keep discussing our current values, in order for progress to keep growing. Megan Houston

SPORTS FUND

In December of 1934, an article appeared in The Borlasian which emphasised the need for sports funding at Borlase. The ‘School Sports Fund’ was not only used for prizes in sporting events, but also for ‘sports equipment, the preparation of the field, printing, the Band’ and other sports-related necessities. The article describes how they had to ‘rely more on small sums from parents, Old Borlasians and friends of the School’ in order to raise enough money to create the best sports events possible. Now, almost 90 years on, the generosity of the wider Borlase community has provided the school with the opportunity to complete one of the biggest projects that the school has seen in years - the building of the new Sports Hall. Much anticipation surrounded this project and, finally, after months and months of planning, fundraising and building, the sports hall was finished in May 2021. The impressive structure stands smartly on top of Home Meadow, red brick surrounds the base cascading upwards then giving way to a metal top. Entering through the automatic doors, a long corridor stretches ahead. The brand new PE office and Sports Science classrooms lie to the right, and through a pair of doors to the left is the huge new sports hall, fitted with state of the art basketball equipment and a modern scoreboard. It is the result of months of investment and time, from the staff, governors and parents. Staff and students alike are eager to see what opportunities the new facilities can bring, with Mr Duggan expressing his hope for what’s to come: “The New Sports Hall will provide students with opportunities that have not been at the school for a long time. We have invested in a facility that will allow large groups to be playing sport at the same time, something that has not been possible due to the restrictions of the current facilities. We have invested heavily in a brand new Fitness Suite, fitting it with equipment that every student will be able to use… It will give us opportunities to train and play fixtures on full sized courts, something

PAST & PRESENT we have not been able to do for indoor sport. In addition, we will be able to offer sport for all - one of my aims when I joined the school, ranging from badminton clubs to fitness clubs.’ In September, the new hall will be in use school-wide, with sixth-formers even having the opportunity to use the fitness suite - a gym fitted with both weights and cardiovascular equipment. It is going to be an incredibly exciting development, and there is a bright future ahead for Borlase sport! Danny Lewis

PAST & PRESENT

MY FIRST YEAR

This year has turned out to be very different from what we expected. Coronavirus has been the biggest disruption to human life since World War II. Although I was used to wearing a mask from Primary School, it was still very bothersome, as I’m sure it was for everyone else, as were the open windows, but I quickly got used to the chill. I tended not to notice how different school was, but then I started realising how many events had been postponed or cancelled. Social distancing, and less physical human interaction has caused our tutor groups to be kept in year groups, rather than mixed, but it was nice getting to know the Britons in the other tutor groups. One of the most prominent things about this year has been Borlase@Home. It was very difficult not being able to physically interact and discuss things with my teachers and classmates, but I was still able to keep in touch with my friends through the internet. Lockdown encouraged me to exercise, and explore nature more, because it’s the only real thing you can do other than stare at your screen. One of my highlights in school at home was ‘do something different day’. I really enjoyed the bird-watching, as well as the workout, and especially making Colin’s Carrot Cake. Overall, though, I was very happy for Borlase@Home to end, and to come back to the physical classrooms.

into a year vs year football match, comprising a goodnatured half an hour of ‘all in’, where the teams can be around 30 each side! There’s lots of laughter and good sportsmanship, and when the occasional tackle is a bit too enthusiastic, students are quick to check the other is okay before continuing the fun. It’s all part of the balance that makes Borlase special; the mix of work and play, serious and fun, older and younger pupils, students and staff. Ms Beswick

Nikolai Meintjes, Year 7

WORK AND PLAY

One of the many things which makes Borlase special is how the years groups choose to spend time together, both at work and play. At work... A number of our Year 12s provide Year 9-11 students with one-to-one subject support. These peer support mentoring sessions take place weekly after school on Mondays and Thursdays, (via video at the moment, but otherwise face to face). The mentors plan their sessions, often giving mini-presentations and easy-to-understand, clear explanations, to students in Key Stage 4 who have perhaps missed lessons due to illness, or who have been struggling with a particular topic. They work hard for each other, and it’s lovely to see the sharing of experience and understanding between the year groups. At play... On warm sunny days, the students spend their long lunch break on Colonel’s Meadow. There’s usually a couple of frisbees flying around, an American football being thrown and perhaps an impromptu game of cricket. The friendship groups mix and anyone is welcome to join in including staff. It’s lovely to hear a “Hey, Miss! Catch!”, and to spend a few minutes joining in with a game. From time to time students organise themselves

MASTERCLASSES 2021

Masterclass is a programme for Year 12 pupils to provide information and inspiration on different careers. This year fifty presenters gave virtual interactive workshops on their own careers and the journeys they took to get there, as well as giving pupils a taste of the sort of tasks they might be invited to perform in those careers. Many of the presenters were parents of current students or Old Borlasians. Thursday began with a keynote speech by Old Borlasian, Mark Gloyens, Director of Rebellion Brewery who gave a fascinating insight into his unusual career path. On Friday, Mike Birkhead, producer of such wonderful and touching wildlife films as Echo of the Elephants, talked about how to get into wildlife film-making and showed some of his extraordinary footage of tiger fights and elephant attacks, The workshops available ranged from engineering to genetics, from dentistry to nursing and from media production to social research. Students also enjoyed tasks set by the speakers, including: making podcasts, analysing Hogwarts from a management consultant’s perspective, and coming up with ideas for developing and marketing a shampoo bar. Ms Birkett

BORLASE WRITING

NOT AGAIN

On 11th April 2021, just ten miles from the street where George Floyd was killed in May, Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by Kim Potter, a white police officer. Minneapolis, already a hotspot for persistent protests for justice, once again exploded with people mourning the loss of a man who was a father, a son, a brother - a man who lost his life simply because of the colour of his skin. When I first heard about Wright’s killing, my initial thoughts were ‘What kind of world are we living in? When will things change? Another name to add to the list of racially motivated murders; George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Adam Toledo... the list never ends’. We are now numb to this kind of news, highlighting how normal it is for systematic prejudice to influence our society. People are needlessly being murdered at the hands of the police (the very people who we, as citizens, are meant to trust and go to if we are in danger). The fact that this is happening in the first place is sickening; but it is happening so frequently that we have now become desensitized to it. Wright’s death is a stark reminder that almost a year of upheaval against racism and police brutality has passed, yet these types of incidents still occur. We are living in a world where you can die for just going to the shop, jogging down the street or sleeping in your home. The systems that have been put in place are designed to murder Afro-Caribbean people for existing. Literally and psychologically. Police claim that the murder of Daunte Wright was ‘accidental’. The officer, Kim Potter initially planned to taser him but mistakenly shot him instead. Officers always have their guns on their dominant side and tasers on their non-dominant side, but this time Potter’s weapons were ‘accidentally switched’. Tasers and guns do not even look alike, raising further concerns about police training. The differences between tasers and guns are in the image below*. Yes, although it may have been an accident, it does not erase the fact that a life was lost and I cannot emphasise this enough. It is very probable that Potter’s reaction was a result of her implicit bias, but we cannot deny that there is mindless racism deeply penetrated within the police force and our society as a whole. Therefore, we must critically examine ourselves, as this system is rooted in white supremacy. In order to eradicate this, we must acknowledge that we have our own inherent racial prejudices, whether more explicit or implicit, and they help to maintain an unjust system. Kim Potter, chief police of Minnesota, resigned on the day of Wright’s murder and has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, and now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, which is a small step ahead but it is a start. These shootings really speak volumes about the police force. What is really terrifying is the fact that officers first hastily reach out to their weapons when they feel like they have a lack of control in a crucial situation. As Martin

Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate weakness of violence is that it multiplies evil and violence in the universe. It doesn’t solve any problems”. Violence is never the answer and this is why we are in desperate need of more training for the police force. Tasers and guns should not be the go-to when dealing with such minor incidents (e.g. hanging air freshener etc). More anti-bias and anti-racist training needs to be given to avoid more situations like this. Nine days after Wright’s death, a couple of blocks away, Derek Chauvin was on trial - he was found guilty on all charges. This verdict is simply a small step towards accountability, not justice. For us, justice would be for George Floyd, Daunte Wright and all the other countless names to be alive today - that is justice. But the real question is, would we have reached this same verdict if there were no protests? Probably not. In fact, the first original police report concluded that George Floyd’s death was a ‘medical accident’ - a chilling insight into the direction this case would have gone if there had been no footage. We are proud of ourselves for the technological advances we have made, yet we fail as a society when it comes to equality and justice for all. On a more optimistic note; it is time for change - starting now. We have far more to do to prevent Afro-Caribbean people from being needlessly murdered. Jessica Varghese

CLASSICS ESSAY Newnham College, Cambridge, runs annual essay competitions for Year 12 students in a range of subjects. This year, Megan Houston entered the Classics essay competition, and received 2nd Prize for her essay answering the question:

‘Tell me about a complicated man’ (Homer, Odyssey 1.1, translated by Emily Wilson). Is complexity an important characteristic of the characters and stories of classical epic? There is a certain ambiguity surrounding the nature of ‘complexity’ in stories and characters, which can have no universal meaning due to the limitless connotations of the word ‘complicated’. As outlined by the Cambridge Dictionary, the adjective ‘complicated’ describes something as “involving a lot of different parts, in a way that is difficult to understand”. Considering the significantly broad range of events that may take place in a story, or the feelings that a character may experience, it seems that the construct or plot of every epic might be considered ‘complicated’. However, Janey Tracey suggests that Emily Wilson’s translation of ‘polytropos’ to mean ‘complicated’ is more indicative of our “current political climate” than it is of general character complexity, and she demonstrates that the term ‘complicated’ is

BORLASE WRITING fitting for those characters who could also be described as “hypocritical, entitled, or manipulative”. Whilst Odysseus’ dubious morality in the eyes of the modern reader may well cast him in a light similar to that of an arrogant ‘anti-hero’, the term ‘complicated’ is not limited to such characters, nor is it inherent in all characters of “entitled” or “manipulative” nature. For the purpose of this essay, the definition of a complicated character shall therefore be a character who struggles with an internal conflict, or has contrasting traits or characteristics which become an obstacle in the scheme of the epic. However, when determining the complexity of stories, it seems that the very nature of an epic requires conflicting forces. Therefore, in order for an epic story to truly be complex, there must be significant motivation and stakes for our protagonist’s conflict, as well as complexity in the actual narrative (for example by the rotation of perspectives, or the intertwining of parallel plots). To measure whether or not the complicated natures of characters are ‘important’ to classical epic, we must observe the extent of their contribution to events of the epic. There are several instances in which the complicated nature of a protagonist has directly caused catastrophic events. One prime example is the refusal of Achilles to fight into the Trojan Wars, which results in the death of a great number of his comrades, and the declining success of the Achaeans in battle. Although the cause of this decision is undoubtedly Agamemnon’s poor choice to claim Achilles’ “blooming prize, […] Briseis” as his own, it is “Achilles’ wrath” and pride that led him to abandon the cause. Natalie Haynes describes this decision by Achilles as a “particularly difficult kind of toxic masculinity”, which (from a modern point of view) is certainly valid, and causes us to wonder whether Achilles has any redeeming or heroic qualities. Similarly, René Rapin observes that Achilles is “an epitome of imperfections and vices”. So, if Achilles is so imperfect, is he really that complicated? It could be argued that if all of his traits are imperfections, they do not have a positive attribute to conflict. However, there is evidence to suggest that Achilles must be complicated, for his actions would not have been the same if his character was so straightforward. If Achilles had been a simpler hero, closer to the character of Virgil’s Aeneas, perhaps he would have prioritised his responsibility to his men over that of his honour. Pope brings up this very notion in the preface to his translation, stating that Achilles is “not as good and perfect a prince as Aeneas”, but also that the “very moral of [Homer’s] poem required a contrary character”. Therefore, whilst Achilles’ selfish pride is somewhat contradictory to his role as the epic hero, it was this very conflict in his character which constituted the narrative of the play. Without Achilles’ stubborn wrath, he would not have taken the strike from war which drove the events of the next seventeen books of the Iliad, and without

the attribute of his being ‘Greece’s Greatest Warrior’, there would be no significance for his wrath. Thus, the complicated nature of Achilles’ characterisation is integral to the entire premise of the poem. Virgil’s character of Aeneas seems to be a rather simple character, especially considering his moral virtues, which Rapin describes as “piety, […] tendernesse […] and justice, towards all”. Thus, he does not seem to have an overly complex personality, nor does he experience many instances of conflicting emotion. For this reason, many critics might describe him as a ‘perfect’ character, without vices. However there are a few instances in which Aeneas’ morality and humanity appear a weakness, and a source of internal conflict. The most significant example of this is in Dido’s unfortunate suicide. Although the initial cause of Dido’s attachment to Aeneas is arguably the divine intervention by Aphrodite and Eros, it is Aeneas’ abandonment of the queen which makes her feel as though she must “get rid of the love he causes” with a “passing sentence of death”. Therefore, it is Aeneas’ internal conflict of the commitment to his family and people (weighed against his feelings for Dido) which cause him to flee and leave Dido suicidal. Dido’s death is significant not only in the scheme of the epic, but also as an interpretation of history, as it was considered the reason for the long-standing conflict between Carthage and Rome. Therefore, there are instances in which Aeneas is presented as ‘complicated’ which have considerable impact on the legend of history, let alone the epic itself. However, these moments of internal conflict are infrequent, and Aeneas’ character remains rather simple in essence, suggesting that complexity was not an important trait in the epic Aeneid’s hero. Similarly, the epic Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius has a relatively uncomplicated protagonist. Jason’s character has rather cohesive traits of ambition, wit, and persuasion, and the complications to the plot are primarily caused by minor characters, such as his crewmates, or various selfish kings. In fact, the characters of the epic have been criticised by some for their lack of complexity; D.A. Van Krevelen describes the characterisation of Jason as “extremely weak”, and suggests that Medea is the only “commendable exception” to the bland characters. This brings to light the idea that complexity, whilst not a requirement of an epic hero, may still be an important trait for other characters to have. As Van Krevelen highlights, Medea is arguably the more intriguing character as her passionate love for Jason causes both internal and external conflict; it leads her to commit violent acts against others, including her own family. Without Medea’s complications of “stormy birth” and “ruthless love” for Jason, she likely would not have acted so rashly as to murder her brother Apsyrtus, which was vital to the couple’s escape, and the eventual resolution of the plot. Therefore, whilst complexity isn’t necessarily

BORLASE WRITING essential for the protagonist (as long as there is still a compelling narrative), it is still important for some epics to have complicated secondary characters in order to advance the plot. In order to measure whether it is important for the story of an epic to be complicated, it must be determined whether complexity adds something significant to its reception or message, which would otherwise be lost. With epic poetry traditionally being aurally received, complexity might be hindering rather than beneficial to a rhapsode of ancient Greece, and to the audience who listens. Epic poetry was not analysed in depth as it is now (in written form), and so the clarity of epic simile and symbolism rang through the stories perhaps more than the series of events themselves. However, the obstacles and stakes that complicate a plot are precisely what make it a riveting story, and so it seems that at least a basic element of complexity is necessary. An example that applies to this theory is Homer’s Odyssey, in which Odysseus makes a gruelling journey home. If it were not for the various supernatural obstacles he is faced with (including the two lonely goddesses, Circe and Calypso, as well as monsters such as Scylla or Charybdis), the ten year journey would only have taken a fraction of the time, and there would be no story to tell. Therefore, although involving too many obstacles for the protagonist’s ambition in an epic might confuse the story (especially to those hearing it, rather than reading it), a significant amount of complication is important to an epic, as it creates a story worth listening to. The ‘complexity’ of the story is also contributed to by the structure of its narrative, which can be in the form of rotating perspectives or simultaneous plotlines. Aristotle points out the significance of this technique, highlighting that “the narrative form” of an epic “makes it possible to include many simultaneous incidents that […] add weight to the poem”. Furthermore, he insinuates that this should be made use of in epic to achieve “grandeur” and offer “variety to the hearer”. One example of complication to a narrative is the way in which Homer writes the Iliad from the perspective of both the Achaeans and the Trojans. This is particularly evident in Book X, when both armies are seen to send out parties to scout the opposing camp in the same “wakeful hours”, and they collide when Odysseus and Diomedes hear the “step of hostile feet”, which had just previously been revealed as the “swift of foot” Dolon. By rotating the narrative of both sides – even briefly – Homer both creates tension through plot complexity, and dissolves it by unifying the plot once again, which would undoubtedly provide the “variety” to the reader in the way Aristotle describes. Whilst variety is not necessarily essential to an epic, it would certainly be important to captivating an audience for its reception.

Despite the evidence in the text, Aristotle maintains that the Iliad is not complex, but “simple” – at least in comparison to the Odyssey. However, it must be noted that the Iliad features the exact complications that Aristotle claims “add weight to the poem”, for example the “simultaneous” plotlines, which are especially noticeable of the gods in alignment with the people. In Book V, for example, when there is conflict among the gods, the battle amongst the Greeks continues in the “meantime”. The significance of these conflicts occurring simultaneously demonstrates the parallels between the humans and gods: the human-like weaknesses of the gods, or god-like arrogance of the people, which adds another dimension to the storyline whilst implying a greater message. Again, this is arguably coherent with Aristotle’s notion of what epic poetry should be; he believes that epic is a “representation in verse of superior subjects”. Therefore, complex parallel plots (and their interactions) are an important element of epic poetry as they can be used not only as obstacles and devices of tension, but for symbolism of a wider message. Overall, considering the presence of complexity in the very nature of an epic (with its obstacles to the stakes of the protagonist), it goes without saying that this is an important characteristic for epic stories. Although it may be argued by some, including Aristotle, that there are epics which have “simple” stories, there are wider elements of the story to look at, such as its narrative. Whilst the story of an epic may have but one complication, the addition of complexity to the narrative, whether through the rotation of perspectives or simultaneous running of plots, is important to “diversify” the story and thus engage the reader. In contrast, it seems that complexity of character is not essential to an epic, especially one that already has a compelling storyline. Although in some protagonists, such as the aforementioned Achilles, complexity in terms of conflicting traits or emotions becomes a driving force in the plot, there is evidence to suggest that this is not essential; the Aeneid and Argonautica remain perfectly functional epics without complicated protagonists, suggesting that character complexity is unimportant. However, it seems that this can generate criticism due to “weak characterisation”, suggesting that, without complex characters, an epic may become less engaging. Therefore, whilst complexity is arguably unimportant for protagonists of an epic, it seems that the characteristic should feature in at least some secondary characters (such as Medea in Argonautica), or even minor ones, in order to make the epic appeal to the audience, perhaps regarding their own complicated lives. Thus, whilst the characteristic of complexity is highly important for the story of an epic, it is not important so much as desirable for that of the epic’s characters. Megan Houston

BORLASE WRITING

CREATIVE WRITING At the start of Summer term, students in Years 7-9 were challenged to write stories and poems to the theme ‘A Bright Future’, focussing on what they were looking forward to once restrictions are lifted. Following is a selection of some of the best pieces they created. With the sand as bright as the future and the sea twinkling like stars, the heat of the afternoon air warms the leaves; the salt and froth gather in piles of snow. While the sun in the sky turning red, and the sky going too. With the sound of the waves crashing and the crunching of the sand, the taste of the sea like the Mediterranean and the air like the exhilarating feeling of stepping off of the plane. With the wind in the trees and the sand castles dotted like the seagulls eating the food left by the busy, uncaring tourists who had it before. Like the sand in your swimming costume or the stones in the sand. You think about a brighter future. Like the sun on your back or the sea on your toes, anything is different, everything is the same. You remember the time before and you reflect on what you did, sat and watched and learnt and read, and sat and watched and learnt and read.

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Sohan Bola (Year 7)

It often begins with the same anxious-excited feeling that sits at the bottom of my stomach. My family always meets at the same restaurant that we’ve visited so often that I can almost imagine everything in my mind. My Grandmother looks especially frail this year, yet her grip is unexpectedly strong. She seizes my wrist and walks me to the restaurant. She’s a strong woman and walks faster than all the others. Even though we’re not close, her incomprehensible compliments are a pleasure to hear. We’re greeted by a rush of warm air and waiters that are occupied with the many jobs they have to do. The restaurant’s busy, as usual, though it’s never been this empty. Everything seems so familiar: the ornate cutlery that’s still warm waiting for us at the table; the tendrils of smoke emerging from the burning-hot tea; the friendly faces of cousins, aunts and uncles. After being handed menus that I can barely read, I stare at the golden lettering that swirls around the page. Breathe in every individual fleck of oil stained on the thin paper. Trace the chip in my tea cup until it's as familiar as everything I’m surrounded by. Of course there’s the hushed chatter that’s constantly being heard in the background. The clink of glasses because there’s something to celebrate. The satisfaction of tucking into your favourite dishes. And the groans afterwards of a contented family that can no longer eat any more.

There’s something satisfying about wistfully dreaming about the future, imagining much simpler times. Maybe it’s because nobody knows what it holds. Ella Chong (Year 7) The thing we’ve been hating, It has gone away. Our anger and frustration, Diminished, I would say. My nostrils, No longer smelling my own breath. My mouth, No longer restrained behind polyester. My eyes feel the divine bliss, No longer searching behind material to recognise people. And my ears as others speak, No longer do they suffer a conversation. I enter stores, walk through buildings, Without remorse. For the hassle of covering my face, To protect others, Where hygiene is worse. But now we rejoice At the Government's choice, As we welcome a new era where masks are not a thing The masks we’ve been dreading, Devastating and irritating, Annoying and destroying, Frustrating and non-environmental. Thank Goodness they are gone! Adam Daowd (Year 7)

BORLASE WRITING I can imagine the paddle’s blade slicing through the silvery sheen of the water's surface. I can imagine the spray of droplets rippling into the lake. The trees that line the water’s edge reflected so clear it’s hard to tell the difference between reality and reflection. The way the sun creeps slowly over the hill illuminating the lake, as a swan glides majestically into the dappled water. Its silhouette pronounced on the flaming orange background of the sun. A dragonfly flits about under some bullrushes, the wings glassy and embroidered with patterns that seem oh-so delicate. His emerald body glints briefly in the light before he disappears into the morning. I move the kayak slowly through the reeds and see a nest with five clumsy little ducklings. Their golden down stands out against the greenness of the plants that encompass them from the world. I watch them waddle slowly to the shallows and push away from the safety of the bank. How innocent they look here, paddling slowly about in their space of the reeds. I push the boat backwards, and leave the ducklings to play in their hidden lagoon. A kingfisher hovers over the crystal water. With his dazzling blue and orange plumage a fish flurries in his long thin razor sharp beak. Specks of its own blood splattered on its once shimmering scales. I leave this regal bird to eat and paddle on. A crayfish crawls along in the shallows, moving effortlessly over minefields of gravel and empty mussel shells. A fish swims up to the boat, but only enough for me to catch a quick glance of its scarlet scales.

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Hamish Kennedy (Year 7)

It's been a while since something interesting happened to humans. I have watched for longer than time itself and witnessed all the sorrows and triumphs of humankind; it's all I have ever known, the tedious ticking of time, the withering of earth and its many rebirths. I have learnt to understand the creatures on earth and empathise with them, yet the humans are the ones yet to be understood, their hypocritical ways, their unquenching thirst for knowledge and their will to be oblivious. I don't know where the virus came from, I first heard about it in a home in Wuhan, I had been observing a family cook their dinner. It is always interesting to see how various techniques of cooking have evolved and been passed down through the time I have witnessed. The son of the family has heard of it at his school, it was dismissed as fake news, but I see now how dreadfully wrong they were. Now that I reflect on it, lots of people underestimated it, particularly those from abroad; they felt untouchable for a very long time. Unfortunately, this misconception had also leaked its way to the powers of those countries; once again the human race is misled by its leaders - I honestly find it rather amusing.

If you are wondering, yes, I did see people die, not just due to the virus but also due to terrorism and wars, nothing out of the ordinary. I never really feel sad when I see people die, it's only natural, like eating and sleeping. What does pain me though is watching the ones who loved the said deceased suffer. Their wails and cries of desperation, their tears and glistening eyes. I thought I would have been used to it by now, seeing as I have witnessed every birth and death since time began, but, no, I don't get used to it; I doubt I ever will. During the pinnacle of the virus I remember learning a great deal more about this race, I witnessed how they coped with sorrow, anger and despair. Despite this I also saw a growing community of acceptance bloom among them, a curse and a blessing. I can only hope that this race will understand its flaws and look towards a better, bright future. Of course I highly doubt that. But they have promise and a little hope - let us hope they last at least a few more millennia, they are such fun to observe. Lucia Lozano-Willener (Year 7)

BORLASE WRITING

My heart is made up of four regions, These regions are something I hold dear, Something of pure, loving comfort: A place where I have and am yet to live. You see, I’ve had two homes so far, They each hold a place in my heart, And yet a gap remains, Two more places still afar. Place one was where I was born, Israel, a place I love, The smell of the ficus fruit beneath my feet, I will forever hold dear in my heart. Place two is where I made my friends, England, what a beautiful country, The clouds like insulators keeping me warm inside, I will forever hold dear in my heart. For the future, I have a wish, That places three and four will be found, Then my heart will be complete And I will forever hold them dear in my heart.

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Sahar Feldberg (Year 7)

My head shoots up as I hear a deep shout from outside my door: it's the day of the race. Pulling on my Father Christmas costume and shovelling down my breakfast at the same time is tricky but I need to do it to get there on time. I jog up to the park with my dad and find the registration place. Once we’ve registered, we go to the starting place. The excitable and diverse mob all in identical scarlet and white costumes flood out of the gates around me, like a herd of Santa-costume-wearing ducks, and cheers resonate through the crowd. The sea of red barges through the rusted park gates and as the horde storms the street, I can hear a man near the back slip on the ice, frosty lips crying out; his partner rushes back to help him up, but accidentally steps on a small dachshund being dragged along by a determined elf. The dog runs away and crashes into a group of teenagers who domino-topple onto the people behind, and I share a chuckle with my dad. The hustling gang traverses the first corner. Someone's cheap felt Santa costume rips off behind them but they carry on the race in their t-shirt and boxer shorts. The biting cold presses against my skin and there is an offputting stale stench of sweat in the air. Christmas lights are twinkling in shop windows and an inflatable Minion rests happily in someone’s front yard. I sprint past the Prince of Wales to get round a slow pensioner. I stumble..! But luckily my dad steadies me.

I round the final corner, but my legs start to give up. I can see my mum cheering me on from the sideline. With only sheer grit and determination powering me on, I cross the finish line! I take my commemorative medal and Mars bar from a box and proudly eat it. My mum hands me a blue water bottle and I gulp down the entire contents in one go.

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Ethan Schrecker (Year 7)

You were in my dream last night, We were, Together again. Laughing and talking, How it used to be. Your tiny hands fitting into mine, Like a jigsaw not made to solve, For how could someone, So perfect, For me, Exist? Your height complements mine, It always has done. Your eyes are deep brown, They contain my life, And in mine I see yours. When the sun brushes your hair, It shines brilliant red. But years together still can’t make, Talking, To you, Boring. It makes me want to see, You, Even more. The yearning an ache, Deep inside of me. As with you, I am truly happy. But these walls confide me further, The inside is suffocating me. For without you, I’m not free yet.

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Bea Minter (Year 8)

The moment I realised that I was going to fall was when my foot slipped off the small hold. I cried out as my other leg lost its place, leaving me dangling in mid air, my sweaty hands clasping the ledge above. This was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have gone ahead. I started to swing my legs back and forth, attempting to build enough momentum so that I could get a better grip for my feet. My legs collided hard with the jagged rock face, jarring my

BORLASE WRITING whole body, making my hands slip even further towards the edge of the ledge. Squirming my feet, I finally was able to find a secure grip. With my legs in place, I was able to take away my hands for a split second, rocking forward and getting hold of the top part of the ledge. Problem averted. Now time for the hard part. I would have to put my hands on the very edge of the ledge if I were to climb any further. But most importantly, I would have to turn completely upside down. With my hands aching like hellfire. With my body stretched, I started to move my legs slowly up the ledge. After at least a minute, although it felt like an eternity, I had pulled myself so I was completely upside down. On a cliff face. 200 metres above sea level. My whole body about to shut down.. I tried to map out how I was going to make it up onto the ledge, without falling to my death. I decided that the only way was to swing back and forth, building up enough momentum to swing myself up over the ledge, and onto the top of it. Great thinking. Now it was time to execute it. I let my legs fall down below me, so that they were dangling over the vast abyss, my knuckles a deep shade of purple, barely holding on. In desperation, I pressed against the rock and then pushed off, nearly letting my fingers slide off the rock face. Clinging on for dear life, I steadily gained more and more momentum to the point where I could almost swing myself up and over the ledge. I was going to make it. It was OK! I swung upwards one more time before letting go, flying over the front of the ledge and landing just on top of it. I had done it! Leon Bergmans (Year 8)

I miss the feeling of soft, golden sand between my toes and the gentle breeze that lightly touches my skin. I miss the enjoyment of eating cold, sweet ice cream under the scorching hot sun while listening to the calming waves brush through the sand. I miss the sound of splashing water, As I swim through the deep, icy-cold water, Watching tiny, colourful fish swim around a mesmerising Coral reef.

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Ishana Sivakumar (Year 8)

Going on holiday, away from cold, wet England, is the best time of the year. When you are in a hot, lush country or island, all troubles pass. The cool breeze hitting your face when you’re in the deep, blue sea, is the best feeling ever. Fish swim by your feet. The view is amazing; a vast, open area of happiness, with water the colour of blueberries, and the yellow, vibrant sun setting on the horizon. The smell of salt beneath your noise is undeniably beautiful. Never can all of your thoughts be this lost without seeing boats steering across the ocean; all is so calm, tranquil, beautiful. That feeling when the sun streams across your skin, heating your body, filling you with energy and happiness. That feeling of the oily ream rubbing against your skin, just before you dive head first into the cool, cyan water of the pool, and that moment, for just a second, when time freezes, and sound has gone, when you float inside the water, just before you reach the surface, once again feeling the sun re-united with your skin. There is no better feeling than your troubles gone from your life. Going on holiday, away from cold, wet England, is the best time of the year.

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Jake Britton (Year 8)

What I’m looking forward to is the hot sun on my face, No mask in sight, And a gentle breeze patting my face, What a bright future that would be, Crowds of people waiting to get into fun adventures, Ques for the ice cream truck going down the lane, Friends getting together in the park, What a bright future that would be, People being at sports matches, No more virtual school, Seeing people in coffee shops in the morning, What a bright future that would be, Flying to different countries for a holiday, Being on a plane again, Being with your grandparents, What a bright future that would be. Joshua Longley (Year 8)

BORLASE WRITING

I see oceans blue and jungles green I see stars bright and palm trees tall I see flowers bloom and nights full I see freedom and freedom calls I see friends reunited and friendships reformed I see hearts unbroken and bonds warmed I see people happy and people golden I see freedom and freedom calls I see masks discarded and smiles radiant I see people hugging and people ecstatic I see lockdown lifted and families together I see freedom and freedom calls I see the world heal slowly I see normality again I see freedom and freedom calls

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Emily Grainger (Year 8)

The soft velvety carpet underneath my shoes, the smell of salty popcorn wafting up my nose and the laughs of the people around me waiting to go in. I stood waiting while my mum bought the popcorn looking around at the bright happy sight around me. Kids running around, people laughing and out with their friends everything seemed so normal. My mum handed me the box of popcorn. The warmth seeped out onto my hands as I picked a piece up and placed it into my mouth. The salty, buttery taste hit me immediately. I crushed it between my tongue and the

roof of my mouth. I looked down at my already greasy fingers and laughed. The buzz of excitement was almost overwhelming and my cheeks glowed pink. We gave in our ticket to the man standing there and he nodded and smiled at us. For the first time I could see the whites of his teeth, I could read the words on his cap and I could read the nametag on his t-shirt. We walked past and I took everything in. The red carpet, the walls covered in posters; not for covid, but for the new movies. The silence in the corridor was so loud. I walked close to a doorway and could hear the music and the screams inside, I went to another and heard laughing and cheering. We cross the hall and open the heavy black doors. No hand sanitiser afterwards, No using my sleeve, no going in backwards, we did it normally. We walked into the room seeing the adverts on the screen. My ears started pounding because of the volume. I ambled up the lighted steps and smelt salty popcorn and chocolate as I walked past the other people. It took three attempts to find a seat that didn’t try to dump me on the floor. I finally sat down on a padded seat and the loose strings tickled my arms as I settled in. I aimed my drink toward the plastic holder, but it banged against the sides–too big. I put my popcorn in between my legs and tore open a bag of Skittles. I looked up at the bright screen playing the adverts and the audio blaring out of the speakers. I felt the cool air on my face and then some people stepping on my toes to get past. A baby cried somewhere down front. The trailers finished and I turned off my phone and sat deeply in my chair. The lights slowly dimmed and I looked across to see the shadows of my family staring eagerly at the screen. I could hear the rustling of the packets of sweets in front of me but the sound was drowned out as the movie began...

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Lyra Shaffrey (Year 8)

The radiant sun sliced through the soothing breeze. Tranquility. The untouched trees were dormant. Ripples of the water were futile. Fresh smooth air filled my lungs. The only sound was the rustling of leaves and my own breath. Feeling the silence I could only think of peace. The mellow water protected me. The canopy concealed me. The breeze suppressed me. The crescent moon awoke me. Beaming. Shining stars exposed overlapping the ebony sky. My fire pit ejected smoke. Closing my eyes to the songs of owls. My feet were warmed by the sand. The splashing of water and the chattering of people. The pathetic waves rumbled onto the shore. The seagulls circled the food. The water was cold, refreshing. It soothed my thoughts and silenced my worries. The waves kept me conscious. Relaxation overcame me. This feeling of calm never came. I could stay here for ever. Tom Gear (Year 9)

BORLASE WRITING The soft silence filled the crevices of the mountains that slept before me With only the birds breaking the pure white canvas of snow Pillows of fresh powder rested under the fresh morning sun The hills waited as a blank page longing for skis to be the pen tip The snowflakes frolocking in the light A choreographed dance conducted by the gentle wind Snow clouds sail above in a wind charged buoyant sea Beneath the cherry glow sunrise the treetops sat like pretty frosted tips on a cake A cold blow tickled the side of my blushed cheeks The sunlight illuminated the mountainous scene The comforting sound of my skis Swishing through the bumps of fresh snow The bitter cold is softened by the peachy hues of the rising sun Reaching over the mountaintops And even though you couldn't feel your fingers It was the type of cold that brings joy The sort happy-emotion infused memories are made of

warmth and reassurance of summer when stepped on barefoot with sand and dust coating either side of your toes. The path was lined with shrubbery, stood dried pale grass clustering the edges of palm trees, swaying among the shimmering heat haze and pathways linking the cliffside indents the further away from the beach you walk. Gentle breezes sweep the air, allowing some relief from the mesmerising heat of the day, Among certain walls of rock, the sandy surface is speckled with fossils, and looking from afar the face of the sandstone rock is lined in an ombre of colours the pale upmost front in a pale ivory, with petite pools of sand cascading down the edge like a placid stream. Further down the wall of sandstone the colour deepens into a deep orange, stained from occasional humid rain. The further your approach these walls the indents of fossilized swirls and prehistoric creatures, most frequently the pleasant surprise of spotting an ammonite, buried deep into the compressed grains of sand. And to look back upon the water would leave you mesmerized, enraptured by the perfection and purity of untainted aqua marine depths reaching in a neverending grasp of unknown oceanic mystery, brimming with life.

Mollie Starkey (Year 9)

Zara Yates (Year 9)

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I started gingerly at the indicolite water, the pale milky shade of the ruffled foam being mowed into the shore. Silky sands scraped against the clear iridescent pools of liquid, small segments of emerald seaweed, kelp and the mismatched tartans of coral swept back and forth, lifting up the shards of flesh coloured shells, pooling around the depths of a deep black shaded rock. Crustaceans lined this rock, limping on, as mosses clothed them like a towel, providing a small blanket against the gentle force of the waters. The smooth sounding flows of the water crashed against the beach. And if you were to focus on the plain serenity of the moment, you would hear cries of sea birds, searching for food under the heat beaming rays of the sun beating down on the landscape, and drying littered jellyfish, behind the carcases of small children’s sand castles, with the essence of nature righteous and pure in the most form, with a perfect sunset so mesmerising it could speak sonnets of the birds of paradise and pure passionate love. however this was not the case. The shore was packed with swarms of people, laughing and playing, swarming every visible area upon the heated sands and shells, like packs of walruses, scorching packs of sausages and food over a makeshift barbeque. The rustled screams of children snorkeling in the shallows, as they grabbed each other and fought, merged with that of seagulls scavenging for food. Among areas less congested and further from the beach shore where human ants clustered. By the sloping hills, lines with sanded dirt and heated cobbles, that produce the most comforting

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The sweet scent of honeysuckle litters the air in which I want to breathe. The air so calmingly warm and soothingly familiar. The air damp with humidity and full of noise of a thousand cicadas, meditating to the dwindling of the Mediterranean sun. The only other noise being the knocking of loose paving stones under feet. Rapidly emptying beaches are cleansed by rolling tides of salty water. The salty water that stabs at your eyes trying to break in. The water that lets you sink in softer than any mattress, but still reminds you to breathe when you sink too deep. Or so until, you wash upon the sand once again uncomfortable with grit in all the places you least want it. As darkness prepares to take its shift, an eruption of laughter and music and clattering of plates interrupt mother nature's evening peace and tranquillity. A blazing fire of passion breaks out along the narrow streets, spreading through chiringuito after chiringuito fueling the flame upon which heavily salted sardines roast, scorching the bricks behind them. Less than a few hundred metres further along the widening paths with placid sandy beaches on the left and a plethora of ice-cream Parlours on the right is where the best of these ice cream parlours can be found. From the bitterness of coffee to the sweet, warming cinnamon flavour of a leche merengada ice cream. Winding paths lead in the direction of home, or rather home from home Alex Ley (Year 9)

BORLASE WRITING

The cherry-red sun rolled across the dusky-blue horizon, The golden rays illuminating the silver sand. Its warm, golden arms swirled around me, Its hot breath encasing me like a warm hug. The warm orange light danced across the royal blue waves Which creased the water as they folded onto the pale land. The oceans salty breath flowed into my lungs, My mouth and nose free from stuffy masks. I felt the warm sand slip through my toes, Engulfing them with its warm grainy fingers. The sand spread for miles like a blanket of happiness, Glowing golden under the orange light. The sky swirled reds and yellows Which folded into blues and purples, Lighting up the sky like a midnight rainbow As the sun rested its drowsy eyes.

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Myla Collins (Year 9)

Being on a plane, flying, leaving everything you're supposed to think about behind, even if it is only for a few hours. It’s magical. The wings slice through the clouds as you fly further and further away from the earth, until you finally break out and the clouds are left swirling beneath you. That's what I want to go back to, that sense of freedom, an escape from the grasp of earth.

As the plane begins to roll off the ground, there is truly only silence. Beneath your feet you can feel the rumble of the engines, the tap of people’s shoes against the carpeted floor, the rattle of something, the movement of someone. But in your mind, there is only pure silence, isolation, and freedom. The wheels brush against the concrete for the last time, and you’re in the air. It’s amazing, that sensation, the one you only get when you’re flying. When the escape from the earth's surface is confirmed, and a lightness falls over the plane, like it's a bird, finally flying free from its cage. That bird, it soars, and reaches out towards the sun. It reaches towards the clouds, and the world beyond. As it rises, you're pushed slowly back into your seat, as if somebody were pulling you back to earth. And then you escape that pull, the clouds part around you, into a flurry of warm yellows and bright whites, and you’re finally above it all. Once you're up there, the clouds fall into place beneath you, the glaring sun rolls off the soft edge of each cloud, everything seems like perfection. There is an ethereal presence in the sky, the sun begins to warm as it reaches its last light. The plane is bathed in warm gold and peachy hues, and delicate wisps of light dance in through the windows. The clouds stand still beneath you, only disrupted by the gusts of winds welcomed by the nearing night. Atop the clouds, there is freedom, liberation, tranquility, soon enough you forget the plane is even there. You forget about the departure, when you’ll land, your destination. It is only you, you and freedom, you and your mind. As the sun is setting, diminished to a slither hiding behind the clouds, the stars begin to ignite the sky, the moon begins to emerge. And that is all you are left with, a cold celestial glow, melting away the warmth of the sun. You are there, above it all, free. That’s what I miss, I want to be free again.

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Elsa Jago (Year 9)

The stars glow brightly, far away. The wind blows softly, like a gentle hug: I do not notice. I stare intently into the eye of my telescope, the stars are closer here. So are the planets. And galaxies. I see Jupiter and the Galilean moons, Saturn’s rings illuminated in the darkness surrounding. The moon is there too, I can see its craters, but here I do not stop. I go further. The Andromeda galaxy, soon to collide with our own Milky Way. Strange. The expansion of the universe is said to be exponentially fast, yet I cannot see anything moving. Stationary to my eye, and so close together, yet in reality they are millions of light years apart. I guess that’s just the way the universe works. Perception instead of reality. I almost hear its laugh, mocking humanity, in our circle of ignorance. But this thought is not accompanied

BORLASE WRITING by a melancholic sense, for infinite is the nature of the universe. I smile. I know that it is infinite, but also that it is not eternal. It too will one day be gone; like me. Infinite washed away, like the water of the ocean aiding a pebble in its final disappearing act. Returned to another infinite, which too will someday be gone. And what is beyond the last infinity? That is a question to which I possess no answers. Maybe the stars know. I look away for a moment to see the ocean. Many times has it been used to describe the world, life, a journey, space. What it lacks in its inability to partake in what humans define as language, it gains in its relatability. This is probably due to the range of forms that it can take and its array of varying parts. It can be turbulent on the surface, but tranquil a few metres beneath, for a moment. And then it switches. A whole world flipped. The ocean also has waves. They are controlled by the moon. Something strange controlling something relatable. Maybe that means that nothing is really strange at all. Or that everything is. I guess it's all about perception too. The sand is also there. It shifts and changes at the slightest of movements. A few metres forward, it has been touched by the ocean. Here its colour darkens, and it becomes more firm, yet still impressionable. I walk forward, my foot prints now embedded into it. It looks like they’ll be there forever. But they won’t. Impressionability goes both ways. I take a step back, and the water comes forward. My foot prints are gone. Grains of sand are seemingly infinite, but not eternal. Nothing is. I stare at the sea and the sand and the stars, while infinity passes by. To the non-existence of eternity, I think. Infinity has passed. The stars reflect in the waters of the sea. A pebble breaks the surface. Images of infinity broken by ripples. Disjointed like a dream.

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Lyr Feldberg (Year 9)

I speak for freedom For equality For an end to the darkness And for a beginning to the light.

I speak for the people Whose lives are tarnished by cruelty Blemished with injustice Whose lives could be dragged from their bodies With a look or an action. I speak for fairness For a change For a system where someone’s prejudice Can’t destroy a life With one word, One pull of a trigger. I speak for those who can’t,

Who are afraid to speak, Whose mouths are glued shut By a glue made years ago, Whose throats are clogged By a rock thrown by others And never taken out. I speak for the future For a changing world For the generations to come For the generations here now Who have the power To end the injustice And create a brighter future From compassion and understanding. I speak for freedom For equality For an end to the darkness And for a beginning to the light.

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Odette Foley (Year 9)

The rustic doors opened and a shiver ran down my spine as I stepped into the theatre’s vast inside space. The seats were soft to the touch and my fingertips stroked the fuzzy velvet. I could feel the excitement in the atmosphere. Families gathered to watch the performance and an undertone of murmuring could be heard all around me. The golden framework made me feel happy, it’s shimmering effect reflected in my fascinated eyes. The rustling of popcorn bags filled the room; it smelt sweet. I could see the whole stage from where I was sitting. The grand curtains draped down from the ceiling making the theatre a sunset red. The lights darkened and the room fell silent. The hairs on my arm stood up like soldiers: I felt alive in the moment, the feeling of anticipation ran through my veins. A small girl walked on stage: the performance had started, the moment I had waited for. I lay back in my chair and fell deep into the production’s story, as if I, myself was part of it. The unique sound of the girl’s voice captivated me, I tensed my hands as she hit the high note perfectly. She was petite and fragile yet her voice was strong and powerful, hypnotising me as I stared deep into her ocean blue eyes. A wave of exhilaration coursed through my body as the words she sang connected deep within me, I felt a burst of happiness spread from the tip of my head to the bottom of my feet rippling, the feeling of pure joy to be watching such a meaningful performance. I had waited so many months to feel like this again, I felt included in the story. The background noises of children whispering and chuckling made my heart smile. The same feeling a parent gets when they see their child walk for the first

BORLASE WRITING time or say their first word. I had missed the aromatic smell of the theatre: the sweetness of popcorn and the dusty scent of the well worn down and used chairs. The bright lights shining down to the people on stage, a spot light on the main character. Lizzie Thornton (Year 9)

The classroom was empty but for two people as the winter sun dipped low in the sky, sending shafts of golden light through the open window, letting a nonexistent breeze brush the stained and damaged desks. The shutters sent shadows across the faces of those two people who stood there, one sitting, one standing, a little back, as if in respect for the figure they faced. The girl faced her teacher, her small brow furrowed in confusion, her hands clutching three loose sheets of paper, decorated in a messy scrawl, so tightly the papers bent, almost in two, as words came out of the teachers mouth of nonsensical praise, because, to the girl, this had just been an ordinary task, an easy one, not one that she’d expected, or wanted, high praise for.

But then something was said that eased the frown on her young face, and as she tucked a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear, her other hand twitching, she admitted something. Something no one else knew. “Sometimes I think like I’m in a book… like instead of just walking around I’ll think it like ‘She walked around the empty playground, the wind blowing…” the girl trailed off, flushing a deep red in embarrassment. But the teacher only nodded, a barely contained smile spreading as they replied, “That’s your writer's voice. Never let anyone drown out your writer's voice.” An earnest smile spread across their face. The girl smiled sheepishly, taking in the words. She wouldn’t remember the winter sun, or frown that had graced her brow. She wouldn’t remember how her uniform hadn’t fit properly, or how on that day she’d not understood a word of the Maths lesson. She wouldn’t remember walking out of the school, or riding home on her scooter next to her Mother. But she would remember the words. Never let anyone drown out your writer's voice. Ella Jenkins (Year 9)

SOCIETIES

CLUBS & SOCIETIES AT BORLASE

The wide range of student-led academic societies, clubs and groups is a significant feature of Borlase life. From PolSoc to MedSoc, LGBTQ+ Soc to the improbablynamed Pete’s Bar and Grill, these societies, clubs and activities are run by students eager to share their knowledge, experience and passion with their peers.

BIOSOC

Biology helps you gain an in-depth understanding of all living things around us on our planet, and this is one of the reasons why we feel so passionate about the subject. During lockdown, we looked at whether stem cells could be used to cure diabetes in the future; the importance of biodiversity, and how it maintains a healthy climate for generations to come; and the range of Covid vaccines and how they work. Since we have been back at school we have explored if gene therapy could be the future of medicine, whether the benefits of cold water swimming outweigh the associated risks, and what bioterrorism is, and how it has been used in the past. Emily Gillespie, Fleur Nicholls & Amarita Chahal.

BIOCHEMSOC

ARCHITECTURE SOCIETY

Architecture Society launched in September 2020 not only for aspiring architects, but for everyone who is curious about our built environment. We look at how architecture extends beyond the design and construction of buildings, considering, for example, how architecture can heal, the mathematics of paradoxical architecture, the influence of women in architecture and much more. In March we hosted a Q&A with a chartered architect, Adrian Burton, who provided clear advice for future architecture students as well as speaking passionately about the effect architecture has on the occupants of a building, contrasting the atmospheres created by both the British and the Scotish parliament establishments. Chris Wheeler & Hettie Cook

ASTROSOC

Since taking over AstroSoc we have tackled topics on the history and engineering of rockets such as the Sea Dragon, the biggest rocket ever designed but unfortunately cancelled, as well as the biggest rocket currently in development, SpaceX’s Starship, and its testing in Texas. We watched the landing of the Perseverance Mars Rover, just hours after NASA received the data back from Mars and have followed its progress since, including the deployment and flight of the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. And we still tackle the classic questions, such as ‘Where are the aliens?’ We look forward to continuing the society in the exciting period we are currently living through, with China beginning the construction of its first space station and soon attempting to land its first rover on Mars, and SpaceX continuing to build the largest satellite constellation ever (Starlink). Ross Lamont, Millie Medlock & Ben Cunningham-Walker

Biochemistry is an exciting branch of science that is constantly evolving and providing new opportunities for medical research, scientific processes and our understanding of how the world works at a molecular level. Starting up a new society virtually was a little bit of a challenge, however it allowed a wide range of year groups to join in and learn about topics such as poisons, enzymes, genetic engineering and more. As it is not a taught subject on the curriculum, we all knew very little about this unique branch of science, so we all appreciated being able to do our own research into topics we found interesting and then being able to share our newfound knowledge with others. Danny Lewis, Rheya Dharwar, Olivia Hall & Emily Yoxall

CHEMSOC

We explored the periodic table quite a bit this year! Firstly, we talked about where elements came from: the only elements formed as a result of the ‘big bang’ are hydrogen and helium; so where did the other 114 come from?! We then got into some chemistry-oriented space science, talking about how elements were manufactured by large and small stars, dying stars, supernovas and even cosmic rays. Having established the origins of the elements on the periodic table, we thought we’d get into some historic disasters, such as arsenic poisionings in the 19th century, which were so frequent, it was difficult to tell which was an accident and which was murder!

CRIMESOC

During lockdown we were able to share our passion for criminology and explore a variety of topics from the psychology of a serial killer to debates over whether prostitution is a victimless crime. We also discussed current criminology-related issues such as the UK Prison Crisis and the detrimental effects the Covid pandemic has had on the prison system. Poppy Murray, Yasmin Aspinall & Chloe Catt

SOCIETIES

ENGSOC

During lockdown, we explored the aviation industry, covering the principles of flight, the future of drones, and even fighter pilot helmets! We also investigated engineering in the medical field with medical robots, as well as exploring the engineering marvels that are skyscrapers. We have also hosted talks by Old Borlasian engineers. In April we welcomed Ben Ford, an undergraduate student at the Dyson Institute, who explained their degree apprenticeship programme and the benefits of pursuing an alternative route in higher education, and in May we welcomed Imre Gerrits to talk about his experiences of studying at Nottingham University. Richard Koteles, Will Tucker & Vijay Patel

KS3 PSYCHOLOGY CLUB

Every week, we choose one or two topics to discuss in detail, ranging from our personality, to psychological disorders, to memory. We look forward to having more fun through quizzes, experiments and discussions. Jessica Varghese

KS3 SCIENCE CLUB

We provide a space for the younger students to be able to express their ideas and interest in science. During lockdown we conducted virtual experiments, together with informative presentations and fun interactive quizzes. Thankfully, we are able to return to live experiments and discussions in April. Freddie Till & Danny Lewis

KS4 SCIENCE CLUB

In spite of lockdown and Covid restrictions, we have still been able to do a range of experiments including making sparklers and Elephant’s Toothpaste and online practical activities such as making instant ice, performing neutralisation reactions. Maria Kharatishvili & Joseph Martin

MEDSOC

This year we have had talks from current Medicine students such as Charlie Brockwell at Oxford, who informed us of the pathways and careers in the field of medicine. We have done multiple presentations to further our knowledge of the medicinal practise by evaluating the four pillars of medical ethics. In addition, we have learnt about the UKAT and BMAT exams so that we aspiring medicine students are in the best position possible. Charlotte Dudley

P(exτeiπ∫ β∝ℝ ∩ Gr2i⌊⌋) (PBΔG) At Pete’s Bar and Grill (not an actual bar or grill) we look at all things mathematical, from complex unsolved problems like the Riemann hypothesis to fun questions like, what’s the longest possible chess game? During lockdown we discussed mathematical greats like Pythagoras and Pascal (although a surname beginning with P is not compulsory) and our female leaders gave a presentation on pioneering women in mathematics to celebrate International Women’s Day. Of course, we couldn’t let the 14th of March (Pi day) pass without dedicating a presentation to the great 3.14, including listening to pi played on the piano! In May we hosted a guest speaker, Dr James Munro, the Maths Admissions and Outreach Coordinator for the University of Oxford, and the person responsible for running the famous MAT (Maths Admissions Test) that confronts applicants each year wishing to study maths at Oxford and Cambridge. Anthony Adamson, Eilidh Duncan, Mani Ipchi and Kitty Powell

PHYSIOTHERAPYSOC

Since we established the society to enrich our knowledge of physiotherapy and share it with anyone interested in pursuing physio or just interested in general, we have discussed topics such as geriatric physiotherapy, neurological and sport physiotherapy and different pathways into physiotherapy, as well as our own experiences and why we are passionate about it. Jack Donoghue, Amy Furlonger, Christian Millington and Louise Warwicker

PHYSOC

Presentations are on any physics you can imagine: Marie Curie (and the tragic death of her husband Pierre), Dyson (not the cleaner) spheres, and even a snow-themed week (bring your own snowman.) The big quiz week also revealed that one of us has Schrodinger's cat merch and that Steven Hawking applied for One Direction in 2015 to make up for the loss of Zayn, not to mention that

SOCIETIES Jesus’ feet would have to be 2m by 1m in order to walk on water. We also had PhySoc Alumna, Stevie Cooper, give a guest presentation and some thoughtful insights on studying physics at university.

HELM

ANIME SOCIETY

We have been debating our favourite characters, as well as our favourite ‘problematic’ characters, along with the manga vs anime debate, and discussions of specific shows and fandoms. We are hoping to expand to make our own Weeb Nation. Jack Donoghue

CLASSICS SOCIETY

VETSOC

As the only society with guaranteed cats and dogs, we share our passion for animals and science with those who may want to do veterinary at university or simply have an interest in animals. During lockdown we looked at annual zoo weigh-ins, transgenic animals, bovine TB and much more

During lockdown, we had the opportunity to share the society with pupils from different year groups, many of whom had a keen interest in classical mythology. In addition to mythology, we have covered exciting topics ranging from sexuality, to epic poetry, to Greek theatre. We particularly enjoyed an in-depth exploration of Ovid and his (very) controversial Love Poems, and we love that Classics allows us to delve into other subjects like literature, philosophy, and archaeology. Megan Houston, Yana Feys & Charlotte Reay

Jennifer Neal & Emily Stephens

NURSE SOC

In our discussions about all things to do with allied healthcare roles, including nursing and midwifery, we have explored a variety of topics including the 6 C’s of nursing and the links between vaccination and autism in babies. We have also had an external speaker to explain the application process and give top tips about nursing. Ella Dyson

GEOGRAPHY SOCIETY

Our first presentation was about the recent Croatian earthquake, which was incredibly impactful on both the environment and the economy. From here we found it very easy to find current geographical events to talk about, including the latest eruption of the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland. We have also spoken about the Covid crisis and its effects on the UK’s plans for the environment, as well as Biden’s election and ideas for tackling climate change. Olivia Lawes, Caitlin Tinnelly, Mali Knibbs and Sophie Triptree

DEBATE SOCIETY (KS3)

Some of the most interesting debates we have had this year include: 'Should footballers be paid such high wages?', 'Is it right to give young children electronic devices?', and 'Should there be a school uniform?'. We are always really impressed by the perspectives and ideas that the students bring forward, and this helps everyone to strengthen their skills for the future! Elsa Horne & Andrew Walker

DEBATE SOCIETY (KS5)

We have explored many interesting topics this year, such as the effects of sleep deprivation on the mind and the psychological effects of solitary confinement.

Since the beginning of 2021, we have discussed a wide range of moral, political and philosophical questions, such as ‘Is torture justified for national security?’, ‘Should prisoners and ex-felons be allowed to vote?’, and ‘Is it immoral to be a billionaire?’ resulting in much lively and insightful debate.

Troy Huyzer & Theo Stevenson-Bunney

Poppy McLean-Inglis, Joe Parkinson & Josh Kaushal

PSYCHOLOGY SOC

SOCIETIES

DIVERSITY SOCIETY

Our mission is to discuss prevalent issues in society today regarding race, religion and sexuality, to raise awareness within the Borlase community. This year, we have discussed a wide range of different topics ranging from white privilege, to Islamophobia, to the depiction of women of colour in the media. Jessica Varghese, Meriem Katlan & Saba Mahmood

Since being back in person we have covered The Aztecs, The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and even introduced a game of ‘History Versus’ in which societygoers vote for which historical figure would beat the other in combat during themed rounds. For the rest of the year we intend to focus more on history originating in Africa and Asia, to explore events and people that we wouldn’t normally hear about in school. India Hancox, Lara Hancox & Clara Mathieson-Spires

ECONOMICS SOCIETY

This year has seen many interesting debates and presentations on topics such as: how cryptocurrencies work, which monetary policies the government should use, and how Covid 19 has affected the economy. Govind Basra, William Lawrence, Rishi Pardeshi and Matthew Shaw

FEMINIST SOCIETY

Our aim is to offer a safe environment for women and the sixth form as a whole to share ideas and opinions, as well as their own experiences, and hopefully create positive change in the process. We have discussed a wide range of topics this year, including: sexual assault and harassment, male supremacy, the female anatomy, incels, and the affects of pornography on our generation - with upwards of 70 people coming along each week! Cordelia Cullen, Chrissie Hutchings & Poppy Morgan

FILMSOC

We want to provoke discussion about films as an art form, as well as a means of highlighting philosophical and societal issues. This year we have covered films such as 'Prisoners' which sparked much discussion about the morality of vigilantism and what justice means; we analysed 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and debated its message about romantic relationships; and we have celebrated some of the best female directors of the past century and studied the techniques of master filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick. Charles Betz & Max Rahimian.

HISTORY SOCIETY

During lockdown we investigated a wide range of events including: the City of Troy, The Golden Age of Piracy, Tutankhamun, Emperor Nero, The Georgians and The Uses of Animals in Warfare. We made great use of google meet’s ‘hands up’ button to encourage discussion, and we were especially lucky during this period to have Year 10 & 11 pupils join in and discuss their views, which normally would not have happened.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SOCIETY

This year we have looked at many different diplomatic incidents and geopolitical quagmires, as well as foreign elections. For example, we've looked at the recent elections in Israel, and the relations that Israel will have with its neighbours alongside the new Biden presidency; we've also looked at the South China Sea, specifically the Spratly Islands, and the PRC's ambitions in the area; and we have also looked at vaccine rollout. We've kept a politically diverse group throughout the year, with members from all four political quadrants, which really enhanced our debates. Will Lawrence & Eddie Handley

LANGUAGES SOCIETY

This term we have visited many interesting languages and cultures from all over the world, providing a range of fascinating ideas to talk about, from sign language, to origins and gender in language, to a focus on specific areas of the world like the Basque Country and Switzerland. In the coming months, we hope to shed light on some more of the many intriguing languages, customs and traditions from all over the world, and also focus on some of the more technical aspects of languages. Cameron Clarke

LAW SOCIETY

This year, we have covered an extensive list of topics, each revolving around either a specific law, or case, such as the ‘gay panic’ defence, or the logistics of self-defence. Even during lockdown, everyone’s enthusiasm to learn more about the legal system that shapes so much of our society has been incredible. With many potential lawyers in our midst, we are very proud of our attendants’ ability to debate, evaluate, and make a ruling on cases. If there's one thing you should take away from our society, it’s how to get away with murder! Charlotte Reay, Annabel Caws & Elsa Horne

SOCIETIES

LGBTQ+ SOCIETY

Sophie’s decision to set up the society has opened amazing doors to creating a safe space for the lgbtq+ community at Borlase. Our online meetings during lockdown allowed a wide range of queer pupils and allies throughout the school to tune in and share their opinions on topics important to lgbtq+ people today. We began our first meeting by discussing the heternormative nature of society. In the months since then, we have covered historical events, such as: Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners; queer historical figures and Ball Culture and its impact today. We’ve also had many discussion-based presentations, including accurate representation in Film and TV, the fetishisation of queer people, the erasure of asexual and non-binary identities today, and coming out. In recent weeks we have begun to shift our focus to mistreatment here in the UK, with presentations on biphobia and transphobia, which have opened up conversations about how we can be better within the community itself in supporting those who are most outspoken. And we are grateful to Haleema for presenting on several occasions. We end our presentations with a slide of recommendations for that week, so that we can continue furthering queer education for all. India Hancox, Sophie Le-Duc, Clara Mathieson-Spires, Meriem Katlan, Poppy Mclean-Inglis & Emily Kirby

everything was made of water or air, and thought about whether everything constantly changes or can never change (yes, both sides can be argued!), and now we’re moving on to the ideas of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle which continue to underpin many principles of modern society today. Rishi Pardeshi & Max Baker

POLSOC

PolSoc gives everyone the opportunity to debate, discuss, and learn about current affairs and more longrunning political themes, and there has certainly not been a dull week this year as we have tried to keep up with the ever-changing covid restrictions, the final Brexit deal, and America's 2020 election - including the Capitol insurrection. Some of the year’s best discussions have been about 'Indyref2' and the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. We have also introduced a 'Politician of the Week', where we vote for the most impressive or inspirational politician; recipients so far include Joe Biden for his first 100 days in office, Jess Phillips for her speech to Parliament against sexual violence, and Nadhim Zahawi, Minister for Vaccine Distribution. Donald Trump has never been nominated! We also arranged, in conjunction with the Year 12 Politics class, to have local candidates in the council elections discuss their policies in assemblies for KS4 and KS5. Elsa Horne, Poppy McLean-Inglis, Joe Freeman & Rishi Pardeshi

PHILSOC

If you like asking deep questions, big thoughts, and bad puns, this is the society for you! From meta ethics and free will, to utilitarianism and absolutism, we discussed A LOT of stuff during lockdown: Do we have free will? Can you choose to do anything or is it the chain reaction of the previous events of your life. Are there moral laws? Can certain moral principles be justified on rational grounds (e.g. not to kill because if everyone did, there’d be no one left)? What is justice and should a state attempt to provide it? How big should a government be? In April we embarked on a journey through time. Starting with the pre-Socratic philosophers, we’ve been looking at the evolution of ideas over time. We asked whether

THEATRE SOCIETY

As theatre fanatics we wanted to create a place where students can discuss the world of plays and musicals with like minded individuals. Every week we evaluate and explore a performance we have all watched, as well as discussing bigger issues in the Theatre industry, such as the effect of Covid. The society has not only been a pleasure to run, but a delight to witness, with enthusiasts conveying their thoughts and love for the world of theatre. Emma Hickman, Maisie Stalham & Elizabeth Rackstraw

HELM

(Humanities, English, Literacy, Modern Foreign Languages)

HELM

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS AT BORLASE

Government and Politics continues to fascinate. Whilst this past year has denied students the opportunity to visit the usual Westminster or Washington, political events, particularly pandemic politics, a post Brexit UK and the US presidential election, have more than sustained momentum. Of the recently departed Year 13, more than 50% plan to pursue Politics/related degree courses at university and incoming Year 12 students in September will make up two classes for the first time in two years. Year 11 have seen assemblies delivered by politics students and joined by local election candidates, as well as explaining the dramatic developments in the US - a century high voting turnout and an outgoing president refusing to leave the White House! Whilst Politics has been more classroom based or remotely delivered, reflecting the House of Commons, the debate and dialogue quality have more than compensated. 2020-21 has been the period to try to make sense of unprecedented times; authoritarian governance (by a libertarian PM) not experienced for a generation, with young people’s lifestyles drastically curtailed. The jury is out on the immediate future; how did the Johnson government perform? Is the real star the Chancellor or the Health Secretary? The Education Secretary??? Going forward, there is an abundance to debate. The conversation continues to be captured in the weekly PolSoc and International Relations Soc meetings, and in print, courtesy of Aidan and Max’s monthly politics newsletter. The next academic year continues with an established teaching team, Mr Simpson - US specialist and Miss Picton - UK government specialist; my thanks to both of them for their continued dedication to the subject. Hopefully, trips and visiting speakers will return to Borlase politics. Mrs F Pryor, Head of Politics

HISTORY AT BORLASE

In a much disrupted year, it is hard to provide a full report into the goings on of the History Department. That said, we still have a few highlights to write of. First, we very much enjoyed taking our fabulous Year 13 students through their second year of A Level History. Indeed, they were the first cohort to go through our new A Level course, which features the Tudors, Revolutionary and Stalinist Russia, and Race Relations in the USA. We are exceptionally proud of them too, for their A Level has arguably been hit the hardest, as a very sizable chunk of the course had to be delivered online. Nonetheless, they were still able to get through 75% of the course content for our two examined units, plus they completed the NEA. That is some achievement and it is of course because of their sheer determination to pull through. Our congratulations must also go to Olly Gale, who has

been offered a place to read History at Oxford University, and to Jess Cattanach, for receiving the J C Davies Prize for History. We also have several others that have chosen to study History, or something closely related, at university and we wish them all the very best. As for Year 11, they too have endured a disrupted course like no other; but they too kept going and were able to complete the majority of the course. Again, this is in no small part due to their resilience and drive. In short, we could not be prouder of both of these year groups and we are looking forward to carefully guiding our other exam classes through their respective courses for they too have had a tough time of it. January’s lockdown did not prevent Mr Mead’s Year 7 class from participating in the annual castle building competition, nor did it stop them from enjoying a wellearned non-alcoholic ‘Bloody Mary’. Meanwhile, Miss Picton’s Year 7s were still able to carry out a Henrician style ‘Blind Date’, whilst Miss Williams’ class very much enjoyed studying forms of mediaeval warfare. Year 8 students have studied the transatlantic slave trade and US Civil Rights. These topics have, of course, taken on more significance this year, and we are looking forward to ensuring that our curriculum offers even more diversity in the future. Mr P Mead, Head of History

ENGLISH AT BORLASE

As for the entire country, it’s been another strange year in the English department, but I am proud of the stoicism and fortitude with which both colleagues and students have met a wide-range of challenges. The department has rallied to support each other and make the best of some ‘sub-optimal’ situations that have been enforced upon schools. We all have been incredibly impressed with the conduct and attitude of our Year 13 and Year 11 students who, in addition to the various challenges faced by all other students, have had to contend with the additional pressures of exams only once the initial cloud of uncertainty and vacillation at governmental level lifted, of course! The demand on teachers this year has been enormous, but the choices we have made have all been made to ensure good preparation and a consistent learning experience for our students. The collective hundreds of hours of standardisation, marking and moderation have certainly been gruelling but absolutely necessary to ensure that our students receive their just reward for their collective thousands of hours of hard-work over the last five years - particularly over the last fifteen months. As we look ahead to brighter times, trips are starting to return and the world is beginning to feel a little more normal. We will be taking our Year 8 students to a production of a Comedy of Errors in Stratford in July to

HELM reignite some joy into their lives, and we will be ending the year by taking a group of our Year 12 students to the Lake District in preparation for their study of Romanticism next term. Mr Lofthouse has been like a coiled spring during this time of restrictions, and I fully anticipate a much-welcomed booking spree of trips once we have a clearer picture of life for the next academic year. We already know that things will look a little different in the department staff-wise, with two new teachers - Miss Frontman and Mrs Privey - joining us from September. Finally, we will be saying goodbye to Jane Bungey at the end of this year; Jane has been a member of the English department for over fifteen years and will be sorely missed in the classroom. She will still be around, though, in her role as Head of Sixth Form, and I am sure will still find her way back ‘home’ to come and see us from time to time. We are all incredibly grateful for the many years of excellent teaching that she has provided for the thousands of students she has taught, and know that the Sixth Form remains in good hands under her stewardship. Mr O Cross, Head of English

POETRY BY HEART

During January and February 420 students in Years 7, 8 and 9 took part in our KS3 ‘Poetry by Heart’ competition, to select a School Champion to enter for the national competition. Every student learned one poem during the Christmas holidays and then recited it to the rest of their class in an English lesson. Three winners were selected from each class to go into the Year Group final, and the teachers and students saw some great performances. Fortunately, the organisers extended the closing date for entry to the national competition, so we were able to delay the Year Group finals until we were back in school.

The Year Group finals took place in the Theatre in March, with each finalist reciting two poems, one written before 1900 and one after, before our judges and around 60 of their peers. We saw some wonderful performances and the judges had the difficult task of choosing 2 winners for each Year Group to compete for the title of School Champion: Year 7: Christopher Hackett and Amelia Murfitt Year 8: Savannah Mason and Joshua Mustard Year 9: Joe Reid and Zara Yates These six finalists performed their two poems to a judging panel of Miss Mountfield, Miss Holmes and Mr Cross and 60 Year 9 students - a very daunting task. All of them performed brilliantly and the standard was extremely high. Of particular note were Amelia Murfitt’s moving performance of Laurence Binyon’s ‘For the Fallen’, Josh Mustard’s recital of Kipling’s classic ‘If’, and Zara Yates’ performance of Emily Bronte’s ‘Remembrance’. After much deliberation amongst our judges, Year 8’s Savannah Mason was selected as the school’s Key Stage 3 Champion, for her performances of Wordsworth’s ‘A Complaint’ and Carol-Ann Duffy’s ‘Originally’. The judges were very impressed by the way in which Savannah demonstrated her understanding of two complex poems and the way in which she brought them to life through her performance. We then submitted videos of her performances to the national competition (we are only allowed to enter one student from years 7-9) to be judged first against champions from other schools in Buckinghamshire, and then on a national basis. On 21st April we were delighted to learn that not only had Savannah been selected as the Buckinghamshire champion, she had been chosen as one of 10 students from all over the country to compete in the national final which will be held at the Globe Theatre in July!

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MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES AT BORLASE

Although international travel was off the table, putting on hold our usual schedule of trips and exchanges, we have continued to try to inspire the students and be creative in finding ways to explore different languages and cultures. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the UK German Connection, schools were invited to submit entries to celebrate links between English and German schools. Students from Gymnasium Saarburg and SWBGS both submitted a video entry, for which we were awarded a prize. Particular thanks go to Harvey Green in Year 11 for pulling it all together in the midst of his Drama GCSE practical and to all the German students who participated enthusiastically in the recording. We are also in the process of arranging a virtual exchange with Gymnasium Saarburg for our current Year 10 German classes, which will take place later in the summer term. We would like to congratulate Reuben Bignell from our Year 13 German class on his success in the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators competition, held in the summer of 2020, in which he was commended for his translation about technology. We would also like to congratulate Eddie Handley in our Year 12 German class who was runner-up in the King's College London Königspost Competition 2020, for his essay on Die digitale Zukunft (The digital future). In February 2021, several students from Years 1113 took part in the very challenging UK Linguistics Olympiad. Year 11 students, Joel Taylor and Katherine Perry, both won Bronze Awards - a great achievement in a national competition where most competitors are A Level students. We have continued to offer Mandarin as an enrichment activity after school, which has been very popular, particularly with our new intake of Year 7s. We also have 7 students taking it as a GCSE this year. Our thanks to our Mandarin teacher, Ms Han, for her continued support of the students. In an effort to engage and inspire students when the school moved to Borlase@Home, each year group was set an MFL project, ranging from exploring the cuisine of a Francophone country (Years 7 & 8), to learning about the geography and planning a trip in their chosen country (Year 9), to exploring the significance of festivals (Year 10). Congratulations in particular to Maria Kharatishvili (Year 10) who produced two stunningly creative videos on festivals for both French and German, each with some brilliant cultural icons and a fantastically quirky slant. We have both a talented linguist and film producer in the making!

FOOD TECHNOLOGY - WITH FRENCH!

In September 2020, we introduced a new element to the

KS3 Curriculum - teaching Food Technology with French. This is a highly innovative development in MFL teaching and learning. As part of their technology rotation, students in KS3 have Food and Nutrition lessons, which are now being taught by the MFL department to introduce some language and cultural learning alongside practical skills. We have introduced a francophone flavour to the curriculum, with dishes including hot chocolate and croissants, potage vichyssoise, Provençal vegetable crumble, tarte flambée and sablés biscuits. It has been wonderful to see the enthusiasm with which our KS3 students have taken to this new way of teaching and encouraging to see some delicious results!

OUR OUTREACH WORK

Although our outreach work has been curtailed because of COVID restrictions, our lead school role for NCELP (National Centre for Excellence in Language Pedagogy) has continued apace. Both specialist teachers, Jenny Hopper and Blanca Román, have continued their involvement at local and national level. We have organised half-termly regional teacher training events for our local hub schools ( Highcrest, Holmer Green, Chiltern Hills and John Colet) which have continued throughout the lockdowns. We presented at an NCELP national conference in November, designed and recorded training materials for other hub schools this year, and have been actively involved in designing and reviewing the new scheme of work for Year 9s. Sra Román is NCELP’s native speaker adviser/ reviewer of Spanish teaching resources. In addition, we have contributed to a national consultation on revised GCSEs for MFL, which are closely based on the NCELP pedagogy. It is anticipated that the new GCSEs will feature our teaching and assessment approach very closely. Looking forward to next year, although the 3-year NCELP project technically completes in December, both our specialist teachers will continue to be involved in training on a national level. In June 2020 Mrs Hopper took on the role of German lead for Oak Academy (the national home-schooling support programme), writing the KS4 German Scheme of Work and overseeing a team who recorded 152 KS4 and 76 Year 9 German lessons between July and October. Data from Oak Academy show that these video lessons have been completed an impressive 4,500 times. Although we haven’t been able to go into Burford primary school to teach French to KS2 as usual, Mrs Colville and Mrs Alexander have put in a sterling effort creating video lessons each week, which have been very well received. We hope that from September we will be able to get back into the classes in person. We are also grateful to all of our Year 12 linguists who volunteered to help with a ‘Virtual Trip to France Day’ held at Holy Trinity School in June.

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MFL VISITOR

There was an unusually spiky entrant for this year’s GCSE Spanish assessment! The classroom designated M7 is tucked into the back of the language block and accessed via its own corridor with heavy fire doors at each end. Yet, somehow, on the morning of the GCSE Spanish assessment in May, a little hedgehog managed to find her way in and settle down under a desk, seemingly ready to translate the listening exam. Buenosdias, as she was named, quickly became the lucky mascot of the Spanish class about to take their assessment, before she was moved to the safety of the Key Stage office and placed in a box with greenery in which to hide. Throughout the day she was visited and photographed by a number of KS4 students as word rapidly spread and there was a brief name change to Enrique (similar to the Spanish word for hedgehog, erizo). It was really lovely to have the opportunity to see one of these now sadly rare creatures up close, and, at the end of a good day, Buenosdias was taken to Tiggywinkles wildlife rescue centre for some de-ticking and TLC from their vet. Ms Beswick

OUR STAFF

Firstly, we would like to thank the MFL governor, Emma Bridges, who is stepping down due to work commitments, and wish her all the very best. This year we have welcomed two new teachers, Miss O’Riordan, French and German, and Mrs Alexander, as a teacher of French and Spanish. Mrs Harper joined us as a Spanish language assistant, providing vital native speaker practice to our A Level students and we are delighted that she is also going to be returning to the role next year. We also hosted French and German language assistants through the British Council programme, who were intrepid enough to come to the UK despite the challenges this year presented. We cannot thank them enough for the patience and flexibility they showed during a year in which there were numerous obstacles to overcome. Isadora Delay - French After lockdowns, restrictions, quarantine, timetable changes and video calls, we have made it through to the end of this very unusual school year! But even with everything the pandemic has kept us from doing, I wouldn’t change this year for the world; the experience was fully worth it. From my first day as the French language assistant here, I felt welcome. The MFL team, especially Mrs Morton, Mrs Hopper and Sra Román, were very helpful and supportive. I could see that the staff truly cared about the students, really reflecting the school spirit. I worked with the Sixth form students and was immediately impressed by how good their French was, their friendliness and their enthusiasm, especially the Year 13s. Even with the different restrictions, changes and pressure upon them, they all made progress throughout the year, and I hope they will carry on learning French! On a more personal level, my time at SWBGS has not only brought me professional experience but has also helped improve my English, discover a new culture, and has introduced me to many amazing people. I want to say a particularly big thank you to Magda, who was my colleague, housemate and now my best friend, who made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Thank you for everything, Borlase! Magdalena Hollinger - German As my time at Borlase draws to a close, I can safely say that I have enjoyed my time here immensely. From the very beginning, all of the staff were incredibly welcoming to Isadora and me, helping us every step of the way as we tried to navigate things that were new to us (the Sixth Form building and its various exits) and things that were new to everyone (quarantine and nostril swabbing). What made my time here so special was not only the wonderful MFL department and the staff but also the

HELM ever-so-lovely German students. It was an absolute pleasure to work with such a hardworking, inquisitive and funny bunch, who week after week gave me great film recommendations, made me laugh out loud and taught me many things in return as I tried to explain my unusual Austria-cisms and the wide array of German phrases based on pigs and sausages. It almost goes without saying that this was a year like

no other; but, despite all the challenges we faced, the staff and students of Borlase never lost their strong community spirit and motivation. I feel very lucky to have been part of this tremendous team and I want to say a big Dankeschön to the MFL department, the German students and everyone at Borlase for making my time here such a lovely experience.

PERFORMING ARTS

PERFORMING ARTS AT BORLASE

Covid, regrettably, reigned resilient in dominating our lives during this school year, once again coercing us out of our classrooms and into lockdowns. However, the virus faced an equally resilient match in the form of Mr Miall. The Miall strain quickly spread amongst the students of Borlase, the primary symptom of which was having S Club 7's ‘Bring it all Back’ stuck in pupils' heads for at least a week. His spreadsheets and plans for restoring the Arts were immune to anything Covid could throw at them. A promotional ‘Return of the Arts’ video circulated rapidly throughout the school in anticipation of the longawaited resumption, and excitement was contagious. On October 1st, the Arts Fayre migrated from its usual spot in the Theatre to the better-ventilated Marquee 2. Here, students could sign up to a multitude of clubs from Jazz Band to Drama clubs, Chapel Choir to Tech Theatre club. The return of such groups, and in person, instantly restored the creative dynamism of Borlase culture that felt otherwise intangible whilst at home. A walk through the school grounds could once more reveal groups of rehearsing actors, dance training, tech theatre rigging, all accompanied by the pieces of practising musicians. Performances and demonstrations of the talent curated at Borlase were uninhibited by the restrictive powers of COVID. In the words of Bear Grylls, we were to "improvise, adapt and overcome!" Mr Robson led the way, from behind his harpsichord, with one of the first performances of the year. His annual Advent Concert proved itself invincible when it was transformed from

an intimate event in the Wethered Room to a beautifully edited YouTube video of chamber music, warming the hearts of all those who tuned in with Christmas festivities. In mid-December, the annual Carol Concert was also forced to evolve. It was a tricky ordeal: navigating unpredictable live-streaming technology with an everthinning choir (Ms Mountfield swooping in to regrettably pluck singers from behind their pews and send them home, in accordance with track and trace data.) Although the concert was (for those involved) undoubtedly different from the calming, beatific experience of previous years, the resilience and determination shown by both staff and students in navigating the challenging circumstances were inspiring. The musical performances remained as powerfully moving as ever. Shortly after the Carol Concert came a novel and exciting performance opportunity at The Marlow Christmas DriveIn, hosted at the Marlow Rugby Club. Performers were greeted with an entirely new performing experience as they looked out from a stage adorned with colourful lights, baubles and a 20ft inflatable Santa onto an audience of cars! The musical and dance performances were shown on a large screen, as well as on the stage, and could be heard on Marlow FM. Audience members conveyed their applause by honking their car horns and flashing their hazard lights. All in all, as well as fuelling festive cheer, the evening demonstrated the possibilities of performance and the uniting spirit of the Arts. Also out of this period came the production of a dance interpretation of Olivia Rodrigo's ‘Driver's License’

PERFORMING ARTS by Mrs Ashby's Year 12 dancers. The video, created independently by the Year 12s, featured clips of individual dancers edited together to create an evocative visual spectacle. The video succeeded in showing the feeling of unity that triumphed despite the adversity of separation. Additionally, during this lockdown, Jenny diligently continued digging up productions from the Borlase archives to live-stream each week to Youtube. The Great Gatsby, Bugsy Malone and Lysistrata were all among the shows to entertain staff and students with Theatre at home. This year's new addition to the Borlase calendar was ‘Hidden Talents’, which streamed live from the Borlase Theatre at the beginning of May. The show was produced to a professional standard by the technical theatre team, who adapted to the challenges and mastered a flawless live broadcast. The interactive element of the performance was to enable viewers to vote for their ‘fan favourite’. This meant that all members of the Borlase community were able to feel involved with the Theatre's debut performance of this school year. ‘Hidden Talent’ was a brilliant initiative in the way that it exhibited the niche and unexpected pastimes of students that had, particularly this year, otherwise been kept under wraps. After such a period of confinement and isolation, there was a spirit of generosity about the show. Students came forward to share what it is that they love doing and spread joy through their performances. As well as extra-curricular arts events, there has also been success within the curriculum that cannot go unmentioned. The practical components of the drama, music and dance examinations were completed with limited rehearsal time and the ever-looming potential of another lockdown. Nevertheless, students produced, choreographed, wrote and performed pieces to an exceptional standard, as if oblivious to the challenging events of the past year. Creativity triumphed once more in the face of adversity. Additionally, we were fortunate enough to have external companies visit the school to deliver workshops and masterclasses. In November, Sixth Form drama students had the privilege of watching the touring Splendid Theatre Company's production of UBU. A Brechtian piece, allegorical in style, it tackled themes relevant today, such as public figures escaping accountability, hypocrisy amongst those in power, and conformity. Having watched the performance, students then received a crash course in Brechtian performance delivered by the Splendid practitioners. Students were also treated to dance workshops from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ choreographer Amy Tomlinson and Jade Hackett of Zoonation, who inspire groundbreaking means of storytelling. Today, rehearsals continue to be underway in anticipation of future performances that will be enabled by the easing of lockdown restrictions. Whilst this has not been the year we had expected for the arts, it has been triumphant

nonetheless. It has forced us to think innovatively, challenge conventional methods of practise and value, more than ever, the liberating release provided by immersing ourselves in music, dance, drama, technical theatre, art and literature. Fortunately, the future is looking bright (touch wood). As theatres in London's West End begin to open to half capacity, we hope the Borlase Theatre will be able to follow suit very soon! In the meantime, however, outdoor and online events have been no challenge for the students and staff at Borlase. As they say - and as we have demonstrated - ‘the show must go on!’ Hana Jolly

MUSIC AT BORLASE

September brought the epic return of the music department after months of withdrawal symptoms. The harmonies of Chapel Choir filled the chapel again, Senior Strings tuned up once more, and Jazz Band swung harder than ever. We began introducing live-streamed and prerecorded material for Remembrance Day with a cautious start, opening the events up to a broader audience than ever before. There was a spring in the step of every music student as the department prepared for the long-awaited reunion of year groups at Mr Robson’s Advent Concert, the All Saints Carol Service and the brand new Marlow DriveIn. Although some singers and musicians were sent into self-isolation mere hours before showtime, ensembles came together to impress audiences as they always have and will. The upside to the Covid chaos is that the concert’s YouTube video now has over 1.4K views, more than double the usual capacity! There was a brief stumble after Christmas as we returned to an online world, but Borlase music was never to be stopped. Some ensembles continued their work online, and leaders did a fabulous job of preparing themselves for the next term. After two months of lockdown, we returned in March (#BringItAllBackAgain?), this time in preparation for a monumental Summer Concert in Higginson Park. As

PERFORMING ARTS restrictions were removed, orchestras, choirs and bands have loved rehearsing together in the same room for the first time in almost a year, and we are more eager than ever to perform to an audience again! We’ve also been delighted to reintroduce ensembles such as Madriguys and Concert Band that haven’t rehearsed since last academic year. This will be the biggest event we’ve seen this year as the larger orchestras, and instrumental groups get their first chance to perform their work from the past year. This follows a highly successful leavers event for Year 13, including moving renditions of ‘Danny Boy’ and ‘Morning Light’ by Cantorum and Chapel Choir.. All in all, music 2020-21 has been an incredible feat in the face of restrictions. We are most certainly back with a vengeance, and won’t take a single rehearsal or performance for granted again. The Music Department really does epitomise the commitment and determination of Borlase!

Charlotte Farmer & Leon Tasch

REMEMBRANCE DAY

On the 11th November, Borlase held a Remembrance service to commemorate those who died in military

service, particularly those in the RAF during the Battle of Britain, which had its 80th anniversary this year. The performance was live-streamed to tutor groups in separate classrooms, complying with social distancing rules, and the video can be found on our YouTube channel. Chapel Choir sang a setting of John McCrae’s wellknown poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by Roger Emerson, of which the melody duly fit the atmosphere of the original poem. Charlotte Farmer, Chapel Choir Director said, "I'm so proud of everyone involved for creating such a moving piece. The poem has a lot of meaning, and I believe that his words still apply today, especially in the second verse: 'Take up your quarrel with the foe. To you from failing hands we throw the torch, be yours to hold it high.' To me, this is a reminder to present-day citizens that peace is worth fighting for, and servicemen and women today have listened to that, including my dad. They all deserve to be remembered, and I have huge amounts of respect for every person fighting against war. The number of people moved to tears by our singing (including myself!) tells me that we made others remember too. I can't thank the girls enough for the work that went into making that happen." Megan Houston

PERFORMING ARTS

MR ROBSON’S ADVENT CONCERT

The Advent Concert is always a treat, and Mr Robson was determined the students would not miss out on this opportunity this year. Gathering some of our best musicians around the harpsichord he put together an uplifting programme of music and readings. The TechTheatre team recorded and filmed each performance, then edited the recordings together, and streamed the concert on the school’s YouTube channel, where it can still be seen.

Youth Voices and the Jazz band. which were streamed on YouTube for everyone to watch at home. Students and staff then watched an edited version of the service in their tutor groups on the last day of term. Although this year’s service has certainly been different, the joy and magic that the Christmas service brings to everyone who experiences it has still stayed strong. Grace Venus

CAROL SERVICE

Like so many things this year, the Carol service was very different to how many students will remember it in the past. The choirs and bands had to rehearse in year group bubbles for several months before finally coming together - suitably socially distanced - in All Saints’ Church on the 15th December The usual live audience were replaced by cameras organised by Mrs Chislett and the tech team, to capture performances by Cantorum, Chapel Choir,

PERFORMING ARTS

MARLOW DRIVE-IN

After nine months of practising at home, as well as socially distanced music lessons and rehearsals in small groups, Borlase’s Jazz Bands, Cantorum, Year 12 dancers and more kitted up to put on a show once again. The Marlow Christmas Drive-In was an opportunity for groups all over Marlow to perform on stage to a live audience as 100 households watched from the warmth of their cars, listening through their own stereo systems. The night kicked off with some classic Christmas tunes from Senior Jazz Band, followed by first-class performances from the Chapel Choir and Octet (which, due to the Track & Trace, consisted of six members).

Later performances included a routine from the Year 12 dance ensemble, a Christmas rendition of a classic Herbie Hancock number by Intermediate Jazz Band, and a few favourites from Cantorum. Despite many groups adapting to perform without members who were isolating, all acts still delivered faultless performances. Each was met with a dazzling response from the audience’s car horns and hazard lights to express their enthusiasm and appreciation, encouraged by Mr Davie, who obviously got his fair share of jokes in throughout the evening! Leon Tasch

PERFORMING ARTS

CANTORUM

Covid brought many challenges - year groups singing at opposite ends of marquees, rehearsing on different days and trying not to forget our own sheet music, to name a few. However, we all managed to come together for the Carol Service and at the Marlow Drive-in. As we approach summer, we’re not saying goodbye to the Year 13s just yet as we prepare for the summer concert in Higginson Park. Sophie Le Duc

CLARINET COLLECTIVE

This year, we had to work harder than ever to overcome the challenges of socially distanced music, from struggling to hear a far-off metronome to meticulously arranging ourselves in an awkward line in the chapel. Still, the group's hard work and perseverance have really paid off. Despite exams and lockdowns, the ensemble's commitment has been impressive, and I'm very grateful for such an amazing two years as leader of this group. I look forward to seeing the group flourish further next year! Florence Ridley

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

It was lovely to be able to restart the orchestra this term. We’ve had a great time enjoying playing pieces including ‘Juba Dance’ by Florence Price and Bizet’s ‘Carmen’, which has been a bit of a challenge. It’s been more difficult as we’ve been social distancing in the marquee - this makes it a little harder to keep in time as we’re further away from each other and Mr Miall. But really it’s just been great to play together, and we’re all looking forward to performing in the summer concert. Naomi Haldane

YOUTH VOICES

Our first concert was the Carol Service and, personally, the after-school Christmas rehearsals were the highlight of my week. Of course, singing a live-streamed concert was a different experience from having a live audience, but the feeling of singing carols in the church was the same as ever: Christmassy and fun! Now rehearsals are back to lunchtimes, our choir is back to its regular numbers, and excitement for the summer concert, the first in-person concert in over a year, is infecting (pun intended) the whole choir! Odette Foley

SENIOR JAZZ BAND

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the band has flourished this year. We commenced with sectional rehearsals in year group bubbles; however, before we knew it, restrictions had eased, allowing us to come together seamlessly as an ensemble for the Marlow Drive-In performance. It was a spectacular evening of Christmas tunes, filled with jazzy versions of the classics, where we explored improvisation and harmony. We have since covered a wide range of music from the classic jazz standard ‘Birdland’ to the funky ‘25 or 6 to 4’ in preparation for the summer concert, which we very much look forward to! Josh Kaushal

CHAPEL CHOIR

I am incredibly proud of all that we’ve achieved this year. September was somewhat surreal as we set up in the chapel, with year groups at separate ends and myself behind the true fashion statement of a Covid visor. We really missed the live performances, but we put together a very touching video of ‘In Flanders Fields’ for Remembrance Day. It may not be what we are used to, but I am so happy that we can keep the videos from this year as a memento. Christmas welcomed an audience of students for the first time, and the church is always a brilliant place to perform. All in all, it was a very overwhelming day, with the joy of performing to other students contrasting with the anxiety that came with some Year 13s being sent into isolation. It did make the final performance all the more thrilling. We also got to sing at the Christmas drive-in with an unforgettable ovation from tooting horns that left us all on a high. Lockdown 2.0 brought new challenges, but we continued to get together on google meets. It was a strange experience, learning parts without hearing the choir sing together. However, when we came back, I was glad we’d put in the work, as it was so much easier to slip back into the swing of things. We went straight into Easter, taking on Stainer’s ‘God So Loved the World’ with some stunning harmonies. As the summer begins, we have lots to look forward to. The leavers’ event was a huge success and we brought tears to many students’ and teachers’ eyes, with Sarah Quartel’s ‘Morning Light’. We look forward to repeating it at the summer concert alongside some new works. Charlotte Farmer

FLUTE CHOIR

Despite the obvious challenges we have had to face this year, the commitment and development of our members have been fantastic. Even when we were in Borlase@ home, the individual practice helped us grow as a group. Thankfully, we are currently able to rehearse in person and are practising ‘Trillogette’ to perform at the summer

PERFORMING ARTS concert. Furthermore, due to an increase in numbers, we have been able to form a senior flute choir, which will perform Bach’s ‘Little Fugue in G minor’. Lucy Barnes

YEAR 9/10 CHAMBER CHOIR

This new choir has given Year 9 and 10 girls the opportunity to sing in an outstanding choir. Under the inspirational direction of Mrs Redgard-Siler, we have been practicing two pieces: 'It's a Hard-Knock Life' from Annie, and 'The Sound of Music' which we will be perform at the summer concert this year. This will be Mrs RedgardSiler’s last concert with the school as she is retiring this summer. We wish her all the very best for her retirement and thank her for all her hard work over the past twentyfive years! Lauren Bull

ROCK CLUB

There are many Performing Arts extra-curricular activities at Borlase, and they all have their attractions, but Rock

Club is one of the best. I joined quite by chance - I was looking for my jumper after school, and I went into one of the music rooms. The club was utterly different to what I was expecting - it is an opportunity to get together with friends, in a relaxed environment, and just play music. I wasn’t particularly fond of rock, having not listened to much of it, but I found myself in a band named ‘The Way Forward’. There were six of us at the beginning, and we performed in various concerts, playing songs by Nirvana and Imagine Dragons. It was one of the most rewarding and fun things I have done since I started at Borlase. Sadly Lockdown came along, and the band wasn’t able to get together to rehearse for several months. When we were back in school, we had to say goodbye to our bass guitarist as they were in the year above and we had to stick to our year group bubble. Despite this, our Tuesday evening meeting is something to look forward to every week. Other bands are thriving - you can hear them all practicing in different rooms; there are multiple large bands, and the club has grown quite considerably since I first joined. We are looking forward to hearing some of the bands perform at the summer concert. Fin Engelberts

HOUSE PHOTO COMPETITION The traditional House Competitions that revolve around music, drama and dance had to be reimagined due to the restrictions of the pandemic, and so House Dance was replaced with House Photography. The theme, ‘Inside Outside,’ resonated with the situation of being newly contained indoors and students produced poignant images which extrapolated the juxtaposing ideas of inside/outside and the connotations of division and separation that arose from that stimulus. The photos spanned themes such as mental health, humans’ affinity with the natural world, confinement and reimagining the conventional. The images capture the Zeitgeist of Covid times for years to come and will undoubtedly become relics commemorating our time in Borlase history. Hana Jolly

PERFORMING ARTS

DANCE AT BORLASE

Although this year has been a very different one for the Borlase Dance Department the spirit of dance has remained strong and we have been extremely proud of how all of our dancers have adapted during the lockdown and social distancing when back in school. At the start of the year we launched our extra curricular program. Although reduced compared with our normal extra curricular activities our clubs were extremely well attended by the students and we are planning on filming the pieces these students have been working on so they can be posted on our YouTube channel. Mrs Hindley and I are extremely grateful to our incredibly talented dance leaders who run the clubs each week. A huge thank you to Lily Meyer, Lizzie Rackstraw, Harry Fayers, Aimée Langwade, Maisie Cochrane and Maddy Hill. This year we have been delighted to have original Boys’ Dance member Harry Elliott back in school working as, amongst other things, a Physics technician but also relaunching Boys’ Dance, leading workshops and covering lessons. Thank you Harry, it has been great having you back! During the autumn term our GCSE and A Level students worked extremely hard on their practical assessments and produced some beautiful work in difficult circumstances. The term ended on a high with our Year 12 class performing a new work in assembly and then at the Marlow Drive-in Christmas event. Lockdown meant our studios stood empty but the dancing continued in the homes and bedrooms of our students (and lots of theory for our exam groups!). Particular highlights were our Year 8 Capoeira duets in break out rooms and Year 12 learning their exam solos in their homes. All in all it made the return to the studio

very welcome indeed. During lockdown we were delighted that the Year 12 class created an incredible dance piece called ‘Driver’s License.’ The students filmed their dance at various locations around Marlow and edited it together to create the film. The result was outstanding and was selected by One Dance UK to be a part of the U-dance Regional Digital Dance Festival. This was a huge achievement for this class and huge thanks to Mr Fayers for editing the piece multiple times. You can watch the film on our YouTube channel. We said a sad farewell to our Year 13 dancers in May. There will always be a part of me that feels disappointed for this year group, as their experience of dance A Level was so disrupted. Given all the challenges, this class was a joy to teach and we will miss them very much. We would like to say good luck and a fond farewell to Maddy Hill, Emily Annis, Josh Leech and Ophelia Alemyda. Keep dancing and come back and see us! The department was delighted to learn that Year 12 student Harry Fayers had gained a much coveted spot in the National Youth Dance Company of Great Britain. This is a huge achievement and we are looking forward to Harry’s debut at Sadlers Wells in the Summer. As we head towards the end of term there is one more dance event still to come: the annual Year 7 dance project. ‘Harlequin’ is based upon a traditional tale which has been adapted by Miss Holmes and our Year 12 dancers have been busy working with the Year 7 students to create dances inspired by the story. At the end of a difficult year we are very excited about being able to give Year 7 students this wonderful performance opportunity. Ms Ashby

PERFORMING ARTS

NATIONAL YOUTH DANCE COMPANY

During one of my first dance experiences with Borlase - performing at the U.Dance Festival at Media City in Salford - I became aware of the National Youth Dance Company when watching them perform at the Lowry. In awe of their performance, I was extremely excited for our workshop with them the following day. At the end of the workshop, the manager of the company at the time said to my teacher (Mrs Ashby) that when I was older I should audition for the company, so that’s what I did. In November 2020, I took part in a workshop with the National Youth Dance Company and was lucky enough to be invited to audition for them. I had no expectations after the audition due to the phenomenal calibre of dancers and was simply happy to have got that far. Therefore, I was elated to be offered a place and to be one of just eight new boys selected nationally into the company (20 new dancers were taken from the audition as well as 10 previous members). The usual schedule for the company consists of four residencies throughout

the year in which an hour-long piece is created with an internationally renowned choreographer, before touring around the country. However, due to the pandemic, we have completed three online residencies and will soon have our first in person rehearsals as an entire company in July. We will then perform at Sadlers Wells and have a small tour (restricted due to covid) including venues from Ipswich to Cornwall. I have been pushed to my physical and mental limits through every day of training, taking me to places I never thought I’d be able to reach. It has allowed me to meet some of the best young dancers in the country, make contacts, talk to successful alumni/ other dancers from top companies and be treated as a professional dancer. NYDC is an incredible opportunity for young dancers to have an insight into the professional world. I truly cannot wait for the future I have with them; this experience has made me even more determined to pursue dance as a career. Harry Fayers

PERFORMING ARTS

DRAMA AT BORLASE

Congratulations to Year 13 student, Grace Venus, who was accepted on the BA Acting Course at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). This is a truly outstanding achievement because entry to the acting degree courses at the major conservatoires is highly competitive. Congratulations also to Year 12 Drama students Emma Hickman and Lizzie Rackstraw who have both been accepted into the prestigious National Youth Theatre.

A LEVEL DRAMA WORKSHOP

In light of the Year 12 drama class beginning to experiment with devising theatre, Miss Anderson pulled some strings and brought back Kerry Frampton from Splendid Productions, an expert on bringing the theatre practitioner Steven Berkoff to life. Kerry presented the techniques of Berkoff’s theatre through a four hour interactive workshop, where we practically played with Berkoff’s techniques, experimenting with choral work, mime, typical character stereotypes, as well as developing an understanding of ‘total theatre’ where we considered how different characters would interact with different objects. Berkoff is most commonly known for his amplified facial expressions and stylised movement surrounding character stereotypes, where Berkoff ‘uncovered the undergrowth’ of these characters, presenting their true realities and intentions. To portray these characters within our own pieces, Kerry taught us everything from the vocal qualities each character would have, to the way

they moved, their physicality, and their facial expressions. We then used these characters and further developed them in an ensemble where we experimented with total theatre and created a small, improvised performance piece consisting of us becoming parts of the onstage set and props, something we collectively have not done before. Having fun and experimenting with these techniques allowed an imperfectly perfect performance to be developed which we then took further and used within a ‘live game’, with some of us becoming tennis balls and car wheels. Maisie Stalham

PERFORMING ARTS

TECHNICAL THEATRE

The year presented the department with an array of unique challenges, as our role shifted from presenting live, in-person events to finding ways to continue these in spite of adverse conditions. This took the form of pre-recorded concerts and events, including a weekly streamed replacement for chapel assembly. Larger projects included a full programme of Mr Robson’s Advent Chamber Concert and the annual Christmas Carol Concert, recorded by students in a Covid-safe environment before being edited together by the indefatigable Ms Chislett, and these recordings, along with other performances can be watch on the SWBGS YouTube channel. The end of the spring term saw the Year 13 students test their sound and lighting production skills in a series of spoken word performances staged in place of the many productions they would normally have used for their examinations. As well as providing an opportunity for assessment, the event was a successful display of sound design and oratory in its own right, and was a pleasure both to participate in and observe. Performances ranged from Roald Dahl’s drole tellings of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ and ‘Goldilocks’ to an extract from Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’, and Amanda Gorman’s stirring poem ‘Earthrise’. All were accompanied by detailed soundtracks, painstakingly sourced, assembled, layered and panned by Year 13 students over the prior weeks, and lighting brought together in a far less forgiving timeframe. May saw the most ambitious livestreaming project of the past year, a television-quality broadcast of a house talent show ‘Hidden Talents’, crewed entirely by Year 12 and 13 technicians. Gabe Smith & Luke Haldane

Mark Hartley and I are incredibly proud of the technical theatre students this year. Despite the difficulties that we have all faced, we have been able to keep technical theatre thriving and as always with good humour! The Assessment projects we created for Year 13 we enjoyed so much that we are planning to repeat them in the future, even when we are back in the thick of productions! Our streaming system has enabled us to create a whole new team for productions, and credit must be given to the video team of Hidden Talents who perfected these new skills producing a highly professional production! We have welcomed a large number of new students into Tech this year, both the new students starting the Year

PERFORMING ARTS 12 BTEC course and students into the Junior Tech Clubs. Usually the Junior Tech Club meets with multiple year groups working together. Of course this has not been possible this year due to the Covid restrictions, and this is where I must whole-heartedly thank the sixth form students for stepping in to help me with the club to enable students in Year 8-11 to enjoy in depth activities. A big thanks must also go to Gabe and Luke, who have had the honour of being the first Technical Theatre Prefects

at Borlase, and subsequently being worked incredibly hard! They unfailingly turned up every Thursday morning to independently film and stream the chapel services but were also roped into helping with the filming of the Borlase Virtual Tour, leadership of Tech Theatre Club, setting up PA systems here, there and everywhere, and countless other things. We definitely could not have got through this year without you! Ms Chislett, Performing Arts Technician

PERFORMING ARTS

HIDDEN TALENTS

Over two evenings in May, Borlase hosted its first ever Talent Show. This spectacular event was created and produced by the Tech Theatre students as part of their final exam and streamed live on YouTube. Viewers were amazed by singers, dancers, musicians and even a unicyclist! Both shows were hosted by the absolute power duo that is Hana Jolly and Olly Gale. These two were perfect for the role and kept the audience entertained throughout. A big thank you to the judges of the show: Kayla Carter, musical theatre sensation, who gave the candidates indepth critiques on their performances; headteacher, Miss Mountfield, who was beaming with pride during the show whilst also being a fantastic judge; and finally, Mr Davie, who gave critiques on the candidates’ musicality. The judging panel truly had every base covered, which resulted in Lizzy Ainscough, and Charles Betz being

crowned winners of their shows, and Danes winning the house competition. Overall, the Hidden Talents show was a great reminder of how talented Borlase students are, and after a very long period without any live theatre, it was refreshing to finally watch live performances again. Tom McCrorie

Show 1 Results 1st Lizzy Ainscough; 2nd Ava Sloss; 3rd Leon Bergmans; 4th Erin & Sophie Mikkelborg. Fan Favourite: Amy Richardson Dennett Show 2 Results 1st Charles Betz; 2nd Max Baker; 3rd Ash Bryant; 4th Forced (Josh, Ben & Jonah). Fan Favourite: Forced

JUNIOR TECH

As well as learning skills such as how to rig lighting, we have been instrumental in helping to set up some of the virtual shows this year. Memorable moments include getting a music stand rack stuck in the lift and experimenting with the lighting desk! During the holidays, we climbed the tower to rig lighting and learned how to use the lighting control board, as well as sorting and documenting costumes in the attic. Catherine Avery, Maria Kharatishvili & Naomi Haldane

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SPORTS

PE & SPORT AT BORLASE

We want PE and Sport to help students learn skills, morals and qualities that will benefit them in their present life but also help to develop those individuals for their future. I feel that over the past couple of years, students at Borlase (along with those across the world) have had to deal with so much that we hope they will not have to ever again. We have all had to develop our resilience, perseverance and strength whilst supporting one another in tough times. Sport and PE has been impacted massively and it has been tough to see our sports halls, fields and courts quiet. With the easing of restrictions and with data heading in the right direction, it has been brilliant to see students engaging with Sport and PE this term. This year has been very different to ‘normal’ years and still different to last year. We have been sandwiched between lockdowns and the ever changing restrictions placed on Sport. We have tried to run as near to normal with our extra-curricular provision as possible, with additional mitigation where required. This has meant that students had access to Rugby, Football, Netball, Hockey, Rowing, Yoga, Athletics, Cricket, Rounders and Tennis. Whilst competitive Sport did not return until the Summer term, we were able to hold a virtual fixture over the lockdown period with St Michael’s, Aylesbury and Dr Challoner’s. Students took part in three challenges

against students from the other schools. With restrictions easing, we were able to play and compete in fixtures during the Summer term which was great to see. On behalf of the team, I would like to thank all the members of staff who give so much to Sport and PE at Borlase. The future of Sport and PE at Borlase looks very bright, the facilities have had a huge upgrade and this will help to really push Sport and PE on from its already impressive position. I would like to thank Miss Anstice for her hard work since she joined us in October. I also want to thank and wish Mr Long well as he leaves to start his studies at Yale University. He has worked tirelessly to support students in his various roles at the school and has made a huge impact. At the end of this academic year I am leaving Borlase, to take up the position of Director of Sport at Aylesbury Grammar School. My replacement Mrs N Hartley joins from Pipers Corner and I will look forward to seeing PE and Sport at Borlase flourish, from the opposition sideline. Mr Duggan, Director of PE and Sport

SPORTS

ATHLETICS

Athletics has been a popular after school club which has given students in Years 7 to 10 the opportunity to experience various track and field events. Summer has brought the District Athletics Competitions on Mondays at Little Marlow Athletics Track, and students from Years 9 and 10 have competed in a variety of events and put in some outstanding performances. Several of our athletes also took part in the Bucks County Schools Competition. All pupils had outstanding performances and showed the great passion and determination we have as a school to achieve our best. Congratulations to Max, Adam, Ryan, Sam, Elliot and Jemima for their outstanding performances! Miss Anstice

CRICKET

As ever, at the time of writing we are right in the middle of the cricket season, and what a surreal season it is. Cricket matches were the first fixtures of the academic year and it felt good to be back on the minibuses taking students to local schools for games. There is a real buzz at practices with unprecedented numbers across all age groups. The downside was the rain in May which led to numerous postponements. The U14s managed to complete a game at RGS playing through horizontal rain and gale force winds to win. The U13s’ bowling and fielding is looking excellent and the top order is performing well with the bat; after limiting JHGS to 113 it was good to see Borlase 69-2 off 6 overs; unfortunately a middle and bottom order collapse worthy of England left us all out for 90. The U15s have a real buzz about them; they are one of the most enthusiastic groups in the school, but have some talent to back it up. Congratulations to those who have been selected for their counties: Adam Searle (Berkshire U21); George Rackstraw (Buckinghamshire U15); Neel Kygonahally (Hampshire U15); Mohit Babu (Buckinghamshire U14). Mr Chappell

TENNIS

U13s After a break last summer, tennis has returned this year and all of the Year 7 and 8 students have been enjoying their tennis. The BU13s have two teams entered into the LTA leagues, which means plenty of fixtures for everyone. The first match of the season was against Great Marlow, which Borlase won 8-4 after good wins in both singles and doubles rubbers. Our second match was a 10-2 loss against a strong Burnham Grammar School outfit and the third a 12-0 loss against Caldicott Preparatory School. We

saved our most impressive performance for last though, with a fantastic comeback against Dr Challoner’s. Having lost the opening sets, the team came back strongly to take the next four rubbers to win 8-4. Josh Mustard

U15s This season has started positively, with many players turning up for practice, where we have been coached by Mr Monk, Mr Sewell, Mr Cross and Ali Denly from Marlow Tennis club. Training has consisted of fun games, technical improvement and match play, all of which we have enjoyed immensely, and our tennis has improved as a result. We have also been lucky enough to start playing fixtures again, starting with Wycombe Abbey for the U15 girls, and John Hampden for the U15 boys. The girls’ team, made up of Megan Fulton, Ellie Lane, Holly Lochhead and Maria-Jose Taguiang, fought hard and won a singles and a doubles against Wycombe Abbey, some of the matches running over the pick up time because there was such good competition between the teams! The boys’ first match was against John Hampden with a team made up of Ollie Green, Matty Gillespie, Michael Teather and Matteo Mirone, who was playing up from year 7. It was a very close match with a few tight wins in the singles which led us to win overall 4-2 on sets. This was followed by a closely fought match against Dr Challoner’s. Having lost both doubles sets, the team of Sam Jackson, Shreyan Panda, Jack Cowan and James Sampson, came back to win two of their singles rubbers to level the match. Dr Challoner’s won the final two to leave the score at 4-2 but the team should be proud of the way they fought to come back into the match.

Ellie Lane & Matty Gillespie

YOGA

6th Form It has been a pleasure to practice Mindful Yoga regularly with Y12’s this half term. With the exam season upon us, students were shown breathing techniques to allay nervousness and anxiousness ‘in the moment’. This is achieved when the out-breath is longer than the inbreath, switching the nervous system from ‘fight or flight’ to a ‘rest and digest’ state of mind, and achieving a greater sense of calm. The yoga poses were specifically grounding to bring stability into the body, and involved lots of balancing postures to improve proprioception and concentration skills. At the end of each class, students are offered a guided visualisation to prepare their mindset for test taking, so they achieve success in the mind long they sit their test. During Mental Health Awareness Week, we opened the marquee screens to fully appreciate the sights and sounds of nature all around us, for a fully sensorial experience, reinforcing the positive benefits of

SPORTS connecting with our environment to achieve optimum health and well-being. KS3 Boys This half term the boys club have been exploring how yoga can enhance their performance in various competitive sports. Following an overview of biomechanics, (the science of how muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together to produce movement), Y7 & Y8 boys were asked to monitor key markers, such as the ‘power’ exerted to hold a balancing yoga pose for a certain length of time; or their individual range of motion for yoga poses that rotate the shoulders and hips, which we will revisit next half term to compare and contrast. The lessons have been designed especially to deepen the boys individual body awareness, teach them useful breathing techniques that help build stamina, and encourage them to let go of those muscles held during the practice with a progressive muscle relaxation to end. Ms Longley

BORLASE GOLF DAY

Held in glorious sunshine at Henley Golf Club in June, the 18th Borlase Golf Day took place with a slightly altered format to comply with Covid regulations. Around one hundred players took part in this popular annual charity

event, which raises in excess of £4,000 every year for Borlase Hockey at Marlow Sports Club. Mr Monk, Director of Hockey at Borlase and a keen golfer said, ‘Without Marlow Sports Club, Borlase wouldn’t be able to provide the vast range of sporting opportunities that we currently offer our students. Around 500 students use the facilities on a weekly basis, 300 of whom are members of Borlase Hockey, and it’s thanks to Sally Woolven, the fantastic Friends of Borlase Hockey group, and all of the generous golfers, that we are able continue to use the facilities through the money raised at the Borlase Golf Day.’ FYM United, a team of past Borlase international hockey players won the event for the second time with a score of 92 points (best 2 scores counting out of a team of four players) very closely followed by the Medmenham Cricket Team with a score of 91 points. Andrew Wallace won Nearest the Pin and Brenda Hanna from Harleyford Golf Club won the Gambling Hole. Marlow’s Premier Financial Management is the event’s main sponsor, with many other local businesses either sponsoring holes or supporting the raffle, and Hawkinsport funding the trophies. Event organiser Sally Woolven said, ‘We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports this event each year, both players and sponsors, and this year was particularly pleasing as we welcomed new Borlase parents and their friends!’ Mr Monk

SPORTS

ROWING

Following the cancellation of all last season’s regattas we began this season with record numbers and a renewed sense of purpose. Thanks to the efforts of Mr Joel a large number of our returning rowers had been able to get back on the water in singles prior to summer term starting, and this set us up very well for the season. When I started at Borlase last September it was great to see the enthusiasm in the club, and this has continued throughout the year, in spite of more lockdowns and flooded rivers. We were able to hold a few private fixtures against Great Marlow, RGS High Wycombe, and Windsor Boys, and these gave the rowers a glimpse of what it could be like once restrictions eased and events began to start up. Prior to Easter the first official regattas started to be announced and this provided that extra bit of motivation to get our heads down and keep improving. Training from Easter through to the National Schools Regatta was brilliant, with friendly internal competition at the heart of the sessions. We endeavoured to make up for lost time by getting out on the river as much as possible. It has been great to slowly include the younger year groups with the older ones on the water, something we have really missed out on through most of the season. The National Schools Regatta is usually one of the focal points of our season, but this year it ended up being the first regatta we were able to attend. It was very different to normal years, with no spectators allowed and the year groups split over different days, which meant that we did not get to see the usual rows of school marquees engulfed with screaming parents supporting the boys and girls as they raced past. This did not affect the racing, however, and the online footage and live timings created a great spectacle and allowed people to really feel involved in the racing by keeping up to date with what was going on. Borlase had the 3rd most entries of any club or school at the regatta, which shows the great strides we are making to grow the club as well as raise the standard of our crews. All our crew boats also made it through the time trials to the side by side finals, which was a brilliant result for all the hard work the rowers had put in. Saturday saw the sixth form rowers compete, with Borlase entering Championship boys’ and girls’ quads, as well as another boat into the second boys’ quad event. We also entered a girls’ single, and Katherine Sayers finished 22nd in a tough Championship event. At this top level of racing there are often very tight margins, and this turned out to be the case. Both the boys’ quads had great time trial races, but both narrowly missed out on the A finals, meaning they finished just outside the top 6. In the finals, the Champ quad finished 6th in the B final, with the second quad 2nd. In possibly the most competitive event at the regatta, the girls’ Champ quad came 16th in the time trial, getting through to the side by side racing.

SPORTS After giving the race a real go in the first 1500m they just ended up on the wrong side of a very close sprint for the line, ending up 6th in the C final. It was great to get to see these crews racing and, for the Year 13 rowers, it was a well deserved end to their junior careers. Sunday saw the Year 11 rowers get their shot. Having seen the tight margins of the day before they were determined to be on the correct side of any margins. We had boats entered in both the boys’ and girls’ 1st and 2nd quad events, showing the great depth in this year group. Both the girls’ boats made it comfortably through the time trials to the B finals. After some tough racing the 1st boat finished 6th, with the 2nd crew coming in 3rd. This was a huge step on for these girls finishing in the top 12 in the country, a much higher ranking than when they last raced in Year 9. The boys’ crews had strong time trials and both found themselves in the A finals. With medals up for grabs both crews set out good pans for the side by side racing and wanted to make sure they stepped up from the time trials. First the 2nd quad raced and after being led for the first 750m of the race by local rivals Marlow Rowing Club they pushed on through the halfway point and rowed away to win the Gold medal by 13 seconds. The 1st crew found themselves in another tight battle with Marlow Rowing Club in what was an extremely tight field for the first 1000m. Having kept their cool in the first half when five boats had been only a couple of seconds apart they were able to push all the way to the line, just squeezing their bow ball ahead in the last few strokes to pip Marlow

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and win the Bronze medal. Great results for these boys, and again they have moved up the rankings from their last National Schools Regatta. These results again show great depth and this competitive squad atmosphere is what will help keep pushing them all on to improve. With the depth of rowers competing at this level and our best National Schools for a good few years, we hope that the future is very bright. Boys’ Champ Quad - Toby Tremelling, Ethan Lennard, Ben Furley, Ross Lamont Girls’ Champ Quad - Emily Farmer, Ana GrahamUsabiaga, Millie Medlock, Dani Taverner Boys’ Second Quad - Oli Cox, Max Rahimian, Will Shipton-Jones, Lucas Roberts Girls’ Champ Single - Katherine Sayers Boys’ J16 1st Quad - Billy Dhariwal, Willem Bateson, Hector Downes, George Greene Girls’ J16 1st Quad - Emily Tremelling, Ines GrahamUsabiaga, Maya Jackson, Sasha Halliwell Boys’ J16 2nd Quad - Alex Stephens, Ed Ridley, Tassilo Issa, Alex Coe Girls’ J16 2nd Quad - Anne Irving, Weronika Naks, Athena Hall, Sofia Heard-Norrish (sub Martha Golledge) This season the Year 10 rowers were not able to race

at the National Schools due to the number of events taking place. On the Monday, however, the Scullery ran the National Junior Sculling Regatta, focussing mainly on this year group. Dylan Murgatroyd (Year 11) raced in the single event, finishing 2nd in the C final after a cracking fight down the whole course. Due to good numbers and competitiveness in the Year 10 group we decided to run octuples for the top boats, as well as entering a boys’ quad. Not only was this the Year 10s’ first race of the season, it also happened to be their first ever competitive race, as their Year 9 season had been disrupted by flooding and then the pandemic. They showed little evidence of inexperience, however, with both the girls’ and boys’ octuples finishing in the top 6 of the time trials, placing them in the A finals. The boys’ quad finished 25th in the time trial and will have learnt a lot about racing from the experience. The girls’ octuple raced hard and held their position from the time trial, ultimately coming out 6th in the final. This is a great start to their racing career. The boys were surprised when they heard they had in fact won their time trial by five seconds over Walton Rowing Club, but we made sure they kept their focus and were aware that the job was not yet finished. In the final it was much tighter all the way down the track, and the boys showed calmness beyond their years. After leading for the first half of the race they were overtaken in the third 500m; they did not panic, however, and put in a big push to retake the lead with 500m to go and win the Gold medal. This was a great performance and result, and shows the huge improvement this group has made since September. Boys’ J15 Octuple - Adam Ghani, Ed Thomson, Matt West, Noah Parker, Oscar Beswick, Max Blackbourn, Sam Furley, Oscar Bennett, Raf Conway (cox) Girls’ J15 Octuple - Eliska Hodkova, Ruby Sharma, Emily Sarno, Ellie Clark, Lois Powell, Sophie McDonnell, Katarina Finney, Hannah Hobbs, Nathalie Prokes (cox) Boys’ J15 Quad - Ryaan Ghani, Max Hobson, Greg Browning, Oli Jacobs, Charlotte Farmer (cox) Boys’ J16 Single - Dylan Murgatroyd These results show the strength and depth of Borlase Rowing, and we have a great group of Year 9 rowers who are very enthusiastic and very talented; we look forward to their first race in a few weeks time, where we hope they get the bug for competing. We also look forward to welcoming back all the parents to a riverside at some point soon; it has been too quiet without them cheering on the crews from the sides. I would like to thank outgoing captains Ben Furley and Emily Farmer who have led by example through these challenging times and stayed extremely positive throughout. They have been great role models for our younger rowers and they leave the club in a better position, which is all we could ask for. Mr Gray

SPORTS

HOCKEY

GU12 Despite Covid, this year's season has been great and although we haven’t been able to compete against other schools, we have had the time to work on our skills as individuals as well as a team. During Borlase Hockey@Home, our amazing coaches set up online sessions on Monday evenings. A great number of girls joined the sessions and lots of skills and exercises were set for us to do. We had mini competitions to see who could finish an exercise first and it really was something to look forward to on a Monday evening. Leah Maxwell & Jamima Littorin

BU12 For the A & B teams it was a very stop-start season, but the end of term tournaments definitely made up for it. Everyone tried their hardest to become the best player they could and it really paid off as we noticed the quality of play increase every time we stepped onto the pitch. The team is always supportive if somebody is struggling or needs help. We’re always excited to train so we can learn new tricks and skills and I love how we can always have a laugh - the bond we have with the coaches is great!

Ollie Drever & Noah Wills In spite of the restrictions, the C & D teams learnt many skills and progressed a great deal. We started, barely knowing how to maneuver a ball or hit it; now we have learnt many new techniques such as the 3D lift and overall better ball control, which really enhanced our gameplay. This has been a difficult year, but all the players have really tried their hardest to adapt to the new circumstances, and have shown real ambition and determination. Nikolai Meintjes & Sohan Bola

to play mini tournaments and lots of matches within the team. Lizzie Forrest & Amy Smith BU13 After being sent into lockdown, the A & B teams found creative ways to carry on our training. We had weeks online when we practiced skills as a group and independent weeks when we improved fitness and ball control. When real-life training resumed we played mini tournaments with the other U13 teams and really enjoyed being back at training. Bartley Rackard This season was, of course, gameless but that didn't stop the C & D teams from progressing in skill and morale greatly. Despite the lockdown, by December, and especially after the great Borlase Hockey@Home regime, the team grew close and with that came teamwork. This year, in my opinion, our team was brought together by the circumstances we were in, more than ever before. So I guess that's one good thing that came from Covid-19! Ben Lutz-Brown & Arushan Nirujan

GU14 It may have been an unusual season, but it didn’t stop us playing some great hockey. We played a range of different games during training sessions and did different drills every week, highlighting specific areas. During lockdown, we had hockey online which was very unusual and different for the team but we soon adapted to it. I think we all really enjoyed these sessions as they were one of our only social activities in the week, as well as helping us to develop our hockey. We played the boys’ team multiple times, each match with mixed results, but we definitely gave the boys a run for their money considering that we had never played 11-a-side before! Lyla Griffin & Hattie Parkinson

GU13 During lockdown, we did online sessions which involved hockey, yoga and fun team building activities such as scavenger hunts. Online sessions also had independent learning weeks, which were skills-based sessions, practicing techniques we’d learnt. When we started inperson sessions again it was great to see everyone and

SPORTS BU14 Mr Chappell and Mrs Porter generously gave up their afternoons in lockdown to keep us active on Google Meet and we were set plenty of physical challenges which helped us improve our hockey even with the most difficult of circumstances. Back in school, we did quite a few tournaments with lots of fun and an incredible dance off just before Easter. Sam Babes & Joe Cockroft

BU15 Throughout the year, we were able to adapt and incorporate new ways to practice, play and grow as a team. High numbers of the squad participated in Borlase Hockey@Home, which was a great success and a good way to see each other whilst also rehearsing some skills. The sessions were a mix of the analysis of matches, exercise, skill practise, fun games and quizzes. Even though it’s been a rocky year we have all been happy that we have got to play hockey in the end, whether it has been online or in our own homes. Oliver West & Dilsher Bagri GU16 During lockdown the team was committed to showing up to online sessions to discuss and analyse matches, work on skills, and improve teamwork. Once in-person sessions were back, we continued to work hard and turn up to training. Instead of working with the GU15 as usual, the GU16 team usually trained mixed, forcing the team to work in a different way and learn new strategies. Lauren Martin & Maya Kunchur

GU15 Google Meets definitely kept us entertained throughout lockdown as we improved our hockey skills and built the essential relationships needed in hockey through our teambuilding and ice-breaker sessions. Despite the team not playing any matches we remained committed in training whilst still managing to have lots of fun! Helena Kennedy & Ruby Paish

SPORTS BU16 This season, the saving grace for us all was the brilliant Hockey@Home sessions. Online videos provided by the coaches every Tuesday after Borlase@Home lessons were finished for the day ensured our fitness did not suffer during the long period of lockdown and the hour-long work-outs without doubt helped our mental well-being. Congratulations to Freddie Pollard and Will Stubbings for reaching PC, and to those players selected for county squads. Jamie King & Alex Britton

Y13 GIRLS The pandemic didn’t mean the end to Borlase Hockey we might have expected and we really made the most of what we could do, and enjoyed every last minute. During lockdown we were able to keep our spirits high and fitness levels up with online sessions each week. We would like to say a huge thank you to the hockey department for keeping it all going and giving us a great season, despite the circumstances. Lulu Broadbent

Y12 GIRLS Despite the challenges this year the team has still managed to form a great bond. Training sessions have ranged in activities to adapt to the different periods of time but all with the aim of having fun. During lockdown Lee Morton and Mike Irving delivered strength and conditioning sessions and we discussed international hockey matches. After lockdown Mark Munroe helped us work on our fitness (much of which we had lost). Whilst having lots of fun this season everyone has developed their skills and the quality of play throughout the team has improved significantly.

Hannah Dring Y12 BOYS After the Borlase Hockey@Home programme finished, we finally returned to training together on astro. The first steps we took were just to get back on the balls and re-grasp the concept of playing hockey. It was a struggle for some, but eventually we all got the hang of it again, and started to play mini-matches and small tournaments within our age-group bubbles. Charlie Shaw

Y13 BOYS In a hugely interrupted season, the 1st XI boys were more often apart than not. Due to Covid restrictions, we were separated into year groups, agonisingly divided by the halfway line each Wednesday. However, through the hard work of Mr Monk, and all our other coaches, an enjoyable season was salvaged from a terrible situation. Online sessions and year group training made up the entirety of the season, bar one session, in which we managed to train in 1st XI squads. A running competition through our final few weeks also gave us something to play for in our last sessions. Throughout our Borlase Hockey careers, the work of Mr Monk and countless other coaches have given us teammates, incredible moments on the pitch and potentially a sport for life. Ben Hoggan

STEM

(Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) 65

STEM

STEM AT BORLASE

This year has been tough for everyone, with Covid throwing new problems at us on a regular basis. It took a while to get societies up and running in the new environment, but they're now going as strong as ever. This year has seen the introduction of a number of new societies from Neuroscience to Botany, taking us to a record number of STEM socs. Thank you so much to all society leaders for soldiering on by running meetings online and sticking to all the new protocols at school. Keeping this part of Borlase life running has been really impressive. The way the Societies Fair was carried out this year was unique to any other year. As we were not able to carry out the usual in-person congregation of students and society leaders, things had to be moved virtually. We worked alongside the HELM and Language Prefects to create additional pages on the Sequere part of the school website. These pages included photos of the societies, past presentations and a sign-up form. All of the society leaders also created a video advertising why we should go to their society (and why we shouldn’t go to certain others!). In addition, many societies have been inviting guests to join them virtually during their weekly sessions. We’re really impressed with the society leaders in their proactiveness to invite renowned experts to speak about their profession, inspiring all of the members of their

societies. Further to this, BioSoc has established strong connections with Camps Crew International, an organisation dedicated to delivering responsible tourism and conservation opportunities. Biology and Geography students alike were enraptured by live webinars on their conservation work in Borneo, Costa Rica and Cambodia, in which we received fascinating presentations and asked questions to members of the team. In some ways, the pandemic has given Borlase STEM many opportunities, including the creation of many new societies and a virtual infrastructure to keep it alive. Although we haven’t been able to carry out everything that we had wished to, it has been an honour to work alongside Mrs Barclay and other members of the STEM community at Borlase. Emily Farmer. Alice Turnbull, Adam Town and Rishi Miriyala

YOUNG SCIENTISTS OF THE YEAR

Every year Science Oxford celebrates outstanding Year 13 science students across Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire at the Young Scientists of the Year Award. Now in their tenth year, the awards are an opportunity for teachers to nominate their best Year 13 students based on exam results, progress made during their A Level course and their enthusiasm and commitment to their chosen

STEM subject. Usually, the event is held amongst the dinosaurs at the Oxford University Natural History Museum but this time round the event took place virtually on Zoom, and students were celebrated with virtual waves or rounds of applause for attributes such as dedication, enthusiasm, curiosity and supporting others around them. We are absolutely delighted that Alice Turnbull, who was nominated for Biology, and Dani Taverner who was nominated for Chemistry, were awarded the prestigious title of Young Scientist of the Year.

CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD

In January, eight Year 12 and 13 chemists showed great dedication by taking part in the Royal Society of Chemistry Olympiad, and received the following awards: Participation: Gracie Brown, Lena Kotowska, Alexander Mills Bronze: Lucy Barnes, Ellie Harkin, Mani Ipchi Silver: Anthony Adamson Gold: Angus Mactear Sadly lockdown meant there was no STEM Dinner this year, but the Chemistry technicians carried on the tradition and made our usual award for Angus, who truly excelled in the RSC Olympiad and has an offer to read Chemistry at St Hugh's, Oxford. Dr R J Sowden Head of Chemistry

STEM

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT NEWS

The Maths department has continued to be a vibrant and lively place. Miss Vijayan joined the department in September and Mrs Rousseva worked with us from September through to April. I would like to say a huge thank you to all the teachers for their ongoing dedication to supporting the students and each other, as well as their amazing enthusiasm that continues through every change that occurs (I’m sure everyone misses 2.5 hours of Maths lessons, right?). Like many things, Maths Support looked different this year, but Year 12 mentors were keen to volunteer when asked to help pupils in Key Stage 4 preparing for their GCSEs, working with them at breaktimes, lunchtimes and after school. STEP Maths Club has been busy this year, with Year 12 and 13 pupils tackling the problems presented in past STEP papers, with support from Mr Campbell. As well as good practice for STEP and MAT examinations, the club offers a place for Sixth Form Maths students to socialise after school and challenge each other with hard maths, covering the walls with detailed workings - very artistic, I must say! As the year comes to an end, we are saying farewell to the excellent Mr Day, who has been here since January 2019. Thank you for a great two years - we will miss you and wish you the best of luck at your new school.

COMPETITION SUCCESS

We regularly send teams to Maths competitions which allow our most enthusiastic and able students the opportunity to pit their maths brains against students from other schools. This year’s Maths Feast was held in school, so that many more pupils were able to take part in this challenging team competition. Congratulations to all participants. UKMT Maths Challenges Nationally around 600,000 students take part in the three challenges and the top 40% receive a Gold, Silver or Bronze Certificate in the ratio 1:2:3. For each round, a few hundred nationally are invited to take part in the Olympiad Follow On Competition, and a few thousand take part in the Kangaroo Follow On Multiple Choice round. At Borlase this year 177 students took the Senior challenge, 201 took the Intermediate challenge and 162 took the Junior challenge. Our students achieved 38 Gold Certificates, 124 Silver and 168 Bronze, with 37 students going through to the follow on Kangaroo Round and 3 students through to the Olympiad Competitions. We also had twelve Year 11 and 12 pupils sit the Maths Olympiad for Girls.

The students who went through to the advanced Kangaroo and Olympiad rounds this year were: Year 13:

Leon Tasch, Oscar Wilkinson, Adam Town (Best in Year, BMO) Year 12:

Mani Ipchi, James Perry (Best in Year) Year 11:

Thomas Bull , Billy Dhariwal, Hector Downes, Louis Ellis, Daisy Foley, James Ley, Weronika Naks, Sadie Smith, Alex Stephens (also Best in Year in the Senior Challenge), Joel Taylor (Best in Year, Best in School, IMO) Year 10:

Lisa Dixon, Jamie Shepherd (Best in Year) Year 9:

Toby Dickinson, Nina Gibson, Matthew Gillespie, Sophie Richardson Dennett, Nathan Taylor, Fin Engelberts (Best in Year, IMO) Year 8:

Anna Dixon , Oisin Elliot, Jake Henniker, John Palmer, Maya Patel, Ellen Sutcliffe, Samuel Vinall, George Moody (Best in Year, Best in School) Year 7:

Adam Daowd, Anouk Pathiraja, Amy Richardson Dennett, Ethan Robbins, Krishan Sandhu, Ethan Schrecker, Jake Scott, Aleeza Yahya, Monty Fordham (Best in Year) Maths Olympiad for Girls:

Kitty Powell (Best in Year, within top 25% of UK contestants)

STAND UP MATHS

Year 12 Mathematicians usually enjoy an annual day out to hear lectures from renowned Mathematicians. This year, we had to go virtual, starting with the ‘Taking a Chance’ show in October, hosted by Matt Parker and featuring Ben Sparks and Zoe Griffiths; Yolanda Ohene talked about ‘Science, Statistics, & SARS-CoV-2’ and David Stevens, CEO of Admiral Insurance (a business built on statistics), brought statistics and probability to life in his talk, really making pupils think about mathematics in the finance industry. A second show, ‘Visualising Maths’ in November, featured mathematicians including: Grant Sanderson (aka 3 Blue 1 Brown), world renowned VFX artist Dr Eugénie von Tunzelmann (who worked on the Harry Potter movies among others) and bestselling author Dr Simon Singh. Mrs Richardson

OLD BORLASIANS 69

OLD BORLASIANS

DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

This year we have raised over £130,000 in support for the school. The fund enables Borlase to deliver outstanding learning and development opportunities for all our students. In addition, this year, the fund has been critical in helping us to continue to respond to the pandemic and keep the school safe. We remain one of the most poorly funded schools in the country, and the support of our parent and alumni community continues to allow us to do so much more. Thank you to all of the school's parents and alumni who have donated to the fund this year. Your support is very much appreciated and enables us to keep Borlase outstanding.

BORLASE 400 CAMPAIGN

Borlase 400 is our ambitious fundraising programme to ensure innovative, inspirational and excellent learning environments for our students today and in the future. The Phase One vision of ‘Sports for All’ has now been achieved, funded by over £4.5 million in successful grant bids and £150,000 in fundraising initiatives, including the Borlase Boost in 2020 and the Sports Lottery. Ms I Cains, Development Director

SPORTS LOTTERY

On December 11th 2020, we launched the ‘Borlase Sports Lottery’ to raise money for the Borlase Sports Campus which was well into its construction. We asked people to ‘sponsor’ squares on a pitch, by purchasing tickets for £25, £100 or £250 which entered them into a draw for the chance to win £1000. This fantastic initiative was well supported by the whole Borlase community and we were delighted to raise £44,000 which has allowed us to provide some fantastic facilities and equipment

for our current and future students. Our £1,000 jackpot winner was James Cook (Parent). With the £500 prizes going to Darren Whatman (1984-1990), Neil Hart (19791983), Renaud Besnard (Parent), Daniel Leonard (Parent). Many of our winners very generously chose to donate their winnings back to the school! Thank you to all those who were instrumental in driving the fundraising, especially Mr Monk, Mr Duggan, Mr Long, Mr Elliot, Mr Joel and Miss Mountfield and thank you to everyone who sponsored a square and helped us reach our fundraising target. Mr Duggan

SPORT FACILITIES

Over the course of the previous two years, the Sport and PE facilities at Borlase have changed beyond all recognition! The old Netball courts are now a junior football pitch, the old Astroturf is now a top quality netball and tennis courts and the top half of Home Meadow is now a 1/2 sized Astroturf. The jewel in the crown, however, is the brand new Sports Hall, which incorporates a designated PE teaching classroom, a Fitness Suite, PE Office, 4 changing rooms and a full sized Sports Hall. Sport and PE at the school has operated at a level that is beyond what it should have done based on the facilities that we had. The massive upgrade of the facilities are now going to enable the Sport and PE team to really push Sport and PE onwards and upwards, by achieving our main aim which is to give sports opportunities to all students. Mr Duggan

OLD BORLASIANS

OLD BORLASIAN CLUB ‘Once a Borlasian, always a Borlasian’

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

It is an honour and privilege to take over as Club President. I have, however, the challenging task of replacing Cathie Wells, who has done such a tremendous job over the last two years. Cathie has shown great vitality and energy, particularly in attracting new young members to the Club. The one year trial membership to Year 13 leavers has been particularly successful and we hope to keep this going in the future. In addition, Cathie was responsible for introducing the Alumni prefects to our meetings to help raise awareness of the Club to those leaving the school. While it has been difficult to meet the prefects in person this year, it is hoped that we can do so before the end of term. Just as the school had to move all teaching and learning online for part of 2020 and into 2021, so we have had to follow suit with Old Borlasian Club meetings on Zoom for the last 15 months. Part of the funds we raise goes to providing school prizes in the Arts, Sports and Sciences. Due to the pandemic, all of the prize giving has had to be made online this year but the school was determined to keep this going with representation from the Club at each awards ceremony. While it has proved difficult to carry on with certain plans, the Committee has still managed to keep a number of projects moving in the right direction. We are making great progress with turning C5/C6 into a celebration of the school’s history. Shortly to be christened the Lever Room, named after the late and much missed Stuart Lever, a former pupil, long standing OBC member and president, this space will offer current and former pupils, as well as visitors, a chance to delve into the school’s rich 400 year history. The room has been decorated and display cabinets fitted, and various school artefacts, trophies, old photos and historic papers will be put on display. A formal opening is being planned for later in the year, Covid permitting. The room will also be used for medium scale meetings and social gatherings. We really hope that the room will forge an even greater sense of identity and connection with everyone associated with Borlase – something that the OBC is especially keen to nurture. Greg Lim is continuing with creating an updated book of the school history. This is a huge challenge but Greg is determined to complete it before 2024 – the school’s 400th anniversary. The scanning of Borlasian magazines carries on, with plans to create an Archive section on the school website. Eventually you will be able to view all Borlasian magazines dating back to 1885 as a virtual book! Year on year, the Old Borlasian Club tries to make a

tangible difference. Borlase has numerous big projects on the go to keep the school moving forward. It is with the smaller projects where the OBC continues to provide unwavering support. We really hope that we may be able to re-introduce some of the in-person gatherings that we have sadly had to postpone due to the pandemic, and we look forward to welcoming new and existing members to these events. My thanks to everyone on the Committee for their tremendous work this year – John, Tony, Greg, Chris, Simon, Grant, Cathie and Andy. Julien Bussell

RECENT EVENTS

Thanks to the Covid and the resulting restrictions over the past year this report could be written in just a few words: recent events nil, future events uncertain. With easing of lockdown we are hoping that some form of reunion dinner or similar can be planned for the autumn term, and other regular Old Borlasian events can be reinstated before too long. The Club now produces a regular newsletter for members and any event news will be published in it. This is one way of staying in touch with old friends, but it would be good to get together again in the flesh and share a drink and a chat after so much Zooming in the past year.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2020

For the first, and hopefully the last, time the AGM took place on the 25th of November via Zoom. Reports were delivered by Tony Compton, Hon.Sec., on the year’s activities and by Andy Howland on Finance. The accumulated funds stand at £3,471 for the year ending 30th June 2020. This year we have a new President in Julien Bussell, who has taken over from Cathie Wells to do his two years in office. Other officers and committee elected are: Honorary Secretary – Tony Compton Honorary Treasurer – Andy Howland Committee – Cathie Wells, John Barry, Peter Allen, Simon Funnell, Chris Funnell, Greg Lim, Grant Taylor (membership secretary) and John Jayes. Kay Mountfield is ex officio member and Ilona Cains is co-opted and they keep us up to date with what is happening in school. We are always on the lookout for new members to join the committee. It would be good to have a few more women to give it a better balance. The committee remains very committed to helping the school in whatever way it can.

OLD BORLASIANS

THE OLD BORLASIAN PRIZE 2021

MARSHALL VENIAR (1995-2002)

The news of Charles’ passing on 27th March 2021 shocked the ‘Borlase family’ and left us all bereft of a very friendly and loyal companion. Charles excelled in his profession, and in his private life he was a devoted husband to Marion and father to Mark and Frances and their four grandchildren. I last met Charles just a few years ago when he and Marion were doing the same as my wife and I – making our contribution to the happiness of our grandchildren in the Peter Pan garden in Cliveden A most affable and approachable person, Charles, always smiling, had a great sense of humour on which everybody remarked; I remember him grinning about his judge’s regalia, commenting on its somewhat archaic cut! At the Old Borlasian Dinner in 1995, when he was the Guest of Honour proposing the Toast to The School, he knew he had to weave into his speech a touch of comedy, an unwritten part of the menu. In his usual self-deprecating style he posed the question – ‘What is the height of disappointment? A coachload of lawyers going over Beachy Head with one spare seat!’ The diners were obviously satisfied judging from the laughter that followed, and Charles’ confident, beaming delivery had well succeeded. I imagine it was an evergreen old chestnut that he had confidently used several times in the past. Charles spent a life much to be admired. There was time for caring for family and friends; time for seriousness and laughter; time for duty and charitable activity. Most importantly there was time for spiritual reflection. Farewell Charles. Requiescat in pace.

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Marshall Veniar, aged 37. I remember him as a helpful and enthusiastic student who made the most of every opportunity. Marshall left Borlase in 2002 ready to embark on his studies at Exeter. He had severe cystic fibrosis, but outlived all predictions. After university he became a filmmaker, spent a year in Namibia, married and had two daughters. His sixth form Psychology teacher, Rita Bond, shared her memories of Marshall as “an outstanding individual, living life to the full”. Cathie Wells “On leaving Borlase in 2002, Marshall studied English and Film at Exeter University followed by a postgraduate course at the New York Film Academy and a Masters in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway. Shortly afterwards he met his future wife, Laura, and together they spent a year in Namibia working for the N/a’an Ku Se Conservation Charity. During this time Marshall produced promotional videos for the charity which brought exposure to its many appeals through outlets such as the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, and helped considerably to raise funds. On their return to London, Marshall worked for Sassy Films as a cameraman/editor, working on a variety of assignments including film premieres, theatre productions and live music events, as well as commercial DVDs and corporate videos. His background in film and creative writing enabled him to bring a sense of imagination to all his projects. From capturing cheetahs in the bush to working on fully lit studio productions, working alone in an edit suite or as part of a team of cameramen, Marshall was comfortable with a wide range of equipment in any environment. Marshall had a variety of interests outside of work, including photography, journalism and stand-up comedy. He spent a few summers at the Edinburgh Festival, initially as a journalist writing for the Arts sections of the Glasgow Herald and The Scotsman, and later performing stand-up comedy. He also wrote a short play about fertility struggles, ‘Four Glasses’, which was performed on stage and subsequently recorded for a podcast. Although Marshall was born with, and ultimately succumbed to, cystic fibrosis, he never let his condition deter him from living life to the full. He has left an indelible impression on everyone privileged to know him as a friend, schoolmate or colleague. Despite all his achievements, Marshall’s proudest productions by far are his two daughters, Talia and Naomi.” Tribute written by Laura and Marshall’s mother. I am sure that all Old Borlasians will join the Committee in offering our deepest condolences to Marshall’s family. If you would like to send a message to the family, please feel free to send them to obclub.membership@gmail. com and we will pass them on.

John Barry (1948-54)

Andrew Schofield

This year the prize, consisting of the Bates Cup and £100 which is funded by the Club, is awarded to Imogen Baguley and Leon Tasch to whom we offer our congratulations.

IN MEMORIAM 2020-21

Old Borlasian pupils and staff who have sadly passed away in the last year and whose deaths have been notified to the School or Club: Norman Bateman (1957-83) Colin Fagan (1951-58) Marshall Veniar (1994-2002) Charles Elly (1952-60) Past President and Chairman of Governors and Trustees Nicholas Paterson (1983-89)

OBITUARIES RICHARD CHARLES ELLY (1952-60)

OLD BORLASIANS

NICOLAS (‘NIC’) PATTERSON (1983-89)

Nic Patterson was something of a Borlase legend throughout his time at school. His reputation as an outstanding young sportsman preceded his arrival in 1983. He was already a renowned junior footballer and athlete whilst at Foxes Piece Junior School. Known to his peers in his early Borlase years simply as ‘Patterson’, he was a revered individual who had developed physically and athletically well ahead of his contemporaries at a young age. Nic was the ‘hard man’ of the year group, not to be messed with (or so they said) and was always the first pick in every lunchtime kick-about football team. It was, however, a reputation based sparsely on fact and more on myth and classroom banter. Nic was in fact a gentle and kindly soul, quiet and diligent as a student and classmate, loyal as a friend and, indeed yes, an outstanding sportsman. The fact that many saw his physical capabilities as a form of cult status inevitably amused Nic and he passively allowed the reputation to linger amongst those willing to perpetuate it. Competitive, skilled, powerful and quick, Nic had all the attributes to be a first-class footballer. Ironically, Borlase didn’t field a competitive football team during his time at school, so his talents translated ably across other sports – he played some hockey, ran for the school at district level and was a versatile, selfless rugby footballer. He and I formed a strong partnership for five years of school rugby at scrum half and No. 8 respectively. The Borlase 1st XV of 1987/88 & 1988/89 enjoyed a strong couple of seasons, often defined by performing well in matches when Nic was playing and bossing the game with his vision, strength and talent. By now, Nic was at the shorter end of the measuring tape, most having passed him in height, a fact the rugby team were never slow to remind him of. He always took this with good humour, but one knew not to press the fact home too enthusiastically; there would be a crunching tackle waiting for you at the next training session. Injuries, however, would torment Nic throughout school, and time missed on the sporting field as a result frustrated him enormously. Any team sheet was always the stronger (and the team relieved and happier) when a fit ‘Patterson, N’ appeared on it. Nic did not shout or brag about his talents - that wasn’t his style. He simply trusted himself to let his performances do the talking. He continued to excel at football outside of school for Marlow Boys, and undertook a controversial transfer to Marlow United, resulting in some fiercely contested derby matches between the two sides. He also played at district level throughout his school days. Nic was also a familiar face around Marlow. Many will remember him working outside of school at the fish and chip shop on West Street, bags of chips always on the huge size of a large portion when he served his mates. Academically, Nic was a good student who studied hard

for his results. He was a strong mathematician and a keen A Level geographer, a subject we shared in the Sixth Form. The department’s approach was far more adult and collegiate than others, and the field trips, under the relaxed watch of Ken Papin and Roy Jones were hugely enjoyable. Nic and I continued to recall these times beyond our Borlase years over the odd beer, remembering the experiences with affection and great humour. Nic’s maturity and popularity was not lost on the teaching staff. He was a prefect and Head of Saxons, which was a strong sporting house during his time at the school. While at school, life presented some challenging personal circumstances which must have affected Nic greatly. There was disruption to his family life which he dealt with privately and stoically. At the time many doubted whether he would complete his studies at school. It was the mark of the young man that he did, successfully so, progressing to Cardiff University to study for his B.Ed and PGCE. Teaching and the classroom called for Nic, a vocation that suited his patient, caring and supportive character. With his wife Jane, daughter Lauren Lee and, later, grandchildren, Nic settled and taught in south Wales, since 2001 as a housemaster at The Cathedral School in Cardiff where he was held in the highest esteem by his colleagues and students. Latterly he was the Head of Faculty for the Technical and Creative Arts, whilst unsurprisingly also an ‘outstanding coach of the 1st XI football team for many years’. He was a committed family man. His interests included music, DJing and winning pub quizzes – the many and varied tributes in recent weeks on social media show how many people enjoyed sharing these with Nic. Many simply remembered him as ‘the best footballer I ever played with, or against’. Everyone recalls his kindness and loyal friendship. Nic was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. It was his personal milestone to reach his 50th birthday, with his family, which he did a few weeks before his passing. Andre Compton

KEITH BOSLEY (1949-56)

I picked up a short note in the Old Borlasian Newsletter for December 2019 that Keith Bosley had died and this stirred memories for me. Keith was 3 years older than me; at school he was a very romantic figure, a fine musician, and dedicated to poetry. He helped me with my endeavours to play the organ in chapel and was a regular performer on the piano at school concerts and a contributor of verse to the school magazine. I remember that he was very much in love with ‘Sweet P**’ and claimed to read the love poetry of Catullus with her. He wrote about her: “In my arms thou’rt safe as howses, Een as eek thy yellow blowse is.” And he wrote a piece

OLD BORLASIANS about the death of Dylan Thomas, of whom we younger boys knew nothing. He used to quote Organ Morgan from Under Milk Wood: “ Johann Sebastian Mighty Bach”, thus linking his love of music and poetry. I heard nothing of Keith’s subsequent career until I went to Finland in 1989 and noticed by chance in a Helsinki bookshop, a book called ‘Wanton Loverboy’, an anthology of Finnish Folk Poetry from the Kalevala, which Keith helped to edit and translate into English. I bought it, and subsequently also bought his weighty translation of the whole of the Kalevala, published by Oxford World Classics. The ability to translate poetry is a very remarkable talent, which Keith certainly had. John Barry recalls that Keith and his wife could be seen riding a tandem around Slough in later years, which to me shows that his romantic nature endured throughout his life. After university in Paris, Caen and Reading, Keith started his career as a BBC announcer and newsreader on the World Service., but he became best known as a poet and translator. There is a very full account of his career on Wikipedia and a full obituary by Anthony Rudolf in the ‘Fortnightly Review’. There is a link to this obituary from the Wikipedia entry. Keith died, aged 80, in a nursing home in Slough on 24th June 2018 after a short illness. David Shipp (1951-58)

NORMAN BATEMAN (STAFF 1957-1983)

Norman joined the staff at Borlase in 1957 at a significant time for the growth of the school. In the previous year departments had been set up and he became very involved in the growth of the Languages Department. At the same time the school was expanding in pupil numbers to take account of the post war ‘baby boom’ and new buildings had been completed to accommodate the increased learning activities. Norman was a Yorkshireman, something that was evident when you heard his broad north- country accent. He came to Borlase as a teacher of German via Cambridge University where he was an exhibitioner at Clare College. I remember him as a man of small stature always smartly dressed in a suit and with very fair slicked back hair. And that briefcase. He always seemed to carry his briefcase wherever he went. He was a strict disciplinarian and stood no nonsense from boys who might try it on with a new young teacher. It was always rumoured that he carried an old chair leg in that briefcase which was used for hitting boys who misbehaved. I don’t know whether that was true, I never witnessed it the few times that he took a lesson standing in for another teacher. Tony Evans studied German up to O Level in the late 1950s and recalls his strict regime. “My recollection is that he was a pretty strict guy to the extent that some pupils were quite scared of him”. Vocabulary tests were

a standard part of languages learning and Norman’s ’punishment‘ for a poor score was to write out the English and German words many times. Tony said that this actually helped him to learn them. All teachers had a nick-name in those days and Norman’s was “Noddy”. Why? Everyone has forgotten! But there were at least two sides to Norman and some boys experienced another side to him when they joined him on the annual walking trip around Germany in the summer holidays. He started this off soon after arriving at Borlase and it became a regular event in the summer holidays all organised by himself. Naturally he was a great enthusiast and very knowledgeable about all things German and the boys had a very enjoyable time youth hostelling and hiking and of course learning too. He also got involved in helping out with other school trips to Europe both in the Easter and summer holidays to the likes of Switzerland, France and Luxembourg. One of his other interests was music and as a pianist he contributed to school concerts as an accompanist and introduced young pupils to the piano as well. Norman eventually became Head of Languages and was to stay at Borlase for the rest of his teaching career. Chris Wright joined the school in 1976 and worked with Norman until his retirement in 1983 when Chris took over the headship of the Languages department from him. He remembers Norman as a very private individual and a dedicated schoolmaster who shared his love of Europe with his pupils. However he felt he never really got to know him well. He had been a bachelor for much of his life living with his parents in Marlow during his teaching career at Borlase. After retiring he married Pauline and they moved back to Yorkshire, settling in Beverley. For many years they continued with Norman’s love of travel with visits to central Europe and Russia as well as taking river cruises. At home they gained much pleasure from their garden and their pet dachshunds. Norman had stayed in touch with the Old Borlasian Club since retirement despite living so far away. We were very sorry to learn of his death in June last year. He had given 26 years of committed service, not just to the development of foreign languages at Borlase but also the wider aspects of secondary education such as travel and music. Tony Compton (1957-64)

EARLY DAYS AT BORLASE

In May 1945 I was in the First Form having passed the scholarship nine months earlier from Elmshott Lane School, Cippenham. You were either sent to Slough Grammar or Borlase, and I never worked out how the Bucks Education Authority made the school selection. We enjoyed the initial excitement of going by train from

OLD BORLASIANS Burnham to Maidenhead, change to Bourne End, then the Donkey Line to Marlow. We were labelled ‘Slough Boys’ because the train did not get us to school in time for Chapel. The tides of war were changing and we were beginning to sense victory with the allies advancing towards the Rhein. We still needed to be on alert for German V1 bombs and the deadly V2 rockets, against which there was no defence. Like so many families we experienced tragedy when news came that my uncle had been killed in action in Holland in October 1944. He was like an older brother to me. Starting at Borlase I wore my first pair of long trousers. We took the Daily Express throughout the war (I was a devoted ‘Rupert the Bear’ fan) and I was puzzled why Churchill had called for a snap election with the war still raging against the Japanese. I was politically naive. As Churchill had led us to victory in Europe, I assumed he would be returned as Prime Minister, but doubts arose when I noticed some of the senior boys on the train had ' Vote Labour' stickers and the names of politicians I had never heard of stuck on their school cases. The euphoria of VE Day did not last long as war continued in the Far East against Japan, and food rationing got tougher and we were still faced with many shortages. You could get a hot school lunch every day and visits to the seaside were permitted - many of us had not seen the sea since 1939. Although strictly rationed, we were beginning to receive our first shipments of oranges and bananas. Many of the wartime dark days continued throughout the 1940s and into the fifties. I never dreamed that 75 years later there would be some parallels with the current ‘lockdown’ restrictions. William (Billy) Gilbert (1944-50)

BORLASE POETRY – A STEP BACK IN TIME

Poetry by pupils is a regular feature of the Borlasian. Over the years the school has also published books separately to celebrate some of the budding poets who have attended Borlase. While the first edition of The Borlasian was published in September 1885, it was not until 1927 that the first poem appeared in the magazine, courtesy of a pupil called J.A. Ford. Trawling through subsequent editions, a number of common themes become apparent: the four seasons figure prominently, as does the River Thames, local wildlife, a variety of sports, numerous individual perspectives on life at Borlase, the commute, and trips to the dentist!

I hope you enjoy these wonderful snippets of poetry from former school pupils: JH’s ‘The Cricketer’ (1932) shows his passion for the game: Give me the game I love, Let the rest go by, Give me just a short pitched ball, And the boundary nigh me Fame I seek not, nor a cap, We have to push the roller, All I seek a nice big bat, And a slow break bowler.’ E.H. Weaver’s ‘House Fours’ describes a rowing regatta in 1933: The sweating boys bend to their oars, The waters lashed to foam. The blades flash back, the cox’n yells, The boats both dash for home. They’re coming round the corner now, The crews are tiring fast The cox’s voice is getting hoarse, But the halfway tree is passed.’

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R. Jarvis’s ‘Early in the Morning’ in 1934 depicts the mad dash to school: I heard a bus come clattering, And dashing up the street. I saw a boy come sauntering, And hoping it to meet; So early in the morning His eyes they looked so sleepy, His walk was not too brisk; With books in satchel swinging, The conductor said: “Who’s this?” So early in the morning.

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OLD BORLASIANS Or M.A. O’Flynn’s similarly named poem ‘Early One Morning’ in 1941: The Marlow Donk was almost due, Ed had no time to spare, He licked his face and scrubbed his teeth, He combed and brushed his hair

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G. Taylor beautifully describes the start of ‘A School Day’ in 1943: Borlase boys are on their way; Slowly comes the Marlow train; It puffs and groans as if in pain. No wonder, for it’s full of boys Who make the most unholy noise; Now they join the local throng And to the school they march along. Masters too go hurrying by, The light of battle in their eye; With hurried step or measured tread, And some on tyres of rosy red; Now through the arch they briskly turn As generations past have done. The bell now calls to morning prayer; The sound of singing fills the air. Here begins another day; Borlase School is under way.

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And G.R. Brown’s ‘Our School’ tells of the school’s refurbishment in 1937, perhaps a reminder of recent school building projects? What a banging! What a clatter! What on earth can be the matter! Each man working with a tool Renovating our old school Lorries coming in and out Dropping heaps of sand about; Sand, cement, all mixed with water, Will be turned to useful mortar.

Heaps of mortar, heaps of wood Ruins where our rooms once stood; Out of this will rise you’ll see, Brand new rooms for you and me.’

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J. Robertson’s ‘The Snow Fight’ in 1946 is a wonderful portrayal of fun during a cold winter: Down on hands and knees we go, Plunging in a sea of snow; Gathering lots of ammunition, Ere we take up our position Now the foe appears in sight! Rally, comrades, for the fight! Let your snowballs, hard and round, Whiz and whistle all around.

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M.L. Bowley’s ‘The Dentist’ (1941) recounts the dental visits that filled pupils with dread: What is the matter with my knees As I go up the dentist’s stair? With lagging steps and sinking heart I go towards the dentist’s chair The dentist’s drills lie side by side; With nerveless hand I grip the chair The dentist says “Now open wide” Then whirring noises fill the air.’

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And I can only assume that G. Dickson became inspired in the dentist waiting room after a double period of English Literature with his ‘Hamlet At The Dentist’ (1944):By gas, or not by gas; that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer The pains and achings of terrific pulling Or now submit myself to gentle perfume That leads to realms of peace.

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OLD BORLASIANS Finally, another Shakespeare-inspired poem by P. J. Pitman from 1933, expressing what might be described as dissatisfaction with the labour involved in the levelling of Home Meadow in ‘King Henry V (in the Home Meadow)’ Once more unto the digging, boys, once more, And fill the trucks up, with those idle spades. At mid-day nothing so becomes a boy, As cunning shirking and as laziness, But when the Captain’s voice sounds in your ears, Then imitate the action of a navvy, Stiffen the muscles, summon up the strength, Disguise your hands with muddy Marlow clay. Then lend the face a terrible aspect, Let it be covered with large spots of dirt, Like the Dartmoor convict. Let the sweat drop, As doth the water from a sparkling fall. Now set the teeth and stretch the flat feet wide, Hold hard the breath and bend up every muscle, To fill the trucks. On, on, you slacking lags, Who are astounded at the Captain’s strength, Captains that, like so many toiling slaves, Have in these parts from one till half past drudged, And sheathed their spades for lack of time. Dishonour not your House, and now attest That you are worthy of your flag.

OLD BORLASIANS

BORLASE OLYMPIANS Anyone who works with young people knows the pride and satisfaction of seeing them go on and develop into outstanding people. We are incredibly fortunate to be in a position to support students through their development, but it is equally pleasing to see students develop beyond their time at school. For sportsmen and women, reaching a World Cup or Olympics could be seen as the ultimate

achievement, and two recent Borlasians have done just that, by being selected to represent Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics. Tom Dean (2018) has been selected for the Swimming Squad and Jack Beaumont (2012) for the Rowing Squad. Huge congratulations to both of them and best wishes as they fly the Team GB flag! Mr Duggan

OLD BORLASIANS

FLEUR THOMAS

Old Borlasian and former OBC President Fleur Thomas has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Luxembourg from April 2021, following a diverse career, most recently as Head of Exports at the Ministry of Defence. On leaving Borlase, Fleur studied at University of Reading (Land Management first class honours), and subsequently an MBA and MSc Development Management with the Open University. Writing about her time at Borlase, Fleur recalls: “Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s Borlase was a very different school to the one we see today, and the whole school was not co-ed. In fact, music and the performing arts were really not the focus at all, and, being a bit of a musician, I was probably a bit of an oddity! However it was always a very inspiring place with some really wonderful teachers. I was also very proud to be the first female President of the Old Borlasians. I have for some years maintained a close connection to the school, as it was always a happy place for me. I hope that the school will continue to be a happy place for the current pupils as they move into their University lives or careers.” On her appointment, Fleur says: “I consider it a great honour to be appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a beautiful and welcoming country with a rich history, and I am very much looking forward to exploring this remarkably diverse region. As we enter a new phase, I welcome the opportunity to build on the UK’s future bilateral relationship with Luxembourg, and I am excited about working on shared priorities such

as gender equality and climate change. Being a culinary and wine enthusiast, with a love of art and music, I am excited to discover more of Luxembourg’s heritage and people.”

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Remembrance Day: The annual service of Remembrance will be held in the School Chapel on Thursday 11th November at 10am. AGM: The AGM will be held in the School in late November – date to be arranged. OB Carol Service: All Saints’ Parish Church, Marlow, on the evening of Thursday 16th December. Presidents’ Sherry Party: Friday 17th December from 12pm onwards.

SCHOOL RECORDS

2020 LEAVERS' DESTINATIONS Allcock, Harry: Swansea University - Economics & Business

Allen, Matthew: University of Warwick - Biological Sciences

D'Arcy, Mark: Somerville College, Oxford - English Language & Literature

Allen, Matthew: Royal Holloway, University of London - Economics

Denman, Lucy: University of Manchester - Environmental Science

Allen, Iesha: London School of Economics - International Relations

Davies, Miles: University of Southampton - Medicine

Amos, Evie: University of Exeter - Modern Languages

Dennis, Harry: University of Nottingham - Geography

Appleton, Sophie: Swansea University - Biological Sciences

Ayres, Deia: Nottingham Trent University - International Business Badham, Amy: University of East Anglia - Medicine

Bagri, Arjan: University of Leeds - Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Bahra, Munmeet: University of Southampton - Aeronautics & Astronautics Baker, Hollie: Oxford Brookes University - Criminology

Banks, Lucy: University of Exeter - Human Biosciences Barnett, Isobel: Newcastle University - Biology

Basra, Navkaran: University College London - Physics Bell, Milly: Loughborough - Design Foundation Bennett, Polly: University of Nottingham - History

Bloemsma-Goettsch, Rose: University of Exeter - Medical Sciences Bourne, Madeleine: University of Southampton - Archaeology Brady, Jennifer: Swansea University - Medical Engineering Brazier, Max: University of Warwick - Cyber Security

Brogan, Tara: University of Sussex - Psychology with Neuroscience

Broyhill-Fogg, Toby: University of Leeds - Computer Science with AI Bujakowski, Yasmine: Cardiff University - Business Management

Burnage, Charlotte: Newcastle University - Economics & Business Management Bussell, Alec: University of Exeter - Business and Management Butler, Finlay: University of Edinburgh - Civil Engineering

Carlaw, Ailsa: University of Southampton - Biomedical Sciences

Carvill, Josephine: Bath Spa University - Drama and Film Studies Castle, Lola: Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts - Theatre & Performance Technology Chadwick, Cameron: University of Bath - Business

Chadwick, Megan: University of Exeter - Anthropology

Diamond, Cormac: Queen’s College, Oxford - Music Downey, Faye: University of Aberdeen - History

Doyle, Emily: University of Chichester - Dance Performance Elliott, Alex: Swansea University - Business Management

Emelyanenko, Anastasia: University of Southampton - Chemistry Emmerson, Charlotte: Oxford Brookes University - Law

Evans, Charles: Downing College, Cambridge - Psychological & Behavioural Sciences Falconer, Charlotte: University of Nottingham - Mechanical Engineering Ferguson, Ben: University of Bristol - Economics

Fernandes-Leonard, Hannah: University of Bath - Biochemistry Fores, Jessica: University of Nottingham - English

French, Zak: University of Exeter - Accounting and Finance Garske, Matthew: University of Nottingham - Aerospace Engineering

Gerard, Eloise: University of Birmingham - Business Management Goyal, Ashwin: Imperial College London - Medicine Grewal, Ria: Swansea University - Psychology Gulian, Thomas: Durham University - Law

Gurung, Seemit: Bristol West of England - Accounting & Finance

Hain, Liora: University of Southampton - Business Entrepreneurship Hall, Michael: University of Nottingham - Aerospace Engineering Hawkins, Etienne: King's College London - English

Hayward, Daisy: University of Leeds - English & Film Studies Hesketh, Charlotte: University of Sheffield - Biosciences

Heys, Pat: Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts - Sound Technology Hibbert, Lauren: University of Bristol - Management

Chavda, Kush: Newcastle University - Business Accounting & Finance

Hibbert, Louise: Bournemouth University - Media Production

Chorlton, Tom: Lincoln College, Oxford - Medicine

Horler, Rachel: University of Manchester - Medicine

Clark, Max: University of Exeter - Mechanical Engineering

Howes, William: University of Bristol - Economics

Conte, Raphael: University College London - History Cooper, Fergus: University of Exeter - Physics

Huxley, Alexander: University of Bath - Computer Science & Mathematics

Cowan, Emily: University of Nottingham - Law

Inchbald, Calum: University of Nottingham - Accountancy

Crockett, Thomas: University of Exeter - History

Jones, Isabelle: University of Birmingham - English

Chinn, Bryony: University of Exeter - Human Biosciences

Hodgkinson, Oliver: University of Portsmouth - Business Information Systems

Christensen, Emily: University of Bristol - Medicine

Horsley, Charis: University of York - English

Cole, Ethan: University of Birmingham - Physics

Hume, Anna: University of Leeds - Law with Hispanic Law

Cooper, Stevie: University of York - Theoretical Physics

Iley, Kate: Durham University - Behavioural Science

Coyne, Christopher: Oxford Brookes University - Architecture

Jobson, Andrew: University of Birmingham - Physics

Crosby, Gabrielle: Leeds Beckett University - Sport Business Management

Jones, Cameron: University of Exeter - History

Cvetkovic, Stefan: University of Bath - International Politics & Spanish

Jones, Dominic: University of Exeter - Accounting & Business Joseph, Callum: Newcastle University - Economics & Finance Katlan, Zahraa: Balliol College, Oxford - Classics

SCHOOL RECORDS Kent, Jessica: University of York - Biology

Kershaw, Thomas: University of Bath - Mathematics

King, Toby: Nottingham Trent University - Business Management, Accounting & Finance Krajewski, Katya: University of Liverpool - Law with Criminology Kula, Krystian: University of Aberdeen - Geology

Kunchur, Callum: Merton College, Oxford - History

Lane, Oliver: Royal Holloway, University of London - Economics & Management Langridge, Leonardo: University College, Oxford - Law

Lawrence, Edward: University of Nottingham - International Management Lawton, Maya: University of Nottingham - Liberal Arts

Leftwich, Tuscany: Royal Holloway, University of London - Zoology Lewis, Rosie: University of Bath - Biomedical Sciences Lister, Megan: University of Leeds - Medicine

Lofthouse, Beatrice: University College, Oxford - English Language & Literature Lombardo, Eve: University of Nottingham - Physiotherapy Lowrie, Olivia: University of Nottingham - Biochemistry Lyford, Jessica: University of Bath - Psychology

Macleod, Lottie: Arts University Bournemouth - Art & Design Mactear, Charlie: University of Exeter - History

Malaure, Brandon: University of Surrey - International Business Management

Marsh, Fergal: University of Exeter - English & Creative Writing Marsh, Mollie: University of Bristol - Italian & Spanish

Martin, Samuel: University of Manchester - Chemical Engineering Mill, Georgia: University of Edinburgh - Veterinary Medicine

Mistry, Shreya: University of Leeds - Environment & Business

Mitchell, Ruby: University of Edinburgh - History & History of Art

Mohammed-Akram, Maryam: King's College London - Neuroscience & Psychology Molhoek, Isabelle: Durham University - Natural Sciences

Mura, Claudia: Newnham College, Cambridge - Linguistics Murray, Isabel: University of Surrey - Chemistry

Nicklin, Samuel: London School of Economics - Mathematics with Economics O'Connell, Thomas: University of Exeter - Economics O'Connell, William: University of Bath - Biochemistry

O'Neill, Edward: University of Nottingham - Management

Okoro, Dede: Loughborough University - Mechanical Engineering Owen, Haidee: University of Edinburgh - Veterinary Medicine

Parkinson, George: University of Sheffield - Aerospace Engineering Paterson, Kate: University of Exeter - Archaeology & Anthropology Poma-Kostik, Daria: University of Southampton

- Neuroscience

Pope, Poppy: Cardiff University - Human Geography Porter, Daniel: University of Exeter - Economics

Power, Lauren: Arts University Bournemouth - Fine Art

Presho, Jasmine: University of Bath - Physics with Astrophysics

Print, Sophie: University of Nottingham - Hispanic Studies & History Pryor, Lucie: University of Sussex - Business & Management Studies Rajan, Ritu: University of Nottingham - Medicine

Rajesh-Kanna, Tvisha: Royal Holloway, University of London Biomedical Sciences Rao, Anoosha: University of Hertfordshire - Biochemistry Rayner, Keelin: University of Liverpool - Psychology Reid, Dominic: University of Manchester - International Business, Finance & Economics Reid, Freya: Newcastle University - Politics & International Relations Reike, Amy: University of Nottingham - Law Rios, Sophia: University of Bristol - Modern Languages Rooney, Daniel: University of Bath - Economics Russell, Carla: Newcastle University - Politics & Economics Samant, Aaryan: University College London - Mathematics Sarney, Ruby: Cardiff University - Biological Sciences (Zoology) Sarney, James: University of Nottingham - Physics with Astronomy Sayer, Oliver: Cardiff University - Environmental Geography Scavetta, Gianni: University of Bristol - Management Scott, Amelia: Cardiff University - Philosophy Sembi, Jeevan: University College London - Economics Shaw, Rosie: Nottingham Trent University - Business Management & Accounting Soomal, Harjeev: University of Nottingham - Medicine Southby, Rachel: University of Nottingham - Health Sciences Standage, Caitlin: University of Exeter - Law Stevens, Millie: University of Bath - Psychology Stodolnic, Benjamin: Cardiff University - Human Geography Sundar, Shyam: Swansea University - Applied Medical Sciences Taylor, Millie: University of Birmingham - Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences Tilley, Leah: University College London - Medicine Tubb, Ellis: University of Liverpool - English Literature Tuke, Georgia: University of Birmingham - Liberal Arts and Sciences Vallis, Luke: Swansea University - Accounting & Finance Varma, Rohan: University of Manchester - Medicine Wadsworth, Sophie: University of Sussex - Games & Multimedia Environments Wallace, James: Newcastle University - Computer Science Waller, Imogen: University of Bristol - Chemistry Walter, Tristan: University of Sussex - Accounting & Finance Washbourn, Charles: University of Nottingham - Electrical & Electronic Engineering Watkins, Georgina: University of Sussex - Criminology Whitwell, Edward: University of Nottingham - Management Williams, Charlotte: Durham University - Health & Human Sciences Williamson, Sophie: Falmouth University - Fashion Photography Williamson, Ella: University of Exeter - Conservation Biology & Ecology Wood, Alexander: Nottingham Trent University - International Business Woods, Milly: University of Exeter - Criminology Wragg, Felix: University of Bath - Accounting & Finance Wray, Anna: Nottingham Trent University - Communication & Society and Global Studies Wright, Emily: University of Birmingham - Business Management Yeomans, Eleanor: Nottingham Trent University - Sport Science & Management

SCHOOL RECORDS

SENIOR PREFECTS 2020-21

School Captains – Imogen Baguley, Leon Tasch Vice Captains – Charlotte Farmer, Olly Gale HELM – Jess Cattanach, Isobel Potter, Jardine Barrington-Cook MFL – Rebecca Lamping, Elenor Vockins Sports – Ben Furley, Ellie Woodgate Environment – Annie Kemp, Ella Murgatroyd Performing Arts – Tom McCrorie, Grace Venus STEM – Emily Farmer, Rishi Miriyala, Adam Town, Alice Turnbull Charities – Megan Ellis, Basel Hammond Front of House – Edward Norris, Sian Ramm Development & Alumni – Izzie Alexandrou, Maddy Hill Tech – Luke Haldane, Gabe Smith KS4 – Megan Lister, Tom Crockett Year 11 – Evie Amos, Ashwin Goyal

SCHOOL PRIZES 2020-21

YEAR 7 7A Attitude to Learning - Gabriel Lorenzi, William Witchell 7B Attitude to Learning - Edward Bunting, Sahar Feldberg, Nikita D’Souza 7C Attitude to Learning - Samantha Hill, Jamima Littorin 7D Attitude to Learning - Genevieve Cole, Beatrice De Souza Daff 7E Attitude to Learning - Ollie Drever, Montgomery Fordham Year 7 Sporting Prowess - Matteo Mirone Year 7 Sporting Endeavour - Eloise Lochhead YEAR 8 8A Attitude to Learning - Mei Babes, Marcus King 8B Attitude to Learning - Isabella Ashton, Sam Vinall 8C Attitude to Learning - Amy Clarke, Beatrice Hunt 8D Attitude to Learning - Lola Bradley, Lucy Browning Year 8 Sporting Prowess - Jack Barry Year 8 Sporting Endeavour - Lizzie Forrest Academic Excellence in KS3 - Ivy Gillespie The most promising artist in Year 8 - Amy Clarke The Dr Isles STEM Prize - William Witchell YEAR 9 Art - Polly Compton

Biology - Toby Dickinson

Chemistry - Sophie Richardson Dennett Computing - Curtis Sanford-Casey

Design & Technology - Alannah Ryder Dance - Harriet Seymour Drama - Max Bignall English - Zara Yates

French - Lyr Feldberg

Geography - Zara Yates

German - Nathan Taylor History - Emily Tucker

Mathematics - Fin Engelberts Music - Fin Engelberts

Physical Education - Ruby Duncan Physics - Sonia Sonawala

Religious Studies - Ella Jenkins Spanish - Myla Collins

Extra-curricular Performing Arts - Izzy Ambrose

Extra-curricular Sport - Aarav Band, Martha Goodridge

Hamer Prize for Draughtsmanship in Year 9 - Elsa Jago

Youthbridge prizes for the most promising pupils in German in Year 9 - 1. Vanessa Prokes; 2. Adam Caskey; 3. Holly Lochhead YEAR 10

Art - Lisa Dixon

Biology - Millie Elwood

Chemistry - Pia Andrew

Computing - Vivek Edulakanti

Design & Technology - Maddie Clayton Dance - Amelie Wild

Drama - Sacha Smith English - Ash Bryant

French - Neel Kygonahally Geography - Dilsher Bagri

German - Rebecca Hesketh History - Rebecca Canton Mathematics - Lisa Dixon Music - Oliver West

Physical Education - James Sampson Physics - Oscar Beswick Spanish - Lois Powell

Extra-curricular Performing Arts - Sacha Smith

Extra-curricular Sport - Oscar Bennett, Ruby Sharma

SCHOOL RECORDS YEAR 11 Art - Sofia Heard-Norrish Biology - Holly Baker Chemistry - Joel Taylor Computing - Joseph Martin Design & Technology - Thomas Buick Dance - Georgie Hill Drama - Jennifer Baron English - Katherine Perry French - Holly Baker Geography - Anne Irving German - Jemima Ridley History - Katherine Perry Mandarin - Holly Baker Mathematics - Hamish Robertson Music - Joel Taylor Physical Education - Eva Barnett Physics - Holly Baker Spanish - Katherine Perry Extra-curricular Performing Arts - Ben Jones Extra-curricular Sport - Harry Bussell, Tiana Davenport Colin Prime Prize for Design - Maya Kunchur YEAR 12 Art - Hettie Cook Biology - Shivani Shrestha Business Studies - Cameron Clarke Chemistry - Clara MacCallum Computing - Oscar Wilkinson Drama - Max Baker Dance - Harry Fayers English - Megan Houston Economics - Rishi Pardeshi French - Fleur Nicholls Further Maths - Mani Ipchi Geography - Mia Webb German - Eddie Handley Government & Politics - Elsa Horne History - Megan Houston Mathematics - Emily Gillespie Music - Kitty Powell Physical Education - Amelie Haslehurst Physics - Will Tucker Psychology - Caitlin Tinnelly Spanish - Ela Misra Technical Theatre - Will Manthorpe Extra-curricular Performing Arts - Will Tucker Extra-curricular Sport - Elliot Kent, Florence Rowley

SPECIAL PRIZES The J.C. Davies Prize for History - Jess Cattanach The E.W. Hester Prize for Geography - Gracie Newbold The Moores Prize for Music - Elenor Vockins The Enos Moore Memorial Prize for Literature - Florence Ridley The G.J. White Prize for Economics - Matthew Lyons The Marly-le-Roi Prize for French - Olly Gale The Urenco Prize for German - Reuben Bignell The Mor de Fuentes Prize for Spanish - Catarina Silva The D.C.W. Banner Prize for Art - Indigo Gow The Xerox Prize for Business Studies - Freddie MacGregor The Audrey Moore Prize for Creative Writing - Ben Hoggan The Lidgate Markwell Prize for Dance - Maddy Hill The Switchshop Prize for Computing - Alfie Stafford The Alex Wylde Government & Politics Prize - Grace Venus The Wendy Farmer Psychology Prize - Abby Wardle The Eatwell Prize for Mathematics - Daniel Hunt The Tim Magee Prize for Drama - Hana Jolly The Ken ‘Snakehips’ Johnson Prize for Improvised Music - Daniela Taverner The Borlase Maynard Ferguson Creative Music Bursary Olly Gale, Leon Tasch, Charlotte Farmer The John Schofield Prize for Science - Lulu Broadbent The Tocky Technical Theatre Prize - Gabe Smith The Harry Stranger Prize for PE - Danny Burroughs The Enterprise Award - Na'imah Bowen, Grace Venus The Old Borlasian Prize - Leon Tasch, Imogen Baguley Thames Schools Lodge Prize (School Service Prize) Olly Gale, Charlotte Farmer Borlase Music Scholarships: Ben Jones (Trumpet); Hector Walker (Singing & Cello); Finnley Driver (Dance); Vanessa Prokes (Singing)

SCHOOL RECORDS

STAFF 2020-21 Mike Adamson

Vicki Alexander Nayani Algama Rachael Allen

Lauren Anderson Jessica Anstice Kirsty Ashby Brett Bagley

Erica Barclay

Amanda Barrett

Sarah Barrett-Klikis Yaron Bernstein Jo Beswick

Alan Bigsby

Suzanne Birkett

Christopher Black Harry Blackwell Jane Blane

Kate Bownass

Malcolm Brownsell Lucy Budge Helen Bull

Jane Bungey Ilona Cains

Mark Campbell

Nick Cartwright Fiona Challis

Suzanne Chaplin Kevin Chappell Anu Chawla

Rachel Clayton Fiona Colville Chloe Conan Rachel Cork

Nigel Couch

Oliver Cross

Science (Chemistry) MFL (Trainee) Science Technician Science Technician (Biology) Head of Drama PE Dance, Head of Year 11 Assistant Caretaker STEM Administrator Cover Supervisor MFL Physics KS4 Student Support D & T Technician English, Assistant Head of Sixth Form

Diana Davis Charlie Day Nicola Day

Harry Elliott

Linda Fortnam

Michelle Franklin

Christine Garrow Glenda Godfrey

Caroline Goodall Philip Gray

Lesley Haldane Marshall Hall Yinghua Han

Emma Hanson Kasia Harding

Psychology, Head of Romans General Science Lead (KS3/Combined Science)

Kathryn Hocking

Geography School Counsellor Physics Alumni Relations Officer KS5 Student Support English, Head of Key Stage 5 Director of Development Maths Senior IT Technician Art Communications & Marketing PE, Hockey, Head of Normans IT Director KS5 Administrator MFL School Administrator MFL Head of Physics Head of English SIMS Administrator KS3 Student Support Maths Matron

Jose de Matos Sharps PE (trainee)

Chris Duggan

Mark Hartley

Cameron Cupitt-Jones IT Technician Lynn Cupitt-Jones

Kelli Dickinson

Claire Hindley Joe Holloran

Rachael Holmes Jenny Hopper Kate Hyett

Subhashini Janarthanan Andy Joel

Lauren Kendall Paul King

Ray Kipping

Ali Leibowitz

KS4 Student Support Director of PE and Sport Physics technician KS5 Student Support KS5 Student Support Reception, Peripatetic Music Administration Art Technician Teaching Schools Administrator Director of Rowing Examinations Officer Head of Art, Photography Mandarin PE, cover School Administrator Technical Theatre Dance Geography History English, Assistant Head Head of MFL, Head of Normans Data Manager Computing (trainee) Rowing Co-ordinator/Coach Geography (trainee) Head of Geography Site Manager KS4 Learning Mentor

Jenny Lewington-Chislett Performing Arts Technician Susanne Lewis

James Lofthouse Joe Long

Henrietta Longstaff Henry Manthorpe Bevan Marchand

Catriona McLeod Joseph McNally Peter Mead Seth Miall

Helen Milne

Nathan Monk

Maths Literary Co-ordinator, Borlasian Editor PE 2 i c English Physics (trainee) Maths Director of Finance & Operations Head of Business Studies & Economics Head of History Director of Music, Head of Danes Biology

Director of Hockey

SCHOOL RECORDS Charlotte Morris Emma Morton

Kay Mountfield Richard Neill

Kim Nicholas

Graham Nicholls Margaret Nixon Helena Nunan

Rosie O’Riordan Ben Parsons

Georgina Parsons Joanna Picton Phil Preston Fiona Pryor

Sarah Rayner

Isabel Richardson Sarah-Jane Rigg Craig Robertson

Sonya Robinson Hugh Robson

Blanca Roman Karen Rooke

Stoyanka Rousseva Megan Sadie

Harneet Sanghera

Gayathri Sangkara Raman Chris Sewell

Claire Shurrock

James Simpson

Rebecca Sowden Jamie Spencer Petra Stafford Dean Stevens

Anna Summerfield Alice Topley

Naveena Vijayan Louise Walder Elena Watson Sophie White

Rhian Williams

School and Performing Arts Administrator

Johann Wilson

MFL Co-ordinator

Caroline Wingrove Careers Lead

Headteacher Assistant Caretaker

Kyaw Win

Clare Woodgate

PE Computing

Head’s and Deputy Head’s PA

RE, Psychology D&T Finance Assistant Biology MFL Music, Assistant Head, Head of Saxons Head of Biology, Head of Science History Physics Business Studies, Economics, Politics, Head of Saxons Drama & English

Language Assistants - Magdalena Hollinger (German), Isadora Delay (French), Hannah Harper (Spanish) Peripatetic Music Teachers - Hugh Robson (harpsichord /organ); Jason Reeve (percussion/piano); Jean Garrett (piano); Emma Walker (flute/saxophone); David Young (classical guitar); David Shannon (Guitar); Simon Bishop (guitar); Sue Cossins (clarinet/cello); Minor Atabek (Violin/Piano); Marilyn Vanryne (violin/viola); Gilly Ross, Robina Redgard-Siler (singing); Simon Davie (brass); Robert Vanryne (Brass); Suzanne Davie (LAMDA)

Maths KS3 SEN Student Support Head of Key Stage 3, Associate Ass’t Head Science Technician (Chemistry) English, Organist

STAFF LEAVERS During the year we said farewell to the following members of staff:

Spanish

Nayani Algama

Biology

Jess Anstice

Maths (trainee) Finance Assistant Maths

Malcolm Brownsell Charles Day

Chemistry

Francis de Matos Sharps

Hockey, School Games

Michelle Franklin

Maths Deputy Headteacher Head of Chemistry Assistant Caretaker Chemistry Duke of Edinburgh Co-ordinator HR Manager Maths Maths Maths, Director of Studies

Chris Duggan Kathryn Hocking Subhashini Janarthanan Suzanne Lewis Joe Long Helena Nunan Phil Preston Stoyanka Rousseva Megan Sadie

Maths

Jamie Spencer

Drama (trainee)

Grace Weller

History, Assistant Head, Head of Vikings

Sophie White

STAFF LEAVERS

STAFF LEAVERS 2020-21 We caught up with some of the members of staff leaving this year and asked them the questions that matter.

MR DUGGAN

What is your favourite hobby (in or outside of your subject)? I pretty much watch any sport that is on TV, but I also enjoy playing sport and spending time with my family. What are your plans for after you leave Borlase? I am joining Aylesbury Grammar School as Director of Sport. What will you miss most about Borlase? The people. I have really enjoyed working with the students and also the Sport and PE Team - including the other members of staff who help out with sport. What would you tell your secondary school self if you met them? Work a bit harder at the right times, but make sure you have fun along the way!

MS LEWIS

How long have you been teaching at Borlase? Since September 2019, so two years when I leave. What subject do you teach? PE What 3 words best describe your experience at the school? Enjoyable, Teamwork, Hardwork. What is your favourite memory of Borlase? When we did the Borlase Boost during May of the first lockdown in 2020. It was great to see the whole community come together and raise over £5,000 - which went to fitting out the Fitness Suite and a donation to Marlow Medical Centre.

How long have you been teaching at Borlase? Seven years. I did some A level revision classes the Easter before my September start. What subject do you teach? I taught Mathematics for six years and Computer Science for two. What 3 words best describe your experience at Borlase? Since I was only allowed three, I went for long ones! Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwlllanty silliogogogoch. A non literal translation: The chapel and the school in the hollow of the lovely trees with the nearby town of Marlow and the river Thames in between. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Okay, it wasn’t this really, it was Coronavirus. If it weren’t for Covid, I wouldn’t be leaving, as I really enjoy teaching Computer Science, just as I enjoyed teaching Mathematics! Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! This definitely describes Borlase and the Borlase community. It can be anything you want; just like your time at Borlase - and beyond! What is your favourite memory of Borlase? Taking four pupils from Years 8 and 9, to Lindley Hall (the Royal Horticultural Halls) for the final of the Team Maths challenge. They came 8th in the country! What is your favourite hobby (in or outside of your subject)? Gardening.

STAFF LEAVERS What are your plans for after you leave Borlase? I have now completed my odd jobs: engineering and teaching. I will restart/start my even jobs: singing and writing. What will you miss most about Borlase? The people. Star turn. Fun in the classroom. Marlow. The cloisters. If you could meet one person in the world, alive or dead, who would you choose and why? The person I would most like to meet is Ada Lovelace. We could have an interesting discussion about Mathematics and Computing - what got her interested in it, and the obstacles she had to overcome, and where Mathematics and Technology have got to so far.

MR LONG What subject do you teach? PE How long have you been teaching at Borlase? 2 years What 3 words best describe your experience at the school? Short but sweet What is your favourite memory of Borlase? Bringing the staff relay home to Vikings! What is your favourite hobby? Rowing has become more of a way of life than a hobby but I do like a round of golf. Unless I'm playing with Mr Chappell; then I'm scared. What are your plans for after you leave the school? I’m heading out to the states to study and row at Yale. Who knows what will come after that. What are you most looking forward to about going to Yale? Experiencing a new culture and living the american university life. What will you miss most about Borlase? The students and staff! Especially Mr Duggan!

MR DAY

How long have you been teaching? 10 years. Did you always want to be a teacher? Yes. I went to a grammar school and when I was learning Maths at school I felt unsupported by the teachers. Then when I started my Maths GCSE, the new teacher completely changed my opinion and made me want to do Maths at university. They inspired me to become a Maths teacher to do the same.

What was a memorable moment at Borlase? My first lesson here. Two girls were told off for talking in the lesson. At the end, one of them gave me a box of chocolates to welcome me to the school - I felt so guilty! Also when I was in the relay team for Romans - people didn’t know how quick I would be! And working with the Maths department… so many lovely people! How will you remember Borlase? An outstanding school full of outstanding students that are supported by outstanding staff. As a teacher, do you think you have a catchphrase? If so, what is it? Spot on! What is your favourite part of Maths? I love Statistics! I love exploring really challenging problems with groups of students who share the same enthusiasm as I do. Any advice for the students as you go? Be yourself and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. Make sure you always try to make the right choices in life to ensure you are happy. What are you doing next? I’m going to be Head of Maths at a brand new secondary school in my town. I’m very excited by it as I can drop off and pick up my kids from school every day and I’ll be able to spend more time with them.

MS NUNAN

How long have you been teaching at Borlase? 1 year (this time)...but I also taught between 2007-15 What subject do you teach? Biology What 3 words best describe your experience at the school? Like coming home. What is your favourite memory of Borlase? Being part of a friendly and exceptionally experienced and passionate department. What is your favourite hobby (in or outside of your subject)? Walking my dogs. What are your plans for after you leave Borlase? To try not to be drawn back to it! What will you miss most about Borlase? The students...you’re all hilarious! What advice do you have for students at Borlase? Love what you do and take care of the world you’ve been loaned...and be tolerant towards others, be thoughtful. Easier said than done at times!

STAFF LEAVERS

MS ALGAMA

How long have you been working at Borlase? Five and a half years. What was your favourite subject when you were at school? All three Sciences. What 3 words best describe your experience at the school? Lovely, keen students and dedicated staff. What is your favourite memory of Borlase? Helping a Year 8 who ate a whole green chilli to prove that he was brave, and I found him running all over the place to find water while his friends were giggling! Also, I will never forget the way KS3 Science club propagated avocado stones, their amazing enthusiasm, and as a result we ended up having a very tall plant which

grew very fast during two lockdowns. I love watching how amazed people are to see the tall avocado plant. What is your favourite hobby (in or outside of school)? Gardening. What are your plans for after you leave the school? In my new school I will organise and carry out Science activity projects, experiments and work together with other local schools. What will you miss most about Borlase? All the lovely, inspirational colleagues who work together with me. Delicious Science lunches, Ooni pizza roll inventions, birthdays with scones and rhubarb! What has being at Borlase taught you? Stay strong, believe in you, be yourself, and explore beyond school.

Elliot Marston

Rebecca Johnny

Isobel Smith

Catarina Silva

Amelie Holford

Margot Edwards

Freya Rogers

Front cover: views of the new Sports Hall by Daisy K Green; Back cover: recycled material dress by Sofia Heard Norrish