College News Spring 2018

COLLEGE NEWS Spring 2018

NEW HEAD APPOINTED Following a rigorous selection process, we are delighted to announce that Mrs Nicola Huggett takes up the Headship in September 2018, and joins us from Blundell’s School in Devon.

Nicola said, “I am delighted to have been selected to lead Cheltenham College in the next phase of its development, building on the excellent work and strong foundations laid by Dr Alex Peterken. It is a privilege to work alongside the outstanding team of staff at College and The Prep.”

1ST SEASON 1STXV XVUNBEATEN UNBEATEN SEASON

The 1st XV have had a season to remember as they were unbeaten in all 15 The 1st XV have a season to remember as they were unbeaten in all 15 of their games, thehad fourth time this has happened since our records began. of their games, the fourth timenumber this has5happened since records began.

Cheltenham is currently ranked in the Daily Mailour Schools Merit Cheltenham College is the ranked number 5 in thePerformance Daily Mail Schools’ Merit League and number 1 in Daily Mail Schools League.

League and number 1 in the Daily Mail Schools’ Performance League.

All games were fantastic in their own right but the Radley fixture played at All games were fantastic their own but the Radleyfor fixture played at Worcester Warriors’ SixwaysinStadium wasright a special moment everyone Worcester Warriors’ SixwaysinStadium was a special for everyone involved.

A great atmosphere a premiership groundmoment with a number of involved.inAthe great atmosphere at a premiership ground a number of spectators stands was a fitting way to showcase thewith school. spectators in the stands was a fitting way to showcase the school.

The hard work and dedication the players have shown is testament to their The hard work andasdedication showntoisachieve testament character and belief a group. Tothe beplayers one of have four teams thistowithin character and belief as adeserving group. To of bethese one of four teams to hope achieve thetheir history of the school is very players and we to hear thisofwithin the historyinofthe thefuture. school is very deserving of these players and more their successes we hope to hear more of their successes in the future.

Nicola read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University. After successfully completing a graduate management scheme in advertising, she returned to Oxford to take a PGCE in History and began teaching in 1994. She taught Politics and History at Haileybury, and became a Housemistress in 1999 and Head of Boarding in 2005. In 2007, she was appointed as Deputy Headmistress of Downe House School in Berkshire, where she remained until her appointment to Blundell’s as Head in 2013.

ENHANCING THE PUPIL DINING EXPERIENCE Last summer, Cheltenham College embarked on a multi-million-pound investment to enhance our catering facilities and create a more streamlined and spacious dining experience for our pupils, as well as better kitchen facilities. Completed in January 2018, the facilities blend the best of modern design with our historic Dining Hall and it is now the perfect place to relax and enjoy good, nutritious food in great company.

College News Spring 2018

OXBRIDGE SUCCESS FOLLOWING RECORD RESULTS Seven students from Cheltenham College are celebrating their offers from Oxford and Cambridge universities. Anna McIntyre will read Geography at Newnham College, Cambridge; Tommy Maddinson will read History at Trinity Hall, Cambridge; Charlie O’Bryan will read Human, Social and Political Science at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge; Jack McClure will read Law at St Anne’s College, Oxford; and Ben Schallamach will read Natural Sciences at Gonville and Caius, Cambridge. Two Old Cheltonians have also had offers from Oxbridge: Chuen Leik Low (Xt, 2017) will read Computer Science at Jesus College, Cambridge and Theresa Grafin Pachta (W, 2017) will read Theology at Regent’s Park College, Oxford.

This follows a year of record A Level results as over 82% achieved A*-B grades and more than half of all pupils were awarded A*-A grades.

DOUBLE SUCCESS FOR RACKETS CHAMPIONS Cheltenham College’s girls secured a victorious double at the National Rackets Championships at the prestigious Queen’s Club, winning both the U18 and U16 Doubles Championships. Seeded number one, College’s 1st pair comfortably overcame pairs from Rugby, Marlborough and Haileybury before facing the impressive Wellingtonians (seeded 2) in the U18 final for the Robin Geffen Trophy. The battle was tense, with the teams neck and neck at 2-2. The final game was a nail-biting affair, which College won 15-12, retaining the title.

Our U16 performance was particularly pleasing: the U15 pair played with increasing confidence as they progressed through the rounds only to meet College’s U16 pair in the final - a pair who had played some of their best rackets in the semi. In the all-College final, the U15s serving and dogged retrievals ensured that they emerged victors, 2-0, rounding off a super tournament for College girls.

SKIING STUDENTS WIN PODIUM PLACES Two pupils, Max Pini and Jack Cunningham, took home medals from the English Alpine Racing Championships, held in Bormio, Italy, in February. Skiing in the U16 category, Max won a gold medal in the giant slalom, and Jack won silver in the super giant slalom. Both pupils are part of the England Alpine Development Squad and are among the most talented skiers in the country.

We wish them both the best of luck in their upcoming races.

CHELTENHAM COLLEGE STUDENTS PLAY FOR GLOUCESTER A TEAM Cheltenham College’s XV captain, Tom Stanton, and number 8, Cameron Terry, played in the Gloucester Rugby A team match against the Harlequins. The A team runs underneath the premiership 1st XV, which includes regular professional senior players. Tom, playing on the wing, scored with his second touch of the game after a neat chip kick from former Clifton College pupil Carwyn Penny. It was a great experience for both students, not only playing with current professionals but also a chance to run out at Kingsholm Stadium in front of thousands of supporters. We hope this is the first of many matches for these two players.

College News Spring 2018

CHELTENHAM TOWN CAPTAIN RUNS SKILLS WORKSHOP FOR CHARITY VISIT In October, Cheltenham College welcomed fifteen 11-13 year olds from the OSCAR Foundation, a charity from India set-up to support and mentor children from slum communities by teaching them the value of education using football as a tool. The lucky squad was selected from over 3,000 children back in India, and Cheltenham College (along with other local schools) sponsored their UK football tour. The children visited and played against schools and clubs that had sponsored the trip, as well as visiting London and the Manchester United and Chelsea stadiums before flying home.

The OSCAR children took part in a skills workshop with Cheltenham Town Football Club’s captain Aaron Downes. ‘Downesy’ was on hand to meet the children, chat with their coaches and put them through their paces with a fun training session, alongside pupils from Cheltenham College, before the children played a match against pupils of their own age at Cheltenham Prep, with the touring side winning 1-0.

QUEEN’S GIRLS OPEN CHARITY EVENT FILMED BY BBC In November, three girls from Queen’s were invited to open a powerchair football session for the Cheltenham Powerchair Football Club, which was filmed as part of a BBC TV series, “Let’s Get a Good Thing Going”. The club won a bidding contest on the TV programme, which enabled them to hold free sessions for both disabled and able-bodied people in Gloucestershire, to provide a fun session for the charity’s users and local community and to raise support and awareness for the charity. Queen’s has been supporting the charity since 2016, and the girls – Mollie, Imogen and Jess – were invited by the Chairman to present a cheque for over £600, the House’s donation from money raised since September 2017.

HAZELWELL SWIM THE CHANNEL FOR CHARITY Hazelwell set themselves the difficult challenge of swimming the width of the English Channel to raise money for the Cornerstone Centre, and completed the 33km swim in just under an hour! Split into ‘Dragon Teams’ of 7-8 boys, each team had to swim around 150 lengths. With great effort and commitment from the swimmers, and with music blaring out of the speakers, the boys completed the challenge with only six minutes to go. It was a great event that raised over £1,300 for the superb work the Cornerstone Centre does.

College News Spring 2018

PUPILS EXHIBIT ART AT THE WILSON GCSE and A Level students exhibited their artwork in The de Ferrieres Gallery at The Wilson for two weeks in September. As well as featuring special exhibitions, Cheltenham’s art gallery and museum houses work from the world famous Arts and Crafts Movement and the story of Edward Adrian Wilson (DB, 1891), an Old Cheltonian who explored the Antarctic with Scott. This is the first exhibition of a partnership which the Art Department hopes to run annually.

CHEMISTRY SPECTACULAR This year’s Chemistry Spectacular was entitled “A Song of Fire and Ice: A Fight for Oxygen” and pupils and staff were treated to an evening of explosions, bangs, whizzes and pops that demonstrated this theme.

Mr James Copeland-Jordan, Head of Chemistry, commented, “The Chemistry Spectacular is designed to whet the appetite of students and engage them with the subject by lighting their natural curiosity. The underlying science of the demonstrations can be accessed at all levels of understanding, from prep school level right up to A Level. Pupils leave with a renewed sense of curiosity for Chemistry. It is a truly thrilling event to hold and shows that Chemistry is an exciting and explosive subject!”

College News Spring 2018