HEADMASTER’S LETTER FEBRUARY 2019
T0 PARENTS
Dear Parents This has certainly been a very busy half term and I suspect that most pupils are ready for a break. A great deal has been achieved over the last six weeks and some of this is outlined in what follows.
Contents Page 1
Inspection Appraisal Chinese New Year E-books & Audio Books
Page 2
Girls’ Netball Charlotte James-Pajwani
Page 3
Girls’ Netball
Page 4
Boys’ Hockey
Page 5
Boys’ Hockey
Page 6
Music
Page 7
Drama
Page 8
University News Kangaroo Maths Scouts
Page 9
Charity Gala Evening
Page 10
Holocaust Survivor Talk Oxford Debating Competition
Page 11
Cricket Course Meet the Future
Page 12
Festival of the Spoken Word Sixth Form Induction
Page 13
Bad Weather Staff News Physics Olympiad Careers Convention
Page 14
MFL Vertical Integration Williams Project
Page 15
Summer 2019 Public Exams And Finally
Page16
Message from the Chaplain
Inspection
At very short notice in the second week of
huge amount of further work took place
regulatory compliance inspection. These
inspectors’ arrival. I hope we will have the
between the call from ISI and the
term, ISI inspectors came to carry out a
report soon after half term when I will
take place every three years and since we
share it with you.
were last inspected in March 2016, we were expecting a visit. Nevertheless, a
Appraisal
Thank you to all parents who provided feedback for my appraisal which was conducted in
January by Mr Stephen Roberts. It was particularly helpful of many of you to write
comments and these will (anonymously) form part of the final report. This will be used for my ongoing development and will be considered by Governors as we continue to move the School forwards.
Chinese New Year
E-books & Audio Books
excellent New Year celebration to mark
now have access to our e-book and audio
Chinese boarders and day students led an
Students in the Junior and Senior Schools
the start of the Year of the Pig.
book platforms, supplied by Wheelers. The link for students to access the books
is on Gateway and they just need to sign in via their school login. From there, they can also find details of the app which is
available to allow the system to work on tablets and phones.
If there are any queries, please contact
Mrs Sara Bloomfield (sbloomfield@chigwellschool.org) in the Senior School or Mrs
Samantha Saynor (ssaynor@chigwellschool.org) in the Junior School
1
Girls’ Netball
The netball season has got off to a really
For the U15s in particular, their season is
and enthusiasm of the girls has been the
Cup match early on in the season against
really yet to get underway. They had a
positive and promising start. The numbers
Notting Hill and Ealing High School,
best it has ever been, meaning that
where they unfortunately lost in what was
participation and performance are at an
a very competitive match. Recently they
absolute high. In the Senior School we
have shown a good interest in training but
have in excess of fifty girls playing netball.
unfortunately, bad weather has meant
In the Junior School, the competition and
their last two games have been cancelled.
commitment to training and fixtures has
This group has some very talented
been better than ever, producing some
netballers, so we are sure there will be
excellent netball as a result.
some positive results soon.
The 1st VII have had a brilliant start to the season winning our annual Chigwell
The U14s have also started the season
strengthened by the Upper Fifth, have
campaign with a narrow loss to
well. The U14A team started their
Senior Tournament. The new team,
Haileybury (14-20) but won the next two
gelled really well and are playing some
matches against Felsted School and The
quality netball. Recently they have beaten
Stephen Perse. The U14B team also lost
Highgate 29-24 and Brentwood 33-14.
their opening match but won against
Their dedication to training has been
Felsted and narrowly lost to The Stephen
excellent and this will only continue to
Perse by two goals. The U14C team won
help them build momentum in their
against Felsted resulting in a convincing
season. In addition to the 1st VII, we have
performance from the age group against
had many successful 2nd, 3rd and 4th VII
our local competitor, something that is
fixtures, with the girls winning four out of
not often achieved.
five fixtures against Highgate and Brentwood. This strength and depth is so pleasing to see, and we have no doubt
The Junior School have continued where
senior netball seasons to date.
superb numbers training and available for
they left off in the hockey season with
that this will be one of the most successful
2
Girls’ Netball
Charlotte James-Pajwani
fixtures in the season and recorded a
for Southgate Hockey Club. Her team
fixtures. The U10 and U11s have had lots of
Congratulations to Charlotte who plays
mixed set of results. Nevertheless, they
became National Indoor Champions after
are enjoying their netball and developing
Charlotte scored the winning penalty
their skills and techniques.
flick in a dramatic final against Repton Hockey Club.
The U12 and U13 age groups have had
large numbers at training and are really keen to improve and develop. They have played
some
outstanding
netball,
particularly in a recent tough fixture against Stephen Perse. With IAPS and
Kelsall tournaments to come, we are expecting some good performances from these age groups.
3
Boys’ Hockey
It has been a successful and enjoyable
pitch for both the UII and U10 age groups.
the weather proving challenging on
Woodford Green have been excellent and
Fixtures against New Hall, Bancroft’s, and
start to the boys’ hockey season. Despite
every pupil has had an opportunity to
occasions with both snow and ice, a great
represent the School in a competitive
deal of hockey has been played. In the
fixture to date.
Junior School, the sport continues to flourish with more opportunities than ever
In the Senior School, the 1st XI has made
for pupils to participate in both training
sound progress this term. Other than a
and fixtures. The now established KS2
narrow defeat to local rivals Forest in the
hockey club continues to grow with
HA Cup, the boys’ season has remained
significant numbers attending each week,
unblemished. The highlight to date being
which in turn has supported the significant
an incredible 11-10 sudden death penalty
skill development of the pupils. This has
stroke victory in the HA Plate over
been highlighted with the success on the
Bancroft’s at Old Loughtonians Hockey
4
Boys’ Hockey
Club. The 2nd XI is still unbeaten and has
progressed to the regional rounds of the
HA 2nd XI school tournament. It is trial year for the competition and the team
won the county round and travel to Bedford Hockey this week to play the best
2nd XIs in the region. The U15s have still yet to achieve their form from last season. Despite this, competing a year young in
the Essex U16 tournament, they have
gained valuable experience for the season
ahead. Finally, not to be outdone by the senior teams, the U14s have also qualified
for the regional rounds of the HA School competition
hosted
at
Cambridge
University after half term. The team finished runners-up to Coopers Coburn on goal difference at the county tournament
despite not conceding a single goal during their four matches. We wish them the best
of luck for their tournament after the half term break.
5
Music
The New Year Concert provided a vivid
performance of Look at Me, from the
expertise. The dynamic sounds of the
Music Ensemble lightened the mood with
display of musical exuberance and
Witches of Eastwick, and the Modern
Symphonic Wind Band in the Finale of
a fun rendition of Santa Claus is Comin’ to
Year of the Dragon, the psychedelic
Town. The audience enjoyed the light
sounds of the Senior Drum Line, the vigour
baroque sound of the String Orchestra in
of Mr Ray’s Rock Band and the full weight
Vivaldi’s Concerto for Strings in D major
of the Big Band were beautifully
RV 121, Movement 1 Allegro, together
contrasted against solos from Terry Cheng
with the wind ensembles of both Flute and
on the piano performing Fantaisie –
Saxophone. The tuned colours from the
Impromptu in C♯ minor by Chopin, Lucas
Percussion Ensemble in Funkify and the
Abrami Gill also on the piano, playing
delicate, intricate patterns of clapping
Debussy’s Arabesque No. 2 and Connie
music complimented the variety of music
Duggan’s vocal performance of A
performed.
Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square by
It was a superb evening
enjoyed by a very appreciative audience.
Sherwin. The vocal trio gave a striking
6
Drama
In drama this half term, we began with a
visit to the Piccadilly Theatre to see the
celebrated Royal National Theatre’s production of “The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-Time”, a multi-media
performance about a boy with autism. This was very much appreciated by the Upper Fifth GCSE drama students. Next, the Lower Fifth performed six 15 minute
devised pieces in week four, exploring a range of themes from domestic violence
to homosexuality in the 1950s. Students offered a range of skills from acting to set design, costume and make up, and light
and sound. Finally, just before half term,
the Middle Sixth A-level drama class
performed their scripted pieces to a visiting examiner. This was an evening in
two halves. Firstly, monologues and duologues and secondly an outstanding
performance of “Dissocia” by Anthony Neilson, a bizarre play that is a journey
into the troubled mind of the heroine of the story.
7
University News
Five students from the year group of eighty
have received offers to study at either
Oxford or Cambridge University. Given the tough competition for places, this is a
tremendous achievement. Offers from
Cambridge have been made to: Poppy Bradley (Natural Sciences at Emmanuel
College), Georgia Reid (Law at Homerton Wojtyna
offers until May, but already Chigwell
offers from Oxford have been made to Suli
overall, with over 80% of applicants holding
College)
and
Adrianna
students are in a very healthy position
(Engineering at St. John’s College), while
offers from Russell Group universities at
Scatchard (Geography at Christ Church
this point. The range of courses applied to
College) and Aleksandra Bulira (Economics
is vast, extending from medicine and
and Management at Jesus College). The
engineering through economics and
array of subjects in which they have been
related disciplines to the performing arts.
successful is pleasingly wide, and they
Congratulations go to these students and
have all been rewarded for their talent,
to the teachers who have worked so hard to
their intellectual curiosity and their
support them.
diligence.Universities will continue to make
Kangaroo Maths
Scouts
80,000 of the most able A-level maths
pupils who emerged shattered, muddy
The Kangaroo Maths Challenge is taken by
Congratulations to seventeen Chigwell
students from around the country. This
but triumphant after completing the Brass
year the top score was 80% and three of
Monkey Winter Challenge at Thriftwood
our students achieved that. Of the eleven
Camp. Before temperatures dropped to
students from Chigwell who participated,
-5C, they built shelters using only tarpaulin
six achieved a merit which placed them in
the top 25% of entrants.
and ropes and cooked over open fires.
Therefore,
Despite the event corresponding with the
particular congratulations go to Boyang
coldest night of the year, the pupils
Huang, Darie Ducu, Tzuyun Chang,
engaged very enthusiastically.
Adrianna Wojtyna, Aleksand Bulira and Jacek Podlaski.
8
Charity Gala Evening
Sixth form students organised an evening of highly polished performances which
was well supported in the Drama Centre
by family and friends. The evening raised funds for Smiles with Grace and Haven House Children's Hospice
9
Holocaust Survivor Talk Once again, pupils in the Removes and
towards persecution can lead to genocide.
Holocaust survivor Mr Chaim (Harry)
reflection on our attitude towards
His message of forgiveness, his plea for
above had the privilege of listening to
differences and his message that human
Olmer. Ahead of Holocaust Memorial
rights are universal all resonated deeply
Day, the anniversary of the liberation
with the pupils present. Their questions
of Auschwitz-Birkenau, his powerful
revealed a high level of compassion and a
testimony of survival, strength and dignity
need to comprehend the reasons for the
in the face of horror was a potent message
hate and violence to which Mr Olmer and
to all those present. Mr Olmer, born in
millions more Jews were subjected.
Poland in 1925, was a prisoner of several Nazi concentration camps and suffered
horrendously. After six years and close to
death, he was liberated by the British Army from the Terezinstadt camp, near Prague. He was taken to England to recover and this has been his home ever since.
Mr Olmer’s life and experiences in pre-war Poland and in Nazi-occupied Europe are
a painful reminder of how racism, hate,discrimination and indifference
Oxford Debating Competition This year’s East London round was held at
Brampton Manor Academy with at least twenty-four teams competing. Chigwell
School entered four teams and were delighted when the Chigwell A team, Christopher Collins and Julia Kotlarska, were
among the five teams selected for the Oxford
Finals Day on March 8th. This is the third time
in four years that Chigwell debaters have
made it to the national finals.
10
Cricket Course We are pleased to announce that a cricket
indoor facilities will be available for the
abilities will be held during the Easter
participants bring trainers and a sweater
duration of the course), it is essential that
coaching course for all age groups and
and
holiday. The course dates are as follows: Monday
15th,
Tuesday
Wednesday 17th April 2019.
16th
preferably
their
own
cricket
equipment (named) including an initialled
and
tennis ball (full equipment for the School of
Excellence and Intermediate groups) although this is not essential.
The cost of the three day coaching course is £90 and fees must be paid in advance
(cash or cheque) and sent with the application and medical forms (available on our website). Attendance can also be
daily and the cost is £30 per day. Please
The course will consist of three morning
indicate on the application form which
sessions from 10am to 1pm and three
day/days you are requesting. Cheques
afternoon sessions from 2pm to 3.45pm.
should be made payable to “Chigwell Mitre
Participants on the courses should meet at
Enterprises Ltd”.
the Dining Hall by 9.45am each morning and it is expected that participants will
Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Tina
will involve using outdoor facilities (no
5711 or email tpage@chigwell-school.org
Page for further information on 020 8501
bring packed lunches. As the programme
Meet the Future Careers talks have included sessions delivered by representatives from LSE, Dr Daniel Leff,
Reader in Breast Surgery and Honorary Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at St Mary's
Hospital Paddington and Dr Sophie Strong (OB-GYN) Whipps Cross Hospital, Daniel and
Sophie are both OCs. We are trying to share a variety of information regarding different
careers, university and apprenticeship opportunities and have a new Chigwell Careers
Twitter feed. As always, if parents are able to offer work experience, we would be delighted
to hear from you.
11
Festival of the Spoken Word Unsurprisingly the quality of this year’s presentations rivalled that of earlier years. Starting with prepared readings,
won by Avantika Bharadwaj with “The
Identification”, the performances showed poise and real skill. It was hard for the adjudicators, Ms Elise Feeney and Mr
Roderick Lonsdale to distinguish between
the performers in this section, let alone in the monologues that followed. Immy Peck, though, distinguished herself as Lady
Macbeth in the famous sleepwalking scene
though monologues by Charlotte James-
Pajwani and Alexandra Scott were all very compelling. AJ Boateng and Tobi Beckley performed a dualogue most creditably too.
An undoubted highlight was the original
writing section, won by Suli Scatchard. In typical unconventional fashion Lucas
Jefcoate wowed the audience with a highly
entertaining song about keeping hydrated.
The final section of more than one had only
The other poems by Josh Mercer, Molly
two entries and it was impossible to decide
showed undoubted talent too.
entertaining.
Moloney, Ziyad Chaudhary and Zoe Wright
on a winner; both were polished and
Sixth Form Induction A reminder that Sixth Form induction day will be on Wednesday 19th June when students will be given a taste of the work that they will be covering in their chosen A level subjects.
This is an important day in itself but also the occasion when a unit of A level work is set to
be completed over the summer holidays. This work will then be reviewed with an initial
assessment early in September 2019.
12
Bad Weather
Careers Convention
I hope that this is the last time I will be
We are holding our annual Careers
but, as always, in the event of heavy
7pm to 9pm. The convention is primarily
including this item for a few months
Convention on Monday 25th March from
snow or ice please consult the school
aimed at our Year 11 pupils to help them
website (www.chigwell-school.org) for
make informed choices when choosing
confirmation of arrangements for the
their A level subjects and planning for
school day. We would always be very
university and a career beyond. However,
reluctant to close the School, but are
Sixth Form students are also strongly
mindful of the safety of pupils and staff.
encouraged to attend.
In these times of inclement/adverse
This event has been a great success in the
of the need for sensible footwear in order
volunteers so we can represent the
weather, parents and pupils are reminded
past but we are always keen to have new
to minimise the risk of slips or trips whilst
broadest range of expertise as possible. If
making their way to and from school. If
parents from any section of the School, or
your child is in any doubt of what would be
indeed contacts from outside, would be
deemed suitable, they should liaise with
interested in talking to our students about
their Tutor.
their area of work and career path, we
would love to hear from you. The evening
also provides a chance to showcase
Staff News
companies or organisations and network
We send our congratulations to Mr Andrew
with other professionals.
Bruce and his wife Helen on the arrival of their baby son Oakley.
Please contact Miss Roxanne Darkin at
rdarkin@chigwell-school.org for more information volunteers.
Physics Olympiad Congratulations to the following students who all performed well in the Physics
Olympiad competition. Each achieved a medal: Aleksandra Bulira: Bronze, Vito
Yang: Silver, and Ryan Huang: Gold.
13
or
to
nominate
new
MFL Vertical Integration
Williams Project
French, German and Spanish A-level
WP sessions led by visiting speakers.
Once again, this term has seen a number of
students have been providing extra
These have included Dr Liz Gloyn with
support to Remove pupils at lunchtime.
‘Meeting Medusa. Why does the ancient
The department has been impressed with
Monster survive in the Modern World?’ and
the enthusiasm of both the student
‘The World of William Shakespeare’ with
teachers and their pupils and the aim is
author and lecturer Rosemary Swinfield.
that both parties benefit.
Please do encourage your sons and daughters to attend WP.
14
Summer 2019 Public Exams
Please can parents of pupils in the Upper Fifth and Middle Sixth check the current exam
timetable and exam entries for their child on Chigwell Gateway via the Pupil Profile. Any changes in the spelling of the name or date of birth need to be brought to our attention, as well as any other errors or omissions. Please do not worry about any exam clashes as these will be dealt with at a later date.
And Finally Hope you all have a good half term. Members of the Upper Fifth, Lower Sixth and Middle Sixth will want to spend time preparing for the exams which will take
place shortly after they return. We wish
those travelling on the trip to India and those participating in the Lower Fifth ski
trip to Austria a safe and memorable
experience, and we look forward to hearing about them on their return.
I look forward to seeing you all again next half term.
With best wishes Yours sincerely
Michael Punt
15
Message from the Chaplain
It never ceases to amaze me how the enthusiasm and commitment of our students is undented by the rigours of coursework, upcoming exams and gloomy weather. On Saturday 2nd February, Ziyad Chaudhary from Lower Sixth walked 50km across three European countries to raise awareness and much-needed funds for refugees in Greece. Zee spoke powerfully at a number of Chapel services and highlighted the plight of people fleeing the fighting in Syria and Afghanistan. He also drew attention to the conditions they are now enduring in Greek refugee camps. So far Zee and his friends have raised a remarkable £5,890 through the charity ‘Time to Help UK’ and our thanks go to all those from the Chigwell community who supported this cause.
has tea-lights available for anyone who spends time there and it is heartening when I close the Chapel at the end of the day to see how many candles have been lit, reflecting the staff and students who have been in and out through the day. As half term approaches, I know many of our families have plans for trips and activities over the February week. I hope you have a happy and restful (if that’s the plan) holiday and return refreshed for the second half of the Lent Term. With all blessings The Chaplain
The feast of Candlemas has just passed with the lighting of new candles in the school Chapel and at St Mary’s Church. Our Chapel is open daily and is now a warm and comfortable space for people who want to spend some quiet time away from the business of the school day. The candle stand in the sanctuary
16
TERM DATES 2019 Lent Term Half term: Saturday 16th February to Sunday 24th February Term ends: Wednesday 3rd April Trinity Term (Easter Day is 21st April) First day: Wednesday 24th April Half term: Saturday 25th May to Sunday 2nd June INSET Day Monday 3rd June Term ends: Wednesday 10th July