Insight |
Autumn Term 2018 Reflections
Issue 14 | Published January 2019 1
s t n e t Con
Page 3 - Welcome from the Headmistress Page 4 - School News Page 5 - Open Morning Sixth Form Open Afternoon Page 6 - Admiral’s Lecture Humanities Forum Page 7 - Great Start for Politics A Level Dramatic History Lessons Page 8 - MUN Page 9 - Art Page 10 - School Snippets Page 12 - Sustainable Farming English Page 13 - Cobham Hall on Tour Page 14 - Colourful Cobham! Page 15 - Fundraising Fun Page 16 - A Mid-Autumn Dream as Year 9 Wow The Woodville Page 18 - Benesonantes in the Community Page 20 - #BoardingLife Page 22 - Sporting Success Page 24 - The Wonderful World of Teaching Performing Arts Page 26 - Christmas at Cobham Page 27 - Unicorn News Page 28 - Elders’ News Page 30 - Cobham Hall Heritage Trust Page 31 - Stay in Touch Forthcoming Events
From the Editor...
Autumn Term’s ram Post Most Liked Instag cobhamhall
a 96 likes our #Maestros for vo! Well done to cobhamhall Bra bhamgirlscan #cobhamhall #co g. nin eve l rfu wonde #cobhammusic
Welcome to the Autumn Term edition of Insight! I write the Editor’s Note for this edition after the festivities of the Autumn Term have concluded. The laughter echoing through the Hall has silenced, the singing - both carols from the Choirs and songs from the girls as they pass the window - stopped. After gearing up and preparing for Christmas at Cobham, it’s now suddenly all over. Boarders have all departed, and the School is unusually quiet. A few members of staff linger before Christmas and it’s the perfect moment to reflect on the Autumn Term. It began with great gusto, with the Student Leadership Team’s Colour Run, and the Unicorn Association’s Quiz Night. It continued through Year 9’s fabulous Shakespeare Festival performance, and the many Sports endeavours, Bonfire Night, outings, trips and fundraising events, and culminated with a celebration of Elders’ Achievements and, of course, the Christmas fun. All captured within these pages, and as always, it’s been a pleasure to document and curate the girls’ adventures.
Happy Reading!
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Tracey Reid Marketing Assistant
Welcome from the Headmistress I cannot quite believe how Cobham Hall managed
heart of what Cobham Hall should represent. After counting the votes, the five core values chosen by the Cobham Hall community were:
to do so much in the first term of a new academic year. It has been a term bursting with learning, excitement, fun, achievement, and memorable experiences which all reflected the busy community we are. What I have enjoyed most in my first few months as Head of Cobham Hall is seeing how our community comes together to celebrate what is great and to offer support when things do not go to plan. It is something Cobham does so well and as someone who first joined the school in September, I can say that the strength of community is something that is palpable and real. It is good to see that staff, pupils, parents and governors are connected and feel a sense of belonging to something bigger than just themselves. We know that that by having a strong sense of community it is more likely that the girls will be academically motivated, act ethically and selflessly and have better social and emotional interactions with each other. Our community is caring, inclusive and full of people who want to get involved with everything that is going on. At Cobham Hall, you certainly need stamina to keep up with it all. From the girls enjoying the Christmas staff entertainment through to the many fundraising events, and even the continual teamwork and support shared by girls and staff in the classroom, none of it would be a success without that feeling of community.
Trust Respect Kindness Honesty Tolerance These values will be discussed more widely next term, but it is my hope that everyone who is part of the Cobham Community - pupils, parents, guardians, staff, and governors - will act with these in mind to further enhance our already strong sense of community. A community that will continue to enjoy moments of celebration, fun, learning and support. We have enjoyed so many golden moments this term. Whether from the craziness that was the Colour Run, the competitiveness of a performance of a Midsummer’s Night Dream, the awe and wonder of the fireworks or the beauty of the singing in Carols by Candlelight and so much more, this Autumn’s copy of Insight will make joyful reading.
Underpinning any community is a shared set of values. That is why this term I held an assembly to talk about what values we wanted as a Cobham Hall community. The whole School - staff and students - then got to vote on what they wanted as the School’s core values. Using QR-code technology, girls and staff were able to scan the code and enter a value they believed should be at the 3
Ms M Roberts Headmistress
School News Wellbeing Award Following last year’s introduction of the Wellbeing Centre and extra-curricular programme, Wellbeing as a focus for the School has continued to grow. We are delighted to announce that we have been invited to be a pilot school for Leeds Beckett University’s new Boarding School Mental Health Award linked to their current Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools Award. The new award is the first aimed specifically at Boarding schools. Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead, Bligh Housemistress Miss Fenice said, “Children do not do their best if they are struggling emotionally and it has been shown to have an adverse effect on exam results. Happy and supported young people find it easier to access the
education that is offered to them and will achieve better results at the end of it. “The Mental Health Award covers all aspects of mental health within a school and asks us to examine our structure and practices in all areas. It looks to ensure we are using evidence-based approaches and that we are aligned to professional and Government guidelines. It provides us with a framework to make realistic improvements in the mental health of staff, pupils and community. It helps us to engage parents and to join up the care of the girls in the school.” In addition to the pilot scheme, we are also pleased to announce that we will be holding a conference in the Summer Term for senior school educators, with the aim of delegates being able to take practical strategies back to their schools.
WILDLIFE CALENDAR 2019
Cobham Hall Wildlife A 2019 Wildlife Calendar was available to purchase at the Round Square Christmas Fair this year. To order a copy, please email reidt@cobhamhall.com. All photographs featured, ranging from badgers to dragonflies, were taken by Network Manager Mr Wright within the School’s Grounds.
Staff News
Record-Breaking Show
Congratulations to Miss Georgina Broad from our Catering Department, who welcomed her baby boy in November. Congratulations also to Miss Jess Caro, Head of Languages, who had a surprising end to 2018 with the early arrival of her little boy!
Cobham Hall attended the Independent Schools’ Show in London this term, which saw record numbers of visitors to the event.
This term, we’ve also welcomed Mr Mark Caller as a new minibus driver, Mrs Polly Geater as our new Librarian, Mr Lewis Holdoway as caretaker, and Mr Jacob Sarsam as a chef, to the team.
Welcome to St Andrew’s
Entrance Assessment Day
We were pleased to welcome St Andrew’s Prep School this term to share our Sports Facilities. They made use of the Grounds for their Cross-Country event, as well as the Activity Centre for their Netball Tournament.
One Friday in November saw just under 50 young girls attend the School to take their Entrance Assessments. As well as their English and Mathematics papers, the girls also had an interview and enjoyed an Art Workshop.
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Congratulations Mr Haas! Our Voice and Piano Tutor, and Round Square Representative Mr Haas competed in the New York Marathon in November. Congratulations on achieving a new Personal Best marathon time of 03:34:13 Mr Haas! This is five minutes faster than his previous PB.
Open Morning Buzz
This term’s Open Morning saw a record-breaking number of families visiting on Saturday morning, and the buzz of chatter filled the air. The misty morning began early for a number of girls who had joined us on the Friday for a Taster Afternoon and Sleepover. They had enjoyed Computing and Latin lessons before taking part in activities with our Artist in Residence Miss Bowdery, and with our Lower School Tutors. Hot chocolate with marshmallows was a welcome treat before bedtime. One girl, who had never been to a sleepover before, said it was the best thing she’d ever done. The girls rejoined their families on Saturday morning, and delighted in showing them where they had been the day before and seeing more of the School. Our tour guides, girls from Year 8 through to Year 13, were widely praised for their conduct, knowledge, friendliness and confidence. There was excitement in the English Faculty, as they ran a competition for our guests. Head of English Miss West explained, “It was such a pleasure to welcome our visitors on Open Morning to the English Faculty. As well as answering questions and getting to know them, it was great fun to have the girls take part in our writing competition. In line with National Poetry Day's theme of 'Change', we looked at the Poem: 'Instructions for NOT becoming a Werewolf', presuming that this is a change that most of us would not like to happen to us! The girls were asked to imagine all the warning sights, sounds, smells, sensations and tastes that they should avoid if this 'change' started to happen! We loved all the imaginative responses, but our favourites were Nikayla (3rd place); Isobel (2nd place) and Morayo (1st place). Morayo imagined a different change, that of turning into a vampire! She wrote evocatively of, "The smells of musty dark and dank; the eerie sound of night and the hoot of the owl; avoiding the greatest source of life: the sun; the irresistible taste of blood lying faintly on your tongue and the sensation of fangs vying their way out of your mouth." Superb writing! Thank you to all the girls who took part and congratulations to our winners.” Our Geography Department were also offering more to their visitors, with a QR-code based Treasure Hunt. Our guides would help guests find and scan the codes, and those who returned to the Geography room with the correct answer won a small treat. As well as touring the School, Parents and Guardians also had the opportunity to hear from our Headmistress, Ms Roberts, our Deputy Guardian Izzy, and Anya, a Year 7 pupil. Ms Roberts spoke of everything Cobham Hall has to offer, from the individual attention girls receive to the importance of being a Round Square school. Izzy’s warm speech was well received, giving the audience a sense of how Cobham Hall helped shape her from a disenchanted new Year 7 to confident Deputy Guardian. Anya, having only been at the School for five short weeks, gave her perspective of the opportunities offered and the clubs and activities available. If you missed our Open Morning, you can arrange a visit at a time to suit you. Please contact Admissions on +44 (0) 1474 823371. Alternatively, our next Open Morning is Saturday, 11th May. There will be a Year 5 Taster Afternoon and Sleepover for those looking for entry into Year 7 in September 2020. 5
Sixth Form Open Afternoon
As well as our whole school Open Morning, we also held a Sixth Form Open Afternoon, with Year 11 girls and their parents invited to hear from staff and students about life in our Sixth Form.
As well as hearing from staff about aspects such as the Extended Project Qualification, girls could also hear from current Sixth Form students on a range of topics. Deputy Guardian Izzy spoke of Boarding in the Sixth Form, highlighting its differences from Middle School. A flexi-Boarder herself, she said, “The Boarding atmosphere at Cobham Hall is very welcoming and friendly and I would recommend Boarding or Flexi-Boarding - or even just staying occasionally - to everyone because it adds to the whole Cobham experience. We’re not just a school, we’re a community and the friendships you make here will last forever.” Tami also spoke, explaining why she made the decision to stay at Cobham Hall despite contemplating leaving at the end of Year 11. “I realised how much Cobham Hall could still offer me,” she began. “This was the best and only option for me, and I realised this time last year, at my Sixth Form Open Day, that I definitely wanted to stay. I appreciated that by the time I had reached Year 11, I had already formed strong relationships with my teachers which makes learning new subjects with more challenging concepts so much easier. And if you haven’t been a Cobham Hall girl before and join us as a brand new student in the Sixth Form, because of the welcoming nature of all the staff, you too will effortlessly form excellent work relationships with all the staff. “It is very rare to find a school like this and a new family at the same time,” Tami concluded.
The Admiral’s Lecture Returns Not content with discussing Brexit in the heart of British democracy, our Politics students, joined by their A Level History peers, were soon able to discuss the topic with renowned Historian David Starkey. Mr Starkey visited Cobham Hall as our guest speaker for the re-introduction of The Admiral’s Lecture. Sponsored by the Unicorn and Elders’ Associations, The Admiral’s Lecture was first established by the Unicorn Association. It was so named for Admiral Sir Edmund George Irving, a former School Governor and one of the Unicorn Association’s first Chairmen. Mr Starkey’s lecture, entitled, “Henry VIII: The First Brexiteer?” could not have and more apt timing than the day Theresa May faced the fall-out from presenting the draft Brexit deal to Cabinet. Mr Starkey’s lecture was witty, fascinating and drew surprising comparisons between today’s situation and Henry VIII’s break with Rome, and discussed the very foundation and notion of Parliamentary sovereignty. The talk, which as Mr Starkey noted was taking place in Kent, “the heart of Tudor England”, reflected on the importance and impact that developments in printing and art had at the time, essentially being used as early propaganda. Prior to his speech, Mr Starkey spent time with our Sixth Form Politics and History students, giving advice and answering their questions. He also took time afterwards to answer questions and sign books.
Forum Tackles Topical Debate Our Humanities Forum meets termly to tackle and discuss topical issues. This half term, the topic for debate was the formal act of Remembrance. In the second half of the term, Anna and Alessi, both Year 12 pupils studying History and Politics, debated the motion: “This Forum believes that now the centenary has passed it is no longer necessary or beneficial to continue with formal acts of remembrance of the First World War.” Alessi opened in favour of the motion, recapping Armistice Day and affirming that regardless of whether or not formal acts of remembrance were held, it is still an important time in the nation’s history, and so would still be taught in schools. However, she argued that as the primary focus is on the First World War, those who fell in subsequent wars are not remembered with the same intensity, and that as the 6
centenary passes, “nationally there is no collective grief that can reasonably be shared.” Anna countered the motion, arguing that the two-minute silence has even more significance in today’s world, an age of constant bombardment of information through our mobile phones, where we often forget to take the time to think, to remember, and to be grateful for the sacrifices made by those we did not even know, nor they us. Anna also stated that Remembrance Day serves not only as a vital reminder of the consequences of war, but as a pivotal moment for fundraising, contributing vital welfare to former members of our Armed Services. The girls coped well with questions from the floor, put to them by peers and staff members, with discussions covering support of war veterans, social media and government intervention.
Great Start for Politics A Level
As A Levels were re-introduced at Cobham Hall this September, so too was a new subject - Politics. Just two months into the new course, and we’re delighted to say that our Politics students had the opportunity to visit Speaker’s House and meet with Mr Speaker Rt. Hon John Bercow MP.
The girls entered a competition run by the Political Studies Association, in which they had to produce a short video demonstrating what Brexit Photo Credit: Political Studies Association meant to them. The girls, Year 12 pupils Teloni, Alessi, Akuboye, Tami, Anna, Sarah, and teacher Mr Bushnell were excited to discover they were one of just four videos shortlisted. As a result, Akuboye, Teloni and Tami travelled, during half term, to Westminster Palace to present their video and answer questions. As well as Mr Bercow, the judging panel consisted of Angie Wilson (Chair of the PSA), KateMattocks (PSA Trustee), and Anthony Wells (Director, Political Research, YouGov). Mr Bushnell was shocked and thrilled to announce to the School that the girls earned a fantastic second place! A great start for the course’s first competition entry. Recalling the day, Akuboye writes: “I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to go with my friends and teacher to Speaker’s House. Although the thought of representing my school scared me a bit, mainly because my friends and I didn’t think that we would win, it was quite a thrilling experience.”
Dramatic History Lessons
Years 7, 8 and 11 have been having some dramatic History lessons this term!
Year 11, whilst studying about Nazi Germany, were surprised to discover they were playing a speed dating game to learn about the Nazi idea of a perfect woman. Year 7 enjoyed a role play to help learn about the Norman Conquest. “The role play really helped us better understand the timeline after the Conquest, and how and why certain things happened – you could see it from both sides – how William tried with the land owners and let them
keep their land, but he got more and more angry after each rebellion,” said Florence. Later in the term, Year 7 again raided Miss Williams’s dress-up box to recreate the story of Thomas Beckett. Meanwhile Year 8 were learning about the Spanish Armada by staging the invasion. Elizabeth I (Daisy), supported by Sir Francis Drake (Jena) defeated the Armada with fireships (and party popper ‘cannon-fire’!) 7
c i g a NM
It’s been a busy term for Model United Nations, with conferences at Croydon High School, Benenden and London Oratory School. There was also a full Cobham MUN on the last day before the half-term break. Secretary General Anna, Year 12, explains.
MU
“There has been a lot of amazing MUN going on this term, with Cobham girls representing the School at three external conferences. We’re delighted that Paige, Year 11, won a ‘Highly Commended Delegate’ award. These conferences have pushed our skills further, improving our confidence and getting out of our comfort zone. Some of the topics included the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the question of child soldiers and the legalisation of cannabis. “Cobham MUN has strengthened its relationship with Brentwood School, with each of us holding practice General Assemblies to participate together. This has given the girls a chance to practice debating in front of strangers and not just their peers. It provides excellent practice for further conferences. “It’s been an exciting term for MUN, and we’ve seen many new members after our own successful Cobham Hall conference. Due to this success Langa and I will be organising a conference open to external students on Saturday, 23rdMarch, and we hope to see many Cobham girls there!”
Cobham MUN This year, the full school Cobham MUN debate centred around Government intervention, and looked at issues including the Chinese Government’s treatment of the Uyghur Muslims, sanctions in Afganistan, and terrorism. Secretary General, Year 12’s Anna, offered some advice about getting the most out of the day, “Research. Even just a little bit to see whether your country agrees or disagrees with the topic of discussion. Also, it may be cliché, but just try to speak at least once, especially in the committees as they’re not as intimidating. I know how scary speaking can be as I am quite a shy person, but once you have spoken once, it will be easy.” Students new to MUN found the day interesting as it gave them more of an insight into what MUN involves and how they can get more involved. It opened many girls eyes to issues in the wider world and encouraged them to consider how countries must work together to find ways of resolving global issues. A small press team was assembled, led by Film Studies teacher Mrs West, who tweeted throughout the day, and created a handout as a memento of the day. This included an interview with Secretary General Anna, an MUN quiz, and a summary of the day. 8
Artist-in-Residence
Art Exploration Trinity, a Year 10 GCSE student, showed real initiative this term.
Our Artist-in-Residence, Miss Bowdery, has been incredibly busy this term. As well as classroom assistance, Miss Bowdery has been available to students to discuss any issues or difficulties they are experiencing, has led workshops, and took a Photography trip to Gravesend with Year 12. She’s also taken the lead on the Year 6 Taster Afternoon Art activity.
She had experimented with printmaking using gelatine and natural found objects. Her results were so good that she performed a demonstration to the entire class on her method and they each took a turn to create their own She has been supporting Year 12 to enter the Maidstone Young print. Artist Award competition. Working with a theme of 'Friends', the girls had their own ideas and interpretations of the theme Trinity explained, “This year in Art we have and produced a variety of final pieces. These included sculpture, been producing work around the topic ‘Natural prints, paintings and mixed media. “I was very impressed with the Forms’. During half-term, I explored the topic commitment the girls put in,” she said. and thought print-making with natural form would be a interesting technique to include in Miss Bowdery also hosted a workshop earlier this term for the my portfolio. Year 12. She introduced them to her on-site studio, and discussed how she sought inspiration and developed ideas. She also offered “After showing my work to the class, Mrs one-to-one discussions and encouraged the girls to push beyond Walsh asked if I could do a class demonstration; their comfort zones. She also hosted an installation workshop. this was really fun as I got to show the class a new technique they hadn’t seen before. I think it Year 12 pupil India reflected on having Miss Bowdery on site, would be great for each of the students to show “Having an Artist-in-Residence, especially someone that is always any new techniques or interesting ideas to the so inclined to help, has allowed the ideas I have created to be rest of the class.” pushed and positively influenced. It has given me the ability to try new artistic processes, as Miss Bowdery is prepared to help in any way possible. It has been beneficial for me to talk to Miss Bowdery about university and creative pathways for the future.”
Year 10 Clay Workshop Year 10 had an Art Workshop one Saturday this term. The girls made clay reliefs inspired by imagery they had produced in their GCSE Art journals. 9
School Snippets Chariots of...’My Little Pony’ Year 10 Latin pupils saw chariot racing come to life as they learned about Roman races at the Circus Maximus - building paper chariots, and using My Little Pony to race them!
Jazz Night Success
Spanish Study Day
Spanish A Level students had a study day on Almodóvar, a Spanish filmmaker, at the British Film Institute this term. The girls, and Miss Caro, enjoyed lunch at nearby Wahaca!
The annual Jazz Night, hosted by Staff Elder, and Grandparent of current Year 12 pupil, Mrs Nicky Laughland, was again a success. Attendees enjoyed a night of dancing to music by Dr Jazz, and a wonderful opportunity to meet up with former staff, and parents of Elders. Funds raised will go towards supporting girls wishing to attend Round Square Conferences.
M&Ms & Maths During a recent Mathematics class, Year 7 were considering what it would look like to have 1000 boxes each containing 1000 M&Ms. Mrs Hillier set the class the challenge of finding out about 1000 M&Ms and to consider such questions as how much would they weigh? How much would the cost? Flo presented her findings on a poster but she also brought in enough M&Ms for each of class and Mrs Hillier.
Edible Geography
Year 9 became parrotfish when they attempted to eat their edible coral polyps - without using their hands! The girls created their coral polpys using biscuits, crackers, jam, bananas and strawberry laces - delicious!
Practical Science Year 7 got hands-on straight away at the start of the Autumn Term as Mr Fryer organised a practical for their first lesson. As he often says, “The key to learning science is to do science”, so the girls were straight off the mark: staining onion cells with iodine to observe them under a microscope.
Start of Term IceBreaking Scavenger Hunt
Our Student Leadership Team organised a photo scavenger hunt on the first day of term for Years 7 and 8. The girls had to get creative and take a variety of photographs in different locations around the School teamwork, enjoyment and, for our new girls, finding their way around their new environment. Well done to the SLT!
Zoo Trip for ESS
Year 13 headed to Port Lympne this term, as part of their Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) studies. They had a lesson on Conservation, the causes of extinction, and how Port Lympne works with local communities to release animals back into their natural habitats. 10
Geographers Takeover Lab
In true cross-curricular spirit, Mrs Keys and her Year 12 Geographers borrowed Mr Fryer’s Science Lab to learn about the carbon cycle in a much more practical way!
Girls in UK Computing Top 10%
DNA Workshop
Mr Fryer is keen to give students experiences beyond the normal curriculum and to introduce ideas to students that will broaden their appreciation of Biology. One Saturday morning, he gave a talk to Year 8 students about the reasons for the variation between them, and how the environment and our genetics affect us. He explained that our diet affects many aspects of our health and that the sun can affect skin tone, but something such as hair colour is determined by our genes. Using volunteers who were holding paper to represent different alleles of a gene, Mr Fryer explained how parents with brown hair could have a child with red hair. He even touched on the family traits of the Simpson family. The students then split into two groups and had to complete three tasks: to make a paper cell model, to extract DNA from kiwi fruit, and to make a model of DNA using sweets. Sabrina said, “The workshop was really fun and we learnt a lot of things as well! We all enjoyed extracting the kiwi DNA, and then making the DNA out of sweets, which we all got to eat afterwards! Overall it was really interesting!”
STEM Event for Year 8
Year 8 were invited this term to attend a STEM Stage Show, hosted by GSA and Siemens. The event, SeeWomen, aims to encourage more young girls to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Held at the London home of Siemens, The Crystal, the girls got to have a hands-on experience, as well as hearing from BBC Presenter Fran Scott.
Congratulations to Year 9 pupils Nifemi, Alice and Arwen, along with Year 13’s Kathryn, who have all ranked in the top 10% in the UK following the Bebras Computing Challenge. Over the course of a week, girls took part during Computing lessons. The aim of the competition is to solve as many short, online problems as possible. The problems are designed to be similar to those Computer Scientists regularly face, and develop computational thinking. This involves using problem-solving techniques employed by software engineers when they write programmes or develop apps. Scored out of 200, a minimum mark is required to fall within the top 10%, and Nifemi, Arwen, Alice and Kathryn all reached this standard. Well done, girls!
Maths at The Savoy
Year 12 Mathematicians headed to The Savoy in London for a Mathematics Inspiration Day. They heard from three speakers, who each showed applications of Maths in the real world. These included the biggest Maths errors ever made, looking at how minor errors in calculations have had sometimes catastrophic effects; the use of Maths in space, what makes boomerangs come back, why cars don't fall to the ground when stunt men do loop-the-loops and finally, the Mathematics of Gambling. Head of Mathematics, Mrs Afolayan, said, “The girls really enjoyed it, with one saying to some Year 11s that it was so good to see how Maths is actually used in real life.” 11
Energy for Year 7
Year 7 pupils have been looking at alternative forms of energy this term, culminating in them making some fantastic ‘Energy Islands’!
National Poetry Day: Change To celebrate National Poetry Day, Head of English Miss West encouraged the Cobham Hall community to submit poems on this year’s theme of ‘Change’. There were some wonderful poems, funny, heart-warming, and thoughtprovoking. As well as a long list of highly commended entries, the winners, who each received a book token and commendation are:
Sustainable Farming for Year 7
1st Place for Year 7-9: Alice (Year 9) 1st Place for Years 10-13: Amelia (Year 10 - presented below) Staff winner: Mrs Russell EFL Winner: Lok Yi Siu
Year 7 went on a Geography field trip this term to Kent Life. The girls were taking part in a workshop called 'Farm to Food'. The focus was to learn about sustainable farming methods and what can be farmed in the UK. The girls got to taste the different apple varieties grown on the farm and see the newborn piglets. They toured the farm learning about how to reduce our reliance on pesticides and fertilisers. Subsequently, back at school, this helped them to complete their 'design a farm' project, where the girls had to create a sustainable farm and explain all of the choices for their design.
Turning Seasons Bright clean light Dancing petals, breeze through the summer haze longer days and umbrella drinks... Caramel leaves crumble to the floor upon the newly softened earth the nights close in the chill creeps into the air Cobwebs change to frozen lace Snowflakes lay neatly on the ground a soft crunch as a foot breaks the icy crust Sunlit days of late spring the tight buds burst as the lazy winds sway the long grass the badger wakes and stirs the earth.
The Importance of Being Earnest A-Level English and Drama students went to see ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the Vaudeville Theatre this term. Year 12 pupil Alessi reports, “It was a fantastic experience watching a play that we are studying come to life! As most of us had not finished reading the entire play, we were on the edge of our seats as the unexpected twist at the end unfolded. 12
“Although all the actors were excellent, Sophie Thompson and Fehinti Balogun, in particular, mesmerised the audience with their interpretations of Lady Bracknell and Algernon Moncrieff. Michael Fentiman's adaptation was marvellous to watch and the addition of even more subtle visual comedy made the play more humorous for this modern audience. It was a wondrous adaptation, and I'm sure we would all happily watch again!”
Cobham
Hall on
As well as the Benensonantes Tour of Budapest, there were two other overseas trips this term. The first was to the 2018 Round Square International Conference in Canada, and the second was a cultural trip to Greece, taking in Athens and Delphi.
Tour!
“A Wonderful Adventure”
In late September, Year 12 pupils Hannah, Maria, Sarah and Budour, along with Year 11’s Sofia and Miss Caro, headed to Toronto, Canada, for the 2018 Round Square International Conference.
The Conference was entitled ‘Bring your Difference’, and so keynote speakers encouraged discussion of a variety of topics, such as diversity, celebrating cultural differences, self-acceptance and embracing mistakes as learning opportunities. But it wasn’t all Baraza discussion! The girls also had the chance to explore Toronto, both before and during the Conference. Before they headed to host school Appleby College, the girls and Miss Caro visited the CN Tower, which affords views across the city from a height of 346m. Toronto was also the base for a ‘city chase’, where teams had to complete different challenges at various locations. Based in Muskoka Woods, girls took part in team-building activities, a Service Day and an Adventure Day. There was also plenty of time to spend with their host families to experience Canadian life. After the Conference’s Closing Ceremony, the girls explored Niagara Falls, getting close - and very soaked - on a boat, as well as being able to change the light colour on the Falls at Night.
Visiting Athens and Delphi Girls from Year 9 through to Year 13 took part in a cultural trip to Greece, organised by Latin teacher Dr Marin and accompanied by Mrs Thompson. They visited important historical sites including the Acropolis, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Temple of Apollo and the Oracle. They also had time to enjoy a market in Athens and the stunning views from the hotel rooftop.
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Colourful Cobham! This term saw the Student Leadership Team take an event instigated by their predecessors last year and develop it. The Cobham Hall Colour Run took place after school one sunny Friday afternoon, and what an event it turned out to be!
ensuring a start of term event which was huge fun…and very messy!” The SLT had invited their peers, as well as family and friends, to the event, and provided the coloured powder, a DJ and a BBQ afterwards to provide light relief three weeks into the term. “It was a great chance to meet new students, especially the new Year 7s,” reflected Guardian Hannah, “as well as giving them the opportunity to get to know us as their representatives. The music really added to the relaxed atmosphere, the BBQ was delicious, and the whole event was great fun!”
Headmistress Ms Roberts, who took part in the Run, said, “Loud music, enthusiastic runners, walkers, dogs, kilos of coloured powder and a BBQ were the perfect ingredients for the Colour Run on Friday, which was a great success for all concerned. It showed once again the calibre of student leadership at Cobham Hall and the SLT did an amazing job of
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#HelloYellow! Over £100 was raised in October when Housemistress and Wellbeing and Mental Health Lead, Miss Fenice, organised a non-uniform day to support World Mental Health Day.
Bake Sale Success
Lower School pupils rose to the occasion when Miss Caro suggested a Bake Sale to raise money for Education East Africa.
There was a cheerful air as the School became a sea of yellow. Girls wore clothes and accessories in all shades of the colour to join #HelloYellow, an awareness campaign led by UK charity Young Minds.
Opening their stall every lunchtime one week this term, the girls raised a staggering £258. This was kindly doubled to £516 by our Round Square Fund.
Miss Fenice was delighted with the response, especially with so many girls getting involved, and visiting the Wellbeing Centre to find out more.
Education East Africa is a small charity that helps with teaching training and materials for schools in Tanzania and Rwanda.
World’s Biggest Coffee Morning
Staff were invited to wear purple and green, and bake their hearts out for MacMillan Cancer Support’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ fundraiser. Organiser, Laboratory Technician Mrs Howard, was overwhelmed by the volume of cakes staff baked or brought to support the event. Cakes were still being sold at the end of the school day to parents picking up their daughters, and girls heading home! With a ‘Guess the Weight of the Cake’, won by Head of Science Mr Fryer, and votes for the favourite homemade cake, won by Maintenance’s Mr Scott Hearn, an amazing £300 was raised, matched by the School’s Round Square Fund, taking the total donated to the charity £600!
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A Mid-Autumn Dream as Ye
Year 9 came together fantastically as an ensemble this term to give stunning performances at both The Woodville Theatre in Gravesend and in our Drama Studio. Year 9 took part in the National Shakespeare School Festival, the largest of its kind in the UK. The girls were given an abridged version of an entire Shakespeare Text, which for Cobham Hall was ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Drama teacher Ms Gorman said, “The biggest challenge was getting all of Year 9 onstage for the whole time, creating a collaborative performance. The girls performed superbly, and at The Woodville, they were visually interesting, disciplined and incredibly entertaining.” Over the course of their two months of rehearsal time, the girls’ performance skills greatly developed and they united incredibly well as a group, looking out for each other, and supporting each other. The girls enjoyed a workshop at the Theatre a few weeks prior to their performance, where they were given tips and advice for performing on
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such a stage, and about the importance of staying in character throughout the show. Although many girls commented after the workshop that seeing the size of the stage was a little daunting, it was clear that they were excited about the opportunity in front of them. Bella commented afterwards about the experience of being onstage at The Woodville Halls, “As we walked
ear 9 Wow at The Woodville
“A Visual Feast of a Comedy”
Feedback from Hannah Brailsford, Shakespeare Schools Festival “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Cobham Hall School for your fantastic production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of the 2018 Shakespeare Schools Festival. It was a brilliant night of theatre, and I’d like to highlight just a few elements that really stood out. “From the first to the last minute of this production, the ensemble worked brilliantly to create a high energy, visual feast of a comedy. Slickly creating the different worlds of the play and driving the action. into the dressing room, it finally kicked in that we were going to be standing on that stage and performing, and at that moment I was so quiet (which is very unlike me!); everyone was so nervous. As the time of our performance was drawing closer, we did a vocal warm up to get our adrenaline running. We walked backstage and stood there for a moment. I could not believe that this day had come so quickly: after all the sweat, tears and
laughter, we had finally made it. What an experience!” The girls subsequently gave a repeat performance in the School’s Drama Studio. Their polished performance, which was streamed live on Facebook and is now available to watch via the website, astounded the audience of peers and staff, and gave the spotlight to girls who may otherwise have been overlooked in a bigger production.
“There was excellent clarity in the storytelling both in the delivery and understanding of the text and in the way the atmosphere and environment was physically created by the whole company. “The characterisation was clearly considered and embraced, allowing both the humour and the emotion of the play to be excellently delivered. “Every single aspect of the production was effectively used to create a breathtaking piece of theatre.
“This was a vibrant, bold ensemble driven ‘Dream’, from a slick, focused and highly dedicated cast. “Performing Shakespeare’s words on a professional stage takes courage, resilience, and imagination. “You and your teachers should all be incredibly proud of what you have achieved. “I hope to see Cobham Hall School in the Festival again next year!” 17
in s e t n a nity n o u s e m n Be Com the
The Autumn Term is often incredibly busy for our talented Chamber Choir, Benesonantes, but this year has been busier than ever! In addition to the usual Christmas events (see page 22), there have been extra events in and around the local community! Not only that, but they even found time to record a CD!
As well as singing with the full School Choir at the Carols by Candlelight and Carol Service, our Benesonantes have shared festive cheer with residents at Cobham College, visitors to Queen Elizabeth Hall in London’s popular Southbank, and shoppers at nearby Bluewater, where they performed with Cobham Ladies Choir, raising over £300 for a local charity, The Molly McLaren Foundation. They also joined with Cobham Choir for a Carol Service in the Gilt Hall for over 170 members of the local community. Joined by Cobham Hall Elder Tilly, Cobham Choir’s Artist-inResidence, the choirs wowed the audience with a variety of Christmas songs. Head of Music Miss Clements commended the choir saying, “The girls worked tirelessly to prepare
a wide variety of repertoire for all these events. The team-spirit between the girls is amazing and makes the time they spend together all the more fun, because they trust each other, and this enables them all to have confidence in concerts.
give the time and to do the hard work and didn’t enjoy themselves: there would be no event. It is down to them and their continuous open-mindedness, willingness and organisation that we can put on the events we do.
“People kindly thank the Music Department for working behind the scenes, but let’s face the reality: if the girls were not prepared to
“I am, as always, immensely proud of them all, and hope the CD, ‘A Very Cobham Christmas’, will always bring the best of memories for them.”
Benesonantes on Tour in Budapest
Whilst the end of term Carol Service may have meant the start of the school holidays for most, for some members of Chamber Choir Benesonantes, it meant a quick dash to the airport to catch their flight to Budapest! Accompanied by Miss Clements and Mr Haas, the girls were able to enjoy the city at Christmas. As well as taking in Christmas Markets and enjoying the delicious treats available, the girls were also able to see the sights. Additionally, the girls made a Christmas Shoe box Donation to those in need. However, their main reason for visiting the city was to share their musical gifts, performing at both the Institute of Musicology and at Vőrősmarty Christmas Market. With their CD on sale too, the girls made a impression on those who watched them sing, with audiences wowed at both events. 18
Making Music
Despite a hectic schedule, the Music Department and Benesonantes found time to record a Christmas CD. The CD, which was on sale at the Round Square Christmas Fair, is still available to purchase and an exclusive behind the scenes film can be seen on our website.
One Day, One Choir
As part of a global initiative to mark International Day of Peace, Cobham Hall’s Chamber Choir, Benesonantes, and Cobham Choir, both lead by our Head of Music Miss Clements, joined with Cobham Primary’s KS2 Choir to form the Massed Choirs of Cobham. It was quite a feat, gathering over 60 singers, aged from 8 to over 70, as one group for first time, and raised £150 for War Child. The Choirs performed for friends, family, colleagues and villagers, treating them to such songs as ‘Can
You Feel The Love Tonight’ from ‘The Lion King’, ‘O Lovely Peace’, ‘Let There be Peace on Earth’, ‘This is Why We Sing’, ‘This is Me’ from ‘The Greatest Showman’ and, with all choirs together, ‘Make Me a Channel of your Peace’. Sarah Rose, Music Lead at Cobham Primary said, “It was an incredible event and the children absolutely loved the opportunity to perform with everyone. It was wonderful for them to experience choral singing from both Cobham Choir and the Cobham Hall girls. We cannot wait to collaborate again soon.”
Competition Wins for Maestros The last weekend in November saw several wins at the Maidstone Music Festival. We are delighted that as well as winning her category, Lucy (Year 11) has been given the additional accolade of having been invited back next year to participate in the Maidstone Young Musician Competition. Competing in the vocal categories along with Lucy were Emily (Year 13) and Jessica (Year 8), and each won their age group, with performances including Schonberg & Boubil’s ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’, Rachmaninoff’s ‘Ostrovok’, and Bart’s ‘Who Will Buy’, from Oliver. Our Pianist, Year 10’s Joey, also won her category, playing Haydn. The girls all performed with great musicality and confidence, and received positive comments from the adjudicators. We are so thrilled that girls who show continued commitment to their musical studies can be rewarded for their hard work – especially when also sacrificing a well-earned Saturday rest! The competition followed a week where the girls all performed at a Maestros’ Concert; a evening event for more advanced musicians to demonstrate and hone their skills.
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#BoardingLife
Boarding’s Autumn Term in pictures!
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Keep up-to-date with all the adventures on Twitter:
@CobhamBoarding
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Match Results Netball
U14 & U15 vs Walthamstow Hall U15 19-10 to Walthamstow Hall Players of the Match: Bo and Dami U14 11-10 to Walthamstow Hall Player of the Match: Selina
Sporting Success at Cobham Hall
U13 vs Benenden U13A 15 - 10 to Benenden Player of the Match: Olivia U13B 12 - 10 to Benenden Player of the Match: Natasha U16 Tournament vs Highstead Grammar, St Dunstan’s College, Rainham Girls’, Blackheath High Won against Highstead and St Dunstans Lost by 1 goal to Rainham and Blackheath Year 7 & 8 vs Wilmington Grammar Year 7: 15-6 to Cobham Hall Player of the Match: Lily
Medal Haul and Qualification for Biathletes!
Congratulations to our Biathlon Team, who competed at the Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain Schools’ Biathlon Competition. From our team of eleven girls, eight returned with medals, and two earned automatic qualification to the Nationals.
Year 8: 24-18 to Wilmington Grammar Player of the Match: Olivia
Accompanying the girls to the event was PE Teacher Miss Fautley. "All of the girls competed with phenomenal determination and professionalism," she reported. "They were true assets to the School. For some of the girls this was their first ever Biathlon.
Year 9 & 10 vs Wilmington Grammar Year 9: 27-10 to Cobham Hall Player of the Match: Tife
"I would like to give a special commendation to Hannah in Year 7. It was her first ever competition outside of school and her determination was incredible. Hannah has gained automatic qualification to the Nationals - she's definitely one to watch for the future!
Year 10: 21-22 to Wilmington Grammar Player of the Match: Bo Year 7 & 8 vs Walthamstow Hall Year 7: 13-7 to Walthamstow Hall Player of the Match: Poppy Year 8: 13-7 to Cobham Hall Player of the Match: Sabrina
Swimming Gala vs Benenden Juniors: Won by 9 points Intermediates: Lost by 1 point Seniors: Won by 1 point Cobham Hall Win Overall
"I would also like to give a special commendation to Natasha in Year 8. The age group was particularly strong, and so to achieve a silver medal against that standard is a huge achievement. I'm thrilled to announce that Natasha has also gained automatic qualification to the Nationals!" Further qualification news will be announced early next year, and we are hopeful that there will be more Cobham Hall girls joining Hannah and Natasha. A huge congratulations to all the girls who took part! 22
Congratulations, Bella!
Congratulations to Bella, Year 9, who competed in two classes at the National Schools’ Equestrian Association this term. Bella came fourth and second in the first and second classes respectively!
Inter-House Event Wins for Lenox and Darnley
Darnley Dominate Cross-Country
The Autumn chill, complete with a light drizzle, provided the perfect setting for the Inter-House CrossCountry event in October. Lesson 6 one Wednesday was given over to the event, with all girls in Years 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12 competing. Beginning on West Lawn, in front of the School, the 3km course wound around the grounds; through woodland and across lawns. Our Southern Schools Cross Country Champion, Year 11 pupil Maisy set the pace, with Year 8’s Natasha coming in second, and Team GB triathlete, Year 12’s Lilly, coming third. The top ten were awarded medals, but Mrs Hooper was enthusiastic about all the girls’ efforts, “It was a fantastic event,” she commented, “with great effort put in by all. There were some incredible performances across all Year Groups, and we had a very strong top 20 this year, which was fantastic to see!” Overall, Darnley won, followed by Lenox, Clifton and Richmond.
Lenox Hold on to Netball Title
Later in the term, girls competed in the Inter-House Netball Tournament. Last year, the tournament was incredibly close, with all four Houses tied after all games were played. Last year, Lenox were declared the winners, after working out goal difference. This year, Lenox got off to a good start, winning the Senior Tournament, followed by Darnley in second, Richmond in third and Clifton fourth. After lunch, the Juniors, Years 7 to 9, played, with Clifton coming out on top. Lenox took second, Richmond third and Darnley fourth. In the Junior tournament, Clifton, Lenox and Richmond ended on a tie, with positions being worked out on goals for. When announcing the results, Mrs Hooper emphasised how this highlighted that during a tournament, if you are winning in one game, it’s better to keep pushing rather than be complacent. Overall, Lenox won, followed by Clifton, Darnley and Richmond.
Knole Run Target Smashed Several students competed at the Knole Run, Sevenoaks, this term. Heading into the event, Natasha, Year 8, was aiming to finish in the top 100 having finished outside this mark in her first event last year. She came 54th out of 235 competitors. Hannah, Year 7, wasn’t far behind in 57th. This put the girls in the top 25% for the prestigious, highly competitive event. Olivia and Elena also had a fantastic race.
Congratulations, Jenna!
Congratulations to Jenna, Year 7, who competed in her first British Gymnastics Regional Competition in November. Competing for Dartford Trampoline Club, Jenna finished in a fantastic second place!
Congratulations, Maisy! Year 11’s Maisy is unbeaten in this season’s Kent League Cross-Country races. She also finished in the top 10 in the inter-counties in December, and in both the Liverpool and Milton Keynes Cross Challenge. Over the Summer, she attended a 5-day elite young athletes camp at St Mary’s University, London having been invited by ex-international athlete Jenny Meadows.
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The Wonderful World of Teaching Performing Arts: An Insider’s Perspective
Our Teacher of Voice, Drama and Communication Miss Natasha Elliott lets us in on a secret: what she believes is the best part of being a Performing Arts teacher, and explains why she believes that the Performing Arts are so vital in preparing young people for life.
Many people think that the most rewarding aspect of
Where else but within the Arts can you learn such valuable communication and listening skills? Both Music and Drama encourage a sense of empathy and emotional intelligence that are intensely valued in today’s work environment. Many employers outside of the Arts world will seek out people who have studied Drama in any capacity. An ability to compromise, improvise and to think on one’s feet as well as a strong sense of empathy is highly desirable. On a more obvious note, the ability to stand up and speak with confidence in a room full of strangers is invaluable. This is beneficial in all areas of employment; from business, to advertising, law, and sales and even as a teacher of any subject!
working as a teacher within the Performing Arts is discovering the next young performer who is destined to become a film star or platinum-selling musician. For me, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Helping a young person develop their confidence and find their voice is far more rewarding. In an age where budget cuts often take place in some areas of education, I feel that all the girls at Cobham are fortunate that the Arts play such a vital role in our community.
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Studying Music has proven to be invaluable in cognitive development, increasing one’s ability to focus and concentrate. Even listening to music stimulates the entire brain, activating Motor, Auditory and Limbic brain function, as well as enhancing dopamine levels and lowering cortisone levels, literally reducing stress and aiding anxiety. Singing strengthens the immune system, according to recent studies, as well as increasing lung function and circulation and improving posture, all valuable in the stressful world of a teenager!
Girls at Cobham are also encouraged to take peripatetic lessons that will lead to examinations in either Music or Drama, or in the case of Musical Theatre, a little of both! We offer one of the widest varieties of examinations outside the curriculum, compared to many other schools in the area. In Drama, Voice and Communications, girls are encouraged to take exams within the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) curriculum. These range from Acting, Verse and Prose, and Musical Theatre to Speaking in Public. Girls are also welcome to come to us, solely to improve their confidence. Within the Music Department, lessons are offered in a variety of subjects, from Singing and Piano, to stringed instruments, woodwind and brass, and percussion. Girls can work with either the Trinity Board of Exams or the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music. All of these supplement curricular examinations and further study applications at higher grades count towards UCAS points.
So far this year, the Music Department has recorded their very own album in the Gilt Hall ahead of Benesonantes tour of Budapest. They have performed in Central London at the Southbank Centre as well as preparing for multiple concerts both inside and outside of School, including Carols at Bluewater, and have taken part in a worldwide choir event, One Day One Choir, where they raised money and awareness for War Child. Cobham girls also won multiple prizes at the Maidstone Music Festival.
However, it is certainly not the aim that every girl at Cobham Hall will walk out a professional actress or musician. Rather, it is the sense of working together, the co-operation and peer trust, and the sense of accomplishment that makes studying Performing Arts so vital, and why I am grateful that it is an important part of Cobham Hall life.
Within the Drama Department, we have already seen Cobham girls take part in the Shakespeare for Schools Festival, and we are already preparing for our next project for senior girls; a National Theatre Connections play. This is a scheme involving over 6000 young people nationwide, and enabling them to work with the most innovative playwrights within the UK. Both of these projects give students the opportunity to work in professional theatres in Kent, such as the Woodville Theatre in Gravesend and the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, which is an undeniably exciting experience for all involved and instills a sense of professionalism in the work they have created. These projects give a strong sense of accomplishment to all involved and it also encourages a sense of pride in themselves and as part of the Cobham Hall community. 25
A Very Cobham Christmas
Christmas is always a time for some festive fun at Cobham Hall. It starts in early December with the girls decorating the Boarding Houses and the School Christmas Tree outside the Gilt Hall, carries on through the Round Square Christmas Fair and Carols by Candlelight to the Christmas Dinner and Staff Entertainment, as well as the end of term Carol Service.
evening was astonishing. All credit to them, and to you for teaching them so thoroughly. The quality of singing was high throughout and I was most impressed with the girls’ tone, projection, tuning and excellent pitch retention.” The Concert followed the Round Square Christmas Fair, where mulled wine and mince pies were flowing, and where each Tutor Group provided an entertaining stall. Coupled with Christmas Jumper Day and a visit from Santa and his helpers, the afternoon was a lot of fun.
This year was no different. Decorations were happily hung, and parties were had in Boarding. Shoes were left by bedroom doors to see if St Nicholas would leave treats or coal, and festive cheer filled the air. Mrs Russell’s church at Eastgate were overwhelmed when Cobham Hall gathered more than 50 shoeboxes packed with donated gifts as part of Operation Christmas Child in late November.
The Christmas Dinner was enjoyed by all, with huge thanks to the Catering Team. And of course, what can be said about the staff entertainment... an absolute joy, and greatly enjoyed by the girls! The term ended on a high note, literally, with the Carol Service at Aylesford Priory, with readings from staff and students, and carols beautifully performed by our Choir and Chamber Choir - some of whom had to leave almost immediately for their flight to Budapest!
Our annual Carols by Candlelight Concert was a little darker than planned when, at exactly the moment the choir walked into the Gilt Hall, a fault at a local substation caused a power cut!
Cobham Hall’s Christmas could be taken home this year too, with packs of Christmas Cards available to purchase featuring a design submitted by Amber in Year 9, who won a competition to design the card, as well as the Benesonantes CD ‘A Very Cobham Christmas’.
Demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of such difficulty, the girls – and Miss Clements and Mr Haas - coped magnificently to give a sterling performance, despite the difficulty in seeing song sheets! One guest commented afterwards, “How your girls managed to sing in virtual darkness for much of the 26
Unicorn News and Events
Cobham Hall’s Parent-Teacher Association, Unicorn, is dedicated to raising funds and running events for the benefit of all at Cobham Hall. Here are details of their recent activities. To find out more, you can email the Committee: unicorn@cobhamhall.com or visit www.cobhamhall.com/unicorn
Bonfire Spectacular
by Dr O’Neill-Byrne, Parent-Governor
The Cobham Hall family enjoyed another spectacular Fireworks Night this year. Throughout the day, we experienced the usual frisson of rainrelated anxiety: Will the fireworks have to be called off? Recalling that this event has only been cancelled once in the past eleven years, we were optimistic. Sure enough, as evening approached the skies cleared ready for the spectacle.
A Quiz Night Packed with Fun
by Miss Adewumi, Mother of Year 7 Pupil
I must say, it’s been an exciting first half of term joining the Cobham Hall family. My daughter has settled in well. We are both truly happy at Cobham Hall. I have attended some of the events organised by the amazing Unicorn Association. They have given me the opportunity to mingle with parents and staff in a less formal setting. The Quiz Night was packed with so much fun that I wish this was a twice a year event, rather than just once... Anyone agree?!
It brought back wonderful memories as we tackled questions on different topics and subjects. Of course, the jam tasting was my highlight of the night! It was so much fun as we all bonded, cracking jokes and sharing our experiences so far at Cobham Hall. Delicious, freshly prepared fish and chips by the amazing kitchen staff, with lots of drinks and nibbles. Girls were offered the choice of an overnight stay at the Boarding House too, so parents can have a good time. What’s not to love... I so much look forward to the next Quiz Night!
A Delicious Big Breakfast by Miss Gunn, Mother of Year 7 Pupil
Well what can I say? A great way to spend a Saturday morning relaxing and chatting to other parents and members of the Unicorn Association while the children work… a wonderful reversal of roles! To top this, we were served a fantastic freshly cooked full English breakfast with a wide variety of choice, including black pudding – a favourite of ours! The morning was informative with a short speech from Richard [Unicorn Vice-Chair] about current and future
events that the Unicorn Association have going on. He also expressed that any help from parents is always welcome any parent wishing to be part of the Committee is welcome. All in all, this was a nice way to relax and have breakfast cooked for you. I would recommend any parent attend this event in the future, where we can all get to know each other in the hope that together a strong bond between parents will help our girls during their future years at Cobham Hall. 27
Prior to the main event, we enjoyed our traditional fare of burgers, hot dogs, mulled wine and hot chocolate – thanks to our terrific catering team and the chance to raise funds for charity via the stalls run by students. As the moment arrived for the fireworks to commence, a light rain began to fall; but so high were our spirits by now that nothing could dampen them. The sky was lit up for a good 25 minutes by a variety of pyrotechnics. Looking around, I was struck by the genuine family feel of this event: staff, governors, Elders and students, some with up to four generations of family present, all mingling and enjoying a feeling of solidarity in the middle of the darkest time of the year. There is something both powerful and moving about gathering together to create light when all about us is so bleak – and the display of illuminations this year was enough to dispel darkness entirely, leaving us to return home feeling somehow lighter within ourselves . Our enjoyment was only possible thanks to the generosity of members of the Unicorn committee and their helpers who laboured valiantly in the rain to ensure our safety and comfort. Thanks to all who contributed to the success of this lovely evening’s entertainment.
Elders’ News
Cobham Hall’s Elders follow a variety of paths after school, and we always enjoy hearing of their successes. Here are some recent good news stories. An Elder and have news you’d like to share? Please contact Julia Booth via boothj@cobhamhall.com or submit via: www.cobhamhall.com/submit.
Elders’ Snippets
Elders Celebrate Remarkable Achievements with Dinner
Arranged by Elders’ Committee Chair, Mrs Tracey Balch and members of the Elders’ Committee, Cobham Hall Elders attended a dinner at Searcy’s, Knightsbridge in late November. Attendees included both Student and Staff Elders from across the years, from when the School was founded in 1962 to current Sixth Form Students and Staff, and included Lady Airlie, one of the Schools founding Trustees and Governors. Current students agreed it was a fantastic opportunity to network with Elders from all walks of life including journalism, acting, authors, business, law, design photography, environmentalism, medicine, psychology, and many more. It is hoped that this will become a regular event.
Elder and Cambridge Student Returns
As part of a programme designed to support students looking to continue studies at universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, Sixth Form Tutor Dr Marin arranged for Elder April Jakso to return to the School.
April, now in her second year at the University of Cambridge, came back for an informal lunch and chat with Sixth Form girls planning to apply to Russell Group establishments. April openly shared her experience of applying and the interview process, as well as advice for life on campus. She fielded questions with honesty, and our current Sixth Form girls appreciated the chance to benefit from the knowledge of someone who had recently been in their shoes. 28
Elders Eman and Fatima Indimi returned to the School at the start of term, when they dropped their younger sister Aya of to start Year 12. They are pictured above with Aya, and Headmistress Ms Roberts. Along with sister Hauwa, the girls make four generations of Indimi sisters at Cobham Hall.
For Elder Tilly Green, the Round Square pillar of Service continues to be an important aspect of life, as she gave up time to give an assembly to children at nearby Cobham Primary, as part of her Artist-in-Residence duties for Cobham Choir. Surprises all round when Mr David Starkey arrived for the Admiral’s Lecture (Page 7), and we discovered that his literary agent was Elder Natasha Fairweather. She in turn was shocked to find her old Boarding dormitory was now the Head’s Study!
Four Heads at Carol Service
L-R: Sue Cameron, Paul Mitchell, Maggie Roberts, Sandra Coates-Smith.
Elder Jemima in hit film Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald Elder Jemima Woolnough recently appeared in the latest Fantastic Beasts film, ‘The Crimes of Grindelwald’, causing much excitement within School. We got in touch to find out more.
“Being a part of ‘Fantastic Beasts’
has really been incredible, something I could only have dreamed of: working on location at Hogwarts with Jude Law and Zoe Kravitz. This has probably been the most exciting and best experience of my life. For such a small part in the film, I did five full days of filming, three at Lacock Abbey in Bath (Hogwarts) and two on set at the Warner Brother Studios in Leavesden, plus four more days of costume,
makeup, and ADR. The most fun scene was running around Hogwarts when I was chasing the young Leta: that took about four hours to film with almost constant running - Mrs Hooper would have been happy! Getting into professional acting was all down to my Drama Teacher Ms Martin. She told my parents every Parents’ Evening from Year 7 to “take Jemima to London and get her an agent” - eventually in Year 8 I decided to just take a risk and do something I had never done before. I had to do Drama Classes at the Young Actors Theatre in Islington every Saturday after auditioning and being accepted into their agency. Once I started, and had landed my first job working for the Disney Channel, I realised this would be something I would want to
Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers
Sue Anderson
We are saddened to announce that Sue Anderson passed away after a long battle with Cancer. Sue worked at Cobham Hall from 1983 to 1998. Her role encompassed a diverse range of responsibilities. In 1992, Sue became Development Director, one of the first in the Independent schools sector, and developed the Enterprise area of the School, generating an income from the facilities during school holidays. In 2013, Sue was awarded an MBE by the Queen for services to education.
In Memoriam Annabelle Burges
We are sad to announce the sudden passing of Annabelle Burges, who attended Cobham Hall from 1970 to 1977.
Annabelle Neilson We were saddened over the summer to learn of the sudden passing of Annabelle Neilson. Annabelle attended Cobham from 1980 to 1985. Following a career in fashion and acting, Annabelle became a published children’s author. 29
do for the rest of my life. Since then I have filmed for BBC1, ITV, Warner Brothers, and Sky Atlantic, doing a variety of Dancing, Acting, Films, TV Dramas, Voiceovers and Commercials. Acting for me is the best fun, however there are many roles that I don’t get, having maybe done three rounds of auditioning for the same role, final recall is usually to meet the Director who has to finally choose between either two or three of you. Auditions are called at the last minute with very short notice, I may be told at 5pm that I have an audition for 2pm the next day in London, which then involves having to learn a scene up to maybe three sides of A4 that same evening in preparation. All plans for the following day have to also be abandoned; quite difficult when you are at college or working. However, when you land a role in ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’, and Eddie Redmayne phones your PA on set (the Dark Arts classroom) and says “Would I be able to meet Gryffindor Girl 1 on my set today (which was the French Ministry of Magic) when she has finished filming, as we share a make-up artist?” It does all seem worth it!”
Jill Hanson
We are sad to announce, following a long illness, the death of Miss Jill Hanson. Jill was Headmistress at Cobham Hall from 1972 to 1981, having joined in 1963 as a teacher of English under the Headship of Miss Hancock. At that time, the School had 60 students and was gradually being reclaimed and renovated. Student numbers increased to 250 Boarders and 40 Day Girls. Under Jill’s leadership, the School was invited to join Round Square.
News from Cobham Hall Heritage Trust The Cobham Hall Heritage Trust was set up in July 1985 both to protect the gardens, grounds and garden buildings of the 150 acre Cobham Hall Estate and to educate the public in their historical significance. The Trust also protects historical artefacts belonging to Cobham Hall, and provides advice and raises funds to assist with landscape and building restoration projects.
Hands-On Heritage
Hands-On Heritage is a new community heritage project that the Trust is currently developing. They will be applying for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund later this year. If successful, Hands-On Heritage will run from May 2019. It will be a three-year programme that will bring to life the unique history of the Hall and its grounds, for local people, schools and community groups. The
Trust will open Cobham Hall’s doors to new visitors and run activities for local schools. There will be a programme of community archaeology, the creation of a Heritage Room for research and learning, and a new volunteer group to help conserve the grounds. Full details of the project, along with a response form to gather opinions, can be found on the School’s website, under ‘Historic House’.
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Landmark Trust Begin Work on Dairy The Landmark Trust reached their target of £950,000 to begin work on restoring the Dairy which stands at the far end of South Lawn. The Dairy, originally built in the 1790s is listed Grade II*, was designed by James Wyatt, one of the period’s most profilic architects. It was built for Elizabeth, Countess of Darnley. The Gothic revival design represents an Italiante chapel, topped with a bell tower, and with four corner pavilions. Director of the Landmark Trust, Dr Anna Keay said, “Cobham Dairy is a rare and fragile survival. It is uniquely captivating: both as a miniature masterpiece by a brilliant architect, but also as a window onto the hidden world of 18th Century women.”
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To keep in touch and up-to-date with Elders’ news and events, visit: www.cobhamhall.com/elders Cobham Hall’s Parent-Teacher Association. To find out about upcoming Unicorn events, visit: www.cobhamhall.com/unicorn
Tasters and Open Mornings Year 5 Taster Afternoon & Sleepover
Forthcoming Events
(for September 2020 Entry)
Friday 10th/Saturday 11th May 2019
Half-Term
Open Morning
Friday 15th - Sunday 24th February 2019
Saturday 11th May 2019
Unicorn Candlelit Ball
Lower and Middle School Taster Afternoon & Sleepover
Saturday 16th March 2019
Senior School Play
Friday 4th/Saturday 5th October 2019
Thursday 23 March 2019 rd
Open Morning
Prep & Junior School Netball Tournament
Saturday 5th October 2019
Saturday 23rd March 2019
Sixth Form Taster Sleepover & Open Morning
Friday 15th/Saturday 16th November 2019
For information on any of the above events, or to register your interest in attending, please email enquiries@cobhamhall.com 31
Cobham, Kent, DA12 3BL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1474 823371 enquiries@cobhamhall.com www.cobhamhall.com
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