NEWS FROM
HAMPTON TH E N EWSLET T ER F O R HAM PTO N S CHO O L
AU TU MN 2020 INSIDE THIS ISSUE • BBC 500 WORDS • BLAKE CULLEN • ESFA SUCCESS • FOOD BANK APPEAL • HONEY HARVEST • LOCKDOWN ART • NEW BOYS’ CONCERT
AVON TYRRELL ADVENTURE First Years tackled activities including archery, rope swings, flag signalling and an adventure course on their trip to the Avon Tyrrell activity centre in the New Forest. Boys were also challenged to construct giant trebuchets and launched tennis balls as far as the eye could see. Clear blue skies helped create the perfect environment as our new Hamptonians focussed on their teamwork and communication skills, forging many new friendships along the way.
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FROM THE HEADMASTER As this edition of NfH amply demonstrates, the autumn term at Hampton has been characteristically creative, vibrant and fun.
Social distancing, one-way systems, face coverings and other Covid-secure hygiene measures haven’t dimmed our boys’ trademark enthusiasm one iota! It has been uplifting for all of us to watch them continue to take full advantage of the wide-ranging opportunities on offer here. I am sure that you will enjoy reading about their exploits and achievements!
SETTLING IN
Kevin Knibbs
We are looking forward to seeing them flourish in the years ahead.
Headmaster
CLUBS & SOCIETIES Lunchtimes have been as busy as ever with boys enjoying co-curricular clubs and societies in their year group bubbles. There is plenty of choice on offer including Biology and Physics Clubs, Board Games and Rubik’s Cube Clubs and a variety of sports activities from rock climbing to table tennis.
Hampton welcomed over 220 new boys this term. The first day of School had an air of celebration as many boys were accompanied by parents and siblings. New Hamptonians have enjoyed settling into the routine of school life, making friends and getting to know their teachers and mentors.
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A LEVEL & PRE-U RESULTS Despite the unprecedented challenges of cancelled exams, algorithms and centre assessed grades, our Upper Sixth Formers achieved exceptional A Level and Pre-U results. Over 90% of boys headed to Russell Group or equivalent universities, including 23 to Oxford and Cambridge. A remarkable 23% of Hamptonians headed to Global Top-10 universities and five boys are now studying in the United States. Headmaster Kevin Knibbs congratulated the Class of 2020: “Our leavers have much to celebrate and their successes are thoroughly deserved. These splendid results are a testament to every Hamptonians’ sustained hard work and the dedicated support of their teachers.”
GCSE RESULTS Our Fifth Year boys achieved superb results at GCSE - the culmination of months of effort and dedication. Over half of all grades awarded were at the top grade 9, and 78% of grades were at 9-8. A remarkable 83 boys achieved straight 9-8 grades.
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THIRD YEAR TEAM BUILDING Third Years teamed up with their new classmates as they took part in an exciting day of team building activities. Held in the sunshine on the School fields, the pupils worked together, as they tackled challenges from Deep Sea Rescue to Egyptian Moves, as well as the always popular Giant Ski Race finale.
SCHOOL CAPTAIN TEAM The autumn term saw the 2020-21 School Captain, Vice-Captains and this year’s Prefects and Mentors take up their roles. The boys act as ambassadors for the School and serve as important role models to their fellow Hamptonians.
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TWICKENHAM KINDER HOSTEL Fourth Years Josh Freer and Felix Lyon have been researching a Twickenham Kinder Hostel which housed young Jewish refugees during the Second World War.
The Hamptonians discovered that a house in Lebanon Park, Twickenham was home to ten Jewish boys who fled from Nazi persecution in Germany and Austria. Josh and Felix have spent months tracking down the Lebanon Park refugees to discover what happened to them and their families and they now plan to share their findings with pupils across the borough.
BBC 500 WORDS WINNER Announced live on BBC Radio 2, Fourth Year pupil Vishal Saha was named winner of this year’s BBC 500 Words competition in the 10-13 age group category, which attracted thousands of entries. Vishal’s story The Diary of a £5 Note was read out on national radio by comedian and acclaimed children’s author David Walliams who praised the talented Hamptonian for his creativity and writing skills.
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There has been plenty of live music at Hampton this term with musicians continuing to showcase their talents in a variety of concerts. Over 40 weekly rehearsals are taking place in year group bubbles, concerts have moved online and there are many co-curricular music activities to choose from.
NEW BOYS’ CONCERT The impressive talents of 41 First and Third Year pupils were on show in an evening of musical entertainment including pieces from The Beatles to Mozart and from Edvard Grieg to George Gershwin. Our young musicians included electric and acoustic guitarists, pianists, vocalists and brass players.
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LOCKDOWN ART COMPETITION Artistic flair was on show in the Lockdown Art Competition. Pupils from across the year groups submitted a selection of photographs, paintings, drawings and collages which were highly praised by Head of Art, Mrs Karen Williams. “The standard of work was very impressive and it was exciting to see pupils exploring their creativity in different and inventive ways.”
REMEMBRANCE ASSEMBLY
ROYAL ACADEMY SUCCESS
The community commemorated the two hundred Hamptonians listed on the School war memorials at a special Remembrance Assembly this term. Trumpeters played the Last Post and Voices of Lions performed a moving rendition of In Flanders Fields to pay tribute to all who lost their lives in conflict.
A piece of work from Lower Sixth artist Jacob Costen was selected for this year’s Royal Academy Young Artists’ online Summer Show. Chosen from 18,000 submissions, Jacob’s surreal landscape, entitled Leak, was created using a computer graphics programme.
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THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD Fifth Year boys took part in a DofE expedition with a difference this term.
Complying with current health and safety requirements, groups of Hamptonians braved the wilds of Bushy Park, Teddington Lock and Hampton Court as they hiked a 16 km loop with 65-litre rucksacks on their backs. The young adventurers bypassed bikes, dodged deer and encountered dogs of all shapes and sizes. Fortunately, the weather stayed dry for our young explorers.
ORANGUTAN APPEAL UK To help support the work of the Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sepilok, Malaysia, the School recently adopted a young baby orangutan called Zorro who was found abandoned on the roadside.
HONEY HARVEST There was a sting in the tail for Beekeeping Club earlier in the year after a mass exodus of bees emptied one of the School hives. Undaunted, our apiarists successfully introduced a new colony and produced a bumper harvest this term with over 60 jars of delicious Hampton honey.
Zorro is Hampton’s second adoptee. Barry, named after former Headmaster Mr Barry Martin, has now been released back into the wild and continues to thrive.
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FELTHAM FOOD BANK
The Hampton community donated over 70 crates of food and toiletries in support of Feltham Food Bank, which helps families in Bedfont, Hanworth, Feltham and the surrounding areas. The food bank collection will continue through the winter to help those who need it most at this time of year.
SUMMER SCHOOL GCSE CATCH-UP SESSIONS Hampton teachers ran a two-week summer catch-up programme for Year 10 pupils from local secondary schools who were particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 70 pupils due to sit GCSEs in 2021 benefited from the lessons to help them catch up on key parts of the curriculum.
Charity fundraising was at the heart of our community during 2020. Taking inspiration from the year the School was founded, the 1557 Challenge saw pupils take part in a range of challenges from hitting a punchbag 1557 times to a 15.57 kilometre run, and even climbing the stairs 1557 times, the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest. Over ÂŁ6,000 was raised for our Form Charities.
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SATURDAY SPORT
Saturday sport has continued through the autumn term despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Football and rugby training is organised in year group bubbles, with intra-School fixtures providing plenty of friendly rivalry on the School fields. Our J14 oarsmen took to the water for the very first time this term and senior rowers are continuing with their training programme. A highlight has been some spectacular sunsets on the River Thames.
TRIPLE ESFA CHAMPIONS
In a first for the School, our footballers have added three ESFA Cups to the trophy cabinet.
The English Schools’ Football Association named the Second XI, U16A and U16B teams joint National Schools’ Champions in their respective competitions. Director of Footballer Mr David Burke congratulated the footballers: “I am delighted that these senior teams have been rewarded. A special mention to the U16B squad who have reached their respective ESFA final at U14, U15 and U16 level.”
AUTUMN 2020 NEWS FROM HAMPTON
Players across the year groups enjoyed the Hampton Super Rugby Tournament this term. Injecting an element of competition into a season which has seen inter-school rugby fixtures cancelled, players represented one of three teams: Benson’s Bandits, Hartikainen’s Hullaballoos or Taylor’s Titans. After some fierce but fun competition, Taylor’s Titans were crowned victors.
CRICKET
In a slight change to the annual sports calendar, cricketers made the most of the late September sunshine enjoying a series of competitive T20 matches against local schools. Notable fixtures included matches against RGS Guildford, Reed’s School and St George’s College.
RUGBY ACADEMY SUCCESS
Eight of our senior rugby squad members are currently playing at Academy level. Jamie Benson and Ethan Knight are with Harlequins Academy while fellow Sixth Formers, Connor Cross, Ben Freer, Jesper Hartikainen, Iestyn Humphrey, Tim Lamming and Rupert Reddish are all playing for London Irish Academy.
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SPORTING SUPERSTARS PROFESSIONAL CRICKETER Blake Cullen OH (2020) has signed a three-year professional contract with Middlesex County Cricket Club. Blake has been in the Middlesex CCC youth system since he was a 10-year-old and says it is a dream come true:
“Playing professional cricket for Middlesex has always been my number one goal and I’m very much looking forward to exciting times ahead.” Blake, who is combining his cricketing career with studying for a degree in Environmental Geoscience at UCL, made his first-class debut this season and, in his second game, dismissed England legend Sir Alastair Cook.
ENGLAND CALL-UPS Two of our senior rugby players received invites to the England U18 October development camp. School Captain and Captain of the First XV, Jamie Benson, was selected alongside teammate, Rugby Vice-Captain, Jesper Hartikainen. Jamie, who plays for Harlequins Academy, was selected for England U18 earlier in the season, while Jesper, London Irish, took part in the England U17 development camp. AUTUMN 2020 NEWS FROM HAMPTON
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