Foreword
by The Headmaster
It could be that I am getting older, or perhaps it is because I am now entering my eighth year as Headmaster at Halliford School, but this year seems to have flown by! Yet, once again, we have managed to achieve so much as proud members of the Halliford School community. The Hallifordian offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the highlights of the year, and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who contributed to this fantastic publication.
This year holds special significance for me as I bid farewell to those who began their Halliford journey alongside me in 2017. I remember asking our Head Prefect, Max Xander-Holder, for advice on starting my headship. He wisely said, ‘Just get to know us and show us you care, and you’ll be on a winner.’ With some trepidation, I delivered my first assembly, and sitting before me were the remarkable young people we honoured in July at Speech Day—students who have taught me so much and have led our school so brilliantly over the past year.
One standout memory from that first morning is of a young Louie Paterson, who sat in front of the lectern. Watching him claim victory at his final Sports Day and break the school record for the 100m with a stunning time of 10.92 seconds, cheered on by the entire school from the stands, was one of those moments that reminded me exactly why I do this crazy job!
Being a Hallifordian truly matters. As word has spread about the values we stand for, our school numbers have grown year on year. I believe this is down to three factors: the wonderful ambassadors our students have become, the exceptional work my colleagues do each day under the guidance of our governors,
and the incredible support from parents and friends of the school who help us daily to proudly share the Halliford story. For this, I offer my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you. There is no doubt that following a change in government, the coming year will bring many challenges. But, as those who were here during the pandemic know, I love a challenge. I am immensely proud of the strong position we find ourselves in as a school at the end of the 2023/24 academic year, and I am confident that, thanks to our collective efforts, we are wellprepared for whatever lies ahead.
One of the year’s highlights was the privilege of joining a group of our Year 8 students, along with Madame Lamy, during the 80th anniversary D-Day celebrations in Normandy. The image on our cover shows us at the British Normandy Memorial, where the names of the 22,442 servicemen and women under British command who fell on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy are inscribed. Listening to the veterans’ stories was a stark reminder of the fragility of peace, and it struck me that many of the soldiers we were honouring were the same age as our Upper Sixth students and only five years older than the Year 8 students on the trip.
Ultimately, none of us know what lies around the corner, and perhaps that is a good thing. But this experience made me reflect on the journey ahead for all of us and the importance of helping our young people prepare for a world that can change in an instant.
As a school, we pride ourselves on enabling every young person to achieve their best possible academic results and I am delighted that A Level results from this year just gone were the strongest on record for some time. But, just as importantly, we strive to equip Hallifordians with the values and skills they will need for future success as they leave us - the very best versions of themselves. The Hallifordian celebrates so much of what happens beyond the classroom—the magnificent opportunities available to our students and the remarkable successes they achieve.
I hope you enjoy this edition of The Hallifordian, and I send you my very best wishes for the year ahead.
James Davies Headmaster
Jivraj Singh Head Prefect
You may be familiar with the quote ‘time flies’. I often heard people saying this, but back when I was in Year 7, I paid little attention to this quote. I never thought time would pass so quickly, and yet it has. I could not have been more glad to have spent seven years at this school. I still remember in Year 7 how nervous I was, coming into a new school with my shiny shoes and incredibly large backpack. It only took a few days of meeting new students and teachers, and I felt settled in as if I had been at this school for a long time. That is what makes this school so special to me. The community, the family of staff and students make the environment and allow for relationships to be built and developed.
The opportunities the school has provided me have been some of the highlights of my time here. Whether it was going on a ski trip, competing at an Oxford Schools Debating Competition, a cricket tour to Jersey, or so much more, all of it wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible body of staff helping. They are the reason that Hallifordians are able to experience so many new opportunities, working tirelessly inside and outside the classroom.
As Head Prefect this year, I was given the platform to do such a wide variety of things, and for this, I will always remain incredibly grateful. Being able to deliver whole school assemblies, raise record-breaking amounts of money for charities, spearhead the school council committee, and much more have been but a few of the many highlights in my role. However, all my achievements this year were only possible thanks to the help of the Senior Management Team and the amazing team of prefects working alongside me to run and carry out the numerous ideas and activities.
The support I have had coming into Sixth Form has been incredibly helpful. I greatly appreciate having the chance to work with Mr Fulford on Oxbridge preparation, sit down with Mr Davies and Mr Carroll to work on my personal statement, or just have general support from my teachers in my journey of four A Levels. Thanks to their support, the university process felt like a breeze!
Looking to the future, I feel confident about whatever challenges lie ahead. Halliford has given me a platform and the skills necessary to excel in whatever I pursue, and I certainly look forward to it!
Will Shanley
Deputy Head Prefect
Before I begin, I would like to thank the Head Prefect, Jivraj Singh. You have been a great leader, role model and overall decent bloke. Thanks also to Mr Davies for giving me this opportunity to be Deputy Head Prefect. You have believed in me, guided me, and been kind when times have been hard and I needed support, as well as shared in and celebrated my successes. You have helped me develop immensely as an individual. So now I am at the end of my Halliford journey, let me tell you what it has been like.
I joined Halliford in Year 9 and didn’t know many people, so I was beyond nervous. On my first day and my first bus ride, I remember many mixed feelings as I came closer to school, a bit like Macbeth’s attitude towards murdering people - initial doubts, followed by cautious enthusiasm and then greater and greater alarm at the sheer scale of the task in hand! But, unlike tragic Macbeth, all my worries melted away when I arrived and sat in my new form room. On that very first day, I experienced the warmth and kindness of the Halliford community, of the lads who would grow to be close friends and who instantly welcomed me into the group. This sense of community at the heart of Halliford has always been its most striking quality for me. That’s the perk of it being smaller: you have to get to know people better. Whether it be teachers, staff, or students, you get to know everyone.
As a Deputy Head Prefect, I love the responsibility that comes with my job. When people think about Deputy Head Prefects and what it is they actually contribute, they might think (consciously or not) of what is called the ‘Four Step Protocol’, which goes as follows: Step 1, do nothing; Step 2, think about doing something, but still do nothing; Step 3, try doing something but let someone else do the work; and Step 4, oh well, we tried doing something
but now it’s too late (can you spot any uncanny parallels with political parties?). However, here at Halliford, this couldn’t be further from the truth. I have had the opportunity to be actively involved in making a difference at school, including organising events, speech days, parent evenings, open days, and generally being trusted to help. This has given me self-confidence and taught me leadership lessons, which will be invaluable for future careers and life in general.
At Halliford, I have tried to immerse myself in all aspects of school life. Co-curricular activities such as rugby, school plays, LAMDA, and art have played a fundamental and integral part in my journey, as well as many other activities like house band competitions, talent shows, and playing trombone. My goal when trying these things has been to attack everything with a mixture of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence (though to an observer it might be difficult to differentiate between the two!). All jokes aside, you wouldn’t believe, for a small school, just how much we excel in so many different areas. I believe teamwork is key to our success. On the rugby pitch I have had the honour of representing the school, training and playing alongside both older and younger teammates. Our team ethos, demonstrating grit, resilience, bravery and kindness to one another, has allowed us to achieve victories that have blindsided many opponents who completely underestimated our ambition. I will really miss match reports and shouting ‘Up the Ford’, though I still plan to support from the sidelines and hope I will be able to play as an Old Hallifordian.
As well as developing skills I knew I possessed, I discovered new things, including a passion for art that I never knew existed. Now I am going to pursue that passion at university which is very exciting. This wouldn’t have happened without the care and dedication of my teachers who gave their all to help me succeed. In Art, my amazing (and patient!) teacher Ms Hetherington gave me freedom to fly with my crazy imagination and ideas, and in particular the technician Ms Aung sacrificed her personal time even when she didn’t have to, in order to teach, mentor and inspire me to try and follow her footsteps in the film industry.
I can’t believe how amazing the past five years have been for me at Halliford. If you had told my 13-year-old self about the journey I was about to embark on, the personal risks I would take, and the rich rewards in personal growth, I would never have believed it. But here I am, with a huge debt of gratitude to the school that has supported me unwaveringly all the way. The result is perhaps an unusual combination - a rugby player, a sculptor and someone who just loves to perform. Halliford is the place that has nurtured and valued such diverse skills. So why Halliford? All I can say is that Halliford is a small school with a massive heart. A place where you can try something new, be happy to be yourself, have lots of fun and have the chance to push yourself to be the best person you can be. I can say I am proud to have had the opportunity to do these things and I am proud to say I am a Hallifordian.
Editorial
by Mrs Olivia Oakley Marketing & Communications Manager
This past year at Halliford has been filled with countless student accomplishments and milestones that truly embody the spirit of our school. We have witnessed incredible sports victories, superb musical performances, the Drama & Music Department’s outstanding production of Les Misérables, and our inaugural Talent Show, a testament to the diverse talents that thrive within our community.
Our students have ventured beyond the classroom, embarking on enriching international trips to Italy, Greece, America, France, Belgium and Argentina. These experiences have broadened their horizons and cultivated a global perspective while fostering camaraderie and unforgettable memories.
Furthermore, our school’s commitment to making a positive impact has shone through in our highly successful and enjoyable fundraising activities. From Harvest Festival to Movember and Charities Week, we have come together to support causes dear to our hearts and had great fun in the process.
We are honoured to share that, for the fourth consecutive year, Halliford has been shortlisted for the prestigious Independent School of the Year Awards, this time in the category of London Independent School of the Year. We are delighted to be recognised for our unwavering dedication to providing an exceptional educational experience for our students. We eagerly anticipate the announcement of the finalists in September. We were also delighted to receive the news that we were selected as a Finalist in the Education Choices Awards in the category of Developing Student Voice. At Halliford School, we place significant importance on nurturing an environment where our students’ voices are not only heard but actively contribute to shaping our school community.
On a personal note, it has been a privilege to witness my eldest son join the Halliford community. I am extremely grateful for the amazing and unwavering support he has received from every member of staff as he embarked on his journey in Year 7.
As Editor of The Hallifordian, it is my pleasure to share these incredible stories and reflect on the memories we have created as a community throughout the year. None of this would be possible without the tireless efforts of our exceptional teaching and support staff, ably led by Mr Davies and the Senior Management Team.
Please enjoy this edition of The Hallifordian
Welcome to New Staff
Mr Jonathan Bignall takes up the role of Head of Business and Economics. Mr Bignall has been a head of department for the past 13 years, and for the last six, he was the Head of Economics at The Tiffin Girls’ School. He has two young boys who like to take up most of his spare time and when he gets the opportunity, he plays football and golf and also just completed the Brighton marathon this year.
Mr Richard Cook joins us as Director of Sport. With a background in sports leadership and education, he has experience working in independent education as Head of PE at Cokethorpe School and, more recently, Assistant Director of Sport at Pangbourne College. Mr Cook has coached cricket, football and rugby at high levels, and he is passionate about helping students thrive both in the classroom and on the sports pitch. His hobbies include playing sport (mostly cricket & golf), exploring the outdoors and taking his dog (Kobe) on long walks, whatever the weather.
Mr Moumin Qureshi joins us as Teacher of Design and Technology. Mr Qureshi graduated from Loughborough University with a BSc in Product Design & Technology and worked briefly in the interior design and architecture industries. In 2018, he began his teaching career at The Winston Churchill School in Woking, where he gained six years of experience teaching Design Technology, which expanded to Engineering, Business Studies, Mathematics and Art. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling, trekking, playing football and designing.
Mr Dev Patel joins us as Teacher of Art. With six years of experience in the fashion industry and fine art world, he arrives at Halliford School with a post-graduate degree in Teaching from Goldsmith’s University. Mr Patel has a particular interest in embroidery to enhance dexterity and mindfulness, and to build community. His free time exists between visiting galleries, going to the gym, and spending time in his garden.
Miss Sophie Jenkins joins us as Teacher of English. Originally from Australia, Miss Jenkins has a Masters in Secondary Education, majoring in English and Drama and has been teaching for six years. She moved to the UK from Australia to be with her partner (an Old Hallifordian) and to live out a lifelong dream of living in the UK. Her goal is to make English lessons something our students look forward to in their timetable. The students may not always get it right the first time, but as William Blake states, ‘The true method of knowledge is experiment’.
We welcome Mrs Georgia Gillies as Teacher of English. Having taught all over the world and in the British system since 2005, Mrs Gillies loves teaching English and Drama and took a group to perform at the Edinburgh Festival this summer, where they did very well. She loves running, reading, murder mysteries and walking a dog. Any dog will do, but she only has a very unfriendly cat!
Mrs Chloe Moore joins Halliford as Head of Futures and Exceptional Performers and Teacher of Physics and Chemistry. Mrs Moore joins us from Surbiton High School where she was Director of Houses, Charity and Social Enterprise, having previously worked at St George’s College and Teddington School. Prior to teaching, she was a research scientist for Cancer Research investigating Lipid Mass Spectroscopy into colorectal cancer cell lines. Her hobbies include running, leading a Beavers group and speaking sign language, and she has been a national and international rower in the past representing England, and GB as a junior.
Miss Hannah Jones joins the Science Department as Teacher of Chemistry. Miss Jones came from Ruislip High School in Hillingdon and has been a teacher for four years teaching Combined Science, separate Chemistry and A Level Chemistry. She went to university at Liverpool John Moores University, studying Biochemistry for three years, then her PGCE for one year. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to the theatre and trying new restaurants and cafes.
Mrs Sabrina Hinde-Brown joins us on maternity cover from King Edward’s School as Teacher of MFL, where she taught German, Spanish and French for 16 years across the ability range. Mrs Hinde-Brown was also subject coordinator for German. Sabrina is particularly enthusiastic about Germany and has spent much time working and travelling there. In her spare time, Sabrina participates in organised running events and goes on ‘Swim Trek’ adventures.
We welcome Mrs Ellie Morris as an additional Learning Support Assistant. Her career in education started in Abu Dhabi, back in 2010. Since then, Mrs Morris has worked in a mixture of primary and secondary settings within the Middle East and the UK, with her favourite qualification being Forest School as she has the most uplifting experiences while teaching it. Her personal passions include reading and cooking, and as a local resident with a young family, she is fully involved in the community.
New Responsibilities
Mr Vince Harden-Chaters has been appointed Head of Science, alongside his role as Head of Physics
Miss Helen Foster has been appointed Head of Chemistry
Dr Simon Brooks has been appointed Head of Biology
Mr Harry Churchill has been promoted as the new Head of Desborough House
Mr Matthew Fieldhouse takes over as Head of Year 7.
Staff Farewells
2008 saw Miss Donna Weyman join Halliford School as a Chemist, rising to become Head of Science in 2014. Ms Weyman has led her department magnificently, and it has been a real privilege for her to welcome back one of our former students Mr Ollie Hackland-Crowther, to train under her as a newly qualified Chemistry teacher this year and to see him go off to his first teaching position at LVS. Ms Weyman has not only transformed the day-to-day teaching of Science in the school but her transformation of her department at Open Days is a sight to behold, with everything from murder on the lab floor to detailed dissection and potions of Hogwarts on offer to our visitors. We wish her well in her new role at Canbury School.
We bid farewell to Mr James Greggor, who has been our Director of Sport since 2018. The sporting success we enjoy as a school is down to the superb leadership talents that James possesses, and it therefore came as no surprise to see that Gordon’s School were quick to snap him up as he gained promotion into senior leadership as their new Assistant Head last term.
We said goodbye to Mrs Leila Brown, who joined in 2018 and since 2021 has been Head of Economics and Business Studies, as she takes the decision to retire. The impact she has had on results has been nothing short of remarkable. Her infectious laughter and ability to take even the most reluctant of students to levels of achievement they could never dream of will be her legacy, as will her huge success with her Young Enterprise teams. We are delighted that she will come back as a public examinations invigilator next year.
The final member of the class of 2018 to be moving on this year is Mr Joe McElroy. Mr McElroy graciously described coming to join Halliford as career-defining. Mr McElroy has set high standards for his students from the start and has gone on to lead new members to the profession. We know that Mr Hoare has put much of his success in transitioning from the stage to the classroom down to Mr McElroy’s mentorship. Mr McElroy took on the challenge of introducing the accelerated reader programme as we moved the department to the Woodward Building, and he has led our most able students magnificently as our PHA Co-ordinator. We wish him and his family every success as they move out of the suburbs to the beautiful surroundings of Wellington College.
During lockdown, the English department welcomed Mr Ciaran Lee. Mr Lee has been a quiet and dedicated member of the staff and modelled academic curiosity to our students and encouraged them to express themselves in the now well-established art of debate. Despite leading the students to victory on many occasions, he is yet to win the staff debate. We wish him well as he heads into London to teach in the much larger surroundings of Latymer Upper School.
Having served a remarkable 19 years initially as a Lab Technician and since 2009 as our adaptable Design Technology Technician, Mr Bob Weidermann has decided it is time to hang up his saw and retire. Bob loves all things engineering, and we will remember finding him hard at work with a group of students building miniature steam engines in the model engineering club. Bob is an immensely kind and warm-hearted member of the team who would do anything for anyone, and his physical legacy will live on in many areas of school life, including his bag racks in the courtyard that are so well made they will more than likely outlive us all. We send you our best wishes for an incredibly well-deserved retirement and time out on your motorbike and with your dogs.
Mrs Helen Head joined Halliford in 2009 and during this time she has brought her creative talents to share with generations of Hallifordians in our Music Department. Helen has inspired generations of young people to pursue a love of music, and we will be forever grateful to her for organising many successful trips to see live music in London, including two truly memorable occasions where members of the Chamber Choir performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Helen has also organised and presented more lunchtime
concerts than we can ever remember, but it is these initial opportunities to perform in the safer surroundings of the Recital Hall that have given so many of our students the chance to go on to perform in much larger events. We are delighted to say that Helen will not be leaving us completely, as she will continue to share her talents as a member of our superb team of peripatetic musicians.
Miss Lauren Ferreira has been with us for a relatively short period of time, but such is the level of her contribution to life at Halliford School that it seems she has been here for considerably longer. She has transformed the teaching of Religious Studies or as she hopes we will restyle it one day – Philosophy, Religion and Ethics. Her results are remarkable, but they are also testament to the warmth of relations she builds with her students and the dedication to her craft. She has made her classroom a place of inclusion and a space where students can think beyond the day-to-day and her beautiful ‘philosotree’ will hopefully continue to flourish after she leaves us to join Wellington College.
Finally, we bid farewell to Mr Ben Hyde who joined us this year to teach Science whilst we gave space to Dr Brooks for his recovery from Long Covid. Mr Hyde has worked hard for our students and seemingly has a quote for every occasion, often related to his love of the gym. We wish Mr Hyde well as he moves to The Royal School in Haslemere.
Staff News
Congratulations to Mr David Morriss and his wife, Laura, on the birth of their son, Otis.
Congratulations to Mr Richard Fulford and his wife, Gemma, on the birth of their son, Cameron James.
MY HALLIFORD SCHOOL STORY
Connor, 7D
I decided to come to Halliford School because I loved the friendly and supportive learning environment I could see when I first looked around the school. My mentor in Year 8 was really kind and caring and he helped me settle into Halliford so much. I was a mix of nervous and excited but mostly excited! Also, Mr Watson (my form tutor) really helped me settle into life at Halliford. I enjoy Maths the most because I feel I am at a level where it’s not too difficult but at a level where I’m challenged enough so I can learn from my mistakes and improve. Also, at my old school I had a bigger class so I felt I didn’t get the help I needed when I needed it but at Halliford because the classes are a lot smaller I feel I get the attention I need to help me if I am stuck and confused on something. I enjoy Year 7 Rock Band the most because I love playing music with my friends and I feel like anything is possible with the caring support of my teachers and my friends. I also enjoy the after-school clubs and the rugby and football training. My favourite memory is competing in the Halliford Battle of the Bands in which we won Best Song and Best Dressed! I felt so proud to be able to stand up on stage and step out of my comfort zone and perform in front of parents, my friends and my teachers. I am really pleased I came to Halliford as I have met some really nice friends and teachers who I would have never met if I hadn’t come to Halliford. Also, I have really been able to become the person I want to be. UP THE FORD!!!!!!