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Issue 35 Autumn 2018
W I T L E Y
Cooking in the Health and Lifestyle Centre
What a difference a Summer can make - the continued transformation and renewal of King Edward’s Witley King Edward’s and our partner school, Barrow Hills, were a hive of activity over the Summer as the Estates, Facilities and Grounds teams completed over 80 projects to improve facilities at both Schools, including Phase 2 of the North Side classroom redevelopment to install state-of-the-art smartboards, new décor enhanced and LED lighting to the Religious Studies, Philosophy and History departments.
Much of the work has aimed to preserve the history and character of the 150-year old estate, which is important to Mr Colin Gould, who has been looking after the grounds for 40 years, and Mr Richard Hooker, Head of Estates since 2016, whose own involvement in the School dates back 22 years and who has a keen interest in its history. This has included the renewal of
Basketball in the refurbished Sports Hall
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sash windows, replacing of lighting in the Quad with lanterns in keeping with its Victorian architecture and a new museum display area for Mrs Marilyn Wilkes, the School Archivist. The School’s iconic marching steps and covered walkway to the Chapel are also getting the historic treatment as beautiful reclaimed clay tiles replace the roof sheeting in the first phase of its refurbishment. A new Sixth Form Prefects’ Room opens off the Quad replacing their previous room by the Science block which now becomes the office of the new Head of Middle School, Mr Jim Langan. In the Senior Houses, there are new designated study areas for day pupils with better lockers and improved storage for our growing day population. New, extended pedestrian routes from the main car park to the Houses and Dining Hall have enhanced safety and visibility. On the other side of the Tarmac, the Food and Textiles building has been refurbished to become a ‘Health and Lifestyle Centre’ to reflect the combining of Food and Nutrition, Sports Science and PSHE under one roof, promoting all round healthy lifestyle habits amongst the pupils. The upstairs classrooms have been refurbished and redecorated whilst new worktops, doors, sinks and lighting have been installed in the two teaching kitchens downstairs.
GCSE Results
Gold DofE
Against a national backdrop of anxiety over tougher exams, pupils celebrated excellent results.
Seven pupils awarded their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award by Gaby Roslin at a special ceremony held at Buckingham Palace. PAGE 3
The refurbished Fitness Suite
The healthy lifestyle theme continues with the refurbishment of the Sports Hall, now repainted and with high-tech shock-absorbent blue cladding. Upstairs, the Fitness Suite has been transformed into a dynamic open space, fully kitted out with the latest equipment, including a new and extensive weights section. Improvements to the School take meticulous planning over many months; this Summer the skills of upwards of 70 specialist craftspeople have enhanced the education and environment for current and future pupils and helped to preserve the heritage of our School for generations to come.
International Space Day
INSIDE
Charter Hall’s teak floor has been refurbished and a new winch system for the stage lighting installed allowing pupils to develop their technical lighting skills. Across from Charter Hall, the first phase of the Library’s refurbishment has seen a new colour scheme, the opening up of the skylight feature ushering in more daylight and the installation of new electrical and network points in the floor for pupils’ laptops.
Fourteen teams made up of 9 different schools enjoy a modern languages day with the RAF at King Edward’s. PAGE 7
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ACADEMIC
Geography trip to Iceland Harvey King, 3rd Form pupil, reports:
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pon arriving in Iceland we immediately realised that it was unlike anywhere we had ever been. Driving through the barren landscape of black volcanic rock, there was not a single tree in sight! Instead, the countryside was covered by beautiful Alaskan Lupin and damp green mosses. When we arrived in Reykjavik we visited the Perlan, originally used to pump water to homes in Reykjavik and which has since been transformed into a museum exhibiting Iceland’s unique physical geography. One of the museum’s newest exhibitions is an incredibly realistic feeling artificial glacial ice cave. With temperatures from -10°c to -15°c, it felt as though we had been shut in a freezer! After checking into the hotel we walked along the seafront towards a local cinema (set up in an old fisherman’s hut) where we watched a film on the formation of Iceland and the reasons behind its volcanoes and earthquakes. Expecting to emerge from the cinema into nightfall, we were surprised to see that at 10pm, the sky had remained a pale white colour. Later we visited the Lava Centre which comprised of different rooms with interactive models and technology. It explained how Iceland was formed and how lava affects the country and its
volcanoes. The advanced technology made it a very immersive experience. Glacier walking was next on our itinerary; Sölheimajökull Glacier is one of the smaller glaciers in Iceland but that didn’t make climbing it easy! The ice was full of ash from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, increasing the rate of glacier melt as it retained heat from the sun. It was a tiring walk, but seeing the unique shapes and features of a glacier was definitely a worthwhile experience. Saturday was another busy day of walking around the crater of Kerid, viewing the Faxi and Gullfoss waterfalls and going on the Golden Circle Tour, which included stops like Geysir, Thingvellir National Park and Öxaráfoss. After a busy couple of days, we opted for a relaxing visit to the Blue Lagoon. Heated by geothermal energy farmed by the nearby power plant, the lagoon felt like a warm bath. We made the most of the healing silica deposits which are used as facemasks, and took advantage of the traditional Scandinavian saunas. We finished off our trip by visiting the Gunnuhver mud pools which are supposedly haunted by the spirit of a woman by the same name. Many thanks go to Mr Campbell for organising this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Excellent GCSE results Against a national backdrop of anxiety over tougher exams, our pupils celebrate excellent results. Every one of our Year 11 pupils gained at least five 9-4 (A*-C) grades or equivalent with over 92% of subjects taken achieving the A*-C (9-4) benchmark. Our haul of the top grades A & A* was more than double the national average with a record number of A* grades. Among the many personal triumphs, Tom Lewis celebrated an outstanding 8 A*s (or Level 9s) and 2 As in the exams. Tom will now study A-levels in the Sixth Form. Conor Rajan gained 9 A*s and 2 As, or equivalent, and Gulfy Bekbolatova scored an A* in every exam she took after only a year in the unique King Edward’s Pre-Sixth programme. She will now study the IB Diploma. Also celebrating was Ben Dowson with 7 A*s and 5 As. Alice Crisell gained 5 A*s, 3 As and 2 Bs. Both will continue with their studies in the Sixth Form following either the International Baccalaureate Diploma or A-levels. Megan Knight, had a tally of 7 A*s and 2 As to celebrate despite only returning to the UK last September. 2
In common with many independent schools, our pupils study a mixture of GCSE and IGCSE programmes to ensure they are given the best, most interesting and most rigorous possible preparation for their Sixth Form courses. Commenting on the results, John Attwater, Headmaster, said “I am so delighted that our GCSE results are continuing to reflect the hard work of our pupils and their teachers. In particular, this year’s cohort deserves every success: as a group they worked and played hard and got a good balance between allround learning and preparing for the exams. They can all be very proud.”
German exchange Harry Naylor, 3rd Form pupil, reports: Although the prospect of staying with a family I’d never met did seem daunting at first, this exchange was a great experience and the perfect way to improve my German. A busy schedule was put together for us, with highlights including a trip to our partner German school - Emsland Gymnasium, playing crazy golf under 4D lights and a day trip to a theme park. Our first day was partly spent in school, which we were surprised to find finished at 1pm. While we were there, we took part in sports activities, an English and Chemistry class and for some lucky ones, a double Latin lesson in German!
waitress in a restaurant without being misunderstood once! The food was also excellent. During the week, we enjoyed getting a taste of the local cuisine with favourites being Currywurst and Schnitzel. Another observation we made was that Germans are far less reliant on their cars than we are in the UK. Bikes are everywhere in Germany, and many of us enjoyed cycle rides with our host families. I would definitely encourage other pupils to go on an exchange trip if given the opportunity.
Whether in the classroom, at home or in local restaurants, we were encouraged to speak German throughout the entire trip. I can now proudly say that I have held a conversation with a
Local pupils turn up IB trumps at King Edward’s International success came close to home as pupils at King Edward’s received their International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma results published in July. The Diploma programme - considered to be the global “gold standard” for school leavers – is followed by the majority of King Edward’s 165 Sixth Form pupils. The average points score this year was once again well ahead of the worldwide average for IB pupils, which is 30 points out of a possible 45. Top scorer, and equalling the School’s record high score, was Ching Ya Ho from London, who achieved a world-class 44 points (out of 45). Ching Ya, or Yahoo as he is known, has been at King Edward’s since Year 7 and also captained the School’s cup-winning football team. He intends to take a gap year now before going to university in 2019. Even more local
was Remi Trovo from Wormley, whose 43 points takes him to Warwick to read International Politics. Also among the cohort, Victoria Berger from Godalming scored 40 points, as the pupils move on to a wide range of their preferred universities in the UK, US and elsewhere. Commenting on the IB results, John Attwater, Headmaster said, “I am delighted for our pupils that these results reflect their hard work and dedication and that of our teachers. We should not underestimate the organisation and commitment of these young men and women in studying six subjects to a high level alongside the other aspects of the Diploma: the Extended
Essay, which is such good preparation for university, and the Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) pursuits which help develop the attributes that employers, universities and society are looking for in the next generations of leaders. Especially in these turbulent times as the impact of Brexit is becoming felt, the IB’s reputation as a globalfacing gold standard in world education has never been more important in demonstrating that our pupils are among the best in, and ready to engage with the rest of, the world.”
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Our 2nd Form used materials found on the beach to re-create their own West Wittering model outlining the variety of sea defences.
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On your marks, get set… BAKE! A messy but fun afternoon recreating the Bake Off competition in QMH.
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Senior
School Round-up
Perfecting their swing at the West Surrey Golf Club.
Senior Boys Basketball
Leavers’ Ball
Eat, read, sleep, repeat. eight pupils were nominated by their English teachers to join our school’s very own Carnegie Book Club. 2nd Form pupils enjoyed a day out at Legoland creating their own lego movies and having fun on the rides.
Cockhouse Cup Winners Wakefield and Elizabeth
Canterbury Tales
Three lions All caught up in the World Cup watching the England v Tunisia match. #iloveboarding
Gold DofE Award Ceremony Seven former pupils and one current pupil travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive their eminent Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Gold Awards. They had the opportunity to discuss their experiences with the Earl of Wessex, before receiving their Award certificates from TV celebrity Gaby Roslin. The seven alumni: Megan Lewis, Matilda Moss, Charlie Howard, Will Kriehn, Alex Dean, Jonathan Bell and Ed Kernick, all attended the special event, along with Theo Negus, currently an U6th pupil. The pupils were escorted by Mr Mark Harrison, Director of CoCurriculum & Leadership. Mr Harrison commented, “King Edward’s runs a very active Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme
and is a DofE Licensing Authority in its own right. All 3rd Form pupils participate in the Bronze Award and approximately half of these pupils progress to take the Silver Award. A
good number then continue to the highest challenge - the Gold Award. We are once again delighted to have such a strong cohort of pupils representing the School at the Gold Award Presentations. Attaining this high-level award represents a tremendous achievement proving that these pupils have the skills, determination and resilience to succeed.” Gaby Roslin, who is a supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, says, “It’s very tough out there at the moment for anyone, especially young people, and DofE Award holders have proved that they’ve got what it takes; they are our future and they can be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”
New Head Boy & Head Girl
Volunteering at Brook Village Fete
On Bank Holiday Monday 28 May, twelve pupils from the 3rd to Sixth Forms rolled up their sleeves and donned a King Edward’s t-shirt for a day of volunteering at the annual Brook Village Fete. In blazing sunshine, the fete welcomed huge crowds who came from far and wide. It has become traditional for King Edward’s to sponsor this annual event and our pupils helped in the tea tent, kiddies corner, bottle hoopla, plate smashing and at two of the most popular stalls - ice cream and burgers. The other most popular stall was the Pimms tent which was run by our partner school Barrow Hills. The sale of burgers and ice creams was continuous thanks to the lovely weather and the Pimms Tent even ran out temporarily! The day was a roaring success thanks to the huge village and community effort resulting in the raising of much needed funds for the local village Pirrie Hall.
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A RT & D R A M A LOWER SCHOOL PRODUCTION
After Juliet A review by Mrs Sharon Gleave, former parent
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icking up on Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet, After Juliet is a play written by Scottish playwright Sharman Macdonald. It focuses on Rosaline (India Steer), Juliet’s cousin and Romeo’s ex who, ironically, had been in love with Romeo. Tortured by her loss, she has become a sullen, venomous woman. She actively seeks to be elected as the ‘Princess of Cats’ and to run the Capulet clan. In the meantime, the Capulets and Montagues have called a truce; but this treaty quickly descends into a farce as both sides continue to rage against each other. Amid the turmoil, more doomed love springs between Benvolio Montague (Felix Wood) and Rosaline. Benvolio is warned by Valentine (Jacob Sprake) to stay away from her but he ignores the advice. The climax of the play comes during an election to determine whether Rosaline or Petruchio (James Kleinsteuber) will succeed Tybalt as Prince or Princess of Cats. The election fails to produce any results and the fate of the truce is left unresolved.
Life drawing masterclass On 26 and 27 March, our L6th artists, along with some keen 5th Form pupils enjoyed a marathon 2-day drawing masterclass with artist Jevan WatkinsJones. The first day was spent drawing a life model. This was followed on the second day by exploring numerous alternative approaches to drawing as visual inquiry whilst reflecting on their own artistic practice. The pupils made tremendous progress with challenging tasks over the two days and should be congratulated on their efforts. A huge thanks to Jevan for bringing some fresh perspectives to the Art Studio.
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The double act of Lorenzo (Thomas Edwards) and his brother Gianni (Azariah Pindelski) brought a comedic element to the play. Great light-hearted moments making reference to ‘Grime’ culture kept the play current and edgy. The brothers’ dialogue was in stark contrast to Rosaline’s emotional monologues. There were excellent performances from the principals (particularly India who gave a faultless delivery of Rosaline’s sometimes long, meaty speeches) and the haunted Bianca (Clemence Trovo) who was a delight to watch, together with Helena (Abigail Patterson) and Rhona (Chelsea Kepdep Semou). The set was contemporary deploying splashes of different coloured fluorescent lighting that bathed the performance area in an eerie glow. The audience, seated round the stage, were physically close to the actors as well as each other. The gritty dialogue lent to skillfully creating moods of tension that had the audience on edge, as did the two excellent musicians (Riayat Chowdhury and Warrick Agar), who delivered bursts of beat-box and metal.
Overall it was very enjoyable, offering a different perspective to the traditional Romeo and Juliet story. Particular attention was paid to the character development of the protagonists who were full of energy and set a cracking pace for the production. Congratulations go to Mr Steve Gardner, Director and Head of Lower School, and his team of 1st and 2nd Form pupils for a fascinating performance of this play. The whole company worked extremely well together to create a piece of contemporary art of which all should be proud. The pupils all showed a maturity belying their tender years.
Haring to go Pupils of all ages collaborated to develop ‘Luminous Lepus’ - the School’s contribution to this year’s Haslemere Hares community arts project. As a sponsor of the Haslemere Hares fundraiser, pupils were asked to decorate their very own fibreglass hare under the guidance of Miss Annie Edwards, our Graduate Assistant Art Teacher. Pupils were encouraged to explore
the use of technology and animatronics for their inventive entry, resulting in Luminous Lepus, a light emanating, fibre-optic hare with glowing eyeballs and voice activated animation.
After taking part in the parade of Hares around Haslemere, Luminous Lepus has been returned to King Edward’s where it will be displayed in the Bunker Gallery as an art installation. Commenting on the project, Mrs Caroline Shouksmith, Head of Art says, “We wanted to present our pupils with the opportunity to develop an exciting, contemporary multi-media response to this project, and they have engaged fully with this from the design stage right through to display. Now that the hare is back at King Edward’s we will continue to develop the animatronics aspects with expertise from a team working in film special effects who will be delivering a seminar and workshop to help us to take the hare to the next level”.
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Music
Department Round-up
Even though Summer represents the shortest term, the Music Department has been extremely busy with over 30 musical events performed over the last few months.
Chapel Choir on tour Our busy Summer Term kicked off with the annual return to St Lawrence Jewry for the Guild of Freemen Service. Josef Gaszka (Lower Sixth) began the service with Duruflé’s organ voluntary, ‘Meditation’. The Choir was in fine voice singing Howell’s sublime Magnificat ‘Collegium Regale’ and Handel’s wonderful ‘Zadok the Priest’, all interspersed with a selection of rousing hymns. The event concluded with a fabulous post-service celebration at the historic Amourers’ Hall where the Choir was treated to some excellent food and drink in a truly magnificent setting. We are very much look forward to revisiting the venue in 2019.
Proms in the Park
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n late June, when some subjects may have begun winding down and looking ahead to the long Summer break, the Department continued in its quest to fill the School with music. The traditional King Edward’s take on ‘Proms in the Park’ provided the ideal opportunity to showcase the Music Department’s achievements from throughout the year representing a fabulous display of the considerable musical talent for which the School is
renowned. Hosted on the lawn at QMH, the event was an outstanding success and a real testament to the hard work of all the pupils involved. In true Proms style, the celebrations were suitably complemented by refreshments kindly donated by KESPA proving the ultimate finishing touch – after all, who can resist a glass of Pimm’s and a rousing rendition of Pomp and Circumstance on a beautiful Summer’s evening?
June saw the Choir return to the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace which represented the final stop of our year-long choral pilgrimage of cathedrals and chapels around the country. King Edward VI often stayed at Hampton Court Palace, so it was particularly apposite that our tour should end there. During his reign, while churches throughout England were stripped of their ornaments and stained glass, and painted with lime wash, the young King continued to worship in all the late Gothic splendour and colour of the Chapel Royal which Wolsey and Henry VIII had built. Singing Evensong in the Chapel Royal clearly required some suitably impressive and majestic music and yet again, the Choir did not disappoint. The Evening Canticles in D by Sir Herbert Brewer, along with Wesley’s anthem ‘Blessed be the God and Father’ by Wesley proved to be entirely fitting for the occasion.
Battle of the Bands
Midsummer Madness While the boys went into battle to win the acclaimed title of best band, the girls took to an altogether different stage, showing off their creative talents on the catwalk by hosting a fashion show. The victors on the night were Wakefield whose musical prowess shone out, while the Elizabeth girls’ designs earned a high accolade.
Our Midsummer Madness festivities provided an opportunity to celebrate all the hard work by our musicians which contributes so much to the ethos of the School. On Midsummer’s Night, tents were erected and BBQs were lit, marking the start to an evening of fun. Steak, burgers and pizza, followed by copious amounts of ice cream, were consumed before the games began in earnest, culminating in a heated tug of war between choir and orchestra! A blazing fire, toasted marshmallows and ghost stories in the woods rounded off a perfect evening. As dawn broke, the BBQs were relit and a veritable culinary breakfast was produced. Plans are already underway for a repeat celebration next year.
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S P O RT
Sports Round-up In one of the hottest summers on record in the UK, the King Edward's pupils had a feast of cricket, rounders, tennis and athletics.Well over one hundred fixtures were played during the Summer Term with nearly every pupil from 1st to 4th Form competing. Boys cricket saw success with the Junior age groups with two pupils in particular, Adam Thomas and Alex Challinor, dominating all areas. Highlights included wins over Lord Wandsworth College and Portsmouth Grammar School. The inters age group experienced an even spread of wins and losses across their fixture list which saw 56 boys playing in matches over the course of the season. The 1st XI struggled during the season but also witnessed a few stand out performances, especially from the 3rd and 4th Form boys who committed themselves to playing senior cricket. Ben Garrett’s half century against Ryde School and Alex Edwards’ fine spell of bowling against Churcher’s College showed we have strength coming
through the lower years. The girls had a successful rounders term winning over 50% of their fixtures. They beat St Edmunds, Box Hill, Duke of Kent, Seaford College, Belmont, and Christ’s Hospital, with the under 14s and under 15s being particularly successful. The commitment from all the girls has been fantastic both in training and matches. The junior girls have also started to play cricket and although they lost two matches, they have learnt so much and thoroughly enjoyed playing a different sport during the Summer Term! It was a particularly busy Summer for the tennis players too with our U13’s and U16’s playing in National tournaments. They had some fantastic results against top opposition
as well as having the opportunity to learn lessons from players currently at some of the top tennis schools in the country. The U16’s have been very successful and reached the Division 2 South East England Regional. Sports Day, held on Tuesday 3 July, was one of the hottest days of the summer. As well as the wonderful range of sports activities, which included shot put, running and relay, high jump, javelin and long jump, there was a real carnival atmosphere. As the awards were presented, flagons of brightly coloured drinks were being consumed by thirsty pupils and spectators, and numerous sticks of pink fluffy candy floss was made from a specialist machine in the Pavilion. A really successful day all round.
These girls can! Mrs Hannah Pullen, Head of Girls’ Sport Development, reports. The girls have been busy throughout the season regularly competing in hockey, netball, rounders and cricket fixtures. 2018 marks a record year in terms of the number of teams we have been able to field across all age groups. We have competed in numerous tournaments, and participated in some great performances, with the Junior Hockey Team returning home with medals each time. Our senior girls have shown real commitment in their netball endeavours, representing King Edward’s in a local Guildford/Broadwater league finishing as runners up which was a fantastic
achievement. The Inters girls have also done incredibly well winning over 70% of their fixtures throughout the year. We have enjoyed some excellent victories over our local opposition and the taste of success has certainly been sweet. I’m most proud of the genuine sporting behaviour I’ve witnessed on the field this year seeing our girls lead by example and ensuring they are a real credit to the School. We are now looking forward to our overseas U13 and U16 Netball Tour to Spain during the October 2018 half-term!
Goals abound King Edward’s hosts the 16th annual Prep Schools’ Football Coaches Conference The School was the chosen venue for this year’s annual Prep Schools’ Football Coaches Conference, providing an opportunity to showcase King Edward’s fantastic facilities to the 40 attending delegates who represented a variety of schools across the South East. The event was a resounding success aided by the glorious weather, excellent speakers and of course, a delicious lunch served in the dining hall. Speakers for the 16th conference included Director of Football, Mr Dan Abraham (now Head of our Football Academy Programme), who provided an insight into the coaching strategies that have successfully delivered a pool of talented footballers resulting in the Schools' teams regularly competing, and achieving, victory in various national finals and semi-finals over the past five years. 6
Visiting coaches Martin Dighton and Kevin Green ran practice sessions working with the local prep school players offering live demonstrations of their methodology and techniques. David Rowland, Lead Development Phase Coach at Southampton Girls, concluded the conference with a session on 'playing through the thirds'. Mr Abraham said "This event provides an excellent forum for coaches to exchange ideas and share any new coaching initiatives. The School has been at the forefront of some of the best training strategies designed to develop young athletes and we were delighted to not only host the Conference but to also play an integral role in the discussions which will ensure our pupils continue to realise their full sporting potential".
OUTREACH
International Space Day with the RAF Mr Andy Baines, Head of Modern Languages, reports: Following on from our successful ‘European Challenge’ event last year where pupils used Modern Languages in a business context, this June, we proudly hosted a very different challenge. Pupils reached for the stars in our ‘International Space Challenge’ using their language skills alongside their scientific knowledge. The day started with inspiring, detailed talks on the challenges of working in Space by guest speakers from the RAF. Fourteen teams of pupils from nine schools across the region then competed in a race against time on a variety of tasks which included working on perfecting a model prototype of their
own International Space Hotel. Additionally, the teams of linguists were confronted by the challenge of purchasing materials, from a tight budget, using their target language to operate and achieve their objectives (as would be required on board an International Space Station). As the afternoon deadlines approached, a frenetic atmosphere descended on the room as the teams worked furiously to complete their work. Each group had the chance to talk directly to the three professionals from the RAF all of whom had experience in the field. As deadlines expired and judging commenced, everyone took part in a final
activity as pupils were treated to a taster lesson in Russian which is a language all astronauts need to master ahead of going into Space. The day closed with final speeches and prizes and the lucky winning team being awarded a visit to the Surrey Space Centre for further insights, ideas and inspiration. King Edward’s worked closely with Business Language Champions whose efforts and expertise made the day such a great success. We are excited about future Modern Languages events, starting with our in-house ‘Glastonbury goes Global’ event later this year for the 3rd Form!
Maths Challenge and Science Day Our annual Maths Challenge and Science Day took place on Tuesday 19 June welcoming 54 Year 5 pupils from nine local prep schools. A very exciting, if somewhat competitive day was enjoyed by guests from nine local schools. Following the introduction and day’s overview, pupils were assigned to their respective teams and were escorted either to a Maths or a Science activity. The Maths Challenge consisted of over 30 different puzzles each set out individually on little tables. Racing
against time, each team had to complete as many puzzles as possible before having the answer for each conundrum authorized by a member of the attending staff. The challenges ranged from additions to creating shapes from individual pieces to create an object and matching the dots on each end of domino pieces. Several problems were really tough however the teams put their heads together and working in their teams, finished nearly all of them. In Science the pupils were challenged with solving a ‘Murder at King Edward’s’ and untangling the ‘Mission Impossible’. To solve the murder mystery, and with the potential suspect still on the loose, the science detectives learned forensic skills using a range of props including
deciphering handwriting, evidence bags containing pieces of material and plants and using equipment such as microscopes. Meanwhile, in the Chemistry lab, the pupils were introduced to different chemicals for creating invisible ink. They then wrote an invisible message which only appeared with the use of a Bunsen burner. All in all, very challenging experiments. At the end of the day everyone was buzzing: many new skills learned and new friends made. On their way home, each pupil was presented with a Maths and Science Challenge certificate as a souvenir of a busy day of STEM activities.
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P RO F I L E S
PROFILE Garry Haylock, Head of Football
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ing Edward’s is cementing its outstanding reputation for football with the appointment of a former professional footballer, Mr Haylock, as Head of Football. A football fanatic from the age of six, Mr Haylock spent 22 years playing for various UK, Irish and international clubs and has played in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final and the European Champion League. After retiring from professional football in 2006 he made the natural progression to managing teams as well as working as a coach and analyst. Mr Haylock kicked off his career working with school children by running a football camp during the holidays whilst based in Ireland. This escalated to becoming his own business delivering specialist football coaching to a number of schools. As a former professional football manager, Mr Haylock holds the coveted UEFA Pro Licence (he was the 300th person in the UK to achieve this). Very few football teams, let alone schools, employ a coach with these credentials, which is excellent news for budding boy and girl footballers. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS AT SCHOOL IS INTEGRAL TO SHAPING A PUPIL’S PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT.
Mr Haylock's role is to oversee the coaching strategy and implement a culture of coaching and sportsmanship. But, as any professional sports person will testify, further enhancing the football prowess of the School is not the only benefit to be derived from a stronger focus on the sports curriculum. Mr Haylock says, "I’ve been teaching in schools for ten years and always advise children that sport is a microcosm of life. Through sport one learns how to deal with tension and stress; experience the highs and lows of winning and losing; develop the resilience to continue trying; become familiar with working as part of a team – and of course you learn that only if you prepare well will you play to the best of your ability. All vital life lessons and it is no coincidence that elite sports men and women are actively sought out in business because of their proven capacity for 100% commitment and dedication in achieving success in their chosen sport. I strongly believe that participating in sports at school is integral to shaping a pupil’s physical, emotional and psychological development."
Jim Langan, Head of Middle School
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r Langan has successfully led King Edward’s English department, a core academic department, for the last 11 years. He has also led the Drama Department and is in charge of school tennis.
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The role of Head of Middle School is a new one and Mr Langan will be taking charge of 3rd to Sixth Form matters. He brings extensive experience and skills developed in state comprehensive school management, prep school departmental leadership and industry. Some of the advantages of this internal appointment include precise knowledge and understanding of King Edward’s, together with a passion for co-curricular and academic development of the pupils. AS THE PARENT OF A DAY PUPIL MYSELF, I HAVE HAD A UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO THE CHALLENGES OF BALANCING SCHOOL PARTICIPATION AND THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL.
Mr Langan said, “This is a very exciting point in the development of the School, particularly with a growth in numbers of local day pupils. It is an honour to undertake this brand new role. Achieving integration between the different year groups, new and existing pupils, day pupils and boarders is a major priority as well as establishing leadership opportunities for more pupils throughout the Middle School. I aim to use my extensive experience of organising school productions, trips and sport to engender a sense of fun balanced with achievement. As the parent of a day pupil myself, I have had a unique insight into the challenges of balancing school participation and the need for effective communication between home and school. My Master’s degree research was an action research project aimed at maximising the effectiveness of the School’s reporting and tutorial systems. I look forward to putting the theory learned into practice.” Mr Langan originally studied English and American Literature at the University of Kent in Canterbury and took his PGCE at the Roehampton Institute. He has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and School Improvement from the University of Cambridge. Mr Langan lives locally with his wife and two children, one of whom completed the IB diploma at King Edward’s this year.
Joseph Allen, Head of English
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r Allen joined King Edward’s in September as the new Head of English. A graduate of the University of Lancaster, Mr Allen has previously been Head of English at Reading Blue Coat School and St Swithun’s, Winchester, among other appointments in the maintained and independent sector. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING A PIVOTAL ROLE IN DRIVING THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT FURTHER AHEAD AND MAKING A GENUINE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF FURTHER STRETCHING AND CHALLENGING THE MOST ABLE PUPILS BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.
In his position at King Edward’s Mr Allen takes up teaching responsibilities for pupils studying English as part of their GCSE, A-level and IB examinations. He will teach across a number of year groups and have responsibility for literacy across all academic departments. Commenting on his position, Mr Allen said, “I’m excited to join a school where English teaching already enjoys a position of strength. I am looking forward to playing a pivotal role in driving the department further ahead and making a genuine difference in terms of further stretching
and challenging the most able pupils both in and out of the classroom”. Mr Allen lives on site at the School with his wife and young son.
Lynsey Cleaves, Director of Drama
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rs Cleaves joined the School in September having spent the last nine years as Head of House and a Drama teacher at Brentwood School in Essex. Prior to this Mrs Cleaves was Head of Drama at The Chafford School in Essex for four years. A graduate of the University of Hull, where she took her BA Hons in Drama, Mrs Cleaves went on to study for her PGCE at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. She then completed her MA Education at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln in 2015. Commenting on the appointment, Mrs Cleaves says, “I wanted a fresh challenge after nine very happy years at my last school. I AM EXCITED TO LEAD THE NEW ERA OF DRAMA AT KING EDWARD'S AND CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE MY PASSION FOR THE THEATRE.
I love how teaching Drama and Theatre allows me to nurture ambitious young people looking to embark on a career in the industry and seeing all pupils having the opportunity to participate and develop into confident, well-rounded adults through contact with the theatre. I have examined and taught Drama for GCSE, A-level and IB and love the spirit of the IB with its broad and outward-looking curriculum, whilst the depth and detail of the A-level curriculum fosters thoughtful theatre practitioners. There will be plenty of scope for participation in workshops with leading theatre professionals and for pupils to push themselves to be the very best. I hope to bring future thought-provoking, inspiring and entertaining whole school productions and I'd encourage all pupils who may be considering being a part of a theatre production or taking Drama and Theatre to examination level, to just give it a go. Whether or not you see a career in the theatre, getting involved at school can truly change your life." Mrs Cleaves lives at the School with her husband and two young children.
Working for us Bridewell Royal Hospital, the charity which operates King Edward’s Witley and Barrow Hills School, is one of the biggest employers in the local area with over 250 staff across our community of two schools. To look after our combined 630 pupils, over 130 acres and historic buildings takes a huge range of skilled personnel from teaching and boarding staff to administration, gardening and seamstresses. King Edward’s has been at the centre of the Witley community for the past 150 years and is honoured to work with so many different people and varied skill sets. As vacancies arise, they are posted on both our websites. To view our current vacancies please visit http://www.kesw.org/vacancies
F E AT U R E S
Careers Counsel - Looking at the bigger picture Preparing pupils’ for their working lives is taken very seriously at King Edward's and as such, the School has a comprehensive careers programme equiping them with the ability to recognise and develop their employability skills and to manage their careers at both school and beyond. Our Head of Careers and Higher Education, Mrs Rebecca Hallam is a qualified and experienced Careers Adviser, she sees pupils on a one-to-one basis coaching them individually and providing support and practical advice helping to clarify the options and pursue their goals. Commenting on the School’s strategic move to prioritise careers education, Mrs Hallam commented "King Edward’s is an incredibly diverse and forward thinking school. Emphasis on the whole person and the importance of a rounded education is clearly evident to pupils, parents and staff. Our role is not just to help pupils attain their academic goals but to encourage growth and development of the individual to ensure they leave school as mature, informed, self-aware citizens armed for success in the next stage of their lives." We are committed to ensuring that our careers programme reaches the eight Gatsby Career Benchmarks which define world-class career guidance. Developed on behalf of Gatsby by Sir John Holman as part of an international study. We do this in five ways: • One-to-one advice and guidance delivered by a professional careers adviser which includes psychometric tests and interviews at key decisionmaking stages such as 5th Form.
Sixth Form at King Edward’s have access to a careers programme comprising tutor sessions, workshops and a year-round schedule of compelling outside speakers (including Old Witleians) who provide a more in-depth insight into a variety of professions. All Sixth Form have access to Unifrog, an online careers and higher education platform designed to help pupils explore their interests, then find and successfully apply for their best next step after school. The Gatsby Report states that careers guidance ‘helps inspire pupils towards further study and enables them to make informed decisions whenever choices are open to them. It helps them to understand enough about the world of work to know what skills they need to succeed. It is important for social mobility because it helps open pupils’ eyes to careers they may not have considered’. We believe this is a vital, and very important role that schools should play in a pupil’s life.
• Careers education delivered in in the Lower School’s Pursuit of Excellence, Middle School PSHE lessons and within the Sixth Form Programme. These are explicit lessons that enable pupils to gain an insight into their own interests, abilities and values and how these may be applied to the world of work. They learn how to search for opportunities and access information that can help with their career decision-making. • Curriculum-based careers learning which ensures pupils understand the relevance of their subjects to the world of work. This includes trips and subject-specialist speakers. • Stand-alone careers and higher education events including visiting speakers, Alumni events, UCAS events, careers seminars and more. • Comprehensive resources both in the Careers Office, Library and online.
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DEVELOPMENT
From Grafton House to Mansion House – an Old Witleian becomes Lord Mayor!
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n Monday 1 October Peter Estlin, a former Head Boy, Treasurer and current Governor at King Edward’s Witley became the 691st Lord Mayor of the City of London. From his humble beginnings in Portsmouth to the glories of Lord Mayoralty, Peter Estlin’s journey has been remarkable, a modern Dick Whittington tale, yet uniquely suffused with his dedication to give back to the School and Foundation he credits with giving him the educational opportunities and support, which set his path to becoming the most prominent figure in the City. “I am honoured to have been elected the 691st Lord Mayor of the City of London and the first Old Witleian to hold the role. I remember all too well meeting the late Lord Mayor Sir Kenneth Russell Cork GBE in the
Summer of 1979; for it was his encouragement that led me into accounting, the City and now Mansion House.” During his 7 years at King Edward’s Peter rose to become a well-respected prefect in Grafton House and finally, Head Boy.
His former Housemaster, Alan Whitlow, remembers Peter as a talented mathematician, swimmer and public speaker saying “I well remember him making a school mock election speech from half way up the fire escape to a hostile group of hecklers below. Perhaps this was a sign of things to come!” After studying Economics and Accounting at the University of Bristol Peter launched himself into a career in finance spanning 30 years at Deloitte, Haskins & Sells in Bristol, Citibank and finally Barclays, where he became CFO for the Retail and non-core divisions. Peter remains a Senior Advisor at Barclays, following his election as Alderman of the City of London, where he served as Sheriff in 2016-2017.
Peter as Head Boy
Peter in his sheriff robes
Early in his career Peter reconnected with King Edward’s and has served as a Governor of the School for 25 years, of which 10 of those years were as Treasurer. During this time, he became one of the founding Bridewell Fellows and continues to generously support the Foundation as a Charter Patron.
Peter as Governor and Fellow
By Peter’s invitation the School is participating in the Lord Mayor’s Show on Sunday 11 November, where we will be able to congratulate him and celebrate publicly the start of his year in office.
A diamond date – its 60 years of Bridewell Day 2019 will see us usher in the diamond anniversary of the splendid tradition of Bridewell Day, our annual celebration of our foundation in the City of London, well known to all who have attended King Edward’s since September 1958. The very first service was held on 10 March 1959 at the then recently restored Church of St Bride's in Fleet Street and was attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother as President of Bridewell Royal Hospital.
Reported in the Summer 1959 edition of the Edwardian, the prequel of Kestrel, the rich description of the inaugural service does full poetic justice to the service, finishing: “And as the colourful procession moved majestically towards the east end of the church, with its beautiful Pilgrim Fathers’ memorial, the Augmented School Choir burst forth into Regia Salutatio. Few remained unmoved as the strains of this noble paean of rejoicing rose into the heights of the nave.”
Anyone who has attended Bridewell Day then and since can attest to this exalted moment that rises in one’s spirit as the procession makes its way through the church and the voices of the Choir soar. It is indeed a special event and one that continues in almost unchanged format to this day.
Queen Mother signing the visitor’s book 1st service
Perhaps you remember the 1959 Bridewell Day or perhaps you have other happy memories of attending the Bridewell Day service whilst at King Edward’s? Please do email Connie Sturgess on oldwitleians@kesw.org with your stories, we would love to hear from you. HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Sir Harold Gillett, Lord Mayor, 1959
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Church of St Bride’s, 10 March 1959
DEVELOPMENT
Celebrating 20 years of Bridewell Fellows In March 1999 a very special group of our most dedicated supporters of the Foundation came together to become the inaugural Bridewell Fellows. The group consisted of Charles Benham (deceased), Lady Carol Brown, Bertie Mawer, Lord Selborne, Lavinia Wilson and Peter Estlin. The Fellowship was the brainchild of Richard Abbott, then Treasurer and Rodney Fox, Headmaster,
who sought to encourage involvement and fundraising for much-needed bursaries at King Edward’s. From those first green shoots, the Fellowship has grown steadily since and now numbers just over 50. New Fellows are welcomed each Spring by the presentation of a medal on Bridewell Day and Fellows meet for lunch annually
before the Carol Service at King Edward’s in December. To become a Fellow, members will have at least donated £10,000 in total, and for many Fellowships this will have been achieved over many years of consistent giving. It is certainly a very significant goal for which donors have made a lasting commitment to the Foundation. Along the way donors can
join the 1867 Society, if donating or pledging £1000 per year and above Fellowship there two more levels of giving, Bridewell Patrons and Bridewell Charter Patrons. If you are interested in becoming a Fellow or beginning your journey towards Fellowship, please contact Lesley Humphreys on development@kesw.org or 01428 686773.
Bridewell Fellows, December 2017
Ukraine v England – a match of another kind During the height of the football fever pitch this Summer another match took place at King Edward’s that was just as keenly anticipated. Mr John Attwater, Headmaster, went head to head with Mr Oleksiy Chylikin, current parent, in a chess match full of tension and surprises. Mr Chylikin challenged the Headmaster to a match after a successful year of chess at King Edward’s, which saw several pupils win cups in tournaments at Wellington and Eton College.
NEW APPOINTMENTS Lesley Humphreys, Director of Development
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esley Humphreys has taken on the mantle of Director of Development at King Edward’s Witley and brings with her a wealth of experience as a fundraiser. Since 2006 Lesley has led the fundraising strategy in three different schools, including at Christ’s Hospital and has extensive links with the City of London. Ms Humphreys began her career with an international stockbroker in the City, followed by publishing before moving into development for the educational sector and has held a variety of notable professional positions including a Board Member for the Institute of Development Professionals in Education and a Trustee
Connie Sturgess, Development and Alumni Relations Officer
Mr John Attwater, Headmaster and Mr Chylikin Chess Match July 2018
A keen chess player, Mr Chylikin has generously donated funds to create a new Chess Club at King Edward’s offered through our vast co-curricular activities, which has proved popular amongst the pupils and includes lessons by Nicholas Pert, an outstanding chess Grandmaster, which has contributed to the Chess Club’s brilliant rise in its inaugural year. The match itself was played in an atmosphere of tense concentration, ending after a bruising hour when the Headmaster gratefully accepted a sporting draw. A rematch is planned in 2019! If you have a special area of interest in the School, whether that be in drama, sport, art or science and would like to donate to enhance or enrich a specific part of the School or would just like to discuss an idea further, please do contact the Development Office on development@kesw.org or call 01428 686730.
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onnie Sturgess joined King Edward’s Witley in September 2017 as the Personal Assistant to the Headmaster and has now made the move to Development to take up the newly formed position of Development and Alumni Relations Officer from September. Prior to her joining King Edward’s Witley, Miss Sturgess worked in Westminster for two Members of Parliament, both of whom were Ministers in the Government, for over eight years. In those roles Miss Sturgess managed national and local stakeholder relationships and fundraising events in the constituency.
on the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Europe Board. Ms Humphreys says “I am delighted to join King Edward’s and very much looking forward to meeting Old Witleians, parents and friends of the School. I will be aiming to build on the success of the past whilst focusing on exciting future opportunities.” If you have any enquiries about donating please contact Ms Humphreys on development@kesw.org or on 01428 686730. About her new position Miss Sturgess said “I am super excited to move to the Development Office. I joined King Edward’s Witley because of its unique characteristics as a school; providing opportunities to bright and talented minds through bursaries and in my new role I will have the opportunity to assist with fundraising and of course to continue to strengthen and support the School’s community of Old Witleians.” If you have any enquiries regarding Alumni events please contact Miss Sturgess on oldwitleians@kesw.org. 11
OLD WITLEIANS
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Chris Lack, OW Volunteer and Honorary Vice President
Old Witleian Chris Lack (Grafton, 1952 – 1957) has been truly dedicated to King Edward’s after leaving the School in 1957, he became a member of the Old Witleian Association Committee for an impressive 56 years, of which 20 years were as Secretary (1966 – 1986) and sometime Acting as Chairman.
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On
A familiar face to a lot of Old Witleians and staff, Chris has also served as a Governor of King Edward’s from 1992 until 2013 and a Trustee of the Education Trust until 2016. In 1995 Chris was made an Honorary Vice President of the Old Witleian Association and continues to give of his time and support the Foundation as a Bridewell Fellow.
Old Witleians out and about For the 2018 Bridewell Euro Bike Ride, these four intrepid cyclists, left to right Will Kriehn (Wakefield, 2012-17), Charlie Howard (Wakefield, 2012-16), Chris Mistlin (Edward, 201216) and Theo Frazer Graduate Assistant Music Teacher completed their daunting challenge of cycling 1,500km from the Netherlands to Spain in August. They travelled from Amsterdam, through Belgium then France via Paris, and finally over mountainous terrain to reach Spain, battling injury and raising almost £1,600 for the Bridewell Foundation. Many congratulations to our cyclists and thanks to those who donated. To find out more and donate go to: https:// mydonate.bt.com/events/bridewelleurbikesantander/464304 Old Witleians, staff and pupils gathered under the scorching June sun for this Summer’s Old Witleians’ Golf Day, enjoying an all-round splendid day at Milford Golf Club. Many congratulations to Chris Hoare (Edward, 1949-56), winner of the Walter Hill Cup with a high impressive score of 37, along with runners up Bob Jenkins (1947-55) and Ivor Caplin (Edward, 1970-77). This year also saw our very first Ladies Cup awarded to Christine Jenkins. To see more, including the other prize winners go to: http://www.kesw.org/OWA-Golf-1 Many Old Witleians braved the heat this June to make a grand day of this year’s Summer Reunion, celebrating and exploring the past and present of the School as well as meeting friends old and new. Read more about the day’s proceedings, including the Proms in the Park concert and the allimportant Old Wits vs School cricket match at: http://www.kesw.org/ Old-Witleians-Summer-Reunion-2018 King Edward's pupils were lucky enough to receive the advice of eight Old Witleians at the ‘Your Future’ Careers Fair in April. Many thanks to Kavi Patel (Edward, 2012), Tom Thorpe (Edward, 2013), Ollie Hall (Grafton, 2013), Harry Moore (Grafton, 2014), Kate Khmurak (Tudor, 2014), Ellie Tappenden (St Bridget's, 2010), Tom Martis-Jones (Ridley, 2017) and Rob Green (Edward, 2017) who gave up their time to share their wisdom on a diverse range of careers and education options with our receptive 5th and Sixth Form pupils. For these and other OW stories visit our news pages at http://www.kesw.org/Old-Witleians-News 12
As well as his loyalty to the School Chris has shown a special appreciation for its history and demonstrated a welcome pragmatism whilst a Governor. Mr Stephen Pugh, Senior Deputy Headmaster says of Chris “I have known Chris for almost 30 years now and in that time he has been a tireless supporter of King Edward’s Witley in so many ways. He has shown a genuine interest in any developments, educational, pastoral or organisational, that have been taking place and has always endeavoured to ensure that sight of the founding mission has not been blurred in any way. Indeed, it is rare to find in any institution one so committed and enthusiastic as Chris has been for very many years. Long may he continue to spread the good news about the work of King Edward’s Witley”.
Diary Development & Old Witleian Diary Dates November Sunday 11 Remembrance Day Service – all welcome Sunday 18 Autumn Sports Day – all welcome December Friday 14 Bridewell Fellows Luncheon (by invitation only) Friday 14 King Edward’s Carol Service – all welcome January Thursday 17 London Drinks at The Enterprise Pub 18:00 – 21:00 tbc March Saturday 2 Northern Reunion in Durham – please email oldwitleians@kesw.org if you are interested in attending. Tuesday 12 Bridewell Day 60th Anniversary (Fellows by invitation only) Friday 22 1553 Guild Lunch (by invitation only) April Friday 26
1867 Society Supper (by invitation only)
May Friday 24
Bridewell Mansion House Ball (ticketed)
June Friday 28 O W Golf Day 40th Anniversary with celebratory dinner at King Edward’s - existing and new golf participates welcome. Saturday 29 OW Summer Reunion – all welcome For details of these and other events visit www.kesw.org/Old-Witleians-Upcoming-Events
Keep in Touch! King Edward’s Development Director Development@kesw.org King Edward’s Alumni Relations oldwitleians@kesw.org Old Witleians Web Pages http://www.kesw.org/Old-Witleians Witleians Facebook Group f Old https://www.facebook.com/groups/oldwits/ Witleians LinkedIn Group i Old www.linkedin.com/groups/3551272 Witleians Twitter l Old @OldWitleians