152330 ke sotoniensis 2015 lr by King Edward VI School

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 1

Sotoniensis 2015

CONTENTS

Editorial

Creative Arts

From the Head Chaplaincy Report Staff Farewells House Reports

The Art Department The Dance Department The Drama Department The Music Department

Clubs & Societies

Trips & Visits

Sport

Amnesty Group Archaeology Club Astronomy Society Badminton Club Beekeeping Club Byron Society Cactus Club Canoe and Kayaking Club Charities Commission Chess Club Christian Union Classical Society Cookery Club

Aachen Trip Biology Trip to Dale Fort Charlotte Exchange Duke of Edinburgh ENDEAVOUR English Gothic Trip Faroe Islands Trip Florence Trip French Trip to Montpellier Geography Trip to Malham Tarn

Boys’ Rugby Boys’ Hockey Boys’ Cricket Boys’ Tennis

Debating Society Digital Leaders Economics Society English Society Feminist and Equality Society Fencing Club First Aid Club Geography Society German Magazine Club Greenpower Green Team Historical Society Hospital Visiting

Interface Japanese Club Maths Challenge Club MedSoc Partnerships Photography Club Sailing Club Sanskirt Society Scamp Club Table Tennis Club Wargaming Club Young Enterprise

Geography Trip to Osmington Bay German Exchange to Mutterstadt Himalayan Trip History Trip to Berlin Morocco Trip Prague exchange Second Year Camp Ski Trip South Africa Trip Spanish Trip to Andalucia

Spanish Trip to Catalonia Spanish Trip to Salamanca Sports Tour to South Africa Summer Camp Tile Barn Activity Centre Vienna Trip Watersports Trip

Boys’ Basketball Boys’ Football Girls’ Hockey Girls’ Netball

Girls’ Rounders Girls’ Tennis

2 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Editorial

From the Head T

he academic year 2014/5 has seen a number of significant developments particularly in the light of the consolidation of the links between King Edward’s and Stroud. We have continued to invest in the School’s fabric with an expanded fitness facility, improved catering facilities, additional music practice rooms and a new hospitality suite and gallery at Wellington Sports Ground. We began the year with 978 students on the roll and the School continues to be full at every level. Our students have enjoyed another very good set of academic results with 83% of A2 grades at A*, A and B and 82% of all grades at IGCSE at A* and A, with an impressive 55% at A*. We were pleased with our Oxbridge admissions results. Nine students have been offered places this year continuing the School’s five year average of 10% of the year group going to these two universities. Over four-fifths of our students will proceed to universities in the Russell Group. We were delighted to welcome Sir Jonathan Bate, Professor of English at the University of Oxford and Provost of Worcester College, as our Chief Guest at Speech Day in 2014. He is a world expert in Shakespearean studies and his address was very well received. Once again the sporting life at King Edward’s has flourished. It has been impressive to see the growing number of students of all abilities participating in representative games over the past three years. They are not all winners but over two-thirds of all students were involved in competitive school fixtures over the last year in spite of some very changeable weather. In hockey our teams won six of the seven county tournaments and, as a result, qualified for regional heats. The U14 and U16 boys’ teams progressed from these heats to reach play offs for regional finals but the lead performance was from the girls’ 1st XI hockey team who reached the regional finals and were agonisingly close to qualifying for a national play

off. This placed them in the top fifteen school teams in the country. In rugby the U16 side won three-quarters of their matches; the U13 side fared even better winning 80% of their fixtures. The U12 team also showed potential winning two-thirds of their matches. In the cup competitions the U16s won the county cup final and the U15 team also reached the cup final finishing as runners-up. The 1st XV reached the 4th round of the Nat West National Vase Competition but it was the U13 side that progressed furthest in the national cup placing them in the final thirty-two teams nationally. The football team won three-quarters of their games in the league and reached the final and the netball season was also a success. All the A teams won over half of their matches against tough opposition. The highlight was the outstanding performance of the senior squad who won all of their matches, some of which were against very high class opposition. In cricket the numbers of students involved continues to grow. The performances were also very positive with the U13A winning half, the U14A winning 80%, the U15A winning two-thirds and the 1st XI winning 50% of their matches. The U15s progressed to the regional semi-final of the Taverners Trophy, placing them in the final sixteen of the national cup, and the U14 team were successful in the county cup final and qualified for the national cup next year. We are also particularly proud to have, in Joe Weatherley, the Captain of the England U19 team. Rounders enjoyed some good performances. The U15 team won 71% of their matches and the U14A won 60% but it was the U12 team who had the best season winning all but one of their matches and promising well for the future. Other sports have prospered including tennis, cross country, athletics, table tennis, swimming, sailing and, in rhythmic gymnastics, our students once again won national titles. The number of visits the School organises each year continues to grow and is a major part of our educational provision. This year KES students have enjoyed visits to the USA, South Africa, Morocco, India, Spain, France, Austria, Italy and Germany. These trips have ranged from trekking in the Himalayas and skiing in Maine to playing rugby and

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 3

hockey in Cape Town. Some of our students were even lucky enough to experience the total solar eclipse in the Faroe Islands. Closer to home, students have participated in language exchanges and study visits to Montpellier, Mutterstadt, Vienna, Florence, Salamanca and Santander and trips across the UK, from regular theatre and music visits to London to geography and biology field trips to Swansea and Dale Fort. Hundreds of our students have made excellent use of the New Forest and our Rural Studies Centre at Lovaton on Dartmoor for Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions. The arts have had a high profile with regular occasions such as the Carol Service at St Mary’s Church and the Education Sunday Service in Winchester Cathedral interspersed with a wide range of concerts; the highlight being two evening events at Turner Sims. Drama has been busy with a number of productions including ‘Welcome to Thebes’ and ‘Gizmo’ as well as numerous Junior Drama Club events. The biennial Arts Festival, including the annual Art Exhibition in the Big Top, was one of the most impressive we have seen. Charitable and community work has long had considerable prominence at King Edward’s. In the past year over £28,000 has been raised by the students themselves for a range of different organisations including our Summer Camp for young carers within the city and the South Africa venture supporting the Goedgedacht Trust near Cape Town. Dozens of volunteers have helped with cake sales, sponsored events, discos and talent shows. Likewise, our primary school partnerships have prospered involving a range of art, literacy, mathematics, languages and science clubs as well as special events such as the July partnership day for local primary schools as a part of the Endeavour programme.

four years of service at the School that have included notable contributions as our Child Protection Lead Officer and our Compliance Officer. Dr Purves joined King Edward’s in 2007 and has been a highly effective Head of Physics. He has moved to Portsmouth Grammar School to take up a position as an Assistant Head. Mr Kay also joined the School in 2007 to teach in the Design and Technology Department and run the Fencing Club. He is moving to Norway. Miss Stenning joined the English Faculty in 2012 and has made a particular contribution to the School’s Debating and Public Speaking Society. She has been appointed as Head of English at Ryde School. Mrs Coker joined the Mathematics Faculty three years ago. She is a fine teacher and has also supported the Fencing Club. She is moving to a school in the midlands. On the non-teaching side Mr Goldie retired after thirteen years at King Edward’s. He joined the School in May 2002 as Assistant Bursar (Facilities), principally to run our bus system. He also masterminded a number of multi-million pound construction projects on all four of our school sites and leaves a legacy of new buildings at both King Edward’s and Stroud. Mrs Rass has retired after serving the Bursar very well as his PA for over thirteen years. Mr Consterdine has provided impressive service as our Deputy Network Manager and has done much to improve the technical IT support over the past six years. We are also grateful to Mr Dar and Mr Webb who have worked very effectively as IT Classroom Support Technicians over the past year. Dr Berryman taught Music and Mr Reece Classics and Religious Studies, each for a year. Miss L’Enfant taught Drama for two terms. We thank them and the other staff who have assisted the School this year on short term contracts.

We have been very well served by Emma Falconer as Head of School over the last year, ably supported by her deputies, Joe Weatherley, Caitlin Brown and Gina Steel. Our Prepositors and Heads of House, together with the Lower School Prefects, provide excellent leadership across the School. They have all worked very effectively with a varied range of responsibilities and opportunities that serve to develop their team work and communication skills.

KESPTA has prospered under the direction of Dr Hulbert. We are very grateful for their support for a range of activities from music and kayaking to the part-funding of a youth worker in South Africa. Our alumni have enjoyed numerous reunions organised by our Development Officer, Ms Hooper, with much useful work completed by our King Edward VI Foundation which raises money to help students applying to King Edward’s from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We have had a number of staff leaving King Edward’s this year with some notable retirements after long service. Mr Dodds retired as Head of Stroud after twenty-two years of distinguished service running the School. Stroud has gone from strength to strength under his leadership and he has done a magnificent job in merging the culture of the two schools over the past three years. Mrs Thomas retired after serving as an outstanding Deputy Head (Pastoral) with twenty-

King Edward’s has continued to be a very successful school offering its students a very wide range of activities, visits, sport and cultural opportunities so that they emerge, at the end of their time here, with enviable teamwork and leadership skills to take into adult life, together with a strong social conscience and commitment to the community at large.

AJ Thould // Head

4 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Chaplaincy Chat I

choose to begin and end the year in prayer and sacrament

Illness has been a feature

in a service of Holy Communion for those wishing to attend.

of a number of people’s

Along with our services throughout the term, this presents an

lives this year and clearly

opportunity to reflect on what we are trying to achieve as a

the Head’s sudden illness

school community grounded in the Christian faith.

and prolonged recovery was something kept in my

A highlight is always the Ceremony of Admissions, during

prayers, as were his family

which we welcome new pupils and their families to embark

and those who shouldered

on the adventure of secondary education. It is always a very

additional responsibility in his absence. We continue to pray

hopeful occasion, one powerfully completed by the Leavers’

for Mr John who is sorely missed in the refectory. It was good

Service in June with its inventive, if somewhat personally

to see Mrs Piggott, Mr Barker and Mr Kelsey popping in to visit

embarrassing, leavers’ video! To see the gradual blossoming

at the close of the year as they recuperate from illness.

Revd Joanna Jepson

of so many is a privilege to witness as it is to play a small part in nurturing.

The Assembly Programme continues to draw on a good body of staff and pupils, exploring a wide range of topics

As Chaplain, it is a joy to contribute to many wonderful happy

and issues. We have had our annual sequence of reporting

occasions in the life of the School and its members but it is

of charitable activities and reports and insight from the great

equally a privilege to support those in times of great sadness,

number of exchange trips. Mr Kukla spoke movingly on the

often around the death of loved ones. It was a great honour,

anniversary of the Berlin Wall and German reunification, Mrs

but a deeply sad one, to lead the funeral of Lesley Kemp.

Freemantle on her Asian adventures, Mrs Meredith on the

Lesley had only a short time of good health whilst working

central role in culture of the languages of antiquity, Mr Tofts’s

as the Head’s PA, but had made many friends in that period

Libra team explored powerful questions raised by Romanian

of service to the School. Her funeral was attended by friends

society, Mr Barker addressed the School with a witty and

and colleagues from the various places she had worked. Sadly

creative take on issues of sustainability and Mr Piggott helped

a number of students also suffered the death of parents and

the School prepare for Remembrance with a thoughtful

loved ones and I hold them, and those who were affected by

and inspiring consideration of memorials, reflecting on how

the 7/7 bombings, in my prayers. Late in the summer term,

we keep the experience of war alive in our landscape with

Stroud suffered the loss of Jan Preston who had worked with

physical memorials.

the younger children as a much-loved teaching assistant for many years. The suddenness of her death after a very short

The Act of Remembrance was marked on the 11th November

illness was a shock and she is much missed.

at 11am. Miss Anderson conducted a powerful and beautiful setting of the ‘Ode for the fallen’ by Mark Blatchly, performed

Early in the summer term we commemorated the life and

by members of the Chamber Choir, and there were also

service of former Head Master Colin Dobson. A very good

contributions from Adrian Taylor (parent) and a fanfare of

congregation of present and past staff, pupils and parents

student trumpets. We have been particularly blessed by many

from far and near attended the service at St Mary’s Church in

fine musical contributions from the students, often in the

what was a moving and joyful event. The Chamber Choir and

‘Thought for the Day’ slot. Mrs Costello-Kelly, Dr Berryman

soloists sang beautifully, with George Castle from Winchester

and Mr Diver have given us much to consider, as have the

Cathedral playing the organ for us. Eloquent and moving

students. Unexpected dancing from Mr Singleton, Dr Dean

tributes were given by Mr Bill Cox (former Chair of Governors),

and Mr Davison brought many smiles. The annual Holocaust

Mr Phil Hartley (former Deputy Head), Mrs Claire Minns (former

Memorial was written and led by Sixth Formers, asking

Head’s PA) and Mr Gilbert. The reception held afterwards at

provoking questions about the ambivalence there has been

School was a lovely occasion, with music, informal tours,

towards the public marking of this and other horrors. The

reminiscence, laughter and some tears.

First World War Review was previewed with extracts from Blackadder directed by Dr Schofield. The summer assembly programme was somewhat less curtailed than in the past as the Hall was not used in the exam period. Amongst the remaining assemblies, we have enjoyed the mix of presentations from pupils, guests and staff, including Apollo 5 as part of the Arts Festival, the marking the battle of Waterloo and lively mock General Election debates. As we came to hiatus for the school exams, as has become

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 5

something of a tradition, Mr Powell raised a song and a

and purpose being found through Christian ministry and faith

thought in his own inimitable style.

within maximum security prison in the USA where she had spent a period with their chaplaincy team. Joanna spent the

I was particularly pleased that First Year pupil, Jeremy Hill,

day in the school, with a range of RS classes and also with

volunteered to take part in the Cranmer Awards, a competition

DT. She also met staff, senior students and Christian Union

in public oratory run by the Prayer Book Society. He read from

members over lunch.

the BCP to an audience in the Bishop’s Chapel in Wolvesey Palace and won the regional heat for his age group. He went

It has been good to see the Christian Union continue to

on to the national finals in the Worcester where he once again

thrive, run with great dedication by Mr Robinson. We were

performed well and impressed the judges.

fortunate to have a dedicated, gifted team of senior students this year leading the programme that has included guest

Along with the generosity of the students in buying a bountiful

speakers. Toby Saer, Oliver Rose and Rebecca Collins have

supply of toys organised by the Charity Commission, we had

been excellent and dedicated in their commitment and

a joyful Christmas ending with our Candlelight Carol Service at

energy in supporting Christian enquiry amongst their peers.

St Mary’s. With many orchestral players and a large combined

Mr Singleton runs Interface, enriching and nurturing younger

Parent and Staff Choir, First Year Choir and Chamber Choir,

students in their exploration of Christian faith, meeting every

a merry noise was made. I was delighted to deploy the four

Friday to explore the faith through games, activities, quizzes

candle trees crafted by Mr Hall (DT Technician). All were given

and discussions. The staff and parent prayer group gather

a small candle to light in the final carol representing the light

regularly at lunchtimes.

of Christ coming into the world. The collection was once again for New Forest Nightstop, reflecting our concern for those

It has been fascinating to support those involved with Hospital

young people facing homelessness in the vicinity and also The

Visiting, taking Sixth Formers to become visitors at the General

Isaac Leal Fund.

Hospital, contributing to its data gathering and engaging with patients. Between five and sixteen students spend an hour there after School on Thursday. I have also very much enjoyed my time at Stroud this year. I have been able to take Sixth Form students to support the Forest School sessions and make further contributions to School Assemblies. This is a momentous year as Alastair Dodds retires as Head. The new Head will have my fullest support in maintaining the Christian ethos and family atmosphere at Stroud that makes it so appealing to parents and formative for its pupils. My fortnightly meetings with the Head have been an important part of our shared ministry to the School. Working closely with

A great deal of time went into the preparations for leading the

Jane Thomas has been a privilege and I will miss her skill,

Winchester Cathedral’s Education Sunday with Learning to

wisdom and efficiency but chiefly her friendship and support

Serve as the theme. It was a real privilege to be asked to be

as she leaves the School this year. My colleagues in the

the partner school and I am very grateful to all who helped

pastoral team are a source of insight and wisdom for which

make this possible. Students led much of the service and

I am very grateful.

spoke about how they have developed their values in the spirit of what William Capon and Edward VI anticipated. The

The charitable and loving support of those in need is ever

Reverend Canon Judith Maltby of Oxford University was the

stronger amongst both staff and students. Aside from the

preacher and she drew upon the words of Martin Luther King

public projects, many contribute time and energy across the

that were read by the Head and Emma Falconer, as well as

community. With the real dangers for our pupils of information

the parable of the sheep and the goats read by a group of

and influence from unsavoury or hate-filled ideologies that

our dramatists. A very encouraging number of staff, parents,

may lead to violence, it is all the more important to offer a

students and friends joined the regular congregation. The

different paradigm proclaiming the unswerving and inalienable

distinguished guests were very complimentary about the

value of all humanity, from our Christian heritage, as children

students’ presentation and prayers, beautiful singing (directed

of a loving God.

by Miss Anderson) and dance (supported by Ellen Watson). I continue to hold the School in my prayers and would ask you March saw our 2015 Service of Thanksgiving with the School

might remember me in yours as I seek to be a faithful witness

Council, Prepositors and Heads of House playing their part

to the Gospel and of service to our community.

admirably. Emma Falconer led us all as Head of School in prayer. It was a great pleasure to welcome the Revd Joanna Jepson as our preacher. She spoke powerfully about hope

Revd Poppleton

6 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Staff Farewells Jane Thomas

rs Thomas retires this year after twenty-four years at KES. She has been an outstanding contributor to the School throughout her career, not just as a superb Mathematics teacher, tutor, Head of Year and Deputy Head but also as a first-rate hockey coach, having captained the Loughborough University 1st XI, been the England Universities Captain and a member of the England U21 training squad. Mrs Thomas began her teaching career at Kelly College where she worked from 1988-1991. Her then Head described her as ‘patient, understanding, enthusiastic and having plenty of stamina’ - qualities that might describe her still! She came to KES in September 1991 and quickly made her mark, becoming Deputy Head of Lower School in 1993. Her pastoral expertise also quickly became apparent and she wrote a paper on bullying which the then Head, Mr Cookson, felt was ‘quite outstanding’. This still forms the basis of our current approach twenty years on. Mrs Thomas was promoted to Head of Lower School in September 2003 and became the Assistant Head

(Pastoral) in 2008 and Deputy Head (Pastoral) in 2010. She is fully involved in school life, attending almost all school plays, concerts, charity events and sports events. However, much of her work has taken place behind the scenes. She has been our Child Protection Lead Officer, a critical and often very demanding role, for the past five years. She has also taken on the mantle of Compliance Officer in addition to her duties as Deputy Head. In this role she has assumed responsibility for the huge number of policies and procedures required to run a modern school. Mrs Thomas has been involved with the Staff Appeal Liaison Committee and the development of PSHE into the carefully structured course it is today. She has also been instrumental in developing the Lower School Merit system, something which remains a key part of the lives of First, Second and Third Year pupils. Mrs Thomas works very long hours but always has time for others and is an expert listener. Everything she does she approaches with great professionalism, attention to detail and a robust sense of humour. Few staff have given so much of their time and energy to the School. She is a remarkable teacher and will be greatly missed.

Mr Thould

Alastair Dodds

r Dodds is retiring from Stroud School after twenty-two years as Head. He began teaching at Stroud in 1985 after a commercial career following his studies at the University of Cambridge. He had a distinguished sporting career, playing for England as a school boy and captaining the Cambridge hockey team, earning a blue. He took over as Head from Mrs Sanger-Davies in 1993 and in his time at Stroud has overseen the development of the site including the construction of a new multi-purpose sports hall, early year facilities, a dining hall and art, design technology and modern language classrooms. Perhaps his biggest challenge was to bond together two complementary but distinct cultures as Stroud merged with King Edward’s in 2012. This required a

great deal of work, much of it behind the scenes, to reassure pupils, staff and parents that the essence of the very special atmosphere at Stroud was preserved while embracing the opportunities offered through partnership with a large secondary school. His focus has always been on the children and, together with his wife Sarah, he has led the school with great distinction and humanity, establishing it as one of the leading prep schools in Hampshire.

Mr Thould

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 7

Graham Purves

r Purves joined King Edward’s as a Physics teacher in September 2007 after a very successful teaching practice at the School. During his time as a student teacher, he threw himself into all aspects of school life, showing a great understanding of his subject and a desire to engage and enthuse his students – as evidenced by his energetic and engaging performance as Leila Lightbeam in ‘Einstein – the musical’ at the Nuffield Theatre. As soon as he started as a full-time teacher he continued to show dedication and enthusiasm for all aspects of his work. In addition to becoming a highly-valued and respected teacher of Physics and Mathematics he became involved in many cocurricular activities. He helped with school tennis, ran the Lunar Society, was a stalwart of Summer Camp and supported many other trips and expeditions. His Physics teaching was always absolutely first-rate and his grasp of the subject allowed him to rise through the ranks of A Level examiners to become a senior examiner in a matter of a few years. Graham took responsibility for the Extended Project Qualification in the Sixth Form – a role in which he could foster and encourage intellectual ambition linked to careful research. Many students benefited from his enthusiasm and understanding in this area. In September 2011 he became Head of Physics and approached his challenging new role with customary

energy, probity and good humour. He instigated many changes and very much led from the front – always encouraging the pupils and staff to perform to their best. As Graham worked so tirelessly himself, his colleagues and students were keen to respond in kind and Graham led a happy and focused department. In September 2013 Graham took on the temporary role of Assistant Head Co-Curricular. He showed his trademark care and attention to detail in the post and gained useful experience of senior management. In January 2015 Graham was appointed to the staff of Portsmouth Grammar School as Assistant Head. He is sure to make a great success of this opportunity and PGS is lucky to have such a talented and clear-minded individual on its senior management team. Graham is much-missed in the Science and Technology Faculty for his humour, intelligence and his support for his colleagues and students. Working with Graham was a joy and a privilege and we wish him, his wife Hazel and their children Poppy and Alexander our very best wishes for the future.

Mr Herklots

8 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Brenda Rass

rs Rass came to King Edward’s in February 2002 having worked overseas alongside two managing directors before establishing her own business. She has been an outstanding Bursar’s PA not just in the context of her administrative abilities but also in acting as a wise and discreet colleague. She was meticulous in her organisation but went about her work in a manner that demonstrated a heart for people which was evident in all her dealings with parents, pupils and staff alike. Many of her workload pressures had to be contained within the Bursar’s office when dealing with sensitive confidential matters, none more so than acquiring a prep school in 2012. Brenda took these things in her stride and was ever dependable. Having spent over twelve years in this fast-paced and demanding environment, Brenda has regretfully looked to new challenges which will allow her to spend more time with her grandchild Hope, husband Des, and sons Jon and Rob. All at KES wish her every blessing in this new phase of her life.

Mr Maher

Keith Goldie MBE

r Goldie joined KES in May 2002 as Assistant Bursar (Facilities), one month after the current Head who has kept him occupied in extensive building works ever since! Keith’s distinguished career in the navy was justly rewarded with an MBE and the logistical expertise he brought with him has been invaluable to both King Edward’s and Stroud. This was first demonstrated in the much needed but complex re-organisation of pupil bus routes in 2002. He has also masterminded multi-million pound construction projects on our school sites with the minimum of disruption to day to day routines. The first was the Design and Technology building at Hill Lane in 2003 and the latest being a new Dining Hall and pod of three classrooms at Stroud in 2014. He leaves a tangible legacy and leaves us with good wishes for a well-earned retirement.

Mr Maher

James Consterdine

r Consterdine started at King Edward’s as Multimedia Technician six and a half years ago; a post he soon outgrew. The words calm, thorough and dependable describe James well and these qualities were demonstrated many times throughout his time with us. James played a leading role in many major projects. These have included changing major aspects of our network management, the development of our virtual server environment and most recently completely reorganising the School’s networking. James learnt many of the additional skills needed for such tasks in his own time. Most recently as, Deputy Network Manager, James notably integrated Stroud school’s IT needs with our ability to support.

Away from King Edward’s James has many interests. He has posted top times at both local Gokarting and driving simulators and has also achieved a time on the leader board at Williams’ F1 simulator. He also spends much of his spare time composing music and plays a variety of instruments, as well as singing. We wish James all the best as he moves on to Southampton University as Network Engineer.

Mr Rigg

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 9

Peter Kay-Kujawski

r Kay has been teaching at the School since 2007.

Peter’s time in the Design and Technology Department has seen him have a significant role in the education of students. His enthusiasm and creative talent, coupled with a manufacturing ability gained through experience, has allowed all his students to pursue and realise their design Ideas. Peter’s generosity with his own time has not only benefited his classes but has seen him participate in school trips and visits, run an eternally popular Design and Technology lunch time club and also lend a helping hand to more than one member of staff’s building projects.

In addition to being a subject teacher Peter, himself a former Olympic level fencer, has taken the sport of Fencing from its inception at King Edward’s through to students regularly participating in national competitions. Peter has also been responsible for the introduction of the Arkwright Scholarship Scheme. This highly prestigious national programme has been designed to recognise and support engineering talent and, under Peter’s guidance, King Edward’s has very proudly boasted an average of at least two scholars each year. However, regardless of all the above, he will be best remembered for his huskies! Few in the School will be unaware of Peter’s devotion to his dogs and his enthusiasm for the sport of sled racing. His hobby has led Peter to become British Champion at several disciplines and prompted him to take a year-long sabbatical from teaching in 2013 to train and become the first Briton with a UK dog team to complete the Finnmarkslopet (the world’s most northern dog race). He then went on to complete four other arctic races and in 2014 on his return to the UK he won the first World Cup event to be held in the country. It will come as no surprise to those who know Peter that he has decided to leave teaching and move to Norway to pursue his passion. I know that Peter will be greatly missed by staff and pupils, after all who could forget the moment when Mr Kay had ten dogs on stage during that school assembly!

Mr Barker

Elaine Coker

rs Coker joined King Edward’s three years ago having been teaching for only six years. She has shown commitment and dedication and her friendly and caring approach in the classroom has enabled many students to conquer their fear of Mathematics. Elaine ran the School Partnership Scheme (mathematics) for the last two years and primary school children have benefited from these fun sessions. She has also put her heart and soul into running the successful Fencing Club. Elaine leaves us to take up a post at a school in Warwick and we wish her all the best.

Mr Collins

10 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Gemma Stenning

iss Stenning joined the School in 2012, and has been making a daily commute from the Isle of Wight for the past three years. She has taken debating to a new level at the School, and it has become a thriving and successful society. During one week earlier this year, KES hosted two fixtures: the English Speaking Union Public Speaking Competition and the Schools’ Mace. As always, the School’s students performed admirably, and this is due to Miss Stenning’s dedication, and her classroom is regularly full of students arguing a variety of motions. She has also entered KES for the Oxford Schools’ Union Debating Competition, which is very prestigious, and again our students have enjoyed a great deal of success.

Miss Stenning is a popular teacher of English, and she has a reputation for having an open door policy to students, running regular extra classes for all year groups. She has taught throughout the School with success, but in particular the English Language A Level students have benefited from her excellent subject knowledge. At IGCSE Level her classes have performed consistently well and she gets very good summer results. Miss Stenning’s technological expertise has been greatly valued with regard to iPad use, and she seems able to do things that most of didn’t even know were possible. Miss Stenning has been appointed Head of English at Ryde School, which is certainly a better commute for her. We wish her every success in this much-deserved promotion.

Dr Schofield

Rick Walton

his year we have said goodbye to one of our caretakers, Rick Walton. Rick joined us in December 1999 working in the Facilities Team as a caretaker, and was promoted to Deputy Head Caretaker in 2004. Rick’s contributions were mainly in the behind the scenes operations, ensuring that the facilities were available and configured for the ever-changing demands of the curriculum and the School in general. Rick left King Edward’s in January 2015.

Mr Baker

Luke Berryman

r Berryman has been an important part of the KES music team over the past year. In addition to conducting Symphonic Winds, he has brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the department coupled with a lively sense of humour and a willingness to help and assist the many musicians who present themselves each day. Dr Berryman has given thought-provoking whole school assemblies, interesting lectures, and outstanding piano recitals during his time at the School, showing great interest in the development of piano performance. We wish him great success and happiness as he moves to the USA to take up the position of Associate Director of Programming in a summer school company.

Mrs Freemantle

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 11

Gareth Reece

r Reece has spent a year in the Classics and RS Departments while studying for his Diploma in Teaching in the Life Long Sector. He has been a delightful colleague with a warm and friendly manner and his dedication to teaching and his hard work have added greatly to the students’ learning experience. He grasped the iPad with gusto and regularly found innovative ways of using it with his First and Third Year Classes. The Lower Sixth were equally inspired with a variety of interesting lessons which included some entertaining role play and debate. Gareth involved himself heartily in school life. He never failed to participate in Classical Society, including some dramatic appearances, and he regularly supported Archaeology Club and attended Japanese Club. We are very sad to see him go but wish him all the best with his exciting teaching venture in Japan.

Mrs Meredith

Sam Cuthbertson

r Cuthbertson joined the Physics Department in September as an incoming NQT to teach Physics and Mathematics. In his time at King Edward’s, Sam became well- known as an affable teacher with a very cheery demeanour, who also made contributions to school hockey. Sam left the School in the spring term and we wish him well in his future endeavours.

Mr Simm

Mr Dar and Mr Webb

oth Mr Dar and Mr Webb joined the IT Support team for the 2014-2015 academic year for the sandwich work-placement components of their university studies. Their respective roles as IT Classroom Support Technician and Web Development Technician have meant that they have both experienced many new situations and have gained numerous new skills. We thank Abdul and Ryan for their hard work throughout the year and wish them both well in the final year of their respective university studies.

Mr Rigg

12 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

The Allen Grant Trophy 2015 I

t has been yet another exciting year in the quest for the inter-House Allen Grant Trophy, with hundreds of pupils being engaged routinely in competitions for points. Loyalty has been as strong as ever with huge House spirit displayed across all six Houses. The Allen Grant trophy is an eclectic mix of events. From the traditional team games and favourites for large scale participation; Sports Day, the Swimming Gala and the School Cross Country, to more niche games such as badminton and benchball, there is a sporting option for all. We have also had closely fought competitions in chess, the ever-popular House Quiz, the Ready Steady Cook, Greenpower Challenge and the teambuilding event. The collection of Merits means that there are

ways that anyone can support their House. As always, the last few weeks of the summer term allowed a huge amount of points to be racked up, and coming into the post-examination season this year was no different. With only 6 points separating them, and both having played their Jokers, Lake and Watts were leading the pack by 30 points. This made the counting of Merits and the Swimming Gala imperative. In a nailbiting finish, Lake were once more crowned deserved winners of the Allen Grant Trophy. The other Houses live to fight another day. Well done and thank you to the excellent Heads of Houses and their teaching counterparts, without whom the House System could not run.

Heads of House 2014-15 Capon

Miss Stone

Tabitha Piggott

James Kingshott

Lake

Mr Miller

Subrena Chhatwal

Ben Dunford

Lawrence

Mr Brown

Jordan Campbell

Harrison Glew

Reynolds

Mr Powell

Sophie Hunter

Daniel Stephens

Sylvester

Miss Barron

Hannah Kaye

Max Self

Watts

Mr Westwater

Pippa Rees

Jack Pritchard

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 13

14 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Allen Grant Trophy 2014-2015: Points Table Capon

Lake

Lawrence

Reynolds

Sylvester

Watts

Badminton

US G Hockey

Jnr G X Country

Jnr B X Country

Snr G X Country

Snr B X Country

US Rugby

JH Rugby A

JH Rugby B

JH Hockey A

JH Hockey B

Snr G Hockey

1st G Hockey

1st Football

1st Rugby

US Football

Quiz

US Basketball

LS Football

Snr Netball

Colts Netball

Snr B Hockey

Colts B Hockey

1st B Benchball

1st G Benchball

1st B Hockey

1st Netball

Senior Football

JH B Hockey A

JH B Hockey B

JH B Hockey C

JH Netball A

JH Netball B

Â 2

105*

140*

112*

115

118

134*

6th

1st

5th

4th

3rd

2nd

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 15

Creative Arts

Art at KES T

he Art Department has seen another busy year with the high standard of artwork always impressing us, as staff, as well as visitors to the School who see the artwork displayed on the walls all around them. This year the Arts Festival Big Top was used as the gallery area for the Annual Art Exhibition. The wide range of GCSE and A Level work in frames sat around three sides of the tent with tables showing the supporting sketchbooks. The a capella group Apollo 5 and the KES Chamber Choir entertained parents, staff and Governors and, for a few hours, it was almost as if we were all at the Royal Academy in Piccadilly. The Arts Festival also saw local printmakers Red Hot Press run a two-day workshop for our Fourth Year GCSE artists. The theme was Intaglio Etching using a non-toxic process and the students produced some exquisite prints. The Upper Sixth artists have shown they are artistically ambitious this year. Esme Woodington’s huge expressive portrait paintings have impressed all who have seen them and Victoria Hoad’s large, dark and menacing pastel drawings demand attention. Subrena Chatwwal’s paintings and drawings of birds of prey have captured their beauty and colour in a lovely range of media. Emily Tam also used large canvases to record both a series on vices as well as bold portraits of her friends. The Lower Sixth have produced some interesting work too with a range of subjects from boating paraphernalia and confectionary to stark Hampshire landscapes. Ben Maher used a blog format to record his AS photography work and the online sketchbook was very effective.

The GCSE classes have yet again produced a fantastic range of work with their sketchbooks, really embracing the opportunity to experiment with a wide range of material. Their examination pieces were equally confident with too many individuals to single out. All this work can be seen on the department’s Flickr site via the school website. The Art Department continues to host partnerships with Highfield, Springhill and Wordsworth primary schools. This year a fantastic group of pupils have helped run workshops and their enthusiasm and care for our young guests has been exceptional and a real credit to the School. There have been three trips to the Royal Academy, with the wonderful Anselm Kieffer show influencing many of our students. Evening Life drawing classes for the Sixth Form proved popular again with artist Chris Wood showing how to both record accurately and draw freely. A new venture was a combined trip to Florence with KES MFL students which was inspiring for all involved, especially seeing the birthplace of the Renaissance and the Futurists. The department has also been involved in the Foundation Studies programme for the Upper Sixth running a ‘brief guide to culture’ with trips to see the wonderful collection at Southampton City Art Gallery.

Mr Piggott (Head of Art)

16 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 17

Arts Festival 2015 T

he 2015 Arts Festival ran for three days at the end of June providing a colourful myriad of workshops and performances to challenge and inspire.

‘Compose the Festival Jingle theme’, Graffiti Art, Music Competition, Book Origami and the staff Tug o’ War (won by the Humanities Department).

Forty–eight visiting artists came to the School over the three days to work with students, and workshops included Samba drum and dance, print making, violin playing, fashion design, enamel jewellery making, guitar playing, illusion theatre, singing, Bollywood dance, Dhol drumming, lectures, digital news reporting, mime, comedy, origami and papercutting. These were complimented with technical workshops where students were able to focus on subjects such as stage lighting and sound recording.

The highlight of the Festival was the traditional Street Theatre held on the School Field on the last day. Set in glorious sunshine, this included something for everyone with a miniature railway, mechanical fairground organ, crazy golf, face painting, balloon modeling, buskers, dancers, magic acts, stilt walkers, juggling, portrait artists, Punch and Judy, bowling alley, graffiti art, Morris Dancers and a whole school Zumba dance.

There were several spectacular large scale events in the Big Top including the Art Exhibition, Concert, ‘Science of the Circus’ show, Art History lecture and a number of band performances. Competitions included the

A thundering rocket launch brought the Street Theatre to a close leaving all students and staff suitably stretched and challenged after a wonderful three days during which all participants were able to unleash their imagination and creativity.

18 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 19

20 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Dance at KES D

ance continues to flourish at King Edward’s and the extensive programme available continues to grow, with clubs and workshops running almost every lunch time and every day after school. The breadth of the programme has broadened the experiences of our pupils of all abilities, whilst making full use of our exceptional Dance Studio and space. The provision continues to develop and we are proud of the variety on offer and the range of providers we have at KES. Our dance programme has included links with Spring Hill Primary School and the Northern Ballet and includes the ever popular Zumba Club, the continuation of the successful Rhythmic Gymnastics Club and a new Ballet Club. There have also been opportunities to learn jive, salsa, waltz and tango in our Strictly KES Dancing Club and this year has also seen a Break-Dance Club, Street Dance Club and Musical Theatre Club. Pupils have been able to learn Street Dance, Cha-cha and ballet during workshops and in the Lower School Dance Club. Many KES students continue to use the Dance Studio during our ‘rehearsal time’ slots to prepare for their up-and-coming dance examinations. There is certainly a buzz surrounding dance at the School and we hope it continues to grow. Many of our dancers were involved with the Arts Festival and we even had a large Zumba Dance

performed on the field in great numbers during the Street Theatre. The First Year pupils learnt this dance during their Extended Studies sessions and many other pupils learnt this dance during lunch time workshops. Dance has also continued to feature in our Foundation Studies programme and the Extended Studies programme. These are fantastic four week blocks for all pupils, giving the opportunity to learn different styles of dance. A number of our dancers were involved with the Education Sunday Service and this was a fantastic event held at Winchester Cathedral. The pupils performed gracefully and with real elegance. Some of our dancers also performed in the Spring Concert and other whole school events. The School’s rhythmic gymnasts continue to strive and achieve, and they performed exceptionally at the National Schools’ Rhythmic Championships which was once again held at Windsor High School, Halesowen. Performances resulted in the girls being crowned Team Champions at Level One and at Level Two – a fabulous achievement. There were also many individual successes and a special mention must go to Maddi Holden who was awarded ‘The Judith Brown Cup’. This cup is awarded to the gymnast who received the highest mark of the day in Level 1 and Maddi is to be congratulated on her efforts.

National Schools’ Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships Level 1 Isobel Browning (Ribbon Solo) - Gold Medal Maddi Holden (Rope Solo) - Gold Medal Daisy Sarton (Rope Solo) - Silver Medal In the Rope Group class the girls received the following medals: Maddi Holden, Alice Booth, Abigail Sheppard, Emily James, Phoebe Nicoll and Isobel Browning - Gold Medal Charlotte Farrell-Poulton, Isobel Chapman, Mia Blake, Katie Duff, Amelia Harris and Alice Cowell - Silver Medal Stephanie Brown, Olivia Pearce, Hannah Loran, Zoe Henderson, Sophie Roe and Daisy Sarton - Bronze Medal Level 2 Abigail Sheppard (Ribbon Solo) - Silver Medal Emily James and Phoebe Nicoll (Ball Duet) - Gold Medal

Dance is certainly on the map at King Edward’s and we are excited to see how it develops over the next academic year. Dance classes such as ballet and street dance have been very popular and we are hoping to further expand the different styles on offer to engage as many KES pupils as possible.

Mrs Kelly (Head of Dance)

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 21

22 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Drama at KES T

he Drama Department has experienced a busy and challenging year with a number of stimulating productions, from the hard-hitting Upper School play ‘Welcome to Thebes’ in the autumn term to the thoughtprovoking Third Year plays ‘The Wardrobe’ and ‘Same’, followed by the physical comedy of ‘Gizmo’. A strong cast of thirty pupils took on the provocative play ‘Welcome to Thebes’ by Moria Buffini, which culminated in an incredibly shocking performance in November seen by over 250 parents, pupils and staff. Directed by Mrs Piggott, the pupils responded with enthusiasm and maturity to the challenging topics covered in the play and the ancient references to characters and myths. The cast delivered an inspiring performance of the modern city of Thebes, in a fragile state recovering from years of civil war, in a new democracy with the first elected female President. In the spring term, the Third Year pupils showcased their abilities in performances of two modern plays from the National Theatre Connections play series, ‘Same’ and ‘The Wardrobe’. Both plays presented highly poignant and sensitive topics from bereavement, how we view the elderly, and how an inanimate object can affect the lives of so many throughout the centuries. The audience were taken on a journey from laughter to tears through the high level of maturity and acting of the pupils. The year was completed by a Lower School production of Alan Ayckbourn’s ‘Gizmo’ which was directed by Mrs Hawker and assisted by Mrs Gunton. The cast of thirty pupils performed an entertaining and humorous piece with some well-timed physical, comedy moments. The high standard of acting, and disciplined movement, amused and surprised the audience who thoroughly enjoyed seeing the story of a man taking part in a new medical experiment of Positive Movement Synchronicity Replication via a micro-chip and a remote controller. The diverse variety of performances and theatre trips has continued throughout this year for all GCSE and A Level exam pupils, including London visits to ‘A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time’ in the West End, ‘The Cherry Orchard’ at The Young Vic, ‘Our Country’s Good’ at the Richmond Theatre, the National Theatre for DV8’s new play ‘John’ and past screenings of ‘London Road’ and ‘Home’, Salisbury Playhouse for ‘Bedroom Farce’ and ‘All My Sons’, as well as the Nuffield Theatre for Frantic Assembly’s ‘Othello’. Once again, pupils in GCSE and A Level groups had the fantastic opportunity to practically explore the style of theatre company, Frantic Assembly, through two physical theatre workshops delivered in October. The pupils were pushed and challenged with energetic warm ups, taught impressive lifts and encouraged to create organic movement routines, which stimulated their creativity and led to them devising their own physical theatre pieces in lessons. We also had the pleasure of Scene Productions Theatre Company visiting the School in February to perform ‘Metamorphosis’ and deliver a practical workshop for the Third Year and AS Level pupils, exploring the theatre practitioners and acting style of Betolt Brecht, Steven Berkoff and Antonin Artaud. A number of co-curricular clubs have also continued this year, with Junior Drama Club running with high numbers of pupils and Sixth Form helpers again, as well as the continued success of the Third Year Improvisation Club. Make-up Club was also popular at the start of the term and Miss White ran a Prop-making Club in the Art Department for ‘Welcome to Thebes’.

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 23

Lamda lessons have thrived this year, with Miss Reilly teaching private and shared lessons two days a week for Lower School pupils. This year also saw great success in the Lamda examinations, both in the spring and summer term, with some impressive results attained by many. The examination performances took precedence over the spring term, with a well-researched and devised verbatim play constructed by the A2 group of Ella Moody, Max Kinder, Tabitha Piggott and Anna Teesdale. The play, named ‘Just a Body’, explored the scandal surrounding Youtube vlogger Sam Pepper and the vulnerability of young people online today; with the thoughts of current pupils and staff woven into the story. The Lower Sixth pupils Collette Lane and Joseph Trayhurn performed an entertaining and thoughtful extract from the play ‘Humble Boy’ by Charlotte Jones, telling the story of a bereaved Felix Humble and Rosie Pye reuniting after years apart, culminating in a surprise revelation about who is the father of Rosie’s child. The GCSE classes thrilled audiences of family and friends throughout the year, with some excellent devised pieces inspired by either the song ‘Paint it Black’, the theme of ‘Shadows’ or the painting of ‘ The Persistence of Memory’ in the autumn term. There were also some outstanding moments in performances from the diverse selection of extracts from plays such as ‘A Doll’s House’, ‘Top Girls’, ‘Punk Rock’, ‘Ghosts’ and many more.

Mrs Hawker (Acting Head of Drama)

24 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

The Great War Evening

he Great War evening held in the Dobson Theatre

climaxes in a teenage boy shooting himself seconds before

in March offered an opportunity for the actors and

the call to go over the top. As well as the afore-mentioned

musicians in the School to come together as part of a

actors, Tom Stanley (as the teenager) and Toby Hill, both

commemoration of The Great War.

relatively inexperienced performers, played their parts with skill and intelligence. It was a fitting end to a first-half that

The programme began with a famous scene from the

commemorated a tragic conflict.

television series ‘Blackadder Goes Forth’, with Henry Marden playing the eponymous hero with some style, and Tom

The Music Department contributed a variety of numbers to

Edwards reigning in his intellect as the enthusiastic but inane

the Great War Evening. The flautist Abigail Sheppard played

George. Messrs Herklots and Cross were also involved

Faure’s ‘Morceau de Concours’ with a string quartet and

as Baldrick and Flashheart respectively, and all four were

solo vocal performances were given by Miriam Chapman-

terrific in a raucous opening scene. A more moving scene

Rosenfeld and Emma Blackman and an acapella vocal octet,

followed as two soldiers prepare for a near-suicidal mission

led by Miss Anderson, sang Holst’s haunting ‘Ave Maria’. Dr

in ‘Journey’s End’, with James Ellis and Joe Trayhurn pitching

Berryman played Frank Bridge’s ‘At Dawn’, a piano piece

their parts very well, and a cameo appearance from Mr Walter

written for the left-hand only – the dedicatee lost his right arm

as the General (at very short notice, for which I am grateful).

in battle – and the evening came to a close with Rosa Sparks’

Another comic scene, then, this time from Monty Python’s

rousing rendition of ‘Keep The Home Fires Burning’, a popular

‘The Short Straw’, Harry Richardson the ridiculous officer

tune from the time. From the second verse she was joined by

trying desperately to avoid making the ultimate sacrifice.

members of the cast, and (after a little encouragement!) the whole audience too.

Plays involving women in the Great War are, understandably, thin on the ground, but ‘The Accrington Pals’ offers a view of life back in Lancashire as the Pals prepare to go into battle at the Somme (of some 720 Accrington Pals who took part in the attack, 584 were killed, wounded or missing). There were some very strong performances here from all the actresses involved: Ella Moody, Ameena Hamid, Gabby Walker, Emily Thompson and Kirsty Magee, with Second Year Ethan Celinski bravely playing a boy amid a stage full of Upper Sixth girls. Kirsty and Ella need a special mention here for their comic timing and passionate display of feeling respectively. Another Monty Python followed, with Oscar Herbert-Williams and Harry Uglow showing excellent comic talent and range (they both also excelled in the later ‘Birdsong’ scene) as an officer is offered a card, presents and cake in the middle of No-Man’s Land. The last two scenes were far more serious. Max Kinder and Seonaid Carson played Rudyard and Carrie Kipling, learning that their son Jack has gone missing two months after arriving on the front, with both showing maturity and sensitivity. In the last scene of the first half, nine of the actors took parts in the moving and shocking ‘Birdsong’, which

Dr Schofield and Dr Berryman

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 25

Music at KES I

t has been another exciting year in the Music Department and one in which we welcomed Miss Anderson, Deputy Director of Music, and Dr Berryman to the team. In October, a number of Fifth and Sixth Form musicians performed a range of solos and duets with great panache in one of Southampton’s Medieval Vaults as part of the ‘Music in the City’ event. This was followed by an outstanding joint concert with the young professionals of the Southbank Sinfonia. Members of the Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir worked in partnership with the Sinfonia in a day of inspiring side-by-side workshops and culminating in a concert at Turner Sims. The combined orchestras performed Mozart’s ‘Paris Overture’ and the final movement of Dvorak’s ‘New World Symphony’, and the Chamber Choir sang excerpts from Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ with the guest orchestra. An excellent pre-concert performance was played by musicians from Stroud, Twyford, Sherborne House, West Hill Park and Princes Mead Prep Schools following a morning of composition workshops with KES students. The concert played to a full house and was a wonderful evening of top quality music making. Holly Smart, Richard Brown, Charlotte Lisle and Anna Cooke performed a special lunchtime concert for the residents of the Hampton Lodge Care Home in October. The students sang and played a wonderful programme of songs, which had the audience smiling and humming along. They were invited back in December to sing Christmas carols. In November twenty Upper School musicians attended an excellent 40th anniversary concert at the Turner Sims. The programme included the Britten Sinfonia, Elias Quartet and pianist Paul Lewis. In December, the Chamber Orchestra and 180 singers in the combined choirs led the singing at the annual Carol Service. Music included a wide range of carols from the traditional ‘Away in a Manger’ and ‘Silent Night’ to ‘Bogoróditse Djévo’ by Arvo Pärt and Philip Stopford’s ‘Lully Lulla’. It was also good to see a number of former pupils returning from busy terms at university to sing in the choir. At the beginning of 2015, the Chamber Choir performed in a joint concert with the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra. Around forty KES students took part in the excellent performance performing with musicality, sensitivity and confidence. The choir performed a wide variety of different pieces, with particular highlights including Grieg’s ‘Ave Maris Stella’, Stopford’s’ Lully,

Lulla, Lullay’ and Tavener’s ‘Hymn to the Mother of God’. Also in January, the AS and A Level Music students performed a lunchtime concert in the Southampton Art Gallery to rapturous applause. Their programme showcased an impressively broad spread of styles and techniques. The works on offer ranged from piano solos by Liszt and Debussy to songs by Michael Head, Mozart, Rogers and Hammerstein, and Vaughan-Williams. Seating space was limited, but members of the public were more than willing to stand as the recital unfolded. It was a beautiful space with a vintage Steinway grand piano and remarkable acoustics. The event was very well received by all those who attended, and the museum’s staff expressed a hope that we would return in the near future. The Chamber Choir distinguished itself with a fine performance at the Education Sunday Service at Winchester Cathedral in February, receiving many positive comments from members of the congregation and on 11th February, a large number of musicians from the Lower School performed a polished and engaging concert in the Dobson to a packed house. The Sinfonia, Symphonic Winds, Guitar Ensemble, Folk Band, First Year Choir, Jazz ensemble, Flute Choir and several soloists confirmed that the next generation of outstanding KES musicians is very much alive. Over February half-term a group of Sixth Form Music students visited Vienna for four inspirational, action-packed days walking among some of the most monumental landmarks of European cultural and intellectual history. Surrounded by stunning architecture, we traced the footsteps of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven in St Stephen’s Cathedral, Schumann and Brahms at the Musikverein Concert Hall, Mahler and Strauss at the state opera, where we also saw a fantastic performance of ‘The Barber of Seville’ on the first evening. Other highlights included a visit to the Porgy and Bess Jazz Club, an early morning walk along the banks of the Danube to see the sun rise, and iceskating in front of the impressive town hall on the final evening. In March the second of this term’s spring concerts was held in Turner Sims featuring the School’s advanced musicians. The Symphony Orchestra, Chamber

26 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

There have also been a number of individual successes this year. Emma Blackman won a place in the National Youth Choir of Great Britain and Angus Armstrong progressed through to the national finals of the BBC 2 Chorister of the Year competition. Aelfred Hillman won a place in the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.

Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Big Band and a number of soloists and chamber music performers wowed the audience with a sparkling array of top quality music including works by Liszt, Holst, Schubert, Weber, Beethoven and popular numbers by Ed Sheeran and Scotty Morris; to name a few. The evening was rounded off with a high energy performance of Marquee’s ‘Danzon’ and ‘Fly me to the Moon’ featuring tap dancer Charlie Callaghan. Also in March, the Great War Revue was an opportunity for the School’s actors and musicians to come together to commemorate World War One and senior musicians contributed to the evening with a selection of songs and musical items from the era. Listen while you lunch continues to be a popular monthly event and there have been a number of outstanding performances this year.

The three day summer Arts Festival saw many musicians in action in a wide range of concerts and events and the year ended with musicians performing in Winchester Cathedral as part of the Flower Festival, taking part in a conducting workshop with Tom Seligman and performing in the annual Music competition, which was judged by George Castle, Assistant Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral. Music Competition winners 2015 Grade 1-3 Grade 4-6 Grade 7+

Amir Rajput Eleanor Dunlop Joe Arthur

Mrs Freemantle (Director of Music)

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 27

Chamber Orchestra I

t has been a very rewarding year for the players in the advanced Chamber Orchestra. In October they performed alongside the young professionals of the Southbank Sinfonia in a concert at Turner Sims playing the final movement of ‘Dvorak’s 9th Symphony’ and Mozart’s ‘Paris Overture’ with outstanding precision and musicianship. This concert marked the end of a full day’s workshop with the visiting players and also the beginning of an exciting regular partnership with this London-based orchestra. At the end of the autumn term the Orchestra accompanied the carols for the traditional Carol Service at St Mary’s Church and it was lovely to hear the brass and percussion sections in such fine form. This was followed by excellent performances of ‘Schubert’s 5th Symphony’ and ‘Danzon’ by Marquee at the Spring Concert at Turner Sims. In the final item of the evening, the players joined forces with the Big Band for a particularly memorable and spirited performance of ‘Fly Me to the Moon’. Sadly, this year we say goodbye to a number of players who have contributed so much to the orchestra during their time at KES : Zoe Carter Tai (Leader), Jin Ho Yim, Sophie Arthur, Shona Carson, Seungyeon Oh, Bi Jia Wu, Joanna Seaby, Erica Tsanf, Issie Elliot, Jonny Brown, Nick White, Harry Uglow, Sam Routledge and Curtis Crowley. Following on the tradition of other former pupils, I hope we will see them again as guest players at some point in the future. I would like to thank all the players in the Orchestra for their enthusiasm, for attending weekly rehearsals and rising to the challenges of the music. We all look forward to next year’s programme with the Southbank Sinfonia and Spring Concert, both of which will be held at the Turner Sims Concert Hall in Southampton.

Mrs Freemantle, Director of Chamber Orchestra

Symphony Orchestra T

his has been another successful year for the Symphony Orchestra, culminating in performances of Dvorak’s ‘Slavonic Dance No.2’ and ‘Harry Potter Suite’ to open the Turner Sims Concert. We have approached some challenging repertoire with great success. Both works were very exciting to perform and were enjoyed by performers and audience alike. The ‘Slavonic Dance’ posed particular challenges due to the hemiola-esque rhythms and its fast tempo but the final performance was a resounding success. It has been a pleasure working with the Orchestra this year.

Miss Anderson, Director of Symphony Orchestra

28 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Senior Choir T

he Senior Choir continues to be a popular activity in the run up to the Carol Service with a large mixed choir enjoying the challenge of singing in four part harmony with the Parent and Staff Choir at the service. This year’s programme contained many highlights such as Arvo Part’s ‘Bogoroditse Djevo’ which was great fun to sing and conduct with its ever-changing time signatures. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parents and friends of KES who join the Choir for the Christmas Carol Service bringing an exciting extra dimension to the proceedings. Spring 2016 will see the Choir singing at the Thanksgiving Service at Winchester Cathedral so there will be lots of exciting repertoire to look forward to.

Mrs Freemantle, Director of Senior Choir

Chamber Choir T

his has been an excellent year for the Chamber Choir, with a number of high-profile events and the standard within the Choir increasing rapidly. We began in October with a rousing performance alongside the Southbank Sinfonia and members of the KES Adult Choir of three movements from Mozart’s ‘Requiem’. This was then followed by performances of Bob Chilcott’s ‘Nova Nova’ and Philip Stopford’s ‘Lully, Lulla, Lullay’ at the Carol Service, the latter opening the event in candlelight. In the second joint venture of the year, the Chamber Choir was invited to perform alongside the Hampshire Youth Orchestra in January for a concert in Winchester Cathedral. Highlights of this impressive event included the performance of Tavener’s ‘Hymn to the Mother of God’, a challenging double-choir work, and Grieg’s ‘Ave Maris Stella’, as well as more recent compositions by Alec Roth. The Choir also participated in well-received musical items at the School’s Education Sunday service at Winchester Cathedral as well as in the Colin Dobson Memorial Service. Alongside their forays into traditional choral repertoire, the Chamber Choir have also enjoyed learning some more jazzy numbers. This has included the performance of ‘Is You Is’ at the Turner Sims Concert, as well as a workshop with Apollo 5 during the Arts Festival, working on pieces such as ‘Where Do I Begin?’ and ‘Miss Otis Regrets’. This year we say goodbye to Jonathan Brown, Zoe CarterTai, Miriam Chapman-Rosenfeld, Anna Cooke, Tabitha Piggott, Joanna Seaby and Bi Jia Wu who have contributed significantly to the Choir while at KES. We hope to see them returning as guest performers in the future.

Miss Anderson, Director of Chamber Choir

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 29

Flute Choir T

he Flute Choir welcomed several new members in September 2014. As an ensemble they have been learning to listen to each other, matching and blending their articulations and sounds to create memorable and polished performances. They are developing their sight-reading and aural skills regularly in rehearsals alongside developing their teamwork as they work together to create musical ideas. The flautists worked hard to prepare two challenging pieces for the Lower School Music Concert in March. They presented a memorable performance of two lively pieces including the piccolo and concert flutes to a capacity audience in the Dobson Theatre. Recently we have also introduced the alto flute into the ensemble to develop the range of sounds and skills. Regular contributors this year have been Amy Boyle, Alice Dean, Mia Erwig, Madeleine Duffin, Millie Hargreaves, Jessica Lu, Joshua Lam, Phoebe Moriarty-Palios, Gemma Pearson, Molly Troup and Rebecca Williams. We look forward to developing the ensemble and welcome aspiring flute players keen to develop their flute playing and team work skills in September.

Miss Stocker, Director of Flute Choir

Symphonic Winds S

ymphonic Winds has continued to grow and mature as an ensemble across the year. At the Spring Concert, their repertoire included an energetic rendition of Nina Simone’s ‘Feelin’ Good’, as well as a sympathetic performance of Louis Armstrong’s ‘Wonderful World’. The latter featured a virtuoso solo appearance from one of our senior saxophonists, Jordan Abbott. With its combination of emerging young talents and senior musicians, the future of Symphonic Winds looks promising.

Dr Berryman, Director of Symphonic Winds

Rock Academy R

ecording studio sessions, rehearsals, photoshoots, Battle of the Bands, the Arts Festival, performance techniques and band banter have been the highlights of another fantastic year of Rock Academy. Seeing individuals, as well as whole groups, flourish and thrive as they develop their skills has been incredible this year, in particular. Certain individuals have transformed dramatically from shy and nervous to fully blown performers with confidence and ‘star-like’ qualities. Not just rock stars of the future but amazing performers right here, right now!

Mr Kotch, Director of Rock Academy

30 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

First Year Choir T

his has been a busy and exciting year for First Year Choir. In the first term we worked on a wide range of repertoire, such as ‘Happy’ by Pharell Williams and ‘Next to Me’ by Emilie Sande and finished off the term with a beautiful and mature performance of Rutter’s ‘Colours of Christmas’ at the School’s Carol Service. The spring term brought about the Lower School Concert in the Dobson Theatre in which they sang ‘When I Grow Up’ from Matilda the Musical and ‘Next to Me’; both of which featured some fantastic solos from many of our members. Our final term saw the Choir perform ‘Pure Imagination’ from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and ‘Everything Has Changed’ by Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran at the Arts Festival. This was a wonderful final showcase of the Choir’s talented musicians.

Miss Burns, Director of First Year Choir

Big Band I

t has been a pleasure working with the advanced players of the Big Band this year. The talent and dedication from all the players has impressed me. The pieces that we played this year all came from the libraries of professional bands and were handled skilfully by the players and performed to a high level. I was delighted with the final performance at the Turner Sims Spring Concert and feel proud of the band’s success this year. I look forward to many more great years!

Mr Carrasco, Director of Big band

Guitar Ensemble T

he KES Guitar Ensemble is for those who play nylon string/classical guitar. You just need to bring yourself and be able to read music. We welcome guest musicians from other families - this year from a percussionist when we performed Latin and African styled pieces, Merengue and Kalimba, in the Dobson Theatre Concert. Using wide ranging and diverse repertoire, this is a great opportunity to develop your reading and rhythm, giving you some much needed group experience on what is otherwise one of the very few properly solo instruments.

Mr Cleaver, Director of Guitar Ensemble

Sinfonia T

he newly-formed Lower School Orchestra, Sinfonia, have had a very successful year during which they have tackled some challenging repertoire and come to work effectively together as an ensemble. Their debut performance, of Bizet’s ‘Farandole’, was in the Spring Concert, and an appearance in the Afternoon Prom as part of the Arts Festival, playing arrangements of two American jazz standards, ended the year on a high note. The whole group has shown admirable dedication and commitment throughout the year. The progress the ensemble has made has been extremely noticeable, and it is wonderful to see the enthusiasm and confidence with which the orchestra now approaches increasingly difficult music. Next year promises to be a very exciting one for this hard-working and exuberant ensemble.

Mr Belassie, Director of Sinfonia

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 31

Clubs and Societies

Amnesty Group T

he Amnesty Group met on a regular basis throughout the autumn term, discussing current issues in civil rights, writing letters to government and organising the annual greetings card campaign. In the spring term the group rebranded itself as the Amnesty and Civil Rights Group and attracted new members from the Sixth Form and Upper School, some of whom gave excellent presentations to the group on such well publicised cases as that of Saudi, Raif Badawi, sentenced to imprisonment and public flogging for blogging about free speech, and that of the Russian feminist punk protest group Pussy Riot. Thanks to all those that attended meetings, with a particular mention due to Alex Diaper, Anna Cooke, Rebecca Collins, Anash Croker and Hugo Walters.

Dr Gamblin

Archaeology Club T

he introduction of Archaeology Club this year has been an interesting and active addition to the choices of societies on offer at KES. A 6x2 foot site has begun excavation on the outskirts of the Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boundaries, and has yielded exciting artefacts such as shards of china-like pottery and chunks of brick. This has led to the Fifth Year regulars asking themselves how these articles came to rest where they did; a crucial question in archaeology. Needless to say, the Fifth Years are still hoping to unearth their fair share of Saxon gold. Miss Jones has led a club trip into the Southampton Old Cemetery so that the students can understand how much tombstones can reveal about a deceased person and how these have evolved over time. Furthermore, the club has been privy to talks from Dr Waymark and from Dr Paul Everill, Senior Lecturer of Archaeology at the University of Winchester. The students have also begun planning to bury a time-capsule, researching mummification methods and arrowhead construction from a wide variety of materials such as iron, stone and even obsidian! Miss Jones and I would like to send our warmest thanks to the students who regularly attend Archaeology Club for their continued enthusiasm and their seemingly endless energy to unearth and discover the mysteries of the world that lie hidden under our very feet.

Mr Reece

32 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Astronomy Society T

he Astronomy Society began this September with a fresh intake of astronomers beginning their GCSE studies on Monday afternoons. It has proven very popular so far with seventeen students from Fourth Year through to the Lower Sixth in the after-school class. We were, of course, disappointed with the cloudy weather on the day of the eclipse in March, although it did make the fact that the shipment of eclipse glasses got stuck in customs, a little easier to bear. We look forward next year to more visits to Toothill, our local observatory, and keep our fingers crossed for the 9th of May. On this day there will be a rare transit of Mercury which will be visible during school hours. At least for that event we won’t be caught out by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

Mr Simm

Badminton Club T

his year has seen some changes from previous years, in that attendance at Badminton Club has fallen overall and the age profile of those attending has become a lot younger. The reduction in attendance has not been a bad thing because it has meant that players have not had to spend time off court. Regular players at the Club have largely come from the Lower School and attendees have included Matthew Duke, Shyam Samraj, Jai Tank, Jack Dyer-Slade, Ben Moisan, Behrang Mansourian, Saniya Belgi, Yuqing Chen, and Xyla Taufaniska. From the Upper School, Jamie He has been a stalwart usually playing with some of our ‘lifers’ in the Sixth Form, such as Mike Huang, Rahell Ahmed, Marco Ma, Shrinivas Anikhindi and Curtis Crowley. A newcomer from the Sixth Form ranks has been Alex Murphy. My apologies to anybody that I have missed. My usual thanks go to all club members for their participation and support over the year, and to Dr Gamblin for his help in running the club.

Mr Walter

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 33

KES Bees T

he bees have continued to have a high profile over this year with good numbers of students involved, a small harvest of honey and some swarms.

The close of the 2014 season brought both sadness at the loss of our newly introduced Buckfast Queen and the excitement of a honey extraction. However, the yield was just a few small jars of honey. Members of KES Bees had a share, some were given as gifts to supporters and a few were given to School Charities. The bees had built up a strong colony, relatively free from Varoa and well supplied for the winter as the bee feeding phase drew to a close. During the winter while the bees were less active KES Bees held the third annual honey tasting event, led by Dave Norris. About a dozen honey varieties were on offer and a number of students and staff were able to find their preferred variety. The bees survived winter and emerged strongly in the spring. Regular inspections of the hive started after Easter. During late May the bees swarmed, right in front of the main entrance. The colony was left without a queen and, despite having already stored up much more honey than last year, faced the prospect of extinction. However, the previous queen had left a princess who successfully mated and started laying as the new queen. As I write we are in a position where we have one strong colony with a new queen and plenty of honey already stored. Given a productive July and August we should see a record honey crop. If you think you may be interested in learning about being a beekeeper, or just think you might like to put your head into a hive of bees just once, then get yourself involved.

Mr Robinson

34 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Byron Society The Diary of John Cam Hobhouse “My friend H is the most entertaining of companions, and a fine fellow to boot.” Lord Byron.

his morning at a little after eight o’clock I was awakened by

Christmas did not bring snow to us this year but it did occasion the

a loud tapping at my door and, on getting up, had a packet

Byron Society Winter Ball. A most festive evening it was. Regency

of letters put into my hand with the words “By Express” above,

games, a feast fit for the Prince of Wales (the future George I ),

and also a short note from Kinnaird. I anticipated some dreadful

country dancing, letter writing in the style of the period and the

news. In 1824 I had had a similar note announcing that Lord Byron

grand finale of carols around the piano to re-enact the famous

had passed away. My heart thudded in my chest. I ripped open

Newstead Abbey Christmas of 1813. This delightful enterprise

the envelope with trembling hands. Imagine my joy when I found

was presided over with wonderful grace and aplomb - I remember

inside a document of much happier import - the proof copy of my

now that there was a diverting quiz on the multifaceted aspects

Byron Society report for Sotoniensis back from the printers which

of the poet’s life - and was rounded off by an outburst from Lady

Byron’s banker Kinnaird had seen fit to send to Murray’s Publishing

Caroline Lamb. How we miss her antics. Out of the blue, following

House on my behalf. My eyes fell upon the finely printed page,

a charming rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”, she

and I set to reading and annotating the latest account of our most

placed a particularly moist and chocolatey cake on the end of Lord

recent adventures: featuring Lord Byron, John Cam Hobhouse,

Byron’s nose. Nevertheless, in a long career of upsetting women

Lady Anne Hardy, Jane Austen, Count Pietro Gamba and Lady

the poet recovered his poise admirably and carriages arrived to

Caroline Lamb herself. Plus a host of others. Happy memories!

whisk the spirited assemblage off to various quarters of the county.

As time and space press, let me recount our three main events. On a Saturday in October we left Southampton and by eleven

So, a song in our hearts and a cake had brought our first two

o’clock in the morning we were heading along the drive between

recounted activities to a close. For the third it was wonder. Alison

the rhododendrons which led from the main road to Newstead, the

Carter-Tai delivered this year’s Byron Lecture in the comfortable

ancestral seat of Lord Byron. Soon we had our first view of the

surrounds of the Hospitality Suite. Her topic was ‘Byron and

abbey. The scene before us made a considerable impression. A

the Bon Ton’. In an admirably erudite and accessible talk,

lake with swans and other wildfowl lay before the poet’s residence

superbly illustrated in picture and artefact, Alison led us through

aptly wreathed in autumnal mist. We parked and sauntered

the fascinating world of Regency fashion. Byron created a

‘Byronically’ over the grass to be welcomed by the custodian of the

romantic fashion of casual elegance with open necked shirts and

place. Costumes were provided and much swishing accompanied

silk lounging garments. He almost out-brummelled Brummell!

our tour of the house. Most memorable were the poet’s bedroom

According to Wikipedia, Brummell was “an English-French

with refurbished bed hangings and writing desk and the library,

cricketer and fashion designer, the arbiter of men’s fashion, and a

now the resting place of much Byron memorabilia including

friend of the Prince Regent. He established the mode of dress for

the Greek helmet which he wore as the leader of the London

men that rejected overly ornate fashions for one of understated,

Independence Committee during those fateful days in 1823 and

but perfectly fitted and tailored bespoke garments. This look

1824 in the Peloponnese. For us, no visit to Newstead is complete

was based on dark coats, full-length trousers rather than knee

without the reading of a few lines of Byron’s poetry around the

breeches and stockings, and above all immaculate shirt linen and

oak grown from an acorn reputedly planted by the great man. A

an elaborately knotted cravat.” Brummell was an Eton man, Byron

stanza or two from Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage were rendered lustily

from Harrow. Both were “rock stars” of their day. See the statue

into the air. Time briefly for a wander behind the waterfall in the

on Jermyn Street to get an idea of how to dress to impress. Mrs

gardens before taking the short journey to Hucknall Torkard and St

Carter-Tai gave us something special in her lecture - a sense of

Michael’s Church where not only the poet but his daughter Ada too

style.

lie buried. So, I near the end of my account. Of course, we gathered as usual At the church gate the verger Richard Jackson met us. He

on 22 January to toast the poet on his birthday and savoured the

generously showed us round, recounting tales of Byron and

lines from the Corsair specially chosen for the remembrance of the

pointing out to us his depiction in the stained glass window beyond

man and which give us the very image of the Byronic hero: “That

the altar. Quite a find! What should be the Archangel Michael,

man of loneliness and mystery, scarce seen to smile, and seldom

is shown uncannily in the image of the romantic poet. William

heard to sigh.” An icon encapsulated in a sentence! He was good,

Rowe who set the window was evidently a fan! With a prayer and

this poet! For the future: we dream of Albania, of the Villa Diodati

a farewell, we took our leave and turned our vehicle southwards

on Lake Geneva and of Cephalonia, all places associated with the

in the gathering dusk with a song in our hearts - Byron’s ‘Isles of

Byronic legend. And with that delightful dream, I finish.

Greece’, naturally.

J Cam Hobhouse, Baron Broughton de Gyfford, Byron’s Bulldog, Best Man, Loyal Friend.

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 35

Cactus Club T

he Cactus Club has had another exciting year which has included a sustained series of lively lectures and demonstrations during the Monday lunchtime meetings, our annual adventurous field trip to Kew Gardens and the deployment of prickly pear seeds - an initiative eagerly embraced by the membership. The enthusiasm, determination and leadership of James Mitchell ensured that the club continued to move forward in a purposeful and entertaining way. The fifth Annual Competition took place in March. This year we had more categories than ever before. The winners were as follows: Best in Show: Tom Mitchell (who retains the trophy) Prickly Pear: James Mitchell (our President) Succulent: Dr West (Physics Technician) Group: Henry Gwilliam (his debut at the top of the podium) Solo: Jenny Sayers (Junior Science Technician) Our visit to Kew Gardens, the world famous UNESCO site in south London, in early April was notable for our discovery of the newly installed Log Trail, an adventure trail allowing walking on logs of trees from all over the world. The fact that the trail was quite extensive and disappeared under the canopies of many other trees before returning to the start made the journey something of a quest. However, our main focus for the day was the Princess Diana Conservatory and the wonderful cactus collection on display there. Kew Palace was not only shelter from the storm but also full of interesting historical documents relating to the development of the site and the gardens around it. The gardens themselves were in great shape, with bluebells and even green parrots in evidence. A number of cacti souvenirs were purchased from the shop before our departure for home. Following on from the issue of handbooks and small cacti previously, this year each club member was given a number of prickly pear seeds to nurture. We met with mixed success as we discovered that the right balance of location, watering and composting is difficult to achieve. James Mitchell, Sebastian Sheath and Dr Gamblin proved to be our most talented horticulturalists in this area with James, eventually emerging as the overall prickly pear champion. The Club was showcased during the November Open Evening with information boards, competitions and, for the first time, an inflatable cactus. The latter drew the expected attention to our stand and we had a record number of visitors tackling questions on a wide range of cacti and succulents. There have been a selection of talks and demonstrations given this year for the education and entertainment of our keen cactus hunters. James Mitchell led a three part series of information talks on Desert Cacti, Mediterranean Cacti and Rainforest Cacti and also provided us with a cactus juice tasting session – made all the more amazing when we learnt that the juice is now available from a major supermarket in Portswood although admittedly the juice is mixed with apple and mango. Sebastian Sheath demonstrated the many uses of aloe vera, Lucy Giles showed us slides of pictures by the great Victorian adventurer and cactus artist Marianne North, whose gallery at Kew holds 883 of her pictures. We look confidently towards the next school year with our handbooks and compost at the ready. We thank Mr Giles for his continued support and Dr Gamblin for so willingly taking on the ‘Grow a Cactus from Seed Challenge’ - pipped at the post by late growth spurts from cacti in the care of two junior club members.

The Cactus Club Team

36 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Canoe and Kayaking Club F

ollowing last summer’s successful trip to Sweden to explore the St Anne archipelago, the KES Canoe and Kayaking Club has shifted focus during this academic year from adventure to racing. After completing the 125 mile non-stop Devizes to Westminster international kayak race (the DW) in 20 hours and 16 minutes, Mr Blow felt that others should have the opportunity to ‘enjoy’ flat water racing so the club has set about creating links with a local racing club; Southampton CC. At the point of writing this report the club is eagerly anticipating the first coaching session making use of the more streamline (and less stable) K1 (single) boats and K2 (double) boats. There may even be an opportunity for four paddlers to try out the club’s K4. In preparation, there have been a number of training sessions throughout the year at Lakeside, Woodmill and the River Itchen. Alongside the club’s activities, Sixth Form games paddling has been going from strength to strength with several students achieving British Canoe Union awards. The Sixth Form sessions are a great opportunity for those new to kayaking to get involved as Eben Neales testifies; “Before starting this course I had no previous experience in boats - in fact I was terrible with anything related to water. However my friend enjoyed it so much he persuaded me to join. During this year, our group learned some essential skills and many of us achieved our prestigious one and two star paddling awards. We have used a combination of open canoes and kayaks and, in the summer, we paddle out on the lake at Lakeside Country Park. We have also taken trips to the tidal river at Woodmill Activity Centre which provided a more exciting experience. The winter swimming pool sessions were scary at first but once you face your fear, you can learn cool skills like rolling the boat; the pro version being the C to C roll. I would recommend kayaking to any Sixth Former, and I know I will be taking it next year!”

Eben Neale

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 37

Charities Commission T

his has proved to be another busy and exciting year for the Charities Commission with both students and staff enthusiastically supporting and organising a whole host of events, competitions and shows throughout the year. Old favourites such as the Krispy Kreme doughnut sales, advent calendars and Valentine roses have proved as popular as ever and new introductions such as quiz shows and sports events have further enhanced the opportunities on offer to raise money and have fun. The year started with a group of Fourth Year students organising our own KES version of a Macmillan coffee morning by selling hot chocolate and cakes out on the School Field. At the start of October the annual Toy Appeal was launched by Sixth Form students who did a fantastic job organising an assembly for the First Year which explained what the appeal was all about and what the students needed to do in order to take part. The Fun Run was a huge success and the students made a real effort with their costumes. Through sponsorship the First Year were able to achieve their target of buying 100 presents which would be given to local children who would otherwise not get a gift at Christmas. At the same time students across the School were donating gifts and toiletries for the annual Romania Shoebox Appeal. In total 114 shoeboxes were packed, wrapped and handed over to the charity ‘Link to Hope’. The run up to Christmas was extremely busy with the students baking, buying, designing and making things in preparation for the various competitions, prizes and craft stalls that formed our Christmas Stalls fundraiser. For the first time, all the fundraising groups within the School worked together to provide nonstop entertainment and fun over every lunchtime for a whole week. Different activities took place every day, for example there was a Santa’s grotto, a ‘Pin the Red Nose on the Reindeer’ game, a lucky dip and various KES-produced Christmas cards, calendars and a CD on sale. One highlight of the week was the KES themed ‘Have I Got News for You’ quiz show which was organised by Hamish Traill in the Lower Sixth. A big thank you has got to go to the very brave Mr Diver, Mr Walter, Mr Powell, Tom Stanley and Gina Steel who all volunteered to take part and did a brilliant job. In the New Year the Lower and Upper School Charities Commissions organised a vast range of activities which included: a pancake race, a football tournament and a very popular Lower School Easter egg hunt around the

site. Comic Relief Day was supported by the School in a number of different ways. To keep with the theme, Samara Jones and Phoebe Hine of the Lower Sixth put together an extremely successful version of the quiz show ‘Pointless’ in the Dobson Theatre with Dr Schofield acting as host. The contestants were made up of staff and Sixth Formers and they all did a fantastic job entertaining the 100 strong audience. At the same time, members of the Second, Third and Fourth Years were selling Red Nose merchandise and running a ‘Guess the Name of the Baby’ competition in the Crush Hall. During the summer term the Arts Festival provided another excellent opportunity to organise a number of stalls and the Charities Commission ran a coconut shy, a popcorn and candyfloss stand, as well as providing refreshments for attendees over the extended lunchtime. In addition to this, right at the end of term the School once again donned pink and ran round the field to raise money for Cancer Research. Yet again the enthusiasm and support of the whole school community was truly impressive. Over this academic year the School has also supported charities combating two international crises: the Ebola outbreak with a ‘Give a Helping Hand’ lunchtime stall and the Nepal Earthquake Disaster with a collection box. Some individual fundraising achievements include the efforts of Harvey and Hamilton Kavanagh with their ‘Shave to Raise’ campaign in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, and Yvie Lock who completed a sponsored run for the newly launched Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. The Charities Commission has worked extremely hard this year and has managed to raise funds to support eighteen good causes.

Zoe Carter-Tai

38 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 39

Chess Club I

t has been another successful year for the Chess Club, with numbers up on last year. This includes a small number of First Years, of whom some seem to be strong players and bode well for the future of the club.

The KES stage of the UK Schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Chess Challenge again dominated the spring term, and several players looked to be strongly in contention for the school championship. From the Upper Sixth, defending champion Marco Ma and twice former champion Curtis Crowley would obviously be among the favourites, but it was impossible to discount fast-improving Lower Sixth Formers such as Mike Huang and John Lyons; nor younger contenders such as Chris Lotery, Joshua Lam and Malachy Allen. Any of these players are quite capable of beating any of the others on their day, and several not named here are also capable of causing an upset. In the final outcome, Mike and Marco tied for 1st place, with John emerging from the pack in 3rd. Patrick Lotery had the great and somewhat unusual delight of finishing ahead of his twin brother. A playoff between Marco and Mike for the trophy produced a game of very good quality, but finished in favour of Mike Huang who is thus the new KES champion. Kudos too to Kelvin Xie who, although having a disappointing tournament by his own standards, was the only player to prevent Mike finishing with 100% winning record. And finally, my perennial gripe about players not fulfilling their fixtures was thankfully unnecessary this year. There were far fewer defaulted games than usual: no more than 10% of the scheduled games. From this event, seventeen Edwardians qualified for the next phase of the Challenge: the Hampshire Megafinal at Basingstoke in May. Those who took the opportunity to attend performed well, and the KES contingent produced no fewer than four Hampshire Champions who, with two others, qualifed for the Southern Gigafinal. Curtis Crowley Iona Todd Mike Huang Daniel Miller Chris Lotery Joshua Lam

Under 18 champion (Supremo) Under 17 girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; champion (Suprema) Under 16 champion (Supremo) Under 13 champion (Supremo) Under 14 runner-up Under 12 runner-up

The House Competition in the summer term was very keenly contested and was won by Lawrence. I wish I had kept a record of how many times the current school champion loses his individual game in the House contest as it seems to happen almost every year and 2015 was no exception. Once again, I am grateful to the Heads of House for helping to keep the administration of this chaotic tournament manageable, and especially to Mr Hardwick for his invaluable support to the club and its players throughout the year.

Mr Patten

40 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Christian Union T

he Christian Union began the year with popular talks making up a short series of ‘Big Questions’. These were from visiting speakers from local church leaders and covered three topics: the existence of God, the presence of suffering and the meaning of Christianity. This led on to a seven-week ‘Soul’ course exploring Christianity and what it really means to youth in today’s society. The spring term saw CU put on a six-part series of discussions examining the claims of Jesus in the gospel of John. These, sometimes strange and sometimes astonishing, were universally encouraging. With the occasional one-off sessions throughout the year on other issues as well, the Christian Union has attracted Fifth and Sixth Formers and looks forward to continuing to answer the big questions this year. This club is open to all Upper School and Sixth Form.

Mr Robinson

Classical Society C

lassical Society has run regularly on a Friday lunchtime for a group of enthusiastic classicists who like to continue immersing themselves in the wonderful world of Acient Greece and Rome. Hazel Webb and Jamie Miller have stalwartly presided, encouraging younger pupils, in particular, to have fun and be creative. Amongst some of the more memorable sessions was a gladiator debate by Hamish Traill and Ed Grinstead. There was also a re-enactment of the mysterious case of Decens who was killed by a ghostly gladiator. We also heard a variety of talks. First Year pupils Maddie Harris and Amrita Rahman spoke on Greek Gods and their fellow classmates, Elizabeth Field and Lena Mills, gave a fascinating presentation of ten dangerous monsters, with scary slides to accompany them. Hazel and Jamie gave us ‘The Truth about the Iliad and The Fall of the Roman Empire’ – an impressive and expansive topic! Another favourite has been the making of imovies. As well as the gladiator debate and story of Decens, the group also filmed an unforgettable version of Perseus and Medusa, with Mr Reece playing the part of the king. On top of all of this we have had Classical quizzes, mask making, play readings, board games and a fair amount of the Disney Hercules film, playing in the background. It is heart-warming to see so much enthusiasm among the younger students – there is already much planned for next year!

Mrs Meredith

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 41

Cookery Club C

ookery Club took place on Thursdays after school this year when First Years had the opportunity to learn how to cook delicious dishes such as spaghetti bolognaise, chicken curry and fruit crumbles. A very high standard of cooking skills was demonstrated and the KES bake-off was a very closely fought competition with Mrs Kelly, Mrs Sheppard and Mrs Searles judging the cakes. We were lucky enough to be able to have Mrs Barnes-Wardlaw join us this year and show us the creative skills of cake decorating. Second Year pupils entered the regional cooking competition ‘Fit2Cook’ and the in-school cook-off was an amazing event. The two course menus, created using local produce and within a budget of £25 per pair, highlighted the very high level of the cooking skills of our contestants. We will be entering again next year with every intention of progressing further in the competition and will be encouraging Second and Third Years to enter.

Mrs Searles

Debating and Public Speaking Society A

fter a particularly successful year of firsts last year, the Debating and Public Speaking Society continued to go from strength to strength, as did its smaller, but steadily growing, Lower School counterpart. At the start of the year, Curtis Crowley and Shrinivas Anikhindi were voted President and Vice President, respectively, in the Society’s hotly contested elections. It has been another successful year competitively too. Tally Evans, Nick Neves and Ananth Sathyanath progressed through the first round of the ESU Public Speaking Competition to the regional branch final of the competition in Salisbury in January. At the regional event, all of the KES participants improved on their previous performances and, although they did not win, Tally Evans was judged to be the ‘Best Speaker’ overall in both rounds. Strong performances were also put in during the first round by the other KES team, comprising Alex Shadbolt, Max Ivens and Alex Ayres. In the ESU Schools’ Mace Debating Competition, Ina Cho and Emma Blackman did extremely well and won their debate but narrowly missed out on going through to the next round. Cameron Brown and Emma Blackman, along with Alex Chamberlain-Clay and Henry Marden, represented KES in the Oxford Union Schools’ Debating Competition at Prior’s Field School in Godalming in January. They had an excellent evening of debating but, having been placed in one of the largest

and most competitive heats of this competition, did not qualify for the final round. On 31st January, Third and Fourth Year teams went to the annual International Competition for Young Debaters at the Oxford Union, a junior competition for students up to 15 years of age. It was the first external debating competition for Alex Shadbolt, Tom Duff, Alex Hopkins-Manceri and Harmeena Sekhon. All of them performed very well and Alex and Tom were particularly praised by the judges, coming 17th overall out of the 44 teams competing from across the South of England. At the end of the spring term, we again awarded Debating colours. Full colours were given to Curtis Crowley, Shrinivas Anikhindi, Georgia Everest, Henry Marden and Emma Blackman (re-awarded), while Tally Evans, Nick Neves, Ananth Sathyanath and Alex Shadbolt received half colours. All of the recipients have represented the School in one or more national competitions this year and most of them have also worked hard to support the Debating and Public Speaking Society in other ways, such as helping at events, chairing, and running Lower School debates. In the summer term, the Society was heavily involved in the KES Election, in the run-up to the General Election, which included leaders’ speeches in assembly, as well as two rather heated lunchtime hustings between various candidates representing five UK parties. Ultimately the Conservative team won the event, thus

42 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

predicting the subsequent national result with uncanny accuracy. At the end of June, we closed the year with our annual DAPSSOC Awards Ceremony, which included prizes for Best Debater (Alex ChamberlainClay) and Best Public Speaker (Tally Evans), as well as the President’s Award for Curtis and the newly-created ‘OJ Award’ for Shrini, to commemorate a fine line of argument he once used. As we near the end of this academic year, we bid a fond farewell to our Upper Sixth debaters, especially Curtis and Shrini, who have led the Society admirably this year. As I too leave, for Ryde School, I remain very proud of KES’ Debating and Public Speaking Society and the talented students who have emerged. I’m sure we will meet again at a competition or two next year!

Miss Stenning

President’s Report T

his year’s debates have been an exciting mix of prepared and unprepared, Mace and Parliamentary. They have ranged from the topical, with motions on Scottish independence, internet access being a human right and even whether footballers with a criminal record should be allowed to play the great game; to the more philosophical, with motions such as ‘Man does not truly desire freedom, only fair slave masters’, ‘Choice is always a good thing’ and ‘Money is the root of all evil’; to the literary, with the motions ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings is not worth the paper it’s written on’; to the controversial such as ‘Feminism should be rebranded’. Many of these were devised to stretch the talents of the ever-improving debaters in the Debating and Public Speaking Society, especially those taking on side proposition, but they have all risen to the challenges and the result has been a succession of very entertaining and impressive debates, often benefiting from some very astute points from the floor. I am proud to report that Public Speaking has enjoyed a much greater share of the limelight this year, with activities ranging from internal and external competitions, to the ‘Bank Heist’, which exposed a worrying number of criminal masterminds within the Society, and a ‘Balloon Debate’ featuring British rulers past and present, in which Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell were both thrown out to plummet to their

deaths! The Society also made a major contribution to the School’s mock general election, where their experience as very capable public speakers shone through, especially when dealing with and issuing those pesky rebuttals! Cameron Brown deserves a special mention as a potentially dangerous political leader in the making.

Several individual members have truly excelled this year, both in competitions and in the weekly meetings. Ali Diaper and Oliver Chapman have been the most eager and formidable speakers in the Upper Sixth, whilst the Lower Sixth has remained the bedrock of the Society, especially Toby Saer, Cameron Brown, Matthew Barber, Georgia Everest, Henry Marden and Emma Blackman, who have kept us all on our toes and Alex ChamberlainClay who won the coveted ‘Zheludev-Smith’ prize for ‘Best Speaker’, followed closely by Ina Cho. Lower down the school, Nick Neves, Ananth Sathyanath and Tally Evans have shown their impressive strengths at public speaking in particular and some very promising new members such as Akash Mattupalli will be ones to watch in the future, whilst many others have contributed by listening, voting, chairing and partaking in the regular ‘debating tennis’ fixtures. I wish to thank all those who have attended and helped make DAPSSOC the crème de la crème of KES societies and a much-needed beacon of free speech. Nor would any of this have been achieved without my learned Vice President Shrinivas Anikhindi, Mrs Gunton and, above all, Miss Stenning, who have all given up so much of their time and experience for the Society to grow and prosper. Long may it continue to do so! It has been a pleasure and a privilege.

Curtis Crowley

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 43

Digital Leaders T

he Digital Leaders group started at KES last Easter and now boasts about fifteen members from across the Upper and Lower School. The digital leaders help provide peer support to ensure IT is used effectively to help learning and in order to do this they attend workshops with Miss Jones. They have also run very successful peer group and staff training sessions on iMovie, Podcasting, Google Drive and Augmented reality. This excellent work was continued in the form of e-safety assemblies and the running of Safer Internet Day. This year we were lucky enough to be able to take some of the digital leaders to BETT Education Technology show, where they were interviewed live for BETT TV. Next year we hope to present to those attending the show. We have also worked closely with Stroud School to provide support for their Lego Mind Storm Day but the highlight of our year was hosting the National Digital Leadersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference which saw eighty digital leaders attend from twelve other schools. The event included workshops and information sessions such as AppSmashing, broadcasting on student radio, and using mind control technology. It was really fantastic to be able to showcase the good work our digital leaders are doing, as well as learn from each other. We have just undertaken some exciting projects to see us into next year. These include building a school app, designing and launching a national key stage 3 digital badging system to recognise the skills that digital leaders have, and working on our blog. This is with a view to contributing to the national Digital Leader chat #dlchat on twitter, as well as running some Google Hang Outs with other digital leaders to share good work taking place in other schools.

The digital leaders have had a massively positive impact on school life. I am very proud of the work they have done, and really excited about everything that they are currently working on.

Miss Jones

44 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Economics Society T

he Economics Society regularly meets on Friday lunchtimes to discuss and debate a wide range of topics, be those current affairs or slightly more unusual cases where economics can be applied. It is a great way to explore the subject beyond the confines of the A Level syllabus and to appreciate the scope that economics has. We were delighted to see great enthusiasm from the Fifth Form this year, as well as the new Lower Sixth, which suggests the Society will continue to prosper in future years.

demise of the England squad. Who would have thought there was so much more to the ‘beautiful game’?

Our 2014/15 year started with a topical and somewhat heated discussion, led by Cameron Brown, on ‘Scottish Independence’. He gave us a fair and balanced analysis of the potential costs and benefits to both the UK and Scotland, discussing and expanding upon the recent media coverage. With all this in our minds we were able to appreciate the prevailing tension around the referendum as we truly appreciated the economic impact of a key trading partner (and portion of our population) leaving the union.

We also heard talks on ‘Cost Benefit Analysis’, given by a guest speaker and local city councillor; ‘Economics at Cambridge’ from an Old Edwardian, and ‘Developing Economics and Free Trade’ by Emma Falconer. For the first time in many years we had a Fifth Year student volunteer to present and Ed Creeden gave the Society an analysis of the reasons for the volatile nature of the oil price.

Quite soon after, we were treated to a thorough and surprising talk on the ‘Economics of Football’, by Hashim Amjad and Ilyas Warshow. They discussed the decisions that football clubs make during the transfer season and suggested that certain strategic signings would not only win the club more matches, but also more support from the players’ home nations – and, of course, merchandise sales! The football labour market was also discussed, considering issues such as wages, training, the over-reliance on foreign talent and the

Our next talk, led by Oran Creedon, focused on prison gangs (this is one of the most interesting things about economics – it applies everywhere). It had never occurred to me, or any of the others listening, that the structure of American prison gangs was so complex and shared many of the characteristics of the oligopoly market structure that we learn about in the A2 course.

All in all it has been a very interesting year and we have all been given plenty of food for thought. I have enjoyed being part of the organising team and wish the incoming group much success with this interesting school society.

Riccardo Barnard Note from Mr Culver: As ever, this student run society depends on the organisation and hard work of those who lead it, this year Riccardo and Emma Falconer have done sterling work and my thanks go to them.

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 45

English Society M

embers of the English Society have taken part in a range of activities this year.

Professor John McGavin from the University of Southampton, who has a particular connection with KES, came to visit the English Society on 7th November to speak to Language and Literature A Level students on representations of ‘Le Morte D’Arthur’. In his presentation Professor McGavin explored how perceptions of the key characters and events depicted in the legend have changed over time and how this is reflected in both the literary texts relating to the story of King Arthur and the artwork which has also be inspired by this legend. Our very own theatre technician, Mr Mason, who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things literary and musical, gave an excellent talk on World War One poetry this year. Mr Mason’s talks always put the most erudite professor to shame and certainly entertained and informed a large audience of Sixth Form students and teachers. Several KES students took part in the 2015 BBC School Report project, which sees students from thousands of schools across the country and, increasingly,

internationally, researching, presenting and creating new reports on behalf of their schools. A dedicated group of KES English students set about producing a video news report on the introduction of iPads into the First and Third Years. They interviewed a number of staff and students, as well as writing, recording and editing their own contributions to the final piece. The finished report was published on the KES Website and linked to the BBC School Report page. In February, a group of fifteen English A Level students travelled to London to visit the Head Offices of the Guardian Newspaper. The trip proved to be both inspiring and informative for students as they were able to see journalism in action and get a taste for what it is like to work for a national newspaper. Students had to work to extremely tight deadlines to research, write and edit their articles using specially formulated software. Several students wrote about one of the pressing topics of the day such as the Labour Party’s pink ‘battle bus’, tackling thorny issues such as the representation of women in politics, while others focused on issues relating to celebrity culture and sport.

Mrs Gunton

46 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Feminist and Equality Society A

fter a lot of media coverage this year, and a controversial T-shirt campaign highlighting what a feminist ‘looks like’, The Feminist and Equality Society was created, thanks to Tabitha Piggott’s drive, organisation and desire to explore what the Feminist movement in today’s society really means to young people. So, a forum was provided in which Sixth Form and Upper School students could explore and discuss issues relating to gender. The aim was to start a serious discussion about men and women’s roles in society today and to look at a variety of concerns that affect both sexes as they mature and move towards adulthood. Each week a large group of boys and girls attended inspiring presentations and talks on a range of topics affecting both sexes, after which serious, and at times fierce, debating of culturally challenging ideas took place. Presentations were made on such topics as gender stereotypes, lad culture, positive discrimination, FGM, celebrity role models, rape, objectification of women by women and men, and even an inspired talk on Miley Cyrus’ tongue by Dr Berryman, as well as debates about what is a feminist issue and whether feminism should be rebranded.

The students presenting talks were highly commended for the quality and depth of their research which encouraged a high level of philosophical understanding of the issues surrounding gender among the audience. The following students in particular should be very proud of delivering insightful and well-researched presentations: Anash Croker, Gina Steel, Hugo Walters, Ali Diaper, Julie Adamson and Dani Clapcott. The debating of these issues also inspired Fourth Year girls who were unable to attend the talks to start their own society where they too select a weekly topic to discuss. They have enjoyed exploring the representation of women in the media, specifically Page 3, in sport, and in computer games. They have looked at the gender issues of self-esteem, religion and feminism. The girls are currently raising funds for an African charity that teaches women how to produce their own menstruation products, in countries where a lack of products means women and girls miss out on work and school every month.

Miss Lindebringhs

Fencing Club T

he Fencing Club has once again had a very successful year and we are delighted with the successes of our young fencers. This year has seen a growing number of fencers in the club and at times we have been bursting at the seams with students wishing to fence. Katya Sheath, one of our more experienced members, has recently passed her ‘Go Fence’ coaching qualification and has been an invaluable resource coaching the beginners, allowing the experienced club members more access to individual lessons. We have also continued with a successful link with our primary partnership school Springhill, who have participated in six taster sessions spread throughout the academic year. We have a number of fencers now competing. Students have taken part in local, county, national and international events. George Budden has now secured a place in the GBR Modern Pentathlon Team, representing Great Britain on more than one occasion this season, Katya Sheath has been selected to represent both county and region at national events and continues to go from strength

to strength, Sebastian Sheath competed on behalf of the School along with George and Katya at the Public Schools’ Championships this year and all three gained very creditable results. We would like to invite and welcome newcomers to the club and/or the sport of fencing and look forward to its continuing success in the new academic year.

Mrs Coker and Mr Kay-Kujawski

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 47

First Aid Club I

have run two First Aid Clubs during this academic year and we now have eighteen more newly qualified First Aiders with certificates from the Red Cross ‘Life Live It’ schools programme. Our programme includes the basics such as, the recovery position, CPR, keeping yourself safe in emergency situations, bleeding, burns and choking. We also cover a range of medical conditions that the pupils are encouraged to research and present back on. Further topics including bites and stings, hypo/hyperthermia, sunburn and sunstroke which are all particularly relevant to anyone wanting to do the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The School has a range of training equipment such as resuscitation, choking Charlie and baby mannequins so that we can teach a range of first aid skills. We have also recently purchased a training defibrillator so that we can equip the pupils with the skills to use these potentially life-saving machines. The group meets on Mondays after school and the pupils are encouraged to come to the medical room to enquire about enrolling on a course. The course lasts ten weeks and upon completion the pupils get a certificate (in conjunction with the Red Cross) and a qualification that lasts three years. They are also presented with a first aid kit and manual.

Mrs Duke

Geography Society I

t has been another busy year for GeogSoc covering a whole range of topics. Members have listened to and delivered talks on a wide range of geographical themes on a local, national and international scale. We had a session facetiming a farmer, attended university lectures on the shipping industry and listened to various

lectures from teachers and students. These covered a range of subjects from dolphins to the use of oil. We look forward to seeing what the new generation of geographers will bring next year!

Pip Rees

German Magazine Club W

e have had a very successful year at GMC, producing two large editions of the magazine. We had a number of First Year students join us, and they quickly set about producing articles on everything to do with German life, culture, history, language and traditions. Highlights included articles on the German Scout movement and German music, old and new. Especially noteworthy was the number of articles written in German, which ensured readers of all abilities could enjoy the magazine. GMC lets members research any aspect of German, Swiss or Austrian culture and produce articles which are published on the school website. It is a great way for students to widen their knowledge of the subject. We are grateful of Rieke’s assistance to do with all things German, and Mrs Allen’s continuing support for the club.

As I leave the club having been editor for the past four years, I hope that many new members continue to join and that the club continues to produce excellent magazines.

James Mitchell

48 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Greenpower T

The Greenpower team spent the year looking forward to the 2015 race at Goodwood. The season had gone well beforehand with a promising test session and successful driver training and practice sessions. The car performed well during the internal House events so confidence was high on the minibus on the way to the circuit. A large team of eleven students had to organise themselves to carry out all the essential jobs across the two races scheduled during the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s racing. The tasks included everything from managing the pit stop board to driving the car. The team experienced mixed success during the first 90 minute race, due to a small disagreement with a barrier that forced the team to retire with fifteen minutes still left on the clock. However, the students really pulled together to change the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nose cone under pressure preparing it for the second race.

The early performance was very promising and for most of the race the team was running in 2nd place in the kit car category, clocking up an impressive average speed of just over 23mph (including all pit stops). The afternoon race saw the team perform equally well and bring the car home in an excellent 3rd overall place. The work the team had carried out during testing really paid off with pits stops only losing an average of just under 1 minute per lap and the car squeezing every last volt out of the batteries during the race. Unfortunately KES might have just missed out on a place in the national finals but plenty of positives were taken away from the event.

Mr Blow

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 49

Green Team D

uring the autumn term, the School had an assessor visit to decide whether our Eco-Schools Green Flag could be renewed. Harry Elton-Dobbin and Jeremy Hill took the lead in showing how the School meets the ‘green’ criteria. We were pleased to hear the news that we were successful with our application, with a glowing report about the underlying sustainability ethos of the School.

flowers and plants that were excellent pollinators for birds and bees. We used our ‘green thumb’ to plant these amongst our Eco-Garden. We also assessed the biodiversity of the wildlife in the school grounds by using a mammal camera trap that was kindly loaned to us by The Mammal Society. We identified one or two foxes that visited the pond at night, but unfortunately a lot of the local cats ate the bait!

Our focus for Green Team this year has been conservation and biodiversity. These are areas that the members feel passionate about and that also fitted alongside our targets from the report.

When looking at conservation, the Green Team tried their hand at producing recycled paper from old newspapers. This was a messy task, but Sam Tan and Harry Field, in particular, ended up with some decent paper that could be written on.

Rosy Schofield and Bella Turner were instrumental in our wildflower project. This involved researching

Mrs Burnett

50 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Historical Society T

his year Historical Society has enjoyed a number of captivating talks with topics ranging from the reign of Genghis Khan to the British invasion of Afghanistan in 1843. We have enjoyed a variety of speakers, with particular emphasis on student participation which has been exemplary this year. A notable highlight was a visit from Commander Chris Clay who retold his experiences of being aboard HMS Exeter during the Falklands War – we are indeed privileged to have come so close to a real slice of History. The emotional pinnacle of the year, without a doubt, was the Christmas quiz which saw both Mr Coundley and Mr Filtness subjugated by a particularly talented team of Lower Sixth Students – winning by a narrow margin and proudly carrying the title forward to next year. I would like to thank Sodexo for providing the tea, coffee and cake this year which formed the cornerstone of our meetings. We welcome new members of the Fifth Year and Sixth Form in September for another year of Historical Society!

Anna Cooke

Hospital Visiting O

nce again this year a group of Sixth Form students have paid weekly visits to Southampton General Hospital. This is with the aim of supporting the staff and patients, as well as giving us insight to the variety of jobs and career pathways in the NHS, and improving our people skills by completing patient surveys. This is an exercise that not only aids us personally, but also provides the hospital with useful data about the patients residing in the wards. This is an important way to monitor and to improve their care and experience of being in hospital. Reverend Poppleton has been

taking us to and from the hospital every Thursday evening and we are very thankful for being provided with the opportunity to broaden our knowledge of how to deal with patients. Some cases have been difficult to handle, but, I hope, we were able to manage them professionally and sensitively. This valuable cocurricular activity continues next year, providing us with further experience to aid our future study and careers, and, perhaps, in becoming doctors or nurses.

Luke Green

Interface T

his group for First, Second and Third Years has been meeting every Friday to explore the Christian faith through games, activities, quizzes and discussions.

Knowledge, skill, memory and luck were all needed at times. Some students excelled at drawing, others at construction but all had a contribution to make. Joanna Jepson’s prison experiences, John Berridge’s gravestone inscription (he lived proudly on faith and works) and Yang Xiang’s tiger exploits all stimulated plenty of discussion. Big words (propitiation) and small words (Uno) featured, as well as some challenging themes (crucifixion and recent examples of Christian persecution). Students with a viewpoint to express or those who like pondering new ideas are very welcome to attend.

Mr Singleton

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 51

Japanese Club I

n recent years the media has focused on the growth of China, but we shouldn’t forget its neighbour Japan, with the third largest economy in the world. Japanese culture, both contemporary and in the past, has long had an international audience and influence. Japanese is also a fascinating language to study with a very different grammar, vocabulary and writing system and this year the beginners’ class proved popular with the Lower Sixth who took up the challenge of learning the basics of how to get by in Japanese. We also had a core group of more advanced students from last year who, in addition to looking at some key topics in further depth (talking about free time activities, making arrangements to go out, shopping and eating out) also learnt how to conjugate verbs and adjectives in the past tense.

Mr Lawson

Maths Challenge Club R

elatively few students attended during the year but those who came enjoyed solving difficult mathematical problems. This is ideal preparation for mathematical competitions and a good way to develop powers of logical thinking. Here are two starter questions: This year a grandmother, her daughter and her granddaughter noticed that the sum of their ages is 100 years. Each of their ages is a power of 2. How old is the granddaughter? Alex’s teacher asked him to write several different positive integers on the board. Exactly two of them are to be divisible by 2 and exactly 13 of them are to be divisible by 13. M is the greatest of these numbers. What is the least possible value of M? (The difference of your answers should be the sum of two squares)

Mr Singleton

52 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

MedSoc T

his year MedSoc hosted a variety of interesting and engaging talks on Tuesdays after school. Speakers ranged from consultants from Southampton General Hospital and professors from the University of Southampton to Old Edwardians who have been studying medicine and first year students who helpfully discussed the application and interview process.

the effects of cardiovascular disease and the varied treatments available and Dr Diana Hulbert, consultant of Emergency Medicine, engaged in a practical workshop involving suturing on dummies and intubation of patients. Other speakers ranged from pharmacology, epidemiology and a visit from Countess Mountbatten Hospice.

To say that the speakers were diverse is an understatement; they ranged from Professor Mike Grocott who studied the effects of altitude training, climbing Mount Everest himself, on the levels of oxygen in the blood, to Dr Joanna Fairhurst, Consultant Paediatric Radiologist, who gave a hard-hitting but fascinating talk on the issues involved with court cases concerning child injuries and analysing x-rays to aid a ruling. Additionally, the intriguing ‘wet-bowel’ workshop coordinated by Ms Greenwood certainly impressed with students engaging in a lower anterior bowel dissection of a pig. Professor Curzen discussed

MedSoc would like to thank Mrs Millar and all the speakers and students who came and engaged in the society and we hope that it has furthered our understanding and been an insightful exploration into the fascinating and diverse world of medicine. MedSoc will continue in the new school year for further talks to those at KES who would like to pursue or discover involvement in medical research or healthcare professions.

Sophie Majoe (MedSoc President)

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 53

Partnerships T

his has been another successful year for partnership projects across many areas of school life, with around 160 KES students involved this year. A wide variety of clubs have been on offer, including Philosophy, Literacy, Numeracy, Science, ICT, Art, Fencing and Music. Projects have been very well received by the link schools with some being maintained, as well as new ones created. A significant new link has been made with Wordsworth Primary School who have participated in an Art Club, aided by Fourth Year students, as well as a new Reading Group. Over 580 students from local primary and preparatory schools have been involved in projects this year. In October, thirty students from a number of different schools joined KES students in a day spent with the Southbank Sinfonia for a composition workshop in the morning, time spent sitting in amongst the orchestra, and then an evening performance at the Turner Sims Concert Hall. Fifteen students from Highfield School

have continued to enjoy Philosophy workshops where they considered the myths of the Ancient Greeks, and Springhill students have been involved in a wide range of activities including creating their own apps and learning the rudiments of fencing. Following on from its success last year, Fourth Year KES students have again been involved in a community project as part of Endeavour. They were responsible for planning and delivering workshops to around 300 pupils in Year 4 and 5. A range of subjects were on offer, including Art, Drama, Mathematics, Science, Public Speaking, Classics and Sport. This was an excellent opportunity for KES students to develop a range of important skills, including leadership and teamwork, and a celebration of the partnerships work being undertaken in school on a weekly basis.

Miss Anderson

54 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Photography Club During this year the group has taken part in a variety of activities that have sought to improve and widen a range of photographic techniques and be of interest. This has included trying out new technical skills such as producing hi-key images, macro photography, and lighting styles. In addition there have been a variety of activities such as rapid assignments and photo projects where members of the group have been able to share their images on the KES Photography Flickr Group. The group has also enjoyed two fantastic talks and photography displays on Nature and Street Photography, led by Dr Roger Buchanan. The group welcomes all ages and abilities, and is equally suitable for those using DSLR Cameras or a Smartphone. This is also a popular group for those wanting to pursue photography as a skill for their Duke of Edinburgh Award. A selection of the groups images are always on display in the Mathematics corridor.

Mr Robinson

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 55

Sailing Club T

his year the School Sailing Club has been sailing from Weston Shore very near Netley. We sail on Southampton Water, a pleasant expanse of water with reliable breezes and plenty of space. Weston Sailing Club is a long established club with a strong racing tradition. Indeed, they boast a very large number of World, European and National champions in a range of classes; the Olympic champion Ian Percy (OE) sailed there. The School has a very large variety of boats; eight Picos, three Lasers, two Laser Vagos, three RS Fevas and a Wanderer and the aim of the school club is to teach pupils to sail and then to improve their skills. We are a Royal Yachting Association recognised teaching establishment and can teach both sailing and powerboating. The club is used by Sixth Formers on Tuesday afternoons for power boating and on Wednesdays for sailing. Sailing for the rest of the School happens at weekends. The beginners’ course was very popular again this year with sixteen pupils gaining their RYA Stage 1. There are presently about sixty club members who come from all areas of the School and we can accommodate up to twenty pupils at the weekend. We sail most weekends throughout the year and sessions generally last four hours although times vary, as we cannot launch at low tide. Southampton Water does tend to get rather chilly in the winter so these sessions are not as popular as the summer ones. Only serious or fanatical sailors sail in the winter! The KES regatta was run in conjunction with Weston Sailing Club again this year. We were very honoured to have Mike Golding to present the prizes. Over twenty KES sailors competed, ranging from First Years to Lower Sixth, and two members of Stroud Senior School. There was a real mix of ability with some First Years who had only just completed their beginners’ course having a

go alongside some of the RYA squad too. A particular mention goes to Isobel Chapman, Marianne Brabazon and Ryan Scott who completed all four races despite only learning to sail four weeks beforehand! A force 2-4 southerly breeze and a course right in front of the club patio gave great racing for the sailors, as well as perfect viewing for the parents. Race 1 was the lightest and saw Alex Everest leading the fleet by a large margin on his Aero showing great speed, especially downwind. In Race 2, the start from the club line with starboard bias made for a busy start and for the slower boats getting away cleanly in clear air was tricky. The stronger breeze led to a few capsizes and some very close racing throughout the fleet. After a much appreciated tea break and some very slick race management, in Race 3 more wind, a shift and a small course change turned the run to a reach and the reach to a run. This made the use of the chop to surf downwind much more important for overtaking. The King Edward’s results were as follows 1st Laser 4.7 Henry Beardsall 2nd Aero 7 Alex Everest (10) 3rd Pico Race Flo Peters and Theo Sweeny (Stroud) 4th Feva XL Robert Macfarlane and Josh Williams (16) 5th Pico Sport Soren Golding I was very lucky to have the help of our sailing instructors Tim Wakely, Phillip Montague and Mr Allen on the water. Mrs Henderson and Dr Waymark did a superb job as beach masters.

Mrs Burrows

56 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Sanskrit Society T

he trigger for setting up a Sanskrit Society at school was a wonderful day spent at the Nehru centre in London in July 2014 for the promotion of Indian culture. This seemed to offer a great chance to introduce something a little more unusual into our co-curricular programme and to extend students’ knowledge of ancient languages and their importance. The day also highlighted the spiritual link of the language to its culture which would add another dimension to its study. I was particularly struck by the presenter’s observation that he had come to the language as an artist because of the beauty of the characters and I thought this might be a way in for some of the students. I really had no idea how many students this was likely to attract: I’m not sure the announcement in assembly meant a great deal to many students. However I was delighted to have about twenty students come to an initial meeting and since then I have had a steady core of twelve. I have been amazed at their enthusiasm. We meet for thirty minutes once a week at lunchtime, accompanied by coffee and home-made brownies. Each week we learn a little more of the characters with the help of the ISER online videos and the text books for which our PTA have kindly given us a grant. The difficulty of the writing doesn’t seem to faze the students and indeed they are independently making copious notes. In fact I am having to work hard to keep up with them. Every week we also research links between Sanskrit, Latin, Greek and English; a very enlightening exercise. We also have been following the stories of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana via some very entertaining films on YouTube. We even attempt from time to time to read a bit of Hindi. I am very grateful for the enthusiasm of all of the students who are supporting this venture, and to Hamish Traill and Iona Todd who are its steadfast Presidents, always ensuring that we have a full trolley of coffee, tea and brownies every week to aid our progress.

Mrs Meredith

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 57

Scamp Club T

his has been a year of rich variety for Scamp Club. A cinema visit, participation in the CyberCenturion UK Challenge, our annual themed weekend away at Lovaton and a programme of Tuesday presentations all added up to a mix of experiences as intellectually stimulating as they were wide ranging. Hazel Webb coordinated all these events in admirable fashion. Over the weekend of 27th February-1st March ten members of Scamp Club travelled to the School’s Rural Study Centre at Lovaton on Dartmoor. These three days gave students the opportunity to study in depth one of the classics of English literature, Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘Silver Blaze’ from ‘The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes’. We followed the footsteps of the author and his famous detective as we investigated the key sites on Dartmoor associated with the story. Having settled into our accommodation during a suitably stormy and atmospheric Friday evening, we set off early on the next day to Tavistock, the hub of the Silver Blaze story, with its fascinating market and disused railway line. Then it was on to Princetown for a visit to the Royal Duchy Hotel and its Sherlock Holmes exhibition and highly entertaining video on ghostly events on the moor. During the afternoon we had intended to explore the moor north of Postbridge, seeking out the ruins of Teignhead Farm, the setting for King’s Pyland in the story. However, the mist came down so we trailed due south on a compass bearing along a safer route to Nun’s Cross Farm. It was here that selected readings were made from the Holmes story. That evening a fish and chip supper preceded the showing of the film of Silver Blaze, one which was true to the original tale. The highlights of the Sunday were the visit to Holmes’ secret hideaway at Grimspound and some celebratory raft racing downstream. Needless to say, the raft named ‘Silver Blaze’ proved to be best suited to the conditions.

This year, the KES Scamp Club team made its debut in the prestigious CyberCenturion UK Competition and reached the Grand Final. The team had won its way through to this final by completing two high-scoring preliminary rounds in November and January. The team, led by John Lyons, and including Mike Huang, Oliver Rose, Toby Saer, Sebastian Sheath, Iona Todd and Eleanor Turner, travelled to Bletchley Park to compete against seven other teams from across the country. The team finished in a most creditable third place and John Lyons received a leadership award. One wonderful spin-off which really put the Scamp Club

on the map was the appearance of the team in a short BBC programme the following month. This featured filming on the day, plus an interview with Mike Huang. The final was in fact our second visit to Bletchley Park in the course of the year. In November we visited the park as our annual field trip and saw, amongst many other fascinating features, paraphernalia from the recently released film ‘The Imitation Game’. The Tuesday lunchtime meetings were the staple diet for Scamp members. Always lively and interesting, they provided us with a wide range of material. Hazel Webb gave a superb talk on ‘Extraordinary Events’ using a world map to show us the locations of a series of strangely interconnected events. Lucy Giles treated us to a captivating insight into the writing of Malcolm Saville, focussing on the extraordinary success of his Lone Pine series of books from the 1940s through to the 1970s and which remain in print to this very day. Film and literature provided the themes for perceptive lectures on the Illuminati and on ‘A Shocking Accident’ by Graham Greene. Other well-prepared and compelling talks included Cameron Jesney’s well received ‘Time Travel’, Edward Sheppard’s mysterious two-parter on ‘Area 51’, Alfie Wright’s lucid explanation of ‘Gravity Falls - the Mystery Shack’ and William Barker’s engaging account of ‘American Football’. Leadership will pass into the hands of a student panel for next season as we aim to include students from all levels of the School in directing the programme for each term. We thank all club members for providing some memorable moments over the past twelve months. We are also very grateful to Mr Giles, Mr Mapstone and Mrs Wood for their much appreciated contributions and support.

The Scamp Club Team

58 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Table Tennis Club T

his was an encouraging season with many players significantly improving their skill levels and two strong teams producing fine performances in the local leagues. Most of the credit for this must go to our external coach Adam Proszko who identified a squad of sixteen players and then worked enthusiastically with them to develop all aspects of their play. In the Southampton Schools’ U13 League, Sacha Groom, Dominic Goddard, Alex Miles and Rory Holmes did very well, winning most matches comprehensively. Unfortunately, once again it was Cantell School (also coached by Adam) who were just too strong and the team had to settle for 2nd place. All our players will still be eligible to play in the U13 age group next season so this augurs well for the future. Sacha was selected to play in the Hampshire Schools’ U13 Individual Competition and performed very strongly, reaching the semi-final and only losing to the eventual winner.

Last year’s successful U13 team moved up to the more challenging U16 league. Since Jameel Khan, Toby Dudson, Matthew Bell and Oliver Kimmance were two years younger than most other players, they did not quite have the success they enjoyed last year and ended the season in 6th position with two wins, one draw and five defeats. Nevertheless, some of the performances were encouraging and the School should be more successful in the next two years. In the annual First Year inter-form competition, 1/6 (Will Jackson, Noah Inada-Kim and Peter Horton) were the winners. They were defeated by 1/1 but 1/1 had to be disqualified for playing an ineligible player. The official First Year individual champion was Daksh Bhatnagar and the Lower School champion was Dominic Goddard. Next season we look forward to even more exciting matches.

Mr Singleton

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 59

Wargaming Club N

ew recruits have brought a welcome surge of activity to Wargaming Club this year. They have introduced new interests and new games but old classics like Battle Cry, Dungeon and Midway have proved durable favourites. Special mention should go to

club veterans Jamie He, Yuchao Wang, Tom McCarthy and Abdullah Quraishe but thanks to all who came, saw and (sometimes) conquered.

Dr Gamblin

Young Enterprise Y

oung Enterprise was a very popular activity for the Lower Sixth again this year, with the full complement of twenty-five pupils signing up. They are required to set up and run a small business, with a view to developing skills such as teamwork, negotiation and basic marketing. There was much discussion initially about the composition of the management team and the students eventually proceeded under the enthusiastic leadership of Ben Maher. A number of product ideas were considered (and discarded) at the regular Monday meetings but a school calendar was eventually decided upon and produced.

This was available in time for Christmas and, although sales revenue was not maximised, the team was able to break even. They then set about preparing for their next project, an updated version of Teacher Top Trumps, and it is expected that this will be a big seller when it hits the marketplace. Young Enterprise would not be possible without the cooperation of external Business Advisors who give their time generously to assist and advise.

Mrs Quinn

60 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

TRIPS & VISITS

Aachen Trip A

t 10 pm on a dark December evening forty pupils and five members of staff met on Hill Lane to set out on the annual trip to the atmospheric ancient capital of Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire. Admittedly there are Christmas markets all over the UK nowadays, including our own micro-market in Southampton, but none quite matches up to the special character of those in Germany and especially the one in Aachen. It was a long journey to get there, but one that was made all the more enjoyable by the early evening singing and the happy atmosphere in the coach. An early arrival meant that we could wander through empty streets to the oak-panelled café where we ate our breakfast and got ready for the adventure ahead. After a fine German breakfast Mrs Allen led us on a guided tour of the old town, taking in the cathedral, the town hall (built on the ruins of Charlemagne’s palace) and also part of the trail of thirteen cribs which can be visited during the Christmas period. She was also able to enlighten the group about the significance of the waving of a hooked little finger – the traditional greeting from one Aachener to another. It was then time to meander around the market looking for presents, decorations and the local speciality of Printen; a kind of gingerbread cake. A visit to the Rathaus gave everyone a chance to sit down and to warm up before a second assault on the market. The day was then rounded off with a visit to the Lindt chocolate outlet shop where a vast array of treats was available. It was certainly a quieter journey on the way back and a tired but happy group arrived back at Hill Lane in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mr Kukla

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 61

Biology Trip - Dale Fort T

his year forty-nine students braved the variable weather to enjoy biology field work in Dale. We experienced wind speeds up to 40mph, temperatures up to 27ºC and rain up to a lot! Dale’s tutors and five members of KES staff, guided students through three days of learning techniques and then completing their own individual investigation. Our students worked hard, often later than 9pm and some were even reading scientific papers in bed. Projects this year looked at the impact students make on biodiversity when sampling, how aggression in sea anemones affects distribution and whether Gibulla umbilicalis show microhabitat preference. Comments from this year’s trip included. “Can you help me format this excel graph?” “I have become addicted to playing pool” “The sunset is beautiful” “I have actually learnt a lot” “How will my project change mankind?” “Is there any more cake?” “I now love excel, Mrs Barnes-Wardlaw played an amazing card”

Mr Aellen

62 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Charlotte Exchange T

he Third Year Charlotte Exchange continued for another successful year with eight students making friendships that will last a lifetime. After an intense set of interviews, the successful applicants eagerly awaited the news of their exchange partner early on in the autumn term. The iPads introduced within this year group meant that there was the possibility of a lot of communication with their partners before the trips even began! Alongside Miss Hewitt and Mr Eyssens, the pupils landed in North Carolina at the end of October meaning the group had the opportunity to attend school on Halloween â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an interesting experience to say the least! There were costumes and candy galore! As well as seeing life in another school, the group also visited a lot of the local cultural attractions which helped them complete their creative arts projects. This year the projects ranged from a watercolour skyline of London and Charlotte, to a collage of the school emblems and a historical archive of events relevant to both locations. Between the away leg and the home leg, the students kept in touch which made the wait even more agonising. During their visit, the Charlotte Country Day students were impressed by our canteen and even faced the fear of taking part in a KES assembly. This was a trip that showed a lot of independence and growing maturity amongst the pupils and one they will not forget in a hurry!

Mrs Burnett

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 63

Duke of Edinburgh I

t has been another bumper year for the Duke of Edinburgh Award at KES! 2014 saw the School once again host the Southampton DofE Award Evening for successful DofE Participants (at Silver and Bronze) where all schools that are now directly licensed centres came together to recognise the achievements of their participants. Peter Westgarth (Chief Executive of the DofE Award) was in attendance to hand out certificates. The School continues to offer all levels of the Award to all those that wish to participate with expeditions taking place locally in the New Forest, on Dartmoor and in the Lake District.

Mr Barnes

64 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

ENDEAVOUR en•deav•our (n-dvr) n. 1. A conscientious or concerted effort towards an end; an earnest attempt. 2. Purposeful or industrious activity; enterprise.

Year One - INDEPENDENCE Year Two - CONFIDENCE Year Three - COLLABORATION Year Four - COMMUNITY Lower Sixth - SELF-IMPROVEMENT

he whole School came off timetable for the second year of Endeavour, which is now a well-established part of the year.

The entire First Year became more INDEPENDENT by camping out at Ferny Crofts campsite, near Beaulieu, with lots of energetic staff. The pupils dived into a host of activities. Thanks to KES PTA, they were able to go on a high ropes or climbing activity, and also engaged in orienteering, team building, volleyball, circus skills and wide games. In the midst of the heat wave, they were up with the lark every morning to their delight and the teachers’ dismay! Every evening was finished with a hot chocolate and marshmallows, and friendships were cemented for their new tutor groups next year. The Second Years improved their CONFIDENCE in a variety of ways. Some improved their confidence abroad with the wonderful Normandy trip, some stayed at School and enjoyed two days improving their photography skills and confidence behind the lens, some enjoyed a residential climbing trip to improve their confidence with heights, and others went to Sandbanks in Dorset to enjoy improving their confidence on the water with a watersports course. All of the activities helped the pupils improve and the staff were delighted with the progress they made in their chosen areas. The Third Years worked on their COLLABORATION skills with a two day workshop based on Dragons’ Den. The School was buzzing with business men and women as they made and produced an app and prepared a business case for it, with live tweets and dragons ready to question. Unfortunately, due to French ferry strikes the Battlefields trip had to be postponed, but the pupils were lucky to get last minute places at the Fleet Air Arm Museum for a personalised guided tour and went to Blenheim Palace to see the World War One exhibition. The Fourth Years were either busy on the Geography Field Trip to Osmington Bay or engaged in COMMUNITY activities with local partnership schools. Year 4 and 5 students from five different primary schools came in to workshops that were delivered by our students. They were prepared for, and produced, on day one and delivered on day two. These were based around Sports, Science, Maths, Drama, Classics, Public Speaking and Art. The partnership schools absolutely loved their time at Hill Lane and Wellington and we were delighted to have them. The Lower Sixth pursued a programme of SELF IMPROVEMENT. There were a wide range of activities and trips on offer. All of the biologists went on their field trip to Dale Fort, in Pembrokeshire. Other trips included an incredible excursion to CERN to visit the Hadron Collider, and others went to the Oxford and UCL Open Days. Some of the year group assisted with Dragons’ Den, First Year Camp and the partnership activities, and others began research for Extended Projects in Southampton University Library. Pupils were able to focus on their own individual needs and it was a worthwhile time for them. The School is delighted with the success of the Endeavour programme, and how much pupils throw themselves into the opportunities available. Planning for 2016 is already underway!

Miss Smith

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 65

66 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

English Gothic trip to Lovaton I

n May 2015 the students studying the Gothic in the Upper Sixth travelled by minibus to the School’s Rural Study Centre in Dartmoor, where a weekend of undisturbed gothic activity took place. All members of the group wore their custom-made t-shirts, bearing the famous lines from one of the set plays, Doctor Faustus: ‘This is Hell, nor am I out of it’. We also owe a debt of gratitude to Ali Diaper’s mother, who suggested that we should incorporate a competition in which you got a point for every direct quotation from one of the four Gothic texts that you could slip into a conversation without anyone noticing. ‘The Pardoner’s Tale’ proved tricky in this regard, but the other three (‘Dr Faustus’, ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’) were more fruitful. ‘I expected this reception’ was a personal favourite. On Saturday morning we welcomed Exeter University’s Professor Nick Groom, who has written several books on the Gothic and who has spoken to previous groups. He gave a general lecture on the history of the genre, with reference to the texts, and then spoke on the use of setting in ‘Wuthering Heights’. A witty and energetic speaker, with a great depth of subject knowledge, Professor Groom is always a hit with students and teachers. We were particularly impressed by his use of a book which, literally, fires out flames when opened.

Mrs Evans and I greatly enjoyed the trip and were, as always, struck by the behaviour and good humour of the students, as well as their in-depth conversations of all things political and musical. Pavan should get a special mention here for re-introducing us to Barry White and Prince in his Gothic mix that kept us entertained in the minibus.

Dr Schofield

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 67

Faroe Islands Eclipse Trip O

n the 15th March, two keen Physics teachers, Mr Simm and Dr Dean, along with twelve very keen KES students, embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to see a solar eclipse in a truly unique landscape. Travelling to the Faroe Islands is no simple task, but we managed to do so via coach and ferry to arrive at our destination; one of the many fjords in the Faroe Islands at which our boat docked for the duration of the trip, near a town called Kollafjordur. Here we spent four days during which we soaked up the local culture, visited the majestic rocks at Vestmanna, occupied by thousands of sea birds and toured the museums of Thorshavn - the smallest capital city in Europe (think Romsey and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the size about right), amongst other activities. This all built up to the reason we had travelled so far which was the total solar eclipse on the morning of the 20th of March. After a very early alarm call, and a cold coach trip to our viewing site on a hilltop above Torshavn, we waited anxiously as the patchy cloud rolled across the Sun as it rose in the morning sky. Sadly we were tantalisingly close to viewing totality,

but ultimately missed it, as, frustratingly, the clouds completely cleared up only minutes after it ended. Disappointing of course, but we were still able to view the entire second half of the eclipse through its partial phase. Everyone on the trip was an absolute pleasure to be with, which really made the whole experience one to remember and before we arrived back at Hill Lane everyone was already making plans for their next family holiday to coincide with the future total eclipses.

Mr Simm

68 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Florence 2015 I

n February this year, thirteen Italian and Art students, Mr Piggott and Mrs Rugge-Price, spent a long weekend in Florence; a trip which blended the interests and aims of both departments. After a brief and efficient flight to Pisa, we made the short hour transfer to Florence and settled into our very pleasant 3* hotel, Hotel Goldoni, which was centrally situated, and at just a stone’s throw from the River Arno. We immediately set out on foot to explore the city, orientating ourselves by walking up the Arno to the Ponte Vecchio, and from there into the Piazza della Signoria and the historic centre of the city. Our breath was taken away by the sheer size and dominance of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (otherwise known as the Duomo). The decision was made to climb up the Cupola and out onto the top of the dome. This involved crouching, bending, bumping heads, waiting for others to descend, and climbing up several hundred steps through the walls of the dome until we emerged into the evening light. The 360° views of the city were spectacular, and I don’t think any of us will forget the ascent – not for the claustrophobic! A three course dinner was eaten each evening in a local restaurant, and included local fare such as lasagne, pizza, mozzarella and tomatoes, chicken dishes, pasta carbonara, and other delicious Italian foods. The KES group was initially surprised to be given a huge plate of pasta as a starter, and then a large main course after that, but quickly came round to the Italian style of eating. Our second day took us to the Galleria dell’Accademia, where we appreciated the beauty of Michelangelo’s ‘David’ amongst other incredible sculptures, and the artists produced some excellent studies of his form. From there we headed to the Mercato Centrale, a huge, covered market, which has been recently transformed with an upper floor of food stalls and restaurants. The Italian students tried out their language buying unusual pasta and vegetables from the market, and then had free time to enjoy the café culture of the city, and discover the best gelaterie, while the Art students did further sketching around the streets of Florence. The afternoon was spent crossing to the south of the river, over the Ponte Vecchio, and then hiking up to the Piazzale Michelangelo, where again we got beautiful views of the city. On the Sunday we battled with the crowds to enter the Uffizi Gallery, one of the world’s oldest and most

famous art museums, and saw countless impressive and well-known works of art, such as Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ and numerous works by da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian and many, many others. The linguists headed from there to the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens to eat lunch, while the artists stayed longer to study and sketch and then enjoyed a pizza lunch. A visit to Florence’s only cinema, a beautifully restored former theatre, enabled the linguists to broaden their knowledge of the language, and many interesting new words were learnt and subsequently used! On our final day, three hours of Italian lessons were in store for the linguists, again in a beautiful old building with a fabulous view of the Duomo. The teachers complimented our students on their language skills, good behaviour and friendliness, and were really impressed with their willingness to speak and learn a new language. Meanwhile the artists visited Le Giubbe Rosse, a café where the Futurist movement was born and flourished. They spent some time in intellectual contemplation under the guidance of Mr Piggott, and came out much the wiser and having enjoyed fantastic cioccolata calda! After some time to buy final souvenirs for friends and family we headed back to our hotel and to the bus to take us back to Pisa, and onwards to the UK. A very happy bunch of KES students arrived home later that evening having really enjoyed the relaxed pace of city life, the beauty of the buildings, streets, river, as well as works of art, and all were more culturally aware of this little part of Italy. Italian had been learnt by linguists and artists alike, and the teachers had thoroughly enjoyed themselves too. We both felt that our departmental collaboration had been a big success, and look forward to repeating it – Venice next, Mr P?!

Mrs Rugge-Price

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 69

French trip to Montpellier I

n the Easter holidays, a group of Lower and Upper Sixth French students spent a week in Montpellier. In previous years, we had participated in an exchange programme to Angers, so we were excited to visit somewhere different and try something new. Having been told we would all be staying with different host families, we were all relieved to be welcomed at the airport by smiling faces. After a quick explanation of the French transport system, we somehow managed to navigate ourselves to and from the school, although some were more successful than others! In the mornings we spent time in lessons, with the Lower and Upper Sixth split into two classes. We found this time extremely useful as we had the opportunity to discuss the topics we are currently studying back at school, such as immigration and the environment, as well as doing a practice oral exam one on one with the teacher. In the afternoons, we were able to enjoy the beautiful weather in Montpellier. We visited Nîmes and the famous amphitheatre, spent afternoons at the beach, as well as shopping which, unsurprisingly, included frequent trips to the irresistible pâtisseries and crêperies. Some of our favourite memories from the trip came from the numerous games we played in class. The Upper Sixth students’ favourite being ‘loup-garou’, which brought out a suspicious side in everyone and not to forget, ‘Cluedo’, with Miss Smith proving a valuable member of the team by setting the scene and blaming the boys for everything. We all thoroughly enjoyed the trip and without a doubt all benefited from it as we became more confident with the language. It was an intense week of constantly listening, reading, writing and speaking in French, but this became less of a challenge as the week progressed and was undoubtedly made easier by the beautiful weather and delicious food.

Pippa Arnold

ontpellier was such a valuable experience, and really prepared us all for the upcoming exams. A surprise occurred before we even landed in France, as we discovered the GB gymnastics team was flying on the same plane as us, including ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ winner Louis Smith! It was a novelty for all, and definitely built up excitement for the trip to come. Staying with host families was a nervous prospect for some students, however, after the first night we realised how lovely and welcoming they were. In the same week the host families of some students were hosting another language student from a different country, which was a little unexpected, but added to the cultural experience. We were able to appreciate the beauty of Montpellier during the trip, and had a guided tour around the city which showed us some of the stunning architecture. There were some buildings which were illusions, with fake windows and steps, as well as images of people waving from windows! Although this would seem like quite an obvious feature to notice, the illusions were actually very difficult to spot. Each morning we would walk, or take public transport, to the language school, and this forced everyone to fend for themselves during the trip, and immerse themselves in the Montpellier life. It was convenient to have a pâtisserie close to the language school so there was the opportunity to buy a croissant before starting lessons! One night we went to a restaurant together as a group and enjoyed a tasty three course meal. The newly purchased selfie stick seemed to be a hit with the group, and the teachers took a successful selfie of us all sitting and eating our food! On the last full day we played boules in a beautiful park in Montpellier. This seemingly calm game turned competitive, with two teams playing against each other, trying to launch the boule as close to the jack as possible. It was interesting to play the game in French style, and take in the scenery at the same time. Overall, the trip was a resounding success, and encouraged everyone to speak as much French as possible. After the trip we were significantly more fluent, and the experience really was an inspiration to keep studying and enjoying the language.

Miriam Chapman-Rosenfeld

70 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Geography trip to Malham A

group of twenty-three Lower Sixth geographers went on a five day residential field trip to Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales in early October to study most aspects of the AS course. The trip started early on Saturday morning with a long minibus journey to Malham, a small town in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, famous for its limestone pavement and cove. When we arrived in the village we walked along the Malham Beck to our base for the next four days Malham Tarn Field Studies Centre. The route took us to Malham Cove and the limestone pavement before going around Malham Tarn. Along this walk we had breathtaking views of the Yorkshire Dales even if sometimes the route was rather steep. On the Sunday we studied flood risk and management within Skipton, a nearby town. The town has a high flood risk as it is at the confluence point of two rivers (the Skibeden and Eller Becks) and we walked along the Skibeden Beck through the town looking at the different strategies used to help minimise the effects of flooding. Later in the day we split into groups and between us covered the whole town by dividing it into areas, assessing the specific flood risk at each of our locations so that when our data was collaborated we could produce a map highlighting which parts of Skipton were most at risk of flooding. The next day was spent looking at rural settlements both in and outside the National Park border and visiting a farm within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. First we visited Lower Winskill Farm, on what was a particularly cold and windy morning, and were guided around the farm by its owner, Tom. He showed us the ways in which he has adapted his farm in order to comply with new EU legislation and the Common Agricultural Policy. One of the changes to his farming

methods included having wildflower meadows, which his livestock couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t access, increasing the biodiversity of the area. That afternoon we split into two groups to visit two settlements each, one inside and the other outside of the National Park. We collected data about these rural settlements such as measuring service provision and traffic levels. On reviewing the data we collected, we could see that areas outside of the National Park had more development and were larger than those inside; this is due to the restrictions placed on development when in National Parks, which aim to conserve wildlife and culture. On our final full day in the Yorkshire Dales, we studied glacial processes, an area of the course we had not yet been taught in the classroom. We headed out into the Yorkshire Dales learning about the many different glacial landforms that we could see such as drumlins, moraines and U-shaped valleys and how they were formed during the last ice age. This day involved a lot of walking in order to get to the glacial landforms. However seeing their position within the landscape helped us to picture their formation thousands of years ago by the large glaciers of the most recent ice age. We also saw the Thornton Force waterfall a large waterfall formed at the end of the last ice age. Wednesday was the last day of the trip and we spent the morning at Ingleborough Caves where we went inside the cave systems and saw how the glacial meltwater had eroded into the limestone to form the caves. The trip was enjoyed by all the students and we gained some more understanding into almost all aspects of the course and obtained place specific case studies.

Rory Saunders

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 71

Geography Trip â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Osmington Bay D

uring Endeavour the Fourth Year geographers travelled to Osmington Bay to undertake an educational field trip and gain experience for our Paper 4. To begin with we stopped at Barton-on-Sea to learn about coastal erosion. However, many of us had failed to watch the weather forecast for the day ahead and soon realised that shorts and sunglasses were probably not the most sensible attire. From there, we travelled to Durdle Door for our picnic lunch but our view was slightly obscured by the low-lying clouds and sea mist. Some of us decided to warm ourselves up with slush puppies and ice creams from the beverages van! Our walk along the South West Coastal Path tested our endurance against the elements and, as we emerged from the clouds, we came across the beautiful Cove of Lulworth. Mr Brown had a bit of a nightmarish moment when the wind caught him unaware and blew his papers everywhere - he frantically collected them as he encountered the unnerving sound of gun fire from Lulworth Military Camp.

On arrival at Osmington we took in the stunning views over Weymouth and Portland. Our leader, Maria, gave us an enthusiastic PGL welcome and we settled into our rooms. Our days at Osmington involved fieldwork in the River Wey, tourism studies in Weymouth and Portland and sand dune analysis at Studland. Our trip had many funny moments. These included enthusiastic football matches against another school with KES winning 4-0 and the giant swing also provided much amusement especially when an early descent occurred. Abseiling involved a few speedy falls with some wannabe superheroes emerging. A birthday was celebrated whilst on the trip and Matt was serenaded by the entire dining hall at PGL. Our four days away at #OZBAE provided us with many memorable moments whilst also helping us to prepare for our forthcoming Geography exams.

Fourth Year Geographers

72 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

German exchange to Mutterstadt

uring the summer, Germany regularly featured in the news thanks to the central role the German government played in the negotiations for a Greek bailout. However, it is fair to say that most of the twelve students and two staff travelling to Germany for the return leg of the Mutterstadt Exchange were more concerned with the weather as the forecast for the week ahead included many days above 30 degrees. Other practical issues also challenged the group on the outward journey, thanks to repeated delays, but they merely tested rather than broke the spirit and everyone arrived with smiles and were greeted by familiar, friendly faces at Mannheim Station. During the scorching week in the Mutterstadt area a full programme of trips was organised on most days. The first day trip was to Kaiserslautern, home of the Fritz Walter stadium, where the group was treated to a guided tour of the stadium which hosts Bundesliga and World Cup matches alike. Next, a visit to a nearby theme park, the Holiday Park, offered plenty of thrills for those who enjoy that rush of adrenaline; the rollercoaster ‘G-Force’, the 70-metre high ‘Freefall Tower’, and the new corkscrew ‘Sky Scream’ were popular with many, and it wasn’t only the girls who were heard screaming during the rides. One day involved an early morning start at the German school. The IGS Mutterstadt day starts at a blearyeyed 7.55 am. It is a school that looks markedly more modern than KES and features a dramatically different style of teaching. Food for thought, but no actual food, as lessons are over by the early afternoon when students simply go home. A further trip saw a visit to the beautiful university city of Heidelberg where a guided tour took the group, via cable car, to Heidelberg Castle and then back into

the city centre for some retail therapy. This day was concluded with an evening’s bowling where some demonstrated great bowling techniques. The final organised trip was to a football golf centre. This involved kicking a football round a mini-golf-type course only the holes were a lot bigger than usual. There were some impressive scores and some fine ball skills in evidence, whilst Mr Kukla and the German teacher were amicable but obviously competitive in approach. Outside the organised trips, many students went to local festivals or took advantage of the fine weather to spend time relaxing or swimming by the cool, picturesque lakes in the area. Those who got the most out of the exchange threw themselves happily into every activity and worked at integrating themselves positively into their host family, trying out their German regularly. At the end of the trip there were some sad faces at the train station and others had already arranged future visits. The shield awarded annually for ‘The Most Successful Exchange’ was deservedly won by Dan Stevens in this 16th Mutterstadt Exchange.

Mrs Allen

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 73

Himalayan Expedition 2015 O

n July 12th 2015 the KES Expedition team of twenty-four set off on the expedition of a lifetime to Ladakh, Northern India, to complete some trekking and a journey in the Himalayas. Driving to Heathrow was a relaxing experience compared to the Delhi transport we would meet in the next twenty-four hours. The nine hour flight to Delhi passed swiftly with much to entertain the team as well as the odd hour of sleep. Arriving in Delhi the first thing that hit us was the heat. Having managed the airport, the less than confident team caught the underground and then Tok Tok to Delhi’s Red Fort where our group got split up. After half an hour of having our pictures taken by the locals, we were all reunited and looked, smelt and heard the manic Delhi rush hour before we arrived at our hostel for the night. At 2 am we were all up ready to catch a flight to Leh, at 3600 meters above sea level and the gateway to the Northern Himalayas. When we arrived, most of us felt the effects of the altitude with headaches and shortness

of breath and the three sets of stairs in the hostel were an interesting initial challenge. We spent the rest of the day acclimatising to the lower levels of oxygen and climbing up to see a small stumpa or monastery. The day before our acclimatisation trek, logistics led us to buying food in the local market. Including guides and muleteers we needed to cater for thirty-two people for four nights - no small feat when this was only the first full day in India with a night’s sleep. In the afternoon, many of the group managed to visit the SOS children’s charity that we had been raising money for. As a team we raised £3,600 which went towards warmer bedding and the children’s education. It was very moving to see the children studying hard. The first of our treks was a four-day acclimatisation trek which meant going up to a height of 4300m from Leh’s 3600m. Unfortunately, throughout the trek a bug which had accompanied the group from the UK, continued to work its way around the team and this grounded us in one camp for two nights. We walked for about five to

74 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

eight hours a day but because a number of the group were not feeling well and the weather forecast remained unsettled (gales and snow above 4500m) we changed the main trek to make it possible for everyone to complete it and enjoy the mountain scenery. Before our main trek, we went to restock our food supply for the 8 days. On one of the days we did a nine hour gorge walk where we had some challenging unstable slopes, fast flowing water and some tired group members by the end of the day. During the day we visited Rizong Gompa monasteryÂ and met a child monk who showed us around and offered us some butter tea which ended up not to everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tastes.

On the last day we said good bye to our sherpas (who had been fantastic) and headed back to Leh. With more confidence, the group enjoyed the local markets and purchased a range of new clothing attire which was on clear view for the last days in India. We flew back

to Delhi the next day and got a coach straight to Agra to visit the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal in all its glory. Most of the group were astounded by its magnificent structure and Mr Blow was again in his element. The team is extremely grateful for his fantastic efforts and professionalism at recording the time we had away. Following an end of trip meal and balancing the final budget for the group, we drove back to Delhi and went to the markets in Old Delhi before venturing back to the International Airport. With the stringent Indian security and flight management protocols many of the group were still on their back foot as they gained entry to the airplane only to discover one of the team up-graded to business class!

Ben Barr

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 75

History Trip to Berlin D

uring the February half-term forty-six students and five members of staff embarked upon a four day trip to Berlin, to visit iconic buildings from the Second World War and the Cold War, as well as to experience the vibrant culture. After an uneventful flight, we checked into our comfortable hotel situated in the centre of the city, and took a walk to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building. This provided a great opportunity for photos with friends, and we could see the location of the infamous Reichstag fire of 1933. Every morning we had the opportunity to try a German continental breakfast, a new experience for some, and we soon set off down to the Hauptbahnhof (main train station), to begin our tour of the city. Our guides pointed out key buildings along the route, giving us an insight into how the city was destroyed, divided, and rebuilt. We discovered the history of old palaces and churches, and visited the locations of the Reich Chancellery and the F端hrer bunker. We finished at Potsdamer Platz, where we had lunchtime to shop. We proceeded to the Topography of Terror museum, an archive of Nazi rule at the location of the former Gestapo (secret police) headquarters. This helped us to deepen our knowledge of how the totalitarian regime operated. We also had the chance to visit the German Historical Museum, which had expansive exhibits on the topics we are studying. The next day we travelled to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, where our guide helped us to appreciate just how brutal and evil the dictatorship was. We learnt how opponents of the Nazis were worked to death and suffered terrible punishments and torture at the hands of the SS, and it provided us with a genuine realisation of what happened. We carried on

to the villa where the Wannsee Conference of 1942 was held. Here, the Nazis in charge of various departments agreed to co-operate in the extermination of Jews in Europe, and the displays showed just how ruthless the party became. It helped to put our studies in perspective, as we struggled to comprehend the scale of the mass-murder. The last day proved to be the most popular. We travelled by train to the 1936 Olympic Stadium, intended by the Nazis to demonstrate their ideological ideas. It has been modified slightly and is now home to Hertha Football Club. The original splendour and architecture have been preserved, and on our tour we learnt of its history and modernisation, and we could imagine how it had once been used as propaganda, although the triumphs of particular athletes are now commemorated instead. Later we took a trip to Checkpoint Charlie, a focal point of the Cold War and Berlin Wall, and the museum provided us with the opportunity to learn more about the events. To finish the trip, we visited Treptower Soviet Memorial, a park featuring massive statues to commemorate the Soviet lives lost in the Battle of Berlin. It showed us the true nature of the war, and along with the rest of the trip, gave us a deeper understanding of the history course.

James Mitchell, Tom Edwards and David Veres

76 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Morocco O

n Friday 27th March 2015, we set off, buzzing with excitement and ready for an adventure in Morocco. During our stay, we took a lovely walk through Gorges du Dades and watched the locals enjoying a picnic by the water. We also visited a tea-making factory where we learned how to brew mint tea and bought our colourful headscarves. A hike along Todra Gorge was a highlight of the trip and Mr Brown pointed out many geographical features. The best part though, was camel trekking in the Sahara desert over the endless sand dunes. After some sandboarding, we slept under the stars in the Berber camp and woke early to witness the magnificent sunrise.

We made our way on to Ouarzazate and stopped off at the film studios. It was very interesting to learn about the different films that have been made there. We then carried on our journey back to Marrakech and toured this inspiring city, including the royal palace and the mosque with the tallest minaret. In the afternoon we visited the souks and the Berber spice shop where we learned about the organic ingredients. Last stop was bartering for football shirts, jewellery and mini tagines. We would definitely recommend this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Alex Chandler, Megan Magee, James Diaper and Oliver Miles

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 77

Prague Exchange T

his year saw the first Upper School cultural exchange with a secondary school in Pribram, near Prague, in the Czech Republic. The focus for the exchange was to experience life in a different culture; to see what life was like in their school and help out children with learning difficulties in the local area. Alongside Mr Robinson and Miss Hewitt, Clare Mitchell, Mia Hamblin, Emilia Wyatt and Beth Self signed up to visit their exchange partners last Easter and discovered a lot of cultural differences with their peers. Clare thought these differences were more pronounced than she was expecting, particularly the food and the short school days. The group also visited Prague and saw the beautiful historic buildings and the Easter markets. Mia noted that Easter was celebrated in a much more extravagant way and the girls enjoyed the opportunity to make crafts and bread. As part of the trip, the girls also helped out organising a sports day event for children with learning difficulties with Beth and Emilia running sack races and Easter egg decorating. This autumn term saw the return leg of the exchange with the Czech students visiting the School for a week in September. They very much enjoyed seeing our lessons and experiencing the delights of our school canteen! They explored the local sights of Winchester and London and liked spending time on the coast.

Mrs Burnett

78 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Second Year Camp I

n the summer term, two Second Year camps took place at the Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Field Study Centre at Lovaton. Students spent time climbing, walking on the moor, building rafts, orienteering and undertaking various leadership tasks. With two nights under canvas, and one in the bunkhouse, the students became

experienced with dealing with light weight camping, packing, unpacking and kit management. Their cooking skills on trangias developed over the two nights with nobody going hungry!

Mrs Henderson

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 79

Ski Trip to Maine hirty-one students and five staff enjoyed a hugely successful ski trip to Sunday River during the Easter holiday. A transatlantic flight was followed by a four hour coach journey to the resort. Staying at the Snow Cap Dorm the party travelled daily by bus to the slopes, a journey of no more than 3 minutes and once on the slopes the students attended four hours of lessons a day with a one hour lunch break half way through. Lunch was taken in the food hall at the South Ridge Lodge and breakfast and dinner were taken in the accommodation with a buffet style service for both, allowing the students to keep their energy levels high.

When not skiing, the students amused themselves playing table tennis and table football in the accommodation as well as taking part in an evening tubing on the nursery slope and a trip to the Oxford Lanes bowling facility. With the students expecting 10 pin bowling they had to quickly learn quickly the differences for candle pin bowling. In this game the ball and pin weigh the same, the pins are set out in a slightly different position and you get three balls instead of two. Patrick Holly got the highest score amongst the students while Mr Sheppard took the accolade for the staff.

Snow conditions were excellent but the weather conditions were varied with one day producing rain, snow, strong cold winds and sunshine - one after the other! This allowed the party to ski a variety of runs including the longest run in resort, ‘Lollapaloza’ a gentle green run, ‘White Heat’ and ‘Double Diamond Black’ labelled as the ‘widest, steepest, longest trail in the east’. The beginner skiers made very good progress during the stay and enjoyed their first experience on snow. All three instructors praised their groups for their enthusiasm, ability and progress.

Even though travelling and skiing in America costs slightly more than a high altitude European resort, the students who had experienced both felt that Ski 2015 was the better trip. All students and staff arrived back at KES on the morning of 7th April, without injury, and having enjoyed a hugely successful trip away.

Mr Wood

80 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

his year for the KES annual ski trip, we went to Maine. After arriving at school early, we drove to the airport, checked in our luggage, and went through customs, where one of us had unknowingly tried sneaking a drink through security. We made our way through security slowly and eventually boarded the airplane for the 7 hour flight. Once arriving in Boston, we went to pick up our luggage but one of our bags hadn’t been boarded onto the flight and although it slowed our journey a little, it was eventually returned. Finally, after a 4-hour coach ride to our lodge, we ate, unpacked and got some sleep. The skiing throughout the week was great and the weather was pretty good so all three groups had a great time on the slopes. The resort was also really nice. Between our two ski lessons, we were free to go and eat in the cafeteria and after the last lesson of the day, some teachers would take us free skiing. On the last day, two students wore onesies while skiing, attracting the attention of quite a few people and following our last lesson, we all gathered inside the ski area for the award ceremony and group photos.

In the evenings, we did a range of activities including tubing, making tin foil sculptures, bowling and a quiz. It was a lot of fun! Whenever we could we would squeeze in some table tennis and gloat about our ‘not so amazing’ skills. On the last day we headed to the mall. A lot of the girls bought clothes and the guys some pretty interesting pairs of socks. However I’m pretty sure the majority of us just raided the Lindor stores. The return flight was overnight but most of us didn’t sleep for any of it so we arrived back at school at 9 am drowsy but still buzzing after such a great time. Ski 2015 was genuinely great. We all got to know the people in our year a little better and we met some cool people in the other years. Finally, we’d like to thank the teachers for putting aside their own time and organising an incredible experience for us.

Stephanie Judd and Cherida Zhang

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 81

South Africa Cape Town n Cape Town airport there was a slight feeling of apprehension in the air as we were not sure quite what we had gotten ourselves into but this was quickly forgotten about as we became caught up in the excitement. We were met by our guide, Heath, at the airport and taken by our bus driver, William, through the townships around the outskirts of Cape Town. Here he began to explain the culture and history of the area that fascinated us all. We began our Peninsula Tour, driving through Hout Bay on the picturesque coastline until we reached the Cape of Good Hope. Here, we trekked up to the highest point to feel the benefits of the cleanest air in Africa. After this we went to the Simonstown penguin beach and then headed back to the hotel for a much needed rest. That night we went to a local restaurant with warthog and ostrich on the menu. The next day we visited the District 6 museum where Noor, the founder, gave us his life story of growing up under apartheid rule. This gave us an insight into the everyday struggles that many South Africans had to tolerate during this period. After this we explored the V&A waterfront with its many restaurants and shops and visited the aquarium. That night we arrived at a traditional African restaurant where we were taught how to play the bongos and sampled food from all over the continent. On the final day, we went on a hike to see an incredible view of the Cape and were welcomed into Heathâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home for a truly amazing South African lunch. Afterwards we visited Robben

Island and were given a feel of what it would be like to have been incarcerated as a former inmate gave us the tour. We then prepared ourselves for the journey to Goedgedacht to begin a life-changing experience.

Will Steel

82 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Goedgedacht nce we arrived at the Goedgedacht farm, we had a quick tour of the eco garden, which included the wormery, vegetable garden and fog harvester. These produce liquid compost, vegetables and water; making the farm sustainable. From there we were whisked off to POP 1, which is the closest Path out of Poverty centre to the farm. We were met by lots of smiling faces and hugs and these became a common factor throughout all of the POP centres. At each of centres we did different activities, including face painting, loom bands and always lots of dancing and rugby. At POP 3 we ended up having been painted more than the children! We visited five POP centres, all of which were in different stages of development but all of the children had the same incredible energy. It was great to have the opportunity to visit POP 6, which is the centre that KES funds. During the mornings of the first three days we would play with the kids at the preschool, weed the vegetable patches on the farm or sand down bikes at the bike project. Helping out by doing manual labour made us feel like we were making a positive contribution to the farm because the evidence was immediate. Each evening we had activities with the youth, which

included apartheid games, a fashion show, sing-off and more games. For the apartheid games we were split into three groups: black, coloured and white. In these groups we played several games with differing levels of handicaps. For example, the white group never had any chairs removed during musical chairs, the coloured group had a few removed and the black group had all of their chairs removed and when we rebelled we were thrown into â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;prisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This helped to give us an insight into how unfair it really used to be in South Africa during the apartheid. Unfortunately, the separation still exists within the education system in South Africa. On the second to last day, we went up Table Mountain, which was stunningly beautiful, and Ingrid even pointed out the mountain, that stands behind the farm, that we were to hike up the next day. On the last afternoon at the farm, we went paintballing with the youth on the rugby field which, although it was slightly terrifying, made for a great end to the week. Before our final meal, we watched a video with all the photos of our time together, which gave us the perfect opportunity to reflect and remember the great times we had experienced. I know many of us already want to return!

Rhianna Jones Safari fter an inspiring but exhausting week in Goedgedacht we all arrived in Johannesburg ready for some needed rest and a chance to reflect. From here we were taken by bus to the Entabeni Game Reserve on the search for the big 5. The first night, weary from the journey, we were shown our tents and had an early night in preparation for the early morning we had in store for us. The next morning we were greeted by two cheetahs as soon as we left our campsite. This fuelled our excitement as we forgot about the cold and our tiredness and kept our eyes peeled for wildlife. Our guide took us across the arid plains and, with his unrivalled knowledge of the area we saw rhino, giraffes, monkeys and a host of zebra on the first morning alone. The days were taken up relaxing by the pool in the 30-degree heat as we recounted stories of the previous week. This was followed by an evening safari drive and as we

saw the sun set over the Entabeni plains, the whole journey we had experienced together was really put into perspective. The evenings were spent eating the delicious food and sitting and chatting in front of the campfire. It truly was a fantastic experience and the perfect way to finish off such a rewarding trip.

Will Steel

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 83

Spanish Trip to Andalucía. T

he Andalucia trip is always eagerly awaited as it takes place at the end of the spring term when we are all yearning for some sun. This year’s weather in Córdoba did not disappoint. On the 27th March twenty-three Third and Fourth year students, very willing to experience Spanish culture at the height of Easter, landed at Málaga’s airport to encounter a sun-drenched city. The trip is five days long and during this time the students stay with host families who are always keen to show them around and introduce them to their traditions. During the stay the students did a great deal of walking and exploring, (both the city of Córdoba and Sevilla with their wealth of monuments) and had three hours a day of Spanish lessons in a specialist language school. They sampled the delights of tapas and chocolate con churros, but most of all ate a lot of ice-cream! The trip’s programme is well established so we returned, once more, to the Flamenco School to learn a bit about Flamenco music and dance which included a one hour workshop with Maribel, a professional dancer who always puts her heart and soul into every move. No visit to Córdoba would be complete without a tour of the Mezquita (mosque) and the Alcázar, where Christopher Columbus met the Catholic King and Queen before setting off to discover America. During the day trip to Sevilla, we visited the famous Alcázar, (where the latest series of ‘Game of Thrones’ has recently been filmed) and witnessed a number of Easter processions. All in all, both the students and accompanying teachers had a great time and really appreciated the sun and high temperatures but most of all the opportunity to speak in Spanish and put into practice everything they have learnt in class. This trip is of great value as it really encourages the students to use the language in real situations and takes them out of the constraints of the classroom.

Mrs Ladislao

84 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Spanish Trip - Catalonia T

his year we took thirty-one First Years and six Second Years on our annual trip to Catalonia, an autonomous region in the north-east of Spain with a rich historical and artistic heritage. On the first day we had a few hours before dinner to go down to the beach and get our bearings in Tossa de Mar, the lovely seaside resort we were staying in. On the second day we travelled to Barcelona. We started off at the Plaza de Cataluña, a popular place for seeing in the New Year and for demonstrating against the government! We then made our way down the top end of the Ramblas and into the Gothic quarter, stopping to admire the old cathedral, the town hall and the regional government buildings. Next stop was the Boquería Market and a challenge to find and buy the most exotic fruit available. After this we were ready to tuck into some traditional tapas with a variety of dishes, from the ubiquitous, but delicious, tortilla to the less common octopus. This left the beautiful Park Güell in the late afternoon, with its famous mosaics, columns and colonnades, created by the modernist Gaudí, and time to stroll around or to do a spot of sketching with Miss White. The following day, we travelled north to the town of Figueres, Dalí’s birthplace and the home of his Theatre Museum, the second most visited museum in Spain after the Prado. The dramatic setting was perfect for his weird and wonderful artwork that was both intriguing and slightly disturbing at times! After lunch in the park we got back on the coach and made our way to the long stretch of sandy beach at Roses. After a fortifying ice-cream it was time to follow a town trail

and explore the Roman remains at the Ciutadella. Day four was our morning in Girona and this year we were blessed with glorious sunshine for our walk along the city walls and through the winding streets of the medieval town; stopping off to look around the Arab baths. In the afternoon it was a relaxing trip along the coast from Tossa, in a glass-bottomed boat, followed by more exploring: this time up to the lighthouse and back down through the old part of town. And the group still had energy left for a Flamenco class in the evening! The final day meant the main event for many of the students and a trip to the impressive Camp Nou, Barça’s football ground and museum. The students thoroughly enjoyed their introduction to Spanish culture, art and history; and managed to fit in time for plenty of shopping, swimming in the pool and rounders on the beach.

Mr Lawson

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 85

Spanish Trip to Salamanca O

ver the February half-term holiday nineteen members of the Sixth Form travelled to Salamanca, in the heart of Spain, to immerse themselves in Spanish culture. The main purpose of the trip is to attend daily lessons at a language school and speak as much as possible with the locals but this is always combined with a good deal of cultural and fun activities and on this occasion what seemed like a lot of food! On the first day we had a quick tour of the city, what was meant to be a fun discovery game, but had to be rushed a bit due to the inclement weather. Travelling in February has one big disadvantage - the low temperatures on the Spanish plain, perhaps unfairly famous also for its rain! Salamanca can be considered the equivalent of Oxford and Cambridge, in terms of the beauty of its university buildings, but as a bigger city it also has a good number of other sites of great historical value. The city is flooded with students from all over the globe who go there to complete their degrees or simply to learn the language. Our students were ready to fit in and really got stuck in with the locals and other foreign students. We went out for ‘tapas’ and ‘raciones’, we ate ‘chocolate con churros’, we had a salsa class (with a fantastic

Cuban dancer), we went to the cinema on Sunday evening and we had an amazing experience cooking three typical Spanish dishes at a local cookery school. On the last night we went out for a final food fest and had a ‘parrillada’ (barbecued meat/veg) with the Spanish teachers, during which prizes were awarded. Everyone excelled at something during that week, so everyone deserved one! The last day we visited Madrid and, for some, the highlight of the trip was the visit to the Bernabeu Stadium, home to Real Madrid. For others, mainly the girls, time would have been better spent in a museum but we do try to cater for everyone… next year it’s the return of the Reina Sofia Museum. The week was a real success and all the students felt that their language, as well as their cultural knowledge, had greatly improved so ‘objetivo conseguido!’ Salamanca, nos vemos en febrero 2016!!

Mrs Ladislao

86 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Sports tour to South Africa T

he sports tour to South Africa departed from British shores with great anticipation at the start of the summer holidays. Ahead of us was two weeks that promised much in terms of sporting competition and cultural opportunities. From a playing perspective this was an excellent opportunity for next year’s prospective senior teams to play together for the first time and to try and get some sort of cohesion before the season got into full swing. It also gave the coaching staff the chance to instil some general aspects of play that they hoped would become second nature to the teams over the course of the season. Winning is always nice but on tour it is more about the performance and this was the case on our trip. The rugby team were to finish winning three of their five matches. The first game against Cornwall Hill finished in victory as a result of the ‘match of the day’ moment from Rory Saunders to touch down as he crossed the line after a 50m dribble to score what proved to be the winning try. Against Langa it was not all plain sailing as, with their skill, pace and flair, they provided different threats to those we were used to. Langa also had a creative approach to scrummaging which was enjoyed by those who witnessed it. Eventually it was Charles Bolton who stamped his authority on the match steering KES to victory. The third game was against Paarl Boys’ High School who are ranked in the top 5 teams nationally. Our team competed well showing real courage in defence with David Marsh, Charlie Gale and Charles Bolton impressing in particular. Eventually the class of the opposition enabled them to stretch away and win 29-0, although our team deserved a score for the commitment they showed. In the fourth game, the rugby team once again were involved in a physical contest but they were able to dominate the physical exchanges in this game. Well taken tries by Ed Grinsted put us in the lead and the whole team

played with good patterns in victory. The final game against Excelsior was very much a game of two halves. In the first, KES were dominant, exerting a lot of pressure on the opposition and completing a number of phases. All looked good at half-time and KES held a 17-0 lead with Captain Max Self playing a leading part. However, the opposition made a number of changes playing a more open game in the second half and as tiredness set in, the pace proved too much and we conceded four tries to finish with defeat. On the hockey field, the girls made fantastic progress and thoroughly deserved their excellent playing record winning all five of their matches. In the first game against Cornwall Hill the team soon realised that hockey in South Africa was physical and skilful. Eventually, KES took a 1-0 lead with a well-executed strike from our youngest player Alice Ridley. Some excellent defence enabled our team to hold and emerge victorious. This game also featured what was to be the girls’ sporting moment as Georgia Appleby produced some excellent skill to leave one opponent flat on her backside on the field. For many of the girls, the game against Langa proved to be a very emotional experience as they played against, and talked with, players considerably less fortunate than themselves. On the hockey field our team was dominant and enjoyed considerable possession. Gradually they turned this into goals and some excellent finishing from Kira Fowle on the far post resulted in a 5-0 victory. The third match was against Worcester High School who proved to be very difficult to break down. There were some excellent moments as a team but the stand out performer was Yvie Lock. The girls continued to work hard and converted four goals to win 4-0. Against Edgemead High School, it was clear that there is no easy game on tour. The girls played a team who were agricultural in their tackling techniques but our players kept their cool. Once Yvie Lock and Freya Wilks started to take control of the game we created

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 87

a number of chances and it was not long before KES not only equalised but then took the lead. Two more goals followed before half-time as the rugby team provided excellent vocal support. The final score was 4-2 and it was another fully deserved victory. The sun was shining for the final game against Reddam House; a beautiful school with a mountain backdrop. The fixture proved to be the toughest as Reddam played a style of hockey that KES were more used to; a little less physical. Claudia Tam gave an outstanding performance and her block tackles were first rate under considerable pressure. Laura Birch made some excellent runs and Iona Rhodes made some vital saves in the last ten minutes. KES won the game 4-0 and as coaches, we were delighted to see KES convert a short corner deflection.

morning that we were able to get up Table Mountain but the wait was worth it. It truly felt like being on top of the world with the panoramic vista out over Cape Town across to Robben Island on one side and down to the Cape of Good Hope on the other. It is a view that many will never forget and proved to be quite a way to finish our tour of South Africa.

Tours are, however, about much more than what happens on the playing field and many of the best memories will be of the fantastic sights that we saw and the many wonderful people that we met. The students were hosted by our opposition on two occasions and they have made some friendships that will last for ever thanks to social media. It was great to hear of the many differing experiences that our students had; one was taken on game drive on her first morning of tour whilst others had dinner in swanky Sandton. In Langa township the coach tour gave us a good insight into the poverty in the area and it certainly provided food for thought for all our players. We were given lunch in ‘Shelia’s’ where not only were we given a fantastic meal of local food, but we were also entertained by a percussion band which some of our students joined in with.

Mr Kent

As we were based in Cape Town for much of the trip, we were well placed to see all that this part of the world has to offer. We visited Seal Island, drove through Camps Bay, and travelled down to the Cape of Good Hope which gave stunning views across False Bay where the Atlantic meets the Pacific. Although a safari was not on the itinerary, we did manage to see a good amount of wildlife as we spent a morning at the Drakenstien Lion Park and Chimp Haven, the West Coast Ostrich Farm, where a number of the tourists sat on a male ostrich, and spent some time with the very popular penguins at Boulders Beach. We were given a good insight into the history of the country with a visit to the Voortrecker Museum in Pretoria. Undoubtedly though, the two highlights were going to the top of Table Mountain and out to Robben Island. It looked at one stage as if we would miss out on both due to bad weather but we got a lucky break as the sea calmed enough for us to travel the 11km out to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent so much of his life in prison. It was not until the final

A successful tour needs to have development in sports performance, to have the opportunity to experience local cultures, to provide all with an insight into the country being visited, and encourage the forming of friendships. This trip had all of this and more and was truly a great success. My thanks to all tourists, both players and staff for all their efforts to make the most of the opportunities that came their way.

88 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Summer Camp S

ummer Camp offers a unique opportunity for a group of Sixth Formers to take sixteen young carers from Southampton, aged between eight and twelve, to a campsite near Swanage for a week-long trip, full of daring challenges and exciting activities. The experience offers the young carers a chance to take a break from caring for a parent, sibling or relative who may have a physical or learning disability, mental health difficulty or problems with drug and alcohol abuse. Throughout the academic year, the Summer Camp team have worked hard to fundraise for the camp, in order to give the young carers the best possible trip away from home. Events such as doughnut sales, the First Year Halloween disco and the hugely anticipated ‘Battle of the Bands’ raised over £1,000. The 24 hour cycle-a-thon that took place in the Crush Hall was once again very popular in the spring term. It saw members of staff and pupils cycle in a minimum of twenty minute slots to fill the day and night, raising money through sponsorship and entry fees. The atmosphere through the night started off enthusiastically but during the early hours of the morning team members were starting to flag. However, the pupils continued to support and help each other with motivating words, ensuring the pedals were turning continuously. In July, Mr Cross, Miss Enfield and I travelled down to Swanage with an excited bunch of Sixth Formers and young carers in the school mini-buses. After a brief stop at the campsite we headed straight to the beach for everyone to get to know each other better through building sandcastles, swimming and playing games. Once we returned to camp, tents were chosen and we all enjoyed an evening of games and a BBQ, for what would be our last day of consistently good weather. Over the course of the week, all the Summer Camp team and the young carers enjoyed activities such as a high-ropes course, Splashdown, Monkey World and crabbing at the beach. All the activities offered each individual the chance to enjoy themselves, try something new, or overcome a fear and push past their limits. All the Sixth Formers offered support and encouragement for the young carers, as well as for each other, and, despite the bleak weather at times, everyone felt exhilarated by the experiences. On the final evening, the traditional ‘Summer Camp Talent Show’ was held under the cover of the marquee. Each young carer was involved either through perform-

ing, judging or presenting; showcasing a range of talents from singing, to card tricks and stand-up comedy. The Sixth Formers also joined in and assisted with some of the talent acts, creating a highly entertaining evening for all. This was followed by a circle time, giving everyone a chance to reflect upon the week and share some of their favourite moments. It was humbling to hear how the Sixth Formers had truly grasped the importance of Summer Camp for the young carers, expressing how happy and proud they were to have shared so many happy memories with them. There were sad farewells upon our return to school, but special friendships had been made over the course of the week and the great impact that our team had on the young carers was acknowledged through a number of thank you cards and gifts, with personal messages of appreciation from all the young carers and parents. I would also like to say thank you to Mrs Meager, Mrs Potter, Reverend Poppleton and Miss Smith for helping out across the week, as their presence was invaluable, as well as personally mention the incredible dedication that Mr Cross gave to the trip in his seventh year and thank Miss Enfield for her helpful and practical presence in her first year on camp.

Mrs Hawker

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 89

Tile Barn Activity Centre O

n 18th September, we went to Tile Barn. We were split into two groups doing different activities that built up our team work. We started off doing confusing puzzles. The first one was using two wooden planks to get our whole team from mushroom to mushroom. This may seem simple but it was harder than we expected. None of our team or the planks were allowed to touch the ground and if we did then we had to go back to the start. We had ropes to help manoeuvre the planks. Next we had to take cups filled with water and pass them down across wires and pour them into a bucket. We also collected metal batons throughout the trail to help us with our next activity. Lunch was delicious and we chatted to each other and made new friends. After lunch we did Jacob’s Ladder. While two people tried to get to the top, the rest of the team had to help out by belaying for them. My partner and I did really well as we got to the top and the rung below. All in all it was a brilliant day and we all enjoyed ourselves and got to know each other better.

Rebecca Waggett

Quotes about the day “Our trip was awesome, we achieved great things and

“It was the best day ever!” Samuel Smith and Nick Damley-Jones

it made me get to know people so much better than

“Overall we all agreed that we thoroughly enjoyed this

before.” Archie Stokes and Harry Croft-Baker

great day out.” Oscar Lowe and Dominic Goddard

“Overall the day was a huge success and a great way

“It was a great day! We got to bond with our new

to make new friends. I would definitely recommend it

classmates and get to know our teachers and class

to all First Years.” Beth Robinson

prefects a lot better.” Jenny Bareham

90 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Vienna Trip

n the 16th February, myself, and other Sixth Formers studying Music and/or German, along with three members of staff, set off on our way to Vienna. After arriving at Hotel Meininger in Downtown Franz, the group split off to explore St Stephen’s Cathedral and the local area around this, which included Mozart’s house. After dining out in the streets of central Vienna, a number of us made a trip to the Vienna State Opera to see a performance of Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’. This was a wonderful production, and a chance to experience a number of world class opera singers, with the famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra playing. Meanwhile, others indulged in the famous ‘Sachertorte’, at Hotel Sacher, just five minutes from the Opera House. The following day, we were lucky enough to have a guided tour of Wiener Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, whereupon we learnt a great deal about its founders, the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, and the technicalities of musical acoustics. Here we also saw the renowned Golden Hall, or Goldener Saal, which is the venue for the annual Vienna New Year’s Concert. Later on in the day, we made a trip to Beethoven’s house, where he was believed to be living between 1804 and 1815, and where he wrote the famous Heiliganstadt Testament. After dinner, at which Wienerschnitzel proved to be popular by general consensus, we made our way to the Porgy & Bess Jazz Club. Here we heard some up

and coming jazz musicians, with the amazingly talented pianist a personal favourite of us all. The next day we visited Schönbrunn Palace, a Baroque palace of 1,441 rooms. This provided the Music students with a greater understanding of the Baroque period setting, whilst myself, and other students studying German, the chance to improve our aural skills by listening to the audio guides in German as we made our way round the palace. Later that day, we explored the city centre further, and later had the chance to have a guided tour of the Vienna State Opera. We topped off the evening with some ice skating by the city Rathaus or town hall, an experience enjoyed by all. On our final day, we said our farewell to the city as we roamed the central streets of Vienna for one last time. It is safe to say that the trip was a success.

Emma Blackman

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 91

Watersports 2015 O

ne warm Sunday afternoon in August, forty-three buzzing KES students and five keen (and maybe a bit nervous) teachers set off from School, ready to endure the eighteen hour coach journey ahead. We were met at the La Rive campsite by our instructors, who were just a little more awake than we were, and after breakfast it was straight into our first activity. We were divided into two groups for the week to do a range of activities including Dart sailing, Pico sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, raft building, mountain biking and, when the wind let us down, paddle boarding. Experienced instructors took us out for morning and afternoon sessions, punctuated by a scrumptious lunch. Thanks to the hot and sunny weather, we enjoyed all the activities and were rarely out of the water. The teachers joined in the fun, coming out to see us on their paddle boards or in their kayaks to play games. A highlight of the week for many of us was the morning spent at Aqualand and the visit to the immense Dune du Pyla where Mr Brown was able to demonstrate his passion for geography with a quick lecture on how it was formed. Watersports 2015 was absolutely brilliant and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. It is a trip many Second Years will hope to go on again and one which many Fourth Years wish they could go on again!

Daisy Porter

92 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 93

SPORT AT KES 2014-2015

Rugby at KES T

he game of rugby continues to grow at King Edward’s with more boys playing the sport than at any other time since the School became co-educational. With A and B teams in the majority of year groups, all boys are having the opportunity to play the game, representing the School during the week and at weekends. This upward trend is one that has been developed by Mr Kent and all the rugby staff who contribute so committedly to the programme. The season started for all teams in August 2014 when a series of pre-season camps were run for all year groups; some sections, such as the senior squads, were given five days of both fitness and skill development prior to the first competitive game of the campaign. In the week preceding the first full block of the season, the School hosted the annual South Coast Kings’ Tournament in which teams from England and Wales played in U15 and U18 tournaments. It was a fiercely-contested competition for both age groups with some of the most renowned rugby-playing schools going head to head in this 15-a-side, pre-season event. Both the U15 and U18 KES teams attributed themselves well taking the scalps of some very strong opposition. Both teams made it to the semi-final stage of the Shield competitions with the 1st XV falling at the hands of Whitchurch High School and our U15 team losing out to Bryanston School. We were blessed with almost perfect weather during the first half of term, which saw all of our teams progress through the early rounds of their prospective national and county cup competitions. In addition, several teams began showing real promise during our weekend fixtures; the U13 and U16 A teams were particularly impressive showing a brand of rugby union which combined both flare with strength. Individual players from these teams were also beginning to create a name for themselves among a variety of representative teams; Michael Gorry (Fifth Year) continued on a number of pathways and has recently captained the Welsh Exiles U16 team, whose competition forms part of the talent identification process at the WRU, and Henry Gwilliam (Second Year) has represented the South of England in Rugby League. The senior squads boasted very good numbers this season but further development must be made if we are to regularly produce 2nd XV teams during the Saturday fixture card. The hard work of the 1st XV at training and throughout the season, typified by players such as Max Self, Theo Pritchard and Mark Mitchell, has brought its rewards; a tremendous run in the NatWest National Schools Vase Competition saw KES compete four games away from Twickenham.

The First Year players, although small, are skilful and quick and even when the pitches became heavier during the second half of term, they pulled off some mighty victories. Mr Aellen and Dr Paver must take a great deal of credit for moulding our First Year teams. The U13A team managed to reach the last sixteen in the National Schools’ U13 Cup Competition. Our weekend away to Richard Lander School in Truro, Cornwall will remain a highlight of the 2014-2015 season for myself and Mr Westwater although the team narrowly lost 17-10. Our U14 teams produced some of the most hardworking players I have seen at this age group; they never failed to produce two full teams every Saturday. Andrew Crawford managed to make the county team and is to be congratulated. Mr Mixer and Mr Miller worked hard in nurturing this group of athletes. Mr Tesseyman and his U15 charges reached the final of the Hampshire Cup although numbers often meant that our U15B team were left to battle with 12 players. Congratulations to Nick Hepworth who will represent the county once again this season. Under the watchful eye of Mr Wood, the U16 side including players such as Jamie Morgan, Tom Smart and Charlie Gale personified the dextrous yet ruthless approach to the game that every team facing this side would come to know. The U16s emerged victorious from their cup final match taking the county title. It is another sign of the development of sport at King Edward VI School that a KES team is now synonymous with some of the more established Rugby 7s tournaments; all year groups will play in at least one competition ranging from the Rosslyn Park National Schools’ event to the Hampshire Collegiate School Invitational Tournament. I would like to personally thank the staff (medical, grounds and teaching) and boys for their hard work. Coaches demand high standards which our boys respond to accordingly. The boys understand the need to put their heart and soul into representing the School and this is rewarded with the results that many of them are achieving. Finally, it is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to Todd Duncan. Todd has coached at King Edward VI School since 2006 and has recently taken the position of Head of Sport at the Durand School, in the South Downs. He will be sorely missed.

Mr Powell (Head of Rugby)

94 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U12 Rugby Report A

t the beginning of the first season many of the boys are brand new to rugby and vocabulary like rucking, tackling, zip and advantage make the sport seem more like a foreign language. However, this was a very encouraging first season for the KES U12 rugby squad, with a solid foundation laid for future development. With over fifty of the year group present at pre-season and after school sessions, competition for places was tight. Congratulations to the twenty-six boys who represented the A team at some point in the season. Some teams at this age have a ‘stand-out’ player who is looked up to by the rest of the team. It is to their great credit that the U12 are much more of a genuine team, fifteen different players scored over the course of the season and it shows great team play that the top try scorers were two wingers; Cameron Aitken with 5 and Tom Sutton with 4. The forwards also made good progress and both their scrummaging and rucking really improved over the course of the season. In the pack, Noah Cooper, Alex Georgiou and Jamie Dunn were in the thick of the action along with Captain James Bristowe. Of those new to the game, Rory Holm, Harry CroftBaker and Tom Sutton played particularly well. KES were not out of their depth in any fixtures and even in defeat they played well, learning much from the matches at Churcher’s and Magdalen College. With a more clinical edge to their attacking play they will hope to reverse these defeats next season. The combined U12/13 game against Stroud was very enjoyable with all but one of the KES tries scored by a student who had learnt the game at Stroud. The first half against PGS can stand as a fitting finale with some great rugby put together and the team managing to cling on in the second half to win 12-10.

Mr Aellen

s a new squad, few of the boys knew each other but it was pleasing that the U12s turned out in such numbers, making it a challenge to select a team and throughout the term, despite the deteriorating weather, the squad turned up for training with enthusiasm, commitment and in numbers. The season commenced with a ‘friendly’ against the U12A team, which was fiercely contested, however ultimately ending in defeat. This somewhat set the tone for the season as the boys next faced Ryde School. Despite their terrific work, KES were narrowly defeated without scoring a try. This was echoed in their subsequent match against Bishop Wordsworth’s but their desire to win was undiminished, which was a true credit to their grit and determination. In the game against Reading School, KES were 15-5 up at half-time, with the prospect of a downhill advantage in the second half. Spirits were high but some sloppy tackling and a couple of star runners on the Reading team resulted in a 15-15 draw. Subsequent games against Churcher’s, MCS and Perins were hotly contested, with both backs and forwards fulfilling their role, however resulting in a loss for the KES side. It was still pleasing that defeats were kept to a low margin of loss, which gave the boys encouragement. Finally, the season came to an end with the finale against local rivals Portsmouth Grammar School. The brief was simply to win, as on paper we were the stronger side. This game was absolutely enthralling for both players and parents. Rucking, mauling, passing and tackling were absolutely excellent and the team had really benefited from their time together and training. With three minutes left on the clock KES scored another try to level the score 1010. Hearts were pounding as a tricky conversion lay between a draw and victory. Needless to say the ball went over and all the boys were ecstatic about their 12-10 victory. The squad has worked tirelessly, with resolve and determination, throughout the season and deserve this success. This sets up a solid foundation for the U13 team and beyond. Well done to the U12s.

Dr Paver

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 95

U13 Rugby Report T

he U13 team have had an extremely successful year, winning 80% of all fixtures including an excellent Cup run and a double over PGS. They have progressed individually, and as a team, to play rugby to an extremely high level at times, working hard to commit defending players before spreading the ball wide into scoring positions. Whilst it has been a team effort, there were some stand out performances from a few individuals. Toby Reid and James Jerram have been pushing each other throughout the season in what has turned out to be an exciting race for top try scorer. Between them, they have averaged over three tries per game, but it was James who has had the final say with over twenty-five tries scored from his thirteen games played, eight of which were scored in a single game in what turned out to be the performance of the season. Henry Gwilliam also had a huge impact on the squad upon his return from Rugby League and helped to galvanise the forwards into a hard-working and determined group. He has led from the front and by example.

It has been a season of highs and lows, but the boys should be proud of what they accomplished and aim to learn from their experiences. The importance of playing as a team has been emphasised, and they should look to support each other in training, on match days and elsewhere. A trip to Cornwall gave the group great exposure to conditions in which they have never played before and the boys should aim to learn from it. I hope the boys continue to build on all the work done over the season as they aim to play a more structured and mature game. They have some excellent decision makers within the squad who will provide them with a platform from which they can grow and play. They have the potential to do special things in the future.

Mr Westwater

96 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U14 Rugby Report T

he boys that turned up at the start of the year joking that they had only won two games the previous season soon started to have more faith in themselves and the team. This was, in part, due to the new players that had arrived at the School but also a realisation that they could compete against the best teams in the area. After a few losses against a couple of good teams from Halliford and Dauntsey’s, it was the fantastic defensive effort against Reading School that really turned the season. The boys had lost by 50 points the previous year and to hold them out until ten minutes from the end, showed the team their capabilities. This led onto a great 22-5 victory against Churcher’s, an excellent win against Worth School 22-19 and then the dramatic win in the last play against PGS. That last game will live long in the memory, despite being 14-0 down and then 24-14 down, the group still pressed on the front foot believing they could win. The key runners in the forwards of Seb Fernando, Ben Smith and Sam Hill-Cousins (VC) all did their jobs and Jameel Khan,

Dom Payne, Robert McFarlane, Harry Cowell and Frankie Hoghton scrapped for every ball. They have developed into a very effective unit and were able to recycle the ball over a number of phases. The backs, led by the Captain, Jack Wergen, have pace in all areas and are developing into an excellent unit. Sam Webb, having scored some truly outstanding tries this season, saved his best for his solo half pitch effort in this match. James Harden continued to hit the gain line hard and create space for the pace of Andrew Crawford, Mateus Janaway and Jake Rowland. All played well as they had done all season and when the Captain ignored the coaches’ advice to kick the last penalty of the game, and Adam Lock went over to score the winning points, it represented reward for a pivotal season for this team. Peter Ryall, James Lander, Max Pumphrey and Alex Ashleigh also represented the team this season and will be needed next year as the team battle towards the County Cup.

Mr Mixer

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 97

U15 Rugby Report T

he A team entered the South Coast Tournament for the first time this year and did well despite not having the full squad available. In their pool matches they beat Lord Wandsworth College 5-0, lost to Bryanston School 15-0 and beat Wisbech Grammar School 17-7. This put them into the semi-final of the tournament where they lost to a very strong Brighton College team, but showed excellent potential for the season. The first block fixture match saw the A team travel away to Halliford School. A rare 14-14 draw was probably a fair result, although KES did have a chance to win the match at the end. The next match was their first County Cup round against Harrow Way School and was a straightforward 44-17. Against Bournemouth School the A team won by just two points 17-15 and were lucky as the Bournemouth kicker missed the conversion with the last play of the match. The next match against Sherborne B team was a very physical encounter but KES team were able to keep their composure and win 19-9 whilst in the Dauntsey’s match, KES were way ahead at half-time but a couple of injuries and a complete loss of concentration saw the boys lose 27-34. The next match was a comfortable away win against Reading School (55-14) where the scrum finally started to compete well. Unfortunately there was a further loss against Churcher’s College 22-5 and Magdalen College also proved too strong and won 76-12. Westgate School declined to play in the next round of the County Cup which automatically put the A team through to the semi-final against St John’s College, a team whom they had beaten 26-7 just over a week before. The semi-final match started brilliantly with the tries coming thick and fast – the best coming from Will Thompson who pretty much side-stepped everyone to score after running the length of the pitch. The team were 29-0 up at half-time but took their foot off the gas, just managing to hang on to win 29-24 and make it to the final. The last game of the regular season was lost to PGS but all focus was now on the County Cup final. Unfortunately the boys had to wait until 4th February to play this match and Amery Hill (the opponents) started strong, scoring a couple of great individual tries. KES responded just before half-time and in the second half their superior fitness showed where they dominated possession. Unfortunately Amery Hill scored a breakaway try against the run of play but KES responded immediately with Will Thompson catching the restart and going through to score. It was a tense finish but ultimately Amery Hill held on to win 35-17. A huge amount of credit should go to all the boys who played this season but in particular Nick Hepworth who, as Captain, led from the front, Ed Dawson, who forced himself into the side at full back and Will Thompson who was the stand-out player of the year. The Under 15 B team also had quite a few matches but commitment issues and reluctance to train meant that this team never got the results that the core of regular players deserved. A special mention should be made to George Cartwright, Felix Yeats-Brown, Joe Inada-Kim, Ollie Jones-Hughes, Oliver Boyland, Tom Rugge-Price, James Gaunt, Felix de Merode, Oscar Kime, Tom Duff, George Vincent and Charlie Hurst whose determination and perseverance made the matches possible. A very close match against PGS at the end of the season 22-20 showed the progress they made over the course of the season.

Mr Tessyman

98 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U16 Rugby Report T

his was a season of many ‘firsts’ for the coach and the team. A first ever away win at Canford, a first ever win against Bryanston, the first time I have been lost for words at half-time and finally, the first time we have won back to back Hampshire U16 Cups. In the first match of the season, a very encouraging performance away to Bournemouth saw the U16s score 62 points without reply. The team scored ten tries in total with Nick White and Jamie Morgan scoring hat-tricks. Against Brookfield Community School, in the first of two cup matches, the team won comfortably whilst the second cup match was against PGS. The game started badly as a KES handling error gifted PGS an early try. However, the rest of the match saw KES impose themselves on their opponents and eventually score two second half tries to win the match. Away to Sherborne School, the boys scored 4 tries in the first twenty minutes to take control of the match. The second half was a much closer affair but KES won 34-7. In October, it was disappointing to lose an away match (14-22) to Dauntsey’s but against Reading School, the U16s saw a return to winning ways beating their opponents 19-12. The scoreline of 55-10 at home to Churcher’s College suggested a comprehensive victory but the team had to work hard for it. Away to Canford the U16s recorded a notable victory. It was a tough game with KES taking an early lead only for Canford to hit back immediately to level the scores. In the second half Nick capitalised on a Canford error allowing KES to take the lead. Once again Canford immediately hit back to level the score at 10-10. KES applied pressure and a well worked try saw Charlie Gale cross the line under the posts. Tom Smart converted to give KES the lead 17-10. Yet again, Canford scored straight afterwards but they were unable to convert allowing KES to lead 17-15 with only a few minutes remaining. A further try and conversion from Nick White and Tom Smart gave the U16s a first ever away win at Canford. A loss against Magdalen College was followed by a home cup match against Amery Hill School. In this game the opposition were leading 21-5 at half-time leaving the KES coach speechless. However, the second half saw several players up their intensity

and with it the performance of the side greatly improved. KES won the match by 43 points to 21 with David Marsh scoring a hat-trick of tries in this match. Another ‘first’ was recorded in the victory against Bryanston. This is the first time the KES U16s have beaten this team and they gave a fantastic display to win 38-10 - the best performance of the season. Another cup match, this time against St John’s College and less than 48 hours after the Bryanston win, was played in light drizzle leading to many unforced handling errors and therefore several scrums. An injury to Joel Davies saw one of the opposition’s players receive a red card and KES eventually won by 37 points to 15. The match away to Bishop Wordsworth saw a disappointing end to the regular season that ended in heavy defeat with team members sustaining a number of injuries. In February, the boys played the Hampshire Cup Final at home to Churcher’s College winning the match 34-15. This result was a fitting conclusion to a very enjoyable and successful season and the U16 squad are to be congratulated on their victory and thus becoming Hampshire U16 Champions. Twenty-seven boys represented the School at some stage during the season and I would like to thank the squad for their hard and honest endeavour throughout the season, their camaraderie and above all the entertaining way they played the game. Michael Gorry, Charlie Gale, David Marsh and Nick White have been the standout players and they have received valuable support from James Thomson, Joel Davies, Stanley Paxton, Jamie Morgan and Hugo Marshall. It has been a hugely enjoyable season and I look forward to seeing how they all develop over the next few years.

Mr Wood

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 99

Boys’ Senior Rugby Report T

he 2014-2015 rugby season saw our senior squads achieve a number of amazing wins over some massive opposition, such as Sherborne School and Magdalen College School, and a fantastic run in the NatWest Vase competition exiting as one of the best thirty-two schools in the country. As usual, our season started way back in August for our annual pre-season week of fitness and skills’ development before we hosted our South Coast Kings’ Tournament on the second weekend in September. The tournament was another fabulous success with teams from all over the South of England and South Wales competing in three structured competitions. KES played in the Plate semi-final but fell at the hands of Whitchurch High School, Cardiff. The first half of term saw the 1st and 2nd XV record some notable wins such as the contests against Sherborne School and Halliford School. Highlights of the season were the phenomenal performances of Mark Mitchell (player of the season), our 1st XV win against Magdalen College School and the way in which our leadership team, headed up by Max Self and supported by Theo Pritchard, Owain Thomas and James Holmes, made sure all players in the thirty-five man squad were up-to-date with training schedules and fixture information. Max Self was truly a magnificent Captain.

I would like to thank Mr Jones and Mr Wright for creating outstanding playing and training surfaces, Mrs Duke and all the medical staff who supported our players and visiting teams during our home fixtures, the catering staff who fed us all and all the junior coaches who have worked so hard over the years to continue to supply the senior teams with such well-rounded, skilled and robust players. Lastly, I would like to thank all the parents who have braved the weather, and at times the opposition supporters, to be such a supportive, positive and enthusiastic presence throughout this season; without your transport, time management and fridge contents I would be bereft of a team.

Mr Powell 1st XV Captain: Max Self 1st XV Vice Captain: Theo Pritchard 2nd XV Captain(s): James Holmes, Owain Thomas, Max Beaver Player of the Season: Mark Mitchell Top Try Scorer: Charles Bolton (9) Top Points Scorer: Ed Connelly (95)

100 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Boys’ Hockey at KES Honours: U13 In2 hockey Hampshire Cup winners, U13 In2 hockey South Plate runners-up, U14 Hampshire Winners, U14 South Qualifiers runners-up, U14 South quarter-finalists, U16 Hampshire Cup winners, U16 South Qualifiers runners-up, U16 South quarter-finalists.

oys’ hockey has taken massive steps forward this season. There was notable success at all levels as hockey continued its development and gained popularity with the boys. More games were played throughout the year and the percentage wins saw a big increase from last year. The growth of the game can be seen, in particular, in the lower age groups with more than forty boys playing per age group. The Lower School continued to have large numbers wanting to play for the School on a Saturday. Mrs Thomas, in her final season leading the U12 squad, can be proud of their development. Many boys who only started playing hockey in September went on to represent the U12A team. The U12s also managed to play an U12E team, showing the demand for places. The U13s had a tough start to the season, but bounced back to win the Hampshire In2 hockey Competition easily. They went on to be runners-up in the Plate section of the In2 hockey South Finals. Well done to Mr Wood and Mr Dodds for their hard work, having played thirty-three games in what is a very short term. The depth of hockey at U14 level was outstanding with sixteen boys pushing for places in the U14A team. This age group had great success all round, on the whole, with the U14A, B, and C squads winning a high percentage of their matches. Mr Crichton coached the U14A team with Mr Dellar coaching the B team. The U15As had a good season under Mr Kent, with many games decided by just one goal with the team only losing two matches. The U15B team remained unbeaten throughout the season and this was a great credit to the boys and their Captain, Matchey Lincoln, who led from the front. The U16A team enjoyed success in the Hampshire Cup South Qualifiers but eventually lost to Cranleigh in the quarter-final match. They can be proud of their achievement. Tomek Bruml led the team well demonstrating his leadership qualities. The senior teams started the season off strong and remained a tough opposition throughout the season. Well done to Mr Gilbert, Mr Fitzpatrick and Mr Sheppard - the time spent running the senior teams must never be underestimated. The boys continued to enjoy lunchtime indoor hockey sessions. The U16s were disappointed not to have made the South Finals after being 5-2 up with three minutes left to play. The seniors enjoyed their qualifying event, but will need to work harder as a unit if they are to repeat the 2014 indoor team’s achievement and make the South Finals. Many thanks to all the ground staff and catering team for their work off the field to ensure all fixtures ran smoothly.

Mr Crichton (Head of Hockey)

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 101

Boys’ U12 Hockey Report P

ractices throughout the spring term were very well attended with over forty boys regularly turning out. This year group show much promise on the hockey field and they have listened well and worked hard to develop their skills and team play over the course of the season. With the A and D teams losing just one game and the B and C teams losing only a couple there is no doubt that they are a year group to watch as they move through the School. The first fixture of the season against RGS, Guildford, was lost due to frozen pitches but against PGS, the A and B teams were successful with both teams playing good passing hockey and securing wins. Harry CroftBaker demonstrated his skills by claiming four of the A team goals. The C team gave a good account of themselves but lost the game 1-4. The following weekend the A team took on St John’s team and were always in control, winning the game 5-2. The B and C teams travelled to the Isle of Wight, to play Ryde, and both teams returned home victorious. On a chilly Friday night, the KES A team took on the Stroud U13 B team and KES proved too strong for the opposition, scoring 9 goals without reply. The following day the boys put in another good performance and won 3-0 against Magdalen College School. The B team game ended in a 1-1 draw. Four teams made the early start to St George’s. As expected, the opposition was strong but the KES teams acquitted themselves well. The A team lost a close game, the B team battled well but a flurry of goals in the final third gave St George’s victory and the C team gained the best result of the day securing a win in the last few minutes of the game. The D team, many of whom were playing for the School for the first

time, played well but lost 6-0. The following day the A team took part in the Churcher’s Under 13 Tournament. Although they did not progress to the latter stages of the competition, the boys played extremely well against teams a year older than themselves. In the 11-a-side fixture against Churcher’s, the A team put in their best performance of the season. KES played well as a team and worked hard throughout the game to claim a 3-2 victory. The B team also played in a close encounter and won the game 1-0. Reverting back to 7-a-side hockey, away at Lord Wandsworth, both A and B teams proved too strong for the opposition and gained victories. In the final weekend of the season KES fielded four 7-a-side teams and shared the honours with Kingston Grammar School. The A team and D team were victorious. The A team played a much better second half, challenging well for the ball and coming from behind to win the game. Harry Webster, who claimed both goals, and Tom Holliday, as GK, shone for the D team but all boys gave good performances. The B and C teams worked hard but the opposition proved too skilful for them on the day. To round off the season, the A team competed in the South of England’s 7-a-side U12 regional tournament. The team competed well but did not secure the results necessary to progress any further. We would like to thank the boys for the commitment, enthusiasm and maturity they have shown throughout the season; they were a super group to work with and we thoroughly enjoyed every session.

Mrs Thomas & Mr Lewis

102 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Boys’ U13 Hockey Report A

large number of games were played and a large number of students represented the School during the course of the season. Over thirty-five boys regularly attended training after school and, on most Saturdays, two teams were selected and fulfilled fixtures. The A team made good progress during the course of the season after a disappointing start away at Millfield Prep School and a heavy defeat to St George’s. The Hampshire Cup was won with comparative ease and this sent the team to the regional finals. A rematch with St George’s was always going to be difficult but the boys played really well to restrict their opponents to scoring a single goal in the game. Sir William Borlase’s Grammar beat us but a draw against West London Free School saw us finish in 3rd place in the group and move into the plate competition. After two wins the boys reached the plate final in which they played against Dr Challoner’s Grammar. This was a very close game which ended 0-0. A nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out followed but this unfortunately saw the boys come unstuck and they lost 1-2. Outside of the cup competitions the outstanding displays were a 1-0 victory away to PGS and a very tough match at Churcher’s College which was won 3-2. The B Team recorded two fantastic wins over Millfield Prep School 7-0 and PGS 9-1. However, they then lost their way slightly only to recover with two victories over Churcher’s College and Lord Wandsworth. As a result of good individual and team performances, a number of players earned the right to play for the A team and when given their opportunity they impressed. This

competition for places will continue next year and is essential for both teams to be successful on the pitch. The C and D teams acquitted themselves very well when called upon and the award for best team performance must go the D team for their fantastic display at St George’s when losing 1-0 and playing the game without a goalkeeper due to a late withdrawal. It is impossible to mention all the individuals who represented the School during the course of the season but they can all be proud of their progress as hockey players. They will have some good memories and some bad ones but they should look forward to next year with a huge amount of confidence. Joe Mills is a talented player and will develop a stronger passing game over the next couple of years. Jai Mew has the potential to be good but must work hard at all aspects of this game. Toby Reid is very quick but must become more skilful with the ball and passing alone will not always beat defenders and goalkeepers. Rufus Beck has the potential to be an excellent hockey player. He never grumbled about the position I asked him to play in which changed almost weekly. Instead he worked hard at his game and it is his positive work ethic that should be emulated. Next season, with an injection of new Third Years, the U13s will be a team to watch. I would like to thank Mr Dodds for his help and assistance over the season both on Saturdays and at the training sessions.

Mr Wood

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 103

Boys’ U14 Hockey Report A team he U14A team enjoyed great success this season; their hard work and commitment showing in their results. The team was built on a great defensive unit, the members of whom were prepared to put their bodies on the line to help the team. This unit, led by James Harden, made many game-saving tackles with Matt Bell and Nathan Hastings being very able outside defenders who were able to distribute the ball very effectually from the back. Toby Dudson played a key attacking role from the centre and gave the KES team an attacking direction from their own half. Jo Murphy, in goal, proved to be a match winner; on many occasion making three or four saves in a row, showing his quality. The midfield was made up of Henry Beardsall, Jovan Dhariwal, Sam Rachmann, James Lander and Tom Croft-Baker. Tom played every minute of every game and has incredible vision. His distribution of the ball created problems for all teams. No team is complete without the strikers and the U14A team were blessed with some talented, hardworking and quick players that could make fifty metre runs and still score. Jake Rowland, Sam Allsop, Ben Fox and Adam Lock all scored many goals between them. Perins School found them incredibly hard to manage as KES scored 9 goals in twenty minutes. They were a pleasure to watch as they ran at defenders using their skill to create many chances.

The match of season was versus Whitgift in the South quarter-final. KES found themselves 4-1 down going into half-time but a few words from Mr Crichton made the boys realise that they were still in the game. KES started the second half strong and brought the score back to 4-3, with Toby and Ben both missing chances to put the teams level and with Adam’s deflection going screaming over the goals. Whitgift eventually ran out 6-3 winners but this match was a great example of the U14 boys’ fighting spirit and determination.

It has been a pleasure to have seen them grow as players, and achieve great results as a team. I look forward to working with them later in their school career at KES and my thanks to Toby Dudson for captaining the team. B team The U14B team started the season strong with a 5-0 victory over Bryanston and then a 2-0 win over Portsmouth Grammar. They then suffered a surprise 2-1 loss away against Ryde, although this was an excellent battling performance with a great team spirit, before an excellent 1-0 victory over MCS of Oxford. After half-term the first game back was against the always strong St George’s College. The U14Bs started smartly, scoring within the first few minutes of the game with a further goal before half-time. Scoring a third goal soon after the second half began, KES sat back a little, and with renewed vigour St. George’s took KES by surprise, scoring three goals in quick succession. The fourth goal came from a goal mouth scramble near to the end of the match in what was a disappointing end to a game that KES could have won. The boys then drew with Churchers 2-2 and finished the season strong with a 4-0 victory over Sherborne. Well done to the boys for an excellent season! The U14C team have enjoyed the opportunity to play for the school on Saturdays with many boys playing hockey for the first time. Credit must go to the squad as they developed well through the season and recorded an excellent 2-1 victory over Bryanston and a 4-1 Victory over Sherborne. The boys did suffer a loss to St George’s, but enjoyed a fast moving game with chances for both teams.

Mr Crichton

A Team Honours: Hampshire County Winners, Southern Qualifier runners-up, Southern quarter-finalists.

104 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Boys’ U15 Hockey Report A team The season started with the tough challenge against Canford School. The boys conceded a goal in the first minute of the match but, after surviving many more attempts on goal, the KES team grew in confidence and grabbed a goal to go into half-time on level terms. A well organised display in the second half resulted in a further goal and victory for the U15s. Bryanston were the visitors for the second game and they were on the receiving end of a dominant display by KES. The final score was 9-1 but in reality it could have been many more. The subsequent match against PGS was keenly contested and we were unlucky to lose this game. A defensive lapse saw PGS take a 2-1 lead and the score was to stay this way in spite of a controversial ending where the KES players claimed a goal only to be denied by the umpire. St John’s College, Southsea did not provide much of a challenge as we won 16-1 before a shortened match against Magdelen College School Oxford resulted in a loss for KES. Unfortunately the matches against Sherborne and Kingston were cancelled and so the fixture against Churcher’s proved to be the final game of the season. The boys managed to put together a display of dynamic passing hockey that created many opportunities producing a 6-0 victory.

The squad developed well over the term as they started to appreciate their positioning within the team and the flow of the game. Defensively they were solid and have the ability to move the ball well. There are good attacking avenues and when the players learn to be more clinical in their finishing and more precise in the execution of their basic skills they will prove to be a very strong side. I look forward to watching their progress with interest. Squad: Jacob Fay (C), Robert Atkinson, Zak Cooper, James Gaunt, Charlie Harrigan, Patrick Holly, Matthew Man, Archie Millar, Ben Millar, Scott Olive, Joe Powell, Tom Rugge-Price, Alex Shadbolt, William Thompson, Oliver Viant, Angus Wright,

B team he success of the U15B team demonstrated that there is great depth in the year group. Against Bryanston they dominated possession and attacked with flair and fluency scoring three good goals and starting the season with a 3-0 win. In the PGS match, KES kept up the winning momentum being dominant in the first half and clinical in front of goal. The boys defended valiantly throughout the second half to prevent a brief resurgence from PGS and the performance was capped off with a late goal to seal an excellent victory. Against Ryde School, KES scored two goals in quick succession at the start of the game. Eventually KES saw out the game with a strong and organised defence and some excellent goal keeping. The MCS game was cancelled and so the next match was against St George’s. This was end to end stuff with KES just pipping the opposition for possession resulting in a 2-1 victory for the squad. Against Churcher’s in an open game, in which both sides had a number of chances, it was with one minute to go that we finally took an opportunity from a retaken short corner to keep the 100% record intact. Sherborne were the last team to take on the U15B team and they took the early lead but KES rallied and scored some good goals to finally finish victorious by 4-2.

This brought to an end a fantastic season for a team that played with an impressive level of technical ability and games understanding. I am sure that a number of them will eventually represent the School at 1st XI level. Congratulation to all the boys for their hard work. Squad: Matchy Lincoln (C), Will Broadway, Dylan Chatterley, Joe Case, Luke Celinski, Henry Compton, Zak Cooper, Tom Duff, Nic Hepworth, Matthew Man, Chris Mark, Scott Olive, Joe Powell, Gus Reid, Tom Rugge-Price, Harry Tidby, Matthew Whitehead, Freddie Saint, Henry Waring, Angus Wright

Mr Kent

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 105

Boys’ 3rd XI Hockey Report T

he opening match of the season saw the side travel to Bryanston; historically a tough but enjoyable fixture. Trouble started at Hill Lane as the team were seemingly lacking a goalkeeper, after what transpires to have been a confused handover of this responsibility in the lunch queue midweek. We therefore took to the field one short, but with the vital equipment for James Allen to bravely take on the role of kicking back. The first goal of the 2015 season came our way quickly and our lead doubled inside 10 minutes. We conceded almost at half-time to leave the game open but a burst at the start of the second half saw us stretch the lead back to 2 goals within 3 minutes of the restart before losing that advantage thirty seconds later and then parity being restored 4 minutes after that. Hugo Wilkinson completed his fourteen minute hat-trick to turn the tide and Gregor McKenzie scored in the final minute with his second goal of the match.

The first home game was against Ryde 2nd XI on a frosty morning at Wellington – this time with a full complement of players. The game was evenly balanced at times although we always seemed reasonably relaxed in possession. James Allen broke the deadlock after ten minutes and Reuben Benton doubled our lead so that we turned at half-time with a two goal buffer. We pressed Ryde in the second half, at times leaving ourselves a little exposed in defence. Jim Murphy proved somewhat of a lynchpin in this regard, calmly mopping up and spreading play both left and right out of defence. Although David Marsh optimistically claimed he had this covered, we defended well as a team and through a pair from Dan Damley-Jones in the second half we doubled our advantage and saw the remainder of the game out with confidence. New opposition in the form of Magdalen College saw us expecting a tough fixture. The game was evenly balanced in the first half but the final scoreline was a touch unflattering. Our mood remained buoyant as Gregor McKenzie caused a degree of confusion with his second goal celebration. Harry Kane and Ben Sharpley did well not to take out their striker who went through 1 on 1 from the half-way line in the three additional minutes. A balanced, nice-tempered and evenly matched affair, if not reflected in the 2-4 result.

After half-term, the side faced St George’s U16A side. Arriving ahead of the start time, Alec Damley-Jones worked well as part of a coordinated midfield - keeping our shape in this match proved vital in keeping the opposition down to a few chances. One down at half-time, we had several chances to pull this back before conceding a second. This was a well-worked team effort, down their right hand side, into the penalty spot for a tap in. Momentarily we lost a little focus and conceded the final goal of the game 40 seconds later. We battled well and had plenty of chances to score but some unselfish play and unfortunate finishing were ill-timed in a fixture that needed us to be at the top of our game. Away at Sherborne we set about producing one of our best performances of the season. At the heart of our success was good awareness of team positional play and an eye for the perfect pass. Coupled with some effective work in front of goal, we ran out comfortable winners and concluded the season with a 3-2 win record and a 5 goal difference in our favour. Players with more than one contribution in the contest for the golden 3rd XI stick: Alec Damley-Jones & Gregor McKenzie (4 goals), Hugo Wilkinson (3 goals), Reuben Benton (2 goals). Once again a thoroughly enjoyable season with a strong group of committed players.

Mr Sheppard

106 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Boys’ 2nd XI Hockey Report O

n reflection, I was surprised that the 2nd XI conceded as many goals as they did – indeed there was only one clean sheet all season. Part of the problem was the almost weekly change in lineup, which clearly disrupted defensive marking and marshalling. Nine of the goals conceded came in two matches; four against MCS, who had a very competent side, and five against Churcher’s College where the school side had only ten players as a result of the Captain going to the wrong ground! On the positive side, the team scored an average of just under three goals in every game – the defence averaged exactly two, therefore not much to complain about. The side played some pleasing hockey during the course of the season, but lacked a genuine midfield playmaker. Anyone that showed promise in this area quickly disappeared into the 1st XI. The ability to make a telling pass from midfield, either with precision or subtlety, was in short supply so any chances came from more predictable sources such as right wing crosses, penalty corners or balls pulled back from the goal line. Defence was quickly turned into attack and, due to some genuine pace, it became difficult for others to support in numbers.

The season as a whole was most enjoyable. All the players showed excellent commitment to the match day call, they worked hard as a group, encouraged each other and played with genuine skill. The results the team achieved should not be underestimated – it is rare indeed to record victories against Canford, Bryanston, PGS, Sherborne and St George’s. The players can reflect on these victories with pride in their performance and appreciate the value of good team work. The team Captain, Rory Morris, led by example, giving wholehearted performances each week, unless falling victim to the inevitable promotion to the 1st XI. I would like to thank all those who played for the 2nd XI in 2015. I appreciated their skill, endeavour and enthusiasm and I enjoyed their humour, wit and exuberance. Many of these individuals will enjoy hockey for the rest of their lives and it all started at KES for a good number of them. I wish them well. Squad: Reuben Benton, Edward Compton, Rory Creedon, Alex Darch, Joel Davies, Calvin Fong, Fergus Hickey, Toby Hill, Louis Kolliari, Henry Marden, David Marsh, Oliver Martin, Sam Mills, Zak Milner, Rory Morris (Captain), James Murphy, James Paxton, Harry Rivett, Rory Saunders, James Thomson, Reece Wiggins, Joe Winter, Ed Wright and James Wright.

Mr Fitzpatrick

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 107

Boys’ 1st XI Hockey Report H

aving lost some ‘big’ players with the departure of last year’s Upper Sixth, this was always going to be a challenging season. Added to that were talented senior players with modest training habits and a tendency to argue with umpires. As always we wondered who was going to step up to the mark from last season’s 2nd team and the U15s. And so it was that we approached our first game against Canford; last year’s U18 National Cup runnersup. KES produced an amazing victory winning 3-1 in a game that included a memorable reverse stick shot into the far corner from debutant and England U16 player Tomek Bruml. Buoyed with optimism, and aware of the good contributions made by James Paxton, Ben Trotter and Joseph Winter against Canford, senior players demanded an audience with the Head of Sport to comment that the U16s were cup tied for the first round of the National Cup. They had nothing to fear as Harry Rivett, Rory Saunders, Louis Kolliari, Rory Morris, Fergus Hickey and Henry Marden came in to contribute well. We took the first half on points but were outplayed in the second and suffered a devastating blow as a talented RGS centre forward struck with venom

past KES goalkeeper Nikhil Chikhliwala. The same group of Sixth Formers played some fine team hockey to record a convincing but nail-biting 3-2 win against Charterhouse. Drawn to face Peter Symonds in the next round the team worked hard to close down and press their opponents but failed to take their chances with the game finishing in a draw. Unfortunately we could not repeat the penalty taking success of the previous year and went out on flicks. Overall the side had a successful season with 7 wins, 2 draws and 5 losses. Other than Canford, they recorded a magnificent victory against St George’s and also beat Bryanston and Churcher’s College. The boys played with real spirit, determination and team work. Our back four provided a sound platform and with plenty of creative ability we made plenty of chances especially short corners. Our finishing let us down and with a weak short corner routine we did not score as many goals as we should have done. Players reacted quickly on losing the ball and so we generally got good numbers behind it and were able to squeeze our opponents out. The team was a little too direct at times running the ball in, or smashing it directly into the shooting circle, rather

108 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

than finding space high and wide and opening up space in the circle. Nikhil made some fine saves and is a talented goalkeeper. Ben Trotter, Tom Fay, Will Meacher, James Paxton, Ben Dunford and Harry Rivett made up what proved to be a hard-working back four. Ben’s positional play and calmness on the ball were impressive as was Harry’s mental strength. Tom held the defence together brilliantly and Will displays an excellent all round game which will only get better with experience. Stanley Paxton started well but lost his way. He has so much potential but needs to play more if he is to fulfil it. Ben Dunford captained the side well and is a fine defender who reads the play and tackles particularly well. Tomek Bruml, Harvey Kavanagh, Hammy Kavanagh and Harrison Glew made up a very strong midfield. Tomek displayed some great skills and showed the lads that passing early is a great way to open up defences although even he got drawn into too much dribbling at times. Harvey almost tried too hard at times – hands as fast as ever and so creative in his thinking. Hammy took his opportunity well on the right side of midfield and has the potential to progress his game a lot with

dedicated and regular training. Harrison became the centre half of the team holding the midfield shape and passing the ball accurately and early. Joe Winter, Henry Thould, Oscar Birnie and Louis Kolliari shared the duties up front. Joe worked hard defending and got into some good positions. Henry worked tirelessly for the team and scored many goals no more so than in the St George’s sixes where he helped the School come 4th out of seven in the pool. Oscar has lots of potential and suffered a bad injury which put him out of action for the second half of the season. He will need to be fit and well-practiced if he is to lead the line next season. Rory Saunders became a regular member of the squad and played well wherever he was asked to do so. He will only get better as his technical skills improve. Louis Kolliari receives and protects the ball well and showed an eye for goal as well. All in all, the team performed well on match days and their results confirm a satisfactory season.

Mr Gilbert

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 109

Cricket at KES T

he weather was kinder this year with only a very few matches cancelled as a result of bad weather. Practices continued to be well attended and there was a real buzz around the grounds on the Saturday fixtures.

been better but all bar two of the players are back next year and with a good winter training programme, I am optimistic for the prospects of the team. There is also the prospect of a Sri Lanka cricket tour for a number of the senior players to look forward to. I would like to congratulate the following students on some excellent individual performances:

Centuries:

It all starts with the First Years and it was clear in the winter sessions that some very able students had joined the School. They are an athletic year group and approach their cricket with a real energy. Throughout the season a number of players were given opportunities with bat and ball and, as they develop their skills, I am sure this will turn into a successful year group. The B team were very enthusiastic and with over forty boys at practice it was hard to give all students the chance to be involved. That said, they did manage five games and, with continued commitment, there are a number who will push for an A team place. The Second Year team managed to pull off some good wins although their performance is reliant on a few key individuals. They do need to focus more in practice sessions if they are to continue to develop into a good side, but the successes of this year group show there is ability. With a B team that won 60% of their matches there is certainly going to be competition for places. It will be interesting to see how the arrival of new boys into the year impacts on the team. The Upper School teams have impressed with their performances. The U14A team had the best season of all the teams winning ten of their twelve matches. They were the only A team to beat Bradfield and were also the only team to reach a county final which they won, defeating Portsmouth Grammar School. The U14B team won 66% of their matches and there are certainly players in this team who should target a 1st team place when they reach the top of the School. It was great to see the U15A team represent KES in the Taverners Trophy and reach the last sixteen of this prestigious national competition. A 5 run win over Bryanston was also a highlight. Defeat to Bradfield and Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Taunton does show however that they are far from the finished article and there is work to be done in the winter. The 15B team also have strength in depth. In the senior teams the 2nd XI played two games this year and although both ended in defeat, it was refreshing to see senior students willing to give up their Saturdays to represent the School. The 1st XI played a full season winning half of their matches. It could have

Tom Fay

1st XI

139* V Reading Blue Coat School

5 Wickets: Angus Armstrong U14A

5-22 V Pangbourne

Angus Armstrong U14A

5-6

V John Hanson Community School

Will Thompson

5-9

V Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School, Winchester

U15A

Oscar Shaheen U15A

5-15 V Pangbourne

Hatricks: Archie Attfield

U14B

Anthony Rogers U12A

V Pangbourne V Portsmouth Grammar School

In addition to this a number of players continue to be involved with the county set up but the biggest congratulations go to Joe Weatherley. He captained the England U19 side in their tour of Australia and will do the same over the summer and prospects are also good for the U19 World Cup in 2016 in Bangladesh. Joe finished the term with the news that he has been offered a full time development contract with Hampshire County Cricket Club and so by the time you are reading this he will have completed his first summer as a professional cricketer. The provision for cricket continues to develop and the investment at Wellington Sports Ground allowed the 1st XI to move up there for their matches. This provides an arena that gives a bigger playing surface than at the School and the acquisition of covers, ropes and the electric scoreboard have made it the envy of many a visiting team. It also gives other students something to aspire to, as they can now see the 1st XI play when they too have home fixtures. Hill Lane will continue to be used for matches both on Saturdays and for the annual MCC match. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff who have been involved in taking cricket teams without whom it would not be possible to run a cricket club. It is also important to recognise the contributions made by the non-teaching staff. Cricket is extremely time consuming and the hours spent by the grounds staff in preparing the pitches and the catering staff in preparing lunches and teas is crucial to the quality of the cricket provision at KES.

Mr D Kent (Head of Cricket)

110 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U12 Boys’ Cricket Report A team ith a very enthusiastic group of new boys we had a mixed first season and getting the selection and balance of the team right was a challenge at first. With the vast majority of boys playing club cricket, we had a good base to work from. In all, bar one game, I would say that we were competitive and had enjoyable matches.

Charlie Harden led the team early on but injury led to him missing a large part of the season, at which point Daksh Bhatnagar took over the helm. Home matches were played at Wellington Sports Ground where, late in the season, the boys benefited from using and working the new electronic scoreboard - a lovely addition to the ever developing facilities. Highlights through the season include a 50 not out from Charlie Harden in the match against Ryde School, a hat-trick for Anthony Rogers 2-0-5-3 against PGS and, in the same game, Rory Holm hitting a six off the last ball to win and Daksh Bhatnagar scoring 54 V Churcher’s. Also, in our loss to Stroud School by 1 wicket, Harry CroftBaker returned very creditable figures, almost winning the game, of 5-4-7-3 and in our 9 wicket win over Reading Blue Coats Charlie Harden again scored an undefeated 55 along with Harry Croft-Baker, who scored 49 not out in a stand of 106. During the season we learnt a lot about the boys and hopefully they learnt a lot about the game, which gets mentally tougher as you get older. Playing with and against developing players will help enhance not only their skills, but also how the game is played, with more emphasis on who does what and when and why. The players have learned to make a lot of their own decisions which will have enhanced their learning and I hope they continue to enjoy and develop their cricket in years to come.

Mr Wheeler

B team he B side had five competitive fixtures. Although the score card read Played: 5, Lost: 4, Won: 1, there were some notable performances this season. Strong captaining by James Bristow, with consistent batting and bowling, boosted the side’s performance with each game. Luke Ward was consistent too with the bat and the ball and both boys were necessary assets this season. Pierre Forrester showed skill with the bat in the last few games of the season and made a strong contribution. Ultimately, too often the extras counted and this is something for the boys to tighten up on for next year when they play at U13 level.

Mr Mapstone

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 111

U13 Boys’ Cricket Report A team he U13A cricket team had a good start to the season with wins over Halliford, Bryanston U14C and Ryde. In the match against Halliford there were good batting performances from Jamie Cook (32), Ben Donnerson (33) and bowling from Alex Hall 3-11, Hugh Wilkinson 3-13 and Oscar Bussey-Jones 4-5 resulting in KES winning by 53 runs. In the following match versus Bryanston U14C, Jai Mew scored a 52 not out, with Ben Donnerson chipping in with 35 meaning KES won by 57 runs. The trip to the Isle of Wight to play Ryde was a highlight for the boys. KES batted first and scored 105 all out. KES bowled well to restrict Ryde to 80 all out with Oscar Bussey-Jones taking 4 wickets for 1 run taking a 25 runs victory.

The U13A team enjoyed a ‘Dads V Lads’ game to end the season. The dads posted a respectable 129 for 6, leaving the lads needing 11 off the last over to win the match. With the final ball, they needed 4 to win and the game could have gone either way. Unfortunately Jai Mew hit wide of deep mid-on. He managed to run 2 and on the third run was inches away from a draw but was run-out going for the third meaning the lads lost by a single run! However, a great day was had by all.

Mr Crichton

In the Hampshire Cup competition, KES faced Yateley Manor, with a much improved performance from the previous year. Yateley Manor scored 135 and KES struggled with the line and length bowling and were bowled out for 81, with Sam Burton top scoring with 22. We then lost to PGS with Jamie Cook top scoring with 32, then bounced back to beat Churcher’s by 9 runs, followed by a loss to Bradfield U14B.

B team his has been an enthusiastic and enjoyable season from the ‘Mighty Bs’. The results have been steady and the cricket improved greatly as the season went on. From a coaching perspective, the most enjoyable thing to witness was the improvement in batting and bowling, as well as the unflagging energy from the whole squad.

The season started with a home loss to Reading Blue Coat School. The Blue Coats bowled well and stopped KES from making the total needed, winning by 37 runs. Next came a convincing away win over HCS. Our opponents scored a total of 93 from their 20 overs but, in reply, KES cranked up the run rate and reached the score needed with 7 overs to spare; Tom Lockyer making 51 not out and KES winning by 10 wickets. A further home match saw the ‘Mighty Bs’ take on PGS. This was a close game on a challenging pitch which saw PGS score 128 off their 20 overs and a collection of wides and no balls did not help the B squad’s cause. KES took to the crease and started fast but a few quick wickets in succession for PGS saw the run rate stutter. The boys’ enthusiasm and grit saw them bounce back but they ran out of overs finishing on 102 for 9 from

20 overs, losing by 26 runs. The final two games saw the team improve greatly in all aspects of their game. Against Churcher’s, KES were put into bat and made an impressive total of 151, left-hander Zach Tidby hitting a solid 56. In response, Churcher’s made quick ground but their run rate was slowed by some accurate, straight spin bowling by Filippo Hall and Jo Mills. The game went to the last over with Churcher’s needing 9 runs. They only made 2 resulting in a KES victory. The last game saw the B team travel away to Bradfield College. KES opted to bat first which saw them make their highest score of the season totalling 171 runs. Tom Lockyer hit an aggressive 51 not out, with a strong contributing innings from Captain Luca Astles who made 42. Bradfield did not have the strength or depth to keep up with the run rate required and KES bowled accurately and straight and bowled Bradfield all out for 84. I would like to thank all the boys for their efforts over the course of the season and look forward to hearing of their progress in seasons to come.

Mr Dodds

112 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U14 Boys’ Cricket Report A team he U14A cricket team have had a hugely successful season which culminated in the successful defence of the County Cup. Throughout the season the boys have played a positive brand of cricket and have played within the spirit of the game, much like the current New Zealand team.

The season got off to a flyer, with a resounding victory over Halliford School, with all players making useful contributions with either the bat or ball, a theme that would continue throughout the summer. The team then showed their character and ability with the ball by defending a very low score against HCS and bowling the opposition out for just 28 runs. More victories followed against Pangbourne and Bradfield College before the team played three cup games in the space of just eight days. These matches saw a return to form for James Harden and a 5 wicket haul for Angus Armstrong.

catches whilst standing up to the faster bowlers. With 151 runs required for victory, the team scored their runs at a sensible pace to win by 8 wickets. Captain, Jovan Dhariwal, batted with skill and composure to finish on 64 not out to cap what has been an outstanding season for him. It has been a pleasure to coach the team this year, there have been some outstanding individual performances but above all, the boys have brought into it the idea that cricket is a team game and have celebrated one another’s success. Best batsman: Jovan Dhariwal 379 runs (average 47) Best bowler: Angus Armstrong 21 wickets (average 6.9)

Mr Brown

The final was played away at PGS and the team was eager for revenge following defeat earlier in the season. After inserting the opposition in to bat, the team took wickets at regular intervals with wicket taking spells from Sam Rachman, Aditya Rokade and James Lander. Will Wickham also showed what a good wicketkeeper he is developing into, taking good

B team he spring and summer weather has been much kinder to us this year and we have managed to get seven B team matches played. The depth of talent in this year group is very exciting with the team winning five of these matches. An easy win against Halliford to start the season was followed by a fighting victory against Reading Blue Coats, with Will Fleming’s unbeaten 48 being the crucial innings. Another win, this time against Bryanston, took us to half-term on a high. With PGS up next, a fourth victory had the boys dreaming of the perfect season. Dreams fade fast though, and a narrow defeat to Churcher’s was followed by a heavier one to Bradfield as the depth of the squad was truly tested and found wanting. Captain Leon Astles’ 4-10 in a Bradfield total of 169 and the emergence of Seb Harris as a run machine were the outstanding performances on a difficult day. Redemption came on the final day, as we travelled to Pangbourne with a full strength team and duly finished

on a high. The boys played excellent cricket and the opposition had no answer, with Archie Attfield taking a hat-trick as the team took five wickets in six balls. Thanks to all the boys for their commitment this season, their enthusiasm on the field and above all, their enjoyment of playing cricket.

Mr Eyssens

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 113

U15 Boys’ Cricket Report A team his was a successful season and the boys are to be congratulated on the way they performed throughout. The season started with three of the first four games going down to the wire. They beat Halliford School by 2 wickets with 3 balls to spare, Bryanston School (Duff 37) by stopping them score a 6 off the last ball and Marlborough College (Holly 96) by 3 wickets with 4 balls to spare! These games brought the team together in the knowledge that everyone has to contribute in order for success to be achieved, especially after losing two players to the 1st XI for the entire season. Having won the County Cup last year, the squad qualified for the National Cup where, after beating Marlborough, they came up against an extremely strong King’s Taunton team who showed the team the benefits of bowling tight lines and being patient. There were County Cup wins against Salesions (Davies 71, Fay 69) and Kings’ Winchester (Thompson 5-9) before an excellent semi-final batting performance against PGS where they just failed to defend 137 (Gaunt 61). A disappointing defeat to Bradfield (Millar 50) was due to a rare batting collapse but wins against Churcher’s (wk Ben Millar 69) and Pangbourne (Shaheen 5-15 and Bussey-Jones 51 n.o) rounded off a good campaign. Titcombe led the bowling attack well and there were solid contributions from Archie Millar (top 6 hitter) and Compton (highest strike rate) Gupta, Tidby, and Starr. If I was to pick one thing out as a weakness it would be the fielding and this is something for the boys to work on as they progress to the senior sides.

Mr Mixer

B team he U15B cricket team unfortunately had their season curtailed due to a couple of cancellations but were still able to progress with three fixtures, enjoying, overall, a successful season. There has been a solid core of committed and enthusiastic pupils, led by Matt Stelling, who has discharged his Captain’s duties admirably throughout, and several others have stepped in as needed to make valuable contributions. The low point of the season was when a weakened side was soundly beaten by an impressive Bradfield outfit, losing by 93 runs despite some fierce resistance at the crease. However, an inspiring victory in a rearranged game against Churcher’s College, with the needed 5 runs heroically scored by James Marshall off the final ball of the allotted overs, saw the team start to gather some momentum. This was capitalised on in our final fixture, with a fine batting performance against Pangbourne, Matt Stelling arriving at number 3 to score a rapid 35 runs (including7 boundaries) and James Marshall scoring an impressive and solid 57 with the bat, including 12 boundaries, with Pangbourne’s total of 114 achieved in just 10 overs. Overall, then, a solid season and there has been much quality and commitment in evidence to build on in the future.

Dr Filtness

114 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Boys’ 1st XI Cricket Report T

his was a season that promised much, as the squad contained a number of players who had experience of 1st team cricket. However, the first game of the season in the Altham Trophy against Farnborough was to give an indication of what was to happen in the season ahead. In the field, some loose bowling and a dropped catch allowed them to post a reasonable score and, in reply, we lost wickets at regular intervals to finish short of the target, meaning we had little chance of reaching the final. In order to be successful, we needed bowlers to bowl with control, and batsmen to apply themselves for long periods of time. Against Halliford School it seemed like the pieces of the jigsaw were slotting into space. Charles Bolton top scored with 60 and and we set 227 in 40 overs. In response, our bowlers impressed, taking wickets at regular intervals as the opposition were bowled out for 99. Against Alton College, the bowlers again took wickets and we were left with a target of 97 to win. Dan Damley-Jones and Tom Fay put on 57 for the first wicket as we reached the target for the loss of 1 wicket. Trojans Cricket Club fielded a strong men’s team in an evening game that our players will hopefully have learnt from. Rory Saunders hit 61, as we set 137 in our 20 overs. It soon became clear that the bowlers had little margin for error as the experienced adult players struck the ball well to win by 8 wickets. Reading Blue Coat School were the next visitors and again we were dominant. Batting first, Dan DamleyJones scored 94 and Tom Fay was unbeaten on 139 as we scored 311 off 40 overs. The opposition struggled in response and were dismissed for 190. Against Bryanston, all the KES batsmen struggled on a damp pitch and it was a disciplined knock of 34 from Tom Smart that enabled us to post a competitive target of 130. We were in with a chance throughout their innings but, unfortunately, an injury to Jacob Fay who was bowling superbly meant he left the field and this was to be the turning point. Bryanston reached their target for the loss of 8 wickets in a good match. There followed a convincing victory over Queen Mary’s College before we visited HCS. Charles Bolton led the way with 58 in 56 balls and he was well supported by Dam Damley-Jones and Tom Fay as we declared early on 199-3. HCS put up some resolute defence but eventually thanks to 4 wickets to Captain Ed Wright and 3 to Alec Damley-Jones they were dismissed with 5 overs to spare and KES recorded another victory.

After half term things did not go so well. Portsmouth Grammar School visited the new home of 1st XI cricket at Wellington Sports Ground and they proceeded to bat us out of the game, scoring over 300 in 50 overs. This proved to be too much for us to chase although things might have been different if Patrick Holly had received some support as he scored an excellent 70 in good time. We travelled to Churcher’s and bowled well to restrict them to 132 in their overs. This chase should have been within the reach of our batsmen but only Dan Damley-Jones was able to spend time at the crease. He scored 60 but no one else reached double figures and we failed to chase the modest target. A trip to Bradfield followed and our performance was as unimpressive as the setting was impressive. Lack of discipline and focus in the field, along with some poor batting resulted in us being outclassed; not an experience that our players will want to repeat. The final game of the season against Pangbourne gave the players the chance to redeem themselves and this they did. Again, it was Dan Damley-Jones who showed the way with the bat and he scored another 50. He was supported by Tom Smart and Jacob Fay as we set 203 for victory. Pangbourne were reduced to 8-4 at one stage but did recover. However, they had too much to do and eventually they were dismissed for 160 as we won the final game by 39 runs. All bar two of the players will return next year and I hope that they will have learned from the mistakes of this year as they have the potential to be very successful next year. They should have a strong batting line-up and a good bowling attack but they all need to take responsibility for their performance and not leave it to others. I would particularly like to thank Ed Wright, who led by example, and Tom Holden-Dye. Both played throughout their A2 exams, showing that it is possible to keep playing cricket and do well academically. It is enjoyable to work with a group of players who enjoy their cricket but they will enjoy it even more if they are able to play to their ability.

Mr Kent (Head of Cricket)

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 115

U13 Boys’ Tennis Report T

This has been an enjoyable and impressive season by the U13 tennis squad. From working with a lot of the squad in other sports, I have been impressed with the team’s great attitude, enthusiasm and love for the game. This, in turn, has resulted in some strong performances throughout their tennis season. The squad got off to a flying start in the AEGON League, at home, in sunny conditions, against opponents Ballard School. First pairing Henry Gwilliam and Sam Thompson served well and proved too strong for both Ballard pairings, with second pairing Ed Sheppard and Josh Golledge also beating their opponents. The singles was settled in similar fashion and the boys won 12-0 overall. Their second match against Kings’ School, proved to be a much tougher. The opposition were strong but it was the windy conditions that made the matches nearly unplayable. Serving and returning for both teams was difficult, with sufficient breaks allowed for picking up the nets!! It was King’s that weathered the storm better, eventually sailing through to a 10-2 victory. Fortunes, and the weather, changed for the better with a sunny trip to Wellington against PGS. The matches were closely contested and very even with fourth seed Josh Golledge proving to be the form player of the day. Hard fought long rallied games eventually saw him victorious over his opponent with KES winning 8-4. Against Romsey School, the squad proved too strong with their serving and cross court play. William Jackson (U12 squad player) came in as a last minute replacement and played brilliantly with KES running out 12-0 winners. A friendly match against Stroud saw the team continue the winning form, 8-4 winners overall whilst the last match saw three of the squad link up with the U14 tennis squad in a match against Winchester College on some flawless grass courts. The squad played well in some hard fought matches. First pairing Henry Gwilliam and U14 No.1 seed Ben Fox won two of their three matches against resilient Winchester College opposition. Unfortunately, overall, the team lost 7-2, but the loss was somewhat sweetened by the after-match tea. Overall, a very impressive season. I would like to thank the boys for their efforts and commitment to the tennis team as well as the time they put in to play after School. It has been a real pleasure taking them to matches and I look forward to hearing of their progress over the seasons to come.

Mr Dodds

116 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U15 Boys’ Tennis Report T

he U15 boys’ tennis season continued the tradition of a combination of fierce competitiveness with a relaxed approach and games played with a smile on the face. The bedrock of the team this year was Will Thompson and Matt Whitehead who played every fixture and ended with very impressive win/loss ratios. The team got off to a good start in a fixture against Ballard School which was a lot closer than the final scoreline (KES winning 10–2) suggested. Matt Whitehead had a particularly hard fought win against the number 1 Ballard player, and it was good to see James Gaunt playing in his first match for the School secure a win in the doubles with Peter Borodzicz. Will Thompson provided a doughnut in his singles before the KES catering team offered the edible variety in the post-match tea. Thornden were the only side to beat us this year; they had a very strong side and there was some magnificent tennis played before KES succumbed to a defeat which cost them progression in the Aegon Schools’ Tournament. PGS were dispatched without the loss of a set, and the best weather, if not the best tennis was featured at Mountbatten where KES prevailed despite a noticeable dip in form from the team. This match saw an epic doubles set from Mat Man and Felix de Merode who let slip a 3-0 lead, saved match points and eventually prevailed in the tie break. The Aegon Schools’ Tournament that provides the bulk of our fixtures does not allow for a separate U14 team, so it was disappointing that the friendly against Churcher’s was rained off, and the fixture against Winchester College was something of a baptism of fire for many of the U14 players. The U15 team equipped themselves well in this final friendly of the season, running out clear winners on the grass courts of Winchester. Sadly we were denied the season’s traditional finale of the Hampshire Doubles Tournament in which KES has a distinguished record, because the competition this year clashed with the School’s Endeavour programme. It could be said that the season petered out somewhat, but many of our players continue to train and play outside of school, and all those who benefited from the expert coaching of Julian Godfrey this year have seen their skills improve and their appreciation of the sport enhanced. The U15 players who graced the competitive matches this year were William Thompson, Matthew Whitehead, Peter Borodzicz, James Gaunt, Felix de Merode and Mathew Man.

Mr Culver

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 117

Colts Basketball Report T

his season has seen some promising play and the rise of new talent. However, mainly due to lack of numbers, results suffered. Each player had their moment of brilliance. Stanley Paxton made a significant contribution as my fellow Captain. In one game (against St George’s) he scored a magnificent 32 of the team’s points. Alex Thwaites and Zak Berry also showed their experience, keeping their composure under pressure. Other less experienced members of the squad showed great potential and character. Ollie Uglow and Ollie Tait both hustled well and developed very quickly into good basketball players. Meanwhile, the three youngest players excelled: Max Pumphrey showed great courage and basketball nous and Jasper Ladd displayed confidence in his dribbling and driving to the basket. Ben Whetmore, similarly, showed much dribbling prowess and possesses a sure-fire shot from range. Both these players showed great determination when physically outmatched by opponents who were often two years older than them - and sometimes a foot taller! After a disappointing succession of losses leading up to Christmas, the inclusion of three hitherto unavailable Fifth Years, Hugo Marshall, Tom Smart and Mike Gorry, made a notable difference to the quality of play. The addition of these players led to our first (and only) win of the season against Romsey School. This was an epic: a tense and thrilling match, which saw our team picking itself up from a losing position at half-time to eventually beat the opposition by a single point. We finished the season with a tally of 1 win and 6 losses. However, I do not see these results in a negative light as along the way we grew in confidence and ability, as individual players and as a team. We may not be a championship winning side as yet, but we have the potential to become one and I am looking forward to hearing about the next season’s KES Colts basketball successes. I would like to thank our scorers: Lucia Laverty, Darra McCarthy-Paul, Ellie McLeod, Katya Sheath and Loryn Perkins for giving up their free time after school to score our matches. I would also like to thank Mr Smart on behalf of the team for not only being our coach, but also our referee, our organiser and above all our inspiration on the side-line.

Duncan Urquhart-Hawkins

Senior Basketball Report G

oing into the 2014/15 season, it was perhaps difficult to ascertain how fruitful the KES senior basketball team would be. The squad was one of the smallest in number of recent years, but also one of the biggest in terms of height. Standing at 6’ 11” and 6’ 9” respectively, the inside pairing of Harvey Barr and Roman Farion brought not only a daunting physical presence to the defensive end, but some supreme guile and shotmaking to the offence, and were a match for almost any opponent KES could have faced. They were supported at the back of the zone by forwards Harry Elton-Dobbin and Nick Francis, who both developed into strong inside shooters over the course of the

season, bolstering greatly KES’s already significant threat on the offensive glass. On the wings, Coach Drew Sewell probably had the hardest decision to make, with a fair number of guards and outside shooters competing to support point guard Tom Holden-Dye. Jordan Sheath came into the side as a rookie but instantly showed his talent as a ball-handler and was a great help in that role, while shooters Sam Tan and Zak Berry both also performed impressively. Tan confidently stepped up to the role of senior shooting guard and developed a real knack for making good shot selection, whereas Berry, bursting through as a young Fourth Year rookie and showing a lot of promise for years to come,

118 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

made some big shots. Also competing for a spot on the wings was the versatile Duncan Urquhart-Hawkins, whose energy and strength saw him able to perform well in the front or back of the zone, and made him a constant threat on the fast break. Finally, rookie forward Ollie Uglow developed admirably after joining the squad late on in the season, and given increased game time next season will be sure to become one of the squad’s regular big men. Moving onto the fixtures, KES started the season well with a convincing 48-20 win over Totton College. Harvey Barr high-scored with 31 points, a feat that was to be repeated by him in almost every game of the season. However, the next game against Brockenhurst College showcased another, less desirable, pattern of KES’s season. Both Barr and Farion were absent due to injury (Farion had already missed the first game), and the team’s star pairing would unfortunately be side-lined many more times throughout the season; in Farion’s case owing to a relatively long term finger injury, and in Barr’s to persistent knocks and muscular injuries. KES showed great fight without this inside duo but couldn’t do much to avoid being thoroughly beaten by 18-65 by a strong Brockenhurst side. The next game, against local rivals Richard Taunton’s College, saw a brief return of Farion, allowing KES to work their way to only being down 18-14 at the half – a respectable score line. However, injury to Farion and foul trouble for HoldenDye meant KES were not able to reduce this 4 point deficit, and a disastrous second half saw Taunton’s storm to a 75-28 victory. KES hoped to bounce back in the next game, meeting Totton College again. However, this time the match was played away and Totton reaped the rewards of home advantage, albeit it in an unusual fashion. A booking mix-up of the Sports Hall meant the game was ended after only 3 very short quarters, just as KES were starting to come back into the game. As a result, KES lost 16-24 in a match they really could have won, despite the continued absence of Barr and Farion. Two more tough losses followed for the KES side before the winter break. Harvey Barr returned to the team for a second clash against Brockenhurst College, but although the side defended well and came within 4 points of tying the game up at one stage, Brockenhurst

pulled through to a 50-33 victory. Stanley Paxton, in for the first and only time of the season, performed well in Holden-Dye’s absence as the main ball carrier. The KES side then suffered another defeat at the hands of Taunton’s college two days later, losing 44-77 to close out the 2014 calendar year. The turn of the New Year saw a dramatic change in the KES side’s fortunes. Three back-to-back victories, against Chichester College (46-28), Totton College (32-22), and Brockenhurst College (37-27) put a smile back on Coach Sewell’s face, particularly the latter of the three. The inclusion of Barr and Farion together in the KES line-up, for the first time in the season, showed just what could be achieved by a full strength starting five, as the team scored the School’s first victory over a Brockenhurst side in Coach Sewell’s twelve year tenure at the School. It was perhaps disappointing then that the squad was brought back to earth two days later by a frustrating 46-58 defeat to Queen Mary’s College. The School had entered the half ahead by 7 points on the Basingstoke side but, despite a season best (at that point), 37 points from Barr were unable to hold off a strong QMC fightback. Luckily the squad bounced back when the School hosted South Down’s College for the last game of the season, as they capped of the season with a fine 5429 victory. Holden-Dye and Barr, the two Upper Sixth members of the squad, finished their school careers in style as they combined for 53 of the 54 points – with Barr top-scoring with 44. As always, thanks go to Coach Drew Sewell for his passionate and fair management of the team, and to Mr Smart for his superb job of organising all the basketball at KES and driving the team forward through the up and downs of the long season. The senior team finished with a record of Played 11, Won 5 and Lost 6. Well done to all who played and good luck for the upcoming 2015/16 season!

Tom Holden-Dye

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 119

KES Football Report A

s a season of mists, mellow fruitfulness and, most importantly, football was reborn under a damp fog at Wellington and so the footballers of King Edward VI School embarked on a new and exciting odyssey in the turbulent and challenging waters of the Hampshire Colleges’ Association Football League. It all kicked off with the now customary friendly match against the Old Edwardians which is now in its tenth successful year. Somewhat complacent, and looking slightly overweight and undertrained after a summer relaxing on the beaches of Europe, the returning players were taught a footballing lesson by the new squad, a mix of freshfaced and enthusiastic Lower Sixth and an already strong core of experienced Upper Sixth players. The encouraging performance in this pre-season curtain-opener augured well for the year and the class of 2015 excelled against oppositions of differing quality throughout a season of success and achievement. Dynamic and clinical attacking displays were combined with solid defensive performances that provided twelve clean sheets and a number of high scoring victories over the course of the year with 9-0, 8-0 and 10-0 victories against Brockenhurst, Basingstoke and City College respectively. Nic Cooper brought an aggressive, competitive approach to the game, so often lacking in KES players, winning the ball and distributing it skilfully to the likes of Luke Green in the midfield who showed composure, energy and stamina throughout the year. The addition of Ryan Seed part-way through the season, rekindling his love for the game after serious injury, added strength, determination and pace to the attack whilst Sam Gibson began to get to grips with the finer nuances of the game in the latter part of the season and looks to have the potential to contribute further next year. Will Hawthorne, a Christmas recruit from the oval ball game, added further grit and drive to a sound defensive unit and his goal against City College demonstrated the pace and determination that has helped him to force his way into a regular first team spot. Will Scullard brought composure, discipline and creativity to the midfield; his elegant contributions helped to ensure that our high league position was maintained throughout the season. Madness can be defined as ‘trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results…’ yet we still let Ed Wright take free-kicks; some say his set-piece versus Bay House is still rising. He did, however, chip in with some fine performances and

goals. Tom Holden-Dye brought individualism to the team. His mazy runs were reminiscent of George Best at times and he even chipped in with a few goals from the left-wing position. In the midfield, Elliot D’Souza’s vision and play-making ability meant that he created a plethora of opportunities for the attacking players throughout the year to ensure that he gained a number of assists at important moments in our season. Matt Wear provided an excellent last line of defence for a near-impenetrable backline, his heroics in the cup semi-final were epitomised by his two penalty saves which saw us through to the final against Andover where we eventually lost 2-0 against a thoroughly professional outfit. Also in defence, Riccardo and Anash provided the perfect mixture of strength and pace, which, not only ensured a number of clean sheets but also meant that the pair chipped in with four goals over the course of the season. Anash finally scored his two-yard tap-in on the final day of the season against City College to add to Riccardo’s three headers. Danny Stephens and Jordan Sheath brought pace to the backline whilst providing a threat going forwards to ensure that the team was quick on the break. Caspar Larcombe had yet another fantastic season as Captain, his strength and pure desire to win every challenge was key as he turned defence into attack with a number of surging runs to allow the attacking players to be creative going forwards, safe in the knowledge that there was an ever-present rock in the midfield to clear up any mistakes. Joe Macklin and Harrison Mancey formed a strong goal-scoring partnership up front with the pair scoring more than 40 goals between them over the course of the year with Harrison ending the season as top-scorer with 23 goals with some impressive strikes from dead-ball situations amongst them. New challenges lie ahead this coming year with a revamp of the Hampshire Colleges’ League hopefully providing more consistent opposition. The 2015-16 team will have a lot to live up to after a season of satisfying performances, exciting football and some great fun provided by the cream of the 2014-15 season.

Harrison Mancey

120 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 121

Girls’ Hockey at KES Honours: U13 In2 hockey winners; U14 Hampshire Cup winners, U18 Hampshire Cup winners, U18 South Qualifier runners-up, U18 South quarter-final winners, U18s - 3rd in the South of England

irls’ hockey at King Edward’s continues to grow in terms of the numbers of girls playing and the number of teams. The strength of our fixture list gets stronger each year and the addition of Millfield and Kingston Grammar this season was a good test for our girls. We enjoyed our regular Saturday fixtures against St George’s, PGS, Churcher’s, Lord Wansdworth, Bryanston, Canford and Dauntsey’s. The School regularly fielded fourteen teams on a Saturday. This depth has created competition for places and thus helped lift the standard of play, with many teams enjoying success on the field in the Hampshire Cups. We continued to build the basics this season and worked on a team game play in creating the KES style of play. The girls have worked well, with new ideas being taught each week and have adapted these techniques to their hockey. They have benefited from playing indoor hockey at lunch times and have been entered into the south qualifiers. The U16 squad came closest to qualifying for the South Finals but a draw in the final game versus Bedales meant they just missed out. The highlight of the season was the success of the 1st team who finished in 3rd place in the South of England, narrowly missing out on going to Nationals. This team can be very proud of their commitment and work ethic during the season; they have left an impressive legacy for the younger teams to strive for.

Once again this season would not have been possible without the coaches giving of their time and experience to help coach and lead teams every week. Mrs Jordan and Mr Cross led the First Years with 80% of First Year girls playing a match over the season. This is a great achievement with many girls having only started playing hockey in September. Mrs Ferrand had a successful year with her U13 squad winning the Hampshire U13 In2 hockey Competition and then the South Plate In2 hockey event. Mr Kent led the U14A team to win the Hampshire Cup and Miss Ball coached the U14 B girls who had an enjoyable season, with many girls getting the opportunity to play for the School. Miss Smith coached both the U15A and B team this year and we thank Mr Porter for umpiring the U15A team. Mr Fitzpatrick coached the 2nd XI team and did well against some strong opposition, playing other schools’ U16A teams. Mrs Kelly and Mr Crichton jointly coached the 1st XI squad. Mrs Kelly’s tactical awareness was shown in the quarter-final win against St George’s to reach the South Finals. Thank you to everyone for all the hard work and time given to help girls’ hockey at KES.

Mr Crichton

122 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Girls’ U12 Hockey Report G

lorious sunshine once again heralded the start of the hockey season on the Hill Lane astro and the three coaches were delighted to be greeted by nearly forty enthusiastic girls. Some of the girls had played before for clubs and schools but, for many, it was the first time they had picked up a stick. It was clear from the very first session that this group of girls would be an absolute pleasure to work with and all the coaches were impressed, throughout the term, with the girls’ commitment, passion and eagerness to learn. Indeed, the turn out for training on Wednesday nights, despite the restricted pitch space, was consistently pleasing even when the weather started to turn nasty after half-term. Early fixtures in the autumnal sunshine proved to be challenging at times with the A and B teams facing some more experienced sides. However, there were some encouraging results: the A team held Farleigh 1-1 on an unfamiliar grass surface, the B team held a strong PGS team and the C team had a great start winning their opening fixture against PGS. At the end of the first term we held a mini tournament amongst the four teams to assess the girls’ progress. This was well received by all who attended. The girls returned from half-term for a baptism of fire as they faced St George’s after three weeks off, resulting in all four teams losing their matches. The girls responded well to this setback though and all three coaches could see some real improvement in their skill levels and commitment in the subsequent training sessions. It, therefore, came as no surprise that the remaining fixtures, in the run up to the end of term, saw some encouraging results for KES. The final games of the season were both 11-a-side fixtures against Dauntsey’s and it was clear in both matches, despite the narrow defeats, that the girls have to learn a lot about positional play when they have more of these types of match next year. We wish them all the very best. Thank you to all the people who contributed to this most enjoyable season. This includes the catering staff, Mrs Paul, Mr Crichton and Miss Sadler, our GAP student, who has been an excellent coach and role model for the girls.

Mr Cross and KJ

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 123

Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; U13 Hockey Report T

his has been an excellent year for the U13 girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hockey team, mostly due to their exceptional commitment and enthusiasm for the sport and their individual improvement. The girls enjoyed the opportunity to play A and B team hockey most weekends and we had the odd C and D team fixture as well. The squads showed tremendous commitment to training and matches and this was reflected in the progress that they made throughout the term. For the first game of the season we faced PGS in two tough matches played on an 11 aside pitch; for some of the girls it was their first time playing 11 aside hockey. Both the A and B teams played some great hockey demonstrating strong team cohesion. The A team were disappointed not to take the win after dominating the game but were satisfied with a draw and the B team fought hard but also had to make do with 1-1 draw. As the season progressed, the A team went from strength to strength and achieved some impressive results against tough opposition; 6-2 (Farleigh), 2-0 (Bryanston), 5-0 (Dauntseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) and they went on to win the U13 In2Hockey County Tournament. From this, they progressed to the U13 In2Hockey South Finals where the girls came away as winners of the plate. The B team were not so fortunate with their results but this never deterred them, and they certainly showed great team spirit throughout the season. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Steph Judd for all that she did in her role as Captain. She showed strong leadership, commitment and tremendous enthusiasm throughout the season and often went above and beyond her role to support me and the team. I would also like to thank all the girls for their hard work and commitment and congratulate them on an impressive season.

Mrs Ferrand

124 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Girls’ U14 Hockey Report A team his was a year in which this team embarked on a steep learning curve. Over the course of the season they had their fair share of disappointments but at the end of the season they were definitely a better team than they had been at the start.

The County Tournament came very early in the season and we went into it in a confident mood. After a draw against Churcher’s, and a 1-0 win over Lord Wandsworth, we played PGS and achieved a 1-0 victory. The final game against HCS ended in a 1-1 draw and, as a result, the girls were crowned Hampshire U14 winners and progressed to the regional heats. A fixture against Cokethorpe School followed, in which the U14s were far too strong for the opposition and saw them win 8-1. Against Millfield the U14s showed some good battling qualities and, although the game ended in defeat, we only lost 2-1. Whilst the girls can take great credit for this close scoreline, they need to accept that they still have a lot of work to do on basic skills if they are to compete with schools of this calibre. The first half of term finished with a comfortable win over Lord Wandsworth College 5-3 and a defeat to Bryanston 3-1 although the Bryanston game was closer than the score suggests. The start of the second half of term was disrupted with injuries and absence and a 6-0 defeat to St George’s was a tough way to start. The regional heats followed and the squad struggled to perform to the standard

of which they are capable. A combination of team disruption, along with a lack of focus, meant the U14s failed to win any games finishing bottom of the pool. This was followed by another tough Saturday as Canford returned to KES and the team lost 3-0. However, the season ended in positive fashion. The squad had more consistency in availability and girls were starting to become accustomed to the positions in which they were asked to play. This gave them a more resilient defence and the ability to move the ball better going forward. The season finished with three wins; a 1-0 win over Churcher’s and a 2-0 victory over Hampshire Collegiate School, followed by the best game of the year against Dauntsey’s. The match was truly end to end and the result could have gone either way. KES were a goal up at half-time but Dauntsey’s came back into the game and equalised. The visiting side then went 2-1 up before the U14s equalised with five minutes remaining. This seemed to galvanise the team as they increased the pressure and scored again with just one minute to go. I do hope that the squad can use this as the starting point for next season and push on to greater success.

Mr Kent Squad: Anna Poller (C), Roma Creedon, Amira DouglasTodd, Cecilia Laverty, Tusca Alavi, India Chungh, Meg Green, Catherine Thomson, Alex Manceri-Hopkins, Finn McKenzie, Stella Bendoni, Zoe Henderson, Isabelle Richardson, Phoebe Nicoll, Rebecca Williams, Eve Henley, Alice Dean and Gemma Pearson

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 125

B team way at Millfield, both teams had chances to score but with good saves and some strong defence in the D the game was 0-0 at half-time. Both sides seemed to pick up the game where they had left off with solid intent but after scoring from a short-corner with fifteen minutes to go, Millfield went on to score a further 2 goals in ten minutes finishing the game with a solid victory of 3-0. Two weeks later, the girls suffered a similarly frustrating defeat when they played Bryanston. Due to absences, the girls were not at their full strength and, though they were grateful for the support of several U13B girls, it was evident that they were not used to playing together and lacked in defensive structure. This really seemed to be the tale of the whole season for the U14Bs. Committed in training, playing with a smile, solid in midfield however often lacking in strength defensively and with little confidence in attack so that any possession that the girls fought so hard for, was never converted into goals.

but with less than 5 minutes to go until the final whistle, a half-break from a lone Churcher’s forward, followed by confusion in the D, let in the only goal of the game, with KES losing 1-0. A week later, against Seaford, KES scored their 2 goals of the season before losing 2-6.

After the half term break, yet another 3-0 defeat, this time to St George’s, but the away game against Churcher’s was closely fought. This was by far their best game of the season. Gemma Pearson captained the team brilliantly throughout the season and in this game her leadership skills were very much on show. The girls continued to play solidly in the second half

Miss Ball

Due to bad weather and reduced teams the U14B team were somewhat unlucky; five matches, five defeats. However, I cannot thank them enough for their positive attitude, the laughter shared in training and their commitment to each other. The team always returned to Hill Lane in the knowledge that they had tried their hardest and had had fun. Gemma must get special recognition for the way she led her team, Sushi made some excellent saves over the course of the season, Izzy and Bee were always enthusiastic and Jess progressed tremendously over the course of the autumn term. The team should feel proud of how they developed and progressed and I hope that they continue to enjoy their hockey in the seasons ahead.

Squad: Gemma Pearson (C) , Beth Ryan, Madeleine Duffin, Millie Downes, Izzy Holland, Meg Maggee, Meg Broadway, Anusha Gauba, Jess Mills, Ella Ritchie, Ella Wright, Zara Mitchard, Klaudia Glowacz and Sophie Holliday.

126 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Girls’ U15 Hockey Report A team his season has represented the first full U15 A and B team squad in the history of the School, and a competitive and committed squad trained hard and regularly.

It was a tough season for the A team that began with a frustrating defeat against PGS, showing that we had work to do. A solid 3-1 win against Cokethorpe was sadly followed by a hard 5-0 loss to Millfield School. We were unlucky to go down 1-0 to Bryanston, and then 2-0 to St George’s, revealing more and more weaknesses in the girls’ ability to play together, with players sometimes putting too much pressure on each other and that pressure turning into errors and a lack of confidence. Towards the end of the season some re-juggling of positions meant that things started to turn around. A solid performance against Canford School gave the girls some self-belief, and this was swiftly followed by victories against Churcher’s and HCS. Sadly the team became over-confident and it fell apart slightly for the last fixture of the term, which ended with a 3-1 defeat at Dauntsey’s. The lesson for next season, as they go into senior hockey: don’t let your head get the better of you. The girls were well-led by Daisy Porter as Captain and I thank them for their laughter and nonsense and for their dedication throughout the season. B team he B team had an amazing season and in their first match of the season were the only team to defeat Millfield School. 1-0 defeats against Bryanston and St George’s did not deter them and they followed with a 3-0 defeat of Churcher’s College. Against Seaford A team they secured an impressive 1-1 draw and finished the season with a 1-0 victory over Dauntsey’s - a frustrating game where they should have scored ten times over.

The B team should be congratulated on their continued dedication and commitment to the squad and on the improvements that they made throughout the term. Captained by several people, but towards the end of season primarily by the very capable Martha Lawrence, they should give themselves a pat on the back.

Miss Smith

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 127

Girls’ 2nd XI Hockey Report A

quick glance at the season’s results reveals one obvious shortcoming – a lack of goals! To only score 18 goals in twelve hours of hockey will not be a sufficient threat to opposition sides. It probably means also that if our side is not attacking, it is having to defend rather more than we would wish. Two other main areas of concern were a general lack of pace throughout the defensive line-up and, once again, a lack of a midfield generally able to control the play by holding the ball or by making telling passes. Lack of effort was not an issue and, ably led by Emily Ralls, the team can feel justifiably pleased with its performances throughout the season. Ultimately, individual control, accurate passing and control of possession were the factors that led to a season that could have been better. Two of the games were played against 1st XI opposition and only two games ended as very one-sided – the matches against Millfield and Canford. The home side’s highlights were a brace of wins against Portsmouth Grammar School (PGS), and a good away win against Ryde School. I was also particularly pleased with a very gutsy final game at Dauntsey’s School where the 3-0 defeat didn’t reflect the team’s solid performance.

I would like to thank all those listed below for their efforts throughout the season, their unfailing good humour and for showing a real desire to improve and develop. A most enjoyable season was had by all - I include myself in that - and I wish all those players good luck in their future sporting careers. Three squad members in particular deserve special mention for two years of outstanding commitment: Catherine Whitby, Rebecca Collins, and Captain, Emily Ralls, showed terrific loyalty and dedication to the cause. As senior players they led by example. Squad: Mary Amos, Kate Billington, Laura Birch, India Clark, Romily Clark, Rebecca Collins, Victoria Diaper, Georgia Hoile, Darra McCarthy-Paul, Clare Mitchell, Emily Morgan, Seungyeon Oh, Niamh Phelan, Emily Ralls, Iona Rhodes, Abigail Searle Beth Self and Catherine Whitby.

Mr Fitzpatrick

128 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Girls’ 1st XI Hockey Report T

his was an outstanding season for the 1st XI hockey team and we can truly say they were an absolute delight to work with. The girls were hardworking, keen to improve, competitive and eager to be successful. They had a significant season split into the regular fixture list and the Cup competitions. Hannah Kaye, in her fourth year of 1st XI Hockey was an inspirational and talented Captain who was the ultimate role model. Ellie Gilbert, in her third year of 1st XI Hockey was outstanding in midfield and was a fabulous Vice-Captain. Gina Steel kept the girls working hard in the compulsory fitness sessions for 1st XI hockey players and this was an important contributory factor to the success the girls had. The KES 1st XI faced tough opposition from the strongest alumni team we have ever played for their first game of the season. The girls had a tough start during which time the OEs found the net three times in seven minutes to take a 3-0 lead. However, the score line was 4-4 at half-time and the second half was full of chances giving a final 6-4 result to the current 1st XI. The first of the Wednesday fixtures, against PGS, was a tough fixture but the girls played some very good defensive hockey. Particular mention must go to Gina Steel, Hannah Kaye and Katie Newsom who all had fabulous games. Kira Fowle also made some fantastic saves in goal and Ellie Gilbert had a great game in midfield. Primrose Merritt enjoyed some superb play in her new role in midfield. Unfortunately the girls lost 2-0 in this fixture. The second Wednesday afternoon fixture meant a trip to Kingston. The team put in some fantastic performances with debuts from Romily Clark, Georgia Appleby, Lucy Porter and Mary Amos. A very experienced, talented and strong Millfield side proved another tough day for the KES squad. The girls were under great pressure from the start and conceded 7 goals overall. This fixture was, however, a true springboard for what was going to be one of the best seasons to date. Against Lord Wandsworth College the KES girls won 5-2 with some solid play up front by Claudia Tam ensuring that the LWC defenders were constantly under pressure. Ellie Gilbert had another great game in midfield and it was good to see Freya Wilks return to the team. The girls continued their form by beating Bryanston 3-0. Goals from Juliet Fox, Georgia Hoile and Ellie Gilbert secured the win over a strong team. The team then had another tough game in the form of Canford in which they lost 4-3. This girls scored three very good goals and took the

lead a number of times and were unlucky not to have a positive result against a strong opposition. Against a good Churcher’s side the girls won 2-1. The KES 1st XI finished the regular season with another victory by beating opponents Dauntsey’s 2-0. This finished an excellent season for the KES team. For the Upper Sixth players, this was their last performance as KES hockey players and concluded an excellent season with some great performances. The Hampshire Cup After an outstanding afternoon of hockey, the KES 1st XI qualified for the regional rounds of the competition. They travelled to Bloxham School to compete in the next stages where they faced tough opposition from Bloxham School, Kingston Grammar School and Bradfield College but qualified after coming runners-up in the pool stages. At the regional finals the squad beat Sir William Borlaise 2-1, drew with Eastbourne College 1-1 and Lost to Cranleigh 1-0. This sadly meant that they were knocked out of the National Cup on goal difference ending a spectacular season and a very successful cup run.

Mrs Kelly/Mr Crichton Squad: Hannah Kaye (Captain), Ellie Gilbert (ViceCaptain), Kira Fowle, Katie Newsom, Gina Steel, Claudia Tam, Pip Rees, Yvie Lock, Georgia Appleby, Primrose Merritt, Juliet Fox, Sophie Ridley, Freya Wilks, Mary Amos, Georgia Hoile, Romily Clark and Lucy Porter.

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 129

Netball at KES N

etball at KES has continued to grow and evolve this year with the introduction of break and lunchtime skills workshops, the U16 and U18 squads merging to make a larger senior squad and the C team fixtures for U12 and U13 more than doubling in number from last year. The season began in September when the U14 and U16 teams were preparing for the first stage of the National Cup. Both sides showed impressive commitment and drive towards the competition although unfortunately neither side progressed to the regional round. The U16 side won the pool competition in the morning to progress into the National Pool Competition in the afternoon. Although the girls showed great skill, fitness and court play they were outplayed on the day and were unfortunate not to secure their place in the semi-final. The U14 side had a more successful afternoon. After beating PGS, Thornden and other local rivals, they finished as pool winners and later on secured a place in the semi-finals by beating Bedales. Although the U14 side showed great promise and, at times, outstanding court play, they were outplayed by the St Swithun’s side who clenched the victory. I have high hopes for them in the future. After Christmas, we began our journey into the 2015 fixture calendar taking on tough competition from Churcher’s, Ryde, Bryanston, St George’s, Dauntsey’s, PGS, Lord Wandsworth College and Canford, along with others. As always it started off wet and cold but this never seems to deter the pupils and certainly does not dampen the KES spirit. With more fixtures offering greater opportunities for pupils it was not surprising that the numbers at training were impressive. Across the year groups the commitment shown by the girls, along with their thirst for knowledge and drive to improve, has certainly impressed and bodes well for the future of netball at KES. I am very much looking forward to the 2016 season where we will continue on this journey and for the first time we will be entering the U12 and U13 teams into the School Sports Magazine Cup. I would like to say a huge ‘well done’ to all of the girls who participated in the KES netball programme this year.

Mrs Ferrand (Head of Netball)

130 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U12 Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Netball Report T

he largest group we have ever had regularly attended the Wednesday netball practices; each one keen as mustard to learn and play to the best of their ability. Due to the very early start to the season, initial selection was somewhat of a headache, but by the end of term, out of 35+ girls, those available on Saturdays had represented the School on at least one occasion. Despite the very wet weather, most of the fixtures were fulfilled and the results were, on the whole, positive. It was really pleasing to see that, by the end of the term, every one of the U12 netball club had improved in some way or other be it marking, footwork, passing, shooting, tactics, or just being able to catch and throw a ball accurately and at speed. The season culminated in an internal tournament. Four Captains were given a team of mixed ability players and had to organise team names, colours, positions, warm-up routine etc. This meant a considerable amount of communication between the Captains and each other. On the day, the coaches only got involved with umpiring, administration, and presentation of prizes. The tournament was a huge success, enhanced by the support of parents and the appearance of the Head Master. Thank you to our OE Gap student, Beth Sadler, who was an asset to both coaches and girls. She was firm, but fair, and her enthusiasm and knowledge rubbed off onto the players, who clearly enjoyed her company; she got the very best out of those in her care. A big thank you also goes to Mrs Paul for arranging away travel and after-match refreshments and to our Saturday catering staff for providing much needed match teas.

KJ, Miss Stone and Beth Sadler

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 131

U13 Girls’ Netball Report A team afeel very honoured and privileged to have had the pleasure to coach these delightful Second Year girls this year. We were very lucky with the weather throughout the season and some dry conditions meant that training occurred every week. Zoe Henderson demonstrated some excellent leadership skills and was a fabulous Captain, as was Amy Tunney in her role as Vice-Captain. At the end of season awards Amy was named as our very own ‘Space Invader’ as she was able to create lots of space on court with her endless enthusiasm, energy and speed. Molly Troup was fantastic as Goalkeeper and her work with Eleanor Dunlop in the defensive circle made them a formidable duo. Phoebe Moriarty-Palios, Sarah Macleod and Isobel Richardson joined Zoe and Amy in mid-court and all the girls fully immersed themselves in squad rotation. Kira Morton and Charlotte Young were our super shooters and really improved as a pair as the season developed. A special mention must go to Stephanie Judd who was named ‘Most Improved Player’. She has really developed as a player this season and was so versatile and vital for the squad. Zoe Henderson was crowned ‘Player of the Season’ for her valuable contribution to the squad, her versatility seeing her play most positions on court throughout the season.

The team showed fabulous improvement on last season and they demonstrated some super performances. They started the season in style by beating Churcher’s 12-6. The U13A team worked well converting their possession and taking the goal scoring opportunities available to them. The girls also had successes against the KES U12A team where they won 9-5 in a very competitive match. The squad were missing a few players on this occasion so the girls had to really work hard to gel as a team for this fixture. The girls worked incredibly hard and should feel proud of their results. There were also successes against Dauntsey’s and Canford where the scores were 13-7 and 20-8 respectively and also earned a hard fought 14-14 draw against Kings’ School, Winchester. The KES girls developed improved patterns of play over the four quarters with much possession for the side. The girls had very tough fixtures against Portsmouth Grammar School and St George’s where the opponents were very strong but their best performance this season came in their last quarter against Portsmouth Grammar School. The girls played extremely well and forced many goal scoring opportunities. The girls should feel extremely proud of their achievements in such a short netball season. They are a team who will continue to improve and their dedication and motivation will always serve them well. Well done ladies!

Mrs Kelly

Squad: Zoe Henderson (C), Amy Tunney (VC), Molly Troup, Eleanor Dunlop, Sarah Macleod, Phoebe Moriarty-Palios, Isobel Richardson, Charlotte Young, Kira Morton and Stephanie Judd.

132 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

B team he girls have all trained very hard this season and always with a smile and lots of enthusiasm, which has seen them make good progress in their game. The group has shown an excellent attitude and a clear love of netball. Whilst the season has been a mixture of successes and defeats, the girls have never let this affect their play and they have always put in 100% effort.

The season started with some tough matches against Churcher’s and St George’s, who were both dominant throughout, but did see the girls putting into practice what they had learnt at training. Whilst the team worked hard and did not give up, both matches were lost, 12-4 and 34-4 respectively. A mid-week match against Kings’ School gave the team the boost they needed as this time it was KES who was dominant, winning 6-2. After a loss against Farleigh School, 18-8, the girls returned the following week with great determination and played a very strong match against Dauntsey’s, winning 15-6. This match saw the defence working well together and moving the ball effectively to KES shooters. PGS were very strong opponents, however the girls put up a good defence and scored some excellent goals, only to be defeated by a team with more accurate and powerful passes. The game ended 21-6. The final match of the season was against Lord Wandsworth College, where the team played their best game of netball yet. Their confidence grew and tactics were implemented with great success. It was a tight match, with the scores each quarter being very close. However, the girls from KES came out on top with a well-deserved win to end the season. The final score was 13-10. It has been a pleasure coaching the girls this season, they can always be relied upon to remain positive and enthusiastic. They have shown great commitment to their team and I hope they too have enjoyed it as much as I have.

Squad: Amy Boyle, Millie Bell, Stella Bendoni, Alice Dyer, Rosie Potter, Amy Ritchie, Steph Judd, Steph Brown, Emily Boxer, Emily Procter, Sophie Roe, Isabelle de Merode, Olivia Abraham, Daisy Sarton, Georgie Tomlin, Katie Young.

Miss Enfield C team he U13C team are an enthusiastic group of young ladies who are keen to improve their netball and play as much as they can. These girls were committed, motivated and willing to have as much fun as possible whilst improving their game. Eleanor Yonge was an organised and dedicated Captain. The girls played six fixtures in total in which they won two, drew two and lost two games.

The girls started their season against Churcher’s and the final result was 6 all draw but the girls developed their understanding of the tactics and played a great game. Against the KES U12C team, the final result was 2-2 with both teams defending well and struggling to score. The girls then had a very tough away game against a very strong and drilled St George’s College. They should be pleased with their efforts despite the result. The next two games resulted in two strong wins for the KES team against Farleigh School and Dauntsey’s where the score lines were 9-2 and 17-0 respectively. These matches definitely highlighted the improvements that the KES girls had made. The final game was against a tough PGS side and the final score was 18-3. Although not a result the team were hoping to finish their season on, they played fantastically well and should be very proud of their development and improvement as a squad. I urge all players to continue with their excellent team spirit and I look forward to hearing about their successes next season.

Mrs Kelly

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 133

U14 Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Netball Report T

he U14 squad have been a very enthusiastic and energetic bunch. It has been fantastic to see so many faces turn up regularly at training and the girls have given myself and Miss Ball a challenge, to ensure everyone had an opportunity to play in matches. With large squads, players often ended up playing in a variety of positions strengthening their knowledge of the game. The A team found themselves on the wrong end of the score line on a number of occasions but this in no way reflects the quality of their efforts. Becky was an outstanding Captain; always competitive and vocal on court encouraging the team and offering options throughout the court. Anna-Maria and Gemma developed a good working pattern in the shooting circle providing each other with space and scoring those all important goals. Katya, Cat, Eve and Amira brought a variety of speed, tactical awareness and interception skills to the mid-court, whilst the combination of Milly and Zara ensured that our defence turned rebounds and made vital interceptions.

Mrs Henderson

A squad: Milly Hargreaves, Zara Mitchard, Becky Williams (C), Gemma Pearson Katya Seifert, Cat Thomson, Anna-Maria Shenouda, Eve Henley, Amira Douglas-Todd, Anna Poller

B Squad: Sophie Holliday, Alex Hopkins-Manceri (C), Izzy Holland, Finn McKenzie, Lana Willoughby, Roma Creedon, Beth Ryan, Phoebe Nicoll, Alice Dean, Milie Downes, Meg Green, Klaudia Glowacz

134 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U15 Girls’ Netball Report W

hat an amazing season! We have seen great numbers at every training session, superb leadership from our Captains and an overriding sense of team-ethos and endeavour every time the mighty KES netballers stepped onto the court. The statistics don’t really tell the most accurate tale of a season that, despite a slow start due to the weather, was awash with outstanding individual and team performances. We had some notable scalps throughout our regular season with wins over Dauntsey’s and Lord Wandsworth College. The pinnacle of the season was undoubtedly the winning of the Perins Super 8 Competition; we even put PGS to the sword as we emerged unbeaten. Our B team also marched through the season with strong leadership and some impressive results. They too dominated Dauntsey’s School which meant that that particular journey home was less bothersome than normal. I am extremely proud of the entire U15 squad. They all deserve credit for their work ethic and fearlessness during one of the wettest terms I can remember. However, special mention must go to our Captains; Martha Lawrence and Maddie Burton – their decision making while under pressure was incredible, their capacity to motivate their peers was exceptional and, above all else, their calm and patient approach to each training session and game showed maturity way beyond their years. Thanks must also be attributed to all the parents who braved the cold to support our KES teams and, of course, to Miss Yerbury and Mr Duncan who admirably took charge of the wonderful B team squad throughout the 2015 season.

Mr Powell

Most Improved Player of the Season: Defensive Player of the Year: Attacking Player of the Year: B Team Player of the Year: A Team Player of the Year:

Jess Holmes Thailie Mace Martha Lawrence Iolanta Spanner Thailie Mace

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 135

Girls’ Senior Netball Report T

he senior netball squad have had one of their most successful seasons and this is largely down to the exceptional level of commitment to training and the positive mentality towards achieving their goals. This year we decided to merge the U16 and U18 squads to form a larger senior squad. This has, without a doubt, made a huge difference to the standard of netball being played at the top end as well as creating better opportunities for individual development. In January, the season got off to a flying start with three senior teams going out to face Churcher’s. The 1st and 2nd squads came away victorious and the 3rd team lost a close battle. As the season progressed we went on to compete against some very tough opposition including: Bryanston, Dauntsey’s, PGS, St George’s, Lord Wandsworth, Peter Symonds and Canford. The 1st team, led by Gina Steel, were exceptional throughout the season. With over half the squad being made up with U16 players, it was going to be season of development and bonding. However, I had not anticipated how quickly the younger players were going to adapt to the faster-paced game and the additional pressure of playing 1st team sport. Julia Mead-Briggs held her nerve and linked up effortlessly in the shooting circle with the highly skilled and experienced Emma Falconer, to form a flawless shooting combination. In the centre court Gina Steel impressed in every game with her outstanding skill set, effortless feeding and exceptional leadership, making the younger players feel welcome and needed within the squad. Due to a combination of skill, determination and commitment the 1st team went on to end the season undefeated, finishing with a close win against Canford 1st team 33-31.

The 2nd team were also successful in their efforts this season. They too had some competitive matches and worked hard to achieve wins in over half their fixtures. Captain, Emily Ralls, led by example right from the start demonstrating great organisation and leadership capabilities. This, coupled with the experience and skills of Juliet Fox, enabled the team to become cohesive very early on. The 3rd team had a much tougher season and although they worked hard and showed focus and tenacity they were less fortunate with their victories. For some of the girls it was the first time they were regularly playing school sport and the experience and enjoyment they got from the season proved far more important than the winning. This has been a superb season for all involved and it has been an absolute pleasure to coach and work alongside such talented individuals. I wish those girls who are leaving the best of luck in their future netball endeavours. Well done girls!

Mrs Ferrand (Head of Netball)

136 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Rounders at KES O

nce again A and B teams were fielded from U12 to U15 level and there were some very good performances in a full season in which no games were cancelled; the weather was much kinder this year.

The First Years were particularly strong with both A and B teams winning all their fixtures. This was largely down to their excellent attitude in practice, which enabled them to develop their skills well over the course of the term. Particularly impressive for the U12s were wins over the traditionally strong opposition of St George’s, and a convincing victory over PGS. The U13 teams found their games tougher but managed to field A and B teams regularly and, with a new intake of students into the Third Year next year, can look forward to increased success next summer. This age group were also the hosts for the second annual Prep Schools’ Rounders Tournament which was again held at Wellington Sports Ground on a gloriously sunny afternoon. Our teams were hosts in the truest sense of the word as they ensured that every other team had a successful afternoon enjoying their visit to Wellington. The U14 squads achieved some good wins, with victory over St George’s again being the highlight for the both the A and the B teams. The U15 teams showed particular enthusiasm for playing for the School and were successful as a result of this. The A team put in a number of good performances as they finished the season by winning five of their seven matches. Rounders is an important element of the summer programme for the girls’ sport and I would like to thank Mrs Henderson, Mrs Sheppard, Miss Ball and KJ for their considerable efforts to ensure that the girls had the same opportunity for sporting involvement as they do in the other terms. A lot of effort was put into the training and selecting of teams by these members of staff and I am sure it was much appreciated by all.

Mr Kent (Director of Sport)

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 137

U12 Girls’ Rounders Report A

large number of First Year girls have attended the mid-week practices regularly this year, and it has been fantastic to be able to offer so many of them a match during the season.

The A team, under Captain Lucy Howarth, settled quite quickly and I am pleased to report that they had an unbeaten season. The team was boosted with consistent hitting in matches from Lucy Tait, Lucy Howarth, Harriet Wheeler and Lena Mills. Many of our opponents struggled with the pace of Holly Laugeson’s bowling, and the team work between Freya at backstop and Rebecca at first base meant that any missed balls generally ended in the opposition getting out. Outstanding fielding from Puja, Isobel and Harriet kept many of our opponents’ score lines down. The highlights of the season were the amazing result against PGS when the girls were hitting the ball so consistently that the opposition could not work out where to stand, and the match against HCS when the girls beat the opposition by a full innings. The B team rotated regularly, giving lots of the girls an opportunity to play. Their results may not have been as consistent, but in all games their performance developed and it was a pleasure to work with them throughout the season. Of particular note was the consistent bowling from Katy Duff and good work at backstop from Natasha Thompson. A great season, well done all.

Mrs Henderson

Squad: Lucy Howarth (Captain) Isobel Chapman, Alice Cowell, Freya Crowley, Holly Laugeson, Lena Mills, Puja Muthalagu, Lucy Pumphrey, Lucy Tait, Rebecca Waggett, Harriet Wheeler, Lizzie Armstrong, Marianne Brabazon, Rebecca Davis, Katy Duff, Maddie Harris, Carol Naum, Natasha Thompson, Catherine Thomson, Anoushka Umranikar, Olesia Wisniewska.

138 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U13 Girls’ Rounders Report I

t has been a privilege and a joy to spend practice sessions and matches with the Second Year girls’ rounders squad this season. They are a delightful group of children who have a wonderful team spirit and positive attitudes even in the face of a (fairly large) number of defeats. The girls have played with spirit and enthusiasm throughout the term. At the beginning of the season we discussed the areas of their play upon which the team needed to focus their efforts, following a fairly unsuccessful season last year. The girls have worked hard to address these areas and their batting skills, in particular, have come on leaps and bounds. We had a number of fixtures including a super tournament against some of the local prep schools that was held at Wellington on the hottest day of the year!

The U13A team won their first and last matches of the season, against St George’s College and HCS respectively, but unfortunately lost the other matches. The U13B team won their match at home against PGS and were delighted that they also beat the KES A team in a very competitive match at the tournament. The U13 girls made vast improvement on their performance from last year and I have every confidence that their success rate will continue to improve next year.

Mrs Sheppard

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 139

U14 Girls’ Rounders Report T

he summer term has brought some wonderful weather and, although this is a busy time of year for our students, the U14A team played five of their seven available fixtures. Back in May the team started well beating St George’s College, Weybridge by 13 ½ rounders to 11 ½. After tough encounters in both the hockey and netball seasons, it was fitting that this was another close game, though exciting that KES came off victorious. Unfortunately, due to injuries and other sporting commitments, the team was never the same two weeks running and this affected form and awareness around the diamond. KES went away to Seaford College, losing 15-9. After half-term, the girls returned to be defeated at home by Portsmouth Grammar School. They managed to turn this around, however, and won their remaining two games against Hampshire Collegiate School and Lord Wandsworth College 9-6 ½ and 20 ½ -16 respectively. I was impressed with Gemma Pearson throughout the season who captained well considering she had a different combination of girls every week. Her bowling was excellent. Fin McKenzie supported her Captain well and often went beyond herself to find replacements where necessary. She too played well in whatever position she stepped into, scoring some fabulous rounders along the way. I would like to thank both of these girls in particular. It has been a lovely season and excellent way to round off the year. The U14B team managed to play two fixtures this season. They too beat St George’s College, Weybridge by 10- 9 ½ before the half-term break. Unfortunately they waited another month before they were to compete again; this time not faring quite as well in another closely fought game, losing 12-13 against Portsmouth Grammar School. I hope that the girls enjoyed their season; I cannot fault Beth Ryan’s leadership. She is a gentle and organised influence and has been an excellent Captain and committed attendee to practice on a Thursday evening.

Miss Ball Squad (A & B): Gemma Pearson (c), Fin McKenzie (v-c), Jess Mills, Becky Williams, Eve Henley, Amira DouglasTodd, Zara Mitchard, Beth Ryan (c), Izzy Holland, Indie Chungh, Alice Dean, Meg Green, Tusca Alavi, Roma Creedon, Libby Hoare, Ceci Laverty, Klaudia Glowacz, Alex Hopkins-Manceri, Meg Broadway, Lana Willoughby, Sophie Holliday, Jenna Erwig.

140 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

U15 Girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rounders Report A

group of over twenty enthusiasts represented the U15s this year; the A team having particular success. The weather was kind, but it was extremely frustrating for the girls that the B team missed out on more match play due to lack of opposition! The U15 A team produced some scintillating rounders play. Between back stop and first base, many an opponent suffered at the accuracy of Holland-Wright and Fletcher, enhanced by the fast bowling Captain Todd and the athletic catching of Ward (who was also our top scorer) and Flossie Rose. The team was at times unstoppable. This, however, went from the sublime to the ridiculous: not one single rounder being scored in one particular match! All in all the team gelled perfectly, whoever stepped in to play, and with skill in bat and field represented the School superbly.

The two matches lost could easily have been won with a little more concentration and application where it really mattered. The B team was not so lucky, with five schools unable to field a second team. It was a shame that they could not have had more opportunity to display their skills but on the two occasions that they got to compete they were also skilful and strong in both batting and fielding. It was a pleasure to see so many girls still interested in this highly under-rated sport and attending practice regularly. Individually everyone contributed to the game and collectively they have developed into an extremely talented group of athletes.

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 141

U12 & U13 Tennis Report T

he U12 and U13 girls are an enthusiastic and very reliable group who have shown great team spirit at all times. They combine together for practices and for the U13 Aegon Tournament matches, but occasionally have separate friendly fixtures.

The first game of the season for the U13s was against Churcher’s and is always a tough one. Once again, the Petersfield school sent out a very strong and experienced side, newly returned from pre-season training in Portugal. Although the girls played well, only Charlotte Young and her partner Molly Troup were able to win a set. A combined U12 and U13 team played against Stroud, losing 4-2, despite good wins for Zoe Henderson and Alice Dyer in the singles. The U13s did have some success though when they beat the U12s in a hard-fought but friendly contest.

In the Aegon Tournament matches, the School performed very creditably against some strong opposition. They lost heavily to Kings’ in awful conditions. The strong winds made serving particularly difficult and the girls even had to deal with nets blowing down mid-point. Against St Swithun’s, Lucy Howarth put in the performance of the season to beat the opposition first seed (who was a year older) 6-2, while Alice Dyer proved to be our most successful player, once again winning her singles and holding her nerve well to win a tight game 7-6 in a tie-break. The match went down to the final rubber, but unfortunately the School lost the fixture 4-2.

Mrs Evans and Miss Barron

U15 Girls’ Tennis Report A

baker’s dozen attended this after-school club but unfortunately we had very few scheduled matches.

Thankfully, this summer the weather was kind and, for the first time in many years, the rain was not a reason to cancel fixtures. This short season was largely taken up with the girls competing in the Aegon National Competition. Although KES came up against two very good teams, a national champion included, they did extremely well, and the scores did not reflect the closeness of individual games. In one match, and with some interesting line calls from her opponent, Daisy Porter battled hard and took the marathon ‘rubber’ to a tie-break. Even this went to the wire with Daisy just losing out on the very last point. A special mention must go to Emmy Huang, a regular at practice, who was thrown in at the deep end when one of our Aegon team pulled out at the last minute due to illness. Emmy competed superbly, even taking a game from her opponent. As always, Joe’s coaching was fun and most rewarding; practices were always well attended, energetic and thoroughly enjoyable.

Aegon squad: Kate Ward, Eleanor Todd, Ellie Holland-Wright, Daisy Porter, Emmy Huang.

142 | SOTONIENSIS The King Edward2015VI Foundation The King Edward VI Foundation raises money solely to provide bursarial and fee support to gifted children applying to KES from less affluent families. Regular and one-off donations are a vital way of raising money and every gift made to the Foundation, regardless of size, is important. A modest donation from you can help us to offer the chance of a King Edward’s education to more worthy applicants, regardless of their family circumstances.

Founded 1553

KING EDWARD VI SCHOOL

Please help us to help them. The gift of education is priceless.

Making a donation to the King Edward VI Foundation There are several different ways to donate today or if you prefer to support the Foundation by leaving a legacy in your Will then please contact the Development Office on 023 8070 4561 or by emailing edwardians@kes.hants.sch.uk.

SOUTHAMPTON

Ways of giving By direct debit Regular donations allow us to plan for the future with confidence. A modest monthly gift can make a big difference. If you would like to help support a child in this way then please complete the direct debit details on the back of this form and return to the Development Office. By cheque If you would like to make a one-off donation by cheque, please make it payable to King Edward VI School and send it to: King Edward VI School, Wilton Road, Southampton, SO15 5UQ. Please mark it for the attention of the Development Office.

By bank transfer You can make a one-off donation to the Foundation via electronic bank transfer. Please make payments to the following account using your name and ‘foundation’ as a reference. Account name: King Edward VI School Account number: 13339044 Sort Code: 56-00-68 Bank Name: Natwest

Gift Aid Declaration (tax efficient giving) I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6th April – 5th April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I have given. I would like to Gift Aid all donations I have made to the King Edward VI Foundation including future donations until I notify you otherwise. Signature: Date:

Instruction to your bank or building society to pay by Direct Debit

SOTONIENSIS 2015 | 143

Service user number

6 9 5 2 9 6 Please fill in the whole form including official use box using a ball point pen and send it to: DEVELOPMENT OFFICE KING EDWARD VI SCHOOL WILTON ROAD SOUTHAMPTON HANTS SO15 5UQ

Founded 1553

KING EDWARD VI SCHOOL

Name(s) of account holder(s)

SOUTHAMPTON FOR KING EDWARD VI SCHOOL USE ONLY This is not part of the instruction to your bank or building society. PAYMENT DETAILS (Please complete) Bank/building society account number

Please pay King Edward VI School, Southampton Monthly Quarterly Annually (please tick) The sum of : £10 £5

Branch sort code

£25

Other amount £ Starting from :

£100

(please tick)

(please specify) Month

Year

Funds will be drawn on: or 18th day of each month (please select) 3rd

Name and full postal address of your bank or building society To: The Manager

£50

Bank/building society Instruction to your bank or building society Please pay King Edward VI School Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain with King Edward VI School and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my bank/building society.

Address

Signature(s) Postcode

Reference K

Date

Banks and building societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account This guarantee should be detached and retained by the payer.

The Direct Debit Guarantee • This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit King Edward VI School will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request King Edward VI School to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. • If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by King Edward VI School or your bank or building society you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. – If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when King Edward VI School asks you to. • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

144 | SOTONIENSIS 2015

Cover designed by Mr G Piggott. Our grateful thanks to him for this and many of the wonderful photographs contained in this publication.

King Edward VI School Wilton Road . Southampton . Hampshire SO15 5UQ Telephone: 023 8070 4561 www.kes.hants.sch.uk