Operation Wallacea – expedition to Indonesia Cricket tour to Sri Lanka
Girls’ Hockey overview
Boys’ Rugby overview
Girls’ Netball overview
Boys’ Hockey overview
Indoor Hockey overview Cricket overview Sport
From the Head
Dear Members of the King Edward VI School Community,
As I sit down to pen this introduction to our annual Sotoniensis, I am once again struck by the extraordinary range and depth of achievements that have characterised another remarkable year at King Edward VI School. The pages that follow are a testament to the vibrancy, growth, and accomplishments that define us as a community, as well as the sheer breadth of experiences available to our pupils.
Of course, our commitment to academic excellence remains unwavering, and this year’s results reflect the hard work and dedication of our pupils as well as the wonderful support offered by our staff. At GCSE level, we are very pleased to report that 71.3% of our students achieved an A/A* grade (or a 9/8/7 equivalent), with 86.2% achieving A-B grades. These results are a testament to the diligence and perseverance of our Year 11 pupils.
At A Level, we have much to celebrate. We are particularly proud that the proportion of students achieving three or more A/A* grades rose to over 30% this year, up from approximately 28% in 2023. This increase demonstrates the continued excellence and hard work of our students, especially notable given the challenges of recent years. Our top-end grades remain strong, with 44.1% of results at A*/A, a tribute to the high standards towards which our students always aspire.
To our pupils who worked so diligently to earn these results, I offer my sincere congratulations. My grateful thanks also go to all of our parents who supported them, as well as our exceptional teachers and professional services staff. We remain committed to nurturing each student’s potential and helping them achieve their best, preparing them well for their future lives.
The arts continue to flourish at KES, providing a rich tapestry of creative expression across multiple disciplines. In the Art department, our GCSE and A Level students produced stunning works, from expressive landscapes and powerful portraits to thought-provoking installations. The quality of printmaking, a KES speciality, was particularly noteworthy this year.
Our Dance programme saw remarkable growth, with 80 students gracing the stage in the eagerly awaited Dance Gala. From ballet to street dance, tap to jazz, the performances were truly electric.
In Drama, the highlight of our year was undoubtedly the phenomenal success of our whole school production of ‘Chicago’. The cast, crew, and band delivered what has been widely regarded as the best school production seen at KES. Beyond this, our students participated in workshops with professional theatre companies, created impressive GCSE and A Level performances, and enjoyed enriching theatre trips.
Music at KES continues to soar, with many notable performances throughout the year. From the touching Remembrance commemorations to the uplifting Carol Service at Romsey Abbey, our musicians have consistently impressed. Both the Junior and Senior Spring Concert showcased the very best of our musical talent at all ages, including stunning concerto performances and a broad range of ensemble pieces.
More generally, the wider co-curricular programme at KES continues to be a cornerstone of our holistic education approach. This year, we offered an astounding 124 clubs and societies, providing something for everyone. From the newly formed Dungeons and Dragons Club to the ever-popular Chess Club, these activities offer our students opportunities for growth, friendship, and exploration beyond the classroom.
A very specific area of activity and opportunity for personal development for many pupils is through our outdoor learning programme. The introduction of the Year 7 Outdoor Learning trip to Tile Barn Outdoor Centre was a great success, challenging our youngest pupils to work together and develop problem-solving skills in a new environment. For older pupils, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme remains a key part of our outdoor learning provision, with an average of 350400 KES students engaged in the Award at any given time. This year saw our first offering of the Bronze Award to Year 9, with 85 students enrolling. At the very highest level, our Gold teams completed challenging expeditions in the Lake District and Elan Valley, demonstrating remarkable resilience and teamwork.
Our commitment to sustainability and diversity was evident in the activities of groups such as the Sustainability Action Group and a range of cultural societies. Events like the Multicultural Evening and our celebration of Pride month fostered cross-cultural exchanges and promoted understanding within our community.
In this same spirit of giving and community engagement, our student-led Charities Commission spearheaded numerous awareness campaigns and fundraising efforts, raising an impressive total of nearly £8000 for a host of worthwhile causes. From collections for the homeless and local foodbanks
to fundraising events like the Easter bunny hunt and Christmas candy cane activity, our students demonstrated their compassion and commitment to making a difference.
Our Sixth Form charities continued their valuable work, supporting organisations such as Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association and Southampton’s Young Carers. The Summer Camp team’s fundraising efforts for their July camp in the New Forest were particularly noteworthy.
Our partnerships programme has continued to build wonderful connections with the local community. This year saw a special emphasis on STEM, the arts, music, and languages in our collaborations with local primary schools. From science workshops and art sessions to music days and language workshops, we have shared our resources and expertise to benefit the wider educational community.
A highlight of the year was our first Partnerships Day, during which 155 Year 10 pupils mentored over 180 primary school pupils in a variety of subjects. This event perfectly captured the spirit of KES, as our older students shared their skills and knowledge with younger pupils.
It has always been a hallmark of a KES education that we want the young people in our care to have lifechanging and eye-opening opportunities to see the world beyond our region. This year was no different, and we were delighted to offer a rich programme of trips and visits both national and international. From the cricket tour to Sri Lanka to the Sixth Form physics
trip to CERN in Geneva, to our biologists conducting research projects in the Indonesian jungle, our students had opportunities to expand their horizons and apply their learning in real-world contexts.
Language trips to Rome, Munich, Salamanca, and Andalucia provided invaluable immersion experiences for our linguists. The History Department’s trips to the WWI battlefields and Washington DC brought the curriculum to life in profound ways. Sports tours to Holland and Belfast offered our athletes chances to compete internationally and learn from professional coaches.
Talking of which, the sporting life at KES continues to thrive, with notable successes across multiple disciplines. In hockey, our girls’ teams made significant strides, with the Under 14 and Under 12 teams winning regional finals and progressing to national competitions. The boys’ hockey programme also saw growth, with the Under 16 team reaching the Top 16 nationally.
Our netball teams had an outstanding year, with the Under 13 team reaching the National Plate final at Loughborough University. The Under 16 team’s journey to become County Champions and their subsequent performance in the regional round was particularly impressive.
In rugby, our Under 15 team remained unbeaten in both Saturday blocks and the National Schools’ Vase Competition, reaching the quarter-finals. The Under 16 team’s victory in the Hampshire County Final was a testament to their resilience and skill.
Cricket at KES saw a busy and successful season, with 30 teams fielded across the summer, giving 382 students the chance to play for the School. The Under 12A and Under 14A boys’ sides won the County Plate, while the Under 13A girls reached the finals of both the ECB Indoor Cup and the County Cup.
As we reflect on this extraordinary year, we also look forward to the future with excitement. Whilst we are keenly aware of the external pressures being brought to bear on our School and sector, we are absolutely committed to maintain the highest levels of education and opportunity for our pupils - and for generations of children to come. The Summer break replacement of our astroturf will significantly enhance our hockey facilities. We continue to evolve our curriculum and co-curricular offerings to meet the changing needs of our students and the world they will enter.
To our departing Upper Sixth students, I extend my warmest wishes for your future endeavours. You have been outstanding ambassadors for our school, and we look forward to hearing of your successes in the years to come.
In closing, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff, supportive parents, and, most importantly, our remarkable students. Your collective efforts, enthusiasm, and commitment make King Edward VI School the extraordinary place it is.
I hope that as you read through this edition of Sotoniensis, you will share my pride in the achievements and spirit of our school community. While these pages can only capture a fraction of the
vibrancy and bustle of life at KES, I trust they will give you a sense of the rich tapestry of experiences that defined our 2023-2024 academic year.
With warm regards,
Mr Parker Head, King Edward VI School
From the Chair of Governors
This is my seventh and final report as Chair as I formally stood down from the role at the end of the 2023/24 academic year.
Inevitably, a time of change involves an element of reflection as I look back on my seven years in post. I think it is fair to say that a lot has happened in that time! My first and arguably most important task was to manage the recruitment of a successor as Head of King Edward’s, to replace Mr Thould after his very successful 17 year tenure. We were delighted to welcome Mr Parker to his first full headship, and I have enjoyed watching his calm and highly skilful approach to modernising our schools.
Obviously none of us had any idea that one of Mr Parker’s very early challenges would be a full closure of our schools and the attendant significant disruption to our provision of education during the Covid pandemic. It is easy to forget the significance of those years as we have thankfully settled back into ‘business as normal’. The term ‘unprecedented’ is probably overused, but there is no doubt that the challenges faced, and overcome, were unprecedented certainly at any time since the Second World War.
Since 2021 we have been engaged in a programme to reform our schools, taking all the learning from Covid and focusing completely on creating an educational experience for our pupils that is second to none. Under the expert guidance of Mrs Smith, Stroud School has been reinvented as a school which now provides a full-time nursery and educates children from ages 2-11. There has been very significant investment in our facilities at Stroud, and the school has, from September 2024, become the King Edward VI Preparatory School (or KES Prep). We are very well advanced in integrating the two schools so that
we now offer a coherent and cohesive educational offering from ages 2-18.
At King Edward’s, the process of improvement to our facilities has continued, with the development of our new Wellbeing Centre, an extremely wellequipped gym, a completely renewed Sixth Form centre and extensive investment into our sport and co-curricular facilities. We have also converted our Commemoration Room into a multi-faith chapel and created a new ‘1553’ meeting room where pupils and parents can enjoy many of our interesting artefacts from our archives. We are also investing heavily in our ‘green’ credentials with LED lighting installed in all of our classrooms and solar panels contributing to a measured ongoing decrease in our carbon footprint. Once again, I would like to thank our Director of Operations, Mr Baker and his team for their outstanding contribution to our schools.
But we can never sit back and relax as there is always more to do. We are aware that our Science Block is now in substantial need of refurbishment, and we are considering exciting plans to replace it with a new Science Centre which will provide state of the art facilities for our next generation of students. This would of course be a very expensive project, which will require careful financial management.
Your Governors are also working very closely with the schools’ Senior Leadership Teams, to consider the implications of the Government’s imposition of VAT on school fees with effect (at the time of writing) from 1 January 2025. We have been engaged in scenario planning for various eventualities for most of the last academic year, in anticipation of a likely change of Government in the 2024 election. We were even prepared for the possible early implementation of the new charge, despite the repeated assurances before the election that the new tax would be implemented from September 2025.
Our planning has enabled us to respond positively to the change, providing early reassurance to parents that the overall fee increase in January will be significantly lower than the 20% VAT charge levied by the Government. However, this will remain under very close review over the coming months as we monitor our parents’ reaction. We are hoping that the actions we will take will enable us to maintain our roll at both schools at broadly the current level, so that we can complete the transitional period for the next three years or so without significant disruption to our services. At the same time, we will be working hard to maximise the efficiency of our operations, saving costs wherever we can do so without impacting on the quality of our pupils’ experience, and generating as much revenue as we can from our facilities, particularly during school vacations. This is undoubtedly a significant financial challenge for us but one which I am confident we will manage successfully.
One of the key areas which will inevitably come under pressure in the new environment will be the provision of bursary support to deserving and able pupils who cannot afford our fees. As we have typically had more capable applicants than funds available, the Governors decided last year to invest in our Development Office with the immediate aim to generate more bursary funds. Our new Director of Development, Mr Wilson, has settled in very well and, with the able support of Ms Hooper, has already generated significant contributions to our development fund, the King Edward VI Foundation. We hope to build our resource further over time so
that we will be able to make contact with many more Old Edwardians. Please be ready to take the call!
I am delighted to report that your Board is full, with all of the critical skillsets well covered. Your Governors spend a considerable amount of their time providing support and technical advice to our schools. In recent years we have also been spending much more time working with the Senior Leaders to develop a longer term vision and strategy for our schools in an ever more complex political and social environment. It is a key responsibility of the Governors to ensure that our schools will remain in excellent health for future generations of pupils and parents and it has never been more important to move with the times.
At the end of the 2023/24 school year we said a sad farewell to our Bursar of 17 years, Mr Maher. He has given quite extraordinary service to the schools with a dedication and commitment that is second to none. He has been fully engaged in delivering key milestones for King Edward’s in the acquisition of Lovaton, our Rural Study Centre in Dartmoor, and Stroud School, now known as KES Prep, and has overseen the many capital improvements on all our sites. He leaves us in robust financial health, and well placed to weather the challenging years ahead. We are indebted to him and wish him a happy and healthy retirement.
And finally, I would like to introduce my successor as Chair, Mr Geraint Davies. He is another Chartered Accountant and has spent a long and distinguished career as a senior audit partner, most recently with Ernst & Young. He is an alumnus of King Edward’s and his children were also pupils. In his time on the Board, Geraint has demonstrated a calm, rigorous
approach to problem solving and he has quickly earned the confidence of the Governors and Senior Leaders in our schools. I will remain on the Board for a period of time to ensure a seamless transition, but I have no doubt that the schools are in safe hands, and I wish Geraint every success.
To conclude, I would like to thank everyone in our community for their outstanding support to our schools. In my time on the Board I have come to realise that there are many people, teachers, professional support staff, pupils, parents and Governors who make a significant contribution to our every success. Long may that continue!
With my very best wishes to all.
Mr Morgan Outgoing Chair of Governors
From the Head of School
I write this report feeling very reminiscent. I knew that my time at KES would eventually come to an end but now that it is here I didn’t expect my journey to finish so quickly. Having joined KES in 2017, I have had many experiences that are truly unforgettable, and I could not be more grateful for the platform our school provides for everyone. I have had the privilege of watching how it helps every student thrive in their own right, and seeing how supportive the entire KES community is.
For me, it is important to underline how being a pupil at KES helps you develop a well-rounded character. Academia is undoubtedly very strong, and the teachers are vital in instilling the students with confidence and ensuring they achieve their best. However, I believe the true gem of the school is the vast range of co-curricular activities available to everyone. On the Tanzania expedition in 2023, I learnt invaluable lessons on independence and resilience and that, quite frankly, trying to summit a mountain is very difficult. I have been pushed out of my comfort zone and without the preparation that KES gives you I don’t know what I would have done. From joining a choir in Year 7 to Literature Society in Sixth Form, each and every experience helps you feel ready for the world outside of KES.
As Head of School this past year, I have been most fortunate to be in a position of leadership and a role model for the younger students. And nerve-wracking as this might have been at times, I have thoroughly enjoyed being the individual students felt comfortable to talk to about school matters. My role in the school was elevated as I believed I could make a change. Being able to speak alongside Alex Danson in the Prize giving ceremony in September last year was a huge highlight for me, as she showed the importance and power you can have when you set a goal and push yourself until you reach it.
Leaving KES is of course tinged with anxiety because you are leaving behind an amazing group of staff and students, who have been a part of your life for 2,5 or 7 years. However, I could not be more excited to step into the adult world and try my hardest to navigate it successfully! There will undoubtedly be difficult moments but I know from the bottom of my heart that my time here at KES will have equipped me for when times are challenging.
I would like to conclude with a huge thank you; to Mr Parker for giving me the opportunity to become Head of School, to my team; Theo, Georgie, Alex and Alice, for assisting me along the way and to everyone for making KES the truly welcoming and kind-hearted community that it is!
Nell Head of School
Development, Alumni & Fundraising
The 2023-24 academic year has been one of growth for development and alumni activity at King Edward’s. In October, Mr Wilson joined as the School’s first Director of Development, working together with Ms Hooper who has been leading alumni activity at KES for many years.
A large part of the reason for expanding the Development Office is because, as a School, we want to be able to support more local young people to study here on a bursary. These are the founding values of our school – to educate the ‘poor scholars of Southampton’ – and so for decades we have provided several bursaries each year to local pupils from lower-income backgrounds. However, every year there are many more applications than we can fund and we want to be able to offer more places.
Coupled with this, we know there is a great desire amongst our alumni to give back to support today’s pupils. We are extremely grateful for all donations to support bursaries, but especially to the Avent Family, who this year committed to a transformational gift to fund three full bursaries over the next decade. The gift was made in memory of their father Ronald Avent, a teacher at KES from 1950-1976.
Chris Avent said: ‘When I studied at KES in the Grammar School days, the education was completely free. Looking back across my life and my career, I realise that my time at KES was very formative for me. As a family, we wanted to make a gift to the School that will help today’s pupils, especially those who are not able to afford the fees but who would hugely benefit from the quality education KES continues to provide’.
These bursaries will have a life changing impact on the pupils who receive them, and we were delighted to welcome the first recipient of the Avent Family Bursary this September.
We also love holding events for our OE community throughout the year. In November, we welcomed back the Class of 2013 for their 10-year reunion and, in January, the Classes of 98 and 99 for their 25-year reunion. A lovely moment from the latter event was when one alumnus had brought a gift along for his former teacher, who he reunited with on the evening, and reflected on the fantastic impact they had on his life since. As ever, all guests were interested to look around the school and see the many changes since leaving, as well as catching up with old friends.
We also welcomed over 50 OEs to a drinks event in London in March, on a beautiful Spring evening by the Thames. This is now becoming a regular event in the OE calendar and, judging by the demand, we will need to find a bigger venue next year. Our most senior alumni, those evacuated to Poole Grammar School during WWII, met for their annual lunch in June.
We appreciated the chance to express our gratitude personally to our donors and legacy club members at the thank you dinner in May. Held in the newly named 1553 Room that now displays some of the school’s archival material and memorabilia, the Head provided an update of our vision for development and fundraising moving forward to our very best ambassadors of the value of philanthropy.
OEs continue to provide valuable careers advice and opportunities for our current pupils, with over 20 OEs taking part this year. Several alumni have spoken at our Open Forum for Sixth Formers, including a fascinating talk on politics from Ian Dunt back in November. At our Careers Fair in May, several OEs returned to represent their companies and share with the next generation of KES pupils the possibilities that lie ahead for them.
The OE Golf Society remains healthy with a regular annual schedule of events that brings together golfers of all ages. This year they have held events at courses around the south coast.
Looking ahead, we have exciting news on the horizon. This Autumn, we will launch our new KES Alumni Hub, an online portal where OEs will be able to access everything in one place – update their details, sign up for events, raise their hand to volunteer, reconnect with friends and make a donation. We hope this will lead to even more interaction between OEs and their old school, and more giving back to help current pupils too.
Mr Wilson Director of Development
The Allen Grant Trophy
Reynolds began the school year as the defending House champions and once again looked strong in the early exchanges, especially in the Cross Country, where they won three out of the four age categories. However, there were early indications that they would not have everything their own way this year as Watts took two of the football competitions and also dominated the credit competition from the outset. Wins for the other Houses were few and far between although Capon took the Year 7 rugby and Sylvester took the Year 9 rugby and Sixth Form football. As Christmas drew close, the School was alive with the sound of music as rehearsals began for the December highlight – the Christmas Song competition. This year victory went to Watts for their memorable performance of Perry Como’s ‘Winter Wonderland’, although Lake also deserve an honourable mention for their original and entertaining take on Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’.
The Spring Term brings examinations so there is a temporary lull in House activities until February and March. Reynolds once again proved too strong for most in the sporting events, although Watts were never far behind. There was some success for Lake too who convincingly won the House chess and also shared victory in the ‘Egg Drop Challenge’, an event where Year 7 pupils design cradles in which to drop their eggs from ever increasing heights in the hope that they won’t crack or scramble. Lake shared that victory with Lawrence, who also won the Year 9 football to take their first wins in the competition.
The Summer Term was a busy one and decided the fate of the Allen Grant trophy which by now was a match between defending champions Reynolds and aspiring challengers Watts. First blood went to Watts in the House Music competition which they won in a close three-way contest with Lake and Sylvester, who couldn’t be separated and shared second place. However, Reynolds fought back on Founders’ Day, excelling in the newly introduced cultural events involving Years 7-10 in daylong rehearsals and competitions. The Year 7s competed in a highly entertaining dance event that was ultimately won with a fine performance from Reynolds, just shading Capon in second. Meanwhile, the Year 8s got creative and colourful with some 3D artwork with Lawrence coming out on top in this contest. The Year 9s honed their public speaking skills with a morning workshop and then chose students to represent them in a competition won by Reynolds. Most ambitious of all, the Year 10s delivered short renditions of Shakespeare plays that they had been rehearsing in tutor time, as
well as on the day, with Reynolds once again emerging on top with their extract from Hamlet. But just when the champions seemed to be getting back on terms, the final events of the school year, the Swimming Gala and Sports Day, were to turn the competition back from green to white. The whites of Watts won the Swimming Gala and finished either first or second in every age group bar one on Sports Day, whereas the greens of Reynolds were second in the Gala and finished first or second in every age group bar two on the last day. It was a long and hard-fought competition that went down to the wire but, for the first time in living memory, it was Watts who emerged victorious to end Reynolds’ long run as champions and raise aloft the Allen Grant trophy in 2024!
Staff Farewells - Teaching Staff
Chris Giles
This Easter we bade farewell to Mr Giles, who retired after 42 years at KES. During this time he has been a valued member of the Classics Department, both as a teacher and Head of Department. Those whom he has taught will
agree that Mr Giles has been more than a teacher: he has been a truly individual educator. Generations of pupils have fond memories not only of his Classics lessons, which he brought to life with his powerful personality (and with the help of Messrs. Holmes and Potter) but also of his calmness, kindness and respect.
Chris has also been the venerable leader of the Cactus Club and Scamp Club. He previously ran the Charities programme for many years and has been an invaluable member of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, always willing to drive a minibus to enable students
Sue Quinn
Sue joined King Edward’s 13 years ago and quickly proved herself to be an excellent teacher of economics. At the heart of her teaching is a patient, caring approach, focused on ensuring her students can both enjoy the subject and maximise their outcome. She is equally at home teaching Economics or Business and fostered an environment of debate within her classroom. As often the sole female teacher in the department, she has been an inspiration to many female students.
Sue has contributed to many co-curricular activities including Young Enterprise and, more latterly, Tycoon (Peter Jones’s Foundation) allowing students to explore their entrepreneurial side. She has supported departmental clinics over many years offering lunchtime opportunities for examination preparation and has frequently given up her time for her colleagues as well. Her excellent people skills will be missed enormously.
A founder member of the teacher training team, Sue has provided excellent support for these trainees over recent years. She has been an Upper and Lower School tutor and a terrific assistant at Cookery Club as she has enthusiastically encouraged and taught many pupils how to cook and bake. Her contribution to feeding up her colleagues is possibly rivalled only by Sodexo, with a long history of baked goods mysteriously appearing in the staff room.
to experience life beyond the classroom - notably supporting a Chinese exchange programme.
He will be missed by staff and pupils alike for his quirky sense of humour and fun. We wish him a long and enjoyable retirement: ave atque vale, optime magistrorum.
Sue has contributed much to life beyond the classroom. She is very much seen as a safe pair of hands on Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and accompanied the first school trip to Morocco. She has also coached a netball team and has regularly found herself on a geography field trip in summer. She is an avid supporter of theatre trips and school productions and led a very successful watersports trip.
Sue is hardworking and efficient, generous with her time, with everything focused on helping the students flourish. She is great company, has a great sense of humour and will certainly be missed in the Economics Department, but we wish her all the best for her retirement.
Hayleigh Hawker
Alex Eadon
Hayleigh joined KES as a young Miss Birks in 2013 and over the course of the past 10 years she has taken on many roles and responsibilities in the School. She will be especially remembered for the enthusiasm and energy, apparent in every aspect of her work, particularly the many productions she was involved with, as either a director or stage manager. She could always be relied on to bring passion and dedication to everything she did.
Alex joined KES two years ago from Eastbourne College where he was Assistant Director of Music and organist at Arundel Cathedral. He brought to KES a renewed vigor and passion for the choral tradition and, under his guidance, the School Choir has taken on some wonderful challenging pieces and contributed to all our main school events from the Carol Service at Romsey Abbey to services at School. He was also instrumental in organising and, indeed, compering the musical
Anton Kendall
Anton joined the Languages Faculty in September 2020. He has subsequently gained a reputation as an outstanding teacher, who inspires his students through his love of languages.
His command of technology is impressive and he has made the website mrkendall.com a mainstay of German and French lessons. He is a very thorough and didactic professional and the department will not be the same without his weekly vocabulary tests! The department will also be somewhat duller without his flamboyant tie collection!
Anton has been widely involved with the School’s Duke of Edinburgh programme and has given up countless weekends to guide his young charges back onto the correct path or towards the nearest checkpoint! He has
As well as taking on the role of Acting Head of Department for a while, Hayleigh also found time to run the young carer’s Summer Camp project for a number of years, something which gave her great joy.
She will be sadly missed at KES, not only as a work colleague but as a friend. She is to be congratulated on her career progression to Head of Drama at King’s School in Winchester.
extravaganza that was part of an evening celebrating the 10 years of union between Stroud and KES.
Alex is an ebullient character and the students have enjoyed his cheery disposition and ‘ahoy’ greetings! Outside of the Music Department he has been an enthusiastic coach of Lower School rugby and cricket teams. He leaves us to take up the role of Director of Music at Sherborne School in Dorset.
also supported the department by helping to lead trips such as the recent visit to Munich and has also led a number of events for the German department such as taster lessons for Sherborne House.
He leaves us to take up a richly deserved promotion at St. Swithun’s School as Head of German; our loss is very much their gain.
Nicola Collings
Nicola joined KES in September 2022 working in Curriculum Support predominantly with pupils with dyslexia and Specific Learning Difficulties, as well as helping with exam access arrangements. They left in the Autumn term of 2024.
Rachel Whitfield
Rachel joined KES in April 2014 working in Curriculum Support predominantly with a range of pupils, including dyslexia, Autism and ADHD, as well as heading up our SEN awareness days and neurodiversity celebration days. They left in the Autumn term of 2024.
Coral Jones
Coral joined KES as part of our teacher training programme and was keen from the outset to learn and embrace all that it takes to become a good teacher of art in the broadest sense. Coral has a naturally calm and friendly manner and her lessons are typified by kindness and purposeful engagement with her pupils.
Outside of the classroom, Coral has run a Movie Special Effects Club for the Lower School and has played a key part in the Day of the
Marika Gorbet
Marika joined the School in September 2020 with the challenge of managing a new German team during the midst of the pandemic. She set about this task with tenacity, and she has helped to oversee a very successful period for the department where the examination results have been consistently outstanding and German has grown in popularity in the Upper School.
Her students will remember her for her excellent subject knowledge and her keen desire to promote the German language. She has
Dead Alta Competition. She also managed all the hair and makeup for the school production of Chicago and organised the Year 10 art trip to Kew Gardens.
She gained her QTS status in March this year and leaves us to teach Art and Food Technology at another local school. We wish her every success for her future career as a teacher. She has been a wonderful colleague to work alongside.
helped a number of students to achieve the very highest grades at A Level and inspired them to want to continue the study of German at university.
Marika has contributed to the co-curricular life of the school through her involvement in the Partnerships programme, giving extra language lessons to Foundry Lane Primary School pupils. She leaves us for a new challenge in Dubai and we wish her all the best for the future.
Jo Barnes-Wardlaw
Jo joined the Biology Department from Poole Grammar School in 2012 and stepped straight into the deep end with a high load of A Level teaching. She quickly won the confidence of her students
Dr Andrew Wilson
and the fantastic results they achieved are testament to her subject knowledge and skill in the classroom.
She has taken on several responsibility roles including acting Head of Junior Science, Partnerships Coordinator and within teacher training; including delivering training sessions and mentoring many of our trainee teachers. Jo also set up the popular cupcake decorating club as well as leading DoE expeditions. She has also taken part in the charity work of the students and led Opwall trips to Madagascar and
Andrew joined us at the beginning of the Summer Term to provide cover for Miss Pyne’s maternity leave. He came with experience of working at Sixth Form colleges, and also internationally, most notably in South Korea. In his time at the School, he has taught the full age range, and he has gained a reputation for hard work. His classes are always thoroughly prepared, and his marking is
Indonesia.
Jo has always cared deeply for her students and always goes the extra mile to ensure that they are able to achieve to the best of their effort and ability. She is a calm and friendly fixture in the Biology office and we hope she realises how much her contribution has been appreciated over her 12 years at KES.
meticulous. His gentle, caring approach to teaching will be missed, and he leaves with our thanks and very best wishes.
Hannah arrived at the School in 2019, and has taught through all the year groups with success. She is a patient and calm presence in the classroom and spends hours giving on-to-one sessions with students to help them with their English. From the start she taught the Crime section of A Level Literature, and she has made this something of a speciality, helping her students to achieve consistently high marks. She has also been a lead practitioner and mentor to newer teachers, who have valued her wisdom and support.
The Debating Society has also thrived under her guidance. As a Lower School tutor Hannah has shown enormous kindness and empathy and will certainly be missed by her tutees. This academic year, she took up a role as head of the Partnership Scheme, and she has shown this her usual dedication. She has accepted a promotion to Head of KS5 at Twynham School, and she leaves with our thanks and best wishes.
Hannah Goodsell
Professional Services Staff
Ray Maher
Ray joined the School in 2005, taking up the role of Bursar, having previously worked in similar roles for a number of schools and, before that, for a time at Liverpool Cathedral. His first day of employment at KES coincided with our first day of owning Wellington Sports Ground.
The role of Bursar is a thankless one at times as they are the person here to say ‘no’, to refuse budget requests, to chase debtors, to drive down costs and to make efficiency savings. Ray has fulfilled his role with courage and steadfastness,
leading the business operations of the School, but never losing sight of its purpose in educating young people. He has, at times, had to make difficult decisions and hold difficult but honest conversations but, throughout, he has always stood up to this responsibility. He has always done his job with compassion and a determination to do what is right and just.
A risk manager who works like a Trojan, Ray’s resilience and determination was never tested more than during the extraordinary years of COVID. Throughout the pandemic, Ray was dealing with extraordinarily difficult decisions every single day: seeking to find solutions to a myriad of conflicting responsibilities of care; having to shift pieces around a board without any proper guidance from the authorities as to how to do so. He worked relentlessly for months on end and his efforts during that period were exceptional, largely hidden from view, and generally unsung.
Anita started at KES in October 2009 in the Finance Department dealing effortlessly with parents’ fee invoices and school trip accounts. In 2016, she was promoted to the role of Bursar’s PA also covering minute taking for all
governors’ committee meetings and generally transforming the support for the governing body.
Anita has also been an integral part of the Professional Services Leadership Team and her willingness to go out of her way for colleagues is who she is. Everyone who dealt with Anita found her highly capable, courteous and compassionate and so often words such as lovely, helpful, efficient, knowledgeable and trustworthy were used to describe her. She is an exemplar of the dedication of PSS staff who are so important to the smooth running of the School but who often go under the radar.
Ray has taken great pride in his team and their evolution over the years. The Finance Office and Professional Services Staff have risen to every challenge alongside Ray and have developed their own significant skills under his leadership.
A Liverpudlian, Ray will now be able to finally buy an Everton season ticket as he will have more time on his hands, although he will be kept busy with his plans to volunteer his talents in finance to charitable organisations and mentor younger Bursars as they pick up the responsibilities of the role. A man with a deeply held faith that drives him to seek to live a kind, gentle and faithful life, the School will be poorer for his absence and we thank him for his many years of dedicated service and wish him well.
Anita is one of many unsung heroes that make this School what it is.
Anita Crane-Whatmore
Jim Jones
Jim joined the school 13 ½ years ago as our Head Groundsman at Hill Lane and has consistently done his job diligently and without fuss. His responsibilities include the maintenance of all the external
areas, not just the playing fields but the hard standings, Astro pitches, netball courts and parking areas. Many of these tasks go largely unnoticed but it is Jim who we have to thank for how tidy and well-maintained the school site is.
During the pandemic, Jim played a key role in the School’s lockdown efforts to produce PPE for the NHS. He recruited his mum, a retired seamstress, and some of her friends to run a school-based production line. In the Dining Hall they created a cutting room, preparing patterns for scrubs and surgical gowns and then Jim spent
Emma Whiting
many hours driving around the country delivering these materials to the 100s of volunteers from the school community, who were sewing them into garments; a truly valiant effort.
Reliable, diligent, punctual and helpful are all words regularly used to describe Jim and, as well as his work duties, he has also been a big supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh programme and has been involved in running many an expedition. Jim will be sorely missed but we wish him all the very best for the future.
Emma joined the School in January 2016 as Deputy Examinations and Reporting & Assessment Manager. She quickly impressed with her eye for detail and desire to make the exam process as smooth as possible for the pupils. During her time here, exams have become increasingly complicated, and almost at regular intervals throughout the year. Emma’s
ability to remain calm and appear unflappable has been essential in moments of exam stress, not only making the pupils feel reassured at all times, but equally so invigilators and teaching staff. She leaves KES for a change of career and we wish her every success and will miss her professionalism, empathy, and huge knowledge of the examination systems.
Emma has been a Librarian at KES for almost 4 years and has consistently been a kind, calm and reassuring presence for many of our students who use and rely upon the Library on a daily basis. Emma’s creativity and commitment has made the library a vibrant, popular space with exciting and engaging displays. Her work with over 80 Library Leaders over the years, has meant that those students who love the library
and reading have experienced some fantastic events including Harry Potter Book Night and a Murder Mystery Night. Emma also reignited KES Feminist Society, enabling those in the society to experience a vast range of feminist talks and events.
She is leaving KES to join Barton Peveril College library and enjoy more time with her son.
Emma Funnell
Gregor McKenzie
Greg joined KES as a Third Year student in September 2012. Playing sport and cricket, in particular, was his passion, and he went on to play 46 matches at 1st team level; 16 in hockey and 30 in cricket. As a powerful striker of the cricket ball he became renowned for his 6-hitting prowess. His most brutal hitting was in a 1st XI game in the Altham Trophy where he scored 100 off about 36 balls in a display of brutal
Jane Selvaratnam
Paul Billinger
batting that claimed a number of roof tiles on the science buildings, 2 windows over Wilton Road, a window of one of the English classrooms and the windscreen of a car parked behind the D&T building. At the end of his school cricket career, he had a strike rate of 166 runs per 100 balls. Gregor’s talents have been recognised in the ECB’s disability pathway and he has quickly risen through the ranks to captain Hampshire, play for the Tridents franchise in the ECB’s disability premier league and push to challenge for selection for England.
During his GAP year, Greg worked within the Sports department and it became clear that he was a natural coach. This prompted him to enrol on a Sports Coaching degree at Oxford Brookes University, after which, he once
Jane joined our nursing team in May of 2021, whilst we were still dealing with the effects of Covid and working hard to provide a safe environment for our staff and pupils. It is a testament to her skill and dedication that she was central to that effort from her very first day and everyone very quickly came to respect how valuable she was to our team.
Paul joined KES during the summer of 2022 directly from Cheam School after a long and varied career in both industry and schools. He came to us with a positive can-do attitude and a great knowledge of Microsoft 365 and its management system inTune. All of this complemented the skills of the existing team. A positive can-do attitude seems
again returned to KES to take up a post of sports professional. He has excelled in this role both encouraging our less able students to enjoy their involvement in sport whilst also pushing the higher ability students to maximise their potential. In addition to this he has been invaluable in the development of our processes for the collation of video evidence for our GCSE and A Level sports students and has led an U15 cricket tour to Jersey. Sadly, he leaves us once more as he moves to Bishops Stortford College. It has been a pleasure for so many of us to work with Greg over the years and his charisma, patience, and drive have been evident throughout. He is a natural with the students and we all wish him well for the future.
In April 2023 she took on the Lead Nurse role, which is quite an undertaking in a School as busy as King Edward’s. She has brought about multiple innovations in the way the nursing team works and has demonstrated, on countless occasions, her ability to deal with difficult situations with sensitivity and good humour. She will be missed by all in the pastoral team and in the wider School at large.
to be necessary to work with the vagaries of 365.
Our loss is Lord Wandsworth‘s gain, where Paul will be using some of the skills we’ve learned here to help manage the IT in both their Senior and Prep schools.
Bianca Belgiorno Appleyard
Jon Royall
Bianca joined KES in 2015 as our Italian Language Assistant to help prepare our students for the speaking element of their Italian GCSE. She has combined teaching at Southampton University with her hours here and has always been a very reliable, cheerful and accommodating colleague. Her students have commented on how helpful she has been, and how much she has helped improve their confidence, as well as how funny
she can be! We will miss her as she retires this year, and envy her spending more time in her beloved Italia. Migliori auguri e tante grazie di tutto, Bianca!
Jon joined the School in April 2023 to lead the Strength and Conditioning programme and very quickly settled into the department and the wider school community. He has led rugby, hockey and cricket teams, but it is in the area of strength and conditioning that he has made the biggest impact. He introduced technology into individual fitness programmes, enabling students to keep track of their training more effectively, and became involved in the delivery
Matthew Kelly
Matthew came to KES after a stint as Assistant Organist at Chelmsford Cathedral. He quickly became a part of the fabric of the Music Department through his considered accompanying of many students, careful help with aural tests and inspiring organ playing at Term Services and the Carol Service, as well as leading Year 7 Choir with aplomb. His
of the Health and Fitness unit in Physical Education. He has also led training sessions for staff as part of the staff development programme. He has excellent technical knowledge, coupled with a passion for coaching.
He leaves us to move to a post as Performance Sports Advisor at Southampton University. He leaves with our good wishes for every success in his new role.
thoughtfulness and empathy with those who were facing music exams really characterised the supportive role he took with allthings musical. As he heads on to Canford School, we wish him the best as he embarks on a dual career working in school and furthering his organ playing.
Jason Tiley
Jonny Goodchild
Jason joined King Edward’s last August in the role of Multimedia and Classroom Support Technician. He has done a great job supporting our staff and pupils with their IT needs both in and out the classroom and we wish him well as he leaves us to take up a position with Matrix IT in Fareham.
Reverend Jonny Goodchild joined KES on a part-time basis in September 2023, to provide pastoral support and faith leadership in his role as School Chaplain. Prior to KES, Jonny had been an ordained minister at Saint Mary’s in Southampton, as well as being involved in sports chaplaincy, including at Southampton Football Club.
During his time at KES, Jonny has supported the community in faith matters, including leading a number of key services for the
Daryl joined the Facilities Team in February 2022, helping with the day to day running of the school. He leaves us to take up another caretaking position.
School. He has also sought to provide pupils of all faiths or none with an opportunity to consider spiritual matters, and to use the Chapel for quiet reflection and contemplation.
Jonny leaves the School all too soon, but with our absolute support for his new role in working with International Justice Mission, a global organisation helping to stop modern-day slavery and violence through community partnerships and pastoral support.
Daryl Gilmartin
Creative Arts
Art at KES
The Art department is a wonderful place to be and the staff and students alike readily embrace the creative and purposeful atmosphere.
The academic flow of the year is now back to a pre covid normal which has meant that the GCSE and A Level students have had a year with their coursework portfolios followed by an exam set in late April. The GCSE students were not afraid to be ambitious and the number of large canvases with expressive landscapes or powerful flowing portraits are a testament to students wanting to push their creativity. Printmaking is undoubtedly a KES speciality demonstrated by the multi layered linocuts from some of the GCSE students. This is a sophisticated process and it is great to see our 100-year-old Albion press in constant use. All this is of course supplemented by wonderful sketchbooks where the creative journeys are born and shaped into final pieces.
Our A Level artists produced some stunning and deeply personal work this year. Sophie’s work was thought-provoking and her imagery a masterclass in visual metaphors. Tessa’s ambitious set of paintings recorded the reality of Sixth Form parties with both honesty and a love of paint. Isla’s theme of people at work was a clever and prescient topic executed with care and passion. Skye’s work is notable for its sheer intellect with gender and Fabergé eggs being her starting points. Lucy’s work was hard to miss with her depiction of scenes of death and mutilation, but her accompanying essay was in the spirit of artists like
Bourgeois and Ono, to create work that makes you stop and think. Saskia’s paintings, around a theme of childhood memory, were dreamlike with the fluidity of her paint echoing the loss of one’s own memories.
The photographers were equally impressive. Ben must be congratulated for creating two wonderful portfolios of work that take us from reportage in Naples in colour to his striking monochromatic studies on architecture for his exam unit. Chloe has masterfully used the quietness of an image to produce photographs that are both personal yet deeply universal. Her exam work, looking at how we record places over time, would not have looked out of place at degree level. Ottilie used the camera to record her family and the world around her. Her work is unsurprisingly frank and personal and will be a unique time capsule long after her studies at school. Charlotte’s work looked at the nature of landscapes, from the details to be found in the New Forest to the tranquility of a formal garden. Andreanne looked at the calm to be found in the natural world as well looking at photographing musicians for her exam unit.
After school, the Art department is a wonderful creative hub for so many of our students. From Monday to Wednesday, a glance through the studio windows would see over fifty students having fun but being creative. There will always be a cool soundtrack on, with the photography studio being used, the printing presses in full swing, and clubs galore, sitting aside our examination sets, making use of extended time to get work done.
Character Design Club continues to be a popular and exciting Lower School club. Projects are fun and quirky, from models in clay to experimenting with a lovely collagraph technique. Movie Effects has been Miss Jones’s inspiration where she used her industry expertise with those students who might like to learn how movie injuries are created and specialist materials are used. It could be alarming to come into
the studios at five o’clock to be greeted by students sporting numerous gaping flesh wounds or Avatar style make up, but the giggles were a charming reminder of how much fun was being had!
There were fewer life drawing sessions than usual which reflects the School being busier than ever. However, these sessions were well attended and students from the Lower Sixth and Year 11 experimented with quick poses of a few minutes to longer 30 minute ones. It is always interesting to see how a quick line in charcoal can illustrate so much about the human figure without the need to overdraw. Students (and staff) were inspired by the drawings of Klint, Schiele, Michelangelo, and Jenny Saville’s recent work.
The annual Year 9 trip to the Harry Potter studios was an enormous success and although we have done this for many years now there is still something new to see and be amazed by on each trip. It is a wonderful example of how the creative industries work behind the scenes and these industries generated £126bn in gross value added to the UK economy and employed 2.4 million people in 2022.
The Year 10 GCSE artists went to Kew Gardens for a day of inspiration through drawings and photographs to inspire their first coursework project. In April, the Lower Sixth artists and photographers went to London to see three exemplary exhibitions. The was a collection of photographs by Edward Burtynsky in a show that Simon Schama described as, “there will be no more beautiful and no more important art show in Britain - possibly Europe - this year.” It was certainly a powerful and thought-provoking body of work that overlapped globalization with geography. We then adjourned for lunch before hopping on the tube to Somerset House to see Frank Auerbach’s drawings at the Courtauld and then the Sony World Photography Award. An extraordinary range of some of the best creative works in the world and it is so important to see it up close both in terms of curation but also in terms of inspiration!
The annual Art Exhibition in June collected this blur of creativity all together and put it on the walls of the Atrium and Art Studios for all to see. Miss White, our dedicated Art Technician, spends weeks choosing the right frames and mounts to make the exhibition look as professional as it does.
Mr Piggott Head of Creative Arts
Creative Arts
Dance at KES
At KES, dance continues to flourish, and we are immensely proud of its expanding significance within our community.
The wide array of engaging co curricular activities and clubs complements the academic study of dance, exemplified by the rising interest and popularity of GCSE Dance among our students. Throughout the year, our Dance Studio has buzzed with energy and dedication, maintaining its status as a nurturing and imaginative environment for our enthusiastic dancers.
The academic year kicked off with preparations for our sizzling and stylish whole school performance of Chicago. We could not be prouder of our dance ensemble for tackling the slick and precise vocabulary of Bob Fosse with such ease and confidence. The audience was amazed by the professionalism of our cast, especially in numbers such as All that Jazz and Cell Block Tango where the spirit of Broadway took residence in the Dobson Theatre. Special congratulations must go to our Velma (Molly) and Roxie (Nell) who worked particularly hard as our leading ladies, stealing the
show with their electric rendition of Hot Honey Rag Every pupil involved excelled on stage, proving that hard work and passion pays off.
The eagerly awaited Dance Gala made a spectacular return in February, delighting both students and audience members with performances over two evenings. This year, an impressive 80 students graced the stage in front of a full and appreciative audience, showcasing a thrilling variety of dance styles. From ballet to street, tap to jazz, contemporary to acro, the performances were truly electric! This event offers a glimpse into the vibrant daily activities in the Dance Studio, where we take great pride in embracing and celebrating all styles and skill levels. We are fiercely proud in the courage our pupils have when taking to the stage, and we are committed to celebrating this freedom of expression. This year, we welcomed another group of enthusiastic Year 7 dancers, kicking off their journey in KES Dance with great enthusiasm. In addition to the new faces, performers from the musical Chicago graced us with revived and revised numbers such as Hot Honey Rag and All that Jazz, much to the audience’s delight. Taking a moment to reflect on the journey and growth of Dance at KES, it was an honour to host such a supportive audience and celebrate the journey from the first Dance Gala in the Dance Studio to a small crowd, to what it is now. Witnessing our students captivate the stage with fearless confidence and artistry will never not be magic. Congratulations to all the performers!
Dance remains a prominent part of school life both within the Studio and beyond. Students eagerly participate in various Dance clubs such as Year 7 Dance Club, Ballet Club, Lower School Dance Club, and Upper School Dance Clubs. Special thanks go to Miss Crompton for her support and enthusiasm here. Additionally, captivating Dance assemblies led by Year 7 and Lower School dancers have been held in the Dobson, showcasing our pupils’ impressive choreography created specifically for the Dance Gala. Dance continues to be enjoyed by all in our Year 7 Extended Studies carousel, with pupils enjoying a new provision that introduces the Jive, Musical Theatre, Ballet and Contemporary, and dance crazes. Notably, the Dance department was once again invited to perform at the traditional Carol Service in the enchanting Romsey Abbey. Year 8 students Florence, Matilda, Phoebe, and Florence delivered angelic performances of There is no Rose alongside the Senior Choir, demonstrating a grace and professionalism that was truly delightful to witness. They should be very proud of their remarkable poise during their performance. Dance also featured in our Founders Day, with Year 7 pupils taking part in a House Dance Competition. Our in-house judges were blown away by the creativity and fun of the choreography produced by our pupils – it was a tough competition!
GCSE Dance has once again continued to gain traction, with our current students showing genuine passion for dance appreciation, choreography, and performance. Recently, our Year 11 pupils participated in our inaugural GCSE Dance Showcase in the Dance Studio. They enthusiastically presented their hard work to a select and supportive audience. With confidence, they performed Set Phrases, solos, and duets, demonstrating both skill and artistry. This year, our Year 11 dancers exhibited remarkable creativity through their solo choreography, exploring themes including confidence in their own skin, an exploration of blindness, the life cycle of a butterfly and not being enough in the skin of a woman. Each pupil should take great pride in their unique creations. Following their lead, our Year 10 dancers have been busy crafting engaging group dances inspired by the professional works they have been studying. In June, we welcomed back Juka Dance to train our pupils on the Set Phrases, a key component of their practical work. Every dancer put in tremendous effort to the workshop, and we are eager to refine these pieces further as they head into their exam year. The growth of the GCSE Dance programme at King Edward’s is evident, with anticipation building for another expansion to class sizes in the upcoming academic year!
In March, Lower School dancers had the opportunity to delve into a captivating workshop hosted by Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company, based on their latest acclaimed ballet “Edward Scissorhands”. Our dancers had the opportunity to refine their dance skills by immersing themselves in the production’s repertoire, as well as unleashing their creativity by choreographing in the unique and acclaimed style of Matthew Bourne. The day culminated in an enriching evening at The Mayflower, where pupils watched a breathtaking performance of “Edward Scissorhands”. Excitement filled the auditorium as the pupils recognised the dance steps they had practiced earlier. The performance was truly
a highlight for everyone involved.
This past year has once again brought us remarkable accomplishments in the Dance department. As a closely-knit community of enthusiastic dancers, we bid farewell with a tinge of sadness to some of our Upper Sixth pupils who have made significant contributions to our Dance programme over the years, many of whom have appeared in every Dance Gala since they started at KES. They have shown immense dedication and passion for Dance throughout the years and will be greatly missed! Our remaining pupils have truly blossomed both on and off the stage, and we eagerly await another year filled with their passion and outstanding performances.
Dance plays a vital role within our school community and academic curriculum, and we remain committed to fostering growth and opportunities for all our dancers. As we head into a new year, we are excited to begin rehearsals for our upcoming production of Macbeth, which sees a carefully crafted movement ensemble collaborate with Luke Brown of the Luke Brown Dance Company. We can’t wait to explore something new and to challenge our pupils! Dance serves as a powerful means of communication and self-expression, offering our dedicated pupils a sense of freedom and empowerment that we deeply value.
Miss Barnett Dance Coordinator
Creative Arts
Drama at KES
As Director of Drama at KES, I am delighted to reflect on an extraordinary year filled with remarkable achievements and memorable performances.
This year has been a testament to the passion, talent, and dedication of our students and staff, and it is my pleasure to share some of the highlights with our school community.
One of the most exciting developments this year was the arrival of Faye Bailey, whose fresh perspective and energy have already made a significant impact on our department. At the same time, we bid a heartfelt farewell to Hayleigh Hawker and wish her well in her new pursuits.
The highlight of our year was undoubtedly the phenomenal success of our whole school production of ‘Chicago’. From the moment the audience entered the Dobson Theatre and saw the stage transformed into a jazz nightclub, it was clear that we were in for a treat. Mr Parker captured the essence of the experience perfectly in his introduction:
“Ladies and Gentlemen, you are about to see a story of greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery…all those things we hold near and dear
to our hearts. Thank you…and welcome.”
From the first line, the production was a dazzling display of talent and precision. The cast, crew, and band delivered what has been widely regarded as the best school production seen at the School. The Head expressed his immense pride in the students, noting the exceptional performances of Molly as Velma Kelly, Nell as Roxie Hart, Charlie as Billy Flynn, Max as Amos Hart, Lucy as Mama Morton, and Chloe as Mary Sunshine. Their dedication and skill, combined with the flawless musical accompaniment and superb choreography, created a truly unforgettable experience. Local theatre critic David Putney also praised the production, highlighting its professionalism and the high level of talent displayed by our students. He noted the seamless flow of the show, the intricate choreography, and the exceptional performances that brought the characters to life. His review underscored the hard work and attention to detail that went into making ‘Chicago’ a resounding success.
Beyond this, our students have had numerous other opportunities to shine. The Year 10 students participated in a full day’s devising workshop with Frantic Assembly Theatre Company, where they explored impressive physical theatre skills. They also enjoyed a backstage tour and workshop at the Mayflower Theatre, which enriched their understanding of professional theatre production. Their efforts culminated in remarkable GCSE exam performances that incorporated these new skills.
The Year 11 students completed a highly successful performance evening and exam day, showcasing a diverse range of scripts including Shakespearean comedy, psychological thrillers, Greek tragedy, war narratives, and contemporary theatre. We also had two creative design candidates who produced outstanding set and costume designs, adding a unique dimension to the performances.
Our Lower Sixth students had the privilege of working with members of Gecko Theatre Company and spent a day in London watching Gecko’s production of Kin. They participated in a Q&A session with the cast and producers and attended a masterclass in character creation at Pineapple Studios. The day concluded with an evening performance of ‘The Little Big
Things’, a new West End show about the inspirational story of rugby player Henry Fraser.
We were also thrilled to welcome back actor and director Edward Bennett, who provided invaluable workshops to both our GCSE and A Level students. These sessions greatly enhanced the students’ understanding and appreciation of the craft.
Our GCSE and A Level scripted showcases were a testament to the students’ hard work and creativity. The GCSE performances included excerpts from ‘Gaslight’, ‘Mindgame’, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, ‘Henna Nights’, ‘Warhorse’, and ‘Antigone’. The A Level performances featured stunning excerpts from ‘Taming of the Shrew’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Mosquitoe’s, and ‘How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found’ - the latter being a masterclass in the brave guttural Berkoff style. Alex gave an outstanding performance.
The Lower Sixth completed unique and original devised performances using the contemporary styles of Gecko and Theatre Alibi to explore themes of choice and find peace. Both performances were thought provoking and beautiful.
The Lower School also impressed with a gripping performance of Terry Pratchett’s ‘Dodger’. This year, our students enjoyed a variety of enriching experiences, including a Year 8 stage combat workshop with Squire Stage Combat and a KS3 theatre trip to see ‘Life of Pi’, which showcased extraordinary puppetry. The Eddie’s Drama Festival and Founders’ Day Fun Drama Day offered further opportunities for students to showcase their talents.
Looking ahead, we are already excited about next year’s production of ‘Macbeth’, which promises to be a sensational performance with its own dramatic prowess. The spine-tingling promo video has tantalized us with what is to come.
As we conclude this remarkable year, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire team and everyone who has supported us. Your dedication and passion have made this year truly special. Here’s to another year of creativity, performance, and excellence in drama at KES!
Mrs Gilmour Director of Drama
Creative Arts
Music at KES
Music at KES continues to fly high with many notable performances and occasions to celebrate our school’s rich musical tapestry. This academic year has been characterised by some superb individual contributions as well as a most positive re-emergence of many high quality ensembles.
This year, with no major royal bereavements to commemorate, the Autumn Term started with the more usual round of Music While You Lunch. We also put on a concert to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the great English composer William Byrd – the Chamber Choir singing some motets, Chamber Orchestra playing a Fantasia and the newly-formed Brass Quintet playing a boisterous dance from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book; pairing his music with that of Purcell (the final sections of Dido and Aeneas heartrendingly sung by Sophie) and a Bach Brandenburg Concerto. Following on from this we welcomed string players from our local partnership schools for a day of joyful music-making alongside our own pupils as mentors and our own team of string visiting music teachers as section leaders. We enjoyed two Music Scholars and Captains’ talks – one by our newly-appointed Accompanist-in-Residence Mr Kelley on preparing for high-end diploma exams; and one by Deputy Director of Music Ms Hayden on using Chord III in composition. Music was, as ever, also at the forefront of the touching Remembrance commemorations with trumpeters providing a moving rendition of the Last Post alongside vocal contributions from the Chamber Choir. With a special
group of fourteen trumpeters and four choirs in attendance at Romsey Abbey for the Carol Service, an uplifting and atmospheric start to the festive period was made. We welcomed back dancers this year to accompany the Upper Voice choir and were lucky to have pieces which included accompaniment by flautist, Holly, and organist Nathan. The Chamber Choir’s repertoire also included a recent composition by coronation arranger Iain Farrington which featured some startling extended techniques for the singers. As ever, the service started with a lone upper voice singing Once in Royal David’s City and Charlotte sang beautifully. It would be remiss not to mention the theatrical triumph of Chicago which had some truly memorable and brilliant vocal performances on stage. Behind the scenes, the band were impressively tight, comprising among their number, three current pupils, as well as one very recent former pupil. Dr Wortham had even dedicated himself to learning to play the Banjo over the summer holidays to become a crucial cog in the musical’s accompaniment. Many who attended in the audience commented very favourably on the standard of the show indeed – indeed the Head described it as the best school musical he had ever seen.
In the Spring Term the annual music competition provided the opportunity for some really fabulous solo performances. Gabriella Téychenne (internationally-renowned conductor) was our adjudicator on this occasion and was given the unenviable task of picking winners from a phenomenally talented pool of musicians; eventually Caspar and Eliza won the main prizes, but there were many other performers who gained smaller awards and much more dazzling playing besides. The term’s Scholars’ and Captains’ talks saw Miss Wu discuss performance etiquette and Mr Eadon lead a session on improvisation. The Battle of the Bands competition was a wonderfully energetic evening, showcasing the talents of some of the less regularly performing (but no less talented) rock and pop musicians. The sounds of their rehearsals had permeated through the walls of the Music department for a long time in preparation for the evening – so it was fantastic to see them all perform and give of their very best in front of a highly appreciative audience. The standard was really high and the adjudicators had quite the job to judge an eventual winner from the bands. The evening was an important fundraiser for the Summer Camp team.
GCSE and A Level musicians saw the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performing music by Sibelius and Tchaikovsky at the Lighthouse in Poole – their performance really caught the imagination of some of our pupils – several of whom, thanks to Covid, had never been to a live professional concert before. February saw the return of our Junior Spring Concert. It was a glorious evening of musicianship and a celebration of live music and included performances from Sinfonia, Year 7 Choir and Swing Band all of whom showcased the community and team spirit of the young musicians. A wide variety of soloists also sparkled with captivating performances from a wide range of composers all beautifully introduced
and professionally performed by members of the Lower School under the auspices of Ms Hayden who organised the evening deftly and with great aplomb. Always a highlight of the School calendar, the Senior Spring Concert showcased the very best of musical talent amongst pupils at KES. Concerto highlights included the Chopin Grand Valse Brillant (in essence a piano concerto) played by Sophie and a Jazz Trumpet Concerto played stunningly by James. Both of their concerti were breathtaking and would not have been out of place on an even grander stage than our own Dobson Theatre. Soloists treated us to a broad range of composers and repertoire from Wicked duets through to Lucy singing the humerous Alto’s Lament; and we must also mention the wonderful communities that make up the Symphony Orchestra (playing Holst’s Jupiter and Sibelius’ Finlandia), Chamber Orchestra (playing music which included Karl Jenkins’ dramatic Palladio), Chamber Choir (whose repertoire encompassed Billy Joel and House of the Rising Sun) Brass Quintet (playing a fun take on Frère Jacques)and Big Band delighting us with repertoire to get our feet tapping! Also this year, two pupils’ own compositions were performed – Tom’s tribute to Billie Holliday and Caspar’s arrangement of two classic Jazz standards for piano solo. Congratulations must go to all of the performers – but not forgetting the staff who, weekin, week-out, give of their best to help pupils attain something similar. Further, as part of our showcase season, younger musicians gave a recital at Romsey Abbey in March to experience public performance in a stunning venue and acoustic. Eight KES musicians drawn from Years 7, 8 and 9 gained valuable experience in the public arena and concert stage.
The Summer Term, often thought of as a mere exam term, contained many more delights for the ears and eyes. In addition to the usual round of Music While You Lunch concerts, Scholars’ and Captains’ Talks were given by a recent OE, Ben Carter, able to tell
the assembled company about Conservatoire entry processes and how to kickstart your performance career – as well as playing spectacularly for us with music from his forthcoming album. Mr Eadon also shared his tips and tricks for gaining confidence in sight-reading – a skill often maligned for its apparent complexity. We also had a day of Jazz with many external teachers as well as a visit from the Modulus String Quartet to play some pupil compositions as well as masterclassing a pupil-led String Quartet with players from Years 9 and 10. The younger singers also took part in the first commemoration of Isaac Watts (OE and celebrated hymn-writer) in a civic event at his statue in town.
It has been a privilege to lead the Music Department here at KES for two years – I wish it, its pupils and staff every continued success as it heads into 2025 and beyond as I depart for pastures new. Music is so vital an expression for so many pupils – as evidenced by the strong numbers of talented musical students that KES is lucky to attract.
Mr Eadon Director of Music
Co-curricular life at KES
When shining a light on the rich offering of co-curricular clubs and societies at KES we may be forgiven for getting carried away with enthusiasm for the vast number available, for their inclusivity, variety and balance with something for everyone - the descriptors keep coming!
It is, however, vital to remember that each club, each society meeting has a direct impact on pupils at KES and in cases such as our partnerships events, charities or DofE volunteering a potential direct impact on our wider community. Co-curricular activities mean so much more than a chance to spend time with friends, try new skills or stretch us out of a comfort zone. They mean growth of the individual, time well spent and learning outside the classroom about ourselves and others for the better.
I was particularly reminded of this when I was asked by pupils in Year 8 to start a Dungeons and Dragons club this year. Not satisfied that Wargaming or the wider games clubs we offer quite gave them enough time to really get into a good DnD session, they felt a full hour after school each week was called for. Watching them give complete focus and energy to the process of character building, story boarding and a whole newly created universe reminded me of the value of every club run by the staff at KES. Yes, we have offered up to 124 clubs and societies this academic year. It is such a large number; it might feel overwhelming. There certainly is something for everyone, from gardening to origami club, from feminist society to movie effects make-up. Taking a step back to really assess what these wonderful, rich and varied offerings means is simple however. Our co-curricular programme has a direct effect on each pupil participating. It leaves a mark in forming the brilliantly rounded individuals that make our community so special.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award plays a key role in our co-curricular provision at KES. This was the first time of offering the award to our Year 9 cohort and it has been a popular choice, with 85 students enrolling at Bronze level and starting their journey by completing their Volunteering, Physical and Skill sections. Amongst our Year 10 pupils, there are 101 enrolled at Bronze level and a further 21 at Silver. In Year 11 there are currently 7 teams of Silver participants and the 2 Sixth Form Gold teams completed their Gold qualifying expeditions over the summer. At any one time an average of 350-400 KES
students are engaged in the Award. This year we have welcomed Ms Sharpen to the DofE team supporting our students achieve their awards which has seen 14 Bronze Teams complete their expedition section in the New Forest, 7 Silver Teams on Dartmoor, and 2 Gold Teams in both the Lake District and the Elan Valley.
Within the first few weeks of joining the School, all our Year 7 pupils enjoyed their first Outdoor Learning trip (within their new Tutor Groups) to Tile Barn Outdoor Centre. During their visit, pupils undertook climbing and rope course activities and completed problem-solving tasks. All activities were designed to challenge them to work together and use their individual skills to problem-solve and overcome obstacles whilst ensuring some great memories to share with new friends. The pupils had a great time and showed themselves to be determined, resourceful and resilient as they fathomed out ways to address challenges, using their mistakes and failures to inform progress and, ultimately, success, as well as making lots of new friends along the way.
On the water, members of our Sailing Club competed at an inter schools sailing competition on Southampton Water. The sailors were split across seven boats and competed against fourteen boats from other schools in three races. All our boats finished in the top twelve.
The KES Sustainability Action Group continues to be very proactive within school life. Early in the year, students and staff were asked to donate any clothing items they no longer wear to the clothing swap sale with all proceeds will go to the ‘No Sweat’ charity, fighting against sweat shops. From fashion to electric vehicles, food waste and the creative arts, and to bigger projects such as the installation of solar panels, the school tries its best to take responsibility for protecting our planet. Members of the Sustainability Action Group are involved with decision making and are instrumental in informing and raising awareness of critical issues regarding the planet and educating the school community in thinking about
their own impact.
Multiculturalism and diversity are also explored and celebrated throughout many of our clubs and societies’ activities bringing to the fore the importance of the various areas of equality, diversity and inclusion. As well as smaller groups such as MindSoc, that celebrates neurodiversity, there has also been several school-wide events to shed light and focus conversations around particular topics. Notably, we marked Anti-Bullying Week, Youth Mental Health Week, International Men’s Day and World Safer Internet Day with a variety of external speakers, whole school assemblies and various break and lunchtime activities. We also had a whole week’s celebration of Pride month culminating in a very well attended silent disco.
On International Women’s Day, students and staff spent time learning about some very inspirational women, both current and past and FemSoc organised
some great talks on The Barbie Movie, Women in Stem, The History of Birth Control, Disney Princesses and Women in Leadership.
Working alongside Gender Action this year has maintained our pupils’ high expectations in best practice of gender equality in education and opportunity. In partnering with Gender Action, we have grown our focus to include academic engagement of girls in Physics at A Level and pupil voice across the school including the thriving cocurricular provision. Hearing our pupils’ views on gender equality and how our community values and supports all pupils has been inspiring this year: “I never felt like I had to make a decision based on gender when choosing my subjects. Everyone was free to do what they wanted.” Sixth Form Pupil, Chloe We are now a Beacon School with Gender Action (awarded in July 2024) - only the second school in the country to achieve this level. After his visit to us in July, Clive Belgeonne Gender Action Consultant,
reflected “Gender equity really does seem part of your overall commitment to EDI. Talks with governors, parents, staff and pupils showed it is very much part of your ethos.” We couldn’t agree more!
Multicultural Evening was a resounding success too, fostering cross-cultural exchange, appreciation, and understanding. Students, staff and the KES community showcased and celebrated their diversity and unity reinforcing the importance of cultural harmony and mutual respect in our increasingly interconnected world. The evening served as a powerful reminder that, despite our differences, we are united by our shared humanity and the universal language of food, art and expression.
Our Lego League members took part in the Lego League regional tournament held at Beaulieu Motor Museum and, during the day, the teams presented their projects to a panel of judges and competed in a series of robot matches. They did a fantastic presentation and won the ‘core values’ trophy for extraordinary enthusiasm and spirit. They also won the award for ‘Best Innovation Project’ for their invention of hi-tech binoculars which uses VR and AI to provide an immersive experience to avid bird watchers.
Members of the Chess Club have made significant improvements to their game this year and over 30 pupils are now competing for the School. In the National Online Schools’ Chess League both the A and B teams have both consistently finished amongst the top spots in Division 1. The C, D and E teams have been competing in Division 2. The School has also
had a team competing in fortnightly friendly Inter School Battles, with a top finish of 4th in the country. In the English Schools’ Chess Championship the A team had a close match with Winchester College B, losing only on board count.
LitSoc once again organised a Booker Prize Challenge, defying students to read all six short-listed novels between the shortlist being announced and the prize awarded. In the past this has been a time frame of as little as five weeks, but we had over two months this year. That said, it is still a remarkable achievement, given the students’ other commitments. This year two students, Theo and Nell, read and discussed all six novels, despite their involvement with the EPQ and ‘Chicago’. Bee Sting’ by Paul Murray, proved to be the students’ favourite, but the eventual winner, ‘Prophet Song’, a vision of a dystopian Ireland ruled by a military dictatorship by Paul Lynch, came a close second.
These are just a few of the many highlights from the year but on a regular basis, pupils enjoy lunchtime discussion, lectures and activities on a whole range of topics.
With each new academic year comes new additions. The Vinyl Society was launched this year as an opportunity for students and staff to embrace the sounds and aesthetics of listening to vinyl records for pleasure. The Art studios hosted a wonderfully eclectic range of albums and the requests from students and staff have ensured such a wide range
of music. Origami Club also made an appearance and has been well-attended by a mixed range of ages. Starting with the model of a flapping bird, Mrs Matthews has led a relaxing and creative lunchtime club with pupils turning out superb paper models each week.
Movie Effects Makeup Club, a relative newcomer to the list, ran weekly and was frequented by marvellous budding SFX Artists who had the opportunity to explore the secrets behind the big screen! They looked at various special effects skills including creating their own flat piece prosthetics using monster clay, casting, burns, cuts, illusion facepainting and much more!
The KES Golf Club has also gone from strength to strength following its inception last summer, with the first team reaching the National Final of the ISGA Plate Competition. The team, consisting of Gus (captain), Sam and Eddie, helped to put golf firmly on
Lego Leaguet
Lit Soc booker prize Multicultural Society
the KES map by playing superbly in getting so far in the competition. At the other end of the spectrum, numerous beginners and keen novices across the main school have benefitted from lessons with Georgie Mundy and Josh Stock, PGA professionals at Stoneham Golf Club. It has been great fun seeing the pupils learn how to get the ball up in the air with a driver and even generate backspin out of a bunker! American Football Club was also introduced under
the expert tutelage of George (Lower Sixth), who represents Great Britain at youth level and senior level. Many pupils enjoyed playing flag American football during Friday lunchtimes. This non-contact version of American football enables a wide range of pupils to take part and enjoy throwing, catching, tackling and scoring touchdowns. Additionally, every Tuesday lunchtime during the Autumn Term, pupils and staff were able to watch the best NFL game each week with Mr Cross in H4. They followed the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers all the way to the Super Bowl, with the Chiefs successfully defending their title.
And January saw the introduction of Philosoflix. On Monday lunchtimes, students have met to watch films of various genres, from sci-fi thriller to satire, with a philosophical or ethical focus. Viewings have been followed by the opportunity to discuss these themes, including; inception - whether we are able to determine what is real in the context of a dystopian world where dream manipulation is possible and superintelligence - whether artificial intelligence can really understand things in the same way humans do.
The co-curricular programme offers all students the opportunity to enhance their learning experience outside of the classroom, socialise and engage with other pupils who are not in their teaching groups, acquire new skills, learn important lessons in communication, teamwork, creativity and leadership and, above all, have fun.
Multicultural Society Multicultural Society
Multicultural Society
Multicultural Society
From the students
On being a digital leader….
“Over the past year, Digital Leaders has grown significantly with many students joining the group including those moving up from Digital Aspirant - the Year 7 introduction to Digital Leadership. We have been privileged to take part in the AWS GetIT programme, and to design our own apps in groups, with the help of an external speaker. The programme has been very enjoyable and enriching and it has helped us to develop our skills in thinking and communication in a team environment. It is an honour to be a Digital Leader and I am sure there are many more great opportunities and chances for further innovation to come!”
Sesika (Year 10)
On origami club….
“Origami is fun as we can chill and chat with our friends whilst making fun toys and other stuff out of paper. It’s also nice that we all partner up as a team and help out each other when we need to.”
Manny (Year 7)
“My favourite thing we made was the flappy fish and I like the way that everyone helps each other to make things.” Ayden (Year 7)
“You can relax while making really cool things.”
Benjamin (Year 7)
On Lunar Society….
“I did a talk on ‘Gyroscopic motion’, after stumbling upon an enlightening youtube video. This topic is notoriously confusing, but I found the unique explanation used in the video a great help in understanding the concept and led me to share it with the society.
This is what I like most about having a group like this at KES, it’s a platform where we can openly learn from one any other and curiosity can be shared.”
Ollie (Society President – Upper Sixth)
On Economics Society….
“Economics Society has had a brilliant run over the last year, with talks from both students and external speakers. Exciting (and somewhat worrying) economic happenings around the world have given rise to some extremely interesting debates both in Economics Society and in the classroom. The Society remains such an important space for students and teachers to share thoughts and ideas, allowing them to explore areas of interest beyond the curriculum.”
Rajeev and James (Society Presidents – Upper Sixth)
On Sustainability Club…
“Overall, we believe that sustainability is growing even more pertinent in our ethos at KES, both in the awareness of the student body, and in the changes and projects that will be enjoyed by all students in the future. Our club is composed of passionate students from all year groups, and we’re so proud to have been able to launch initiatives which will contribute to this essential cause. From our year 7 members all the way up the Upper Sixth, we’re all so excited to see how Sustainability Action Group will further flourish.”
Kate and Rio (Lower Sixth)
Charities Commission
Our student-led Charities Commission is an integral part of school life, boasting a sizable and active membership. They spearhead school-wide awareness campaigns and fundraising efforts, rallying the entire student body to get involved fostering a profound sense of purpose and fulfilment. Our community’s continued generosity and compassion towards those less fortunate, serve as a testament to our collective ethos. This year this has been recognised by Goldsmith with the school being one of eight asked to participate in the finals of their charity engagements award taking place in the Summer Term.
The passion of the students has once again shone through this year shown not only in their weekly commitment to charitable events but in the wide variety of charities that we have supported. The Charities Commission has supported collections for the homeless, the elderly, local foodbanks and to help end period poverty. They have fundraised through a variety of events including an Easter bunny hunt, sweet stalls, a guess the teacher’s pet competition, a send a candy cane activity, advent calendar sales and, of course, the consumption of a large amount of delicious cookies. Across the year they have achieved the amazing total of close to £8000.
These monies have been distributed to a variety of charities: The British Red Cross, Wessex Heartbeat, Scratch, The British Legion, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, Save the Children, Children in Need, Movember and Southampton Animal Rescue.
Alongside fundraising the students also sent over 150 Christmas cards to residents of local care homes and added a community concert to the summer calendar, inviting local elderly residents in for afternoon tea and musical entertainment.
The Sixth Form Charities continue to be a pillar of the school, supporting Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association, Southampton Young Carers and Kings Copse Primary School.
Members of the Sixth Form Summer Camp team, supporting Southampton’s young carers, have held a range of fundraising events to help with the cost of providing their July Summer Camp in the New Forest. The Year 7 disco, a version of KES Cluedo, a University Challenge event and the hugely successful Battle of the Bands all contributed to the total amount of money raised. The group have found fun and creative ways to raise money and awareness whilst engaging with the young carers themselves.
PDSA (Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association) is a is a charity committed to improving the lives of children and families and our students often run activity sessions for the group and join them on various trips and days out. Our students truly value the friendships with our friends at PDSA, and our meet-up sessions are always a highlight of each term. New Lower Sixth pupils joined the team, and the everpopular Barn Dance provided a wonderful opportunity to create more shared memories.
Not only have the students involved organised a host of activities to support these organisations, but they have also been fantastic ambassadors, supporting children from these charities in a wide range of activities and visits. It is a testament to their kind and caring nature when we are able to witness the palpable excitement and happiness on the faces of the children with whom they are working.
Mrs Price Head of Charities
Partnerships Overview
The Partnerships programme at King Edward VI School has continued to build wonderful connections with the local community, fostering educational excellence.
This year collaborations have placed special emphasis on STEM, the arts, music and languages. During the Autumn and Spring terms two local Primary Schools (Wordsworth and Mount Pleasant) took part in our Science workshop which approximately 30 primary school pupils attended. The sessions included an incredible range of activities including the design and construction of an electronic game and conducting a range of practical experiences using our Science facilities. The King Edward’s Sixth Form Science Roadshow team also performed to approximately 90 pupils at Springhill Primary School. Hollybrook Junior were invited to take part in the KES String Day, playing alongside 40 of our musicians. It was a superb day offering participants the opportunity to improve by playing alongside other wind and brass players. And Shirley Junior School participated in our Art Workshop. The workshop was organised and led by a subject specialist as well as 6 very talented Year 10 KES students and provided 15 artists with the opportunity to use new equipment they do not have access to in their own school, and experiment with different art techniques. The English department hosted a public speaking competition with 15 pupils from Wordsworth Primary; it was a superb event that instilled greater confidence in students and, as part of their KES QUEST, Year 7 students took the lead in a dynamic public speaking partnership event, mentoring primary school pupils in the art of debating. Working together, the students honed their arguments for a class competition – each
team aiming to convince the audience why a specific item should be banned! This partnership fostered confidence and communication skills in a fun, supportive and engaging environment. The Languages department kindly offered a Spanish workshop with 15 pupils from Foundry Lane this year. Running over the course of six sessions, these workshops used a variety of technologies to develop students’ understanding of the language and build a love of languages. The IT department has hosted a number of events including the CyberFirst Girls competition, involving 15 Year 8 students from KES and Bishop Luffa School and Lego workshops with Springhill Primary. This involved a number of our IT ambassadors. We are committed to engaging with our local primary schools and widening impact; in collaboration with the Library, the partnership programme has donated ‘little libraries’ and books to four local primary Schools.
During the Summer Term, we hosted our first Partnerships Day. 155 Year 10 pupils mentored over 180 primary school pupils in an action-packed day of activities. The Year 6 pupils from Foundry Lane and Shirley Junior Schools chose workshops in subjects including Science (dissections and rocket building!), Music, Design Technology (designing and producing a tote bag), Sports (athletics), and more, all led by their Year 10 mentors. It was wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm of our community as our older students shared their skills and knowledge with younger pupils, perfectly capturing the spirit of KES.
We have also extended invitations to staff from local schools to participate and benefit from CPD sessions held at KES. Ben Whitaker from Edufuturist delivered training sessions on Artificial Intelligence in education. His keynote speech, AI in Education: Survival of the Fittest, explored the transformative power of AI. The day provided opportunities to explore practical applications in the classroom and within the wider context of an education setting. And as part of the KES Lecture Series, we were delighted to be joined by Professor Neil Barclay, Emeritus EP Abraham Professor of Chemical Pathology at the University of Oxford. During the evening, Professor Barclay reflected on his career in immunology and the significant progress that has been made in developing therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer.
Miss Goodsell Partnerships Coordinator
From the KES students…
As part of the Partnerships Programme, KES welcomed 180 pupils from two local primary schools to participate in activities in one of four subject areas: science, music, debating and sport. Year 10 students from KES worked alongside the pupils, to guide and assist them in their activities. During lunch, pupils enjoyed a mini concert featuring dance, music and magic. 45 Year 6 students from Shirley Junior School took part in the science workshops where they designed and decorated fabric bags, built rockets out of plastic bottles and dissected hearts. Pupils particularly enjoyed using their creative skills to create designs before using equipment in the Textiles department to apply them to their fabric bag alongside KES students. One primary school pupil commented that, ‘All the students were really supportive’.
The other 45 pupils from Shirley Junior School travelled to KES’s sports ground, Wellington where they took part in sports programmes designed and led by the KES students. From Foundry Lane Primary School, half the pupils took part in learning to sing some folk songs and using body percussion to imitate the sound of rain. Many of the pupils also particularly enjoyed learning about using music technology to put a short film clip to music in the department’s computer room. A pupil interested in a future in music said that she learnt to ‘sing louder’ and found the technology useful in her pursuit ‘to be a rockstar’. Some pupils from Foundry Lane participated in a debating workshop alongside the KES students. One KES student said, ‘I loved talking to them’. Some of the debate topics included debating on the best superpower or on whether a Jaffa cake is a cake or biscuit.
Overall, both KES students and the primary school pupils learned new skills and enjoyed the day. A KES student said, ‘I loved it so much’ whilst when asked if they would want to come back to KES for another Partnerships Day, a primary school pupil responded, ‘Definitely!’
Hannah – Year 10 Partnerships Day Leadership Team member
180 Students years 5-6 from schools Foundry Lane and Shirley Juniors joined us on the 6th of June for an unforgettable partnerships day. Each child had the chance to take part in activities such as debating, sport, music, and science/DT.
In music, there were three different sections. One included music technology, where the students got
to use the computers to input different sounds, and pieces of music into the computer, to create another piece of music. Another section included percussion, where the students learnt how to incorporate different tempos and rhythms into their music.
“I love it! I think I learnt, like, rhythms and tempos and things.”
The third section involved singing, where chorister Mr Eadon helped to improve the young students’ singing capabilities, and helped them to learn how to sing in a choir
In debating, each year 10 had a year 5 Foundry Lane student to look after, and they worked together to form arguments for a debate.The session began with ice breakers, to help the students and year 10s get to know each other. Next, together, they argued for what the best superpower was, before moving onto mini debates about slightly controversial matters, such as ‘cats are better than dogs’. The day ended with a large debate for who the best fictional character is out of Harry Potter, Peter Pan, Gandalf, Sherlock Holmes, and Spider-Man. All children seemed engaged and excited with the debating, eagerly coming up with arguments for and against.
I believe that it was a truly priceless experience, where we learnt how to help and care for younger children. The day showed me how kindness can lead to happiness and harmony. I think it is a very important lesson to learn. Due to this, I found that the children taught me more than I had ever expected. I feel truly privileged to have been part of the leadership team, and I think we all enjoyed being given the opportunity to help and support others, whilst having an important role in the day.
Eliza - Year 10 Partnerships Day Leadership Team member
Trips and visits
Trips and Visits
This has been another busy year for students who have participated in a wide range of residential trips and visits throughout the course of the year.
The Autumn Term began with a Gold DofE residential expedition for 13 of our Lower Sixth pupils to Elan Valley and was closely followed by Sixth Form Physicists visiting CERN for a long weekend. Mr Simm, Mr Lawson, and Mrs Ribas accompanied 17 Upper Sixth Physicists to Geneva to visit the world’s largest particle accelerator. The students had a great time expanding their knowledge of particle physics, trying fondue and exploring the wonderful city of Geneva. The History department took a group of Year 9 pupils to visit the Battlefields of WWI just before half term helping to bring to life this central element of the curriculum. The historians then joined forces with the Politics Department to offer an additional half-term trip to Washington DC. Here 37 pupils were able to benefit from a culturally and academically enriching visit to the US capital that included guided tours of the US Capitol Building, Arlington Cemetery and the National Mall, as well as photos of the White House. KES hockey players enjoyed a tour to Holland and our younger netballers travelled to Belfast for their annual outing which included coaching from the Northern Irish team’s Head Coach. The away leg of the Charlotte Exchange took place in October with our exchange partner school in North Carolina. As well as experiencing life with an American family, other highlights for students included hiking to the peak of Chimney Rock State Park, seeing bears and wolves in the wildlife sanctuary and a traditional American Halloween. Upper School and Sixth Form pupils studying French enjoyed a trip to Paris over half term. The trip was busy, filled with various activities and visits and provided plenty of opportunities for everyone to practise their spoken French! Silver DofE participants undertook expeditions to Dartmoor and the term’s residential activities concluded with overnight sports visits for our hockey and netball players.
The Spring Term saw most of our Modern Foreign Language trips take place. Our Italian students visited Rome where their action-packed itinerary
included the Vatican City, the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Galleria Nazonale d’Arte and Italian lessons at a local language school. Our Upper School German speakers travelled to Munich where they too crammed a multitude of visits and activities into their stay. The Neuschwanstein Castle in the picturesque village of Hohenschwangau, BMW world, the Deutsches Museum and one of Germany’s largest open-aired markets all featured on the agenda. And five Spanish A Level students had the opportunity to visit Salamanca and Madrid over February half term. Despite the drizzle the quintet had a fantastic time practising Spanish and enjoying everyday life in the university town, as well as consuming a good amount of tapas! These immersive language experiences remain a priority for the faculty provision for its pupils. The History department also ran a residential trip to Berlin in February with 39 pupils engaged in a busy programme across the city to support the examination syllabus. Iconic landmarks such as the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the 1936 Olympic Stadium and Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp all provided insights and enriched their knowledge of Germany between 1918 and 1945. The term concluded with a hockey tournament and a very wet trip to Andalucia for the Hispanists. Despite all the Spanish Easter processions being cancelled due to the weather and a new itinerary being improvised pretty much daily, the Year 9 and Year 10 linguists had a wonderful time. The host families were welcoming, and everyone had plenty of chances to speak Spanish. This year’s ski trip to Italy was an unforgettable experience! Students and staff had a fantastic few days of skiing, interspersed with plenty of hot chocolate breaks, sledging, pizza, swimming, quizzing, shopping and one group even headed up to the 3,000 metre mark of the glacier! This was topped off by the traditional last day of skiing in fancy dress! A number of DofE expeditions (including Dartmoor, the Lake District and the New Forest) and a Classics trip to Italy (Rome & Sorrento) rounded off the term.
In the summer months, some of our youngest pupils, in Years 7 and 8, enjoyed a trip to Catalonia. Cultural highlights included a guided tour of Gaudi’s breathtaking Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and the weird and wonderful Dali Museum in Figueres. The students also enjoyed plenty of free time on the beach, in the outdoor pool and exploring the local shops. Others visited Lille in France. Their French excursion included a breadmaking workshop (complete with tastings), a visit to the local market and a trip round the Louis Pasteur Institute. They also spent time in a variety of museums and experienced an underground cave walk!
Inspiring a love of the outdoors, the Outdoor Learning Programme at King Edward’s encourages students to develop their skill set and wellbeing through outdoor activities and engagement. Key developmental and social skills such as teamwork, resilience, growth mindset, confidence, problem solving, creative thinking and independence are embedded in a positive Outdoor Learning experience. The Year 7
programme concluded with the annual residential camp at Wellington and water skills day. Orienteering, fire building and a House song competition were just a few of the delights this year. The programme will grow into Year 8 for 2024 with an additional day added to the Year 8 calendar in September.
Just before the end of term, the Lower Sixth geographers travelled to the Isle of Wight for a residential fieldtrip, staying two nights at Totland YHA, to learn techniques for their NEAs. They studied various locations, looking at beach profiling at Totland Bay, coastal erosion and management at Compton Bay and Ventnor and the impact of transport in Yarmouth. With winds gusting up to 40 knots on Saturday, the group experienced Geography in action!
Around the same time, the Lower sixth students took part in the annual Biology field trip to Leeson House in Swanage. During their stay, they carried out several ecological surveys, ranging from studying
Year 10 trip to Rome Paris
Sixth Form Spanish trip to Salamanca
Sixth Form Spanish trip to Salamanca Paris Charlotte Trip
Year 10 trip to Rome
succession at Studland Bay to rocky shore ecology at Kimmeridge Bay. This culminated in the students designing and carrying out their own ecological investigation to satisfy the A Level core practical criteria.
Over the summer break, our Lower School musicians embarked on an enriching three-day residential journey in London. This excursion offered a broad spectrum of musical experiences, blending education and entertainment in a unique way. The students were captivated by the solemn beauty of the choral evensong at the historic Westminster Abbey, visited the residences of Jimi Hendrix and Handel and toured the renowned Globe Theatre. Two spectacular theatre trips to see ‘Hamilton’ and ‘The Moulin Rouge’ also added to the fun.
Our unique partnership with the Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association culminated in our 4th annual activity week hosted at KES in August. Our Sixth Formers and their PDSA buddies enjoyed a variety of
Ski Trip
Geography field trip
Geography field trip
Netball trip to Belfast
activities including sports and games, an outing to Marwell, art and sculpture - inspired by music, cake decorating and lots of dancing.
This year’s watersports trip was based just outside Barcelona. The students took part in a wealth of activities including paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing, including a wonderful kayak tour of secret caves along the stunning coastline and a snorkelling adventure where they saw many varieties of fish and octopus!
Our incredible Summer Camp Team took 17 local young carers on a camping trip to the New Forest in July. The busy year of fundraising allowed them to
fully fund the camping, activities and food during the trip which included visiting Longdown Activity Farm, Moors Valley Country Park, Paultons Park and the beach! Other highlights of the trip included roasting marshmallows over the campfire and the annual Summer Camp Talent Show. The break provided the young carers with much needed respite from their caring responsibilities.
The vast array of trips and visits on offer at KES remains outstanding but none of this would be possible without the commitment of our staff who spend vast amounts of time organising and accompanying them.
From the students
“I really enjoyed the Charlotte Exchange because my buddy and I got along really well and we had lots of fun together. One of my most favourite things we did was me and my host family went to a basketball match; it was the hornets verses the pistons. It was a great experience which I have gained a lot of confidence to try new things and new foods. My buddy’s family and my family keep in touch and have already started planning when I will go back. The Charlotte Exchange has been my favourite school trip I have been on and I would recommend it to anyone.”
Florence
“I thoroughly enjoy my time on the exchange. I made some lifelong friendships and increased my confidence through meeting new people. I love the family that I stayed with and we are keeping in touch. I also liked comparing the two countries as there are bigger differences than you initially think. I think that by ‘living’ in the country you get a fuller experience of the state and country than just being a tourist. I would 100% recommend the Charlotte Exchange to any one old enough to do it.” Amelia
“The Holland hockey tour was great fun and without the efforts of Miss Timms, Mr Raisbeck, Mr Southwell, Miss Crompton and our incredible bus driver Mark (who supported all of our matches throughout the tour and joined us on our day out at the theme park), this would not have been possible. On behalf of all the students who went on the Holland Hockey Tour 2023, thank you so much for letting us have this memorable experience.” James
“Le dernier jour de la visite je suis allée à la Basilique de Sacré-Cœur à Montmartre et c’était fantastique. J’adore Montmartre parce que c’est très intéressant et vieux. On a dû monter beaucoup de marches et c’était pénible mais à la fin la vue était splendide. Après nous avons dû prendre le car pour retourner en Angleterre. On s’est très bien amusés, merci Paris et à la prochaine!” French trip students
“Este viaje escolar fue fenomenal y aprendí mucho sobre Salamanca y la historia de la ciudad. He mejorado mi nivel de español y me ayudó a hablar con más fluidez. Lo mejor fue la clase de cocina y los juegos que jugamos mientras comíamos tapas. Mi familia era muy amable y acogedora y voy a echarla de menos mucho. Estoy muy agradecida a las profesoras que organizaron todo y tuve mucha suerte de haber podido ir ya que fue una gran oportunidad.
¡Recomiendo que otros estudiantes vayan en este viaje escolar también!” Avantika
“Lo pasamos guay en Salamanca. Aunque fue un viaje larguísimo, valió la pena. A lo largo del viaje practicamos mucho, y aprendimos un montón sobre la ciudad. Además, probamos una gran variedad de la cocina, y nos divertimos muchísimo. Lo más destacado fueron nuestros juegos en las cafeterías, ya que hubo tantas bromas y mi postre favorito, churros. Cuando volví a casa, lo eché de menos ya que todas las cosas eran baratas y, aparte del primer día, el tiempo era agradable. Recomendaría ir a todos los que van a estudiar español.” Charlie
“I had a great experience. During the evenings we were with our homestay families, who were really nice to us, cooking delicious Spanish food for us. We explored Córdoba and even went to Sevilla, going to its historical sights and also enjoying tons of Spanish delicacies. Throughout each day we were given a lot of time to shop. I felt like this is the trip which is the most like a typical holiday out of all of the school trips I have been on, whilst still including the educational side. I would definitely recommend this trip for anyone taking Spanish in Year 9 and 10.” Alex
“Much of the focus of both IGCSE History and A Level History and Politics is now on America and these visits could not have been better for allowing us to put our classroom learning into a real-life context. Washington, in its constant cosmopolitan liveliness, was completely different to what is, comparatively, a quiet city in Southampton and, while a city young in comparison to cities such as London, was more than equal in both importance and grandness. The trip was an enormous success and everyone who went on the trip would like to thank Mrs Potter, Mr Diver, Mr Sheppard and Mrs Burt for all of their hard work in providing us with an experience that we will never forget.” Tom
Summer Highlights 2024
Operation Wallacea –expedition to Indonesia
In July, 24 KES students and 4 members of staff had an unforgettable experience on the Operation Wallacea expedition to the Southeast Sulawesi region of Indonesia.
The expedition comprised of two parts: a forest week in the remote rainforest on North Buton island; and a marine week on Hoga Island in the Wakatobi national park.
Following a 3-day journey, allowing experience of Indonesian life away from the more traditional tourist areas, the expedition team arrived in the rainforest. There they worked with local and international scientists, contributing to an ongoing project of more than two decades. Each day consisted of taking part in a number of ongoing surveys of the rainforest wildlife, including birds, butterflies, herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians), and megafauna (larger animals), as well as surveying the plant habitats within the forest.
The team also took part in a variety of other activities including learning jungle skills and ecological survey skills, as well as hearing a number of specialist lectures on the wildlife and their importance in this
highly biodiverse rainforest. On the final night in the forest, the local guides and their families taught us some Indonesian dance moves.
The team then moved on to the marine site at Hoga Island, with the incredible experience of a sperm whale sighting during one of our ferry journeys. On Hoga, those who were already qualified divers or snorkelling took part in reef surveys to assess the ongoing health and biodiversity of the reefs. Those not yet qualified completed their qualifications and
were able to later take part in reef surveys. The whole team took part in a reef ecology course to learn more about the importance of the reefs, the threats to them and how they are being preserved. The reefs were spectacular with a diverse array of fish and other animals, including turtles and rays. The team also had the chance to snorkel in Mangrove forests and visit the nearby village of Sempala, a home of the Bajau people, who rely on the reefs and the sea for their livelihoods.
The students took full advantage of all the opportunities available on a trip they will remember for the rest of their lives.
Dr Wortham Head of Biology
Cricket tour to Sri Lanka Summer Highlights 2024
Put Simply... What a tour!
This summer’s cricket trip to Sri Lanka was a fantastic experience in so many ways. Of course, the cricket was important, and our players enjoyed having the opportunity to challenge themselves against some incredibly committed and talented opponents. Our girls enjoyed all their games whether they were girls only matches or mixed teams and their play improved so much over the course of the trip. The level of performance of the 1st team also developed as the trip progressed and there were many notable performances with both bat and ball. I am sure they will really see the benefits of this trip when the cricket season returns next summer.
However, sports tours are about so much more, with opportunities a plenty to experience different cultures, see some fantastic places and learn from the locals. This trip was no different. We experienced the wonder of Sigiriya Rock, a UNESCO world heritage site, and the climb to the top was well worth it with stunning views across the jungle. The tea factory gave an interesting insight into this major industry of Sri Lanka and our students enjoyed the smells of the spice garden along with the massage that many opted to have.
We visited the Elephant orphanage in Pinnawala and were able to get up close to the elephants bathing over lunchtime whilst the visit to the turtle sanctuary was a highlight for many as they released a load of turtles into the Indian Ocean at dusk.
Sri Lanka is a country with a very strong religious background, and we had a real insight of this throughout the visit. The visit to the Dambulla Cave Temples with numerous Buddhas sculpted from the rock as well as religious paintings was impressive and we also visited the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy, one of the most revered sites in Buddhism.
Tours are also about camaraderie, friendship and teamwork and the group who travelled to Sri Lanka embraced this to the full. They formed strong bonds with each other and were open to every opportunity
that came their way. It is easy to arrange a wide and varied itinerary, but it is the approach of the students that determines how much they actually get from the trip… this group squeezed every ounce out of the trip as a result of their open. enthusiastic and inquisitive attitude. They were truly a pleasure to be with.
My thanks go to all the students for their company and enthusiasm and to those the staff who accompanied the trip, Mr Penn, Miss Lister, Miss Cole and Mr Eyssens without whom this would not have been possible.
Sri Lanka is a fantastic destination - one that I think everyone who went became hooked on and one that I am sure many will choose to go back to in the future.
Mr Kent Director of Sport
Sport at KES
Girls’ hockey overview
In reflecting on another incredibly busy and successful season as it draws to a close, it is important to acknowledge the flourishing state of girls’ hockey at KES. The school has made significant strides, expanding its fixture list, increasing the number of teams, and providing more opportunities for girls to represent KES on Saturdays. Each year, the fixture card has grown, extending its reach along the South Coast and into the National Tier 1 competition. This achievement is commendable, and all those involved should take pride in their contributions.
1st XI girls’ team: Rising to the challenge the 1st XI girls’ team seized the opportunity to play in the England Hockey U18 Tier 1 league. Competing in the West League, they faced formidable opponents from big schools in the region. Despite a slow start, the team held their ground, ending mid-table. Their results against the top 3 teams showcased their resilience and tenacity.
U14 girls’ team: The U14 girls achieved great success by winning the U14 Tier 2 regional finals. Their journey continued to the national finals, where they narrowly missed out on the title, echoing last year’s performance. Their determination and skill set a promising trajectory for the future.
U12 girls’ team: The U12 girls clinched victory in the regional finals, having already secured the Hampshire Championship. This talented year group promises exciting prospects as they progress through the School.
While XI-a-side matches yielded success, our achievements in the indoor hockey circuit were equally impressive. The popularity of this style of hockey among students was evident, with overwhelming participation in lunchtime training sessions. Notably, many U14 girls earned spots in the U16 team, highlighting the depth of talent across year groups.
This season’s success is not mere luck; it is the result of consistent and dedicated effort from both the players and their coaches. From A teams to D teams, both staff and girls have consistently met high standards and I extend heartfelt thanks to our coaches; Miss Cole, Miss Timms, Mr McKenzie, Mrs Penn, Mr Raisbeck, Miss Lister, Mr Mixer, and Mrs Henderson, for assembling teams week after week. Your contributions are invaluable.
Mr Crichton Head of Hockey
Boys’ Rugby overview
As expected, the rugby programme started with enthusiasm, determination, and excitement. With teams entered into county and national competitions, there would be something for all players, parents and staff to get excited about.
All year groups had their usual pre-season training session in late August with all players needing to blow the cobwebs off a hot summer, spent mainly relaxing and repairing from the previous year’s endeavours. Great numbers at our rugby camps meant that we would hit the season running either at our first block fixture of the term or at our annual pre-season rugby tournament.
The South Coast Kings’ festival, that KES has hosted since 2005, once again boasted some excellent school attendees; all across the South of England and up as far as London and as far west as Cornwall. The KES 1st XV played well and scalped some good wins in the pool stages while our U15 team went unbeaten until succumbing to defeat in the top tier final against a strong Hampton School.
This year, the U12 squads were guided wonderfully by Mr Rosenberg, Mr Nichols and sporadically by
Mr Eadon; these coaches were ably assisted at the after-school training by several U16 players who showed excellent skills and empathy in their coaching of our youngest year group. The results from the entire year group were so good and we look forward to their continued development as the years progress.
Mr Laverty and Mr Royall oversaw the strong U13 squads; this group of players boasted huge numbers at every training session and definitely proved that, regardless of opposition, they were able to go toe-to-toe with anyone and very rarely take a step backwards; even against some of the more vociferous schools. Mr Laverty’s rugby knowledge combined with Mr Royall’s strength and conditioning expertise married up so well to produce very fit and strong U13 teams throughout the season; Mr Royall will be sadly missed next season as he pursues a career in Higher Education - we all thank him for his enthusiasm, wisdom and humour throughout his time at KES.
Mr Kent and Mr Sinclair took the reins of the U14 squads who boasted some serious class and more than a handful of players would be accepted in the
London South DPP system. Notable mentions to Zak, Farris, Calum and Oscar. When fully loaded with their strongest team, there was very little that could derail this A team, but what was rare was the pressure placed upon such players from the B team squad who would be a real handful for most schools’ A team side.
A short paragraph to summarise the season for the U15 teams could never do their performances or results any justice at all. The A team remain unbeaten in both the Saturday blocks and, to date, the National Schools’ Vase Competition; they are set to pay the quarter final before our February half term break. Mr Schreuder and Mr Aellen have demanded the highest standards of participation and commitment, and the players have responded. The squads have regularly posted over 50 boys at training sessions and a glut of these players have been included into the DPP system; Tom, Joe, Daniel, Henry and Leo to name but a few. I have been so impressed by this age group and it seems that they have remained grounded and humble despite their roaring success; the future is very, very bright for this cohort.
The U16 team, despite having to make amends for some of the squad playing for the 1st XV, were fantastic all season. Their ‘never say die’ attitude combined with excellent skill made them so unbelievably hard to beat and, with wheels on our edges in the form of Theo (Player of the Season) and George, they were always going to score tries. The extended playing time when getting to the County Final meant that there was a chance that their efforts and capabilities may well be rewarded by silverware. In a brutal battle with Lord Wandsworth College, despite coming from behind, losing a player to the sin bin and Sam’s patella injury, the team scored in the last seconds of the game to
clinch the title of the best team in Hampshire. I am incredibly proud of this squad and, notwithstanding the year group below them, this squad will be the reason why KES will be taking excellent wins at 1st XV level over the next few years.
The 1st XV squad had a testing season with big names, who carried the squad for the last two seasons, finally gone after the amazing tour to South Africa in the summer. The rest of the rugbyplaying fraternity at this age group had to pick themselves up and find a way to compete on a circuit that boasted some serious ‘rugby playing’ schools. But - muscle up they truly did! Under the excellent tutelage of Mr Penn, and with the inclusion of a smattering of U16 players (notably Ethan and Harry), the 1st XV battled hard all season. John, Joe and Harry never failed to put in a proper shift, with the likes of Jamie and Luca always putting their bodies on the line. The team spirit that the coach and players established was extraordinary and one that must be perpetuated for the senior teams of the future.
Girls’ rugby once again gathered momentum with a stoic group of twenty Year 8, 9 and 10 girls all training hard during the hardest, coldest and darkest months. The development they made blossomed into such an equipped squad of athletes that a trip to Gordons School saw the first girls’ rugby fixture in several years; a draw was a brilliant outcome considering the opposition and the ‘rules’ we were encouraged to play. I am so proud of these girls, and I can’t wait for more of the same in September.
Mr Powell Head of Rugby
Girls’ Netball overview
It has been fantastic to witness the remarkable representation of our KES students in netball this academic year. The enthusiasm shown in training sessions has been outstanding, allowing over 180 girls to actively participate in the sport. The formation of four senior teams playing on Saturdays is a testament to this dedication. In addition, we have been consistently fielding teams across various age groups, from U12A to U15C. This broad participation showcases our commitment to providing opportunities for students of all ages and skill levels to engage in netball.
Throughout the year, we have witnessed our teams progress through various national cup competitions, offering them the opportunity to compete against schools from different regions. Our U12, U13, and U15 teams participated in the ‘Sisters n Sport’ cup, while the U14, U16, and U19 teams competed in the National Schools’ Competition. These experiences not only provided valuable match play but also exposed our players to different environments and challenges, contributing to their growth and development as athletes.
The U12 team had an impressive journey in the cup competition, starting with a thrilling local
derby against St Swithun’s in the first round, which ended in a closely contested 16-13 victory for KES. They then faced Brighton Girls’ School, securing a comfortable win. A highlight of their season was the away match against Penryn College in Cornwall, which included a memorable night away and dinner at Pizza Express, culminating in a 27-16 victory for KES. Although the semi-finals against Wimbledon High School ended in defeat, reaching the south semi-finals is a remarkable achievement. The U12 Cup team should be immensely proud of their efforts, setting a strong foundation for future competitions.
The U13 team had an outstanding journey in the ‘Sisters n Sport’ cup, reaching the final four stages of the plate competition at Loughborough University. Benefiting from a few byes and walkovers from various opponents, they progressed to the plate quarter-final against Seaford, securing a win to advance to the plate south semi-final against St Teresa’s, Effingham. In a closely contested match, they emerged victorious with a 20-17 win. This victory propelled them to the final four at Loughborough University, amidst an electrifying atmosphere. Facing Fallibroome Academy in a tight game, the girls secured another win, leading them
to the National Plate final against St Paul’s. Though they finished as runners-up, reaching the U13 National Plate final is an incredible achievement, reflecting the team’s talent and determination.
The U13 girls not only had a successful cup campaign but also a triumphant tour filled with unforgettable moments. Over three nights and four days, a touring party of twenty-eight girls and three staff members embarked on the trip. The itinerary included a coaching session with the Northern Ireland Head Coach, netball fixtures, a visit to Colin Glen Forest Park, a day trip to Belfast city centre, and a visit to the Giant’s Causeway. This pre-season tour proved to be an excellent opportunity for the girls, providing valuable experiences and insights that would benefit them in the upcoming season.
The U15 side’s cup run encountered some bumps along the way. Although starting with a victory against St Mary’s, Calne, they faced a setback with a narrow loss to The Crypt School by just one goal. This defeat was frustrating for the team, as they felt they didn’t perform at their best. Unfortunately, this loss marked the end of their cup journey. Despite the setbacks in the cup run, the girls’ teamwork and resilience undoubtedly served them well throughout the season. The U14, U16, and U19 teams all participated in the England National Schools’ tournament, which kicked off with the county round during the Autumn Term, traditionally known as the girls’ hockey season at KES. Extra practices were
arranged to ensure the girls were well-prepared for the competition.
The U19 team faced tough competition in their pool. Despite promising wins against Churcher’s College, PGS, and Queen Mary’s College, the girls narrowly missed out on progressing to the semifinals due to close losses against Barton Peveril and Farnborough Hill. Despite this outcome, the girls showcased clinical netball, displaying excellent defensive skills and early feeding into the shooters. Their performance throughout the tournament highlighted great talent within the team, setting a positive tone for the upcoming season. Although the tournament posed challenges, it was an encouraging day overall, and the team eagerly anticipates participating again next year.
The U16s entered the tournament with determination, aiming to surpass their previous near-misses. This year, they achieved a remarkable 2nd place in the group stage, securing victories against tough opponents. Despite a narrow loss to St Swithun’s in the group stage, they advanced to the semi-finals where they defeated Churcher’s in a fiercely contested match.
In the final against St Swithun’s (again), both teams battled fiercely, with KES emerging victorious after extra time. It was a whirlwind of a day, and to walk away with the U16 County Champions title was a moment of sheer joy and accomplishment. This
victory propelled the girls into the regional round, setting the stage for even greater challenges and triumphs ahead. Everyone - players, coaches, and parents alike - were overjoyed, with tears of happiness shared all around.
Moving on to the regional round presented the girls with new challenges, facing strong teams against whom they don’t usually compete. Despite finishing 3rd in the pool, the experience of playing six consecutive group games in the morning was invaluable. Each match offered a chance to learn
and adapt, especially in mastering the dynamics of shorter, seven-minute games. This experience holds great promise for the team’s future, especially considering that most of them were a year younger than their competitors. It lays a strong foundation for their development and success in the coming year. One standout moment was their victory over Wellington College, highlighting their resilience and ability to perform when it mattered most. Though the journey in the National Schools’ Competition had its ups and downs, the U16 girls consistently displayed skill and determination throughout their impressive run.
The U14s had a remarkable journey in the competition, approaching it with tenacity, dedication, and enthusiasm. Their hard work in training before the county round paid off with an impressive 5/5 wins in the group stage, defeating strong opponents like Court Moor, Noadswood, Portsmouth High, Westgate, and Toynbee. Topping the group filled the girls with excitement as they advanced to the semi-finals against Farnborough Hill, where they secured another thrilling win to reach the final against St Swithun’s. Although they narrowly lost by one goal in the closely contested final, finishing as runners-up in the county round was a magnificent achievement for the U14s. Their
outstanding performance throughout the day has positioned them comfortably for the regional round, reflecting their potential for further success in the competition.
Similar to the U16s, the tournament provided a valuable opportunity for the U14s to face a different set of opponents. The day was filled with excitement and thrills from the get-go. Placed in a challenging pool, the girls had to bring their A-game from the start. Victories against Stowe School and Dr Challoner’s helped settle their nerves, but tough competition from Hurstpierpoint and St Helen and St Katharine resulted in a 4th place finish in their pool. Despite this, the entire experience was electrifying, and the girls should be proud of their strong performance. This sets a positive trajectory for their development over the coming years, reflecting their potential for continued success in the sport.
I’d like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone involved in this year’s netball at KES. A special thank you to the parents who have dedicated their time to support the girls from the sidelines, rain or shine, providing them with encouragement and support. Lastly, a big thank you to the staff members whose coaching, umpiring, and support make it possible for our students to participate in weekly fixtures. Without you, these opportunities wouldn’t be possible. Your contributions are truly appreciated.
As we look forward to next year’s netball programme, the girls can anticipate some exciting changes in new block fixtures, providing new challenges to test their skills. Progression through the rounds of the National Schools’ Tournament and advancing in the National Cup campaigns will remain top priorities. With a variety of additional opportunities on the horizon, it looks like being a very promising year for all involved.
Reflecting on my first year as Head of Netball, I am deeply appreciative of the tremendous support from everyone involved. To those departing in Upper Sixth, I extend my sincere wishes for success and fulfilment in your next chapter. I look forward to following your netball journeys with great interest.
Miss Lister Head of Netball
Boys’ Hockey overview
The 2024 boys’ hockey season at King Edwards was marked by significant progress and notable achievements across all age groups. Our teams demonstrated unwavering commitment, resilience, and exceptional skills, making it a memorable year.
Over 45 boys from the U12, U13, and U14 categories consistently attended after-school training sessions showing high levels of participation and commitment. Their dedication, rain or shine, was commendable. The commitment of these young athletes reflects the growing popularity of boys’ hockey at KES. It’s heartening to see their passion for the sport.
There was success amongst the age groups. The U16 boys emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Dominating their regional league, they secured a spot in the Top 16. Their exceptional skills and teamwork caught everyone’s attention. Although they narrowly missed the national quarter-finals, their journey left a lasting impact. The U14 team also impressed, leading their South Central group and narrowly falling short in the semi-finals.
Our 1st XI side faced formidable challenges this year, considering their youth. Despite several close defeats, their never-say-die attitude was inspiring. They laid a strong foundation for future seasons.
At indoor hockey, KES excelled in Hampshire tournaments. The U16s, in particular, shone during the South Central finals. Nemanja’s heroics in the shootout secured them a spot in the National Finals and although they narrowly missed the semi-finals, the U15s are poised to make waves next year.
I am truly thankful to our coaching staff. Mr Raisbeck, Mr Cross, Mr Jackson, Miss Timms, Mr Barley, Mr Kent, Mr McKenzie, Mr Leatham and Mr Sheppard deserve immense gratitude. Their tireless efforts in fielding multiple teams, nurturing talent, and fostering a positive hockey culture have been invaluable.
In summary, the 2024 hockey season showcased growth, determination, and a bright future for KES hockey. We extend our thanks to everyone involved in making it a memorable year.
The replacement of the Hill Lane astroturf, affectionately known as ‘Sand Siro,’ with a new smurf turf is a significant upgrade for our facilities. This enhancement will elevate the standard of training we can provide on-site at KES but the current turf has seen many generations of KES hockey players learn their skills and put through their paces.
Mr Crichton Head of Hockey
Indoor Hockey
Cricket overview
This summer has been a particularly hectic and busy one for cricket at KES. The weather has not played ball at times but the relentless optimism on display from all students and staff this term has been fantastic to see.
We have had some notable successes this academic year. The U13A girls reached the County Final of the ECB Indoor Cup as well as the Final of the County Cup, alongside the U14A girls. The U13A boys reached the County Cup semi-final whilst the U12A & U14A boys’ sides won the County Plate this season highlighting the success of our teams.
This season has shown the depth that the cricket programme offers our students. We, as a school, have managed to put out 30 teams across the summer giving 382 students the chance to play cricket for KES in the process. This is a superb achievement, especially when you throw in trips, examinations and the weather!! The highlight of the term was seeing Mr Eyssens’ mighty U15B boys having an unbeaten season this summer. They played 6 games and won all 6 with some particularly impressive performances, beating the likes of Winchester College, Canford and Bryanston along the way.
In June, we hosted our second Red for Ruth weekend of cricket, which was a huge success, raising over £1,000 for the foundation. We also held a non-uniform day in July which added to the total. Next year the raffle will be bigger and better, with lots of ideas in the planning.
There have been lots of notable performances this season too. Mr Parker presented 15 trophies to students who have scored 50+ runs, taken 5 wickets or a hattrick for their age group teams. Each week we have celebrated contributions with the ‘KES Team of the Week’ and the students selected for the ‘2024 KES Team of the Season’ are Sophie, Lily, Yasmin, Cecilia, Millie, Rebecca, Jack, Will, Archie, Charlie, George and Griff. Congratulations to all these students for their efforts in cricket this season. They were given the opportunity to go and watch Hampshire play Somerset in the Royal London match at the Utilita Bowl in July. Every year we are extremely fortunate to have the support of Hampshire Cricket for these awards and prizes throughout the term. We are very grateful to them for this.
This season saw a first for the senior teams. We sent our 1st XI men’s team down to Blundells School whilst
welcoming their 1st XI ladies’ side to KES for two days of cricket. The men played a 2 day game whilst the ladies played one 100 ball and one T20 across the two days. This was a fabulous experience for all involved and we are already looking forward to the reversed fixtures in 2025. Highlights were “Whacker Neilson’s” back-to-back unbeaten fifties for the ladies and Sam taking 5 wickets in the first innings and a fifty for Alex, also in the first innings for the men’s.
On behalf of all the students, as well as myself, I would like to thank the coaches, without whom the experiences and opportunities on offer to our students would not be possible. Mr Leatham, Miss Cole, Mr Brown, Miss Timms, Miss Lister, Mrs RuggePrice, Mr Schreuder, Mrs Penn, Mrs Sheppard, Mr Kent, Mr McKenzie, Mr Potter, Mr Raisbeck, Mr J Kent, Mr Mixer, Mr Eyssens, Mr Smith, Mr Diver, Mr Dormehl, Mr Soames, Mr Crichton and Mr Parker.
To our departing Upper Sixth, I would like to thank each one of you – you have been outstanding ambassadors for the school, for cricket and yourselves throughout your time at KES. I do hope that you all continue to play cricket in your next phase
of life and will come back and join us for some OE fixtures in the future. A special thank you must go to Ellie and Pete for all they have done this year for their teams. Next year’s captains have some big shoes to fill.
Finally, the time has come for KES cricket to say “goodbye” to a key member of the coaching team - Mr McKenzie. He has been pivotal in our vision of establishing a programme that has enjoyment, challenge and equality at the centre. As a school we produce more girls’ and boys’ teams than any in the local area and he deserves a great deal of credit for this. It is safe to say that without his infectious enthusiasm, dedication, optimism and passion for cricket, as well as KES, the programme and experiences had by all students would not be the same. We, as coaches, have all learnt a great deal from him and he will be missed by us all. We send him off to his next role with our best wishes.
