Annual Review 2010

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KING EDWARD VI SCHOOL SOUT H A M P TON

ANNUAL REVIEW 2010 Contents Head Master’s Report Julian Thould looks back on another successful year for King Edward’s Chairman’s Report The Chairman of Governors, Brian Gay, gives an update on new faces and new buildings at King Edward’s Culture The latest news surrounding drama, music and art at King Edward’s Sport & Co-curricular Activities and achievements in the last year Charities, Trips & Visits At home and away Staff Welcomes, moves and farewells

ANNUAL REVIEW 2010

Head Master’s Report The academic year over 2009/10 has seen a number of significant developments.

We began the year with 973 students on the roll and continued interest from prospective parents at every level of the School. A major revision of our strategic development plan has been conducted, connected to the completion of the self evaluation process under the new ISI inspection arrangements. We have carried out our third survey of all parents using the services of Kirkland Rowell and, for the first time, linked this to a survey of staff and students. The results have been exceptionally positive with an overall 89% excellence rating from our current parents.

The School has sustained its facilities development programme with a number of new initiatives including new humanities and mathematics classrooms, a replacement for the astro-surface at Hill Lane, a new servery, improved car parking at Wellington and additional landscaping on the Hill Lane site including our eco-garden.

The high level of teaching and purposeful approach to study that characterises so many of our students has resulted in another very good set of academic results, notably at A level with over 25% of all grades awarded the new A* grade and 91% at A*, A or B. There was also another strong GCSE performance with three quarters of all grades given at A* or A. We were also particularly pleased with our Oxbridge admissions results with 16 students gaining places at the two universities. We continue to send over three quarters of students to universities in the Russell Group.

It was a particular privilege to have Mr. Richard Kinchen MVO as our Chief Guest at Speech Day in 2009.

Mr. Kinchen left King Edward’s in 1967 and was Ambassador to Belgium after holding a number of other senior posts in the Foreign Office. He gave a thoughtful account of his experiences abroad and stressed the importance of modern languages in today’s world. With our growing interest in languages at King Edward’s and a new Head of Modern Languages in post this year, as well as significant investment in our modern language facilities, this was a very useful message for our students to hear.

Sport is an important feature at King Edward’s. The continued investment in our staff and facilities is certainly reaping rewards with some outstanding performances in a number of team games as well as some very impressive individual achievements. Our hockey teams, both male and female, have been particularly successful with arguably

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one of the strongest senior squads the School has ever had. The boys’ hockey teams enjoyed success at regional level for both the U16 and U18 teams while the U14 team just missed out on becoming county champions. The senior netball squad won the U19 county championship and represented Hampshire in the regional tournament, while the younger netball players won the Ballard Tournament for the fourth year in succession. The senior girls’ hockey team had an outstanding season concluding with victory in the National Schools’ County Championship. The girls’ U13 tennis team has reached the regional round of the Year 8 Aegon Tennis Competition – the first time the School has achieved this.

The rugby season began well with the School hosting the South Coast tournament. With one of the largest squads we have had in recent years we enjoyed success in the Daily Mail competition and routine fixtures culminating in the U18 team playing a closely fought final of the Wren County Cup for the 4th year in succession, although on this occasion they had to be content with being runners up. The senior team benefited from the tour of Canada and the USA over the summer. Cricket has had a solid season and this year we say farewell to Clive Surry, our 1st team coach after 7 excellent years including a victory in the Altham Trophy in 2009. Other sports have kept our students active with Sports Day in June, a very competitive Swimming Gala in July and growing interest in basketball - in which the team won the U19 Southampton and District ‘B’ Division league - as well as enthusiasm for sailing, tennis, athletics, fencing, table tennis, rhythmic gymnastics and dance.

The many trips we organise remains a key part of KES life. This year KES has organised visits to China, the USA, South Africa, Canada, Indonesia, Romania, Holland, Spain, France and

Germany. These have ranged from biological field work in the steamy rainforest to exploring the Great Wall.

Closer to home students have participated in historical visits to the french First and Second World War battlefields, skiing in Les Arcs, language exchanges and study visits to Angers, Le Havre, Mutterstadt, Salamanca and Santander and trips across the UK from regular theatre and music visits to London, to geography and biology field trips to Swansea and Dale Fort.

Prefects, provide excellent leadership across the School. They have all worked very effectively with a varied range of responsibilities and opportunities to develop their team work and communication skills.

We have a number of staff leaving King Edward’s this year, largely as a result of several retirements after long service. Mr. Hartley will be retiring after 40 years at the School, with nearly two decades as an outstanding First Deputy Head; his passions for rugby and Duke of Edinburgh have left notable legacies. Mr. Dykes is also

The arts are increasingly prominent with opportunities for many in key occasions such as the Carol Service and Thanksgiving. This year’s Thanksgiving was held in Winchester Cathedral with a haunting premier of a work for choir and saxophones written by our Assistant Director of Music, Mr. Leaman. In addition to the Spring Concert there has been a wide range of events such as Bitesize Broadway, the Moondog Coronation Ball and the Polar Bear workshop.

Drama has been busy with a number of productions including Othello, Ayckbourn’s ‘Confusions’ and several Sixth Form and Junior Drama Club events. The annual Art Exhibition was one of the most adventurous and eclectic we have had and the quality of work is for all to see on virtually every school wall.

Charitable and community work has deepened. In the past year over £18,000 has been raised by the students themselves for a range of different organisations including our Summer Camp for young carers within the city, the Romania project working with children in an orphanage in Onesti and the South Africa venture supporting the Goedgedacht Trust in the Swartland district north of Cape Town. Dozens of volunteers help with cake sales, sponsored events, discos, fashion or talent shows. Likewise, our primary school partnerships have prospered involving a range of art, literacy, mathematics, languages and science clubs as well as special events such as the recent music and ecology day with pupils from Springhill.

We have been very well served by Dora Amos as Head of School over the last year, ably supported by her deputies, Imogen Pierce, Tom McCormick-Cox and Nick Kaderbhai.

Our Prepositors and Heads of House, together with the Lower School

Amongst the non-teaching staff particular note must be made of the contribution of Mrs. Ellerby, our Senior School Nurse, Mr. Dumper, retiring after 34 years service as a grounds man and Mrs. Wheeler in the catering department.

KESSoc continues to be as active as ever and we remain very appreciative of the support given by our parents under the direction of Mrs. Pierce, particularly for their funding of the eco-garden. Our former pupils have enjoyed numerous reunions organised by our Development Officer, Ms. Hooper, with much useful work completed by our Legacy Foundation (to help students applying to King Edward’s from disadvantaged backgrounds) led by Mrs. Millar.

King Edward’s has had an excellent year with a great deal achieved.

KES students are known for their intellectual talents but the School is far from being an academic hot house. The involvement of Edwardians in the wider community as well as in sport, culture and charity work gives them strong social conscience. They know they are fortunate to have the opportunities

retiring after 39 years at KES; his contributions to drama, sport and particularly the support for our teachers as Assistant Head (Staff Development) have been a widely recognised. Dr. Wilkinson had a slightly extended period at KES after officially retiring after 26 years; his first day’s peace was disturbed by a call to cover for a volcanic absence!

Mr. MC Hall was appointed Head of Music in 1984. He has given great musical energy not only to the School but also the wider city community.

Mrs. Hutton has worked in the Mathematics Department for 15 years and has done much to raise the profile of numeracy support. Miss Thompson left at Christmas after 10 years teaching textiles and design technology. Mr. Bell, Mr. Murphy, Miss Dee, Mrs. Palmer and Dr. Williams will all be moving to other positions after relatively brief periods at the School compared with those above! We also thank other staff who have assisted the School this year on short term contracts including Dr. England, Mr. Hardwick, Ms. Cox, and Miss Campbell.

that they do and they are very keen to support those from less advantaged backgrounds. They are the finest testament to the education they receive at King Edward’s.

AJ Thould Head Master

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Head of School

Chairman’s Report I feel so fortunate to have been at King Edward’s these past few years. I’ve been offered wonderful opportunities, learnt invaluable lessons, been encouraged and challenged and surrounded each day by the bubbly, energetic enthusiasm that epitomises the School. From the moment you walk in, it is impossible not to notice the warmth and vitality that fills KES. Students bustle from one lesson to the next, and it pervades the classrooms thanks to our teachers, who are always so passionate and supportive, encouraging us to try new things, to be curious about everything, and to be proud of our achievements.

“the bubbly, energetic enthusiasm that epitomises the School.”

Now, coming to the end of my schooldays, I have to admit that I feel a twinge of trepidation.

However, I also feel exhilarated by the prospect of a future full of unknown places, unknown people and unknown experiences. I’m certain that, although we don’t really have any idea what the future holds for us, we will face it well prepared and undaunted. The education, in the widest sense of the word, which we have received at King Edward’s, has provided us with all we need for taking these first tentative steps into the outside world.

These years at KES have shaped us, probably more than we realise, and throughout our lives we will draw on the experiences we have had during our time here. The true value of our King Edward’s education isn’t what we’ve achieved while we’ve been at School; it is what is yet to be achieved, the dreams and ambitions that we will go on to attain, equipped with what we have learnt here. I have no doubt that we will all look back fondly at our King Edward’s days and, although the School will cease to be part of our day to day lives, the memories we have formed during our time here will stay with us forever.

Dora Amos Head of School

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In my last review I referred to changes we had made with regard to the entrances to the School with the aim of improving not only our security but also the appearance of the School. I am pleased to be able to report that in the recent parental survey school security and also school facilities, came top of the list for parental satisfaction – followed one percentage point below by exam results, I hasten to add!

We have continued with these enhancements in the last year by the addition of planters and hanging baskets along the front of our building to soften its look and protect our students from coming into contact with open windows. Interestingly, a system has been installed to water these automatically from a spring under the School for which we previously had to pay to discharge its water into the drains. Over the summer break we laid a new surface across the whole of the pedestrian area to further improve its appearance.

Another similar development will be the creation by our students of a “green garden” along the Hill Lane boundary to a design created

by Hilliers with funding from our parents’ organisation – KESSoc. Various developments I highlighted last year were completed, with the Dance Studio and the Learning Support Centre both opening in the autumn term. Both have been significant additions to our facilities with the Dance Studio also being made available to a number of outside organisations. In particular it enabled a group of our dancers from all sections of the School to participate in a morning workshop with members of the English National Ballet. On a mundane level, we have replaced the aged main school boilers with new higher efficiency and eco friendly ones which will undoubtedly save on our energy costs in future years. In our desire to keep all areas of the School in excellent order there has been a further refurbishment of classrooms along the Humanities corridor and in the Mathematics Department during the summer holiday. The girls’ toilets, which are also used by visitors when there are major events at the School, have also been modernised. With the increasing number of lunches provided each day, over 800 in the space of 80 minutes, the time has also come to upgrade the whole of the servery area. Visits have been

made to other schools to view their facilities and a design and layout has been chosen which will give a significant improvement over the existing area.

At Wellington, the new carpet for the all weather pitch went down last summer as planned and has given us an excellent surface much admired by our visiting teams. Visitors to Wellington now have the benefit of a tarmac car park on both the lower and upper levels in place of the gravel which was most unsatisfactory during the wet winter months. I should also mention our tenant, Portsmouth Football Club (PFC). We continue to have an excellent relationship with the Club itself and also the administrators.

They have met all the Club’s ongoing financial commitments since their appointment and we understand that as a charity PFC’s debt to the School at the time of the administration will be settled in full by the current owner.

Our centre at Lovaton on Dartmoor has seen good use over the last year, both as a base for expeditions on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and as a location for study weekends by various departments. We have been in contact with the Dartmoor planning authority to ask them to relax the occupancy restrictions on Lovaton to enable us to make joint visits there with other organisations, particularly our local primary schools. This is currently under review but I am afraid it will be a lengthy process given the objections from local residents when we first acquired Lovaton.

There has been one change of governor in the last year: Eileen Thomson retired after eight years service as a governor having previously been Chair of KESSoc for the previous three years. I am pleased to say her place has been taken by Anne Steele-Arnett who is the Head of St Mark’s Primary School in Shirley, one of the local schools with which we are developing a close relationship. In our committees, Roger Buchanan has taken over as Chair of Education and Academic Standards since Michael Mayes decided to stand down from this position after eight years leading this committee. I should like to congratulate Councillor Terry Matthews, who has represented the city on the governing body for the last eight years, on his election in May to the position of Sherrif of Southampton. Whilst on the

personnel front, I must pay tribute to the four retiring members of staff who will be leaving us this year – Mr. Hartley, First Deputy Head, Mr. Dykes, Assistant Head (Staff Development) and for many years Head of Common Room, Mrs. Hutton, Teacher of Mathematics and Mr. Hall, previously Head of Music and known to us all for his involvement with so many of our musical activities. These three members of staff have over 100 years’ outstanding service to our School and we wish them a well earned retirement.

In my last review I referred to our position as a charity and the current focus by the Charity Commission on charitable status, particularly with regard to independent schools. We continue to monitor this and collect evidence of the many activities the School and its members of staff participate in which could be classified as “public benefit”. We have also expanded our involvement with local schools in the state sector, such as St Mark’s as I mentioned above. It remains to be seen what influence the new government brings to bear on this subject. This year because of the high calibre of bursary candidates, and the strong financial position of the School, the governors agreed to increase the number of bursaries offered on this occasion from 7 to 14. To this end, the King Edward’s Foundation continues to gain support, particularly from former pupils, with a number of events taking place at School and around the country aimed at encouraging contact with Edwardians. However, it will be many years before the Foundation has sufficient funds to offer significant financial support to a large number of students.

“Our centre at Lovaton on Dartmoor has seen good use over the last year”

The Headmaster, in his report, has commented on our many successes in examination results, in sporting and artistic achievements, and in university entrances. The latter, where 97% of our students gained places at their chosen universities is a major achievement, particularly when viewed against the background of our continuing concerns over independent schools’ access to leading universities and the political interference which seems to be taking place. Our academic achievements are high, our co-curricular activities are outstanding, we continue to maintain and update the fabric of the School, we lose good staff through retirement or their seeking challenges elsewhere but we have been able to recruit excellent replacements who bring new ideas and new vigour to their roles. It is an ever changing world we live in, but I believe King Edward’s brings great stability and personal development to our pupils and will continue to do so for many, many years to come.

Brian E Gay Chairman of Governors

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Academic Progress

The School began the year with 971 pupils on roll and a ratio of 63% boys to 37% girls. The School’s reputation for academic excellence was maintained by impressive results at Advanced level and GCSE. 91.4% of our students achieved A*, A and B grades at A level. More than a quarter of entries were awarded the new A* grade: this compares very favourably with the national figure of 8% and the independent one of 18%. Over 10% of our students achieved three or more A* grades, more than half of them three or more at A or A*.

The overall pass rate was again 100%.

The GCSE results were again impressive: 99% of all results were in the A* to C range, with 75.3% at A or A*. 100% of pupils gained 5 or more GCSEs at A* to C including Mathematics (IGCSE) and English. It will be interesting to see how our move towards IGCSE in the majority of subjects over the next two years affects our results.

These results have ensured that our students are able to proceed to a range of competitive universities in Higher Education, with 94.9% gaining places to their chosen universities and 79.1% achieving places in universities ranked in the top 25 in the country. 16 students achieved places at Oxbridge this year, 14 of whom were in the Upper Sixth. This represents 18% of their applicant year group.

A Level Results 2010 50.0 45.0 40.0 35.0 30.0 % 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 A*

A

B

C

D

E

C

D

E

Grades

GCSE Results 2010 50.0 45.0 40.0 35.0 30.0 % 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0 A*

A

B Grades

95% CF/CI university placement.

5% Other university placement or PQA.

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79% Students in The Times top 25 ranking universities.

21% Students in other HE institutions including music and art.

“...it has been a wonderful opportunity for me to work with other parents, staff and the wider school community.”

KESSoc

The last year has flown by. We were pleased to welcome new enthusiastic members onto the Council, Social Committee, OBNO and Hospitality teams. OBNO is flourishing under Sonia Ohri and Marion Capper continues to run a superb Hospitality team.

We continue to organise events, giving parents the chance to meet each other and enjoy themselves. The New Parents’ Wine Tasting Evening in November saw record numbers attending and almost certainly led to many new friendships. In March, we hosted the annual KESSoc Quiz, where 38 teams battled furiously to win the title and in April, we held the KESSoc Inaugural Lecture.

Portsmouth University’s Professor of Risk and Crisis Management, parent Edward Borodicz, made the first presentation which was fascinating and very well received.

Academy, the Green Team and the Byron Society, to name but a few.

In July, we bid farewell to Lynne Kaderbhai. Lynne’s youngest son leaves KES this summer, ending her seven year stint on the Social Committee and KES Council. She will be sorely missed and I can’t thank her enough for all of her hard work over the years. Our youngest daughter also leaves KES this summer and I will therefore be resigning as Chair of KESSoc Council and Social

Committee, although I will continue to support the School as a Governor.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the time on KESSoc and it has been a wonderful opportunity for me to work with other parents, staff and the wider school community. I have made some wonderful friends and I feel privileged to have worked with such talented people.

Carole Pierce Chair of KESSoc

This year we have provided financial assistance to a number of School clubs and departments supporting the purchase of equipment or projects that benefit large numbers of pupils.

We have made contributions to the Music Department, the Rock

This has been another busy year for the Development Office.

The Edwardian Society

The School was delighted to welcome back former pupil, Richard Kinchen MVO to present the prizes at Speech Day this year and to hear about his varied and challenging role as a Foreign Office Ambassador, just as we were equally thrilled to welcome back alumni now living as far away as America and Australia during personal visits to the UK. This year has seen five reunions take place. In November, the Class of 1999 celebrated their 10 year reunion in the Sixth Form Concourse and in March the School hosted a Former Heads and Deputy Heads of School Reunion Dinner. Heads of School from as far back as the 1940s attended and the event was a very convivial and enjoyable occasion.

Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford was the setting for this year’s Oxbridge Reunion with students from both Oxford and Cambridge coming together for a formal dinner and,

in June, our annual Poole Veterans’ and pre-1939 leavers’ lunches were highly successful once again.

This year has also seen the launch of the official KES Facebook page which is proving an invaluable way in which to stay in touch with many of our younger Edwardians whilst the Edwardian magazine continues to be issued bi-annually and sent out to a 4,500 strong readership.

Work has continued in terms of raising the profile and obtaining funds for the King Edward VI Foundation. Notable success has been achieved in this area and at the beginning of the academic year, the School celebrated a very generous £300,000 gift from the Frank Misselbrook Foundation.

Suzanne Hooper Development Officer

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Drama

Art Highlights of this academic year have included a very funny Sixth Form directed production of Confusions in which the actors exhibited superb comic timing; 95 pupils being involved in the Third Year Theatre Studies evenings and a truly chilling and disturbing devised piece called 8 Locked Doors created and performed by the Upper Sixth Theatre Studies students. The Drama Department has also helped in various capacities with the English Department’s powerful production of Othello and the Classics Department’s entertaining version of The Frogs.

Junior Drama Club continues to be an important part of our provision for the First and Second Year dramatists and we have had a record number of Sixth Formers helping as directors, teachers and mentors this year. We have also run many successful theatre trips and have hosted two productions in School, as well as a very physical workshop on Berkoff’s Metamorphosis.

From September, all First and Second Year drama lessons will now be delivered by the Drama Department and so we have been tailoring new courses to enable sensible and structured progression right the way through to A level. The new Drama and Dance studio has proved a very useful space and we are now able to encourage dance groups and clubs.

Mr. David Dykes retires at the end of this year to be replaced by Mr. Matthew Bulmer in September. Mr. Dykes’ knowledge and experience will be sorely missed in the Department.

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Some of the themes and images produced, and on show, at our Summer Art Exhibition this year were clearly intended to provoke thought and discussion and, in that respect, they were very successful.

Possibly the highlight of the AS exhibition was the stunning photography of David Majoe.

Photography has become increasingly popular since Mr Piggott joined the Department and the numbers taking this at both AS and A2 have grown.

Music The Music Department has enjoyed another busy and creative year which began with the Moondog Coronation Ball and Bite Sized Broadway which attracted enthusiastic audiences to the Dobson Theatre. These events organised by music students raised an impressive £1,132 for Charity.

In December, the festive season got off to a joyful start with over two hundred musicians from the School Choirs, Symphony Orchestra and Parent and Staff Choirs combining forces to provide the music for the annual Carol Service at St Mary’s Church in Southampton. The Concert Band performed in the Romsey Carol Concert at the Abbey where a staggering £3,500 was raised for the work of Wessex Cancer Trust.

The studios have been equally packed with an enormous display of GCSE work. The annual display of clay heads seems to have grown both in size and diversity and the large crayon drawings show an increased use of photoshop in their development.

Judging from the numbers who attended the Exhibition evening it proved to be as popular as ever.

The Art Department has continued to make its presence known throughout the School with an ever-changing display on the walls and much credit here must go to Elaine White our Art Technician. Mr Edward Lewis has also joined the Department this year and his arrival has brought new ideas and views among the Department.

With an expertise in illustration and computer graphics Mr Lewis has already proved a valuable asset.

The spring term began with an inspiring master class for all violinists led by Ruth Palmer. We also welcomed guest violinists from Mountbatten School and Tauntons College for the event. The Fusion Concert took place in the Dobson Theatre in February and provided a platform for emerging musical talent in the School. Over two hundred musicians took to the stage for the Spring Concert where the Concert Band, Sinfonietta, Big Band, String Orchestra, Sax Ensemble and Choirs set feet tapping to a wide range of music from Bach to Glenn Miller. The School Hall was full to capacity and the evening was rounded off in grand style with the Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of Cry of the Celts accompanied by spectacular Irish dancing. At the end of the spring term the Choirs performed two anthems, Goodall’s Love Divine and Oliver Leaman’s Non Vox Sed Votum for the Thanksgiving Service at Winchester Cathedral.

The summer term saw the Chamber Choir travel to Oxford to join forces

with St John’s College Choir to sing evensong in the chapel and, just before the examination season took hold, GCSE musicians enjoyed a fun morning working with KES Green Team and professional artist Ruth Spaak at Springhill Catholic Primary School for a collaborative Green Music and Art Day. Pupils have also enjoyed various concert trips throughout the year.

Music technology students attended a workshop and concert by the jazz group ‘Polar Bear’ at Alton College and a group of pianists travelled to the Turner Sims Concert Hall to hear renowned pianist Alfred Brendel give a fascinating lecture. Members of the School Orchestra enjoyed a concert at the Royal Festival Hall and singers attended two operas; L’Heure Espagnole by Ravel and Gianni Schicchi by Puccini at Covent Garden.

In March, the String Orchestra won the Assumpta Brady trophy at the Southampton Music Festival and took part in the National Festival of Music for Youth with the Sax Choir. The end of the year finished off in great style with the Music Competition and an action packed music tour to Paris.

“The Music Department has enjoyed another busy and creative year”

The Department continues to be a popular, vibrant place where students can express themselves in a more divergent way than they are probably used to.

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Sport The sporting programme at King Edward’s remains very busy indeed. Teams have enjoyed much success at county and regional level while individuals have performed on a national and international stage. Both the boys’ hockey teams and the netball sides each fulfilled more than one hundred fixtures during the spring term, illustrating the level of commitment from the students.

The replacement of the water-based artificial pitch at Wellington Sports Ground has enhanced the provision for hockey at the School. Two of the boys’ hockey sides progressed through county rounds and regional heats to feature in the regional play-offs. Both the U16 and the U18 teams finished third in the South region, narrowly missing out on the national finals.

Six other school teams also reached county finals.

Other sports have also enjoyed success in the past year. For the first time some of the School’s fencers have reached the national finals while the School has also had individuals in the national finals for trampolining, diving and athletics.

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KES once again hosted the 7th annual King’s Coast Rugby Tournament at the Wellington site this year. As usual the event attracted entries from schools across England and Wales. Following a successful season the senior rugby squad took part in an eagerly anticipated summer tour to the USA and Canada. The basketball squad also enjoyed an overseas trip playing in a tournament in Holland during the Easter break.

The range of sports available at KES continues to be impressive, with teams training and competing throughout the year. Individual sports continue to grow in popularity, in particular dance, which currently runs on four evenings per week, and kayaking, which has been introduced to the Sixth Form games programme. The School’s facilities also continue to develop. The Dance Studio is now in full use while the artificial pitch at the main School site will be relaid in time for the 20102011 hockey season.

Co-Curricular As ever, the interest in co-curricular activities remains strong and the wide range of over sixty clubs and societies provides opportunities for the students to get involved in a wealth of activities. KESSoc has continued to support many of our clubs and this year the Canoe Club and the Rock Academy have been able to make substantial additions to their equipment through generous donations.

The programme of House events continues to grow, with the introduction this year of an exciting Ready, Steady, Cook competition.

For the second year in a row, the House competition has been very close. Capon, Lake and Sylvester challenged for the top spot right until the final events, with Capon becoming the eventual winners of the Allen Grant trophy.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme remains extremely popular and has achieved well over 2,000 awards since its inception. Students from the Fourth Year upwards work towards the four main sections of Volunteering, Skill, Physical Recreation and Expeditions. KES students regularly participate in expeditions from the New Forest and Dartmoor to the Elan Valley and Lake District.

“The programme of House events continues to grow.”

Community links remain an integral part of KES school life and this year has been an extremely busy one for primary school links with a number of individual projects taking place alongside our weekly clubs. Three local schools have enjoyed twice termly sessions of ‘fun’ but challenging mathematics workshops

for gifted and talented pupils and, in the literacy club, KES students have mentored pupils helping individual groups to produce a children’s story book. In May a number of our students spent the day at Springhill Primary for a Green Music Day. A professional artist worked with the children to produce a sculpture from recycled materials whilst some of our musicians helped the children compose songs with a green theme.

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Trips & Visits This year, the range of co-curricular activities open to KES students has been as varied as ever. Over 260 trips and visits have been organised during the year with about 40 of those taking place outside the UK. Our students of all ages have enjoyed cultural and history trips, language exchanges, sporting activities and adventure.

We have maintained the links with our partner schools in France, Germany, Spain, USA and China, our scientists visited Indonesia for ecology fieldwork and SCUBA diving, our rugby players visited the USA and Canada and our basketball players visited the Netherlands. Closer to home, there have been biology and geography field trips, a number of history visits, science visits to Intech and a Second Year camp on Dartmoor, to mention just a few.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme continues to thrive.

Expeditions at Bronze level take place in the New Forest, whereas for Silver and Gold levels, the students travel to Dartmoor (based at the School’s facility in Lovaton on the edge of the moor), mid Wales or the Lake District.

Our students have the opportunity to undertake charity work on the annual Summer Camp in Dorset, at an orphanage in Romania and in Goedgedacht in South Africa. All these activities form an important part of life at KES, and cannot take place without the help of the many staff who give up their own time for the benefit of our students.

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Charities Commission This has been another extraordinary year for charities, culminating in a grand figure of almost £18,000.

In the autumn term the Macmillan cake day and Romanian Shoe Box Appeal were both successful and over £1,000 was raised for the Toy Appeal with which we were able to buy 50 Christmas presents for under-privileged children in Southampton. Money raised from the Carol Service boosted the term’s total and donations were made to Piam Brown Childhood Cancer Ward at Southampton General and Mission Direct.

of Sight, SSAFA and Naomi House.

In the summer term, we raised around £1,000 via a non-uniform day, which also included a welly boot wearing competition for Naomi House. The Charities Commission has also been able to support students and ex-students in a variety of charitable projects.

Since the establishment of the Charities Commission as a single entity within the School in 2002/3, we have raised around a whopping £140,000.

Certainly something to celebrate!

“...we have raised around a whopping £140,000.”

Two donations were made to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal in the new year, whilst the OTOB (one touch one bounce!) tournament, followed

by FIFA (played on white boards at lunchtimes) and then the hugely popular Dodgeball, allowed us to donate £500 to Sports Relief. April saw the annual return of KES Factor and of the Ceilidh and we raised enough to send significant donations to Fairbridge Solent and The Children of Chernobyl. We also contributed funds to the Society of St James, Gift

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Staff Dr Richard Wilkinson was originally appointed as a Physics teacher in September 1984. However, the majority of his time at KES was spent in the Chemistry Department. He was an excellent teacher, able to enthuse others effortlessly, and also very supportive of others in the Department. He gave much of his time to students outside of the classroom, running the 2nd XI Football team for many years and, as an expert sailor, devoting hours to students at Weston Sailing Club. He was also Head of Watts House for many years.

Mr Phil Hartley joined the School in 1970 and very quickly established himself as a key player. By 1975 he was appointed as Principal Careers Master. In 1978 he became Head of Upper School and in 1985 Director of Studies. In 1991 he had become Second Deputy Head and then First Deputy Head in 1994. As well as being a much admired teacher of mathematics Mr Hartley was involved in many other activities.

During his time at the School he ran several rugby teams, as well as cross country. More recently it has been the Duke of Edinburgh Award to which he has devoted countless hours spending many nights under canvas both on Dartmoor and in the New Forest. He set up the Second Year camps and taught innumerable pupils the finer points of camp craft. Added to this was his interest in expeditions further afield. He had a sabbatical in northern Pakistan and in 2003 went to India with World Challenge.

His devotion to the School and his attention to detail are legendary.

An outstanding deputy head with a strong sense of discipline, he combined fairness with compassion.

The School is going to miss him immeasurably now that he is retiring.

14

Mr Martin Hall retires after 25 years in the Music Department, which flourished under his leadership from 1985-2005. He taught academic music well beyond the demands of the examination syllabuses and prepared many students for their transition to H.E. courses. He directed the Choirs and Orchestras for many years and encouraged pupils to participate in chamber, jazz and pop groups. It is a great testament to him that many of his students are following successful careers in the music profession. He is an outstanding organist and accompanist and has always been calming and supportive when accompanying instrumentalists for their music exams. He has organised several successful choir tours abroad and trips to professional performances.

Mr David Dykes has spent his entire career at King Edward’s. He was employed in September 1971 as an English Master and in 1982 became the School’s Head of Drama and Staff Tutor. Both were new appointments at the time. He held the post of Common Room Secretary for four years before taking the Chair in 1980 – a post which he only relinquished in 2009. He has also been Sixth Form Housemaster of Reynolds, Head of the Faculty of Creative and Performing Arts and, for the last 5 years, Assistant Head (Staff Development). He has developed this post with consummate skill to become central to the induction, training and welfare of our teachers.

As well as his distinguished teaching career, Mr Dykes will be remembered for his unique skill as principal commentator at Sports Day. For very many years he has enhanced the occasion with his witty and very professional commentary. He will be a very hard act to follow in lots of ways.

Dr Laura Williams joined the School as a newly qualified chemistry teacher in September 2009. She was energetically involved in the Green Team and helped out with numerous Summer Camp activities. She also sang with the School Choir.

Mr Colm Murphy joined the School in September 2007 as maternity cover for Mrs Sheppard and ended the year providing cover for the Physics department. He then continued to serve the Chemistry Department until July 2010. He is an outstanding musician and the School have been lucky enough to benefit from his master classes and performances in a variety of bands.

Miss Suzanne Thompson departed from King Edward’s at the end of the autumn term this year, having spent 10 years in the Design and Technology Department. Miss Thompson taught through the whole range of school years from First to Sixth Form, but will be most remembered for her running of the GCSE textiles course. Students produced a wide range of high quality garments and furnishings that were much admired by visitors to the School and on open evenings. Miss Thompson was also heavily involved in the School’s “Old Edwardian” network.

Mrs Helen Ellerby In her 10 years at KES, in her roles as Senior School Nurse and Health Coordinator, Mrs Ellerby has shown compassion and understanding to pupils and staff, together with a professional approach to every aspect of her responsibilities. She has organised the First Aid and Hospital Visiting Clubs and the Goedgedacht project in South Africa, providing wonderful opportunities for the pupils. Her involvement in fundraising activities has raised substantial amounts of money towards a variety of charitable causes. Mrs Ellerby has overhauled the School’s PSHE programme and has given it a new impetus. The School will miss Mrs Ellerby’s professionalism, sensitivity and approachability.

Mr Justin Bell joined the school in September 2007 as a newly qualified teacher. He went straight into teaching A2 English, a subject he has taught at both AS and A2 level since.

He has also taught A Level Philosophy and AS Literature as well as GCSE and Lower School classes.

Mrs Jill Hutton joined the Mathematics Department in 1995 as a part time teacher and, apart from a one year break from the School, she has made a very valuable contribution to the mathematical education of many Upper and Lower School Pupils.

For the last 10 years Mrs Hutton has been the Mathematics Support Teacher and has spent her lunchtimes building up the confidence of pupils who found aspects of the mathematics course challenging. Mrs Hutton’s caring and compassionate nature has not been restricted to the classroom but she has given a considerable amount of time to the children in Romania, working for two weeks each summer with the School Romania project.

Miss Elunia Dee joined the School in 2007 and quickly established herself as a highly organised and successful teacher of music. Her work with the First Year Choir, Concert Band and Sinfonietta has played a valuable and vital role in the Department. She has also been a Lower School Tutor, and taught Polish to Sixth Form Foundation Studies students.

Mrs Rosie Palmer joined the Biology Department at KES in September 2009. She has been an excellent and dedicated teacher and been a caring tutor for U14. She has spent weekends walking and camping with D of E students and has also helped to organise fund-raising activities for the Romania and South Africa projects.

Mr Neil Dumper joined the school in 1974 as an Assistant Groundsman and during his 36 years he has seen many changes to the school grounds.

These have included the introduction of an all weather sports pitch, the demise of the cricket pavilion and a great increase in the use of the Sports Field. He provided pupils and staff with facilities of the highest order and his skills will be missed as he retires.

Mrs Pat Wheeler, held in affection by both staff and pupils, leaves the School after 20 years in the Catering Department.

During the year we also said goodbye to Mr Szilas and Mrs Minchington from the Facilities team, Mr and Mrs Martin at Wellington, Mrs Clegg from the Accounts Department, Mrs Quinn the Chemistry Technician, Mr Martyn the Classroom IT Support Technician and Mr Tuffin, who covered for maternity leave as Data Manager.

15

Staff Internal changes / New Appointments Mrs Thomas has been appointed as Deputy Head (Pastoral), Mr SG Hall becomes the new Assistant Head (Staff Development), Mr Williams is the new Head of PSHE and Mrs Millar the new Assistant Head of the Third Year. Mr Leaman is the new Assistant Director of Music and Mr Eades is the new Head of Cricket. Mrs Edwards takes over as the new Senior School Nurse and will be joined by Mrs Duke as a member of the nursing team.

During the year Mrs Wood was promoted to the post of Senior Management Team Secretary and her place was taken as Receptionist/ Administrator by Mrs Hilborne.

We have a number of new staff joining us this year. Miss Smith is the new Assistant Head (Co-Curriculum).

She will also be teaching biology. Mr Mapstone is the new Head of ICT (Curriculum) and Dr Sinnett-Jones will be teaching mathematics. Dr Thomas joins the Chemistry Department whilst Mr Watson will be teaching music and Mr Bulmer will be teaching drama and English. Miss Mobbs joins the School as PE teacher and Dr Paver as teacher of Chemistry.

Miss Stone joined King Edward’s in January 2010 to teach textiles and design technology. The language assistants for 2010/11 are Mlle Guilbaud, Mlle Benezech, Stra Tomas Hombria and Fraulein Becker.

Since the last annual review we have been joined by Mrs Ravenscroft as Reprographics Technician, Mrs CraneWhatmore as Finance Assistant, Mr Leacock as Classroom IT Support Technician, Mr Marsden as Chemistry Technican and Mr Stenning as a temporary member of the Facilities team covering for sickness.

FOUNDED 1553

HIGHLIGHTS 26.7% A* at A level with 91.4% at A*, A and B grade.

80% of applicants achieving places at the top 25 universities and over 95% in their choice of course and college.

16 places at Oxford and Cambridge.

Excellent GCSE results with over three quarters at A* or A grade.

KING EDWARD VI SCHOOL

New artificial surface on the Hill Lane site.

New servery.

SOUT H A M P TON New eco-garden and landscaping on the Hill Lane site.

Wilton Road Southampton SO15 5UQ

Refurbished classrooms for Humanities and Mathematics.

Te l 0 2 3 8 0 7 0 4 5 6 1 Fax 023 8070 5937 Email enquiries@kes.hants.sch.uk w w w. k e s . h a n t s . s c h . u k

Cert no. TT-COC-002357