Konnections Dec 2020

Newsletter of King Edward VI School

Founded 1553

From The Head Welcome to the autumn edition of KonnEctionS. In what has been an unusual term, to say the least, I am delighted that we are able in this edition of our magazine to celebrate the sheer inventiveness of a KES education during a time of crisis.

Even before the academic year began, some of our students were facing simply enormous challenges.

The age-old public examinations process had been rewritten, and then rewritten again, and then abandoned completely even as the dates for results in August were approaching.

For our A Level students, some of the most fundamental changes were made after they had actually received their initial results! All of this was the final act of a tumultuous exam season in the summer. I want to pay tribute to my staff and to the students who faced these uncertainties with such extraordinary resilience. As you read about their academic achievements, including some stunning GCSE and A Level results, please remember that these young people faced unprecedented upheaval in their studies and lives.

It is undoubtedly true that the final grades awarded are both totally

justified and truly earned. These outcomes reflect not only the students’ performance in a one-off examination, but their consistent dedication and focus over a full twoyear course. Equal praise must be given to their teachers, who took on the considerable burden of a brandnew public exam marking process cheerfully and stoically, despite at the time having themselves to isolate (and teach!) from home during the first full lockdown. My thanks go to them, and my sincere congratulations go to the students.

The wider disruption of the year also provided opportunities for creativity and innovation. In this edition of KonnEctionS you will see such flexible thinking writ large.

The magazine is full of examples of traditional events and school activities reimagined, redesigned and recreated to suit a new reality.

Whether it be the wonderful KES Super League, which has seen huge numbers of girls and boys participating in competitive sport on a Saturday, or else the multitude of charitable, cultural and intellectual activities taking place this term both within and beyond of the classroom.

All have needed to be adapted. But it is such a credit to staff and pupils

alike that so much has continued undaunted, despite all. I hope that you enjoy reading about them in this magazine.

Alongside these regular wider opportunities at KES, there are certain key events which are vitally important to us all. They provide us with a moment to reflect, remember or celebrate together. This term, Prizegiving, Remembrance Day and the Carol Service have always represented important collective experiences: times when we can pause and consider the world beyond the school gates. These opportunities matter deeply to us. But none could be held as normal this year. Nonetheless, we were determined that they would not be lost entirely, and thanks to tremendous efforts by pupils and staff, they instead became ‘virtual’.

We may not be able to sit together in the same space for the moment, but we have nonetheless found new ways to stand together as a community.

Enjoy KonnEctionS – we dearly hope that we will be able to see you again soon.

Neal Parker Head

King Edward VI School Wilton Road . Southampton . Hampshire SO15 5UQ Telephone: 023 8070 4561

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

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Academic

2020 Exam Results This year was highly unusual for pupils sitting public examinations. With the formal examination season abandoned, the school was required to create ‘Centre Assessed Grades’ and rank orders for every pupil, based on previous performance and progress. Despite the disruption, our pupils are to be commended on some wonderful results. At A Level, 63% of all grades awarded at KES were

A* or A, with 88% achieving A* to B grades. As a result of these outstanding results, 87% of our leavers gained admittance to one of the prestigious ‘top 25’ UK universities or medical schools. At GCSE, 79% of our Fifth Year pupils earned an A* or A grade (or the numerical equivalent), with 93% achieving an A*-B.

KES pupil wins Salters-Nuffield National Award Stroud welcomes its new Head

In September, Stroud School - King Edward VI Preparatory School welcomed its new Head, Mrs Rebecca Smith. Mrs Smith joins us from St Swithun’s Prep School in Winchester. Many parents and pupils may remember her as she previously held the post of Head of English and Deputy Head at Stroud, some years ago. We are delighted to see her back!

The new normal!

The new term saw everything looking and feeling a bit different with a network of one-way systems around the school building, marquees on the field, staggered lunches and lessons, assemblies via Zoom, face masks and lots of hand sanitiser.

However, despite all of these precautions and disruptions, our students have had a productive and fun-filled term.

Congratulations to recent leaver and former Deputy Head of School, Arev Melikyan, who has been awarded one of this year’s national SaltersNuffield awards. In 2020, with no exam marks to discriminate between the best students, Salters invited students to submit an essay on an area of biological interest. Arev’s essay, entitled, “Could mRNA vaccines be a frontrunner in Covid-19 prophylaxis?” was entered into the competition.

Not only did he correctly anticipate that the first effective vaccine would be an RNA-based one but he also won the 2020 Salters-Nuffield Prize for the best essay nationally.

Biology Field Trip Our Upper Sixth biologists went away for their much-delayed field trip earlier this term.

Instead of the usual summer residential, students participated in a condensed one-day excursion during which they completed handson field work including ecology sampling, measuring abiotic factors and practising their statistics.

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How to ace an interview!

Geography Field Trip Upper Sixth A Level geographers travelled to Barton-on-Sea and Highcliffe in October to complete the data collection element of their independent investigation.

Blessed with beautiful weather, they spent the day on the beach perfecting their field work skills looking at the natural characteristics of the coastline, coastal erosion and considering coastal management!

Sixth Form students took part in the Mastering the Medical School Interview course delivered

by The Medic Portal in the Hospitality Suite in November. The course was specifically designed for students interested in studying medicine, dentistry or veterinary science at university, and delved into the challenging admissions process, covering strategies for success at traditional, MMI and Oxbridge style interviews, common interview questions, a full face-to-face mock interview with feedback, and much more.

Fifth Year Transition Day

It is customary for all current Fifth Year pupils to spend one day in the autumn term experiencing life as a KES Sixth Former prior to finalising their post-GCSE plans. In October, they had the chance to do just this, finding out about subjects and options for A Level study, trialling lessons and exploring some of the other opportunities that exist for our older students. This was followed by the annual Sixth Form Information Evening (held virtually this year) during which parents and pupils could tune in to presentations from staff and current Sixth Formers.

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Prizegiving 2020 This year’s Prizegiving event took place at the end of term over the course of three days during morning group base time. Each of the winners were awarded their prizes in a shortened and bubble specific ceremony in the Dobson Theatre. Like so many of this year’s activities, the format was adapted to be Covid safe and whilst, unfortunately, we were unable to welcome parents into school this year, the event gave the school community the opportunity to recognise the hard work and achievements of so many pupils. Additionally the First Year scholars received their prizes in The Hospitality Suite during the end of term assembly.

Open Forum goes virtual The KES Open Forum is a programme of presentations, delivered to the entire Lower or Upper Sixth, from a series of guest speakers. Informative, entertaining and inspiring, Open Forum provides students with the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of some extraordinary individuals.

One of this term’s guests was Mike Hurst, an original member of the top British vocal group ‘The Springfields’ who then went on to become one of the most successful music producers of the 60s, 70s and 80s. We were also delighted to welcome back former KES parent and Saints football legend Francis Benali. Francis shared his experience of raising over £1 million for Cancer Research UK through a series of gruelling physical challenges and was an inspiration to all those who heard him speak.

Foundation Studies

The KES Sixth Form Foundation Studies programme has been developed to enhance the student experience, introducing them to new ideas and skills outside of their academic studies. Topics include presentation skills, finance and budgeting, politics, cookery, sculpture, road readiness, power boating, self-defence, digital photography, dance, fishing and applying for university, amongst others.

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Co-curricular We Will Remember Them

This year’s annual Remembrance Service of readings and music was pre-recorded and played to all students on November 11th prior to the whole school community observing the customary two-minute silence at 11 o’clock. Whilst we were unable to gather in the traditional manner, the event still provided an opportunity for personal reflection and gratitude to those who have lost their lives whilst in the service of their country.

International Men’s Day

Black History Month

In November, members of the Sixth Form delivered an assembly to mark the start of Black History Month. The students discussed how we understand the UK’s history in terms of the transatlantic slave trade and spoke about the removal of the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol.

Further assemblies throughout the month, aimed at raising awareness amongst the entire school community, touched on different aspects of Black History and celebrated black leaders.

To celebrate International Men’s Day, a group of students spoke in morning assembly about male members of their family whom they admire.

Their speeches were touching and inspirational on a day that celebrates worldwide the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities. In keeping with this year’s focus on ‘Better health for men and boys’ gingerbread men were sold at breaktime to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

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Mask mania!

We have seen more than one teaching department sporting themed masks this term. The Maths Department kicked off with their numerical masks, thanks to the handiwork of Mrs Matthews. They were swiftly followed by the Chemistry Department with their chemical element themed face coverings, the Geography Department with their map designs, the Drama Department with their Shakespearean additions and the Psychology and Physics Departments. Mrs Matthews has been busy for many months making masks and presented personalised masks to each member of her tutor group embroidered with their initials and made from colour changing fabric.

Paddle boarding Paddle boarding and sailing remain popular cocurricular activities for students across all year groups. Earlier this term a group of Sixth Formers enjoyed some water-based fun down at SWAC during their games lessons and the Lower School paddle boarding club also met to practise their balancing skills.

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Sailing

Before further lockdown restrictions, beginner First Year sailors had a chance to try out their interest in the sport by sailing in a fleet of RS Qubas down at Southampton Water Activities Centre. We hope that they will be able to resume their sailing adventures in the months to come.

Go Ape As part of their settling-in and orientation period at KES, all First Year pupils took part in an activity and team building excursion to the Go Ape centre at Itchen Valley Country Park with their tutor and Sixth Form prefects. As well as braving the high ropes course, they also took part in a range of tasks designed to challenge them and promote team working – a great way to get to know their new class mates.

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Sal’s shoes

In September, students, parents and teachers donated their used, unwanted shoes to Sal’s Shoes Toeto-Toe 2020 campaign, managing to fill 52 boxes with 523 pairs of footwear! Sal’s Shoes focuses on collecting unwanted shoes and redistributing them to the estimated 3 million children in the world for whom walking in shoes is a rarity. The preloved shoes collected at KES are now on their way to a warehouse in Kent, before making the journey to Africa.

Raising money for PDSA

House Teas

Mr Miller set himself the enormous challenge of attempting to run 21 half marathons throughout the month of October to raise money for the school’s charity partner, and one close to his own heart, Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association.

The Great South Run is normally a major fund raiser for the charity but, unfortunately, due to the pandemic, was cancelled this year and therefore, like all charities, is struggling for funds.

In rain, wind and even full-blown storms, Mr Miller completed his challenge raising over £1600 and largely surpassing his target of £441 (£1 per kilometre run). If you would like to support him, then please see his Virgin Money Page! https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/MarkMiller3

This term, our Houses have been getting together for the traditional House Tea. Unlike other year groups in the Lower School, the First Year tutor groups are not organised by House so these events provide an opportunity for new pupils to meet other House members, play some games and meet their Sixth Form Heads of House.

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Extended Studies This year’s First Year pupils have been enjoying their Extended Studies sessions this term. The carousel-based programme consisting of six units: Food & Health, Equality & Diversity, Reality & Representation, Dance, Resilience, and Relationships, has seen them take part in a range of diverse activities. From a dance class with Mrs Collinson, to cooking and tasting new foods such as sushi, cheese and fruit smoothies, receiving first aid training and visiting a local mosque to learn about cultural variations and the positive aspects of local and wider communities, faiths and people, everyone has had the chance to learn something new.

First Year Toy Appeal Fun Run

The annual First Year Toy Appeal sponsored fun run was held at lunchtime in October. First Year pupils looked amazing as they ran the perimeter of the School Field dressed in an array of toy-inspired costumes, raising over £3000. There were some fantastic examples of colourful creativity on display. The proceeds of this year’s run will go to local charity Scratch, that works towards relieving the effects of hardship faced by local families, and will be used to buy Christmas presents for children who would otherwise go without.

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Duke of Edinburgh’s award

In order to cope with the backlog of expeditions that have had to be cancelled due to the current restrictions, the DofE team has been busy organising catch-up expeditions, run as day walks. Throughout October they managed to ensure that 60 students completed a Bronze and/or Silver practice/ training day, 11 completed their Bronze qualifying expedition, 24 completed their Silver qualifying expedition (including 7 recent OEs), 9 completed their Silver practice expedition and 7 completed a combined Gold practice and qualifying expedition over the course of a week. Despite the harsh weather at times, all the participants (and accompanying staff) displayed amazing fortitude and perseverance.

Charities Commission

Transition Day

As well as organising the annual shoe collection for Sal’s Shoes Toe-to-Toe campaign, members of the Charities Commission held this term’s non-uniform day in aid of The Marine Conservation Trust and raised £900 to support their work protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Other charitable and fundraising activities this term have included a Krispy Kreme doughnut sale which raised a further £300, the First Year Toy Appeal Fun Run and a sale of gingerbread men on International Men’s Day for Prostate Cancer UK. Leading up to Christmas, the Commission sold candy canes and advent calendars to fundraise for the school’s charity projects including the Sholing Partnership Project, Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association and Summer Camp. The annual Christmas Jumper Day in December raised money for Save the Children.

The annual First Year Transition Day allows the pastoral staff at KES to teach valuable new skills, set expectations and provide guidance on a range of topics to new pupils as they take their tentative first steps at senior school. This year’s event consisted of six sessions based around communication, respect, organisation, mental health, making good decisions online and developing healthy relationships.

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Economics Society

The Sixth Form student-led Economics Society meets every Friday lunchtime with members taking it in turns to deliver presentations on a variety of economics-focused topics. One of this term’s sessions involved Yusuf and Jack leading an entertaining game of ‘higher or lower’ using various sets of economic data. The winners were Team Lemon from the Lower Sixth, with accurate answers on topics such as Capita GDP, PPP Exchange Rate and Military Spending.

School Council Elections for this year’s school councillors took place earlier this term with each year group nominating and voting for their representative. We are grateful to the outgoing councillors for their contributions. During their time in post, they have collectively made suggestions and changes to the school lunches, suggested ways to improve school life during the current restrictions, asked for more water fountains, raised issues with regard to staying warm or keeping cool (in the summer), made adjustments to firefly notifications and how school work is submitted and so much more. Their input has been invaluable.

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Creative Arts Music while you Lunch The Music While You Lunch concert series continued this term although in a slightly different format to allow for social distancing and to adhere to safe performance conditions. The first concert was dedicated to our new A Level musicians who wowed us with virtuosic performances of Liszt and Chopin. It was quite a thrill to see the bar set so high by the Lower Sixth. The second concert was the turn of the Lower School who delighted with committed, passionate and exciting performances.

Music in memoriam Music had its usual intrinsic role in this year’s streamed Remembrance Service. Professional and inspiring performances were given by Adam to open the Service and Elias in his poignant ‘Last Post’ solo. It was particularly special to hear the KES Chamber Choir singing Tavener’s ‘The Lamb’; such a special piece of music for so many that truly represented the reverie and poise of this solemn occasion.

A Musical Masterclass Before half-term, we were delighted to welcome into school, professional West End star Rebecca Lafferty who delivered a vocal masterclass for our singers. Upper School and Sixth Form students each got some one-to-one time with Rebecca, honing in on vocal techniques and voice projection. With the upcoming school production auditions looming next term, it could not have been more thrilling to see such promising vocal performers shining on stage.

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Christmas Carol Service Testament to the Creative Arts Faculty, this year’s Carol Service brought together the best of the KES spirit. A combination of dance, celebratory song and joyful performance, the Carol Service took a slightly different twist this year! Singing groups have multiplied this term with the safety measures in place, so we brought together vocalists from our First Year, Second and Third Year, Fourth Year and Chamber Choirs, not to mention sensational soloists Mia and Lucas, to perform our nine lessons and carols.

The Chamber Orchestra performed for the opening credits and descant verses, along with beautiful accompaniments from Lusin and Will, making each carol unique and individual. The pre-recorded Service was broadcast online at the time of the planned Carol Service at Romsey Abbey and can be viewed on the school website.

How to conduct!

This term saw a workshop in conducting take place for our music scholars and captains. Sessions had our students waving the baton and experiencing first-hand the thrill of leading an ensemble. These flipped classroom activities really provide memorable experiences for the students as for so many of our musicians this was the first time that had ever before stood at the head of an ensemble, controlled the phrasing and unified musicians’ performances. They even had the chance to conduct their teachers!

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GCSE Dance With the exciting addition of GCSE Dance to the KES provision this September, our dancers have leaped into the dynamic curriculum with enthusiasm and grace.

Students have already begun developing their choreographic and performing skills through experimentation and application of choreographic devices by studying ‘Emancipation of Expressionism’ by choreographer Kenrick H20 Sandy. Students are excited to be exploring different set pieces and developing their artistic and technical skills as performers.

What’s in the wings?

The Drama Department has been busy this term working on the Upper School production of ‘Game Over’; a hard hitting verbatim play about the true story of Breck Bednar written by Mark Wheeler.

Meanwhile, First Year Production Club have been developing a more light-hearted performance of Roald Dahl’s ‘Revolting Rhymes’ and rehearsals for the Sixth Form production of ‘Our Country’s Good’ are well under way. The A Level students also benefited from an insightful and instructive masterclass with Anna Friend, founder of Quirky Birds Theatre and Director of their touring production of ‘That Face’; the A Level set text.

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Sport Autumn cricket The Sports Department has worked hard to put together a programme to ensure that KES students continue to get as much sporting experience as possible, while adhering to government guidelines. Earlier in the term, in the better weather, boys were able to enjoy cricket training and matches during their games lessons.

Meanwhile, the Sixth Form 1st XI team took on the KES Staff Vikings team in a fantastic early evening match filled with brilliant shots and some dubious ones too.

Cross Country The House cross country competition for First, Second, Third and Fourth Years took place in the week before half-term with the results being as follows: First Year: Reynolds won the girls’ race and Sylvester won the boys’ race.

Second Year: Capon won the girls’ race and Reynolds won the boys’ race.

Third Year: Lawrence won the girls’ race and Reynolds won the boys’ race.

Fourth Year: Watts won both the girls’ and boys’ events.

The overall scores were very close but Reynolds beat Sylvester to the 1st place position overall by just one point.

Elite Sports Performer Programme With over 50 students at King Edward’s who are competing in their chosen sport at a regional level or higher, the Elite Sports Performer Programme aims to provide these students with an additional support system to assist them in achieving their full potential in their sporting discipline alongside their academic studies. As part of the programme, they attend a schedule of sports related and motivational presentations. Amongst others, they were able to listen to current Upper Sixth student and elite performer, Alex, who delivered an excellent talk on overcoming set-backs and balancing commitments.

Alex recently took part in the NAGS assessment; the highest honour obtainable for a junior hockey player.

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Junior House The Junior House competition is a highlight of the annual House championship, bringing together all Second and Third Years pupils into teams to play against each other, in the major team sports of the term. Lower School pupils secured vital points for their Houses, all of which will contribute towards the Allen Grant Trophy, when they participated in House hockey and rugby matches after school at the start of term.

KES Super League This term has seen the launch of the KES Super League. This competitive Saturday sports programme (consisting of a hockey festival for the boys and netball for the girls) has been devised with guidance and clarification from various professional organisations, including a representative from the Department for Education. Students were divided into one of four ‘franchise’ teams (Cobras, Eagles, Sharks and Tigers) in order to compete for the KES Super League. After some closely-fought matches the overall winners of the competition were the Tigers.

Individual sporting achievements

Fourth Year pupil, Santiago, won the International Ora Cup competition in Lake Garda in August.

He is Great Britain’s number one ranked Optimist sailor and the current British national champion.

He also became the first British sailor to win the 38th Garda Meeting Country Cup and has now been nominated for Youth Sailor of the Year in the British Yachting Awards 2020.

Sixth Formers, Lizzie and Emmy, have both gained places on the National Youth Sailing Squad in the 420 class.

Third Year pupil, Sabine, and Second Year, Hennie, have both been selected for the regional training group (South Group 1) in the Optimist class for the winter 2020/21 season.

Sixth Former, Rory, and Fifth Year pupil, Anna, have reached the second stage of England hockey team selection for their respective age group squads.

Sophie, Katie and Archie all represented the South of England Saxons hockey teams in matches against the West Panthers over halfterm.

Fourth Year, Mel, has been selected to join the Surrey Storm U15 Netball Academy.

Third Year pupil, Allie, has joined the England National Development Programme in swimming.

Fifth Year pupil, Harry, has been selected for the London Irish Rugby Academy.

Fourth Year, Sophie, has joined the South of England’s windsurfing training squad.

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