Vigornian 2022/23
Number 259
Editors: Andrew Maund, Sarah Bradley, Emma Kate Booth
Designer: Catherine Perera
Published by: The King’s School, Worcester
Printed by: The Graphic Design House
© 2024 The King’s School, Worcester
Common Room Notes Academic Creative and Performing
Clubs and Activities
While there were times in the previous year when, as I hunted down missing articles and reports from my colleagues, my fellow members of staff tended to turn the other way and hurry off with more than usual alacrity at my approach, it has nevertheless been an enormous privilege to lead the editorial team of The Vigornian for another year. It is only as one works through all the material, text and photos, that one begins to develop a sense of everything which we do as a Foundation, and that the inclusive, supportive, and caring nature of our community is truly woven into the very fabric of our being. We have been delighted to include more material produced by pupils this year and that is just as it should be with any record of the life of a school. Our five Foundation Values of Ambition, Resilience, Humility, Creativity, and Kindness really do inspire our activities, breathing life into our lives together.
Many years ago, when I was a very junior member of another Common Room, I remember watching two older colleagues poring over the recently published edition of that school’s annual magazine with the sole purpose of eagerly identifying any mistakes and omissions in order to point out his shortcomings to the unfortunate editor; or should that be metaphorically pouring their vitriol over the pages of the magazine to burn out the quiet delight that the editor might otherwise have felt? While I am sure that none of the readership of this magazine would do this, it is perhaps only natural to flick past other articles in order to find material which is directly relevant to oneself. I would encourage you to linger a little longer over the other material too,
relishing in the overall kaleidoscope of experiences and achievements a sense of what a very special place our School is, providing a place for everyone, where everyone can find their place.
Despite our very best efforts, some omissions and mistakes will creep in, and we are very sorry for that. Looking back, we must apologise, for example, for not recording in last year’s edition of The Vigornian Dan Day’s remarkable sporting achievements while at school, culminating in his membership at 17 of the Great Britain GB U19 water polo team who competed in the European Championships in Malta in April 2022. Dan’s photo and testimony are proudly displayed in the gym, along with his England Cap, remarkably achieved when he was only 15. Although we do not usually report on university places for which students apply post A-Level, those keen to follow his water polo career may be interested to know that Dan applied to university after his A-Level year and has gone on to Birmingham University to read Economic and Politics.
Several parents wrote to us after the last issue, expressing concern that the list at the back of the copy only recognises the leavers from that year with a confirmed place at university at the time of preparation of the magazine. While this has been the practice in previous editions, we do of course believe most firmly that the myriad other paths that our leavers follow are just as valuable and worthy of recognition as going straight to university. Each year we have leavers who are having amazing years: working abroad, learning new skills at renowned colleges, or starting apprenticeships, to name but a few of their activities. Some of this cohort will also go on in due course to attend some very prestigious universities and other institutions.
One parent commented, “It would be lovely if the list of leavers could encompass all of those who have successfully achieved A-levels in their ‘graduating’ year. They are after all the new OVs to celebrate into the fold.” We agree that we certainly should mark their time in the School and their continuing place in the wider Vigornian community, and for that reason we have listed the entire Upper Sixth Year of 2022 – 2023 on p.4-5, as well as the list of those who have, at the time of preparation of the
magazine, secured places in Higher and Further Education for the new academic year 2023 – 2024 on p.4-5.
We must also apologise to Ann Sansome, who was inexplicably missed off the staff list. Ann has been a key member of staff since she joined us in 2005; she has done a wonderful job teaching classes in all subjects when colleagues are absent, as well as fulfilling many other in support, so it is even more embarrassing that she was left out of the list. We express our sincere apologies to Ann. She has now finished her long association with the School as a parent and a colleague, and a full tribute to her appears in the Common Room Notes section of this magazine.
While there is always the danger of missing someone off a list of thanks, I must endeavour to thank everyone who has been such a support in producing this year’s magazine. Thanks go to all the colleagues and pupils who provided the raw materials, and my apologies for nagging you at very busy stages of the year. The editorial team of Sarah Bradley and Emma Kate Booth have been unstinting in their efforts throughout, as have Amanda Sutcliffe and Hannah Sparrey in their work to bring the Old Vigornian section together. Emily Ward and Emma Southall have been invaluable in providing material and expertise and Catherine Perera’s talent in designing and producing the final print is quite extraordinary. I hope that you enjoy looking through the results of all their efforts.
AJMMEditor: Andrew Maund
Editorial team: Sarah Bradley and Emma Kate Booth
Designer: Catherine Perera
Welcome to this year’s edition of The Vigornian, which I hope will provide an appropriate and engaging record of the flourishing life of King’s Worcester and the wider Vigornian community which makes up our Foundation, reporting on many of the highlights of this academic year.
Along with the rest of the world, the Foundation breathed a hearty sigh of relief last year as we finally seemed to be on the other side of the pandemic, with restrictions a thing of the past. We enjoyed a return to a normal school year, as our classrooms buzzed with face-toface teaching from Day One, Form and House meetings and activities were just as they used to be, trips and activities were firmly back on the school calendar, and pupils headed back into the hushed surroundings of exam rooms as their work for the year drew to its close. We were also delighted when the results were published in August to see just how well they all did, especially when we remember that, for our A-level candidates in particular, these were the very first public examinations that they had taken in “normal” conditions.
All three schools continue in robust good health, and we were delighted to hear that we have once again been ranked as one of the Top 10 independent
secondary schools in the West Midlands in the latest Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide. This is due to the endeavour and commitment of all members of the Vigornian family in providing the very best all-round education; pupils, staff, parents and Old Vigornians all continue to play a vital part in our success.
Now completely free of the shackles of pandemic restrictions, our sporting and wider co-curricular programme goes from strength to strength, and recollections of our many concerts and performances can be found within these pages, along with stories of some of our sporting successes at Regional and National level, including triple success for our netballers and the remarkable achievements of our rugby and cricket players and our rowers. There are also accounts of the many trips and expeditions which take our pupils outside the classroom, be it our geographers on their field courses, our physicists to CERN, our modern linguists to Spain and Germany, our musicians to Paris or our footballers to Madrid.
I am also delighted that this edition includes examples of the creative efforts of our pupils, in their artwork, their photography and their writing. This is all part of the King’s DNA, at the heart of
the School’s vision to be curious, caring and confident, and our mission to seek excellence in all we do and provide an outstanding preparation for life. Our former pupils always recall with genuine delight their outstanding memories of the productions and concerts, the sporting camps and overseas tours, departmental trips, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme expeditions, CCF camps, and theatre and music tours which they enjoyed, and all these activities have continued to flourish this year, alongside significant sporting accomplishments.
Many of those Old Vigornians provide careers advice and support for our current pupils as they prepare for the next stage, especially at our Careers’ Week Extravaganza, where not only our own pupils but also those from around the county benefitted hugely from their enthusiasm and expertise. It has also been a year of fantastic OV reunions, visits and successes and achievements and it was wonderful to be welcome so many to the annual OV Reunion Weekend.
When we draw a line under one academic year, it is of course a time to look forward as well as back. As John “Hannibal” Smith used to say, “I love it when a plan comes together” and, after the launch of our strategic plan earlier this year, we are very much looking forward to stepping into the first physical manifestation of this in the remodelled School House, which will accommodate our augmented Sixth Form Centre at the centre of the campus. Our Sixth Form curriculum has also been significantly enhanced as part of the continued evolution of King’s.
Everything of which you will read in these pages is the embodiment of our five Foundation values of Ambition, Resilience, Humility, Creativity and Kindness, which provide so many opportunities and ensure such varied and significant success for all Vigornians. I hope you will enjoy savouring some of that here.
Gareth Doodes, Headmaster, The King’s Worcester Foundation
Destinations as known in December 2023
Name Institution Subject
Frederick Allan Manchester Metropolitan University Sport and Exercise Science with Foundation Year
Henrietta Allan Cardiff University History
Lucy Allsop Harper Adams Agricultural Engineering
Sophie Atkins University of Worcester Primary Teaching - Later Years (5-11 years)
Stephanie Barlow University of Birmingham Geography
Ollie Barnett
Gabriella Barry
Tilly Barwell University of Manchester Physics with Theoretical Physics
Tiffany Batt Liberal Arts
Benedict Beedie University of Bristol Engineering Design with Study in Industry
Eleanor Bennett
Ellie Binnion
Hannah Blackwell
Oscar Blundell University of Nottingham Geography BSc
Louie Bradley Newcastle University Medicine and Surgery
James Brewer University of Exeter Psychology
Daisy Brighton Exeter Accounting and Business - Flying Start Degree Programme
Micah Browne Coventry University Quantity Surveying and Commercial management
George Capell University of St Andrews Economics
Madeleine Cartelet University of Bristol Biology
Emily Carter SOAS University of London Korean and Linguistics
Amelia University of Exeter Neuroscience with Professional Placement
William Chater University of Birmingham Modern Languages and History
Laurence Checkley University of Liverpool Medicine
Robert Clason University of Manchester Politics and German
Flo Clines
Henry Collinson University of Bath Economics
Harvey Conyers University of Reading Architectural Engineering
Cormack Costello
Jessica Crabtree University of Exeter Law with Business
Ava Crompton
Alexander Dalton University of Liverpool Biochemistry
Matthew Daniels University of Plymouth Mechanical Engineering
Matthew Daniels University of Exeter Mechanical Engineering
John Davies University of Bath International Management and Modern Languages (Spanish) w study or work abroad
Daniel Day University of Birmingham International Business with Language
Christina De
Sousa Loughborough University Sports Technology
Peter Dorrell
Name Institution Subject
Tabitha Driskel University of Manchester Midwifery
Thora Dykes University of Exeter Flexible Combined Honours with Study Abroad
Freya Dyson Royal Agricultural University Rural Land Management with Placement Year
Oliver Edwards
Katarina Elsner
Millie English University of Exeter Politics and International Relations (with Study Abroad)
Conor Esler University of Birmingham Classical Literature and Civilisation
Elliot Fairyn
Josh Fawdrey Cardiff University Ancient History
Jude Fernihough
Scarlett Frost Cardiff University Law
Abi Gamble Hereford College of Art Art Foundation
Alexander Geach Cardiff University Business Management (Int'l Management) Prof Plac
David Gee University of Reading Accounting and Business - Flying Start Degree Programme
Eben Ghattan University of Nottingham Veterinary Medicine
Madeline Gillespie Bristol, University of the West of England Business and Events Management
Martha Good Durham University Philosophy and Theology
Daisy Grove
Henry Halford University of Cambridge Medicine
Amy Hall University of Exeter Classical Studies
Theodora HamiltonHolbrook University of Hertfordshire Robotics and Artificial intelligence
Ben Harle University of Nottingham Electrical and Electronic Engineering with a Year Abroad
Giles Harrison Bath Spa University Business and Management (Entrepreneurship)Professional Placement Year
Sam Hawes University of Nottingham Mechanical Engineering
Evie HawkesfordJohnson University of Birmingham Civil Engineering with Industrial Year
Mary Head University of Birmingham Liberal Arts and Sciences
Leah Heaysman University of Gloucester Nursing
Oliver Heron University of York Computer Science (with a year in industry)
William Hewston Cardiff University Applied Software Eng
George Hira University of Leeds Environment and Business
Amy Hughes University of Birmingham Environmental Science
Linus Hughes
Jack Hyde University of Reading Business and Management with Placement Year
Caitlin IngramGriffiths The University of Edinburgh English Language and Literature
Keely Jennings University of Exeter Communications
James Johnson Newcastle University Biology
Cameron Jones University of Manchester Pharmacology with Industrial/Professional Experience (4 years)
Name Institution Subject
Harriet Jones Nottingham Trent University Primary Education (QTS)
Erika Jones
Millie Judge University of Leeds Mechanical Engineering
Edward Jukes
Alfred Kelsey University of Oxford Music
Nathaniell Kent
Hoyos
Mehraj Khalid Nottingham Trent University Construction Management
Megan Kilbey University of Reading Psychology
Ruby Kimber
Charlotte Kirkby
Charlie Lewis Cardiff Metropolitan University LLB Law
Catrin Lucas University of Exeter Psychology with Sport & Exercise Science
Sebastian Lucas
Tamara Marsden University of Nottingham Sport Rehabilitation
Amy Matthews
Magnus McLeod University of Manchester Aerospace Engineering
Edward Meredith Harper Adams University Agribusiness Management (with Placement)
Grace Miller University of Bristol Dentistry - BDS entry
Timothy Morris Loughborough University Mechanical Engineering
Anna Morrison
Dominick Moulder Cardiff University English Literature
Alexander Moule University of Bristol Chemistry with Industrial Experience
Daniel Munn University of Southampton Music
Sam Newby Manchester Metropolitan University Business Psychology
Purdy NewsonTonks University of Exeter Economics
Trinny Nielsen Hereford College of Art Art Foundation
Flora Parry University of Exeter Psychology
James Patten University of Leeds Economics and History
Henry Pearman Royal Agricultural University Rural Land Management with Placement Year
Piran Pearson
Katherine Perry University of Cambridge Psychological and Behavioural Sciences
Amelia Phillips University of St Andrews Mathematics
Charles Pillman University of Exeter History
Sophie Pitts Swansea University English Literature and Spanish
Benjamin Plumridge
Luke Price Swansea University Classical Studies
William Probert Harper Adams University Agriculture (with Placement)
Shravann Raajkumar Manchester Metropolitan University International Business Management
Shricharan Raajkumar University of Nottingham Medicine
Liam Radford University of Exeter Psychology
Amy Ranasinghe
Jack Rice Leeds Beckett University Music Industries Management
Betsy Richards KLC School of Design Interior Design
Marcus Richardson Cardiff University Chemistry
Name
Institution
Robert Riddell Durham University Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Sean Ryan University of Birmingham History
Angadveer Sangha University of Exeter Medicine
Mia Santos Dendy
Lucy Short University of Exeter Geography
Helena Shute University of Leeds Ancient History
Rafay Siddiqui Newcastle University Business, Accounting and Finance (with Work Placements)
Gabriella
Singleton Cardiff University Law and Criminology (Integrated)
Aislin Mary Slater University of Birmingham English Literature and Creative Writing
Adam Smith University of Manchester Ancient History
Zoë Souter University of Exeter English and Drama
Zoë Souter Queen's University Belfast Drama and English
Millie Stanley University of Westminster, London Human Nutrition
Rosie Stanley University of Exeter Law
James Stevens
Daniel Stobbs University of Bath Economics and Mathematics
Daisy Stone University of Worcester
William Threadgold Cardiff University Civil Engineering (Year in Industry)
George Tomlinson University of Reading Real Estate
Barnaby Tripp
Abigail Trow King's College London, University of London Liberal Arts
Lucy Turner Leeds Arts University Fine Art
Maple Unwin
Charles Waddington Leeds Beckett University Accounting & Finance
Benjamin Waddington University of Sheffield Journalism Studies
Joe Ward
Grace Warren University of Birmingham English Lit and History of Art
Finn Watkins Durham University General Engineering
Finn Watkins
Alicia Watts Cardiff University Media, Journalism and Culture
Charlie Webster University of Exeter Law
Jack Wharton University of Oxford Theology and Religion
Annabel White University of Exeter History with Study Abroad
Henry White University of Exeter History and Ancient History
David Wills Durham University Mathematics (3 years)
Ben Withnall University of Nottingham Veterinary Medicine including a preliminary year
Hannah Woodcock Swansea University Applied Medical Sciences
Holly Wylde University of Birmingham Geography
Becky Ye University of Oxford Philosophy and Theology
Max Yorke Brooks University of Bath Mechanical Engineering with professional placement
Sophie Atkins
Sophie Atkins joined us as one of two inaugural Lower Years Gap Students. Her enthusiastic approach to her work saw her spending time across the Drama Department, supporting classes with devising pieces and giving top-tips on how to present them, in Learning Skills, offering 1:1 support for pupils; and with the Lower Years, where she got stuck in with games during break times and supporting Homework Club after school. All this was combined with her own busy schedule of amateur dramatics and being a Cub Leader, both of which gave her skills to transfer to her role with us at King’s. Sophie’s kindness and gentle approach saw her build excellent relationships with pupils and her willingness to offer support to staff was always gratefully received. She leaves us to start a Primary PGCE at University of Worcester, where we know she will be absolutely fantastic!
Sophie Carter
Sophie left King’s in 2018, and re-joined as a Foundation Gap Student in 2022, dividing her time between the Alumni and Business Development Office and working as a member of the Lower Years Pastoral Staff. In the former, she was an integral part of the team, willingly taking on all aspects of the department, bringing her quiet calm and efficiency to the office. Sophie has also been a huge support to the Lower Years team. She engaged so well with both of the year groups and we know she will be greatly missed by pupils and staff. She leaves King’s once again to start a new chapter in her life, taking on a teaching role at a boarding school in Oxford. We wish her all the very best of luck and know she will make a fantastic teacher
ABS and RAW
Iwan Davies
Iwan Davies joined King’s from Highgate School in September 2018, only a few weeks after the death of Headmaster Matthew Armstrong, who had appointed him. As Head of Middle Years, it was a difficult time to join a school in mourning, and Iwan showed his sensitivity by his positive but immensely respectful attitude. It turned out to be quite a turbulent year with COVID, lockdown and online school. Dr Davies showed his relentless optimism throughout, always cheerful, with a very definite “can-do” attitude towards whatever came his way.
In his time as Head of Middle Years he shepherded several hundred pupils through Lower Remove, Upper Remove and Fifth Form. He has been involved in many aspects of their journey, from organising Lower Remove Activity Days to overseeing examinations, as well as, from time to time, steering pupils back onto a more productive trajectory! As part of the Academic Management Team at King’s, he steered pupils through options choices at GCSE and A Level; his experience of industry prior to his teaching career stood him in good stead to offer the best advice at each point.
Dr Davies has also been a popular member of the Chemistry Department with both pupils and colleagues. As a teacher he is keen to inspire a love of Chemistry and will often teach beyond the course; this has ensured that many pupils have wanted to continue to learn Chemistry at A-level and beyond.
He is leaving King’s to become Assistant Head at RGS Worcester, and we wish him all the very best in his new role.
KHB
Emily Diaz Emily has been very reliable and proactive in identifying any jobs that needed doing in the PE and Games Departments. With her excellent knowledge of the different sports we cover, the children thoroughly enjoyed her input in the lessons and in particular she
inspired the girls with her experience and success in netball. Most importantly of all, she has a sympathetic and caring nature with the younger pupils.
Emily has also been a real asset to Design, Media and Reprographics over the last year. She has remained calm at all times and been able to get on with any job that was required, however big or small. We have really enjoyed her company over the last year and wish her all the best at Nottingham in September. We’re sure she’ll excel in her future career.
JC and CP
It’s not just in his CCF captain’s uniform that Alastair Falzon looks like he has any given situation under control. His manner in the classroom, in meetings, on the rugby field, on duty, and on parade exudes competence, which in turn instils confidence in those around him. This is one reason why his pupils trust him and follow his advice more than most, and they in turn are rewarded with thoroughness, professionalism, individual care and complete dedication, both to the job and to them, in an unassuming and all the more effective manner. Along with his enthusiasm, persistent curiosity and teaching skill, it is the reason why good numbers choose to continue with the rewarding challenge of language learning to ever higher levels, and why he will be so missed, as much in House as in the department.
Colleagues will testify that his courtesy and good humour, astute observation, wide knowledge, understanding of people and ability to see the wider picture make for a source of wisdom. It is not unusual in department meetings for him to be asked for the final word to draw together arguments to a logical conclusion. His Head of Department will miss him more than he might realise. It is no surprise that he will be part of a team establishing the newly constructed Rugby International School in Tokyo, where he will combine the roles of Head of German (one he held previously at Downside School) and Housemaster.
Having served for the best part of seventeen years at Downside, where he was also Director of Pastoral Care, it is fair to say that in his five and a half years with us, King’s has benefited hugely from his innumerable strengths. A careful word here, a gently phrased query or suggestion there, apparently endless resilience and willingness to play more than his fair part: we could not have wished for a better, more reliable friend and colleague. He has had more than his fair share of tribulations, but he has always been there for us; that is “us” in the broadest sense. From language quizzes to rugby games, handball to command tasks, vocabulary tests to counselling sessions, it is only his undying support for Tottenham Hotspur that might make some who are less discerning question his judgement, but never his passion. He remains a remarkable and dear colleague to whom we wish the very best of good fortune in Japan.
Alastair will move with his wife Kirsty, with whom he shares an unbreakable bond and mutual dedication and support, their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Mabel, and Ethan, who has completed his GCSEs at KSW this year. The next chapter awaits them all.
RAB
Sue Hewitt
Sue joined King’s in 2009 as Senior Accountant. She quickly settled into the Finance Team, supporting the Deputy Bursar in maintaining the financial position of the School. Sue was a quiet, dependable, and diligent colleague and she could always be relied upon to provide support and guidance to other members of the team.
During her 13 years at the School, Sue ensured that robust procedures were followed, and under her stewardship the School’s finances were in good hands. Sue showed her commitment and strong work ethic to the School during COVID, and played an integral role in providing support to the Deputy Bursar and the Bursar during challenging times.
Sue left in December 2022 to pursue her desire to travel. Her reassuring attitude and knowledge of the School’s systems and processes gained over her time here will be sorely missed.
Simon Holden Simon joined the School in 2021 in the newly created role of Director of Operations. Simon was always keen to build relationships between his operating teams, sharing knowledge and experience from his pervious roles both in the military and his previous school role. Simon was always process-driven; he was keen to streamline activities and introduce new systems to create better visibility in our processes from a compliance perspective. During his time here, Simon was also instrumental in pressing the School to consider cyber threats to the business, again drawing on his previous experience, which has ultimately led to the School achieving its Cyber Essentials accreditation. Simon was also the Clerk to Governors, providing them with advice on a day-today basis.
Monica Longley Monica joined King’s in 1998 and initially worked in the girls’ games department, where she rapidly built a reputation as a superb netball coach. She then joined Maths as cover in 1999 and remained a fixture in the department until 2018. She was a wonderful teacher of Maths, always encouraging those lacking in confidence, and inspiring many to take Maths to A-level and beyond.
In 2003, Monica joined Choir as the House Tutor, where she soon made her mark, leading the House with good humour and a steady hand. I joined King’s in 2005, and worked alongside Monica in Maths, netball and as one of her team in Choir.
As the House Tutor of Choir, she was utterly fabulous. We had a super team and spent many a happy House time putting the world to rights over coffee each morning. She was a real support and, while trusting her staff, she was also always there for advice. She was always firm but fair with our pupils, and they totally respected her.
We raised thousands for charity doing the Run, Row, Ride and the Macmillan cake sales as well as numerous fun-filled activities during House times. They were very happy days!
In 2015 Monica relinquished Choir House to set up Castle House. This was an enormous challenge which she relished. A number of pupils opted to go with her from Choir in the first year, and Jenny Hewitt moved across to support. It didn’t take long for Castle to be fully established and this sucess is largely down to Monica’s leadership.
You might not know that she has another talent: she used to write the scripts for pantomimes which were performed by the Fourth form staff at the end of the Christmas term in the Fourth Form final assembly. They were brilliantly scripted and I managed to enjoy a couple, sneaking in at the back with my son Mark when he was at St Alban’s. The sight of Andrew Kerley dressed as a fairy and Mike Newby dressed as an ugly sister were unforgettable!
She stepped down from both Maths and Castle in 2018 to focus on netball, which has always been her passion. Monica’s knowledge, energy and enthusiasm that surrounds all things Netball is infectious.
The pupils have benefitted hugely from her coaching, particularly her “Za Za Zoom” and her Irish dancing which help the U12’s practice their footwork. She’s made National Finals twice, won at Superball, taken her U16 to Regional level 16 times and been a tremendous assistant to Emma.
I have always found Monica to be immensely supportive, kind and levelheaded and with a brilliant sense of humour. Colleagues have described her as energetic, passionate, fiercely loyal to everyone in her House and totally dependable. In March 2020, with a sudden vacancy for the Spring Term, I asked Monica if she would dust off her board pens and teach Maths for us for a few weeks. Of course she said yes straight away.
Monica, you have been brilliant! Thank you for the years from everyone here. We all wish you lots of happy holidays, wonderful times with your fabulous family and grandchildren and a long and happy retirement.
Emma McGinley
I remember a meeting with Matthew Armstrong, having just finished the interviews for Emma’s job; we were discussing the candidates and how they had all done throughout the day. We were immediately impressed by Emma, and Matthew thought she would be an excellent candidate for so many reasons, including the fact that, “she must be outstanding as she’s done so well in Netball; she’s clearly small yet mighty!”. This really does sum Emma up; she doesn’t let anything stand in her way, always gives 100%, and is an excellent teacher and coach. She cares deeply about the pupils with whom she works and wants them to be the best they can be, both on the court and, most importantly, as a person off the court.
Her energy and enthusiasm for all things PE, and particularly netball, are astonishing. She has an ongoing desire to learn and develop and the pupils have huge respect for her, sharing her passion for sport due to her encouragement and her genuine interest in each of them. As a colleague, Emma is thorough and supportive in every way. She will leave a big hole in the PE Department.
Emma also epitomized excellence as a Year Group Tutor. She was always the first up to the House, diligence being one of her key strengths, and she worked tirelessly with her very lively Upper Remove group to keep them on the straight and narrow. Her attitude inspires pupils to challenge themselves but she’s also clear about the need to uphold her high expectations. In what could be deemed to be fate, at the end of Emma’s last Inter-House Netball competition, Kittermaster came away with the trophy, after cheers of “EKM” had rung out throughout the game from those both on and off the court.
Emma always speaks to her First Team Netballers about leaving their dress in a better place when their time at King’s has finished; they should be able to look back and know they have given their all and moved the team and the sport forward. As the time comes for Emma to hang up her dress after her tenure as Director of Netball at King’s, the sport is certainly in a much stronger position, thanks to the dedication she has given throughout her time with us.
Charles Pilman
Charles has passed on his sporting knowledge onto the pupils and created a great rapport with the children at King’s St Alban’s. His confidence has grown significantly in all aspects of PE and Games and he has been very organised and proactive, getting fully engaged in all lessons and clubs.
Charles has also been an invaluable member of the Marketing Team this year and will be massively missed. From schmoozing parents on private tours and managing virtual reality experience stations on Open Morning to the everpopular Saturday Sport videos, Charles has been a proactive, and energetic member of the team.
He has an incredible eye for photography and has often stepped in as a potential Sixth Form model in photographs too. He has worked as an excellent bridge between Marketing and Sports Departments, running back and forth between both, writing endless new stories, finding the borrowed marketing mobile ‘phone and hunting down staff and pupils for information, quotations and photographs.
Charles is off on his travels from early next week, with his next adventure being to New Zealand! Following that he will be heading to Exeter University to study History. We are very excited to hear how he gets on with his travels and will miss his invaluable support and his fun-loving and easy-going nature.
Erin Preece
Erin joined the School in April 2018 and her knowledge of and passion for her subject and indeed all sports have been fundamental to the PE and Games Department. Her enthusiasm for hockey is staggering and, after a season of Erin’s coaching, her teams share this passion! She is a pleasure to work with. She shares ideas, offers a different perspective on things and is not afraid to try new methods. Her whirlwind of ideas and thoughts will be missed. Not content with just teaching sport, she was keen to expand her skills and further develop her scientific knowledge, joining the Biology department. Her kind, empathetic, caring nature meant that Choir House were very lucky to have her joining their pastoral team. One trait of Erin’s is that she is an exquisite listener
and takes a valued interest in whoever or whatever crosses her path. As she moves to South Bromsgrove School to teach, I hope that she will embrace and welcome the additional family time, as well as her very own iPad charger.
EKM Ann Sansome
Since joining in 2005, Ann Sansome played a key role in the life of King’s and thus our farewell to Ann in March of this year was tinged with undeniable sadness. There are some achievements which merit particular admiration and awe, and in her role as Cover Supervisor during this impressive tenure, Ann’s contribution is met with both much respect and great appreciation. Indeed, across her 18 years at King’s, Ann covered some 22,000 lessons.
Her unwavering commitment to education, ability to interpret and deal with myriad forms of cover work, and her infectious enthusiasm made her a most-valued member of our staff. Ann’s ability to adapt to any situation, her genuine care for each and every pupil, and her unwavering patience made her an invaluable asset to King’s.
Beyond her professional qualities, Ann possesses a warmth and kindness that touched the hearts of everyone she encountered. Whether it was a listening ear, a word of advice, or a gentle smile, Ann’s genuine compassion made our school a better place. Her presence in our hallways, classrooms, and the hearts of pupils and colleagues alike is sorely missed.
Ann was, and will continue to be, an integral part of our school community. She has left an indelible mark on our school and in the lives of countless pupils. Ann, we know we will stay in touch with you, and, in the meantime, we offer you our deepest gratitude for your exceptional service and unwavering dedication. On behalf of pupils and teachers both past and present, as you embark on this new chapter in your life, we thank you for your care, commitment and professionalism and we wish you a future of new adventures and cherished memories with your family and grandchildren.
Arthur Tunnicliffe
Arthur returned to King’s Hawford in September as a Foundation GAP Student only seven years after leaving as a Year Six pupil. His understanding of the school ethos and his willingness to embrace new challenges were evident from the start and this allowed him to fit into the staff team straightaway. He has been an incredible asset in all areas of school life, and we will miss his calm presence next year.
He provided fantastic support on the games field, where he thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to step in and coach whenever possible. His role has grown over the year as he has added Kindergarten playtime supervisor to his games support role. The younger children have loved spending time with him, and it has been fabulous to hear the cries of “Arthur, Arthur, Arthur” as he arrives on the playground!
Arthur now moves on to study Art at Falmouth; we all wish him well and we hope to see him back at King’s Hawford soon.
RC
Kerina Turner Kerina joined the School in 2014 as our Human Resources Manager, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her previous roles. She quickly became a very well-respected member of staff and, over her nine years in the role, she developed the HR function into what we have today, building a team around her of which the School should be very proud.
This was possible due to Kerina’s “cando” attitude towards everything: she was approachable, trustworthy and pragmatic, and faced all challenges with a cool, calm manner, always with the aim of providing a solution. She is a very approachable individual, who developed many strong friendships with staff members across the Foundation, friendships which will last long after Kerina has left the School. She could always be relied upon to make you smile, with a sense of humour that could be applied to any of the difficult situations about which staff felt they needed to talk to her.
Kerina is also a dedicated King’s parent, with her son having started his journey through the Foundation at King’s Hawford and making his way on into the Senior School. Kerina had a passion for King’s and the King’s community and was often to be seen supporting at rugby and athletics events.
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Anna Williams
Anna joined the Drama Department at King’s in September 2020. It is a testament to her character that she took the leap of faith in applying and interviewing for a new role during lockdown. Having never seen the school or even the city in person, she moved to Worcester and made an instant impression on the King’s community when she joined us at the start of the 20-21 academic year. With so many precautions and regulations in place with ‘bubbling’ and a hiatus in rehearsals, performances and theatre trips, it wasn’t until later in the year that she got an opportunity to reveal her true passions. As soon as procedures relaxed sufficiently for productions to become a possibility again, Anna was there. She swept into action to provide at least one group with the opportunities they had been missing and craving, and produced a marvellous (socially-distanced) version of John Donnelly’s Burning Bird for our Lower Removes. From that point, there was no looking back. An atmospheric production of Grimm’s Tales followed, staged by the Removes in College Hall, swiftly followed by an uplifting production of Mary Poppins Jnr with our Lower Years pupils in the John Moore Theatre. Anna’s final production at King’s was the poignant staging of Godspell Jnr in the JMT with a Removes cast and crew. As well as her commitment to her extensive extra-curricular duties, which also included steering several pupils successfully through their Silver Arts Award, and leading theatre trips, such as to Punchdrunk’s Burnt City in London and The Ocean at the End of the Lane in Oxford, Anna’s academic classes clearly benefited from her guidance and she will be much missed. She leaves to take up a post at Wellington College and they will be lucky to have her energy and drive in their Drama team. We wish her the very best for the future.
Jane Askew
Jane has joined King’s St Alban’s as a Teaching Assistant. As her children grewup, she first started working as a teaching assistant at their primary school. Then, while working in the Learning Skills Department of another school supporting pupils with dyslexia, she also studied for a degree in Education. Moving to Bredon School, she qualified as a teacher through Bath Spa University, working in both the Senior and Primary Departments. She retired from teaching in 2019 while at Edgbaston Prep School but, missing the classroom, she has continued to work as a tutor to Y11 pupils, offering support with their GCSEs, and a teaching assistant in primary schools, helping children to achieve their potential. She is greatly looking forward to working in the Prep Department at King’s St Alban’s.
Charlotte Butt
No stranger to the School already, Charlotte joins the teaching staff of King’s Hawford as Head of Girls’ Games, providing maternity cover for Gemma Holtham. She will be teaching Prep PE, and Games across all year groups, something that she started her teaching career by doing and an opportunity that she is very much looking forward to seizing again. She completed her Sports Science Degree and Postgraduate Certificate of Education at The University of Exeter and has been teaching for 17 years, both here in the UK and much further afield, not only in Switzerland but also in Chile. She has a wealth of experience in coaching all the major games and has played and coached hockey in particular for many years, currently playing for Worcester Hockey Club’s First XI. She is very much looking forward to immersing herself further into everything King’s Hawford and being part of the wider King’s Community as both a parent and a member of staff.
Katherine Cornish
Katherine joins King’s Hawford as a Year Five English and Maths teacher. She completed her degree at Exeter University, before undertaking teacher training. She started her career in an outstanding school in the state sector, before teaching at Rowan Preparatory School in Claygate, Surrey, the school which she also attended as a child. She is looking forward to bringing her wealth of experience to King’s, along with her belief in a rigorous but inspiration curriculum. Over the summer, Katherine and her family have relocated to Worcestershire and are very much looking forward to getting a dog.
Ellie Deehan
Ellie returns to King’s as the Graduate Lower Years Assistant, having left King’s in 2020, after being part of the Foundation as a pupil for 10 years. She studied Geography at the University of Exeter and graduated last summer. She is extremely excited to return to the School and its community for a year, as she considers a career in teaching. Ellie is looking forward to being able to utilise her previous experiences and knowledge of King’s to assist and support pupils in the Lower Years. She will be assisting the Lower Years staff, and supporting in the Learning Skills Department, as well as getting involved with girls’ sport. Ellie also hopes that throughout the year she will be able to get involved with other extra-curricular activities that she is passionate about, such as the School’s charity work, and the Lower Years’ Production.
Issy Drinkwater
Issy has joined the King’s Rowing Staff this season as a Lead Rowing Coach; this season she will be working directly with the J16 Girls, along with games students and the Club generally. Issy joins us from De Montfort University Rowing Club, where she has spent the last four years as the Development Coach, gaining BUCS medals across the University Pathway, beginner to championship. Issy looks forwards to working with the rest of the talented coaching team and athletes at King’s to ensure a most successful 2023/34 season.
Jess Haynes
Jess joins King’s in the role of Performance Netball Coach, having recently graduated with a degree in Sport Science and Coaching from Nottingham Trent University. She has many years of experience coaching different age groups in schools and clubs and, having played netball herself from the age of seven, she also has many playing achievements of her own, including currently being signed with the Severn Stars Superleague team, and touring Australia with the England Team. Jess is very excited to join King’s and can’t wait to share her knowledge and thereby help develop the pupils’ netball skills, alongside assisting them reach their own individual and collective goals.
Joshua Hemming
Joshua has joined the Mathematics Department, having worked for the last eight years as a Teacher of Maths and Assistant Head of Sixth Form at Alcester Grammar School. He was an avid rower, both at university and, more recently, at Evesham Rowing Club, before deciding to share his skills by concentrating on coaching. He coached at Evesham and established a boat club at Alcester Grammar School. His wife is also a teacher, still working at Alcester Grammar, and their daughter has recently joined the Nursery at King’s St Alban’s. He looked particularly closely barbered when he arrived at King’s in September, as over the summer he had donated nine inches of his hair to the Little Princess Trust, the charity which provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment and other conditions.
Sue Huxley
Sue has joined King’s as our Design, Media, and Reprographics Assistant. She trained as a graphic designer in Worcester and began working at a local publisher after she left college. She then started her family and took on a teaching assistant role in a small primary school for several years, whilst also setting up a Segway business in the local area. She very much enjoys watching her family participate in Drag Racing at Santa Pod, as well as being a keen football fan. She is now very enthusiastic to get back to work in education, specifically here in the graphics department at School.
Adam Jackson Adam joins the Mathematics Department as an experienced teacher and outdoor enthusiast. He managed an education business called Explore Learning before moving into teaching and has since worked at a number of different schools taking on roles including Head of Middle Years and Assistant Head of Sixth Form. He has a great deal of experience running the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and looks forward to supporting pupils with their DofE journey at KSW. He has competed at a high level in a number of sports and takes a great interest in pupils’ achievements both on and off the field. Adam is passionate about learning and believes in always challenging yourself to succeed.
Chris Jenkinson
Chris Jenkinson joined King’s St. Alban’s in September as a Sports Coach. He graduated from the University of Worcester with an Honours degree in Primary Teaching and English, and is also a qualified Primary P.E. Specialist Teacher, with nearly twenty years of teaching and coaching P.E. and school sport across Worcestershire.
Chris is local to the area, having been born and educated in Worcester. He has a vast amount of experience in teaching and coaching a wide range of sports across all the different primary ages.
Chris is a keen athlete, who has a background in rugby and swimming amongst other sports, having played for Worcester RFC, as well as competing at County, Midland, National and International level in swimming for Worcestershire County and the Great Britain Masters’ Team at the European Swimming Championships.
Chris is extremely passionate about sport and is really looking forward to helping to develop further the children’s own passion and love for sport at King’s St. Alban’s.
Meike Kelly
Meike is delighted that she secured a position as a German Teacher this academic year, having joined King’s last year as our German Language Assistant, where she loved supporting our Sixth Form students achieving fantastic A-level results. She is currently enjoying teaching across all year groups.
Meike began her teaching career in Germany after completing her studies at the Universities of Münster and Osnabrück. She lived and worked in Italy and Spain, before returning to Germany, where she worked as a teacher and then Head of the German Department in an International Bilingual school, based in Hannover. Since moving to the UK six years ago, with her British husband and their two bilingual children, she worked for The German Academy in Leicester, developed her own programme to teach children German, established her own business teaching German and taught in several schools across Worcestershire and the West Midlands. Meike is also a qualified A-level and GCSE examiner for a range of examining boards.
Meike is looking forward to sharing her enthusiasm with our pupils as well as assisting their passion and understanding of different cultures and countries. She relishes steering and contributing towards their journey through fun-filled and exciting ways to explore the vast opportunities of learning foreign languages.
Leah Knight
Leah has joined the Kindergarten staff at King’s Hawford, having completed her BA (Hons) Early Childhood Degree in 2018, working since graduation as an early years’ teaching assistant. This September, she graduated from the University of Worcester with a Postgraduate Certificate of Education in the Primary Phase, with a particular specialism in Early Years’ provision. Outside school, she really appreciates spending time with family and friends, and enjoys lots of shopping trips and watching rugby. She is very excited to be working alongside an excellent kindergarten team as well as the wider King’s community and is passionate about making a huge difference to all children at the start of their academic journey.
Adam Kent Adam joins the Foundation this year as Deputy Head at King’s St Alban’s. After graduating from the University of Worcester with a degree in History, Adam spent a number of years working as a Tax Adviser before being drawn to teaching in 2011. Adam has experience of working throughout
the primary age range and has spent the last 10 years in senior posts across two Worcestershire schools. Outside of school, Adam enjoys spending time with his young family (Isabella, 8, and Alexander, 4), with days out and sightseeing being a must. He enjoys keeping fit by regularly visiting the gym, playing football and running.
As a Senior Leader, Adam completed a National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership, focused on improving children’s reasoning and problem-solving skills in Mathematics in order to raise academic standards. Adam remains a keen historian and enjoys helping children unlock their passions and potential in school. He is looking forward to working alongside highly committed colleagues in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Sophie Mitchell
Sophie joins King’s this year as our Graduate Drama Assistant, having recently graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in English Literature. She is very proud to return to King’s as an OV, having attended both King’s St Albans and King’s Senior between the years of 2010 and 2020, and feels incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to assist in the outstanding Drama and Theatre Department. In her time at the School, she took part in theatrical productions every year. From all this experience, she acquired an excellent knowledge of the workings of the department here at King’s. Sophie specialized in the study of film during her degree and in her spare time has continued to act in university societies; she is also a regular theatregoer. She intends to draw upon her keen interest in performance and her academic study of theatre to help her approach her new role. She also hopes to emphasize the relevance and value of studying drama with all the pupils and create a space where everyone is welcome to express themselves creatively. Sophie is also looking forward very much to directing the Spring Term Play and the chance to work with many of the very talented pupils across all our year groups.
ASD through the first three years of his school journey. This led to her decision to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Studies, igniting her passion to work with children from birth to age five.
Following three years as a Pre-School Leader at Callow End Primary School and a period of maternity leave, she was appointed as Assistant Centre Director at a busy private nursery in Evesham and began her Level 5 Operations Management apprenticeship. However, her wish to share her broad knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage within a nursery, coupled with her desire to return to the education setting, inspired her to join the King’s Foundation as the Deputy Manager of the Kindergarten at King’s Hawford.
Pip Sanders joins our PE Department as a PE Teacher. She began her teaching career at Pangbourne College in 2019, after studying at Nottingham Trent University. She joins us from Repton School and is looking forward to sharing her wealth of knowledge of and enthusiasm for hockey, netball, and swimming. She was previously Head of Girls Sport and a Housemistress. She is looking forward to the year ahead and wants to continue the development of sport at King’s Worcester.
Darcy Simon
Darcy joins King’s as our Graduate Rowing Assistant. Having started her rowing career upriver at the Royal Grammar School, she rowed at the University of Plymouth and the University of Leeds, where she completed a degree in Fine Art with History of Art. Prior to joining King’s, she was a coaching scholar at the University of Leeds and has worked on rowing camps in America. As if she doesn’t spend enough time on the water already, Darcy also rows with Worcester Rowing Club and competes locally and nationally throughout the year. Outside of rowing, she enjoys surfing, climbing, playing videogames and cooking.
Initially starting her career at Grimley and Holt CofE Primary School, Beth supported a pupil diagnosed with
Lauren Slater-Klein
Lauren has joined the School as a Drama Teacher and Lower Years’ Tutor this year and is very excited to become a part of a vibrant Drama Department here at King’s. She trained
at the Italia Conti Academy of Arts in Professional Musical Theatre in London and has performed in many wellknown shows, her career having been predominantly in mainland Europe. She lived for some time in Hamburg, recognised as the German epicentre of theatre; as a result, she is fluent in German and very much enjoyed immersing herself in the cultural life of the city and the country. Over time, she progressed to become a choreographer and then a director. Returning to the UK, she completed her teacher training with a Postgraduate Certificate of Education at Birmingham City University. With her extensive experience of and expertise in musical theatre, it’s no surprise that she will be directing the Senior Musical Production of Footloose in her first term at the School.
Anna Spencer
Anna has joined King’s as our new Foundation Admissions Officer. She completed a BSc (Hons) degree in Sport Sciences at Brunel University, followed by a BSc (Hons) Midwifery degree from Anglia Ruskin University. Once qualified as a midwife, she spent nearly 10 years within the NHS, but left to pursue a different career direction.
She had her own sales and marketing business for a number of years and ran that alongside her most recent job at The Downs School, Malvern, where she spent six years in various roles including the School Secretary, Finance Administrator and Management Information System Officer.
Perhaps surprisingly, she developed a love of the education sector and is now looking forward to a more dynamic role and a busier environment within the King’s Foundation
Tricia Webb
Trish joined King’s at the beginning of August as our Office Administrator for the Business Development and Alumni Team. In her last job, she was the Pre-Prep Secretary at Abberley Hall School for six years. Prior to this, she developed many administrative skills and a passion for customer service by working for a wide variety of organisations, ranging from hospitality and small private companies to a large international charity. She is looking forward to strengthening the Business
Development and Alumni Team with this experience, supporting our extensive network of Old Vigornians, and opening up new opportunities for the School. She is Worcestershire born and bred and enjoys nothing more than walking her Lakeland Terrier around the surrounding countryside in her spare time.
Antonio Zarro Antonio has joined King’s as an Economics and Business Teacher. He previously taught at King Edward the Sixth College in Stourbridge and worked in banking prior to becoming a teacher. He initially worked for AstraZeneca in their chemicals division, before moving into banking with the Royal Bank of Scotland. He moved into teaching so that he could use his degree and experience in an alternative setting. His interests and hobbies are mainly around exercise, particularly in the gym and workout classes.
We also say goodbye to Graham Ward, who has left the Mathematics Department and Oswald House, Alison Stanley, PA to the Headmaster, our French Language Assistant, Anne-Claire Rolland, two of our counsellors, Kate Mason and Natasha Rae-Dean, Katie Evans, our Events Co-ordinator, Kasim Abbas, Graduate Sports Assistant, two of our Sports Coaches, Tom Deehan and Andrew Russell, Cricket Coach, Will Rowley, David Woodward, Football Coach, Rowing Coaches, Jack McDonald and James Robins, Chantal Pagett, who
Emma Kate Trow-Poole, Teacher of Classics, and Robin Booth, Teacher of Design and Technology, were married on Saturday 5th August 2023 in the Quire of Worcester Cathedral. The ceremony was conducted by the School Chaplain, Reverend Dr Mark Dorsett. It was a beautiful ceremony and wonderful to be surrounded by family and friends, and even some pupils and OVs! The reception was held in College Hall, but it looked quite different from its usual appearance with the addition of sofas, bookcases, classical statues and a disco! It was a perfect day and it felt very special for the couple to be married in the Cathedral, having met working at King’s.
has been one of our Receptionists, IT Support Technician, Jacob Nash, Steven MacFarlane, our Theatre and Events Technician, Shaun Kilminster, our Pool Operator, Stefano D’Ambrosi from the Maintenance Department, Nasreen Akhtar, Charlie Bialy, Cal Craig, Florinda Duque, Robert Everton, Jodie Foster, Martin Jelfs, Maria Paula Pereira Da Silva, Nijole Tamulyniene and Gill Pugh, who have left our Cleaning Staff, GAP Students Milly Carter, Matthew Daniels, Harry Flockhart and Jack Lyman, and Jacob Abel, Gus Cox and Alexander Davison, our Music GAP students.
From King’s Hawford we bid farewell to Assistant Head Amanda Marshall-Walker, Teacher Tanya O’Neill, Early Years Practitioners, Kelly Jackman and Melissa Kemp, Teaching Assistants Hayley Gillgrass, Abi Jeavons and Amy Stallard, Late Club Assistant, Dot Hodgkiss, and GAP Student Sarah Layton
We say goodbye too to Director of Studies, David Braithwaite, Teacher, Kate Chapman, Nursery Practitioners, Hannah Evans and Jo Williams, Matron Sarah Saundry, and Teaching Assistant, Judith Stenson, who have left King’s St Alban’s.
We would also like to welcome Stephen East, William Maughan, and Andy Sanderson as minibus drivers, Gemma Minton, who joins our cleaning staff, Ally Borwell, Fraser Minchella, and Alexandria Smith, who join as Graduate Sports Assistants, and Harry CoopeyPalmer, Hannah Odam, Stan Norman, and Olivia Stubbs, who join us as new GAP students.
In other staff news, among our colleagues at King’s St Alban’s, Miss Cartwright gave birth to Delilah at the start of the holidays and we wish the family well. We congratulate Miss Chadwick on her marriage in August and we must now try to remember to call her Mrs Fourie!
The new school year started on the back of a very impressive Sixth Form exhibition and outstanding GCSE and A-level results in the summer. The Autumn Term began with the Lower Sixth artists collecting information for their Personal Inquiry Unit by visiting Birmingham and exploring the Think Tank, the local markets, and the new library. The photographs they took during this site visit formed the starting point for their own self-directed work, which will contribute 60% to their final grade. Following this day trip, the Lower Sixth had the opportunity to work with Artist in Residence, Ian Murphy, who also staged a weeklong exhibition of his work in the department’s Sir Terry Frost Gallery. This exhibition was the first of four held by visiting artists throughout the year; the other exhibitions also inspired, challenged and stimulated the pupils. Silver Lining was one such show, a series of atmospheric drawings by Lewis Graham, fresh from his appearance on Sky’s Landscape Artist of the Year. OV Alice Walter provided an eclectic mix of collage, sculpture and video in her show End of the Rainbow and worked with pupils throughout her visit to explain her work and encourage the pupils to question the themes she explores. Andrew Howe’s exhibition of paintings, Inhabited, saw him work alongside poet Kate Innes, who produced poems with the English Department which were performed at the evening private view. Other exhibitions in the gallery have included a stunning collection of Sixth Form painting, and each of the Lower Fourth pupils displayed at least one piece of work in our Walk Along the River exhibition inspired by the River Severn. Finally, the annual Big Draw event saw parents, pupils and friends of all ages decorating kites, which looked most impressive hanging in the gallery space.
After-school events continued to enrich pupils’ art experience at King’s; alongside exhibition private views, pupils had the opportunity to attend weekly after-school ceramics and printmaking clubs, both with visiting artists. Regular life drawing sessions took place for Sixth Form artists and included one session for teaching staff from other departments. For the first time this year we have run an after-school parents’ printmaking club, regularly attended by a small but committed group; we look forward to seeing their first exhibition, which is due to take place over the summer.
Other opportunities to exhibit work outside school have been the annual Young Voices New Visions exhibition held in Worcester Cathedral, and an exhibition of Sixth Form painting held at Worcester Porcelain. We were most excited to learn that Lucy Turner had her A-level work accepted in the RBA Star Student Exhibition, held at London’s prestigious Mall Galleries. Lucy was one of only 20 students from across the country to have her work selected to be shown alongside professional artists.
Lower Sixth student, Nick Abdullah represented the School at the Articulation final, held at The Herbert Gallery in Coventry. His in-depth analysis of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks drew much praise from the judge, who said that his talk was “captivating and poetic”.
Our annual GCSE trip to Cornwall took place during the Autumn half-term break and proved to be as successful and inspiring as ever. Highlights included day-long workshops with professional artists, outdoor landscape painting at the stunning Cape Cornwall, and tours of the Tate Gallery and Barbara Hepworth Museums. On their return to school, pupils produced their own responses to the trip, which contributed to their final GCSE coursework submission. A group of Sixth Form students travelled to Berlin to explore the culture and art scene in one of Europe’s most diverse and exciting cities. As well as visiting museums and contemporary art galleries, the students met up with artist and OV Lucy Teasdale, who showed them her work and studio. They also visited some of the historical sites including the Berlin Wall, a tour of the Bundestag and the former Stasi Prison. A very busy itinerary provided lots of inspiration for the students’ A-level exam.
As we end another exciting year, we look forward to staging our GCSE and A-level shows, which are always the highlights of the Art Department’s calendar. The pupils have worked incredibly hard, and we wish them the very best of luck, particularly the seven Upper Sixth students who are going on to art foundation and degree courses.
Biology at King’s continued to go from strength to strength this year. Exam results for both A-Level and International GCSE were both impressive and testament to the hard work of pupils and staff alike. We were particularly impressed that our Upper Sixth attained a similar, excellent proportion of A* and A grades as the previous year despite being the first year to return to pre-covid grade awarding. Biology continues to be a popular subject and we are proud that
The Chemistry Department at King’s has enjoyed considerable success this academic year, evident in the exceptional A-Level results with an impressively high pass rate, showcasing the commitment to academic excellence from students and their teachers’ dedication to nurturing high achievers.
Chemistry’s popularity within King’s has soared, attracting a growing number of A-Level students and a positive engagement from those pupils further down the School. The introduction of a captivating new curriculum in Lower Fourth, emphasising increased practical work, has been instrumental in kindling a passion for the subject among students. This dynamic teaching approach has not only elevated academic achievement, but also fostered a love for Chemistry.
The Chemistry Clinic, a weekly haven for pupils seeking additional support, has become legendary, thanks to the thoughtful sixth-formers who bring in delectable cakes. This initiative not only aids academic progress but also creates a warm, collaborative atmosphere within the department.
The positive attitude of both staff and pupils is a hallmark of the department, contributing significantly to its success. Looking forward, the Chemistry Department at King’s aims to broaden its horizons by participating in more national competitions and a university lecture series next year, reflecting an ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation in science education.
KEAmany of our students go on to follow courses related to the life sciences at university. Staffing in the department continues to be very stable so there is always a strong sense of continuity for all pupils. We were especially pleased that Mrs McConalogue enjoyed her time doing a maternity cover so much that she decided to stay as a permanent member of the Biology team. This year we will continue to inspire and support our pupils to have a love of the subject
and maintain the excellent results. As a new innovation, we are currently working on setting up gardening club if we can find a suitable piece of land around the school site. As we know that there is lots of exceptional horticultural expertise amongst the parents and guardians of King’s pupils, we may well be in touch to seek some advice on the best things to grow!
On Saturday the 20th of May, classicists from both the Lower Sixth and Upper Remove visited Oxford to see the Ashmolean Museum. The Lower Sixth visited the museum first, heading straight to the Labyrinth: Knossos, Myth and Reality exhibition. We learnt of an elaborate labyrinth that had been built, according to legend, at Knossos on the Island of Crete in order to hold a ferocious Minotaur.
In the first part of the exhibition, we were introduced to the Minotaur and the different versions of it that artists have created throughout the years. Some of these pieces included Michael Ayrton’s Minotaur: Risen (1971) and Pablo Picasso’s Minotauromachie (1935). It was really interesting to see different interpretations of the mythological creature and to see in person what an
influence the myth truly had on art. Pablo Picasso’s interpretation of the Minotaur was that it was his own alter ego, it represents both his pride and guilt at his own animal instincts.
Moving through the exhibition we learnt of the archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans and of the excavations he led at Knossos in the early 20th century. We had the privilege to see in person objects and artefacts that he had discovered and even excavation plans, artworks and records that he made whilst excavating the site.
After visiting the exhibition, we took a walk around the city with the aim of visiting Blackwell’s bookshop to witness the large expanse of books that they offer which, at first, we were shocked by. After purchasing a few books, we made our way back to the Museum, grabbing some lunch on the way. We ate our lunch just outside of the museum and
then went back into the Ashmolean to spend some time looking at the rest of their collection, which included a coloured cast of the Prima Porta. This was particularly exciting to see as it is something that we had studied in detail in our Lower Sixth Classics lessons.
Whilst walking around the museum, it was fascinating to see particular styles and themes on objects and pieces of art that we had learnt about in lessons, and to put into practice the skills of analysis that we have developed throughout the first year of the Classical Civilisation A-level course.
After a quick trip to the gift shop, we made our way back to school taking with us plenty of photos (including some selfies), books, postcards and many memories of our fascinating trip to The Ashmoleum.
Sam Taylor-Edwards, FF Bright, wrote the following essay in his Classical Civilisation exam, earning him full marks for the question.
‘Greek and Roman festivals were far more about having fun than they were about worshipping the gods.’ Discuss how far you agree with this statement.
Greek and Roman Festivals were fun, but they also worshipped the gods successfully.
Firstly, the Great Panathenaia was both fun and worshipped Athena. There was a variety of athletic games such as the stadion, pankration, and boxing. These events would have been enjoyable to watch, or take part in, but also would have honoured Athena. Athena was goddess of wisdom in war and, when the Athenians showed off their skill at fighting, this honoured her as their patron goddess. Furthermore, events and the grand procession showed off Athens. Since Athena was patron goddess, it honoured her, and people could have fun.
However, the Panathenaic procession and presentation of the people would have honoured and worshipped Athena but would not have been that fun. Alternatively, the rhapsodic and musical contests on Day One would have been very fun to watch but didn’t really worship Athena. Overall, the Great Panathenaia would have worshipped Athena and was fun.
The Lupercalia worshipped the gods but was not very fun. Dogs and goats were sacrificed for their virility and would,
therefore, have honoured Lupercus, god of virility. The run around the Palatine Hill happened and women were whipped to give them fertility. This was very successful in worshipping Lupercus as it represented virility and fertility. However, the Lupercalia wouldn’t have been fun. Only a select few Luperci could take part in the sacrifice and only women gained from watching the race. The Lupercalia was extremely good at worshipping Lupercus but wasn’t fun for a lot of Roman society. Therefore, the Great Panathenaia was more fun, but the Lupercalia honoured the gods more.
The City Dionysia was both fun and worshipped the gods. The entire festival was centred around theatre, wine and revelry. There were comedies, tragedies and parties. As Dionysus was god of wine, theatre and revelry this worshipped him very successfully. The City Dionysia was also very fun. There were tragedies, comedies, and satires so there was something for everyone to enjoy. There was sacrifice and a party with phallic objects which would have been very fun. However, the Theoric Fund had to pay for people who were poor to attend, and the only people allowed at the phallic-themed party were men. The City Dionysia successfully worshipped Dionysus and was fun, but the fun had limitations for some people.
Finally, the Saturnalia was the best festival for fun and worship compared with both Greek and Roman festivals. All business was cancelled, a free, large public feast was had, private feasting and gift giving occurred; all levels of society were equal. This made the Saturnalia lots of fun. The
Saturnalia was about hope for a return of the Golden Age, which was originally led by Saturn. This meant that the Saturnalia was also about worshipping gods.
Overall, both Greek and Roman festivals were fun and worshipped gods but some more than others. The Saturnalia was the most fun and was also about worshipping Saturn. The Lupercalia successfully worshipped Lupercus but was only fun for a select few. The City Dionysia was great for worshipping Dionysus but had limitations on fun. The Great Panathenaia did both with certain limitations. Greek and Roman festivals were both fun and worshipped the gods, despite some limitations.
It was a big year in the Careers Department; Claire Gent started in her role as Careers Lead, and we welcomed Mary McCumisky to the School as a Careers Advisor. The introduction of these roles has enabled pupils to have full access to careers advice on any given day. As a result, all Fifth Form students undertook psychometric testing and then had a one to one interview with Mrs McCumisky, looking at their skills and personal strengths and advising them on possible career routes that may be of interest to them.
Careers featured heavily in the Sixth Form, with all Lower Sixth students having a personal careers discussion with either Mrs McCumisky or Mrs Gent, alongside a range of careers activities in house time and during Key Skills. This included exploring Unifrog, refining CV and application skills and researching the different options available to them for future pathways. As part of this, all students visited the UCAS Convention, and many Sixth Form students joined us on the University of Birmingham
Open Day, where they explored the campus, found out about a range of courses and looked at student accommodation. Oxbridge and medical candidates stayed in school for a Masterclass on applications and talks from alumni students.
Many students also took part in work experience, with placements ranging from KPMG, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Rolls Royce, The Met Office, BAE Systems, WSP and Worcester Constituency Office to name a few.
Over the year we hosted many careers talks: we welcomed Jess Rees from the University of Worcester for a talk on Student Life and Student Finance, alongside Derrin Kent from TDM Apprenticeships and Kerry Davies from Worcestershire Apprenticeships. David Oakes came to talk to us about Army
Having redesigned our curriculum last year for Lower Fourth, Upper Fourth and Lower Remove, we hit the ground running delivering topics such as Cyber Security, Computing Systems and the Impact of Technology. The most exciting thing for us this year, however, was introducing a new GCSE subject to King’s and our first ever cohort starting in Upper Remove: a group of 16 keen individuals, wanting to learn everything there is to know about Computer Science!
In November we had our annual Bebras Challenge with all pupils in L4, U4 and all pupils who chose to study Computing/Computer Science from LRU6! The competition aims to improve
Officer recruitment and we welcomed IE University who gave information about studying overseas.
The highlight of the year took place during National Careers Week in March, when we opened up the School for the first ever Careers Extravaganza. This took place over four evenings, with each evening focusing on a different career sector featuring medical careers, professional services, science and engineering and business. We welcomed over 50 different businesses, with many of our alumni coming back to share their experiences with current students. Each evening featured key note speakers to give students a real insight into the career pathways available. We look forward to an even bigger event next year.
the computational thinking of pupils by solving puzzles that need pattern recognition, ‘shortest routes’ finding or ciphers decrypting. Some pupils did exceptionally well with an amazing 58 pupils from across the years finishing in the top 10% nationally and gaining an invite to the Oxford University Computing Challenge. Edward Sydenham L4A gained Best In School this year scoring a whopping 194/200 so very many congratulations to him.
The Spring Term saw us teaching topics such as Representations in Binary, Physical Computing and Programming Essentials in Scratch to the Lower years and The U6 pupils completing some very
There have been no trips scheduled this academic year but the L6 Computer Scientists did have a tour of the school site from Dan Cox our IT Network Analyst who showed them places that pupils don’t ordinarily go such as our server room in Hostel House. He explained the physical structure of the network and how it is split into Virtual LANs to security. A very interesting time indeed!
The summer term is always dominated by exams and we wished our U6 students farewell by playing a great board game of Potato Pirates!
One of the fundamental roles of the product designer is solving the needs of their client. This might be helping someone with arthritis to pour water from a heavy kettle, or to enable a swimmer to keep their valuables safe whilst they’re in the sea.
We encounter difficulties such as these almost every hour of every day, but we rarely notice them beyond the mild irritation they cause. When was the last time you spent 10 minutes looking for your keys? When were you last holding your shopping bags whilst trying to unlock your front door? When did you last sigh at the frequency with which your kitchen recycling bin needed emptying? These irritations are in the moment and are quickly forgotten, but collectively add up and can become draining.
Whilst nobody would describe any of these as big problems, designers don’t see them as problems at all. In fact, designers see these as opportunities;
opportunities to use their skills to improve peoples’ lives.
Why isn’t there an app that tells us the location of our keys, or keys that shout back when we call them? Why don’t we have the same technology on our front doors that we have on our car doorsable to open with a press of a button, and a bleep? Or even a front door that senses we’re on the doorstep and opens for us? Why don’t our kitchen recycling bins have a mechanism that crushes or compacts the waste, so we don’t have to empty them so frequently? Not only would we have fewer trips to our big bin, but the environment would also thank us for the fewer journeys our waste disposal lorries would have to make too!
The technology to solve these irritations has been around for years, but we have become accustomed to accepting them as just that - irritations.
The trouble comes when the small problems sit on top of the bigger ones, such as poor health or poor mobility. We cope very well with the day-to-day irritations normally, but they can become the final straw, when there are bigger problems to manage.
Being unable to pour water from a heavy kettle or being unable to climb the stairs to go to bed are both easily managed problems, but without designers looking out for these opportunities, they may become the reason an elderly person has to move into a care home, when they could have maintained their independence for longer.
The photos below show various stages of the iterative design process evidenced by our A Level students.
Each GCSE and A Level student has a genuine client. Here are a small handful of design briefs that have been answered this year:
‘Design and make a device to enable a wheelchair user to carry and easily access a rucksack, without any risk of the wheelchair tipping’ – Ben B
‘Design and make a device to enable an elderly person with arthritis to open and close bottles and jars’
– Giles H
‘Design and make a device to help a paddleboarder to easily transport a paddleboard from a car to the river’
– Maddie G
‘Design and make a device to enable an elderly garden-lover to keep their plants watered’
– Will T
‘Design and make a device that acts as a walking aid for the disabled. It should assist the user on flat surfaces and to climb up and down stairs’
– Mehraj K
‘Design and make a device to assist a hockey coach to quickly and easily pick up and store hockey balls after a training session’
– Betsy R
‘Design and make a device to help a jockey to carry a saddle over short/ medium distances’
– Henry P
The aim of the D&T department is to provide our pupils with the skills to resolve these sorts of problems but, above all, it is our key objective that we equip them with the confidence to search for and see opportunities where others see problems. Whilst the emphasis here is upon the work of examined year groups, the hard work begins in Key Stage 3, where the focus is upon building the students’ confidence to work through their thoughts and ideas, happy to make mistakes in the search for problem-solving skills.
This really is a super subject for encouraging students to step out of their comfort zones, into the footsteps of those experiencing problems and difficulties, and to build skills and knowledge that they will be able to use for evermore to improve their own lives, and the lives of others.
CWSWTowards the end of the first half term of the school year, all Upper Sixth Business students had the absolute pleasure of being invited to the boardroom at Cotswold Collections, a cataloguebased clothes retailer that serves the mature female market. Here, Managing Director Jane Cheesman and Finance Director Tom Brown generously gave up their time to describe meticulously both their decisions and procedures in the day-to-day running of the business and their long-term business strategies. Both directors gave talks that were perfectly tailored to our A-Level course, touching on topics across all modules such as marketing strategies, their brand, and the effects to their business of setting up abroad, which made the visit extremely beneficial for all students.
Unfortunately, we pupils were never going to get away with just enjoying a fun-filled trip without having to do any work! We were all tasked with writing an essay under the title “Do the strengths and opportunities for Cotswold Collections outweigh the weaknesses and threats?” Thanks to the heaps of useful information provided by Tom and Jane, we were equipped with so much to write about that it became hard to choose which points to include in our writing!
The strengths and opportunities for Cotswold Collections are vast, with a particular strength being their flat, simple management structure, which allows management decisions to be implemented quickly and effectively without having to wade through layers of organisational bureaucracy. This in turn saves the business time, effort and money; a great example of this is seen in the company’s brave, but calculated decision to enter the US market by sending out catalogues and later exporting their products. There was no need to go through layers of hierarchy or waste time massaging the egos of senior managers to get the approval for this change in strategy and, as a result, there was only a matter of weeks between the decision to venture abroad being made, catalogues landing on American doorsteps, and the orders flying in. This flexibility is a real asset for Cotswold Collections and gives them a great advantage over larger companies,
who are far less able to respond swiftly to changes in market conditions. Their decision to set up in the US market also provided many opportunities for the company, increasing the size of their customer-base, whilst maintaining their unique selling point of being artisan and quintessentially British. This was especially effective in ensuring significant demand for their products, taking advantage of America’s strong appreciation for British heritage.
One of the things that stood out to me about Jane and Tom’s ever-apparent professionalism throughout our visit was their ability to paint a humble, balanced picture of their business. Both directors had no interest in gloating or being arrogant, instead giving an honest insight into the weaknesses and threats to their business. I have no doubt that this humility and vigilance will have helped greatly to improve their business thus far, as awareness and anticipation of weaknesses and threats is vital for growth. An example of a weakness for Cotswold Collections is their low rate of return from their catalogues, only around 1% of the 3 million catalogues that they send out annually. They also face the threats of Royal Mail strikes, which will halt their catalogue distribution, and the depreciation of the pound, which increases the price of paper, raising the cost per unit of each catalogue by 133%, from 15p to 35p. This increase in the cost per catalogue must then either be transferred to the customer, increasing the price of Cotswold Collections’ products, or swallowed by the business, decreasing their profit margins. Despite their target demographic generally tending to be less price-sensitive than average, the business can still only afford to have a 63% markup on their products to keep demand where it needs to be, so they have been forced to lower their profit margins.
All in all, despite the valid potential economical weaknesses and threats to Cotswold Collections, they are incredibly dynamic, and I believe that the directors’ evident experience and strategic prowess will allow them to continue the upwards growth trend that their business has seen in recent years. The business will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year and has survived setbacks including dire economic adversity. My takeaway from the visit is that even in today’s climate, the strengths and opportunities
for Cotswold Collections still greatly outweigh their weaknesses and threats.
On behalf of all students attending the trip, I would like to thank Tom Brown, Jane Cheesman and the whole team at Cotswold Collections once again for your kindness and generosity in hosting such a constructive and valuable experience for us all to enjoy. I can speak for everyone when I emphasise how relevant and worthwhile the visit was for our studies, and we wish Cotswold Collections all the best going forwards.
James BrewerOn the 19th of May, the School welcomed Andy Street CBE, West Midlands Mayor and former John Lewis CEO, who gave a most informative and entertaining speech as part of the Headmaster’s Lecture Series. Prior to this, he spent time in the Economics and Business Studies Department for a questionand-answer session with Lower Sixth Economics and Business students. Along with the other Lower Sixth students, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to ask numerous questions on topics ranging from the changing ownership model of John Lewis to the economic and social impacts of Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games and the reasons for his support of Liz Truss in the 2022 leadership contest. We all thoroughly enjoyed the Q&A session and were extremely grateful to Andy for sharing his experiences and understanding with us. We all attended his lecture in the JMT, which touched on his early business failures before working at John Lewis, his subsequent 20-year progression to CEO and his switch from business to politics. The lecture concluded with audience questions from OVs, members of staff and pupils. The event was enjoyed by all involved and we are very grateful to Andy for his time with us and the wonderful insights he provided.
Riya Mayilvahanan and Issy GreenThis has been a wonderfully full and rewarding year in the English Department. In September, we welcomed two new members of staffMrs Lloyd-Smith and Mrs Rhodes - both of whom settled into the Department very swiftly. In many ways, the 202223 academic year has been a return to normal; we have been able to re-start a range of extra-curricular visits and activities, and the students have been kept very busy.
In November, the English Department ran a ‘Spooky Stories’ event for the Year 6 pupils from King’s Hawford and King’s St Alban’; Mr Low, Mrs Walmsley, Mr Davis, Dr Oliver and Ms Jeffery all donned their finest Halloween outfits and read a series of ghostly tales to the pupils in the atmospheric setting of the Cathedral Undercroft. There followed a gothic creative writing workshop back in the department, where the pupils were encouraged to experiment with language to come up with their own spooky stories. The resulting pieces were eventually judged by Mr Low, and prizes awarded in both Junior Schools. This event was the first of what is hoped will become an annual literary event for the Foundation.
The Literary Society continued to flourish this year, and many members embarked on highly enjoyable trips, such as the visit to the Hay Winter Literary Festival at the end of November; Mr Low took a group of students to the festival to hear an intriguing talk by Anne-Marie Amafidon about her book entitled She’s in CTRL: how women can take back tech, which provided some very useful food for thought. Whilst there, the students were also able to enjoy the Christmas light display, adding a little festive sparkle to the trip.
After this, the trips came thick and fast! Following a number of COVID-related postponements and delays, in the Christmas holidays, the Literary Society was finally able to undertake a longawaited theatre trip to see ‘The Life of Pi’ at the Wyndham Theatre in the West End. Fortunately, it proved well worth the wait! There were visits closer to home too, such as to the Vue Cinema just across the road from school for our Sixth Form English Literature students to watch a production of Othello streamed via National Theatre Live. This was a fantastic opportunity for those studying the play, and one they hugely enjoyed.
In January, we were fortunate enough to entertain a published poet for the day in a series of activities in conjunction with the Art Department; Kate Innes ran poetry-writing workshops with our Lower Fourth and Lower Sixth pupils, using the artwork of Andrew Howe from his exhibition Inhabited as inspiration. The students thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on the artwork and to spend some time crafting their own written responses. The day culminated in a poetry reading attended by many of the students.
In April, we ran two trips to see a production of Of Mice and Men at Malvern’s Festival Theatre; over a hundred students from the Lower Remove, Upper Remove and Fifth Form were able to attend the play to support their study of the novella for their IGCSE Literature. The production contained some unusual variations on the original text which kept us all entertained and certainly provided interesting points for discussion in subsequent lessons.
During the summer term, fifteen of our Upper Remove students were lucky enough to pay a visit to Warwick University to enjoy a flavour of the sort of literary study on which they might embark in the future. They, along with Mr Low, attended a lecture about Pictorial Imagery in Victorian Gothic Literature, with special reference to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. They greatly enjoyed this opportunity to explore the possibilities of literary study beyond school.
All in all, it has been an incredibly full year of books, literature, theatre and visits –and we look forward to much more of these in the coming academic year!
The Mason Economics and Business Essay Writing Prize 2023
“The current UK economic climate is very challenging. 86% of UK adults say they are concerned about dayto-day living costs and in January 2023 the International Monetary Fund predicted that the UK would be the only major industrialised country to see its economy shrink this year. What should the Government do to improve the UK’s economic outlook?”
To understand what must be done to improve the UK’s economic outlook, as with any problem, it is necessary to understand the roots of the issue. Problems both old and new plague the UK’s economy.
The economy needs urgent help; policy cannot be held off another 18 months until the next general election. As a matter of urgency and realism, it is important to recognise the plans of the government and address the issues they have on their agenda to ensure they can be carried out in the most efficient way for growth, whilst ensuring the protection of society’s worst off.
Furthering economic relations with large economies…could prove integral to British trade in a post Brexit world.
Countries such as Brazil or India, and African nations such as Nigeria, all offer immense potential for trade. New agreements could substantially help grow the UK economy as rising exports and output helps lower production cost and improve the UK’s economic outlook for the future, and help move past Brexit.
Education is central to increasing productivity. Although spending longer in education may seem unnecessary, every extra year spent in education leads to a 3 to 6% rise in output per head. Education holds so much importance to our economy and prior stated figures show that the bare minimum isn’t enough for a prosperous economy. Money spent on education
has been stagnating for years. Although it may seem counterintuitive to spend more, the long term returns of a greater investment in education would greatly improve the UK’s economic outlook.
‘Levelling up’ the North is important… in the longer term it will be important to the UK’s economy,
Although interest rates are to be the main policy when it comes to inflation, it is possible to target specific areas with other policies.
In a cost-of-living crisis where ‘86% of adults are concerned about day to day living’ increased tax could be too costly to many UK citizens. Because of this a turn towards the wealthy must be considered…introducing new tax systems based on turnover for these mega companies. Whilst online companies such as Apple and Microsoft currently enjoy the low corporation tax they must pay, a turnover tax may help raise more funds. As ever, it shouldn’t be extreme and dissuade companies from using Britain but a tax level only a few percent higher on these companies could have a vast effect on the income the government earns from them. This would, in turn, help reduce the ratio between debt and GDP.
Marginal gains as well as steady commitments will be integral to lowering our national debt.
Conclusion
To conclude, there is a serious problem facing the UK economy which requires urgent attention. Thus, straying far from the current government’s target areas would be futile. They will not undergo a large-scale re-evaluation of their policy and ideology. The government should, however, alter its priorities, making a series of changes to bolster growth and keep inflation and debt to a minimum. With regards to growth, steps must be made to move past Brexit, forging agreements with emerging economies. There must also be greater expenditure in education and potentially infrastructure to promote further growth. Although this may come at a cost debt wise, a restructuring of military spending and corporation tax can offset this. Regarding inflation, interest rates must stay high to bring it down effectively and to match the US dollar. Through these alterations, it is feasible for the government to improve the UK’s economic outlook heading into 2023, as well as further into the future.
George HowardThe United Kingdom faces many significant economic challenges across varying sectors of the economy, as evidenced by the cost-of-living crisis and the IMF’s prediction of a shrinking economy. To combat this, the UK requires a holistic approach which encompasses structural and social reforms, fiscal policies, education, and increased investment to increase production and productivity in this country.
It is important to recognise that these fiscal actions could also increase inflationary pressures which need to be combatted to solve the cost-of-living crisis. The UK’s government must strike a balance between these two methods but, ultimately, without enough money to live, workers in this country cannot, and will not, achieve maximum production or productivity.
Investment in infrastructure and businesses in the UK is fundamental to our economic recovery. In the UK there are 5.5 million SMEs (small and mediumsized enterprises), 1.4 million of which have more than one employee. SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy and, by supporting their growth, the whole economy can benefit.
By introducing policies such as taxbreaks, low-interest loans, grants or simplifying regulations to cut the red tape around the business environment for these SMEs, the government can help boost innovation, entrepreneurship and employment, all contributing to economic growth.
Investment in the green tech industry would not only help solve this devastating global issue but also help create jobs and stimulate economic activity. By investing strategically to face these long-term challenges, the government can drive sustainable economic growth and help the UK become a leader in these emerging industries.
By increasing the minimum wage, improving affordable housing and strengthening social care, we can foster a more inclusive and stable economic environment which is less susceptible to economic turmoil and more sustainable in the long term. It is, however, important to recognise that, while providing an improved social “safety net” to the public means that people are more willing to take educated economic ‘risks’ by increasing spending and becoming employed at higher levels, it also can
lead to some people becoming more likely to use this “safety net”.
Therefore, the government should create well-structured policies which promote employment, but also offer resources to those who need them most. By improving the culture and attitude in the UK surrounding employment and the economy more generally, we can promote long-term productivity growth as well as short term recovery.
The UK desperately needs more people in work to help stimulate the economy, including filling the vacancies left by BREXIT.
In order to get more people in work we need to upskill the UK population. Increased investment in education and training, for example through vocational training and apprenticeships, would develop a highly skilled workforce, leading to a more competitive UK economy.
The five-year term which each UK government faces leads to short-term, self-interested decision-making. Each government wants to be re-elected for the next term and this can become their main focus, often resulting in short-term policies, which may in the long-term lead to detrimental consequences.
If the government wants to achieve the best economic performance, it must give greater priority to the expertise of economists.
Issy GreenOn the 20th of June, the A-Level Business students embarked on an exciting visit to Cadbury World in Birmingham. We commenced the day with a captivating business overview from one of Cadbury’s employees. The session provided us with a breakdown of Mondelez’s Cadbury brand, discussing its position and strategies in the UK’s fast-moving consumer goods market. We learned
valuable insights about Cadbury’s inorganic growth through take-overs and mergers, as well as plans for organic expansions with their plantbased chocolate bar. Furthermore, we learnt about the business history and progression from a humble partnership in 1847 to a prominent public limited company in modern day wielding monopoly power of 29%. Following the classroom session, we then enjoyed
Thirty-seven EPQ students submitted projects this year, having learned the skills they needed in their EPQ lessons during Key Skills. This included planning, time management, referencing and research ethics. We were supported by the librarians at the Hive who arranged for our students to visit for an afternoon to pick up library cards and learn how to access the University resources to use for research.
Once they had learned the skills, each student planned out their own research with the help of a staff supervisor. There was a huge variety in the types of projects undertaken with students researching topics such as HIV, tourism in Thailand, the economic recovery in Greece from 2010-2018 and the reason that women lack confidence in the workplace. Several
people produced artefacts which means that the research leads to a defined product with a purpose. Artefacts this year have included a poem to illustrate the difficulties of someone with sensory processing disorder, a wood turned holder for a candle and a robotic arm to enhance the motor strength of someone with rheumatoid arthritis.
At the end of the process, we were all impressed by the final presentations where students were able to showcase their new skills and knowledge. At the end of the course the final lesson was spent reading each other’s work and coming up with some top tips for the next cohort through the process based on the mistake that had been made this year!
an immersive tour around Cadbury World, with opportunities to write our names in chocolate, visit the 4-D cinema, take a train ride and, of course, eat chocolate. The day provided an exciting and informative experience, learning about the business aspects in the history of the Cadbury brand, whilst eating chocolate with peers!
Harry Downing
They dance and dance, with gurning teeth -
And all is bright and gay
Their cheeks are flushed - and all is light
But all I want is far away
We spin - and turn in tight embrace
The band plays on with frantic clamour
This time - this place should fill my soul
But each step only creates more horror
The noise – the touch – the jolting polka
Each part of this alien revelry -
While being the height of these strange beasts’ lives
Only ensures my own never-ending misery
But now I see the crowd does part - and a path leads away
To a door that beckons with the promise of an end
pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis, focusing on the antebrachium.
Theodora Hamilton-Holbrook
To the far end I walk, lighter of step –relieved - calmed
A door - open, darkened leading me to descend
But in my path is a memory that offers to dance
A quieter – calmer - restful time offered by this hand
I glance and I can see the door no more
But terror builds to see us circling back to the band
Artefact – A poem to show the unseen struggles of someone with Sensory Processing Disorder by Henrietta Allan
In October, our Lower Sixth students enjoyed a three-day residential fieldwork course in Minehead, which forms an important part of the A-level Geography curriculum. They were based on the coast of North Somerset to study Coastal Landscapes and Changing Spaces: Making Places as part of the fieldwork for their A-level course.
Activities included surveying the effectiveness of sea defences and analysing beach sediment along the Somerset coast, investigating the identity of local towns, and using the Survey123 App to record their data. Evenings were spent learning how to present and analyse data using a variety of techniques including Geographical Information Systems.
The first day focussed on coastal management in Minehead, with students assessing the various impacts of different protection strategies. On day two, Porlock Bay was the study area, with the aim of reviewing the coastal processes at work along this stunning section of coastline. The weather was particularly kind, showing the area off in all its magnificence.
On the third day, as we made our way home, the group visited Watchet, which provided an excellent location in which to study place identity and change, and students enjoyed
engaging insights into the opportunities and challenges faced by coastal communities. Visiting the enchanting East Quay, we were treated to an inspirational talk by a director of The Onion Collective, who gave an insight into planning careers and explained how they are helping to regenerate the town through community-led initiatives.
Not to be outdone, during the summer holiday our GCSE Geographers “had the most fantastic time and enjoyed every minute” of their trip to the French Alps.
A party of 39 pupils and four staff from the Geography Department arrived in resort mid-morning on July 17th after a remarkably smooth journey overnight. A splendid lunch, courtesy of our hosts Lisa and Thierry, set us up for an exciting afternoon exploring the formation of the Alps.
The next day was based in Chamonix. Lessons on glaciation at 2,525m with Mont Blanc as a backdrop were followed by an incredible walk inside the Mer de Glace, France’s longest glacier. The impacts of climate change were clear to see and were also felt when we had to descend the 600+ steps to reach the ice caves: a further 110 have had to be added since 2018!
After a brief mountain thunderstorm that proved to be an effective alarm clock the next day, the clouds parted and we were
once again treated to a beautiful day with clear skies. On our way to visit the Bionnassay Glacier via the Mont Blanc Tramway, it was exciting to see the media circus, team ’buses and large crowds gathering for Stage 17 of the Tour de France. A lesson on physical processes and a short mountain walk in high temperatures was followed by a welcome swim in Lake Passy in the afternoon, providing a perfect way to cool off before another fabulous dinner.
A return visit to Chamonix the next morning gave us the opportunity to find another stunning outdoor classroom at 2,400m, with a spectacular backdrop of Mont Blanc and the Mer de Glace. An exciting chairlift ride led us to the snowline, where we had lunch before descending back to Chamonix for an exploration of this vibrant town. We concluded the day’s fieldwork with another swim in Lake Passy before returning to base for a final game of “car-park cricket”.
An energetic walk through a gorge in St Gervais on the final morning gave everyone some welcome exercise before the journey home. Our thanks to our Aston’s drivers for some outstanding driving and excellent company throughout. This was certainly a trip to remember, not just for the amazing geography, but also for the good fun that was clearly enjoyed by all.
On the back of another set of fantastic results, we returned in September 2022 with optimism and excitement for the new year and it is fair to say that the academic year 2022-23 did not disappoint. We have been thrilled to be back up and running and thriving as a department; being able to experience History and Politics outside the classroom has been refreshing and a clear reminder of the many ways in which we love to study History and Politics. At the heart of our work is our aim to develop pupils’ curiosity about the past through exposing them to a
wide range of British, European and World History so they can engage with stories of the past to develop a personal connection with History.
As a department we remain incredibly grateful to our pupils, who enrich our days and bring their enthusiasm to the classroom, hungry for knowledge and determined for success!
The next few articles will give you an insight into some of what we have been up to in the department this year.
On Friday 21st October 2022, at the end of what had been one of the busiest weeks in British politics, Upper Sixth student George Capell organised and chaired an impressive Question Time event. In a climate of what some would call political chaos, George was able to navigate and question events of even the day itself. He carefully constructed a series of questions to challenge thought and question ideas and events that were unfolding even moments before the discussion started.
There were several high-profile guests, who are specialists in their area: Robin Walker, MP, former Home Secretary, Jaquie Smith, Melanie Griffiths, and our very own Chaplain, Dr Mark Dorsett, who used his wealth of knowledge to challenge and scrutinise the other candidates.
Natalie Bennett was also to join us but, with a challenge that many of our contemporaries face, was unable to reach us due to train cancellations on the day.
The John Moore Theatre was full of King’s pupils from the Lower Fourth to the Upper Sixth, parents, staff, and many guests from other schools. We were delighted to welcome both RGS and Prince Henry’s High School to the event.
Huge congratulations go to George Capell, who once again provided us with a thought-provoking event full of insight. We are incredibly grateful to him for his work and believe that Fiona Bruce should be worried for her job!
King’s Worcester Commemorates Holocaust Memorial
Holocaust Memorial Day takes place each year on 27th January; this date marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide.
We promote and support Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD): the international day to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.
The Holocaust threatened the fabric of civilization, and genocide must still be resisted every day. Our world often feels fragile and vulnerable, and we cannot be complacent. Even in the UK, prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by us all and with this in mind, it is essential that Holocaust Memorial Day is for everyone. If you would like more information or ways to discuss this with your children, then this website can be most helpful: www.hmd. org.uk
We were incredibly grateful to receive a generous donation of 55 books from Mr Garnett Alderson, a local resident who is passionate about ensuring that the Holocaust is not forgotten by present and future generations. Mr Alderson buys every new Holocaust-related memoir, and, once he has read them, he passes them on to local schools. We thank Mr Alderson for his gift, which will enrich our pupils’ education, reinforce their remembrance of those tragic and devastating events and, we hope, promote a more inclusive society in which such inhumanity can never happen again.
This year’s Holocaust Memorial theme was ‘Ordinary People’, which explores the ordinary people who allowed genocide to happen, the ordinary people who actively perpetrated genocide, and the ordinary people who were persecuted. It is hoped that the theme prompts ordinary people to consider how we can play a bigger part than we might imagine in challenging prejudice today. To mark Holocaust Memorial Day, Sixth Form History students at King’s participated in two acts of commemoration.
The Lower Sixth pupils were invited to read at the Worcestershire Interfaith Forum held in the Guild Hall. They listened to a variety of speakers and contributed beautifully with a very reflective piece. The most notable speaker was Dr Mindu Hornick, a Holocaust survivor. She focused on how ordinary people can do extraordinary things and shared stories about those who helped her when, leaving Auschwitz in 1945, the train she was on was bombed. She was a truly inspiring person, who captivated the audience with her bravery and determination to fight against injustice.
We also marked Holocaust Memorial Day within our Upper Sixth History lessons. Students embarked on a moving and respectful online tour of one of the world’s most important museums, Auschwitz-Birkenau. Located near the little town of Oświęcim (better known by its German name, Auschwitz), more than 1.5 million people were executed here between 1940 and 1945. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum stand in the garrison of Auschwitz, while Birkenau has been kept to look as it did after the liberation. The two camps are now prominent memorial sites for the Holocaust’s tragedies. While nothing can compare to visiting this memorial in real life, the significance of this in reflection and an act of remembrance was still evident. The Upper Sixth then joined together to reflect upon key themes and discuss the importance of learning about the past to create a safer future.
As part of the A-level History course, students are required to produce independently an essay of between three and four thousand words. At King’s, we allow students a free choice of questions, and encourage them each to explore a topic which captivates them and will excite them to read and
learn more. The unit is worth 20% of the overall A Level, and it brings together all the skills developed in the other 80% of the course. Students must select a title, research and distill a variety of historical interpretations, and then find contemporary sources with which to analyse, evaluate and reach judgements. This is certainly a challenging task, but one which I feel is incredibly worthwhile. Countless OVs who have returned to King’s remember and celebrate the skills which the Independent Study allowed them to master and how it prepared them for future study and work. As a teacher, it is always such a pleasure guiding these students and encouraging them to refine their phrasing as well as express their ideas fluidly and with a convincing prowess that takes the reader with them on their journey.
This year studies have included the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, the Vietnam War, the bombing of Dresden in 1945, the defeat of Napoleon in 1812, the downfall of Napoleon and the First Opium War. The department wants to congratulate our Upper Sixth students on their wonderful efforts this year.
Below is just a snippet of Helena Shute’s Independent Study to give you a flavour of what our students can produce.
from Assess the reasons for the downfall of Chamberlain in May 1940
Nicholas Shakespeare argues that Chamberlain’s loss of support from within his own party, the pivotal moment being the Norway debate, was the reason for his resignation. He suggests that without the support of his backbenchers he no longer had the authority to continue as Prime Minister. The Norway Debate was held from the 7th to the 9th of May 1940. While the Debate was originally intended to discuss the recent military failures sustained during the Norway Campaign, it quickly escalated into a critical dispute over Chamberlain’s leadership. Many Conservative MPs took the opportunity to express their discontent and lack of support for the Prime Minister. Shakespeare suggests this left Chamberlain with no weight to his Premiership, pushing him to resign on the 10th of May 1940.
The extreme loss of Conservative support during the Norway Debate is evident in Leo Amery’s damaging speech on the 7th of May 1940, which criticised Neville
Chamberlain. After denouncing the failure of the Norway Campaign, the bad handling of the economy, and “whole conduct of the War up to date”, he concluded by quoting Oliver Cromwell’s famous line: “In the name of God, Go!” Alluding to this speech by Cromwell from 1653, Amery is suggesting that, like the Long Parliament of the 17th Century, Chamberlain had failed in his duty to the Government and the Nation. Others in Parliament would have been aware of this reference, making it a powerful note on which to end his speech. His words would have resonated with the other backbenchers on whom Chamberlain’s Premiership relied. Amery was a colleague, friend, and past supporter of Chamberlain; therefore, his speech was even more shocking and damaging. Amery represented those within the Conservative Party who doubted Chamberlain’s ability to lead the Country; his colleagues no longer felt he was fit for the Premiership. Shakespeare argues that losing his authority within his own party was the factor that led him to resign.
Shakespeare also argues that this push for Chamberlain to resign from within his own party was intensified by the results of the 8th May 1940 vote of confidence. After the dissatisfaction towards Chamberlain expressed on the first day of the Norway Debate, Labour requested a vote of confidence in Chamberlain for 8th May. The results came back showing 281 votes for the Government and 200 against. This vote gave all MPs, Conservative and Labour alike, an opportunity to express their opinions towards Chamberlain’s Premiership. However, Shakespeare is correct to highlight that it was the loss of support within his own party which stood out. His previous majority of over 200 had dropped to 81; over 40 Conservative MPs had voted against their own party and another 40 abstained. These results provided an undeniable indication of the level of discontent felt for Chamberlain. Although winning a majority, his Premiership now hung in the balance. His own party was turning against him to the extent that it forced him to resign just two days later on 10th May 1940.
There is evidence to suggest, however, that Shakespeare does not give sufficient weight to Chamberlain’s ongoing majority in Parliament. The Conservative MP Henry Channon says in his diary entry for the morning of the 9th of May 1940 that, “with a majority of 81, Neville could still make minor changes and remain”. He suggests that Chamberlain’s loss of support from his own party was
not so extreme that his resignation was needed. As Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rab Butler at the Foreign Office from 1938, Channon was in close contact with the Prime Minster and others in his administration. This might be thought to indicate that he is able to provide a reliable insight into the workings of the Government and the mood of Parliament. However, Channon had previously, in his diary from the 5th of May 1940, expressed concern for his own reputation and professional position if Chamberlain were forced to resign. He writes: “if Neville goes … I shall no longer be in the inner councils.” By expressing this concern, Channon reveals a personal motivation to prolong Chamberlain’s Premiership; his ambition and priority for his own success call into question his motives at the time. This may have swayed his opinion to entertain the unrealistic idea that Chamberlain could survive as Prime Minster without greater support from within his own party. Channon’s lack of objectivity provides further reason to prefer Shakespeare’s view that the most powerful contribution to Chamberlain’s downfall was the lack of support he had from his own party in the Norway debate and the confidence vote. * *References are available.
The following is a comment from OV Charles Pillman, outlining his experiences of the Independent Study. He chose to investigate Otto von Bismark and the Kulturkampf of the 1870s in the academic year 2021-22.
The idea of writing a 4000-word essay that directly counts towards your A Level is daunting, to say the least. Thankfully, once broken down, the Independent Study is completely manageable and even very enjoyable. The process is a long one, with multiple parts, but you have plenty of time to work through it. In my experience, before research, reading, arguments and planning, comes time management. Before you even start writing your essay, it is vital that you set aside time every day to take a few notes, read a few pages or just to think carefully about your approach. Working out your topic is difficult and can lead anyone down a historical rabbit hole. For the first time in your school life, you are not following a curriculum or textbook, and have an important choice to make regarding your own education. Generally, whatever topic you pick will be fine. Between the School Library and the History Library you can find material on almost anything and, if you can’t, your teachers and the librarians are very happy to order in books for you.
That being said, you may have a more difficult task when choosing very niche parts of history in which your teachers may not have specialised. In my case, a question on the success of Bismarck’s Kulturkampf had me laboring through and translating German primary sources. As I was studying German alongside History, this was bearable, but I would not recommend going completely mad and picking a topic you know very little about, as you may find yourself quickly bogged down in source material and extra reading.
Once you get started, it doesn’t feel too dissimilar to any other essay you will have written in History, apart from the obvious difference in length. You still start with an introduction, in which you explain your topic and how you are going about it. You will analyse primary sources and develop your argument with secondary sources, and you will finish with a conclusion. The new parts, such as referencing, footnotes and a bibliography, will be carefully explained by your teachers.
The Independent Study is, essentially, preparing you for further education. The skills necessary to write a 4000word essay with a full bibliography are invaluable, whether you are going on to study humanities or not. Setting aside a little time every day is a mustdo when faced with an arduous task in any aspect of life. In researching and analysing source material, you will learn how to understand properly what you are reading, and not to take everything at face value. By referencing and footnoting, you will learn how to be thorough with your work. In my research stage, I used some websites for the first time that will no doubt be very useful at university and beyond, such as JSTOR and Google Scholar. Skim-reading is a key skill that you will pick up during your coursework. If presented with a new book, it is critical that you get the big picture first. When deadlines are so important, there is no time for aimless reading that won’t help your progress.
Overall, the Independent Study is a fantastic experience which provides you with a multitude of skills necessary for further education. The process is also very rewarding, as long as you manage your time efficiently, and pick a topic that interests you. Finally, despite the independent nature of the work, your teachers are always happy to offer any assistance they can. It is important to ask for help; a second opinion, whether from a peer or a teacher, is always incredibly valuable.
On Monday 17th October, Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth History and Politics students visited London for the day. We had the opportunity to visit Parliament, walk through the House of Lords and the House of Commons, accessed the public galleries to watch MPs and Peers at work, strolled through the historic Westminster Hall and met Robin Walker, our local MP, in the Central Lobby.
After four hours on the road, we arrived in London and wandered through the lively city. The presence of multiple pressure groups within London linked to our A Level Politics course and enabled us to experience the nature of the capital in person. At midday we were greeted by our tour guides, taken through rigorous security measures, and given a detailed tour of Parliament. Being immersed in a two-hundred-yearold building was a privilege and a most memorable experience. It was incredible to see the buildings where some of the most monumental decisions within British Politics have been made. It was an exciting
The Politics Department were absolutely wowed by our experiences when welcoming, listening to and questioning the renowned Gavin Esler. Already a man with an incredible reputation, in the flesh he was even better. Throughout the afternoon he spent in our department library, the students (and staff!) were fully engaged by his stories and insights into the contemporary world. The current political climate can often leave people feeling disillusioned with politics, but he captivated his audience and encouraged everyone to consider and take hold of alternate perspectives, discussing topics from interviews with Margaret Thatcher and his time in Northern Ireland in the 1970s to the political crisis currently unfolding. Gavin Esler and all the staff involved commented on how bright, considerate, and curious all our Politics students were!
day out of school and enhanced our understanding of the UK Parliament and how it functions. A moment, when in the House of Commons, that was particularly poignant for us was seeing Jo Cox’s heraldic shield on the wall. It was interesting to learn that her sister, who is currently an MP for the same constituency as Jo, always sits under her shield when she comes to Parliament. Also, this was a stark reminder that democracy is fragile.
After our tour, we participated in a highly interactive workshop that took us through the journey of a bill and encouraged diverse views through mimic debates. In this active learning experience, we were able to debate against each other, fully immersing ourselves in the democratic process. It gave us a real flavour of how we can be active citizens in the UK’s thriving democracy.
After our session learning about passing bills and in-depth features of the home of UK democracy, we were visited by Worcester’s MP, Robin Walker. He gave us a personal account of his life working
The Senior Maths Challenge took place in October and a number of our students took part. This competition consists of a number of challenging problems which need to be solved in 90 minutes. Ben Beedie (U6) scored the highest mark in school, gaining an impressive 93 marks. Freddie Horsfall (L6) was close behind with 91 marks. Both Ben and Freddie were awarded Gold certificates along with George Howard (L6), George Campbell-Ferguson (L6), Bobby Riddell (U6), Ruby Kimber (U6) and Henry Halford (U6). All seven qualified for the Senior Kangaroo round in November. There were also 12 silver certificates and 13 bronze certificates awarded in the challenge. Congratulations to all who earned a certificate and well done to everyone who took part!
In November the Maths department took 36 Lower Sixth Mathematicians to the Maths Inspiration lectures in Birmingham. This year the lectures focused on the overlaps between Maths and Shakespeare with Rob Eastaway and Rebecca McMillan. We have often seen Rob in these lectures
in Parliament and elaborated on his own views of the current political climate. We were able to ask him questions ranging from his work in Worcester to his current role in the ever-changing field of politics.
This Sixth Form trip was beneficial in many ways and an important way of combining the course at school with the real political
talking about Maths problems. Rebecca teaches improvisation in the style of Shakespeare. We were treated to an explanation of multiplication methods used in Shakespeare’s time, when Roman numerals were still being phased out and our, more familiar, Arabic numerals were a new development. The school curriculum at the time was linked to references to mathematics and arithmetic in Shakespeare’s plays. During the lectures, both Riya and Claudia represented us on stage showing off both their mathematical and musical skills. A rhyme in iambic pentameter, including a tribute to Pythagoras, written by a small group of our students, was praised, and read out on stage.
world outside the classroom. We are all grateful for the opportunity and were reliant on the help of Parliament, our own teachers and Robin Walker, who visited King’s on Friday 21st for our own Question Time
Bea Morgan and Lucy Wadley
We were told about the discovery of graphite during Shakespeare’s lifetime. This led to a proof that most of us are wasting at least two-thirds and perhaps more than 90% of the lead in our pencils. Over the course of the two-hour lecture connections were made between Maths, English, Music, History, Science, arithmetic, rainbows, astronomy, measurement, and witchcraft. Our attendees were great company and represented King’s well. Thanks to Mrs Darby for organising the trip!
The Intermediate Maths Challenge took place in February and around 140 pupils from Lower Remove. Upper Remove and Fifth Form took part. Overall 11 gold, 39 silver and 36 bronze certificates were awarded. Tymur Viktorov, Pranav
The Teams for the Worcestershire team challenge!Mayilvahanan and Martha Evans were the highest scorers in Lower Remove, Upper Remove and Fifth Form respectively, and Pranav scored the highest mark in school with an impressive 105 marks. This score means that Pranav qualified for the prestigious Olympiad round. Tymur and Martha have qualified for the Kangaroo round, along with Lauren Harris (LR), Millie Goldby (LR), Robert Shepherd (LR), Dan Arridge (UR), Olivia Leung (UR) and Eric Dykes (FF). Millie, Lauren and Martha all achieved the highest award in the Kangaroo, earning Merits in this competition and Pranav scored a well-deserved Merit in the Olympiad.
After a long COVID break, the Worcestershire Team Maths Challenge took place at the University Arena. We took two eager teams along to complete against other schools in several rounds of Maths problem solving. It is designed to stretch the most able pupils but the two King’s teams rose to the challenge. One of our teams won the relay and went on to come fourth overall in the county. Well done to the seven pupils who volunteered to attend the competition but a particular well done to Sophie Johnson, Samantha Capell and Olivia Leung for their fourth place finish.
On the 24th March, the Maths Society organised a Vegas Night to raise money for the Turkey earthquake disaster. The attendees were split into four tables and members of the Maths Society ran a variety of card games and roulette. No previous knowledge was required and each game was taught at the table. Much fun and laughter filled the Dining Hall, particularly with Henry Halford
giving “money” away in his game. The “highlight” was the Lower Sixth group who, looking to be the early favorites, put all their chips on red for the last spin of the evening for the roulette wheel. Unfortunately for them, it turned up black and they lost everything! The overall winner was Mary Wills, who proved to be an absolute shark; congratulations go to her. Many thanks go to the Maths Society who organised the event. Particular thanks must go to Tilly Barwell, who did the lion’s share of the paperwork and emails behind the scenes, and to Mr Swarbrick for running the event!
The Junior Maths Challenge took place in April and a number of pupils from the Lower Years took part. In total, eight gold certificates were awarded, together with 25 silver and 21 bronze. Joshua Lee scored the highest mark in the Lower Years and he qualified for the Junior Kangaroo together with Chloe Noble, Giles Evans and Joe Taylor-Edwards. Well done to all of our Challenge participants and particularly to Joshua Lee who earned a merit in the Kangaroo!
Maths in Motion welcomed an entire new cohort of budding engineers this year, who quickly learned to design and race their virtual cars against schools from across the world. What they lacked in experience they made up for in enthusiasm and were quick to learn how to optimise their performance around the track. The climax of the season was the Racing Series races where Rhys Elias achieved a superb 12th position in the Drivers’ Championship with Aiden Atkinson, Harry Smith and Felix Sharman close behind. Overall in
the Constructors’ Championship King’s came an impressive 8th in the world.
In June, 15 Upper Remove pupils had the opportunity to see the University of Birmingham and attend workshops run by the Engineering Department on STEM. We enjoyed workshops about mathematical modelling and the use of these with regards to modelling virus outbreaks. Other practical workshops showed how one would begin to find solutions to curing cancer by taking iron out of the intestine using polymers. Pupils enjoyed being able to see how one could modify the polymer to avoid taking out calcium as well as iron, and improve the process. We were also able to see how to make candles and how these structures changed under different conditions. The day was rounded off with a tour of the University in the sunshine. Thank you to Mr Swarbrick for organising and running the event and to Mr Gardiner for accompanying the group!
On the final Monday of the year, the Lower Removes (those who were not on the Battlefields Trip) took part in Who Wants to be a Millionaire? After getting through the Fastest Finger round, two pupils tried to answer a variety of questions with increasing difficulty as the “value” of the question increased. Unfortunately they could not play for money, but they could earn chocolate! Congratulations to Arthur Dykes and Austin Barnett who reached the dizzy heights of £500, 000 before crashing out!
Asking the Audience
To end the Autumn Term in style, Sixth Form German and Art A-level students went on a four-day trip to Berlin. It was an enriching explosion of culture and history, once we got over the crazy first day!
We left at midnight on the last day of term, after a full day at school and the Carol Service. Travelling through the night to Luton, we arrived at the airport at about three in the morning. I boarded the plane and was asleep before takeoff. Having managed to grab a mere two and a half hours’ sleep, I woke up in a very chilly Berlin. We then went straight from the airport to the Stasi Museum.
To give you idea of the frenetic and relentless hurrying from one museum to another, we didn’t check into the hostel until nine that evening! We ran through art galleries, dashed past memorials, and speed-read information boards. After checking into our hostel and wolfing down some pizza, we headed out again to the DDR museum. I can’t lie: the first day was hard. I never slept so well as I did that night.
On the second day, my feet still hurt but I was able to start to appreciate the vibe and beauty of this incredible, historic city. It was very moving to be in a place that had known so much hardship and yet managed to reconcile their past through art, architecture, and culture. We went to the Alte Nationalgalerie, where we enjoyed a talk which highlighted to us that the word “national” holds a great deal of meaning and is used very carefully nowadays in Germany, for obvious reasons.
What does the word “national” now mean for the people of Germany? There is definite caution in the German psychology when it comes to being proud of their culture. But through art I hope they have found a way to reconcile their history and the pride they should have in their philosophers, authors, musicians, painters, as well as the contribution that German culture has made to advances in European arts.
We also visited the Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer, which is the memorial for the Berlin Wall; there are plaques on the ground commemorating people who were shot while trying to escape. We walked between the actual wall and East Berlin, moving freely between West and East Berlin and thereby doing so very easily what so many people had wanted to do so passionately for a whole generation, and for which they were willing to risk and lose their lives. As we passed through, we could see that the top of the wall was curved, so that you couldn’t cling on. There were also examples of the nails that stuck up from the ground so, if you did manage to climb over, you would be met by a carpet of spikes. It was only because of the collapse of the regime in 1989, and the subsequent metaphorical and literal demolition of the wall between West and East, that our journey was possible.
On the third day, we made our way to the Holocaust Memorial, which is a maze of tall and small concrete blocks. As you enter, the ground slopes and the pillars get taller; sometimes you can see a straight path out of the maze, but then you turn a corner and you’re lost again. As soon as you enter, the noise of the traffic and city disappears, and a cold silence descends. There are stairs that lead to nowhere and it was another very moving experience, symbolising lives cut short.
After this we ran on hurriedly to the Deutscher Bundestag, where we enjoyed a guided tour. You can still see the scars of Germany’s past on the walls within the fabric of the building, where they have kept the graffiti from Soviet soldiers. The cleverest architectural feature is the glass dome, symbolising transparency and openness. Members of the public can climb the dome and look down on their parliamentarians debating, so that the words “DEM DEUTSCHEN VOLKE” (“For the German People”) written on the front of the building, finally ring true. From the top of the dome, you can look out on the whole of Berlin.
In the evening we went to two shows. The first was a comedy in a bohemian Kultur Klub. Although it was evident that the actors were very talented, as it was all improvisation, we found it very difficult to understand as they spoke very quickly and much of it featured political jokes. However, the other people there were in hysterics, so evidently there is such a thing as German comedy!
With five minutes to grab a snack, we hurried on to the next show, which was at
a grand theatre, the Friedrichstadtpalast. For many people, this show was the highlight of the trip. There was no doubt that the staging, effects, choreography, and acrobatics were very impressive; there was a moment when suddenly the whole stage was filled with water! However, for me personally, I just find really loud, intrusive music very overpowering and rather unpleasant. If it hadn’t been for that it would have been a great experience.
Our last day in Berlin started with my own “Höhepunkt” (highlight), which was the service in the Berliner Dom.
We sat in the most beautifully ornate building listening to the organ, which is from the workshop of William Sauer. It felt like the first time we’d sat still since we got off the plane. The dome was mostly gold leaf and there were eight mosaics depicting the Beatitudes from the Sermon of the Mount. I’m very familiar with cathedral services, being a chorister, and was pleased to find that the liturgical text was pretty much the same… just in German obviously. We sang German hymns, and the choir sang Mendelssohn as well as the music of a few other German composers. We were even able to take communion, which was white wine in shot glasses. To add to the wonder of the experience, it was snowing as we left the service.
That afternoon we had a tour around a Stasi prison, which, due to being unsettling for obvious reasons, felt rather like we were actually prisoners. Although the tour guide was very chatty and what she was saying was very interesting, it felt like we were there for hours. As she was starting to tell us about how the Stasi tried to make it disorientating for the prisoners on purpose by not having any windows so they couldn’t see what time it was, we started to wonder whether or not it was dark outside and how long we’d been underground?.And then when she told us how the prisoners weren’t allowed to sit down and had to stand at their desks in their cells all day, we were also wondering when we would next get a chance to sit down and rest our feet! Thankfully, we did get out eventually, but it must have been absolutely horrendous and psychologically terrifying to be in that building for any longer than an afternoon.
To brighten up the final day of our trip, we finished with a typical German meal in Schöneberger. I had Schnitzel; it was very much what the Germans would call “gemütlich,” which means sort of cosy and comfortable and wholesome. The surroundings were somewhere that you could happily sit for hours with family or friends, drinking beer and stroking the dog who sat lazily in a corner. For dessert I shared a Kaiserschmarrn with a friend, which is sort of a pancake covered in icing sugar. When it arrived, there was the most enormous amount, and it was a miracle we managed to finish it between us. I don’t know how you were supposed to have a whole one to yourself!
Overall, it was a thoroughly memorable trip, with so many amazing experiences, and I’m incredibly grateful to the German Department for organising everything, especially to Mr Ball, who has infinite energy and the ability to galvanise and enthuse students. I would love to go back to Berlin, maybe even to work there for a while. It’s an incredible city, bursting with life and culture despite its past.
Florence Price
On the first day, when we arrived they were all waiting for us with signs. It was so nice finally to meet our exchanges after we had been messaging them for months, and everyone was really excited. For the rest of the day and Sunday, we spent time with our exchanges and their families. Many of us met up with other exchanges, or went to another local town.
On Monday, we went into the school and the Spanish students gave a presentation with their headmaster. Then, we went to visit the mayor, and a few people from England spoke to him. Afterwards, we went on a tour of the town and learnt about the culture. It was all very interesting and we enjoyed seeing the place in which they lived.
On Tuesday, all of us, including the Spanish exchanges, went to Gibraltar. We had a great tour up the rock and visited the caves. The monkeys were very entertaining, although they did manage to steal our Maltesers! Then we had some free time to explore the town, which was very pretty.
We were given a tour of their school on Wednesday and then we spent the day talking to some other students who were studying English. That Wednesday also happened to be Ash Wednesday and we enjoyed a special breakfast of bread and oil in the school. After school, a lot of us went to bowling and laser tag, which was a lot of fun and we all enjoyed ourselves greatly.
On Thursday, we went to a town where we saw learnt all about the local horses, then we even went to see a horse show, which was very impressive. Then we went to another town and had a tour. It was very beautiful and full of historical interest. In the evening, we had a last-day dinner, which was a Spanish style tapas, and it was great to see everyone there.
Friday was our last day in Spain. We spent the morning going to some ancient ruins on the coast. Everything was very picturesque, and you could even see Morocco! Then we explored another town and had a tour of a castle. Finally, we said tearful goodbyes to our exchanges, looking forward to seeing them in a few weeks when they came to stay with us. Samantha Capell
Many aspiring physicists and scientists dream of one day joining the ranks within the European Council of Nuclear Research, better known as CERN. CERN is an intergovernmental organisation with the goal of discovering the truths behind what the universe is made of and how it works, ultimately advancing the boundaries of human knowledge.
On the 18th of February, a group of A-level physicists had the incredible opportunity to see this staging ground for scientific advancement in person. After a short flight with breathtaking views of Crêt de la Niege and Lac Léman on the horizon, we touched down in Geneva, all excited for the days ahead. The trip started with a bang as we made our way to a Michelin Star bistro. Everyone was salivating at the prospect of the delicious dishes on offer, as we enjoyed and discussed the haute cuisine cappuccinos and applewood smoked salmon. After a spectacular dinner and some time to enjoy the view of the Parc du la Perle du Lac at night, we all rested up for the exciting day that would follow.
One lavish buffet breakfast later and after a heated quiz run moderated by Mr. Knights, the Upper Sixth students broke off into different groups to explore the sights which Geneva had to offer. Whilst some chose to enjoy their day taking advantage of the incredible ice rinks within Geneva, others spent their day exploring the historic monuments and boutiques within Geneva’s gorgeous architecture. Our group spent time utilising our cross-curricular skills translating the Reformation Wall completed by Paul Landowski and exploring the different parks and levels of the city. A ‘minor’ navigational error caused a detour leading us to the Palace of Nations and the political and humanitarian message which was written around the Broken Chair- a monument to the fragility of peace and opposition to the use of deadly, indiscriminate ordinances which have claimed and affected the lives of many. After a day of absorbing and enjoying what the city had to offer, we took a tram to the Jet d’Eau, with our newfound mementos and artisanal chocolates in tow, to see one of the most iconic monuments within the city. We left the Jet d’Eau more than a bit drenched, hopping on a ferry back to
the hotel; we could only imagine the best was still to come: tomorrow would be the day we visited CERN.
Our day started early as we caught the tram to CERN. We were all engaged in conversations about different articles and research we had found, discovering all the fascinating revelations that have been published by the Holy Grail of scientific research. On arrival we were handed our passes and swiftly made our way to Universe of Particles Museum. Once inside, the Upper Sixth and teachers quickly dispersed to read and absorb all that was on offer. There was so much to see from the project exhibit which described the research completed at CERN: from the map of the different monitoring stations and sections of the Large Hydron Collider to the preserved server which once belonged to Sir Tim Berners-Lee and held some of the first code for the World Wide Web. It was hard to walk away from the informational treasure trove within those walls, however it was only to get better. After a quick lunch and a small detour to the gift shop, we walked away with everything from books to old data tapes containing terabytes of data which was collected from the Large Hydron Collider. Our tour was led by a researcher who specialised in the analysis of the data produced by ALICE, one of the monitoring stations on the Large Hydron Collider.
After providing us with a brief overview of the history and purpose of the research done at CERN, we took a coach to the control center. This was the heart of CERN, where all information on collisions and interactions is sent initially. We learned more about the purpose of the different components and systems within the tunnels of the Large Hydron Collider as well as the different monitoring systems which the various stations use to ensure that the results are as close to perfect as can be. We all thought that our view of the command center would be limited to a presentation but, to our surprise, our guide then unveiled the command center to us; we all rushed to the window to look at all the technologies in use, as well as the readings and recordings on the various monitors and displays. After a brief discussion about the ‘Champagne Tradition’ within CERN, a secret only revealed when you visit, we all piled back onto the coach, waiting
expectantly for the last part of our tour.
Driving over the border into France, we approached the site of the LINAC 3 and LEIR, two of the smaller particle accelerators which are on site at CERN. After a brief walk we entered a building and in front of us was the LEIR. The Low Energy Ion Ring smaller collider is dedicated to taking long pulses of lead ions from the Linear Accelerator (LINAC 3) and transforming them into short dense bunches, suitable for injection into the LHC through electron cooling, thus allowing them to keep the luminosity of the beam. After our guide explained more about his role within CERN, as well as his work within ATLAS, and testing our knowledge of particle theory and particle accelerators, we picked his brain about the different inner workings of CERN. One of which was the development of different projects and research endeavors, such as the High Luminosity upgrade being integrated into the LHC before the end of 2025- potentially leading to the discovery of new particles.
The end of our tour of the LINAC 3 and LEIR marked the end of our visit to CERN. As we left the compound, we were all still in awe at what we had been able to see and the incredible opportunity which we had been allowed to experience. Everyone had a new appreciation for the work which we had spent the last two years completing and the significance of what we could strive to achieve within not only the world of Physics, but also adjacent fields such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Engineering and Computer Science. We ended the trip in much the same way as we had begun, we bid the views of the snowcapped Jura mountains goodbye and all reveled in this incredible experience.
I would like to thank Mr. Pearson, Dr. Petchsingh and Mr. Knights for giving the Upper Sixth students a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience this. I cannot speak for all, but I can say that I have a new appreciation as to how my chosen subject at university could be used to further this international initiative and I would be a fool to not try and develop that.
CERN truly is a group which stands for its mission: Research, Technology, Collaboration, Education.
Theodora Hamilton-Holbrook
This year saw another exciting and successful year in Psychology, with our first set of A-level results. We welcomed a second Psychology cohort into the department and said goodbye to our first ever cohort of Psychology students in King’s.
Mrs Payne joined the department in September, bringing her warmth and positivity as well as engaging and exciting lessons. Upper Sixth students spent the Autumn Term studying how the brain works, and considering how nerve cells communicate with each other through electrical and chemical messages within the body and the brain. Where better to start than the human brain, which is one of the most complex and fascinating of all biological systems?
Students took part in discussions around the different functions of the brain and whether they are localised in specific areas. They investigated neural plasticity which is the apparent ability of the brain to change and adapt its structures and processes because of experience and new learning. Students also considered how the abilities of the brain can move or be redistributed, rather than lost following damage or trauma. With Mrs Kent , the Upper Sixth spent the Autumn Term looking into classification and diagnosis of schizophrenia. Students explored how the patients are diagnosed with the disorder, the issues surrounding the classification and diagnosis in the real world, as well as looking at the different biological and psychological explanations for the onset. The course then investigates the different treatments of schizophrenia, weighing up the appropriateness and effectiveness of those treatments.
During the Spring Term they studied forensic psychology with Mrs Payne. The course explores how people become offenders, whether as a result of their biology (focusing specifically on candidate genes and the endocrine system), their environmental upbringing, or their unconscious personality and a
deviant Superego, whilst also looking at the historical explanations of identifying criminal facial structures. The students found the historical explanation to be a particularly interesting discussion as it enabled them to learn and discuss the dangerous nature of Eugenics. This element of the course also provided students with the opportunity to engage with how society should or does deal with offenders and this found the students debating and discussing the efficacy of many methods including custodial sentencing.
During the Spring Term the Upper Sixth went on to look at the formation and maintenance of romantic relationships. The relationships topic covers interpersonal attraction (why are we attracted to some individuals but not others?) and the stages a relationship can go through from formation to maintenance and dissolution. The course finished with virtual and parasocial relationships, looking at the interesting relationships some people hold with celebrities.
The Lower Sixth students spent a proportion of the year studying the psychology of attachment with Mrs Payne; learning how and why babies attach to caregivers whilst also learning what happens to children if they do not form attachments. The course explores the Romanian Orphan Crisis and the consequences of extreme lack of care and provision. The students found this element of the course to be particularly challenging emotionally, but they still showed a great level of engagement and interest in such an important moment in society’s history.
With Mrs Kent, the Lower Sixth spent the first term looking at the memory topic; students are introduced to different models and psychological explanations of how memory works. They consider the differences between short term and long-term memory and the reasons why we forget. They consider questions such as how accurate eye-witness testimony is and how factors such as anxiety and
misleading information can affect our memory. During the last term students looked at Psychopathology which focuses on causes of and treatments for OCD, phobias and depression and considers questions such as how effective drug-based treatments are compared with psychological treatments.
As a department, we are proud of Lower Sixth student Posie Forrester for her exceptional entry into the Northeastern University London essay writing competition. This pre-university programme offers a wide selection of essay titles which consider a broad range of humanities and social science topics. The competition looks for intellectually curious students who show passion and academic potential, from all over the world. Posie sought help and guidance from Mrs Payne when submitting her entry for a particularly challenging question “How could psychology explain atrocious acts towards humans, such as during war times?” The Northeastern University London commended Posie for an outstanding essay in social sciences as she discussed the theories of destructive authority (Milgram), authoritarian personality and fascism (Adorno) and acceptance of authority through parental influence (Mantell). As the department continues to grow, we welcome other talented and zealous students to follow Posie’s lead to push themselves beyond the classroom.
We have to say goodbye to an exceptional Upper Sixth Psychology cohort, who have shown great enthusiasm and interest throughout the two years. It is wonderful to see that 25% of the cohort are going on to study Psychology at university, with Katie Perry receiving an offer to study Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at Cambridge. The Upper Sixth have been a wonderful group of students, who we have had the pleasure of teaching. We wish every one of them the very best in their future.
Katie Perry’s reflections of the year: As I prepare to embark on the first year of my degree course in Psychology, it seems inconceivable that I nearly dismissed the idea of studying Psychology at A level. I, like many others, had the misinformed preconception that Psychology A level was solely based on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders and that it taught students how to psychoanalyse those around them. This couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Posie ForresterOver the last two years, I have discovered that there are many branches of psychology that both inspire and fascinate me, such as memory and social influence, both of which I eagerly anticipate studying in greater depth at university. I believe that what draws me to these particular facets of psychology is that they interrelate with many other disciplines, such as biology, sociology and politics.
I have realised that to study people, you have to look both inwards and outwards, at genetics and also at the social context in which particular behaviours take place. This is not just in regard to abnormal behaviour, but in behaviour and thoughts that we all have, such as how we come to remember events. How do we know that what we remember actually happened? This psychological question is incredibly impactful as it makes us rethink how much value should be placed on our memories,
whether that be in a court or law or how we build an impression of the people we meet. I owe my passion and curiosity for Psychology to my teachers, who have encouraged me to be inquisitive, think analytically and never to accept a research study at face value.
I chose to take part in a Psychology essay competition to further my studies, especially since I’m looking to do a Psychology degree at university next calendar year. The process of writing my essay helped to solidify my understanding of social influence and expedite my interest in the subject overall.
How could Psychology explain atrocious acts towards humans, such as during war times?
Psychology is able to help many scientists learn about the world and, especially, how people’s personalities and minds form the way that the world works. The four main goals of Psychology are to describe, explain, predict, and change the behaviour and mental processes of others, e.g., Soldiers and Commanders during a war.
Stanley Milgram (1963) attempted to find an answer as to why a high proportion of Germans obeyed Hitlers commands to murder over 10 million Jews, homosexuals, people with disabilities and Gypsies during World War Two. Milgram carried out a baseline procedure that could assess how obedient people were. His findings were used to make comparisons; he thought perhaps Germans were different to people from other countries. He found there were many reasons for the Germans’ loyalty, one being natural obedience. His procedure involved 40 American men who volunteered to take part in a study that aimed to assess the
obedience of these men. An authority figure ordered each participant to give an increasingly strong shock to another person ranging from 15 to 450 volts. The shocks were fake, but the participants didn’t know this. Despite the obvious unethical problems with this study, the findings were very clear. In the presence of an authority figure, 65% of the participants were fully obedient and gave the receiver the full 450 ‘volts’; however, 12.5% of the participants stopped at 300 volts showing that they were less obedient than the majority. All participants expressed signs of extreme tension and anxiety on administering the shocks; they were seen to “sweat, tremble, stutter or bite their lips.”
Evidence from this study can be used to conclude that German soldiers who committed such brutal acts during the war were similar to Milgram’s participants as they had a high level of obedience because of the presence of Hitler and the high amount of power he held.
To support this study, Milgram (1974) followed the trial of Adolf Eichmann who oversaw the Nazi death camps in World War Two, with Eichmann’s defense stating that he was only obeying orders. This led Milgram to propose that these people believe they are acting for someone else i.e., they are an ‘agent’. These agents experience high anxiety when they realise their acts are wrong but feel powerless to disobey the hierarchy. This state is called an agentic state, and the shift from autonomy (having independence and responsibility to do their own thing) to ‘agency’ is called the agentic shift. The agentic state, and shift, can explain the atrocity of some acts towards humans, particularly war. For example, in World War II, the Nazis had to obey Hitler, they had to send Jews to concentration camps, there was forced labour of the Jews as well as sexual slavery of women. Those who disagreed with his policies and actions, still did their job as they felt they couldn’t disobey Hitler due to the lack of their own power; they were simply agents of Hitler’s regime.
It was a delight to cross paths with some RP OVs again this year. William Head (Ca 2021) shared his new-found talents in Sanskrit with Upper Remove Buddhism pupils, while Jack Wharton (S 2022) returned to celebrate his success in gaining a place to read Theology at Oxford. President of the Oxford Union, Charlie Macintosh (Cr 2020), invited the department to a Union debate and dinner, where we also caught up with Edd Peckston (K 2017), Ted Poel (Os 2020), and Tom Angell (Cr 2021).
In the warm-up for the debate, honourary RP student George Capell (U6 Br) took to the dispatch box despite not being a member of the Union, no doubt as a prelude to his upcoming time at the Cambridge Union.
In September, we again visited the Cheltenham Literature Festival, which Gabriel Tucker (L6 Ca) described as follows:
“On the 7th October, a group of Sixth Form RP students went to the Cheltenham Literature Festival to see a talk by philosopher and author Karen Armstrong about her book Sacred Nature. In the book, Armstrong argues that if we want to avoid environmental catastrophe, we need to change our behaviour. In short, we need to rekindle our relationship with nature and the Earth.
In the book tent next to Ms. Armstrong was Hollywood actor, Stanley Tucci, who was also doing a signing at the festival, with a line that extended out of the marquee and halfway through Cheltenham city centre.
Tucci might be said to have stolen the show with his mere presence. However, the man who really stole the show was none other than Dr. Dorsett. His immaculate clothing and sense of style stirred up chatter among his pupils, outranking that of even Mr. Tucci.”
For the past few years, philosophers in the Lower Remove have entered for the School Certificate in Philosophy issued by Northeastern University, London. Overall, 21 certificates were awarded, including Grade 9s for Kieran Balding, Oliver Hamilton, Olivia Kent, Holly Rainger, Jasmine Shukla, and Lana Woollaston.
This year’s book recommendations:
• Julian Baggini, How to Think Like a Philosopher
• Sarah Bakewell, Humanly Possible: 700 years of Humanist Enquiry, Free Thinking & Hope
• Clare Mac Cumhaill and Rachael Wiseman, Metaphysical Animals: How Four Women Brought Philosophy Back to Life
• Richard Powers, The Overstory
This year seventeen Bronze, six Silver and four Gold Qualifications were awarded to King’s pupils by Trinity College.
There had been a frenzy of activity leading up to a welcome ‘live’ moderation with a visiting assessor before the end of the academic year. As ever, the work produced by our pupils thoroughly impressed the examiner.
So, how did we get here?
The new recruits have been raring to go from the start. Our Silver and Gold cohorts were particularly keen to get their leadership projects up and running and these did not disappoint!
The Bronze pupils got stuck straight into their projects, beginning with developing their own arts practice. The year ended with lots of activities taking place with their skills-share projects.
The Silver pupils had plenty of opportunities to create new challenges with some choosing the production of Godspell to develop their arts performance. Some chose to lead workshops and organise mini plays with the Lower Years. We even had a handmade table and a bespoke dress made from an old shirt.
Early on in this year’s process, Gold leadership projects got underway. The first event began with Freya Hunt (L6BR) facilitating a unique ‘Floating Gallery’ in the Wightman Studio. Freya displayed her own ceramics along with other pupils’ creative art.
Mitali Prasad (L6CA), Louisa Kerton (L6OS) and Jessica Edwards (L6K) hosted an Open Mic Night in the Boat House. Their event was well received with several performers and a busy audience.
On 27th April, the Wightman Studio was transformed into a mini art-gallery - a collection of amazing visual arts works by our Silver and Gold Arts Award candidates and a performance space showcasing their performance arts works. As well as being a celebration of the new works produced for their qualification, the whole evening had actually been organised by two of our Gold students: Katy Campbell-Ferguson (L6CL) and George Sutcliffe (L6W).
Time then to breathe and put the finishing touches to portfolios documenting these extraordinary arts journeys. The leadership projects are just the tip of the iceberg, the visible audience outcomes of work created but just a fragment of the work undertaken.
Pupils from Bronze upwards were also composing and publishing online their reviews of other live arts events throughout the year, and our annual edition of Gold Standard, where our Gold Students publish their articles debating prevalent arts issues, went to press in May. The whole magazine is available in an online format at https:// madmagz.com/magazine/2069243
Coming full circle to a successful moderation in June was the perfect end to a spirited year. Congratulations to all involved! The pupils have been inspirational and we look forward to them inspiring a whole new cohort in September.
Dance at King’s this year has been busy with trips, shows and festivals. We have had over 60 pupils participate in dance, which has been our biggest cohort for a few years. We have introduced dance uniform for the first-time, including tops and hoodies to be worn for clubs and events.
Right at the start of the year, we began rehearsing for the second-ever Disney Dance Tour. 29 dancers committed themselves to a demanding rehearsal schedule in preparation for their digital audition for the trip. Their hard work paid off, as they flew through their audition and were invited to perform on a professional Disney stage. Rehearsals continued right up until we left for the trip. It was an early start but a smooth journey to Disneyland Paris. The highlights from the tour included a dance workshop with the Dance Captain himself teaching the girls a routine from their current performances, and an incredible show on the Videotropolis Stage, for which the girls should be so proud of themselves.
This year we launched our first ever Cheer Dance Club for Lower Fourth and Upper Fourth pupils. This club was pupilled by two Lower Sixth students, Millie Judge and Tilly Barwell. I would like to thank them both for their dedication to running the club; we are hoping to keep
it running next year.
We were also able to perform again for the first time since COVID at the Netball Superball match in February. Dancers from the Lower Fourth at KSW and RGS came together to learn two routines to perform at the event, one to open the match and the other to perform during the first and second quarter.
Every year we try to see a dance show at the theatre and this year we were lucky enough to see Mathew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty. 33 dancers went off to Birmingham Hippodrome to see the spectacular gothic romance in a magical world of fairies and vampires. All the pupils were in awe of the dancing, costume and set design.
The Senior Dancers received an invite to perform at the Droitwich & Worcester City School Games Dance Festival 2023. The Senior Dancers performed alongside year groups from Reception to Sixth Form for schools across Worcestershire. They performed a unique and quirky dance with a horror theme, including daring lifts and drops.
The year ended with a huge dance showcase Night at the Movies featuring dances from all year groups, solos, duets and silks performances. There were over 60 dancers and 30 performances and
many costume changes. Although it was a longer show, it was an enjoyable evening; the dancers should be so proud of themselves and all the hard work they put into rehearsals.
I should like to commend the Upper Sixth Senior Dancers for being such a wonderful company with whom to work, the support they had for each other and their willingness to help whenever asked. I should also like to thank Hannah Blackwell for being a fantastic Senior Dancer and always going above and beyond. I would like to welcome Mitali Prasad and Katie Burgess as they take on the Senior Dancer role this next year.
The 2022-2023 academic year introduced a significant change for the Drama Department. We were delighted to welcome Autumn Beddoe to the brand-new role of Drama Graduate Assistant. Immediately, this allowed the department to offer additional experiences to our pupils, most notably developing our relationship with Worcester Cathedral: more on that to follow.
Our flagship Autumn Term production for our senior students was The Madness of George III. There was strong interest and, after an impressive audition process, we were able to assemble an outstanding cast, who worked as a true ensemble to bring Alan Bennett’s witty masterpiece to life. (Read more about the production on page 44)
Meanwhile, our exam classes were proudly displaying their devised pieces as public performances, gaining valuable stagecraft experience to take back into their studies. The A-level pieces particularly deserved the wider public sharing: a welcome return after previous restrictions. Our students were exploring the work of two different practitioners: “Theatre of Cruelty” pioneer, Antonin Artaud, and physical theatre/verbatim company, DV8. Both pieces were interdependent on the responses of their audiences, so the additional public showcase added a wonderful dimension to their work. The King’s Community experienced an unsettling and thoughtprovokingly interactive piece inspired by Maria Abramovich’s 1970s performance art piece, Rhythm 0, alongside a physically impressive dramatisation of the transcripts of specially commissioned research interviews into the work of criminal psychologists. The spirit of inquiry and innovation amongst our students was clearly as high as ever this year!
Also in the Autumn Term, Mike Southern from Stage-Ed joined us again to use his extensive West End stage experience to introduce our Upper Remove pupils to Blood Brothers. Meanwhile, local artist, Daryl Singleton returned to support the Lower Removes, leading her now legendary stage make-up workshops with a full range of blood and gore, and to lend her professional design eye to the productions. She also willingly faced a grilling from Silver Arts Award pupils, who interviewed her about her fascinating career for their portfolios.
Our traditional annual London Theatre Tour was very much “back to normal” as a Spring Term highlight. This year’s cohort started their experience at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, resplendent since its recent refurbishment, and our interactive backstage tour was truly inspiring. Our visit to the award-winning musical, Back to the Future was not just inspiring, but truly jaw-dropping. The show itself is a joyous, toe-tapping spectacle, but the DeLorean well and truly steals the show at the end! (No spoilers; it has to be seen to be believed!) Saturday morning saw King’s pupils on stage at the Fortune Theatre. At the home of The Woman in Black, our pupils got to perform extracts from the play on the very stage, amongst the show’s actual scenery and props. It was a privilege for our pupils to be put through their paces in such a professional setting before being scared out of their wits in the audience at the matinee performance! The journey back was…eventful! An electronics failure saw our coach temporarily stranded on the M40 late on Saturday night, but with coach company and traffic police ensuring our safety, we realised we were in the best possible company in an emergency; there was no panicking: our pupils sang their way through the whole adventure! With absolute disciplined focus on instructions and good-humour throughout, whilst wittily rewriting song lyrics for the situation, they were a credit to the School but, most importantly, to themselves!
The Spring Term continued with not just one production, but two. Miss Williams directed Godspell in the John Moore Theatre. With Mr Taranczuk as Musical Director and Miss Lane choreographing, it was a truly uplifting piece. Rosie Brookes excelled as a poignantly cast female Jesus, ably supported by the whole ensemble. Read more on page 46. Meanwhile, Miss Beddoe was directing a cast assembled from Lower Remove to Upper Sixth in a production of Model Behaviour: a witty comedy exploring the fascinating dynamics within a school’s Model United Nations team. Our ‘home’ performance, in the Wightman Studio,
in front of visiting National Theatre Mentor Director, Sammy Glover, was a roaring success. Miss Beddoe and the company then navigated a complicated transfer to our professional partner theatre, The Swan, with equal success, despite some enforced cast changes and a host of scheduling issues. Their performance during the Easter holidays was outstanding and acclaimed by the festival audience.
Equally well-received were the efforts of our talented Lower Sixth students who supported the Cathedral in their Interchange Schools’ Day: an interactive day exploring the theme of county lines. This was an ambitious project tackling the issues associated with child criminal exploitation, and the forum theatre piece, directed by Richard Compton, was an equally ambitious device to illustrate the issues to the assembled audience from a range of local schools and colleges. The Lower Sixth performed (and crewed) with slick professionalism and were a credit to themselves and to Miss Beddoe’s nurturing facilitation of this important community theatre project.
The Spring Term was rounded off by two more fantastic public showcases from our exam years. The first was an eclectic compilation of our Fifth Form pupils’ chosen scripted extracts, ranging from the froth and flamboyance of Harriet Montgomery and Eric Dykes performing Noel Coward’s Private Lives, to Joe Stone and Emilia D’Adda’s heartbreakingly naturalistic staging of Lungs by Duncan Macmillan. The second audience opportunity was seeing our Upper Sixth stage scenes from Peter Brook’s The Man Who: a fascinating dramatisation of Oliver Sacks’s famed neurological case studies, adeptly handled by our young cast and designers. Finally, a little more
‘commercial’ was our theatre trip to see Blood Brothers at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry. This long-running iconic production never fails to deliver, and King’s pupils never fail to deliver either, being superb ambassadors for the School when out and about en masse at public events.
The final term continued with high energy, with another theatre visit, this time to the New Theatre, Oxford, to see The Ocean at the End of the Lane.
Neil Gaiman’s original fantasy novel is a dark and twisted coming-of-age fairy tale, and the National Theatre’s award-winning production, out on tour, captured the distorted perspectives of childhood memory and imagination to stunning effect, wowing and inspiring our Removes pupils.
That same week, the Lower Years pupils were putting the finishing touches to their own production. It is always a challenge to find suitable vehicles for the talents of our youngest pupils. Some plays written with young performers in mind can seem dissatisfyingly ‘twee’, whilst plays that capture the imaginations of young audiences, are often written for older performers and can demand too high a skillset from our developing performers. We turned to David Calcutt’s imaginative reworking of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, Treasure Island. (Gold Arts Award student, Ben Swarbrick, lends a critical eye to the production on page 48.) As the narrative of the adult Jim Hawkins, played with maturity and gravitas by Henry Friend, sprang to life in flashback form, so too did the staging. The young chorus were disciplined and dynamic in manipulating the multipurpose morphing set that transformed from inn to ship to island, and provided atmospheric support to Joe TaylorEdwards’s captivating turn as young Jim Hawkins. Cecily Jarvis excelled as a ruthless Long John Silver and the ensemble was littered with stunning cameos, including Amelia Walmsley’s poised performance as Mrs Hawkins, an energetic portrayal of the tormented Billy Bones by Luca Sterckx, and a deliciously villainous performance of Blind Pew by Alice Woodford. Florence Bulbulia and Evelyn Roberts’s caustic doubleact as egotistical Squire Trelawney and pragmatic Doctor Livesey was excellent, as too was the devious characterisation of Silver’s associates, including Sophie Purves as Rebecca Silver and Flo Sinfield as Israel Hands. It is impossible to
namecheck every outstanding performer, although we must not overlook Daniel Lewis’s delightfully comedic turn as the cheese-obsessed castaway, Ben Gunn, and there was equal talent backstage amongst our Lower Years technical crew, overseen sensitively by Upper Sixth mentors, Sophie Pitts and Thora Dykes in their final KSW show. (Sophie can still be seen in a wonderful series of tweeted video clips @KSWDrama from an ‘in conversation’ film captured with her and George Capell reminiscing on seven years of glorious theatre making in their time at KSW.)
Even the end of the school year was not quite the end of the 2022-23 story. Our Speech and Stagecraft students were busy putting the finishing touches to their LAMDA examination pieces and their assessments ran into the summer holidays. The extra effort clearly paid dividends as the results were outstanding – 90% Distinction and 9% Merit! Huge congratulations to all the pupils and to Mr Hollyhead and Mrs Campbell, who guided them to success. The quality of the pieces had been seen earlier in the term by the audience who attended our Speech and Stagecraft Open Evening, but there will be a further chance to see some of the pieces early in the new academic year when Ben Swarbrick publishes the digital showcase he filmed and edited for his Gold Arts Award right at the end of the year. Look out for that.
It has been a year of ensemble and individual successes. Our pride in King’s pupils making their artistic journeys with external organisations like the British Youth Music Theatre has continued, and has included Flo Sinfield gaining a coveted place with Stagebox, and Elizabeth Radford emulating her brother, Tim, and other King’s pupils in joining the ranks of the National Youth Theatre. We salute all our talented performers, directors, designers and technicians who augment their King’s experiences working with wider companies and who prove themselves such wonderful artistic ambassadors for the King’s School.
Although the end of term was tinged with sadness, saying goodbye to Miss Williams and Miss Beddoe, who move on to pastures new, we finished the year with joy and pride in the work of our drama students and full of excitement for what 2023-24 has in store!
It could be argued that Alan Bennett provides two-forthe-price-of-one with The Madness of George III. On the one hand, it is George’s personal tragedy, a battle with the self in every sense of the word: a well-documented battle with his seemingly tenuous grip on reality, and a personal battle with his sense of identity, man or king? At the same time, the play ponders a universal question: what happens in a power vacuum? Whilst the personal story is compelling, The Madness of George III is no sentimental, historical docudrama. The shifting sands of the play’s episodic structure constantly catch you off guard, as the viewpoint repeatedly turns on a sixpence. The scenes duck and weave in and out of the corridors of power, where it is laid bare just how many individuals maintain a self-serving foot in both camps. The subject matter is dark, but Bennett’s quintessential wit is always present and, as with the best theatrical parables, the most striking lines straddle two camps themselves. Bennett himself wrote of the piece, “There are some fortuitous parallels with contemporary politics; and had the play been written before the downfall of Mrs Thatcher there would have been more.” As it was, the audience of the original 1991 production would certainly have recognised the vultures circling as a reflection on the previous year’s politicking.
When Madness cropped up in conversation in May of 2022 about possible productions, Boris Johnson was effectively a “dead man walking”. Having an opportunity to play with that question of what happens in a power vacuum seemed too delicious a theatrical prospect to pass up and we knew that our probable company of fine young performers and crew would be politically savvy enough to relish the satire. As we started planning to stage history, history started reshaping itself around us. Boris fell on his proverbial sword in July, just as we had our theatrical licence confirmed, so production visions evolved over the summer in the very real power vacuum created by the convoluted leadership election contest. Our wonderful cast joined the process at the start of September and, before we knew it, we found ourselves amidst A Tale of Two Lizzies. (For future generations of Vigornians, who may stumble across this piece in the King’s Archives, a moment of clarity: one was a remarkable woman whose seventy years of service to her country will go down as one of the most inspiring examples of sovereignty and leadership of all time, the other was outmanoeuvred by a lettuce.)
Staging this play, at this time, proved very inspiring and the production was outstanding. Whilst the ensemble work was exceptional, a play such as this stands on the shoulders of its lead performer. We were privileged to have George Capell in the role. A stalwart of every single KSW production in his time here, including the streamed performances
during the pandemic, George gave a stellar performance in his final show. On the one hand, he wittily portrayed the ludicrous arrogance that attended the pomp and ceremony of the Georgian court. On the other, he captured the raw humanity and vulnerability of a man in turmoil. Scenes were harrowing one moment and brimming with playful laughter the next. It was an electrifying performance that astounded audiences. An ensemble of talented performers ensured that this production was truly cohesive and matched George’s professionalism stride for stride. Maple Unwin’s portrayal of Dr Warren, the man who “breaks” the King “as one would a horse” in order to rebuild his shattered wits was a masterclass in chilling ruthlessness. This contrasted Sophie Pitts’s tender performance as George’s wife, Queen Charlotte, a beautifully nuanced characterisation of the seemingly lone voice who remembers that the King is also a man. Equally nuanced was Emilia D’Adda’s turn as William Pitt. Emilia’s poise and gravitas perfectly captured Pitt’s aloof character but also his desperation as a leader in crisis. Parliament scenes between Pitt and his allies, Thurlow, played by Riya Mayilvahan, and Dundas, played by Poppy Young, were superbly composed, yet still allowing Bennett’s witty script to sparkle. This was especially true when the opposing sides of the House clashed. Max Barclay’s Machiavellian Sheridan, and the deliciously unhinged aggression of Freddie Horsfall’s Fox, were the perfect scheming foil to Pitt’s government in its increasingly precarious state. Meanwhile, amidst
George’s torturously tragic decline and Parliament’s bitter feuding, Bennett had penned scenes of glorious comic relief for the Prince of Wales. Henry Halford’s joyous turn as the narcissistic Prince, sensing how tantalisingly close real power is, was riotously funny, and his rapport with Archie Gück as the dimwitted Duke of York was a delight for the audience. The comic details with which both infused their parts ensured that the production had its essential lighter texture. The supporting cast of courtiers, politicians and doctors were totally invested in their roles and the cohesion of the whole production; special mention must go to Alfred Kelsey, who provided wonderful atmospheric context as our live harpsichordist.
The play’s episodic scenes transitioned seamlessly on Mr Haynes’s cleverly designed minimalist stage, including its rotating four-poster bed! As ever, Mr Haynes was supported by an able crew of pupil technicians, whose independence and initiative ensured that the overall audience experience was as professional as ever.
Director, Mrs Parry, could not have been more proud of an ambitious production executed to a superb standard; it was a timely and timeless production which will be long-remembered by JMT audiences. SP
After our last participation in 2019, we were thrilled to once again be selected as part of the National Theatre Connections Festival. This year, The King’s Company brought to life Model Behaviour by Jon Brittain, a witty comedy pondering some of life’s most important questions.
The natural humour and cartoon personalities of the characters connected really well with the cast and they instantly embodied the spirit of the show. The original ensemble, consisting of nine pupils from Upper Remove and Fifth Form, invited the audience into the Drama Studio to join their “classroom” for their first Model United Nations debate. Their performances were full of energy and carried by a fantastic sense of professionalism amidst the challenges of home performance week.
The show centres upon a small class discussing important world issues and exploring the challenges of working together, to varying degrees of success and excitement. The debate was chaired by older student Mayo, played with expert comedic timing by Eric Dykes. However, not all the students were as enthused by the debate as Ronni (played by Tim Radford), who had spent his whole life dreaming of working in politics. Tim captured the stroppy, toddler-esque energy of this character fantastically ,and played against Esther Good’s powerful and attitude-filled portrayal of Caitlin with beautiful balance.
Sammy Glover, our associate director from the National Theatre, commended the pupils on their performance. They discussed the rehearsal process with the company after the show and it provided a great way to reflect on their performances ahead of the upcoming transition to
the Partner Theatre Festival stage. The cast really enjoyed being able to share their rehearsal process experience with Sammy and hear a professional opinion.
The Partner Theatre Festival was this year hosted by The Swan Theatre and it was great to be performing on home soil with other local schools and companies. Special mention must go to Tigo Marskell, Lois Unwin and Esme Wilson for stepping in as understudies for this performance. Their hard work and dedication to the process over such a short time-frame was excellent and they infused a new level of energy into the performance.
These performances could not have been achieved without the technical support of Steven McFarlane, who translated my ideas into dynamic lighting states, capturing both the frantic energy and touching moments across the play. We chose only to use chairs and a table for our staging so that the stage could be easily reconstructed to become different areas of the school.
As a new staff member and the proud director of this piece, I was overjoyed at the opportunity to work with such a talented and enthusiastic cast. I spent the process buzzing with ideas of how to ignite the cast and bring to life the characters and narrative of the play. I would also like to extend my thanks to the cast and their families for supporting the Connections process from initial auditions in October to our final performance in April. The patience and commitment from all were greatly appreciated. Congratulations to both the original and The Swan cast for a wonderful show; you all did yourselves and the School proud.
A Musical conceived and originally directed by JohnMichael Tebelak. Music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
Opening the first Removes Musical to grace our John Moore Theatre stage since 2019, our highly committed and talented cast presented Godspell JR. in February 2023.
In the first half of the Autumn Term, I met with the show’s musical director, Simon Taranczuk, to discuss and consider a variety of shows available for the upcoming Removes Musical. Godspell JR. was one option that we returned to several times, as it provides scope for a flexible cast size with only three named roles, meaning we would be able to showcase a range of our talented vocalists throughout the production and equally, provide our actors with their individual moments to shine. Often compared to Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell, in my opinion, is built of more memorable, catchy songs, and it was a pleasure to embark on a directorial project using a less ‘mainstream’ musical score.
Early in the process, excited to get started with our vision for the show, I met with our technical director, Paul Haynes. Together, we assembled our concept for the set, ultimately deciding to push the time-period of the piece forward by three-decades to transform our theatre into an exclusive, industrial underground 1990’s nightclub. Keen to expose a large LED crucifix looming over the stage to visually foreshadow how Jesus would meet his untimely end, we built a minimalist ‘playing’ space, keeping the structure simplistic and exposed, which gave the cast scope to build their own haven in a celebratory retelling of the parables.
“Godspell JR. was my first production at King’s, and I was so shocked to be cast as the principal role because Jesus isn’t typically ‘female’. Nevertheless, I was thrilled! Playing a female Jesus was so much fun because I hadn’t seen any versions like it online, so it was amazing to have the opportunity to create my own character from scratch. Playing Jesus also came with some challenges though. As the songs are written for a
male voice, the initial solution to sing them up the octave meant they were too high for my vocal range, so they had to be transposed to a lower key. The whole cast worked so hard in rehearsals, with some aspects of the musical, such as the sheep and goat scene, proving more challenging than others, but we all persevered. All For The Best was my favourite musical number to perform because we incorporated a little bit of tap dancing into it which I loved! The energy was also electric on stage with the stage lights flashing. My advice for pupils looking to participate in future school musicals is: go for it! There is never any judgement, just try your best!”
- Rosie Brookes (Jesus)
For those interested in the narrative or needing a slight refresher: a group of disciples help Jesus to tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, are employed as the story of Jesus’ life dances across the stage. The acting scenes in Godspell follow lessons from the parable of the Persistent Widow, the Pharisee and the tax collector, the official who refused to forgive, the Good Samaritan, the rich man and Lazarus, the Sower and the prodigal son. The plot dissolves hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, where Judas (expertly played by Tigo Marskell), horrified with disbelief, realises that he has been chosen to “do what he has to do.” Jesus’ messages of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life in this electrifying version of the production.
“To be a part of a production is always a joy but to be cast as a principal role was equally as exciting as it was terrifying!
I really enjoyed the freedom that came with the role of Judas as he can be portrayed in so many ways and to be able to experiment during the rehearsal process was a fun-filled experience. It is always amazing to see how the production grows and comes to life as everyone becomes more comfortable. Of all the musical numbers, my personal favourite was most definitely All for The Best. It is a chaotic song, with the lyrics progressively getting faster each verse, as did the dance moves. If anyone wishes to participate in the next school musical, my advice would be that no matter how nervous you’re feeling, just push that feeling aside and try your best.” - Tigo Marskell (Judas)
Godspell JR. was a challenging musical to direct as the acting scenes and songs work together in tandem, encapsulating every next move, meaning that the cast would rarely have the option to leave the stage as each new parable requires an energised team-effort of re-enactments and engagement. I must take a moment here to commend the entire cast, and their family’s forbearance, with the commitment to the rehearsal process. It is not often you find a piece which requires almost all of the cast to attend (with some exceptions) each acting rehearsal and I offer my sincere thanks for your understanding and support with this. I must echo a similar thanks to Mr Taranczuk for his commitment to this musical at during such a busy time of change in the Music Department and Miss Beddoe for her unwavering support in rehearsals and multi-talented approach in assisting with the singing and choreography.
“I felt extremely proud to be cast as one of the main roles in Godspell. John the Baptist was a great role for me,
and I enjoyed everything, including my costume! Applause from the audience is the most rewarding thing you can get! I had lots of fun during the rehearsals: they allowed me to connect and venture deeper into my character. We Beseech Thee was my personal favourite song. I loved everything about it, and I was so energetic when I heard it for the first time. Honestly, being part of a school production is one of the best experiences and you can look back on when you’re older and say: “Wow! Those were some great times.” It gives you an increasing confidence boost and is a lot of fun!” - James Christoforou (John the Baptist)
It is clear from many of our cast quotations in this article that there was one song enjoyed by many in the company. A special mention must go to Bella Crompton, who had the ambitious task of performing the most acclaimed song in the production, Day by Day. Bella did exceptionally well and, considering her nerves performing in the early stage of rehearsals, it was lovely to see her confidence and self-belief shine through. I must also mention Ava Hackett, otherwise known as ‘pipes’; at the end of each performance I went to see Ava to inform her of the openmouthed audience members who were absolutely mesmerised by her talent, as a singer, and the absolute ‘belt’ that she hit in her solo number. It has been a privilege to see Ava develop as a performer and really come into her own in this role.
“My solo Oh Bless The Lord My Soul has to be one of the most challenging songs I’ve ever performed. When Mr Taranczuk first played it to me, I wasn’t sure it would suit my vocal range, but after listening to it and practising singing the high
notes, I finally got the hang of it. The rehearsal process was difficult because, at first, the production made no sense to me but after the weekend rehearsals we had, it was starting to come together. To anyone looking to take part in future musicals, I would say listen to the songs as often as you can - the more you listen to and learn them, the better you will sound.” - Ava Hackett (soloist)
There were many fun-filled moments within the rehearsal process, markedly when we were casting for our “King Narrator One” who leads, through the means of rap, the Pharisee and particularly The Seeds in Scene 7, “The Sower”. Sam Perkins was our clear choice, having auditioned with a piece performed through rap from Hamilton Emelia Simpkin (Falling Seed) and Louis Healey-Maddams (Rock Seed and Beautiful City soloist) successfully captured the comic timing required to create two characters who needed to take a more literal approach to the meaning of their character names! As a whole cast, we also experimented with our approach to the “Son of Man” parable. It suddenly dawned on us that The Sheep could be reassembled as the Peace and Love group, taking the laid-back approach, routinely confused by the direction of Jesus (especially Caitlin Rutter’s sheep!) It was decided that the Goats, the group Jesus sends to their place in ‘eternal punishment’ could portray the darker, rockier group in the parable, using their hands to portray the ‘devil horns’ or ‘rock on’ sign as it is more generally referred to as. The use of placards provided our audience some visual guidance, alongside Jesus’s realisation that they were unable to understand sheep language! Alongside this, I would like to extend a huge thank you to Esther Good for teaching Rosie Brookes the proper pronunciation of the
Hebrew blessing for bread, which was performed so beautifully and allowed chance for reflection towards the end of the production, accompanied by the splendorous instrumental piece, On the Willows
“Despite having previously done plays at King’s, this was my first musical. I enjoyed learning the dance choreography and performing the songs. During the dress rehearsal, one of the principal cast members was unwell, and I was chosen as his stand-in before the show. As I am not a singer, we had to change the solos to group numbers; this sudden change was challenging for everyone but luckily, he was back for opening night. It was challenging to rehearse in the drama studio not knowing the proportions of the stage as the set was being built, but it was worth it, as the set turned out amazingly. I enjoyed performing All For The Best as the choreography was fast and looked good with the flashing wristbands. For anyone looking to participate in a musical at King’s the best advice is to “just go for it” as there is a place for everyone.” - Esther Good
The Drama Department at King’s holds, and will always hold, a very special place in my heart that I will look back on with the greatest fondness. The week before Godspell JR. opened to our audiences, I had accepted a new teaching position for the next academic year and had only a short time to process that this would be my last production at King’s. There are not enough words to express how much of a pleasure it has been to work with such talented and dedicated pupils across the Foundation in both academic and cocurricular drama settings over my threeyears here. Thank you for the memories.
Selecting a show for our youngest performers is always a challenge. We knew there was great talent in the Lower Years, but it is a big step up from primary school experiences to perform in a full-length stage play. Striking the right balance is key. All too often, plays written with young performers in mind have a certain ‘twee’ quality that does not always capture the imagination. At the same time, plays written to appeal to young audiences, may demand more advanced skills than have yet been developed. Selecting the 2023 show had an even greater consideration: the last time the Lower Years staged a straight play was 2018, when our current Sixth Form produced The Railway Children. The planned 2020 production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was a casualty of lockdown, and our final return to ‘normality’ only began last year with the musical Mary Poppins Jnr.
Turning to the wonderful range of Oxford Playscripts for inspiration, it wasn’t a huge stretch to imagine our current Lower Fourth and Upper Fourth pupils as pirates in David Calcutt’s wonderful adaptation of Treasure Island. Indeed, “Aaargh!” became our rehearsal watchword, not to mention the foundation of some very enthusiastic performance warm-ups!
Auditions confirmed what we already knew about the plethora of talent in the Lower Years. We could have cast the production many times over, but certain combinations stood out, and we went into rehearsals with the perfect ensemble. Over the weeks, working with Mrs Payne and Mrs Parry, new talent came to the fore, and scenes were adapted to the creative skills of the group.
Working to a schedule is tough for anyone. Working in the theatre, knowing that there is no escape and that a paying audience awaits you at a fixed point, brings added pressures, but also builds remarkable resilience. It would be fair to say that we went into production week with some trepidation. These weren’t just uncharted waters for the Hispaniola but for most of the cast and crew. However, it was clear midway through
the technical rehearsal that something special was in the air. The dress rehearsal was…interesting! Stuck in a loop that resembled something from Groundhog Day, we could only hope that the old theatrical adage of “bad dress rehearsal, great first night,” would ring true. My goodness, didn’t it just?
Opening night was a triumph. Henry Friend and Joe Taylor-Edwards as the adult and young Jim Hawkins respectively, excelled in the lead roles. Henry brought sensitivity and gravitas to the older role, as Jim relived his childhood nightmares, whilst Joe animated Young Jim with outstanding energy, as the memories played out in front of the audience. Cecily Jarvis matched her co-stars stride for stride - or should that be limp for limp? - as the infamous Long John Silver. With one leg magically erased, thanks to Mr Haynes’s ingenious costume harness, Cecily brought humour to moments like the imitation of Captain Flint, the parrot, and sheer terror when Long John’s terrifying temper took over.
In the first act, Amelia Walmsley added warmth and maternal charm to her role as Mrs Hawkins, whilst Luca Sterckx brought unsettling maturity to his role as ‘Captain’ Billy Bones. Other fabulous cameos
emerged, including Alice Woodford as a frighteningly fierce Blind Pew.
Setting sail on the Hispaniola in Act Two, Florence Bulbulia, Evelyn Roberts and Matilda Evans, as Trelawney, Livesey and Smollett, supported the backbone of the action in search of Flint’s fabled treasure, whilst Zofia Waites, Nikoletta Fletcher and Flo Sinfield really came into their own as Long John’s cut-throat comrades, Morgan, Merry and Hands. Daniel Evans threatened to steal the show in Act Three with a wonderfully dramatic turn as the castaway, Ben Gunn. Who knew that “cheese” could be so theatrical and so funny?!
The production style demanded innovation and theatrical openmindedness, and the Lower Years rose to the challenge, from the constantly moving set to the stylised fight sequences.
By the time the curtain fell on our final performance, everyone was proud of what was achieved. Mr Doodes joined us for our customary toasting out of the show, and a very happy band of pirates sailed off into the sunset with the treasure of a superb production in their hearts. Congratulations to all involved: “Aaaaargh!” SP
When contemplating literature that embodies a genre, few works are as emblematic as Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Originally published in 1883, this novel has many genres, serving as both a simple children’s book and an enthralling adventure and coming-of-age story. Our School’s decision to undertake a production of this timeless classic proved to be a interesting journey into the golden era of piracy envisioned by Stevenson.
Given the iconic nature of the source material, the production adeptly captured the quintessential pirate archetypes: the unmistakable skull and crossbones flags, eyepatches, and peg legs. The cast masterfully delivered an authentic experience that transported the audience to the high seas. The attention to detail, such as the set design resembling a ship’s side and the crow’s nest aloft, dynamically shaped the atmosphere, transforming with the play of lighting to evoke varying moods such as a fortress, bar and ship.
The intricacies of the costumes further impressed, evoking a historical context. Jim Hawkins donned simple
As one of the highlights of the Drama Department calendar, we once again took our Fifth Form and Sixth Form pupils to Covent Garden for our annual London Theatre Tour.
We kicked off the experience with a backstage tour around the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in all its glory, after the 2021 renovations. The fabulous tour guides kept things very entertaining as our pupils learnt all about the theatre’s history and royal links to King George III and the Prince Regent, coincidentally well linked to our Senior Production.
On the Friday evening, after taking over the downstairs of Byron Burger for a pre-theatre meal, we were transported through time with Back to the Future the Musical. This show was certainly a spectacle to behold and really inspired our performers and designers for their future.
18th-century attire: a plain shirt and brown bottoms, effectively grounding the production in its time. Particularly striking was Long John Silver’s portrayal, a character renowned for his missing leg. Instead of a conventional peg-leg, a leg crutch with attached flintlock holders was ingeniously crafted. This innovation called for a more expressive use of facial gestures to compensate for restricted arm and leg movements.
While I have mentioned the visual elements of this play, a significant amount of my enjoyment came from the actors’ performances; most of the cast delivered in their lines in a compelling way, selling their characters’ motives and beliefs.
I believe this allowed for the original’s theme of duality to be maintained in this production. For example, the performance of both adult and younger Jim Hawkins showed a more mature version of himself compared to a young, adventurous youth.
Central to Treasure Island is its actionpacked narrative. The challenge of choreographing dramatic sword fights with a youthful cast led to a unique decision: a choreographed dance sequence. Though the idea had its merits, the execution, amplified by dramatic lighting and sound effects,
fell somewhat short in delivering the anticipated peak of tension for me. However, the true highlight emerged through the artful manipulation of lighting and props. Creatively employed throughout, dim lights in Jim’s abode and a sombre nocturnal glow seamlessly transformed the stage. Yet, the lighting ingenuity occurred during the island scenes, as Jim sprinted through the simulated forest, surrounded by the illusion of rustling leaves. Notably inspired by Tom Morris, the director of War Horse, the ingenious use of props accentuated pivotal scenes, from shipboard settings to fortress scenarios, even simulating the sensation of being besieged by horses.
In summary, the school’s rendition of Treasure Island stood as an undeniable triumph. The actors’ commendable performances were magnified by the immersive stage design and inventive prop deployment, collectively creating a memorable experience. Both script delivery and character portrayals upheld Stevenson’s vision, serving as a tribute to this historical piece.
Ben SwarbrickAfter soaking up the atmosphere of Covent Garden on Saturday, we were immersed into the world of The Woman in Black. Our pupils took part in a workshop on creating tension on stage and faced some shocking surprises that even made the staff jump. This led seamlessly into appreciating the show itself at the matinee performance before heading home.
After a faultless trip and stellar behaviour from all pupils, the M40 decided that our journey was going too well and we took a spontaneous pitstop on the way home. In true drama student fashion, we made the best of the situation with singing and good humour.
The 2023 London Theatre Tour will definitely be remembered and all pupils should be very proud of themselves for their conduct and maturity throughout the trip. A big thank you goes to Commandery Coaches and Mike from StageEd for their support and accompaniment.
At the beginning of the school year we welcomed three new music GAP students to the department in addition to their role as Scholars in the Cathedral Choir. Gus Cox, Alex Davison and Jacob Abel spent the year assisting with Lower Years lessons, GCSE composing, accompanying pupils, participating in ensembles as well as administrative work. They made an enormous contribution to the department throughout the year. Mr Cox will be taking up the post
as Organ Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge and Mr Davison and Mr Abel will be taking up Choral Scholarships at Truro Cathedral and Norwich Cathedral respectively.
We also welcomed a new member of the peripatetic staff. Stephen Watkins joined the department as a piano teacher.
A full programme of House Music events took place for the first time since 2019 with the return of the House Song Competition. The Upper Sixth has to encourage and cajole each House, turning them into an ad hoc choir for a few weeks, as well as organising pupils to accompany the song. The nine songs were performed in College Hall with the other Houses forming the audience. There was lots of laughter and smiles, some excellent conducting, a few
impressive pupil bands and some dodgy dancing! The adjudicator for the day was William Gee, Head of Music at St Benedict’s, Alcester and Lay Clerk in the Cathedral Choir. He crowned Oswald as the winner, with Choir coming second and Castle third. Two new prizes were introduced this year: Bright was awarded the prize for the best conductor and Wulstan was awarded the prize for the best accompaniment.
The Solo Round of the competition involved 55 performances, divided between the Middle Years and Sixth Form in piano, vocal and instrumental classes. Whilst there was a competitive element to the day, it felt more like a series of short concerts with the adjudicator giving some brief and encouraging words of advice.
The Lower Years Music Competition follows a similar format with a solo round followed by the Form Songs. The event was adjudicated by Dan Peters, Head of the Junior School at Wolverhampton Grammar School and former Director of Music at King’s Hawford. His encouraging comments to all pupils were one of the highlights of the day, as was the chance to hear all of the Forms singing so confidently in the afternoon. L4F with The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and U4C with Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, were the two winning songs.
The Winners’ Concerts for both competitions are an opportunity for parents to see a selection of the winning songs, as well as the winners of each class of the solo round. It is always an excellent occasion and gives the opportunity for music at King’s to be seen by a wider audience.
During the course of the year, there were six Young Performers’ Concerts, featuring pupils from Lower
Fourth through to Lower Remove. These concerts featured nearly 100 performances across a variety of musical genres and included small instrumental ensembles, vocal ensembles, classical, pop and musical theatre songs, as well as instrumental and piano solos.
In a new venture in the penultimate week of the Summer Term, the final Young Performers’ Concert of the year was expanded to be a celebration of a great year of music-making in the Lower Years and Lower Remove. As well as a wealth of fine solos, a large and appreciative audience in College Hall were treated to performances from the Intermediate Flute Group, the Lower Years Orchestra and the Lower Years Choir.
In February, children from Years Three to Nine across the Foundation gathered in the Theatre for the annual Orchestral Workshop and a day full of musical delight. A 48-strong orchestra was directed by the Assistant Director of Music, Mr Gunter, who was delighted by the immense progress made by the entire orchestra: to go from sightreading music at 9:30am to performance standard at 4:30pm is an impressive display of talent. The finale concert in the John Moore Theatre was a joyous occasion; the performers’ faces were full of focus and determination and the audience was treated to a wonderful variety of music.
In March, the Lower Years Choir, together with singers from King’s St Alban’s, took part in a charity concert in the Cathedral, raising money for Young Lives vs Cancer. The concert was organised by Old Vigornians Shulah and Ivan Oliver. They performed John Rutter’s Mass for Children, accompanied by a professional orchestra, with worldrenowned baritone Roderick Williams alongside another Old Vigornian, the
soprano, Isabelle Palmer. An incredible £11,000 was raised for the charity.
Open Mic Nights are popular termly events that attract a large audience of pupils, staff, parents and family friends, who together create a relaxing and encouraging environment for all the performers. November’s OMN began with Ava Hackett, Austin Barnett and Jack Barnett performing two numbers, this first of which was Stevie Wonder’s Superstition. Ava and Austin were two of the small number of Lower Years pupils who have performed at an Open Mic Night and, now in the Lower Remove, their confidence and stage presence were clear for all to see. Jack Barnett hardly moved from the drum kit for most of the evening playing for about half the songs and Eleanor Witt was busy playing bass guitar throughout the evening too. Singing teacher, Sarah Stone, is a great supporter of these events and encourages many of her pupils to perform. Sixth Former and regular performer, Elijah Broadbent, gave a beautiful rendition of Dancing On My Own, with the addition of Sam Perkins playing an expressive counter melody on the ‘cello. Upper Sixth students Henry Halford and Alicia Watts gave a stunning performance of Florence and the Machine’s Shake It Out; their voices and harmonies blended perfectly together. The evening finished with a band comprised of Emelia Downing, Archie Gück, Sam Perkins and Mrs Stone performing The Dead South’s version of You Are My Sunshine. The Spring and Summer Term concerts continued to provide a wide range of pop music styles. The Summer Term OMN took place in the Mulberry Marquee on a warm but slightly damp summer evening!
The Cleobury Concerts are a joyful and impressive celebration of the very best
of school music-making. A number of pupils made their debut appearances in the Autumn and we think it was the first school concert in living memory to include a lute! Solo works for horn, clarinet, organ, piano, violin, and voice were all presented engagingly, alongside contributions from the flute group and chamber choir. The evening ended with Elgar’s beautiful The Snow, a festive rendition of Jingle Bells and an opportunity to say goodbye to Mr Allsop who has organised these concerts for the past four years.
The Spring Term Cleobury Concert included 17 performances and concluded with the Chamber Choir performing a selection of Elizabethan Madrigals. The Summer Term concert was a real tour de force of exceptional musical skills from the large number of performers. Seven Upper Sixth pupils featured in numerous pieces including Amy Ranasinghe performing a Mozart aria with Ollie Perkins and the two also featured as soloists in the Chamber Choir’s performance of Verdi’s Brindisi from La Traviata. Ruby Kimber on the saxophone was accompanied by Alfred K elseyin their version of the jazz standard, Donna Lee, and Alfred accompanied Amy and Grace Warren in the final performance of the evening, The End of the Line by Bartram. Florence Price performed alongside GAP students Mr Abel with Mr Cox accompanying in a stunning performance of two vocal duets by Vaughan Williams, The Last Invocation and The Love-Song of the Birds.
The School Concerts feature our largest ensembles. The Autumn Term concert began with the First Orchestra whose repertoire included the rousing Grand March by Verdi. The Lower Years Choir were in excellent form with three songs which demonstrated the depth of singing talent in school at the moment. The King’s Swingers provided their usual bravado in two pieces including Bone Town Blues, which showcased the three trombonists in the band. One of the School Choir’s pieces was Faure’s Cantique de Jean Racine which the choir performed later in the year in Faure’s Church in Paris, La Madeleine. Performances continued with the Lower Years Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra before the Wind Band finished the concert with three pieces, starting with Mussorgsky’s famous tune from Night on a bare mountain and finishing with an uplifting American piece called A Lasting Legacy by Swearingen. The Summer Term School Concert took place on “May The Fourth”, which led
Mr Taranczuk and Mr Gunter to choose some star wars-themed repertoire. The Lower Years Orchestra began with the main theme from Star Wars. The Wind Band’s set list included the Cantina Band theme. At the end of the concert the Lower Years Choir and School Choir joined forces to sing the Duel of the Fates from The Phantom Menace accompanied by Alfred Kelsey on the organ. The concert also included a beautiful performance of the second movement of Piano Concerto No. 2 by Shostakovich. The soloist was Linus Hughes, whose evocative playing was accompanied sensitively by the Chamber Orchestra. The performance was repeated in the Cathedral at the end of term during the King’s Day service.
Following on from last year’s inaugural event in Worcester Cathedral, the combined chamber choirs of King’s Gloucester, King’s Worcester and Hereford Cathedral School joined forces once again in January to sing Choral Evensong, this time in Gloucester Cathedral. For over 300 years, the cathedral choirs, including each school’s choristers, have joined forces in the Three Choirs Festival, which is held each year in July, with each city taking turn as host. Pupils had a chance to explore the Cathedral, including the stunning medieval cloisters, home in the 2000s to the crew and cast of the Harry Potter films. The Cathedral was cold, very cold! With the heating not working all pupils were wrapped up warm for the rehearsal in the Nave of the Cathedral, which has one of the finest church acoustics in the country. John Pennington, Director of Music at King’s Gloucester conducted the choir for this service. The music chosen was well-known by the pupils and included the Canticles written by Herbert Brewer, Organist at Gloucester Cathedral at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. The anthem was Vaughan Williams’ Let All the World in Every Corner Sing, which received its world premiere at the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester in 1911. Some of the choristers in the Chamber Choir would perform this piece again in Gloucester Cathedral in July during the Three Choirs Festival and were accompanied by the Philharmonia Orchestra. After the service, the school provided a warm reception for pupils and members of the congregation. We look forward to joining forces again in Hereford next year.
In February The Chamber Choir performed at the St Oswald Festival Eucharist in the Cathedral, singing a Mass by Haydn which featured a long and
challenging solo in the Benedictus which was sung by Lower Sixth Music Scholar, Florence Price. A few weeks later the choir took part in the Cathedral’s annual Pet Blessing Service. This was a fun-filled occasion with lots of animals present from goats to goldfish! The choir performed the anthem For the Beauty of the Earth, arranged by Wilberg, with the addition of Henry Halford on the flute. The choir’s performance appeared in a news article about the service which featured on the BBC’s The One Show.
In the final week before the February halfterm break, the John Moore Theatre opened its doors to welcome audiences to two performances of Godspell JR, expertly performed and produced by our talented cast and crew of pupils from the Remove year groups. The story of Godspell JR follows a group of disciples as they help Jesus tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing. In her theatrical debut here at King’s, Upper Remove pupil, Rosie Brookes, playing Jesus, lit up the stage with powerful characterisation and enchanting voice. Judas played by Lower Remove, Tigo Marskell, cleverly commanded the stage with his wit and charm throughout. Soloists Bella Crompton, performing Day by Day, and Ava Hackett, with O, Bless the Lord my Soul, tackled the most recognisable musical numbers, blowing us away with their vocal control and power, and Louis Healey-Maddam delivered with real tenderness in his remarkable rendition of Beautiful City.
A few hours (literally!) after the final performance of Godspell, the Music Tour to Paris departed with 34 pupils and five staff who enjoyed five days in Paris with lots of sightseeing, three concerts and a day at Disneyland. Cultural experiences included visiting the Musée d’Orsay, home to a large collection of paintings and sculptures by artists such as Monet, Manet, van Gogh and Renoir, an evening river cruise, a visit
to the top of Tour Montparnasse, and an exploration of Montmatre. Two of the three concerts featured very large audiences, particularly at La Madeleine, where several hundred tourists enjoyed our performance. The effect of the choristers processing through the audience singing the opening of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols was a wonderful moment as the musical part of the tour came to a close. Our final day was spent at Disneyland where much fun was had by all enjoying the atmosphere and rides. It was special to see friendships forming across all year groups from Lower Fourth to Upper Sixth.
There was no let up in the second half of the Spring Term, with an invitation from The Elms School to perform at their Jazz and Swing Evening. This black-tie event featured performances by Shrewsbury School, Marlborough College and Malvern College. The King’s Swingers brought the evening to a close with an excellent 30-minute set under the new leadership of Mike Adlington, one of our peripatetic teachers and a jazz specialist.
We are extremely proud of Upper Sixth student Alfred Kelsey, who was been awarded an Organ Scholarship to Somerville College, Oxford. Alfred joined King’s Worcester in the Sixth Form and immediately threw himself into the life of the Music Department,
becoming involved with most of the school ensembles as a singer, pianist and clarinettist. He began his organ lessons in the Lower Sixth, progressing at a remarkable pace. Alfred writes “I am very grateful for the support of the Music Department throughout the process. My teachers helped me to prepare and practice all the skills required, and a mock interview with Old Vigornian Nicholas Cleobury, really helped with my confidence for the real thing”.
Alfred continues the legacy of Old Vigornians such as Nicholas and Stephen Cleobury, and, more recently, Peter Holder who have been awarded music scholarships to universities and conservatoires. Peter is now the Sub-Organist at Westminster Abbey and played the organ at Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and for the Coronation of King Charles. Peter’s musical journey began as a pupil at King’s St Alban’s and as a chorister in the Cathedral Choir.
In the Senior School, 130 pupils have achieved success with practical music exams during the year with Associated Board, Trinity College and London College of Music. Singers are wellrepresented amongst these numbers with particular success in the higher grades. Grace Warren achieved the LCM diploma in Musical Theatre; Ben Branchett achieved a distinction for
his Grade 8 Popular Music; Alicia Watts achieved a merit for Grade 8 Popular Music; Florence Price passed her Grade 8 singing exam with distinction as did the two Head Choristers in the Cathedral Choir, both in Upper Fourth, Benedict Roberts and Giles Evans.
At the end of July, our choristers as well as other singers in the school took part in the 295th Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester. This centres upon services of Choral Evensong and a large-scale concert each evening in addition to a wide range of other musical events. Our choristers took part in a live broadcast of Choral Evensong on BBC Radio 3, a performance of Bach’s St John Passion and a programme of works by Vaughan Williams and contemporary composer Graham Fitkin. The soprano soloist in the St John Passion was Old Vigornian Rebecca Hardwick. For the Vaughan Williams, the choir was accompanied by the world-renowned Philharmonia Orchestra. Older singers at King’s joined the Three Choirs Festival Youth Choir for a performance of more Vaughan Williams as the festival was celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth with a semi-staged production of the opera The Pilgrim’s Progress with British Youth Opera and the Philharmonia Orchestra. Next year’s Three Choirs Festival will take place in Worcester from 27 July – 3rd August.
In the small hours of Friday 17th February the King’s Worcester Music Tour 2023 set off. Members of the School Choir, Chamber Choir, Chamber Orchestra and Choristers, led by Mr Taranczuk, Mr Gunter, Mrs Kilbey, Mr Freestone and Mr Branchett were packed onto the coach at King’s Hawford, ready for an entire day’s travel to Paris. Despite the length of the journey, the group’s spirits were certainly not dampened.
For the first three days of the trip, we explored Paris in the morning and performed a concert in the afternoon. On Saturday, our first morning was spent at the Musée D’Orsay, where the group marvelled at the works of Renoir, Monet and Van Gogh, among others. Afterwards, a gently paced walk took us to see the façade of the Notre Dame, where we had lunch.
Our first concert venue was SaintSulpice, one of the largest churches in Paris. We arrived at about 3pm, giving us enough time to rehearse for the concert at 4pm. Saint-Sulpice is in part famous for its world class organ, where CharlesMarie Widor, Marcel Dupré and Gabriel Fauré all played. The church itself was a magnificent building and an incredible venue for our first concert. The Choir, Chamber Choir and Choristers all sang a wide range of work, from Fauré to Britten to Rheinberger. The Chamber Orchestra performed works by Boyce, Purcell and Besozzi and Alfred Kelsey and Ollie Perkins both performed solos on the organ and voice respectively. It was a particularly welcome surprise to see Mr Doodes and Humphrey in the audience! We were all very grateful to both of them for supporting us.
The second morning was spent visiting Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur, where the group enjoyed the cultural experience as well as the traditional tourist activities, such as having your caricature drawn. We had lunch around the Eiffel Tower and then made our way to the Eglise Protestante Unie de Batignolles. This church was different to the other two concert venues. Instead of the vast ceilings and intricate decoration of Saint Sulpice and La Madeleine, this church was much more modest in design. The smaller space gave it the most incredible acoustics and the overall effect was a beautiful contrast to the other two locations.
After the concert, most of the group went to have dinner and walk along the Champs Elysees. However, Mr Freestone, Alfred, Linus Hughes and I went back to Saint Sulpice. Mr Freestone had had a very special invitation from the deputy organist Sophie-Véronique CaucheferChoplin to attend the evening mass in the organ loft. After successfully navigating the Parisian Metro, we were packed like sardines, alongside her assistants and some of her children and grandchildren. The organ itself and her improvisations were breath-taking, and the atmosphere was truly special. It was a very memorable evening for all of us.
The following morning, we visited Tour Montparnasse and took in the views of Paris before eating lunch around the Luxembourg Gardens. For our third day the concert was at La Madeleine, where Saint-Saëns and Fauré had both been the organist. The concert programme for the choir included Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine, which made it a particularly special location for us. From the outside the church
resembled a temple and inside was the most outstanding of all three. The huge walls were covered in beautifully ornate depictions of biblical scenes. The altar was a great marble sculpture and, much like the rest of the church, was covered in conspicuous gold leaf. We felt very lucky to be able to perform our final concert at La Madeleine. The concert itself was made even more interesting for us due to Mr Taranczuk disappearing halfway through as he was wandering around the building whilst listening to the Chamber Orchestra perform! After some slightly panicked searching he did turn up in time for the Choir at the end of the concert, to the relief of us all! We ended the day with an evening boat trip down the Seine, with Paris’s full nighttime beauty on display.
Our final day before leaving was spent at Disneyland Paris. The whole group had been looking forward to this. It broadened our cultural experience of Paris immensely; we started the tour with the museums, galleries and churches and ending with the rollercoasters, haunted houses and Disney paraphernalia.
Our journey back home was just as long and just as tiring as the journey to Paris, and we were finally delivered back at King’s Hawford by our brilliant coach drivers at about nine in the evening. On behalf of the entire group, I would also like to thank Mr Taranczuk for organising the tour and Mr Branchett, Mr Freestone, Mrs Kilbey, Mr Gunter for their tireless throughout the tour. Whatever problems were thrown at them, no matter how complex or bureaucratic, they dealt with them admirably. The tour was such an extraordinary experience and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you.
George Capell
Athletics continues to go from strength to strength at King’s, not only with great numbers at training and competing in fixtures, but with the successes they are having in a range of competitions across the age groups.
A magnificent 44 athletes from Upper Fourth to Lower Sixth qualified to compete for Worcester City in the County Championships, with many competing in two events; this meant King’s made up well over half of the District Team. In total we won eight gold medals, 11 silvers and six bronzes, making us one of the most successful schools in the county.
Following on from their success at the County Champs, 14 pupils went on to compete for Hereford and Worcestershire in the prestigious Mason Trophy inter-counties competition. This is an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best athletes in the country. A special mention must go to Jess Day, Alex Evans, and Henry Horsfall for winning medals.
Later in the term it was the turn of U14s (Lower Fourth and Upper Fourth pupils) to compete in their County Championships. Again, King’s made up 60% of the District Team and had some impressive performances across the events. In total we won six gold medals, six silvers and five bronzes. Three of the four athletes in both relay teams were King’s athletes and they came home with a bronze and silver medal as well.
King’s took teams of five boys and four girls to compete in the County Combined Events Championships, were pupils compete in a pentathlon. It was the first time any of the pupils had taken part in this event and they all performed exceptionally well throughout a busy day of events. Roman Williams won the Junior Boys gold medal, with Ollie Irwin and Mateo Sobey tied for the silver medal. This qualified them to compete for Hereford and Worcester in the Regional Finals and all the boys can be very proud of their performances.
Gold Medals
Jess Day Javelin JG
Ollie Mason Javelin JB
Ruby Collins Javelin IG
Maddie Worth Discus IG
Alex Evans High Jump IB
Will Mason Javelin IB
Ollie Rooksby Discus IB
Evie Hawkesford-
Johnson 3000m SG
Silver Medals
Phoebe Martin 1500m JG
Ella Purves 800m JG
Lily Widmer 300m JG
Dan Arridge Triple Jump JB
Henry Horsfall Shot Discus JB
Maddie Worth Shot IG
Alex Evans Javelin IB
Zach Mason 200m IB
Harry Paddock 100m IB
Ollie Rooksby Shot IB
Anna Chapman Discus
Phoebe Martin 1500
Mathilda Penny Javelin
Lily Widmer 300
Ollie Mason Javelin
Ethan Gill Hurdles
Bronze Medals
Mathilda Penny Javelin JG
Will Fleming 300m JB
Rosa Jukes Triple Jump IG
Lottie Kilbey 300m IG
Phoebe Reuben
Long Jump IG
Ethan Gill Triple Jump IB
Charlotte Turner Hurdles
Jack Fletcher Shot
Oscar Sharman Long Jump
Mateo Sobey High Jump
Roman Williams 200m
Boys’ Relay
The Track and Field Cup is always the favourite event for many pupils as each member of the team does one track and one field event, where they score points which are then combined to give a team total. In the county round there were some exceptional performances from all four teams, which saw the Inter Boys, Inter Girls and Junior Girls teams make the A final for the top eight teams in the Midlands and the Junior Boys made the B final for the teams who come ninth to 16th; this is the second year in a row that all teams have made the next round,
Bronze Medals
Ella Purves 800m
Sophie Purves 800m
Hebe Swift Hurdles
Peter John Triple Jump
Girls Relay
which is an impressive achievement. The Junior Girls deserve a special mention as they finished fourth in the A final, which is the joint highest position a King’s girls’ team has ever come.
Well done to the 11 pupils who have set school records this year; many of these records have stood for a number of years, so this really does show the strength of our athletes at the moment. A special mention goes to Sophie Purves and Ollie Irwin, who managed to break two school records each!
Sports Day is a particular highlight of the athletics season, as it is wonderful to have nearly every pupil in the School competing for their House or Form. The event is so much more than just the athletics, with pupils willing to step outside their comfort zone to earn much needed points for their team
Victor Ludorum Fabian Williams
Ludorum Mia Gooch
The much-anticipated results from each year group can be seen below and a special mention must go to Choir House, who have won the Senior Competition for four years in a row!
Sam Corby – Hurdles
Fabian Williams – 100m
Charlotte Bailey – 100m
Daisy Fitton – Hurdles
Sazan Meci – Hurdles
Sophie Purves – 800m & 1500m
admist the huge cheers of their peers watching on. The team spirit really was wonderful to see, which has certainly increased due to the vast amounts of face paint on display! Yes, there were some amazing individual performances, but it was just as powerful to witness the whole of the Lower Fourth cheering
Ethan Winning - Hurdles
Ollie Irwin - 300m & 800m
Lily Widmer - 300m
Ella Purves - 800m
Anna Chapman - Discus
on every runner in the 1500m and this is the joy that Sports Day brings. We would like to congratulate the winners of the Victor and Victrix Ludorum, which are given to the boy and girl scoring the most points from their three individual events.
3rd
Although it has not been possible this year to run a full list of competitive fixtures, in May a team of keen badminton players ranging from Lower Remove to Lower Sixth welcomed their counterparts from Malvern College during the after-school club for an afternoon of fun-filled, competitive badminton.
This was a first of its kind: a short, friendly tournament of mixed singles and doubles, where everyone had the chance to pair with everyone else in the team. It was a great exercise in collaboration, communication, and adaptability; it was also great fun and enjoyed tremendously by all players from both sides. Our players were put through their paces against a strong opposition, but they showcased some amazing movement on court, impressive smashes, and strong persistent defence.
Although Malvern clinched a win by a narrow margin of two games, we played with a wonderful and supportive team spirit, and great determination was shown by all team members. The afternoon concluded with everyone feeling enthused, and thoughtfully confident about the things we learned, hoping to work on these and to improve in our next games.
Our team consisted of Lower Sixth students Alex Witt (the first seed), Gabriel Tucker, George CampbellFerguson, George Howard, Jack Janes, Jacob Gwilliam and Nicholas Abdullah, who played in our away match against Bromsgrove in June, Upper Remove Elizabeth Shilvock and her German exchange partner Carina, and last but not least our youngest player from the Lower Remove, Tom Rawnsley, who put up quite a fight against all the older, more experienced players. CTP
Basketball has been hugely popular with pupils across all year groups. There has been so much demand that the session has had to be split into two timeslots to allow everyone who wanted to attend the opportunity to do so. It has been lovely to see boys and girls from all years coming along to the club and improving their basketball skills whilst having fun and enjoying themselves.
For the first time in a while, this year saw the School compete in a few fixtures. This started with the U14 boys’ team playing in the Droitwich and Worcester City School Games U14 Boys’ Tournament. Although the results did not go our way, this was the first ever fixture for this group and the improvement that the boys displayed throughout the tournament was brilliant. It was great to get all 12 squad members on court, exposing them to a competitive fixture. All the boys enjoyed the tournament and were eager to play a competitive fixture again.
Recently we hosted RGS Worcester in two friendly fixtures, with an U12/13 mixed team and an U14 team. It was a privilege to organise these fixtures for the pupils as it allowed the U12/13 team to experience a competitive fixture for the first time and gave the U14 team an opportunity to show their improvement from the tournament in which they participated earlier in the year. Although we did not get the victories, it was lovely to see the boys and girls practise the skills that they have learnt throughout
the year by attending Basketball Club and reward those pupils who have shown exceptional commitment to the club.
The attitude and motivation of all pupils has been brilliant and as a coach it is exactly what you want to see. The Fifth Form and Lower Sixth pupils have shown so much improvement throughout the year that I cannot wait for them to have the opportunity to show these improvements in future fixtures.
I look forward to seeing every pupil progress and develop their basketball even further next year throughout club sessions and future fixtures.
One of the team adds, “Over the last year we have played a couple of fixtures and matches against other schools. Near the start of the year the U14 boys played in a tournament at Blessed Edward’s, where we played two teams twice and sadly lost, although the games were very close. At the end of this half term the U12/13s played RGS Worcester and lost but played very well. The U14s also played RGS after and lost closely 19-28. Overall, we have all improved substantially and enjoyed basketball very much, with age groups ranging from Lower Fourth to Lower Sixth.”
The overall results were: U14A: played two, lost two; U12/13 Mixed: played one, lost one.
The 2023 season was an excellent one for the 1st XI, as they once again made great strides as a group of cricketers.
After an international tour to Mumbai in February, the regular season began with the annual pre-season trip to Bishop’s Stortford College in Hertfordshire and, after two comfortable wins, there were early indications for a positive season ahead. This was soon backed up by the excellent victory at Cheltenham College in the first game of the season. The boys battled hard to reach 215 from their 50 overs after losing the toss and some early wickets, in bowler-friendly conditions. Upper Remove pupil Seth Essenhigh (52) batted exceptionally well, with good support from the middle and lower order which allowed us to reach 215, a more than competitive score. Cheltenham’s innings began in the same vein as early wickets fell to the new ball. After a small rebuild, the score soon went from 71 for 3 to 91 for 7 as our spin trio of George Tomlinson, Jamie Thorp and Ollie Yip entered the fray. They all bowled superbly well and asked questions of the opposition to which they simply had no answers, something that would prove to be the case throughout the season. They finished with combined figures of 7 for 95 from their 27.2 overs, effectively taking the game away from the hosts. However, a strong partnership from the lower order brought the game back into the balance and we were suddenly facing the prospect of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The boys held their
nerve and a crucial run out and a legside stumping from Essenhigh sealed the 15-run win.
With confidence brimming and lots of quality within the side, the 1st XI went from strength to strength winning the next three matches against Sir Thomas Rich, Monmouth, Warwick and a possible victory against Worcestershire Academy, which was unfortunately abandoned early into the second innings, meaning we had achieved an unbeaten first half of term. Our success was once again based on the quality of our spin attack. Ollie Yip (27), Jamie Thorp (22) and George Tomlinson (19), bowled excellently all season and posed a constant threat to opposition batters. Throughout the season, they regularly changed the game and put the team in commanding positions. They were also backed up superbly by our opening attack of Arthur Quinn (12) and everpresent Henry White (14), whose ability to open the bowling in all formats will be sorely missed next season. Ollie Yip’s 7 for 66 against the MCC was a real highlight of the season.
They say cricket is a batter’s game and for the first time in my tenure we had plenty of quality throughout the order; this was often the difference between winning and losing in tight games. Monty Jelfs (387) finished top of the runscoring charts and was ably supported by Seth Essenhigh (367), Sam Hawes (291) and George Tomlinson (216), who unfortunately couldn’t quite emulate his form from last season. The lower order also regularly chipped in when called upon, and Barnaby Tripp, Jamie Thorp, and Ollie Yip all made match-winning innings.
Disappointingly the second half of the season was a different story, and the quality, intensity and determination to win that was there in bucket loads before the half-term break was lacking at certain times. A poor performance in the abandoned game against RGS, preceded a loss to Solihull and Prince Alfred’s College (Adelaide, Australia), ending the dream of an elusive unbeaten season. However, we rediscovered our form going into the back end of the season with comprehensive victories against St. Peter’s (also from Adelaide, Australia), the Old Vigornians in the annual King’s Day match and a second
victory over Cheltenham College, this time in the National T20 cup.
In the recent past we have been hugely successful in the National T20 competition and this continues to be an area of focus and enjoyment, each season. Thanks to this success, this year we entered the tournament at the regional quarter-final stage, where we would be victorious over Cheltenham College. Another fine display of aggressive batting from Jelfs (67) and some crucial runs from the lower order allowed us to achieve our second win of the season over Cheltenham College. Disappointingly, we didn’t play our best cricket in the semi-final against Bromsgrove, with only Sam Hawes (48*) performing well. An under-par score of 113 was never going to be enough, but thanks to the best bowling and fielding performance I have seen in my 10 years of coaching school-boy cricket, we took things right to the wire, with Bromsgrove only managing to chase our score down with five balls and three wickets remaining. This was in no small part thanks to Monty Jelfs (2-14), George Tomlinson (2-18) and some outstanding catching in the deep.
Special mentions must go to our departing Upper Sixth, Henry White, Barnaby Tripp, Sam Hawes, George Tomlinson and Cam Jones. Their commitment, achievements, runs and wickets in their time at King’s will be hard to match. Sam, Cam and George all made around 50 appearances for the 1st XI, with George receiving the first ever “50 cap”. Also, to Monty Jelfs, who took the reins of 1st XI captain after Cam Jones’ season-ending injury and led the team fantastically well, both on an off the field. The experience he gained this year will stand him and the team in good stead next season.
Huge thanks must go to Gilly, who was ever-present at all the training sessions and once again provided excellent support for the 1st XI cricketers, and to Mr Williams, for his on-going commitment to the winter and touring programmes. Thanks must also go to our fantastic grounds team, who prepared excellent wickets for both matches and training; their continued effort and support is much appreciated.
The 2023 season for the Second XI was another great one. It started with a rain affected draw at home to Cheltenham. Whilst we were on the back foot, it would have been interesting to see how that game would have finished. However, it served as a great way to start the season and get a match under the belt. In total they went on to win four times, with only two defeats. Team work was always the key to success, with the brilliant captaining from Ben, who would remain calm in difficult situations and always know the right time to change the bowling to get that vital wicket. This included an excellent win at Warwick, where our bowling restricted them to 79 runs; these were easily knocked off by our batsman. Then of course there was the win over RGS. We then ended the season in style with a win against the OVs on King’s Day: a perfect end to a solid season.
This has been a somewhat frustrating season for the Thirds, with half their fixtures having been cancelled due to weather or opponents not being able to field a team. However all three fixtures completed were very eventful ,with both a number of memorable personal performances along with an eclectic choice of walk on and off songs on the team’s “ boom box”. This has been coupled with an interesting choice of field-setting by the Third’s now derby opponents, Malvern College on their final ball. This did not detract from two great batting performances to chase down two challenging totals to win both derbies!
The three games have also seen a change in all three team lines up; 21 players playing in all three games has certainly challenged Mr Greenall and Mr Holliday’s organisational skills.
The 2023 season was nothing short of outstanding for the U17s, as the boys performed well above expectation, reaching the last 16 in the country. The U17 National Cup once again provided an excellent platform for some of the School’s talented young cricketers, and exposure to a similar environment to that which they can expect in the 1st XI.
The boys faced a difficult test in the first round of the competition, as they were drawn away to previous winners, Bromsgrove. An excellent bowling and fielding performance saw the hosts restricted to a very modest target of 177. Toby Raybould excelled with the ball in one of his first appearances for the School, taking 4-24 and tearing apart the Bromsgrove middle order. However, the game was soon in the balance, as we found ourselves 33 for 2, but a superb 117 run partnership from Will Thorp and Seth Essenhigh steadied the ship and saw us home comfortably by six wickets with six overs remaining.
Things didn’t get any easier in the second round, as we were drawn at home to cricketing powerhouse Rugby School. It was clear the whole team had taken confidence from their previous performance against Bromsgrove and, batting first, went about setting a total in a very positive way. Captain Monty Jelfs was in stellar form, scoring a maiden century for the School from just 63 balls. He was ably supported and we eventually finished on 180. The Rugby batters began their chase like an express train and really took the attack to our bowlers, who soon found themselves 37 from just three overs! The turning point of the match soon followed, when their main batsman clipped one to mid-wicket and Toby Raybould took a stunning one-handed catch above his head. This moment of brilliance filled the team with confidence and we put in a near perfect fielding performance. Rugby School kept up with the required rate, but losing wickets at regular intervals always put them on the backfoot. Our high-quality spin attack proved crucial and made scoring in the latter stages very difficult, Jamie Thorp (2 for 25) being the pick of the bowlers.
The next round against Denstone College was a similar story with both bat and ball. Batting first, Jelfs once again showed his class, hitting a blistering 51 off 24 to put us in a great position to attack. Yip (40), Will Thorp (43) and Essenhigh (39*) all batted superbly to get us to 212. We then backed up our performance with the ball thanks to a tight spells from the whole attack, and Denstone failed ever really to get going as we bowled them out for 142.
The victory over Denstone meant we were through to the regional final of the competition, the furthest stage we had ever reached. We faced an outstanding Repton side, a side with no fewer than nine Derbyshire Academy players, two of whom would go on to make their Derbyshire 1st XI debuts later that summer. Unfortunately, this was a game we never managed to really get into. The boys fought hard ,but some uncharacteristic mistakes and the quality of the Repton batters put us under constant pressure and completely took the game away from us. Repton finished their innings on 332 for 5, and this proved an insurmountable target. A high quality attack and some poor decision making saw us fall well short of the target.
The loss to Repton was a disappointing way to exit the competition but it shouldn’t take anything away from our outstanding cup run. It was not only great to see the amount of quality we have in some of the lower years, but also the mindset we took onto the field and will to win, against some of the best teams in the country. Monty Jelfs was outstanding in the competition, finishing with 172 runs at an average of just over 43, including a century, but the whole squad performed brilliantly. Even more pleasing is the fact that the side was also contained five pupils from outside the Sixth Form, suggesting this experience is likely to pave the way for more success in the future.
A special mention should go to Mr Williams for his continued support of the U17s in both training and matches and to the groundsmen for all they do in providing excellent wickets for both training and matches.
SNGDespite a few disappointments, this was a season packed full of standout performances by the team and individuals. Captain Will Thorp deserves a special mention for the way he lead the side and for some excellent batting ,including two centuries. A great run in the County T20 Cup saw us beat Malvern, RGS, and then Bromsgrove in the final, with the team showing control with bat and ball in all three games. Good wins against Cheltenham, Solihull and Warwick demonstrated the depth that the year group has and its ability to still perform with strong players missing through injury and First Team calls-up.
The squad also performed well in the Sixes tournament at Solihull, where they won the competition for the first time. Despite Solihull hitting 43 off the first two overs, the bowling attack continue to back itself and we ended up restricting
them to 78. Some excellent batting saw us take the victory with a ball to spare in a thrilling format of the game that highlighted the qualities that the squad possess. I look forward to seeing the squad progress in the coming years.
The U15Bs have had a good season. The boys have worked hard to improve their skills and their tactical knowledge of cricket. A personal highlight for me was the way the team batted to secure a win against RGS. Batting sensibly, rotating the strike well and putting away the bad ball was the result of the focus they had shown in training throughout the term. It has been a pleasure to coach this team; they always show up with an unwavering expectation that they’re going to have fun. We hope the players continue to pursue cricket, as the improvement they have made this season is incredible. They have shown great commitment and I am sure they will have more success next season. Thank you, boys, for a great season and the best of luck with your cricket and other pursuits.
The overall results are: U15A: played twelve, won nine, lost three; U15B: played six, won three, lost three.
JJM and WR
The U14 Boys’ cricket sides have had an enjoyable season. After-school training on Wednesdays has been well attended, and the level of focus has been pleasing. I would expect the A Team players to be keen and serious about their cricket and they have been. What has been noticeable about this year group is that the same positive attitude exists in the B Team too. That has been great to see and I urge all players to maintain their commitment levels. Whichever players, from either the A or B team, mature into the 1st XI cricketers of the future will largely depend on the efforts they put into improving their own game.
In terms of results, the B team won three of their seven matches, all by a substantial margin of approximately 70 runs. Those successes came against Sir Thomas Rich’s, Monmouth and RGS Worcester. The U14A team also won three games, although they played a couple of games more. The last over win against Warwick was a truly excellent team performance, with the other victories coming against Sir Thomas Rich’s and Bishop Vesey’s. Most of the side’s matches were extremely tight contests; I could be reporting on an unbeaten season for the U14As, or, alternatively, a season where we lost every game! The closeness of most matches was encapsulated in the fixture against Prince Henry’s U15A side, which ended in a thrilling tie.
Competitive sport often comes down to fine margins, with the outcome resting on “little things”, like whether a player is concentrating at a key moment. We’ve seen this recently in The Ashes, where the magnificent Jonny Bairstow inexplicably wandered out of his crease and was stumped. The U14A side had plenty of “Bairstow Moments” this season, including unnecessary run outs, innumerable dropped catches and a bizarre refusal to take quick singles. The team has scored just over a 1000 runs, with an average total of 115 per match. The easiest way to push that up to a more competitive figure is to run singles more aggressively. That is fundamentally about mindset rather than anything else; requiring every batter to be on the same wavelength. The challenge for the U14 cricketers going forward is to make small changes to their game which will enable them to be a tougher side to beat. There is plenty of potential in this group of young cricketers and I look forward to seeing their progress as they move up the School.
It was a difficult season results-wise for the U13As, but there was real determination from all involved to improve and develop their cricket. As a result of this commitment, they finished the season off in style with back-to-back wins. Highlights of the season included brilliant away wins against Bishop Vesey’s and KES Stratford, where all the hard work from training paid off. In the Bishop Vesey match we were eight wickets down needing eight runs to win, but our victory showcased the strength of the batting line-up and their ability to cope under pressure. A convincing performance against KES Stratford to round the year off saw a good batting display and then brilliant bowling and fielding, bowling KES Stratford out in 13 overs.
Another highlight was the Solihull Sixes, which is always a fan favourite for the pupils; this was clear to see from the smiles on their faces throughout the whole day. The eagerness
This has been a very busy and successful season for U12s, with over 40 pupils taking part in both training and matches for the School. It has seen a general improvement of all players across the year group. We have seen the pupils take part in 16 fixtures across the teams, with a lot of passion mixed with
and excitement, mixed with their determination to put feedback into action, meant the boys were able to win two out of the three group-stage games. Due to the nature of the sixa-side game, tactics play a big part in how well you do, and the boys reflected constantly upon their own performance as well as watching how other teams went about the game, making massive strides forward throughout the day as a result.
The U13B team encountered quite a tough cricket season regarding fixtures this year. Although the results may not reflect very favourably on the team, results are certainly not all that matter sin our eyes. The team’s dedication to improve in games and after-school training has been second to none, with fantastic numbers turning out week after week all the way through the term. Throughout the season there have been some magnificent individual
performances, especially with the ball in hand. The team’s bowling attack really has improved drastically. Come the end of the season, we saw the hard work that the boys had been putting in on their batting start to pay off, with multiple members of the team putting together respectable scores. The vast improvements of certain players did not go unnoticed by U13A coach Mr Williams, who ended up with four B team players featuring in his side. It has been a pleasure coaching the boys throughout the year; they are a great bunch of lads and will make a fine side in the years to come.
The overall results are: U13A: played eleven, won four, lost seven; U13B: played five, lost five. BMW
sportsmanship across these fixtures.
The highlights of the season saw a team of seven pupils successfully play five games in a day to win the Solihull Sixes tournament, with a number of really good performances. This was followed in the same week with a narrow eight-
run defeat in the County Cup Final to Bromsgrove. This has this has been a great year for the development of the players which has seen the A team alone score over 1,000 runs and take 84 Wickets during the season.
The inaugural season of girls’ 1st XI and 2nd XI cricket has been incredibly successful. The squad has consisted of players from Lower Sixth all the way through the School. They have acquitted themselves brilliantly against all opposition and showed that the future is bright for girls’ cricket at King’s.
The First XI’s season started with a win v Cheltenham Ladies College, thanks to a super run chase from Grace Jansen Van Vuuren, who scored 55 from 28 balls, and captain Tilly Cook, who took three wickets. This gave the squad confidence before the first round of the National 100 ball competition, which saw us pitted against Solihull. A strong all-round performance was too much for Solihull, with Bryony Gillgrass scoring 74 from 38 balls. Our next fixture was the first round of the National T20 Competition against a strong and older Malvern College side. After a nervous start in the field we gained the ascendancy and looked favourites to win before a late batting collapse saw us fall just short. However, fate allowed us to gain revenge, as we were drawn to face them again in the next round of the 100 ball competition. This time we were not to be denied in a run chase, as Izzy Da Silva and Lucy Wadley saw us home with three balls to spare.
Our cup run ended at the hands of Rugby School, who put pressure on our batting line up and stopped us posting a competitive score. Despite this set back, we continued to dominate our Saturday fixtures, with comprehensive wins against Hereford Cathedral School and Wycliffe College.
With the Second XI it has been incredible to see players return to cricket post GCSE exams and also see new faces join the sport this season. They have worked incredibly hard and improved their confidence in the game tremendously. Players have represented both the 1st XI and 2nd XI teams in weekly fixtures and been able to gain experience in the middle. One highlight of the season was against RGS Worcester, where pupils from the Lower Remove through to the Lower Sixth all played in a team together and displayed a great deal of resilience and teamwork to culminate with an excellent win.
Senior Player of the Season, voted by the players, was awarded to Tilly Cook; Most Improved, as voted for by staff, was awarded to Lucy Pritchard for her incredible dedication to cricket and desire to improve throughout.
Tilly Cook, the captain, adds, “This season has been a very successful one, filled with an array of fixtures. We have all improved our skills throughout the season and had a great run in both the U18 National Cup and the 100 Ball Cup. Thank you to all our coaches who have helped and guided us throughout the year; we are definitely fortunate to have such experienced coaches on hand to help.”
The overall results are: 1st XI: played seven, won five, lost two; 2nd XI: played two, won two.
The U15/14s have had a fantastic season, which began by becoming county champions indoors, resulting in them making the U15 Lady Taverners Regional Indoor Finals at Edgbaston. The outdoor season began with a Pre-Season Tour to Bath, with the girls eager about the upcoming season. The season was filled with excitement and determination, resulting in their most successful season so far.
All the girls have worked hard throughout each and every training session to improve all elements of their game. Our batters showcased their prowess with some impressive scores, highlights being Bryony Gillgrass 168*, Izzy Da Silva 62, both of which were in cup games to secure our place in the next round. Our bowlers have consistently taken crucial wickets, built up pressure and turned games around. Highlights include Katie Holt’s 5 for 7 & 3 for 10, Mathilda Penny’s 3 for 17, Grace Jansen Van Vuuren’s 3 for 4, Tilly Mayhew’s 3 for 15 and Martha Burden’s 3 for 11.
The team reached the Quarter Final stages of the Schools Cup National competition, whereby they travelled away to Gresham’s School. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, King’s started well with Bryony Gillgrass scoring 42 from 36 balls. After losing a few quick wickets King’s stabilised and ensured we batted our full 20 overs to secure 113 runs on the board. Katie Holt and Tilly Mayhew opened the bowling with Katie bowling their opener in the fifth over. Both teams displayed some excellent athleticism and skill throughout the match, with Gresham’s hitting the winning runs in the nineteenth over.
With the cup squad including players down to the Lower Fourth, the future certainly looks bright for King’s girls’ cricket.
One of the players adds, “We have had a great season and all enjoyed it, with lots of cricket played throughout.”
The overall results are played ten, won seven, lost three. KCC
Despite a rather damp season negatively affecting some of their fixtures, the girls did not let this dampen their spirits. There was a large squad of players, who all worked hard to improve their skills in both batting and bowling. Unfortunately, several of their fixtures had to be cancelled, either because of poor weather or the opposition school not being able to field a team. In their match against
Cheltenham College, they proved to be a strong bowling line-up and one against which the opposition struggled. It was fantastic to see the girls’ confidence improve in match scenarios, with clear communication when batting and some outstanding fielding, resulting in two run outs.
KCC
This year was very much a year concentrated on developing more hardball players within the Lower Fourth. Our aim as coaches was to ensure that all Lower Fourth team players had trained or played some hardball during the season, which we accomplished. Girls’ cricket at King’s is developing at a rapid rate towards an excellent standard and, due to this, multiple hardball fixtures in a large block were hard to come by. As a result, some weeks the players enthusiastically stepped up and were keen to play softball.
With more confidence when batting, accuracy when bowling and more proactive fielding, each fixture was thoroughly enjoyable, with each player celebrating the highs and reflecting upon the areas on which they needed to work. During training, the players were able to develop their individual skills but also come together as a team. The support from each and every one of them has been extraordinary all season.
Special mention must be made of the dominating performance against Wycliffe’s U14B team, as the squad kept their composure and competitive edge to win with ease.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with this team, as it has been so refreshing and rewarding to see players embrace the hardball game and to be fearless. There is much to come from these players.
One of the team added, “We walked into every match and came out smiling, knowing we had done our
Upper Remove pupil Seth Essenhigh had an excellent season for the 1st XI and U17s with both bat and gloves and was an integral part of the success enjoyed by both teams. In total he scored 478 runs at an average of just under 30, which included two half-centuries. His wicket keeping was also outstanding each week and claimed 20 victims (10 Catches, 10 stumpings) across the two teams.
Outside of school cricket he also enjoyed a phenomenal summer, as he was a regular in the Worcestershire Under 19 side, made his debut for the Worcestershire CCC 2nd XI and was selected for the Midlands side in the prestigious Bunbury Festival, which is for the best under 15-year-olds in the country. Seth’s magnificent season culminated in his selection for the Young Lions team, which involved 24 of the best cricketers in the country from under 15 to under 17. He also managed to go one better and top scored with 44 in the first match for England Young Lions ‘A’ against England Young Lions ‘B’. SNG
While the Senior School Team has not competed this year, there have been individual activities and successes for our riders.
Lottie Wilkinson, in the Lower Sixth, has been selected for Area Teams for Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing, and she has also been part a team of sponsored riders supported by Walnut Hill Vets. She is new to the School and looks forward to competing on her horses for the School Team.
Henry Pearman has enjoyed keeping his own horses fit over the winter, jumping many of Ledbury’s finest hedges whilst riding out with the Croome and West Warwickshire Hunt. He has put his own competing on the back burner so that he can support his younger brother, Will with pony racing each week. Henry helps Will to talk through tactics for each race and gets the pony ready, leading her up some great racecourses such as Cheltenham, Warwick, Goodwood and Ascot. Henry devotes a lot of time and effort supporting Will, who finds riding very therapeutic.
Laurie Checkley has focused on his A-levels but looks forward to competing over the summer holidays.
The newly formed King’s Hawford Equestrian Team have enjoyed a very successful year, which began at Redcomb College in a National Schools Equestrian Association Competition, where all had great rounds in the 40cm category and performed exceptionally well throughout the event, being rewarded with a secondplace finish. They were up against 13 other teams, so this result in their very first competition was an outstanding achievement. Their second-place finish earned them a place at the NSEA Grassroots Show Jumping Competition at Hickstead in August. They finished
Trampolining has been part of our PE provision for several years, but this year saw an important innovation as, for the first time ever, in October we took part in the School Games County Competition. Six pupils from the Fifth Form, Amber Adams, Caitlin Clements, Millie Dobson, Ellie Harle, Rosa Jukes, and Phoebe Reeley, had picked their routines prior to the competition and,
their season by taking part in the NSEA Show Jumping Qualifier and rode their socks off to win the 40cm class and come second in the 50cm Optimum Time class; they were also individually placed third, fourth and seventh respectively out of 30 in the 40cm class, and third out of
46 in the 50cm Optimum Time class. As a result, they qualified for the 25th annual NSEA National Schools’ Championships 2023 in October. We can rest assured that the future of equestrianism at King’s is in very safe hands indeed.
with very little practice, all performed superbly. As this sport is part of our PE curriculum from the Lower Remove, it was great to see them participate in a competition, having to follow the rules and regulations of performance trampolining. Following the event, it was confirmed that the team had been placed in a magnificent third overall, and they received their bronze medals
with great pride and enthusiasm. This was a superb achievement, and it really was great to see more pupils embracing the opportunity of representing the School in this sport, alongside all the others which form part of our fixtures and programme of competitions.
Henry PearmanIt was an exciting start to the academic year for the First Team, being involved in the National ISFA Cup and Shield competitions. The team started their journey in September with a firstround match in the ISFA Cup versus Marlborough, a team ranked much higher; a great performance saw the team take the match to extra time, which was eventually won with two welltaken goals. In the next round we again played a higher ranked school in Truro; this was an emotional game which was eventually won on penalties, with a very resilient performance from the team, who had to keep coming back after conceding goals. In the third round, we travelled to London to play Harrodian, once again a higher-ranked team who had been free scoring in earlier rounds. Sadly, this proved to be a step too far, but there was plenty of determination shown in a competitive game. Overall, it was a very positive and valuable learning experience for the players.
In the Shield, we also manged to get to the third round, defeating Wolverhampton Grammar School and The Oratory School with great team performances, learning from previous experiences. In the third round we were defeated by Bristol Grammar School, who thoroughly deserved the victory.
These good performances, reaching the third round of both Cup and Shield competitions, were most promising for the season ahead. It was still a wonderful experience for the King’s First Team footballers to play in such prestigious national tournaments, in which over 120 schools entered, and reach the last 28 in the Cup and last 16 of the Shield.
During the Christmas holiday, 30 senior footballers enjoyed a five-day training camp to Real Madrid, experienced training at their Valdebebas training ground, and played matches versus strong local opposition, as well as taking in the sights of Madrid and the surrounding area.
In the Worcestershire County Cup, we were narrowly beaten by South Bromsgrove High School 1-0 in the quarterfinal, and in the remainder of the season this good form and adaptability continued; the team changed formations for different games and the players consistently adapted well to their new roles. The result in the Challenge Cup
against RGS was not the one for which the players had hoped, but once again they showed a determined attitude to keep pushing till the end. Overall it was a very pleasing season, with plenty of positives to take forward.
Alex Moule, the team captain, adds, “The 2022-23 season started well, with a cup run from September and a tour to Spain during the Christmas Holidays, where we gained valuable experience from being coached at the Real Madrid training facilities and playing against local Spanish opposition. As a result, and because this was the second full football season after the COVID pandemic, team bonding was at an all-time high, allowing us to have two impressive cup runs, including my highlight of breaking a school record by getting to the third round of the National Cup and Shield.”
The overall results were played 23, won 11, drawn six, lost six.
This year, it has been wonderful to see more young players start for King’s second eleven. Whilst results have not always gone our way, we have witnessed some truly committed teamwork and phenomenal individual goals, perhaps most evident in the victorious comeback against Wycliffe College. As a developing team, they have shown a high level of versatility and willingness to play across other positions on the pitch, a process that in turn has helped them play in different formations.
The tour to Real Madrid gave players an opportunity to experience football at its highest level of professionalism and provided unparalleled insights into how they might develop their game collectively and individually. A win against international opposition was very good for early-season morale, and players returned from tour even more motivated to begin the season.
Despite the high level of competition, many players in the Second Team persevered to move up into the Firsts; several did so in time for the Challenge Cup match, but a number made the move afterwards also. This “leap” should be something which further encourages them to aim high next year.
It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Second Eleven’s progress this year. The team conducted themselves not only with respect for their opposition, but, crucially, with a deep sense of respect for one another. There is much to suggest that this lively team can mature into a team to be reckoned with next year.
Jack Hyde, the team’s captain, adds, “Captaining second team football has been an honour. Our season has been full of highs, lows and missing open goals. There was a fantastic opportunity at the start of the season for the team to travel to Madrid and learn so much from some of the best youth coaches in the world. In addition to this coaching, the Seconds had the opportunity to play against local sides, with the highlight being a Charlie Halford penalty to cap a convincing 5-0 win. Back on home soil, a difficult run of form against some very tough sides led to some close games but unlucky results. However, the passion and motivation that we demonstrated following this form was incredible and showed in our results, beating some tough opponents. The result of the season came away from home against Bredon, with an astonishingly quick hattrick by Charlie Dixon. Our defence was strong, and the commitment shown by Josh Clarke to play in any position along the back line quickly turned him into a second team hero.
“Throughout all our games, the boys showed incredible commitment to and respect for each other and the other teams, which was appreciated in the positive feedback from opposition coaches. Looking forward, young players such as Matt Dalton and Charlie Felton have stepped up this year and the future of Second Team football looks bright. Overall, we offer massive thanks to Mr Shone and wish the very best of luck to the second team next year.”
The overall results are played 17, won five, drawn one, lost 11.
OJSThirty excited footballers met at a very early 2.30am on Thursday 15th of December at the King’s Street coach-bay, ready and raring to head off to Madrid for a training camp at Valdebebas, the impressive training complex of Real Madrid. An actionpacked five days followed, which included four training sessions with Real Madrid Academy coaches at their fantastic facilities.
There were also two practice matches for each team, in which the First Team drew one and lost one against good local opposition and the Second Team managed to win one and lose one. All the games were very competitive, and a great deal was learnt by everyone.
As part of our busy schedule, we also took part in a laser-tag session, which was as entertaining and competitive as the football; we also enjoyed tours of the stadia and the museums of Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano and fitted in a quick walking trip through the centre of Madrid. We were even able to watch the World Cup Final in a sports bar, which was predominantly full of Argentinian fans, with a few quiet French fans creating a great atmosphere.
The trip was a great success with many good memories and plenty learnt by everyone. The footballers started the main season in their respective teams with a good camp behind them.
OV matches against the 1st and 2nd teams, 3rd January 2023
On Tuesday the 3rd of January, the King's First and Second Team footballers played their annual match against two OV teams, who were happy to come back to Slingpool Walk and participate in two great games, both played in great spirit by all. It gave OVs the opportunity to catch up with old friends and provide current King's footballers with a good preparation match ahead of the main football season. The OV First Team lost 6-1 to the current First XI and the OV Second Team won 3-1 against the King's 2nd XI.
The OV 1st XI was made up of Ben Amos, Ben Bartlett, Dylan Briggs, Finley Chance, Sam Garland, Tom Gidney, Jack Havercroft, Seb Hood, Sean Jarvis, Alex Lowe, Cameron Mathewson, Will Muirhead, Cameron Stanley Blakely and Ben Tyson; Joe Amos, Ollie Annable, Jack Havercroft, Louis Hira, Charlie Ness, Alfie Pritchard, Joe Pritchard, Dom Porter, Cameron Stanley Blakely, Harry Sproule, Jonny Sproule and Ed Thrush played for the OV 2nd XI.
A big thank you goes to Cameron Stanley Blakely, who brought together the group of OVs, and all the OVs who took part. Any OVs who missed out and would like to be involved in the future should contact the OV office or myself (jsarriegui@ksw.org.uk).
The 3rd XI played an attractive style of football this year, which was a goal we set out to implement from the beginning and something we achieved throughout the course of the season. The group of boys who made up the 3rd XI this year had a very commendable quality of acting on feedback from me about their performances; there was a range of boys from across different year groups who represented the 3rd XI this year and every single one of them was made to feel a part of the team. We felt this was a very important aspect of our team culture which we endeavoured to establish and maintain throughout.
There were always impressively high numbers attending training, which was always approached with a great attitude and hunger to develop the skills required for success. An increasing number of Fifth Form players showed real signs of development and commitment, which will benefit the football programme in future years.
A particular highlight of our season was coming from 2-0 down to win against Cheltenham College 3-2. The boys showed great determination and teamwork to achieve this and richly deserved their victory. Overall, this was a very positive season for the 3rd XI, showing what we can do well and what we can work on going forward; well done to all involved on a great season.
Rafay Siddiqui, the captain adds, “It was a strong season from the 3rd XI this year, winning four games and losing three to some strong opponents. The team spirit among a group of top lads was powerful, despite the team changing between weeks because of players sometimes being needed for the 2nd XI, and the main highlights of this season were some outstanding finishes and some expansive football played, particularly against our old rivals RGS. A weakness which we identified early in the season was defending set pieces, something we addressed in training sessions and at which we became progressively stronger. All in all, it was certainly an enjoyable season, with a range of committed players. A big thank you goes to Mr Green on behalf of myself and the rest of the boys for being a fantastic coach this year and running another great season.”
The overall results were played seven, won four, lost three.
The U15s have had an enjoyable season, with pleasing progress being made by the squads. We started off with a couple of really tough fixtures for the A team, which highlighted a number of things to work on during the term. However, this did not discourage their enthusiasm, which grew throughout the season. The team improved vastly over the weeks, with the highlights of the term coming in fixtures against Monmouth and Wolverhampton Grammar. In the Monmouth game, the team played with real attacking intent throughout to achieve a brilliant result. As the Wolverhampton Match was the final game of the season, the team showed real grit and determination against a tough side to finish with a victory. The B team had a brilliant football term, with a great set of results. The start of the season saw them beaten by a strong Chase side. However, this was not a sign of things to come, as the team then went unbeaten throughout the rest of the season, with the highlights coming in a hard-fought victory over RGS and a dominant result over Wycliffe School.
We have been immensely impressed with all the boys’ commitment and work rate throughout the season. They have been such a brilliant group of players and we have thoroughly enjoyed working with them this term.
One of the team adds, “This year I have thoroughly enjoyed my football. I feel like I have made significant progress and shown improvement in my game. I’ve had great fun with my friends, and I feel like we’ve really bonded as a team throughout the season. I can’t wait to get involved in the senior football set up next year.”
The overall results are: U15A: played seven, won two, drawn one, lost four; U15B: played seven, won five, drawn one, lost one.
and TD
The U14A Team began the season with an impressive 6-1 victory against The Priory School, and hopes were high that this convincing win was going to be the first of many. However, defeats against strong opposition in their next two games brought the team back down to earth. As the season unfolded, they only managed to win a couple of games but, despite this, there were some excellent performances, most notably two thrilling draws against strong Monmouth and Nunnery Wood teams. Although the opening fixture proved to be the best result of the season, the team played with great spirit, training sessions were enthusiastically attended and, most importantly, the players enjoyed every game, regardless of the result.
The B Team enjoyed a little more success than the As; after narrow defeats in two tough opening fixtures, they went on to win four of the remaining five games. Stand out performances were a 3-2 victory against Wolverhampton’s A team and convincing wins against Monmouth and Wycliffe. Just like the A team, the players’ attitude to training and in fixtures was always spot on; games were competitive but fair, and played with great enthusiasm and spirit.
One of the players adds, “I have really enjoyed playing football in the B team this year. We played very well as a team, keeping our shape, and passing the ball around. We really came together as a team and enjoyed playing together each week, whether we won or lost.”
The overall results were: U14A: played 12, won two, drawn three, lost seven; U14B: played seven, won four, lost three.
CA and CTH
The U13s have attended training and games in great numbers, which has led to an enjoyable season, with pleasing progress being made by both the teams. The season started off in a very stopstart fashion, due the inclement weather putting paid to two of the early fixtures. When the season began in earnest, defensive shape and working off the ball were highlighted as development needs for the teams during the term. The players took this on and worked really hard during training sessions. They saw a marked improvement in the next few games, with better all-round defensive performances.
All the games were very tight for the As and either ended up being decided by the odd goal or in a draw, which was testament to the work they had done on the training ground. The Bs played great football throughout the season, showing great effort and commitment. Our major foci were to play an attractive style of football and play out from the back, of which there was real evidence of across the term. The boys were excited by the prospect of going unbeaten for the season but sadly came up against very good Bablake and King Henry VIII sides.
We have nevertheless been really pleased with work rate and concentration shown by all the players, both during games and on the training ground. This we believe is a good foundation for the players to build on going forward for them to improve their football abilities. We as coaches have really enjoyed this term, mainly because the players have really tried hard and have seemed to get so much from all the sessions and matches; we wish them very good luck going forward.
One of the players adds, “I have really enjoyed training this year, I have learnt so much and I am now confident putting skills into matches.”
The overall results were: U13A: played six, drawn four, lost two; U13B: played five, won two, drawn two, lost one.
AH and BMW
The U12s have had an outstanding start to their King’s Senior School football experience. The boys have been a delightful group to work with since the beginning of the season, taking flooded pitches and changed venues in their stride. Their positive attitude and commitment to training meant that selection for the A team was always a challenge.
The A team’s season started well with comprehensive victories against Hereford Cathedral and Priory Schools. The highlight for the As was an excellent team performance and a victory away at RGS. The way the team battled against physically bigger opponents is a testament to their spirit and desire to play expansive football.
Although the B and C teams’ results have been more varied, the boys have always played with fervour and significantly improved the accuracy of their passing. It was also encouraging to notice that towards the end of the season they were thinking much more off the ball about their positioning and utilising the space available. The victory in the final game of the season for the Bs against Bablake was certainly very well deserved.
The boys all have great potential and will be exciting to watch as they progress through the School.
One of the team adds, “We have really enjoyed our first season playing football in the Senior School. Training has been fun, there have been lots of glorious goals and some super saves. We can’t wait for next year!”
The overall results are: U12A: played eight, won seven, lost one; U12B: played five, won two, lost three; U12C: played two, drawn one, lost one.
It has been a pleasure to work with this season’s First Team, who have approached every game with a positive attitude and become one of the most successful first teams in King’s history, with their excellent run to the National Plate Semi-Final.
It was certainly a slow start to the season, with disappointing losses in the first round of both Cups, although we dominated possession and had chances in both games. However, a regroup and the opportunity for video analysis to demonstrate areas for development took us on a run of 13 games unbeaten, with 12 wins and just one draw. This really was a fantastic run of results and was down to the hard work and willingness to listen, focus and work together as a team.
The National Cup run included some outstanding performances against strong opposition. Two games were won with penalty shuffles, which is a one against one play where the attacker takes on the goalkeeper from 25 yards with eight seconds to score. It is a highpressure situation and all girls involved should be proud of the composure they showed, but a special mention must go to Amy for a series of excellent saves in both victories. The girls put in one of the performances of the season in the victory against Taunton School, with some excellent team goals and compact defending to limit Taunton’s opportunities. Unfortunately, we came up one step short of a trip to Lee Valley for the Final, just losing out to a strong Loughborough side.
After last year’s RGS game was played for the first time with spectators, we were
pleased to rebrand the event this year as “The Severn Shield” and host it in front of a loud and supportive home crowd. Despite the wet and windy conditions, the game was played in a great spirit and showcased the talent of two strong squads, who ultimately counteracted one another’s play. King’s built steadily through the game, becoming more and more dominant on the ball. Our ability to outlet and play our way out through the RGS press was particularly pleasing and has become a real strength of this team. It was fantastic to see the friendship between both sets of players at the final whistle, with many of the girls switching from opponents to teammates, as they play together for their club sides at the weekend.
The Players’ Player of the Season went to Grace Miller, with an almost unanimous decision, for her excellent barrier defending, which led to every player trying to be “more like Grace” with every tackle they made. Most Improved Player of the Season went to Millie English for the incredible progress she has made throughout her time at King’s and her outstanding work rate in every game this season.
It really has been a privilege to work with this talented and committed group of players throughout the season and to those whose King’s journey has now come to an end, we wish the very best of luck in their next step.
The overall results are played twenty, won thirteen, drawn two, lost five.
Many of the girls involved in this squad were balancing commitments with other sports and yet they enjoyed the camaraderie and support of playing with each other on the hockey field and representing the School. This was a transitional year for the second team this year, as half of the squad was made up of Fifth Form pupils.
The score-line for many of their matches did not reflect the attitude and commitment in the games, as we were often struggling to convert goal-scoring chances, despite having large amounts of possession during the fixture.
Highlights of the season include the resilience demonstrated when we played an opposition’s first team or U16A squad. The team were crowned Worcestershire U18 Tier 4 champions and went on to represent Worcestershire at the Midlands Zonals, where they played two U18A squads and a strong second team. This was even more impressive as most of our second team squad had been selected for the U16 Tier 3 team and therefore were ineligible for this competition. Despite not qualifying for the Midlands Finals, they made great progress throughout the competition and this was testament to their supportive attitude towards each other and their competitive spirit.
They have been a pleasure to coach this season and I hope those that are leaving King’s this year continue to participate in hockey in the future.
The overall results were played eleven, won two, drawn three, lost six.
The indoor season is always a fastpaced and intense one. However, our U18 girls were in high spirits after success in the previous season. Their effort and determination meant that they qualified for the Midlands Zonals at Rugby School to compete for a place at the Midlands Finals hosted by Repton. Despite having to face several strong sides, King’s demonstrated a good tactical understanding of the game and played extremely well. However, we were sadly unable to progress through the semi-finals.
This season the U16 squad was predominantly U15 team and for many
this was their first experience of an indoor competition. Thus it presented an opportunity to gain valuable experience for the 23-24 season. King’s faced a very strong U16 King’s High School, Warwick team and were unable to qualify for the Midlands finals. However, their effort and competitiveness enabled them to learn a great deal from their first indoor competition and will prepare them for next season.
The overall results were: U18: played six, won three, drawn one, lost two; U16: played three, drawn two, lost one.
LMS and EFEP
The U15s had a great season, full of hard work and dedication. The U15A squad trained well each week and as a result their individual skills improved tremendously. This could be shown with their newfound confidence on the ball and composure under pressure when out-letting the ball.
There has been a real sense of passion for the game and a desire to win. A highlight of the season was when, despite losing in the Cup Competition early on, the team showed great resilience then to draw with that same opposition later in the season, showing a great deal of grit and determination.
The U15Bs are a team full of character, where enjoyment has been key. Their teamwork and desire to work hard for
each other has shone through, not only in weekly training sessions but also in matches.
As this year group move up to senior hockey next season, they will no doubt be able to transfer their skills and passion for the sport to represent the School in years to come.
One of the team adds, “I have really enjoyed this season. We have worked well as a team, and each of us has improved our skills. We had some strong results throughout.”
The overall results are: U15A: played thirteen, won eight, drawn two, lost three; U15B: played three, won one, lost two. KCC
This has been a big transition season for the team, moving from 7-a-side to the 11-a-side format. Many girls regularly attending club has enabled us to field an U14A and U14B squad and had the result that they made huge steps in their hockey.
Sadly, the U14 Tier One Competition was very early in the season and the U14A team were unable to make it through to the next round. The highlight of the U14A season was our strong performance against Cheltenham Ladies College at the end of the season, which led to a win. This demonstrated well that their steadfast commitment to training has had an excellent effect on their progress.
It was a very successful season for the U14B squad, who were crowned County Champions of the U14 Tier Two Competition, and then qualified for the Regional Finals at Rugby School, where they represented themselves admirably against a number of U14A teams.
One of the players adds, “I have really enjoyed playing 11-a-side hockey with my friends. Although it has been a challenge at times, it has been fun.”
Overall results were: U14A: played ten, won two, lost eight; U14B: played none, won five, drawn one, lost three.
The U13 hockey squad has continued to thrive this season. Numbers remain high at training, along with high levels of motivation and enthusiasm. The progress that each U13 girl has made has been fantastic and they continue to be a pleasure to coach. Fitness and physicality have developed amongst the players, enabling them to implement new tactics and become more confident on the pitch. A special mention must go to the Goalkeepers, who have worked extremely hard to develop their skills and played a huge part in the improvement of the U13 squad. As they progress onto 11-a-side next season, it will be great to see both teams working together to combine their strengths.
The excellent commitment demonstrated by the U13A team has enabled them to go from strength to strength and beat opposition who challenged them last season. The desire to win was evident as application of new skills was executed during matches, with the main focus being to connect passes and carry with confidence. The main highlight this season was finishing in second place in the County Tournament and qualifying for the Regional round.
They faced tough competition and, after an impressive performance, they went through to the semifinal, where they lost narrowly to Bromsgrove. They should be proud of this achievement. Overall this has been an excellent season for a super group of girls who will flourish moving onto 11-a-side hockey.
It was a strong season for the U13B team, who have made fantastic progress thanks to their dedication and teamwork. There were many highlights of the season but their ability to work the ball from defence through to the attack improved greatly, which resulted in a high number of goals and victories this season. Their versatility provides the team with real strength and has developed their understanding of the game. Highlights include learning new formations, working on short-corners and their goal scoring!
The overall results are: U13A: played eleven, won four, drawn two, lost five; U13B: played eight, won six, drawn one, lost one.
This season has been wonderful and very positive for the U12s. We have seen over 30 girls, plus a number of boys, regularly attend training throughout the season, which runs from September to March, and this commitment and resilience has meant that they have made huge progress. The standard of hockey demonstrated by this year group has been exceptional and it is credit to their effort and willingness to act on feedback. Many of our pupils have also joined or continued to represent their local hockey clubs, which has aided their development further.
Highlights of the season have been regular U12C fixtures on a Saturday and every pupil having the chance to represent the School during the year. The U12B team were runners up in the Worcestershire Tier Two County Championships and the U12A team were crowned champions, winning all their games to represent Worcestershire at the Midlands In2 Finals. This competition demonstrated their growth and teamwork throughout the season, and they finished joint third in the Region.
The overall results were:
U12A: played eleven, won eight, lost three; U12B: played eleven, won six, drawn one, lost four;
U12C: played four, won three, lost one; U12D: played two, won one, lost one; U12E: played two, lost two.
EFEP
It wasn’t until I wrote out the fixture list for the Vigornian report that I fully appreciated how many games the 1st VII had this season. Training three times a week, with a dedicated session to fitness, paid dividends in the longer matches and although there were moans and groans when it was my week, and celebratory dances when Mrs L was in charge, I hope that the players will agree that it was worth it.
Losing out to King’s High early in the season was disappointing; it was a game in which we should have done better. Yet this gave us plenty of areas on which to work and ignited the fire in their bellies against Carolians, and then at the RAF tournament. An unexpected win at Cosford brought our first piece of silverware, raised spirits and focussed the squad back onto what they could achieve.
Switching between 60-minute matches and 7-minute halves wasn’t easy, and Friday training homed in on specific scenarios that they could face, working on their ability to make good decisions whilst under pressure. The County tournament was another high, having lost to Bromsgrove but then beating RGS, sending us through to the regional finals in second place. The Regional Finals was a day to remember, and the squad played extremely well, starting off strongly against Thomas Telford and then narrowly losing to a strong Wrekin side in the semi-finals after drawing at half time. Finishing third at this tournament was a tremendous achievement and demonstrated real grit.
The Superball crept up on us and was earlier than in previous years, but the squad was more than prepared and knew it would be another close encounter. Player for player we matched the opposition, and it wasn’t until the final quarter when a few 50/50 calls went their way that they pulled away. However, the best part about this game was seeing the players together at the end. Most of them having played a good deal of netball together, either at the same club or franchise, demonstrated beautifully what this event is about: celebrating girls’ sport on the big stage. It was also a pleasure to hand over a cheque to St Richard’s Hospice; this is a charity close to all of our hearts and one I would hope that we can support again in the future.
Our run in the Independent Schools’ Plate came to an end after a long journey to Canford School, who beat us convincingly in the quarterfinals. We were so much better than the display we put out and, in true King’s spirit, we demonstrated that in the final game of the season against KES Bath. Although we lost by two points, it is the closest we have come to beating them and their coach commended the whole squad, stating that it was their toughest game of the season. It was an interesting one to coach and umpire, as there were definite parts of the game that we would have played differently at the start of the year, suggesting that our decisionmaking and faith in the players around had significantly improved.
I will be sad to say farewell to this squad, to the Upper Sixth and to Emelia, who have all dedicated so much time to their passion and certainly left their King’s dresses in a better place. However, the KSW Netball Story does not end there, and the next chapter will hopefully be as exciting as the last.
I hope too that I have given these athletes not only the opportunity to face competition but also learn from the challenges that they have encountered, inspiring each and every one of them to take what they have learned forward.
“A coach is someone who always makes you do what you don’t necessarily want to do, so you can be who you’ve always wanted to be. There is no glory in practice, but without practice there is no glory.”
Amy Ranasinghe, the team’s captain, adds, “With many key players leaving at the end of last season, it was time for this year’s squad to step into some big shoes. The First VII had a convincing start to the season, with a 46-18 win over Cheltenham
Ladies College; however, a tough match against King’s High, Warwick in the first round of the National Cup meant that the girls had to regroup and train hard, ready for the first tournament of the season. Clearly everyone’s hard work paid off when we were victorious at RAF Cosford. This gave the team the momentum needed to do well at counties and join the U14s and U16s at the regionals. Finally, the Autumn Term ended on a high with a win against Haberdashers’ School, Monmouth, meaning that the girls progressed to the third round of the National Plate. Another victory in Round Four of the National Plate against Stockport Grammar School meant the girls had made it to the quarterfinals. However, a long bus journey and a tough match against Canford School led to the girls missing out on a place in the semi-finals. Of course, the highlight of the year was definitely the Superball. Whilst it might not have been the result the girls hoped for, a soldout crowd and the money raised for St Richard’s Hospice made the night one to remember. The end of the season saw the annual Easter Netball Competition and this year’s theme was Disney Movies. From Alice in Wonderland to The Lion King, it was a wonderful send off for our U6 leavers and for Mrs Longley as she retires after 25 years of coaching netball at King’s. Finally, a new addition to the calendar this year was the Netball-Hockey Awards Dinner. Much fun was had by all, and special congratulations must go to Katie Perry for winning Players’ Player of the Season and Francesca Sly for Most Improved Player. Finally, a big thank you goes to Mrs McGinley for all her support to the First Team over the last seven years at King’s; we can certainly say that the First Team has been left in a better place.”
The overall results are played 18, won seven, drawn two, lost nine.
The level of dedication from the 2nd VII this year was evident from the start, with training taking place on Thursday and Friday evenings. Thursday sessions were a combination of fitness and tactical structure, and Friday was focussed on putting these structures into place.
Even though the squad changed throughout the season, due to squad movement and injuries, Mrs Longley and I were impressed with the players’ attitudes to changes and new players coming in and out. A strong win early in the season against Cheltenham Ladies’ College set the tone and gave the team the confidence to aim high. Players were prepared to play out of position when required and would give their all in every game.
The highlights for me were the match against Marlborough College, which ended in a draw, and a narrow loss to Malvern College. Both were tough and physical matches and King’s had to adapt their play to match the opposition in physicality and stamina, playing their best netball of the season as a result.
This truly was a delightful squad of girls to coach, as their respect for each other and their sportsmanship throughout the season demonstrated everything that you would hope for in schoolgirl netball. I wish the leavers every success in whatever challenges they meet in life and the remainers continued success next year.
Meg Kilbey, the team’s captain, adds, “Christina and I have both enjoyed captaining the Seconds through a successful season, with strong wins against CLC and Redmaids’. The highlight of the season was the superball game against RGS where despite the loss we won two quarters; we loved having the opportunity to play in the arena with such a great atmosphere. It’s been great to see the team grow over the year and create great friendships, which will continue past our King’s netball journey. We wish everyone the best of luck for next season!”
The overall results are played eleven,
The Seniors started off the academic year with pre-season training down at the fields. It is always a delight to see how excited the girls are to see each other after the summer holidays and the players showed that they had kept up their fitness since the end of last netball season; they returned to the court with a determined attitude towards getting stuck into the game. The Third Team was comprised of girls from the Fifth Form and Sixth Form, and many of the younger players had the opportunity to play for the U16 team alongside the senior fixtures. It has been very rewarding working with the players this season and seeing how much they have improved and developed together. A personal highlight was the brilliant come-back in the King Edward’s, Bath match and the fight from everyone in the team to earn a victory, despite being down by seven goals in the third quarter.
Betsy Richards, the team’s captain, adds, “Third Team netball was a chance to build friendships and teamwork skills, as we came together to play for the enjoyment of the sport. The season was full of fun, laughter and coming together as a team. We tried our best in every opportunity given, putting our practice into play when we went off to play matches. Whether we were victorious or not, the team always ended the game with smiles on their faces, ready for the next encounter.”
The overall results were played six, won three, lost three.
This squad went from strength to strength through the season; from winning their District tournament early in October to becoming runners-up at the County tournament and then just missing out on a place at the National Finals, there was a tremendous show of grit and determination throughout from a fairly young squad. With an even split of Fifth Formers and Upper Removes at the early Redmaids’ tournament, they showed that they had the makings of a successful squad. With Mrs Longley at the helm and with training taking place on a Thursday evening against the Seniors, the Upper Remove had to level up; there was no time to be daunted by the prospect of playing the “older ones” and, with fixtures against Cheltenham
Ladies’ College and Wrekin, the nerves had to disappear quickly.
When they arrived at the Regional Finals in late January, there was no pressure on them; they were enjoying playing together and they knew that if they took care of the process, the outcome would look after itself. The squad lost their Vice-Captain Ruby Ingles early on in the tournament; she was the motivator and encourager. However, being side-lined didn’t stop her, and she kept the team together throughout the day. One other moment that will stay with me was in a game we had to win. Immy took control, kept her calm and, with a decision based on instinct, she turned the game and they came away with a crucial win.
The exposure that the Upper Remove had this year at the Regional Tournament, alongside the friendly nature of the Fifth Form, will no doubt serve them well for future tournaments. I wish all the players huge success for the future, whether moving on or moving up.
Immy Town, the team’s captain, adds, “October saw our season off to a flying start, topping the table at the District Tournament and earning a place in the county rounds. The squad bonded well, with the players from the Upper Remove stepping up and delivering when required and, with fixtures in between, we focussed on cohesion, stamina and tactics to take forward. The Counties took place on a chilly November evening; we performed well under pressure and finished second in the county, earning a place in the Regional Finals. The squad flourished, training, learning all the time and developing a hunger to perform well at the regionals. Unfortunately, carrying some injuries and coming up against tough opposition, the day of the regionals was not ours, losing to Bromsgrove in the semi-finals. A massive thank you goes to the girls who played up, members of the squad who are moving on, and Mrs McGinley, for all her hard work and commitment to us all.”
The overall results were played six, won four, lost two.
I started the first training session back in September 2022 by commending these two squads and telling them that they were good, but that they could be even better! They’d get better through hard work, and that their victories would come from their effort, encouragement of others and wanting to push their limits whilst training.
It was great to have players returning to netball, and being able comfortably to select two dedicated squads each week enabled them to have 24 matches in total.
The run that the U15A squad had in the School Sports Magazine and the Independent Schools’ Cup was impressive. However, when they came up against individual players and squads who stuck to structures, they realised that there was no going back when a team had momentum. The power of cohesion, proactively making changes rather than being reactive was something that they did well against Rugby, demonstrating that they could and wanted to act on feedback.
As mentioned, it was great to have a dedicated group of girls who were eager to play each week in the U15B team, and super to have some girls returning to netball. Training with the A squad can be a daunting prospect, but each and every one of them stepped up to the challenge each week. When asked to play up in fixtures, they were apprehensive at first, but when reminded that they all had the
same knowledge and that they’d been trained in exactly the same way, they stepped onto court with confidence.
I will miss training this year group. They certainly kept me on my toes each Monday training session, with their little quirks and desire to debrief fully post-match. The potential of every one of them is huge; playing a team sport can be a powerful tool and feature in all aspects of your lives. I wish you all the very best and expect to hear of your successes in the next three years: 10/10.
Grace Jansen Van Vuuren, the U15As’ captain, and Philippa Ranasinghe, captain of the U15Bs, add, “This netball season both the A and B U15 teams had a lot of matches to play. We may have not won everything, but all the girls worked hard and put in their best efforts. The B team this year had many playing opportunities and one of their best matches was versus King’s Edward’s, Bath. The A team’s best match was against Cheadle Hulme School: we may not have triumphed, but their strong opposition made us play much better. Our players of the season for both teams were Kitty Rice in the B team, and Clarisse Cinao in the A team. Great season, girls!”
The overall results were: U15A: played fourteen, won eleven, lost three; U15B: played ten, won four, lost six.
EKMThe U14s have been a pleasure to coach this season; Netball Club has been well attended, with 33 girls regularly training and representing the School at fixtures and tournaments. The girls arrived at pre-season training eager to get back to playing netball and excited with the prospect of an uninterrupted season ahead of them. Many of the 14s were also mentors at the Lower Years Netball Festival in September, where they helped to coach and umpire the youngest of our Senior School netballers, demonstrating excellent leadership skills and passing on their skills and passion for the sport.
The U14A team enjoyed a positive season which saw them progress through to the West Midlands Regional Finals. They showed determination and resilience to advance through the group stages and eventually reach the semi-final, despite a couple of tough matches. One of the highlights of the season for the girls was being crowned County Champions, made even more special having utilized the depth and versatility of their full squad of twelve.
With so many girls dedicated and eager to play, we were able to put out both an A and a B team, allowing us to make the most of rotations within and between the squads, which in turn enabled us to showcase our versatility and ability to adapt and work together as a team. The girls bought into the ethos of working hard for each other on and off the court, which made every game a victory, even if this was not reflected on each and every score card.
One of the players adds, “We had a brilliant season and improved so much as individual players and as a team. Our highlight was going to the nationals and coming sixth overall.”
The overall results were: U14A: played ten, won eight, lost two; U14B: played eight, won two, lost six.
It was lovely to see so many U13 girls turn up to pre-season training and it was clear to see they were very excited to see all their friends whilst playing netball again. This impressive turnout continued at training sessions throughout the year, which has played a big part in their team and individual development over the course of the season.
The U13A team showed their teamwork, resilience and versatility throughout the year, but this was especially noticeable in the District Tournament, where they won each game convincingly even though they were missing players due to illness and injury, which had resulted in some on-the-day changes to the team. The girls rose to the challenge, some players playing out of position and in combinations that have never been played before. This tournament highlighted the passion of each individual and the team spirit that they showed was a testament to the School.
The U13B team have had a fantastic season, winning seven out of their eight matches. Their commitment to training, where they have been able to work on and develop their skills whilst playing against the A team every week, pushing them all the way, has resulted in significant improvements across the board. This was evident in the County Tournament, where the B team were invited to play. They were up against other schools’ A teams, yet this did not faze the girls. They stepped up and played some brilliant netball, whilst also enjoying the experience. A testament to the girls’ teamwork is that they stayed to watch, support and encourage the A team when they were playing in the final.
Throughout all the teams this year, the development of each individual pupil has been lovely to see, and this has been evident from the movement across the teams, from C team players improving and deservedly moving up into the B team to B team players having the opportunity and taking it when playing for the A team. As a coach this is fantastic to see, as it highlights the girls’ commitment, hard work and passion to be the best they can be.
The overall results were:
U13A: played eleven, won seven, lost four;
U13B: played eight, won seven, lost one;
U13C: played four, won three, lost one;
U13D: played one, won one.
With 30 girls regularly attending Netball Club and everyone in the year group having the opportunity to represent us in fixtures, U12 netball has been thriving. From the early days in September, we knew we would have a brilliant season, as the tone of the year group is so positive. Through some cold Friday evenings of the Autumn Term, we focussed on refining ball-handling skills and building confidence in competitive play. The progress was evident as the term went on and to celebrate, we thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas Hat club session to mark the start of the Christmas break.
The Spring Term brought more fixtures, plus the District Competitions for the A and B squads, which was a particular
highlight of this year for the A team, comfortably taking victory in the competition. This then qualified the team for the School Games, held at the end of the Easter holiday, where they took home the top prize too.
At the end of the Easter term, a number of girls had the opportunity to be part of the Senior Easter Netball Event and they took their costume expectations very seriously; it is always a brilliant chance for mixed year group teams to have great fun.
Throughout the season, their genuine passion for netball was clear, and Mrs Longley and I were consistently impressed with how players responded to feedback. Versatility is always a key focus, and we were delighted by the way the girls were willing to challenge themselves. I very much look forward to seeing the players progress in the future.
On a personal note, I must thank Mrs Longley for fifteen fabulous years of coaching U12 netball with me, and I wish her the very best in her retirement.
One of the players adds, “This year, U12 netball has gone amazingly. All teams have tried their hardest and improved so much. With lots of potential, we hope to excel through our remaining years at King’s!”
The overall results were:
U12A: played twelve, won eight, lost four;
U12B: played seven, won six, lost one; U12C: played six, won four, lost two.
The start of a new season in September saw the induction of over 100 Lower Removes, as they enthusiastically tried a new sport. They soon settled into their routines and quickly progressed to be able to row in single sculls and crew boats before the winter closed in. The older members of the club went about their daily training with vigour and determination to ensure success in the season ahead. The autumn head races soon arrived and yielded many fine results for all members of the club, in all boat classes. As Christmas approached our focus turned to the Boat Club Charity Challenge and the million-metre overnight row. This was an outstanding success, with great support from all the King’s community, the rowers completed the task and raised over £4300 for Mental Health UK.
We hosted a very successful indoor championship event in January, with schools and clubs from the region racing throughout the day of exciting action. The numbers and depth of the squads
enabled us to take full teams to the major head races in the Spring, and we faired extremely well in the national events. We also welcomed two new magnificent Filippi boats into the fleet, thanks to an incredible donation from the Kildare Trust: “Jim” and “Phyllis” were named in honour of the Richards. The Easter break presented the opportunity to hold our annual rowing camps. The Removes Training Camp was held at Shrewsbury School, while the Senior Rowers embraced the ability to go abroad this season; travelling to a magnificent sports centre in Vichy, France. Both camps proved to be highly successful and provided the opportunity for plenty of rowing, study and socialising.
The start of the Summer Term saw eleven members from Fifth Form represent the West Midlands at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta in Nottingham. The Girls Pair of Amelia Venables and Rebecca Nosworthy came away with a silver medal, a terrific result from a national event. The calendar
was crammed with events and gave the opportunity for the Lower Remove cohort to experience their first event, and first wins, of their rowing careers. Many other crews came away with winners’ pots and memories of some great racing. We took almost 60 rowers to the National Schools’ Regatta held at Dorney Lake in May; they performed exceptionally well with all the crews progressing to finals, a terrific feat. Our Senior Girls went to Henley Women’s Regatta, with the Girls Eight progressing to the heats from the qualifiers. This was a first for some time; a great result for their efforts and very promising for the future as a young crew. The Senior Boys and Girls also attended Henley Royal Regatta Qualifying Races. Although no crews progressed to the regatta, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the young crews have all set their sights on the event in the coming years. It is always a delight to see so many OVs racing and involved in the regattas and events throughout the year.
The Senior Girls have enjoyed a successful year, full of new and exciting experiences for our mainly Lower Sixth crew. The year began with a big focus on technical work in small boats such as pairs and fours. The first main event of the year was Worcester Small Boats Head, where one of our fours was successful, and collected the first pots of the year. We then enjoyed some more success in small boats at Wycliffe Small Boat’s Head, with two pairs competing and Ellie and Posie winning overall. One of the highlights of the year was the Charity Row, where the Senior Girls, along with the rest of the squads, worked together to row one million metres through the night. It was a tiring experience but incredibly good fun and very memorable.
Over the Easter holidays we enjoyed a week on rowing camp in Vichy, France, training in the Eight in preparation for the summer events. Over the course of the week, we solidified what we had learned from our time spent in small boats at the start of the year to help us progress to the summer regattas.
In the summer regattas we enjoyed more success in Pairs, with Lara and Issy winning at Shrewsbury Regatta and Millie and Freya winning at Worcester Spring Regatta. We then turned our focus completely to the Eight for the National Schools’ and Henley Women’s regattas, when we began training with our amazing cox ,Archie Slevin, who helped to bring a new level of drive and commitment to the squad.
At the National Schools’ Regatta, we raced three times across Saturday and Sunday, the final time being in the B Final. Here we had a brilliant row, which allowed us to beat Kew House, and place second in our final. Our attention then turned to Henley Women’s Regatta and we spent two weeks using every possible session to prepare. We raced in the qualifying time trials on Saturday the 17th of June and, after one of our best performances of the season, we qualified, making us Mr Bird’s first crew to do so. Later that day we faced Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association, in a tough race which unfortunately we lost. A week later we returned to Henley to race at qualifying for Henley Royal Regatta; sadly, we were unsuccessful and didn’t manage to qualify, however it was a great experience to be surrounded by so many incredible athletes from other clubs and schools.
Overall, it has been an incredible year,;thank you very much to Mr Bird for his consistent belief in us and his amazing coaching, and to all the other coaches who have supported us throughout the year. We look forward to next year and the exciting season ahead.
Ellie NosworthyThe 2022/23 season has been yet another enjoyable and successful season, with numerous highlights and notable moments. The year started off with the Boat Club Time Trial. U6 rower Will Probert won the time trial in a time under 11 minutes, which is an impressive achievement
Head season then came around, and the crews travelled down to Saul Junction to compete in the Wycliffe Small Boats Head. The top Quad won bronze in the Open Quad Division and Sam brought home gold in the J17 Single Scull.
The overnight charity row was, as always, a highlight for the year, as the senior rowers of the Boat Club powered throughout the night to secure a new fastest time for the million-metre row, a true feat of endurance and resilience of which all who were involved should be proud through their efforts.
The Easter break saw the Senior Boys along with the rest of the squad jet off to Vichy in France for our first overseas rowing camp since before COVID. The camp was a great success with all of our rowers taking the time to focus on making improvements and technical changes, as well as practising our racing towards the end of the week over the 2km course which ran right through the centre of the city. On the final night the Senior Boys competed in the KSWBC talent show, showcasing a fantastic human pyramid and rounding of an enjoyable week of fun and hard work.
The year has also been an exciting one in terms of future prospects for the Boat Club, two such people being Freddie Horsfall and Ben King who, having only joined the Boat Club and the Boys’ Senior Squad at the start of the year, have already enjoyed success at Shrewsbury and Stratford regattas, reaching the final in both competitions and narrowly missing out on First place in both instances. Freddie also helped drive his Quad into a final at the prestigious National Schools’ Regatta at the Olympic venue ,Dorney Lake, where a race to be remembered ensued between River Severn rivals RGS’ second quad and KSW’s third quad. The KSW crew showed great resilience and mental strength only narrowly missing out to RGS by three seconds.
Another exciting prospect is that of a particularly strong Fifth Form Boys’ Squad, which aided the First Eight at competitions such as Schools’ Head of the River and Henley Royal Regatta. The boys faced a tough field but showed great professionalism and maturity in their approach to training and also competing against those a number of years older than them.
The Championship Quad consisting of James Stevens, Charlie Webster, Will Probert and Lower Sixth, Ollie Bladon attacked the regatta season with vigour. They competed at the National Schools’ Regatta, beating close rivals RGS in the repechage. The rivalry continued into the final, with RGS gaining the advantage and King’s taking second place. Marlow Regatta was the last opportunity to exact revenge for that loss and the Quad executed a great final to beat RGS convincingly, to end the regatta season in fine form. Henley Qualifiers saw the Quad and Eight racing, despite the young crews not being able to qualify, they showed great enthusiasm and skill.
Overall, this season has been an extremely enjoyable one, and we look forward to a steadily improving Senior Boys’ Squad and Boat Club overall.
Jacob Smith
The Fifth Form girls started the year sculling, and participated in both the Wycliffe Small Boats Head and the festive Mince Pie Head here in Worcester in December. Having developed our ‘sweeping’ technique, the whole squad rowed together in an eight at the Wycliffe Big Boats Head in February. This was a valuable experience, particularly in the cold weather, and we continued to improve at head events during the winter months, eagerly anticipating our rowing camp.
At the beginning of the Easter holiday, following a very early start, flight and scenic coach trip, we arrived at our rowing camp which was held in Vichy, France. We had an amazing time, training multiple times a day in a variety of boats on Lac d’Allier, while also allowing time for our revision and some fun-filled activities. We will look back on the 2023 rowing camp with fond memories.
The Junior Inter-Regional Rowing Regatta took place at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham at the end of April. After tough races earlier in the year in Stourport; Amelia Venables and Rebecca Nosworthy qualified and were delighted to take second place in the A final.
Our focus was now on building stamina through training and taking part in regattas in the lead up to the National Schools’ Regatta. We entered the Shrewsbury Regatta where the squad obtained two category wins, one in a coxed four comprising Tilly Bayliss, Ellie Cartwright, Ruby Ingles, Rebecca Nosworthy and Amelia Venables, and one in a pair. At the Worcester Spring Regatta, the Coxed Four, this time coxed by Emily Andrews, won their event. These results all helped grow our confidence and improve our technical ability.
The National Schools’ Regatta took place at Dorney Lake at the end of May
and our coxed four took ninth position in the time trials placing us in the B final. The field was strong and, despite a strong start, we battled the other crews right down to the finish line, coming a very close fourth position.
Our last event of the year was Henley Women’s Regatta and the crew all made it to Henley in time for the trial after a morning of exams. Unfortunately, we didn’t qualify this time, however the experience has certainly prepared us for future events.
A huge thank you goes to all our coaches for their time, effort, guidance, organisational skills and sense of humour. A special mention must also be made of James Robins, our brilliant Fifth Form mentor and coach, for all his help throughout the year.
Rebecca Nosworthy and Amelia Venables
The ‘J16’ Boys quickly understood the level of commitment and effort needed to overcome tough opposition in the 2022-2023 season. As a result, during the head season, the boys involved themselves in more strength training, using the school gym, to complement the more endurance-focused training throughout the winter. Noticeably, this training had paid off.
At the start of the season, this was most noticeable at the Wycliffe Big Boats Head, where the J16 4X- placed first, winning a new pennant for the boathouse, whilst in the previous season, they placed sixth. This improvement became an obvious pattern throughout the season. Notably, the Quad Scull and
Coxed Four were selected to represent the West Midlands Team at the Junior Inter Regional Regatta, the Four placing fifth in the A-Final and the Quad first in the B-final.
Perhaps more poignantly, in the pinnacle of the season the boys raced at the National Schools’ Regatta. The J16 4X- placed fifth in the B-final, whilst the J16 4+ placed fifth in the C-final. As for the season prior, the National Schools’ Regatta did not bring silverware, however, it highlighted the impressive improvement the squad has made, alongside what is required of the boys as they progress to the Senior Squad of the Boat Club.
It is worth mentioning, that transitioning from J15s to J16s, the squad were presented with new opportunities. This included the Easter Rowing Camp in Vichy, France. The boys trained intensively in preparation for the regatta season ,alongside tasting some interesting French cuisine. Another opportunity was the Henley Royal Regatta. The J16 4X- was entered into the Fawley Challenge Cup and four members of the squad were entered into the J18 8+ in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup. Sadly, crews didn’t progress through qualifying, however, the squad got a valuable taste of the most prestigious rowing event in the world and the calibre of athletes that succeed at such events.
To conclude, the 2022-2023 season has brought great success to the J16 Boys squad. The overall demonstration of the high levels of dedication, commitment, courage and respect that each member of the squad possesses, has been remarkable.
Archie Slevin
At the beginning of the rowing year, the J15 girls were focusing on building their strength and began gaining confidence, competing in many head races. This led to the West Midlands’ Championships, where the First Quad placed third as well as the Second Quad doing extremely well. Throughout the season, the girls trained consistently and, at other heads including Worcester and Wycliffe, both quads performed well. The girls didn’t let the setback of a few races stop them, and carried on training hard for the King’s indoor races. There were many successful races from the squad, with one team winning the relay.
As the regatta season started, the J15 girls began to find their stride and put the winter’s training into practice. The season set out with competitive attitudes and a hunger to win. The First and Second Quad crews were finalised and everyone was enthusiastic for the first regatta at Shrewsbury. A strong show was put out from the girls in singles, doubles and quads, with some making the Plate Final. The next race was on home ground in Worcester, where the First Quad won overall. All year everyone had been waiting for National Schools’ Regatta and after a tough time trial, both quads made it through to sideby-side racing. The Second Quad did themselves proud, winning the C Final in the Second Division, and the First Quad were ecstatic when they placed second in the First Division D Final, making them twentieth in the country. The season came to an end with a win for the Quad at Stratford, where they beat one of the
main rivals. All the girls can agree on their passion for the sport and how lucky they feel to be part of such a prestigious boat club. The strong connection to successful rowers before us inspires the whole squad to do their best.
Darcey Williamson and Jess MeciThis season has proved to be a very promising introduction of new races and techniques in all Upper Remove crews. The season began promptly, with Worcester Small Boats Head proving a new challenge to the scullers in the form of a head race, however, it would be the first of many. Head season continued throughout the winter months as training became tougher, more intense, and a lot colder. With two trips to Wycliffe, our dedicated rowers became more accustomed to the harsh winter conditions and race format, all the while drastically improving their blade work and timing. More challenges rapidly approached, as six crews entered into a regional competition in Stourport. All crews handled the pressure phenomenally, with the Boys’ A-Quad narrowly missing out on a top spot. The final obstacle of the head season was a trip to Dorney Lake, which proved a promising start to national rowing events for all those involved.
The boys’ squad have been trained tirelessly by Mr Daniels, with an increase in number of training sessions. True
dedication has been shown through the new Friday morning sessions and training through any bad weather. This subsequently led to a very successful indoor rowing championship, in which many won medals, and even one of our rowers Ben Gooch competed for our Fifth Form team.
A new opportunity for all Upper Remove rowers was spending a week at Shrewsbury School over the Easter holidays, taking advantage of the boat club and its facilities. This helped to improve teamwork, commitment and fitness, with early morning wake ups for all. Additionally, this gave an incredible way to ease into the upcoming regatta season.
Though the regatta season has been short, it has been one to remember. Shrewsbury Regatta proved a promising start, with the Boys’ A-Quad bringing home the shield. Next, Worcester Regatta was a particular seasonal highlight, with the Boys’ B-quad winning their event and a close, all King’s, single final between Felix Tunnel and Toby Auty, which Toby won. The cheers from the supporting teammates as our rowers raced past the Boathouse shows the mentality and positivity between the squad present at events. Next was the National Schools’ Regatta. The day started early, with our A and B Quads travelling down to Dorney Lake to participate. All crews raced incredibly well, with impressive finishes from the Boys’ B in the C final and the A crew finishing eighteenth in the country in
the A-Division. These results truly show the whole year group’s dedication and skill, as reaching the finals is a difficult challenge, let alone placing so highly. Finishing off the Regatta Season, Stratford Regatta saw wins from the Boys’ Double. Throughout the event, though, there was exceptional rowing and very close races ,which were a fitting conclusion to the excellent regatta season.
Altogether, this has been an excellent year for all of the rowers in the Upper Remove. The year group’s wins are a testament to the squad’s dedication to the sport, and we are sure that this is only the beginning of many great rowing careers.
Over one hundred Lower Remove pupils embraced the opportunity to begin rowing in September. “When I was given the opportunity to row in Lower Remove, I knew I had to seize it. The chance to be coached in games and take part in Saturday’s session was an exciting prospect.” During the Autumn term, we started on the river in single sculls, (with some falling in), while also focusing on technique and power on the ‘ergos’ and bikes. We also can’t forget the dreaded two-bridge run! All these vital components of fitness helped prepare us for our future rowing endeavours.
As the Winter Term came upon us, events started to take place. Our first charity event was a great success, contributing to the Boat Club by helping to row one million metres and raising a significant sum. Soon after, it was time for the King’s Indoor Rowing Championships where pupils showed their abilities individually and their teamwork in the relays. We were later introduced to coxed quads, where our unity as a squad became evident through our teamwork and commitment.
During the Easter holidays, the Remove Rowers went to Shrewsbury School to participate in a training camp. When we first saw the training schedule, we were terrified, however it proved to be so much fun for everyone, despite some poor weather conditions over the four days. We worked very closely with our rowing coaches, trying out many combinations of quads for the final mini regatta. “During the Camp, we had fun-filled sessions and were on the water at least twice a day. The camp was amazing and so were the coaches, helping whenever they could.”
Coming into the Summer Term, we had our first ever regatta at the familiar Shrewsbury School, to where over 80 members of the Boat Club travelled. Throughout the day we raced in coxed quads and progressed to the Plate Competition, with a victory coming from the crew consisting of Hebe Swift, Emily Angell, Emily Elsdon, Pia Forrester and Larissa Edwards-Hall, where we won the Plate Semi-final and then the Final.
Later in the term, we took part in the Worcester Spring and Stratford Sprint Regattas, where we developed our techniques in new boats. Well done to Harriet Mason, who conquered the single scull at Stratford. There was also a win for Izzy Smith and Emily Elsdon in the doubles as well as a win for the crew comprised of Ted Smith, Alex McVeigh, Freddie Goodwin, Tom Sutcliffe and Will Marshall. “Throughout the season, we continued to compete in regattas and races, always striving to do better and push ourselves the extra mile. Our dedication to the sport was unwavering, and we trained relentlessly, both on and off the water. The hard work paid off, as our top quad won the Stratford Regatta.” To mark the end of the season, Shrewsbury School came to King’s for a Friendly Mini-Regatta. At this event, the Lower Removes raced in mixed coxed quads, with some getting the opportunity to race in an octuple boat for the first time. The result was a well-deserved draw.
Overall, this year has been hugely successful with every individual finding enjoyment in the sport. Thank you!
“Looking back, I’m grateful for the opportunity to row in Lower Remove. It was a transformative experience that taught me the value of commitment and hard work. The Stratford Regatta and the competitions throughout the year served as milestones in our rowing journey, reminding us of the progress we had made and the potential we had yet to unlock.”
Hebe Swift, Emily Angell and Ted Smith
A large squad travelled up to Mount St Mary’s in late August for three days of pre-season training. The players worked extremely hard and were a pleasure to coach.
Despite not being a big side, we showed the ability to move the ball well, with attacking threats across the pitch.
In our first three games, we played some excellent rugby, moving the ball with pace and accuracy and scoring some outstanding tries. One of the tries of the season came against Bloxham, in a game that we lost frustratingly in the last play of the game. Then came the National Cup and a comfortable win against RGS, scoring four well-worked tries. Some good rugby followed at times, but a
number of injuries and a lack of power through the middle of the pitch saw us struggle against some good sides.
Our annual fixture at Sixways against RGS saw another big crowd attend the game. A slow start saw us go behind, but some good rugby in the middle third saw us take a 17-10 lead. A lapse in defensive concentration gave them a score and a three-point lead that we did not manage to overcome. As always, the King’s team put everything into the game and did themselves proud.
After such a big game and the disappointment of the result, the next game is always a huge mental challenge. I was hugely impressed with how the squad approached the game and to get
the win in the last play of the game spoke volumes for the resilience of the squad. Two good wins gave us confidence going into the last two matches of the season. Despite not getting the victory, we played some good rugby against big teams and, despite often playing the better rugby, we struggled to contain the physicality of the opposition across the seventy minutes.
As always, I was impressed by the effort and determination that I have come to expect from a King’s 1st XV.
The overall results were played eleven, won four, lost seven.
SDG and JJMAs with the XVs, the 7s season had its ups and downs. We took an inexperienced squad to Stratford, but learned a lot from the experience, eventually losing in the Plate Semi-final.
Moving onto the North of England 7s, we hoped to perform well, despite being in a strong group containing some notable schools. A strong start saw us beat Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, playing some very controlled rugby. Two more wins against Pocklington and Lorretto set up a mouth-watering tie against Llandovery. Despite taking a first half lead, we narrowly missed out on the win, losing 22-17. This put us in the Plate, and we performed well to progress to the semi-final, beating Lancaster Grammar School. In the semi-final we had the chances to win, playing some excellent rugby at times, but unfortunately we didn’t convert when we needed to do so.
Going into the King’s tournament, we hoped the weather would not be as bad as last season; unfortunately, the heavens opened again, which never suits the brand of 7s we try to play. Despite this and a slow start, we beat Sir Thomas Rich’s School in the last pool game to progress to the Plate Competition. A strong performance in the semi-final put us through to our first final of the season and yet another game against RGS. In appalling conditions, they took a route-one approach, to which our defence stood up, and we put in some outstanding defensive sets. As the clock ticked down, we needed a score to win. From a midfield scrum, we broke blind, and some excellent hands created a 30 metre break. After securing the ball, we went over at close range to take the trophy.
The final tournament was the National Schools in London. We were drawn in the toughest group we have had to face for a decade. We took on Blundells in our first game, who ended up reaching the final. We lost 21-19 in what was a great game but lacked some control to keep the ball for longer spells, which ultimately cost us. We finished with a convincing win against Durham, which was a nice way to end the rugby season.
Well done to all those who represented the 7s team this season.
The overall results were played twenty, won eleven, drawn one, lost eight.
SDG and JJM
To describe this season as a journey seems appropriate, a journey characterised by continual improvement and with a series of impressive victories. Over the course of the season, the dedicated squad demonstrated commitment and perseverance, resulting in notable improvement in skill levels, and the ability to read the game and to focus upon understanding the weaknesses of its opposition. Significant progress was evident, week by week, as the team faced its new opponents.
From the outset of the season, it was evident that the boys were determined to refine their skills and strategies. Training sessions were efficient and focused upon individual abilities and team cohesion, and the matches allowed us to identify areas for improvement. Each week, the players showcased their dedication and willingness to learn, resulting in substantial growth across the squad, and every member was as valuable as the next. The boys performance on the training field translated well into some commendable victories over often difficult opposition. Our wins showcased our ability to adapt and execute our game plans effectively. It has been a pleasure working with the boys this season and I look forward working with many of them again when the new season begins.
The team’s captain, Cam Jones, adds, “I have really enjoyed being part of this team the past two years, and I’m thrilled that we managed to have a very successful season. The squad worked extremely well together and grew closer as the season went on, with a highlight being the home win against RGS, where there was great support from all years which provided a surreal atmosphere that helped us get over the line.”
The overall results are played nine, won six, lost three.
The boys came together well as a team this season. In the Autumn Term, we had good numbers at training and showed good progress. The squad was rotated well and everyone enjoyed plenty of opportunities to take part. We showed great team spirit all term and played some excellent rugby. Particular highlights were well-deserved wins
against KES Birmingham and RGS.
In the 7s season, regular training was a bit more difficult, with players and coaches having other commitments, but some solid performances at the Warwick Tournament meant we were match-ready for the rest of the season. The highlights here were an excellent run to win the group and almost make it through to the second day at the Nationals, and winning our own tournament up at Worcester RFC.
One of the players adds, “We have gelled well as a team this year and played some excellent rugby. It has been a successful season, with some great wins in both Fifteens and 7s!”
The overall results are: U16XV: played eight, won five, lost three; U16VII: played thirteen, won ten, lost three.
CA and TWP
The U15As had an excellent XVs season ,with only one defeat. The players really bought into every session and made massive strides as a result. The first game of the season was against a very strong Bloxham team and could have gone either way; it was the first time this team had been really tested and stood us in good stead for the remainder of the season. A particular highlight was winning the National Plate Final at StoneX Stadium, the home of Premiership team, Saracens; this was the stand-out performance of the season on the big stage, securing a convincing win against a good Abingdon outfit. We scored an average of more than 34 points per game, which is an amazing achievement and credit to the team’s brilliant attacking capabilities, which were clear to see in their Plate Final. However, they also backed that up with an equally impressive defence, conceding just over seven points per game.
We had minimal training for 7s as we were concentrating on the 15-a-side game until March. However, from the two tournaments we played we came back with two trophies: Plate Winners at the Warwick 7s and Cup Winners at our own 7s tournament. The boys took on feedback from each game and just got better and better. To win the King’s 7s
Cup in their last game together as Under 15s is nothing short of what this group deserves; they really are a great group of boys, with a very promising future ahead of them!
It was a stop-start season for the U15Bs, with numerous fixtures being cancelled. They played some expansive rugby, scoring some great tries and demonstrating great attacking capabilities. They also came with even better defensive performances, only conceding a handful of tries all season. They faced a great test in their last game against Christ’s College U15As which could have gone either way, but overall acquitted themselves very well throughout.
The overall results are: U15A: played fifteen, won fourteen, lost one; U15B: played five, won four, lost one.
This was an impressive XVs season for the U14As in many ways. The boys bought into the ethos that it is a necessity to train as hard as you play and became a more cohesive and effective group because of it. They were very difficult to beat, having few weaknesses: handling was precise and the ability to move the ball quickly enabled the team to attack all areas of the opposition defence, tackling was strong and robust, fitness was high, and there was strength in depth in a number of positions. There was pace all over the park, which would prove to be a real strength when it came to the 7s season. There were many highlights to the 15s season including a thrilling win away to Bromsgrove in the National Cup, where we eventually lost in appalling conditions to a very good side from Cardiff. It has been impressive to see the vast majority of the group working hard in the gym during the off-season; they are a talented group who, with the year above, should create a formidable 1st XV.
The 7s season was tremendously successful. We played in five tournaments, winning the Cup at OSH, the Plate at Dean Close and Warwick, losing in the final of our own and then progressing to the second day of the Nationals at Rosslyn Park. The team had all of the key ingredients: a large squad with little difference in ability, pace throughout the side, great hands and a well organised and secure defence. There were many highlights, with wins
over some of the biggest rugby schools in the country including Sedbergh, Warwick and then in our last game of the season against Stowe on the main pitch in front of the cameras at Rosslyn Park. They were a pleasure to work with and I look forward to seeing their progression as they move through the age groups.
After the first game of the season was cancelled the U14B team put in some excellent performances, bringing in many of the ideas from the intense practice sessions that took place twice a week after school. The attendance at training was impressive and the desire to improve their skills meant that many of the team were pushing for A-team places by the end of the season. Forward play was aggressive, handling good and, combined with some real pace in the backs, the games were
never short of tries. The team spirit was excellent, despite an over-reliance on Sweet Caroline played through ever bigger Bluetooth speakers on the way to away fixtures (“If it’s too loud, you’re too old!”). The season petered out a little with some opposition cancellations and combined A/B fixtures, but we can be sure that we have a strong, committed squad of players in this year group who will achieve considerable success in the future.
One of the players adds, “I loved playing with such a committed group of boys; we achieved much, but there is still more to come.”
The overall results are: U14As: played thirteen, won ten, lost three; U14Bs: played eight, won five, lost three. AADG and RJJ
Amid a challenging rugby season, I’ve been pleased to see the squad continue to persevere and improve as the year has gone on. Our skill set and drive to succeed have always looked promising, although our physical size meant we were unfortunately beaten by some bigger opposition throughout the year. I have no doubt that despite some losses this year, the squad has the potential to do well higher up in the School as the boys develop more physically. One highlight was beating a well-drilled Bishop Vesey’s team away, having previously lost in some physically tough games previous. I commend the squad on their continued motivation and drive to develop as the year has progressed, which can be said for both the A and B team.
In the rugby 7s we competed in every game, and managed to score points consistently against tough opposition. I was pleased to see boys willing to work hard for their team, scoring some excellent tries along the way.
The overall results are: U13A: played eleven, won three, drawn one, lost seven; U13B: played nine, lost nine.
JNGIt was fantastic to work with this season’s U12. Eager to develop, there were good numbers at training throughout both terms. They played with a very competitive spirit and began the season well with an exciting victory over STRS. The A team worked hard to develop rucking skills, and as the season progressed were better at speedy recycling. This enabled the backs to find space out wide, scoring some wonderful team tries in the proves.
As players from number of Junior Schools fought for places, it was excellent to see so many boys represent the A team. More widely, the entire year group were involved in A-D team fixtures on a number of occasions. To offer representative opportunities to so many boys is wonderful and I hope the players are inspired to continue developing their skills for many seasons to come.
The 7s season saw the boys adapt to a new style of playing; without a doubt, they displayed a very strong ability to move the ball across the pitch, biding their time to spot gaps. The A team did well to make a number of top-group finals, and it was brilliant to see the B team perform in our own tournament.
An old favourite of King’s Junior Ski Trips, the Italian resort of Aprica played host to 40 pupils and five staff in the February half-term holiday. With largely north facing slopes and excellent snow-making facilities, conditions here are always good, and our high expectations were generously met. Each morning we were scooped up outside the hotel by the shuttle bus, for the five-minute journey to the foot of the slopes.
Split by ability on the first morning, the party comprised a beginner, two intermediate and one top group, each racing off in a different direction for a long day of fun. With five hours of instruction each day, the group was well catered for, and the evenings were no different. Outdoor ice-skating was a favourite with some, whilst others excelled on Karaoke Night. We enjoyed various quizzes and party games, but pizza night and bum-boarding were firm winners on the evening ents programme!
This group have an exciting future ahead and we cannot wait to see them play the sport for years to come.
Fletcher Kane, A team captain, adds, “I am proud of all the players who have represented the School this year. We fought well in matches against OSH, BVGS and Loughborough and enjoyed the 7s tournaments.”
The overall results are:
U12A: played eight, won five, drawn one, lost two;
U12B: played seven, won two, drawn one, lost four;
U12A: played four, won three, lost one;
U12A: played two, won one, drawn one.
We were very lucky with the weather; other than a couple of grey days, the sun shone and there were big smiles all round. It was very easy to spot the development in everyone’s skiing ability by the end of the week and it was clear that the beginners would go on to become skiers for life.
It was a fun week away in the mountains and great way to spend the mid-term break!
Whilst the last day of the Autumn Term simply signalled the start of the Christmas holidays for most, the focus of 40 pupils and five staff was fixed firmly upon last-minute preparations for the Senior Ski Trip, leaving the following day. With Austria in our sights, it was exciting to start our journey back to the mountains after an enforced break of a couple of years. Anticipation was building and whilst some wondered if they would still be able to ski, others questioned if their first experience of the sport would be as fun-filled, or as painful, as it looks in the videos!
Booted and suited, with skis in hand the group met its instructors and took to the snow. Five hours a day of ski tuition proves ample for even the advanced group, and all levels made full use of the experts. Whilst the top group travelled some serious mileage over the course of the week (including a day long safari over to Kaprun and back), the beginners stayed more local in their quest to master the less demanding terrain. Despite this, infrastructure in Saalbach Hinterglemm is first class, so everyone came away with experience of the range of the resort, regardless of experience.
The skiing really did live up to expectations. We had the full range of abilities, from absolute beginner to a handful in the top group with lots of experience. It was great fun skiing with each group and despite the high number of spills and wipeouts, many caught on camera, it was the penalty shoot out evening that left the most bruises –thankfully to egos rather than bones.
The fun wasn’t limited to the snow; students excelled at skittles among other high-intensity activities such as pool, table tennis, air hockey, quiz night, the list goes on.
Evenings on the trip were a chance to relax, of sorts. Pizza night and burger night were separated with a trip to Zell for ice-skating.
It is always a privilege to spend time with the pupils, in an environment where everything is geared towards having fun and developing skills for life. The group was super company and a real pleasure from start to finish.
CWSW
Upper Remove pupil, Jess Day has achieved remarkable success in international water polo this year. Aged only 15, she is nevertheless a member of the Great Britain U18 water polo squad and has been selected to represent the British Water Polo League as a member of the Great British Hawks Team (U18 Girls) at the Junior Women EU Nations Water Polo Tournament in the Czech Republic in November 2023. She also regularly competes in the Ladies League Division One of British Water Polo.
In this she is following in the footsteps of her brother, Dan who, as mentioned elsewhere, was a member of the GB U17 and U19 Teams while at school.
It has been another highly successful year for swimming at King’s. Swimmers have an incredibly gruelling regime and balancing their schoolwork with the demands of this high-level sport, often practising at both ends of the school day, is no mean feat. These hard-working athletes have achieved the success and recognition at Regional and National level that they deserve and we look forward to working with them towards further success next year.
In September, nine teams from King’s competed at an English Schools’ West Midlands qualifier at Malvern College. Many schools from Worcestershire and Herefordshire were chasing a coveted place for the National Final at the London Aquatic Centre. Swimming times are logged and ranked nationally, with the top 30 schools in each age group qualifying for the prestigious final.
In the qualifying round, both the Junior Boys, Isaac Price, Sam Corby, Aiden Atkinson, Rhys Elias and James Cooke, and the Junior Girls’ A and B teams of Florence Venables, Zara Ashfield, Daisy Fitton, Heidi Miller, Izzy Wood, Lucia Ingles, Lara Jones, Immie Hawes and Mia Gooch all swam strongly in their races, with the boys placing third and the girls placing second and third in both the Freestyle and Medley Relays.
In the intermediate age group, the Girls’ A team of Frankie Barry, Jessica Day, Grace Ryder and Cerys Groves all swam competitive races and secured first place comfortably. Having lost a swimmer due to illness that very morning, the B team of Catherine Hamilton, Holly Oliver and Sophie Clare were joined by Heidi Miller from the age group below, who swam up to help them secure a respectable fourth place. Harry Chandler, Ben Gooch, Aled Lee and Dan Arridge were simply unstoppable as the Boys’ A team in both their relays, leaving the rest of the field dead in the water. Their times ranked them first in the whole of the West Midlands in the Medley Relay and second in the Freestyle Relay, their freestyle time only being pipped by 0.3 of a second by Warwick School. Special mention goes to our B team of Dylan Lewis, Oliver Irwin, John Etherington and Alex McVeigh, who put in a fantastic performance to achieve a staggering second place in the Freestyle Relay behind our A team and third in the Medley.
In the senior age group, Bella Barry, Betsy Richards, Amelia Venables and Amelia Phillips all swam a competitive race to secure third place in both girls’ relays. The Senior Boys, Sam Hawes, Henry Halford, Andrew Thorner and George Howard swam very fast races to win both the Freestyle and the Medley, which, considering two of them have long since ‘retired’ from swimming training, was particularly impressive.
On Saturday 19th November, 12 swimmers travelled to the London Aquatic Centre for the English Schools Swimming Association (ESSA) National Final. From the regional qualifying rounds held in September, King’s had three teams rank in the top 30 in the country, which secured them coveted place in this prestigious annual event.
The Under 13 Girls’ Team of Zara Ashfield, Florence Venables, Mia Gooch and Lara Jones qualified for the Freestyle Relay and all four girls swam faster in the Final than in their qualifying round, earning them a respectable 26th place. This is particularly promising as two of the girls are set to be swimming in the same age group next year.
Frankie Barry, Jessica Day, Grace Ryder and Catherine Hamilton, the Under 15 Girls’ Team, performed very well at the qualifying rounds and were ranked 19th in the country for their Freestyle Relay and 11th in their Medley. Competition was fierce, but the girls swam strongly, again producing personal best swims in both races and finishing 25th and 12th respectively. The girls were a little disappointed just to miss out on the final, but they should be proud of their achievement to be finishing up there with the best in the country.
It is fair to say that the Under 15 Boys’ Team of Ben Gooch, Aled Lee, Harry Chandler and Dan Arridge arrived at the Final with the bit between their teeth and their eyes firmly fixed on bringing home the bling. Having had a successful qualifying round in both relays, they had ranked fifth in the country for the Medley and eighth for the Freestyle. First up was their best event, the Medley Relay, and the boys swam a fantastic race in the heats, swimming faster long course than they did short course in the qualifier! With swimming giants such as Millfield, Plymouth and Repton in the field, the boys knew they were going to have to pull out all the stops. Swimming faster again in the Final, the boys were over the moon to win an amazing third place. Riding on a high, the boys went into their Freestyle Relay with guts and determination and were excited to be placed third into the Final. However, it was common knowledge around the pool that a couple of the larger swimspecialist schools were resting their faster swimmers for the Final, so the boys knew it was going to be a considerable challenge to retain their third place. All four boys swam out of their skins in what could only be described as a freefor-all for the third place but, at the end of the third leg, King’s were in seventh place. Harry Chandler dived in and stormed through the pool and, with five metres to go, was looking to come fifth. In a phenomenal finish, Harry powered to the wall to touch out the opposition and win third place for the team.
All the King’s swimmers showed great expertise, professionalism and sportsmanship on poolside and did themselves and the School proud. This was a great season and the future of swimming at King’s looks very strong indeed.
Lizzie MonkhouseTennis Club across all ages groups has been thriving this term, with girls and boys wanting to improve their skills, understanding of the game and tactical awareness. This has enabled a number of pupils to represent the School this season to showcase the skills they have learnt. The sunshine has allowed matches to go ahead and enabled spirits to remain high during club. This season we played in the LTA Division 2 League, which saw us competing against schools in Hereford and Worcestershire in two age groups U13, (combined Lower Fourth and Upper Fourth) boys and girls, and U15 (combined Lower Remove and Upper Remove) boys and girls. The format for each match is the same, with each player competing in a singles match against the equivalent seed which is followed by a doubles game to add to the final score.
The U13 Boys’ squad has been led strongly by Luca Sterckz, who played as our number one seed and had a key role in the organisation of the team and a big encouragement to all involved. Due to the nature of a busy fixture list, the squad changed frequently in this age group which allowed several of boys to play. They have shown impressive performances in all their games, especially with their ground strokes and serving. They had two very convincing wins, scoring 10 points to their opponents’ 2, and battled hard in their third match, narrowly losing out in the tie break. It has been fantastic to see the progress they have made.
This age group was the most well attended out of all the tennis clubs. They were keen to develop, work with different people and quietly competitive during “friendly” games against each other! Their game play improved each week, their groundstrokes became more consistent and serving more accurate. They had three fantastic wins in the league matches, with the highlight being against Malvern St James, with long rallies and some tense doubles games which eventually ended in a victory. Steph Kent, Chloe Noble, Emilia Hunter, and Charlotte Bailey were our consistent squad and I look forward to seeing them progress next year.
It has been great to have a number of these boys attend club on a weekly basis and make so much progress. They have grown in confidence throughout the term and have worked well together, swapping doubles pairs and seeds around for each match as players improved, a great team. This enthusiastic team played their leagues matches in excellent spirits and secured two solid wins out of their three league matches. The highlight being against Kingstone Academy, who challenged the boys pushing many games to deuce, they powered through and secured the win. Well done to Max Knott, Sam Perkins, Angus Beardsell, Aron Gijsel, Harley White and Alex Higgs.
Six girls have represented the Under 15 Girls’ tennis squad this season. To kick the season off, they had an impressive win against Bromsgrove School; after a steady start, they soon warmed up and demonstrated some impressive returns to the opponents serves, winning 8-4. Abi Culwick and Matilda White made a great pair in their doubles communicating effectively and constantly building on tactical play. Carys Macleod displayed some excellent singles match play, delivering accurate serves and ground strokes making it difficult for her opponent to win! Olivia Kent is a consistent and reliable player, who can adapt her game well against any opponent. I have been impressed with this squad and with two still eligible to play next season, I look forward to seeing their progress. Well done.
This year we had one pair represent King’s in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire County Cup. Chloe Noble and Steph Kent, both in Upper Fourth, took on four other teams at Malvern St James in their attempt to win the title! They faced some tough opposition throughout the day but played with grit and determination to display some fantastic tennis. Effective teamwork and communication are what make this pair move around the court so well together. Overall, they finished in second position, which is an impressive achievement, they should be proud of their performance.
This was the highlight of the tennis season. This prestigious tournament is quite unique, as players aged 11-18 all compete against each other, a tough feat for anyone in this position. The Scott Cup has been played since 1962 and each year is well attended by boys hoping to come away victorious. This year Jack Bulbulia, (Upper Remove) did exactly that. He won the Scott Cup at Malvern College on Sunday 21st May. This 18-and-under boys’ singles tennis tournament was last won by King’s exactly 50 years ago!
Jack’s route to the final was straightforward, beating two boys from Malvern College and one from RGS, only dropping three games on the way to the final. In a tense encounter, which was decided in a championship tiebreak, Jack held his nerve and played some great attacking tennis to beat his opponent from Christopher Whitehead Language College 4-2, 2-4, 10-8. He secured the victory with a stunning inside-in forehand winner down the line. Reflecting on his success, Jack said, “ I loved representing King’s and it was great to win this prestigious trophy again for the School after 50 long years! I look forward to defending my title next year”.
This is a fantastic achievement and one that is well-deserved for Jack; his commitment and dedication to tennis is admirable and I hope he is as proud as we are of this victory. We look forward to seeing what is still to come!
One of the pupils adds, “I have really enjoyed playing tennis for the School this term. We have got better during each match which was reflected in our match play.”
In 2012, having spotted a poster for the Studio Ghibli film Porco Rosso behind the desk in F7, Morgan Jones OV (Os 2013) asked Dr McLavertyHead whether he could begin an anime club at King’s. Dr McLavertyHead agreed and so the KSW Anime Club was founded. Since Morgan, student leaders of the club have been Elliot Hudson, Jacob Head, Calum Muncaster, William Head, Mary Head, and Theo HamiltonHolbrook. Every Tuesday we fire up the streaming service Crunchyroll and enjoy the best in new and classic Japanese animation. Pupils from the Lower Remove onwards are very welcome to join.
“The King’s School, Worcester, CCF: Forging Tomorrow’s Leaders through Dedication and Excellence”
The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at King’s School Worcester has just completed a year filled with extraordinary achievements, training, and unforgettable experiences that will shape the futures of these young cadets.
The past academic year has seen the cadets honing their skills, pushing their boundaries, and embracing the values of discipline, teamwork, and leadership through a diverse range of training. This included mastering the art of weapon handling, passing skill-at-arms tests and proving their marksmanship skills on the ranges. This foundational training instils discipline, precision, and responsibility—a solid framework upon which leadership can be built.
Cadets have had the chance to take part in Adventurous Training activities such as white-water rafting, canoeing, paddleboarding and climbing —each experience has cultivated resilience and teamwork, forging bonds that will last a
lifetime. They also undertook the Bronze National Navigation Award, mastering the art of navigation in the great outdoors. This crucial skill equips them not only for adventurous training but also for any real-world situation where navigation and direction are essential.
We know that a true leader is not born but made through dedication and guidance, so cadets in the Fifth Form, Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth undertook a comprehensive leadership training package over two intensive weekends. These were dedicated to honing the principles of good leadership and tactical expertise, preparing these young individuals to lead with confidence and competence. Then they went on to put these skills into practice, with coaching and mentoring, throughout the rest of the year.
The cadets embarked on invaluable field trips and exercises with the Royal Air Force section visiting RAF Cosford, providing them with insights into the RAF. Meanwhile, the Army section engaged in a 48-hour exercise at Army Training Regiment (ATR) Grantham training area, putting their skills to the test in a challenging and realistic scenario.
The pinnacle of their year was the summer camp, also held at ATR Grantham. Here, the CCF cadets immersed themselves in a diverse programme of activities, putting into practice all the hard work and training they had undergone. Highlights included conquering the obstacle course, shooting on the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer and being welcomed into a number of units in the barracks to learn about what they do and view their kit and equipment.
A crowning achievement for the Army Section of King’s School Worcester CCF was their victory in the regional military skills competition. This hardfought win, against strong teams from other Combined Cadet Force and Army Cadet Force units, is a testament to the dedication and teamwork of the military skills team.
We were very sad to see Captain Alastair Falzon leave the CCF at the end of the academic year to move to pastures new. He was a valuable asset to the team and worked tirelessly to continue developing the Army Section training programme, and delivery, as the Officer Commanding the Army Section. His enthusiasm and
experience will be missed by both staff and cadets but we wish him luck on his adventures in Japan.
The journey of the King’s School Worcester CCF over the past academic year is a refllection of the commitment of the cadets but also of Sixth Form Non-Commissioned Officers, Staff and Volunteer Commissioned Officers. Without their constant commitment of time and energy to the CCF, it simply would not be possible to provide the
range of experiences available to our cadets. The whole CCF, both adults and cadets, have embraced challenges, developed skills, and grown as leaders. Whether they continue for another year in the CCF, decide to focus on other areas of school life or are school leavers, they carry with them the values of discipline, teamwork, and leadership, attributes that undoubtedly will shape their future endeavours.
Lt Col Ellen, Contingent Commander
The Sixth Form Charity Committee has enjoyed another very busy and productive year, and our activities have included: fundraising for Green charities, collecting and wrapping more than 300 presents for senior citizens, organising a Christmas party for vulnerable adults, baking and selling lots of cakes, raising money for the Worcester Breast Unit Haven, planning and running a brilliant summer party at Fort Royal Community Special School in Worcester. With a bouncy castle, ice-creams generously donated by Churchfields Farm, a play about a giant, beach games and many other activities enjoyed by one and all, we think the pupils at Fort Royal enjoyed it all almost as much as we did!
At the end of the Autumn Term, the Committee organised a Christmas party for some of the most vulnerable clients of Worcester Community Trust. With the Monitors singing carols and Theo on the flute, delicious Christmas food provided by the King’s kitchens, and beautifully wrapped gifts donated by many members of the King’s Community, we enjoyed meeting the employees and clients of this most worthwhile local charity. We were reminded of how very fortunate we all are, when some of the party guests were visibly moved to receive a present; many were not expecting any presents at Christmas this year. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Worcester Community Trust and are planning a larger-scale party for next Christmas. The Music Department supported our fund-raising efforts by allowing us to collect at music events throughout the Autumn Term, and the term’s efforts ended with our Christmas Jumper Day, which raised over £1000 for Primrose Hospice, another local charity which is important to King’s.
Green Day was an important charity event in March, with more cakes baked and sold and money raised for local and national environmental charities. In the Summer Term, the Committee’s focus
was on raising money for the Malala Fund and awareness of girls’ education around the world, as well as organising the Fort Royal Party. In a truly inspiring assembly, Ria Mayilvahanan spoke with extraordinary conviction about the work of the Malala Fund in supporting the education of girls, which resulted in many entries for her fundraising bookmark competition, collecting to support the education of girls internationally. The winning bookmark designers received a copy of Malala’s book as a prize.
Work in the community continued with 73 Lower Sixth students carrying out a community litter-pick at various local sites in early June, as part of our Key Skills Community Volunteering. Everyone worked very hard and received many positive comments from those members of the public who saw them in action.
In our familiar and much-loved conclusion to the academic year, the Committee, together with the new Heads of Houses, organised a range of activities for the children of Fort Royal School at the end of June. Highlights included a bouncy castle managed by Wulstan House students, a dramatic reading of The Smartest Giant in Town by Kittermaster House, and a range of other activities including face painting by Oswald House, and a magnificent art project by the Bright House Lower Sixth team. The icing on the cake for many was all members of Creighton House Lower Sixth dancing with their pompoms, aided enthusiastically by many of the children from Fort Royal. The threatened thunderstorm did not appear and the generous provision of ice-creams for everyone by Churchfields Farm made for a wonderful afternoon and the perfect conclusion to our eventful year.
This past year has been busy in chess with numbers growing from six at the start of the year to over 33 pupils at its highest point, so many that we had to buy new boards to accommodate the increase in uptake. We have pupils from every year group playing on Mondays and Tuesdays at long break, some as part of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Skills Section. Every ability level is represented, from novices who have never played before to very experienced players who are enjoying playing regularly online and face to face, with assistance from a chess coach after school.
Christian Union has continued to have a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere as we continue to look at the bible this year, chewing over the application of what we have been reading in our lives, as well as enjoying many different games and parties. Sadly, we say goodbye to a few Upper Sixth Christian Union members this year, although we are encouraged by younger members joining the group. Ball games and biscuits continue to run as a common theme, and we look forward to building friendships and having real conversations as we continue to meet this year.
Unfortunately, we have once again not managed to get away on the yearly weekend away this year, but will endeavour to make this happen next year. The weekend away has always been a special time away and we look forward to this recommencing.
As always, we very much encourage those who are just interested and who wish to have a look to pop in and join in the fun, as well as those who are more established in their faith.
We have enjoyed some very sociable creativity in Removes Creative Writing Club this year. As a group, the pupils share an interest in the genres of fantasy, mythology and science fiction, and we have spent many a lunchtime discussing and creating an array of weird and wonderful characters, often with some illustrations to accompany them. We have turned our hands to poetry as well as story-writing and have even worked on a collaborative story set in an underground labyrinth. This is a work in progress but certainly provided a good opportunity for sharing creative ideas!
The Minotaur Slorp, squelch. My foot was stuck, again. I attempted to free myself, but it was a wasted effort. Hastily I yanked my now soaked and frost-bitten feet out of the tattered boots that had already half submerged into the murky sludge of mud. Once my feet were out, however, I tried to force my hand, then my forearm, then my shoulder through the sewage that gave a muffled groan between my fingers. The shoes had sunk too far, I would have to carry on barefoot. The crude string my friends had given me to traverse the labyrinth was of no use anymore, it had also been lost to the manky depths of the maze. All I had left was a rusted sword and a few nails that I had found in a sunken satchel, how was I supposed to kill the minotaur with this?
My legs were aching and complaining as I stumbled on, feet frozen, head gnawing into the back of my brain. I felt pins and needles all over my body, a tingling sensation that I hadn’t experienced before. A horrific voice in my mind demanded I end it all, kill myself. It would spare me a more agonizing death in the hands of the minotaur, I may have just died there. No. That wasn’t how I wanted it to end, I pushed on. People said that my eyes would adjust to the darkness and emptiness that I was in. Tried to reassure me, but when it came down to reality, they were just words, speech. They weren’t going to help me.
I noticed my index finger twitching; my energy and spirit had plummeted down. Nosedived down to a sugar low, an uncontrollable sadness that was killing me. I couldn’t cry, I couldn’t continue barefoot, and I definitely couldn’t fix the mental attitude that
We have discovered that most of the pupils prefer to write at length and would rather plan a short story or even a novel than come up with a 100-word minisaga for the Young Writers competition series, so we have taken a break from competitions recently. Above all, the club has provided a friendly and welcoming community on Wednesday lunchtimes, and we have enjoyed wide-ranging discussions that may start with literature but often take in films, sport, and all manner of other topics before I have to chase them off to afternoon lessons!
Beowulf and Grendel
had been slowing me down at this time. I’d given up. With the remainder of my vigour I trampled on to find some vine. I sat in the mud like a defeated baby, twining the vine into a crude noose. After some time, the rope was finished. Without hesitation I wrapped the thing around my neck. It went bust. I couldn’t even end myself correctly. And worst of all, the rash around my neck would be a dead giveaway of my feeble behaviour if I ever made it out with life inside of me. As I sat on the ground, stubborn and worse than I had ever been, I heard a shriek. Muffled at first but it rose to a crescendo. Then it stopped as suddenly as it had started. The most awful part was that it was nearby. Not caring anymore, I just lay there and fell asleep on the murky floor of the cavern.
I woke up to a sniffing sound, by my deaf ear. It was the Minotaur, there was no mistaking that. The question that was lumbering in my head though, was not how I should kill the wretched creature by me, it was ‘Do I want to fight? Or should I just lie here?’. I had given up and I just lay there. My sword shaking in the pale hands that were my own. Eventually, the creature trampled on, dragging me with it. I hadn’t made a sound and didn’t intend to. I was confined to a lifeless body, no energy to speak, no energy to fight, and no energy for emotion. At this point I wasn’t even scared anymore. But my arms were shrieking to me like banshees, ‘Pick up the damn sword!’. The cavern was whispering, ‘Kill it, kill it’. It may have been evidence that I was on the spiraling path to insanity. Yet it was good enough motivation to force me up again. I would have to fight.
Angus BeardsellI cannot stand humans. Every night, I try to sleep but always end up lying with my ears ringing and seldom being able to shut off—every night. A constant battle within my mind. My name is Grendel, and I live in the mountains. I moved to the northern mountains to separate myself from the Danes but, somehow, I can never escape them. The nearby village of Herot lies a couple of miles from my home, and I cannot articulate how much they bother me. My only reassurance is my mother. Like me, she hides weeping and sobbing in the dim gloom of our lair. The last thing I need is for humans to play despicable music and sing with their detestable high-pitched voices. I could be listening to someone dragging their sharp fingernails across a chalkboard.
It’s only when I get so annoyed that the bubble bursts and I rage angrily. That same anger fuels wars. I cannot help extinguishing humans. I want to demonstrate to them how much they provoke and harm me when they celebrate and drink ale in Herot. In response to my appearance, they shout at me and try to hurt me, giving me no option to defend myself. However, I have no intention of slaughtering the villagers or even King Hrothgar but, because of my size, I cannot help it.
Yet, to some extent, I thought they finally understood me because I was left in harmony. This must have been one of the best moments in my life because my mother and I began to catch up on sleep and explore our surroundings without the anxiety of humans. This was all a fantasy until one day, a so-called “hero” from the Geats called Beowulf came with his men and gave the command to King Hrothgar to open up Herot again. I cannot even talk about what transpired next, but I can tell you that I hate Beowulf with indescribable anger. The same outrage that crushes down the skyscraper you built and the mistake you never regret.
Aron GijselIphigenia
“Princess, princess
Have you heard?
From your father
We have word!”
She was thrilled
When she heard
That she would marry
The strongest one
Achilles, Aristos Achaion.
So, she sailed for a day
To deny, she could not say
Her face was hid behind a veil
Slowly she descended down the aisle,
Smiled, though no one could see her smile.
She felt the blade before she saw it.
Heard his gasp of shock before it
Looked up to see his shock of fear
Felt it leave felt the sear.
Felt the warm blood kept his gaze,
Helpless through an injured daze.
Her father’s voice echoed through her mind
He had done the grievous crime.
Held her hand to her wound
To try to stop the blood typhoon.
But soon her vision blurred and broke
And with a strangled voice she croaked
For any god to her call.
To her knees, then laid right down
Felt her heartbeat fail and crack
Felt the knowledge she wouldn’t come back
Felt death swallow
And breathed death’s gasp.
Ariadne
One is for siblings cursed unwhole
Who bear bull horns and A murder toll.
Two is for watching
As he kills, so helping
A hero to end him soon.
Three is for running far away
So you can be punished
Another day.
Four is for betrayal
By one you helped
And being left for dead as you knelt.
Five is for surviving
In the praise of a god
For their children
And the life she’d always sought.
Six is for sisters
You thought forgot
But return from Troezen
Mind in a knot.
Seven is for anger
And betrayal that your god
Could watch them flail
Could watch their loss.
Eight is for your sister’s mistakes
Before she hangs herself
Her heart is dread
Life for those who live a curse
For Ariadne who always
Received the worst.
Run Atalanta
She was left for dead
Few hours old
Raised by the woods
That were her world.
One day summoned
By that one
Who needs an heir
To bear a son
To be a king
To battle gone.
Atalanta smart
Atalanta fast
She made a race,
That if they came last
Would not live
Would be passed,
“By my knife’s point
We will make it great,
Make it a sport.”
She was a woman
In a world for men
She hunted with them
Struck down for them
But it broke them all
As it often does.
When with a man
She fell in love
But she kept running
Waiting to kill
But he had a plot
A manipulation if you will.
One by one
That made her stop
Broke her run.
So, Atalanta married
And so, goes freedom
They lived their lives
Until they defiled a sacred
Place
And to prowl
With manes and tails.
Atalanta run
Atalanta hide
Atalanta loved
So, Atalanta died.
Cassandra Gift of prophecy
Honesty, celibacy
But cursed so when she spoke
People would laugh
And ignore them
Forced not to believe them.
When Helen was taken By Paris of Troy
And the war broke out
She’d tell them all
“Don’t,” she would urge them.
“To your ends that is the door.”
But it was like no one heard her
Or her prophecies deter.
Ajax the soldier praised for skill
Took her and owned her,
Then abandoned her still.
Cassandra tells the prophecy
And nobody believes.
Then Cassandra lived the end of it
And still praises, but no one believes.
Eros & Psyche
Softly falling, black dress furling
Like the prophecy discerning;
Caught by powers, wind uncurling
Carried floating fear withdrawing.
Until shoved upon a cliff, falls gliding
But joy, riches and peace are beckoning,
The god of love in deceit is hiding-
She ventured in the night frightening
Their sweet fairy tale marriage unconcerning
Halls of riches brightly glistening
Tricked by sisters greatly lying
Wax hits godly skin then burning.
The home they loved so wholly crumbling
God of love flies heart still hurting,
To his mother, she was burning
Tried her fairest hand at healing,
Meanwhile Psyche was crying, simmering
Sought her sister anger blossoming
Died in turns revenge was thrilling
Told her that her love had left her calling
For each sister to take her place falling
They threw themselves one by one tumbling
But felt no fear until they were hitting
Their traitorous bones cleanly shattering.
Psyche tired and expectant waiting,
She looked for her love, and helping
Other gods their favour earning
She came to see the goddess, strengthening
Told her what she wanted wishing,
Given task to complete in earning
But her final task was death creeping,
Her child was two months for readying
So down to Erebos she went venturing
The god of love sent word forgiving
But she got half way back ‘fore crumpling
Opened poison for another’s poisoning
Her love collected where she fell withering,
Took her to his fellows simmering
“Help her please, for she is dying.
Make her a goddess.” Only on denying.”
Psyche had fallen black dress furling
But her life was not the prophecy discerning.
Echo
She fell in love
But remained in the shadow
Loved him but he loves another
Himself he would stare at in wonder
She’d call
Sophie Ruane
It was really pleasing this year to return to almost normality when face to face debating competitions resumed. Whilst it would be fair to say that last year was not a particularly memorable one, due to the retention of online competitions and our failure to progress beyond the early rounds in the English-Speaking Union Mace competition, this year proved to be a spectacular success.
The numbers attending Senior Debating Club after school on Monday have been small. However, they have been enthusiastic and committed throughout the year. Whilst numbers have been few the quality of this year’s cohort has been exceptional as demonstrated by King’s debaters’ success in the ESU National Debating Competition. Over the last few years, we have achieved remarkable success and reached the national semifinal in two of the last three competitions but, this year, King’s went one better and reached the actual final for the first time in living memory.
The road to London began in November when our team consisting of George Capell, Becky Ye and Liam Radford competed in the regional round against Maidenhill School from Cirencester on the proposition that “This House would have educational policy set by education experts rather than politicians.” Supporting the motion, we easily advanced alongside our local rivals RGS.
The West Midlands regional heat in January saw King’s and five other teams compete for a place in the next round. Supporting the proposition that “This House would not allow countries with poor human rights records to host sporting tournaments,”, we concentrated on the moral arguments such as “sports washing”, the dubious human rights record of the hosts of the FIFA World Cup, Qatar, and a defence of the Olympic principles. Once again, we
were able to advance to the next round.
The West and Wales heat, held at the Hereford Cathedral School in March, marked a noticeable step up in quality. The teams were much more polished and prepared compared to the previous rounds. The fact that we drew our local rivals RGS as our opponents only added to the occasion. We felt we had argued well in support for the proposition “This House would only imprison individuals who pose a direct and ongoing risk to society”, but other teams also debated strongly. The cancellation of our train back to Worcester meant we had to leave early before the final debate had concluded which added to the sense of tension. The subsequent notification via email that we had got through was ecstatically received.
To reach the Finals Day at the headquarters of the ESU in Mayfair was a unique and humbling feeling for both students and me. Dartmouth House in Mayfair is a beautiful and imposing building with an extraordinarily rich history. Winston Churchill, amongst others, has spoken here and was a former president of the ESU. Competing against the best debating schools in the country, such as Eton, Harrow, and Winchester, many of whom employ specialist debating coaches to prepare them for these events, only added to the sense of achievement.
The format for the competition involved twelve teams split into two semifinals, with each in turn split into three debates. Only one team would go through to the grand final from each semi. King’s were drawn against Radley College and had to support the motion that “This House believes that important decisions about a child’s health should be made by medical professionals and not by the parents.” Despite a theatrical presentation from our Radley opponents, the King’s team were methodical and relentless, frequently highlighting the flaws in their arguments. Despite the quiet confidence that we competed well, when it was announced that we had got through to the grand final, we were both excited and terrified in equal measure. This was because the event would be live streamed on YouTube and because we had not really expected to get this far and so had not really prepared as well as we should. We used the interlude to prepare our arguments feverishly and predict theirs
in the hope our opponents, St Paul’s Girls School from London, would be in the same position.
Unfortunately, it was quickly clear that our rivals were not. They had meticulously prepared their arguments in support of the motion “This House believes that it is legitimate for environmental groups to use the destruction of property to further their aims.” The King’s team debated very well and clearly made it a difficult decision for the judges, especially as we were the more spontaneous and creative in our arguments. Ultimately their victory was expected, and they deserved their win but the journey by the King’s team had been an incredible one. All three students deserve enormous praise especially Becky and Liam for their relative inexperience and the fact they had to effectively learn on the job. George’s departure to university will be a great loss to the School’s Debating Society, as he has been a mainstay and highly active member for the last few years. I hope that this is not the not the end of their debating journey and they stay involved in some capacity later on.
WM
The Junior debaters have met every Wednesday under the expert guidance of Mrs Kent. They have shown great enthusiasm and, hopefully, will be able next year to compete in the senior debating competitions.
Lower Years debating has been a captivating and enjoyable experience across the year; it has featured a wide variety of debates that have sparked interest in all pupils. The pupils’ confidence has grown significantly as they are put under pressure which has allowed them increasingly to vocalize their ideas. Thanks to our superb teacher we have developed our preparation and public speaking skills. We have very much enjoyed debating this year and are looking forward to the Debating Club next year!!
Charlie Hathaway, Matthew Phillips, Sazan Meci
This year in Lower Remove DT Club, in addition to several mini projects, the students have been working on a scale model of a school. This is to be used as a basis for a bridge proposal to span from the senior school to KSA. Laser cutting, 3D printing, and hand assembly was used in the 1:72 scale model for future members to add their own bridge designs. Significant discussion of suitable bridge materials and methods of crossing Severn Street dominated our time, with proposals to mount a steel structure to the side of the Annett building, with a covered walkway descending into the swimming pool car park. To formulate a proposal for such an ambitious design will span more than one year, but the foundations have been laid for future Lower Remove to add to the model and include their own bridge concepts.
Geography Club has enjoyed developing geographical skills in an enjoyable atmosphere each week. We have worked on our Map Skills, including a focus on looking at and interpreting historical maps. This year, locational quizzes have been very popular; the group certainly thrived on expanding their place knowledge!
We have followed and discussed matters of current affairs in our regular topic of Geography in the News and have also undertaken some hazard risk management tasks, learning about the risks posed by hazards and how to manage resources to protect areas as best we can. We have also been practising extended writing through decision-making exercises and very much enjoyed creating picture hunts for Lower Years pupils to use around the School. All in all, it has been a busy and highly enjoyable year and we look forward to what next year will bring.
ELWAfter years of hard work, learning new skills, completing invaluable service in the community, building up sporting prowess and learning the intricacies of map-reading and campcraft on their expedition training, 21 King’s students were duly rewarded for their efforts with an invitation to the Gold Award Celebrations at Buckingham Palace in May.
Natasha Beattie, Oscar Blundell, Michael Burgess, Phoebe Conyers, Edward Cosson, Abigail Deller, Elizabeth Evans, Anna Fryers, Edward James, George Jury, Thomas Long, Faith Murray, Michael Nice, Felicity Quiney, Jonathan Raggett, Sophie Spencer, Harry Sproule, Jonathan Stratton, Sarah Warburton, Alexandra Ward and Hazel ZurickBall all achieved their Gold Award and receive our congratulations.
SCC
Over two mornings in March, this year’s English Speaking Board cohort provided the examiner with a rich selection of books, poems, and subject presentations to hear about and to discuss.
Both year groups made selections from verse spanning nearly two hundred years and were assessed as to how well they could discuss the context as well as the language of the poems and, of course, how well they were able to recite them unaided. Two pupils chose verse from local Bromsgrove poet, A.E Housman: Thomas Wilson gave voice to On The Idle Hill of Summer and Jayden Heaysman took us to Shropshire, with On Wenlock Edge. Robert Lee’s theatrical recital of Green Man in the Garden by Charles Causley held the examiner spellbound throughout its duration.
Equally dynamic was the selection of novels from which pupils read. They were required to prepare a reading of a section of text and to provide the context of the passage for the listeners. Alessio Morville’s dramatic reading from the novel Horror Heights by Bec Hill sent chills down everyone’s spine and science fiction and fantasy were the order of the day, with pupils choosing sections from “the three ‘H’s”: The Hobbit, The Hunger Games and Harry Potter, as well as many
other exciting “other worldly” texts. The examiner was clearly quite taken with this breadth of interest, and pupils had the opportunity to field questions from the examiner, as well as their peers, as to their knowledge of the book.
The Upper Fourth Pupils produced a presentation upon a subject of their choosing, with a selection which revealed the breadth of their interests, whereas the Lower Removes chose an individual and their legacy.
Arthur Taylor’s fascinating survey of bridges spanning the River Severn taught us all something we didn’t know about the variety in local landmarks. The footballer Marcus Rashford was the subject of presentations across both year groups; however, the focus could not have been more different. Jamal Jamal chose to look at Rashford’s positive impact on combatting racism in football and on social media, whereas Mathilda Penny chose to look at his impact as a successful international footballer.
The two cohorts received six distinctions and fifteen merits or merit-pluses between them, which is an excellent result, of which they should be extremely proud.
What did they have to do?
F1 In Schools inspires students to use a multi-disciplinary approach to learn about physics, aerodynamics, use their design skills to problem solve and create engineering solutions. They then used CAD/CAM to manufacture a miniature compressed air powered car made from a supplied F1 foam block and a range of materials to produce wheels and wings. C Squared followed the real world of Formula One by using distinctive graphics to support the teams’ brand image. Teams must also raise sponsorship and manage budgets to fund research, testing, travel and accommodation. Having a successful car provides more opportunities to gain media time and keep their sponsors names in the public eye. Bringing this all together is the job of the Project manager and maintaining a productive team is hard work in itself.
Joseph Roberts: Project Manager
Ben Gooch: Manufacturing Engineer
Pranav Mayilvahanan: Finance Manager
Rowan Campbell: Design Engineer
Oliver Rearden: Graphic Designer and Marketing Manager
This was held at Aston University in Birmingham and there were five other teams in the Professional Class competition.
The team started their day by delivering the car to the Parc Ferme, where the judges scrutinize every dimension to check they comply with the rules and regulations; the team only get it back to race down the 20 metre long track. Just as for real race teams, the next task is setting up the pit area, called the pit display. This becomes the central meeting point for judging the team’s work on project management, marketing, sponsorship and enterprise. The team also do an illustrated presentation to a different panel of judges to show off their IT and verbal communication skills; this covers all aspects of their work. After completing four races, in which they came second each time, they met up with the engineering judges and were very animated in their explanations about how their car had been manufactured and why particular designs and processes were chosen.
C Squared have managed to do amazingly well in their first competition. After winning the “Fastest Car” award, they next took the “Best Engineered Car” award and were invited to compete at the National Final. As the car was very heavy, at 102 grams (Professional Class cars have a minimum limit of 50 grams), the judges provided them with some useful feedback on how to reduce the weight ready for the National Final.
The National Final was held at Leeds University and had 19 professional class teams competing for three places at the World Finals in 2024. “The Edge” is one of the university’s sports facilities and the competition used two of the sports halls. The colourful pit stands, team uniforms and cars made a marked contrast to the concrete jungle that surrounded the venue. Day One sees all the teams being put through their paces in five assessed areas by the judges, who had long conversations with each individual team. I was really pleased that C Squared carried on the King’s engineering competition tradition of having too much to talk about in the allotted time. In the afternoon the team were reacquainted with their two cars which had been sent ahead the week before for scrutineering. Unfortunately, the new cars still needed further development time and weighed in at 70 grams. This has an impact on the car’s acceleration, which meant they were 0.1 of a second slower than the next team, although they were still a huge half-second faster than the regional car. The friendly atmosphere amongst the teams enabled much discussion on how to decrease the weight further and a long conversation with the chief scrutineering judge provided an even greater insight into future possibilities of improving the air flow over the wings. Ben took the opportunity to put the spare car in the Denford Tools wind tunnel and review the aero package. The air flow over the wheels played a significant part in the turbulence problem. The high quality of all the teams’ work gave the judges a late night of moderating the day’s competition. Day Two was all about knockout racing and individual team feedback which, once again, was so useful for each of the team members. Although C Squared did not win any trophies, they put on a great display of work and, just as importantly, learnt many new skills.
I shall end with some quotations from the team:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process. However, my highlight would have to be seeing the car that I helped to design and build race down the track at National Final.”
“I have really enjoyed the F1 In Schools competition; my favourite aspect of it was the knowledge I learned about SolidWorks, and how to do fluid dynamic analysis using it. I’ve also learnt the importance of time management in big projects, and will hopefully carry this forward to my DT NEA next year.”
New this year at King’s is The Higgins Society, an academic society for Sixth Form students at King’s. It is led by the Senior Scholars with support from Dr McLaverty-Head. The Society is open to all Sixth Form students.
The Society meets weekly at Thursday long break in F7. Meetings are studentled, based on a topic of their choosing. Topics this year have included film, rockets, the Bible, Shakespeare, futurology, and the NHS. The Higgins Society acts as a natural extension of the Academic Enrichment programme at King’s and provides a useful venue for students—especially those applying for very competitive university courses and apprenticeships—to hone their public speaking and presentation skills.
The Society is named after Alexander Pearce Higgins OV (1865-1935), who was a British law scholar, Whewell Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge, President of the Institut de Droit International, and a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
On the walls of one of the IT classrooms, Java, are framed front pages from the King’s Herald, a student newspaper which ran from 1988 to 2007. Featured headlines run from the Poll Tax controversy in 1991 to the Iraq War in 2003. Mr Roslington (Staff 1975-2010) set up the King’s Herald Club. The paper started in 1988, and wound down in 2007. The Herald editorial team won the Times Newspaper competition in 1990, and various awards in other years.
Carrying on in the tradition of the King’s Herald is the King’s Speech blog (kingsspeech.edublogs.org), which has until now been published as part of the Key Skills programme in the Lower Sixth. In 2021 the King’s Speech won a “Rising Star” award from the Shine School Media Awards, a national competition sponsored by the Stationers’ Foundation, the charitable arm of The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, one of the UK’s ancient livery companies.
In 2022, the blog won again. Elliot Fairyn (U6K) was highly commended for his cartoon of the footballer Ronaldo and Magnus McLeod (U6S) won best photograph for Bubbles. Judging Elliott’s cartoon, Steve Marchant, from the Cartoon Museum, praised a “classy, professional-looking piece of work.”
Freelance magazine photographer Lucy Young noted that Magnus had a “strong technical understanding of photography.”
With the change in the Key Skills programme, the King’s Speech will no longer be run by Dr McLaverty-Head but has found a new home in the English Department.
Fresh from the Shine School Media award, The King’s Voice started its 4th year of broadcast in September 2022. Edmund Roberts and Joseph Young released an interview recorded with Julia Letts, who ran KH Radio at King’s Hawford and has extensive experience in broadcast journalism. Station manager, Mr Pearson, interviewed the First XI Hockey team for their Severn Shield match vs. RGS and the first staff profile of the year was released, in which pupils interviewed the new Deputy Head (Pastoral) for the school, Miss Dyke. She spoke about her career, vision for King’s and chosen Desert Island Discs tracks. During this time, Edmund and Joseph were training new members in the radio’s software and hardware, with the vision of taking some time away from their roles as Student Directors to focus on GCSEs that were fast approaching. The former Unwritten Tech team, Max Manning and Sam Wiseman, debuted their new show in March. Worlds Supercollide is a GCSE and A-Level Physicsbased podcast. Florence Sinfield interviewed the 1st VII Netball team following their Superball match. This podcast also highlighted girls’ sport in general. Following this, the station has remained rather quiet, due to external and internal exams for the broadcasters. The more involved members are now in exam year groups, with revision taking priority. More staff profiles will be produced in the coming months and, once again, in September we will be inaugurating new members.
All podcasts are available at www. mixcloud.com/TheKingsVoice/ TP
Choosing and receiving the BookBuzz books (a Booktrust initiative in which all new Lower Fourth pupils are given one of 12 new titles) is always a highlight when we return to school for the Autumn Term. The most popular choice this year was Wave Riders by Lauren St John, although there were some last minute substitutions for You are a Champion by Marcus Rashford after England’s World Cup group games!
February is LGBT+ History Month and we were delighted to welcome to our school Simon James Green, one of the most popular UK authors of children’s and YA fiction. He presented two highly engaging, entertaining, and informative talks, and also held a lunchtime Q&A session for our book club members.
Simon’s books feature LGBTQ+ characters and storylines, but his awkward, relatable, lovable characters, the hilarious situations they find themselves in, and his positive, warmhearted plots have universal appeal. “When it comes to it, we are all pretty similar, going through similar things, and all subject to the same highs and crushing lows of relationships and life.”
In both talks, Simon emphasised that it is important that everyone gets to see themselves represented in a book. It is also important to read about characters who are nothing like us and to develop empathy by reading about people facing different challenges. Simon’s love of comedy and laughter is evident in all his books, but he also covered some very important and thought-provoking issues.
In the Lower Remove talk, Simon discussed his latest novel Gay Club! in
the context of Section 28 which was in force (1988-2007) when he was at school. In effect this meant that LGBTQ+ questions and conversations were not allowed in school, and books with LGBTQ+ characters or storylines were banned from school libraries. Simon, therefore, writes the sort of books that he would have loved to find in a school library and would have helped him as an awkward teenager. Authors need to reflect the reality of being a young person growing up today and to tackle issues in honest, non-judgemental ways. “My job as an author is to hold a mirror up to the world and reflect reality”.
The Lower Years were wonderfully engaged with Simon’s talk “Own the Awkward.” Several of Simon’s characters go on quite a journey, as “sometimes in life you have to get things very, very, wrong before you can get them even slightly right”. Life is full of embarrassing, mortifying and plain awkward moments and he advised that young people need to learn to love themselves in all their awkward geeky glory and surround themselves with friends who love them for who they are.
Simon also took us on his own journey to publication (via Law at Cambridge and a director of West End Musicals) and gave an interactive synopsis of his book Alex in Wonderland, aided by emoji posters and 13 very willing and able pupil volunteers.
He spoke of his inspirations too (such as his love of Agatha Christie mysteries), and passed on lessons he had learned at school, such as trying to focus on the lighter side of life, laugh at misfortunes (your own!) and use comedy as armour. “People just want to live their lives, be who they are and love who they love. Let’s build a world that is open and accepting and kind and have fun doing it”.
The children really warmed to Alex. They were a fabulous audience; there was much laughter and endless questions to answer! A heart-warming number of the pupils came down to buy books, get them signed and chat to Simon at the end of his talk. They were all hugely positive about Simon’s visit.
We were very grateful to Simon James Green for bringing such energy, laughter and understanding to our school.
In January, we gratefully received a visit and donation of books from Mr Garnett Alderson, a local gentleman who purchases and reads every new Holocaust-related memoir. He then passes the books on to local schools to ensure that a new generation has awareness of what happened during that darkest of times in human history. On Holocaust Memorial Day (the theme this year was “Ordinary People”) Lower Sixth students were able to view our resources and particularly to browse the gifted collection of Holocaust personal narratives by once ordinary people who survived extraordinary times.
Our display for Mental Health Awareness Week in May highlighted the Library’s collection of books to support wellbeing, including the Reading Agency’s “Reading Well” recommendation lists. This year they produced a very welcome new list, “Reading Well for Teens”, with books chosen by teens and well-being experts to help young people to manage emotions and cope with difficult times. The Library’s collection of the books has been made available for pupils to access in the Health Centre.
Empathy Day in June is always an opportunity to celebrate the benefits and importance of reading as a tool to increase empathy. The current and
previous Read for Empathy collections, as recommended by Empathy Lab, were on display, perfectly enhanced by the bunting created by pupils displaying their empathy resolutions
We had a successful and very busy World Book Day on Thursday 2nd March. Our theme for the day was “Books on prescription.”
“Reading for pleasure is not a luxury: it’s medicine for the soul” Nicola Morgan
Teachers had been asked to think of symptoms and book remedies, and the prescriptions for these were displayed. For example, “Symptoms: ‘Wanderlust’; Remedy: Read Around the World in 80 days.” The teachers signed the prescriptions with the author as doctor and then wore their doctor badge for the day for a competition for the pupilsto match teachers to doctors. Miss Trow Poole and Mr Atkinson were particularly keen prescribers, each wearing six different doctor badges!
The Library celebrated the benefits of reading for pleasure to well-being and mental health with a display of uplifting reads, comfort reads, poetry first-aid, reading cures, and information about bibliotherapy. The highlight of the day and centre of activity was our lunchtime Books on Prescription Surgery. Staffed by 26 wonderful pupil doctors (our keenest readers from Lower Fourth to Upper Sixth), the Library was transformed into a surgery, with waiting room, staff room, x-rays, and consultation areas. The doctors were all kitted out with white coats (or blue coats for Sixth Form consultants), stethoscopes, prescription pads, badges, pill bottles and potions. We had plenty of patients coming for consultations with our various specialists in Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Graphic novels (to name but a few!) and going away with books prescribed to meet their reading needs. It was fantastic to see the Library so busy and buzzing with book talk, and everyone involved agreed that it was great fun. It was also magical to witness the variety of book recommendations made to our pupil patients by our very dedicated and enthusiastic doctors.
The doctors found the experience very interesting and enjoyable.
“It was interesting to see so many different tastes in books” Anne Garrad, U4A
“It was nice to help people who hadn’t really been enjoying reading, and be able to find them a book that they would like to read” Bluebell Murton U4A
“It was really good fun and great to be able to pass on our passion for reading to the younger pupils” Sophie Pitts U6S
“I was really impressed with the turnout of patients” Thora Dykes U6S
Patients enjoyed visiting the Library for this unique experience. The array of sweet medications on offer (Healing Words, Bibliotherapy, Reading Remedy, Comfort & Joy, Zest for life, Library Tonic, Elixir of Hope) were also very well received in addition to the tailored prescriptions!
“It was very nice and friendly. I felt really encouraged to read” Sazan Meci U4E
In June the Year Six classes visited what is soon to be their Library for a transition morning, focusing on reading for pleasure. This was a lovely opportunity to be able to give the children a glimpse of the whole new world of reading choice that awaits them! Before their visit, the pupils had filled out questionnaires about their reading habits and preferences. We made form reading profiles out of these, which we had an interesting time discussing on the day. The children then enjoyed playing The Reading Game which introduces pupils to new books across a range of genres, some of which might also be new to them. It was lovely to meet these delightful children, many of whom are siblings of current pupils. They were wonderfully engaged and very keen to start borrowing books already! We look forward to getting to know them all better in September.
It is customary to end this article with comments from our departing Upper Sixth students reflecting on their time in the Library as they leave school. This year we also have a comment from an Upper Fourth pupil, closer to the start of her learning journey with us, who is making the very best use of the wonderful range of resources that are available for our pupils.
AJCH (Ms Jeffery)
“This year I have been able to expand my knowledge of drawing and general art books as well as graphic novels and architecture (things I never thought I would like!)”
Anne Garrad U4A
“Thank you for everything over the years. Over my time at King’s, the library has always been a haven for research and reading, both of which have played huge parts in my education”.
Sophie Pitts U6S
“The school library is really a treasure trove. Each time I step in, I always find even more books on display and on the shelves to read.”
Becky Ye U6S
Twitter @KSW Library
“The library is one of the School’s most impressive resources. When touring prospective students and parents around the School, they often comment on how impressive it is. It has allowed me to pick up some books by writers who I now deeply admire, like Gerard Manley Hopkins, Harold Pinter, and Frederico Garcia Lorca amongst others. Their film collection is also vast; after scouring the shelves I have picked up films from an international range of directors: Louis Malle, Pedro Almodovar, Werner Herzhog and Francois Truffaut The staff have always been incredibly kind to me, recommending books to read next and indulging my attempts at procrastination with good conversation. It really has been an invaluable resource, and I would like to thank the librarians for their guidance, kindness and knowledge over my six or so years at the school.”
Salvador Kent U6OS
This year has been monumental for Model United Nations. From winning awards in prestigious conferences, to debating about global issues in today’s world, MUN has taught us to question beliefs, reckon with assumed norms and most importantly, learn how to converse and cooperate with each other for the betterment of the world. Every Thursday, we would meet in either the Science Lecture Theatre or L1 to discuss a new resolution submitted by a variety of countries on diverse issues from the illegal drugs trade to the carbon tax. Every session would challenge us to debate from the point of view of countries with a wide spectrum of political opinions, enabling us to understand the sociopolitical and economic aspects of the country we represented, gain a world view, and see the multiple facets of certain issues, something which is ever more important in a globalized world.
The first conference we attended in October was MUNCH, held annually at Cheadle Hulme School. We were one of 25 schools across the country, including one from Germany! We represented the delegations of USA and Saudi Arabia, led by ambassadors George Capell and Riya Mayilhavan, and, throughout the two days, we debated various global agendas from the death penalty, period poverty, population control, gender and racial representation in police forces, political misinformation and the failure of democratic institutions in the Middle East. The highlight was the interesting crisis which required countries to solve issues caused by all land masses joining together and creating a new Pangea. There were very interesting solutions, including grinding up the citizens of France and making them into a paste to stabilize the
Earth’s plates! Riya Mayilhavan received a special mention, George Capell and Rowan Campbell were commended, and Salvador Kent and James Capell were highly commended. USA received the Best Delegation award in the Human Rights Forum for the crisis scenario.
Our second conference in January was an online international conference entitled GoodCOP2023, with pupils from the Upper Remove to Lower Sixth participating. This conference was organised by Engage with China and involved schools from across four continents. We represented the delegation of Pakistan, exploring various climate-related issues, including carbon mitigation, financing of adaptation, compensation for loss and damage due to climate change, and the phasing out of plastics. Pakistan successfully passed its resolution on food waste, which was a result of our collective collaboration. Riya Mayilhavanan and Lucy Wadley were also named as ‘standout players’ in the debate. Overall, this conference enlightened us on the global impact of the climate crisis and reminded us that its solution now lies in our hands; listening to how other schools were finding solutions to problems in their local area gave us ideas about how to implement those ideas in our own areas.
Our third conference was the prestigious 32nd Bath International Schools’ Model United Nations Conference, with over 300 students taking part. We represented the three countries of China, Australia and Ethiopia, and debated a range of serious global issues from women’s rights to sanctions on Israel. The conference allowed us to network with pupils from other
schools through creating alliances to submit and sign other people’s resolutions; we made many friends in the process. Furthermore, the high level of debating pushed us to make more points of information, submit more resolutions and, overall, participate more in the conference. Toby Raybould was commended, Liam Radford, Riya Mayilhavanan and James Capell were all highly commended in the Political and Sci-Tech committees, and MUN veteran and Chinese Ambassador George Capell received Best Delegate in the Security Council. The Chinese delegation of George Capell, Liam Radford, Riya Mayilhavanan and Robynne AnthonySmith were highly commended overall.
Our last conference of this academic year was in June, which was hosted by King’s Gloucester as their first MUN conference. Although it was a shorter conference, we enjoyed representing Switzerland, Ukraine, Israel and Iraq and helped other delegates who had not had prior experience of MUN debating structures and procedures. Teaching our knowledge to others further built our confidence and increased our debating skills. Most of us won commended, highly commended or best delegate in our respective committees and the delegation of Switzerland consisting of George Capell, Riya Mayilhavanan, Robynne Anthony-Smith and Louisa Kerton won best delegation.
Overall, this year of MUN has been very successful and we are extremely grateful to Mrs Shearburn for her hardwork in running MUN for all of us; thank you very much!
Riya MayilhavanWith the popularity of quizzing at King’s growing by the year, we have had to split the overall Seniors into “Seniors” and “Removes”, so there are now three clubs, run by Mrs Drew with the Fourth Forms, Mrs Lloyd-Smith with the Removes and Mrs Shepherd with the Seniors.
This year’s Senior Quizzing has been back in great force with pupils from the Upper Sixth and Fifth Form making up the largest contingents. During the Autumn Term, pupils have been coming to Edgar Tower on a Tuesday to have their lunch and a fast-and-furious-paced quiz session, using our new buzzers, in practice for the national competition. This year’s competition took a very different turn with the heats being held online in March, and against schools we have not played before. The A Team met Magdalen College School, Oxford, and the B team were pitted against Bury Grammar School (a blast from the past for Mrs. Shepherd whose Schools Challenge career began in that very school over 20 years ago!) It was never going to be easy listening to questions over the internet but, as ever, King’s Worcester conducted themselves with grace and great cheer, despite just losing out to Bury. The A team later met their match in Magdalen College, Oxford but the heat ran smoothly and we had great fun with the challenge!
Late March ushered in the Senior InterHouse Quiz competition. With an impressive take-up from each and every house, the semi-finalists were Choir, Chappel, School and Bright. The eventual champions 2023, beating the traditionally strong Choir, were Bright House.
Finally in the Summer Term, the Removes Inter-House Quiz brought the season to a grand finale. Again, participation was very pleasing and this year’s Removes winners, beating Choir and springing from a semi-final pool which also included Castle and Wulstan, were Oswald.
The Removes Quiz Club has gone from strength to strength this year. Wednesday lunchtimes are regularly and literally ‘buzzing’ with excitement as the Lower and Upper Removes show their knowledge of subjects from Ancient Egypt to the latest Pop-Culture. We have resident authorities on topics such as: History, Sport, Mathematics and, particularly, Science. It is always a challenge for pupils to see if they can beat these experts in their field and, admittedly, despite some sterling efforts, it does not happen often, but much delight exudes when it does! The regulars are also so encouraging of those who have moved up from the Lower Years quiz teams, but they aim to win. The enthusiasm shown by the Removes gives much hope for our future Upper Years quiz teams; they are a force with which to be reckoned!
This year Lower Years Running Club met each week in the Autumn Term. We enjoyed many lovely runs around the river, including some timed runs, more relaxed fun runs and some challenging interval training up and down the slope between College Green and the river. We were extremely fortunate with the weather, allowing us to enjoy the glorious views of our surroundings bathed in sunlight.
The Club was attended by pupils largely from the Lower Fourth this year and included runners of all abilities: those wanting to get fitter, run and chat with friends, as well as those using it as part of their training for competitions. Some great running times were set by pupils early on, giving them a benchmark to aim for and highlight their individual improvement throughout the term. We saw some excellent examples of friendship and teamwork, as pupils supported each other in their efforts.
HL and ELW
About a dozen faithful and enthusiastic quizzers from the Lower Fourth turned up week by week last year to Junior Quiz Club. As the year went by, they became even more competitive and requested quizzes on niche subjects such as the World Cup, Star Wars, and insects, as well as the usual General Knowledge rounds. Most popular of all was creating their own quizzes for their peers on topics such as science, capitals, Disney films and sport, trying to outwit each other with their knowledge. We look forward to welcoming new Lower Fourth pupils to Quiz Club next year to join the fun.
The Table Tennis lunchtime club is run by Mrs Fitzpatrick and Ms Ruiz Pelaez and is aimed at Lower Years pupils. It is a lively and informal club, where pupil come to enjoy the game in a relaxed atmosphere, having great fun in good company in the process. This year we have had a good number of girls involved, which is a very welcome development, as a balance of boys and girls produces an enjoyable atmosphere. All the pupils attending have been very enthusiastic and have definitely improved their ping-pong skills, floating their forehands, chopblocking, counter-looping and killing with the best of them!
Lower Years Photography Club meets weekly during all three terms. During our time together, pupils have the opportunity to share photos, as well as develop both editing skills and styles. As these have been celebrated throughout the year, we have been able to identify particular trends of images and developing passions from individuals. Pupils were also given the opportunity this year to produce their own ‘Picture Profile’. Pupils shared their current favourite photo and provided
an explanation as to why they liked this photo in particular.
Our themes have evolved throughout the year and, sometimes, this is led by the various style of photos taken outside of school. With such beautiful school grounds however, we have taken full advantage of this, especially with the changing seasons. Pupils have also looked at famous artists and have attempted to recreate some of Andy Warhol’s famous colourful prints. As the club takes place
This was taken as a Photography Club task, to capture Autumn. I took this picture during the half-term break, whilst walking in the woods. I used my new photography knowledge to capture the image, ensuring I centred the tree correctly in the frame, and I had the correct light and focus to make sure the leaves in the background created the contrast I was hoping for.
in the Biology department, access to skulls and specimens enabled students to grasp some imaginative black and white images.
I have been so impressed by the enthusiasm shown by our members. One pupil in particular, Sophie OgilvieSmals, has truly demonstrated both her fantastic skills and passions for Photography. Here she shares some of her favourite photos taken this year.
This image is the perfect example of a sycamore tree sprouting from its seed. I like this picture as it seems almost like an action photo. I used my photography skills to focus on the seed’s motion whilst blurring the background. I also cropped this to keep the eye on the subject.
We are delighted that SCUBA Club has been able to restart this academic year after a hiatus due to COVID restrictions. We have engaged with a new company from Cheltenham, Dive 90 who, as a family run dive centre with a wealth of experience over their more than 30 years of operation, have trained over 9500 divers. Mrs Gamble was excited to take on another group of pupils this year to learn to dive but, unfortunately, a long-term illness has meant that she has been away from school for most of the year. As a result, the new team had to work with very supportive colleagues to keep the planned training sustainable; for their support she is especially grateful. Eight pupils from across the age range at KSW had a weekly SSI training session with Steve and Carl, Master Dive instructors from Dive 90. Steve and Carl are supported by other Dive Masters, so the small ratios between trainers and pupils mean that our children work extremely closely with a trainer who helps them to make rapid progress, as well as ensure safety is a top priority. Pool training every Tuesday evening involves learning skills, signals and techniques which are all tested practically by the Dive Masters as training progresses. By the end of their training, all pupils could demonstrate that they could ascend and descend safely, equalise and maintain neutral buoyancy, flood, take off and even swim a width of the pool without their mask, then replace and clear it. They practise drills to safetycheck their buddy’s gear before commencing a dive, remove and then get back into their BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) whilst in the water and learn how to “buddy breathe” underwater if their dive partner’s air runs out or fails when at depth. Regular theory lessons back up the practical experiences the young divers gain in the pool. This year we have continued to use the SSI method of instruction and pupils completed their theory, using an interactive on-line app based training package with SSI. This involves a high level of understanding of the science of diving; Mrs Gamble regularly notices how much Physics and Biology come into SCUBA theory! The training uses visual and engaging activities which can be completed on a phone or tablet; the pupils find this an exciting and entertaining way to learn their theory. Still very much
a skills-based course though, we hope to see many more of our KSW pupils trying this exciting sport in the future. Mrs Gamble also hopes to be back in the pool as soon as she is fully recovered. We were delighted when all pupils passed their initial practical SSI Junior Dive training and their theory exam. The weekend of 23rd and 24th June saw seven of this year’s SCUBA Club members complete their open water qualifying dives at Cromhall Quarry just outside Bristol, the eighth club member having completed this component some weeks earlier. Qualification, however, was not only these four dives; dives in which a range of challenging skills and scenarios were tested. Indeed, all eight SCUBA divers have invested tremendous effort and application all year, attending weekly sessions and undertaking regular tests of knowledge, understanding and skill. Great thanks must go to Mrs Shepherd for supervising these weekly sessions, and to the other staff who stepped in to cover at key points. It is, therefore, with commendation that the following pupils are now fully qualified open water divers and we congratulate all eight of them: Zara Ashfield, Emily Azzopardi, Ed Chandler, Fred Edmonds, Olivia Evans, Jean Marc Hache, Ben Heron, Nathan Shukla. ARG
Nathan Shukla, one of the pupils from the club, commented, “I have really enjoyed the scuba diving this year and I liked the exploration aspect of it and seeing life under the water. It feels like being introduced to a new world and it has made me want to carry on diving.”
Zara Ashfield, another member of the club, added, “I enjoyed SCUBA because of my friends being there. But also the teachers doing the activity were really fun and good at teaching us, telling us what to do at the same time. Finally, the last fun part about it was the small amount of people actually doing SCUBA. This was useful because it gave me more time to ask the teachers if I was unsure of something and we were able to do all the tasks more quickly.”
WRAITH at King’s is happily thriving with seven very active year group clubs. We’ve had to say farewell to our exceptional Upper Sixth group, but we have embraced plenty of new members (including a wonderful new Lower Lower Fourth (Mrs Capell)
How to describe my new group of Lower Fourth WRAITH members…? Exuberant? Energetic? Ever increasing…? Nine Lower Fourth signed up at the beginning of the year; by the close of the year we had reached 16 and barely had enough space for the chairs. Overall, this group can be safely described as enthusiastic and delightful readers. I am very excited to join them with their reading over the coming years.
“You find lots of different types of books that you wouldn’t think you would like.” Persephone Miles
“WRAITH is really nice as it’s great to talk to people that have the same book tastes as me!” Almas Amjad
“WRAITH is a mix in worlds everybody enjoys - between history, sci-fi, comedy, mystery and murder.” Florrie Cook
“WRAITH is always really nice; you get to read and relax (the cake is a plus).” Max Cartelet
“WRAITH is an amazing club. I love it and look forward to the next meeting every time” Arabella Johnson
“I found this club fun and sociable, I want to continue it” Elissa Oliver
“I like WRAITH because I like reading as a quiet activity” Seren Levett
Fourth cohort) and have even welcomed back former members who realised what they were missing! A highlight was a special Q&A session for our WRAITH members with author Simon James Green. He happily answered questions
This group is rich with voracious and enthusiastic readers who are all delightful individuals, and, luckily for me, very keen and accomplished bakers (both boys and girls)! This year we read haunting chillers, suspenseful thrillers and also chose titles from the Waterstones and Carnegie book award shortlists. The group enjoyed historical fiction so much (including Coram Boy, When the World Ends, and Soldier Dog) that we had a second session focusing on more recent (specifically 1950s onwards) historical fiction (such as The Hypnotist by Laurence Anholt, The Wall by William Sutcliffe, and Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird, books set, respectively, in the rural American South of the 1960s, in the Gaza Strip, and during the Syrian Conflict.
James Cooke
“I liked the more interesting book topics along with the detective thrillers, dystopian and fantasy. I like reading books that I don’t normally read, for example, One of Us is Lying
about authorship and getting published; the group also discussed issues relating to identity, labels, and censorship. There was also time for chatting with Simon whilst getting books signed.
by Karen McManus” James Cooke
“This year was my first time at WRAITH, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a large range of genres that I loved, including realistic fiction and murder mystery! It was fun to get together with my friends over something that we all loved (as well as the bakes!). I will definitely be coming next year.” Matilda Evans
“WRAITH this year has been brilliant and has given me lots of recommendations of what to read” Joe Taylor-Edwards
“I like WRAITH because we can discuss our favourite books and read books that other people recommend” Bluebell Morton
“I like going to WRAITH and discussing what we thought of the books then choosing a new one to read with my friends. My favourite book this year was Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird” Henry Friend
Sci-fi and fantasy have been the runaway successes for Lower Remove WRAITH this year, with romance, for the majority at least, firmly cast aside! Despite the aversion to love stories, there was a solid representation of Lower Remove WRAITH for the lunchtime Q&A session with our visiting author Simon James Green in February. This group is a lovely mix of pupils and continues to enjoy reading, and who would not when you consider Emily Elsdon’s take on it all?
“WRAITH is an eye-opening experience to look into other people’s minds”
Our Upper Remove group is now a tight-knit unit with a keen understanding of each other’s literary tastes and preferences; this has led to a thoroughly enjoyable year of book recommendations and discussions.
We are quite committed now to offering some books relating to Black History Month in October, so we started off the WRAITH year with a compelling range of novels including The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, a devastating and breathtaking read, and the haunting novel Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes. In fairness to our fantasy fans, we also included Caraval by Stephanie Garber in our autumn selection.
As our members’ tastes have grown and developed, it has sometimes proved rewarding to spend a session exploring the library and recommending books to each other, so this is what we did just before Christmas, and again in the run-up to the summer holidays. It is lovely to see the students sharing their most beloved books with each other.
Our members are always keen to follow the various literary awards that are going on too; this year we have read a selection of the shortlisted books for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing. These included the fantastic Medusa by Jessie Burton, I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys and The Eternal Return of Clara Hart by Louise Finch. This diverse range of YA (Young Adult) fiction made for some excellent lunchtime discussions.
I know that the Upper Remove WRAITH members are looking
forward to many more book discussions in the Fifth Form; although they are drawing ever closer to their exam year, there is always time for reading for pleasure. Here are a few of their reflections on the club:
“WRAITH offers a little community of book lovers and an opportunity to chat about literature and life. It is always a highlight of the term, particularly when accompanied by the excessive consumption of cake!”
Connie Pollock
“I really enjoyed all of the different genres I was introduced to.” Izzy Roberts
“In WRAITH, I really enjoy that we can have a break from schoolwork and relax. It’s nice to get the chance to read, talk and eat as much cake as you can!” Isabella Briggs
“I really like meeting up with everyone each half term and having a conversation about books. It’s really great for introducing more books onto my radar.” Samantha Capell
“It is good for bonding and friendships You can find excellent authors to read in your free time.” Sophie Evans
“I have really enjoyed WRAITH this year, as we have made great friendships and read lots of amazing books, chatting over delicious cake!”
Carys Macleod
“I love WRAITH as it is an interesting experience where you can share your interests with other people who also enjoy your interests.” Eva Lochbaum
The Fifth Form meetings are always full of laughter and easy conversation. This special group, who are tightly bonded over their love of reading, are beautifully open-minded and open-hearted in their expressive discussions; it is a joy to witness their passion for books. This year they have enjoyed Haunting chillers (including Stephen King’s Misery, Thin Air by Michelle Paver, and the TikTok sensation Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot) and seasonal Christmas reads. The group also enjoyed Simon James Green’s uplifting books, and particularly related to You’re the One that I Want, appreciating his very relatable portrayal of “theatre kids.” For a final read before the demands of IGCSE revision kicked in, HappyHead by Josh Silver was a very popular choice.
Many of this group are adventurous souls who have chosen pastures new for Sixth Form. They will be much missed, and their new destinations are very lucky to have them.
“WRAITH has been an incredible source of entertainment at the meetings and gave me the motivation to start reading again after stopping for a couple years.” Izzy Perera
“I have really enjoyed WRAITH this year. We have read a wide variety of books, touching on many topics, but I particularly enjoyed Misery and Happyhead.” James Capell
The Lower Sixth WRAITH group is wellestablished now; they are definitely a close group of friends as well as a book club. We have had a series of highly entertaining discussions about books and related matters over the course of the year. By this point, the students know not only their own but each other’s literary preferences fairly well, and they have enjoyed recommending books to each other, widening their tastes along the way.
Some of our reading highlights have been hard-hitting texts about difficult subject matter, such as The Night Watch by Sarah Waters, a compelling read mainly set in the Second World War during the Blitz, and Abi Daré’s The Girl with the Louding Voice, a novel set in a rural village in Nigeria, full of struggle and heartbreak. We have also enjoyed the wonderful escapism of Brideshead Revisited and the more modern but similarly delicious The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by
Taylor Jenkins Reid. All in all, a highly rewarding year of reading!
“Reading has allowed me to view new worlds and perspectives. I’ve enjoyed sharing our thoughts about the book and how everyone has a different opinion of the book” Alicia Fleming
“I really liked WRAITH this year because there were great options to choose from. I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Normal People.” Freya Mitchell-Wise
“I have really enjoyed this year’s selection of books. My favourite was Normal People by Sally Rooney and can’t wait to see what books we will read next year”. Louisa Kerton
“I have really enjoyed WRAITH this year as I love our debates and discussions over the books we read; my favourite book was The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.” Mitali Prasad
The King’s School Young Archaeologist Club is now well established at the School and has a core group of pupils attending on a regular basis. We are always open for new members from any year group.
Looking back, two of the most popular areas were ‘Experimental Archaeology’ and the ‘Field Walking’ in the gardens of the school. These are sessions that will be developed in the future.
Experimental Archaeology is something for which Mr Harding has a huge passion. This is creating, reconstructing or trying out techniques that our ancestors would have known and used. This can be making simple coil or pinch pots, which are the earliest forms of pottery used as far back as the Neolithic (New Stone Age) and the Bronze Age, or making reed pens and having a go at writing as the Romans did.
As ever, this amazing group have been pushing the boundaries of their reading (and mine!) with no let-up for Upper Sixth workload. This year we have enjoyed discussing haunting chillers (including The Turn of the Screw and Rebecca), some winter thrillers (in addition to classic crime short stories), and finally, in answer to my suggestion that they choose something light with exams approaching, they opted for postcolonial literature (becoming particularly engaged by Things Fall Apart by Chinua Acheme).
It is difficult to say goodbye to these wonderful students. Whether they joined in Lower Fourth or in Sixth Form, they have brought so much to WRAITH in terms of their passion for reading finely honed by sharp intelligence, their cohesion as a group, and their wonderful sense of fun. Every meeting that we have had together has been a delight and it has been an absolute privilege to see them evolve over the years into young adults, who are not only impressive, successful, and multi-talented scholars, but also cultured, kind, thoughtful and eminently likeable human beings.
“WRAITH has become such a big part of my life, from reading the books to eating cake at the meetings, and it has introduced me to so many wonderful
books that I would never have read otherwise.” Becky Ye
“WRAITH has also been amazing, as we have been able to explore more genres and ideas, whilst always having a halftermly cake and catch up.” Sophie Pitts
“WRAITH has introduced me to so many new worlds during my time at King’s. I profoundly appreciate the exposure it has given me to authors and novels I would have otherwise not read in my time here. I’ve read novels by Evelyn Waugh, Rita Mae Brown, Chinua Achebe, Sally Rooney, J.D Salinger, Henry James, and many more, which have helped me develop and cultivate a passion for literature that I know will remain throughout my life. Sometimes these authors wrote from cultures so different from mine, like Achebe. Sometimes they wrote with outlooks I would disagree with, like Waugh. But challenging perspectives is one of the great strengths of literature, and for there to be an environment in which one can be exposed to new ideas, thoughts and different lives, is worthwhile and essential.” Salvador Kent
One of the most exciting activities undertaken at the School was a field walk. This is usually conducted on open agricultural land; however, the flowerbeds in the garden can also be utilised. The club members were sent to designated areas and then carried out a search of the soil for surface finds.
These were sifted to remove naturally occurring stones and pebbles and then the finds carefully processed. They were cleaned and reports written on each object found. This is the less glamorous side of archaeology but just as valuable a one, as it allows future research to be conducted from where we left off.
The most spectacular find was a skeleton of a small duck, from more recent times. This was identified as being a mallard. The oldest find was a fragment of Roman Severn Valley Ware and some very old oyster shells from a possible Medieval Midden or rubbish pit. Before rubbish removal, pits were dug to throw away waste.
As you can see, just as with real archaeology, the club is varied, fun and open to all.
As the academic year draws to a close, it is with immense pride and joy that we reflect on the remarkable achievements and successes within Bright House over the past year. Bright continues to stand as a beacon of support, guidance, and encouragement for all its pupils, striving to ensure that they receive a well-rounded education and cultivate valuable qualities such as resilience, organisation, kindness and independence. We strive to achieve the King’s vision that every member of our community will be curious, caring and confident.
We kicked off the year by warmly welcoming our new Lower Removes to Bright House, and it’s safe to say that they have been nothing short of exceptional. Transitioning into the House system can be a challenging experience, but our Lower Remove pupils have shown remarkable adaptability and resilience. This year has been marked by a welcome return to ‘normality’ in school life, with the buzz of co-curricular activities filling the air once more.
In the realm of sports, Lower Remove students made their mark by breaking records, winning championships, and even representing the country. Ethan set a new school record in the 80m hurdles and became the county champion in hurdles. Ted triumphed in coxing the Boys’ Quad Scull at Stratford Regatta and Dylan accumulated a staggering five regional gold medals in swimming and reached Nationals in backstroke. Meanwhile, Grace achieved a remarkable feat by earning a spot in the GB Junior Fencing squad for an international competition in Paris. Last but not least, Emily and Hebe were part of a quad that secured victory at the Shrewsbury Regatta.
In the academic sphere, Hebe and Emily represented Bright in the Big Physics Quiz at Birmingham University, demonstrating their intellectual prowess. We are equally proud of their Headmaster’s Commendation awarded for History.
Our House also shone brightly in the arts and music. Hebe graced numerous school concerts throughout the year, while also securing victory in the Individual Instrumental category of the House Music Competition. In Drama, Katerina, Lucas, and Grace dazzled audiences with their performances in the school production of Godspell
The Upper Removes have enjoyed an exceptionally dynamic and prosperous term. Their accomplishments have spanned a wide array of domains, encompassing the academic, Music, Drama, and sports. Notably, they triumphed in both the Languages and Geography Quizzes, thereby proudly showcasing their intellectual acumen.
Within the realm of Music and Drama, their exceptional talents have continued to radiate. Bella and Grace made substantial contributions to the school production of Godspell, while Elizbeth had the privilege of gracing the stages of both the National Youth Theatre and the British Youth Music Theatre.
In the realm of sports, the Upper Remove have once again demonstrated their prowess. Bryony played a vital role in the School First Team Hockey and represented the Worcester Rapids First Team, significantly impacting the Women’s Regional Cup. Will proudly represented the School’s First Team in Cricket, while Sonali admirably completed the school’s charity row.
The list of achievements goes on, with several Upper Remove students representing the School in various sports. Millie, Grace, Sonali and Laura have proudly represented the School in netball, while another pupil is a keen hockey enthusiast. Millie has reached the county U15 Seven Stars, and both Grace and Millie participated in Nova Academy. In cricket, Hassan and Sufiyaan have represented King’s, and Finn, Harry, Charlie, Leo, Alfie and Hayden have demonstrated their passion for football and rugby, both within and outside school.
We would like to give a special shout out to Charlotte, her relentless hard work, positive disposition and dedication to all things House related makes her a wonderful role model for her peers.
These accomplishments underscore the Upper Removes’ impressive multifaceted talents and their commitment to excellence in diverse fields. We celebrate their achievements and eagerly anticipate their continued success in the future.
Our Fifth Form students have not let their busy academic schedules hinder their involvement in broader school life. From organising Inter-House competitions to showcasing their talents at Open Mic Nights and school music concerts, they have been exemplary.
In Music, Jack continued to thrive, securing victory in the solo round of the House music competition and achieving continued success with his band, Split Second. Sam received a Grade 5 in guitar, and Maya clinched victory in the Middle Years vocal category.
In Drama, Maya played a leading role in the Senior school production of The Madness of King George, demonstrating her dramatic prowess.
On the sports front, Alfie and Isaac had the opportunity of a lifetime with a sports tour to South Africa, describing it as a “life-changing experience.” Sam was recognised as the most valuable player of his baseball team, while Will continued to excel at high-level fencing.
Academically, our Fifth Form pupils also had much to celebrate, including impressive GCSE results.
Our Lower Sixth students are already demonstrating remarkable potential as they navigate the intricate challenges of A-levels. What’s truly impressive is that they’re not only excelling academically, but also making significant strides in a diverse range of fields, including Music, Art, sports, and Drama. Their achievements in these areas are nothing short of extraordinary, and we eagerly anticipate their continued growth during their time in the Sixth Form.
As we reflect on the accomplishments of the past academic year, Elijah achieved Grade 8 in singing, showcasing his exceptional musical talent. Meanwhile, Sam and Elijah collectively dazzled audiences with their captivating performances, both individually and in collaboration with fellow students, during Open Mic Nights. Notably, Freya’s prestigious achievement of the Gold Arts Award is a testament to her unwavering dedication and excellence in the arts. Additionally, Jamie, Hugo and Tom demonstrated fearlessness as they actively participated in the Challenge Cup, showcasing their prowess and boundless
enthusiasm in this competitive endeavour. Rosie was duly recognised with the welldeserved End of Year Classics Award, acknowledging her profound passion and notable accomplishments in classical studies. Lastly, Harry’s securing of the Business End of Year Award underscores his excellence in the realm of Business Studies.
These remarkable accomplishments not only reflect the exceptional talents and determination of our Lower Sixth students, but also underscore their commitment to personal and academic growth. We are confident that they will continue to excel and leave a lasting mark on King’s during their journey through the Sixth Form.
Turning our attention to our Upper Sixth students, they have embraced their final year in Bright House with unwavering determination. They have already marked significant milestones and continue to excel in both academics and extracurricular pursuits. From excelling in their NEAs in Geography, History, and English to actively engaging in various extracurricular activities, they have demonstrated resilience and exceptional time management skills that will undoubtedly serve them well as they move forward.
In addition to these collective achievements, let’s highlight some of the outstanding accomplishments of our U6 pupils:
Amy has been selected to represent Wales at the EuroHockey5s Championship 2023 in Poland, adding to her impressive sporting achievements.
George has organised numerous Keynote Speakers for the school and was invited to speak at the Oxford Union. He has also flourished in lead roles in the Senior school production.
David has been awarded a gold in the UKMT’s Senior Maths Challenge, represented the Senior School First Team in football, and continues to excel as a musician.
Amelia and Ben excelled in competitive rowing for the School, with Ben holding the prestigious Arkwright Scholarship.
Laim, committed to Model United Nations, attending numerous conferences, and receiving an
outstanding commendation for the quality of his contributions.
George, Harvey and Shrav represented the School for cricket, football and rugby.
Evie, an accomplished long-distance runner competed for both our school and Worcester Athletic Club.
Alicia, continues to captivate audiences in assemblies and Open Mic Nights with mesmerising solo vocal performances.
These remarkable achievements not only highlight the individual talents of our Upper Sixth students, but also underscore the collective spirit of excellence that permeates Bright House. We are immensely proud of their accomplishments and eagerly anticipate their continued success in the future.
As they embark on the next chapter of their academic journey, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to our Upper Sixth students. We have no doubt that they will continue to shine brightly and make us proud in all their endeavours.
In conclusion, Bright has had an extraordinary year filled with accomplishments, growth, and memorable experiences. We couldn’t be prouder of our pupils and look forward to witnessing their continued success in the years to come.
This year was a huge success for Castle House and both of us have greatly enjoyed our roles as Heads of House and helping organise house time activites.
We started the year with rehearsals for House Song and managed to place Third in the competition with Kung Fu Fighting. We performed in true Castle House style with some fantastic accompaniment.
Another success for the house came through House Hockey which Castle won thanks to some very strong Upper Remove players. In House Netball, the Removes finished Second and the Senior Girls were placed fourth. The boys faced some tough competition
in House Football, but put in a brilliant effort.
In the Spring Term, we held a Trick Shot competition where each year group spent house time recording their own trick shots. It was clear everyone had great fun recording these, shown through some interesting special effects with the L6 coming out on top.
We finished the year with a Castle House movie night where we enjoyed pizza and watching a film together as a house. This also gave us a chance to showcase the trick shot videos on a big screen.
Meg Kilbey and Barnaby Tripp
If I were to write a 2022/23 report comment for Chappel House it would be along the lines of “Chappel is a wellrounded student who is doing well in all areas.” I would, however, particularly with House Song in mind, need to add that ‘Chappel’s commitment is commendable, enthusiasm outstanding and needs to remember that there is always another year!’
I think, in essence, these two comments sum up what has been another fantastically fun year for out tightknit House of pupils and staff; a year where we have thrown ourselves into everything but never quite managed to pip others to the post!
We have found our ‘forever’ home in No12 and feel extremely fortunate that we are the only House in school that literally has a house all to themselves. House photos are on the walls, bunting and Chappel flags are abundant and Chappel Gold (certainly not yellow) is everywhere as we have placed our stamp on the building. It is a place where we can see ourselves being very happy for many years to come. As well as individual Year Group Rooms, we have room to meet as a House and the benefit of the No12 garden that we will fully utilise from September once it has been tended to during the summer holidays.
Throughout the year, our youngsters have enjoyed huge success in everything they do, be it Drama, Music, sport or their academic studies. This has been collectively through InterHouse Competitions such as Tug-ofWar, Quiz Club and Sports Day, where our Removes were overall winners and individually through success in rigorous apprenticeship selection processes, scholarships with the National Youth Orchestra and amazing sporting achievements in various disciplines such as athletics and sailing. We are so proud of everyone who has pushed themselves, dug deep and achieved more than they thought possible.
An area where we always excel is singing. One of the highlights of the year for me has been the singing in the Cathedral where our Upper Sixth boys have belted out the hymns with gusto and verve, carrying the rest of the House to collectively do our great composers justice; on numerous occasions members of staff have complimented Chappel
on their singing. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the House Song Competition – well, the gusto and verve can but, what with forgetting the words and being slightly out of tune, we weren’t as successful as we hoped to be! I will, however, always remember the way the Upper Sixth took control of the song, worked hard to bring everyone together and led the singing by example – all perfect!
The House Song Competition may well have been an experience for our new Lower Remove but they held their nerve and gave their all, demonstrating what a great group of youngsters they are. They are industrious, fantastic company and devoted to Mr Gardiner, as well as being demons at Table Football! I know, as they launch into their GCSEs, that they will continue to support the House in every way that they can. Our Upper Remove, under the indefatigable patience and understanding of Mrs Parry, have made a super start to their exam courses, with some of the youngsters really stepping up with both effort and involvement. It always happens, but the delight in seeing these young people mature and blossom is always a great pleasure and one of the main reasons that we do the job that we do. In July, we sadly said goodbye to three of our Fifth Form. Mr Swarbrick has been with these pupils for three years now and it was with a heavy heart that we said farewell to Archie, Milly and Joseph – we wish you all every success and happiness as you leave King’s. The rest of the Fifth Form will be returning to us in September, along with two new joiners into the Lower Sixth, as they embark upon the next step of their academic journey. Our Lower Sixth, under the passion and direction of Mrs Ruiz, are the most considerate and thoughtful group of students, ready to take on the challenges of their Upper Sixth year ,under the guidance of our new Heads of House, Lois Unwin and Lucy Pritchard. They are well versed in working with all pupils in Chappel due to the very successful mentoring system that we had in place last year. Lois and Lucy have already been busy
welcoming our new Lower Removes and tuning us all up for House Song in October. Congratulations also go to Ellie Nosworthy and Freddie Horsfall upon their appointment of Monitor – we are very proud of you!
As we bid farewell to our Upper Sixth, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ben Withnall and George Hira for being such outstanding Heads of House. There was never a time when their dedication wavered nor enthusiasm dimed – I am forever grateful. Under Mr Ball’s excellent stewardship, this group of youngsters have studied, laughed and supported each other and we know this will continue long after King’s. Leaver’s Day was particularly poignant for me as a number of our Upper Sixth entered the school in L4B which was my Form at the time. I feel hugely privileged to have guided them as they began their King’s journey, to have seen them grow over seven years and then also to be there to send them on their way as amazing young adults who are so well equipped to face the world head on. They will be missed enormously and, as we send them off, we wish them love and happiness in all they do.
Chappel remains strong, not least due to the fantastic work and commitment from our five Year Group Tutors, all of whom make my job so enjoyable and uncomplicated. I am always so grateful; thank you, on behalf of the pupils, for all you do. No doubt, come the new academic year, there will be new challenges, lots of laughter and an incredible amount of hard work, but Chappel will hold tight and do as they always do: stand united together.
The busy and multi-talented community of Creighton House has enjoyed another great year of good company and impressive achievements in all aspects of school life. For example, our intellectual mettle was certainly tested in the InterHouse Languages Quiz where, after a well-fought contest, we were a close second; we also performed well in the Senior Inter-House Quiz.
Proving that we have brawn as well as brain, we were also second in the Senior Inter-House Rowing Competition, in which we gave a really good account of ourselves. The team of Bobby Riddell, Charlie Webster, James Capell and Amelia Venables performed exceptionally well, representing Creighton with our customary pride.
In the Removes Sports Day Competition, our Upper Remove boys came an impressive and dominant first in the 4 x 100m relay, maintaining their winning streak from the Lower Remove! We look forward to watching their continuing progress as a victorious unit as they make their way through the school.
The first full year without Covid restrictions was embraced by all, with excellent participation in mixed yeargroup activities and competitions.
The House Song in the first term was a highlight, with a very enthusiastic, tuneful rendition of Budapest propelling us to second place and our involvement in the winner’s concert. From my perspective it was such a joy once again to see the whole House come together early on in the school year, and it was a wonderful experience for those who conducted and accompanied the ensemble; new friends were made and the importance of a sense of belonging to a wider community was fostered.
As ever, the House was competitive in all events, winning Senior Sports Day for the third successive year, as well as the junior rowing competition and being highly placed in House quizzes, football, Geography and Languages competitions. We have a wonderful cohort of pupils with such a wide range of skills; the House is in fine fettle.
In terms of individual successes, it was a real honour for the House that Bobby Riddell was elected as Head of School, an accolade that he richly deserved, and an office which he fulfilled with calm authority and impressive presence throughout the year.
Noah DuPont and Seth Essenhigh excelled in football and cricket respectively. Noah continues to shine as part of the West Bromwich Albion Academy and Development Squad and has been called up to play in the Men’s U17 New Zealand squad for the FIFA World Cup warm-up tournament in September 2023. In cricket, Seth has been selected for the Worcestershire Academy Squad and, in June, was chosen to play for Worcestershire’s 2nd XI in a three-day friendly match against the South Asian Crocket Academy.
Nick Abdulla reached the regional finals of Articulation, the National Galleries’ public speaking initiative, presenting in the Herbert Gallery in Coventry. He was especially commended for his poetic and innovative approach.
While we are all extremely proud of these individuals, the most important thing continues to be our inclusive, supportive, and fun-filled ethos, which continues to make Creighton a very special place to be.
At the end of the Summer Term we said goodbye to Ms Preece and we thank her for her dedication to her role as a Year Group Tutor over the last few years; we wish her well for the future. We welcome Miss Arnold who will be taking over the Fifth Form from September. I couldn’t wish for a more dedicated team of tutors in the House. They are always ready to go the extra mile and much of their work goes unnoticed and always extends well beyond House time; I thank them so much for their good company, conversation and for the hard work that they put in on behalf of the pupils.
I finish as usual by wishing our departing pupils the best of luck as they embark on the next stage of their lives in the wider world; we are very proud of them. They have worked hard in their subjects and thoroughly deserve success. Tamara Marsden and Joe Ward have been excellent in their roles of Head of House and I would like to thank them for the contributions that they have made this year.
RJJ
Kittermaster House has continued to thrive throughout the 2022-2023 academic year. With Harriet Jones and Will Threadgold as our Heads of House. The introduction of 19 new students in September was seamless and they have all settled well into our routines. Tom’s (LRK) comments sum us up perfectly, “I feel that as I have grown to know the House more, I’ve also personally developed new friendships within House. Kittermaster has given me a haven of support and kindness.”
We ended the year with a podium position in the House Cup and this is testament to our involvement in every House activity on offer. We may not always win competitions but we give everything our best shot.
Our new Lower Remove pupils have had a wonderful year. In the Inter-House Countdown and Removes’ Netball we were victorious, and the girls won the relay at Sports Day, with Kittermaster coming second overall. Hattie Watts won the Victrix Ludorum: well done, Hattie! Aron Gijsel and Eva Mico have had a fantastic first year at King’s and have been a real positive presence in House. Frederick Edmonds has completed his service as a Chorister, a real achievement.
Upper Remove Kittermaster have embarked on their GCSEs with commitment and my thanks go to Mrs McGinley for supporting them in all they have done. As Mrs McGinley moves on to pastures new, we were sad to say goodbye. She was not allowed to leave us without winning the Removes’ Netball Shield that will be pride of place in the House study this year.
For our Fifth Form, the year certainly had its fair share of demands. There were some stressful moments, but House time was the constant source of fun and support. Wordle became a daily favourite, and they travelled the world with Globle, and spanned the eras with Heardle. Mr Wilson has made sure that competitive levels remained high. We wish Sam and Max all the best as they move to pastures new and the Sixth Form beckons for this brilliant group…bring it on!
Our Lower Sixth have risen to every challenge possible. Their mornings started with Wordle: amazing victories including “salsa” and “crane” which were solved in only two tries! Wordle
games were followed by Inter-House games including German Handball, Gutterball, Tug-of-War and Benchball, which saw the whole House getting involved. Aspiring cadet Will Pyle was named Army Cadet of the Year; multiple Kittermaster cadets won the Regional Millitary Skills Competition and some even flew ‘planes. Young Enterprise also proved popular where members of the House progressed to the regional finals of the competition, wining the valued award for innovation at both the county and regional stage. We are very lucky to have many talented musicians in the House and their stellar performances in Open Mic Night mean that House Song next year is looking very promising. The biggest highlight of the year was the Fort Royal Party; Kittermaster were responsible for performing an exciting rendition of The Smartest Giant in Town. There was full commitment from each member of Kittermaster House, including the characters of the dog and goat. Evidently, another successful year awaits Kittermaster.
The Upper Sixth have been focussed on their next steps and Results Day in August had much to celebrate. With university courses, apprenticeships, and gap years to look forward to, it has been such a pleasure to see the group flourish and embark on their new adventures. All Mrs Shepherd and I ask is that you stay true to yourselves and take your Kittermaster values with you in your future endeavours.
As ever, my thanks go to our Year Group Tutors Mrs Fellows, Mrs Shepherd, Mr Sharp, Mr Wilson and Mrs McGinley all of whom go above and beyond to support the House.
2022-23 has been a brilliant school year for Oswald in a wide range of different areas including sport, Music, and other competitions inside and outside of school. We started the year off, as an entire house, by winning the House Song contest, where all members of Oswald sung a rendition of Taylor Swift’s Love Story. This was the start of an impressive year for Inter-House competitions and sport. This year’s Sports Day saw Oswald’s students take a respectable fourth place on the overall rankings, with a great display of participation and perseverance throughout the entire House. In the Senior House Netball, Oswald came back with a welldeserved first place, with many of the senior pupils coming together to do the House proud. These great achievements were also mirrored by Lower and Upper Remove pupils managing to win the Inter-House Quiz, as well as gathering a very wellearned second place in the Removes Rowing. Due to the success of placing so highly in so many Inter-House competitions, Oswald were delighted to have won the House Cup at PrizeGiving.
Oswald pupils have also had many achievements outside of school this year, such as Charlie in Upper Remove excelling at rowing and winning a doubles race at Stratford Regatta; Joseph, Ollie and Rowan in Upper Remove building an F1 car; Emilie and Catherine in Lower Sixth racing in the first ever King’s boat to qualify at Henley Women’s Regatta; Sam Mason in Lowe Sixth being crowned Junior Rally Champion, racing also in the second Formula 1000, and the Welsh rally championship; Aled won two bronze medals as the Essa 2022 swimming, taking part at levels of Regionals, County and Nationals for England and Wales; and many others. These are amazing efforts, of which all these people should be very proud.
Monty Jelfs, in the Lower Sixth, was selected as the First Team Cricket captain for their impressive season, showing his great leadership and communication skills. Along with this, Lucy, in the departing Upper Sixth, was a selected captain for the Hockey 1st team, and captained them throughout their important matches at various levels through the school year.
Various other members of the Sixth form were a key part of the School’s sporting success, with students being selected for Challenge Cup, Modus Cup, Superball and the Severn Shield. These Oswald representatives showed very important decision-making skills and showed amazing ability to work under pressure as a team.
As well as all of these successes, House time has played a major part in bringing Oswald together. We have done a range of activities including Lego, football, netball, House breakfasts, boules, tug of war, House quizzes and beetle drives. Outside of school hours, Charlie M-W, in the Upper remove, won the school-wide Bake-Off Challenge, which was a great display of individual talent.
Oswald House would like to bid a fond farewell to the departing Upper Sixth, whom we have come to know so well, and to welcome the new Lower Remove into the House next term. We would like to congratulate all the Upper Sixth for their fantastic achievements in getting places at Cirencester Agricultural College, Newcastle, Exeter, Loughborough, Cardiff Metropolitan, Manchester, Central St Martin’s, Kings College London, Cardiff and Loughborough. We wish them all good luck in their apprenticeships, Engineering, , English Literature, Land Management, Liberal Arts, and other paths they aspire to take in life. We are looking forwards to making 2024 a memorable year for Oswald.
Emilie Cartelet and Todd Pinner
The 2022-23 academic year saw a return to normality for the House following COVID-19 restrictions. Separate classrooms were still used for Year Group registrations, but wholeHouse activities were now allowed. This enhanced the family environment of School House, with our excellent Heads of House leading many events. Theodora Hamilton-Holbrook and Thora Dykes epitomised the role, setting excellent standards for future potential Heads of House to aspire towards. A huge thank you to them. I look forward to working with Maia Akiki and Francesco Cinao as they take up their roles.
A congratulatory cheer must go to the two exam groups in the House. The Fifth Form performed well in their GCSEs and look forward to starting the Lower Sixth with the introduction of the School’s new Sixth Form centre. Our Upper Sixth cohort now look to university and apprenticeships after A-level exam success. We have also had sporting and Music success this year. A highlight was Sports Day, where pupils represented the House whilst wearing the vibrant School House blue face paint.
Using the word “School” in its collective noun sense, students in the House were divided into different schools named after rare fish. There were eight schools combining students from all five year groups. For whole-House events, these schools were used to allow fairness in competition and a way for students to interact more frequently with peers of different ages. These events included tug-of-war, Intra-House basketball and mentoring opportunities.
House Song returned this year. Throughout September and early October, Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds rang through the corridors of the Winslow building. The students performed with passion and enthusiasm in College Hall, and the event is always a fun way to get the Lower Removes involved in House activities from the first week. A song by a famous Swedish quartet is the rumour for next year, so watch this space!
My thanks extend to Mr Mason, Mr Ward, Mrs Darby, Mrs Bradley and Dr Parkin for their work as Year Group Tutors this year. Consistency in staffing within the House has allowed positive working relationships to continue, and a typical week in School House included a weekly quiz, a whole-House event, some element of sport and assemblies. Merits were acknowledged and zero heroes (students with no behaviour points) were celebrated. I am proud of every student in the House, and I am excited that the whole House can enter the 2023-24 year with momentum.
With the last of the COVID restrictions finally removed, the Houses were able to return to doing all the things which are so important in bringing their members together. The list of House competitions seemed more extensive than ever, thanks largely to Mrs Glarvey. The House Olympics set the scene brilliantly, with every single pupil involved in a fun-filled, and quite skilful, range of pursuits. For the House Song, Wulstan choose to do an ABBA classic; practices were a little stressful at times, but Flora pushed us hard, and our rendition in College Hall couldn’t have been far off making the top three! Our two Heads of House, Flora Parry and Maddie Cartelet did a fantastic job throughout the year; they always led from the front, were resourceful when we were short of inspiration, and displayed real empathy, and patience, when working with our younger pupils.
The two Sports Days were blessed with lovely weather and a real sense of togetherness; Abi Gamble’s amazing skills with the purple pen ensured that we really were ready for battle! Whilst one or two of the older House Tutors may have grumbled a little at visiting the hockey pitch or sports fields five times in two weeks, the Sports Department did a fantastic job in scheduling and running a full complement of football, netball and hockey competitions. The local Co-
op certainly made some serious money from their superb range of Haribos, Wine Gums, and Jelly Babies!
Mrs Yates’ tutor group had always been a delight to work with, and it was no surprise that they fulfilled their role at the “top of the tree” so successfully. Even when their important exams were just weeks away, they supported every initiative without hesitation, and were generous in sharing their experiences and wisdom with younger pupils. Their final year was always going to be more challenging than most, with their lack of public examination exposure, and the constant reminders in the news that grade boundaries were only going to be moving in one direction. The fact that all twelve students who applied for university courses last year gained a place at their first-choice universities
says much about their desire to make the best of the opportunities afforded to them. In addition to these successes, James secured an exciting job in the automotive industry, and Cormack will be starting a pilot training course soon.
At the end of the Summer Term, we said goodbye to Mr Batchelor, who was very much appreciated by his tutees for his dedication, openness, and ready sense of humour; we wish him well for the next phase of his working life. Mrs Drew has proved to be an outstanding replacement, showing genuine warmth, calmness, and experience in all her dealings with her group. I would like to thank all the Wulstan tutors for their excellent company, and for consistently putting the well-being and happiness of our pupils at the very top of their list of priorities.
When we joined the School as a family back in October, there was obviously a good deal of trepidation on my part. We were coming in at a potentially awkward time, having to hit the ground running, learn names, and take up a new role and all that goes with it, as well as face the inevitable question, “What are you going to change?” I need not have worried.
At the wonderful Summer Ball, which we all enjoyed as our first academic year drew to a close, I spoke of the strength of our community and the way it has wrapped around and embraced us as a family. This is something for which I will be forever grateful. It is testament to the pupils, staff, and parents that we were made to feel so welcome: the “King’s Warmth” has never been more apparent. It is an enormous privilege to be the custodian of this special place, somewhere that has made its way under my skin in a way that no other school has ever done before, and that is down to the whole community.
We are blessed with an extraordinary body of staff, who care deeply about the School. While each and every one of them deserves a mention, I would like to reflect briefly on those with whom I work closest, the Senior Leadership Team. Caroline Knight is just the most superb colleague: selfless, passionate and with endless ambition to make the School a better place for the every child. Lorne Stigant is a remarkable individual, whose organization and efficiency are unparalleled, and who will always give advice in a no-nonsense and practical way. I am very grateful for his counsel, and service as our Parents’ Association liaison. If we cut Richard Cook in half, we would read King’s and Hawford written through him like a stick of rock. Former pupil, parent and now teacher, Richard has spent more years at King’s than anyone else here and is the biggest advocate of Foundation-wide strategy. Anna Kingston has worked tirelessly over the past five years in her role of Head of Early Years, and although she steps down from this role at the end of the year, Kindergarten’s loss is Year One’s gain as she returns to class teaching, where her creativity will once again shine. Oli Roberts has led the Lower Years with drive and ambition and will step up to Head of Pre-Prep next year, with additional oversight of the Reception year group. His management
Curriculum development at any school cannot stand still and I am pleased to report that creativity is a focus in every area of teaching across King’s Hawford. With an overhaul of the Humanities provision, ensuring that this is done with firm links to the English curriculum, we aim to deepen not just the children’s understanding but also a love of reading, which will also be a focus next year. Our new approach to spelling has started to make a real difference in the children’s understanding of etymology and context around the correct use of vocabulary. Maths continues to be a strength and we are going a step further next year, adding an extra period of Maths into the timetable to deepen this learning further. Our renovated Science Laboratory has increased the opportunity for the practical side of Science to come to the fore in every year group. Our Languages provision is just superb,
of not just the teaching but also the support staff in Pre-Prep has been very reassuring to me this year.
On the Support side I am indebted to five colleagues in particular. Laura Crowe organizes my life for me at school, and I simply would not be able to carry out my job as I can were it not for her level of detail and love for the School. She goes above and beyond every day and her blend of practical advice and a listening ear are very much appreciated. Gemma Woolley is our first point of contact to almost anyone who comes into school, and her level of organization and pride in her work ensures that most of what crosses my desk is already in rude health. Laura and Gemma are often asked to be all things to all people in their roles, and I could not ask for a better outward-facing team. Melanie Adams is quite simply a force of nature: her drive, personable manner and great sense of humour make the admissions process as easy as possible for families as they make one of their most important decisions. Much of the day-to-day at school, and certainly for major events, would not be possible without the input of Nick Vaughan and Andy Callow. They carry out their roles with an enormous sense of duty and are the reason this environment not only looks brilliant for all the children but is
with children having the opportunity to experience learning four languages in their time at King’s Hawford: German, French, Spanish and Russian. We will add Mandarin into that mix from September. Art and Design and Technology allow our most creative children to shine, but also provide the opportunity for all to learn and enjoy practical skills. We will continue to champion inclusion, with further focus on the embedding of British Sign Language across the School. We have several staff moving onto Level 2 BSL training next year, and the children will again deepen their knowledge in lessons, co-curricular activities, and all
well-kept and safe.
I am grateful to whole Staff, both Teaching and Support, for their diligence and care in all that they do for the children.
We say goodbye to a few very wellloved members of staff at the end of the academic year. Arthur Tunnicliffe has never really been away and has relished returning to his Prep School as our Gap student. He is a calm and reassuring presence and is not complete unless he has at least four Kindergarten children hanging on his every word, or indeed hanging off him on their way to and from lunch. Sara Layton leaves as our other “Gappie” but will be returning for her teacher training after being inspired to become a Primary School teacher. We are all confident she will make a superb teacher. Tanya O’Neill leaves us as her fixed term contract comes to an end; in keeping with her meticulous organisation and planning, she is also pregnant, and we wish her the very best as she expects her second child. Tanya has been an inspirational colleague with a brilliant sense of humour who will be hugely missed by us all. She will be welcomed back with open arms should a future opportunity arise.
assemblies. I am very proud of our progress in this area; I consider this to be a super strength of our school and one which I am determined to promote whenever we can.
Transition across to the Senior School, and the ever-earlier initiation of this process is an ongoing exercise; this year, 19 of Year Six were offered a form of scholarship or award to the Senior School, and I am extremely confident that a King’s Hawford education really does ensure that children are “King’s ready” for the step across to the city centre.
Our co-curricular programme has never been more varied, and enriches every year group in the School, from Kindergarten to Year Six. The schedule of educational trips and visits has great breadth, and our re-awarding of the Learning Outside of the Classroom Gold Award is testament to that. Along with her love of all things outdoors and her drive to embed outdoor learning in every area of school life, Janet Redman has directed this sector-leading part of the School with detail, vision, and love.
Music and performance continue to be an extraordinary strength of the School. A Prep School that can boast over 150 children taking music lessons, two choirs, and orchestra and no fewer than five ensembles, including the newly formed Hawford Harps, should have no reluctance to shout about it. The Senior Choir has led the way, reducing us to tears at the Lights of Love service in November, as well as performing superbly at the Christmas Carol Service and with this term’s stunning triumph at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts. Sophie Hughes has led this area of school life with verve, exacting standards and ambition for the children and I thank her for that. Parental support is never more evident than at our informal concerts, including all those who attended our ensembles performance. The Dance Showcase was a whirlwind of joy and positivity in the Autumn Term and the number of children taking LAMDA lessons has grown steadily throughout the year and supplements the schedule of performances. Our productions have been spectacular throughout, from our very youngest in the Early Years’ Nativities, and Years Three and Four’s mash up performance of Joseph and Mary Poppins, steered by Mr Roberts, to the tour de force that was The Tempest, performed with such commitment by Years Five and Six; every event was a triumphant showcase. The confidence and creativity that these experiences bring, and the massive benefits of both enduring the process and celebrating the end product are so important. There is as much resilience gained from learning a script as there is scaling a peak in the Brecons.
Her passion to take children outside of their comfort zones is one that I share, and every child who is fortunate enough to have contact with Janet in the outdoors is the better for it. In a world where, understandably to some extent, we are more protective of our children than ever before, our residentials and outdoor programme help to ensure that children learn just as much about themselves and their peers, as they do of Maths or English in a classroom.
There have been so many highlights on the sports fields this year, culminating in our brilliant Sports Days towards the end of the Summer Term. I was fortunate to experience the Year Sixes on tour to Cardiff earlier in the year; this is now an annual fixture and one the children view quite correctly as a rite of passage. Our consistent excellence in IAPS tournaments endures, with regional and national qualification in a range of sports. I was able to reflect on this with the Foundation Director of Sport, Mr Mason, at our Prep Sports Day, delighted by the children coming his way in the years to come. Sam Hodgkins has led the department in a calm and extremely efficient way and, with Gemma Holtham, has made a great team. We wish Gemma well as she leaves us for her maternity leave. With such a packed sporting calendar, it would be remiss of me not to mention the many other staff who support the department’s delivery of this programme; I am very appreciative of their continued and collective efforts.
We aim to embed and weave sustainability into all we do at school, not just in the physical environment but also in our daily behaviour. We will continue this next year with a focus on becoming a plastic-free school and furthering the children’s understanding of our impact upon the planet. Our Green Flag Award, with Distinction, is testament to the work we have done so far, but we are only just getting started. We have planted over 100 native trees this year, put up bat and owl boxes, constructed our Hedgehog Haven, our nature pond is dug and regularly visited by wildlife, our beehive has arrived and will be populated with its first nucleus over the summer, and no-mow areas have been defined and set aside around the site. Lorne Stigant has led this drive through the Eco Council, and I would take this opportunity to celebrate their collective input into these initiatives.
Another of the many areas which Lorne oversees is our charity work as a school, which he steers along with the School Council. This year we have raised a staggering £8544 supporting our three school charities: Project Gambia, The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust and Get Kids Going. In this collective total we have also made significant donations to the Poppy Appeal and the DEC appeal after the Turkey/Syria earthquake, which was agreed collectively with the children in a whole school assembly soon after the disaster occurred. Next year’s aim to fund fully the building of a whole new classroom at the Wisdom School in Gambia is within our sights. My thanks to everyone who has been able to support our charity work this year.
Parental engagement is such a feature of life at the School, and I have been very heartened by the work of the Parents’ Association this year. Under the stewardship of Gemma Carlisle as Chair, they have worked tirelessly to benefit the School, never more so than at the Summer Ball, which was a roaring success, raising funds for the King’s Fort which will take shape over the Summer holidays. Oliver Jackson and Bex Clay, amongst many others, have gone above and beyond to make every event as engaging and successful as possible. Of course, it is not just the committee of the PA who directly support the School, but every single parent, grandparent and family member who attends sports fixtures and performances, and they do so in such great numbers. There would not be as many opportunities for our children to build confidence were it not for their continued and regular support.
Working as part of the Foundation Leadership Team this year has ensured that we as a school are ever more closely aligned with the mission, vision and values of the wider Foundation, and it is my firm belief that we will continue to do this without losing the many brilliant idiosyncrasies that make the School what it is. I have been extremely fortunate to work alongside Gareth Doodes and Richard Chapman, with the wider development of our Foundation always at the heart of our thinking. Gareth has been, and will continue to be, a great steer, who believes deeply not only in the principle of the whole Foundation but also in the individual spirit of this place, and its importance to King’s. I will miss Richard’s immediate counsel and good cheer next year on a professional level, but on a personal level I can think of no finer individual to whom to entrust our Year Sixes, and indeed my own son, when they move across to “Big King’s”. They will be in very good hands.
The first time I met any of Year Six was when they were in Year Five, and I was being interviewed by six of them. They made such an impression on me that it was the first thing I remember speaking to Mrs Butt about when she asked me how my day had gone. Each of them exuded such a quiet confidence, and asked their questions in such a clear and relaxed way that I knew this was a school in which I would really enjoy working.
I cannot think of a finer group of young people to act as onward ambassadors for King’s Hawford. I know how deeply they care about this school, their friends, the opportunities they have been offered, and the teachers who have nurtured and challenged them throughout their educational journey so far. Their responsibility is now to take this positivity with them on to their next step: they are the best advert for this school, and should not forget this in their actions, words, and how they treat others. Each of them has had a great start to life at King’s Hawford, and for that I would ask them always to be grateful, in particular to their parents and teachers, who have worked so hard and made so many sacrifices to ensure they had that start. Humility is one of the most important values I would ask that they take with them, remembering that whatever they have done or achieved in the past, they should not rest on their laurels, but strive instead for more and show the same curiosity they have done in their learning here. As the sporting adage goes, “You are only as good as your next game.”
Above all, they are a close-knit group who care deeply about each other, and it is this quality of which we could not be prouder. Some of them will have spent more time here than they will in any other school or university in the rest of their lives, and all of them will be welcomed back whenever they choose to visit, which we all hope they do. We look forward to following their stellar progress.
Tom Butt, July 2023
The Academic Year 2022/23 has been a splendid one for King’s St Alban’s. We ended the year with 209 children from Nursery to Year Six and delight in experiencing our first ‘totally normal’ year since 2018/19. The summer term in particular has been a rich and enjoyable whirlwind, full of learning, showpiece events and fun, culminating in a memorable Speech Day in a packed College Hall. The theme for this year’s Speech Day was reading for pleasure whilst embracing digital opportunities and this has been a key feature of our provision this year. Following successful application for the Green Flag and Artsmark (Gold) in recent years, we applied for, and achieved, the Wellbeing Award for Schools this year, underlining our commitment to children and staff in this important area.
• We embraced World Mental Health Day, Children’s Mental Health Week, Number Day, Be a Bookworm Week and AntiBullying Week with a series of events.
• All our children passed the King’s 11+
• 13 children received an award to King’s; five were awarded academic scholarships, one a music scholarship, two music exhibitions and five sports skills awards.
• Three Year Six children reached the Primary Maths Challenge Bonus Round.
• Within our ongoing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) work, the School Council was asked to consider “Is KSA a fair school?”
We have had a busy year in terms of staffing. Emily Diaz and Charles Pillman move on after super years as Sports Gap Students. Mr Andy Russell moves back overseas after 18 months as an excellent sports coach. Mrs Judith Stenson leaves after ten years working as a teaching assistant in the Pre-Prep: her care, reliability and flexibility will be much missed.
Mrs Kate Chapman leaves after a year’s maternity cover for Mrs Majhu and we thank her for her warmth, care for her classes and expertise in Maths in particular. Miss Briony Cartwright starts her maternity leave. We thank Mrs Kilbey who stepped down from her role as Deputy Head at the end of the year. Within three months of her appointment, COVID struck, so her induction was a real baptism of fire, as she faced the challenges of remote learning, key worker care, virtual assemblies, strict bubbles, furlough and so on. Mrs Kilbey has been a loyal, hard-working, and incredibly organised Deputy; she will continue at King’s St Alban’s in the French classroom.
Mr David Braithwaite joined KSA nineteen years ago as Director of Studies from Hallfield School in Birmingham. David was a very committed colleague
• We embraced the Coronation of King Charles III with a GYM homework, a birdbox competition, the design and planting of our Coronation Garden, a new flag and a special ceremony on The Quad. Each child was given a special wooden (eco) KSA Coronation bookmark kindly provided by the PSG.
• Mr Chapman has now finished his Head Teacher’s Award Book. There are nearly 2,000 entries in it which means he has had 2,000 or so chats with children about their work and learning, distributed 2,000 stickers and written 2,000 postcards.
• We are proud that our Nursery, along with that at King’s Hawford, has been recognised as one of the Top 20 nursery groups in the UK by the popular nursery review website, Daynurseries.co.uk
who led teaching and learning here with aplomb. He was also an outstanding teacher. Despite his many commitments within the Senior Leadership Team, he still managed to run two plays and Climbing Club each year. Mr Braithwaite enriched the lives of hundreds of children at KSA, and we wish him well for a well-deserved retirement. Mr Adam Kent started as Deputy Head in September, with Mrs Keeley Beauchamp taking on the role of Assistant Head, Academic.
We have had a busy and successful year in terms of charity awareness and fundraising. In all, we have raised nearly £4,200. All charity events include an assembly about the cause and need to ensure the children are aware of why we are holding such events or days. Events included Readathon sponsorship, Macmillan coffee morning, various cakes sales, a bracelet sale, charity breakfasts and collections after the Carol Service and Creative Connexions. All charities were either suggested by or ratified through School Council, a great use of Pupil Voice.
In the Arts department, our year started with a bang when we discovered that we had been awarded Arts Mark Gold. This is a fantastic achievement and a superb reflection of the breadth and quality of the Arts provision at King’s St Alban’s. We haven’t rested on our laurels, however, and this year has been as busy as ever.
Informal Concerts have been as popular as ever and have provided wonderful after-school entertainment at regular intervals throughout the year. Our College Hall concerts have involved the whole Prep School and have kept our choirs and ensembles working hard in their weekly rehearsals. We were very proud of our Year Six soloists: Emily Hind, Charlie, Murphy, Georgina Norris, Jack Barwise, Ace Doggett and Rory Woodward, who did themselves proud, performing confidently and beautifully to a packed hall. Concert trips and workshops have been a regular feature of the year, and Year Four were inspired by their trip to Symphony Hall to hear the CBSO. This was a real treat for staff as well as pupils.
Another year has flown by and when we all look back, we are amazed at how much we have achieved. We are very proud of the fact that we can say that all our children have represented the school in their games activities. Many have also been involved in competitive swimming, athletics, cross country and even golf for the first time this year. Although we are inclusive in all we do, we still aim to be competitive at the higher levels, such as with the IAPS tournaments.
Our most recent IAPS tournament was the Year Six girls’ cricket tournament at Trent College. Our girls did exceptionally well throughout the day and in the last match it all rested on scoring two runs off the last ball. Unfortunately, Fairfield conjured up some amazing fielding to get a run out. However, both teams came together, some crying, some laughing, some hugging, and congratulated each other. This was sport at its best.
This year we have joined with King’s Hawford at a number of events. The boys went to Hymers and Rosslyn Park to play rugby at the highest level for Prep Schools. Not only did we play exceptionally well in both of these tournaments, but we came away having lost only two games. The Year Five and Year Six girls joined together to play in the Warwick Prep Netball Tournament. We have also organised afternoons for the Year Five children to have coaching from the senior school staff. These are great opportunities for the children to mix with each other and meet their future sports teachers.
Swimming, as usual, has continued to be a strong focus in the curriculum and the extra curriculum. We have hosted many galas and entered both IAPS and ESSA competitions. We were delighted for James Ashfield, who came eighth in the U10 boys’ backstroke at the IAPS finals, a great achievement. Every single Prep School child competed in our everpopular Aquathlon event.
This year’s Creative ConneXions, ‘Our Precious Planet,’ took place in March and was a fantastic celebration of art, dance and music. This year, before we started, we asked two simple questions: what is our impact on the planet and how can we better care for it? We discussed questions such as how can we preserve water, how can we use less energy and reduce waste and how can we act in ways which are cleaner, healthier, and more efficient? From these discussions came the outline for Creative ConneXions 2023. Dances examined topics such as: the beauty of the earth, the journey of the River Severn, and the impact of climate change. Year Six dances were all about a call for action and they certainly took the show to another level. The performance ended with the school singing Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell, with the message “It’s never too late.”
The artwork in the gallery was stunning and the poetry which the children had written supported their chosen theme beautifully. It was a dramatic, emotional evening that will hopefully stay in the hearts of those who took part for a very long time.
The actors at King’s St Alban’s have also been hard at work. For our Christmas
production, Drama Club chose Peace & Goodwill, a play within a play in which pupils act out vying for the best parts in a school yuletide production. Meanwhile, Year Four relished making their first acquaintance with Shakespeare’s Macbeth in a set of workshops which took the form of a slowly unfolding but satisfyingly gripping whodunnit. Year Five Drama Club’s production of
The children have continued to be the stars of the show, all striving to achieve their best in every lesson, attending clubs in their droves and making us proud when representing the school at fixtures. Sport remains in rude health at KSA. Harry Rings, Lord of the Potters was a fusion of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings and was a splendid finale to Mr Braithwaite’s contribution to the arts at KSA. The Summer Show, in the last week of term, was a magnificent celebration of dance and music and a fitting climax to an exciting and fulfilling Arts programme at KSA in 2022/23.
We embarked on the Wellbeing Award for Schools in September. We felt our work on pupil and staff wellbeing and emotional development has been a relative strength for a few years, but we were keen to see what more we could do.
The process was rigorous and driven by a thorough audit through staff, pupil, and parent surveys in the autumn and again in the summer. Armed with the data, comments, and ideas from these surveys, we created a “Change Team” to see how we could improve our provision and ultimately develop wellbeing for all at KSA. Weekly ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ have been in place all year. We have also introduced Wellbeing Champions (Years Two to Six), developed our clubs provision, added lockable worry boxes in classrooms, and have produced “Who can I talk to?” posters and the A-Z Well-being Display. We have also bought more playtime equipment, added a buddy bench, increased provision for “Draw and Talk”, and made good use of our new outdoor classroom.
The assessment on 16th June was lengthy and thorough, and including a presentation, tour, separate meetings with staff, pupils, parents and governors. The report says that:
“King’s St Alban’s is a school that provides outstanding mental health and well-being provision for its students.
“A clear and enriching whole school approach and long-term strategy, ‘Making KSA Smile’, has been developed in relation to supporting the emotional well-being and mental health of the school community. This is the best Wellbeing Strategy that I have seen in my six years of being an advisor with Optimus Education.
“I am delighted to award King’s St Alban’s the Wellbeing Award for Schools. This reflects the School’s, staff’s, students’, parents’ and governors’ commitment to emotional well-being and mental health, and your achievements across the School. I saw a wide range of outstanding practice and would encourage the School to capture their experience in a case study to share with other schools.”
Our 12 Choristers have had a busy and successful year and we remain proud of this select bunch. We are now a few years post the launch of the girls’ choir and have a pleasing number of girl choristers. The relationship between the School and the Cathedral remains strong; the Assistant Director of Music at the Cathedral continues to lead our weekly hymn practice and impressed everyone on Speech Day.
We are fortunate to have a group of parents who form our Social Group and contribute to the wider life of the school. The group organised an excellent and very popular Halloween Party, involving about three-quarters of the school, and a well-attended Spring Fayre on The Quad. The group also helped out at Open Mornings, Pre-Prep Christmas Crafts and various shows and concerts. PSG funds were used for our new table-tennis table and for a Coronation bookmark for every child. Thank you, PSG!
Year Six are a lively, talented, wellbonded group and they have been great fun to be around. They have enjoyed a varied and educationallyrich last term at KSA with carousel weeks in Geography, Science and ICT, a visit to the Old Chapel and a trip to
France for the Normandy Experience; the first for four years. They “went out with joy’ “ at the end of Speech Day to leave KSA and enter College Green and the next, exciting chapter of their lives. We wish them the very best of luck! Richard Chapman, July 2023
We have been delighted to welcome OVs, Honorary OVs and members of the King’s Family to a great variety of events, reunions, School and career visits over the past year. Here is a snapshot of the events hosted or facilitated by the Alumni and Business Development Office:
The Year of 1982 enjoyed an evening full of reminiscing, reuniting and laughter, celebrating 40 years since leaving King’s, with time to remember absent friends and raise a glass for those who couldn’t make the journey. They were joined by Hon OVs Julia Roberts, Dr Gordon Leah, Tim Crow, and Tim Hickson, who thoroughly enjoyed hearing about what had happened in the intervening 40 years.
The event was organised by OV Tim Hall (Cr 72-82) in conjunction with the King’s Alumni Relations Co-ordinator, Amanda Sutcliffe. Tim was one of the OVs who had travelled a fair distance for the reunion from his home in Edinburgh, but the greatest commitment to the event was from OV John Sear (Ch 7282), who had journeyed from Australia to be there.
It was a pleasure to welcome back OVs from the years of 2020, 2021 and 2022 for a catch-up with their friends and former teachers. It was also wonderful to hear how well everyone is doing and their plans for their work and studies in the year ahead.
The OV golfing community was delighted to see their Annual OV Golf Day return, with thanks to OV James Bailey (Cr 84-93) for organising the event.
James was joined by OVs Stuart Preece (Ch 75-80), Ian Smith (Cr 73-78), Andy Townsend (H 74-78), Gabriel Moores (Cl 87-95), Tom Guest (S 90-97), Paul Judge (W 83-93), Nic Sproson (H 7176), Johnny Hung (Ch 89-94), Leigh Stote (Cl 83-93), Tim Whitehouse (K 86-94), Gary Murphy (Cr 87-94), Nick Firth (Ch 86-93), Matt Richardson (CL 86-93) and George Blakeway (H 7686).
James kindly gave a précis of the day, “The competition was fierce, but the overall winner was Paul Judge, with a very good round giving him 44 points. His team also won the Four-Ball (Gabriel Moores, Tom Guest, Paul Judge, Nic Sproson). Well done to all of them. We’re already looking forward to 2023’s event!”
Organised by OV Tim Wadsworth (S 56-61), School House Lunch returned to the Oxford and Cambridge Club in London in October. Tim added, “After two cancelled years due to COVID-19, the School House Lunch was finally able to go ahead. We met once again in the very splendid surroundings of the Oxford and Cambridge Club on Pall Mall, kindly hosted by George Beckmann (S 49-51), a member. Twenty-two ’70ish’ OVs, almost all School House, were able to attend, our most senior being 93!”
It was an honour to welcome OV, Squadron Leader Rhianon Webb (née Lloyd, Br 92-99) for Remembrance Day and to give the address during the Service of Remembrance in Worcester Cathedral with the whole School. We were also delighted to welcome representatives from the OV and Hon OV community, including both serving and retired members of the Armed Forces. Our OV Club President, Julia Annable (née Simcock, Co 85-87) laid a wreath on behalf of all OVs, and prayers were led by Andrew Maund (Hon OV)
Many thanks to all those OVs who were pitch-side at Sixways Stadium to support our boys in blue for the Modus Cup 2022. It was a thrilling game, and congratulations go to RGS Worcester, who pushed through a win with final score of 20-17.
King’s School Carol Service: December 2022
We had a magical evening of carols and readings in Worcester Cathedral, with a pre-Carol Service reception for some members of the King’s Foundation family in College Hall.
‘Oarsome’ OVs: December 2022
A great and hearty ‘Thank You’ to all the OVs who supported the incredible KSW Boat Club Charity Challenge both in person and through donations, helping to raise thousands of pounds for the chosen charity, Mental Health UK.
The current KSW Boat Club was joined by OVs Nemi Edwards (Br 13-20), Kate Emsley (Cl 12-19), Faith Murray (K 1320), Cat Lucas (Br 16-22), Matthew Daniels (Br 16-22), Emily Watkins (Ch 13-19), James Launder (Os 15-22), Tom Angell (Cr 16-21), Ned Meredith (S 1422), Ben Thorpe (S 14-21) and Finn Watkins (Os 17-22) . A special thank you goes to retired King’s Rowing Coach Bill Needham (Hon OV) who, despite now being in his 80s, was certainly a force to be reckoned with on the ergo! Also, Jamie MacDonald (W 8-15) who took a break from his RAF duties to pick up the baton and help give the overnight rowers a much-needed rest.
In January, the King’s 1st and 2nd team footballers played their annual matches against two OV teams, with a big thank you to OV Cameron Stanley-Blakey (S 10-17), who brought together the group of OVs.
The 1st OV team lost 6-1 to the current 1st XI but the 2nd OV team won 3-1 against the King’s 2nd XI. Despite the very different score lines, both were very close games, and every player really gave their all, with great support from organiser Jon Sarriegui (Hon OV), and Dr Mark Poole (Hon OV), who took on the coaching role for the OVs!
The Michael Baker Boathouse was buzzing with anticipation and excitement as the Year of 2017 caught up at their delayed reunion, some seeing each other for the first time in years.
The OVs were delighted to spend time with their ‘old’ teachers as well, sharing their news of the last five years, how their careers are blossoming in so many different fields, and their plans for the future with Hon OVs Katie Beever, Robin Booth, Jim Chalmers, Simon Cuthbertson, Rev’d Mark Dorsett, Elaine Friend, Chris Haywood, Richard James, Annabel Jeffery, Eric Lummas, Jonny Mason, Rosie Shearburn and Chris Wilson. Katie Beever formally welcomed everyone to the gathering, sharing her own memories of teaching so many of those present across the years, from Lower Fourth to Upper Sixth and former Head of School James Smalley (Br 1017) also shared a few words, reminiscing about their time together at King’s.
Headmaster Gareth Doodes formally welcomed everyone to the gathering. Both Heads of School for 2012 and 2013 were unable to attend the Worcester reunion: Joe Fowles (Cl 05-12) enjoyed hearing how the school is faring at the Sydney reunion whilst Ben Alexander (Ch 06-13) is currently living in Canada. Gareth therefore handed over to OVs and former Deputy Heads of School Jeannie Gibson (Ch 05-12) and Esther Roberts (S 08-13) to say a few words. After the speeches, the 2012 and 2013 cohorts enjoyed drinks and canapés, making the most of their time back together.
The 119th OV Reunion
The weekend of Saturday 4 March 2023 saw the rescheduled 119th OV Reunion Weekend 2022, with over 130 OVs and Hon OVs returning to the School for some wonderful reminiscing and re-connecting with school friends.
The weekend started with Bubbly Brunch, where it was marvellous to see so many Hon OV former staff returning to King’s for a long overdue catch up. The OV Committee held their AGM, following which OVs and their families were treated to tours around School, hosted by an enthusiastic team of Monitors.
Saturday evening saw generations of OVs and Hon OVs donning their blacktie best for the OV Reunion Dinner in a resplendent College Hall. OV and Hon Secretary of the OV Committee,
Nick Stephens (Br 77-84), was the compére for the evening and we were honoured to have the Very Rev’d Peter Atkinson, both a King’s School Governor and the Dean of Worcester Cathedral, say the Grace before the delicious three-course dinner began.
Following the dinner, we were delighted that OV Rachael Speirs (née Draper, Co 90-92) was the guest speaker representing the largest cohort of OVs present: the year of 1992. Headmaster Gareth Doodes drew the speeches to a close with a warm welcome to all and a toast to the School.
The weekend was completed with the traditional Sunday Eucharist in Worcester Cathedral. It was wonderful to listen to OV David Head (Cl 5258) and Hon OV Richard Chapman representing the OV community with their readings during the service.
Thank you to Hon OV Andrew Maund for this lovely report of the 2023 King’s School CCF Mess Dinner:
“Included among the company were OVs of several generations, including Lt Col Andrew Booton (K 80-89), as well as OVs who had left more recently and their guests.
“After welcome drinks and photographs in the grounds, everyone moved inside just before the rain for a splendid dinner, followed by the Loyal Toast, speeches, and the presentation of thank-you gifts and awards, including Leavers’ Medals for the departing Upper Sixth cadets.”
The latest Network 1541 event took place in May: a Wine and Cheese Pairing Evening, delivered by OV Lee-Anna Rennie (OS 93-03) and sponsored by OV Lewis Bryer (Cl 78-87) of Bryer Consulting. We were so pleased to have so many OVs, parents and local businesses join us for a fun evening of wine, cheese, and networking.
There was a fantastic turnout for the OV Cricket Club’s (OVCC) 75th Anniversary, with over 100 OVs, Hon OVs, and their families joining the celebrations. A milestone year, the event included an OV vs OV cricket match, and many thanks were given to the OV Committee for generously sponsoring the Match Tea, which was enjoyed by all.
The OVCC Chairman, OV Phil Mackie (Cl 73-83), Headmaster, Gareth Doodes, and former OV President Alec Mackie (Cl 47-56) spoke with the attending guests, sharing the importance of cricket to the School and continuing to keep connected with the King’s family through the OVCC.
We are excited that 2023 has seen the successful launch of the Overseas Old Vigornian Network (OOVN) with inaugural events in Singapore and Sydney.
There are members of the OV community on every continent, studying, working, or enjoying their retirement. We are keen to stay connected and plan to host reunions in different locations around the world, bringing the King’s family to OVs and hopefully making the OV community more accessible for all its members, regardless of location.
Singapore Reunion: March 2023
In March 2023, King’s Headmaster, Gareth Doodes, welcomed OVs to the inaugural Overseas OV Reunion in the region. The OV guests were a great representation of the OV community, ranging from the Years of 1987 to 2022: Mark Beloeil-Smith (Ch 82-87), Razmahwata ‘Wata’ Razalli (S 89-91), Philippa Lucas (K 06-11), and Saffa Shah (Cr 20-22)
Although each OV reflected different eras at King’s, a common theme was the great experiences they had had at School and the close friendships made that have endured despite the years and geographical distances. Many wonderful memories of teachers were shared, who had prepared each of them so well for their future lives.
The first reunion for those local to Sydney, Gareth welcomed a wonderful mix from the OV community, from the 1960s to 2010s!
Two of the OVs present, David Allen (Ch 80-80) and Andrew Erratt (S 8080) had only been at King’s for two terms during the Sixth Form, which was thanks to an exchange scheme from Armidale School, NSW. Despite their short stints at King’s, they both had very happy memories of their time and some great friends made and were delighted to be part of the OV Reunion.
Gareth gave all present an update on the School, its vision, mission and values, which was followed by OV Jamie Mackie (Os 75-85) who gave a lovely and heartfelt speech. Gareth added, “It truly was a great evening, full of laughter, friendship and fantastic memories, and I felt privileged to be part of this overseas OV family.
“I found it particularly fascinating to learn about the incredibly varied career paths that had been taken by the 21 OVs present, from hospitality to utilities, the law and finance to health and fitness. This clearly demonstrates that a King’s education really does set you up for life, wherever it may take you!”
Many of the OVs at the reunion were not aware there was such a great contingent of OVs local to them, but thanks to the dinner they are now connected and hope to keep in touch regularly.
We are delighted for OV Cllr Louis Stephen (Br 80-85), who has not only become Mayor of Worcester but is also the first Green Party member of Worcester City Council to be appointed to this esteemed role. We’re looking forward to seeing the Mayor, and his wife and Mayoress, OV Katey Stephen (née Bridges, Co 84-85) out and about in Worcester, and of course back at King’s!
OV Peter Holder (Br 01-08 and Old St Alban’s) is the Sub-Organist at Westminster Abbey, and his role includes being the principal organist for services, concerts and state occasions. For the Queen’s funeral, in addition to playing for the service itself, he also performed two Elgar pieces to herald the Procession of Religious Representatives, as well as Fantasia in C minor BWV 562 by Johann Sebastian Bach at the close of the service, as the coffin was taken out of Westminster Abbey.
The Coronation of King Charles III was a spectacular occasion and a great celebration! It was made even more special for the King’s family as many OVs were involved.
During the Coronation, Peter played throughout the service with both traditional and some new pieces that had been specially commissioned for the Coronation. OV Rebecca Hardwick (Br 00-07) was also in Westminster Abbey, singing Bruckner’s resounding Ecce Sacerdos Magnus with the Monteverdi Choir, under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Providing a comprehensive overview of the Coronation was OV Cameron Walker (Os 08-15), who is the Royal Correspondent for GB News.
The day after the Coronation, OV Andrew Furniss (W 94-04) welcomed the King and Queen of Tonga to Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, where Andrew is the Assistant Director of Music.
Congratulations go to OV Anna Neville (née Prosser, Co 90-92), who scooped two awards at the Best Businesswomen Awards 2022. Anna was awarded Silver in both the ‘Best Business’ and ‘Best Businesswoman working with Children & Families’ for her Kidslingo programme and franchise, which teaches Spanish and French to young children.
Worcester-based Britannic Place Financial Management, founded by OV and chartered financial planner Steve Perera (Cr 86-93) was named the Micro Wealth Management Firm of the Year at the MoneyAge Awards 2022.
Championship
OV Sophie Carter (Br 11-18) achieved multiple Gold Medals at the Inclusive Skating World Championships 2022, which coincided with the first ever World Ice Skating Day!
Many congratulations to OV Oliver Brooks (S 96-01), who was part of the world premiere cast of the theatre production of But I’m a Cheerleader, which has won the Best Off-West End Production category in the 23rd Annual WhatsOnStage Awards.
OV Ellie Driver (Os 13-20 and Old Hawfordian) has been announced as Sailor of the Year 2022 in Sailing Today’s British Yachting Awards.
Ellie learnt to sail at the age of seven and spent most of her weekends during her time at King’s Hawford on the water, racing her Oppie, Top Dog. While at King’s Worcester, Ellie continued to compete both nationally and internationally, representing Great Britain in the 420-dinghy class with OV Rachael Cross (Os 17-19)
We are delighted to learn that OV John Stephen (Cl 60-67) was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2023 New Year Honours list. The CVO is equivalent to the CBE and is awarded in recognition of personal service to the Monarch, in John’s case latterly as a member of the Prince’s Council, advising on property matters.
Many congratulations to OV Lara Vafiadis (Os 06-08), who completed her solo row across the Atlantic in March 2023, having spent 98 days at sea: an astounding and inspirational achievement which was dedicated to her father Nick, who died from prostate cancer last year. By completing this challenge, Lara has raised over £52,000 for charities Prostrate Cancer UK, Plan International UK and RA World and Our Only World.
Huge congratulations go to OV Stella Din Jacob (Co 85-86), who has been recognised as the most powerful woman in Nigerian journalism by WIJAfrica (Women in Journalism Africa) for her work leading a team covering the Nigerian elections and her significant contributions to journalism over the last 30 years. Stella is a seasoned journalist, news manager, and lawyer, with a multi-award-winning career spanning three decades, and is currently Director of News at TVC Communications.
Many congratulations to OV Caitlin Sharpe (Ch 10-17), who has successfully completed the Officer Cadets’ Commissioning Course at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and joins the Royal Engineers. In addition, Caitlin had the honour of being part of the personal guard to His Majesty King Charles III, who was presiding over the 200th Sovereign’s Parade.
The King’s rowing community is an inspirational one, which continues to thrive beyond King’s. This includes OV Alice Baker (K 14-22) and her Eights crew who won a superb Silver Medal for Team GB in the World Rowing Championships in Italy, and Alice and Lucy Stratton (S 11-18), racing at the Annual Pac-12 Championships for their universities, Stanford and UCLA respectively. Congratulations also go to OV Luke Beever (S 15-22), who was selected for Cambridge’s Reserve Crew, Goldie, racing in the annual Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race 2023, which then went on to beat Oxford’s Isis crew by one length.
In May, one current Upper Sixth student and twenty OVs attended the first Gold DofE Award Ceremony to be hosted by his Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh.
They were invited to collect their certificates in the sun at Buckingham Palace. After their extraordinary perseverance, creativity and resilience in completing their Gold DofE, they were rewarded with the opportunity to celebrate with their loved ones in these wonderful surroundings.
OVs Thomas Long (S 12-19), Phoebe Conyers (K 14-21 and Old Hawfordian), Libby Evans (Cl 14-21), Abby Deller (K 12-19), Natasha Beattie (W 13-20 and Old Hawfordian), Edward Cosson (Br 1421 and Old Hawfordian), Anna Fryers (Ca 16-21), Alex Ward (Cl 13-20 and Old St Alban’s), Harry Sproule (Ch 15-22 and Old Hawfordian), Faith Murray (K 13-20), Eddie James (Cr 13-20), Jonny Raggett (Ca 15-22 and Old Hawfordian), Sophie Spencer (Cl 15-22 and Old St Alban’s), Hazel Zurick-Ball (Ca 15-22 and Old St Alban’s), Felicity Quiney (Br 15-22), Sarah Warburton (W 15-22), George Jury (K 12-19), Michael Burgess (S 12-19 and Old St Alban’s), Jonathan Stratton (Cl 1421 and Old Hawfordian) and Michael Nice (W 12-19 and Old Hawfordian) all attended and thoroughly enjoyed the chance to see one another again, this time dressed up to the nines rather than in hiking boots, wicking shirts and walking trousers.
Congratulations also to OV Theo Osborne (Cl 13-20) who has been elected as the President of the Durham Union Society for Michaelmas Term 2023, while studying Computer Science at Durham. The Union is Durham University’s oldest and largest student society. As with its sister Unions at Oxford and Cambridge, it has hosted prominent national and international speakers for over 180 years.
An incredible performance by OV Josh Tongue (Br 09-13) who secured both his first Cap for England Cricket in the test against Ireland in June 2023, and also took five wickets in the second innings, meaning his name will forever be recorded on the hallowed Honours Board at Lord’s; the first OV to do so!
A very warm welcome to twins Alfie and Freddie Weaver, who arrived in the autumn to the delight of parents OV Luke (S 98-03) and Lizzie Weaver and big brother Charlie, who is enjoying life at King’s Hawford.
Congratulations to OV Claire Watson (née Gott, Cl 97-06) and her husband James, who welcomed Louis in 2022. In December, Louis was christened in Worcester Cathedral by the Rev’d Dr Dorsett (Hon OV) and a celebration in College Hall followed, with Louis surrounded by friends and family, and Father Christmas! In addition to Louis’ christening, Rev’d Dr Dorsett and Worcester Cathedral have been instrumental in other significant occasions in Claire and James’s lives, helping to celebrate both their wedding in 2015 and the life of their first son, Jacobi, whose funeral was held in 2018.
Wonderful news from OV Chantal Jennings (née Smit, Br 12-14) and her husband Ryan, on the arrival of their daughter, Margot, in June 2023.
Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Yelland! In September 2022 OVs Nicola Wilkinson (K 03-08) and James Yelland (S 01-08 and Old St Alban’s) were married at Bredenbury Court Barns in Herefordshire. Nicola explains, “Our photographer captured a photo of everyone at our wedding who went to King’s, so I thought I’d share with you! It’s simply amazing how many of us have stayed so close even since leaving School.” There were 21 OVs in attendance, from left to right in the photo:
Stuart Preece (Ch 75-80), Tony Halford (Cl 51-62), Lucy Halls (née Clayton, Os 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Emily Malik (née McNally, Br 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Richard Winwood (Br 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Sarah Porter (Br 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Georgie Halford (Cl 07-14 and Old Hawfordian), James Yelland (S 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Kit Smith (Br 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Nicola Yelland (née Wilkinson, K 03-08), George Preece (Cr 06-013 and Old Hawfordian), Tom Gwynne (K 01-08), Oliver Jenkins (Br 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Olivia Hussey (née Salmon, Os 06-08), Jack England (K 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Lucy Hartley (née Senior, K 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Tom Byrne (K 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), James Riley (W 88-93), Lawrence Szymanski (Cr 0108), Amy Proctor-Nicolls (Br 02-08) and Robin Middleburgh (Cl 98-07) Unfortunately, OVs Lizzie Gray (née Isaac, Br 06-08), Annie Young (née Duffy, Br 01-08) and Lizzie Unwin (S 01-08 and Old St Alban’s) were unable to make the wedding and were greatly missed.
OV Olivia Salmon (Os 06-08) married Luke Hussey at the M Shed in Bristol in May 2022 having met while working in the Houses of Parliament. OVs Sarah Smith (née Porter, Br 01-08) and Eleanor Collins (née Salmon, S 04-06) were bridesmaids. OV guests joining Olivia and Luke’s celebrations included Annie Young (née Duffy, Br 01-08), Amy Procter-Nicholls (Br 02-08), Emily Malik (née McNally, Br 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Lizzie Gray (née Isaac, Br 06-08), Kit Smith (Br 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Robin Middleburgh (Cl 98-07), Nicky (K 03-08) and James Yelland (S 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Lizzie Unwin (S 97-08 and Old St
OV James Green (Br 05-12 and Old St Alban’s) married Hannah Sears in August 2022 in Carmel Valley, California a few hours south of where they now live in San Francisco. The picture from left to right is John Adeney (W 05-12), Robert Battrum (W 05-12), Robert Bennett (W 05-12), Hannah, James, Alex Wood (W 05-12) and Eliot Jones (Br 05-12), all from the class of 2012!
Alban’s), James Long (K 06-08), Lucy Halls (née Clayton, Os 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Lowri (née Brown, K 95-06 and Old St Alban’s) and Tom Lea (K 9504) and Sophie Codd (Cr 01-06).
Wonderful to hear from OV Freya Hodgetts (Cl 05-12) who married Christopher in Worcester Cathedral in August 2021. A gloriously sunny day, full of celebration, they were joined by a host of OVs including Freya’s father, Nick Hodgetts (Ca 74-79) along with Victoria Pastorelli (née Harriman, Os 05-12 and Old St Alban’s), Charlie Sabin (K 06-13 and Old St Alban’s), Becky Pritchard (W 11-13), Jess Sykes (Cl 05-12), Tom Weston (Cr 04-99), Lauren Weaver (Ch 10-12), Martin Weston (Br 61-63), Harry Hodgetts (Br 07-13 and Old St Alban’s), Lucy Fellows (K 10-12), Jon Fellows (Ca 76-80) and Steve Hemming (S 72-79)
Congratulations also to OVs Sarah (née Ashton, Cl 10-12) and John Sansome (Cl 10-12) who were married in September 2022. They were married in St. Michael’s Church, Salwarpe, followed by a reception at Hawford Farm in Claines. OVs present were Emma Ashton (K 11-15), George Sansome (Br 11-13), Hannah Raitt (née Sansome, Cr 08-10), Charlie Dunn (Br 10-12), Cath Ellis (W 05-12), Olivia Harris (Cr 05-12 and Old Hawfordian), Olivia Hyde (K 05-12), Bethan Winter (Cr 10-12), Lewis Giles (S 05-12 and Old St Alban’s) and Alex Bradnick (S 10-12) and Ann Sansome (Hon OV)
Lovely news from OV James Tomlin (Os 99-06) who married Estelle Khajenouri, an interior designer from Wimbledon, in May 2023. They were married at St Mary’s Church, Wimbledon before the reception held in a marquee in the Italian Gardens, Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon. It was a glorious sunny day with drinks and dancing into the night. OVs in attendance included Julius Baghdadi (Br 95-06) as best man, James Pole (S 97-06) as MC & Usher, a further 10 OVs from the 2006 leavers as well as James’s two sisters Sophie (Os 9704) and Louisa (Os 02-09) Tomlin
Congratulations to OVs Tom Westley (Cl 04-11) and Emma Pearman (Cl 06-11), who met at King’s aged 13 and were both in Chappel House. They tied the knot in in Worcester Cathedral in August 2022, in the company of family and friends, which included OVs Charles Lilwall (Br 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), Abbie McCarthy (K 04-12 and Old Hawfordian), Harri Sapsford (née Cornock, Cl 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Hugo Watkins (Cl 04-11), Daniel Brooks (Ch 04-11), Sam Pearman (Cl 01-08 and Old St Alban’s), Suzanne and Bill Toleman (Former King’s St Alban’s Deputy Headmaster), Charles Davis (Ch 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), Millie Sephton-Ward (née Sephton, S 0411 and Old St Alban’s), Matthew Connell (Br 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), Lucy Scales (S 04-11), Phoebe Watkins (née Cox, Br 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Sarah Haythornthwaite (née Conway, W 04-11), Benoit Jamous (W 01-08), Aleina Conn (née Binns, Cl 09-11), Nicky Adams (née Mico, W 92-94).
OVs Jorden (née Parsons, W 09-11) and Thomas Wilde (S 04-11) were married in Elmley Castle in June 2023. The service was held in St Mary’s Church, followed by a reception at Jorden’s family home. There was a wonderful gathering OVs to help them celebrate their big day, including from their 2011 cohort: Bethany Brass (née Jeavons, W 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Lydia Fox-Davies (née Harper, Ch 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), Natasha Linley (K 04-11, and Old St Alban’s), Martha
Newbury (née Hershman, W 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Jonny Howard (Ch 0411 and Old St Alban’s), James Doorbar (Ch 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), Charles Lilwall (Br 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), Polly Silk (née Osborne, Os 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Lucy Robinson (K 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Rachael Brand (Ch 0411 and Old St Alban’s), Jessica Forsyth (Cr 07-11), Josephine Mann (K 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Michael Serafini (Os 0411), Ross Attwood (S 09-11), Thomas Bird (Cr 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Beatrice
Dee (Os 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), Katie Wreghitt (W 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), David Brazier (S 04-09 and Old Hawfordian). In addition, Jorden and Thomas also welcomed OVs Charlie Silk (Os 05-12), Liam Gwynne (Cl 02-09), Henry Wilde (Br 09-16 and Old St Alban’s), Nick Hammond (Ch 09-16 and Old St Alban’s), Josie Hales (Br 14-16), Arti Fiaz (Cl 88-95), Nicky Yelland (née Wilkinson, K 0308), James Yelland (S 01-08 and Old St Alban’s)
For OV Bethany (née Jeavons, W 04-11, and Old Hawfordian) and James Brass, their wedding was a wonderful, if belated celebration. Bethany explained, “We were supposed to get married in May 2020, but the world had other plans! We got officially married at St John the Baptist Church, Elmore, Gloucester in August 2020. We only had our immediate family present due to Covid restrictions. Four OVs attended, my sisters and their husbands: Hannah Rowley (née Jeavons, S 07-14 and Old Hawfordian), Edward Rowley (Os 07-14 and Old St Alban’s), Lottie Martyn-Smith (née Jeavons, Ch 02-09 and Old Hawfordian), and James
Martyn-Smith (Cl 04-09) and my mother Abigail Jeavons (Hon OV)
“On our second wedding anniversary in August 2022, we finally got to celebrate with all of our loved ones. We renewed our vows at St. John the Baptist Church and then held our wedding reception at Elmore Court, Gloucester. It was a beautiful and happy day made all the more special by the presence of our twin boys Toby & Max Brass who we welcomed in November 2020.”
OVs joining Bethany and Jeremy were, from left to right of the photo: Thomas Bird (Cr 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Beatrice Dee (Os 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), Thomas Wilde (S 04-11), Jorden Wilde (née Parsons, W 09-11), Rachael Brand (Ch 04-11 and Old St Alban’s), Martha Newbury (née Hershman, W 04-11 and Old Hawfordian), Jeremy and Bethany, Hannah Rowley (née Jeavons, S 07-14, and Old Hawfordian), Edward Rowley (Os 07-14 and Old St Alban’s), Lottie MartynSmith (née Jeavons, Ch 02-09, and Old Hawfordian), James Martyn-Smith (Cl 04-09), Lydia Fox-Davies (née Harper, Ch 04-11 and Old St Alban’s)
George M B Adams (S 67-74)
1956 - 2021
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of George Adams, aged sixty-five.
George was a most beloved husband, devoted father to his two daughters, a godfather and uncle, a true friend to so many, and a highly respected business leader.
Tributes from around the world were united in their admiration and love of George. They told of the hugely generous man who shared his joy of life, his positive and happy outlook, his wisdom and calm presence, and his love unconditionally with all he encountered. George was known for his wise counsel, listening ear, peacemaking skills, and his intelligent business acumen. In spite of his demanding schedules, he was known always to make time for people and make them feel supported. He was widely recognised as a man of truth and integrity, was trusted and dependable, and a man of incredible business vision.
George was born in Worcester in 1956, the youngest of three. He went to Cottesmore aged seven, and from there to King’s School, Worcester. In 1975 he went up to Oriel College, Oxford to read PPE.
After graduation he joined Management Horizons, as a director of Europe’s leading retail consultancy, and later went on to become Commercial Director for Makro, then Woolworths, and B&Q.
As George’s career progressed, he held a succession of high-profile roles in the home improvement industry, including Chairman of Kingfisher Asia, Chairman of Castorama in Russia and Poland, Chief Executive of Kingfisher European Development and UK Trade, Chairman of Screwfix, and Group CEO for Maxeda, the largest home improvement retailer in Benelux.
George’s first non-executive directorship came in 2007, with Frontier Economics, Europe’s leading economics consultancy. And in recent years he sat on the boards of numerous private and publicly owned international retail and manufacturing businesses. Unusual
for someone at the most senior level in business, George continued to visit stores and warehouses frequently, something that he loved to do so that he could meet and talk to staff, and see what help they needed to serve their customers better.
Outside of his work, George was known as a fun-loving and mighty presence amongst family and friends. He was the most extraordinary, highly accomplished chef, a master at creating multiplecourse lunch and dinner parties, all whilst keeping a cool head and great sense of humour. For George, food was love, and love was made for sharing. He made the table of delicious feasts the backdrop to so much laughter and happy gatherings over many decades.
George was ever-curious, always reading, exploring new music, travelling widely, and finding out new facts and anecdotes to share with all. He also found time to write three cookbooks and a travelogue for his daughters.
His true pride and joy was his family; George was a loving husband and utterly smitten father, delighting in them, as they did in him.
We take comfort that George loved life, lived it with great vibrancy, and shared his love so generously. George made the world a better place, and we are so very lucky to have had him in our lives.
Christine Adams
Keith Bridges (Hon OV) Retired Staff 1941 - 2022
Patient, fair, gentle and kind are just some of the words that have come up again and again in the wonderful letters we have received since Dad passed away. I am extremely proud of my father and the influence he had on generations of students. He had rare ability to educate and guide but did so in a gentle way with encouragement, wanting the best outcome for the individual and in some cases changing the direction of their future careers.
Dad grew up in Stockport, where he attended Manchester Grammar School and developed his love of music from his father, singing in the Parish Church Choir. After obtaining his degree in Chemistry at Birmingham University, he did a year of teaching training in London, where he met my mother Jane Bridges.
Dad (Boo-Boo or the Bear as he was known to many boys) joined King’s School in 1963 as a Chemistry teacher. His first year he lived above the old Tuck Shop in Edgar Street, but in 1972 he was offered the position of House Master for Hostel House. Then, married to Jane, my Mum, and with Katey, my sister, and me, we moved into 5 College Green, which was to be our family home until 1990, albeit shared with 35 boys! Mum and Dad worked as a team, providing pastoral care to the boys in the house. It was a wonderful place for us to grow up.
Dad’s other passions were family, music and Manchester United. As a boy he had sung with his father in the church choir in Bredbury, Stockport. This love of music continued and, in 1975, he became a lay clerk in Worcester Cathedral Choir. This opened up the most fantastic world for Dad, singing in the Cathedral services, Three Choirs Festivals, special services for dignitaries and royalty, and touring the world as far as USA and South Africa. Cathedral music became part of our everyday life on the Green with everything from Yehudi Menuhin rehearsing in our house to Dad crawling out of a small ridge tent in full evening dress on a French campsite when on tour, much to the amazement of the other campers. Dad took over the reins of the Keys Society at King’s and was committed to encouraging musicians to set up, put a programme together and perform in their own concerts, giving young musicians such valuable experience.
Last September we had a service to remember Dad. It was just the sort of occasion he would have loved, family, past students, friends and good music! Thank you to everyone who came.
We would like to thank everyone who has been in touch with us and King’s to share their memories of Dad. We have enjoyed reading every one and it is deeply touching to hear how much he meant to so many people.
Charlotte Mahony (née Bridges, E 85-87)
Trevor Burgess (Cr 44-48)
1930 - 2022
Born in Bristol in 1930, Trevor moved to live in Malvern as a young boy. He was a Chorister at Malvern Priory and Worcester Cathedral and spent a great deal of his spare time on the local Tennis Circuit, earning valuable prize money and several County Championships in the process!
A talented all-round sportsman, Trevor joined The King’s School, Worcester in 1944. He was a keen Mathematician, but his love for sport far outweighed his enthusiasm in the classroom. He captained both the First Team Cricket and First Team Rugby during his senior years and went on to be heavily involved in the Old Vigornians’ Cricket Club, becoming Club Captain and First XI Captain of the OVs in 1952.
After leaving King’s, Trevor went on to become a Chartered Accountant and highly successful Business Entrepreneur.
He married Margaret Bomford in 1956, and they remained happily married for 63 years until Margaret’s death in 2021. During their marriage they had two daughters, Jacqui and Jayne and five grandchildren. Trevor took immense pride in the fact that his Worcesterbased grandchildren, Georgina (Ch 0613 and Old St Alban’s) and Rosie (Cr 10-17 and Old St Alban’s), also attended King’s School, and that Georgina returned to the School after university to teach in the Geography and Sports Departments.
Trevor died following a short illness in September 2022 and is greatly missed by family and friends.
Jayne Ormandy
He was very proud of his work in Airborne Radar Development; many OVs will have flown in military aircraft that he worked on. In his retirement he enjoyed travelling, photography (a passion from his days at King’s) and was active in his local photographic society and Gilbert & Sullivan Society.
Louise Leeder (née Cowley, E 87-89)
Nick George (W 69-79) 1960 - 2023
Nick was born in December 1960 at The Croft Maternity Unit in Kidderminster to parents Doreen and Raymond. The family was completed when Nick’s younger brother, Simon, arrived six years later. The two boys were involved in the Combined Cadet Force at their respective schools: Nick was an Army Cadet and Simon a Navy Cadet.
Nick enjoyed his time at King’s and was involved with the rowing club. It was clearly something that meant something to him, as he still had his King’s rowing top stored in his possessions.
After school, Nick went on to study Physics at Sheffield Polytechnic. The course involved going on work experience placements around the country, including Portsmouth Naval base, where he was stopped by security for taking photographs of the site with a camera that had been made in Russia. He was detained until he successfully convinced them that he wasn’t a spy!
In his younger days, Nick enjoyed bodybuilding, and he would travel to Mr Universe and Miss Universe competitions to watch them and photograph them. He was also a voracious reader, often getting through a book in a day. Nick liked to cook, and was always keen to experiment with recipes…not always successfully! Another hobby of Nick’s was recording the family’s history, and he would spend a lot of time collating old family photographs and making sure they were documented.
Nick was an intelligent man who was happy with his own company. He didn’t let many people into his life, but once you were in, he was a very kind and thoughtful companion. Nick was a very placid man, apart from when you tried to take his photo: he never liked that!
A private man with a loving nature, Nick would want you to remember him as the kind, helpful and thoughtful person he most certainly was.We remember Nick with deep affection.
Brian and I met on our very first day together at King’s on 25th September 1951 and we spent the next eight years mostly in the same class, studying the same subjects.
Edwin Cowley (Cr 49-55) 1937 - 2023
Without my father’s memories of his time at King’s, I wouldn’t have my own, and for that I am so grateful. After he left King’s, my father had a career at RSRE Malvern, MEL Crawley and the Air Warfare Centre RAF Waddington.
After university, Nick worked at various employers including at a small pottery firm in Stoke-on-Trent, as a purchasing assistant with Kays Catalogues and temporary work at Worcester Porcelain. In the early 2000s he decided to go back into education, and achieved a Higher National Diploma in Computing from Bromsgrove College. On completing his degree, Nick took on the responsibility for looking after his dad, who increasingly needed help around the garden and with household DIY. Raymond sadly died in 2013; Nick then looked after his mum, Doreen, taking charge of all the admin and any computing work that needed to be done.
Nick had a real love of nature and was at his happiest when he was outside experiencing the natural world firsthand. Nick also enjoyed photographing wildlife, and would leave food out for the birds and other animals.
Brian went on to Sheffield University and obtained his degree in Industrial Biochemistry before emigrating to Australia in July 1964 with his wife, Jill (née Andrews - Worcester Girls Grammar), and young son, Gerry.
Brian and I kept in touch throughout that 70+ year period and shared many happy memories, especially at the OV reunion he organised in 2001 “Fifty years on”, when he was able to get over 70 boys from 1951 together for an amazing weekend.
He worked first in Adelaide, at Roseworthy Agricultural College in the Chemistry Department, testing wine produced in the nearby region of the Barossa Valley. From there he transferred to Technicon Industries in Grafton, New South Wales, Toowoomba, Queensland and Bendigo Victoria, before finally settling in Melbourne. Upon his divorce from Jill, Technico transferred him to Sydney, New South Wales for a short period, before he returned to Melbourne to work for the British Oxygen Company (BOC), until his retirement.
In 1985 he had a second son, Hew, who recently visited King’s to present all of Brian’s school reports from the 1950s, as well as his school blazer pocket, school tie and school cap.
Michael Dudley (Cl 51-59) and H. Gerry Gerrard
David Elis Rhys Jones (W 55-65) 1948 - 2023
David was born to Welsh parents Elwyn and Joan; they moved to Worcester in pursuit of a career when he was still very young. He had an older sister Buddug, and the language spoken at home was Welsh. In Worcester he soon became close friends with the Malcomson brothers, John (W 55-65) and David (Cl 57-68), playing together in Gheluvelt Park; he also met with Will Roberts (Cr 56-65). All four boys attended St Alban’s and King’s and were to remain life-long friends. Among Elis’ early developing interests were cinema and music; his music taste was eclectic, and he spent many an hour in music shops looking for something out of the ordinary. The music played at his cremation (Pasadena by The Temperance Seven) reflected Elis’ taste for the ‘different’.
His school interests were very much academic rather than physical; one Sports report recorded: ‘He has managed to play through a muddy rugger season without even getting his knees dirty.’ In the Fourth Forms he came under the benign influence of Dan McTurk, noted for his habit of giving nicknames to most of the pupils in his charge. Required in class by Dan to draw a sketch map of GB, Elis completed his map in pink crayon; this amused Dan who dubbed Elis, ‘He of the Soft Pink Outlines’ or S.P.O. for short, a nickname by which he became known to nearly all. Languages were Elis’ strong point: French, German, Latin, and even Russian, as a voluntary course in later years under JE Shepherd. Outside the classroom he was awarded his Marksman Badge in the CCF, and Elis’ association with music was marked particularly by him playing a piano version of Carolina Moon at the 1963 House Supper, much to Housemaster Fred Logan’s pleasure and amusement: “… a most spectacular appearance as an entertainer and a very pleasing revelation.”
At Birmingham University he read German and was popular amongst fellow students for his wit and sardonic sense of humour. After a PGCE he taught German, with some French and Latin, in schools in Smethwick and Shrewsbury.
Elis and I met in 1975 on the Post Graduate Course at the College of Librarianship, Wales, drawn together in part by our mutual reaction to some of the more bizarre aspects of the course. We married the following summer and moved to Gateshead, with Elis teaching in South Shields. But his lifelong passion for the cinema was starting to re-emerge and he took up the post of programmer at the Tyneside Film Theatre. From 1979 to 1996, he was programmer at Theatr Clwyd, Mold. These were happy years for Elis. Our daughter, Jessica, was born in 1985; he was a proud and doting father. But Local Government reorganisation saw the end of the job he loved, and life became difficult. Eventually he started working for Valleys Arts Marketing as Cinema Development Officer, based in Rhondda Cynon Taf; he also developed freelance work in film education for schools. He was on the board of Disability Arts Cymru as a Trustee for over twenty years, serving for a time as Treasurer and also Co-Chair.
All these activities became ever more difficult with the onset of Parkinson’s Disease, a cruel and severe blow which slowly but increasingly curtailed his lifestyle. He kept in contact via social media with old friends as best he could, valuing the chances to reminisce and exchange views, and for a long time he managed to maintain his unique perspective on life. He died in hospital on 19th April 2023.
Frances (Frannie) Jones (Widow)
Philip Langford (Cr 47-51) 1935 - 2022
Philip departed this life peacefully, aged 87 years; although his heart failure had slowed him down in the last two years of his life, he was still very much the head of the family, greatly missed and beloved by a large circle of family and friends. One year on, it’s still hard to comprehend his not being here.
He is survived by Heather, his wife of 63 years, daughter Donna, and son Christopher. He was a wonderful grandfather to Joshua, Alexander, Amy,
Sebastian, Elenie and Joseph and an adventurous great-grandfather to 11, affectionately known as Grandude.
Philip was born in Pershore, the fourth of five children and second son of Lionel and Helena Langford. The family moved to Worcester living on Fort Royal Hill. John, the eldest brother, Philip’s senior by 10 years, was a King’s Chorister. Philip was a Day Boy. He enjoyed sports and outdoors activities; his notable longlasting record for long-distance running wasn’t broken at King’s for many years. The black and white photo as he crosses the line shows the other runners far behind him. This achievement afforded him great bragging rights, especially to the amazement of the younger generations.
Philip joined the police cadets after school, then moved on to the military police to do his national service. He was stationed in Germany and this experience was again the source of many a great story, especially the evening they’d ‘borrowed’ a jeep to go into town. This escapade had almost cost him an exemplary service report; we asked had the beers been worth it?
He joined Worcester Police Force on his return, and it was at Mill Meece Training College that he met Heather, a Somerset girl. Philip moved up the ranks, stationed at Hereford, Kidderminster, Hindlip and back to his final position back at Worcester City as Chief Superintendent and Divisional Commander.
Gardening, caravan and walking holidays with friends here and abroad, and spending time on his boat in North Devon, combined with family and friends, were his hobbies and passions.
After retiring with 33 years’ service, he helped his son-in-law start a retail bathroom business: New Wave Bathrooms in Kidderminster, which is run today by his eldest grandson. It is a family business with a reputation for excellent, friendly customer service and product knowledge.
Philip was the life and soul of his friendship groups; laughter was always close by. He was the nominated gifted speaker for all occasions, both happy and sad.
A funeral was held at Saint James the Great Church, Norton, followed by a celebration of his wonderful life in the garden of his much-loved family
home. He was the last to survive of his five siblings, but three generations of nephews and nieces, along with lifelong friends and immediate family came together as we had so often in his garden to celebrate this true family man, who’d lived life to the fullest.
1937 - 2022
Hugh was born in Ilford in 1937 and attended Brentwood School before studying Mathematics and Physics at Cambridge University. He decided to pursue a career in teaching and his first post was as Deputy Head of the Mathematics Department at King’s. While his dedication to the role never wavered, he may have been somewhat distracted by the Headmaster’s secretary, Jean Roy.
In 1964, Hugh and his new bride found themselves in London, where he took the department headship at St Dunstan’s College in Catford. Two years later he moved to be Head of Mathematics at St Paul’s School in London at the tender age of 29.
In 1972, by now with two small children in tow, Hugh took a role as co-ordinator of in-service training for Mathematics at Durham University. Effectively he was now teaching teachers, enacting programmes and methods that would benefit children across the North East of England. In 1977 he was appointed a Lecturer in Mathematics at Durham.
During this period Hugh had also served on a government public enquiry, the Cockcroft Committee, into the teaching of Mathematics in Britain’s schools. This involved many trips to London and so perhaps his next career move was a natural progression, being appointed as Chief Inspector of Mathematics for the Inner London Education Authority.
Hugh’s next move was to head up Nuffield’s project to develop a Maths ‘A’ Level syllabus and this, and his subsequent career of writing maths more than 70 Maths textbooks, was where he was able to put everything he’d learned about teaching together. Well into his 80s, he published two books of codewords (available from all good bookshops!), having designed software himself to facilitate the setting of them.
A former colleague wrote: “So many Maths teachers are unable to grasp that what is obvious to them is impenetrable to others and they simply repeat and confuse still further. Hugh had an ability to find a different way to explain a problem. Lucky were the students whom he taught, the teachers he trained, the readers of his books”
“He made Maths a language of illumination rather than a discipline of rules to be learned,” noted one of his former pupils. “He was good at giving personal guidance in class. Brilliant at showing the way through mathematical difficulty,” said another.
Hugh was an enthusiastic and accomplished bell ringer (522 career peals) and Bridge player, setting up a club which met in is local pub in Aldbury, Hertfordshire, where Hugh and Jean moved in 2012. He and Jean loved to travel, circumnavigating the globe in their 70s with trips to Tanzania, India, China and Alaska as well as many European walking holidays and trips to France.
Hugh died on 20 August 2022 after a short illness, which exacerbated his long running condition of Inclusion Body Myositis, a cruel and debilitating disease that he bore with customary courage and good humour. Hugh is survived by his wife Jean, two children and three grandchildren.
Andy Neill and Rachael MacRae (née Neill)
Tim Phillips (Br 58-65) 1947 - 2022
Tim Phillips, who died aged 74, was described by The Worcester News as “a legend of county sport”. In fact, he was such a “legend” that the Old Elizabethans, of all people, organised a day of activities and entertainment in memory of him.
Tim was secretary of the Worcester and District Football League, and a referee for more than four decades. He also had long-time involvement in local cricket. Local journalist and BBC radio broadcaster Dave Bradley wrote that “Tim Phillips will be known to many involved in sport in Worcester, having done a vast amount of work in local cricket and football, both on and off the field. People seem to think that referees are boring old fools with poor eyesight, but nothing was further from the truth when Tim was around. Some
of our social events were, shall we say, a bit riotous”.
Tim Phillips and I started at King’s, post11+, in the Lower Fourths, on the same day, in mid-September, 1958. I left King’s, after Sixth Form, in 1964, and, two years later, in 1966, was working at the Head Office of Cadbury’s Cakes, alongside one of Tim’s pals, Trevor Price (Cr 5865), who, along with Dan Murphy (W 57-64) (who had also been a member of that Lower Forth cohort) constituted a trio who attended every England match at the 1966 World Cup Finals, having travelled to London in Trevor’s A35 van. Tim was quoted as saying that the day when England won the final was “the greatest day of my life at the time”.
There is, however, a further local Worcester connection: anyone who views newsreel or archives of those matches, or who remembers the general-release film Goal! will recall the sight of a huge St. George’s Cross flag hanging down just over the central arch of the old Wembley Stadium. These three OVs had ‘borrowed’ that flag from Worcester’s Claines church. I was assured, at the time, that it was returned afterwards.
“Local legend” Tim left a wife, Sue, and three children.
David Barlow (Cl 58-64)
Jonathan Raban (S 53-58)
1942 - 2023
Jonathan achieved considerable fame as an author, particularly as a “travel writer”, although this was a term he disliked: he thought it “too limiting’” as his output covered several genres.
Born in Norfolk, the son of an Army Chaplain retiring from War service, his early life was marked by regular moves to new parishes where his father (Rev’d Peter Raban) had taken a living, and a succession of boarding schools, ending up at King’s in 1953, where his father had been a boarding pupil some 30 years earlier. According to Jonathan, the greater influence on his life was his mother (Monica), “who taught me to read, which was my one proficiency.”
He read widely at school, moving on from King’s to study English Literature at Hull, where he came to know Philip Larkin. After graduating he taught English and American Literature for
a time; captivated in particular by American writers, he published a study of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn
He married a fellow student, Bridget Johnson in 1964, but it was to end in divorce. In 1969 he moved to London where he published The Society of the Poem followed by Soft City in 1974, one of the very early literary works to be branded ‘Psychogeography’. His first travel book was Arabia Through the Looking Glass in 1979. Old Glory, published in 1981, was his first book set in the USA, covering a trip down the Mississippi, recalling in part his study of Huckleberry Finn; it was successful internationally and prompted one critic to brand it, “the best book of travel ever written by an Englishman about the United States.”
His first novel was Foreign Land in 1985; Jonathan himself was to ‘ghost’ for real this story in a personal boat trip around the British Isles, recorded in Coasting (pub.1986). His ability to recognise and record the failings and humour in his own endeavours to excel in all things endeared him to many readers. He then published a memoir, For Love and Money (A Writing Life) and emigrated to the USA, marking the end of his second marriage to Caroline Cuthbert. In America he married his third wife Jean Lenihan and continued with his travel writing, producing what is regarded by many as his finest work Passage to Juneau in 1996. Other works were to follow, but in 2011 he suffered a stroke, confining him to a wheelchair, although still able to write as much as his condition would allow. An unfortunate ending for a man who had journeyed so much as, “a means of escaping the solitude of just being at home.” Escaping into travel had been a mainstay in his life: “Wherever I was, I felt like an outsider.”
He died in January 2023 and is survived by Julia, a daughter from his third marriage. Extract from The Guardian Obituaries
Andrew D Reade (W 60-67)
1949 - 2022
Andrew moved to Worcester with his parents and attended Rainbow Hill Junior Mixed, from where he was awarded a Scholarship to King’s School. He was very excited about this.
He loved his time at King’s and his favourite subjects were Geography and Geology (he had a large fossil collection at home), also Ancient History, especially of the Romans and Vikings. He was never sporty but was very enthusiastic about his time in the Combined Cadet Force, which gave him the opportunity to go gliding over the Malvern Hills and to join the Signals Unit, which was his particular favourite. He also joined the Police Cadets, which he really enjoyed. Around 2010 he attended a school reunion dinner and was thrilled to be given the opportunity to explore the buildings again and to tell his wife Alison all about the time he spent in them, also some funny stories, one about a schoolmaster who called everyone by nicknames, some not very flattering and not to be shared!
When Andrew left School, he gained a place at Birmingham College of Commerce to study Business Studies and met his wife there. After his two year course he was offered a job at GKN Sankey in the Brewery Division in Bilston, where he always said that the business training he received there set him up to have his own business, which he really wanted.
In 1973 he and his family moved to Warminster where he started his own business, Keenets, manufacturing keepnets, landing nets and a whole range of angling equipment and accessories. With a large new factory there and more manufacturing in Sheffield, the company grew and became very successful and well-known in the trade. He enjoyed the challenge of designing products, too, although he was never an angler himself! Andrew had an amazing work ethic and was passionate about what he did and his place in the market. Work was so important to him, in the absence of hobbies, and he took great pleasure from it.
Andrew loved travelling the world with Alison and they enjoyed many years of this for business and pleasure. He had planned to retire in March 2024 on his 75th birthday after 50 years in the business but sadly he didn’t quite reach that. He loved spending time with his
wife, two children and four grandchildren and they all miss him terribly.
Alison Reade
Francis (Frank) Steel (Cl 91-94)
1977-2022
The Steel family would like to remember Francis, or Frank, to any Vigornians who knew him and to share our memories of him with those who didn’t. We lost him suddenly on 20th July 2022.
Francis enjoyed his time at King’s School, where he made many friendships that lasted his lifetime. He excelled on the rugby field and was in the School Orchestra, playing the clarinet, and on stage in school plays.
He was always incredibly talented in the arts and went on to study a BTEC in Art and Design at Bournville college when he left King’s.
After this, he went to Leeds University, where he studied Philosophy and Religion. He achieved his degree, and held a number of jobs, including with KPMG, but it was at this time that he began his struggles with mental illness.
In the following years he spent time in and out of hospital due to his condition. Many of his friends, particularly from King’s, stayed in touch with him throughout his journey, and the family appreciates each and every one of you.
Most recently, he had been making a brilliant recovery and was on the verge of breaking into the mainstream with his first novel. He ran his own record label, Cloudragon Records, where much of his music is published. You can also find it online via streaming services including Amazon and Spotify if you search for Tiain Noone
Jenny Steel (Br 96-98)
Roger Thorn (Cr 48-56) 1937 - 2023
Roger Thorn’s family are sad to announce that Roger passed away on 10th February 2023 in Cambridge aged 85.
Roger was Head Boy at King’s and a keen middle distance runner, whose time for
the one mile was a school record, which we believe still holds to this day.
He fondly remembered his teachers at King’s and especially Harry Ferrar, who coached him in preparation for scholarship exams for entrance to Oxford. He was offered an Exhibition to read French and German at Exeter College, where he won an Athletics Blue and was elected President of the Junior Common Room.
Roger would reminisce throughout his life on his time at the School. He was always grateful for the opportunities he was given there and continued to support scholarships for both King’s School and Exeter College.
Before university he had to do his National Service, and always said this was the making of him. He was sent to Germany as an officer in Intelligence for the Royal Signals, which gave him exposure to speaking German and where he also competed in the Army athletics team. Some time after leaving Oxford, he was invited back to the opening of an extension to his college and the Rector asked him what he did while in the Army. Roger replied that he was in the Intelligence and ran a lot, to which the Rector replied, “that was very unpatriotic”!
When choosing a career, Roger joined Dalgety, who sent him to report back on EU developments in Brussels. He later managed agricultural investments in Zimbabwe, corporate finance in Paris, and then set up his own company near Paris.
For 18 years he was Chairman of the Paris Branch of the Royal British Legion, an extremely time-consuming position which would have him criss-crossing France in his spare time, attending memorials and commemorations, visiting military graves, giving speeches, organising battlefield visits and assisting veteran soldiers in France.
After 45 years abroad, he returned to England to be near his children. Despite failing health, he battled on and was involved in many activities such as the local church, the Oxford and Cambridge University Society, organising play readings and talks at the Cambridge colleges. He also joined the twinning committee and started giving French conversation classes for U3A at his home in Cottenham.
Stuart Thorn
Richard (Fred) Underwood (Ch 68-79) 1960 – 2022
Richard Frederick Underwood died in December 2022 after a long fight with cancer, aged 62.
Well, it all started with his name: RFU for short, a play on words from his rugby-loving father, and so the die was cast. He was a man of many names: Richard/Fred/No.1/DTB/favourite eldest brother/Master of the Pups/My Liege. These names would often have origins in the many clubs and societies of which he usually played a large part, especially in their social aspects: badminton in Malvern, tennis at Bromwich Lane, golf at Worcester Golf & Country Club, and following closely in the steps of his late father Peter Underwood (Dayboys 4247), 280 Masonic Lodge and Worcester Clothiers and Hadley Bowling Club. And don’t forget the Old Vigornian Club, where he’d held most of the club’s positions in a tenure that stretched from the 90s until his illness prevented him from participating as fully as he’d have liked. So, when people would (often) say, “I saw your brother the other day...,” the standard reply would be, “Oh, which one?” Invariably, [names from above] was the answer.
He attended the King’s School from St Alban’s as a day boy through to Sixth Form, when he converted to boarding in Choir House. Here he began his lifelong passion for photography, as well as gaining lifelong friends, the trait of which is organic to the School. The travel bug first bit him with six months in Australia and New Zealand, areas of the world that he would come to visit on a number of occasions. I still recoil from his roar when the British & Irish Lions won the 1997 Tour with the Durban game.
College then followed in London at Westminster College before becoming an analyst within the BT Market Research Department. Life was particularly riotous at this point of his life, with the shared house at London gaining a reputation as a “house of good gathering” amongst friends, old and new.
But London could only hold his interest for so long, and in 1988 he returned to Worcester to join the family business as its Company Secretary. From here, he was able to help guide it from its origins as a coal merchants to the selling of the builders merchants to Bradfords in 2000, before staying on with Underwood Steel Stockholders and
developing the property-holding arm of the company.
Throughout all of what could be gently called a busy life, our brother approached it with the good humour that encapsulated all that met him to call him a friend (don’t mention Facebook, though), as evidenced by his care for his younger brothers in the family cine films through to the full pews of the Cathedral at his passing.
Richard leaves his loving wife of 18 years, Sue, three stepchildren, seven grandchildren, three brothers, nine nephews and nieces, and more godchildren than anyone else we know. He was described as loving, loyal and a true gentleman by those who knew him, to which we can only add one word [his favourite]: indeed.
Mark (Cr 76-80), Andrew (S 77-87) and James (S 83-88) Underwood
OV Deaths reported since publication of the 2021-2022 Vigornian
George M B Adams (S 67-74)
Keith Bridges (Hon OV) Staff
Trevor Burgess (Cr 44-48)
Revd. Jonathan Charles (KSW Chaplain 89-95)
Ian Collins (Dayboys 43-48)
Edwin Cowley (Cr 49-55) (William) Mark Croft (Ch 86-88)
Simon Cronin (S 67-77)
John Entwistle (Ch 48-54)
Nick George (W 69-79)
Brian Gerrard (Cl 51-59)
Patrick Gwynn-Jones MBE (Cl 42-45)
Anthony (Tony) Gwynn-Jones (Cl 40-44)
Stephen Isles (S 85-87) (David) Elis Rhys Jones (W 55-65)
Philip Langford (Cr 47-51)
Peter J Lofthouse (Cl 60-62)
Hugh Neill (Hon OV)
Adrian JC Pepper (Cl 60-70)
Tim J H Phillips (Br 58-63)
Paul Platt (Dayboys 52-59)
Jonathan Raban (S 53-58)
Lloyd Rankin (Ca 42-46)
Andrew D Reade (W 60-67)
Ernie Redding (Dayboys 47-51)
John Robins (S 48-53)
Andrew Smart (69-70)
Francis Steel (Cl 91-94)
Roger Thorn (Cr 48-56)
Richard (Fred) Underwood (Ch 68-79)
The School remains very grateful for the support provided by OVs, parents and other members of the local community in terms of volunteering, advice, time and financial contributions. The principal fundraising activity for the King’s School Development Trust has long been and continues to be for pupil bursaries. In our diverse, dynamic, and developing world, being able to open the door to King’s and offer a life-changing education to young people has never been more important.
Our ‘Open the Door’ Bursary Campaign has raised over £2.7m since its launch in May 2018 and in 2022/23 the Trust supported thirteen full bursaries. The role of the Trust in supporting the King’s Bursary Programme cannot be underestimated. We are incredibly appreciative of the OVs, Hon OVs, and Friends of the School who regularly give to this Programme. Without their wonderful generosity we would not be able to continue providing bursarial opportunities for pupils to attend our School.
Individually funded bursaries and significant donations to the Trust
We are delighted that, from September 2022, there were six pupils at King’s being personally funded by three individuals:
John Weston (S 62-69) - The Weston Bursary will fund one bursary place at School for the foreseeable long-term future
John Foley (Cl 64-74) - The Foley Family Bursary will fund a full bursary at King’s every year for the foreseeable future
Mark Haworth (Cl 81-88) whose wonderful generosity is currently providing funding for a number of pupils at the school.
In 2022, we were delighted to receive a major donation from the Kildare Trust towards supporting an enduring bursary programme for new pupils joining the School. £1 million was donated to provide two fully-funded places indefinitely for children attending local primary schools whose families would otherwise have been unable to fund an independent school place.
To ensure the Kildare Trust bursaries were awarded according to the Trust’s aspirations, a substantial outreach programme was implemented to find children and their families or guardians who might not have been aware of such potential support. All primary schools within a certain geography were contacted with information about the bursaries. In addition, local sporting and community organisations were also contacted.
Following the positive response we had from the local community we were delighted to offer places to two young people from Worcestershire. Both young people are academically very competent children who will be able to develop their passions for drawing, dancing and music through the School’s extensive co-curricular programme and will undoubtedly embody the School’s vision to be curious, to be caring and to be confident.
King’s bursaries really do change lives, with one of our former bursary pupils, who graduated in the summer of
2020 from Oxford University, telling us, “King’s gave me a certain bravery to reach higher and enjoy my own individuality. It taught me to take risks and to think outside of the box. The Bursary Programme represents a rare initiative in which the generosity of others is translated into a permanent and exceptional gift to a young person. I want to express my thanks and best wishes to every person who has, and will, contribute.”
Similarly, a parent of one of our recent bursary pupils told us, “I don’t have the words to express my appreciation for the fantastic experiences that my daughter is enjoying at King’s. It is a great relief to me that she has found a place where she is comfortable to explore her abilities and be herself. The School is giving her the opportunity to be all she can be…. My daughter has been blown away by the atmosphere at King’s. Of course, in addition to our thanks to the staff for their hard work and kindness, thanks too, to the King’s Bursary Programme for all they have given this year.”
Anyone who might be considering making a donation can contact the Development & Alumni Relations Office on 01905 721719, or by email on alumni@ksw.org.uk and further information about King’s School Bursaries can be found on our website: ksw.org.uk/alumni/supportkings/donate/. We are always very grateful for donations to the Trust at whatever level.
We continue to be incredibly fortunate to have individuals as Trustees who represent the wide breadth of the King’s School family and are very grateful to these Trustees for their careful stewardship of donated monies.
The Trust makes a vital contribution to each of the School’s four strategic pillars of Foundation, Sustainability, Futures and Community & Outreach, particularly the last, with its focus on equity, inclusion, and diversity. We would like to thank all the Trustees, who offer their most valuable time and expertise at our termly Trust meetings. In particular Nick Clark (H 88-90), as Trust Chairman, Hannah Edwards as
2022-23 Committee and Officers
President: Julia Annable
Vice President: Vacant
Chairperson: Julia Annable
Hon Secretary: Nick Stephens
Hon Treasurer: John Potter
The 2022-23 school year started well with an OV Committee meeting on the morning of the 8th of September. Plans were all set for the OV Reunion Dinner due to take place in just over a week’s time. Those of you who remember the date will also remember that this was the same day that Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, died. The Headmaster took the very sensible decision that all school social activities should cease, and this meant an immediate postponement of the Reunion Weekend to a later date.
It was a great pleasure and privilege to attend the Remembrance Day Service once again in the Cathedral. This was the return to pre-COVID services and was appreciated by all the OVs who were able to be there. OV Squadron Leader Rhianon Webb (née Lloyd, Br 92-99) gave an excellent talk to all those present and our OV Club President, Julia Annable (née Simcock, Co 85-87) laid a wreath on behalf of OVs.
The School’s Carol Concert, once more in the Cathedral, was a pleasure to attend, and an opportunity to
Chair of the Investment Committee and Lewis Bryer (Cl 78-87) who chairs the Nominations Committee. Despite these most challenging times in our national and international economy, our investments continue to be very carefully managed and the bursaries funded thereby remain a fundamental focus for the Trust, providing life-changing opportunities for the young people who benefit in such an extraordinary way from the generosity of others.
More information on our Trustees can be found on the King’s School website at: ksw.org.uk/alumni/about/the-trust
Our Trustees over the year of 22-23 have been:
Nick Clark - Chairman of the Development Trust, OV, OV Committee Member and former parent
John Attwater - Friend of the School
Bill Ballard - Governor and member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, former parent
Katie Beever - Staff member and former parent
Lewis Bryer - OV and current parent
Hugh Carslake - Former Chairman of Governors and former parent
Tom Dupernex - OV
Hannah Edwards - Current parent
John Foley - OV and former parent
Laurie Green - OV, Governor and former parent
Donald Howell - Former Chairman of Governors and OV
Resigned:
Linton Connell - OV and former parent
Leanne Sheen - OV
The Trust is supported by Executive Officers: Gareth Doodes - Headmaster
Georgina Mason - Director of Finance and Business Development
Hannah Sparrey - Head of Alumni and Business Development
Committee Members
Members Emeritus: Alec Mackie
Elected Members:
Julia Annable
Nick Clark
Simon Cronin
Rebecca Day
mix once more with fellow OVs, past members of staff, and civil dignitaries. It is always a wonderful occasion, giving the chance to belt out some proper Christmas Carols, and also reflect on the glorious singing of the School’s various choirs and instrumentalists.
The re-arranged OV Reunion Weekend took place in early March 2023. A smaller number than usual attended the Bubbly Brunch, but a much larger attendance at the OV AGM was recorded. This was excellent and our Chair/President Julia Annable (née Simcock, Co 85-87) led us movingly in the silent remembrance of those OVs who had died since the previous meeting. The Dinner in the evening was excellent and seemed to have been enjoyed by all present.
King’s Day this year was exceptional. The whole day was extremely well planned and thought out. The weather held up, and many pupils, parents and OVs enjoyed lunch by the School Gardens, and then an afternoon of sporting endeavours on the water and the cricket pitch. I especially enjoyed the Upper Sixth Art Exhibition of the incredible work they had done towards their A-level portfolios.
David Head
Will Kerton
David Ogle
Mike Page
Claire Turner
Headmaster: Gareth Doodes
King’s School Alumni Representative: Hannah Sparrey
It must also be recorded that the Committee lost four members this year. OVs Alec Mackie (Cl 47-56) and Mike Page (Cr 60-65), who have both given many years of service to the Committee, took the decision to stand down just before the end of term in Summer 2023. OV Will Kerton (Os 82-92) also stood down at the end of term this summer. All three brought valuable wisdom and insights to the committee and will be sorely missed. This year, we also lost Richard “Fred” Underwood (Ch 68-79), who had been a stalwart for so many years. He brought so much enthusiasm and activity to the roles he took on, especially that of Chair for the last five or so years of his membership. Fred had stood down from the Committee as his illness advanced, but it was a privilege to be part of the congregation in the Cathedral for his memorial service. Fred exemplified what it meant to be an OV and an active participant in the School and OV Community. He is already very sorely missed.
Nick Stephens (Br 77-84) OV Club Hon Secretary
Mr G E Doodes Headmaster
Dr A R Oliver Senior Deputy Head
Mrs K H Beever Deputy Head Academic
Miss H Dyke Deputy Head Pastoral
Mr J R Ricketts Foundation Director Safeguarding and Compliance
Mr R Davis English Head of UCAS Applications
Mr T Sharp History
Dr M Poole Chemistry Head of Wulstan House
Rev M Dorsett Religion and Philosophy Chaplain
Mrs N Essenhigh Biology
Mr A Gillgrass Politics/PE and Games
Mr S Cuthbertson Geography
Mr C Haywood Head of Art
Mrs M Longley PE and Games
Mr C Wilson Head of Design and Technology
Mr R Ball Head of Modern Foreign Languages
Mr J Mason Foundation Director of Sport
Miss J Hewitt Art
Mrs A Fellows English Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mrs G Hardy Art
Dr R McLaverty-Head Religion and Philosophy Head of Oxbridge & Academic Enrichment
Mrs E Woodward Geography
Mrs B Darby Maths
Mrs N Sears History Head of Chappel House
Mr O Heydon Head of Mathematics
Mr W Joyce Geography Head of Creighton House
Mr J Sarriegui MFL
Mr S Taranczuk Director of Music
Mr C Atkinson PE and Games Dr C Brown Biology Head of Staffing Systems
Dr R James Chemistry Head of Choir House
Mrs D Clarke Maths
Mr E Lummas Design and Technology Mr E Houghton MFL
Dr M Parkin Biology
Mrs R Rutter MFL
Mrs R Worth Biology Assistant Head of Lower Years
Mr G Gunter Music
Mrs D Salkeld Maths
Mrs S Bradley Head of Classics
Mrs E Friend Head of Economics and Business
Mr J Chalmers Head of Rowing
Mrs C Neville Geography Assistant Head of Sixth Form Head of Kittermaster House
Mr A Deichen Design and Technology Head of Castle House
Mrs L Walmsley English
Mrs J Lucas Head of Learning Skills
Mr G Williams Economics & Business
Mrs R Shearburn Head of Spanish
Mr J Gardiner Maths
Mr J Hand Maths Head of Sixth Form
Mrs L Miller-Symonds Director of Sport
Mrs E Shepherd Classics
Mr A Swarbrick Maths
Mrs R Roberts Chemistry
Ms L Ruiz Pelaez MFL
Miss R Ellender Art and Design and Technology Head of Bright House Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mr A Knights Physics
Mrs D Drew MFL
Mr S Greenall PE and Games
Mr L Ison Head of Chemistry
Miss E Trow-Poole Classics
Mr G Ward Maths
Mr A Falzon MFL
Ms E Preece PE and Games
Mrs C Rees Head of PSHE and RSE Head of Oswald House
Miss K Arnold Chemistry Head of Lower Years
Dr I Davies Chemistry Head of Middle Years
Mr T Pearson Physics Head of School House
Dr C Petchsingh Physics
Ms J Ellis Art
Mrs H Lacey Biology
Miss G Ormandy Geography
Mr A Batchelor Economics & Business
Mrs A Fitzpatrick Maths
Mrs S Lucas English
Mr W McGarvey History and Politics
Miss A Williams Drama
Mrs K Collins PE and Games
Miss L Herdman PE and Games
Mrs R Kent Psychology
Mrs K Knott PE and Games
Mrs S Parry Head of Drama Mr E Low Head of English
Miss K Lane Drama and Theatre Mr O Shone Learning Skills
Mrs C Yates Head of French
Mr D Branchett Head of Computing
Mrs E Ferguson Head of History and Politics
Assistant Head of Middle Years
Mr E Lewis Maths
Mrs E McGinley PE and Games
Mr M Warren English
Mrs A Gamble Physics
Mrs L Beard Biology
Mr N Blakemore Computing
Mr R Ward History
Mr B Williams PE and Games
Mr R Booth Design and Technology
Miss B Allison Physics
Mrs P McConalogue Biology
Mrs C Gent Economics & Business
Mrs K Lewis Classics
Mrs V Lloyd-Smith English
Mrs C Payne Psychology
Ms S Rhodes English
Miss G Mason Director of Finance and Business Development
Mr A Winter Director of Operations
Mr A Maund Director of Foundation Communications
Mr P Tyrrell Head Groundsman
Mrs C Furber School Nurse
Ms N McNamee Cleaning Manager
Mr F McFee Caretaker
Ms T Hundley Cleaning
Mr T Price Estates
Mr G Collins Groundsperson
Mr D Grinnell Transport
Mrs A Sansome Cover Supervisor
Mr N Clines Estates
Mrs D Paddock Music Secretary
Mrs P Bladen Senior Secretary
Mrs M Richardson School Secretary
Mrs V Peckston Registrar
Ms H Hateley SIMS Manager
Mrs C Nesbitt School Secretary
Ms M Glarvey Exams Officer
Mrs J Timlin Art Technician
Ms J Harrell DT Technician
Mr R Barker Estates Manager
Ms A Jeffery Library
Mr D Cox IT Department
Mr W Calvert Groundsperson
Mrs A Grove Finance
Mrs K Turner HR Manager
Mr T Woodward Health & Safety Advisor
Mr S D'Ambrosi Estates
Mrs M Capell Library
Mrs M Quigley School Secretary
Mrs C Perera DMR Officer
Mr L Saunders Physics Technician
Mrs K Thurgood Assistant Examinations Officer
Mrs T Pardoe
Lunchtime Supervisor
Mrs S Guest School Secretary
Mrs I Carson Kitchen
Mrs G Bruce HR Assistant
Miss A Cross Finance
Mr P Haynes Theatre Technician
Mr W Bird Rowing - Boatman
Miss E Rossiter School Nurse
Mr H Cronin Strength and Conditioning Coach
Mrs J Palmer DT Technician
Mrs S Velasquez
Marketing Executive
Mrs E Ward Director of Marketing
Mrs R Wilkes
Spanish Language Assistant
Mr S Tongue ICT Manager
Dr K Watkinson Biology Technician
Mrs A Ellis Finance
Mr P Harding CCF
Mr S Bain Biology Technician
Mrs B Gamble Chemistry Technician
Mrs C Tedino HR Coordinator
Mrs M Hacklett Finance
Mrs K Mason Counsellor/Clinical Psychologist
Mr T Harper Estates
Miss E Southall
Digital Marketing Manager
Mrs E Sydenham Compliance Manager and Clerk to Governors
Mr M Siglioccolo Counsellor
Mrs A Sutcliffe Alumni Relations Coordinator
Mr S Kilminster Estates
Mrs J Doodes Marketing & Partnership Manager
Mrs C Owen School Secretary
Mrs G Brooks Minibus Driver
Mrs J Sinclair-Knipe Cover Supervisor
Mrs A Odam School Nurse
Mr Q Javed Senior ICT Support Technician
Mrs E Bennett Learning Skills Administrator
Mr J Robins Rowing Coach
Mrs K Marsh Receptionist
Mrs N Rae-Dean Counsellor
Mrs M McCumisky Careers Advisor
Mrs S Eiser Foundation Admissions Events Co-ordinator
Mr A Walker Minibus Driver
Mrs H Sparrey Head of Alumni & Business Development
Mrs L Lewis Payroll Assistant
Mr M Underhill Minibus Driver
Mrs J Walters School Nurse
Ms J Timberlake Minibus Driver
Mr K Colsey IT Apprentice
Mr I Hussain IT Apprentice
Mr T Bush Estates Assistant (Builder)
Mrs J Evans Receptionist
Mr I Booth Minibus Driver
Mr S MacFarlane Theatre and Events Technician
Mr B Humphries Estates General Assistant
Mrs M Nicholls Lead Payroll Administrator
Mr I Hobbs Temporary Grounds Person
Mrs F Cook Executive Assistant to the Headmaster
Miss E Hill Rowing Volunteer
Mr Jacob Abel Music GAP
Miss Sophie Atkins General GAP Student Monitors
Miss Autumn Beddoe Graduate Drama Assistant
Miss Milly Carter Sports GAP
Miss Sophie Carter General GAP Student & Foundation GAP
Mr Gus Cox Music GAP
Mr Matthew Daniels Rowing GAP
Mr Alexander Davison Music GAP
Miss Emily Diaz Sports/DMR GAP
Mr Samuel Green Graduate Sports Assistant
Mr Jack Lyman Sports GAP
Mr Charles Pillman Sports & Marketing GAP
Mr Arthur Tunnicliffe Sports GAP Hawford
Lucy Allsop
Ben Beedie
Hannah Blackwell
Louie Bradley
George Capell
Laurie Checkley
Millie English
Henry Halford
Mary Head
Amy Hughes
Grace Miller
Purdy Newson-Tonks
Katie Perry
Sophie Pitts
Shri Raajkumar
Liam Radford
Amy Ranasinghe
Bobby Riddell
Lucy Short
Rafay Siddiqui
Rosie Stanley
Abby Trow
David Wills
Becky Ye
Harvey Conyers (Br)
Alicia Watts (Br)
Megan Kilby (Ca)
Barnaby Tripp (Ca)
George Hira (Cl)
Ben Withnall (Cl)
Tamara Marsden (Ch)
Joe Ward (Ch)
Hennie Allan (Cr)
Alex Moule (Cr)
Harriet Jones (K)
Will Threadgold (K)
Christina De Sousa (Os)
Adam Smith (Os)
Thora Dykes (S)
Coco Hamilton-Holbrook (S)
Maddie Cartelet (W)
Flora Parry (W)
Mr Tom Butt
Mrs Caroline Knight
Lorne Stigant
Miss Laura Crowe
Miss Gemma Woolley
Mrs Joanna Atkins
Mrs Vicki English
Mrs Paula Gregory
Mr Sam Hodgkins
Gemma Holtham
Mrs Grace Horrocks
Mrs Sophie Hughes
Mrs Lisa Hyde
Vicky Lake
Sophie-Jo Lusted
Mrs Tara McCullough
Sarah Layton
Mrs Tanya O’Neill Mrs Judy Hooper
Mrs Celia Rawnsley Mrs Kelly Jackman
Mrs Janet Redman Mrs Joanne Obrey
Pheobe Olander
Miss Emma Lane Mrs Sam Powell
Mrs Anna Leatherdale
Mr Russ Marsland
Mrs Joanne Rand
Andy Callow
Mrs Jo Simons
Miss Verity Tipper
Mrs Sue Watts
Mrs Anna West
Riya
