The King’s Foundation is a dynamic, thriving community of independent day schools for boys and girls aged two to eighteen. It is comprised of King’s Worcester, which encompasses our Senior School and Sixth Form, and two Prep Schools, King’s St Alban’s and King’s Hawford, both of which offer a pre-school provision for children from the age of 2.
If you’d like to visit one of our schools in person, we’d be delighted to welcome you. For details of forthcoming open events and private tours during the school day, please visit us online at:
I am delighted to welcome you to the second edition of Floreat, our Foundation magazine which aims to bring together snapshots of the life of our community across the three schools and beyond, offering a taste of the everyday life and significant successes of this very special place.
I hope that you will agree it’s clear from the following pages that the Foundation truly is flourishing in all aspects of its collective life. Never were the words “Floreat Schola Vigornensis ”, ‘May King’s School Worcester Flourish’, truer than they are today: in our academic life, our co-curriculum, our sport and our student leadership; from the youngest in our Prep Schools to our Old Vigornians, forging careers which serve our nation and indeed the international community.
This edition of the magazine looks back at the academic year 2022, but also includes a fascinating insight into the longer history of one of the most iconic buildings that has shaped the lives of generations of Vigornians, College Hall. You will also read of recordbreaking academic success, all the more remarkable in the face of the disruption that our pupils have overcome with such resilience throughout the two years of the pandemic. We throw the spotlight on one of the many successful Senior School academic departments, Art, with its innovation and the breath-taking talent and achievements of its pupils. At the other end of the Foundation, we celebrate the news that our Nurseries have once again been placed in the Top Twenty in the UK and our Prep Schools have met with national success in sport. You can also meet the new Head at King’s Hawford, Tom Butt, who, with his family, will be joining our community in November from Bredon School, where he is currently Deputy Head.
The stories that follow celebrate individual success too, from representing Great Britain on the international stage through our student leaders in the Senior School to our rising stars in the Prep Schools. Our pupils’ care for the environment is recognised in our Green School Awards and their concern for others can be seen in the success of our single for Ukraine and the charity work which is carried out throughout the year with such enthusiasm.
This issue focusses on the sporting and cultural life of the Foundation, including accounts of drama and music performances and sports fixtures and competitions, as well as other co-curricular aspects of life, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and the Model United Nations. We also have an eye to the future, with an insight into a few of the fascinating careers that our Alumni are pursuing.
As we go to press, we have been delighted to learn that the Foundation has been included among the finalists in the Independent School of the Year Awards for Co-Educational School of the Year and Prep School of the Year; this is due recognition of everything that we have to offer.
This issue also outlines the values and vision of the Foundation which are encapsulated in our Strategic Development Plan and summed up in the three imperatives which inspire us: Be Curious, Be Caring, Be Confident. That is the ethos that lies at the heart of everything we do, and which opens so many doors of opportunity and success for all Vigornians. I hope you will enjoy relishing the flavour of some of that here.
Gareth Doodes, Headmaster, The King’s Worcester Foundation
The Foundation Strategic Plan 2022
The King’s Worcester Foundation has published its Foundation Strategic Plan, which defines the values and vision which will move the Foundation forward over the next twenty years as we look towards our 500th anniversary in 2041.
Our Foundation Strategic Plan, Shaped by King’s recognises our deeprooted history. It confidently celebrates who we are and what makes us a successful institution but leaves no room for complacency. The vision will be realized in four distinct areas: Foundation, Sustainability, Futures and Community and Outreach.
Gareth Doodes, Head of King’s Senior School and CEO of the Foundation explains, “This once in a generation opportunity to define the strategic vision of the King’s Foundation fills me with tremendous excitement. For nearly 500 years, our School has been evolving, and our
commitment to excellence and our focus on leadership have provided the values and skills for our pupils to realize their full potential in the communities and careers in which they will live and work respectively.
“Our Foundation is built upon the promotion of academic excellence, combined with the inculcation of ambition, resilience, humility, creativity, and kindness. These five value pillars are the foundation of our school’s vision for its pupils: to be curious, to be caring, to be confident.”
Shaped By King’s evolved from the broadest consultation possible. Pupils, governors, staff, parents, and alumni were all involved, offering the views, opinions, thoughts, and
suggestions. It has been grown from the community that will now nurture and propagate it.
Pat Preston, Chair of Governors for the Foundation, adds,
“This strategic plan represents the latest important chapter in the King’s story. Conceived, as it has been, through extensive consultation with multiple stakeholders, you can be assured that the vision and values described within it are shared by the entire King’s community. The strategy will rightly evolve as new challenges arise but its guiding principles, espoused by all, will remain constant.”
In the busy day-to-day life of any school it can be difficult to
see beyond the minutiae, but raising our view above the everyday to focus on the horizon provides the wider vision which is essential for any organisation, particularly a Foundation of Independent Schools, if it is to develop, to be fit for purpose as the twentyfirst century progresses.
The Foundation’s vision to be curious, caring and confident fulfils our mission to seek excellence in all we do and provide an outstanding preparation for life. At the heart of everything we do are our five core values of Ambition, Resilience, Humility, Creativity and Kindness.
Celebrations were in full swing last term as all three of the King’s schools were shortlisted for a total of five of this year’s Independent School of the Year (ISOTY) Awards, with King’s Worcester and King’s Hawford being announced as finalists in early September ‘22. This is the highest number of award nominations in our Schools’ history.
The Senior School was shortlisted in a number of categories, including Co-Educational School of the Year as well as the Sporting Achievement and the Rising Star of the Year categories. As well as King’s Worcester being recognised, our Prep Schools, King’s St Alban’s and King’s Hawford were both shortlisted for Prep School of the Year.
The Foundation’s vision to be curious, caring and confident fulfils our mission to seek excellence in all we do and provide an outstanding preparation for life.
Scan for the Strategic Plan
The Independent School of the Year awards are designed to showcase independent school success stories and celebrate the extraordinary student experience provided during the 2021 and 2022 academic years. This year there are 22 award categories, which receive over 1000 entries from UK Independent Schools.
The finalist and shortlisting news are another fantastic achievement for King’s, alongside their recent recognition in The Sunday Times Top 10 West Midlands Independent Secondary School League and the recent Top 20 UK Nursery Group Award received by the King’s nurseries for the second year running.
Gareth Doodes, Headmaster at King’s Worcester and CEO of the Foundation, said, “We are delighted to have been chosen as finalists in these two competitive categories. It is a great acknowledgement that our Schools, staff and pupils have been recognised for our coeducational and prep provision and our talented young pupils.”
Where would you find an academic lecture taking place in the same space as a black-tie dinner, a lively drama performance and a school assembly? The answer is somewhere central to the life of the King’s Foundation: College Hall. Whether the walls resound to the foot-tapping beat of the Parents’ Association Ball, the exquisite performances of pupil musicians or the deafening silence of an A level examination, it is a place redolent with history but also at the very heart of school life today.
on College Green on the Senior School campus, College Hall was largely built during 1076-1099 on the instructions of Wulstan, Bishop of Worcester (d.1095) as the monks’ refectory, or dining room, and is the largest remaining monastic refectory in England after Westminster Hall.
Perhaps its most striking feature is the “Majestas” (“Christ in Majesty”) at the east end, built in 1140. Christ, seated on his throne with one hand raised in blessing and the other holding a book, is surrounded by the Gospel writers Matthew (depicted as a Winged Man), Mark (Winged Lion), Luke (Winged Calf) and John (Winged Eagle). The “Majestas” was defaced during the reign of King Edward VI (1547-1553); shortly afterwards the wall was rendered and the “Majestas” was plastered over. Its re-discovery was made in August 1872 when the stage was replaced: workmen removed the plaster using chisels, resulting the in the feathered appearance of the sculpture today.
College Hall became the home of The King’s School from 1561; for over 300 years it was King’s only schoolroom. This proved challenging on occasions, as described by Albert Webb (KSW 1862-1867):
As all the classes were held in this one room & there were never less than four & generally five strong at the same time, the noise frequently became excessive, & to restore peace, the Head[master] was furnished with a wooden mallet with which he struck the table rigorously. This was effective for the moment but the hubbub soon arose again.
The complete lack of artificial light in College Hall meant that the building couldn’t be used at all after dark. This was rectified by the installation of gas in the autumn of 1879. The clumsy iron chandeliers then put in, with their myriad jets of naked flame, remained the only form of lighting in College Hall until the installation of electricity in 1922.
The New Scheme of 1884, which completely reconstructed and practically re-founded The King’s School, secured the establishment of the School as a separate body from the Cathedral. The greatest immediate consequence of the new powers and increased financial resources was the long-needed restoration of College Hall, which began in the autumn of 1885. It was two years before the work of restoration
was complete and College Hall once more in use; the formal reopening took place on 3 October 1887.
The war memorial to the OV fallen of the First World War, erected in College Hall in 1921, was the work of Mr Hope Bagenal, FRIBA, who at the same time supervised the stripping of the dark stain off the oak panelling. Mr Bagenal went on to design the matching memorial for the fallen OVs of the Second World War (on which his own youngest son features), unveiled in 1948.
During the 1960s King’s saw a significant increase in the number of boys learning the organ; Harry Bramma (KSW Music Master 1963-1976) and David Annett (HM 1959-1979), himself an amateur organist, began campaigning and fundraising for an organ to be
installed in the gallery. The two-manual instrument, with pipework salvaged from Shrub Hill’s defunct Holy Trinity Church, and its magnificent oak case, which originally stood in a convent chapel in London, was installed by Nicholson & Co. and completed in June 1969; the inaugural recitation of King’s new organ was given on 26 September 1969 by Dr. Francis Jackson, Organist of York Minster.
We are delighted that Thomas Franks, our new catering partner, joined The King’s Foundation at the start of the Summer Term.
Thomas Franks are now an integral part of King’s catering provision across the Foundation, covering our everyday dining needs, but also extending to hospitality, providing excellent and innovative food for our pupils and visitors, both in School and on our sports pitches. They are very well versed in catering for independent education, working with numerous schools including King’s Gloucester and Solihull School. They are family-owned and run, with over 30 years’ experience in creating delicious and seasonal food which is cooked from scratch using fresh, high-quality, locally
sourced ingredients.
They are also ambitious to source ingredients from parents and guardians of King’s pupils who are in the food industry. They aim to deliver a catering service that goes beyond expectations, providing locally-sourced, fresh and nutritious food for all three schools in the Foundation.
Headmaster Mr Gareth Doodes, adds, “Thomas Franks shone through as the best company we met. They understood King’s, and they understood the standards we expect for our pupils and staff. This is a really exciting time for our community and we look forward to
working with Frank Bothwell and his brilliant team.”
We are also excited that we’ll be introducing a Tuk-Tuk catering facility for match teas and parent hospitality on the sports pitches, in addition to introducing a wide range of events on our school campuses as we move away from the restrictions we’ve all been under.
Owner of Thomas Franks, Frank Bothwell commented, “I am delighted and excited to be a part of King’s Worcester’s future planning. The new food philosophy developed will be an exciting pupil-centred journey and one to keep an eye on!”
This summer our pupils were celebrating some outstanding GCSE and A level results, following a very challenging and disrupted two year period in education.
a record 53 Sixth Form students each achieved three or more grades at A or A* at A level, 16 of whom achieved straight A*s. In all, 26% of A level grades were A*, 54% of results achieved were A*- A and 94% were graded A*-C.
In Year 11, 1,430 GCSE exams were taken in total, with 72.6% of these being graded at 9-7. Almost 30% of all grades were the top grade 9 and over 99% were grades 9-4. An impressive 56 pupils (40% of the year group) achieved at least 10 grades at 9-7 or better, with 12 pupils achieving grade 9s in all their subjects.
These are a record-breaking set of results for pupils at King’s, which is even more remarkable considering how difficult the last two years have been for everyone.
Headmaster, Gareth Doodes praised the cohort on their achievements, “The fortitude and resilience of our students, who before this summer had never sat public exams, have been outstanding. These stellar results are a testament to the hard work and commitment of these year groups. Our hybrid offering throughout the pandemic enabled pupils and teachers to work from home whilst isolating, ensuring continuity of learning. I will be forever grateful for the work of our teachers who, despite the challenges of COVID, have continued to deliver an exceptional standard of education.”
In addition to A levels, the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) results were outstanding, with 63% awarded A* grades, and 87% A* – A, achieved by 38 students on a diverse range of questions. Equivalent to half an A level, the EPQ allows students to undertake indepth research in an area of personal interest, enabling them to stand out in their university applications and develop extra skills.
To read more about this years exam results visit ksw.org.uk/examresults
I’m over the moon and really pleased with my results. It was so nerve-wracking after everything we’ve been through. My time at King’s has been life-changing and full of opportunities. I’m so fortunate to have been able to come here. Jack B (Keeper of Boats)
As.
L, Head Girl Chorister and CCF SNCO describes the leadership opportunities she has enjoyed at King’s.
“There is a well-known African proverb, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. Never has a statement been more apt than this for my education at King’s. My teachers, the many staff who have enriched my experience, my family, other pupils and the Cathedral music staff have all played their part in raising me to where I am today.
“I am a Forces child, moving schools every two years before starting at King’s. So, from the start, I followed the example older pupils set, throwing myself into every opportunity. I’m friendly, extrovert and inclusive towards younger pupils, particularly within the leadership team of Chappel House, and as a Cadet Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO), I have enjoyed overseeing CCF recruits, motivating them to get involved, listen, learn and have fun. When I leave King’s, I hope to leave a legacy of strong support for the RAF section and the Contingent. We have competed in National competitions; we have flown, been gliding and enjoyed many trips away.
“Being chosen as Head Girl Chorister and gaining my ARSM Singing Diploma are my proudest achievements. I hope that I have passed on my love of choral music to the younger choristers as they develop confidence and teamwork and I know they will continue to have fun supporting the Three Choirs Festival and services in Worcester Cathedral.
“I have great admiration for my peers who make beautiful music and have tolerated my contributions on the French Horn with patience as I occasionally play the correct notes in the right order. The Cleobury Concerts are simply stunning to attend and our School Music Tour to Malta was a triumph, with us performing on National TV, but the sublime sound of our Chamber Choir recording of Schedrik in support of the Ukrainian Refugee crisis gained thousands of views online and it was an honour to lead this important piece.”
InMarch this year King’s was named in The Sunday Times Parent Power 2022 Schools Guide as one of the Top 10 independent secondary schools in the West Midlands.
King’s is the only Worcester school to be named in the Top 10 and is ranked an inspiring 153rd in the national table out of 900 independent secondary schools. The Parent Power 2022 report is the 29th edition of The Sunday Times guide to Britain’s highestachieving primary and secondary schools in both the state and independent sectors.
The school rankings are based on a three-year average of academic outcomes from 2017 to 2019, which have then been used to produce a series of tables to reflect pre-pandemic performance in what would be classed as “normal” times. Following the disruption to education since March 2020, this guide is a highly valuable and powerful tool for parents who want to choose the very best schools for their children.
Headmaster, Gareth Doodes comments, “We are delighted to have been recognised in the Sunday Times Top 10 independent secondary schools in the West Midlands. It’s a great honour for King’s to be ranked as the leading school in Worcester and Worcestershire. This is a true testament to the sheer hard work and dedication of our pupils and staff.
The pupils have done incredibly well academically, but they have achieved so much in addition to this. They have embraced all the opportunities we have provided, and we are particularly proud of our music, drama, and sports successes. Under the shadow of our Cathedral, in buildings spanning nearly 1000 years of history, pupils at King’s are shaped by our beautiful surroundings, our comprehensive co-curricular provision and inspirational teachers. I could not be prouder of our school.
The dreadful war in Ukraine has affected us all, filling pupils and staff with the desire to do something to help in any way we can. Five Ukrainian pupils are now fully part of our Foundation community and there have been numerous fundraising events. But one of the most moving has been the release of a Ukraine Charity single, available to download from all major streaming platforms including iTunes, Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify.
Themessage that we send to those in Ukraine is so important. In this year’s Senior School Ash Wednesday Service, held in Worcester Cathedral, we listened for the first time to Shchedryk, sung by our Chamber Choir. It was written in 1916 by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych. The title menas “bountiful evening” in Ukrainian, but the piece is more commonly known as “Little Swallow” in English.
After the service, the song was shared with every secondary school in Kiev, as a message of hope, love and goodwill from our
community to people who are like us all, consumed with dreams and hopes. A gesture of goodwill, like a candle, lit in a darkened Cathedral. That light will consume the darkness, that hope is something onto which we must hold tight in this situation in particular.
The single was then released for download to raise funds as quickly as possible for those in need in Ukraine. It is the first of its kind to be released from King’s, with all proceeds from the release going directly to the DEC Ukraine fundraising efforts to help those in need in Ukraine.
Director of Music, Simon Taranczuk explains, “Amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the message that we send to those in a time of desperation is so important. By releasing this single pupils wanted to do something that sends a message of hope, love and goodwill from our community to all those in Ukraine.”
The single’s soloist and King’s Sixth Form student Sophie L adds, “It was a real honour to be part of this and to be able to reach out to so many people across the world and give them a little bit of hope to just keep going.”
Model United Nations weekend conferences are wonderful opportunities to debate, negotiate and network; for the pupils involved it is also very gratifying to receive recognition for their efforts. Individual pupils are awarded prizes ranked from Commended and Highly Commended to Best Delegate in the committee. There is also a separate ranking overall for which the King’s School delegation were Highly Commended in this year’s Bath International Schools’ Model United Nations.
The different committees met concurrently and debated over two days, gathering on Sunday afternoon to vote on a resolution around an imaginary global crisis. King’s pupils played a major part throughout. In particular, Liam R is to be congratulated for achieving Best Delegate in the Economic Committee.
The Political Committee met for discussion of the situation in Afghanistan, the instability in the Sahel and the regulation of Space. Benedict B was Highly Commended for his contribution.
Well done to Izzy P for making an amendment and for achieving a Commended in the Health Committee, who discussed mental health, vaccine nationalism and combating cancer.
Izzy adds, “I really enjoyed going to BISMUN this year. Going to MUN conferences has significantly improved my public speaking and confidence to talk to new people.”
We also congratulate James C for his Highly Commended in the Environment Committee, where global food waste, land degradation and water scarcity were discussed.
George C spoke on his feet in the General Assembly as The Chinese Ambassador and achieved a Highly Commended. Jamie W also spoke to the General Assembly as The Ukraine Ambassador.
It was also very moving to hear from a student from Ukraine, who had asked to address the conference and who spoke very eloquently about the impact of the current crisis on his country.
The conference then held a moment’s silence and reflection before the Closing Ceremony.
Overall it was a fabulous conference at Kingswood School, with King’s as the Chinese Delegation being Highly Commended.
Rhys
W is a fantastically well-motivated and proactive student in our Upper Sixth (Y13).
In his final year in the School, he holds a number of leadership roles, enjoying the responsibility this involves. Here he describes the challenges and opportunities that the different roles provide:
“In the past year, while working on my university application for engineering, I have had the opportunity to reflect upon how my leadership roles within the School are important to me and how they have shaped my future.
“The role of Contingent Cadet SNCO (Senior Non-Commissioned Officer) in the Combined Cadet Force has presented me with many challenges but it has allowed me to develop my leadership skills considerably. It is a role I share with Jamie W, and this has helped me to develop my ability to work in a team. This is particularly important, as I need to work with the other Cadet NCOs to coordinate training for the younger cadets. It has also provided me with unforgettable experiences such as flying, gliding, and competing in national competitions.
“Positive leadership is essential in the CCF as it is important to keep morale high while promoting change to improve the cadets’ experience. What I love about the role is that it allows me to work with the younger cadets to make sure that they have as great an experience in the CCF as I have had.
“Likewise, it was an enormous privilege to be appointed as a Monitor. This role gives me the opportunity to make real changes to school life and also develop my public speaking and leadership skills. Writing and delivering my Monitor’s Address was a fantastic opportunity and an unforgettable experience that I will, in all likelihood, never have again.
“I am extremely grateful for these opportunities which have provided me with leadership for university and in my professional life as an engineer.”
There are many leadership opportunities available to our Sixth Formers, especially our Upper Sixth. Monitors, Heads of House, sports Captains and Scholars all have a vital role to play within our school community.
In December 2021, live theatre returned to King’s as audiences enjoyed three outstanding performances of We Will Rock You. Head of Drama, Mrs Parry, reflects on the event.
“I don’t think I can claim that we single-handedly saved the world or even rock’n’roll, but the cast, band and crew of We Will Rock You saved everyone’s faith in the uplifting power of live theatre.
The road to production week had been rocky (and we’re not talking about the style of music)! Creativity has still flourished during the pandemic, but we would have been very naive to think that the enforced hiatus in preparing projects as ambitious as a full-scale musical hadn’t had repercussions.
But what a show it was! The audience laughed at the very first cheap gag. The atmosphere was utterly joyful – it’s amazing how you can see people smiling even when they’re wearing masks! What made it so joyful? Where do we start?
Technically, the show ran like clockwork. Backstage a blend of ‘old hands’ refined their craft alongside new recruits lapping up the experience. The showband also featured a winning combination of the experienced, who proved to be superb mentors, and the newest of recruits.
On stage, we had a similarly magical combination of old and new, from a Leading Lady who has been in every Senior Musical from the age of 11 to her leading man, who was appearing in his first production. Many of the cast had served their apprenticeships as ensemble members and stepped into the limelight to give memorable individual performances.
The performances certainly were the days of our lives. This show really was the ultimate leap of faith and we are so grateful to our immensely talented cast, band and crew for leaping with us!”
‘Wows’
out audiences King’s Senior
During the past year 130 pupils in Years 10-13 have successfully completed the relevant expedition section of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, facing a wide range of challenges and overcoming them with customary King’s determination and resilience.
TheBronze level involved a training weekend in the local area in March, followed by an assessed expedition in the Cotswold Hills in late June. In perfect walking conditions, the groups enjoyed a two-day hike through the Cotswolds, along with an overnight camp. Pupils learned how to work effectively as a team, carrying all their equipment and ensuring that they were totally self-sufficient. The assessors were delighted to see the pupils embrace the challenge with enthusiasm, and work well with others outside their immediate group of friends. The Bronze Award plays a crucial role in providing a foundation of outdoor skills and teamwork, and acts as the springboard for those who choose
to go on to complete their Silver and Gold Awards in more remote and mountainous locations.
At Silver level, fitness and resilience were certainly both tested in abundance on Dartmoor at the start of the Easter break. A hardy bunch of Fifth Formers experienced very cold nights but were rewarded with glorious sunsets and sunrises at their wild camp. Once their GCSE exams had finished, this Silver cohort were treated to much kinder weather in the Black Mountains, where they completed an assessed three-day expedition. Despite a few heavy bags and steeper terrain, every pupil experienced a very enjoyable endeavour over the three days. Their assessors were impressed with their navigation,
determination and strong teamwork.
The Gold Award is a much more serious undertaking. This year, three groups endured really tough weather conditions: ferocious winds in Snowdonia at Easter, and extreme heat in the Lake District in the summer. Heavy packs, long days, tough terrain and one or two blisters over each of the four-day expeditions made things more difficult. This did not deter the participants and a combination of perseverance and teamwork led to a successful finish.
Collectively, 9,000 km of distance and 250 km of height were walked by DofE participants this year, which is quite an achievement for the pupils and staff involved!
In June the John Moore Theatre opened its doors for two highly energetic and exhilarating performances of Mary Poppins Jr., based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film and expertly performed by our Lower Years cast, supported by our talented technicians.
The excellent production was the result of hard work following the audition process in March, where one particular audition came from the multi-talented Flo S, the clear choice to play the leading role. Flo was consistently professional throughout and her ability to capture the subtle mannerisms of the well-known character and take complete command of the stage at such an early stage in her acting career at King’s was remarkable.
Mary Poppins became a huge part of my school life. Playing the lead gave me an opportunity I could only have wished for. My favourite part of being in the cast was the sense of community that came with it.
Flo S – Mary PoppinsLuca S certainly had the stage presence needed to portray the character of Bert and executed the role exceptionally well. His interpretation left everyone smiling throughout the rehearsal process and performances.
On opening night, my nerves sky-rocketed to an all-time high. Channelling these nerves into adrenaline helped me perform to the best of my ability during the two nights that I spent on stage surrounded by my supportive fellow actors.
Luca S - Bert Henry F, playing Michael Banks, is a fine example of an actor with an innate ability to portray a rebellious but well-mannered boy from a well-to-do family, generating much
laughter from the audience with his expert performance. His fictional sister, Sophie P left her audience in awe with her exceptional depiction of Jane Banks as angelic, witty, and charming.
When it came to the performance evenings, I loved how it all came together and how all the hard work paid off. It was extremely exciting to perform in the theatre in front of a large audience.
Sophie P – Jane Banks
Alongside the principal roles, we were blessed with a large and committed all-dancing, all-singing cast. We want to thank the cast for working tirelessly to produce this magnificent show.
Many Independent Schools like King’s enjoy sporting derbies against local rivals and the rivalry between King’s and the Royal Grammar School, Worcester may be friendly but is also fierce. The first contest in our own “triple-crown” this year was the Modus Challenge Cup for rugby, played in November 2021.
Ina close-fought match at Worcester’s Sixways stadium, King’s were determined to hold onto the trophy after successfully securing it in 2019. Several magnificent tries saw King’s beat RGS 39-12. King’s were clinical in attack and snatched the initiative with an early penalty, followed closely by their first try, taking and maintaining the lead right up until the end.
After the match, Foundation Director of Sport and Master in Charge of Rugby, Jonny Mason, declared himself over the moon. “In
this unique fixture, it was fantastic to see the King’s squad handle the pressure so well. Our fitness and form held and we played some great rugby, scoring impressive tries.”
As usual, the event attracted a large crowd, with over 3,400 spectators. Over 6,500 more joined the online live stream, provided by @Next Gen, whose commentators stated that, “this is possibly the biggest spectator schoolboy rugby event we have ever seen in this country.” The King’s team truly delivered an evening to remember.
Team Captain, Alex T, reflected on the match:
“This game has been a long time coming and was a great experience for all involved.”
Headmaster Gareth Doodes was equally ecstatic with the result, commenting, “The match was one of truly exceptional rugby. The level of teamwork, skill and determination impressed me beyond all expectations. The spirit of friendly rivalry displayed by both teams and their supporters was a huge pleasure of which to be a part.”
The Senior School Art Department were delighted to celebrate the achievements of their exam candidates with the welcome return of their end-of-year exhibitions after a threeyear hiatus due to COVID.
parents, friends, family and staff packed the studios to view the impressive work of the 52 GCSE pupils, much of which was inspired by their trip to St Ives. The A Level exhibition, which is always the highlight in the Art Department calendar, represents the culmination of the students’ artistic journey at King’s, which, for most, stretches as far back as Fourth Form Art lessons.
The students are encouraged to be ambitious and independent, and the work produced often exceeds the usual standard achieved at this level; indeed, a lot of the work on show this year would not look out of place in an art foundation or degree show.
Our artists follow their own areas of interest and consequently the work was wide-ranging and eclectic and included ambitious oil painting, textile prints, ceramics, sculpture, photography and film, exploring themes as diverse as brutalist architecture, the depiction of the female in classical sculpture, the movement of the figure and Portuguese pattern. We are very proud of their achievements and particular congratulations go to Alice B, who was awarded the academic prize in Art, Catherine C, who won the Georgina Terry Art Prize, and Keely J and Gabby S, who both received the peoples’ choice awards. We wish all the students the best of luck and look forward to hearing about the progress of those that have gone to study Fine Art, Architecture, Interior Design and Prop Design. An online virtual exhibition of the A Level work will be launched at the end of the year, so look out for this on the school website.
“One of the joys of being the Head of King’s St Alban’s is the size of the school. With roughly 200 children, we are small enough for me to know every single child and their families and we are passionate about pastoral care; as I frequently say to visiting families, we want every child to feel happy, safe and secure. And yet, we are also big enough to run high quality choirs, sports teams, dance opportunities and well over 30 co-curricular clubs. Life is about opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom. However, what I think makes King’s St Alban’s so special, indeed unique in Worcester, is its location and proximity to King’s Senior. KSA, as it is known, is very much its own school; as you enter the quad from Severn Street, KSA feels like its own warm and supportive community.
We are blessed with beautiful buildings and we live and work in the shadow of Worcester Cathedral and beside the River Severn. This allows children to feel genuine
pride and affiliation to KSA; they feel settled and confident within its nurturing boundaries but are also encouraged to aim for the stars in all areas. King’s St Alban’s is very much its own school with its own character, ethos and personality.
“And yet, a 30 second walk back across Severn Street leads to “Big King’s”. The King’s 25m swimming pool and second sports hall are both on the KSA site. Our Prep children eat lunch every day in the spacious dining hall at King’s. They enjoy games and PE in the superbly appointed Keyes building. Our dancers enjoy rehearsing and performing in a state-of-the-art dance studio. Our major performances (and Creative Connexions, an annual celebration of the arts, is something very special) take place in the 300-seater John Moore Theatre. Our children are regular visitors to the Cathedral and we have strong links with the King’s library, art department and music school. There is helpful cross-
pollination of staff, especially in sport and music. The Headmaster, Head of Lower Years and many other King’s staff are well-known faces at KSA.
“So what does all this mean? Well, for a prep school of our size, we enjoy tremendous facilities to inspire our children in their learning and development. Moreover, transition from KSA to KSW is seamless. Our children get to know the King’s site and many of the staff. Year 6 to 7 is seen as a step up a year rather than a daunting move to ‘high school.’ We are so lucky with our city centre location, one we certainly embrace, and equally lucky with our proximity to ‘Big King’s.’ King’s St Alban’s is very much its own school but definitely benefits from its geography and from being part of a wider foundation, just as the Foundation benefits from everything that King’s St Alban’s has to offer.”
Richard Chapman, Head of King’s St Alban’s, describes his working life next door to the Senior School, known colloquially as “Big King’s”, and the key part that King’s St Alban’s plays in the Foundation.
Flipping into the Lenten season, the Worcester Cathedral choristers, who attend King’s St Alban’s Prep School and the King’s School Worcester, took part in the annual Choristers’ Pancake Race at the beginning of March. Held in the cloisters of Worcester Cathedral, the event is most certainly a favourite with pupils and staff alike. Marking Shrove Tuesday, fellow pupils from both schools lined the cloisters in support of the Cathedral Choir, ready to cheer them on. Splitting into two teams, they raced through the cloisters with great enthusiasm and determination, supported by several Cathedral team members. This was no ordinary race: participants, dressed in their red cassocks, negotiated obstacles and focussed on a variety of tricky tasks such as dribbling footballs between cones and
balancing bean bags on their heads, all the time holding a pan with a pancake in it, not forgetting to flip it at each corner of the cloister.
Having missed this historic event because of the pandemic last year, it was a delight to witness everyone filling the stunningly beautiful venue with such a joyously raucous noise, certainly not a daily occurrence in these usually tranquil surroundings.
The Worcester Cathedral Choristers are the oldest element in King’s Worcester’s long history, forming a strong team of talented boys and girls, aged from seven and ten respectively. Mr Chapman, Headmaster of King’s St Alban’s, commented, “We were delighted to support both our Choristers and Worcester Cathedral for this less formal but much-loved tradition, watching the Choristers working and laughing together.”
Rory has always been very focused on music. Initially, his parents thought he might prefer the guitar, as he would carry his guitar everywhere with him and continually strum, from the age of two! By the time he was three, Rory was fascinated by the subtitles on the TV whilst listening, and he quickly taught himself to read this way. Similarly, he quickly understood the basic ‘language’ of music. As he got older, he began to take a real interest in the piano. He couldn’t walk past it without playing something!
Since joining King’s St. Alban’s in 2017, Rory has eagerly participated in all musical opportunities. He thoroughly enjoys being a chorister, and
after a few organ lessons in Malvern Priory church, Rory was keen to begin playing more regularly, now enjoying weekly lessons in Worcester Cathedral. Having always been a ‘gadget-boy’ he loves the complexity of the instrument and is also fond of making as much noise as possible!
Rory took Grade One Piano in 2019 at the age of seven and received a distinction. He then received a Merit for Grade Three six months later. Since passing his Grade Five Theory, Rory has received a very high Merit for Grade Six Piano and is already enthusiastically mastering the repertoire for Grade Seven.
Rory has been accompanying school assemblies on the piano, but he also loves to support and
Life as a Cathedral Chorister is certainly demanding as well as rewarding, with daily rehearsals and services throughout the term, as well as for the festivals of the church during the holidays, so a little light relief is very important too.
develop his peers’ interest in music, helping with teaching theory. In addition to piano and organ, Rory enjoys French horn lessons at school, and particularly the opportunity this instrument brings to play alongside others.
Currently, at the tender age of ten, Rory aspires to become an organist. We’re very sure that, whatever he becomes, music will always be central for him.
What is the most important thing about any school? What is the most important thing about King’s St Alban’s in particular? Is it our wonderful Chapel, our award-winning nursery, our 25m pool or simply our beautiful, historic location, in the busy city centre but beside the tranquil River Severn? Is it the breadth of our curriculum, our passion for children’s learning or our link to King’s Senior School?
A school is more than bricks and mortar. At its heart are children and adults and their relationships. A school is about how children treat each other, about how they get on with their teachers, about how Year 6 children look after Years 1 and 2 during house activities. It is certainly about ‘feeling.’ Rather like buying a house, you quickly get a ‘feeling’ about a school. Many parents comment on this when they first visit: the quiet, purposeful, friendly atmosphere in the classroom and the noisy, safe, happy feel in the playground as smiling, lively and engaged children let off steam! This is all about ethos and we think the ethos at King’s St Alban’s is pretty special.
Underpinning all of this is our passion for Growth Mindset. We firmly believe that we should all have a Growth Mindset when it comes to our learning and development. This doesn’t end with when formal education is over but continues throughout our working lives. We model and nurture this on a daily basis. Many may start with a fixed mindset, “it’s too hard, I can’t do it, maths isn’t my thing”; our job is to encourage, model, inspire and then encourage further.
Sitting under Growth Mindset, we have 13 words, and these are what we are all about: respect, risk-taking, reflection, cooperation, pride, independence, perseverance, flexibility, focus, kindness, resilience, curiosity and responsibility. This is a long but important list. We are here for our children’s learning, and we are very proud of their academic achievements. We genuinely believe our long-standing focus on Growth Mindset helped our children through the challenges and uncertainly of lockdowns. They were resilient and stoic; they just got on with it.
However, their future development is equally, perhaps even more important. What do we want our children to be like at 11? At 18? We want our leaving Year 6 children to have these 13 attributes firmly in place. These are fired, nurtured and developed in the classroom, in the dance studio, in leadership roles and in a whole range of co-curricular opportunities.
In the future, GCSEs, A-levels and maybe a degree will get our children their first professional positions, but so will their approach to life and learning, the ethos that lies at the heart of everything they do. And what then? The world needs resilient, flexible, curious risk-takers. It needs independent, reflective young people who will work together and take pride in what they are doing. In short, our dynamic, ever-changing world needs young people with our 13 Growth Mindset attributes. This is what education, particularly education at King’s St Alban’s and throughout our Foundation is all about.
Creative Connexions is our annual festival of the arts at King’s St. Alban’s, giving pupils the opportunity to perform on stage, exploring contemporary issues brought together under a festival theme. This year our theme was A Night at the Gallery and culminated in a fantastic celebration of art and dance. The featured artists included Van Gogh, Vernet, Kusema and Basquiat and each class from Year 3 to Year 6 took inspiration from their chosen artwork and brought it to life through dance. Some of the dances were closely linked to the artworks whilst others interpreted it in a more abstract way, all choreographed by the pupils themselves in pairs or groups.
Outside the John Moore Theatre, the location for our outstanding performances, the pupil’s artwork was displayed. The dazzling display of art wowed our audience whilst our poetry competition winners excelled in not only their writing but their public speaking abilities, supporting the artwork beautifully. It was an enchanting and emotional evening that will stay in the hearts of those who took part for a very long time.
The production, performed on two evenings, was both thoughtprovoking and entertaining but also performed to a highly professional level that impressed the audience. Mr Chapman, Head of King’s St Alban’s commented, “Creative
Connexions is a genuine celebration of the arts, embracing poetry, dance and artwork for all of our children. The theme, A Night at the Gallery allowed all classes the freedom to explore dances based on artwork from the National Gallery and this was remarkably rich from an educational perspective. Indeed, Creative Connexions ends with two remarkable ‘shows’ but it is so much more! It is an educational journey over many weeks, exploring the arts, embracing collaboration and requiring growth mindset and a movement away from comfort zones. That all children perform, and all seem really to enjoy it, says a very great deal indeed!”
The pupils and staff of King’s Hawford were delighted, upon their return from the summer half term break, to learn that they had been awarded the much sought-after Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction. Having engaged in a rigorous process which involved the completion of seven specific steps, the pupils thoroughly deserve to be recognised and rewarded for their ecological achievements.
Thejudging panel were impressed by the large number of pupils involved with the King’s Hawford EcoCommittee and that the older pupils relished the opportunity to take responsibility for taking minutes and creating agendas. They were also pleased to see children as young as Reception and Year 1 involved in eco-activities across the school.
At King’s Hawford we are committed to the service of others. Our pupils strive to make a positive impact on the world around them and the school has a long history of contributing to the common good with respect for people and the environment. Regular fundraising events have played an important role since the school was established in 1955.
From an early age our pupils are encouraged to show respect and kindness to those around them.
In recent years King’s Hawford has made efforts to become greener and more sustainable whilst continuing to raise funds for local charitable organisations. In
order to create a more integrated approach to charitable giving and sustainability, the school launched the King’s Hawford Earth Conscious School initiative, ensuring that all our main fundraising activities are aligned with the School’s sustainability efforts.
Commenting on the Environmental Review carried out by the King’s Hawford Eco-Committee as part of the application process, the Eco-Schools judging panel could see, “this prompted lots of discussion about the topics that they would like to cover this year, but also identified other areas to improve on going forward.” They particularly liked the idea of making a video to keep the wider school community updated.
The communication between our Eco-Committee and the wider school community has always been strong, with pupils regularly talking to their peers, introducing suggestion boxes in each classroom, assemblies, School newsletter and social media. The judges were also impressed with the King’s Hawford Eco-Code and the video that the
pupils submitted to accompany it.
The Eco-School Green Flag panel concluded their report by saying, “it has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to review your Eco-Schools Green Flag application - you are most definitely a worthy Eco-Schools with Distinction Green Flag Award winner.” We couldn’t agree more.
Through the Earth Conscious School Initiative King’s Hawford has aimed to reduce its impact on the planet and raise awareness of sustainability. This is a long-term initiative, which came with both short and long-term goals.
In September 2020 phase one of the initiative was put in place. There were four key areas. The first was the introduction of an Eco Council, to involve the whole School community fully and give all our pupils a voice. The Eco Council were involved in selecting the charities that the school supported during the academic year, helped come up with ideas for fundraising and brainstormed further ideas for making the school more Earth Conscious.
Secondly the School conducted a survey of all printed materials and investigated digital alternatives to reduce waste. A Switch It Off design competition was introduced, encouraging pupils to design posters highlighting the need to switch off electrical appliances when not in use. The winning posters were then displayed across the School. The School also launched an ‘exercise book amnesty’, collecting books from around the school and redistributing as needed.
As a third initiative, at the start of each academic year pupils voted to choose which charities the School would support. It was decided that we would support a local charity as well as an international charity during the first phase of the initiative; most recently the River and Canal Trust was chosen as the School’s local charity and the WWF was the international choice. Across the academic year, despite COVID restrictions, our school community rallied with many creative fundraising events being held.
Finally the topic of sustainability was woven into the school curriculum through humanities and science. The focus was on the Eco Schools topic areas with a particular focus on Global Citizenship and Energy. An Eco Badge was introduced as part of our King’s Hawford Activity Badges to raise awareness further for our pupils
The integrated approach to sustainability and charitable giving has really benefitted our pupils. The initiative has given the children a voice and has meant they are at the centre of many of the decisions that have been made. Our pupils have learnt lessons about the environment, sustainability and responsibility, understanding the impact they can have on the world individually and collectively.
At the beginning of July, the Governors of the King’s Foundation, in consultation with the Foundation’s Head and Senior Leadership Teams, appointed Mr Thomas Butt to succeed Mrs Jennie Phillips as the Head of King’s Hawford.
The high calibre of applicants that the role attracted was remarkable, reflecting the high esteem in which the School is held. As a result, the eventual shortlist of four candidates was absolutely first class.
Tom Butt particularly impressed the Governors with his outstanding track record, his passion for our holistic and nurturing education and his understanding of the outdoor provision for which Hawford is famed. He will join us in November, at the start of the second half of term. Tom has had a rich and successful career, educated at The Judd School in Kent before reading Exercise and Sport Sciences at the University of Exeter, where he also studied for his PGCE. He is currently Deputy Head at Bredon School. Prior to that he was Director of Sport at Dover College and held posts in Chile and
Switzerland. It is wonderful that King’s Hawford will now benefit from such enviable breadth of educational experience in its Head.
He is married to Charlotte, a teacher and high-level hockey coach, and they have two children, Oliver (10) and Millie (8), who will be joining Hawford in Years 6 and 4 respectively. Tom is a keen sportsman with a particular passion for rugby, captaining Kent at age group level, and mountain biking. Passionate about the outdoors, he is a smallholder in his own right, enjoys travel and country pursuits, and is very much looking forward to being the new custodian of Hawford’s animals.
We are all very much looking forward to welcoming Tom and his family to King’s Hawford.
for being a ‘bluesky’ prep school, King’s Hawford is delighted to have received national recognition for its commitment to taking learning outdoors, with the award of the national LOtC (Learning Outside the Classroom) Mark (Gold) from the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom. This is the highest award of its kind. King’s Hawford has been awarded the LOtC Mark (Gold) for the second time in recognition of our commitment to ensuring all learners have access to excellent quality educational experiences beyond the classroom walls.
Children engage in an ongoing process to ensure frequent, continuous and progressive outdoor learning opportunities are integrated into the curriculum.
Mrs Redman, Learning Outside the Classroom Coordinator at King’s Hawford said, “Receiving the LOtC Mark (Gold) is a fabulous achievement and one of which the King’s Hawford school community can be hugely proud.
King’s Hawford has always strived to provide all its pupils with as many opportunities as possible to explore and learn outside the classroom, both around our campus and through our extensive trips programme. King’s Hawford is committed to continuing to develop our provision, helping our pupils achieve their full potential and promoting the wide-ranging benefits of taking teaching and learning beyond the four walls of the classroom.”
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is the national voice for learning outdoor learning. Learning outside the classroom is known to contribute significantly to raising standards and improving pupils’ personal, social, and emotional development. It also contributes to the quality and depth of learning (OfStEd: Learning Outside the Classroom – How far should you go? 2008).
Dr Anne Hunt, Chief Executive of LOtC said, Learning outside the classroom has many proven educational benefits as well as providing some of the most valuable and memorable experiences in a child’s school life. Achieving LOtC Mark (Gold) demonstrates that King’s Hawford is a leader in providing learning experiences outside the classroom and that these sessions are a genuine part of the everyday life of the school, available to all their children and young people. I congratulate them on achieving this award.
As a trumpet player, our Director of Music and Performance was very keen to introduce whole class trumpet tuition at King’s Hawford. This initiative would see that every child would experience learning an instrument (at no cost for tuition) and try to engage children who might not have otherwise chosen the option of learning a musical instrument.
Our younger pupils all receive a block of introductory violin taster sessions as part of their timetabled music lessons, to develop their interest in learning an instrument from an early age. By getting up close and holding an instrument, a child can experience music in an utterly different way from simply listening to recordings – they can physically feel the sound and the vibrations, experience the motion involved in producing the sound, and start to internalise the sound. In this way the children can make a deeper connection with music.
On introducing trumpet lessons, we had three main objectives: to ensure that every child would experience learning an instrument. to maintain (and increase) numbers of brass pupils. to start children on trumpets, with some potentially progressing on to lower brass (often suited to older children when instruments are bigger or heavier).
The pupils targeted were Year 4, as not all children in Year 3 have their two front adult teeth; this can make it uncomfortable to form the correct embouchure for playing a brass instrument. Year 4 pupils were all given a block of (a minimum of) 10 lessons, either one a week or two a week depending on the time of year and other music curriculum commitments. Every child was taught to produce a sound and they were encouraged to read from
traditional notation. Many achieved a five-note range by the end of their lessons, with some managing an octave or more, depending on their suitability and effort in practice. Through the initiative, pupils were allowed to take the instruments home in-between trumpet lessons, and although practice was positively encouraged, it was not strictly stipulated. Our children are very busy with long days at school and many have extra activities after school and at weekends. If they practised, it was a bonus.
With the appointment of an additional Woodwind teacher who was a jazz specialist, we were able to introduce a Jazz Ensemble and a Brass Ensemble to the school, providing more opportunities and inspiration for the children alongside our School Orchestra. With teachers able to compose and arrange music at a level to suit their players, it was wonderful to involve children across the grades 1-5 ability range in ensemble music-making. We entered our ensembles in the local Worcester Competitive Arts Festival to provide performance opportunities out of school, along with our regular half-termly informal concerts and large-scale end of term musical events, including the Carol Service in a local church.
The initiative has been a great success at King’s Hawford. It has seen all Year 4 children receive a minimum of 10 class lessons on the trumpet. The number of brass-playing pupils in the School increased after the initial phase and has remained constant over the past few years. The initiative now forms part of the curriculum at King’s Hawford, with all Year 4 pupils receiving trumpet lessons. It has been most rewarding to see the numbers are consistent. The Senior School have a good supply of brass players, as do our school ensembles.
trained with UTX Martial Arts for only 18 months, Shaan has achieved a great deal in a very short space of time. He practices traditional Wado Ryu karate, which sees him learning Japanese and traditions of karate. His Head Coach, Nigel Gowland also explained that Shaan is taught discipline, respect and moral and physical courage together with fitness in his regular training sessions.
It is clear that Shaan has a natural flare for martial arts and his energy and drive make him perfect for the sport. He is described as a well-rounded pupil who listens to his coach and is full of respect in his actions and demeanour.
Shaan has completed a total of five gradings and was double graded at his first examination. He currently holds the rank of 7th Kyu, which is an orange belt.
He has taken part in his sport of choice competitively, most impressively his first WTKA Karate competition last Autumn. This is a national event that includes competitors from all around the United Kingdom. Upon entering his first competition, Shaan did not expect to win but was looking forward to the journey and the learning experience. He was entered in Kumite (fighting) and Kata (set patterns of karate moves) and found himself headto-head with much more experienced competitors but took the whole day in his stride, pulling off two golds in his categories. Needless to say, Nigel was immensely proud of Shaan, and was buzzing with his achievements.
InMarch, King’s Senior School netballers celebrated two victorious wins in the return of the Superball netball game against the old enemy, The Royal Grammar School, Worcester at Worcester Arena, after a two-year hiatus during COVID.
Saturday 19th March saw Worcester Arena filled with a crowd of over 1,350 excited spectators and another 1800 people watching online.
The afternoon began with the second VII winning their game 36-22. They put on a confident performance and led throughout. Their coach, Mrs Longley said after the game, “All their hard work came to fruition in their spectacular display this afternoon, I couldn’t be prouder.”
This set the scene for the 1st VII, who were keen to finish their season on a high, having won all their previous matches. During the break, Year 6 pupils from our Prep Schools enjoyed a workshop run by The Giants Men Mixed Netball Squad. They then cheered on the 1st VII and were some of the most excited spectators in the arena.
The game was close throughout; at halftime, King’s were trailing 13-16 but they fought back and, with one
minute left before the final whistle, Tamara M took the game level. Spurred on by the crowd, the girls took the ball straight back from the centre pass and, with only 17 seconds left, Goal Shooter Maddie W (later named Player of the Match) won the rebound and passed to Goal Attack Tamara M, who kept her cool and put the ball through the net. King’s Worcester had taken the lead for the first time.
The King’s crowd were all on their feet. One member of the squad later said, “When we scored that final goal, the floor shook.” RGS took one final centre pass, but this was quickly put out by Goal Keeper Maggie M and King’s reclaimed the Superball Cup.
Director of Netball Mrs McGinley said,
“We knew it would be close, having lost to RGS in extra time at the County Tournament earlier this season, but over 60 minutes we knew the girls had the fitness to come through. There was an impressive display of athleticism from both the 1st and 2nd teams and so much talent on display from both schools.”
We are delighted to have many of our Senior School pupils training in county sports squads and beyond.
Five members of our 1st XV play for the Worcester Warriors U18 Academy Squad, along with Ben W playing for Gloucester Rugby U18s. Last season also saw Alex T invited to train with the Scotland U18s, Sam H selected for the South of England Academy and Jack L for the England Counties U18s. We have also had 17 younger pupils in the Worcester Warriors Junior Academies this season.
The strength of netball at King’s is obvious from the 13 players involved in the county programme and 12 players involved in NOVA Academies. Jaz F has had an incredibly successful season for U19 Severn Stars. Football at King’s is going from strength to strength, with Noah D playing for West Bromwich Albion Academy at U14 level and Oliver P playing for Cheltenham Town Academy at U15.
Jonny Mason, Foundation Director of Sport, comments, “The sheer number of King’s pupils playing a major role in development programmes outside school is testament to the strength in depth of sport at King’s. They also put so much back into the Foundation with their excellence and expertise serving as an inspiration for younger pupils.”
We also have 10 boys playing for Worcestershire County Cricket Club, along with five girls. Bryony
G and Grace JVV are also involved in the Women’s England Performance Programme. Seth E has been selected to the U15 Bunbury trials a year early, where boys are selected for Super League of four teams.
Twenty pupils qualified for the Worcester County Swimming Championships this year with 11 year old Harry C winning 12 gold medals in the U14 age-group, along with five Junior Championship Titles. Also swimming with great success was Hannah W, who achieved eight golds and four silvers in the 17 yearsand-over category and six Open titles. Nine other King’s pupils also finished in podium positions.
Twenty-one King’s pupils have been selected for the Worcestershire Academy as part of the England Hockey Player Pathway, with Monty H and George S being selected for the U15 boys. It has been fantastic to see Bryony G selected for England Hockey U16s at the age of 14, and Amy H selected for Wales U18s.
After successfully trialling, 21 of King’s pupils have been selected for the Worcestershire Academy as part of the England Hockey Player Pathway, with Monty H and George S being selected for the U15 boys. There are also five athletes competing in Performance Centres across the Midlands. It has been fantastic to see Bryony G selected for England Hockey U16s at the age of 14, and Amy H (Lower Sixth) selected for Wales U18s.
Our girls’ resilience, determination and belief were exceptional.
Mrs McGinley
The Senior cricket season has been a busy one, with a total of 204 matches being played. Pleasingly, it has also been a very successful one, with no fewer than eight hundreds, 29 half-centuries and four five-wicket hauls.
After a disruptive season last year, the 1st and 2nd XIs have played some excellent cricket, winning the vast majority of their matches. A highlight of the season for the 1st XI was their extended run in the National T20, making it to the regional semi-finals after wins against Dean Close, RGS Worcester and King’s Warwick. Their victory over RGS in their annual 50-over match was also as complete a performance as anyone could hope for. The 3rd XI have also thoroughly enjoyed their season, playing a record seven matches and bringing enthusiasm and energy to all their fixtures.
The 1st team also managed to finish the season by winning silverware at the KES Stratford 6s tournament. After a shaky start and a loss to the hosts, we had impressive wins against QMGS Walsall and Bablake in the group and the semi-final and faced Wycliffe in the final. A solid batting performance allowed us to reach an insurmountable target and we eventually ran out comfortable winners.
There has also been lots of success throughout the age groups. The U15 girls made it through to the
last 16 of the National Cup and to the regional finals of the Lady Taverners Indoor Competition. A highlight of their National Cup run was the 128* scored by Bryony G (LR) against Bromsgrove. Girls’ cricket continues to go from strength to strength and there has been a significant increase in numbers at training and involved in matches. The introduction of a second hardball team has been wonderful to see, and the development is set to accelerate next year.
Our U15 and U13 boys’ teams made it to the County Cup final, although unfortunately both lost narrowly. The U14s were able to go one better and defeat Bromsgrove, qualifying for the National Competition as U15s next year.
The U17s have been exceptional and have now progressed through to the semi-final of the National Plate competition after superb victories against Queen Mary’s Walsall, Wirral Grammar School and Queen Ethelburga’s.
The biggest success is the number of pupils who are playing and enjoying their cricket. To be able regularly to field 13 teams on a Saturday and have 30 pupils train in some year groups each week is a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm that is put in each week by all the age group coaches.
British Championship
There has been a fine tradition of rowing at King’s Worcester since 1877, with the Boat Club able to celebrate four Olympic oarsmen to date; the most recent is Zac Purchase, who won Olympic Gold and Silver in the Lightweight Double Sculls in 2008 and 2012 respectively. Many other pupils and OVs have represented the Home Countries and Great Britain at international events, along with extensive and regular regional representation. In recent years, boys and girls have won national championships, and medals at many major events.
This summer two Sixth Form students, Alice B and Luke B, were celebrating after being called up to represent Great Britain U19 Rowing squads, where they raced in some of the most prestigious international regattas.
Following on from her golden GB rowing debut at the Munich International Regatta earlier this year, 17-year-old Alice was selected for the Great Britain U19 Junior World Championship squad. Alice spent five gruelling days going through the selection process at The National Water Sports Centre before heading to the World Championships in Varese, Italy at the end of July. Alice’s hard work paid off when she and her U19 Women’s Eight claimed the silver medal at the event. Alice said, “I am thrilled to have been selected to represent GB rowing after such a long and challenging trials process. Winning a silver medal was a great conclusion to my time rowing at King’s. It has been fantastic to work alongside and learn from such skilled athletes and coaches and this experience has put me in
a good position for my future rowing. I am so grateful to the Boathouse community at school for supporting me through this process, especially Will and Jim, my coaches, and my fellow crew mates.”
This was 18-year-old Luke’s first cap for Great Britain after he was selected for the Boy’s U19 Quad Sculls at the prestigious Coupe de la Jeunesse International Regatta, which took place in Castrelo de Mino, Spain in August.
15 European nations entered a team at the Regatta, where Luke and his crew won their first heat in the quad with an exciting finish, coming from behind. The quad eventually finished fifth in the final after an incredibly close race for second to fifth places.
Luke commented, “It was thrilling to be racing against some of the fastest crews in Europe. I feel so lucky to have been part of the rowing programme at King’s and owe everything to the coaching team that has supported me from my first wobbly attempts in Lower Remove to encouraging me through the final gruelling steps of the GB rowing crew formation.’
Head of Rowing, Jim Chalmers commented, “Luke and Alice, our Captains, have been an inspiration to all in the Boat Club and to see them represent Great Britain at the very pinnacle of junior rowing was magnificent. They have worked incredibly hard throughout the gruelling selection process and balanced this with their academic pursuits, serving as terrific role models. The coaching team are thrilled with their success and proudly look forward to following their careers in the sport.”
King’s St Alban’s swimmers met with huge success in the IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) National Swimming Championship on Saturday, 11th June.
Having gained valuable experience and qualified at a gala held at Millfield School during the Spring Term, our pupils headed to the London Aquatic Centre for this event, which marked the culmination of over 400 schools competing in 40 qualifying galas held across the country, and presented the opportunity for our pupils to demonstrate their talent. And that is just what they did, in front of 3,000 spectators!
Having come first in the country against 124 competing prep schools in the qualifying round, the U11 Girls’ Medley Relay team, Lilly-Mae, Mia, Lucia and Lara took to the starting blocks and delivered a strong performance; indeed it was a performance which saw them crowned IAPS Medley Relay Champions. Miss Woodger, King’s St Alban’s Swimming Coach
commented, “When the medley team were the fastest qualifiers, I had high expectation for the final. They certainly lived up to those; they should be very proud of their outstanding achievement.”
Our pupils continued to excel at the impressive Olympic Village venue. Lara, competing in the U11 Girls’ 50m Butterfly race, finished 17th, whilst Lucia came in 11th place in the U11 Girls’ 50m Breaststroke. Mia also excelled in the U11 Girls’ 50m Freestyle, bringing home seventh place. Immie also displayed a high level of skill at competition level. Representing King’s St Alban’s boys swimming team, Harry competed in the U10 50m Back Stroke, finishing in 19th position.
All competitors from King’s St Alban’s should be extremely proud of their achievements. Mr Chapman, Head of King’s St Alban’s was delighted with the results, adding, “We are extremely proud of them and look forward to continuing to track the girls’ swimming as they progress through the Foundation, as well as supporting Harry through his time in Year 6 and beyond.”
These are the best results
King’s St Alban’s has seen for many years, and especially as a small school this is something that we can celebrate
wholeheartedly.
Spirits were stratospherically high on a Tuesday morning last May as an enthusiastic squad of ten Year 6 football players from King’s Hawford boarded the minibus bound for St George’s Park in Burton, Staffordshire. Having won through the rounds to become Regional Champions last term, these excited, if a little nervous boys were ready to play in the ISFA National Finals.
The sense of excitement amongst the boys was heightened by the fact that the competition was played at St George’s Park, the home of the England national team. Following in the footsteps of their heroes was an incredible experience for the boys and one that they will remember for many years to come, serving as real inspiration for them.
Relishing the opportunity to play on one of the fourteen worldclass, 3G pitches, which regularly play host to England teams and their international counterparts, the team started the tournament with two very difficult fixtures; the King’s Hawford boys played some tidy football despite not getting the rub of the green, picking up one point thanks to a superb finish by James R. Playing in such surroundings would be a daunting prospect for any eleven-year-old, but as we would expect, the King’s Hawford pupils took it all in their stride.
The remaining three matches followed a similar pattern to that of the first two, with the King’s Hawford players showing impressive resilience and determination against very challenging opponents. The hard
work and focus finally paid off as the team enjoyed their first win of the day, courtesy of an outstanding strike into the top corner from Joe F, followed by a calm finish by Bertie D.
Supported by a strong side-line of staff, parents and grandparents, the boys demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and teamwork throughout the day.
We asked OV, Drew Benvie, Owner of Social Media Agency, Battehall, about his work in this cutting edge profession.
What does a typical day look like for you?
day to keep on top of things.
Some days will involve travel to see our clients in the US and Europe,
What is the best advice someone has ever given you?
In February 2022, we celebrated International Women and Girls in Science Day. Although King’s has always had a strong belief in encouraging the scientist in all of us, irrespective of gender, it’s still important to explore the opportunities for women in the sciences.
We asked four female former pupils currently studying and working in the sciences to help us celebrate their achievements and their inspirations. Here are their stories:
Sqn Ldr Bonnie Posselt
“I am a medical officer in the Royal Air Force, specialising in Aviation and Space Medicine, and have recently returned from three years with the US Air Force, where I was conducting research into human performance using the latest Helmet Mounted Displays used in aircraft.
“While I was the only girl taking A Level Maths and Chemistry in my year at school and one of only two for Physics, I have found the STEM world to be welcoming and inclusive for women. If you find wonder in the world and have a sense of curiosity, then I would certainly encourage you to explore the STEM subjects.”
“I am currently a Pharmacokineticist. This is a branch of pharmacology dedicated to studying the effectiveness of medicines administered to living organisms. My colleagues and I help to bring new medicines to market to help treat a variety of diseases and disorders.
“At King’s I was always interested in science, in particular Biology and Chemistry. I knew I wanted a job in science, so studied Zoology, with a focus on animal and human biology. I developed an interest in Neuroscience, so I studied for a Masters, which also gave me a good insight into the topic of Pharmacology.
“I certainly hadn’t heard of Pharmacokinetics when I was younger, but there are so many jobs out there that you don’t gain exposure to until you come across them. I love my job and I’d certainly not be here today if I hadn’t been open to something new and gone for it!”
“I have always loved Biology and was so lucky to have brilliant female role models to look up to at School. I’m now studying for a PhD in Oncology, looking at developing a new therapeutic tool to help choose treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer.
“I have always been so grateful for the kindness of other women in my field and hope that I am able to contribute to a supportive environment in science for women in the future.”
“My interest in medicine was first sparked during Biology lessons at King’s. As a young student, it made such an impact to have a female role model encouraging a passion for science.
“I’m proud to now be a student doctor on placement in hospital and am able to combine my interest in science with the personal side of medicine!”