Kingstonian Magazine 2016 by Kingston Grammar School

KINGSTONIAN KINGSTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE 2016

CONTENTS Graduation & Leavers’ Ball 2016 Outstanding A Level Results Best-ever GCSE Grades Careers & Universities An Audience with Stephen Lehec 2016 School Leavers and Officers of the School ART Exploded As It Left Sad Culture Strawberry Hill House Gallery

04 05 06 08 10 12

Shakespeare is Overrated! Short Story: A New Start GEOGRAPHY Geography

CLASSICS Classics

46 26 Maths Overview 28 30 MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES 32 MFL Tweets 48 32 Language Leaders 50 Experience at St Joseph’s 51 33 MUSIC 34 Opera Workshop 35 Chamber Music KGS Song Productions 36

HISTORY Modern History Debate Leavers’ History Quotes

37 38

51 52 54

PHILOSOPHY Philosophy & Ethics

ENGLISH

CHEMISTRY Chemistry

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Mad Forest Earthquakes in London Drama Overview Visit by Howard Charles

Design & Technology VEX Robotics 13 Greenpower Electric Car Racing 13 14 ECONOMICS 16 Economics

BIOLOGY Biology

MATHS

DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES

NEWS

PHYSICS Women in Physics

POLITICS 40 School EU Referendum A Year in the KGS Politics Department 43 45

57 58

EDITORS’ NOTE KINGSTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL An independent co-educational day school for boys and girls aged 11-18 LONDON ROAD KINGSTON UPON THAMES KT2 6PY TEL: 020 8546 5875 FAX: 020 8974 5177 IMAGE LEFT The Kingstonian Committee 2015 – 2016: Back row from the left: Sophie Gallagher, Milly Gibson, Jamie Bisping, Mrs Garside, Zoe Sim, Jess Murray, Alice Metcalf Front row from the left: Catie McMahon, Domi Rybova, Daisy Parker, Lucy Cowan, Matt Pugh, Elspeth Birchall

PSHE

A Year in the Library Trinity Schools Book Award Jasmin Good – Reflective Essay SCHOLARS Article: Is Reading for Pleasure the Most Important Factor in Determining Academic Success in Children? SPORT Boys' Hockey Girls' Hockey IPS Early Netball Tournaments Cricket Tennis KGS Sponsored Row

The magazine charts the course of the School over the past year and we hope that our accounts of the various activities, trips, sporting successes and academic achievements give you, the reader, an accurate picture of school life, both the day-to-day and the extraordinary. We hope that you enjoy reading the magazine as much as we have enjoyed producing it.

We set out to refresh the School magazine with a new collective approach intended to transfer the task of producing, and the focus of the publication, even more onto the students. We have made every effort to ensure that the journalism and photography are of a nearprofessional standard, and we hope that our extensive contributions from both pupils and staff provide

Lucy Cowan and Matt Pugh Lower Sixth

EVENTS

SPORT

PSHE & Pastoral Education at KGS 59 Senior Girls' Rowing Senior Boys' Rowing PSYCHOLOGY Football Golf 60 Psychology Students visit Kingston University HOUSE LIBRARY

an in-depth and engaging view of Kingston Grammar School.

Filling the shoes of Mr Smith was always going to be a challenge. Having accepted, Mrs Garside enlisted the help of a committee of determined and passionate students, of which it was our pleasure to be Co-Chairs.

House Reports 2015-16 House Championship 61 Sports Day 62 63 CLUBS 2015-16 Chess Report Community Service Report 64 Love Kingston A Recruit’s Guide to CCF CU: An Interview with Jess Murray The Gibbon Society Inklings The Poetry Club 66 Cheerleading 74 79 EVENTS 80 86 Commemoration Day 87 Lower Sixth Activity Day National Service of Thanksgiving

88 BBC School News Report 90 JACT Latin Camp 2016 92 Alice in KGS Land 95 TRIPS Vietnam 2016 96 French Exchange 2016 101 Spanish Exchange 2016 102 German Exchange 2016 Ski Trip As You Liked It 104 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 114

120 121 122

123 126 128 130 131 132

DEVELOPMENT KGS Friends KGS Friends Travel Award KGS Foundation

134 135 137

STAFF HMCTT Common Room KGS Welcomes... KGS Bids Farewell To...

138 139 140 141

114 116 118

NEWS

Graduation and Leavers’ Ball 2016 On Thursday 30th June it was once again time to celebrate Upper Sixth Graduation in the Hall. The students arrived looking stunning in their elegant evening dresses and black tie and they took their seats while Bijan Ghamsari played Bohemian Dance by Debussy on the piano. Mr Lehec’s thoughtful and carefullycrafted speech was full of pride as he spoke of the bright future ahead of our students and their many achievements in academic, cocurricular and community fields. The tutors, also, had special and humorous words for each form group when their turn came to

collect their Leavers’ certificates and prizes from Mr Lehec and me on the stage. After the ceremony, we retired to the QEII courtyard for a drinks reception, where parents and staff could enjoy a glass of sparkling wine while the students took their last chance to say goodbye to members of staff. Fortunately it was a balmy evening and, when the students left for the Ball, the parents could continue with their soirée hosted by Mr Bond and Miss Raymond, followed by a party at the house of Mr and Mrs Kelly on Kingston riverside. We headed off by coach to Hampton Court Palace Golf Club, which is a wonderful venue, and had a welcome

drink and delicious three-course meal. Steph Semple gave a lovely speech during dinner and presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs Davies for organising the Ball. Having danced the night away (joined enthusiastically by Mrs Davies, Mr Sorley and Mr Cooper), the students finally headed off into Kingston, many of them to continue their evening at the Hippodrome! It was a successful and heart-warming event which truly represented this warm, friendly and cohesive year group. I was very proud of them and shall miss them greatly. Miss B McDonald

Outstanding A Level Results The Upper Sixth leavers of 2016 celebrated some exceptional A Level examination results this summer, which were amongst the School’s best in the last five years. Head Master Stephen Lehec said he was “very proud and absolutely delighted for this year’s KGS leavers”, praising the hard work of both the Upper Sixth students and the School’s dedicated staff. He added that the supportive parent body were also instrumental in helping to achieve such excellent results. The 104 students took a total of 353 A Levels between them and recorded an average of three A grades per student with nearly half of all the students achieving three or more A*/A grades. The class of 2016 have maintained the School’s impressive record at A Level with over 23% of all grades at the top A* level and 85% at A*-B.

These excellent grade outcomes will enable the majority of students to follow their chosen path with an unprecedented number going on to Russell Group universities, including an increasing number going up to Oxford and Cambridge. “These results are a fitting reward for years of hard work and endeavour,” said Stephen Lehec. Top performers in this year’s examinations included William Vine and Naman Wahi who both achieved four A* grades. William will be going on to study Mathematics at Oxford whilst Naman will take up his place at Imperial to read Computing. Other top performing students were Emily Bertin (Veterinary Science, Cambridge), Stefan Hales (Maths, Imperial), Finn Harman (Economics, Cambridge), Hazel Scurr (Geography, Cambridge), Sophia Shafiee (Classics, Oxford) and Maya Yousif (Education

with English & Drama, Cambridge) who all achieved a minimum of three A* grades each. Stephen Lehec was also at pains to highlight the challenge of delivering such excellence in an age when all schools and students are under increasing pressure to produce results but, quite rightly, not at the expense of students’ wellbeing and ability to thrive as confident and resourceful individuals. “The School’s approach to independent and interactive learning goes hand in hand with our emphasis on being prepared to fail and develop resilience. In this way, our students attain long-term success whilst developing crucial life skills. The KGS motto is ‘Work Well & Be Happy’ and promotes a balance between success and positive wellbeing. These results are a ringing endorsement of the success of this ethos.” Mr W Cooper

NEWS

BEST-EVER GCSE Grades

Over 90% of the cohort achieved A* grades, 55% with A* in the majority of subjects.

Following the success of our Upper Sixth students in their A Level results, the Fifth Year cohort of 2016 celebrated the best set of GCSE results in the School’s history. A* grades alone accounted for just over 54.1% of the grades with the majority of students gaining all A*/A grades in their 10 or more GCSEs. Head Master Stephen Lehec commented that “in any year these results would be wonderful but, with the national trend (especially in top grades) moving downwards, these are quite spectacular!” In bucking the national trend quite considerably, the KGS students have achieved a huge increase in the

number of A* and A*/A grades (53% and 82% respectively). Over 90% of the cohort achieved A* grades, 55% with A* in the majority of subjects; half of the entire year group attained all A*/A grades. It has proved difficult, therefore, to select the School’s top performers. Kirsty George, Kate Jarvis, Emily Liu and Charlie Perry stood out, however, with 11 A* grades each. They were closely followed by George Casci, Hannah Cowie, Ellen Garard, Vivek Haria, Lucinda Knight, Daniel Piche Hainsworth, Jess Pringle, Hakeem Shittu and Izzy Toner who all achieved 10 A* grades or more.

achievement of students and staff in the sciences, where 80% of the grades were at A*, really stands out. “On behalf of the entire teaching body, I would like to say how proud we are of this year group’s achievements. Alongside their highly impressive GCSE results, these students embody the ethos of the School, combining academic rigour with community spirit, sporting prowess and intellectual curiosity. They now find themselves well-placed for the challenges of Sixth Form life and the wider world beyond.” Mr W Cooper

Stephen Lehec commented that whilst “the results were very strong across all subjects, with the average grade of every exam being an A, the

NEWS

CAREERS AND UNIVERSITIES The Careers and Universities Department has had another full year: building on past success, introducing new events, such as the addition of lunchtime talks targeting Fifth to Upper Sixth students, and developing partnerships with local schools to our mutual benefit.

In addition, we have increased in-house one-to-one Careers and Higher Education guidance – something we will be developing further with our Fifth Year – and conducted Careers and Higher Education interviews with the whole Lower Sixth cohort. The latter was particularly useful as a means of informing tutors about their tutees’ post-18 choices. During the year, KGS has continued to present its students with the opportunity to attend a range of talks. The Sixth Form lecture hour, for example, has included topics ranging from Study Options Abroad and Interview Skills Training to Student Finance. While in-house lunchtime talks on topics such as IBM Apprenticeships, NHS Careers, and Gap Schemes such as Project Trust and Gap360, also proved popular. Evening events have included: Careers Advice for Ambitious Women and Applying

to Study at Harvard and Yale. Local schools, too, have welcomed our pupils, enabling them to experience seminars on topics including: preparing for study in the US, applying to LSE, Royal Society of Medicine: applying to medical school, a Life Sciences workshop run by the University of Dundee and University Admissions Tests session. Our Careers Seminars proved a great success. We are grateful to OK Richard Dawes and his team for hosting KGS students at the PR firm DawBell in Victoria, in November, and enabling them to gain the inside track on this fastpaced sector. As Entrepreneurship was the theme of a very successful February seminar, we invited Tahar Ali to inspire our Lower Sixth students during lecture hour with ‘Failing Your Way To Success’; Tahar spoke movingly of his upbringing and how building up a multi-million property portfolio led to his refocus

on philanthropy. Finally, in March, the Engineering Seminar hosted at the Glaziers Hall, London Bridge, included more than 30 engineering companies covering a broad range of sectors and welcomed students from other schools. All of this would not have been possible without the generous support of OKs. Similarly, the success of the Careers Evening, held at the end of January, is heavily dependant on parents and alumni. This year, we were delighted to offer 65 different sessions, representing 44 varied career sectors. Thank you for your support. Finally, June’s Fifth Year Work Experience saw KGS students enjoying placements in a broad range of organisations and sectors. As ever, employer and student feedback was excellent. For the Lower Sixth, Dragons’ Den was another great success. Run by Bentalls – who were as generous as ever with their support and expertise – the event offered

students the opportunity to learn from, and be mentored by, six buyers from different departments. We look forward to their return next academic year.

and a representative from Queen’s College, Cambridge. We are also grateful to OKs currently studying at Oxbridge who visited to offer some welcome last-minute advice.

KGS pupils’ awareness of the Oxbridge entry process, the demands of study and how best to prepare for the selection process has grown this year. Opportunities have ranged from a Fifth Year trip to St Anne’s College, Oxford (where three former KGS students are undergraduates) to a visit to our link college, Somerville – where a briefing on rowing opportunities proved very popular. In addition, March saw a number of Sixth Form students attending masterclasses at Cambridge colleges and others visiting the annual Epsom Downs Oxbridge Conference. Upper Sixth pupils participated in mock interviews with Simon Clarke, and interview training and interview skills workshops with Simon Bucknell

Excellent A Level results was the headline for August. Improving on last year, 80 of our students achieved places at their first choice university, eight at their second and eight through clearing. Of these, 11 – Emily Bertin (Veterinary Science), Alborz Farahati (Modern Languages), Finn Harman (Economics), Hazel Scurr (Geography), Maya Yousif (Education, English & Drama), Niamh Cullinane (English), Rachel Ibbetson (History), Kezia Milligan (Egyptology & Ancient History), Alex Saoulis (Physics), Sophia Shafiee (Classics) and William Vine (Mathematics) – won places at Oxford and Cambridge (with an additional student declining his offer). One student is following

a Foundation Art course at Camberwell and others are spending a gap year completing a tennis scholarship programme in the US and a ski season in Europe. Top choice universities were Bristol (11), Southampton (9), Newcastle, Nottingham, Bath and UCL (4), while top courses were History (16), Engineering (11), Politics (8), Psychology (8) and Economics (6). We are looking forward to the return of our successful Careers Dinners in 2016 – 2017. These begin in November with Media, Broadcasting, Journalism and Film-making and will be followed by a Visual Arts Careers Seminar in February. We are also excited to be introducing Unifrog to our Lower Sixth to enhance and streamline how students research higher education and increasingly popular apprenticeship routes. Mr A Fitzgerald and Mr S Morris

NEWS

An audience with Stephen Lehec How do you predict that the role of technology in schools, particularly social media, will change? As you know, I am quite keen on social media. Twitter can be a great vehicle for communicating news quickly and concisely; Instagram can send a powerful visual message. I use both in my role as Head Master to continue my aim of showing how social media can be used in a positive fashion. What I think that we can accurately predict over the next five to 10 years is this: technology will become invisible – or perhaps a better way of putting it would be that it will become ubiquitous. In the same way that we say “let’s take some notes” and pick up a pad of paper and a pen, we will instead be picking up our tablets, our smartphones, our laptops, and using them as we now use pen and paper. I feel it will be less a question of how technology is changing our lives and more a question of how we will use it to make learning more streamlined. What is your vision for KGS? When I joined I wanted to maintain what it already was: I certainly didn’t want to come in and initiate some kind of revolution! It is a very happy, purposeful, successful school. Who would want to change that? Along with the wish to maintain such a thriving community, my overarching vision was to maintain its holistic nature. This encompasses the success we enjoy on lots of fronts, including the wellbeing and development of our students and staff. I also saw the potential of growing our outcomes – academic, sporting, artistic, dramatic and musical – yet maintaining a sense

Upper Sixth Formers Matt Pugh and Lucy Cowan spoke to the Head Master about his vision for KGS.

of happiness and wellbeing so that we don’t become just another hothousing institution. That’s actually quite a challenge. My guiding philosophy is that you don’t have to sacrifice happiness and welladjusted young minds in the pursuit of all-round excellence. Similarly, I firmly believe that academic results do not need to be sacrificed in our quest to produce happy and holistically healthy students. My vision for KGS is that we provide as many opportunities as possible for the students, thereby helping to keep them well-rounded and sound human beings. I have previously talked of wanting to produce people from KGS who are going to go out and make a positive difference to the world and that desire still feels relevant today. What would you most like to change at KGS? That’s a tough question. I’m interested in subtly shifting the emphasis in the classroom from being more about teaching, as it is at the moment, to more about learning. What does this really mean? Well, to understand how people learn is to gain a great insight into how to teach. The best teachers are always learning too and the best learners understand how and why they learn. This is something I want to further instil at KGS. There are, as you would expect of a ‘new broom’, some other things I would like to change such as some of the buildings. I’d love a bigger and better dining hall and a more capacious library and study facilities. In the longer term, I’d love the School to have a sports hall and a fabulous new pavilion down at Ditton Field. Of course, there are many things I would

like to keep the same – the nature and sense of the School, the beautiful and historic Lovekyn Chapel, the feeling of heritage that comes from having been founded over 450 years ago. Nor do I want to change the friendliness and the happiness of the School or the sort of person that wants to come here, or, moreover, the sort of person that we produce. What was your biggest surprise about KGS? There were two – one ‘logistical’ and one more ‘philosophical’. I was told that, coming from twenty-odd years in all-male schools, I would find it a challenge managing girls! But of course, in reality, it wasn’t difficult at all. Girls are as willing, as resilient, as responsive and sometimes equally as challenging as boys and my experience at KGS so far has taught me that there is no one-size-fits-all or boy/girl divide. Everyone has their individual personalities and yet come together as a whole when times and needs must. Perhaps because I have two daughters, one teenager and one very much younger, I knew more than I realised. The other surprise was this: what I saw when I became Head Master was how little KGS knew itself. It was very contained and happy and was a school full of great learning and great wellbeing – but it didn’t necessarily celebrate and promote that. I’ll give you an example: there were far more ways in which KGS students could receive sanctions than they could be rewarded. People were far more worried about what to do if people got things wrong than how to reward people who were getting things right. This philosophical shift is something I have tried to guide the KGS community by reducing the burden of sanctions and increasing the rewards as well as the number

of roles of responsibility for students. Let’s celebrate who we are and what we do right and let’s be the very best version of ourselves we can be along the way. What do you find most challenging about being Head Master at KGS? The biggest challenge is actually getting out of my room! It’s too easy to become trapped for days on end with meetings and paperwork but the challenge of any Head is to get out from behind the desk and actually see what’s happening in the ‘real’ school. Hopefully I see enough activities and lessons, as well as a little teaching, to keep a balanced perspective. The other challenge, as I’ve mentioned, is getting KGS to realise just how good it is and how good it can be. That is, of course, a long-term evolutionary process. Do you prefer your role as Head Master or when you were ‘just’ a subject teacher? What a good question. I think that changes according to where I am at a given moment. When I am in the classroom I absolutely love it. It’s wonderful to stand in front of a room of faces that are waiting to be inspired. In an ideal world I’d teach more lessons; however, the marking of a pile of books on a regular basis on top of a Head’s responsibilities could be a little overwhelming and you might end up letting people down by trying to take on too much. Being a Head is exciting and exhilarating and gives you a chance to see the school in a different way. As a teacher in a classroom or on a sports field you can shape the lives of the students you come into contact with in that subject. As you gain promotion,

perhaps to Head of Year, Head of Department, Assistant Deputy Head, Deputy Head and ultimately to Headship, you have an opportunity to effect changes that will filter down, that will shape the lives of many people in a far more holistic way than being a teacher in an individual subject might allow. I find it an exciting, engaging and rewarding position.

the students feel cared for. Students will work to get the best grades as possible in subjects where they feel that the teacher is really on their side – it really is as simple as that. So the perfect teacher must always care. Must they be innovative? Not necessarily. I believe it’s important to understand what works; sometimes, old-fashioned methods are just as useful as the latest innovation.

Do you plan any changes to the curriculum?

How do you spend your spare time?

Not currently – the biggest change we made recently was changing the timetable. There are still a few things to iron out but I’m delighted that the School was able to adapt to it easily. I do think we could do a lot more with the conglomeration of science and mathematical subjects. You might have heard of the STEM issue – science, technology, engineering and maths – and I think we could explore that further. If we look to American and European examples of STEAM initiatives, which include art, graphic design, many different forms of engineering and computing, I think there is much to learn about sharing good practice. To be able to bring the subjects back together would be very exciting. If we could reverse the artificial division of certain subjects (such as physics and maths, where knowledge of one is vital for an understanding of the other) imagine just how inspiring that could be. Just to pick up on being innovative, what makes a perfect teacher? Must they be innovative? The short answer to that is the perfect teacher is a teacher who cares: cares about the student, cares about what they are delivering in the classroom, cares about the outcomes and that

I like playing tennis, I like going out for a good walk or a (light!) jog, I love visiting National Trust properties, especially when I can add to my historical knowledge. I read voraciously and I have set myself a task of reading three great authors from the first thing they had published to the last before they died. I want to get a sense of how they progressed as novelists. To ensure I have a good variety of genres, I am currently reading the entire works of John le Carré, Iris Murdoch and Graham Greene, one after the other. It’s a really good way of just looking at the language of different generations, times and places. Probably my greatest passion is following Crystal Palace. I go to watch all their home games, all other things being equal, and that’s where I can catch up with friends and enjoy the atmosphere of a well-supported club and the highs and the lows of supporting a fairly unfashionable and yet high level club. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them beat Watford in the FA Cup Semi-Final and by the time this article goes to press I’m rather hoping we will have won FA Cup Final! [In fact, Crystal Palace were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United – Ed.]

NEWS

2016 LEAVERS & OFFICERS OF THE SCHOOL 2016 Upper Sixth Leavers

Officers of the School

Front row from the left: Fergus Ainsworth, Holly Munro (Deputy School Captain), Mrs VS Humphrey (Pastoral Deputy Head), Mr S Lehec (Head Master), Stephanie Semple (School Captain), Will Burden (Deputy School Captain), Emily Bertin Middle row from left: Sophia Shafiee, Kezia Milligan, Niamh Cullinane, Ella Styles, Stephanie Martin, Josie Palmer Back row from left: Hugo Delattre, William Vine, Johnny Bridge, Will Hird

ART

EXPLODED AS IT LEFT On the 14th January a new art exhibition blasted onto the walls of the Baxter Gallery! Artists Jacob Seddon, Harry Bland and Beth Hadfield are soon to complete their final year of a Painting Degree at Wimbledon College of Art and snapped up the chance to exhibit their work in a show entitled ‘Exploded As It Left’.

between the unpredictable and representational. This is the first of many thoughtprovoking exhibitions to occupy the Baxter Gallery in 2016 which, in addition to showcasing the work of established artists, is emerging as a popular venue for local art students. Miss S Christie

Influenced by genres such as abstract expressionism, surrealism and street art, their paintings often break the traditional rules regarding composition and colour theory, creating an unsettling balance

SAD CULTURE This exhibition proved a fascinating opportunity for students, staff, parents and visiting art lovers to view a range of exciting pieces of artwork. Its aim? For artists to use paintings, prints and drawings as a means of questioning the nature of modern society and argue the relevance of art in communication. My initial reaction was to take a step back in order to appreciate the collection as a whole. Uniformly hung in two rows, the pieces each had distinct features yet it was also easy to recognise the subtle colour themes which progressed throughout. In addition, rather than the application of obtrusive labels – which can be prove a distraction

and direct the eye to the artist rather than the work – the creators of each were referenced in a handout. Thus, viewers were able to identify with the collection as collaborative work rather than exhibits from individual artists. The artists, who argued that modes of communication “have undergone a level of emoji-fication”, used modern details in drawings and block colours in paintings to suggest a level of almost pixilation throughout the works. My favourite piece was ‘Louis Vuitton, tdh axs present’, which could only be fully understood with its counterpart image. It consisted of a number of materials including: emulsion,

spray paint and an isolated piece of tape which obscured a large print of the named designer brand bag. The overall effect was quite eerie; it focused upon what seemed to be distant shadows, and pencil scored into the emulsion gave an interesting depth. The whole evening had a jovial atmosphere and a good turnout and, as the night drew to a close, the artists had to be persuaded to leave by Miss Christie, thus demonstrating its level of success. Jess Murray, Lower Sixth

Second Year Art and English trip to

Strawberry Hill House

ART

In 1749 Horace Walpole (son of Robert Walpole, Britain’s first Prime Minister) purchased a small and unremarkable property on the banks of the Thames at Twickenham. From the outset he had grand plans for the house and over the next 50 years made additions and refinements leaving it unrecognisable from the original and, in the process, inventing what was to become known as the ‘Strawberry Hill Gothic’ style. Walpole was fascinated by English history and avidly set about acquiring antique items that he felt cemented his connection with the past. Keen to share his finds, he set about creating a suitable venue for showing off his collection of historical oddities. Helped by a committee of friends, he cherry-picked details from a multitude of gothic sources and incorporated them into his designs for the house. More than anything else, what was achieved at Strawberry Hill House was a unique mood, so indefinable that Walpole created a new word, gloomth, to describe it. Undoubtedly it was this unusual atmosphere that induced in Walpole a vivid dream that inspired his novel, The Castle of Otranto (1765), considered to be the first gothic novel. So, where better to visit than the cradle of gothic itself, Strawberry Hill, to experience that elusive

gloomth and gather inspiration for spooky creative writing and design ideas for that most iconic of gothic creatures, the gargoyle. By chance our visit coincided with the staging of an exhibition of old and new sculptural work by the artist Laura Ford. The quirky and sometimes menacing quality of these sculptures served to accentuate the eccentricities of Walpole’s gothic vision. It was as if the house had been transformed into a series of sets waiting for the camera to roll on a terrifying horror movie. Strange cat-human hybrid creatures marched about the gardens with their hands covering their faces, weeping girls, their faces covered by wild hair, lurked in forgotten corners and bronze knights lay slumped in the library. Like Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker before her, Laura Ford had been inspired by Walpole’s vision, to create in visual form, her own nightmarish tales. We shuffled uneasily around the house learning from our guides about Walpole’s obsessive collecting and the delight he took in showing it off to the procession of invited

visitors that gathered here during the summer months. Every detail of the exterior and interior were carefully chosen to choreograph, precisely, the experience felt by every visitor. Whilst at Strawberry Hill the students created passages of gothic prose, used iPads to invent snippets of ghostly tales in comic book format and moulded clay to create imaginary creatures that could inhabit the spaces between the gothic window frames or balance on top of the roof pinnacles. Once back at school and fully steeped in the atmosphere and idea of gothic, the students carried out further research into the history and forms associated with medieval gothic gargoyles and grotesques and set about the design process to develop, model and glaze an army of these horrifying creatures. Animal shapes and textures were combined with human-like elements to conjure up the most wonderful and weird gallery of gargoyles imaginable. Mr J Dyson

ART

Chloe Taylor, Third Year

Rebecca Penrice, Fifth Year

Victoria Touzet, Third Year

Imogen Mobley, Upper Sixth

Millie Shafiee, Fifth Year

Alex Calver, Upper Sixth

Holly Harrison, First Year

Katie Ryan, Upper Sixth

Domi Rybova, Lower Sixth

Holly Munro, Upper Sixth

Issie Kwiecinski, Third Year

ART

Lucy Brake, Lower Sixth

Jess Francis, Fourth Year

Jess Murray, Lower Sixth

Will Touzet, Fifth Year

Rebekah Beaumont, Fifth Year

Katie Crawford, Fifth Year

Sophia Snow, First Year

Thea Eady, Fifth Year

Alice Tobin, First Year

Katie Ryan, Upper Sixth

ART

Alex Calver, Upper Sixth

Kimberley Djehanian, Fourth Year

Charlotte Higham, Second Year

Ben Mallinson, Third Year

Lily Abbott, Third Year

Natalie Shepherd, Lower Sixth

Shayma Al Saraf, Second Year

Alex Ritchie, Fifth Year

Charlotte Whittle, Fifth Year

Greta Weston, Upper Sixth

BIOLOGY

Biology

2015-16 saw the Biology Department flourish and develop an ever-growing social media presence...

Another glorious day for GCSE Biology field work. Fifth Year hard at work. #kgs #biology

When two-toed sloths attack...slowly...

Our continued academic success was highlighted on GCSE Results Day by gaining special mention on the School’s website. At A Level, eight of our 21 biologists took up places to study a Biology-related discipline at university, and one, Emily Bertin, accepted a place in Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge having achieved full marks in her A2 Biology exams – a feat never before achieved at KGS. In the labs, one of the highlights for some of the Upper Sixth biologists this year was Mrs Hansford’s genetic modification practical in which the pupils introduced a gene into bacterial cells that made them glow in the dark! Outside of the classroom there was a lot going on too. The Fifth Year enjoyed another blue-sky day of ecology field work in Richmond Park in September,

taking their classroom theory into the field, while the Lower and Upper Sixth were given a rare chance to hear a lecture from Professor Robert Winston from the BBC’s Human Body. In an evening at Tiffin Boys’ School, he spoke of his involvement in the development of the IVF technique. For the Second Year students, a trip to London Zoo was a source of much excitement, not least because some pupils not only got to see a father and baby two-toed sloth up close. We also learned that it is possible to wean such a creature at home – one of the zoo staff had done this when the mother had fallen ill after giving birth, but we don’t recommend it generally! Conservation work – rehabilitating injured and sick marmosets and reintroducing them into the wild

in South America and Asia – was also highlighted. The A Level field trip to Leeson House took place at the start of the Upper Sixth year. Despite the arrival of dusk earlier than would normally be experienced, the pupils worked hard for three days counting woodlice, contrasting fast-slowing and slow-flowing freshwater ecosystems and measuring limpet shell size, amongst other things, in the Dorset countryside. Mr M Rodgers

CHEMISTRY

Chemistry What a year it’s been in Chemistry! I would tell you a Chemistry joke to try and fill space in this article but there’s so much to write about and besides, all the good ones ‘Argon’! Ahem. Anyway, moving on, here are some of the Chemistry highlights of 2015-16: Excitement When electrons get excited, wonderful colour changes occur. It’s always thrilling teaching about flame tests around November 5th, and relating them to the fireworks which we all enjoy, but there has been lots more to get enthusiastic about in Chemistry lessons this year too. New A Level specifications have brought about positive changes in the way we approach practical work, with the Lower Sixth getting to try out a great range of new practicals, not to mention the delight surrounding their brand new lab coats too! Science week gave the opportunity for First Year Science lessons to be more charged (!) than ever, with experiments involving liquid nitrogen and slime bringing the opportunity to get stuck in with amazing bits of science; it was certainly a week which left all 110 students buzzing. Engagement In the Chemistry Department we understand that pupils learn more effectively if topics and themes are related to everyday life; we always make it our aim to do so. Our lunchtime ‘Chemistry of Chocolate’ event during Science week was an obvious example of this – the lab

was devoted to children learning how the structure of chocolate affects its taste. Chemistry displays are another key way of enthusing all with new and exciting discoveries with ‘Molecule of the Month’ proving a popular highlight – in fact, for many, a month hasn’t really started until the updated version of the Chemistry board is revealed. They cannot wait to learn what treats are in store. This year’s molecules have included Ptaquiloside (a nice toxic compound found in bracken), Urea, Menthol and, to end the Olympic Year, Olympicene! Enrichment For our most engaged chemists, particularly those who study it at A Level, there are wonderful opportunities to stretch and challenge beyond the confines of the syllabus. The Upper Sixth had the Chemistry Olympiad – our cohort of Emily Bertin, Will Hird, Will Burden, Hugo Delattre and Arjun Rao gaining four silver prizes and one bronze between them, an excellent achievement. Our Lower Sixth were also delighted to

participate in Cambridge University’s annual Chemistry Challenge and enjoyed a series of lectures in London where they heard experts in their field enthuse about Chemistry at university level and beyond – a truly enriching experience. And finally… In staffing news we welcomed Mrs Jeanes and Mrs Lett to the department, and bid a fond farewell to Mrs Stanley who has not only served as our technician for the last five years, but has kept us all – staff and students – in check! It has been a fantastic year – we look forward to what the next year holds. Mr C Wenham

CLASSICS

CLASSICS Classics Dinner Back in November, Lower Sixth students of Classics had their first experience of Greek theatre, sort of. ‘Medea’ at the Gate Theatre was certainly not Euripides’ ‘Medea’, but served as an interesting introduction to the story, conveniently staged as it was before our students began reading the play in lessons. Described as a ‘shadow play’ to Euripides’ iconic work of marital breakdown and revenge, the Gate Theatre production opened the students’ eyes to the reception of Greek theatre in the modern world and the impact of its lasting legacy. Later in the academic year, and by a fortuitous accident, the Classics Dinner fell on the Ides of March, the 2060th anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar. With such a significant date for our annual celebration of all things Classics at KGS, there was only one choice of speaker who could bring sufficient gravitas, auctoritas and humour

to the event – that prolific writer of Classical textbooks, the very eminent Dr John Taylor. On his previous visit to the Classics Dinner eight years before, an unfortunate printing error had meant that John had been unable to complete his talk. This year, with no such hazards in his path, he returned, complete speech in hand, to regale us with his favourite tale from Herodotus. As in previous years, we were joined for the night of frivolities by our friends and colleagues from Tiffin Boys’ School. With 75 attendees, all immensely excited to meet the great ‘JT’, this was the biggest, and, dare we say, best Classics Dinner yet. We would like to thank John for a very enlightening and entertaining evening.

First Year British Museum Trip Our younger pupils, too, were able to enjoy Classics ‘beyond the classroom’. In April, the First Year were treated to a trip to the British

Museum. Here, they were able to admire the Elgin Marbles, study Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi and many other artefacts which showed evidence of what life was like in Ancient Greece and Rome. We were also treated to a talk in a secret room, closed to the public, where we were able to examine some vases and pots more closely. As the trip was such a success, we arranged for the Third Year to also visit, later on in the year.

Sixth Form Destinations August saw yet more success for the Classics Department with two students gaining places at Oxford – Sophia Shafiee to study Classics and Kezia Milligan to study Egyptology and Ancient History. We would like to pass on our congratulations and wish them the very best of luck in what promises to be bright and successful futures. Mrs E Pytel

They were able to admire the Elgin Marbles and study Ancient Egyptian sarcophagi...

DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES

Junior School Production:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Adapted by Tim Kelly, 25th – 27th May 2016 Directors: Lucy Robinson and Eleanor Varley

Chris Wilding’s interpretation of an unimpressed Caterpillar was nothing less than inspired.

Last year marked the 150th birthday of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a novel that has morphed into countless adaptations in theatre, literature, film and ballet. The weird and wondrous nature of Alice’s adventures present a study of childhood and its lack of references to any specific age means it remains as relevant to audiences today as it did to those in the 19th century. There are almost as many styles of Alice as there are adaptations of Carroll’s novel, prompting the directors, Miss Varley and Miss Robinson, to discuss the identity of the heroine. They interpreted Alice’s confusion as she wanders through Wonderland as a metaphor for children and teenagers navigating adolescence, wherein their identities and innocence are challenged and changed. As a result, the decision was made to cast not one, but two students (Zoe Mason and Daisy Bainbridge) as Alice. The irritable and fantastical characters that Alice encounters were performed

convincingly by the First and Second Year actors; Josh Stainer captured the elusive mysteriousness of the Cheshire Cat, whilst Chris Wilding’s interpretation of an unimpressed Caterpillar was nothing less than inspired. Meanwhile, Tomas Caldon proved an impatient and, at times, comically aggressive Humpty Dumpty. Their performances were well matched by those students playing the various Wonderland Royalty: Esme Medley was the ditzyest of White Queens, Elizabeth Sweeney an incredibly stroppy Red Queen, Erin Shrimsley a formidable Queen of Hearts and Oscar Evans a convincingly bumbling husband and King. The aesthetic of this production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was inspired for the most part by the two most famous film adaptations of the novel: Walt Disney’s 1951 musical cartoon and Tim Burton’s 2010 adventure film, the sequel to which was released on the day of our final performance. The set, designed by Mr Edwards and

Mr Gray, captured the green forestry and flowers of the 20th century cartoon combined with some of the darker costume elements of Burton’s film (tribute must be paid once again to Miss Burrows for this) as a means of displaying the vision of the directors – a view of adolescence as both optimistic and frightening in turn: the flowers (Francesca Bern, Cathlyn Boyle, Amelia Barnes, Flora Gilmour and Maddy Clark) wore beautiful coloured paper headdresses and tulle skirts which contrasted strikingly with the dark green set while Tweedledee and Tweedledum (Beatrix Page and Arthur Prince) were not the hat-wearing, primary colour-clad jovial twins from the cartoon, but more akin to Burton’s prison guard-esque apparitions. All in all, this was a compelling and thought-provoking production. Well done to all involved! Zoe Sim, Fifth Year

DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES

Middle School Production:

Mad Forest ‘Mad Forest’ was a dark and gritty production which explored the impact of Nicolae Ceauşescu’s Communist regime on the people of Romania. Written by Caryl Churchill, in collaboration with students from London’s Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, the play fused the experiences of two families with verbatim accounts of the massacre at Timişoara. Act 1 is set before the uprising and tells of a nation living in fear, with both freedom of speech and religion controlled by the Securitate. In the midst of this, two families, the Vladus and the Antonescus, are battling between themselves – the younger generation want to push for change and the older fear repercussions. Fifth Years Luca Kamleh-Chapman, James Hall, Lucy Tait, Izzy Toner, Isobel Thom, Will Garside, Katie Crawford and Will Freeman showed their experience and talent as they carefully guided the audience through a montage of harrowing and emotional short scenes introduced by an American tourist. Act 2 saw personal accounts of the uprising and massacre at Timişoara. The striking image of the Romanian flag with the communist symbols torn out from the centre started the act. What followed were deeply moving accounts of the revolution. All of the actors in the verbatim section came from the Third and Fourth Year: Kitty Griffin, Jack Durden, Harry Torrance, Issy James and Omid Alavi were just a few who brought their characters to life through passionate and emotional performances, causing many audience

members to later comment on the maturity and dramatic power of the actors on stage. Act 3 provided another change of pace with both a documentation of the people’s response to Ceauşescu after his execution, the confidence which grew alongside freedom of speech and thought and the emergence of a new enemy – that of long-held and deep-seated racism and xenophobia. As the voices became louder and stronger, the differences that were once hidden beneath the fight against a common enemy appeared and threatened to destroy new-found freedom. The non-naturalistic characters of the Vampire (Lucy Evans) and Angel (Holly Godliman) proved a compelling means of communicating, directly to the audience, these hopes and fears. The design concept, built and initiated by Mr Gray and Mr Edwards, created a stark backdrop to the unfolding drama and drew the main themes of the play together. The bleak functionality of the homes, for example, juxtaposed with the violent imagery from the uprising while the vivid colour of the flags emphasised the fragile hope of the people amidst the projected images of violence and suffering. Mrs Borrows’ costuming was, once again, exquisite and paid precise attention to the text’s senses of mythology and tradition. Many congratulations to all involved in what proved to be a challenging and thought-provoking production. Written by Caryl Churchill, 10th – 12th February 2016. Director: Stuart Crohill Zoe Sim, Fifth Year

The nonnaturalistic characters of the Vampire (Lucy Evans) and Angel (Holly Godliman) proved a compelling means of communicating, directly to the audience.

DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES

Senior School Production: By Mike Bartlett, 25th â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 27th November 2015

What made you choose a contemporary play? I never really set out with the aim of choosing a play based on period, performance style or genre. I look for something that I enjoy and feel I can do something with. Of course there are always some constraints; appropriateness, cast numbers, design requirements, but generally, the choice for the Senior Play is based more on the challenge for the company, and what I hope they will enjoy working on.

Playwright Mike Bartlett explores current issues such as climate change and mental illness. What made you choose a Bartlett play? Bartlett is very much the playwright of the moment. His work is fresh and innovative and I enjoy that. I like to direct new work, particularly work that reflects the time we live in. ‘Earthquakes in London’ was very much of this ilk. Not just the theme of climate change, but also the way Bartlett played around with time and character. I liked the character of Peter, Freya’s daughter, who came to warn her about the future. This added an interesting dynamic to the play.

Last year, you directed ‘Blue Stockings’ a period piece by Jessica Swale, exploring women gaining the right to study at Cambridge. Given the contrast in the themes and styles of the last two productions, how did you adapt this into your directorial style? Well, ‘Blue Stockings’ is also a contemporary play; it simply uses a historical setting to communicate current ideas. ‘Blue Stockings’ was dedicated to Malala Yousafzai, and was written in response to her campaign for girls/women to be educated. The play almost dictates the directorial style. I tend to work from a physical image in my mind, and try to shape the piece accordingly. So my directorial style doesn’t differ that much per se, rather it is the focus on detail that is different. The opening scenes in ‘Earthquakes in London’ were a bit like flicking through channels on a TV; short and immediate.

Therefore, each moment needed to be snappy, and instantly communicate the key content of the scene. The directorial style tends to come from the structure or the content of the play.

The play included a heavy amount of technical design. Why were these elements present and what do you think they brought to the play as a whole? I wanted ‘Earthquakes in London’ to be edgy and contemporary in design and staging. I had to find a way of jumping between multiple locations in very short spaces of time. Hence we designed the set to have 12 small stages that could be used for a variety of locations, and used film/imagery to communicate this to the audience. The biggest challenge for this production was mapping which ‘stage’ would be used, and how the production would flow. It was a challenge to get the look, pace and atmosphere of the play as we had envisaged, but I think at this we were successful. So many moments were made by the inclusion of design; the epic time lapse of London at the start was stunning, as was the technical precision needed to show two characters on an aeroplane as well as the apocalyptic earthquake at the end.

Any ideas for upcoming plays? Presently, none whatsoever! I am currently having a ‘Bronte’ term directing two pieces based on Charlotte Bronte, and also Jean Rhys, author of ‘The Wide Sargasso Sea’ about the early life of Bertha. Both of these are by Polly Teale, another contemporary playwright! Perhaps I do favour new works or new adaptations after all! Jamie Bisping, Lower Sixth

DRAMA & THEATRE STUDIES

DRAMA

OVERVIEW This year KGS has seen talent in abundance, not only through the School plays, directed by the Drama Department, but through a wide range of shows and events including; House Dance, House Drama, the Sixth Form Drama Festival and the Kingston Revue. The first of these events was House Drama, the theme being ‘Childhood’. It was a brilliant evening, and every House delivered exceptional performances and ideas, which ranged from an imaginary friend, gender conflict, a drug transforming a child’s personality into one of an adult, and the development of a young girl into a teenager. However, it was Walworth who came out on top with a play set in a children’s residential care home, directed by Maya Yousif, Steph Semple, Paula Antalffy and Josie Palmer. It captured the true essence of childhood – a group of excitable children diving into the dressing up box, playing

Visit by Howard Charles, 25th May 2016 Actor Howard Charles visited KGS in June to talk to the 3rd, 4th and Lower Sixth Drama students about Drama School, working in the professional industry and his personal experiences of a career in theatre and film. Howard chose to study Drama at Kingston College and after two years he decided to go to Drama School. He studied at the prestigious conservatoire, Drama Centre London, where his mentor was Tom Hardy and he managed to gain representation by

games, using their imagination. It was both entertaining and inspiring, with its underlying feminist message defying the stereotypes that girls can’t play football. Congratulations to everyone who took part. In a similar vein, House Dance saw Taverner victorious due to a range of diverse, engaging and skilful dances. It was a well-deserved win. The three categories were as follows: duet, original choreography, and musical theatre. Each House delivered highly commendable dances, a great reflection of performing arts at KGS. The Sixth Form Drama Festival consisted of three performances: an extract from Closer by Patrick Marber, performed by the Lower Sixth Drama Scholars, and two A2 devised pieces. It was an evening flooded with nerves, excitement and astonishing performances all round. All the Upper Sixth Drama students involved in the examination pieces produced

known agent and “star maker,” Lindy King. He described Drama School as intense and challenging. He finished his training after three years, going onto his first job a few weeks before he officially left Drama Centre. His talk proved to be very inspiring, encouraging everyone to “be selfish” in achieving goals, and to not settle for second best. We were all very grateful to Howard for giving up his time to come and speak to us, and everyone left the talk being able to take away great advice and insight for a future in the acting industry. Charlotte Le Feuvre, Lower Sixth

outstanding work, tackling very strong social issues with maturity and eloquence. Finally, the annual Kingston Revue took place showcasing a wide range of talent, with performances from both Junior and Senior students. Once again, I hosted with Miranda Worth, and if I say so myself, we “stole the show” with our “outstanding” delivery (however, I may be biased). For the First and Second Years, the Kingston Revue served as an example of how a professional show takes place; they were able to be part of a merry, yet professional evening. “I’m not running a school play. I’m running a professional performance.” – came the inspiring words from Mr Crohill, whose sweat, blood and tears went into organising this event. I’m sure everyone would agree all that effort was definitely worth it! Jamie Bisping, Lower Sixth

D&T

Design

and Technology Design and Technology students excelled again this year, producing a wide range of creative GCSE and A Level coursework projects which were made to an extremely high standard of quality, functionality and finish.

Aaron Farr, Fifth Year – Off-Road Electric Scooter

We were delighted with our pupils’ success at GCSE and A level and hope that the fifteen Upper Sixth Formers who have chosen to study either Engineering or Design at university enjoy their undergraduate courses. We have been delighted to display finished coursework in The Finlay Gallery once again and encourage all to visit. Mr D Farr

Ethan Samama, Upper Sixth – Child’s Ride-on Toy

Sean Mansfield, Upper Sixth – Garden Lounger

Tom Davey, Upper Sixth – Contemporary Coffee Table

Grace Kelly, Upper Sixth – Contemporary Doll’s House

Charlotte Bassett, Upper Sixth – Child’s Rocking Toy

D&T

VEX Robotics

Regional Heat – Worcestershire 25th February 2016 Congratulations to the Kingston Grammar School VEX Robotics team for pulling off what can only be described as the most amazing comeback in Technology Club history. Vex Robotics originates from the USA and interest in the UK has grown from strength to strength over the last three years. This was our second year of competition and again we qualified for the National Championships in March. The aim of the VEX Robotics competition is for robots to collect and fire foam balls into a high or low goal, aiming to score as many points as possible within a two-minute time limit. An autonomous (no driver control) section and an extremely

challenging lifting challenge offer the possibility of earning extra points. For KGS, this heat did not begin well. Unfortunately, our robot had suffered a major software malfunction during the first match, rendering it dead and inactive and meaning that we could not compete. We were faced with the prospect of returning to school not long after arriving. Basically, it seemed we were heading towards a disaster. Luckily for us, however, and in the true spirit of the competition, a software guru from another team came to our rescue and, after helping us to reprogram the code, we were back in the competition with everything suddenly possible once again.

After a shaky start, improve we did and at the end of all qualification matches and alliance partnerships we had won not only the quarter finals and semi-finals, but were in the final. Here, after the ‘best of three’ matches, and despite a heroic battle, we eventually finished as runners-up. It was an amazing result, especially considering our initial technical problems. I can honestly say that we were both surprised and extremely happy. Very well done to the KGS team of Cameron Macpherson, Harry Fletcher, Thomas Skeates and Chris Wilding whose professional and hard-working attitude played such an important part in our rise from the ashes. Mr D Farr

Greenpower Electric Car Racing Congratulations to the Electric Car race teams for competing at the Dunsfold Heat of the Greenpower Electric Car race series.

A bright, sunny, and early, Sunday morning was the setting for our day at the iconic Top Gear track. After a nerve wrecking start – electrical problems with the faster aluminium car threatened our success – the end of the practice session saw both cars ready for the first of two races. In the opening contest, both the cars and their drivers performed extremely well and Team KGS completed the one-and-a-half-hour race with no incidents or breakdowns. This success was improved upon during our second trial where quick driver changes and fast lap times allowed

both teams to finish well up the field. Team KGS drivers took it in turns to burn up the Top Gear track, learning new and valued driving experience along the way. A very rewarding and enjoyable day was had by all. I’d like to extend my thanks to Mr Skeates for his help, and my congratulations to the team. Well done, KGS! Mr D Farr Dunsfold Park, Top Gear Track Sunday 20th September 2015

ECONOMICS

ECONOMICS In December, Mr Ricketts and Miss O’Brien took the Upper and Lower Sixth Economists to ‘Economics in Action’, which was held at UCL Institute of Education. Madsen Pirie (The Adam Smith Institute) spoke on ‘Economic misconceptions’, Trevor Williams (Chief Economist, Commercial Banking, Lloyds Bank) on ‘The relationship between financial crisis and regulation’, Beth Stratford (University of Roehampton) on ‘Live debates in ecological economics’, Waltraud Schelkle (London School of Economics) on ‘UK Economic Performance’ and Nicholas Chater (Professor of Behavioural Science, Warwick Business School) on ‘The unanchored decision maker’. ‘Anchoring’ is a Behavioural Economics concept. Professor Chater’s message was, “Economic models often assume that consumers know what they want. But often they don’t, and make their choices using crude comparisons, habits and by copying other people. It turns out

that a more realistic model of human behaviour can have significant benefits if you are running a business, or a country.” Behavioural Economics probably ‘arrived’ for most people in Britain in 2010, when David Cameron, then the new Prime Minister, established the Behavioural Insights Team (soon dubbed the Nudge Unit) in No 10 Downing Street. It was the world’s first government institution dedicated to the application of behavioural sciences. A Behavioural Economics option was first examined in the Pre-U Investigation paper (a component in the Pre-U Economics qualification and one which provides wide scope for independent study) in June 2015. We were very proud that Finn Harman and Wilhelm Johannis scored 40 and 36 marks out of 40, respectively, on this option. Mr P Ricketts

One way this argument is sometimes expressed is the claim that humans are more like Homer Simpson than Mr Spock.

Institute of Economic Affairs

Nicholas Chater Professor of Behavioural Science, Warwick Business School

ENGLISH

Shakespeare is overrated! The English Department’s debate of the motion: ‘Shakespeare is overrated’ was an exciting event to say the least with proposers, Mr Bond, Miss Knight and Mr Campbell, up against the tough opposition of Mr Smith, Miss Varley (a last-minute Mrs Garside substitute) and Miss Brackley. Opening for the proposition was Mr Campbell who argued not only that Shakespeare’s ability as a businessman surpassed his ability as a playwright, but that, controversially, Ben Johnson and Christopher Marlowe were more uniquely creative. His conclusion? Shakespeare was “more of a copier than a writer” and that he owes his fame to his heritage. “It is merely the idea of our Englishness which we don’t want to lose,” declared Mr Campbell, triumphantly. Mr Smith’s response was both cool and collected. First, and he was the only member of the department to remember his manners, he offered his thanks to Mr Campbell before suggesting that Shakespeare is the most “pre-eminent writer” in history “due to the richness of dramatic characters he has left.” Apparently, this was all too much for Mr Bond who, after uttering a loud cry of outrage, responded with a (lengthy) incredulous speech so definite in its belief and passionate in its manner that it didn’t actually ever form a question, despite Mrs Stones’ attempts at reminding him of the nature of the occasion. The second speaker for the proposition, Miss Knight, continued where Mr Campbell had left off by discussing the “holes” in the Bard’s

characters, likening the “intellectual” Hamlet to a sulking teenager before also pointing out the plot flaws in Measure for Measure where, she declared, “Shakespeare shoves characters into unwilling marriages.” Gathering momentum, she attacked the consistency with which “ridiculous character disguises are used,” pointing out that just as Mr Smith in a skirt would not pass as a “maiden”, neither is it plausible that a woman pretending to be a “statue for 16 years” wouldn’t be discovered. She met with answering nods from the audience. However, not to be quashed, Miss Varley answered that the joy of Shakespeare is in the fact that he invites his audience to “suspend their beliefs” and enjoy the “universal themes” explored. She also reminded the audience of the breadth of his works – over 100 sonnets and almost 40 plays – as testament to his prowess. The final speaker for the proposition, and perhaps the most memorable, was Mr Bond who began his speech by proclaiming not only that “David Garrick invented Shakespeare” one hundred years after his death, but that he did so simply to make money. He also stated that it was Garrick himself who had re-written the plays and who should be hailed as their creator and that their “universality” was the mark of “a clichéd writer” rather than of quality. Arriving at this conclusion, however, seems to have brought about an epiphany for Mr Bond; “English literature is a waste of time” he shouted, before announcing

“it’s all the same second-rate rubbish.” Both statements evoked quite a response from the floor. The final speaker for the opposition was Miss Brackley and, displaying a little more composure than her predecessor, she reminded the audience that during Shakespeare’s life he was regarded as the finest of writers “by all of his peers, including Ben Jonson.” She also explained that Shakespeare’s invitations to court, his plays’ popularity with the upper classes and his wealth were evidence of his skill, declaring “good business came from good quality”. Finally, expanding on Miss Varley’s point of universality, she reminded the audience that Shakespeare has been translated into over 100 languages “including Klingon”, as his themes can be understand across the world. Despite a valiant attempt by the opposition, the floor’s vote gave the win to the proposition. Interestingly, the subsequent vote of the motion itself was too close to discern, which makes the proposition’s success even more commendable. Despite being heated at times, Mr Bond was elected best speaker. Shakespeare would have been proud of his dramatic delivery. Jess Murray, Lower Sixth

ENGLISH

Third Year Short Story Winner:

A New Start “Well, this is it,” breathed Andy. The small Provencal villa that stood before the elderly couple had certainly seen better days. The broken shutters creaked in the wind, and the once beautiful oak door was reduced to a peeling mess. It was late, and the only light came from the moon, casting a ghostly shadow across the house. The gravel crunched underneath their feet as they walked, and the soft hum of insects echoed in their ears. Although it wasn’t cold, the cool breeze sent a chill down their spines. His wife Sarah cast her gaze over the sad and forgotten garden, the dead flowers hanging out over the edge of the pot, with a pile of wrinkled petals collecting beneath. It made her sad to see this, to see the once thriving plants looking so neglected. Andy fished a key out of his pocket, while Sarah leant heavily on her walking stick. After holding the door open for his exhausted wife he hauled in three heavy trunks, and laid them down inside. The house smelt old and musty, and Andy could feel dust particles collecting at the back of his throat. Sarah flicked the light switch on and off, with no success. “Oh no, the electricity’s gone,” she wheezed.

“We can make do.” Andy placed a comforting hand on her frail shoulder. She sighed. The journey had been lengthy and tedious, and the furniture wasn’t to arrive until tomorrow. It was to be a long night. “Ah yes!” Andy gave a triumphant cheer as he opened one of the large trunks, containing basic necessities for tonight: bread, jam, butter and water, and two large silver candlesticks. Sarah broke into a smile, these candlesticks had travelled everywhere with them, never leaving their side for 50-odd years. Andy had bought them for her at their wedding, and she had instantly fallen in love with them. Whenever she had them, she could always feel the faintest glimmer of hope, whatever the problem may be. Through the gloom, she could make out Andy fumbling around in the trunk for a matchbox, and could hear him breathe a sigh of relief when he found them. He hummed as he lit the candles, and Sarah forced a smile. His constant optimistic views were what had kept her going all these years, through all the ups and downs of life. Her mind was suddenly cast back to when their only child, Harry, was a little boy; it was his sixth birthday... She was so much younger then, and could run and play with him. She sighed as she remembered

the feeling of wind in her hair, the sun hot against her cheeks. She remembered this day clearer than anything else, the unclouded blue sky and gentle breeze soothing their minds of any worries they might have, making them disappear altogether. The smell of freshly cut grass in the park, the sound of the river crashing against the rocks – there was no place she’d rather be. She had never felt so alive, so energized, ready to take on the world with her aspiring explorer son. They had the best day, climbing trees and paddling in the river; Sarah had never felt happier. It was dusk when they finally left the park, and Harry ran on ahead while Andy and Sarah struggled with the bags. As they neared the car, the sound of a motor engine roared in the distance. Andy shouted out, “Harry, watch the road!” The little boy, oblivious to his father’s commands walked out into the road, one step, and then another. “Harry, stop, come back!” Sarah dropped her bags and proceeded to run after her son. The sound of the engine was getting louder and louder. Slowly, Harry turned around, his eyes wide with

fear. He stood staring at the car, frozen to the spot. “Harry, move!” The couple were sprinting after their child, shouting to get his attention, but to little avail. The car started beeping the horn, trying to get him to move. It slammed on the breaks, but it was too late. Sparks flew up from the wheels, and a piercing screech rang out into the air. Harry looked back at his parents running as fast as they could towards him, but there was little time left. Sarah shouted his name once more, and the boy look one last look at his mother, looking into her eyes, his filled with panic. Then the car hit him. “Sarah, what’s the matter?” She hadn’t noticed the tears rolling down her cheeks. As she looked into Andy’s soft brown eyes, she just wanted to crawl into them and never come out again. He grasped one of her hands between his, and she leaned down heavily on his shoulder. She looked at the room through the flickering candlelight. She guessed this had once been the living room; the only furniture left behind was a worn and tatty sofa facing two large windows displaying the garden. She could just make out the silhouette of a skeletal tree through them. The winter months had robbed it of its leaves

and it towered over them, reminding her of Harry’s favourite tree to climb. He had loved climbing in the winter – no pesky leaves to get in the way. They used to go out for early morning trips to watch the sunrise from the treetops. Sarah blamed herself for his accident, if only she hadn’t let him go so far ahead, or had started to run after him a bit sooner, he would still be here today, living a happy and thriving life, doing his parents proud. Instead his ghost haunted her from day to day, holding her responsible for his death. She took a deep breath and stood up, heading for the big double doors across the hallway. As soon as she stepped out she was transfixed by the scenery. Across from the murky pool and tangled flowerbeds there was a view so unimaginable she thought it could only existed in stories. The moon lit up the acres of lavender bushes and grapevines, and the smell of freshly picked lemons wafted up her nose. The purple lavender was just beginning to show in the early weeks of spring. Down at the bottom of the valley was the village, the lights illuminating the magnificent church tower, which was visible all the way from their house at the very top of the hill. She sighed, breathing in the cool night air. This was going to be a new start, a new lifestyle, a new life.

When she finally made her way back inside, Andy had put together a makeshift double bed, with the two candlesticks laid either side of it. Sarah really didn’t know how she would have managed without him; he had been her rock, someone to lean on through all the pain. Without even saying a word, he opened his arms and she hobbled over and sank into them. Nothing had ever felt so comforting. “It's okay,” he whispered. “Things are going to change. Think of it as our great adventure.” “Harry would’ve been proud,” she smiled back. Sarah slowly sat down on the bed, and looked up at her husband, his old, worn face illuminated by the flickering candlelight. “Thank you,” she whispered. “It’s okay, I love you.” Andy lowered himself into bed while Sarah blew out the candles, careful to keep each one standing by their bedside, protecting them from danger. Then she lay down next to him and they fell into a blissful moment of sleep. Natasha Burrell, Third Year

GEOGRAPHY

GEOGRAPHY The Geography Department have had another very busy year...

We welcomed Dr Coulber, as maternity cover for Mrs Fine, and Mr Hardy as well as inducting Miss Noble who has been completing the HMC Teacher Training Scheme. Prior to the start of Autumn term, Mrs Humphrey and I were involved in HMCTT training, having been asked by HMC to present to all new Geography trainees at their conference in Stratford upon Avon. This was a prestigious invitation and I am delighted to be returning to repeat my presentation this coming August. Following this exciting start, the calendar quickly filled with activities. In the first month back, all Fifth Years completed their Controlled Assessment GCSE fieldwork in Kingston, investigating the functional differences within the settlement. All appear to be of an exceptionally high standard and we are delighted with the students’ hard work. Next, it was the turn of the AS Level geographers to take to the field, travelling to the Cranedale Centre in North Yorkshire to investigate downstream changes along the River Derwent. A regular clash with the London Hockey finals saw Mrs

Sherwood lead a small, intrepid band of pupils on the train to York to ensure they had the opportunity to complete their fieldwork. Sustained by Cranedale’s gourmet suppers and unlimited hot chocolate, our geographers made excellent progress and developed a rigorous understanding of the Geographical Skills element of the AQA course. Just five days separated one field trip from another, as we took the largest ever group of KGS pupils on an overseas ‘awe and wonder’ tour of Iceland. Eight teachers and 67 pupils braved the diversity of weather that Iceland had to offer, enjoying a geographical circuit of the ‘Golden Circle’, an eight-wheel drive experience up the Þórsmark Valley, whale watching from Reykjavik and a swim in the Secret Lagoon. Such was the enthusiasm of the pupils, Mrs Humphrey is now offering future trips for our Junior cohort, while even more adventurous pupils will be given the opportunity to sign up for an expedition to the remote northeast of the island in the Sixth Form. As a means of improving outdoor educational provision for our pupils, a new field trip for First Year

geographers, led by Mrs Humphrey and me, was introduced this year. Such was its success, it was then implemented during Activity Day. Pupils were required to walk over the North Downs to Ranmore Common and through Denbies Vineyard before arriving at the viewpoint at the top of Box Hill for a well-deserved packed lunch. Along the way they investigated local geology and took measurements of the River Mole. New trips for Third Year and GCSE cohorts are also planned, while I am investigating the possibility of a more exploratory trip for the new A Level Geography syllabus to investigate glaciation on the Isle of Arran. Within school, we offer a number of exciting opportunities for our geographers to experience the diversity of the subject. February saw Mr Forsyth, our Antarctica aficionado, presenting a seminar to the Second Year where he explained the issues associated with living and working in such an inhospitable environment. The talk coincided with research into how to survive on the frozen continent and pupils were enthralled by Mr Forsyth’s tales of the issues he faced when working for the

GEOGRAPHY British Antarctic Survey. On top of this, aside from the educational lectures that A Level students have attended, older pupils have also been encouraged to join the Royal Geographical Society in order to enjoy the world-renowned Monday night lecture series. We encourage all budding university geographers to join the RGS – for more information please speak to Mrs Sherwood, Mrs Humphrey or me; we are all Fellows. Other opportunities for our pupils have included attending a number of Geographical Association events at local schools and enjoying a Geography Breakfast Club, which was also begun this year. Here, pupil members of the Department deliver lectures on topics ranging from ‘Glaciers and Glaciation’ to ‘The Geography of Film’. Our hope is that keen Sixth Formers will be inspired to research, and present, talks of their own in the future.

The Department’s continued focus on developing ‘academic rigour’ has meant that staff are always seeking to further their subject knowledge to ensure that we are aware of all cutting-edge research. In addition, I have been elected onto the Geographical Association’s ‘Fieldwork and Outdoor Learning Special Interest Group’ which helps to shape the development and implementation of fieldwork in education in the UK; this should present an exciting opportunity to develop the provision of fieldwork for pupils at KGS. Finally, Miss Jenkins’ Easter visit to Sacred Heart, our sister school in Ghana, to develop teaching and learning resources for their pupils, has led to a closer connection, and understanding, between students at both schools. In the light of changes to the GCSE and A Level examinations, it is important not to lose sight of the importance of pupils enjoying the subjects they study. From coming

second and third in the regional World Wise Quiz at Hampton School, to the purchase of a drone to take on field trips and the use of new GIS software (ArcGIS Online), the Department is trying to engage pupils to take an interest in the world around them and engender a love of studying Geography. It is an incredibly exciting time to be a geographer and clearly our pupils agree, with increased numbers opting to study the subject next year at GCSE, A Level and university. I would like to thank my colleagues for all their hard work in helping the Department to flourish over the past year, and KGS students for their enthusiasm both inside and outside the classroom. Mr H Waddington

HISTORY

Modern History is the most relevant and interesting period of History to study today The History Department loves to debate; after all, History is all about interpretation and argument. Spurred on by our own scholars’ debate in March on the relevance of Europe in Britain’s development, which saw the History staff go head to head with each other, we have set two of our top A Level students a topic to discuss the proposal above.

Agree Thomas Sweeney, Lower Sixth In order to understand modern times it is natural for us to want to understand the Modern History that has shaped us. The changes that occurred to political systems all over the world in the 19th and 20th centuries have defined today’s world politics – after all, the terms ‘left’ and ‘right’ wing have their origins in the French Revolution, which is regarded as the start of

Modern History. The Industrial Revolution, consumerism and mass production have shifted the power and mechanisms of capitalism into the hands the masses rather than the elite, with the rise of the ideals of a meritocracy, particularly in the United States. Furthermore, the writings of Karl Marx in 1848 have had profound effects on the left wing, both moderate and extreme. Geopolitically, one can very often account for a country’s development of its status during the colonialism of the 19th century; those who colonised during this period dominate the world economy today and those who were colonised are struggling to compete. Modern History is also by far the fastest changing period for civil rights on many different fronts. Female suffrage being granted in New Zealand in 1893 was a catalyst for the same right to be granted across the world, in the UK in 1918 and the US in 1920. The 101 years between the existence of slavery in the US and African-Americans being granted full civil rights was a period of intense turmoil resulting in greater recognition

of ethnic minorities although there is still much to be done on this issue. The legalisation of homosexuality through to the global movement towards gay marriage and the greater discussion and acceptance of transgenderism all show great advances for the LGBT+ community. When compared to the medieval and early modern period it is obvious that there is a much faster pace of change and that this change is more relevant to us today, making Modern History a more important and interesting section of history to study.

Disagree Daisy Parker, Upper Sixth There is a common misconception that Medieval History, or indeed anything that took place before the 1800s, is neither relevant nor interesting. This is not the case. All you need to think of is the romance of the Tudors, the intrigue of the Stuarts, the brutality of the Civil War, and the curiosity of the Enlightenment to see that this is a fascinating part of the past.

HISTORY Not only was Medieval and Early-Modern History the most dramatic, but it is the origin of who we are. To only look back on the last two hundred years is to miss out on some of the most influential moments in history, and will not fully explain why society today is how it is. The signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 laid the foundation of freedom and democracy, becoming a symbol of liberty which still lasts today. Indeed, the document is often cited by politicians and campaigners and forms the basis of our current beliefs about human rights. Another turning point was the English Reformation, which limited Papal power and caused a schism in the European church. It had a global impact way beyond Early-Modern Europe, as because of the Reformation much of the New World was shaped, missionaries increased through the world, and Renaissance thinkers could speak with less fear of persecution.

Not only is Medieval and Early-Modern History relevant, but you cannot deny that it is also interesting. Just look at how the Wars of the Roses inspired one of the greatest phenomena of our time: Game of Thrones. 23 million weekly viewers cannot be wrong! Or even consider Harry Potter, where the European witch craze is referenced numerous times in order to explain why â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mugglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are not allowed to find out about magic. Therefore, while Modern History may have happened more recently, it is Medieval and EarlyModern History which I believe offers the most exciting stories, most influential events and the origins for the world we live in.

History Overview Luckily for our A Level students they do not need to choose between Early-Modern or Modern History, as the Department offers students

a breadth of topics to study. With units ranging from Genghis Khan to Tony Blair, and from Moscow to Berlin, students are encouraged to explore a wide range of areas from the past in order to expand their historical understanding. This is one of the things that makes the subject so popular at KGS. Whilst we are extremely pleased with our excellent academic results and are delighted with the success of our GCSE and A Level students this Summer, we also take much pride in the number who choose to study History at KGS and beyond. History remains by far the most popular optional subject at GCSE with over 70% of the year taking it, and it is second only to Maths at A Level. The Department also had 25 students leave to study a History-or Politics-related degree at university this year, all of whom recognise the importance of the subject and have a deep and genuine interest in the past. As a department we hope we can continue to instil this love of History in our students, as we believe it all to be interesting and relevant. Mrs A Angell

“You need to understand History if you want to change the present.” James Dyson

“History is just lots of stories. I find it really interesting learning about them all.” Steph Martin

“I like finding out about how the past has influenced different cultures.” Zoe Lowery

“I am interested in why the world around us is as it is.” Tristan Taylor

“I like seeing how people have responded and learnt from the past.” Jamie White

“I like being able to see how we have changed and how we have stayed the same.” Rachel Ibbetson

Leavers’ History

Quotes

MATHS

The Maths Department at KGS has long believed in the importance of developing wider interests in our subject and doing Maths for fun! Maths Mentoring sessions now run twice-weekly at lunchtimes.Two members of staff lead each session and are assisted by Sixth Formers to provide small group or one-toone tuition for revision or written tasks. The proactive and enthusiastic atmosphere has attracted a large number of students from First Year to Upper Sixth and we look forward to building on this success next year. And it is not only those seeking support who have benefitted, but the mentors too, evidenced by the

numbers of Lower Sixth – 30 in total – who opted for this as part of the Community Service Programme. While most volunteered to be classroom assistants for Junior sets, a few preferred to see an individual once a week. Both Junior and Lower Sixth students found the experience to be both enjoyable and rewarding commenting that, ‘It’s great when they understand because you’ve explained it’ and ‘I can remember learning at this age and enjoy finding ways to explain the ideas.’ Later in the year, over 100 KGS Lower Sixth and Fifth Years attended a day of lectures on wider aspects of Maths. The talks from writers and lecturers, including Simon Singh, proved to be both informative and entertaining and showed the impact of mathematical ideas on the everyday life. In school too, we

promoted the wider application of our subject with Mr Skeates offering extension classes on Proof, Graph Sketching and STEP questions while Mr Connor led a trip to Oxford exploring opportunities for Mathematics at university. We are planning to develop this link further next year. A record number of students also took part in the individual Maths Challenges, opening up the competition to as many students as we could fit in the Hall! A total of 53 gold, 82 silver and 80 bronze certificates were awarded across all three competitions with 33 students progressing through to the second round where Toby Cole achieved a distinction and medal for the Cayley paper and Charlotte Smith a merit for the Hamilton paper. Charlotte’s excellent performance

MATHS

A record number of students also took part in the individual Maths Challenges...

also led to an invitation to the prestigious UKMT Summer School for gifted students and three Third Year students, Toby Cole, Tim Baker and Izzy Hebburn, were invited to a series of Saturday morning Maths Masterclasses at Kingston University in January and February. 2015-2016 also proved a bumper year for success in team competitions. In November our senior students, Stefan Hales (Upper Sixth), Will Vine (Upper Sixth), Jenny Shpeter (Lower Sixth) and Nicole George (Lower Sixth), enjoyed the UKMT Senior Team Challenge at Kingston University and our Fourth Year team, Charlotte Smith, Max Cairney-Leeming, Stacey Kozhevnikova and Kyungsung Kim, took on many of our local rivals in March in the Year 10 Maths Feast, winning the ‘countdown’ round.

These competitions concluded with the wonderful success of our Junior team of Toby Cole (Third Year), Izzy Hepburn (Third Year), Penny Cairney-Leeming (Second Year), Ricky Rim (Second Year) and Malik Saparov (Second Year), who reached the National Final in June and came 13th out of 88 schools, our best result in this competition. The annual Hans Woyda Competition, involving 64 schools and named in honour of a renowned former Head of Mathematics at KGS, took place in the first half of the year. Mr Connor and Miss McBrien guided the team to our finest result in years when they became runners-up in the Southern Plate competition. In the group stages we lost to Tiffin Boys on the final question but convincing victories over St George’s College and Sir William Perkins led us to the

semi-final against Tiffin Girls, where we were also victorious. The final against Dulwich College proved formidable. However, the hours of lunchtime practice and after-school trips certainly paid off and we are extremely proud of this year’s team: Gabriel Thompson (Captain, Upper Sixth) Nicole George (Lower Sixth), Hakeem Shittu and Kate Jarvis (Fifth Year), Charlotte Smith (Fourth Year) and Toby Cole (Third Year).

Miss L Collison

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES 11 Nov 2015 Creative Writing Evening at KGS @KGSheadmaster @KGS_news #mfltwitterati #langchat

MFL TWEETS See what we’ve been tweeting about this past year at KGS!

23 Feb 2016

Third and Fourth Year German Students at the ‘Deutsche Schule’ in Petersham this morning. @KGSheadmaster @KGSnews

Our German debaters are making a good start. @KGS_news #mfltwitterati #langchat

15 Mar 2016

18 Apr 2016

Our German students are watching a German play this morning. @KGSheadmaster @KGSnews

20 Jun 2016

Italian workshop with First Year students! Che divertimento! @KGSheadmaster @KGSnews

Spelling Bee at KGS. Congratulations to the winners, Queen’s! @KGSheadmaster @KGSnews

6 Oct 2015

Spanish play. Don Quixote de la mancha. ¡Qué divertido! @KGSheadmaster @KGS_news #Spanish

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Language Leaders The Foreign Language Leader Award, an initiative organised by the charity Sports Leaders UK, is a co-curricular programme open to groups of Third and Fourth Year students. Successful candidates receive a Language Leader Award and a certificate of achievement. This is the second year that KGS has taken part in this fantastic initiative. The current Leaders (Clara Lyckeus, Victoria Touzet, Jess Francis, Joe Young, Izzy Pleasance, Ellie Lord, Kitty Griffin, Ciara Kennedy, Lily Abbott, Athena Kent-Egan and Camila Carbajal) are developing their language and leadership skills through a series of 30 weekly language and cultural activities which last for an hour each. During the sessions, students are given the opportunity to improve their language and leadership skills, subject knowledge and confidence through a range of activities.

These include: learning how to plan, and then teach, lessons and how to organise cultural projects and language-related events. So far, Leaders have taught their first lessons to First and Second Year classes at KGS and conducted themselves professionally and enthusiastically. They found it a rewarding and enjoyable experience and feedback on the lessons has been extremely positive. Some of the pupils’

comments included: ‘we learnt new things and the activities were exciting and interactive’, and that the teachers were ‘friendly and fun’ and ‘good at helping people out’. We look forward to seeing KGS students teaching in local primary schools in May. Miss R Pastore

Experience at St Joseph’s On Friday 6th May we went to St Joseph’s Primary School in Kingston to teach language lessons. On entering the school we were given a smiley welcome by a Year One girl, eager to hand us our visitor passes and show us around the building. Various colourful themed and linguistic display boards decorated the walls as we set up in our first classroom. There was definitely an aspect of nervousness amongst all of us as the daunting prospect of teaching a class of Year Fours (an age we can hardly imagine being anymore) a whole new language to which they had only limited exposure, awaited.

However, with the first few ‘holas’ and ‘bonjours’ out of the way, and realising that the students weren’t planning to run riot around our classrooms but were beginning to absorb the new vocabulary and grammar we were throwing at them left, right, and centre, some of the trepidation began to fade away. In fact, the pupils took the new, foreign, words on board faster than any of us would have been able to at this stage in our lives and we found ourselves called all over the classroom to check work that had been completed in a matter of minutes.

Opera Workshop

The children impressed us all with their receptiveness, how quickly they learnt everything, and how able they were to apply that learning to games such as Chinese Whispers and Splat which brought out their competitive natures. With the lessons going full steam and the students’ ambitious questions making even us stop for thought at times, any worries disappeared and time began to fly by. We all absolutely loved the experience and are very much looking forward to teaching at our next primary school. Joe Young, Fourth Year

MUSIC

On Thursday 11th February, all First Year students took part in an enjoyable and inspiring experience. Four members from the English Pocket Opera visited KGS for the day, treating us to songs from the opera Carmen. Each class was taught a different song, which we would not only sing, but also act to all the other First Years. We enjoyed helping out with different parts, acting out the various characters with huge smiles on our faces. The songs tested not only our musicality, but also drama and singing skills. However, the visitors made the performances exciting and fun, and it gave us opportunities to try out new things. At the end of the day, the English Pocket Opera performed an array of excerpts from the opera and when it was time to hear how the professionals do it, everyone sat in awe of the huge talent and dedication shown by each member of the opera company. Anna Le Huray, First Year

MUSIC

MAGGINI PARTNERSHIP PROJECT

CHAMBER MUSIC Goethe famously described chamber music as “four rational people conversing”; what he didn’t articulate, however, is how this kind of communication can hold an extraordinary magic, and be spellbinding for an audience to watch and witness. Whereas orchestral and choral music performances tend to be “presentational” (presented as a product, on a stage), chamber music is intentionally an intimate experience, and at its best it is breathtaking. Unfortunately, music making in a “chamber” setting, particularly of “classical” music, is often something of which students have little or even no experience, in or out of school. Even when they have the opportunity to play chamber music, students can find it challenging: string players are often used to either playing to their teacher, in private, or hunting in packs, in orchestras – and they can be paranoid about tuning, so performing individually often does not come naturally; wind players are generally more used to solo performing within orchestras, but balance issues can cause problems with both the different types of brass, or the different characteristic

timbres of flutes, oboes, bassoons and clarinets. For all players, issues of ensemble – playing together, without a conductor, responding to each other’s idiosyncrasies, and communicating through sound not words – are complex and stretching, but ultimately hugely rewarding. Our project with the Maggini Quartet is a fantastic way for our most talented students to be introduced to, or deepen their knowledge of, chamber music. The Maggini Quartet, one of the finest British string quartets, have won international awards for their recordings, including Gramophone Record of the Year, and twice being nominated for Grammy Awards; they had a long-standing collaboration with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, and several other leading composers. In this year’s project, five different groups spent two half terms working on a broad variety of music with professional coaches and having their performances refined in two workshop masterclasses before they then shared a platform with the internationally renowned Maggini Quartet in a concert in February. This enabled them to work on pieces with minute attention to detail, discussing such

interesting issues as quality of vibrato and how to express the individual contrapuntal lines in carefully measured, appropriately judged ways, so that the overall effect of the different lines has maximum textural interest. The concert included celebratory brass ensemble music from Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks; a well-nuanced Haydn String Quartet movement; a charming flute trio by Koepke; the smooth, mellifluous Fauré Sicilienne; and, to finish, the first movement of the Debussy Piano Trio, a challenging piece rarely performed below Conservatoire level but carried off by Mr Tierney, Vivek Haria and Lucy Roberts with considerable panache. The Maggini Quartet then performed Schubert’s String Quartet in A Minor, a fascinating work that provided a superb example of what the students can aspire to and thrilling the appreciative audience. All concerned agreed that it was a fantastic concert, and a real pleasure to hear such excellent music-making; the students should be very proud of their achievements! Ms P Hyde

Goethe famously described chamber music as “four rational people conversing”; what he didn’t articulate, however, is how this kind of communication can hold an extraordinary magic...

MUSIC

KGS Song Productions The piano will always be my primary musical devotion. But alongside that, I have produced electronic music since my childhood; synthesis, sampling and studio technology in general becoming something of an obsession. During my first year at KGS I remember being extremely impressed with the raw musical talent within the students. Some of the performances I heard throughout the year were astonishing in their creativity. It was not, however, until the end of year Second Year examinations, when I heard Jemima Baker and Isobel Thom sing their composition, ‘I’ll Be Found’, that I had the sudden thought that ‘this needs to be recorded!’ Since working on this first track, I decided to make it an annual competition; the best, or most suitable song written, would be selected for a full studio production.

The only problem I have now is that our students write such good songs that I sometimes find it very difficult to decide between a number of them and end up producing two or three at a time. This, of course, is easily balanced by the fact that I love doing it. The process begins very simply. I listen to each group as they are writing and rehearsing. Occasionally, something happens and I begin to hear all sorts of musical ideas and possibilities in my head. If, after the lesson, I can’t get the tune out of my head for a while, I know I am onto something. There are many aspects of this process that I love; the moment when I tell someone their song will be produced; the beginning stages of the project where I start to see the music take shape; the thousands of listens that happen over the summer in order to trigger the next musical

idea; the vocal recording when the student still has no idea what their song will sound like. Perhaps the best moment is when I finally play the finished result to the students involved. This is usually the first time they have heard their song in its full form – I like to be fairly secretive until the end. This year is no different. If anything, it will be harder to choose. The exam process has started and I already have five or six songs in mind. Every year it seems to get better and better, the songs more varied and the process more exciting. Based on all of this, I was recently struck with a new idea that, on the surface, seems incredibly ambitious but I think we can do it. But more on that another time! soundcloud.com/sequencekomplete Mr J Tierney

PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy & Ethics In the words of a former KGS pupil who is currently studying Philosophy at university, the brilliance of our subject can be spelled out as follows “Persuasive, Happy to argue, Inquisitive, Listening to Opinions, Scrutinising, while remaining Open-minded, Probing, then Harvesting ideas, because we Yearn for answers.”

The Department has certainly continued to harvest many ideas over the past year and maintained our strong tradition of friendly argument and open-minded and inquisitive probing! We started September 2015 with the confidence that our results had improved yet again. Our Summer GCSE grades revealed a 26 per cent rise in the number of A*s: 42 per cent of all modules taken achieved 100 per cent while 97 per cent awarded were either A or A*. In addition, in the Lower Sixth, 86 per cent of our pupils achieved grade A at AS Level while 76 per cent of last year’s Upper Sixth students were awarded either A or A*. Ten of this latter cohort of students went on to study a Philosophyrelated course at Russell Group universities, with Max Salisbury and Duncan Green gaining places at Oxford for PPE and Philosophy & Maths respectively. This year, five students – Georgie Cossey, Owen Paterson, Johnny Bridge, Carmel Galvin, and Bea Sayer – are continuing with the subject at university too. And we already have interest from five Lower Sixth students wishing to study a Philosophy-related course as they approach their UCAS applications. The past year has also been a stellar one for trips. While we have continued with our tried-and-tested model of visiting a Buddhist temple in Second Year, we have also taken the opportunity to pilot some new excursions. This year, our GCSE and A Level students had the privilege of hearing Philosopher Peter Vardy expound his views on various topics, including cosmology and medical

ethics, at a series of lectures in central London. In addition the First Year heard talks by visiting speakers on the topics of Quakerism, the Catholic Church, Buddhism and inter-faith dialogue; but by far the highlight of all of these was our Third Year visit to a North London synagogue to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in January, by hearing from a married couple who had emigrated to the UK as part of the Kindertransport initiative, just before the Holocaust. The Department – staff and students alike – have also kept our popular extra-curricular clubs thriving. Touchstone – our weekly Sixth Form Philosophy & Ethics debating sessions - went from strength to strength. On the ethical questions front, particular highlights include debates on the following questions: ‘What if you disappeared within your own mind, only to resurface years later without anyone knowing?’ and ‘Should we build a better humanity through eugenics?’. More philosophically speaking, some fascinating questions were discussed, including ‘Can machines ever be considered sentient?’, ‘What is reality?’, and ‘Would you be the same person if you were teleported?’. Touchstone’s attendees did not just stop at participating in these fruitful debates, however, they also put up a very noble fight at the annual Touchstone vs Gibsoc debate in March. While James Dyson and Laura Marcus batted off difficult points of information with aplomb, it was sadly not enough against the Gibsoc team who argued victoriously in support of the motion that “This house believes that a culture does not have the right to impose its views on others”. Not deterred by

defeat, we managed to find time to celebrate the club’s achievements of the year at the annual Touchstone dinner in May, which was philled with philosophical phun, puns and games. Our Touchstone feeder workshop – the Philm club – also had a successful twelve months of debate discussing, for example, the philosophy of artificial intelligence (using the film I, Robot as our stimulus) and whether killing should be used as entertainment (with Die Hard spurring this debate forward). Last but not least, this year we launched the ‘Have-I-Got-Ethical-News-For-You’ club (more affectionately known as HIGENFY), at which students consider topical news stories that focus on moral issues. Particular highlights have included conversations about the impact of ISIS, Donald Trump, Brexit and the Chilcot report. We look forward to the coming academic year with anticipation and excitement: due to government reforms, both our GCSE and Sixth Form courses are changing fairly dramatically. We begin our new GCSE syllabus with the OCR examination board and look forward to including a more rigorous look at religious beliefs and practices, as well as at philosophical and ethical issues, from both a Christian and Muslim perspective. We are also excited about teaching the Pre-U qualification (as offered by the CIE examination board) for the first time, and feel its heightened emphasis on the evaluation of philosophical and theological ideas will serve our students well. Mrs C Williams and Mrs H Hunt

PHYSICS

Life is not easy for any of us, but what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted in something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.

WOMEN IN PHYSICS Marie Curie (7th November 1867 – 4th July 1934) was born in Poland. Although she was unable to become a teacher (due to the fact that her family were unable to afford for her to have a formal higher education) after being offered lodgings in Paris by her sister, in 1891, she decided to study Physics and Mathematics at the Sorbonne in Paris. Once there, and having finished her degree, she and her husband Pierre became research workers at the School of Chemistry and Physics, focusing on the recently identified invisible rays given off by Uranium. During this time, they discovered Pitchblende which contained Uranium ore, but was more radioactive, and were convinced they had discovered a new element. They went on to extract a black powder 330 times more radioactive than Uranium and called it Polonium which, they found, contained another even more reactive element which, in 1902, Marie finally managed to isolate – it became known as Radium. In 1903, Marie Curie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize – in Physics – which she, her husband and physicist Henri Becquerel were awarded for their discoveries. Sadly, in 1906, Pierre was killed

in a street accident, but Marie went on to receive another Nobel Prize – this time in Chemistry – in 1911 for creating means of measuring radioactivity. During World War One, Marie Curie’s work continued as she strived to develop a mobile X-ray unit. Known affectionately as the Petites Curies, the units were quickly implemented into French field hospitals and by 1914, as Director of the Red Cross Radiology Service, she was working close to the front line with her daughter, Irene, X-raying wounded men. In 1934 she sadly died of pernicious anaemia caused by years of exposure to radiation. She was arguably the first woman to make such a significant contribution to science. As a girl studying Physics A Level, a subject still disproportionately chosen by boys, I think it is important to see and appreciate the achievements of female scientists such as Marie Curie. It is inspiring to learn about what women have been able to achieve in the past and an indication of all that may be achieved in the future. Elspeth Birchall, Lower Sixth

POLITICS

School EU Referendum In keeping with our up-to-the-minute approach to topical issues, the Politics Department decided in late December 2015 to stage a mock referendum on EU membership.

Lower Sixth pupils spent February to March forming campaign teams, planning strategies, writing propaganda speeches and designing posters. Thursday 26th May was the official launch of the Leave and Remain campaigns in which speakers, supported by some 60 flag waving supporters across the school, delivered their vision for a Britain either inside or outside the European Union. Sophie Gallagher and Oliver Cole led the way for Remain, making a passionate and well-informed case for staying in the European Union by focusing on the wider benefits membership brings, along with the dangers to the economy of BREXIT. On the Leave side, Matt Pugh, Teddy Coward and Alex Cozens argued that Britain would be better off severing ties with the EU, making direct appeals to the patriotism of KGS voters. The stage was now set for a series of debates (6th June; 14th June; 21st June) in which three speakers from both campaigns would make their cases to a pupil audience in the Theatre and Lovekyn Chapel, chaired by Mrs Butcher and Mr Sorley of the Politics Department. In all, the mainly Sixth Form audience asked searching questions of the separate campaign members after each had delivered a one-minute introductory speech outlining their positions on the key issues. Unsurprisingly, the central concerns regarding Britain’s relationship with Europe – trade, immigration, sovereignty and human rights – were at the forefront of a lively and informed exchange on each occasion. Both sides were arguing against a backdrop of

increasingly acrimonious national campaigns led by Cameron, Gove and Johnson which appeared to take enormous liberties with facts. It is to the credit of the student campaigns that much of the nonsense being spouted at a national level was avoided as they focused on the advantages and disadvantages of European Union membership. To add to the general excitement, an online poll on Firefly ran from 26th May – 23rd June providing each side with valuable information about the effectiveness of their respective campaigns. Interestingly, Remain led comfortably throughout and, if anything, increased their lead as polling day approached. On 23rd June, voters cast their ballots in the Studio at designated points for each year group, aided ably by the members of IMD, who acted as efficient Referendum officials. In spite of a spate of frantic last-minute campaigning by Leave, the result was a foregone conclusion, as 80% of the student body voted to remain. Mr D Sorley

POLITICS

A Year in the KGS Politics Department In this year alone, we have witnessed momentous and decisive events which have dramatically revolutionised the political landscape of the UK. We have experienced victory by a ‘Brexit’ vote in a bitterlycontested race which marks the biggest political change in both European and British politics for decades. We have seen Sadiq Khan of Labour reclaim London, becoming the first Muslim mayor of a major western capital with the largest mandate of a politician in the UK. There is also the meltdown of the Conservative Party, simultaneously joined by a civil war in the Labour Party which plagues our politics with incohesion and disunity. These are only some of the exciting, and for many, infuriating events that have characterised UK politics.

It’s fair to say that the Sixth Form Politics students have certainly not been short of things to get involved with. They have immersed themselves in all things politics with many helping Zac Goldsmith, who ran for London Mayor in May with his ‘BackZac2016’ campaign. Other students have had the opportunity to work in Conservative HQ, telephone canvassing and questioning the general public on issues important to them in London such as housing, transport and the environment. Several students also went around local constituencies canvassing and understanding the concerns of the local people and recording this information; it was democracy in the making. Although Zac did lose the mayoral election, the public were

able to voice their concerns through KGS students about issues important to them. Students have also been keen to attend debates and lectures where prominent political figures such as Nigel Farage, Alan Johnson, Chuka Umunna and Nick Clegg appeared. Overall, I think it's fair to say that KGS students this year have been outstanding in representing the school and making changes, however big or little, in Politics. Sophie Gallager, Lower Sixth

PSHE

PSHE and Pastoral Education at KGS Tying in with our school motto of “work well and be happy”, and the words of Martin Luther King Junior, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education”. The PSHE department has kept this idea at the forefront of everything it has achieved over the past year. PSHE lessons at KGS are discussion based and aim to promote British values, as well as KGS’ own values of Regard, Independence, Engagement, Aspiration, Integrity and Partnership. The following is a snapshot of the themes that pupils have covered in their PSHE lessons throughout the year, all of which have served to cultivate the values mentioned above.

FIRST YEAR Mindfulness; Staying Safe; Keeping Healthy; Citizenship SECOND YEAR The World of Work & the State; Media & Aesthetics; Study & Money Skills THIRD YEAR Resilience; Relationships; Study Skills FOURTH YEAR Regard for Others and Ourselves; Relationships; First Aid

The Mindfulness topic for First and Fifth Year students was taught by external experts and its aims are as follows: to provide students with coping mechanisms for stressful

FIFTH YEAR

times (such as their GCSE trial examinations); to inculcate a culture of resilience among KGS students; to provide them with better concentration skills; and to equip them with the ability to act with composure in demanding situations. Although Mindfulness has its roots in Eastern religions, we stress that the course we undertake with the students is secular. In addition to the timetabled PSHE curriculum described above, we ran a wider programme of pastoral education and training aimed at students, staff and parents. For the latter group, we offered our popular PSA advice evenings. For students, there were at least two ‘drop-down days’ for each year group, when students were taken out of lessons to take part in workshops and talks by an outside expert focusing on a key issue. For the academic year 2015-16 these were as follows:

Mindfulness

SEPTEMBER Failure Day

FIRST YEAR

JANUARY Online Safety

SECOND YEAR

SEPTEMBER Anti-Bullying

OCTOBER Body Confidence

DECEMBER Social Media

APRIL Sex Education

THIRD YEAR

SEPTEMBER Anti-Bullying

SEPTEMBER Coping under Pressure

DECEMBER Social Media

FEBRUARY Sex Education

FOURTH YEAR

NOVEMBER Body Image

JANUARY Social Media

MARCH Addiction

APRIL Sex Education

FIFTH YEAR

NOVEMBER Managing Screen Time

JANUARY Social Media

PSHE PSHE and Pastoral Education at KGS continued... The PSHE Department also ran its inaugural trip this year. In May, the First Year visited the Sutton Life Centre, which offered a series of ‘life skills’ workshops. Particular highlights included a house scene where students learnt about healthy eating, fire emergencies and cyberbullying; a street scene in which various film clips explained dangers such as knife crime, drugs and alcohol; another street scene that discussed the issues of staying safe on public transport; and then a 360 film set on the importance of considering our environment. Each year group’s exposure to the above has expanded beyond their timetabled lessons and ‘drop-down days’. We continue to develop the

PSHE that is covered by tutors; form time activities are specifically aligned to the PSHE topics that the students will have covered in their timetabled lessons during the same term. Next year (2016-17) will also be one of change and improvement. For the first time we will have timetabled PSHE lessons for Upper Sixth students, and these will dovetail alongside Lower Sixth tutor sessions, the Sixth Form enrichment lecture programme, and Sixth Form assemblies. Topics on the new scheme of work will fall under three main categories: being an independent, respectful citizen (focusing on employment, managing personal admin in a world of instant media, and research techniques);

preparing for life after school (including issues such as hygiene and practical skills after leaving home, managing a budget, and participating in British democracy); and keeping socially and academically healthy (focusing on matters concerning mental health, resilience, and integrity). In addition, the Fourth and Fifth Year schemes of work will be updated to include themes such as media, body image, and managing difficult emotions such as stress. We will also be launching the first PSHErelated extra-curricular club in the format of optional Mindfulness and Reflection drop-in sessions. Mrs H Hunt

PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology students visit Kingston University During the week beginning 11th July, six Lower Sixth Psychology students were lucky enough to visit the Business School at Kingston University. Here, we met with Professor Gaelle Vallee-Tourangeau, who would be showing us how research is carried out. The topic we were given was Flow. First, we learnt that this refers to a state of consciousness in which a person feels deep involvement and immersion in the task. Then, using the resources available, we learnt how to research the topic by exploring articles and books from the online library. Having read further about Flow, and having supplemented our understanding,

we decided to investigate the effect of competitiveness on this state by examining how we may be affected by playing video games. To form the questionnaire, we looked up ‘The flow short scale’ and ‘Core Flow’, as well as a hyper-competitiveness scale and realised that, in order to gather enough data, we needed to collect at least one hundred responses. Asking 10 boys and 10 girls each, seemed to be the most sensible solution to this.

scales. Next, we decided to measure whether the onset of Flow was affected by the interactivity of each individual. This meant that we had to add in whether or not the video games were played with multiple players. On the last day, we created a graph of all the data and found our hypothesis was proved wrong. We had discovered that less competitive people are more likely to be in Flow, if they have a medium interaction with other.

Sometime later, and with all of the responses collected, we observed how data is organised. This included putting it into a spreadsheet and finding the average score for each participant across the three different

Overall, the week was invaluable as it gave us an in-depth insight into how psychological research is gathered and assessed. Katie Headley, Lower Sixth

LIBRARY

A YEAR IN THE LIBRARY KGS’s reading horizons have been greatly expanded this year thanks to the Trinity Schools Book Awards (TSBA). In its second year, this awards scheme run by the English Department and the Library during the Autumn and Spring terms, follows a theme rather than promoting new publishing, with the aim of unearthing hidden gems. This year’s short-list, on the theme of voyages, which included the likes of Mortal Engines and Life of Pi proved hugely motivating, not least

because of the help of KGS teacher champions who lobbied for their favourites in the school newsletter, and visits from Matt Dickinson and Paul Dowswell, two of the shortlisted authors. In addition to reading the books, many pupils entered the student competitions. The best KGS entries – Sophie Farrell’s fan fiction inspired by Northern Lights and Jacob Walker’s board game based on Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – were selected to represent KGS. The award ceremony held at Trinity School in Croydon proved a fitting

climax to the scheme: The Hobbit and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy were named the winning titles of the Junior and Senior categories respectively, and our very own Jacob Walker won the Creative Response prize for his ‘stunning’ board game. The prize was awarded by none other than Philip Reeve. Let’s hope that next year’s shortlist, to be revealed in September, proves equally, if not more, inspiring… Mrs H Cleaves

Trinity Schools Book Award Students across the year groups have been taking part in the Trinity Schools Book Award (TSBA) reading a range of exciting novels on the theme of ‘Journeys’. One of the competitions running in tandem with the TSBA has challenged students to create a personal response to a novel they have read in either the Junior or Senior sections. The winning student response will be announced on the 9th March, at the TSBA ceremony. Mrs Cleaves has had some incredible entries so far, including Paul Adams’ fantastic poetic response to ‘Powder Monkey’ by Paul Dowswell, the story of a young boy manning the cannons on a British Naval ship. Miss K Brackley

‘Powder Monkey’ by Paul Adams, First Year In Norwich, life was a bore, But I had the entire ocean to explore! I found a job on a merchant ship, And climbed aboard with a joyful skip, I watched my parents weeping tears, But I assured them that there was nothing to fear, However, I did scarcely know, Of the journey ahead, full of woe, Against the French, we had our first battle, Listening to the Captain’s useless prattle, Things started to go a bit wrong, But alas, we didn’t worry, not for long, The Royal Navy came to save the day, To their guns, the French ship fell prey, But in return, the Navy wanted men, And I was chosen, worried once again, To my parents, I wrote a letter, But I knew it would not make them feel better, I was introduced to my Gun crew, But what I was meant to do, I hadn’t a clue, However, I had to learn quickly, For the Captain’s moods were often prickly, Rules were also very strict, And breaking them a punishment would inflict, We met an enemy, all too soon, And shot them down with a great big boom! However, when all was done, we couldn’t celebrate, For another one was spotted, unlucky was our fate, And this time we didn’t do so well, Sadly, our large crew finally fell, Then the cruel Spaniards with the remaining few, Took us prisoner and our fear grew, But some of us formed a plan, To be carried out by a brave man, Trick the guards and steal the guns, Then bang, bang, bang, one by one! At night time, when everyone was in bed, We came round, and shot them all dead, Then, in triumph did we yell, And with pride, did I swell! A joyful ride, was the journey back, For there was no more need to attack,

In England I had a choice, to stay or to flee, But Friends are more important than being free.

LIBRARY

A Reflective Essay on My A* Reading Challenge I have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the A* Reading mission for many reasons. The first is that before I started this challenge I used to judge a book by its cover and only read it if I liked that cover. During this mission I have learnt not to judge a book by the way it looks but to try it whether I like the pictures or not and that it doesn’t matter if I like it or not because I know that I have tried a book that I normally wouldn’t read. This has helped me broaden my horizons and has allowed me to discover new books that I would never have dreamed of reading before. This assignment has also helped to expand my vocabulary. In making me read more different, challenging books I have come across many new

words that I wouldn’t have learnt (such as the names of all the different coins used in the olden days from Pygmalion). This has helped me in many different school subjects so I can definitely say that taking part in the reading challenge has helped me lots. Finally, because there have been so many books to read it has forced me to find more time to just pause whatever I am doing. It has given me a chance to unwind and let myself become immersed in someone else’s story. This has helped me get more sleep, become calmer and more relaxed and given me time to just take a deep breath and slow down to discover something else.

In doing this I have become much more fun to be around (as I am not so stressed anymore) and it’s stopped me from being so exhausted in school and made me more attentive and alert meaning I am more able to learn. This operation has helped me in many more ways than I’d have thought possible and I shall definitely be reading different and more exotic books from now on. Jasmin Good, Second Year

SCHOLARS

Is Reading for Pleasure the Most Important Factor in Determining Academic Success in Children? Introduction There is abundant anecdotal evidence to suggest that reading is extremely important in academic life. It can be found in news articles, books and, as children, we are reminded of it often. For example, the children’s author Frank Cottrell Boyce said, “According to UNESCO (the United Nations agency which promotes knowledge), the biggest single indicator of whether a child is going to thrive at school and in work is whether or not they read for pleasure.” Another author, Alan Gibbons, stated, “A 2005 UNESCO report identifies reading for pleasure as the single most powerful agent of academic and social success.” According to one academic researcher, Paul Shoebottom, “Educational researchers have found that there is a strong correlation between reading and academic success.” The UNESCO 2006 report on literacy states, “The benefits of literacy can be conveniently… classified as human, political, cultural, social and economic.” In other words, literacy skills can equate to proficiencies encompassing numerous areas of academic life.

Scientific Evidence There is certainly evidence that the act of reading, whether for pleasure or otherwise, activates different parts of the brain – namely, Broca’s area, the middle temporal-parietal area and the occipito-temporal area. These areas are involved in word analysis and memorising words, but, according to a study carried out by PhD candidates at Stanford, there are several other areas which are also activated. The experiment showed that rather than the areas mentioned which are generally associated with reading lighting up in either exercise, several other areas also became active, such as the centre for touch. One of the researchers suggested

that the results seemed to show that the readers were placing themselves in the story and creating a mental environment according to the setting in the book they were reading so that they could actually experience the senses that they were reading about. Evidence can also be found to support the theory that reading heightens brain connectivity for periods of time beyond whilst reading or directly after: researchers from Emory University, Atlanta, did research on 21 students to find out the effects that reading has on the brain in the time following the book being put down. Scans showed heightened connectivity in the left temporal cortex – the area of the brain connected to language reception, and also in the central sculus – the area in the brain linked to experiencing senses. However, according to a neuroscientist, these results were not purely instantaneous; the same results could be seen five days after finishing the novel. This general evidence, although it does not prove that reading can improve future academic performance, does suggest that as a direct result of reading, function in several parts of the brain is improved.

Research which Quantifies the Benefits of Reading for Pleasure As well as evidence which suggests a positive correlation between reading for pleasure and success, there is also research which quantifies the benefits, in terms of academic performance, of reading for pleasure. A study of a cohort of around 6,000 people born in Britain in 1970 measured the cognitive progress of children at ages 5 and 10, and test scores in vocabulary, spelling and maths at age 16. Reading for pleasure had a ‘substantial influence’

on the students’ scores in all three areas at ages 10 and 16. In terms of quantifying this influence, they found that if a child read often at age 10 and read books and newspapers more than once a week at age 16, they would have an average 14.4 percentage point advantage in vocabulary, a 9.9 percentage point advantage in maths, and an 8.6 percentage point advantage in spelling, compared to a student who did not. The paper found that ‘the influence of reading for pleasure was greater than that for having a parent with a degree,’ and although the paper did conclude that the illiteracy of parents was a determining factor which caused problems in their children’s academic lives throughout their childhoods, the reading behaviour of the children affected their scores strongly enough that it at least partially cancelled out the influence of their parents’ reading behaviours. These findings suggest that reading for pleasure is an extremely important factor in success, exceeding in importance other factors such as parental illiteracy which one may have assumed would make it very difficult for a child to succeed. In addition to this point, the results also suggested that, ‘the positive link between leisure reading and cognitive outcomes is not purely due to more able children being more likely to read a lot, but that reading is actually linked to increased cognitive progress over time.’ In other words, reading does not just appear to create such a difference in test scores because the more able children, and therefore those more likely to get higher marks in tests regardless of reading habits, are more likely to read more, but reading is actually linked to an increase in a child’s ability to process information and use their knowledge to achieve something.

Policy Implications Research shows a strong positive correlation between reading for pleasure and academic success, so it is important to know whether large proportions of children never read for pleasure, and if so, what parents and the education system can do to encourage children to find time for leisure reading. My own analysis of the British National Child Development Study shows that while encouragingly large numbers of parents say that their children read for pleasure on a regular basis (approximately 54% say that their child reads every day), a significant percentage never read (7%) or read infrequently. SEE TABLE ONE There is also a clear gender divide concerning the proportions of children who read for pleasure. Girls are more likely to read every day (approximately 48% for boys compared to 61% for girls). Boys are also more likely to never read for pleasure (8% for boys compared to 3% for girls).

SEE TABLE TWO It is clear that when it comes to reading for pleasure, there is plenty of scope for increasing the proportions of children who frequently read for pleasure. In particular, focussing encouragement on boys, as they are more likely never to read, might be an important policy lever. According to research, over half of teachers surveyed felt that little time was available to students for reading during school hours. Given this, one might conclude that making time during the school week for students to read – perhaps by having English lessons in the library, or making books more accessible to students during break-times – would be greatly beneficial. According to a paper, ‘given the prevalence of adult illiteracy in Britain… this [helping children with illiterate parents to read] could be an important policy lever for improving children’s outcomes.’ Therefore, a policy implication might be that holding specialised reading classes for students with functionally illiterate parents would help to boost their cognitive development.

Frequency of Reading for Pleasure in Children

TABLE ONE

Source: National Child Development Study: 37-Year Survey 1995

50 40 30 20 10 0 Every Day

Several Times/Week

Several Times/Month

Several Times/Year

Never

Percentage

TABLE TWO

Frequency of Reading for Pleasure by Gender of Child 70

Source: National Child Development Study: 37-Year Survey 1995

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Every Day

Several Times/Week

Several Times/Month

Percentage (Boys)

Several Times/Year

Percentage (Girls)

Never

Conclusion In conclusion, it is clear that there is scientific evidence to support the claim that reading is linked to an increase in brain function, and evidence to support the importance of reading for pleasure in academic success. There is also research which provides numbers to back up a positive correlation between leisure reading and success in tests. There are also a huge number of other factors in determining success, many of which have not been researched or even considered as of yet. It is therefore impossible to answer for certain whether or not reading for pleasure is the most important factor, but it is certainly clear that it is hugely important. It is vital to get young people reading if we want to maximise their chances of academic success; as the former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, said, “It’s great if you can read but the question is: do you read? If you do the world is yours.” Kate Jarvis, Fifth Year

SPORT

BOYS’ HOCKEY

The U12s also had an excellent first season despite losing narrowly on penalty flicks to St George’s College in the South final.

GENERAL REPORT The highlight of a slightly frustrating year was the impressive run by the boys’ 1st XI in the National U18 Cup, which ultimately ended with a narrow defeat to Dean Close in the quarter-finals. Fergus Ainsworth was an excellent 1st XI captain and Ben Park an extremely well-organised hockey secretary. For the other teams: the U16 boys qualified for both the indoor and outdoor South heats while the U14s – the most improved team in the school – were unlucky not to progress past the South quarter-finals where they just lost out on penalty flicks to RGS Guildford. The U12s also had an excellent first season despite losing narrowly on penalty flicks to St George’s College in the South final.

REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS Congratulations to all the boys who were selected for JAC and JRPC, hockey’s equivalent to County and South selection (see honours list).

ENGLAND SQUAD U18 Z. Wallace

I would like to take this opportunity to thank both the KGS coaching staff for their considerable efforts throughout the season – I know they are much appreciated by the boys – and our supporters who regularly brave the elements on Saturday mornings. The Hockey Society, too, should be thanked not only for the new dugouts and scoreboard we are enjoying, but also for their constant support and the delicious hot refreshments they provide at weekends. Special thanks are extended to Sarah Ainsworth, current co-chair of the Hockey Society whois stepping down at the end of this year. She will be missed!

FUTURES CUP [TIER 2 REGIONAL] U18 F. Ainsworth, B. Park, Z. Wallace U16 M. Moran

Mr DG Buttanshaw

ENGLAND ASSESSMENT U18 O. Williamson U16 M. Moran

HIPAC [TIER 2 REGIONAL] U17 O. Williamson, R. Harvey-Kelly NOMINATED FOR JUNIOR REGIONAL PERFORMANCE CENTRE [TIER 1 REGIONAL] U18 Z. Wallace, O. Williamson, R. Harvey-Kelly U17 M. Moran U15 J. Dick JUNIOR ASSESMENT CENTRE – [COUNTY] U17 R. Harvey-Kelly U16 N. Farr, J. Kerr U15 J. Hollaway U14 J. Dick U13 E. Crutchfield, J. Hughes, T. Piche Hainsworth

Symonds and RGS Guildford, were achieved. Another victory, 5-1 over Reed’s, saw us surge into the quarterfinals on the crest of a wave, before being brought back to earth with a bump in the form of a 2-3 defeat to Dean Close in a winnable game. This result, however, was not down to a lack of effort – several goal-line clearances and unfortunate decisions went against us. We were devastated.

1st XI Team

1st XI BOYS School matches P 12 W 10 D 1 L 1 F 63 A 23 Club matches P 7 W 4 D 1 L 2 F 28 A 17

Throughout the season, this young squad – it consisted of just three Upper Sixth players – worked hard to build upon the progress of last year. The resulting team was more tightly bonded than any other team of which I have been a part; we all knew we had the potential to claim the fabled National Cup. The season started with a hotly contested and enjoyable 2-2 draw against the Dan Kenn XI (a team of former pupils and staff), giving us confidence in the subsequent games against the much older opposition of St Mary’s University and Teddington Men’s 2nd XI, and wins of 7-1 and 2-1 respectively. This was just the beginning of an extraordinary unbeaten run extending throughout the whole of the first term. Although the road was sometimes bumpy, a narrow 5-4 victory against RGS Guildford and a 2-2 draw against Langley Park in the fading light spring to mind, our positivity and confidence prevailed and was typified by our

3-2 defeat of early favourites for the National Cup, Whitgift. It was this win which led us to think that it could be “our year”, in the words of our captain, Fergus Ainsworth. This part of the season was intertwined with indoor hockey, rightly perceived as KGS’ weaker half of the sport. Despite a lack of training sessions, victories over KCS Wimbledon and RGS Guildford and a draw with St George’s took us out of the South Preliminaries. Even a thumping at the hands of slick Whitgift did not deter us from reaching the South Finals, where a controversial 2-1 loss at the hands of RGS High Wycombe saw our bid to reach the Indoor National Finals come to an end. It was only after Christmas, on our tour of the West Country, that we endured our first defeat (6-1 against Exeter University) although this was tempered by victories either side of the game against Taunton Vale HC (4-1) and Canford School (3-2). The tour was an excellent opportunity for the group to grow closer still, as much from playing British Bulldog in the hotel’s swimming pool as from the hockey itself. Success in a couple of friendly games, and a bye in the first round, finally took us to the National Cup. Up until the last 16 round, and due to emphatic victories over Peter

Despite this, it was still an immensely enjoyable season, with the bulk of the squad remaining unchanged, something we hope to replicate next year. In the Lower Sixth, Joe Hughes, Alasdair Dean and Tom Gooding ensured few goals were leaked in defence whilst the marking of Jakob Kridl, the flair of Ben Gibson and Ronan Harvey-Kelly, and the drag flicking of Owen Williamson ran many a midfield ragged. Andy Wickerson, John Miller and Ben Park were equally impressive, contributing to the phenomenal goal tally for the season. Even more promising were the performances of Fifth Years Ed Darwin and James Hall and our goalkeeper, Fourth Year Will MacKintosh, a contender for player of the season. We will, however, find it difficult to replace four key players: Aaron Farr, Jake Winterbottom, Zach Wallace and captain, leader, legend, Fergus Ainsworth, a stalwart of the defence for many a season. It has been a privilege to be a part of this squad. There has never been a dull moment. Huge thanks go to Mr Williamson, Mr Prosser, Mr Bartram and Mr Beaumont for keeping us in check and getting as much out of the team as possible. Ben Park, Lower Sixth

1st XI Squad: F. Ainsworth, E. Darwin, A. Dean, A. Farr, B. Gibson, T. Gooding, J. Hall, R. Harvey-Kelly, J. Hughes, J. Kridl, W. Mackintosh, J. Miller, B. Park, Z. Wallace, A. Wickerson, O. Williamson, J. Winterbottom

2nd XI BOYS 2nd XI Squad: J. White, A. Sturton, A. ‘Nutmeg’ Merriman, J. Adshead, N. Browning, J. Hall, S. Svarovsky, N. Farr, N. Foulsham, M. Moran, A. Dean, K. Sturton, S. Reid, G. Kitson, J. Thompson

2nd XI Team

3rd XI BOYS

3-4), KCS Wimbledon (0-4 – probably the most disappointing result of the season – and 2-2) with single match fixtures against St George’s College Weybridge (1-2), Harrodian (2-2) and St. Benedict’s (7-0). There is much to look forward to for next season, either for the individuals moving up to higher teams or for those still playing for the 3s next year. Mr MS Grant

P 19 W 7 D 5 L 7 F 48 A 43 P 17 W 9 D 2 L 6 F 47 A 31 The 2nd XI enjoyed another successful season. Our highlights were a 2-1 win against Whitgift, a 3-0 victory against Reed’s, 10-1 against KCS and defeating the girls’ 1st XI 6-1. As a team we also delivered some great individual performances. Andrew Merriman had another good season in goal marshalling the back four, partnering with Jamie Thompson at CB to create a solid defence and working with Nathan Foulsham and Ali Dean, who gave support on the flanks for Seb Svarovsky. Archie Sturton was solid as ever in his position(s), including CB, CM and on the wings, where he excelled. Sam Reid was excellent in a similar role in the centre of midfield. Star men were Nick Browning and James Hall, who played most of the season either out wide or up front, scoring or assisting many of our goals. Mike Moran was similar in his role and is a future 1st XI contender. George Kitson was our utility man, slotting in around the pitch much like Archie. A final word goes to our prolific striker, James Adshead, who, better upfront than in defence, put in a good shift wherever he was asked to play. The team’s thanks also extend to Kevin Sturton, whose loyalty to the 2nd XI can only be compared to the loyalty shown by Samwise Gamgee to Frodo Baggins. We’d also like to thank Mr Durban, Mr Buttanshaw, Mr Bartram and Mr Beaumont and those in the Upper Sixth, who have been ever present and always reliable. It has been a fantastic year. Jamie White, Upper Sixth

The 3rd XI enjoyed another largely positive season in which skill and pace created some sparkling hockey. The welcomed umpiring and coaching of Mr Bartram brought experience of playing at a higher level while, in the squad, David Buchanan – “senior pro” and captain – ably led from defence, making regular sorties forward (often leaving me covering my eyes). I hope that he continues to play and enjoy his hockey at university. He was assisted by Daniel Piche Hainsworth who, playing a centre back/defensive holding midfield role, added an air of calmness and authority, allowing the likes of Henry Kitson, Guy Morley and Alec Neil to bomb forward from full back. In midfield, the guile and vision of Luke Tomiak and Ross McGeachie and the pace of Will Freeman and Raphael Delattre meant that we often ran rings around our opposition when in possession, although we might have lacked some steel in midfield when chasing the ball, especially if Daniel Piche Hainsworth was on duty in defence. Up front, Alfie Style offered a genuine threat in front of goal, scoring and finishing off some satisfying team moves, with Sam Mackenzie offering a more blunt attacking threat. Meanwhile, Henry Kennaway and Sunny Patel improved markedly over the season to complement the forward line. Highlights of the season are: comprehensive wins over St James’ (3-0 and 5-1), an “aggregate win” over three fixtures against RGS Guildford (6-1, 0-0 and 3-3), a drawn “test series” against Reed’s (3-3, 5-1, 0-1, 3-2 and 1-5), competitive fixtures against Charterhouse (2-1, 0-4 and

3rd XI Squad: W. Garside, A. Neil, H. Kitson, D. Buchanan, S. Mackenzie, D. Piche Hainsworth, G. Morley, L. Tomiak, R. McGeachie, R. Delattre, A. Style, W. Freeman, H. Kennaway, S. Patel

U16 BOYS

U16A Team

U16B Team U16A P 23 W 14 D 5 L 4 F 90 A 37 U16B P 18 W 10 D 2 L 6 F 49 A 33 The U16 hockey season started with a 6-1 victory for the As against Old Kingstonians before being brought to a halt in October with a 7-6 defeat to Whitgift. However, the match showed us how well we could play and gave us the confidence to progress towards the Nationals through 5-0 and 7-1 wins against KCS Wimbledon and Portsmouth Grammar School.

SPORT Despite Ed Darwin‘s departure to the 1st XI in January and due, in part, to the free goal scoring from James Hall up front and Michael Moran’s pace on the counter attack, our victories continued. Sam Reid, Nathan Farr, James Adshead and Nick Browning provided a solid midfield, while Jamie Thomson distributed well from the back and Will Freeman offered power and speed on the wing. Will Garside and Toby Fairhurst both ensured that the goal was well protected and made excellent saves in important matches. The team also included Fourth Years Ed Nicholas in attack, Josh Askew and James Thompson in defence and Joe Young and Jacob Hollaway – rarely making mistakes – further wide. Artie Rice-Oxley added creativity in midfield after coming up from the Bs and complemented the other midfielders in the team. The indoor South tournament enabled improvement of basics and skill, as well as helping to gain an understanding of indoor hockey for the future. We had progressed through the London tournament with ease. Despite drawing to Trinity School in our opening match, a 7-0 victory against KCS 7-0 and 0-0 to Whitgift highlighted our improved defence. At the South tournament, however, despite having the majority of possession, we drew to Seaford School and lost to Langley Park, which was especially disappointing as we had brushed them aside 6-1 just weeks before. This, as well as another poor performance in the group, prevented us from qualifying for the next round of the Cup – a disappointing end to a mostly successful season. For the Bs, it’s fair to say that, largely due to the number of younger players unused to the physicality of U16 hockey, the team struggled to play together at the beginning of the season. This was evident in the 6-1 defeat to RGS in our first match of the season. However, in the weeks following, the tactical genius that is Mr Bartram managed to turn things around with 7-0, and then 7-1, wins and an opportunity for the attacking strike force to open their tallies for the season.

Most prolific goal scorers in the season were Sunny Patel, Max Dawson, Luke Tomiak, Sam Langston and Alfie Style, whose defensive work upfront meant that they were able to press the opposition’s free hits and gain vital interceptions of the ball in dangerous areas. We were also, however, guilty of attempting to score a wonder goal rather than playing a simple ball. An equally strong defensive unit was led by Guy Morley, Daniel Piche Hainsworth and goalkeepers Toby Fairhurst and Will Garside. Other defenders such as Ben Merriman, Joe Young, Finn Snow and Henry Kitson were dominant in the back line, offering easy passes out and allowing us to quickly transfer the ball around the back before playing it through to the midfield, effectively bridging the gap between the defence and attack. Midfield consisted of Ross McGeachie and Jacob Hollaway – who would engage any counter-attacks after winning the ball back in the opposition half – Ralph Delattre and Min Seo – known for their pace – and Luke Mobley, whose crunching tackles slowed the game down, even if it did mean a card! Special mention goes to Henry Kennaway who occasionally represented the team. The availability of such a range of good players meant Mr Bartram was able to change the formation weekly, provide new plays and, often, surprise an opposition that we had already played.

U16A Squad: J. Kerr, T. Fairhurst, W. Garside, J. Thomson, J. Askew, A. Rice-Oxley, J. Adshed, J. Hall, S. Reid, N. Browning, M. Moran, J. Thompson, S. Langston, N. Farr, J. Young, E. Nicholas, L. Mobley, G. Morley, W. Freeman U16B Squad: T. Fairhurst, W. Garside, D. Piche Hainsworth, G. Morley, H. Kitson, B. Merriman, J. Young, J. Hollaway, R. Delattre, L. Mobley, R. McGeachie, M. Seo, M. Dawson, S. Patel, H. Kennaway, A. Style, L. Tomiak, S. Langston

U14 BOYS

U14A Team

U14B Team

All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable season in which the group bonded together and (despite Mr Bartram’s gruelling fitness sessions) had fun. Mr Bartram always offered a pointer at half time and provided a voice of reason in even the toughest of matches. Thanks go to all the coaches for their enthusiasm, knowledge and expert coaching and for making the season enjoyable for all of us. Jonny Kerr and Toby Fairhurst Fourth Year

U14C Team U14A P 30 W 0 D 5 L 15 F 78 A 88 U14B P 24 W 10 D 3 L 11 F 50 A 54 U14C P 15 W 15 D 1 L 7 F 43 A 44

SPORT In September, and from the coaches’ perspective, the season ahead appeared daunting. Of the A team, few had played even club hockey and, with flawed technique and concentration, it was unsurprising that the first five of their matches of the season were lost. However, an increased focus, application to training and some super fighting spirit in some of their October matches produced one of the team’s best efforts in a narrow 2-1 defeat to a talented Guildford HC team. A 6-0 rout of Portsmouth Grammar School marked the As’ increased confidence; it was followed by two further wins before the end of term. Playing four of their 25 fixtures against an extremely strong Whitgift side also demonstrated their determination and technical improvement; after barely escaping their own 25 in the first encounter, the boys put up an excellent display in the second match to lose 4-3. In defence, Sam Tallis epitomised the team’s determination while Ewan Galloway-Hale, who earned several man-of-the-match votes, and Matthew Wood, provided much-needed composure and tenacity, reading situations to pass reliably under pressure. In midfield, Callum Farr showed his skills in the attacking parts of the pitch and strength in defending, while Jude Boden’s agility and close control brought some incisive passing. Sam Mayhew, the team’s outstanding player, led superbly, gelling the team together with his wholehearted and skilful displays. At this stage of the season, First Years Max Mayhew and Harry Pink joined the squad, showing impressive assuredness. Even under pressure, the As were able to score. Daniel Sullivan’s pace and skill in the forward line, and Tom Nicholls’ instinctive finishing at centre forward are to be commended. Will Hunt also finished off moves with intelligent play. Meanwhile, Patrick Gubbay and Roddy Reid (both

Second Year) were skilful outlets for the team and Omid Alavi, an inspired goalkeeper at times, added to the growing team spirit. In the Spring term, the As approached the competitions with greater confidence. After a loss to KCS U15s and a draw against Langley Park, they beat KCS Wimbledon 8-1 and Dulwich College 9-3 in the County Tournament. Winning against Trinity (2-1) in the county semi-final, they qualified for the South heats, for which they warmed up with another good win (2-1) against Magdalen College School. For the U14Bs, the season proved to be more mixed. After only a few training sessions and 7-a-side competitions, they struggled to put phases of play together and were defeated 3-1 in their opening fixture against Reed’s. However, a highlight of what was to come was Marcus Newbury’s pace down the right wing. Their second game was a different story. Playing through midfield more often, using quick simple passes to go forward and with some strong technical work from Joost Den Hoedt and Freddie Wilson inside the opposition’s D, they created chances and goals to win 6-1 before suffering defeat against Whitgift (3-0) despite some fantastic saves by James Dick, and Silas and Elliot creating lowing attacking moves through midfield. In half term, the team played two games against Wageningen Hockey Club, beating them 4-1 in the first match as the boys distributed out of the back due to some great runs and passes from Ben Little and Tom Bowser. These put the Dutch side under great pressure by helping build platforms higher up the pitch. In the second game, however, Wageningen anticipated the play and snatched a 2-1 victory. The Bs returned from Christmas with a clearer understanding of what was expected from them tactically and in their set positions – midweek training sessions and games had also

brought improvements. As a result, they won or drew six of their last eight games. Notable performances came from Jamie and Joe, who started scoring and creating goalscoring opportunities at will, and Theo, whose keeping was excellent at times. Overall, the season saw the boys improve immensely as was evident in their results. The Cs had a varying season experiencing heavy defeats and easy wins and with a number of transfers. At the end, we were joined by Tamal Ramphul, an influential player at the back, who, with Jack Housego-Woolgar and Alex Gavrilescu, showed off great skill down the line. Rohan Saha was also brilliant in midfield and Dan Nicholas lethal down the wing while Noah Hollaway was an excellent play-maker in the middle. Attackers were Oscar Bird-Martinez and captain and top scorer Thomas Sayer. Pacey play from Zack Sampson, who often ran rings around the opposition, suggests a promising future for the team. Mr MP Williamson and Oscar Bird-Martinez, Second Year

U14A Squad: O. Alavi, M. Wood, C. Farr, W. Hunt, J. Boden, T. Nicholls, D. Sullivan, S. Tallis, R. Reid, P. Gubbay, R. Bradley, E. Galloway-Hale, S. Mayhew U14B Squad: J. Den Hoedt, E. Jones, S. Fernando, E. Crutchfield, S. Nevstad, M. Lloyd, B.Little, T. Bowser, J. Hughes, D. Harris, J. Hughes, F. Wilson, M. Newbury, J. Dick, T. Piche Hainsworth U14C Squad: A. Gavrilesescu, R. Saha, D. Nicholas, N. Hollaway, T. Skeates, O. Bird-Martinez, J. Moore, T. Pryse-Davies, J. Studholme, T. Ramphul, J. Housego-Woolgar, T. Sayer, Y. Rice-Oxley, Z. Sampson-Regal

U13 BOYS

U13C Team P 13 W 6 D 3 L 4 F 41 A 18 Overall the team, a merger of last year’s U12C and D squads, had a brilliant season; of their 14 matches, they won seven and drew three. Interestingly, it was the U12Ds’ Ed Knight and Tom Farrell who emerged as this season’s most important players. The season began well with an amazing 8-1 victory over West London Free School only to be followed, the next weekend, with a 0-1 defeat by Reed’s. Although we were disappointed, another victory against Merchant Taylors with newcomer Zac Sampson-Regal and the returning Chris Wilding, brought aresurgence of confidence defined

by an incredible 8-0 victory against Portsmouth with two goals from Sam Parker. Next came a tricky away game win of 1-0 against Reed’s. Despite their return to KGS the following weekend, when we were missing vital defenders Tarun Ramphul and Ed Knight, we held onto a draw. The next match was away against Merchant Taylors and, although we missed star-striker Johnny Eldridge, Max Burrows and Tom Romberg stepped up for us to win 4-3. We followed this with a brilliant 16-3 victory over St Benedict’s despite giving the opposition Ed Knight, who scored for them! Johnny Eldridge, Sam Parker and Tom Romberg all bagged two goals or more for KGS. Harder fixtures followed. First came tough opposition from Langley Park where, due to great keeping from James Dick, we drew 0-0 – not a result we wanted before playing Whitgift. However, at half time against Whitgift we were 1-1 thanks to an amazing reverse hit from Sam Parker. Despite valiant defence from Tarun Ramphul, a second Whitgift goal at the start of the second half brought us defeat. It was our second loss of the season.

After half term, we faced Magdalen College. Despite Sean Graham and Benedict Short’s solid defence following the loss of Tarun Ramphul and Zac Sampson-Regal, we drew 2-2 and were then defeated 3-0 the next week against Reed’s U14. With two matches left, we travelled to Watford. Here, brilliant defending (and keeping by James Dick) kept the score at 0-0, until Tom Romberg provided a great assist for Oliver Sandry-Butler to put us 1-0. Despite Mr Buttanshaw accidentally getting a parking ticket and Johnny Eldridge being sent off, this was our match of the season! In our final game, we were defeated 3-0 by a very tall King Edward VI team. Overall, we had had a great season. Mr Buttanshaw and Mr Farr were great match day coaches and our results reflected that. Oliver Sandry-Butler, Second Year U13C Squad: B. Short, O. Sandry-Butler, E. Knight, S. Graham, S. Parker, T. Farrell, J. Eldridge, E. Boss, C. Wilding, T. Romberg, M. Burrows

SPORT

From left: The U12 A & B teams and the U12 C & D teams

U12 BOYS U12A P 15 U12B P 15 U12C P 15 U12D P 13

W 10 W 11 W6 W4

D3 D2 D1 D3

L2 L2 L7 L6

F 69 F 53 F 43 F 27

A 29 A 25 A 39 A 40

The start of the academic year also saw the start of the U12 hockey season. Even though only a handful of boys had played hockey before, hard work soon paid off for all five U12 teams. For the A team, highlights include comprehensive 4-1 and 3-1 wins against Reed’s, a tough 1-1 draw against Surbiton and a tally of 69 goals over 19 matches. The team were also very proud to compete in the Schools’ South Finals where

they were victorious in their opening match against Whitgift (1-0) before facing St George’s College in penalty flicks after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the end of full time. KGS were very unlucky to come out with this result because they scored equal penalties in the first round but, lost narrowly by just one flick in sudden deaths.

Whitgift, where they won 4-3 after going into half time 3-0 down; Seb Latimer should be congratulated for scoring three KGS goals and making the Bs one of the two KGS teams that beat these strong opponents. Their 6-0 win against King Edward VI in Southampton in the final match of the season demonstrates the team’s commitment and determination.

Although the Bs had a disappointing start with their narrow 3-2 defeat to Reed’s they, like the As, had a successful season, twice overturning their earlier defeat against Reed’s (3-2 and 4-3) and beating Surbiton (4-1), Teddington (1-0), Royal Russell (7-0) and West London Free School (8-0) – where Seb Latimer scored six goals! They also performed well against Merchant Taylors, despite finishing with a 2-2 draw. One of the team’s most thrilling matches was against

A particularly exciting match for KGS players and supporters came in the County Cup on 10th March when the U12A and B teams were drawn against each other. It was a good match with the A team taking a one-goal win. The results for the C and D teams are a testament to their commitment and dedication. Every player attended both training sessions regularly and were part of a collective C, D and E

The start of the academic year also saw the start of the U12 hockey season. Even though only a handful of boys had played hockey before, hard work soon paid off for all five U12 teams.

squad pool, which made selection for each game both easy and difficult. However, rotating throughout the season gave everyone the chance to represent the School and experience competitive matches. A highlight was the 3-1 win by the Cs against Whitgift, demonstrating how well players had developed and had started to understand formations, positions and their roles in different situations; their transformation throughout the season has been a pleasure to witness. C, D and E teams have come together as strong units and played some excellent hockey. In Southampton, KGS came away with four wins (A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; D teams); the atmosphere on the bus back to KGS was, justifiably, euphoric.

The C, D and E Teams are defined, this season, not only for their impressive hockey skills, but also for their team spirit and love of the game. They have developed into a formidable and united team and show enormous promise for future years. Harry Pink and James Fairhurst, First Year and Mr PJ Jackson

U12A Squad: L. Griffin, S. Merwanji, F. Moore, T. Pawsey-Persau, T. Hewer, M. Mayhew, H. Pink, O. Evans [gk], L. Brenninkmeijer, T. Hill U12B Squad: J. Fairhurst, I. Yazikov, L. Fielden, S. Latimer, F. Pluck, J. Dugdale, J. Eley, B. Turner, O. Rossner, E. Everitt U12C, D & E Squad: J. Don-Wauchope, N. Gorin, T. Jones, A. Middleton, F. Mills, A. Millar, N. Long, W. Everitt, S. Aror, G. Harris, M. Gajree, H.Wilkinson, R. Davies, M. Merritt, M.Burrell, E. Geddie, J. Emerson, L. McMahon, J. Sadler, K. Samarasena, J. Ko, A. Prince, D. Bradley, F. Pflanz, B. Katzauer, C. Canning, R. Omar

SPORT

REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS ENGLAND U18 H. Munro, L. Ross FUTURES CUP [TIER 2 REGIONAL] U18 E. De Heer, S. Martineau, L. Ross NOMINATED FOR JUNIOR REGIONAL PERFORMANCE CENTRE [TIER 1 REGIONAL] U18 E. De Heer, L. Lever, K. Headley, L. Ross U17 G. Everitt, J. Werner U16 A. D’Mello U15 I. James, S. Sime U14 E. Lord JUNIOR ASSESMENT CENTRE [COUNTY] U17 L. Lever, K. Headley U16 G. Everitt, O. Gooding, E. Larby, J. Werner U15 A. D’Mello, S. Gotham-Pardo, I. James, S. Sime, L. Anderson, L. McNeil, D. Langton U14 E. Lord, K. Griffin, N. Burrell, C. Kennedy U13 S. M. Wood, C. John

GIRLS’ HOCKEY GENERAL REPORT The 1st XI girls had an excellent season, realising their potential by reaching the National Finals at the Olympic Park. Even though they narrowly lost their three games it was a fantastic experience. Holly Munro was an inspirational captain and Katie Headley a calmly efficient hockey secretary. In the younger age groups, the U16s reached the South indoor finals despite narrowly missing out on qualifying for the South stages of the outdoor competition, while the U14s did well by qualifying for the (outdoor) South round. Finally, the U12s showed good early promise by reaching the South tournament, where they finished fifth.

I‘d like to extend my congratulations to the girls who were chosen for JAC and JRPC, hockey’s equivalent to county and south selection (see honours list below). Well done in particular to Holly Munro and Lottie Ross who represented England at U18 level. Many thanks to our dedicated staff who continue to give up so much of their time – I know they are all appreciated by the girls. Thanks also to parents, families and friends who brave the elements throughout the year to support KGS Hockey. Mr DG Buttanshaw

1st XI GIRLS School matches P 24 W 15 D 0 L 9 F 74 A 32 Club matches P3 W1 D0 L2 F4 A7 Due to the fact that many of us had not played together before, the season began rather shakily and we were defeated in a few friendly games. However, we were determined to overcome all of these opening problems and set ourselves the target of reaching the Nationals. And we did it! Our journey started well with the London Heats and three significant wins against Wimbledon High, JAGs and St John’s where we didn‘t concede any goals. In each game, the brilliant work from the two centre mids of Eva Gray and Holly Munro helped secure our success. With the London Finals looming, only CLFS stood in our path but, once we had defeated them 6-0 in the semis, we had only Reed’s to beat. I am delighted to report that, despite a disallowed goal, we maintained our winning form and ended this final match with a score of 1-0. Our next challenge was the Souths. Once again our early route seemed relatively straightforward with wins against Stowe (2-0), Reed’s (2-0)

and St George’s, who we beat 3-0. Going on to repeat this formula in the quarter-finals, we were victorious against Bradfield, with an impressive score of 7-0, before travelling to Southgate for the South finals where we began by playing, and beating, Reed’s, 3-1. Victorious against King Edward’s Southampton (4-0) too, we faced Cranleigh but, having let in a few early goals, finished the match with a final score of 4-1 to them, despite some great saves from Louisa Shriver. Finishing second in our pool meant travelling to Framlingham with renewed hope of our Nationals‘ journey resuming. I am delighted to report that, after playing some fantastic attacking hockey in the second half, we won 4-1. Our goal of getting to Nationals was achieved! Finally arriving in Lee Valley, however, and despite our very best efforts and some excellent team play, three consecutive defeats to Repton (1-0), Stockport (2-1) and Clifton College (2-1) brought the Nationals to an end for us this year. In each game, we had put in all we had left, and created more chances than our opposition, but were just unable to put enough goals away. This year also saw us taking on the challenge of indoor hockey as we entered the London tournament. As with the Nationals, we began

with two wins (against Godolphin and Latymer, 2-0, and JAGS, 5-3) before a 1-1 draw with Reigate. Our momentum established, we next faced the South Heats where, playing some lovely indoor hockey we won against Kendrick (3-1), King Edward’s (3-2) and JAGS (4-2). Despite a momentary hiccup in our match against The Worth, where we were defeated 2-1, we had ensured our place in the South Finals. Here, after an opening 3-0 defeat to Beaconsfield, we recovered to win 2-0 against Stowe and draw 3-3 with Ardingly before finally being beaten 2-0 in the semi-finals against Cranleigh. Despite the disappointment of the National Finals, we are proud of our hockey this season and would like to thank Mr Daly, Mrs Maclean and Mr Hardy for their efforts, coaching and support. Katie Headley, Lower Sixth

1st XI Squad: O. Arnold, H. Brown, E. de Heer, A. D’Mello, E. Gray, K. Headley, L. Lever, Z. Lowery, S. Martineau, H. Munro, L. Ross, S. Semple, L. Shriver, S. Sime, N. Thomas, J. Werner

2nd XI GIRLS

2nd XI Team P 16 W 6 D 3 L 7 F 42 A 48 A formidable 22-woman mixed squad of Fifth, Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth made up the 2nd XI for the 2015/16 season. Captained by Katinka Ronberg, it racked up an impressive grand total of 42 goals scored over the season in a number of challenging and extremely competitive matches – often against other schools’ 1st XI. Our first match, against local rivals Tiffin, set a high standard of play which we maintained throughout the season – despite facing a predominantly Upper Sixth, clubplaying team, we held on to concede a narrow 3-4 defeat. However, our rhythm established, convincing wins again St. George’s College, Reigate Grammar and Latymer Upper followed as Charlotte Bassett proved she hadn’t lost her eye for the goal and the partnership of Rebekah Beaumont and Fiona Kennedy at the back made a good platform from which to launch attacking opportunities. Leading up to Christmas, success continued with wins against Alleyn’s, St.Mary’s Ascot and a draw against Reed’s. Kitty Jackson and Jessie Howard went from strength to strength as they gained in confidence, while Izzy Toner did a fine job in goal. Unfortunately, many post-Christmas matches fell foul of the weather, although we did manage to play a very strong Millfield side – our toughest challenge of the season. Team talk done and concentration levels on full we set about the mammoth task. The fantastic midfield performance of Immy Mobley, Paula Roth, Sophie Gallagher,

Suzi Stenning and Charlotte Whittle undoubtedly put Millfield’s midfield under pressure, while stand-in goalkeeper Emma Pitcairn gave an outstanding performance, pulling off a series of textbook saves! Despite joint effort goals from Beth Routledge, Holly Godliman and Bea Sayers, Millfield came out victorious but the experience had proved to us our worth. It has been a truly squad effort this season and I thank all the girls for their hard work and commitment; seeing so many representing KGS on a regular basis has been excellent. I hope this level of hockey continues in the coming years.

clear evidence of progress. For the As this included victory over St George‘s College, following two defeats, a win against St John’s – who had knocked them out of the South Final in the previous season before coming fifth in the Nationals overall – and defeat of Surbiton High, whose earlier victory had prevented their progression to the London Final. The Bs, meanwhile, should be congratulated for their tenacity and determination to give their all despite the opening lack of a specialist goalkeeper and only nine regular outfield players available for the first two competitive matches. The Bs could have been forgiven for losing at least some of their energy and cheerful demeanour early on. Not a bit of it!

Miss H Naismith 2nd XI Squad: J. Baker, R. Beaumont, H. Godliman, J. Howard, K. Jackson, E. Larby, E. Pheasant, L. Tait, I. Toner, A. Vaessen, C. Whittle, S. Gallagher, L. Lewis, E. Pitcairn, K. Ronberg, P. Roth, S. Stenning, C. James, F. Kennedy, B. Routledge, C. Bassett, I. Mobley, B. Sayer, S. Semple

U16 GIRLS

U16A Team U16A P 19 W 9 D 5 L 5 F 40 A 31 U16B P 11 W 8 D 1 L 2 F 36 A 8 U15B P 8 W 5 D 1 L 2 F 21 A 12 This year, Mr "BEND YOUR KNEES" Beaumont coached the U16As while Miss Arnold took charge of the U16Bs. Due to a mix of bouts of superb hockey, excellent team spirit, constant music and some chocolatey bribery, both teams had a very good season. Particular points of celebration came through

For both teams, success was the result of some fantastic play. In the As, this was provided by forwards Lucy McNeil, Eloise Pheasant, Holly Godliman, midfield players Charlotte Whittle, Lauren Anderson and defenders Ellen Buttanshaw, Rebekah Beaumont, Fiona Kennedy and Grace Everitt. In addition, Rachel Heynike made some brilliant saves, her organization of the defence improving throughout. In the Bs, other than taking it in turns as goalkeeper, a solid defence in the form of Jemima Baker, Eren Humphreys, Elin Humprey and Melina Williams, meant that whoever was standing in goal was never put under much pressure while Amy Falconer, Ellen Lykeus and Eleanor Larby controlled the middle of the pitch so well that regular forwards – Jess Francis, Sasha Harman and Clara Lykeus – were able to break through the opposition defence. The As also took part in the National Indoor Competition this year and once again demonstrated their strengths, only narrowly missing out on further qualification in the South Finals. The speed and agility required for this quicker form of the game definitely helped them prepare for the second half of the outdoor season. Overall, both teams have improved hugely throughout and had an excellent winter of hockey. Well done to everyone, particularly Fourth Years Sally Sime and Aoife D’Mello and Fifth

SPORT Years Eva Grey, Louisa Shirver and Jasmine Werner who all played in the 1st XI this season and succeeded in reaching the National Finals. It’s easy to be cheerful and full of love for the game when you are on a winning streak but factor in gale-force wind, driving rain and/or sub-zero temperatures and life might not always seem so rosy. This was not so with the conscientious, enthusiastic and energetic U16 squads. A brilliant season... and certainly not just because of the chocolate. Olivia Gooding, Fourth Year and Mrs R Arnold

U16A Squad: R. Heynike, F. Kennedy, G. Everitt, J. Baker, R. Beaumont, E. Buttanshaw, O. Gooding, C. James, D. Langton, A. D’Mello, C. Whittle, C. Lyckeus, L. McNeil, E. Pheasant, L. Anderson, H. Godliman, A. Falconer U16B Squad: J. Baker, A. Falconer, J. Francis, S. Harman, E. Humprey, E. Humpreys, E. Larby, C. Lykeus, E. Lykeus, K. Orrell, K. Ukiah, M. Williams, A. Falconer

U14 GIRLS

U14A Team

U14A P 32 W 16 D 4 L 12 F 101 A 77 U16B P 21 W 13 D 2 L 6 F 48 A 40 Both U14 teams had an excellent season at home, away and abroad on our Easter trip to Wageningen as part of the 31st year of the KGSWageningen exchange programme where the Bs managed to gain a 1-0 victory over their hosts. For the A team, the first highlight of the year was their participation in the South Finals at Ditton Field and, after coming second in their pool, progression to the Finals where a defeat against St George‘s ended their journey. While this was disappointing, the commitment of the whole squad, the tireless play of Lizzie Stevenson and the defensive line of Lucile Toulemonde, Sara Gotham-Pardo, Kitty Griffin, Ellie Lord and Katie Rhoades (providing newfound keeper, Lauren Araujo, with some helpful support) ensured some remarkable victories and an unbeaten run in the second half of the season. Here, Issy James, Emma Sloan and Lily Mercier held the team together well from the centre of the pitch, while Maia White and Natasha Burrell led the forward line and Izzy Garside and Katie Rhoades regularly displayed their skill to the opposition. First Year Sophie Wood must be particularly congratulated for her play and for fitting in so well. Throughout the season, the Bs, too, gelled as a team and, with new players Lucy Pearce and Giulia Duggan, gained a remarkable 7-0 win against WLFS later on in the year. The flexible squad all took turns as goalkeeper in different games and developed a strong defence and impressive midfields and forwards; Eloise White and Jess Cropley must be particularly congratulated for their goal-scoring abilities in the above match. Natasha Burrell, Gaia Aherne and Ciara Kennedy, Third Year

U14B Team

U14A Squad: L. Araujo, S. Gotham-Pardo, K. Griffin, L. Toulemonde, E. Lord, K. Rhoades, E. Stevenson, I. James, I. Garside, M. White, N. Burrell, L. Mericer, E. Sloan, S. Wood U14B Squad: G. Aherne, J. Cropley, C. Kennedy, L. North, H. E. Kim, T. Piolini-Castle, I. Pleasance, L. Pringle, L. Pearce, C. Taylor, M. Whittle, H. Wort, E. White, G. Duggan, M. Francis

U13 GIRLS

U13 Team

U13A &B Team U13A P 14 U13B P 14 U13C P 12 U13D P 21

W7 W7 W9 W6

D1 D2 D1 D2

L6 L5 L2 L3

F 33 F 58 F 41 F 29

A 47 A 32 A 14 A 23

All of the U13 teams have had a very successful season. Despite a disappointing 7-0 opening defeat for the As to Reigate Grammar, they came back 11-4 against WLFS before narrowly losing to Thomas‘s Clapham in the semi-finals of the London Tournament. Throughout, the team has enjoyed excellent defence from Jasmin Good (Vice-Captain), Matilda Halliwell and Lily Mercier (Captain) and the ever-dependable Simi Isaacson in goal. Up front, meanwhile, Maria Uria Kabashima‘s and Clara John‘s powerful attacking demeanour

SPORT regularly guided the ball up and into the goal. In mid-field, Rosie Callen, Clara Hinde, Emma Sloan and Izzy Kerr did an impressive job. The B team‘s first match loss to Reigate Grammar (7-0) was also slightly dispiriting. However, like their A team counterparts, they let this spur them to an astonishing 12-1 victory against WLFS. Competing, too, in the London Tournament, they were unfortunately knocked out in the first round. An impressive team this year, Annabel Theron, Grace Neil (Vice-Captain) and Jess Larkin (Captain) were strong defenders while Anouk Delattre, Sofie Procter, Clara Boucher and Evie Yarde-Leavett in midfield, kept the ball in the attacking half. Finally, sharing the role of upfront, Nadine Dayem and Sophie Fairweather were always ready to receive the ball in the D and take a whack at goal. The C team‘s winning season was marked by continuous improvement and an astounding seven-goal victory against City of London. The squad were united in their commitment in every match and worked very well as a team despite losing a number of players to the Bs. Finally, the D team should be congratulated for their commitment and determination against some difficult opposition and despite an ever-changing team structure. Ably captained by Maddie Wynne, who led by example and with sheer determination and grit, the team also enjoyed the play of Molly Verrow and Amelia Metcalf, who broke up opposition attacks with excellent interception, and, in the midfield, the pace of Hannah Orrell, Lara Hood, Emilia Hazel and Nyah Lear. Leading goal scorers were Vice-Captain Alice Johnson and Tali Box; Alice should also be credited for her persistent optimism and enthusiasm throughout the season. Nadine Dyem, Second Year and Miss E Noble U13A Squad: R. Callen, J. Good, C. Hinde, I. Kerr, L. Mercier, E. Sloan, C. John, M. U. Kabashima, S. Isaacson, M. Halliwell

U13B Squad: J. Larkin, A. Delattre, S. Merriman, G. Bergmann-Chornik, C. Boucher, F. Chorley, A. Theron, E. Yarde-Leavett, G. Neil, S. Procter, S. Fairweather U13C Squad: N. Dayem, A. Dalhaus, G. Linney, S. Al Saraf, K. Walsh, S. Meriman, E. Shrimsley, E. Hazel, L. Marshall, C. Boucher, G. Bergmann Chornik U13D Squad: A. Johnson, N. Lear, T. Box, M. Wynne, A. Metcalf, L. Hood, H. Orrell, E. Hazel, F. Gilmour U12 GIRLS

U12 Team

U12A & B Team U12A P 15 U12B P 15 U12C P 15 U12D P 12

W6 W 10 W4 W3

D3 D0 D2 D1

L6 L5 L9 L8

F 36 F 45 F 31 F 16

A 33 A 30 A 31 A 36

The U12s should be congratulated for their complete engagement and determination to improve. Committed captains, lunchtime ‘Skills Schools’ and after-school training undoubtedly had a positive impact on performance and it was pleasing to see movement and competition across teams as players‘ learning developed.

Progress for the A team was evident in the Surbiton High School Festival. Here, goals from Juliette Den Hoedt and Laura Kimber, the midfield dominance of Lucy Hicks and Anna Le Huray and solid defence from Charlotte Cahn, Emily Bryce and Anna Duggan brought us qualification for the final. In the final, however, despite the attacking moves of Sophie Wood and Sophie Morris, the team lacked the physical edge to match the opposition. In the London Tournament a week later, the B team just missed out on the semi-final despite beating Alleyn’s A team to come second in their pool, while the As suffered a surprise defeat. The Bs’ success was due to the formidable defensive partnership of Sasha Lacey and Anna Pryse-Davies, in front of Isabel Morton in goal, and the strong and speedy passing and tackling of Maddie Prichard and Maddie Clarke in midfield. Holly Harrison, Issy Rosser, Alice Tobin, Tianna Sinclair and Isabella Tilzey also played key roles here and throughout the season. Meanwhile, the As were the runners-up in their pool. A penalty stroke competition in the quarterfinals enabled them to progress to the semis but, despite dominant periods of play, they conceded a goal and could not equalise. They did, however, win the third fourth play-off in great style, 5-0. For a number of players from both the C and D teams, their introduction to hockey began this year and they worked hard to learn, and improve upon, skills required by the game. They should be congratulated for their efforts. For the Cs, a key moment was their decisive 4-2 defeat of Reigate Grammar, where player of the match was undoubtedly Bea Page due to her amazing goalkeeping. For the Ds, their 4-0 win over Portsmouth Grammar demonstrated how far their technical skills had improved since the start of the season as well as their dedication to the team. Both teams ended the season playing confident hockey and should be very proud of how far they have come. Lily Coyne-Lown and Isla Howell Bayes, First Year and Mr S Hardy

U12A Squad: E. Bryce, C. Cahn, J. Den Hoedt, A. Duggan, L. Hicks, A. Le Huray, M. Clark, L. Kimber, S. Morris, J. West, S. Wood U12B Squad: S. Lacey, A. Pryse-Davies, I. Rosser, T. Sinclair, I. Tilzey, I. Morton, A. Roux, C. Boyle, A. Tobin, H. Harrison

The C teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s winning season was marked by continuous improvement and an astounding seven-goal victory against City of London.

U12C & D Squad: A. Roux, H. Harrison, F. Chevallier, L. Coyne-Lown, I. Dombrowsky, H. Farrer, C. Boyle, V. Purnell, I. Whitfield-Walsh, A. Cassidy, I. Defise, A. Ghule, I. Howell Bayes, H. Peterarulthas, A. Pickard, A. Rodrigues, S. Farrell

IPS Early Netball Tournaments This year, KGS sent three age groups to the Early Ibstock Place Netball Tournaments. This is an annual event, designed to get the girls back into action after a long summer off and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what happened. The girls hit the ground running, playing back to back matches for over two hours. Many different schools took part and all quickly got back into the swing of playing netball. The 1st VII squad had some great wins and, through their hard work,

had a play-off match against rivals Tiffin Girls. In one last push of the tournament, the KGS team managed to produce a fast and energetic level of netball to bring a win and earn them fifth place. A great effort from all those who took part. Meanwhile, the U15A team played eight games in a round robin tournament. It was certainly a challenging afternoon, both mentally and physically, but the girls produced some excellent netball, coming fifth overall. It has

been great preparation for the Surreys in two weeks. Well done to you all. Finally, the U13 squad played four matches in their section. Narrowly losing to Harrodian and to Emanuel, they beat both Surbiton and The Hall. This placed them in the fifth/ sixth play-off, where they lost 3-5 to Ibstock Place. Congratulations to all who took part. Mrs J Stapleton

SPORT

CRICKET 1st XI BOYS It has been a tale of two halves this year for the KGS 1st XI with the weather being a major factor in a frustrating season for the players. After disappointing opening losses to St George‘s and Tiffin, the team recovered well to post impressive victories against Sutton Grammar School, Christ‘s Hospital and Latymer. It was at this point that our captain, Ronan Harvey-Kelly, started to impose himself and, after consecutive scores of 80+, recorded his first KGS century scoring 122* in an emphatic victory over Latymer. In addition, the formation of key partnerships between RH-K, Ben Park and Ed Darwin, late order power from Joe Hughes and Nick Browning and economical bowling spells from off-spinner Sunny Patel meant we were setting up a brand of cricket on which the players thrived. One particular matchwinning bowling performance camefrom Joe Mallinson against Christ‘s Hospital.

With the score at 90-0 after 10 overs, a great team effort set up a finale for Joe to take three wickets in an over, effectively ending Christ‘s Hospital’s innings. After half term, the exam period and poor weather hampered training sessions and fixtures; it was becoming a frustrating time to be a cricket player. However, a mid-week win against Ibstock, and a notable victory against the KGS Old Boys on a fantastic Sunday at Ditton Field, took us into the KGS Cricket Festival. Sadly, the 1st XI failed to record a win, despite a score of 186 against Tiffin. It was a loss symptomatic of the season – patches of brilliance dimmed by a lack of the consistency, ruthlessness and experience. It has been a great transition year for the 1st XI with a new coach and a lot of gaps to fill from previous leavers. Towards the end of the year we played Fourth Years Max Dawson and Artie Rice-Oxley and Third Year Ben Mallinson who will all benefit from the experience. We also have an outstanding leader in Ronan

Harvey-Kelly who, I’m sure, will take a relatively unchanged and optimistic team into 2017. Two players, Fergus Ainsworth and Andrew Merriman, ended their school years in KGS cricket colours. Thank you for being exceptional ambassadors. I hope you will return to see your dedication reaping benefits in many new KGS cricketers. Mr D Reed 1st XI Coach 1st XI Squad: F. Ainsworth, A. Merriman, R. Harvey-Kelly, J. Hughes, B. Park, J. Mallinson, J. Hall, S. Patel, N. Browning, E. Darwin, J. Woodcock, E. Gray

2nd XI BOYS The 2nd XI season was highly enjoyable, at times comical and thoroughly rewarding. While exams, Open Days or selection for the 1st XI meant that we didn‘t always

know who would be in the team, we were always certain that (despite some inconsistency in our batting and bowling) all would be fully committed. Special mention must go to Elliot Hudson who captained the side superbly, scored 40-plus runs regularly and steadied the ship when those around had trouble with the bat, and Tom Gooding and Ali Dean for their generally consistent bowling. Third Year Ben Mallinson should be commended for his class and poise. Ironically, our best team performance also marked my worst moment as a coach. It began badly with the arrival of only seven KGS players in a match against Christ‘s Hospital on 14th May; we also lost the toss. However, their decision to bowl gave Elliot Hudson the opportunity to score an impressive 48 not out and the team to post a respectable score. Such a small team fielding brought further problems but ones which the boys were up for facing; bowling was on point and commitment from fielders was complete – they covered a minimum of 20 metres either side.

The team‘s plan was to give away singles and the odd double run. Dedication to their cause and a belief that we could win won them the game. It was a performance I will always remember. Thanks to the team for a great season. Hopefully the weather next year will not steal as many fixtures from us. Keep pushing for 1st XI starting places! Mr PJ Jackson 2nd XI Coach 2nd XI Squad: J. Adam, J. Adshead, G. Morley, A. Dean, T. Gooding, J. White, M. Cooper, J. Woodcock, R. McGeachie, M. Dawson, A. Rice-Oxley, S. Langston, W. MacKintosh, B. Mallinson

U15 BOYS In many ways this was a typical KGS cricket team in that it comprised two or three genuine club cricketers,

and another eight or so sporty lads who were willing to give it their best effort. We began with a ten-wicket win over Cedars School in the Cup and in the second game Artie Rice-Oxley and Ben Mallinson (on loan from the Third Year) both scored half centuries as KGS posted 167 for five against Sutton Grammar School, before winning quite comfortably by 49 runs. The next round of the Cup saw a good performance against Ibstock. Batting first, Ben Mallinson and Max Dawson led the way to reach 129 for 2. Ibstock looked easily on for a win in the first half of their innings before Artie Rice-Oxley took four wickets as KGS got home by 17 runs. Niall Shinn, James Thompson and Sam Langston all produced some super spells of bowling and Max Dawson and Artie Rice-Oxley were often able to take wickets when they were really needed. Jack Thorpe and Toby Fairhurst shared the wicketkeeping duties. With the arrival of the exam season, however, Max and Artie in particular began to be called

SPORT up to the senior teams – a good thing for the other lads who were now challenged to perform without them. Losses by 37 runs to Christ‘s Hospital and by 50 runs to Charterhouse pointed to lack of focus in the batting department but a particularly good bowling and fielding effort against Charterhouse, notably from James Thompson to restrict the opponents to 127, was spoiled by giving away easy wickets. Despite this, some inventive tail-end batting from Greg Vasilin-Tack brightened up the day. It was a similar tale against Emanuel where the team lost by six wickets after being rumbled out for only 47. The best performances were seen away, at Latymer, when the opposition were bowled out for 127. KGS cruised towards the total with Max Dawson, Rahul Khandelwal and Luke Mobley bringing us level to go in to the last over. Five balls and three wickets later we were still out there and it took a scrambled single off the last ball to win. Another cup match against Whitgift saw the lads really apply themselves; Max got an excellent 50 with great support from Ed Nicholas as KGS reached 132 for five only to be out-batted by a better team and to lose by seven wickets. Mr MP Williamson U15 Coach U15 Squad: M. Dawson, T. Fairhurst, R. Khandelwal, S. Langston, W. Mackintosh, B. Merriman, L. Mobley, E. Nicholas, A. Rice-Oxley, N. Shinn, J. Thompson, J. Thorpe, G. Vasilin-Tack

U14 BOYS Both the Under 14 A and B teams had a very positive season with bowling and batting improving and more promised for next year. Despite the poor weather cancellation of some games for both teams,

the A team managed to win about half of the games played. For the A team, batting was a strength. Four players scored over 20 runs in an innings and three over 30 runs. These were, Sam Mayhew (18 against Tiffin, 21 against City of London Freemen‘s and 32 against Latymer Upper), Ellie Lord (27 runs against Glyn, 25 against City of London Freemen‘s, 30 not out against KCS Wimbledon and 36 against Latymer Upper), Danny Sullivan (25 not out against Sutton Grammar and 38 against KCS) and Ben Mallinson (30 runs against Christ‘s Hospital and 45 runs against Glyn). Adwait Joshi and Tom Nicholls also batted well with the former peaking at 13 runs against Sutton Grammar, and the latter 11 runs against Christ‘s Hospital and 12 against Tiffin. Sam Tallis should also be congratulated for his 11 runs against Glyn and 19 not out against KCS. Although the As‘ bowling was a little disappointing, some good performances were apparent in most games. Joe Studholme bowled consistently well throughout; his three wickets against Tiffin School and four wickets for nine runs off four overs against KCS are particularly memorable. Ewan Galloway-Hale also took vital wickets, especially in the game against Latymer Upper, where he took one wicket for 10 runs, while Sam Talllis, Sam Mayhew and Danny Sullivan contributed well and took key wickets – Danny‘s spell against Sutton Grammar match (one wicket for 10 runs) was very impressive. A special mention must go to Ruairi Parker, Adwait Joshi and Will Hunt (our three part-time bowlers) for their contributions, especially in the match against KCS, where Adwait took one wicket and only conceded two runs and Will Hunt took two wickets. The B team are defined by their determination and good spirit. Their season began well with Jude Boden‘s and Cameron MacPherson‘s

impressive batting easing the team through against Latymer Upper School to win 75-1, beating the opposition‘s score of 74-8. Wickets were taken by Edward Jones, William Pengilly, Jack Durden and Aleks Brown. The game against Christ‘s Hospital was very close; some crucial maidens helped but a few dropped catches and Aleks Brown‘s LBW, when he was just getting into the game, cost us the match. Special mentions include: Tom Nicholls, for being a motivational, enthusiastic and acrobatic wicket keeper, Ellie Lord, for being a great captain, and Kitty Griffin and Katie Rhoades whose determined arrival undoubtedly helped the team. Mr Prosser and Mr Wakely also deserve thanks for their time and support; they were very good at motivating us and we couldn’t have achieved so much without them. Joe Studholme, Third Year U14A Squad: B. Mallinson, E. Lord, S. Tallis, A. Joshi, D. Sullivan, A. Brown, J. Boden, J. Studholme, S. Mayhew, T. Nicholls, R. Parker, W. Hunt, E. Galloway-Hale, S. Cluff U14B Squad: A. Gavrilescu, S. Cluff, C. MacPherson, L. Marshall, D. Hayes, T. Sayer, E. Jones, C. Farr, W. Pengilly, A. Brown, J. Durden, O. Alavi, J. Boden, K. Rhoades, K. Griffin

U13 BOYS Both A and B U13 teams enjoyed a good season this year. The A team have made massive strides since last year with players such as Johnny Eldridge and Max Lloyd cementing their places after good performances while Rohan Saha’s wicket keeping made an enormous impact. The U13Bs‘ impressive development is undoubtedly due to the commitment of the large

pool of 26 players, including eight girls, who represented the team. For the A team, significant points of achievement included their match against Glenthorne High in the preliminary round of the Watcyn Cup (where KGS skittled them out for 53 and our opening pair, James and Jamie, picked off the bowlers to finish with 54-0) and against Christ‘s Hospital, where James and Jamie removed their top three batsmen for ducks before Tarun finished with 2-9 off four overs for, with the help of an excellent knock by Andrei Vasilin-Tack, a total set of 50. The greatest win for the As, however, was against Latymer Upper who had beaten KGS last year. After a stunning diving catch from Joe Ives and a very good run out from Thomas Bowser at fine leg, Latymer were reduced to 102-9 and in the second innings after a good partnership between James Dick (39) and Elliot Crutchfield (25), Johnny Eldridge and Thomas Bowser were able to see the game through at 103-5. More frustrating results occurred in our opening game against Tiffin where, despite an excellent opening wicket partnership of 50 from James Dick and Jamie Hughes, the total was just below par and we couldn’t defend it; and against a particularly good Reed‘s side, who managed to reach our total in 12 overs in the match to follow. A highlight of the match was Elliot Crutchfield’s 30 runs. Similarly, a round one draw of the Watcyn Evans Trophy, against Colet Court, saw KGS get off to a slow start. The innings was saved when Andrei smashed 19 off three overs but Colet Court reached the total in 11 overs despite some magnificent bowling from Olly Sandry-Butler who finished with 6-1 off four overs. Finally, the closest match of the season was against Portsmouth Grammar School. KGS reached a total of 88-9 with valuable contributions from Elliot Crutchfield, Max Lloyd and Faiz Saleem. Despite this fairly low score, the innings in the field included a magnificent low diving catch, bowled from James,

and a superb run out by Jamie to dismiss both their opening batsmen for ducks. The standout bowler was Joseph Hughes who took four wickets from his four overs. PGS managed to scrape to our 88 with only one over to spare.

U12 BOYS

For the B team, winning four of their first six games was a promising start – they lost only to Tiffin and had a game postponed against Reed’s due to poor weather. This disruption also occurred in the second half of the season when three of the four remaining fixtures were postponed. Unfortunately, KGS lost the remaining game to Emmanuel. However, they should be congratulated for some outstanding individual performances, particularly from Edward Knight, who managed a four wicket haul against Christ’s Hospital, and Clara Hinde, who took three wickets against Sutton Grammar. Other worthy bowling performances came from Annabell Theron, Jamie Moore, Charlotte Higham and Christopher Wilding who collectively took regular wickets throughout the season. Similarly, productive batting was seen by Thomas Aymat, Ben Little, Roddy Reid, Tarun Ramphul, Emma Sloan, Jamsin Good and Johnny Eldridge. All must be commended for their performances.

The A team made a promising start; they scored 100, against Tiffin, on a tricky batting pitch before reducing the opposition to 87 for five from 20 overs. However, the highlight of the season was a resounding victory over local rivals Reeds; despite the early loss of Oscar Evans, Harry Pink and Lucas Griffin recorded a 142 run partnership with Harry leading the way with 81 not out while Lucas achieved a brilliantly composed 48 not out. Bowling was a strength; Fred Mills walked away with 4-16 from four overs, perhaps profiting from Ben Godliman and Lucas Griffin tactic economical deliveries which forced Reeds’ lower order to take risks. Reeds finished 19 runs short of our total. The team also celebrated a victory against Christ’s Hospital and a fine all round performance from captain Lucas Griffin; opening the batting he achieved 53 not out before returning to take 3-3 from his opening spell. Solid bowling from Shourya Arora, Oliver Rossner and Fred Mills again meant that Christ’s Hospital were bowled out for 36. Both Latymer and Portsmouth were also defeated, by eight wickets and 49 runs respectively,

James Dick, Second Year U13A Squad: J. Dick, T. Farrell, T. Bowser, J. Hughes, J. Hughes, J. Ives, E. Knight, T. Ramphul, O. Sandry-Butler, A. Vasilin-Tack, C. Wilding, M. Lloyd, R. Saha, E. Crutchfield, J. Eldridge, F. Saleem U13B Squad: T. Aymat, T. Farrell, S. Graham, J. Good, E. Sloan, C. Hinde, C. Higham, N. Hollaway, E. Knight, B. Little, J. Moore, S. Nevstad, R. Reid, Z. Sampson-Regal, C. Wilding, S. Parker, A. Theron, T. Ramphul

This year, B and C teams joined the U12A team. Although the weather proved a disruptive factor for all, it was a promising season boding well for the future.

Less successful encounters for the A team included their match against Sutton Grammar on an AstroTurf wicket, and a loss to KCS Wimbledon in the Cup. A frustrating loss against Reigate also punctuated a run of good form as the boys started to take to their roles in the team. Finally, in a tough outing against Emanuel School, an uncharacteristic batting collapse led to KGS not having enough runs to defend and, despite some good bowling and fielding performances, the team subsided by eight wickets.

Under Mr Durban’s enthusiastic coaching, the B team was due to play 11 fixtures and the C team four this season. They played pairs as opposed to 11 aside to ensure every player the opportunity to bat, bowls and face a guaranteed number of balls; the worst that can happen is that a minus score is recorded. Unfortunately, only six matches were completed, with the Bs winning two. The game against Latymer Upper where KGS scored 118-2 – Max Mayhew scored an impressive 67* – was memorable in that the ball travelled through the stumps without dislodging the bails. Unfortunately, however, our opposition fell just short. The C team played two matches and though losing them narrowly, made vast progress; many played for the B and A teams. U12A Squad: L. Griffin, H. Pink, O. Evans, F. Moore, F. Mills, O. Rossner, T. Pawsey-Persaud, B. Godliman, J. Fairhurst, S. Merwanji, S. Arora, J. Steel, L. Brenninkmeijer, M. Mayhew, B. Turner, S. Wood U12B & C Squad: A. Middleton, G. Douglas, J. Steel, R. Omar, J. Emerson, A. Millar, M. Mace, M. Burrell, E. Bryce, B. Turner, S. Wood, L. Brenninkmeijer, K. Samarasena, L. Boyle, M. Prichard, A. Tobin, T. Jones, L. Kimber, T. Jones, G. Harris, T. Hewer

U15 GIRLS Considering this was our first competitive season playing cricket, the U15 girls’ position of fourth place – out of 16 teams overall – in the Surrey Cricket Tournament was an impressive result. During the season, we won six of our 12 matches, taking us through to the Surrey Cup Finals. With the help of a few Third Years such as Ellie Lord, Lexi North and Tash Burrell, we formed a strong and reliable U15 girls’ team. We enjoyed a comfortable win against Ibstock Place in the first round of the Surrey Cup and achieved fourth place in the

St George’s 6s tournament. Overall, we built up a robust cricket side even though it took us a few matches to get into the swing of things! Sally Sime, Fourth Year U15 Squad: : E. Lord, E. Stevenson, K. Griffin, L. North, K. Rhoades, I. Garside, N. Burrell, I. James, G. Aherne, G. Duggan, S. Sime, A. D’Mello, O. Gooding, R. Heynike, S. Harman, L. McNeil, P. Graham, L. Anderson

U14 GIRLS

round matches and to play on Saturdays for the boys‘ teams. Kitted out in their new whites, all experiences have been of good quality and bode well for the future of girls’ cricket at KGS. U14 Squad: K. Griffin, K. Rhoades, I. Garside, I. James, E. Stevenson, N. Burrell, L. Pringle, C. Taylor, L. North, G. Aherne, M. Whittle, G. Duggan, C. Kennedy, M. White, I. Pleasance

U13 GIRLS

The U14 girls really took to, and enjoyed, their first season of cricket. Although almost all of them were new to the sport, they quickly developed their bowling, batting and fielding abilities. Keen to move away from pairs and soft ball cricket early on in the season, the girls swiftly picked up the game, enjoying the thrill and challenge of hard ball cricket. Led by Kitty Griffin and Katie Rhoades, the girls went from strength to strength. Early games against Alleyn’s and St. George’s College gave us the much-needed game experience; Millie Whittle and Guilia Duggan both found their role as wicket keepers, whilst Natasha Burrell, Issy Pleasance and Lexi North demonstrated a good bowling ability. East Molesey Women’s side provided the girls with a true club experience, playing a 25-over, mixed KGS and club game. Izzy Garside, Issy James and Maia White raised a few eyebrows as they faced a number of good club bowlers but stayed in bat for several overs, clocking a decent number of runs. A highlight of the day, perhaps not for the batter, was Gaia Aherne taking a wicket against Miss Naismith! It was a match which helped to increase our enthusiasm, confidence and love for the sport going forwards. Throughout the season, many of the U14s also had the opportunity to represent the U15s in county

We have had a fantastic season, winning every match that we played and were victorious in the Surrey County Cup. This was a brilliant achievement and we are very pleased with ourselves. The highlight of the season was watching everyone in the team improve, enjoy and take pride in carefully executing our games. All of this led to the great victories we achieved. In addition, we wouldn’t have come this far without the supportive coaches who accompanied us throughout. The Surrey Cup is the match that stands out in our minds the most. There was excellent bowling from Emma Sloan and Annabel Theron, amazing batting by Clara John and Jasmin Good and strong fielding from the whole team, not forgetting Lily Mercier keeping wicket. Weydon needed six off the last ball and so seeing them hitting a four was a moment that we will never forget. Charlotte Higham, Lily Mercier and Freya Worsley, Second Year

SPORT U13 Squad: : C. Higham, L. Mercier, F. Worsley, E. Sloan, A. Theron, C. John, C. Hinde, J. Larkin, J. Good

U12 GIRLS At the beginning of the cricket season many of the First Year girls had no idea how to play this new sport, let alone could understand its rules. However, we threw ourselves in by going to practices after school, at lunchtime and in Games lessons, and by the end of the first few weeks, our improvement was noticeable.

We have had a fantastic season, winning every match that we played and were victorious in the Surrey County Cup.

Due to the bad weather, a few of our matches had to be cancelled, but we are pleased with the seven we managed to play. We played pairs cricket which was great fun. The A team managed to win both of their matches against St George’s. The games were incredibly close with a win of nine runs in the first and then six runs in the second. Our fielding ability was strong and we worked well as a team to throw the ball in towards the wickets or to the wicket keeper. Unfortunately, the As lost to Alleyn’s but, again, it was a close match with them winning by only four runs. Although the B and C teams did not have as much success as the As, we still enjoyed playing under pressure against other schools. Our season ended with a trip to the Oval to watch a Surrey Ladies’ game that KGS’s own Eva Gray was playing in. We have really enjoyed our first taste of the sport and are looking forward to playing again next year. Anna Pryse-Davies and Annabel Roux, First Year U12A Squad: E. Bryce, C. Cahn, L. Kimber, I. Morton, A. Pryse-Davies, M. Prichard, J. West, B. Page, I. Howell Bayes, A. Tobin, S. Wood U12B Squad: A. Ghule, A. Cassidy, I. Rosser, A. Duggan, S. Lacey, M. Clark, I. WalshWhitfield, A. Roux, I. Tilzey, L. Coyne-Lown

TENNIS 86

I am very pleased to report that 2015/16 was the most successful season ever for KGS Tennis. Once again, we entered boys’ and girls’ teams into the U12, U13, U14, U15 and U18 Surrey Leagues and, for the first time, two (rather than one) boys’ and girls’ teams into each of the U13 & U15 Aegon competitions. In terms of results, the highlights were: • U18 Boys reached the Surrey League Quarter-Finals • U15 Girls won their Aegon group, reaching the county Semi-Finals • U14 Boys reached the Surrey League Quarter-Finals for the second year running • U14 Boys also won their U15 Aegon group, reaching the county Quarter-Finals • U13 Boys qualified from the group stages to reach the Surrey League Quarter-Finals • U12 Boys won their group with a 100% record, reaching the Surrey League Semi-Finals • U12 Girls won their U13 Aegon group with a 100% record, reaching the County Final • Notable individual fixture wins: • U18 Boys v Trinity, RGS Guildford • U15 Girls v Putney High • U14 Boys v Dulwich, Sutton Grammar • U12 Girls v Surbiton High, Croydon High, Hinchley Wood • U12 Boys v Trinity, Tiffin, Whitgift Additionally, on the competition front, we held the annual KGS Road to Wimbledon U14 boys’ and girls’ tournaments in May. As ever, this was a really enjoyable event with some superb performances, in particular from some of our younger players in the First and Second Years. In the Boys’ Final, Jack Housego-Woolgar defeated defending champion Lucas Askeland, while Elizabeth Stevenson successfully defended her title, beating Sophie Morris to win the Girls’ Final. Congratulations to our champions who also went on to represent KGS in the county

rounds of the competition. Furthermore, our top pair from each of the U12s, U13s, U14s and U15s competed at the Boys‘ Surrey Schools‘ Festival in May, which was a great experience for all involved. The annual Family Tennis Tournament took place on Sunday 26th June (alongside the Sturgeon Cricket event). This year saw 28 KGS parents and pupils competing as part of the ‘Feast at the Field’ celebrations at Ditton Field. The competition was run in a round robin format and after seven rounds of hard-fought matches, Alastair and Thomas Cutts emerged victorious in a close-run battle, just ahead of Melanie and Matthew Wood. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Many thanks to everyone involved. Finally, the weekly Junior and Senior after-school team training continued during the Autumn, Spring and Summer terms, while the Summer term Saturday morning ‘Beginner’ through to ‘Advanced’ coaching sessions proved as popular as ever. In addition, for the first time ever, tennis was offered as a Senior Games option during the Autumn and Spring terms (as well as the Summer term). Once again, it has been fantastic to see so many KGS pupils playing and enjoying their tennis and to see their hard work rewarded with such strong results. We look forward to further success next year. Mr S Morris

SPORT

KGS SPONSORED ROW The KGS Sponsored Row 2016 saw over 100 rowers comprised of current students, OKs and past and present parents. The aim was to row the 70km in one day to Thames Ditton navigating 16 locks on the River Thames along the way. The first crews set off at 6am but by 8am trouble was already brewing! The third lock on the row, known as Temple Lock just outside Henley was broken and required the off-duty lock keeper to come down and reset the power for the gates. Once reset the lock was back in action but with Temple Lock being one of the smallest locks on the Thames this delayed the whole event in the early stages. Over two thirds of the crews were waiting to pass through and when power was restored, the small scale of the lock exacerbated the delays even further – only two to three crews could progress at any one time. With 24 crews on the river, this meant a very long wait for those

who had set off at the back of the row in Henley. However, in the driving rain that blighted much of the day, the crews pushed on and lunch was served at Eton College’s ‘Masters’ Boathouse’. The final crews were leaving Eton after 3.30pm and it became apparent some crews would struggle to complete the full distance. The Senior boys were perhaps hit the hardest as, although they had the quickest boats, they were supremely generous in allowing slower crews into the locks before themselves. This selfless act meant the Senior boys, along with a Senior girls’ octuple scull and the J15 boys’ quads, were unable to complete the row, being withdrawn at Burway Rowing Club just outside Staines. The final crews got home at 8.30pm and the Sherriff Club put on an amazing hog roast for the rowers and volunteers which was gratefully received! All who took part should be

hugely proud of their efforts on the day. Most importantly the KGS Boat Club was raising funds in support of the youth mental health charity, Young Minds, as well as towards further improving our fleet. At the time of writing the rowers have raised nearly £35,000 with some money still to be added to the total! Thanks must go to the army of over 100 volunteers along the 70km route for supporting the rowers, our hosts at the start of the row, Henley Rowing Club, Eton College for allowing us use of their facilities for lunch and Sir William Perkins’s School Boat Club for allowing use of their facility to withdraw crews that would not have been able to complete the row in reasonable time. All in all, it was a long, tiring and emotional day for all involved and one that will generate lifelong memories! Here’s the next Sponsored Row scheduled for 2020! Mr P Simmons

SENIOR GIRLS’

ROWING For the Senior Girls this year, rowing was a tight-knit affair with a relatively small squad. But, as we all know, the best things come in small packages so we powered through and made the absolute most of it to bring both huge personal (and squad) improvement, facing and overcoming hardships and learning valuable lessons as we did so. The year began, quite excitingly, with the delivery of a shiny brand new eight, which we named after the London Olympic gold medallist – and Old Kingstonian – Sophie Hosking. Her maiden race was in the Women’s Eights Head of the River in March; it is the largest women’s rowing event in the world, so participatation is an honour, particularly as we were the first KGS girls’ crew to do so in a number of years. We were joined in the boat by J15 girls Aoife, Charlotte and Freya, who certainly proved that they are more than ready to progress into the Senior Squad next year! Other season’s highlights were wins at the Teddington and Bedford Heads, meaning that every girl in the squad came out of winter with at least one pot and proving that hard work and dedication pay off. The regatta season began in April with our annual training camp to Soustons. Despite the less than ‘South-of-France-esque’ weather we had been hoping for, the camp was immensely successful in helping us to prepare ourselves for summer racing. Indeed, the effects of the intense three-times-a-day training schedule were evident in a number of regattas, most notably at Marlow

Town in June where Lucia and Kirsty won the girls’ J16 doubles event and Kirsty and Bea won the women’s novice doubles. Bea also won the women’s novice singles and, along with Lucia, Kirsty and Millie, the women’s intermediate quads – a fantastic result and made even better by the fact it was sustained the following weekend when Kirsty, Bea, Lucia, Rachel and, cox, Zoe won the Girls’ J18 fours at the Thames Valley Park Regatta. But the year wasn’t all about hard work. We had many opportunities to come together as a squad and simply enjoy ourselves away from the river – the Boat Club dinner in January and Henley Regatta in July are just two examples. Thanks to these occasions, training every week and the dedication of all, we have become very close as a squad, showing how participating in sport not only builds physical excellence, but also strong friendships. I’m proud to call these girls my crewmates and my friends. It’s been a fantastic year, and I’ll miss them greatly. Rachel Ibbetson, Upper Sixth

Moving into the KGS Boat Club Senior Squad Seeing the incredible achievements of such as Flo Blake-Parsons and Issy Dodds, as they competed for Great Britain in the GB vs France match, and hearing of the girls’ quad who managed to qualify for Henley in 2013, I had been both inspired and slightly intimidated by their determination. Therefore, although

excited, I was also nervous about moving into Fifth Year and rowing in the Senior Squad. Only a few girls from Fifth Year had carried on rowing and so, although the Senior Boys had a full eight, the girls’ squad was smaller than expected. Therefore, we could only admire our new boat – a Hudson eight – from afar. However, because of this small group, and the fact that the older girls were so welcoming, friendly and helpful, we all quickly got to know each other well and, right from the start, there was a positive atmosphere during training. Nevertheless, it was strange to move from a crowded gym and noisy changing room to training with, perhaps, only two or three others; ultimately, it provided a very helpful lesson in the importanceof self-motivation. The increase in training to nine sessions per week, including two before school at 7am, had been one of my main worries. However, at the beginning of the year I found that although I was always tired at the end of each week, a routine was quickly established and I learnt how to fit schoolwork, and everything else, around it. Therefore, even when the training became harder I enjoyed a feeling of accomplishment. I had also been worried about managing training during GCSEs, as at points it felt like I had so much less time to finish work than other people, but with the advice and support from coaches and older girls in the squad, the exam period was nowhere near as stressful as I had expected. Also, as some of our most important

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The year began, quite excitingly, with the delivery of a shiny brand new eight, which we named after the London Olympic gold medallist – and Old Kingstonian – Sophie Hosking

events, like National Schools’ Regatta and Henley, were towards the end of the Summer term, we had something to train towards during exams – a useful means of stress relief, and giving us something to work for other than GCSEs. For me, some of the best times in rowing this year have been winning races at Teddington Head, Marlow Town Regatta, and Thames Valley Park Regatta, and having the opportunity to row at world-famous courses like Henley and Eton Dorney. These have made all of the training worthwhile, and proved how much the squad has improved throughout the year; competing has also enabled us to watch, and aspire to, more experienced crews. I have also loved being able to meet and spend time with people from different years and schools and am really looking

forward to getting to know everyone who joins the squad next season. I hope they enjoy the year as much as I have. Kirsty George, Fifth Year

WJ15 Rowing Report This year the J15 squad improved both in rowing technique and in power and it has been very rewarding to see successful results our sixtimes-per-week training sessions. Highlights came in May half-term, when our A boat were finalists in the National Schools Regatta, and A and B boat participated in the J16 category; while the A boat produced good results despite difficulties with injuries, the B boat had a straight final and achieved an impressive fourth place.

Even if we didn’t attain the best results in all races, we knew that we had worked our absolute hardest in order to get the best outcomes we could and developed from a group of individuals to a real squad who support each other. Going to Gloucestershire for our week-long rowing camp helped immensely with this, both through training and socialising. Experiencing both injuries and victories has bettered us as people as well as athletes and we are excited to be progressing to the Senior Squad next year. Frances Headley, Fourth Year

SENIOR BOYS’

ROWING “The reward comes from the journey, not the destination” is a phrase which has come to define the KGS Senior Boys’ Squad 2015/2016 season as a small group of athletes worked hard to develop both as sportsmen and people and achieve regular personal bests both on the water and in training. Squad members also grew better at setting their own goals and working towards them, skills that will remain long after they have taken their last rowing strokes. Six members of the Upper Sixth – cox and captain Will Burden, Lachie Ives, Luke Hillier, Laurence Milward, Miles Seabrook and Tristan Taylor – are likely to be rowing elsewhere next season after playing a key part in the KGS Boat Club in their final year. I hope an equally committed Stefan Hales recovers from injury to do so too. This group, combined with Peter Betts, Alex Cozens, Sam Helm and Joe Hilty, from the Lower Sixth, plus Cameron Spurling from the Fifth Year, will form the leading boats through the year. The Fifth Year also had an up-anddown year. After beginning the season with a large squad, the group was eventually whittled down to a committed 14. Of these, four members – Nathan Barnett, Oli Burden, Will Holman and Thomas Reed – returned some good results. We look forward to them playing leading rowing roles in the next two years. As far as wins are concerned, the season began well with the Reading Small Boats Head in October. There was victory for the pair of Laurence Milward and Tristan Taylor in the J18 category while Luke Hillier was placed second place out of 23 in the single scull. In addition, a coxed four of Laurence, Tristan, Cameron Spurling and Lachie Ives finished the faster of two in the Intermediate 2 (IM2) category (they were also the second-fastest school-age crew). Joe Hilty and Rob Bern also enjoyed success with two wins in the double

scull at Kingston Small Boats Head in late October and then again a fortnight later over the same course at Teddington Head. Miles Seabrook and Lachie Ives also won at Kingston as the fastest of four IM2 pairs. Finally, with Luke replacing Lachie in the Reading crew, the leading four finished sixth of 20 school and junior crews at the Head of the River Fours – the first national event of the year. Rather than victory or defeat, a rowing crew is more likely to see their result as a shade of grey. Thus, while our top crew was the fifth-fastest school eight at Quintin Head in January, they were a disappointing ninth at Hampton Head – a juniors-only event that often has a strong field. However, Reading Head was a turning point for their approach and execution; they were second of 19 IM3 eights – losing to an Oxford Brookes University crew. At the Schools' Head, though – the major time trial at the end of the Spring term – while they achieved the aim set by crew and coaches, they were disappointed by their place of sixth-equal out of 27 crews in the First Eight category. Similarly, while the J16 four performed strongly through the Spring term, silverware evaded them: they were third of seven at Hampton, second at the Hammersmith Head and then fifth of 13 at the Schools' Head. Four squad members – Luke, Laurence, Cameron and Will – took part in trials for the Great Britain squad during the Spring. In February, Luke and Laurence competed in the pair at long-distance trials in Boston, while, during the same weekend, Cameron finished fifth in the J16 single sculling event and fourth in the double scull with a partner from Kingston RC. As a result he qualified for an Under-16 crew sculling camp In Nottingham during the Easter holidays. Cox Will Burden also took part in the Spring Trials for the GB team in Nottingham at Easter.

The reward comes from the journey, not the destination...

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At Easter, the senior squad‘s rowing camp in Soustons, southwest France, provided an excellent opportunity for crews to prepare for the season ahead. However, on their return, strong stream conditions forced the cancellation of Thames Ditton Regatta, providing the eight with only national-level regattas at Dorney Lake for which to prepare for the summer’s two main events: National Schools and Henley. No crew wants to be the fastest non-qualifier for Henley Royal Regatta. Certainly no squad wants to do so in successive years as KGS have now done, missing out by an aggregate time of less than two seconds after a 1.6-second margin this year. However, the eight performed well at Wallingford Regatta in May, and at Marlow Regatta in June they were third in the IM3 (Sch) time trial where they recorded a season’s best time of of 6 minutes 14.5 seconds in their IM2 final.

In-between, injury and illness hit preparations for the National Schools' Regatta meaning that the eight was only able to make the C-final of a new-format event – well short of their expectations. They did, however, make amends the following day as a coxed four of Tristan, Sam, Luke, Cameron and cox Will reached the A-final of 1st IVs, finishing barely three seconds off a medal. The J16 four, with Zoe Sharpe as cox, also made it into their A-final on Sunday where they rowed well. Finally, the younger four finished the season on a high, winning the J16 B event at Thames Valley Park Regatta in June. They were also second in the J16 A event after failing to recover fully from a clash off the start. Last year, the 1st VIII missed out on Henley qualification by 0.3 seconds. This year the expectation of success was greater but the result similar. The crew were distraught to have missed one of their season’s goals but realised how far they had come as both athletes and as people in the course of the year. Ten months of training were certainly not in vain. Mr MW Gough

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FOOTBALL

1st XI Team

GENERAL REPORT This year has been one of transition for football at KGS. My first aim, as the new Head of Football, has been to build on previous successes by increasing our number of teams to 13 and the number of our fixtures accordingly. I am delighted to announce that we currently play over 100 matches against other schools and that the programme is not only competitive but also inclusive, regularly involving over 160 students in quality coaching and competition. The overall philosophy of KGS is one which I have been keen to see integrated into the playing and coaching of football. I have, therefore, focused on encouraging all students to work hard, play well and conduct themselves appropriately on the pitch. These beliefs mirror and match the School‘s aims of developing passionate and creative pupils who are able to ask and answer the right questions. It’s also important to give everybody the

opportunity to play, improve and, maybe, represent the School. We currently have second and recreational teams in the following ages: 3rd XI, 4XI, U14B, U13B and U12B as well as a girls‘ team playing in regional competitions. Every student that has chosen football as their sport for Games has been selected to play for the School in one of the various teams.

important. In addition, the fact that the majority of the schools that we compete against are not only bigger than KGS but also have football as a main sport, shows how well our students have responded to these new challenges. We have the chance to become a key competitor on the football field as well as within the more traditionally recognised KGS sporting disciplines.

Whatever a student‘s year group, I have also worked to ensure that all experience a similar style of play as a means of ensuring that the transition between age groups and within teams is as easy as possible, and as a means of developing skilled footballers. As part of the programme this season, therefore, we have more fixtures in each age group and, where possible, better quality of opposition and, because the vast majority of our pupils don‘t play football outside school, Games sessions and training within the school day are ever-more

Many thanks to the football staff who have given up so much of their time after school and at weekends. Thank you also to the parents, family and friends who have supported the football programme at KGS. Hopefully all the teams can now reflect on what they have achieved this year and can be inspired and motivated for the 2016/7 season. We have plenty of exciting things to look forward to next year including a tour to Valencia and ESFA and ISFA Cups! Mr M Hall, Head of Football

1st XI BOYS P 12 W 5 D 0 L 7 The 1st XI played well in many of their fixtures. Many of our competitors had played numerous games – and had completed pre-season training – before meeting KGS, therefore placing us at an immediate disadvantage. Despite this, as the season progressed an increasingly settled 1st XI squad improved in both performances and results. While we were unfortunate that our first game of the season was the English Schools’ Cup (where we lost to a well-organized Lingfield ND) there were many encouraging signs. This meant that in our next cup competition – the London Independent Schools’ Cup, where we were drawn against a strong Royal Russell School side – our players only narrowly lost 2-0, conceding in the first and last minute. Good victories against Box Hill, Sutton Grammar, KCS and RGS Guildford showed how far this team had come. Although a somewhat frustrating season at times, we have learnt a lot from playing sides who were that bit stronger, fitter and sharper. Next season is to include pre-season training and an increased number of training sessions. 1st XI Squad: A. George, T. Shingler, O. Rossi, T. Dutton, J. Gawn, S. Turner, J. Style, G. Parrott, C. Wort, A. Mettoui, J. Woodcock, M. Watson, T. Coward, D. Rigby, E. Hudson, T. O’Dowd

2nd XI BOYS

2nd XI Team P 14 W 5 D 0 L 10

The 2nd XI have had an indifferent season, but this is largely due to the volume of players moving up to 1st XI, thus making some fixtures difficult to honour. However, a highlight was definitely our win against Royal Russell, 4-2, in the London Independent Schools’ Cup, even though this 'cup fever' was cut short when we were drawn against a strong Dulwich College team. Ultimately, the 2nd XI, ably led by Mr Davies, failed to live up to their previous cup heroics and lost three of their last five games by just one goal. Wins against Box Hill, Sutton Grammar School and Ewell Castle showed the potential of the team. 2nd XI Squad: D. Savvides, H. Clarke, C. Cairns, M. Cooper, G. Pugh-Thorogood, J. Mallinson, A. Graham L. Prefontaine, G. Huh, H. Kershaw, A. Hester, O. Paterson, G. Prabhaharan

Dulwich College team showed their potential for next season. 3rd XI & U16 Squad: E. Bradley, J. Rona, G. Casci, A. Ritchie, H. Shittu, S. Sivlal, S. Slater, C. Perry, H. Williams-Doherty, W. Hewetson, E. Clark-Cottom L. Kamleh-Chapman, L. Prefontaine, J. Castle, C. Taylor, D. Rigby, F. True, G. Grigg

U15 BOYS

U15 Team P 16 W 9 D 3 L 4

3rd XI / U16 BOYS

U16 Team 3rd XI U16

P 13 W 7 D 1 L 5 P 7 W 1 D 2 L 4

The 3rd XI was initially made up of the U16 to ensure that we had a smooth transition into senior football. As the season progressed, however, many U16 boys made their 1st and 2nd XI debuts which allowed a greater range of players to compete. After a slow start – they were narrowly defeated by Alleyn’s and Thames Christian College – the 3rd XI soon found their feet. Wins against Hampton, Whitgift, Harrodian and RGS Guildford followed and stood out for the team. In contrast, and despite featuring the same players, the U16s had a tougher campaign, losing by small margins. However, a win against a strong

The U15s had a very successful season, and with the help of Mr Scott they played a positive style of football that showed in their goal scoring. There were excellent wins against St Dunstan’s College, Westminster, Epson College, Hampton, Kew House School and KES Witley with over 65 goals in the process. Hopefully, many of these players will continue to develop into 1st and 2nd XI player next season. U15 Squad: H. Dreux, O. Warman, R. Khandelwal, J. Thorpe, J. Willcocks, A. Qureshi, R. Cooper, Y. Karidis, K. Kim, G. Vasilisin-Tack, N. Shinn, C. Werner, E. Tasker-Macleod

U14 BOYS

U14 Team

U14As P 18 W 8 D 0 L 10 U14Bs P 3 W 0 D 0 L 3 The U14s started the season really well with wins against John Lyon School, Thames Christian and Royal Russell School where they scored plenty of goals. However, it was the tough fixtures which followed that really showed the boys‘ character and resolve. In the latter end of the season, a very good 2-0 victory against Halliford proved that there is still a lot to come from this year group, with plenty to build on next season. The U14s also fielded B team matches which allowed everybody an invaluable opportunity to apply training techniques and exercises to match situations. U14 Squad: H. Torrence, T. Cole, B. Mallinson, B. Ghamsari, T. Hall, A. Brown, T. Driver, W. Pengilly, J. Van Hesteren Jones, S. Cluff, R. Parker, S. Ahmed, J. Durden, L. Askeland, M. Shipley

U13 BOYS

U13 Team U13As P 5 W 3 D 2 L 0 U13Bs P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 This has been an excellent season for the U13As who were unbeaten and showed commendable commitment to both training and in matches. Throughout, match play was excellent, producing some exciting contests – even in the draw against Chessington Community College where the final score was 6-6! As the season continued, players started to perform, regularly, in the KGS way and the results changed from draws into good victories as a result.

U13 Squad: P. Hietanen, F. Saleem, A. Al-Hilfi, A. Vasilin-Tack, M. Vokins, N. Hollaway, S. Menzies, O. Sandry-Butler, A. Brenninkmeijer, Z. Sampson-Regal, H. Smith, J. Ives, D. Nicholas, C. Wilding, A. Shinn, T. Aymat

U12 BOYS P 3 W 0 D 1 L 2 Due to their very busy first year at KGS, U12 matches are rather few and far between. They were coached by Mr Jackson and, despite losing a number of them, showed real potential. Providing they continue to develop and train, they show great potential for the future.

GIRLS' FOOTBALL

Girls’ football has been built into the KGS Football Programme for the first time this year.

U13 Team P 11 W 8 D 0 L 02 Despite minimal training time and fixtures, the U13s showed what good all-round sportswomen they are. These girls certainly can play! Although comprised of players who had not really played football before, the girls entered two tournaments and performed admirably. Next year we will be entering an U13 and U14 team into the English Schools’ National Cup. In the Kingston Borough competition run by AFC Wimbledon, I am delighted to report that the team managed to win all their games

up to the final without conceding a goal by playing excellent football against sometimes bigger and stronger players. They should be commended for following the game plan and for working so well as a team. In fact, the girls performed so brilliantly throughout the tournament that they were praised by all the tournament staff for their skill, cohesion and attitude. In the final match, however, despite creating most of the chances and keeping possession, a very good goalkeeper managed to keep us out and the match ended 1-1. Unfortunately, there was no extra time and the lottery of penalties meant we suffered an unlucky defeat this time.

Despite minimal training time and fixtures, the U13s showed what good all-round sportswomen they are. These girls certainly can play!

The U13s also played in the U14 Kingston Borough Tournament. Here, the girls started slowly, getting to grips with the short time periods and playing the two strongest teams, Tolworth and Coombe, in their opening games. Despite controlling both games, we were unlucky to lose both 1-0. However, not to be defeated, the KGS girls then started to impose themselves on their games, putting away their chances and winning 1-0 against Tiffin and 3-1 against Hollyfield before finishing with a fantastic all-round performance against Holy Cross, who they beat 5-1. At the end of the tournament KGS finished in third place. We will come back stronger next year. U13 Squad: M. Uria Kabashima, J. Good, C. Hinde, C. Higham, F. Worsley, E. Sloan, S. Isaacson, C. John, R. Callen

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GOLF An understrength team was fielded in the first outing of the season in September against Ibstock in the ISGA Schools Matchplay competition and only Sam Reid was able to win any points, with the match finishing 2.5 to 0.5 in favour of our opponents. However, the following week took Sam and James Hall to the Kingston Schools Golf Competition at Chessington Golf Club. Having won their age group the previous year, both were confident of a repeat and bargained with me to provide them with a McDonald’s meal if they were successful. I am pleased to report that they enjoyed their food. Whether they were motivated by hunger or honour is uncertain. Due to his handicap of below 8, Sam qualified for the HMC Singles Championship which he played on the Red Course at the Berkshire GC. He finished a creditable 21st out of 41 players, beating a number of golfers with lower handicaps. The final event of the Autumn term was the HMC Foursomes competition against Epsom College across the new course at the prestigious Walton Heath GC. Despite an almost inevitable 3-0 loss, playing on such a highlyregarded golf course was a great experience for all. The first round of the ISGA Matchplay Plate began the second

half of the season. Held at Royal Mid Surrey, Sam and James, ably assisted by Max Dawson, played Ibstock’s second team, prevailing 89 Stableford points to 87 Stableford points and qualifying for the Plate National Final at Magnolia Park GC, Buckinghamshire and involving all the regional Plate winners. The team finished fourth out of 11 teams. Max was placed second in the individual events with a Stableford score of 38 points. May brought the inaugural Southern Schools Invitational at Reigate Heath GC where he and James finished fifth out of 15 schools in the team handicap event – a good result against some very strong schools over a tricky course. A friendly against Cranleigh School followed and while KGS lost 3-0, it gave Luca Fielden and Lucas Griffin (First Year) the chance to represent the School. They narrowly lost to a pair who were three years older than them. The season finished on a real high with the ISGA HG Trophy at Burhill GC. Over a lovely June morning, the team of Sam Reid, James Hall and Max Dawson played some fantastic golf to win the team handicap competition. James also won the individual nett prize and Max won the U15 individual nett event. Sam Reid has now moved to Millfield School on a golf scholarship, a well-earned achievement, but with the form being shown by Max and James, the future looks bright for KGS Golf. Mr M Rodgers

HOUSE

Lovekyn With the introduction of several new events to the schedule, the development of existing competitions, new roles and responsibilities for staff and Sixth Formers in the house and a renewed vigour to succeed, everyone in Lovekyn put their best foot forward and fought hard throughout the year, in what proved to be a very close competition indeed. With successes in House Basketball, CCF, Hockey and Netball to name but a few and a very strong second place ranking at Sports Day there is was a growing vibe within the house to press towards the top of the table. Along with the efforts of all in the house, Anna Le Huray, Isabel Morton, Maddie Pritchard and Charlotte Higham should receive special mention for representing Lovekyn on five or more separate occasions, an amazing achievement by

any standards. I would also like to thank Aaron Farr, James Dyson, Hazell Scurr and all the Captains and Deputy Captains for their hard work and efforts in pushing Lovekyn forward. Additionally, I would also like to give a special mention to Mrs Jones, Deputy Head of Lovekyn, for not only her continued support but for her determination and desire to see Lovekyn succeed.

Fairhurst, Toby Cole, Camila Carjabal, Eddie Hunt, Amari Dahlhaus, Tom Hewer, Maddie Pritchard, Alex Clarke and Caitlin O’Donovan), Sixth Form mentors to our new First Years and a renewed drive to succeed, we have in Lovekyn a strong platform to flourish in the House battle this year.

As we turn our attentions to the 2016/17 competition, I believe with our latest cohort of Captains and Deputies – Alex Cozens, Paula Roth, Ben Park, Katinka Ronberg, Emily Pearce and Jamie Bisping – not to mention the introduction of year group reps (Grace Everett, Toby

GO, LOVEKYN!

Watch this space and

Mr A Beggs Head of Lovekyn

We have in Lovekyn a strong platform to flourish in the House battle this year.

We only went and won it!

TAVERNER After more than a decade of hurt, this was Taverner’s year. And what a year it was. Its somewhat dreamlike quality – some likened it to Leicester City’s fairytale season in the Premier League – meant there were many times when we had to pinch ourselves to see if it was real. Last year we had been delighted with second place and, whilst aiming for victory this year was the obvious target, it seemed a very remote possibility that we would break the Lovekyn/Queen’s hegemony of recent times. However, the Autumn term began well with strong performances in big scoring events: Hockey, Chess, Basketball, Netball and Drama all helped to consolidate overall first place by Christmas, and made us start to believe. Following this, the Spring term was historic, tense and brilliant in equal measure. Dance, the event that has crushed Taverner dreams year after year, ended in glorious and welldeserved victory. In Senior Football

the favourites, Queen’s, were beaten in an epic penalty shoot-out. Then came the swimming gala. We feared the worst but, in the end, our victory was crushing. Stunning individual and team performances in the pool left the other houses trailing in our wake, and helped us maintain our narrow advantage at the top of the championship leaderboard. So to the Summer term – could we hold on? Emphatically the answer was yes, and in the end the result was never in doubt. At Sports Day, as the scores came in we built a healthy lead, with everyone giving their all to make sure the unthinkable did not happen. Finally, our victory margin was 100 points, a phenomenal achievement for the perennially third-place house, and the most wonderful end to the year possible.

I am immensely proud of all our achievements; with so many people from all year groups contributing to the success it truly was a team effort. However, I would like to pay special tribute to Sophie Gallagher, Teddy Coward and George Kitson, all of whom have devoted themselves to the Taverner cause for many years, and for whom success was especially sweet. They will be the House Captains for the coming year, and will be joined in the role by Jack Bowman, Ellie de Heer, Elliot Hudson and Joe Hughes. I have every confidence that they can cement this year’s success and inspire a next generation of Taverner heroes! Mr C Wenham Head of Taverner

And so it was that we led from start to end, every term better than the last, and history being made on several fronts. Like Leicester City, fairytales sometimes do come true!

The artistic creativity of Laura Marcus and Grace Kelly combined with their organisational brio made them an outstanding duo.

QUEEN’S “How low have the mighty fallen” was the leitmotif of Queen’s House, as we entered the home strait in the House Competition. From being clear winners last year we had slumped to last place. The world had turned upside down as Taverner and Walworth vied for the top place, while the superpowers of the last five years, Lovekyn and Queen’s, languished at the bottom. Fortunately, the Summer term brought some respite with the House Tug O’ War and House Cricket restoring a degree

of our former glory and an outstanding performance in the House Music competition bringing us a fine second place. Overall, we finished third. We say goodbye this year to a number of stalwart servants of the House. We had some top class ball players in Fergus Ainsworth, Anna Olsen, Miles Watson and James Gawn. Bea Sayer, Owen Paterson and Lachie Ives proved similarly talented as well as being keen organisers. The artistic creativity of Laura Marcus and Grace Kelly combined with their organisational brio made them an outstanding duo.

Mention too should be made of the contributions, of Niamh Cullinane, Hari Clarke and Immy Mobley. Thank you all very much. My final and most heartfelt thanks, however, must go to Miss Jenkins. She has ensured that I am in House meetings when I should be and that I know what I should be organising. Our desperate joint efforts in the House Music were a real pleasure and an astonishing triumph of chaos over discipline. I have loved being in the House competition. Mr J Davies Head of Queen’s

WALWORTH 2015/16 has been a year to remember for Walworth, as we finished in second place overall in the House Competition; a triumph to be bettered next year. The relentless enthusiasm of our House Captains, the dynamic duo of Holly Munro and Steph Semple, and a Lower Sixth team brimming with talent, spurred the younger students on to greater levels of participation and more engagement than ever before. In the Arts, victories in House Art and House Drama and an impressive second place in House Dance and House Music competitions contributed to our roaring success. In Sports, among a plethora of outstanding performances, our rowers were unsinkable in the House Ergos competition; the cross-country runners in the First and Third Years sprinted to success; the Senior Girls’ Netball were the ‘centre’ of attention and the Junior Girls’ Hockey proved they could ‘stick’ to a winning formula. Even where the results were less successful, in true Walworth fashion the effort was always 100%. As we move into the new era of the House system we have had to say goodbye to some of our stars who have moved to Stanley House, and we wish them all the best. We welcome our new First Years and our new Deputy Head of House, Mr Turner. Most of all, we are looking forward to another successful, fun and exciting year with our new terrific trio of Nicole George, Theo Cons and Xander Chevalier at the helm. Go, Walworth! Mrs R Wakely Head of Walworth

In the Arts, victories in House Art and House Drama and an impressive second place in House Dance and House Music competitions contributed to our roaring success.

HOUSE

Watch this space...

STANLEY For the last 100 years, the House system has been an integral part of daily life at KGS. However, as the school has expanded, so too have each of the four existing Houses, resulting in limited opportunities for all pupils to participate in events. As a result, the momentous decision has been taken to create a new House, Stanley.

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I am very proud to be one of its founding members. At the time of writing, although Miss Brackley has courageously assumed leadership, Stanley House is still in its founding year and we are yet to witness its power. However, this much we do know; its symbol is a stag, its colours are black and

silver and like all Houses at KGS, its representatives will do their very best to win, and win well. Watch out Lovekyn, Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Walworth and Taverner: Stanley is coming! Matt Pugh, Lower Sixth

2015-16 HOUSE CHAMPIONSHIP The 2016 House Championship, the last before the introduction of a fifth House, was as fiercely contested as ever. Last year’s overall House champions Queen’s took the honours in both the Senior Hockey categories and achieved an astonishing victory in the House Music too, a fitting finale to Mr Davies’ time as Head of House. Taverner has been without a win in the House Competition since 2005; nevertheless they showed a good degree of versatility across the range of competitions, winning House Dance, Junior Debating, House Chess, Senior Football, House Swimming and Sports Day, demonstrating Mr Wenham’s determination to end Taverner’s 11 years without an outright win. Lovekyn won the overall House

Cup as recently as 2014 and they impressed this year with victories in the CCF, the Junior Boys’ Hockey as well as the Junior Netball. Lovekyn also did well in the more cerebral challenges winning both the Senior General Knowledge and the Senior Debating and Mr Beggs will no doubt be looking to build on this in 2016-17. Walworth, meanwhile, did very well in the creative tasks winning the House Art and the House Drama, but they also showed their prowess in sport winning two of the three Junior Cross-Country events as well as the Senior Netball. The Junior House General Knowledge Quiz followed as Mrs Wakely and Miss Brackley sought to deliver the first Walworth House Competition win since 2009. Mr A Beard

The final results were as follows: In fourth place, LOVEKYN with 433 points

In third place, QUEEN’S with 457 points

In second place, WALWORTH with 492 points

House Champions, with 553 points, TAVERNER 101

HOUSE

SPORTS DAY You could be forgiven for thinking that the intensity of competition last seen at the epic games of Patroclus or Anchises would never be matched. But you would be mistaken.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the intensity of competition last seen at the epic games of Patroclus or Anchises would never be matched. But you would be mistaken. As I arrived at Ditton Field, final preparations were being made for the 2016 KGS Sports Day; Nathan Farr, managing the ice-cream stall, was busy stocking up and, thanks to Ed Jones’ herculean effort at the long jump pit, boundless and bare the lone and level sands stretched far away. The overwhelming mood was one of excitement, both for new First Years Luca Fielden and Lucas Griffin, impressed by the ‘exciting, lively atmosphere’, and old hands such as Mr Wenham: ‘isn’t Sports Day fantastic? I love it, it’s the best!’ He was clearly possessed by an unflinching determination to gain Taverner’s first victory since 2005. It wasn’t long before events got under way, results began to pour in and KGS records to tumble. The drizzle, much feared by Mr Williamson, fortunately stayed away, as I embarked on a whistlestop tour of all the events. Like me, Ben Harrison-Hyde was struck by the efficiency of the events, with

Mrs Russell particularly impressed with Mr Gardner’s ‘expert guidance’ of the diskoboloi. At this point I decided that I should go and observe in detail a field event; I plumped for Fourth Year boys’ vortex throw. As a relatively unconventional event, I expected to see a number of varying approaches, and was told by Max Dawson that height would be key. Would he be right? Sadly, the strong tailwind which had aided during the practice abated for the start of the event, reducing the appearance of the throws from ballistic to merely hypersonic. Nevertheless, Will Mackintosh of Queen’s set the bar high, nearly reaching the end of the tape measure on his first throw, despite the fact that it was far to the right. With his next throw, he stood to gain even more distance and the hearts of his competitors filled with dread of a straighter second. That Max’s reference to ‘height’ applied both to stature and altitude soon became apparent as Hugo Dreux, also Queen’s, threw close to Mackintosh’s benchmark. With Mackintosh extending his lead with his second throw and Dreux again falling short, the remaining

challengers had to think outside the box. Tom Dugdale of Walworth responded by holding the vortex by its tail, finding an improvement, but alas only to secure third. In desperation, Toby Fairhurst, Lovekyn, followed suit for his third and final throw, but with the opposite result. Now began the nervous wait for the results while measurements were taken. Unsurprisingly, Mackintosh held on to the lead, with a best throw of 59.55m, with Dreux having to settle for second place on 57.56m. Returning to the track, I learnt from Joe Studholme that the Third Year boys’ 800m had been ‘very tight’, while Tim Baker said he had ‘lost the feeling in my legs’ after the 200m of the same class. Oscar Evans, a First Year from Lovekyn, told me his favourite event had been the triple jump, which he felt had been extremely ‘well organised’ and he was ‘just enjoying the day overall’. By now the House captains had arrived, and I was puzzled by Alex Cozens’ seemingly paradoxical description of himself as ‘quietly confident’ about Lovekyn’s chances, while Nicole George predicted that the underdogs Walworth would ‘fly

Now began the nervous wait for the results...

to the top’ this year. At least she made no pretence of modesty. Present too were the two special guests, Aneesh Kapil and Conor McKerr, both young Surrey bowlers and both with U19 international caps, for England and South Africa respectively. McKerr in fact has only lived in England since March, but was pleasantly surprised by the large number of his compatriots living in London. He regards Sports Days as a ‘necessity’ as it is ‘beneficial to everyone to be an all-round athlete’ and to ‘be active and compete’. Kapil expanded on this, adding that they give children a chance to ‘see what they’re good at’ and allow coaches to ‘spot talent.’ They agreed that their two favourite events were the 100 and 200m sprints, with Kapil describing the former as ‘explosive’ and McKerr the latter as ‘tactical’. As when the trumpet’s curved brass sounds and the phalanx surges forward, eager for the fight, so too did I become aware as I stood trackside in the press enclosure of the approach of a great swarm of runners, roused by the announcement of the relays, as it crossed the track in preparation for the start. House captains and

vice-captains frantically busied themselves, sorting out running orders and spurring on the competitors. The relays came in quick succession, with the tension building as each year took to the starting blocks in succession, the rivalries deeper and more firmly entrenched in each. The climax of the afternoon was the staff vs. pupil relay, already biased towards the staff by the fact that two teams were entered to the pupils’ one. However, as Mr Beaumont received a last-minute briefing, simultaneously rectifying a potentially catastrophic untied shoelace, I could see why. Such were the stakes as they settled on the blocks. The start was clean, with the first two stints seeing positions stable as staff, pupils, staff. To the crowd’s delight all changed on the third when the baton passed to Ellie de Heer, who streaked into the lead. Going into the final stage, it was a two-horse race between Mr Waddington and Ben Park. Mr Waddington’s thorough warmup clearly paid off, as he relentlessly reeled Park in. Park knew that the race wasn’t won until the line, and responded to Mr Waddington’s charge with a burst of speed of his

own. In spite of this valiant and heroic effort, Mr Waddington was simply too fast, and the student team fell just shortof victory. Nevertheless, Park had won the unequalled admiration of the crowd. While all this was going on, the stewards’ tent was a hive of activity as the final scores were calculated. No sooner had the race finished than the pupils amassed once more in their houses to hear the announcement of the winner. It is important to note at this point that Taverner had already secured outright victory in the house competition for the year; however, they suffered no lack of motivation as a result, winning by a full hundred points with 1047 to Lovekyn’s 947. How long will their resurgence last, with runners for Stanley House on the blocks next year? The House rankings by the end of Sports Day were: Walworth in fourth place with 373 points, Queen’s in third with 371 points, Lovekyn in second with 406 points and Taverner took first place with 453 points. Matt Pugh, Lower Sixth

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CLUBS & SOCIETIES

2015-16

CHESS REPORT Over the past year many of our younger chess players have grown and developed into formidable opponents. The rapid growth in the side is unprecedented. This year we were involved in Division 3 of the Briant Poulter League. The team consisted of Gabriel Thompson (Upper Sixth), Kyungsung Kim (Fourth Year), Third Years Tim Baker, Adwait Joshi, Bijan Ghamsari, Toby Cole and Thomas Gibson and First Year Sam Arwas. To help us achieve victory in the upcoming matches all attended a weekly chess club run by National Master Christopher Briscoe. We played matches against four other teams. In each, both schools select their six strongest players. The two highest ranking from each school play on Board 1, the second on Board 2 and so on. The teams play with opposite colours which means that if we have white on the odd boards (1,3,5) we will have black on the even boards (2,4,6) and vice versa. On each board a win results in one point for

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the team, a draw results in half a point and a loss results in 0 points. After all six games have been played the team with the highest number of points obtains victory over the other. If both teams have the same number of points (three) the match is a draw. The time control for each game is 60 minutes plus an extra 15 minutes after 30 moves. In the league itself a victory is worth two points a draw one and a defeat zero. Each school plays two matches against each other school one home and one away. At the end of the season the school with the fewest number of points is relegated and the team with the highest number of points is promoted. Against Wilson’s 3rd team we lost 6-0 away and drew 3-3 at home Against Hampton’s 2nd team we lost 4.5-1.5 away and also lost 5-1 at home

Against Sutton Grammar’s 2nd team we lost 4.5-1.5 away and also lost 4-2 at home Against Reigate Grammar’s 2nd team we lost 4.5-1.5 away and won 4.5-15 at home Overall we finished bottom of the division with three points out of a possible 16 having won one, drawn one, and lost eight. Despite the disappointing results I would like to highlight the improvement made by the players. This was shown particularly when you compare our opening 6-0 defeat away at Wilson’s in the first match of the season to the 3-3 draw when we played them at home. The draw was disastrous for Wilson’s as it ensured they finished second. Gabriel Thompson played seven games out of eight all of which were on Board 1. He won six and drew one. An outstanding

It was an excellent year for Adwait who improved greatly over the course of the season.

performance yet again by our illustrious captain. In all seven years that he has played for the school he has always won more games than he has lost. We will miss him and his much needed victories.

four. He played all of his games against higher rated opposition losing only to the strongest three players he faced. It was an excellent year and he improved greatly over the course of the season.

Kyungsung Kim played four games, all of which were in the first half of the season, on boards 2, 4 and 4, and losing all of them. Unfortunately, Kyungsung has opted not to be a part of the Chess Team next year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his commitment.

Bijan Ghamsari played seven games out of eight on Boards 2, 3, 4 and 5. He won one, drew one and lost five against a variety of opponents. He is clearly a talented chess player capable of beating all of his opponents on his day. However he has a tendency to overcomplicate the position. I’m sure he will go from strength and strength next season.

Tim Baker played seven games out of eight on Boards 2, 3 and 4. He lost five games and drew two with both draws coming in the second half of the season. It is worth noting that Tim played all seven of his games against higher rated players; he proved to be a dedicated and invaluable team member throughout. Adwait Joshi played eight games out of eight on Boards 2, 3 and 4. He won three, drew one and lost

5 and 6. They are keen chess players and likely to go on and play great chess for the school team in the future. The improvement within the team is clear. Although we didn’t exactly have what you’d call a winning outcome, I am sure that next year’s team will break this tradition and hit the ground running. I sincerely wish the KGS Chess Team good fortune in the battles to come. Gabriel Thompson, Upper Sixth KGS Chess Captain

Toby Cole played seven games out of a possible eight on Boards 4, 5 and 6 winning one, drawing one and losing five. His two wins in the second half of the season are evidence of the progress he has made this year and we look forward to even better in the future. Finally, Thomas Gibson and Sam Arwas played a few times on boards

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CLUBS & SOCIETIES

Community Service Report It has been a fabulous year for volunteering at KGS, with three new projects in the Sixth Form and the launch of an exciting new volunteering day for our Third Years. Assisting in primary schools is by far the most popular volunteering option. Huge thanks to King Athelstan and St Joseph’s for welcoming an enormous number of Sixth Formers for weekly reading! Our students have loved the chance get to know their small charges, from hearing them read to, as Chris Wort remembers, being treated to an impromptu performance of the Christmas play. On Monday 20th June, both schools also opened their doors for the first time to 64 of our Third Years – a fabulous opportunity for our younger pupils to support others and great fun for everyone. Activities ranged from helping with phonics, drama or creative writing, to listening to detailed breakdowns of birthday party plans. We would also like to extend a special thank you to Bedelsford, a special school close to KGS, who accepted Megan Nicholls this year, KGS’s first representative within a new volunteering project. It was, she says, “a privilege to help and a humbling experience to be able to go in and see their amazing work.” Another new project launched was that with Kingston Museum. Here, Beth Hill and Justin Foreman helped to run a ‘Takeover Day’ during February half term, planning and delivering a day of children’s holiday

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activities – they were in their element and it was great to see them in action! The compassion and kindness of our students has also been praised in their voluntary placements with disabled adults and young people. Yadapa and Mencap Richmond are two fabulous, but quite different, drama groups for young adults while Inspire and ECL All Sports provide a range of sports activities for disabled teenagers. Sixth Former Jess Murray was delighted to be told that one of ECL’s new member’s determination to attend the sports evening was so great, he travelled by bus on his own for the first time. In addition, KGS students have proved enthusiastic and compassionate participants at Kingston Mencap and ECL’s Bingo Night while, in a sometimes emotionally demanding but very satisfying project, Wingham Court Care Home has presented students with the opportunity to read to residents. In other areas of volunteering, KGS students have proved an asset to Joel Community Project, where they have chatted and socialised with residents dealing with homelessness, and at St Stephen’s, Lower and Upper Sixth Formers have prepared a monthly meal for members of the community – something which also helps prepare our future undergraduates for life away from home. Silver Surfers, where Sixth Formers are paired with older members of our community

who have little knowledge of the internet, has also continued to be an enormous success. Finally, KGS Second Years have continued to host wonderful half-termly tea parties for our friends from Rosclare Care Home in Surbiton. In addition, a number of students have volunteered to help with the Summer Reading Challenge, based in Kingston libraries, while others have continued to offer their services at charity shops, church groups and within subject departments as mentors. It has been a privilege to oversee Community Service during Mrs Williams’ maternity leave and to work with so many cheerful and willing volunteers. You are an asset to your school. We look forward to recruiting a new cohort in September 2016. Of course, none of these projects could possibly run without the support of the staff at the many organisations who welcome us, many of whom work as volunteers themselves, so a big thank you to them. In addition, without the tireless support of Mr Deepchand, Mrs Cleaves, Mrs Edwards, Mrs Hansford, Mrs Hunt, Mr Mackay, Mrs Stones, Mr Turner and Mrs Watkins we would be unable to offer our students such a comprehensive range of projects. If anyone in the Sixth Form would like more information about volunteering, please see the list of opportunities on the Community Service Firefly pages. Mrs K Pinnock and Miss L Knight

L❤ve Kingston Small-scale charities aim to achieve extraordinary things in their local areas, while working with very limited resources. Nowadays, more than ever before, the work of charities such as Love Kingston heavily relies on fundraising within the community, in order to reach those in need within the borough. At KGS we are very proud to have been one of the Founding Donors of the Love Kingston campaign, which was launched in 2012. We have continued to support their work over the last four years, by participating in Love Kingston Day; their flagship day of fundraising, held on Valentine’s Day each year. KGS celebrated on the 12th February – rather than Sunday 14th – and raised almost £1,500 through cake sales and a mufti day. Love Kingston is an umbrella organisation which works to distribute money to some of Kingston’s smaller charities, with the aim of seeking pathways out of poverty. In the past these have included: Kingston Foodbank, Hestia, Kingston Women’s Refuge and Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness. These dedicated local organisations provide support for people within the borough of Kingston with a focus on disadvantaged young people, those who are homeless and those escaping domestic violence.

Over the next three years, Love Kingston plans to concentrate on supporting local projects helping those isolated from the community. Often, this isolation is the result of disability, mental health problems or bereavement; the contributions of Love Kingston will aim to encourage those suffering with these issues to become more fully integrated into society. Looking further ahead, Love Kingston has also founded the Kingston Legacy Fund. This endeavours to provide a sustainable source of income to meet changing needs in the borough in the years to come. It has already secured £91,000 for this work. The work of Love Kingston and the charities they support has already transformed so many lives in the Borough of Kingston since its creation. The generous donations from our students and staff have made a significant difference in the community, and we look forward to working closely with Love Kingston in their future projects. Catie McMahon and Milly Gibson, Lower Sixth

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A recruit’s guide to CCF The sheer volume and variety of the activities offered by the CCF is so striking that recruits can be forgiven if they struggle to understand, exactly, the point of schoolboys playing soldiers. So, as a veteran of four years and counting, allow me the opportunity to explain all. The CCF is split into two sections, Army and RAF, with each affiliated to a regular unit in their respective service. For the cadets, however, the division makes very little difference – we all train together and get to take part in the other section’s activities almost as much as our own. Summer Camp proves a vital focal point for each year and is marked by the spirit of excitement it generates and maintains. Each camp is preceded by a series of training days as a means of preparing cadets. For the army, these are primarily range days – firing live ammunition at inanimate targets – and field days – firing blank ammunition at each other (yes, really) and at instructors. The RAF meanwhile has flying days, when every cadet is fortunate enough to participate in a 30-minute flight with an instructor. Both sections also compete, annually, against other schools, while at Easter we head to the Brecon Beacons for adventurous training in weather ranging from adverse to Armageddon. It is, without a doubt, a full and busy schedule. It goes without saying that cadets of both sections are also trained in First Aid, leadership, teamwork and a whole range of skills hugely beneficial to civilian life – the vast majority of volunteers do not go on to join the military. For me, the main purpose of joining the CCF is to do something a little out of the ordinary, form friendships closer than in any classroom, and experience the best of military camaraderie, not least the humour. Matt Pugh, Lower Sixth

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For me, the main purpose of joining the CCF is to do something a little out of the ordinary.

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

An interview with Sixth Former Jess Murray, Head of Christian Union The Christian Union at school is run by a committee of Sixth Formers, and for the past year the Lower Sixth’s Jess Murray has been heading up the team. She is continuing in the role in her Upper Sixth year so we decided to track her down and find out what it all involves… Jess, could you tell us what it was that made you start attending CU meetings? It was probably about in Second Year that I started going along, on Tuesday lunchtimes, because I had heard from my friends that it was really fun. It turned out that they were right! There were lots of sweets and games, which was fantastic, and it really motivated me to keep going! Was that your first experience of CU, then? No, I had been to the Isle of Wight for four days with the JCU Houseparty when I was in First Year, with loads of First to Third Years. There were huge amounts of different activities to enjoy which was particularly good because, to begin with, I wasn’t really friends with many of the people there but, the trip changed all that – they are still some of my closest friends in school today.

What are the highlights of CU for you?

interested in that rather than coming for just the games and the sweets?

Camp in the summer is my favourite thing ever – it is the best week of my year, every year. I wouldn’t miss it for anything. I love the camping, I love the people, I love all the weird and wonderful activities. Each year there are some new things to try – this time there was Bubble Football and Alpaca Trekking (yes, really!) – but there are also always the old favourites such as the team games which make camp so unique.

It was probably at the end of camp when I was just going into Fourth Year – I suddenly realised that what people were talking about was relevant to me, and was actually a very real concept that I hadn’t really thought about previously. In one of the evening talks they discussed sin, which I’d always thought about in terms of killing someone or stealing stuff, but it was explained that it was more about the way we all naturally ignore God. It was great to hear that although everyone is imperfect, there is a perfect God who can save us.

You are the leader of the CU – what does that actually involve? Well this year I get to run and organise a committee of 10 people – which can sometimes be a bit of a challenge! But it is really good, and everyone is always keen to get on with their jobs, whether that is planning the programme for the year, publicity, or running things for the juniors. Our aim is to get more of the younger years involved in CU, to get loads of people on camp and, of course, to get more people to learn about God! That sounds excellent. Obviously the learning about God bit is an important part of the Christian Union – when did you start getting

Finally, what would you say to someone who’s unsure about coming to CU or signing up for a trip? Do it! You really won’t regret it. JCU still meets on Tuesday lunchtimes, and SCU on Friday lunchtimes. JCU Houseparty will take place from 1st – 4th April 2017 and Camp is from 19th – 26th August 2017. So make sure you hunt down Mr Wenham and he will be happy to give you a sign-up form! Jess Murray, Lower Sixth, was interviewed by Mr C Wenham

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THE GIBBON SOCIETY On Monday 25th January, candidates Karim Aldroubi, Peter Betts, Nora Bajwa, Sophie Gallagher, Ellie Eley, Freya King, Max Cairney-Leeming, Jacob Phillips and Miles Compton were grilled with questions from the audience and the two chairs and Heads of the Gibsoc debating society, Matt Pugh and Oliver Cole. The event was the first of many democratic primaries in the build-up to the American Presidential election on November 8th 2016. Each primary is a development towards the final decision as to which mock Democratic politician will be able to run for the Presidency of the United States. For the candidates, this was a chance to put their general outlook on American society across and to propose some of their main policies if they were to make it past this first stage.

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Many of the contenders seemed to play it safe, hiding behind what is considered to be a textbook Democratic outlook; however, some stood out, such as Peter Betts and Max Cairney-Leeming who spoke about more obscure issues, for better or for worse. Peter, for instance, is recorded to have said “there is no greater threat than climate change” and Max, being one of the only other candidates to see sense in Peter’s statement, introduced his idea of taxing pollution and litter, a revolutionary idea, but perhaps too difficult to manage. These ideas, especially Peter’s, caused some other candidates to become more involved. Sophie Gallagher, Miles Compton and Karim Aldroubi all spoke out against Peter’s declaration, Miles simply telling him that the notion of climate change was far less threatening that that of war and school shootings. Karim dismissed him as “a pessimist” and Sophie claiming that Peter was “deluded”. However, it was Sophie that managed to step out from the situation with a more beneficial compromise, by including more on climate change and global warming in her proposed “improved educational system”, not only appeasing other

candidates but demonstrating quick thinking and a less confrontational nature. Candidates Nora Bajwa and Jacob Phillips became agitated late in the primary as Nora proposed a complete reform of the American constitution, stating that “different religions aren’t given enough respect” after being asked what role Christianity would play in her decisions as President. Jacob managed to push the situation in his favour when he reminded Nora that “America is a secular state” meaning that it gives all religions the same amount of recognition. However, after what seemed to be a damming blow, Nora managed to get back up and elaborate on her opinions surrounding Obamacare and her belief that prescription medication should be cheaper, showing that even after being put down she is more than capable of continuing to carry herself forward. The quietest two candidates, Ellie Eley and Freya King, stayed, for the most part, silent throughout; but in the moments where they did speak they rose very important subjects. Freya managed to introduce a new bid to remove the death penalty very late in the primary, and Ellie raised the topic of Russia and communism, showing that they both have the capabilities to think independently, and are skilful enough to have thought of issues that no other candidate had commented on. Overall, the initial Democratic primary was a heated and colourful debate, which gave each candidate a moment to prove their worth, but produced no clear leader in the group. Each applicant had similar views but all gave unique twists on old policies or introduced new and interesting ideas for the future. Theo Cons, Lower Sixth

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

Inklings Where Am I?

Inklings is a creative writing club run weekly by Mr Campbell. All pupils are welcome to attend... The first thing you notice is the difference of noise. This room is silent, but the corridor sounds like a chaotic orchestra with different, out-of-tune instruments. People are studying and trying to learn what they can before an exam; there are people on their phones and borrowed laptops; there are people and pencil cases everywhere. The carpet and the material on the chairs are as red as poppy petals. Harriet Lannero, First Year The lights cast shadows across the dark canvas in front of them. From the canvas, all you can see are little dots of colour, the size of pin heads. Above, in the control pod, the director gives the thumbs up and, suddenly, everything falls silent. A single light falls and the beam illuminates the petrified actor, a white streak on a blank canvas. The scenery drops and fills the place with splashes of colour as the show begins… Hattie Fowles, First Year

This place is a passing point between worlds – stairways lead higher and lower, but their final destinations…? We can only guess. A thin window, barred and riddled with caught leaves, frames the public path below. Occasionally someone will look up and see us crossing, and their faces jump in surprise – they didn’t expect this glimpse into a universe they thought they’d left behind. Mr B Campbell An elegant marble piano sits at the end of a long, triangular corridor. A row of eight benches perches, end to end, forming what seems like an everlasting line of wood. The towering glass wall stands as an illusion; you can see through it but cannot walk through it. It’s a mystery. The black shadow-casting sign stands facing away from me, hiding its information. Like the sun, this ball of white scribbles gazes over the magical corridor. Caitlin O’Donovan, First Year

The picture stands tall and draws all eyes to the magnificent sight. The painting so real it feels as if you could step right through it into another dimension. Blurry, unclear, it gives you a drowsy head and a questioning mind… what does this mean? Why is it so grey and gloomy? Who took it and why? The sand stays misted and unclear, reflecting the outline of the boat. In the background, mountains hug clouds as a storm brews, scaring all, making them retreat, leaving the sad little boat alone to fend for itself against the monster of grey clouds and fierce thunder. Eva Hurn, First Year The door to sport. Every break, open. A hoop here, a ball there. It’s where people hang out, where people show skills. Groups of people line the outside, all in tight, compact groups. Blazers hang from green wire and shoes thud in perfect sync. Blue and white lines criss-cross all over it. Smiles on everyone’s faces, no matter if they win or lose. Rebecca Jones, First Year

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THE POETRY CLUB The Poetry Club meets weekly and is run by Miss Brackley. Here are a selection of the methods they have used to write their poetry, and some of their creative results. These poems were created using one of Gram Slam’s favourite games. Our aim is to create an interesting and unique poem based on six words we choose to end a line with. One person picks one word and then someone else its pair in order to form a poem of rhyming couplets. The characters created are often the most interesting parts.

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Inspired by ‘The Duchess of Malfi’ by John Webster A forced entrance with a false key conjures a tempest on the calm sea. Staining the past with future light, the howling wolf restricts her flight. Now the Duchess makes the ultimate decision: To prioritise love over political transition. By The Poetry Club Garden 233, path, grass, bush of thyme, Stand at the doorstep, doorbell begins to chime. Bundles of useless leaflets belong in the bin, Disturbing the family peace, the ultimate sin. Surprise, surprise, my ambitions and dreams they reject; Garden 234, path, grass, the next project. By Greta Weston, Lower Sixth Slowly, with ease, I pick up my pen. I gaze in your direction and count down from ten. It would be nothing but a lie to deny my desire, When I am burning with this feeling of fire. You stare across, waiting, your look enhancing my mood, In a moment, an emotion, on which no one can intrude. By Hattie Cashman, Lower Sixth The beginning of August brings soft memories, a tentative trip to the loft. A warm darkness to leave you pensive, wondering as you touch something expensive. Such a place to tell a story; A hidden room of intangible glory. By Domi Rybova, Lower Sixth

CLUBS & SOCIETIES

We have been exploring ways to use a refrain. Beginning each line with the word ‘Because’, we contemplated the unique nostalgia of childhood. ‘Nostalgia’ Because making pizza was an ‘easy’ activity. Because Santa never failed to surprise. Because a box of kisses made an adequate present. Because going on a run wasn’t a chore. Because imagination could take me anywhere. Because a scab would require intensive care. Because ponchos were still deemed cool. By Jamie Bisping, Lower Sixth

The Folded Poem – For this game, we set a theme, in this case it was ‘Literature’, wrote a line, folded it over and passed the paper to the next poet. We were rather pleased with this outcome. ‘I am not an Intellectual Snob.’ Crowded shelves of undiscovered masterpieces, papery thoughts neglecting the dust that forms on the windowsill. Decisions begin, places become reality. A fleeting moment. Deafening heat stills the air, discussions quieten, pages turn. Aged, cracked spines spill knowledge, a hurricane of style. The ground trembles; eternity pauses as a hand extends. By The Poetry Club

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CLUBS & SOCIETIES

CHEERLEADING It was on a Wednesday afternoon in the Spring term that we became two of 16 lucky First Years given the exciting opportunity to learn some amazing cheerleading skills from three experts: KGS’ own Mrs Man, Mrs Edwards and Miss Andrews. All three had previously competed at national level, so we knew we were in safe hands and with the best of the best. First, we were instructed on positions. We started on the basics: high ‘V’, low ‘V’, ‘T’, broken ‘T’, and not forgetting ‘K’. After some initial confusion, and thanks to the helpful

guidance of our coaches, we all soon managed to create the right shapes, including little ‘e’s and big ‘E’s (which, we learnt, help your hands face the correct direction). Next, we practised some simple forward rolls. Here, we were shown how to propel ourselves forward, so making our rolls quicker and longer. Then we tried cartwheels. Most of us had cartwheeled before and felt quite confident, but our three experts helped us to add round-offs to our skills, not to mention making our cartwheels even better than before.

After that, we got to the really exciting part – trying some stunts. In Cheerleading, stunting means crazy lifts, involving three or more people hoisting and supporting another in the air; we were sometimes over two metres up! This was definitely the best bit. Overall, it was a brilliant afternoon and we all had great fun. We are all really looking forward to the next session after half term. Sasha Lacey and Holly Farrer First Year

COMMEMORATION DAY As the echoes of applause slowly faded and the Rose Theatre grew quiet and curious, three girls in magnificent Victorian dress took their seats on stage.

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EVENTS

Placing a pile of books beside them, they began to read. Performing an extract from Polly Teale’s ‘Bronte’, Maya Yousif, Josie Palmer and Laura Marcus conveyed the passion and desire the three Bronte sisters shared in reading and writing literature. The sisters (revolutionary figures) helped gain female authors the recognition they deserved. As the play’s extract explored, the Victorian era was – for all but the lucky few women – one of subjugation. Thus, faced with gender prejudice, the Brontes’ journey to literary success was extremely difficult. It was fitting, therefore that they should take centre stage in this year’s commemoration theme of ‘Innovation’. The drama students’ performances captured this yearning for appreciation and acknowledgment. Gazing through the long window projected on to the stage as a means

of representing their awareness of, and separation from, a definition beyond that of Haworth and their female selves, Emily – played by Josie – seem to stare towards the light most often, writing poetry and dreaming and creating literary landscapes which broke the confines of the Yorkshire of her own reality. When the moment came to represent the three sisters’ eventual recognition of their skill, and their resultant joy, the audience were behind them. Josie, Maya and Laura were all very excited and nervous to be performing at the Rose Theatre to an audience of almost 1,000 people (made up of the entirety of the school body, governors and guests, hardly a small crowd!) However, their performance was outstanding and hard-hitting. The convincing portrayal of the three sisters not only reminded all of the injustice surrounding the failure to recognise female writers, but also of the importance of believing in oneself whatever difficulties may lie in your path.

For Upper Sixth Formers Josie, Maya and Laura, the play proved an exciting and fitting way to remember their last Commemoration Day at Kingston Grammar School, and one which was enjoyed, thoroughly, by all. Matt Pugh, Lower Sixth

Placing a pile of books beside them, they began to read.

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Lower Sixth

Activity Day

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The best thing about this Activity Day? No mud!

On Thursday 7th July Lower Sixth students headed up to central London for the second of their two Activity Days. The aim of the excursion was for pupils to have fun, relax and to round off the year.

Armed with cameras, the students roamed London, solving riddles and photographing themselves.

The best thing about this Activity Day? No mud! In fact, the sun shone on us as the students went about a photography challenge which took them all over the centre of town. In the meantime, some of us based ourselves at Victoria Gardens near Embankment Station and watched the world go by, a cup of coffee at the ready to keep us going. Armed with cameras, the students roamed London, solving riddles and photographing themselves in front of various objects and artefacts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nelsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Column and the Spirit of Soho Mural depicting St Anne, to name just two. While the task brought out the competitive streak in some, the lure of well-known coffee shop chains encouraged others to take a more relaxed approach on the South Bank and in the local parks. After meeting with their tutors for lunch in various locations, such as Pizza Express, the Sixth Formers finished off their challenge and met for one final photo in front of Big Ben. Despite a few blisters, the day was a great success and we all went home happy. Mr O Garner

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NATIONAL SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING Stepping inside the crypt of St. Paul’s Cathedral – admiring the grand tombs of Nelson and Wellington – would be the highlight of any ordinary day. However, for me, this was no such thing. With the help of Capt. Beggs, who put my name forward, and WO2 Gardner’s acquisition and preparation of the necessary uniform, I had the honour to represent both London RAF cadets and KGS at the National Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday. Standing in the crypt, I waited nervously to go out and take my position lining the steps of the Cathedral as part of the guard of honour for the arrival of the cabinet ministers and royalty. With me were three other cadets – one from each

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branch of service – and 84 serving officers and men and women of the armed forces. The atmosphere was relaxed, with bearskins, polished silver helmets and jackets embellished with gold braid left on chairs while their owners sat around drinking tea. I took the opportunity to ask one of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (the Queen’s ceremonial bodyguard with the white-feathered helmets) whether General Riley – the OK who visited last year – was about. The Gentleman was very helpful and did know Gen. Riley but said he would struggle to recognise him, not having seen him for 30 years. Soon it was time to emerge from the crypt, form up and march into position. We all wished each other

luck for the parade, before the Garrison Sergeant Major reminded us to look sharp for the world’s press and marched us out to the steps. We cadets stood opposite the Cathedral, looking towards it. It was not long before the first command came to attention, as the new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, arrived, after which we returned to the ease. This process was repeated for George Osborne, Philip Hammond, Michael Fallon, Tony Blair, John Major – who got out of his car right in front of me – and David Cameron. At this point it was only royalty left to arrive, and the cheering of the crowd and chiming of the bells began as first the minor royals, then the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Duke and

Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived. By now, the sound of the bells and the exhaust fumes from the old Rolls Royce V12s were making it hard to concentrate and causing us to imagine phantom words of command. We all knew well the risk of fainting and toes wiggled in boots and shoes up and down the steps in an attempt to keep the blood flowing. Finally, just over an hour after taking our posts, the state trumpeters sounded their fanfare, the crowd erupted into shouts of adoration and we came to attention for the final time. I could see from the corner of my eye a yellow-clad figure, mounting the steps with a sovereign

composure and grace exceeding in authority and dignity any of those who went before. When they reached the top of the steps, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh turned and waved to the crowd and I was thrilled to see their faces for the first time. Shortly afterwards, the step-lining party turned and marched up into the side door to take our seats for the service. On the very back row, my view was somewhat restricted, but I was able to hear the Prime Minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir David Attenborough as they addressed the congregation. As the service neared its conclusion and the first notes of the National Anthem began to sound, the servicemen once again took up the position

of attention and sang, not just for, but to Her Majesty. For any patriotic Englishman this would have been a very special moment, but being in uniform in amongst the finest of Her Majestyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soldiers and in the grandeur of the Cathedral at the same time made it truly remarkable. One final highlight remained as the dignitaries left the service: first the clergy filed out followed by the Gentlemen at Arms, and then as the Queen and the Duke processed past me, both their regal gazes passed over me, no doubt thoroughly inspecting my uniform and stature. I can only humbly hope that they approved. Cdt Sgt Matt Pugh, Lower Sixth

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A KINGSTONIAN PUBLICATION

KGS

STOP PRESS!!

CHRONICLE urge to ‘gurn’, and mastering sight-reading prompt cards. It all proved much more difficult than we’d originally thought. Suddenly, as if all at once, the due date for the submission came hurtling towards us, and many (slightly manic) editing sessions ensued. Luckily, due to the brilliant expertise of Ben, Izzy and Mr Edwards, and the sheer dedication of everyone involved, we got the report finished and submitted.

STOP PRESS! BBC SCHOOL NEWS REPORT Every year in March, the BBC holds its annual School News Day. In the 10th year of the project, Mrs Garside and I wrangled a group of budding Third Year journalists, who were joined by editing star Ben Harrison-Hyde, to produce a report to submit to the BBC. Special thanks must go to Mr Edwards who gave up his time to help Izzy Pleasance and Ben edit all the fantastic footage shot by the team. Miss K Brackley

After several meetings spent discussing and wracking our brains for a topic to report on, we eventually settled on ‘Everyday Sexism’, a subject many of us felt passionately about. The next few weeks were a whirlwind of excitement, work, and maybe just a little sprinkling of stress when it finally dawned on us quite how much work we would have to embark on.

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Scripts had to be written, facts had to be researched and many clips had to be filmed. We wanted to make our project as interesting and factual as possible, but also engaging and fun. Over the following lunchtimes, small teams were dispatched into the school in order to interview various members of staff. Mr Lehec was one example, and we are very grateful for his patience and generosity with his time – his replies were central to our film. We’d also like to thank Miss Stones whose knowledgeable responses gave our project an extra edge. Next, we gathered an enthusiastic bunch of students to give their point of view. All of the interviews went well, and provided some real insight into the way in which sexism occurs in the world around us. Once the interviews had been filmed, and then re-filmed, it was time to record the reporting segments where we learnt the new skills of fighting the

Later that day, the entire crew sat waiting in anticipation, boxes of flapjacks and brownies being passed around to help calm our excitement and to set the mood for our very own film to be published on the BBC website. All in all, the whole experience was honestly one of the most exciting, interesting and fun times of my life. I loved every second of frantic searching for free corridors to film in; watching with amazement as clips were merged together with the speed and skill of a professional; and every laughter-filled meeting. I would like to thank everyone who helped with our project, whether through actually filming and editing, or being interviewed, or just generally supporting and believing in our aspirations. We learned so much, and the KGS News team will be back this year with another epic report, bringing our newly learnt skills and practice to it! If you’d like to see our report, it can be viewed on the school web page http://www.kgs.org.uk/ info/BBCschoolreport or the YouTube channel. Anna Gray, Third Year

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JACT

LATIN CAMP2016 What do the authors Seneca, Tacitus, Suetonius and Lucan have in common? Firstly, they were all Roman, and secondly, which may on reflection be related, they all wrote in Latin and are about as easy to read as swimming through fruitcake. That was about as much as I knew when I arrived at Wells Cathedral School in Somerset for the start of two weeks of intense Latin tuition. However, Charlie Paterson, a Classics master at Eton known to us as Charlius Primus, was on a mission to change that. For three hours a day he taught me and 12 other post-AS students how to read Latin literature, slicing through the fruitcake to reveal the wonders within. To add to the Latin fun, every evening saw a lecture by a visiting professor – often Oxbridge – about Roman history and culture. These varied in nature, from formal talks to introducing role play, student debates between students, acting out plays, or even putting on silly accents to illustrate the correct pronunciation of Latin.

Happily, the Latin fruitcake was punctuated with day trips to the Roman ruins at Caerwent and Caerleon in Wales and to Bath. At Caerleon, Charlie suggested we play 'Would I lie to you?' with the tour guide, whose seemingly insightful and highly detailed explanations of the archaeological finds were what is known on Latin Camp as ‘taurus excreta.’ One evening there was a quiz, with the music round a particular highlight. For this, song lyrics were translated into Latin and we had to give the English name and the artist. Giving the answers, Charlie re-translated the lyrics into English, producing such results as ‘I am more beautiful than that I might wear my tunic’. The other bonus of the camp was the opportunity to meet new people and make friends from all around the country, and within 10 minutes of arriving I had got myself locked in an epic duel on the tennis court which was to last all fortnight. Similarly, a collaborative approach to tackling the texts was adopted by all, and it was useful to see how other people go about translating Latin while

working with them, and hear about the way Classics is taught in other schools. After dinner on the last evening it was action stations in the boys’ dorm as we all helped each other put on and pin together togas ready for the end of camp party, a task which demanded skill since we were not allowed to leave during the party, even in the event of a catastrophic toga-related mishap. Before the party could start, however, we had the pleasure of the staff play, featuring KGS’ own Dr Snook. I am limited in what I can say about the play, but it certainly did set the tone for an evening of revelry. I would like to thank all the staff on camp, particularly Charlie, David Stephenson, 'the boss', from Warwick School, and of course Dr Snook, for organising such an entertaining trip. I also wish luck to my new friends as they apply to universities, and I look forward to hopefully studying alongside some them again in future. Matt Pugh, Lower Sixth

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Alice in KGS Land So, Mrs Garside said I had to be in the panto and I thought, Aha!, an opportunity to embrace a fine old English tradition which, while strictly a descendant of the Italian Commedia dell’Arte, is nevertheless rooted firmly in our own Twelfth Night festival of misrule, a topsyturvy, role-inverted puncturing of the posturing and pomposity of ‘tempora et mores’, with its delicious mischief recalling both Swift’s satirical ‘saeva indignatio’ and Fielding’s more benevolent Horatian desire to ‘laugh mankind out of their favourite follies and vices’ – and besides it would be a good laugh, and there was bound to be some cross-dressing (Archie Sturton making a beguiling Alice, while Mr Davies sulked about being deprived of his annual [public] runout in a frock and dame-ish makeup) as indeed it turned out, and how could it not under the expert and painstaking guidance of auteur, directrice and all-round dramaturge Maya Yousif, ably, nay brilliantly, aided and abetted by Kezia Milligan and Rachel Ibbetson on the writing front and Joanne Sivanathan with the directing, and with Mrs Garside lending weight and authority to the nuts and bolts of production and driving all forward with her customary zeal and enthusiasm,

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the upshot of which was that there we were on the afternoon of the performance mooching around the theatre wondering if there would be a rehearsal before the curtain went up and whether the sheets of paper in our hands constituted the final and definitive script, thanking heaven that most of us were playing ourselves and that we could, if all else failed, make up our lines as we went along – at least that was my approach – but, lest I be thought to be unfair and just a tad snippy, let me say that others were more professional and lots of people had learned their lines and knew where and when to come on and go off and some had clearly, and very carefully, even rehearsed, just not all of us, and so we lurched through most of a bit of a run-through of sorts before the audience were let in and then we were off, at which point may I just say how well everyone did, playing themselves beautifully, with just the right touch of self-mockery, or playing actual characters with conviction and distinction, leading me to wonder whether a Hatter could ever be madder than Mr Davies, a Hare Marcher than Mr Campbell or a Dormouse more sweetly dormousey than Mrs Stones, while Mr Lawrence was a wise and philosophical old

caterpillar and Miss Varley a sleekly feline, wide-grinning Cheshire Cat (she’s from Derbyshire actually, but it’s very close) and Mr Lehec put in a starring cameo as, well, Mr Lehec, and the caretakers took immense care with their roles as, indeed, caretakers, while George and Steph and Carmel and Ben were George and Steph and Carmel and Ben, James was nobly Jamesian, Laura was the Queen of all our Hearts, and Archie, who has already had a mention, becomingly became Alice for the night, which only leaves the brilliant supporting cameos of Robert (sans guitar) and Johnny, Charlie and Emma (two roles each!), Joanne and Jessica, and, last but very far from least, stealing the show and making the girls go all limp and broody, Jonas Ebrahimi as the First Year pupil, so well done all of them and everyone involved, and thank you to everyone who came and laughed and clapped so willingly and how excellent to raise £297.20 for the Shooting Star Hospice and Breast Cancer UK, helping make it a wonderful way to round off the term and head home for Christmas, and all I can really say is roll on next year! Mr N Bond

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VIETNAM 2016 123

On Monday 9th July, two teams from KGS embarked on their three-week expedition to Vietnam. Team 1, consisting of 12 Lower Sixth students, was accompanied by Nathalie Hempstead, Neil Mackay and their leader Emma, whilst Team 2, consisting of six Fifth Year and three Lower Sixth students, was accompanied by Natalie Reynolds, Rebecca Sharp and their leader Sean. As we flew into Hanoi – via Singapore – the extreme humidity and sheer volume of scooters when crossing roads meant our ‘acclimatisation’ began immediately. It was therefore a relief when, the next day, we escaped the city and began our journey towards rural villages and the nature reserve. Our trekking itinerary saw us take in various villages over five days, living like locals in a new homestay each night. Having endured the daytime heat we were always grateful for the relief that evening shade brought, our hearty meal… and the time for

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a much-needed siesta! These stays also enabled us to take on board vital hydration – we were all wary of inadequate H2O intake and encouraged each other to stay well hydrated each day as well as to eat. Some of us even took the opportunity to learn to make spring rolls from the lovely ladies cooking for us throughout our trek.

Team work really did come into play here; we often worked in pairs to help share the workload. However, the project also proved a great way to meet more locals as we were rewarded at the end of six nights’ stay and hard graft with a thank you party which involved traditional Vietnamese singing and dancing.

After five days of trekking we were straight into the project phase, which involved both teams constructing paths – to improve transport links to the main road – in the villages to which they had been assigned. A workday routine was established so that we could work in the slightly cooler parts of the day. Nevertheless, it was physically demanding, especially when combined with the heat, as we had to wheelbarrow sand, stones and bags of cement from the main road to the start of the new path.

Throughout the trip there were an overwhelming number of opportunities to be immersed in Vietnamese culture. A slightly slower pace post trekking and project work enabled us to enjoy these moments more fully and was very much appreciated. We enjoyed a variety of activities, from tasting the moreish street food, to a boat trip in Halong Bay and a visit to Ho Chi Min’s mausoleum and museum complex. The night trains were also an experience! I have to confess,however, that our

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Our trekking itinerary saw us take in various villages over five days, living like locals in a new homestay each night.

three-night stay in Hoi An was by far the best when it came to sleeping and showering. We were lucky to meet and engage with many locals along the way who were so very generous, friendly and happy despite living under a Communist regime that does not allow the freedom of movement that we take for granted. This aspect of life in Vietnam was put into perspective when Team 2 were stopped in Hue by a local teacher of English and learnt that it is almost impossible for Vietnamese students to afford to spend a year in an English-speaking country as part of their studies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; as we Europeans might do on a Socrates programme or similar. This sharing of stories between visitors and locals, teachers and students, proved an important part of the trip, enabling us to understand each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultures more fully. Vietnam was an excellent experience. We have all come back with outstanding memories which will last a lifetime. Miss R Sharp

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MFL DEPARTMENT

FRENCH EXCHANGE 2016 After a full day of travelling, 14 students and staff finally arrived in Châlons-en-Champagne 180km east of Paris and in the heart of the Champagne region. It was to be our home for the next week. Reunited with our hosts, we enjoyed our first evening en famille for a much-needed rest and in preparation for the start of our tour proper the next morning. First, we were treated to a guided tour of the school, which had originally been built as a monastery. This was quickly followed by an opportunity to learn a new skill – visiting a local boulangerie where we were taught how to make baguettes and pastry. Some of us were even allowed to put our bread into the wood-fired oven! Continuing this theme of refreshment, our afternoon was made up of an underground visit to the Joseph Perrier Champagne

caves where we were shown the distillation, bottling and storage processes. Unfortunately, there was no tasting! Friday began with a morning of lessons for us as we accompanied our exchange partners; we joined them for History, French, Science and Maths. We all noticed how different the teaching style was to that at KGS – one of their lessons mainly involved the teacher standing at the front dictating notes to the class! In the afternoon we split into two groups with half of us going to the National Circus School and the other half visiting the local theatre. After a couple of tiring days we spent the Easter weekend at home with our host families. Over the weekend, we enjoyed a wide range of activities from having our first tennis lessons to meeting our hosts’ extended family for a traditional Easter feast. The last few days passed by very quickly. Although we were unable to visit Paris on the Monday following Easter due to the heightened security

in the centre of the city, thanks to the teachers’ quick thinking our day was saved. We went to the local cinema and watched Batman vs Superman (in French!) before spending an afternoon at the bowling alley. On our final full day in France we drove to the city of Reims and en-route (continuing our theme of food and drink) stopped off at a local chocolate factory for a lesson in how to make the best chocolate. Most importantly, we also got to taste the different varieties. Lunch in a restaurant in the main square of Reims followed, before an afternoon spent enjoying a guided tour of the cathedral where many French kings had been crowned in the past. After a long day, we returned for our final night with our exchanges before our journey home the following day. I would like to thank the teachers who made the trip possible and whose quick thinking meant that we had plenty of activities throughout, but particularly on Monday! Toby Fairhurst, Fourth Year

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MFL EXCHANGE BLOG 23 MARCH 2016 Bonjour! After a whole day of travelling, the KGS students participating in the French Exchange have arrived at their destination in Châlons-EnChampagne! During the journey, pupils have already had plenty of opportunities for practising their French, such as when they

successfully explained to the inspector on the train who was their teacher with the tickets! The reunion with the French exchange students proved very joyful and all went to their respective exchange partner’s families for their first evening immersed in French culture!

24 MARCH 2016 We began our first full day with a tour of our partner school, led by the Headmaster, with translation help from several pupils. One interesting feature was the secret tunnels, which were used when the school was still a monastery. The excitement continued with a trip to a local boulangerie, where we learned how pastry is made and baked our own baguettes; it was harder than it looked! However, not only did we get to help bake the baguettes but we also got to eat them, alongside some of the other typical French pastries on offer. Then, after meeting our exchanges back at the school, we enjoyed a very nice lunch of escalope (or sausages) and pasta in their canteen and it was interesting to compare

the dining experiences in both countries. Perhaps one of the highlights of the day, for both sets of students, came after lunch when the English took on the French in a 5-a-side, World Cup-style tournament. Both the girls’ and the boys’ teams lost to the French, much to the disappointment of the home crowd who were chanting and dancing throughout the tournament. After lunch, we returned to Châlons to visit one of the champagne cellars for which the area is known. There the students (and teachers) learnt about the history and process of making champagne. Sadly, no tasting was offered at the end!

30 MARCH 2016 For our final day in Champagne, we had the luxury of visiting one of the finest independent chocolateries of the region where the Maitresse de Maison showed us how to make chocolate corks filled with liqueur or praline. Only the teachers got to try the liqueur ones, sadly, but the praline corks were absolutely delicious! We then went to Reims,

the capital of the Champagne region, where we started with an excellent typical French meal in a local restaurant. We were also fortunate in that we got to visit Reims Cathedral where many French Kings were crowned. But the highlight of the

day came afterwards when pupils had free time to go shopping in the centre of Reims. Today we left Châlons-en Champagne. Goodbyes at the stations were emotional and we arrived safely back in London. Miss N Reynolds

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MFL DEPARTMENT

SPANISH

EXCHANGE 2016 We arrived at the I.E.S. Ángel Corrella to a warm reception organised by the students and their families.

01 April 2016 Día 2 – Trip to Madrid The scenery en route was spectacular, with snow-capped mountains in the distance to the right, and green, rolling hills to the left reminding us of the north of England. Upon arrival, we next went first to La Puerta del Sol. The square contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year. After a quick half an hour shopping, we next went to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, where we saw ‘Guernica’, an oil painting by Picasso of much historical significance.

We were also able to see all the trophies that Real Madrid has been awarded over the years.

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04 April 2016 Días 3 y 4 – Spent with exchange families

05 April 2016 Día 6 – el último día en Madrid

Our pupils had a fruitful weekend with their host families. Lots of Spanish was learnt!

Today, we started at the Bernabéu Stadium – the home of Real Madrid!

Día 5 – Toledo Hola! What a rainy day we had in Toledo! The city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage and historical co-existence of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures. We enjoyed incredible views of the River Tajo, which surrounds the city. Un día fantástico!

We went down to pitch level, sat in the stalls, press room, and presidential box, and walked through the changing rooms. We were also able to see all the trophies that Real Madrid has been awarded over the years. Further to this, pupils had 40 minutes’ shopping time around Plaza del Sol, followed by a typical Spanish lunch in a restaurant nearby. Buenas noches a todos!

06 April 2016 Día 7 – el último día! Our last day in Spain began at our partner school, I.E.S. Ángel Corrella where we went with our exchange partner to their first lesson. We made the most of the time we had left in Colmenar Viejo by heading in to the village centre, where we enjoyed chocolate caliente con churros. Finally, there was a teary farewell. It was obvious that we were going to be sorely missed. Muchas gracias a todos por la fantástica experiencia y hasta la próxima vez! Miss R Pastore

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MFL DEPARTMENT

GERMAN EXCHANGE 2016 24 JUNE 2016

25 JUNE 2016

26 JUNE 2016

Guten Abend Deutschland

Cologne

Sunshine!

The journey went fairly quickly today and, as always, we arrived to a beautiful evening on the Rhine. Boppard is looking good and we had time for a walk along the Rhine before dinner, followed by some German entertainment in the hotel.

A very wet and rainy day did not spoil our fun in Cologne. A visit to the Rheinenergie Stadium in the morning was followed by some free time in Cologne and a visit to the fabulous chocolate museum. We are looking forward to some sunshine and Cochem Castle tomorrow.

We had a lovely day visiting the Nuerburgring Formula One racing track in the morning, before moving on to Cochem for a tour of the castle, a boat trip on the Moselle River and of course some free time to shop. We are now watching Germany beat Slovakia and are exploring Boppard a little more. Mrs T Russell

The praline corks were absolutely delicious! 130

After a 5,000-mile journey, two planes, three airports and a two-and-a-half-hour bus ride, we arrived at Winter Park to be greeted by a frosty atmosphere and the best turkey sandwich you have ever tasted. An early, 6.30, wake up and a full American breakfast the next day saw us begin the trip proper, with a ski fitting before riding a shuttle bus up to the luxury ski resort and meeting the instructors who would teach and guide us for the next six days. The advanced group spent most of the time on mogul runs (for those who don’t know what these are, they are mounds of snow closely packed together on the piste). Their instructor, Andrea, had a clear passion for moguls, which she managed to pass on to the rest of the group, despite their aching knees, Subsequently we undertook a variety of après-ski activities, namely bowling, swimming, ice-tubing, shopping at Cooper Creek Square and a visit to a local convenience store. This was our first time ice-tubing, whereby you sit in a rubber ring and slide down an icy track, either by yourself or with a partner. Our recorded speed was 27mph! The swimming baths comprised of a pool, a slide, a lazy river, a hot tub and a water basketball court as well.

The beginners’ group showed a great improvement, proved by the fact that they began the week with easy green runs, and ended with a blue-black run. This was thanks to Barry, their instructor, who managed to get the right combination of teaching and fun, with a few film quotes mixed in! After a long hard day skiing, we could always look forward to having some down time in the room before a fun night out. During our stay, we ate at many classic American restaurants (Randi’s Pub & Grill being our favourites!), including one which had a rather alternative approach to wallpapering – covering the walls in dollar bills signed by customers. On the final evening, we undertook the traditional ski-trip quiz, with questions varying from countries to the bus driver’s name on Tuesday morning (Mr Beard came up with that one!). We also visited Randi’s one last time to enjoy the classic American burger with not double, but triple fried fries! This trip could not have happened without the work and organisation of the ‘chaperones’, Miss Adolphus, Miss Postgate and Mr Beard, not forgetting the preparation from Mr Rodgers who unfortunately had to drop out at the last minute. The skiers (and one snowboarder) have learnt a lot and look forward to going to Winter Park in 2017! Alice Metcalf, Lower Sixth

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AS YOU LIKED IT Or the story of an Upper Sixth Drama trip to The Globe and The National Theatre: A Play in Three Acts Cast list: Mr S Crohill/Prologue Mrs P Stones Miss Molly Hanson/Epilogue Paula Antalffy James Gawn Laura Marcus Josie Palmer George Parrott Archie Sturton Maya Yousif Juan the Tour Guide PROLOGUE The Scene opens on the Southbank. Students are sat on benches or standing by railings by the Thames, eating sandwiches. MR CROHILL (AS PROLOGUE): O for a muse of teaching, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention. A kingdom for a stage, princes to act And monarchs to behold the swelling scene! Then should the studious pupils, unused To such hard work, rise up and educate Themselves in preparation for coursework. JAMES: So, what are doing here, Sir? MR CROHILL: (sighs) We’re here so you can learn about how Shakespeare’s plays were performed in his era. If you look down the river, you’ll see where The Swan and The Curtain theatres existed at a similar time to the Globe. All theatres were closed for a year as the Puritans thought that theatre was a corrupting influence – GEORGE: Sir, look, if we stand like this by the railings, we look like a 90's boy band. Someone take a picture… ACT ONE The Globe Museum. All cast have audio guides. MAYA is diligently making notes in front of a Shakespeare timeline. JOSIE: Look, archeologists found hazelnut shells while digging up the remains of the last Globe Theatre. They think they might be leftover snacks.

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LAURA: (pointing) Or they were used for floor covering in the pit. ARCHIE: (audio guide to ear, dancing) Listen to track three. It’s got some banging music. GEORGE: Miss, look at this painting – it shows Bankside in Shakespeare’s day. (Peering closely) Is that meant to be a dog? It looks like a monster… MRS STONES: (examining a brocade waistcoat) Look at this material! Isn’t it beautiful? It’s got tiny grapes on it. Or are they strawberries? Students look dubious. JAMES: (mocking) Look at this bit of linen, Miss, it’s amazing. ARCHIE: Yeah, and this bit of sack… MAYA: (looking at cabinet) These instruments are awesome. A lute … viol … curtal … this looks like a huge umbrella handle. MR CROHILL: (indicating listening booths) If you want to hear Shakespeare performed perfectly, where you can understand every word, go and listen to Gielgud deliver one of the soliloquies from Hamlet. ACT TWO Cast are seated in the Globe auditorium. JUAN: If you look around you, you’ll see the different seating levels. In the pit were the people who paid a penny to attend a play, then called the “penny stinkers”; above, and through the main galleries, the audience would pay two pennies, with an extra penny for a cushion. The boxes by the stage were for patrons paying three pennies, who would go, not just to see the play, but to be seen by the rest of society. Very important guests would be invited to the best seats in the house – right on stage. The Globe was rebuilt as close to the original as possible. The plaster in the walls was made with cow hair, though in those days cows’ hides were much longer than today. All cows today have had haircuts… MR CROHILL (to students) I hope you’re making notes. JOSIE: About cows’ hair, Sir?

TRIPS

PAULA: I wish we could go up on stage. MR CROHILL: Let’s get a picture in front of it instead. INTERVAL During the interval, cast visit the Tate Modern, wander back down the Southbank, and finally enjoy dinner at Pizza Express. They are joined by MISS MOLLY HANSON. ACT THREE Cast are now in the Olivier Theatre, watching Polly Findlay’s production of As You Like It. The following dialogue takes place in whispers throughout the performance.

JOSIE: The actors playing Rosalind and Celia are fantastic. They’re articulate, feisty, believable… MRS STONES: They really do justice to two of the best female parts written by Shakespeare. They’re quite feminist roles, actually… LAURA: The Duke’s a bit disappointing, but at least he’s not on stage too much. ARCHIE: My favourite is William – he’s hilarious. It’s a shame that he’s the only character Shakespeare doesn’t pair off at the end. The play ends. The cast applaud as the actors on stage take their curtain call.

MAYA: They’ve set the Court scenes in a modern office. But look – there are visual references to the Forest of Arden too – look at the little plants on every desk, and the computer screensavers are all wooded scenes.

MR CROHILL: Here’s our happy ending: go home, write up your notes and hand them in on Monday morning.

MRS STONES: It’s meant to represent the presence of the pastoral even in the urban environment. It’s all about the Garden of Eden really…

EPILOGUE

PAULA: This wrestling scene’s a bit weird. Why have they chosen to perform it like WWE? Everyone is impressed by the scene change between the Court and the Forest of Arden, as office chairs and table are hoisted into the air and hang throughout the performance, becoming the trees and plants of the forest. Actors sit on chairs, mid-air, providing forest sound effects.

Students groan.

MISS MOLLY HANSON: ‘Tis not the fashion to see the lady give the epilogue; but it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord the prologue. O students, for the love you bear to teachers, like as much of this play as please you: and I charge you, O teachers, for the love you bear to students--as I perceive by all your marking, none of you hates them--that between you and the pupils, the play may please. So bid me farewell. Mrs P Stones

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KGS

FRIENDS It has been another frantically busy year for KGS Friends with alumni relations never healthier or more energetic.

The year began with the pre-1970 Reunion, when large numbers of OKs from the 40s, 50s and 60s gathered for lunch, tours of the School and much reminiscing. The oldest attendee, we reckoned, was Bob Barter (OK 1944), still actively involved in teaching music and performing jazz. November was a very busy month, with a networking evening for parents and alumni working in the City at the Tokenhouse on Moorgate on the 3rd, the annual quiz evening (congratulations to Team Bayliss) on the 14th, a visit by Sixth Formers to PR company DawBell, courtesy of co-founder Richard Dawes OK, on the 19th, and a Twenty-Year Reunion on 21st, organised by Jo Munro, née Rajanayagam. After all that, December was relatively quiet with a reception for committee members and year reps at the Bishop before the School’s Carol Service on the 15th and the ever-popular One Term On reunions for the summer’s Upper Sixth leavers at Rubi in Surbiton and their parents down the road at Hart’s Boatyard, both on 21st. After all of which, Christmas allowed us to catch our breath before plunging on in the New Year. January was unusually fallow, though large numbers of alumni were involved in the Careers Evening on 28th. The 8th February saw many alumni, parents and friends among the 32 professional practitioners offering advice to 110 students from KGS and other schools at the biennial Engineering Evening in the splendid surroundings of Glaziers’ Hall in

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Southwark, a magnificent event superbly organised by OKs Gopal Srinivasan and Claire Saul. March saw two large-scale events in the Theatre and Hawkes. On the 10th we held an Entrepreneurial Evening, and were delighted to be able to call on the services of some very distinguished OKs who had set up their own businesses and organisations. Peter Harris (Hotel Chocolat), Sophie Cornish, née Vincenzi (notonthehighstreet. com), Richard Dawes (DawBell) and Alex McLean took part in a panel discussion chaired brilliantly by writer and business consultant Jez Cartwright, after which several more enterprising alumni joined the panel to meet the audience and answer their questions, share ideas and network the night away. On the 18th March we held a debate to commemorate the life and times at KGS of former teacher Tony Prichard, a KGS institution in his own right. The motion was ‘This house believes that KGS is a better place since the introduction of girls’, proposed by the current Gibbon Society and opposed by an experienced team of OKs, including one of the very first girls to attend KGS, Diana Hulbert. While the floor vote went the way of the proposition, the distinguished judging panel awarded the prize to the OKs, singling out Nick Thomas as the best speaker. April saw an exciting new departure for us, when the second networking event of the year was held not in the back room of a City pub, but the grand setting of the Palace of Westminster, at the invitation of James Berry MP and thanks largely

to the efforts of OK and School Governor Duncan Combe. This was a splendid occasion with large numbers of parents, past and present, students, alumni, staff, governors and friends joining in a convivial and, hopefully, very useful evening of conversation. The Summer term saw no let-up in the pace or scale of activity. The Ten-Year Reunion at KGS on 10th June and the Five-Year Reunion at the Jam Tree in Chelsea a week later were both very well attended and enjoyable events, and the sun shone on the Feast at the Field on June 26th. The honours in the Sturgeon Cricket were evenly divided with the 1st XI match going to the School and the 2nd XI to the RJS team. The year’s activities came to a happy and successful conclusion at the Henley Royal Regatta Reception on 2nd July, with record numbers and a star turn from some of the crew of 1966, the first from KGS to win a race at Henley. It has, then, been a bumper year. Our thanks to all the alumni, staff and parents, past and present, who have contributed so much of their time, expertise and experience to KGS Friends and its very full programme of events. By the time we go to press, the new academic year will be well underway and the busy round will be fully resumed. Read all about it here next year! Mr N Bond Chair: John Cook Executive Officer: Nick Bond Alumni Officer: Katie Raymond friends@kgs.org.uk

KGS FRIENDS TRAVEL AWARD Josie Darwin was the recipient of a KGS Travel Award in 2015, enabling her to take a gap year teaching in Senegal. This is her account of her experiences. In September 2015 I arrived in Senegal in West Africa: a colourful, hot and dusty country I called home for 11 months. I went with ‘Project Trust’, a charity set up in 1966 based on the Isle of Coll, from where it sends abroad 300 school leavers annually. In the fishing town of Joal, two hours away from the bustling capital city of Dakar, I lived in a basic house with my partner Emma. We were near the sea and right next to some beautiful baobab-spotted countryside. During our time there, we taught English in the secondary school and Sixth Form and in the evenings we taught a local group of girls called ‘Fasjom’, meaning empowerment in Wolof. Teaching classes with up to 60 students was very challenging because of a shortage of resources, the heat, the discipline and my lack of French. I sometimes questioned

why we were teaching English when they already knew French, Wolof and their other family languages, yet the dynamic English clubs, English films/music and the passion of the other Senegalese English teachers confirmed that learning the language is really important to them. The schools themselves were big, dynamic places with groups gathered under trees, football being played and, of course, lots of teachers’ meetings in nearby villages where we would go and eat huge meals. Plus, the end-of-year teachers’ party involved us all getting tailor-made outfits in matching fabric! Fasjom was really where our passion lay, though, since the girls in this group were unable to go to school for a variety of reasons. Yet they often came every day (with multiple siblings in tow) eager to learn. There were about 16 girls in total, and three of them, Anna, Mame Diarra and Mame Kani, had been there six years ago when it first started. We went through the range of every emotions – we felt proud, frustrated,

inspired and exhausted. However, it is sadness that I feel now because I really miss seeing them developing into intelligent young women, and sadness that they are held back from achieving all that they can by a lack of a proper education. There are now two more volunteers in our place, meaning that Fasjom will continue this year and the year after that. Being part of this kind of sustainable volunteering is so important to making any kind of difference in a community and I hope that one day, the Fasjom girls can use their small amount of education to better themselves, their families and their friends. I will never forget the experiences I had in Senegal and I would like to say a huge thank you to KGS Friends for granting me their travel award so that this year was possible! Sama fasjom ak ñépp ci Senegal, namanala! Josie Darwin

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KGS FRIENDS TRAVEL AWARD Rachel Finlay also won a KGS Friends Travel Award, and used it to volunteer in South Africa. This is her report.

My team was made up of volunteers from the UK and South Africa, and we were each paired up with a South African counterpart during our time there.

Thanks in part to a generous contribution from the KGS Friends Travel Award fund, from February to May 2016 I was able to volunteer in South Africa with Tearfund as part of ICS, a government-funded scheme which gives people the opportunity to volunteer abroad.

While we were there our job was primarily to work with the children of Inchanga Primary School running after-school clubs for the children four days a week. We also ran a hygiene workshop in the school to teach the children the importance of basic hygiene as many suffer absences from school due to preventable illnesses.

In South Africa, Tearfund partners with a charity called ZoĂŤ-Life, which runs various community projects all around the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal. I was based in a township an hour away from Durban called Inchanga and all of the members of my team were placed with various families that lived in the community.

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On Friday afternoons, we ran a programme of workshops in the local library for teenagers on a variety of topics, such as drugs and alcohol awareness, and self-esteem and confidence in the community.

We also ran a fitness class for women twice a week as previous teams had had feedback that the women in the community would be interested in this activity. Finally, we constructed a second vegetable garden in addition to one previously planted by another team, as many people in the community said they would like to have the opportunity to grow their own vegetables. I loved my time in South Africa; it was very challenging but taught me so much and I would definitely go back and do it all again. I am very thankful for the help that the KGS Friends Travel Award gave me in getting there. Rachel Finlay

DEVELOPMENT

KGS Foundation To date, the KGS Foundation has raised £1,680,890 towards a number of projects that have transformed the School. It also currently supports six pupils on bursaries. This year, we have continued to raise funds for, and awareness of, the School's bursary programme in particular. The School’s bursary programme is a crucial aspect of the work of the Foundation, enabling us to offer places to students who might otherwise be unable to afford to study at KGS. As mentioned above, since 2010, the Foundation has directly supported six pupils – one in each year up to 2015. We are very grateful to the alumni and parents who give so generously to the School – be it through our annual phone campaign, regular gifts online or by donating their school deposits – and, of course, are always keen to hear from others who wish to do the same. The work of the Foundation is underpinned by a group of Ambassadors who not only donate but also offer advice on our appeal programmes and generally spread the fundraising message to fellow alumni and parents. It is a highly rewarding undertaking; please do get in touch if you would like to become involved. Our next project in the year ahead will focus on the restoration of the Lovekyn Chapel's exterior stonework. Please look out for a series of exciting events and communications as we launch our appeal. On behalf of the Foundation and everyone at KGS, we would like to say a huge thank you to all who have donated to the School and hope we can continue to count on your support for the future. Peter Allen (OK 1962) Chair 020 8939 8803 foundation@kgs.org.uk kgs.org.uk/community/donating-today

STAFF

HMCTT HMC Teacher Training is a programme of recruitment, training and induction that provides a direct route into the teaching profession. This year, KGS became a training centre for the first time. Below, Ben Campbell (HMCTT, English) writes of his experiences.

Everyone has a teacher who they never forget. For me it was Mr. Hatch, the Sociology teacher who had more enthusiasm than a puppy powered by nuclear fusion; there was never a dull moment in his lessons and, more importantly, never a moment in which we didn’t feel like we were learning something vastly significant. I haven’t seen, before or since, a man more fulfilled and impassioned by what he was doing. So when I was offered a chance to become a teacher at the end of my undergraduate degree, I was thrilled by the opportunity. Even better, the course was not a traditional PGCE but a chance to get straight into teaching and learn on the job – the ideal situation for me, tired of university life but full of interest in my subject. KGS instantly caught my eye as I was searching for my first post, and the friendliness of the English Department during my interview confirmed, in my mind, that this was the place for me. Thankfully, they seemed to agree, and I started bright-eyed and bushy-tailed on a chilly September morn. My teaching has come a long way since then, due in no small part to the fantastic support of KGS staff, my fellow trainees, and, perhaps most importantly, KGS students. There have been innumerable trials throughout the year, but with the encouragement of those around me each one has been turned into an opportunity for success and new skills. The students, too, have challenged, amused and amazed me in equal measure, and their cheerful, hardworking attitudes have made them a pleasure and a privilege to teach

(most of the time, at least!). It has been insightful to be both teacher and learner in this process, and to develop my understanding of education alongside the students in my care. Courses like this are vitally important for bringing more talent into teaching. At a time when four in 10 teachers quit within a year of qualifying, training and maintaining effective teachers is more difficult than ever. I have certainly gained a flavour of why 76% of teachers leave due to heavy workloads, but I have also experienced the incomparable feeling of triumph when a student succeeds in their ambitions, or a colleague teaches an outstanding lesson, or simply when, at the end of the day, you can go home safe in the knowledge that you enriched at least one person’s understanding of the world. I have come to realise that this is what teaching is all about: the incremental gains that eventually merge to form the well-rounded, sensitive, intelligent people that KGS sends out into the world. I have resigned myself to knowing I may never be a Mr. Hatch, but if I can imbue enough interest and passion in education that one more person joins this essential profession, I will consider my career a success. I am continually grateful that KGS has given me the opportunity to achieve this aim, and I look forward to taking more risks and reaping more rewards as an NQT next year. Mr B Campbell

THE COMMON ROOM 2015-2016 was a busy and exciting year for the staff body with a myriad of births, marriages and moves. First, to the new arrivals. We were very pleased to announce the arrival of a total of ten babies – six girls and four boys – to KGS staff during the last academic year. Starting with the girls: Development Director Kathryn Moore gave birth to Beatrix while, in Science, Romy Stanley welcomed Sabine and Irwin Deepchand became father to Kiahna. In RP, Millie Williams had baby Josie and Geography’s Philippa Fine welcomed Molly. Andy Beard (Assistant Head) and his wife were also delighted to welcome the arrival of their own Mollie, during the Summer holidays. And so to the baby boys: Louise Rhys (Maths) became a mother to Edward, the arrival of Wilfred delighted Rebecca Hetherington (DT), baby Johnny arrived to Emma Pytel (Classics) and, last but certainly not least, Luca was born to Charlotte Ribolla (Registrar). We are thrilled for them all! It was a full calendar for marriages too. Best wishes must be extended to four members of staff who ‘tied the knot’ during the course of last year: Natalie Man (née Stops), Annie Plumridge (née Adolphus), Amy Angell (née Postgate) and Humphrey Waddington, who married Max. We would also like to congratulate Eleanor Varley (English) and Chris Edwards (Theatre Technician) who announced their engagement to each other. And so to changes to the staff body. At the start of the year we welcomed a plethora of new staff including four HMC Trainee Teachers: Lizzie Noble (Geography), Kate Kennedy (History),

Ben Campbell (English) and Emma Carlstedt-Duke (Sport). All are with us for two years whilst they train to become fully qualified teachers; we wish them every success in both their qualifications and their teaching careers. A number of other staff also joined us. Those who arrived for one academic year included the familiar faces of Phil Cooper (Maths) and Victoria Ward (DT), the latter as maternity cover, while PE saw new arrival Paul Jackson as Head of Department for 12 months, before his return to the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Physics Department welcomed Christos Stavrou and Geography were very pleased to host Steve Hardy who taught with them for three terms before returning, full-time, to hockey coaching. The Support Staff, too, saw some temporary changes with Philippa Covington arriving, as maternity cover in Admissions, James Brickley becoming Assistant Groundsman and Marion Kemper undertaking administration tasks in the main office. Our final mention goes to Zara Najiballah, who spent a year working with the IT department. Thank you to all. Aside from the above, other changes to staffing included the addition of Clement Bequignon and Karl Turner to the MFL Department, Mary-Jane Jeanes to Science, Roisin McBrien to Maths, Mark Scott to RP and Annemarie Henderson to History. We also welcomed Anoushka Lett to the senior team as a new Assistant Head with responsibility for Teaching and Learning, Martyn Hall as Head of Football, Chris Conneely as Development Director and Alex Hall as Repographic Technician.

A number of staff also saw internal promotions, particularly on the pastoral side of the School. Alison Williams become Head of First Year, whilst Tim Benson and Annie Plumridge became Heads of Second and Fourth Year respectively. Lucy Jenkins, Amy Angell and Charlotte Jones became Senior Tutors in the First Year, Second/Third Years and Fourth/Fifth Years respectively whilst Eleanor Varley was confirmed as Assistant Head of Sixth Form. We would like to congratulate them all. However, we also had to wish farewell to some of our colleagues. These include, from the Support Staff: our Bursar, Edward Lang, who has moved to Bath to build his dream house in the country; Gary Brailsford, our Head Groundsman, and DT technician Geoff Venables. We would also like to mention Cuiping (Coco) Gu who taught Mandarin at KGS with such enthusiasm. We are very grateful for your hard work and commitment to the School and will miss you greatly. A final mention must be made of Pauline Crothers. Pauline left KGS this year after a long and dedicated stint as an MFL teacher and Head of Year. Her contribution to KGS was exceptional and we thank her for all she has done for the School and the pupils within it. We extend our best wishes to all our staff, both teaching and support, for all the work they do for our pupils. All of you work tirelessly for the good of our students and I know they, and their parents, are extremely grateful for all that you do. Mrs VS Humphrey

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KGS WELCOMES... Back row from the left: Christopher Hardie (Science Technician), Mark Scott (Philosophy and Ethics), Dominic Reed (Cricket) Front row from the left: Stacey Gadsen (School Nurse), Roisin McBrien (Maths), Emma Carlstedt-Duke (Sport), Annemarie Henderson (History), Kate Kennedy (History), Ben Campbell (English), Amy Hicks (Biology), Philippa Covington (Admissions), Alex Hall (Reprographics), Anna Campbell (Sport and Trips Assistant), Martin Hall (Sport), Elizabeth Noble (Geography), Karl Turner (Modern Foreign Languages) Seated: David Bartram (Sport), Lucy Robinson (Drama), Jane Smith (Bursar), Mary-Jane Jeanes (Chemistry)

Photo on right: Anoushka Lett, Assistant Head Teaching and Learning

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STAFF

...AND BIDS FAREWELL TO...

Angus Sharpe Classics

Caroline Stanley Marketing

Christopher Bristow Sports

Christos Stavrou Chemistry

Cuiping Gu Modern Foreign Languages (Mandarin)

Eleanor Coulber Geography

Gemunu Jayawardena Technician, Science

Geoffrey Venables Technician, Science

Holly Traynor Sports and Trips Assistant

Imogen Geraghty School Nurse

Jane McCann English

Kathryn Moore Development

Liz Hansford Chemistry

Neil Mackay Director of Leadership, Outdoor Education and Trips. MFL

Paul Jackson Sports

Philly Fine Geography

Rommanee Stanley Senior Science Technician, Chemistry

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KGS BIDS FAREWELL TO... Gary Brailsford The end of the Summer term saw the end of an era at Kingston Grammar School with the retirement of Head Groundsman Gary Brailsford and his wife Sue. Between them, Gary and Sue had notched up an incredible 75 years of service to the School, 40 for him and 35 for her, a remarkable record. In many ways, Gary and Sue were Ditton Field, which was not only their workplace but also their home. Gary oversaw all sorts of changes with his customary stoicism and calm assurance, from the astroturf revolution (and the attendant loss

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of some of the finest grass hockey pitches in the country that Gary quite rightly took great pride in) and the arrival of other synthetic surfaces, to the appearance of football, the relaying of the 1st XI cricket square and drilling of a borehole for watering. As well as more regular duties with tractors and mowers, laying out running tracks for sports days and making the field look beautiful for a variety of events and open days, Garyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s less formal activities included key-cutting, car maintenance, sitting on burglars and, most memorably perhaps, masterful barbecuing. And all the while Sue was beavering away,

cleaning and tidying and helping keep the show on the road. Retirement sees Gary and Sue heading off to enjoy their garden and their barbecuing in peace in Burgess Hill. They go with the thanks and best wishes of untold generations of KGS pupils, staff and OKs. Ditton Field will not be the same without them. (Pictured: Gary and Sue being presented with a leaving gift by KGS Friends Chairman and close friend John Cook at the Sturgeon Cricket in June.) Mr N Bond

STAFF

We wish Pauline all the very best.

Pauline Crothers Kind, funny, experienced, patient, supportive, organised, an excellent linguist, a great colleague… the list of attributes to describe Pauline is as long as the time she has spent at KGS. Even though she has been a much valued member of the MFL Department for many, many years, it was not until her last year at the School that we got to see the ‘real’ Pauline, as she finally left her HoY desk and officially moved into the MFL office. Here, we had the pleasure of working with her on a day to day basis as she focused fully on what she loved best; teaching German. I know I speak for everyone when I say how much we have enjoyed getting to know a different side to her by having her share an office with us. Pauline’s exceptional contribution to KGS applies, in particular, to her pastoral role as Head of Second and

Third Years where she devoted much of her time to dealing with a variety of pastoral issues on a daily basis and where her knowledge of the children in her care, and her desire to see them flourish and develop as young adults, was second to none. She treated all who passed through her year group with compassion and attention and it is wonderful to meet former pupils who still reflect on how much she shaped their lives in such a positive and constructive way. It was, however, lovely to see her end her time at KGS in the classroom, enthusing her students with her exceptional knowledge of, and passion for, the German language and culture. Pauline is one of the very few German teachers I have met who actually spent time in East Germany before the wall came down and she has been an exceptional source of information, inspiration and motivation for the whole department. If I ever needed clarification on a German grammar question I knew

that Pauline had the answer, such is her knowledge of language. She also greatly enjoyed teaching her First Year French classes, PSHE and EPQ and accompanied many trips abroad – most notably the recent trip to Germany where she entertained us during the post-dinner karaoke and where she was usually seen flirting with the young, male German tour guides. Pauline has moved back to her beloved Northern Ireland for her retirement but I know that her travels to Greece, Norway and other parts of the world will keep her busy – I am sure she will not spend much time relaxing – and we look forward to seeing her back at KGS to visit us. We wish Pauline all the very best. It has been an absolute pleasure working with her and she will be greatly missed by us all. Mrs VS Humphrey and Mrs T Russell

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KINGSTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL LONDON ROAD KINGSTON UPON THAMES KT2 6PY 020 8546 5875 KGS.ORG.UK