Kingswood In Focus 2011/12

focus Kingswood in

2011 - 2012

Contents

44

45

47

76

Regulars 1 2 4 8 9 10 24 28

Letter from the Headmaster Staff News Chapel & Community Exam Results Prizegiving The Houses Art Academic Features, Highlighting the English and Drama Departments

30 43 46 48 50 70 71 78 80 84

Performing Arts Friends of Kingswood Kingswood Development Annual Golf Day Work Experience Sport MUN International News Eco-Schools Out and About Outdoor Pursuits

Features 44

The New Pavilion is Declared Open Over 500 people attended the opening of this stunning new building

79

45

The ‘Jubilee Jamboree’ A fantastic day of celebrations in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee

47

From the Archives We take a glimpse into life at Kingswood in the 1930s

76

Return to Malawi A new group of lucky students returned to Malawi to help out

79

The Bath Maths Walk The Maths Department devise a ‘Mathemagical Journey’ around Bath

Kingswood in Focus 2011 - 2012 Designed by Novum Communications www.novum.co.uk

Kingswood Senior School, Lansdown Road, Bath BA1 5RG T. 01225 734210 E. enquiries@kingswood.bath.sch.uk

www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk

Letter from the Headmaster

A Warm Welcome Dear Parents and Friends, It is with much pleasure that I take up the invitation to write some introductory words to this terrific latest edition of Kingswood in Focus. This is now very much established as an annual magazine which not only contains reflections and comment on key events during an academic year, but which also provides a record to which future generations will be able to refer. This year we have also taken the decision to publish a separate magazine for the Senior School and the Prep School. This is not because we in any way wish to be seen as moving apart - indeed, we are working ever closer together on numerous initiatives! - but rather because the exciting work being undertaken by pupils in the Prep School deserves greater space and prominence than was possible under the previous model.

In the pages which follow you will see a record which seeks to summarise in word and picture a year in the life of a school which offers such a breadth of opportunity and such very high levels of achievement in an atmosphere of pleasantly mutual tolerance and respect.

I am very confident as someone working every day alongside such talented and committed pupils and teachers that we are offering a distinctive, challenging and rounded educational experience. What I am often asked, however, is how success in a school of our kind can be measured. This is not a bad question!

As our aspirations are all about taking individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, both academically and socially, and discovering and nurturing their gifts in a way which encourages them to reach not just for outstanding academic success, but also to explore other areas of personal development and, notably, to challenge themselves to make a difference to the lives of others and to become leaders with the strength of personal conviction to lead in the right way, the issue of measuring success becomes complicated. Anecdotally we can quote, as we do in this magazine, numerous examples of fantastic individual and group achievement, but are we able confidently to say that we are achieving any better than similar schools with similar profiles and aspirations?

What I can say is that raw measurement, such as the use of comparative academic results in league tables, tells us very little about what really goes on in a school, and does not get close to identifying where the real heartbeat is. As a school which scores highly in academic league tables, I recognise we benefit in marketing terms, but they hardly tell anything of the real nature of Kingswood. Comparative value added data, which seeks to measure progress over a period of time based on an assessment of starting points and finishing points, is much more helpful, and we do subscribe to a number of schemes which, pleasingly, tell us that our ‘value added’ consistently places us at the very top, but again this is reliant on certain selected data and, in any case, relates only to academic performance.

The reality is that measurement of success in all-round education cannot be simplified into a system of comparative numbers, but at the same time we can’t simply sit back and say that, in our opinion, we are doing rather well! We do need to be tested and challenged, we do need to look constantly for improvement, and we do need to do this

both by analysing our own performance in all areas whilst also seeking the views of others who are expert enough to make valid judgements.

In December 2011 we were visited, with just a few days’ notice, by an inspection team from the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate. Views on school inspection vary, but I see such visits, which happen every six or so years, as being one of the best methods currently available to us for assessing (a better word than measuring!) how we are doing. Firstly, they have reporting inspectors of great experience who spend much of their time in different schools looking at all aspects of performance.

Secondly, they do have a brief to consider school performance both according to the school’s stated aims and its own self-evaluation and in comparison with schools with a similar profile. They cannot, clearly, see everything, but their work extends well beyond the few days they spend in school, and takes into account the views of a wide range of stakeholders. The system is not perfect, but it is an independent view taken by some of those who are in the best position to offer an objective judgment.

I would probably not be saying all this if the inspectors had not concluded that Kingswood is a very fine school, but I do actually believe that the methods they employ are as good as any currently available when assessing the quality of all-round education provided. I am much interested in work being undertaken currently by academics which is focusing on a wider range of evidence than that relating to academic performance, but this is very much at an elementary stage. I was however delighted that the inspectors concluded that our pupils ‘make exceptional progress in relation to their abilities’, that ‘pupils enjoy a particularly rich educational experience’, that ‘the quality of teaching is excellent’ and, reassuringly, that governance, leadership and management are very strong. More importantly, however, was the inspectors’ conclusion that our students’ ‘personal The Headmaster holding development is outstanding and they leave the Inspection Report school mature and confident, with strong leadership skills and a genuine concern for others, strongly influenced by the Christian values of the school.’

If education achieves nothing more than to help the development of young people to be ready for the world beyond school, then it has at least achieved something intrinsically worthwhile. At Kingswood, however, this is but one result of an approach which encourages high self-esteem, self-awareness and ambition, whilst embracing difference and diversity.

Inspection may not be measurement by numbers, but it is most certainly a valuable exercise when undertaken with rigour, with professionalism and when there is a genuine intention to get under the skin of a school and see what really happens.

Mr Simon Morris (Headmaster and Principal of the Kingswood Foundation) Kingswood in Focus 1

Staff News

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Well, another year has flown by and, once again, I am putting the finishing touches to the latest Kingswood in Focus.

Those of you who read last year’s “From the Editor”, and can remember these sorts of things, will realise that I am now in my second year of editorship and that last year I talked about some of the innovations that I hoped to make during my tenure. For the normal people out there, who can’t remember what you read last week, let alone last year, I will give you a brief reprise.

My main aim was to ensure that every student has their photo in at least once.

This is important if the magazine is to become part of the permanent record of the school. The only way to do this is to include a formal photograph of every house. This has been done, though I do apologise to anyone who was absent on the day, joined the school after September, or is so far back that they can’t make themselves out! I also wanted to expand the House pages to a double page each, which we have also been able to do now that Kingswood Prep School has their own magazine. In my experience, House memories are some of the strongest school memories we have. Other innovations in this issue include formal First Team photos for all the major sports. This has been possible through the professional services of Tim Martin (see below). The reason we have decided to include these is, once again, to further improve the ‘permanent record’ aspect of the magazine. The PR and prefect page inside the back cover is also designed to do this. Apart from the absence of the Prep School section, the format and contents of the rest of the magazine will be familiar to you, with the exception of “From the Archives”. I have introduced this feature as current students and parents seldom get to see anything from the earlier days of the school. This is a feature I hope to explore further in the future.

In closing, there are many people I need to thank: the staff for tolerating my constant nagging, Sam Dabbs-Cotton, the designer, who turns bland text documents and standard photos into the spectacular magazine you are about to read and last, but by no means least, the students who helped me with some early proofreading; Laura Clarke, Hannah Robinson and Lydia Clark, and who provided me with photos when I was worried we were short; Charles Price, Isaac Ng, Sarah Marriott and Alina Moiseeva.

I hope you all enjoy reading Kingswood in Focus 2011 - 2012.

Mr Peter Clarke (Editor)

Footnote from the Development Director Well what can I say other than ‘Pete, you’ve done it again !’ What a fabulous edition of KIF Pete has pulled together from every corner of the Kingswood Common Room and beyond and I can assure you (from past experience), that it is often a thankless task when you are approaching very busy teaching staff to help collate so many articles in order to illustrate the dynamic and exciting life we all share at Kingswood. Many of the excellent pictures in this edition have been taken for us by former Deputy Head Boy, Tim Martin, who now runs a very successful photography business and we are very grateful to him for his dedication and time in helping to create such a professional look to the visual image of the magazine.

Our Prep School are ‘going it alone’ this time and will be producing their own new KPS magazine which we look forward to seeing for the first time this year. ‘The Wyvern’, our Sixth Form Newspaper, put together by sixth formers for sixth formers, will be published at Christmas and in January, our Old Kingswoodians will be pleased to receive their copy of the Kingswood Association Magazine.

I am delighted to be helping in all these areas to ensure that all our news is getting to you, ‘by all the means we can and in all the places we can’… including new on-line versions to save on printed copies as part of our sustainability initiatives. I hope you will enjoy them all!

Best wishes, Angela Dudley-Warde 2 Kingswood in Focus

Farewell...

When we said farewell to Tony Haines at the end of the summer term, we were saying farewell to someone who so evidently embodies so much of what makes Kingswood such a special place.

Forty-one years of selfless service, embracing stints as Head of Department (in both Geography and PSHE) and Senior Housemaster (in both Middle and Westwood), alongside countless hours enthusiastically involved in such varied pursuits as running teams, climbing mountains and sharing his love of music say something of his commitment to the school, but lists such as these only touch the surface of the impact which teachers such as Tony have on generations of pupils. The finest teachers communicate passionately but with ease, they see the very best in everyone and coax success even from the most reluctant learner whilst inspiring the most gifted to reach the highest of heights, and they do all this both naturally and with humility; such a teacher was Tony Haines. Underpinning a career of such wide-ranging success was, of course, Tony’s exceptionally strong Christian faith, seen by generations of students and staff in his generosity, kindness, selflessness and wholehearted commitment to others, and shared so generously and inspirationally, yet never dogmatically, in chapel, in conversation and beyond.

Kingswood’s success is founded on teachers of Tony Haines’ quality; perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay Tony is that, in looking for teachers who can inspire the next generation, I look for teachers who embrace the same qualities which have made Tony’s career such a success.

His natural modesty may not allow Tony to feel any pride in this, but I hope he may, in retirement, allow himself at least a small sense of satisfaction!

Mr Simon Morris (Headmaster)

Welcome...

I was delighted to welcome the following new teaching staff this year: her PGCE, Mrs Chilver Vaughan worked as a solicitor in law firms in Sussex, London and Milton Keynes.

Mrs Caroline Clarke as part time teacher of English. Mrs Clarke has a Combined Arts degree from Leicester University and a PGCE from Leicester Polytechnic. She is a vastly experienced and highly regarded teacher. Until she joined Kingswood, Mrs Clarke was teaching English at Ralph Allen having previously taught at Island School, Hong Kong and St Helena School, Colchester.

Miss Laura Fergusson to teach Biology.

Miss Fergusson has a BSc in Psychology from Cardiff University, an MSc in Health Psychology and a PGCE from the University of Bath. Before starting on her PGCE she worked for the NHS Bath & NE Somerset, St Martin’s Hospital and she has also worked at Wells Cathedral School where she was a Hockey Coach and undertook evening duties in a junior boarding house.

Mrs Kimberley Appleyard-Pallot as part-time teacher of Art (to cover maternity leave). Mrs Appleyard-Pallot was previously appointed as Artist in Residence at Kingswood in 2009 and then as Art Technician, as well as being Resident Assistant Housemistress in School House.

Mr Neil Buttigieg to teach Chemistry. Mr Buttigieg has a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Bath, an MRes in Biosciences from Cardiff University and a PGCE in Chemistry with Science at Swansea Metropolitan University. Before studying for his Masters, Mr Buttigieg worked as a Research Technician at Cardiff University.

Mrs Sarah Chilver Vaughan as part time teacher of Classics and Mathematics. Mrs Chilver Vaughan has a degree in Latin, Modern Languages and Law from Robinson College, Cambridge University.

She qualified as a lawyer at the College of Law, Chester and also has a PGCE in Mathematics from Bath Spa University. Before completing

Mr Ed Peerless to teach Physics. Mr Peerless has a degree in Physics and a PGCE from the University of Bristol. During his PGCE he was selected for a teaching placement which included experience in The Gambia.

Miss Kemi Sulleiman to teach English (to cover Mrs Mainwaring’s maternity leave). Miss Sulleiman obtained an LLB Law with Honours at the University of Sussex and a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of West of England. She has a PGCE in English from the Institute of Education, London and, most recently, taught at the Sacred Heart School, London.

Mrs Rebecca Murchison, who of course taught at Kingswood until Summer 2010, kindly agreed to cover for Mrs Reeman during her absence during the first part of the Autum Term.

Mr Simon Morris (Headmaster)

This year we also said a fond farewell to the following teachers: Ian Prior, who joined Kingswood in 2007, retired at the end of the Autum Term after a long and successful teaching career.

Harry Mackridge, who has left us to take up a position at Merchant Taylors’ School in Hertfordshire.

Kimberley Appleyard-Pallot, who has left us to take up a teaching post at St Mary’s Calne.

Valerie Gibson, who joined us in 2007 and now leaves us for well-earned retirement.

Jane Lilley, who originally joined us as a one year maternity cover for Mrs Alex Matthews, but stayed on after Mrs Matthews returned.

Kemi Sullieman leaves us to take up a teaching post at the Harrodian School in London.

And finally, Neil Buttigieg, who leaves us after only one year to join his wife who works in Cardiff and to take up a teaching post in Barry.

Kingswood says a huge thank you and wishes you all the very best for the future.

Kingswood in Focus 3

Chapel and the Community

From the Chaplain: In Retreat but still Going Forward The chaplains of Methodist schools gather annually. An Easter-time Methodist Independent Schools’ Trust conference, hosted by each school in turn, allows for some brief shared conversation.

However, for the chaplains, our main happening is in October. It is almost 48 hours away from school and, believe me, we look forward to it. That is not because we do not love our jobs or being in our schools, but because we count these hours together as precious.

For the last 15 years or so, the venue has been an ancient monastic farmhouse in the small village of Charney Bassett, just off the A420 to Oxford. Now run by the Society of Friends, the woodwork in its upper room holds the prayers of centuries and it is one of those places wherein the ‘difference’, relative to the other spaces we inhabit, is tangible. We walk on thirteenth century floorboards and eat beneath massive, adzed tree trunks which span the refectory. The gardens, even in October, offer warm corners undercover and, in daytime hours, when we are not talking, we are walking, sitting or reading within their walls.

My colleagues expected me to speak for about an hour, so there was plenty of writing to do. I wanted it to be positive and celebratory, which is how I feel about it all so, on this page, surrounded by pictures of the place in which I spoke, are sample reasons for why it is easy to count chaplaincy blessings.

There are some ministerial colleagues who see school chaplaincy as not quite the ‘proper work’ of delivering God’s message within a church community. Many of the same will admit that their deteriorating buildings, ageing congregations and lack of children’s work make the future of the church ‘as it is’ a worrisome picture.

Questions about how we engage with young people seem to appear on the agenda of every Synod I attend. Yet I stand up and talk to 1,000 children every week of my working life – who could not be challenged by, excited about and grateful for that?

“...I stand up and talk to 1,000 children every week of my working life – who could not be challenged by, excited about and grateful for that?”

Our retreat begins convivially in the local hostelry at 6.30pm on a Wednesday where, one by one, we arrive from as far away as Truro, Colwyn Bay or Harrogate. Pub grub sounds a little coarse, but never is and within a couple of hours we are suitably updated amongst those nearest to our elbow.

The next day and a half is about debating with visitors, worship, and personal time away from the phone and ‘pinging’ emails. A full afternoon with no agenda is ‘book-hunting time’ in Oxford for some, ‘garden snooze time’ for others, or simply ‘talk time’ in the sitting room, with more tea than any vicar should reasonably handle.

Having now completed 20 years at Kingswood I was, this year, asked to offer some reflections on the role undertaken over those two decades.

4 Kingswood in Focus

I work amongst a very large group of people who, for want of a more complex descriptor, ‘get on’. It’s not perfect, we make mistakes and have our less than glorious days but, in 20 years, the absence of prolonged serious conflict amongst people of different backgrounds, political and religious persuasions has been quite remarkable.

I have worked in other environments and known the workings of other schools: Kingswood sits above them in terms of consistently exhibiting grace amongst adults.

The pupils make every day a delight, even the ones who are on their way to mastering the art of being a pain…. it’s normal and they learn by mistakes and correctives just like the rest of us. Collectively, they represent a mass of extremely positive energy and enthusiasm.

Watching their array of talents emerge and often surpass those of

the adults around them, is simply ‘awesome’ – as they might say. Their academic success, in comparison to mine at their age, makes me wonder how I was ever given a job amongst them.

I was 37 years of age when I joined the school. I had already met a few numerically challenged chaplains and convinced myself that I could do 10 good years and quit while I was still fit enough to go with a smile. I abandoned that daft notion as a consequence of being allowed to do ‘teenage stuff ’ in both my 40s and 50s. Chaplaincy, done in a certain way – alongside any activity that a 15 year-old might undertake, keeps you fit…. both mentally and bodily, and so I’m not done yet.

£4,771

was raised for

Breast Cancer Care

As I spoke of this and more to my colleagues, they nodded their assent. They share these blessings. They know that I rue the shift in education towards legislation, administration and inspection, some of it mind-numbingly dull in its creation. It is the way things are and will be. Today, we all have to live with the dreams made real of politicians whose jobs are probably far more boring than ours. It occasionally makes the taste a little bitter but it cannot ruin the meal. I told those gathered in that upper room that we are lucky people and even before I opened my mouth, I could anticipate their unanimous ‘Yes we are’!

Revd. Mike Wilkinson (School Chaplain)

by Gunging

by ‘Pink Thursday’

and by Cycling from London to Paris

Month by Month for Malawi 2011-12 Over the last few years the whole Kingswood community has really got behind supporting Open Arms and so our fundraising has gone from strength to strength.

As a school, since the trip in July 2010, we have raised over £50,000 for this amazing organisation.

The monthly running costs for the 2 Infant Homes are about £15,000 and it’s good to think that we go some way in helping to meet this bill. We also pay the annual salary (£1,000) for the Headmaster at Makokesi School. While we were at this school in July we realised that there are a number of students who have had to leave this local private school with class sizes of about 40 because they cannot afford the fees (about £7 per term) and they then go to the nearest Government school where the class size is over 150.

As result of their plight we have set up a Kingswood Scholarship fund which is for £50 per student per year to cover the cost of school fees, uniforms and books.

“As a school, since the trip in July 2010, we have raised over £50,000 for this amazing organisation.”

Our fundraising is on-going and to give you an idea of some of the things we do we have put together a ‘Month by Month for Malawi’, shown right.

No money was raised during April and May because it is right that the pupils’ focus was on revision and exams. However we are hoping that in future years pupils may be sponsored for their revision and so the harder they work the more people in Malawi benefit – a win-win situation!

Mrs Jenny Opie (Head of Biology)

6 Kingswood in Focus

MONTH

EVENT

August 2011

 Pupil initiatives including: car boot sales, baking, various sponsored events eg cycling, rowing

September

 Sainsbury’s bag packing

October

 Malawi activity – pupils making things to sell at the Market  Selection of 20 pupils to go on trip

November

 Malawi Market

£6,550

December

 Students’ Christmas Ball  M&S bag packing

£500 £1,774

January 2012

 Emptying Textile Bank – this happens every 2-3 weeks

Since we have had the bank in September 2010 this has raised over £3,000

February

 Hall House Valentine Dinner  Sainsbury’s bag packing

£285 £941

March

 Book sale  Jumble sale  Pupils’ participation in Bath half marathon

£200 £1,800 £338

April

 Exam revision

-

May

 AS and GCSE exams

-

June

 Bridge day  Packed charity boxes of donated goods

July

 Lost property sale  Kingswood Trip to Malawi

TOTAL RAISED £4,167 £980 -

£1,000 £150 -

A Tribute to Laurie Campbell Headmaster of Kingswood School 1970 to 1987.

Laurie arrived, from Alliance High School in Kenya, like a whirlwind, in my second year at Kingswood. ‘Jock’, as he quickly became known, seemed to be everywhere and often; that included places that we would rather he hadn’t been! He moved at high speed, talked to every pupil and, seemingly instantly, knew every pupil by name. Indeed it has been noted by Andrew Smith (who taught English from 1964-2003) that, before he took up his post, Laurie attended a dinner at which he greeted every member of staff not only by name but by subject as well.

Laurie Campbell was a man of great faith, boundless energy and endless enthusiasm. He loved sport, particularly rugby and athletics, and, like the current Headmaster, was always to be seen on the Upper supporting the School teams.

When I was first at Kingswood, the Lower was grass. Not for long, as one of Laurie’s first innovations was the creation of an all-weather hockey pitch.

Perhaps, though, his greatest Kingswood innovation was the introduction of girls to the School in 1972: the starting point for the fully co-educational environment enjoyed by today’s pupils. Recently the 40th anniversary of this great civilising moment has been celebrated and many of the original girls returned to Kingswood to remember those early days.

“The Memorial Service at Kingswood was truly a celebration of the remarkable life of a much loved man, who gave so much to Kingswood.”

As a Headmaster, Laurie could be a strict disciplinarian but that was always tempered by his tremendously open and receptive mind. In 1976 I visited him in his study with the unlikely proposal that pupils should be allowed to travel to London to see The Rolling Stones in concert at Earl’s Court. He consulted members of staff and, to my surprise, agreed to this adventure. Not only that, but that night when the last train got back from Paddington he was waiting at Bath Spa to pick everybody up and get them back to School!

At the time none of us knew that our seemingly strict Headmaster would often encourage the teaching staff to ‘cherish our rebels’. Many of us would have greatly appreciated the sentiment had we been aware!

Laurie was grateful to have had a life lived in phases and talked of having had three careers.

When he left Kingswood he did not retire but was accepted as a senior candidate to serve as minister at Trinity Methodist Church in Newport, South Wales.

He was much loved by his congregation and was, as always, supported in his endeavours by his wife, Sheena, and his three

children, Ian, Mary and Andrew, who all generously shared Laurie with so many others whose lives he touched over the years.

Kingswood was important to Laurie. He urged us all to love the School, as he undoubtedly did, and it is most appropriate that there is now a plaque in his memory in the Chapel, a gift from the Kingswood Association.

In March 2012 a Memorial Service took place at Kingswood and a packed Chapel listened to tributes and recollections from colleagues, pupils and Chaplains from his time at School. The service was truly a celebration of the remarkable life of a much loved man, who gave so much to Kingswood.

It honoured the wish he had expressed for his funeral, that the service ‘should be one of thanksgiving for the life I have had and the calling completed’.

Mr Jeremy Wimpress [KS 1969-76] (Kingswood Association Chairman) Kingswood in Focus 7

Exam Results

School Bath

ION RESULTS A AND AS EXAMINAT year

of another dents are celebrating 51% , Kingswood School stu A* at des gra all Level, with 17% of outstanding success at A ressive 26 a 100% pass rate. An imp and -B A* at the very at A*/A, 80% se the st st 3 A*/A grades; among , and des students achieved at lea gra A* r fou ma Scolding, with othy Tim top performers were Em and ing ker Pic tte vies, Charlo Hannah Bottle, Katie Da A* grades.

Woodhead, each with 3 thirds of the ellent, with well over two AS results were also exc iev ach ed at least Of the 34 students who grades being at A or B. ghan, Meuryn Vau r ts – Martha Chilve 3 A grades, 15 studen stina Grant, Kri in, odw Go de, William Daymond, Charlotte Fru rris, Stefans i, Amber James, Sam Mo Sophie Hughes, Justin Hu n, Helena Sue ia , Gabriel Penn, Son each.

Rozanskis, Caitlin Owens des gra 5A ed iev nne Hughes ach Thiel and Alexander Wy in very proud said, “We are once aga Headmaster Simon Morris ior students. sen our of s nce n performa of the terrific examinatio s’ Inspectorate recent Independent School Following on from our outstanding ts’ den d not only the stu report, which highlighte all-round al ion ept exc ir but also the vers are academic achievements, lea Sixth fident that our Upper await development, I am con ich wh ges to embrace the challen extremely well equipped ’ all. m the gratulations to them at university. My con

School Bath

GCSE EXAMINATION RESULTS Kingswood staff and students have been celebrating the school’s best ever GCSE results with 31% of all grades at A*, 65% at A*/A, 89% at A*-B, over 98% at A*-C and a 100% pass rate. Among the many very high achievers were Charlie Pope with 12A*, Rebecca Bates, Anna Bools, Sarina Ganapathy, Annabel Moss, Alec Shute and Lola Young with 11 A* grades each and Thomas Butterfield and Harry Waring with 10A* grades each. Alec Shute also achieved an impressive A* in his AS Extended Project Qualification.

Twenty-nine students achieved at least 5 A* grades each.

Headmaster Simon Morris said, “I congratulate this very impressive year group on such outstanding results. I am particularly delighted as this is a year group which is not only academically excellent, but also shows real leadership in sport, music and other areas of the extended curriculum. It is very exciting for us that they now move into the Sixth Form where they will be joined by some outstanding new students”.

8 Kingswood in Focus

Final Assembly & Prizegiving The ‘remodelled’ last full day of the school year is fast becoming a Kingswood tradition.

College, University of London. The importance of the creative spirit was recognised through the introduction of another award to commemorate the life of a former pupil, Charlotte Hecquet [KPS and KS 2000-2010]. Charlotte was a passionate artist who discovered her talent for portraiture in her last couple of years at Kingswood School. Whatever Charlotte did, she did it with enthusiasm and creativity, and she was well known for her support and encouragement of others too. With this in mind, the Charlotte Hecquet Butterfly Award for Fine Art was created to recognise the artistic transformation demonstrated by the winning artist during their time at Kingswood School. Charlotte’s family and friends hope that this award will serve as an inspiration to all budding artists to give freedom to their artistic creations and, as Charlotte would say, to believe in themselves and to follow their hearts and their dreams.

Lucy Russell-Bates, who leaves Kingswood to study for an Art and Design Foundation Diploma at Bath College, is the first recipient of this beautiful award.

The Prize Winners

Once more, the morning consisted of a really enjoyable, lively, celebratory prizegiving in the Sports Hall, complete with appropriately subject-themed music accompanying the students as they processed to the stage to receive the whole school’s congratulations and the Headmaster’s handshake. In the afternoon we gathered, once more, to admire the Sports Hall’s red and white festive attire and enjoy the final assembly of the school year. We said goodbye and thank you to History teacher Mr Harry Mackridge and Chemistry teacher Mr Neil Buttigieg.

We also said goodbye to English teacher Ms Kemi Sulleiman and Art teacher Mrs Appleyard-Pallot, both of whom had provided maternity cover during the year. As a much-valued assistant, Mrs Appleyard-Pallot had also been an integral part of School House. And then came the turn of the ‘old-timers’, and what wit and wisdom they gave us, as well as a very clear example of service to others.

Mr Tony Haines looked back fondly on his forty one years teaching Geography, his housemastering, his involvement in Kingswood’s extracurricular activities and, not least, his much-valued contributions to the Christian life of the School. Whilst Mr Marcus Sealy has not entirely forsaken us (he remains our ever-efficient and knowledgeable Examinations Officer), his retirement from the classroom, after forty two years of teaching Music and French, was marked by amusing tales of life back in the day when he was but a youth. Known and appreciated for his dry sense of humour, he did not disappoint! How the School has changed since the onset of all those Health and Safety regulations!

As ever, the audience was treated to some marvellous entertainment. The Senior Choir sang the wonderfully evocative ‘Africa’

by Toto; fortunately, the tropical rain storm conjured up was not real but we all felt as if we were surrounded by an exotic, verdant landscape as we listened to the beautiful rendition of this song. KJO treated us to a superbly uplifting rendition of ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ which had first made us all tap our toes and click our fingers (at the very least!) back in May at Green Park Station on the opening night of the Bath International Music Festival.

The Mechanicals treated us to their hilarious rendition of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’ from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, complete with toy dog, which had many of us literally weeping with laughter. The proceedings drew to a close with a heartfelt and moving speech from the Head Boy, the Head Girl, the Deputy Head Boy and the Deputy Head Girl who all looked back on their time at Kingswood with great warmth. They paid tribute to the holistic nature of their education, the many exciting and challenging opportunities that had come their way and, of course, the endearing friendships that they had built. Once more the final roll call saw each member of the Upper Sixth, House by House, take the stage to Elbow’s triumphant anthem ‘One Day Like This!’ to shake hands with the Senior Management Team before exiting the Sports Hall for the last time on their day of many ‘last times’.

“the morning consisted of a really enjoyable, lively, celebratory prizegiving in the Sports Hall...”

Mrs Sarah Dawson (Deputy Head Academic)

Final assembly is also a time for introducing new accolades. This year a former pupil, Mr Vartkess Knadjian [KS 1967-72] visited us to award the Dikran A. Knadjian Award for Medicine. Mr Knadjian and his brother Adom [KS 196771] have introduced this prize in memory of their late brother, Dikran [KS 1964-70], a former head boy who, in his first year as a Cambridge medical student, disappeared during a trip to Yosemite National Park.

The first beneficiaries of this award are Alex Hardman and Tim Woodhead, both of whom are off to study medicine, at the University of Birmingham and Imperial

Kingswood in Focus 9

The Houses

Westwood House: Life through the eyes of the students BOARDING I enjoyed boarding this year a lot because there was so much freedom.

We were allowed to go to town with our friends, which we couldn’t before. I could also spend lots of time with my friends and even when we’d had a little disagreement, we were still together. I absolutely loved Saturday nights when we watched a family film. We were so quiet in the tiny room together, shoulder to shoulder, that it felt like we were a big family. It felt great! I did miss my own home a bit at times, but Mr and Mrs Harding and my friends made me feel better each time.

WESTWOOD SPORTS DAY The weather wasn’t great but it took place. Even at the end, when it was raining, everybody was standing up and cheering for the people who were still running! Lea Conze was awesome!

PREFECTS Our prefects were amazing. They were always smiling and telling us the things they did in Westwood. On school days they always said “Hi” to us even if they were talking to their friends in Y12. We had such a great time together. I hope when I get older I will come back to Westwood as a prefect.

South African exchange

Naina Zolotukhina (Year 7)

Scholars’ concert

Westwood is a great place to settle in and prepare you for the Senior School. The Year 8s are very helpful and make great role models. Mr and Mrs Hollywell and Mr and Mrs Harding are very kind and look after everyone. They are like second parents to us. Tutors are very helpful and the prefects are so friendly! In fact everyone in Westwood is fantastic!

India Folker (Year 7)

“...everyone in Westwood is fantastic!”

Burns Night

10 Kingswood in Focus

Cross-country

Lea breaking the School 200m record

Camping trip

Westwood garden

Camping trip

Kingswood in Focus 11

Middle House 2011-2012 Once again it has been another very busy year for Middle House.

It all began with the notorious House Music Competition in which Middle and Summerhill have had little success in recent years. As a result we decided to be original by performing the Pokémon theme tune. This was a controversial choice but, after a sterling effort, we came a close second as the semi-nudity of the Hall House boys obviously swayed the entirely female judging panel!

Rugby has been particularly strong in the house, with a number of Middle Men making up the core of the very successful U15 team who managed to reach the latter stages of the Daily Mail Cup. House matches were a particular highlight for me as it saw a few of the younger players stepping up to fill places in the senior Middle Team, which, after a very close set of games, lost to Upper on points difference. A real sense of house spirit was shown throughout these games, which made me proud to be a Middle Man.

Mr Matthews & the PR

Man of the Year & Sportsman of the Year

Middle and Summerhill House Entertainment is the best every year.

The highlights are; “Wide Games”, a hybrid game of tag and hide and seek on a massive scale, in the dark, in the wilderness that is The Upper; The Easter Egg and Bunny Hunt, which is Mr Matthew’s big chance to spend a few hours in a rubbish bin, and finally, the summer “Slip-n-Slide”, which always provides a lot of muddy fun.

“Middle and Summerhill House Entertainment is the best every year.”

Leavers

In the world of The Performing Arts, the various drama productions and assessments throughout the year have shown that there are indeed quite a few very talented actors in Middle, especially in the younger years. This is very promising for the future of drama at Kingswood.

Music also remains strong in the house with many capable brass players and a number of distinguished vocalists.

12 Kingswood in Focus

When I entered Middle in Year 9, I always used to look up to the Head of House and it is something that I have always aspired to in my time at Kingswood. So naturally when I was asked to be Head of House, I jumped at the opportunity and I can safely say that it has been perhaps the best year of my life.

It has been challenging at times but the rewards are enormous and I have learnt many lessons for life.

I would like to thank Mr Matthews for making my final year in the house so special and to all the house staff for helping Middle Boys turn into Middle Men, and to realise their full potential. Thank you.

James Johnston (Head of Middle House)

Boarder leavers

Malteser football match

Garden visitors

Middle in the snow

Head & Deputy Head of House

Christmas Celebrations - Santa & his helper visit Middle House

Kingswood in Focus 13

A Year in the Life of a Summerhill Girl…

September saw the term start with House Music.

Who did choose Pokémon? And who thought that it would win?

However, a good time was had by all and someone had to lose!

We then had a Summerhill and Middle trip to Thorpe Park.

The weather was scorching, the rides were busy but a good time was had by all.

We had an amazing boarders’ Halloween Dinner in October.

The catering department did us proud. We had Satan sausages, devilled potatoes and green cheesecake with ‘blood’. It was excellent.

We all dressed up and were served our food by Witch Brown and Witch Knights. Good times!

Everyone brought a sleeping bag and huddled down in front of a movie with popcorn. We’ll definitely be doing that again.

We had an amazing Christmas dinner, again provided by catering.

We swapped presents and generally had a good time. We all watched “Love Actually” (Mrs Brown wasn’t crying – she just had something in her eye!).

Burns’ Night in January is always good fun. The neeps and tatties with haggis are a treat. Many thanks to all the staff who played in the band for the ceilidh at the end of the evening.

New Year saw the boarders’ trip to Swindon Oasis, shopping in Bristol as well as other weekend excursions. Thanks to Mr Wilkinson who is always willing to drive a minibus for us, even if all we want to do is go shopping.

Our Easter celebrations as a whole House saw Mrs Brown and Mr Matthews hiding in the prep school grounds along with the Upper Sixth. The rest of the House had to find us. Mrs Brown was very pleased to not have been found but would not reveal her hiding place so she can use it again this year! We finished the night having a BBQ and another bonfire (more thanks to Mr Brown who appears to have a role as chief bonfire maker) and more singing and general happiness.

Our summer end of term party is always looked forward to with much anticipation – the water slide. This year the weather was superb. It’s amazing how much fun it is just sliding down a piece of plastic! The evening finished with another BBQ and grass cuttings everywhere.

Summerhill girls chilling

Summerhill then hosted the annual fireworks party. All the boarders came down and had a sing-song with help from Mr Burgon on his trusty accordion. We saw 20 seconds of fireworks (blink and you miss them) but the bonfire was amazing – many thanks to Mr Brown.

All the Year 9s had a ‘sleepover’ in the run up to Christmas. The day girls were invited to join the boarders in the Summerhill lounge.

14 Kingswood in Focus

Then we said goodbye to our Year 13 students at the Leavers’ Ball. The girls looked stunning as they got dressed up in all their ‘posh frocks’. Mr Burgon did an amazing job organising the whole event.

Finally, we were all grateful the summer holidays had come at last.

It had been a busy year academically but we also played hard too.

Jo Hailey and Katy Yates (Head of House and Deputy Head of House)

Summerhill leavers

“It had been a busy year academically but we also played hard too.”

Summerhill CrossCountry

Summer Term House Entertainment

Some would say that sending children down a slippery, muddy grass slope is highly dangerous. Some would say it is immense fun, though grass stains and mud-caked bodies may not sound appetising to you.

I don’t think I have ever had so much fun on wet grass!

This wonderful evening began with the setting down of the actual water slide. None of the Year 9 girls dared help, instead we huddled at the bottom of the slope, contemplating whether we should slide or sit it out. Then it began and we were in! From huge clumsy sixth-formers, to tiny petite Year 9s, we were tumbling down the slope at great speeds, our identities quickly disappearing under the abundance of mud accumulating on our faces.

Amazingly, during this brilliant mayhem, no one broke or hurt anything. In fact, the only thing that had any significant damage to it, was the slide itself, due the non-stop battering it got from flailing children and (near) adults.

Summerhill Halloween celebrations

After the pre-dinner entertainment, we were all supposed to make our way over to the Creed Room and enjoy the barbecue already laid out. Unfortunately, being as muddy as we were, we had to change.

The problem was that our spare clothes were in Summerhill so, in order to reach them, we had to traipse mud and grass throughout the entire house. The most “wounded” room was the bathroom, which had been re-painted with all sorts of different coloured mud. Being the nice girls we were, we spent the entire evening attempting to fix the mess that, to this day, is still imprinted on the carpet. Sadly, we missed the barbecue, but we hear it was lovely.

Overall, it was a fantastic evening and, although I could not get the mud out of my hair for days afterwards, it was well worth the mess and trauma.

Charlotte Biggs (Year 9)

Lazing on the grass

Kingswood in Focus 15

Upper House 2011-2012 This has been another very positive and eventful year for the House.

We finished the year saying goodbye, not only to the Year 13 leavers, but to two very fine tutors, Mr Mackridge and Mr Buttigieg, who are both leaving Kingswood for pastures new. We are, however, very pleased that Mr MacDonald is returning to the House and that Mr Darwin and Mr Berg will also be joining us. The U6th left, having led the House strongly this year and having been a fine year group over the last 5 years. Our Head of House, Sam Harman, has been a hugely energetic and charismatic presence in the House and has also been a massive contributor to the school, particularly in sport and drama. Deputy Head of House Harry Chivers has given a great deal to the House and was well supported by the team of House Prefects. As always, two House awards were made by Sam at the end of the year – The ‘Spirit of Upper House Award’ was carried off by Cameron Knee, and Jack Rowlands deservedly received the ‘Sporting Legend of Upper House Award’.

Head of House Sam Harman leads by example

Year 9 Pizza night

In House competitions there was cause for celebration with victory in Senior Rugby. The arrival of some very good rugby players into Year 12 was instrumental in this success and Jamie Williams has gone on to captain the 1st XV this year. On the subject of rugby I was delighted to see former Upper House boy Joseph Ajuwa playing for London Welsh in the Premiership against Leicester on the opening weekend of the season.

We were competitive in Hockey but had to settle for second place and we finally lost our enviable winning record in Cross Country. Perhaps most significantly of all we enjoyed some success in swimming with a winning individual performance by Brandon Dyer-Pallister in the Intermediate Gala and a joint overall win in the Year 9 Gala, including fine individual performances by Tokes Sawyerr. After years of dismal failure in swimming, including 3 years with not even a solitary event victory, the future looks bright!

My thanks, as always, to the fine team of Upper House tutors and particularly to Mr Hills for his invaluable work as Deputy Housemaster.

Mr John Davies (Senior Housemaster) 16 Kingswood in Focus

My Years in Upper House:

Some comments from the leavers “From Year 9 games of races to Year 13 games of table football, it has been an honour to serve with you all, I have loved every minute of being part of the Upper Posse. It may not be the most luxurious of houses, but is by far the best.” Jack Rowlands

Conor & Angus - the new team for 2012-13

“Upper House has without a doubt been one of the best bits of my time at Kingswood.” Harry Chivers Upper filled with 2000 balloons by the leavers

“The other houses may have Sky HD but we have the best people and the best Spirit.” Ryan Wallis “It has been an honour to serve with you gentlemen.

We entered as children and left with fire in our hearts.

Long live the spirit of Upper.” Will Young “Why is Upper underground? It’s called Upper…” Kit Richards

“Had a great time being in Upper these last two years, big thanks to Mr Davies, Mr Hills and the tutors. Quality house!” George Williams “Forever JD’s barmy army!” Sam Harman

“Yeah it was alright.” Greg Blackburn Joseph Ajuwa

The victorious Upper House Rugby Team

Cameron Knee puts the Upper House Rugby Team through their paces

“Upper is like a brotherhood, and when you enter you know you will leave with many a friend and brother.”

Cameron Knee

“Upper is for sure the best house!

Best atmosphere, best pranks, best crazy golf, best dodge ball and by far my best friends!”

Finn Barnard-Weston Kingswood in Focus 17

School House IT WAS TIME TO SAY GOODBYE: These are just a few of the many things that have made my years in School House so memorable.

Mrs Jackie Reeman (Senior Housemistress)

You shared in the life of my family

School House Qualities How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard

You saw me through the lows (Even though you didn’t know it)

There have been lots of highs in my life over the past 16 years and you’ve helped me to celebrate them

   

Teamwork Supporting Aspiring Role Models

Debbie

Miss Dakin

Mrs Marshall

Miss Telford

Mrs Brennan

Mrs Morris

Jayne

Miss Paver

Mrs A-P

You showed your love and support

TOOLS OF THE HOUSEMISTRESS TRADE Emma and Dellow! What can I say? I couldn’t have wished for two kinder, more caring and supportive people to work with in my final year as Senior Housemistress.

18 Kingswood in Focus

Pink Thursday Following two successful assemblies, by the School House girls, to promote a fund raising day for the Breast Cancer Unit at the RUH, “Pink Thursday” happened in style on Thursday 10th November.

Looking at both the pupils and staff in their pink attire it was clear to see that everyone supported the cause. Walking into School House for morning registration, paths were blocked by a mountain of cakes for the cake sale, all decorated with pink icing.

The fun continued with the School House Upper Sixth playing a male staff team in a charity netball match that took competition to a new level! Mr MacDonald was on form as he bent down to place the netball into the net, Mr Reeman was top-scorer, Mr Opie never shot once and Mr Duke showed promise for the future. However, it was a team performance that led to their victory and probably also due to the fact Mr Opie gave the School House girls a gruelling hockey training session in the games session prior to the match - sneaky tactics! We also have to mention the fantastic performance from the Upper Sixth Form boys and their well-practised, choreographed cheerleading routine at half time - definitely a highlight of the day!

All in all, the day was a fantastic success and we raised £2,000 for the Breast Unit Fund.

“All in all, the day was a fantastic success and we raised £2,000 for the Breast Unit Fund.”

On 2nd December, Mrs Reeman, Mr Opie and School House Upper Sixth travelled to the RUH to hand over the cheque. In attendance were Dr Goddard, who is the Breast Unit’s Clinical Lead and Consultant Breast Radiologist, and Cherry Miller, Mrs Reeman’s Breast Care nurse. It was lovely for Mrs Reeman to meet up with both of them in much happier circumstances. During the cheque handover there was a special moment when the girls sang Mrs Reeman’s favourite song: Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds”, as they had performed it in school assemblies earlier in the term.

Emma Gordon, Olivia Dellow, Mrs Reeman “I do not know what I will do every morning without Mrs Reeman saying “Can I have some hush please?”

School House is known for being the underdogs; however, we were unbeaten for five years in House Music! Mrs Reeman has been our housemistress over the last five years and we all share many fond memories with her; she will always be a big part of School House for all of us. School House Forever!”

Emma Gordon (Head of School House)

“School House has been a second home for five years.

I couldn’t have imagined it without our year, who made School House so amazing for me.” Olivia Dellow “I have made friends for life here and I wish the house all the best for the future. I hope the legendary School House spirit lives on, and with Miss Paver at the helm next year, I am sure it will.” Hannah Bottle

Kingswood in Focus 19

Hall House 2011-2012 The Autumn Term started with House Music and we had our first win for a number of years, thanks to stand-out performances from Alex Hardman and Chester Lewis, with the song ‘Girls and Boys’ by ‘Good Charlotte’.

This was a great way to start the term by getting both the Hall & Fonthill students to mix and to make the new pupils feel welcome.

It also gave me a chance to show off my dance moves! House rugby was the next event on the Hall House agenda. Hall fielded a strong line-up of players ranging from the 1st XV to the U16Bs. However, unlike House Music we were unable to continue our winning ways and we finished a close third, losing to a Middle House side that would have beaten many 1st XVs. The term came to an end with the classic ‘Party Games and Disco’. The festivities found many losing their inhibitions on the dance floor, with the games that were loved by young and old, especially the infamous egg roulette!

and, as with our rugby side, the team was made up with players of all standards. However, despite again finishing third, the Kenyan duo of Orion Mathews and Oliver Robely stood out and gave the all-star Middle House team a run for their money. At the end of term we were introduced to the delights of ‘Wide Games’ for our House entertainment. Split up into two teams, we were all unsure as to what to expect, particularly when Mr O turned up with a bucket of tennis balls and a bucket of old socks. The aim was not to get tied to a rugby post (Craig Meehan) but to try and get as many tennis balls as you could into the opposition’s base without losing your sock. It was a great evening and loved by both Houses – hopefully this will now become a Hall & Fonthill tradition.

The Summer Term was a much shorter term due to study leave and examinations but still very busy for many students. The U6th could not believe that it was their last term at school! After all the stress and worry of the examination period, Hall and Fonthill came together for one last time, for our annual end of year dinner. It was a great evening and the food, prepared by the catering staff, was excellent. The evening was topped off with speeches from the two Heads of Houses. I was not looking forward to this task and was so nervous that I managed to miss out on proposing a toast to the Fonthill girls! Mr Opie then thanked Miss Wright for all her work as the Senior Housemistress of Fonthill and all agreed that the evening was a fitting way to end the year.

The Spring Term kicked off with the Hall House boys showing that they do have a romantic side, in hosting the annual Valentines’ dinner. With the help of Mrs Opie and the boarders, we turned the House common room into a 5 star restaurant. Romance was everywhere, particularly on one table with Ally Stone and Ed Dumpleton! Mr Chua serenaded each couple with renditions of their favourite love songs, supported

by Roy Chan on the violin and Ringo Dai on guitar. This event raised £285 for Open Arms Infant Home in Malawi. House hockey was next 20 Kingswood in Focus

I would like to say a very special thank you to Mr and Mrs Opie for running the House this year. We had a lot of fun even if most of it was at my expense! Mr Chua and Mr Forrester, who had to take on a lot more work this year, also helped to make Hall House so special. The House system has been one of the most important parts of my school experience and made my time at Kingswood so very memorable. I would also like to thank the rest of the tutors, Michael Kenny (Deputy Head of House) and the prefect team for all the duties they have done throughout the year.

Finally, I wish Toby Briggs, Sanveer Singh and Mr Harding, “Good luck and all the best for next year!”

Max Gauntlett (Head of Hall House)

Kingswood in Focus 21

Fonthill 2011-2012 Summing up another year for Fonthill – but not just any year – my last year: Where do I start?

As ever, the wholehearted commitment of Fonthill girls – not to mention staff - made the job easy and the departure hard. We excelled in the house matches – go Fonthill! – and we reached our target of raising £1,000 for Hope and Homes for Children. Like any pupil and house we’ve had our ups and downs, but Fonthill has always been a place to come home to, to kick off the shoes (no shoes in the lounge!) and share joys and sorrows around the kitchen table or on the sofas in the TV room. What has always been special is the inclusive nature of the House – all years mixing, listening and learning how to solve the latest dilemma, staff and housematrons often included.

Much of my tenure has been characterised by encouraging trust, by having fun and simply by just allowing the girls to be who they are.

However, at times, I have had to launch into the necessary kitchen nag, the tidy bedroom rant, or the early to bed punishment for miscreants!

Many a chat in the lounge has elicited much information – which shall forever be a closely guarded secret! And.......I have been introduced to, and I’m sorry to say am now a watcher of, “The Only Way is Essex “and “Made in Chelsea”. I am sure Nika and Charlie, two of our 2011 leavers, will one day adorn our screens.

The wafting smell of toast, making early morning w/e breakfasts or Saturday evening meals; escorting the sick to the san in the wee small hours; chatting in the office to any droppers in; coordinating spotty or stripey outfits with the staff; learning who’s in or out on the music scene; watching the games of sardines (note to self: turn a blind eye to health & safety) and Sarah always winning; listening to the latest events of the day – all the highs and the lows; evicting a resident bat who had made a Fonthill bedroom his home; shooing out a pigeon who had made her nest and laid an egg on an expensive duvet; calling on (translate – imploring / beseeching / threatening) any willing pupil to catch a spider; saying goodnight to students in their own language including trying to learn the first line of the Kenyan National Anthem (O God of all creation...) and drowning out Cielle’s attempts to sing.

These are all part and parcel of the housemistress’s lot and the things I shall miss.

I was so touched by the farewell ‘do’ that my lovely staff and prefects arranged and by the special gift of the Fonthill book with thoughts and words inscribed by parents and pupils past and present. Thank you so much to all who have crossed Fonthill’s path; I have been so lucky to have had that job. Yes, it is hard, but it is rewarding and I have learned much from the pupils who have been, and always will be, the heartbeat of the House.

A night out

22 Kingswood in Focus

Fonthill Staff “Leavers”

We also say goodbye to two other staff members of FH – Mrs Bradbury who has been with Fonthill for 12 years and Mrs Bassett 2 years – they both go to join other houses in the end of year reshuffle. Thank you to Sarah & Niamh who headed up the prefects and helped run the house. Good luck to all the leavers and to the girls still there next year under a new regime of prefects and in the safe hands of Mrs Sergeant. THANK YOU!

Miss Angie Wright (Senior Housemistress)

Netball

Senior Girls’ Cross-Country

Sarah Marriot - supporter extraordinaire The Lower 6th

The 6th Form and Mrs Patterson

Kriti, Emma, Abby and Mary

Cross-Country

Avati and Lisa

Sarah, Niamh and Myfi

“What has always been special is the inclusive nature of the House...”

The Fonthill ‘hoodies’

The Year 10s

Kingswood in Focus 23

Art Department

Robert Harris Y11

Eleanor Richardson Y13

Rhianna Hayllor Y13

24 Kingswood in Focus

Jamie Turek Y10

Alexander Stansfield Y13

Peonie Ho Y11

Olivia Lines Y10

Katie Simpson Y12

William Young Y13

Kingswood in Focus 25

Emma Scolding Y13

Rhys Williams Y10

Georgia Grinter Y11

Amy Worsfold Y13

Lucy Russell-Bates Y13

26 Kingswood in Focus

Grace Curtis Y10

Jasmin Lindsay-Rusher Y12

Thomas Connolly Y11

Hannah Enderby Y12

Kim Chivers Y12

Christian Richards Y13

Kingswood in Focus 27

Academic Features

English: All the World’s a Page!

“It is the writer who might catch the imagination of young people, and plant a seed that will flower and come to fruition.” Isaac Asimov The English Department at Kingswood School is very proud of its achievements, not only in the academic field, but also in the broad range of extra-curricular activities that we offer, often in conjunction with the excellent Library facilities provided by our librarian, Mrs McNee; and as a sponsor for the Bath Literature Festival.

Not only do we encourage our students to develop their creative writing skills, but also to become confident speakers. Kingswood’s national reputation as host for the annual Model United Nations Conference is due, in no small measure, to the confident, articulate students we produce at the school! Our Junior Debating Club and the Senior Debating Society provide opportunities for public speaking on a variety of topics and motions: recently the younger students considered whether The Grand National was a cruel event; whilst the senior students debated whether the increased lifespan that medical science promises for mankind is to be feared or welcomed. Needless to say, there were heated discussions at both events! Kingswood also has its Senior Literary Society, which is open to all sixth formers, where books and authors are discussed in sessions led by interested students.

Recent topics have included the role of the female villain in literature; and readings from this year’s shortlisted books for the Guardian First Book Award 2012, which I am helping to judge as part of the regional panel.

In terms of writing, our budding poets at the school have ample opportunities to develop and hone their skills. For example, every autumn term a large number of our students take part in the Great Kingswood Poetry Competition. We are always astounded by the quality and depth of the writing – we have many talented writers at school, so watch out for future literary stars!

To encourage our budding writers we have also organised a number of exciting workshops. In the summer term, Dr Mike Johnson, Professor of Poetry at the Open University, ran a workshop for Year 7 on ‘Performance Poetry’. The students enjoyed watching as he performed a selection of his own poems – some humorous, some serious, all thought-provoking - after which they had a chance to put his tips into practice! After several preliminary heats we held a ‘Poetry Slam’ for all of Year 7 in the Library – a lively affair to say the least! The judges all agreed that the standard of the performers was exceptionally high. The runner-up of the Individual Slam was Cormac Paul and the winner was Zoe Brown. The runners-up of the Group Slam were Maddie Greenway, Yemi Sawyerr, Abi Wylie and Emily Hill with ‘Halloween’. The winners of the Group Slam were Al Mackenzie, Conor Devlin-Cook, Henry Brearey and Will Barnes with their dramatic piece - ‘Sonny Bill Williams’.

During the Autumn Term 2012 we have booked a return visit from the highly acclaimed author Michelle Paver to launch her latest novel, Gods and Warriors. We are currently planning several other visits from authors who will run workshops for Year 8 and Year 9 in conjunction with the Library and, at the time of going to press, we will be looking forward to a workshop by the Gothic writer David Gatward, designed to complement the work our Year 9 students have been doing on this genre of writing.

Mr David Hughes (Head of English) 28 Kingswood in Focus

Winning Poem in the Great Kingswood Poetry Competition

by Anna Parker, Year 7 A Rainy Day

Rainy, rainy, rainy. What shall we do today?

I’ve had a look in the cupboard; there are lots of games to play.

What about Snap or even Mouse Trap.

What about Cluedo or maybe Ludo.

“How about Monopoly?” my parents say.

Dad can be the car, mum can be the hat: Spread the board out on the mat, Oops! Watch the cat!

Banker, deal the money out!

Quiet everyone there’s no need to shout!

Roll the dice and off we go Round the board not too slow, Avoiding jail, take a chance, Don’t give the Roman Baths a second glance.

I’m not buying the Victoria Park - the price is far too low.

The rain has stopped, the sun is shining; The dog wants a walk and has started whining.

I think I’ve won.

The poem is done.

Sorry if you don’t like my rhyming!

Drama & Theatre Studies I am writing this article five weeks into the Autumn Term 2012. So far this term our students have seen six professional productions, stayed overnight in London, participated in three workshops and performed in the Shakespeare Schools Festival.

Just another typical busy period in the life of the Drama Department at Kingswood! The Department has gone from strength to strength over the last seven years – in this article we chart its rise and look forward to its future.

In September 2005 Drama was introduced to the Key Stage Three curriculum at Kingswood. Already a popular choice for GCSE and A Level and taught on the ‘Practical Creative Roundabout’ to Year 9s, it was a welcome addition to the timetable of Years 7 & 8. The then Head of Department, Darrell Harding, was in the enviable position of being able to recruit a new member of staff to help teach the swelling ranks of students. This was where I came in and now, seven years on, I have taken over as Head of Department as Mr Harding fulfils a long held ambition to be a Housemaster.

Thankfully for the future generations of students, he continues to be an active member of the department – teaching at all Key Stages and taking vital extra-curricular clubs and production rehearsals.

We have expanded in other ways too. We now employ an ‘Actor in Residence’, Miss Ruth Everett, who supports the work of the department and allows us to provide an even wider range of activities, and this year we have a third member of teaching staff, Mr Brendon Berg. We also have a Theatre Manager, Mr Neil Francis, who has proved indispensable over his past six years with us – giving our productions that professional flourish through his technical expertise.

Thanks to Mr Francis, we are also able to offer GCSE Drama students the opportunity to focus on the technical options of lighting and sound rather than just traditional acting skills.

We have always been a busy department – taking regular trips to the theatre, organising external workshops and running a wide variety of extra-curricular clubs. The addition of new members has not lessened our load but simply meant we can do it all – and more! Between us we run two popular Drama Clubs – Westwood & Intermediate which together cater for almost 100 pupils in Years 7-9, a Technical Theatre Club and a Comedy Improvisation Activity. This is in addition to a senior production in the autumn term, a junior production in the summer term, four assessment evenings for GCSE and A Level practical examinations in the spring term and a couple of comedy evenings thrown in for good measure!

Drama lessons may be the tip of the iceberg at Kingswood but that does not mean that they are less important. In recent years we have had many students successfully gaining access to top Drama courses, including prestigious Drama schools across the country, and indeed, the world!

However, it’s not all about acting or performing – many students who take Theatre Studies for A Level go on to a wide variety of courses. These include: Politics, English, History, Psychology, Philosophy, Theology, Economics and even Medicine at top ‘Russell Group’ universities – including Oxford and Cambridge. We also have had many students successfully balancing their dramatic and sporting commitments – and

“In recent years we have had many students successfully gaining access to top Drama courses, including prestigious Drama schools across the country...” more than one captain of 1st Team Rugby has also taken Theatre Studies A Level. We have also had our fair share of Head Boys, Head Girls and Prefects, perhaps because Drama is a subject that challenges you mentally, physically and academically. When taught by passionate professionals it can be the cornerstone of a well-rounded education.

Students of Drama can present themselves well in interview, work in a team, manage their time, be confident in making presentations and speaking in front of large audiences and they can ‘think outside the box’. Participating in Drama activities and productions can give you that ‘something special’ to set you apart from the rest – increasingly important in this ever competitive day and age.

One thing Mr Harding and I are extremely proud of is how many people now come and see productions and assessments who are not in any way connected with the cast. We always tell the students that it is one thing to entertain people who know and love you – but to entertain strangers – or move them to tears – means so much more. There are an ever increasing number of people who come along because they have been told they should – and long may you continue to spread the word!

So what will the next seven years bring? What will I be able to write in 2019? Well, we are about to launch an appeal to refurbish the theatre. The theatre will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2014 when we hope to hold a ‘Grand Re-opening’. We hope to continue to inspire students of theatre and future generations of audiences with entertaining, challenging and imaginative productions. Who knows what the GCSE and A Level curricula will contain by then – but I am sure that, at Kingswood, the tradition of excellent Drama will continue to flourish and develop.

I, for one, am looking forward to that journey.

Mrs Kate Nash (Head of Drama and Theatre Studies from September 2012) Kingswood in Focus 29

Drama

‘Oliver!’

Oliver was a success in every way. People enjoyed it more than anything they had experienced before. Every member of the cast is sure to have learnt something from it and yet again it shows off the School’s Drama Department in the best of light! I personally enjoyed the buzz and excitement of being in the show, I hope to learn much more from other performances in the future.

Susanna Sealy (Bloomsbury Ensemble, Year 8)

I learnt that Kingswood School productions have professional standards. Even at the last moment if someone is ill there is someone who can step in. I really enjoyed being part of such a great production and I am very grateful for the experience.

Laura Morris (Workhouse Brat, Year 7)

I enjoyed how professional it was and I will never forget the number of times we fell over trying to do the can-can in Food Glorious Food!

Rebecca Ousby (Workhouse Brat, Year 7)

It was an amazing experience and something I will never forget.

I was amazed at how professional it was – from the set and the costumes to the singing, dancing and acting!

Thea Guy (London Ensemble, Year 8)

Being in the production of Oliver was amazing. Even though I was only in the workhouse scene the experience was great fun.

Emma Blezard (Workhouse Brat, Year 7)

It was great fun working with everyone.

Everyone was included and felt they contributed just as much as the lead roles.

Max Harris (Oliver, Year 7)

30 Kingswood in Focus

When I was taking part in the show we had to become our character which usually I find hard, but in this production I really did feel that the whole of the cast came alive without being forced to.

I would come home at night singing...which I never do, but with this production the music stayed in me!

Harry Brand (Fagin’s Gang, Year 10)

Oliver was a great show which was great fun to be in. It involved putting in a lot of effort, but it was definitely worth it!

Kate Hall (Fagin’s Gang, Year 7)

And finally from two of the people who helped make it all work: I liked the songs and the dancing!

Ringo Dai (Technical Crew, Year 12)

Despite the lack of continuity amongst the orchestral scores, lights not working and generally squalid conditions in the pit, we still managed to prove that ‘a musician’s life is indeed a fine life’.

Charles Price (Musician, Year 13)

Kingswood in Focus 31

A Midsummer Night’s Dream During one of the only dry weeks of the Summer Term, Year 10 Drama pupils performed an outdoor production of one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays.

The production took place amidst the pond, trees and bushes of the Ferens Quad. Not a typical performance space, but this tucked away treasure added to the magical atmosphere of the play itself. Set in the 1920s, the play took on a vintage twist through the use of costumes, hair and set, with scenes linked with some Charleston classics. The costumes would not have been possible without the help of Celia Batterham and Tanya Hardman, who turned our cast into their ‘dapper flapper’ characters, which included the task of sewing many a set of fairy lights into the fairies’ wings. As dusk fell the lights stood out even more and added to the magical atmosphere.

There were some innovative and creative directing moments from both Mr Harding and Mrs Nash, such as the decision to use the Ferens building as part of the set, with various characters appearing at windows and bursting through doors on to the quad. The wide double doors presented a grand entrance for the mortals (played by Harry Brand, Oliver Beere, Rosie Wakefield, Max Pugsley, Oliver Gardner and Jessie Palmer) to parade out from, whilst the trees and bushes served well as hiding places and playgrounds for the tinkering fairies.

Queen of the Fairies, Titania, was played by Martha Overeynder who gave a powerful performance alongside her King, Oberon, played by Thomas Lechmere. The picturesque setting was greatly improved by the distinct lack of rain throughout the run of the play, which was a (very) welcome relief.

“The production took place amidst the pond, trees and bushes of the Ferens Quad... this tucked away treasure added to the magical atmosphere of the play.”

32 Kingswood in Focus

There were some excellent ‘comedy gold’ moments from the Mechanicals, played by Ilya Rovda, Cian O’Mahony, Toby DouglasBate, Katya Bleszynska-Rushford and Charlie Beaven, ably supported

by Ethan Chilcott. Everyone who saw the production would agree that one highlight was the retelling of the story of ‘Pyramus and Thisbe’. The role of ‘Bottom’ was played on different nights by Hywel Jones and Luke Jackson. Both delivered very different, but nonetheless very entertaining, interpretations of this role. Never have donkeys been so amusing!

The lovers kept the audience on their toes with their ever changing love lives, due to the tinkering tricks of cheeky Puck, played by Anna Maskell. In particular, Helena (played by Sophia Marshall) got the raw deal for the majority of the performance, but nonetheless entertained the audience with her woes. It was a happy ending for the lovers, however, as Mimi Templar Gay, George Roberts, Jack Hurring, along with Sophia, were magically restored to their rightful lovers by Puck, under the careful supervision of Oberon.

A saxophone trio from Kingswood Jazz Orchestra provided pre-show music, arranged by Mr Richard Mainwaring. Mr Neil Francis provided the sound, but was given a break when it came to the lighting, going for the ‘au naturel’ look of the daylight provided by nature itself.

Having joined Kingswood in the summer term it was a delight to see how well this year group worked together as a team both on and off the stage. It was a privilege to have had this play as my first production with the school, and a big thank you to all involved.

Miss Ruth Everett (Actor in Residence) Kingswood in Focus 33

GCSE & A Level Students Practical Assessments Following in the footsteps of many a high achieving students before them, last year many GCSE and A Level students were awarded full marks for their practical work with a record breaking percentage achieving an A/A* grade for performance.

AS

Mrs Kate Nash (Teacher of Drama)

A2

GCSE

34 Kingswood in Focus

KATS

KATS Kingswood’s Artistically Talented Students were out in force again this year at the ninth annual KATS Awards ceremony.

“...this year’s awards ceremony was as successful and glamorous as ever.”

If you can’t envisage it, think The Oscars without the backbiting! Although there are prizes on offer, the evening is about more than that. It’s a celebration of all of the amazing creative work which happens at GCSE and A Level in Art, Design, Drama and Music and this year’s awards ceremony was as successful and glamorous as ever. The guest speaker was John Hodge, script writer for some of the best films of the 1990s: Trainspotting, Shallow Grave, The Beach and, more recently, recipient of an Olivier Award for Best New Play this year. There was even an anecdote about sharing a private jet with Cameron Diaz!

But the evening’s main focus was on the students. We were treated to superb live performances from Roy Chan, Jess Bishay and Myfi Hollywell, Hannah Stockley, Angus Hawking, Rob Harris, Josie Fraser, Nick Haller and Tim Rouse. The prize winners collected their beautiful awards, and we said goodbye to the legendary Mr Harding as Head of Drama, and au revoir to Mr Hughes who has compered with such aplomb over the last three years.

Though the prizes were collected by a few, all who attended felt like winners!

The KATS Team

DT Best GCSE Resistant Materials Product - Robert Blackburn; Best AS Product Design - Alex Wilcox; Most Innovative Design - Rebecca Brock; Designers’ Designer - Niamh Courtaux

ART Best Mixed Media - Will Young; Best Sketchbook - Rhianna Hayllor; Best Final Composition - Lucy Russell-Bates; Artists’ Artist - Ellie Richardson

MUSIC Best Sixth Form Composition - Pollyanna Whitehead; Best Sixth Form Performer - Jess Bishay; Best GCSE Composition - Tom Connolly; Musos’ Muso - Charles Price

DRAMA Best Performance by a GCSE student - Charlie Seymour (Fagin); Best Performance by an A Level student - Sam Harman (Bill Sykes); Best Group Performance in an Assessed Piece - “Fix You” (Angus Hawking, Rob Harris, Josie Fraser, Nick Haller and Tim Rouse); Actors’ Actor - Sam Harman

Kingswood in Focus 35

Music

The Music Department High Achievers As ever, Kingswood musicians have excelled themselves yet again. From rock guitarists to classical pianists, from singers to cellists, the Music Department has been proud to witness some excellent achievements throughout the academic year.

Joanna has a growing connection with Kingswood Music Department, and she was delighted to see many of our singers and instrumentalists playing their full part in the festival.

As well as KJO performing at Green Park Station and sponsoring the amazing Beats and Pieces at their Bath festival debut, Joanna worked with pianist Gabriel Penn at her highly acclaimed piano masterclass at the Guildhall.

“Joanna MacGregor was delighted to see many of our singers and instrumentalists playing their full part in the Bath International Music Festival.”

Will Cross and his band Five Second Rule were heavily featured in November on Chris Evans’ BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show. Chris played a number of tracks that the band recently recorded, and the band also played “live” on BBC Points West. Chris’ show regularly receives around 13 million listeners – quite an audience for a Year 9 student!

Three of our musicians gained diplomas, allowing them to have letters after their name in the school’s blue book! Pianists Justin Hui and Emma Wong both gained Associate of the Trinity College of Music diplomas, and cellist Katja Cross succeeded in gaining her Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

Both of these qualifications are equivalent to first / second year conservatoire student level. So congratulations to Justin Hui ATCL, Emma Wong ATCL, and Katja Cross DipABRSM. Many Kingswood musicians were involved in this year’s Bath International MusicFest, in its final year under the artistic direction of the internationally renowned pianist Joanna MacGregor.

Three Speedies

36 Kingswood in Focus

She also picked three of our female singers to perform in her festival swansong, The Magic Flute. The girls played the Three Speedies in a contemporary version of this classic opera. Grace Curtis, Alisha Ganapathy and Martha Overeynder were superb in making the considerable leap up to such a professional standard. Not only were the musical challenges considerable, but their acting skills were also called upon throughout. Well done to all of our high-achievers!

Mr Richard Mainwaring (Director of Music)

Emma Wong

Over 200 Kingswood Musicians Grace the Stages!

In March, over 200 musicians participated in the year’s Easter Concert with a rather different type of gig.

Instead of one stage, there were four, all dotted around the Sports Hall. There were small stages for the vocal quintets, medium stages for the Guitar Ensemble, Strings and KJO, and a large stage for the 100-strong Senior Choir and 70-strong Senior Orchestra. Parents and guests stood between the stages, and wandered to and fro, either watching the performers in front of them, or viewing them on the giant screen through a “live” camera feed. It was a bit like Jools Holland-meets-Top-Gear-meets-Kingswood.

Sit Under the Apple Tree. It was wonderful to see the return of the Classical Guitar Ensemble under the direction of Mr Denian Arcoleo, with the folk song Pescador. The Senior Orchestra played a rousing version of Crown Imperial for the Jubilee year, and the Chamber Choir performed the aptly named Sunday by Sondheim. The concert was concluded by the 90-strong Senior Choir featuring a Male Sextet in Goodall’s beautiful Lacrymosa, followed by the barn-storming Africa

by Toto.

As ever, the gig was a great (if not slightly chaotic!) success, due to the superb performances by the students. Thanks also to Mrs Bassett for her work with choirs, to Mr Knights for his accompaniments, and to all of the visiting music staff who assisted: Mr Arcoleo, Ms Faber, Mrs Hollywell, Mr Morgan, Mrs Seymour and Dr Shepherd.

A special thank you to Mr Neil Francis and his superb technical crew of pupils, and many thanks to the Friends of Kingswood and the Catering Department for their help.

Mr Richard Mainwaring (Director of Music)

KFC opened the show with the title piece of the evening, Different Stages. It was then a fantastic pleasure to introduce Kingswood’s first harp quartet performing Brian Boru. Westwood Choir then raised the volume with a gospel-style version of the song Something Inside So Strong, and Westwood Orchestra bustled the audience through a fantastic William Tell Overture. The String Orchestra played the first movement from Britten’s not-so-simple Simple Symphony with great technical ability, and four of our leading male vocalists led a tribute to Queen with their hilarious Bohemian Rhapsody, actions and all!

KJO swung the audience in the second half with Tuxedo Junction, followed in a similar genre by the Year 13 Vocal Quintet’s Don’t

Kingswood Pupils Sing for their Supper, Tea, Lunch, Breakfast…

Every year or so, the Music Department highlights a particular instrument or family of instruments in order to celebrate and inspire present and future exponents.

From Week of Wind through Piano Week to Guitar Week, we have achieved great success in the past with visiting professionals and students providing a fantastic range of performances and workshops. This year was no exception, and under the guidance of Mrs Bassett, Kingswood’s Vocal Week brightened the dark days of January. Over 250 students and around 30 staff contributed to the week’s events, including 5 lunchtime concerts and a workshop with renowned conductor Jeremy Summerly. From Gershwin to Byrd, from Puccini to Katie Melua, every style of singing was heard.

And at either end of the week, there were two memorable concerts. At the start of the week, Kingswood Staff raised £1000 for the “Cots for Tots” appeal through their “Why? Factor” evening of superb solo and group performances. And to round off the week in style, five professional singers along with St Hilda’s Choir from Argentina joined Kingswood’s choirs for a wonderful Gala Concert. From Allegri’s Miserere to the Broadway classic Don’t Rain On My Parade, the evening summed up a wonderful week of singing!

Olivia Dellow (Year 13) Kingswood in Focus 37

KJO Swing at Green Park Station

I’ve done so many fab gigs at Kingswood, I was wondering how my last Green Park Station gig was going to top the countless previous performances.

The WW2 military outfits certainly made it memorable, and the Swing music was not only fantastic to play, but an amazing challenge. We started rehearsing in September, with the classic Sing! Sing! Sing! This proved to be such a technically challenging piece, but was only the first of many difficult pieces. Music of the Swing era always sounds so easy, but trust me, it’s really, really hard!

KJO were delighted that much of the music we were playing was generously donated to the Music Department by ex-student and international conductor Alan Tongue.

We played the first of our two gigs for the Friends of Kingswood in May. It was such a great evening, complete with new KJO big band stands, giant American flags and Union Jack bunting. The band looked fantastic and played superbly, and it was a great chance to hear the countless singers entertaining the diners with some great toe-tapping swing tunes. Because of the physical challenge of playing two hours of “tough dots”, we were joined by a few pros who not only lifted the volume, but played some amazing improvised solos.

We were all certainly inspired by their musicianship.

And then, a few weeks later, the Green Park Station gig arrived.

38 Kingswood in Focus

“The band looked fantastic and played superbly...”

As usual, we had the large stage at this fantastic venue, and the band looked very authentic in their khaki outfits. Ms Smith, the Music Secretary, worked so hard to design costumes and hair, and we got through tubs and tubs of Brylcreem for the boys!

The evening went so quickly, and there were so many great highlights, but ending the gig with Sing! Sing! Sing! was perhaps the most memorable KJO moment I’ve had.

Myfanwy Hollywell (Year 13)

The Scholars’ Concerts 2011-2012 The big concert of the year was the Scholars’ Winter Concert which incorporated solo performances and a second half of space-themed music from Kingswood’s large range of ensembles. The event was once again a complete sell-out, and the scholars all performed with great aplomb and technical skill. What is always amazing is how the students sit as part of the audience and, with no fuss or major warm-up / green room tantrums etc, get up from their seats and perform so amazingly.

Throughout the rest of the year, the Scholars hosted more informal lunchtime recitals. These concerts are designed for students to get the opportunity to perform pieces they are working on in a relaxed and friendly environment. The Music Department arrange three concerts per term and, as well as a pair of Kingswood’s Music Scholars, we were also treated to many other musical “guests” from all year groups and abilities and, in the case of our “open” concerts, we enjoy the wealth of talent across the whole school.

“These concerts have rapidly grown in popularity over the years both with performers and audience.”

The close-to one hundred performances covered piano, saxophone, classical guitar, harp, oboe, flute, ‘cello; from Grade 1 to Grade 8 and beyond. I must, however, thank our selected music Scholars for their involvement - Ben Richardson, Leonard Budd, Susanna Sealy, Mari Nakazawa, Olga Trunova, Charles Price, Katja Cross, Roy Chan, Yemi Sawyerr and Anna Rowland. Without exception their playing was inspirational. All performers deserve a “well-done” for getting up and performing, even when things may not have gone quite to plan! I am fortunate to accompany many of these pieces again during their examinations when the same room takes on a different guise, though, thankfully, without the distinctive smell of cheese and onion crisps! These concerts have rapidly grown in popularity over the years both with performers and audience. Performers always appreciate warm support! Thanks must also go to the peripatetic staff for preparing our students so well.

Mr Jamie Knights (Musician in Residence)

Peri Profile We currently have 22 instrumental and vocal teachers who teach over 300 individual music lessons every week.

The wealth of their combined musical talent and experience is quite staggering, and we are indebted to them for making the Department such a wonderfully exciting, stimulating and fun place to work. In every Kingswood In Focus we profile one of our staff.

CERI HOLLYWELL – FLUTE Most people see Ceri Hollywell around Westwood House, doing any number of different jobs from maintaining the borders to looking after the boarders. But fewer people are aware that Ceri is a fantastic flautist and teacher whom Kingswood is proud to have in its Music Department. Ceri began the flute at the age of 10, and rapidly progressed to the standard required to join the illustrious group of junior students at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. Following A Levels, Ceri was awarded a place at London’s Trinity College of Music as a first-study flautist. During this time she was taught by two of the UK’s leading flautists, Douglas Townsend and Ingrid Culliford.

Ceri then carved out a career teaching at a large range of diverse schools including Priors Court, Douai Abbey, Kingswood and Downe House – where her main claim-to-fame is that she taught BBC presenter Clare Balding to play the flute! As a performer Ceri has played widely across the UK in all types of gigs from symphony orchestras to chamber ensembles, from solos to Gilbert & Sullivan, not to mention a load of fab recording sessions for GCSE and A Level compositions here at Kingswood!

Mr Richard Mainwaring (Director of Music) Kingswood in Focus 39

Kingswood Musicians Continue to Gig in the Community Why perform music? Is it merely the pursuit of personal excellence, a chance to develop one’s skills, a chance for individual achievement or an opportunity to gain plaudits?

Of course not! The greatest gift that a musician has, is the ability to communicate with others and Kingswood musicians learn this through their performances out in the community. And if we can raise a bit of money for good causes on the way, then so much the better.

This year, many of the Music Department’s ensembles performed at various locations for members of the public.

In November, Year 9 Core musicians performed a wonderful concert at St. Saviour’s Primary School in Larkhall. As part of the Music Department’s continuing commitment to the broader community, 17 musicians, Mr Knights and Mr Mainwaring travelled to the school to contribute to their Performing Arts Week. The band, led by singers Rupert Halls and Ella Alcott, offered a 30 minute interactive workshop about Rock and Roll’s origin in the Blues. Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils did the famous three chord dance (first made famous at St Saviour’s Performing Arts Week!), and the gig was finished off with a great twisting competition. Both the performers and audience had a great time!

Also During the Spring Term, Kingswood Chamber Choir travelled to Oxford University to perform in the wonderful chapel of Hertford College. The small but appreciative audience was treated to an eclectic mix of choral music for Hertford’s weekly lunchtime concert. The Chamber Choir was invited to Hertford by ex-Kingswood student Sam Parsons, who is currently studying Music at the college.

Mrs Bassett led the 35-strong ensemble in a range of pieces including Wesley’s Lead Me Lord, Ellington’s I’m Beginning To See The Light, the folk song Shenandoah and Sondheim’s Sunday. Cellist and Music Scholar Katja Cross performed Carl Davis’ beautiful Elegy. The concert was concluded with the choir’s performance of Brahms In Stiller Nacht. And we were particularly delighted that the renowned choral conductor Jeremy Summerly – who contributed so positively to our Vocal Week – made time in his busy schedule to come and hear the choir once again.

The dark days of January and February were brightened with a number of events linked to Kingswood’s Vocal Week. But perhaps the most eagerly anticipated was The Why Factor, a chance for Kingswood’s staff to demonstrate their vocal talents through an evening where X Factor was mashed-up with a rather public karaoke bar!!!! There were some truly fantastic performances from the brave staff, from heart-wrenching solos to boy bands! The theatre was packed with students cheering, dancing and applauding, and the evening raised £1000 for The Cots for Tots Appeal, helping St Michael’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Bristol to continue its improvements.

In the summer term, not only did the Music Department send a cheque to Hope and Homes for Children for over £1200 raised through DVD sales and concert collections, but they helped raise awareness for International Blood Day. Mrs Bassett and the whole of Year 10 performed a fantastic flash mob in the centre of Bath, in order to get more people to consider giving blood. The students performed a vigorous “spontaneous” dance routine to the Bonnie Tyler song “I Need a Hero”, all sporting their bright red T-shirts that urged the public to give blood. The event was a big success, and we are proud that Kingswood musicians have once again used their talents to help others in the community.

Mr Richard Mainwaring (Director of Music)

40 Kingswood in Focus

Working with Chris Wood It only felt like we had been back at school for a few days before we were playing our first gig.

That’s because it was only a few days after the start of term that we were playing our first gig! Mr Clarke had managed to book BBC Radio 2’s Folk Singer of the Year, Chris Wood, to come and play at Kingswood Theatre at the beginning of September. And along with GCSE Music students, I was asked to provide the warm-up. This was a special Friends of Kingswood folk evening, and Year 10 student band “The Core” opened the show with their self-penned folk song “Seventeen” which was also filmed for the Music Department’s website. I then followed with three solo Irish tunes on the fiddle, an area of music that is part of my heritage. Chris then played two sets of wonderfully crafted songs, including perhaps his most notable (Radio 2 Best Original Song), Hollowpoint – a stunning song about the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Tube Station in 2005. The following morning, Chris also performed two songs for the Senior Whole School Service, both of which really inspired the congregation. Let’s hope Chris will revisit Kingswood in the not-too-distant future!

Tom Connolly (Year 11)

“BBC Radio 2’s Folk Singer of the Year, Chris Wood came and played at Kingswood Theatre at the beginning of September.”

Burns Night Ceilidh One of the things that makes us most proud of Kingswood musicians is their versatility.

Within a two-week period in January, string players performed music

by Elton John and the famous Schindler’s List at Whole School Services, rehearsed Britten’s Simple Symphony and Walton’s Crown Imperial for the Easter Different Stages gig, AND yet they still managed to perform a wonderful Burns Night Ceilidh. They played vigorous versions of favourites such as The Dashing White Sergeant, The Gay Gordons and Strip the Willow in two energetic one hour sets. The band was led most ably by accordionist Mr Burgon and caller Mrs Nash. The event - organised by the Friends of Kingswood – was a fantastic mix of great food (thanks Catering Department!), great socialising, and some interesting dancing!!!

Mr Jamie Knights (Musician in Residence)

Oktobermusik They say that music is a universal language.

So, our musicians said “Willkommen!” to the German exchange students from the Schiller Gymnasium in Münster through the medium of a great gig! The range of pieces highlighted the rich diversity of German musical culture, with performances of Brahms, Bach and even a toe-tapping Bavarian drinking song which was appropriate for the time of year! Special thanks to Mr Burgon on accordion!

Our friend Christian Meyer, the Music teacher from the Schiller Gymnasium, opened the concert with dazzling virtuosity, and there was a surprise item from both him and vocalist Mr Duke, Über den Wolken. Some of Kingswood’s newest students performed including Pollyanna Whitehead with some Kurt Weill, and pianists Justin Hui, Gordon Ip and Emma Wong. The evening was rounded off with the Oktoberfest classic In München Steht Ein Hofbrauhaus, and a mass

sing-along of the Beatles’ German version of She Loves You, Sie Liebt Dich. Wunderbar! A special Danke Schön to Mr Mainwaring, Mr Knights and Hayley Smith, and a big Vielen Dank to the Catering Staff for their superb selection of German food, beer and wine!

Mrs Aimée Bassett (Teacher of Music) Kingswood in Focus 41

Kingswood Music’s Website Grows and Grows The Music Department is very proud of its website, and this year, the site continued to grow with some really exciting additions.

VIDEO SHOOTS 2012 During April, I was lucky enough to record Kingswood Flying Circus on their video shoot of their latest musical composition Zero Gravity.

The space-themed shoot was our first attempt at green screen filming and was incredibly challenging technically. The track had been recorded in advance, so the band mimed and acted in front of a green coloured screen so that space images could be added to the background at a later date. Trying to keep the musicians in shot, but always keeping a complete screen in the background was SO difficult. We just about managed to shoot enough footage for the 2 minute song in 2 hours!

In complete contrast, the Chamber Choir took part in a video shoot of Brahms’ In Stiller Nacht in the glorious surroundings of Bath Abbey. This beautiful song has become a special part of the choir’s repertoire as it was performed at David Boyce’s funeral service last year. Within the 2 hour session, the choir had to record the audio for the song, and then remove the microphones for the video.

It was a very fraught and short session, but everyone remained professional throughout. Mrs Bassett conducted the choir and Mr Sealy accompanied the choir on organ.

HALL OF FAME The Hall of Fame was also launched during the year. There are very many talented ex-Kingswood music students who have gone on to achieve great success in the Arts, and the Hall of Fame is a chance not only to celebrate their work, but also to inspire our current students to pursue their ambitions. Many thanks to all who have contributed to date.

“The space-themed shoot was our first attempt at green screen filming and was incredibly challenging technically.”

ANOTHER SAD NESTCAM STORY

Kingswood Music School NestCam 2012

This year saw another developing story for nesting blue tits in the Music Department NestCam Box. Six chicks hatched and were only days from fledging when the wettest British summer on record began!

Unfortunately the chicks never made it, but the film was added to the website. Have a look……if you can bear it!

It has been such a privilege to be involved in so much filming this year at Kingswood, not only for the Music Department, but also with the Eco Schools project. I will miss all of the great creative work here at Kingswood!

Ilya Melnikov (Year 13)

Visit the Music Department website at 42 Kingswood in Focus

www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk/media

Friends of Kingswood

Friends of Kingswood Once again the Friends of Kingswood have had a successful year in the three traditional areas: social, fundraising and supporting school events.

On the social front we had four extremely successful events.

In September we were very fortunate to be able to invite Edward Parker, co-founder of Walking With The Wounded, to talk to us about their expedition to the North Pole in 2011. It was an incredibly interesting evening, but the highlight must have been seeing Sixth Former Isaac Brain dressed up in complete expedition kit!

The annual Quiz was held in the sparkling new pavilion and for that we have to thank Jill Tuffrey and David Guy. Ceilidh

Theatre Foyer

Climbing Wall

With our own fundraising, we have been able to purchase a great many items for the school which have been gratefully received by both teachers and pupils. As always, these are items chosen to enrich the curriculum and environment.

In the last 12 months we have funded the following: The Becky Bleathman Memorial Bench, outdoor table tennis tables, sports scoreboards, a refurbished climbing wall, a sports field public address system, display frames for theatre foyer, a picnic table for Fonthill, a music system for the gym, a video camera for the PE Department, a digital weather station for the Geography Department and last, but by no means least, a grit blasting booth for the Design and Technology Department. As you can see our list of purchases is extensive and it is a pleasure to be able to provide such a variety of useful items.

In January we held a Burns’ Night Ceilidh in the theatre. The evening went with a real swing – the traditional fare of haggis, neeps and tatties was followed by traditional dancing, called by Mrs Kate Nash and enthusiastically accompanied by the Kingswood Ceilidh Band led by Mr Sandy Burgon.

Walking with the Wounded

How do we raise our money? Well, apart from subscriptions, we can thank our Second-hand Uniform Shop and the Friends of Kingswood Bar. The uniform shop is run very efficiently by Sheena Stockley and raises money whilst providing a much needed service. The bar, apart from providing welcome refreshments at plays and concerts, last year raised just over £2000.

Finally, thank you to Helen Swing for Beere and her volunteers for Your Supper organising and running the coffee rota which, although not a fundraiser, serves tea, coffee and biscuits at all parents’ evenings.

Mrs Mary-Jane Chalmers (Secretary of the Friends of Kingswood)

The summer term saw us once again in the theatre – this time to enjoy a slightly more formal evening: Swing for Your Supper.

This was a 1940s themed dinner followed by the outstanding KJO, looking stunning in their US Forces uniforms, playing (and singing) a wide range of Big Band hits from the 40s.

A truly wonderful evening!

In terms of supporting school events we once again turned out in force to run the tuck shop at the MUN weekend in March, and to help set up the, always impressive, KATS Evening at the end of the summer term. Both of these events are reported elsewhere in this magazine. In the summer there was a new addition to the calendar. The Friends were heavily involved in organising and running stalls at the Summer Fete which was part of the Development Fundraising Programme.

Kingswood in Focus 43

Development News

The New Sports Pavilion is Officially ‘Open’!

On Sunday 3rd October 2011, the Headmaster and Principal of the Kingswood Foundation, Mr Simon Morris, addressed a gathering of over 500 people and paid tribute to those who had contributed to the completion of this stunning new building.

Mr Morris spoke of the generosity of so many parents, former parents and former pupils who had helped with many fundraising initiatives during the last three years and which had enabled the pavilion to be built.

Mr Wesley would have approved of the added value that sport brings to the lives of human beings, as long as it is played according to rules of fairness and ‘good sportsmanship’.

“I am delighted that this magnificent new facility will now be available both for our own pupils at Kingswood and for members of the wider community. Sport enjoys a very high profile at Kingswood and this pavilion will be a fine enhancement to our sporting amenities.”

One of Wesley’s most repeated words is ‘all’ and this school stands firmly in the tradition of encouraging all its pupils to be involved in sport at whatever level they are capable. John Wesley’s ‘all’ went out far beyond the boundaries of the church and so does the involvement and witness of our school. This pavilion will not therefore be used simply by a small sporting elite – it will be a gathering place for teams of all standards from the school and the community. Here people will meet not just to play, but to plan, converse, celebrate and share time together. Let us therefore dedicate this building for the service of God by our school and in this community.

Mr Tim Reeman, Director of Sport at Kingswood, introduced Sir Ian McGeechan and thanked him on behalf of the School for performing the Opening Ceremony. Sir Ian was delighted to know that the Pavilion will not only benefit pupils at Kingswood School, but also many local clubs, schools and organisations who will be able to share in the enjoyment of sport and the opportunity to develop sporting talent in young people for many years to come. Sir Ian unveiled a perfect oval slate plaque (shaped not unlike a rugby ball itself), crafted and engraved by Mr David Brown, former pupil, Head of Physics, School Archivist and an award winning stonemason who created a special sundial for the 2012 Olympic village.

Generous God, of your great goodness you have given your people the vision and skill to build this pavilion. We pray that your blessing may be upon it and upon all those who will benefit from it.

May it be a place of welcome and hospitality; a place of recreation and relaxation and a place where success and disappointment are learnt from in equal measure.

We dedicate this pavilion In the Name of God the Father, who formed us in love and calls us by grace, In the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who draws us together in unity of purpose, In the Name of the Holy Spirit, who speaks in our hearts the words of eternal life, Amen.

Dedication & blessing of the Pavilion

The Reverend Rachel Borgars, Methodist Minister for the Bath Circuit, Governor and Kingswood parent, concluded the ceremony with a very fitting dedication and prayer:

We are delighted that since its opening, the Pavilion has transformed the playing and hosting of matches and further enhanced the beautiful playing fields and facility for sport on the Upper which all at Kingswood are so fortunate to benefit from. Solar panels have also been added to the roof in support of the research undertaken by pupils involved in the Eco-Schools committee as part of the School’s commitment to sustainability.

To my knowledge, our founder John Wesley was no great sportsman…

He was, however, passionately concerned with the education of young people and I’m sure that, had he lived in a different era, he would have been a strong advocate of the place of sport within the curriculum and within the life of a community. He believed that every aspect of a young person’s development should be nurtured through the educational process and would have cited these words from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy on numerous occasions, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.”

It is in the competitive playing of sport that one can find oneself achieving that which was never thought possible, discovering new personal strengths and sharing in success and disappointment, both at individual and at team level.

44 Kingswood in Focus

Mr Simon Morris with Architect George Batterham

Sixth Form Bath

htaB mroF ht

A ‘Jubilee Jamboree’ Celebration!

On Sunday 27th May, over 1,000 adults and children enjoyed a fabulous day on the Upper Playing Fields in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee.

An atmosphere of friendship, fellowship and fun abounded in the true British traditional style of a summer Sunday afternoon fete. Music played, the hog roast sizzled, ‘fizz’ popped, children played, ponies paraded, posh cakes and cream teas added the calories, dads and teachers played football and everyone had an amazing time.

The surprise ‘Royal’ visitor was delighted to be able to pop in for a few minutes in her busy schedule and helped the Headmaster of the Senior School, Simon Morris, to declare the fete ‘open’! Gareth Chilcott kept the whole afternoon buzzing along with his masterful voice and enthusiastic commentary for the human table football game.

It was wonderful to have an event which reached across all sectors of the Kingswood Community with governors, staff, parents, former parents, pupils, former pupils, members of the Bath community and many relatives and friends all enjoying such a great afternoon together.

“In just one afternoon, a spectacular sum of £5,185 was raised for the Kingswood Foundation...”

Whilst it is difficult to single out individuals when there are so many committed and dedicated volunteers to thank and who made this such a special day to remember, we must mention Noreen & Bruce Finnamore who created such an exciting atmosphere and a spectacular feature for the day with the ‘Human Table Football Game’. There were 12 very exciting matches during the afternoon including a very competitive battle involving the Headmaster, several staff, parents and one brave female player too. Great fun for all and, thankfully, no injuries!

In just one afternoon, a spectacular sum of £5,185 was raised for the Kingswood Foundation which supports John Wesley Bursaries and capital projects for the benefit of current and future generations of pupils at Kingswood as well as facilities for the members of the wider community to enjoy. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the event and especially to all the ‘Action Committee’ volunteers who helped with all the planning and organisation.

Mrs Angela Dudley-Warde (Director of Marketing & Development)

Kingswood in Focus 45

Everything Stops for ‘Tee’!

The Annual Kingswood Golf Day was a great success with a return this year to the Lansdown Golf Club followed by dinner in the Sports Pavilion.

After a very informative and enjoyable practice session with the former Ladies’ European Champion, Bev New, the tournament for 10 teams got off to a good start on the blustery Friday morning of 15th June. The Headmaster was on good form together with team members, Alan Tongue (Old Kingswoodian), Colin Burns (Chairman of Governors) and Sue Thomas (a Kingswood Grandma!) and took the first tee-off.

It was very good to be able to welcome for the first time former parent Mark Hynes with son Mark, now an ‘Old Kingswoodian’, together with former staff member Peter Essam amongst the many players.

Development Council Chairman, Paul Baines had just arrived back from the USA Open with lots of new ideas to inspire his regular team players. This year the School was able to enter a senior team made up of Harry Rouse, Finn Weston, Oliver Meyer and Max Gauntlett as well as a junior team with George Postlethwaite, Lucas Reeman, Alex Jacobs and youngest member Charlie Patterson. The senior boys were delighted with their performance, placed third overall in the competition and Charlie, who has been playing golf since the age of 6, has recently been selected for the U16 Gloucestershire County team.

Former pupil, now professional golfer, Chris Lloyd was unable to attend due to competitions overseas with the European Challenge Tour, but sent his good wishes for the day and donated a pair of men’s Footjoy golf shoes for the auction. Other special prizes were generously donated by parents Laurence Beere, Fran Simpson and Paul Baines as well as Old Kingswoodian, Nick Capstick-Dale.

It was very fitting for the day to conclude with dinner and the presentation of prizes in the Sports Pavilion as monies raised through the golf event had been donated to the project since the first tournament in 2009.

“...the day concluded with dinner and the presentation of prizes in the Sports Pavilion...”

Thank you to all our supporters who helped to raise a further £1,862 for the Kingswood Foundation. We look forward to welcoming you back next year to Cumberwell Park under the guidance of Club Professional and Kingswood parent, John Jacobs, and hope that some new teams will be keen to join us for this very enjoyable social fund-raiser!

Mrs Angela Dudley-Warde (Director of Marketing & Development)

Looking ahead to our next big Development Fundraising Event…

‘Strictly Kingswood ’ A Fundraising Ball to be held on

9th February 2013 at The Assembly Rooms, Bath Featuring The Kingswood Jazz Orchestra & Professional Dancers Joanna & James Whitehead

Tickets selling fast - don’t leave it too late!

Contact the Marketing & Development Office on 01225 734283 or email development@kingswood.bath.sch.uk 46 Kingswood in Focus

From the Archives We are all familiar with the school as it now is but what was it like 80 years ago?

Recently, we were lucky enough to be given an (undated) Presentation Book from the 1930s. I have selected some of the photographs from this book in order to give you some idea of how different it all was but, at the same time, show you how familiar some of it still is.

My thanks to various members of staff for providing extra details.

THE VIEW OF THE CITY FROM THE TOWER If you look closely you will see that the foreground is covered in vegetable gardens and fruit trees – the school used to grow a lot of its own food.

Mrs Zoe Parsons (Kingswood Archivist)

THE SWIMMING POOL

THE KITCHENS This is where the homegrown food was cooked. Note the table with the table cloth and flowers on the right – presumably for the staff to enjoy their meals.

THE SENIOR CHEMISTRY LABORATORY Acids and other corrosive chemicals were still on the benches until the late 1960s. They remained freely available on shelves around the lab up until 7 years ago!

This was built in 1909 and Kingswood was allegedly the first school in the country to have an indoor pool. We think it was heated from the outset as there is evidence of steam pipes in the main structure of the pool.

THE CHANGING ROOMS These were only for use after games. Otherwise it was a cold water flannel wash every day and only two baths a week!

A DORMITORY THE REFERENCE LIBRARY This room is now The Staff Room. The clock and the table are still in the room. Many of the books can still be found in the new bookcase which now stands on the left.

Forty beds to a dorm – two rows of twenty! Each boy had a cupboard and a handbasin with only a cold tap that used to freeze overnight in the winter. One of these dormitories is now the New Examinations Hall on the top floor overlooking the Quad.

The others have been subdivided into smaller rooms.

Kingswood in Focus 47

Work Experience

Sixth-Form Work Experience Reports Rolls Royce SOPHIE HUGHES My week at Rolls Royce Bristol was really inspiring. I wanted to know what it would be like working as an aeronautical or mechanical engineer and I now feel I have some idea. The site at Bristol focuses mostly on military planes such as the engine for the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Red Arrows jet. I learnt a lot about planes in my week!

The visits to the assembly factory where some of the engines are built was particularly interesting. It was also good to visit the Heritage Centre to see how the engines have changed over time.

Overall, it was a really useful week and I would definitely recommend it if you are interested in engineering.

Cardiff Crown Court AMBER JAMES

Bosco Chan, Conor O’Suillivan, Sanveer Singh and Sophie Hughes at Rolls Royce in Filton in the deptartment where the specs of new engine parts are checked

Sonia Suen at Bath University Dept of Mechanical Engineering stripping down a motor cycle engine

Mr Garforth arranged for a group of us to spend a week at Cardiff Crown Court with Old Kingswoodian - Judge David Morgan.

The week captivated me and developed my enthusiasm for Law. From the Judge’s benign attitude and the diligent care he applied to each individual in the dock, to several different jury verdicts, I realised how breaching the law resulted in not merely punishment, but ultimately provided guidelines for helping people to live in accordance with our structure and moral standards.

The week certainly helped me broaden my perspective and gave me insight into several differing aspects of Law.

The RUH SAM MORRIS Three students, Angus Batterham, Iris Chung and myself, visited the Royal United Hospital for work experience last June.

William Goodwin at Bath University Dept of Mechanical Engineering – stress testing

48 Kingswood in Focus

We were treated to a fantastic, diverse programme, incorporating a day in each of the following departments: ENT (Ear Nose and Throat), Radiology, Orthopaedics and Geriatrics. Each department was extremely interesting, giving us wonderful insight into different fields of medicine and surgery. ENT and Orthopaedics gave us significant patient contact, whereas Radiology concentrated more on on-screen diagnosis. Our work on the Geriatrics Ward helped improve our understanding of acute care of the elderly, including palliative care and care-homes. In all, this was a stimulating week providing a fascinating introduction to Medicine.

Bristol University School of Chemistry MARTHA CHILVER VAUGHAN I did my work experience in the School of Chemistry at Bristol University.

During this I got to see a variety of departments and observed many experiments. These included X-ray Crystallography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Electron Microscopy, Aerosols and more.

Bristol University Department of Pharmacology

It was interesting to see the research being carried out and to understand how the work being done was going to be beneficial.

I even got to carry out my own experiment with the undergraduate students of the university. This involved extracting the wax from leaves and then analysing the wax. It was a brilliant experience to do this as it gave me a good idea of what it would be like to do a chemistry degree and also to get a feel for the university environment.

STEFANS ROZANSKIS Work Experience was an exhausting, but also inspiring, week. I spent it at Bristol University, in the Pharmacology Department, which shocked me with its size and its scientific equipment. Small countries like Latvia, where I come from, cannot even dream of such great facilities that here, are taken for granted. In my week I experienced a whole range of laboratory life from the preparing of a simple solution up to microbiology and the manipulating of bacterial DNA. The latter, I had seen as being somewhere near the edge of the impossible, but realised that it can be done by literally following the instructions, like making a LEGO model! At one point, I thought that it simply cannot work - too many steps, procedures, test tubes etc. - I must have made a mistake. But at the end, when I saw everything working, it was a great feeling and it makes me want to go into Science!

The five days I spent in Bristol have definitely encouraged me to pursue a chemistry related job in the future.

Bath University Department of Mechanical Engineering JUSTIN HUI My week in Bath University Mechanical Engineering Department was brilliant. You are not holding textbooks anymore and you are now working in an environment that you are not accustomed to!

In the department, I was taught to use lots of different mechanical machines which are part of the Year One Course. We also had our creativity tested when we had to design a model car and a wooden bridge.

It was good to find that you can actually use an equation like v=u+at on your model rather than on school prep!

Kingswood in Focus 49

Sport

Rugby 2011 Kingswood rugby continues to go from strength to strength and, despite an increasingly difficult fixture list, our win record remains impressively high with over 70% of matches won throughout the School.

The youngest teams in the School were amongst the most successful with the U12A team remaining unbeaten throughout the season.

This was particularly impressive since the Westwood sides have arguably the toughest fixture list of all our sides. Captain Al Mackenzie was the architect behind many of the victories but he was well supported in the backs by Gregor Morton and top try-scorer Josh Brace.

All the forwards deserve huge credit.

They were ably led by Tom Royston.

The U12Bs only lost 2 games and much of that was down to the platform laid by the front row of Seb Nicastro, James McLeod and Anan Gurung. In addition, Archie Smith and Charlie Roberts were consistently key performers and both will be strong contenders for the A team next year.

The U13s are unfortunate to be playing on a tough circuit and, although the first half of term was a struggle, they then had an upturn in form.

Elliott Hawtin has been an excellent addition to the A team, whilst Joe Han-Hauser and Matt North have shown promise in midfield and Founder Wan finished well and tackled bravely. The B team finished with a creditable 50% record with Jake Taylor and Caolan McConnaughie featuring prominently.

The U14As also finished with as many wins as losses, thanks to a good second half of the season.

Rupert Halls and Ashes Gurung have made great improvements and, whilst Freddie Oliphant, Jack Bonham, Lucas Reeman, Ollie Millner and Billy Greenway have been very influential, Ollie Akiwumi has been their player of the season. The B team have 50 Kingswood in Focus

managed a few good wins, thanks largely to top try-scorer Peter Edwards and some consistent performances from Alex Scruton, Dylan Bruce and Ben Bates.

As a Year group, the U15s have led the way again this year. Both teams have gone unbeaten and the A team reached the last 16 of the Daily Mail Cup, a phenomenal achievement in itself. In the back row, George Broom and Jack Hurring continue to impress whilst the centre partnership of Dom Mackenzie and Owen Waters is a real area of strength. Parimal Shrestha, at full-back, has also been exceptional. For the B team, Matt Holmes has led the side superbly, Harry Brand and Cassidy Jones have been very effective in the pack and Cian O’Mahony has finished as one of the school’s top try scorers. However, Mr Redman was keen to point out that it has been the collective effort and excellent attitude of the whole squad that has enabled them to be so successful and such a pleasure to coach.

“As a Year group, the U15s have led the way again this year.

Both teams have gone unbeaten...”

House match

The 2nd XV have won all but three of their matches with occasional 1st XV players Callum Lloyd-James and Nick Phillips leading the way with some strong performances. In addition, Matt Jeffery and Angus Batterham have been match-winners in the backs and Tom Curnow has been hugely influential with his experience and ability in the centre.

For the 1st XV, it was a term of two halves. The first half proved very frustrating with several narrow losses and just one good win against Queen’s Taunton. However, the second half saw a transformation in style and four big wins, accumulating over two hundred points, from their five matches. This saw their potential finally being realised. Sam Harman was an outstanding leader and instrumental in the revival after half-term but he was very well supported by several other members of the Upper Sixth. These included Max Gauntlett, Jack Rowlands, Finn Barnard-Weston, Charlie Caddick, Chester Lewis, Praful Limbu, Rhys Redman, and Sam-Jared Coventry. The Lower Sixth also provided influential players and the core of the side for next season looks very strong with Jamie Williams, Fraser Russell, Nick Mackenzie, Conor O’Sullivan, Toby Briggs and Oscar Dennis.”

In Year 11, the U16A team has won all but two of their games with Jack Crowther the driving force behind most of their good play.

The forwards have dominated every team they have played against, whilst the backs have developed into an attacking unit in their own right. Nick Haller, Oscar Ryan and Ben Papuca have been ever-present through the season and integral to the back play, whilst Matt Scott and Joel Lees-Massey have been equally consistent for the forwards.

1st XV

Mr Tim Reeman (Director of Sport)

For the U16Bs Will Davies’ kicking game has been central to the team’s progress whilst Saugat Gurung and Matt Griffiths have been excellent in the forwards. However, it is Leo Fini who has been the most consistent performer in this team as they too have lost only 2 games.

The 3rd XV have also only lost 2 games. Some key performers, such as Ollie Meyer and Keaton ReynoldsCotterill, deserved their call ups to the 2nd XV later in the season and there were several stalwarts playing their last season who were very influential. Finley Gilchrist, Alex Stansfield, and George Williams all fit into this category.

However, the leading light was undoubtedly captain Tim Woodhead and he deserves great credit for the way he has led the team by example.

Praful Limbu, Callum Lloyd-James, Rhys Redman, Jack Rowlands, Jamie Williams Oscar Dennis, Nicholas Mackenzie, Toby Briggs, Mr M Westcott, Edward Giblin Joshua Jackson, Fraser Russell, Chester Lewis, Sam Harman (C), Max Gauntlett Zachary Hart, Finn Barnard-Weston, Charles Caddick

Rugby Results - Autumn 2011 1st XV Asti

W 48-0

Rovato

W 29-12

2nd XV

3rd XV

U16A

U16B

W 36-5

Valsugano

L 5-28

Queen’s Taunton

W 33-3

W 51-7

W 20-8

King Edward’s

L 12-14

L 5-24

W 54-0

Clifton College Blundell’s

L 14-20 W 24-12 L 5-29

L 5-57

L 10-19 W 29-7

W 48-5

Colston’s

L 0-59

U14B

U13A

U13B

U12A

U12B

W 56-0 W 53-10 W 36-0

W 51-7

L 0-15

W 50-0

W 61-0

W 52-7

W 63-0

L 0-32

L 14-52

L 0-34 W 31-27 W 53-0

W 39-5

L 0-65

L 0-50

L 0-59

W 24-5

W 33-24 W 24-12 W 50-0

U14A

W 14-0 L 17-23 L 13-14 W 38-32 W 17-14 W 21-5 W 60-5 L 0-16 L 14-22 L 15-17 L 7-22

L 0-5

L 12-15

L 0-20

L 17-22 W 45-0

CUP

L 12-20

W 44-0

CUP

W 61-3 W 22-19 L 5-41 W 24-10

W 46-0

W 17-0

W 61-5 W 24-21 W 10-5 L 17-60 W 36-0 W 29-14 W 41-0

W 10-5

W 55-5 L 24-32 W 39-5

W 60-0

King’s Bruton

W 50-5 W 30-27 W 24-8

W 60-0

Monkton Combe

W 40-0 W 25-24 W 21-10 W 45-0

W 24-0 W 38-0

W 53-0 W 50-6 CUP

W 24-7

W 19-0

W 69-0

L 10-14 W 49-0

Sir Thomas Rich W 59-0

L 5-38

W 10-7

W 52-0 W 52-14 W 19-0

W 55-3

W 26-0

L 12-27

W 5-0

D 15-15

L 0-36

L 5-19

W 17-5

W 15-0

L 43-0

W 19-5

W 26-0

W 48-0

W 59-5 W 22-10 D 10-10 W 53-0

W 36-7

W 54-0

Monkton Prep Malvern

L 7-36 W 46-5

Millfield Dean Close

L 22-36 W 28-10 W 30-5

L 14-42 L 21-38 L 14-34 D 10-10 W 10-0 L 0-34

Sherborne Wycliffe

W 53-0

W 38-0

Dauntsey’s

QEH Bristol

U15B

W 27-0

Beechen Cliff

Prior Park

U15A

W 54-0

L 7-29

L 10-41

OVERALL WIN RATE – 68%

Kingswood in Focus 51

Girls’ Hockey It has been another impressive year for Kingswood hockey throughout the school.

Miss Robinson has enjoyed working with the Year 7s and she reports that there has been much improvement over the course of the term.

This is a Year Group with real potential and they have approached their hockey with real enthusiasm. Four teams were fielded and Miss Robinson would like to thank everyone in the different squads for their commitment and hard work and hopes that they all continue to enjoy and improve their hockey next year. The Most Improved Players were Katherine Hall and Charlotte Fillis and the Players of the Season were Matilda Baines and Kelly Read.

The U13A team enjoyed an unbeaten season in their 11-a-side games and have amassed an impressive goal difference. The B team have shown much improvement, in particular Chloe Roberts, Robyn Newman and Isabelle Broom. The Players of the Season award for the B team goes to Olivia Sealy and in the A team to Ella Reeman and Sarah Rawle.

The U14Bs have had an encouraging season with a series of very well contested fixtures. The Most Improved Player is Masha Motchalnik and the Player of the Season is Ella Alcott.

The U14As have had a tough season coming up against some very strong opposition. The team have done very well supporting one another during fixtures and in training and have been a credit to the school. The Most Improved Player is Livia Gauntlett and the Player of the Season is Freya Courtaux.

The U15s have worked well and made progress as a unit in both defending and attacking. The Most Improved Players are Catherine Hatherill and Rosie Wakefield and the Players of the Season are Charlotte Ousby for the B team and Katie Humphrey for the A team.

Moving onto the senior sides: The fact that we fielded a 4th team shows the strength and depth of girls’ hockey at Kingswood and this team boasted several strong players including Player of the Season Becky Nicholson and Kriti Rana who was the Most Improved Player.

The 3rd XI only lost one game all term. Mrs Jenner has really enjoyed working with such a positive and determined team and would like to highlight the contribution of leavers Myfanwy Hollywell, Jo Hailey and Hannah Bottle.

52 Kingswood in Focus

“Teamwork is a skill which cannot be taught and yet is evident that this is something we do really well here at Kingswood.”

The 2nd XI had a mixed season but they certainly had some very talented players in their squad. The Most Improved Player was Poppy Clarke and Player of the Season was Stanya Gardner. A special thank you goes to the leavers Imogen Morris, Katy Yates, Amy Greene and Anna Nicholson.

Finally we look at the 1st XI. Only six players remained from last season’s team and so we are very proud of the record we achieved.

We won 10 of our 13 games, scoring 41 goals and conceding only 12. There is no doubt that this was helped by our extremely successful pre-season tour to Italy.

There has been some fantastic hockey played by the side 1ST XI this year with all fifteen squad members contributing to the success. The babies of the team have been great additions to the side this season both on and off the field, and have undoubtedly “earned their keep”! Youngsters Ellie Lyne, Ellie Tullberg and Meghan Duncan all performed extremely well and Meghan was voted the Players’ Player of the Season. The Lower 6th made up the majority of the team this year and they have been fantastic. The defensive unit of Charlotte Frude, Natasha Chapman, Natasha Dabell and Jessica Portman have been superb - in many cases being the deciding factor in matches. Lydia Thacker and Hannah Bracey have been formidable in midfield and Rosie Dixon has improved dramatically and has been one of our most effective front runners. Catherine Bolland is a natural goal scorer and was the team’s Charlotte Frude, Meghan Duncan, Emma Gordon, Natasha Chapman, Olivia Dellow Eleanor Tullberg, Eleanor Lyne, Lydia Thacker, Roseanna Dixon, Natasha Dabell top scorer with 17 goals. Emily Catherine Bolland, Amy Worsfold (C), Emily Rowlands, Hannah Bracey, Jessica Portman Rowlands has been a brilliant vice-captain this season and is I was extremely honoured when Mr Opie asked me to captain the side an outstanding player. She fully deserved this year. Hockey has always been extremely important to me throughout her call up to train with the Welsh Squad. school and to play in such a fantastic team this year has been nothing but My two fellow leavers Emma Gordon a pleasure. To finish my school hockey career with the season we have and Olivia Dellow have contributed so achieved has been fantastic. Kingswood hockey has given me a huge much to Kingswood hockey over their amount throughout my time here. I may not be the best player on the time in the school and I have pitch but Kingswood has taught me that determination and endeavour really enjoyed playing with are vital, regardless of your level of skill. ‘Enjoy it and smile’ and ‘play them for the past five years. to the best of your ability’ are words often spoken by Mr Opie and have They have supported me meant a lot to me. Teamwork is a skill which cannot be taught and yet in my role as captain but it is evident that this is something we do really well here at Kingswood. also provided me with many special memories. It will be I am sure you all agree with me that a Saturday is not a proper very odd playing hockey after Saturday without a Kingswood match. Saturdays spent representing school without Emma’s constant the school have defined my time here at Kingswood and has been a chit chat or “Dellow” practising part of my life that I will never forget. the choreography from ‘Oliver’ Amy Worsfold (Captain of Girls’ Hockey) on the sideline!

Girls’ Hockey Results 2011 1st XI

2nd XI 3rd XI

King Edward’s

W 4-0

W 3-0

Queen’s Taunton

L 0-1

L 0-1

4th XI

U15A

U15B

L 2-2 W 2-0

L 1-4

U14A

U14B

W 3-1 L 0-2

L 0-1

W 3-1

Colston’s

W 5-1

W 1-0

D 3-3

L 1-3

W 3-0 1st Team

Royal High School

L 0-1

W 3-0

L 1-2

D 3-3

D 2-2

W 11-0

W 2-0

U13B

U12A

U12B

U12C

U12D

L 0-3

L 0-5

L 0-2

D 1-1

L 0-1

W 4-0

D 1-1

W 1-0

W 2-0

W 1-0 D 3-3

Millfield Bristol Grammar School

U13A

W 6-0

L 1-4

W 3-2

L 0-4

L 1-6

W 2-0

W 1-0

W 4-0

Prior Park

L 1-2

Redmaids

W 5-1

Dauntsey’s

W 3-1

Wells

W 3-0

D 1-1

King’s Bruton

W 4-1

W 4-0

W 4-0

Taunton

L 0-3

L 1-3

D 0-0

D 0-0

D 0-0

Bryanston

W 2-1

L 0-3

L 1-2

L 0-1

L 0-2

Monkton Combe

W 5-0

L 0-1

W 8-0

Total goals for

35

14

22

0

32

5

15

16

40

8

13

22

0

1

Total goals against

12

16

7

1

17

4

14

13

8

11

7

7

2

1

75%

33%

63%

0%

42%

40%

33%

50%

80%

60%

57%

83%

0%

0%

Overall win rate

L 0-4

W 2-1

L 1-2

W 2-1

D 0-0

W 1-0

W 2-0

L 0-2

W 3-0

W 2-0

W 5-2

L 0-1

D 1-1

D 0-0

W 3-0

W 2-1

W 1-0

W 5-0

W 3-0

W 4-1

W 8-1

L 1-2

W 3-0

W 7-0

L 1-3

L 0-1

W 5-0

W 8-2

W 10-0

L 1-2 L 0-1

W 2-0

L 1-2

L 0-9

W 1-0

W 3-2 W 9-0

Kingswood in Focus 53

Boys’ Hockey The school’s hockey teams have had a truly exceptional season. Indeed it is unlikely that there has ever been a season where so many of the school’s teams have had so much success!

Of the fourteen teams that regularly represented Kingswood, six teams finished unbeaten and another six lost only one game.

The U12As were one of the unbeaten teams, scoring 63 goals and conceding just 2. Al Mackenzie, Henry Brearey and Tom Deverell were all prolific scorers but they had Josh Brace on the right wing to thank for creating the vast majority of these. Unsung hero Charlie Roberts was also crucial, doing much of the tidying up in front of what was a very solid back four. The B team lost just once with Alfie Brooks, Jacob Berger, Josh South and Jamie Rowley being the most consistent performers in this team.

The U13s had the toughest fixture list but they too won as many as they lost, with Joe Tait and Joe Han-Hauser being the stand-out performers and Jack Kenny the find of the season. The B team were greatly improved compared with last year, with Nick Roberts, Eddie Narbett, Harry Warne and Karan Dip all impressing.

The U14s started slowly but a strong showing in the County Cup, where they finished as runners-up, kick-started their season and they never lost a game after that. Jeremy Hardman and Freddie Oliphant were the driving force in attack with Ollie Akiwumi, George Postlethwaite and Lucas Reeman providing the strong foundation behind them. The B team only lost 3 games with Matt Williams, Alex Haller and Ali Dark always playing consistently.

Both U15 teams finished with 100% records and will surely add even greater strength in depth to the senior teams next year. Hywel Jones, Parimal Shrestha and Owen Waters all played for the 1st XI at the KES festival and showed that they have be part of this side for the potential to the next three years. For the B team, there were many consistent performers but Anish Shrestha deserves a mention for his work rate at the heart of defence and Cian O’Mahony, Ollie Gardner and Max Pugsley were extremely consistent further up the pitch.

Of the senior teams, the 4th XI were unbeaten for the fifth season in a row! Fraser Russell and Nick Phillips were the workhorses of the team and Sam Man was the goal threat as he finished with 13 for the season. An unbeaten season was also a fitting end to the 4th XI careers of the two “Finns”, who have both been stalwarts of the team for the last 3 years. Finley Gilchrist is a real “100 percenter” who gave 54 Kingswood in Focus

“Of the fourteen teams that regularly represented Kingswood, six teams finished unbeaten and another six lost only one game.”

his all every time he stepped onto the pitch and Finn Weston, the captain, led the side by example and with authority.

The 3rd XI lost only one game. This was a huge achievement having lost six of their more senior players to the 1st & 2nd XI squads and proof that the school is starting to develop real strength in depth across all year groups. From this team, Leo Fini, Nick Haller and Josh Gammie all look capable of making the step up next season.

The 2nd XI is further evidence of that strength in depth as the matches against them in training were some of the toughest the 1st XI encountered all season. Zach Hart and Sam Morris have scored 41 goals between them, Ben Papuca has been tireless in midfield and Tom Hardman showed in the last few weeks that he is a player of real ability. However it has been the departing Upper Sixth quartet of captain Tim Woodhead, Ollie Meyer, Harry Daniels and Tom Curnow that have provided the real backbone of the team and have acted as excellent role models for the younger members of the squad. Tim and Harry have both featured for the 1st XI this year and would surely have been regular starters in any other season.

Mr James Brown (Head of Boys’ Games)

Review of the 1st XI season from the Captain Ed Dumpleton It is difficult to describe the success we have had this season having won all our games and the JMS league in the process.

All of the players deserve a lot of credit; from youngsters Tim Rouse and Harry Merrill to utility players Henry Darch and Nick Mackenzie.

Toby Briggs, Conor O’Sullivan and Oscar Dennis are all now in their second season and it is this group of players that will be the driving force of the team next year. Oscar, in particular, is capable of doing some incredible things on a hockey pitch and several of his efforts would be contenders for goal of the season!

1ST XI Jack Rowlands, Alex Hardman, Tim Rouse, Oscar Dennis, Nick Mackenzie Harry Merrill, Ally Stone, Mr G Opie, Praful Limbu, Toby Briggs, Harry Rouse Ed Dumpleton, Max Gauntlett, Henry Darch, Conor O’Sullivan

Of the leavers, Max Gauntlett and Alex Hardman are now veterans of three 1st XI campaigns. Max has enjoyed the physical side of the game and marshalled the defence superbly. Alex’s passing game, including his ability to throw massive aerials, initiated many of the team’s attacks.

Finally I must mention two players who deservedly earned their Full Colours earlier in the term.

Firstly, Jack Rowlands has established himself as the best keeper on the circuit, regularly producing stunning reaction saves to keep us ahead in games when we were really under pressure. He has left some big gloves and pads to fill for the up and coming keepers.

Ally Stone was the find of the season! He is a really hard worker and a centre forward so selfless that he regularly opted to set a team mate up rather than go for goal himself. Praful Limbu was another of the team’s willing workhorses, playing the game at “a million miles an hour”. His excited prediction of winning the JMS League at the beginning of the season seemed only a dream but 10 weeks later and here we are!

Secondly, my vice-captain Harry Rouse. Harry’s sporting achievements are well documented but scoring 24 goals in a single season is a very special feat indeed. He has been an exceptional player to play with and has made my life a lot easier as Captain.

His drag flicks are something special and these were a huge factor in the team’s success. I could not have asked for a better vice-captain.

In closing, I must thank Mr Opie for giving me the opportunity to captain this exceptional team. Without his motivation and guidance we would not have performed half as well. He has encouraged us to develop our fitness and skills and provided inspiration at critical moments in the course of matches. I hope our performance on the pitch this term has justified all his time and effort.

Even though my time at Kingswood has been short, hockey has been a key aspect of it. Hopefully, this team has now set a benchmark for others to aim for.

Boys’ Hockey Results 2012 1st XI

2nd XI

3rd XI

4th XI

U15A

U15B

Clifton College

W 5-3

W 8-1

L 0-2

W 4-0

W 2-1

King Edward’s

W 6-0

W 5-0

Monkton Combe

W 11-1 W 6-0 W 3-1 W 3-1 W 4-0 W 5-0 W 5-2 W 4-0 W 10-1 W 3-0 W 8-1 L 2-3 W 6-1 W 10-0 W 5-2 W 5-4 W 6-1 W 8-1

Wellsway Colston’s College Prior Park College Beechen Cliff Bristol Grammar Queen’s Taunton Dauntsey’s Wells Cathedral Dean Close Reed’s School West Buckland Calday Grange Goals For Goals Against

W 3-1 W 3-1 W 3-2

W 3-1

W 6-0

W 11-1 W 6-0 W 4-3 W 7-0 W 1-0 W 3-2

U14B W 3-1 L 2-3

U13A

U13B

W 9-0

U14A W 3-2 W 5-1

L 3-5

W 2-1

W 3-1

W 6-0

L 1-2

L 0-1

L 0-2

W 1-0

L 0-7

W 3-1

W 3-0

W 4-1

W 3-0

L 2-3

D 1-1

W 1-0

W 7-0 W 3-1 C

W 2-1 C W 6-0 L 0-3 L 0-9 W 3-0 W 4-1

W 2-1

W 3-2 C

W 1-0 C

W 9-1 C

W 9-1 D 1-1 W 3-0 W 3-2

W 4-0 D 2-2 W 3-2

W W W W

27 9

28 4

6-0 8-2 5-1 9-0

W 4-0 W 6-0 L 0-2

U13C

L 2-5 W 4-0 W 1-0

U12A

U12B

W 9-0

W 2-0

U12C

W 10-0 W 5-1

W 2-1 D 0-0

W 4-0

L 0-1

W 3-0

W 6-0 C W 3-2 W 7-0 W 6-0 W 7-0 W 11-0

W 2-0

W 2-1 W 12-1 W 2-0

W 2-0 W 4-1 W 6-1 W 4-1 83 16

59 10

25 10

31 3

50 10

28 8

20 24

13 8

1 7

63 2

25 4

5 1

OVERALL WIN RATE – 87%

Kingswood in Focus 55

Netball The Year 7 girls have worked hard together as a team and can be proud of the results they have achieved this term. The girls can boast of producing teams of all-round netballers able to play a variety of positions.

Special mention goes to Tilly Baines and India Folker who were the Most Improved Players, and Player of the Season goes to Naina Zolotukhina and Natasha Thornton.

team spirit. Their Most Improved Player was Anna Bools and Player of the Season was captain Amy Worsfold, with a special mention also going to Olivia Dellow for her determined hard work.

The U13 teams have had a very successful season with the A team losing only to KES. This loss was avenged in the KES tournament, which the As won, beating many of their local rivals along the way.

Most Improved Players are Olivia Chamberlain, Hannah Foley-Bird and Olivia Sealy. Participation in Club Netball and training with the Satellite Academy has definitely paid dividends for the players.

Players of the Season are Amelia Disney and Ella Reeman.

The 1st team this year was comprised of very young players, with Hattie Leventhal stepping up from Year 10 and Orla O’ Sullivan and Georgia McGibbin playing from Year 11. They have all proved to be worthy of their places in the team and have been some of the most consistent performers. I know they will continue to improve next year and their natural ability and relaxed nature make them a pleasure to have in the team. Now, on to the Lower 6th, who make up the bulk of the team. Rosie Dixon, Jess Portman, Emily Rowlands, Tash Chapman and Lydia Thacker have all performed well on numerous occasions. You have a lot of talent between you and I know you will have an amazing season next year.

The U14s also field a number of club players who also train in the Satellite Academy and at county level, and have enjoyed much success this season. The B team are unbeaten and the A team only lost one game after half term. Most Improved Players are Emma Hurring and Rhiannon Osborne and the Players of the Season are Abi Jeffery and Livia Gauntlett.

1ST VII The U15B team have worked hard to gel as a team and have produced some encouraging performances. Katya Bleszynska-Rushford has impressed with her tenacious and energetic play and is the Most Improved Player. Captain Rosie Wakefield was a strong contender for Player of the Season but this award goes to Merryn Jones for her tireless work in defence.

Miss Wright has thoroughly enjoyed coaching the A team although she does get a crick in her neck looking up to her lanky team! The team have only lost one game all season to Bryanston, and the girls have impressed with their level of skill, their athleticism, their coachability and their teamwork.

Their team spirit has been second to none and the strength of their wins is testament to this. Making individual awards has been difficult and after much consideration the Most Improved Player goes to Olivia Harris and the Player of the Season to Captain Maddie Dumpleton.

The 4th team, ably led by Laura Clarke, has had a mixed season.

Their Most Improved Player was Kim Chivers and their Player of the Season was Aoife McCarthy with Stanya Gardner and Laura Clarke close runners up.

Jenner’s Dragons (aka the 3rd team), captained by Amy Greene, had a successful season. Their most improved player was Ellie Tullberg and Player of the Season was Charlotte Williams. Mrs J, as ever, was an encouraging and enthusiastic coach.

The 2nd team deserve a special mention for coping so well without a coach this year. They performed well mainly due to their excellent 56 Kingswood in Focus

Miss U Paver, Jessica Portman, Orla O’Sullivan, Georgia McKibbin Harriet Leventhal, Lydia Thacker Natasha Chapman, Emily Rowlands Emma Gordon (C), Amber James, Rosie Dixon

I must now mention my vice-captain, Amber James. Her constant enthusiasm and love of netball has made her a pleasure to play with.

She has been a great support this year and I will greatly miss her when I go to university. Her netball goes from strength to strength and she sets a great example for others to follow.

The senior team leavers also all deserve a mention and they include Jess Bishay, Laura Clarke, Amy Greene, Olivia Dellow, Hannah Stockley and Amy Worsfold. They have all shown great commitment to netball throughout their time at Kingswood and I hope all of them continue to play once we all leave. We may not be the most talented year group but all these girls set a great example to follow.

They are always enthusiastic at training and in matches and I have enjoyed every minute of playing with them this year.

I have loved being 1st team Netball Captain this year. It has been challenging at times but also amazingly rewarding. Having played netball at Kingswood since Year 2, being first team captain has always been one of my goals throughout my time here. It was therefore a dream come true when Miss Paver asked me to captain the side. Netball at Kingswood has been one of the most important parts of my time here.

I would like to say a massive thank you to all the staff who have given up so much of their time to help out with the netball teams this year including Miss Wright, Miss Newman, Mrs Jenner, Miss Telford, Miss Ferguson, Mrs Bradley, Mrs A-P, Miss Beale, Miss Donovan and Miss Dooley. I would especially like to thank Miss Paver who has been amazingly supportive this year as a coach. She is always positive and encouraging and has done amazingly well coaching the 1st team whilst supporting the 2nds as well.

I thank her on behalf of myself and the rest of the team and wish her the best of luck with the girls next year.

Emma Gordon (Captain of Netball)

COLOURS AWARDS Colts Colours: Orla O’Sullivan Half Colours: Emma Gordon, Amy Worsfold & Olivia Dellow 1st Team Player of the Season: Harriet Leventhal

“The senior team leavers...have all shown great commitment to netball throughout their time at Kingswood...”

Netball Results 2012 1st

2nd

3rd

4th

15As

15Bs

15Cs

15Ds

14As

14Bs

14Cs

Prior Park College

W 31-28 W 15-14 W 20-15 W 22-18 W 34-23 L 13-18

L 12-29 W 19-14

Queen’s College, Taunton

L 15-18 W 15-14 W 22-18 L 14-15 W 25-9 W 13-12

W 21-19 W 33-12

Bryanston School

L 19-26 L 26-29 L 10-31 L 19-25 L 22-33

W 27-24 W 20-12 L 11-26

Beechen Cliff

W 25-4

L 6-34

13As

13Bs

W 8-7

W 38-8

13Cs

13Ds

12As

12Bs

W 23-1 W 22-6

W 19-14 L 10-16

L 6-24

W 16-0

L 5-22

W 13-5 W 12-9

L 4-7

L 11-14

W 30-2

L 8-22

W 20-2

King Edward’s School

L 15-45 L 13-32

Bristol Grammar School

L 16-21 L 13-22 W 19-13

Warminster

W 25-23 W 17-13 W 49-2

Wells Cathedral School

D 26-26 D 20-20 L 22-24 D 18-18 W 32-15 W 14-22

W 35-20 W 34-10

W 30-15 L 5-23

Dauntsey’s

L 12-18 L 17-21 L 16-20 L 17-32 W 32-15 L 14-22

W 31-27 W 21-18

W 23-11 W 12-8

W 23-7 W 26-5

W 40-15 W 27-12

L 10-15 W 17-4

W 19-4 W 15-6

W 12-10 W 14-6

L 9-31

D 24-24 L 11-12 L 11-15

W 14-7 W 11-10 W 7-4 13-16

W 20-14 L 6-12 W 12-10 W 33-12 W 33-1

Royal High School Clifton College

12Cs

L 6-7

L 5-22

W 12-7 W 18-9 W 17-0 W 15-11 W 15-8 W 11-4

L 7-9

L 6-12

L 24-46 W 24-19 W 23-14 L 19-24 W 25-12 L 15-21

W 26-6

L 5-22

KPS

L 12-23

W 21-4 W 18-5

Points For

171

143

190

125

237

131

18

6

138

167

28

129

105

29

5

106

114

73

Points Against

233

163

121

93

151

218

17

12

145

87

26

82

83

23

22

92

81

18

Overall Win Percentage

22%

33%

66%

25%

88%

44%

50%

0%

37.5%

100%

50%

88%

62.5%

66%

0%

55%

66%

50%

Kingswood in Focus 57

Cross Country... ...is a sport that takes great mental strength and it is reassuring to see that there are many pupils at the school who display such a characteristic.

We’ve had good representation throughout the year groups with the BANES championships producing 12 qualifiers for the County Championships which were held this year for the first time on the Upper. The boarding community rallied to the cause and did the marshalling on what was a bitterly cold day. It is to their credit that Mr Burgon has been asked if he and his team of helpers would be prepared to help organise the SW Championships next year at Bath Race Course.

Senior Boys Winners

In the House Matches, it was excellent to see so many of the school competing and Mr Burgon was especially pleased that many of the regular Westwood Cross Country Activity were highly placed. Year 8 in particular, has provided two of our most promising runners in Eddie Narbett and Charlie Patterson. These two have run exceptionally well, not just in their own age group, but also when they’ve been asked to run against boys much older than themselves and then finished in very respectable positions. Eddie and Charlie came 10th and 14th in the Kingswood race against Year 10 and 11 boys and both repeated this success later in the term with Eddie 8th at King’s Bruton and Charlie 5th at Marlborough. The Year 8 Boys’ team were also the Bronze Medallists at the Ken Baily Races at Bryanston. For the girls, Emma Narbett in Year 9 has also competed for the school at various levels and has qualified for the SW Championships. She shows much promise for the future.

Senior Girls Winners

“We’ve had good representation throughout the year groups...”

House Cross Country Y7 Girls Winners

The Senior Boys’ team have had a disappointing season, not managing to win anything. However, a special mention must go to U6th leavers Robbie, Theo, Kit, David, Josh and Greg, who have all trained tirelessly throughout the season and been key members in the squad.

For the Senior Girls, Annabelle Dewar progressed through to the Nationals this year which is an incredible achievement for any athlete and thoroughly deserved by her.

I know she has trained hard to become the runner she is, and can definitely wear her Full Colours blazer with pride.

Finally, I must mention our coach. Mr Burgon is indeed a powerful presence at the side of the course screaming and shouting his orders in the style of William Wallace!

He has been at the school for 20 years now and for all those years he has run “the other sport”. It will be a joyous day when Mr B turns around to Mr O and says “No, you can’t have The Kenyan Superstar to play Hockey because he’s running on Thursday!” but we all know, in our heart of hearts, it is unlikely to ever happen!

Y7 Boys Winners

Thank you Mr Burgon as you have fuelled my enjoyment of Cross Country over the years and provided me with many amusing moments along the way. I will definitely miss you.

Sam Harman (Captain of Cross Country)

COLOURS AWARDS Half Colours: Sam Harman, James Humphrey, Theo Bertrand Price, Robbie Hirst, Charles Price

58 Kingswood in Focus

Full Colours: Annabelle Dewar

Orienteering Charlie Roberts gave his opinion on his first season with the Kingswood orienteers. His most enjoyable event was his first event at St Audries on the Quantocks and what a lovely place to start your orienteering career.

We were parked high up on a ridge in the sunshine, with beautiful views of the heather-clad hills and pine-covered valleys. We seemed blessed with good weather in the winter season (unlike the summer!) and Wavering Down, high up on the Mendips, had testing courses. Further on in the season, Charlie was not so keen on the course at Rocks East Woodland where he didn’t enjoy the long distances between controls!

This is a steep wooded area at the top of St Catherine’s valley and the closeness to school increased our number of competitors. With these increased numbers we were now on the up and finished in second position at West Woods near Marlborough; beautiful beech woodland, fantastic for running through but where accuracy is a key element.

Some of our runners found the courses testing but, true to Kingswood tradition, they didn’t give up and persevered to the finish.

Silkwood at Westonbirt is always a popular venue for Kingswood, and parents and students alike enjoyed the day.

A trip to the Forest of Dean was the location for the penultimate event and here Kingswood had fantastic results, which continued to improve our overall league position. With only one event to go we were in a position where we could squeeze into second place having now overtaken Bristol Grammar School. Emma Narbett, Eddie Narbett and James Little all scored maximum points here.

After another good Westwood Championships, more newcomers went to Lyncombe Lodge on the edge of the Mendips for the final event and our best performance of the season. Calum Wylie and Charlie Roberts scored maximum points, together with Eddie Narbett, but it was the strength across a variety of courses that gave us enough points to win that event and take second place overall in the league.

Eddie Narbett

Emma Narbett

“A loud cheer went up...when Eddie appeared to win the trophy once again for Kingswood!”

Charlie Roberts

Eddie Narbett, Charlie Roberts & James Little with the Inter Schools Relay Trophy

Avon Schools Orienteering League Results Final Position 2nd EVENT Ashton Court, Bristol St Audries, Quantocks Wavering Down, Mendips Rocks East, Bath West Woods, Marlborough Silkwood, Westonbirt Parkend, Forest of Dean Lyncombe Lodge, Churchill

POSITION 4th 4th 4th 4th 2nd 3rd 2nd 1st

SCORE 328 346 242 412 486 426 492 575

Overall End of Season Individual League Positions Year Year Year Year

9 9 8 7

boys girls boys boys

Calum Wylie 2nd Emma Narbett 3rd Eddie Narbett 1st, James Little 2nd, Wilf Foster 4th Charlie Roberts 4th, Alex Dale 5th, Sid Brunt 6th

The individual championships took place at Beechenhurst, in the Forest of Dean. Nothing can describe the weather conditions experienced.

With gale force winds, torrential rain and freezing temperatures, the children did brilliantly to even get out of the minibus! However, once out on the course, concentration took over and both James Little and Calum Wylie won the Y8 and Y9 trophies respectively.

Kingswood fielded four teams in the Inter Schools Relays at the end of the season and, despite a deluge of rain en route to the event, it did manage to stay dry during the race. Abigail Wylie came back first on the Yellow Course closely followed by Charlotte Fillis, (both only competing in their second event) while brother, Calum Wylie, showed his ever-improving ability to come back first on the Orange Course. James Little, handing over to Charlie Roberts, led in a group about 5 minutes down. It all changed on the second lap with Charlie Roberts handing over to Eddie Narbett 1 minute behind Zac Hudd, from Norton Hill, a British Orienteering Champion. Four minutes down on them, Emma Narbett, taking over from Austin Lloyd, set off in pursuit with Sid Brunt a further 2 minutes behind.

It was exciting at the finish waiting to see who would appear out of the woods onto the finish path. A loud cheer went up from the Kingswood spectators and competitors when Eddie appeared, punched the final control and sprinted in to win the trophy once again for Kingswood!

Mrs Jackie Hallett (Teacher i/c Orienteering)

The Kingswood Team at the Inter Schools Relays

Kingswood in Focus 59

British Schoolboys’ Ski Races 2012 Last January the Kingswood Schoolboys’ Ski Team left for Meiringen, Switzerland to compete in the 2012 British Schoolboys’ Ski Races.

We took two teams; a Senior Team consisting of George Logut, Henry Darch and Keaton Reynolds-Cotterill and a Junior Team consisting of Jack Hurring, Jonathan Sandeman, George Broom and Cameron Owens.

We flew out of Heathrow early on Friday to arrive in Meiringen that afternoon. The first thing that struck us was that the weather was absolutely appalling with snowstorms and white-out conditions common. This instantly raised the question of whether the event would even go ahead. Nevertheless, we prepped our gear and got everything ready for the next day.

The first day was training and getting to grips with the challenging new conditions. We were joined by our coach Heidi, who laid out some slalom gates for us to practise on. While we were training, we heard word that our trip leader Mr Edgell had had a large fall further down the mountain. At first we thought nothing of it, but as time passed it became clear that this was no ordinary wipe-out. Mr Edgell was taken down the mountain by emergency teams and we were told to ski down and meet at the hotel.

The next few hours were tense. We just sat around waiting for news on Mr Edgell. Eventually we heard that he was receiving surgery in Brig Hospital and more than likely wouldn’t be back during the trip. For the next few hours we were completely preoccupied with worrying about Mr Edgell and the status of the trip. Finally, and after many phone calls, we were told the trip could continue under the guidance of the parents. Obviously we were still concerned for

60 Kingswood in Focus

Mr Edgell, but we went to bed and started to prepare mentally for the first race.

The next day brought the first competition. It was the head to head slalom relay, which is supposed to be a friendly race where two teams relay down a twenty second course. It is extreme pressure when two racers are on the course at once but is also immense fun. The junior team had a hard pairing and fell at the first hurdle. We did however then enter the plate competition where we finished third. The seniors faired much better, and managed to get through three rounds of competition, including beating the famous Cowbridge School. That night we were in a good place for the first day of real competition.

The main events are the Slalom and Giant Slalom (GS) races spread over two days. The first day was the GS. This is a fast and strenuous discipline with steep slopes and high speeds. Thankfully the weather had now cleared up and the competition was ready to go. In turn, all the members of our team attacked the course and everyone posted a respectable time. The following day was the slalom race, which is a tighter and more technical discipline, and once again we all posted respectable times. In the end the senior team came 14th overall and the juniors came 10th – both considerable achievements.

In the end, despite the bad weather and Mr Edgell’s accident, the trip was a success and I speak on everyone’s behalf when I say we totally enjoyed it.

Cameron Owens (Year 10)

British Schoolgirls’ Ski Championships On a Friday in January the first ever Kingswood Girls’ ski-team consisting of Emily Crowe, Emma Hurring, and myself, together with our managers Mrs Fountain and Clare Crowe, travelled to Flaine in the French Alps to compete in the British Schoolgirls’ Ski Championships held by the Ladies’ Ski Club.

Dressed in our brand new school kit, of which we were immensely proud, and sporting our team uniform devil hats, our enthusiasm and anticipation were palpable - even if, while driving to the resort in a near blizzard, we encountered another of the taxi company’s cars crashed in a ditch!

The two days of training that ensued set us up for the challenge ahead.

Our first trial was to ski the mountain with our French instructor telling us (in French!) all about the techniques of ski racing. By the close of Sunday, we were all much clearer on the optimum racing line, how to exit the starting gate and how best to knock gates out of the way with a ski pole.

Monday, the day of the Giant Slalom, dawned snowy and foggy. Visibility was poor and nerves were high as we were shown the course and its complicated gate system. The whole team skied well given the extremely difficult conditions and in what were for all of us our first ever ski races. That afternoon we competed in the Side By Side as a relay team, and a fantastic team performance saw us through to the next round of the tournament, where we were eventually beaten by DHO (Downhill Only) - one of the world’s leading ski racing schools.

The race began with Caitlin rushing to the start to begin as bib number 10. Emily was next at bib 48 and Emma was last at bib 86.

The competition was fierce. At the start 100 or more girls, pretty much all dressed in cat suits, were limbering up to start their races.

It was quite a daunting prospect to be racing Team Britain, Team Ireland and Team Scotland, plus the British Junior Number 1!

Burgers all round for lunch and we were back out. The parallel slalom was next. This consisted of several rounds of “fun” racing between rival schools. Scarily we were up first against Blundell’s.

This went well however and we managed to beat them. We were all excited for the next round!

Emily Crowe (Year 12)

On Tuesday, the Slalom day, the weather really did take a turn for the worse, and it was difficult to keep our speed up on a course that, in the blizzard, soon turned to powder. Nevertheless, the team braved the conditions and skied well, all finishing the course with very respectable times. Despite concerns about the worsening weather we made it back to Geneva, and arrived home exhausted but safe, having learnt a great deal more about ski racing.

As a team, we kept each other’s spirits up despite the freezing weather and we all relished the opportunity to ski alongside some junior semi-professionals. We may not have had their lycra catsuits, but we did have their determination!

Huge thanks must be extended to Mrs Fountain and Clare Crowe, who gave up so much of their time to take us to Flaine and who were unfailingly supportive and cheerful as they stood at the bottom of the course filming us for posterity. Thanks too, to a dedicated band of parents that ensured the trip is now firmly on the Kingswood calendar.

The weekend was a fantastic experience and the team can be proud of the progress made, both during the training and during the races themselves.

Caitlin Owens (Year 12) Kingswood in Focus 61

Athletics Despite the appalling weather conditions this summer, we were lucky to have had only one meeting called off at the beginning of the season. In addition, despite training being affected on a number of occasions, all of the athletes who have represented the team have produced some notable performances.

The Athletics Team

Callum Lloyd-James, Oscar Dennis, Nick Phillips, Barney Eliot, Alex Papuca Catherine Bolland, Matt Jeffery, Will Blackmore, Hannah Bracey, Miss U Paver Zach Hart, Jess Portman, Sam Harman, Amber James, Toby Briggs, Emily Rowlands

The boys and girls teams have both produced some excellent results against some very strong opposition. These include Bryanston, Dean Close, Dauntsey’s, Blundell’s, Marlborough College, Cheltenham Ladies College, Harrow and Clifton College.

The Senior Girls won an impressive four of their five meetings. Jess Portman set a new school 400m record and Sophie Hughes is the most improved girl athlete. A special mention goes to Emma Williams and Becky Nicholson for their great support and team spirit throughout the season, producing some notable achievements in their respective events against much older girls. The relay team have done well this season, winning their final race at Marlborough, regardless of what Mr Burgon called their ‘dodgy changeovers’. District Champions in their specialist events are Livia Gauntlett, Harriet Leventhal and Olivia Hart, who have all produced consistent times throughout the season. An athlete to keep an eye on for the future is Jessie Davies in Year 8. She is one of the youngest members of the team and has made

a marked impression by competing against runners 2 years older than her in the 1500 metres.

In the Senior Boys, there was constant tough competition from other schools but we grew in confidence as the season progressed and we began to look forward to the more intimidating meets. Special mention should go to Ben Mayall and Matt Bolland who turned up to training religiously throughout their study leave and then reaped the benefits at the end of the season. Within the boys team we have a few district champions – Charlie Fraser in the hurdles, Freddie Oliphant in the 400m and Zach Hart in the 100m. All produced very fast times up at the Bath University track. Charlie and Freddie have continued to impress throughout the season and they look like athletes with great potential for the future.

“The Senior Girls won an impressive four of their five meetings.”

Livia Gauntlett

62 Kingswood in Focus

“In the Senior Boys, there was constant tough competition... but we grew in confidence as the season progressed...”

My vice-captain Jess Portman has been in form throughout the season. She is a positively infectious member of the team, who encourages everyone even when it’s raining. Both Sophie and Jess have been partners in crime in storming the 400m, often securing first and second places.

Emily Rowlands and Hannah Bracey deserve a mention for their contribution this season, both producing consistent results in the 100m.

Many thanks to the staff who have helped coach and officiate this season, in particular – Dr Sheffrin, Mr Burgon, Miss Ferguson, Mr Harding, Miss Newman and Mr Matthews.

It has been through the endless efforts of both Ms Paver and Dr Sheffrin that Kingswood Athletics is at such a high level and that it continues to go from strength to strength. Ms Paver puts an endless amount of passion and enthusiasm into Kingswood Athletics. It becomes infectious to all involved and, as a result, it has been a pleasure to captain the team.

Sam Harman (Captain of Athletics)

Kingswood in Focus 63

Cricket In many ways, it has been a very frustrating season as so many matches were lost to the weather. However, in terms of Kingswood’s performances it has been extremely encouraging.

Of the games we did manage to play, Kingswood won 75% of them with some significant results such as the 1st XI’s demolition of local rivals KES and Prior Park and three of our A teams turning defeat last year against Bristol Grammar School into victory this year. This is an indication of the improvement our teams have made over the last 12 months.

The U12s made it to the semi-final of their County Cup competition and whilst they have been heavily reliant on Al Mackenzie for runs and wickets, Henry Brearey and Jacob Berger have both had good first seasons for the school.

The U13s are probably the most improved team and have won all but one of their fixtures this year as opposed to a win rate of just 40% last season. Jack Kenny has been the stand-out performer with both bat and ball but Charlie Patterson has bowled and captained the side well and Jake Taylor has been one of the principal run-scorers.

The U14s have benefitted from a number of new arrivals in Year 9, with both Monty Keith and George Postlethwaite making useful all-round contributions to complement the good work of Ollie Millner, Cameron Walker, Ollie Akiwumi and, in particular, captain Lucas Reeman. The U14s have also only lost one game this season.

For the U15s, a number of players have made key contributions at important times which is always the sign of a good side. Despite losing Felix Barnard-Weston to the 1st XI, they have still managed to win every game apart from their 7-run loss in the cup semi-final to eventual winners Clifton College. I am sure there will be a number of players from this team looking to force their way into the 1st XI for next season.

The 2nd XI were ably captained by Kingswood’s version of Andrew Strauss, Rhys Redman (well, they are both left handed!). For them, the star performer has been Nick Mackenzie. In the few games that they have managed to play, Nick has taken wickets consistently and made quick runs that were crucial to this team having an unbeaten season.

Mr James Brown (Head of Boys’ Games) 64 Kingswood in Focus

1st XI Report by Harry Rouse: Captain of Cricket This year, despite being hampered by the weather, has been one where many players have had the opportunity to prove themselves in the team. Players such as Henry Darch, Alex Stansfield, Rob Blackburn, and Matt Scott, have proven their worth to the side. Two bowlers have collected five wicket hauls: Finn Weston and Oliver Meyer.

Both have been key contributors with the ball all season. Five players have hit scores of 50 or more: young Felix Barnard-Weston will be a force to be reckoned with in years to come; Max Gauntlett has batted with confidence at times, although he did miss the last couple of weeks due to bad scheduling; Owen Waters scored a 50 in one of his two appearances, whilst my vice captain Sam Morris also had some good innings, including a devastating 100 against King’s Gloucester. One player, Tim Rouse, has managed to take a “five-for” and hit scores of 50 or more. With two more years in the 1st XI, the other schools have much to fear!

This year we have won more matches than we have lost. With confident victories against KES and Prior Park, and close losses to Wycliffe and Dauntsey’s (who were the winners of our league), it seems that my final term of school cricket has been a good one. Despite missing out on cricket week (and its magnificent food!) due to rain, this year has topped off what has been, for me, an incredible sporting experience at school. I’ve learnt two key things whilst being at Kingswood. Firstly, always enjoy yourself; sport is primarily about enjoyment, not whether you win or lose. Secondly, you should always challenge yourself to do better in the sporting arena. As Ian Botham once said, “You are only as good as your last innings!” Make sure your last innings was, and always is, a special one, whether in cricket or in any other area of life.

I’d like to thank all the staff who have made cricket at Kingswood so enjoyable for everyone, but I would especially like to thank Mr Opie and Mr Brown, the 1st XI coaches, for giving us such a quality season.

I have seen some brilliant players leave in the past, but seeing the up-and-coming talent now, the future for Kingswood cricket is exciting.

It has been a pleasure to be involved with such a great group of players and staff, and I wish everybody the best of the luck for the future.

1ST XI

“...seeing the up-and-coming talent, the future for Kingswood cricket is exciting.”

Nick Mackenzie, Matt Scott, Henry Darch, Olly Meyer, Jack Rowlands Tim Rouse, Felix Barnard-Weston, Mr J Brown, Ethan Chilcott, Mr G Opie Alex Stansfield, Rob Blackburn, Sam Morris, Harry Rouse (C), Finn Barnard-Weston, Max Gauntlett

Tribute to Harry Rouse from vice-captain Sam Morris As captain, Harry clearly can’t talk about himself, but it would be wrong to let him leave school without mentioning the contribution he has made to cricket in the last seven years. He has played for the 1st XI since Year 7 and has captained the side for the last 2 seasons, turning an adequate side into a good one largely through his significant contribution with bat and ball. Most impressive of all is the fact that he is now the school’s all-time leading run-scorer, with more than 1500 runs and equalling the record of 4 centuries in the process. That, in itself, would have been impressive but he is also a fearsome bowler who has taken more than 70 wickets including 2 five-wicket hauls in that time. I speak on behalf of the whole team when I say it has been a pleasure to play alongside him and we hope that he achieves his goal of becoming a professional cricketer.

Cricket Results 2012 Wycliffe King Edward’s Colston’s Monkton Combe Beechen Cliff

1st XI

2nd XI

Lost by 6 wkts

Won

Won by 125 runs

U15 XI

U14B XI

U13A XI

Abandoned

Won

Won

Won by 28 runs

Monkton - no team

Monkton - no team

Lost

Abandoned Abandoned Abandoned

Won

Abandoned

Abandoned

Won

Bristol Grammar

Won by 7 wkts

BGS - no team

Won

Won

Lost

Won

Won by 174 runs

Won

Won

Won

Won

Won

King’s Gloucester

Won by 8 wkts

Abandoned

Won

Won

Dauntsey’s

Lost by 39 runs

Won

Won

Won

Abandoned Abandoned

MCC

Abandoned

Lost

U12B XI

Won

Lost

Won

Won

Lost

Abandoned Lost

Won

Won

Wells - no team

Headmaster’s XI

Lost

Abandoned

Won by 47 runs

XL Club

U12A XI

Abandoned

Wells Cathedral

Prior Park

U13B XI

Abandoned Abandoned Abandoned Abandoned Abandoned Abandoned Abandoned Abandoned

Abandoned

Abandoned

U14A XI

Abandoned Won

Won

Won

CUP MATCHES Round 1

Abandoned

Bye

Won v Monkton Combe

Round 2

Abandoned

Won

Won v

Won v Wellsway

Quarter-Final

Won

Lost v Clifton

Won v Backwell

Semi-final

Lost

Lost v Monkton Prep

Won v King Edward’s

Lost v Clifton

Final WIN RATE

75%

100%

88%

89%

25%

83%

33%

63%

100%

Kingswood in Focus 65

1st Team

Boys’ Tennis

Mr Walker, Calum Montgomery, Ally Stone, Mr Duke Cameron Knee, Tim Woodhead, Kirils Ladovs, Angus Plumbly Ed Dumpleton

SENIOR RESULTS OPPOSITION

1st

PPC L 4-5 no Sam Dean Close L 4-5 no Sam King Edward’s W 7-2 Monkton Combe W 9-3 King’s Bruton W 9-3 Well CS W5½-3½ Wycliffe W 7-2 Dauntsey’s W 6-3 Cheltenham No Game Sherborne Rained Off Boys’

2nd

3rd (U16)

W 7-2 W 8-1 W 7-2

-

D4½-4½ W 8-1 W 5-4

JUNIOR RESULTS St John’s: U13 8-1 win  U12 6-4 win PPC: U14 lost 14-2  U15 lost 9-7 PPC: U12 drew 6-6  U13 won 10-2 KES: U15 won 6 ½ - 2 ½  U14 lost 2-7 KES: U13 won 5-4  U12 lost 3 ½ - 5 ½

ISTA RESULTS: Eton 1-2 July 2011 Pair 1 Kirils & England Pair 2 Plumbly & Knee v Yarm School P1 lost 4-6 / 5-7  P2 lost 3-6 / 5-7 v Epsom College P1 lost 2-6 / 3-6 P2 won 6-4 / 3-6 / 10-8 v Merchant Taylor’s London P1 lost 5-7 / 4-6  P2 lost 0-6 / 1-6

66 Kingswood in Focus

L 3-6

It was hard at times during the season to actually believe that tennis is a ‘summer sport’ due to the high winds, overcast conditions and heavy rain which accompanied Senior Boys’ tennis matches!

The rain was not an issue during the winter when captain Kirils Ladovs and vice-captain Angus Plumbly led some useful training sessions in The Bubble. The core of the tennis squad the year before had been Upper Sixth leavers so the complexion of the team in 2012 was more youthful. It was encouraging to see the enthusiasm and progress of Year 10 boys, in particular, in these indoor sessions.

The first team was built around Kirils, Angus, Alistair Stone, Tim Woodhead and Ed Dumpleton, but others did also make the step up.

The progress of the aforementioned boys was significant. Alistair proved to be most successful with deft shots, whilst Ed showed how athletic he is by chasing down every return and Tim showed how good a ‘volleyer’ he has become. In terms of grace, style and range of shots few can touch Kirils. He was awarded Full Colours. Angus has devoted himself to tennis throughout his school career and has a venomous forehand and serve. He was rightly re-awarded his Half Colours. Cameron Knee has also been a good servant of the tennis squad and was also awarded Half Colours alongside the other Year 13 pupils already mentioned. The other player who stepped up from Year 9 was the talented Calum Montgomery. He played well in the matches and did not look out of place. The success of the team in the future rests to some extent on his shoulders. The 1st VI recorded wins against Wells and Milton Abbey, but struggled against other stronger teams. The Upper Sixth players saved their best tennis, after a poor performance at Eton, for when they played against a touring side from Uplands College, South Africa. Kingswood won the overall match, but the length and quality of both the singles and doubles matches was a joy to behold. The hosting of the visitors went very well and I am extremely grateful to all the Kingswood parents for making the visitors feel so welcome.

The 2nd team fared better and this owed much to the contributions of Dan Banan, Conor O’Sullivan, Angus Batterham, Seamus Grant, Leo Fini and Tom Connolly. The most successful pair was George Roberts and George Broom. Many of these players will need to be prepared for the step up to the 1st team next season. Other pupils who represented the School (and sometimes even the opposition when they were short!) included Alex Simons, Justin Hui, Sanveer Singh, Raphael Poon, Saugat Gurung, Jaycob Porrit and Ilya Rovda.

Lower down the School, tennis is in rude health and names to look out for in the future include: Alfie Brooks, Charlie Roberts, Max Harris, Jamie Rowley from Year 7; Ollie Johnson and Ollie Sowler in Year 8; Ben Bates, Ben Crowe, Rupert Halls, Chris Kelly, Alex Haller and Billy Greenway in Year 9. All had at least one outing for the 3rd senior team.

The pupils and myself are grateful for the input of Mr Opie, Mr Reeman, Mr Hollywell, Mr Davies and Mr Walker over the course of the season. Let’s hope it is warmer next summer!

Mr Roderick Duke (Teacher i/c Boys’ Tennis)

1st Team

Girls’ Tennis My father has always told me that the important things in tennis are: work hard, be motivated, don’t ever give up, believe in yourself, and the most important thing, simply play.

Miss Wright, Ella Reeman, Masha Motchalnik, Becky Jackson Rosie Dixon, Helena Thiel, Bella Plumbly

And that’s what Kingswood girls have tried to do this season.

I want to thank Rosie Dixon for being such a great vice-captain, always supporting the girls from the side of the court. Ella Reeman and Masha Motchalnik – a dream team! It was great to watch them play with Masha hitting the ball unbelievably hard out of nowhere and Ella with great mental strength and consistency from the base line.

“I’m very proud of my girls having achieved an unbeaten season.”

Becky Jackson, who was my partner this summer, is a big talent and it has been a pleasure to be on court with her. There are moments on court when you think about throwing your racket into the bin and never getting it out again. But these are experiences that only make you stronger.

I’m very proud of my girls having achieved an unbeaten season. Anna Nicholson, Amy Greene, Olivia Dellow, Hannah Stockley and Rachel Wong – your last tennis season at Kingswood, I wish you all the best for your future and hope you’ll continue playing.

Thanks to the staff that have given up their time to help and support the girls’ tennis teams: Mrs Sergeant, Miss Donovan, Mrs Bradbury, Miss Robinson, Mrs Fountain, Miss Brooks and Mrs Reeman. And finally, a massive thank you to Miss Wright. From making us train in fridge-like conditions in The Bubble last winter to being present for every match we had, she always supported us. She coached us from the side of the court, always giving us tips that helped to improve our match technique. Above all, she keeps girls tennis running at Kingswood. Miss Wright – thank you very much from all the girls and especially from myself as you have made it possible for me to have such a great time playing tennis at Kingswood.

Helena Thiel (Captain of Girls’ Tennis)

Awards & Colours

Netball Results 2012 King’s King’s Warminster Bruton Edwards 1st 2nd 3rd 4th U15A U15B U15C U14A U14B U13A U13B U12A U12B U12C

W 9-0 W 6-3 W 5-4 W 5-4 W 7-2 L 2-3 W 5-4 W 5-4 W 8-1 W 7-2 L 1-8 W 5-4 W 5-4

W 6-3 W 8-1

W 5-1

W 9-0 W 8-1 L 4-5

W 6-3

Prior Park W 7-2 L 4-5 L 6-3 L 4-5 W 4-0 D 2-2 W 4-0 W 5-4 W 5-4

Dauntsey’s W 5-4 L 4-5 W 6-3 L 0-9 L 3-6 L 3-6 L 5-4 W 7-2 W 9-0 W 8-1 L 3-6 L 3-6

St. Mary’s Calne L 4-5 L 4-5 L 4-5 W 5-4 W 5-4 W 8-1 D 8-8 L 1-7 W 5-3

Wells

Bryanston Colston’s

W 7-2 L 6-3 W 7-2 D 2-2 W 6-3 W 6-3

W 6-3

W W W W W W

W 7-2

6-3 9-0 6-3 7-2 6-3 9-0

Full Colours:

Helena Thiel

Half Colours:

Rosie Dixon Lydia Thacker Amy Greene Anna Nicholson

Colts Colours: Ellie Tullberg L 4-5

Most Improved Salver: Olivia Watts for progress playing for the U15Bs W W W W W W

4-0 4-0 8-0 8-0 8-0 8-0

The Bleathman Trophy: Helena Thiel Player of the Season: Masha Motchalnik

Miss Angie Wright (Teacher i/c Girls’ Tennis)

Kingswood in Focus 67

The Captains

Swimming During the course of the year we have had 6 galas, swimming against 9 schools at 5 different age groups for both boys and girls.

We have had a total of 188 races - winning 131 of them - an impressive 70%.

We have had seven clean sweeps – one each for the U15 & U16 Boys, two for the Open Boys and three for the U16 Girls. Four School Records have been broken this year; one by Amelia Maughan and three by Patrick Seed.

The following swimmers have been unbeaten: Jonathan Brend in breaststroke, Amelia Maughan, Esmee Charley and Brandon Dyer-Pallister in freestyle, Esther Archer-Brown in butterfly, Tokes Saywerr in backstroke and butterfly, Patrick Seed in the individual medley and freestyle and Lisa Ho in breaststroke and butterfly.

Kingswood are: Dauntsey’s always being late and even on one occasion just not turning up at all; Brandon and Harry’s constant fighting over who got to wear my flippers; Patrick’s terrible stamina leaving him as red as a lobster after only 2 lengths, and Harry always slamming his head into the water every time he pushed off the wall – how you never hurt yourself I’ll never know! Most of all though, I will never forget the continuous support Myfi has given me these past 7 years.

“Four School Records have been broken this year...”

In March we held the annual sponsored swim in memory of Dilys Brake. Dilys was Kingswood School Secretary and she also coached many of us at Bath Dolphins when we were 8. On the day, 12 swimmers swam a total of 3,562 lengths, which is over 40 miles.

This event raised in excess of £1,200 for the British Heart Foundation.

Any of you who know us will be aware that swimming is a very important part of our lives. As our time at Kingswood is coming to an end, we wanted to share some of our swimming memories with you.

We have seen records obliterated by Patrick Seed, crowds amazed by Amelia Maughan, and Yemi Sawyerr thrashing her opponents from Marlborough, despite being the youngest and tiniest swimmer there.

Georgie: Things that I will never forget about swimming at

68 Kingswood in Focus

Harry: I will never be able to forget: Mr Opie’s 7am sessions in which Nick, Oscar and Byron’s lack of enthusiasm quickly sent me back to sleep; at galas, Tokes’ impressive speed even though he always claimed he wasn’t really trying; all of us chatting on the coach going to galas whilst Alec Shute managed to solve maths equations none of us could even dream of doing and, finally, Margaux’s fierce determination which kept everyone going even through the toughest of sessions.

None of this would have been possible without Mr and Mrs Opie, and Trish who have made swimming this year so much fun.

All the team would like to give you a huge thank you for all the hard work and time you have put into swimming.

We have both loved being captains this year and will miss all our fellow team swimmers greatly. We wish you all the best of luck next year!

Georgie Barnes and Harry Oliver (Captains of Swimming)

“The annual sponsored swim in memory of Dilys Brake...raised in excess of £1,200 for the British Heart Foundation.”

SWIMMING AWARDS 2012

Swimming Team

The Most Improved Swimmer Cup goes to someone who is in Westwood. She has trained very hard throughout the year and made considerable improvements to her technique.

She ended her season with an impressive win in the gala against Dauntsey’s. This year the cup is awarded to Jessie Davies.

Jonny Brend, Nick Haller, Alex Johnson, Emily Clutterbuck, Brandon Dyer-Pallister Ollie Johnson, Billy Greenway, Tokes Sawyerr, Esther Archer-Brown, Lisa Ho Margaux Gray, Mollie Dent, Sophie Roberts, Esmée Charley, Isabel Calvert, Yemi Sawyerr Oscar Dennis, Josh Jackson, Harry Oliver, Georgie Barnes, Myfi Hollywell, Byron Dunn Absent: Alec Shute

SWIMMING RESULTS 2011-2012 U16 Girls

U16 Boys

Open Open Girls Boys

Dauntsey’s (Oct)

W*

W

W

W*

Stonar

W*

-

-

-

Dauntsey’s (Feb)

W

W

W

W*

Canford Sherborne Taunton Clayesmore Marlborough Winchester St John’s

W W L W W* W

W W W W W* W W

W W W W W L

W W W W W W W

U13 Girls

Stonar Dauntsey’s RHS W

U13 Boys

-

W

U14 Girls

L

W

U14 Boys

D

U15 Girls

W

U15 Boys

W

*A clean sweep

-

The Tench Cup is awarded to the most successful school swimmer and as usual there are a number of contenders. Lisa Ho took pride of place in the U16 girls with 9 wins to her name. Jonathan Brend, Brandon Dyer Palister and Tokes Sawyerr have all had outstanding seasons for the U16 Boys. Amelia Maughan was the most successful of the Open girls with 7 wins. However, this year the Tench Cup is awarded to someone who has had an exceptional season for the Open Boys.

He holds 5 out of a possible 14 school records.

This year it goes to Patrick Seed.

The Beresford Shield is for the person who has made the greatest contribution to Kingswood swimming. The award goes to a swimmer who has represented Kingswood for 7 years. She has trained regularly and is always cheerful at the 7am sessions. She has been very good helping to look after other swimmers at training and galas. She has raised money every year in the sponsored swim.

Myfanwy Hollywell wins the award.

Colts colours: Amelia Maughan Half Colours: Myfanwy Hollywell Full Colours: Patrick Seed Georgie Barnes Harry Oliver

Mrs Jenny Opie (Teacher i/c Swimming) Kingswood in Focus 69

Model United Nations

MUN 2012 In March Kingswood played host to the 22nd Bath International Schools’ Model United Nations Conference.

Approximately 700 students took part, coming from as far afield as the United States, the Czech Republic, Germany and Russia, as well as from across the UK. Together they represented 133 member states of the UN in two days of debate on a range of issues facing the global community, including the situation in Syria, climate change, the right to protest, the global economic crisis and internet freedom.

The conference was opened on Friday evening by a guest speaker from Amnesty International, Mrs Gillian Cleverley, who gave a detailed overview of the work of that organisation in promoting the cause of human rights around the world over the last half century. Emily Souter, Secretary General for the 2012 conference, also spoke at the Opening Ceremony, giving her take on the challenges facing the world today and what she has got out of her MUN experience down the years, both as a chair and as a delegate. Saturday saw the conference participants break up into their separate specialist committees before, on Sunday, the conference climaxed with the emergency scenarios, where the

“...the sixth form chairing team once again rose to the challenge of leading this major event...”

delegates were asked to respond to unexpected international crises.

This year these ranged from a biological weapons attack on Paris to an Israeli air strike against Iranian nuclear installations.

Around 150 Kingswood students were involved in the conference, and all played their part in ensuring that the event was once again a great success. Special mention should be made of the sixth form chairing team, which once again rose to the challenge of leading this major event in the Kingswood calendar with enormous skill and maturity.

The head chairs for the weekend were especially impressive, and deserve a special mention; they were Emily Souter, Charles Price, Robbie Hirst, James Johnston, Hannah Robinson, Lauren Kelly, Lucy Russell-Bates, Elli Hatherell, Sam Coates, Peter Evans, Cameron Knee, Sam Coventry, Myfi Hollywell, and Katie Davis.

The conference also marked something of a milestone in the history of Kingswood MUN, as Mrs Morag Lemmy stepped down from her role as Conference Administrator. Morag has been at the heart of our MUN almost since the conference first began, working first with Steve Pagan and later myself, as the event has grown from an event for local schools to one of the biggest MUN conferences in the country. As anyone involved in MUN will know, Morag has always been so much more than simply an administrator, and it is no exaggeration to say that without her our MUN would not be what it is today. On behalf of the thousands of students who have taken part in our conference over the last two decades I’d like to record a huge thank you to Morag for all that she’s done – she is, to borrow a word much liked by today’s students, a true MUN legend.

Mr Craig Woodgate (Head of Sixth Form) 70 Kingswood in Focus

International News

The International Student Voice Competition In September, four students from Kingswood took part in the ‘International Student Voice’ speaking competition, which was hosted by Monkton Combe School. their students to access Facebook.

Gerald’s confident delivery and compelling arguments, coupled with his excellent pronunciation and use of a range of vocabulary, led to him winning the junior competition.

The winners

The competition is split into two sections, with the junior contest for pupils from Years 7 to 10 and the senior contest for Years 11 to 13.

Entrants for the speaking competition had to speak in English for up to five minutes on a topic about which they are passionate. Over the years, students have spoken about a diverse range of topics and this year was no different, with many interesting talks about hobbies, interests and even politics.

In the junior contest, Kingswood was represented by Gerald Lau and Masha Motchalnik. Masha spoke with confidence about New Year celebrations and customs in her home country of Belarus and impressed the judges with her impressive range of vocabulary. Gerald delivered a well-prepared and entertaining speech about why schools should allow

In the senior competition, Kingswood again featured strongly, The Team being represented by Domante Miltienyte and Daphne Leung.

Daphne delivered a well-prepared and engaging talk on the challenging topic of rare earth elements. Her speech was well received by the judges and they were impressed with the range of scientific vocabulary that she used accurately. Domante delivered the speech of the night in which she very eloquently and fluently spoke about her idol, Audrey Hepburn.

Her passion and ability to capture the attention of the audience led her to winning the contest against some stiff opposition from other schools.

The spectators and competitors from Kingswood all enjoyed being part of this wonderful event. I look forward to it next year when we host it at Kingswood School.

Mr Simon Forrester (Head of ESL)

Kingswood: Hong Kong Style!

It was a great pleasure to be able to take Mr David Hughes, Head of English and Chairman of the Common Room, on my visit to Hong Kong in October 2011.

Mr Hughes represented the Headmaster during the reception held at the prestigious Hong Kong Football Club where current parents joined a number of Old Kingswoodians and former parents to hear of the latest news and developments at Kingswood. The highlight of the talk was the successful completion of the new Sports Pavilion and parents were very pleased to see a slide show presentation of the event.

Special thanks were extended to Old Kingswoodian, Jacky Tsang and his parents who had made all the arrangements for the reception and to Anna Lam for bringing so many former pupils back to this very enjoyable reunion.

Old Kingswoodian Anna Lam & friends

David Hughes samples dim sum with Mr Tsang

A Hong Kong market

It was the first time Mr Hughes had visited Hong Kong and he was treated to tea and an opportunity to sample dim sum with Mr & Mrs Tsang as well as taking part in meetings and discussions with agents who regularly introduce excellent students from Hong Kong to join the School.

Mrs Angela Dudley-Warde (Director of Marketing & Development) Former pupil Jacky Tsang & parents with Angela Dudley-Warde

Meeting with our agents

Kingswood in Focus 71

Trips & Exchanges

The Latin Trip to Hadrian’s Wall After a “banterous” six-hour train journey, our group of seven pupils, along with Mrs Dakin and Mr Prior, reached Haltwhistle, which is renowned for being the most central point in Britain.

We arrived at our accommodation, a lovely hostel called ‘The Once-Brewed’, and Luke and Joel went for a run, up a steep hill, to look at the Wall.

On the first day we walked along the Wall. We had amazing weather and Joel and Luke kept giving Mrs Dakin mini heart-attacks by almost falling off the wall, which was only two foot high! We passed the famous sycamore tree featured in ‘Robin Hood Prince of Thieves’ and finally reached Houseteads Roman Fort, where we loved seeing Mrs Dakin dress up in a felt Roman costume and fight Max and Joel with a wooden sword. In the evening we were visited by Ulfric who told us about the Roman army and its enemies. He made us volunteer, with Becky as a German barbarian, Max being a Pict, Ben and Luke being Roman soldiers and Mrs Dakin, who was desperate to join in, wearing the chain mail.

Berlin Trip On the 1st of April in the afternoon, 52 students and 5 teachers set off to Berlin on a bus that we were to stay on for a massive 20 hours! We reached the Shuttle at Dover and were given time to stock up on food for the next long section of our coach journey to Berlin itself, which took about 16 hours. By the time we arrived in Berlin, there were more than a few stiff legs getting off the bus not to mention a few cases of cramp!

It was midday when we arrived and, after checking in to our hotel, we managed to plough on through the tiredness! We walked into Berlin to get a sense of what it was like and to appreciate some of the most significant points in the city. Firstly we visited the TV Tower built by the Communist East Germans to impress their enemies during the Cold War, and then we had the chance to enjoy some Berlin delicacies like its famous curried sausages which were wunderbar! We then went on to visit the Marx-Engels monument and also the Neue Wache Memorial to Victims of War and Tyranny which had a very moving sculpture of a grieving mother inside. Finally we visited Bebelplatz, the site where all the books considered not to be pro-Nazi were burnt, where there was some very cool modern art to mark the spot.

“...I think it was a fantastic experience...”

On the second day we visited Birdoswald, where we wrote poetry in the rain, and then we went to Vindolanda, another famous Roman site.

Our final day included a visit to the museum at Carlisle and then we embarked upon the long journey home. Mrs Dakin was forced to move carriage because of a ‘music scholar’ who insisted on playing an out of tune guitar for hours! However, she and Mr Prior both enjoyed the trip enormously and were delighted to spend some of half term with their favourite pupils, who in turn thanked them for such a fun and interesting excursion.

Ben Richardson (Year 10)

The next day, feeling a bit more human after a good night’s sleep, we left early and firstly visited the famous Reichstag enjoying some spectacular views from the top, followed by the Soviet War Memorial to the Russians who died in the siege of Berlin in 1945. We later visited the well-known Brandenburg Gate where we were constantly harassed to get photos with people dressed up in various costumes, such as Darth Vader! Some people had narrow escapes!

We later visited the excellent Holocaust Memorial which was wonderfully artistic in the way it was made. Afterwards we went on to briefly visit the site of Hitler’s Bunker where he killed himself and to see where the Berlin Wall previously stood. Some students even brought (supposed) parts of the wall!

We then visited Potsdamer Platz, the Nazi Air Ministry and of course a trip to the notorious Checkpoint Charlie. We rounded off the day with swimming, waterslides and a very popular whirlpool in a Berlin entertainment complex, before an early night as some of us needed to catch up on some sleep.

The next day was mostly spent at the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp where we witnessed accounts of the terrible conditions Jews and other opponents of the Nazis were subjected to. Many of us found this extremely moving and made us realise how lucky we are to live in such fair times.

After visiting Plutzensee Prison in the afternoon, we then went on to the 1936 Olympic Stadium which is impressive, even to this day. This was followed in the evening by some bowling which was a lot of fun.

On our final day we visited the Museum of German History, which was very beneficial and relevant to our GCSE History course, followed by a quick walk to the Brandenburg Gate and before we knew it we were back on the bus with the prospect of another 20 hour coach journey ahead of us.

However we made incredibly good time and managed to board an earlier ferry and arrived back at school a huge 4 hours early.

All in all, I think it was a fantastic experience and I would advise anybody doing History to go on it in the future if they have a chance.

Rhys Williams (Year 10) 72 Kingswood in Focus

Paris Trip 2011 After setting off early in the morning, alongside Mr Duke who was handily equipped with his head torch, and Miss Brookes with her clipboard, we began what would be a very memorable trip to Paris.

On arrival, after a mammoth coach trip, we enjoyed a guided tour of Le Stade de France, where we were fortunate enough to visit the home team’s changing rooms and to run out of the famous tunnel. Of course we weren’t allowed to touch their precious grass on their perfect pitch!!

Day two began bright and early with a day trip to Disney Land. This turned out to be quite an adventure with lots of rides, shops and parades. Most of us agreed that the most popular of the rides was ‘Space Mountain,’ on which you were whizzed around at a frightening speed, upside down and in the pitch black - très effrayant!

Later that evening was a meal in a Flunch Restaurant before heading off on a Bateau Mouche to enjoy the stunning experience of Paris at night.

Included in this experience was, naturally, the light show from the Eiffel Tower - totally magical!

Day three began with lots of tired people muffling yawns all through breakfast, but eventually waking up in time to gaze in awe at Le Sacré Cœur in Montmartre. This beautiful building is white marble on the outside and inside, gold leaf lines the walls and ceilings, giving the impression of absolute serenity and divine beauty. A brief walk took us to the artists square, known as La Place du Tertre, where we wandered among the artists at work and were amazed to see just how talented they were.

After our stop in the square we went on to the Château de Versailles.

‘C’est magnifique!’ was quite an understatement. With its hundreds of acres of gardens, room after room covered in intricate paintings and ornate carvings, marble staircases, silk and silver, the whole place was simply

stunning. We even learned that to feed all the fish in the palace pond, the cooks had to bake around 100 loaves of bread every single morning!

Later on, to everyone’s enjoyment we ate a lovely dinner at a crêperie where we sampled savoury crêpes and galletes. But before we were allowed to order our meals we had to admit (maybe untruthfully) that we thought France were going to win the Rugby World cup!

And then, just when we though our trip couldn’t get any better, we climbed, or rather took the lift, up to the top of the Eiffel Tower. With views quite unlike any other, it will be an experience that we will never forget!

Thanks must go to Miss Brookes for organising such an enjoyable trip that was a real highlight for many of us; most of us would all go again if we had the opportunity!

Freddie Barnes and Esmée Charley (Year 9)

Highlights of the Spanish Trip to Andalucía - Spain 2012 Our first real experience of Spain was a “taster” tour of Seville led by our very friendly Spanish tour guide - Ignacio. We saw the magnificent public gardens - Maria Luisa Park (where we all enjoyed the pigeon feeding) and the quite beautiful Plaza de España.

Day two took us to the small historical town of Ronda. Ronda is high in the mountains and, although being a fair amount cooler, the day was still very sunny, so it was an odd combination of woolly hats and sunglasses that paraded through the streets of Ronda, after our much enjoyed picnic lunch, to arrive at the Plaza de Toros - the oldest bullring in the world.

After a good night’s sleep, everyone was ready to go next morning, for the real tour of Seville, including a visit to the cathedral. We stopped first at the Moorish palace which was previously a holiday home to Spain’s Kings and Queens. It boasted a gorgeous English inspired garden, amazingly with some palm trees and an intricate maze.

We then went on to have some free time in a small shopping area next to the cathedral before we went through the grand double doors and into the peaceful and majestically decorated interior with many gaudy icons. Lots of pictures were snapped and then we were heading up the tower. The views from the top made the climb worthwhile as the horizon stretched far out over Seville and its surroundings. There was lots of fun to be had but nonetheless we had to be soon on our way to Malaga for the final few days of our trip.

In Malaga we visited the Contemporary Arts Center, where we were shown some really quirky and interesting sculptures and pinturas (paintings), the Atarazanas market, where everyone enjoyed the snacks and the experience of seeing masses of fresh produce and finally, the Cathedral where we admired the lavish interior and the massive detailed sculptures.

On the food front, after all the snacks eaten at the market it was a miracle that anyone could eat lunch, however the variety of delicious tapas that were on offer seemed too good to resist and every single plate was empty at the end of it! Later in the afternoon we went to the Chocolat Con Churos restaurant, where huge plates of churos were piled high up on the tables and mugs of melted chocolate were put in front of us. Most people only managed 3 or 4 churos in total, however there was one person who, it is claimed, managed a grand total of 17!

Thanks must go to Miss Robinson for organising such an enjoyable trip and also to all the teachers who accompanied us; Mr Walker, Mr Duke, Mrs Brown and Sandra!

Esmée Charley (Year 9) Kingswood in Focus 73

Prague Exchange

Spanish Exchange On October 14th, 11 Kingswood pupils and 2 staff members made their way to Bristol Airport, for our flight to Spain. After a fun flight and a slow move through passport control, with a first attempt to speak Spanish, a few of us were still surprisingly perky for the hour. We then boarded a bus and made our way to our destination - Moralzarzal. As the bus pulled up to the school gates we all got the first glimpse of the family we would be staying with for our week in Spain.

We nervously got off the bus, and said ‘Hola’ to our families. The weekend with our families included a whole range of experiences, from visits to Toledo, to eating Paella. We met up again on Monday morning, all with our individual stories to tell. On the Monday, we all had a day trip to Madrid. This included plenty of sightseeing and retail therapy. The next day we went to see the home town of the Spanish author Cervantes.

Wednesday included a trip to a science museum and a large shopping centre, which was enjoyed by all. On the Thursday we went to a small town called Segovia, to visit the famous roman aqueduct. That night, the school had organised a trip to the theatre, to go and watch ‘El Crimen Perfecto’. Four of our students went with staff and they came back saying it was one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip.

“...all those who ate in school were all very grateful for the food we get at Kingswood in comparison!”

The next day we had a day in school, learning “Spanish Grammar” and “Technical Drawing” and our favourite lesson, “English”. This was followed by a school lunch.

And I think all those who ate in school were all very grateful for the food we get at Kingswood in comparison!

After lunch was a trip to the “Plaza de Toros” - the bull ring. We learned about what happens to the bulls, how the fighters dress, how much money they get, and we even got to see a real, crushed up bull’s ear. Lovely! Mr Walker did a great impression of a bull and we all ran around the ring with fake horns. Very entertaining!

Finally, we got back to the school, and said our goodbyes and exchanged numbers and e-mail addresses. I think even the coolest of us got a little emotional. Then the moment came, the bus had pulled up, and it was time to board. There was time for the very last goodbyes, then on we hopped and we were on our way home. Overall, it was a great trip, enjoyed by all, and definitely something to participate in, if you get the chance in the future.

Sophie McDermott & Thomas Lechmere (Year 10) 74 Kingswood in Focus

In the summer of 2011, we were fortunate enough to welcome 3 students from the English College in Prague to Kingswood. Adam, Sascha and Josef came to Kingswood primarily to learn more about cricket - a sport they play in Prague, but unfortunately do not have the opportunities to play it as much as we do in England. When they arrived at Kingswood, they had already visited the home of Somerset cricket at Taunton. As the week progressed they were supposed to take part in some matches, but due to the traditional English weather, most were rained off. The Czech students arrived after we had finished our AS Levels and were beginning our A2 courses. This must have been strange for them as, although they were the same age as us, they were in the equivalent of Year 11. Nevertheless the students really got involved in all the lessons they attended and were often more articulate in debates than we were!

The Czech students were treated to a tour around Bath given by a very enthusiastic Mr Duke. We zipped around the sights in order to maximise the time spent at the Pump Rooms, where we all enjoyed a magnificent High Tea. At the weekend, activities were done with the families.

We completed the return part of the exchange in October 2011. The English College in Prague, despite being based on an English private school, was very different to Kingswood. It consisted of a small building similar in size to the Summerhill Mansion, with an annexe over the road, which was actually a rented office block. They didn’t have the luxuries of separate music, art and DT buildings, nor any outdoor sports facilities. The school finished at around 4.00pm so there was plenty of time in the evenings for us to go and explore the old town of Prague with our partners, taking in the atmosphere of Wencleslas Square and admire the mechanical craftsmanship on display at the Clock Tower. We even saw an ice hockey derby between the local rival teams! We also visited Kutna Hora, an old silver mining town outside Prague, famous for its Bone Church and its cathedral.

It was really interesting to see the contrast in Prague between the old town and the Soviet tower blocks that stand in a sprawling mess on the outskirts of the city. The attitude of the people was also completely different to that of the British. People were a lot more relaxed and family values seemed more important to most people than they do in the UK. Meals were very social, and everyone enjoyed a glass of the local beer. Public transport actually worked, and there were no ticket barriers for any of the underground trains, trams or buses. There is a huge element of trust among the population, but it is worth buying a ticket to save you having to pay the huge fine if caught. Many tourists don’t realise that the trams are highly efficient and are therefore not allowed to stop at zebra crossings. Run-over Americans are a common problem.

The food was something that we really enjoyed - the local speciality was szechkova - braised pork or beef served with dumplings in a delicious white sauce.

We all had a fantastic time on the exchange and we hope that it continues for many years to come.

Sam Coates, Izzy Coles and Charles Price (Year 13)

German Exchange A select and enthusiastic group braved the icy cold of Germany at Christmas time. We set off, equipped with dictionaries, thick coats and a great determination to speak as much German as possible. The teachers were adamant on this last point, the Germans being renowned for their liking of airing their English proficiency.

The journey, on bus, plane, train and car was long and provided lots of opportunity for understanding German travel vocabulary.

Miss Brookes and I were thrilled that the families participating were all very hospitable and friendly, even if some of the partnerships were not made in Heaven. It was impressive that a few of our Kingswood pupils made a very positive effort to get on with their partners, even if their personalities and interests were quite dissimilar. Some of these students are even going back for more next year, such is their love for Germany and speaking German.

We enjoyed trips to Bremen and Osnabrück, particularly relishing the great atmosphere of the Christmas Market in Bremen. Miss Brookes enjoyed the hot “Feuerzangebole”, which provided a much appreciated warmth in the stomach on a cold day, and the pupils ate Lebkuchen Hearts and generally enjoyed the vibrancy of the Christmas Market. The technicalities of the Technical Museum were bewildering for some, but we all enjoyed the hands-on activities not to mention the interesting packed lunches provided by our hosts. Some of the participants wouldn’t care if they never saw German rye bread again in their lives!

“We enjoyed trips to Bremen & Osnabrück, particularly relishing the great atmosphere of the Christmas Market in Bremen.”

This trip was a pleasure to lead, accompanied by such kind individuals who wholeheartedly entered into the experience of the foreign language exchange. When the Germans were here, our students were excellent hosts, and in Münster, were fabulous guests. The same can be said of our German partners. Wunderbar!

Mrs Caroline Morris (Teacher of German)

French Exchange In the first week of the Easter holidays last year, a group of 17 Kingswood students travelled to the South West of France to take part in the annual French Exchange. We stayed in Toulouse with our exchange partners and their families for a week and we all thoroughly enjoyed the experience, although it was difficult trying to keep up with the fast-talking parents at times. We all agreed that it was definitely great practice for speaking and getting to know the language at its heart. It’s very different to try and speak French on the spot, rather than in a classroom. As the week progressed, it was amazing to realise how much we had all improved and by the time we were going home, we could all successfully have a conversation in French!

Throughout the week, we visited many different places in Toulouse and its surrounding cities, which was a fun learning experience for the whole group, including the teachers! We endured a very detailed and technical speech about The Viaduct, the biggest bridge in Europe. It proved challenging to listen to the French for such a long period of time, but overall the experience was very interesting! The long- awaited day came for us to visit the “Cité de l’Espace” which was a ‘hands-on’ museum about space. In true French fashion we had a memorable journey, walking a couple of miles to the museum instead of taking the bus, due to a transport strike that was taking place in the city! We also enjoyed an extensive tour of Toulouse, which included the beautiful and ancient town hall, or “L’Hôtel de Ville”, a morning spent in lessons followed by a fancy dress competition at the Lycée and a visit to the Roquefort Cheese Museum. We also went shopping in the city of Albi, as well as visiting the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum of Art, which even inspired some students to study him in their art projects on their return!

Overall, the trip was a great success and it was an unforgettable experience getting to know a different city, language and culture.

Harriet Leventhal (Year 11) Kingswood in Focus 75

Malawi

Kingswood Students Return to Malawi After two years of willing the time to pass with many fundraising events along the way, the time finally came for the 5th Kingswood trip to Malawi.

On the 8th July, twenty students and four staff, Mr and Mrs Opie, Mrs Jenner and Mr Redman, set off on one of the most famous adventures at Kingswood School.

We were also lucky enough to spend an afternoon visiting two of the foster homes that Open Arms run. The children were excited to have so many visitors and were very proud to show us their bedrooms. The foster homes are for children older than five who, for one reason or another, cannot go back to their communities. The children live in a family environment and go to local schools. They are delightful and we had a memorable hour playing football in the garden of Rosemary’s House. It was really special to meet boys like Aubrey who we had heard so much about from Mr Opie.

Whilst in Blantyre we worked at a school called Makokesi School.

The school was set up by Mr Makokesi after several children had been killed walking down the main road to the Government School.

Sadly Mr Makokesi has passed away but we spent time with Mrs Makokesi who was thrilled that we had raised money to help to develop the school by funding a second classroom block. Kingswood has been supporting this school since 2008 including paying the Headmaster’s salary. He has done an amazing job training up the volunteer teachers as well as doing INSET for all the schools in the area that Open Arms work with. With “performance related pay” in mind we bought him a bicycle – he was absolutely delighted and it was as if we had given him a top of the range Mercedes!

Our first week was spent in Blantyre where we spent time at Open Arms Infant Home which is run by Neville Bevis. The Home is for infants from a few days old up to the age of two. Each baby has three ladies who look after them 24/7. The children were amazing - always smiling and giggling and keen to hold your hand or climb onto your lap as soon as you sat down. I don’t think I heard any of them crying at any stage during the trip. The aim of the Home is to return the children to their extended families. Whilst we were there, we were lucky enough to watch the leaving ceremony of a little autistic girl who was going to live with her grandmother in the North of Malawi. It was very emotional listening to the ladies and children singing farewell songs such as…

‘We say goodbye, but not for ever’. Every little detail is thought about, including sending children back to their relatives with their favourite toy and clothes from the Infant Home to make the transition as smooth as possible. Returnees are then visited on a regular basis to ensure they have settled back into village life. Sometimes it is necessary to bring them back to the Home if they are unwell and need medical attention.

Harrogate House is situated on the same site as Open Arms and this is where the children between the ages of 2 and 5, who have no relatives to go to, live and receive nursery education. It was good to see that the Lion King mural, which had been painted by Kingswood students in 2004, was still looking very colourful, brightening up the wall.

When we arrived at the school, we were met by the children even though we were there in their school holiday. They sang to greet us and put on various acts including a press conference in which a very cheeky Malawian boy played the part of Mr Opie!

After this amazing welcome we got straight to work, plastering the two newly built classrooms. Due to the number of children at the school they had been forced to use these unfinished rooms with bare brick and they were very dark and dingy. We were very enthusiastic

but, with no previous experience, more plaster ended up on the floor than the walls. However, we soon got the hang of it and my plastering skills are now excellent.

Members of the group alternated between working and playing with the adorable children.

They loved learning our games including the Hokey Kokey! They also taught us some of their complicated clapping and dancing games.

84 Kingswood in Focus 76

along the same lines as Open Arms in Blantyre although at the moment it only caters for babies up to the age of two.

The group split into two teams; the artier students were based at the Home to paint a mural of Winnie The Pooh, whilst the other group went to Victory School to paint everything - both inside and outside the building! The children at Victory School were lovely; I had many little helpers. It took us three days to paint the whole school – by the end we really felt we had left our mark. We also presented the proprietor of the Victory School with a CharChar Trust Chest which we had paid for with money raised at the book sale in the Kingswood Library. This is an excellent reading scheme written by Malawians for Malawians.

During our time at the school we played the local netball and football team. After an exciting match we were successful and we won 29-19!

According to Mrs Jenner this was the first win in three trips. The boys were also happy with a 1-1 draw.

Our time at Mangochi ended with a craft fair which saw all the local craftsmen come to us. A lot of people had fun trading their things for carved pieces. We also had the pleasure of watching some traditional dancing which involved a local tribe dancing to a fast drum beat. It was interesting to experience a different part of Malawian culture. Saying goodbye to Open Arms 2 the next day was quite emotional - all the matrons sang and waved us onto the bus. I didn’t want to leave!

Nkhotakota was our final destination. It was beautiful and again the accommodation was right on the beach. During our time here we worked at Chankasi School which Kingswood has been helping to support since 2008. We did a variety of tasks including digging a hole for a hand washing station, plastering, whitewashing and, to add the final touches, we stencilled numbers, months and days of the week on the wall.

The children were very pleased to see us and ran to meet us every morning. They all have so little and yet were so cheerful, which really gave us something to think about. We also spent some time talking to the teachers who were all so grateful for us being there, it was very special.

“The children were amazing - always smiling and giggling and keen to hold your hand or climb onto your lap as soon as you sat down.”

On our final day at Makokesi School we had the honour of sharing a traditional lunch with the staff and children. The lunch included traditional Malawian nsima. It was a real privilege and I thought it was nice, although it was hard to eat as we had to use our hands!

From Blantyre we drove to Mount Mulanje and, as we got near, the mountain loomed large. This was an experience; we really had to come together as a team to get everyone to the top, but when we arrived it really was one of the best feelings. On the way up we witnessed a porter’s race in which local men and women raced to the top. The winners took just over two hours to go up and then back down - it took us six hours just to walk up!

We spent our last day at the school, where we played our last netball and football matches. The pitch was very different! The netball posts were about twice the normal height, a long piece of wood with a narrow metal hoop that the ball only just fitted through. The football pitch was a dusty piece of land which, half way through the match, saw a herd of cows casually walk across. The netball match was again successful but the boys lost. We were then surrounded by children who all wanted to say goodbye. It was a very special way to end the trip being surrounded by the very reason we were there.

The words from Neville before we went to bed that last night, thanking us for the work we had done, really moved everyone. The group felt like a family at the end and we were all so sad to be going home. The things we had experienced and the people we had met - we just didn’t want to leave them behind. I certainly experienced two of the best weeks of my life; I will never forget Neville who gives his life for the children at Open Arms. I’m also so grateful to all the staff who were incredible throughout the trip. On behalf of the others, thank you for giving us the opportunity to be part of this wonderful adventure!

Emily Crowe (Year 12)

We were also lucky enough to spend 2 days in Mvuu game park situated on the banks of the Shire River.

We had boat safaris and game drives, getting us close to many different species of animal, including hippo, impala, elephant, crocodile and a number of different species of birds including fish eagles and bee-eaters.

Everyone had a great time enjoying a well-earned rest, but after two days relaxing, we were all excited when we moved on for the next work project.

The second week we travelled to Open Arms 2 at Mangochi, where we were greeted by the ladies who were all singing and dancing – words cannot describe how amazing it was! The babies here were adorable, most of them being very young. The home is run Kingswood in Focus 77

Eco-Schools

Students Join Global Classroom At the start of the Summer Term a group of Year 11 students decided to take part in “The Young Master’s Program on Sustainable Development” which is offered by the Lund University in Sweden.

Its aim is “to empower young people to build a smarter, more sustainable world through new tools and networks.” Each week there is a certain task in which students from around the world converse to consider environmental problems, such as over-population and climate change. We have been really inspired by the conversations we have had, using an integrated translation program, with students from many countries including Turkey, China and Russia. We have been very impressed learning from them about measures being taken in their countries to reduce environmental impact.

Supporting Sustainability in Schools On the 31st September 2011, Mrs Patterson, Mr Wilkinson and five Year 11 students (Becky Bates, Sarina Ganapathy, Angharad Hopkinson, Jess Jeffery and Luke Stockley) set off for Hastings.

They went to participate in the annual World AIMS (Action In Methodist Schools) students’ weekend, based on sustainability. As part of this event, they ran a workshop on the website www.sustainableschoollinks.com created

by Kingswood students. The website is designed to encourage inter-school relations with the view to become more sustainable.

On Sunday morning the students gave their presentation to around 40 students, which included holding a World Café session with them. In World Café everyone shares ideas with questions to guide their discussion. Everything went well, with everyone joining in and contributing. Some impressive stories were told by different schools. For example, Shebbear College is converting waste chip fat from local businesses into biodiesel to be used in their mini buses.

“We hope these presentations helped to push the idea of sustainability in schools forward...”

Back at school on the following Tuesday, the same students presented their website to the Chairmen of Governors from other Methodist schools involved with World AIMS. The presentation was similar but with different questions asked of the audience. One example was, ‘How do you think governors can better engage with students over sustainability?’ The presentation once again went well with great feedback from participants. Especially impressive was Culford School’s plans to install a biomass generator run off waste from Newmarket Race Course to provide energy for their school. Dr John Barrett, our own governor, also described an inspiring story of a ‘green graffiti wall’ that was made in a school in Singapore where he was headmaster.

“The diploma is based around e-learning on an interactive platform...”

In addition, students from other schools in the local area are contributing, so we are using Skype to incorporate their views in our conversations. This has helped us to increase the diversity of opinion within the group. The diploma is based around e-learning on an interactive platform which mixes global conferences, course resources and off-line activities. Our group has particularly enjoyed interacting and collaborating in a global classroom with peer constructive criticism which is ultimately geared towards making friends across the globe!

Annabel Moss, Jess Jeffery, Luke Stockley, & Sarina Ganapathy (Year 11) 78 Kingswood in Focus

We hope that these presentations helped to push the idea of sustainability in schools forward and create new partnerships within our Methodist community that will flourish in the coming years.

Becky Bates and Angharad Hopkinson (Year 11)

Maths in the Community

The Bath Maths Walk Given Kingswood’s very fortunate geographical position in our World Heritage City, the Mathematics Department decided to launch a “Mathemagical Journey” around Bath.

The idea was to get our students, and those from other schools, out and about learning about maths in the world around us! So, in June 2011, inspired by the contributions of a group of our own Year 10 students, Mr Musto organised a twilight session with local members of the Institute of Mathematics and local maths teachers, to discuss the creation of what has been dubbed The Bath Maths Walk. We were very fortunate that experienced Trailblazer “Dr Maths”, aka Steve Humble, came to join us in Bath and support us in developing this project around our city.

Steve Humble in Bath

This initiative has been a great way to bring together our students and staff to create something for the wider community here in Bath. It was sponsored by Kingswood School, The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) and also local members of the Association for Teachers and Learners in Mathematics (ATM). Thanks must also go to our own students, “Dr Maths” and all local members of the IMA and ATM who helped create this wonderful educational tour around our beautiful city.

Mr Garrod Musto (Head of Mathematics) Alec Shute et al

“The idea behind a maths trail is to have a walking route around your local area which explores mathematical aspects of sites in the city.”

Don Foster & Garrod Musto

Several members of staff and students then spent time in the ensuing weeks refining the original ideas and creating the final version which is available at the Tourist Information Office and at the Roman Baths Museum Shop.

The idea behind a maths trail is to have a walking route around your local area which explores mathematical aspects of sites in the city.

These could vary, for example, from the mathematical shapes in a burglar alarm to the modelling of the wave patterns behind a duck on the river.

The route is designed to start and finish at Bath Abbey, and it takes a gentle stroll around the beautiful sights of Bath. It is designed to test a number of mathematical skills and concepts along the way, and there is a The Bath Maths Walk Guide and worksheet booklet to accompany it. It was launched at Green Park Station as a part of the “Bath Taps into Science Roadshow” (Maths is the language of Science, after all!), where local MP Don Foster lent his support to the initiative.

Kingswood in Focus 79

Out and About

Year 7 Science Trip Trip to Bristol Zoo as part of their work on Classification

Year 8 Science Trip Trip around Chilton Trinity Sewage works, followed by freshwater invertebrate sampling in a local stream

80 Kingswood in Focus

What’s Your Favourite Colour?

A report on the Sackett Society Trip to Oxford University Museums.

Friday 29th June 2012 The Sackett Society commemorates Alfred Barrett Sackett, Headmaster of Kingswood School, 1928-1959. Sackett was the son of a Methodist minister and an Old Kingswoodian himself. The members of the Sackett Society are drawn from Years 7 to 9 and meet weekly to investigate topics that fall outside the standard school curriculum. When seeking a name for the society we chose to commemorate Sackett because, during his headship, he is credited with liberalising Kingswood’s regime and taking a particular interest in the welfare and intellectual development of each of his pupils.

On this year’s Sackett Society trip we travelled to Oxford to discover how colour is used in nature and by people to make a statement, or for stealth.

Towards the end of the Summer term, 27 pupils were accompanied by Dr Fletcher and Mrs Court to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum, housed together in an historic building near Oxford city centre. We discovered that we can use colour to be conspicuous or to conceal.

“...we travelled to Oxford to discover how colour is used in nature and by people to make a statement, or for stealth.”

Handling animal specimens in the Museum of Natural History

In the Museum of Natural History, we studied and handled natural samples (some living, creeping and hissing) that use bright colours to warn predators or for display, and others that use coloured patterns for camouflage.

We learnt that different camouflage strategies involve colours that blend into the animal’s surroundings, as used by the chameleon, or disruptive patterns that break up the animal’s outline, as exemplified by the leopard. In the Pitt Rivers Museum we considered how people from various cultures throughout human history have used colour to indicate status or for ceremony, and learnt how pigments may be made from minerals such as lapis lazuli.

In between these sessions, at lunchtime, we settled amongst the roots of the Ghost Forrest exhibition to munch our packed lunches (containing “no synthetic colourings”). As can be seen in the photographs, we have yet to perfect the use of colour for concealment!

Dr Matthew Fletcher (Gifted and Talented Tutor) Lunchtime in the Ghost Forrest

Looking for examples of colour use in the Museum of Natural History Inspecting minerals used as pigments in the Pitt Rivers Museum

Kingswood in Focus 81

U6 Biology Field Trip Sixth formers surveying the scene on Saunton Sands (JRO) The ice cream van is over there, but you are only going when you have finished! (NMS)

A2 Biologists investigating energy transfer and niche availability in a freshwater ecosystem (JRO)

Students studying succession in the sand dunes (JRO)

The synchronised divers are down there somewhere and did not make London 2012 (NMS)

If it gets foggy follow the tape to get home! (NMS)

Mrs Jenny Opie (Head of Biology) - JRO, Dr Nick Sheffrin (Head of Science) - NMS

Science Week This year the theme was “Movement�. One of the highlights of the week was a visit from Banwell Falconry Centre who entertained 70 Westwood students on the Ferens Lawn before the main lecture attended by 45 sixth form students.

Dr Nick Sheffrin (Head of Science)

82 Kingswood in Focus

Outdoor Pursuits

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme at Kingswood continues to go from strength to strength.

2011-12 saw a record 62 students starting to work towards their Bronze awards, with more than 25 having already completed this level, and it looks like there will be over 80 Year 10 students taking up the challenge in 2012-13. Five students (Rosie Dixon, Kim Chivers, Caitlin Owens, Sam Morris and Matt Jeffery) have completed their Silver awards, and are now working towards Gold: in total there are 22 students currently working towards their Gold awards.

GOING FOR GOLD!

their qualifying expedition. The groups then delivered some superb presentations, reflecting on their experiences and the skills they had learnt, to complete this section of the award.

The first week of the summer holidays brought the annual trip to the Lake District. In spite of some miserable weather in the South West, the groups managed to miss nearly all the rain which was forecast, instead having some fantastic days of hillwalking. Both qualifying groups successfully completed the challenge.

Seven Kingswood students will receive their Gold awards this year at the prestigious St James’ Palace presentations. Tom Ireland, Nick Grant, Chris Barnard, Katherine Begley, Charles Price, Peter Evans and Emma Davey have all completed this highly regarded award, which is a fantastic achievement.

VOLUNTEERING:

EXPEDITIONS:

They have; run or assisted with projects through Eco-schools; helped run the Fairtrade Tuckshop; helped with local Brownies; walked neighbours’ dogs; worked in charity shops; picked up litter around school. And they have been involved with local charities; visited care homes for the young and the elderly; worked to improve animal welfare and helped coach youth sports teams, including netball, swimming, cricket and tennis.

Kingswood’s D of E students often head for the hills. October 2012 saw two qualifying and two training groups head off to Snowdonia for their Gold expedition. The weather was mixed, but both qualifying groups battled through to pass this section, whilst the training groups learnt a lot about navigation in tricky conditions. The Bronze groups completed a local training weekend in March, with staff-led walks, camping practice and a checkpoint challenge. After further classroom sessions, in June, over 60 students with 10 staff braved some serious downpours, elusive paths and extra-slippery mud in The Forest of Dean in order to complete

One of the key elements of the D of E programme is the Volunteering section, which ties in closely with the Kingswood ethos. Over the past two years, Kingswood’s D of E students have given over 10,500 hours of service to others.

Miss Mary Telford (Teacher i/c The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme) Kingswood in Focus 83

Kingswood Indoor Climbing Team This year, for the first time, we entered the ‘South West Schools Bouldering League’.

Our small but select group consisted of Year 11 students: Alistair Blackburn, Will Davies and Josh Fry. Having spent time training on Kingswood’s climbing wall and bouldering wall, we boldly (boulderly?) set out to compete with teams from 15 other schools at ‘The Climbing Academy’ in Bristol. There were three rounds of competition on separate evenings, each involving competitors attempting 15 routes.

The first few routes tended to be reasonably straightforward, but they then became increasingly overhanging or had fewer and smaller holds until by about problem number 12 they seemed pretty much impossible, for us anyway.

“We managed a creditable 7th place overall...”

Our Year 11s were in the senior pupils age range so were up against some Year 13 rock athletes from Bristol Grammar School who must have been climbing since they were toddlers. We managed a creditable 7th place overall and as our team members were some of the youngest in their age group, this was a pleasing result.

Our school climbing activity continues to be popular and next year it would be nice to enter more teams into the competition.

With the help of a revamped climbing wall we will be hoping to raise the standard of Kingswood climbing in the future.

Mr Burton (Head of Physics)

Caving: Nov 2011 Another enjoyable trip down Goatchurch Cavern in the Mendips for a group of ten Kingswood pupils.

Mr John Davies (Head of Outdoor Pursuits)

84 Kingswood in Focus

Year 9 Boarders Trip to the Forest of Dean

The annual boarders camping and outdoor activity trip to the Forest of Dean took place once again in September.

Despite having to dodge heavy rainstorms, the group enjoyed Kayaking, Canoeing, Caving and Abseiling amongst the splendid scenery of the Wye Valley. A BBQ and an excellent campfire kept everyone warm in the evening while ghoulish stories were shared!

Mr John Davies (Head of Outdoor Pursuits)

Kingswood in Focus 85

Ten Tors Training 2012 Ten Tors training, in advance of the expedition in May, began with two trips to the Mendips in February.

Further walks, locally and in the Black Mountains, followed before the teams travelled to Dartmoor for the first time during the Easter Holiday. A three day trip with camping at Huccaby Farm gave the Year 10 and Year 13 pupils a good introduction to the South Moor. The second trip to the North Moor of Dartmoor was curtailed due to extremely poor weather but by then the foundations for a successful expedition had been laid.

Mr John Davies (Head of Outdoor Pursuits)

Ten Tors Expedition 2012

“Ten Tors has been a real experience...”

The weekend of 12th – 13th May saw some hugely impressive efforts by Kingswood’s two Ten Tors Teams.

The 35 Mile team (Year 10) completed their route at 11:20am on Sunday morning and the 55 Mile team (Year 13) finished with two hours to spare at 3:00pm.

Having suffered some terrible weather in training, the teams were blessed with glorious weather for the expedition itself. However, ground conditions were very difficult and the heat posed its own problems with dehydration a real threat.

Bronze Medals and a team certificate were awarded to the 35 mile team; Team Captain - Rhys Williams, Merryn Jones, George Logut, Owen Waters, Gareth Hollywell and Jamie Turek.

Gold Medals and a team certificate were awarded to the 55 mile team; Team Captain Tim Woodhead, Tom Curnow, Harry Chivers, Harry Daniels, Finley Gilchrist and Robbie Hirst.

Mr John Davies (Head of Outdoor Pursuits)

86 Kingswood in Focus

Ten Tors Expedition 2012 At the start of Ten Tors training we learnt about what it involved, the kit we’d need, some essential map reading and basic first aid skills.

A few weeks later those of us who chose to take part set off on our first 1-day training expedition to the Mendips. For many of us, this was our first real taste of hiking and we all found carrying a full backpack for the first time quite a challenge. However we soon got used to it and thankfully the teachers were on hand to point us in the right direction when we made a navigational error. In the following weeks we did 4 more training expeditions including another trip to the Mendips, a visit to the Black Mountains, a local walk, and a trip to Dartmoor. The weather ranged from scorching sun in the Black Mountains (which resulted in more than a few burnt necks) to snow on the ground during the Mendips walk. Our first experience of overnight camping was on the Easter trip to Dartmoor where we learnt how to put up tents and cook. This was achieved despite our first encounter with horizontal hail. Eight members were selected for the final 2-day training expedition to Dartmoor and the trip started well. However, the infamous Dartmoor fog soon closed in and our group, lacking the guidance of the teachers for the first time, became hopelessly lost, but after some good teamwork and map reading skills we made our way back to the campsite. Unfortunately the trip was cut short due to terrible weather.

For the “real thing” each team had to consist of only 6 pupils and George Logut, Gareth Hollywell, Jamie Turek, Owen Waters, Merryn Jones and I were chosen. We travelled to Dartmoor on Thursday to be greeted by pre-erected tents and the next day we had to go through a general briefing process as well as a full kit check before we set off on Saturday. We were standing at the start line by 7am, alongside a horde of fellow walkers and the start was signalled by the firing of a cannon. This resulted in a medieval battle scene with everybody running down the hill yelling wildly. We made extremely good ground on the first day thanks to some fantastic weather.

After 12 hours of hard walking we had to stop and camp at Tor 8, as we were allowed to go no further during the first day. After an early night we woke up at 4 o’clock (some of us needed a bit of a nudge) and had set off by 6am.

After some good navigation and hard walking we finished by 11:19am that morning, nearly 6 hours before the cut off time and enjoyed a well earned rest as we waited for the sixth form team to arrive. Ten Tors has been a real experience and I expect I shall do it again in the sixth form. I would thoroughly recommend it to anybody who enjoys a challenge however, BE WARNED, it is not to be undertaken lightly!

35 mile team

55 mile team

Rhys Williams (Year 10 Team Leader, 35 Mile Route)

“...the start was signalled by the firing of a cannon, resulting in a medieval battle scene with everybody running down the hill yelling wildly...”

Kingswood in Focus 87

School Prefects 2011 / 2012 The PR

Head Boy

Chester Lewis

Head Girl

Hannah Stockley

Deputy Head Boy

Charles Price

Deputy Head Girl

Amy Worsfold

Heads of House

Sarah Hytner-Marriott (Head of Fonthill); Max Gauntlett (Head of Hall); James Johnston (Head of Middle); Emma Gordon (Head of School); Joanna Hailey (Head of Summerhill); Sam Harman (Head of Upper)

Additional Members of the PR

Jessica Bishay (School); Hannah Bottle (School); Peter Evans (Deputy Head of Middle); Charlotte Pickering (Summerhill); Harry Rouse (Middle)

Senior Prefects

Niamh Courtaux (Deputy Head of Fonthill); Michael Kenny (Deputy Head of Hall); Olivia Dellow (Deputy Head of School); Katy Yates (Deputy Head of Summerhill); Harry Chivers (Deputy Head of Upper) Lucy Bird; Myfanwy Hollywell; Gregory Blackburn; Praful Limbu; Charles Caddick; Oliver Meyer; Laura Clarke; Imogen Morris; Isabella Coles; Angus Plumbly; Thomas Curnow; Eleanor Richardson; Harry Daniels; Jack Rowlands; Katie Davies; Emma Scolding; Finley Gilchrist; Emily Souter; Amy Greene; Rachel Wong; Alex Hardman; Timothy Woodhead; Elizabeth Hatherell

Kingswood School Governing Body 2011 / 2012 Chairman

Wing Cdr C S Burns (RAF retd)

Vice-Chairman, Chairman PEC

Mrs K M Pillinger

Vice-Chairman, Chairman FRC

Mr J G Forbes

Secretary

Mr J R Monahan

Governing Body

Mr P Baines; The Revd Dr J Barrett; Mr M Bishay; The Revd R J Borgars; Mrs S M Cook; Mr A G Douglas; Mr A G Gibbs; Dr M C Hayden; The Revd A W Jones; Mrs B R Pendle; Mr DJB Quine; Major General A J Raper CBE (retd); Mr G Russell; Mr R Sandry; Mrs G Smith; Mr T Westbrook; The Revd Canon P Whitworth; His Honour Judge Peter Wright.

88 Kingswood in Focus

Kingswood School Teaching Staff 2011 / 2012 APPOINTED

APPOINTED Mr S A Morris

Headmaster

01/09/2008

Mr G D Opie

Deputy Head; Games; PE; English

01/09/1990

Mrs S C Dawson

Deputy Head Academic; English

01/09/2004

Rev M L Wilkinson

Chaplain; Deputy Head Pastoral; RE

01/09/1992

Mr C B Woodgate

Head of Sixth Form; History; Politics

01/09/2001

Mr M Sealy

French; Examinations Officer

01/09/1970

Mr A E Haines

Geography

01/09/1971

Mr J R Garforth

Chemistry; Head of Careers

01/09/1973

Miss A T Wright

Games; PE; English; Psychology; Senior Housemistress of Fonthill

01/09/1983

Mrs D J Jenner

Head of Geography

01/09/1985

Miss U J Paver

Head of Girls’ Games; PE

01/09/1990

Mrs J Reeman

Maths, Senior Housemistress School House

Mr S J Burgon

Mrs A M Knights

Maths; Resident Assistant Housemistress Summerhill House

01/09/2004

Ms N McNee

Librarian

28/08/2005

Mrs K L Nash

Drama

01/09/2005

Mr C J Redman

Maths; Resident Assistant Housemaster Middle House

01/09/2005

Mrs C M Sergeant

Head of ICT (Academic)

01/09/2005

Dr M D Fletcher

Chemistry

01/09/2006

Mrs M J Hutchison

German and RE

01/09/2006

Mrs A K Matthews

Geography

23/04/2007

Mrs M L Brennan

Maths

01/09/2007

Mrs A Y Burt

Head of Chemistry

01/09/2007

Mr S J Forrester

Head of ESL

01/09/2007

01/09/1990

Mrs S C Fountain

Humanities

01/09/2007

Maths; Head of Dixon

01/09/1991

Mrs V Gibson

History

01/09/2007

Mrs J R Opie

Head of Biology

01/09/1992

Mr D P Hughes

Head of English

01/09/2007

Miss N J Beale

French; German

01/09/1993

Mr I J Prior

RE

01/09/2007

Dr N M H Sheffrin

Head of Science

01/09/1993

Mrs K Appleyard-Pallot

Art; Resident Assistant Housemistress School House

01/09/2007

Mrs J Cook

Head of Learning Support

22/11/1993

Mr J P Hills

Head of Economics / Business

11/04/2008

Mr J W Davies

History; Senior Housemaster Upper House; Head of Outdoor Pursuits

01/09/1994

Mrs S Dakin

Head of Classics

01/09/2008

Mr G J Musto

Head of Maths; Public Benefit Coordinator

01/09/1994

Mrs C E Edwards

Economics / Business; Psychology

01/09/2008

Mrs J Hallett

Learning Support

01/09/2008

Mrs L J Court

Head of RE and Critical Thinking

01/09/1995

Mrs A Hirst

Learning Support

01/07/1997

Miss M E Telford

Second in English Department; i/c Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme

01/09/2008

Mr P J Hollywell

Geography, Games, Senior Housemaster Westwood

01/09/1998

Mrs C D Morris

French; German

10/11/2008

Mr T P R Reeman

Director of Sports

01/09/1998

Mr J B Brown

Head of Boys’ Games; PE

01/09/2009

Mr S R Snowden

Director of ICT

01/09/1998

Mr P Clarke

Physics; Editor of School Magazine

01/09/2009

Mr R E Burton

Head of Physics

06/09/1999

Miss K M Donovan

Geography

01/09/2009

Mr R Mainwaring

Director of Music

01/09/2000

Mr D Walker

Head of Spanish

01/09/2009

Mrs M K Patterson

Biology; ESD Coordinator

04/09/2000

Mrs A O Bassett

Music

01/09/2010

Mrs M L Brown

Physics; Timetabler; Senior Housemistress Summerhill House

01/09/2001

Mr B N Brown

Head of Design Technology

01/09/2010

Mr J C H Chua

Maths

01/09/2010

Mrs S Cunliffe

English

01/09/2001

Mr G D Edgell

ICT

01/09/2010

Mr D T Harding

Head of Theatre Studies; Resident Assistant Housemaster Westwood; Activities

01/09/2002

Mr H G M Mackridge

History

01/09/2010

Miss N Robinson

French and Spanish

01/09/2010

Mr J Matthews

Games, PE; Senior Housemaster Middle House

01/09/2002

Mrs L J Lilley

Geography

01/11/2010

Mrs L J Bradbury

Art

01/09/2003

Miss S Brookes

Head of French

01/01/2011

Mr R J Duke

Head of Languages

01/09/2003

Mr S Brown

Head of Art

01/01/2011

Mr P P G MacDonald

Head of History and Politics

01/09/2003

Mr E C Peerless

Physics

01/09/2011

Mrs J L Mainwaring

English, Housemistress Westwood

01/09/2003

Mr N D Buttigieg

Chemistry

01/09/2011

Miss M Newman

Games

12/01/2004

Miss L Fergusson

Biology

01/09/2011

Mrs S J Marshall

Head of PSHCE; RE

31/07/2004

Mrs S Chilver Vaughan

Latin; Mathematics

01/09/2011

Mrs K Fox

Art

31/08/2004

Miss M O Sullieman

English

01/09/2011

Kingswood in Focus 89

www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk