View from the Abbey | Friday 10 February 2023

VIEW FROM THE ABBEY

Friday 10 February 2023

Despite this term being one of the shortest of the year, as always Milton Abbey has been able to pack it full of wonderful learning opportunities and social activities. Over the past few weeks, highlights have included getting into the groove at silent discos and familiarising ourselves with Scottish traditions while celebrating Burns Night.

Student Pilots and staff did a terrific job in London supporting the Boathouse Gym Fundraising drinks party with parents, where we were also able to meet some extraordinary Old Miltonians.

After a bit of snow, and a great heaping of rain, the pupils, resilient as always, have been getting stuck into sports in the afternoons; although perhaps a bit too much mud has given us the opportunity to slide around and get covered. I am not sure how the housekeeping team felt about that!

Overall, this half of term, while often the coldest of seasons, has been filled with delight. I’m sure the Fifth Form and Middle Sixth will be preparing hard for their mock exams coming up after half term and wish them well.

Marina P-J | Head Girl

Wagamama kitchen experience brings learning to life

Lower Sixth Hospitality students visited Wagamama in Dorchester as part of their Asian Food module, after practical classroom lessons cooking Japanese food.

It was an exciting opportunity to build knowledge of how commercial kitchens operate, while also considering the business management factors of running a large restaurant chain.

The students were welcomed by Head Chef Joey, who was very generous with his time and really helped them understand the workings of the restaurant chain: explaining their ordering systems, how they create and serve dishes from a large kitchen, and the career progression available for a chef within the company.

After a tour of the kitchen, students were excited to work alongside Joey and his senior sous chef to create their own dishes. Recipes made included chicken raisukaree, teriyaki beef donburi, and chicken and beef ramen. It was an amazing experience for all.

Catch up on our exam-focused webinars

We’ve held two more parent events in the first half of this term, themed around helping teenagers prepare for exams, and both hosted by Laura Kleiser, Head of Learning Development and Lead SENDCo

The first lifted the lid on exam access arrangements. If you are aware that your child receives exam access arrangements or if they have a learning difference that may benefit from additional support, this webinar recording will explore the broad range of access arrangements that are available.

The second session focused on helping teenagers to revise: what’s the right balance of revision versus social time, what environment do they learn and remember best in, can you revise too early or too much? With mock exams after half term, it’s a great time to watch this recording.

Third Form develop leadership skills and confidence

One of the more unusual elements of our Third Form curriculum are timetabled Leadership Skills lessons, which bring theoretical elements of leadership found in our BTEC Sports courses combined with more general team-working techniques and challenges

Sitting alongside compulsory year-round subjects such as English, Maths and Science, and complementing students’ choices of carousel subjects (allowing them to sample courses they may study for the GCSE and BTEC years), the Leadership lessons build important transferable skills in working together, problemsolving and creative thinking.

This year’s Third Form has really relished the lessons, enjoying time outside, making friends across the year group and growing confidence in their abilities as individuals and a cohort.

Artists inspired by London visits

Art and Photography students from across the school have made the most of two separate trips to London, taking in elements that are relevant for their GCSE and A-Level studies.

Fourth and Fifth Form pupils were inspired by a trip to the V&A Museum to observe the use of fabrics in clothing design and by the wide range of exhibits at the Tate Modern. A highlight was the Magdalena Abakanowicz special exhibition, showcasing the Polish artist’s emotive and unusual technique of fibre sculpting.

During their trip, Sixth Form students explored concepts and exhibits that are relevant to their personal projects, including the eclectic collection on display at The Whitechapel Gallery and the urban art scene on the streets of East London, where this picture was taken on Brick Lane.

English students meet Poet Laureate

A Level English students joined other local schools at a poetry reading and Q&A session with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. He presented in a way that challenged and extended their thinking about language and the thematic concerns of poetry, whilst adding humour and wry political comment into the mix.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and a pleasure to see our students so excited by poetry and asking many insightful questions to the Laureate.

Evening seminars provide extra depth of learning

Our series of relaxed evening seminars in the Sixth Form Centre have provided a popular opportunity for students to learn more from the school’s subject experts and external visitors, whether they’re studying related subjects or exploring a new area of interest.

‘Can we talk about art?’ was the question posed by Head of Art, Mrs Burton, in her Head’s Seminar - the answer an emphatic ‘yes’. The talk inspired discussion of the place and worth of art in an AI age, with Justin Y arguing for the vital place of error in the creative process and asserting that only human-generated pieces could be considered art and Chloe T defining art as inextricably linked with emotion.

Mr Burke, Director of Music, held a fantastic Head’s Seminar, which included anecdotes from his career with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and playing ‘Mog the cat’ on the Sainsbury’s Christmas ad, to wider discussions about the state of the music industry and the relationship between Stalin and Shostakovich. There were great questions too, from an appreciative audience drawn from every year group.

Guest speaker Joel Tatton-Bennett also gave a fascinating talk about wellbeing in sport. Joel is currently working with professional football clubs in Mexico and previously supported players through the Football Foundation in the UK.

He spoke as part of our weekly ‘Sport: Stories, Science & Psychology’ co-curricular session. It was great for some of our young athletes to hear about the importance of personal wellbeing and the influence it can have on performance. He explored strategies that can help us flourish, with a particular interest from the students on the importance of sleep.

Digital Leaders praised for Safer Internet Day video

Our Digital Leaders scheme, launched last term, gives student volunteers training from national charity Childnet, so that they can support their peers in making safer decisions online and help educate them around potential risks.

As part of Safer Internet Day this week, the student ambassadors worked on a series of tips that were shared with pupils in-school and with our wider community on social media.

The culmination was an exceptional video they planned, filmed and edited. After it was shown in Assembly, the film received praise online from the UK Internet Safety Centre and Childnet, who shared the video and commented: “Wow! What an educational and inspiring video. Well done.” You can watch it by clicking the thumbnail image.

White Stuff founder shares his business journey

During a fascinating and candid evening, White Stuff co-founder and owner George Treves shared his experience of growing the high-street leisurewear brand and was very entertaining in discussing some of his memorable experiences along the way.

Mr Treves formed the business with his friend Sean Thomas in 1985, initially to provide resortbranded apres-ski wear to young people visiting and working in the Alps. He talked about key milestones over his 38 years in business: from an initial investment of £200 to buy and print on generic T Shirts - which they sold out of in a weekend - and expanding to five ski resorts the next year, to forming a high-street chain of over 120 shops and a thriving online business that kept the company afloat during COVID-19 lockdowns.

He revealed that the company had originally been called ‘The Boys from the White Stuff’, a reference to their time on the slopes and a popular TV show of the 80s, but that this was shortened to White Stuff as they expanded their range away from skiing. There was humour and honesty as Mr Treves admitted that they hadn’t initially planned their business launch and didn’t expect it to grow as quickly as it did. However, while encouraging our students that the most important thing was to “Have a good idea and actually do it!”, he now would advise them, as he does other start-up businesses, to think about their product, place in the market, promotion and how to be profitable.

Taking questions from the floor, there were some excellent insights shared. Julie asked about sustainability, giving Mr Treves a chance to explain how this had been a cornerstone of their approach, even if it meant their products would sometimes have a higher price point. He was proud to be one of the first companies to conduct welfare visits to their factories, something that he still does personally. He also

said that they’re using nearly 70% organic and 80% Fairtrade fabrics.

Kay and Jed explored when he knew it was a good time to grow the business and how to maintain a sense of drive and focus as it became more corporate. Bassy asked about the company’s experience during COVID, eliciting a heartfelt response about the necessity to close stores temporarily and how hard everyone worked to keep the business viable. Finally, there were a number of questions around how to recruit the right people, especially into leadership roles. Mr Treves championed the importance of assessing people on their full character and ability, not just the qualifications they held. He shared his view that leaders should be charismatic people who can galvanise a team, but equally importantly they should trust their colleagues to do their jobs well and avoid micro-managing.

Which entrepreneurs inspire our Enterprise students?

the city and saw a small street where all the buildings were ruined. This is another passion of his, architecture, so he bought the street and fixed it up all by himself. He started living there, with my dad and uncle also spending their first years there, while he rented out the other apartments. He was so young went he started in property and art. This is something that would scare most people, but it didn’t scare him.

Connie

I think Coco Chanel is really inspiring because she had a passion to make women feel glamorous by making fashionable as well as comfortable clothing, so women didn’t have to put up with expecting to wear confining clothes all the time, which made a lot of women feel better about themselves. She drew a lot of inspiration from men’s clothes and practical necessity, so women could look fashionable and feel comfortable in their own clothes at the same time without having to worry about what anyone else thought of their choice.

Kay V

My grandfather inspires me because his work is also his passion: art dealing. He doesn’t see it as working as he actually enjoys doing it! He started pursuing his passion at the age of 14, by taking old paintings from his parents’ attic and selling them to family-friends. When he was 21, he was walking in

I particularly admire Walt Disney as an entrepreneur because of how many times he failed or was told he couldn’t do it, but still believed in his ideas. He had incredible motivation and after being told he couldn’t make it by his parents, his business going bankrupt and his most popular movie series being taken from him and sold, he still managed to create one of the most profitable and famous companies in the world. He really inspires me because his Disney and Pixar movies are animation on another level. This got me interested in making movies and I want to go into that business. He’s shown me that, even if you’ve hit rock bottom, you can still make it if you truly believe in

your ideas and your product. He is now known as one of the most innovative figures in entertainment history.

I find Henry Ford really inspiring, as he started building and dismantling things at a young age. He started helping his family and neighbours with things that needed fixing, like a watch, a work clock and shoes. He also started working at his family farm after his mum died in 1876. I like him because he grows up learning how to make and fix things, working around animals, and helping a lot of people.

The first person that comes in my head is Elon Musk. His intelligence inspires me in a way, and he has a bit of luck as well! His passion is something I really like, because as a successful entrepreneur you need to be really passionate about your business. He is a very optimistic man and he is not scared to take risks. Even after failures, he keeps going and learns from his mistakes.

Lola A

B

Mohammed B

Amaury D

Nica M

Steve Jobs was one of the most inspirational and successful entrepreneurs in the world. I found him very motivational because he has set up a business that is one of the most popular brands in the world, Apple. Even when Steve Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, he never stopped believing in this business. At the time of his passing, his inventions were already worth $10.2 billion. I think Steve Jobs has a great story and is inspiring because even though he was sick and sadly passed away, he was part of creating one of the biggest brands.

Ralph L

My dad Daniel is a hotelier who owns 6 hotels in the UK in the four and five-star sectors, largely catered to families. He is my main inspiration and the

reason that I have chosen the BTECs I study. He is also the reason that I’ve chosen the Universities I want to go to. I’ve seen what he does and the way he works within the multifaceted Hospitality business from a young age. I used to spend a huge amount of time at my dad’s hotels - I saw them inside and out - and I’d often hear people saying how great the hotels or restaurants are. That gives me a huge sense of pride and I want to follow in his footsteps.

Bassy S

I am really inspired by my Godfather, Andrew Middleton. He worked in recruitment for a firm in London, but decided to do it on his own. He now owns a multinational aviation recruitment firm. He really inspires me because of his success in business and because he is very personable. He is extremely professional, as well as very friendly. He inspires me because of his entrepreneurial attitude and setting up a servicebased business, something I wish to do when I’m older.

Amalia M

Steve Jobs is my most inspirational businessperson, due to his laser-like focus. He founded a new firm in 1985, even after he had been sacked from Apple, to continue working

on his concepts for useful personal computers and the software that operated them. With his ground-breaking inventions for the personal computer, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, he completely changed the world. Many struggling business owners, ejected corporate billionaires, college drop-outs, people who have been adopted, or disease-fighting individuals can identify with his journey.

Olivia M

Richard Branson is an inspiring entrepreneur, who has had more than 400 companies under the Virgin Group. He is an inspiration to me, as he has embraced his moments of accomplishment and also turned his failures into stepping stones to success. Not only this, but he has the ability to engage with people and motivate them, in the same way he has learnt to motivate himself.

Student entrepreneurs invited to pitch their ideas

As part of our ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ season, students will now plan and pitch their own business ideas to a panel including Mr Treves and business, marketing and subject experts in the school. The winners of the competition will be given support and knowledge to make their business idea a reality, including mentorship with Mr Treves and access to other professionals.

Enrik is a finalist in the UK Songwriting Challenge

Middle Sixth student, Enrik S, who studies BTEC Music Production as one of his subjects, was recognised as one of 19 finalists in the Pop category of the UK Songwriting Challenge for his song ‘Dying on the Dancefloor’, an uplifting pop-dance crossover track that would sound equally at home in a nightclub or on mainstream radio. You can listen to it by clicking this square graphic.

Enrik wrote the lyrics for the song, composed and produced it in industry-grade software, and approached a friend to perform the vocals. On the strength of his work, Director of Music Mr Burke recommended he should enter the main competition, rather than a less-competitive Under 18s category.

The contest is one of the world’s longest running and most successful international songwriting events. It was launched in London in 2002 in association with music bodies including The BRIT School & Trust, Music Aid International and top British producers and music labels. It is strongly supported by the BBC, with radio plays of song entries across the UK. It has become a truly international event with entries from over 80 countries and, since its launch, over 100,000 songs have entered and over £2,000,000 worth of prizes and music contracts have been awarded.

Reflecting on the event, Enrik was delighted to be a finalist in his category, but in hindsight is pleased not to have won, as this would have limited his options to seek representation from other music labels. Alongside and complementing his studies, he is now working on a series of tracks and hopes to find a label to release them.

COMMENDATION HIGHLIGHTS

Solomon B &

Neo and Solomon have worked exceptionally hard in they Geography GCSE, with excellent results in their recent mock exam highlighting their learning and progress made.

Eunice and Phoebe worked together to create a thoughtful and wellresearched sermon on Valentines Day and its importance in our society, which they delivered with clarity and confidence in Chapel.

Maria works with focus and skill in Art, demonstrating an assured and mature mastery of acrylics. Her perception and interpretation are truly impressive for a young artist.

Neo T | Fifth Form

Phoebe B & Eunice C | Lower Sixth

Maria S | Fourth Form

COMMENDATION HIGHLIGHTS

Tom M & Lee S | Lower Sixth

Despite being unable to play through injury, Lee and Tom have supported rugby this season by running the touch line and assisting their teammates and coaches. They have shown great character and selflessness.

Lily F & Lexi P | Fifth Form

Lexi and Lily have been a great help in the farm and stables this term. In particular, they were calm and resourceful when we had a power cut on a busy day when we were preparing to show a visitor around.

Pepe M-R | Fourth Form

Pepe sets a brilliant example to others in house, showing excellent leadership as captain of the Under 15s football team, being a role model to the rest of the team and his housemates.

Evie H | Fifth Form

Evie stepped up at the last minute to play for the U15 Boys Hockey team. She showed great commitment to MA Sport, played exceptionally well and helped score two goals.

Spike

D |

Middle

Sixth

Spike showed focus and determination when revising for two important exams in the space of two weeks. He overcame nervousness and was a role model to his peers.

Gracie F | Lower Sixth

Gracie continuously puts in the maximum effort in Photography, demonstrating a positive and proactive mindset, which results in excellent creative outcomes.

Zeno G | Lower Sixth

Zeno maintains an outstanding commitment to his studies with resilience and a cheerful attitude. He is a genuine peer to others with his respectful and kind demeanour.

Leni S & Julie U | Lower Sixth

In Hospitality, Julie and Leni gave a sushi demonstration, having learnt the art while on the ski trip to Japan. They confidently led the session and shared their knowledge with classmates.

Ralph L | Middle Sixth

Ralph meticulously planned and delivered a talk at assembly on Holocaust Memorial Day . It was an extremely moving and personal speech, which he has allowed us to share here:

As some of you know, I’m Jewish, so this is a very important topic for me, especially considering that my grandmother was hugely affected by the Holocaust. She was living in occupied France, where she not only changed her name, but also lived as a Catholic in an attempt to hide from the Nazis. If another child, or anyone for that matter, even insinuated that she was Jewish, she would have had to move to a completely different area. She was only five at the start of World War Two and ten when it ended. For this to happen to such a young girl is absolutely abhorrent.

I don’t think people can understand the scale of the Holocaust, but let’s try and give it some context. On 9/11, in the largest terrorist attack ever in the Western world, 3,000 people died. However, during the Holocaust, an average of 3,000 Jews were murdered every single day for five and a half years. If we were to observe a minute’s silence for everyone who died, the silence would last for more than 11 years.

Another example I would like to give is about a village called Eishyshok - a small Polish village, very similar to the one my great-grandfather came from. Jews lived in Eishyshok for more than 900 years. They were farmers, trainers, teachers: they lived for all those centuries amicably with their neighbours. They had been part of Eishyshok from the very beginning. Then, in 1941, the Nazis came. On 21st September 1941, the Jews were rounded up and on 25th and 26th September, the Jews of Eishyshok, one by one, were shot. In two

days 989 men, 1,636 women and 821 children were murdered. Only a handful survived.

Some of you may be wondering “How can it get to this point?” In my opinion, the most obvious warning sign is when somebody says “It’s all the fault of…” The Nazis said: “It’s all the fault of the Jews”; the Bosnians said: “It’s all the fault of the Muslims”; the Hutus said: “It’s all the fault of the Tutsis”. And from that one simple, phrase came some of the worst atrocities that mankind has ever seen

My message to you is speak up, don’t leave it to someone else , because that someone else is probably thinking the exact same thing. Don’t be a bystander in whatever wrongdoings you see. Do the right thing .

This famous short poem by pastor Martin Niemöller explains that concept further:

First, they came for the Communists, And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Socialists, And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me, And there was no one left To speak out for me.

Meet our new staff

Piers Webb | Humanities and MFL Teacher & Assistant Housemaster

After graduating from the University of Edinburgh with a MA in Ancient History, I worked in the film industry - working on arts documentaries for Sky and the BBC - before making the switch into teaching. I completed my PGCE at the Marsh Academy, part of the Skinners’ family of schools. I look forward to getting involved in all aspects of school life and sharing my passions with the students. In my free time I enjoy surfing and exploring the Dorset countryside with my whippet, Ivy.

Emmanuelle Pull | Hughies Resident Tutor & Trainee Teacher

Emmanuelle is a Graduate Sports Therapist with a BSc in Sports Science from the University of Gloucestershire. She joins Milton Abbey full time after a longer association with the school providing pitch-side medical support during rugby matches. She fell in love with the school after those regular visits here and is looking forward to working closely with the Hughies girls as a Resident Tutor and her role in coaching sport. She will also be embarking on her teaching career while working at MA, completing her qualifications with the support of the school.

Anna Snook | Maths Teacher

After studying Mathematics at the University of Essex, I completed my PGCE at Southampton University. I have spent most of my career teaching international students, recently at Sherborne International School, and also had the pleasure of teaching Maths, Science and English for six years in Japan, experiencing the 2011 earthquake in the process! Throughout my time in the classroom, Mathematics has and continues to fascinate me; I hope to pass this passion for the subject to my students at Milton Abbey.

Food Committee update

Head of Operations, Tracey Edwards, attended the studentled Food Committee this week, where reps from every year group shared their feedback on food so far this term and suggested ideas for the future.

It was a really valuable experience, with all the students being articulate and creative with their responses and ideas. This half-term’s menu of seasonal winter fare has been well-received with the cold weather.

We are looking forward to exploring new menus for the ‘Boarders’ Choice Fake-aways’ on Saturday nights, and have a meeting booked with our external catering providers, Holroyd Howe, to take forward other suggestions.

‘Sport In Her Shoes’ conference inspires and supports

Students and staff had a fantastic afternoon alongside other local schools at the ‘Sport In Her Shoes’ conference, which was held to help girlsand their teachers and coaches - understand and talk about the female body and how to work with it, rather than against it, in sport and exercise. Venny K has written this report:

Going to this conference has helped me experience for the first time what it’s like in the professional sports industry for women. The conference will make a difference not only in our school, but also in other schools around the world, and for me personally, as I’ve found out loads of information to improve my sports performance and to help support other girls at school.

There was a simple and practical focus on body issues and clothing that can make a real difference to girls enjoying and playing sports. Every year, more than 1 million teenage girls in the UK stop playing sport, often because of worries around these issues. One of the issues discussed was badly fitting clothes. Sports kits provided by some schools are not designed for girls’ bodies and 50% of teenage girls playing sport do not own a sports bra and, of those who do own one, half are wearing the wrong type or size. This means that many teenage girls are physically uncomfortable playing sport or embarrassed to be seen in clothes that fit badly. Milton Abbey does provide kit

that is especially made for girls and, as girls living in boarding houses, we should talk and encourage each other to find comfortable clothing.

As a young woman hoping to work in sport, the session was also eye-opening from an anatomical perspective, to consider issues that may affect us as we get older. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments that provides essential support to our bodies, but which can be strained or permanently damaged through poor sport practices. We learnt about warmup and stretching techniques that can strengthen these muscles now and help avoid problems in the future.

The menstrual cycle and the impact it can have on sports is also not talked about openly by most girls, so there was an important session on this. It was sad to learn that 78% of teenage girls surveyed by Women in Sport said that they would avoid sport when they have their period. Again, poor fitting clothing and colours of kit had a big impact on this. What really surprised me

though was how the menstrual cycle can actually have a positive impact on performance, as levels of oestrogen and progesterone hormones change in our bodies. There could be times when we feel more tired or low in mood, but at other times we will feel great and have more energy than normal. Some professional athletes call this their ‘super power’! The practical tip was to be aware of our own patterns and moods at different times. Another big topic was food and drink intake. You obviously need fuel to give you energy for sport and to repair muscles. The nutritionist recommended girls eat at least every 3 to 4 hours, especially on days we’re playing sport. Leaving it too long between meals and snacks can cause low energy availability and this could impact your training or playing. We should always ‘fuel up’ before training, topping up our energy with carbs during long sessions, and eating a recovery meal or snack afterwards. A top tip was to always plan ahead, considering the logistics of your training or playing schedule and where your food will come from.

Sport teams have an excellent start to Lent Term

Over the last fortnight, MA teams have played in 19 competitive matches or multi-team tournaments across sports including Netball, Football, Boys’ and Girls’ Rugby 7s, Cross Country Running and Boys’ Hockey. Not to mention the training sessions that have taken place for our swimmers, golfers, road cyclists and mountain bikers.

The hockey term has had a strong start to the season, with the Senior and Junior teams playing regular fixtures. The Senior team won the Tier 4 County Tournament with wins over QE Wimborne, Poole Grammar, Leweston and a draw against Gillingham.

Our girls playing netball have also had a great season so far, with the Senior team recently winning at Bryanston and Stonar. The Junior team are also gelling well, with many playing netball for the first time.

Our Football 1st XI have had an excellent two terms, with an exciting win against Reed’s School at Cobham FC putting them into the next round of the national Society of Heads Cup. It was an incredibly tight game, going to penalties after no result at the end of full time. The MA boys scored each of their five penalties with confident strikes. Reed’s also completed their first four penalties, but their final shot was brilliantly saved with a dive from our goalkeeper, Tom M.

Triathlon challenge on the horizon

The 24-Hour Triathlon teams have made a fantastic start to their training for the upcoming event on 17 March, which will involve five teams of six pupils working together to have one member of their team swimming, cycling, or running throughout the period.

There is a fantastic group of 30 pupils representing all five house and all year groups taking part, raising money for the 75th Fund, which will first be used to fund the Boathouse Gym redevelopment. You can donate by clicking the Triathlon logo.

The group is made up of pupils for whom this will be their first attempt at such a challenge. They have been making the most of all the available opportunities to spend time in the pool, turbo zone and our fantastic running routes.

One pupil said: “I cannot wait for this challenge, I enjoy my running and thought what a fantastic opportunity to be involved in a special event. I’m most looking forward to being outside in the early morning completing my run as the sun rises and end nears.”

Check-mates in Hambro

Eschewing table tennis and games consoles in favour of board games, the Hambro boys have found excitement in competitive chess this term. Their tournament weekend saw some close matches, with Mohamed M ultimately declared champion. Well done!

Silent Disco success

Each year group has now experienced a ‘Silent Disco Social’ on a Saturday night. In the atmospheric Kings Room - brought to life with disco lights and flashing headsets - students danced with only their questionable singing breaking the silence!

Remembering Round Square Patron King Constantine

You’ll recognise ‘Round Square Wednesdays’ as part of our weekly co-curricular activity programme and you may also be familiar with the term as the international network of schools that Milton Abbey is a member of. Round Square schools share a commitment to character education and experiential learning built around six IDEALS: International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership and Service.

The Round Square IDEALS are underpinned by twelve Discoveries that students explore on their learning journey: inquisitiveness, tenacity, courage, compassion, inventiveness, ability to solve problems, self-awareness, sense of responsibility, appreciation of diversity, commitment to sustainability, communication and team-working skills.

On 16 January, the school marked the funeral of His Late Majesty, King Constantine, the last king of Greece. He was the President and Patron of Round Square, and his values and vision helped shape the organisation.

As a member school, we award the King Constantine Medal annually at the end of the year. It is presented to a student who has shown outstanding achievement in the co-curricular programme through exhibiting the Round Square IDEALS.

Thank you to all the parents and Old Miltonians who joined staff and our Student Leadership Team at the Lansdowne Club, Mayfair, for our Drinks Party to launch the Boat House Gym fundraiser, the first scheme to benefit from The 75h Fund. Through pledges made at the event and donations already kindly received directly to the school, we have now raised over £11,000 towards this incredibly popular facility. You can make a donation to the scheme by clicking here or contact Director of Finance, Steve Lane , to donate directly.

One of the popular cocurricular activities on Round Square Wednesdays is Fashion Skills Club. During these sessions, Sixth Former Julie U has created this charming appliquéd zip pouch to put her valuables in.

CREATIVE SHOWCASE

These preparatory studies by A Level Photography student Gracie F explore the theme of isolation. The hand-cut images will be made into digital negatives to further explore traditional photographic darkroom practices.

These portraits are the culmination of many weeks’ work for the Fourth Form and, for many, their first experience of completing a formal painting. They have shown tenacity and maturity, taking constructive advice and using it to develop their final pieces. Individually the pupils have created fantastic responses in acrylic on canvas and, collectively, they have supported and encouraged one another throughout the project. The paintings featured here are by Eve C, Maria S, Alicia FT and Harry M.

Return dates and times

Boarders: Sunday 19 February from 17:00 to 21:00 (supper 18:00-19:00) Day pupils: Monday 20 February before 08:35 for tutor groups

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