ENSIGN Issue 2 2022Life at ACADEMIC TRIPS AND VISITS make a welcome return FOUNDERS’ DAY superb to be back after two years ROWING SUCCESS at National Schools’ Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta
Commanding Officer 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, was the Guest of Honour.
Looking back to the Lent Term, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was celebrated through a themed College Sunday on 24 April, which included Royal music and an Old Pangbournian division marching as part of the Parade. Lieutenant Colonel James Greaves OP,
The Summer Term brought with it the exam season for all year groups, and we have been pleased at the calm way in which the Upper Sixth and Year 11 have approached their A Levels, BTECs and GCSEs. Understandably, there was quite a lot of anxiety in the build up, the Upper Sixth in particular having not taken formal exams before, but I was delighted with the way in which our pupils demonstrated their resilience, and their industry over the year enabled them to face the exams with confidence.
Our first ‘normal’ term for two years! It was an absolute joy to be able to put aside the Covid-19 restrictions and to operate a full programme of events, performances and activities over the last two terms. This edition of Ensign provides you with a full update on all of these activities.
Sport went very well. Participation was high, including on Saturdays, and there were some excellent performances in cricket, riding and rowing. In the latter, a highlight was victory in the Hedsor Cup for Championship Coxed Fours at the National Schools’ Regatta, our last gold medal being in 2014. You can read more about our sporting achievements on pages 4-12.
The 40th Anniversary Falklands Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving on 12 June was a major event, with almost 1,000 guests attending. The Service was attended by His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent, the President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, in what was his first visit to the College. Our guests were hosted brilliantly by volunteers from both the pupil and staff body – a team effort which showed Pangbourne at our best. Of course, the highlight of the school year is Founders’ Day and I was overjoyed to be able to welcome the
from the Head
During the national celebrations, on 4 June, Mr Tom Cheney, Assistant Head, Boarding, organised a Classic Car Show which attracted a large showing of cars and visitors, and which concluded with three low-level flypasts by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Lancaster bomber.
WELCOME
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whole of the College community to celebrate this special occasion for the first time since 2019. You can read more about the event on page 34, but for me, one of the highlights of the day was the speech from our guest of honour, First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC.
The start of the new year beckons, and I’m looking forward to welcoming our new cohort of pupils and getting back into the ‘normal’ ways of things at Pangbourne College.
read about all the recent community events on the College website and in the latest edition of The Pangbournian Magazine.
Contents Sport 4 Activities & Challenges 14 Creative Arts 18 Boarding 24 Dunbar 26 Academic Review 30 Founders’ Day 34
Thomas Garnier
In it, he put forward three pieces of advice to our departing students: One, to be the best version of yourself; work out your strengths and really invest in them. Two, be curious about the world, carry on learning, questioning and being sceptical, so that you build your understanding. Three, appreciate that leadership is not easy; it takes practice, so take risks, apologise if things go wrong , learn from experience and try again. He concluded by saying that your greatest gift to the world is to make a positive, lasting and enduring impact on the people around you.
I thoroughly enjoyed Sir Ben’s speech; his advice supports our ethos which is about enabling young people to flourish and equipping them with the skills and characteristics they need to make a positive difference in the world.
SPORT
At Pangbourne, we work hard to embed resilience in all of our pupils, and sport is one way of embedding this key attribute. It can be used as a vehicle for life, regardless of the level at which we perform.
Sport By Mr Sam Hewick, Director of Sport
This year, over 90% of the College community took part in competitive team sport. This is a huge amount, and it is worth reflecting on some of the benefits this brings to the individual. Whether that is the challenge of taking part, the enjoyment of playing with friends, or the pursuit of high performance, this is what ‘Team Pangbourne’ is, and combined with an excellent attitude, our pupils can really achieve some excellent things.
Tennis is a very popular sport in the Summer Term and at times, we have huge numbers of pupils playing. The girls’ 1st team have enjoyed some notable victories across the season and showed some strong development as the season went on. The U15 girls had an excellent season which culminated in winning the Berkshire Cup. The boys’ 1st team had some tough fought matches, and unfortunately fell on the wrong side of the final score. The U14 and U15 boys have had some competitive fixtures across the term, with some strong performances. The Dunbar boys and girls have had a successful season with the boys reaching the later stages in the LTA cup.
Tennis
Cricket
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The U15s battled hard across the season, and it was pleasing to see a couple of the members of the team being promoted to Senior teams towards the end of
The Dunbar teams have had a busy term with fixtures most weeks, with opportunities for every pupil to play. Cricket has been offered as a co-educational sport for the last two years, with boys and girls given equal opportunity to play cricket. With Jemma SwireThompson leading the way in the 1st XI and being the top wicket taker for the season, this is inspiring girls and boys across the school. We are looking forward to seeing cricket continue to develop across the next few years.
The Cricket club has enjoyed one of its best seasons in recent years. The 1st XI enjoyed some strong wins against Shiplake College, Mill Hill School, Chieveley Cricket Club and Reading Blue Coat, along with a draw against the MCC and The Stragglers of Asia. Coupled with some excellent victories for the 2nd XI, Senior Cricket is in a strong position. Furthermore, it has been great to see the commitment of the Senior players. Even after the exam period started, they were able to manage their time effectively to ensure that they could still represent the school.
the season. At U14 level, the A and B teams secured an excellent victory against Shiplake with captain George Millbank hitting a wonderful 50.
The 3rd VII received glowing reports each week for their conduct on and off the court, and their season culminated in a brilliant 19-16 victory against Downe House. The U14s and U15s continue to show strong promise with notable performances across the term for both year groups. The whole atmosphere of the club was highlighted at the end of term with Divisional netball. It was an event played in brilliant competitive spirit from start to finish, and really did capture Team Pangbourne at its finest.
The boys’ hockey teams have shown some excellent development across the term, with the 1st XI battling to a number of notable performances and making good progress. The U15s have had a strong season, and culminated the season with an outstanding 3-2 victory away at KCS Wimbledon. The U14 As showed true Pangbourne grit against Portsmouth Grammar School and came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1. The foundations made this season can be used as a springboard for next year.
Boys’NetballHockey
SPORT
The netball team has been one of the most popular sports this year, with more girls taking part than ever before. It has been great to see some encouraging performances at all levels of the club. The 1st VII have had a strong season winning the majority of their fixtures, however, it is the reports from when they have played some of the strongest schools that stand out. Even when they lost a match, it was commented that ‘all the girls were outstanding, they fought so hard and pushed every school to their maximum, making no point easy to gain’.
Equestrian
The equestrian team enjoyed a 90% success rate of top ten finishes throughout the whole of the year. The team has proven to be a force to be reckoned with amongst other schools, as well as competing against international riders in the main arena at The Royal Windsor Horse Show.
In Showjumping, our riders took many County Titles at BCA; Thomasin took the top spot for Berkshire in the 80cm and went on to take sixth in the country at the County Championships. The team of Isla, Izzy and Amy won for Berkshire in both the 90cm and the 1m where Amy also took the individual titles.
Our Senior team has qualified for the Keysoe Plate in the 90cm and 1m classes. Amy and Izzy have qualified for the Nationals taking first (1m) and second (1.10m) respectively. At The Royal Windsor Horse show, the team of Isla, Amy and Izzy took a respectable fifth place in a hotly contested Queen’s Services Showjumping, Isla narrowly missing out on the best rider under 25 to a competitor from the Bahrain Defence Force.
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I particularly enjoyed watching the 2nd XI come back from 2-0 down to beat The Oratory 3-2. The 1st XI played their matches on White’s and had strong performances against Gordon’s, Abingdon, and Reddam House. It was a popular introduction and we were able to put out four teams most weeks.
The equestrian team has qualified for three championships this year, across multiple disciplines: Showjumping, Jumping with Style and Arena Eventing at all heights as well as Eventing at Stonar.
Boys’ football has seen its introduction this year, with pupils in Year 11 and above able to select it as their main sport in the Lent Term. I could not be happier with the attitude shown by those involved. I asked at the start of the term for standards of behaviour; ‘Just because it’s football you do not have to behave like footballers on TV!’.
Grassroots riders Lillian Allen and Maisie Stephenson secured first and fourth places at the Nationals for Jumping with Style alongside our Senior team of Amy Perrott, Izzy Corsinie, Thomasin Munro and Isla Farrow following a convincing win at the Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA).
Boys’ Football
end of the week to test their on-water speed and practise the processes needed for success.
SPORT
The Lent Term is where the majority of the training is put in for the Boat Club, but along with the hard miles the rowers have had opportunities to race at events such as Wycliffe Big Head Race and Saltford Head Race.
The Summer racing season quickly came over the horizon and the Boat Club were getting in amongst the racing at the likes of Wallingford Regatta, Bristol Avon Regatta and Reading Amateur Regatta. Each event that the Boat Club raced at were all great chances to prepare for the main event of the year, the National Schools’ Regatta (NSR).
The work that was put in during the cold Winter months were put to the test as the Boat Club travelled to London to race in the Schools’ Head of the River Race. The event boasts more than three hundred crews and it provides a national ranking for schools and clubs. The 1st VIII posted a very credible position of 14th overall. The J16 VIII claimed the 6th spot in their event and the J16 Girls’ VIII rowed the course with determination as getting over the course is quite an achievement in itself. The J15 A & B VIII both had good starts but the J15 B VIII had a technical malfunction and they had to withdraw mid-race.
We fielded a strong contingent over the three days of NSR with the highlight of the weekend being the championship 4+ being crowned National Champions on the Saturday. It was a great event that became a two-horse race between Pangbourne and St George’s. Pangbourne took an early lead and controlled the race the whole course covering any attacks made by St George’s. The final sprint in the last 250m ensured Pangbourne crossed the line first and celebration was had by all crew members. Well done to Harrison Green, Ryne Robson, German Shashlov, Peter Garnier and Olivia Crane.
Rowing by Mr Charles Waite-Roberts, Director of Rowing
With the Head race season in the rear view mirror, the Easter training camps provided the lower and upper years with a chance to get in some solid groundwork for the Summer racing season. The lower years had a very productive camp at home over the course of four days with the upper years travelling to Ghent for a week of rowing and revising. It culminated with a regatta at the
The regatta season came to a close but there was still the business of a very successful Junior Summer Rowing Camp which was held over the latter weeks of July. 35 rowers attended the week with the majority having never rowed before. It contained a week of learning, raft building, a row to Reading and finishing with a small fun regatta. The Boat Club is looking forward to the coming season in 2023.
The J16 Boys’ VIII competed in the qualifying time trial for the Temple Challenge Cup (University Eights) to try and gain qualification for HRR. They were always going to be up against it but they found a strong rhythm and gained a lot of motivation for the next few years when they aim for a spot in the 1st VIII.
After the build up to NSR, the focus for the upper years turned to Henley Women’s Regatta (HWR) and Henley Royal Regatta (HRR) where the lower years found some great experience in smaller boats at more local regattas.
The J16 Girls’ squad fielded a quadruple scull and coxed four to race in the time trials to gain qualification for the side-by-side racing over the weekend of HWR. Unfortunately, both crews missed out and were unable to experience the feeling of racing between the booms against opposition but they will be back for more over the coming years.
Other notable performances came from the J14 Girls’ Octuple Scull where they placed 6th in the final, which no other J14 Girls’ crew had done in the history of Pangbourne. The J16 Boys’ VIII were in 2nd for the majority of the B-Final but unfortunately found themselves in 5th as they ran out of steam in the last 400m. The J16 Girls’ 4+ placed a commendable 4th after putting in a confident performance in the semi-final.
The 1st VIII had to race the qualifiers of HRR having not been given pre-qualification, which they dealt with in a true effortless fashion. The crew qualified and were drawn to race St Edward’s on the first day of the regatta. The 1st VIII pushed all the way to line but were unable to match the Silver medalists and were knocked out of the regatta.
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• Megan Fergusson
There were also speeches from our Sports Captains: Rory Hogan (Rugby); Liam Turnbull (Cricket); Cameron Spiers and Emily Cox (Hockey); Felix Nelson (Football and Boys’ Tennis); Poppy Simpson (Netball); Ryne Robson and Olivia Crane (Rowing) Megan Fergusson (Girls’ Tennis) and Imogen Benson (Equestrian).
• Liam Turnbull
• Lucy Skinner
Football
• Poppy Simpson
Full school colours are awarded to pupils who have made an outstanding contribution and commitment to school sport, normally over a two-year period for the 1st team. Pupils will have been great role models for the school on and off the sports field. This year, full school colours were awarded as follows:
Rowing
• Noah Teague
• German Shashlov
• Olivia Crane
Sports Dinner
Lent Term:
Boys’ Hockey
• George Young Tennis
• Joe Hollis
Netball
• Harrison Green
• Alice Moody
• Felix Nelson
• Charlotte Richards
Summer Term: Cricket
• Cameron Spiers
It was a great, informal evening and a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our collective and individual sporting achievements.
Awards
• Megan Fergusson
• Felix Nelson
• Ryne Robson
• Myles James
SPORT
• Peter Garnier
On Friday 17 June, around 180 pupils and their families joined us for our first Sports Dinner to celebrate successes across all of our key sports. The guest of honour was Gail Emms MBE who in her speech, talked about resilience whilst being on your journey. She talked about the impact her Mum had on her, and she instilled a consistent drive to get better. Gail won a silver medal at the Olympics and a gold medal in the World Championships at mixed-doubles Badminton.
• George Young
Tennis
• Dan Davies
• Frederika Goodwin-Scott
Paravicini Shield
• Josh Symons
• Dan Jones
• Tillia Harris
• Toby King
Colours
•
• Dylan Teague
Rowing
Summer Term: Cricket
• Morgan Llewellyn
• Isaac Nelsen
• Edward Butterworth
The Paravicini Shield award was awarded to Liam Turnbull who has proven to be one of the best cricketers we have had come through the school in recent history. He has played in the 1st XI since Year 9, and this year has hit over 50 runs in three matches. Since joining in Dunbar he has hit over 6000 runs and taken 220 wickets (that is including one year being wiped out for Covid). He hit 38 half centuries, 2 centuries and taken 1 five wicket haul. He recently became captain of Hampshire U18s and has
• Ellen Williams
• Poppy Simpson Riding
Lent Term: Boys’ Hockey
• Rory Hogan
• Rory Hogan
• Callum Wray
• Will Stokes
Swire-ThompsonJemma
• Dan Jones
• Emily Cox
• Raphael Löwenstein
Netball
• Alice Dutton
• Izzy Corsinie
• Freddie Barnes
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• Euan Mackenzie
Football
• Jamie Dunstan
• Isla Farrow
1st team colours are awarded to pupils who have made a sustained and significant impact on the 1st team in their sport. They will have attended almost all practices and shown a high level of commitment. In the Summer Term, 1st team colours were awarded as follows:
• Thomasin Munro
• Tom Harvey
• Ellie Farrow
• Grace Gillespie
• George Symington
• Jackson Song
• Amy Perrott
also represented the Isle of Wight mens side in minor counties fixtures. He is on the pathway to becoming a professional cricketer and if he keeps working hard at his game then it will come. We are looking forward to having him on the OP cricket team next year!
place in April and to add to the fun, it was combined with a Colour Run.
Sadly, and reluctantly, we had to cancel divisional athletics just as the event had started. Torrential rain and thunder put paid to this anticipated event. Hopefully, we’ll have better luck next year! Divisional swimming was hotly contested with the whole school supporting each other through the events. Divisional tennis was a strong tournament with those who regularly take part in tennis being selected for the different year groups. Divisional cricket returned this year in the format of Super 6s. Each division gave a team to the event and it was a resounding success.
girls’ title for the first time in two years. The difference between the girls was 1 point, and divisional swimming became the deciding factor.
Harbinger took home the boys’ trophy this year, again by a strong margin. St George pipped Illawarra to the
100% TheColourRaceRunannual100%Racetook
Finally
Divisional Sport By Mr Sam Hewick, Director of Sport
This was a sponsored event and we raised almost £1,500 for the British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal. Well done to CCCCs Emily Cox and Rory Hogan who showed strong leadership to make the event happen.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all pupils and staff for their efforts in the sport programme this year; it certainly wouldn’t happen without you. To the leavers this year, and particularly to the Upper Sixth students, thank you for your commitment and leadership within sport. You leave a strong legacy and much to aspire to for the pupils below you. I wish you all luck on your next journey.
SPORT
At different points along the route, staff were ready to throw coloured powder at the runners. 93% of the College community finished the race, with some Dunbar pupils running the course several times over, and others supporting their friends to reach the finish line.
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ACTIVITIES & CHALLENGES
By Mr Richard Follett, Deputy Head Co-Curriculum
The last year has very much felt as though we have been both making up for lost time, and also re-finding the fun and enjoyment to be gained from such pursuits. It is almost impossible to pick one highlight from the last year from a co-curricular perspective, as there is simply so much breadth on offer.
Looking back on the co-curricular year, we can see how far things have progressed from a year ago. The impact of Covid and lockdowns was greater on the co-curricular life of the College; the lack of opportunities to work with and for each other outside the virtual classroom was keenly felt by most.
The Activities programme which all pupils at the College enjoy once each week has continued to develop the breadth of opportunity outside the classroom. It has been lovely to see how willing the pupils and staff
have been to try something new, from which new passions have developed for some.
Orienteering at the younger end of the College has flourished, with a waiting list for Key Stage 3 pupils keen to explore our campus on a Friday afternoon in search of the orange marker flags. At the other end of the age range, the journalism and blogging activity has gone from strength to strength, with a determined core of older pupils researching, interviewing and writing articles for the ‘Student Voice’ publication both in print and online.
Alongside this, we have built and launched rockets, shot clay pigeons to a national competition standard and restored classic cars, to name but a few. The College’s rifle range has reopened after a number of years, and plans are in place to participate in national rifle shooting competitions in the coming year. Outside the Activities programme, Judo club has restarted and a committed group of boys and girls from Year 7 up to the Upper Sixth have trained each week and been assessed for their performance levels.
Sport has of course been a core aspect of the College week, with some notable team and individual performances alongside the daily training. Whilst the respective individual reports will paint their own highlights, some deserve particular mention here. Strong seasons were achieved for the senior girls’ hockey, the equestrian team, the 1st XI cricketers and the Senior rowers, the latter of whom won the College’s first national title for eight years at the National Schools’ Regatta this Summer. Our participation rate and percentage of pupils competing for the College
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In March we held our first ‘College Wellbeing Day’, where pupils took part in many activities including yoga/pilates, meditation, walks, games, and relaxation and anxiety reducing techniques. Four guest speakers plus our own College experts spoke on a wide variety of wellbeing topics. We are looking forward to this becoming a regular event in the College calendar.
Wellbeing Day
Finally, the Combined Cadet Force has benefitted from a renewed injection of energy this year, with many
on a weekly basis far outshines the majority of other schools, so it is great to see the enthusiasm for competitive sport remains really high.
ACTIVITIES & CHALLENGES
The week provides the perfect backdrop for the practice expedition and puts the weeks of learning camp craft skills on Tuesday afternoons into action. The Summer Term in particular is a busy one for the DofE staff, who within the space of just a month travel from Wales with Year 9, up to the Lake District for the final Gold expedition with Lower Sixth, and then back South to the New Forest for the Silver expedition with Year 10. Reports back from them have shown just how much the pupils have responded to and gained from the return to normal.
The last two aspects of participation to reflect upon are those of CCF and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, both of which were hugely affected by the pandemic. As a result, the year just gone has very much enabled a reset and the response from Pangbourne pupils has been tremendous.
It was wonderful for the College to return to Llangorse for the mid-Wales week of adventurous activities for Year 9 just before the Half Term holiday.
new activities for them to experience in their weekly sessions, as well as a range of challenges in their Field Days. Two of the key highlights have been the Field Gun challenge, reminiscent of the Royal Tournament competitions (for those old enough to remember them!) and the military-issue laser weapons training. These have both proved so popular there is the great news for the College that we have secured funding for our own kits for future use. In addition to activities on ‘home soil’, the return of adventure training and weekend camps has proved hugely popular, with large groups venturing off to military bases in the South of England for exciting residential experiences.
Having looked back on the experiences outside the classroom over the last year, I am grateful to all the staff who put so much time, effort and energy into providing such enriching experiences for the pupils. We can now spend the Summer months looking forward to further excitement and even more new opportunities in the year ahead.
17 DofE Awards 2022: 16 Gold 21 Silver 41 Bronze
Our A Level students pioneered the way with a trip to the Natural History museum in London, shared with our friends from the DT department. Not to be outdone, our GCSE pupils followed quickly on their heels with a visit to the Tate Modern allowing them to start the research which is so essential to their coursework.
Photographer and Architect Nick Collins came to speak about the skills needed by a street photographer to a crowd eager to pick up tips. With a trip to Oxford to put these new skills into action on the following day, they were certainly keen to learn what they could. Artists with an eye for the classical also spent time in the Ashmolean, Britain’s oldest public museum.
CREATIVE ARTS
Art & Photography
By Mr Iain Young, Head of Art
Artists were also active in providing new large-scale works to be seen around the campus, big canvases were hung in the Medical Centre and the Sports Hall to general acclaim. Each celebrated the themes associated with their location and brightened some otherwise slightly drab areas.
In our first year without the disruptions of Covid, it has been a pleasure to return to taking trips away from the College and allowing the pupils to experience art at first hand once again.
The final major event of the year marks the return of the annual Art Exhibition, not as by tradition on Founders’ Day, but a welcome return to normality.
Not only could pupils now go out on visit, but speakers made a welcome return to our curriculum.
Next year looks to be even busier, with a scheme to offer arts awards to interested pupils and plans for a visit to New York in the New Year.
DT By Mr Craig Wiles, Head of DT
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As the need to produce a physical prototype was removed from this year’s examination groups, a number of pupils didn’t produce a product at the end of the course which, although disappointing, gave the greatest chance of success come results day. That
The Design Technology department has had a bit of a technological uplift this year. We have taken delivery of a number of new machines that will drive forward the progression of a STEM offering within the department’s curriculum.
said, we still had some outstanding work produced and our pupils should be immensely proud of what they achieved in a tumultuous year, especially for a subject so incapacitated during the last two years of the pandemic.
We have already put the machines to use on a number of occasions, including two DT Outreach days for two local primary schools. Year 5 pupils were able to design and make watches with 3D printed cases.
Finally, we had a number of outstanding scholarship applications this year, resulting in two DT Scholars and two Exhibition pupils being successful in their applications - well done to them!
With the department starting an A Level course in September, and a switch to Eduqas GCSE next year, lots of planning has been undertaken in order to support our transition to these courses. A bespoke sewing studio has also been created to accommodate a textiles offering at GCSE level, allowing us to suit the needs of our learners to a greater capacity.
They include three 3D printers, one of which will allow us to print to the precision and quality of dental implants, a CNC router and a Vinyl Cutter. Each of these machines is driven by a computer aided design application which the students in Year 10 and Lower Sixth have been busy learning throughout the course of the year.
The performance of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ was a tremendous success and, to a large and appreciative audience, the whole of Dunbar performed the ‘short’ version of the wellknown Lloyd-Webber musical with much enthusiasm and gusto. Special mention must be made of our two soloists, Sophia Newborough and Finn Willis who both excelled on the evening. Their reprise of their songs the following morning to the Senior school also went down a storm! My thanks to Mrs Elly Hayward (Head of English) for all her help and support with the production.
Music By Mr Chris McDade, Director of Music
In early February, pupils in Dunbar held an inaugural Inter-Watch Music competition. Having rehearsed their chosen watch songs over a period of four weeks, the final event saw a very high standard of music making in what became a keenly contested competition. Our Adjudicator, Mr Malcolm Gunningham (Director of Music, St Andrew’s Pangbourne) was impressed by both the quality and enthusiasm of the performers. Congratulations to the winning soloist Maisie Stephenson (Starboard watch) and to For’Ard watch for being crowned overall winners on the evening for their performance of ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams.
CREATIVE ARTS
Dunbar Events
The Lent and Summer Terms have been very busy times for the musicians at Pangbourne and it has been fantastic to return to more live music making as the year has progressed.
Several of our more advanced musicians gave an excellent concert in the Recital Hall in March with a varied programme which included singers, pianists and guitarists and even included performances of pupils’ own compositions. In the final week of the Summer Term, we held a Summer Serenade evening in the Chapel at which many of our Senior leaving musicians had the opportunity to perform. It was a very moving evening of high quality music making, marking the final appearances of several of our Senior musicians as they leave the College. We thank all of them for the significant contribution that they have made to Pangbourne Music over the years.
The Marching Band has continued to lead the parades on College Sundays and their playing remains as ‘top drawer’ as ever. In the final parade of the year, they were front and centre, playing a range of music from
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Music Scholars and Exam Students
As part of our wider programme of activities, the Music Scholars and students in the exam groups went to see a production of Mozart’s comic opera, ‘Cosi Fan Tutti’ at the Coliseum with English National Opera. The performance was truly electric with many young artists making their Opera debuts – a great inspiration for many of our own musicians.
the traditional repertoire of the Sunset ceremony to some challenging and Latin-American influenced arrangements! My sincere thanks to Mr Andrew Thornhill, Head of Instrumental Music and Mr John Donnelly, Drum teacher, for their expert leadership and tutelage.
Senior Musicians
Several students have taken practical exams over the past two terms and we have enjoyed considerable success in the exams – many congratulations to all those students who have gained excellent marks in a range of instruments and grade levels with the ABRSM, Trinity and Rock School.
CREATIVE ARTS
Falkland Islands Memorial Service
Visiting Music Teachers
It was a privilege to be involved in the 40th Anniversary Service to mark the cessation of the conflict in the South Atlantic. The College Choir were in top form as they led the music in the services. They sang two anthems; Charles Wood’s ‘O thou the central orb’ and a new composition, ‘O Almighty God’ (a prayer for Seafarers) written for the service by Christopher Tambling. Most ably supported by our organist, Mr Ian Hockley, it was also a pleasure to welcome an excellent Brass Quintet from Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Band, Collingwood.
As ever, we owe a huge debt of thanks to our marvellous team of Visiting Music Teachers who have been at the forefront of enabling so many of our young musicians to flourish this year. I thank them all for their hard work and dedication to our pupils. At the end of the Summer Term we bade farewell to Mrs Scarlett Palys who has taught singing at the College for many years – her pupils have benefitted from her expert guidance and support and I thank her for her service to the College.
In June, we had our Summer Showcase. Ellie Buckley had adapted Mary Poppins for our Dunbar pupils, aided by Oliver Hodgson, and both Year 11 pupils directed and choreographed it. To finish the year off, we had the Year 10 Component 1 practical exam which was a great celebration of their hard work and commitment.
We are already looking forward to next year!
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The Drama department has been as busy as ever in 2022.
In April, we had the A Level Component 2 exam which allowed the pupils to explore a photograph by Jan Saudek entitled ‘David, Lonely Forever’ and Joe Orton’s play ‘The Ruffian on the Stairs’.
On 10 March we enjoyed our Year 9 pupils’ performance of ‘Face’ adapted by Benjiman Zephaniah and Richard Conlon. Each class had a section of the full play to perform which they had been rehearsing during curriculum time. As so often happens when we have 89 pupils to prepare, some pupils felt more confident than others, some had done a better job of learning their lines as others and some were unfortunately ill on the performance day, but all the pupils involved learnt from their experience and surprised themselves by actually
Drama By Ms Rebecca Atack, Head of Drama
enjoying the event! The following week we had 13 pupils take their Drama Trinity exams. All pupils passed including nine merits and three distinctions.
We kicked off the year with the GCSE Component 2 Scripted exam on 28 January. Our 24 GCSE pupils had been working hard on their scripted pieces with texts including ‘Metamorphosis’ by Steven Berkoff, ‘Daisy pulls it off’ by Denise Deegan, ‘Blood Brothers’ by Willy Russell, ‘Neville’s Island’ by Peter Firth and ‘Blue Remembered Hills’ by Dennis Potter. We had a visiting examiner come in and all the pupils did their very best.
Close on the heels of the GCSE scripted exam came the College Production. ‘Great Expectations’ was performed on 8, 9, 10 February and this adaptation was not only written, but also directed by our very own Miss Bland. We had 26 pupils from Years 7 to Upper Sixth performing and four pupils who worked backstage. We had excellent performances from all pupils, notably Phoebe Curcher as Mrs Havisham, Nora Shields as Magwitch and Harriet Papworth as Pip.
Joseph De Halpert did an excellent job of running the performance from backstage as our Deputy Stage Manager, guiding our Year 7 pupil Rosie Parbutt and Year 9 pupil Adam Simms as they operated the sound, media and lighting desks. Ms Atack and Miss Bland were ably helped by Josie Spalton who helped with scene and costume changes. Next year’s production will be ‘Chicago’.
BOARDING
In the weekday evenings, Mr Williams along with all of the Sports People in Residence have run some great evening activities for the boarders to enjoy, such as five-a-side football, mixed cricket, water polo and softball. There are plans for more new events such as a Golf target competition, Football Cricket and Tag American football, to name a few.
The boarders’ weekend trips have also returned and pupils have enjoyed meals out and cinema trips to see James Bond and Jurassic Park. There have been some fantastic Sunday trips throughout the year including Bletchley Park, Winchester Christmas Markets, Thorpe Park, Lagoona Park, Red Kangaroo as well as visits to Oxford, Bath and Winchester, a Premiership Rugby match, chocolate making and even hanging around the treetops at Go Ape. There really has been something for everyone!
By Mr Tom Cheney, Assistant Head Boarding
It has been fantastic this year to return to normal life within our boarding community.
Divisional sporting events have been back in action this year. These hotly contested events, in a variety of different sports, are always a great weekend activity and enable the divisions to unite and compete.
We have seen some changes to the Senior Divisions with the introduction of the REACH sign-in and sign-out system. Macquarie has had its ground floor reconfigured and revamped to create three new day pupil rooms. My thanks go to the PPA, who very kindly donated lovely round picnic benches for each boarding house - these are lovely additions to the divisions for our pupils to enjoy.
Finally, we were delighted to see the new café completed just before the end of term. This facility will be available to boarders in the evenings from next term.
We have some exciting new trips planned for Michaelmas Term 2022 and beyond, as well as some special events for Friday nights. All of the evening and weekend activities are taken from ideas that have been put forward by pupils at boarding meetings or at house or school council meetings. If pupils have ideas for
trips or activities they would like to see included in the programme, they are very welcome to let me know, or a member of their divisional team.
The Catering team has hosted some great themed nights throughout the year, from Valentine’s Bingo to themed food evenings, all of which have been really enjoyed by our boarders.
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An early highlight of the year is always the pupils versus parents football match which took place this year on Saturday 11 September. We knew we had a strong returning Year 8 team, and this was bolstered by some fresh talent in Year 7 and we had the closest match for some years. The guile and experience (and size!) of the parents’ team went up against the skill and pace of the pupils, who for the first time in my tenure finished up 4-3 winners in a thrilling match.
By Dr Ian Hart, Housemaster, Dunbar
As I write, the sunlight is streaming through the window, and whilst the memory of the final events of the last week of term are still strong - the Year 8 Dinner, the paddle-boarding trip to Beale Park, some memorable musical performances and the glorious culmination that is Founders’ Day - my thoughts are now turning to our new intake and preparing Dunbar for the pupils who will be filling it full of noise and life once again in September.
DUNBAR
dedicated and resourceful Dunbar staff rallied round and despite spending the first 10 days of term waving at bemused pupils through my office window, we began at a sprint. As always the incoming Year 7 pupils have a full day of induction into life in Pangbourne College before their older and wiser Year 8 compatriots join them the following day. This gives the new starters a chance to find out how things
work, where everything is, and who all these people are, before the rollercoaster ride begins proper.
Looking back to the start of the year, there could not be a greater contrast between life in Dunbar in September 2021 and life in the Summer of 2022. It is also hard to believe how much we have managed to pack into this strange year, after such a slow start. Everything began with tremendous promise in September as we readied ourselves to welcome the new pupils into Dunbar, but my positive Covid test result two hours before the arrival of the new boarders was not the way I planned Fortunately,things!the
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Perhaps the most important aspect of life in Dunbar for pupils and parents alike is the sense of community, and therefore we were delighted when we were able (albeit delayed to the Summer Term) to host our family quiz. More than 100 members of the Dunbar extended family gathered in the Mess Hall for a series of questions themed (appropriately enough) on ‘comebacks’. With rounds on famous witty ripostes, sporting comebacks and epic return journeys, the evening was a welcome return for us all.
One of the most memorable evenings was certainly ‘Come Dine With Me’ on Friday 3 December. Having drawn ‘canapes’ as our course to prepare, and then explained to most of the Dunbar pupils what a canape was, we set about planning and producing four gastronomic treats - avocado and quail’s egg, salmon and cream cheese, bruschetta, and cheddar and kimchi spirals were our attempt to woo the judges - and whilst we didn’t win, the Dunbar junior chefs were magnificent as they boiled, baked and assembled. We
were also serenaded beautifully by Stella Evans who provided the musical accompaniment to our meal.
Some two and a half hours later the first group arrived at Goring where they had lunch, and were then shuttled in a minibus to Ashampstead Church to begin the second leg of the walk. This would see them go cross-country through Ashampstead Common and on towards Rushall Manor Farm. Whilst some groups took a straighter route than others, by 6pm or thereabouts, all the groups had arrived safely at the Rushall Farm campsite, to see the welcome site of the kettle already on the stove.
A lesson in tent-building followed, and then began an epic cricket match. After a BBQ supper we adjourned to the campfire, and began the process of collecting and sawing the firewood. Karaoke was the order of the evening, with each group presenting a carefully
On Thursday 9 June in the morning, 34 Year 8 pupils set off for what would be the first full camping trip for three years. Having breakfasted together in Mess Hall, and then packed the trailer to the gunwales with tents, sleeping bags and roll-mats, it was time to set off. Departing in small groups with a member of staff each, the first part of the route would see them travel down the hill into Pangbourne Village, then over the toll bridge and through Whitchurch, before turning a sharp left just after the start of Whitchurch Hill to walk along the banks of the river, through the woods towards Goring.
DUNBAR
As the year now draws to an end, I watch with pride as the current Year 8 pupils move up into their Senior Divisions, and with anticipation as we plan for the new Year 7 pupils in September. These children will have come a long way in their two years in Dunbar and they leave us ready for the next exciting stage in their journey through the College.
Next morning we awoke to the smell of bacon baps, and after eating and repacking the trailer we headed off before 9am. The route took us through the fields along to Bradfield and then past Bere Court Farm to the woods behind Hesperus. All back in time for an early night.
The other big rite of passage for the outgoing Dunbar pupils is the Year 8 Dinner which by tradition takes place on the penultimate Friday of the year. The theme this year was ‘American Diner’ and whilst the menu was nachos and chicken wings, burgers and ice cream, the dress code was far more formal, and the boys and girls looked resplendent in their dinner jackets and ball gowns.
The beautiful Old Library was bedecked with US flags and American paraphernalia, and each course was interspersed with speeches from our Head Boys and Head Girls from each of the three terms this year. Spilling out onto the Devitt Terrace at the end of the evening, the proud parents were invited to collect their children and to photograph the moment, and the photos from this event now take pride of place on the wall in Dunbar.
choreographed performance, resulting in a 3-way tie for first place! After the entertainment we had toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate before returning to the tents to (eventually) get some sleep.
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The academic year started well with record results at GCSE and A Level. But, the legacy of Covid remained, both in terms of the restrictions on lessons and the impact of online learning. It’s striking to think that the Upper Sixth leavers haven’t had a ‘normal’ year at school since Year 10.
We have done our best to make up for lost time. Academic trips have returned to make learning more relevant. There have been visits to France, the Warner Brothers Studio, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Opera, Rushall Farm, the Globe Theatre, Victoria and Albert Museum, German and French markets, Oxford Story Museum, Derron Brown, Bayer’s laboratories, Tate Modern, Mayflower Theatre, Hampton Court Palace, Ashmolean Museum, Marwell Zoo, Milford-on-Sea and other locations for Geography field trips, the Apprenticeships Fair at Surrey University, Particle Physics Masterclass at Rutherford Appleton laboratory, the British Library and The British Museum.
By Mr Mark Seccombe, Deputy Head Academic
ACADEMIC REVIEW
There have been competitions as well including the Reading Challenge, the Mathematics challenges which included a particularly impressive performance from Robert Yin, the book cover competition, the RGS Young Geographer of the Year, a return of the
Of course, there has also been the return of GCSE and A Level exams for the first time since 2019 with the longest period of exams we have ever seen. The Year 11 and Upper Sixth have worked incredibly hard in uncertain circumstances this year and we are very proud of their efforts.
The Summer saw the first cohorts of pupils complete the A Level in Politics and the BTEC Diploma in Sport. Next year we are looking forward to adding the Sociology and Design Technology A Levels as well as increasing our portfolio of BTEC courses by adding Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.
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The High Potential Achievers (HPA) programme has provided opportunities to go far beyond what pupils study in lessons through mentoring, peer discussion and presentations. I have also been hugely impressed with the quality and range of articles written for The Crow’s Nest journal which covers everything from magic to the evolutionary
history of bears, and from the nature/nurture debate, to whether technology will save or destroy us.
The teachers have enjoyed being able to provide more practical learning opportunities. We have seen maggot races, rocket launching, exploding metals, earthquake resistant towers and historical reenactments. We have added new equipment in DT to broaden the range of opportunities there and have introduced online platforms to aid with learning and revision in PE and Computing.
Declamations Cup for Year 9 and the Classics Essay Competition.
ACADEMIC REVIEW
Although this was the first time that the current cohort had sat in conventional exam conditions, the results achieved reflect the determination and diligence of our pupils, despite the pressures of the last few years.
Callum said: ‘I’m feeling really happy. I achieved the results that I wanted and gained a place at the university that I wanted, so I’m feeling ecstatic really. I’m looking forward to what comes in the Otherfuture.’high
performers include Senior Scholar Peter Garnier who achieved A*A*A* in his A Levels and is going to study Maths at the University of Exeter, and Emily Walne who gained A*AB in her Business, Photography, and Psychology A Levels. Emily said: ‘I’m so happy with my results, I was actually quite surprised. I’m taking a gap year before heading off to Newcastle University to study Marketing and Business which was my first choice.’
After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Sixth Form public examinations returned this year.
The vast majority of our students will be progressing to their firm-choice universities, with over half of students going to Russell Group or similar higher tier universities. One of the many pupils who celebrated on results day was Senior Scholar Callum Bond, who achieved A*A*AA across four A Levels. Callum studied Geography, History, Politics, and Religious Studies and will be accepting a place at the University of St Andrews to study Geography.
At the time of going to press, the percentage of A*-B grades achieved at A Level was 57%, whilst the percentage of Distinction*-Distinction for BTEC grades was 87%. Those that chose to do an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) during their Lower Sixth year achieved 100% A*-C.
We were similarly delighted with our GCSE results with our pupils achieving a pass rate of 93% (Grades 9-4). 46% of the Grades awarded were between 9-7. We are particularly proud of the increase in Grade nines which are nearly double the number awarded in 2019.
Exam Success
Congratulations goes to Eva Griffin who achieved nine Grade 9s. She said, ‘I’m kind of shocked! The biggest surprise has been achieving a Grade 9 in Maths as I struggled with the subject in Primary school but worked really hard to achieve the best I could.’ Eva will be returning in September to study Biology, Chemistry and French A Levels.
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Academic colours are awarded for constantly high performance and significant contributions to the academic life of the College. This year’s recipients were:
Phoebe Curcher
Academic Colours awarded in 2021-22
Peter AliceTomKatharineGarnierHarperHarveyMoody
Whilst the last two years have challenged our pupils in numerous ways, they should be
Callum Bond
My sincere thanks goes to our academic and pastoral staff who have supported our pupils during this challenging period, and I congratulate our pupils who have demonstrated enormous industry and resilience to achieve what they have.
incredibly proud of all that they have achieved, given the circumstances. I am impressed with the continuous dedication and attitude of our students, which has been reflected in their results.
FOUNDERS’ DAY
The final speech after the Prizegiving presentation came from our Guest of Honour, First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC. He put forward three pieces of advice to our departing students: One, be the best version of yourself; two, be curious about the world; three, appreciate that leadership is not easy. He concluded by saying that your greatest gift to the world is to make a positive, lasting and enduring impact on the people around you.
After a pared-down Founders’ Day in 2021 in which only the Upper Sixth students and their parents attended, there was an even greater sense of jubilance to this Founders’ Day; our first full one since 2019.
Mr Garnier finished his speech by thanking the College community and offering a fond farewell to three long-serving members of staff: Mrs Harriet Paynter (eight years), Mr Daniel Paynter (10 years), and Mrs Vivienne Richardson (20 years).
The Prizegiving ceremony in a marquee on Devitt Lawn followed the Parade, during which, amongst other prizes, The Queen’s Gold Medals were awarded to the Chief Cadet Captains of the College (CCCCs), Emily Cox and Rory Hogan.
Over 1,000 family members, staff, and Old Pangbournians (OPs) were there to watch the parade which was observed and inspected by our Guest of Honour, First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Ben Key KCB CBE ADC. Following weeks of rehearsals, the pupils did themselves proud, especially in the trooping of the colour.
In Mr Garnier’s speech he referred to the ways in which parents and families have re-engaged with community life in the College. He also reflected on the global issues facing our community and highlighted how the College’s Flag Values, and focus on leadership, will help to provide pupils with the tools they need to overcome them.
After a quick, warm-up break involving tea and coffee for guests, Beat Retreat took place in front of the Upper Sixth who, like last year, entered the stage from Devitt House. It included magnificent displays from the Guard and Marching Band.
After the official proceedings had concluded, pupils and their families were treated to drinks in Divisions, followed by their picnic lunches on White’s Playing Field. The OP Society put together an impressive team for the Cricket match which took place on Big Side throughout the afternoon.
“My fellow Upper Sixth peers and I will be a part of the Pangbourne community for life. The friends, memories, and most importantly the characteristics that Pangbourne has taught us will be ingrained in us for years to come.”
As is traditional, ‘We Are Sailing’ was the final piece of the day. The students were led off the College stage by this year’s CCCCs in front of Mr Garnier and the whole College community. At the College Drive, they marched through a Guard of Honour before celebrating their school careers with hugs, a glass of champagne, and a few tears.
Rory Hogan, Chief Cadet Captain of College, 2021-22
As the evening drew in, the Upper Sixth students and their families were treated to the Leavers’ Ball which was organised by the CCCCs’ parents, Mrs Rachael Cox and Mrs Sophie Hogan, along with a Committee of Upper Sixth parents. The theme of the event was ‘Heaven on Earth’ and included pre-dinner drinks in Drake Marquee followed by a two-course dinner in Drake Hall. In his letter to Mr Garnier, Sir Ben Key summed up the day as follows: ‘There is a super feel to the school community…and I was reminded - againhow much talent and energy the young of today have. As I said to you at the time, I was hugely impressed by the parade and the standard of drill; great to see the naval linkage so proudly invested in at the College.’
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Expressive Arts Prizes: Drama, The Prompt Book: Phoebe Curcher Marcus Graham Art Prize: Maria Humphreys-Evans Music Performance Prize: Felix Nelson Open Prizes: Ambrose White Prize: Megan Fergusson Chris Mullins Prize: Jed Ford Keith Evans Prize: Ida Riggall Nigel Hollebone Centenary Prize: Eva Griffin Austin Anderson Prize: Katharine Harper Jude Memorial Prize: Peter Garnier Old Pangbournian Prize: Callum Bond Her Majesty The Queen’s Gold Medal: Emily Cox Rory Hogan Head’s Prizes: Edward Butterworth Olivia Crane Alice Moody Ryne Robson Nora CallumShieldsWray Head’s Tankards: Morgan Llewellyn - Harbinger Myles James - Hesperus Megan Fergusson - Illawarra George Young - Macquarie Liam Turnbull - Port Jackson Charlotte Richards - St George Pangbourne College, Pangbourne, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 8LA t: +44 (0) 118 984 2101 w: pangbourne.com Pangbourne_College@PangbourneCollPangbourne College Pangbourne College Performance Prizes: Y7 Sadie Partridge and Maisie Stephenson Y8 Grace Jeffers and Eva Skidmore Y9 Faith Merry and Theo Stephenson Y10 Imogen Ambrose and Frederick Stokes Y11 Oliver Edwards, Eva Griffin and Thomasin Munro L6 Bonnie Jackson and Eva Krstikj U6 Thomas Harvey and Alice Moody Outstanding Endeavour Prizes: Y7 Laila Ball and Flora Merry Y8 Isaac Henry and Rory Price Y9 Erika Bevis and Ida Riggall Y10 Kit Hayes-Newington and Paige Mason Y11 Reuben Hepplethwaite, Tara Hogan and Eve Powell L6 Sophie Bennett and Julia Yuille U6 Jemma Humphreys and Phoebe Key Founders’ Day Prizegiving Emily Cox and Rory Hogan being presented with Her Majesty the Queen’s Gold Medals
